New Year Resolutions

All good wishes for 2014!  As we turn the page and anticipate what may fill up our calendars in the next 12 months, we often acccompany this new beginning by fresh promises.  I read today that over a quarter of men in the UK who made a new year's resolution to lose weight had already given up by the third day. Apparently, 31% give up within the first week!

Taking me to a deeper level in my devotional reading yesterday, Oswald Chambers focused on Ecclesiastes 5: 4, 5.  "When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it".

He comments that vows can be perilous because when people achieve a moral victory by sheer force of will they are much less likely to want to become Christians than those who face the moral frontier of their own needs and know they cannot fulfil it. 'Jesus Christ bases the entrance to His Kingdom not on a person's vowing and making decisions....it is coming to God exactly as we are, in all our weakness, and being held and kept by Him.  Make no vows at this New Year time, but look to God and bank on the Reality of Jesus Christ.'

Chambers gives (as so often in his devotions) a warning about the limitations of sheer will power and an easy way to be foolish in God's sight.  Yet, will-power is a gift of discipline in the Spirit and thought-through resolutions committed in Christ's strength  are really worth saying aren't they?   One of mine is to read through 'Daily Thoughts for Disciples from Oswald Chambers' in 2014.  Now that has some chance of fulfilment, doesn't it?!

Christmas is here!

The silence since my last post is explained by a frantic transition which saw us finish term at Northern Seminary in a rush (with all class final grades submitted just 12 hours before boarding the plane for the UK!)  Tying up loose ends, and packing (especially re- re-packing) for England to avoid excess baggage charges squandered too much energy leaving us near exhaustion as we returned to our Cambridge house. Within two days our grandchildren arrived and from somewhere (!) fresh energy was summonsed for this joy.

On Christmas Day most churches in the UK have a Christmas Service and I am booked to be the preacher for one at my former church in Cambridge.  Children are encouraged to bring a favourite present to show the preacher as he tours round the congregation.  But I am always thrilled that the service gives time to stop and marvel as adults too about the greatest breakthrough in the story of the world.

I shall focus on the greeting in Luke 2:11:  'Unto you is born this day....a Saviour'. (yes, English spelling!)  I have warmed to some words that were preached by Joseph Parker as he emphasized the significance of the need for a Saviour:.

This is just what the world wanted.  This is just what the world always wants.... a Saviour.  If Christ the Lord  will not do, get up some other person; but do get a Saviour.  We do not want you to be finding fault with one Saviour if you can get another.  Jesus Christ is willing to stand aside if you can supersede him by one more excellent, by one mightier, by one of larger heart.  He is willing to be displaced if you can bring forward any person who will do a deeper, truer, larger, nobler work.

At Christmas we claim there is no other.  The Saviour truly has come and everything is different because of his living, dying and rising.  May you have a glorious Christmas with the Saviour!

Changing Life (4)

I must try not to be too self-indulgent and post too much about our retirement news (!) but a number of things have already struck in the transition, in particular about my library.

Downsizing is rarely easy but I confess how hard it has been to give away books. I have always loved having books around and for years have enjoyed collecting and reading an ever-growing library. In the past, large rooms for studies and offices have positively encouraged hoarding!  Since coming to seminary I have been treated to a constant stream of publisher's donations,  sometimes for endorsements, which have jostled alongside new books purchased for particular preaching foci.  However, last year I began the painful process of thinning out books and I have since given away over a thousand books.   I will greatly exceed that target by the time I have finished. In fact, my future limited shelving space in Cambridge means that over 90% of my library will go.  Oh, it has been painful saying goodbye to so many volumes which had become friends. 

And saying goodbye sometimes comes with cruel reality checks as I realize I cannot possibly read all that I once hoped to delive into.  For example, I have collected books on particular subjects that I was going to dive into,  that I even imagined that I could write books about, but I now realize time is running out! I remember an athletic deacon in my first church saying that he had suddenly realized that certain things would never happen for him, like playing cricket for England. I remember being amused, but then realizing he was being serious.  (I appreciate US friends would not likely take this seriously anyway!)   Yes, what once seemed limitless pastures are now ring-fenced.  I am grateful that I shall still be able to graze but I can see a fence.

Enough of my ruminations. Thanks for reading - I know many of my peers feel similar downsizing strains, don't you? 

Changing Life (3)

Last night saw my last teaching class at Northern Seminary. I could hardly believe it1 14 years on - tens of students - and then, bang, finish!  Class began at 7:00 pm with the final two students scheduled to preach in the prayer chapel.  Carol brought some chocolate cake and fruit for a brief send-off after preaching was completed.  Imagine our surprise when at 6:15 pm students began arriving with armfuls of food for a secret meal they had planned.  One, an Indian pastor, prepared a large tray of vivid (and delicious) tandoori chicken.  Others brought in salad, rice, cakes, fruit and sodas.  Before long the table was groaning with goodies.

