tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69496299468112500582024-02-08T05:26:29.646+00:00Nah Thenmusings on mission and ministry ... and other miscellaneous mind-leaksUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-8582423805868653982017-12-14T17:00:00.000+00:002017-12-16T18:21:33.590+00:00Where Will It All End?<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
p.MsoFooter, li.MsoFooter, div.MsoFooter
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Footer Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
tab-stops:center 225.65pt right 451.3pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
span.FooterChar
{mso-style-name:"Footer Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:Footer;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">LUKE 1:39-56 Advent 3 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Reflection.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(First told in the sermon slot during worship at <a href="http://lutherkinghouse.org.uk/" target="_blank">Luther King House Theological College</a> on December 12th 2017)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christmas can get out of hand can’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially when the relatives turn up … </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well here’s a Christmas story about a relative coming to
visit and things getting out of hand. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oops sorry – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that’s
not very LC is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
LC? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Liturgically Correct.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me start again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">advent</i> story
about a relative coming to visit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me warn you, it’s an <i>odd</i> story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, like one of those modern stories
where you are never entirely surely what’s going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you listen carefully, underneath the
surface you can hear all kinds of chaos bubbling away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frankly, it’s a little disturbing, the kind
of story that leaves your wondering, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Where
will it all end?”</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I’m getting ahead of myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s start at the beginning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It all starts rather, well, rather recklessly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mary, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pregnant</i>
Mary, runs for the hills. No one is entirely sure why she was in such a hurry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps she was embarrassed? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe she was Excited? Either way she seems
to have forgotten that advent is about patient waiting. Doesn't bode well does it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, the more the story unfolds the more it begins to
look as though this ‘ere pregnancy malarkey is affecting Mary's memory rather
badly. Not only has she forgotten the meaning of advent but she’s also forgotten
her manners. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead of greeting the man of the house, you know, behaving
properly, she heads straight for the old woman. No don’t complain, don't accuse me of being sexist, it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> his house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look, it says it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right there in Holy Scripture. “… she entered
the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>See!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't know about you but quite frankly I don’t know what to make of it. Maybe she’s
being rude, or perhaps just a bit cheeky - she is a teenager after all. Mind you, there could another, more sinister possibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some would say, God forbid, that she’s being
deliberately subversive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do hope
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">where will it all end</b>?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Actually, the more you read the story, the more you find
yourself wondering if there hasn’t been something of an <i>outbreak</i> of recklessness
in Judah. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the Holy Spirit has been
affected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mean look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He too
is ignoring the proper channels, bypassing the priest, the man, and pressing
Elizabeth’s prophecy button instead!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can think of some who might argue that God has silenced old Zech on purpose, you know, just to
let the women get a word in edgeways.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the next thing you know, the babies are getting in on
the act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unborn babies! First there's Holy Spirit
inspired prophecy that sees deep enough to recognise the Lord in a foetus and
then we get charismatic dancing in utero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The world’s going mad!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Where will it all end?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Actually, there might be another way of looking at this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said it was the Holy Spirit who was behind
these goings on, but you know what, on reflection, if you look carefully at
what Elizabeth says, you’ve got to wonder if this really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> the Holy Spirit at work after all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mean, bless her, Elizabth seems to have got a bit mixed
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the one hand she thinks that Mary’s
unborn child is her Lord, “Why has the mother of my Lord come to me?” and in
the next breath she’s speaking as if the Lord is the one who sent the Angel
with the message <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about </i>the baby, “…
blessed is she who believed … what was spoken to her by the Lord.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See what I mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor
old dear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably a bit hormonal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting her theology all confused like that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next up, the pregnant teenager is at it. And boy! (sorry,
child!) does <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">she</i> go for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Talk about delusional! Just because crazy aunty Liz has
called her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blessed</i> she now seems to
think that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> generations will call
her blessed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean to say!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All generations?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who does she think she is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all Joseph’s no Abraham and she’s no
Sarah.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But there’s more … not only has she got delusions of
grandeur, she’s starting to sound like one of those there dangerous
radicals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone somewhere is not
complying with the prevent strategy. And once you start playing fast and loose
with government directives, well, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">who knows
where it will all end?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mean, have you heard the stuff she’s coming out with? Bad
theology and subversive politics that's what!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Bad theology?” I hear you ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well just take a look. She sounds like one of
those soppy evangelicals. Me, me, me, my, my, my – my God, my Saviour, my
blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the worst kind of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yahweh is my boyfriend</i> nonsense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask you! What she needs is a year or two at
theological college.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then on top of all this extreme, hyper-spiritual, over-individualised,
doe-eyed nonsense, she starts laying down extremist politics: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">scattering the proud</i> indeed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or in other words scaring people off!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not only that but she’s advocating the overthrow of
legitimate governments;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wasting money on
scroungers – oops sorry – PC alert – “the lowly”;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>taxing the rich so they no longer have two
bank accounts to rub together and then giving it all to the so called
hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prophetic correctness gone mad!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Where
will it all end?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, there you have it a strange chaotic tale in an obscure
backwater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pregnant teenager. A doddering
old woman. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dancing foetus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Confused theology. Superspiritual
twaddle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loony left politics. And not a
man in sight anywhere to keep order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
ask you: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Where will it all end?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, we like to think that we know where it will all end: a cross, a
grave, a resurrection, a Holy Spirit deluge, a new people, a coming again and
a new heaven and earth. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do like a happy ending.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Only this story isn’t about eagerly anticipated endings it’s
about unexpected beginnings. Odd beginnings with divine life making an appearance among unfavoured people in strange places, unnamed places, easily overlooked places, quiet places, hidden
places, places as deep and dark and quiet and hidden as a hymen-sealed womb.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-81820692501907491462017-05-26T08:52:00.000+01:002017-05-26T08:52:04.383+01:00After The Bomb
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Courier New";
panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Open Sans";
panose-1:2 11 6 6 3 5 4 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870161 1073750107 40 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1887525391;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:1524919876 67698703 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkwPLt_F74v3_BlQ6NEfTWSilNT6u7q5Vy81BvYXohgScKOBBTohp7mox43LbqMpOJAMxwx546llMaPhmFq5DlPOIwBe8fB5MjQwekuPCX9aMCqRzFIWKvVIT2Tb-RLoaCRGjGBHsqvQ/s1600/3xkymgun34o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkwPLt_F74v3_BlQ6NEfTWSilNT6u7q5Vy81BvYXohgScKOBBTohp7mox43LbqMpOJAMxwx546llMaPhmFq5DlPOIwBe8fB5MjQwekuPCX9aMCqRzFIWKvVIT2Tb-RLoaCRGjGBHsqvQ/s320/3xkymgun34o.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This week the place
where I live was violated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children from
our city and our region, were cruelly killed and maimed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you are no doubt aware, Manchester is
living through one of the most difficult weeks in its proud history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in the heart of this city my colleagues
and I at Northern Baptist College have been getting on with the job that we
believe God has given us, the same job that the college has been doing for over
150 years, preparing people for servant leadership in the Church of Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hasn’t been easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On Tuesday, our staff
team travelled out of our shaken city for an away day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent most of our time naming, discussing
and praying for each of our students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today, back at Luther King House, our home base on Manchester’s famous
curry mile, we have been interviewing four people who believe that God is
calling them into Christian ministry, calling them in other words to devote
their lives to helping people to follow Jesus, helping people to love, to
serve, to pursue peace and to work for justice. To be involved in such a
process is always a profound privilege. This week it seems a particularly
fitting way to be spending our time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, because the
slaughter on our doorstep has reminded us just how much our city needs
communities of people committed to living the Jesus way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When some might be tempted to let anger turn
into hatred, Manchester needs people who will remember that each of its
citizens, whether red or blue, whether African, Asian or European, whether Sikh
or Christian, Jewish or Muslim, whether northern-born or less fortunate, every
last one of us is first and foremost a human being, created by God, bearing the
image of God (however distorted) and precious in the sight of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As one of those
charged by my denomination to form the next generation of church leaders I have
to make sure that all our students remember what churches are for. No one can
be allowed to leave our college in any doubt whatsoever that our churches must
never become self-interested, seeking only their own wellbeing, neglecting the
communities that God has called them to serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They must never be allowed to think that mission is only about growing
bigger and bigger churches. They must never be allowed to devote themselves to growing
disciples simply for the sake of growing disciples without asking what
disciples are for, what difference disciples are supposed to make in the wider
world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We need leaders who
will help churches become what they were always meant to be: communities of the
prince peace, the healer, the lover of outcasts, the one who would eat with
