Christianity
Compass
Walking in the Light
South Stack Lighthouse, Holy Island, Wales
Encountering Jesus
It’s a peaceful spot, not too far from town, the ideal place to let the swine wander and graze. Well, most of the time it is. You see, in the tombs up there in Gadarenes there are a couple of wild men. People say they are demon possessed. On this day we saw some other strangers who we now know were Jesus the Nazarite and his disciples. I’d heard of him and I should have recognized him when those two wild men started shouting at him and he ordered their demons to leave them. He’s known for that kind of thing.
Well, I have nothing against that man for giving those two their lives back and it’s not everyday that you witness such a miracle right before your eyes. But it is the other thing that he did that really angered us. The demons asked him to send them into OUR pigs. Can you believe it?! And then once our herd was filled with demons it ran straight down the bank and into the lake. Every one of the pigs drowned! Utterly gobsmacked, us herders took off in the other direction – into town, and there we told anyone who’d listen what Jesus had done. A whole posse of townsfolk went back to the “scene of the crime.” Jesus and his followers were still in the field. Once the townies had established what had happened via a whole barrage of questions, they had an impromptu town council meeting. then they asked Jesus to leave. And I say, “Fair enough! He ruined our livelihood. he ruined our lives.”
Lord. let me not only see what I may have lost because of my encounter with you. May I continually count the blessings you have bestowed on me. May my following you be about giving back to you, in gratitude, for all I have received. AmenWalking
My wife and have taking up walking in the past year. Naturally, we have always been able
to walk, but we have decided to go for long walks. Long for us, anyway. Currently we are doing up to 10 kms a day.
The reason? We are looking forward to walking part of the Camino in Northern Spain. No, we are not Catholic and no, we are not interested in whether the bones of St. James are in Santiago or not. But we do like the idea of the medieval history that this pilgrimage links to and we love Spain.
That is why we are practising our walking. As my wife put it, “I don’t want to look stupid after after the first few kms!”
However, I have noticed other benefits, apart from allaying the fear of looking stupid. I’ve lost 5 Kilos, I’m fitter but there is more, and they are not steak knives. Walking means you encounter life – often missed when in the car. When we traverse our neighbourhood we encounter people. In the bush or along the rail trails we encounter nature, beauty, stillness and an amazing sense of peace – and other walkers. Walking and camping brings you closer to people.
As a couple we talk, plan, observe and, even after 38 years, discover more about each other as we amble.
That brings me to Jesus. He didn’t drive a car. If he had, he would never have met his disciples, encountered people in distress, or the pair on the road to Emmaus. Walking was an important part of the way Jesus encountered people; in situ, in their everyday life. I’m not arguing for a theology of walking but I am suggesting that for Christians to be effective they need to be in places where they can encounter people.
It is time to get out of this chair and practise again. I don’t want to look stupid!
Rock Heart
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph 3:17 Cold, hard
fist clenched heart
wrapped in its dark self.
Closed.
Nothing can pry
open
the steely fingers.
Unprised,
unmoved,
unrelenting,
mute.
Your Word,
Your song,
soft,
calling
persistent,
love soaked.
The interior,
warmed,
moved,
spark kindled,
song filled.
Heart unwrapping,
unwrapped.
Opening, opened.
Eternal lifesong filled.
Christ bought.
Sharing Knowledge and Understanding
As I promised, yesterday, I have a second story. This one is based upon observation and 
conjecture. On our short camping trip, my wife and I stopped at a remote and isolated town on a river. As there were picnic tables at the local jetty we thought this was a good place to stop for our cuppa.
I will just give you the details: What I observed was a caucasian lady, whose husband was minding the small children, teaching a group of people, of middle eastern appearance, how to fish: including how to bait the hook and cast the line into the water. This was done through example, teaching and lots of encouragement – especially when the casting of the line didn’t go as planned. There was also plenty of laughter and cajoling. It was obvious that there was joy in this mini learning community.
The conjecture is about the origin of these middle eastern people and why they are in such a remote town. What I found heart warming was the scene where one person was sharing with others a knowledge they didn’t have: “How to fish”.
There are so many metaphors and lessons in this whimsical picture and it doesn’t require me to set them out. I’ll just finish by saying, I was mesmerised and challenged by the scene.
