Nigel Wright

take a bold leap!

I'm getting to know an organistation called Chrism, I have just "borrowed" this from their site:

OXFORD CONFERENCE ON CHURCH, COMMUNITY AND STATE 1937

Preparatory Paper by W A Visser T'Hooft (later, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches) and J H Oldham

" .... the obligation resting on us is to refuse to be content with the present ministries of the Church …. Instead of pressing people to avail themselves of these ministries, the Church must have at least some adventurers who by a bold leap will take their stand on the other side of the gulf and find a starting point for their ministry in the needs and activities of the common life."

Still true 70 years later

Hats off to Rev Chris Mullins

Hats off to Chris for her appearance on the BBC's Songs of Praise and her no nonsense sharing of her journey from training to ordination and beyond, while dealing with cancer of the worst kind (and past her "sell by date" too - Chris's own words)!

God love ya - we all do...

See this for the initial part of Chris's story...sorry no BBC transcript of the interview referred to above.

Pray the work

"The work we do is only our love for Jesus in action.

And that action is our whole hearted and free service

            - the gift to the poorest of the poor -

To Christ in the distressing disguise of the poor.

If we pray the work…

            if we do it to Jesus

            if we do it for Jesus

            if we do it with Jesus…

that’s what makes us content.

…

I do this because I believe I am doing it for Jesus.

I am very sure that this is his work.

I am very sure.

I am very sure that it is he and not me."

                                    - Mother Teresa

Big Muddy Puddles...

I was going to do a post today about my nervous state  over a curacy position and how I don't seem to "fit"  anywhere and then something came along that put it all into context (runs on from yesterday too!), if anyone knows the author, please let me know:

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.

My kids see flowers for mum and blowing white stuff you can wish on.

*

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.

My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

*

When I hear music I love, I know I can’t carry a tune and don’t have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen.

My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don’t know them, they make up their own.

*

Thomas Traherne Detox

The Church Times (6 October 2006) ran with a piece by Denise Ingle looking at how the "17th century mystic has much to teach society about recovering the joy of childhood" which had me agreeing entirely but also grimacing at the thought of how I engage with my children at times and also about how I go through daily life!

The article was split into the following sections:

Tip 1. The world is good

Tip 2. Teach where the real treasures lie

Tip 3. Open your eyes

Tip 4. Take time

Tip 5. Enjoy life

What more is there to say?

By the way, easier said than done is a "cop out" - more to come on this...

To ordain or not to ordain

This post took me right back to my initial visit to a DDO in which the words "not really sure why I am here, but..." came back to me!

This is why I consented too Steve:

"I see the logic in people like myself no longer standing outside pointing the finger and actually getting involved and making a difference where it counts. It makes sense that God picks on/chooses people who do not fit. Nothing would be gained by adding another cloned thinky-a-like to the mix."

It was nice to feel like I fit for a while in NZ...

Back to it then!

(no offence to those who do feel they fit the mould - what's the secret?)

Safely home...many thanks

The Wright family are home safe and sound with a thirty six hour journey (door to door) which went as well as it could.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for us re our journey home, everyone who sent us good wishes and a big thank you too everyone at home, while we were away, who took care of so many things for us and did so many jobs we just don't seem to get around to doing on the house.

Great to hear how well this went too, fantastic!

The whole trip has felt very blessed and we came home to so many blessings too, we took a big big risk in faith and received so much more back in return through grace.

From this:

                                                   

     To this:

Praise the Lord O my soul, Praise His Holy name...

Drawing to a close...

On Sunday we attended Windsor Park Baptists, resting place of our hosts, and had the great pleasure of listening to Bonny Resu, General Secretary of the Asian Baptist Federation.

Two weeks ago I heard an awesome sermon on the Sermon on the Mount and in particular our response to God's call as salt and light, and you've guessed it Bonny's talk incorporated salt and light in no small way as-well as our partnership with the trinity (a theme that was developing in Where's God on Monday?).

Themes drawing much together for me, in very different settings.

The placement leaves me with much responding required as assurance and affirmation carry an obligation when walking in faith, an obligation to bring out "God flavors and God colours"!

The holiday part has been much blessed with fantastic weather and the following gives a feel for the folks at home (sorry no pics as on a dial up connection!)...

To a quiet place...

The last Sunday before I left for New Zealand I preached on Mark 6:30-34&53-end. Something haunted me about Jesus' words in telling the disciples "Come with me to a quiet place and get some rest", as the last of the good byes are said I feel the need to take heed of those words, maybe that's why they haunted me so much at the time.

An extract from my sermon notes:

"Do we know when to stop and take rest? Do we rest in Jesus presence?"

May I rest in Jesus presence, with my family in Auckland over the next ten days, before our flight back to the UK.

Saying goodbye is going to be hard!

My placement is drawing to a close with only one more "Where's God on Monday? and one more digestion with text blessing as the passionate practise. It has all been an incredible experience and affirming and assuring at the same time.

Although the physical  placement has been for a three week period the actual preparation and journeying with Opawa has been going on since last November with inter-action and project planning for the last six months. Technology has enabled communication and shared journeying that would have been unthinkable only a short while ago.

Saying thank you with sincerity and gratitude is easy but some how does not seem enough...

Saying goodbye is going to be a whole lot harder!