tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55826675255966706762024-03-14T04:51:48.751+00:00Pilgrim ConversationsPilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-39181798010250485712020-05-10T10:59:00.000+01:002020-05-10T11:10:28.068+01:00Jesus and the Incredulity of Thomas.<div style="color: #073a6c; font-family: Skia; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>11th Station of the Resurrection: </b></span></div>
<div style="color: #073a6c; font-family: Skia; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jesus and the Incredulity of Thomas. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Today we hear once again those famous words from Thomas; <b>“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hands in his side. I will not believe.”</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Fair enough, you may think, well done Thomas for saying out loud what we and the disciples must all have thought at the time. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I think that all the disciples needed a certainty about whether Jesus was alive and the fact that Thomas was absent when he first appeared gives them another opportunity to require that proof, that concrete physical proof as it were.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Once again Jesus offers the opportunity for the disciples to reach out and <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTMrCV58DZc">come to him</a>.</b> Scripture doesn’t say whether Thomas actually puts his fingers in the scars, or his hand into the spear wound, but this is a direct command from Jesus and tradition has assumed from Jesus’ words that Thomas did take this step. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #292723; font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the painting by Caravaggio, which is on our service sheet today, we graphically see Thomas’ forefinger entering the gash in Christ’s side. Indeed Christ is guiding Thomas’ fingers into the wound with his left hand, while his right hand pulls back the tunic that covers his chest. </span></div>
<div style="color: #292723; font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Christ’s calm expression contrasts with the intense and surprised reactions of Thomas and the other two disciples (the figure on the left is most likely Peter with John next to him). </span></div>
<div style="color: #292723; font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The dramatic tenebrist light further accentuates the moment in which Thomas encounters the bodily wounds of the risen Christ. </span></div>
<div style="color: #292723; font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Caravaggio’s figures, are painted in earth tones, and are meant to be representative of the common man. </span></div>
<div style="color: #292723; font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This painting by Caravaggio is most wonderful, he uses common people to show us this holy moment, no halos or angels bathed in light, just common folk, bathed in light and shade as is our life and in a very theatrical form, with simple and torn clothes. there’s a thought to ponder?</span></div>
<div style="color: #292723; font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Notice the light on Thomas’ forehead, which gives us the insight that man receives enlightenment by Christs’ reflected light. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Notice too that Thomas is almost scientifically examining Jesus’ body, Christ not wanting to withhold anything from him, that too should speak to us today.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #292723; font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This picture does seek to answer the questions we all have thought, from time to time. For me, it helps me navigate my thought processes, we must have the confidence to <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LAJM-CQ7PQ">“ask, seek and knock”</a></b> as Jesus says in Matthew 7:7</span></div>
<div style="color: #292723; font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In doing so the door of understanding, of enlightenment will be opened to us and out of this enlightenment we can then, like Thomas, say.<b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KHjhVOV0mk">“My Lord and my God!”</a> </b></span></div>
<div style="color: #292723; font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Whether Thomas makes this response on behalf of the whole group of disciples or it is his own personal insight is not easy to tell. What is true is that group of believers is growing, first Mary Magdalene, then John and Peter, now Thomas.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But for each of them it is only the start, for revelation is only a beginning; how you make it live and breathe in your own being is what counts. Thomas took his new found knowledge of Jesus into his heart and carried it across continents into the heart of India. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Christ was his fuel for the journey, indeed the truth that Thomas told still lives on in India to this day. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This Truth told then now lives with us; </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Where will we carry it, to our neighbours, our nation or perhaps even to our enemies?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">One thing for sure is, this<b> </b>truth we cannot, must not and shall not keep it to ourselves.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Jesus Christ is risen.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>He is risen indeed, Alleluia.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Let us Pray.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">King of glory, while we doubt, we fail, we turn away, yet your faith in us remains strong.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">May we experience that divine strength coursing through our souls and bodies and minds, so that our doubts may become the source of new knowledge, leading us to see you more clearly and be drawn into the heart of your love for all creation.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Amen</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XSqW-27Wjc0/XrfP0bS6EJI/AAAAAAAABg0/kNCAZcaysyoDN8cCITxeEl30-gNxSdTogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/350px-Caravaggio_-_The_Incredulity_of_Saint_Thomas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="350" height="235" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XSqW-27Wjc0/XrfP0bS6EJI/AAAAAAAABg0/kNCAZcaysyoDN8cCITxeEl30-gNxSdTogCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/350px-Caravaggio_-_The_Incredulity_of_Saint_Thomas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Skia; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-28286709899464114542020-04-29T19:26:00.000+01:002020-04-29T19:26:24.078+01:00<div style="color: #0c61ab; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0c61ab; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0c61ab; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Sixth Station of the Resurrection: The Road to Emmaus </b></span></div>
<div style="color: #0c61ab; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>(Just Walk in My Shoes)</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #0c61ab; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="color: #0c61ab; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6fh08EEB8Nk/XqnEiw88GzI/AAAAAAAABf0/9gNDxpfof2A97SDjR9cFKyqKLnQEnuQnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/emmaus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="318" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6fh08EEB8Nk/XqnEiw88GzI/AAAAAAAABf0/9gNDxpfof2A97SDjR9cFKyqKLnQEnuQnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/emmaus.jpg" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Introduction</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Through Lent and Passiontide there has been a long tradition in the Church of meditating on the events of the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, called the Stations of the Cross. In the latter part of the twentieth century a complementary devotion emerged, possibly from the Iberian peninsula, called the Stations of the Resurrection or the Stations of Joy. They provide much-needed resources for the celebration of the Great Fifty Days. All to often we forget the Easter story and its power and move on to through the lectionary.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">As with the Stations of the Cross, we move from station to station, reading an appropriate Bible passage and meditating on it. By using the resurrection appearances as a focus for reflection and meditation we have an opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the Easter mysteries of the resurrection of our Lord. The resurrection appearances are more than just stories or history, they are a record of personal encounters with our risen Lord, so silence and space should be given to allow the liturgy to enable that encounter to happen today.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">I do hope you enjoy my reflection and perhaps listen to the track by Gladys Knight and the pips; <span style="color: red;">Just walk in my Shoes.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h30A8QU0NMs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h30A8QU0NMs</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0c61ab; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Jesus is the resurrection and the life.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #fb0007; font-kerning: none;"><i>All</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> <b>Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Reading</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (24.28-35)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Reflection or Meditation</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Church gathered together in many parts of the world today will hear this resurrection story of Jesus Christ once more. They will hear how lives are turned around, when the story of fear and disappointment is shared with a stranger on the road to Emmaus. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This is one of my favourite passages in the whole of scripture, it is so rich with meaning, theological insight and I never tire of hearing it.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Our story tells us of two people who had been with Jesus, seen and heard him do marvellous, miraculous and wonderful things, surely this was the Messiah, surely this was the Saviour they had longed for?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But now he is dead, he had been executed; He didn’t say a word, when ,when we know that his words could unpick your soul and lift you to the highest heavens. Times were now too dangerous, time to move into the shadows and pick up the pieces of their old lives, time to go into lockdown.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">My reflection today is centred around meeting and sharing your life with;</span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><i style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">“The stranger </i><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>walking</i></span></span><i style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;"> on the road.”</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The resurrection of Jesus asks as many questions as it answers, one thing I am sure of is that we as disciples need to be <i>“On the Road”</i> in order to have our eyes opened; </span></div>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Opened to the probing questions Jesus poses.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Opened to his disturbing and surprising presence.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Open to hear his voice speaking to you from strangers on the road.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As many of you know over these passed weeks in lockdown each weekday we have had a <b>‘Thought for the Day’</b> posted on our social media forums and sent out as far and wide to the people we are connected with. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I am grateful for the many contributions that I have been sent, as Editor in Chief so to speak I have slightly adapted and added a tweak here and there. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I was sent this one earlier this week. I don’t think the author had in mind the story of the road to Emmaus at the time but the resonances of God’s voice in this reflection deserve to be heard, thought about and put into action.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“In the 1970’s I was invited to participate in a Duke of Edinburgh Study Conference. These conferences grouped people from three different occupations (Civil Servants,, Trade Unionists and Business leaders) and sent them to different parts of the UK to study local social and economic issues. I well remember the Plenary gathering in Birmingham, chaired by the then CEO of Chloride Group, Sir Michael Edwards, who was about to take on the running of British Leyland (but which had not been announced). </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the round of self-introductions one guy stood up introduced himself by name, occupation, which was Trade Union convener at British Leyland, Longbridge., and blithely said ‘for those that don’t know – that’s the plant where the workers sign in using the Visitors Book’. I can still see Sir Michael’s stony-faced stare!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">My particular Group was dispatched to East Anglia, where we studied issues of economic stress caused by the decline of the Ports and the socio-economic issues of low-paid work in the agricultural industries. At each visit individuals were tasked with looking at the issues of the day from a particular point of view. We were there for 2 weeks and the amazing thing was to witness the change in attitudes as the course went on. By the end of the tour it was difficult to distinguish who was from which background.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">That experience has stayed with me and I often wonder how our opinions would alter if we paused and deliberately thought about ‘<b>how the world would look if we were in someone else’s shoes.’</b> It can be a sobering experience, and is particularly prescient in the current crisis when, apart from the obvious sacrifices being made by front-line workers, people in all walks of life have to confront unique challenges.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The thought of <b>‘Walking in other people’s Shoes</b>’ is not new, in fact the proverb is as old as the hills we walk upon. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The point here is that we don’t <i>‘walk in others shoes’ </i>our default is to;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">‘<i>look after ourselves,’ ‘Charity begins at home!’</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Sometimes we can’t <i>‘walk in others shoes’ </i>because we are too focussed on our concerns, our sorrows, our pain, our immediate situation.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Like the disciples our eyes are open but only on the next step, and that step is a step away from the situation, a footstep on the road West to Emmaus; usually out of town, out of reach, away from any connection with God, or any of his people. The thought in our mind is survival and self preservation. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Thats why the Emmaus Road story is so powerful, two people whose lives, hopes and dreams have crashed to the ground, literally running for cover, for the safety of what they know, meet the Risen Lord Jesus, on the road and he changes their lives. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Friends, friends, have you met him?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Friends, friends, do you know he is walking with you right now, in the midst of all your pain, sorrow, distress and fear?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I am greatly comforted by these words of the Apostle Paul to the Roman Christians.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Romans 8:38-39 King James Version (KJV)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This passage, informs us of enormity of what Jesus did, it brings comfort and hope amidst the worst times in our lives.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Our <i>‘thought for the day’</i> showed us an insight into what humanity can do when we listen and walk and work together. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Emmaus road story takes us further and restores not only our hope in humanity but shows us a loving saviour, healer and friend, and the length that Jesus will go to, to bring you home.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">During this time of social isolation, lockdown, when we aren’t connected, our minds and sometimes our actions spill out, go on overdrive. The tension under the surface breakouts. Literally for most of us everything we have worked so hard and built looks like it could crumble. Our lives seem so fragile, we feel our mortality ever present.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>What have we done with our lives? </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>What have we built?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And yet, and yet; a stranger appears in our midst and <b>He</b> has the power to turn our life upside down. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">My prayer for us all is that we welcome this stranger in whatever guise, shape or form and allow <b>Him</b> to change and transform our life.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Perhaps this week you could set an extra place at your table for the stranger, placing some bread and wine there. in doing so who knows what will happen?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This week on your walk out into the highways and byways, may you bump into Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>May his words soothe your soul and bring you home.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>May he cause you to walk Eastward to the Son.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>May you know Him in the sharing of your life, with others, just as our disciples knew Him when he broke bread in their homes.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Amen</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Prayer</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We praise you and we bless you, our risen Lord Jesus, King of glory,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">for you are with us, even when our eyes are closed to your companionship.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Walk this day alongside the disconsolate and the despairing, open their eyes to your gentle illumination, and let their hearts burn within them at your invisible presence.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">To you, Lord Jesus, walking by our side, be honour and glory, now and for ever.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #fb0007; font-kerning: none;"><i>All</i></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> <b>Amen.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-63731558143827276382020-04-12T11:22:00.004+01:002020-04-12T11:22:49.079+01:00<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Easter Sunday Reflection April 12th 2020</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #48b3ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #48b3ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HcVnmOap01A/XpLrq56SgaI/AAAAAAAABeU/ocRQ2ZzJV1Qy8NGTNRIhIa0mfdecGzO3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/marytomb2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HcVnmOap01A/XpLrq56SgaI/AAAAAAAABeU/ocRQ2ZzJV1Qy8NGTNRIhIa0mfdecGzO3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/marytomb2020.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #48b3ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="http://parishofburbageandastonflamville.co.uk/news">http://parishofburbageandastonflamville.co.uk/news</a><br />
