We've been looking at our verse for the year. Isaiah 43.18-19 which reads in one translation:
Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over times gone by; I am doing something new; it's springing up - can't you see it? I am making a road in the desert, rivers in the wasteland.
It raises the question of what God is doing among us now, and what that means for our lives both individually and collectively. It's a call to live more closely with Him; where we can catch a vision of what God is up to - and where that leads each of us. There is a sense of listening (or watching) and responding.
It catches me where I'm at, reflecting on a not entirely welcome retirement, and yet realising there are ministries beyond the realm of ordained ministry too, and (dare I say it) beyond the PCANZ as well. (Though I am very grateful to the PCANZ for the training and the lifestyle that has been ours for the last 30 years.)
Wherever God is leading next may well require that we become willing to let go of our status and reputation and our pride of achievement, in order to be available to be lead and newly equipped for the next adventure.
So what has the Lord been showing you about the coming adventure and the "new thing" that is springing up amongst us? What challenges are you, are we, facing? What will we need for this phase of our journey together?
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
praying in secret.2
A new feature of our church life we want to share more widely. You can easily adapt it to your own neighbourhood.
Praying in secret 2012.07.04
Matthew 6.6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
we are sending weekly emails to encourage and remind us to pray together as a church family; this is when we each set aside time every Wednesday at 7 pm to pray over the same issue, either in private, or as a group with family or friends.
We are completing a series on Acts this week and what strikes me is how outward-looking they are, how aware they are of those who don’t yet know or follow Jesus, and how it matters to them that people should know and follow the Lord. This weeks therefore our focus is on our outward focus as a church, caring about and reaching out to those who neither know nor follow Jesus.
Key Verse: And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Please pray:
(1) for growth in confidence for living and telling the good news to our friends and neighbours among your brothers and sisters at Forrest Hill Church;
(2) that we will be sensitive to the opportunities that God gives us to show and tell about Jesus in our own neighbourhoods and workplaces;
(3) that the Session and Managers in affirming the priority of bringing people to a maturing relationship with Jesus Christ (our mission statement) will be prayerful and bold in their direction of this congregation;
(4) that our leaders will develop a very clear vision of God’s ongoing purpose for this wonderful community we call Forrest Hill Church that involves being seen and known as lovers of God in our neighbourhoods.
As an alternative spend some time, either in your imagination or in reality walking your street, or a street near the church buildings, praying for each house as you pass it; asking God to meet the deepest needs, and asking for opportunities to meet those people and be like Christ for them. (You could actually do this using maps.google.com; put your address in the search box, or one of our neighbouring roads in Forrest Hill.)
As a family or group you could each something about the streets and the people in your area; then you could pray about what each person or family shares. Then perhaps your family or housegroup could simply invite neighbours or friends to a soup and toast lunch on a Sunday afternoon - or a dinner if you want to go that flash.
May God bless you with an abiding sense of His peaceful and empowering Presence, touching the world through you.
In His unrelenting grip
Peter
awake, breathe, serve, celebrate
Praying in secret 2012.07.04
Matthew 6.6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
we are sending weekly emails to encourage and remind us to pray together as a church family; this is when we each set aside time every Wednesday at 7 pm to pray over the same issue, either in private, or as a group with family or friends.
We are completing a series on Acts this week and what strikes me is how outward-looking they are, how aware they are of those who don’t yet know or follow Jesus, and how it matters to them that people should know and follow the Lord. This weeks therefore our focus is on our outward focus as a church, caring about and reaching out to those who neither know nor follow Jesus.
Key Verse: And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Please pray:
(1) for growth in confidence for living and telling the good news to our friends and neighbours among your brothers and sisters at Forrest Hill Church;
(2) that we will be sensitive to the opportunities that God gives us to show and tell about Jesus in our own neighbourhoods and workplaces;
(3) that the Session and Managers in affirming the priority of bringing people to a maturing relationship with Jesus Christ (our mission statement) will be prayerful and bold in their direction of this congregation;
(4) that our leaders will develop a very clear vision of God’s ongoing purpose for this wonderful community we call Forrest Hill Church that involves being seen and known as lovers of God in our neighbourhoods.
As an alternative spend some time, either in your imagination or in reality walking your street, or a street near the church buildings, praying for each house as you pass it; asking God to meet the deepest needs, and asking for opportunities to meet those people and be like Christ for them. (You could actually do this using maps.google.com; put your address in the search box, or one of our neighbouring roads in Forrest Hill.)
As a family or group you could each something about the streets and the people in your area; then you could pray about what each person or family shares. Then perhaps your family or housegroup could simply invite neighbours or friends to a soup and toast lunch on a Sunday afternoon - or a dinner if you want to go that flash.
May God bless you with an abiding sense of His peaceful and empowering Presence, touching the world through you.
