Alan's Harrogate Baptist Blog

lookalike

2010-11-15T12:28:00.005Z

Yesterday a member of the congregation indicated that she thought I looked like Neil Diamond. The fact that he is 10 years older than me did not do much for my ego. But it reminded me of a similar comparison while I was a student. I was in a church for 4 weeks doing a summer placement. After the first Sunday a member of the congregation mentioned that she thought I looked a bit like Rabbie Burns. She had just got a book out of the library about the great man.(I was thin and dark haired in those days). The following Sunday she apologized profusely for having made the comparison. By then she had read the book and learned about his life! I am not sure about either comparison but if I look at the two pictures perhaps I can see just how I have aged.

New member of the family.

2010-11-04T20:02:00.003Z

It is ages since I blogged. But I thought that I would post in honour of the latest edition to the family. Rhianna Joy Scott was born at home in Stourbridge at 9.45pm on the 3rd of November. She weighed in at 7lbs 9oz. Annette and I are delighted grandparents and we can't wait to go and see her and hold her. Congratulations to her parents, Andy and Shona. Andy will now be sharing a house with 4 females! He will be totally outnumbered and hopefully totally spoiled by all 4.

back to work

2010-07-25T16:34:00.003+01:00

Warm sunshine in Italy. Days spent with the family in the West Midlands. Holidays are now over and it is back to work. First week back turned out to be busier than anticipated and now it is our Holiday Club week at church. For a week our church hall will be turned into Rocky's Plaice - a chip shop church!
The hall is now set up and it looks good. The wonderful Holiday Club team are primed and ready to go. Tomorrow morning 40 children are booked in. I am sure it will be a great week. ( I am led to believe that at some point during the week it will indeed be a chip shop church!).

Not to be

2010-06-25T19:33:00.003+01:00

Disappointed that Italy have failed miserably at the World Cup. I was hoping that I might be able to watch the world cup final while in Italy on holiday. Being in a town square filled with passionate Italian fans watching their team on a big screen would have been fun ( and blessed with sunshine too, of course).
I suppose I will just need to enjoy the sunshine!

Vuvuzela

2010-06-22T16:07:00.003+01:00

I am indebted to my good friend Humph who sent me this information -

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1106238

"The Nazareth Baptist Church (Shembe) in KwaZulu-Natal, which claims that the vuvuzela is its invention, has threatened to go court to stop its use during the World Cup if the church is not compensated....".

This Sunday I will be sharing a vuvuzela duet with Jonah.

World Cup fever

2010-06-17T18:10:00.003+01:00

I went to pick Annette up with the shopping at Sainsbury's this afternoon. As usual she takes longer than I would expect. As I looked at the World Cup section, I could not resist.
I will use it on Sunday morning as part of the 'word to the children'.

In three weeks time, just before the World Cup final, we will be in in Italy on holiday. I am hoping Italy get to the final. I might then be able to find a big screen in the town square filled with enthusiastic Italian supporters. But after their performance in the first round of matches my hope might be a forlorn one.

World Cup

2010-05-24T09:40:00.003+01:00

Just under 3 weeks until the start of the World Cup in South Africa. Sadly once again my nation will not be represented. As it happens I will be on holiday ( in Italy) for the latter stages of the competition.

In preparation for the World Cup the Church of England has produced some prayers for the occasion. The 3 prayers have been written by the Right Rev Nick Baines, the Bishop of Croydon.

A prayer for all those involved

Lord of all the nations, who played the cosmos into being, guide, guard and protect all who work or play in the World Cup.
May all find in this competition a source of celebration, an experience of common humanity and a growing attitude of generous sportsmanship to others. Amen

A prayer for the host nation

God of the nations, who has always called his people to be a blessing for the world, bless all who take part in the World Cup. Smile on South Africa in her hosting, on the nations represented in competition and on those who travel to join in the party.
Amen

A prayer for those just not interested

Lord, as all around are gripped with World Cup fever, bless us with understanding, strengthen us with patience and grant us the gift of sympathy if needed. Amen

The first prayer seems to picture God launching the cosmos into being perhaps like a goalkeeper sending the ball up field? Is that stretching the account of creation a bit far?

The second prayer is a good general prayer about all the people involved. I hope the competition will be a blessing to the people of South Africa.

But is the third prayer anticipating the sympathy that will need to shown when a certain nation fails to fulfill its potential again?

At Harrogate Baptist we are planning to show the England games on a big screen in a family friendly venue. I am looking forward to it.

PR

2010-05-10T23:02:00.004+01:00

I was asked today if I could explain the different forms of Proportional Representation. I had to confess that my knowledge of this subject is sadly lacking. But in view of what is now at the heart of the discussions about forming a coalition government, I will need to get studying.
Watching as the results began to come in on election night I was struck by the number of times I heard politicians speak of the need for humility. As it became clear that there was likely to be a hung parliament, so it was suggested that politicians would need to act with humility and accept that this is how the people have voted. Hopefully in the on-going discussions taking place at the moment there will be humility expressed. It would surely do all our politicians good to take note of Philippians 2:3-4.

On another note - on Sunday afternoon I watched my team receive the SPL trophy. That makes for a world record of 53 Championships. Of course, I mention this in all humility!

Joy and sadness

2010-04-12T12:01:00.002+01:00

Back to work this morning after a lovely weekend off. The sun shone on the West Midlands. We enjoyed spending time with the family on Esther's third birthday. Among her lovely presents was Maddie the doll. Maddie burps very realistically at the appropriate moment. You can imagine the hilarity!

After the enjoyment of the weekend, this morning began with the news of the death of one of the members of the congregation. His death came tragically and far too young. He leaves behind a family who are understandably stunned. The congregation will be equally stunned to hear the news. Planned theme for this Sunday will need to be revised.

Easter

2010-04-04T18:43:00.002+01:00

It has been a busy week in the run up to Easter. Holy Week prayer breakfasts every morning( Monday to Sunday). Today we celebrated Easter after the prayer breakfast with a quiet and reflective communion service and then a Family Celebration Service which was much more upbeat in style. It has been a good week all round. Tomorrow will be a day off and maybe a nice lie-in.

Mad as a Scottish Hatter

2010-03-20T14:48:00.004Z

Annette and I went to the cinema this week to see Alice in Wonderland. Unfortunately we got there to discover that the 3D had broken down. As we had booked online we decided to take a small refund and watch it in normal 2D.
We enjoyed the film. But I was slightly miffed that the Mad Hatter used a thick Glaswegian accent when revealing his darker side. Could he not have chosen to use a nice plummy southern accent for that part of his character? I remember too that in a Donald Duck film of some years ago, Scrooge McDuck also had a Scottish accent.

But I must not get paranoid about such things and become like some football fans north of the border.( the ones whose team never ever lose fairly it seems. It is all a conspiracy).

Freedom

2010-03-06T16:58:00.004Z

Spoke at a U3A discussion group yesterday. I decided to reflect on the issue of religious freedom in the light of all the discussion with regard to the Equality Bill which is going through Parliament at the moment.
I began with the fact that at the heart of why the Baptists came into being was the issue of religious freedom and I quoted from 'The Mystery of Iniquity' by Thomas Helwys -

"For men's religion to God is between God and themselves. The king shall not answer for it. Neither may the king be judge between God and man. Let them be heretics, Jews, Turks or whatever, it pertains not to the earthly power to punish them in the least measure".

I also quoted some words spoken by the Archbishop of York when speaking recently in the House of Lords.

“Successive legislation over the past 35 years has always recognized the principle that religious organizations need the freedom to impose requirements in relation to belief and conduct that go beyond what a secular employer should be able to require.
“Noble Lords may believe that Roman Catholics should allow priests to be married; they may think that the Church of England should hurry up and allow women to become bishops; they may feel that many churches and other religious organizations are wrong on matters of sexual ethics. But if religious freedom means anything, it must mean that those are matters for the churches and other religious organizations to determine in accordance with their own convictions. They are not matters for the law to impose.”

Same sentiment from different eras and from men of different church traditions.

And on a very different subject. Annette and I had a walk today to Harlow Carr, a snack at Bettys and a stroll home through the pine woods and Valley Gardens into the town and home. Then there was time to watch the final 30 minutes from Ibrox. Another 3 points in the bag to add to last Sundays brilliant result.

Pancakes

2010-02-16T18:27:00.007Z

Once again our Guide Company's Pancake Supper provided excellent pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. I was very restrained and only had two this year. It was good to seethe event was well attended.
Of course, it is also a reminder that tomorrow,Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning Lent.
This year I am planning to use a Lent Study on 'Christ and the Chocolaterie' which uses themes from the film Chocolat as a stimulus to reflection and discussion. For Sunday preaching I am torn between two approaches which were both suggested by Lutheran New Testament scholars. One suggestion is to use the theme of 'wilderness' which can be seen to represent an in-between space - 'a space of testing, trial, learning, discovery, and transformation outside the established rhythms and norms of community life.'(Dwight Zscheile). The other suggestion is to use Lent as a journey to the baptistery. The themes would be doorway, tomb, womb, bath, spring. As I am away this Sunday in order to attend a very important 5th birthday celebration, I still have a few days to ponder which suggestion to follow.

Cober Hill

2010-02-11T12:19:00.002Z

The annual YBA ministers' conference at Cober Hill (Cloughton, near Scarborough) was a very enjoyable 3 days this week. The speaker was the Dean of Chester Cathedral, Trevor Dennis, whose subject was 'Listen again; Stories of the Old Testament - a fresh look at Ruth and Jonah'. His input was excellent as he talked us through these two very familiar stories. As always it was good to meet up with colleagues and the food at Cober Hill is also very good.
It is back down to earth today with tonight's study group to prepare for and also Sunday morning to get ready. This Sunday will end a short series of sermons on the theme of 'epiphany'.

sermons

2010-02-07T19:16:00.003Z

Two members of the congregation very kindly passed on a newspaper cutting with the results of a survey carried out by Durham University. The survey revealed -

99.6% of churchgoers looked forward to the sermon.

When asked about how long they wanted a sermon to last -

Catholics - 10 minutes

Anglicans - 10-20 minutes

Baptists - 1 hour 15 minutes

Where did they find the Baptists who gave that answer?

Youth Group weekend away

2010-02-05T19:48:00.004Z

Just about to head off and visit the Youth Group on the first night of their weekend away. The venue is a Boys Brigade owned building in the small Hamlet of Glasshouses which is in the Nidd Valley just over 12 miles from Harrogate. The accommodation is basic but the young people love it. After doing an epilogue I will drive the 12 miles back to Harrogate to the warmth and comfort of my own bed ( having declined the kind offer of staying the night there).

