An Imperfect Faith?

 An Imperfect Faith?

It is probable that every Christian at some time, or even frequently, wishes that they had more faith, a stronger faith, or were more faithful.  If, like me, you can identify yourself in at least one of those categories, I wonder to whom, or to what, you are comparing yourself.  Furthermore, while there is some benefit with a little self criticism, it is easy to become unrealistic, and that can be harmful.

Over Easter, in our online services, we mentioned on several occasions the issue of faith, doubt, unbelief, and disbelief.  We did so because it is a topic well worth exploring, and on which the Easter narratives cast helpful light.  While we do not know what was going on in the hearts and minds of most of the disciples, we have been able to study three of them in particular.

The Gospels indicate that all twelve disciples participated fully in the ministry of Jesus.  He gave them all authority to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and to heal the sick.  They saw the blind, the deaf the lame and those with skin diseases healed.  On three occasions they saw dead people brought back to life.  They saw the wind and the waves grow suddenly calm at his command, and even saw him walk on water.  Yet almost all of them fled when Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane.  Matthew tells us that even though they worshipped the risen Christ, some still doubted (Matt 28:17).

Peter, so sure of himself, had pledged total faithfulness to Jesus, but under pressure and clearly afraid of possible consequences, his faithfulness wavered, though his faith may not have completely failed.  We note that, whatever he thought of himself after that failure, Jesus did not condemn him, but recommissioned him as a  disciple.

Despite the testimony of his friends, Thomas, could not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead.  When he finally got the evidence he longed for, we do not see an exasperated Jesus, but we see Jesus encouraging Thomas. Furthermore, it is Thomas who makes that extraordinary declaration, “My Lord and my God”.

And what about Judas?  There is so much that we do not know.  Was he motivated by greed?  Had he got wrong expectations regarding how King Jesus would reign?  Was Jesus not the Saviour Judas wanted him to be?  Was he trying to force Jesus’ hand?  Had he grown tired of the Jesus agenda?  Had he put his faith in an imagined Messiah?

Peter became unfaithful, Thomas was unbelieving, and possibly Judas was disbelieving.  But all had met with Jesus and spent three years in his physical company, which is a lot more than you and I have experienced.  So, to what standard of faith do you compare yourself?

The Hebrew scriptures bear witness that even among those commended for their faith, there are men who have ‘feet of clay’.  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, all had moments of weakness when their faith failed them.
In the Gospels there are three occasions recorded where Jesus commended the faith of someone.  The only Jew that Jesus commended for faith was the woman with the issue of blood.  There are also occasions where miracles of healing are linked to the faith of either the person being healed or those who brought that person.  However, it is probable that it is not so much the degree of faith they had, but in whom they were placing their faith that is important.  The only reference to faith where Jesus clearly speaks about the degree of faith, as far as I can recall relates to the cursing of the fruitless fig tree outside Jerusalem.

To whom do you turn when faced with a challenge such as sickness?  By your very act of praying you are demonstrating your faith, providing you have come to God in prayer because you believe that God both cares and does answer prayer.  We know that with God all things are possible, and so we pray.

In the scriptures, and throughout history there are occasions when miracles happened because of special faith, but none of these are about normal everyday life.  The Bible lists faith as both a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12: 9) and part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5: 22), but we note that both come from God and have nothing to do with the degree of trust.  Faith is not something you can work up or try to grasp more firmly.

One of the funniest illustrations about faith I have ever heard, involved a country prayer meeting in Devon.  Asked if there was anything anyone wanted to pray about, one farmer said that there was an urgent need for rain.  On hearing this, another farmer said, “‘Tis no use praying for rain; the wind’s in the wrong direction!”  If that makes you smile, then I guess you have understood what I am trying to explain.

Be glad for the degree of faith you have and bring your concerns to Jesus.  Sometimes the only response we can give to life’s challenges, is to echo the words of an anxious father, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24)

Barry Osborne 16th April 2021

Facing a Different Future

Some have described it as a ‘wind of change’; others have spoken of an ‘earthquake’.  What is indisputable is that, in the UK, we are facing a different future.  For Christians this means trying to understand the times and spirit of the age and then to live out our faith and bring god’s word into the situation in ways that are relevant.  Christians are meant to be prophetic both in how we live what we say.  Of course, these are early days following a major change, so we should be careful and prayerful as we seek to engage in the ‘double listening’ essential for Christian witness.

Since the referendum my thoughts have turned to two Old Testament characters and one prophetic passage that has been subject to misunderstanding.

