Hard Work

Over four days recently I had the pleasure of being in the company of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, a former General Secretary of the Baptist Union. The first day was at a meeting for the Free Churches Group which was held in London. In the opening prayers Jonathan quoted from Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. “ The second occasion was at a Thanksgiving Day for Torch Trust for the Blind where he was guest speaker and drew from Philippians 3 on the theme of “taking hold”. On both occasions he used the same phrase: “It’s hard work!”

At Torch he also drew on a personal experience as par of a rowing crew at University.  Apparently the coach used to tell them when they were training that if they did not feel as if they were about to die then they hadn’t been working hard enough! The point was that both maintaining unity and taking hold of God’s purposes in our lives is costly and requires effort. The trouble with western Christianity is that we are far too casual and often treat our faith as if it were a hobby.

As I write this I am acutely conscious that I am tired following the past few weeks packed activities.  But I am also left with a feeling that it has been time well spent. I ma tired in the work but certainly not tired of the work. What encourages me enormously is the knowledge that I have so many friends who also labour hard in God’s vineyard and others who labour hard in prayer. However, we all need occasional periods of rest and refreshments or being tired in God’s service can deteriorate to a worse condition.

It’s important to remember that God is not a slave driver and that we can come to him and find rest and refreshment at those times when we are heavy burdened.

Experimenting with format
As you can see this news is coming to you in a different format. Previously the news has been sent as an attachment. I would welcome your feedback please on this. Click the links to obtain additional information.

Monica Cook—health report
We are grateful to all who responded to the urgent prayer request for Monica while she was working at Obambo in Kenya recently. Monica later told me that it seemed her visit on this occasion was one long episode of illness. She quickly recovered from Malaria and gastroenteritis only to become ill with pneumonia. Those that know Monica well will not be surprised that she tried to stick to her schedule. She is now back at home and much better. By the time you are reading this she will also have had a full medical check up.

Monica continues to be encouraged with her work in this rural village in Kenya. The main part of the work there is separately funded and managed because many of its activities are outside the scope of the charity. Sunrise Ministries does however continue to pay her stipend.

Visit to Ireland—11-14 September
This visit was made in my capacity as Convenor of the Congregational Federation’s Inter-Church Board. While in Ireland we met with representatives of a small Christian denomination currently engaged in conversation with the CF. This was my second visit to Ireland, having been previously at the invitation of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland to support their rural churches. I hope to continue links with both bodies and other denominations who have shown interest in rural mission. While church attendances are much higher in Ireland than in England, overall secularisation is causing decline.

Schools Ministry
During the last few weeks I have taken assemblies in the villages of Lubenham (Leics.) and Yelvertoft (Northants.) It is encouraging to be told that the children look forward to my assemblies and often take positive reports home to parents. Sometimes we have to work within the guidelines set out by a diocese. At other times I can influence the theme. Mostly I use story-telling techniques to make the Bible satories relevant and engaging.

Prison Ministry
Regular visits to HMP Gartree continue on Tuesday afternoons around a choir practise. Numbers in the Male Voice Choir, part of the work of the Chaplaincy, have grown recently and this brings a number of challenges. The choir is an excellent environment for learning discipline and teamwork. Often the songs we practise have a clear Christian message and provide opportunity for sharing biblical truths. Please pray as we have requested an opportunity to put on another event this autumn.

Yelvertoft
Our local church ministry continues to be blessed. Both our Messy Church, Youth Drop-In, and Bible Discussion meetings have all restarted after the holidays. Your prayers are asked for pastoral ministry following recent bereavements, for new leaders for our Youth Work, and for further growth in Messy Church. We are hosting the East Midlands Area of the Congregational Federation Autumn Assembly on 5th under the title “To Boldly Go…” exploring the future of our churches’ mission.

Holiday at Home
This is an outreach to older people based on Market Harborough. Although not direct evangelism it is good news and has led to some of those reached attending churches afterwards. My good friends and colleagues at the Methodist Church, Brian and Clare Kennard are expecting to move in the summer of 2015. Brian has led the team. Please pray for growth in the planning team and someone to take on the role of coordinating.

Hope in Our Villages
Eight churches in the villages of Crick, Lilbourne and Yelvertoft are working together under the ‘Hope’ banner. We have already conducted some shared events and are currently planning a special visit from Roy Crowne who heads up Hope Together, Remembrance Sunday events, Carol singing activities and a Prayer Mission which will take place in January. Please pray for the members of the churches that we will grow closer together and closer to God. Click the link for more.

Ecumenical work for the Congregational Federation
I continue to serve as Convenor of the Inter-Church Board. My particular area of responsibility now mainly focuses on Churches Together in England and the Free Churches Group. I took on those aspects at the end of last year and have found it exciting to see all that God is doing  across churches in England. I attended a FCG meeting on 17th September and an Enabling Group meeting of CTE from 18th to 19th September. Click the links if you wish to find out more about these bodies.

