tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71564584941447559832024-03-13T03:56:08.200-07:00Barney's random ramblingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-44702421101680017712018-08-17T17:34:00.005-07:002018-08-17T17:34:51.428-07:00The Price of honestyLooking at a document just now I found something which was said slightly objectionable, so I responded to the sender saying what I thought. I wondered about doing this because if you continually speak your mind you can become in other peoples eyes the kind of person who is simply opinionated for the sake of it. The term "Wally" in the possibly now defunct world of CB radio meant a person who habitually dived in on other people's conversations. We have all experienced the situation at the end of a long and laborious meeting when we have almost crossed the finishing line and someone, like Colombo, the TV detective from the '70s says : "just one more thing" and the meeting lurches on.<br />
<br />
I never want to be that person, the irritating thorn in the side for everyone else, the outspoken know it all, however I have spent a lot of my life not speaking when I should have done and never want to do that again.<br />
<br />
The Lord keep me from being a bore, but even more from being a coward.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-7882141787873856322018-08-14T05:38:00.001-07:002018-08-14T05:38:17.950-07:00Running revelation<br />
Out for a run this morning I was pondering on Ephesians chapter 1 verse 2<br />
: <span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">i have often wondered how Paul could so confidently give a blessing from God, not from himself but God. It seems a rather presumptuous thing to do. On thinking about it, I realised that not only had Paul the right to say it but that I have the right to say it too. After all what is prayer but moving God's hand, what is faith but the knowledge that you have already received the answer? Jesus said in John 14.</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Paul could have dressed up the sentence to make it apparent that it was a prayer but he cut right to the chase. Believing prayer receives at the same time as it prays, otherwise it is simply hoping into unseen blackness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I wouldn't in any way aspire to the faith of Paul, however I do possess the faith that God has given me. I can speak a blessing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As I thought about this my mind went to the passage where Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5: 43-48) "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;" and I realised that Jesus was using the exaggerated way of speaking that he sometimes did to reinforce his point. It's hard to imagine forgiving an enemy who has, hurt a family member, or done horrible things in times of war, so a lot of us conclude that we don't measure up, however think about this: the disciples said "who is my neighbour?", could we not equally say "who is my enemy?". That being the case we discover that we have a multitude of enemies, those who thwart our plans, misunderstand us, hurt us, mess up our situation, in fact at certain times our nearest and dearest seem to be more enemies than friends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">These are the ones we have the power to bless with God's blessing through the authority of faith, if we do this to our "friends" then we will gain the grace to do it to our enemies thus demonstrating that we are children of God.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-70115889393153596432016-02-25T04:57:00.000-08:002016-02-25T04:57:51.919-08:00UpdateUpdate<br />
<br />
I haven't blogged for ages and feel I should start up again, so a brief resume of what has happened for the last 15 months or so. At the beginning of 2015 I got an illness that I was unable to shake off I lost getting on for two stone. It turned out to be (apparently) nothing much although it didn't seem like it at the time. The week before I returned to work, Debbie and I went away for a week which I have not done for the last 40 odd years. The chance to reflect and seek God whilst gently relaxing was pretty life changing. 2015 was overshadowed by the unexpected death of Jonathan Wren in July and getting accustomed to life without him trying to support the grieving family. I upped my running mileage around that time but my hopes of keeping up 10 miles a week regularly did not come to fruition.<br />
<br />
On 28th December I bought a banjo having an inspiration more or less out of nowhere to start learning it, thinking some of my guitar playing skills would transfer. Maybe they do, but two months in and it's a steep learning curve, I have drastically reduced my reading and practice up to an hour a day, more if I have the time. It's a slow process. If I can work out how to post videos on this blog I will map my progress.<br />
<br />
Watch this space.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-82751168428290725172014-09-30T06:41:00.002-07:002016-02-25T00:15:34.008-08:00Wealth Money and all that Jazz,<br />
<br />
A couple of weeks ago on a Sunday morning one of our Pastors spoke about giving. I enjoyed it, (the communication was very good). The whole area of wealth is a bit of a minefield and I thought the brother who spoke very wisely avoided making comments about riches and rich people. Funny though how we always look at things according to our own viewpoint (and that must be the only way we can look at them) some in the meeting had a different viewpoint than me and interpreted the message differently. Rather than criticising those people I should first take a walk in their shoes.<br />
<br />
