Mental Heath in Crisis? No, it's on autopilot!

One of the safety nets for those who suffer from mental health issues is that of the crisis team, a bunch of people who monitor the telephone and await calls from those who know they are in the midst of a brain squall (those storms which come from nowhere and sink many a life) - for many of those who suffer from mental illness this is the equivalent of the lifeboat service; you call and the flare is sent up and help is made theirs.

Of course it's not just the mentally ill who suffer through mental illness - there are also the family and friends who, finding a loved one sinking and unable to cope, need to call the crisis team  in the hope that they might get advice and the help of those who are trained to deal with the squalls and waves of depressions, mania and confusion.

I have a great deal of respect for many of those who work in the support and care of the mentally ill, but of course there are some who challenge my Christian love and there are situations which cause me to mutter and moan (after all, we are all human, aren't we?). This is one of those situations:

One of the people we know and seek to support obviously 'in crisis' and in need of assistance and this, as always, presents itself as a 'walking on eggshells' exercise to avoid adding to the ill person's stress and getting the right person to do the right thing in the right way around them!

It wasn't that long ago that we found ourselves in a similar situation which went really wrong and eventually saw the Police enforcing a section 136 (a Police section which permits them to take the ill person into custody at a mental health unit and detain them, without any right to leave so full assessment can be made, for up to 72 hours.) on them.

But here comes the problem.

Imaging you're on an aircraft flying along at 10,000 feet when you notice the pilots come out of the cabin, don parachutes and leave by the nearest exit (OK, we'll forget about decompression and the closing of the door afterwards, it's an analogy not an accurate account of flying at FL100 and the effects of pressure). What would you do?

Imagine you ring the attendant call and ask the steward what's going on, only to be told that the pilot and copilot have started their holidays and since they were flying over their chosen destinations thought it would be handy to parachute in rather than get a flight back after they'd landed the aircraft you are in.

How would you fell - especially when invited to have a peek at the flight deck to reassure you and saw this:

Would you be reassured?

Not even if the steward told you that everything was pre-programmed  for the aircraft to land at your destination automatically and that, "Nothing can go wrong! - all will be well by the time the end arrives."

Well that's the situation my ill person has found themselves in - they've rung their CPN and their support worker, their case worker and, having had no response, called the crisis team to be told, "Your team are all away on holiday but will be back soon and will be able to help you!"

Now imaging you had a fire and heard the message that the firefighters were all on holiday but will get back to you as soon as they return. What do you do? You have the equivalent of a blaze inside someone's head and there's no help on the horizon?

Looking at the situation I find that a combination of reduced provision, holiday season and the usual (yes, it even happens in mental health care) 'jobsworth' attitudes (brought on by too much workload and perhaps not enough training) are all at play here. Were the ill person just up the road I could get involved and 'do stuff' but this usually results in us becoming the carer and support person (and workload means that once in that frame those 'carers' are more than happy to step back and leave us to it) - not always an easy task.

So a plea to those who have people in crisis: MAKE A NOISE - BE BLOODY MINDED!

I am not rabble rousing here but unless the MPs, the local and County government departments, the NHS trusts and the like are challenged and niggled, nothing is going to change and the tide, with regard to mental health care, has already gone out too far - it cannot go out any further without tragedy becoming a daily reality for our communities.

If you read this and are in mental health care, please realise that this is not a knock at you (unless you're the person who told me that those around you were, "Too busy at the moment!") but an acknowledgement that you are part of an underfunded and overstretched occupation and call to draw a line and reverse the trends and to get you some able (and present) coworkers).

In the area I inhabit there are only two mental health units running now and the danger is that soon the stewards will be leaving the aircraft too. Think about the aircraft analogy and ask yourself why, when no one would tolerate such a thing happening, we are willing as a society to let the same scenario be the daily experience of our mentally ill?

Find out the facts - talk to the mentally ill you know - make noise.

And of course, Christian or not, come alongside (and if you're Christian then pray too).

Pax

Iraqi Christians - a need for prayer

Open Doors calling for urgent prayer for the Iraqi Christians reporting that they are in great danger and that there is a real threat of being beheaded over the coming hours.

