The lost son

One evening this week I travelled with a friend to the K.C. Stadium in Hull to watch the Hull City v Doncaster Rovers football match. Being a lifelong Hull City fan, and also the chaplain to Doncaster Rovers, I found myself sitting uncomfortably on the fence! Both sides were in need of the points on offer, City to boost their chances of reaching the end of season play-offs, and Rovers to help avoid possible relegation. Despite the very cold temperature, the match was quite enjoyable, even though we didn't see any goals. City had more of the balance of play, but couldn't get the ball in the net. Probably the Rovers' manager was more satisfied with the point earned.

As my friend and I walked towards the stadium for the match, my friend was handed a leaflet. I imagined that it would be an invitation to a night club or similar venue. In fact it was a leaflet giving information about a young man who had gone missing in Hull city centre on the evening of 28 January. As we walked on, we noticed other (mainly young) people handing out similar leaflets. We then approached the entrance to the park in which the stadium is situated, and a middle aged gentleman offered us a leaflet. When we said that we already had one, he said of the man pictured on the leaflet, "he's my boy". I sensed a real feeling of sadness and anxiety in the man. He looked so alone and concerned. I wish now that I had taken time to stop and chat with him. I have certainly been praying for him, his family and friends, and his lost son.

As I have been thinking and praying about that family, the words of Jesus have come to me often. He said, "I have come to seek and save the lost". He told a story about a lost son, and how the father desperately longed for his son's return. When the son eventually did return, the father threw a party to celebrate! When Jesus spoke about the lost, he was talking about those people who have never experienced in a personal way the love of God their heavenly Father. God the Father longs that all people might know and experience his great love for them.

Last Tuesday, many family and friends of the lost young man were out on a very cold night, handing out leaflets which they hoped would turn up some information. They cared so much that they didn't mind getting cold. I wonder sometimes whether those of us in the Church have such a concern for those who are 'lost'.

It's strange how things work out...

I'm still experiencing the after-glow of a great Christmas. On Christmas day itself we had all our three children with us, two of them with their marriage partners. We attended Christmas Day service at church, which was fairly informal and a great way to begin the celebrations of Jesus' birth.

We opened some presents before church, the rest when we returned, as we waited for Christmas dinner. I had some excellent presents this year (including two sonic screwdrivers!) After dinner we played games and had many laughs together. A lovely family day.

On the Wednesday after Christmas we hosted the annual family party, when we welcomed around 25 members of our wider family. Although the day was hectic and noisy, it was another much enjoyed occasion.

The only sour note from the holiday period came when Caz, our elder daughter, received a phone call from her landlady in Llanelli to say that there had been a pipe burst in the loft of her house which had cased major damage. Naturally this was very upsetting for Caz, especially as her house contents were not insured! It was clear that the damage to the house would make it impossible for Caz to continue to live there. As a consequence, she had to cut short her stay with us and travel back to Llanelli, accompanied by Sue (mother-comfort is a great thing in hard times!)

To cut a long story short, within the space of just a few days they managed, along with help from church friends, to clear Caz's belongings out of the house (they were stored temporarily at church), find a new (and better) house, buy some new items for the house, and get Caz moved in before she was due back at school (where she teaches) today!

Compared with the disaster which this episode could have turned into, something of a miracle has taken place. Caz is so delighted with how things have worked out. I can't help thinking of a verse in St Paul's letter to the church in Rome, where he writes, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Rom. 8:28). As we approach a new year, with all its apparent uncertainties, how fantastic to know that if we put our trust in God, he can weave even the toughest of situations into something good.

The personal touch

For many years now we have written a Christmas letter which we include with the Christmas cards which we send to family and friends around the country. It gives a brief summary of the year from the perspective of our family. Quite a number of our friends do the same, and I enjoy catching up on news in this way.

A couple of years ago a friend of ours, who is also a Methodist Minister, wrote in his letter that he had personally delivered Christmas cards to all his church members. I liked the idea, so decided last year to try and do the same! I just about managed it before Christmas Day. This year I have an extra church for which I am responsible, so the list of visits has grown. It perhaps wouldn't be so difficult if all the church members lived nearby, but unfortunately that isn't the case.

I wrote the cards two or three weeks ago, and decided this Monday that I had better start delivering them if there was any hope of completing the task by 25th. My intention was to use the car this week to deliver some which were beyond walking distance. Unfortunately, the heavy snow of the last few days put paid to that idea: the car has hardly left the garage this week! At least I have now delivered all the cards for people who live within reasonable walking distance. I must have walked quite a few miles over the past few days. It has been enjoyable, and I have been very grateful for my wellies, though tramping through fairly deep snow can be quite tiring.

Of course there may be some reading this who are thinking, "wouldn't it be easier to simply post the cards?" And in one sense, yes, it would. But the benefit of taking them out by hand is that it adds the personal touch. I get the opportunity to chat with folk and spend a bit of time with them which I might not otherwise have.

The heart of Christmas itself demonstrates the personal touch of God. In his great love for us, he stepped into our world. The Message translation of the Bible puts John 1v14 like this, 'The Word [Jesus] became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.' Jesus came to reveal the Father's love, and invite us to a personal relationship with God. Now that really is something worth celebrating this Christmas!

Why suffering?

I was tremendously blessed this week to take part in a service of thanksgiving for the life of a church member called Agnes. Agnes was aged 87 when she died, but the crematorium was packed out. There was, quite literally, standing room only, as many came to give thanks for and celebrate Agnes’ life. One aspect of her life which was revealed was that her Christian faith developed considerably through attending an Alpha course. Alpha is a course which helps people look at aspects of Christian faith, and is used in many parts of the world.

