Amazing Words! Faith brings light into darkness

Amazing Words!
It must have been the darkest time of their lives.  For several days their brother's health had worsened.  There was no hospital to which he could go.  In desperation they had sent a message to their friend to get here as soon as he could.  He, they knew, had extraordinary powers and could heal the sick.  He would be sure to come when he got the message.  What they were not to know when the message was sent that it would be too late.  Their friend could never have got there in time.

Now it felt as if their hearts had been torn out.  Friends uttered kind words and offered sympathy, but nothing could chase away the darkness that had descended on their lives as they laid their brothers remains to rest in the garden tomb.  But now word had reached them that he had come. He was here, and people were saying that if only he had been here, their brother would have been alive.  It was Martha who went out to meet him, unable to rest at home with her weeping sister, and needing to see his face, to hear him speak, even to just know that he was with them in this dreadful darkness.

She found herself echoing what others were saying, and what she knew wee;  "If you had been here my brother would not have died..."  There was no recrimination in those words.  She knew that if it had been possible, he would have been there.  Then came those absolutely amazing words from her lips.  "But I know that even now, God will give you whatever you ask."

"WHATEVER"!  Did she actually believe that?  Whatever?  Could she have imagined what would take place in a few moments?  Her amazing friend spoke of life after this life but, more than that, that he was the source of eternal life.  Quietly she affirmed her faith in him, still not knowing what would follow.

In the darkest moments of our lives, it is easy to dwell on the "If only..." moments.  Her sister, in her grief, seemed to be stuck in that limited imagination.  "If only you had been here my brother would not have died".  But Martha was looking up and looking forward, refusing to allow disappointment to cloud her vision of what still could be.  "But even now" are truly amazing words.  It has always seemed a paradox that the sister who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus listening to his words, is not the woman of faith at this time.  But it is not about what we hear or read that make the difference.  It is about what we believe.

So it was that, after tears had been shed,a call rang out for the dead to rise again, and Lazarus came out from the grave in which he had lain for four days.

For many people in the world today, the darkest moments have come as their loved ones have been lost.  I too, have experienced loss as my beloved Doreen has passed into the presence of the Savior she loved and served.  45 years of marriage brought to an end by the ravages of Alzheimer's Disease.  A few years before it had become apparent that the person with whom I had fallen in love had faded as the disease took its relentless toll.  But I had determined that if the woman I had fallen in love with was no longer available, then I would deliberately learn to love the woman I still lived with.  And so I did, in the good moments and the bad.  And towards the end, the woman I fell in love with some 46 years before returned to me, as if risen from the dead.  Moments of deep affection and words of deep love repeatedly passed one from the other.

And now I have my "Even now..." moment.  For me, the passion to help other people find salvation in Christ, to know him as Saviour and friend, has been rekindled as I think of the thousands passing into eternity without the hope that burns in my heart, leaving behind grieving loved ones without that "Even now" comfort.  As millions of Christians rise to the challenge of being good neighbours to friends in need, I pray that somehow, God will help us to share something of our faith that can look through the darkest days to a better and more glorious future.  People need to hear the good news.  They need Jesus!  There is an amazing opportunity for us to be God's instrument to bring hope to replace despair.  We need wisdom and courage to find and use the appropriate words, but we must never let the opportunity slip.

And in your dark moments, may you so trust in Jesus that you can say with confidence,"Even now..."

Please join us online at 8.00 (BST) this Easter Sunday Morning when Gordon Banks and I will be leading some Easter thoughts and worship.  You need to register in advance.  TO DO THIS PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK NOW.

God bless you.  Stay safe.

Barry
Rev Barry Osborne
CEO,Rural Mission Solutions

Totally Unexpected

A few years ago someone gave my wife a potted primula.  It adorned a window cill for a while, then I planted it in the garden behind our house, hoping it might survive.

That winter, much to our surprise it suddenly burst into flower right through a deep layer of snow.  It continued to flower for a whole year and through another cold winter. The flowers disappeared late last year but as soon as the garden was covered with several inches of snow this winter, up it came in all its glory again.  Up it comes before the crocuses and other Spring plants. Its vibrant life is totally unexpected, but gives great joy.

