I've been reading about Christmas again. I have friends who write the most profound things - getting back into the hearts and minds of the people in the first Christmas story. Some have suggested that we need to remove all the glossy stuff - tinsel and gifts. Others are already feeling disappointed because Christmas does not feel the same as it used to. For my children (now really adults) living in NZ seems to have taken the shine off it all. For them Christmas in Africa was better - warmer (in spirit) and more connected (to friends and family).
For me, Christmas tears me in two. My niece is about to have her first child - sometime after Christmas, making me almost a great uncle and my sister an almost Grandmother. How often have I not looked at available flights - really wanting to be in South Africa with them at this time. Family is at the heart of it all. My family - immediate family - are feeling the usual disconnection here. Sheilagh's family is in three countries, and all our families have to face the challenge and struggle of trying to bring in justice and mercy into our respective worlds. We all have to resist selfishness, and decisions made out of fear and craving for our own security. We all have to embrace the spirit of Christmas - the giving of ourselves to others with the given risk that we lose ourselves in the giving.
At Christmas so many suffer. My friend and colleague had to bury his fiancé on Monday - his Christmas is overwhelmed by surrender of her to the Lord, and the ongoing surrender of his life and the lives of his children to God's grace and mercy. Christ's death and surrender on the cross is the only way though the making sense of such loss. There is a life beyond the grave which he earned for us - we were bought with a price.
In all of this we have no home again - just tenants under the pressure from a landlord . We have finally found the house we would love to buy and wait to see whether some new door will open. Foxes have holes and birds have nests... (Matt 8:19-20).
Why does Christmas make me jittery? Is it my inability each year to grasp the depths of this truth - this incarnational mystery of the God-person? Is it the fact of being foreigners on a distant island that is a chilling reminder that the God-person of Bethlehem became a refugee in Africa, with a lunatic king trying to perform an infant genocide?
Is it the world's manifest indifference towards the truth of this event that nags away in my heart? - if only I could get people to worship the Christ child gain.
Perhaps it is my my own loss - that tearing of those parts within that only those who have died a death ever understand. Mack, in "The Shack" by William P Young speaks of The Great Sadness. As I read this book I am faced with the gnawing suspicion that I have my Shack to visit too.
If you are still reading this you probably have scratched your head in bewilderment - wondering if I have lost the plot entirely. "Keep it simple, preacher man" I hear them say. It's just pre-Christmas jitters. If you don't get them, then don't fuss too much.
The impact of the Advent of Jesus Christ is another matter altogether. Have you felt the power of that impact? It's no steamroller - not a tsunami - perhaps impact is not the right word at all. Perhaps a warm flood....
Tuesday 16 December 2008
Sunday 12 October 2008
Sunday Sermon at St John's
Sunday 12th October 2008 ST JOHNS CHURCH 10.00am
2Sa 22:17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
2Sa 22:18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
2Sa 22:19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.
2Sa 22:20 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
2Sa 22:21 "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
2Sa 22:22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God.
2Sa 22:23 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
2Sa 22:24 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
2Sa 22:25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
2Sa 22:26 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
2Sa 22:27 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
2Sa 22:28 You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
2Sa 22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
Mat 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
MESSAGE
I love the dark. Especially out in the African sky – in what we call the GAMADOOLAS – back of beyond – the sticks. When you look up at night – when it’s really dark – the stars are just amazing, Wonderful.
The problem is that by the time the light of those stars reaches us – we can’t be sure that the stars are actually still there. If the closest star is 38,000,000,000,000 kilometres away, then what we see has come a long way over many years! It still gives us great joy to look at the stars – even little children sing about them!
TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
How I wonder what you are
OR
He made the stars to shine (twinkle twinkle)
He made the rolling sea (roll roll)
He made the mountains high (so high)
And he made me (and he made you)
And this is why I love him
For me he bled and died
The Lord of all creation
Became the crucified!
Other songs; This little light of mine. I’m going to let it shine – which we sang just now = speak of the light! Light is a wonderful thing! It dispels darkness! It shows the way. It calms us when we are afraid! It steadies our nerves.
A candle – was the subject of Jesus’ teaching in the Semon on the mount. An insignificant thing really. Not something that lasts either. It burns away.
The point is simple – the effective candle is the one that is put on a candlestick – so that it gives light to the house. That’s what candles are made for! They achieve their purpose when people are blessed – where they benefit from the light.
The Old Testament reading is a psalm of David buried in the second book of Samuel – pretty much the same as Psalm 18. What I like about this is that there is another angle to the lamp/light/candle image here.
2Sa 22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
We often think of ourselves FIRST as the light that has to shine.It is GOD who is the lamp here – David states quite clearly: “you are my lamp o Lord. You turn my darkness into light”.
The Presbyterian metrical Psalm of Psalm 18 has this:
The Lord will light my candle so,
that it shall shine full bright:
The Lord my God will also make
my darkness to be light.
The movement from DARKNESS to LIGHT is a picture of what happens when we become a Christian. Its not an unfamiliar image – we’ve heard people testify that they have “seen the light”.
Peter puts it this way:
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Paul puts it this way:
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
And of course these words of Jesus:
Joh 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
What do we do with this?
It’s simple really. If we are to be the light we have to be in the light! We have to have the light of Christ in us. It’s our point of difference.
We should be concerned about the light of love shining in people’s lives in this community.
But most of all, we should want them to experience the light of Christ!
We should be concerned for justice for all – for the homeless and needy – for those who are hungry.
But we should also be concerned that those people discover the power of Christ in THEIR lives.
IN SHORT
The good news of what it means to have Christ in our lives motivates all that we do.
Whether we are concerned for ecology, global warming issues, or the use of toxic chemicals on our sports fields and parks where our children play –
WE NEED TO OFFER CHRIST AS THE WORD OF LIFE – the light of the world – who gives people direction and the right path to travel.
Paul puts it this way in Philippians
Do everything without complaining or arguing, Php 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe Php 2:16 as you hold out the word of life.
We live in a society that is no different from that of Jesus’ day or Paul’s day. People have the same human needs – social and community needs – but the truth is that they are still struggling in the dark. Domestic violence is on the increase – or it is reported more – but it doesn’t go away. Neither does poverty.
And we have a light that should shine – we should make an impact on the community – the people we see – the people we work with – and the people who walk past this building.
The SYMBOLIC presence of the church stands for something. This church is known for its presence – its history in the city – and its signage. We had a church in Africa where lit banners on street lamps had a series of pictures of teens with interesting body piercing – and it ended with a message about JESUS – he too had his body pierced – on the cross.
Apart from our physical plant and its presence
OUR PRESENCE – as the LIVING BODY OF CHRIST - has to stand for something too. In fact it is the more important thing.
Research indicates that 90% of new people come to a church for the first time in response to personal invitations from family and friends. Only 2 % because of the preacher. But the ministry of preaching and teaching – the fellowship – and the community – will keep them there.
Here’s what may be happening:
We may be candles – but I suspect that we are under bushels. It’s almost a secret thing – our faith.
· We don’t share it
· We are terrified by the idea of inviting people to church
· We seldom really sit and talk about it
What we need is for the light of Jesus to burn in US – so brightly – that people will be drawn to the light like moths! Except they won’t be burned alive – they will be enlivened – filled with new energy. Revived – given new life – to pray, worship, love, speak boldly.
The church really grew not because of fancy buildings – or great plans – but because of a passion of a group of people who new how much God loved the world – that they went out to change it.
You’re going to hear promises galore in the next weeks – from American and New Zealand politicians. We are already! They’ll all promise to change things! And we need good leaders to change things!
The light that burns in us performs the deepest and most profound change – of our hearts and minds. Jesus – the light of the world!
The early church was crazy about the message – of Jesus and the resurrection.
They taught that the same spirit which raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us- bringing life and renewal.
Healing
Restoration
Forgiveness
Peace in times of trouble
Guidance
Provision
Driving out the darkness! - a story from Judaism
The pupils of a Hasidic rabbi approached their spiritual leader with a
complaint about the prevalence of evil in the world. Intent upon driving out
the forces of darkness, they requested the rabbi to counsel them.
The rabbi suggested that they take brooms and attempt to sweep the darkness
from a cellar. The bewildered disciples applied themselves to sweeping out
darkness, but to no avail. The rabbi then advised his followers to take
sticks and to beat vigorously at the darkness to drive out the evil. When
this likewise failed, he counseled them to go down again into the cellar and
protest against the darkness by shouting at it. When this, too, failed, he
said, "My children, let each of you meet the challenge of darkness by
lighting a candle."
The disciples descended to the cellar and kindled their lights. They looked,
and behold! the darkness had been driven out.
Let's keep singing - “This little light of mine - I’m going to let it shine”
2Sa 22:17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
2Sa 22:18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
2Sa 22:19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.
2Sa 22:20 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
2Sa 22:21 "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
2Sa 22:22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God.
2Sa 22:23 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
2Sa 22:24 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
2Sa 22:25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
2Sa 22:26 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
2Sa 22:27 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
2Sa 22:28 You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
2Sa 22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
Mat 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
MESSAGE
I love the dark. Especially out in the African sky – in what we call the GAMADOOLAS – back of beyond – the sticks. When you look up at night – when it’s really dark – the stars are just amazing, Wonderful.
The problem is that by the time the light of those stars reaches us – we can’t be sure that the stars are actually still there. If the closest star is 38,000,000,000,000 kilometres away, then what we see has come a long way over many years! It still gives us great joy to look at the stars – even little children sing about them!
TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
How I wonder what you are
OR
He made the stars to shine (twinkle twinkle)
He made the rolling sea (roll roll)
He made the mountains high (so high)
And he made me (and he made you)
And this is why I love him
For me he bled and died
The Lord of all creation
Became the crucified!
Other songs; This little light of mine. I’m going to let it shine – which we sang just now = speak of the light! Light is a wonderful thing! It dispels darkness! It shows the way. It calms us when we are afraid! It steadies our nerves.
A candle – was the subject of Jesus’ teaching in the Semon on the mount. An insignificant thing really. Not something that lasts either. It burns away.
The point is simple – the effective candle is the one that is put on a candlestick – so that it gives light to the house. That’s what candles are made for! They achieve their purpose when people are blessed – where they benefit from the light.
The Old Testament reading is a psalm of David buried in the second book of Samuel – pretty much the same as Psalm 18. What I like about this is that there is another angle to the lamp/light/candle image here.
2Sa 22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
We often think of ourselves FIRST as the light that has to shine.It is GOD who is the lamp here – David states quite clearly: “you are my lamp o Lord. You turn my darkness into light”.
The Presbyterian metrical Psalm of Psalm 18 has this:
The Lord will light my candle so,
that it shall shine full bright:
The Lord my God will also make
my darkness to be light.
The movement from DARKNESS to LIGHT is a picture of what happens when we become a Christian. Its not an unfamiliar image – we’ve heard people testify that they have “seen the light”.
Peter puts it this way:
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Paul puts it this way:
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
And of course these words of Jesus:
Joh 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
What do we do with this?
It’s simple really. If we are to be the light we have to be in the light! We have to have the light of Christ in us. It’s our point of difference.
We should be concerned about the light of love shining in people’s lives in this community.
But most of all, we should want them to experience the light of Christ!
We should be concerned for justice for all – for the homeless and needy – for those who are hungry.
But we should also be concerned that those people discover the power of Christ in THEIR lives.
IN SHORT
The good news of what it means to have Christ in our lives motivates all that we do.
Whether we are concerned for ecology, global warming issues, or the use of toxic chemicals on our sports fields and parks where our children play –
WE NEED TO OFFER CHRIST AS THE WORD OF LIFE – the light of the world – who gives people direction and the right path to travel.
Paul puts it this way in Philippians
Do everything without complaining or arguing, Php 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe Php 2:16 as you hold out the word of life.
We live in a society that is no different from that of Jesus’ day or Paul’s day. People have the same human needs – social and community needs – but the truth is that they are still struggling in the dark. Domestic violence is on the increase – or it is reported more – but it doesn’t go away. Neither does poverty.
And we have a light that should shine – we should make an impact on the community – the people we see – the people we work with – and the people who walk past this building.
The SYMBOLIC presence of the church stands for something. This church is known for its presence – its history in the city – and its signage. We had a church in Africa where lit banners on street lamps had a series of pictures of teens with interesting body piercing – and it ended with a message about JESUS – he too had his body pierced – on the cross.
Apart from our physical plant and its presence
OUR PRESENCE – as the LIVING BODY OF CHRIST - has to stand for something too. In fact it is the more important thing.
Research indicates that 90% of new people come to a church for the first time in response to personal invitations from family and friends. Only 2 % because of the preacher. But the ministry of preaching and teaching – the fellowship – and the community – will keep them there.
Here’s what may be happening:
We may be candles – but I suspect that we are under bushels. It’s almost a secret thing – our faith.
· We don’t share it
· We are terrified by the idea of inviting people to church
· We seldom really sit and talk about it
What we need is for the light of Jesus to burn in US – so brightly – that people will be drawn to the light like moths! Except they won’t be burned alive – they will be enlivened – filled with new energy. Revived – given new life – to pray, worship, love, speak boldly.
The church really grew not because of fancy buildings – or great plans – but because of a passion of a group of people who new how much God loved the world – that they went out to change it.
You’re going to hear promises galore in the next weeks – from American and New Zealand politicians. We are already! They’ll all promise to change things! And we need good leaders to change things!
The light that burns in us performs the deepest and most profound change – of our hearts and minds. Jesus – the light of the world!
