Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This Reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 16/Feb/2020]

Many times when travelling across Europe I have noticed a large, very imposing gold-tinted building visible from the motorway about halfway across Austria. I have often wondered what it was and recently we had the opportunity to find out. It turned out to be the Benedictine Abbey at Melk, founded in the 11th century and containing an extensive museum and a large library of books dating from medieval times. At its centre is the ornate abbey church, decorated in the Catholic tradition and offering a place of quiet contemplation amongst the hundreds of tourists milling around the abbey’s more secular attractions.

On a subsequent Sunday, I visited a church near Medenbach in Germany. This church is a completely different from the Abbey, being built within the curtilage of a motorway service area. Here the focus is on a simple cross formed from natural materials, and a book of prayers contributed by those who had visited the church. Here too was a place of peace and quietness despite the thousands of people hurrying past.

In between these two visits I slipped into a morning service at HBC. Once again, a different style of worship, with Ian and his music group practicing hymns to be sung during the service. There were people to meet and greet but despite the bustle of preparation there was an air of quiet expectation as the service began.

Three contrasting experiences of worship. One common factor was the dedication and devotion of those who had brought these places into existence whether it be gifted artists sharing their interpretation of Bible events, skilled architects achieving a sanctified simplicity or generous donors contributing to the cost of a building that bears God’s name. Did you notice another common theme in each of the descriptions? All three are places where those who are so minded can be quiet and meet with God, away from the urgencies of daily life.

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46 v10.

Speak Lord in the stillness, while we wait on Thee,
Hushed our hearts to listen in expectancy. Emily Crawford.
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[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 09/Feb/2020]

A Baptist church in Horley has set out to change the world!
In response to the headlines in the news all over the world – climate change, bush fires, Brexit division, Megxit, Coronavirus, terrorism, racism, scandals to name a few – members of the church are making their own headlines, through a call to live a life of surrender to God, radical discipleship, and speaking up for truth and those without a voice.

A church member explained to News of the Times, “We believe that God is highlighting world events with an invitation to turn to Him in repentance and faith. It’s a call to life-changing, radical, exciting discipleship and requires courage, commitment, unity and love to be part of our daily vocabulary.” We wanted to know what this community felt God had said to them and why they believe this will transform the world. Here’s what they said:

Surrender – God is calling us to deeper levels of intimacy and surrender, where every part of our lives is brought to Him, with hearts that are postured towards wanting His will, obedience through love, not rules, and a deep friendship with Jesus where not only do we speak to him, but he shares His heart with us. “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” (Isaiah 45:3)

Values – when we look at so much of what is happening in our world, it is really hard to know what our values are – or indeed, if there are any values at all. We have been seeking God to examine our own personal life values, and those of our church, because we believe a return to godly values is so needed in every sphere of life, and it should be our values that drive our behaviour. “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive… And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… And be thankful… Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. And … do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Colossians 3)

God’s Mouthpiece – As Christians, we want to speak up for truth, and we feel each one of us has a part to play in this. For some this will be by speaking God’s wisdom into the lives of family and friends, for others it may be by contributing to public debates, for all of us it will be through living this radical way of life. “May your life preach more loudly than your lips.” (18th Century Author, William Ellery Channing). One way or another, we believe God is anointing us to speak out. “Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth…” (Isaiah 6:6)

This church is setting out to bring forth a new world, one person at a time, one church at a time, one layer of society at a time, and filled with the Holy Spirit, they believe that they can do it!
Rise Up Church!
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[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 02/Feb/2020]

As I sit down to write this, I have just read the news that Kobe Bryant, a famous basketball player, has died in a helicopter crash. Many people have been commenting on it. One of the comments caught my eye … “Everyone dies, but not everyone lives”.

When people talk about a life well lived, it is sometimes about how much they achieved in their endeavours, but too often those achievements seem to have a hollow ring to them. Fame and fortune, they all fade, and with the pressured, busy times we live in, it is all too possible to be side-tracked from the things that matter until it’s too late.

At one of the recent church meetings, Neil shared in a devotional about how God introduced himself in the Old Testament to Isaac as the God of Abraham, to Jacob as the God of Abraham and Isaac, and to Moses as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. It struck me that God seemed to be saying to Moses “I was there when they needed me and I am as relevant to your needs now, as I was to their needs then”.

In essence, although we sometimes see Bible times as being ancient and perhaps not relevant to our modern world, God lets us know that although the times change, our need for Him doesn’t. We often don’t realise this, but Jesus does, and he reassures us that He will be with us always, even till the end of the age.

