Did Jesus ever laugh?

I like to laugh. Very often the question is asked about whether or not God ever laughs. Here is an interesting answer written by R C Sproul- click HERE

TDK

The other day I spotted an old poster advertising 'TDK'. Now, you need to be a certain age to know what that means. When I was a lad, Sunday evenings would be spent recording the charts onto a TDK cassette from the radio. The quality of your stereo was indicated by the smoothness of the way your cassette ejected (I am unsure if this bore any relation to the quality of the sound!)

Why am I telling you this? Well, today the cassette is almost all but completely redundant ( ironically the only remaining remnant is the use of tapes for church sermons) and to still be using one is to be completely out of step with the way contemporary culture operates. Music is good, recording is still good but the means by which we are listening has changed.

I have been exploring the emerging church and what I think about it (Anglican's call this 'Fresh expressions'). I have been doing this for a couple of years. To what extent is the church giving people its gospel message on a TDK cassette when the rest of culture is transmitting on MP3? Of course, I know it is more complex than this, hence all my explorations, but it is just a thought. It is all about contextualization and here is a though-provoking piece I read recently that puts more flesh in my TDK bones- click HERE to read more.

Saturday Link-age

Here are some posts and links that caught my eye:

A great book called 'After the baby-boomers' by Robert Wuthnow has just come out and if you don't have time to read it but want to know what it's message is this is well-worth spending some time on- click HERE

John Piper on C S Lewis and Pastor's and writing- click HERE

Some questions Church leaders should be asking- click HERE

Some more questions for leaders called 'Satan vs Leaders'- Click HERE

'Shout for the Lord' on American Idol- Click HERE

The Vatican announces some more sins-click HERE

Why are there so many less Anglican churches. Here is the list- click HERE

12 Challenges Churches face-click HERE

Why I hate Religion

Mark Driscol on the difference between the gospel and religion....

In need of refreshing?

One of the events that helped me survive studying theology was my annual visit to Refresh at St Mary's. They have an annual leadership conference in London which is a time of teaching, fellowship and the opportunity to receive prayer. I have loved being able to go and just be blessed and strengthened by this wonderful church's passion and ministry.

So, if you need some refreshing then this is an oasis worth knowing about.

May see you there.

Keller @ Northwestern

Five minutes of Keller gems.....

Sobriety

The noise in my head was deafening, and drinking was in my thoughts all the time. It shocked me to realize that here I was in a treatment center, a supposedly safe environment, and I was in serious danger. I was absolutely terrified, in complete despair. At that moment, almost of their own accord, my legs gave way and I fell to my knees. In the privacy of my room, I begged for help. I had no notion who I thought I was talking to, I just knew that I had come to the end of my tether, I had nothing left to fight with. Then I remembered what I had heard about surrender, something I thought I could never do, my pride just wouldn’t allow it, but I knew that on my own I wasn’t going to make it, so I asked for help, and, getting down on my knees, I surrendered. Within a few days I realized that something had happened for me. An atheist would probably say it was just a change of attitude, and to a certain extent that’s true, but there was much more to it than that. I had found a place to turn to, a place I’d always known was there but never really wanted, or needed, to believe in. From that day until this, I have never failed to pray in the morning, on my knees, asking for help, and at night, to express gratitude for my life and, most of all, for my sobriety. I choose to kneel because I feel I need to humble myself when I pray, and with my ego, this is the most I can do. If you are asking why I do all this, I will tell you…because it works, as simple as that. In all this time that I’ve been sober, I have never once seriously thought of taking a drink or a drug. I have no problem with religion, and I grew up with a strong curiosity about spiritual matters, but my searching took me away from church and community worship to the internal journey. Before my recovery began, I found my God in music and the arts, with writers like Hermann Hesse, and musicians like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter. In some way, in some form, my God was always there, but now I have learned to talk to him. --Eric Clapton on his 20 year sobriety in Clapton: The Autobiography

Discernment

Paul warns elders not to teach 'what itching ears' desire to hear. It is an easy thing to do.

My essay for potty training (post-ordination training) is called 'What are you doing when you preach? I have been lead to 1 Thes 1 as a good biblical starting point. There seem to be three necessities.

1. To call people to a knowledge of God,
2. To call them to the acknowledgment of sin and to repentance
3. To call them to the the reality of Jesus.

It would be easy to have a gospel that went from 1 straight to 3 bypassing that nasty word sin and the need for repentance. It would be pretty attractive and if it caught on may very well fill a stadium (see Osteen's extraordinary stadium in the clip below).

Only this morning one of my readings was Acts 14 where we read in vs 14

'We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God'

Have a look at Mark Driscoll's ( of Mars Hill and Acts 29) critique of a chap called Joel Osteen. Osteen is currently the best-selling Christian author in the US and is a staple on Christian TV with his theology of happiness.

If you want to check out Driscoll (who is a pal of Keller and a great communicator/preacher) then check both out HERE

Now watch this....

Transformation

'(Biblical) salvation lies not in an escape from this world but in the transformation of this world....You will not find hope for the world in any of the religious systems or philosophies of humankind.....The biblical vision is unique. That is why when some say there is salvation in other faiths too, I ask them-"What salvation are you talking about?" No faith holds out a promise of eternal salvation for the world-the ordinary world- that the cross and resurrection of Jesus do'

Vinoth Ramachandra in 'The Reason for God' Page 224

For a great Tim Keller interview about the Reason for God look HERE

Saturday link-age

Here are some posts and links that caught my eye.

How much Obama gives away HERE

Free G K Chesterton audio book HERE

Matt Redman on worship HERE

Jonathan Edwards on 'How do I know if I am a real Christian' HERE

Why worship matters HERE

D A Carson's sermon's collected from around the web HERE

Chasing Cool- a review HERE

Christianity Today review of a Reason for God by Keller HERE

And a cool Saturday song (but not if you are a tee-total Baptist)......

Maps of Wars

Does not reflect the expansion of Christianity in China and India but interesting stuff.

How to read the bible the bread roll way

The other day we were discussing reading the Hebrew scriptures and Kate proposed a test that I share with you.

She said that when she was at theological college 10 years ago she had a Professor who would randomly look at people's bibles. He would turn them spine down and from this he could tell what had been read and what had been missed. The norm was to find gospels were darkest, then the rest of the NT, a bit of blackening on the Psalms and then the rest well........like new.

Give it a go.

Now, I have been continuing my journey through Judges. My latest reflection is on the story of Gideon. This will be familiar to some as the man with the fleece and low levels of leadership confidence. Perhaps you have been encouraged in the past by God's ability to use the weak and seemingly unsuitable. Perhaps, too, you have sought Gideon in a time of needing courage or guidance. All good things to do. But have you ever had a dream about a destructive bread roll? (Jdgs 7:13).

Actually, that is not the main thing that struck me. On this reading, I have noticed something that I have not done before. The little passage in Judges 8:22-28 about the Ephod.