The early church was crazy about the message – of Jesus and the resurrection.
They taught that the same spirit which raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us- bringing life and renewal.
Healing
Restoration
Forgiveness
Peace in times of trouble
Guidance
Provision
Driving out the darkness! - a story from Judaism
The pupils of a Hasidic rabbi approached their spiritual leader with a
complaint about the prevalence of evil in the world. Intent upon driving out
the forces of darkness, they requested the rabbi to counsel them.
The rabbi suggested that they take brooms and attempt to sweep the darkness
from a cellar. The bewildered disciples applied themselves to sweeping out
darkness, but to no avail. The rabbi then advised his followers to take
sticks and to beat vigorously at the darkness to drive out the evil. When
this likewise failed, he counseled them to go down again into the cellar and
protest against the darkness by shouting at it. When this, too, failed, he
said, "My children, let each of you meet the challenge of darkness by
lighting a candle."
The disciples descended to the cellar and kindled their lights. They looked,
and behold! the darkness had been driven out.
Let's keep singing - “This little light of mine - I’m going to let it shine”
Wednesday 8 October 2008
Back to school
True to form, I am beginning to unwind just as the school holidays draw to a close. Always predictable and on target - it takes 10 days to really relax. When asked what I did in the holidays, I am seldom able to really recall. This recall thing is either drug related (all prescription of course) or an age factor (yes, yes I am approaching 50). So what has really moved me?
An art exhibition. The Rita Angus exhibition at Te Papa was awesome. I have little genuine appreciation for art, never having really been able to create much with pen or brush. This work moved me - ok I did not show the tears but it was profound in this sense - this was the deepest creativity of a woman ahead of her time. What can I say - a glimpse into the soul (looking into her eyes) and also looking through her eyes - the lens of shape and form, curious colours and wonderful vistas.
Enough of that. The exhibition is over and so was her life some decades back. Yet she lives and speaks. Abel too still speaks - the victim of a horrible fratricide. Millions of dead still speak - but how bad we are at listening. Will I still speak? Are people really listening while I live? When I cease to speak?
What else moved me this week? Brahms' German Requiem. I have always loved the fourth movement. The whole thing is not a good requiem in the Catholic sense - it is not for the dead but a Blessing for those who mourn. So on 9th November I will hear it in Wellington - commemorating the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht on November 9, 1938. A Remembrance concert - including Boris Pigovat's Holocaust Requiem - he will be here from Israel for the concert.
O gosh, I am too easily moved. I have been for almost two years - finding myself weeping at the contradictions, the deep griefs, the dreadful capacity of powerful people who miss the point despite the greatness of their dreams.
Well there is this movie you could watch. Guess the poet:
Not for the proud man apart
From the raging moon I write
On these spindrift pages
Not for the towering dead
With their nightingales and psalms
But for the lovers, their arms
Round the griefs of the ages,
Who pay no praise or wages
Nor heed my craft or art.
Perhaps I am trying to put my arms around the griefs of the the ages. The task is just a little too big for me.
Yes it is "In My Craft Or Sullen Art". See the movie "The Edge of Love" - the actor playing the poet is Matthew Rhys. See the movie.
So what of back to school? Would that more would try to put their arms round the griefs of the ages. The cheerful energy and reckless abandon with which the young men face their dreams and avoid their tasks is both liberating and scary. This last stretch takes us through to Advent and - hopefully - a fresh celebration of the coming of the Light of Christ into the dreary fears of this choked world. The markets tumble - yet poor and desperate alike live day or hour to hour for simple gifts of love and food to nourish - and here we sit sharing words of colour and question - words travelling through the cyber-routes that criss-cross such pain and horror on this hectic globe.
Whatever you go back to each day - may you embrace the griefs and dance the joys.
An art exhibition. The Rita Angus exhibition at Te Papa was awesome. I have little genuine appreciation for art, never having really been able to create much with pen or brush. This work moved me - ok I did not show the tears but it was profound in this sense - this was the deepest creativity of a woman ahead of her time. What can I say - a glimpse into the soul (looking into her eyes) and also looking through her eyes - the lens of shape and form, curious colours and wonderful vistas.
Enough of that. The exhibition is over and so was her life some decades back. Yet she lives and speaks. Abel too still speaks - the victim of a horrible fratricide. Millions of dead still speak - but how bad we are at listening. Will I still speak? Are people really listening while I live? When I cease to speak?
What else moved me this week? Brahms' German Requiem. I have always loved the fourth movement. The whole thing is not a good requiem in the Catholic sense - it is not for the dead but a Blessing for those who mourn. So on 9th November I will hear it in Wellington - commemorating the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht on November 9, 1938. A Remembrance concert - including Boris Pigovat's Holocaust Requiem - he will be here from Israel for the concert.
O gosh, I am too easily moved. I have been for almost two years - finding myself weeping at the contradictions, the deep griefs, the dreadful capacity of powerful people who miss the point despite the greatness of their dreams.
Well there is this movie you could watch. Guess the poet:
Not for the proud man apart
From the raging moon I write
On these spindrift pages
Not for the towering dead
With their nightingales and psalms
But for the lovers, their arms
Round the griefs of the ages,
Who pay no praise or wages
Nor heed my craft or art.
Perhaps I am trying to put my arms around the griefs of the the ages. The task is just a little too big for me.
Yes it is "In My Craft Or Sullen Art". See the movie "The Edge of Love" - the actor playing the poet is Matthew Rhys. See the movie.
So what of back to school? Would that more would try to put their arms round the griefs of the ages. The cheerful energy and reckless abandon with which the young men face their dreams and avoid their tasks is both liberating and scary. This last stretch takes us through to Advent and - hopefully - a fresh celebration of the coming of the Light of Christ into the dreary fears of this choked world. The markets tumble - yet poor and desperate alike live day or hour to hour for simple gifts of love and food to nourish - and here we sit sharing words of colour and question - words travelling through the cyber-routes that criss-cross such pain and horror on this hectic globe.
Whatever you go back to each day - may you embrace the griefs and dance the joys.
Saturday 27 September 2008
Daylight Saved from today...
So I'm back from church and very pleased with myself and the congregation. We made it by 9.00am last week's time. We were officially there at 10.00am. Actually we were there at 9.10am last week's time. I religiously changed all the clocks except Sheilagh's watch - hence the tardiness. Oh - church does start at 10.00am here.
You could be forgiven for being confused by this outburst, but if you have never been in a country that puts its clocks forward or backwards at various times of the year, these things will make absolutely no sense. In short what matters is that Australia is 4 hours behind us now, while South Africa is now 1 hour ahead, although you have to switch from day to night or vice versa. Makes phone calls quite interesting.
Less confusing is this fact - that school has closed for the holidays. The Chaplain is always in an invidious position. The political situations determine what people hear in the sermons, even though I usually attempt simply to talk about what the Bible says, what it means, and how we should apply it to our lives. The fact that it does apply does not necessarily mean we are any worse than other schools. Sometimes we need to be more encouraging, at other times kinder, and every day grateful for the blessings we have. Like the average local church, the hearers tend to apply the message to everyone else except themselves.
On the home front, I am still praying that my children all find their direction and purpose in their respective lives. Chris is on the brink of a new job application process in a second interview phase. Not sure if that will make sense for you either. I pray that he finds the right job which will enable him to pursue his goals. David is a bit behind in that process but on the road. Roxanne is excelling at Art at school and has chosen her subjects for Level 2 - including Design and Painting. I am amazed at her creativity. She has exams next term to complete Level 1 NCEA (NZ year 11, Australian year 10, and South African who knows what- grade 10 I think).
Sheilagh is venturing into a new position in addition to her part-time library work. The local Baptist church has a centre called FAMILY SPACE and one of their programs starting next term is an aftercare centre. Sheilagh has been appointed as the Supervisor of this ministry. I guess you can call it a ministry. So there is much to be done in that department as things get started on 13th October.
My last two weeks have been quite hectic. The ski trip to the mountains was great fun, although I did not actually ski. Playing in the snow was fun enough. I found the stuff quite claustrophobic - perhaps because I was stuck on a mountain while it was actually snowing. The boys we took there were an interesting blend of internationals - some hours of Japanese singing on the way up and back proved entertaining.
The last weekend in Melbourne was dominated by the IB course called TOK (Theory of Knowledge). Met some fascinating people. Sheil went over the Tasman with me and the other 9 teachers from school, and enjoyed a three day tour including a proper bus trip up the coast to real touristy places. Melbourne is a lovely city, but sadly the wind there is more extreme in some ways than Wellington. The fact that there are more people living in the city than the whole of New Zealand is just another bit of trivia.
Since last writing to you, the South Africans in our number have a new President and cabinet, including, thankfully, a new health minister. Away with Dr Beetroot and Garlic. I'm not sure that New Zealand will manage to change prime ministers with such little obvious fuss. Our election is drawing near and most of us believe we need a change. Politics are rather messy here - too much personal muck dug up about people. I think we need more focus on policies. With the world economic melt down. more interest will be focused on the US. In a matter of time we will know the outcomes of all these things.
We are half way to that place when we will have the option of applying to become Kiwis. It takes 5 years of being permanent residents before you can do that. So two and a half years down the track what has changed for us? I guess we feel less like South Africans as such, but not more like Kiwis. I talk about being an African, which creates some confusion in those who make assumptions. We do feel like global citizens - a bit more connected with the wider world, even though we have never crossed the equator. Our Christian identity makes so much easier for us - we have this wonderful worldwide family. Maybe that's what we all need to work on - being people of integrity in living out our faith.
So as we enjoy the benefits of spring, the onset of summer, and the extra hour's daylight we have saved by fiddling with the clocks, may you feel the warmth of love and support you need from your family and friends. Community needs to work for it to be the added bonus of a safe place where people know and accept you as one of them. Perhaps that is the African thing that I can't shake off.
You could be forgiven for being confused by this outburst, but if you have never been in a country that puts its clocks forward or backwards at various times of the year, these things will make absolutely no sense. In short what matters is that Australia is 4 hours behind us now, while South Africa is now 1 hour ahead, although you have to switch from day to night or vice versa. Makes phone calls quite interesting.
Less confusing is this fact - that school has closed for the holidays. The Chaplain is always in an invidious position. The political situations determine what people hear in the sermons, even though I usually attempt simply to talk about what the Bible says, what it means, and how we should apply it to our lives. The fact that it does apply does not necessarily mean we are any worse than other schools. Sometimes we need to be more encouraging, at other times kinder, and every day grateful for the blessings we have. Like the average local church, the hearers tend to apply the message to everyone else except themselves.
On the home front, I am still praying that my children all find their direction and purpose in their respective lives. Chris is on the brink of a new job application process in a second interview phase. Not sure if that will make sense for you either. I pray that he finds the right job which will enable him to pursue his goals. David is a bit behind in that process but on the road. Roxanne is excelling at Art at school and has chosen her subjects for Level 2 - including Design and Painting. I am amazed at her creativity. She has exams next term to complete Level 1 NCEA (NZ year 11, Australian year 10, and South African who knows what- grade 10 I think).
Sheilagh is venturing into a new position in addition to her part-time library work. The local Baptist church has a centre called FAMILY SPACE and one of their programs starting next term is an aftercare centre. Sheilagh has been appointed as the Supervisor of this ministry. I guess you can call it a ministry. So there is much to be done in that department as things get started on 13th October.
My last two weeks have been quite hectic. The ski trip to the mountains was great fun, although I did not actually ski. Playing in the snow was fun enough. I found the stuff quite claustrophobic - perhaps because I was stuck on a mountain while it was actually snowing. The boys we took there were an interesting blend of internationals - some hours of Japanese singing on the way up and back proved entertaining.
The last weekend in Melbourne was dominated by the IB course called TOK (Theory of Knowledge). Met some fascinating people. Sheil went over the Tasman with me and the other 9 teachers from school, and enjoyed a three day tour including a proper bus trip up the coast to real touristy places. Melbourne is a lovely city, but sadly the wind there is more extreme in some ways than Wellington. The fact that there are more people living in the city than the whole of New Zealand is just another bit of trivia.
Since last writing to you, the South Africans in our number have a new President and cabinet, including, thankfully, a new health minister. Away with Dr Beetroot and Garlic. I'm not sure that New Zealand will manage to change prime ministers with such little obvious fuss. Our election is drawing near and most of us believe we need a change. Politics are rather messy here - too much personal muck dug up about people. I think we need more focus on policies. With the world economic melt down. more interest will be focused on the US. In a matter of time we will know the outcomes of all these things.
We are half way to that place when we will have the option of applying to become Kiwis. It takes 5 years of being permanent residents before you can do that. So two and a half years down the track what has changed for us? I guess we feel less like South Africans as such, but not more like Kiwis. I talk about being an African, which creates some confusion in those who make assumptions. We do feel like global citizens - a bit more connected with the wider world, even though we have never crossed the equator. Our Christian identity makes so much easier for us - we have this wonderful worldwide family. Maybe that's what we all need to work on - being people of integrity in living out our faith.
So as we enjoy the benefits of spring, the onset of summer, and the extra hour's daylight we have saved by fiddling with the clocks, may you feel the warmth of love and support you need from your family and friends. Community needs to work for it to be the added bonus of a safe place where people know and accept you as one of them. Perhaps that is the African thing that I can't shake off.
Wednesday 10 September 2008
Spring
We live in hope. As September approached I was really hopeful that the sun would shine on a more committed basis. I am reminded of our years in Rustenburg where a twiggy little fig tree would produce a green leaf just on time when Spring started. When summer comes we have daylight saving here - and the evenings are the sunny times with long walks on the beach.
