tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209186152024-03-15T18:03:44.899+00:00Sussex Parson: Marc Lloyd's 'Miscellanies'Christian Biblical Theology Reformed Evangelical Protestant Catholic Anglican Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.comBlogger3089125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-79100032976151569112024-03-15T12:24:00.013+00:002024-03-15T18:03:11.286+00:00Cal Newport and Slow Productivity for Pastors<p> <b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cal Newport's ideas - especially from Slow Productivity - for Pastors</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here are some of productivity
guru Cal Newport’s ideas as they might be applicable to pastors, together with
some of my own reflections. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dr Cal(vin) Newport writes mainly for knowledge
works. He does sometimes mention pastors (<i>Slow Productivity</i>, p15) and he says he hears from them a lot. He is
a computer scien<o:p></o:p></span>ce professor at Georgetown University.</p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pastors are of course concerned with the
knowledge of God. And they have the opportunity to implement some productivity
ideas because they normally have a relatively high degree of autonomy about how
they structure their efforts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Perhaps one area that Newport doesn’t
particularly address is the central importance of relationships for the pastor.
Pastors are in the people business. They are not just about knowledge but about
<i>people</i> knowing <i>God</i>. The pastor’s work is rather different from
that of the guy who builds websites or writes financial reports. But nevertheless
the pastor’s vocation is still work. It is essential for the pastor to know his
people, to spend time with them. Some of this might be structured, but there
may also be some intentional hanging about. Attending the coffee morning could
be really productive work, even if its not like digging the road. Some people
can be hard work, of course, and some of us may find exhausting things which
other people might not think of as real work. We should seek to know ourselves
and what we will find energising or draining and plan accordingly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Newport’s warnings against pseudo-productivity
and the quick fix are well made. Pastors, who can be conscious of their low
worldly status and lack of economic value, can feel the need to justify their existence
by activity. The wise pastor might adopt the time-frame of a shepherd or a
farmer who cultivates the seed of the Word looking, ultimately, for an eternal
harvest and the growth given he knows not how by God while he sleeps. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Newport has written, podcasted and YouTubed about
‘The Deep Life’ in which meaningful work is aligned with our values, which of course
ought to be of interest to pastors. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He has advocated <i>Deep Work</i> (2016 book) seeking
focus in a distracted world. Deep Work is the specific activity of focusing for
a session on something cognitively demanding without distraction (no switching /
shifting to different activities / contexts). What could be more relevant to
this than prayer and sermon preparation? Newport thinks it is best to have
blocks of two or three hours without distraction. Turn off those notifications
and avoid social media! He advocates ‘time block planning’ in the diary /
calendar and trying to reduce the number of projects one is actively working
on. Seeking to multi-task is normally a mistake. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pastors can have so many demands on their
time. They could do so many good things. What do they think of as their real
core business which they are determined to make quality time for without distraction?
When and how could you aim to do the more shallow and necessary tasks with the
minimum effort? As Steve Jobs said: “Deciding what not to do is as important as
deciding what to do.” (<i>Slow Productivity</i>, p176 quoted from Jason Fell, ‘How
Steve Jobs Saved Apple’ <i>Entrepreneur</i>, October 27, 2011.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe you could have habits and rituals around
your deep work that help you: sermon prep on a Wednesday afternoon with a latte,
or whatever! The location in which you study and pray could make a real difference.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Newport is also interested in <i>Digital
Minimalism</i> (Penguin, 2019) and with the elimination of email (2021 book).
Maybe pastors would do well to tame their relationship with technology. Perhaps
email could be confined to a slot in the morning and a slot in the afternoon to
provide more uninterrupted focused time with the Bible or with people?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pastors often work six days a week with a
number of evening commitments, so it behoves them to think carefully about work-life
balance. Pastors of course want to serve. And feeling needed gives a boost. We
can invest much of our sense of self in our calling but we need to remember
that the position of Messiah is taken! No one wants a busy, exhausted, frazzled
pastor and it is probably a mistake for us to think of ourselves as endlessly
available 24x6, unless someone really is dying. Which often they are not. Many
things can wait. Some things even sort themselves out without us doing
anything, even though it seemed like an urgent crisis at the time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some of us often need to be reminded to slow
down and listen to the Scriptures and our people better than we might naturally
do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In his latest book, <b><i>Slow Productivity</i></b><i>:
The lost art of productivity without burnout</i> (<o:p></o:p></span>Penguin Business, 2024, 256pp), Newport suggests three sustainable principles:</p>
<br /><br /> <br /><br /><b>(1) Do fewer things. </b>Focus on the couple of core activities that really make a difference. Deliberately strategize to do what matters most, ignoring or eliminating what gets in the way as best you can. Limit missions, projects and daily goals. Try to work on one big thing each day.<br /> <br /> <br /><br /><b>(2) Work at a natural pace.</b> Here Newport claims to draw on ideas from humanity’s hunter gatherer past. He advocates some periods of intensity but also some quieter periods, perhaps a quieter month – some element of seasonality. And some space carved out in the week. Maybe a harder Monday than Friday. Perhaps avoiding scheduling big stuff for Monday AM so that you can enjoy Sunday more. The goal is to avoid rushing our most important work, to give it the time and space it needs. Be deliberate about rest and refreshment after busy periods. <br /> <br /> <br /><br /><b>(3) Obsess over quality</b> whilst avoiding a crippling perfectionism. The sermon could always be better and more fully prepared and rehearsed. We might do well to take some more time on it, but we also need to have confidence when it is ready – we mustn’t give infinite time or nothing will ever get done. The aim is progress not perfection (cf. 1 Timothy 4:15). Study to build craft and skill over time and keep growing. If we preach thoughtfully most weeks for maybe twenty or thirty years, we ought to be quite good at it by our eighties! Perhaps we need some feedback and help or different approaches if we feel we’re not making progress. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Newport also gives some particular suggestions for rules, habits and ploys towards implementing these principles, and much of the book draws lessons from those he sees as having exemplified some aspect of his philosophy (Isaac Newton, Jane Austin, contemporary musicians, authors and business people). <br /><br /> <br />
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It seems to me it is worth the pastor thinking
about these things. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even if we aim to obsess over quality, we must
also recognise there is lots of stuff we need to do which is not sermon
preparation (or whatever core activity we particularly love or value). There is
also truth in the principle of ‘The Godliness of Mediocrity’: if a thing is
worth doing, it is worth doing badly. Or at least adequately. Good enough is
good enough. Of course it could always be better. But if you decide to become a
famous concert pianist, you are not likely to get much else done. You are not
