January 26, 2012 - Posted by tractorgirl - 0 Comments
In the mist of all the current madness my catch a few pages on the train book has been Richard Dawkins The God Delusion. I kind of figured it made sense to read it whilst I was testing my call.
In the introduction Dawkins indicates that he hopes it will make the religious lose their faith / see the error of their ways. Well, whilst it has confirmed lots I have thought myself about faith it has not shaken mine. Whilst I disagree with that a belief in evolution and God are incompatible, I go with the argument God is in a different dimension and created the initial part of the process I do know that I have no rational basis for that argument and it is a bit like saying I believe in Santa Claus, (which I don’t)….but it’s also v. different because I have faith that God is there in it all.
I, like Dawkins, am appalled by the way religion has been used and misused in our society and over history to perpetrate acts of violence, oppression and abuse. However, I also argue that it has helped some people do great good – just as other motivations – which I would argue may have their root in a supreme being have helped non-Christians do great good.
In terms of not forcing kids into religion and getting them to question things I also agree. Third Party was given a huge grilling when she got baptised by me because I needed to make sure it really was her decision and not a social thing, or a trying to please me thing.
The overall feeling I get reading the book is that he has had some bad experiences which have made him bitter about a few things and this is his way of addressing some of those things. I have basically ended up with the feeling I just want to sit down with him and chat through his life story to find out exactly what the whole deal is and then give him a hug. I am sure he would destest this type of hippy attitude but it’s the conclusion I come to after reading the book.
January 22, 2012 - Posted by tractorgirl - 0 Comments
As regular readers will know I am currently on a journey of discernment. Just to say that the discernment in question - whether myself and more importantly the church think I am called to a particular form of ministry – is going to be continuing on a while further after my visit to district yesterday.
Thanks to those who have been praying for me on this journey – your continued prayers are appreciated.
January 18, 2012 - Posted by tractorgirl - 3 Comments
Sharing the poem I have written for Saturday as no where is it written I can’t share it with friends in advance. Somehow it feels right sharing it on here, as this is pretty much where my poetry lives and whilst this may have a different purpose it is still one of my poems.
The Means Of Grace in This Place
I might wrestle with the means of grace;
those works of mercy and piety -
if the real world were not forever in my face.
In my world landline, mobile, email, text and twitter,
Facebook, message board and even old school letter
compete with the voices of children, parents, partner,
employer, friends and even occasional stranger.
So I might wrestle with the means of grace;
those works of mercy and piety -
if the real world were not forever in my face.
I want to do evangelism and engage
in acts of personal kindness and justice.
I want to get to church to worship and take communion;
I’d love to go on pilgrimage or retreat;
find a spiritual director or join a small group.
I want to wrestle with the means of grace;
those works of mercy and piety –
but the real world is forever in my face.
Stop for a moment; breathe – and come with me.
I want to show you how you can engage
with the means of grace;
those works of mercy and piety –
even if the real world’s forever in your face.
We’ll start in your office;
that place where demands
and constantly updated computer screen dominate.
Here is a small card of blessing.
Pin it up there on the wall
as your machine boots up each morning.
Take time to pray it through;
it’s a tiny example of the means of grace;
a small work of piety –
but it might help get the real world out of your face.
Then as you log on and visit a site
with a couple of verses – there for the day.
And as you scan the day’s news
pause for a moment, reading each story
and bring those involved before God.
It’s a tiny example of the means of grace;
a small work of piety –
but it might help get the real world out of your face.
Finally here look at the pictures
on mousemap and screen saver;
images glanced at randomly each day.
Think of those visuals and what they might say.
A memory of stillness, the awe of creation or simply a face
Which makes you stop, smile and say “thank you Lord”.
It’s a tiny example of the means of grace;
a small work of piety –
but it might help get the real world out of your face.
Next into the longue – with the tv and sofa;
mobile laying on the table next to the i-pad speaker.
Light a candle and lie on the sofa;
pick up the remote and turn the tv off.
Listen for that still small voice –
the feeling of being strangely warmed.
It’s a tiny example of the means of grace;
a small work of piety -
but it might help get the real world out of your face.