Greetings from these wobbly islands. An earthquake of 5.9 in the Hawke's Bay sent bottles of lovely wine crashing on the floor in the supermarkets recently, reminding us of the fragility of things. There are some 15 000 quakes a year - a secret not revealed to us when we first considered moving here. Wellington, lying lazily on two fault lines, has the most amazing houses perched on the sides of hills. Auckland is more stable, but above average rainfall over the last three months has caused major land slips and large town house complexes are now at risk of slipping down the hill. As are other very nice houses. There is this story in the gospel of Matthew about houses on rock and sand, if I recall.
The steady things in our lives - work, children, food becoming more expensive, and the delight of a gas heater which can warm this icy house. All in all we can not complain, as we are blessed in so many ways. The winter ailments caught a number of people, especially young people.
The local political scene is hotting up as New Zealand approaches its next general election. The opposition is still ahead in the polls, but is losing ground. I suspect Labour may still sneak in as so many people will vote for the safety of its rather socialist system.
Our personal challenge is to present a relevant and consistent Christian witness in the community. School life is quite hectic, but there are regular sources of joy and celebration as we continue to try to make a difference through our presence there. We enjoyed a worship celebration recently - over two hours of worship and listening to Scripture, which was edifying and refreshing. Our neighbours invited us to their local church for that. Chapel services at school are not exactly the most riveting worship experiences - it takes a long time to get students to learn new songs!
Blessings and peace to you all. Do take care.
love
Robin
Greetings from these wobbly islands. An earthquake of 5.9 in the Hawke's Bay sent bottles of lovely wine crashing on the floor in the supermarkets recently, reminding us of the fragility of things. There are some 15 000 quakes a year - a secret not revealed to us when we first considered moving here. Wellington, lying lazily on two fault lines, has the most amazing houses perched on the sides of hills. Auckland is more stable, but above average rainfall over the last three months has caused major land slips and large town house complexes are now at risk of slipping down the hill. As are other very nice houses. There is this story in the gospel of Matthew about houses on rock and sand, if I recall.
The steady things in our lives - work, children, food becoming more expensive, and the delight of a gas heater which can warm this icy house. All in all we can not complain, as we are blessed in so many ways. The winter ailments caught a number of people, especially young people.
The local political scene is hotting up as New Zealand approaches its next general election. The opposition is still ahead in the polls, but is losing ground. I suspect Labour may still sneak in as so many people will vote for the safety of its rather socialist system.
Our personal challenge is to present a relevant and consistent Christian witness in the community. School life is quite hectic, but there are regular sources of joy and celebration as we continue to try to make a difference through our presence there. We enjoyed a worship celebration recently - over two hours of worship and listening to Scripture, which was edifying and refreshing. Our neighbours invited us to their local church for that. Chapel services at school are not exactly the most riveting worship experiences - it takes a long time to get students to learn new songs!
Blessings and peace to you all. Do take care.
love
Robin
Sunday 22 June 2008
June is flying along
Hello all
I had one email from a member of our email list checking that she had not been excommunicated from the cyberchurch! No - the good news is that we are all still alive and kicking, to use an old phrase. I have been busy and also sick for the last 3 weeks on and off.
The school term is three weeks from completion which is quite scary. Our 6 month stay in this house has grown to 10 months which is tricky seeing that we did not unpack things on account of the planned short stay. Ha Ha. So we will have winter here. The gas fire in the lounge keeps that part of the house warm while electric heaters are needed in all the other rooms. It is a pleasant reasonably priced rental with one son in the study and the other living in the dining room.
Will be visiting in Melbourne in September at an IB conference and Sheilagh will come with to shop in what is the Kiwi shopping destination of choice. She will enjoy what is a beautiful city. In the July hols we will visit Sydney. There are lovely destinations in Australia as a holiday place - time for a good break!
On a personal note I finished part 1 of the MA Tesol course and have asked for an interim Hons BA to be awarded in July. I will not make it to Pretoria for the graduation but after 5 years of study I am relieved that something concrete (paper...) will come of it. In the future I may well teach English in some exotic place.
Great news from South Africa is that my niece Joanne is pregnant. Well done Dene and Joanne! So I am due to be a great Uncle!! This is the first of that generation and the family is really delighted. The Gellings are all doing well in Johannesburg. Congrats to my sister Anne, her husband John , and sister Kerry as well.
Sheilagh's mum is in Heidelberg in Gauteng and planning to visit at some stage. Her dad and Rosemary are now in Tauranga with Jenny and Lionel. Di and Noel and their family in Brisbane are all excelling - Kelvin and Brigitte are doing very well at school, and Brett now lives on the Gold Coast and works as a financial advisor.
Back in Port Shepstone two of our dear old friends Betty Messina and Maddie McDouall have passed away after becoming very frail. We remember them fondly. The Presby church there is still limping along, aided by Stella Donald who has returned from the UK, thankfully. She is great in the office prodding away and keeping people looking forward.
So we approach our 3rd winter and I must say it isn't that intimidating. There was snow recently and the ski fields have opened I believe. No - I will not be propelling myself down any of those volcanoes. At school shortly we will have our first EARTHQUAKE drill. Drop, cover and hold is the simple way forward.I can imagine my year nines holding on to their desks on the floor with great glee and propelling them around the room while teacher braces in the doorway like Sampson of old. Actually one has to drop and brace... Let's pray that we don't ever get the big one that Wellington is expected to receive. We think of those tens of thousands dead in China - especially the kids in the classrooms. We remember the countless bereaved.
A cheerful thought - some jokes to make your June move along happily:
Teacher: Billy, name two pronouns. Billy: Who, me?
Teacher: Very good!
The child comes home from his first day at school.
Mother asks, "What did you learn today?"
The kid replies, "Not enough. I have to go back tomorrow."
The following notes from parents excusing their children
from attending school have been around a while but if you
haven't seen them, I'm sure you will get a kick out of them:
"Please excuse Freddie from being away yesterday because he had the fuel."
"Please accuse Michael from being absent on January 30 because he was aleing."
"George was absent yesterday because of a sore trout."
"Please excuse Betsey from being absent. She was sick and I had her shot."
"Joseph has been absent becuz he had two teeth taken off his face."
"My son is under doctor's care and should not take fisical education. Please execute him."
"Please excuse Ralph from school on Friday. He had very loose vowels."
Blessings and love
Robin
I had one email from a member of our email list checking that she had not been excommunicated from the cyberchurch! No - the good news is that we are all still alive and kicking, to use an old phrase. I have been busy and also sick for the last 3 weeks on and off.
The school term is three weeks from completion which is quite scary. Our 6 month stay in this house has grown to 10 months which is tricky seeing that we did not unpack things on account of the planned short stay. Ha Ha. So we will have winter here. The gas fire in the lounge keeps that part of the house warm while electric heaters are needed in all the other rooms. It is a pleasant reasonably priced rental with one son in the study and the other living in the dining room.
Will be visiting in Melbourne in September at an IB conference and Sheilagh will come with to shop in what is the Kiwi shopping destination of choice. She will enjoy what is a beautiful city. In the July hols we will visit Sydney. There are lovely destinations in Australia as a holiday place - time for a good break!
On a personal note I finished part 1 of the MA Tesol course and have asked for an interim Hons BA to be awarded in July. I will not make it to Pretoria for the graduation but after 5 years of study I am relieved that something concrete (paper...) will come of it. In the future I may well teach English in some exotic place.
Great news from South Africa is that my niece Joanne is pregnant. Well done Dene and Joanne! So I am due to be a great Uncle!! This is the first of that generation and the family is really delighted. The Gellings are all doing well in Johannesburg. Congrats to my sister Anne, her husband John , and sister Kerry as well.
Sheilagh's mum is in Heidelberg in Gauteng and planning to visit at some stage. Her dad and Rosemary are now in Tauranga with Jenny and Lionel. Di and Noel and their family in Brisbane are all excelling - Kelvin and Brigitte are doing very well at school, and Brett now lives on the Gold Coast and works as a financial advisor.
Back in Port Shepstone two of our dear old friends Betty Messina and Maddie McDouall have passed away after becoming very frail. We remember them fondly. The Presby church there is still limping along, aided by Stella Donald who has returned from the UK, thankfully. She is great in the office prodding away and keeping people looking forward.
So we approach our 3rd winter and I must say it isn't that intimidating. There was snow recently and the ski fields have opened I believe. No - I will not be propelling myself down any of those volcanoes. At school shortly we will have our first EARTHQUAKE drill. Drop, cover and hold is the simple way forward.I can imagine my year nines holding on to their desks on the floor with great glee and propelling them around the room while teacher braces in the doorway like Sampson of old. Actually one has to drop and brace... Let's pray that we don't ever get the big one that Wellington is expected to receive. We think of those tens of thousands dead in China - especially the kids in the classrooms. We remember the countless bereaved.
A cheerful thought - some jokes to make your June move along happily:
Teacher: Billy, name two pronouns. Billy: Who, me?
Teacher: Very good!
The child comes home from his first day at school.
Mother asks, "What did you learn today?"
The kid replies, "Not enough. I have to go back tomorrow."
The following notes from parents excusing their children
from attending school have been around a while but if you
haven't seen them, I'm sure you will get a kick out of them:
"Please excuse Freddie from being away yesterday because he had the fuel."
"Please accuse Michael from being absent on January 30 because he was aleing."
"George was absent yesterday because of a sore trout."
"Please excuse Betsey from being absent. She was sick and I had her shot."
"Joseph has been absent becuz he had two teeth taken off his face."
"My son is under doctor's care and should not take fisical education. Please execute him."
"Please excuse Ralph from school on Friday. He had very loose vowels."
Blessings and love
Robin
Friday 2 May 2008
May Day thoughts
Greetings from the islands (news from the Palmers in New Zealand - if you are new to this letter!)
It's the second of May down here - I guess by now it will be where you are too. May is a celebration of something or other - probably spring in the northern hemisphere. We are freezing already - the dreaded southerly came up today, with buckets of rain while we were up in Paraparaumu. Where is that, you may ask. Well it's past Porirua and Plimmerton, in fact past Paekakariki on the way to Palmerston North. All these Ps - there are more on state highway one out of the capital. We enjoyed the last day of our school holidays which, believe it or not, started with sun in the morning. I enjoyed coffee and a meeting with our Director of music at our favourite coffee shop called Carlton Cafe, a Greek institution in Kilbirnie. The drive up to Paraparaumu followed the winding contours of the rugged coastline and through some generic green rolling Kiwi hills with the mandatory sheep happily grazing. The road ends up hugging the side of a fairly sharp-edged bit of the island where the views back towards the city and towards Kapiti island were stunning as the sun shone with vigour over the ocean and created a silver yet warm reflection. Our destination - lunch with dear friends whom we met in Waipukurau in July 2006. Our lives changed so radically the following August that we never did get to have that promised lunch. Finally in May 2008!
Blair and Lorna Rogers are a wonderful couple, steady in faith and a real example of people who face change with a deep confidence that God remains their constant guide and companion. Blair is a retired Presbyterian minister, while Lorna his wife is an artist. Lorna is facing health challenges, and despite their challenges we were able to share special time with them. We prayed together before we left - a really good strengthening experience.
Leaving Paraparaumu we wandered back towards Wellington and stopped at the chocolate factory at Raumati Beach. Armed with Boysenberry and Kiwifruit chocs, a very pleasant journey home followed. Porirua was our next stop - a firm favourite as this was our first shopping destination on our arrival here in April 2006. The shopping centre is more multi-cultural than where we live on the Peninsula - the Maori, Asian and Pacific Island folk make for a nice blend of journeys. Crucial repairs to Robin's glasses, coffee at the Muffin Break, and a helpful winter purchase at Miller's all proved to be a significant end to the day. An acquisition of a selection of food from the Golden Chopstick for our enthusiastic sons at home settled the deal. Fighting heavy rain, we navigated a busy highway home to our freezing wooden house....
What a nice end to the holidays. We forgave the cat (the gender-neutral Alexis) who decided to eat a bird just inside the front door as a special surprise for us, and happily vacuumed the feathers. Roxanne had phoned in our absence and left a message from Shanghai airport to say they were about to board for Singapore. We haven't heard from her for 10 days and will be glad to have all the troops at home tomorrow afternoon. Christopher engaged the howling gale and buckets of water from above to bring the washing in - in a raincoat and sporting gloves. The kiwi way (of course you could just leave the washing there for a few days!).o
Through the week we have faced the challenge that school starts and back to work we have to go. A visit to Brooklyn's Penthouse cinema on Tuesday for a treat and a viewing of "The Bucket List" proved to be another worthwhile exercise in self-indulgence. Perhaps all of this is about our own bucket lists? Not really - just the enjoyment of the fascinating place where we live.
Monday morning begins at 9.00 with a College Chapel service. The theme - encouraging one another. Will put the message on the blog site on Monday. Nothing complex really - just the old choice of being there for others, or being a pain to others. Sheilagh has already been to work for a day to get familiar with the new computerised library system (the old one - in PCschools - was painful as is that program generally). She has made the huge conversion to living with computers at work. Brave lass. The term ahead is only 9 weeks, so it will fly. Winter sport begins - I have 75 students signed up for Badminton. Ten teams are signed up for the Wellington Sport Competition. Did I tell you that our new Bowls teams which started in March did really well? The B team were second in their pool. Not bad for newbies. Good coach hey!
