A New Chapter begins

Some time ago I received a Kindle as a present.  I was a little sceptical at first, and wondered whether I would take to reading electronic versions of books.  Over the months I've come to really appreciate my Kindle in several ways.  For example, I was able to download a particular book onto my Kindle which wasn't available in the UK as a physical book.  I've just downloaded another book in a few seconds which would probably have taken several days to get hold of in the 'old-fashioned' way!  A Kindle is also extremely handy when going on holiday - it weighs much less than the several books I might normally have taken with me! And yet, although I love my Kindle, I have to say that it isn't quite the same as holding an actual book in one's hand.  I especially enjoy the look and feel of old books, something which the Kindle just can't replicate.

I like to read books which inspire; I find biographies particularly interesting, giving as they do an insight into the lives of both famous and not-so-famous people.  Although most of my reading is non-fiction, I do sometimes read fiction.  I like to discover a book which I find hard to put down - the kind of book which, when you come to the end of a chapter, you can't wait to get started on the next one!

Tomorrow is officially the first day of a new phase of my life and ministry in Leicester; in effect, a new chapter begins.   The previous 12-year-long chapter of my life and ministry in Doncaster has come to an end, a brand new chapter is about to be written.  I can look back now on the last chapter and remember some of the highs and lows, the blessings and the struggles, and rejoice that although that period is ended, many memories remain.  As I look forward to the new chapter which is about to unfold, I can see very little!  I don't know in what way the future will be revealed.  And yet, even though there is so much uncertainty about the way ahead, I am filled with excitement and anticipation, mostly due to the fact that I know that God is in it.

Sue and I both felt that God was saying to us quite a while ago that the time had come to bring to a conclusion one chapter of our lives, our time in Doncaster.  As we sought his guidance for the next chapter, again we both felt that he was leading us to Leicester.  Now we are here and the work begins (in at the deep end, as I am conducting a wedding on my first day!)

On reflection, it seems to me that all of us face a big question: who do we want to be the 'author' of our lives?  Frank Sinatra's famous song, 'My Way' has become increasingly popular in recent years as a song to be played at funerals.  Whilst I quite like Sinatra, I find it rather sad when that particular song is chosen for a funeral.  When one looks at the world around us, it is so obvious that the vast majority of the word's problems exist because human beings have chosen their own way of doing things rather than God's way (choosing our own way instead of God's way is what the Bible calls sin).

As I begin a new chapter of my life, my heart's desire is to allow God to be the scriptwriter, and to seek to follow his directions.  I am sure that there will be times when I mess up, when I get things wrong, and when I foolishly choose my own script rather than God's.  The good news is that God is brilliant at weaving even our mistakes and wrongdoings in a way which gets the script back on course!  I am excited to discover what God has in store; and as I ponder the future, into my mind has come some words from a song:

My tongue will be the pen of a ready writer
And what the Father gives to me I'll sing
I only want to be His breath
I only want to glorify the King.

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God is watching you!

Normally, one of the first things one does after having moved to a new area is to work out where certain places are in relation to one's new home.  For example, not long after we moved to our new home in Leicester, I discovered that our local Post Office is only a short walk away (the internet can be amazingly helpful in locating places, and it was through the internet that I managed to locate our nearest Post Office).  With instructions in hand, I managed to arrive at the Post Office within a few minutes; something I saw on the journey really made me think.

As I neared the Post Office, I glanced around at the houses along the street, and noticed that attached to one particular house was a garage; on the door of the garage was painted the words, "God Is Watching You".

Not the usual kind of thing one might expect to find painted on a garage door!  So what do you make of the message?  Seeing it, I was immediately reminded of a plaque which we used to have on the wall at home when I was a little boy, which read: "Christ is the head of this house; the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation."  As a little boy I was quite happy with the notion of Christ being the head of the house, and also with the image of him being with us as we ate family meals.  The thought of Christ being a "silent listener to every conversation", however, I found a little bit creepy.  I wasn't sure that I wanted Christ to hear my every conversation!

Over the years, as I have grown in my knowledge of God and in my relationship with him, I have come to see that although the message painted on the garage door is perfectly true, it isn't something of which to be fearful or anxious.  The author of Psalm 139 writes of God,  

When my bones were being formed,
    carefully put together in my mother's womb,
when I was growing there in secret,
  You knew that I was there— 
    You saw me before I was born.