A Good Idea at the Time
Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum
One of the first photos I put on my Flickr account was of the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum. This museum celebrates the golden years of canals that thrived during the early years of the Industrial Revolution in England. Wikipedia states that over 100 canals were built in the UK between 1760 and 1820. Thousands of navvies spent years digging canals and tunnels, and building aqueducts and locks. In historical terms however, their use was short lived. The development of railways caused the quick demise of the canal as integral aspect of industrial life.
Some of the infrastructure that remains is still magnificent. Lock systems and aqueducts
Grand Union Canal
remain that are a testament to human ingenuity. Yet the fact still remains, that today, the canals are either derelict or used for recreation and tourism.
The canal industry has a parallel in Church life. Think of all the time, energy and resources we utilise when in reality, the investment is neither long term or wise? I was thinking of such things as: programmes in churches where there is no real outcome for the kingdom. Simply, “We have always done it this way.” Or what about the time, effort and person power that is expended on worship services in music and and productions? And, sadly, too often the Word of God hardly gets a mention. Even our personal lives can do with audit. Am I spending the time, resources and energy that God has given me, wisely? Is there an eternal value to what I saying and doing, or is there only a momentary value?
Are we as Christians and churches investing wisely for the future – for our own, our family’s and our society’s future?
Jesus spent three intense years with his disciples, teaching, mentoring, training, leading and modelling his message. Two thousand years later people are still challenged by it. Just maybe, we should learn more from him than we do from the men in grey suits with laptops – or the canal planners 250 years ago.
Wondering Out Loud
I think, (he says very carefully) that a number of the writers of blogs I follow and who follow me, are men of a certain age. (Apologies to the younger writers and the ladies). Why, I thought to myself, are these “men of a certain age” writing about faith, Christianity and the Bible?
I have one answer (there may be many more). But the one I posit is that these writers have been through quite a bit of what we call “life”. They have seen the good, bad and ugly and hope their readers can learn from, or, escape all together, the trials and pain that the past has taught them.
Thank you to all those bloggers, young and old, man and woman, who desire to teach, encourage and warn. There is much we can learn from each other. What is even better, is that we can do it from under the banner of a heavenly dad who cares much more than we do.
The Very Actions of God
If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11
The words of God, spoken from lives that bring praise to God! That is Peter’s challenge to the church – to us.
The more I read Peter’s letter, the more I am convinced that this is not just a message for Christians 2000 years ago – but for us. Now. Our purpose in life is not about us, our egos and our success, but God.
The “if”, in “if any one serves”, should, in practical terms be translated “when”. “When anyone serves …” The Christian life cannot be lived without service. It is the mark of Christ and by direct inference, therefore, the mark of the Christian.
Why do I suggest Peter is writing to us? Apart from the fact that God’s word is timeless, it also strikes at the very heart of our self centred, self satisfied and complacent culture. The culture that we blend into so seamlessly. I get the impression that Christians often see this life in Christ as a burden. The tone of Peter’s letter, however, is one of passionate joy. He is passionate because he knows that following the example of Christ is the Christian’s protection against the onslaught of the world.
In stark terms, Peters commands us to fulfil our calling – that is, to imitate Christ.
The Very Words of God
St Martin in the Fields London
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 1 Peter 4:11a
When I was studying at a Theological College, the professors stressed that we, aspiring to be preachers, must preach God’s word and not our own pet theories. We were in the pulpit on God’s behalf – not our own.
In the passage above from 1 Peter, the apostle stresses that as the church approaches the end times it is essential that the church (i.e. each individual Christian) speaks God’s words. To be God’s mouth piece is not just a challenge for preachers, but in fact, for all who call themselves Christians.
We all have a prophetic call to the age in which we live.
This call requires two attributes. We must know God’s heart, that is, what grieves Him about ourselves and the world in which we live. Also we must know what it is that God wants us to say.
Both these require an intimate knowledge of the God’s Word. However, more than that, it also requires the courage to be a prophetic voice and living witness to our age. Rather than being chameleons blending into our age, we are called to be a vibrant, living alternative – speaking and being the words of God.
Travels from Ur 