Roxanne goes straight back to school Monday - David continues his job on reduced days ( a good move) while Chris awaits news from his interview. In the meantime - all in these holidays - I was asked to consider a return to Parish work. The answer to that process was a clear no. School work is where I am to be. The scary thing about the local churches in our Presbyterian family is that the spectrum of belief is very wide - stretching from post-Christian characters who have ditched the divinity of Jesus to fairly serious followers. Imagine a church with all of those - hardly possible to say anything without probably offending someone.
So it our third winter is on the way. It is on these days when we are grateful that we have gas heating in Miramar - despite the inflated costs that will arise. Out come the winter thermals and life goes on. For those on warmer shores - enjoy!
Monday of course is 5th May - Christopher's 21st! What a busy time. If you want to wish him happy birthday, email him on pyroghozt@gmail.com
Blessings and write soon
Robin and Sheilagh
It's the second of May down here - I guess by now it will be where you are too. May is a celebration of something or other - probably spring in the northern hemisphere. We are freezing already - the dreaded southerly came up today, with buckets of rain while we were up in Paraparaumu. Where is that, you may ask. Well it's past Porirua and Plimmerton, in fact past Paekakariki on the way to Palmerston North. All these Ps - there are more on state highway one out of the capital. We enjoyed the last day of our school holidays which, believe it or not, started with sun in the morning. I enjoyed coffee and a meeting with our Director of music at our favourite coffee shop called Carlton Cafe, a Greek institution in Kilbirnie. The drive up to Paraparaumu followed the winding contours of the rugged coastline and through some generic green rolling Kiwi hills with the mandatory sheep happily grazing. The road ends up hugging the side of a fairly sharp-edged bit of the island where the views back towards the city and towards Kapiti island were stunning as the sun shone with vigour over the ocean and created a silver yet warm reflection. Our destination - lunch with dear friends whom we met in Waipukurau in July 2006. Our lives changed so radically the following August that we never did get to have that promised lunch. Finally in May 2008!
Blair and Lorna Rogers are a wonderful couple, steady in faith and a real example of people who face change with a deep confidence that God remains their constant guide and companion. Blair is a retired Presbyterian minister, while Lorna his wife is an artist. Lorna is facing health challenges, and despite their challenges we were able to share special time with them. We prayed together before we left - a really good strengthening experience.
Leaving Paraparaumu we wandered back towards Wellington and stopped at the chocolate factory at Raumati Beach. Armed with Boysenberry and Kiwifruit chocs, a very pleasant journey home followed. Porirua was our next stop - a firm favourite as this was our first shopping destination on our arrival here in April 2006. The shopping centre is more multi-cultural than where we live on the Peninsula - the Maori, Asian and Pacific Island folk make for a nice blend of journeys. Crucial repairs to Robin's glasses, coffee at the Muffin Break, and a helpful winter purchase at Miller's all proved to be a significant end to the day. An acquisition of a selection of food from the Golden Chopstick for our enthusiastic sons at home settled the deal. Fighting heavy rain, we navigated a busy highway home to our freezing wooden house....
What a nice end to the holidays. We forgave the cat (the gender-neutral Alexis) who decided to eat a bird just inside the front door as a special surprise for us, and happily vacuumed the feathers. Roxanne had phoned in our absence and left a message from Shanghai airport to say they were about to board for Singapore. We haven't heard from her for 10 days and will be glad to have all the troops at home tomorrow afternoon. Christopher engaged the howling gale and buckets of water from above to bring the washing in - in a raincoat and sporting gloves. The kiwi way (of course you could just leave the washing there for a few days!).o
Through the week we have faced the challenge that school starts and back to work we have to go. A visit to Brooklyn's Penthouse cinema on Tuesday for a treat and a viewing of "The Bucket List" proved to be another worthwhile exercise in self-indulgence. Perhaps all of this is about our own bucket lists? Not really - just the enjoyment of the fascinating place where we live.
Monday morning begins at 9.00 with a College Chapel service. The theme - encouraging one another. Will put the message on the blog site on Monday. Nothing complex really - just the old choice of being there for others, or being a pain to others. Sheilagh has already been to work for a day to get familiar with the new computerised library system (the old one - in PCschools - was painful as is that program generally). She has made the huge conversion to living with computers at work. Brave lass. The term ahead is only 9 weeks, so it will fly. Winter sport begins - I have 75 students signed up for Badminton. Ten teams are signed up for the Wellington Sport Competition. Did I tell you that our new Bowls teams which started in March did really well? The B team were second in their pool. Not bad for newbies. Good coach hey!
Roxanne goes straight back to school Monday - David continues his job on reduced days ( a good move) while Chris awaits news from his interview. In the meantime - all in these holidays - I was asked to consider a return to Parish work. The answer to that process was a clear no. School work is where I am to be. The scary thing about the local churches in our Presbyterian family is that the spectrum of belief is very wide - stretching from post-Christian characters who have ditched the divinity of Jesus to fairly serious followers. Imagine a church with all of those - hardly possible to say anything without probably offending someone.
So it our third winter is on the way. It is on these days when we are grateful that we have gas heating in Miramar - despite the inflated costs that will arise. Out come the winter thermals and life goes on. For those on warmer shores - enjoy!
Monday of course is 5th May - Christopher's 21st! What a busy time. If you want to wish him happy birthday, email him on pyroghozt@gmail.com
Blessings and write soon
Robin and Sheilagh
Wednesday 30 April 2008
Ascension Day today! Yay!
ASCENSION DAY is by far more important than Christmas (where we recognise his coming in humility)
More important than Easter (where we see Him dying in indignity)
For here we see HIM GLORIFIED – HONOURED - exalted to the place of great authority – the right hand of the Majesty!
The write to the Hebrews spells it out: The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Here the church MISSES the very reason for it’s existence! How foolish we are – how our minds need to opened again! Here we think that we exist only for people.
But the Body as a whole – the Church corporate – EXISTS FOR THE WORSHIP OF THE EXALTED HEAD – THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The Westminster Confession (Short and Longer) sums it all up:
Question: What is the Chief End of Man? Answer: Man’s Chief End is to Glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
Question: What is the Chief and Highest End of Man? Answer: Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him for ever.
Worship – honouring God – glorifying God - Honouring God in praise and thanksgiving.
And out of our worship comes witness:
Honouring God in our WITNESSING – listen to His words again:
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
Worship – being in the presence of God – propels us out again into the workplace – the schools and colleges of education, the highways and byways of life – the aisles of the supermarkets and the smoky places of the night – the bridge rooms and the bowling greens, the cricket pitches and the crochet courts.
There we are to be witnesses. We are to tell. To preach! To teach! To declare! To share!
STORY:
St. Lawrence was martyred in 258 A.D. But we remember him, not for his martyrdom, but for his being Archdeacon of Rome. His responsibilities included maintaining the sacred vessels of the small, struggling church and distributing alms to the poor. While he was Archdeacon, the Governor of Rome took Pope Sextus captive and demanded, "Where is the treasure of the church?" The Pope would not tell, and they tortured him to death. He never did tell, but in his agony and pain, Pope Sextus somehow mentioned the name of Archdeacon Lawrence. They took Lawrence captive.
"Where is the treasure of the Church?" they demanded, threatening with the same fate that befell the Pope. Lawrence replied, "Governor, I cannot get it for you instantaneously; but if you give me three days, I will give you the treasure." The Governor agreed. Lawrence left. Three days later he walked into the Governor's courtyard followed by a great flood of people. The Governor walked out onto his balcony and said, "Where is the treasure of your church?"
Lawrence stepped forward, and pointed to the crowd that accompanied him -- the lame, the blind, the deaf, the nobodies of society -- and said, "Here are the treasures of the Christian church."
The riches of the Church are not its buildings, its treasures, its books. How often people think of the church as the grand buildings throughout the world, huge cathedrals and the like.
JUST PEOPLE – a variety of people - who WORSHIP and WITNESS
TO ILLUSTRATE: Do you know the difference between heaven and hell? I heard recently that . . .
Heaven is where the cooks are French, the police are English, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian, and everything is organized by the Swiss.
Hell is where the English are the cooks, the Germans are the police,
the French are the mechanics, the Swiss are the lovers, and everything is organized by the Italians.
The church is the place where people from all diverse tribes and nations are affirmed in their magnificent variety. The church is a community where people can be what they are, and do what they do best. We are blessed with many gifts and many gifted people in our churches.
BUT the one area that we need to grow in comes out of our relationship with the Exalted Christ – King of Kings and Lord of Lords: We need to grow in WORSHIP and WITNESS.
He is worthy of worship! And what He has done is worthy of PASSING ON – because it is GOOD NEWS for all people.
More important than Easter (where we see Him dying in indignity)
For here we see HIM GLORIFIED – HONOURED - exalted to the place of great authority – the right hand of the Majesty!
The write to the Hebrews spells it out: The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Here the church MISSES the very reason for it’s existence! How foolish we are – how our minds need to opened again! Here we think that we exist only for people.
But the Body as a whole – the Church corporate – EXISTS FOR THE WORSHIP OF THE EXALTED HEAD – THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The Westminster Confession (Short and Longer) sums it all up:
Question: What is the Chief End of Man? Answer: Man’s Chief End is to Glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
Question: What is the Chief and Highest End of Man? Answer: Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him for ever.
Worship – honouring God – glorifying God - Honouring God in praise and thanksgiving.
And out of our worship comes witness:
Honouring God in our WITNESSING – listen to His words again:
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
Worship – being in the presence of God – propels us out again into the workplace – the schools and colleges of education, the highways and byways of life – the aisles of the supermarkets and the smoky places of the night – the bridge rooms and the bowling greens, the cricket pitches and the crochet courts.
There we are to be witnesses. We are to tell. To preach! To teach! To declare! To share!
STORY:
St. Lawrence was martyred in 258 A.D. But we remember him, not for his martyrdom, but for his being Archdeacon of Rome. His responsibilities included maintaining the sacred vessels of the small, struggling church and distributing alms to the poor. While he was Archdeacon, the Governor of Rome took Pope Sextus captive and demanded, "Where is the treasure of the church?" The Pope would not tell, and they tortured him to death. He never did tell, but in his agony and pain, Pope Sextus somehow mentioned the name of Archdeacon Lawrence. They took Lawrence captive.
"Where is the treasure of the Church?" they demanded, threatening with the same fate that befell the Pope. Lawrence replied, "Governor, I cannot get it for you instantaneously; but if you give me three days, I will give you the treasure." The Governor agreed. Lawrence left. Three days later he walked into the Governor's courtyard followed by a great flood of people. The Governor walked out onto his balcony and said, "Where is the treasure of your church?"
Lawrence stepped forward, and pointed to the crowd that accompanied him -- the lame, the blind, the deaf, the nobodies of society -- and said, "Here are the treasures of the Christian church."
The riches of the Church are not its buildings, its treasures, its books. How often people think of the church as the grand buildings throughout the world, huge cathedrals and the like.
JUST PEOPLE – a variety of people - who WORSHIP and WITNESS
TO ILLUSTRATE: Do you know the difference between heaven and hell? I heard recently that . . .
Heaven is where the cooks are French, the police are English, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian, and everything is organized by the Swiss.
Hell is where the English are the cooks, the Germans are the police,
the French are the mechanics, the Swiss are the lovers, and everything is organized by the Italians.
The church is the place where people from all diverse tribes and nations are affirmed in their magnificent variety. The church is a community where people can be what they are, and do what they do best. We are blessed with many gifts and many gifted people in our churches.
BUT the one area that we need to grow in comes out of our relationship with the Exalted Christ – King of Kings and Lord of Lords: We need to grow in WORSHIP and WITNESS.
He is worthy of worship! And what He has done is worthy of PASSING ON – because it is GOOD NEWS for all people.
Friday 11 April 2008
When life is not smooth sailing
Chapel 11 April 2008 Secondary School
Jonah 1:1-4
Jon 1:1 A message from the LORD came to Jonah. He was the son of Amittai. The LORD said,
Jon 1:2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh. Preach against it. The sins of its people
have come to my attention."
Jon 1:3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD. He headed for Tarshish. So he went down to the port of Joppa. There he found a ship that was going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went on board. Then he sailed for Tarshish. He was running away from the LORD.
Jon 1:4 But the LORD sent a strong wind over the Mediterranean Sea. A wild storm came up. It was so wild that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.
Second Corinthians 11: 24-27
2Co 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
2Co 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
2Co 11:26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
2Co 11:27 I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
How has your term been? High performance? Are you a high performer? Are you an “achieved with excellence” person?
Do you have great exploits and conquests – do you win all the time?
There are some real dangers in the ethos of our school – because in our enthusiasm and sometimes our obsession with image, success, and achievement, we forget that there is a world out there of lots of failure, struggle and disaster.
And if failure and disaster never hits us, we probably never learn the skills required to cope in the real world. Something has to give eventually.
Ever been really hungry? Slept on the street? Been unemployed and walked the streets looking for work? Been thrown out by your parents, beaten, abused, and rejected? Ever faced murder of a friend, war that’s taken your family members away from you?
If you life has been a smooth road and a bed of roses, then you may well not be concerned by the 40 hour famine – the plight of others may not be your concern.
Or the beggar in the streets of the cities of the world.
Or the people who remember anniversaries of tragedies and deaths. Like the Wahine disaster.
I’m very nervous of ships really. We planned to go on the Oceanos some years back. A few weeks after visiting the ship at Durban harbour it sank off the wild coast. All 571 people onboard were saved. The weather was much kinder.