God has amazingly strengthened Gideon for his task (...go in the strength that you have...6;14) and victory comes against the Midianites. Then he takes on the Ishmaelites and as his prize gets some plunder- a pile of gold earrings (8:25).

What does he do with them?

Well, he melts them down, makes a statue and all Israel worship it.

Has he learnt nothing?

Gideon seems to have the same heart as me. The same in fact as all of us.

The capacity to serve God, win spiritual victories, show faith, dream about bread rolls and then let the whole thing go to a ball of chalk in a moment.

Will God be ticked?

Well, surprisingly grace and peace abounds for 40 years. (vs 28)

I am going to do some more thinking on this little incident. We all should.

If you have questions about how you interpret the bible then I found this stimulating. It's called-The most destructive question you can ask of the bible. "What doe this mean to you?"

Evangelism

Here are a couple of good books on evangelism. Yesterday , we did 'How and why should I tell others' with my great Alpha group and in preparation I read 'The gospel and personal evangelism' by Mark Dever which is only 117 pages and you can read in an hour. It was given to me by someone in our church as something she thought I should read and I agree it is well-worth making the effort. No time for a detailed review but here is Joe Thorn's summary of the first chapter.I have also read recently Questioning evangelism by Randy Newman which explores how Jesus discussed and dialogued things with people.

Studio 60

At college a tribe of us were West Wing fans. For the uninitiated, this was an amazing series written by Aaron Sorkin and is some of the best TV drama of recent years. Sorkin's writing is clever, political, thoughtful, funny and heart-warming.

Studio 60 is a fictional portrayal of what happens behind the scenes at 'Saturday night live', America's longest running topical sketch show. There is lots to enjoy here. The character of Harriet Hayes is particularly fascinating as she represents the face of reasonable and rational Christianity. She is constantly pitted against both her employers (the liberal left) and the the religious (the fundamental right). She is a breath of fresh air and makes up part of a wonderful set of characters.

For thoughtful and entertaining TV this is difficult to beat.

Come on the BBC- you need to try harder if this is what you are up against.

Sadly NBC have not renewed it as it was thought too sophisticated for the mass-market.

That's a shame.

Mega-church

If you watch this and think "What's so funny?" then you may need to spend some time with Eugene Peterson.



Here is what I prescribe:

Working the Angles

Once read and digested any desires for a mega-church should, with time and prayer, subside. If not, then read the Contemplative Pastor. Should it be a really serious case of mega-churchitis then, as a last resort, take some time Under an unpredicatable plant.

You should by then be almost fully recovered.

Peterson's advice is never to Pastor a church bigger than the names you can remember.

"A bit Radio 2"

Last Sunday I suggested a new song to Trevor which he liked and included on Sunday evening. It was called Giving it all by Michael Gungor (recommended by Si who leads worship in my old church). Now Trevor and I are not as young as we used to be and our service is best described as 'Evensong for the younger person', so at the end of the service I consulted Gen and Adam for an opinion on the new tune which I thought had tripped along rather well.

"A bit Radio 2" came back the answer.

Well there you go.

In contrast, here's our current Sunday evening post-service clearing away the chairs and sound music that Toby our worship intern has us listening to very loudly. The Desperation Band. Granted it is a little more up tempo.

I wonder what Isaac Watts would make of it?

How to read the bible the Ehud way

How are we supposed to read the bible?

I start each day reading the Scriptures and am now in the habit of the McCheyne bible reading method of four chapters a day. Currently, one of my journeys is through the book of Judges which is always a lively adventure.

Sometimes I just read the story. That is, I think, a fine and necessary thing to do. However, the other morning I came across the account of Ehud (Judges 3:12-27) and ended the chapter thinking this.

"What on earth is all that about?"

Then I moved rapidly on. At the end of my 4 readings I then felt prompted and indeed compelled to go back to Ehud and revisit his story.

This is what I did.

I prayed.

Then I took my journal and read each verse slowly and pondered its meaning. And here I mean REALLY read (excepting that to really really do this it would be in Hebrew which is beyond me). I looked at each word and lingered on the detail- names, places, unusual phrases and the things that struck me.

I then numbered my points so that I had a skeleton of the plot. Here are my journal notes.

1. Repeated evil

2. Loss of power (18 years)

3. Crying out

4. A deliverer provided

5. The deliverer is left-handed

6. A hidden double-edged sword

7. 'secret message' for the King

8. King alone in summer palace

9. Sword ...plunged into the King's belly

10. Fat envelopes the sword

11 Servant thinks King 'relieving' himself

12. Ehud escapes

13 Trumpet

14 Strikes down Moabites

15 Israelites rule for 80 years

Now one could conclude the following:

God doesn't like fat people and on-balance prefers left-handers with swords. Given that I am left-handed and although not in prime shape I am probably not as hefty as the King of Eglon so I will probably be cut some slack.

So, all in all, I win.

That'll be it then.

As I began to think more and set this narrative in the plot line of the bible and in the context of what other things I know about God I noticed some things:

A. About history

B. About authority

C. About land and covenantal promises

D. About obedience

E. About prayer

F About the detail ('Left-handed)'

I then spent a little more time imagining preaching Christ from a starting point of Judges 3.

It struck me that we can all have a go at this.

I didn't pull huge commentaries of my bookshelves, I just cleared a bit of space and lingered a while with the story and its detail.

I then set it in the light of Jesus.

I think I will probably be doing more of this.

In fact, I am currently reflecting on a dream about a bread roll rolling down a hill......

The Atonement on ER

Having joined the Anglican Church as a potential member of the clergy I went to Oxford where a whole new theological language revealed itself to me. I was, when I arrived, 'a Christian' which I was soon to learn can mean a host of different things to different people (particularly the clever people). When I then arrived in Richmond I was advised that my deanery was ...'largely liberal Catholic.....' and I think it was assumed that I knew what that meant. Now, of course, after Oxford, I sort of know but then I asked "Really do I?" Since then, I have been quietly reading and exploring why it is that when you/ I say you/I believe in the atonement, the bible, the gifts of the spirit, conversion, mission and many other seemingly orthodox things people who should share this belief sometimes don't. I have found 'A generous orthodoxy' very helpful in giving me insight in to this together with Streams of Living Water by Richard Foster.

I think most people want to know what a Christian believes and what the bible says. They may not agree with it or it may grate with their post-modern sensibilities, but if those tasked with communicating the biblical reality of the gospel try to soft soap the message to make it cuddly and nice then this can, and sometimes will, end up not being very cuddly and nice and loving at all.

I love this quote from a recent episode of ER which illustrates this problem so well.

"I want a real chaplain who believes in a real God and a real hell! ....I need answers!!”

Want some answers? Read the chapter in Tim Keller's 'The Reason for God" called "How can a loving God send People to Hell"

Now watch this.....

Are you still learning?