just a preacher but also a pastor and a leader – and, you know, family, friends
etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is a treadmill of weekly sermon and bible
study preparation etc., but there is value in thinking of these things as
longer projects over a more extended timescale. How can I plan and prepare for
a sermon series rather than just getting ready for this Sunday? And how can I
work in such a way that the preparation I do now will be most useful when I preach
or teach this book again in ten years’ time? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Personally I think I would do well to
sometimes take some time out to think about potential plans for two- or
five-years’ times. How do I see the big picture of church life and our long
term needs? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe it is good for pastors to think about
having a big slow project: a bible book or theologian they want to get to know really
well. Or to be encouraged to keep up their biblical languages by giving them
twenty minutes most days because of the long-term benefits. Much can be
achieved by plodding. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Newport also has ideas on cultivating taste
and creativity through a hobby not directly related to your work, in his case,
cinema. Church and family life can be demanding, there’s lots to be said for
ministers who know how to relax, play, have fun, have friends and ideally have
some kind of hinterland. Perhaps some of us are driven beyond the call of God
to see immediate results in terms of church finances or bums on pews and could
do with lightening up and trusting God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Newport refers to C. S. Lewis’ Inklings as a
group of friends who provide criticism and encouragement. Some diocese
encourage Reflective Practice circles for this sort of purpose. And many
pastors will belong to prayer triplets or preaching groups. Where do we plan to
get our constructive criticism or a bit of help and advice?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">* * * <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’ve made some other notes about some of Cal
Newport’s (other) core ideas from YouTube videos here: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><a href="https://marclloyd.blogspot.com/2024/03/some-of-cal-newports-ideas.html">https://marclloyd.blogspot.com/2024/03/some-of-cal-newports-ideas.html</a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">* * *</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you’r</span></span>e interested in these ideas, you may also enjoy Greg McKeown, <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less</i></span>
(Virgin Books, 2024, 288pp). See: <a href="https://marclloyd.blogspot.com/2024/02/essentialism-one-necessary-thing.html">https://marclloyd.blogspot.com/2024/02/essentialism-one-necessary-thing.html</a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">* * * </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Here are some other resources, not all of which I've read or used:</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Reagan Rose offers Christian perspectives on productivity here: <a href="https://redeemingproductivity.com/">https://redeemingproductivity.com/</a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">He considers the Pastor and personal productivity in this You Tube video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a39wztWlIs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a39wztWlIs</a> also an article for Focus on the Family which draws on Newport's Deep Work. </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">He suggests: </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Keep a consistent bed time and morning routine. </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Pray and plan your day. </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Schedule the most important thing and get it done even if an emergency pushes out other stuff. Guard your time. </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Have a regular normal pattern of day off, sermon prep etc. even if sometimes there are emergencies. </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">* * * </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Effective faith - a Christian website that seeks to help with effectiveness whilst warning against idolatrous / toxic approaches to 'productivity': <a href="https://effectivefaith.org/">https://effectivefaith.org/</a></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">* * * </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Matt Perman is the author of <i style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #012639; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310494222/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0310494222&linkCode=as2&tag=whsbene0b-20" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00b3e3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done</a> (Zondervan, 2014) </i><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #012639; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><i>How to Get Unstuck: Breaking Free from Barriers to Your Productivity</i> (Zondervan, 2018) </span></p><div><span class="a-size-extra-large celwidget" data-cel-widget="productTitle" data-csa-c-id="3cl9l9-71vh0v-ad6mw2-r1tirr" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">* * * </span></div><div><span class="a-size-extra-large celwidget" data-cel-widget="productTitle" data-csa-c-id="3cl9l9-71vh0v-ad6mw2-r1tirr" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="celwidget" data-cel-widget="titleblock_feature_div" data-csa-c-asin="1941114172" data-csa-c-content-id="titleblock" data-csa-c-id="6748gh-rz3eju-vboy62-yig8xa" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row="false" data-csa-c-slot-id="titleblock_feature_div" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-feature-name="titleblock" id="titleblock_feature_div" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="a-section a-spacing-none" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px;"><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span class="a-size-extra-large celwidget" data-cel-widget="productTitle" data-csa-c-id="o7o52x-9dm7e2-dqha41-s8k1yk" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Tim Challies, <i>Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity</i> (</span><span class="a-size-large a-color-secondary celwidget" data-cel-widget="productSubtitle" data-csa-c-id="hobhux-weo6sd-cwqdkl-ml3je1" id="productSubtitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(86, 89, 89) !important; line-height: 32px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">2015)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span class="a-size-large a-color-secondary celwidget" data-cel-widget="productSubtitle" data-csa-c-id="hobhux-weo6sd-cwqdkl-ml3je1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(86, 89, 89) !important; line-height: 32px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span class="a-size-large a-color-secondary celwidget" data-cel-widget="productSubtitle" data-csa-c-id="hobhux-weo6sd-cwqdkl-ml3je1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(86, 89, 89) !important; line-height: 32px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">* * * </span></div>Matt Fuller, <i>Time for Every Thing?: How to be busy without feeling burdened</i> (The Good Book Company, 2015)</div><div class="a-section a-spacing-none" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px;">* * * </div><div class="a-section a-spacing-none" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px;">Tim Chester, <i>T</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><i>he Busy Christian's Guide to Busyness</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"> (IVP, 2012)</span></div></div></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-46000082610841031662024-03-15T12:22:00.004+00:002024-03-15T12:22:35.760+00:00Some of Cal Newport's ideas <p> J<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ottings
on some core ideas of Cal Newport’s from YouTube videos</span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Deep Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD5e1DRkbiU"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD5e1DRkbiU</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How to live a deep life, a life radically
aligned with your values, that it might be meaningful to you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Try to focus on what really matters to you so
