revmusings

Its great when a plan comes together but when it comes together and you haven't planned it it is even better! I  finished my series on 1 Corinthians with cghapter 15 and the soaring words about the resurrection and its implications for us. In the children's slot I was talking about waiting, waiting for God to returnand what we should be doing as we wait  - i had set a timer for 3 mins and asked if I could finish my talk in that time - people doubted it.

Anyway I carried on talking and said although we've been waiting for 2 thousand years Jesus could return NOW!

At that very moment the timer went off!

I couldn't have timed it better if I had tried!

HERE'S WHAT THE NATIONAL ID CARD WILL DO FOR YOU

Subject: Ordering Pizza in 2020

This is hilarious, but the scary part about it, is that it's probably not
too far away from being reality. Want to know how to order a pizza in 2020?
Click the link and see.  Turn up the volume.  Listen closely. Watch the
pointer, carefully!


Click here: http://aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf

On our last night on holiday we went for a late night walk along the sea front. I love the sea - at least being next to it - being on it when its rough has always scared me - its why we have a flat 5 mins from the sea as God put me as far from the sea as you can get in England!

But that night, as we walked, the tide was in and some ares which are usually sand were covered in deep sea. It was dark and windy so the sea was moving and suddenly as we turned a corner and the light was bad I got this overwhelming feeling of evil as I looked into the dark waters, moving unevenly. Suddenly I could 'see' Leviathon moving below the waters of chaos and understood all those Old Testament ideas of the waters being evil. It was actually quite scary and I stood there for some time trying to control my feelings - failed and eventually had to move away.

I want to say that God spoke and I saw all was well but God didn't so now I am left trying to work this all through.......

Who am I?

I have just started reading the Cellist from Sarajevo on holiday and one idea has set me thinking.

Arrow is a sniper and she reflects at one point about her name, assumed as she began her task of killing soldiers - she adopted it so that once the war was over she could revert back to who she once was and leave 'Arrow' behind. It is, of course, debatable whether that is possible but it set me thinking about my identity as a minister - is it  role I put on? I watch my fellow ministers in other denominations, and a few in mine, donning clerical collars, suits and robes. Like putting on a uniform - does it help transform us from ordinary 'me' into being a minister? Is it a protective barrier that sheilds us from others, a defensive wall from the slings and arrows of church life?

I have never worn or possessed any such clerical gear - why not? Not sure...am I denying this role - yes, sometimes, I still can't quite believe its my role now, that God can use me, I don't live up to this high calling so much of the time so better no signs about who i really am and want to be anonymous.

Is it because I believe that my ordiantion was a scarament and thus it is now who I am - all the time - putting clothes on don't change that - I am a minister whatever I am wearing, wherever I am and whatever I am doing - I can't put it on and off with a dog collar?

There are times when it would be easier not to have to explain as I go into hospitals out of hours  I try not to), as I disappear in a funeral crowd because I am short. I probbaly miss some converestaions but gain others - especially the shock value as people realise that this 'real' person they have got to know is a minister.

What do you think?

Now back in my study after a week at our flat in Devon. The weather could have been kinder - I like seeing the sun for more that a few seconds - but it didn't rain so it was not as bad as it could have been! Read some books, caught up with some old friends - one of whom is now a travel agent running uhis own business so if you wnat a reliable, trustworthy Christian Travel agent Phil's your man( he's planning trips to next BWA conference in Hawaii for those able to go): Thyme Travel@ http://www.thymetravel.co.uk/

We had been saving some tokens for our paper so we could have two 'fine dining' experiences whilst away.

The first place we tried was a nice fish restaurant: the food was tasty, the service was fine but we did notice that we were given different versions of the menu from normal customers (we knew we would have a restricted choice) and that every 'extra' olives and garlic bread was charged (we got two olives the others got 5/6) then they added a 10% service charge and 2% if you used a credit card. But we left happy.

A few days later we went to The Olive Tree in Exeter - what a different expereince. Again a restricted menu but we received the same food as full paying folk. The extras of olives and bread and a 'compliments of the chef' taster of an amazing soup all came free - the food was amazing and on a diferent level to our earlier experience. No service charge (they gopt a good tip) and no charge for credit cards. All in all a fantastic experience - we were treated wonderfully. food was amazing, and the same as other customers and the bill...£20 cheaper!  We know where we will save up to go again!