A deep gloom had settled on the eleven surviving men.  Their leader had been a victim of an extremely painful form of capital punishment.  Not that he had done anything wrong. They were trumped up charges and it was a mockery of a trial.  Added to that one of their number had hanged himself. They had mixed feelings about that. After all he was the one who had betrayed the Master.  But now the adventure was over.

Among them, Peter seemed to be the most depressed as he sat with his head in his hands.  It had started out so well for him. Sure, he had often put his foot in his mouth, and his impetuosity had got him into difficulties.  But he had sworn undying faithfulness, only to throw away three years by three times denying that he even knew the Master. And he could not free himself from that memory of the look Jesus had given him as he emerged from the High Priest’s house. What was it?  Disappointment? No, it was something else: understanding? However you describe it, that look was enough to reduce a grown man to floods of bitter tears. He was a failure.

Only John made himself busy taking care of their Master’s bereaved mother, comforting her as best he could.  The rest sat in huddled silence, overwhelmed by the sudden dreadfulness that marked the end of their mission.

Suddenly the door burst open as some of the women came in shouting excitedly about a stone rolled away and an empty tomb, and talk of angels.  Their words broke through the pained silence like a sword. Peter leapt to his feet and rushed to the door. He had to see this for himself. How could things have gone from bad to worse.  He hurried as fast as could towards the place where the man who had changed his life had been hurriedly buried in a borrowed tomb. His friend had abandoned Mary, and now ran past Peter, reaching the tomb first.  Sure enough, the great stone was rolled to one side and he could see the body had gone. He fell to the ground in grief.

But Peter needed more and went inside.  For a few moments he stood alone in that empty space until he was joined by John.  What was really strange was that the strips of cloth that had wrapped his body and that which had been wrapped around his head were still lying separately there. Peter had no idea what to make of it.  Everything was so confusing.

But the confusion evaporated that evening. Peter and John had joined the others in the guest chamber of the house.  They had carefully locked the door. It would not surprise them if the religious leaders and soldiers came to arrest them.  And that was when it happened! Quite how they would never be able to explain, but he was there.  Right there, in the room despite the locked door.  It was really him, standing there and speaking words of peace, and showing them the wounds in his hands and his side. It was really him! Totally unexpected!  What was more, apparently the mission was to go on.

Something like that was hard to get your head around.  Peter had seen something like it three times before. There was that time in the house of Jairus when Jesus had brought his daughter back to life.  Before then, he had stopped a funeral procession outside Nain, grabbing hold of the bier and commanding the young man to get up. What a shock that was to the crowd as he sat up and started talking.  Then the most amazing time was at Bethany where his friend Lazarus had died four days before, and he came out of the tomb still wrapped in burial cloth when Jesus called him. But who walks out of his own tomb?

Maybe it was all too confusing.  Maybe it was his own uncertainty about his relationship to the man he had so vehemently denied.  He was like a broken chair that no one would ever comfortably trust again. Whatever the cause, Peter seemed to think that the answer was to go back to fishing.  So it was that he and some of the others spent a fruitless night on the lake. As the skies were just beginning to lighten they saw a man on the shore who called out to them and offered some advice.  As day breaks, fish that had been near the surface, swim deeper making catching them harder. But Peter had once before taken advice and had caught so many fish on that occasion that the boat nearly sank.  This time, again the advice was good and the nets were full. It was totally unexpected.

They had not recognised him at first, but John declared, “It is the Lord”.  As they neared the shore, Peter, impetuous as ever, jumped overboard and led the way up the beach.  They ate their breakfast in an awkward silence. Then Peter and Jesus had walked together along the shore.  It was not an easy conversation. Twice Jesus asked Peter if he really did deeply love him. Peter could only respond expressing a lesser kind of love.  The third time the question came, Jesus used the same expression Peter had been using. It had been bad enough to have sat round that fire, so similar to the one he had sat around that night he had denied the one he had professed to love to death.  Now it seemed that even the lesser expression of love Peter claimed he had, was being questioned.

