Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This Reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 22/Mar/2020]

People from Missouri in the U.S. have a reputation. For a long time, folk have portrayed them as being too simple to believe anything they can’t see with their own two eyes. The saying goes: ‘I’m from Missouri; show me!’

Over and over again in Jesus’ ministry and throughout the book of Acts, we SEE amazing ‘signs and wonders’. THEN people are ready – no, DESPERATE to HEAR the good news! In Romans 1:16 Paul declares ‘… I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to every one who BELIEVES…‘ He can say that because it’s TRUE; the gospel has totally transformed him. AND EVERYONE CAN SEE IT!

Tim Keller says: “The opposite of ‘ashamed of the gospel’ is not ‘proud to be a Christian’. The opposite of ‘ashamed of the gospel’ is ‘passionate to spread the gospel’“.

If I use the excuse that ‘I’m too self-conscious’ or ‘I’m not very out-going’, could it be that I’m afraid people might want to see past whatever words I’m struggling to find? Am I afraid they might be asking, ‘Show me!’?

In prayer recently, the Holy Spirit said he wanted to lead us into radical HONESTY. A place where we let him take off our Christian masks and become brave enough, humble enough and REAL enough, to let folk around us see us as we are, faltering yet faithful. Then there’s a good chance people from Missouri (or Horley) will say, ‘Okay. NOW I SEE!
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[This Reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 01/Mar/2020]

I didn’t watch the recent Brit Awards, but I did see an excerpt on the news where the rapper Dave repeatedly accused the Prime Minister of being a racist. I must admit that I have no idea what Boris Johnson said or did to be a racist but I did read that the Home Secretary, Preti Patel, who is of an ethnic minority said, “I know Boris Johnson very well, no way is he a racist.” When I was young it was quite acceptable to make comments that were racist.

At ten years old at school I sat next to a lovely Indian girl whose name was Phyllis. One day when walking with my parents I met Phyllis and spoke to her. My dad asked afterwards who she was and I told him she was my friend, Phyllis. He replied,” You didn’t tell me she was coloured.” That thought had never occurred to me. To me she was a nice little girl that I liked a lot.

I am glad that it is no longer acceptable to make racist remarks, although in another sense perhaps like the rapper this has swung the other way. I remember reading of a senior nurse who was leading a training course for the NHS. When a number of participants hadn’t turned up after lunch she accidentally referred to it as being like the “Ten Little N…… Boys”, a play that had been performed for many years on the London stage. She was accused of being a racist and had to resign her post. Similarly, a vicar who wrote an article for his parish magazine was talking about it being winter and that there was, “a nip in the air.” He was accused locally of being a racist because they said that he was referring to Japanese soldiers who had been hung after the Second World War. I always thought that the expression related to, “Jack Frost nipping at my nose” as the song says.

I am glad that we belong to a church where racism is not a problem. It is good to see that we all come from various ethnic backgrounds and yet we are one family in Christ. That is because when God created us He made us all in His image, there is no difference between us. This is emphasised in Colossians 1:16. “In Him (Jesus) everything in heaven and on earth was created, not only things visible but also the invisible orders of thrones, sovereignties, authorities, and powers: the whole universe has been created through him and for him.”

When Jesus comes back again as He promised, I do not know whether our resurrected bodies will continue to show our ethnic backgrounds as they do here on earth. I hope so, because then I will be happy to see that the majority of my brothers and sisters who like me trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins will be of a different race from my own. Will it make a real difference? No. When we are shining with the glory that Jesus is going to give us in His new kingdom then, like me and my friend Phyllis, we shall not notice the difference.
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[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 23/Feb/2020]

When I reflect back to how I started to contribute to the ‘Yours’ back page, it was because I wanted to share the following (apologies if you’ve seen this before, however I believe it’s a good one to air again).

I am thankful …

• For the teenager who is not doing the dishes, but is watching TV, because it means he is not on the streets.
• For the taxes I pay, because it means that I am employed.
• For the mess to clean up after a get together, because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
• For the lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and the gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home.
• For the parking spot I find at the far end of Tesco’s car park, because it means I am capable of walking and that I am blessed with transportation.
• For the huge heating bills, because it means that I am warm.
• For the sister who sings out of key behind me in the church service, because it means I can hear.
• For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.
• For the weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I am capable of working hard.
• For my family, for although we do not always agree, they are there for me when I need them.
• For the alarm that goes off in the early hours, because it means I am alive.

(Author unknown)

I was recently introduced to Charlie Mackesy and his book: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” (I think it’s a lovely book with thought provoking comments and flowing illustrations). There is a wonderful section that goes: “Is your glass half empty or half full?” asked the mole. “I think I’m grateful to have a glass,” said the boy.”

I am happy to have a glass! What a wonderful response. How we respond to a situation and how we assess our predicaments can and does indeed impact our mood and outlook.

So, as you reflect on this, wherever you are reading it and in whatever emotional placed you find yourself, I encourage to you to find something, even just one thing, you are thankful for. Be thankful for the glass, because someone else may fill it for you.

Thank you for bearing with me and reading this. 😀

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[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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