On Friday I saw my friends Duncan and Sonja. In the course of the evening Duncan shared an extraordinary thing about his grandfather. At the age of 98 he has taken up the piano. How incredible is that.

6 Reasons why Pastors should blog

Here is some excellent advice on why pastors should blog from Abraham Piper.

The Worship Industry

Brian Maclaren is someone I have enjoyed being challenged by and he has made me think. Here are his thoughts on Worship sent to me by Jane who I was at college with and is one of my 19 new friends on facebook.....

More Giggles

Last night, despite being determined to get my essay done I was worn down by my friends Si and Clare to come for supper and in the end gave up. We ate together (v. good spag bol) and caught up and then they had planned to watch a DVD. We all then realized that the clocks were going forward hence the DVD was out and so for some reason Si went and dug out his much worn copy of Adrian Plass He started to read out chucks of it to us. I cannot tell you how much we laughed. I laughed and laughed and laughed until it hurt so badly I had to beg him to stop reading.

This book alone is reason enough to 1) become a born-again Christian 2) become a Charismatic. You see to not be both of these is to miss out on one of the great joy-giving gifts to humanity-namely Adrian Plass. If there were a Pulitzer Prize for Christian books this would have to win. I shouldn't wonder if when I go to glory I may not find the Lord himself thumbing through his copy smiling with bemusement over what we have made of the Christian life.

Become a Christian and join the local church, just so can enjoy this book. Everything else will follow.

The Giggles

You know those moments when you just can't help laughing. Here is Charlotte Green on Radio 4. Give yourself a treat and listen HERE. Hearing this reminded me of the greatest giggle moment of all time which is Brian Johnson on Test match special. This was one of Jimmy Tarbucks Desert Island discs and is in my view an inspired choice. Listen to it HERE.. Can't find ..'.the batsman's Holding the bowler's Willey..'.which is actually the greatest moment but this will surely do.

Anyone know where I can find it?

Laughter is so good for the soul.

Facebook

I have joined up to facebook.

Now, I have in the past been very rude about facebook and at the time I think with good reason. I called it 'social pornography' among other things as I remember. Firstly, I was in a state of anger (never wise to offload opinions when angry) because someone signed me up without my knowledge and caught me on a bad day (not their fault at all) and I had, and still have, strong views on what I think real friendship is. But I also realize that sometimes you are able and allowed to change your mind. I am after all in the 'changing your mind' business.

This is one of those times, prompted in part due to some thinking, listening and reading I've been doing about blogs, technology, social networks, getting the message out and church. At a clergy training day recently, one of our number told us that his Vicar has no mobile, no email, no internet connection and will only answer the landline when he is not with someone else. He clearly has an extreme discipline and view on communication!

So, perhaps wary of my own propensity to become such a being, I have decided to join up and see.

Am I forgiven?

Prodigals, Deacon's and Facebook

Tim Keller's new book called the Prodigal God is listed on Amazon for pre-order. Out in October. Found this post on what it means to be a 'Deacon' which was insightful. Also, listened to an interesting sermon about Facebook, Teens and New Technology which is called Push-Back Part 5 and I think it would be good for anybody trying to understand all this stuff in a biblical context.

Habits-The seven habits of a semi-effective preacher

I found Explosive Preaching to be a hugely helpful book and plan to spend the next month re-reading it, applying it and really squeezing the juice out. This is an Alexander Whyte "Sell your shirt and buy this book" and my thanks to my pal Simon Ponsonby for putting me on to this. For those who may never read it, here are Boyd-MacMillan's own habits that have helped him over the years.

1. Voyage around your lectern with the giants

I love this one. He says get yourself a lectern and literally perform aloud the sermons of a great preacher. He recommends 20 Centuries of Great Preaching as source material.

2. Develop a daily liturgy

His includes an opening prayer, St Anslem's prayer, The McCheyne Reading Plan, some poetry, art, hymns etc

3. Keep a tiny verse book

He learnt this from a Chinese Christian. You need to read the story!

4. Find suffering people to teach the faith to you

5. Read a great book each week

6. Use phylacteries for praising

A phylactery is a small leather box containing Hebrew texts. He suggests finding find something physical to help you praise- stones, finger beads etc

7. Build yourself a cell

Again he learnt this from a persecuted Chinese Christian called Wing Ming Dao. Being locked up for 20 years drew him to the Lord and his advise is...'Simplify your life, so that you have time to know God

The last chapter of the book is an account of how the persecuted church do discipleship called the Chinese are coming which is worth the price of the book in itself.

If you are a preacher BUY THIS BOOK

Shaping Church

I have enjoyed reading this post from Joe Thorn and was struck that it was similar, in part, to Life-shapes, (great You tube to watch ) as developed by Mike Breem at St Thomas Crooks and now in his book (Christian product-tastic I notice) to be found here at 'The Passionate Church'. It seems that since Mike left England he has had a marketing make-over and gone all mega-church dot.com which must be a first for an Anglican clergyman. When we did life shapes at St Barnabas it was all plastic ring-binder files and paper. There you go. Maybe great things really do start on a napkin after all! Check out the napkin test.

Tapping-toes on Thursday

Here are a few selections. One of the first albums I bought was an EP by Billy Bragg who was one of the musical architects of socialist rebellion in the 80's. Remember socialism....Anyway, here he is at the NME awards playing his best known anthem New England with Kate Nash ( to warn you it does have an expletive in the song). His new album is called Mr Love and Justice



Because I bigged up a Danish band Tina Dico, I thought Sweden might feel a bit left out. This band are called Raymond and Maria and I have no idea what they are singing about but I love it.






And check out REM in the Radio 1 Live Lounge. You've got to love the acoustic bass. And to finish.....KT Tunstall in the Live Lounge.

Explosive preaching

The best book I have read for my massive essay is this one. If you want one book that unpacks the history of preaching and offers some excellent tips on finding improvement then read Explosive Preaching.

It has always struck me that in my whole selection experience for the Church of England no one ever asked me if I could preach. This is surely quite an important question. They wanted to know if I was the right sort of person to give out communion but seemed disinterested in whether I was the right sort of person to stand in the pulpit. They require a slightly different skill set do they not or have I missed something? As P T Forsyth once said, the history of preaching is the battle between the altar and the pulpit. This might explain why my lifetimes experience of sitting on an Anglican pew so often left my heart unmoved by God's word by the person supposedly tasked with doing just that.

The other extreme is to suggest that Expository Preaching is the one and only form a sermon must take. This was the way I was taught at Oxford and seemed to me rather narrow and dismissive of other forms, Now, of course, if by expository preaching we mean preaching from a text then I agree with John Stott that all preaching must be expository. However, I rather like this quote I found from Fosdick which made me smile.

