A Delightful Inheritance

My wife and I have just returned from a delightful week in a cottage shared with friends. We were in the heart of the Herefordshire countryside, which in my opinion is rural England at it’s very best. However, I’m biased as this was also the area where my family originated, going back to the 1600's and earlier.

The amazing thing is that in some ways the countryside has changed little since those days. The country lanes, often lined with ancient oaks, on the whole are the same, except the dirt surface has been replaced with tarmac. Some old farm buildings are still standing including timber-framed houses in various states of repair and even older churches.


It was a really good feeling to soak in these pastoral scenes, including cattle and sheep grazing in lush green meadows by the side of a meandering river, all bathed in brilliant sunlight. It was idyllic, but don’t be deceived. That was the rural setting then, but the realities of living in those times for most were hard and come the industrial revolution the working conditions were often appalling. My ancestors were God-fearing, hard working, stoical artisans, but life was hard and they were used to ever-present poverty and grief. I am thankful for and welcome the former inheritance - which, together with my upbringing has helped shape me - but have sought freedom through Jesus from the latter.

It’s good to look back and be thankful, but I was reminded that as Christians we have an incredibly delightful inheritance. We have a new home with Father that is as old as the hills, but lasts for ever. What’s more we don’t have to wait for our inheritance, we can experience this life-changing ‘gift’ right now, giving us a taste of what is to come. There have been difficult times when I have thought my lot was far from being a ‘pleasant place’, but am learning that God only allows what He can use to bring us closer to Him and prepare us for our everlasting future with Him.

I find that just to think and meditate on this touches me to the core.

“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Psalm 16:5-6 New International Version

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Parallel Paths

We’ve not long returned home from a delightful week, staying with one of our families and enjoying time with our grandchildren.

They are all so different; each one so unique! The eldest is fearless, loving and so talented and enthusiastic. I can just picture her as an actress on the stage or an Olympic ice skater. Her sister is more of an academic and I can already see the beginnings of a teacher in her, possibly? The little one is so quick to learn and is picking up much by copying her older sisters - the good and not so good! She is already displaying a determination and independence. They get on well together, but occasionally the spectre of jealousy raises its head to spoil the harmony.

We are pleased to see that although their parents are bringing them up with love and discipline, but at the same time they are encouraging and nurturing their individuality and special talents. I just pray that as they grow up, their adventurous spirits will not be crushed. Also, I hope they will resist the peer pressures to conform, so that they will dare to become the people that God has made them to be.

Isn’t it like this within the Church? As Christians we all have the same heavenly Father and are treading the same journey of faith. We are all going the same way, but because we are all different, we walk along parallel paths of discovery. Sometimes, other church members may feel threatened by such individuality and there may be a perceived pressure to conform. Some leaders may even feel their positions threatened by this apparent threat to the status quo.

Rather than feeling fearful of such people, we should embrace the difference that makes up the whole. We don't have to copy each other, or even agree, but we do need to love and accept.

Vive la difference!

"We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body." Romans 12:4-5 Good News Bible

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Are You Saying - ?

The following statement may be acceptable to most people, even though it is challenging. This may be particularly so, if like me, you were brought up with a strong work ethic, even believing you will only get ‘somewhere’ by your own efforts.

The Kingdom of God is a magnificent thing, more valuable than anything we could ever own. If this is what we desire then we must be prepared to give up some things that are standing in the way. This is true, but I believe there is a truer interpretation of the verse quoted at the bottom of this post.

Are you saying to me that Someone
has been seeking me out all this time
and watching over me all these years
because he wants me more than anything else,
wants to lavish his love upon me for ever and ever
and has given up all that is precious, even his life?
For me?

Are you saying to me that this Someone
has a great longing for me and
thinks I am amazingly beautiful and lovable,
a rare treasure beyond compare?
What me?
With all my defects, warts, ugly thoughts and failings?
Me!!!!

This is too hard for me to understand
I just can’t get my head round it.
But somehow, it touches something deep down within me
more than I can say.
I ---

"Also, the Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man is looking for fine pearls, and when he finds one that is unusually fine, he goes and sells everything he has, and buys that pearl.” Matthew 13:45-46 Good News Bible

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On Retreat - 3

It was the third day of our retreat and I decided to spend some time in the library. I had the room to myself and chose to sit at a large polished mahogany desk right in the window. I was on a journey this week and didn't want to miss out on what God had for me.

