Too busy?

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Too Busy?



I muse………….do we get ourselves too busy?

I wonder………...do we do too much?

Could it be…………...for a healthy soul

We do less…………………..and be more.



To Ponder and Pray: Something to pray

Dear Lord,
help me
to do less
and be more.

Amen

Oh….and Lord….thank you….thank you for
the new buds
the smell of spring,
the feel of warmer air,
the taste of fresh produce
and the sound of the bird song.
Thank you for letting us be…..in the here and now.

Why I still go to church

With all the negative press the churches worldwide have been getting lately some people might wonder why I still go to church. All too often people in church do wrong things; you do not need to be a rocket scientist to know that church is not perfect. One of the reasons it’s imperfect is because I go to it. You might have heard it said that when searching for the perfect church, if a person finds it they should not join it as it will no longer be perfect. We all bring baggage to church. 

So why do I still go to church? Well, there is the social side. It’s a good group of folk who care for one another and also gather to help others in the community. Yet obviously I could join a service club to cover my social and community work quota.

There is the spirituality; I find church a good place to zen out, feed the soul and grow spiritually. It’s a place of teaching and of learning how to connect what is known in the head and in the heart with the whole of self so hopefully actions become more Christ like. Yet obviously there are a multitude of options out there for some form of spiritual growth stuff – so why choose a Christian church?

And why go to church regularly Sunday after Sunday when life is so hectic and there are plenty of other things to do at that time. Why not just chill out at a cafe or on the beach on a Sunday morning?

I go to church because of Jesus Christ and because of what he did on that first Easter Sunday. That historical event is so far-reaching it demands a relook at what is real and the meaning of life. Plenty of people have died...but how many have risen from the dead never to die again? This Easter it felt like a lot of Nelsonians had forgotten the historical fact (and good news) that just over 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ claimed he was God, was executed on the Friday morning, confirmed dead by a trained executioner and that evening buried in a tomb. On the following Sunday several women went to place spices on his body to find he had risen from the dead and over the next 40 days over 500 people saw him, heard him, some ate with him.

I still go to church because Jesus Christ rose from the dead and this historical event requires a complete change in how I view life and perceive reality. It gives empirical evidence that God exists and His love for us is deeper than we perceive. Local churches will have books in their libraries written by atheists who set out to disprove the resurrection only to end up discovering it really did happen. Allow yourself some space to check out this claim by Jesus to be God and how this shows God’s love for you.

God Bless
Jon

Unity

a verse or two

Then I heard all beings in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea offer praise. Together, all of them were saying, "Praise, honour, glory, and strength forever and ever to the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!" Rev 5:13 CEV

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Christian unity in our community.

The revelation the apostle John received on the isle of Patmos paints a picture of all creatures worshiping God the Father and Son in unity (Rev 5:13). Great multitudes that no one can count from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before God unified in worship (Rev 7:9 – 11). In 2007 Vivienne and I were in Bali singing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs of praise at the first ever global gathering of all the Council for World Mission (CWM) missionaries; it was to celebrate 40 years of CWM. It was a great feeling – being with people of other cultures together worshiping God. It was a time of unity, gathered together in Christ to worship Father Son and Holy Spirit. 

There is a depth and richness that comes from true Christian unity. There is encouragement and growth when in solidarity we share our stories of faith. There is learning and objectivity of faith that can’t happen when one remains a lone ranger. There is high level of humility and teachableness when one is willing to listen and learn from people who are different yet have faith stories to share.

A question I have for you is what would unity of the churches in Richmond Waimea look like? On the back page of this parish news is a copy of the statement the local Richmond Waimea church leaders agree to each year. It’s a great statement of unity of the churches in our district. What other things can the churches of Richmond Waimea do in unity? Why not muse on this and share your ideas with others.

To Ponder and Pray: Christian Love - Selfless & Giving Love.

Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Part of Christian love is giving to others those things that you would want them to give you if you were in their situation – and it's doing so even if they can't pay you back. In fact, it's doing so especially if they can't pay you back! Christian love is respect for others. It's mercy. It's charity. God's Love is unselfish and unconditional. It is which we all need to strive toward.

God Bless, Jon.

Letting God into our boring bits

a verse or two

“Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Letting God into our boring bits.

You might have heard me say in the past that faith can be spelt RISK – suggesting if we remain comfortable in our own lives taking no risks, we won’t need God in our lives (life is pretty cruisy in NZ). The implication is we need to take risks in life – to step off the cliff so to speak – so our faith builds up. I’m having second thoughts on this idea. 

Perhaps it would be better for us to let God into our everyday normal lives, into all we do including the boring bits. Yep, including the boring stuff that we think God would not be interested in. Where we think the action is so mundane and straightforward no faith in God is required for that part of our life. I say this because if we practice the presence of God with us at all times, if we could be aware of God’s friendship with us in normal everyday life; then, when the mud hits the fan we would be aware of God still being with us in that particular difficult time.