“Only the preacher proceeds still upon the idea that folks come to church desperately anxious to discover what happened to the Jebusites” ....he continues ....."If people do not come to church anxious about what happened to the Jebusites, neither do they come yearning to hear a lecturer express his personal opinion on themes which editors, columnists and radio commentators have been dealing with throughout the week"

For Fosdick the trick was to start with the NEED.

There are lots more where this came from so do get hold of this if you can.

Church Websites, Sin and the Danes

Here are a few links that might be interesting. A pal of mine Will has just relaunched his church website at St Andrew's Oxford and it looks pretty cool . He got the idea for it from Al, who we were at college with, and who has planted a church in the US called City Church Charlotte. If you think you have a good church website check out this which lists the 80 Best Church Websites. There is nothing like a bit of mega-church to astound you on cold Wednesday in March.

There is an interesting article entitled 'Has the notion of sin been lost?' in USAToday and The Reason for God gets a quote

Music wise, I happened upon this splendid woman called Tina Dico who is a Danish singer songwriter and who is really very good. Her album is called In the Red and is getting rave reviews. Now, come on, name me any other Danish singer.

I thought so.....



Here too is a great duet between Ray Lamontagne and Damien Rice worthy of a listen again.

The Ten Commandments

I am doing a project for my Curacy training (which will apparently get me another degree). My chosen title is 'What are you doing when you preach?' which seems a good question to ask. In my reading today I came across this quote which I liked and hence share.

‘In her beautiful novel about Maine, The Country of the Pointed Firs, Sara Orne Jewett describes the ascent of a woman writer on the pathway leading to the home of a retired sea captain named Elijah Tilley. On the way, the woman notes a number of wooden stakes scattered about the property in random fashion, with no discernable order. Each is painted white and trimmed in yellow, like the captain’s house. Curious, she asks Captain Tilley what they mean. When he first plowed the ground, he says, his plow snagged on many large rocks just beneath the surface. So he set out the stakes where the rocks lay in order to avoid them in the future. In a sense, this is what God has done with the Ten Commandments. He has set out the stakes where the rocks are. He has said, “These are the trouble spots in life. Avoid these, and you won’t snag your plow’

from John Killinger's ‘To my people with love’

Comments

Someone complained they were not able to make comments on my blog. I have found the button that allows you (although I know the 'you' actually means a readership numbering almost as many as the fingers of one hand) to have your say. But, as Mrs Merton used to oft say on her chat show.....'Let's have a heated debate....' Well, at very least, let the silence in light of my poor music choice, dull books, random You Tube selections and admiration for Tim Keller be broken.

Schism

The church is in the midst of a huge theological debate that is one about how you view scripture, how you view culture (western/developed vs developing seems to be the divide as it plays out) and what you view as orthodoxy. It may very well rip my dear Anglican church apart. As the J I Packer decision unfolds itself in Canada, this is one issue that will definitely not go away.

To the vast majority of the non-church going population this is an irrelevant issue and confirms their worst fears about religion and its perceived prejudice and bigotry. On the other hand, some do believe this is a good, challenging and proper debate about what it means to follow Jesus and how this works itself out in lifestyle decisions and choices- whatever the prevailing culture may or may not think about them. I am, on this one, orthodox in my views, but that does not mean I am unengaged with nor unsympathetic to those who hold very different views from my own. Of course, this is complex (were it not, we would not be having such a cerfuffal about it) but for those who wonder what on earth all the fuss is about here is the BBC to shed some light on things.

You don't have to be a church leader to care about this because, in time, what we decide as a church will have potentially enormous consequences. In the meantime we must hold on to our hats and watch this space.....

Easter thoughts and links

I enjoyed this Easter thought which cautioned against Easter as a recruitment event. I think we got Easter about right (I am sure someone will tell me if we didn't) and it was a wonderful church family time.

Here are the Christianity Today book awards and I am pleased to say that Eugene won for The Jesus Way. A friend said my song selections were poor but I have been enjoying 'Giving it all' by Michael Gungor and love the line"..with just one word I am free....".

Somewhere over the rainbow.....

Happy Easter to all. He is risen indeed.

An English Pope?

I read an interesting piece in the Spectator profiling the man some are speculating may the head of the Catholic Church in the UK. He seems to be a thoughtful man and I greatly enjoyed reading about Huw Gilbert. Here are a couple of my favorite bits and I especially liked his wonderful postcript email.

‘We need to go back to the patrician period, the period of the fathers of the Church, to see how they dealt with the culture. Our culture is in many ways antipathetic if you like to the work of the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is still the Holy Spirit and can still, well, raise up children to Abraham out of the stones.’

Dear Mary,

You may well have decided that I was not worth ‘profiling’, which I would quite understand. If not, am I allowed a little follow-up?

I like the idea that beauty and holiness are the apologia for Christianity. The beauty of Christianity needs to shine out more; this is where the celebration of the liturgy becomes central. And the goodness of Christianity, i.e. the holiness of self-giving love (the witness of charity) and of prayer, needs to be sustained and developed. And this too, certainly: that the one thing Christianity has to offer is Easter. Simply: Christ is risen!

Sincerely,

Fr Hugh


In the same issue, Philip Pullman is quoted as saying ‘“Thou shalt not” might reach the head, but it takes “Once upon a time” to reach the heart.’ which I liked. It seems that so often the atheist crowd (Hichens, Dawkins et al) see the Christian gospel and religion as the same thing which of course they are not. Grace is a difficult thing to grasp for all of us but Pullman the atheist has happened upon a profound thought that the biblical story is indeed one that starts 'Once upon a time' and then tells it not as fable but as truth.

I have also enjoyed watching White Gospel which is the story of Southern Gospel music through the years. It is worth watching just for the bit on Sacred Heart singing in four parts. Spell binding stuff.

Some are often moaning about the erosion of our Christian culture. I am actually quite encouraged this Easter. The Sport Relief song by Leona Lewis is Footprints which is great and also the Passion on the BBC and the Daily Telegraph gave out a free NIV gospel. That's enough good news to be getting on with.

A few links

Here are a few links. I have enjoyed writing a journal for years and love to use a Moleskine and here is one guy's analysis of how to do this effectively. I have come across this book for anyone landing in this holiday season stressed and thinking that things should be different. It's called the Four Hour Work Week. My film recommendation is Once which some friends watched this other night and said was fantastic. I was sitting in my local coffee shop which always has Magic Fm (always a worry when Magic FM plays the familiar...) playing constantly and they played this song by Kelly Clarkson which has been ringing in my head ever since. She has a belting voice.

10 days to war

I have been watching the short 10 minute dramas the BBC have produced reminding us we have been at war for five years. The one I particularly enjoyed was one on Tim Collins called 'Our business is North'. It contains one of the most famous speeches of recent times which you can read in full here or watch the programme.