That he deserved, but what he did not expect or deserve were the words Jesus also spoke recommissioning Peter.  If Peter’s faith had been found wanting, it seemed that Jesus still had faith in him. That was totally unexpected.

As someone who has tried to follow Jesus, and who has let the Lord down on occasions, I take comfort in reading of their relationship. The love of Jesus for me was expressed on Calvary. His patience with me is experienced day after day.  He is the great constant in a changing world and an inadequate discipleship.

On Easter Sunday 55 years ago I declared my faith in Jesus Christ before a packed church and stepped into the baptismal pool.  A burst pipe in the road nearby a few days before had resulted in a thin layer of clay on the tiled floor, and I skidded into the waiting arms of the man who had tricked me into giving a talk at a youth group in which I confessed openly for the first time that Jesus Christ was my Saviour.  

24 hours before that Easter Sunday Baptismal Service I had discovered that Jesus had endured the cross because he loved me, and there was no other good enough to pay the price of sin.

I went under the water for a brief moment, and rose to a new future.  It was not what I had planned. That had been yielded up on Hastings Pier the day before.  This was to be the future God had planned. It has sometimes been difficult, sometimes even painful, but I would not swap it for anything, for there is nothing better.  It has been a fantastic 55 years and totally unexpected! What is even more wonderful is that one day I will see Jesus face to face. Whatever awaits me after this earthly life is over is certainly beyond anything I could ever expect.

© Barry Osborne 2018

My Easter Experience

People often comment on how significant or timely the reflections in the Praise & Prayer News seem to be.  It is an encouragement to know this. I hesitated before writing this week, as a topic had not presented itself to my mind.  Then I wondered whether you would mind if I used this occasion to share something of my personal Easter experience, way back in 1963.

It really began several months before.  I had started attending a young people’s Bible study at a Baptist church (I was then 17) largely because I was strongly attracted to a very attractive girl who attended.  After going to this for a couple of weeks, the Minister of the church announced that the following week I would speak on my favourite psalm.  He had not asked me, and I wonder how he thought I would respond.  I had engaged in a debating society at school so thought I could manage it.  But the real decider was that this gave me an opportunity to impress Rosemary, so I agreed.

I was determined not to speak on Psalm 23 as that would have been too easy.  But as I sat in my bedroom trying to get my head around Psalm 121 I noticed a postcard I had purchased on a school trip to the Tate Gallery.  It was a picture of scattered sheep.  I picked it up and saw that it was a painting by W Holman Hunt (of Light of the World fame).  It was entitled, Strayed Sheep.  I was using an old study Bible that had belonged to an uncle who had been an evangelist with the Salvation Army. The uncle had died but his Bible had been passed on to me.  So I turned the pages back to Psalm 23 and started to read the notes.

The following week I spoke on Psalm 23 making reference to Isaiah 53:6 and confessing myself as a strayed sheep; and to John10 that speaks of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who gives his life for the sheep.  The only disappointment was that Rosemary wasn’t present to be impressed!  Afterwards, the Minister singled me out and said that now he knew where I stood when could he baptise me.  I wasn’t keen to be baptised but couldn’t come up with an excuse.  So began a series of preparation meetings on which I was joined by two of Rosemary’s brothers.

The date for the baptism was the evening service on Easter Day 1963.  The evening before an inter-church event was to be held on Hastings Pier with a guest speaker called Sylvia Smith.  She was described as an evangelist working with strippers and prostitutes in London.  As a young man with rampant hormones it sounded an attractive topic so I and several other young men went along. Sylvia gave an interesting talk about her work but slipped seamlessly into a message based on the words of Jesus from the cross, “Father, forgivethem, for they know not what they do” (The Authorised Version was commonly used back then).

While it could be argued that these words related to the soldiers who had hammered the nails through his hands and feet, Sylvia suggested that they included all who had been party to his crucifixion.  She proceeded to describe the role of Judas, Pilate, Herod and the soldiers; but also included Peter who denied knowing Jesus.  In each of her descriptions of them and their motives, I saw something of myself.  After each character she requoted that words of forgiveness.  As she did so, the gospel I knew ell from Sunday School days, slowly spread from my head into my heart.

