College finished yesterday - Wednesday the 21st.
It's been a whirlwind of a year. Some of us had papers due right up to Friday the 16th. Monday the 19th was a full day with our last seminar in the morning and then a trip for the leavers and probationer ministers (Hi Dave!) to a funeral director and a cremetorium in the afternoon. That was interesting and very helpful to have an idea of what others do with respect to 'the funeral process'.
Then, on Tuesday, I attended a funeral that was taken by a colleague's husband who is an Anglican curate. Being half Italian-American (and that half of the family being by far the largest in number) the vast majority of my experience has been of Italian-American funerals and funeral Masses. Not very helpful for a UK Methodist minister! I wanted to see a 'typical British funeral'. Although I understand that funerals vary quite a lot around the country, I suspect Tuesday's funeral was as close as I'll get to one!
Yesterday, Wednesday, was mainly filled with eating together, packing up my room and saying good bye. I found it difficult to say good bye because I felt I'd not really had time to get my head around the fact that I was leaving.
I'm looking forward to moving and to going into Circuit, but even if you're looking forward to where you're going, it can still be difficult to leave good friends behind. I do believe, however, that being able to say good-bye is part of what it means to follow God's call into the future and into the unknown.
May God bless all in ministry, especially those taking up new postings in the next few months.
22 June 2006
16 June 2006
Fallen in Love?
Just a thought-experiment here as a result of both on-line and "real life" discussions recently.
What if we asked the question: "Have you fallen in love with God?" instead of "Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour?"
Sometimes I think that Christianity has been reduced by some to "salvation by doctrine". It's been reduced to holding the "right" ideas about bodily resurrection, theories of atonement, creation, whatever.
But I don't think 'right doctrine' is the essence of what Christian belief is about.
'Belief in God', in Christian terms, isn't about holding the right ideas about God (as if we could). Christian belief is about falling in love with God so that one trusts God completely - with all of one's being.
Metaphorically, it's the sort of belief that one has when one throws oneself off a precipice into the arms of one's beloved, knowing that the beloved will catch them. It's not about reciting physics formulas to prove that one's beloved is strong enough to catch one.
What if we asked the question: "Have you fallen in love with God?" instead of "Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour?"
Sometimes I think that Christianity has been reduced by some to "salvation by doctrine". It's been reduced to holding the "right" ideas about bodily resurrection, theories of atonement, creation, whatever.
But I don't think 'right doctrine' is the essence of what Christian belief is about.
'Belief in God', in Christian terms, isn't about holding the right ideas about God (as if we could). Christian belief is about falling in love with God so that one trusts God completely - with all of one's being.
Metaphorically, it's the sort of belief that one has when one throws oneself off a precipice into the arms of one's beloved, knowing that the beloved will catch them. It's not about reciting physics formulas to prove that one's beloved is strong enough to catch one.
The Convent - Episode 1
There seem to be mixed opinions over on Ship of Fools, but for my money, the first Episode of 'The Convent' was every bit as good as 'The Monastery'.
In the past, I've had the privilege to be a 'prayer companion' and the most marvelous thing about being a prayer companion is that you can actually see God working in people's lives. I think these shows come about as close to that experience as one could do in the context of mass media.
I was impressed by the love and patience that the nuns showed to the guests. And even though some of the guests were having a hard time with the community's discipline, I felt that they did seemed to be trying to engage with the prayer disciplines and with God. All the guests seem to have some fairly substantial issues to deal with.
In the past, I've had the privilege to be a 'prayer companion' and the most marvelous thing about being a prayer companion is that you can actually see God working in people's lives. I think these shows come about as close to that experience as one could do in the context of mass media.
I was impressed by the love and patience that the nuns showed to the guests. And even though some of the guests were having a hard time with the community's discipline, I felt that they did seemed to be trying to engage with the prayer disciplines and with God. All the guests seem to have some fairly substantial issues to deal with.
14 June 2006
The Convent
The BBC series The Convent begins tonight on BBC 2 at 9pm. Since I'm at college, my husband will be recording it for me and I look forward to watching it on the weekend.
