25 and still going strong!
Saturday, 14 January 2012 18:37
In December we celebrated Barnton’s 25th Anniversary. I wonder if, like me, you were inspired by what Fiona had to share about the original vision of the church. I was particularly struck by the story she told about the McLean family coming to faith and how, 25 years on, we are still enjoying the blessings of that; small decisions with long lasting consequences.
As we look forward to 2012, I have found myself drawn to Deuteronomy 1: 6 – 8, part of Moses’ final address to the people. They had started so well and had left captivity and slavery in Egypt but had still not entered the Promised Land. There was more to come but the people had to do something about it. That something meant change they had grown accustomed to the wilderness and it also meant stepping out in faith again. God said to the people, You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It’s time to break camp and move on … Look I am giving you all this land. Go!” I firmly believe that this will be a year when we step out in faith again as a fellowship and begin to take possession of the land. I am aware that some folk who, like me do not live in the Clermiston area, may have questions about where they fit in. In Deuteronomy 3 we see that the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh already possessed the land that God had given them to the East of the Jordan (v18); they all had to cross the Jordan and help the other tribes enter into their inheritance. They lived in different areas but were one people, which is just how I see things developing with Barnton. We may live in different areas but we are still one church following God, going where He leads. We actually have a similar picture in Nehemiah where each family worked on the portion of the wall nearest to their house but they all worked and worshipped
together as a community.
Just as the church saw amazing and lasting fruit when they took their first steps of obedience some 25 years ago, I genuinely believe that, as we again prepare to step out in faith, in another 25 years there will be families that will be part of the church as a result of our faithfulness and obedience in this coming year. We have been around this mountain long enough; it’s time to move and to move forward together.
It's Christmas!
Thursday, 01 December 2011 21:57
I love Christmas. Despite all the commercialism and hype, consumerism and self-indulgence, I love the idea of generosity, a celebration of giving. Behind all that Christmas has become is the reminder that we worship a generous, giving God. I remember as a child my mother would often say to me that, "it is better to give than to receive" or words to that effect. At the time I didn't really get it; to be honest I just loved receiving and couldn't wait to open all the presents under the tree! However as I grew up I began to understand what she meant: seeing the sparkle in my children's eyes as they opened a gift from Becky and me, invariably followed by a big hug and a thank you. I just love giving gifts to my children and now grandchildren. Luke 11 tells me that if we who are evil give good gifts to our children, how much more our heavenly father will give good gifts to his children. God has provided for all that we need out of his amazing and glorious riches. He has provided good gifts for each of us, yet how reluctant we often are to receive them and when we do, how often we forget to thank him. What is more, God actually encourages to ask for his gifts! What are the gifts that God has for you? What have you asked for? This Christmas let us remember that we have a heavenly Father who loves us and delights in us. We have a Father who longs for us to receive his gifts and just like little children, let's make sure that our praise and thanks are just as exuberant and genuine.Looking Thru' the Eyes of Love
Tuesday, 15 November 2011 21:18
Becky was speaking on the subject of prayer at Alpha recently. What was interesting was that, whilst most of the guests didn’t have a problem with the idea of prayer and of a God who hears prayer, they were surprised when Becky told them stories about direct answers to prayer that she had personally received. They were even more surprised by the fact that she could testify to times when God had actually spoken to her.
We should not be surprised that God actually wants to communicate with those whom he loves. When I was speaking on Nehemiah we noted that the prophet not only asked God to listen to him but recognised that God could actually see him (Nehemiah 1:6). I guess if you are like me the idea of someone seeing what you get up too can be a bit unnerving – to say the least! We immediately think of all the things we do that we would not necessarily want others to know about, things that we are ashamed of or embarrassed about. I remember holding my new born son for the first time and looking down on him with complete amazement and love. As he grew he did things wrong and I witnessed some things that he would have rather that I had not seen. But I have never stopped looking on him with love.
That’s the astonishing and amazing thing about our Father God. When he looks down on you, because of Jesus, he does not see your sin, he sees someone whom he loves and would do anything for. In fact he already has. It should not surprise us that a loving God would want to speak to those whom he loves. I have to conclude that those who don’t expect to hear God speak don’t really understand how much they are loved by him. That is a challenge to us on so many levels.
Where do we go from here?
Thursday, 13 October 2011 22:18
At the church weekend we were looking at the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, in particular looking at applications for the church as we seek to move forward together. There are four values that are revealed in the passage (Luke 24:13-49) to which we should aspire.
- Jesus explained from all the scriptures the things concerning himself (v 27). Jesus is revealed in the word. It’s a living and dynamic word that still very much speaks to us today. I want us to be a church of the word. A church where the word is proclaimed and it causes people’s hearts to burn within them.
- They recognised Jesus as he broke bread (v31). Jesus is revealed in the context of fellowship, eating together. My prayer is that as people come among us that they will meet Jesus, their eyes will be opened. Where two or three are gathered in his name, he promises his presence. How easily that can be lost or damaged by criticism and unforgiveness.
- Jesus promised the Holy Spirit who would fill his church with power (v49). Jesus is revealed by his Holy Spirit, who always glorifies him. I long for us to be a church where all the gifts of the Spirit are evident because as Ephesians 4:12 & 1 Cor 14:4-5 point out they are for the building and strengthening of the entire church.
- Jesus wanted this message of salvation to be proclaimed to the whole world (v47). I long for us to be a “Good News” church where Jesus is revealed in our mission. A church that sees people’s lives transformed and whole communities renewed as they hear and respond to the gospel as it is lived, preached and demonstrated by the church.
Their hearts were burning as Jesus walked with them and expounded the scriptures to them. That is my prayer that our hearts too will burn as we to walk with Jesus, and begin to understand more fully what it means to be his disciple.
Some Good Advice from Paul
Thursday, 01 September 2011 14:46
“I’m too busy”, is one of the most frequent responses I get to the question, “how are you?” I have a suspicion that the busyness of most peoples lives is actually robbing them of the joy of life that God intended. Too many of us are living in a perpetual sense of guilt because we don’t have the time to give to the things that we think are important. Things like family, friends and even ministry (service). Sure we still try to find time for all these things, but its not the quality time we would wish or even crave for.
Paul when writing to the busy young Pastor Timothy (1 Tim 4: 11-16) gave him this advice. “Pay attention to reading, to exhortation and to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given through prophecy when the elders laid hands on you... Pay attention to yourself.”
I think that Paul was encouraging the young Timothy to do a few things well: to focus on his calling and his gifting, not to let the busyness of ministry and life stop his personal development, the sort of person he was becoming. Paul was encouraging Timothy to make sure that his life was balanced and focused, advice that seems particularly relevant to us today.
Timothy, as a Pastor, was told to give attention to “reading, exhortation and to teaching.” Reading is about preparation, thinking, reflection and learning and is most often a solitary exercise. Exhortation is about investing in others and encouraging them. Teaching was his job; it was what he was called to do. That for me is particularly pertinent. We all need to focus our attention on the things that we are called to and consequently gifted to do, things that invariably energise us and encourage others.
For too many of us church has become a chore and serving something simply done out of duty. I believe that God wants us to recover the joy of serving and to rediscover the beauty of worship and the enrichment of the relationships to which we are all called. Paul’s advice to Timothy seems a good place to start.