Reflection on Asbury

Looking back on last week (and how important it is to make time to reflect) gives me much joy. I have visited many seminaries over the years but this rates as one of the most welcoming communities ever!  An administrator commented how the faculty was responsible for engendering the warm supportive ethos which Carol and I experienced at every turn. I know this should be true in any seminary, but the friendship offered on several different occasions when we were hosted by faculty members was of a very high order.  As you can tell, we enjoyed every minute.

The full chapel services (attendance is voluntary) demonstrated a spiritual liveliness with much responsiveness in the main preaching events.  For me, the highpoint was the final morning when I spoke about the restoring love of Jesus Christ who asks us about our love for him (not about our thinking, our achievements, our theology).  This 'heart question' held us still and in the final hymn the chapel leader interrupted after two verses with an invitation for hearers to come to the front and kneel at the altar rail. As people came forward I knew that God was at work for real.  That's a deeply humbling experience for any preacher.

Afterwards the chapel leader told me that he felt constrained by the Spirit to make the appeal. 'Actually, you should have felt the liberty to conclude with an appeal yourself,' he challenged.  It left me wondering how often I have missed opportunities like this because I was a visitor in a pulpit and I felt constrained in cowardly ways.  I am so thankful he responded promptly this time.

Troubling issues for Christian leaders.

Next week I am presenting the Beeson Preaching Series at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky.  It's my first visit and I look forward to this new opportunity.  This series takes the form of three successive seminary chapel services as well as seminar sessions.  It's a special privilege to have three teaching times clustered like this, addressing future Christian leaders.

Given a blank sheet,  I have been thinking of some of the issues that trouble me about Christian ministry - things that we can sometimes overlook or trivialize.  Where are the greatest dangers for Christian leaders?  My preparation has focused on three issues, each of which will be unpacked in narrative texts (all found in John's gospel). 

First, SELF-IMPORTANCE. In the light of John 3: 22-36 I shall develop the ministry perspective which sees the totality of my gifts, vocation, faith and even boldness as utterly dependent on Jesus Christ.  Second, SELF-SERVICE with the radical perspective that Jesus Christ gives in the upper room in John 13: 1-17 by washing feet and asking disciples:'Do you understand what I have done for you?'   Third, SELF-LOVE as that epic story of Peter's restoration, John 21: 15-19 takes us to the fundamental role of intentional love for Christ and others.

The overall theme is: Disturbing Perspectives on Ministry.  My prayer is that I may be used by God to challenge all of us about fresh possibilities to be lived by his grace. There's nothing more damaging to Christian leadership than self-importance, self-service and self-love, and nothing more radical than the contrasting kingdom way Jesus makes possible by his Spirit.  I will let you know how preparation comes to fruition!  And, special thanks to those who will be praying for the event, February 19-21st.

One year on - and thankful!

Just over one year ago I went through prostate cancer surgery and in my journal I recorded the process step-by-step (including enough gruesome details).  On February 2nd. my surgeon came into the consulting room where Carol and I anxiously awaited the outcome. All kinds of black thoughts crowded in.  Many of you will know how bleak such a situation can be.

'Good news', he beamed, 'we believe we have removed all the cancer.'  Carol recorded the surge of gratitude we felt in one of her memorable posts, and the way that the surgeon agreed with her that prayer is powerful.  The black thoughts dispersed,  the bleakness lifted with a glorious burst of sunshine warmth.

Now, 12 months on I have had two further encouraging tests (though the surgeon warns me I need five years' of similar test results).  Today, I need to post something about the profound sense of gratitude that we both continue to experience.  Continuing thankfulness is the secret to positive Christian living.  It is the obvious launch pad for praising God and his big picture.  It was a rotten time, but one year on we are more aware of the gift of life, and thankful for the miracle of healing and for being alive.   We really thank the Lord and all of you who shared in the journey.  Really!    

I wanted to say

I have just come across a poem by a British poet, Gordon Bailey, titled: I wanted to say.

When you talk to me, you don't hear me!
When you talk at me, I don't hear you!
So we do not communicate.

I wanted to say
"Please help me."

I wanted to say
"I need you."

I wanted to say
"I'm sorry."

I wanted to say
"Forgive me."

But,
Preacher,
You were suffering from never-open ears,
A condition resulting from
An ever-open mouth.

It was a considerable shock to realize at its conclusion that this poem is aimed at preachers.  The first lines relate to all human relationships, but he directs his specific challenge about 'never-open ears and ever-open mouth' at one particular target.   I didn't expect this - it really makes me wonder about the poet's back story.   But, I know its purpose is to humble all of us preachers. Because it is so easy to close our ears and open our mouths.  We need to be challenged.

'Do you love me?'

