Monday, 28 January 2013
And it begins again...
I'm back to 'work' tomorrow. It's a funny idea considering what I do. So many comments over so many years ; 'you only work once a week anyway' is the standard line. Or 'on leave again?'.
It's been a good break. Nothing spectacular. A bit of this and that. I think parts of the garden are looking a tad better. And the Auckland weather has been great.
Looking ahead at 'work' - we face the same old same old things only of people have the same old attitude. I noticed this quote recently:
"Talk to him about 'moderation in all things.' If you can once get him to the point of thinking that 'religion is all very well up to a point,' you can feel quite happy about his soul. A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all—and more amusing."
~ Screwtape, from The Screwtape Letters
Yay for CS Lewis. It may be that people don't all agree with particulars but the devil in the book has a point.
I'm hoping that people will focus on the future and not have us all hamstrung by details and preferences. To quote a friend who writes amazing articles - thanks Rod:
Three Leadership Sinkholes to avoid… (Natal Mercury Tuesday)
Sinkhole #1: Managing will consume you. If you don’t watch your step you’ll be seduced into thinking that managing IS leading. The two will become confused and leading will morph into managing - not the reverse. Endless administrative tasks will drown your day and you. The risk-averse, the anxious employees among you (mostly managers - they LOVE safety) will exercise power and keep you managing and keep you from leading. They are managers. That’s what they do. Of course they will try to manage you. Then, the very same people will complain, “There’s just no leadership around here!” It’s a sinkhole. Avoid it.
Sinkhole #2: Over-listening to whiners. If you allow the whiners among you too much of an ear they will drown out healthy voices. Whiners are often very aggressive, especially when ignored. They’ll feel entitled to shape your job. Don’t let them. Whiners are NEVER satisfied. Whatever you do will never stop their whining. Listen to whiners, yes, but listen to the healthy, the enthusiastic, and the busy, motivated people six times as much. Pole-vault this sinkhole.
Sinkhole #3: Tripping over the remains of your predecessor. I am all for honouring the past, but leaders must determinedly point to a greater future. Resist the understandable urge to protect the memory of whomever you follow, especially if you are doing it in the hopes of gaining acceptance from those who loved the previous leader. It’s a sinkhole. Flee it.
So here's to a year which looks forward and beyond ourselves to the mission we have in this community. To the reality of God and his transforming power. To true reconciliation and forgiveness. To truth and not self-deception. To real life-changing love and service.
Monday, 10 December 2012
25 years and counting
So we are closer to Christmas and I'm thinking - what is this really for? Every year people have much to say about commercialization of this event, and of the need to focus on the really important things.
Nothing changes really. Nutty spending and insane eating. And carols turned into instruments of torture.How depressing really.
And then I got a CD today from an OP shop. Yes we have these lovely places where you can explore people's pre-loved stuff. Such a great recording of carols. Not jingly or tingly and so forth. And our little Christmas tree is up - giving a pretty feel to the place. I am beginning to feel like Christmas could be fun after all. The cards are going up on the wall (rather than me climbing it) and I like the feel. The memories. The sounds and smells.
And tonight we had a great Pastors' Christmas celebration. I really do value my colleagues from other local churches. When I listen to their stories - I know it's not me. The stuff that goes down - well it's happening all over the show. I am normal! (Waves of laughter peal out across the continents...)
And tomorrow - after listening to some really great stories of how challenging this vocation can be, I think I may celebrate my 25th anniversary of ordination with some degree of decorum and a huge amount of gratitude.
Gratitude to God for keeping me doing what I do as a pastor. Humility as I realize I know so much less than I thought I did. Joy as I think of the people who have come to faith or grown in faith through my efforts over 25 years.
I will celebrate the day tomorrow night at a Presbytery service welcoming a Korean church into the Presbyterian family in Takapuna. It started at a Presbytery meeting and will be celebrated 25 years on at one.
The gratitude also involves the wonderful men and women of the congregations who have had me as their minister through these years and the boys of Scots College where I spent five years as a Chaplain. Such good things learned and discovered about myself. And about God's amazing love and grace.
