Discovering glory in everyday life.....

I just had to bring you this on a cold November day:

GLORY = when your messiah drives a minivan by timothy paul jones

Heat shimmers upward from the pavement, birthing miniature mirages that dance madly between bumpers and fenders in an endless chain of automobiles. A revolving bank sign reveals that the time is 4:12pm,….Oklahoma on a late summer afternoon…
The conflicting messages on the bumper stickers and the varying rhythms of the heads bobbing above the drivers’ seats divulge the diversity of this area. Hummers and Harleys wait alongside mud spattered pickup trucks and compact cars past their prime.
Nothing here seems glorious. It is an ordinary afternoon filled with ordinary people trying to find their way home amid the hubbub and hullabaloo of their ordinary lives.
My seven-year-old sits beside me in the car, face upturned as she sings along with the latest single by U2. As our car curves to the right, something on the opposite side of the intersection seizes Hannah’s attention.
‘Look!’ she points towards a battered minivan, a fading remnant of that brief moment in the 1980s when Americans inexplicably used the words minivan and cool in the same sentence. ‘Look! There’s Jesus.’
I glimpse just enough of the vehicle’s lone occupant to grasp the reason for her momentary delusion. The driver is long-haired, bearded, and olive-skinned, white teeth glinting through a gentle smile.
The Jesus of a thousand Sunday School take home papers.
Without thinking I smile and reply; ‘No, Hannah. That wasn’t Jesus. It can’t be. Jesus lived on earth a long time ago….almost two thousand years ago. It was just someone who looks like the paintings of Jesus.’
‘But,’ Hannah is staring through the rear window, eyes still riveted to the minivan, ‘It was Jesus! I saw him.’
‘No, Hannah,’ my tone is harsher than I intend. ‘It wasn’t Jesus. It couldn’t have been.’
The minivan vanishes into the jumble of vehicles crisscrossing the intersection, and Hannah coils back into her seat with a whisper, ‘But Daddy, it was.’ As her moment of childlike wonder chokes in a sea of grownup logic, a gentle murmur wends its way past the dry bones of a soul that once found magic wands in the branches of ordinary trees and glorious wonders amid the stars of a common sky.
What if she’s right?
What if God’s presence is nearer than I ever imagined?
Years of rational thinking and theological training recoil at this thought, this alien intruder from a childhood long past. God in a minivan! That’s as absurd as…..as…. The other voice—the voice of childlike wonder----whispers again, As absurd as the glory of God erupting from a burning shrub on the far side of a Middle Eastern desert? As absurd as the Messiah, enfolded in the flesh of a peasant’s baby, tumbling into a feed trough in Bethlehem? As insane as the King of the Universe screaming from a wooden stake, stabbed like a dagger into the heart of the Hill of the Skull? As crazy as all the other wonders that you claim to believe, that you’ve embalmed in the pages of your theology but that you’re unwilling to look for here and now?
‘But then again, Hannah.’ I hear a voice speaking and realise that it must be my own, ‘who knows? Maybe it was.’ And suddenly an ordinary afternoon is filled with extraordinary possibilities. For I find myself realising anew---even, in some shadowed corner of my soul, believing---that God is always present, always available, even in the moments when I least expect it.
What I am experiencing is a reminder of glory.

From ‘Hullabaloo' by Timothy Paul Jones. Used by permission.
More information about Hullabaloo, as well as musical playlists:
http://www.timothypauljones.com
Order copies of Hullabaloo here.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0781444837?tag=timothypauljo-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0781444837&adid=0P2WGPJX8P2Y846AECCX&:

TROUBLE !

Freak incidents involving animals topped the list of the most bizarre claims made to insurer Norwich Union last year, with food-related prangs also featuring highly.
"A frozen squirrel fell out of a tree and crashed through the windscreen on to the passenger seat."
"The car was parked when a reindeer fell on the bonnet of my car."
"As I was driving round a bend, one of the doors opened and a frozen kebab flew out, hitting and damaging a passing car."
"A herd of cows licked my car and caused damage to the paintwork."
"While I was waiting at traffic lights, a wasp went down my trouser leg which made me hit the accelerator and prang the car in front."
"A cow jumped on my quad bike."
As an Insurance Broker, I reckon the funniest incident I ever had to deal with was a household claim where the guy’s dog had chewed up his false teeth. He came into my office and tried, with no teeth in, to describe what had happened….

As Christians we should not be surprised when trouble comes. It may be hard to take at the time. I remember, at the age of 19, disconsolately sitting in my car with a burned out clutch outside the Royal Albert Hall, wondering what to do next. I had a New Testament there and opened it at the first chapter of James;
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance.. Perserverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature, and complete, not lacking anything."
That was like God speaking directly to me!
The car was repaired for £25 (2 weeks wages at the time) and I got it back from London, of course.
That was a lesson I never forgot, and so when more serious trouble comes along, as it does from time to time I’m ready for it !

"I've told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you'll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world." Jesus. (John 16 v 33)

NON ANGLI SED ANGELI

11th November....Remembrance Day.
2007....the year we remember the abolition of slavery 200 years ago.