<div style="color: #48b3ff; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Rev. Andrew Hall (Rector of St Catherine and St Peter in the Parish of Burbage cum Aston Flamville.)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The gospel for this Easter Sunday tells how Mary of Magdala arrives early in the morning and sees the stone has been rolled away and that the tomb is empty. Her first reaction is one of shock after the tragic and sorrowful events of Good Friday. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">She has come to grieve and spend some time with her beloved friend and try to make some sense of what has happened. It is only a week since Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem on a colt and the crowds had cheered and waved their palm branches.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Now she is greatly surprised to find that the tomb is empty and she runs off to find the disciples.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It isn’t always possible to predict how people are going to react. Some people who seem very ordinary and timid most of the time turn out to be superb in a crisis, while the person we all thought would be brave goes to pieces completely. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Some people cope philosophically with sadness and loss but are totally thrown by unexpected happiness or good fortune; it’s as though it disturbs their own equilibrium of life.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>What is for sure is that people are all different!</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">During Holy Week this year we having been reflecting upon the 7 last words of Jesus, our ministry team at St Catherines and St. Peters have given us all things to ponder and think about each day. May I take this opportunity to thank them for their words and pray that God would greatly enrich their life as they have enriched ours.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Thinking about the 7 last words of Jesus started me thinking about Jesus’ first words after the resurrection. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>I wonder if you know what they were?</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Was it, <i>“I have risen from the dead?”</i> or <i>“I have conquered sin and death?”</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">or perhaps, <i>“I have opened the Gates of Glory, welcome my people?”</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The actual answer is not quite what we would expect.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In fact the answer is different in all of the gospel accounts.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In Matthew, the women run from the tomb, having been told by angels what has happened and what it means. They then meet Jesus who says to them <b>“Greetings”… do not be afraid:</b> go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee, there they will see me.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Friends, Jesus will always greet us, he longs to be with us and in relationship with us, always.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In Mark, Jesus does not say anything (or at least in the more reliable early manuscripts) there is just <i>silence, trembling and bewilderment.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In Luke there is no record of Jesus saying anything until he meets the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and what an encounter that is; <i>that is for another time!</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i></i></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">In John’s account, the one we have heard today, Mary finds the tomb empty, fetches Peter and John, she then lingers at the tomb. She is the first person to see the risen Jesus (though she mistakes Him for the gardener). </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Jesus days to her, “<b>Why are you weeping?</b>’ and then, <b>“Who are you looking for?” </b>and then her name, <b>“Mary.”</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">These are astonishing words:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">First Jesus speaks to the sadness within her</span></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Second Jesus speaks to her lostness</span></li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Then he calls her name, “Mary.”</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He addresses her personally, acknowledging her feelings, touching her emotions and dealing with her thoughts and calls her by name.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Friends, listen to this account, this is how God would deal with us all. sensitively, lovingly and by name. Thus enabling a new relationship with Jesus, a new relationship with God. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This is the Easter Day message, <b>a</b> <b>new start, new beginnings, new life!</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">These first words Jesus spoke on Easter Day, aren’t as dramatic or powerful as such, but they do deserve to be thought about, to meditate upon. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The words for the <b>Tomb</b> can speak to us as powerfully as the words from the <b>Cross.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">They give us new insight into the resurrection life, speak to us in our condition and loss and give us hope that our name, Mary, John, Peter, Andrew, are on His lips. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Do you hear them? </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Just like words from the garden in Genesis 3:8-9; Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and woman, <b>“Where are you?”</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Today, my prayer is that you would hear his voice calling you.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Today, may you respond to his call, as he speaks into your situation, giving you hope and addressing your needs, and indeed calling you by name.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Today, beloved of God, it is Easter Day, a new start, a new beginning and a new life.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Amen </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-18964144373911043582020-04-07T10:50:00.002+01:002020-04-07T11:01:05.480+01:00<div style="color: #7e131a; font-family: "Baskerville SemiBold"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "baskerville"; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #7e131a; font-family: "Baskerville SemiBold"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "baskerville"; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: normal;"><b><a href="http://parishofburbageandastonflamville.co.uk/news">The Third Word</a></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #3c5d84; font-family: "Baskerville SemiBold"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "baskerville"; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: normal;"><b>Jesus said to his Mother, “Woman this is your Son.” </b></span></div>
<div style="color: #3c5d84; font-family: "Baskerville SemiBold"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "baskerville"; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: normal;"><b>Then he said to the disciple: </b></span></div>
<div style="color: #3c5d84; font-family: "Baskerville SemiBold"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "baskerville"; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: normal;"><b>“This is your mother.”</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #493320; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>John 19:26-27</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #484643; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Rev. A. D. Hall </span></div>
<div style="color: #484643; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">April 2020</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dsbtqI84OtY/XoxPGcAue8I/AAAAAAAABXQ/iloiN8J0AnQCF6dHV8SBBryjn239QazVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/holy-week-for-children-8-years-31-638%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="638" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dsbtqI84OtY/XoxPGcAue8I/AAAAAAAABXQ/iloiN8J0AnQCF6dHV8SBBryjn239QazVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/holy-week-for-children-8-years-31-638%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #343434; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4px; min-height: 14px;">
<img src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/3dc9ee87-4be4-4ef1-a0aa-24ebf49e4aca" /></div>
<div style="color: #343434; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14px;">This is the first time that Jesus speaks from the Cross in Johns’ gospel account, and it isn’t what you would expect, for we have just been told about the abuse and the mocking of Jesus by the soldiers. There is a life choice in this one point alone.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">You can see that Jesus’ mind is on other things; the scene is a juxtapose between Soldiers of the empire and the woman and the devoted keeping vigil at the cross. So my first question is; <b>Where are you in this picture today?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The group keeping vigil includes the two other Marys and Jesus mother (still unnamed) and “the disciple whom he loved.” Jesus concern for his mother is very evident within this narrative, his concern for her vulnerability is real. Women left alone in this patriarchal society didn’t fair well at all. The words he then utters are <b>‘family forming’ </b>and reflect his deep concern for his mother to be placed within a family. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">These words should console us too, as they show Jesus’ heart for all those who are vulnerable and alone - for them to be placed within the context of God’s family. In our world today in the midst of the <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips/">Coronavirus outbreak</a>, we are more than ever called to care for those who are in need, to help them get through this period. Acts of loving kindness towards our neighbours and those in distress can bring people back from the brink of despair and isolation and literally home and into the family fold of humanity. these acts are very powerful.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Thus my my second question; <b>Can you help someone today? </b></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1cPXC_XxrE/XoxPT9tuA_I/AAAAAAAABXU/iSBPnBMd6KAHWKnTv_SXKwnW3qMjwFu-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/91711726_10163264918960511_3706980148554235904_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1600" height="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1cPXC_XxrE/XoxPT9tuA_I/AAAAAAAABXU/iSBPnBMd6KAHWKnTv_SXKwnW3qMjwFu-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/91711726_10163264918960511_3706980148554235904_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">With these words Jesus provides a son for his mother, something that was hugely important in his patriarchal world. A son could help to provide, both home and food for his family in those days. Just recently, Sylvia Whitworth posted a picture of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/522159217990680/">Burbage workhouse on the facebook page</a>, which has haunted me. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">These places were in every town and village right up until the recent past, they were the places that people had to go when they had no-one to provide for them. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">These places still hold many painful memories for people in our wider families, memories that many choose to forget.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Friends we are entering into a new world, another epoch, all the preconceptions that we held are changing and reforming. From a world that valued money, prestige, the banker, the hedge fund manager, the sports star, we suddenly value the nurse, the van driver, the post man, the teacher, the refuse collector, the cleaner and our neighbour. Kingdoms come and go; <b>Could it be in these last words of Jesus we see glimpse into our future?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">A future where we are to value family, where we are to <i>‘form family,’</i> where we can change the world for good by <b>loving your neighbour as yourself?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Now then this is a good point to leave this reflection and I do so by asking my final question/task. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Loving your neighbour as yourself is found eight times in the bible, not once, not twice, eight times; answers on a postcard to Fr Andrew at the Rectory please!</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Fr Andrew</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-53864951412256209222020-04-05T11:13:00.001+01:002020-04-05T11:16:44.983+01:00He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #3c5d84; font-family: "Baskerville SemiBold"; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "baskerville"; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: normal;"><b>He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #493320; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>‘Hosanna to the Son of David’</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #3c5d84; font-family: "Baskerville SemiBold"; font-size: 32px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; min-height: 37px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpn7Ub_EpAo/XomwACUryZI/AAAAAAAABW8/caWe4nbUStI5fZ5n7dzd2S49qrTgPtp9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/entry_into_jerusalem-640w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="640" height="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpn7Ub_EpAo/XomwACUryZI/AAAAAAAABW8/caWe4nbUStI5fZ5n7dzd2S49qrTgPtp9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/entry_into_jerusalem-640w.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<img src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/007c09dd-ea4e-4b9c-a22d-4beaf62c9118" /></div>
<div style="color: #3c5d84; font-family: "Baskerville SemiBold"; font-size: 32px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; min-height: 37px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #484643; font-family: "baskerville"; font-size: 18px;">P</span><span style="color: #484643; font-family: "baskerville"; font-size: 18px;">alm Sunday</span></div>
<div style="color: #484643; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">April 2020</span></div>
<div style="color: #343434; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Rev. A. D. Hall</span></div>