I have never had any money to speak of but I have never been in poverty. My parents were poor but very generous. They taught me that money and posessions are to be held lightly. As a result of my upbringing and my choices as an adult I see money as a means to an end. I never wanted to be rich. I remember how I left my first job (in a Bank, no less). I was called for some kind of reveiw at head office. I hadn't started doing my Bankers diploma. The reason for this was basically that I was still a kid at seventeen, afraid of everyone and everybody and the thought of study after a dozen perplexing years at school didn't do it for me. I didn't know how to learn and wonder how I ever got any O levels. The Bank wanted people who wanted to advance. I told the person (or it may have been a couple of people) that I wasn't really interested in money and they suggested I resign, which I did.<br />
<br />
At the age of 23 I moved into common purse community. Our vision was relative poverty so we got by. I have sometimes gone weeks without spending any money. I have never lacked, have never had to wonder where the next meal was coming from.<br />
<br />
There are positive and negative spin offs from this lifestyle. I perhaps, freed from the responsibility of making ends meet taken a lot longer to grow up than I would otherwise have done, on the other hand I have learned to hold loosely the things that I can't carry with me into eternity of which money is one. I want to emulate my parents. They gave generously and in turn they received bountifully.<br />
<br />
I have no Bank account and as far as I can only spend what I need to. What then do I think of riches? Jesus says make friends for yourself with money and he also says that if we do not act honourably with money who will give us the true riches. It also says that God will provide all my need according to his riches in Christ Jesus. I am happy with that. My antecedents have established my viewpoint. <br />
<br />
What of another person with a different history? How can I walk in their shoes? Maybe they grew up in poverty desperate just to have enough. To escape poverty and live free from the gnawing anxieties generated by lack has driven them to seek financila stability and abundance. Should I label them as a heretic, someone who embraces prosperity teaching and therefore have nothing to do with them or should I try to understand? There is such a problem when we make it our life's work to attack what other people are doing, to label everyone who does not accord perfectly with how we do things as somehow under God's judgement. No. We may of course be unable to agree, we may not find ourselves able to inhabit the same space churchwise because of our differences. We have got to look for agreement, what can we encourage in each other; what can we DO together to establish God's kingdom on earth?<br />
<br />
From that sermon a couple of Sundays ago I remember one main thing: What we give financially to the work of the Church has to be what we have decided in our own hearts.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-69299958847645123662014-07-29T02:43:00.001-07:002014-07-29T02:43:34.109-07:00The Willow Tree
<br />
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The Willow Tree stands by the water, not the tallest, never
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Than mighty pines and oaks that grow taller and live longer</div>
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Yet flexible her branches, her swaying limbs as the wind
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-That stormy destroying wind which picks up larger trees and
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Is cut into a thousand pieces by the whipping branches and
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By the little leaves resistless motion. The storm is stilled
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-85322860666469063492014-07-23T06:58:00.002-07:002014-07-24T01:15:04.892-07:00I've been there<br />
I've let the side down<br />
Gone against the tide - down<br />
From where I had their trust<br />
To grovelling in the dust<br />
From Alpha to Anathema<br />
From healthy to a carrier<br />
Of disease and I have been<br />
In solitary quarantine.<br />
I've been there.<br />
<br />
I've been on the other side<br />
In me the others can't confide<br />
'Cause I'm not Kosha anymore<br />
And I must wait outside the door<br />
Until my penance is complete<br />
And I can stand upon my feet<br />
I have betrayed those that I serve<br />
And I have got what I deserve.<br />
I've been there.<br />
<br />
And there I found him<br />
Smeared with other people's sin<br />
And mine - I know he saw, he knew<br />
The pain that I'd been going through<br />
Did what I'd done even evince<br />
From his bruised soul an extra wince?<br />
I'd nailed him up, joined in the kill<br />
But I knew, slowly, dawningly,<br />
He loved me still.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-14771863910846447472014-07-16T05:45:00.002-07:002014-07-16T05:53:37.437-07:00Composed whilst helping in Bridge drop in 16/7/14<br />
<br />
<u> Better than nothing</u><br />
<br />
I live somewhere, it's not home<br />
It's just somewhere to be<br />
I suppose I should be grateful<br />
I'm not on the streets<br />
It isn't special<br />
But it's better than nothing.<br />
<br />
I go to a place in the mornings<br />
And eat beans on toast<br />
Bread from Sainsbury's<br />
That they couldn't sell<br />
It's not my choice<br />
But it's better than nothing.<br />
<br />
They give me clothes<br />
I can get a shower<br />
Use the phone, talk to people<br />
They aren't my friends<br />
Just other people who go there<br />
But it's better than nothing<br />
<br />
I'm on Benefits JSA<br />
I've been inside<br />
I won't get a job<br />
But I pretend to look<br />
So I won't get my money stopped<br />
The money is a joke<br />
But it's better than nothing.<br />
<br />
I've got a kid, don't see him<br />
His mum's a bitch<br />