As we stood to sing the closing hymn I felt the love of God as I could never have imagined it. The hymn was one I knew ell.  It was Isaac Watts’ “When I survey the wondrous cross”.  As I sang the first three verses my mind struggled over that last verse.  Silently I told God that I would not sing it unless he helped me to mean the words of surrender.  The third verse ended and I found myself singing wholeheartedly, “Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life my all.”

What a prelude to the event the following evening when, before a packed church, I professed myself a disciple of Jesus and walked into the baptismal pool and the arms of that tricky Minister who got me to speak about my favourite Psalm.  I am indebted to the Rev Gordon Hunt, to Sylvia Smith, (and I guess to Rosemary), to my parents and many in the church who never gave up praying for me through several years of abandoning church and living an extremely ungodly life.

As the waters closed over my head they symbolised what had already taken place as the old Barry Osborne sought to die to self and sin.  Then Gordon’s arms raised me up, symbolising the new life that had begun.  How we sang, “My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose went forth and followed thee”

This Easter, a great-niece will be baptised.  If her Easter experience is half as significant as mine, and if it leads, as mine has done, to a life of joyful service for Jesus, she will be blessed indeed.

Well, that’s my personal Easter.  I hope you have your own personal Easter, though it will probably differ from mine as the Easter experience for Peter differed a little from that of the two who walked to Emmaus.  But may the love from the cross and the power of the empty tomb excite you afresh this year.  Sing the hymns and make the acclamation as loud as you can, for he is risen indeed!

Praise & Prayer

Please keep praying for the post of Anglican Chaplain to be filled at the prison where I work on Tuesday afternoons.  Two candidates have come forward and interviews are taking place.

I am working in the prison on Good Friday morning and taking the Easter Sunday service before travelling to Yelvertoft for the service there.  Palm Sunday is a joint service in the village with a procession of witness through the village.

Monday 21^st – taking part in a funeral service in Rugby for a great saint called home.  Alan was part of the church at Yelvertoft.

Tuesday 22^nd – taking part in an accreditation review process for the Congregational Federation in Nottingham.

Wednesday 23^rd – taking part in the Free Churches Group Meeting in London.

Good Friday and Easter Sunday (see above).  On Saturday we will hold “Get Messy” which is our children and family event at Yelvertoft.  Please pray that this Easter will see many new people attending our churches and coming to faith.

Thank you.

Barry

The Cost to the Butterfly

Do you know what imaginal discs are?

In 1 Corinthians 15: 35-58 the apostle Paul seeks to explain the difference between our earthly bodies and our post-resurrection being.  He uses planted seed as an illustration.  What goes into the ground is not the same as that which later emerges.  I wonder what he might have written to those who have some idea of cell development and DNA.  Obviously, Paul drew on material with which they were familiar.  

Recently I found myself pondering on the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.  The cartoon is used under a licence and should not be copied please.

During its life cycle as a caterpillar, it will gorge itself on leaves with a voracious appetite.  It has only that one driving force until the time comes when it starts to weave and becomes a chrysalis.  Then something truly amazing takes place. The body of the caterpillar dissolves into a kind of soup.  But this contains ‘imaginal discs’ which are the basis from which other cells develop producing eyes, wings and everything else a butterfly will need.  Then one day, out of the soup of what was something new and splendid emerges.

The cost to the butterfly is virtually losing its old identity and structure.  While this might be a helpful illustration of life beyond this life when we shall be changed and made like our Saviour, it also speaks to me about how we should be progressing in our Christian lives here and now.  I began 2016 reflecting on God’s call to Abram (see Genesis 12: 1-3).  This is Abram’s first encounter with God and is the foundation for all that will follow in his life, in the lives of the People of Israel, and all that follows to us today.  It starts with the call to leave. God has things to show him and wonderful promises to give him but the first step is leaving where he is.

