Easter and Me

Fifty one years ago I had an amazing Easter experience.  It was wholly unexpected and changed my life completely.

I was born just after WW2 and it was customary in those days for most children to go to Sunday School.  Miss Hatton, the lady who lived six doors from our home was already taking my brother and several other children each Sunday and was glad to include me at a very early age.  This was in the days when TV was a rare thing and all shops and businesses closed for Sundays.  My typical day was to go to church in the morning (being allowed to leave at half time), then back for Sunday School in the afternoon, and then usually back in the evening.  In the summer there would be an open air service after church on Hastings Seafront.

A passion for a career in the Royal Navy had led me to join Sea Cadets as soon as I was old enough and this provided an opportunity to forsake the church routines.  I remember arguing with my parents that I was not abandoning church as there was always a Church Parade at Sea Cadets on Sundays.  I also remember arguing with myself that by abandoning church I was not actually abandoning God.  But I did abandon holiness and my lifestyle for several years was pretty corrupt and included organising sordid parties for year 11 school friends and our girlfriends.

On one such occasion I had to take a friend to hospital after his eye had been badly cut by a girls shoe being thrown around.  While at the hospital I saw a man brought in paralytically drunk and bleeding profusely from a cut nose.  Apparently his wife had smashed a glass in his face as she didn't like the way he was groping a young girl on his lap.  This was described as 'having a good time''.  I sensed a voice saying, "This is how you will end up if you don't change".

I tried changing but found it very hard.  Then one day a man called John Eaves, who I didn't know, gave me a gospel leaflet in unusual circumstances.  John went home and organised prayer for me to become a Christian (also unknown to me).  Not one word had passed between us but he knew God had a plan for my life.  Ironically,  I was on my way to Sea Cadets when he passed me the leaflet, and he thought I was a sailor as I was wearing uniform.

Later, in the privacy of my bedroom, I read the leaflet.  It had a ridiculous story but was so relevant to my own life.  It also had one verse from the Bible: "[Jesus said,] Whoever comes to me I will never turn away" (John 6:37).  I prayed, "If this is true, please accept me as I am with all its mess."  There was no angel choir or anything dramatic but my life began to change from that day.  I became less self centred.  I had doubts about my career and chose instead to try to become a school teacher specialising in underprivileged children.  I joined a youth group at the church I had abandoned where I was cunningly manipulated into speaking on my favourite Psalm.  I spent a week preparing a talk on Psalm 121 but on the night I spoke on Psalm 23 in which I acknowledged that I had been a sheep that had gone astray and that Jesus was the Good Shepherd who had sought and found me.

Rosemary, a girl I had hoped would be present to hear my talk was unable to go that evening and I got on my bike to ride home alone.  Only it wouldn't move!  It was if it had been set in concrete!  I turned to find the church minister, Gordon Hunt, had gripped the saddle.  "Now that I know where you stand, when can I baptise you?" he asked.  Unable to come up with a good answer quickly enough I found myself roped into a series of pre-baptism classes in this Baptist church.  Others enrolled included the brothers of my girlfriend.

The event was to take place on Easter Sunday 1963.  I had done the course.  I knew and understood what it was all about but this was mostly at the level of mental acknowledgement only.  Gordon had been plugging an event on Easter Saturday where Sylvia Smith, a young female evangelist would be speaking.  Sylvia, we were told, worked among London's strippers and prostitutes.  It sounded interesting so I went along and sat at the back.

After telling us about her work Sylvia slipped seamlessly into a talk based on the words of Jesus on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing". She cleverly gave a verbal portrait of each of the main characters whose action or lack of it had led to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In every one I recognised myself.  After each character Sylvia repeated the words of that prayer, "Father forgive them..."  Something extraordinary began to happen as I listened.  I felt God's love for me.  I knew that the mind-blowing love that enabled Jesus to pray those words was the love he felt for me!

As we sang the closing hymn I prayed for God to help me to mean the words we sang: "Love, so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all".  I surrendered.  The following evening, before a packed church, I blurted out some words of testimony and was baptised by immersion.  We sang two great hymns.  'And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Saviour's blood?' and 'To God be the glory, great things he has done'. Now that the gospel had spread from my head to my heart I sang with unbounded enthusiasm.

Miss Hatton, John Eaves, Rosemary Ralph, Gordon Hunt, and Sylvia Smith were just a few who influenced my life up to that point in Easter 1963.  I thank God for them all and pray that this Easter 2014 something of the power that changed my life that weekend will be found in the words I share in leading worship this Sunday.  Easter - it's when new life begins!

For your prayers this week  
I will be leading and speaking at Yelvertoft Congregational Church this Sunday and on the following Sunday.

Doreen and I will be attending a Church Leaders' Conference from Tuesday to Friday.  We pray that it will be a time of spiritual and physical refreshment for all attending.

No other major activities this week.

Have a great Easter.

Barry

Guilty or Not Guilty?

I wonder what your personal and private response has been to outcomes from recent high profile sex crimes trials.  My own response has been to regret that such trials are dealt with by juries and of course that the media are unhelpful.

There is little worse than finding yourself as front page news as a result of accusations that are false.  Such false allegations can ruin careers and lives even if they are found not guilty by a jury of their peers. The recent series of high profile cases has brought some criticism of the CPS but I wonder if it might be helpful if I share some of my own insight into the system.

