Learning to Walk

made new

Since starting going out with my girlfriend I have been sharing a lot about my life which has led to a lot of reflection on the 'old me'.  There are days when I am greatly troubled by what has gone before, today - for various reasons - has been one of those days.

But as these thoughts were going through my mind so did something that was shared in last nights sermon; the words, "I am a new creation, no more in condemnation."  For sure, as I shared in my sermon yesterday morning, there are consequences for our actions - for our sin, but there is also forgiveness.  There is making new.  I have been encouraged in a time of fear and doubt by the knowledge that whatever has gone before, and whatever the consequences of that may be, that in accepting Him the atoning sacrifice of Christ has set me free meaning that I live no more in condemnation.

I don't get it!

So the crisis in the Middle East seems far from run.  According to BBC News at 10 the Israelis have said that they need another 10 days to complete their military operation in Lebanon.  What I don't get is this;  I heard on the radio the other day that any peace deal would need to include the agreement that Lebanon and Iran (at least I think that it was these 2 countries) would stop providing Hezbollah with arms.  But the US are providing Israel with arms (flown without permission through Scotland) and there was no mention of them having to stop.

It would be easy, having read some of todays papers and as I try to keep in touch with the political going ons, to think that foreign policy makers in the West are more concerned with what they will get out of the situation than the atrocious state of affairs on the ground in Israel and Lebanon.

forgiveness

Tomorrow morning I am preaching at Selkirk Street Evangelical Church looking at the question, "Can God ever forgive me?"  This will be my third speak this week and I have loved preparing all 3 and up to now have really enjoyed giving the talks.  My prayer is that tomorrow morning will be no different.

I came to the conclusion that it could be one of the shortest sermons in history - but then decided that a one word sermon, "Yes!" probably wasn't quite what they are looking for!  So I am planning to share a little about God's character as a forgiving God based upon what we see in scripture, then how that forgiveness he offers is achieved, and finally some 'top tips' on how we should let forgiveness, and all it entails, affect how we live.  I think that the main point will be that forgiveness involves sacrifice; yes, Christ is the atoning sacrifice but I think that to gain and give true forgiveness also requires sacrifice on our part.

I have really enjoyed preparing the talk and have been touched by the thoughts that it has prompted within me.  I have been realising over the past few months, and especially the last couple of weeks that un-forgiveness plays a big part in my life.  The tricky thing is that the person I can't forgive is me...

This one's gonna take some working out!

prayer and parties

I listened to an interview with the Archbishop of York - John Sentamu - on Radio 5 Live today.  It was good to hear someone mention Jesus several times without have it beeped out!  When asked what he felt was essential to his post having been in it now for about 8 months Sentamu (as he asked to be called - this was the name given to him at birth by his mother) answered, "prayer and parties!"  Prayer, it was pointed out, was an obvious essential.  But why parties?  Well because people enjoy parties!  Jesus attended them and the bible encourages people to be joyful.  He also saw them as an excellent way of reaching young people - pointing to the rise in young people attending church in his previous diocese of Birmingham as proof that partying really does yield results!

So all of this was very good.  Yet I was slightly disturbed by what seemed to be a reluctance to rule out salvation within other religions.  If anyone else heard the interview and also felt this (or didn't) then please do comment.  It just seemed to me that he didn't quite nail his colours to the mast in this respect - or perhaps he did and it just isn't the same mast as me! 

But overall a positive showing (based on listener response) from almost the top dog (collar!)  His honesty was refreshing and can be summed up by his comment when asked if the Church of England needed saving.  The church, he said, has been saved through the atoning death of Christ and although "we do a lot of bad things we also do some good."  Especially parties.

MOT miracles

I put my car in for it's MOT yesterday.  It is an old (ish) car that makes funny noises going around corners and generally doesn't look or sound as if it's in the best of health.  It passed.  I was praying that it would as I really couldn't afford more than the cost of the test.  "Thank you God!" I pray as I gasp down the phone to the garage!

When I told my (non-Christian) flat mate later that day he looked at me in disbelief.  That's a miracle he said.  "You said it mate!" thinks me.  It is my prayer that there will be more instances over the coming weeks to which he will respond in this manner.

cross sports

Last night I was invited to speak at a youth event called 'cross sports' in Edinburgh.  I have spoken at a few youth events in the past as well as helping for a while at youth groups at home when I first became a Christian.  I think that youth events are a nightmare!  I sometimes find myself sitting there cringing as I watch a totally passionate and dedicated leader speak to kids and lead a group in a way in which the kids are plainly not engaging with - in fact I have witnessed groups where the leader thought that the kids were responding well whilst I was aware of the fact that they were taking the mick out of the leader, their response being measured and sarcastic.  I have also sat in other groups where there has been absolute chaos and where if you were to ask someone from either side (leader or youth) what they had got out of it at the end no one would be quite sure (apart from a headache!)