anyone whether he was supposed to or not, the one who wept for Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any church that does not seek the welfare of
its city is a contradiction in terms. Any church that forgets to build bridges
of reconciliation forgets whose church it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Any church that is content to let outsiders stay out has lost its way
and lost sight of its Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any church
that thinks that this kind of stuff is none of its business is plain wrong.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s what I have to
remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what this difficult
week has reminded me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray to God that
I will never forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that you
will never forget either, even if you are not fortunate enough live in
Manchester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the things
that people often say, when they are touched by tragedies such as the one that happened
on our doorstep, is, “I wanted to do something but I felt helpless.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that’s you then thank God you’re are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not </i>helpless. If like me you name Jesus
as your saviour, there’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lots</i> you can
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s six suggestions for starters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Open Sans";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can resolve to
remind yourself each morning that every person who lives in your village, town
or city is a child of Adam and Eve and therefore your brother or sister in God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Open Sans";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can commit
yourself to helping your church to become the kind of church that behaves a bit
more like Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Open Sans";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can identify
someone in your community from another background, another race, another
religion and simply get to know them. If that sounds scary, start by smiling
and saying, “Hello.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Open Sans";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can find a group
that is working to build bridges in your community and join them, whether they carry
a Christian label or not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Open Sans";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can go on praying
the prayer that Jesus taught us pray, “… your will be done in my part of your
earth as it is in heaven” and then act like you mean it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Open Sans";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And you can, if you
would be so kind, pray for my colleagues and me in the heart of our hurting
city, that we might be able to grow leaders who know how to grow churches who
know how to grow the kind of communities that will gladden the heart of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>This first appeared on <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/" target="_blank">Christian Today</a></i> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-5080570635749266852016-04-22T09:31:00.001+01:002016-04-22T09:31:14.390+01:00Some Good News About Goodnewsing
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Courier New";
panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS ゴシック";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:modern;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS ゴシック";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:modern;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-520092929 1073786111 9 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
h1
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-next:Normal;
margin-top:24.0pt;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;
margin-left:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan lines-together;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:1;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;
color:#345A8A;
mso-themecolor:accent1;
mso-themeshade:181;
mso-font-kerning:0pt;}
p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Header Char";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
tab-stops:center 216.0pt right 432.0pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoFooter, li.MsoFooter, div.MsoFooter
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Footer Char";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
tab-stops:center 216.0pt right 432.0pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;
margin-left:36.0pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;
margin-left:36.0pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;
margin-left:36.0pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0cm;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;
margin-left:36.0pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
mso-ansi-font-size:16.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;
color:#345A8A;
mso-themecolor:accent1;
mso-themeshade:181;
font-weight:bold;}
span.HeaderChar
{mso-style-name:"Header Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:Header;}
span.FooterChar
{mso-style-name:"Footer Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:Footer;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1404526092;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:2030068646 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0cm;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0cm;}
--></style><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07__3XnxUkznFECDnArelNaYSzlklqnvruVdFbpNREKuIAkenIT2kV23tEprSauHQLEjNVgud24p2Gnj_rdo_M63neA-V66LQg-n7Xh7htYWin0d6y_IzjicgOcYpvRtVNJihW7h7Ufk/s1600/14214551840_d7b4c3da93_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07__3XnxUkznFECDnArelNaYSzlklqnvruVdFbpNREKuIAkenIT2kV23tEprSauHQLEjNVgud24p2Gnj_rdo_M63neA-V66LQg-n7Xh7htYWin0d6y_IzjicgOcYpvRtVNJihW7h7Ufk/s320/14214551840_d7b4c3da93_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus seemed to think that evangelism was an important part
of being a disciple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told Simon and
Andrew that to follow him would mean fishing for people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told those of his friends who stuck with
him in Jerusalem that when he sent the Holy Spirit they would end up being his
witnesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Matthew, his
parting words make it clear that to be a disciple is to make other
disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all seems pretty
straightforward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we call ourselves
Christians we are meant to evangelise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same is true if we call ourselves Baptists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The official basis of our union only has
three principles, one of those is that every disciple is to bear personal
witness to the good news and take part in the evangelisation of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, how’s that going?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ah, thought as much, sorry to hear that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More and more of us seem to have a problem with
evangelism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the one hand we know we
are supposed to, but quite frankly much of the evangelism we have seen puts us
off. “If <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that’s </i>what evangelism looks
like I wouldn’t do it to my worst enemies.” Evangelism can so easily become
intrusive, arrogant, pushy, manipulative, forced, artificial, dishonest - anything
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but</i> good news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it doesn’t have to be that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are not a fan of some of the evangelism that you’ve
seen, here’s some good news - not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i>
good news, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">some</i> good news <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about</i> the good news.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>You don’t have to stand on street corners shouting
at people.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>You don’t have to pretend that you want people
to be your friends, just so you can evangelise them.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>You don’t have to devise a cunning strategy to
get your friends to come to church even though you are pretty sure they don’t
want to.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>You don’t have to invite them to hear some minor
celebrity who’s pretending to talk about being a celebrity when really that’s
just an excuse to preach the gospel.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>You don’t have to wear a wrist band and explain
what the heart, the X, the cross and the question mark stand for, or be able to
draw <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bridge to Life</i>, or memorise <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Four Spiritual Laws</i>, or any other
formula for that matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those things aren’t what evangelism <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are just some of
the ways that people have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gone about</i>
evangelism. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OK, then, so what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i>
evangelism?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To put it simply, <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">evangelism is the communication of the
gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all about helping people to
find out about and understand the good news of Jesus in the hope that they too will
want to follow him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evangelism is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">goodnewsing, </i>getting on with life in
such a way that people have a chance to discover Jesus for themselves. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If I’m right, and this is what
evangelism <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i>, another bit of good
news is that it’s best not to limit evangelism to verbal proclamation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We can communicate the good news as
individuals or as churches by the way we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i>,
and the stuff we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> as well as the
things we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">say</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being, doing and speaking are all important
modes of evangelism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are the
kind of church that is welcoming, friendly, outward-looking, generous and
forgiving, we communicate the good news by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">embodying</i>
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we work to shelter the
homeless, feed the hungry and campaign for the oppressed, we communicate the
good news by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">enacting</i> it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we explain to our friends why we pray,
how we came to follow Jesus or what God means to us, we communicate the good
news by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">articulating</i> it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of course these three modes of
communication work best when they work together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That way they make for a richer expression of
the gospel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being on its own is too <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">passive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></i>Doing on its own is too <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ambiguous.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking on its own is too <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">facile</i>. Get it all together though and
our message is more likely to ring true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next piece of good news is evangelism
doesn’t always have to be the thing at the front of our mind, the thing we are
consciously aiming at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact it often
happens best when it happens obliquely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ironically, if evangelism is always the primary motivator for everything
we are, do and say we will end up actually undermining our evangelism because
we will make it inauthentic, twisted, less than genuine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, for example, when the way we <i>are</i>
bespeaks Christ, when our churches are hospitable, honouring the least and
including the outsider, this is indeed evangelistic, it communicates the good
news, but our primary <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intent</i> here is
not to communicate but rather, together as a church, to live a Christ-like
life. Evangelism in this mode is more often than not a blessed by product of
trying to be faithful, Jesus-type communities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Similarly, if we only ever care for the
needy or work for peace and reconciliation <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so
that</i> we can let everyone see what the way of Christ looks like, there’s
something about our motivation that is not true to the Jesus we hope to
communicate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, gospel communication
in this mode happens best when we are focussed something else, such as loving
people, irrespective of whether or not they are interested in our message. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This also applies when we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">speak</i> of our faith. When we explain to
friends why we pray, when we offer a Christ-informed perspective to colleagues
at work chatting about an event in the news, even on occasions such as these it
is not that we think, “OK, now I am going to evangelise.” No, we just do it because
part of what it means to live as a Christian is to speak as a Christian and therefor
to speak of Christ.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now don’t get me wrong here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not against intentional proclamation of
the gospel as one means of communicating good news. There will, of course, always
be those times when our primary purpose is indeed to get the good news across.