Then pick up the i-pod and listen
to a worship playlist – a selection of songs
which speak of the greatness of God.
Whilst sitting there chilling get hold of the mobile or phone
and make the call or send the text you’ve been meaning to –
just to enquire and say thinking of you.
Tiny examples of the means of grace;
small works of mercy and piety-
but they might help get the real world out of your face.
Off to the bedroom where diary and novel
lay carefully placed on the bedside cabinet
and there’s that mark on the wall
you’ve been meaning to cover.
Why not turn diary to journal
and add bible to the pile
of books and stationary next to the teddy?
And cover the mark with a beautiful picture
of that place where God especially meets you.
Tiny examples of the means of grace;
small works of piety –
but they might help get the real world out of your face.
Now to the kitchen;
stocked from the supermarket once every week.
Look at the shelves and ask a few questions
as you make the next list.
Who made it and how?
Fairtrade? Locally sourced? Or ethically caught?
And is it a product that deserves your financial support?
Tiny examples of the means of grace;
a small work of mercy –
but it might help get the real world out of your face.
Bottle of red stands by rustic loaf on the side.
Just food and drink in your kitchen – waiting for evening.
But taken – once blessed by presbyter –
these become sacrament;
items of remembrance – of body and blood.
Take a moment to reflect ;
and on Sunday engage afresh.
A tiny example of the means of grace;
a small work of piety –
but it might help get the real world out of your face.
Before I go I slip About A Boy into the DVD
and we watch Hugh Grant finding nobody is an island.
On the noticeboard sits a list of opportunities
to come and engage in public worship.
Different days, different times – cross check with the diary
and work out when you have a window – for just one of them.
A tiny example of the means of grace;
a small act of piety each week –
that helps the real world get out of your face.
As I wave goodbye we agree I’ll pop back from time to time.
You’ll put on the kettle and make a brew;
we’ll talk over how goes it with me and with you.
We’ll share with each other – disciples each one –
how we’re doing with the means of grace;
small acts of mercy and piety –
which are helping His real world get back into our faces.
January 15, 2012 - Posted by tractorgirl - 0 Comments
Appears that Premier has put up this podcast which gives the interview with Justin Brierley which is the one which led to Mark Driscoll’s blog post which I posted about yesterday. Christianity Magazine, which the inital interview was done for has posted this response.
January 14, 2012 - Posted by tractorgirl - 4 Comments
Whilst Third Party was wandering around the Twittersphere the other night it became apparent that something was afoot regarding Mark Driscoll opening his mouth and making some kind of pronouncement about preachers in the UK. This was what all the (T)wittering was about; a blog post entitled “A Blog Post for the Brits”. It is a pretty standard Conservative evangelical post by an American about the UK – on one level – which made me wonder what all the fuss is about on one level. But on another I understand the fuss, this is all related to the ongoing struggle for the heart of UK evangelicalism – a battle from the intensity of this post I think the progressives are winning. Mark Driscoll is a darling of the UK conservative evangelicals, having spoken at the national New Frontiers conference a couple of years ago, amongst other things. I think we need to seriously take note of what he is saying on this basis. There is also the fact, if you take out alot of the unpleasant stuff alongside it, there is some wisdom in aspects of what he is saying.
So what did he say and what is my own response. Well, it all follows on from a report in a magazine – not sure which one – with what he would describe as a very liberal interviewer, (um…..who did not sound that liberal in the scheme of things – rather like most progressive evo’s in this country who have the doctrinal views which allow women to be preachers in a non-complimentary way-i.e. without their husband being their boss and have questioned the doctrine of penal substitution).
His first point is the UK is different from the USA and a much more secular country. Um, well, yes….obviously. No disagreement there.
His second point relates to the need to proclaim the gospel and not be worried about legal challenges as a result. Now as the statement stands I agree with him…although I suspect the version of the gospel he is talking about is one which is homophobic, Islamophobic and not actually the gospel as it stands in the bible…i.e. the good news in the form of Jesus who came for everybody and had more problems with those who took the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law. However, for the moment I will not say that interpretation is definately the one he would give and so I also agree with what he says in this point…as it is written.
