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Maybe a brick wall. Maybe a puzzle that cannot be solved. Or maybe more like a very challenging obstacle course. I'm really not sure. But no matter which one it is, TODAY is tough. Very tough right now. I'm left hurting, wondering, confused.
Once again I am reminded that is what this faith thing is all about. I preach about it. I teach it. I struggle with ups and downs trying to live it. But in the end its all about a trusting faith that with God everything is alright. Even when it feels wrong. Even when it feels tough. And TODAY it is very tough.
If I had all the answers then there would be no need for faith. If the way forward was perfectly clear then I would not need to place my trust in a God who guides. If the picture made sense to me then TODAY I would not need to have hope.
But TODAY I am holding on to hope. It is the only thing left to hold on to right now.
Romans 8:22-27: 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
Who hopes for what he already has? No one. The only people who hope are those who don't yet have, but who long for and yearn for something different. So TODAY I am holding on to hope, praying for the faith to trust and believe that with God everything is alright even when it seems all wrong. I am believing that God's Spirit is interceding for us TODAY. My faith reminds me that God's will is exactly where I want to be. Nowhere else.
Even when I feel so raw. Like I do TODAY.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Monday, 1 February 2010
Wisdom
I've been praying for wisdom.
The future is really cloudy for me. I'm not sure what next year holds, let alone next week. It is not at all clear to me. That is not easy for a type-a personality. I want to know the whole picture and line everything up so that I am prepared. But God doesn't reveal things to me that way. Instead I get glimpses and nudges. And just enough to take the next step.
So I am praying for wisdom. If I depend on my own cleverness or understanding to sort it out then I know I am hopelessly doomed. I cannot figure it out nor do I have the ability to do what is necessary to bring it about. Truthfully I will just make a mess of things. Enough empirical evidence exists to fill multiple volumes proving that truth.
I do, however, trust that God has a perfect picture and a wonderful plan. I am convinced that God is not fretting over the future or wondering how things will work out. I feel abundantly confident that God sees, knows and already has everything lined up for me anyway. I just need to have enough wisdom to hear His still, small voice and step in faith to follow. Enough wisdom to discern between my own feelings and God's nudgings. Enough wisdom to walk by faith instead of by sight. Enough wisdom to remember that it isn't really all about me anyway.
So I am praying for wisdom.
The book of James has (quite surprisingly) given me great insights on wisdom recently. Chapter 1, verses 2-8 in Eugene Peterson's Message:
So I am praying for wisdom. Will you pray for me too?
The future is really cloudy for me. I'm not sure what next year holds, let alone next week. It is not at all clear to me. That is not easy for a type-a personality. I want to know the whole picture and line everything up so that I am prepared. But God doesn't reveal things to me that way. Instead I get glimpses and nudges. And just enough to take the next step.
So I am praying for wisdom. If I depend on my own cleverness or understanding to sort it out then I know I am hopelessly doomed. I cannot figure it out nor do I have the ability to do what is necessary to bring it about. Truthfully I will just make a mess of things. Enough empirical evidence exists to fill multiple volumes proving that truth.
I do, however, trust that God has a perfect picture and a wonderful plan. I am convinced that God is not fretting over the future or wondering how things will work out. I feel abundantly confident that God sees, knows and already has everything lined up for me anyway. I just need to have enough wisdom to hear His still, small voice and step in faith to follow. Enough wisdom to discern between my own feelings and God's nudgings. Enough wisdom to walk by faith instead of by sight. Enough wisdom to remember that it isn't really all about me anyway.
So I am praying for wisdom.
The book of James has (quite surprisingly) given me great insights on wisdom recently. Chapter 1, verses 2-8 in Eugene Peterson's Message:
2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
So here I am, realizing that when I worry and fret over the future my faith-life is showing its true colors wide open. But that's ok with me. It helps me realize that God is still working in me, growing me, stretching me, shaping me. I am trying very hard to "ask boldly, believingly." I'm asking it every day. Because I know that God's wisdom will give me the guidance, the refreshment and the peace that are lacking from my inability to see the future. I would much rather have guidance and peace than to know it all anyway.So I am praying for wisdom. Will you pray for me too?
Monday, 25 January 2010
Did You Know Men Slept on the Bridges?