We split up<br />
I've got a new partner, she's a pain<br />
I don't love her<br />
But it's better than nothing. <br />
<br />
I drink a bit, but don't take drugs<br />
I'm not a junkie<br />
I'm better than that<br />
I drink this cider<br />
It's never seen the inside of an apple<br />
But it's better than nothing.<br />
<br />
I'm not happy<br />
But I like the footy, I used to play<br />
But it didn't work out<br />
I didn't fit in<br />
I only watch it on T.V. now.<br />
But it's better than nothing.<br />
<br />
Why do I keep going?<br />
Something won't let me stop<br />
I duck and dive<br />
Watch my back<br />
I wouldn't call it life<br />
But it's better than nothing<br />
<br />
I'm not special, noone cares<br />
My Dad left, my Mum died<br />
I don't see my family<br />
They don't like me<br />
I have acquaintances, not friends<br />
But it's better than nothing. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-77830740677287450612014-07-15T03:47:00.003-07:002014-07-15T03:47:56.515-07:00The eroding of the dreamIt's getting on for a year since I blogged anything. Not without event but without comment. The most significant happening in the year was the death of my Mum on 12th April. Everything seems more looseley attached since then and I marvel that anything ever carried an air of permanence. Existence has changed from an endless land fading into an unseen horizon light years away to a fast burning fuse crackling towards the inevitable bomb.<br />
<br />
At Mum's funeral I was told by my cousin that my favourite home of my childhood had been bulldosed to make way for 3 luxury houses which together would cost 1000 times more than what my parents paid for the house in 1959. The old house is still on google earth....for now.<br />
<br />
In 2001 when Debbie and I were on honeymoon I photograped her in front of a massive cedar tree at Watersmeet. last week we visited the same place, but, no tree; in its place a circular wall with a lid covering the stump.<br />
<br />
With the passing of the years, more and more things seem to drift from the essential to the futile. Those things which seemed urgent and vital the causes we embraced, the vision we carried seem more like a frantic grasp at something which is moving away from us at ever-increasing speed.<br />
<br />
I can understand the hermits going off into the desert away from the decay, where time and effort can be put into the seeking of the imperishable and unchanging, although I believe it can be sought anywhere; it's not the geographical location which is important rather the absence of distractions. Hearing the love song is easier when someone isn't operating a road drill 30 yards away but the song is there for those who manage to filter out the racket.<br />
<br />
In an antique shop recently there were some coal shovels similar to the ones we used at home when I was growing up. Junk really but ridiculously expensive as they were old. Today's stuff is tomorrows antiques. My smartphone in the british museum with onlookers chortling at how primitive it is.<br />
<br />
What is to be done? Still restless, still dissattisfied still hungry. That doesn't go away. I am a hermit in babylon seeking to find out how to drown out the noise, to turn from the glitter, link with the eternal. To see it in colour rather than black and white.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-86196743525723569362013-08-12T02:27:00.002-07:002013-08-12T02:27:42.485-07:00Where to draw the lineStarting to regularly pray for people raises an interesting problem. I know a lot of people. The other day in the car I decided to pray for my relations which is not something I have really done before, but how far do you go? I got to about 30 people and still I could have brought more to mind. Where do I stop?<br />
<br />
This is what I have concluded: Apart from one or two people I have never prayed regularly for others (shameful but true), now I am holding quite a few people before God. The transition from almost nothing to where I am now is a great improvement. If I can maintain that it's got to be good. I must trust God to fill in the gaps (and with several billion people in the world there are a lot of gaps!) and remember that it isn't all down to me. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-41945437475432522072013-07-30T04:14:00.002-07:002013-07-30T04:14:35.192-07:00The progress of prayerTeach us how to pray, could we be a praying people<br />
Shake us up today Lord.<br />
<br />
<i>We're calling out on our knees, desperate Lord for you to be</i>......<br />
<br />
Are we??<br />
<br />
That is the question that has occupied my thoughts for some time now. We know how to sing about prayer, talk about prayer but we don't really know how to pray. For the last few months I have been drawn into the whole subject. First I went to an Evangelism vision and action evening where one of the sisters spoke about prayer support in evangelism. It was good stuff but I realised pretty soon that it was not really happening in any organised way. There was no targeted prayer say on a Saturday afternoon when people were on the streets. So some of us had the idea of prayer texts. I had a list of people on my phone and texted prayer needs live from the evangelism scene. Peole could pray whilst, doing the Ironing or digging the garden. This has proved to be a successful way to use our resources and has seemed fruitful. There are now 21 people who receive the prayer texts.<br />
<br />
I found myself in the position of an administrator of prayers. In addition to that, we started a small intercession time before the Sunday evening meeting. In terms of my personal prayer life although I saw the need to pray, I wasn't really much the wiser about what it involved. Then at the last Bank Holiday weekend I went to one of the pre meeting intercession times, thinking "well I'm into this stuff, I may as well join in". When I got there I was aware of the presence of God, not flashes of lightening or anything extreme like that but enough to shake me up a bit. I wrote down my thoughts in a poem which I subsequently read out at the testimony time:<br />