Keller @ Google

Paul Potts

I confess that Britain's Got Talent passed me by hence I missed a whole chunk of popular culture. This man is a legend. Apparently, he used to work in the Carphone Warehouse in Cardiff. I just love the judges faces which are, initially, so judgmental and dismissive- but oh how that changes. You see the tears start in the faces of the crowd and you know a talent is born. Enjoy. By the way, by all accounts he won the whole thing. Good on him.

Tuesday toe-tapping

Here are one or two things I have been enjoying. Glory by Essie Jane, The Ballad of the Old Town Cryer, Stella and my favorite from a Swedish band from Gottenburg called Subtle Changes.

Indescribable

My friend Julie sent me an email enthusing about Indescribable by Louie Giglio and said that she thought it was so good she has bought me a copy. I am looking forward to seeing it. I have been listening to the radio quite a bit and while driving this morning enjoyed 1968 Myth or reality. Now, whilst of course I was not involved in these protests, (being so very young!) they clearly set the tone for much that played out in later times. Or did they? What impressed me was at least in 1968 people got passionate about something, rather than today's prevalent apathy to most things. Or is it that I am missing something? What do people stand outside student unions and protest about? I hope it is the Aids pandemenic, global poverty, the enviroment and obviously the fact that I can't use my Oyster card on the tube and the overland railway. Now there's one for Boris, Ken and friends....

J I Packer on a right Anglican pickle in Canada

If you want a taster on what's possibly coming with Lambeth- check out J I Packer's news. One of the great theologians of his generation has made a decision on where he stands.

Keller @ Berkeley

Here is Keller at Berkeley on You tube on the Reason for God book tour.

Perfection

Having my day off on a Tuesday this week because I am off to listen to Jackie Pullinger on Friday. Tuesday is a rubbish day for a day off particularly due to my lack of planning and because normal people are at work- but such is my lot this week. Think I might see a film that has been highly recommended called We are Together and pop to a gallery.

Recently, I read a book by Andy Stanley which a couple of friends had been bigging up called Communicating for a Change about sermons and given that he felt confident enough to tell others about how to do it I thought I would watch (not listen, this is mega-church!) one of his talks to North Point Church. I have to admit he is a gifted chap but all seemed far to professional for my liking. Real community is surely better smaller, more messy, and allows you to know by people by name rather than pick them out by shirt colour from an auditorium I listened to 'How to get Great-Part 2 of which the take out from the Good Samaritan was 'How can I help?'. It blessed my though but you be the judge.

Found a Keller talk worth listening to from his book tour and also a good documentary on The Four Seasons on Radio 2. Also, watched an amusing documentary on BBC iplayer called Dawn gets her Man on one women's search for perfection. Doesn't exist apparently which is something of a relief.

Toe-tapping Thursday

It has been a good week. Yesterday, I went to Christchurch Fulham where a number of Pastor's meet every couple of months to encourage one another and pray. It was fun to see a few old friends. Stuart spoke on wisdom and revelation and how we discern the difference. The places for the May conference and filling up so for anyone interested now is the time to get ourself booked in. Keller has been speaking to the employees at Google which seems to have gone down well.

Here is some new music that I have been listening to and enjoying. A New York singer songwriter called Jay May who sings the wonderfully catchy Gray or Blue and a lass called Nitasha Jackson. A couple of others are a band called Okkernil River and Black Kids whose song 'I'm gonna teach my boy' has a guitar rift that reminds me of the Cure.

Had fun in my friend Sonja's school speaking to them on their 'Vocations Week' about what it means to be a Vicar. I told them my story and then did half an hours Q&A on anything they wanted to ask me. Spoke to six classes and just loved it.

The Trouble with Christianity

Here is the excellent series of talks called 'The Trouble with Christianity' that have been released with the Reason for God publication by Tim Keller.

What should Anglican's do?

Found this bit of advice and observation on what Anglican's should do in light of our current crisis.

Eugene Peterson in Conversation

I have blogged about Eugene Peterson more than any other person. My time at theological college was in interesting one and much more by luck than judgment I was most impacted by someone who wasn't actually one on my Professors. This happened by curiosity prompting me to check out a set of tapes from my college library. (remember tapes!). Fortunately, my car is so low budget it still has a tape machine and everywhere I drove for two years I listened to the teaching of Peterson. He has become like a familiar friend and is I think one of the wisest buzzards around.

Here he is in conversation. Watch it just for the story about Bono ( thanks to Steve Mckoy for putting me on to this). But watch it because this man is a gift from God and has been an enormous blessing to me.

Going a bit Dada

A few weeks ago I read an article about a new exhibition at the Tate Modern of Dada art. The Dada crowd had the idea that they could make anything art and so they took the most bizarre things (a urinal for example!) and wrote their name in it and called it art. The exhibition is called Duchand, ManRay and Picabia and is thought-provoking if nothing else. I confess I am one for the headphone guide even though you look a bit of a dork you do leave the gallery rather better informed.

My spirituality tutor at college said that one of the places he goes to feel closest to God is the Mark Rothko room in the Tate Modern. So, as I was there, I decided I would find the room and have a sit and see. I must admit it was rather good for the soul-do give it are try

Preaching

Some powerful words on preaching from William Willimon of Duke University:

‘In that moment when the congregation settles itself in the pews and all is quiet and expectant as the people look to you, you are the preacher, the essential link between them and the good news. Without you the good news is not news. No one hears or believes it. Call it a burden, call it a privilege, a duty. You know that it is worthy of your best talents, worthy of a lifetime’s labour and dedication. On any Sunday you can give your all and still know the words deserves more. It is no small task that the church has set upon your shoulders. Being called to preach the gospel, you can do no more than to promise as long as you have breath, and there is someone to listen, then by God’s grace you will give them the Word’

Mumford and Sons

I saw my pal Simon recently and he had just been to see Mumford and Sons in concert. He confessed it was a long while that he had been to a 'gig' but said it was amazing. I met these great and talented brothers at a conference I went to recently and think they deserve some recognition so, on my blog that I know very few read, I thought I would give them a plug. I am going to try and go and see them soon. They have real real talent

Bob Newhart

Found this on a blog from Mad TV and it really made me laugh- hope you enjoy it. I also love the song from the film Once which won the best song in the Oscars. It's called 'Falling Slowly'

A treasure trove

I know I am very boring and tend to bang on about things I am enthused about but this is a truly extraordinary book. Keller has written this as his best attempt to explain Christianity to the sceptic and he does it brilliantly. He is unapologetically aiming at people who think and are prepared to be challenged at at intellectual level. Chapters on the bible, suffering, hell and exclusivity engage directly with the objections of our times to the Christian faith. But this book does more than just provide intellectual information and, in it's second half, Keller's words and observations touch the heart.

I finished reading this book in my local coffee shop and the chapter entitled 'The Dance of God' brought me to tears- not something that happens often to me when reading. This book reminded me why I do what I do and awakened afresh my passion to tell others about Jesus and all he has done. I have bought a load of copies and intend on giving them away. This is classic that I hope will be widely read and deserves to be noticed. If I have anything to do with it it will be.

