Pentecost 2013

1. Pentecost.
40 days of resurrection joy – Ascension triumph.....
Waiting: what do you do? Read, Play, Work, Sleep
Waiting for something. The Promise: "I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth." Jn 14:16
If.... John 14:15

 2. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is not a new idea. It is part of God's plan of salvation. His Spirit is not to be confined to Priests or Temples. Holy People or Holy Places. All peoples. This is the same Spirit who moved over the waters in Creation, spoke through the ancient prophets, incarnated Jesus and raised Him from the dead. This is the promise in Joel 2.
 If.... John 14:15


 3. The disciples had experienced the Spirit without recognizing Him because He is the Spirit of Jesus. When Jesus says “He lives with you” he meant “I live with you”.
We can live in an environment of faith and experience Christian fellowship, appreciate it, benefit from it before realizing that “It could be in me too”. There is another, deeper, more personal level of relationship that is awakened in us.
 If.... John 14:15

 4. What has Jesus been doing? Giving his own life up to serve the Father by saving his lost children. Yes there have been miracles, inspired teaching, liberation, healing, confrontation with evil. These are all means of bringing in the Kingdom rule of God

 5. Is that your experience?
Did you grasp this promise eventually. (I can be a bit slow. A bit fearful). But you step out tentatively in faith. Praying for something in secret and being amazed when God answers.
Sitting in a meeting for an hour with something you ought to say on the tip of your tongue, waiting for the courage to speak.
Inviting someone to the carols service by gong round when you're sure they are out and still crawling up the drive and creeping under the front windows so you can put a card through and run away before you have to speak.
Then you get hit by a storm – something that challenges your thinking. Why did that happen?

6. If we believe that Jesus succeeded, then we will be able to do the same things. And there are more of us! Thousands, Millions, Billions. Other people have the Spirit too. They shield you. Pick you up sometimes. Help you to laugh at your weakness. It's hard to grow on your own. In a team sport individual talent has to be blended in. The winger who only played on the beach gave away lots of throw ins and couldn't cross when confined to a pitch. “Cross” might be the instruction to the self focused christian. Give yourself up to save those in need. The church. The kingdom is not diminishing but increasing.

 7. Of course Life has a way of tripping you up. Illness, family responsibilities, work pressure, relationships, bereavement, finances – can all flatten you when you feel you just got going. What's going on? Do you have to pretend to be happy and satisfied and spiritual when your life is falling apart? Or is it better to shout “HELP!” When we suffer, can this be part of “do what I have been doing”? Well it can.
If...Jn 14:15

8. Orphans know that their parent will never return. Jesus says that He will return. And we have phone, email, facebook, skype.... distant, yet here in your living room, car, church. Kids don't always want their parent to come home – party, girlfriend, french polisher... Yet Jesus promises that, even when we have been flattened, or have fallen or failed, “I will come to you”. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to find Him. He will raise you up. Again and Again

 9." But my situation is more serious.I'll never get over it. I'll never forgive them. I've lost hope and faith. I'm helpless under the weight of sin or failure. That “If...” Jn 14:8 seems to rule me out. I can't obey. I can't love. What can I do?"
 Call!
Not in your own “name” – depending on your character – but on His. He is love. He promises. He is to be trusted. Refreshment. Renewal. Revival. Rescue He says “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”

Yours included.


 10. 11. 12.

Jesus is Alive: What's chocolate got to do with it?

Jesus is Alive  What's chocolate got to do with it? 

 John 20:1-18 Easter 2013

You might be expecting a model of the Easter grotto, lots of moss, a few violets and daffs (which probably weren't there) and with a stone rolled away? (Because it was)

Perhaps a dramatic powerpoint grave with carefully positioned grave clothes as if the body had been teleported leaving the clothes to collapse in a heap? (Because they were).

Maybe an angel or two complete with a bemused and grieving disciples? (Yes, They were there alright).

A sunrise, a spring bulb, even an Easter chick as a not-too-subtle symbolism of new life might be unsurprising?

But chocolate?

They didn't even have chocolate in Jesus time.

And Easter eggs are no longer very closely attached to our festive season – you can buy them on boxing day these days. Why chocolate?

Mark 16. Matthew 28. Luke 24. John 20. You can read these eye witness accounts of an experience that changed and shaped the lives of the first disciples; completely transforming them from feeble doubters afraid for their own skins to a group so filled with certainty and zeal that they have changed the world with their message of resurrection. It's all true. You can piece the picture together from their different standpoints just as you do when you read a newspaper article.

But try as you might, you will find – there's no chocolate!

