Not in service

We are now in between times: 'the last days' between Jesus' first and second coming. We are in that time of miracles and the Holy Spirit, where we have the comforter and convicter rather than just the law and legalism.

But what should we do in this time?  What is expected in this apparently endless time of waiting?

The preacher today had a completely new perspective on this time. He read the parts of the Bible where Peter, Paul and the others were mocked for their belief in the second coming. Many of Jesus' followers believed the time was close at hand; weeks, months or at the most a few years in the future. I wonder what they would think of us still waiting 2000 years later.

Rather than waiting for signs and looking forward to the second coming we should seek the reasons why we are waiting.

2 Peter 3:

"Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴ They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” ⁵ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. ⁶ By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. ⁷ By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. ⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

God wants us to use this time wisely; its something to be excited about. Which leads me to the use of the image above. So many Christians, myself included at many times, like to have our club and receive the benefits of Christian fellowship. The friendship, a place to belong, a place to worship. We have the 'not in service' sign up, its just for us. We need to share what we know and love, and perhaps take for granted.

And this takes me to my next image:

The preacher showed this as an example of someone who tries various jobs and tasks and always fails miserably. Someone that we feel warmth towards and find funny. The preacher likened Frank Spencer to a Christian that 'has a go' which is much better than someone that doesn't. This really encouraged me as I've often worried that I blunder through various things that I believe God wants me to do but I never feel particularly gifted in any one area. The great thing is I believe God was saying to me in this sermon that I am just like Frank: I blunder just like Frank but it is the journey and the act of the trying that makes the difference.

Looking back at the things I've endeavoured to do, I see God working in those things and making things happen. I know that those things aren't me, I blunder through them, showing that those things are definitely not me, they have to be God. Perhaps it helps me not to boast in anything apart from God, to keep me humble. Perhaps it is just enough that I try.

Labels

I've definitely had the idea of labels on the brain for a while now and I find it all very interesting so this post is more of my pontificating!

I've recently started going to a baptist church near where I have moved to and they have been looking for a minister for a while so have many guest preachers and a few regular speakers from their own congregation. We've spoken to every preacher after the service and the speaker last Sunday was very interested in the church we used to go to (Holy Trinity, Sittingbourne). He had heard of the church and was quite eager to talk about the church and New Wine (a group of churches that organise events and conferences). What I found almost funny was his eagerness to label the church, and hence my husband and I, 'charismatc' and 'evangelical'. He looked on us as kindred spirits, people who were on his wave length and perhaps people who would understand hs frustration at the way the baptist church was run.

I've heard these terms bandied about before without fully understanding their connotations. I understand that 'charismatic' means led by the Spirit and 'evangelical' as a church that wishes to spread the good news and encourage others to believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. But really do these words mean other things? Why do we have to have labels in the first place?

Obviously this preacher understood these words to mean full of vision and forward thinking. He assumed I liked a certain type of worship music and wanted to see the church do amazing things in the name of Jesus. And I do. The difference is I don't believe in labels. I don't believe Jesus was all that bothered about what His followers were called or described as, as long as we had God in the centre. One of Jesus' prayers that wasn't answered was for church unity and I think labelling groups of followers goes against that prayer. I think the way we worship Jesus is immaterial as long as we do it. The world looks at us arguing and disagreeing and must think if we can't get along with each other, we don't really have a clear answer. All the churches have much more in common than we think.

Speaking to other Christians about difficult issues such as homosexuality, women and marriage I have come to realise that I would be considered much more liberal than most Christians. But I just don't believe in pushing my opinions on other people or judging others. I'd much prefer a lovely debate (some may call them arguments!) and meeting people where they are at. The best conversations I've had with people about God come from listening to people where they are at and it's so interesting hearing people's stories. On Friday I was talking to someone at work about what they believe, which had come about through a talk about dealing with death. It made me realise so many people just want someone to listen.

People need Jesus and love, not legalism and labels.

GRACE: God's Riches At Christ's Expense

I heard a preacher on Sunday discussing 'the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God' from Isaiah, which on the surface has nothing to do with grace, but that's the part I took with me that day.