<div style="color: #343434; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #3c5d84; font-family: "Baskerville SemiBold"; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "baskerville"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-family: "baskerville"; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: normal;"><b>He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #493320; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>‘Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord’</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #493320; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 23px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Thank you for navigating to this page, I do hope this short reflection about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday leaves you with something to think about and helps you begin your journey into Holy Week this year</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We have probably all heard, said or sung the phrases - <i>‘Hosanna to the Son of David” and ‘Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.’</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But what do they mean, just what was Jesus saying to the people in His day and How do they relate to us today in our world?</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">A good way of understanding Jesus’ ministry is by focusing on what he <i>did</i> rather than what he <i>said</i>; and even when he does speak, his words are <i>reflections </i>on his <i>actions</i>.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey is so often seen as a sign of his humility, his majesty clothed in meekness. When actually it was a deliberate, politically and religiously provocative act. a statement to those in the crowd that day who knowing the scriptures would be able to directly relate this to the prophecy in Zechariah; they knew what Jesus was saying. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Take time to meditate upon the image above, try to imagine yourself in the story.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Jerusalem was in a fever like state, people were shouting, screaming, singing, noise, noise, noise, like never before. At the same time knives were being sharpened, loose tongues were wagging, fingers were being pointed.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">All around people were saying, - <b>“He is coming, the Messiah is here!”</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As our Palm gospel reminds us, two of his disciples had gone on ahead as instructed and found a donkey tied up with a colt, they untied them and brought them to Jesus. All they had to say was <i>“The Lord has need of them.” </i></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">As this drama began to unfold, again his disciples were learning the lesson, <i>“Do as he tells you!”</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Receiving the animals Jesus smiled, this was something he often did, smiled. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">It made such an impact on so many occasions, his smile was able to convey, a calmness and surety, as often the Disciples were at sixes and sevens, not knowing, what, how, why or when they needed to do things. <b>Perhaps just like us now?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">What was in Jesus’ heart as he rode along on a donkey? </span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">For sure he knew the shallowness of much of the praise, he also knew the holiness of it all too. He was fully aware that the people who were proclaiming him king, included a range of people; the devoted, the zealots, pharisees, and the religious types, simple everyday folk, people who just happened to be going to Jerusalem, almost by accident?</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He also knew that this ride of triumph was in fact a ride towards his death, and that this same crowd who praised him would in a few days’ time be shouting for his crucifixion, with just the same ignorance and lack of understanding. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The majesty and triumph of this moment were laced with fear and sadness for him, each step forward a crushing blow to his flesh and spirit. Perhaps on one level that’s why he chose the colt, an innocent unbridled, to help him journey into the darkness that awaited him. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But there was no turning back, his mind was set, firmly fixed on the task at hand. Love compelled him forward, love was the reason, he was willing to go into the place where he was to be despised, misunderstood and rejected.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">His love for us; a <b>“Love that never ends, but bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” </b>was his reason.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Friends, let us take hold of Christ’s love for us this week, let it take root in our hearts, so that as we follow Christ’s journey to the cross we may experience his true resurrection when we celebrate Easter.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "baskerville";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I leave you with the <span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);">words</span> of </span><b style="font-size: 17px;"> </b></span><a href="https://englishverse.com/poems/love" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 17px; font-weight: bold;">George Herbert </a></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Love</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b> Guilty of dust and sin.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b> From my first entrance in,</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b> If I lack’d anything.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>‘A guest,’ I answer’d, ‘worthy to be here:’</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b> Love said, ‘You shall be he.’</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b> I cannot look on Thee.’</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Love took my hand and smiling did reply,</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b> ‘Who made the eyes but I?’</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>‘Truth, Lord; but I have marr’d them: let my shame</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b> Go where it doth deserve.’</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>‘And know you not,’ says Love, ‘Who bore the blame?’</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b> ‘My dear, then I will serve.’</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>‘You must sit down,’ says Love, ‘and taste my meat.’</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #191c1f; font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b> So I did sit and eat.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-30036789984479484482019-12-10T11:09:00.003+00:002019-12-10T11:09:46.806+00:00Time to Blossom<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>St. Catherine’s Parish Church </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Blossom Project</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Environment Group of St. Catherine’s Church are working towards making the Churchyard and The Rectory Garden into a Therapeutic experience for the Community of Burbage to enjoy. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">They have taken up the Bishop of Carlisle’s challenge to use parish land as therapeutic gardening spaces for their community: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSyuy8kHI5Y/Xe98HhvE5WI/AAAAAAAABRc/YpscmT4jcPgHZp_RDdstKhYhqqFvYIR8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1024" height="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSyuy8kHI5Y/Xe98HhvE5WI/AAAAAAAABRc/YpscmT4jcPgHZp_RDdstKhYhqqFvYIR8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
</div>
<div style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Churches should offer their green spaces as gardening projects for people with mental health problems, a senior Church of England bishop has said.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Studies had established the therapeutic benefits of gardening, said James Newcome, the Bishop of Carlisle and the C of E’s lead bishop on health issues.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He said: “Churches should look at the land they have around their buildings to see if there’s any possibility of people who are homeless or have mental health difficulties or who are lonely [getting] involved in hands-on gardening.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">“In urban areas there is a real shortage of green space, and churches often have the only green space in a neighbourhood. In rural areas there are real problems of isolation and loneliness. There are all sorts of benefits – therapeutic, meeting up with others, finding a sense of belonging and purpose. [This idea] is not complicated but it can make a huge difference.”</span></div>
<div style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0b4cb4; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/05/free-up-church-land-for-therapeutic-gardening-says-bishop-of-carlisle">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/05/free-up-church-land-for-therapeutic-gardening-says-bishop-of-carlisle</a></span></div>
<div style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Over the next five years the main outcomes will be Raised flower beds for easy access to planting, a scented garden area for the visually impaired to join in the project and paths & walkways for young and old alike to wander through at their leisure. This will add to our wonderful existing wildlife garden and quiet area.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Rectory is already part of the Quiet Gardens in Leicestershire and Fr Andrew has quiet days throughout the year in it. Plans are afoot and ground has been cleared in anticipation of building a covered area for social functions, visitors will be able to enjoy the gardens in all weathers.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Over the next five years sponsorship and volunteers are needed to turn this into the Social and Therapeutic Haven envisaged by its forward thinking Group. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Environmental Group already organise litter picking up teams around the village, now they want to encourage and envision young and old alike to get ready for Spring. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">We are also planning a series of Table-top gardening sessions, watch out for details.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Here’s to the future, let’s see our village BLOSSOM; please consider joining our group and supporting it financially too. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Scan to QR. link to donate, please give generously. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TX946y_EwsU/Xe98zjNT6QI/AAAAAAAABRk/zTmoTwU_d54P31vhUbi2JqX6N4fHGoWgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Parish_CQR004767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TX946y_EwsU/Xe98zjNT6QI/AAAAAAAABRk/zTmoTwU_d54P31vhUbi2JqX6N4fHGoWgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Parish_CQR004767.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-10428507768468445252019-09-28T12:34:00.003+01:002019-09-28T12:34:43.347+01:00Reflection for Harvest<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b> Harvest Reflection</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“I thought of this: I Thought of how every day each of us experience few little moments that have just a bit more resonance than other moments - we hear a word that sticks in our mind - or maybe we have a small experience that pulls us out of ourselves, if only briefly… a stranger gives us a piece of bread to feed the ducks, say; a small child starts a conversation with us.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>And if we were to collect these moments in a notebook and collect them over a period of months we would see certain trends emerge from our collection, certain voices would emerge that have been trying to speak to us. We would realise that we have been having another life all together, one that we didn’t even know was going on inside us.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>And maybe this other life is more important than the one we think of as real - this clunky day-to-day world of furniture and noise and media. So just maybe it is these small, silent moments which are the true story making events of our lives.”</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>D. Coupland, Life after God.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">I would ask you to consider this passage this coming month, as the seasons change and life takes another turn, consider, pause, ask of yourself; </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>“What are life’s voices saying to me?”</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">If I tell people I hear voices won’t they think less of me or even worse? Perhaps; but I am convinced that God though his grace, mercy and love for us, <b><i>longs to speak to us, to be with us, is interested in our life story.</i></b> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">He loves us, we are his Beloved. Lovers are intimate with each other, completely together, ‘entwined,’ to quote Captain Corelli; ‘of one heart and mind.’ They often know what the other says, wants or desires before they speak.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">So, as we celebrate this season of Harvest, reaping quite literally what we have sown.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">How about preparing your life now for the next season; to sow seeds within your soul?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Have you noticed as soon as the harvest is in the famers are busy sowing for the next season? To this end place yourself in the right setting, spend time listening to and receiving from the Lord, our Churches of St Catherine and St Peter are not only wonderful spaces and places to be in, they are places that provide the space to hear ‘His Voice.’ </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/6e6feac2-9266-4d9a-a268-4f9b69bb3883" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">But where and when you may ask? Why not join us for one or more of our services, outside of the usual Sunday service at 10:30am, there is so much more you could gain from attending one of our other services.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Times of Services: </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b>Sunday<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>8:00am, 10:30am Holy Communion and 6:00pm Evensong</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wednesday<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>10:30 prayer and 11:00am Holy Communion</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Thursday <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>6:30pm Evening Prayer<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The one thing that has impacted my life over the years has been the rhythm of the daily offices of Prayer and Holy Communion - putting myself in that place enabled my soul to be refreshed, for me to hear the Lord’s voice, realising that <b>“I have another life all together”</b> as our reflection states. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Please do consider joining me, you may be surprised in what you hear!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Fr Andrew</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-13761610547348327292010-06-03T11:58:00.000+01:002010-06-03T11:58:58.931+01:00DECONSTRUCTION.3. – ‘Re-Imagining’<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>"Every day people are straying away from church and going back to God."</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em></em></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Lenny Bruce</em></div><br />
This quote brings us abruptly to the point. If we don’t act now we face, well I’ll leave you to ponder that.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">One thing is for sure there is wide spread decline across the breadth of the ecumenical spectrum. It encompasses the western world as we know it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We need to undergo personal and corporate transformation, morphing, re-imagining, re-enchanting call it what you will.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>“The Church in the west is well and truly in the midst of a post Christendom and pluralist position, we compete with a number of entities.” <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/ChurchMorph-Megatrends-Reshaping-Christian-Communities/dp/080103762X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275561040&sr=1-3">Eddie Gibbs.</a></em></div><br />
<em>"We live in extraordinary times in the western world, when church attendances are diminishing but spiritual hunger is rising." <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Re-enchanting-Christianity-Dave-Tomlinson/dp/1853118575/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275561078&sr=1-1">Dave <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Tomlinson</span></a>.</em><br />
<br />
Our mental models are deeply embedded within us; we are like a rabbit caught in the headlights of the world we live in; paralysed!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Are we in the process of losing our faith personally and corporately?</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We have a direct need to Re-imagine our call and what it is we are supposed to do in the midst of the deconstructive process</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeFI37AaaI/AAAAAAAAAF8/Sm1fb13-yj0/s1600/site-sixty-two-med%5B1%5D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeFI37AaaI/AAAAAAAAAF8/Sm1fb13-yj0/s320/site-sixty-two-med%5B1%5D.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">1. By providing the arena and creating a safe space, people can find their vocation through experience, experimentation and connections. Interestingly <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Off-road-Disciplines-Spiritual-Adventures-Leadership/dp/0787985201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275561393&sr=1-1">Crep’s </a>states that; ‘<em>The Church’s job is not to save people but to shape the space in which God calls them to himself.’ </em>I would go further and state the leader must set the pace and fashion this by his personal <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Missional</span> life. This ‘Spatial Evangelism’ is not just done in a program or project and is not linear or two dimensional it has volume to it, three dimensional, spirit, heart and venue. It encompasses all of the week, time and space the leader works in. This space is made safe by core values and virtues: providing a positive culture to live and work in.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">2. The next question is to ask what this means for the next generation of leaders. The leader’s shape in the 21st century needs to be aware of past and present but is not shaped by ‘being right’ or driven by ‘meeting needs’ </div><br />