Then there was the Achille Lauro. It was high jacked by terrorists and later also sank after a fire. Cruise two cancelled.
The last ship we planned to sail on was arrested by the Sheriff of the City of Durban because its owners had not paid their bills.
I was pleased that my first Ferry ride to the South Island was on a calm day.
If your life is life a ferry ride on a calm day, then you may have some shocks coming your way. Listening to the stories of the survivors of the Wahine tragedy this week reminded me of the trauma of such events. Reflecting on the Anzac day history is a stark reminder of real failure.
What we need is resilience to cope with failures, and not just the buzz of each weekend’s highs and the endless accolades for our achievements.
An international resilience project indicated that the following challenges were experienced the most in students lives, in order of frequency:
· death of parents or grandparents
· divorce
· separation
· illness of parent or siblings
· poverty
· moving, family or friends
· accident causing personal injuries
· abuse, including sexual abuse
· abandonment
· suicide
· remarriage
· homelessness
· poor health and hospitalizations
· fires causing personal injury
· forced repatriation of family
· disabled family member
· parent's loss of a job or income
· murder of a family member
Parents report on these challenges:
· robberies
· war
· fire
· earthquake
· flood
· car accident
· adverse economic conditions
· illegal, refugee status
· migrant status
· property damage from storms, floods, cold
· political detention
· famine
· abuse by a non-relative
· murders in neighbourhood
· unstable government
· drought
And then I listen to conversations of children here at school who are always “annoyed” by some inconvenience, some responsibility, and some person who is a bit different and challenges their thinking. Someone tells them they have done wrong, and they wangle their way out of responsibility with such aplomb.
Life is not just high performance, fame and fortune! I apologise to you on behalf of your world. We have done you a disfavour by helping you want to win all the time.
The bulk of the world lacks the basics. They lose. Ask the people of Zimbabwe – especially the 4 million plus who have become refugees in the streets and cities of South Africa.
And how we grumble. Shame on us all.
In the readings today there were two characters in danger on the sea. One was Jonah – running away from his responsibilities that God had given him. There were reasons for the disaster that followed him. God was getting his attention.
Paul was the other – and we have a litany of disasters. Beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, bandits, hunger, cold and nakedness. Add in a couple of stints in jail like my fellow ministers in Zimbabwe and you get a most colourful life.
Some people’s tragedies and challenges are because of the tasks they take up. They have a calling or a mission - something outside of themselves. Others seem must more random and without obvious reason.
What really matters is how we choose to respond. Our ultimate freedom is the freedom not to give up, not to despair, not to not try again.
I will spare you the lecture about how you can redeem your time to study. That’s not my job.But I will suggest that you use your time to get out of this selfish world view we have and look at what is really happening out there.
Draw alongside someone who is in the midst of the muck – the excrement of life – and ask yourself if you have any reason to really complain.
Listen to the stories of immigrants – of those who have been abused – of those who lived through tragedy and disaster. Learn from their resilience.
Resilience is about overcoming adversity. Most people around the world understand the idea of overcoming adversity with courage, skills and faith.
You can sail through your education and make your millions, grab your stake of fame and fortune.
Or you could use your real tests in life – those tests of adversity – to grow into a better person, developing real strength of character.
You could grow your faith, in stead of being dismissive about the things of faith and paranoid about offending other people’s sensibilities.
The people who caught the Wahine on that 9th of April 1968 had no idea what would happen. The young men who went to war were excited about seeing the world. They saw blood and guts, and shattered bodies, and many saw the lights go out on their future.
Unaware. Unprepared.
May you sail your ship of life far more alert, far more wise, and filled with passion to make a difference even if you face the worst.
Amen.
Jonah 1:1-4
Jon 1:1 A message from the LORD came to Jonah. He was the son of Amittai. The LORD said,
Jon 1:2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh. Preach against it. The sins of its people
have come to my attention."
Jon 1:3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD. He headed for Tarshish. So he went down to the port of Joppa. There he found a ship that was going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went on board. Then he sailed for Tarshish. He was running away from the LORD.
Jon 1:4 But the LORD sent a strong wind over the Mediterranean Sea. A wild storm came up. It was so wild that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.
Second Corinthians 11: 24-27
2Co 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
2Co 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
2Co 11:26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
2Co 11:27 I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
How has your term been? High performance? Are you a high performer? Are you an “achieved with excellence” person?
Do you have great exploits and conquests – do you win all the time?
There are some real dangers in the ethos of our school – because in our enthusiasm and sometimes our obsession with image, success, and achievement, we forget that there is a world out there of lots of failure, struggle and disaster.
And if failure and disaster never hits us, we probably never learn the skills required to cope in the real world. Something has to give eventually.
Ever been really hungry? Slept on the street? Been unemployed and walked the streets looking for work? Been thrown out by your parents, beaten, abused, and rejected? Ever faced murder of a friend, war that’s taken your family members away from you?
If you life has been a smooth road and a bed of roses, then you may well not be concerned by the 40 hour famine – the plight of others may not be your concern.
Or the beggar in the streets of the cities of the world.
Or the people who remember anniversaries of tragedies and deaths. Like the Wahine disaster.
I’m very nervous of ships really. We planned to go on the Oceanos some years back. A few weeks after visiting the ship at Durban harbour it sank off the wild coast. All 571 people onboard were saved. The weather was much kinder.
Then there was the Achille Lauro. It was high jacked by terrorists and later also sank after a fire. Cruise two cancelled.
The last ship we planned to sail on was arrested by the Sheriff of the City of Durban because its owners had not paid their bills.
I was pleased that my first Ferry ride to the South Island was on a calm day.
If your life is life a ferry ride on a calm day, then you may have some shocks coming your way. Listening to the stories of the survivors of the Wahine tragedy this week reminded me of the trauma of such events. Reflecting on the Anzac day history is a stark reminder of real failure.
What we need is resilience to cope with failures, and not just the buzz of each weekend’s highs and the endless accolades for our achievements.
An international resilience project indicated that the following challenges were experienced the most in students lives, in order of frequency:
· death of parents or grandparents
· divorce
· separation
· illness of parent or siblings
· poverty
· moving, family or friends
· accident causing personal injuries
· abuse, including sexual abuse
· abandonment
· suicide
· remarriage
· homelessness
· poor health and hospitalizations
· fires causing personal injury
· forced repatriation of family
· disabled family member
· parent's loss of a job or income
· murder of a family member
Parents report on these challenges:
· robberies
· war
· fire
· earthquake
· flood
· car accident
· adverse economic conditions
· illegal, refugee status
· migrant status
· property damage from storms, floods, cold
· political detention
· famine
· abuse by a non-relative
· murders in neighbourhood
· unstable government
· drought
And then I listen to conversations of children here at school who are always “annoyed” by some inconvenience, some responsibility, and some person who is a bit different and challenges their thinking. Someone tells them they have done wrong, and they wangle their way out of responsibility with such aplomb.
Life is not just high performance, fame and fortune! I apologise to you on behalf of your world. We have done you a disfavour by helping you want to win all the time.
The bulk of the world lacks the basics. They lose. Ask the people of Zimbabwe – especially the 4 million plus who have become refugees in the streets and cities of South Africa.
And how we grumble. Shame on us all.
In the readings today there were two characters in danger on the sea. One was Jonah – running away from his responsibilities that God had given him. There were reasons for the disaster that followed him. God was getting his attention.
Paul was the other – and we have a litany of disasters. Beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, bandits, hunger, cold and nakedness. Add in a couple of stints in jail like my fellow ministers in Zimbabwe and you get a most colourful life.
Some people’s tragedies and challenges are because of the tasks they take up. They have a calling or a mission - something outside of themselves. Others seem must more random and without obvious reason.
What really matters is how we choose to respond. Our ultimate freedom is the freedom not to give up, not to despair, not to not try again.
I will spare you the lecture about how you can redeem your time to study. That’s not my job.But I will suggest that you use your time to get out of this selfish world view we have and look at what is really happening out there.
Draw alongside someone who is in the midst of the muck – the excrement of life – and ask yourself if you have any reason to really complain.
Listen to the stories of immigrants – of those who have been abused – of those who lived through tragedy and disaster. Learn from their resilience.
Resilience is about overcoming adversity. Most people around the world understand the idea of overcoming adversity with courage, skills and faith.
You can sail through your education and make your millions, grab your stake of fame and fortune.
Or you could use your real tests in life – those tests of adversity – to grow into a better person, developing real strength of character.
You could grow your faith, in stead of being dismissive about the things of faith and paranoid about offending other people’s sensibilities.
The people who caught the Wahine on that 9th of April 1968 had no idea what would happen. The young men who went to war were excited about seeing the world. They saw blood and guts, and shattered bodies, and many saw the lights go out on their future.
Unaware. Unprepared.
May you sail your ship of life far more alert, far more wise, and filled with passion to make a difference even if you face the worst.
Amen.
Saturday 5 April 2008
“Eyes opened and hearts burning”
“Eyes opened and hearts burning”
Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Luke 24:32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
In a small Catholic seminary, the dean asked a first year student to preach one day in chapel. This novice worked all night on a sermon, but still came up empty. At the appropriate time, he stood in the pulpit, looked out over his brothers and said “Do you know what I’m going to say?” They all shook their heads “no” and he said “neither do I, the service has ended, go in peace.”
Well, the dean was angry, and told the student, “You will preach again tomorrow, and you had better have a sermon.” Again, the novitiate stayed up all night, but still no sermon. When he stood in the pulpit, he asked “Do you know what I am going to say?” All the students nodded “yes” so the preacher said “Then there is no need for me to tell you. The service has ended, to in peace.”
Now, the dean was livid. “Son, you have one more chance. Preach the gospel tomorrow or you will be expelled from the seminary.” Again he worked all night, and the next morning stood before his classmates and asked “Do you know what I am going to say?” Half of them nodded “yes” while the other half shook their heads “no.” The novitiate said “Those who know, tell those who don’t know. The service has ended, go in peace.”
This time, the dean just smiled. He walked up to the novice preacher, put his arm around his shoulders and said “Hmmm…those who know, tell those who don’t know? Today, the gospel has been proclaimed. The service has ended, go in peace.”
Those who know, tell those who don’t know…
That is the gospel in a nutshell. The problem is that on the road to Emmaus it is Jesus who appears not to know, while the two disciples are the ones who do!
He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" (vv17-18)
There is this ironic twist. The disciples claim to be “in the know” and seem amazed by this stranger’s ignorance! The problem was that they only had half the story! They didn’t really grasp or believe the bit about the resurrection of Jesus. They were overwhelmed by his death.
When you pass on the news with only half the story, that’s more like gossip.
The stranger is the one who puts them right of course. It is Jesus who unpacks the whole story. It’s rather nice really. And the crunch comes when their eyes are opened in the breaking of the bread. They see.
And they acknowledge that their hearts were burning when he spoke to him and opened the Scriptures to them.
Eyes opened and hearts burning. It doesn’t matter what order that happens in really.
For John Wesley – it was after some years of religious discipline that his heart was “strangely warmed” – there was this inner experience or reality which arose really out of a searching and his leadership of what was called “The Holy Club”
Listen to this account:
In 1729 he joined with a small group of students at Lincoln College who met on Sunday evenings to talk about religious books and engage in prayer together. John became the natural leader of this group which expanded: it became known as 'The Holy Club', and they extended their activities to pastoral care including prison visiting.
John began to set down rules for himself. When dining in hall he would only drink one glass of wine or ale and he would never taste more than three dishes of food. For the Holy Club he laid emphasis on (1) the central importance of Holy Communion; (2) the responsibility of doing good to all, and (3) the importance of the written word for developing the faith.
On 24 May 1738, (frustrated and) depressed, he opened his bible at random and read ' Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.' Later that day he heard Luther's anthem 'Out of the Deep have I called unto thee, 0 Lord,' And during a society meeting in the evening, where Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans was being read, he records: 'while he was describing the change in the heart through faith in Christ I felt my heart strangely warmed ... I felt an assurance was given to me that He had taken away my sins ... and saved me from the law of sin and death.'
DIFFERENT JOURNEYS
There are different journeys. The Emmaus road was the journey that those two disciples took while pretty depressed too. They only knew half the story. The death of Jesus was the precursor to the real event that was to change the world – his resurrection!
Wesley’s journey was as a religious person – a missionary working in America – who read hundreds of books and tried to follow a religious life. His heart was warmed when he HEARD a reading from Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans.
I don’t think that the two disciples or Wesley were actually expecting such a revelation! They were in a bad space emotionally when it happened.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
When our eyes are opened and our hearts warmed, it all fits into place. Those who know tell those who don’t know – that the resurrection of Jesus changes things in a remarkable way. And there is no resurrection to share with others without the amazing story of Jesus’ death.
It’s that death and resurrection that we remember at the table. We do this in remembrance of Him. We partake in His life! We accept the privilege of his grace – forgiveness, and the promise of new life. AND we enjoy the power of the resurrection NOW. The same Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead lives in us! Our lives are transformed now!
LET’S TALK ABOUT THESE PEOPLE FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW: They are standing there with downcast faces. Gloomy. In the darkness of loss and depression. And there is John’s Wesley – depressed after all his religious discipline and his missionary years. Jesus is the one who opens our eyes to the whole truth – and warms our hearts. His light shines.
Those who know tell those who don’t know. Sometimes we’re like those who have forgotten. The gloom of our lives has blocked out the light of the Son of God who shines in our hearts.