Where is the response to the UN statements of concern?

I see no real response from the Western nations, all I hear is silence from the Arab League and hear not one effective and influential Islamic voice speaking out against the situation.

The US are great at voting 'NO' in support of Israel yet are content to leave people on hillsides, resorting to UAVs and going onto the back foot when they should be looking to redress the situation they have helped create.

Shameful

PLEASE PRAY

Iraqi Christians: Pray - Act - Give

Says it all:

To save this image right click and select 'save image'

Iraq - 'A Christian holocaust'

In a CNN interview with Jonathan Mann, Mark Arabo, says:
"Christianity in Mosul is dead, and a Christian holocaust is in our midst . . . children are being beheaded, mothers are being raped and killed, and fathers are being hung. Right now, three thousand Christians are in Iraq fleeing to neighbouring cities,'

Mann responds with, 'You're startling me with the severity of what you're describing - You said they are --- beheading children?"

Arabo, calling on the international community to, like France, offer these people asylum continues with, 'They are systematically beheading children, and mothers and fathers. The world hasn't seen an evil like this for generations. There's actually a park in Mosul where they actually beheaded children and put their heads on a stick... this is crimes against humanity. They are doing the most horrendous, the most heart-breaking crimes that you can think of."

Mann asks the question over the ISIS letter telling Christians in Mosul to convert to Islam, pay a fine or be put to 'death by the sword', 'It's clear that they are killing people, but are Christians managing to escape by paying a fine?' To which Arabo responds: 'After Christians pay the fine, the fighters take the Christian wives and children and make them their wives - so it's really convert, or die.'

Those who have escaped the fighters by fleeing to the mountains, have died from lack of food and water there: "A quick scan of Youtube shows the truth of what Arabo is saying - there are gruesome videos of heads on spikes, and many of live beheadings (one poor Christian is forced to say the Shahada 'there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet' and then beheaded anyway.)",

Warning: don't google these things unless you have a strong stomach.

They are absolutely killing every Christian they see - This is genocide in every sense of the word. They want everyone to convert, and they want sharia law to be the law of the land.'

Please pray

Please support those in Iraq practically

Please talk about this with others (for generally all I keep hearing about is Gaza)

Please ask your politicians questions about Iraq and your nation's response (and be a pain)


You can see the whole interview below:

Mosul - An issue of ethic cleansing?

I've been asked whether the title to this blog should have the word 'ethnic' rather than 'ethic' and I have to respond that the use of the word 'ethic' is both right and fitting.

The noise generated by Israel and the Palestinian conflict and the downing of MH17 in Ukraine have conspired to assist the governments of the world, and us the punters, to put aside what should have been a measure of outrage at this obvious breach of human rights.

I would have expected people to engage in thinking ethically and defending what is right stand up and denounce that which is clearly wrong - and yet what do I see?

 Not a lot!

Ethic cleansing at its very best :-(

Take a look at this piece from the Assyrian International News Agency and tell me whether you're still sitting comfortably after it:

The last Christian reportedly left Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul at 12:00pm on Saturday, ending over 6,000 years of Assyrian history in the city.

Assyrians have lived in Mosul for over 6,000 years, converting to Christianity over 2,000 years ago. This all came to an end on Saturday, when the last Assyrian Christian left the city. On Thursday, July 17th, the Islamic State (IS) – formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) – released a statement demanding the Christians in Mosul either to convert to Islam, paying the jizya (tax on non-Muslims), leave the city, or be killed.

The threat was to be implemented on Saturday. It is being reported locally that by noon yesterday, every Christian had chosen to leave.

 Here in Erbil, about an hour an half [sic] away from Mosul by car, I have spoken with families who were forced to flee. They describe how ISIS invaded their homes, taking whatever they wanted, and threatening to kill them.

The estimates are that over 500,000 refugees have fled Mosul after Islamists took control on June 10th, and the few remaining Christians left yesterday.

Everyone I have spoken with has expressed their frustration with the international community’s lack of response to the crisis facing the people of Iraq (I'd call this a failure in ethics - wouldn't you?)

They blamed the United States for creating the current situation and for leaving the country so quickly and so creating the vacuum for IS to exploit. 