During the years in which I have sought to walk with God he has periodically called me to let go of what I treasured and to leave the comfort of the place to which he has brought me.  It has never been easy.  But each time, leaving what was created the opportunity to experience what could be.

I wonder how much is missed of the blessing of God because of Christians attachment to what is and the refusal to let go.  I wonder how much blessing has been missed in churches that cling to the comfort of the past. Perhaps if a caterpillar knew that he would basically have to digest itself and dissolve it might not be too keen to start weaving that cocoon.  Change is usually very costly in one way or another, but if God is calling you to let things go, take care that you do not miss what could be in the future. What might be the imaginal discs that help build the future?

Do you have friends who are not Christians?

Do you wish your friends shared your faith or that you could share your faith with them?  Most UK Christians value their faith but talking about it is a different matter.  If this is true of you, please do not miss the opportunity to join me in a free online seminar on Friendship Evangelism.  It is being held at 7.30pm next Wednesday 27^th January and repeated on Monday 8^th at 7.30pm.  It lasts just 45 minutes.  You can simply watch and listen or ask questions.

To ‘attend’ the seminar from the comfort of your home you need to book in advance.  It will cost you nothing.  You will be asked for your name and email address but you are not joining anything and will not suddenly find yourself receiving unsolicited emails.  You provide this information so that you can receive the special link.  Use that link a few minutes before the scheduled start of the seminar and follow the instructions on screen.  This might involve downloading a ‘launch programme’.  This is perfectly safe.

People who previously attended this particular online seminar said that it was very interesting and helpful.  People who have learned to share their faith always talk about how it has also helped their faith to grow.  I would love to help you to confidently share your faith in a way that would not be embarrassing.  So please sign up to attend today (spaces are limited) and spread the word to other Christian friends who might find this helpful.

Click this link to register your place for the seminar

For Praise and Prayer

I have appreciated prayers for the three occasions this month when I have attended funerals.  The latest one was this week for an aged aunt in Hastings. Our thoughts and prayers are for those who heel the loss most keenly.

Deep appreciation was expressed by the 30 Salvation Army Cadets (officers in training) at the William Booth College on Wednesday where I had taken part in the Safeguarding training.  I teach three sessions exploring how and why sexual abuse can happen in a Christian context, and how to support those who have been victims.  Understanding enables us to have safer churches. I continue to be impressed with the high standards of the Salvation Army.  I also give thanks that one larger denomination has increased its safeguarding team from one part-time person to seven full time people.  Bad practise in the past leaves much still to be done in this area of pastoral acre and action.

I have been having some useful pastoral conversations with some of the men at HMP Gartree where I work most Tuesday afternoons.  I shall be taking the Sunday Service for them on 31^st January.

Please keep Yelvertoft Congregational Church in your prayers as we process through various stages that will enable me to retire from that aspect of ministry in the very near future.

Give thanks that important work I have been doing for Action for Christ (Rural Evangelism) has been successful.  Pray for the trustees as we seek God’s guidance for the future of this organisation that has an exciting history but now faces changes.

Please pray that many will avail themselves of the opportunity to attend the online seminar on Friendship Evangelism next Wednesday.  Imagine what might happen if only more had the understanding, confidence and courage to share their faith with others. I would love to tell you that we had so many requests to attend this seminar that we have to repeat it through the year.

Please pray for my wider work within the Congregational Federation.  Currently I chair the Inter-Church Board and am a member of the Pastoral Care Board.  I am also part of the Mission Support Group for the East Midlands Area.  I need to review how much time I can commit to these roles and value prayers for wisdom so that I focus on what God wants me to do.  Sometimes it is better to do less and do it better!  There are some encouraging opportunities to help the churches in the East Midlands Area.

Please give thanks for the faithfulness of friends who though their prayers and practical support keep us serving the Lord.

Thank you for your friendship and prayers.

Barry

A fork in her hand!

Here in the East Midlands of England we have had snow but not as bad as some other parts of the country.  The first heavy snowfall started in the East Midlands but we were on the southern edge.  However, as temperatures stayed low the snow has stayed around, periodically added to.  However, we were able to get into the village last Sunday and again on Thursday for a Bible Discussion Group.  This week we explored 1 Corinthians chapter 15 where Paul addresses the hope of the resurrection and life after life.  Paul starts by emphasising that the resurrection of Jesus, witnessed by many, was at the heart of the gospel he had preached and they had received.