Sent to me by a male friend..

10. A man’s place is in the army.

9. The pastoral duties of men who have children might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent.

8. The physique of men indicates that they are more suited to such tasks as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do ministerial tasks.

7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment rather than the crowning achievement of creation.

6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. Their conduct at football and rugby games demonstrates this.

5. Some men are handsome, and this will distract women worshipers.

4. Pastors need to nurture their congregations. But this is not a traditional male role. Throughout history, women have been recognized as not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more fervently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.

3. Men are prone to violence. No really masculine man wants to settle disputes except by fighting about them. Thus they would be poor role models as well as dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.

2. The New Testament tells us that Jesus was betrayed by a man. His lack of faith and ensuing punishment remind us of the subordinated position that all men should take.

1. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep sidewalks, repair the church roof, and perhaps even lead the song service on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the church. Oh Yesss!

off on a much needed break for a week.....

I love summer Wednesday: bible study takes a break so I get to have Orange Wednesdays - made better by the fact that Premier seats are now included so I am assured a good seat without having to be there at the crack of dawn. However the summer films are more aimed at children and teenagers so not mind stretching generally but fun. We have seen The Proposal; The Ugly Truth: the Taking of Pelham 123 (which was thought provoking) and last night G-Force in 3D!

3D is awesome, with objects flying out at you and making you jump even though having to wear glasses on top of my own glasses is not comfortable.

Lat night's film was the silliest of the lot - the FBI have trained animals to be secret agents: guinea pigs, a mole and some flies. It's wonderful filming and fun story line. As the story progresses the guinea pigs, who are the main spies (mole is the computer whiz), find themselves in cage in a pet shop. There they meet another guinea pig who is convinced that one is his long lost brother - the lead spy says , no, they were genetically engineered to be spies - they are no ordinary guinea pigs. Later they discover from their trainer they are indeed ordinary guinea pigs and not special at all - after initial despondency they decide it doesn't matter - they have done extraordinary things and they can no save the world from the evil force that is threatening everyone. (it turns out the mole - a mole is the mole!)

The film touches on other subjects: friendship and family ties; using everyone's diverse gifts (the flies distract people; carry cameras to follow people and at the end create a wonderful sparkle ball for a party); how revenge makes you as bad as the person you are taking revenge on but it was the aspect of instilling self- belief that struck me.

The human told them they were special so they would act like it - and it worked. When I worked with children with special needs self=esteem was always a major issue - we used to try to build them up, get them to do special things for us to make them feel valued and capable instead of the grinding failure they had ij the classroom - sport, chess, art, music, anything they could do well at.

I wonder what effect telling people they are miserable sinners destined for eternal torment rather than telling them they are special- created and  loved by God has on people?

We are continuing our series on Heroes with Clay Feet this week, looking at Peter.  As I looked for images to go with Peter's story I can across this cartoon - it just has to be used!

When did the idea that ministers have to be perfect come into being?The consequence of which is that when a minister fails the pressure from within and without becomes immense and many leave the ministry. I accept that we should try to attain the highest standards in all matters of ethics but does that mean we are expected to be superhuman and there is no space for us failing? I also accept that very occasionally a few  do need some time away where the failing is so great and the fallout do huge that space is needed.

A friend once gave me this verse: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (Jer1:5)

If this is true and if I look at the witness of the bible it seems to me that God is very happy to call flawed humans being: Abraham, Moses, David and Peter and Paul are all heroes with clay feet but God still uses them powerfully to fulfil divine purposes, even after they have failed and fallen quite spectacularly.

I accept confession and repentance is necessary and trust may need to be built again in some cases but does that mean someone should be removed from ministry or feel that they can’t minister anymore because they feel they have failed?

Where is forgiveness and restoration in all this? Do we suddenly cease to be communities of grace?

God, it seems to me, is very good at picking us up and dusting us off and starting all over again with us – every experience, positive and negative, can be a moment of growth and can be woven into the divine purpose and so transformed by the cross shaped love and grace of God that it becomes a shining miracle that points to God’s hesed.

Failure, rightly handled, should make us better ministers, not be a reason to be hounded out by churches, denominations, or ourselves.