It would be natural to talk to him, and not some “freaking out” time of uncertainty, hoping like crazy God..."might listen....but...I'm not really sure".

If we learn to be aware of God’s presence in the normal, it will be normal for God’s presence to be with us in the un-normal. Then we could pass the test and receive the crown.

God Bless, Jon.

To Ponder and Pray: A quote by Brother Lawrence (c. 1614 – 12 February 1691) 

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it."

Letting God into our boring bits

a verse or two

“Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Letting God into our boring bits.

You might have heard me say in the past that faith can be spelt RISK – suggesting if we remain comfortable in our own lives taking no risks, we won’t need God in our lives (life is pretty cruisy in NZ). The implication is we need to take risks in life – to step off the cliff so to speak – so our faith builds up. I’m having second thoughts on this idea. 

Perhaps it would be better for us to let God into our everyday normal lives, into all we do including the boring bits. Yep, including the boring stuff that we think God would not be interested in. Where we think the action is so mundane and straightforward no faith in God is required for that part of our life. I say this because if we practice the presence of God with us at all times, if we could be aware of God’s friendship with us in normal everyday life; then, when the mud hits the fan we would be aware of God still being with us in that particular difficult time.

It would be natural to talk to him, and not some “freaking out” time of uncertainty, hoping like crazy God..."might listen....but...I'm not really sure".

If we learn to be aware of God’s presence in the normal, it will be normal for God’s presence to be with us in the un-normal. Then we could pass the test and receive the crown.

God Bless, Jon.

To Ponder and Pray: A quote by Brother Lawrence (c. 1614 – 12 February 1691) 

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it."

What we value vs. what we do:

a verse or two

“For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.” James 1:11

Spiritual Walk and Musings: What we value vs. what we do:

With yet another massive earthquake, once again the images cause sober thought and reflection on what our priorities are in life. One of the spiritual disciplines of Lent is to ponder our mortality – from dust we were formed and to dust we will return. Here is a little exercise.

Imagine we are told that a meteor was going to hit NZ and that a percentage of us are “all doomed, Captain Mannering”. Part of the shock of facing our mortality would cause us to evaluate what is most important to us. So, as a spiritual exercise, why not spend time in honest reflection pondering the things you currently do, day in and day out and ponder their value in the light of our mortality. That “to dust we will return”.

First think about what things you value the most. What is valuable to you? If you were on a deserted island – what would you want to have with you? Write these values down.

Next ponder the things you are currently putting energy into, the things that take up your time – write them down.

Now cross reference what you value most in life and what you spend your time on. I know for me there are some things I do, that in the scheme of things are not as valuable as the amount of time and energy I put into them.

To Ponder and Pray: Wise with our time. 

Dear Lord, help us to be wise with our time, 
help us to put you – our relationship with you – on top of the list.
And help us to put time into those whom we love;
     help us to pray for them; 
     help us to care for them; 
     help us to love them. Amen.

Selfless Apology

a verse or two

“Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” John 17:11

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Selfless Apology

Haven't the media had fun with all the apologies this week. Woods, Toyota, our own government ministers just to name a few – sorry I can't remember the other names. When it is said so much the words “I'm sorry” start to lose significance. The spin doctors overloaded rhetoric causes doubt as to the genuineness, therefore begging the question if the apologies were for healing of the victim and the hurt done to them or the offenders tarnished reputation. Is it selfish or selfless apology? 

One of the more intriguing media comments this week was someone quoting John Wayne as having said “never say you're sorry.........it's a sign of weakness”. Did Jesus ever say sorry? I did a quick search for the word “sorry” on computerised Bible concordance. It seems the words never came from Jesus' lips. Jesus didn't apologise for being missing at the temple for 4 days when he was a child and he never said sorry when he cleared out the money changers. 

Think to Jesus' prayer for the disciples on the night of his betrayal (John chapter 17). If there was a time to apologise, it would have been this last night before his death. He didn't pray “guys I mucked up here and there...” Instead Jesus washed his disciples feet when they should have washed his, he forgave his betrayer, and offered a positive love filled prayer that was filled with hope for the disciples future. 

So was Jesus weak? No. Jesus didn't need to apologise because he was selfless, because he had compassion for people, loved people and because he and the Father were one. Perhaps if we can be one with the Father and each other, our need for apologies will instead turn to offerings of forgiveness. If we can learn the art of selflessness, the initial hurt won't happen in the first place. And, if the big players on the world stage learn to live selflessly, the hurt they cause won't happen either. 

God Bless,
Jon.

To Ponder and Pray: A Selfless Prayer—the Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. 
Where there is hatred let me sow peace;
where there is injury let me sow forgiveness;
where there is doubt let me sow faith;
where there is despair let me give hope;
where there is darkness let me give light;
where there is sadness let me give joy.
0 Lord, grant that I may
not try to be comforted, but to comfort,
not try to be understood but to understand,
not try to be loved but to love.
Because it is in giving that we receive,
it is in forgiving that we are forgiven,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.