But these are evangelism’s special occasions not its everyday way of being.
This is evangelism in its Sunday best not the kind of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">come as you are and take us as you find us</i> evangelism which is the
staple of ordinary goodnewsing<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>This
matters, because when we allow disciples to believe that the exceptional is
what defines evangelism we run the risk of putting them off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nor am I suggesting that we don’t have
to speak about our faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think
St. Francis ever actually said, “Preach the good news and if you must, use
words” but I wish it hadn’t got round that he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Piping up about Jesus is a crucial part of
evangelism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">part</i> not the whole. And it’s at its best
when it’s not contrived but rather when we just tell our friends about Jesus,
when we say what we say because that’s who we are, not because we are targeting
someone, seeking to assuage our guilt or trying the get the pastor off our
back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t know if these thoughts will
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some might think I’m watering down
evangelism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In which case I’ve not made
myself clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’m trying to beef
it up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also trying to help people
see that it can be a commonplace part of ordinary Christian living; something
everyday for everyday disciples; something that everyday disciples just get one
with; something for which the Baptist flavour of disciple becomes known – in
life and not just on paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that were
to happen, that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">would</i> be good news.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>This was originally published in the <a href="http://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/465298/Baptists_Together_magazine.aspx" target="_blank">Summer 2016 edition</a> of Baptists Together</i> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-20203970461573125022015-05-08T07:28:00.000+01:002015-05-08T07:28:39.684+01:00Benefit Cuts, The Poor and Christian Hyprocrisy. Post Election Musings On A Sad Morning.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIi8fLPj1-YaWqaAvEryiQ8n2g25wB0m-a8ssh67iBJJ0yjX9-QSpBWFZegWkRWHR_POgQov52SUsv6LJ8sBClN2JbQbn4lpOEHFr-uyJU01bet6jHZ1bi7KLila2tUGGxz6djQi8K9U/s1600/20150505230832_187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIi8fLPj1-YaWqaAvEryiQ8n2g25wB0m-a8ssh67iBJJ0yjX9-QSpBWFZegWkRWHR_POgQov52SUsv6LJ8sBClN2JbQbn4lpOEHFr-uyJU01bet6jHZ1bi7KLila2tUGGxz6djQi8K9U/s320/20150505230832_187.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I've been struggling this morning to express my feelings about last night's general <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
election. It occurred to me that what I want to say is what I said back in 2010. This piece <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
originally appeared in The Baptist Times and then shortly after on this blog. I've already reposted it once two years ago when news came out of further benefit cuts. I can do no better that repost again.<br />
<br />
<br />
All together now:<br />
<br />
<i>I will speak out for those who have no voices</i><br />
<i> I will stand up for the rights of all the oppressed</i><br />
<i> I will speak truth and justice</i><br />
<i> I'll defend the poor and the needy</i><br />
<i> I will lift up the weak in Jesus' name</i><br />
<br />
Or if you prefer:<br />
<br />
<i>I, the Lord of wind and flame, </i><br />
<i>I will tend the poor and lame.</i><br />
<i> I will set a feast for them.</i><br />
<i> My hand will save. </i><br />
<br />
I
wonder if you ever sing either of these hymns. If so I do hope you
won’t allow David Cameron <strike>and Nick Clegg</strike> to turn you into a hypocrite.<br />
<br />
You
see it looks like we are in for a period when the attention of the
media will be, as ever, on the antics of the rich and famous (not least,
following last week’s announcement, the royally rich and famous.) <i>[This was originally reference to the announcement of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton. You may wish to take it now as a reference to the birth last week of Charlotte Windsor.]</i>
Meanwhile hundreds of thousands of the not nearly so rich and the
nowhere near as famous will, largely unnoticed, be struggling to cope as
their jobs are snatched away and their benefits slashed.<br />
<br />
“Oh
dear” I hear you say, “this is getting a bit political.” Well, yes,
but my purpose in raising this is not to debate the minutiae of
government fiscal policy. I’m not sure that an economics A level from
1978 is sufficient qualification to pronounce on the relative merits of
Keynes and Friedman as gurus for hard times. Instead I’m going to stick
to what I know. <br />
<br />
I reckon I’m on safe ground when I
tell you that thirty five years of reading the Bible has lead me to the
conclusion that Jesus is not very fond of hypocrisy. And make no
mistake it will be the rankest of rank hypocrisy if in coming years the
church in this country continues to sing its hymns of solidarity and
preach its sermons on God’s care for poor while keeping stum about the
impact of legislation on the lives of the most vulnerable. It would
also be somewhat less than satisfactory for us to follow the all too
familiar path of sticking to escapist praise songs and ignoring awkward
Bible passages.<br />
<br />
For the purposes of this column whether
you voted Tory, Labour, Lib Dem or Monster Raving Looney is not really
my concern. My point is that as Christians we all belong to a political
party that has as one of the main planks of its platform a policy that
is set firmly against passing by on the other side. Ever since the good
Samaritan did his stuff we have declared care-less neglect of the
battered and the bruised to be a bad thing. And those who shoot their
mouths off about how the world should be run really ought to try and
muster up at least an ounce or two of consistency.<br />
<br />
We
can agree on that can’t we? That the church ought to be speaking out on
behalf of those whom the majority of society would rather ignore? That
we should be trying to wrestle the spotlight away from princes and
prima donnas, nudging it instead towards those upon whom God’s eye
rests?<br />
<br />
If not, perhaps it’s time to call an end to the
party. At the very least we should take our scissors to our Bibles and
attack our hymn projection software with the delete button. The
Magnificat for instance, and all those songs based upon it, should be
left on the cutting room floor this Christmas. True, the bland and
anaemic version of Christianity with which we would be left is a rather
distasteful thing, but not nearly as nauseating a full blown hypocrisy.<br />
<br />
<i>This piece originally appeared in The Baptist Times and is reproduced here with permission of the editor</i>.
