Lights in the darkness

Once a month the three church communities within the village (Anglican, Baptist and Catholic) put on a joint event called Oasis Tea. We avoid putting ages on our publicity ('for the over 55s' etc) but Oasis generally (but not exclusively) attracts the more senior members of our community.

Each month one of the churches is 'in charge' and responsible for the refreshments as well as leading a short 'service'. This includes a short prayer, a couple of traditional hymns, a Bible reading and a short talk. The themes for our talks are put together at the beginning of the year and sometimes link in the with the church calendar. Several times I have had to put my talk together with 'Wikipedia' and 'Google' working overtime as I have no idea about dates in the Anglican or Catholic calendar!

My last Oasis of the year was back in September and coincided with Michaelmas Day. Anything I can tell you about Michaelmas will come straight from Wikipedia so if you want to know more you know where to look!

One of the themes though, which is a familiar picture throughout the Bible is the battle between 'light' and 'dark'. Some of the traditions around this day are to do with seeking God's protection over the winter months with the long, dark nights. In the New Testament Jesus is described as the 'Light of the World' which is a theme that we will pick up again at Christmas.

One of the things that I like to do at Oasis is a simple take-home craft. Expanding the idea that often our newspapers often seem full of bad news, and that as Christians we have the capacity to punch holes in the darkness, we made small pyramid-shaped lamps.

If you wanted to make one for yourself transfer the pattern below onto the paper you want to use.

I used A4 paper with newsprint photocopied on to it just to give it a bit of extra strength.

Cut it out, fold and stick the triangle sections together - but do not put any glue on the tabs around the square base.

Place a battery powered tea-light on the square base and bring the pyramid over the top - sliding the long tab under the base to stop the top popping open again. There is no need to use glue on this part - otherwise you won't be able to open the lid and turn your tea-light off!

Please don't try this with a real tea-light and a naked flame! It won't end well.

Memory Verses

This morning at CBC I briefly talked about how memorising Bible verses is one of several spiritual disciplines that will help us as we seek to become more familiar with hearing God's voice.

God can and does speak to us in a whole variety of ways, but most commonly God will speak to us through the Bible - which is, after all, God's word. The more of the Bible that we have in us the more opportunities we give God to speak to us.

Of course, as is the case with any spiritual discipline, the goal of memorising Scripture is not simply to know lots of verses off by heart. Just as the purpose of reading through the Bible in a year isn't about ticking chapters off a list. It's not about learning the Bible off by heart as much as taking the Bible to heart. Memorisation should be accompanied by reflection and application and prayer.

Back in the 1990s I spent a year teaching in Kenya during which time I came across The Navigators - a Christian organisation that works with secondary school and university students, sharing the gospel and making disciples. They had lots of helpful illustrations including this one about the Bible:

This was where I first came across their Topical Memory System - essentially six sets of twelve cards with verses arranged in themes. The cards are designed with the intention that you carry them with you for easy reference and review as you go about your day.

My first set was pickpocketed on a bus in Nairobi!

Now, cards have been replaced with a whole range of apps that help with the memorising process.

If you're looking for somewhere to start have a look at the Fighter Verse app

Should a Christian be mindful?

According to an article in the Guardian newspaper, a group of MPs were joined in the House of Commons this week by Sri Lankan government ministers, an MP for Israel’s Likud party as well as politicians from 15 other countries in order to meditate together and explore whether 'mindfulness can help reset the conduct of national and international politics'. They were led in a 'series of secular meditations intended to focus their awareness and increase compassion'.

If you have not yet come across the term 'mindfulness' you are probably part of a shrinking minority. An increasing number of organisations, including the NHS, schools and prisons are taking an interest in the benefits of 'mindfulness'. Even if you're browsing for magazines in a local shop you are likely to come across various mindfulness colouring books.

Wikipedia describes mindfulness as 'the psychological process of bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment, which can be developed through the practice of meditation and other training.' The practice requires a person to focus on their breathing as an aid to meditation.

In terms of origins, mindfulness has its roots in Zen Buddhism.

I confess that I don't know a lot about mindfulness, and am aware that, within the Christian community, opinion is split - just as opinion is split over yoga, for example. 

There are those who would argue that mindfulness, as practised today in the west, has no connection to its Buddhist roots. That its meditation techniques can easily be reclaimed by the Christian community. That this is one of those outreach opportunities that provide overlap with what 'we' believe and what 'they' believe and that gives us the opportunity to talk about prayer and reflection on the Bible - similar to Paul's behaviour in Acts 17.

This week I was at the Christian Resources Exhibition and noticed the following book on one of the book stands. I didn't read it - I just took a photo - but my guess from the title is that the author takes a fairly positive view from a Christian perspective. I may be totally wrong - if you've read the book and want to correct me, please do!

Then, at the other end of the spectrum, there are those see mindfulness as thinly disguised Buddhism and something that Christians should have nothing to do with. That any involvement is opening ourselves up to ungodly spiritual forces. That at a time when Christianity is being excluded from the work place other religions are being embraced.

Those are two alternative views and I am sure that there are a whole range of views in between those two extremes. Even if you're part of a fairly small church community there is probably quite a spread of opinion on this subject from within that community.

As I say, I don't know a lot on this subject, so more by way of starting a conversation, here are a few thoughts.

At CBC we're currently working our way through the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, and personally, I've just finished reading Ezekiel and am now on Daniel. Samuela and Ezekiel are books which contain more than enough warnings of the dangers of mixing the worship of God with anything else. Daniel is an interesting mix of stories of no compromise (lions' dens and fiery furnaces) and seeking wisdom to work within a hostile spiritual climate. Maybe seeking wisdom and a willingness to stand alone are the way ahead. At least we should be careful on what we do and err on the side of caution.

The supporters of mindfulness list the health benefits that it brings - particularly those benefits to mental health. In the House of Commons this week the mindfulness exercise was partly aimed at improving the thinking and the behaviour of those involved in politics. 

No doubt those Christians who are more positive towards mindfulness would see similar benefits through things like prayer and what has traditionally been called the 'quiet time' - a time (usually first thing in the morning) for Bible reading, mediating/reflecting on that reading and prayer. 

For me, the issue here then becomes one of whether these spiritual disciplines 'work' for the Christian because of the psycological or physiological impact of the practice or because of the focus of the practice - i.e. God. Because, if we believe that it is the latter, then why would we settle for the former?

A focus that is on anything other than God is idolatry. Anything that suggests that the answers to our ultimate questions can be found anywhere else outside of God is idolatry. Anything that encourages me to focus inward rather than on God is idolatry.

I'm not sure where that gets us other than getting the conversation started...over to you.

Fear of the Lord

Yesterday, at CBC, we were continuing our series in 1 Samuel, and from chapter 12 we asked ourselves what it means to 'fear the Lord' (e.g. verse 14) - and how this fits into our understanding of faith and church. And so we asked ourselves, how do we understand this phrase, that is so common throughout the Old Testament, in the light of the cross? Or what about verses like 1 John 4:18 that seem to set up fear and love as being mutually exclusive.

Here are a couple of videos that explore this theme a little more.