Rural Networking
We are greatly encouraged by attendance figures for the Germinate Conference on 12th October. This event for encouraging and enabling rural churches in ministry and mission has a number of partners including the Rural Evangelism Network, but was adopted by the Churches Rural Group as its major activity for 2014 and organised through the Arthur Rank Centre. I also shared in a Rural Round Table Meeting for Fresh Expressions. More information about a conference in 2015 will be on its way to you soon.

Upcoming Engagements
Saturday 27th—CF Mission and Society Committee, Nottingham
Sunday 28th—Ministry at Yelvertoft
Tuesday 30th—Morning School Assembly, Yelvertoft; Afternoon HMP Gartree
Sunday 5th—CF East Midlands Autumn Assembly, Yelvertoft

Thank you.
Barry
Barry Osborne

A time to laugh and a time to cry

I was surprised to receive only two emails raising questions following my last posting on this blog.  I had taken up the topic of welcome at church and given two examples.  These presented two extremes.  No one took issue with the story of the two old men who completely ignored a visitor.  However, the emails I received both suggested that some might find the welcome I received at a church in Herefordshire somewhat overwhelming and uncomfortable.

I suspect that we will have various attitudes to what kind of welcome we might find appropriate.  This too might vary depending on our mood on arrival at the church door.  The real point that I was seeking to make was that some people seem to have the ability to be good hosts (could that be a gift?) and that these are the people who should be responsible, not just for a moment of welcome, but for the whole aspect of hospitality at church.  A good host would know how effusive to be.  They pick up the signals given out by body language and respond appropriately.

I have a good friend who has an aversion to being hugged as she goes to church.  If she arrives at the same time as others she will slip past and into church while the 'welcomers' are engaged hugging others.  Her other strategy as someone holds out their arms to hug her is to offer her right hand stretched out stiffly for just a hand shake.  People soon take the hint.  In England the practise of greeting people for the first time with a kiss on the cheek (or is it both cheeks?) seems to be increasingly common.  This too is common in many churches but it isn't always appropriate.

There are some of us who still practise initial greetings with a handshake and saying "How do you do?" which is not actually a question to be answered! The correct response is to answer with "How do you do?"  Of course many people of younger years now have the habit of greeting people with "How are you doing?" which is a question and for which the normative response should be "I'm, good thanks" which, of course, does not actually mean that you are good!  I also find it strange to be greeted with the words, "Are you all right?" which seems very common in the East Midlands of England where I live.

Perhaps this variety of forms of greeting also emphasises the importance of using appropriate and possibly trained people to greet folk coming into church.  For some people an overly intimate greeting or welcome might feel actually threatening.  I know this is true of some women who have suffered sexual abuse. Some want to slip in quietly and sit on their own at the back.  To encourage them then to act differently is not being hospitable.

I remember that some research I was doing about growing rural congregations included a story of a Devon Parish Church that was a new building in the heart of the community.  This had replaced an old building on the outskirts of the village that had burned down.  The new building was more 'in the round' and brilliantly lit  from windows high in a dome above the centre.  Light scattered into every corner.  But one woman commented, "Where do I go to cry?"

But it's not just the initial welcome but the whole tone of the meeting that is also significant.  It is unlikely that whoever is leading worship will know precisely what has been going on in the lives of each member of the congregation.  But God does know, so we need to try to cultivate sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and watch out for signals from body language.  A bright an cheery opening might be just what is needed sometimes but not always.  And that leads me onto the topic of humour in church.

Every public speaker knows that people learn well when information is communicated with humour.  But there are times when it is appropriate and times when it is inappropriate.  When I was President of the Congregational Federation I was the guest Minister at a certain church one cold winter day.  I was ushered into a small cold and damp Ministers vestry (or office) to wait on my own until some time later I was gathered and taken to the choir vestry.  On my way I caught a glimpse into the church where the small congregation were scattered and looked very cold.  To my delight the choir vestry was warm and cosy, so I observed wryly that perhaps we should invite the congregation to join us.  This provoked many chuckles and the odd hearty laugh.  Then a censorious voice uttered "Can we remember where we are!"  Immediately the laughter ceased (should we have laughed at this comment?)

Does, I wonder, solemnity equal misery?  Can we be joyfully solemn?  Is there a time to weep and a time to laugh?  Are both appropriate in church?  Of course, the informed answer has to be yes.  This then brings me to the question posed in my previous posting: "Did Jesus have a sense of humour?"  The implied accompanying question is can this be discerned in the gospels?

I think the answer to both questions is "Yes". Often Jesus used hyperbole or exaggerated speech in order to make points.  We can see that in the story of the Good Samaritan and in his conversation with Nicodemus. I can imagine in the former example a slight pause after the words "...a certain Samaritan.." and perhaps a wry smile.  In the latter either Jesus is teasing Nicodemus or being plain sarcastic in his comments.  But many times when we read scripture aloud we make the tone of Jesus' voice stern and challenging.  Try reading is again with a slight touch of wit as Jesus responds to Nicodemus' comments.

Using humour carefully can actually help to make a serious point.  Of course there were times when Jesus would have sounded very serious.  I would include in that his words about the cost of discipleship, which involves self denial and taking up a cross.  But might there have been a smile on the face of Jesus when he talked about turning Galilean fishermen into fishers of men? (Matthew 4:19)  You can decide for yourself, of course, but just try reflecting on how we read scripture aloud publicly and don't turn Jesus into someone who never laughed at a good joke.

