Journal: A green day

Today was taken up with pastoral things and green things as I found myself in a couple of locations talking to people about ethical, morals and the values and standards that define us and our nation.

Would that the world and the Church embrace the same Values and Standards of the British armed forces. (remembered by the mnemonic CDRILS).

Courage: Moral and physical
Discipline: Self and imposed discipline
Respect: For others and for oneself
Integrity: WYSIWYG - are you/we what we tell people we are?
Loyalty: All found in that one word really
Selfless Commitment: Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friend

As I look at new recruits as they make their first contact with the military and begin their first day of training I wonder what they will look like when they pass off the square at the end of it all.

As I look at the Church I see what I fear most in the world as fewer and fewer of the Values and Standards are upheld and more and more people tell me what Church should be in their, often puffed up and dismissive of others, view.

One thing the Church is becoming is certainly not a mighty army. Is it any wonder that so many speak of decline when the world has so infected the Bride of Christ? It seems the grace and love that saw it grow became ingpfected by the leaven of power and politics under the Holy Roman Empire and the death knells are being rung by those who wish to see the world and Church become one - but not in an evangelistic sense - tragic.

As for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Father God, the Bride of Christ has taken on the mantle of Gomer and now sleeps with others in the name of integrity and inclusiveness and yet displaying duplicitous and exclusivity. Mutual flourishing  has become a pot of wilting flowers detached from the plant such that eventually both will surely wither and die. Many I talk with share things in secret for fear of being outed as dissenting voices and  merely remain silent. The conditions by which women were given their pointy hats have been trampled down and there is no shame apparent.

Lord, have mercy upon us and renew a right spirit within us, Your Church.

Forgive us Lord, for we know exactly what we do,

Acts 40 - Bless the Boss

"Work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God." Ephesians 6:7 (The Message)

Imagine applying for a job and finding out the previous post-holder was God!

In 1 Samuel 8 this is exactly what happens. The people ask for a king and God points out that this is telling him, ‘You’re fired!’ We can sometimes expect our leaders to fulfil a job that only God can do. This doesn’t bless leaders or you.

Pedestals are lonely and uncomfortable places to sit, especially when you are expected to sit on them all the time. They can bend leaders out of shape or make them see things top down. People can look up to their leader’s position and not connect with them eye to eye as a person. The list of expectations can be endless: have vision and all the answers; don’t get tired; initiate good small talk; know me, value me, help me do great things …

Despite our expectations, or their own claims, leaders are human. They need our forgiveness and grace.

Our emotions, attitude and standard of work should be oriented towards serving God – that is a far higher standard and will ultimately be a blessing to your leader! At times we may need to graciously challenge or even change our leaders, but bless your leader today through forgiveness, acts of grace, and working excellently, unto the Lord.

We have probably all ‘fired’ God at some point and head-hunted human leaders onto our leadership pedestals. This isn’t fair to the human leaders or to us.

Fortunately, God was kind enough to tear up the P45 we gave him. In fact, he still has a job offer for us! You can start that job today, right where you are, and work knowing that you are working for the King of Kings!

Ewen McAlpine

For today's web page - Click HERE

D-Day: Seventy years on

Today, as we mark the seventieth anniversary of D-Day and pay homage to those who gave their lives on land, sea and in the air to bring about the beginning of the end of war in Europe, we pay tribute to all those who took part in that day and remain, proud and standing still.

We reflect upon the actions of all those brave men who piloted gliders into battlefield, jumped from aircraft and ran onto beaches laden with mines and into the face of machine gun fire: Those who ferried them to the conflict in the air and on the sea. We remember the women who were also present and providing medical support not far behind them too.

Today does not glorify war* - but it does remember the courage and sacrifice of many to rescue our island from the threat of conquest and repel the invaders from mainland Europe (something that took another 337 days of conflict) and bring peace. And we must remember that peace is something that rarely comes without a price - and that price was, in this action, over 4,087 allied lives (plus an unknown number of Germans) and more than 10,000 wounded.

Today, as I take part in the commemoration and remembrance of that day seventy years ago I offer a prayer of thanks for those whose selfless commitment, courage (and that's what it takes to run onto any battlefield) and patriotism have given me the freedom I, and all around me, enjoy.

For those who remain, my respect, admiration and thanks are yours.

For those who have gone - on, or from, the field of conflict or subsequently: May you rest in peace and rise again in glory.

And a prayer that was said by the Free French Commandos as they approached the beaches - one which might serve us well each day of our lives:

'Lord, I shall be very busy today. I may forget about You, but do not Thou forget about me.'

