Open Bethlehem

O Little Town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by:
yet in the the dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

I must have sung that Christmas carol many times over the years. Each time I picture in my mind lots of white, flat topped houses, much loved by my Sunday School teachers when we came to making biblical models. Bethlehem, a sunny place, a happy place.

The truth of course is much different. Today Bethlehem is a city under siege. All around is the Israeli 'security fence', a structure that dwarfs the old Berlin Wall, and which has been condemned internationally.

Over the past few months I have become increasingly concerned by the plight of my brothers and sisters in Palestine, and Bethlehem in particular. I am concerned that my country uses its military bases to load U.S. aircraft with weapons for Israel, an occupying force. I am concerned that some Christians seem fit to support Israel in their attempt to bring about the 'end time.' How arrogant of them to believe they can manipulate God!

However, being concerned and angry is not enough. It is not going to improve the situation for the Palestinian people or the town of Bethlehem. What will help is to bring to the attention of my fellow Christians the truth of what is happening. For that reason I was particularly heartened by the visit to Bethlehem by UK Christian leaders and the publication of their comments afterwards.

The following is an abstract from the Open Bethlehem website

23 December 2006

Leaving Bethlehem this morning after a three-day pilgrimage, the UK ’s church leaders pledged themselves to continue to be a “voice for the voiceless” on behalf of the beleaguered people of the town.

The Rt Revd David Coffey, president of the Churches Together in England , was speaking on behalf of the Archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster , and the Armenian Patriarch of Great Britain, after they received symbolic Bethlehem passports.

The passports are an initiative of Open Bethlehem, a campaign which began in 2005 to draw the world’s attention to the plight of the town, which is in economic meltdown following the construction of a 30-foot-high wall by the Israeli army. The Israeli measures imposed since 2000 have led to a catastrophic decline in the number of pilgrimages to the town, on which its economy depends.

According to a 2004 UN report unemployment and poverty have caused more than 400 Christian families to leave Bethlehem in search of livelihoods abroad.

Shortly after walking through the checkpoint on Thursday, a visibly shocked Archbishop of Canterbury said the wall symbolized “all that is wrong in the human heart”.

“Your visit reassures us that we are not forgotten,” Leila Sansour, Open Bethlehem’s chief executive, told the four pilgrims.

She said the passports signaled “our hope that you will continue to be ambassadors for Bethlehem after you return home”. She asked that “whenever you travel you will speak about Bethlehem and remember us, a people who long to travel in dignity and freedom.”

There has so far been only one passport given: Pope Benedict XVI received the Bethlehem passport in December 2005 from the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.

“We are fortunate to have such distinguished ambassadors to speak for us,” Sansour said.

The passport asks the bearer to “remain a true friend to Bethlehem through its imprisonment” and that he or she will “strive to keep the ideals of Bethlehem alive as long as the wall stands.”

Mr Coffey in turn presented Leila Sansour with a Christmas card signed by hundreds of people in Durham , in north-east England . The card shows Mary and Joseph approaching Bethlehem but finding the town imprisoned behind a wall.

“We support your struggle for peace with justice”, were the words on the inside of the card.

The Open Bethlehem delegation included a representative of the Governor of Bethlehem, as well as the coordinator of a network of Christian organizations in Bethlehem and a representative of the World Council of Churches.

The church leaders spent yesterday visiting Christian and humanitarian projects in Bethlehem, including Bethlehem University (where 70 per cent of the students are Muslim), the Holy Family hospital and the Arab Rehabilitation Society, a hospital for the disabled.

At the university, the church leaders received from the students a piece of a demolished house belonging to the family of one of the students, as well as a candle and a handpainted tile.

Rather than hand over the stone from the demolished house to his advisers, Dr Williams kept hold of it throughout his visit to the university.

The students spoke of life under occupation, the sense of imprisonment, and their anxieties about their future.

-- end quote --

If you share my concerns may I suggest you visit the Open Bethlehem Site
Another good source is to be found at The Amos Trust

If you find these links helpful, then pass them on. And let us pray that next Christmas in Bethlehem will not only be a demonstration of God's love in sending his son, but also of our care for God's people in Bethlehem.

Dave

Zita Mary Pansy Smith: November 1918 - September 2006

Sadly, the loss of Gill's father in June has been followed by the death of her mother this month. The following are transcripts of the Tributes given at her funeral:-

The Funeral Sermon

Reading 1 John 4:7-12

The reading we have just heard seems a strange one for a funeral service; it is more suited to a wedding and indeed, is often used in that context. So, why has this reason been chosen? Perhaps the answer will become clear as I progress.

If we are to read our newspapers and watch the news on television it would seem that we live in a world devoid of love. This week has seen the fifth anniversary of 9/11. We have heard once again of the ‘War on Terror’- a war that has so far claimed an estimated further 72,000 civilian lives and the lives of over 3,000 service personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have no idea how many have died on the, so called ‘other side.’

It seems that death and destruction have become the stock trade of the media, and it would be easy to assume that the world was full of hate and that love was dead.

But that is not the case. What go unreported are the thousands of small acts of love that take place day by day. In the rubble of Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, there are individuals working, supporting and loving those the world has forgotten, some working for Organisations, some individually.

In our country the same is true. We hear of the gunning down of a 15 year old boy in Moss-side, Manchester, but nothing of the Seventh Day Adventist Pastor, who is up in the middle of the night comforting the family.

So why am I saying all this? I am saying it because Zita was one of those unnoticed people who quietly got on with helping and loving people. Very rarely did she get into the news, and those outside here circle of family and friends most likely never knew some of the things she did. It is not for me to list them here - that is for those who will give the tributes, should they so wish. I simply need to say that Zita showed love to all: her family and friends, of course; but also to those who, through no fault of their own, needed care and attention, but most of all love.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: “I have come more and more to realise that being unwanted is the worse disease that any human being can ever experience. Nowadays we have found medicine for leprosy and lepers can be cured. There is medicine for TB and consumptives can be cured. But for being unwanted, except there are willing hands to serve and there’s a loving heart to love, I don’t think this terrible disease can be cured.”

Zita dedicated much of her life making sure that those with whom she had contact, did not feel unwanted and for that we give thanks to God today. Sometimes those acts of love were not without cost. In times, she too was in pain but that did not stop her. Love can be costly, but never as costly as it was to God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his son. Zita’s loving acts may not have been earth shattering but when added to similar acts that happen minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day, they help create a power that can never be defeated, a power that always triumphs in the end because it is the very power of God : for “God is love.”

So, today, we thank God for her example. However, hopefully we can do more than that we can follower her example and the example of others like her, in bringing a little more love into the world.

So the reading from 1 John is most appropriate. “Beloved, let us live on another for love is from God.”

Gill's and Elaine's Trubute

This tribute will be in two parts. In the first part I will attempt to tell you a little about the Zita you don’t perhaps know, because I know that many of you who join with me today, could stand here and give this tribute and most of you know of her life in the village and involvement with St Raphael better than I.