I love the story of Nehemiah which isn't only about restoring walls and gates; there was spiritual restoration as well.  The people wept as they realised how far they had strayed from God's ideal.  But they were urged to cease from weeping and told that "the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).  When the kings of the earth conspire against God we are told he laughs (Psalm 2:4).  Isaiah speaks of God's people giving him joy (Isaiah 68:19).  I love the words of Zephaniah 3:17, quoted here from the AV

"The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, 

he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, 

he will joy over thee with singing."

Right now your heart might be heavy with sadness.  If that is so then know that God knows and cares.  He also weeps with those who are sad. He also promises that joy will come again.  One day he will wipe away all tears from our eyes and in his presence there will be fullness of joy.

From the diary:

• Several of the weeks of August are less busy with engagements but still plenty to do.  It is a chance to catch up on correspondence.  It is also an opportunity to take time to sense God's presence and guidance, and a time to prepare for the busy time to come.
• After my regular weekly time at HMP Gartree Doreen and I will be travelling to south Wales for the funeral of an uncle who was well in his nineties.  Like my father he would have had an initial influence through the Salvation Army but spent most of his adult life in a Baptist church.  He loved the Lord and through his eighties and into his nineties loved nothing more than speaking about the Lord to others.  I ask you prayers for those in his family who have not yet come to that same wonderful relationship with God through Christ.
• This Sunday, 24th August I will be ministering at Yelvertoft.
• Sunday 31st August I will be taking the Sunday service at HMP Gartree and I value your prayers that I might sense what God wants to say on that occasion.

Thanks to those who ordered copies of the Yelvertoft Pudding Recipe Book.  They will be on their way to you this week.  We still have some left at £5 with all the money raised going to the Air Ambulance Service.

Thank you for your fellowship around God's throne of undeserved generosity. (Hebrews 4:16)

Barry

A proper welcome

Most of the folk that receive this news or read by email it on my blog are confident Christians and I suspect that the majority, like me, will have never been inside a betting shop.  I think I might find it a strange experience.  Some betting shops have painted windows that prevent one from seeing inside.  I actually don't know much about betting but I know that when betting on horse races there are things called "Odds" which my schoolboy maths should help me to understand.  But I have heard people talking about "Each Way" and "On the nose" and "Accumulators".  Then there's "Ajax " (and it's not a cleaner), and what is meant by"Bar Price"?  It all sounds too complicated for me!  I just wouldn't know what to do if I went into a betting shop.  I would feel conspicuous.  People might stare at me!

I guess that's the way some folk feel about going to church.  After all you can believe in God without going to church, in the same way that you could enjoy watching a horse race on the TV.  Some churches have coloured windows so you cannot see in from outside.  They have their own distinct jargon and use words that mean nothing to most people (Grace!  That's a girl's name isn't it!).  How do you know when to stand, sit or kneel?  As for singing... you can forget that!

Perhaps it would help if we stop and ask ourselves what the church experience means for ourselves.  It might be worship, or Bible teaching, or fellowship and friendship, or all three, or something else.  But if we put ourselves in the shoes of those neighbours or friends that don't go to church, what might they gain by coming?  And how might we help them discover the good things that church has to offer?

In my mission consultancy work I usually ask the people in the church where I am working to describe their church.  Almost invariably they will say, "We are friendly and welcoming".  But when I ask them to describe how they would welcome a friend turning up unexpectedly at their home we discover that this is vastly different from how they welcome people at church.  Let me describe two experiences I have had.

The first was when I was part of a team conducting a series of outreach meetings for several village churches in Essex. Part way through the series we arrived at one church after having had a couple of week's break.  We were shocked to find that the local church members had not put up any posters or distributed the leaflets we had left them.  There were two elderly men in the church (possibly the entire membership) who explained that it was no good putting up posters or giving out leaflets as no one comes from outside anyway.  The mission team got on with the task of getting the publicity out.

At the first meeting a few folk from another village church turned up and took seats near the front of the chapel.  The two men turned up and took their seats at the back on either side of the chapel.  We were just about to start when a lady walked in who we did not recognise.  The two men turned their back on her but the folk at the front gave her a cheery welcome to come and sit with them.  That night we learned that this woman was seriously planning suicide, but she welcomed Jesus into her life instead.  As she left the two men again turned away from her.  One of them told me "She won't come again; they never do!"  She did attend every meeting and has gone on in the faith

I visited a village church in Herefordshire.  It had a reputation of being a growing church with a strong local membership and I was there researching its story.  On the Sunday (my first day) I followed others into the church through a new main entrance into the bright atrium that bridged the chapel and the hall.  Here I was met my a man and woman who instantly recognised that I was a visitor.  They introduced themselves by name, welcomed me and engaged in warm and friendly conversation, clearly wanting to know more about me.  There was a visitor's book on a stand and I was asked if I would like to write in it.