There are some Easter truths hidden in the easter egg though if you think about it. (It's always better to think about it yourself than to read a long sanctimonious sermon) – think about this.....

(- volunteer to eat a cadburys crème egg in one mouthful)

• There's much more to resurrection than you can handle. At least in one sitting.
  (how about trying to get THIS in your mouth instead – BIG Egg)
• You have to break it up to eat it. Take one aspect of resurrection at a time and savour it. Death defeated. Sin forgiven. Old lives can be changed. Pain sanctified.
  (smash it and eat some)
• You can't keep chocolate without eating it: it will go white and inedible. Resurrection becomes just a “happy ending” if it is just kept as a memento of the past. You have to live the new life out. In the real world.
  (give some to children to hold tightly)
• If you hold it close it will soften and melt, covering every part of your life with its sweetness. (If you don't, it won't). It's best to do this in your mouth! Resurrection should be on your tongue – Jesus is alive, so tell everyone you know.
  (Lick it off!)
• It will become part of your body – Resurrection life fills you with life, energy and power to serve others....

(put on plates and pas it round)

• It is so good that you will have to share it with those around you.

That's what Matthew. Mark, Luke, John, Mary, Billy, Fred, Sue, Pam, George, Tracey, Jason – in fact everyone who has ever realised the truth about Jesus has discovered.

So we can all celebrate at Easter that God loved the world so much that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have everlasting life. Sweet! 

Passionate Spirituality 10 - Social Action

The Sore Thumb: Luke 19:28-40 Passionate Spirituality: Social Action

When we grow in our passionate spirituality it means becoming more attuned to the heart of God. Thus the things that offend the heart of God become more offensive to us and we will find ourselves wanting to act for social justice.

Our awareness of social injustice is like a sore thumb. How?

Irritation: When we have a sore thumb we try our hardest not to knock it or catch it on things. And guess what? The more you try to guard it, protect it, forget it – the more often you bash it, catch it and have it jump painfully into the forefront of our consciousness. It just won't let us alone.

Safe in the cinema, sitting down – it makes you spill your popcorn. It catches on your pocket if you try to wander casually. It bashes on the bannister. It presses the wrong lift button. You can't get your gloves on so your hands get cold. You can't pick up the credit card you dropped. Irritating!

An awareness of social justice won't leave us alone either.

Walking down the street we become aware of the unkempt house, the broken water main, the littering, the second homes, the discarded syringes and we feel provoked to love those who are struggling. We feel prompted to pray for them. We feel prompted to act. Maybe not the first time, or the second – but in the end we will be unable to stop ourselves.

Jesus enters Jerusalem because the people needed a saviour. Hosanna! The Lord Saves.

Because we love God we will welcome the irritation.

Limitation: Grab, grasp, grip, hold, handle, hang on – all these words and phrases are used to signify being in control of ourselves or our situation, obtaining things for our own well-being or preservation. It's a good thing. It's what we have been brought up, educated, trained to become. But it can get “out of hand”!

With our “sore thumb” of social justice, we find it much harder to be grasping in desperation for our own survival or our own needs. In fact its much easier, much more comfortable to be “open handed” - to offer up rather than to hold tight.

As we become more aware of the poor, the refugee, the homeless, the addict, the victim, the foolish and all those who are unable to cope with the pressures of the society that we have helped to create. We will be unable to walk by on the other side of the road, holding on to our extra coat, blanket, food, cash. When the government tries to create help for the poor to buy houses we will realise that the rich and greedy will be able to hijack this help – and we assume that, in our society, they will – but we will not be able to. We won't be able to grasp the best for ourselves. Our sore thumb will get in the way.

Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey because the people needed a humble king. Hosanna! The Lord Saves.

Because we love God we will embrace the limitation.

Manifestation: What have you done to your thumb? When people see an injury or even the bandage, they want to ask how it happened. That's why people have skin shade plasters – or bright blue dinosaur ones if you want sympathy. We like to cover up our weaknesses and hurts. With out heightened awareness of society's illness we will be asked more and more “How on earth did you get to be like that?”. You may well stick out like a sore thumb. Woolly liberal. Holier than thou. Twit.

And some may see it as our own carelessness or foolishness on display.

Worried too much about the poor and bit my nail too far. Making soup for the homeless I tried to clean the liquidiser blade. Wanting to brighten up someone's life I trimmed the flower stalks with the bread knife. Building a shelter I hit my thumb with a hammer.

People often don't like it. They take it as an attack. Are you saying that I didn't love my neighbour? I voted for my own interests? I read the wrong newspaper? I am culpable too? Who told you to do all this anyway?