I’ve been there. Some of my darkest days have been in the past two years. It has been impossible to claw back – except for the grace and love and warmth of God. May our eyes be opened and our hearts burn within us – may there be a quickening of our spirits as we remember again the whole story.
Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Luke 24:32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
In a small Catholic seminary, the dean asked a first year student to preach one day in chapel. This novice worked all night on a sermon, but still came up empty. At the appropriate time, he stood in the pulpit, looked out over his brothers and said “Do you know what I’m going to say?” They all shook their heads “no” and he said “neither do I, the service has ended, go in peace.”
Well, the dean was angry, and told the student, “You will preach again tomorrow, and you had better have a sermon.” Again, the novitiate stayed up all night, but still no sermon. When he stood in the pulpit, he asked “Do you know what I am going to say?” All the students nodded “yes” so the preacher said “Then there is no need for me to tell you. The service has ended, to in peace.”
Now, the dean was livid. “Son, you have one more chance. Preach the gospel tomorrow or you will be expelled from the seminary.” Again he worked all night, and the next morning stood before his classmates and asked “Do you know what I am going to say?” Half of them nodded “yes” while the other half shook their heads “no.” The novitiate said “Those who know, tell those who don’t know. The service has ended, go in peace.”
This time, the dean just smiled. He walked up to the novice preacher, put his arm around his shoulders and said “Hmmm…those who know, tell those who don’t know? Today, the gospel has been proclaimed. The service has ended, go in peace.”
Those who know, tell those who don’t know…
That is the gospel in a nutshell. The problem is that on the road to Emmaus it is Jesus who appears not to know, while the two disciples are the ones who do!
He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" (vv17-18)
There is this ironic twist. The disciples claim to be “in the know” and seem amazed by this stranger’s ignorance! The problem was that they only had half the story! They didn’t really grasp or believe the bit about the resurrection of Jesus. They were overwhelmed by his death.
When you pass on the news with only half the story, that’s more like gossip.
The stranger is the one who puts them right of course. It is Jesus who unpacks the whole story. It’s rather nice really. And the crunch comes when their eyes are opened in the breaking of the bread. They see.
And they acknowledge that their hearts were burning when he spoke to him and opened the Scriptures to them.
Eyes opened and hearts burning. It doesn’t matter what order that happens in really.
For John Wesley – it was after some years of religious discipline that his heart was “strangely warmed” – there was this inner experience or reality which arose really out of a searching and his leadership of what was called “The Holy Club”
Listen to this account:
In 1729 he joined with a small group of students at Lincoln College who met on Sunday evenings to talk about religious books and engage in prayer together. John became the natural leader of this group which expanded: it became known as 'The Holy Club', and they extended their activities to pastoral care including prison visiting.
John began to set down rules for himself. When dining in hall he would only drink one glass of wine or ale and he would never taste more than three dishes of food. For the Holy Club he laid emphasis on (1) the central importance of Holy Communion; (2) the responsibility of doing good to all, and (3) the importance of the written word for developing the faith.
On 24 May 1738, (frustrated and) depressed, he opened his bible at random and read ' Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.' Later that day he heard Luther's anthem 'Out of the Deep have I called unto thee, 0 Lord,' And during a society meeting in the evening, where Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans was being read, he records: 'while he was describing the change in the heart through faith in Christ I felt my heart strangely warmed ... I felt an assurance was given to me that He had taken away my sins ... and saved me from the law of sin and death.'
DIFFERENT JOURNEYS
There are different journeys. The Emmaus road was the journey that those two disciples took while pretty depressed too. They only knew half the story. The death of Jesus was the precursor to the real event that was to change the world – his resurrection!
Wesley’s journey was as a religious person – a missionary working in America – who read hundreds of books and tried to follow a religious life. His heart was warmed when he HEARD a reading from Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans.
I don’t think that the two disciples or Wesley were actually expecting such a revelation! They were in a bad space emotionally when it happened.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
When our eyes are opened and our hearts warmed, it all fits into place. Those who know tell those who don’t know – that the resurrection of Jesus changes things in a remarkable way. And there is no resurrection to share with others without the amazing story of Jesus’ death.
It’s that death and resurrection that we remember at the table. We do this in remembrance of Him. We partake in His life! We accept the privilege of his grace – forgiveness, and the promise of new life. AND we enjoy the power of the resurrection NOW. The same Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead lives in us! Our lives are transformed now!
LET’S TALK ABOUT THESE PEOPLE FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW: They are standing there with downcast faces. Gloomy. In the darkness of loss and depression. And there is John’s Wesley – depressed after all his religious discipline and his missionary years. Jesus is the one who opens our eyes to the whole truth – and warms our hearts. His light shines.
Those who know tell those who don’t know. Sometimes we’re like those who have forgotten. The gloom of our lives has blocked out the light of the Son of God who shines in our hearts.
I’ve been there. Some of my darkest days have been in the past two years. It has been impossible to claw back – except for the grace and love and warmth of God. May our eyes be opened and our hearts burn within us – may there be a quickening of our spirits as we remember again the whole story.
Tuesday 1 April 2008
7 STEPS TO TRUST-BASED LEADERSHIP
This comes from Charles Gordon, an amazing man and mentor from the 1970s. He still writes and publishes, and has a great leadership email list. The subscription details are below. Enjoy.
7 STEPS TO TRUST-BASED LEADERSHIP
"A trust-based culture is the best way to bring out the best in people," say Diane Tracy and William J. Morin. After years of coaching and consulting to and for top leaders, the authors share their observations in the book Truth, Trust, and the Bottom Line. There they detail how to build the kind of trusting relationships that achieve world-class performance using seven powerful steps. Here's an outline:
Step 1: Seek the truth. Gather facts, objectively observe, and assess each person. When you get to know your people and observe their performance, you empower yourself to give them the kind of feedback which improves performance and builds trust.
Step 2: Give feedback. Tell them what you see, think, and feel in the spirit of support. When you tell people the truth about their performance and where they stand, you relieve them of the pain of ambiguity which, in turn, builds trust between you.
Step 3: Create a vision and plan. Develop a vision of their "best" and a plan for getting there. When you help people see what they can be and provide them with a map for getting there, they trust you because you have their interests at heart.
Step 4: Break through resistance. Work with their defenses until they can see and embrace the truth. When you stick with people until they feel safe enough to admit and own their weaknesses, you empower them to create positive change in their lives and careers, which builds trust.
Step 5: Observe and mirror. Continue to observe and mirror them with objectivity and compassion. When you consistently observe people objectively and tell them what you see, you keep the lines of communication open, which builds trust.
Step 6: Teach and guide. Help them learn. Stay focused on objectives. When you teach people, you let them know they are worth investing time in, which helps to win their trust.
Step 7: Recognize, celebrate, and reinforce. Look for improvements and opportunities to celebrate. When you recognize and celebrate a person's success, it tells him you see him as more than a means to getting the job done. It says you value him as a person, which builds trust.
PS
One motivation is worth ten threats, two pressures and six reminders.
Paul Sweeney
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7 STEPS TO TRUST-BASED LEADERSHIP
"A trust-based culture is the best way to bring out the best in people," say Diane Tracy and William J. Morin. After years of coaching and consulting to and for top leaders, the authors share their observations in the book Truth, Trust, and the Bottom Line. There they detail how to build the kind of trusting relationships that achieve world-class performance using seven powerful steps. Here's an outline:
Step 1: Seek the truth. Gather facts, objectively observe, and assess each person. When you get to know your people and observe their performance, you empower yourself to give them the kind of feedback which improves performance and builds trust.
Step 2: Give feedback. Tell them what you see, think, and feel in the spirit of support. When you tell people the truth about their performance and where they stand, you relieve them of the pain of ambiguity which, in turn, builds trust between you.
Step 3: Create a vision and plan. Develop a vision of their "best" and a plan for getting there. When you help people see what they can be and provide them with a map for getting there, they trust you because you have their interests at heart.
Step 4: Break through resistance. Work with their defenses until they can see and embrace the truth. When you stick with people until they feel safe enough to admit and own their weaknesses, you empower them to create positive change in their lives and careers, which builds trust.
Step 5: Observe and mirror. Continue to observe and mirror them with objectivity and compassion. When you consistently observe people objectively and tell them what you see, you keep the lines of communication open, which builds trust.
Step 6: Teach and guide. Help them learn. Stay focused on objectives. When you teach people, you let them know they are worth investing time in, which helps to win their trust.
Step 7: Recognize, celebrate, and reinforce. Look for improvements and opportunities to celebrate. When you recognize and celebrate a person's success, it tells him you see him as more than a means to getting the job done. It says you value him as a person, which builds trust.
PS
One motivation is worth ten threats, two pressures and six reminders.
Paul Sweeney
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April Showers
Hello and greetings from New Zealand! (Written on 31st March 2008)
April is just around the corner. So to avoid any April fool's jokes I have decided to write a preemptive mail. Seriously.
The summer here has been long and pleasant. I suppose it was pretty much the same in our first year, although we only caught the tail end of it. Tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of our arrival. Our second summer seemed to be followed by an early and severe winter. Mind you, we were living in a house that had extra ventilation between the windows and their frames. We found the multitudes of advertisement material in our letter box very handy for plugging up some of those windows. Hopefully this winter will be ok! If we move back to our previous house in time with its lovely ducted heating.
Housing is a depressing thing here in New Zealand. An article today indicated that on an income of $120K a couple without children could barely pay off a house of $375K as the repayments were $900 a week. All the other utilities and food are pricey too. Despite insistence from some we can not buy a house either. The closest thing to suitable for us at this phase of life was $450K. So we are content of being sojourners. I won't bore you with the after tax figures with which we live. So why on earth come to a place like this? Well in many ways we took people's ideas for granted and did our calculations based on house prices in small towns. And in any case housing was never the issue. We wanted adventure and new experiences - and new opportunities for our children. And we certainly have had the adventure!
So we will celebrate our 2nd anniversary tomorrow thankful for all these interesting experiences and people. Kiwis are a diverse bunch. At the heart of things is a people who are poorly defined as a group. As Anzac Day approaches we will remember the greatest defeat of Australian and Kiwi troops on the shore of Gallipoli during the first world war. A country defined by defeat. Add to that the hard truth that the All Blacks have not yet won the Rugby World Cup, and you have a little bit of a problem.
Having been across the ditch this week (the Tasman Sea) I have to say again that the Ozzies are a more cheerful bunch. Most of the people who came to the AHISA conference in Tasmania this week were Australian teachers involved in Pastoral Care in independent schools. More than 300 schools were represented. It was very useful in terms of my work, and very humbling in the sense that we have to look after ourselves in order to look after others. I have not been looking after myself. So things will have to change. A simple formula - when the plane is in trouble, put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others. I did also enjoy the South African contingent there.
As for Tasmania - a very nice island! It's a state within the Australian federation (Commonwealth) and it is really lovely. Not as hot as mainland Australia. Launceston is a town of about 71 000 people on a navigable river. It is one of the oldest towns in Oz and has the oldest independent church school. The hospitality of people was wonderful, and the bonus was the spiritual content - daily chapels, devotions, and good chaplaincy support from the three chaplains involved in the conference.
Roxanne's trip to China is just two weeks away. So there is something exciting on the horizon for her. Sheilagh held the fort well in my absence. Chris has another job interview on Monday, so we are hopeful. David is working long hard days and is exploring working different hours.
Thanks for your emails and news. We always enjoy reading the latest. I know that many are too busy to really sit down with long epistles but short notes are also good. Keep it up.
Happy birthday to my niece Kerry on 1st April! No joke! Have a lovely time! If we have missed any important celebrations, accept belated congratulations. Sheilagh's 50th was great, although I think we should have spoilt her more. Christopher turns 21 on 5th May - just around the corner! Pity that family and his friends are so far away. We will try to cheer him up. Hopefully he will be employed 20 hours a week by then in the IT industry!
On a lighter note:
A little girl asked her mother, 'How did the human race appear?' The mother answered, 'God made Adam and Eve and they had children and so was all mankind made.' Two days later the girl asked her father the same question. The father answered, 'Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved.' The confused girl returned to her mother and said, ‘Mom how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?' The mother answered, 'Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his.'
Blessings and love
Robin
PS it is raining outside. Almost April showers.
Robin Palmer
April is just around the corner. So to avoid any April fool's jokes I have decided to write a preemptive mail. Seriously.
The summer here has been long and pleasant. I suppose it was pretty much the same in our first year, although we only caught the tail end of it. Tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of our arrival. Our second summer seemed to be followed by an early and severe winter. Mind you, we were living in a house that had extra ventilation between the windows and their frames. We found the multitudes of advertisement material in our letter box very handy for plugging up some of those windows. Hopefully this winter will be ok! If we move back to our previous house in time with its lovely ducted heating.
Housing is a depressing thing here in New Zealand. An article today indicated that on an income of $120K a couple without children could barely pay off a house of $375K as the repayments were $900 a week. All the other utilities and food are pricey too. Despite insistence from some we can not buy a house either. The closest thing to suitable for us at this phase of life was $450K. So we are content of being sojourners. I won't bore you with the after tax figures with which we live. So why on earth come to a place like this? Well in many ways we took people's ideas for granted and did our calculations based on house prices in small towns. And in any case housing was never the issue. We wanted adventure and new experiences - and new opportunities for our children. And we certainly have had the adventure!
So we will celebrate our 2nd anniversary tomorrow thankful for all these interesting experiences and people. Kiwis are a diverse bunch. At the heart of things is a people who are poorly defined as a group. As Anzac Day approaches we will remember the greatest defeat of Australian and Kiwi troops on the shore of Gallipoli during the first world war. A country defined by defeat. Add to that the hard truth that the All Blacks have not yet won the Rugby World Cup, and you have a little bit of a problem.