And of course I have a wife and family who have bravely followed over these 25 years. Not an easy thing being a pastor's wife and of course PKs. Thanks family!
So wherever you are and wherever you end up this Christmas, spare a thought for those who faithfully work over these days to help congregations and gatherings around the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus the right way up, as it were. This is not just a time for a boost to the economies of the world. It's a time to remember that we are a visited planet. Christ was born in Bethlehem. Knowing Him now is the best thing in my funny old life. I have known him for so long now. He has never failed me. May I remain faithful too.
Nothing changes really. Nutty spending and insane eating. And carols turned into instruments of torture.How depressing really.
And then I got a CD today from an OP shop. Yes we have these lovely places where you can explore people's pre-loved stuff. Such a great recording of carols. Not jingly or tingly and so forth. And our little Christmas tree is up - giving a pretty feel to the place. I am beginning to feel like Christmas could be fun after all. The cards are going up on the wall (rather than me climbing it) and I like the feel. The memories. The sounds and smells.
And tonight we had a great Pastors' Christmas celebration. I really do value my colleagues from other local churches. When I listen to their stories - I know it's not me. The stuff that goes down - well it's happening all over the show. I am normal! (Waves of laughter peal out across the continents...)
And tomorrow - after listening to some really great stories of how challenging this vocation can be, I think I may celebrate my 25th anniversary of ordination with some degree of decorum and a huge amount of gratitude.
Gratitude to God for keeping me doing what I do as a pastor. Humility as I realize I know so much less than I thought I did. Joy as I think of the people who have come to faith or grown in faith through my efforts over 25 years.
I will celebrate the day tomorrow night at a Presbytery service welcoming a Korean church into the Presbyterian family in Takapuna. It started at a Presbytery meeting and will be celebrated 25 years on at one.
The gratitude also involves the wonderful men and women of the congregations who have had me as their minister through these years and the boys of Scots College where I spent five years as a Chaplain. Such good things learned and discovered about myself. And about God's amazing love and grace.
And of course I have a wife and family who have bravely followed over these 25 years. Not an easy thing being a pastor's wife and of course PKs. Thanks family!
So wherever you are and wherever you end up this Christmas, spare a thought for those who faithfully work over these days to help congregations and gatherings around the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus the right way up, as it were. This is not just a time for a boost to the economies of the world. It's a time to remember that we are a visited planet. Christ was born in Bethlehem. Knowing Him now is the best thing in my funny old life. I have known him for so long now. He has never failed me. May I remain faithful too.
Sunday, 4 November 2012
New Wine
What an amazing day on Friday. Being the 2nd of November is not startling - although the downward slide to Christmas is alarming if you are an "are we ready yet?" kind of obsessive. The trip to Warkworth was not very stunning either. We went on the motorway which includes a toll road. (Brb - I have to quickly pay on line...)
I'm BACK! Last time I forgot and received a letter which cost me more! Haha!
Yes the toll road is very straight and there is a tunnel. I much prefer the old scenic route. One time there was a policeman on the side of the road dealing with a wayward cow. It is SO RURAL and much like the old Natal days of my childhood.
No it wasn't the trip. It was the New Wine. No winery stops though - just a leaders' day "run" by New Wine. Which is an organisation or association of New Zealand churches that gets people together to focus on the important things.
What a good day. I am not very quick to rush to the front when prayer is offered. But after lunch there was this opportunity to go forward. I'm not over zealous about prophetic kind of ministry really. I've read too much Adrian Plass.
But this rather lovely man who has sped around New Zealand for some weeks encouraging leaders and Christian people (with the most delightfully funny and down to earth stories and wisdom) prayed for me. There are these moments when you know - that you know. The God-moments that are not the product of any kind of winding-up or ecstatic enthusiasm - but a simple and clear word which makes you stop in your tracks.
How silly of me to forget that this God whom we serve knows exactly what you need before you ask for it. (You probably recall Jesus going on about that somewhere in the gospels...).