His third point is more complicated. It begins by not compromising on key doctrinal issues..this is something I would agree with to some extent, although I think sometimes we need to understand that within the church their are differences of opinion on those issues and be ready to respect (and so possibly compromise our position) on some of them…whilst keeping within the bounds of accepted Christian thought. He says that people in the UK should not back down from preaching the bible which can be summed up as inerrant and literal. Here I am hesitant. I believe the bible is the word of God, inspired by God but I also believe that God calls us to approach it using tradition, reason and experience aswell as praying for the Spirit’s gift of wisdom. Within this point he puts forward a Calvinist description of penal substitution which I cannot agree with. I believe that God, in the form of Jesus chose to go to the cross as a result of his love not because of his wrath. We do need his salvation and to be saved from seperation from God…and this is why God sent Jesus, IMHO, on a rescue mission which was related to love not wrath as I say. In terms of repentance I do agree we need to preach it…we can see the impact of wrong decisions and an unwillingness to change how we do stuff in our world and own lives. However, for me repentance needs to relate to asking God for the strength and wisdom to get more in line with his will on everything because we are sorry about how we are messing up our lives, the lives of others and the world we live in….not because God is a bully who will punish us otherwise. In terms of hell, I think something exists – which may be an eternal feeling of emptiness – but I don’t think that it can be a threat used to scare people into believing.
Point four about reaching out to older generations so our churches don’t become museums I 100% agree with and think it needs to be preached out loud…but not at the expense of also shouting out we need to show greater respect for and work out how to support more our older generations who have given many years faithful service.
Point five I agree with. We do need to see if more young men can be raised up for ministry and because of the way that more women are now offering than men in some denominations and that the church is disproportionately female I think that we do need to put an emphasis on finding men. However, I think that there is most definately a place for women in all roles of ministry and at all levels too. So we need to be on the look out for young people of both genders to mentor and nurture and raise up….but particularly men for the reasons indicated earlier, rather than the ones that Driscoll would give which are based – I believe – on a certain, selective reading of scripture and patriarchal perspective. If we can’t get enough good preachers coming through we do have a crisis.
Point six which I have sort of covered in the above…we do need more good evangelists to be raised up to preach at major conferences and we do need to move away from our reliance on foreign pastors, particularly US based. So I agree with Driscoll on that point too – that is why I am glad to see people like Rev. Jo Cox coming through, who preached at 3 Generate, the Methodist Youth Conference this year. Not sure she is a new Spurgeon, but she is a very good and dynamic communicator – something Third Party who was at that conference agreed with very strongly.
In terms of the comments about the interviewer it is clear Driscoll is on the defensive and is getting personal. I will therefore not seek to get involved in that discussion…except to say I think that it is clear evidence that the Conservative element of evangelicalism is stepping up the fight because they know that the British form of progressive evangelicalism which does not have the same biases against women and is based more on God’s love than His wrath is in the asendancy.
January 12, 2012 - Posted by tractorgirl - 2 Comments
When I go to the district candidates committee in a week or so, part of the ongoing discernment process, I have to give a creative presentation. You can choose to do anything you like on the given topic – as long as it is creative. This limits it somewhat for me; the only creative gift I would be willing to share with the world is poetry.
Now I know I sometimes share poetry on here – but that is my choice to do so. The poems I put up are those I choose to write on topics I want or need to get out of my head – they are not things that I force out of me. Public performance of my poetry is a new experience and I do feel vulnerable.
January 8, 2012 - Posted by tractorgirl - 0 Comments
This is one of those pieces which will probably win me no friends and which I have thought about posting…but I think it is right to do so. I am posting as somebody who only had a short involvement with Occupy Newcastle but has been able to view a series of web based discussions.
This article in yesterdays Chronicle gives a version of how the Occupy Newcastle site finally left the Monument. From what I gather this was not quite the whole story and I know the protesters feel misrepresented within the Chronicle’s piece. Looking at the picture which accompanys the piece I can see that many of the faces there are people I recognise from my time with the camp towards the beginning of their occupation. Whilst there had been a coming and going of people over time it is evidence that a hardcore of people remained…men and women of conviction.
