Eternal Echoes

Be the wind in my sails....

Glorious sunset

I stopped on the way home from the beach to capture this shot today; the sunsetting over the fields just outside Downham Market- glorious!

Sunday...

It has been an interesting day today- I was not at all happy with the morning service- even more unhappy with my sermon splurge from yesterday- as Mike pointed out I was guilty of "romantically" generalising the landscape in Israel... never good to make a point by telling fairy tales...

I guess I am more nervous about the interviews of the next few days than I had thought... this afternoon I went to the beach with Tim, I'd intended to read and make notes on my chosen theological book,  A work in progress ,  instead I had a really good conversation about the place of spirituality in life with a couple of the newer club members... God reminded me that she holds the future in her hands- and rather than allowing me to get wound up about presentations she gently showed me afresh what my call to Ordained ministry is and where my strengths lie!

I relaxed in the end and took some photos, enjoyed a beer ( yes I said beer, not wine) and the company of friends, we laughed and chatted and sat in the sun....

Please pray for me over the next couple of days that I will keep in mind why I am called, and that I won't freak out over silly details...

Our Good Shepherd- Sermon splurging

I am hoping that these notes will gain illustrations and order themselves by the morning...

There are times when we need to use our God given imagination- and I believe that today is one of them...

For we live in a pre-packaged age, an age where perhaps the closest we get to sheep is a TV advert, or a model farm- where all looks idyllic- spring lambs gambolling in the meadows..... Sheep too often belong even in our rural setting on picture post cards or T.V. screens...

... I want to paint you a picture of Israels pasture land- it is not the lush rich pasture land we are used to seeing in the lower sheep farming regions of this country- rather it was a sparse land- a land where fresh pasture needed to be sought out- a shepherd would need skill and knowledge of the land and seasons to tend and care for his flock...

It may have been closer to resembling the high country, with its vast open spaces, and wind swept moorlands- but there were the added dangers of predators we do not find any longer in this country- bears and wolves, and even mountain lions.... shepherds in biblical times had their work cut out to protect their flocks....

Sheep were precious- they were farmed for their milk, and their wool, and their meat, they were also important as sacrificial animals in the culture of the day....

Shepherds had an important job, and yet they were treated as outcasts- unclean- they occupied a servant role in a hierarchal society....

... and yet Jesus, the son of God- when asked yet again if he is indeed the Messiah replies in these words:

"I told you, but you don't believe. Everything I have done has been authorised by my Father, actions that speak louder than words.You don't believe because you're not my sheep. My sheep recognise my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand.  The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind."

He is taking for himself the title of shepherd- servant leader- tender of the weak and vulnerable- yet the infinitely precious flock of God....

The shepherd would truly give his life for his sheep, caring for them, nurturing them and leading them as the psalm says into safe pastures and beside still waters...the psalm is a psalm of trust, of acknowledgement that God will provide for our needs, even in the difficult and dark places, God will lead us through....

Our dark places may be circumstances, they may be questions and doubts... the challenge Jesus gives us is to recognise his voice through the chatter and accusation of other voices... to listen through the barrage of instructions for his still small voice... at times  it is as difficult as listening for platform announcements at a busy London railway station...

Jesus says his flock recognise his voice- they recognise it through knowing him, through spending time with him- so that when the " static" interruptions come our way we know, and recognise and will follow....

Sheep we are told, are stupid creatures- I am not so convinced- if sheep were truly stupid they would follow anyone- and yet these sheep knew the shepherds voice- they would follow him trusting in him for care and protection.... for unlike our shepherds who work dogs and round up the sheep from behind,  Eastern shepherds would lead the way, testing and scouting the path and calling for their sheep to follow.... another interesting thing about sheep- and one which in our individualistic society is easy to overlook, that is that they are communal animals, they do best in herds- they stick together for protection and they keep one another warm, the shepherds knew this and at night they would corral the sheep in a shelter- enclosed on three sides, laying across the final side- making a door out of their living physical bodies...

Jesus offers himself to us as our Good Shepherd,calling us on, laying down his life for us , and becoming the door through which we are able to approach God- for ultimately we belong to God-  we are precious to God- and yet here the illustration is turned upon its head- for we are not cared for and nurtured and led in order to become sacrificial lambs- we find ourselves served by the Good Shepherd in the most startling way- Jesus truly lay his life down for us- he gave himself to set us free, to ensure our access to God- in laying down his life he became our doorway, our gate, and he calls us to follow him .... to lay down our lives that we might enter into the freedom and vastness of a life lived in Gods presence.... the response is ours to make, to enter, or not...

The benefits are made clear, the table is laid....the invitation is given... come and eat- without cost.... the table is laid with good things; for the table is laid for us even in the presence of danger and difficulty, God's anointing is available to us- goodness and mercy will surround us when we make the choice to trust....

If that seems to good to be true it might be worth remembering some of Jesus other warnings to and demands upon his followers, he called for commitment, total commitment-though the road may not be, persecution may come.... he will call us on if we will follow- not a stupid dumb following- but as those who recognise and see the Good Shepherd is the one who leads the way to life in all its fullness...