How nice to have the ship steadied, so to speak.
New Wine. Look them up. They have summer conferences ("FESTIVALS") around New Zealand. I suspect you too could benefit greatly. Have a look for yourself: New Wine
In a rather disarming fashion you will see this picture of an enthusiastic young person (I think) with goggles and wings of some sort - with the caption ARE WE THERE YET?
Not yet - not me at any rate. I am - like the rest who are listening to God at all - a major work in progress.
New Wine.
Yes.
I'm BACK! Last time I forgot and received a letter which cost me more! Haha!
Yes the toll road is very straight and there is a tunnel. I much prefer the old scenic route. One time there was a policeman on the side of the road dealing with a wayward cow. It is SO RURAL and much like the old Natal days of my childhood.
No it wasn't the trip. It was the New Wine. No winery stops though - just a leaders' day "run" by New Wine. Which is an organisation or association of New Zealand churches that gets people together to focus on the important things.
What a good day. I am not very quick to rush to the front when prayer is offered. But after lunch there was this opportunity to go forward. I'm not over zealous about prophetic kind of ministry really. I've read too much Adrian Plass.
But this rather lovely man who has sped around New Zealand for some weeks encouraging leaders and Christian people (with the most delightfully funny and down to earth stories and wisdom) prayed for me. There are these moments when you know - that you know. The God-moments that are not the product of any kind of winding-up or ecstatic enthusiasm - but a simple and clear word which makes you stop in your tracks.
How silly of me to forget that this God whom we serve knows exactly what you need before you ask for it. (You probably recall Jesus going on about that somewhere in the gospels...).
How nice to have the ship steadied, so to speak.
New Wine. Look them up. They have summer conferences ("FESTIVALS") around New Zealand. I suspect you too could benefit greatly. Have a look for yourself: New Wine
In a rather disarming fashion you will see this picture of an enthusiastic young person (I think) with goggles and wings of some sort - with the caption ARE WE THERE YET?
Not yet - not me at any rate. I am - like the rest who are listening to God at all - a major work in progress.
New Wine.
Yes.
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Spring Sprung - Springer
The mysteries of the onset of spring have always evaded me. Having grown up in tropical (or sub-tropical) Natal, and despite the gynecological form of that province's very name (having been "discovered" on Christmas Day way back by an avid Portuguese chappy in a boat), one could never really be sure there of the changes in seasons.
Roll on Rustenburg. Our life there, a brief sojourn, did produce some natal activity, both in the birth of our second son (beloved by name and in practice) and in the curious ability to actually tell that the seasons were turning. When it came to noticing Spring, I refer primarily to a very small stick-like fig tree that dominated the back lawn (there were no other bushes or the like in the area) - a tree which like in Jonah's account was a doubtful starter in terms of shade provision (with or without worms) as it was simply too tiny and scrawny.
The good thing about this tree? Not having Google calendars (or Outlook equivalents that mattered) and even when you couldn't find a paper calendar (one with flowers, scenery, or any other dodgy images) you could check out the fig tree around September 1. With seasonal certainly the little plant produced a green leaf. One was enough to know that it was time. And of course this hopeful specimen reminded me of Habbakuk 3:17-18. And boy did I need that assurance.
I still do of course. The Spring has not been that obvious. It may well have sprung at some point in the last couple of weeks. Any exciting shoot would be unnoticed as we have endured buckets and buckets of rain.
The passage in the above-mentioned somewhat unpronounceable Bible passage has its writer declare his commitment to rejoice in the LORD - a word which in Afrikaans ( a Dutch dialect of the country of my birth) is jubel, but in Dutch itself comes out as van vreugde opspringen. I love it. Neat. The springy nature of such rejoicing reminds me of my dear mother who when speaking of more buxom creatures of the female gender had this curious yet kind descriptive saying when referring to such largely endowed ladies: "more bounce to the ounce". You get the picture.
Joy requires some energetic expansiveness in spirit and temperament. And my nickname at school: Springer of course. I wonder if my curious scholarly colleagues remember that. Did I bounce or jump for joy? Too many decades have gone by to remember that with integrity.