If this series is anywhere near as good as The Monastery, it will be well worth watching. (I missed the recent show, 'The Monastery Revisited' and would appreciate hearing comments on it if anyone saw it.)
I have long thought that the traditional Christian prayer disciplines of contemplation and mediation could potentially be helpful to spiritual seekers in helping them to connect with God. I felt that 'The Monastery' validated my suspicion and it will be interesting to see if 'The Convent' validates it or not.
If this series is anywhere near as good as The Monastery, it will be well worth watching. (I missed the recent show, 'The Monastery Revisited' and would appreciate hearing comments on it if anyone saw it.)
I have long thought that the traditional Christian prayer disciplines of contemplation and mediation could potentially be helpful to spiritual seekers in helping them to connect with God. I felt that 'The Monastery' validated my suspicion and it will be interesting to see if 'The Convent' validates it or not.
12 June 2006
11 June 2006
The Home Stretch
I'm 'coming up to the home stretch' with my papers. One more two-part paper due on Friday. It's been a rather intense month.
I'm been quite tired mentally and emotionally as a result of having to write all the papers and I have to confess that I'll be happy when it's all over.
I have been reminded this last month of the importance of being constant in my prayer life and about taking time out to relax. The latter has not been easy when I've felt that I've needed literally almost every waking moment to complete my work.
I've felt, though, that God has been faithful in reminding me of his presence. It's been a period where there have neither been easy reminders of God's presence nor great experiences of God's absence. Just God's steady presence, in many ways, reminding me that he is there if I trust in the promise of his love.
I'm been quite tired mentally and emotionally as a result of having to write all the papers and I have to confess that I'll be happy when it's all over.
I have been reminded this last month of the importance of being constant in my prayer life and about taking time out to relax. The latter has not been easy when I've felt that I've needed literally almost every waking moment to complete my work.
I've felt, though, that God has been faithful in reminding me of his presence. It's been a period where there have neither been easy reminders of God's presence nor great experiences of God's absence. Just God's steady presence, in many ways, reminding me that he is there if I trust in the promise of his love.
04 June 2006
Getting a Sense of the Sacred in Blogworld
Someone made a comment in another blog that Christian bloggers spend too much time arguing about theology and not enough time being pastoral. I have a lot of sympathy for that viewpoint. My only problem is that I don't consider myself to be very good at writing on 'spiritual' or pastoral matters and, if I'm being honest, I'm probably also a bit hesitant about letting everything in my 'spiritual'/emotional life hang out in the public marketplace for all to see.
I've had some sort of 'intuition' all my life that theology isn't what being a Christian is all about. I can only come back to those words 'a personal relationship with God in Christ'. I'm almost hesitant to repeat those words any more because they have been used so often to bad effect that I think they have almost become meaningless.
What makes me sad, in blogword and in discussion groups, is all the bickering over theology that goes on. I wonder whether there is any way to gain a sense of the sacred in blogword? No answers, just a question.
I've had some sort of 'intuition' all my life that theology isn't what being a Christian is all about. I can only come back to those words 'a personal relationship with God in Christ'. I'm almost hesitant to repeat those words any more because they have been used so often to bad effect that I think they have almost become meaningless.
What makes me sad, in blogword and in discussion groups, is all the bickering over theology that goes on. I wonder whether there is any way to gain a sense of the sacred in blogword? No answers, just a question.
30 May 2006
27 May 2006
How to Read the Bible
OK, it's pathetic to link to a link to a blog, I know. But, hey, I have two 7000 word papers due on Friday. That's my excuse, anyway.
This article is just too good to ignore: The Bible Wasn’t Written to You by Lingamish courtesy of my friend, Dave W’s website.
I may depend on the kindness of friends and strangers, but at least I give credit where credit is due!
This article is just too good to ignore: The Bible Wasn’t Written to You by Lingamish courtesy of my friend, Dave W’s website.