that you don’t waste too much time on what doesn’t matter. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Radical” tries to capture the idea that we
are hoping for big change here not just walk more and eat less meat etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Intentional <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Identify the different areas of your life
which are all important to you:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(1) Craft – work and creative leisure<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(2) Community – family and friends <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(3) Constitution – health, fitness, food,
exercise etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(4) Contemplation – religion and thinking <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(5) Celebration – enjoying the world with
presence and gratitude – fun stuff you love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Warm up by developing a keystone habit in each
of these “buckets” – something simple, doable, meaningful (non-trivial) in each
bucket each day – do them and write down that you did them – do optional
activity that is a pain <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dedicate 4-6 weeks focused on each bucket –
clear out stuff to put in good stuff<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By acting like this, you gain insight –
self-awareness <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Try this before making some huge radical
change like moving to the woods! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOQpZlZuySE"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOQpZlZuySE</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Time management <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rules for what to do next with respect to work
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Somehow we make this decision – sometimes not
in a thought-out way <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Capture – store all the important information
in a trusted, reliable way (don’t waste brain space on remembering what you
need to do), in a system you review regularly – David Allen, <i>Getting Things
Done</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(1) Capture deadlines etc. and what needs to
be done by when <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(2) Configure – Care more about how you
organise what you capture – consolidate relevant information so you can quickly
find out what you need to know – all the relevant info is there in one place
when you need it <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(3) Control – don’t be reactive be proactive –
make a plan for your time in advance which makes the most of the time you have
available – think about the big picture not just the moment – you need to do
this sort of planning on different time scales say quarterly, weekly, daily<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Give your time a job <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some possible tools:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Trello – Roles – Projects <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Google Docs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Time block planner -
https://www.timeblockplanner.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">WorkingMemory.Doc on your desktop for things
you want to capture and process / action / store later <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Calendar <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To be processed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Waiting to hear back from <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Daily shut down <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Weekly tidy up <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(4) Constrain – what are you going to manage /
accept onto your plate / decide how to say yes and no – what do I want to do
and how do I want to do it that will help me to do it better or quicker – have
a reliable process for doing it <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Offer office hours for people who bother you!
Come see me Monday 2-5pm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Slow Productivity <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZwPyB20lxg"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZwPyB20lxg</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">cf. burn out / Exhaustion in the face of all
that we have to do <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2019 onwards – we are tired of doing too much <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Books:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How To Do Nothing <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do Nothing <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Laziness does not exist <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can’t even <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4000 weeks <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Skilled and focused work at a natural pace –
breaks – ups and down of intensity – never too many things at one time – this
then that not 18 things!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Chronic overload – more things on our plate
than we can easily imagine how we are going to get this done <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We love to make a plan and complete a plan. We
hate it when we can’t do this. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The overhead spiral – the admin that is
required just to do our actual work in terms of information gathering,
co-ordinating and co-operating - meetings and email add and add until they are
mostly about the fixed overhead – we talk about the work rather than do the
work! We have meetings about meetings! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Relentless pace – when do we relax? – sit in
the shade in the heat of the day, nap and chat, or take the day off if its
raining <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are always things to get done and you
are always behind – no relief – 10/10 all the time, day after day<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">* * *<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Deep Work <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJYlhhT7hyE"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJYlhhT7hyE</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Deep efforts often move the needle / produce
the value / lead to growth, success etc. esp. in knowledge work, art, crafts
etc. – adding value to information – skilled thought <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Concentrate hard without distraction – do your
underlying core activity – don’t just be busy! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Distraction is a problem and an opportunity –
there is competitive advantage to depth in an increasingly shallow world <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If running from a bear, you don’t have to be
faster than the bear, just faster than the other runners!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Define your deep work, don’t just work more <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Measure it and have goals <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What is the ideal ratio of shallow and deep
work in your role in a typical week?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Schedule your deep work – don’t wait for the
instinct to hit you! Get it on the plan and treat it like a commitment in the
diary <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have rituals around the deep work that help
you<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Train – likely you are out of cognitive shape
– practice <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How To Read 5 Books a Month <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRBkIdc_VYU"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRBkIdc_VYU</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Reading well is like exercise for the brain <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Choose more interesting books! Read what you
want to read not what you feel you should read. Mix it up. Choose a wide
variety and switch between different styles, difficulties, audio and written
etc. Have fun reading. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Schedule reading like you schedule exercise.