Alas I confess that I have lost some of that energy. Yes the demise of youth, you mutter politely. The joy I am finding is a much richer thing. When the fig trees in my life take a LONG LONG time to blossom, and when the produce of the olive fails, and our fields seem barren - yet we still rejoice in the Lord. And the verse which follows in Habbakuk 3 is even more energizing: The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
So there it is then. Spring Sprung. Yes of course as we age our springs, like those in an old chair, can go haywire. But it's what's in the heart that really matters.
So while the nation seems to go nuts over its current issues (most of which are strangely drawn out of Parliament's ballot box of chance) - and the world is in its present turmoil of rage, down here in the south on the edge of the earth Spring has sprung in more ways than one. And its rich tapestries are being painted in all the facets of our spiritual and emotional journey.
I trust that you find some energy from within too - perhaps in your travels of heart and mind you can also explore this rich joy from our most delightful Saviour and God. For what is within that generates real life comes from without. We are not abandoned.
Roll on Rustenburg. Our life there, a brief sojourn, did produce some natal activity, both in the birth of our second son (beloved by name and in practice) and in the curious ability to actually tell that the seasons were turning. When it came to noticing Spring, I refer primarily to a very small stick-like fig tree that dominated the back lawn (there were no other bushes or the like in the area) - a tree which like in Jonah's account was a doubtful starter in terms of shade provision (with or without worms) as it was simply too tiny and scrawny.
The good thing about this tree? Not having Google calendars (or Outlook equivalents that mattered) and even when you couldn't find a paper calendar (one with flowers, scenery, or any other dodgy images) you could check out the fig tree around September 1. With seasonal certainly the little plant produced a green leaf. One was enough to know that it was time. And of course this hopeful specimen reminded me of Habbakuk 3:17-18. And boy did I need that assurance.
I still do of course. The Spring has not been that obvious. It may well have sprung at some point in the last couple of weeks. Any exciting shoot would be unnoticed as we have endured buckets and buckets of rain.
The passage in the above-mentioned somewhat unpronounceable Bible passage has its writer declare his commitment to rejoice in the LORD - a word which in Afrikaans ( a Dutch dialect of the country of my birth) is jubel, but in Dutch itself comes out as van vreugde opspringen. I love it. Neat. The springy nature of such rejoicing reminds me of my dear mother who when speaking of more buxom creatures of the female gender had this curious yet kind descriptive saying when referring to such largely endowed ladies: "more bounce to the ounce". You get the picture.
Joy requires some energetic expansiveness in spirit and temperament. And my nickname at school: Springer of course. I wonder if my curious scholarly colleagues remember that. Did I bounce or jump for joy? Too many decades have gone by to remember that with integrity.
Alas I confess that I have lost some of that energy. Yes the demise of youth, you mutter politely. The joy I am finding is a much richer thing. When the fig trees in my life take a LONG LONG time to blossom, and when the produce of the olive fails, and our fields seem barren - yet we still rejoice in the Lord. And the verse which follows in Habbakuk 3 is even more energizing: The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
So there it is then. Spring Sprung. Yes of course as we age our springs, like those in an old chair, can go haywire. But it's what's in the heart that really matters.
So while the nation seems to go nuts over its current issues (most of which are strangely drawn out of Parliament's ballot box of chance) - and the world is in its present turmoil of rage, down here in the south on the edge of the earth Spring has sprung in more ways than one. And its rich tapestries are being painted in all the facets of our spiritual and emotional journey.
I trust that you find some energy from within too - perhaps in your travels of heart and mind you can also explore this rich joy from our most delightful Saviour and God. For what is within that generates real life comes from without. We are not abandoned.
Saturday, 11 August 2012
Winter
I googled my name and the city of sails - Auckland. Look at that - I have a blog page and last wrote something in June! Such a busy life! How quickly the winter has whistled along. It's been a bad winter. Mind you summer was pretty bad too. One hopes that something will be normal again, but Auckland's climate is quite odd. There was a cereal advert some time back that went "I got it all this morning". It may have been bran or corn flakes, but actually it's just weather. In one day we have it all. So if you live in South Africa where I was born, best not moan that it is snowing. It is after all winter!