I may depend on the kindness of friends and strangers, but at least I give credit where credit is due!
21 May 2006
God's Embrace
I thought I'd share the following. It was written for our church newsletter and inspired by that book: Exclusion and Embrace by Miroslav Volf. (Who says you can't communicate theology in plain English?)
God's Embrace
Isn’t it a wonderful thing to be embraced by someone who loves us? A mother or father. A good friend or a sister or brother we have not seen in a long time. It not only makes us feel special, it also makes us feel as if the other person is part of our life and we are part of theirs.
God’s embrace is the best embrace of all. And what’s more, God knows how to give us a proper embrace.
First, God opens his arms. By opening his arms, God makes room for us in his life. God wants to include everyone in his life and Kingdom. Jesus on the cross, arms open to all, crucified for all, is the most beautiful and moving picture of God’s open arms.
Then God stands and waits. Although God desperately wants us to be with him, even so he waits. God waits because he respects us; he created us with free will and he does not force us to embrace him. He waits for us to respond to his open arms.
When we respond, God embraces us. There is no such thing as a one-person embrace; it is an act that must shared. When we accept God’s embrace, we begin to share in the Body of Christ, which is the church community.
Then God lets go. It is not that God abandons us. This letting go is also an act of respect, for if God did not let go, we would be prisoners. God created each one of us to be unique, and he lets us go so that we can find our true identity in Christ.
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18)
God's Embrace
Isn’t it a wonderful thing to be embraced by someone who loves us? A mother or father. A good friend or a sister or brother we have not seen in a long time. It not only makes us feel special, it also makes us feel as if the other person is part of our life and we are part of theirs.
God’s embrace is the best embrace of all. And what’s more, God knows how to give us a proper embrace.
First, God opens his arms. By opening his arms, God makes room for us in his life. God wants to include everyone in his life and Kingdom. Jesus on the cross, arms open to all, crucified for all, is the most beautiful and moving picture of God’s open arms.
Then God stands and waits. Although God desperately wants us to be with him, even so he waits. God waits because he respects us; he created us with free will and he does not force us to embrace him. He waits for us to respond to his open arms.
When we respond, God embraces us. There is no such thing as a one-person embrace; it is an act that must shared. When we accept God’s embrace, we begin to share in the Body of Christ, which is the church community.
Then God lets go. It is not that God abandons us. This letting go is also an act of respect, for if God did not let go, we would be prisoners. God created each one of us to be unique, and he lets us go so that we can find our true identity in Christ.
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18)
20 May 2006
Good Us Think, Bad Them Feel
Warning: the link article below asserts that God commands his people to wage war. If this is likely to wind you up, don't read the article!
I came across this article whilst searching for articles on racism: Liberal Feelings vs. Judeo-Christian Values. One thing I find absolutely fascinating is the way that the article mentions the word 'feelings' so many times. If you read the article, it clearly contrasts 'feelings' with 'objective standards of morality'. I grew up in a denomination that also castigated feelings in this way. I have my own theories about why feelings are allegedly bad, but I'm not sure they are fit for public consumption; ask me in private if you know me!
What a huge contrast this article is to Miroslav Volf's book Exclusion and Embrace which uses the same argument about God-given, externally-posited values to make the argument that 'War is not the answer.' (Sorry, I may be banging on about this fantastic, illuminating book for awhile!)
The article, it seems to me, is a great example of Plantinga's assertion that 'at the heart of sin is a refusal to tolerate sin.' Of course, those who are attacked in war feel (that word!) that they must defend their homes and country; that doesn't mean 'their' war is 'just'. It is simply that, ethically, it is much less evil to defend oneself than to start a war.
The danger of refusing to tolerate sin in oneself is that we start looking for reasons why our cause is 'just' - why it is OK for us to hurt or kill the other person but wrong for her to hurt or kill us.
