Beware Entanglement

A week or so ago Doreen emerged from doing some laundry to ask whether I had inadvertently left a tissue in a pocket of an item in the wash.  The reason for the question was that everything in the wash (including several dark items) was now smothered with tiny bits of white mulched paper.  Of course, I declared myself to be innocent, but it immediately brought to mind Hebrews 12:1.  In the Authorised Version this is rendered:

“… lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…”

The word beset means something that is stubbornly persistent in its affect.  Hence the illustrate white balls of tissue that was persistently clinging to the laundry and proving hard to remove.

I normally use the latest NIV translation which renders the same verse:

“… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

Clearly there seems significant difference in how the Greek has been translated.  So I studied further and found that the word translated “easily entangles” or “easily besets” (euperistatos) only occurs in this one place in the New Testament.  More study suggests this to mean easily encircling or ensnaring.  The context of this word is in the illustration of faith being lived out like running a race.  In order to run effectively we need to shed unnecessary weight and take care not to be hindered or entangled in anything.

This verse has often brought to mind a famous race in the 1984 Olympics in which a collision between Zola Budd and Mary Decker Slaney resulted in Mary being unable to finish the 3000 metre final and Zola never seeming to shake off the controversy which then seems to have blighted her career. It seems that at two separate points in the race, each had collided with the other.  About a year after that race, Mary, having got over the emotional hurt of the incident, stated that the real problem was that she was not used to running in a pack.  In other words, her progress was impeded by that which surrounded her.

Clearly, if we do not take care, any sin could entangle us.  But the write of this letter to Hebrew Christians speaks about a specific sin.  In days gone by preachers often referred to ‘besetting sins’ as a particular sin that affected an individual.  One person’s besetting sin might differ from another. Unfortunately, some Christians excuse their weakness by attributing it to their ‘besetting sin’ over which they seemed unable to get the victory.  But it seems to me that the write had a specific sin in mind.

Given the context of this verse, and the general content of the preceding chapters, excess burdensome weight and entanglement most likely refers to the practice of some Jewish Christians who, at that time, taught the need to keep the Law as well as putting faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning work.  The grace of God that brings salvation needs nothing added, and to teach otherwise is a grievous error, as the last part of chapter 10 makes clear. As the Gospel hymn says, “I need no other argument, I need no other please; It is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me”

Let’s keep running the race with our gaze unswervingly fixed on Jesus, and shun anything that hinders or complicates the simplicity of trusting in the finished work of the cross.

Items for Praise

Many will know that just four weeks ago Doreen, my wife, was discovered to have breast cancer. As I write this she has just been sent home from hospital following surgery.  Already the wound is beginning to heal well, and through the past moth she has experienced wonderful peace and remained joyful.  We give thanks for an observant nurse, and the quick response an quality care experienced from the NHS.

Katrina Thomas, the new part-time Children and Family Adviser in Rural Mission Solutions has commenced work.  We give thanks for this new team members and also for those who supported Monica Cook and have continued that support to enable Katrina’s appointment.  Please pray for Katrina and her family.

This week the trustees of Rural Mission Solutions (Sunrise Ministry) met and were introduced to Katrina.  It was an excellent and productive meeting.  We thank God for each of the trustees.  The list is published on the website.  One retiring trustee, Tim Woodward, has been a colleague in rural evangelism since the seventies.  Although he is stepping down from the Board he has offered continuing support.  Tim is an Anglican Lay Reader and we commend him and his ministry to your prayers.

A Rural Mission Solutions stand at the recent Annual Assembly of the Congregational Federation attracted quite a lot of interest.  The CF has many rural churches that could benefit from our services.

Following that Assembly, I travelled to Stirling in Scotland to teach on the Salvation Army’s Safeguarding Course. One of those on the course was a senior officer whose husband is about to take up a post which, among other things, should link him into the Rural Evangelism Network. Pray as he takes up this post and for the Salvation Army in the UK as they process changes.

We give thanks to God for faithful prayer partners and faithful supporters that enable us to continue to offer our ministry to rural churches free of charge.  Many village churches have limited income and could not afford the full cost of all we provide.

Sunday 29^th May I took the morning service at Gartree Prison Sunday Service, which proved to be a very special time.

Items for Prayer

That Doreen will make a full and speedy recovery following her operation.

For ‘J’ who has been in contact as he seeks God’s guidance and explores whether this might be within Rural Mission Solutions.

For the trustees and me as we set out the strategic plan for the next few years.  This links with my ability to give more time to the rural mission work.

For the members of Yelvertoft Congregational Church as I bring to an end my ministry with them over the past ten years.  We pray that the Lord will lead them into new and fruitful aspects of service in the village community.

I am currently looking for churches that would be interested in developing their own bespoke mission strategy.  Release from Yelvertoft means I can now offer ministry to other churches.