*take a look at the Omaha beach scene from 'Saving Private Ryan' to see how awful war is!

As Remembrancetide draws to a close ...

I'd like to take the opportunity to say 'Thank You' to all those who have held services, sold poppies, wheeled veterans around the various services of remembrance, made tea, wept with those who mourn and vowed to make the world a better place (in the many acts of commitment).

For those who I spoke to today - proudly wearing their Elizabeth Cross in memory of a life given in service to this nation: Thank You!

For those whom I met with medals proudly pinned to their chests and stories of service (some stretching back to before I was born) - my respect and gratitude are yours (and my prayer is that I might be of service to you in return).

For those who, like us at the National Memorial Arboretum today, braved wind and rain to pay their respects - my respect to you for coming and being part when others might have cried off.

Thank you to the staff, the volunteers and all who helped make today a successful witness of a nation's pride in is servicemen and women.

We have, and will always, remember them

Can we preach the Good News and still respect other faiths?

So here we are with the second of the evangelism triplet:

Can we preach the Good News and still respect other faiths? 

This is one of the really interesting and challenging of questions in that it finds itself occupying the same framework and considerations that those who ask the questions about the sort of church people should come back to and the 'exclusivity' issue that troubles so many in terms of having 'One god many iterations'.

First and foremost we have decide what position we occupy with regard to God. As I understand it there is but one God - that's the teaching of the Christian Church. God has three separate natures but is of one substance (take a look at ousios and the blasted trinity posts elsewhere on this blog) and Christianity it a monotheistic faith (mono = one, theos = god) and so I have to say that the 'all the same god - just a different name' approach does not fit with my own belief (as a Christian). 

BUT

The question uses the term respect and the answer to that is that unless one respects other people and their beliefs (or lack of belief) then our own faith and professed Christian attitudes are hollow and valueless. I have relationships with people of many and no faiths and I am especially impressed by the commitment and devotion shown to their faith as Muslims. We share our respective faiths and often find that we coalesce (no surprise there when one considers the history of Islam) but I'm sure we both also present our beliefs in mutual respect and the hope that the other will come and join us. I have people I consider to be friends (not bessies - but nevertheless they are friends) and whilst I respect (and even enjoy) their views - I still would love to see them come and join my club (and I assume they would like the opposite and have me join them).

I respect the fact that other people think and believe differently to me - although I sometimes worry when they're in the same church (locally or denominationally speaking) - but I believe that what I have found is the right path and therefore, having found something I consider worth having, I want to share it with others. I do the same with good magic shops, eating places and the like - it's called being in relationship!

But being in relationship with God (for I don't do religion) means that I bring Him into all my dealings and relationships and so whilst respect is present, so too is God.

So the answer to the question has to be: We cannot preach the Good News to others unless we respect them and their beliefs. We are called to be ellenctic and this form of dialogue demands that we speak and listen (the first being so easy where I'm involved and the second always a hard task) equally and afford people the rights, respect and dignity, that our faith demands.

Looking back to Micah we find ourselves being made aware that God expects justice, mercy and humility and these three are met under the label 'respect' - respect for self, for others and for God.

The problem is that some of my friends tell me that we must never try to share our faith with Jews because they are the chosen people. They continue that we must never try to share our faith with Muslims because they are, like us, an Abrahamic faith. They then tell that we mustn't tell people of no faith because we are being superior to them and we mustn't try and evangelise this religion, or that religion, or ...  because then we are causing division and being exclusive and other negatives besides.

We are told that we are to share the Good News (and that's the Gospel truth) and that we should go and do it without hesitation - in and out of season (that means when it's popular and when it's not - when we feel like it and when we don't feel like it) to ALL people (Abrahamic, Jewish, none and cultic).

So the simple answer is 'Yes' - the difficult answer is to be found in the bits above this sentence :-)

Pax

Arnhem - the final night

Sixty-nine years ago at about this time the Allied forces that were the Market part of operation Market Garden (Market being the airborne element and Garden the ground force) were gathered around Oosterbeek waiting to withdraw. Heading to the Neder Rijn they were ferried across the river to safety whilst a remnant of injured were left behind to cover their tracks.

c. 2,000 killed
c.6,000 captured
c.2,000 escaped

Memorial to 1st Airborne Reconnoissance Squadron
(See image below)

Arnhem was not to be liberated for many months but those who lived there then, and now, remember with gratitude their 'friends' who came and battled so gallantly to deliver them from their captivity.