Jesus himself remarked that God's knowledge of us us so intimate that he even knows how many hairs are on our head!  The reality is that every action we have ever undertaken, every word we have spoken, and even every thought we have had, are known to God.  Over the course of my life there must have been many actions, words and thoughts which I have regretted.  And yet, although God knows all about them, he is not a God who stands over us with a big stick ready to beat us up whenever we get things wrong.

Yes, he does hate it when we human beings hurt each other, however that hurt is manifested.  When we hurt one another we hurt God, too.  But the message of the Christian gospel is that through his Son Jesus Christ, God offers us grace and forgiveness, and the opportunity to begin again.

Not only that, but God promises that from the moment we commit our lives to Christ, he will be our constant companion, to guide, encourage and strengthen.  The message, "God is watching you" is good news when we understand his love and care for us.  

As Sue and I begin a new period of our lives in new surroundings here in Leicester, the thought that God is watching over us is of immense comfort and support.

What will you do with the rest of your life?

I was privileged to serve for 5 years as chaplain to Doncaster Rovers F.C.  My recent move to Leicester meant that I had to relinquish the role; it is an area of my ‘pre-Leicester’ life which I will miss.

The world of professional football tends to have rather a ‘macho’ image, and those involved can face the temptation to try and hide their true feelings and emotions.  However, an incident which occurred earlier in the year clearly broke through that false barrier.  Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba, aged 24, collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest on 17 March during Bolton's FA Cup quarter-final tie with Tottenham Hotspur.

Doctors were later reported as saying that Muamba was "in effect dead" for 78 minutes.  Many people around the country, including fellow professionals and others involved in the game, passed round the message “Pray for Muamba”.  Miraculously, Muamba survived, and was eventually discharged from hospital on 16 April.

Fabrice Muamba hoped that one day he would be able to resume his football career.  However, having taken specialist medical advice, he has recently announced his retirement from football, stating, "While the news is devastating, I have much to be thankful for.  I thank God that I am alive and I pay tribute once again to the members of the medical team who never gave up on me."

In reading the report, I was particularly interested in a comment from Bolton F.C. Chairman, Phil Gartside, "To have Fabrice here and with us is truly amazing and we are all very thankful for that.  The most important thing is that Fabrice and his family have the rest of their lives ahead of them."  The statement recognises that there are some things in life which are much more important than football.

The situation which Fabrice Muamba faced in such a public way reminds us of the fragility of human life.  Every day is a precious gift from God, which we ought to treasure and never take for granted.  Of course, Phil Gartside’s comment that Muamba and his family “have the rest of their lives before them” is true of us all.  But none of us know how long we have left of our earthly lives!

The big question is, what are we going to do with the rest of our lives?  I was very challenged recently by some words from Joyce Meyer, “Make a decision that no matter how long it takes or how hard it is, you are going to be all that God wants you to be.”  Surely that’s what really matters, isn’t it?

Olympic reflections

I love the Olympics.  For as far back as I can remember, whenever it has been time for the Olympics I have fascinated by the various sports.  My favourite Olympic sport is athletics, and so I was highly delighted when I received an e-mail a few months ago informing me that I had been successful in the ticket ballot.  I felt extremely privileged one day last week to attend the Olympic Stadium and see the wonderful Jessica Ennis and the amazing Usain Bolt in action.  Truly a day to remember!

Sport seems to have been a major part of life in New Testament times.  The apostle Paul used sporting analogies in his letters.  For example, he wrote, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (2 Corinthians 9:24&25).  There is no doubt that sport can be a very positive element in life.  However, I wonder whether it can sometimes be given a position it doesn't deserve.

Katherine Grainger is a member of the British rowing team.  She came into the 2012 games with a record of having previously won 3 Olympic silver medals.  The big question on everyone's lips was, "will she finally win gold?"  Just before she set off in the final race with her rowing partner Anna Watkins, the BBC commentator stated of Katherine Grainger, "A life to be defined in the next 6 and a half minutes".  That comment certainly got me thinking!

Katherine Grainger did go on to win gold, her dream was at last fulfilled.  No doubt she will be known by many in the future as "Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger".  But does that ultimately define her life?  Brilliant though it must be to win a gold medal, is that really the most significant achievement in a person's life?  The vast majority of the world's population will never win an Olympic gold medal.  Yet each one of us can live lives of significance.  I am reminded of another of Paul's instructions, from 1 Corinthians 10:31, "whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

I leave the final word to Usain Bolt, one of the greatest and most charismatic sportsmen alive, who, after his historic double triumph in the London 2012 games, tweeted, "I want to thank God for everything he has done for me cause without him none of this would be possible."  I say amen to that!