The things that make us think...

So, we're leaving the country soon to go to the land of Maple Leaves, Beer, Ice Hockey, Mounties, Moose,

Mountains, Bacon, Snow and lots of different stereotypes than those to which we are used... stereotypes which seem to be drifting sadly towards intolerance, racism, poverty and a dismantled social welfare system...though I prefer the Tea, Vicars, Cucumber Sandwiches and lovable Cockerneys of bygone eras!

Such a move is bound to create lots of very mixed feelings and the odd sensation, more so than previous moves, that things are being done 'for the last time' in this particular context.

For example, as an Anglican Clergyperson in England I am legally bound to perform the weddings, funerals and baptisms (colloquially known as 'hatch, match and dispatch') of anyone who lives within the borders of our parishes - though there are some conditions on these things, it is pretty much an expectation that the local 'Parish Church' will perform these functions for all who request them.  Which I love.  I sometimes have problems fitting in all of these 'Occasional Offices' along with all the other duties I have to perform, but they are a HUGE privilege and a point of Pastoral contact that allows me to meet people at the highest and lowest points of their lives and share, unconditionally, the joy and compassion of Christ!  Though human experience is the same all over the world, the unique position of the Church of England in this sense of Parish Ministry is not something replicated elsewhere.

Such differences are the things which are making me think at this moment!  I don't  feel sad that I am leaving, though I am sad at those I am leaving.  I know that this is a place I could come back to with people who (hopefully) I will see again. I have a strong sense of rootedness around here - this is the area I was born and grew up in, and the homecoming was a powerful one, and one I thought was likely to be permanent.

I remembered this afternoon the overwhelming feelings of going to Stockland Church, a village I have a long connection with, as their Vicar for the first time.  I felt amazed (and still do) that God had called me to come back to this place with such a particular role and that I was meeting with school and family friends from twenty years before in such a new way!

There will be much that is different in our new life - but the process of taking stock and moving on is in itself quite a helpful one, or at least I am finding it so.  It would be easy to become maudlin or nostalgic, or to create a phantasy of what things will be like in our new country and new life, but it wouldn't be anything other than a pipe dream.  I am grateful for recent experiences which have pointed me more towards enjoying the moment rather than living in the past or the future!  It doesn't mean I can't dream, or hold to precious memories, but it does mean I am inhabiting this place and this time without a painful sense of either dread or loss...
I am always encouraging people to enjoy the journey as much as the destination, it seems that this time I am listening to my own advice.

Another review - Next Generation Leader

I've been enjoying listening to audiobooks as I have travelled around lately, and am fortunate to be a part of ChristianAudio's reveiw panel, so here is my latest review:

Andy Stanley - Next Generation Leader

After spending a fair amount of my Masters reading books on leadership I can honestly say I wish I'd had this one to refer to! A warm, practical and spiritual guide to what makes a good leader tick and a good grounding for all of us called to any form of leadership in business or ministry.

One of the pleasant aspects of this book is how Stanley's advice, rooted firmly in Biblical narrative, is transferable between 'sacred' and 'secular' occupations. It's makes clear yet unforced connections between our own integrity as Christians and our ability to function as effective leaders. Many books of this type seem to try and shoehorn Biblical examples into contemporary living, whereas Andy Stanley uses the stories and characters of Scripture to both ground and exemplify the gifts and requirements of Leadership.

The narration is clear, easy to listen to, but also keeps one's attention. It made very good in-car listening, with lots of parts grabbing my attention.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this free as part of Christiaudio's Review opportunities, but this did not in anyway influence my opinion of this product.

Pentecost Thought For the Week - audio

Here's my bit for the paper, and for the first time ever... it is in advance!

listen to ‘Pentecost thought’ on Audioboo

A Sermon for Pentecost!

Woohoo - it's celebrate Church day!

Here are my thoughts and words from this morning, at least the script - there was a fair amount of departure from said script!

Year C Pentecost (2013) RCL Princpal

Acts 2.1-21 

Genesis 11.1-9

John 14.8-17,25-27

Celebrating Church

Today is a celebration – a day to celebrate Church!  Not a phrase we use very much – hooray let’s celebrate Church is not the usual attitude I have experienced in my years of ministry.  And for those of us in the business of leading within the Church our minds are more often than not on ‘how’ we are doing Church in any given week and how the component parts are going to fit together when we get there!