Many also think that it was a serious mistake for the U.S. to “give Iraq to Iran,” allowing Tehran to have a major influence in the Iraqi Parliament.

Another local told me he thought it was strange and nonsensical that the U.S. and European countries were opposed to IS in Iraq, but supporting IS groups in Syria and other violent groups against local governments. They warned of the danger such groups pose to the West. “These jihadists will eventually go home to their countries, to Canada, England and the U.S.” said one.

Please pass this information on and contact the press, the politicians and as many church members (and leaders) as you can. This needs to be noted, prayed about and acted upon politically too!

Emphasis in bold is mine

Pax

Make a stand with our oppressed brothers and sisters in Mosul

ISIS is marking Christian homes with the letter N, in Arabic ن which means “Nazarean”, so they pay punitive taxes and, like the Nazi 'jude' label mark them out for attack and potential death.

Please change your profile images to show your solidarity with our oppressed brothers and sisters - and pray for them and the situation they find themselves in.

Thank you.

Trains, planes, soldiers and faith

As a boy I used to walk past the (Ian Allan) train spotter's platform in North London's Finsbury Park and wonder at the people who populated that temple of locomotive transport with their camera, binoculars and Ian Allan locoshed books.

Time passed and I found myself atop the Queen's building at London's Heathrow Airport and was amazed at the 'plane spotters with their airband radios, cameras, binoculars and Ian Allan aircraft registration books.

The scene moved again and I found myself in the company of men who fought military campaigns in miniature (25mm) - from Greeks and Romans through to Napoleonic (first and second Empire) and on through WWI and II and into Dungeons and Dragons and space wars. The people were the same - hours were spent painting, researching and eventually battling. The only difference was that I didn't see any Ian Allan books though!

Church appeared on the horizon and again I was amazed and captivated by the Christians, Bibles and notepads under their arms, as they made their way to Church on a Sunday  (usually twice) and turned up on a Wednesday evening for another service and on Friday nights for all-night prayer and Saturdays (it was only all-night once a month) for special training days and other events.

Now it seems that once again things have moved and once where you would have stood if you hadn't been in the building half an hour before the service it's possible to get a seat, many seats in fact, regardless of when you turn up. Not only that but should you chance your arm and pop in for an evening service there's an extremely good chance that should the song 'I love you with the love of the Lord' be on the menu, you'll cause one of the other handful present to blush!

Now I'm told that I need to watch the big names on the TV and enjoy the personal touch that bringing it into my house brings! It's all about my having a personal faith and sharpening it by listening to the latest clever person who will send me a 'free gift' should I send money and support their ministry - but, thinks I, if I send money and get something in the post by return, regardless of how you've portrayed it, I've bought it! Not only that but the more I send the more I receive in the post. This was called commerce when I was a lad!!!

Where are the ordinary folk who want to sharpen their minds, engage in healthy and robust dialogue and actually work at honing their faith into something of worth? The good, ordinary, decent people who want to live in community and celebrate the cross, resurrection and salvation? The people who are their in a crisis rather than having yet another one (but don't worry there's always another preacher/teacher who will whisper reassurance and take you're money - and always another fool who will pay it and believe).

'But I don't have a personal faith!' 

I tell them

'I have a personal salvation and a corporate faith!' 

I'm called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus the Christ and to read, learn, change, pray, grow and keep on doing it until the game ends.

It's so blinking simple - or so I thought?

I see people who can find thousands for their new caravan or the trophies that mark them out as an enthusiast and yet, if they're Christian, they appear unable to spend time (or money) to make their faith work. I know - it's probably me what's got it wrong, after all - their Christians aren't they?

I know - they told me they were.

Would have been nice if I hadn't needed to be told I reckons!!

Sticks and Stones hurt: Words condemn and deny!

It's sad that the source of much of the cruelest 'anti Christian' utterances I encounter comes from the lips of those who consider themselves to be Christian!

You probably know those of whom I speak - they live alongside you, probably wearing a fish badge, cross or some other Christian symbol (and a fish on the car too).