Jesus calls and commissions us just as he commissioned Peter- the repentant and humbled Peter , the Peter who denied him three times was given the charge of caring for and leading Gods flock- like Peter we are called, called to leave our mistakes and wrondoings behind us- for they are forgiven, called not to live a past of if only's, but to sieze the day- to accept the forgiveness of a God whose desire is to restore and equip us.... for in God's plan sheep grow up to be shepherds.... not to be fattened for the slaughter

The final words of this passage are startling for throguh Christ we receive the revealtion of a God who longs to hold, to nuture and protect us, a God who in Christ gave his very life for us.... and more amazing his annointing is an annointing of the Holy Spirit, through whom we find the strength and boldness to follow...

                               

Reflections of Glory

            

                                                Our God is an awesome God.

- Fish and chips and friendship....

I had a real treat yesterday- the chance to meet a fellow revgal face to face ! Lorna was over from Finland visiting with a number of different people including me!!!

Tim and Lorna walk and talk at the beach

We chatted, drove into Ely to drop my daughter off and then headed out to the beach ( you are all welcome to visit me, but you must be willing to come to the beach... I will treat you to fish and chips!)..... We ate at the club, then came back to Downham, shared a bottle of wine and talked more...                                                                      

   The sunset at the beach yesterday

This morning we walked into Downham, and then all to soon the visit was over.... but we will definitely have to meet again.....:-)

  Downham Market Clock Tower, I told Lorna she couldn't miss it, and she didn't!!!

Friday Five What are you......

1. Wearing- Friday is my day off- so it is a jeans and t-shirt day- though I need a jacket today there is a chill in the air. Later on I'll put on some walking shoes and a coat and go to the beach ( anyone surprised), but today I'll have company 'cos Lorna is coming- we get to meet face to face- how cool!

2. 2.Pondering- too many things- I'm looking forward to meeting Lorna, pondering my interviews on Monday and Tuesday- well more fretting really! It is a strange time, my future is in the hands of others.... Yes I know God is in control- but still I am pondering what being turned down might mean.....

3. Reading- "A work in Progress" in preparation for the interviews- with occassional dips into Adrian Plass "Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation" to lighten the mood...his definitions are hilarious!

"Pillar of the church: (1) Person who is consistent and reliable in alls/he does, and committed to the well being of the congregation. (2) Large thick thing that holds everything up and restricts vision.

That said I have a huge wish list of stuff I really want to read- ah well... one day....

4. Dreaming- of summer- warm weather, no assignments for a month or so, BBQ's in the garden, relaxing at the beach- in the sun.... ah summer....

5. Eating- right now I am trying to diet- so don't talk to me about food or I want chocolate... but today it was an oat-bran breakfast, lots of fruit, I'll try to have a healthy linch- because I've promised Lorna fish and chips this evening- yum!!!

Read this-

Beyond the pall- part two from Phil Wyman.;

Writing about the aftermath of a witch friends funeral Phil says...

I sat down with small groups of Witches gathered together over the common love of their friend. I hugged more Witches on some days than whole mega-churches will in their entire existence. I saw the Witchcraft community struggling with the issue of respecting the dead. There were some who saw my friend as a threat, and were taking their shots at him now that he was dead.

..........

These are the thinnest of times, when the veil between the world we live in and the heavens becomes transparent...." I hailed back to the early Christian Celts and their theology of Thin Places - times and locations where heaven and earth meet as I described the experience we all have during the loss of loved ones. But I wondered who really stood at this uncomfortable junction between the worlds. Was it those who lost their friend? or was it I who had made these new friends in a world so unlike my own?

Read more here

Kiva- not a plant!

Kiva- it is not a plant; so read the t-shirts... so what is Kiva?

To quote the web-site; "Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back."

I do have a few reservations about this but I think that the good points out-weigh the bad.... I'm going to investigate further....

The origins of the word  Kiva are interesting;

"The emergence of humanity is the stating point of Hopi mythology and the Kiva is the point where people first emerge from darkness to light. The circle motif represents what the Hopi call the sipapu; the womb or the place of emergence. When we emerged from underworld, the shadow side emerged with us. The figures in grey represent the unhealed side of humanity, which must be purified in order to find the middle place!"

Is this an opportunity to help folk emerge from poverty and into a productive and self sustaining life style- and are we in the rich west being invited to partner people in need,  and in doing so might we find ourselves emerging from " spirits oppressed by pleasure , wealth and care...?"

Hat tip to Dave Warnock.

Tuesday.........

A long day- starting with a school assembly, infants this time, story telling again- but much more inter-active- there is so much criticism about the lack of religious education in schools, but these children knew the Easter story well enough for me to involve them in being part of the Emmaus road surprise....they joined in with a joyful " it's Jesus...Surprise!"... and celebrated the resurrection as if they were a part of the story- how wonderful- child-like faith is wonderful!

Some pastoral work and admin work followed, then I worked on my presentations for candidating- the radio talk I am still not happy with but I am going to sleep on it.

Chris is suffering from conjunctivitis at the moment, any infection hits him really badly, his whole immune system is compromised by the drugs he has to take on a daily basis...

I had to do some shopping- which is frustrating because we do not have new bank cards yet- the fraud department at the bank are looking into the problems- it looks like somebody cloned our credit card details...how vulnerable we are in a technological age...

I've been praying for several friends, family life can be tough sometimes... but although commitment at times like these is tough it is worth it....

It is good to be back at work, being in school and out in the community today has been really good for me... depression sucks, but God sticks with us and brings us through the fire and the storm...God be thanked...

Picture by Nel Whatmore