The first character from the Hebrew Scriptures is Joseph.  At the age of 17 he seemed to be confident about his future.  But events changed and he successively found himself rejected by his brothers, the object of a murderous plot, sold into slavery, taken to a foreign country with an alien culture, falsely accused of rape, thrown into prison, and forgotten by a friend.  All that probably by the time he was 29.  He could have become an angry young man.  He could have been bitter and resentful.  But he chose instead to serve others within the context into which he found himself thrown.  As such he showed himself to be the better man.

The second character is Daniel. Bible commentators seem to agree that he was a young man when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and took captives to Babylon.  They went, not as tourists but as slaves, forced to live in an alien country with an ungodly and alien faith and philosophy. He too could have been bitter and resentful, kicking against the circumstances forced upon him.  But instead, like Joseph, he rose to the occasion and chose to serve others and to serve well.  Neither Joseph nor Daniel compromised on their personal faith but maintained integrity with who they work within God’s purposes.  For Daniel, that meant taking a risk with his life and facing the possibility of being eaten alive by lions.

Whatever, the world in which we might have wanted to live, this is the world in which we are living.  Like Joseph and Daniel, we need to be strong in faith, and be the best kind of Christians we can be in these times, even if we find some aspects rather alien.

The prophetic passage on my mind is in Jeremiah 29.  Verse 11 has become a favourite of many, but there is a bad habit of taking it out of context.  False prophets at the time were making all kinds of promises of better things just around the corner. How welcome those misleading words would have been.  People who had thought God had abandoned them to their enemies would have welcomed the suggestion that the situation would soon be reversed.  It would have been light at the end of the tunnel.  But it was untrue.

The unwelcome words of Jeremiah 29 were that deliverance was not around the corner.  They were going to be in captivity for many years; time to settle down, build houses, raise families, marry off your children and enjoy grandchildren.  It is against that background – and only against that background that God declares that he still has plans for them.  There is future and hope, but not just yet.  Not only must they endure their present situation but more than that they must “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29: 5-7)

I do not believe that God works within the political life of nations in the same way that he did under the Old Covenant.  But I do believe that we, as Christians, are called to be blessing to others and we should pray for them that they will prosper.  We should pray for God's blessing on our own nation and for what we will become. But we must also pray for God's blessing on those from whom we will be separating politically.  Both at home and abroad there are some who feel hurt and concerned about the future.  Our actions affect others.  Whether or not you chose the course on which we are now set, God expects us to discover how he would want us to behave and live out prophetic lives for his glory.  No room there for either pride or sour grapes.

Facing My Different Future

I am excited by the change I face this week.  While my first calling was as an evangelist, God has graciously added gifts and ministries over the years. My first experience in pastoral ministry began in 1966 following a church-planting mission in Kent.  In 1968 I was called to a joint pastoral ministry in Hastings where I served for 21 years.  After a short break I was called to the church in Herstmonceux, which I served for just over 14 years.  That was an incredible experience as we put into practice the principles behind developing tailored mission strategies.  The after another short break I was called to Theddingworth and Yelvertoft.  I discovered that I had misunderstood the expectations of the Theddingworth church and so resigned from there but have continued at Yelvertoft to the present.  It has been a good journey.

However, this week my ministry in pastoral leadership at Yelvertoft comes to an end and I pass the baton onto Jim Lyon, who I believe will do a good work.  But the opportunities to teach from scripture on a regular basis, and engage pastorally with church members and the wider community have come to an end.  I will certainly miss it.

The reason for my retiring from Yelvertoft is partly because I felt they would be better served by someone younger, but also a desire to put time and energy into promoting evangelism in the rural areas of the UK.  There is much to be done and with some 10,000,000 people living there (including over 1.5 million children, our vision remains to help rural churches engage in appropriate, effective and sustainable strategies that share the good news of Jesus, help people discover a saving faith, grow in discipleship and share in God’s mission.

Retirement from the pastorate at Yelvertoft will mean a significant drop in income, but Doreen and I are not in personal need.  But I am an unashamed advocate for the ministry in which we are engaged with others.  Fifty years ago (almost to the day) I entered full time ministry supported by a network of 36 people who gave two shillings and sixpence a week (12.5p) to support me and who saved up small change in boxes to cover ministry costs.  These days ‘crowdfunding’ has been an exciting way of helping to establish new businesses and provide employment for thousands of people. 