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="gsc-search-box"><tbody>
<tr><td class="gsc-input"><br /></td><td class="gsc-search-button"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-52707597224471256252014-12-19T09:03:00.000+00:002014-12-19T09:15:37.702+00:00A Christmas Sermon Inspired By The Eurythmics, U2, Operation Red Dawn and The Bible.<style>
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:none;
mso-hyphenate:none;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.25pt 841.85pt;
margin:2.0cm 2.0cm 2.0cm 2.0cm;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><i>I came across this in the depths of my computer while looking for some material for a sermon I have to preach. It's old but, for once, it's an old one I quite like. Also, somewhat unusually, it's actually a full script. For both these reasons I thought I'd stick it up here.</i></span> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptVB3mUjGc0K6y8IoXcCnfn-ThyLmGM33-RUf603tDVK8N-C-XZ20Y83FnGUXL2pI52RTzh-PxDQ_sLckjO-QJre3V7wK6HvYA16PfDA9i5YLrxTnuvAUsLsHkUB7CVyCyQJ1NCR1PRc/s1600/looking-glass-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptVB3mUjGc0K6y8IoXcCnfn-ThyLmGM33-RUf603tDVK8N-C-XZ20Y83FnGUXL2pI52RTzh-PxDQ_sLckjO-QJre3V7wK6HvYA16PfDA9i5YLrxTnuvAUsLsHkUB7CVyCyQJ1NCR1PRc/s1600/looking-glass-72.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Everybody's Looking For
Something</span></h2>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">WBC
Carols By Candlelight 2003</span></i></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The story of course is set
in what we now call the middle east.</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It's a story of how powerful men travelled many miles to look for a
great ruler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It's a story of how they eventually find him, not in the capital city,
but in an obscure village in a rural part of the country in the most surprising
of circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And it's the story of how the discovery led to great rejoicing far and
wide.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But enough about the capture of Saddam Hussein.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Our concern is today is with
a very different kind of ruler</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> – but one who also inspired much
searching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In fact it's a story where every body seems to be looking for
something.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Caesar Augustus</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">was searching out information, facts and figures
about the greatness of his empire – how proud he must have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mary and Joseph</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">are looking for a place for the night – desperately
looking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The angels</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">, no doubt
bursting with the kind of eager anticipation you feel when you've got good news
to share, come to seek out the shepherds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shepherds</i>)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who then trip off filled with curiosity to
check out the heavenly story – a saviour? The lord Messiah? A baby in Bethlehem?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Then there's those determined <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">magi</i>
– over five hundred miles because what they've read in the stars – a mysterious
king – one who merits the costliest gifts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Herod</i> was on the look
out – fearfully scouring his domain – petrified that he might be overthrown one
day and determined to do what ever it takes to save his skin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Then in the bit of the story that we don't usually get to, someone
who's been waiting, looking out for such a long time, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">old man Simeon</i> who despite his failing eye-sight sees more clearly
than any – sees that the baby in the temple, cradled nervously by this teenage
mum really is a little bundle of joy – in the way that all babies are supposed
to be but also in a special way that will only ever apply to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sees that this is the salvation of God the
very light of the world and he sees that his waiting and searching and his life
itself is now over, complete, brought to a good end.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Everybody is looking for something.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Fearfully </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">looking, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hopefully </i>looking, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">proudly </i>looking, looking with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">determination,</i>
looking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">because they are confused</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">That sense that so many have, that they still haven't found what they
are looking for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">That sense is of course a
part of the human condition</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> long since recognised by many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sense that there must be more to
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That this can't be all that there
is to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That feeling of somehow being destined
for something more than the ad men and the careers advisers have to offer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It's a feeling that inspires many people to set off on many different
searches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">From the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> driven workaholic </i>to
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the superficial shopaholic</i>. From
those few who embark on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">religious quests</i>
to the many millions who simply <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">drift
through life with a nagging question </i>which they mostly manage to ignore and
which only occasionally prompts them to consider looking for a serious answer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Christian faith of
course has long had it's own take on this phenomenon.</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of all those who have tried to express it no
one has done a better job than an African bishop who lived 1700 years ago. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Augustine </i>put it in the form of prayer to
God:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You have made us for
yourself and our hearts are restless till they rest in you.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In other words every human being is created and destined to live life
in relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And whether
they realise it or not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> is what
everyone is looking for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But there's another part of
the Christian take on this phenomenon</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> and it's this that makes Christmas
and indeed the whole Christian story such <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">good
news</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">What none of those seekers in the Christmas story quite grasped is that
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">there was someone else on a search</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they were all looking for the baby, through
the baby God was looking for them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">You see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Christian faith is
not so much about us looking for God as it is about the incredible news that
God has come looking for us</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
the baby grew up he put it straight:</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I
came to seek and to save what is lost”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We may nor realise that we will never truly be at peace till we get to
know him – but he does and he comes to offer that which we all need – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a real life, here and now relationship with
our creator</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">So the message of Christmas is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stop
your looking and allow yourself to be found</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allow yourself to be found just as you are,
whether you are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">an outsider like the magi</i>,
down to earth and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">plain ordinary like the
shepherds </i>or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">as fearful as Herod</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allow yourself to be found simply by saying,
“Here I am Lord, let’s get to know each other”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">If you want to know more
talk</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">, to one of your Christian friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ask them what it's like to be found by God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My prayer for you this Christmas is that