<br />
Not many rich, not any rich,<br />
Or famous, or of note<br />
Were gathered in that corner praying<br />
No great orators, change makers<br />
Worls shakers, no outward strengths portraying<br />
Not fashionable, sexy, cool<br />
Popular, young up and coming<br />
Full of flair<br />
Just lowly people<br />
Knowing inadequacy, nothing fancy<br />
But HE was there.<br />
<br />
I didn't go to any more of those times through the weekend. I felt that this was not just something I could dip into and out of. This was serious and I was a bit scared. For some weeks after that I shied away from praying that much. I got that feeling, which you get when you are considering becomeing a christian :- "if I get into this it is going to consume my life and I don't know if I am ready for it". The Lord has kept on knocking though and I have continued to say "teach me how to pray". The other week I was praying it I think when I was in the bathroom in the morning and I felt the Lord said: "you have got to focus" So I got some pieces of card and on each card I wrote a name of someone close to me (18 names in all) then I looked at each of the names for one minute each (setting a timer on my phone - I know I am a nerd!). That was it. I would not particularly call that praying but I was just doing what I thought God was saying to me. I have done this a few times I have also thought about various people in the car on the way to work and most recently when running. I say to myself I am going to think about that person until I get to that point and so on. The way I see it is like this: As I am focussing on a person I am believing that God is focussing upon them and doing them good. I don't think so much that prayer is powerful, rather that prayer moves God's hand and he is powerful. Not that what I am doing is prayer in the conventional sense. Once I have felt a slight sense of what people call "a burden" but that is probably about it. So I am coming to the end of a run last Friday and I'm asking God to teach me how to pray. I get in, have a shower blah blah and so on. Then I start to do a bit in the garden, someone phones me. There is this trial of a new initiative the next day at acc. Continual prayer throughout the meetings would I lead a team and coordinate the other teams and if we decide to roll it out to all big meetings I would be considered the coordinator of that. Interesting. Some kind of agenda is going on here and its not of my doing. All I am asking is to be able to pray particularly for other people and see changes in their lives for the better.<br />
<br />
Has anything happened apart from the above - well a few things of note. The other week someone who attends Church occasionally was chatting to me. This person's conversation isn't the most inspiring and usually I try to get away asap but I felt no need to do that. The normal sense of imatience wasn't there. That was good. It seems generally that because I am thinking about people more, I have more time for them. The other thing that has happened is that there seems to have been a lot more opportunity to Pastor people (which is my main ministry). Sunday afternoon was full on sharing with this and that person and it was all good. Possibly the result of sowing to the spirit. Who knows? It bodes well really for how it will be when I really know how to pray.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-53245838250974823952013-03-27T02:09:00.002-07:002014-07-15T03:53:37.658-07:00The grim truthI was with someone yesterday in the course of my work I had not seen for a while. In the course of conversation I asked about how their drinking was going. They told me that they were doing OK although they admitted to going for the odd couple of pints otherwise they were doing ok. They had to get out of the car to attend to some business and left the lucozade bottle they had been carrying on the floor by the seat. So, like you do I unscerwed the lid and had a sniff. Yes, I'm afraid so, it was lager. I had thought I caught a whiff of it earlier. So we have someone who is keeping themselves topped up, uses the pretty normal trick of putting the booze in a soft drink bottle. Why? I am not judging them. The truth is that they are lying to themselves, trying to pretend they are Ok when they are not Ok.<br />
<br />
I remember once, a guy who told me he was not interested in having a girlfriend loaned my phone to send a text. I had a look at it later (he should have deleted it). It was, of course of a romantic nature to a lady.<br />
<br />
I used to get really upset when people lied to me, taking it personally and all the rest. Now (always assuming it is not a really close friend) I guess I just feel sad. It is Adam and Eve covering up in the garden, hiding their face from the Lord, it is the polititian, actor, footballer, famous person who lies to try to maintain their status. It's about them not anyone else.<br />
<br />
God forbid that I should hide the truth about myself, from myself. One day it will come back and bite me. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-33152492145097152182012-12-03T09:05:00.001-08:002012-12-03T09:05:59.997-08:00Suffering for the sake of Jesus.Today myself and my colleague went from Coventry to Nuneaton to collect and old cooker that had been kindly donated to the Jesus Centre. Prior to collecting it I had inadvertantly parked the car across someones drive. I had just been focussing on finding the address and so on, and simply failed to notice I was parked across a drive. We collected the cooker and when we came out with it (only a few minutes from when we had arrived) an angry young man, indeed the owner of the car shouted at us. It just so happened that the vehicle we were driving had the word "Jesus" quite prominent on the side. I did not hear exactly what the guy said but Jesus' name featured somewhere. I immediately said I was sorry and went to move the vehicle straight away. The young man said something else also which I did not fully catch, but one of the words he used began with "F" and I caught that loud and clear so I gues it was abuse. I said "I apologise" and went on to move the car. The young man and his partner drove off.<br />