200 people giving just £1 per week (or equivalent) would help to ensure our operational costs are met.  Some churches we serve are able to contribute but as many of the churches we serve are small, we offer our work free of charge. Praise & Prayer News goes out to over 300 people each week.  We highly vale the prayer support that this raises. We are also very grateful for those who are able to support us financially, though this is less than 10% of the recipients.

If you think you can help to keep us serving others you will find information below as to how you can donate or set up a standing order.

Doreen Facing a Different Future

Less than two months ago, my wife was diagnosed with cancer.  Four weeks ago she underwent radical surgery.  Pathology examination of surrounding tissue and blood vessels showed no spread.  In the past week she has resumed most of the routine domestic work and tells me that she is grateful to be free from the restrictions imposed by her carer (me) following her operation.  We give thanks, but are acutely mindful of, and praying for, so many friends who are going through similar circumstances battling cancer.  Thank you for the enormous number of loving messages over recent weeks.

From the Diary

Gordon Banks and I led an online seminar on Summer Mission Ideas which, according to those who attended, proved very helpful.  On this occasion we managed to record the session (lasts 45 minutes) and you can see this on the Rural Mission Solutions website by clicking this link.  It is also available on YouTube.

The take-up on the opportunity to attend these helpful webinars is disappointing.  We will be exploring what the reason for this might be.  From our perspective we are offering for free a high value educational opportunity from which churches and people can benefit from the comfort of their homes.  Please pray as we seek to grow the audience base.  We have room for 100 people each session.

Since the last Praise & Prayer mentioned about greater availability following my retirement from pastoral responsibilities, we have received several request from churches. We can travel and as we enter this new phase of ministry there is space in my diary if I can be of service to you.

Pray for Katrina as I work with her re-launching the children’s and families’ ministry of Rural Mission Solutions.  The first few months are bound to be challenging.  You can read more about Katrina on the Rural Mission Solutions website.

The week’s diary includes: Monday School Assembly; Tuesday Hospital check-up for Doreen, my regular work in prison, and travel to Swansea; Wednesday and Thursday Chairing the Congregational Federation’s InterChurch Board meetings in Swansea; Friday meeting with lawyers in Eastbourne.

Another colleague, Canon Elizabeth Ingram, and I value your prayers for a complicated and confidential matter in which we carry a responsibility as trustees of a Will.  Successive trustees since 1979 have found this challenging and we are hoping to make some changes for the benefit of all concerned.  Not all the changes we have proposed have been welcomed.  Please pray that reason and common sense will prevail.  I have to prepare a legal report and will value your prayers.

Please pray for the Friends of Obambo team.  While neither our ministry nor I are now actively involved in this ministry we began around 1995, we have good friends who are seeking to ensure that excellent work done by my former colleague, Monica Cook, continues appropriately.  They are faced with a difficult situation to manage following her death.  I believe they will be writing to their supporters in the near future.

I am deeply grateful for the prayers that support our service for the Lord.  Thank you.

Barry

Trusting through Knoiwing

I recently found myself pondering the words of the apostle Paul writing to Timothy while experiencing imprisonment because of his faith. As he reflects on his circumstances he encourages Timothy to stir up the gift that God had given him, not to be ashamed of the gospel, and to be ready to suffer himself if necessary for the sake of the gospel.  As far as his own circumstances are concerned he states. “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” (2Timothy 1:12)  No doubt his circumstances were not those he would have chosen, but he clearly felt incredible security.

The next day I found myself associating this verse with the way in which my colleague and friend, Monica Cook, has accepted the news that she has a brain tumour.  As those who have visited her and those who know her best can testify she has clearly a very real peace while fully understanding the seriousness of her situation.

There are three parts to this verse to which I draw your attention.  The first of these is the phrase, “I… am convinced” or as the KJV puts it “I…am persuaded”.  The meaning behind the original Greek and the English translations is that the state of Paul’s mind has been influenced into an attitude of certainty.  We therefore need to dig a little more to find what has brought about such confidence.

So we come to “have believed”.  The tense in Greek grammar refers to something that has been completed.  But although it is something completed before hand, it has subsequent effect.  Paul’s solid confidence in the Lord’s ability guard what he has committed to him (i.e. his eternal future) is on the grounds of having placed his trust in Jesus.  Trusting has brought about quiet confidence.

Working backwards we come to the third phrase “I know”.  The sense here is of a knowledge that has developed – it is about coming to know or to understand.  In this case he has “come to know Jesus” and, indeed is still discovering more about him.

