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I am one of those people who loves language and words.  Recently, I wanted to find out about “collective nouns”.  A collective noun is a name given to a collection of things.  For example a herd of cows, a murder of crows or a murmuration of starlings. The collective noun that I wanted to discover was a group of clergy.  Now, before you start thinking of anything uncharitable, let me put you out of your misery!  The closest I could find was a “prudence of vicars”.  What I have not discovered is, if this applies to Anglican clergy only or, also to non-conformists.

I had a particular reason for wanting to find this out because today I had a “prudence of vicars” in my home.  As chair of our local Churches Together, I invited all the local clergy to my home for lunch.

When I first became a minister, Churches working together was a rare.  But over the years this has, thankfully, changed.  Instead of glaring at our differences we need to look at what we have in common.  I value my friends and colleagues from across the denominations, and I have learnt a lot from the different traditions.  As the “prudence of vicars” gathered I found myself reflecting on the words of Psalm 133;

How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!

(Psalm 133 vs. 1- The Message)

But, I believe, these words do not just apply to Churches.  I think these words apply to all of us.  Maybe, we need to look to the things we have in common with those around us rather than glare at our differences.

I hope it will not be too long before we have another “prudence of vicars” at home.  Maybe there is someone that you need to look at differently.  In the meantime, I am going to look for my copy of the “white album”….

I had an aunt who always used to tell me that “school days are the best days of your life”.  I disagreed. I was not a big fan of school.  I would often find my mind drifting, I would gaze out of the window longing for the day to pass.

In my day, if a teacher spotted you half a sleep they would wake you up with a piece of carefully aimed piece of chalk.  The chalk could be made to bounce right in front of you and soon got your attention!  If you were messing about in the classroom, something a little larger like the board rubber was used.  Teachers today have lost these useful tools, a “smart board” doesn’t have the same effect!

Of course, the real point of the board rubber was to clean the chalk board or, erase mistakes on the board.  A quick wipe over, and the board was clean.  If only life could be like that.

There is a book in the Bible called Psalms in which the writers express a whole range of feelings and emotions and, this morning in church, we looked at one particular Psalm 103.  In it, the writer speaks about how God erases our mistakes with His forgiveness.

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us.

(Psalm 103 vs. 12)

 

That’s how complete God’s forgiveness is.

 

As one commentator says;

God is big enough to pick me up when I have fallen. God is big enough to clean me up when I have gotten dirty. God is big enough to “cleanse me of all unrighteousness.” It is God’s Forgiving Grace that keeps me going.

(anon) 
And when Jesus saw the crowds.  Saw the people that were gathering around Him He knew the burdens the rules the guilt the failure of their lives and He said these words to them

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(Matthew 11 vs. 28 – 30)

God’s forgiving grace is better than any board rubber because, it not only erases, but it works deeply within us to change our lives.

Yes, I did get that right, for those who think it should have read “please do not adjust your set”.  Let me explain…..

This morning I did quite well, I even had time to take the dog for a walk before I needed to get to the office.  I am very blessed to be living beside the sea.  We did one of my favorite walks – Holland Haven.

There is a little spot, just down by the sea where I like to stand and pray.  As we got to the spot this morning, there was nobody else around, so I stood and looked out to the horizon.  What I saw was interesting.  As I looked straight ahead there was beautiful sunshine, I could see the horizon and the turbines stretching out for miles.  When I moved my head slightly to the left, the sky was dark and the visibility was poor, the view was “unseeable” (not a proper word I know but, I hope you know what I mean).

So, there I was moving my head backwards and forwards like I was watching a tennis match!  Good job there was nobody else there!  Same morning, same time, same sea, same place – two different views.  But, isn’t that always the case?  I know there are some people who are pessimists and there are some who are optimists but, I think this runs deeper than that.

When I look at the life of Jesus, I realize that He saw exactly the same people as the Pharisees  and yet He saw them differently.  Same people, same time, same place – different view.

I believe that Jesus calls us to “please adjust your set” and look at the world with God’s eyes.  To see potential where others see failure, to see hope where others see despair to see acceptance where others see rejection.  Surely, this is “pie in the sky” thinking you say (go on admit it!!!!).  I think not.

“Adjust your set”, dear reader, change your vision and it’s God that helps you to do that.  In  the words of Corrie Ten Boom;

Look at the world , you’ll be distressed.  If you look within you’ll be depressed.  If you look at God, you’ll be at rest”

Is it time for you to “adjust your set”

 

It was the wonderful Adrian Plass who once wrote “God’s two greatest inventions are bacon sandwiches and salvation”.  I know what he means, I love a bacon sandwich (salvation’s great too!).  But, it was the humble bacon sandwich that has challenged me recently.

Some of the men that form part of our fellowship have wanted to set up a men’s prayer breakfast and, if I am honest, I was not too keen.  Why?  A couple of reasons.  Firstly, I have never been happy with ministries that exclude a proportion of a fellowship.  I suppose I have seen the damage that christian’s have done to each other by excluding women from fulfilling their God given calling.  Secondly, I had an image in my mind of what “men’s ministry” looked like and it wasn’t something that appealed.

Prejudice simply means that we have “pre-judged” something, whether that is a person, race, gender or even a ministry.  I believe that throughout His life and ministry Jesus challenged prejudices and through His Holy Spirit, He continues to do so.

So, I gave the men’s prayer breakfast a go.  I enjoyed the bacon sandwich, I enjoyed the fellowship, I enjoyed meeting and chatting with a really great bunch of friends.  I have, since then been to a curry night and, later this year, will be going to The Gathering (organized by Christian Vision For Men).

What also thrills me is that some of the ladies in our fellowship are now exploring the possibilities of their own gathering (although I understand no bacon will be involved!).

What I have learnt is that when we confront our prejudices, we can discover something that becomes really valuable to us.  So, go ahead, why not give something new a go, who knows what you may discover as you do.

 

 

 

The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft a-gley,

(Robert Burns To a Mouse 1786)

As Burns night is almost upon us, I thought I would begin by quoting the great Rabbie Burns!   But, strangely enough, these words seem to reflect my week.

I began my week with ideas and plans all in place and everyday, something went wrong and nothing I planned got done.  How do you manage when things don’t go as planned?  I have a tendency to get frustrated and i can find it very stressful.

I found myself reflecting that most of the most inspiring moments of Jesus ministry came from interruptions, His “best laid plans” were interrupted on many occasions and it’s from these His ministry flowed.

Perhaps, instead of getting upset at the interruptions, we need to learn to look for the opportunities in the interruption.