Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during August 2023]

“oh, I do like to be beside the seaside.” ^[1]

In many parts of the northern hemisphere the summer is drawing to its close. The warm days may linger for a while as the climate adjusts itself but the evenings are drawing in and the return to a normal daily routine is becoming imminent. Soon many of us will once again be subject to the discipline of the academic calendar or the rigours of earning a living – pity those of us for whom they are one and the same thing!

For those who were able to take their holidays at the seaside there are certain sounds which are associated with their time there; the slapping of rigging against aluminium masts as a background to fish and chips on the seafront (surpassed only by fish and chips beside the Danube in Austria), the cacophony of gulls as they launch raids on unguarded plates or even the discordant sounds that accompany hordes of humanity basking like walruses somewhere on the Costa Packet.

Now it is time to tie up the yacht, tie down the awnings and let rosy memories of summer holidays evoke dreams for next year; dreams that will no doubt be dampened when we get the bill for those memories.

In the early chapters of Genesis we read of a garden where everything was very good, then in the book of Revelation we see heaven portrayed as a city. For those of us who prefer gardens to cities that sounds somewhat disappointing; imagine then the feelings of ship chandlers, restaurant owners and travel agents alike when we read

… and there was no longer any sea. Revelation 21 v1 [NIVUK]

In the early phases of creation, God created the seas and defined their limits. He pronounced the seas as ‘good’ – why then would they be excluded from the new heaven?

Many commentators argue that, in this particular reference, the sea is being used as a stereotype to portray turbulence, toil and trouble. Indeed, we see many times in the lives of the early disciples that for them the sea could mean toil and trouble. Similarly, the apostle Paul endured turbulent storms and shipwrecks during his life of service to Christ. Should we be surprised if we too face such challenges?

On the other hand, there are also accounts in the Gospels and Acts of how the sea proved beneficial. It provided livelihoods, facilitated travel and provided the background to many sermons and miracles. Further more, seas in various forms are an integral part of the vision of the future as reported by John in the book of Revelation.

Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Does your life resemble the thunderous breakers on a rocky shore, lots of energy spent for a minimum of achievement? Jesus still has control of the wind and the waves, and they know it!

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea; ^[2]

Resources:
[1] JH Glover-Kind, 1907
[2] Reginald Heber, 1826

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This reflection by Martin Shorey was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 27/Aug/2023]

The other day I went for a health check – not that there is anything wrong (at least I hope not), but its just a way for me to keep an eye on my health, ensuring that I’m maintaining a good physical condition, and spotting early any potential problems. Why? Because I want to function well for as long as I possibly can.

This reminds me of some verses from Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, a city in Ancient Greece known for the Isthmian Games, an early rival to the Olympics …

All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step.
1 Corinthians 9:25-26 [NLT]

Paul would have seen the athletes preparing for these games, being disciplined, pushing themselves harder and harder, because they had a prize they wanted to win. Paul encourages the church in Corinth to have a similar mindset as these athletes – are they willing to give up the so called freedom they have as pagans, in order to gain the prize of eternal life offered to them through Jesus? Sacrifices in this life are more than worth it for what they will ultimately gain.

How about you? If you were to have a spiritual health check how would you fare? Do you need to be more disciplined? Do you need to give up some things that just aren’t good for you, as tempting as they might be? Why? Because God has a purpose for your life, a race for you to run, and a prize for you to gain.

So how well are you running your race – are you in training, becoming disciplined, and taking each step with purpose?

Resources:

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during August 2023]

In a recent edition of the HBC buletin, Helen Ruffhead wrote of her experience of switching from a manual car to one with an automatic transmission.^[1] She wrote of her feelings when first presented with new features, the impulse to give up and seek an alternative way to avoid dealing with them and yet the knowledge that she must persevere with the unfamiliar.

For me, automatics have been a prerequisite for over thirty years. However, we do still have one manual car in the household. It is not used very much so it was not a great surprise when I was told that “it won’t go into gear”. The driver had become accustomed to an automatic and had forgotten all about the clutch.

As our circumstances of life change so old habits have to be relearnt. There may be new features to experiment with, new locations to be explored or new relationships to be developed. For some of us the prospect of change is exciting, for others the possibility can be severely disturbing.