As I gazed at the panoramic view before me, I was totally taken in, from the morning sun highlighting the green-topped cliffs, to the inviting sea, to the sky with all the colours of the rainbow. It was breathtakingly beautiful - heart-stopping. It was like having a ringside seat on heaven. I just gazed, transfixed. It was touching something deep inside and I could have stayed there all morning.

In my observation I became aware of two things. Firstly, there was the separateness. I was in the warmth and comfort of the building, but this heavenly vision was outside. I then felt the closeness of Father, almost like He had His hand upon my shoulder, urging me to consider.

It was as if God was reminding me, that although as Christians we are heavenward bound, heaven is also to be experienced in the here and now. That He doesn't just want us to be observers, but partakers of the abundant life and that all we need is within us.

"The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21

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Do We Really Need God?

In thinking about what to write this morning and what could be the most important thing to say, I am reminded of a time when I worked in a large organisation.

I was asked to show a young graduate around. He was keen and intelligent and I took an instant liking to him. I even taught him to play squash and within a few weeks he was beating me every time. It was obvious that losing was just not in his vocabulary, he had to win. He was self-assertive and confident, had high moral values and was well thought of within the company. In a few years he had overtaken me and actually became my boss for a time.

One evening, I had been working later than usual and was clearing up my things ready to go home, when he called me into his office. I remember feeling it was inconvenient and hoped it wouldn't take long as I was tired. He came straight out with it and asked me how you become a Christian. My thoughts of leaving vanished at that moment and I did my best to answer his question. I wasn't sure whether my explanation was getting through to him, so in the end I just said that Jesus meets us at our point of need. His replied that his problem was, that he had no needs. I'm not sure how that left him, but I held him in my prayers.

During the next few years I saw little of him. We both got promoted, but he soared up into the higher echelons of the company and became a success story. Then one day I was given the news he had died of cancer. This really upset me as it was a tragic loss of such a successful young man. I didn't know how it had been for him in those last days, but hoped that he had met with his Maker.

God loves us so much that He poured Himself out for us. He came right down to our level and made Himself as nothing. When Jesus died on the cross, it was thought He had failed, it was all over. But in truth God had won the victory, it was just the beginning.

When we admit to spiritual poverty it's not a sign of failure, but of strength. We come into the Kingdom by realising our need of God. Our need grows as we progress in our knowledge and love of Him, such that we cannot live without Him. That's the way we are made. That's the way of abundant life.

"Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!" Matthew 5:3 The Good News Bible

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A Foot in Both Camps?

Before our children finally flew the nest, we had a last holiday together. We hired a large brand new motor cruiser on the Norfolk Broads, an inland network of rivers, waterways and lakes on the east coast of England. I was in my element as captain of the motley crew, embarking on an adventure into the unknown. Each day we explored new territory and savoured the delights of the scenery and wildlife and enjoyed being together.

It took a while to learn the ropes and get used to handling the craft. One day, after we had spent an hour or so on dry land, our daughter assisted in casting off the moorings, while I took the helm. She had the last rope in her hands and rather than place both feet on the deck, she kept one on the quayside. As the boat slid away from the side she just fell into the water. We promptly fished her out of the mirky shallows and after she had cleaned up we had a good laugh.

The Gospel message is black or white, yes or no, death or life, we are either in the Kingdom of God or out, in the dark or in the light, there is no in between. Christ may be somewhere in our lives, but is he in charge? We cannot have a foot in both camps or we will eventually end up in the mire.

What stops us allowing Jesus to be Lord over our lives? Why do we keep one foot on dry land even though there is an inner longing to be aboard? Do we feel too comfortable where we are, are we fearful of the unknown, afraid of losing friends, is it intellectual pride, the risk of losing too much?

Whatever it is that we are hanging onto, we need to let it go, take Jesus's hand and jump on board with both feet. Then the adventure really begins!

"He who is not with me is against me -" Matthew 12:30 New International Version

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