Set aside half and hour or an hour to read. Don’t wait until you have time and
are in the mood. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Put rituals around reading which make reading
more enjoyable. Have a drink with your book. Read outside or in some other conducive
location. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do closing pushes. Work through those last 100
pages. Get it done! Sprint to the end when the end is in sight. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take everything interesting (distracting) off
your phone! Take a book with you / have one nearby. Read when bored / you don’t
have anything else to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How Professional Writers Take Notes On
Books <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T79wobxay98"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T79wobxay98</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Corner marking <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tips for Doing Hard Things<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv5GVT4FCvE"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv5GVT4FCvE</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Brandon Sanderson, The Common Lies Writers
Tell You (2020 talk) – you can’t do anything you want to / follow your dreams –
rather, doing hard things is good, tell yourself “I can do hard things” (learn,
practice, challenge yourself), and doing hard things will make me a better
person whether I succeed or not<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have better goals – not “be a successful
novelist”, set a goal which is more specific and which you can control, e.g.
write X words, make your next MS better! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4DX – the 4 disciplines of execution – lead v
lag indicators – lead indicators give you a concrete goal to focus on – you can
track it and make changes etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Learn how you work – figure out what works for
you to get yourself to do stuff – e.g. tracking, deadline, social pressure (tell
someone what you are doing and ask them to ask you about it!), schedule, ritual
etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(What has this to do with threat, food or
mate? This makes it hard for us to do when it doesn’t seem an immediate survival
necessity)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Trick yourself in to doing it <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Break it down into manageable pieces so that
you have something to go after <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-12861048560097438082024-03-14T11:20:00.000+00:002024-03-14T11:20:04.564+00:00The temptation of Jesus <p>Jesus is our <span style="font-size: 12pt;">sympathetic High Priest and brother. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He knows what its like
from the inside to be tired, and hungry, and thirsty and to suffer terribly, to
be rejected and betrayed, and to be tempted and tempted and tempted.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We sometimes think Jesus’ temptation
can’t have been real since he is the Son of God. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But he was truly and fully
human. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He was tempted in every
way as we are yet without sin.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But never was temptation
like his. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">No doubt the devil assaulted
Jesus more fiercely than he has ever attacked anyone. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">C. S. Lewis makes the
point that many of our temptations are light and momentary because we quickly
give in to them!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you see? </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yield to the temptation
and it is over. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It becomes a sin not a
temptation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But Jesus never sinned. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He never gave in to
temptation or to the devil. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All his life he resisted
them faithfully, standing strong against them for us again and again and again, day after day, right to the very end. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So wasn’t Jesus’
temptation in fact longer and harder than ours?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> Yet Jesus proved true. He is tried and tested. There could be no better approved guaranteed authentic pure High Priest who has passed through the flames for us.</o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-14760157923322534122024-03-13T08:41:00.002+00:002024-03-13T12:04:09.223+00:00What have you found helpful in prayer?<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We might discuss this at
our Lent Course today so I’ve made some jottings. I’d love to hear your
thoughts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Having some kind of
pattern / routine / habit (e.g. regular time / place) but also sometimes mixing
it up<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Regular and brief is
probably better than occasional heroic setting of the alarm clock super early <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A mixture of set or extempore
prayers (see The Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship. Other resources e.g.
Valley of Vision Puritan Prayers, Every Moment Holy, Daily Prayers by F. B.
Meyer, Evelyn Underhill’s Prayer Book, Jonathan Gibson, Liturgy for Daily
Worship through the year published by Crossway). Other favourite prayers
/resources?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Revd Dr Peter Adam’s
Daily Prayers for Himself (July 2023) https://peteradam.org/peter-adams-daily-prayers-for-himself/</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Just talk to God about
whatever concerns you / the day ahead <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Use Scripture – pray the
Psalms – pray in the light of your Bible Reading <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pray the prayers of Paul /
think about Paul’s priorities etc. see D. A. Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation
/ Praying with Paul</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Some kind of structure:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">TSP – Thank you, Sorry,
Please<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ACTS – Adoration, Confession,
Thanksgiving, Supplication <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pray for the world and it’s
leaders<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The church and her leaders<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Others and ourselves – the
sick and suffering and those who care for them and those who mourn<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Lord’s Prayer – could be
said or used as a launching off point / structure <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lists / prayer letters /
cycles of prayer – Mission Support Partners, Church Prayer Diary, Sussex Gospel
Partnership Prayer Diary – Operation World <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Silence – space – pause –
be with Jesus. Even if prayer is talking to God, you don’t have to talk all the
time. You can reflect / meditate / think in God’s presence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Think about your body,
posture, breathing, maybe. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Write down distractions as
a way of getting them out of your head or turn them into prayer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Write out a prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Keep a prayer journal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pray while walking / out
in creation <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hymns / poetry / music /
singing – The Psalms, again! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Arrow prayers for help
etc. or before a task <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Say thank you at meals <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pray with others <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-74635004236986436812024-03-09T14:50:00.003+00:002024-03-10T08:22:04.708+00:00Jottings for a brief thought on Isaiah 49v15 for Mothering Sunday<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In our reading from the
prophet Isaiah, God wants to comfort his people (v13). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">They feel as if the LORD
has forsaken and forgotten them (v14). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So God asks them a
question, which I want to focus on for a moment, and then the sermon is done:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">V15, “Can a mother forget
the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What sort of question do
you think that is?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Technically?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If this were a school
lesson?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A rhetorical question. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A question asked for
effect. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Not necessarily expecting
an answer or seeking information. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">God already knows the
answer but he asks the question as part of an argument, to persuade us of
something. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If mum was cross with you
and she said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Do you think I’m stupid?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Do I look as if I was
born yesterday?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">They would be rhetorical
questions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The question is meant to
answer itself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You’re meant to get the
point, not to say, “well, mum, you don’t look that bright and you are looking
quite old!” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So, what answer do you
think God’s rhetorical question is expecting?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Can a mother forget the
baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What do you think? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What answer would you
give?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Very unlikely. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Normally not. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Mothers’ love for their
children. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">They often show amazing compassion
and care.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A mother’s love is
legendary. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Parents normally remember
their children, don’t they?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Even I can remember all of
all of my four children’s names!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I remember them! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">V15b, God says: “Though
she [the mother we’re imagining] may forget, I will not forget you!” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sadly, some parents do
neglect their children. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We don’t always love our
children as well as we should. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But God’s love is greater,
stronger, more long-lasting even than the best mother’s love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">God says, even if a mum
might forget her child, I will never forget my people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The love divine excels all
other loves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">God’s love is the best
love ever:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s a non-stop never
failing never giving up for ever and always love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">V16 is remarkable verse:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">God says, “see, I have
engraved you on the palms of my hands”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I sometimes write things
on my hand as a reminder. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Not the best as it
sometimes gets washed off!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s very temporary and
unsure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But it’s as if God has
engraved his peoples’ names on his hands for ever so that he won’t ever forget
them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">God’s love is permeant and
sure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As we think of God’s
palms, we might think of Jesus dying for us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus’ love for us meant
he was willing to be crucified for us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">His love for you and me
takes him to the cross. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me finish just by
quoting some words from Augustus Toplady’s hymn, A debtor to mercy alone:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Talking
about God, he says:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="padding: 0cm 0cm 15.0pt 0cm;" valign="top">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">His promise is Yes and Amen,<br />
And never was forfeited yet.<br />
Things future, nor things that are now,<br />
Not all things below or above,<br />
Can make Him [God] His purpose forego,<br />
Or sever my soul from His love.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Nothing could ever stop God loving us, in other
words. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0cm 11.25pt 15.0pt 0cm;" valign="top">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My name from the palms of [God’s] hands<br />
Eternity will not erase;<br />
Imprest on His heart, it remains<br />
In marks of indelible grace.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0cm 0cm 15.0pt 0cm;" valign="top"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">May we know God’s best
of all, never failing, never giving up love.</span> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-27991613553237465242024-03-07T14:42:00.013+00:002024-03-10T08:15:56.698+00:00On Mary for Mothering Sunday <p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">As its mothering Sunday, I
want to talk a little bit about Mary, the mother of Jesus.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I worry that some Christians
might make too much of Mary. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But that doesn't mean that
we should neglect her.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mary is a wonderful
example to us of love and trust in her Saviour, Jesus. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If Mary were here today,
she would no doubt want to point us to her son.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As her cousin Elizabeth
says, Mary is indeed blessed amongst women (Luke 1:42): u</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">niquely blessed to have
God the Son in her womb and to give birth to him. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But particularly blessed,
according to Elizabeth, because she believed that what the Lord had said to her
would be accomplished (Luke 1:45).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">According to the Angel
Gabriel who announces Jesus’ forthcoming birth to Mary, Mary is highly favoured
(Luke 1:28). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She is the recipient of God’s
grace, his undeserved love. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">God is being gracious,
kind towards her. </span>We can well understand
that Mary would be greatly troubled at the angel's words and wonder what kind of
greeting this might be (Luke 1:29). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When she hears she is
going to give birth to the Son of God, well might she ask, “How will this be?”
(Luke 1:34). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And yet, Mary humbly
believes this impossible life-up-ending thing. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She responds to the angel:
“I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That’s amazing faithful
obedience.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In her famous song, The Magnificat,
Mary praises and glorifies God for all that he is doing as her Saviour in
exalting the humble and keeping his covenant promises (Luke 1:46-55). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When Jesus is born and the
Shepherds come to see him, Mary treasures up all these things and ponders them in
her heart (Luke 2:19). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She had so much to think
about! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And so do we, of course,
as we read the gospel accounts. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The example of Mary ought
to encourage us to prize these things and to reflect on them prayerfully.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When Mary and Joseph
present Jesus in the temple, Simeon prophesies that “this child is destined to
cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign to be spoken
against.” And then, movingly, he says to Mary: “a sword will pierce your own soul
too.” (Luke 2:35)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s hard to imagine what
it must have been like for Mary to watch her son attracting large eager crowds,
and then being rejected, betrayed and crucified. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus spoke tenderly to
his mother as he died (John 19:26). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It seems Mary was unique
in being there at Jesus’ birth and death.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is understandable that
Mary and Joseph were sometimes astonished at Jesus. When he was twelve years old
and stayed behind in the Temple, Mary asks why Jesus has treated them like
this. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They did not understand
that Jesus had to be in his Father’s house (Luke 2:48-50).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">At the wedding at Cana,
Mary points out to Jesus the wine crisis and his response to her is a bit enigmatic,
perhaps off-putting. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Literally, he says
something like: “</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
[is that] to you and to me woman? </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My hour is not yet
come.” It might even seem rude b</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ut Mary doesn’t seem
offended or discouraged. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She gives the servants
excellent advice, which we would do well to listen to also: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Do whatever he tells you.”