<br />
3. Engage in the <strong>FOUR </strong>aspects of the journey which are interrelated, leading to one another and to action and back again. It’s messy and sometimes chaotic yet the leader embraces this as it reflects how life happens around them. What they try to do is to look for God at work and then ask; <br />
<br />
How can I interact with this?<br />
<br />
<br />
• <strong>Cultural Reflection:</strong> - Culture comes from the Latin word <em><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">culturus</span></em>, from which we also get, cultivate. ‘Technically speaking, culture is the vast array of symbols (language, clothing, icons, ideas, hairstyles, stemware, obscene hand gestures and pretty much everything else) by which human beings cultivate our life experiences.’ Elsewhere <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Foolishness-Greeks-Gospel-Western-Culture/dp/0281042322/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1275561728&sr=1-1-fkmr0"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Newbiggin</span></a> defines culture as <em>‘Understanding the sum total ways of living developed by a group of human beings and handed on from generation to generation’</em> <br />
Understanding and the application of this is crucial for the leader if they are to position themselves to influence others in the next century. The leader is aware he can’t escape culture and doesn’t try to subvert it; rather he adopts a counter culture posture that doesn’t divide sacred and secular. By embracing this paradigm they show alternatives that people can chose without having sectarian threads embedded within them, its inclusive and not exclusive allowing people to join the movement.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeKVHMgjmI/AAAAAAAAAGk/qwNuOwEbB1o/s1600/imagesCAXZDMLQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="252" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeKVHMgjmI/AAAAAAAAAGk/qwNuOwEbB1o/s320/imagesCAXZDMLQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
• <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Missional</span> Reflection: - this component is always contextual and always situational to the present yet the leader holds a biblical narrative alongside it this allows them to shape a better future than currently expected. By being unashamedly spiritual, experiential and <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">incarnational</span> the leader shows by example how Christ can transform the arena by human interaction. The main advantage here is that it can work in all settings not just Church or Christian organisations. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeKEmAviAI/AAAAAAAAAGc/gJ8LF3bEOrU/s1600/images%5B9%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeKEmAviAI/AAAAAAAAAGc/gJ8LF3bEOrU/s320/images%5B9%5D.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
• Spiritual Reflection: - This is no longer the realm of the professional clergy, but intrinsic to all believers. A priesthood for all, that includes more than the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, solitude etc. but because of reflection it promotes action, which forms habits and set the tone for the leaders life. Followers watch and repeat this cycle in a manner that is suitable for them in their context.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeJ4ztcfaI/AAAAAAAAAGU/CNbu86Uokt4/s1600/images%5B5%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeJ4ztcfaI/AAAAAAAAAGU/CNbu86Uokt4/s320/images%5B5%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
• Theological Reflection: - is linked to the mission and setting they find themselves in, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Christians-Dispatches-Emergent-Frontier/dp/047045539X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275561872&sr=1-3">Jones </a>says: Theology; <em>‘reasoned discourse about God, religion and spirituality. Literally words about God, from the Greek word logos (word) and Theo's (God)’</em> the leader is cognisant that all truth is God’s truth and is happy that Christian theology does not have the sole claim to truth. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeJWTtPqBI/AAAAAAAAAGE/V7rcjQFzzP4/s1600/images%5B8%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeJWTtPqBI/AAAAAAAAAGE/V7rcjQFzzP4/s320/images%5B8%5D.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>However the leader can translate the truth into the idioms of biblical narrative. A great example of this being the Apostle Paul and his visit to Athens, ‘It is plain to see you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, To ‘The God Nobody Knows’. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, knowing who you’re dealing with. Theology has a practical outworking and this relationship link informs each other about the outworking of mission. <br />
<br />
What is interesting is that a linear sequence is excluded. Cyclical and seasonal influences are rhythmic and ritual to this process. I find this exciting as it reflects my own journey: I have become dissatisfied with next-level thinking and the next new thing. I feel more at ease exploring the dimension of the present. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Younger-Evangelicals-Facing-Challenges-World/dp/0801091527/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1275562104&sr=1-1-fkmr0"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Webber</span> </a>explains how there is no <em><strong>‘correct point of entry’</strong></em>, this allows free flowing dynamic and organic relationships and networks to be created. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeJb_BKewI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ix5HW6wT980/s1600/imagesCA17BZTV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="224" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeJb_BKewI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ix5HW6wT980/s320/imagesCA17BZTV.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This freedom to explore the dimension sets us free instead of being like salmon swimming upstream to spawn, trying to get up to the next rapids, only to find the next fish ladder and ultimately death. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Beautiful-Mess-Practicing-Presence/dp/1590525019/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1275561951&sr=1-1-fkmr0">McKinley</a> in his book talks about pastors and leaders and how they love to build the kingdom, but Jesus didn’t, he simply stated ‘the kingdom is…he simply invited his followers to see it, embrace it and believe in it.’ This enables the leader to ‘be’ rather than ‘do’. <br />
The trouble is we like to think in levels of achievement as it gives us a sense of power and control; ‘if I work hard and do the right thing I can move to the next level.’ More appropriate leadership for the context of the 21st century in light of this discussion must be that the leaders ‘be’ first, and ‘do’ out of this sense of being rather than to ‘be’ as a result of doing. <br />
<br />
Our previous models have at the centre of them works to achieve and build things, this is changing but it will take time and courage to achieve this.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeKmu1JOvI/AAAAAAAAAGs/jb5AB1_prxA/s1600/imagesCAL7YRK0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAeKmu1JOvI/AAAAAAAAAGs/jb5AB1_prxA/s320/imagesCAL7YRK0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<strong>Concluding Remarks.</strong><br />
<br />
If the 21st Century leaders can position themselves in the flux of learning, unlearning, being at home with experiments and tradition, paradox and chaos they can bring about a marked change in Spiritual climate we find ourselves in. One of the greatest skills a leader can learn is the ability to learn from their mistakes. We may get knocked down but we must get up again. <br />
<br />
<br />
I finish with one last thought from the book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reimagining-Church-Pursuing-Organic-Christianity/dp/1434768759/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275562217&sr=1-1"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Reimagining</span> the Church, by Frank Viola.</a><br />
<br />
But is the church really different in every culture? …..Or is it that the church has over adapted to modern western culture in its theology and its practice?<br />
<br />
Speaking of the problem of over contextualisation, Richard <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Halverson</span> writes; “When the Greeks got the gospel, they turned it into a philosophy; when the Romans got it, they turned it into a culture; and when the Americans got it, they turned it into a business.<br />
<br />
hope you enjoyed this series;<br />
speak soon<br />
Pilgrim:Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-52516450802531411112010-06-02T10:39:00.001+01:002010-06-02T12:00:48.924+01:00DECONSTRUCTION.2. – ‘Embedded Assumptions’Today’s post sounds quite grand, it could almost be the title for a novel.<br />
<br />
<br />
One day perhaps!<br />
<br />
From yesterdays post we recall that: <br />
Deconstruction instead describes a particular method of literary criticism that seeks to get behind the text to reveal “Embedded Assumptions” another word being our Mental Models.<br />
What are Mental Models?<br />
<br />
<strong>Models that shape how we act.</strong><br />
<br />
The classic thought behind this term comes from work presented by <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fifth-Discipline-Peter-M-Senge/dp/1905211201/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275470627&sr=8-2-spell">Peter <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Senge</span> – The Fifth Discipline.</a><br />
<br />
<span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Senge</span> sets out the thought that; The Art & Practice of the Learning Organisation has 5 “competent technologies”<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAYjfZqtnPI/AAAAAAAAAFU/LD0fo4XQ-RI/s1600/image003%5B1%5D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAYjfZqtnPI/AAAAAAAAAFU/LD0fo4XQ-RI/s320/image003%5B1%5D.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What are Mental Models?</div><br />
<br />
<strong>When brilliant strategies fail to get translated into action because they conflict with deeply held internal images of how the world works, images that limit us to familiar ways of thinking and acting.</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAYjy9RMUSI/AAAAAAAAAFc/-U6htfXj2mo/s1600/mental_model%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAYjy9RMUSI/AAAAAAAAAFc/-U6htfXj2mo/s320/mental_model%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All penguins do is think FISH!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>What are Mental Models?<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>These are ‘deeply ingrained assumptions, generalisations or even pictures and images that influence how we understand the world and how we take action’ </strong>Chris <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Argyris</span> – Harvard <br />
Our “linear thinking” dominates most of our mental models <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Senge</span> states that “ the learning organisations of the future will make key decisions based upon shared understanding of interrelationships and patterns of change.” <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAYkhdZMl1I/AAAAAAAAAFk/_E2P2jq7AfY/s1600/imagesCALRJIT5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAYkhdZMl1I/AAAAAAAAAFk/_E2P2jq7AfY/s400/imagesCALRJIT5.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br />
We need to be people, leaders who have a clear understanding grounded in the cultural and spiritual time frame they were in enabled these people to make correct judgments for their nation. An interesting point here is that this type of understanding has been quoted as being <strong>‘Contextual Intelligence’</strong>: The ability to read the forces that shape the times in which they live and to seize in the resulting opportunities. <em>In Their Time</em>, produced by Harvard Business School.<br />
<br />
<br />
A notable cross reference <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">biblically</span>;<br />
<br />
1 Chronicles 12:32 The men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel, should do--200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; <br />
<br />
The question we must ask ourselves; <strong>Do we understand the times and seasons we live in and more importantly do we know what we should do?</strong><br />
In our deconstruction process the “Embedded Assumptions” are deeply ingrained within us, the primary influences being;<br />
<br />
• Background<br />
<br />
• Education<br />
<br />
• Culture<br />
<br />
• Values<br />
<br />
• Ethics<br />
<br />
• Spirituality<br />
<br />
<br />
Which if that isn’t enough is mixed with the complexity of the 21st century is a major hurdle.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAY5x0WuFII/AAAAAAAAAFs/0tAbrbtf8jM/s1600/imagesCAS112RH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="174" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAY5x0WuFII/AAAAAAAAAFs/0tAbrbtf8jM/s320/imagesCAS112RH.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Our task first is to unlearn what we have learned. The futurist Alvin <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Toffler</span> says ‘ <strong>the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn’</strong> – <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Summoned-Lead-Leonard-I-Sweet/dp/0310232228/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1275471196&sr=1-1-fkmr0">L Sweet, Summoned to Lead.</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Which reminds me of a scene from the film Avatar, where the Shaman of the tribe says to Jake <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Sulley</span> <strong>“You’re are too full”</strong></div><br />
<br />
<strong>The question we must ourselves are we too full?</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Tomorrows post. DECONSTRUCTION.3. – ‘Re-Imagining’</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-6713161221735497552010-06-01T20:49:00.008+01:002010-06-01T20:59:43.926+01:00DECONSTRUCTION.1.<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today’s post is the first of a three part blog.</span></div><br />
“DECONSTRUCTION” is frequently used in society today; we hear that “Society is broken” we are in need of “root and branch” change, we are plagued with mantras and visual signs of ‘Change is Needed’ and ‘Its time to think again how we do things.’<br />
<br />
Politicians build careers on it, businessmen build large empires on change and deconstruction. <br />
<br />
But of what use is it you may ask?<br />
<br />
When we see those who espouse it living in direct contradiction to what is being said. <br />
<br />
To some deconstruction is a technical term that has often been misunderstood, it’s often perceived as threatening and confrontational and leads to DESTRUCTION. <br />
<br />
A search in a <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deconstruction?db=dictionary">dictionary</a> reveals;<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A philosophical and critical movement, starting in the 1960s and esp. applied to the study of literature, that questions all traditional assumptions about the ability of language to represent reality and emphasizes that a text has no stable reference or identification because words essentially only refer to other words and therefore a reader must approach a text by eliminating any metaphysical or ethnocentric assumptions through an active role of defining meaning, sometimes by a reliance on new word construction, etymology, puns, and other word play.</span><br />
<br />
Similarly;<br />
Deconstruction instead describes a particular method of literary criticism that seeks to get behind the text to reveal “Embedded Assumptions” another word being our Mental Models.<br />
<br />
I wonder if subconsciously when we see or hear the word DECONSTRUCTION we see and think DESTRUCTION.<br />
<br />
We need to begin a conversation and ask questions; start “to undo or take apart in order to arrive at a deeper understanding, allowing for a creative rereading” - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0801827280/ref=sib_rdr_dp">Barbara Johnson – The Critical Difference.</a><br />
<br />
Another term of phrase is Re-Imagining: – a term I will talk about in a later post. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=eddie+gibbs+church+morph&x=19&y=18">Eddie Gibbs in his book Church Morph</a>, which I heartily recommend speaks of the transformation process (deconstruction) as the “morphing” of the church. <br />
<br />
A search in a dictionary reveals;<br />
<br />