My mother was very much her father’s daughter. She imbibed and shared his fierce belief in people, his ability to be and remain independent in his judgements and actions, but to work within the structures of the society he lived in. Both mothers’ parents came from seafaring families, where men and women were separated for months at a time. During these times men needed to sew and cook and women needed to maintain property and manage the family affairs. So it was that Mother and her siblings were all taught to sew, cook, clean, and decorate regardless of gender. This got both of my parents into trouble from time to time. For example, the first time my mother was ill, it came as a bit of a surprise that she had to give my father detailed instruction on how to boil an egg. My mother horrified her mother-in-law by painting the window frames. I should add that at the time she was sitting on the window sill, painting the outside of an upstairs window and she was quite heavily pregnant.

Mother’s father was a teacher and for that he was viewed as a rebel by the family. The same strength that enabled Grandpa to persue his career in education was shared by mother. This enabled her maintain her stand for those and for that which she believed in. None more so, than in her successful resistance to all the pressure and well intended advise regarding my sisters education. Elaine’s sever dyslexia and the then teaching method resulted in her experiencing very sever difficulties at school. School was fee paying. Our paternal grandfather, who got to where he was by working his way up, did not understand why my parents thought it necessary to pay for our education, never mind that one of the children wasn’t learning. There were times when only my mother stood between Elaine and at the very least, a school for the ineducatable. I wonder if during this time, my mother ever imagined that this child she fought so hard for would become a university graduate?

Mother grew up during the great depression of the nineteen twenties, a time when there was no welfare state. Her father was the headmaster of an elementary school. Grandfather took his duties very seriously. She told us about two brothers who had been expelled from their previous schools. Grandpa took them in to his school. He eventually found they could draw and he encouraged them in this. She told us that when they left school they eventually made a name for themselves as artists. Mother and her siblings regularly lost second best coats or shoes to children at his school who had none. Nor was this the sole province of my grandfather. Mother remembers coming home from school to find her mother rifling the beds for blankets. Granny had gone to assist a farm workers wife who was giving birth to a baby. There were no blankets or coverings in this womans home apart from newspapers. Grandma had no spare blankets so everyone in the house had one less blanket on their bed.

Like the Queen, mother’s life was governed by her strong sence of duty. Whatever the personal cost, mother would always act according to that which she perceived as her duty. She never talked about it, but it underpinned everything she did.

I do have to say that at times she was very sorely tried. She once told me that, following her engagement to my father, she was introduced to his extended family. She found the inspection by elderly aunts quite vexing. On one occasion she was asked if she liked housework. When she replied in the negative, she was asked why she wanted to get married. I believe her honest blunt reply rather shocked this victorian lady.

I would like to tell you about when we grew up, about the chickens, about her care for her mother-in-law and her own parents, her sacrifices, the fun times like the impromptu picnics at West Mersea, the embarrassing times like the washing up in the oven and holding up the London train because she lost her shoe on the track.

I would share with you the love of dancing she shared with my father, Sequence dancing at Kesgrave and the gold medal.

After Elaine and I grew up, Mother joined the Town’s women Guild and through them was able to attend some very interesting meetings on the then modern trends in housing. It seems boring to us, but when she talked about it she really lit up! But then when Grandpa retired for teaching he became a councillor. He was very heavily involved in promoting the idea of social housing. In fact the first council houses in colchester were built in the road Councillor Ham lived. As I said My mother was her fathers daughter.

Faith or Works?

It is some time since we have posted anything here. Somehow summer has slipped by.

The following is a sermon preached by me one the 3rd of September. I had not intended to publish it, but some people have asked for a copy, so putting it up here seemed the best option.

Dave

Faith or Works?

Readings: James 1-17 –end, Mark 7.1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1-27)

For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not of your own doing; if is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that on one may boast. (Eph 2-8)

Introduction

These to verses, to some extent, sum up the long standing debate in Christianity – just how are we put right with God? Is it by having faith in the person and sacrifice of Jesus, or is it by living a good and caring life?

However, this debate is older than Christianity. In our gospel reading this morning, Jesus is confronted with the Pharisees. They wanted to know why Jesus was allowing his disciples to eat without washing their hands. Surely, anyone who claims to be religious and a good Jew should be following all the laws and traditions laid down. To the Pharisee, there were rules for everything, and only by following these rules could a person be considered righteous before God.

Throughout the centuries, the church too began to act this way. To put it simply: sin separated people from God; it was as if they had a large negative bank balance with God. To pay off that debt they not only had to have faith in Christ but to earn credits. They could do that by attending mass, going on pilgrimage to holy places and (surprise, surprise) giving money to the church. Even then, the debt was likely to be so large that the balance had to be worked off by torment in purgatory and by people paying for mass to be said for you soul.

All this changed with the reformation and the doctrine of ‘Justification by Faith.’ For a person to be put right with God they simply had to believe that Jesus was the Son of God and that by his sacrifice on the cross he had paid the debt of their sins. The cry of the Reformation became “Faith Alone.” Good work, though desirable, were not essential to the salvation of ones soul. Because of this Martin Luther, the so called father of the Reformation called the Book of James an ‘Epistle of Straw,’ because of its emphasis on works. This difference caused the split between Protestantism and Catholicism

To some extent, these two opposing view remain even today, nearly 600 years on.

The Biblical Argument

The question of faith alone or faith plus works is made difficult by some hard-to-reconcile Bible passages. In Romans 3:28, Paul states: we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law: but in James 2:24. we read: You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Some see a difference between Paul (salvation is by faith alone) and James (salvation is by faith plus works). In reality, Paul and James did not disagree at all. The only point of disagreement some people claim is over the relationship between faith and works. As we have seen, Paul dogmatically says that justification is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9) while James appears to be saying that justification is by faith plus works. This apparent problem is answered by examining what exactly James is talking about. James is refuting the belief that a person can have faith without producing any good works. So faith by itself, if it has no works is dead. (James 2:17). James goes on to emphasise the point that genuine faith in Christ will produce a changed life and good works (James 2:20-26). James is not saying that justification is by faith plus works, but rather that a person who is truly justified by faith will have good works in their life. If a person claims to be a believer, but has no good works in his life – then he likely does not have genuine faith in Christ (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26).

Paul says the same thing in his writings. The good fruit believers should have in their lives is listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Immediately after telling us that we are saved by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9), Paul informs us that we were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Paul expects just as much of a changed life as James does, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17)! James and Paul do not disagree on their teaching on salvation. They approach the same subject from different perspectives. Paul simply emphasized that justification is by faith alone while James put emphasis on the fact that faith in Christ produces good works.

For me the Biblical argument raises two fundamental questions? What application does it have for us today? Does it really affect life in the 21st century?

Does it really affect life in the 21st century?