everyone of you will find what you are looking for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Happy Christmas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">(<a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/250543786/Everybody-s-Looking-for-Something" target="_blank">Here's a link</a> to a downloadable pdf of this sermon on my Scribd page.) </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-54430552906520582782014-12-17T07:26:00.000+00:002014-12-19T17:44:28.535+00:00Mary's Song<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Arial;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.DefaultText, li.DefaultText, div.DefaultText
{mso-style-name:"Default Text";
mso-style-unhide:no;
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:19.4pt;
mso-line-height-rule:exactly;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:14.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="DefaultText" style="tab-stops: 36.0pt 72.0pt 108.0pt 144.0pt 180.0pt 216.0pt 252.0pt 288.0pt 324.0pt 360.0pt 396.0pt 432.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NpZLVHLF20_Q9FriLd5eO6FYQyJbBxMRqPKlXR2oPKLT84OoPeJQAh-P6W1H4C-EzvppCWk4adbECalmPo_oZ-5UxCDf4wXE6tXE_ApjLiV0Xp5J1eDihTKyv5Mkc5rrGA2QZyH6TT4/s1600/Virgin_Mary_Icon_by_angelboi_red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NpZLVHLF20_Q9FriLd5eO6FYQyJbBxMRqPKlXR2oPKLT84OoPeJQAh-P6W1H4C-EzvppCWk4adbECalmPo_oZ-5UxCDf4wXE6tXE_ApjLiV0Xp5J1eDihTKyv5Mkc5rrGA2QZyH6TT4/s1600/Virgin_Mary_Icon_by_angelboi_red.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Propositioned, she consents and finds herself made pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like millions before her
and billions since?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hopes, she
fears, she wonders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pregnancy, the path down
which she stares to life’s deep places. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deep
joy and deep despair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The intimate
connection only mothers know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pain
of parting with a part of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
millions before and billions since?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
gift of a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her very own?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not for long. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gift of a
child, not to her but through her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given
for others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so she hurts and so she sings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For evermore rendered blue she sings her
blues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sings from deep places. She
sings in painful exaltation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sings the
glory of God discovered in what not-her-child will do for others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hurts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She sings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Magnificent.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-57560018753437214322014-11-02T09:35:00.000+00:002014-11-04T18:41:32.918+00:00Jesus n Jazz<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoW3mKadnNMcnKTIQofQaptKkljhhcyjUYHzPytzoNBAE0wb03q7IyMMdWxF-DrL_H1twC6Sfb9M9wembYNrihQ-9CaRbMUSJxk03bGwct6CVg2BkNavl4XrRIRF_ZbIvbJQq2oy3Em0/s1600/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoW3mKadnNMcnKTIQofQaptKkljhhcyjUYHzPytzoNBAE0wb03q7IyMMdWxF-DrL_H1twC6Sfb9M9wembYNrihQ-9CaRbMUSJxk03bGwct6CVg2BkNavl4XrRIRF_ZbIvbJQq2oy3Em0/s1600/logo.jpg" height="139" width="320" /></a>Last week I had the privilege of speaking at <a href="http://www.bmscatalystlive.com/" target="_blank">Catalyst Live</a> the rather splendid theological lovechild of <a href="http://www.ted.com/" target="_blank">Ted</a> and <a href="http://www.bmsworldmission.org/" target="_blank">BMS World Mission</a>. A number of people asked for the text of my talk so I've done the usual and stuck it up on <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/245204730/Jazz-n-Jesus" target="_blank">Scribd</a>. If you are interested please help yourself.<br />
<br />
Quite a lot of material was left on the cutting room floor this time round so I'm thinking I might sweep up some of the best bits and turn 'em into posts on this 'ere blog. So dig out your breath bate and watch this space.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-73633793922131904742014-07-10T09:56:00.004+01:002014-07-10T12:19:26.865+01:00Why I Am Glad My Wife and Daughter Are On Strike<br /><br /> My wife and my daughter are both teachers. They are on strike.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae4gzbAtgMeeS61m583na4qTAhKOZAGPgDXi8oZVEuRSRsAeU6VhVwjO-1epN02jw0I0Jwnkj9ILg3IzrRdnQ0faZYeorHIL3Qm9fOW7B0dhFEilMOUqH-2FA2yMQpoAnAUjBVCkosk0/s1600/The-PM-attacked-the-NUT-f-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae4gzbAtgMeeS61m583na4qTAhKOZAGPgDXi8oZVEuRSRsAeU6VhVwjO-1epN02jw0I0Jwnkj9ILg3IzrRdnQ0faZYeorHIL3Qm9fOW7B0dhFEilMOUqH-2FA2yMQpoAnAUjBVCkosk0/s1600/The-PM-attacked-the-NUT-f-011.jpg" height="120" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
They are striking because:<br />
<ol>
<li>The current secretary of state for education utterly disregards the professional opinion of frontline teachers.</li>
<li>The current secretary of state is introducing ill-informed ideologically motivated changes that have succeeded in alienating the vast majority of the profession to an unprecedented extent.</li>
<li>They have not had a pay rise in three years.</li>
<li>They are due just 1% pay rise this year.</li>
<li>The government says they will not receive a real terms increase until 2016 at the earliest.</li>
<li>Their pensions are being severely cut back.</li>
<li>The prime minister whose party failed to get a majority vote four years ago is threatening to introduce minimum turnout ballots for strike action.</li>
</ol>
Both my wife and my daughter are dedicated, caring and skilful professionals doing arguably one the most important jobs there is. They typically work 10 to 11 hour days. They also work at weekends and during their holidays. Every week they buy resources for classroom teaching out of their own pockets without being able to claim expenses. It is a regular occurrence for my wife (who specialises in teaching children with autism) to be physically attacked.<br /><br />If we value our country and our future as a society we must value our children. If we value our children we must value their education. If we value their education we must value the most important contributors to that education. This government patently does not.<br /><br />I know that some in the private sector have also seen a deterioration in their remuneration and working conditions. This is no reason to criticise teachers for their action unless of course we want to encourage a race to the bottom for everyone other than the powerful and further widen the shameful and damaging gap between rich and poor. Yes I know teachers are not poor but many who will be striking today alongside them are. <br /><br />The Labour Party is pathetically sitting on the fence. Teachers and others are left with little option but to strike. If they don’t no one will notice, nothing will be done, our education system and public service in general will continue to suffer and our country will have to face serious consequences.<br /><br />Not only do I support the action that my wife and my daughter are taking. I am proud of them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-80512553004319368612013-07-21T14:06:00.000+01:002013-07-21T17:40:43.713+01:00Two Sermons on The Wedding at Cana<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hFDUkR4ov7YEnis5_ZX_3-5tjXvkTKGWK1qouk7F4taVQFKKzYrfRX_Umn4CedOS8WDt1pe1K8idkWbTy9uvnpQSZAmilv_wElzrZc7hP6j7UsL3owT7zsfaYCe85T4ohxRTUiobE9o/s1600/cana07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hFDUkR4ov7YEnis5_ZX_3-5tjXvkTKGWK1qouk7F4taVQFKKzYrfRX_Umn4CedOS8WDt1pe1K8idkWbTy9uvnpQSZAmilv_wElzrZc7hP6j7UsL3owT7zsfaYCe85T4ohxRTUiobE9o/s320/cana07.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
As is my custom, if someone asks for copies of my sermon notes I stick em up on my Scribd page, just in case anyone else might want to go get 'em. This weekend I preached two different sermons from the same passage. Yesterday was the ordination service of one of our students, John Thompson, at Princes Drive Baptist Church in Colwyn Bay. We read John 2:1-11, the wedding at Cana, and I used the the story to highlight <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/155104746/Cana-Ministry" target="_blank">lessons about the nature of ministry</a>. This morning I was preaching at my own church, Chorlton Central in Manchester and read <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/155104745/Cana-Monologue" target="_blank">a scripted imaginative retelling of the same story, from the perspective of watching angels</a>. Anyhow, as I said, if you want the notes pop across to Scribd and help yourself.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-29422026377847723172013-07-07T09:11:00.000+01:002013-07-08T17:15:37.344+01:00Kitsch Jesus in the Smelly CityBack in the day I posted <a href="http://nah-then.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/my-turn-to-do-months-worth-of-opinion.html" target="_blank">a blog about meeting God on Market Street in Manchester</a>. That encounter prompted me to develop some material on Urban Spirituality for our MA course on Spirituality in Contemporary Culture. This in turn spawned a framework for a half-day <a href="http://nah-then.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/city-centre-retreat.html" target="_blank">city centre retreat</a> which has been taken up by friends and students for use in Prague, Stockholm and Birmingham.<br />
<br />