When I wrote in June I confessed my role as pianist at church. This too continues, and what a fascinating job it is. I really don't mind leading from keys. I do have to practice more of course! I took a five year break from that kind of thing. Our local church continues to shiver through the cold months with a lot of flu and sick people here and there. The heaters help of course! Our house on the other hand is vacuous and damp downstairs. So we do tend to move from warm room to pre- heated next rooms, if that makes sense. Roll on summer.
The last weeks have been preoccupied by various athletes doing amazing things in London. The kiwi teams have done pretty well considering how small the country is. And we have revisited watching too much TV - only those with Sky sport have multiple channels with all the events. And of course there have been some great South African successes too.
Our only break over this period was a weekend back in Wellington. The windy city was sunny and calm for three days of our four, and the fourth was mild. We enjoyed "Fame" - a joint musical between Scots College and Queen Margaret College. Great talent and amazing energy - and it was brilliant to catch up with so many people. And there were various meals over the weekend with all kinds of friends. A real treat.
Sixteen months down the track I have only had one week's leave. Thankfully we will escape in September for a two week break! Crossing the ditch has never been so attractive (and believe me our Australian trips are always wonderful).
So what great pearls of wisdom do I have for you this August 12th? Probably very little that's new. I'm thinking that there needs to be a publication coming up called "Chicken soup for the Pastor". At a particularly challenging point I asked a friend what kept him going. He referred me to Peterson's latest book "The Pastor - a Memoir". Worth a look if you are into this kind of thing. Here we go then:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/march/petersonpastorsjourney.html
I will get to finish it this time - unlike many books I start. I am rediscovering something of the essence of this pastor thing - in that I am slowly getting to know people in their place. It takes time of course. The pastor's job is less about performance and entertainment, less about planning and control - and more about responding to the interruptions in our living and looking out for what God is doing in our lives. That takes time - and off course you simply have to set the tone and direction as a leader. Sheep - in theory - will follow.
On the national front, we have had a long spell of recovery from earthquakes (which for our friends in Christchurch is mainly too long) - and our latest traumas are coming from volcanoes rumbling away. We have two busy mountains right now. And of course the very nice man on TV (a vocanologist I believe) - when asked about the volcanoes under this city, proceeded to mention that we are more likely to have a new one form, for example, popping up under our main street. They seem to love their work, of course. The shaky islands are actually quite capable of flipping their lid, as it were.
Well I am sure that should one of our rumbling giants blow their stacks, you will hear about this. On a daily basis we carry on undaunted. And likewise one has to carry on undaunted by the challenges of life in general. Within a few weeks Spring will be here, on paper anyway. Daylight saving will kick in at the end of September and the long summer days will change our lives for a while (assuming that in the multi-climatic days of our beloved city, summer will break through). And then it will be Advent before you can say Christmas! What an exciting prospect!
Stay safe and keep warm! Kia kaha in the mighty power of God!
When I wrote in June I confessed my role as pianist at church. This too continues, and what a fascinating job it is. I really don't mind leading from keys. I do have to practice more of course! I took a five year break from that kind of thing. Our local church continues to shiver through the cold months with a lot of flu and sick people here and there. The heaters help of course! Our house on the other hand is vacuous and damp downstairs. So we do tend to move from warm room to pre- heated next rooms, if that makes sense. Roll on summer.
The last weeks have been preoccupied by various athletes doing amazing things in London. The kiwi teams have done pretty well considering how small the country is. And we have revisited watching too much TV - only those with Sky sport have multiple channels with all the events. And of course there have been some great South African successes too.
Our only break over this period was a weekend back in Wellington. The windy city was sunny and calm for three days of our four, and the fourth was mild. We enjoyed "Fame" - a joint musical between Scots College and Queen Margaret College. Great talent and amazing energy - and it was brilliant to catch up with so many people. And there were various meals over the weekend with all kinds of friends. A real treat.