In His unrelenting grip
Peter
awake, breathe, serve, celebrate
Monday, 7 May 2012
the warm sunshine of gratitude
I discovered something in hospital that I suppose I knew - already - but I'd never been still long enough to see it work over a sustained period.
Y'see, in a hospital bed you get what the medical people are able to get to you when they're able to get it to you. I could do little enough for myself, and even less for others...but was this really an invitation to make myself the exclusive centre of attention?
Having visited a couple of friends in Hospital the previous Sunday I knew that people are so much worse off than me, but this was hurting, uncomfortable, dependent, and somewhat attention-focussing.
And yet somewhere deep within was a sense that I was the beneficiary of amazing surgical skills and compassionate nursing and ought to be properly thankful for all that comprised such a blessing. So I found myself saying thank you whenever a surgeon come visiting, or a nurse handed me a pottle to puke into or plunged the a syringe full of this medicine or that into a device in the back of hand, or handed me a pill or two or several. Even an icy refill of my water-jug seemed like a real blessing - actually that was a blessing. So "thank you" became an act of praise both of my carers and of the God of all goodness whose own goodness lies behind all good.
So - sunshine? That was the astonishing effect that such a small act of appreciative response; the smile on the faces of those repeatedly, patiently answering my requests and calls on my little button; often a little hassled by the weight of the needs of those they had to care for.
In as much as you did it for the least of these...ought to yield a little sunshine now as well as well on the loving face of the Saviour as He reviews the shape our lives...and yet maybe that "in as much..." also applies to putting a smile on the face of a willing, hardworked, dedicated, compassion-driven servant of my needs when I'm so dependant and at their mercy.
Y'see, in a hospital bed you get what the medical people are able to get to you when they're able to get it to you. I could do little enough for myself, and even less for others...but was this really an invitation to make myself the exclusive centre of attention?
Having visited a couple of friends in Hospital the previous Sunday I knew that people are so much worse off than me, but this was hurting, uncomfortable, dependent, and somewhat attention-focussing.And yet somewhere deep within was a sense that I was the beneficiary of amazing surgical skills and compassionate nursing and ought to be properly thankful for all that comprised such a blessing. So I found myself saying thank you whenever a surgeon come visiting, or a nurse handed me a pottle to puke into or plunged the a syringe full of this medicine or that into a device in the back of hand, or handed me a pill or two or several. Even an icy refill of my water-jug seemed like a real blessing - actually that was a blessing. So "thank you" became an act of praise both of my carers and of the God of all goodness whose own goodness lies behind all good.
So - sunshine? That was the astonishing effect that such a small act of appreciative response; the smile on the faces of those repeatedly, patiently answering my requests and calls on my little button; often a little hassled by the weight of the needs of those they had to care for.
In as much as you did it for the least of these...ought to yield a little sunshine now as well as well on the loving face of the Saviour as He reviews the shape our lives...and yet maybe that "in as much..." also applies to putting a smile on the face of a willing, hardworked, dedicated, compassion-driven servant of my needs when I'm so dependant and at their mercy.
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Reflections on gaining a bionic knee.1
On May 1 I launched out on a new adventure; that of elective surgery to get my knee working properly again - in fact a partial knee replacement - hence "bionic" in the title.
First my thanks to Matt Walker the capable and resourceful surgeon, then to Richard the Anaesthetist, and the Theatre staff. No nonsense, thoughtful, skilled.
I am also very grateful to a wonderful nursing team; to Bindu and Philippa our night time nurses (and to Lynne who did the late shift the last night); and to the ever-smiling and sweet Jisha our daytime nurse. And of course Angela the capable and friendly charge nurse.
I also want to give special credit to my room mates: Randy, Diane and Barbara...all my juniors in age. Their encouragement, even in the midst of their own struggles, was key to my belief in my ability to get going as well as I did post-operation. The two latter are still in hospital as their improvement has been more gradual and painful; may they get well and been tearing up the pavement soon.
One can never discount the encouragement of loving visitors, lead by my life-partner and lover, Bernadette (accompanied once by daughter Beka and granddaughter, Haeata, later followed by my youngest John). The very act of showing up all smiles and concern joined me to the Body again, if I'd ever felt separated. So to Pete and Pam and Bill; Matt; Malcolm; Bob; Victor and Hera and Yongki humble, blest thanks.
Even our journey of pain is not a solo journey, though it may feel so. The best sign of the ultimate Pain-Bearer's presence is that of His love-giving people gathering and travelling with me; and that Presence I felt strongly in the stretches of night where sleep lay in waiting, calling me to talk with Him about those sharing the room with me and whoever He brought into the conversation Deus absconditus? I don't think so; in fact I know otherwise, all praise to His loving, ever-present care and attention.
Blessings
Pete
First my thanks to Matt Walker the capable and resourceful surgeon, then to Richard the Anaesthetist, and the Theatre staff. No nonsense, thoughtful, skilled.
