The last day of November and the second day of Advent. A time for looking back and looking forward. A time for new beginnings.
On Wednesday I will be asking the Local Preachers meeting for a note to preach in the local Methodist Circuit. Twelve months ago I would have said that I would never preach! Much too scary a prospect. But the nagging voice won't go away, so now is the ideal time to test that call.
I am very conscious that the ability of a preacher is very much in the hand of God. Without the grace needed to preach, a preacher is, at best, ineffectual and, at worst, dangerous!
Advent is also time for a new beginning for me in another direction. I have applied to the Anglican Dominicans to be admitted as an Oblate of St Dominic.
Dominican spirituality and its emphases seems to "fit" me like a glove. The glorious "To praise, to bless, to preach!" seems to ring out in my soul!
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Over the last few weeks I have been reflecting on the four last things. Death, judgement, hell and heaven. Although I have not always found this an easy process, I feel I have deepened my spiritual understanding and have followed a useful pathway, emerging today on the day of Christ the King!
And my soul certainly does rejoice and sing!
Listening to the Hallelujah chorus this morning, I feel my soul swelling with love for the Lord of Lords, King of Kings.
That's my King!
Do you know him?
And my soul certainly does rejoice and sing!
Listening to the Hallelujah chorus this morning, I feel my soul swelling with love for the Lord of Lords, King of Kings.
That's my King!
Do you know him?
Monday, 2 November 2009
In this week of All Souls I have been asked to reflect on my own dying. An exercise I have not embarked upon before. I have no idea where this will take me at the moment. it has been suggested to enter into this reflection by praying the Anima Christi (see www.ourcatholicprayers.com) for the full text.
My first thought is what if, at the hour of my death, Jesus says "Depart from me, I never knew you". A frightening point to start my reflection. I am reminded, suddenly, that I don't know the hour, or the day of my death. Will I be ready?
My first thought is what if, at the hour of my death, Jesus says "Depart from me, I never knew you". A frightening point to start my reflection. I am reminded, suddenly, that I don't know the hour, or the day of my death. Will I be ready?
Friday, 16 October 2009
For the past few weeks the Bible Study group has been studying the Book of Revelation. This was chosen for study because no-one in the group had studied in before. The consensus seemed to be that Revelation was a little weird and best left alone and very few people in the group had even read the book.
We decided that we should really give it a try and we are very pleased to have done so!
To help us in our study we are using a book written about 50 years ago by William Hendriksen, "More than Conquerors" and it has been very illuminating.
Revelation is not only beautifully written and constructed, but it is a very great comfort for persecuted and suffering Christians of every age. It is a source of immense hope as we think of the second coming, our hearts filled with joy and with a longing that the Son of man may suddenly descend inall his glory. And we realise that the Son of Man is already with us in the Spirit "And he laid his right hand uponme, saying Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the living one; and I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys to Death and Hades."
We are certainly "more than conquerors" through him that loved us!
We decided that we should really give it a try and we are very pleased to have done so!
To help us in our study we are using a book written about 50 years ago by William Hendriksen, "More than Conquerors" and it has been very illuminating.
Revelation is not only beautifully written and constructed, but it is a very great comfort for persecuted and suffering Christians of every age. It is a source of immense hope as we think of the second coming, our hearts filled with joy and with a longing that the Son of man may suddenly descend inall his glory. And we realise that the Son of Man is already with us in the Spirit "And he laid his right hand uponme, saying Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the living one; and I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys to Death and Hades."
We are certainly "more than conquerors" through him that loved us!
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Today I have been thinking about what it means to be a disciple and "disciple" others.
Jesus said "Go out and make disciples" but I am beginning to think that this is something best done on a small scale. I believe the idea is that we should make disciples one by one. In much the same way as Jesus healed individuals and brought the paraplegic, the blind man, the Samaritan woman to him by means of a one to one, face to face experience. For example, we should concentrate on making disciples one at a time by means of a sustained personal relationship.
We should follow Christ's example and "call out" to a person by name. We should commit to devoting time and patience to love that person, regardless of how different we may be or how difficult it might seem. It is important to spend time together, in conversation or sharing a meal or a hobby and take time to thrash out opinions on life. Communication on a deep level is necessary and we should not be worried about sharing our own hopes, dreams, aspirations with the one being discipled. There is a sense of opening up ourselves and becoming vulnerable in a reciprocal relationship.
We should nurture the image of God we see in each other, affirm the good and address the negative. Truly seek God together.
Jesus said "Go out and make disciples" but I am beginning to think that this is something best done on a small scale. I believe the idea is that we should make disciples one by one. In much the same way as Jesus healed individuals and brought the paraplegic, the blind man, the Samaritan woman to him by means of a one to one, face to face experience. For example, we should concentrate on making disciples one at a time by means of a sustained personal relationship.
We should follow Christ's example and "call out" to a person by name. We should commit to devoting time and patience to love that person, regardless of how different we may be or how difficult it might seem. It is important to spend time together, in conversation or sharing a meal or a hobby and take time to thrash out opinions on life. Communication on a deep level is necessary and we should not be worried about sharing our own hopes, dreams, aspirations with the one being discipled. There is a sense of opening up ourselves and becoming vulnerable in a reciprocal relationship.
We should nurture the image of God we see in each other, affirm the good and address the negative. Truly seek God together.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Over the last few days I have been helping my daughter clean her new flat in London, ready for her to move closer to her job. Commuting has proved very tiring so she is looking forward to more sleep and being able to walk to work, instead of taking a taxi, train and a bus!
The flat is very small but feels safe. There is a good atmosphere in the building. My daughter would not consider herself religious and is "not sure" about God, so I was very pleased when she asked me if I knew how to bless the flat. It is not something I have done before but it was good to ask God's blessing on that place and her life in it. It was good too, to remember, that God is everywhere. He is in that small flat, in the streets that surround it and his loving arms hold us close.
The flat is very small but feels safe. There is a good atmosphere in the building. My daughter would not consider herself religious and is "not sure" about God, so I was very pleased when she asked me if I knew how to bless the flat. It is not something I have done before but it was good to ask God's blessing on that place and her life in it. It was good too, to remember, that God is everywhere. He is in that small flat, in the streets that surround it and his loving arms hold us close.
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
I am a big fan of the internet site Facebook. I think it is a wonderful way to connect with people from all over the world and it is a wonderful tool for evangelism. I have been really heartened to see the growth of popularity of pages such as "The Bible" with over 400 000 "friends" added in the last few months. This is a place to share favourite verses, study and generally build each other up. Similarly with the group "Praying People", over 11000 people have got together to pray for each other and the world. Awesome!
However, there are sad stories attached to the use of Facebook. I have read today about a man who has been accused of murdering his partner after she changed her Facebook status from "married" to "single". There had been arguments about the length of time she spent using the networking site and jealousy had eaten away at her partner. This culminated in a stabbing that has left four children without a mother.
It is possible to become addicted to many different things in this world that, ultimately cam destroy lives. Drink, drugs, gambling and most recently, surfing the internet can all be detrimental to our lives if used to excess.
However, there are sad stories attached to the use of Facebook. I have read today about a man who has been accused of murdering his partner after she changed her Facebook status from "married" to "single". There had been arguments about the length of time she spent using the networking site and jealousy had eaten away at her partner. This culminated in a stabbing that has left four children without a mother.
It is possible to become addicted to many different things in this world that, ultimately cam destroy lives. Drink, drugs, gambling and most recently, surfing the internet can all be detrimental to our lives if used to excess.
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