Third stage

I think the third stage was kick-started by my mother giving me JB Phillips modern translation of the gospels in paperback.  It was the first time that I read something that was so fresh - I could see and hear Jesus in action. This personal engagement coincided with me joining a group of young people in the church who were older than me - and how serious they were about Jesus!  I began to wake up spiritually, and when I went forward to commit my life to Jesus as Saviour after a baptismal service, I knew the Holy Spirit had made a faith breakthrough.  Jesus was real and when I was baptised, aged 14, it was deeply personal. I had many questions and was particularly concerned my spiritual encounter was not some comfortable family conformity. Now, my engagement with the Bible had desire and hunger to know my Lord better.  Wider implications of Christian discipleship were coming into focus. 

Privileged to belong to a vibrant youth group, I leaned about prayer and studying the Bible with others. Enthusiastically we witnessed in Gloucester city-centre with open-air testimony while handing out tracts. Three of us went into full-time Christian ministry -it was an unusually intense group. I realize that my journey with the Bible owes so much to this grounding with spiritually sensitive friends. Together, we even presumed to lead worship and preach in country churches. The Bible was essential as we wrestled with basic theological questions  At one point, because of atheistic attacks on the resurrection at school, I really had to work and pray. Frank Morrison's Who moved the stone? greatly helped me. The child’s love for a story book had really grown into desire to live with the living Bible. As a teenager I was advised to write on my Bible’s inside cover: ‘This book will keep you from sin. Sin will keep you from this book’.

This third stage of my journey continued through into university.  Again, sharing with Christian friends proved vital to my growing discipleship. Involved with the Christian Union and especially the Baptist student society I found myself thrown into serious bible study in weekly study sessions. How refreshing it was to work with others in preaching teams and on annual Summer missions, based in local churches. What we believed and how we could speak well for Jesus depended on our walk with Jesus and his word. Having thoughtful Christian friends for whom the Bible was the bedrock for faith and action had an impact on my life's direction. 

5 stages

Another little project I have been invited to write is part of the Scripture Union's Light for my Path series. Different writers are asked to write about how the Bible has been significant in their lives with the hope that 'they will enjoy taking part and sharing a bit of your own Bible journey as a blessing to others'. So many possibilities open up about how I might approach this, but I wondered about the different stages along this journey. I think there are going to be five but I am not sure until I've finished..

The Bible has always been in my life. I guess that’s true for all of us fortunate to be nurtured within Christian families. Born into a Baptist minister’s family I reflect back and trace a journey with the Bible that began in my earliest memories. Unsurprisingly, the first stage was bedtime stories with an illustrated Children’s Bible. I still remember some of its pictures alongside great stories.  There were obvious scenes like the animals going into Noah's ark, but I remember best the impact early on when I saw a picture of Jesus with little children.  I could see he was kind and he loved me.  One of my earliest treasures I still possess is my Child's First Prayer Book . Jesus of the gospels was so real to me that I knew I could pour my heart out to him. On one page, with appalling spelling, I asked him to 'help me not dream' because of my dread of nightmares.    

The second stage, as I grew older, was attending Sunday School.  I admit at times it felt a duty and being the minister's son I was expected to set a good example (which I often didn't!). But there's no doubt the classes developed my Bible knowledge . I recall being rewarded with Bible stickers when I repeated memory verses.  Teaching literature was colourful and Summer holiday clubs were a special treat. ( What a vital resource Scripture Union provides at this level). Later, I am not sure at what age I was expected to sit the annual Scripture Examination.  A nationally organized exam, we had to answer questions in an exam setting. Prizes were awarded (I still have my children’s Pilgrim’s Progress).  I also remember rather unedifying competition between different Sunday Schools in our city!  Yet, without a doubt this annual ordeal helped me know the Scriptures in more depth. I had definitely developed knowledge but there was no personal connection yet with the Lord as Saviour.  As is often said, you really need to meet the author!  That didn't happen until the third stage but I look back on my childhood and early youth as critically important years of being grounded in God's word. I am so grateful for all the teachers and materials that influenced my journey.