The animated transformation of one image into another by gradually distorting the first image so as to move certain chosen points to the position of corresponding points in the second image.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAVegP4lTHI/AAAAAAAAAFM/YAQ0k_qSfSM/s1600/deconstruction_470x470%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/TAVegP4lTHI/AAAAAAAAAFM/YAQ0k_qSfSM/s320/deconstruction_470x470%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Picture by <a href="http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/images/2008/04/02/deconstruction_470x470.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/image_galleries/artists_jade_ashcroft2_gallery.shtml%3F8&usg=__OznMWNxVmvJdv8T3uvflcrjW9sQ=&h=470&w=470&sz=43&hl=en&start=14&sig2=NdDJZWCjpmrU_5WzyiOarw&itbs=1&tbnid=vKPkDfQv1Nx5XM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddeconstruction%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=al0FTO-uBZGjOJbjzMUI">Jade Ashcroft. </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I like the term morph it creates warmth and certain safety somehow. It is derived from the Greek word <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">morphe</span>, which appears in the New Testament in a significant context. The apostle Paul writes to the Philippians 2:5-8</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>5For, let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus, </strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<strong></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>6who, being in the form [<span class="goog-spellcheck-word">morphe</span>] of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God, </strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<strong></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>7but did empty himself, the form [<span class="goog-spellcheck-word">morphe</span>] of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made, </strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<strong></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>8and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death -- death even of a cross, (Young’s Literal Translation).</strong></em></div><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0802825117/ref=sib_rdr_dp">Gordon Fee</a> explains the meaning of <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">morphe</span> as denoting ‘shape’ or ‘form’. This is precisely what Jesus did as he embarked on His mission, It cost him everything; yet he gained more.<br />
<br />
The paradox of Jesus' remark that we should ‘lose our life to save it springs to mind’. <br />
<br />
Deconstruction is costly but worth it, before embarking hastily on our journey we should take care to understand the process the best we can having faith that once that God will journey with us. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What I would ask is that we see DECONSTRUCTION not as DESTRUCTION but as BREAKTHROUGH.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong></strong>For deconstruction to be of any use to anyone it has to work on a personal level first it seems pointless to attempt to reshape, deconstruct, transform, re-imagining; anything without first applying the principles to our daily lives. Our lives have to morph in order to ensure that destruction doesn’t occur without it our rhetoric is useless, powerless and inept.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
I hope this post has provoked some thoughts?<br />
<br />
Tomorrows post. DECONSTRUCTION.2. – <strong>‘Embedded Assumptions’</strong><br />
<br />
</div>Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-63758639822243256392010-05-14T18:16:00.002+01:002010-05-14T18:18:55.768+01:00Rotational Slip.Hello everyone,<br />
Just lately I've been intrigued by large slips of earth and mud at the sides of motorways and roads. Having a Mining & Civil Engineering background I can't help but notice things like this. <br />
So I thought it may be a good thing to blog about and try to put across a few leadership principles across at the same time.<br />
<em>First a definition: </em><br />
<strong>Rotational Slip;</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Form of mass movement where material moves suddenly along a curvilinear plane. Also called a slump. </strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S-1_FhNWW2I/AAAAAAAAAEs/5HIYKW7FrTE/s1600/IMG_0741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S-1_FhNWW2I/AAAAAAAAAEs/5HIYKW7FrTE/s320/IMG_0741.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><em>The Principle being;</em> <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Rainsplash</span> is a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">microscale</span> process that can be quite effective in moving material on slopes. The impact of rain droplets on the soil surface often detaches individual grains of soil moving them some distance from their source. On flat surfaces, the effect of rain drop impact is to redistribute the material without any net transport in a particular direction. However, on a slope the influence of gravity and slope encourage more material to be redistributed <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">downslope</span> rather than <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">upslope</span>. When slopes become 25 degrees or greater, almost all the redistribution occurs in a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">downslope</span> direction.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S-1_pFwgTNI/AAAAAAAAAE0/BjPE_HV94mk/s1600/IMG_0742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S-1_pFwgTNI/AAAAAAAAAE0/BjPE_HV94mk/s320/IMG_0742.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't worry the car or the people inside the car were not harmed in any way during the making of this blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/10x.html">Mass Movement and <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Hillslope</span> Stability</a></em></strong></div>A variety of processes exist by which materials can be moved through the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">hillslope</span> system. These processes are generically known as mass movement or mass wasting. The operation of mass movement processes relies upon the development of instability in the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">hillslope</span> system. Under these conditions, failure of the slope material can occur on a range of time scales. Some types of mass movement involve rather rapid, spontaneous events. Sudden failures tend to occur when the stresses exerted on the slope materials greatly exceed their strength for short periods of time. In many cases, type of mass movement is produced by the operation of short term trigger mechanisms. Mass movement can also be a less continuous process that occurs over long periods of time. Slow failures often occur when the applied stresses only just exceed the internal strength of the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">hillslope</span> system.<br />
<br />
What are the sources of the stresses and strength acting within <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">hillslope</span> materials? As we have noted, a major source of stress is the gravitational force. The magnitude of this force is related to the angle of the slope and the weight of <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">hillslope</span> sediments and rock. The following equation models this relationship:<br />
<br />
F = W sin Ø<br />
<br />
where F is gravitational force, W is the weight of the material occurring at some point on the slope, and Ø is the angle of the slope.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S-2Ax4C0PqI/AAAAAAAAAE8/Sf1OUq1yOoA/s1600/IMG_0743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S-2Ax4C0PqI/AAAAAAAAAE8/Sf1OUq1yOoA/s320/IMG_0743.JPG" wt="true" /></a><em>The Cyclist just manged to escape the slip but strained his left thigh as he peddled quickly away.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I appreciate that most of you who usually follow my blog will by now be wondering what I am going to say, hopefully you are still reading this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Well a few comments;</strong></div><ul><li><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>When all looks well and a new project has just been finished a few drops of rain can test the stability of what you have accomplished.</strong></div></li>
<li><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Gravity is a great leveller.</strong></div></li>
<li><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Understand the materials (people) you are working with.</strong></div></li>
<li><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Mass movement often causes great holes somewhere.</strong></div></li>
<li><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Sudden failure happens when we put too much stress on a certain area of the organisation.</strong></div></li>
<li><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Be careful about the hill (project) you may be ascending, make sure you know what lies beneath.</strong></div></li>
<li><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>The Magnitude of the slip is related to the slope and angle you are working at, take care its not to steep.</strong></div></li>
<li><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Regular inspection of your working environment is required.</strong></div></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S-2DgIRTNqI/AAAAAAAAAFE/nFWkgtULn94/s1600/IMG_0744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S-2DgIRTNqI/AAAAAAAAAFE/nFWkgtULn94/s320/IMG_0744.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The following pictures where taken along the newly built <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ftr=earth.promo&hl=en&utm_campaign=en&utm_medium=earthhpp&utm_source=en-earthhpp-na-us-gns-erth&utm_term=evl">B6474</a>. the slip occurred as a result of the prolonged rain spell we had a few months ago.Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-33929565916883582812010-04-13T16:01:00.001+01:002010-04-13T16:03:13.941+01:00Mission & EvangelismMission and Evangelism.<br />
<br />
<br />
Having been involved in many aspects of mission and evangelism for twenty eight years I have seen many initiatives come and go. My preferred combination is one of personal lifestyle witness and corporate (both local and national church initiatives).<br />
<br />
The gospel I share with people is first and foremost modelled by my life. I am the message as this is the first thing many people see. I endeavour to be Christ to everyone I meet, and I always look for God in them. I find that this enables mutual friendship and often leads to ongoing conversations. I believe that Christ died for us and rose again; giving us the opportunity to share with Him in His life and that by his Holy Spirit he is ever present help to us, this is a process we are in and not an event.<br />
<br />
Hopefully my life story to date shows that my faith in Christ is real and that without Him I would not be here or more importantly be sustained by Him. My encounters with the risen Christ are the major driving force in my outlook towards mission and evangelism. <br />
<br />
Proclaiming this message needs to be done in varying degrees and guises as not one size fits all. This is the uniqueness we have in the gospel; God meets us where we are at, this incarnate Love of God has more power than we realize, the joy we see when this is in action is unsurpassable.<br />
<br />
The gospel message that the local and national church shares should mirror that of the Transformation that occurs within our lives and should embrace a Missional mind set. I like the phrase <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transformissional-Coaching-Empowering-Changing-Ministry/dp/0805447814/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271169151&sr=8-1">Transformissional</a> , this embraces both concepts of the gospel message and allowing the message of God change our lives causes a <a href="http://pilgrimconversations.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/centrifugal-faith/">centrifugal force</a> that sends us out missionally into the communities we live and work in. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S8SEpZCpgDI/AAAAAAAAAEU/GManZZDdGHI/s1600/images%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S8SEpZCpgDI/AAAAAAAAAEU/GManZZDdGHI/s320/images%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Although the word Transformissional sounds so vogue really it’s a re-working of the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew22:34-40&version=NIV">Great Commandment</a> and the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2028:%2016-20&version=NIV">Great Commission</a> . <br />
<br />
I take the view that church whatever shape or size or context should embrace a <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Simple-Church-Returning-Process-Disciples/dp/0805443908/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271169777&sr=1-1">simple model</a> that gives Clarity, Movement, Alignment and Focus . People are hungry for simple because the post-modern world we live in has become so complex and peoples live their lives on information overload, being able to interact with the world in an instant. These words should be the filter we look through when we consider our message, lifestyle and fellowship, our mission and evangelism.<br />
<br />
• Clarity – is it clear that God is at work within us?<br />
<br />
• Movement - Are we moving towards Christ?<br />
<br />
• Alignment - Is what we do aligned within the scriptures?<br />
<br />
• Focus - Has God got all our focus/attention?<br />
<br />
This frees us from a defensive posture and enables us to serve one another, which is attractive to others. It enables people to become who they are meant to be in Christ instead of just trying to keep the lights on and a few leadership positions filled.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S8SFHE4sj_I/AAAAAAAAAEc/RfM4hqhFJyE/s1600/images%5B4%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S8SFHE4sj_I/AAAAAAAAAEc/RfM4hqhFJyE/s400/images%5B4%5D.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<br />
My preference is that we should embrace a mixed economy with regard to traditional, fresh expressions, communities of interest and church planting, within the local context of parish ministry and at diocese level, having a clear and positive agenda is paramount; and I admire the five values of a missionary church as mapped out in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mission-shaped-Church-Planting-Expressions-Changing/dp/0715141899/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271169858&sr=1-1">“Mission Shaped Church” 2nd edition 2009</a> . This report helps us to map out the simple church model as previously described. A continuation on and working out from this is the paradigm of “go to them” instead of “come to us”; this is a relational model which has long lasting effects within the communities where it has been pioneered. <br />
<br />
This relational model starts with Community which finds its own ‘Missio dei’ (Mission from God) which leads to Worship .<br />
<br />
Mission and Evangelism like Church will never be easy, its messy and difficult and we need to acknowledge this but the structures we employ can be simple and how we flow, move within it from one to another should be simple, therefore simple is challenging but also rewarding if we are prepared to make it less complicated. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S8SF7dOFF0I/AAAAAAAAAEk/gy6weydViAI/s1600/messyplay%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S8SF7dOFF0I/AAAAAAAAAEk/gy6weydViAI/s320/messyplay%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The vision of the Church in its collective mission should encompass territory, neighbourhood and network . Working in all three areas should promote a healthy and balanced view to the communities we live in. <br />
<br />
• Territory - parish system<br />
<br />
• Neighbourhood - attention to population movements involving cross boundary working.<br />
<br />
• Networks - formed by socially and culturally not by physical area.<br />
<br />
<br />
At this moment we are living in a Liminal Space , betwixt two worlds and we have a tendency to flip from one to another, one author calls the age we live in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Emergence-Christianity-Resources-Communities/dp/0801013135/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271169926&sr=1-1">The Great Emergence</a> . We are then at the crossroads of time and we need clear and effective strategies and the appropriate people with a skill set able to may a way forward in the time and place where we live. The statistics we currently have only serve to back this thought up, we have roughly; <br />
<br />
• 40% De – churched: (20% closed de-churched & 20% open de-churched)<br />
<br />
• 40% Non – churched<br />
<br />
• 10% Regular attendees<br />
<br />
• 10% Fringe<br />
<br />
<br />
Therefore this gives clear evidence that a mixed mode of mission and evangelism should be deployed to ensure maximum effectiveness. I do take the positive stance that we can do it rather than allowing the figures to overwhelm us and cause us to freeze at the size of the task at hand.<br />
<br />
