God is in Control - do you believe it?

I was in my local post office last Monday, and glanced at the newspaper stand to read the headlines. One headline in particular took my attention, to such an extent that I actually bought the paper (this first time I'd bought a daily newspaper for many years!) It was the Sun newspaper, and it I bought it because the main front page headline read, "GOD IS IN CONTROL". They were quoting the words of Shauna Magunda, fiancee of footballer Fabrice Muamba, who was in the critical care unit of a London hospital (see previous blog for more detail).

I thought it amazing that such a message should be carried on the front page of a national daily newspaper. What a message of hope in a desperate world! I used the newspaper message in last Tuesday's lunchtime service. I also decided to have "God is in Control" as the theme for yesterday's morning service.

Of course, it's not hard to believe that God is in control when life is easy. However, when we face difficult times, are under stress, and things seem to be going wrong, that's when our faith can be really tested - do we really believe that God is in control?

After having preached yesterday morning on "God is in control", I came home, had a quick sandwich, then Sue and I headed off to visit her mother who is in hospital in Hull. It had to be a fairly brief visit, because I had to get back in time to prepare for my evening service. As we neared home, I managed to nudge the car in front at a roundabout (I thought she was setting off, so looked right to see what was coming; unfortunately she must have braked, which I didn't spot early enough). There was no apparent damage to either car, but from a subsequent telephone call it seems that she wants to make a claim. Is God in control?

It's been a stressful time in a number of ways for Sue and I recently. Sue's mother's cancer has spread to her bones, and she has been in and out of hospital in recent weeks. It has become clear that she is no longer able to care for herself. We still don't really know the full prognosis, and it's hard to plan ahead for when we move to Leicester in the summer, when mother-in-law is due to come with us. Sue has been travelling across to Hull regularly in recent weeks; this on top of her part-time work in Sheffield, having to think about how her mother can be cared for, and also trying to help her aunt, who is also planning to move to Leicester with us! All this on top of the fact the we are getting behind with sorting and packing for the move.

Experts say that moving house is one of the major sources of stress. Although we feel that this is the right time for us to move, and that Leicester is the place God wants us to move to, neither of us is looking forward to the process of leaving Doncaster and the friends we have made here (not to mention our daughter, son-in-law, and soon-to-be-born grandchild!) An added complication is that as yet we don't know for definite where we will be moving to in Leicester. The plan to sell the current manse and buy a new one hasn't yet materialised - the currently depressed housing market isn't helping.

All in all, it isn't the easiest of times for Sue and I right now! But this is the sort of experience which reveals whether we really do believe that God is in control. I must admit that life isn't easy, and that there have been times when I've felt more positive about things. But I remember the words of St Paul, 'All things work together for the good of those who love God, and are called according to his purpose'. I have to believe that God is in control, even though humanly speaking it doesn't appear so. I know that God can work things out for the good, when we can't see the way forward. God has never failed us in the past, and he won't fail us now. God IS in control!

When people turn to prayer

When I take funeral services of people who were born in the first half of the 20th century, I sometimes point out that during their lifetime they have witnessed remarkable developments, and have experienced changes in society which would probably never have been even dreamed of when they were young. There's no doubt that humans have made enormous strides forward in terms of scientific and technological developments and understanding. Many of these developments are very positive and a blessing to society. Yet we can fall into the trap of believing that we really are masters of our own destiny, and are heading towards a human-inspired utopia. Until, that is, something happens to shake our self-confidence.

Last Saturday, 23-year-old English Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch during a game. He had suffered a cardiac arrest in a match between his club, Bolton Wanderers, and Tottenham Hotspur. Medics came onto the field to try to revive him, while fans and players looked on in shock. Muamba was taken to the Heart Attack Centre at The London Chest Hospital, where he is in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

My thoughts and prayers have been with the player and his family. As I have been following the news reports about the player, there has been a fascinating common thread - the call to prayer! Clubmate Stuart Holden wrote, "Waiting anxiously for updates from teammates. Fab is a fighter! pray for Muamba." Tottenham's Rafael van der Vaart wrote: "Terrible what happened with Muamba during the game. We're all praying for him." Bolton manager Owen Coyle said, "Everybody is praying for Fabrice which is very important and that has been a real source of strength to the family." Then yesterday, Muamba's former teammate Gary Cahill, after scoring a goal for his current team, Chelsea, lifted his shirt to reveal a message on his t-shirt, "Pray 4 Muamba".

Shocking though the events of Saturday were, it has been a reminder to us that ultimately we can't manage on our own - we need God in our lives. Fabrice Muamba's fiancée, Shauna, tweeted, "Please keep praying ... It's really helping, I can feel it", and also, "God is in control". If only we could all learn that lesson!

Only two things are certain...

I was slightly amused by one of the reports in this morning's BBC news bulletin. The report highlighted some recent research into the effects of eating red meat. According to the report, eating more than a certain quantity of red meat can significantly "increase the chances of death". It was only a few weeks ago that another BBC report told us that taking a certain sleeping pill could also increase the chance of death!

The reporters obviously hadn't fully thought through what they were saying. If they had done, they would have realised that nothing can increase (or decrease) our chances of death happening (though some things may influence the time when our death occurs). As Benjamin Franklin famously write, 'In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.' The truth is that sooner or later we must all face the end of our earthly lives.

My mother-in-law has had breast cancer for some years. Because she is in her 80s, and has taken medication, the cancer has developed very slowly. However, she was told recently, following a scan, that the cancer has spread to her bones. She is currently in hospital, but is hoping to be home soon.

