Jumping to Conclusions

Can you remember an occasion when someone jumped to conclusions about you? They didn't give you the benefit of the doubt...they thought the worst or you - rather than the best. How did it make you feel? Angry, sad, let down, frustrated, worthless, disappointed, wanting to give up...

Another question - can you remember an occasion when you've jumped to conclusions...about someone else? How do you think it made them feel?

In Joshua 22 we read a story of how some of the tribes in Israel jumped to a wrong conclusion about some of their brothers and almost went to war over what was essentially a misunderstanding arising from a lack of proper communication. And because they weren't talking they assumed the worst, they didn't give the benefit of the doubt, they jumped to conclusions.

But fortunately they started talking before they started fighting, and everything was sorted out.

Our world is full of tribes. We like to belong and in a tribe we have that belonging. We are 'in' and the rest are 'out'. We put boundaries around the tribe, things that mark the difference between 'us' and 'them'. And these tribes exist in the church too. Tribes like young/old, male/female, black/white, traditional/modern, old timers/new comers, doers/talkers ... And when we are with those from a different tribe in the church it can be very easy to jump to conclusions, think the worst, and not give the benefit of the doubt - because proper communication is not happening. Both sides may be talking but is anyone listening?

Whether it is in church, at home, in the office, family relationships, husband/wife ... we need to make sure that we are talking face to face (and listening). When you next have an 'issue' with someone go and talk to them face to face before things get out of hand. And don't jump to conclusions, do give them the benefit of the doubt and do think the best rather than the worst of them.

Have the Courage of you Convictions

When you make a decision or a choice, when you are asked for an opinion or what you think, do you respond with the courage of your convictions or are you swayed by other factors? Do you go by what you think is right or do you answer with the response that you think others want to hear. Are you influenced by peer pressure? Do you make choices at work based on getting promotion rather than what might be the right thing to do? Do you find it easier to simply go along with everyone else rather than stand out in the crowd?

Caleb had the courage of his convictions. And when he was asked his opinion he gave it even if that meant he was in the minority (Joshua 14:7). But even though he was in the minority he was right. And he was rewarded by God for the stand he took.

But do you even have any convictions? How are your convictions formed? The Christian should have their convictions based on the word of God, convictions which are shaped and formed over a life time of reading the Bible, spending time in prayer, and meeting with other Christians. But often we find that it is other influences in our lives that shape our convictions: our family background and upbringing, our culture, our friends, the programmes we watch on television... Pray that God will be shaping your convictions and that you will have the courage to act even if it means standing out from the crowd.

What difference can a shoe box make?

This morning at church we are collecting shoe boxes as a part of Samaritan's Purse 'Operation Christmas Child'. Shoe boxes that have been filled with suitable gifts for either a boy or a girl in one of three age groups (2-4, 5-9, 10-14). These boxes will then be taken and distributed to children in parts of the world where the children will experience hunger, poverty, fear, war ... this Christmas rather than peace and joy.

You may wonder what difference a simple box, filled with a few gifts can make. But if you watch the short story below you will see how God is able to take a simple box and use it to transform a life.



Depending on when you're reading this it may not be too late to get involved this year. Visit the Samaritan's Purse website to find information of a local drop off point. If you were too late this year put a note in your 2009 diary around September to find out how you can be involved.

Click here to visit the Operation Christmas Child website

What's it feel like to be a Messiah?

There are certainly many who would see Barack Obama as a messiah figure - the 'anointed one' who is the answer to all their problems. I'm sure Obama is only too aware of this fact and realises the dangers of trying to live up to totally unrealistic expectations. But there has certainly been a sense of hope that the election of Obama has generated.

Hope that things can change, and that they don't always have to be the way they are.

Hope that comes from having a line drawn under a painful past.

Hope that comes from the prospect of a new start.

Hope that comes from knowing that the president can identify with you and therefore understands where you're coming from, and therefore may do something about it.

These were the hopes of many about two thousand years ago, when another Messiah figure emerged on the scene.

A man who healed the sick and raised the dead, a man who came back from the dead and so a man who says things don't have to be the way they always have. Even death can be turned back. A man who says that no matter how bleak things may seem there is always hope.

A man who allows us to draw a line under a painful past because his death on a cross means that we can know forgiveness for our past, and although we can't undo our past we no longer need to be held back by our past.

A man who gives the promise of a new start, a life with a purpose, a life which the New Testament describes as essentially a new life. A future that is not defined by the past.

A God who became a human being, who knows what it is like to be hungry, tired, sad, tempted ... A God who can identify with us, and meet us at our point of need.

There is a heavy weight of expectation on Obama's shoulders. And whatever hopes we may have in him and for him and for the next four years of American politics, ultimately we must put our hope in Jesus.

God has a Dream

Holidays are usually a time for me to catch up on some reading or finish some of the books that I have been working through for a while. My Facebook virtual bookshelf currently only has 8 books listed as 'I want to read' so things seem currently to be under control.

This past week I have finished a great little book, 'God has a dream: A vision of hope for our time' by Desmond Tutu.

With just over 100 pages making up the main text of the book, there are some who could read this through in one sitting. And the language is certainly accessible enough for most people to be able to make sense of what Desmond Tutu is saying . You won't need a dictionary and a theology degree to access this work.

Others may take many days or weeks to read this book, as there is much, almost on every page to merit further reflection. Whether it is digging around a point you don't agree with, or meditating on topics like the love of God for you, or your part in God's dream you certainly benefit from not reading it through in one sitting.

Last year the best book I read was Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. This year I think this book by Desmond Tutu takes the title of my book of the year. Get a copy and dig in.