<br />
10/10 for the right response, why then did I feel so upset and angry afterwards? Why did I imagine various bad things happening to that couple today? As I thought about it I realised that actually the guy had slagged off Jesus so it could be counted as persecution for the sake of righteousness so I should be rejoicing. I don't find that easy in these situations. Having said that I hope that some conviction, or change will come about because of my turning the other cheek. If the commands of Jesus don't work for good then we are all in trouble.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-901938674597162592012-09-20T03:46:00.004-07:002012-09-20T03:46:38.012-07:00Servant of everyoneJesus said that the greatest among you must be a servant. What does this mean? Possibly in Jesus time it meant slave. Someone with no rights owned by another. Being a servant could be great subject matter for a sermon but what does it actually involve?<br />
<br />
One of my friends is in a very senior leadership role in our Church with massive responsibility. I had to go to the place he lives in for a meeting a few days ago. He met me at the door where he was chatting to someone else, went with me into the house made me a cup of tea and we had a chat before our meeting. He also has responsibility to care for one of the community minibuses and regularly cleans it out. He could quite reasonable claim he is too busy and noone would object. He has the habit of a servant. <br />
<br />
Some people (even some leaders) use serving as a strategic tool so when there is a task to be done that is "in the public eye" they will get involved but it can be the equivalent of the Pharisees giving alms or praying on street corners and maybe "they have their reward". I would be concerned about following such a leader, he may serve, sometimes, but he isn't a servant. As soon as it's not convenient or he's stressed out or feeling like he needs a break his service drops away.<br />
<br />
I feel that there is a danger of church leaders becoming "Guru's" who have lots of wisdom but when it comes to the application of the commands of Jesus in the heart fall short. Jesus said "I am among you as one who serves", that carries a sense of continuation, of habit.<br />
<br />
Think about the old time servant (I am sure that T.V. programmes like "Downton Abbey" have glamourised it somewhat). They work long hours, have no voice, often weary. Most of them I am sure had they the opportunity would have got out into an easier life. Jesus advocates, nay, commands that we should become servants (with all that would have involved in his day). Is that a radical solution for a church looking for advance?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com1Birmingham, West Midlands, UK52.486243 -1.89040152.331536 -2.206258 52.640950000000004 -1.574544tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-67050171292034071462012-08-17T04:50:00.001-07:002012-08-17T04:50:17.364-07:00IfsThe word "If" counjours up two pieces of writing. The first is the famous poem by Rudyard Kipling "If you can dio this that and the other without it bothering you then you'll be a man my son" or words to that effect. The other is a collection of sayings by Amy Carmichael gathered into a small book saying things like "If the ultimate, the highest cannot be asked of me, if my fellows hesitate and ask another, then I know nothing of calvary love" again or words to that effect. There is a similarity between the two. I used to have the little Amy Carmichael book and it was one of my prized possessions, I used to regularly beat myself up psychologically after reading it.<br />
<br />
These days I treat such writings with a great deal of suspicion. They seem now to be a bit self righteous; an unreachable bar. I know Amy Carmichael spent a lot of time bedridden in the days before T.V. I guess you have got to occupy youself somehow. She is a person I greatly admire, don't get me wrong, but her writings didn't do me much good as an intense young christian wanting to be holy. As a not particularly macho bloke Rudyard Kipling's "If" just left me feeling inadequate.<br />
<br />
What I believe defines a person is not the gritty determination to overcome all obstacles but the failures, the skin of the teeth escapes. The lucky goal that goes in off your backside. None of us are good enough that's why we need Jesus.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-59969302175928611852012-08-16T13:46:00.001-07:002012-08-16T13:48:35.647-07:00Dentists waiting roomsWhen I sit in the waiting area of my dentist there are two watercoulour pictures on the wall opposite. They are obviously by the same artist and on the face of it of the same scene. the scene is a large white house with several sections with different roof heights on top of a hill. Surrounding the house is grassland and some wooded areas. Although the pictures appear to be of the same building they are drawn from a different place. One of the things I try to do is work out by looking at one picture where the artist was located when he drew the other one. I think I have it worked out but it is not conclusive.<br />
<br />