Burns Night

2010-01-25T18:37:00.003Z

Could not let today pass without a mention of Robert Burns and the remarkable fact that across the world at this time of year the man and his poetry will be celebrated.
Harrogate St Andrew's Society held its Burns Night on Saturday with all the traditional elements included.
Tonight I have been invited by the Guide Company attached to the church to join them for a kind of mini Burns Supper. But I will need to work for my haggis, neeps and tatties by reciting the Selkirk grace and also give the 'address to the haggis'( a shorter version though).
The faults and follies of Burns are well known. But in his young life he did write some remarkable poetry. Is there a better celebration of the worth of the ordinary person than 'A man's a man for a that'? Is there a better love song than 'My love is like a red red rose'? Is there a better expression of that call to battle than 'Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled'?
Sir Walter Scott said of him - "Long life to thy fame and peace to thy soul, Robert Burns. When I want to express a sentiment which I feel strongly, I find the phrase in Shakespeare or thee...."

the end of a snowy week

2010-01-08T17:40:00.003Z

A clear sign of the kind of weather we are having in Harrogate was the sight of a mother and son skiing along our street yesterday on the way to school. The only other time I remember seeing someone ski past our house was in Elland, West Yorkshire in the early 80's when we had at least two very snowy weekends there.

All my meetings have been cancelled this week. I have done a fair bit of 'telephone' visiting rather than try and get round on foot or by car.

Annette and I are just about to get wrapped up and walk into town for my slightly delayed birthday meal out.

Birthday snow

2010-01-05T15:50:00.005Z

Snow fell steadily this morning on my birthday. Sadly I have not had time to enjoy it and no grandchildren nearby to enjoy it with. The weather will mean that this will be a much quieter week in terms of meetings. If I need the car I will need to clear the drive. The last time I remember snow like this was when we lived in West Yorkshire - more than 20 years ago.

New Year

2010-01-03T22:54:00.003Z

More snow fell in Harrogate during Saturday evening and it meant there was a good covering this morning. It would have been better if the snow had fallen a day earlier and I could have enjoyed it with our grandchildren before they went back home after 4 nights with us. This morning I did miss my two human alarm clocks insisting that grampa should get up because it was breakfast time.

Despite the snow this morning there was a good congregation for the first Sunday of the New Year. As usual it included communion and a covenant prayer shared by all.
Morning service was followed by a delightful lunch with friends.
It will very much back to normal now, although the weather forecast suggests that more snow is on the way.

Santa's a Scotsman

2009-12-29T08:35:00.004Z

I heard this song on Ken Bruce's Radio 2 show in the week before Christmas and it made me smile. But as I recall from my childhood, the Santas I met always had a Scottish accent.

"It's Christmas time in Scotland, and my kid said to me.....
Just one question Daddy , before I go to sleep....
How will Santa find me , so I said.. wherever he may roam,
Santa will find you because he's coming home

Don't You Know
Santa's A Scotsman
He's Loved Everywhere he goes
He moved form Glasgow to Lapland...following Rudolf's nose
Don't you know
Santa's A Scotsman... Come on make a fuss
Too many pies not enough exercise....of course he's one of us."

Annette and I are now looking forward to the family arriving today. I think I may teach my grandchildren the song and they can sing it with their Black Country accents.

Snow

2009-12-18T12:42:00.003Z

Snow began to fall around tea time yesterday and now we have a nice covering. Sadly I have no grandchildren nearby to give me an excuse to get out and make a snowman or throw some snowballs.
Thankfully, I have no meetings to attend which would mean getting the car out. Instead, I will walk across the snow covered Stray this afternoon to make a hospital visit to a member who has had surgery on both knees. She reminded me on Sunday that when I visit she won't have a leg to stand on - boom boom!!

Advent 3

2009-12-14T12:40:00.003Z

Yesterday I decided to preach on the awesome call of the prophet Isaiah described in chapter 6. In preparing for this during the week I came across this illustration which I found on the Text This Week website.

"The story is told of a young American student who was from the north of the country but went down south to spend some time with relatives. These relatives worshipped in a small country church. The young student was taken aback when he went to church and saw the exuberance of the people - the dancing and jumping and actions. His aunt who was alongside him saw his perplexity and perhaps unease and said:
Don’t worry honey - it aint how high they jump that matters it is what they do when they come down."

It is an illustration that applies no matter how we experience God in our worship and in our lives.

St Andrew

2009-11-30T23:30:00.004Z

A few years ago I had the opportunity to preach at a St Andrew's day service which fell on Advent Sunday. As I thought about St Andrew and Advent it did seem to me that Andrew can be a seen as an 'advent character'. From the little we know of Andrew from the Gospels the major characteristic which comes across was that he often cleared a path for others to meet with Jesus. It was Andrew who encouraged his brother Peter to come and meet Jesus. It was Andrew was brought the boy with the 5 loaves and fish to Jesus. It was Andrew who enabled some Greek speaking enquirers to get near to Jesus.
Andrew was not among the inner circle of the disciples like his brother. We learn precious little about him from the Gospels. A disciple who perhaps was very much in the background and yet whose quiet contribution was on occasions very telling. Praise God for Andrew and also for my native land on this St Andrew's day.

Advent

2009-11-27T12:14:00.006Z

This has been a busy week following on from my 2 weeks of holiday which saw Annette and I visiting family in Scotland and our grandchildren in the West Midlands. One of the highlights was that on the way north we stopped for lunch and I had delicious Scotch Pie. Why are there no butchers in Harrogate who could stock genuine Scotch pies and sliced sausages??

I am now looking forward to a busy weekend. The Showstoppers Holiday Club reunion party is on Saturday afternoon with over 40 children booked in. Saturday evening will be the time for getting into my kilt to attend the Harrogate St Andrew's Society annual dinner to mark St Andrew's day.
Sunday morning is our bi monthly Parade service and is, of course, Advent Sunday.

The season of Advent was not one which I remember featuring at all in my growing up in a Lanarkshire Baptist Church. But it is a time I look forward to now. On Sunday morning we will use this hymn from the Iona Community to set us on our way -

Advent is a time of waiting
for the life that is to be.
When the Christ, by prophets promised,
sits enthroned on Mary’s knee,
human in the way that we are;
come to earth for you and me.

Choirs of angels are rehearsing,
‘Glory to our God on high.’
Shepherds in the field are watching
where their bleating charges lie.
Distant magi, waiting, restless,
scan the dark mysterious sky.

Hope is all our theme for Advent,
hope for all the human race.
All our hope on God is founded,
God who shows a human face
God who made the Earth and planets
now appears in time and space.

Josie Smith.

the church in its most local setting

2009-11-13T09:42:00.003Z

Yesterday's daily 'Verse & Voice' email from the Sojourners contained the following thought-provoking quote:-

The Christian faith for most people is not communicated by doctrinal pronouncements ... but by what goes on in the church in its most local setting. It is here, in the church down the street, that people are caught up in the Gospel promise -- or are turned away. (James C. Fenhagen, from his book Mutual Ministry)

I am on holiday at the moment and will be heading to Scotland early next week and then back down the M6 to visit the family.

Remembrance Sunday

2009-11-06T12:14:00.006Z

Below is one of the images I intend to use on Sunday. In 1999 Annette and I had a wonderful holiday in Italy which included a visit to the Monastery founded at Monte Cassino by Benedict in the 6th Century. From there the Benedictine order began and spread across the world. Monte Cassino was also the site of ferocious battle during the second world war. Many soldiers lost their lives and the monastery was badly damaged. The monastery was rebuilt and now stands above a cemetery where over 4000 British and Commonwealth service personnel are buried or commemorated. The image captures the monastery overlooking the cemetery. It brings the thought of Jesus overlooking Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday, weeping and saying "If you, even you,had only recognised on this day the things that make for peace".
The monastery, a place of study, worship and prayer, overlooking a stark reminder of the consequences of conflict. If only we could recognise the things that make for peace.

2009-11-01T18:01:00.005Z

I followed the Lectionary Readings for today and used Mark 12:28-34 as the passage on which the sermon was based. The Old Testament Reading was from Deuteronomy 6:1-9 which contains the words of the Shema - ‘Here O Israel…….’. With the children I used a powerpoint with some photographs of Jewish men wearing the Teffilin (a pair of black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Bible. The hand-tefillin, or shel yad, is worn by Jews wrapped around the arm, hand and fingers, while the head-tefillin, or shel rosh, is placed above the forehead. The Torah dictates that they should be worn to serve as a "sign" and "remembrance" that God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.) . I also showed them a mezuzah which is fixed to the doorframe of Jewish homes to fulfill the instruction to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house". I had been given one some years ago as a gift from someone who had visited the Holy Land. The teffilin and mezuzah are used in response to the words of the Shema which gives the instruction about the importance of remembering and obeying the Torah.
“The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts. 7 Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up. 8 Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder. Also tie them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses. Also write them on your gates.’ ( Deuteronomy 6)

I have always though the ‘mezuzah’ to be a powerful symbol to remind the people that in all their coming and going the Law of the Lord should be listened to and lived out.

The lead into this with the children was to tell them about one of my ‘pet hates’- seeing people who have written messages on their hands to help them remember something important.

When asked, at least half the congregation confessed to to sometimes writing messages on their hands!

Question Time

2009-10-23T17:18:00.004+01:00

Much blog space has been given over to this week's Question time. I don't often watch the programme nowadays but like millions of others tuned in to this one. I thought the programme was dreadful. It was almost exclusively focussed on Nick Griffin and the BNP.No current and topical issues got an airing. Nick Griffin really came across as out of his depth, nervous, unimpressive and his appearance will certainly not have done his reputation or that of his party any good at all( which is a good thing).
But according to the newspapers today it would seem that the whole programme was engineered to focus on Griffin and now he is claiming 'victim status'. I am sure a normal Question Time programme which discussed a whole range of topics would have exposed Griffin's( and that of the BNP)shortcomings. Now the issue will run and run. But I suppose the BBC bosses will be patting each other on the back because viewing figures for the programme exceeded that of Strictly Come Dancing( which in my mind is another cringe worthy programme).
I confess that I channel hopped at times on Thursday and watched some highlights(?) of Celtic-Hamburg. That too was not very impressive either although the final score did not cause me any grief.

Fruit clock

2009-10-19T10:52:00.008+01:00

The fruit of the Spirit(Galatians) was the overall theme from yesterday. As a visual aid for the the congregation I produced my fruit powered clock which I had bought over the internet some weeks ago. Fruit can be used to power a small digital clock given the right conditions. What gracious power should there be in the fruit produced through the lives of God's people in the world? How about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?

Over the weekend I read a brief article from the Scottish Composer, James MacMillan. In the article he described a Burns Supper as being a parody of the Roman Catholic Mass and therefore, I suppose, an anti Roman Catholic occasion. I think Mr MacMillan should stick to writing his music which could hardly be described as accessible or popular to the vast majority of the population of his native land who probably have no idea who he is.

Baptism

2009-10-13T17:19:00.011+01:00

Sunday's baptism was a great occasion. Rachel( the one being baptised) spoke wonderfully and had chosen a whole range of hymns/songs for the service. As you would expect from a 16 year old for whom Soul Survivor has played a major part in her Christian journey, most of the music was contemporary. But two of the hymns she chose went back to the beginning of the 20th Century -
'All to Jesus I surrender' by J.W. Van De Venter which I can remember singing as part of a Junior Choir in Larkhall. The cyber hymnal website quotes the words of the author - ' For some time I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing. The song was written in 1896.
and
'I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene' by Charles H. Gabriel who was a profilic evangelistic song writer in the early 1900's. It is a hymn which I must have sung from the Sankey hymn book we used in Larkhall at the evening services.
Maybe some of the older hymns will make a comeback, but perhaps only if they are sung in a way that has a more contemporary feel.

the year 2016

2009-10-07T11:15:00.016+01:00

Felt slightly annoyed when I heard the shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, indicate that as part of the plan to put the economy in shape he would raise the retirement age for men to 66 in the year 2016. The initial annoyance stems from the fact that, God willing, just 5 days into 2016 I will be 65. It could mean that I will need to work another year before becoming eligible for the state pension.