I have also been to some excellently run and responded to groups and last night was the best yet.  It is an initiative led by a Church of Scotland minister where they invite (for no charge) young people (11-14) to day time sports coaching in a variety of sports and then in the evening have a meeting which they call club house.  The theme for the week is 'winners and losers' which I said was fairly appropriate for me to be speaking on as I am often a loser but have also been known to win (very occasionally.)  The talk makes up a small part of the evening and the rest is taken up with interviews of Christian sports people, genuinely fun and non-cheesy games and general banter between the young people and the leaders.

A real success story of a youth mission.  Please pray for this event as it runs for the rest of the week and also that more leaders will be given visions such as this to reach young people who would otherwise be spending their days and evenings in, what I expect, would be far less beneficial activities.

unity

The Sunday just passed I preached at Airdrie Baptist Church.  Some friends came with me for a bit of support; Karen - St Silas, Nick and Jill - Queens Park Baptist and Whitey - Church of Scotland.  I was very moved by the unity that was shown in this act and the welcome that we all received as we came to worship the One God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to hear a sermon on Infectious Evangelism; looking at how we should be attempting to share the good news of Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life and in whom alone salvation is to be found.  With the congregation of our host church here were a group of people - with differences in denomination and tradition - united in a common belief and cause.

Unfortunately this is not always the case, far from it.  Within the denomination that I worship there seems to be serious conflict growing.  I won't expand on this as I am nowhere near as well read and do not have the same understanding of it as if you take this link to GadgetVicar.  Please pray for this situation.  One of the things that I said on Sunday was of the passion that we see in Andrew and Philip as they go to Peter and Nathanael.  Their passion for Christ was truly infectious.  It may be that passion for discord, disunity and war rather than peace - which we witness within areas of the world at the moment - is also infectious, even reaching into the 'church'.

Our prayer must be that the voice of those whom stand for what is right and true from the word of God which is living and active today will be the voice that continues to be heard when this horrible mess is finally put to bed.

driving

I am working as a delivery driver for a local pharmacy for the next 2 weeks.  Yesterday was my first day and it was a real eye opener.  I am primarily taking drugs to and from 2 nursing homes and prescriptions to medical centres within a certain area of Glasgow.  From what I can make out and have been told these areas are not the best.  I saw lots of young mums, obviously single (or at least unmarried) women with several kids, people smelling strongly of alcohol etc whilst the state of some of the buildings was not great.  It is very moving and also very challenging to witness these sorts of things, especially as even where I was living in Coventry things weren't so run down as they are in these areas.  It challenges me as to the need to pray, pray, pray for these areas and these people; that God will do a great work in them.

CLAN

I went to CLAN Gathering on Wednesday and ended up staying for 2 days.  It was good.  The speakers were good, a mix of challenging and entertaining and the sung worship was generally very good although why aren't there more hymns?!?  I feel a bit like my mother when I say something like that but I am beginning to realise that she may be one of the wisest people I know.  It's not that I don't like the more recent music, much of it is absolutely excellent but some of it...I just feel that it says nothing.  Of course, as my friend reminded me, the hymns that we still use today are the best of the best.  There were just as many badly worded hymns but the fact remains that most of the ones that we still use now do have excellent, thought provoking and meaningful words that are more than just 'fluffy' love songs which, I don't know about others, often leave me struggling with the images and thoughts in my mind being of anything but Jesus.  Anyway, rant over!

I went to a couple of seminars on prophetic evangelism.  They were interesting and I will blog more on them when I have digested a bit more of the content in an attempt to clarify how I felt.  The prophetic is something that I have great belief in and I have a great desire to see people receive the gift of prophecy.  Yet I also have considerable concerns which just won't go away.   More to come...

holidays

Yesterday I went to an outdoor swimming pool on the coast with some friends.  It was a glorious day (so much so that I got myself very un-gloriously burnt) and was such fun.  It really took me back to childhood holidays - I'm not quite sure why; perhaps the smell, the noise - there was just something about it.  I am also, I think (hope?) making headway with my sermon for Sunday.  I am preaching on John 1:35-51 and am calling the talk "Infectious Evangelism."  I would really appreciate those of you who pray praying for me but more importantly for those who will hear the message (which includes me!) that the Holy Spirit will speak to them through my words.

Tomorrow I am having another day out.  Me and a friend are setting off early and making our way to St Andrews for a day at Clan.  The only other Christian event like this that I have been to was Keswick last year.  I enjoyed much of that experience and am looking forward to tomorrow.  The only down side being that we can only go for one day.  Still, should be great - the forecast is for clear sky so I will be keeping my top firmly on (I can almost hear the cries...of relief) - I am really looking forward to soaking up some good stuff.  Rock on God.