That's the question. That's what we need to ask. The answer is, as always, Jesus.

Jesus enters Jerusalem with a children's parade because the people needed to be released in praise. Hosanna! The Lord Saves.

Because we love God we will celebrate the manifestation.

Lord we pray that you would irritate us, limit our freedom to be selfish, and help us to be a manifestation of your love for all your needy children. Amen,

Passionate Spirituality 9 - Contemplative

Passionate Spirituality- CONTEMPLATION

Passionate Spirituality is not only to do with developing our relationship with God but allowing ourselves to be transformed by it and to have our deepened understanding direct our actions. This takes time as we meditate on scripture and on the person and actions of Jesus/God

Mary of Bethany was a contemplative person. Naturally retiring she was attracted to Jesus and loved to sit at His feet listening. When Jesus visited the family home she shared with Lazarus and Martha it was her chief delight. Martha whose expression of love was shown through service was irritated by her lack of support. She was unable to understand that Mary was also doing something worthwhile. But in a situation where so many people were demanding things from Jesus I think that He was blessed by Mary’s committed undemanding love.

When Martha asked Jesus to tell her to help He defended her saying that Mary had made the best choice.

As we follow the story of Mary we discover that she was changed by her time spent with Jesus. When Lazarus died it is Martha that goes to greet His late arrival but when He asks for Mary, the stay at home girl, runs to meet Him and later sees Jesus raise Lazarus from death. She grows from a retiring girl to someone affirmed by spending time with Him and hearing His approval.

Our third account of Mary shows a transformed person who takes expensive perfume into a crowded room and pours it over Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her loosened hair. Her love is extravagant and embarrassing to some there. Judas accuses her for her wastefulness but again Jesus defends her. He appreciates her show of love and her understanding of His coming situation.

Mary’s life challenges us to spend time with Jesus contemplating Jesus’ love and ways so that our lives may be transformed too.

Fey Holtum 17-3-13

Passionate Spirituality 8: Pregnant?

Incarnational Spirituality Luke 2:33-35

Mothering Sunday: I think I might be a bit pregnant...

No one is ever slightly pregnant. Its a yes or no situation. But its a long time coming. There's a lot of waiting, hoping, doubting, struggling, limitation, plans, hopes, dreams, fears.... but there is an endpoint.

Simeon is pregnant.

He's been pregnant for years. He's been waiting for the Messiah. The Hope of a Saviour has been incarnated in him. It has occupied his mind and his body. He has been “looking for” it for many years. He has developed it into a universal salvation – a light to lighten the gentiles/nations. He had arranged his days around watching in the Temple, praying, being on the lookout for God's promise. Now he rejoices because the birth pangs have begun. His task ends as the new life begins. It's called mothering.

Are you pregnant?

Life experiences.... Babies obviously, education, business opportunity, career change, creative project, DIY, Olympics, retirement. Anything that you order your life around before it has actually come into being. This project is incarnated in you. It occupies your mind and your body.

Are you pregnant with Kingdom expectations.... Faith, understanding, witnessing, holiness, spiritual gifting, peace, justice, conversion of children or partner... Are there things of God which you order your life around before it has actually come into being. Its part of your life – a core part, not an add on. Religion is not like an enthusiasm like Rugby, Eastenders, Knitting, Computer Games – it has to be embodied. This “now and not yet” is incarnational spirituality.

God is Pregnant

Mothering Creation = Conception – Ante-natal – Birth – Neo-natal – Post-natal – weaning – training – releasing. Where is creation now?

The Gentiles are not yet all enlightened. The Kingdom is not yet complete.

God's people have been squalling babies, precarious toddlers, obnoxious adolescents, dismissive adults, insatiable beggars.... there have been the odd bunch of daffs, but they have often forgotten Him.

Jesus came down to earth, not because the signal was poor, but because only in human life could God's love be fully expressed for us. It had to be incarnated.

God accepts the limitations, the pain, the sword piercing soul stuff .

Because it is worth it. “that you might have life. Life in all its fullness.

4. Incarnational Exercise: This encourages us to see God active in the ordinary and the everyday. It appreciated that the creator is alive and active in his creation and the the saviour is alive and can be encountered in all God's children.

When Life Hurts

Where is God when things are all going wrong?

Think: Where are things painful for you

• personally, family, community,
• national or international situations?

Tell: Try to express your feelings to God.

“When I see …. I feel......”

Read: Luke 2:33-35. Just because there is pain, it does not mean that God's will is not being done. Think about Mary. Luke 1:38.