So, two things:
1 – Remember that whatever you’re going through now, Jesus promises that He won’t leave you or forsake you. However heavy the load you’re carrying seems to be, you won’t be carrying it alone. Paul says in his letter to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

2 – Take time to focus on things that matter.
Are you planning to make a phone call to tell someone you love them? Don’t put it off! Are you planning to set things right with a relationship that went sour? Do it now! Are you aware of a way in which you can be of help to someone in need? Well, what are you waiting for?

Let’s ask for God’s grace to show us what he wants us to do each day and my prayer is that when our race is run, God will smile as he looks at us and will say “Well done, my good and faithful servant”.
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[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 26/Jan/2020]

At the beginning of this new decade I believe God is calling us to a paradigm shift in our thinking and in our actions to bring in revival.

We have a new challenge as a church, either we stay as we are or we can move forward in power to really become a vibrant community that will have an impact on the people we meet on a daily basis.

Recently a young lady from England was studying at a Bible College in Canada and she felt God was saying to her go and stand outside the chapel where revival took place in 1904 in Wales, led by Evan Roberts. Jesus said as you stand outside this chapel on the pavement shout “Wakey wakey”. As she was obedient to the Holy Spirit’s prompting a large angel appeared to her and told her an even bigger angel would usher in the next revival in the U.K.

In the depths of my heart I long for God to move in power by the Holy Spirit and bring revival to our church. Evan Roberts encouraged people to confess their known sins, get rid of any doubts about the significance of God in their lives, obey the Holy Spirit and confess publicly that they would follow Christ. This is just as relevant today as it was then.

God wants to give us 2020 spiritual vision that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened that we may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe. (Ephesians 1 v 18,19).

May this year be a turning point in all our lives to awaken that which is dormant and grasp the new year with excitement and anticipation of what lies ahead.
Every blessing,
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[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 19/Jan/2020]

“Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function].”

1 Corinthians 12:27 AMP
As we meet together as Churches of Horley today, what unites us?

Each church is different in the way their Sunday services run. One may focus on the Father heart of God, another on the Saviour Jesus, another on healing through the Holy Spirit. Just as each person is individual and has different gifts, so each Church is individual and has different gifts to use to reach others. One church might be more gifted in social action, providing for the poor and marginalised. Another might be a place of healing and refuge for those wounded. Yet another might be particularly gifted in local evangelism, and church down the road sends a disproportionate number of their members to missionary work. One may have a heart for the elderly and another called to serve young Mums.

Should every church look the same? Or does each Church show a different face of the multifaceted God that we worship? We each are a part of a bigger body of Christ and together we are united in our desire to follow Jesus and show Him to the world.

Father, thank You for Your beautiful, multicultural, intergenerational family, gathering today in so many countries. Revive and sanctify us, we pray. Make us a house of prayer for all nations. And set our hearts on fire again with the good news of Your gospel.
Amen

24-7 Prayer Lectio 365 12.1.20

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[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 12/Jan/2020]

(Can you spot the hidden surnames of people from our church? There are 30 altogether, including some that are spelled differently but sound roughly the same. Answers will be given next week.)

One Sunday morning John looked through his window pane, saw that it was a sunny day and decided to go for a long walk with his friends. He put on his parka jacket and called on his neighbour Peter, but when he rang the bell Peter came to the door looking rather unwell and explained that he had a rough head as a result of the party he had been to the previous night. His headache was so bad that he could not bear the sound of his own dog, who was a great barker.

Undaunted John tried his friend Daniel, but he had a prior engagement, taking his niece to Alton Towers. Another friend Andrew was holding a new book, entitled “The Scales of Justice” which he said was a real page turner and he couldn’t put it down. “You must read it sometime” he said, before adding that he wasn’t much of a walker.

Finally John managed to find two friends, Elliot and Lewis, to join him and they set off together in the direction of the moor. On the way they saw a number of birds, including a jay, a house martin and some sweet little robins on a tree, as well as several grey squirrels. After a while they found that the path was flooded by recent heavy rain, so they would have to wade through. The only alternative was a path to the right involving climbing a steep hill, so reluctantly they turned back.

To cheer themselves up, they stopped at a local baker’s shop near John’s house and bought some cakes and coffee. John chose a plum duff, which had been his favourite ever since he had first tasted one at his Aunty Joan’s house. The others chose Black Forest gateau. Unfortunately, when reaching for his cake, John knocked his coffee over, causing a brown stain on the counter.

After such a frustrating morning John felt sure he would have been better off going to church instead that Sunday.
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