What do you think,? has anything I've said cause you to agree or disagree, I would love to begin the conversation.Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-89685148994523835512010-01-25T13:20:00.002+00:002010-01-26T15:28:48.690+00:00Ketchup Christianity<span id="goog_1264423585684"></span><span id="goog_1264423585685"></span><span id="goog_1264423585686"></span><span id="goog_1264423585687"></span><span id="goog_1264423585688"></span><span id="goog_1264423585689"></span><span id="goog_1264423585690"></span><span id="goog_1264423585691"></span><span id="goog_1264423585692"></span><span id="goog_1264423585693"></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">For Christmas this year I received a copy of one of my favourite writers, Malcolm glaldwell’s book; <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Dog-Saw-Other-Adventures/dp/1846142768/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264086379&sr=1-1">What the dog saw</a>. Having just finished reading the Ketchup conundrum article in part one of the book, I found myself thinking of how ketchup and Christianity have certain links and cross cutting themes, which I hope whilst reading this blog, you can see and more hopefully that cause you to think is my (our) Christianity anything like Ketchup?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12TzI3lFHI/AAAAAAAAADU/_COupRXkWJ8/s1600-h/images%5B3%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12TzI3lFHI/AAAAAAAAADU/_COupRXkWJ8/s320/images%5B3%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The main aspect for me after reflection is that we confuse Ketchup and Christianity. We must remember Ketchup is a condiment and Christianity is a way of life. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12T7XjdbZI/AAAAAAAAADc/mbVJJ3wiJAE/s1600-h/imagesCAFMRXHO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12T7XjdbZI/AAAAAAAAADc/mbVJJ3wiJAE/s320/imagesCAFMRXHO.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Of course it is you are saying, but how many of us like to have just a little ketchup to add spice to our lives, or make a dull life palatable?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12UHlNQ0kI/AAAAAAAAADk/WQwo1Z1aw2g/s1600-h/imagesCAA3052M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12UHlNQ0kI/AAAAAAAAADk/WQwo1Z1aw2g/s320/imagesCAA3052M.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Regardless of who and what our beliefs are, we are bombarded with condiments to add sparkle to our dull and dusty lives, Consumerism is alive and well throughout our world and </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">christianity is alive to this and offers various condiments to help us enjoy this life and make our existence more pleasant; such as worship, prayer, fellowship, preaching and liturgy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Which when added to our life help us become better people.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12Xg5hlitI/AAAAAAAAADs/gRu7dzmiK0k/s1600-h/images%5B8%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12Xg5hlitI/AAAAAAAAADs/gRu7dzmiK0k/s320/images%5B8%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We have in our minds that there is such a thing as the ‘platonic dish’ – something that we have is just absolutely right and we must tell everyone that our brand is ‘the right one’</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Gladwell speaks of <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce.html">Howard Moskowitz</a> who stood up to the Platonists and said there are no universals, and that it is human variability and the AHHH factor that awakens ones senses, and this should be considered when we address our <span style="color: red;"><strong>reveal</strong>.</span> </span><br />
<span id="goog_1264423585715"></span><span id="goog_1264423585716"></span><br />
<span id="goog_1264423585717"></span><span id="goog_1264423585718"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12XrAvkKOI/AAAAAAAAAD0/7IqgyhljAR4/s1600-h/images%5B4%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12XrAvkKOI/AAAAAAAAAD0/7IqgyhljAR4/s320/images%5B4%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">In short variety is the spice of life and our Christianity should <span style="color: red;"><strong>reveal and reflect</strong></span> this rather than having platonic Christianity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Speaking in the first instance about mustard in its differing types and how it’s marketed he goes on to say that the <span style="color: red;"><strong>reveal</strong></span>. The point where you state what, where or who you are is a vital component of your strategy; as far a Christians and Churches in general is concerned my overriding thought was we aren’t very good at this. We all too often proclaim, state and overstate who we are and why you should be like us, often making the individual (consumer) guilty in the process.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12YKNdxOSI/AAAAAAAAAD8/sfksUokniWk/s1600-h/imagesCA8P0722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12YKNdxOSI/AAAAAAAAAD8/sfksUokniWk/s320/imagesCA8P0722.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">One aspect in particular s our web presence reveal: as an avid reader of all things from <a href="http://tonymorganlive.com/2009/05/23/the-new-traditional-church-web/">Tony Morgan</a> I hope you take time to look at his blog and thoughts on web presence.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I would ask therefore that as Christians and Churches we consider very carefully our reveal and put it into context with our culture and community setting.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12YXGfQ99I/AAAAAAAAAEE/2Ppoy2NEPn0/s1600-h/images%5B5%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12YXGfQ99I/AAAAAAAAAEE/2Ppoy2NEPn0/s320/images%5B5%5D.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Back to the ketchup conundrum, if you look at the <a href="http://www.heinz.co.uk/products/heinz_tomato_ketchup.aspx">Heinz website</a> you can see the story unfold, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">In the beginning....</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Our ever-popular Heinz Tomato Ketchup has been part of our range almost right from the start. It was launched in 1876 just seven years after Henry J. Heinz founded the company. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The idea behind Tomato Ketchup was that it was a tasty convenience food, “a blessed relief for mother and other women in the household”, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">As an aside notice the Christian notes in the message, ‘in beginning, a blessed relief, which conjure up aspects of story and blessing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">One thing that Henry Heinz did was to change the flavour of ketchup and make it universal. He used the <strong>5 known fundamental tastes in the human palate; salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Umami</strong> is the proteiny, full bodied taste of chicken soup, or cured meat, or fish stock, or aged cheese, or mother’s milk…. Its adds body.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The condiment known as ketchup now pushes all our primal buttons and taste receptors on our tongue. This concept is unique and is the main reason why ketchup has <strong>amplitude</strong> which suits the <span style="color: orange;"><strong>majority</strong></span> of us. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12YnT9kK_I/AAAAAAAAAEM/mQ68aet6tI8/s1600-h/images%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/S12YnT9kK_I/AAAAAAAAAEM/mQ68aet6tI8/s320/images%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">From a Christian view point all too often we conceptualise that our brand of Christianity is right and others have something missing, our <strong>umami</strong> is the brand that makes it universal, therefore we can become the dominant brand.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">My final thought, sometimes we think that in making our Ketchup Christianity brand the best, we will in some way usher in a new kingdom. We must realise that;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">A) its only ketchup and it’s a condiment</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">B) Whole food is required and variety in life is vital. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">hope you enjoyed my blog; I would love to hear from you and your thoughts.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Take Care.</span>Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-74013069336421995562009-12-07T20:20:00.000+00:002009-12-07T20:20:08.260+00:00Breaking the Power of Fear. A Lion Chaser, WHO ME!!!!!?<strong>Breaking the Power of Fear.</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
In general, people appear to be most afraid of <span style="color: red;">two things</span>: the threat of pain or death, and the threat of social rejection or isolation.<br />
<br />
In a 2005 Gallup poll, a national sample of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 were asked what they feared the most. The question was open ended and participants were able to say whatever they wanted. The most frequently cited fear (mentioned by 8% of the teens) was terrorism. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Their top ten fears were, in order: terrorist attacks, spiders, death, being a failure, war, heights, criminal or gang violence, being alone, the future, and nuclear war.</span><br />
<br />
Further more according to Unicef our nation has the unhappiest children in the developed world, and the unhappiest adults in Europe according to World Helath Organisation. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Our culture has developed an almost consuming fear, of being left out, “not being in the incrowd” a fear of social shame.</strong></span><br />
<br />
Fear poses a real threat to us and we ignore it at our peril.<br />
<br />
Fear is a virus; just like HIV, HCV, HCB etc. <br />
<br />
The Antidote:<br />
<br />
I John 4: 15 - 19 All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.<br />
<br />
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the Day of Judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.<br />
<br />
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. <br />
<br />
<br />
The Message; version<br />
<br />
1 John 4: 15 - 19 Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. To Love, to Be Loved<br />
<br />
God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our Response.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">2 Timothy 1: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A Lion Chaser – Who Me!!!!!!?</span></strong><br />
<br />
2 Samuel 23:20 - 23 There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. Once, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with it. Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors. He was more honoured than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Benaiah wasn’t a normal type of guy, normal people don’t chase lions.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I’m not a normal either and you’re not normal</span>.</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>Christians are not normal people, </strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>Normal people don’t change their world,</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>Normal people don’t make a difference.</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<em>Imagine the scene!!</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh419/michael_mazz/94LionChasingZebraOnMotorcycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" height="248" src="http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh419/michael_mazz/94LionChasingZebraOnMotorcycle.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What Lion do you need to chase?</span></strong><br />
<strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What fear do you want to conquer?</span></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Job, money, witness, ill health, an addiction, career, dream, write a book, use your God given gifts.</strong><br />
<br />
Write it out…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Believers should be Lion chasers.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
1. LION CHASERS KNOW THAT THE “BIGGER” THEIR GOD IS THE “SMALLER “LIONS BECOME.<br />
<br />
Is your God too small?<br />
<br />
Daniel 6: 19 - 23.Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions' den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?"<br />
<br />
Daniel answered, "Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty."<br />
<br />
The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Declare it: There is a difference between your God and My God!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Meditation: There is NO God like our GOD.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>He is MY…..</strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>2. LION CHASERS UNDERSTAND THAT PLAYING IT " SAFE " IS " RISKY ".</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
Hebrews11:6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight…<br />
<br />
Think of a year from now….<br />
<br />
<strong>Most of us would like to; </strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>a) Increase our security</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>b) Decrease our risk</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Living by Faith, God calls us to; </strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>c) Increase our Risk</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>d) Decrease our security</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
LION CHASERS UNDERSTAND THAT PLAYING IT “SAFE “IS “RISKY ".<br />
<br />
Living by faith teaches me to chase Lions, I was made to chase Lions, and we are made to chase Lions.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">“What would Happen if I didn’t chase my Lions?</span><br />
<br />
Fear would overcome me, failure would overtake me, I would become a prisoner to myself, locked up in my dreams, inabilities and full of doubt, no self worth, pitiful.<br />
<br />
A great book to read is <strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pit-Lion-Snowy-Day-Opportunity/dp/1590527151/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260216357&sr=1-2">In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars. </a></span><span style="font-size: small;">by Mark Batterson</span></strong><br />
<br />
Many Thanks to Mark for this book it really changed my life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">ROAR! Sometimes shouting out loud helps!!!!!!!!!!</span><br />
<br />
Albeit the sane approach is to;<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Take One Step Forward!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Take One Step Forward!!</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></strong><br />
<br />
I've made out this Road map for my wife and I covenanting to God that we would do this in the year ahead.<br />
<br />
• Read the bible daily <br />
• Attend life groups whenever possible <br />
<br />
• Attend church whenever possible<br />
<br />
• Pray daily<br />
• Read encouraging Christian Books – <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whats-So-Amazing-About-Grace/dp/0310245656/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260216239&sr=8-2">What’s So Amazing about Grace – Philip Yancy</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Beloved-Our-Greatest-Gift/dp/0340787228/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1260216282&sr=1-4-spell">Life of Beloved – Henri Nouwen.</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Long-Obedience-Same-Direction-Discipleship/dp/0830822577/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260216320&sr=1-3">A Long Obedience - Eugene Peterson</a>. Richard Foster, Dallas Willard,<br />
<br />
<br />
• Engaged with Spiritual Disciplines; silence, fasting, solitude, prayer, meditation, simplicity, vigils, <br />
<br />
<br />
• Pilgrimage; go on a pilgrimage, journey with God literally there are many places. a great book to read is by Ian Bradley. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pilgrimage-Spiritual-Cultural-Ian-Bradley/dp/0745952704/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260216512&sr=1-1">Pilgrimage: A Spiritual and Cultural History </a><br />
<br />
<br />
• Celebrate milestones, set up cairns and way marks.<br />
<br />
• Have sacred places to visit and pray, (random rituals and regularly ones – Churches, Chapels, starbucks, garden centres)<br />
<br />
<br />
• Recieve the Gift of Faith (Ephesians 3: 20 - 21. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.)<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Fear and Courage</span></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">We were courageous but neither of us were not fearless. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We may think courage and fear are opposites that can never be found together, but this is wrong. These two qualities can be together; in fact, while it is possible to have fear without courage, courage is always found with fear.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: large;">Courage without fear is ignorance or foolishness or both</span>.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The very essence of courage is to acknowledge the risk and move forward boldly, not succumbing to fear. </strong><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the mastering of it.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: purple;">Faith requires that we take risks, so faith requires courage in the face of fear. The greater the risk we take, the greater our fear will be, but when we master our fear, great faith is gained.</span></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Do not feel ashamed of your fears; otherwise you may be tempted to deny their existence. Delusion is not courage. </strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The true path to faith is to swallow your fear, like a lump in your throat, and boldly move forward, clinging to the God who goes with you.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
This is a time for God’s people to be courageous. This is a day of challenge, when we are called on to face our greatest fears and then to step forward in faith.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Anytime we are asked to move beyond the familiar, we will feel some level of discomfort and fear. </strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">The question is not whether you feel fear, but whether you allow fear to be your master.</span><br />
<br />
I encourage you to break free from the cage of fear, refusing to accept the bars that confine you to what has been. Begin living a life of valour.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It is not too late to be the warrior you were meant to be!</span><br />
<br />
Live like the royalty you are.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Take One Step Forward!<br />