The woman then invited me into what was a large hospitality area from which a side door led into the main chapel.  Here there was a man handing out hymn books and notice sheets.  I saw him discreetly pick up another card which I correctly guessed had information for visitors.  The lady introduced me by name to the mad at the inner door who then asked where I would like to sit but suggested I would get a very good view from the gallery.  I agreed and he then left his post, still chatting to me in a warm and friendly way and informed me that there was a farming family to whom he would like to introduce me.  Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a woman rise and take his place at the door.

On arrival in the gallery I was again introduced by name to the family who, I was informed had attended the church since it was a much smaller congregation.  Again, interest in who I was, where I lived, and what I did made me the focus.  I felt thoroughly included, and at home.  After the service I was looked after throughout the time as we gathered informally in the atrium for coffee.  Lots of smiles and pleasant introductions.  The growth in congregation (possibly ten times its original size had as much to do with the hospitality shown to visitors as the worship style (fairly traditional) or the preaching.

Some people are just great at hospitality, and clearly these should be given the task of ensuring that everyone that comes through the door feels appreciated from the start.  Take a moment to think about your own church and consider whether the hospitality people experience there matches the best kind of hospitality that is shown by a good host receiving a visitor to his or her home.  Are you using the right people?  Strangely, one of the ways in which new people to our church seem to have settled is by accepting their offer to help wash up after coffee.

Why not add a comment on this blog describing the welcome people receive in your church.

From the diary

• A busy pastoral week has just past.  For example, on one day I visited the home in the village where a lovely man had just died.  I then visited the home of a man whose funeral I had conducted the week before.  I then visited a family back in Market Harborough for whom the local funeral director had asked if I would conduct a funeral (two Congregational ministers having moved to new locations recently).
• Over recent months an unusual situation had caused a considerable amount of distress to a number of churches.  The matter is far too complicated to go into here but it has presented a challenge to me to seek to understand the situation and act appropriately.  It has been yet another example that there is considerable cost to pay if you choose not to "pass by on the other side" ( The Good Samaritan - see Luke 10: 25-37)
• During the week I met with Lorna (a lay minister at our village Parish Church) to plan the outline for a week of mission to three villages as part of 'Hope in our Villages).  More information about that to follow.
• I will be conducting Sunday meetings at Yelvertoft this morning and next Sunday.
• The week is largely free from engagements (apart from Sundays and the regular ministry at HMP Gartree on Tuesday) but there are bound to be more challenging situations to address, pastoral work, and the inevitable administration.  This last item will include letters of thanks to those who have sent donations over the last few busy weeks.  We are grateful for the way your prayers and support keep our ministry going.

Something to ponder:  Do you think Jesus had a sense of humour, and if so where does it show in the gospels?

Thank you so much for your interest and prayers.

Barry

Reparations

Like many others I have been shocked by the extent of the destruction suffered in Gaza as Israel has responded to rockets fired from Gaza by Hamas.  It has seemed to me not unlike the blanket bombing of Coventry and Dresden in the Second World War.  Such terrible devastation is presented to us as inevitable and unavoidable. Israel claims that since Hamas places and fires its weapons from within domestic and other non-military structures these must be destroyed.  They seek to mitigate the action by sending a first non-exploding missile as a 'knock on the roof'.

But in the few minutes between the first and second missiles there is little time to evacuate the building and hardly any time to hold onto precious possessions.  On one hand such terrible destruction seems disproportionate to the damage caused by Hamas' rockets.  On the other hand Israel states that it has to stop the rockets and close the tunnels used by Hamas against a nation they see as illegally occupying their land.   Meanwhile almost 2,000 people have been killed, most apparently civilians.  One news report stated that over 10,000 houses, government buildings, universities, mosques, and schools were damaged in a month-long assault. In addition to this many factories have also been bombed and there has been significant damage to infrastructure.

The cost of rebuilding and restoring services in Gaza will clearly run into many millions of pounds if not billions of pounds.  It is on this that I wish to focus rather than comment on the claims of justification that the combatants assert.  Hearing on the news that Israel regrets the damage to human life and property made me wonder whether that sorrow was sufficient for Israel to foot the bill.  This got me searching the internet and Bible on the subject of reparations.

There are numerous references to reparation claims after WW2 on the internet but few references in Scripture.  However, the Bible is not silent on the subject and it does set out some principles.  The one particular passage that came to my mind occurs in Luke 19 in the story of the salvation of Zachaeus.  Here is a man who was a chief tax collector on behalf of the occupying force - the Romans.  While people usually shunned him he found that Jesus chose to associate himself.  We do not know what they talked about but the change in Zachaeus is expressed in these words:

‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, 

and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back 

four times the amount.’ (Luke 19: 8 NIVUK)

The Law of Moses sets out in Leviticus chapter six that restitution is normally 120% of that which was taken, though Exodus 22 suggests a more generous price. Whether one uses the Exodus reference or the Leviticus reference it is clear that Zachaeus accepted the responsibility he had to make restitution if he had taken more than he should for himself in taxation.