Here Keller speak about it himself at The Reason for God site and here are some words from it's introduction:

Only if you [believers] struggle long and hard with objections to your faith will you be able to provide grounds for your beliefs to skeptics, including yourself, that are plausible rather than ridiculous or offensive....But even as believers should learn to look for reasons behind their faith, skeptics must learn to look for a type of faith hidden within their reasoning. All doubts, however skeptical and cynical they may seem, are really a set of alternate beliefs....Every doubt...is based on a leap of faith.
- p. xvii

The only way to doubt Christianity rightly and fairly is to discern the alternate belief under each of your doubts and then to ask yourself what reasons you have for believing it. How do you know your belief is true? It would be inconsistent to require more justification for Christian belief than you do for your own, but that is frequently what happens. In fairness you must doubt your doubts. My thesis is that if you come to recognize the beliefs on which your doubts about Christianity are based, and if you seek as much proof for those beliefs as you seek from Christians for theirs--you will discover that your doubts are not as solid as they first appeared.
- p. xviii

Please, please please go out and buy a copy, read it and be open a door to something you haven;t seen or understood before. This book may just change your life.

Sharia and history

I read an article recently that reminded me of the practice of suttee in India. When faced with the prospect of a two tear legal system General Napier had a clear response.

....any chronicle of Britain's past is his response to the suggestion that the practice of suttee be allowed to continue, as part of a sort of “parallel jurisdiction” to the law he was asked to police as the Commander-in-Chief of the Queen's Forces in India. Napier listened politely to the request and replied: “You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.”

It is sad as Michael Gove notes that our leaders have a limited knowledge of history.

Reason for God and other matters

I have been away for a few days in Cornwall which was fun. On one day, I went to Padstow and while eating my fish and chips on the quay a seagull took it upon itself to pinch my cod in batter. I confess, I find seagulls slightly unpleasant, a function of watching Hitchcock as a child. Otherwise a relaxing time of rest. My holiday reading was 'The Kite Runner' which if you have not read it yet do. It is a haunting book and if you can't be bothered to read it watch it on film. I have now started 'A thousand splendid suns' which looks equally as good.

Well, A Reason for God has arrived at last and I am 50 pages in. Keller has not disappointed so do go out and get a copy, give it to friends and if nothing else it will make you think. This is a very important book and a good answer to Dawkins and his gang who would have us believe the opposite of what this book is saying. If you are interested check out what Dawkins thinks at Ted Talks.

Also worth checking out is Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell which is now out on DVD.

Juno

Juno is a great movie. Amidst a sea of rather uncreative, unimaginative and mediocre films comes this happy but real tale. Superb script, excellent soundtrack and Ellen Page plays the title role wonderfully. Do make the time to go and see it and I hope it warms your heart.

I have to do a project for another degree the Church of England seems to think I need. Does the church really need people with more degrees or more passion for Jesus? Anyway, I am doing something on preaching and have surveyed my church and am now starting to do a bit of reading. I am currently reading Communicating for a Change and also Positive preaching and the Modern mind. I apparently have to have not less than twenty books on my bibliography.

Courage

'Courage is fear that has said its prayers'

Karl Barth

Mass-market

Keller is going mass-market and his fame has now spread to Newsweek. Perhaps he may actually be the next C S Lewis but , as he says, he would be horrified to suggest such a thing.

Rowan

What is the Gospel? "Trust Jesus when he tells you what God is like" according to my Archbishop. I thought I would post a few things he has said that are thought-provoking in the midst of his sharia trouble. What is the church? A community of people grateful for the gift of Christ. What does it mean to be emergent? Being baggage free.

The Reason for God

Here are the chapters of Keller's new book:

Introduction – All doubts are leaps of faith


PART 1 - The Leap of Doubt

1. There can’t be just one true religion.


2. A good God could not allow suffering.


3. Christianity is a straitjacket.


4. The church is responsible for so much injustice.


5. A loving God would not send people to hell.


6. Science has disproved Christianity.


7. You can’t take the Bible literally.


Intermission


PART 2 - The Grounds for Faith


8. The clues of God


9. The knowledge of God


10. The problem of sin


11. Religion and the gospel


12. The (true) story of the cross


13. The reality of the resurrection


14. The Dance of God


Epilogue – Where do we go from here?

King's prayer

For my husband, Martin Luther King, Jr. prayer was a daily source of courage and strength that gave him the ability to carry on in even the darkest hours of our struggle. I remember one very difficult day when he came home bone-weary from the stress that came with his leadership of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. In the middle of that night, he was awakened by a threatening and abusive phone call, one of many we received throughout the movement. On this particular occasion, however, Martin had had enough.

After the call, he got up from bed and made himself some coffee. He began to worry about his family, and all of the burdens that came with our movement weighed heavily on his soul. With his head in his hands, Martin bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud to God: "Lord, I am taking a stand for what I believe is right. The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they will falter. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I have nothing left. I have come to the point where I can't face it alone.
Later he told me, "At that moment, I experienced the presence of the Divine as I had never experienced Him before. It seemed as though I could hear a voice saying: 'Stand up for righteousness; stand up for truth; and God will be at our side forever.'" When Martin stood up from the table, he was imbued with a new sense of confidence, and he was ready to face anything.

From 'How we open our hearts to God' by Coretta Scott King

Juno

I have heard lots of good things about a film called Juno that comes out this month. Here is the trailer.

A Dream

I went to preach at Christchurch Fulham yesterday and it seemed to go OK. My text was Deuteronomy 6 which I have been thinking about for a while. I started the talk with a story about a dream, one Martin Luther King had, and today I was reminded of a sermon I listened to 3 years ago that I still clearly remember given by a Swedish pastor called Andrew Thompson. It is a profound picture of what the church should be and is told in the form of a parable. It is called 'What is the Holy Spirit saying to the Church'. I think you too may remember this dream long after you hear it. I hope so.

Living

"You must live in the world today as you wish everyone to live in the world to come. That can be your contribution."

Alice Walker

Leaders

This is an excellent article on mobilizing leaders. Also an early review of the new Keller book called A Reason for God. Be sure to get a copy on pre-order from Amazon with delivery due on Feb 15th.

Horizons

I have spent a couple of days with my pal Simon at the Vineyard leaders conference. It was a thought-provoking time and good to hang out with an amazing bunch of people. I commend the talks to you and the pick of the bunch was Rich Nathan on being missional in the 21st century (Tuesday evening). Also Simon on both holiness and mercy. In my most hopeful hour these are the sort of talks I would love Rich and Simon to give to the House of Bishops to awaken them into a new wineskin.

The talk that made me cry was by Ele Mumford. She showed a film of the history of the Vineyard Movement that renewed in me a love of the church and fresh vision of what church can be but so often isn't. It is well worth a watch. It comes in three parts: 1 ,2 and 3.