So Paul is saying he is totally confident about his eternal security because he has been, and still is, trusting Jesus because he has developed an understanding of Jesus and his character.

We might not find ourselves in chains like Paul, or facing serious illness, but you can be sure that life will contain tough times.  So if we want that wonderful confidence that all will be well, we had better so know Jesus that we cannot but place our entire trust in him. Coming to know him leads to trusting him which leads to confidence that all is well whatever our circumstance.

Monica Cook

Last week Monica was discharged from the hospital at Haywards Heath to home where she is now waiting a course of radiotherapy at Maidstone Hospital.  Most readers will know that Monica has been a good friend and colleague in rural mission for many years, and that she was diagnosed with a brain tumour recently.

I have spent much of the last few weeks working with her local supportive network to ensure she is being looked after well and that work responsibilities are lifted from her at this time.  Please see the regularnews posted on our website.

From the Diary

Other than activities relating to Monica most of last week’s other activities relate to our work at Yelvertoft, Northants.  A planned school assembly was cancelled because of a heating system failure in the school.  Our Lent series, “Faith through Other Eyes”, has proved very effective and popular. Last Thursday we had a visit from a leading person from the Jewish community in Leicester.  These meetings have improved understanding and helped to focus our own convictions.  Details are on this website. On Saturday we held another Messy Church event which focused on the Easter story.

Sunday 22^nd – The Sunday Meeting “The Surprising Jesus”

Tuesday 23^rd – School Assembly planning meeting in the morning and the regular ministry in HMP Gartree in the afternoon

Wednesday 25^th – Free Churches Group Meeting in London

Thursday 26^th – Final Lenten Meeting in Yelvertoft

Sunday 29^th (Palm Sunday) – HMP Gartree Service followed by a Joint Service and Procession at Yelvertoft.

Thank you once again for your fellowship,

Barry

What is faithfulness

The picture on the left is of Marj Wilding, whose funeral and thanksgiving service I attended on Friday. She had been a friend since around 1965.  Her late husband, Reg, was a Council Member of Mission for Christ - the mission organisation I joined in 1963. Marj was a valued prayer partner.  

Each birthday and at Christmas I would get a card.  During a visit to East Sussex on 3rd November I called in to see her and was warmly welcomed.  We talked of God's faithfulness.  Two days later she was called home to be with the Lord. Amazingly selfless she lived out a deep concern for the welfare of others.  She was a faithful friend.

I have often heard Christians say that God does not call us to be successful; but he calls us to be faithful.  Such a comment is often made in ignorance of what the Bible actually teaches.  All too often the expression is an excuse for poor discipleship.  So let's explore the concept a little  more.

In Luke 19:11 - 27 we have a parable Jesus told in which ten servants were were each given the equivalent of three months wages and told to put it to work while their master was away.  We note that they are given responsibility and also autonomy, but that they remained accountable. On their master's return each came to give account.  Two testify to the growth that came from that with which they were entrusted.  Then a man came who had feared failure and so had done nothing other than keep safe what he was given.  We need to note how each of the servants was rewarded or suffered loss. Who in this story was faithful and how did they demonstrate faithfulness.  It was the outcome that proved faithfulness but their obedience.

Now let's consider the parable of the shrewd servant in Luke 16.  Here is a man who had been given responsibility to manage a business on behalf of his master.  Clearly he also had been given autonomy.  And clearly he remained accountable for his actions and inactions.  He finds himself about to lose his job and shrewdly uses his autonomy to create a better future for himself.  (He might also have done his master a favour by improving cash flow.)  He is commended for his actions which, if he had demonstrated such diligence sooner he might have saved him from being sacked!  In verses 10 and 11 Jesus uses the word faithful (or in other versions: trusted).  Once again faithfulness is demonstrated through action.  

These two parables are all about performance. It is about demonstrating that they were deserving of the trust that had been placed in them.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:2 "It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful"

Each Christian is entrusted with the message of salvation God wants us to share with others.  God also grants us opportunities,  and promises his power to enable us to grasp them.  Perhaps it is true that outcomes of our faithfulness might not be considered by others as successful. But before I use the faithfulness argument I need to be careful that faithfulness has been clearly demonstrated by my actions. Each of us have been given some aspect of ministry responsibility - all that we are an have is a trust from God.  Each of us is also given autonomy - we are not robots.  But each of us remains accountable to the one who hopes we prove worthy of the trust he has placed in us.

May the Lord help each of us to be truly faithful.