A man I know lived with the knowledge that an older and senior Christian leader had entrapped him in what he considered to be inappropriate sexual activity when he was very much younger and naive.  It had left him feeling dirty, guilty and confused.  But he had forgiven the older man, warning him that if he ever discovered that the older man had acted similarly to others he would blow the whistle.

Life went on apparently normally for about another 20 years until he heard of another young man who had allegedly suffered similar experiences as he worked with the older man.  Immediately he took steps to encourage a thorough but discreet investigation through the local church and Christian organisation in which the older man worked.  All attempts proved useless even after several other men made sworn affidavits (the same as testimony under oath) alleging sexual misconduct by the older man.  It also meant that the first younger man had to talk about personal things he felt to be shameful.  That would have been costly. All this happened some years ago when churches and Christian organisations were not as well informed about reporting allegations to the police.

Another twelve years passed at which time the original younger man - now middle aged - became concerned that others might be at risk.  By then he had discovered that sexual abuse can often become habitual and even addictive behaviour.  Though he hated to do it he felt he had to talk to the police.  To reveal that improper behaviour had taken place in a Christian context felt shameful.  However, he was shocked when the response of the police was to state that what had happened to him those many years before was criminal and not just inappropriate.

A detailed statement was recorded and the police asked to see the affidavits.  But the solicitor who had been entrusted with the documents had shredded the files!  A statement was taken from the second younger man (now also middle aged) and the information passed to the CPS who decided there was sufficient evidence to bring the matter to court.  On being arrested the older man confessed to the activities reported but claimed that he was the innocent victim and not the perpetrator.  The case eventually came to court after several more years and the older man pleaded not guilty.

The not guilty plea meant that the two who had been the victims of his abuse had to relate graphically the things that had been done to them. The younger man who had blown the whistle spoke clearly and confidently as he was led through his statement and then cross examined.  The other younger man shook visibly and wept as he gave his evidence and was cross examined.  Both found this an ordeal.

The barrister acting for the CPS had arrived late and refused to talk with the prosecution witnesses before the trial began.  It soon appeared that he could have been better prepared.  By contrast the barrister representing the man on trial had come prepared with material that might have been refuted if the CPS barrister had been more prepared.  An additional problem was that a significant proportion of the jury were younger men and women who would have had difficulty in understanding the culture at the time the original alleged offences took place.

Ironically the man was found guilty on all charges relating to the second younger man but not guilty on all charges relating to the younger man who had blown the whistle!  The police and CPS were shocked at what they saw as injustice.  However, the court of law had passed its verdict.  Knowing the man who had blown the whistle I have no doubt as to his integrity.  For him it had been a costly journey over many years.  He would be left with the shadow of the abuse he had experienced hanging over him with no proper closure.  I cannot help but wonder whether there are complainants in recent cases that might  find themselves feeling similarly.  But men have stood trial before their peers and proclaimed innocent.  In the eyes of the law that is what they are.

Before the CPS bring sexual abuse cases to court they have to be strongly convinced that the evidence is sufficient to obtain a guilty verdict and, where there are several witnesses, that there is no conflict of evidence.  So coming back to the story I have shared with you (one of a number of cases with which I am familiar) what have I concluded?

It is clear that there are guilty people who are found not guilty and innocent people that are found guilty.  The outcome in a court depends substantially on the experience and skill of the barristers.  Courtrooms are places where a drama is performed with several actors. A witty and well prepared barrister who can make a passionate case for his/her client is of value.  A barrister who has not invested time and emotion in engaging with the case is a liability.  Court cases are costly financially so if the prosecution or defence has sufficient funds they will be able to employ the best firms to represent them.  That is not just.  It is not only about the facts; it is about a performance that convinces - or fails to convince - the jury.

In my opinion bringing such cases to court using the present system carries risks to both parties and is incredibly painful either for someone innocently accused or those who have to relate hurtful experiences.  Furthermore we are risking justice itself.  I would much rather have such cases heard in private before a panel of judges and determined on a majority decision of that court.  I believe this might be the case in France.

But no human system of justice can be 100% perfect.  By contrast, this is not he case when we stand before God.  In Psalm 51 David pleads guilty to the dreadful crimes he committed.  He offers no plea of mitigation.  He describes himself to be a sinner and uses all three concepts of sin within Hebrew understanding.  I love his statement about the one before whom we will all one day stand "...you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge."

Many men and women might boast "I was found not guilty" but might know in their hearts that they are guilty, But the fallible courts in which we stand on earth will be eclipsed by that greater time of judgement that is inevitable.  Better to plead guilty here and hear God's gracious words of pardon now than to plead not guilty here only to hear that overturned in eternity. What matters most is not our state in the eyes of the law but our state in the eyes of God.

Thank you for your prayers
Were you praying for me around 4.30 to 5.00 last Saturday afternoon (5th April)?  If so, thank you as I was saved from a potentially serious accident when driving home from Devon.  It had been a very busy but fruitful time there.  On Thursday, after the morning's Lent Bible Discussion, I had travelled from Leicestershire to Brayford in north Devon to work throughout Friday with the Methodist Church.  On Saturday I had called in on a Congregational Church on Exmoor to encourage the minister, and then enjoyed lunch with old Christian friends near Tiverton.  Thursday to Sunday was an intensive time of work (approximately 48 hours of work over the four days).

