Live a life worthy of the calling...

On Sunday I'm going to be preaching from Philippians 4, fitting in with the on-going series at CBC.

For those of you who need a quick refresher on Philippians here's a five minute overview.

Vocations

There are a whole range of topics that get discussed on running websites / forums - not just running. The latest thread that I was pointed towards a couple of days ago was one asking the question, 'Do you have a vocation?' A range of answers have come from a variety of perspectives - both Christian and otherwise.

When we talk about a vocation we're talking about following a calling. And if we're coming from a Christian perspective then we'd be talking about following a particular path in life (usually in terms of a job/career) in obedience to God's calling. And I expect that if I was to ask a congregation to list the sorts of people who have a vocation the list would include jobs like ministers, doctors, teachers, nurses.

If you've read the last few posts on here you will know that I am settling into a new church. This weekend I am going to be officially inducted into my new role as minister. Part of that service involves telling the story of how I came to hear the call to leave my past church and settle in this very different context.

But do you have a vocation? What is it that God has called you to do?

There are a number of passages in the New Testament that help us to see that God equips every Christian to fulfil their part in what God is doing. Sometimes when we read a sentence like that we think about the sorts of things people might do in a church - such as preach or play an instrument or help with the children's work or lead a Bible Study group. But we don't always think about our 'secular' work or our daily routine.

I recently heard or read someone say something along the lines of: it's not what we do that makes something secular or sacred - it's why we do it.

I guess this can be both an encouragement and a challenge. An encouragement that whatever we're doing - if it's what God has called us to - is important. At times it may seem routine and unappreciated but if it is what God has asked us to do then there is nothing more important. Maybe as we start a new day we need the reminder that what we'll be involved in today is part of what God has called us to.

A challenge in the sense that we need to ask 'am I doing what God wants?' Maybe we need to go back a step and ask 'what is it that God wants me to do?'

Happy New Year

Happy New Year.

One of the people I follow on Twitter mentioned, along with his New Year greeting, that he felt no different today than in 2013. And of course there is nothing inherently significant in today - it's not even as if we're marking the point at which the hours of daylight stop getting shorter and start getting longer again.

But it is good to have times in the year when we acknowledge the passing of time - times when we can look back and look ahead. Times when we can pause for a few moments. Times when we can think about whether there are habits we want to break or new habits we want to start. Maybe a chance to wipe the slate clean and begin again. Obviously we can do those things at any point - but the hardest part is often starting. And for many people the first of January provides that extra incentive to start (or stop). 

Whilst the middle of winter may not be the best time to start something new, (particularly if it involves going outside in a pair of shorts) today is always better than tomorrow. Waiting for 'the right time' usually just proves one thing - there is never a 'right time' - other than today. Life always has a habit of getting in the way. As I look back over 2013 it is safe to say that it did not turn out as I imagined - but as I look back over the past year, and further, my experience is that God is faithful. And that gives us confidence as we enter into the unknown.

On Sunday, as we said goodbye to our previous church, I preached from one of my favourite passages, 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath. And one of the key messages I see in this passage is how David's perspective compares with everyone else's. Only David sees God in the situation - the 'armies of the Living God' as opposed to 'the armies of Israel' for example. David faces Goliath with confidence because he sees the situation from God's perspective. Everyone else is fearful because they see things from a human perspective.

So how is my perspective as I face the future? Is God right at the heart of it?

It can be very easy to get things out of perspective and one reason for this is that our memories are very selective. It can be very easy to remember the negatives and forget the positives. We focus on our failures but forget God's blessings. We easily forget what God has done and we don't stop to say 'Thank you'.

When it comes to keeping a diary or a journal - that's just not me. But as we drew a line under ten years in our past church I would love to be able to look back and remember more. So much happened in that time. And so one of my resolutions for 2014, as we start this new chapter in our lives, is to keep a journal. If I think about it too much I know I won't start. So I'd better go and just get on with it...

Saying Goodbye

Quite a lot has happened since my last post on the 19th...

One of the things that many people do as we get to the end of the year is to look back and then look forward and to make New Year resolutions, or plans, or write a list of things they would like to do in the coming year. We ask, “where would we like to be in a year's time?”

This time last year I never imagined that by the end of 2013 we would be moving house and saying 'goodbye' to the church where we had spent the past 10 years and 4 months. The idea of moving was simply not on my radar. We were part of a church that we loved and who loved us, we were making good links into the local community, the girls loved going to the local school... In my head I saw myself there for a lot longer yet.

But back in March I woke up one morning knowing that it was time to go. It was as if God had simply switched a switch in my head – and that was it. Of course we talked about it and prayed about it and then I entered into the Settlement Process.

This is the process that the Baptist Union uses to connect ministers looking for churches with churches looking for ministers – and because it is a process with several stages it is itself a part of the discerning process – is this really what God is saying?

Knowing it is time to go is one thing – knowing where to go is quite another – but God has been guiding us.

And so, just a few days before Christmas, the removal van turned up outside our house and all our worldly possessions were loaded into the back of a lorry (and a small van). It's amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in ten years – especially if you have three children during that time.

And then a few hours later everything was unloaded into our new house and we were joined by a team of volunteers from our new church who helped unpack boxes and assemble flat packed furniture.

We travelled back to Edgware for the Carol Service, and Christmas Day and then yesterday was our last Sunday in Edgware.

When you've shared your lives in a church for over ten years saying goodbye is never going to be easy. We came as two and leave as five. Those of you who know us personally and know the church will know that during those ten years there have been some great times, but there have also been some really challenging and testing times. And looking back I would say that it is the fact that we walked together at the lowest points that has made our relationships what they are – and therefore make saying 'Goodbye' that much harder.

As we leave Camrose we do so with many many happy memories. And 'Thank You' seems so inadequate – but we want to thank God for His faithfulness over the last ten years. We also want to thank the church for allowing us to be a part of your lives and for being a part of ours. Thank you for all the things that were said yesterday – and the things that were un-said – at least in words but were said in hugs and tears. Thank you for your love and support and friendship. You will always have a very special place in our hearts.

But now it is time for a new chapter to begin...