The problem I think which occurred in Newcastle was that they tried to keep the physical presence of the occupation at the monument going on longer than was probably fully sustainable. The number of people actively involved over the time of the camp was somewhere around 50 or 60 looking at the size of the FB group which those of us who had been active had access to and allowing for a small number not being on FB, but the core was generally somewhere between 6 and 25 (larger at the beginning). This was obviously much smaller than London and they did not have the level of technical or financial support which Occupy LSX had. In practical terms this meant that the occupation for the most part was focusing on sustaining itself rather than effectively growing much of the time, from my perspective. There were spurts of activity but these were limited because there is only so much the same group of people can be doing, particularly on little sleep and with other responsibilities. The Occupy Newcastle site gives clear evidence of the way the spark never really grew into the fire needed if you look around it; at the blog and so forth.
Some of the people there such as E and RR gave over and beyond of what could have been reasonably expected of them in terms of trying to not only keep the whole thing going but grow it. However, in the end the clearance came. If there had been more people available on the ground then the clearance would have taken a different form, possibly involving legal action. As it was there is a sad ending to the actual occupation with the camp being cleared and sent to be burnt by the council. Apparently there were still some parts of the library there aswell as some personal belongings.
This clearance was the final nail in a story which contains as much sadness as it does hope (and I think there are bucketfuls of both). The camp did struggle both physically and intellectually with in their relationship with the homeless. Tents of genuine occupiers were deficated in and damaged by homeless people and sometimes, for their own safety the police were alerted, but at the same time there was a feeling of wanting to help those who the system had failed most badly and not be like much of the rest of society in their attitude.
Large sums of money did go missing over the course of the occupation and disillusionment set in as people found they could not always trust people they hoped to. In some ways the Newcastle Occupation was marked by hopeless idealism at times, although I believe such idealism is needed in some ways if anything is to change in our society. It was one of the reasons some people fell away from the movement.
There were left wing political splits which at times became apparent (the whole Life of Brian splitters senario) and whilst there was a no alcohol rule which was mostly kept by the protesters I know on a couple of occassions this broke down – again leaving some members of the group disillusioned.
Then there were, as I say, the issues of a prolonged campaign of this nature which needed people on the ground on a daily basis. There were regular attempts to get rotas going, but these were only of limited success. Most of the time it all came down to the dedicated core – a number of which had jobs or studies which limited the ways in which they could be involved. I know for myself my involvement effectively ended when I got the increased supply hours I have been doing over the last couple of months.
I know the view is that the Occupy Newcastle is not over but only the camp. The question is there though, “how much was Occupy Newcastle the camp and how much the wider spirit and networks being built?” Well, I think something will continue from this but I am not sure how it will build. My own feeling is that the clearing of the monument marks the formal end of something which would have been better to formally end in a blaze of glory somewhat earlier. I think, realistically, the occupiers will in time find themselves putting their energies back into other left wing or environmentally based social movements – many of those in the core were connected in some ways with these anyway. I suspect as the anti-cuts movement grows and groups such as Coalition of Resistance with their backing from the organised left rise back up in coming months they will join them. They will surely be courted by the socialist movements as people who have shown commitment to a cause and have I think something to teach a worn out left in this country.
So the final question is, “was it worth it?”
I have to say yes. I stood there giving out leaflets to people in Newcastle city centre – engaging with ordinary people who are at a point when they want some kind of change in society to occur. I became aware that if no alternative comes to fill the void the far right are likely to….there were a number of conversations I had which had to correct misconceptions about minority ethnic groups and immigration. The truth is alot of ordinary, good, working class and lower middle class people have had enough and are looking for people to blame. They have lost faith in the traditional political system and want / need a way to express their frustration. Occupy allowed alot of people to feel vicariously something was being done to support people like them.
The movement also allowed alot of younger people to come together and say we not only want change but we are willing to do something to try and achieve it. Whilst at times this did turn into an old fashioned middle class talking shop there were lots of occassions I saw young people without an intellectual background engaging with the protest…even if only for a short time before they got bored and went off to do something else. The most committed that I saw were actually not the “nice” middle class youngsters but those who had their qualifications from the university of life – these were people who were looking at what they had lying around at home, in their gardens or wherever, that they could bring down and use creatively.