While Doreen is recovering my priority is to care for her for the next few weeks.  There will be plenty of mission work I can do from home.  However, there are some activities I expect to undertake, including:

Tuesday 31^st May 1.15 to 3.00 HMP Gartree (working with the choir)

Wednesday 1^st June Holiday at Home Planning Meeting

Sunday 4^th June 10.45 Yelvertoft Congregational Church; 6.00pm Newton United Church (near Rugby).

Barry

Managing to Do Better

Regular readers of the letters and blog may be aware of my fascination with the use of the word oikonomos in the Greek New Testament.  It occurs ten times.  Four of the times it is used by Jesus in teaching about faithfulness. Five times it is used by Paul and once by Peter.  Older versions of the Bible translate it as steward, but more contemporary versions translate it as manager. 

In my university studies in management I was taught three important facts about a manager.  Firstly, a manager is entrusted with resources or assets that belong to someone else.  Secondly, in order to manage a manager will be delegated some degree of autonomy.  Thirdly, the manager will have to give an account of his or her performance.

Both Paul and Peter use the word in connection with the exercise of gifts and ministries.  Since the Bible makes clear that every Christian has a part in these, then it follows that we also have a duty to manage efficiently those things with which we have been entrusted.  One frequently misused passage of scripture is 1 Corinthians 4:2 which states that it is required that managers are found faithful.  The misuse comes from those who say that God does not expect us to be successful; just faithful.  The correct interpretation of this verse is that managers have to demonstrate that they are worthy of being entrusted.  That is, we are expected to be effective managers, and that implies a degree of success.

On the Rural Mission Solutions website (www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk) you can find a free paper and free booklet exploring how we could manage better in our service for God.  It draws on biblical principles, good management practise, and the fact that my old school reports frequently said “Could do better”!

Re-Launching Children and Family Ministry

In Rural Mission Solutions we are excited to have re-started our children and family ministry.  We welcome Katrina Thomas who is now working with us part time.  Katrina is based close to the borders of Kent and East and West Sussex, but we can also work with churches further afield.  Find out more at www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk/children-and-families

Over the next few months we will be re-establishing links previously set up by the late Monica Cook.  While she is based in the Southeast, Katrina will be available to provide advice and guidance to help make children’s and families’ ministry effective and sustainable in rural churches in other parts of the country.  After 3^rd May she can be emailed on children@ruralmissions.org.uk.  More contact details will be released soon.

We are planning three launch events in the Southeast.  We are also about to bring the website up to date and make information leaflets available.  Please pray for Katrina, her family and the RMS team as we move into this encouraging phase.

How is this to be funded?

Our trustees have set aside money that had previously been donated to support Monica.  We are very grateful to the small but faithful band of continuing supporters of that ministry, which gives us hope that we will be able to sustain this aspect of our ministry.  Furthermore, we would love to develop a network of competent children’s workers across the country if funds allow.  To help achieve this we are looking for people who would be willing to give at least £5 per month to the Monica Cook Memorial Fund.  It takes 100 such supporters to enable someone to work with us for one day a week.  Please take a look at “Could you be 1 in 100?”

Some useful books

Monica Cook’s accumulated wisdom in children’s ministry and in training leaders was distilled into two publications that have been very well received both in the UK and in other countries where she worked.  We have a small stock of these and are making them available at a special price as part of the re-launch of our children and family work.

The Training Manual is a valuable tool for anyone already active in children’s ministry or considering this pathway.  There are 120 pages full of helpful advice based upon our vision for helping Christian children grow in their faith and releasing their potential within churches.

Fun and Creative Programmes contain a collection of 40 interactive teaching sessions jam packed with great ideas.

We are making these available for just £5 each (plus £1.50 p&p). Whether or not you want either titles for yourself, would you consider sponsoring copies for our partners in developing countries?  You can order copies from the website or simply email me.

From the Diary

Thank you for your prayers over the past two weeks.  There has been a range of activities with accompanying blessing for which we thank God.  I will not take up space here with details. If you are on Facebook, you can keep up with my activities.

Sunday 8^th May – Services at HMP Gartree, and Yelvertoft Congregational

Monday 9^th – School Assembly, Lubenham, Leics.

Tuesday 10^th – HMP Gartree

Wednesday 11^th – CTBI AGM in London

Thursday 12^th -Preparation day (hospital appointment for Doreen)

Friday 13^th – travel to Oldham

Saturday 14^th – Congregational Federation Annual Assembly

Sunday 15^th -Free time (Preston, Lancs.)

Monday 16^th – Travel to Stirling, Scotland

Tuesday 17^th -  Stirling - Teaching on Safeguarding for the salvation Army

Wednesday 18^th  – Free time or travel home.

Saturday 21^st Messy Church, Yelvertoft.