The principle of restitution or reparations ought to be applied to all aspects of sin; not just that which relates to property.  Is telling God that we are sorry for wrong things we have done or said sufficient if it is not then demonstrated by reparations?  Consider, for example, a situation where monies taken illegally from a charity.  Is it enough just to accept the consequences of Court action or should the offender apologise to the charity and its supporters and seek at the least to restore what he had taken?

Or consider a Christian leader who has serially sexually abused those for whom he held a position of trust.  Again the Courts might have imposed a penalty, and he might claim that he has repented.  But should he not also be prepared to, at the least, apologise to the victims and others affected by his actions?

Both those examples are drawn from among many real situations that I have come across through the years.  I am glad that I can also recall situations where monies stolen were repaid with interest, and where apologies have been provided properly. I believe that true repentance is always seen when it is followed by appropriate actions.  I know too that such expressions of repentance bring peace and blessing.

When I was just a child I did something wrong that was quite serious and motivated by malice.  Feeling scared of the consequences I suggested that the culprit was another young person who lived not far away.  Later, when I had become a Christian I told a minister about it and was told that if I had told God I was sorry that was sufficient.  But I was left with guilt which I carried for over thirty years.  Eventually, I arranged to meet with all the parties that were still alive and apologise to them.  While I was also prepared to suffer the consequences of my misconduct I was informed that there would not be a fine (as I had fully expected).  Although it was not my goal, I found an incredible depth of peace afterwards.

Zachaeus' intention to make reparations far beyond what the law required was clearly sincere, unlike a womanising man I knew who would bring his wife some flowers and chocolates after every time he had been unfaithful!  True repentance can be seen in a changed life that does not seek to justify the sins we have committed but seeks to make reparations, regardless of the cost.  For a government to state that they regret collateral damage and the death of innocent people costs nothing.  I wait to see who is going to pick up the bill.

Please take a moment with me to reflect on any hurt we may have caused but so far failed to put right.  Perhaps there is something we should do.

From the diary:

• Holiday at Home in Market Harborough throughout last week brought blessing to many older people in the community.  It was a blessing to work as a part of a team with people from various local churches. Pictures will appear later this week on www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk
• Last Monday's joint churches commemorative service in  our village of Yelvertoft was a very special occasion.  Our local Parish Church seemed full.  As we symbolically put out the candles they were replaced by a new light as I read from John chapter 1 about the true light coming into the world.
• Thank you for your prayers for the funeral service last Monday.  It was well attended and I pray that gospel words will touch and change hearts as necessary. As in all aspects of rural ministry I try to always evangelise pastorally and pastor evangelistically.  As Paul points out in 1Corinthians 13 ministry not characterised by love is pretty much a waste of time.
• The week ahead will be spent mainly on administration as there is quite a lot of catching up to be done. This Sunday 10th August I will be ministering at Yelvertoft in the morning and at Newton (near Rugby) in the evening.

As always, thank you for your prayers and support.

Barry

What is a living sacrifice?

As I look back over the many years of Christian ministry I have experienced I am thankful for many wonderful influences in my life.  As far a I can remember we used to get two Sunday School prizes each year: one at Christmas and a special one at our annual big anniversary celebration.  The prizes I received were all books about pioneer missionaries and I still have many of them on my bookshelves today.  These were not only inspiring stories; they were also role models.

A Christian school teacher brought to my attention the work of the Mission Aviation Fellowship at a time when the slaughter of five missionaries in the Amazon Basin hit the national news.  Their dedication and costly service was a challenge, and I was greatly moved by the words written in the Bible of one of them, Jim Elliuot.  It read  "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

It was therefore not surprising that on Easter Saturday 1963 I struggled to sing the hymn "When I survey the wondrous cross". I had just listened to a talk based on the gracious words of Jesus on the cross, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".  I was already a Christian but that was the evening that I realised that Jesus suffered on the cross not just so that I could be forgiven, but also because he loved me.

I knew well the words of that hymn and I knew that I dared not sing the final verse unless I was sure that with God's help I could mean every word.  I prayed as I sang my way through three verses and then sang with all my heart, "Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all." From that moment I knew that God had the prior claim on my life.

In Romans 12 verse 1 we read, "Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - which is your true and proper worship" (NIVUK).  The NT Greek translated "true and proper worship" is logikos latreia. Logikos  translates as that which is reasonable or logical.  Of the four occasions in which latreia appears in the New Testament, the NIV twice translates it as worship and twice as service.  It is our engagement in service for God that is the offering we give in an act of worship.

But a study of the Old Testament reveals that sacrifices made to God always had to be the best.  If it was not costly then there was no genuine gift to God.  It also has to be made willingly.  The previous chapters of Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome set out the wonder of salvation through the generosity of God, and how this message of salvation and eternal life is for all people, Jew and Gentile.  Chapter twelve begins with the word, "Therefore..." It is in the light of all that God has done for us and our salvation that to offer our bodies to him in service is the logical and reasonable response.

But Paul was not a mere theorist when it comes to theology; he was also a practitioner.  This is the man who endured horrendous things for the sake of spreading the gospel, who though he knew violence and death were ahead of him pressed on, not counting his life as precious to himself; this was the man who said he would gladly spend everything he had and allow his very self to be expended for the sake of the faith of others. (See 2Cor 11:24-28; Acts 20:24; 2 Cor 12:15)

Romans 12:1 also tells us that the sacrifice has to be holy.  That means set apart or separated to God.