I love this story. It is incredibly convicting and challenging. I am reminded of the kind of person I want to become by serving, caring, engaging in God's business in the world. May I never turn away with indifference or complacently accept that there is nothing I can do.
One morning, near the turn of the 20th century, Bramwell Booth visited his elderly father, William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army. The elder Booth didn't even say "good morning" to his son.
"Bramwell!" he cried, when he caught sight of me, "did you know that men slept out all night on the bridges?" He had arrived in London very late the night before from some town in the south of England and had to cross the city to reach his home. What he had seen on that midnight return accounted for this morning tornado. Did I know that men slept out all night on the bridges?
"Well, yes," I replied, "a lot of poor fellows, I suppose, do that."
"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself to have known it and to have done nothing for them," he went on, vehemently.
I began to speak of the difficulties, burdened, as we were already, of taking up all sorts of Poor Law work, and so forth. My father stopped me.
"Go and do something!" he said. "We must do something."
"What can we do?"
"Get them shelter."
"That will cost money."
"Well, that is your affair. Something must be done. Get hold of a warehouse and warm it, and find something to cover them. But mind, Bramwell, no coddling!"
That was the beginning of The Salvation Army Shelters."
"Did You Know Men Slept on the Bridges?" Christian History & Biography, issue 82.
Help me Lord Jesus to see with your eyes and to respond with your compassion. Help me to trust your wisdom to supply all that I lack. Save me from complacency and indifference. Thank you for the cross.
One morning, near the turn of the 20th century, Bramwell Booth visited his elderly father, William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army. The elder Booth didn't even say "good morning" to his son.
"Bramwell!" he cried, when he caught sight of me, "did you know that men slept out all night on the bridges?" He had arrived in London very late the night before from some town in the south of England and had to cross the city to reach his home. What he had seen on that midnight return accounted for this morning tornado. Did I know that men slept out all night on the bridges?
"Well, yes," I replied, "a lot of poor fellows, I suppose, do that."
"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself to have known it and to have done nothing for them," he went on, vehemently.
I began to speak of the difficulties, burdened, as we were already, of taking up all sorts of Poor Law work, and so forth. My father stopped me.
"Go and do something!" he said. "We must do something."
"What can we do?"
"Get them shelter."
"That will cost money."
"Well, that is your affair. Something must be done. Get hold of a warehouse and warm it, and find something to cover them. But mind, Bramwell, no coddling!"
That was the beginning of The Salvation Army Shelters."
"Did You Know Men Slept on the Bridges?" Christian History & Biography, issue 82.
Help me Lord Jesus to see with your eyes and to respond with your compassion. Help me to trust your wisdom to supply all that I lack. Save me from complacency and indifference. Thank you for the cross.
Monday, 18 January 2010
A Special Appeal Regarding Haiti
Dear ICC Family,
In our studies of the prophets this month we have heard God’s consistent appeal to care for the poor, the needy and the oppressed. The prophets called God’s people to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and break the chains of oppression for all who are suffering. Together we’ve been discerning God’s call to each of us at ICC as we seek to respond faithfully and obediently to Him.
At our worship service yesterday I invited the ICC congregation to respond personally to the deep and overwhelming needs of the nation of Haiti after the devastating earthquake last week. The message of the prophets is clear and abundantly relevant to us today: we must respond. We must care. We must share with those in need.
My personal request is that each of us will skip one meal this week and then give the money saved to disaster relief in Haiti. This is an opportunity for each one of us to heed the call of the prophets and personally respond. I recommend that individuals and families share this experience with one another, recognizing that our temporary ‘suffering’ is significantly less than the pain of our brothers and sisters in Haiti. This is an important time to pray for God’s comfort and peace on all who have been affected. Please read Isaiah 58:6-12 for guidance and encouragement in this fast.
There are many good relief organizations. If you have already contributed to one I say ‘Thank you very much.’ If you need to know where to send your donation, one agency that I recommend and fully trust is Compassion International. There UK address is:
Compassion UK
Freepost SEA9431
Weybridge
KT13 8BR
May God bless you as you fast from one meal this week. May God bless ICC as we seek to be faithfully obedient to God’s call in our lives. May God bless our brothers and sisters in Haiti with an outpouring of His love.