A final thought for one with whom I share a family link in that we wear the same capbadge and follow the same Captain:

To him and all who have died in pursuit of peace

dona eis requiem

Lord, Do not forget me

Sixty nine years ago today a group of French Commandos headed for Sword beach and D-Day was about to begin.

As they approached, the Lord's prayer and this, the Kieffer Prayer, were said:

'Lord, I shall be very busy this day. I may forget thee.

But do not thou forget me. Amen.'

Keiffer and his Free French Commandos

As we go about our busyness today may these words rest with us and as we go throughout this day may we stop, even if only for a minute, and remember those who engaged in battle on those Normandy beaches; many never to return; and those who remember them as family members, comrades and friends.

Those who were there are fast leaving us and ageing rapidly - for those who are left we honour them and their actions this day and those that followed in pursuit of peace.

We will remember them

Remembrance - Never in vain

Every year around Remembrancetide the same old sad people trot out their, "Why not tell people their sons died for nothing," cobblers. They witter on about how awful bomber command were and take pleasure in the fact that they have never received recognition for the fact they took to the air and put their lives on the line in pursuit of peace (and in obedience to orders).

Well, here we are 11/11/11 and at 11:00 I will be gathered with many others to pay our respects to all who have served in wars and conflicts throughout the world and will be thanking those who have died in the pursuit of peace, the same peace that lets some drone on in the way I have outlined above, and yes, even to burn poppies (but don't be surprised is someone takes offence!). The reality is that when one nation seeks to subsume another into its nation, or remove a people group, or act against others in ways that are wrong and where the art of politics fails, it is to the men and women of our armed forces that we look for a remedy.

War is never glorious - and that is not the message of Armistice Day or Remembrance Sunday - but the fact that scared people go and do heroic things, overcome fear to make a stand and do what is right (in a right way), then these people deserve to be paid their due respect and thanked.

In the words of the Kohima epitaph:

For our tomorrow, they gave their today"

So let us pay homage to them and live well in that truth!

Pax

Political Correctness, Health & Safety, Harmful to freedom?

What do Political Correctness and Health & Safety have in common?

The answer is that both are means by which action is restricted or even curtailed and they, when combined with other measures that seek to prevent damage, offence and unwanted outcomes actually are handcuffing the worlds in which we live.

Health and Safety.

I was today told that a local team would not be parading their trophy from the top of an open-tipped bus because of heath and safety concerns. It appears that having done a risk-assessment, it was decided that there was too much potential for people being injured!

During the snow last year there was a news item about kids being stopped from sledding down the slopes for fear of injury to them should they fall off! Another story told of children who were stopped from playing conkers in case they were hit and hurt!

Heath and safety provides an opportunity for the nanny state to engage in excesses which go past taking reasonable care to protect and enter in the fantasy world whereby all things are potentially harmful or hazardous. It is easier to stop everything, because then nothing happens and so nothing harmful can result. The bottom-line is that Health and Safety, especially wrongly applied health and safety stops physical activity and endeavours.

Political Correctness.

A good principle in life is that if we stop people saying wrong things then this will lead to them stopping thinking wrong things. If we can stop people thinking wrong things then we can stop them doing wrong things. If we can stop people doing wrong things then we will have a society which is more balanced and a kinder, nicer, place to be in.

The problem is that when wrongly applied it produces a knee-jerk society that sees some people reporting others for breaches of what they consider to be correct behaviour and it drives the bigots, racists and people who live in a world of nastiness to merely function off the radar until they trapse through our towns with their banners and marches proclaiming that they are minority, acted-against, groups.

Many years a go, when our handicapped son was alive, we were visited by a social worker who kept wittering on about 'special children' and engaged in a variety of terms to avoid saying words like 'spastic' or 'mentally handicapped'. At the end of the visit I pointed out that rather than hide behind terms and euphemisms I would rather she'd have got to know our son. The political correctness stopped her engaging and thinking and this is the problem with being PC. I stops people thinking and encourages dishonesty.

One of the problems with ecumenical work is that just as people assume 'peace' is merely an absence of war, other assume that silence means unity! They don't and whilst I applaud the removal of offensive language from our vocabulary I am aware that this is not as real an outcome and stifling honest debate.

Last night I was approached by a member of the Islamic faith who thanked me for the words I spoke at a training session recently. Now we differ in faith and yet respect one another - this is what we need to encourage. Open and honest debate engaged on the playing field of honesty, respect and integrity, not encouraging people to merely hide words below the surface and growing the seeds of those words in the dark.

Pax