When the two students finished, (one who was preaching on 1 Cor 11. led us in a communion service),  we all walked down the hall to where the food was prepared and shared a glorious, impromptu, generous, moving time together for nearly an hour.  They had signed a card, and asked us questions, and the crowning moment was when they all gathered around us to pray for our future.  Several students prayed with such engagement and feeling.  Both Carol and I floated home on a tide of love and care.

Over the next weeks there is much grading of papers so I have somewhat come down to earth today with several hours spent at my laptop. But such spontaneous moments of kindness will remain in our thankful memories for a long time.  Thank you, dear students of Course MN383(Fall 2013)!

Changing Life (2)

The first comment made to me at the faculty meeting when I announced my retirement was made by a colleague: 'Congratulations.  It takes real courage to retire.'   Standing alongside him another staff member agreed, 'Yes, it takes courage to go when you do not really have to and when things are still working well.'

I am not sure whether courage is the right word, though I do recognize that when you are doing a job that you really enjoy and you seem to be coping well it does require an effort of will, wrapped up in intentional prayer, to take the step to say: 'Now' and then close the door.  You can imagine how Carol and I have prayed hard and reflected continuously about closing the door.  Frankly, in September 2013 I was pretty sure I would be teaching for at least another year or two.  Actually, I wanted to. Why stop doing something which is so fulfilling?  Retirement advice warns about giving up a job which you really enjoy ( and provides $!) if you have scope to continue.

But, increasingly the need to simplify our complicated lives has demanded action and we both have been given peace believing that closing this door is right.

Many of my friends have gone through this stage already and know the weirdness of moving on past full-time retirement into the unknown.  Now we are beginning to taste this weirdness for ourselves.  And, yes, weirdness is the word!

Changing life (1)

For the last two years I have been teaching preaching to all MDiv students in compressed weeks between September and December.  Compressed is the word as students have given their best on Tuesdays, Fridays and some Saturdays (plus online assignments).  They have stifled grumbles (mostly) and really given their best.  I have been so grateful to the seminary for working out a teaching plan that allowed this intensive teaching so that Carol and I could start to rebuild life in the UK (January to July) each year.

However, some good things  need to come to an end.  Some of those closest to me are not surprised they have! So, I made the announcement to my faculty colleagues this afternoon that I am retiring from my major teaching role at Northern Seminary this year and marking the end formally some time in March 2014. (I will let you know the date!)

Over the last 14 glorious years the Lord has given me yet another career shift in his service.  My 21 years  as Baptist pastor in England provided some of the best experiences imaginable as people came  to faith and were built up into church community.  I shall never forget my times in Blackburn, Lancashire and at St. Andrew's Street Baptist Church, Cambridge.   This was living on the front-line for God.   My 7 years as Principal of Spurgeon's College dramatically shifted gear and threw me into administration and a different kind of leadership (with limited teaching opportunities that nonetheless prepared me for what was going to happen next).

When Carol and I came to Lombard, Illinois in 2000 for me to take up a newly endowed preaching chair I shifted even more dramatically into full time teaching with all the possibilities for reading, writing and influence in the world of homiletics.   It has proved to be the most glorious opportunity which opened up areas that I honestly never imagined possible for me.

I have dubbed this latest news: Retiring from teaching at Northern, but not retiring!  In 2014 the Craddock lectures in April and Baylor lectures in September bring me back to the US.  Several other preaching commitments already lie ahead.  I really want to be useful in the years ahead while being aware of the dangers of going on too long.  I have already begun thanking colleagues for sharing this time with me.  Carol and I know these next few weeks will be bitter/sweet but we have deep peace that we are doing the right thing.   Just to let you know.

Hallelujah! Two years on!

Yesterday I visited my cancer surgeon for my two year appointment.  When he first operated on me he commented that the first two years were especially critical for testing because this is when escaping cancer cells show up.   So, after four six-monthly tests of my PSA at levels which they call 'undetectable' (even though they give numbers) I heard him say that he was as pleased as could be about my progress. 'At this stage the news could not be any better', he said, with a big smile on his face.   He was not the only one smiling and giving thanks for prayers answered.   Of course, regular six-monthly testing continues for the next three years but what a wonderful outcome. 

The nurse who dealt with me initially (weighing, blood pressure, updating details etc) at first seemed rather grim.  I would have much preferred one of the other nurses in the department whom I had met before.  Conversation was monosyllabic until she looked at me and suddenly asked: 'Do you know God?'  When I replied I did, and that I was a pastor who was currently training preachers at a seminary, her face lit up.  'What kind of pastor?' she asked.  "A Baptist' I replied.  Her face now shone radiantly. 'So am I', she said.  She reached across and shook my hand, 'You are my brother', she exclaimed. I hadn't yet spoken to my surgeon but this was a wonderful and surprising beginning to what turned out to be a very positive hospital visit.

So, Hallelujahs all round!  Thank you to our good Lord, and to all the many friends who have prayed and supported me through the ordeal.