I came across this article whilst searching for articles on racism: Liberal Feelings vs. Judeo-Christian Values. One thing I find absolutely fascinating is the way that the article mentions the word 'feelings' so many times. If you read the article, it clearly contrasts 'feelings' with 'objective standards of morality'. I grew up in a denomination that also castigated feelings in this way. I have my own theories about why feelings are allegedly bad, but I'm not sure they are fit for public consumption; ask me in private if you know me!
What a huge contrast this article is to Miroslav Volf's book Exclusion and Embrace which uses the same argument about God-given, externally-posited values to make the argument that 'War is not the answer.' (Sorry, I may be banging on about this fantastic, illuminating book for awhile!)
The article, it seems to me, is a great example of Plantinga's assertion that 'at the heart of sin is a refusal to tolerate sin.' Of course, those who are attacked in war feel (that word!) that they must defend their homes and country; that doesn't mean 'their' war is 'just'. It is simply that, ethically, it is much less evil to defend oneself than to start a war.
The danger of refusing to tolerate sin in oneself is that we start looking for reasons why our cause is 'just' - why it is OK for us to hurt or kill the other person but wrong for her to hurt or kill us.
18 May 2006
The Da Vinci Code
What the heck, we're all supposed to have a view on this, right?
I've not seen the film, but I've read the book. As far as I can tell, Dan Brown claims it's a novel. The book is a good novel, in my view.
Thirty years ago, I suspect most people would have known that there is much fiction about Christianity in the book.
So my thoughts are:
1) I'd really like to see more people, especially Christians, have a passing knowledge of Christian doctrine and practice. (But I've been saying this for years)
2) In my personal experience, the book provided a great opportunity to have a conversation about Christianity and I expect that film will do the same.
The more we belly-ache about the existence of the book and the film, the more ridiculous we look and the more we appear to favour censorship of ideas.
I've not seen the film, but I've read the book. As far as I can tell, Dan Brown claims it's a novel. The book is a good novel, in my view.
Thirty years ago, I suspect most people would have known that there is much fiction about Christianity in the book.
So my thoughts are:
1) I'd really like to see more people, especially Christians, have a passing knowledge of Christian doctrine and practice. (But I've been saying this for years)
2) In my personal experience, the book provided a great opportunity to have a conversation about Christianity and I expect that film will do the same.
The more we belly-ache about the existence of the book and the film, the more ridiculous we look and the more we appear to favour censorship of ideas.
15 May 2006
I Am A Sinner (who has been forgiven)
I am currently reading Miroslav Volf's book 'Exclusion and Embrace'. In this book Volf quotes Cornelius Plantinga as saying that at the heart of sin "lies the persisent refusal to tolerate a sense of sin".
I think this is a really important idea. I'm not suggesting that I've totally embraced this understanding in my own devotional life, but I have a sense that human beiings are powerfully released to grow in holiness when each of us is willing to live with the idea that we are sinners. When I can really embrace the idea that I am a sinner but that God loves me 'anyway' - through the life, death and resurrection of Christ - then I become free to acknowledge my sins before God and to be changed by the Spirit. I will no longer need to hide from myself that I am sinful and I will no longer need to try to hide from God the fact that I'm sinful - as if I could do that.
I think this is a really important idea. I'm not suggesting that I've totally embraced this understanding in my own devotional life, but I have a sense that human beiings are powerfully released to grow in holiness when each of us is willing to live with the idea that we are sinners. When I can really embrace the idea that I am a sinner but that God loves me 'anyway' - through the life, death and resurrection of Christ - then I become free to acknowledge my sins before God and to be changed by the Spirit. I will no longer need to hide from myself that I am sinful and I will no longer need to try to hide from God the fact that I'm sinful - as if I could do that.
14 May 2006
Yes but....
This is a question 'into the airwaves' and it will be interesting to see whether anyone answers the question.
I grew up believing that God hated my guts and wanted me to burn in hell. It wasn't until I finally understood that God really loved me that I was able to begin to have an honest relationship with God and to grow in my discipleship.
My question is why, when I testify to God's love, that there is always someone who feels compelled to say 'Yes, but...' and try to minimise God's love in someway. Sort of 'Yes, God loves you, but don't be fooled into thinking that God loves you too much.'
What is the idea behind this?
Are there are too many people in the world who think that God loves them?
Or that if people are threatened with God's anger that the world will be a more ethical place and that people will want to be Christians?
I grew up believing that God hated my guts and wanted me to burn in hell. It wasn't until I finally understood that God really loved me that I was able to begin to have an honest relationship with God and to grow in my discipleship.
My question is why, when I testify to God's love, that there is always someone who feels compelled to say 'Yes, but...' and try to minimise God's love in someway. Sort of 'Yes, God loves you, but don't be fooled into thinking that God loves you too much.'
What is the idea behind this?
Are there are too many people in the world who think that God loves them?
Or that if people are threatened with God's anger that the world will be a more ethical place and that people will want to be Christians?
13 May 2006
Women in the Ordained Ministry
One some of the Blogs I read, there has recently been a brou-ha-ha over a conference in the States which seems to have decided that the non-ordination of women is a central Christian theological essential. Apparently the belief that women may not lead men in the church is as essential as any of the theological affirmations in the Nicene Creed.
The first thing I want to do is to offer the following weblinks as an antidote:
The God’s Word to Women blog spot
The God’s Word to Women website
and
The Christians for Biblical Equality website
As a woman who is training for ministry, I'm not going to be strident about this issue. I do think I understand why people hold the view that woman may not be ordained; I think I understand it because the denomination of my childhood holds this view. I understand, also, why I do not agree with it.
If those who believe in women's ordination believe that there will someday be a 'victory' in the sense of all Christians coming to accept the idea of women as ministers, then I have to say that I don't believe that the day will ever come. All we can do is to support one another - and by 'we' I don't just mean women in ordained ministry but all people who support them.
The first thing I want to do is to offer the following weblinks as an antidote:
The God’s Word to Women blog spot
The God’s Word to Women website
and
The Christians for Biblical Equality website
As a woman who is training for ministry, I'm not going to be strident about this issue. I do think I understand why people hold the view that woman may not be ordained; I think I understand it because the denomination of my childhood holds this view. I understand, also, why I do not agree with it.
If those who believe in women's ordination believe that there will someday be a 'victory' in the sense of all Christians coming to accept the idea of women as ministers, then I have to say that I don't believe that the day will ever come. All we can do is to support one another - and by 'we' I don't just mean women in ordained ministry but all people who support them.
28 April 2006
Encouragement
This week I've been reminded about the power of encouragement as two people gave me words of encouragement. It doesn't matter who they were and it doesn't matter what they said. The point is simply that what they said was true, it was genuine and it encouraged me.
Reminder to self: When someone does something nice, or does something well. Let them know.
Reminder to self: When someone does something nice, or does something well. Let them know.
18 April 2006
Just a Small "Thank You", God
Lord, as I was driving through the countryside this afternoon, I noticed how beautiful the Spring is this year. I heard someone say the other day that the daffodils have flowered about a month late, but what a difference a month makes. Seas of daffoils everywhere along with the trees in bloom: lime green shoots here, pink apple blossoms and pinker cherry trees there and those bushes with the yellow flowers (I have no idea what they are).
Thank you for your creation and for the riot of colour this year. It took awhile, but it was worth it.
Thank you for your creation and for the riot of colour this year. It took awhile, but it was worth it.
17 April 2006
God and Sinners Reconciled
(The following thoughts came to me on Good Friday. Although it's now Easter Monday, better late than never, I guess.)
From 2 Corinthians 5:19 - In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. (NRSV)
From 2 Corinthians 5:19 - In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. (NRSV)
Since reading Richard Lischer's book, The End of Words, I have decided that 2 Corinthians 5:19 is a better 'sound bite' for communicating the Gospel than the ubiquitous John 3:16. I'm not saying I disagree with John 3:16, but I don't think it speaks easily to people today.