If we believe, our salvation is by faith alone then it leads to a very self centred form of Christianity. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the Fundamentalist Christian groups in the United States. Their unerring belief that prophecies regarding God’s people Israel and major war in the Middle East which will bring about Christ’s return has lead them influence American politicians , including President Bush to give unwavering support to the Nation of Israel , a county that has ignored more United Nations resolutions than Sadam Hussain ever did. That support has lead to the subdegration of the Palestinian people and now the destruction of Lebanon as well as insecurity for many of the Israeli people. There seems to be little evidence of care for these people from these Fundamentalist groups.

Contrast that with the work of other Christians who are there on the streets of Lebanon, living with the people of the Gaza Strip, doing their best for the people of Iraq as their country slips into civil war. For these Christians, simply believing is not enough they feel called to help in some small way. Sadly, there voice is seldom heard in the corridors of power – what they do often goes un-noticed, but they have a firm belief that ‘faith without works is dead’ and that following Christ for them means ministering among the dispossessed.

What application does it have for us today?

The Church in England faces a huge challenge. Britain is one of the most secular societies in the western world. Why is that so? We are given many reasons, but it is fairly safe to say that a main cause is that we in the church have become inward looking. The Church of England a prime example. Just look at the agendas for General Synod for the past 30 years! It seems we are more worried about our own faith and how that works out in the church, than we are about what is happening in our parishes and the wider world.

What of St. David’s? We too face huge challenges in the future. Do we say to ourselves ‘Well my faith is Ok’ I’ll come along Sunday by Sunday and do my duty to God; I’ll even support other church activities. All very laudable, but if that’s all we do – if that becomes the sum total of our Christian commitment and all our efforts are put into maintaining the status quo at St. David’s – we should not be surprised when we become even less relevant to society outside.

However, If we begin to see St. David’s as the place where our faith in God is both strengthened and renewed, a place from which we can go out into the world so that we can not only bring the message of Christ but also work for him in whatever way he should choose, then St. David’s becomes more than a building and its presence in the parish extends further than the corner of Rocky Lane, its relevance along with the relevance of Christ grows.

Conclusion

Where do I stand?

Faith. You may be the sort of person who has faith, but have never really expressed it other than in worship. You need to seek out what God would have you to do.

Works. It may be you’re the sort of person who is trying to work your way into heaven. You do marvellous things, but deep down there is a void that only God can fill.

Faith and Works. You need to make sure that you keep the balance right between the two. Having a soul friend who you can trust is one idea to make sure you do.

Sermon for the Transfiguration

Gill and I have just come back from Northern Ireland. Last Sunday we worshiped at Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, built, so they say, on the site where Patrick was buried and a place where Christians have worshipped for fifteen hundred years. Today’s building is very different from the original, being built in the early 19^th Century. We also visited a number of other sites. There was the Franciscan Friary just outside Ballycastle, long ruined and used for centuries as a burial ground, the ruined Cistercian Monastery, Inch Abbey and, almost by accident we stumbled on Temple Cooey, a holy well and the site where the obscure Celtic saint built a church in the late 7^th Century and today is a place of pilgrimage for the Catholic population.

Why am I mentioning these things? What have they to do with the Transfiguration?

Well, this Sunday is about change. The word Transfiguration means to change the outward appearance or figure. (You know what a figure is, that thing you constantly try to keep in shape after you turn about twenty-five. Slim-fast, yogurt Atkins diet you know the drill.) But to transfigure something means to change its outward appearance, not what it really is on the inside. Tadpoles become frogs, babies become adults, there is often an outward change, but the essence of the thing remains the same. All the site we visited have changed over the years, certainly in appearance and possibly in use, but, for me, all retained their core of holiness. To those attuned, they know they are standing on holy ground.

Jesus was nothing to look at in His day. Judas had to go up to Jesus and give him a kiss of greeting so that the soldiers would know which one he was! In Jesus’ life He was often overlooked. We hear almost nothing about Him for thirty years. He could get lost in a crowd. He died with common criminals. They rescued His body, but that was hardly unusual in the day. The prophet Isaiah even said that Jesus had no beauty that we should desire Him.

Now on this Transfiguration Sunday, we get a glimpse of Jesus from the inside. We no longer see him in the shadows, hiding behind the cloak of the dirt and muck of the world. Now it is broad daylight. Now we see Him as He truly is, God of God, light of light, very God of very God.

On that Transfiguration Day, the disciples saw Jesus and realized that He really is somebody that mattered. He is in fact much more than that: Jesus is the only somebody that matters. Hidden beneath the anonymity and ordinariness of a travelling Jewish rabbi was the King of King and Lord of Lords. All of the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Jesus Christ. God became man and now the disciples were getting a picture of how we will be transfigured in God.

Yet August 6, 2006 reminds us of another transfiguration. Sixty-one years ago flyers of the U.S. Army Air Corps dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan -- a profoundly dramatic event that forever changed the world. This cataclysm released such energy that a blue sky was transfigured into a blinding white light of an intensity never before witnessed.

To some, it seemed that hell itself had intersected with the earth that day. Fifty to seventy thousand people were instantly killed and countless other maimed and fatally injured.

For more than six decades we have lived with the reality that humans have the capacity to destroy every lifeform God so lovingly created.

Without going into details, on our visit to Northern Ireland we were reminded of the divisions and hatreds that have divided the people for so long. One wonders about places like Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine will ever cope in the future. Left to human devices, I doubt they ever will.

However, what is impossible for humans is possible for God.

One of fundamental beliefs of the Quakers is that 'there is that of God in everyone' There is a principle placed in the human mind which is pure & proceeds from God. It is deep and inward, confined to no religion nor excluded from any where the heart stands in perfect sincerity. (John Woolman, American Quaker, 1720-1772)

In you and me, somewhere in the core of our being, there is something of the Divine. God is not ‘out there’ but living in each one of us. Transfiguration for us is in allowing that Divine core to shine through. That is not an easy process and one which we will never complete in this life, but one small spark of God in one person can do more good than we can ever imagine.

Last Sunday, the text at Downpatrick was from Eph 3:20 “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do more than we can ask and imagine.” Whatever we imagine -God can do more.

It may be hard to accept that there is a Divine core within us – harder still to accept is that core exists also in out enemies. But because it does there is hope – when both sides touch the Divine everything and anything is possible.

So then Transfiguration is about change – not just the change that took place in Jesus on the mountain top, but the change that can take place in all. It is not a just a commemoration of an event in the life of Jesus but a picture of what is waiting for all of us.

The Transfiguration is also about hope – that when all the earthy shell with all its faults is dropped at the core is the Divine. It is that Divine which enables those things we think impossible to be possible. It is the hope for the world.

It is about opening ourselves up to hear the voice of God and his word for us. However busy Jesus created time and space for himself in order to hear his father’s words. Ought we not do the same?

I can do no more than to leave you with a prayer of St. Paul’s – again from Ephesians 3.