Sixteen months down the track I have only had one week's leave. Thankfully we will escape in September for a two week break! Crossing the ditch has never been so attractive (and believe me our Australian trips are always wonderful).
So what great pearls of wisdom do I have for you this August 12th? Probably very little that's new. I'm thinking that there needs to be a publication coming up called "Chicken soup for the Pastor". At a particularly challenging point I asked a friend what kept him going. He referred me to Peterson's latest book "The Pastor - a Memoir". Worth a look if you are into this kind of thing. Here we go then:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/march/petersonpastorsjourney.html
I will get to finish it this time - unlike many books I start. I am rediscovering something of the essence of this pastor thing - in that I am slowly getting to know people in their place. It takes time of course. The pastor's job is less about performance and entertainment, less about planning and control - and more about responding to the interruptions in our living and looking out for what God is doing in our lives. That takes time - and off course you simply have to set the tone and direction as a leader. Sheep - in theory - will follow.
On the national front, we have had a long spell of recovery from earthquakes (which for our friends in Christchurch is mainly too long) - and our latest traumas are coming from volcanoes rumbling away. We have two busy mountains right now. And of course the very nice man on TV (a vocanologist I believe) - when asked about the volcanoes under this city, proceeded to mention that we are more likely to have a new one form, for example, popping up under our main street. They seem to love their work, of course. The shaky islands are actually quite capable of flipping their lid, as it were.
Well I am sure that should one of our rumbling giants blow their stacks, you will hear about this. On a daily basis we carry on undaunted. And likewise one has to carry on undaunted by the challenges of life in general. Within a few weeks Spring will be here, on paper anyway. Daylight saving will kick in at the end of September and the long summer days will change our lives for a while (assuming that in the multi-climatic days of our beloved city, summer will break through). And then it will be Advent before you can say Christmas! What an exciting prospect!
Stay safe and keep warm! Kia kaha in the mighty power of God!
Saturday, 9 June 2012
The heat is on
Yes yes - an odd title as the middle of winter is so close to us. Auckland, luckily for us, remains quite pleasant while others around these wobbly islands are shovelling snow and battling horizontal rain as is the practice. The sun remains a feature in our daily routine and I can still walk the dog and chat to the silver birches down the road without being drenched or attacked by savages.
The heat is on in all kinds of other ways. My work has involved some interesting challenges which have kept me on my toes, so to speak. The pastor can never claim the immunity of the pianist ("don't shoot me, I am only the pianist" etc), but there it is then. There are these special moments each week - like the little children at mainly music on a Friday (I have my favourites of course and most of them are quite indiscriminate in their affection) - and a visiting lady from Korea who thanked me today (long after many had gone and not in that obligatory and old fashioned way). There was an amazing sense that an angel had crossed the threshold. Her words were a balm and an encouragement.
In terms of the heat being on, I am reading another of NT Wright's books (Surprised by Hope) in which some untertakers' stories are told as he introduces the modern take on death and dying. I do commend it to you. http://www.amazon.com/Surprised-Hope-Rethinking-Resurrection-Mission/dp/0061551821
In the narrative he tells of various artifacts placed in coffins of the deceased by family members including a lady who put two aerosol cans in with her late husband - spray cans of glue which he had used to keep his toupee on. Naturally the explosion in the crematorium oven was quite severe and bent the door of the furnace. Perhaps there is a lesson there somewhere about something. I'm not sure what but it is rather interesting. As the book develops it re enforces my suspicions that we have missed the point in our folksy views on heaven and the modern happy-death experiences espoused by many. Hopefully I finish this one (the book of course). I love the theme of hope too - I need lots in my life.
So why is my work such a challenge? That's a good question. I suppose in a sense it's the change in routine. So much of the week is spent preparing for one day of the week! I also miss the hordes of teenagers I encountered in my former role - young people who not only told it the way it is (or seemed to them at any rate) but also came to get help with admirable courage and honesty. I do miss that!