In some ways these experiences are a bit like acquiring a new Bible. A new Bible will lack turned-down corners, well-thumbed pages or a cracked spine that falls open at our favourite passages. On the other hand, it might have new features such as red or blue letters, maps or a concordance. We might like to ignore them in our quest for the familiar or we might be so distracted that we lose sight of the core text.

Have the words of scripture become too familiar to you? You have read the book and you know how the story ends. You have your favourite passages and the rest is just of passing interest. Perhaps the solution is to try a different version of the Bible.

Are you tempted to think that, just as the Authorised Version was good enough for Saint Paul, so it must be good enough for you? Or do you think that more modern versions lack the AV’s classical style and the credibility that comes with the passage of time? Are you open to changing gear spiritually?

When reading a different version much of it will seem familiar but yet also a bit strange. Living languages evolve, words change their meaning or implication. Perhaps a different version – older or newer – will offer a different emphasis or shed a new light on familiar passages.

These verses written by a 19th century English vicar may use old-fashioned language but their truth still holds true.

LORD, Thy Word abideth and our footsteps guideth,
Who its truth believeth light and joy receiveth.

O that we, discerning its most holy learning,
Lord, may love and fear Thee, evermore be near Thee!
  HW Baker, 1861

Resources:
[1] HBC ‘Yours’, 13/Aug/2023, (link)

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This reflection by Dazz Jones was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 20/Aug/2023]

I like to think that involvement in the church community is a source of fulfilment, usually marked by collective worship, community and camaraderie, and a large part is also service. However, as you immerse yourself in various serving streams and activities, a question arises: Can you really serve wholeheartedly and still find the restful solace of observing God’s Sabbath principle, or ‘taking a rest’? In this article, I mostly want to highlight the difficulty of achieving a balance between dedicated service and the sacred rhythm of Sabbath within the context of church life. Let’s be honest, we tend to place all of our ambition for God to do His ‘spiritual stuff’ into our 2 hours on Sundays … but is that realistic?

Your commitment to service is an embodiment of your faith in Jesus and following his example of helping and serving other people (or so says my inner idealist). Inspired by Jesus’ selfless example, you generously share your gifts and talents to positively impact the lives of those around you. I hope Horley Baptist Church provides you with abundant opportunities to serve – serving drinks and welcoming people, leading or contributing to worship, mentoring and leading in Sunday School, engaging in community outreach, and extending a compassionate or practical hand to those in need, and other smaller or larger scale things I have undoubtedly missed off. Yet, as you invest yourself in these endeavours, there exists a potential black hole: the risk of becoming consumed by your tasks, overshadowing the equally important need for the restorative embrace of ‘Sabbath’.

Striking that balance between investing your energy in service and embracing ‘Sabbath’ becomes a delicate art you would do well to aim to master. I feel we all struggle in this area, though not through lack of trying. I would suggest we all flip and flop somewhere between ‘serving our hearts out’ and ‘I need to temporarily check out’. Since the pandemic, across the whole world from what I can tell, people are struggling or reluctant to commit to things mid-long term and I wonder if we have had our ‘balance preceptor’ sent haywire. We struggle more than ever it seems to find a balance. In church we have seen people stepping down, yo-yo-ing on and off rotas or not wanting to join teams for feeling unable to commit properly. We have thrived nonetheless! (Please do not mistake this reflection as a passive-aggressive complaint, you would be misreading me.)

Sabbath is more than a mere break from routine; it’s a profound spiritual practice. Rooted in divine commandments since the dawn of creation, it offers a chance to rest and rejuvenate. Just as God rested after the act of creation, you are beckoned to pause, reconnect with your Creator, and find renewal in His presence. It’s also a call to worship, reflect on His teachings, and shed the burdens accumulated throughout the week. Yet, the reality for some of us is that this does not happen on a Sunday, we’re on too many rotas or we’re supporting others to attend or engage with service and therefore finding it hard to connect with God ourselves. I don’t think, perhaps controversially, that this means we need to pull off any or all the rotas. It might mean that we need to find another day to Sabbath and reconcile in our minds that Sunday is the day on which we serve. I anticipate resistance here, I know for many people it’s not as neat and tidy to do ‘God stuff’ on more than one day a week (and I’m only being a little facetious here) but it seems to me that Jesus was doing ‘God Stuff’ each and every day so we can squeeze a bit of Sabbath in somewhere else if we need/want to.