I then began to feel a bit selfish. The problem the nation is facing is far bigger than me and as Mr Osborne said - We are all in this together. So, I have recovered myself and no longer feel annoyed. Also, Mr Osborne's repeated phrase, "we are all in this together", gave me an idea for a sermon for Sunday's baptismal service. Perhaps we could also sing the song from High School Musical?

baptism

2009-10-05T12:06:00.003+01:00

Looking ahead now to Sunday and the second baptismal service this autumn. To help in the preparation of those being baptised I provide them with a series of daily readings for the days leading up to the Sunday. The idea and plan is one suggested during my College days by my late College Principal, the Revd R.E.O White. To his words I have added the prayer:

To the Creator
Who give life
We offer our life.

To the Saviour
Who gives love
We offer ourselves in love

To the Holy Spirit
Who gives himself
We ask to be filled.

In the power, peace and presence
of Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
we come to be baptized.

Only caught the last minutes of yesterday's Old Firm derby. Good result :-))

Sundays

2009-09-19T14:49:00.004+01:00

The Sundays seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment. Last week - baptismal service. Next week - Harvest thanksgiving. Three weeks time - baptismal service. It will be Advent, Christmas and New Year before before we know it. I also need to fit in two weeks holiday before the end of the year. They do say time passes more quickly the older you get.

Away fans

2009-09-19T14:41:00.005+01:00

Came across these pictures of a football stadium in Poland. I suppose it is one way to deal with the away fans. Now which away fans would I consider right for this? Up in Scotland the colours would be just right for Partick Thistle or even Motherwell. But if you look closely you might see the colour of the scarves being waved. Say no more.

"All over 60 welcome to this free event"

2009-09-10T16:34:00.006+01:00

Feeling slightly depressed today after a flier advertising an event to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Older Persons arrived from one of the Town Centre Churches. As I read it through the part which brought on this feeling was the line 'All over 60 welcome to this free event'.
I realized that in just 16 months time I will be eligible to attend the service of thanksgiving, the lunch and the concert.( and of course use my bus pass to get there).

mustard seed

2009-08-25T19:32:00.007+01:00

In the book 'Celtic Daily Prayer' there is the encouragement to pray that Christians may be faithfully planted as mustard-seeds of hope in the world. A considerable need and challenge in today's world.

To carry on the theme of planting here is a photo of a sunflower planted in our garden by our granddaughters and given some tlc by me. More photos to follow when the other plants finally flower.

Yorkshire Day

2009-08-01T12:04:00.004+01:00

'Yorkshire Day' has dawned wet and miserable here in Harrogate. Time, therefore, to do some updating of the blog. I have added some new pictures to the album on the left. Some of the pictures are from the Holiday Club week. A few of the other pictures show the family in various settings. With the rain today it is just as well I did some gardening yesterday!!

Showstoppers

2009-07-26T17:40:00.002+01:00

Holiday Club Family service this morning was led by the Showstoppers Cast. It brought to an end a great week when an average of 50 Primary School aged children met each weekday morning at church. The morning was filled with the usual mix of activities - music, movement, crafts, Bible stories, jokes, letters and fun. Already some of the children are asking when next year's Holiday club will be!
It was also great to have our grandchildren with us for part of the week. Emilia enjoyed being in the Potty Puppeteers and she and Esther soon caught on to the Showstoppers song. Hopefully some photos will follow.

Other good news this morning was a request for baptism from one of the Durban four.

Back to work

2009-07-18T16:33:00.003+01:00

After a lovely holiday in Italy and a couple of days spent with our grandchildren, it is back to work tomorrow. Monday morning will also see the beginning of another Holiday Club at Church. This year the title is 'Showstoppers' and the stories to be shared deal with 'creation', 'David's trust in God', 'Daniel who stays true to God in exile', 'God coming to earth in Jesus' and 'the death and resurrection of Jesus'. All the stories are vivid and lend themselves to the dramatic presentation used on the dvd which comes with all the material. The aim is to encourage the children( and the leaders) to engage with the stories. It promises to be a good week with just over 50 children booked in.
This morning the August edition of the Expository Times arrived. The last page is now entitled 'And finally' and is often an interesting and anecdotal comment - a welcome contrast to some of the other articles which sometimes go right over my head. In this month's final page Johnston McKay reflects on the Edinburgh Festival and quotes from a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, John McIntyre who wrote that if we believe we are made in the Image of a Creator God, then the way we reflect that is when we exercise our imaginations in creative ways. And so the creative artists are sharing a creativity which Christians believe to be inspired by God in whose image we have all been made.
The article ends - " And those who believe in Jesus' form of communication recognise that the creative story is more powerful in conveying truth than the dogmatic proposition. As Don Cupitt has pointed out, asking 'Am I in this story?' is a far more powerful invitation to join in a creative journey that 'Am I in this statement?'.
I hope Showstoppers will be a creative way of drawing children and adults into the story of our faith.

Holidays

2009-07-02T20:04:00.004+01:00

A two week holiday, part of which will be spent on the shores of Lake Garda, is almost here. I am already kind of demob happy. This has not been helped by a very hot day in North Yorshire today. Hopefully the Italian weather and the Italian food will be all that we hope for.

Calendar

2009-06-26T19:43:00.003+01:00

Read a suggestion this week that a calendar is a 'moral document' in the sense that it can reveal where our priorities lie. The suggestion was made particularly in terms of how much time parents give to their children.
I wander what our calendars/diaries reveal about our priorities?

2009-06-21T17:13:00.002+01:00

The final hymn this morning was from Baptist Praise & Worship - 'Jesus, life of all the world' by Margaret Clarkson. She was a Canadian school teacher who is remembered as a writer of over 100 hymns (3 of which are in Baptist Praise & Worship). She died in 2008.

The hymn, Jesus life of all the world, ends with this stirring prayer for the Church –

Jesus, life of all the world,
You are Lord of every nation;
By your Holy Spirit’s power
Make your Church your incarnation;
Till our lives of truth and grace
Show the world your human face.

downtrodden grass

2009-06-12T17:03:00.005+01:00

A recent 'Verse & Voice' email from the Sojourners included:-

As [Jesus] came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes."
- Luke 19:41-42

and

When two elephants struggle, it is the grass that suffers.
- East African Proverb

A major outcome in our world when there is a struggle for dominance and power is often, as the proverb suggests, the 'grass' being downtrodden.

another good day

2009-05-30T19:30:00.003+01:00

Sun shone; a group of Fijians from the 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery, held a baptismal service at Harrogate Baptist in the afternoon and it was great to be there; I saw the second half of the Scottish Cup final on television and my team won. ( it also brought back thoughts of the 4 Scottish Cup finals I have attended at the old Hampden - 1962,1964,1969,1973. Three victories and one defeat. When I mentioned this to Annette, she commented that they were all before we were married. What does that say?)

A good day all round

2009-05-24T16:59:00.003+01:00

This morning's service focussed on the fourth 'mark of a healthy church' as described in the Healthy Churches Handbook. The usual members of the congregation who were away on this Bank Holiday weekend were compensated by a good number of visitors. The service seemed to be appreciated by the comments received from regular members of the congregation and visitors alike.

An early afternoon with the Dundee United and Rangers game to watch my team win the league - brilliant.

Grandchildren just arrived for a few days - even better.

no change

2009-05-14T19:09:00.003+01:00

Listening to the radio on Sunday I heard the last part of a report from the Middle East regarding the visit of Pope Benedict. The reporter was speaking about the problems there and the difficulties of getting the 3 sides involved to move forward. He concluded that each grouping recognizes the difficulties but that each one considers that "the only viable solution is one which involves no change on their part." That final phrase could be used in lots of situations, not least within the church.

PS - disappointing result last night( not helped by a good goal which was not given). But the league is not over yet.

Big game

2009-05-09T14:32:00.001+01:00

Yes!!!!!!!

Big game

2009-05-08T16:22:00.002+01:00

Day off tomorrow. Annette has already decided that she is going shopping to avoid the spectacle of me watching the Rangers - Celtic game on television. A good Rangers victory for the boys in blue is all that is needed.

The compassionate employer

2009-04-30T12:36:00.004+01:00

I am still reading 'Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes' by Kenneth Bailey. In chapter 28 he reflects on what he calls the 'parable of the compassionate employer'(Matthew 20:1-16). He reminds the readers that this is another parable which has a 'missing ending'( like the parable of the Prodigal Son).

He suggests that the parable reaches a "critical dramatic moment and stops".

"What is the response of the workers who are complaining? We are not told. The readers/listeners are challenged to find themselves in the story and to bring it to an appropriate conclusion in their own lives.
A summary of the parable might be - He comes to us where we live; He loves us as we are."

"Once more Jesus creates a ‘house’ in which readers/listeners are invited to take residence as they make the worldview of the parable their own."

webcam

2009-04-24T17:04:00.006+01:00

I recently bought an inexpensive webcam and can now enjoy a video call with my grandchildren. Although it has to be said that speaking to grampa via Skype takes second place to watching High School Musical 3.
The webcam picture really highlights my eyebrows which were recently described as "Alistair Darling like". But at the least the background bookshelves look reasonably impressive and almost tidy.

Healthy churches

2009-04-22T20:37:00.002+01:00

I am just about to begin a series based on the 'Seven marks of a Healthy Church' as described in the Healthy Churches' Handbook.
One of the issues raised is about how we understand 'church'. The book describes the response of Archbishop Rowan Williams who, when asked what his definition of church was, replied along the lines of: 'church is what happens when the impact of Christ on a situation brings two or more people together'. The book points out this this is a surprising definition because of what it leaves out( no mention of sacraments, Word, building, worship and much else). But what is our mental image of 'church' and how would we express it? The suggestion in this book is that 'Church = community + faith + action'( or to put it another way, 'an engaging faith community').

The book also suggests at one point one of those exercises where people are encouraged to try and describe their local church in terms of an animal or object or colour.
(e.g. our church is like an elephant: it never forgets, is very slow to move and very unpredictable as to which direction it might take when it does move - or our church is like a sheep dog: it is well disciplined, barks a lot and most enjoys trying to get everyone to go where it wants them to go' - or 'our church is like a wheelbarrow: nothing moves unless you push it'.)
I will need to ponder how I would describe our church!

Courageous women

2009-04-04T09:22:00.002+01:00

Some more thoughts from Kenneth E Bailey's book, 'Jesus through Middle Eastern eyes'.

In Chapter 19 he reflects on the parable of the widow and the judge( Luke 18:1-8). He notes that the hero of the parable is a woman of courage and persistence. He ends the chapter with a brief paragraph looking ahead towards the Cross.