From The Diary
Last Sunday at Yelvertoft we concluded a series of Bible teaching looking at Jesus through the eyes of Mark. This has been interesting.  Members of the church are also writing the gospel out by hand.

Last Monday Churches Together in Harborough meeting included a review of Holiday at Home, which is a mission activity each year that I have gladly supported.  Please pray as we seek additional representation on the leadership team.

Last Tuesday proved a difficult time with the prison choir.  Please pray for grace and wisdom, especially when dealing with challenging situations.

Last Wednesday we had an encouraging (part 2) local Rural Mission Support meeting for rural church leaders.  One has since written, "Thank you for a very useful meeting. There was a wonderful sense of fellowship and partnership in ministry and I came away feeling very encouraged."  We give God praise!

Last Thursday there was a shortened Churches Rural Group (CTE) meeting at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.  There was a lot to deal with in limited time but it felt a positive meeting.  Afterwards I set off for East Sussex for Mraj's funeral and had booked B&B.  To my delight I found my hosts were Christians and two of my Christian friends from my time in Herstmonceux were also staying there!  Was this part of God's plan?

Please pray for all of Marj Wilding's family (four generations).  It was good to meet again some Christian friends on Friday I have not seen for several decades!

The Coming week
Sunday 30th - I am taking the morning service at Gartree Prison (Leics) and then travelling to Crick (Northants to attend a United "Hope in our Villages" Service.  This is part of an ongoing mission programme in which the church at Yelvertoft is a partner.

On Monday I have a school assembly at Lubenham (Leics).  On Tuesday I have another school assembly, this tim,e at Yelvertoft (Nortants) followed by my regular work in HMP Gartree.

On Thursday I will be leading a Bible Discussion Meeting at Yelvertoft and back in the village on Saturday for a special event.  During WW2 two of our planes collided over Yelvertoft in which all the crews died.  As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of this event I will lead a simple service.  Our church is also the venue for an exhibition and refreshments through the day.  Some relatives of the men who were killed (from Canada and UK) are coming for this event.  Please pray that in what will be a solemn day there will be room for sharing gospel hope.  The Sunday meeting the following day will develop the theme of a sacrificial legacy.
Thank you for your partnership through prayer and practical support.

We are soon launching a series of interactive free on-line seminars (known as Rural Mission Webinars).  You will be able to take part in any of these from your computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.  There is no sign up fee.  Each webinar will be designed to last 30 to 40 minutes including question and answer session.  We are creating a list of topics that we feel will prove helpful but we welcome your suggestions on anything that might help rural churches and rural Christians in their mission for God.  Please email your suggestions to barry@ruralmissions.org.uk

Faith and Sensibility

Thought for the Week—Faith and Sensibility

Most Christians, if asked to explain what faith is, will quote from Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for……”.  But I am not sure how far that takes the average non-Christian who might be trying to understand.  The word faith within a general context these days is used to describe any particular religion such as Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.  If we add the definite article and speak about the faith then that refers to a body of doctrine.  If we are wanting to explain faith to an unbeliever then we will need more.

In one of my previous posting I advocated using the word “trust” in place of “believe”.  This was because putting our faith in God and his promises is more than an intellectual academic exercise.  There is an emotional element of trusting.  On this occasion I want to suggest that we could use our five  senses as a useful illustration.  We use these senses to discern the reality of the world and immediate surroundings.  Taste, touch, sight, hearing and smell are the means by which things make sense.

The other day I watched a lady walking her dog which was suddenly aware of an interesting smell.  Try as she might she could not get the dog to leave that spot until he had finished interpreting all that was being conveyed by the odour.  Had she  sniffed the spot it is unlikely that she would have understood a fraction of what the dog was finding..  A bloodhound has 60 times more scent receptors in its nose than a human does.  Its brain devotes 40 times more space to analysing smells.  Dogs have between 1,000 and 10,000 more ability to identify all the nuances of a smell.

The gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8) is like a sixth scent.  It opens up a new world of reality that those without it struggle to understand.  But what might happen if they prayed “Help me to trust you and come to know you.

Physical healing!