The problem lies in that what they say isn't Christian (even though it might sound it) and the fruit of their finger-pointing condemnation is the wounding of people and the very denial of what Christianity is about.
They mean well (so did Hitler, as my Dad used to say!) and are often repeating what they hear from the pulpits in their 'heaven assured' gatherings.

Sadly (or is that thankfully?) wrong opinions are not restricted to 'Christians' as some experiences over the past week shows for:

I heard someone talking about how Eastern Europeans are the new 'people of colour' (not quite how they said it!) and they seemed offended that I was offended by that view!

I found those who mastered in the fine art of the ad hominem - the ability to tear down and discount others because they live in the wrong place (physically and spiritually) were unemployed, addicted, marginalised and the like.

I heard those who claim to be Christian proclaiming that '_____________' [insert issue] was THE defining sin!

Having defined the 'one true defining sin' they droned on about how God would whip the sinners behindsides and how they (the sinners) were going to burn in hell (have to define who 'they' is because I'm not so sure who the burnees are going to be).

Here's my thesis statement*:

'Jesus came into the world to save sinners+.'

These words, from 1 Timothy 1.15, sit well with so many of those who like to proclaim God's mercy towards a fallen and sinful world. What makes it better is that the words come from Paul (so they must be right)!

Betterer still is that the words are, as Paul tells us, 'trustworthy' and ought to be made our own. Add to this thinking the words of John 3.16 (which explicitly states that Jesus came not to condemn but redeem sinners) and we have guidance in the way that we (as Christians) deal with, and relate to, those who are caught in sin (and aren't we all?)!

For those us you who like to point at 'sinners'. What we should be saying is:

 'These are the very people Jesus came into the world to save and reconcile to God - not condemn!'

(please note - this does not make us 'permissive' - inclusive and loving Church is not permissive)

I'm assuming we don't want to deny salvation to them and go against the Boss, do we?  So here's what we do when we see 'sinners' - It's a great piece of Pauline teaching (don't get excited - nothing to do with women's ministry):

When we see someone sinning, we:

i. Check our own life (Matt 7 helps a bit here too in limiting hypocrisy with regard to judging).

ii. Make sure we know what the sin is and understand why the person is doing it and try to understand them (and form a relationship if we can).

iii. Find out what the Bible says about 'the sin' and when we understand that we're equipped to dialogue with them biblically.

iv. GENTLY! Don't rush in waving our Bible and condemning people - remember that righteous anger is merely anger packaged up to make us appear holy when often we are not!

v. Look to restore them - not condemn (or make yourself look right) - and reconcile them to God.

vi. Continuously examine ourselves - our motives, actions and the sinful person we are to ensure that opportunities for a wrong mindset are minimised and the potential for a Christlike heart and maximised.

vii. Lead the 'sinners' to a place where engagement and dialogue can be enacted and change and learning (them and us) can take place.

So give it a go: Get it right and we'll bring others into a relationship with God. Do it wrongly and we invite the condemnation of the Church (and of Christ) because of our cruel and self-righteous hypocrisy.

Happy Friday Folks


* Yes, you were right all those years ago William, it is the opening statement!
+ 'Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . .'

We always knew it was there: Psalm 151

Rummaging through the papers in the choir vestry the image below was unearthed.

Seems that many of the congregations, choristers and organists across the land were right after all:

Think I'm going to get the choir to do it on Bible Sunday :-)

Evangelism - it's not about 'converting' people

As our town moves nearer to Street Angels being a reality I was told of a conversation with a 'fellow Christian' (I'm sure you'll understand the inverted comma in a minute) regarding the opportunities it presented 'the Church' to get involved with those who are in town of an evening.

Their first response, having been told a bit about Street Angels, was, 'When do you convert them?' This was met with the observation, 'I don't think that we are there to convert or tell them about Jesus, but that, for that short time, we are there to be Jesus for them; to pick them up and help get them home safely.'

So they asked another question, 'What do you do the following night?' The response to which was, 'We pick them up again, and get them home, again!'

It was at this point that they declined to be involved on the grounds that what we were doing with Street Angels wasn't 'doing enough to grow the Kingdom' - And this is the reason why you will find in some churches see no real fruits because where they want scalps where Jesus wants servants.