"...as the cross approached, the role of the women in the band of disciples became more prominent. A woman anointed the Messiah as he approached the end. Women were faithful to the end at the cross. They had the courage to follow Joseph of Arimathea as he made his way to Pilate. It was the women who brought the spices to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus.... who heard the glorious and yet frightening words of the angels. They took the news to the absent disciples.
In like manner in this parable the hero is a woman, a woman with persistence and courage – the very virtues that his female disciples so nobly exhibited all through Holy Week. To them.......the church remains forever in debt."

This week will include daily Holy Week Prayer breakfasts at Harrogate Baptist. I always look forward to this week and to the opportunity to lead the short meditation each morning, even if it means a slightly earlier start to the day!

The lady is not for stoning

2009-04-01T10:11:00.004+01:00

In his book, Tell it slant', Eugene Peterson recommends Kenneth Bailey's book 'Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes'. I am just over half way through the book and finding it to be a fascinating read.

This morning I read through the chapter 'The lady is not for stoning' which is Bailey's take on the story of Jesus and the woman caught in the act of adultery(John 7:53-8:11)

He writes:-

“At great cost Jesus has shifted their hostility from her to himself and he doesn't even know her name. The famous servant song of Isaiah affirms, “ with his stripes we are healed”(Isa 53:5). She knows that the opponents of Jesus will be back with a bigger stick and that Jesus is in process of getting hurt because of what he is doing for her. She is the recipient of a costly demonstration of unexpected love that saves her life.Jesus demonstrates the life-changing power of costly love. This scene provides an insight into Jesus’ understanding of the significance of his own suffering. A core aspect of his “doctrine of the atonement” is here displayed….

"Jesus lives out the core meaning of the Cross. He offers the woman a costly demonstration of unexpected love. The reader is obliged to reflect on how the woman in the story may have responded, and in the process think deep thoughts regarding his or her response to the costly love of God offered on the cross for the world."

"Great theological and ethical bells ring in this story and the greatest among them is Jesus interpreting his own cross”.

Would this story serve as a powerful illustration of what was happening on the first Good Friday?

Tell it slant

2009-03-02T08:56:00.005Z

I am just coming to the end of 'Tell it slant' by Eugene Peterson. This is the 4th book in his series on Spiritual Theology. Towards the end of the book he comments on the words Jesus spoke from the cross. When reflecting on the words 'I thirst'(John 19:28) he suggests: -
'"I thirst" is the sacred witness that there was "no spring of water gushing up to eternal life"(John 4:14) left in him'( p 256).

He is also anxious that we should avoid either trying to spiritualise Jesus and treat him apart from his body( as the gnostics did) or focussing so much on the pain and suffering of Jesus on the cross to a degree that depersonalizes Jesus' pain so that "it becomes a thing, an object to be pitied or admired, or a truth to be preached and taught." (p257).
On reflecting on this he writes:-
"sexual pornography is sex without relationship, the intimacy of sexuality reduced and debased to an object to be looked at or used. Spiritual pornography is prayer and faith without relationship, intimacy with Jesus reduced and debased into an idea or cause to be argued and used". In a footnote he suggests that Mel Gibson's film The Passion of Christ' was a conspicuous instance of this. All the parts of Jesus' words from the Cross are embedded in the whole story of Jesus.

Economics

2009-02-10T09:40:00.004Z

At a time when we hear endless speculation about how to deal with the economic problems in the world, the regular email from the Sojourners contained this quote from Rabbi Michael Lerner,

[We need] to embrace a "new bottom line" in which corporations, social practices, government policies and individual behaviours are judged rational, efficient or productive not only if they maximize money or power, but also to the extent that they maximize love and caring, kindness and generosity, ethical and ecological sensitivity, enhance our capacity to treat others as embodiments of the sacred and to respond with awe, wonder, and radical amazement at the grandeur of the universe.

By faith

2009-02-07T09:46:00.004Z

At the moment I am half way through Eugene Peterson's book 'The Word made flesh'. The first part of the book observes the ten parables that are unique to Luke's Gospel and are part of what Peterson's describes as Luke's travel narrative(9:51-19:44). In describing the parable of 'Lazarus and the rich man', Peterson quotes NT Wright - 'the parable is not, as often supposed, a description of the afterlife, warning people to be sure of their ultimate destination.... the reality is uncomfortably different..... rather what was happening to both rich and poor in the present time. Jesus' welcome of the poor and outcast was a sign that the real return from exile, the new age, the 'resurrection', is coming into being; and if the new age is dawning, those who want to belong to it will have to repent'( 'Jesus and the Victory of God').
Peterson suggests that this parable "enlists our imagination to grasp more than our immediate feelings and surroundings - other lives, other circumstances, other possibilities. Once we are free of being stuck in the mud of our sinful, self-absorbed, self-contained "miry clay" of ego, our imaginations can be a catalyst for faith that the Spirit uses to create something out of nothing, the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of "things not seen... that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible"(Hebrews 11:1-3).( p116)
Peterson then quotes from his own paraphrase of these verses in The Message, - faith is "the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.... our handle on what we can't see... by faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see."

Vocation or career?

2009-02-02T10:43:00.002Z

Our Thursday evening group is looking at some excerpts from the life of the prophet Ezekiel. At the last meeting we pondered that part of the call of the prophet when he is instructed to 'eat the scroll' (3:1ff). Before that Ezekiel is reminded of how difficult his task as a prophet to his fellow exiles in Babylon would be. He is to proclaim the message whether they listen to him or not, for they are a stubborn and rebellious people. As a job description it is a complete turn off. But this may highlight the difference between a vocation and a career. Ezekiel is being called to this challenging task. He is not being given a career opportunity on which he can build.

On Sunday morning it was the Lectionary reading from the Gospel on which the sermon was based. Mark 1:21-28 is the account of Jesus teaching in the synagogue and dealing with the man who had 'an unclean spirit'. The authority of Jesus is at the centre of the story. The people recognise in the teaching of Jesus an authority unlike what they had experienced before. Jesus then acts with authority when confronted by the man. Within the Church community there are different views as to how we understand what was happening in the synagogue and how we understand the condition of the man. But it is interesting that we do still speak of 'possession'in our everyday language but not in terms of unclean spirits or demons. How often have we said to ourselves 'I don't know what possessed me to do that' or ask a similar question of others? What does possess us at times? What gets into us a times? Could it be 'self', 'career', 'money', 'power' or ????????
To ask that question perhaps prevents us from keeping this Gospel passage at arms length.

Week of Prayer

2009-01-19T19:13:00.003Z

Sunday was the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. In the town centre group of Harrogate Churches we will meet each lunchtime to share the readings and prayers. The material produced for this year has been provided by the Churches of Korea with the theme, 'that they may become one in your hand'. The theme refers to Ezekiel 37:15 describing how the prophet is instructed to take two sticks and write on them. Each stick is to represent one of the kingdoms into which the nation had divided. Ezekiel is then told to hold the sticks in his hand so that they look like just one stick. He is to proclaim the word of hope to the people that this is what God is able to do for his people.
It is a powerful image - that in God's hand his people can become one as those who are held in the hand of God. Ezekiel presents a picture where the focus is not on the two sticks but on the one hand that holds them together.

A pleasant piece of 'tradition' has been established by a member of our Junior Church. At the end of every service now Sophie will soon appear in the church vestibule to pass on to me her joke for the day. Yesterday's joke was a classic -

Who plays music on your head? A head band!!!!!!!

Bonhoeffer - Advent

2008-12-17T22:58:00.001Z

A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes … and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Words to ponder

2008-12-16T09:53:00.003Z

The author, Jeanette Winterson, has an occasional column in the Books section of the Times newspaper on a Saturday. The headline for her article in Saturdays’ edition was - ‘Capitalism’s collapse is on a scale undreamed of at the altars of idols’.

Her article was thought provoking. Here are some extracts to ponder over.

“We laugh at the primitive religious idea of human sacrifice – but whatever fancy words and theories you want to play with to describe this present spectacular collapse of global capitalism, it is human sacrifice on a scale undreamt of at the altars of idols.”

“the kingdom of this world, as the Bible puts it beautifully, can be balanced only by the Kingdom of God. This is not literal; it is symbolic. It is how the inner life checks the outward show. It is how conscience bridles impulse, it means recognising that there is much more to human life than to worship between the twin towers of money and power. The job of religion is to keep this in our sights.”

“At the moment when the empty secularism of the crumbling Roman Empire found no answer in the paralysis of the existing religious attitude, the birth story is the longed-for miracle - not because a militant avenger has appeared, nor a divine avatar, but because a baby – new life - will ask us to understand everything differently. That’s a story worth reading”.

Christians might want to take issue with what she means by 'divine avatar', but she offers some interesting words.

The mother of Jesus

2008-12-13T14:46:00.003Z

The Thursday evening group at church has just finished the series on what the Gospels tell us about Mary. The final evening looked at what we learn about Mary from the Gospel of John. She has an important part in the miracle at Cana(John 2) and is there at the crucifixion. She is not named in John but is referred to as 'the mother of Jesus'. On the two occasions when Jesus speaks to her, he addresses her simply as 'woman'.
But from all that we learned of her we concluded that she was a remarkable woman who responded with faith when given the task of bearing the Messiah.
I read a comment somewhere that as Christians we are called to be like Mary in that we are called to 'carry' Christ into the world.
At a recent seminar Brian Maclaren suggested that we are to be as God's people the 'embodiment of Christ'( a phrase he prefers to the 'body of Christ' when describing the Church.)
Mary bore Jesus into the world and so in our own day we too are called to 'bear Christ' into the world through all that we are as individuals and as the church.

Random facts

2008-11-17T16:26:00.005Z

I’ve been tagged by Andy to blog six random facts about me. It is a game that seems to being going round the 'blogging world'

The Rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Here we go with the random facts

1. I have lived in England for longer than I lived in Scotland.
2. I still get really fed up when my teams loses( or even draws) and even more fed up when our greatest rivals win any game of any sort.
3. I love being a grandfather
4. I am hopeless at DIY( just ask any member of the family)
5. I own two shares in Rangers( now worth the sum total of around £1.50)
6. My favourite cartoon character is Top Cat and I got excited recently to discover that I could watch some episodes with the 'on demand' button of Virgin Media.

Earth shattering revelations!! I will need to try and find those who I can tag.

'like a child in the arms of his mother'

2008-10-11T17:20:00.005+01:00

At the moment I am following a pattern which will take me through all the Psalms by reading 5 Psalms each day. One of the Psalms for today was Psalm 131. This is a little gem from the Psalmist.

The German scholar Artur Weiser in his famous commentary on the Psalms writes this:

“this Psalm of Trust in God, which is unfortunately too little known, is a wonderfully tender and intimate little song. It is the outpouring of a mature faith and deserves to be classed with the most beautiful Psalms of the Psalter. The delicate tones of humble trust sound like the peaceful chime of bells at eventide in a quiet valley which the last rays of the setting sun fill with their soft light.”

The second half of his comment might be a little too flowery for my taste, but this Psalm certainly has something to say to us.