It was also worth it because through its very presence it meant the issues had to be engaged with to some extent by traditional politicians. When it was clear that they were remaining after a couple of weeks people with power did start going to find out what they wanted and what they were doing there. Local councillors, the media and clergy amongst others visited the camp and engaged with the people there – trying to work out why they were disillusioned enough to actually be doing something.
Additionally, what they were doing was positive. We had seen earlier last year in many other cities what happens when frustration boils over into anger and is not channelled creatively….Occupy was an alternative to the riots. It was/ is a movement which says we are going to start a discussion about what is wrong and how change should / can occur.
I think it is problematic that the conversation between occupiers and those who supported them but could not occupy because of other commitments did not grow, by early/ mid November into something concrete in terms of achieveable aswell as idealistic goals to be achieved. To me this was the biggest problem with the movement….it started a conversation and then did not do anything with it.
I have said before that as a Christian I was uneasy at times with the focus, because I am looking for overlapping changes in society but ones which differ because they come from the perspective of wanting a change which reflects the spirit of God’s law. In many ways this made me much more reformist than revolutionary in terms of the discussions being held. I don’t think using language which dehumanises others – however deplorable their actions – can ever be justified and this was one area where I differed with some at the camp.
In terms of where we do go now I think that the question needs to be asked not only in Newcastle but in other spaces too beyond the occupations. I would love to see activists coming together in spaces including Solas, Greenbelt and Wildgoose to discuss a way forward and a set of goals to be put forward in general, political and faith based spaces and discussions. I want a true movement to grow. I think in terms of progressive Christianity we already have the seeds of this – but I think there needs to be a more concerted effort to get more of a momentum going which is unified and clear.
As regular readers will know whilst reading Tim Gee’s book I became fascinated by the idea of Counterpower but want to know what Christian counterpower looks like if we look at it biblically and how it can be developed to bring about true change. I think this type of discussion at the festivals mentioned above and other appropriate spaces would be useful. The discussion needs to be amongst “ordinary activists” not just “the Christian elite” though. There needs to be discussion between groups more than has been the case and quite how this is done I am not sure….but I do know that this type of movement does not need incorporation into the existing….it will have been most useful if it dialogues with the existing but allows new leaders to grow out of it who are mentored by others on one hand but also give new perspectives and ideas to existing groups on the other.
I know this post has been way too long, but thanks for bearing with me…..I know for reasons discussed elsewhere (time and my own possible incorporation into a system that silences or certainly restrains) the passion I feel on this is becoming and may well further become restrained. I needed to let my thoughts out on this in a constructive way and scream my contribution out into cyberspace one more time.
January 7, 2012 - Posted by tractorgirl - 2 Comments
I asked for ideas on the sermon I am giving tomorrow. I thought I would share the sermon on here. Know reading sermons is different to hearing them, but thought I’d share it with you anyway.
9/11, The Day John F Kennedy got shot, The radio broadcast in September 1939 when the outbreak of war was announced to the nation, the moon landing and the fall of the Berlin Wall. The media and historians describe all of these as landmark moments; points in history when everything changed and things can be said to never be quite the same again after.
In our personal lives we have these type of watershed experiences too. Events take place that in some way change our lives forever. In my own life I think of the day I left school, the day I got married, giving birth to my daughter, the day my mum died and several more I could name.
The move from one year to another is way we mark changes. Sometimes the year will be very much the same as the last one but at the end of some years we can clearly see that major changes have occurred.
In international terms 2011 was described as one of these years which changed everything for ever. The Arab Spring and the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya and the ongoing civil war which it led to in Syria. As we enter 2012 we might know there is change coming but there will still be an element of uncertainty.
As we reflect this morning on some biblical watershed moments I want to pause and remind you that whatever 2012 holds God is with us. His Spirit is there to sustain us through whatever changes occurs, however great or small.
Turning now to the bible some of the examples of these watershed moments are the day Moses led the Jews out of Egypt, the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of the Pentecost, the conversion of Saul who became Paul and so I could go on.
These are all important events but I want to look at two events today which can be considered to make all these other great moments in personal life or history pale in comparison.