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him, who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen

Eric Jack Plant Smith 17 Feb 1912 - 10th June 2006

Post from us have been rather lacking of late. Both of Gill's parents have been very ill and her father past away on the 10th of June. The following is the obituary notice from the Essex Evening Standard of 16th June:

PLANT SMITH
Eric Jack
On June 10th 2006, after a short illness in Ipswich Hospital, aged 94 years.
Loving Husband of Zita Molly, dearly loved Dad to Gillian and Elaine,
Grandad to Sarah, Amy and Catherine and Great-Grandad to Callum Raymond
and Benjamin Neal.
Funeral and celebration of his life at St Andrew's Church, Chelmondiston on
Friday June 23rd at 12.00 noon. Refreshments in the Church Room followed by
interment at Oakfield Wood, Wrabness at 3.00 pm.
Donations for the Woodland Trust, or flowers, may be sent to Farthing, Singleton & Hastings, 650, Woodbridge
Road, Ipswich, IP4 4PW


When going through his possessions we came upon a number of diaries written during the war. On the back page of each was written this saying: Today is the tomorrow we feared so much yesterday ... and all is well.

I though it appropriate to use that saying in the reflection that I delivered at his funeral, the text of which follows.

Dave

Reading: John 14:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled

Today is the tomorrow we feared so much yesterday.. and all is well.” These words were found written in a number of places in Eric'’s war diary. They were written at a time when life was uncertain, when there was a real possibility that he would never get back to England and see Zita and those he loved again. Indeed, if he had not been on one of the last troopships out of Singapore he may well have ended his days in a Japanese POW camp, as did many of his friends. Like many servicemen in the last war, to dwell on the possible horrors of tomorrow would only distract from the enjoyment of the present. Like so many of his contempories it was the day in being that took priority - they lived for the now.

Was this a bad philosophy? One would think so if all the pundits of the 21^st century were to be believed. We are told we have to set goals, aims and objectives both in our work life and our personal life. We are encouraged to plan for the future. It seems that more and more we are being asked to concentrate on what might be rather than what is. Of course, planning for the future is not wrong. Eric was an 'all round' man who knew that future plans were sometimes required. Indeed, some time ago he asked us to plan ahead for this funeral! However, he did not let future plans distract him from living the life that was at hand

Eric'’s philosophy finds a resonance in the words of Jesus in John 14 (and coincidentally another favourite reading of Eric's) Having told his disciples that his ministry must end in death, Jesus finds them sad. It seemed that all their hopes for the future had been shattered. The friend in whom they trusted was to be taken away from them. Jesus responds with ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my FatherÂ’s house there are many dwelling places - I go to prepare a place for you. In other words, Don't fear tomorrow I have got it all in hand -I have planned it - you get on with your life.

Eric loved life. He took an interest in many of the things around him whether that was, on his retirement, discovering new an fascinating things in the insect world through the lens of his microscope; working in the garden and watching the seasons unfold in the fruit and the flowers he grew; observing the changing face of the river from the windows of the Crow's Nest, or simply enjoying the visits of his grandchildren. These and many other things made each day unique and something to be enjoyed.

No one can preach our funeral, we preach our own. Eric has perhaps preached his in the words and the reading he has left for us. He is in good company, for in the early 17^th C St. Francis de Sales wrote these words: Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow; the same Everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day.

Like the disciples, we come here today faced with the death of someone who is dear. To us the words of Jesus still speak: Do not let your heart be troubled. We are here to place Eric into the hands of a loving saviour who went before to prepare him a place, but also we place ourselves in his hands, in the confidence that he loves and cares for each one of us.

Today we commit the past to God when we thank him for the life of Eric, for our memories and what he means to each one of us. We leave the future in God'’s hands and we go out to live the day that God in his infinite mercy has given to each one of us.

Do not let your heart be troubled - for today is the tomorrow we feared so much yesterday and all is well.

Changing the Future

For a while now I have, like many people, been researching my family history. Up to now I have concentrated on my mother's side of the family as I already had quite a bit of material to go on. Now I'm back working on my father's side.

Having the surname Chambers I always thought that we had come to Liverpool from either Scotland or Northern Ireland. Imagine my surprise when the 1841 Census my Great, Great Grandfather in Nottingham. Another surprise is that I only have to go back four generations (excluding me) to get to 1791!

It appears both my Great Great Grandfather and Great Grandfather were both lace makers. They both saw their jobs change as the Industrial Revolution took hold. My Great, Great Grandfather mechanised and began to employ men, whilst my Great Grandfather came to Liverpool to seek his fortune. Sadly, it was not to be and the records show that he had a variety of Jobs: butcher, provision porter, miller and a railway worker for the LNWR. Naturally, I would like to find out more.

I find researching the past puts my own life in perspective. How I worry about this problem or the next yet, even though they may seem large to me, they are just a tiny blip on the passage of time. The problems my forebears faced and the reasons for them have come and gone. However, the decisions they made at the time had serious ramifications for the future. Without my Great Grandfather seeking his fortune in Liverpool, this blog would never be written ,simply because I would not exist.

All of us face problems, that's life, but they need to be put into perspective - they will not last for ever. However, in facing those problems we will be forced to make decisions and it is those that will shape the future. I find that a big responsibility!

On Yer bike!

Today was quite a milestone. In an effort to get fit I took my old bike down from the garage wall, blew up the tyres, oiled the chain and went for a ride. What is so strange about that? Well I have not been on a bike since our holiday in Cornwall over four years ago, and certainly I have not gone off riding on my own for something like fifteen years.

Cycling was always something I enjoyed back in the eighties, sometimes I would ride alone, sometime with a friend. Trips between sixty and a hundred miles were not unusual and I covered vast tracts of Lancashire, Cheshire and Wales. I always found cycling a ‘spiritual’ experience, and there was a time when it would leave me more spiritually refreshed than going to church. Sadly, when my back became troublesome, my bike was hung up only to be taken down occasionally.

I must confess I was a little nervous getting back into the saddle but, as my feet slipped into the pedal clips, it was like I had never been away. O.K. today’s trip was not far, just along to Croxteth Hall and back, some eight to ten miles, but the bike performed well. Perhaps what is more to the point, so did the rider, although I admit that I was in a lower gear than I used in the past, and the saddle seemed harder than I remember. What is important is I have made the first step to do something I should have done a long time ago.

Since I last rode there are more cars, but there are also more dedicated cycle tracks. Maybe trips of a hundred miles are now out but there are still plenty of places to be visited.

Dave

Time, Life and the Garden

It is a while since I wrote anything here. I have found things very tough in the last two weeks or so and, in spite of the idea that I would keep a record through such times; I have not, and in honesty did not even try. Surviving through each day and fulfilling my responsibilities were as much as I could do. I remember a Christian man I much admired saying that he had prayed every day all his life until an acute illness. I think it surprised and humbled him that he was unable even to pray during the worst part of the illness. Perhaps I should not be too tough on myself.