We had also had a profitable day on Tuesday, firstly with the visit to Gartree Prison in the afternoon and then with a planning meeting for Hope in our Villages that will involve our church in Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire.  I had experienced a very blessed service on Sunday 30th March at Gartree Prison, and numbers in the male voice choir have been growing each week for three weeks.

Please continue to pray for the churches and people following all these activities.

On Palm Sunday I will be preaching at Yelvertoft Parish Church at a Joint Service in the village.  On Wednesday 16th we are holding our next Messy Church event.  See www.yelvertoftchurch.org.uk for more information about our ministry there.

As we celebrate Easter over coming days I pray that your heart will leap at the wonder of the gospel we proclaim.

Happy Easter.

Barry

Counter-cultural?

I guess that for many of us events this weekend have marked a distinction between our personal faith and the culture of those around us.  I refer to the enactment of the law regarding marriage between  those of the same gender.  Of course, it is possible that some who receive this blog by email or who read it will not have a problem with the change in definition of marriage.  But for others it will seem yet another step down a road to a society from which they feel increasingly alienated.

In the UK for many years in the past the general moral standards of society were those influenced by scripture and religious conviction.  Now we recognise that essentially ours is a secular society that tolerates (sometimes with difficulty) those whose personal faith is the source of their moral values.  While many Christians in the UK (and possibly people of other faiths) find that difficult, this is what many Christians in other parts of the world are doing all the time.  Living out our faith within a cultural context that has values that contrast with ours is a challenge we should always be ready to accept.  Part of that challenge is to demonstrate a responsible attitude to the civil authorities and a loving attitude towards others whose lifestyle and values we might not find personally attractive.  I believe that it is possible to do so with integrity.

What we need to guard against is simply going with the flow.  These days this is what seems to be the position of the UK government that makes laws on common standards rather than other moral values.  So unless you believe that humankind naturally seeks to live righteously we are blindly following a pathway that could lead to steady degeneracy. Living by the "everyone does it" standard is not a moral justification.

However, I return to the challenge of living by values informed by our faith within a secular context that has alternative - if not contrary - values.   On my first period of ministry in East Africa which kick-started our ongoing ministry in Kenya I was taken by surprise to find myself living among and working with people who practised polygamy.  But I soon discovered that this was not driven by sexual appetite but was a positive response to a social and economic need.  Widows were provided with security socially and financially by being taken as second or subsequent wives.  The Christians with which we were working were part of this culture but chose to superimpose their understanding of Christian morality upon it.  So where a man became a Christian, having several wives, he was expected only to have a sexual relationship with his first wife.  Where a young man who was single became a Christian he was expected to only take one wife.  Beyond these regulations they were happy to accommodate the normal standards of the society in which they were living.

The Bible is not a great help when it comes to addressing the issue of marriage and sexual relations.  There is no non-contradicted categorical statement though there are grounds for a case for a monogamous married state intended to be permanent.  However, by Moses time (if not sooner) divorce and remarriage was common enough for the law of Moses to accommodate and regulate this.  Divorce and remarriage is therefore presented as something that God could accommodate but that was not ideal.

There are copious examples in scripture of polygamy, the use of concubines, and of surrogate motherhood.  I find the words of 2Samuel 12:8 rather strange in this respect.  By contrast we have the situation during the restoration from the Exile in which certain wives had to be "put away" (See Ezra chapter 10).  Then there is the encounter of Jesus with a woman who had had five husbands and was currently living with a man to whom she was not married (John 4) where there is no explicit condemnation.

It has been argued that the churches are rather obsessed with the issue of homosexuality to the neglect of other important matters.  I concede that there are grounds for such criticism.  However, in a society that is happy to endorse same sex relationships and go so far as to grant them absolute identical status in law and society as that of heterosexual monogamous marriage, Christians have no alternative than to determine how we relate to the wider cultural context in which we are called to live.

There is insufficient space here to rehearse all the arguments for and against approval of loving, same sex, monogamous and permanent relationships being acceptable.  I think I have heard, read and considered these.  I hope that if you haven't done so you will do so and guard against the dangers of either blind bigotry or going with the flow.  My own personal position at the present is one that cannot endorse homosexual relationships as being God's ideal and consequently I still see marriage as being an exclusive and permanent relationship between one man and one woman.  But I have friends and colleagues who have been divorced and remarried and a few in same sex relationships.  I do not feel that I have to be censorious or unloving or disrespectful towards those who have chosen a different way of life or towards those whose personal faith and conscience leads them to a different position to my own.

The real problem for Christians is when those who hold contrary views and values seek to impose them upon other people.  Such was the situation that my good friends in Cornwall found themselves caught up in when they declined to provide a bedroom in their guest house to an unmarried couple (which was a policy clearly published on their website and not aimed particularly at homosexual relationships).  The outcome was that they became targeted by those who campaign for acceptance of standards that many Christians still feel unhappy about.  Dragged before the Courts and the world media my friends maintained a gentle, loving and reasonable attitude.

So far the law of the UK enables Christians (and those of other faiths) to hold and express (with reasonable restraints) convictions that are contrary to those held by the wider society.  In our churches we can decline to provide services of marriage and other services on the grounds that it would be contrary to our beliefs.  What God does not allow is for us to act in a way that fails to express his character of mercy, compassion and love in positive and non-patronising ways.  Asking, "What would Jesus do" is not a bad habit.