Cross: look at or hold onto a cross. Remember that Jesus dies to take all our sin and shame. He knows how you feel. He is with you in this.

Jesus: How might you “be” Jesus, getting along someone else in pain.

(Picture: Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_12495323_stages-of-pregnancy-of-the-woman-a-profile-full-growth-it-is-isolated-on-a-white-background.html'>galdzer / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Passionate Spirituality 7: Holiness at the Last Chance Saloon.

Passionate Spirituality: Holiness at the Last Chance Saloon.

Repent or Perish

Luke 13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

The Last Chance Saloon: "At least, that's the way it had been until Monty arrived, although I have to admit we all thought: Here we go again. We've heard it all before. But he and everybody else knew very well that this had to be the last stand. We were definitely in the Last Chance Saloon." —Quote from World War 2 diary extract., [6]

The Last Chance Saloon is a place of: Growing up, Holiness, & Challenge.

Growing Up. When you were growing up – Ok when I was growing up – you got to learn what would “sell” to parents, teachers and anyone in authority. You learnt that “don't care was made to care”. You learnt that there was such a thing as being “too clever by half”. You learnt that it was possible to “wipe that smile off your face” and to “laugh on the other side of your face”. The “worthy dolt who is trying but struggling” gets a better deal than the stroppy striker. The “repentant sinner determined to do better” does better than the one who tries to offer excuses. But even then there was a limit. You found yourself drinking in The Last Chance Saloon. It's called growing up. If we don't teach it to our children we reap a terrible harvest. The message of this passage is to all those of us who, like the people in Jerusalem, are less fruitful than we could be. It is that time is not limitless for us.

Holiness: Spirituality addresses our need for personal transformation and trains us in godliness. It will include times of self examination, confession and forgiveness as well as seeking amendment of life. It understands that we are in the last days – at least of our own lives. How we live. How we think. How we talk. All matter to God and affect our walk with Him. Its not that He keeps his distance from us, but we instinctively hide away from His presence when we are guilty, like children with jam stained t-shirts. Holiness also reminds us that there is a consequence to our sin, both now in its effects on ourselves and others but also in eternity. There is an endpoint. There is a judgement. There is a last chance saloon – and we are all in it. No fruit for three years? The result is removal from the orchard. We are not just to “use up the soil” in the kingdom. We are to produce fruit, not just greenery, however beautiful to look at. If a schoolboy manages to escape detention by being able to get round the teacher's strategy – in the end it is only he who will fail the examination. “It's your own time you're wasting” they say. We're drinking in the last chance saloon.

Challenge: surely, we think, “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus” Rom 8? Our Passionate Spirituality exercise this week is about grasping the truth that the power of God's love for us can overcome all opposition. Whatever may assail us from without or from within: “trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword” Rom 8:35 cannot do it. All of these things are overwhelmed by God's love – like standing under a waterfall. And yet – yet it is possible to take your umbrella into the waterfall with you. Take your habitual sin, your selfishness, your self-reliance, your bitterness etc. and to keep out of the flow of God's love. Holiness stands before God naked. Me. Just as I am. Yes, God is good. “ ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.” its as if Jesus is pleading for a last chance from the Father. But still, fruit is the saving grace. This is the last, the very last, chance. It's now or never. We're drinking in the last chance saloon.

Conclusion: Have a close look at your lifestyle, your choices, your values. Are they things that open you up to God's cleansing love – or do they help us to hide from His presence? If this were the last chance saloon, what drink will you order? Cheers!

LENT 2013 - 6 Passionate Spirituality Exercises

FASTING IN LENT

Isaiah 58 is quite blunt about God's attitude towards fasting. He says “put your money where your mouth is”. Well, OK, not in so many words but religious observance, however extreme, without a passionate engagement with the way we live, is mere hypocrisy.

So instead of giving up chocolate or alcohol or meat this year. I'm challenging you to redirect something that you have already into more godly channels.

Look in your kitchen cupboard

Look in your wardrobe

Look in your linen cupboard

Look in your purse or wallet

Look in your diary

If you have anything you don't really have a use for at the moment, consider giving it away to relieve the poor, the hungry, the ill clothed, the oppressed. Do it every week of Lent.

Then look in your diary and set aside an extra hour for time with God. Maybe an hour a day, or an hour a week, but make it regular and significant for the next six weeks.

SPIRITUALITY IN LENT

For the six weeks of Lent we will introduce six different types of spirituality.

Some of them will feel “natural” to you. They will involve doing familiar and expected things. This probably comes from your upbringing as a Christian. That's a good thing.

