Day 58

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.