In life what we see depends a lot on where we are looking from. That is why two people describing the same thing sometimes differ massively in what they describe. I don't think it is possible to really climb into someone elses shoes; however, the recognition that there are other veiws than our own which can be accurate, if different from ours is one step down the road towards unity.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-30310741386869155182012-03-13T02:23:00.001-07:002012-03-13T02:23:15.401-07:00Nuclear power and other random thoughts.I was driving to work today thinking about the environment (like you do). If only you could harness the power of nature somehow so that you could create clean energy. As I thought about it I realised that that is what has happened with nuclear power. Scientists have done that. Unfortunately the result is - a bomb - bad. I have read about all this radioactive waste stored underground in the U.S. and it worries me. Nuclear power is like a very gradual explosion, its not going to blow you apart straight away but it is only a matter of time before it does. One thing is certain we are all going to die sometime so maybe the best thing is to do the best with the life we've got.<br />
<br />
Changing the subject, I had a tinnitus free day yesterday. It's back today, but yesterday was wonderful and I am grateful for it. Maybe it will go altogether; I have experienced a few noise free times recently (but never a complete day). Even if it doesn't, yesterday stands as a great day because of it. I have been praying of course and will continue to do so.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-47751869310289899242012-03-07T13:47:00.001-08:002012-03-07T13:49:57.445-08:00Revision to new song<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">This is kind of final version, I have taken advice and replaced some weak or cliched words. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In him we live, the Lord of all creation</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Who spoke his life into our hearts of stone</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Filled with the breath of his own Holy Spirit</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jesus our source, our saviour and our home</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">He is the light who scatters all our darkness</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Dispelling doubt and vanquishing our fear</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">He’s our abundance, life is overflowing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In him we live and walk, our way made clear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In him we move, whose hands restored the broken</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Changing forever those who dared believe</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Commanded storms to cease with his authority</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">We’re by his side; his courage we receive</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">And by his Spirit we defeat dark powers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The sick are healed, the good news we proclaim</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jesus is Lord! This is our shout of triumph</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In him we move, his is the highest name.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In him we are, his nature our inheritance</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Our strivings quelled, our anxious voices stilled</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The God of peace enriching our identity</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Creating calm, with Sabbath rest we’re filled</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">And on that day when we shall stand before him</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Perfect and whole, transformed, secure and free</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The shadows gone, the earthly grave behind us</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In him to live and move and ever be.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-77522098433028924122012-03-06T08:44:00.000-08:002012-03-06T08:44:20.610-08:00New songWrote a hymn today, having been encouraged to get the creative juices flowing. Have not written the tune yet, at the moment it's "Danny Boy". Here it is<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In him we live, the Lord of all creation</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Who spoke his life into our hearts of stone</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Filled with the breath of his dear Holy Spirit</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jesus our source, our saviour and our home</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He is the light who scatters all our darkness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Dispelling doubt and vanquishing our fear</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He’s our abundance, full to overflowing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In him we live and walk, our way made clear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In him we move, whose hands restored the broken</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Who raised the dead, spread hope throughout the land</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Commanded storms to cease with his authority</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We’re by his side; we’re walking hand in hand</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And by his Spirit we defeat dark powers</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The sick are healed, the good news we proclaim</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jesus is Lord! This is our shout of triumph</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In him we move, his is the highest name.