It is quite surprising, how we cope with some of the most difficult situations, but then something quite silly ‘knocks us for six’, as they say. I was going to try and tell you about it, but it is sometimes better to draw a line under unpleasant periods, let them go and move on. That is what I am going to do now. I am going to tell you about the four cordyline plants I bought.

During the spring of last year, we radically restructured our garden. Although I did loads of planning, the restructuring seemed to take on a life of its own and sort of evolved. We had planned an informal garden party on the Sunday afternoon following our middle daughter’s wedding. The event was nearly on us as we finished a crazy paving semi-circular patio area. This was bounded by a narrow curved flower bed and a path. In record time, we planted the flower bed with some bedding plants we bought and others we already had in pots. It was a bit of a hotchpotch, but it seemed to work. We were blessed with two glorious summer days for the wedding and the garden party.

As the summer progressed, we had a wonderful show from achillea, which grew higher than I had planned for the bed. In the autumn, we cut them back and planted some winter bedding plants, but the lack of height made the bed uninteresting. That is where the cordyline come in. One of the plants in pots, that we planted in the bed before the wedding was a sad looking cordyline. In the summer, it was lost amongst the yarrow, but over the winter months, it has been quite spectacular. We decided that we would buy some more, to add winter height. Of course, December and January are the wrong time of year to find such in our local shops, but this week Wilkinsons has got their new stock of plants in and I was able to buy four green ones. We wanted green. Our soil is quite dark and we have some bark areas, both of which result in the red ones being somewhat invisible. So yesterday, we planted them out. At the end, of the garden we have some ornamental yellow grasses, which have grown very well. Dave suggested that we split them and introduced this yellowed green to the bed as well.

It is now May; Dave thought the above piece of writing needed an ending. It did but there was no ending, so I avoided writing anything for weeks and weeks and weeks! Silly isn’t it. The spring bulbs I planted far too late have grown up, out-shone the cordyline and are now past their best. Even the achillea is growing up and getting ready to flower.

I make no apologies for my humanity. What I am I am, but I am finishing this. We watched for every bulb and flower. A single daffodil began to open on St David’s Day. This was followed by a succession of other narcissi planted at the edge of the lawn by the path. Of all the experiments with the bulbs, this was the most successful and is something to develop further next year. After the encouragement of the first daffodil, we were a bit disappointed because we seemed to have a poor response considering the number of bulbs we had planted. We had planted a number of different varieties. These came up and flowered at different times. We had to be patient It was not going to happen all at once. May be that is something I need to learn in my life.

I began this piece, by commenting on why I had not written for some time and even before it is finished, I allow myself to be hindered. Perhaps I need to be patient with myself.

And the cordylines? They are doing just fine

Gill

Diary Extracts

I'm conscious that over the past few weeks there has been little contribution to this blog, so I'm including some extracts from my personal journal to bring things up to date.

Dave

17/04/06

Easter Monday

19:53 - In the Premier Travel Inn, Ipswich. This is the second trip planned for our Easter Break. We are down to see Gill's parents, both of whom seem frailer every time we see them. It is sad to say but we don't think GillÂ’s father has much time left, so bringing Callum down with us is important for both of them.

Conversation with Gill's sister, Elaine, has lead to thinking through what to do about funeral arrangements. Both want to be buried at a green site some distance from the house. There are no facilities there for any kind of service, and there is need of somewhere for that to happen. There is the possibility of Chelmondiston Church, but there is no minister, whether I could conduct the service in another diocese I'm not sure. I will need to speak to our Bishop ASAP. How well Elaine could cope with organising things is also doubtful, she is far from well herself and lacks the stamina needed, she is also the one nearest to Eric and Zita and, as such, is likely to be the one most affected.

Although there is a little sadness in this visit, I hope that we can also find some pleasant moments that we can enjoy. Tomorrow afternoon we hope to get to Felixstowe with Callum.

18/04/06

After breakfast we left the hotel to make our way to the Crow's Nest for around 10am. The previous day, as Gill's mother had wanted us to start the initial planning process for their funeral, we had discussed with Elaine the need for some sort of service at Chelmondiston; we stopped at the church to jot down contact details. We were fortunate in meeting one of the wardens and were able to discuss with her our needs. When we finished at the church Gill drove the car round to the house while I walked with Callum across the fields.

We had decided that as both of Gill's parents get very tired, we would take Callum over to Felixstowe in the afternoon. Life at Pin Mill is getting quite difficult. Gill's dad is obviously failing, he now hardly moves out of his chair in the lounge, and is waited on by Gill's mum and Elaine. To make matters worse, Gill's mother is in constant pain and seems to have lost a lot of weight. She is moving both slower and with much more difficulty than when we were last down. However, they do appreciate the visits, and in particular seeing their great grandson.

After lunch we made our way to Felixstowe. Callum got himself thoroughly wet playing in the water. After a change of clothes he decided he wanted to go on the boats. This was followed by a round of Crazy Golf.

Leaving Felixstowe we made a nostalgic trip past where Gill's parents owned a beach hut. It lingers in my memory as a place I went with Gill on our first summer holiday back in 1970. If that was not enough we drove past their old house in Bucklesham Road, another place where we had holidays when Sarah and Amy were small.

19/04/06

The first part of the day was taken up with visiting the undertaker, again part of the pre-planning we have been asked to carry out. Not exactly a pleasant task when one is having a break. Because of the nature of this visit, and the problems we have had with the dog's health, I'm glad that I booked those few days away at Ironbridge when we were able to suspended everyday problems for a short while.

21/04/06

Things are very lazy here and not much is getting done. Part of me wants to laze around but another part of me knows that we will pay for it next week when round of work and meetings gets going with a vengeance. I have an AGM, Communion Service and the Franciscans on top of a normal week as far as clients are concerned, plus we have to prepare for the weekend away at Eastnor. My problem is I would like life to be one long holiday. The only problem is the bank account keeps on emptying!

22/04/06

Feeling quite 'down' this morning. Whether it is the usual 'end of holiday' feeling or a reaction to the events at Ipswich is hard to say. I'm in that cycle where I don't want to do anything, and then worrying because things are not getting done.

I realised this morning that the main problem I have with my spiritual life is that I have tied it in my mind with having to either do or prepare something. I appear unable to differentiate between 'private' spirituality and public ministry. However, that differentiation is something that is going to be very important in the months ahead and even more so if I should be ordained. I think this may be similar to the feelings of Francis, when he had to choose between a life of quiet contemplation and preaching among the people. I guess Jesus must have felt it too.

This morning we took the dog out for a walk at Allerton Towers. It was very pleasant. Toyah is still not fully recovered, but she does have more confidence. I guess it will take a while for her to get back most of her mobility, the good news is that the longer she goes the better the prognosis.