Called to be salt and light (Matthew 5) inevitably means being called to be counter-cultural at times.  Paul, in his letter to the Philippians has something to say about this (see chapter 2 verses 12 to 18).  While speaking about the lives of the Christians in that city as being as distinctive as stars in the night sky he also hints at a terrible price that this may require.  Someone once said that Jelly Fish go with the flow but a fish can stand against the tide because it has a backbone.

Be good, try to be holy, and work at being loving and caring to those who are different to yourselves.  In so doing we will spread a little light without blinding anyone, and a little salt without making people want to spit it out!

From the diary

It was a privilege and joy recently to share in the CTE party thrown in honour of the Rev John Bradley, Methodist Minister and former staff member at Churches Together in England.  Redundancy coincided with a period of ill health for John who was already coping with Multiple Sclerosis.  John is also a trustee of Sunrise Ministries (Rural Mission Solutions) and a long term friend and prayer partner for our ministry.  John has come through major surgery.  Friends from around the country came to pay tribute to a man who has not only done a good work but also been an inspiration.  He is seen here receiving presentations from the Rev Dr David Cornick, General Secretary of CTE.

There have recently been encouragements in my work at HMP Gartree, the largest prison in the UK for men serving life sentences.  Numbers in the choir have grown.  They are very appreciative and responsive not only to my conducting but also to various short talks about the background to Christian songs (e.g. O Sacred Head Once Wounded).  Please pray for "J" who is struggling with problems in his life.  Pray also as I take the morning service there this Sunday 30th March.

We held our fourth event at Yelvertoft recently as "Get Messy for Mothering Sunday".  We saw an increase in numbers and had two mums who stayed through and joined in marvellously.  We now have a young family as part of our church so please pray as we make appropriate adjustments to include them fully.  Pray for more young families and for our work with the families coming to Messy Church.  Our Lent Bible Discussion meetings each Thursday are going well.  This Sunday our meeting will be led by Angela Berry.

Toward the end of this week I will be travelling from the East Midlands to north Devon at the request of the members of Brayford Methodist Church (picture from the circuit website).  This is a scattered community that has undergone change as people have moved in.  Members are seeking to explore their future in the light of change and an ageing congregation.  Please pray for a safe journey both ways, for sensitivity and wisdom on my part.  The church is located in an area in which I shared in many missions in the past.

Research has always been an important part of my rural ministry.  I have sought to understand how village life works socially and politically, how churches can be made more effective in their life and witness, what helps churches to grow or helps new churches become established.  The current programme exploring how evangelism is understood and practised in rural England is an ongoing project requiring significant time.

All our activities needs your prayers please - and we need to return thanks to God for blessings.  None of the rural mission work - which is the core ministry of Sunrise Ministries and Rural Mission Solutions would be possible without financial support.  Thanks are due for the small but faithful band who share in making the blessing of others a possibility.

Every blessing,

Barry

That Sunday Morning Feeling

His mother said, "Come on Son - out of that bed ; it's Sunday and we're going to church".  He pulled the bedclothes around him and answered, "Shan't!".

"Come on son!  Out of that bed!  We always go to church on Sundays".

Again he sank deeper into the welcoming bedclothes and answered, "I don't want to go!"

His mother reasoned again.  "OK, give me two good reasons why you don't want to go to church today".  He replied, "I don't like the people and they don't like me!"

"Not good enough" said his mother, "Get out of that bed.  It's Sunday and you are going to church!"

"Give me two good reasons why I should", he retorted.

His mother thought for a moment and replied, "You are 45 and you are the vicar!"

It's an old joke and you have probably heard it before.  But I wonder, as I write this early on a Sunday morning, how you have greeted today with its opportunity of going to church.  For me, after a very busy week I look forward to the time I will spend in two churches today (though I still have preparation to do!).  This morning I will be at the church where I am part time minister.  Meeting again with the members - all of whom I love - will be a delight.  After the morning meeting we will share lunch and then discuss together the onward journey on which God is taking us.

This evening I will be the guest speaker at the anniversary services for a church near Nuneaton.  It will be my second visit but my first to take the service.  What a privilege to share with them as they too look forward and give thanks for the journey they have been on.

As I have indicated, this has been a busy week.  Last Sunday I took the morning meeting at Yelvertoft in Northamptonshire, then in the evening Doreen and I went to a small village near Rugby to take the evening meeting for the URC.  On Monday I travelled to Coatbridge just outside Glasgow where I spent the following day working with my good friend, Dean Juster, speaking on the Salvation Army's safeguarding programme for some of the SA officers in Scotland.  After travelling back on Wednesday I had an evening staff management meeting near Leicester. At 9.00 on Thursday it was my privilege to lead a communion service for the staff and volunteers of Torch Trust for the Blind in Market Harborough then Doreen and I were off to Yelvertoft for the second of our Lent meetings.  First thing Friday I was off again, this time to Leeds to share in the Enabling Group meeting of Churches Together in England.  A busy week but a blessed one.

Of course you too may well have had a busy and demanding week and I hope that like me, you face Sunday and the opportunity of church with joy and anticipation.  For many of us it isn't a day of rest exactly and we find other ways of building recreation into our timetables (well, I normally do!).

I am thankful that for many years I ministered in a tradition where all the congregation was expected to come to church having spent time in prayer and waiting on God to see if we could take to the meeting something that might bless others.  It might be something that God had used to speak to us through scripture, or a particular hymn or song, or a word of encouragement.  But the very act of preparing for church in this way meant that among the mix of people that came there was always something that touched me and, I hope, something I took that touched others.