The task is to find the balance, this might mean we need to step out of the ‘God speaks to me best on a Sunday’ boat ?

Resources:

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during August 2023]

To date, my entire experience of visiting the USA amounts to about 90 minutes in Hawaii. It was a refuelling stop on the route between Brisbane and Vancouver. It was uneventful visit and largely forgettable.

For many people during the past week, their time in Hawaii has been anything but forgettable. Significant areas of the islands have been caught in a series of wildfires that have destroyed homes, hotels, municipal buildings and local landmarks. There have been reports of people having to jump into the sea to avoid the flames.

We must not belittle the suffering of who are going through these experiences. There has been loss of life. Many residents have lost all they possessed. The ambitions and efforts of several generations have been reduced to dust and ashes.

However, these experiences are not unique; the photographs of the stricken areas of Maui are very similar to those of other parts of the US, southern Europe, Australia and elsewhere. Do they remind us of a war-zone? Some photographs from Ukraine look very similar.

In Greek and Egyptian mythology the phoenix was a bird that symbolized resurrection and immortality and was associated with the prospect of life arising anew from the ashes. For us, resurrection, immortality and new life come through our faith in Jesus Christ. This does not guarantee us security against earthly loss or death, but it does allow us to face them positively.

An Old Testament prophet conveyed a promise from God. These words have been quoted many times but familiarity should not be allowed to undermine their message:

‘For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’
Jeremiah 29 v11 [AMP]

It may not be appropriate to simply repeat those words to someone who is suffering adversity but does your faith allow you to be a beacon of hope to them? Are you, like Barnabas, known for your spirit of consolation and encouragement?^[1]

In the book of Daniel we read of three friends who endured a trial by fire. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had proven themselves worthy of their appointment to senior administrative positions in the Babylonian government but they refused to renounce their faith in God. By defying a directive to worship an image of the king they were condemned to be thrown into a blazing furnace. They told the king that they believed that God could save them but, irrespective of the outcome, they would not comply with his order.

The records show that the three friends did, indeed, survive and that the king ordered that their God should be honoured throughout his dominions. Could it be that their witness became a factor in the king’s eventual repentance and recognition of God?^[2]

Is your faith a flame that gives light to those around you or is it smouldering amid the ashes?

Resources:
[1] Acts 4 v36
[2] Daniel 4 v34, 37

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 13/Aug/2023]

‘Recently I swapped my old car for a newer one. As a technophobe, who finds driving stressful, I had been putting this off for months, until a frozen left shoulder forced me to trade in my manual for an automatic.

When I first sat in the new car and saw all the unfamiliar gadgets, a feeling of pure panic swept over me, tempting me to give up driving and make good use of my bus pass. Then I remembered the lesson learnt nearly 50 years ago when I had CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy): if you force yourself to stay in a stressful situation the feeling of panic will eventually pass and the more you face up to your fears the easier it gets. This has proved true for me in so many situations, although some fears still persist.

Learning a new way of driving has reminded me how difficult it is to replace old habits with new ones. Usually I remember that I am driving an automatic, but in times of stress, like having to brake suddenly, my left foot will still stamp on the non-existent clutch and my hand reach for the gear lever.

In our Christian life, when we try to replace old habits like impatience with godly habits like patience and love, it is in times of stress that the old habits rear their ugly heads and remind us how far we still have to go.

One of the hardest things to get used to in the new car is the parking sensors, especially when getting the car into my small garage. Although I carefully chose a car that was no bigger than the old one, having the parking sensors shriek at me makes me much more aware of the tiny gap when getting the car through the garage door. I could perhaps turn off the sensors or just try to ignore them, but I know that they serve a useful purpose and I need to work with them.

They reminded me of the way our conscience works, making us feel uncomfortable when we are in danger of going astray. Like the parking sensors, these feelings are unpleasant and it is all too easy to try to ignore them, or even switch them off altogether, instead of using them to guide us.

The Bible says:

By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith.
1 Timothy 1 v19 [RSV]

Resources:

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.