The first of these events was quite literally world changing; it is God’s creation of the world.
Now we don’t know how it happened exactly – it is something which scientists are still searching to explain as those of you who have been watching what has been happening with the Hadron Collider in Cerne will know. Scientists there are looking for the Higgs Boson which they describe as the God particle. What we do know about the creation is that however it happened God took what was before and changed it into something new – a world with day and night. He took something formless and empty and infused it with life.
Verse two of Genesis one tells us that the Spirit was present and that within this moment of change lay the deep mystery of God in all His unfathomable greatness.
God the father and God the Spirit were there and as the gospel of John tells us Jesus – God the son -was too. In Genesis we learn that all life, our very existence, flows from this moment of transformational change.
As in our lives when change happens the unexpected and disappointing can occur; mixed in with the beautiful, exciting and pleasing.
God created man with free will and the world has suffered as a result of mankind choosing to misuse this choice God gave him. Mankind choosing to do what he wanted and going against God’s way of doing things damaged that world which God had created perfect. It was this which meant Jesus had to come to earth, God in human form.
The Christmas story which we celebrated last month revolves around the watershed moment when Jesus was born, but in Mark chapter 1 and Matthew chapter 3 we read about another historical point of transformation.
Mark 1 verses 9 to 11 tells us how the world changed again, forever. It says, “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
It was in this moment that it became clear who Jesus was and what his purpose was. It is in this transformational moment of baptism that the gospel truly begins. It is within this baptism, when God the father, God the Spirit and God the Son come together that the rescue plan to put creation back together as it is intended begins. In this moment we discover that Jesus is the Son of God or as it would have been to Mark, the true King of Israel.
This watershed moment, no pun intended, is one where God the creator reveals that Jesus is his son. When heaven is torn open it is a moment which is highly symbolic. It is when God ends mans separation from him, which has resulted from the misuse of freewill which we referred to earlier and the beginning of a new connection and communication between heaven and earth.
In both this reading and our one in Genesis God the creator takes the situation as it was before and changes it into something more positive and life giving.
Particularly with the baptism of Jesus it is not the act itself which changes everything but the symbolism within it. The importance is in what it represents. This is just like alot of the transformational events I mentioned earlier. Yes, something happened with each one but their real importance lies in the way that they represent some kind of change from what went before.
But what does that all mean for us today? What is the relevance for our lives today, 2000 years after Jesus baptism and 14 million years after the God transformed the earth forever in that moment of transformation when earth began?
The importance is actually the same for us now as it was when they happened. Without them we would not have life. If God had not decided to create the earth with day and with night and with the atmosphere surrounding it we would not have life. However it actually happened the fact which these verses remind of us of is the planet we live on, the eco-system which gives us life, the world responsible for sustaining our lives would not exist.
I don’t know about you but however tired I am feeling and however much I am wondering why I need to come and worship sometimes reflecting on the wonder of that act of creation makes me stop and understand why. You might be somebody who is tired, who has given the church many years of service and to some extent you may be wondering why you have bothered. You might be thinking about how much you have given and be wondering why you have invested all of the time, money and emotion. You might be looking around the circuit at dwindling numbers in many congregations and wondering why we keep going? You might even be asking yourself whether it is time to call it a day and be one of the many who has just stopped bothering with church. Well, these verses give us the answer as to why – we keep going because we worship an amazing God without whom we would quite literally be nothing.
We, as Christians, know that God created our world and surely something that mindblowing alone should lead us into enthusiastic worship. We come here week on week not because duty deserves it, not because we were bought up to or because we want to meet our friends. We come to worship God – father, son and spirit who created this world and who quite literally gave us life.
Now I know it can be easy over time to lose sight of this and for coming to church to become routine but this morning and at this time of new year I want to encourage you to think about it afresh. I want to encourage you to see worship for what it should be rather than for what it has become if you are tired and feeling like you are ready to give up. I want to encourage you to see it as an opportunity to come and sing praises and share in prayers of thanks and adoration to an amazing God who is quite literally awesome. A God who cannot fit into the boxes week seek to put him in, a God whose greatness we see all around us, whenever we look up at the ever changing skys with clouds floating across them, with stars twinkling in them and with sun shining brightly.
