Distant Mountain

I have called you by name, you are mine. It really is that simple. When God speaks in Isaiah 43, this is a statement of fact. We need not have any doubts, through all kinds of trial, we can be sure that God will be there alongside us. This is a great reassurance. There is more though, not only are we God’s children, but we are also his agents on Earth. He knows our innermost hearts better than we do and he gives us the challenge to discern what he had really called us to be. “Even before a word is on my tongue,O Lord, you know it completely. (Ps.139)” We ALL have a calling, the first step is accepting the call to be a Christian, a follower of Christ. Even that isn’t simple though, to live your whole life as a Christian, at work, at home, at rest, at school, with friends, watching telly, driving, do we fulfil our Christian calling at every, single, opportunity? It’s unlikely, we are only human after all. We all make mistakes, sometimes we follow what we think is in our heart, not ...

The first point to make, is that I'm hoping it will be more of a pause than a complete stop. After all, in some ways, if we reflect on our lives prayerfully with scripture to guide us, then that can be defined a theology in action. I also hope to return to the theology course when the time is right. In real terms though, last Thursday, I decided to stop attending the WEMTC (West of England Ministry Training Course) which I had been going to since September 2012. I had been attending as an independent student (so haven't been recommended for training to ministry) but they allow independents to study part-time alongside Readers and Priests in training to experience academia and help explore vocation (it's a part-time course). Full time students, usually younger or potential full-time ordinands would go to a theological college. Initially, the DDO had suggested I tried a term, which I enjoyed and it grew in four terms. As I started the fifth however, I realised a number of...

While at home getting out of breath if I move (due to a cold), I was looking at some old pictures of a wilderness retreat in May and I just wondered if this is still there; I know the top stone isn't, that is with me now and even if the cairn isn't there now, it was a great time of spiritual renewal. I lift up my eyes to the mountains –     where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord,     the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121

First sermon preached (ever)... Homily for November 3 rd 2013. 9am. St Mark Church, Cheltenham Luke 19: 1-10 May I speak in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen Some of you may be wondering who I am and possibly even, what is he doing standing there? A little like tax collectors at the time of Jesus. I suppose you could say that at I’m an outsider here.   I’m new to St Mark, or I certainly felt like I was an outsider eight weeks ago. So even though I was expected, it did feel a little like I was looking at a crowd from afar from the branches of a tree. So in some ways I can imagine a little of how Zaccheaus felt in our Gospel reading today. I can imagine that day in Jericho must have been hot and that crowds were jostling to see. Zaccheaus wanted to see Jesus so much he arrived early and climbed a tree. He knew it was on the route Jesus would be following into town. So, even though I can imagine a little of how he felt, I do hope that I’m not disli...

I wrote this recently to help build confidence in faith and calling; Lord Jesus, I pray to you in trusting faith and obedience You are the foundation, strength and cornerstone of my life My purpose is your purpose Your will is my will I will trust in your everlasting love As you were the stone the builders rejected, yet became the cornerstone; When uncertainty, doubt and troubles surround me, I pray that I may also be a foundation of faith, like the apostles, sure in the strength which comes from your steadfast love. I pray for the voice to proclaim the Gospel I pray for the words to tell the good news of Jesus Christ I pray for a heart ready to be filled and explode with the joy of a life lived with Jesus I pray for wisdom to discern my calling I pray this through the Holy Spirit, with my Lord Jesus Christ to God the father. Amen.

As part of my vocation exploration, I have recently started an eight week placement at a church about half an hour from where I live. As I work full-time, this is primarily Sunday's and one or two evenings. The idea is to gain more experience of a more evangelical worship style and also to get some experience of doing, "stuff," at the front. Now I already do some, "stuff," like readings and interercessions, but there is always the added dimension in your home church of being known and so doing anything else carries baggage in all sorts of ways. So to try these and other things somewhere else can be very helpful. In the first half of the placement I've read at early and evening Sunday worship and been to a leadership team discussion about holiness which was enjoyable and humbling to be part of. Over the next four weeks I'll be leaving the comfort zone so leading evening worship, going to a healing service, leading intercessions and then preach a homily ...

A few weeks ago, after a poor night’s sleep where dreams merged into wakefulness at about two in the morning, words were rolling around my mind about straight paths. The dreams felt like they had come out of some sort of conflict in the dreams which had taken place in a church but by morning I couldn’t remember who the arguments had been with. By morning the straight paths were still in my mind so I searched for them and found this: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and be not wise in your own sight. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. The words are from Proverbs and are in the photo here and had obviously got stuck in my head as I woke up at two in the morning having dreamt about a heated conversation in a church, with an unknown entity, with the words, "make your paths straight" in my mind. I also realised they are part of morning prayer every Monday and that I had also seen this on another bloggers page and it had obv...