Last Sunday's covenant service proved a challenging time.  Indeed, Leslie Newton the Methodist minister said that some members do not attend this annual service just because the covenant prayer is so demanding and they believe it is hypocritical to say it.  He commented: 'You know I almost prefer people who withdraw because they are at least honest in facing the covenant's high demands, to those who just turn up and thoughtlessly and casually repeat them!'

In sermon preparation I thoroughly immersed in John 21: 15-19.  Throughout my ministry I have often been drawn to this story because Simon Peter seems to have wrecked his relationship with Jesus because of his three denials (preceded by his arrogant denial that he would never deny).   It is a terrible thing to fail pathetically.  To do something wrong and be unable to correct it, or to fail to do the right thing and have to live with the consequences.   I have deep empathy with Simon Peter because I know the wretchedness of failure.  I think many of us have been/ are there.

Yet, the dramatic nature of his failure makes this conversation all the more mind-blowing as Jesus initiates a new beginning with Simon,  addressing him directly and focusing on his love-relationship.  Whatever Simon Peter has done, what matters now is his heart response to Jesus Christ.  He may not have as much love as he should, but Jesus is asking him to be real about his feelings towards Christ.  This is a vivid illustration of 1 John 4:10 that love is not that we love God but that he first loved us.   Only Jesus could speak to Simon about love and open up afresh the relationship that perhaps Simon thought was ruined for ever.   The Lord of second, third, fourth...nth chances who will not give up with me.

That encouraged me to enter the covenant relationship that out of answering love could say those words in the extraordinary relationship that our Lord wants us to deepen with Him through 2013.  I shall not forget sharing worship with my Methodist friends.  Actually, next month I have to give the annual Beeson Preaching Lectures at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky, which is a Methodist seminary.  I guess I may refer to my covenant experience!

No longer my own

My Christmas greeting anticipated (fervently hoped) that the feverish cold/flu bug would have departed by January 1st! But, in company with many others, illness has continued to dog us accompanied by interminable rain (until the last couple of mercifully dry days).  What a beginning to 2013.  However, we know in God's good time (and it is good) these things will come to pass.

Lying ahead of us this week is a trip up to Cheshire to celebrate a dear friend's 80th. birthday and to preach at Bramhall Methodist Church (Jan 13th).  The pastor has invited me to preach in the church's Covenant Service which many Methodist churches practice near the beginning of each New Year.

Based upon a prayer by John Wesley this covenant expresses powerfully words of Christian recommitment:
I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you;
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing;
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
So be it. And the covenant now made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

I have used the words of this covenant before, but in preparation I been struck again by the high degree of submission in this covenant relationship, that expects us to be totally (yes, totally) open to God's will. 'Put me to what you will..' is equally open to the best and the worst possibilities.  It is both extraordinarily realistic about options, yet gloriously positive about outcomes.

I have been sent a full copy of the Methodist liturgy that accompanies the covenant.  Among the prayers just beforehand the congregation says these words with a vital line:
'Lord God, holy Father, since you have called us through Christ to share in this gracious covenant...for love of you, (we) engage ourselves to seek and do your perfect will.'   We can only say these words because of two-way love - God's love for us and our answering love.  It will be a privilege to preach and I invite you to prepare to say these words with me.

Christmas Greetings

As I have internet access in Abingdon Public Library (which is shortly to close for the Christmas break)  I am able to chirp out a very happy Christmas to all my loyal blog readers. This is the time for marvelling at the miracle as God identified with us at the fullest - the Word made flesh.  Unbelievable!  Max Lucado summed it up:
He who was larger than the universe became an embryo...God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys and a spleen.  He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother.
All this so that God could identify with us while revealing the truth about who the Father is, and by Jesus' dying and rising make it possible for us to live truly as humans in eternal fellowship with God.  We should never get over this wonder.  Let's celebrate again and again these next few days.

On a personal note - our time in England has the old combination of bad/good news.  The bad is that shortly after arriving I contracted a vicious fever/cold/fluey bug.  The curious expression 'feeling like death warmed up' seems about appropriate.  11 days on I am still struggling and to compound misery Carol has now gone down with it.  Most of our plans have been cancelled....but there is always the New Year!

The good news is that we have benefitted from Christian fellowship in spectacular ways.  Our brief visit to Suffolk was blessed as we stayed with a Christian friend - completely new to me and yet immediately she became a sister.  Even more wonderfully, in our temporary home in Histon another new friend has exceeded all our hopes by giving such support and care making a potentially (very) frustrating time into rich fellowship.  We are truly grateful.  This is the outcome of the Christmas miracle when friends show love like this.

Wherever you are and however you feel may you know the joy of celebrating Christmas.