This time last week I had endured seven days of excruciating and disabling pain from sciatica.  Many wrote to say they were praying as I faced a demanding weekend.  The very next day I had only mild discomfort.  The day after that (a busy Sunday) I was pain free, and have been every day since then apart from one day when the problem was only slight.  I cannot yet say that it has completely gone but this is wonderful

Germinate

Tomorrow (Saturday 11th) I am attending the Germinate Conference in Coventry.  This is a major conference for those engaged in rural ministry and mission.  Well over 200 people have booked in.  I get 90 minutes to say something about the work I am involved in and I also have some exhibition space.  Please pray for all involved in this special occasion.  The Churches Rural Group (which I currently chair) has been responsible for similar events in the past facilitated by the Arthur Rank Centre and this has been arranged similarly.  We are grateful for the great work done by Jerry Marshall and others at ARC making this possible.

Off to Scotland

On Monday 13th I will be flying to Glasgow where I will be joining up with Dean Juster who is responsible for safeguarding issues in the Salvation Army.  I will be teaching on Tuesday morning and afternoon on how abuse can happen within churches and Christian organisations.  A good grasp of the risk areas is essential if we want safe churches.  Too many good Christian leaders and good churches have hit problems because they did not understand the risks.  Please pray for Dean, me and others leading three days for SA officers and others in Scotland.

Something to Sing About

I fly back to the East Midlands on Wednesday morning arriving in Market Harborough at 1.45pm.  At 2.00pm I am due at the Wednesday Fellowship at Harborough Methodist Church.  Attempts to swop dates with other speakers failed, but it won’t hurt if I’m a little late.  Please pray that flight, taxi and train connections work perfectly.  This is an opportunity to share some of the wonderful ways God has worked in Doreen’s and my life and service for the Lord.  It will be interspersed with ministry in song.  Please pray for a sense of God’s presence, and that eyes will be turned to the Lord, and faith begun or strengthened through all that I share..

News from Yelvertoft

I would like to share briefly that we had a wonderful Area Assembly last Sunday.  Thank you for your prayers.  The church was full.  Some 30 people had taken advantage of the offer of lunch before the meeting.  My congregation provided this and an excellent tea for many more afterwards.  The title for the event was “To Boldly Go” and we explored in what way there are similarities in our calling to go forward in faith in the mission to which God calls us, and the fictional activities of the Starship Enterprise.  You can read all about it on the church website by clicking this link or by going to  www.yelvertoftchurch.org.uk

“What God Orders…”

As a relatively small but busy mission organisation, and working with small churches in the main, we do not naturally attract much support by donations or legacies.  However, over 26 years since Sunrise Ministries was started (the charity that covers the work that Monica Cook and head up) God has met our needs.  We sometimes wish we had more so that we could do more.  But we have found the saying true: “What God orders he pays for”. Please join us in giving thanks for his faithfulness.

Barry

It's a matter of trust

Trust is an interesting concept.  Sadly, these days there is a tendency sometimes to discourage trust.  A few week's ago I was out for an energetic walk and met a young boy and girl pushing their bikes up the steep hill I was walking down.  After a friendly exchange of greetings they took the opportunity of having a rest and we chatted for a few moments.  On such occasions I am always careful to ensure there is clear space between us.  They chatted away very happily but were then joined by their mum and dad who came puffing up the hill some way behind them.  I greeted them politely and started walking again.  However, I could sense a little concern on the part of the parents as to who the strange man was and why he was talking with their children.  Of course, they were right to be concerned as they knew nothing about me.  Parents have a duty of care, and being too trusting in some circumstances can be dangerous (though I hasten to add, not in this case).

I suppose trusting always carries a certain amount of risk and requires trust.  When Abraham obeyed in faith the call of God to leave home and friends and travel to an unknown destination (Hebrews 11:8) he must have known there was risk, or the element of faith would not be needed.  Walking by faith, like natural walking, requires a willingness to move from security and lose balance.  It takes a little time and some bumpy experiences before a toddler learns that after losing his/her balance he/she can recover it again and move forward in the process.

It seems to me that from time to time our ability to walk by faith gets tested.  Abraham's certainly was.  He had to wait many years for a promise to be fulfilled.  He even had to trust in an extreme way when offering his son.  We can't be sure what went through his mind, though Hebrews 11:19 suggest one explanation.  Haven't you ever reached a place in your life where you wonder just what God is up to?  Or maybe you have wondered whether he has forgotten to look after you and is busy somewhere else!