She has taken the news remarkably well. She doesn't know how much longer she has on earth, but she is not afraid of death. In a short time, Easter will be with us. On Good Friday we will focus on the death of Jesus. When he died, his disciples were distraught; all their hopes seemed to be in tatters. Yet three days later he was alive again: death was conquered. And the good news is that if our trust is in him, and our lives are committed to him, we too can share in the assurance of life beyond death.

For the Christian believer, death is not something to fear; it is merely a doorway into a new life in the presence of God, a life free from tears and sadness, sorrow and pain. We are all sure to die one day. The only question is: where does our eternal future lie?

Eng shows the way

I was very interested to hear the news that Englebert Humperdink is to represent the UK in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. For many years, the individuals or groups who have represented us in Eurovision have been relative unknowns, hoping that success will propel them to stardom. In recent years we have fared rather dismally, often finishing in the lower half of the table. It is apparently some 15 years since the UK won Eurovision (Katrina and the Waves, with 'Love Shines a Light', in 1997, in case you'd forgotten - I had!)

What seems to have got people talking about the choice of Englebert as the UK's representative is not so much the fact that he is a recognised star, but that he is 75 years of age, and will be the oldest ever Eurovision entrant. Some people have voiced the opinion that he is "passed it" (whatever "it" is!) Others feel that he could still do a good job for us. I was encouraged to see that in a Guardian poll, which asked whether people thought that Englebert was the right person to represent the UK, votes so far are 61/39 in favour.

Yet the sad truth in our society today is that far too often older people are not regarded with the respect they deserve. We have had several reports recently to suggest, for example, that the treatment of older people in hospitals and care homes can sometimes leave an awful lot to be desired. Older people should be treated with respect and dignity; we should honour their contribution to society.

That is certainly the view which is presented in the Bible. Among the Hebrews (and Orientals generally) old age was held in honour, and respect was required for the aged. For example, in Leviticus 19:32, we read: "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD" What's more, a mark of the low estate of the nation was that "elders are shown no respect." (Lamentations 5:12).

Sometimes older people take on board society's viewpoint, and undervalue themselves. They can begin to loose their self respect, and misunderstand their own worth. Yet God gives a wonderful promise, "Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you" (Isaiah 46:4).

In God's eyes, each person is precious, no matter what their age. I say, good on you, Englebert!

What are you building with?

One of my better subjects at school (there weren't many!) was English Literature. I still enjoy reading, mainly biographies, but also a bit of fiction as well when I have time. I recently read Watership Down for the first time, despite it having been first published in the late 70s. I enjoyed it greatly, and have bought the dvd to watch!

Over the years I have toyed with the idea of writing a book myself. In fact, I did start one sometime in the 1990s. One of the reasons the project never came to fruition was the fact that I used my pc to write it, and backed up what I had written on disks which soon became out of date and unreadable by more modern pcs. I suppose there would have been a way round the problem, but somehow it never got done. I seem to think that I wrote about 3 chapters, but though they will never see the light of day, maybe it did me some good to write them.

I had decided to write a book based on part of the 3rd chapter of St Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth (v10-15). I find that passage extremely challenging. Paul uses the illustration of a builder to get his point over, and asks us to think about what we are "building" with our lives (or, specifically, what kind of materials we are using). He points out than when our life's work is tested by the "fire", the lesser materials will be destroyed, whilst the better materials will stand the test.

I was reminded about this recently when I was doing a bit of sorting out in my study at home. I came across my diaries for each of the years since we arrived here in Doncaster (they are simply desk diaries, not a personal record of my thoughts, so I'm not sure why I kept them!) As I looked back over the past 11 and a half years, and thought about all the things written in the diaries, and all the different experiences and activities they represent, it led me to ask the question, "What have I been building with?" "Will it survive the test of the fire?"

Ultimately, we are not to judge, but I believe that it's good to ask the question. After all, human history is littered with examples of what can go wrong when shoddy building materials are used!

The truth about love

Today being Valentine's Day, my thoughts naturally turn to the subject of love. Apparently there were 14 St Valentines, all of whom were martyred for their faith. The link with the modern remembrance of Valentine's Day seems to be somewhat unclear, to say the least, and is shrouded in traditions which cannot really be substantiated. However, the fact the St Valentine (whichever one is 'THE' one!) died for his faith in Christ is certainly not without significance. After all, Jesus said that the greatest love one person can have for another is to be willing to lay down his/her life for them (John's gospel, chapter 15 verse 13).

I guess that when most people think about love, they think about romantic love, the love a person has when they 'fall in love'. When I interview couple who wish to be married in church, and I ask them why they want to get married, they often talk about the love which they have for each other. The feeling of being in love can be overwhelming; when you are in love, you long to be with the one you love. What some couples fail to realise, however, is the fact that this intense feeling of love does not last, and it alone cannot sustain a lifelong partnership between husband and wife.

That's not to say, of course, that love itself doesn't last, it's just that it changes. I don't feel in love with Sue in exactly the same way as I did in our courting days. But I am sure that the love I have for her today is of a far deeper quality and strength than it was in our early married lives - I've got to love her for putting up with me all these years! (I admit that I still get things wrong, and don't always act in a loving way, but I haven't yet perfected the role of being a husband!)

We can express love in many different ways, but most important of all is that we express love through our actions. True love is practical, and shows itself in the way in which we live our lives and respond to the people around us. Love can be hard, and it runs the risk of being rejected and hurt. But love truly is what makes the world go around. If we know God's love in our hearts and lives, then he expects us to let that love flow out to others. I don't think that there has ever been a better description of true (Godly) love than we find in St Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth. It still stands as a great challenge to us all:

'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails ... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'

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'.