When I began this posting some ten days ago I was reflecting on some of the challenges that face Christian leaders these days in their dealings with others.  These days employment law is such that for a manager to admonish a subordinate could carry risks of being sued if not done sensibly.  Raising your voice or speaking too firmly could bring a claim of constructive dismissal.  The same is true if you fail to give opportunity for advancement to someone judged to be lazy.  It's a crazy world.  And the situation is not that dissimilar in the realm of voluntary service.

Sadly some in Christian work resent it if asked to work extra hours or to tackle a difficult task.  Of course, those in leadership should act responsibly and never take advantage of others.  However, I fear that both Paul and Jesus might have been in trouble with the Human Resources Departments regarding what they expected of others.

Discipleship is not a 37.5 hours per week commitment; it is absolute.  And the needs of this world cry out for those who will give full commitment.  How can we pray, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as in heaven" and then hold back our gift so that we can spend it unnecessarily on things for self!

At the same time those in leadership should recognise the precious trust given to them and remember that in the kingdom of God there are no lords over others.

In Leviticus 1: 1-13 we read how a burnt offering was to be made.  Each separate part of what was offered  had to be washed and placed separately on the altar. No doubt this is what inspired Frances Havergal's hymn, "Take my life, and let it be consecrated Lord to thee"  Each succeeding verse expresses that sense of all our being offered to God.  Some hymns are hard to sing if we want to be sincere.

From the diary

• An appointment with my doctor has diagnosed a form of sciatica and tests are being carried out to try to find the cause.  Some mornings I have experienced almost unbearable pain.  Special neuropathic painkillers seem to be helping but have a side effect of making me feel tired!
• Our three villages and eight churches united Songs of Praise and picnic on 20th July was held under Hope in our Villages and proved a great blessing and a good witness.
• A talk on my ministry in prison given to a branch of the Mothers' Union was well received and also gave an opportunity to talk about the excellent work of Futures Unlocked.  One of our church members is a mentor with this organisation.
• A Rural Support Meeting for a network of church leaders in parts of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland was very encouraging with some wonderful stories shared.  These local networks are easy to arrange so if there isn't one in your area do please contact me as I will be happy to provide guidance to assist you.
• Sunday 3rd August, Yelvertoft Congregational Church
• Monday 4th to Friday 8th August, Holiday at Home outreach in Market Harborough.  This is an annual event set up by the local Methodist Minister and former Associate Evangelist in Mission for Christ, Brian Kennard.  People from various churches help to put together a great programme each morning.
• Monday 4th August.  Instead of being at Holiday at Home I will be taking a funeral service for someone from Yelvertoft.  Please pray that God's word will find a resting place.
• Monday 4th August - Special WW1 Commemoration Service in the village.
• Thursday 7th August.  Once more I shall be absent from Holiday at Home on important business.
• Saturday 9th August.  Prayer Walking in Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
• Sunday 10th August.  Yelvertoft Congregational Church in the morning and Newton URC in the evening.

Your prayers for these activities will be appreciated but please also pray as I reflect of my own offering of service to the Lord.  Pray that I might be all that God would want me to be and do all he would want me to do.  I pray the same for you, with thanksgiving for your love and friendship.

Barry

Gideon's Mistake

At our local Messy Church event last Saturday I had to give a talk on trusting in the Lord and when preparing for this my mind went to the account of Gideon and the small army of 300 men God used to overcome 135,000 Midianite and Amalekite soldiers.  You can read about this in Judges chapters 6 to 8.

When God called Gideon to the task there was nothing special about this man except, perhaps, that he saw himself as insignificant.  This links in with 1Corinthians 1: 26 - 29 where Paul points out that God chooses to use the weak and insignificant for his purposes.  The people of Israel were backslidden but not abandoned by God.  For several years the Midianites and others had plundered their crops and livestock forcing the people of Israel to hide in caves.  Gideon managed to find 32,000 men to fight the Midianites and others but God says that they are too many!  Gideon's band is reduced to a mere 300 with odds of 450 to one!  But God provides the strategy and the Midianites are defeated.

But it is what happened after the battle that struck me when I was preparing this talk.  He declines the people's request to become their king but instead collects gold earnings that were part of the plunder they had taken from their dead enemies.  With this he builds an ephod which he places in his home town.  The gold used would be worth over £500,000 today.  The term 'ephod' is unusual here since it normally refers to a priestly garment and it would seem unlikely that Gideon's ephod was a garment.  But it is an item associated with seeking guidance from God.  See Judges 8: 22-27.

The tragedy is that this then became a focal point for idolatry and a snare for Gideon and his family.  It made me think how easy it is after some wonderful divine intervention for the devil to slip in and lead people astray - or (if you prefer) for our own sinful inclinations to take us astray.  The use of plundered gold in this account is similar to the building of the golden calf which was worshipped in the desert after God had miraculously delivered the people of Israel from bondage in Egypt.  It also reminds me of the situation at Ai after the people of Israel had experienced a mighty deliverance at Jericho.  Defeat at Ai followed because of disobedience rooted in the failure by Achan to recognise that the victory was God's and therefore they had no right to the plunder (see Joshua 7).