This week we received in the post an appeal letter from Guide Dogs. The envelope and the papers inside were illustrated with a photo of a friend of ours, Mike Townsend, and his guide dog Tom.  Mike and Tom found themselves caught up in the bombing in London in 2005.  Mike had been staying at the Tavistock Hotel and had just left on his routine walk to the offices of the RNIB in Judd Street just 8 minutes away.  Suddenly he heard an enormous explosion and was aware of people running past him in panic.  A bomb had gone off on a bus ripping it apart and killing many. The police then rapidly closed down a number of roads, making it impossible for the usual route to be followed.  Amazingly, Tom found a new and rather circuitous route to the offices.  Mike told me, "I couldn't understand why Tom was taking me the wrong way, because I couldn't see what was happening.  Then suddenly we were at the office.  Tom had found the way."

What Tom did is a great illustration of how we sometimes experience God's guidance.  Our limited vision makes us confused.  But just as Mike had to totally trust in Tom, we have to trust in God, even if it seems the way we are led is not what we expect.  God sees the bigger picture and knows the right way to get us to where we need to go.

Recent News

• It was good to share in teaching 32 second year cadets at the Salvation Army College recently.  The cadets had just received news of where they would be stationed and were shortly to be commissioned as officers. Please give thanks for their commitment and pray as they take up this ministry.
• Our enthusiastic Bible Discussion Meeting at Yelvertoft has chosen to work through Isaiah and we recently held our first session.  Give thanks for the desire to learn more of God's ways.
• Jonah was the subject for the service on Sunday 3oth June at HMP Gartree as we explored the challenge of obeying God's call to share his word, and the fact that our God gives second chances.  Give thanks for the Christian presence in the prison.
• Give thanks that I am almost fully recovered following the operation and fully back to work.
• Give thanks for an encouraging meeting recently with an Anglican bishop as we lay out plans for the research into rural evangelism.
• Give thanks for a positive response from some to letters I sent out on behalf of Action for Christ. We are grateful for Christian friends travelling with us through difficult times.

Prayers Please

• Sundays 7th and 14th - Yelvertoft Congregational Church
• Monday 8th - Lubenham Primary School, Leics.
• Tuesday 9th - Yelvertoft Primary School, Northants.  Taking our new Children and Families Worker with me.
• Wednesday 10th - Holiday at Home (outreach) planning meeting in Market Harborough.  Pray for the team led by Brian Kennard as we prepare for the outreach in August.
• Thursday 11th - Bible Discussion Meeting in Yelvertoft.
• Friday 12th - Visit to colleagues in East Midlands for renewal of their CRB certificates (now known as DBS)
• Saturday 13th - A bereavement support meeting in Yelvertoft.  This is an experiment and we have no idea who might turn up.
• Health - a recent eye test suggests that the macular degeneration I have in both eyes may be deteriorating and I have been referred to a hospital specialist.  Pray for wisdom and effective response as this could impact both reading and driving.
• International Congregational Conference takes place at the end of this month and we are in the final stages.  Pray for the team led by Val Price, and for all those travelling to London from various parts of the world 
• Action for Christ - pray for an adequate income to maintain this ministry of which I am a trustee.  We are in the final stages of clearing up problems left by a former trustee who devastated the charity.
• Please pray as I prepare to take up the research work, exploring how evangelism is understood and practised in rural England.

Commit your way to the Lord;

    trust in him and he will do this:

6 

he will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

    your vindication like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37: 5-6

As always, my heartfelt thanks for your fellowship.

Learning to Trust

I have been spending time this evening putting the finishing touches to tomorrow's Family Service at Goodwood Evangelical Church.  The theme on my heart has been "trust".  When I was a young lad in Sunday School one of the mottoes that was emphasised was from Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding..."  Of course trusting is easy if you are only talking about it.  It becomes a different matter if your life is in danger, or you are faced with some overwhelming crisis.

It is also a different matter when there is no evidence of God when we are in the time of crisis, when God suddenly seems far away.  A long time ago, while still a young minister, I passed through a several months where, for the first time, I had lost my sense of being in God's will for my life  It had begun with a strong and sudden sense that the Lord was calling me to leave the Mission in which I was working and take up the pastorate of a specific church in Kent.

So compelling was this call that I drove to meet with the Pastor of the church to discuss it with him.  Imagine my excitement when he fairly leaped for joy and told me I was an amazing answer to prayer, as he had just informed the church that he was retiring.  That of course was unknown to me.  He contacted the Church Secretary who also indicated his delight.  The congregation was to be informed of our conversation as soon as possible.  I was to let them know the next morning when I had given notice of my leaving the Mission.