His first argument is that if Christ rose from the dead then we can be sure of resurrection.  If there is no such thing as resurrection then that would mean Christ had not risen from the dead and we have an empty gospel.  "But now is Christ risen from the dead".  Later her addresses the nature of resurrection and draws on two illustrations.  The first of these is living plants.  What grows from the ground differs absolutely from what was planted as a seed.  The second is the spiritual  character of Christ, compared to the earthly character of Adam.  So what will rise up to spend eternity with God will differ from what is laid in the grave or cremated.  It will be like Christ.

While I enjoy many contemporary worship songs and prefer to use contemporary language, I love the theological and spiritual depth of many more traditional hymns.  The words of 1 Corinthians 15 are clearly the inspiration behind the Cardinal John Newman's wonderful hymn, Praise to the Holiest in the Height.  take a few moments to dwell on these words.

Praise to the Holiest in the height,

And in the depth be praise;

In all His words most wonderful,

Most sure in all His ways.

O loving wisdom of our God!

When all was sin and shame,

A second Adam to the fight

And to the rescue came.

O wisest love! that flesh and blood,

Which did in Adam fail,

Should strive afresh against the foe,

Should strive and should prevail.

And that a higher gift than grace

Should flesh and blood refine,

God’s Presence and His very Self,

And Essence all divine.

O generous love! that He, who smote,

In Man for man the foe,

The double agony in Man

For man should undergo.

And in the garden secretly,

And on the Cross on high,

Should teach His brethren, and inspire

To suffer and to die.

Praise to the Holiest in the height,

And in the depth be praise;

In all His words most wonderful,

Most sure in all His ways.

It is recorded that when William Gladstone, a great Prime Minister of the UK, laid dying he often went over these wonderful words, relishing the truth that inspired them.  This then reminded me about the funeral service of a woman who lay in an open casket (coffin) with a cutlery fork in her hand.  As people filed past to bid their last farewell they were perplexed to see the fork.

In his message the pastor of the church explained that this was a special request the woman had made.  She had told him,  "In all my years of attending church socials and pot-luck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'keep your fork.' It was my favourite part because I  knew that something better was coming..like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep Your Fork..The best is yet to come'".

What a wonderful hope we have!  It's a sure and certain hope!

During the morning meeting last Sunday my mobile phone rang. I thought I had switched it off.  When I saw the number I realised it might be important and asked the congregation if I could take the call.  It was to tell me that Joe had died that morning.  Joe is a farmer who lived next to our Chapel.  He has been ill for some time and I have visited him several times both at home and in hospital.  I'm glad his long battle is over, and delight in the memories of our chats and times of prayer.  Once, in hospital, he asked me to sing "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?".  As I raised my voice (unfortunately in the wrong key) there and then, Joe joined in the song.  "Were you there when he rose up from the grave?  Sometimes it causes me to tremble!"  Thanks be to God who gives us the victory!

This week

Sunday 27th  - 10.45 Yelvertoft Congregational Church.  In the afternoon I set off fro Brecon, Wales.

Monday 28th - "Mission to the Margins", a one day rural mission conference for the Baptist Union of Wales.  the most important item for prayer is that those who attend go away and build on what they have learnt.  I travel back home to the East Midlands that evening.

Tuesday 29th - 10.30 School Assembly, Yelvertoft.  I took the school assembly in Lubenham last Friday and really felt God was at work as we explored with the children the generosity of God.  Their interaction and attention was wonderful.

In the afternoon I expect to be in HMP Gartree.  Please pray for the chaplaincy team there and for all who seek to minister something of the love and word of God in our prisons.

SPECIAL WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

On Friday 1st Doreen, who has proved such a wonderful wife and partner in mission, celebrates her 80th birthday.  Normally birthdays pass without much note.  But on this occasion I have three days of surprises.  