This week here at Luther King House we've been teaching the Spirituality module on our <a href="http://nah-then.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/exploring-contemporary-spirituality.html" target="_blank">MA Summer School</a>. We ran the city centre retreat again. It got lots of positive feedback from the students. It also gifted me with another unexpected encounter with Jesus.<br />
<br />
I wasn't actually doing the retreat myself this time but I was in the city, buying bread and wine for the communion on the street that would round off the day. I was making my way through the Northern Quarter on my way to Methodist Central Hall for our retreat debrief when God's Spirit beckoned me into a seedy night club back entrance. I like to use back streets whenever I can. It makes walking more of an adventure. I'm not sure what The Spirit used to grab my attention, in fact I haven't a clue, but I found myself walking over to take a peek.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSrgA875gIyvVezKvc5G9kXr1_a8uJD4CWzP1WHlfAhQX42UX2FWXPO7TU_l1hVU-eNfhsqGaq6S8xBmj4aaIfbgUBM3HLpNBQs4Ko29DoKPw9Md1KHOkPBDeMEGIytjdWgjP74HxeW4/s1600/IMG_0528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSrgA875gIyvVezKvc5G9kXr1_a8uJD4CWzP1WHlfAhQX42UX2FWXPO7TU_l1hVU-eNfhsqGaq6S8xBmj4aaIfbgUBM3HLpNBQs4Ko29DoKPw9Md1KHOkPBDeMEGIytjdWgjP74HxeW4/s320/IMG_0528.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And there, in a stinking, piss-soaked door-well was Jesus. (Apologies if the word <i>piss</i> upsets you, I don't mean to offend, it's just that neither <i>wee</i> nor <i>urine</i> are quite up to the job.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW91n1sHsuDRTLT7Ykp4wGbnd7RNmqK-7bPaMMRQQTlHPv_JHw0DNIqzMhfPgLUVl-1gCZIqD8sNDAPldlggUrZnqCbBuZurd0oPa_lFDix9mIk-NVfY8JxpUrqC-9iRcKUsuCubO1G90/s1600/IMG_0526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW91n1sHsuDRTLT7Ykp4wGbnd7RNmqK-7bPaMMRQQTlHPv_JHw0DNIqzMhfPgLUVl-1gCZIqD8sNDAPldlggUrZnqCbBuZurd0oPa_lFDix9mIk-NVfY8JxpUrqC-9iRcKUsuCubO1G90/s320/IMG_0526.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I realise this is a rather kitsch Jesus, but I was in the Northern Quarter where they do kitsch rather well. So it sort of fit. It also fit because it seems to me it's just the kind of place you'd expect to see Jesus. Or at least the kind of place where you ought to expect him. How fitting too that he'd been defaced. They'd scrubbed out the word love. Or at least they'd tried to. True the letters had been erased but the word's still there don't you think? Again, it's the only word that really fits.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
... he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account.<br />
Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.</blockquote>
<i>Lord, we pray for all who use that door-way. And we pray for ourselves. Please beckon us into uninviting places. Meet us there and open our eyes. And if need be our nostrils. Amen</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-34796421827984402122013-06-16T06:00:00.000+01:002017-06-18T13:49:47.914+01:00In Memory of my Dad on Fathers Day<h2>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-520092929 1073786111 9 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
h1
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-next:Normal;
margin-top:24.0pt;
margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;
margin-left:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan lines-together;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:1;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;
color:#345A8A;
mso-themecolor:accent1;
mso-themeshade:181;
mso-font-kerning:0pt;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
mso-ansi-font-size:16.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック";
mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;
color:#345A8A;
mso-themecolor:accent1;
mso-themeshade:181;
font-weight:bold;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;
mso-endnote-numbering-style:arabic;}
</style> Kick Off</h2>
<h1>
<span lang="EN-US"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodvvwUExrBqQubSEl1vXKqTqa7AeUBmqL25E4Bht-mXzuU4gn0MzXQjAgpakf-rYveoCfeCQ3Dwa99UQeiC14Ob23Fq9I753yDC1fWGNnPvKfWpqfoMwV_-thEFfttC9hiAD3bX36N3Y/s1600/FloodLights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodvvwUExrBqQubSEl1vXKqTqa7AeUBmqL25E4Bht-mXzuU4gn0MzXQjAgpakf-rYveoCfeCQ3Dwa99UQeiC14Ob23Fq9I753yDC1fWGNnPvKfWpqfoMwV_-thEFfttC9hiAD3bX36N3Y/s320/FloodLights.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">September fresh we start again, </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">by early
autumn nipped to ruddy life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">New season’s paint has reddened smooth </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">my
fragrant iron resting place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The terrace choir’s achant, </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">brown baritone
and tenor bright.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And holy Bruno climbs from briar censers </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">as Bovril salts my tongue.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And there you stand: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Brylcream-slicked and shiny-shoed, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">your china-blues ablaze, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">your Woodbine-yellowed fingers </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">shoveled
thick and calloused </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">kindly holding me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And I, </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">thrilled by bigness smalling me, </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">otherness calling me, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Gifted, belonging and beckoned on, </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">I know from you I will not run for fancied wealth
to slops</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">nor break my bonds for freedom-false but
rest content </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">and dream of what will one day be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Then, as pigeons flap from floodlight frame
and, haloed, hover, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">echoes down the years: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">“This is my
beloved </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">in whom I am, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">in whom I am
well, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">in whom I am,
well, pleased.”</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-91247250080456932402013-06-12T19:57:00.001+01:002013-06-12T19:57:40.826+01:00Exploring Contemporary Spirituality - Theology Summer School at Luther King HouseThis is coming up soon. Places are filling up quickly. Still a few slots left. To book by email click here <a href="mailto:learning@lkh.co.uk">learning@lkh.co.uk</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYMf5lIX-ZnQD7NkWAkJlNQHEmAcBFC-U5fk3OdI04OTiaEy0qn2Djv_Odbe1vW49Ri3CzuMm3HtUoeZjmljNGOqpddTyx8JqcRN1dbKGpGCGDJgPjGoF-WS0hWx3q0do7t7DqOVxSNM/s1600/Exploring+Contemporary+Spirituality+Summer+School+flier+A4+colour+v6+copy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYMf5lIX-ZnQD7NkWAkJlNQHEmAcBFC-U5fk3OdI04OTiaEy0qn2Djv_Odbe1vW49Ri3CzuMm3HtUoeZjmljNGOqpddTyx8JqcRN1dbKGpGCGDJgPjGoF-WS0hWx3q0do7t7DqOVxSNM/s640/Exploring+Contemporary+Spirituality+Summer+School+flier+A4+colour+v6+copy+2.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-31343726747672652612013-06-02T21:38:00.002+01:002013-06-02T21:40:58.518+01:00Dave Egerton Band 30th Anniversay ConcertWow! This is bound to be good. Look! It's in neon and everything!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWQfAMCEWtm4fv04Xn6eMd3Lj0I3uaJrZmt1yjTmms7oVO2dUw8vhcsqdJVPKcsXMFsinYwGvviSPX0HXyQa5Gs4lCzQxP4zsA5CtgQ8wX7YH3Is4X-jZd9ilst40mMgIU5yVG2d0j8I/s1600/de_poster+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWQfAMCEWtm4fv04Xn6eMd3Lj0I3uaJrZmt1yjTmms7oVO2dUw8vhcsqdJVPKcsXMFsinYwGvviSPX0HXyQa5Gs4lCzQxP4zsA5CtgQ8wX7YH3Is4X-jZd9ilst40mMgIU5yVG2d0j8I/s640/de_poster+copy.jpg" width="451" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-78686793620782564272013-04-30T09:22:00.000+01:002013-04-30T09:22:35.783+01:00Urban EmbraceLook! A conversational, reflective, creative and friendly bit of getting stuck into urban mission and ministry, Manchester style. I'm going. Go on, join us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzwl63LDo5x0fAWpbs7lGojWW-oxZBa951i4yrxxUgDWuj-Do72F5VJCWiHcC6FvZ-Zk8mLDg4RUfs0x6pR79q7UcpZLo8y7A3y2nrETPaxHh-V4ySXaImg2hqJ9ANYI-th6e4iU6YEk/s1600/Urban_Embrace_flyer_2+copy+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzwl63LDo5x0fAWpbs7lGojWW-oxZBa951i4yrxxUgDWuj-Do72F5VJCWiHcC6FvZ-Zk8mLDg4RUfs0x6pR79q7UcpZLo8y7A3y2nrETPaxHh-V4ySXaImg2hqJ9ANYI-th6e4iU6YEk/s640/Urban_Embrace_flyer_2+copy+2.png" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-64759279797331755942013-04-26T13:02:00.001+01:002013-04-26T13:02:16.922+01:00New Tutor Appointed At The Northern Baptist Learning Community<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<i>This news just out from the learning community with whom I minister ...</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFA8nqgnAPm5gSV1wRiap0K1iCPeuxR8nEWyoverd8ZdFba_6WgflzVXM99SopaZ4tq0h3bRNFvjJQBRPO7mPfKpd6ugO0C9MzLS-aTB7xDNw1S_arwwGODoU4lzmItvWomgmcnUC7E60/s1600/bigfatbird+JPEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFA8nqgnAPm5gSV1wRiap0K1iCPeuxR8nEWyoverd8ZdFba_6WgflzVXM99SopaZ4tq0h3bRNFvjJQBRPO7mPfKpd6ugO0C9MzLS-aTB7xDNw1S_arwwGODoU4lzmItvWomgmcnUC7E60/s320/bigfatbird+JPEG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://northernbc.wordpress.com/">The Northern Baptist Learning Community</a>
has announced the appointment of the Revd. Dr. Tim Mountain to the position of