 

Deadlines..huh

I managed to send my completed Encounter bible notes to my editor yesterday!  So having a deadline did concentrate the mind. I found, as I have experienced before, that when you prayerfully open Scripture intent on hearing a fresh word, fresh spiritual things happen to me. At several points I was ministered to even while I was seeking to minister to others.

For example, and it was a surprise, I was reading the last section of Philippians (4: 10-23). Right at its heart one serene claims shines out of these verses. You should have no difficulty imagining how difficult and frustrating Paul's life in prison. Earlier in the letter he writes about facing an unknown future and being harmed by jealous preachers. He has lacked basic needs. Hunger and want have stalked him and he has been let down by all the churches except the Philippians. (That's why he is especially grateful to them in this letter). It sounds like he has much to be discontented about!  Discontentment is defined 'as a lack of satisfaction with one's possessions, status or situation.' That would seem to sum up Paul's condition.

Yet he can make the claim that he has learned the secret of being content in any and every situation (verse 12).  Can he really claim this? We can only begin to understand his experience when we see he describes it as a secret. It is only disclosed to those who depend completely on a rich relationship with Jesus. Only by knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour, belonging to him completely, can there be the genuine possibility of contentment. Paul is given strength to live positively (verse 13) and because belonging to Jesus also means belonging to his family of believers the practical care of the Philippian church has particularly brought comfort.  Their generosity and kindness has kept his discomfort to a minimum. 

This strength that allows contentment is peculiar to the Christian faith. You cannot underestimate the 'satisfaction' of belonging to Jesus and an active Christian family. While I was writing this down I was struck by the relevance of this claim to my own situation. ( As an author you are warned to be careful about making too many personal points!)  But I had to add that in my situation my wife is bedridden with me attempting to cope as a sole carer. Yet I can testify that the love and practical care of my local church with worship and prayer has brought a real measure of contentment. I am only in the foothills of experiencing the height of being content in any and every situation but I commit myself to learning more of the secret of being content in Jesus.  

Deadlines

I may have mentioned before that my London journalist son extols the value of deadlines. 'They are the journalist's best friend', he claims. Their clarity gives end-points and provides motivation. I know as a student I didn't always appreciate end-points and they tended to provide panic! Two weeks ago I  received a contract for writing my bible reading notes declaring the deadline was 1 September 2025.  Now that caused surprised panic. Owing to Carol's downturn in health this commission had somewhat shuffled off my working agenda. Though, mercifully, Sept. 1 proved to be a mistake, the deadline remains only a few weeks away. So, clarity and motivation!

I wrote (Aug 6 post) that my notes are for Christmas 2026 focusing on Paul's letter to the Philippians. So I am seeking to immerse in Philippians at the same time as picturing the experience of the busy days leading up to Christmas. I wonder if, within the Christmas churn, Paul's letter can be heard afresh. Are there particular challenges to which the Spirit seeks to alert me?  

One thing struck me as I read the opening verses (Phil 1: 1-11). After conventional greetings we plunge into an affectionate thanksgiving for this young church. (So much of this letter is affectionate and personable). I have read this opening section many times but never at Christmas. You know what struck me?  The astonishing fact that this letter is written by less than 70 years after the Christmas events.  Too often the baby in a manger is worshipped in a holy bubble forgetting how this birth begins a fast moving explosive story of world transformation. Paul himself, writing under house arrest, probably in Rome around AD 61 is part of this transformation. Once a proud, zealous Pharisee, a venomous hater of Christians he is now utterly changed as a servant of Jesus. The way he writes, his love and confidence in Jesus Christ is boldly shared seven times in these few verses. How dramatically God has worked in his life. It's the same with this local church. Within 70 years it's one of the many communities on mission with Jesus, demonstrating qualities of life together that testifies to a transformed community. 

It shows how powerfully the gospel of Jesus moves from the manger, shepherds and wisemen to real spiritual happenings. Men and women living transformed lives.  We need to remember that the same Lord God continues to be at work right now. With prayer and expectation we should never limit God's grace and power that can change people and build churches in the darkest of times.  Never forget the propulsive dynamic of gospel grace still transforms in God's timing, right where we are. 

.  

I

I and Thou

 A library book surprised me.  It's a demanding textbook on Living with Dementia and the Foreword began with a two line quote: 

What's more important love or money? 

