Family

My church has three different services, one of which is called 'House', because it's held in people's houses.* I go to 'South House'. Bet you can't guess how it got its name. Yesterday near the start of the service and before the kids had gone out for Sunday School, the leader got us to break off into small groups and pray. I was sitting with some friends and someone's boy, so I asked if he would join our group. It was a really special moment, with adults and kids taking it in turn to pray. I guess this is what happens in families all the time, but for me it felt even more special because, in one way it was so random, yet in another way its very randomness highlighted the fact that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.


* The other services are: 'Classic', which is as it sounds; and 'Tuesday Crossroads' (or 'Toilet Block Tuesday' - makes sense when you see the venue), which is a low-fi, hard-hitting service aimed primarily at uni students.

The prayers of the saints

Gosh I feel uncomfortable when people 'make a fuss' over my missionary plans. This comes partly from noble reasons. I worry that people will think that I am somehow being more spiritual or faithful by doing ministry overseas; whereas I'm convinced that serving God in your current situation can be every bit as spiritual or faithful. I also sometimes worry that people expect me to be a superhuman sort of person: simple-hearted, single-minded, über-zealous - and strangely genteel.

Ah, but there's ignoble stuff woven all through my thinking. I should be assuming the best of people. Why not simply think that they are excited by my ministry; that they love these people they haven't even met; that they just want to give me every support? I hope to think that way from now on, like our brother Paul.

On [God] we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Cor 1:10-11)

More than we know

I didn't use to trust God very much. I knew I ought to and I prayed about it for a long time and tried to pay special attention to Bible passages that spoke of his trustworthiness. But I do trust him now - not completely, but far, far more than I did. I didn't do anything to garner that trust - it's just that he answered my prayers.

My trust in him has taken the sting out of the things I don't like about my life. I still have no better idea of what my future will look like and if my desires will be fulfilled, but I figure there's a very good chance he's got it covered, one way or another. I figure he'll look after me.

I think that with God we're like little babies. My friend's kid was bawling the other day, desperate to eat his lunch. His Mum had it ready, but it was too hot so she had to wait a minute before giving it to him. She reassured him, "I'm actually preparing you one. It may seem like I'm not giving you one, but I am."

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Cor 4:16-18)

Not choosing your words

Thinking before you speak is generally good. It stops you from saying things you might come to regret and it helps you to explain yourself clearly and winsomely. But if you're the sort of person accustomed to monitoring your words, you can fall into the opposite trap, becoming too cautious of how you speak, which can feel a bit fake. I'd really like to do more just saying things the way I see them without worrying too much about people getting offended or confused.

Attachment and suffering

Here's what I remember being taught about the Buddhist view of suffering and attachment. The Buddha came to realise that all suffering is born of attachment. We clutch onto people and things as if they are ours to possess, and are heartbroken when they disappoint or slip away. This is not only unhelpful, the Buddha said, but false. The Buddha taught the interconnectedness of all things and the illusory nature of the independent "I". He advocated simply being in the present moment, observing 'good' and 'bad' without judgment. A life lived this way will be open to experiencing happiness and will be without cause for suffering.

The first thing to understand about the Christian take on these things is that it begins from a very different place. Christianity is not founded on a desire to avoid suffering, but starts with the simple reality of the Creator God. This Creator God is separate from his creation. He made individual people who, while designed to live in harmonious community, will remain individuals even to eternity. This means that from the Christian perspective, there are indeed real people to whom it is possible to become attached. This is no illusion. Yet our relationship with God is always superior to relationship with other people.

Some of God's teaching about suffering and attachment sounds almost Buddist:

What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

However, this 'holding loosely' comes not from an eschewal of suffering, but from the larger reality of the passing away of this world.

Nor does Christian teaching end here. Indeed God himself is no avoider of suffering. In the Christian Scripture, he depicts himself as a jealous husband; Jesus wept over his friend's death and over the people's refusal to come to him; and his apostles and prophets were often anxious and sorrowful men. God the Son went to the cross because of his attachment - an attachment freely chosen.

And like our Lord Jesus, Christians are to be so attached to the people around us that we will happily die to ourselves that they might live. One day this world will pass away, but its people will remain.

P & O

Peter Carey's Parrot and Oliver in America just entered triumphantly onto my list of favourite books. Gosh it's superb. I've only ever read Oscar and Lucinda before, which was good, but not all that. What are his others like?

Joining the circus

I spent last weekend at the circus. It was a bit like heaven except Benny wants a book-lined room. Lots of colourful people and kids. Lots of learning to use your body. Lots of cruising around the safe, happy environment, feeling accepted as you are. But there was also a bit of crudity and violence in some of the acts, as well as the usual selfishness in human relations and an absence of thanks given to God for the beauty of the place and the creativity of the people.





Here are the crazy boys I went with: