Complicated Loyalty: Reflections on Peter’s Denial of Jesus…
With Easter approaching, it’s likely just a matter of time until you are reminded that the most famous of Jesus’ disciples, Simon Peter, denied knowing who Jesus was not once, or even twice, but a brazen three times. While overall Peter gets an impressive grade as the first human leader of the early church, this lapse is always remembered. Often it is spoken of in cautionary terms: “If it could happen to Peter, it could happen to you.” It also seems to have plagued Peter for the rest of his days. If the traditional account of the martyrdom of Peter is correct, he...
Read MoreThe stories we forget to tell, the stories we don’t notice…
“They also serve who only stand and wait” is the famous last line of Milton’s autobiographical poem, “On his blindness”. Milton wrote it after he became blind, and was struggling with feelings of uselessness. The poem asks if God is only interested in those who can actively serve God with their work – and then dismisses the notion, for “God doth not need Either man’s work or his own gifts”. The liberating conclusion is that “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Accepting your limitations is seen as its own form of service...
Read MoreChef or Ingredient: Christian alternatives…
I’ve heard it often enough: “Decide. Are you going to be the chef, or an ingredient?” Be a leader, or be consumed. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said it in slightly different terms at the World Economic Forum in Davos (20 Jan 26) when he cautioned middle power countries “If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.” Beneath both are the sentiment that if you don’t get yourself into a position of power you will be a mere pawn in someone else’s game – not important enough to have your loyalty rewarded when more difficult...
Read MoreHidden Burdens: Because there is a silent scream in most of us…
I was at church on Sunday with no responsibility for the service other than to be there. It’s great to simply be a worshipper without any need to quietly rehearse your sermon opening, or to second guess it and wonder if you should quickly come up with an alternate. Perhaps it was because I was in that place of settled calm that I was more thoughtful when the service leader invited us to a time of prayer that focussed on the hidden burdens that people carry. He expressed it beautifully. Hidden burdens are – well hidden. Often no one else knows about them. They can be things from...
Read MoreNot how can I be happy, but how can we be happy: From I to we…
Rosemary and I have been watching Pole to Pole with Will Smith. It’s pretty inspiring, even though I’m not going to raise my hand to visit the spots explored, nor will I be swimming under a polar icecap anytime soon! In an episode on happiness Smith makes a fascinating summary statement that the key question should not be “how can I be happy, but how can we be happy.” In an era characterised by unhappiness and anxiety, this changes our focus from the individualism of the West, to the far longer wisdom of this planet, that it’s not all about me, but rather about...
Read MoreDeciding or Discerning: It’s not always the same…
It was a discussion we were having on our Uber ride to a Baptist World Aid Board meeting. We agreed that we were all familiar with the steps that go into making good decisions. There are many valuable models but here is a common 7 step approach: 1 Clarify the decision to be made (So simple to say – sometimes complex in practice) 2 Gather relevant data to guide your decision (Tap into more than one source) 3 Identify alternatives (And there are almost always some, so beware of those who insist there aren’t) 4 Weigh evidence (An important stage. Avoid echo chambers. Genuinely...
Read MoreBecause Everything Depends Upon You, and Nothing Does…
If you’ve spent more than three minutes in theological circles you will have come across the free will/ predestination debate. An astonishing number of theological, philosophical and practical issues come back to it. Am I the author of my own destiny, or a pawn in a wider plan? The pawn option doesn’t need to be trivial. After all, while I may strut around with a sense of great importance in a tiny pool of my own making, does that really compare to the honour of being a pawn in a game that is Universe and eternity wide? Now let’s be clear, this teeny blogs eleven hundred...
Read MoreOn Knowing Who You Are and Whose You Are…
One of my strangest pastoral conversations was with an elderly member of the congregation who asked if I would be willing to keep the headstone for her grave in the garage at the church manse, until it was required. She told me that at her age, she liked to have everything ready and in order, and the headstone was all made – Her full name was on it, plus the date of her birth and, if my memory serves me correctly, just two words: “Greatly Loved”. All that was needed was for the date of her demise to be added. She said that her family was finding it off putting seeing the...
Read MoreBecause it’s not about position but trajectory
With the school year about to get under way, I’ve been involved in several staff Professional Learning days. I always enjoy leading days like this – especially towards the start of the year when people are fresh and motivated for what lies ahead. One of the topics we looked at has stuck with me. It can be summed up by the comment, “It’s not about position, but trajectory.” In other words, it is not where you are right now that really matters, but where you are likely to be if you carry along on your present pathway. While I covered some of this terrain in a post...
Read MoreWhen Heroes Fail: Thoughts on Philip Yancey and other Mortals…
I wasn’t going to write this post. There has been more than enough publicity given to Christian author extraordinaire Philip Yancey’s announcement of his 8 year affair with a married woman, and other than saying “It’s not the first time something like this has happened, and it is highly improbable that it will be the last” I didn’t think there was much I could add to the discussion. While I am always willing to face and discuss reality, I try not to wallow in what has gone wrong, or to point the wagging finger – and attempt to align blog posts with...
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