What's next as winter comes our way? I will keep you posted if there are any major developments. The sun has wandered off and some impertinent drizzle is attacking my window. The dog, dear friend that she is, has crawled under the bed and thus remains close to me as I write. For those of you who pray - your prayers are always valued immensely. May you find strength and grace in your journey if you too find that the heat is on.
For now I will keep reading NT Wright. I mentioned over Easter that the paradox of the resurrection story is that the future breaks into the present. Tom Wright seems to be moving in the direction of that kind of thinking. I might have to change my will at some point and opt for burial rather than cremation. Not that Wright insists that this is the logical consequence of his views. But it seems so decently orthodox and restful. And of course there will be no explosive consequences should anyone choose to pop something in the box before it slips out of sight.
Ah well. Then we shall see face to face. It will all make sense, according to 1 Corinthians 13.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
The heat is on in all kinds of other ways. My work has involved some interesting challenges which have kept me on my toes, so to speak. The pastor can never claim the immunity of the pianist ("don't shoot me, I am only the pianist" etc), but there it is then. There are these special moments each week - like the little children at mainly music on a Friday (I have my favourites of course and most of them are quite indiscriminate in their affection) - and a visiting lady from Korea who thanked me today (long after many had gone and not in that obligatory and old fashioned way). There was an amazing sense that an angel had crossed the threshold. Her words were a balm and an encouragement.
In terms of the heat being on, I am reading another of NT Wright's books (Surprised by Hope) in which some untertakers' stories are told as he introduces the modern take on death and dying. I do commend it to you. http://www.amazon.com/Surprised-Hope-Rethinking-Resurrection-Mission/dp/0061551821
In the narrative he tells of various artifacts placed in coffins of the deceased by family members including a lady who put two aerosol cans in with her late husband - spray cans of glue which he had used to keep his toupee on. Naturally the explosion in the crematorium oven was quite severe and bent the door of the furnace. Perhaps there is a lesson there somewhere about something. I'm not sure what but it is rather interesting. As the book develops it re enforces my suspicions that we have missed the point in our folksy views on heaven and the modern happy-death experiences espoused by many. Hopefully I finish this one (the book of course). I love the theme of hope too - I need lots in my life.
So why is my work such a challenge? That's a good question. I suppose in a sense it's the change in routine. So much of the week is spent preparing for one day of the week! I also miss the hordes of teenagers I encountered in my former role - young people who not only told it the way it is (or seemed to them at any rate) but also came to get help with admirable courage and honesty. I do miss that!
What's next as winter comes our way? I will keep you posted if there are any major developments. The sun has wandered off and some impertinent drizzle is attacking my window. The dog, dear friend that she is, has crawled under the bed and thus remains close to me as I write. For those of you who pray - your prayers are always valued immensely. May you find strength and grace in your journey if you too find that the heat is on.
For now I will keep reading NT Wright. I mentioned over Easter that the paradox of the resurrection story is that the future breaks into the present. Tom Wright seems to be moving in the direction of that kind of thinking. I might have to change my will at some point and opt for burial rather than cremation. Not that Wright insists that this is the logical consequence of his views. But it seems so decently orthodox and restful. And of course there will be no explosive consequences should anyone choose to pop something in the box before it slips out of sight.
Ah well. Then we shall see face to face. It will all make sense, according to 1 Corinthians 13.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Sunday, 20 May 2012
40 Hour Famine • World Vision • Robin Palmer's profile
40 Hour Famine • World Vision • Robin Palmer's profile
Hi everyone - please have a look at this and consider some support for World Vision this year. The Famine here in New Zealand is for development in drought stricken West Africa - in Mali and Niger!
I am challenging the combined total of our youth group who are working on this project as well!
Greetings from Auckland!
Robin
Hi everyone - please have a look at this and consider some support for World Vision this year. The Famine here in New Zealand is for development in drought stricken West Africa - in Mali and Niger!
I am challenging the combined total of our youth group who are working on this project as well!
Greetings from Auckland!
Robin
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