He explained that we are in the time of 'the year of the Lord's favour', the time between Christ's coming and his second coming when healings and miracles can occur and Grace is in abundance.

He spoke of a man he had spoken to on a train, that had commented on a flock of sheep who had marks on their back, given to them by their owner. The man  had commented that each sheep couldn't see the mark on their own back or head but could see the marks on the others. The preacher likened this to Grace: we often see the growth and Grace in other people's lives but not our own. This is so true of many things in life, we often see the great or positive in other people's lives but rarely our own. It got me to thinking how lowly I think of myself sometimes and how silly this is.

I don't actively seek compliments but its always nice to receive them! But I'm always surprised at them especially in a church setting. I always see things that I can do to change or improve things but blunder my way through and often believe I make a pigs ear of it all. I end up thinking I shouldn't have bothered in the first place, but still I persevere in the belief that I'll be good at one of the things I put my mind to!

I decided long ago that I should pray more about any decision I make, any job I want to start, any venture I want to take on but the cold hard truth is, God nevers seems to tell me what He wants me to do. I wait until I can't wait any longer then I jump in! And most of the time, though I have made mistakes, God has honoured many of my ventures, helped me to grow within them and I hope helped others.

Now I have decided to change churches and can see all the things I could do to help at this new church but what on earth would I be good at?! I could help with children's work - there's a huge range of children and young adults that go - being a teacher that might come more naturally and I have done this before. I could start training as a street pastor, as the church are quite keen for this (but that would be scary!) or start 18-30s types activities as the youth/young adult work stops at 25 :(

I always seem to plunge right in, but would love God to guide me on this. I would love to be able to see my own mark on my back and how God works and moves in my life more and more. A new house, a new year, a new church - a fantastic new stage :)

Ginger!

A casual comment in the staffroom this week made me think about 'gingerness' and all things associated with that; and its something that perplexes me.

I am ginger. Or as we like to call it: 'strawberry blonde' although I've never understood that term! A teacher made a comment this week that children and/or adults with ginger hair are more likely to be melodramatic. Turning to me before she said the comment she hurried the statement 'no offence but...' that always means the opposite. I made a joke out of it saying that yes, I often flounce into her classroom doing jazz hands. She did laugh, because actually that is the last thing I would do, being quite a quiet person until you get to know me. I'm hoping she realised what a generalisation her comment was.

It reminded me of all the comments I've had over the years about being 'ginger'. I have been asked if I am more likely to have nose bleeds and get overheated as I am ginger (this was in all seriousness because this lady had children with that experience); my mother-in-law is convinced I am more likely to be angry and irrate as I am ginger and now I am supposed to be melodramatic too!

The Christmas card above caused quite a stir a couple of years ago for Tesco - the last acceptable generalisation that they could get away with I suppose. But is it acceptable?

I am not in any way linking this to racism but it goes with the territory of stereotypes and generalisations just like racism. The assumption that people can be linked together in a group and 'understood' to be the same is wrong; just like the assunption that certain types of people are more likely to be lazy, athletic or successful. There are some truths to these generalisations I presume but there should never be that assumption when meeting people and talking to them. We should take people like we find them.

I wondered where these generalisations about 'gingerness' came from and I suppose they are linked with where you inherit your hair colour from. These qualities then I suppose are linked with Irish and Scottish people. I once spoke to an Irish guy who assumed I was Irish or had Irish parents - he was a bit disappointed when I said I was half Scottish (on my Dad's side)!

Growing up I often had 'ginger' (or later 'Ginger Minger') shouted at me from passers by or lads in cars and I often get it now. But I always remember my great-grandma who had auburn hair before it turned white. She still had a clump of auburn hair tucked behind her ear, which I always thought magical and amazing. I hope when my hair goes white that some of my 'ginger' stays behind. She always said to my Mum while I was growing up, that I should never be ashamed of my hair colour and that it was special. In fact, when on a school trip to Kentwell (a place where actors pretend to be Tudors) I was told I was special because my hair colour was the same as Elizabeth I. I felt very special that day :)