Having been across the ditch this week (the Tasman Sea) I have to say again that the Ozzies are a more cheerful bunch. Most of the people who came to the AHISA conference in Tasmania this week were Australian teachers involved in Pastoral Care in independent schools. More than 300 schools were represented. It was very useful in terms of my work, and very humbling in the sense that we have to look after ourselves in order to look after others. I have not been looking after myself. So things will have to change. A simple formula - when the plane is in trouble, put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others. I did also enjoy the South African contingent there.
As for Tasmania - a very nice island! It's a state within the Australian federation (Commonwealth) and it is really lovely. Not as hot as mainland Australia. Launceston is a town of about 71 000 people on a navigable river. It is one of the oldest towns in Oz and has the oldest independent church school. The hospitality of people was wonderful, and the bonus was the spiritual content - daily chapels, devotions, and good chaplaincy support from the three chaplains involved in the conference.
Roxanne's trip to China is just two weeks away. So there is something exciting on the horizon for her. Sheilagh held the fort well in my absence. Chris has another job interview on Monday, so we are hopeful. David is working long hard days and is exploring working different hours.
Thanks for your emails and news. We always enjoy reading the latest. I know that many are too busy to really sit down with long epistles but short notes are also good. Keep it up.
Happy birthday to my niece Kerry on 1st April! No joke! Have a lovely time! If we have missed any important celebrations, accept belated congratulations. Sheilagh's 50th was great, although I think we should have spoilt her more. Christopher turns 21 on 5th May - just around the corner! Pity that family and his friends are so far away. We will try to cheer him up. Hopefully he will be employed 20 hours a week by then in the IT industry!
On a lighter note:
A little girl asked her mother, 'How did the human race appear?' The mother answered, 'God made Adam and Eve and they had children and so was all mankind made.' Two days later the girl asked her father the same question. The father answered, 'Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved.' The confused girl returned to her mother and said, ‘Mom how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?' The mother answered, 'Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his.'
Blessings and love
Robin
PS it is raining outside. Almost April showers.
Robin Palmer
Friday 14 March 2008
How do you feel about dying today?
Yes – its one of those ambiguous questions. Does it mean – how do you feel about dying in general – or how do YOU feel about DYING TODAY?
Every day of every week people are born and people die. I guess we are more aware of death than every before. It used to be a taboo subject – like everyone did it and nobody talked about it.
Now you get books on dying with style. We talk about a SEND OFF at a funeral. We measure a life by QUALITY – “he had a good innings” we say, using the metaphor of cricket.
I remember as a child how someone said of my father’s life HE HAD A GOOD INNINGS. He died at the age of 60, and I was 11. My immediate thought was WHO BOWLED HIM OUT? 60 seemed too early to retire from life.
The Christian Faith has a specific view about death.
In fact the whole thing is really about a death. The death of one man to end all deaths.
It is about God becoming one of us and dying.
He died for us. Christians believe that he didn’t stay in the tomb. We worship on Sundays, the first day of the week, because we believe that he was raised to life on the Sunday. We baptize people as a symbol of dying and being raised to life again. We eat bread and drink wine remembering his sacrificial death.
We bury or cremate our dead with these words: Jesus said:
"I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die;”
Ich bin die Auferstehung und das Leben. Wer an mich glaubt, wird leben, auch wenn er stirbt.
ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἀνάστασις καὶ ἡ ζωή. ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ, κἂν ἀποθάνῃ, ζήσεται·
ego sum resurrectio et vita qui credit in me et si mortuus fuerit vivet
Ek is die opstanding en die lewe; wie in My glo, sal lewe al het hy ook gesterwe;
Io sono la risurrezione e la vita; chi crede in me, anche se muore, vivrà;
Myfi yw'r atgyfodiad a'r bywyd. Pwy bynnag sy'n credu ynof fi, er iddo farw, fe fydd byw
I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die;
Easter is a celebration of this truth. When you stand at a grave, or go into a crematorium, it makes an enormous difference to believe and know that it’s not the end, but a beginning of a wonderful new life. Faith in Jesus is an amazing thing. We live differently because we will die with gratitude for this life, and the life to come.
Amen.
Every day of every week people are born and people die. I guess we are more aware of death than every before. It used to be a taboo subject – like everyone did it and nobody talked about it.
Now you get books on dying with style. We talk about a SEND OFF at a funeral. We measure a life by QUALITY – “he had a good innings” we say, using the metaphor of cricket.
I remember as a child how someone said of my father’s life HE HAD A GOOD INNINGS. He died at the age of 60, and I was 11. My immediate thought was WHO BOWLED HIM OUT? 60 seemed too early to retire from life.
The Christian Faith has a specific view about death.
In fact the whole thing is really about a death. The death of one man to end all deaths.
It is about God becoming one of us and dying.
He died for us. Christians believe that he didn’t stay in the tomb. We worship on Sundays, the first day of the week, because we believe that he was raised to life on the Sunday. We baptize people as a symbol of dying and being raised to life again. We eat bread and drink wine remembering his sacrificial death.
We bury or cremate our dead with these words: Jesus said:
"I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die;”
Ich bin die Auferstehung und das Leben. Wer an mich glaubt, wird leben, auch wenn er stirbt.
ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἀνάστασις καὶ ἡ ζωή. ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ, κἂν ἀποθάνῃ, ζήσεται·
ego sum resurrectio et vita qui credit in me et si mortuus fuerit vivet
Ek is die opstanding en die lewe; wie in My glo, sal lewe al het hy ook gesterwe;
Io sono la risurrezione e la vita; chi crede in me, anche se muore, vivrà;
Myfi yw'r atgyfodiad a'r bywyd. Pwy bynnag sy'n credu ynof fi, er iddo farw, fe fydd byw
I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die;
Easter is a celebration of this truth. When you stand at a grave, or go into a crematorium, it makes an enormous difference to believe and know that it’s not the end, but a beginning of a wonderful new life. Faith in Jesus is an amazing thing. We live differently because we will die with gratitude for this life, and the life to come.
Amen.
Friday 7 March 2008
Roll back the stone
Sunday 8 March St John’s in the city Communion Service
Readings:
Psalm 116 (responsive reading)
Ezekiel 37:1-11
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45
A little girl hurt her finger and went to her dad for sympathy. She got no response – the standard kind of thing when dad is preoccupied with his own affairs. So she went to see mum to complain about dad. Mum replied, “Oh, is it still hurting then?” The child said, “no, but daddy didn’t even say Oh!”
Just a little TLC and sympathy goes a long way. We need to know that someone is listening!
When heaven is silent, we are sometimes in a worse position than the little girl. We feel abandoned and desperate quite often in our lives. Prayers are simply not answered. Even the clichéd idea that God might be saying “wait” doesn’t seem to make a difference.
The readings today capture that kind of sense of hopelessness quite well. In Ezekiel the dry people of God are given a voice: “our bones are dried up and our hope is gone, and we are cut off.”
And then there are our favourite girls – Mary and Martha – in a place of mourning, producing our kind of “if onlys” – both say to Jesus, “Lord if you had been here…”
And then there is the fascinating declaration of Thomas to the disciples: “Let us go also that we may die with him…” Whether this refers to going with Jesus into a dangerous situation in Judea, or whether Thomas is suggesting that they all go and die with Lazarus, is debated. Either way, it’s pretty gloomy stuff.
So what do you make of it? In this account Jesus seems to delay deliberately for two days before responding to the requests from his friend’s messengers. Of course it is likely that Lazarus had already died when he got the message. Even so, we don’t get the impression that Jesus was busy with anything extraordinary in those days.
He kind of “tarries” if you know what I mean. Like kids at school who hang around avoiding that difficult lesson they don’t want to face….
He certainly created some stress in the lives of those two sisters. No email text or phone messages then. No quick emergency responses.
I know the feeling – that sense of anguish when someone is sick or close to death.
Many of us have been there. There is this dull kind of ache within. And if the trauma is sudden, and we’re waiting for the ambulance, we can hear the sirens going off, but they seem to be delayed around the corner somewhere – taking forever – the stress is enormous. I still get stressed by the sound of those sirens. My heart begins to thump in my chest.
There are some struggles and challenges that seem to take forever to resolve. Much like trying to find a new minister I suspect. And in our personal lives, having prayer answered, trying to beat depression, trying to have our faith restored when we’ve been through one of those long dry desperate periods. Hoping and waiting to see that our children have sorted their problems out. Or our grandchildren.
We feel a bit like Isaiah the prophet and want to cry out “O that you would rend the heavens and come down”. (Isaiah 64:1)
Give me a break, God. Cut me some slack!
In John’s Gospel, the mighty works done by Jesus are there to bring people to faith in Him.
It is Martha, the sister who is presented elsewhere as too busy doing chores and as the complaining sibling – tell my sister to help me Jesus – it is Martha who goes out to meet Jesus with her “if only” speech. “If you had been here my brother would not have died.” Despite this, after their conversation about the resurrection, Martha says: “Yes, Lord, I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.”
It is the Christ, the Son of God, coming into the world, who sustains us and keeps us.
It is God – in Christ – reconciling the world to Himself – who comes to the tomb of Lazarus.
It is God – in Christ – who literally “groans in himself” (CEV – terribly upset) Profoundly moved – groaning within – Jesus (who) comes to the tomb. (vss 33 and 38)
Does he sigh? Does he groan out loud? What happens in this moment is hard to grasp.
Perhaps it is the attitude of people towards death – their grief and fear – that moves him.
Perhaps the knowledge that he too would die in such a desperate way on the cross causes this emotional response.
It is God – in Christ – of whom we read: “Jesus wept.” He certainly mourns with those who mourn.
The solution in this account is a radical one. You have to roll the stone away. It is risky and a smelly business. And Jesus is the one who has to speak – calling forth the dead.
In the Ezekiel passage today the prophet has to speak to the dry bones. They are told to hear the Word of the Lord! (37:4)
So what is the Word of the Lord to your situation and to mine?
Jesus – even when he seems far away and out of reach – knows and understands. Even if we are like God’s people of old - saying” our bones are dried up and our hope is gone, and we are cut off.”
God speaks! He renews us. The same spirit that ultimately raises Jesus from the Dead – says Paul to the Romans – dwells in us – and brings life to our mortal existence.
It is the Sovereign Lord who breathes life into the dry bones who have no hope and feel cut off! That’s us, I guess.
Sometimes we feel that we are too far gone – that nothing can change our circumstances – because we ourselves are just not up to it!
The next time you feel like that, just remember...
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
Mary Magdalene was, well you know
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...........AND
Lazarus was dead!
Don’t you give up on God. They didn’t, and He certainly didn’t give up on them.
Or to put it another way, listen to a black American preacher on this:
"If all the sleeping folk will wake up; and all the lukewarm folk will fire up; and all dishonest folk will confess up; and all the disgruntled folk will cheer up; and all the depressed folk will look up; and all the estranged folk will make up; and all the gossiping folk will shut up; and all the dry bones will shake up; then we can have a revival." How about it?
Or we can simply break bread today – and remember the extent of Jesus’ suffering for us. We are not alone! We need to hear his voice too! It’s ok to roll the stone away!
Readings:
Psalm 116 (responsive reading)
Ezekiel 37:1-11
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45
A little girl hurt her finger and went to her dad for sympathy. She got no response – the standard kind of thing when dad is preoccupied with his own affairs. So she went to see mum to complain about dad. Mum replied, “Oh, is it still hurting then?” The child said, “no, but daddy didn’t even say Oh!”
Just a little TLC and sympathy goes a long way. We need to know that someone is listening!
When heaven is silent, we are sometimes in a worse position than the little girl. We feel abandoned and desperate quite often in our lives. Prayers are simply not answered. Even the clichéd idea that God might be saying “wait” doesn’t seem to make a difference.
The readings today capture that kind of sense of hopelessness quite well. In Ezekiel the dry people of God are given a voice: “our bones are dried up and our hope is gone, and we are cut off.”
And then there are our favourite girls – Mary and Martha – in a place of mourning, producing our kind of “if onlys” – both say to Jesus, “Lord if you had been here…”
And then there is the fascinating declaration of Thomas to the disciples: “Let us go also that we may die with him…” Whether this refers to going with Jesus into a dangerous situation in Judea, or whether Thomas is suggesting that they all go and die with Lazarus, is debated. Either way, it’s pretty gloomy stuff.
So what do you make of it? In this account Jesus seems to delay deliberately for two days before responding to the requests from his friend’s messengers. Of course it is likely that Lazarus had already died when he got the message. Even so, we don’t get the impression that Jesus was busy with anything extraordinary in those days.
He kind of “tarries” if you know what I mean. Like kids at school who hang around avoiding that difficult lesson they don’t want to face….
He certainly created some stress in the lives of those two sisters. No email text or phone messages then. No quick emergency responses.
I know the feeling – that sense of anguish when someone is sick or close to death.
Many of us have been there. There is this dull kind of ache within. And if the trauma is sudden, and we’re waiting for the ambulance, we can hear the sirens going off, but they seem to be delayed around the corner somewhere – taking forever – the stress is enormous. I still get stressed by the sound of those sirens. My heart begins to thump in my chest.
There are some struggles and challenges that seem to take forever to resolve. Much like trying to find a new minister I suspect. And in our personal lives, having prayer answered, trying to beat depression, trying to have our faith restored when we’ve been through one of those long dry desperate periods. Hoping and waiting to see that our children have sorted their problems out. Or our grandchildren.