Barak's Sermon

Here is Barak Obama's sermon at Dr King's church. Not something we find British politcians doing....

Ponder

I have been mulling over Deuteronomy 6 for about 2 weeks and am still learning and praying about its implications. Today, at our morning prayer meeting, Gerry drew our attention to Psalm 111 v 2....'Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them'. The word 'ponder' struck us all is perhaps a new thing I must learn to do more of. Pondering seems to me like a good thing. Yesterday, we were looking at Jesus calming the storm and someone quoted Amy Carmichael who said in response to the verse '...even the wind and the waves obeyed Him ' that we have a God of 'the EVENS'. I like that.

Preaching to your neighbour

"If you speak and discourse as if your whole neighborhood is present eventually more and more of your neighborhood will find their way in or be invited." Tim Keller

The Letters of John Newton

I reread some of these incredible letters of John Newton that I keep close to hand on my book shelf. Anyone attempting to follow Christ would do well to avail themselves of a copy and certainly all those attempting to be Pastors. The first three letters in this collection are gems and explain three stages of the Christian journey which Newton calls 'Grace in the blade, 'Grace in the ear' and The full Corn in the ear.' He says the journey starts with feelings and not much trouble, then feelings lessen and Satan's schemes multiply and strengthen thus seeing many give up through this assault and for the very few who persevere glorious riches of grace are available. Of this third stage he writes:

'His heart has deceived him so often, that he is now in a good measure weaned from trusting to it; and therefore he does not meet with so many disappointments. And having found again and again the vanity of all other helps, he is now taught to go to the Lord at once for "grace to help in a time of need". Thus he is strong, not in himself but in the grace that is in Christ Jesus' (Page 24)

An hour spent in reading these gems of wisdom can save you much angst along the way when trouble or trial comes. I hope they may be a blessing to you and they have done much to help me understand my own questions and difficulties that I have by grace survived and endured. Thanks be to God for John Newton who is you will discover very much more than just his amazing hymn.

Sixpence

Yesterday was our annual gift day when we preach on stewardship and money. Adam, my friend and fellow-worker, was tasked with teaching this to our evening service and did a sterling job. In preparation, he rang me at teatime and asked if I could recall a passage from 'Mere Christianity' on giving, relating to a father and a sixpence. I could not immediately do so, so proceeded to speed-read in search of this paragraph to no avail. As it happened Adam, who is something of an IT wizz, used the ' search-inside' function available at Amazon.com which allows you to put in a key word and find the place in the book. Well worth knowing so I share it for any for whom it might be useful.

Here is the wonderful passage that is C.S Lewis at his very best ( Adam found it most amusing that Lewis has the middle name 'Staples' and thought it no wonder he like to be known as 'C S!)

Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given to you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already. So that when we talk of a man doing anything for God or giving anything to God, I will tell you what it is really like. It is like a small child going to his father and saying, 'Daddy, give me sixpence to buy you a birthday present.' Of course, the father does, and he is pleased with the child's present. It is all very nice and proper, but only an idiot would think that the father is sixpence to the good on the transaction. When a man has made these two discoveries, God can really get to work. It is after this that real life begins. The man is awake now...

The Catastrophe of Success

I watched the Cornel West interview and he quotes a Tennessee Williams essay called 'the Catastrophe of Success' which makes interesting reading. Tennessee Williams's essay, "The Catastrophe of Success," was written in response to the critical and commercial triumph of The Glass Menagerie:

One does not escape that easily from the seduction of an effete way of life. You cannot arbitrarily say to yourself, I will now continue my life as it was before this thing, Success, happened to me. But once you fully apprehend the vacuity of a life without struggle you are equipped with the basic means of salvation. Once you know this is true, that the heart of man, his body and his brain, are forged in a white-hot furnace for the purpose of conflict (the struggle of creation) and that with the conflict removed, the man is a sword cutting daisies, that not privation but luxury is the wolf at the door and that the fangs of this wolf are all the little vanities and conceits and laxities that Success is heir to -- why, then with this knowledge you are at least in a position of knowing where danger lies.

You know, then, that the public Somebody you are when you "have a name" is a fiction created with mirrors and that the only somebody worth being is the solitary and unseen you that existed from your first breath and which is the sum of your actions . . . -- and knowing these things, you can even survive the catastrophe of Success!

It is never altogether too late, unless you embrace the Bitch Goddess . . . with both arms and find in her smothering caresses exactly what the homesick little boy in you always wanted, absolute protection and utter effortlessness. Security is a kind of death, . . . and it can come to you in a storm of royalty checks beside a kidney-shaped pool in Beverly Hills . . . . Ask anyone who has experienced the kind of success I am talking about -- What good is it? . . . .

Then what is good? The obsessive interest in human affairs, plus a certain amount of compassion and moral conviction, that first made the experience of living something that must be translated into pigment or music or bodily movement or poetry or prose or anything that's dynamic and expressive -- that's what's good for you if you're at all serious in your aims. . . . [P]urity of heart is the one success worth having. "In the time of your life -- live!" That time is short and it doesn't return again. It is slipping away while I write this and while you read it, and the monosyllable of the clock is Loss, loss, loss, unless you devote your heart to its opposition.

How to change

Forgive me for always banging on about TK but here is an extraordinary sermon on Galations. If you like this then Steve McCoy a mad keen blogger has collected everything Keller together in one place.

Cornel West

The other day we had a discussion over lunch about optimism and pessimism and my reaction was that it was difficult for me to see how and why a Christian could be pessimistic. Somehow though, the categories of pessimism and optimism seemed to me inadequate. Today, I stumbled on a quote in Rolling Stone by Cornel West (see this great interview on You Tube), who is a Professor at Princeton and author of 'Democracy Matters'. Here too are a couple of lectures he gave to Union Seminary in New york that I plan to listen to a some point and a Martin Luther King Lecture that is a phenomenal demonstration of oratory for all aspiring preachers out there. Anyway, he hit upon the words I would have mustered had I been a clever American Professor.

"RS: So you're optimistic about the future?

Cornel West: The categories of optimism and pessimism don't exist for me. I'm a blues man. A blues man is a prisoner of hope, and hope is a qualitatively different category than optimism. Optimism is a secular construct, a calculation of probability. Black folk in America have never been optimistic about the future - what have we had to be optimistic about? But we are people of hope. Hope wrestles with despair, but it doesn't generate optimism. It just generates this energy to be courageous, to bear witness, to see what the end is going to be. No guarantee, unfinished, open-ended. I'm a prisoner of hope. I'm going to die full of hope..."

A 'prisoner of hope', now that it what I should have said.....

If you want to see how Cornel and others including Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Bono, Eddy Vedder see the prospects for the future look up the 40th Anniversary Edition.

Movies coming in 2008

If you want to know what films are coming this year this is a good place to look.