</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Take One Step Forward!!</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Encouraging Words.</strong><br />
<br />
Jeremiah 17: 7-8<br />
<br />
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought.”<br />
<br />
1 John 4:18<br />
<br />
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I finish with this thought from the book of JOB.</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Job 13: 15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; </span></strong><br />
<strong><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I will surely defend my ways to his face.</span></strong><br />
<strong><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">A quite lengthy post today, I trust I have given you much to think about, I would appreciate your thoughts, please comment.</span></strong>Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-59018584149141657362009-11-03T11:14:00.001+00:002009-11-03T11:15:52.092+00:00The role of the local church?<span style="font-size: large;">What, in your opinion, is the role of the local church?<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Church’s role has to be one which embraces a growing desire to make disciples not just converts, through its’ peoples’ own spiritual mentoring/direction process that they undertake; this desire naturally passes on to other followers. ‘Spiritual mentoring is different from pastoral care for it goes beyond the needs of the present moment and deals with the bigger picture of life direction and purpose….its concerned with growing the soul.’ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It deals with the whole of the picture, the whole person and their walk with God. This concern goes beyond normal church activities and attendance. There is a genuine desire to build a movement and not a monument.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The local Church must be at home in tension, the scriptures are filled with it, yet we try to resolve and pacify people making the message, which is us, sterile. When we view words like ‘grace and faith, belief and action, spoken and living words, head and heart’ all create this dichotomy that we try to resolve. The 21st century Church needs to be able to take people through this tension rather than through a program which will sterilize them. This tension enables the transformation of Christ in us. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This Missional response further extends our own and the teams understanding. The passion we have for engaging with people and our belief that we can make a different grows. As we begin to face issues of fairness, justice and equality that invade our world we cannot help but care; what we do matters. This dynamic process brings us together in the revelation of who God is and what we are called to do. It affects our theology making it practical and not just word based. Our theology must make us get our hands dirty in the works of kingdom</span>Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-30170863201702473432009-10-26T14:26:00.001+00:002009-10-26T14:28:01.442+00:00Salvation, what's that?Recently I was asked the following question, I wrote back a short reply and decided to open it up to wider debate, so here's you chance to chip in.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What is salvation? How would you express it?</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Most people agree that ‘salvation’ is at the heart of the Christian faith. But too often our use of phrases like ‘being saved’ sounds like religious jargon, easy to use within church culture but difficult to translate in our mission work in the community.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All two often we pay too much attention on how an individual becomes saved and not enough on how he or she lives as a Christian. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We place too much focus on justification and not enough on the sanctification process. So whilst I do believe a decision is necessary I don’t sell ‘fire insurance’ for the end of life. I believe in Belonging before Believing and this is best done in community.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the Bible, salvation centres upon restoring the whole person, not just the 'soul', to a proper network of relationships. It embraces forgiveness in relation to each other and God, as well as healing and a proper attitude to the whole of creation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A good example is when Jesus declared that 'salvation had come to this house' when Zacchaeus rejected his previous lifestyle and prioritised restoring relationships in his community (Luke 19). His personal conversion showed itself in social change; biblically salvation is never seen as a purely individualistic concern .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A few years ago whilst working as Project manager for the healthy living centre I discovered that the holistic nature of the project really touched my life and gave it more meaning; I witnessed the fullness of the width, breath and depth of salvation in a dynamic way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have experienced how 'Salvation' has many other aspects such as liberation from oppression, suffering, exclusion, guilt and insecurity. All of which can be found within the biblical hermeneutic. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Salvation should rebuild and reinforces a personal and corporate affirmation of ourselves and the community we live in. </span>Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-36598538495297490252009-10-12T13:04:00.001+01:002009-10-12T21:47:28.124+01:00Integration into Local Communties<span style="font-size: large;">Recently I was asked this question:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">How would you integrate yourself into the local community? Please give examples from your own experience.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Whilst working on several social action projects over the years I have seen numerous examples of projects that start out with all the right intentions of integration from the Christian viewpoint of responding to need, however I have seen them drift off course because the project becomes the main thing instead of the attitude of Christian witness and service. A useful tool which I have used is one of: Prayer, Action and Reflection, again notably a cyclic form which helps keep the main thing the main thing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The variety and diversity of responses to these realities illustrate the dynamic changes we are undergoing, I am cognisant of the phrase in Ecclesiastes that reminds us of ‘nothing new under the sun’, however this is a mark of the embracing paradigm of the 21st century leader; they live by a biblical hermeneutic and largely ignore the 20th century Church script. Rather more, they desire a more ‘ancient future’ Christianity that lets leadership explore and take risks along the way, one that as Webber puts it ‘is shaped by the reflection of the Church throughout history and expressed in the concrete situation of the Church in its particular place in culture’ <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
These leaders respond to the process they are in and the story to them is more important than the model they operate in. It’s the story that has incarnational qualities that can transform the situation they find themselves in. Keel in his book says ‘to live in the world today and not to be aware of the radical transition of our context is to be either hopelessly out of touch, dangerously naïve, or wilfully stubborn’ . The bible is full of stories and the 21st century leader will have to encourage themselves and those they lead to mine the stories for timeless principles which they can engage in together along the way. Living an incarnational message helps to demonstrate these stories, understanding ‘we are not the bearer of the message or story but we are the message’ <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
One of the fundamental points is the awareness of the time and context we live in and applying that to our situation, leaders today need to be able to function both transactionally and transformationally . Interestingly this combination of leadership style can be seen to be more evident in a team based approach rather than the CEO style. The 21st century leaders find that the interchanging of leadership for differing roles and situations can have greater benefits of solidarity and safety than previous models. The nature of leaders in the team needs to be one of servant leaders, serving people and each other and was adequately modelled by Jesus in the biblical script.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The preceding paragraph was both clearly evident and passionately lived in my last post as director of St. Luke’s Church. Where we changed hearts and minds of an aging traditional Pentecostal Church into an Emergent Expression relevant to its own time and space.<br />
<br />
Webber. R. The Younger Evangelicals . p.242<br />
<br />
<br />
Keel. T. Intuitive Leadership Baker Books. 2007. p.23.<br />
<br />
Keel. T. Intuitive Leadership . p.56.<br />
<br />
Macgregor Burns, J. Transforming Leadership. P24. Atlantic Books.<br />
<br />
Transactional Leadership / Management has been defined as: ‘the basic, daily stuff of politics, the pursuit of change in measured and often reluctant doses.’ <br />
<br />
In contrast, Transformational Management is more metamorphic in nature, often having radical and conceptual leaps in style, shape and presence - a different matrix altogether.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">What's your view point? I'd love to here from you.</span>Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-7466435093496598752009-09-21T12:27:00.000+01:002009-09-21T12:39:08.972+01:00Leadership?Recently I was asked this question;<br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Describe what you understand by the term leadership, illustrating your perspective with a recent example from your present church and leadership context.<br /></span><br /><br />In a leadership context, I value more the fact that leaders never ‘arrive’ but that we are journeying just like everyone else.<br /><br />By applying this thought to the previous prefix, ‘leaders’ and ‘players’ are able to be interchangeable. The primary language is one of ‘hearing the call’.<a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5582667525596670676#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a> Therefore, by providing the arena and creating a safe space, people can find their vocation through experience, experimentation and connections<br /><br />I would go further and state the leader must set the pace and fashion this by his personal Missional life. This ‘Spatial Evangelism’<a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5582667525596670676#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a> is not just done in a program or project and is not linear or two dimensional it has volume to it, three dimensional, spirit, heart and venue. It encompasses all of the week, time and space the leader works in. This space is made safe by core values and virtues: providing a positive culture to live and work in. As stated by Nelson;<br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">‘Leadership is the social process in which people confer influence to individuals so that they can organise and assist the people in achieving what could not be otherwise be accomplished.’</span><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5582667525596670676#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3">[3]</a><br /><br />In this very social process I find the best expression is done in a team. Leaders need to move away from an isolation mentality towards the team where they can explore together the process of achieving.<br /><br />In the last two posts I have held, as a project manager and director of a Church / Charitable Company. I have been the catalyst that has begun this change away from traditional Church leadership models. I believe in progressive change that enables rather than change for changes sake.<br /><br />Today’s leaders need to be learners, but I find the more I understand about how much there is to know, I become aware of how little I know.<br />The futurist Alvin Toffler says ‘ the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn’<a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5582667525596670676#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4">[4]</a> Thus our understanding of different models of leadership and the culture of the organisation in which we apply our principles and values to is key to the successful working. I am convinced that the models of leadership I have encountered to date in the late 20th century are inadequate, out dated and will be of little use in the future.<br /><br />The next question is to ask what this means for the next generation of leaders. The leader’s shape in the 21st century needs to be aware of past and present but is not shaped by ‘being right’ or driven by ‘meeting needs’<a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5582667525596670676#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5">[5]</a><br /><br />Leadership needs to be ever more aware of the fact that life is messy and sometimes chaotic yet however the leader embraces this and asks, what is God doing here and then asks How can I interact with this?<br /><br />What is interesting is that a linear sequence is excluded. Cyclical and seasonal influences are rhythmic and ritual to this process. I find this exciting as it reflects my own journey: I have become dissatisfied with next-level thinking and the next new thing. I feel more at ease exploring the dimension of the present.<br /><br />Another important aspect of leadership is the leader’s perpetual learning and development, a leader is a reader and acknowledges that they will never master the art of leadership. They continually learn and develop and recognise that in order to hone their skills it will take a life time.<br /><br />A key shift in my thinking and theology is that we move away from the leader who comes and sets the vision for the Church largely based on their ability and then whips people up to fulfil this vision. This is sadly par for the course in many Churches and is the main reason why there is so much fatigue in Christian circles.<br /><br />We must raise up team and body ministry and ask the questions ‘What is God doing here? Where can we see him in action in our community? Why are we here? Why do we do the things we do?’<br /><br />All these are key components the leader must encourage his people to answer and work through. Teamwork encourages a communal expression of faith and helps us to re-frame and re-form our individual limitations of our revelation of God. The paradox the leader lives in here is that they fully understand and are committed to team yet are aware of times of isolation and aloneness; they must try and bring that into the team in an appropriate manner so that the burden may be shared.<br /><br />My Question to you is;<br /><br />What do you think about Leadership?<br /><br />Have you an example that may help the discussion along?<br /><br />I really would like to hear your thoughts on this matter.<br /><br /><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5582667525596670676#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Sweet, L Summoned to Lead. Zondervan P.13.<br /><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5582667525596670676#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a> Creps. E. Off- Road Disciplines P.145<br /><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5582667525596670676#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3">[3]</a> Nelson, A. Spirituality & Leadership Navpress 2002 P.24<br /><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5582667525596670676#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4">[4]</a> Sweet, L Summoned to Lead. P.122<br /><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5582667525596670676#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5">[5]</a> Webber. R. The Younger Evangelicals. P.240Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-3064530450655660132009-08-25T13:38:00.000+01:002009-08-26T12:32:56.663+01:00Grace and Truth - An Away Day with Rick Lewis.Hi folks below are a few photos of the Mentoring Awayday I recently attended with a group of friends at at <a href="http://www.pioneers-europe.org/bawtryhall/">Bawtry Hall</a>, also some notes i took of the day.<br />I hope you enjoy this blog and loook forward to your responses.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SpUNT43G05I/AAAAAAAAADI/AlHFbuRNArg/s1600-h/rick4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374216365668750226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SpUNT43G05I/AAAAAAAAADI/AlHFbuRNArg/s320/rick4.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SpUNTcQQ0JI/AAAAAAAAADA/yPSn8klvwJg/s1600-h/rick3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374216357989634194" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SpUNTcQQ0JI/AAAAAAAAADA/yPSn8klvwJg/s320/rick3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SpUNTK3luII/AAAAAAAAAC4/_fCPQe_G8ik/s1600-h/rick2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374216353322743938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SpUNTK3luII/AAAAAAAAAC4/_fCPQe_G8ik/s320/rick2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SpUNSvWeL7I/AAAAAAAAACw/-dqV_AASqVw/s1600-h/rick1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374216345936080818" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SpUNSvWeL7I/AAAAAAAAACw/-dqV_AASqVw/s320/rick1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SpUNSPM7VJI/AAAAAAAAACo/Eno_WHxUZ9Q/s1600-h/bawtry1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374216337306113170" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SpUNSPM7VJI/AAAAAAAAACo/Eno_WHxUZ9Q/s320/bawtry1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Grace and Truth</span></strong><br /></div><div align="left">Just recently my wife and I <a href="http://www.pilgrimart.blogspot/">sandy poppins</a>, joined up with quite a few of our friends at Northern Connections at <a href="mailto:connections@bawtryhall">bawtryhall</a> for a conference on Mentoring with a guy named <a href="http://chcc.org.au/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=1&Itemid=21">Dr. Rick Lewis </a>from Australia.