Such an open gathering becomes difficult once the numbers grow beyond a certain level.  Paul wrote about this in 1Corinthians 14:26.  Paul also emphasises the need to exhort one another, to encourage one another and to edify one another.  Such activities are not restricted to Sunday meetings but should be part of our everyday Christian living.  But what a wonderful experience church would be if every Christian asked God to give them both the opportunity and the wisdom needed to do at least one of those things for at least one person every time we go to a meeting.

Many years ago while ministering at Egerton in Kent I met an older Strict Baptist brother in Christ as he walked in the opposite direction on the main street.  He stopped and told me that the Lord had put a verse of scripture on his heart.  He felt it was for him to pass on to someone else so he was passing it on to every Christian he met that day.  It was from the book of Esther and was just what I needed to hear at that time.  Whose was the greater blessing, do you think?  His or mine?

Si when it's Sunday and you should be going to church but perhaps are tempted to have a little extra "me" time, just think: someone at the meeting might have just what you need and what God wants to give you.  Or perhaps God wants to bless you by using you to bless someone more needy than you might imagine.

This week
Sunday 16th 10.45 Yelvertoft CC, Northamptonshire followed by lunch and Church Meeting
                       6.30 Stockingford CC near Nuneaton, Warwickshire - Church Anniversary
Monday 17th School Assembly, Lubenham, Leicestershire
Tuesday 18th School Assembly, Yelvertoft followed by my regular work at HMP Gartree
Thursday 20th Lent Bible Study, Yelvertoft
Saturday 22nd - our third "Messy Church" event at Yelvertoft
Sunday 23rd - Family Service at Yelvertoft (please pray as we seek to reach out to families)

Thank you.

Barry

Dissent or Secession?

The subject of secession has been much in the news recently.  One situation is happening in Ukraine at this time as it seems like the nation is fracturing and that Crimea will secede from Ukraine with some encouragement from Vladimir Putin.  Another situation is the possible secession of Scotland from the UK.  Both situations have generated anxiety for many people.  I find myself wondering about motivation in both cases and were they to succeed I doubt that this would bring everything they hope for.  Is there, I wonder, a degree of self-interest at the expense of others?  But then I am neither Scottish or Crimean.

The Bible records occasions of separation.  The first that comes to mind is the parting of Abraham and Lot.  Many years ago I used to take services for an Independent Baptist Chapel that had a big text over the pulpit stating, "Let there be no strive between me and thee and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen for we be brethren" (Genesis 13:8)  I often wondered what situation in that village church gave rise to such a strange choice of text.  Parting company was seen to be of mutual benefit, and Abraham was very gracious in the matter.  He was keen that parting company did not spoil their relationship.

The second situation that comes to mind is recorded in Numbers chapter 32 where the Children of Reuben and the Children of Gad apply to opt out of entering Canaan.  Their self-interest threatened to scuttle the situation for all of the tribes of Israel.  Happily they reached a workable compromise.  Verse 6 was the text of the first sermon I preached from a pulpit.  It was on a mission conducted for the Salvation Army Corps (church) at what was then Hastings North.  I was just 18 years old and preaching at the Sunday Holiness Meeting was a great honour insisted upon by the Commanding Officer, Captain Peak much to the annoyance of the team director!  I still wonder what made him so sure I should speak, and I am glad he stood his ground.

My third and final example is the division that took place within the nation of Israel just  a century after Israel had become a united monarchy under Saul.  Not long after Solomon's death the nation that had originally been a federal state split into two nations under Jereboam and Rehoboam.  Only a few generations before there had been political pressure as Israel wanted to be like others and appoint a king like other nations.  If only they could have seen the eventual outcome.  However God brought something wonderful out of it.

When I was a very young teenage Christian with more doubt than faith I was interviewed by two deacons of the Baptist Church I had been brought up in, and to which I had returned after several years of sinful conduct.  The interview was to determine whether or not I was fit to become a church member.  Knowing that honest answers might have ruled me out I had prepared a devious answer to any difficult questions that came my way: "It is hard to be articulate about things that are intangible".  What a load of rubbish!  One of the two deacons, a former minister, understandably advised against my admission to membership.  The other, a farmer, drove me home and on the way said something I have never forgotten: "Barry, never be afraid to dissent".  He had interpreted my linguistic gymnastics correctly.  He recommended that I should be admitted to membership on the grounds that the Bible states that he who is weak in the faith is not to be refused! (Romans 14:1 KJV).  His recommendation won the day.  The evening before the occasion when I was to be baptised and welcomed into the church God sorted me out and won my soul, my life, my whole.

While I have had cause to remember the words about dissent on many occasions I also hold strongly to the need to honour the essential unity of Christ's Church.  Dissent is not the same as secession.  For me it is more important to recognise myself as a Christian rather than defining myself denominationally (though I am not ashamed of my denominational preference).  It is possible to have true unity yet with diversity.  But that only works where there is respect for those that hold a differing view with conviction.  What makes us one is not our assent to certain dogma but our common experience of God's love and mercy.  That is what unity in the Spirit is about.

We may choose what earthly church we want to join but it is God who chooses us to be part of the Church Universal.  His choosing far eclipses ours.  A preacher at an inter-church event many years ago referred to a member of the congregation stating, "Mr Smith belongs to the Methodist Church."  Immediately Mr Smith spoke up, "That's wrong I belong to Jesus!"  The preacher was thrown by the interjection and added, "I meant what persuasion you were of".  But this only brought the response, "Oh, I can certainly tell you that, I am persuaded that nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus!"  The preacher gave up!