It’s not often, I suspect, that any of us really think about what it means to be Church and why we ‘do’ Church.  We just get on with it – sometimes struggling, sometimes anxious about what is going to happen.

So to hear the stories of Scripture – the amazing start of the Church at Pentecost, or Jesus talking in terms of doing things greater than him through his Spirit – seems a bit distanced, a bit abstract… not really the kind of Church that we are used to.

But WHY NOT? [More]

A Thought For The Week - on Clutter and distractions!

The title says it all :-)

listen to ‘Clutter thought’ on Audioboo

A Review of Sinner's Creed audio Download

This is a surprisingly honest, thoughtful, reflective account of the Creed frontman's experience.

From the vivid opening statement of a 'fall from grace' (and from the balcony of a hotel) through the rollercoaster of Scott Stapps life this is an honest, intelligent reflection on the story of a creative, thoughtful, troubled soul.

A more cynical listener might dismiss this as Stapps trying to explain his reasons why all of the criticisms levelled at him are unjustified. If one listens carefully, though, there is an almost brutal honesty about his own failings, the pain he has felt and darkness that has often been overwhelming in his life.

The big surprise is how articulate Stapps is about his own faith and life - obviously he's a creative singer and writer, but the way he is able to talk openly about an abusive father, substance addiction, his own 'hero complex' and rejection of narrow Church experience is a revelation.

This six and a half hour opus is well narrated with plenty of expression, the content compelling and the style easy to listen to. Recommended listening!

I had a free download copy from Christianaudio, but didn't have to be positive, this review is all my own opinion!

It's all about the blogging baby...

Well, it does seem that today I have overdone things...  Whilst I have the impetus I am making the most of it... So here is a thought for the week

listen to ‘Mindfulness and love’ on Audioboo

We Have Been Away For A Little While

.... but now we are back

A little bit of Trek humour there, with words from the Romulans in Star Trek The Next Generation.... Though we might question the merits of bringing the Romulans back anyway... but I digress...

Yes yes yes, it has been a while, amazing how time flies.  The irony being that this Lent, during which I didn't managed to blog once, I set out to have a slower, more reflective approach to this season of penitence and praye. It turned out that it was my busiest most frenetic Lenten season ever so all of my hopes of thoughtful blog posts disappeared, as have the weeks!  Now we are nearly at the end of the Easter Season and once again the time which seemed to abundant weeks ago has slipped by.

So much for all my 'mindfulness' practise, my 'slowing' and indeed my 'praying'.  Not that I haven't been praying, but not in the centred, reflective way I was expecting to.  Which leads me again to question both the wisdom of my own model of working at this time, and whether I am trying to live up to unrealistic expectations in my own ministry, as so many Lay and Ordained Ministers end up doing.

Of course I am in a more reflective/nostalgic/thoughtful/slightly panicky mode anyway with our impending move!  That also means we are clearing out ready to ship off - some stuff being sold on eBay, some on Amazon Marketplace, some via Garage/Car boot/Yard sales.

Alongside all these things comes concern about housing (not yet found anywhere for our July 1st move!) and sorting, and making sure finances are all in place, and wondering about what we should do with our lovely French house that seemed like such a good idea a year ago!

So if I seem distracted, I apologise.  I might go for a flurry of blogging activity as I seek to get things straight (at least inside my head) in the coming weeks/days/hours... including a whole lot of 'Thought for the week' recordings I have been meaning to record and post, but for now this is a quick hello, and a watch this space.  Hopefully you wont' have to watch for too long!

Too good not to post

It has (again) been awhile, I could have spent hours writing up the experiences of the past few weeks but have been processing them rather than proclaiming them.  Maybe I'll come back soon, but for now, this moving piece of poetry is too good to miss.  It was taken from The Blog of Kevin and comes from the remarkable Saying Goodbye Charity that is there for those who dealing with the loss of a baby.  There is lots in this short video that deals with the theme of loss for any of us, and it is beautifully put!

A Thought... Proud of my children....

listen to ‘Proud of my children thought’ on Audioboo