Sozo

Here are some bible reading resources I talked about this morning at Sozo. The first is the McCheyne plan and Don Carson's excellent book 'For the Love of God' which comes in two volumes and gives you a page of commentary each day on your reading. Also I commend Peterson's 'A long obedience in the same direction' (this is a great bedside table book and you can do a chapter at a time) and 'Answering God' as a way into the Psalms. If you want to understand biblical meditation Pritchard's book called 'The lost art of mediation' is great and if you want to understand the 'Lectio Divina' Peterson has a wonderful explanation in 'Eat this Book'. For those who just want to zip up their spiritual life then 'Restoring you spiritual passion 'by MacDonald is great. For the best sermons I know check out Tim Keller at Redeemer. You have to buy them but they are gold and about 20 are free online. His teaching on Psalms is amazing and available on MP3.

Emotional Health

I read a book called 'The emotionally healthy church' that quite a few people have mentioned to me and it is worth the effort. My old church have it as their staff book that they are working through on their retreat this month. Lots of thought provoking stuff and a some good stories. I did the 'How emotionally healthy are you?' Q &A and discovered that I am above average which I suppose is encouraging. It is a book to come back to and ponder on. Still musing on some things if I am honest and found this review which makes interesting reading and saves me having to write a lots a blather noone will ever read..

Dancing and wiggling

I was sent this church phone message by my friend Pete at church and it made me laugh out loud. As he rightly advises you have to listen right to the end. Superb.

Conversation

Christmas seems a memory and the New Year is off and running. Spent yesterday doing what is fondly known as 'potty training', which stands for post-ordination training, and enjoyed it. We are all very different people and it is good to spend one day a month thinking and discussing things. One thing that jumped out at me was a phrase from our Richard Hooker lecture and also some words from Erasmus and the Ordinal. Richard Hooker ( he is an important dude to the Anglican Church and thought and wrote alot about 'Reason') . This is what he said:

...Man in perfection of nature being made according to the likeness of his Maker, resembleth him also in the manner of working: so that whatsover we work as men, the same we do wittingly work and freely; neither are we according to manner or natural agents any way so tied, but that 'it is in our power to leave the things we do undone'....(I,vii,2)

It is challenging trying to understand free will and God's sovereignty but worth the effort. I am preaching on 1 Corinthian 3 at the weekend and knowing that the things we think are important could go up in flames, it is better think now what will matter and be of value eternally. Also learnt about Erasmus who translated John 1 in Latin 'In the beginning was conversation...' Love it. Very Eugene P.

I also was helpfully reminded of the Ordinal and the declaration I made before God six months ago. In response to my pledges the Bishop says the following, 'You cannot bear the weight of this calling in your own strength, but only by the grace and power of God. Pray therefore that your heart may daily be enlarged and your understanding of the Scriptures enlightened' It was a timely reminder to hope and pray daily for an enlarged heart and greater understanding.

Found an interesting article by Matthew Parris called 'Do our leaders believe in God?' and I also found the Times music podcast and this weeks is Tom Baxter.

Murdered dreams awaken

Prothalamium
by Aaron Kramer

Come, all you who are not satisfied
as ruler in a lone, wallpapered room
full of mute birds, and flowers that falsely bloom,
and closets choked with dreams that long ago died!
Come, let us sweep the old streets--like a bride;
sweep out dead leaves with a relentless broom;
prepare for Spring, as though he were our groom
for whose light footstep eagerly we bide.

We'll sweep out shadows, where the rats long fed;
sweep out our shame--and in its place we'll make
a bower for love, a splendid marriage-bed
fragrant with flowers aquiver for the Spring.
And when he comes, our murdered dreams shall wake;
and when he comes, all the mute birds shall sing.

McCheyne

Robert Murray McCheyne preached in Dundee in Scotland in the early 1800s. Each Saturday he visited the dying in order to prepare his heart, so that on Sunday he might plead with souls the more earnestly. Yet, he said,

I have not been like a shepherd after lost sheep, nor like a physician among dying men, nor like a servant bidding you to the marriage, nor like one plucking brands from the burning! How often have I gone to your houses to try and win souls, and you have put me off with a little worldly talk. I dared not tell you that you were perishing. How often have I sat at some of your tables and yearned for your souls, yet a false shame kept me silent! How often have I gone home crying bitterly, 'Free me from blood-guiltiness, O God!'


All of the above is a quote from And Some Evangelists by Roger Carswell, p 49.

God and the gangs

Was doing my 'What's in the news trawl and found this on the Times website. I met Patrick at a conference a couple of months ago and he is refreshingly real. One of the quotes that struck me from this video which Ruth Gledhill has made is Patrick saying "...see where the need is and make yourself available...'

No-go zones

Here is the article in the Telegraph that has got the Bishop of Rochester into the News about Muslims and the related 'Leader'.

Reading the bible

Following my sermon today, I promised I would put some helpful books on the blog. If you are up for it, the best way to read the bible is to read it all the way through. Robert Murray McCheyne has the best 4 chapter reading method I know and Don Carson has done a great book to help you use it called 'For the love of God'. I can't commend this highly enough. If you are just in the place where you want to ask questions and have more of an overview then 'The Purpose Driven Life' is excellent and life-changing. If you just want a verse a day and some real wisdom then My utmost for his highest is the a classic. Blessing comes through the word and reading it prayerfully will release God's plan's and purposes for you like nothing else.

Fatherhood and the shark

Driving from Norfolk yesterday. I listened to 'Off the Page' which was on the subject of fatherhood. John Simpson became a father at the age of 61 and he and other discuss various issues. Interesting stuff. Also, I saw this photo of a shark today which is extraordinary..

Hearing the Nightingale

Yesterday, I went on a long walk with my sister and her friend John. John is a birdwatcher and has lots to share on this pastime that, I admit, I have failed to date to truly comprehend. Half way through our journey, we got to a place in some woods that I have walked many times before. John stopped us both and told us that where we were standing was a world famous place that people come to hear Nightingales sing. On a summers evening, around dusk, the air is apparently thick with the most beautiful and transfixing song.

I have walked that wooded lane many times before and, I now know, I have done so in utter ignorance. It wasn't that the birds were not singing, nor that I was unable to hear them. Quite simply, I just wasn't listening or maybe, to put it better, I didn't know what I ought to be listening for . A phrase Jesus said often, that was his prayer for each of us, is that we would have 'ears to hear'. I think I now understand a little more of what he means thanks to John and his birdwatching.

Someone asked me recently, what does a Vicar do. Perhaps we just point people to the one singing that they have failed to notice is there. 'Flowers appear on the earth , the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come my darling; beautiful one, come with me' (Song of Songs 2:12-13)

Today is the New Year. I have started my Christmas present from my Vicar which was a years of daily reading by Henri Nouwen called Bread for the Journey. The reading for Jan 1st starts 'Each day holds a surprise' If yesterday's was a Nightingale, I wonder what todays will be?