Blessings,Barry
In our studies of the prophets this month we have heard God’s consistent appeal to care for the poor, the needy and the oppressed. The prophets called God’s people to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and break the chains of oppression for all who are suffering. Together we’ve been discerning God’s call to each of us at ICC as we seek to respond faithfully and obediently to Him.
At our worship service yesterday I invited the ICC congregation to respond personally to the deep and overwhelming needs of the nation of Haiti after the devastating earthquake last week. The message of the prophets is clear and abundantly relevant to us today: we must respond. We must care. We must share with those in need.
My personal request is that each of us will skip one meal this week and then give the money saved to disaster relief in Haiti. This is an opportunity for each one of us to heed the call of the prophets and personally respond. I recommend that individuals and families share this experience with one another, recognizing that our temporary ‘suffering’ is significantly less than the pain of our brothers and sisters in Haiti. This is an important time to pray for God’s comfort and peace on all who have been affected. Please read Isaiah 58:6-12 for guidance and encouragement in this fast.
There are many good relief organizations. If you have already contributed to one I say ‘Thank you very much.’ If you need to know where to send your donation, one agency that I recommend and fully trust is Compassion International. There UK address is:
Compassion UK
Freepost SEA9431
Weybridge
KT13 8BR
May God bless you as you fast from one meal this week. May God bless ICC as we seek to be faithfully obedient to God’s call in our lives. May God bless our brothers and sisters in Haiti with an outpouring of His love.
Blessings,Barry
Monday, 4 January 2010
The Un-changing God
The following is an excerpt (the closing summary) from my sermon yesterday, 3rd January 2010.
In your life, between now and when you die, however long that is, you will experience many changes in your life. Some will be good, some will be painful. All of them will create stress. My question becomes: How are you going to respond to those changes? You can't prepare for them because they aren't predictable. You don't know what they're going to be. How are you going to handle them? What's going to be the source of stability in your life when things around change?
There are three things to remember when life is changing all around you. They are absolute facts. They become spiritual anchors for your soul in a changing world.
1) God will never stop loving me. Never. He won't even love me less. I won't understand all that is going on but no matter what He's doing, He's acting toward me in love. That gives stability. No matter what happens, He loves me.
2) God's word is always right. The advice in the Bible is the right thing to do, even if it's unpopular or unpleasant it is always the right thing to do. That's an anchor, a dependable stabilizer in an ever-changing world.
3) God's purpose for my life is alwasy consistent. His purpose is that I have an abundant life of joy as I become more and more like Jesus. Problems and sins can't change God's purpose. They won’t change God's purpose for my life and it will not change what He wants to do in my life.
I praise God that He is consistent, stable and unchanging. I choose to build my life on this solid rock!
(Credit to Rick Warren for the outline.)
In your life, between now and when you die, however long that is, you will experience many changes in your life. Some will be good, some will be painful. All of them will create stress. My question becomes: How are you going to respond to those changes? You can't prepare for them because they aren't predictable. You don't know what they're going to be. How are you going to handle them? What's going to be the source of stability in your life when things around change?
There are three things to remember when life is changing all around you. They are absolute facts. They become spiritual anchors for your soul in a changing world.
1) God will never stop loving me. Never. He won't even love me less. I won't understand all that is going on but no matter what He's doing, He's acting toward me in love. That gives stability. No matter what happens, He loves me.
2) God's word is always right. The advice in the Bible is the right thing to do, even if it's unpopular or unpleasant it is always the right thing to do. That's an anchor, a dependable stabilizer in an ever-changing world.
3) God's purpose for my life is alwasy consistent. His purpose is that I have an abundant life of joy as I become more and more like Jesus. Problems and sins can't change God's purpose. They won’t change God's purpose for my life and it will not change what He wants to do in my life.
I praise God that He is consistent, stable and unchanging. I choose to build my life on this solid rock!
(Credit to Rick Warren for the outline.)
Monday, 21 December 2009
Merry Christmas!
For me the question is this: does Christmas intersect with our lives? Does Christmas mean anything today?