On my return to the Mission HQ, where I was living at the time, I informed the Mission Director, as I wanted to be honest and open about what had happened.  He hit the roof and pleaded with me to reconsider.  I was sure of my guidance but for his sake I agreed to 'sleep on it' for 24 hours.  He agreed that if I still felt as strongly after that he would agree to my departure.  So it was that 24 hours later I went back to the Pastor of the church, only to hear that during this time their Superintendent Minister had submitted the name of a potential minister.  As they hadn't heard from me that morning and the rules stated that they could only consider one candidate at a time, the door was now apparently closed.

Then I was informed that the previous day the Mission Director had pleaded with the church not to take me away from the Mission.  The Pastor told me "I have never had a man weep like that on the phone".  I wasn't sure who I was angry with.  I was angry with the Mission Director for interfering.  I was also angry with myself for allowing myself to defer what I felt so strongly God wanted me to do.  So began my months of darkness.  I had to preach and encourage people to put their trust in God.  I had to encourage people to surrender their lives to God and obey his leading.  But I felt a hypocrite and had lost all sense of direction for my life.  During this time the ministry candidate was appointed to the pastorate.  The door seemed closed and locked!

I think it was an old Strict Baptist preacher who unknowingly came to my aid by saying, "Some times we have to trust God when we cannot trace him".  He had no idea of the prophetic nature of that remark, but in a moment I was delivered.  I realised that God was greater than my greatest failures and that he was utterly trustworthy.  I decided to trust the one I could not trace, and re-surrendered my life and my way into his hands.  Looking back I wonder, was it all just a test of my ability to trust when all evidence of God's sovereign guidance were absent?  Frankly, I no longer need to know.  The path from that point to know has been marked with incredible blessing.

Are you passing through uncertain times? Are you facing difficulties or passing through trials?  Does God seem strangely distant?  In tough times as well as in good may God grant us the grace to trust him.

Praise for past blessings
Following all the blessing of our 350th anniversary celebrations at Yelvertoft last weekend, it seemed strangely quiet at first.  But towards the middle of the week things got busy.  On Tuesday I took a school assembly at Yelvertoft and had such a good time with the children there.  They seem to treat me like a big brother!  Then in the afternoon we had our final rehearsal for the prison choir concert that took place early evening on Wednesday.  The whole thing was a great success with the programme opening with a medley of songs about prayer followed by a drama about prayer.  The audience sang along with our sea shanties, and we had to give an encore performance!

Before the concert I had travelled to Stoneleigh, Warwickshire to chair the Churches Rural Group Meeting.  This brings together representatives from national Churches and some organisations.  We did useful business and had an interesting presentation about Foodbanks from the Trussell Trust.  I recommend you visit www.trusselltrust.org to find out more.

On Thursday I was back in Yelvertoft to host a visit from around 30 children from school who came to hear the story of the brave men and women who, at great personal cost, had followed their conscience and sought to establish a church that was led by scripture and the Holy Spirit.  They were dangerous times but they were laying foundations for amazing things that were to follow.

Prayer requests
If you read this in time please pray for the Family Service at Goodwood Evangelical Church (starts at 11.15) this Sunday.  But it's never too late to pray that God's word will bring forth all he intends.

On Thursday our Bible Discussion Group meets to continue our studies in 1 Corinthians.

On Saturday I am attending the Agricultural Christian Fellowship Conference and will take a small part.

On Sunday 4th we have our Harvest Thanksgiving at Yelvertoft when we hope to gather a harvest of tins and packeted food for the Rugby Foodbank.  Please pray that we will have many visitors and that hearts and minds will be touched by the Lord.

We continue to need your prayers that the Lord will meet our financial needs.  We are thankful for those who gave donations after the letter we sent out two week's ago.  We are also thankful for those who have promised some regular support to keep our ministry going.  Having run at a loss for the past three years we are in a difficult place.  No doubt we need to trust!

In a similar way, my fellow trustees of Action for Christ and I have sent a letter to all on our database explaining the difficulties AfC has been led into by recent past leadership.  Please pray for wisdom for the three AfC trustees (Elizabeth, Terry and me).  We need to discern whether the Lord still has a purpose for the organisation, and if so what this is.

Please continue prayers as I prepare for a consultation in Cornwall, my visit to church leaders in Ireland, and a talk at a Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Readers event.

A Thought!
When we pray do we take time to be still and listen, or do we just pour our requests into God's ear?  Sometimes we might hear an answer if we aren't rushing away.  Why not try being still before each item for praise and prayer above?  How does God want us to pray about these things?  Then after we have prayed did we sense God speaking?  It might help to pace out the praise and prayer items over several days, or even the whole week.

Barry