(John 2:1-5)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(If we think that Mark
3:21 refers to Jesus’ family<a href="file:///C:/Users/marc_/Documents/Mothering%20Sunday%2010_3_24%20Isaiah%2049%20Luke%202.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
and includes his mother, this would represent a crisis of understanding and
faith from which Jesus’ relatives recovered. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It
seems as if, at one stage, they might have thought that Jesus was out of his
mind and needed them to come and take charge of him.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We might agree with the
woman who cried out to Jesus: </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">“Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and
nursed you.”</span><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI", sans-serif" style="background: white;">But notice how Jesus redirects our attention: ““Blessed
rather are those who hear the word of God</span> and obey it.” <span face=""Segoe UI", sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">(Luke 11:27-28) </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That’s a blessing in which
we can all share!</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus referred to those
seated in a circle around him listening to his teaching and said: “Here are my
mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and
mother.” (Mark 3:34) <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We’re invited into Jesus’
family by hearing and obeying his word.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="file:///C:/Users/marc_/Documents/Mothering%20Sunday%2010_3_24%20Isaiah%2049%20Luke%202.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> οἱ
παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ para plus the genitive, those of him, from, indicating source or
origin, rather than his friends (KJV) / associates / envoys / followers / companions
/ those with him. Consider the Markan sandwich (Edwards, Pillar, p117, house, crowd,
vv20, 32, kratein, kalein, ze_tein) with v31 referring to Jesus’ mother. <span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">Doesn’t
this make it more likely that the same group of people are in view in both
sections? </span>On
kinsmen or household see the references in France NICGNT p166. Some Greek
manuscripts (D W OL) and other witnesses have “the scribes and others” coming
to seize Jesus. Metzger, Textual Commentary suggests that hoi par’ autou “apparently
proved to be so embarrassing” that it was altered. France calls 3:20-21
bristling with difficulties but eventually supports the traditional interpretation
that we have Jesus’ family offensively repudiating him here. Despite the problems
France calls this “the least unsatisfactory solution to an exegetical conundrum”
(p164, 6). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>France also notes H.
Wansborough’s view that Jesus followers go outside to calm down the crowd in
v21 (165f). Some want to make elegon impersonal: “people were saying” Jesus was
insane. Existe_mi (Mk 5:42; 2:12; 6:51; 2 Cor 5:13) does seem to mean out of
his mind / one’s senses rather than amazed here (France, p167). Cf. also Ps
69:8. See John 7:3-10 on the unbelief of Jesus’ brothers. Lane thinks “it is
unnecessary to suppose that Mary also suspected that Jesus had lost his grip
upon reality. Her presence with Jesus’ brothers in Ch. 3:31, however, indicates
that her faith was insufficient to resist the determination of her sons to
restrain Jesus and bring him home.” (NICNT, p139). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jerome refers to Jesus’ kinsfolk desiring to
bind him as one of weak mind. Letter 108 to Eustochium.</p>
</div>
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-73080175947572996352024-03-06T16:07:00.005+00:002024-03-06T18:01:35.005+00:00Signs, Sermons (discourses) and I AM sayings in John's gospel<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">New Testament words for miracles: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mighty works / works of power - <span class="unicodefont"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">δύναμις</span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (</span><span class="transliteration"><i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">dunamis</span></i></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">) '</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">power</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">'</span> (120x)</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Signs - <span class="unicodefont">σημεῖον</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> (</span><span class="transliteration"><i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">sēmeion</span></i></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">) '</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">sign</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">' </span>(78x)<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">John 2:11; 4:48, 54; 20:30: “signs” –
significant – have a meaning – point beyond themselves <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not just displays of power or magic tricks but
speak about Jesus and the salvation he brings – foretastes of the kingdom of
God in all its fullness <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some have suggested that John’s gospel may contain
seven (or more) signs, possibly with associated discourses and I AM sayings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The following is neither original nor neat.
Maybe you have a better scheme to offer?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">(1) Changing the Water into
Wine (2:1-11) - The New Birth (3:1-36)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">(2) Healing of the
Nobleman's Son (4:46-54) - The Water of Life (4:1-42)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">(3) Healing at the Pool of
Bethesda (5:1-9) - The Divine Son (5:19-47)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(4) Feeding the Multitude (6:1-14) - The Bread
of Life (6:22-66) - I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">(5) Walking on the Water
(6:15-25) - The Life-Giving Spirit (7:1-52)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(6) Healing the Man Born Blind (9:1-8) - The
Light of the World (8:12-59) - I am the Light of the World (John 8:12) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(John 8:58 - <span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">before Abraham was, </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I am</span>)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4.8pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">(7) </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Raising
Lazarus from the Dead (11:1-46) - The Good Shepherd (10:1-42) - I am the Door
(John 10:9)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="trt0xe" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="trt0xe" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am the Good Shepherd (John
10:11,14)</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="trt0xe" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am the Resurrection and the
Life (John 11:25)</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="trt0xe" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am the Way and the Truth
and the Life (John 14:6)</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="trt0xe" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am the Vine (John 15:1,5)</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Also ? cross, resurrection, miraculous catch
of fish as signs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-36701724142550660192024-02-19T10:44:00.002+00:002024-02-19T10:44:30.841+00:00The most important sermon of all time - every week! <p>The preacher ought to preach the good news of the Lord Jesus every week. </p><p>Yet his sermons should avoid being same-y. </p><p>He should live with the Bible text or texts for a week or more and seek to get them into his bones. He wants his own heart and mind and will to be moved, and he wants to do the same in his hearers. </p><p>We don't want to hear from a preacher who has a moderately important message to which you probably ought to pay due regard. </p><p>Some preachers will be really good at preaching the passage to themselves and will be moved to feel that this Bible text is the most important thing ever. We may get exited by new things we have seen in the text. </p><p>So every week we get more exciting new discoveries and most important things ever! </p><p>In addition to all the most important things we had last week. </p><p>It could all be a bit exhausting and overwhelming. </p><p>There are weightier matters of the law. Some things are more central and more important and clearer than others. Sometimes it will be right to deal with things that are, in the grand scheme of things, not of absolutely central earth-shattering importance but which still matter and are meaningful to us. For example, God's care for the cattle is perhaps not in the top three Biblical truths, but as part of the larger Biblical whole, it is something probably worth touching upon in the course of a fifty year ministry. </p><p>Over time, ideally, we want all Bible truth in Biblical proportions from all the Scriptures, which are all profitable and necessary. And we want them in Christ through the lens of the gospel, applied to us and our circumstances. </p><p>And indeed we want these things with an appropriate mood and atmosphere. Sometimes joy, sorrow, exulting, rebuke, correction, encouragement and so on. We need to know ourselves and our people: what are we tempted to see or feel or overlook? And what do they need?