tutor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbSKewxyu7re5CldlsFrxg1Abxl172LyUVUhWun7FURnhnNyEYR8Gqx98cEeKBiwo0ZbiiunrsyH61mUFy4UNDKYN6hsts9LWHR7Omj0MHvVHbhyphenhyphenWfOvVjd2YudJJGaRDPn1AncYQfH8/s1600/Tim+Mountain.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbSKewxyu7re5CldlsFrxg1Abxl172LyUVUhWun7FURnhnNyEYR8Gqx98cEeKBiwo0ZbiiunrsyH61mUFy4UNDKYN6hsts9LWHR7Omj0MHvVHbhyphenhyphenWfOvVjd2YudJJGaRDPn1AncYQfH8/s200/Tim+Mountain.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Tim is currently Senior Minister of <a href="http://www.granthambaptistchurch.co.uk/index.html">Grantham Baptist
Church</a>, Lincolnshire where he has served for nearly sixteen years.
Previously he was pastor of a church in Westerham, Kent. Before training for
ministry at Spurgeon’s College he was a secondary school teacher. He holds
biology and theology degrees, including a PhD in ecology, and is just
completing an MTh in Applied Theology. Tim says, “I am delighted to be able to
serve NBLC in this new role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking
forward to working alongside the other members of staff team.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">According to Dianne Tidball, governor of
NBLC and Regional Minister Team Leader in the </span><a href="http://embaptists.co.uk/"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">East Midlands</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">,
“Tim has been a good local minister, serving his church and enabling it to be an
outward looking community centred on Christ. He has served the
Association well particularly on our Ministry Development Group. He will
be missed but we wish him God's richest blessing in his new role.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">This is NBLC’s third recent staff
appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clare McBeath and Glen Marshall
were called to be co-principals just three weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both said how delighted they were that Tim
will be joining the new staff team adding,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Tim combines a wealth of experience with an engaging style of teaching.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Dr. Mountain will begin his new ministry in
August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well as teaching at <a href="http://www.lutherkinghouse.org.uk/">Luther King House</a> in Manchester
he will also act as NBLC’s main link with the churches and associations of <a href="http://www.yba.org.uk/">Yorkshire</a> and the <a href="http://embaptists.co.uk/">East Midlands</a>.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-62891478736714875422013-04-08T10:38:00.000+01:002013-04-08T10:40:29.425+01:00LKH Summer School, Exploring Contemporary Spirituality<span style="font-size: large;">Just out, details of this year's Luther King House Summer School. This will be the third time we've run this as a Summer School. It always goes down well. Why not join us? Spread the word.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSCu1vbcoKG-9XJlmSUWFor6HacaX_4Xt2OsqSzgXxiMC9g_kPOM5iQL184G6y4jpZOBv-Yt9hyxyjOFqugjvRsBtRabF18yJfVucd6X-5YQijKYzrjW3Vy7XeAu_4NNEwy7a8td1y08/s1600/2013+Summer+School+Flier+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSCu1vbcoKG-9XJlmSUWFor6HacaX_4Xt2OsqSzgXxiMC9g_kPOM5iQL184G6y4jpZOBv-Yt9hyxyjOFqugjvRsBtRabF18yJfVucd6X-5YQijKYzrjW3Vy7XeAu_4NNEwy7a8td1y08/s640/2013+Summer+School+Flier+copy.png" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-13388878983015413792013-04-01T14:09:00.000+01:002013-04-01T15:41:44.592+01:00Benefit Cuts, The Poor and Christian Hypocrisy<a href="http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/24dash-media/image/2011/05/23/36032/380_Image_benefits_form.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/24dash-media/image/2011/05/23/36032/380_Image_benefits_form.jpg" width="320" /></a>Thought I'd mark the advent today of the government's spending cuts by reposting something I penned back in 2010. It's about the importance of the Christian Church speaking out on behalf of the poor. It's been good to see <a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/444328/20130310/archbishop-canterbury-benefits-cuts-child-poverty-justin.htm" target="_blank">The Archbishop of Canterbury</a>, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21812545" target="_blank">The Pope</a> and <a href="http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Truth-And-Lies-Report-smaller.pdf" target="_blank">The Joint Public Issues Team</a>
of the Free Churches rising to the challenge. But I thought that on
this day of all days a reminder to the rest of us wouldn't go amiss ... <br />
<br />
All together now:<br />
<br />
<i>I will speak out for those who have no voices</i><br />
<i> I will stand up for the rights of all the oppressed</i><br />
<i> I will speak truth and justice</i><br />
<i> I'll defend the poor and the needy</i><br />
<i> I will lift up the weak in Jesus' name</i><br />
<br />
Or if you prefer:<br />
<br />
<i>I, the Lord of wind and flame, </i><br />
<i>I will tend the poor and lame.</i><br />
<i> I will set a feast for them.</i><br />
<i> My hand will save. </i><br />
<br />
I
wonder if you ever sing either of these hymns. If so I do hope you
won’t allow David Cameron and Nick Clegg to turn you into a hypocrite.<br />
<br />
You
see it looks like we are in for a period when the attention of the
media will be, as ever, on the antics of the rich and famous (not least,
following last week’s announcement, the royally rich and famous.) <i>[This a reference to the announcement of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton.]</i>
Meanwhile hundreds of thousands of the not nearly so rich and the
nowhere near as famous will, largely unnoticed, be struggling to cope as
their jobs are snatched away and their benefits slashed.<br />
<br />
“Oh
dear” I hear you say, “this is getting a bit political.” Well, yes,
but my purpose in raising this is not to debate the minutiae of
government fiscal policy. I’m not sure that an economics A level from
1978 is sufficient qualification to pronounce on the relative merits of
Keynes and Friedman as gurus for hard times. Instead I’m going to stick
to what I know. <br />
<br />
I reckon I’m on safe ground when I
tell you that thirty five years of reading the Bible has lead me to the
conclusion that Jesus is not very fond of hypocrisy. And make no
mistake it will be the rankest of rank hypocrisy if in coming years the
church in this country continues to sing its hymns of solidarity and
preach its sermons on God’s care for poor while keeping stum about the
impact of legislation on the lives of the most vulnerable. It would
also be somewhat less than satisfactory for us to follow the all too
familiar path of sticking to escapist praise songs and ignoring awkward
Bible passages.<br />
<br />
For the purposes of this column whether
you voted Tory, Labour, Lib Dem or Monster Raving Looney is not really
my concern. My point is that as Christians we all belong to a political
party that has as one of the main planks of its platform a policy that
is set firmly against passing by on the other side. Ever since the good
Samaritan did his stuff we have declared care-less neglect of the
battered and the bruised to be a bad thing. And those who shoot their
mouths off about how the world should be run really ought to try and
muster up at least an ounce or two of consistency.<br />
<br />
We
can agree on that can’t we? That the church ought to be speaking out on
behalf of those whom the majority of society would rather ignore? That
we should be trying to wrestle the spotlight away from princes and
prima donnas, nudging it instead towards those upon whom God’s eye
rests?<br />
<br />
If not, perhaps it’s time to call an end to the
party. At the very least we should take our scissors to our Bibles and
attack our hymn projection software with the delete button. The
Magnificat for instance, and all those songs based upon it, should be
left on the cutting room floor this Christmas. True, the bland and
anaemic version of Christianity with which we would be left is a rather
distasteful thing, but not nearly as nauseating a full blown hypocrisy.<br />
<br />
<i>This piece originally appeared in The Baptist Times and is reproduced here with permission of the editor</i>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-82055449613712299062013-01-11T11:02:00.000+00:002013-01-11T11:02:41.824+00:00Co-Principals Sought for Northern Baptist Learning Community<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOdFv6qKKqtrGn-F8GEqr2L259da9a39tC-67YnOMDe41oWHOtl_md9HUbmxE6-Bw0i-zpyoS1f7jYLiF42jylTut2XI4DN3qnoRJ8sK9cVycX9sacbeSGFg3eSAq4Tk9wZO3-Vcn14M/s1600/bigfatbird+JPEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOdFv6qKKqtrGn-F8GEqr2L259da9a39tC-67YnOMDe41oWHOtl_md9HUbmxE6-Bw0i-zpyoS1f7jYLiF42jylTut2XI4DN3qnoRJ8sK9cVycX9sacbeSGFg3eSAq4Tk9wZO3-Vcn14M/s320/bigfatbird+JPEG.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The theological college where I work is looking to appoint new leadership. Here are the details of the position(s). </span></i></span></span></span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">Want
an exciting job in theological education in Manchester? The post(s) of
Co-Principal of the Northern Baptist Learning Community in the
stimulating Luther King House is about to be advertised. <br> <br> Two Co-Principals<br> Northern Baptist Learning Community<br> <br> Location: Manchester<br> <br> Reward package: circa £30,000 per post (negotiable) + housing allowance</span></span></span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"></span></span></span></h5><a href="http://nah-then.blogspot.com/2013/01/co-principals-sought-for-northern.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-59057545415268120682012-12-27T11:37:00.001+00:002012-12-27T11:38:29.135+00:00Sermon Notes On Revelation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpvtOa9Wk5_dNZ3lGhilZDvZS6aJwRmzswgu8MxRDuZb2F_vgRv_DJW5zxkc87oUOsoGrfXGi_J2x845cBpMH1FZ1ityjpGqmKc7kX-wDhDxT2Fhk4OZGUFczdVb98IDEIWbLl8dMOH0/s1600/Home+Pics+342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpvtOa9Wk5_dNZ3lGhilZDvZS6aJwRmzswgu8MxRDuZb2F_vgRv_DJW5zxkc87oUOsoGrfXGi_J2x845cBpMH1FZ1ityjpGqmKc7kX-wDhDxT2Fhk4OZGUFczdVb98IDEIWbLl8dMOH0/s200/Home+Pics+342.jpg" width="107"></a></div>