If you need to dissent then by all means do so, but do it lovingly and graciously and take care that dissent never turns into secession as far as being committed to the rest of your diverse sisters and brother is concerned.

From the Diary

• The warm response from the Salvation Army officers and other staff last Wednesday in Bolton was very encouraging.  The Central North Division had also invited folk from their neighbouring Division.  I had travelled by train following an excellent time at HMP Gartree on Tuesday.  It was well worth the journey.
• I was still tired on Thursday morning and leaned heavily on the Lord as I took the communion service for the staff and volunteers at Torch Trust for the Blind first thing.  God was gracious and the meeting seemed to overflow with his presence.  Songs, stories and passages of scripture came together into one message on the extravagant generosity of our God.  From there Doreemn and I travelled to Yelvertoft for the first of our Lenten meetings.  More sweet fellowship!
• This Sunday, 9th March I am leading and speaking at Yelvertoft Congregational Church and in the evening doing the same for Newton URC near Rugby.
• On Monday I fly to Scotland to teach on the Salvation Army's Safe and Sound programme for officers and other leaders north of the border on Tuesday, flying back home on Wednesday in time for Thursday's Lenten meeting at Yelvertoft.
• On Friday and Saturday I will be in Leeds for the Churches Together in England Enabling Group where I shall be representing the Congregational Federation.
• On Sunday 16th March in the morning I will be at Yelvertoft as usual and in the evening I am the guest speaker at an Anniversary Service for a church in Stockingford, Nuneaton.

Please pray for safe travelling and that I will stay fresh physically and spiritually and thus able to do all I should.  Please pray that Doreen will be safe and free from injury while I am away for a few days.

Thank you,

Barry

Thoughts on 'Vision' and the Ukraine Situation

I want to encourage your prayers for those Christians caught up in some areas of political turmoil, whether this is in parts of Africa, the Middle East or Eastern Europe.  I have mentioned before our links with church leaders in Syria, one of whom is in Aleppo where there has been significant conflict and casualties.  Please pray for Haroutune Selieman and the Armenian Evangelical Church of Syria.

A few years ago I made contact with the Evangelical Baptist Union of Ukraine, asking them to provide some hospitality and support for a Christian friend who was prayer walking through that country.  This they did gladly.  We then had some correspondence regarding sharing our experience in rural evangelism with them.  This had followed the adaptation of some of my writing by the Lutheran Church in Germany.  Over recent days I have been in touch again with one of their office staff and they have asked our prayers for peace and unity.  They are concerned over feelings of anger and desire for revenge.  They seek to be instruments of peace in a troubled nation.  Please pray.

The current Interim President of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov, is a Baptist Pastor and much respected. I cannot imagine how stressful the situation is for him, Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, and others in the Ukraine leadership at present. You may have seen the Ukrainian Orthodox priest who took a stand and has sought to prevent violence at an army camp under siege.  Please pray for our sisters and brothers in Christ as they seek to act appropriately in this difficult situation.  Pray too for wisdom on both sides of the situation in Crimea.

I find it difficult to imagine how political leaders manage in situations where there is considerable unrest.  The natural skills required are considerable.  This brings me to the topic of Vision.

Proverbs 29:18 in the Authorised Version is often a favourite text of evangelicals, "Without a vision the people perish". Usually "the people" in that context is taken to mean those who have yet to hear the gospel.  A better translation of the Hebrew text might be "Without guidance from God law and order disappear".  Or we might say that where there is no revelation of God's truth there is no moral constraint, leading to degeneration and chaos.  But leaving aside the possible misunderstanding of the meaning of the text, I would like to take a little space here to reflect on the importance of vision.

When I did my management studies back in the eighties one of the university tutors used the expression "Helicopter management" by which he meant having the ability to rise above the immediate problem to perceive the bigger picture and see the solution, the descending again to take appropriate action.  Sometimes we can be so immersed in our present circumstances that our vision is impaired.  In 1Corinthians chapter 12 Paul lists various spiritual gifts within the Church and includes what might be translated as "government|" or "administration" or "forms of leadership" or "guidance".  The word in the Greek text is commonly used for a pilot of a ship.  It implies someone who knows the way ahead and how to get there safely.

Every local congregation could do with someone who has such skills.  Without a vision of what could be and where the church should be progressing there is danger of becoming moribund, anachronistic, or moving in the wrong direction.  But it is not enough to have a vision of where to go, there is also the need to know how to arrive there safely and, for church progress, to arrive there together.

We often use the concept of vision related to what could be.  One of my favourite quotations is Robert Kennedy's slight adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's statement.  The Kennedy version is "There are those who look at things the way they are and ask why... I dream of things that never were and ask why not".  The prophet Joel  foretold the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and declared that "...young men will see visions and old men dream dreams"  It would be easy to think that the young men have the vision of what could be while the old men dream of what might have been.  But that would not be an accurate understanding of the text.  God gave prophetic dreams in both Old Testament and New Testament times.  The emphasis within the text is about relative maturity.  The Hebrew for old men implies those that are bearded and have become wiser with years.  It does not mean the over sixties exclusively!  Similarly, young men does not mean those that are immature; rather it refers to those who are adults but probably still unmarried younger men. Joel's prophecy encompasses men and women, young and old..