</p><p>All of which is to say that the preacher has a great and weighty task which requires lots of wisdom, skill, prayer and grace. We look to the Spirit to help us do this as well as we can alongside all our other responsibilities, always knowing that there are no perfect preachers and no perfect sermons but that God is powerful and gracious and can use mightily even our most week and feeble efforts. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-56712668246277532792024-02-15T09:16:00.003+00:002024-02-15T09:16:44.823+00:00The danger of a quiet week <p> Earlier this year I had a couple of quieter weeks. I could catch up on some of the long and never finished to do list. I could think a bit more about the sermon. And read. If I were more godly, I could have prayed more. </p><p>But it is tempting to think, "Oh, I have a bit of spare capacity." Maybe I should launch a new initiative. Or I could take on a new commitment. </p><p>Now it is Lent, which comes with an extra course. I have two funerals in the works. I am going to see two couples about baptisms. There are various other meetings in the diary. Easter is looming. And suddenly the next couple of months look pretty busy. </p><p>And nobody wants a frazzled stressed pastor. </p><p>It is just not possible to say, "I'm sorry, your relative may be dying, but the diary is full and I am tired so I might be able to see her in two weeks on Tuesday at 4pm". </p><p>This is all by way of stating the obvious that there are ebbs and flows for most of us in what we have to do when. You need a bit of slack in the system at times. And you need to be flexible. </p><p>A diary too full of important urgent things is a recipe for stress. Take on too much and you might do none of it well. You and others will be frustrated. We want to know what is essential and to make sure we don't neglect that for the sake of the many other good and attractive options. </p><p>And neither do you want to be chronically under occupied or engaged. </p><p>Wise not to take on too much and to have a couple of things in the background that one might do one day if one has a moment. </p><p>A blessing and a curse of ministerial life is that there is always more one could do better, and we have to make our peace with that. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-40586977818749817502024-02-14T10:10:00.003+00:002024-02-14T10:10:53.621+00:00Ash Wednesday Sermon 2024 <p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ash
Wednesday 2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">St
Valentine’s Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">14<sup>th</sup>
February<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Readings:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk158627407"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1 John 4:7-end (p1227)<o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk158627407;"></span>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk158627432"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Matthew 22:34-40 (page 991)<o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk158627432;"></span>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the name of the Father… <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So here we are again for Ash Wednesday on St
Valentine’s Day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I hope you’ll forgive me a little calendar
geekery. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Ash-Valentine’s mash up is pretty rare. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It last happened in 2018 and it will happen
again for the final time this century in <span style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: .35pt;">2029.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: .35pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Similarly it happened only three times in the 20<sup>th</sup> Century. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So we ought to make the most of it! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Well done for being here and not in some
wonderful restaurant. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As it happens we do have candles and a meal to
look forward to! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In fact, according to the C of E, Ash
Wednesday is a Principal Holy Day, so it trumps all other celebrations which might
come on the same day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You could have saved on the flowers and chocolates
this year, perhaps, if you were brave. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But the day does give us an opportunity to
think about love and lent, love and holiness – not, perhaps, things which we
usually associate together. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If we allowed ourselves to caricature for a
moment:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love, well, that’s lovely. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All kind of fluffy and nice and kind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ah! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Who could be against love? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And holiness, well, we know that’s good and
necessary, but it’s a bit like eating your greens. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe it’s a little bit other worldly and
spiritual – a kind of far away look in the eye. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or maybe in its Lent iteration its very
austere and frugal:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Self-denial, which may seem hard or strange
when we’re so often told by our society that we ought to love ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Does anyone love lent?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But for God and for us, love and holiness
ought to go together. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe getting love and holiness together could
refine and expand our vision of both. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We could seek a lent which is both loving and
holy, holy and loving. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let’s think, then, about God and then about
ourselves in relation to holiness and love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is holy, holy, holy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The most holy: the holiest, supremely superlatively
super holy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is holy indeed and the source of all
holiness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The basic idea of holiness is separation,
specialness, distinctness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is set apart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He is unique. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And in particular he is set apart from all
evil and wickedness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He is perfectly good and entirely holy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His eyes are too pure to look upon wrongdoing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But God’s holiness is not only separateness
but also expansiveness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is a spreading holiness:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A holiness that can make holy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Holy God is light. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God’s holiness shines forth. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It scatters the darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He is the loving fellowship of Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He made us from love, in love, for love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God loves and loves and loves. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He is an inexhaustible fountain of love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He is love all the way down. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is rich, overflowing, abundant, generous
love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Bible is a love story:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is the husband; we are the church he pursues
to be his bride. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus our champion kills the dragon and gets
the girl. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God’s love is holy:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He loves what is good and right and pure and
healthy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And God’s holiness is loving. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God’s holiness is not a cold light but a warm
light: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A fire which both purifies and welcomes us in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The light not only of the operating theatre
but of the family hearth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So as the people of God we are called to be
godly, to be like God in our own creaturely way. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As children of a loving and holy Father, we
are to bear something of the family likeness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God says to us, “be holy as I am holy.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And he also says, “love one another as I have
loved you.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Holiness was at the heart of the Old Testament
law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But that holiness of the law is truly
summarised by the first commandment to love God and the second, which is like it,
which is to love our neighbours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus will ask the repentant Peter three