Geoffrey Studdert-Kennedy was a First World War Chaplain. He wrote many poems around 90 years ago in and around the trenches.
Below is an excerpt from Studdert-Kennedy's long poem NON ANGLI SED ANGELI, recalling the encounter between Pope Gregory and ‘Angles’ (English slaves) when he famously stated ‘not Angles but Angels’.
In editing it, I have found that Studdert-Kennedy, though long dead, directly challenges many aspects of our society today (even abortion). PC he is not. Some might say he glorifies war but does he?.... and maybe today we glorify peacetime when in fact evil abounds amongst us, and slavery takes new forms.
comments welcomed

He saw it with the eyes of Christ, and spoke
in all unconscious prophecy, the doom
of slavery, which these same blue-eyed boys
would one day die to banish from the world.
And I have seen them die in these last days:
Yes, I have seen their bright blue eyes grow dim
with agony, yet never lose their smile,
The dauntless smile of Angles that reveals
their angel souls, and crowns them Kings by right,
the destined saviours of the world from sin,
and from the curse of tyranny which kills
the souls of men, and turns them into slaves.
The day of tyrant kings is dead, and thrones
shall nevermore dethrone men's souls.
But now a dull inhuman monster takes their place.
The minotaur of Mammon tears the wings
from new-fledged souls and flings them bleeding down
to dogs of greed and lust.
To him they are dead hands, machines that make machines,
and grind out gold to swell the coffers of the rich.
So Satan takes new forms, and when he finds
the sword is weak, too weak to win brave hearts
as slaves, creeps snakelike in, in time of Peace,
to fetter free-born men with golden chains
and lead them helpless captives down to hell.
O England, when this wave of war is spent,
and rolls back baffled from thy rocky breast,
wilt thou be strong to slay the Minotaur,
and strangle that great golden snake that crept
in time of Peace about thy home to kill,
with venom of low greed and lust of wealth,
the soul of Freedom and the heart of Love?
Shall wealth still grow, and woe increase to breed
in filthy slums the slaves of poverty?
Shall senseless pride and vulgar luxury
by gilding over evil make it good?
Shall souls be only hands again, dead hands,
That toil for wealth that makes none rich save those who need it not?
Shall men still seek in drink a refuge from the burden of their strife,
And from that dull monotony of grey
that shadows half our cities from the sun?
Shall women still be bought and sold, like dogs
upon the streets, because the wage they earn
by work will not keep bodies for their souls?
Shall children come to birth, too weak to live,
Not even hands of strength, but feeble hands,
that clutch at life and die--just born to die
and cry--cry shame upon the grimy world
that murdered them?
If this be what must come,
then blessed are the dead who die in war,
Their bodies shattered, but their souls untouched
by slime of sin, unpoisoned by the snake,
For war is kinder than a Godless peace.
O England, let this message from the past
ring down the ages like a trumpet call,
Not Angles these but Angels, souls not slaves,
let not thy wealth be counted in base coin
but in chaste mothers, comely maids, strong men
with kindly eyes, in sound of children's play,
and in those happy aged ones who stand
between the seas of life, and, looking back
and forwards, vow that human life is good.
So must our land be reckoned rich or poor.

LINKS:

Studdert-Kennedy's poems:
http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/dasc/TUB.HTM

modern forms of slavery:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/slavery/modern/modern_print.html
http://paulfield.com/cargo/
http://www.stopthetraffik.org/default.aspx

Humility

Some thoughts on humility...found on GODTUBE:

Will you be an encourager?

Remember the geese? (blog 29/9/07). Ian and I see a flock of them most days on our morning bike ride and they serve as a reminder......
.... ‘encourage one another.’(Heb 10:25).
There is no better way of helping each other fulfil our God-given purpose on Earth.

We need fewer critics and more cheerleaders......... those who see over the heads of those who say ‘it’ll never work’ and shout to someone launching out in faith. ‘Go for it! You can make it!’ …..in the words of Jesus; ‘Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets.’ (Luke 5:4)

So often people are discouraged, and this is the devil’s work.
Encouraging one another builds us up in love to be the people Jesus is calling us to be.
Will you be an encourager today?

‘We all have different gifts. Whoever has the gift of encouraging others should encourage.’ (Romans 12:6-8 NCV). See also Ephesians 4 :29b to 5 :2 (NLT)

…and we can learn a lot from non-Christians:
http://www.davecheong.com/2006/07/12/8-simple-things-you-can-do-to-encourage-others

PS You could encourage me today! If you are reading this blog regularly send an e-mail to michael_joyce@btconnect.com just to let me know.

More pneuma

When Ezekiel obeyed God and proclaimed, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord...live ...and know that I am God' the Bible says: 'The bones...came together ... but….there was no breath in them' (Ezekiel 37:7-8 TLB). So at that point He ceased talking to the dry bones and went directly to the source - the wind, the pneuma which is God's Spirit, saying: 'Breathe upon these slain, that they may live' (v9). You will never experience a divine visitation or a supernatural solution by looking to flesh and blood; that kind of experience comes only from God Himself. When you need His help, you must go directly to the source!