But, you might be sitting there thinking that is all very good but why how can we truly worship God when we see so much suffering around us? Why should we worship this God when we see people dying, when we see people killing each other, when we see the marriages of people we care about breaking up around us, when we see pollution and when we see children dying because they don’t have enough to eat?
In answering that I want to begin by saying I cannot understand or explain alot of the suffering we see in our world. I sit watching tv and events like the tsunami in Japan last year or the earthquakes in New Zealand and I don’t know why they happen.
I have seen friends and relatives die of cancer, when they have never smoked and have lived healthy lifestyles. I have had to hold my crying daughter when she was told of the sudden and unexpected death of one of her 12 year old friends and I have had no answer as to why. I have had no answer to give when one of my friends facebooked me soon after her husbands death and asked why he was taken, leaving her without her husband and her two teenage children without a father. I have no answer to give as to why those things happen. All I know is that just as our hearts break and our tears flow when we see and hear of these things Gods heart breaks too. These things are not they cannot be his will.
But at other times I can explain the suffering. When I sit and watch the news and see stories such as the young Asian student killed at Christmas or the murders in Horden I know it is because of sin and mankind misusing the freewill which God gave us as a gift. When I see marriages break up because of adultery or because of selfish attitudes which fail to honour and serve the other person I know again it is because of the misuse of that freewill. Similarly with the starvation I see. I know it is because of greed and because of war. And I know whilst these things still occur God did something to change the world and make it more as he had originally intended when he created it.
He sent his own son Jesus, a man who was the beloved son of God the father, to be God in human form. God, in all his forms knew that the choice Jesus would be faced with. God knew Jesus would chose to die a painful and awful death for us on the cross. The baptism we heard about is a symbolic moment where this love of God is revealed to us.
It is a moment when Jesus’ true identity is revealed and we become aware that God sent his own son – who was there at that moment of creation into the world to redeem us and to ensure that the bad choices we all make can be forgiven. It is in this moment we too see that we are not destined to be separated from God forever, but rather through his immense love and grace we are able to be part of that perfect creation which God intended when it is realised when Jesus comes again.
Again this brings a new sense of awesomeness to worship. When we come to prayer and offer our prayers of confession and receive the assurance of forgiveness and reconciliation it is only possible through this coming of Jesus who was God’s beloved son.
When we come to worship it is to give our thanks and praise, our worship to this amazing and immense God, father, Son and Spirit who cares about us and our suffering enough to come in human form and face a cruel and awful death for us. It is this God who cares more than we will ever be able to understand who we bring our prayers of intercession to.
So this new year which may or may not contain one of those historic and transformational moments let us remember the importance and symbolism of those which God was involved in. And then let us come to worship to praise, worship, confess to and receive forgiveness from, and bring our prayers of concerns for others to this God who created the world and then sent his beloved son into that world to repair our relationship with him.
Let us take a moment to reflect in silence on that wonderful God and bring our personal prayers to him.
January 3, 2012 - Posted by tractorgirl - 0 Comments
It isn’t so abrupt in the diary – after all they are academic diaries designed to stop in August but filling in the calander it was clear….2012 currently is full until the summer and then just stops at the moment. Of course it won’t just stop – life will continue, but neither Third Party or me quite know where or when or in what manner. I will be based in MK – although whether that is full time or not I won’t know until either late January or mid Spring – depending on how the process develops. Third Party has about 6 possibilities at present (5 on the UCAS form and 1 or 2 others if that all goes awry)….that’s if she doesn’t end up in the wonderful world of clearing.
It is all very strange….we know change will happen and we know what this might involve but there are so many different ifs and buts going on it is all a bit strange to say the least.
In the meantime, though, we need to get through what we do know is in the diary. Third Party has various examinations coming up this month, a student conference to be heavily involved in via her job and I have work, preaching, various stuff to do with the candidating process going on including the district assessment panel, a 40th birthday and preperation for my viva. Not sure what time I’ll have for blogging in all that, we’ll have to wait and see. Whatever happens though it’s going to be an adventure.
January 1, 2012 - Posted by tractorgirl - 1 Comment
Just to say Happy 2012.