Love definitely.  

Interestingly it was quoting a question and answer from a resident in a dementia care home. 

This opened up the whole question of how best to test people with deteriorating memories. Usual tests ask questions of detail, such as the date, day of the week, or give an address to remember and a clock face to fill in.  In contrast with this approach, the author introduced the distinction made famous by the religious thinker Martin Buber. I rubbed my eyes with delight. The contrast in Buber's book titled I and Thou (1922) was still making waves when I studied theology (years ago!). He contrasted the I-It approach which concerns our experiencing and using of things with the I-Thou approach which concerns the whole of our being entering into real relationships grounded in life. Indeed, through such  whole person relationships we can be open to what Buber called 'the eternal Thou'. 

It's true isn't it that I-It relationships can be distant, objective, detached and cool? Ticking boxes. Putting people into categories.  But in I-Thou relationships your engagement is personal, making you open and vulnerable in genuine dialogue by making mutual commitment to understand who the other person is. Asking people about what truly matters in life - money or love - engages in a profoundly different I-Thou way and allows  you to see the humanity, wisdom and creativity of the other person.  

As you can imagine this sets the scene for the book's stress on person-centred care that seeks to create good moments in relationships and values that connect with the strengths possessed by people living with dementia.  I like the challenge of rejecting the I-It transactional approach to life for the richer I-Thou.  Whether you're thinking of dementia or relationships in general the richer I-Thou is the way to live.  A good reminder.

Spurgeon's College

 I have been asked by several people about my response to the sudden closure of Spurgeon's College on July 25th. After 169 years it was announced that the college was no longer viable.  I was Principal 1993-2000 so shared just a little in it's recent story.  My response?  Like most peoples! Utter incomprehensibility!  How could such a thing possibly occur without us being aware of its troubles - for prayer and giving?  Shock, sadness, questions.

I met with my friend and colleague at Spurgeon's, Ian Randall, two days ago. He shares the same sense of loss and sadness, especially over the suddenness with which staff and students have had their careers and courses severed.  We agreed that our measured response should focus on prayer for those caught in the cross-hairs  with especial concern for all remedial actions being taken to help people in their vocations. And that we should not despair that this is God's final word on Spurgeon's as a vision to prepare men and women to serve Jesus.  Something fresh and inspiring may be in God's will.

It is of little value to recall how the College functioned back in my time.  I confess I only have very sketchy awareness of recent developments which led to this disaster.  All I know I can do, is to pray for those who are damaged and cheer on fresh possibilities - of which there are encouraging signs.  

But it's tragic still the same.

Porridge and Christmas 2026

I was thinking. Porridge is a slang British term for a prison sentence (because that's standard prison breakfast)!. It was the title of a popular comedy sitcom on British TV. As I complete one week of a porridge diet, courtesy of my mouth ulcers, I realize it's been a kind of short imprisoning (so far) which has certainly limited me. Because exhaustion is blamed for the ulcers appearance in my mouth, I have been taking it easy - though no choice really. In Limbo time.

However, I have received a writing commission that I should complete in the next few weeks. It's beginning to nag me. It's scheduled for Christmas 2026. (Yes, I know that's looking ahead but notes for Scripture Union's Encounter God need future planning).  And this is the surprise. The section of Scripture chosen for the days beginning Monday December 21, 2026 is Paul's letter to the Philippians. Did that book immediately come to mind?

It's going to be a prayerful responsibility to see myself as a reader at Christmas time. Context really matters for reading Scripture. Because God encounters us in his living word it is alive and active for every context.  Not that the context ever changes Scripture's timeless truths but wherever or whoever we are its relevance remains sharper than a two-edged sword. The busy days of Christmas fill up our time with activities of every kind. Thinking back to days with a young family, a hectic schedule drove a long list of to do's in order that the celebration would meet expectations (including all the church activities).  Admittedly nowadays the list is shorter. Yet routines of Christmas activity are common for so many readers.

In Christmas routines Paul's letter needs to be heard afresh. Are there particular challenges to which the Spirit seeks to alert me. I shall not trouble you with all that I hope to discover but it will be good to have a sounding board as I try to be a listener truly open to what God is saying. And I'm still on  porridge.