<br />Rick is currently pastor of <a href="http://chcc.org.au/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1">Castle Hill Community church in Sydney</a>, Australia, and has a new book out called <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mentoring-Matters-Building-Christian-Finishing/dp/0825463017/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251281521&sr=8-2">Mentoring Matters. </a><br /></div><div align="left">Rick also has a website which is very useful called, <a href="http://www.mentoringmatters.org.au/">Mentoring Matters</a><br /><br />We began the day with worship and prayer and our host <a href="http://www.mcfchurch.co.uk/base/pages/home.asp">Jonathan Dunning </a>introduced Rick who skilfully guided us through the rest of the day.<br /><br />The following notes are what I sketched down, hopefully they will refresh peoples' memories of the day who attended and for those who didn’t, well, enjoy and I would welcome comments from both parties, have fun and be blessed.<br /><br />Our opening passage and indeed theme for the day was, </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;">Jesus; full of Grace & Truth.<br /></span><br />Session 1:<br /><br />We read the following passage: </div><ul><li><div align="left"></div></li></ul><p align="left">14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.<br />15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.<br />Grace & Truth both needed in the same measure!<br /><br />From a theological foundation we need to see that Jesus presents himself to us and others as;<br /><br />1. The revelation of the Character and nature of God.<br />2. Full of Grace & Truth<br /><br />We need the character of Christ to live <strong>‘in us’</strong> and <strong>‘through us’.<br /></strong><br />A word about the ‘Law’ – Law is a coercive power; Law is about compliance, judgment.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The hallmark of a leader is to lead with Grace & Truth. <em><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Together)<br /></span></strong></em></span><br /></span>Looking at several gospel narratives we began the conversation with Rick at the helm.<br /><br />1. The woman at the well. John 4: 1 - 26<br />2. The Tax Collector. Luke 19: 1 - 10<br />3. Peter’s confession you are the Christ Matthew 16: 13 - 20<br />4. The woman caught in adultery.<br /><br />A few of my thoughts from the discussion;<br /></p><ul><li><div align="left">Grace enables you to accept the Truth</div></li><br /><li><div align="left">Grace opens the door to Truth</div></li><br /><li><div align="left">Is there real truth without Grace?</div></li><br /><li><div align="left">Grace and Truth are expressions of God’s love.<br /><br /><br />Session 2.<br /><br /><span style="color:#330099;">Question? How was Jesus full of Grace and Truth?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Close your eyes and ponder these thoughts anew.<br /></strong></span><br /></div></li><li><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Grace in Actions? </span><span style="font-size:78%;">Or vice versa?<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;">Actions in Grace? </span></div></li><span style="font-size:180%;"><li><div align="left"><br /></span>Truth in Actions? Or vice versa?<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Actions in Truth? </span><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><br /></div></li></ul><p align="left">Grace and truth are FUNCTIONAL AND POSITIONAL Characteristics of Jesus.<br /><br />A conversation progressed about functional and positional aspects of leadership, Grace and Truth.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">What do you think?<br /></span><br />Session 3.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Coercive Power<br /></span><br />A great session around power, with contributions from many people, it was great to see, how we using what we have been taught in the previous sessions and put into place aspects of Grace and Truth when speaking about power.<br /></p><ul><li><div align="left"><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>The POWER within is OK!</strong></span></em></div></li><br /><br /><li><div align="left"><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>The POWER OVER is the PROBLEM!<br /></strong></span></em><br />Quote: <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If a Mentor is truly expressing love toward a Mentoree, they will not attempt to wield power over them. Dr R. Lewis. Mentoring Matters. 2009. Monarch books.<br /></span><br />If you constrain people against their will you are wrong, what is required is a change of HEART, not external compliance.<br /><br />2 Timothy 2: 24. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,<br /><br />Paul knew that effecting a change of behaviour through coercive power is worthless, for it does not change the heart.<br /><br />Rick says; "It is helpful for a Mentor to minimize the sources of power over Mentorees. I have noted that the accrual of power to the mentors stems from either personal power or positional power"<br /><br />Quote: <span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Where love rules, there is no will to power, and where power predominates, there love is lacking. The one shadows the other. Carl Jung.<br /></strong></span><br />Throughout the day we had plenty of time to chat with each other and also walk around the gardens at Bawtry Hall, I would like to thank Jonathon Dunning for organising the day and a special thank you to Rick for sharing his heart with us.<br /><br />Hope you enjoy the blog and look forward to your comments, once again sorry for delay in this post.<br /><br /><br /></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div>Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-28234823998732197302009-08-10T14:11:00.000+01:002009-08-10T15:18:41.847+01:00A Few QuotesHi folks,<br /><br /><br />I'm busy reading The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning, an excellent book.<br /><a href="http://bit.ly/5iV8J">http://bit.ly/5iV8J</a><br /><br />these quotes come from chapter 2; Magnificent Monotony.<br /><br /><br />Julian of Norwich; "The greatest honor we can give the Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love."<br /><br /><br />Jacques Martain; "The culmination of knowledge is not conceptual but experiential."<br /><br /><br />Ignatuis of Loyola; " The direct experience of God is Grace indeed, and basically there is no one to whom it is refused."<br /><br /><br />3 quotes that Brennan then goes onto to expand, you'll have to read the book to find out more!<br /><br /><br />But what strikes me more and more as I journey with God is that we experience this Grace at first however slowly but surely let the Law replaces it as we get travel weary.<br /><br /><br />My prayer therefore more than ever is that I (We) experience God's Grace daily in our lives.<br /><p>Just recently whilst speaking about Grace at a friends church I was overwhelmed with "This Grace" as I was speaking, It disarmed me and I thank God that I experienced the transformation as I spoke, in addition those listening responed to the message and numerous Grace transactions occured. He truly is wonderful.<br /></p>The Psalmist says "Be Still and Know" friends today take timeout to know "This Grace" that surpasses all understanding, its well worth it.Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-43538488866073849312009-07-27T16:04:00.000+01:002009-07-27T16:29:00.779+01:00A Prayer to refresh our souls.ANIMA CHRISTI<br /><br /><br /><br />Soul of Christ, sanctify me<br /><br />Body of Christ, save me<br /><br />Blood of Christ, inebriate me<br /><br />Water from the side of Christ, wash me<br /><br />Passion of Christ, strengthen me<br /><br />O good Jesus, hear me<br /><br />Within thy wounds hide me<br /><br />Suffer me not to be separated from Thee<br /><br />From the malicious enemy defend me<br /><br />In the hour of my death call me<br /><br />And bidst me come to Thee<br /><br />That with thy saints I may praise thee<br /><br />Forever and ever.<br /><br />Amen<br /><br /><br /><br />Often we prayer with our own agendas and motives, often we set off well and fade quickly.<br /><br />In this prayer our attention is fixed upon Christ, upon his grace that has entered our lives.<br /><br />Oh how he longs for us to draw near to Him.<br /><br /><br /><br />I've been away from my blog for several days now, although I've looked at it daily, thinking I ought to say something, but not knowing how to start to say things.<br /><br />I came across this prayer in a new book I'm reading, surprise surprise!<br /><br /><br /><br />"Becoming the answer to our prayers;" prayer for the ordinary radicals.<br /><br />by Shane Clairborne, Founder of the simple Way. <a href="http://www.thesimpleway.org/">www.thesimpleway.org</a> and Jonathan Wilson - Hartgrove.<br />Published by IVP<br /><br /><br /><br />Take a moment to consider the words of the prayer and ask Jesus to walk into your life and stay with you. Relax in his presence friends it is truly lovely.<br /><br /><br /><br />We'll speak soon<br /><br /><br /><br />AndrewPilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-26747515302657836752009-06-29T11:34:00.000+01:002009-06-29T12:14:12.026+01:00Graduation and Family Day<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SkiZi09us2I/AAAAAAAAAAY/ycJcoZ9ypRg/s1600-h/STA71747.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352696980741993314" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/SkiZi09us2I/AAAAAAAAAAY/ycJcoZ9ypRg/s320/STA71747.JPG" /></a>Hi everyone, what a glorious day, all the family there at my Graduation, I received an MA in Missional Leadership from Bangor University.<br /><br /><div>I am truly blessed who would have thought that 10 years ago I was dying and in need of a liver transplant, God is and has been so faithful to me and all my family.</div><br /><div>in the morning we went to our friends studio for family pictures. <a href="http://www.stanplusstantwo.com/">http://www.stanplusstantwo.com/</a></div><br /><div>and then off to Mattersey Hall for graduation, what a day, I cried it was very emotional, someone said to me, "God has other plans for you Andrew, you can go when its your time!"</div><br /><div>I guess that's the bottom line, you leave this earth when its' your time, take encouragement from this friends, He is faithful when we are faithless.</div><br /><div>In the evening we had an Indian meal at the Aggrah in Doncaster, by the end I was full and very replete. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/Skicg66YunI/AAAAAAAAAAg/O0aX5hbH1yY/s1600-h/STA71759.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 312px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 197px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352700246513728114" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RTgf5xNyzdI/Skicg66YunI/AAAAAAAAAAg/O0aX5hbH1yY/s320/STA71759.JPG" /></a></div>Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-7739756176407616732009-06-18T10:39:00.000+01:002009-06-29T12:16:13.198+01:00Graduationhi folks, i am aware i haven't said anything the last few days, i only have a few minutes as i have been busy just lately, celebrating my birthday and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">anniversary</span> to my lovely wife, 47 and 27 years respectively. Check out <a href="http://www.pilgrimart.blogspot.com/">Sandra's</a> blog.<br />life marches on relentlessly!<br />the next major event in our social calendar is my graduation on the 20<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">June</span>, i gain a MA in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Missional</span> Leadership from Bangor University, the exciting part being that all our 3 children will be their and there partners, we will have a family picture taken and then go out for an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Indian</span> meal at the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Aagrrh</span> in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Doncaster</span>.<br />so folks please celebrate with me on this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occasion</span> and we will speak soon, i promise.Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-54148645125448507192009-06-08T18:56:00.000+01:002009-06-08T19:02:41.770+01:00Spiritual Growth / Meditation<span style="font-family:georgia;">A sad feature is that it is more identified with non Christian systems of thought rather than biblical Christianity. E.g. Yoga, transcendental meditation, relaxation therapy or new age movement. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We must remember that meditation is both commanded by God and modelled by the Godly in the scriptures. Joshua 1v8 and Psalm 1: 1-3 The kind of meditation encouraged in the bible differs from other kinds of meditation in several ways; </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">While some advocate a kind of meditation in which you empty your mind, Christian meditation involves filling your mind with God and truth. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">For some meditation is an attempt to achieve complete mental passivity. (Serenity and peace) Biblical meditation requires constructive mental activity. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">DEFINITION: Deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in scripture for the purpose of understanding, application, and prayer. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Analogy – a tea bag placed inside a cup of water. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Guidelines for Application. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">1. Select an appropriate passage (s). DO NOT RUSH: always read in context and make sure you read sufficient of the passage to enable you to get the most out of this time. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Example.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">John 11:25 WRITE IT OUT “I am the resurrection and the life” “I am” -------------- </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">(i) Moses said to God “who are you?” God said “I am” </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">(ii) “I am” all sufficient ---- song springs to mind ---- sing it through. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Resurrection: ---- He died and rose again! Death / Life / Old Self / New Life/ Buried /Alive'</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">2. How am I to respond this text? </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">3. Is there anything I can do as a result of reading / meditating on this :-- tell someone “I am alive” </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">4. Write a prayer out; ---------------Lord thank you that you are “I am the all sufficient one”, thank you that you died and rose again. Thank you Lord I have new life in you. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">5. A useful tool / items of equipment; note book, pen, music to listen to. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">6. When using a note book or paper it may help to set up as follows. Passage. Positive thoughts negative thoughts Cross reference biblically concerning the above thoughts. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">A selection of passages to meditate on. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Galatians 2: 20.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> John 15: 7 </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Joshua 1:8 </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Psalm 1: 1-3 </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Psalm 139 </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Last supper </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Gospels Luke 22, Great Commission Gospels Matthew 28</span>Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582667525596670676.post-57632624866812149132009-06-01T18:47:00.000+01:002009-06-01T18:54:06.625+01:00I Love You<span style="font-family:georgia;">blogging from chapter 001. of Margaret Feinberg - the Sacred Echo. published by zondervan.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Well folks what a fine read this chapter is. Margaret unpacks the I love you from God. a thing we hear from every quarter all around so often it has diluted our sense of LOVE.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">God speaks frequently and repetitively because we’re so easily distracted.<br /><br />Maybe he does this so we focus on the important not the imminent.<br />Most, if not all of the sacred echoes of God throughout the bible orbit around relationship.<br /><br />God’s “I love you” is not just a piece of information or one time revelation but an in invitation to transformation.<br /><br />God’s desire for transformation is one of the foundational reasons for the sacred echo.<br />He is much more that an information source.<br />He longs for more than that.<br />God’s words are life to be ingested, nourishment to our souls, power to change our situations.</span><br /><br />God’s “I love you” is not just a piece of information or one time revelation but an in invitation to transformation.<br />sorry for the repeat, but wow just ponder on these words thanks Margaret.Pilgrim Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421243473331601120noreply@blogger.com1