One of the key elements of Alpha is the opportunity to ask questions. A book, called “Searching Issues” has been published which addresses 7 of the most commonly asked questions on Alpha course. Perhaps not surprisingly, the first chapter deals with the whole subject of suffering. Basically put, the question often goes something like this: “If there is a loving God, who is all-powerful, why does he allow suffering in the world?” This is not a new question, it’s been around for thousands of years (try reading the Old Testament book of Job, or some of the Psalms, for example). I guess that the recent horrific events in Haiti will have raised the question of suffering in many minds. So how can Christians begin to address the question?

I have taken the plunge and decided that I will preach on the issue of suffering this coming Sunday! Obviously I can’t relate everything I am going to say on Sunday here in this blog entry, but perhaps a few initial observations.

Firstly, a reminder of what Paul says in his first letter to the church in Corinth: ‘We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us.’ In other words, big questions like suffering will never be fully answered in this life.

Secondly, there is a danger of hypocrisy in our condemnation of God’s apparent inaction. I have read one estimate that the number of deaths in the Haitian earthquake may be as high as 200,000. Compare that, then with a UN report produced in 2003 which estimated that around 25,000 people die each day through starvation. Or the startling fact that some 5,000 children die each day because of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. If we are to start wagging our fingers at God, complaining about suffering caused by the Haitian earthquake, God might with good cause ask us how we are responding to the terrible suffering already taking place in the world.

The third point I would want to make arises out my personal experience of life as a Methodist minister over some 20 years. This is not a hard and fast rule, but rather a general observation. And that is that often the “why suffering” question is more to the forefront in the minds of those who observe suffering than in the minds of those who experience it. I have come across some amazing people over the years who have suffered greatly in many ways, not least physically, but whose lives and faith have been radiant. I remember, for example, a lady called Elsie, whose body was racked with pain, yet who never ceased to thank God for his continued blessings; a visit to Elsie always lifted my spirits!.

There are no easy answers to big questions like that of suffering. But I believe that there are some things we can say. The rest will have to wait until Sunday!

The blessings of cruise control

For four days last week I was in Southampton, attending a Christian Healing and Mission Conference. It was truly amazing! I travelled down with my wife, Sue, and two other ladies, Wendy and Elaine, from my church. Our car, a Toyota Aygo, is fairly small, and although it could seat four people, the boot is minute and there was no way we could fit all the luggage in (especially as Elaine decided to bring the kitchen sink!)

Fortunately Wendy's husband, Denis, came to the rescue by suggesting that he and I swap cars for the period of the conference. He has a much bigger car with a huge boot, even big enough to take Elaine's kitchen sink. It was an inspired suggestion, and I was pleased to accept the offer.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed driving Denis' car. Not only was it bigger and more powerful, it also had cruise control! I had never before driven a car with cruise control, but it was brilliant and made motorway driving so much easier. For those unfamiliar with cruise control, basically it is a system whereby once you reach a desired speed you can switch on the cruise control and the system will keep the car at the desired speed, without you having to keep your foot on the accelerator pedal!

Of course, as soon as you press the break or clutch pedal, the system disengages. The driver has to keep a close eye on the road to look out for slower cars ahead etc. But, as I said, it makes driving much less stressful. Unfortunately, when we got back home I had to return Denis' car!

It has made me think a bit about life's journey. It's easy for us to allow life to get on top of us, and be submerged in the stresses and hassle. But just as cruise control makes motorway driving so much easier, when we allow God to take control of our lives and we follow his directions, we find ourselves so much more at peace. It takes a lot of the stress from life, because we know that God is in control. After all, he is our creator, so it must make sense to follow his instructions!

Don't leave it until it's too late!

Have you ever thought it strange that so often marriage partners have strongly contrasting views on certain issues? Only yesterday I was talking with two ladies who were relating the different perspectives they have with their husbands on what items around the house need to be kept ("they are bound to come in handy one day") and what can be disposed of.

My wife, Sue, and I have been married for over 31 years (and still going strong!) But there are certain issues over which we struggle to see eye to eye. One example of this cropped up recently. Our son Chris is getting married in two days time. His fiancee Megan is a lovely girl, and we are thoroughly delighted that they want to commit their lives to each other. Of course, when one's son gets married, one has to make a special effort to buy a suitable outfit. I hate trying things on, and it didn't take me long to find a suit which I liked and fit me ok. Even though the shop assistant thought it might be a little large, I decided that I didn't want to try any more suits on, so bought it!

Perhaps not surprisingly, Sue's outfit has taken a little longer to obtain! One of the differences between Sue and me is that if I have to do something or go somewhere, I like to be there in plenty of time - I hate being late. Sue, on the other hand, is quite happy being a last minute sort of person. As you can imagine, this has caused one or two "discussions" over the years. On this occasion, however, as the wedding drew closer and Sue still had no outfit, even she began to panic.

When it got to 3 days before the wedding and she still hadn't found an outfit, things were getting rather desperate. Friends from church were praying for her, some had offered to lend her an outfit, a couple of friends had brought round hats for Sue to use. Even a friend of our daughter, Steph, had sent round some dresses for Sue to try!

All the prayers were answered yesterday when Sue eventually found a suitable outfit (and what's more, it didn't break the bank!) All she needs now is shoes, hat and bag to go with it!!

On reflection, the big problem with leaving things until the last minute is that you might be in danger of missing the boat. Sometimes it may not be all that important, but on other occasions it might be a matter of life and death. One of the warnings given in the Bible is, "Seek the Lord while he can be found; call on him while he is near". God invites every person into a relationship with him through Jesus Christ. Have you responded yet? Don't leave it until it's too late.