For many years it was my privilege to be part of an evangelistic team that experienced some special times when God moved in our meetings.  We had some amazing times of blessing.  But I noticed that it became common after the events for tempers to be lost and for team members to become impatient with one another.  For that reason I often made a point of encouraging team members to be careful.  Is it possible that instead of being humbled by the experiences of God's interventions we shift the focus to ourselves?  Might this have been a factor in the sins of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5)?

Peter is a great example of how fickle our hearts are.  One moment he is making a profound statement about the nature of Jesus, and the next moment he is seeking to hinder God's plans.  He moves from praise to rebuke from Jesus in moments.  One moment he affirms his faithfulness to Jesus and not long after denies knowing him.  He is used by God in the early church but then gets into trouble for being a hypocrite.  These things are recorded in scripture so that we realise our human weakness.  We all have feet of clay.

When the apostle Paul met with the elders from the church at Ephesus he warns them to be watchful against external attacks and internal failures.  They must keep watch over themselves as well as the whole church (Acts 20: 28-31).

The ephod Gideon had made was a physical symbol of how God had given wisdom and guidance that brought victory.  But what was a mere symbolic reminder became a focus for worship and downfall.  Many a revival has been lost because the signs of its presence become that which we cherish rather than the Lord himself. We are left worshipping structures, organisations, buildings, worship styles; and it is all idolatry.  Whatever and whoever God may have used in past blessing these are not the source of the blessing and we should never make them sacred.

May God save us from shifting our eyes from him for unless the Lord builds the house we labour in vain.

From the diary:

• Last Wednesday I travelled to Hastings in East Sussex for a service of thanksgiving for the life of Dr. Jim Waller.  Jim was a passionate evangelist who was a catalyst and motivator for all kinds of missional activity.  He had a particular concern for people of other faiths to discover all that Jesus has done and is doing for them.  He was a good man and it was a privilege to have worked with him in the past, especially in our friendship evangelism in Turkey.
• Hope in our Villages continues to move forward and people from the various churches in Yelvertoft, Lilbourne and Crick are enjoying working together for Jesus.  We have our first major event this coming Sunday (20th July) with an Open Air Songs of Praise Service followed by a picnic and family fun in Crick.  Please pray for a good response from within the three communities.
• The number of new members of the prison choir is presenting a challenge.  We may have attracted some who see it as an easy option and risk spoiling it for those who want to work.  Please pray fore this Tuesday afternoon's visit that I will have discernment and wisdom so that this ministry will not be spoiled.
• On Thursday afternoon I am speaking at a WI meeting about the work that I and others do in prison.  Please pray that I will use this occasion wisely and for God's glory.

I seem to often find myself involved in complicated situations of a confidential nature.  I have two at present and people seem to seek my help because of my experience over the years.  Both of these situations have already taken up considerable time and look like doing so for the immediate future.  I am never sufficient of myself for dealing with these issues and need your prayers that I will manage the situations and the time required wisely.  Please pray.

God is good and longs to bless us more than we long to be blessed.  Why not ask him for some specific blessing at this time that will make you a blessing to others.

Barry

On Your Bike!

As today sees the start of the 2014 Tour de France cycle race I thought I would base my thoughts on the topic of cycling and how it relates to my activities as a rural mission consultant. No, I do not travel around Britain's villages by bicycle, though it would be great to have an army of evangelists who did just that.  But, back in the 1980s, as we were pioneering an enabling approach to rural mission, I drew on the image of cycling to illustrate what was then a new way of thinking about mission.

Regular readers may be aware that for a quarter of a century I was part of a mission team that served rural churches of various denominations and across Britain.  While there were various important aspects to the work we did, at its heart was this itinerant team ministry. Members of the team was multi-talented and could offer a powerful preacher, a gifted gospel singer, an artist capable of producing amazing biblical pictures or cartoons to illustrate gospel truths, a conjurer, a raconteur, a pianist, an organist, and an audio-visual expert.  Between us we could run activities for children, youth, adults and adults in the third age. We conducted church services, and ran meetings in village halls, schools, pubs and people's homes.  But by the mid-1980s I was reflecting seriously regarding the value of what we were doing.

Our short-term outreaches were conducted at the request of local churches and carefully designed to fit with the local context.  They were fruitful events that brought many hundreds of people to faith in Christ, planted and grew churches.  But was this the best or even the only strategy?  One of the factors that brought matters to a head for me took place in a Cumbrian village during a home-based evening meeting packed to capacity.  The lady sitting on my right leant past me to speak to the vicar sitting on my left.  "Well Vicar," she said, "I don't know what we are going to do next week with only you to entertain us!"

It was not meant unkindly, and the use of the word "entertain" did not offend.  It was the words, "only you" that hit me. How hard was it to follow up the discontinuity caused by having a highly talented team in the church for a week or two.  Were we giving the impression that evangelism could only be done by outside 'specialists'? How did our programme contribute to the development and deployment of the gifts God had already put within the church for his purposes?

