revmusings

Bible frustration

noreply@blogspirit.com (revmusings) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:40:21 +0100

It is this church's custom here to give a bible to every teenager around their 15th birthday, Buying said bible is usually a a pleasure but this time is has taken weeks and still I don't have anything I want.

I know there are thousands of bibles but none suit this teenager

The problem?

The teenager concerned has special needs, a reading age of around 6 and needs large print (they use a large print hymnbook). There seems to be no such bible, or even Gospel. I have searched the internet and talked to the biggest bible seller in the country and there seems to be nothing that fits the bill. There is a large print bible in Good News version but it is £40 and is really a lecturn one - you cannot buy a single Gospel/s in large print. There are easy read bibles designed for people with learning difficulties but it is normal print. There are, of course, children's bibles which are simple to read but not suitable for a 15 year old in look or focus!

Someone, somewhere must have, or can think, of a solution to this problem!

Divine humour?

noreply@blogspirit.com (revmusings) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:35:03 +0100

A story that may have made God chuckle....

In putting together an advert about how appalling it is to inflict your faith on your children, the British Humanist Association managed to illustrate it with two pictures of happy kids, whose father happens to play in one of the more famous evangelical praise bands in Britain!

See report from Times On-line here

The Big Personality test

noreply@blogspirit.com (revmusings) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:30:51 +0100

There is a national survey going on that needs as many people as possible to take a questionaire - it only takes a few minutes and its results are interesting!

Mine came out about as you would expect - but it was fascinating to hear the explanations of the various traits.

The results will be shown in a programme next spring.

Go here to take the test

Listening 3

noreply@blogspirit.com (revmusings) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:03:50 +0100

This follows on from previous posts but in some senses is not directly related to previous content.

One of the many things I have learnt in my first years in minstry is to attend to that inner compulsion to visit someone. Yesterday I attended to it and am so glad I did as the person concerned died at lunchtime today. I see them most weeks but hadn't last week, and generally I go later in the week so I have up-to-date information for Sunday but yesterday I thought of going so I did. In the past I have ignored that little voice, to my shame, and missed someone.

It may not be God's megaphone in the city though sometimes I wish it was because then its easier to hear it but that gentle nudge can be just as effective as long as I act on it.

Seeds

noreply@blogspirit.com (revmusings) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:58:40 +0100

This morning I was on a faith panel talking about what it is like to minister in a multi-faith area and the Anglican priest involved was reflecting on the parable of the mustard seed. As he read it I began to wonder where I had been a mustard seed in my time especially as it is now only 50 days till I leave, so its good to reflect.

As I spoke about my experiences of the last five years I could see a few small mustard seeds that I believe I have planted and one or two that have taken root and are beginning to grow. Some I will be able to continue to nuture but others I will have to leave to others to water and tend. Some I hope to see to grow to be a tree others can nest in but others I may never know what happened to them- whether they grow or wither and I guess there may be growth from seeds I have no idea I have planted.

All I can do is leave it all in God's gracious arms and purposes.

AGGHHHHHH!

noreply@blogspirit.com (revmusings) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:22:00 +0100

JUst read this report from the BU E-News sweep.

Equality Bill 'could lead councils to clamp down on Christmas decorations'

Christmas celebrations could be cancelled to avoid offending people of other faiths due to the 'complex' Equality Bill, Catholic bishops have warned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6591625/Equality-Bill-could-lead-councils-to-clamp-down-on-Christmas-decorations.html

As someone who lives in one the most multi cutual and mulit faith cities in the country and is surrounded by many faiths I am so angry about this. Our council do nothing of the sort - we have lights for Eid, lights for Diwali, lights for Vaisakhi and...shock horror....lights for Christmas - in fact a Christams tree in the centre of town, the Town Hall decked in lights and even worse (or is that really better) a crib scene and carols being played! In fact our friends of other faiths got very worked up one year when the 'Christian tree' was not displayed.

I know I get worked up about this every year but have these people actually asked what the people of other faiths actually think and feel? Or are they just using it as an excuse to take Christ out of Christmas for themselves as they don't want to think about faith?

Reflections on ministry

noreply@blogspirit.com (revmusings) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:16:00 +0100

This from an Anglican bishop - I wonder what Baptists would say?

Ministry: Rudiments of Wisdom - From Bishop Alan here

30 years ordained this year, and someone asked me what I thought I’d learnt. That conversation gave birth to a few stray thoughts on the back of an envelope. It would be rather grand to call them laws of Vicaring, but here goes (in no particular order of importance):

If someone says Jesus has healed their wooden leg, rejoice, but be sure to kick them in the shins first, just to make sure.
If you get away with it and it works, fine. If it doesn’t and they catch you, just cough up cheerfully and enjoy all the times you got away with it
Do the job you’re doing now with all your heart, not the one you used to do in your last parish, or hope to do in your next. Time flies when you’re having fun...
Don't ask until you’ve worked out the question. Only ask people questions they are likely to answer in the way you want. Also, Don't ask when the baby is due until the new lady in Church has actually told you she is pregnant. Never ask a Lawyer “Can we do this?” The question is always “How can we do this?”
Pick up the bloody phone! (This applies to outgoing as well as incoming calls)
You do not have their P45's in your back pocket, so always explain, always apologise
Make the other lot line up with their own rulebook, and have a go at doing so yourself before you propose change
Be extremely loyal to your predecessors. They are your most powerful secret weapon, along with people who pray quietly at home.
Schedule your free time as zealously as you would a funeral. Your family are the closest members of the body of Christ. Strive not to be toxic to them, and remember they didn't ask to have you for a parent.
Beware Grand Designs, especially your own. Dolus latet in generalibus — the Devil's in the detail, along with the delight...
You can't argue with whining, but you can with anger. Damaged, angry people have their own reward. Bless ’em all.
Rigid faith is often brittle. In the Kingdom the first often come last and the last first. You are not God's minders, or managers, but guides who should strive to be reliable and trustworthy (I Corinthians 4)
You inherited far more than you realise. Before you go buy a new tool, check the old toolbox you seldom use and nine times out of ten you've already got one. Revolution by tradition!
All constructive change works from the inside out — “You can sleep in the Garage, but it don't make you an automobile” (Billy Graham?)
This job is about the how and why of people’s lives, including your own. You accomlish for more long term than you think, and far less in the here and now: “I think I've far exceeded what I ever thought I could possibly do. I'm almost shocked that I'm still around after all these years . . . and always grateful that I get another turn to do something.” (Billy Crystal)
“The Church doesn’t need new members half as much as it needs the old lot making over.” (Billy Sunday)