Today if you are struggling with financial pressures, health issues, addictions, or relationship problems, you need a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. Job said, 'The breath of the Almighty gives me life' (Job 33:4 NIV). So call 'time out,' get alone and pray, 'Holy Spirit breathe on me.'

Thanks to Word For Today UCB PO Box 255, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8YY England Tel: 0845 6040401
Email: ucb@ucb.co.uk (free issues of the daily devotional are available for the UK and Republic of Ireland)

Blow me

Returning home on my bike via Horkstow Bridge, I got a puncture….not an instant flat but a slow air leak. Holmes Lane has the very slightest incline, but it began to feel like a serious uphill climb before I looked down to see a deflating tyre. I pumped it up and got past Ermine Street before the struggle began again. By the time I arrived home the tyre was just about flat and I too was seriously short of air!

Modern tyres used to be called ‘pneumatic’ to differentiate them from the early solid tyres. The word is derived from the Greek ‘pneuma’ meaning wind, air, breath or spirit. The Bible uses ‘pneuma’ to describe the Holy Spirit…the breath of God.

I wonder if, like me, you have discovered that without the pneuma of the Holy Spirit everything you do is flat and you end up exhausted?

With a new tyre and tube and plenty of pneuma there’s no holding me back…

Encounter with Jesus

Years ago we ran a kids' Holiday Bible Club on the theme ‘Close Encounters’…(when that film first came out…yes, it is a long time ago!) I remember the series as being particularly challenging and inspiring.
Apart from encounter there is nothing else in the Gospels. Every tale is an encounter.*

Here’s one startling example:

Matthew (ch. 20) tells how Jesus sets out for Jerusalem for the last time. He is on a roll at last. The crowd swarms around him sensing that this is the time, the moment of destiny, the final showdown between Jesus and the authorities. They press toward him, willing him, cheering him on. At Jerusalem, as we now know, the whole direction of history will change.

Then….two voices break out, disturbing the cry of the crowds.
'Lord Jesus son of David have mercy on us!'
Two blind men. The crowd tries to drown them out, tries to silence them, rebuking them for their audacity. For now, now is the time…..

But Jesus stops.

Jesus stops….and it is as if for a moment the eternal destiny of the universe is placed on hold. Two blind men - perhaps it's fairly obvious what they want. But Jesus asks anyway and by so doing gives them dignity. The question Jesus asks is massive. 'What do you want me to do for you?' These words echo down through the ages. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus will do everything that humanity needs, but first he chooses to ask this question of a pair of beggars. By that dusty roadside Jesus performs the last healing miracle recorded in Matthew's gospel. He gives two men their sight.

Jesus will never simply be the mascot or figurehead of the crowd, propelled along by their hopes and expectations. Nor does he dispense God's gifts without thought for the one who is asking him. Jesus makes the space for encounter. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, but here is a reminder: Jesus has come not simply to fulfil a mission, but for the healing of humanity; not for a heaving mass, but for individuals each with their own needs, like you and me.

With thanks to Ben Care (LICC)
*Bishop Anthony Bloom

Alison's Psalm

A friend wrote this recently:

A PSALM OF THANKSGIVING FOR MY PARENTS
Both my parents have passed away in the last two months. I was going to write a lament, but was surprised to find that I wrote a thanksgiving. I found the process of doing this very healing.

O Holy God, I thank you that you are my Heavenly Father,
unceasingly directing, protecting and upholding me.
I thank you for the gift of my earthly parents,
for their love, their guidance and their strength.
I thank you that you led Mum to introduce me to you,
as she showed me your ways through teaching and example.
I thank you for the faith that Mum and I shared;
for the privilege of this strengthening bond in her final days.
I thank you for the loving family life I was born in to;
a reflection of the fellowship of your whole family on earth.
I thank you for the arguments, the rows and the debates
that formed me, and allowed me the freedom to doubt and to question.
I thank you for the continuous encouragement and affirmation they gave,
as ever you, my Eternal Father, sustain and support me.
I thank you that as I turned from cared for into carer
you gave me the courage and assurance to make those life-changing decisions.
I thank you, Lord, that you took them home together
in testimony to their unbroken bond of love.
Lord, despite your love and their love, I still feel battered and bruised,
Yet I know that your mercy will continue to uphold me.
I am full of sorrow, of tears and of pain,
yet I know you will use these to give me courage and compassion.
I praise and thank you, O Lord, Eternal Father, Healing God,
and pray that all will know the unending blessings of your love.

True simplicity

THE HIGHWAY CODE just got bigger - 50% bigger in fact, containing 29 more rules !

....like everything else...

Many people struggle at work weighed down by regulation, more rules, more laws to fall foul of.
It’s impossible for any practitioner in any trade or profession to even understand some of them let alone keep track of them all.

Sometimes I despair….then I remember:
There are still only TEN commandments.
And Jesus explained that those TEN are summed up in TWO:
Love God and Love your Neighbour
The Christian’s rule book is always the simplest of all.
Isn’t that refreshing?

….And isn’t it also good news that when we mess up and are really sorry, He gives us a fresh start?

PS Try the Highway Code quiz if you dare!
http://www.nurs.co.uk/news/articles/cms/1191442582212694732542_1.htm