To put it very briefly –

The Psalmist begins by expressing his humility. He is not the fount of all knowledge and there is much which is beyond his understanding.

He then describes his trust in God in terms of a picture of a weaned child sitting comfortably and at peace in the embrace of his mother. The child is not demanding food or anything else and through the intimate mother/child contact has a sense of well-being and security.

The Psalmist finally encourages others to put their trust in the Lord.

Thoughtful words in a time of such uncertainty in our world. Would that we could all quieten ourselves and rest in God like a child in a mother's embrace.

Feeling my age

2008-10-05T23:20:00.005+01:00

Tonight I was taking our regular Sunday night youth group.This does not happen very often, but other leaders were unavailable and I was next in line. They are a brilliant and lively bunch who are never short of words.
I decided to use some material from this year's Bible Sunday pack and talk a bit about the 'treasure' of the Bible.
The material suggested beginning the discussion by reflecting with the young people what three items they would choose if that was all they could take with them in an emergency( people and pets excluded). The answers ranged from ipods, mobile phones, pictures of family, laptops, teddy bear, passport, car(!), money. I was asked for my three and when I mentioned 'transistor radio' one of them immediately asked, "What's a transistor radio?".
How aged I now feel. Apart from that it was an enjoyable evening.

Creation

2008-09-02T19:44:00.009+01:00

About to begin a short series of sermons on the subject of creation. In Saturday's Times newspaper there was a short piece by the Chief Rabbi whose occasional column is always thought provoking and stimulating. On Saturday he was musing on 'Genesis and the origin of the Origin of our species.' He noted that next year will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his book 'On the origin of species'. He suggests that Darwin helped us to understand the "how" of God's "Let there be" and that the Creator created not just life but life that is in itself creative. He raises a number of interesting points from scientific discoveries. For example, having deciphered the genetic code, we know that all life in its seemingly endless variety has a single source. "The miracle of monotheism is that unity up there creates diversity down here." But none of the discoveries provides proof either of the existence or non existence of God. But each is surely a source of wonder. He reminds his readers that the Psalmist does not suggest that the heavens prove the existence of God, but that the heavens declare the glory of God. His final comment was, " the more we know about the intricacy and improbability of life, the more reason we have to wonder and give thanks".
As you might imagine I might just quote from the Chief Rabbi on Sunday.

On a completely different subject, I stumbled across a whole series from one of my favourite television cartoon characters from years ago. The cartoons can be watched via the On Demand button on our Virgin Media Cable television. Annette shook her head when I sat and watched two classic episodes of Top Cat who is the indisputable leader of the gang.

Spelling

2008-08-21T23:34:00.003+01:00

Driving past a pub on Skipton Road on Wednesday I noticed a sign advertising last night's England Friendly. The sign said.... England v Cheques.

I suppose it was an interesting way to spell out who England were playing. With the vast amount of money to be found in English football at the moment, it was perhaps an understandable slip!

Olympic success

2008-08-19T20:10:00.002+01:00

I have not been able to see that much of the Olympics but it has been good to celebrate so much British success. The cyclist Chris Hoy has certainly written his name into the record books.
The 32-year-old Scot becomes the first Briton in 100 years to win three golds at the same Olympics, after his earlier success in the team sprint and keirin. He has also become Scotland’s greatest every Olympian in terms of gold medals.

For me the Olympics always brings thoughts of another great Scottish Olympian, Eric Liddell. His 400m gold medal in the Paris Games of 1924 was a wonderful achievement for the man who at the time was the hot favourite to win the 100m. But he never ran in competitions on a Sunday and kept to this principle despite the importance of the Olympics. His story was largely unknown to many people until the film Chariots of Fire presented the account of how he and Harold Abrahams( two men from very different backgrounds) triumphed in Paris.
Liddell was born in China, the son of Church of Scotland missionaries. He was educated at Eltham College, studied at Edinburgh University and trained as a Congregational minister before he returned to China as a missionary. It was there in 1945 he died in a Japanese Internment Camp.
In the book ‘The Flying Scotsman’, Sally Magnusson tells the story of this remarkable athlete and Christian missionary. When news of his death reached Scotland, many memorial services were held across the country and even in other parts of the world. In Glasgow a large congregation gathered in the Dundas Street Congregational Church. Many leading sportsmen were there and among them were two very famous men from Glasgow Rangers FC. The legendary Alan Morton read the lesson and one of the tributes was paid by the manager of Rangers, Bill Struth( who himself had been an athletics coach before becoming perhaps the greatest ever Rangers manager). Struth said of Eric Liddell,
“He deliberately sacrificed a fine chance of one Olympic title because of his religious convictions. He just as certainly put aside a career of brilliance and affluence to serve his master in the most practical of all forms of Christianity. In his work in China he created an opportunity for the talents with which he was so richly endowed; courage, determination, skill, endurance and self sacrifice, to be utilized to the full. Sport gave to Eric Liddell its highest honours; nevertheless it is true to say that he honoured sport rather than sport honouring him.
The details of the last few years of his life are not yet known to us, but we can be certain that under the most severe of all trials, he exhibited just those qualities which he showed in his sporting life. His life was perhaps a short one; but his work as he clearly saw it, and, as we believe, divinely inspired, carried out away from the applause of the crowd, will remain a source of inspiration to many.
In these days of exaggerated hero-worship and publicity for sports champions, Eric Liddell’s example reminds us to put things into their proper perspective. Sport to him was sport – not the be-all and end-all – and success in it did not prevent him from picking out the things spiritual from the things temporal. His was an example which must have helped others to make similar choices.”

Holiday Club Closing Ceremony

2008-08-05T11:19:00.002+01:00

Sunday morning worship on the 3rd August was entitled ' The Champion's Challenge Closing Ceremony'. At the great sporting events the closing ceremony is usually a celebration of all that has taken place and this is what we tried to do. The whole service was a celebration of what took place during the week. The children shared with the congregation what they had been learning; about the various craft activities and the games; we heard a few of their jokes and letters. Each team paraded in with their team flag and the final act of celebration was the presentation of the medals. All the children received a medal because all had achieved a personal best in one of the activities. It was a good ending to another excellent Holiday Club week. One of the ways in which we know the week went well is because at the end the children were asking about next year's Holiday Club.
This year we are planning a re-union party in November for everyone who came along. Before that the leaders and the helpers will treat themselves to a celebratory meal out!

Holiay Club - day 5

2008-08-01T15:07:00.002+01:00

On the last day we had to revert to plan 'b'. Plan 'a' had involved going for a time to the open space on the Stray to play some games. But the heavy rain yesterday and some thunderstorms overnight meant that was not advisable. But plan 'b' worked well and we had a good day. All the groups got a chance to have a go at each of the 'personal best challenges( basketball hoop, skittles, dribble & shoot,long jump, squat thrusts). We also had borrowed some foam javelins and used these on the grass at the side of the church - the highlight for my group was when one of the javelins got stuck high up in one of the trees.
The theme for the day was 'Jesus - the winner' and the Biblical material included the story of the risen Lord meeting two of his followers on the road to Emmaus.
Parents and friends joined us for the final part of the morning when we sang some of our songs and showed off the Personal Best certificates.
It is onwards now to the 'Closing Ceremony' on Sunday( i.e. the Holiday Club morning service).

Joke of the day - 'Why did the chicken run onto the football field?'
answer - because the referee blew for a foul!

or ' What is sticky and bites?' ( a jampire)

Holiday Club day four

2008-07-31T20:02:00.002+01:00

Theme for today was 'substitute' and the reading from Luke was the description of the betrayal by Judas and the arrest of Jesus. The DVD focussed on the death of Jesus with Flabby Lagoon interviewing Joseph of Arimathea.
We refrained from giving the children an exposition of the penal substitution theory of the atonement and simply told the familiar story. The worksheet from the Scripture Union material also looked forward to what happened next and tomorrow's theme is the resurrection.
It was a good morning and it passed very quickly. At the end of the morning there was only a very brief time for the usual jokes and letters.

joke of the day - what do you call a woman who stands between the goalposts? Answer - Annette.( I must tell my wife the joke - she will love it.)

second place joke of the day - what do you call a budgie who has flown in to the blender? ( answer - shredded tweet).

Perhaps I could add another joke - last night's performance by Rangers!

Holiday Club day three

2008-07-30T17:14:00.004+01:00

Theme today was 'Jesus the team mate'. The Bible passage was from Luke 9:1-6, 10-17. The passage describes Jesus sending out the disciples on mission and then the feeding of the 5000. On both occasions the disciples worked with Jesus as part of a team and there was the reminder that we can all be part of the 'Jesus team'. The Dvd episode for today was perhaps the best yet and certainly kept the attention of the children. I am beginning to warm to the teaching dvd which is based around the BBC 'Match of Day' style interviews with Larry Spinnaker as the host. The location reporter is 'Flabby Lagoon' who is obviously based on a well known female sports reporter who is married to a former Scottish rugby international.

My team has almost completed our team flag and we are now thinking ahead to Sunday's 'Closing ceremony'.

Jokes today were of the 'knock, knock, who's there' variety. Sadly no one joke really stood out as they were all equally bad!

Holiday Club day two

2008-07-29T23:25:00.003+01:00

Today's theme was Jesus as 'physio' and the Biblical material was from Luke 7:1-10, the story of Jesus healing the centurion's servant( and doing it at a distance). It is a remarkable story which, of course, we could not really delve into too deeply with the children.
But think of the scenario - a Roman centurion who actually has some care and affection for one of his slaves; this centurion is also sympathetic and helpful to the faith of the Jews among whom he lives;he has actually helped them to build a synagogue; he has contact with Jewish leaders and is ready to ask for their help; they react positively and seek the help of Jesus on his behalf; the centurion is humble enough and perhaps considerate enough to suggest that Jesus does not need to enter his house( think of the problems faced by a Jew who entered into a heathen Gentile's home); he recognizes the authority of Jesus and his servant is healed.
Jesus expresses his amazement at this display of faith and declares that he had not met such faith among his own people who are 'the very people who are supposed to know about God and how he works'( from the Message paraphrase).
Lots to think about in all of this and especially in the final words of Jesus about the centurion's display of faith.

Jokes for today were of the 'Doctor, doctor' variety and included the following -

patient - " Doctor, I keep thinking I am Tom Jones"
doctor - " it's not unusual"

I am not sure many of the children got it, but the all leaders did laugh or groan.

Champion's Challenge Day One

2008-07-28T19:35:00.002+01:00

First day of this year's Holiday Club passed without a hitch and seemed to be enjoyed by all. The theme today was 'Jesus - the trainer' and the Bible passage was the parable of the two builders from Luke 6. In the spiritual preparation before the children arrived we were reminded by Sarah that God may call us to do hard things, things to which we would rather give a miss and things that will require effort of us.( it is Sarah and her sister Rachel who do all the hard up front work with the club and they do it superbly as a double act who can do both the serious and the hilarious).
We sang the theme song which I now cannot get out of my head. We made 'Olympic torches' in the craft time.
Tomorrow begins the 'personal best' challenge and my team( the Dominoes) will need to get down to making our team flag.