On Saturday 2nd I have arranged a surprise lunchtime party also in Market Harborough and have invited anyone who wishes to do so to join us.  If you wish to have details of when and where this is being held please email me at barry@ruralmissions.org.uk.

All this is being kept secret so please don't let her know about these arrangements.  

Thank you for your support and prayers.

Barry

Easter puts an end to the doldrums

I find myself today (Saturday) wondering how the twelve and other close disciples felt as the fact of the crucifixion had sunk in but before the resurrection.  Despite Jesus having pointed to life beyond his death they would have felt a sense of finality - the end to their three year adventure; the end to all they had hoped.  There is no biblical evidence for anything other than despair and confusion.  I am sure none of them could possibly have imagined what was to take place the next day.

There have been unsettling times in my life, and probably also in yours.  An unexpected end to four phases of ministry have taken place during the long years of service for Jesus.  My inclination is to go for the long haul, so God has at times had to prise my fingers off that to which I held so firmly.  I have always found this a painful experience; letting go does not come easily.  Each time there has been a deep sense of loss.  But in each case what seemed like an end has led to something new and splendid: a kind of resurrection.

It is all too easy to drift into a mood of hopelessness and impossibility because of loss.  But the fact of the resurrection should inspire us always to believe that there is something better ahead, whatever life might be throwing at us now (not that there is a problem in my own life at the present).

When I was a young Christian in my teens someone older advised me to live as if Jesus died yesterday, rose today and is coming back tomorrow.  I have found that truly motivating.  I don't know who might have been the first to say this but I'm certainly glad it was passed on to me and I have done my best to pass it on to others.  I hope that this Easter we will all get excited by the incredible event when Jesus walked from his tomb.  The resurrection became a fundamental aspect of the gospel that was shared both with Jews and Gentiles.  Easter should fire us up to spread the good news.  I hope you'll find someone among your family and friends who needs to hear the good news and will hear it from you this week.

The past week
Much of the past week has had to be spent clearing out our spare bedroom ready for a guest from the USA.  I had accumulated paper from as far back as the mid 1980s.  Among the many boxes and piles there were some treasures found but I've tried to be radical and feel better for the clear-out.  I would have rather been doing many other urgent things but some times you just have to take out time to clear rubbish from our lives.

The much awaited Prison Concert took place on Wednesday.  After the practise on Tuesday I felt we were perhaps 55% ready but we experienced an "It'll be all right on the night" the following day.  We had a good attendance, a great atmosphere, and the lads made me proud.  They also embarrassed me with a standing ovation afterwards.  Thank you for your prayers.

The week ahead
We will start the week celebrating the risen Christ.

On Monday I collect the Rev'd Dr Rick Hartley (a colleague from the USA) from Birmingham Airport.  Rick will be leading the Bible Studies at the Leaders Conference I have helped to organised.

Tuesday to Friday Doreen and I will be at the Leaders Conference.  I will be responsible for various aspects and will be speaking at the opening session on the Tuesday.  The theme of the conference is partnership in mission and on each day we will be exploring the possibilities and challenges of engaging in partnerships of various kinds.  Please pray that the Lord will make this a time of blessing and refreshing as well as informative.

Saturday Rick will still be with us so we have organised an opportunity for Congregational churches in Leicestershire to meet up for an evening of informal fellowship, praise and worship, with Rick speaking.

Sunday 15th Rick is our guest at Yelvertoft.  I will lead the morning meeting and he will speak.  After lunch we take him back to Birmingham.

Back to today
I was intrigued to note John 20:10 recently.  It would be easy to read more into this simple statement about going back to their homes than perhaps John intended.  In much the same way people have speculated about John 21:2&3 where Peter announces he is going fishing.  Both passages could be understood as implying a sense of lost hope.  When we lose our hope and find ourselves stuck with the 'day after crucifixion' emotions it is easy to slip back into the old and comfortable ways.

I hope that, like me, you are eagerly looking forward to the focus on the resurrection and the assurance of redemption and the hope of life everlasting that it brings.  Hallelujah!  He IS risen!

Barry