The saddest thing is that many of those with attitudes like that displayed above are repositories of everything that is weird and off-putting to those outside and pretty distasteful to those within to as they live in their pathetic little 'holier than thou - avoid the unholy brethren' huddles! (Can you tell I'm frustrated? Problem is I've met it so many times with missioner hat on and yet I'm still shocked and frustrated as if it was the first time :-) )

So, for those of you in our area who have a servant heart for, and of, God - Street Angels is ready, willing and waiting for us to take up the challenge to minister God's grace (alongside those of no faith) because that is what Jesus would have us do. For in doing so we look, smell and act like Him.

We are not called to sit in our pathetic little huddles 'protecting ourselves from the world, the fallen and those whose theology and thinking we disagree with' - that's called being a cult!

(Yes, I am definitely niggled :-)  )

Jesus calls us to be salt, light and balm to the world - to take up our cross and follow Him, denying our sensibilities to cross the road and minister (ever read the 'Good Samaritan'?) to those who are neither of our faith or our friends.

This is how we fulfil the calling we have - not by hunting scalps and sharing the Gospel without first sharing bread, showing love and making Christ real!

Pax

Street Angels - Something good hits the streets

Last night I was privileged to spend some time with Burton's Street Angels as they went about their Thursday night engagement with the partying population of that place. Going out in teams of four, each one having a role as Team Leader, Mel, briefed the others (who fulfilled roles doing First Aid, Radio Communications and the like) on last week's experiences and provided general intelligence of what was happening in the community (end of term for the college) and what they might expect.

This done the team loaded up and went out to work their patch (with me as gooseberry in two :-)) and what I saw was great. There were the guys who work at getting people into their clubs, the security people (doormen) and the general populace were all in evidence and the team were greeted and engaged with as friends. No wonder as they make life simpler by helping those who have had a little too much to drink, provide flip flops for those who can no longer balance on the amazing hiiiiiigh heels, pass out water, provide tea, coffee and help those who would otherwise get into trouble stay out of it!

As they walked the streets, one of those who passed them asked, "What are Street Angels?' to which the bloke she was with said, 'They look after you if you get drunk.'

Never has a truer word been said!

Street Angels are there to help those enjoying themselves do so in a safe and protected environment and many do it because it's an extension of their Christian ministry of getting out there and serving their communities - want to know more?

Then find one in your area and if you can't - then it's time to talk to CNI and start one where you are :-)

Thought for the Day: Pro-Choice

I saw this and first I smiled, then I thought and then I started to think about how those who proclaim their belief in 'freedom of choice' often do so with the subtext 'as long as it's what I agree with'.

This clever image says it all I guess:

And the sad thing is that it applies to every aspect of choice, not just the pro-life example here!

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil

1 Peter 2:16 

Big Bang and the Christian?

Not a problem at all!

13.5 billion years ago?

Not a problem!

Using a simple reduction (thank you William of Ockham*)

Simple really!

Happy Friday to one and all!

* Ockham was a Christian too ;-)

At Last: Atheists say believers are right!

Here's a great image - and a great opportunity to defend (or otherwise) one's position (with a smile)"

Happy Saturday people

Human Rights: Commonsense Lost?

I have to admit that I am struggling a great deal regarding the issue of human rights in that everyone appears to believe that their rights trump those of everyone else around them and to not endorse something is to be 'phobic' (a word meaning 'not agreeing that my rights are supreme and the way I live is the only way').

The Secularists witter on about the wicked, oppressive and awful Christians.

The Homosexuals witter on about those oppressive and cruel Christians.

The Humanists witter on about how you don't need to be a person of faith to be kind and show love and bemoan the fact that the naughty Christians think they have the monopoly on being 'Christian' (which I would have to say that, of course, they do - the hint being in the name rather than the corruption that refers to an act).

The Christians  witter on about how Secularists and Humanists are blinkered and irrational and how Homosexuals run back to 'homophobia' as a defence for what has been for a goodly few years (want to start counting from Jewish roots or merely from the 'Christian' bit) a firm part of their faith. Of course in doing so they also drone endlessly on about 'persecution' and 'anti-Christian bias' and (like the other three groups - do themselves no real good in the process).