Joke of the day for me was - why did the premier league footballer on the transfer list cross the road - to get to the other side, of course.

Champion's Challenge

2008-07-23T19:27:00.008+01:00

At Church we are now in the final stages of preparation for another Holiday Club week which begins on Monday 28th July. 47 children have booked in and we have a good and experienced team of leaders and helpers to make sure it all goes as it should. Harrogate Baptist has been running a Holiday Club every year for the past 17 or 18 years and some of those still involved have been doing Holiday Club every year from the start.
Champion's Challenge has a sporty theme. Each day's title uses a different sporting image to explain different facets of who Jesus is( have you ever thought of Jesus as a physio?). The Biblical material is from Luke's Gospel. Again I get to wear a t-shirt that is unlikely to see the light of day after the week is over. The Holiday Club services is the only time I turn up at church on Sunday in a t-shirt( not even when I am on holiday).
I will try to blog during the week and reflect on how my group respond to the games,teaching and activities( and on a how I am surviving!).

Great Yorkshire Show

2008-07-10T22:50:00.005+01:00

We have lived in Harrogate for just over seven years and yesterday we finally made it to the Great Yorkshire Show. Annette and I enjoyed our day out and the weather was really kind to us. Among the attractions was a number of cookery demonstrations. One of the chefs was Tim Cottrill, an 18 year old Church member at Harrogate Baptist. It was amazing to watch him demonstrate how to prepare and cook two separate dishes while giving his audience a running commentary and snippets of good advice. He appeared absolutely cool and relaxed throughout the whole demonstration. I think he has a big future in food if he chooses to go in that direction. Hopefully when he is a famous chef at a top international restaurant he might remember the minister who baptized him!!
During our day we also visited the Yorkshire Church on Show display which was based on the theme of 'the Good Shepherd'.

back to work

2008-06-28T19:25:00.003+01:00

I have been back to work now for a week after a two week holiday. We spent a very enjoyable week in the Austrian Tyrol and then some equally enjoyable days with the family in the West Midlands.
Our week in Austria was based in the village of Fieberbrunn. On our first morning there we had a walk round the village led by the Hotel owner who had lived there all his life. He explained some of the customs and what life was like in a Tyrolean village. I had noticed that written with chalk above the doors of many of the houses( and on our hotel) was the following, 20 C+M+B 08. Thankfully he explained this as he described some of their Advent and Christmas customs. The letters have 2 meanings. They are the initial letters of the traditional names given to the magi - Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They also abbreviate the Latin words - Christus mansionem benedicat( may Christ bless this house). At Epiphany 3 boys dressed as the wise men accompany the local priest as they visit the houses of the village and where they are received with a gift( usually now money which is given to an international charity) the letters, numbers and crosses are chalked above the door(the numbers indicating the year). Austria is very much a Roman Catholic nation and this custom is seen by the villagers as an important one. The people will leave this chalk writing on the doorpost throughout the whole year and would never think of wiping it clean. Looking for information on the internet it would seem that this custom originated in Germany or Poland.

Nearly on Holiday

2008-05-23T08:59:00.004+01:00

Just tying up a few loose ends on this Friday morning before a week's 'holiday'. After a weekend when we will catch up with our grandchildren( and their parents), I have the task of decorating the study during the week. I mentioned this in an email to the secretary of Churches Together in Harrogate who sent me this -

Enjoy the emulsion. “I will enter the study with a paint brush in my hand, I will enter the room with praise; I will say this is the week when the study will be done, I will rejoice for it will make me glad. It will make me glad, it will make me glad…”

I am not sure I will be able to sing that song again. But at least it was not one of my favourites.

Wednesday evening

2008-05-16T17:16:00.003+01:00

I dashed home on Wednesday evening after the induction of the new president of Churches Together in Harrogate. It was good to be there and support Ian from St Paul's URC( fellow Scot and member of the St Andrew's society) who was taking on this role. Ian spoke briefly about his hopes for this year and used words from Galatians to set the scene. He quoted from Galatians 6:10 - 'Whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith'.
Paul's words are a reminder of the challenge to the church to look out towards the community while not forgetting the need to also look towards the community of faith. It brought to mind the well worn words about 'gathering for worship and scattering for mission'. In these days sometimes the emphasis seems at times entirely on the call to 'scatter for mission'. But we will surely only be able to do that effectively if we 'gather for worship'.

The reason I dashed home was to watch the UEFA cup final. I managed to see the last 15 minutes of the first half and the rest of the game. Disappointing result for this Rangers supporter who had hoped that his team might win a European trophy for the second time. This disappointment was intensified by the after march actions of a mindless minority who did the reputation of Rangers fans no good at all.

Prayers

2008-04-30T19:11:00.003+01:00

A new 'middle aged' cell group at Church met this week and produced some daily prayers to be used each day between Ascension and Pentecost.
The prayers can be found at

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dmw43qs_7dmqhmmdm&hl=en

The prayers particularly focus on discussions we are having with a nearby URC about forming an Ecumenical Partnership.

2008-03-26T17:14:00.002Z

I came across this prayer yesterday. Made me think.

How do I build your ‘house’ – your kingdom, Lord?

I think I’d find it easier
if you told me to build
a temple of bricks and mortar.
That’s tangible. I could measure my progress.
What is it you want me to build?
You say you don’t live in a temple made by human hands (Acts 17:24)
But you also say my body is your temple (1 Corinthians 6:19)
and that we together as Christian community are your temple (1 Corinthians 3:16).

So it seems it is my very life and my relationships
that build a dwelling place for your Spirit, Jesus.
Today may everything I say and do be a building block
creating space where you are pleased to dwell.
When I meet with others remind me to ask:
‘Would God be pleased to dwell with us in this conversation… this activity?’
And when I spend time and money on my own lifestyle
let me be just as generous with time and money to help
your kingdom to come on earth just as it is in heaven.
(Sheila Pritchard)

Some words of Oscar Romero

2008-03-02T20:17:00.002Z

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No programme accomplishes the church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.

Wise and thought-provoking words

Burns night

2008-01-22T23:11:00.000Z

Burns night will rapidly be upon us. This year I am preparing for 3 Burns Suppers. At two I am giving the Immortal Memory and at the other I simply need to say the Selkirk grace.
I do enjoy reading Burns and wished I had started to read him years ago. Sadly we did very little of Burns at school and there was more Shakespeare on the curriculum( and this in Scottish schools!).
In his poem 'Address to the unco guid'( address to the rigidly righteous) Burns presents a biting satire of those who look down on others with a self righteousness. The poem is prefaced by a reference to Ecclesiastes 7:16.
The first verse reads:

O ye wha are sae guid yersel
Sae pious and sae holy
Ye’ve nought to do but mark and tell
Your neighbours’ fauts and follies
Whase life is like a weel- gaun mill
Supplied with store o' water,
the heapet happer's ebbing still
and still the clap plays clatter.

The final verse reminds the reader -

Who made the heart, tis he alone
Decidedly can try us
He knows each chord, its various tone
Each spring, its various bias
Then at the balance, let’s be mute
We never can adjust it
What’s done we partly may compute
But know not what’s resisted.

Wise words from the Bard.

Thanksgiving, dedication and blessing

2007-12-09T17:08:00.000Z

I have been back to work now for over a week and today was my second Sunday back after the 3 month sabbatical.

This morning's Parade Service included an act of thanksgiving, dedication and blessing as Amelie's parents came to give thanks for her, dedicate themselves to her nurture and pray with the whole church family for God's blessing on her growing life. Amelie behaved superbly and I seem to be doing well recently with the children brought on these occasions - no screamers or wailers for quite some time. Perhaps it is the grandfatherly aura! Long may it continue.

As part of the service we thought about what the words thanksgiving, dedication and blessing meant, with the children of the uniformed organisations giving me their thoughts. There are one or two who are already heading towards being philosophers.

As part of the service we watched a small clip from Habitat for Humanity about building basic houses for people in South Africa. This was where one of our church members went earlier in the year as part of the project. We were reminded that the work of building these houses is a real 'blessing' for people who usually live in damp shacks. But we were also reminded by one of the volunteers on the film clip of how 'blessed' she felt by being part of the project herself. Perhaps being a blessing and being blessed often( if not always) go together.

Sabbatical Report

2007-11-27T13:38:00.000Z

There are 2 copies of the report for anyone who might be interested. The longer report can be viewed at

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dmw43qs_1gbtxwv

and the shorter version which simply gives details of some of the quotes from Peterson's 3 books on Spiritual theology can be found at:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dmw43qs_5z8sb8j&hl=en

Hope this might be of some interest.

Day 85

2007-11-26T12:18:00.000Z

The sabbatical period is almost over. Officially I will be back in the pulpit on Sunday, but have started to prepare for this and the services throughout Advent.

Our final 'sabbatical' weekend was spent at home( only the second weekend we have been at home since the beginning of September). On Saturday we attended the annual St Andrew's day dinner of the Harrogate St Andrew's Society and on Sunday we went to the annual St Andrew's day service at St Paul's URC.

At the dinner we were entertained by an exiled Scot who now lives in Hertfordshire. He sang some familiar Scottish songs and in his speech reminded us of a particular Scottish phrase which uses two positives to make a negative - "Aye right". A wonderful little phrase which can be used very effectively with the right tone of voice.

Another Scottish phrase can be used to describe the return to normal, everyday life after the sabbatical period. During this week it is back 'to auld claes and porridge' for me.

Day 81

2007-11-22T17:29:00.000Z

No blogs for quite few days after our visit to Scotland at the weekend. We had a good time with the family and Annette enjoyed meeting cousins she hadn't seen for over 30 years. Such was the 'cousinly' conversation and showing of family photographs that the time sped past and before we knew it we were being reminded that the restaurant was about to close at midnight. It is the first time I have been thrown out of a restaurant at closing time!

Over the past few days I have continued to work on some writing up of what I have been reading.

Here are a few of the quotes from the three Eugene Peterson books -

“Spiritual Theology is about living the Christian life. It is not some text or technique or programme and is about God and not us.”

“The doctrine of the Trinity is vital because it prevents us from reducing God to what we can understand or need at any one time. We are in the presence of the One who is both before us and beyond us. We need to listen and wait. Trinity is a steady call and invitation to participate in the energetically active life of God.”

“Community is vital but is often difficult.” Peterson uses the example of the Israelites on the journey following the Exodus and suggests ‘getting saved was easy, becoming a community was much more difficult’.

Faith is not an explanation, it is a passion

In describing the experience of Isaiah in the Temple the author reminds us that “ 'holy, holy, holy' is not Christian needlepoint - holiness is dangerous, exhilarating.”

“The holy is not that which we can market or produce or control on our terms. We, like Isaiah (and Moses and John on Patmos) can only respond.”

“Jesus, who in abridged form is quite popular with the non-church crowd, was not anti-institutional. Jesus said "Follow me," and then regularly led his followers into the two primary religious institutional structures of his day: the synagogue and the temple. Neither institution was without its inadequacies, faults, and failures.”

“a spirituality that has no institutional structures or support very soon becomes self indulgent and subjective and one generational.”