Later on we took a trip out to the National Wildflower Centre. We wanted some thyme, but there was none. However, we did buy some other plants while we were there. On the way back we called in at a paving supply firm in Huyton to look at possible paving slabs to finish the work we started before the wedding last year. We have some ideas that will mean we will be able to walk around the garden in the winter.

23/04/06

St George - not that one would notice. Just a few English flags on cars, but no official celebrations as for St Patrick's Day. I remember when we were in Catalonia for this day and the celebrations there. Women were given roses and men were given books, there were bands on the street and everyone was in a festive mood. I would put our lack of celebration down to English reserve if it were not for the fact that we are good at celebrating other things. Perhaps we only obtain any sort of national identity when either our football or cricket teams are playing?

Today was our first Sunday at the church without a vicar. David Prescot presided at the Eucharist. David used to be a member of our choir before going forward to ordination. He has been left for three years now. Some say that he has expressed a desire to come back as our incumbent, time will tell if that is the case. Anyhow, everything seemed to go well and the turnout was not too bad for the Sunday after Easter.

25/04/06

Well, I have now goat myself back into things after the two weeks holiday. This is only a short half term of five weeks and includes not being in next Monday as it is a bank holiday. I have no doubts that before long I will be sitting wondering were the last school year went. Indeed, I have just been thinking that, if I was still in full-time teaching, I would be coming up for retirement in just eighteen months time. But should I be thinking such things? Better to enjoy what I have now. All the deaths of recent have reminded me that life is short, and none of us know how much time we have left. I'm getting there, but I still think too much of either the past or the future.

26/04/06

18:09 - Elaine rang about an hour ago to say that Gill's father has been taken into hospital. In some ways that is a good thing as they intend not only to deal with his pneumonia but examine the reason behind his long term eating disorder. Gill's mother will also get some respite. However, I don't think he, or the family, would want him to pass on away from home. Lord, he remains in our prayers.

In a few moments, I will be leaving to conduct the Wednesday evening Eucharist. I confess to being a bit nervous, which is not at all like me. I see this as a great honour. I also feel unworthy.

27/04/06

This has not started as being the best of days. Once again I have one of my raging headaches; the kind that makes me feel quite sick. We have a Franciscan meeting here this evening, so the downstairs will need to be tidied. Most of that task will fall to Gill before she goes to work as, every time I put my head down or move quickly, I feel quite sick. She has asked me to pray for her and so I bring here before you Lord. It is not easy for her with her father in hospital, having to look after Callum, tidy the lounge, tutor and go to work all in one day. I often complain of the things she does not do, but the truth is she does quite a lot for which I never seem grateful.

13:49 - Only now is my headache starting to go, although I think it could return quite easily. We shall see what the doctor has to say about it when we go for the x-ray results next week.

I was reminded last night that I need to write something for the front of the St. David Messenger. (Around 500 words) so Lord some ideas would be nice. At the moment I am thinking of talking about Journal Writing or Blogging, but that may be too much for people. The other thing was to talk about the month of June and how important it is in terms of the year. All of these are ideas with nothing concrete behind them, so I am open to suggestions.

02/05/06

Back home after a long Bank Holiday Weekend at Eastnor Castle. I was so good to meet up with old friends from the re-enactment world. When I say 'old friends,' that is becoming true for many of us in a very real sense! One of the things that was different about this event is that Amy came with us. It was her first re-enactment in twelve years, but it was like she had never been away, particularly as she took charge of the dancing.

When meeting old friends like this, it is easy to become nostalgic. What I need to be isgratefull for all the wonderful times and wonderful people we have met over the years. How many people get to camp in castles and beautiful places around this country and abroad? How many get to use things that people used in the past and, what is more, share that knowledge with other people.

10/05/06

Just been sitting our in the garden trying to make the best of the warm weather we are having. There is a whole host of things that need doing but it seems a shame to waste the sunshine. Just now the garden is looking quite lovely. The work we put into it for the wedding last year has paid off. Many of the plants have matured, and the seeds we prepared in the earlier part of the year are coming into flower. I have to be thankful for our garden, not only is it nice to look at but also it is somewhere one can sit and unwind after teaching.

12/05/06

2:30pm The good weather of the past few days is about to break. After a couple of hours of rolling thunder the first drops of rain are starting to fall. Theforecastt for the weekend is not too good, but I am thankful for the days we have had. I am also particularly thankful that I managed to get the grass cut this morning!

As I write Gill is making her way down to her parents in Ipswich. Her father remains in hospital and this is putting a great strain on her mother and sister, neither of whom are in good health. We are a little unsure what she will meet when she gets there and this weekend is as much about assessing the situation as it is about visiting. In the case of her father we are expecting the worse.

Dave's Good Friday Sermon

Introduction

Today is a day set aside for reflection. The whole of our liturgy is solemn. The altar is bare. There are no flowers. We are quiet. Today we are invited to enter into the tomb and stay there. It is not a nice place to be. Because we know that Christ rose from the dead, we are looking forward to Sunday, for Easter. - However, to reach Sunday we need to also experience Good Friday. And what we do here today is, in many ways, reflected in our own lives.

What does it mean to enter into the tomb?

Suffering in all its forms is part and parcel of our existence. Many of us are still grieving at the death of friends, relatives and members of our congregation. We have only to turn on our television to hear the cries and the anguish of parents as the children they love turn to drugs and violence. Some of us will have walked with others as they experienced breakdowns in their marriage relationships or as they have faced serious sickness. We have witnessed the cruel effects of war and the disquiet that uncertainty brings on all of us, particularly with the possibility of terrorist acts. Over the above all this is the fear of our own death. This is all part of entering into the tomb. No wonder we do not want to even think about such issues. It is not pleasant. We would rather bury them away in the background . The very thought of them can make us fearful and afraid. The famous Russian writer Solzhenitsyn often repeated these words. "The man who has no fear is no hero. The person who faces and overcomes fear is the hero." In Christ we are able to overcome those fears.

The great news is that Good Friday affirms that we are not alone in the tomb. Jesus is there. In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author says, "We have not a God that is incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are." (Heb 4:14-16) For us who believe, the Crucified Christ is not a sign of shame, of defeat, or hopelessness, but "is the wisdom and the power of God" (1Cor 2:24).

The Apostle Paul understood this quite well. One of his famous phases is "when I am weak, then I am strong". This is one of the great paradoxes of Christianity. It seems to me that there is a bit of a contradiction here. You cannot be weak and strong at the same time. You can either be weak or strong. Paul would reply, that during his times of anxiety and fear, he would feel weak and he would have been ready to give up. However, he always remembered that in the midst of his difficulties, Jesus is always present. Relying on Him rather than on what was going within him or around him, Paul would rally forward with renewed strength and commitment.