We feel a bit like Isaiah the prophet and want to cry out “O that you would rend the heavens and come down”. (Isaiah 64:1)
Give me a break, God. Cut me some slack!
In John’s Gospel, the mighty works done by Jesus are there to bring people to faith in Him.
It is Martha, the sister who is presented elsewhere as too busy doing chores and as the complaining sibling – tell my sister to help me Jesus – it is Martha who goes out to meet Jesus with her “if only” speech. “If you had been here my brother would not have died.” Despite this, after their conversation about the resurrection, Martha says: “Yes, Lord, I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.”
It is the Christ, the Son of God, coming into the world, who sustains us and keeps us.
It is God – in Christ – reconciling the world to Himself – who comes to the tomb of Lazarus.
It is God – in Christ – who literally “groans in himself” (CEV – terribly upset) Profoundly moved – groaning within – Jesus (who) comes to the tomb. (vss 33 and 38)
Does he sigh? Does he groan out loud? What happens in this moment is hard to grasp.
Perhaps it is the attitude of people towards death – their grief and fear – that moves him.
Perhaps the knowledge that he too would die in such a desperate way on the cross causes this emotional response.
It is God – in Christ – of whom we read: “Jesus wept.” He certainly mourns with those who mourn.
The solution in this account is a radical one. You have to roll the stone away. It is risky and a smelly business. And Jesus is the one who has to speak – calling forth the dead.
In the Ezekiel passage today the prophet has to speak to the dry bones. They are told to hear the Word of the Lord! (37:4)
So what is the Word of the Lord to your situation and to mine?
Jesus – even when he seems far away and out of reach – knows and understands. Even if we are like God’s people of old - saying” our bones are dried up and our hope is gone, and we are cut off.”
God speaks! He renews us. The same spirit that ultimately raises Jesus from the Dead – says Paul to the Romans – dwells in us – and brings life to our mortal existence.
It is the Sovereign Lord who breathes life into the dry bones who have no hope and feel cut off! That’s us, I guess.
Sometimes we feel that we are too far gone – that nothing can change our circumstances – because we ourselves are just not up to it!
The next time you feel like that, just remember...
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
Mary Magdalene was, well you know
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...........AND
Lazarus was dead!
Don’t you give up on God. They didn’t, and He certainly didn’t give up on them.
Or to put it another way, listen to a black American preacher on this:
"If all the sleeping folk will wake up; and all the lukewarm folk will fire up; and all dishonest folk will confess up; and all the disgruntled folk will cheer up; and all the depressed folk will look up; and all the estranged folk will make up; and all the gossiping folk will shut up; and all the dry bones will shake up; then we can have a revival." How about it?
Or we can simply break bread today – and remember the extent of Jesus’ suffering for us. We are not alone! We need to hear his voice too! It’s ok to roll the stone away!
March
I was very relieved to hear that Great Britain had a 5.2 earthquake last week. I was beginning to feel that we are the only wobbly islands around. A short update from us all.
Sheilagh's birthday was a hectic time. Thanks for your messages for her half-century! It was a delight to have Diane her sister and young Briggie here. Diane is her youngest sister and such a tonic for us all. She had our kids on the hop and there was lots of laughter.
The birthday celebration was great - a real braai hosted by friends. Sheilagh's sister Diane was generous in every way as she always has been, to all of us. We are grateful that Di and Noel are just across the ditch in Brisbane. At the same time this week Roxanne's trip with her school to China has been confirmed. She has her Visa and ticket and is ready to roll. A small problem is to get her returning visa into NZ renewed after the 1st of April, which means we have been here 2 years!! Amazing. We can now get permanent returning visas - having lived here for two years. Without one for Roxanne, she might get stuck in China! I thought that funny but she was not amused - but somewhat concerned. It takes one day to get the thing sorted and we have 15 days in April!
I have a Pastoral care conference in Tasmania in the week after Easter. So much on - a series of extra services before and after Easter, plus Anzac Day coming up. This is a NZ religious holiday really and happens in the school holidays this year - so we have two of those before school breaks up.
The summer has been hot, dry and long. Rain last night gave the garden a welcomed boost. We are off to St Christopher's shortly for a House service - a student is preaching which is a first on Sundays (they do so regularly at Friday Chapel).
We were musing that we hear less and less from people these days. We are becoming semi-kiwis I guess, living far from so many of our old friends. New Zealand isn't exactly at the hub of things. We read with sadness some of the things happening in SA. It really is a concern.
Thanks for your prayers. Will keep topping up the email list with bits of news. Blessings and love
Robin
Sheilagh's birthday was a hectic time. Thanks for your messages for her half-century! It was a delight to have Diane her sister and young Briggie here. Diane is her youngest sister and such a tonic for us all. She had our kids on the hop and there was lots of laughter.
The birthday celebration was great - a real braai hosted by friends. Sheilagh's sister Diane was generous in every way as she always has been, to all of us. We are grateful that Di and Noel are just across the ditch in Brisbane. At the same time this week Roxanne's trip with her school to China has been confirmed. She has her Visa and ticket and is ready to roll. A small problem is to get her returning visa into NZ renewed after the 1st of April, which means we have been here 2 years!! Amazing. We can now get permanent returning visas - having lived here for two years. Without one for Roxanne, she might get stuck in China! I thought that funny but she was not amused - but somewhat concerned. It takes one day to get the thing sorted and we have 15 days in April!
I have a Pastoral care conference in Tasmania in the week after Easter. So much on - a series of extra services before and after Easter, plus Anzac Day coming up. This is a NZ religious holiday really and happens in the school holidays this year - so we have two of those before school breaks up.
The summer has been hot, dry and long. Rain last night gave the garden a welcomed boost. We are off to St Christopher's shortly for a House service - a student is preaching which is a first on Sundays (they do so regularly at Friday Chapel).
We were musing that we hear less and less from people these days. We are becoming semi-kiwis I guess, living far from so many of our old friends. New Zealand isn't exactly at the hub of things. We read with sadness some of the things happening in SA. It really is a concern.
Thanks for your prayers. Will keep topping up the email list with bits of news. Blessings and love
Robin
2008
Greetings from Wellington
We are two weeks into the new term here. Summer has been quite excessive for the local conditions. Large areas of NZ are experiencing drought. We have had a touch of rain over this weekend - very light drizzle really. In Australia in many regions the drought there has been broken by extreme flooding. So we are not complaining. If we get floods in Wellington houses tend to fall of hills. Very interesting and quite a problem if you are the house owner.
Some family news. Roxanne is back at school and her China trip looms large. Although they are going in April, we have to scurry around this week as her returning visa here expires at the end of March. I am sure that the Chinese Embassy would not be happy and neither would she as she would get stuck there! Of course schools are often fuzzy about dates. We were told that we would pay and sort out Chinese visas at the end of Feb. Now of course it is required on the 13th Feb. Thank you so much to those who have sponsored her for the trip. Mind you China has had chaos too with flooding, snow and power outages. Let's hope it warms up by April. So one of us will have to go to NZ immigration and ask nicely for a new visa. Roxanne needs a returning visa that is valid before she applies for a visa to get into China! We are entitled to permanent returning visas after 31 March - our second year is coming to an end here. Three more before we can apply for NZ citizenship and then passports.
The rest of us Palmers are doing the usual things required to keep the house in order. In addition to her 4 hours a day at Scots library, Sheilagh sells Avon products. She has a nice little client base in this area which keeps orders ticking over. Lots of lovely incentives for the girls in the family! David has applied for a job but has heard nothing. Chris too has applied for various things. Please pray that someone gives these guys a break and gets them going.
School has started with a bang for me. My timetable is easier this year - which gives more time for pastoral care and counselling. I still have year 1-3 once a week in a mini-chapel and RE lesson which often has old MacDonald had a farm and twinkle twinkle little star chosen by little boys who are not yet 5! Our new RE teacher get to teach most of the prep school once a week and shares the year 10 load with me. I still have year 9 and two year 13s for an ethics program. And a series of chapel services - two on a Friday and a Sunday night at least 3 times a term. The latter involve the parent body as well. My weekly routine includes a Thursday lunch meeting with the international club - about 20 boys from Japan, China, Indonesia and Thailand. They are great kids and we enjoy activities each term - including Laser Force and 10 Pin Bowling and movies. As an African I have a home amongst the internationals!
New Zealand is in an election year. We really do need a new government here and the polls are indicating this as a real possibility. So the local scene is very politicised. We watch the American Primaries with interest. They are desperate for change too!
Thank you for those who sent cards and letters at Christmas. We were very encouraged by the real post which arrived. How do I see 2008? School life will be a lot better I think. I dread the winter as it is really hard to trudge outdoors in the dark. And come home in the dark. Well it could be worse I suppose. Wellington is quite bleak when the southerly blows. I have a decent winter wardrobe of course! Third winter and I should get it right. Wellingtonians know how to take advantage of nice sunny days. We have had some brilliant ones in the summer. Lot's of people walking, cycling and sailing.
Sheilagh reaches her half-century on the 26th Feb. Her sister Diane is coming over from Brisbane to share the event, and will then go on to other family and friends in Christchurch. I don't think we ever imagined this kind of celebration in NZ. We are always grateful to the Lord for his gift of life and the privilege of serving him and been the kind of caring and encouraging people that He desires. I am very blessed to have Sheilagh as my wife and best friend. We celebrate our 24th anniversary this year. A lot longer than our parents were married I guess. So we are blessed. Christopher turns 21 on 5 May - another good reason to celebrate! Hopefully by then he will have some direction.
Thanks for your prayers and friendship. Please pray for Elmarie Hughson and her family. Bob passed away yesterday after a stroke. They lived in Tweni and moved to the UK recently. He was a wonderful man of colour and character, who always made me feel so welcome in his home.
Love from us all
The Palmers
We are two weeks into the new term here. Summer has been quite excessive for the local conditions. Large areas of NZ are experiencing drought. We have had a touch of rain over this weekend - very light drizzle really. In Australia in many regions the drought there has been broken by extreme flooding. So we are not complaining. If we get floods in Wellington houses tend to fall of hills. Very interesting and quite a problem if you are the house owner.
Some family news. Roxanne is back at school and her China trip looms large. Although they are going in April, we have to scurry around this week as her returning visa here expires at the end of March. I am sure that the Chinese Embassy would not be happy and neither would she as she would get stuck there! Of course schools are often fuzzy about dates. We were told that we would pay and sort out Chinese visas at the end of Feb. Now of course it is required on the 13th Feb. Thank you so much to those who have sponsored her for the trip. Mind you China has had chaos too with flooding, snow and power outages. Let's hope it warms up by April. So one of us will have to go to NZ immigration and ask nicely for a new visa. Roxanne needs a returning visa that is valid before she applies for a visa to get into China! We are entitled to permanent returning visas after 31 March - our second year is coming to an end here. Three more before we can apply for NZ citizenship and then passports.
The rest of us Palmers are doing the usual things required to keep the house in order. In addition to her 4 hours a day at Scots library, Sheilagh sells Avon products. She has a nice little client base in this area which keeps orders ticking over. Lots of lovely incentives for the girls in the family! David has applied for a job but has heard nothing. Chris too has applied for various things. Please pray that someone gives these guys a break and gets them going.
School has started with a bang for me. My timetable is easier this year - which gives more time for pastoral care and counselling. I still have year 1-3 once a week in a mini-chapel and RE lesson which often has old MacDonald had a farm and twinkle twinkle little star chosen by little boys who are not yet 5! Our new RE teacher get to teach most of the prep school once a week and shares the year 10 load with me. I still have year 9 and two year 13s for an ethics program. And a series of chapel services - two on a Friday and a Sunday night at least 3 times a term. The latter involve the parent body as well. My weekly routine includes a Thursday lunch meeting with the international club - about 20 boys from Japan, China, Indonesia and Thailand. They are great kids and we enjoy activities each term - including Laser Force and 10 Pin Bowling and movies. As an African I have a home amongst the internationals!
New Zealand is in an election year. We really do need a new government here and the polls are indicating this as a real possibility. So the local scene is very politicised. We watch the American Primaries with interest. They are desperate for change too!
Thank you for those who sent cards and letters at Christmas. We were very encouraged by the real post which arrived. How do I see 2008? School life will be a lot better I think. I dread the winter as it is really hard to trudge outdoors in the dark. And come home in the dark. Well it could be worse I suppose. Wellington is quite bleak when the southerly blows. I have a decent winter wardrobe of course! Third winter and I should get it right. Wellingtonians know how to take advantage of nice sunny days. We have had some brilliant ones in the summer. Lot's of people walking, cycling and sailing.
Sheilagh reaches her half-century on the 26th Feb. Her sister Diane is coming over from Brisbane to share the event, and will then go on to other family and friends in Christchurch. I don't think we ever imagined this kind of celebration in NZ. We are always grateful to the Lord for his gift of life and the privilege of serving him and been the kind of caring and encouraging people that He desires. I am very blessed to have Sheilagh as my wife and best friend. We celebrate our 24th anniversary this year. A lot longer than our parents were married I guess. So we are blessed. Christopher turns 21 on 5 May - another good reason to celebrate! Hopefully by then he will have some direction.
Thanks for your prayers and friendship. Please pray for Elmarie Hughson and her family. Bob passed away yesterday after a stroke. They lived in Tweni and moved to the UK recently. He was a wonderful man of colour and character, who always made me feel so welcome in his home.
Love from us all
The Palmers
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