What to do with those days between Christmas and New Year? Tart up the blog a bit and stick a few more sermon notes up on Scribd.<br>
<br>
Back in 2002 I did the bible studies at the Baptist Assembly. The theme of the assembly was Jesus in Widescreen. The studies were on Jesus in the Book of Revelation.<br>
<br>
As per usual the reason for making them available is that I have been asked for copies of the notes.<br>
<br>
Here are the links: <br>
<a href="http://nah-then.blogspot.com/2012/12/sermon-notes-on-revelation.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-57533711940830946702012-12-25T12:37:00.001+00:002012-12-25T17:44:21.498+00:00Let's Hear It For Materialism At Christmas!<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98xGoxQxZbrp3RSX-KLy4VorP4QDEPh1iomH6G9V1M3lNp54I8wLIF-tXsM2rcYk0nTzwELueuYXFgucUOntIF_SJAr9XnZld-qq69GCIqCykgGo0uTJSgGIO9IcfR0OAN-Lq_H8Vz0c/s1600/christmas-party-illustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98xGoxQxZbrp3RSX-KLy4VorP4QDEPh1iomH6G9V1M3lNp54I8wLIF-tXsM2rcYk0nTzwELueuYXFgucUOntIF_SJAr9XnZld-qq69GCIqCykgGo0uTJSgGIO9IcfR0OAN-Lq_H8Vz0c/s200/christmas-party-illustration.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Sometimes I reckon we Christians are just a bit too po-faced
in our celebration of Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too
restrained. Overly refined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Way too
whispy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spend so long slagging off
commercialism and excess that we forget that Christmas is the feast of materialism.<br />
<br />
<!--more-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-89071442948293026942012-12-19T18:58:00.000+00:002012-12-19T18:59:41.665+00:00Missional Ecclesiology Article and Sermons on Luke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsMZ3dvuuG78cg3VDO8wTjuxNMJNhMmzcpl-XouHe9LBXLyJ2lEYIHCo7nSjiZjoxSCjg6emf6odpH51yrphrw9m3tcASJAaCB22UoNo8Jw5i8KUjWCgxn7Y_pY1Zh6Iu-2Qe5Fuh9wc/s1600/6560.4notes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsMZ3dvuuG78cg3VDO8wTjuxNMJNhMmzcpl-XouHe9LBXLyJ2lEYIHCo7nSjiZjoxSCjg6emf6odpH51yrphrw9m3tcASJAaCB22UoNo8Jw5i8KUjWCgxn7Y_pY1Zh6Iu-2Qe5Fuh9wc/s200/6560.4notes.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I've just uploaded some new stuff to <a href="http://www.scribd.com/Marshall_Glen/documents" target="_blank">Scribd.</a> I do this form time when people ask me for copies of notes from lectures, sermons etc. The first piece is an article on <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/117394936/A-Missional-Ecclesiology-For-The-21st-Century-Journal-of-Euorpean-Baptist-Studies-Volume-13-Number-2" target="_blank">Missional Ecclesiology</a> raising some questions about the theology and practice of missional church practitioners. This first saw light as a lecture to a group of European Baptist theology teachers in the Ukraine back in July 2012. It had a reincarnation as part of our 1st Tuesday series of public lectures at <a href="http://www.lutherkinghouse.org.uk/lkh-events/first-tuesday-theology-lectures" target="_blank">Luther King House</a> in November 2012. The version here was published in the Journal of European Baptist Studies (Volume 13, Number 2). I am grateful to the editorial board for permission to publish it in this format.<br />
<br />
There are also notes from three sermons on Luke 4 originally preached at the Baptist Assembly in Scotland in October 21012. The first is entitled <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/117394935/Luke-4-14-30-Sermon-1-Wat-s-He-Up-To" target="_blank">What's He Up To?</a> and looks at Jesus' own sense of mission; the second is entitled <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/117394937/Luke-4-14-30-Sermon-2-Which-Side-Is-He-On" target="_blank">Which Side Is He On?</a> and deals with Luke's presentation of Jesus' boundary busting approach to mission; number three, <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/117394938/Luke-4-14-30-Sermon-3-Who-s-The-Daddy" target="_blank">Who's The Daddy?, </a>is a reminder that our participation in the ongoing mission of Jesus must include pointing to him as Son of God. If you want you can also get an audio file of each sermon over at the <a href="http://www.baptistassemblyinscotland.org/2012/Downloads.html" target="_blank">Baptist Assembly in Scotland</a> web site.<br />
<br />
Finally there are notes for a sermon on the preaching of John the Baptist in<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/117334805/Sermon-Notes-Luke-3-7-18" target="_blank"> Luke chapter three</a>. The sermon was preached at Luther King House chapel on December 11th, 2012.<br />
<br />
I know this looks like nothing more than shameless self promotion which is not the case. It is of course at least in part a bit of brass-necked-look-at-me-ism (which blog isn't?) but it is more than that, honest. I only stick up here stuff that people seem to have appreciated. Generally it's also stuff for which I've received requests for notes. So really it's better to think of what I'm doing as selfless public service.<br />
<br />
There's more than a small chance that the sermon notes won't be of much use to those who didn't hear the original. They tend to be a bit on the sparse side, fleshed out for publication somewhat from what I actually take into the pulpit with me but nonetheless well short of a full script (apart that is for the third of the Luke 4 sermon notes which for some mysterious reason ended as the fullest notes I think I've ever used.)<br />
<br />
Anyhow if you think they might of help click the links above or head to Scribd via the box in the side bar to the right and down a bit. If you dont' think they'll be any help you've probably stopped reading by now.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-1868337973274393632012-12-18T00:00:00.000+00:002012-12-18T00:00:37.347+00:00What's Wrong With Preaching<br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzg6KBmCY0NvPf-9F7OYPz39G4xExuVV7fcLXg0ngk4Bhr0I4DpXaX5AUvoxUBsxo_QJI9JymlYpdceKSBYF-R1_AN3DCEi_WePzIpvkE0RIppMq4sz6iPP-cQy7CFsU9xSNoIZ_3SiM/s1600/puzzled01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzg6KBmCY0NvPf-9F7OYPz39G4xExuVV7fcLXg0ngk4Bhr0I4DpXaX5AUvoxUBsxo_QJI9JymlYpdceKSBYF-R1_AN3DCEi_WePzIpvkE0RIppMq4sz6iPP-cQy7CFsU9xSNoIZ_3SiM/s320/puzzled01.jpg" width="320"></a>Thought I'd pop along and try another post. You know, just to see if I've still go it in me. So here I am and my, it's dusty in here! <br><br>Anyhow, about preaching …<br><br>I'm in the middle of teaching a final year undergrad course on preaching. I'm also prepping a new Master's level module in the same subject. So, naturally, I've been thinking quite a bit about preaching. Here's what I thought … <br><br>
<a href="http://nah-then.blogspot.com/2012/12/whats-wrong-with-preaching.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-72803607849200266922012-10-22T14:20:00.000+01:002012-10-22T14:21:25.776+01:00Missional Church LectureHere's what I'm doing on Tuesday November 6th. You can come if you want to. You can also tell others who might want to come.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfdl2tDlimzAORguryoLiIrQNOYsHtquOHOdNYpOxtDBY2lkSyVYfZW7FsxKccluc4mMvdDXBJ7XCOJADgk8zrsm1cw6FOxnpWg43hty6U-ONvLOkTwlkxUEIAnOdMYkr4SIO8pTe4-8/s1600/First+Tuesday+2012.11.06+Glen+Marshall+A4+poster+x1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfdl2tDlimzAORguryoLiIrQNOYsHtquOHOdNYpOxtDBY2lkSyVYfZW7FsxKccluc4mMvdDXBJ7XCOJADgk8zrsm1cw6FOxnpWg43hty6U-ONvLOkTwlkxUEIAnOdMYkr4SIO8pTe4-8/s320/First+Tuesday+2012.11.06+Glen+Marshall+A4+poster+x1+copy.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-32458703336148510892012-05-31T12:00:00.000+01:002012-05-31T12:01:36.686+01:00Reading The Bible After ChristendomI'm promoting this cos I've been asked to. And because it's going to be really good. You should book in. And then turn up. You'll be glad you did.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaERsv089h80hUiscLYgTwguFTq_iyBTdkGG5xQLD0NeLiGBQBWn7CBQKmnL8J4MQkpmfadM0T_eAb5RvFDCQ81dKmAPNdvIA5O8fj1sHmpj0c9tPT_ffQonhmAbja7ciFmlV1URQ6ndA/s1600/Anabaptist02%5B2%5D+copy+copy+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaERsv089h80hUiscLYgTwguFTq_iyBTdkGG5xQLD0NeLiGBQBWn7CBQKmnL8J4MQkpmfadM0T_eAb5RvFDCQ81dKmAPNdvIA5O8fj1sHmpj0c9tPT_ffQonhmAbja7ciFmlV1URQ6ndA/s640/Anabaptist02%5B2%5D+copy+copy+2.png" width="451" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-39945972260276905572012-05-31T11:55:00.000+01:002012-05-31T11:55:10.805+01:00Preaching and Dialogue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMMfKyu4ZTtfWIWkZ4xAXmhyphenhyphenTqKeoVsipOEmHKuqniErefYTjPeRooymK1TnrtqH8O7040Gm5TSBICPPagk6U1fkeLsArSe9X0KuKV6jS2ekMBGapSpOLRuR_bYtHc05y7WTgFpMapQk/s1600/DiscussionForum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMMfKyu4ZTtfWIWkZ4xAXmhyphenhyphenTqKeoVsipOEmHKuqniErefYTjPeRooymK1TnrtqH8O7040Gm5TSBICPPagk6U1fkeLsArSe9X0KuKV6jS2ekMBGapSpOLRuR_bYtHc05y7WTgFpMapQk/s320/DiscussionForum.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Just stuck some more notes up on my <a href="http://www.scribd.com/my_document_collections/3105099">scribd page</a>. I lead a session on preaching and dialogue at recent Luther King House conference for lay preachers and worship leaders. There's a PowerPoint presentation (minus the video clips) and my own notes. They are only, as usual, in outline form but they might be of interest. You can go get em from the side bar. Over there, on the right, then down a bit. Or, just go back and click the link!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0