Jesus in the storm

You may remember the song "You raise me up" made popular by Westlife but originally by Secret Garden. There is a line in it that I think sums up life.


"When troubles come and my heart burdened be"

All of us have struggles as some point in our lives, storms to brave and overcome. Some of us can manage it on our own, sometimes, others need help. Understanding our need for help and having the courage to call out, to ask, is so important.

John Donne wrote

"No man is an island, entire of itself .." as he put down his thoughts and he goes on to suggest that each has impact on each other, we rely on each other. You can read the whole mediation here.

The disciples in the boat on the stormy lake, were afraid for their lives while Jesus slept in the boat, unconcerned about the turbulence of the storm. The disciples knew the waters, they fished there for a living, but the storm was beyond their ability. Jesus awoke, calmed the storm and peace returned.

The disciples needed something as they were beyond their abilities, sometimes we need help, from friends, relatives, even from complete strangers. Admitting the need is a strength not a weakness.

When we call on Jesus, all things are possible. Storms calmed, illness healed, lives changed. Recognising our need for him in our lives is a strength that will produce a rich reward. Life in all its fullness, life that will not be trouble free, but life that has the help that we need to deal with them and overcome them. Turning to him can never be a sign of weakness or failure but a sign of strength.

A tinted view

There are some news stories that really make me wonder what we are about in this country.

Stories like that of Edwina Currie questioning if food banks were really needed in Britain, just reinforce the issues raised late last year by other politicians questioning food  banks and their supposed agenda. Then there is the issue of benefits claim reform and of course the building up of fear of the possible influx of European union nationals as more countries have joined and now take advantage of migration opportunities. Before anyone thinks this is a comment on the current government, we have also to ask why we are in the economic mess we are in, since that has created many of the problems and fears? Politicians often look through tinted windows seeing only what they want to see.

Possible those giving out their opinions and those converting them to print or news bytes, might benefit from getting a ground level view. It seems to me that being detached from the real folks, those that struggle, those that can't make ends meet, those that have been caught up in the pay day loans cycle of debt, those who can't find a job that enables them to support themselves and their families, gives a view through a tinted window.

Its all too simple to focus on the negative, those who abuse benefits, those who abuse the hospitality of another country, those who use food banks but have the funds for tattoos and pet food. All too simple to miss the point that many more in our country do rely on food banks (as many in Harlow do), can't find jobs with adequate pay, struggle when benefits claims changes remove all payments during reassessment and many migrant workers positively contribute to the economy of this land. The windows being looked through are tinted.

What's all this  got to do with faith in Jesus? Well quite a lot, in my view. The other day I conducted a funeral and after meeting the family of the person selected this passage to read ...

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

I got to thinking again about what this means as a follower of Jesus. We are called to wipe the tints off of the windows we look through and regardless of our politics, regardless of our economic situation, recognise that many do need help, support, comfort and compassion and that we might well be able to help to give it. Food banks and Credit Unions are a part of that, they are not perfect but imperfect is, in my opinion, better than nothing at all.

There is no doubt that reforms of our social systems are needed but they should surely focus on fairness with compassion and dignity? Jesus showed His compassion over and over during His earthly ministry, going against the established norms of the day to include, encourage and heal many on the margins of life. Shouldn't we be the same?

Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

Happy christmas 2013

 This year we have sent cards to our far away friends but not to the those in Harlow Baptist Church, our home church, opting instead to give the money we would have spent to Operation Christmas Child and putting a card in the church hall instead. Different, maybe, but hopefully the lack of a card for some will help others who really need to hear "Happy Christmas" who might not have otherwise heard that wonderful greeting.

Our prayer is that this Christmas, whatever you are each doing, where ever you are going to be - at home, with friends, with relatives or on your own, you will know the joy of Christmas and be able to celebrate it, knowing that God is with us "Immanuel".

We will be celebrating as we sing carols with all of our friends at Harlow Baptist Church, we hope you will be able to celebrate with a church near you. Go on treat yourselves this Christmas :-)

Happy Christmas, to all of those who read this blog and to all of our friends.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

from Tony and Nicola

Telling the story

As I prepared for Christmas this year, a theme kept recurring, that of telling the story. As I pondered this I began once again to marvel at the breadth of God's story in the bible. The thread that runs through all of it, showing how much God cares about his creation and in particular, humanity.

I sat this week in a carol service, not one that I had organised, so was able to simply participate without any responsibility and absorb the thoughts and challenges as well as singing carols. One of the items was a series of interviews with folks in the street of the town where the service took place. People were asked some questions about Christmas like:

 "What's your favourite at Christmas?".
 "What is Christmas all about?"
"What is the Christmas story?"

And so on ...

A number had no idea that Jesus Christ was the point or that the story is more than just a nice tale which means we can party, meet friends, family and enjoy lots of food and presents.

Another discussion on another occasion, reminded me that for many children and young people today, there is no understanding of the Christmas story as in the bible.

So the point of these thoughts? Well you may recall, if you read the bible, that God told the Israelites to make sure they continued to tell the story of his great miracles and works for them, of his goodness. "Tell your children and your children's children" . It is repeated in a number of places.

So that's our role, to tell the story, tell it with joy and wonder, tell of the great things that God has done and continues to do for us. Tell of the God who has come among us, to help us find him once again, to bring to fruition all that he promised throughout scripture. Tell of the God who performed miracles in insignificant peoples' lives and brought John the Baptist and Jesus into the world, of the God who sent amazing Angels to bring messages to Mary, Zechariah and the shepherds outside Bethlehem.

Some will think its good that fewer know the whole story and that its time it vanished altogether, Christingle services, Carols services, Christmas services will all see many who don't know the story. I say let people hear the whole story and be allowed to make their own minds up. Lets tell the story and speak it out and let people know the whole story and not the sound bites that are so often a part of media culture today.

Share the story in your own family over Christmas as well.

Tell the story to a world that deserves the whole story.

A great gift

Last week I shared a posting on my facebook page which reflected my views on Halloween being celebrated by dressing up children to look like things from horror films. The result was a number of positive and negative comments on the article and some interesting discussions.

Always tricky when faith seems to indicate that we can't simple go with the flow. However it does call us to mind that while God's people are called to be a prophetic voice, often in the wilderness of the society in which we live, the way we live speaks out more about us than critical, judgemental words about the way those who don't share our beliefs, live theirs.

Simply nay saying others while we don't behave any differently is never going to impress anyone. However the gift we have is to be different and to show how amazing a community God's church is when it lives God's way.

God gave us a great gift, an amazing gift, in Jesus. A chance to be all that God wants us to be, free from the pulls and draws of so many things that damage our lives and force us to be less than God's best for us.

I reflected a little more as I prepared for remembrance Sunday as we were going to be looking at Micah 4:1-5, God's word through the prophet had been telling the people that God had had enough of their wrong doing and was going to bring war. But the hope, the gift embedded into this was a promise that peace would come and it would bring an incredible restoration. Peace is another great gift that God promises. In that peace, strong nations will resolve their differences by coming to God, people will be secure and safe - God's desire will be our desire.

Church Community

Some one recently said to me, having come to church a few times, that they had had no idea that church did anything outside of Sunday services. They commented that they had been deeply affected by the non judgemental welcome they received and were amazed at the way the community of the church works all of the time, supporting each other, caring about and for each other and being there for them as well.

By this will all people know that you are my disciples, Jesus said. Our great gift to others, is not to put them down or exclude them for not understanding our faith or our desire to live differently, no, its the fact that by living differently we can in fact be an attractive people, living at peace, living in love, living in community for each other. A community which draws others and welcomes them and allows God to transform their lives as he is ours.