Why can't we see some balance, respect and commonsense?

Over the next few days I will be attempting to bring my views to the fore as I tinker internally with some of the issues that others are challenging me with (and it's funny that so many people are applauding one BA worker for wearing a cross up here in the Midlands) and hopefully might find some commonsense and dialogue from others too.

I have also posted this as a thread here: http://bit.ly/SJghcu in the hope it will attract and start something worthwhile. If you're not a member, then sigh un (proper names please - contact details are not available unless you opt to have such).

Pax

Footprints - part of Holy Writ? (3)

The famous 'Butt prints in the sand' version:

One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.

But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?"
Those prints are large and round and neat,
"But Lord they are too big for feet."

"My child," He said in somber tones,
"For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait."

"You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know.
So I got tired, I got fed up,
and there I dropped you on your butt."

"Because in life, there comes a time,
when one must fight, and one must climb.
When one must rise and take a stand,
or leave their butt prints in the sand."

(Suggested by the Pioneer Minister ;-)  )

Footprints - part of Holy Writ? (2)

There are many really interesting parodies of 'footprints'. This offering is one from an obviously Catholic source and uses the vehicle that is 'footprints' in a rather pointed manner:

Footprints - part of Holy Writ? (1)

Many years ago (when the earth was young) I was sitting in a service one day when one of the church members got up to do a 'reading'. Now the reason for the ' '  is that what they got up and read wasn't, as was the usual practice, something from the Bible but that wonderfully reflective offering ' Footprints'. To top it all when she had finished reading it, in unusually hushed and sombre tones, she added an 'Amen' for good measure and walked away looking as if she had just read something that had just come down from the mountain.

"Hey Ho!" I thought (as I often do) - whatever floats your boat. But sadly, that day, I remember that we didn't get another reading and this was indeed the text from which the sermons was to be drawn.

As much as I think there is something wonderfully supportive and true in the words of footprints, I'm not so sure that I'd place it us there alongside scripture and even if I was to use it as the primary focus of a sermon, I would be looking at passages that could be drawn in to support, challenge and bless.

With that in mind, I have to say that the cartoon below (which I first saw this morning) made me smile as I sat in my study (now a balmy 11.7 degrees C) and so I thought I'd perhaps share it with you as I embark on a journey that considers footprints (and perhaps some others that I struggle with) and the reasons for it.

Please feel free to offer correctives and bring other perspective into the process - This is merely my brain bleeding onto the keyboard and screen (now there's a nice Advent image for us all):

Pax

Work - Life - Church: balancing the numbers

Following on from the  'Church without Straw' entry a couple of days back I thought it might be useful to consider some of the ways of looking at life that exist. The first of these is 10/110.

At a conference last week, LICC's*  Neil Hudson suggested that maximum number of hours a person spends each week splits into 10 doing Church and 110 living (the remainder spent sleeping) life. This 10/110 state begets more than a few questions but here's two of them to get us thinking (and I'll deal with the first today):

Neil's question: "How does the 10 equip us for the 110?" collided with the question on the lips of others which went, "How do we get our members to do ten hours?"

Some merely said (out loud): "How comes so little? Just ten hours a week!" whilst others thought (for these are words that point the fingers at both members and leaders): "I'd be happy if our members did five (or even four) a week - I can't get them past a couple of hours!"

Neil was extremely challenging in that he spoke of discipleship (not just attending and paying the share) as something that took up the whole of our existence. The reality being that discipleship is 'holistic' (and I know how some out there hate that word) for it relates to the whole person: Body, mind, spirit, leisure and work!

The problem is that church leaders do seem to think that the work of evangelism is primarily that of bringing people in to pay the Parish Share and to supply new workers for the day-to-day activities, evangelistic, social programmes and all the other projects in the church. Neil put this into a more concise form (hope my notes are correct):

“The mission of many churches is to recruit the people of God to use some of their leisure time to join the missionary initiatives of church paid workers”

A pretty fair representation of the situation and something that indicates something deeper regarding our take on discipleship in that we ask people to use their 'leisure' time to do church and this, perhaps, is one of the main reasons that 'church' is regarded as one of many leisure activities rather than a lifestyle.