Sadly - International football has not brought much joy to north and south of the border over the past few days!

Day 75

2007-11-16T12:19:00.000Z

The last few days have been taken up with a number of church things that needed to be dealt with. But I have also continued to listen to lectures given by Eugene Peterson at Regent College, Vancouver. He gave his lecture series the title 'Soulcraft' and expands on what this means by a study of Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Each lecture lasts just over 90 minutes and he expresses much to ponder over. He reminds us that the 'church is not a utopia but a workshop' and he emphasizes again and again the importance of the Christian community to which we belong which, of course, is clearly part of the message of Ephesians. It is an interesting exercise to read through this short letter of Paul and note the importance the apostle places on the Christian community and our part with it.

But more of that when I can sort out the notes I have taken so far. Just one more lecture to go.

Later today Annette and I will he heading up to Scotland to visit family and take part in a family reunion with members of Annette's wider family, some of whom she has not seen for over 30 years.

I am sorry to be missing the prayer vigil at church being organised by our young people as part of a Tearfund initiative. I hope they will be well supported through the 24 hour period from 7pm tonight.

No blogging for a few days now.

Day 72

2007-11-13T16:48:00.000Z

Back to blogging after a lovely week's holiday in Shropshire. Annette and I had a small holiday cottage on a farm at Clee Hill with lovely views overlooking the town of Ludlow. We enjoyed seeing something of the area and also managed a couple of not too strenuous walks in the Mortimer Forrest.
The weekend was spent at Stourbridge with the family and included a visit to Cadbury's World which we enjoyed( and not just for the chocolate) and also to the Walsall illuminations.
The beginning of this week has really been spent on a mixture of church things which needed to be picked up. Tomorrow the Liaison Group meets following the decision of West Park URC and ourselves to accept the Declaration of Intent. Now we have the task of working out the details of how such an ecumenical project would work.
Tomorrow I must also get back into the sabbatical studies.

Day 60

2007-11-01T12:12:00.000Z

At the moment I am listening to a series of lectures given at Regent College by Eugene Peterson on the subject of ‘Spiritual Formation’. He bases the lectures on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

He is clear that our Christianity is about LIVING the Christian life and he suggests that sometimes we show more zeal and enthusiasm about becoming Christian or about doing Christian things than about living the Christian life day after day in the setting of our everyday, ordinary lives. As I have already noted from his books about Spiritual Theology, Peterson gives continual emphasis to the fact that Spiritual formation is about God and not simply about ourselves. It is our opening ourselves to what God is doing and has done. .Spiritual formation is about the whole of life and cannot be pinned down to a programme or a particular set of actions. To use words from Ephesians 4 - it is to walk worthily of the life to which we are called.

Peterson sees the first half of Ephesians as having to do with ‘calling’ while the second half has to do with ‘walking’. The context of our lives as Christians is Word, Work, World, Worship - and in this context we live as God’s people.

Peterson notes that Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians by giving thanks for them. This doesn’t mean they had no problems or were a ‘perfect’ group of people. The Church at Ephesus was the same as every other church - made up of sinful people. Peterson makes the point that so often we only look at what is wrong and try and fix it. He suggests that it is easier to live in relationship with problems than with health - I will need to ponder that one.

But I am sure we all know people who seem more interested in what is wrong with others and themselves than with what is right. There must be a balance to be had in this. We know too that it is often easier (and, if we are honest, sometimes more congenial) to point out faults and failings rather than begin by giving thanks for what is good.

Something good is surely the recent fact that a group of 138 Muslim leaders from around the world and across the various denominations of Islam have come together to reach out to Christians through a statement entitled - "A common word between us and you." A recent email from the Sojourners organisation included this link to a short article about this by Brian Maclaren -

http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2007/10/a-word-of-hope-between-us-and.html

I think that is enough for today’s musings. Any comments will be gratefully and thankfully received.

After the last blog, I will refrain from mentioning football results from north of the border - suffice to say I am smiling today about more than one result.

Day 58

2007-10-30T15:05:00.000Z

After an enjoyable visit to family in Gretna, it has been back to work in the study. Yesterday I continued to reflect on Peterson's writing on the theme of Spiritual theology and today I have been mostly preparing for tonight's Special Church Meeting and some other church stuff too. Because I am on sabbatical I will not be chairing the meeting and so will be able to speak from the floor as a church member. I think this will be the first time I will have been in this position since becoming a minister in 1978.

Once again, no mention of football results from the weekend. As the fans often chant to their losing counterparts - you only sing when your winning!

This thought prompted other thoughts. Do we as Christians sometimes only sing when we are 'winning' ?( i.e. when life is good and we feel on top of things.) Shouldn't we be able to 'sing' in the midst of all the many experiences of life, even if it is simply a sad song of lament?

When writing about worship Peterson expresses the belief that worship is not something we experience, it is something we do, regardless of how we feel about it. The experience develops out of the worship, not the other way round. Worship is the response to God's word in the context of the community of God's people. Does our worship so often depend on how we 'feel'? Do we really only 'sing' when we are winning?

Day 54

2007-10-26T16:04:00.000+01:00

While Peterson’s 3 books on Spiritual Theology have formed the basis of the first part of the sabbatical, I have tried also to read some other authors who pick up similar themes touched on by Peterson.

I think there is little doubt that Peterson places great emphasis on listening to, reading and studying the Scriptures. The second of his books was after all entitled ‘Eat this Book’ and the challenge he sets is to let the Word of God get right inside us.

A similar point is made by David Foster( a Benedictine monk at Downside Abbey) in his book, ‘Reading with God’.

As he reflects on the challenge of reading the Scriptures he recognizes that Scripture is no easy read. Therefore we need to get used to reading it and read it slowly, reflectively. . He suggests that the metaphor of honey used in Psalm 19:10 is directly related to the imagery of chewing and digestion that became central to the Christian understanding of meditating on the word.

He writes: “The word that is sweet in the mouth needs to be chewed and digested. Receiving the word of God is a process of nourishment, where the word of God gives life to the one who obeys.” David Foster then notes, as did Peterson, that there are a couple of places where the Bible talks of eating the scroll on which the word is written.( Ezekiel 3 and Revelation 10). In Revelation we learn that it gave John stomach-ache. Foster writes: “It would probably be intolerable if the Scriptures only tasted of honey! But this is a sobering reminder that the word of God is not just easy talk or words of comfort. The bitterness of the scroll is because of the toughness of the message as well as the seriousness of the commission entrusted to its recipients.

It’s the weekend again and we are off on our travels. This time we are popping just over the border to Gretna to spend the weekend with family.

Day 53

2007-10-25T17:11:00.000+01:00

When we went to Devon I packed a few books and also took with me 2 copies of the magazine Third Way which had lain on my desk unread for weeks . On the way I treated myself to a copy of a Four Four Two magazine(for the uninitiated - a football magazine). While in Devon I read Four Four Two first from cover to cover. It was the first time for ages that I had actually read that kind of magazine and one of the main articles was about the Brazilian footballer Kaka who makes no secret of his Christian faith. The article described something of his life story and the difficulties he has overcome to become perhaps the greatest footballer in the world at the moment. He seemed to have a more refreshing outlook to that expressed by so many of our highly paid footballing stars.

When I had finished the football magazine I turned to Third Way. The one article that caught my attention was headed – Jesus & Socrates. The article sought to express the similarities and the differences in their two lives.

But it also did express the fact that unlike many modern philosophers Socrates actually believed that philosophy was not just a challenging academic exercise but should make a real difference to the way the philosopher lives, to the person the philosopher is becoming. Here was an obvious similarity to the challenge of Jesus to all who would follow him.

This tuned in to the frequent emphasis that Peterson gives in his writing about Spiritual Theology. What we believe should clearly make a difference to the way in which we live, to the kind of people we are becoming. If the Christians of today are to be able to speak with any kind of authority, the words must be backed by lifestyle.

Day 52

2007-10-24T16:53:00.000+01:00

In his writings on Spiritual Theology, Peterson suggests that Mark 8:27-9:9 is particularly important. In the Gospel of Mark this passage comprises the confession of Peter at Caesarea Philippi and then the Transfiguration of Jesus. In Mark the event at Caesarea Philippi is seen as a watershed in the Gospel. From this point on Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, the cross and resurrection.

Peterson suggests that in these two events bring together the No and Yes that work together at the heart of spiritual theology.

In the event at Caesarea Philippi where Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ and then immediately objects when Jesus speaks about how Jesus describes what is to come. The challenge of Jesus at this point is vivid and stark - “ if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Following Jesus means not following the ways of the world. Peterson writes: “ No is a freedom word… the art of saying No sets us free to follow Jesus."

In the Transfiguration we hear the YES of God - this is my beloved son, listen to Him. Peterson writes – “ the word beauty does not occur in the story, but beauty is what the disciples experienced.”

“Climbing the mountain with Jesus means coming upon beauty that takes our breath away. Staying in the company of Jesus means contemplating his glory, listening in on this vast, intergenerational conversation consisting of law and prophet and gospel that takes place around Jesus, hearing the divine confirmation of revelation in Jesus….. Mark has set this story of glorious affirmation in immediate juxtaposition to his story of stern negation.”

Is Peterson highlighting two aspect of living the Christian life? There is the freedom to say ‘No’ to that which diverts us from following in the way of Jesus. There is also the beauty and the glory to be experienced in our astonished adoration at what God has done and does in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. In our response we say Yes to what God has done and is doing.

Peterson also points out that at both events Peter got it wrong. At Caesarea Philippi he tried to avoid the cross and suggested a better plan to Jesus and received the strongest of rebukes. On the mountain he tried to possess the glory and take over from Jesus by providing something hands on and practical.

Spiritual Theology must embrace the definitive No and glorious Yes of Jesus, crucified and risen.

Day 51

2007-10-23T10:31:00.000+01:00

Back down to earth now after the ’12,000 mile service’ at the Mary & Martha Community in Devon. This is the diary of the week written from the point of view of the 2 old vehicles who made their way to Devon. We arrived on the Sunday evening to discover the ‘Service Centre’ was in a very rural location but yet was not that far from Exeter. Our garage for the week was very comfortable although it was called a Pig Pen. Throughout the week we were refuelled with good food. We also discovered that mobile phones could be left aside as there was no signal reception. The introduction to the week reminded us that ‘clergy shop talk’ was banned and that certainly curtailed the conversation to begin with. Only 12 other ‘vehicles’ were in for service and all were of an Anglican make.

Monday - a quiet day when the service personnel took time to look at each ‘vehicle’ individually. What did each one need and expect over the coming days. During the afternoon Annette and I had a pleasant meander along the Teign valley. The information suggested the walk should take an hour and a half. It took us two hours - engines obviously needing tuned.

In the evening we watched the film ‘The History Boys’ complete with popcorn.

The day ended with prayer in the lovely and simple Chapel.

Tuesday - a one to one with a member of the community after breakfast began the day. It was then into a workshop which involved ‘fun with words’. This mainly involved writing some poetry. Some of the poetry from within the group was very serious and impressive while some of the other poetry tried to strike a much lighter note. One of the Baptists got a fit of the giggles at one point - guess who?