I am also very grateful to a wonderful nursing team; to Bindu and Philippa our night time nurses (and to Lynne who did the late shift the last night); and to the ever-smiling and sweet Jisha our daytime nurse. And of course Angela the capable and friendly charge nurse.
I also want to give special credit to my room mates: Randy, Diane and Barbara...all my juniors in age. Their encouragement, even in the midst of their own struggles, was key to my belief in my ability to get going as well as I did post-operation. The two latter are still in hospital as their improvement has been more gradual and painful; may they get well and been tearing up the pavement soon.
One can never discount the encouragement of loving visitors, lead by my life-partner and lover, Bernadette (accompanied once by daughter Beka and granddaughter, Haeata, later followed by my youngest John). The very act of showing up all smiles and concern joined me to the Body again, if I'd ever felt separated. So to Pete and Pam and Bill; Matt; Malcolm; Bob; Victor and Hera and Yongki humble, blest thanks.
Even our journey of pain is not a solo journey, though it may feel so. The best sign of the ultimate Pain-Bearer's presence is that of His love-giving people gathering and travelling with me; and that Presence I felt strongly in the stretches of night where sleep lay in waiting, calling me to talk with Him about those sharing the room with me and whoever He brought into the conversation Deus absconditus? I don't think so; in fact I know otherwise, all praise to His loving, ever-present care and attention.
Blessings
Pete
Monday, 12 March 2012
a new approach to Sabbath
People who don't get the idea of our Holy Rest drive me crazy...don't know that they're not made to go on and on and on...don't they see they're made to pause every now and then. Things like Uni students at my church who think they must study every hour of every day, while commendable is ultimately self-destructive. So when I was reading "A Passionate Life" by Mike Breen and Walt Kallestad and stumbled across their section on resting [ch.7 The Seventh Day] I was blessed with a great perspective on keeping a day for Holy Rest (my emphasis).
As I thought about it I realised that we humans don't appear on the scene of the creation until well into the 6th day and that all preceded that day happened without our input in any way shape or form. Imagine that - God acting without any recourse to our opinion or prayers! Shocking!
So as B & K point out when God rested on the 7th day, and called humans to rest with Him, our forebears were actually resting on the first full day of their existence. They prepared for their emergence among all that God had made, by first resting. They were not taking a well-earned rest at the end of a week of frantic activity, followed by a day of frantic religious activity. Rather - they were being prepared for what the Lord had designed them to accomplish in the perfection of His purpose.
Further it was a preparation for the creativity with which He had enjoined them as His fellow-workers in "the garden". Sunday is not just the height of our creative, it is also engaging with the Creator Spirit; having our creative energies and intelligence refuelled and inspired. If there's no time for creative development in our week of frantic activity, then here it is, in resting and refuelling in the fellowship of God's loved people and in moments of blessed solitude.
This way of looking at it maybe sets the Sabbath at the start of the week rather than as a way of recuperating at the end of the week. It also puts in the theological rubbish bin all our silly questions about what is permitted on Sunday; questions like "how much work?" or "is sport work?" or "isn't shopping on Sunday only encouraging others to break the Sabbath?" become irrelevant when we acknowledge that the issue is restoration, preparation, inspiration, gathering momentum for the great spring back into life and mission in the field to which the Spirit has lead us. The question how do I best rest, reflect and restore my intellect and energy both in fellowship and solitude?
Well how do we? How do you do this?
As I thought about it I realised that we humans don't appear on the scene of the creation until well into the 6th day and that all preceded that day happened without our input in any way shape or form. Imagine that - God acting without any recourse to our opinion or prayers! Shocking!
So as B & K point out when God rested on the 7th day, and called humans to rest with Him, our forebears were actually resting on the first full day of their existence. They prepared for their emergence among all that God had made, by first resting. They were not taking a well-earned rest at the end of a week of frantic activity, followed by a day of frantic religious activity. Rather - they were being prepared for what the Lord had designed them to accomplish in the perfection of His purpose.
Further it was a preparation for the creativity with which He had enjoined them as His fellow-workers in "the garden". Sunday is not just the height of our creative, it is also engaging with the Creator Spirit; having our creative energies and intelligence refuelled and inspired. If there's no time for creative development in our week of frantic activity, then here it is, in resting and refuelling in the fellowship of God's loved people and in moments of blessed solitude.
This way of looking at it maybe sets the Sabbath at the start of the week rather than as a way of recuperating at the end of the week. It also puts in the theological rubbish bin all our silly questions about what is permitted on Sunday; questions like "how much work?" or "is sport work?" or "isn't shopping on Sunday only encouraging others to break the Sabbath?" become irrelevant when we acknowledge that the issue is restoration, preparation, inspiration, gathering momentum for the great spring back into life and mission in the field to which the Spirit has lead us. The question how do I best rest, reflect and restore my intellect and energy both in fellowship and solitude?
Well how do we? How do you do this?
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