Out of these and other practical and theological questions was born what seemed then a new and unique approach to mission enabling.  Our vision was to help rural churches of any size understand their particular role within God's mission and how they could use their own resources (no matter how limited) in ways that feel comfortable, that are effective and sustainable with the minimum of outside support. This was a paradigm shift and as I looked for ways to explain its relevance two images came to mind.

The first of these was bespoke tailoring.  What we were seeking to do through consultation, education and training with a church was to help them design mission strategies that, like a well designed suit (for example) would fit perfectly, be in a style that suited and was not embarrassing, and which the church would be pleased to 'wear' publicly.  We rapidly developed appropriate material to use with churches on away-days and got to work.

Cycling was the second illustration - or rather teaching someone to cycle.  We were aware that for most Christians in rural areas the idea of expressing their faith in mission (and especially if this included evangelism) was sufficiently scary for them not to want to try it.  If the vision was to become a reality and transform many churches then designing the strategies was not enough on its own.  More was needed if the strategies were to be implemented.

Learning to ride a bike is not that hard but some help in the beginning can make a world of difference - especially for the young or nervous.  Of course there are some who will just get on the bike on their own, wobble around, fall off a few times, but eventually get the hang of it.  But how might you go about teaching someone to ride a bike?

It seemed to me that example might be helpful but a new rider will never learn from example alone.  Then there are a number of practical aspects that are important such as making sure that the saddle and handlebars are the right height and that the brakes work. It is also important that the new rider learns which part of the foot should be on the pedals to maximise thrust, how to fix their vision ahead rather than looking down, or around, or back.  But the there will be times when looking around or back will be important.  Finally, it is all about balance - and balance best maintained by forward motion.

By now, all should be able to see how apposite this is as an illustration for learning how to engage in mission.  But we have yet to come to the issue of confidence in mission.  It is usual when teaching someone to ride a bike to provide a little support.  This might mean walking or running beside the bike while holding onto the back of the saddle to correct wobbles or simply to reduce stress.  Eventually the teacher has to let go.  Of course there might be a tumble or problem of some kind but in the early stages that is to be expected and can be corrected.  The end result is that the teacher can enjoy watching the new rider enjoying the exhilarating experience of cycling.

Today thousands of cyclists in Leeds and around Yorkshire will have started cycling in this way.  Today they will be riding more sophisticated bikes and wearing Lycra, safety helmets and all the rest of the gear.  But they will be riding because they enjoy it!  Of course Yorkshire will provide a challenging context in which to race.  They will have to cope with bicycle congestion, cobbled streets, narrow bending roads with some scary hazards if they make a mistake.  Not unlike rural mission!

I do have a bike.  For many years I had not been on a bike.  Life is busy and a car is more convenient (?) perhaps.  But I do have a bike.  It is in a shed, well oiled with tyres pumped up.  I just don't ride it - or at least I haven't for a long time.  I wonder whether for any reader that too is a picture of where you are at in your role within God's mission.  Or perhaps it is where your church is at within God's mission.  God gives to every believer gifts and ministries which are specific to each individual so that they can play the part he has planned for each of us in his mission in his world today.  It follows that every local church is therefore a collection of such enables people and that the church therefore has a specific part to play.

Please pray as we continue to help develop bespoke tailored strategies with rural churches and help them gain confidence to implement them. And where are you at in this process?  Have you and has your church got its strategies appropriately tailored?  Hopefully, you are already 'on your bike' in a missional sense and it is not neglected in the shed?

From the diary:

• Praise God for his blessing on the activities of the past week which included a school assembly.  The service at Gartree Prison last Sunday was once again a special occasion when God's presence was felt.
• Pray for Brayford Methodist Church, Devon, as they receive my report and consider the way forward for them.
• This Saturday forenoon I will be speaking at the Ordination Service for a colleague called Joy at Markfield (near Leicester)
• On Sunday I will be leading the meeting at Yelvertoft.
• Please pray as we seek to finalise the plans for a special United Service as part of 'Hope in our Villages' on Monday evening.  The villages of Crick, Yelvertoft and Lilbourne have eight congregations and this is a unique opportunity to work together.
• This is a relatively quiet week with few engagements (I shall be working in prison on Tuesday as usual) so this offers an opportunity to catch up with some essential administration.
• I value prayers for my wife, Doreen who has peripheral neuropathy and has had a few small falls recently.  Pray for wisdom as we seek to make the home a safer place.
• Praise God for the encouraging replies I have received from Christian leaders who read this blog/newsletter.  I am glad that it seems to have become a ministry in itself.
• Some of the Christian prisoners have chosen to undertake a partial fast for the next few weeks to deepen their relationship with God. Pray for them at this time and for prison chaplaincies.
• Having past the halfway mark for another year this is a good time for taking stock of all we seek to do for God.  Some times we can be so busy that we have insufficient time to hear what God is saying.
• Thank God for gifts received during June.  Rural ministry does not feature very high with most Christians and we are thankful for those who share the vision, pray for us and support us as they are able.

Thank you.

Barry