God has no favourites and the same thing happens to us. When we face and walk in the midst of our difficulties with Jesus Christ on our side, then we also become strong. Suffering enables us to become more discerning and we tend to seek values that are life-giving rather than follow the most recent opinion polls. Suffering can make us more sensitive and open to other people's hurts and needs. We tend to become more appreciative of what we have and who we are. We become more appreciative of our life. We take less for granted those who are dear to us. In short we take stock of who we are and move on with greater wisdom, maturity, understanding and openness.

Moreover, we become strong because we come to an understanding that ultimately we depend totally on God. As humans, we are limited. We are not perfect. We do not know everything. We do not have the answer for every question. Certainly confronted with suffering we understand how poor in spirit we really are. This is the time when we throw ourselves in the arms of this God who is there with us in the tomb.

Good Friday is the day when Jesus is reminding us that he is constantly putting his arms around us when we are physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually in pain, and saying, "I know you are hurting, I know you are puzzled. I know that you feel like panicking. Courage, you are not alone. Do not give up. You will grow through this. Come on let us keep going. I am with you and I will not leave you".

Conclusion

So, on this Good Friday we are reminded of the tomb. We are reminded of the suffering of our Saviour. We think too of our own suffering and the suffering of the world.

But on this Good Friday we know that there will be an Easter Sunday, that the suffering of the tomb will turn to resurrection and triumph. We are partakers of the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead that Easter Morn.

Read Romans 8:11-17

Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution

Recently we had a short break in Shropshire. We had been promising ourselves for some time that we would visit Ironbride where, it is claimed, the Industrial Revolution Began. Perhaps thinking of the Industrial Revolution is not politically correct, what with all the issues surounding global warming, and it is true to say that people were exploited, but it has determined how we live today. For that reason alone it is worthwhile examining our roots.

The following are some of the notes I made at the time, to which I have added a few comments.

10/04/06

Away on the first day of a short break to Telford, Shropshire.

We traveled down this morning, stopping at Stafford Services for coffee before taking the A Roads into Telford and the Iron bridge Gorge.

Our first stop was the Gorge Museum, where we purchased a years pass to all the museums for 14. We toured the museum which gave us a brief history of the area, and then walked alongside the Severn to the Iron bridge itself. A marvel of its day, it was the first structural use of cast iron.

After a sandwich, which we eat overlooking the bridge, we made our was to the open air Victorian Town. A bit like Beamish, it tries to portray life and work in 1900. It was quite good, if not 100% accurate. However, there were many interesting things to see and do. Children would enjoy changing their modern coins for Victorian pennies, half-pennies and farthings to spend in the shops, which are obviously quite different from the ones they know today.

At closing time we made our way to the hotel in Telford and, after booking in, had our meal in the adjoining pub.

11/04/06

The second day of our short break. We were not promised good weather but in the end things were not too bad. There was light rain in the morning but it cleared up after lunch and the afternoon was very pleasant.

We spent most of the day visiting more of museums on the pass we had bought. First, was the Museum of Iron, were we saw more of the history and plenty of exhibits showing the range of items produced over the years. Obviously, I was interested in the items to do with early steam engines, but many of the items made for the Great Exhibition were also fascinating.

Next we visited the "hands on" museum called Enginuity. The focus here was on children with lots of interactive displays. It's the sort of place our grandson Callum would like. However, I think it would be a good idea to get there early as it seems to be very popular.

On the same sight one can find the protected remains of Abraham Darby's blast furnace where the iron for the bridge was first cast into ingots. The importance of this sight is immense, here was the real beginning of the Industrial Revolution and the start of the modern world. Whatever people may think about this change ( and it had many bad points, including bringing about global warming ) Despite that, I could not help feeling a just a little emotional - the furnace stands a ruin, as does Britain's industrial past and the way of life it represented.

Moving on from the furnace we took a short walk up the hill to visit the two houses built by the Darby family. Although grand for their time, they were modest compared with the later houses of the mill owners. Whether this was due to the Darbys being Quakers is hard to say.

Next stop on our tour saw us at a different site looking at a different industry - tile making. The Jackfield Tile Museum has a fabulous collection of decorative tile spanning the centuries. I must admit there were some I would have liked at home. All the tiles we saw would have put the kind bought from places like B&Q to shame. One time there were tiles everywhere, shops, offices, factories, railway stations etc. Yet another thing that has gone, perhaps for good.

The last visit of the day was to the National Trust property at Benthall Hall, a 16th century house. We were particularly pleased that the sun was shining, which made walking in the Hall gardens a pleasant end to the day. We had been out for seven hours and it was tine to return to our hotel in Telford for a short rest before our evening meal.

12/04/06

The last day of our short break, and we decided that we would fans off with the museums we had not yet visited, before returning via Bridgenorth and the Severn Valley Railway.

Our first stop was the Tar Tunnel. This was a tunnel that was dug into the hillside to carry a canal. However, during the construction streams of bitumen were found and, being profitable, the tunnel was never finished for its original purpose. At its height over 1000 gallons of bitumen per week was extracted. The bitumen still seeps out of the walls. There was no way one could ever get Gill in such at tunnel, so I went down on my own whilst she sat and read in the car. I found it quite fascinating as I had never seen a natural pool of tar in my life.

Our last visit in the gorge was to the Coalport Museum. Here, over the centuries, exquisite pottery was made. Most of it is now quite collectible and very valuable. The collection in the museum must be worth millions of pounds. Like all the museums, there are things for the children which are both entertaining and educational. I'm sure Callum would like it down here, as there is so much for him to see and do.

As mentioned earlier, we made our way home via the Severn Valley Railway. We had lunch there and watched one of the trains depart, before heading home via Shrewsbury. The only incident on the way back was a hold-up getting onto the Runcorn Bridge because of an overturned lorry.

What I would like to do now is spent some quiet time reflecting on what I have seen and learned, as I feel that hidden in all the history is a message for today. Whether that is the attitude of the Quaker families like the Darbys, or something else, time will tell.

Walking the Way of the Cross

Read: John 12:20-33

Introduction

In this Gospel reading we see beginning the Passion journey of Our Lord. A journey that will lead eventually to the cross.

John 12 represents a major turning point. If we turn back just one verse to John 12:19 we read the following:

The Pharisees then said one to another, “You see you can do nothing. Look the world has gone after him!”

In many ways this is their final rejection of Jesus and his ministry. It echoes the opening words of the Gospel “He came to what was his own, and his own people rejected him.” John 1:11

Contrast that with the opening verses of our reading "Now among those who went up to the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee and said to him, “Sirs we wish to see Jesus.” Here we have recorded a group of Gentiles actively seeking out Jesus. Was Jesus waiting for this moment? Certainly when Jesus hears of their arrival he answers with the words “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

I believe this is a great turning point. Up to now Jesus' ministry is to his own people. Now from this point forward he is going on to die for the sins of the whole world. Here our salvation begins!