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In him we are, his nature our inheritance</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Our strivings quelled, our anxious voices stilled</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The God of peace moving in our identity</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Creating calm, with Sabbath rest we’re filled</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And on that day when we shall stand before him</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Perfect and whole, complete, secure and free</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The shadows gone, the earthly grave behind us</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In him to live and move and ever be.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-16911037687310336592012-02-16T13:53:00.000-08:002012-02-16T13:53:21.263-08:00AgingWell I have passed another birthday since my last blog; 59 now. Apart form the strange face that looks at me from the other side of the mirror I don't feel OLD as such. Aging is both an expanding and a contracting experience. Physically there is a shrinking both in capability and size but the wisdom is greater and its tend to improve output. In terms of attitude it seems one becomes both more tolerant and less tolerant at the same time more big hearted particularly towards younger people but suffering fools less gladly.<br />
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I think I prefer being older although I imagine I will find it more and more frustrating dragging my body around as I really get old, for now the balance is good.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-84237703750814857292012-01-14T03:06:00.000-08:002012-01-14T03:11:45.282-08:00No respecter of personsAs a practising christian it never ceases to amaze me how much more there is to discover, not through reserarch or exploration but through the illumination that God brings. Life in general (I mean a persons interaction with the rest of humanity) tends to be fairly limited, we have our own circle and can be suspicious of those who are not like us. In the Church, which is God's social circle if you like, he brings in people from every possible background and social grouping to be a demonstration of his unbiased approach to himanity which can be summed up in the following three words "God so loved".<br />
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I struggle sometimes and I know that many do with coping with others who's experience of God's life - changing power does not seem to have irradicated their annoying traits, weaknesses, personality failings and even sinful habits. I ask myself the question "is this person truly born again of the spirit?"( I even wonder that about myself when I seem to recognise a strong bias towards selfishness and sin). Because of attitudes like mine the Church is in danger of replicating the societies and groupings of the world which tend to split up, fall out, go broke or at the best hold themselves together through a controlling hand at the top. That is not to say there is not goodness, self sacrificing, achievement and fulfillment in thaose societies and groupings, it's just that they are human, the Church is part of God's kingdom and should (in theory) have a more secure hope.<br />
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The secret as I see it to moving away from the worm - like towards soaring like eagles is to have the love that God has which cannot be gained through education, exploration, personal effort and certainly cannot be brought. Lately I have been remembering often those words of my friend Paul Martin on the occasion of the Holy Spirit coming to a group of us whilst on holiday. Against the backdrop of his former attitude to me which was one of forbearance (not always patient). He said simply (their was nothing weird or sinister about this) "I love you". We never spoke about it again and he has now died so I can't ask him but I reckon that when he saw that God had chosen to love me and it was manifest then he was able to change his attitude towards me. My ability to love as God loves is so paramount to my own wellbeing that to be baptised in that love over and over again has to be my goal, without it I am poor, pitiable, blind and naked.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-62508855293721792932011-12-17T11:19:00.000-08:002011-12-17T11:19:03.276-08:00writers blockAt one time I wrote songs reasonably regularly. If ever I sit down to do it these days I tend to draw a blank. The problem isn't the music but the words. When I look at my attempt they seemtrite or contrived. Could it be that in our increasingly sophisticated world, everything is more difficult to do. Look at the 60's the age of the Beatles and veiw some of their hit lyrics:<br />
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She loves you yeah yeah yeah, she loves you yeak yeah yeah, she loves you yeah yeah yeah yeah.<br />
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Deep.<br />
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Christian songwriters try and avoid the - Jesus died on the cross, to take away our loss thing and do something a bit more creative and come up with stuff like - "Healing rain in falling down, it's coming closer to this old town" hmmm.<br />
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It seems to me that the safest way is to find a song that's already been written from the bible, say a psalm and put it to music or else work from a passage, at least the source material would be goo.<br />