So fundamentally there is no significant distinction between dreams and visions.  I think that the first disciples became excited about what could be as they experienced life in the Holy Spirit.  How does that compare with us today and our experience as Christians and within our churches.  Are there  dreams and visions of what could be that inspire and motivate us ever forward, or are we blindly wandering around in ever decreasing circles?

Furthermore, since Joel's prophecy encompasses male and female, young and old, are we, within our churches, encouraging everyone to move into living out experientially this prophecy.  Of course, there might well be an element of chaos, but perhaps if more felt released into a greater visionary forward looking attitude we might just possibly discover those who have that special gift in leadership that knows both the way ahead and how to get there safely. Sadly, all too often, the enthusiastic vision of youth meets with the attitude of older Christians who have forgotten how to dream dreams.

So here's the challenge.  Over the next few weeks spend some time dreaming of things that could be and asking "why not?"  Ask God to give you a vision of where you think your personal Christian growth should take you and ask for a vision for how your church should progress.  Then humbly share your vision and dreams with those appointed to leadership in the church (or if you are appointed to leadership you could share it with your church) as you seek God's guidance.  This is not an opportunity for pushing private personal agendas, so humility is essential!

Back in 1963 when, as a teenager, I became involved first in rural ministry, we had a slide presentation entitled A Vision Fulfilled.  Twenty five years later when I left that organisation the vision had only been partly fulfilled as there was still so much more to be done in rural evangelism.  In 1988 there was a new vision that led Doreen and I together with Monica Cook to start Sunrise Ministries,under which my work of Rural Mission Solutions operates.  The new vision was for local rural churches to develop their own bespoke sustainable strategies for mission and evangelism.  Twenty five years on again and there is still a long way to go before such a vision could be fulfilled.  But I still have a dream of truly missional churches that fires me up and gives me a passion to share it with others.

From the diary:

• At Yelvertoft we held our third Messy Church on 22nd February and followed this with our first Family Service the next day.
• The fortnightly inter-church Bible discussion meetings at Yelvertoft, that never cease to inspire me,are this week moving into a Lent programme every Thursday where we are exploring elements from the Nicene Creed.
• We held a Rural Mission and Ministry Support meeting for rural church leaders in north Northamptonshire, south Leicestershire and Rutland recently.  There were several new leaders present and we are now building on this to give these occasions added value.  I hope to see the Rugby area group restarted soon.
• I am now progressing the research into how evangelism is understood and practised in rural England.
• On Tuesday 4th March, following my regular work with life sentence prisoners at Gartree I will be travelling to Bolton where I will be teaching on Wednesday within the Salvation Army Division as part of the Army's Safe and Sound programme to protect the vulnerable.
• On Thursday 6th March I am leading a communion service for staff and volunteers at the Torch Trust for the Blind in Market Harborough before leading the first of our Lent Bible Discussion Meetings in Yelvertoft.
• Sunday 8th March Ministry in Yelvertoft.  Sunday 16th - Yelvertoft and Nuneaton.
• Monday 10th - Wednesday 12th March I will be in Scotland working with the Salvation Army with my main input on Tuesday.  
• Friday 14th and Saturday 15th March I will be representing the Congregational Federation at Churches Together in England's Enabling Group in Leeds.

Thank you for your patience with me and for your prayers.

Barry

Love and Light

I started writing this last Sunday.  Some times I think I am obtuse (no need to comment!).  Today was a case in point.  Whenever I am responsible for speaking at church or leading worship I make a point of seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit in the hope of having what might be called a prophetic edge to my ministry.  The Spirit knows what needs to be said and I want to do my best to say what God is wanting said.  Probably on most occasions I develop a strong conviction about the topic or theme and often it proves right, for which I am thankful.  Sometimes I receive that conviction well ahead of the event.  At other times it may only come nearer the time - but that might indicate a lack of prayerfulness on my part!  But today was strange.

Right up to yesterday evening (Saturday 8th) I had no sense of guidance as to this morning's service.  We don't follow the Lectionary, but out of desperation I looked it up on the internet and the more I thought and prayed the more I felt that perhaps I should be saying on "You are the light of the world".  Various related passages of scripture came to mind and I began also to think about hymns and songs. Then I found my thoughts moving on a different theme, that of love (well Valentine's day was coming up).  Soon several contemporary worship songs were resonating in my heart and I began to wonder if I should abandon the light theme with the two hymns I had particularly thought right ("Immortal Invisible God only wise" and "Shine Jesus Shine").

Time was running out and I had no complete plan as I left for the morning meeting.  Half prepared to speak on love and half prepared to speak on our being lights in the world, I looked at my two lists of hymns and songs and tried to sense what God might be wanting me to focus on.  Which was it?  It isn't often I arrive at a meeting feeling confused but I had two different threads in my mind without feeling that I should abandon either.  I quietly explained my dilemma to our pianist and ran through options we might sing.  Just before we began she started to play "Living under the shadow of his wing".  Not wanting to make a sudden theme change I went with this song which had actually come powerfully to mind not long before I had left home.  It's a song with three verses and is about worship and adoration.  As we sang I had a kind of image come to mind of arriving as a guest at a home and on arrival presenting the host with a gift (wine or chocolate perhaps - a love gift).  I shared my thought and we sang it again as our love gift to God as we gathered at his invitation in his house.