Some of them will come easily to you, even if they are new and different. This probably means that they are in tune with your personality. This is a good discovery.

Some may be difficult to grasp, strange and unrewarding. Don't worry. It's not a bad thing. They may be outside of your experience or unsuited to your personality. Just rejoice that other people will find them helpful. Give them a try – you may be pleasantly surprised what perseverance will do.

Each week we will try one activity which will help us to discover what this sort of spirituality might encompass. You can use this in the week. After six weeks you should have six arrows in your quiver to use to keep your walk with God fresh. Some will be used more often than others. But they can all be ways to inject more passion into our spiritual life. For more ideas get: “40 Creative Worship Ideas” from www.celluk.org.uk

1. Evangelical: This puts God's Word at the centre of life and proclaims the gospel to us and through us. It is always asking “Where is the good news in this?”.

True Story

Read: Jesus' journey through the wilderness Luke 4:1-12.

Look Back: What about your own journey with God? Remember:

• an answered prayer
• a time of healing
• comfort & strength in troubled times
• wisdom for a hard decision
• a prompting of the Holy Spirit you followed.

Tell: Psalm 145:4. Look for a chance to tell someone else one of these good news stories this week.

2. Charismatic: This develops our awareness of the immediacy of God's presence among His people. It tries to allow the “spring of living water” that Jesus puts within us to bubble up and flow out from us.

God's Presence

Wait: Sit somewhere comfortable. Set the scene, a lit candle, flowers, bread & wine, instrumental music (whatever helps). Try to become aware of God's presence.

Notice: Complete this phrase: “Father/ Lord/ Jesus, I am aware of your presence in …...................” Maybe a sense of love, order, peace, warmth, well-being, joy, or his finger on something that need to be put right. Do this as many times as you want. Be honest. Be patient.

Read: Psalm 145:18 “The lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth”. Thank him.

3. Holiness: This addresses our need for personal transformation and trains us in godliness. It will include times of self examination, confession and forgiveness as well as seeking amendment of life.

Safe

Q. What can stop God loving you?

A. Nothing at all, if you are in Christ Jesus.

Read: Romans 8:38-39.

Imagine: picture each of the potential threats to your security. Then imagine them each dissolving before the power of God's love.

Apply: Picture a current insecurity, fear or worry in your circumstances or relationships. In a time of silence bring these personal details to God and speak God's word from Romans “..nor any other thin in all creation” to the situation.

4. Incarnational: This encourages us to see God active in the ordinary and the everyday. It appreciated that the creator is alive and active in his creation and the the saviour is alive and can be encountered in all God's children.

When Life Hurts

Where is God when things are all going wrong?

Think: Where are things painful for you

• personally, family, community,
• national or international situations?

Tell: Try to express your feelings to God.

“When I see …. I feel......”

Read: Luke 2:33-35. Just because there is pain, it does not mean that God's will is not being done. Think about Mary. Luke 1:38.

Cross: look at or hold onto a cross. Remember that Jesus dies to take all our sin and shame. He knows how you feel. He is with you in this.

Jesus: How might you “be” Jesus, getting along someone else in pain?¹

5. Contemplative: This focusses on personal prayer and intimacy with God, our longing for a deep and vital Christian experience. It's more about looking, listening and being aware of God's presence and less about talking.

Lectio Divina

Read: Colossians 1:15-20 or John 12:1-8. Read it very slowly. Read it several times. Just take it in.

Meditate: Read it again, phrase by phrase, first asking the Holy Spirit to point you to particular words or phrases, note those that stand out.

Pray: Ask God why those words stood out to you. What is he saying to you personally?

Contemplate: Just sit quietly and let it all sink in. Try not to talk

6. Social Justice. This is based upon seeking compassion and justice in our relationships and in the wider society and culture in which we live. It recognises the promise of the coming Kingdom and seeks to discover and encourage its coming.

Take Care

You can do this as a real or a memory journey about how you get to church or cell group. Read Luke 19:28-40. The disciples had to look out for the colt. This is spirituality with open eyes.

Praise: as you “walk” the route. Note all the good things you see or remember – safe housing, water, drains, transport, power, gardens etc. and thank God for them and for those who maintain them.

Pray: Note the things that are not right – neglected homes, streets, litter, graffiti, social inequality or exclusion, decay. Pray for justice and righteousness to thrive.

Plan: Is there anything God would ask you to do as an individual, cell or church?

1(“Heaven in Ordinary” by Angela Ashwin, McCrimmon Publishing Co Ltd (Mar 1985)