Some people say "Happy Holidays." Is it about a holiday? …a few days off work, a big meal, some time with people you love? Some people say "Ho, Ho, Ho!" Is it about the presents - hopefully lots and lots of presents. Good things. But not what it all comes down to. Is that what we mean when we say "Merry Christmas?" Does “Merry Christmas” mean anything any more? Because Christmas is meant to be the acknowledgement and celebration of the truth that the God of the Universe came down to us in the person of Jesus to give us life. And Merry Christmas isn’t about the holiday, but its about something much bigger, much deeper.
God looked at all the things we want - we want a good career and we want a nice family and we want a warm home and we want to be recognized and appreciated. There are lots of things we want. And God looked at all of those…and he didn’t give those to us. Instead of giving us what we want, he gives us what we need. God looks at our wants and says, ‘But the one thing they need, the one thing they truly, truly need, is to be whole, to live, to have life.’ God wants for us to be healed, made whole and complete and have life as he designed us to live it.
God never wanted you to live in fear. God never intended for you to face rejection alone. It has never been God’s plan that addictions would rule your life or that the weaknesses of giving in to temptations would grip you. God knows what you need - and its him. And so the one thing we needed, the one thing we truly need is the one thing God gives - himself. And so God took on the form of flesh, and was born as a baby, born to Mary and Joseph. And he came to heal and offer life. He came to lead us back in to a reconciled relationship with the God who created us - the one thing that is necessary for our healing, necessary for us to have life. God came down - as a gift - as Jesus - to bring us life. What else is there to say, except “Merry Christmas”.
God never wanted you to live in fear. God never intended for you to face rejection alone. It has never been God’s plan that addictions would rule your life or that the weaknesses of giving in to temptations would grip you. God knows what you need - and its him. And so the one thing we needed, the one thing we truly need is the one thing God gives - himself. And so God took on the form of flesh, and was born as a baby, born to Mary and Joseph. And he came to heal and offer life. He came to lead us back in to a reconciled relationship with the God who created us - the one thing that is necessary for our healing, necessary for us to have life. God came down - as a gift - as Jesus - to bring us life. What else is there to say, except “Merry Christmas”.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Why Did God Send Jesus?
The following is excerpted from my sermon, preached at ICC worship services on 13th December 2009.
“…In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37
That is a pretty bold statement. It is simply not the normal statement of a normal person.
What if I stood up here and made those same claims? What if I said that the reason I exist is to tell you what is true? You’d think I was a lunatic wouldn’t you? Those are the ravings of an insane man. “If you are on the side of truth then you will listen and do what I say.”
***What makes Jesus say that?
Perhaps he is a lunatic. Perhaps he was just deceived and had this grandiose idea that he was God’s own son. If that’s true then we should dismiss all of his teaching and everything about him in the Bible because its just the rantings and ravings of an insane man.
But what if it is true? What if Jesus really, truly is God’s son? What if what he claims to be true - that he was sent in to the world in order to tell people the truth - what if that really was right? There is only one person who can make that claim and be right. The only one who can claim to be the Son of God who came to tell the truth is: The Son of God.
So if Jesus truly is God’s son, if God really did take on the form of a human being, born to a young woman named Mary.If it really the reality of Christmas is that the God of the universe
entered right here in our midst, right here on our turf, was one of us…if its really true, then we have to believe the claims he makes as well. And I BELIEVE IT IS TRUE.
And if Jesus really is the Son of God, then the implications for you and for me are pretty huge!
1. We must LISTEN to what he teaches!
We are to read and know and study the Bible so that we can learn and absorb every single thing that Jesus said. Not just a casual reading, but an all-out, focused, informed study of Scripture.
2. We better put his words in to practice. listening, hearing, absorbing his word…and then acting on it. You can say you believe in God, you can say you want to be a follower of Christ…but if it doesn’t come and impact the way you think, the way you treat your spouse, the morals of how you conduct business, if it doesn’t change and impact your relationship with your parents and your best friend and your neighbor…then you’re just saying the words, but you don’t
really believe them. Because the way you live your life reflects what you believe.
I have struggled so many times in my life to live in tangible, real ways that show that I am a person of faith. Every time I let myself be ruled and dictated by what the carnival
of voices around me is saying about me - ‘you deserve to have more Barry, you ought to get ahead of everyone else Barry, you sure aren’t worth anything unless you prove your
intelligence or your strength Barry’ – every time I let myself live and act out of those thoughts then I am not listening to the truth - I am listening to lies and ordering my life around them.