Here's how I'd unpack 2 Corinthians 5:19:
In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself - In a world where humanity is alientated from God, it is God who makes the first move towards us. God does this in the incarnation - in Christ.
not counting their trespasses against them - This is the really important bit to me. God forgives us. Full stop. Period. No strings attached. That's what is meant by Grace. Forget about all the good Christian people who say that you have to repent before God forgives you. That's not the way it works. God forgives us and, in consequence of that forgiveness, we repent. It is in being forgiven that we know we are sinful, not in recognising our sinfulness that we obtain God's forgiveness. That's another reason why the Gospel is a scandal and another reason why it is 'upside down'.
Imagine this. A family member comes up to me and says: 'I forgive you.' I am am not aware of having offended this person but when they explain what happened I realise that I have indeed offended them. Then I apologise and thank them for their forgivness. Sound good? But how many times do I respond instead by saying 'What do you mean, you forgive me?! I have done nothing to you! How dare you forgive me!' If I'm honest, I react in the second way far too often. I suspect it's because many of us react in this second way that we either don't see that God has forgiven us already or that we are offended by the idea of a God who forgives someone before they have repented.
Finally, 2 Corinthians 5:19 tells us that God has entrusted the message of reconciliation to us. When we have been reconciled with God, we are then in a position to proclaim to others that reconciliation with God is on offer to them too.
As James Alison puts it, what we find difficult is not asking to be forgiven, what we find hard is receiving God's forgiveness before we even ask for it.
To me, this is the scandalous message of the cross.
++++++++++
Credit for ideas in this post to: James Alison, Paul Fiddes and Richard Lischer.
14 April 2006
Calling all Amateur Photographers
A friend drew my attention to the fact that the BBC are sponsoring a photographic competition over the Easter weekend based on the theme 'What Easter Means to Me'. I'm not a photographer, but wouldn't it be great to have a winner with a Christian theme? Seeing as Easter is a Christian holiday and all. Get snapping, folks!
05 April 2006
Writer's Strop and Book Temptation
Writer's Strop
I have 'writer's strop' at the moment. If you're American, you're probably wondering what a 'strop' is. It's a temper-tantrum of the sort that two-year olds have.
I have a paper for theology college that is due in two weeks' time and I simply don't want to write it. I'm able to write it. I have all the information to write it. But my psyche is saying 'No! I'm not going to do it! So there!' And that makes it practically impossible to do. 'My subconscious threw a strop' doesn't strike me as the kind of excuse that will wash with the tutors, though.
Someone paid me a lovely compliment today in saying that I write clearly. The problem is that I've spent the last ten years writing and writing and writing and there is a part of me that just doesn't want to do it any more. This was happening during the last year of my employment as well. I was finding it increasingly difficult to get down to writing reports whereas I used to love to write.
Book Temptation
I just found out about a new book that NT Wright has published. He's one of my favourite theology writers. The book is called Simply Christian and it is supposed to be an introduction to the basics of Christianity.
I think Tom Wright is an excellent scholar, but he's got a real gift for communicating theology to the person in the pew.
I have 'writer's strop' at the moment. If you're American, you're probably wondering what a 'strop' is. It's a temper-tantrum of the sort that two-year olds have.
I have a paper for theology college that is due in two weeks' time and I simply don't want to write it. I'm able to write it. I have all the information to write it. But my psyche is saying 'No! I'm not going to do it! So there!' And that makes it practically impossible to do. 'My subconscious threw a strop' doesn't strike me as the kind of excuse that will wash with the tutors, though.
Someone paid me a lovely compliment today in saying that I write clearly. The problem is that I've spent the last ten years writing and writing and writing and there is a part of me that just doesn't want to do it any more. This was happening during the last year of my employment as well. I was finding it increasingly difficult to get down to writing reports whereas I used to love to write.
Book Temptation
I just found out about a new book that NT Wright has published. He's one of my favourite theology writers. The book is called Simply Christian and it is supposed to be an introduction to the basics of Christianity.
I think Tom Wright is an excellent scholar, but he's got a real gift for communicating theology to the person in the pew.
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