POINT ONE
We ask those who come to make church ONE of their hobbies and not the WHOLE of their existence!

I have friends who have a multitude of hobbies and interests and there's no thought that these might transfer into, enable/modify/or have an impact upon, their working or family life. They also happen to have on their list of 'interests' - Christianity! It's something that they do not something that they are!

ACTION
If I believe God is everywhere and if I believe that Jesus, the Christ, died for me to restore the relationship with this 'everywhere' God - why do I seek to engage with Him only in certain places and at certain times? If He's always with me then how comes I'm not always with Him?

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (PS 139)


POINT TWO
When people come to church we tell them stuff that sits within the box marked 'Christian time' stuff and rarely tell them how to make that 'all the time' stuff.

We don't need to major on esoteric faith life but an inductive and grounded in 'life outside the box' (the box here being the church building) Christian living. 

ACTION
The way to make disciples is to be a disciple and just like flying (and every other hobby I have been engaged in) it is in the gathering together that one learns the craft, honing skills and extending knowledge. What we do in the clubhouse is learn to do that which we do outside of it better.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matt 28 // Mk 16)


POINT THREE
The world runs along at 168 hours a week, every week for as long as we are in it and yet we (The Church) focusses only on that bit which is important - the service and the extremely small (and increasingly diminishing and marginalised) world of 'Church' and the ways we can keep the rules and be 'good'.

When people come into contact with the Church it should do so in the world not in the ghetto. Christians must live in this world, but they are not of this world. 


ACTION
As the Father sent Christ into this world to minister, so he sends believers to be ministers in the world (Jn 17; Titus 3) 

This is a pretty messy blog in that I've written in off the top of my head (as always) as the dialogue formed. I hope that this will shape and influence your thinking on the was we live as Christians.

As we draw to a close (tea drunk, office done and All Saint's communion forty minutes away) I have come to a rather painful realisation:

The thought that when I flew I was a pilot. I didn't do flying, but being a pilot was what I was. It translated into everything I did and formed my identity and influenced my conversations. When people introduced me they said, "This is Vic, he's a pilot."

How sad that I don't ever recall being introduced as, "This is Vic, he's a Christian!"

Every hour - Every day

LICC - London Institute for Contemporary Christianity

That's not very Christian, is it?

Popped into a church building today to find a bloke standing in the entrance smoking a cigarette and so politely I asked him if he'd either take it outside or put it out. "But it's chucking it down outside," said the chap, "Anyway, what's it got to do with you?"

I pointed out that first and foremost the law prohibited smoking in public places (“Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008”) and that there were a number of "no Smoking' notices around the place which pointed that fact out. Secondly, I had to point out that I was the dog-collar and was therefore, in some way, responsible for the building (open-necked shirt today as predominantly in the study all day) and its care.

"But it's raining, I'll get wet if I go out there," came the defence. Recognising this as no defence I suggested that in that case he should merely extinguish his cigarette and remain in the dry. Walking out (into the rain) he stopped, turned and said, "Very Christian!" and vanished into the deluge.

I wonder how often those who bear the title 'Christian' find themselves pilloried for being such because the source of the criticism, complaint or even abuse has found that their English language has let them down. So here we are, English Language 101 as our American cousins would say. Of course the Americans use a very different English from us but retain, and use, the same name for it to distinguish between it and Spanish, which is as I understand it becoming the more common language of the US of A (or Estados Unidos de America, to give it its proper name in years to come perhaps?).

C - H - R - I - S - T - I - A - N
(noun), one who professes a faith in Jesus Christ.

Not to be confused with:

D - O - O - R - M - A - T
(noun), a person who offers little, or no, resistance to abuse or mistreatment by others (an informal usage which differs from rug, mat or cloth at door entrance!).

Because I seek to be a servant this does not relegate me to a position whereby I become some lower caste or plebeian member of society who is there only to make others feel better about themselves. Neither do I exist to be the focus of anyone's misplaced linguistic or social skills or to help them elevate themselves by belittling others.

Time to stop apologising for being Church, church, and get out there and be loud and proud (in a quiet, humble sort of way).

Pax