This was our one wet day and so a quiet afternoon of reading and also a relaxing Jacuzzi proved very pleasant.

The day ended with some of the group watching the first episode of a new series of ‘Spooks’ on BBC 1. I will leave you to guess which one of the Baptists was there.

Wednesday - another one to one with a member of the community at the beginning of the day. The afternoon saw Alan on the massage table having a full bodywork massage - a new experience.

The evening was spent watching the film ‘Mrs Henderson presents’ - again with popcorn.

The day ended with prayers in the Chapel.

Thursday - the morning was taken up with an arts and crafts workshop. Painting, drawing and working with clay. It was great fun and reminded us both of school days. On a lovely afternoon we went on a led walk that took us up above the centre and gave some lovely views of the valley. A Devonshire Cream Tea awaited our arrival back at the Centre.

The evening began with a simple communion service which was followed by our final evening meal together.

Friday - breakfast and then our farewells.

The week passed very quickly and the tone set by the leaders of the Mary & Martha Community was just right. There was complete freedom to participate in what was organized or simply spend time quietly. Members of the Community were always available to chat and it was clear that we were there to be looked after. We enjoyed the company of the others too. At first we found the ‘no clergy shop talk’ rule a bit difficult but soon found much to talk about and lots to laugh about. Two of the vicars proved to be a fund of funny stories and kept us all amused at times.( if only I could now remember the jokes).

This certainly was a week’s retreat. It was a week for ourselves and we came away feeling thoroughly spoiled and refreshed and tuned for some more miles to be added to the clock.

From Devon we went to Stourbridge where we became granny and grampa and spent the weekend with the family before heading home on Sunday afternoon.

I managed to see a bit of the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday evening, but did not see anything of Rangers crushing Celtic earlier in the day.

Day 40

2007-10-12T16:40:00.000+01:00

Finally got through Webster’s book on Holy Scripture. The final chapters continue with his reflection on the importance of Scripture and the fact that we are all pupils of it.

He quotes from the Geneva Catechism which in answer to the question, ‘How are we to use Scripture in order to profit by it?’ states –

‘By receiving it with the full consent of our conscience, as truth come down from heaven, submitting ourselves to it in right obedience, loving it with a true affection by having it imprinted on our hearts, we may follow it entirely and conform ourselves to it.’

What he was suggesting reminded me of the passage from Deuteronomy 6 that we most often use at services of thanksgiving and dedication –

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Webster also quotes Bonhoeffer – ‘ Holy Scripture is the living voice of God, and that living voice demands an attitude of ready submission and active compliance.’

Webster is also keen to stress that faithful reading of Scripture in the economy of grace is not the work of masters but of pupils in the school of Christ.

The author believes Theology is 'not a set of improvements on Scripture', but is rather 'most properly an invitation to read and reread Scripture, to hear and be caught up by Scripture's challenge to a repentant, non-manipulative heeding of God's Word'.

He ends his book with this prayer of John Calvin –

‘May the Lord grant that we may study the heavenly mysteries of his wisdom, maing true progress in religion to his glory and our upbuilding.’

No Blog for the next 8 days. We are off to the Society of Mary & Martha in Devon to be part of the ‘12000 mile service for ministers’ and also fit in a visit to friends on the way south and a visit to family on the way back north.

Day 39

2007-10-11T19:54:00.000+01:00

I am still trying to get to grips with Webster’s book – Holy Scripture – a dogmatic sketch.

Again I have been irritated by his frequent use of Latin words, phrases and sentences!

But he is clearly placing a great emphasis on Scripture and reminds his readers that the church needs to be a ‘hearing church’ before it can be a ‘speaking church’.

He writes of the ‘canonisation’ of the Scriptures and clearly takes the view that the Scriptures as we have them are a matter of grace, part of the sphere of the Lordship of Christ( although he also suggests that they can become the ‘playground of human self will’).

He frequently quotes Barth who suggests –

“ If we believe that the Lord is mightier than the sin which indisputably reigns in the Church, if we believe that He is the victor in the struggle against grace which is indisputably widespread even in the Church, then we can count on it that a genuine knowledge and confession in respect to the Canon, and therefore a knowledge and confession of the genuine Canon, is not at least impossible in the Church, not because we have to believe in men, but because if we are not to give up our faith we have to believe in the miracle of grace.”

Today I have also been printing off posters for ‘The Journey of the Magi’ being performed on Saturday 8^th December. I hope the tickets will be snapped up over the coming month.

Day 37

2007-10-09T19:34:00.000+01:00

Today I have been trying to put together thoughts and reflections from what I have read of Peterson’s 3 books on Spiritual Theology. There is no doubt that he puts an emphasis on the importance of Scripture - read and preached. As mentioned elsewhere he believes we should allow the Word of God to get into our bloodstream as it were. He believes that the ‘Bible when read pulls us into participation with God on his terms.’

While reflecting on this I came across this quote from St. John Chrysostom

Christ, in sending the [people] to the scriptures, sent them, not merely to read them, but carefully to search and ponder them. And did he not say, "Read the scriptures," but "Search the scriptures." ... Their meaning is not expressed superficially or set forth in their literal
sense, but, like a treasure, lies buried at a great depth. And those who seek for hidden things will not be able to find the object of the search if they do not seek carefully and painstakingly.
(Homily 41 (John 5:39-47), A.D. 390)

This took me to the book ‘Holy Scripture - A Dogmatic Sketch’ by Professor John Webster. This book is proving a challenging read and I do wish writers would not use Latin phrases in the midst of their work.( or perhaps I should wish I had paid more attention in the Latin class at school).

Here again the author stresses the importance of Scripture and at one point he writes –

“The definitive act of the church is faithful hearing of the Gospel of salvation announced by the risen Christ in the Spirit’s power through the service of Holy Scripture. As the creature of the divine Word, the church is the hearing church.”

How much attention do we pay to the Word in our own lives ? Are we part of a 'hearing church'?

Day 36

2007-10-08T19:41:00.000+01:00

It has been a fairly quiet day after 2 hectic days with our grandchildren. Tidying up the study from the accumulation of paper was the first task followed by a few church things that needed to be done. This included the letter that will soon go out with regard to the Special Church Meeting on the 30th October - a meeting we need to hold in our prayers over the coming weeks.

I am now looking to get my thoughts together from the notes I have taken from Peterson's three books.

I am glad to say that the manse telephone is working again after a few calls to Virgin Media.

And I don't think I will mention football or rugby today :-(

Day 33

2007-10-05T14:49:00.000+01:00

In the final three chapters of this book Peterson points out some of the other ways in which people might choose to live their lives.

He begins by suggesting two very different ways which were around in Jesus’ day and writes:

“When Jesus says, ‘Follow me’, and we follow, he rescues us from the ways that Herod used to depersonalize people so that he could use them to serve his ambition, reduce them to mere functions. And Jesus rescues us from the Pharisee way that depersonalizes language so that it can be precise and pure in order to define an identity that is separate from the ambiguities of the world’s ways, that avoids personal participation with others who may well contaminate us, that achieves truth by using language that avoids personal involvement and separates users not only from what is wrong in the world but also from the entirety of God’s creation and covenant.”

The way of Jesus was within a world of relationships.

We need to ‘pray our following of Jesus’ and he commends using the prayer of Mary - I am the servant of the Lord - let it be to me according to His word.(Luke 1:38) At that moment Mary was being given the most tremendous honour - and yet she responds as a servant, a slave.

The way of Jesus is not that way of power over people or a way that reduces people to a set of rules It is the way of life, the way of relationships where in the words of Auden: - ‘everything becomes a You and nothing is an it.’

Next he turns to the way in which priesthood had become highly secularized in Israel by the time of Jesus. Peterson writes:-

“When we come across someone like the High Priest Caiaphas it is easy to be harshly critical of religion as such, but especially of institutional religion. The widespread interest in what is often termed ‘spirituality’ is in some ways a result of the disillusionment and frustration with institutional religion. Much of this new spirituality avoids all the trappings of liturgy and finance, fundraising campaigns and buildings, ecclesiastical bureaucracies and councils making hair-splitting decisions on theology, legislating and domesticating the Spirit. This new spirituality sets itself in opposition to all that. It encourages us to explore our higher consciousness, cultivate beauty and awareness, find friends of like mind with whom we can converse and pray and travel. Spirituality is an inward journey to the depths of our souls. Spirituality is dismissive of doctrines and building campaigns and formal worship and theologians.

There is something to be said for this, but not much. It is true that the world of religion is responsible for an enormous amount of cruelty and oppression, war and prejudice and hate, pomp and circumstance. Being religious does not translate across the board into being good or trustworthy. Religion is one of the best covers for sin of almost all kinds. Pride, anger, lust, and greed are vermin that flourish under the floorboards of religion. Those of us who are identified with institutions or vocations in religion can't be too vigilant. The devil does some of his best work behind stained glass.

We live at a time when there is a lot of this anti-institutionalism in the air. "I love Jesus but I hate the church" is a theme that keeps reappearing with variations in many settings.

So it is interesting to note that Jesus, who in abridged form is quite popular with the non-church crowd, was not anti-institutional. Jesus said "Follow me," and then regularly led his followers into the two primary religious institutional structures of his day: the synagogue and the temple. Neither institution was without its inadequacies, faults, and failures.

The author suggests that a spirituality that has no institutional structures or support very soon becomes self indulgent and subjective and one generational.

And finally he turns to what he describes as the way of Josephus. He was a first century Jew who could be described as the consummate opportunist who in his lifetime sided with both Jew and Roman.

The Early Church was living and growing at a time when Zealots sought freedom from Rome. A Zealot was a person whose entire identity was shaped by the conviction that God and only God demanded allegiance and that violence was legitimate, even required, against the oppressor, the evil.

The early Christians did not turn to violence to further the message.

Peterson reflects on whether it is possible to retain the energy, focus and zeal of the zealot without the violence( both violent actions and violent words).

He ends by writing:

Herod, Caiaphas, and Josephus, all three in their lifetimes, were more influential and more effective than Jesus. The three protest movements prominent during the years when Jesus was announcing the presence of God's kingdom and when his resurrection church was in formation — Pharisees, Essenes, and Zealots — all attracted far more followers than did Jesus.

And here's the sobering thing: they still do. We are faced with this wonderful, or not-so-wonderful, irony: Jesus — most admired, most worshipped (kind of), most written about and least followed.
But in every generation a few do follow Jesus. They deny themselves, they take up their cross, and they follow him. They lose their lives and save them — and along with their own, the lives of many, many others.

Now comes the task of trying to reflect on the message of these three books which are the beginning of 5 book series on Spiritual Theology.

But it is the weekend. Annette and I are off to Stourbridge tomorrow to see the family.

AND - the telephone at the manse is not working. I have reported the fault to Virgin Media and an engineer will be on the way as soon as possible( that might mean next Friday according to the person I spoke to on the phone! She also said that I would be telephoned before the engineer arrived. I am afraid I had to point out that this would be difficult because our phone was not working). If you ring the number you will hear the ringing tone but it is not connecting. Watch this space for more news next week.