There is another way though. I can listen to what Jesus says is true. I can learn to believe that what he says is important is truly important. I can learn to see myself the way he sees me and to value the things that he values. I can learn to listen…to read his word, to listen in prayer, to ask other wise people about it…learn to listen and thus order my life around the truth that he teaches. Because in the end, that’s how I want my life to be ordered. Not around the carnival of half-truths - but around the rock solid truth that Jesus told us about God.
In our world we certainly can lose sight of what matters, and put our focus on
all the wrong things. We live in a world that says that beauty and wealth and power and
fame are the most highly treasured values … in a carnival that says integrity & servanthood & humility get tossed aside. What a confused world this really is. And who speaks truth to
confused people?
**That’s why God sent Jesus: to tell confused people the truth.
Jesus came so that we would know, really know, see and hear and feel…and know the God of the universe. That’s why God sent Jesus: to tell confused people the truth.
“…In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37
That is a pretty bold statement. It is simply not the normal statement of a normal person.
What if I stood up here and made those same claims? What if I said that the reason I exist is to tell you what is true? You’d think I was a lunatic wouldn’t you? Those are the ravings of an insane man. “If you are on the side of truth then you will listen and do what I say.”
***What makes Jesus say that?
Perhaps he is a lunatic. Perhaps he was just deceived and had this grandiose idea that he was God’s own son. If that’s true then we should dismiss all of his teaching and everything about him in the Bible because its just the rantings and ravings of an insane man.
But what if it is true? What if Jesus really, truly is God’s son? What if what he claims to be true - that he was sent in to the world in order to tell people the truth - what if that really was right? There is only one person who can make that claim and be right. The only one who can claim to be the Son of God who came to tell the truth is: The Son of God.
So if Jesus truly is God’s son, if God really did take on the form of a human being, born to a young woman named Mary.If it really the reality of Christmas is that the God of the universe
entered right here in our midst, right here on our turf, was one of us…if its really true, then we have to believe the claims he makes as well. And I BELIEVE IT IS TRUE.
And if Jesus really is the Son of God, then the implications for you and for me are pretty huge!
1. We must LISTEN to what he teaches!
We are to read and know and study the Bible so that we can learn and absorb every single thing that Jesus said. Not just a casual reading, but an all-out, focused, informed study of Scripture.
2. We better put his words in to practice. listening, hearing, absorbing his word…and then acting on it. You can say you believe in God, you can say you want to be a follower of Christ…but if it doesn’t come and impact the way you think, the way you treat your spouse, the morals of how you conduct business, if it doesn’t change and impact your relationship with your parents and your best friend and your neighbor…then you’re just saying the words, but you don’t
really believe them. Because the way you live your life reflects what you believe.
I have struggled so many times in my life to live in tangible, real ways that show that I am a person of faith. Every time I let myself be ruled and dictated by what the carnival
of voices around me is saying about me - ‘you deserve to have more Barry, you ought to get ahead of everyone else Barry, you sure aren’t worth anything unless you prove your
intelligence or your strength Barry’ – every time I let myself live and act out of those thoughts then I am not listening to the truth - I am listening to lies and ordering my life around them.
There is another way though. I can listen to what Jesus says is true. I can learn to believe that what he says is important is truly important. I can learn to see myself the way he sees me and to value the things that he values. I can learn to listen…to read his word, to listen in prayer, to ask other wise people about it…learn to listen and thus order my life around the truth that he teaches. Because in the end, that’s how I want my life to be ordered. Not around the carnival of half-truths - but around the rock solid truth that Jesus told us about God.
In our world we certainly can lose sight of what matters, and put our focus on
all the wrong things. We live in a world that says that beauty and wealth and power and
fame are the most highly treasured values … in a carnival that says integrity & servanthood & humility get tossed aside. What a confused world this really is. And who speaks truth to
confused people?
**That’s why God sent Jesus: to tell confused people the truth.
Jesus came so that we would know, really know, see and hear and feel…and know the God of the universe. That’s why God sent Jesus: to tell confused people the truth.
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