This opened up the theme of love and I wanted it to lead into a deeper time of sharing.  We were all thrilled to see one of our folk who was there after having had major surgery just a few days before.  Being there was important to him and so precious to the rest of us.  He was invited to bring us up to date on his operation and future.  He shared with us how strange it seemed that people of faith seemed to be close to him throughout his time in hospital.  As he spoke I became aware that one of the older members of our church was missing.  She needs a lift in order to attend and between us we seemed to have missed picking her up.  So as one person went to pick her up (now almost 30 minutes after the start) we finally had our sharing time.

People grouped mainly into threes to share encouragements and any worries.  We had also highlighted other general concerns for prayer.  Once all three had time to share at least one in each group was to gather the conversation together in a prayer.  It was a time of precious sharing and real loving fellowship (illustrating my theme of love).  So it was strange that I felt we should revert to the 'light'theme next as we sang, "Immortal, invisible God only wise".  The key verse was

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,

Thine angels adore Thee all veiling their sight

All laud we would render, O help us to see

'Tis only the splendour of light hideth Thee.

We have recently been studying Isaiah and had noted the prophecy that the Servant Messiah would be a "light to all nations".  I spoke to this briefly but the Bible reading that followed was from 1John 3 (back to the love theme). To my mind it was seeming fragmented but suddenly came together as I realised that the brilliant light that was Jesus was because he is pure love.  The two are not separate concepts. In that opening song we had sung verse three:

Heart to heart embracing in his love

reveals his purity.

Soaring in my spirit like a dove;

holy, holy, holy is the Lord

If we want to let our light shine before all so that they might glorify God (Matthew 5:16) we would need the Holy Spirit enabling to love as Jesus loved, to even love the un-loveable and our enemies (Matthew 5: 43-48).  It is genuine godly love that makes the light shine!

To coin a phrase from The Simpsons "Dah!"

Now you may have fully grasped that years ago but forgive me for being obtuse.  Where I thought I had two themes I had, in fact, two facets of a single theme.  We brought it all together in our final hymn "Lord, the light of your love is shining... Shine Jesus shine".

So, if you're a little on the slow side (like me) or whether this has been clear as crystal for years, we would all do well to remember that its only as our lives are filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit that we are enabled to love as we ought to love that the light of God streams out of our lives unveiled from our human baseness.  It was love that had brought our friend back so soon after his operation.  It was love that compelled us to go and collect someone who would have otherwise missed fellowship.  It was love that made the sharing and prayer time precious.  It was light that was shining that morning.

Oh, that it might shine brighter and brighter - not just when we gather on Sundays but in every dark corner of our everyday lives - in our homes and places of work or education or in the doll queue or wherever we are found.

Amen?

Now to other things - and in particular things for praise and prayer from recent days.

• I have been greatly encouraged by the emails and phone calls recently because the usual flow of these 'epistles' has been rather disrupted.  Thank you all who have recently expressed appreciation for them.  It means a lot.
• Our hearts go out to those affected by the floods -especially farmers and those in villages.  Please pray for and support your local Farming Community Network people.  You might also like to look at this link to our friends at the Arthur Rank centre. www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/communities-and-farming/community-resources/item/9344-how-to-support-those-affected-by-flooding-in-somerset  (Sorry about the long URL)
• Doreen and I had a great time at Goodwood Evangelical Chhurch, Leicester on Sunday 2nd February where I led the Family Service on the theme of following Jesus.  We are thankful for the prayers and support we receive from this fellowship.
• On 30th January the trustees of Mission for Christ held a telephone conference which included two new trustees who have come on board to assist in sorting out problems inherited from previous administration.  It was a good meeting and several important decisions were taken.  This was followed up by a positive discussion with the Charity Commission as we move towards the end of what has been a difficult journey.  Please give thanks.
• Please pray for Christian friends who run a project at Slack Top near Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire.  They were also victims of the same difficulties I inherited when I joined the trusteeship of Mission for Christ.  This is the Mission I joined as a teenager and worked in for 25 years.  One of the outcomes of the recent trustees' meeting was to execute a Deed of Agreement which we hope will set our Yorkshire friends free to develop the work in new and exciting ways.  
• Please give thanks that after countless hours of work running over the past eighteen months I have finally completed the Mission for Christ administrative work this week and 'cleared the decks' so that the work can move into a new phase.  Give thanks that I can now (apparently) focus more on the important research I have started.
• Please pray that I will find a way to catch up on the Research and that the way will open up before me on this project.
• In our church we give thanks for effective surgery for Rob and pray as he will begin radio-therapy shortly.  We also give thanks that Peter (my bubblingoverwithJesus 92 year old) is out of the High Dependency Unit at hospital and seems more like his old (but spiritually renewed) self.  At the end of a recent visit to him in hospital we share reciting Psalm 23 together and then I prayed for him and he prayed for me.  As I left the man in the bed opposite commented how wonderful this sounded to him and how it had blessed him.  Light shining?

So it just remains for me to say thank you for journeying with us in prayer.  Remember that if you receive these Praise and Prayer News by email but no longer want them you can ask to come off the list.  If you have someone who you want to add to the list please send me their contact details (with their permission please).  I pray that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and that your light will shine brightly over the coming days.  It will only keep shining if fuelled by God's gracious power, and that is fully and freely available if we really want it.

Your friend and his servant,

Barry