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I think that's what I'll do, let you know how I get on.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-17086487504875000072011-12-03T10:51:00.000-08:002011-12-03T10:51:55.050-08:00Brotherly LoveI have been thinking lately about the importance of friendship. These are days when commodities increase, those things with a shelf life that we use and discard. Heaven forbid that people should become commoditised; in other words assimilated when of use and thrown away when we judge they have served their purpose. Love becoming a shop window experience rather than commitment of the heart. Callous or not we sometimes see another person as a stepping stone to achieving our goal, someone who we can tread on, albeit ever so gently, in order to attain our purpose.<br />
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The remedy for this is true friendship, relationships based not on what a person can do for us but upon who they are. Friendships like this are costly, for no two of us are alike and we have to work at synergy; sacrificing parts of ourselves in order that we may fit better with the other person. This is not about romance, although romance and friendship together can lead to love, it is about brotherhood (call that sisterhood if you like).<br />
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In the same way that we can be religious and keep God out of our lives so too we can be social without friends because life does not exist in the outward things but in the heart. Salvation will always be free but walking with God is costly, as is walking with brothers. We would never say that half an hour with God is wasted especially when we have fought our distractions to bring it about in the same way half an hour of "wasted" time with our friend is in fact time very well spent.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-35765832912372424012011-11-18T09:44:00.000-08:002011-11-18T09:44:03.464-08:00Back on track?Today I went for a two mile run. The first since 7th October. 2 miles six months ago would have seemed like nothing, a walk in the park. My diary earlier in the year shows 6 miles 7 miles 8 miles 10 miles even 11 miles on one occasion. I am grateful that I managed 2 miles and have not shown signs of the symptoms that laid me low earlier this year. Everything is relative. The life that we are given is not to be wasted. I appreciate being able to feel the joy of a relatively healthy body . One day I won't be able to do this stuff.<br />
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I am so blessed.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-1862347268706251312011-10-24T14:30:00.000-07:002011-10-24T14:30:29.202-07:00Second guessing GodWhat is prophecy? I guess you would say it is bringing a word from God. That's serious. Many people have brought prophetic words to me but they were not all from God, or at least they did not all come to pass, so either they were not from God or I failed in some way so they could not come to pass. Prophesy is not an exact science it would seem. I remember a guy who was baptised at Bugbrooke Chapel in the seventies and when he came up out of the water he was encouraged to prophesy. I remember it clearly, or at least parts of it. He said something along these lines "do you think I would let my people suffer says the Lord?" I am not commenting on the validity of this guy's baptism but if that prophecy was from God then he isn't the God I know. Suffering seems to be part of the package, in fact Jesus says blessed are those who are persecuted for my sake. One example of a duff prophecy. Why am I saying this? I guess it has to do with the building we had lined up for the Jesus Centre in Birmingham. We were reasonably sure God had given it to us, then someone comes and buys it from under our noses. Apart from this blokes business going belly up, it's back to the drawing board for us. Was God wrong? Did the devil win? No to both. Having wrestled it through a bit this is the conclusion I have come to. I don't really know but I'm not giving up.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7156458494144755983.post-6110511907650795462011-10-02T09:18:00.000-07:002011-10-02T09:18:28.729-07:00The Silencing of The WordYou speak, your tongue unleashed, a two edged sword<br />
Cutting, freeing, commanding, exposing the heart, loving.<br />
You are the word<br />
You scythe through the complacency of pharisee and sinner alike<br />
Revealing the innermost thoughts of the heart.<br />
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When vocalised, your identity weighs heavy<br />
A rock on which men fall,or are crushed to pieces<br />
It turns saints into sinners and sinners into saints,<br />
Water to wine, sickness to health, storm into calm.<br />
It offends the dignity of those who love,<br />
The control they gain from the power of the command set in stone.<br />
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They took the word and the word became silent,<br />
The tongue sheathed.<br />
As a lamb before its shearers is dumb.<br />
Seperated from its expression the body of the word was riduculed and mocked<br />
Those who did so becoming emboldened, believing<br />
That the Christ would not perform a final Samson - like act of strength<br />
Which would bring their house down on their heads.<br />
The word spoke but briefly, comfort for a dying man<br />
"Today you will be with me in paradise".<br />
And with the silencing of the word,<br />
Where tongue and lips were frozen in death the citadel of the law,<br />
Was torn asunder.<br />
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He Rose<br />
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The word on a white horse from his mouth a two edged sword<br />
On his hand and on his thigh written "King of Kings and Lord of Lords"<br />
The name of the word - Jesus<br />
His power in his his name,<br />
Angels and men before it fall and devils fear and fly<br />
Eternally alive.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700055554229258419noreply@blogger.com0