Jesus' talk is now turns to the world and all its inhabitants; not just the people of Judea to whom he has previously ministered “Now is the judgment of this world, now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL people to myself.” (verses 31-32)

Here we see the death of Christ as the realisation of God's plan. Christ on the cross draws all people to himself. The Greeks wanted to see the man Jesus, the cross of Christ draws people from all over the world not only to see, but be saved through him.

Salvation

How then do we become part of that salvation?

To return to the beginning of John's gospel we read:

“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God.” (John 1:11)

So then, belief that Jesus is the Son of God, is the way into salvation. But salvation is more than that, it about turning around and living life differently from before.

Jesus' own word point the way.

“Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (verse 25)

What is Jesus saying? John Donahue, a Jesuit priest writes:

Those words may seem jarring to an age that is only too aware of the dangers of self-loathing and lack of self-esteem. “Loving life” in John - means a preference for “the world” and the human glory that can blind a person to God's love. Hatred of one's life means rejection of the claims of the 'world' and the willingness to serve and follow Jesus. This becomes explicit in the next saying “whoever serves me must follow me”

Surely this is the whole point of the Lenten season. To examine again our attachment to the world and our commitment to Christ. It is a struggle – it is not easy. The attraction of the world and all it has to offer, pulls at us every day. It is easy to want what the world offers, to want the recognition that can be ours, only if we give it our full attention.

However, we are not alone in our struggles. This is exactly the same struggle that Christ faced.

I see the Greeks in this reading as a symbol of the glory that the world has to offer. On one side we have the adoration of the people on, the other the road to the cross. Jesus chooses the latter.

In our reading from Hebrews, we heard about the Priestly role of Christ. In Hebrews Chapter 4 we read:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are -

We are not alone. Christ, having given himself on the cross, having risen on Easter Day, now sits at the right hand of God and prays for us in our journey.

So, as we come to Passiontide – as we hear of the events that lead up to his crucifixion – as we make that journey with Christ, in many ways we reflect our own journey and our own struggles.

? The pull of people who demand our attention even when we don't feel like giving it.

? The praise of others that turns into hatred when we don't do things their way.

? The grief we feel. when friend of many years desert us and, even worse, betray us.

? The anger of those who do not see eye to eye with us.

? The callousness of the state which often gives lip service to justice but in reality carries out the will of those with power and influence.

? The times when it seems that we are carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders.

Conclusion

Being a Christian is not easy. It is not about taking soft options. It IS about living our lives in a way that will often bring us into conflict with the world. It does not isolate us from the pain an suffering that is part of the human lot – at times it may even make it worse. But we do have the knowledge that Jesus has trodden the path before us and the rewards that are his will one day be ours.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made of himself of no reputation, and took on himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient onto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil:5-9 KJV)

Cleaning out the Temple

This is another of my Lenten Sermons which I share with you all.

On the wall of our church, near the doorway to the hall, hangs a copy of ‘Light of the World, a painting by the pre-Raphaelite artist Holman Hunt. It is a picture of Jesus, patiently waiting outside a door to be let in. Its inspiration is the bible passage “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” It was a painting that graced many a Victorian or Edwardian home. I first remember seeing it hanging outside my Sunday school room when I was five or six. It is a painting that is in stark contrast to our Gospel reading this morning.

When Jesus entered the temple he discovered people selling cattle, sheep and doves to the pilgrims who needed them to make their obligatory sacrifices. Those pilgrims also needed to change their Roman coinage into Jewish money in order to pay the temple tax. So Jesus comes fact to face with the money changers.

Was Jesus surprised that they were there? I don't think so. He had visited the Temple when he was twelve and had probably done so on a number of occasions since. He would have been quite aware of what was going on. This would not have been a spare of the moment act

Jesus deliberately plaits a whip out of the reeds on the ground, thrashed the animals from the temple, scattered the coffers of the money changers, and overturned their tables: "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!" Later the Gospel writer remembered Psalm 69:9 and attached a sense of prophetic fulfillment to the event: "Zeal for your house will consume me."

The picture this scene paints of Jesus is one completely different from the one in Hunt's painting. However, the truth is if we really dig under the surface of the Gospels, we meet a quite different Jesus to the one we expect. Some of you may remember the last time I spoke and how revolutionary we saw Jesus’ visit to Levi and how it broke all the religious, moral and social codes of the day. I called Jesus a revolutionary. What could be more revolutionary than Jesus’ act that morning in the temple.

Reading various commentaries on this incident, most, not unnaturally, concentrate on Jesus’ motives for his outburst. Some see in his actions, justification for their own. Not unsurprisingly, the reformers use this incident to justify their own destruction of the statues, paintings, stained glass etc. of the pre Reformation church. However, when questioned, Jesus says nothing at all about his motives..

However, one commentary did strike my attention because it was so different from the others.

“ I read the cleansing of the temple as a stark warning against any and every false sense of security. Misplaced allegiances, religious presumption, pathetic excuses, smug self-satisfaction, spiritual complacency, nationalist zeal, political idolatry, and economic greed in the name of God are only some of the tables that Jesus would overturn in his own day and in ours.” (The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation.)

For the Jews the temple was more than a place of worship – the place where God dwelt. The temple had become a symbol of national pride. They saw themselves as the one people who had access to God; what is more they had his presence right there in the temple. The Romans may think themselves special, but they knew they special – They had God. Nothing of the outside is allowed in, that is why the money has to be changed – God does not want anything inferior, and the Romans are inferior. The whole of their national identity was wrapped up in the Temple. We remember how the Americans reacted with the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York. Could you imagine the shock when Jesus mentions the destruction of the temple.

Of course the same attitude that was found in Israel can be found in all ages and amongst all races. At its worst it can be found in the Nazi movement and its ideas of the master race. But in its lesser form by groups who believe that their way is the only right way, or their church is the only true church.

If Jesus acts in the temple tell us anything it is this. God is not interested in our great buildings, however special they are. One day the great cathedrals of this land will fall. Look at the Monasteries!

God is not interested in our National Pride, our history and how great we see ourselves in the world. Nations come and nations go. All the great empires of the past are fallen. Even western culture will have its end.

What God is interested you and me. – We are the true temple

“Do you not know that you are God's Temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?” (1 Cor3:16)

“For we are the temple of the Living God” (2 Cor 6:16)

If then, we are the Temple of God, what goes on inside? This lententide we need to ask ourselves some hard questions

• Do we see ourselves as superior to those around?
• Do we have a false sense of security in our own powers?
• Do we presume we are always right?
• Have we allowed the World and all its values to invade our innermost quiet.
• Have we become greedy, not only for money but for our share of the earth's resources?

Jesus once told a parable.

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all that I get.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God have mercy on me a sinner I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. (Luke 18: 9-14)

It is no accident that the prayer of the Tax Collector is displayed on our back-cloth during lent.

Is that prayer our prayer?

Are we willing to cleanse the temple - or will Jesus have to come and do it?