times: “do you love me?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That’s the great question! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love is the greatest virtue:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The bond of all the virtues:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The more excellent way. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There could be no true holiness without love; no
true love which is not holy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Holiness, it seems, is not only separate from
evil, it reaches out to the world in love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The two or three historical Valentines, and
indeed all the martyrs, give us a picture of holy love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They have a love stronger than death. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They love something even more than their own lives.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Theirs is a holy love which warns against contamination
and compromise. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They tell us that love and holiness are worth
living and dying for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That there is a sense in which we cannot both
love the world and love God:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We must choose love. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If we want to know what a holy and loving life
looks like for a human being, of course, we must look above all to the Lord
Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His love and holiness were often misunderstood
and maligned. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He ate with sinners in a way that scandalised
the holiness police. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He didn’t keep the sabbath rules in the way
that the church wanted, so who knows what he might or might not have done during
Lent if it had been invented then. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But Jesus wasn’t just in to love and
neglectful of holiness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He said that his followers would need a
righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and the pharisees:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A holiness not only of appearances, but of the
heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus would have us tithe our herbs, but also
attend to justice, mercy and faith. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We need not only to white-wash the outside but
to let the light into the murky depths of our souls. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus calls us to a real and deep repentance –
to turn from sin back to love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus shows us what true love and holiness
mean and look like. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is love:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not flowers and chocolates and bad verse, but
that Jesus loved us and gave his life for us, an unholy people, to make us
holy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Greater love has no man than this, that he
lays down his life for his friends. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Indeed, Jesus goes further: he dies for his
enemies, for the unlovely to make them lovely. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love did not simply overlook sin: it was too
holy for that. <br />
Love required atonement – at one ment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sin estranges us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It harms love and holiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It pollutes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We needed to be reconciled to God and God to
us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God the Son was the atoning sacrifice, the
propitiation for our sins. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God Himself absorbed and spent his holy anger,
his wrath, which is itself an aspect of his love, that we might enjoy his holy
love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May God grant us a loving holiness and a holy
love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let us pray this Lent for a more perfect love
which drives out fear that we might love God and love our neighbour with the
love which comes from the God who is Love. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And so to God the Father… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">* * * <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://marclloyd.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-homily-on-love-and-duty.html">https://marclloyd.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-homily-on-love-and-duty.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Simon Vibert - <a href="https://metamorphe.wordpress.com/2024/01/31/asceticism-or-amore/?fbclid=IwAR3ahUV6-qRgkflPi8yLHAfmVip3IRbBUUaARK2W4hOLWH8SKYOm6JQbfQ0">https://metamorphe.wordpress.com/2024/01/31/asceticism-or-amore/?fbclid=IwAR3ahUV6-qRgkflPi8yLHAfmVip3IRbBUUaARK2W4hOLWH8SKYOm6JQbfQ0</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-83932478353184256852024-02-12T11:10:00.003+00:002024-02-12T11:10:50.243+00:00An All Age Talk on Jumpers for the Diocesan Year of the New Testament <p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Old
and New Testament Jumpers and Key Gospel Truths<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Old Testament jumpers</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
– no mixed fibres, holiness, separateness<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+19%3A19&version=ESV"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Leviticus 19:19</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> - “You
shall keep my statutes…. You shall not you wear a garment of cloth made of two
kinds of material.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3 style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+22%3A11&version=ESV"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Deuteronomy 22:11</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - “You shall not wear cloth of
wool and linen mixed together.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The basic idea of holiness is separation, distinctness,
to be set apart as special, separate from all sin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It was never about jumpers that God was
principally concerned!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The clothing is a picture of the people of
God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The holiness and purity of the people of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">New Testament jumpers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">New Testament: ceremonial law abolished (Jesus
declared all foods clean, for example. The curtain in the temple torn in two by
God, the temple destroyed in AD 70 etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Of course the church must continue to be
distinct and holy (salt etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But your jumper can now contain mixed fibres! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And likewise the church contains people of
every tribe and language and people and nation made one by faith in Christ and
set apart from the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the New Testament there is a new welcome, a
new radical inclusion in Christ who makes us holy and overcomes our divisions.
This multicoloured, variegated church of black and white, rich and poor,
educated and uneducated, etc. etc. displays the manifold wisdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://nuakh.uk/2024/02/05/mixed-fibres/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://nuakh.uk/2024/02/05/mixed-fibres/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-9974307700299055062024-02-09T13:30:00.002+00:002024-02-09T13:30:11.030+00:00On Asylum Seekers and Christianity <p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The controversy about asylum
seekers claiming to be Christians is fascinating in a number of ways. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(Readers might also recall
a relevant West Wing episode!)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On why one might claim
to be a Christian<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The pendulum has swung on
this throughout church history. From persecuted and misunderstood minority,
Constantine took Christianity mainstream. A profession may be advantageous. For
some roles it was required. But the long death of Christianity has seen the
social cache of the church decline. Observant nominalism is probably pretty
rare these days, perhaps except among the elderly. Nowadays, bible believing
Christians might again be seen as weird, foolish or even bad. So the asylum seeker
may have unusual and particular motives. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On what is a Christian <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And how one might be
recognised. And who is to judge?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">By their fruits shall ye
know them. But is this really a matter for the courts?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Normally, we would expect
a certain amount of knowledge, of intellectual commitment, of heartfelt trust,
of changed life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1 John might give tests of
doctrine, conduct and love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A Christian is one who
trusts in Jesus and Lord and Saviour. But so many are unclear on this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">How many professing
Christians would pass these tests with flying colours?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As the old poster put it, “If
you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to
convict?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We can easily try to apply
faulty criteria. It is tempting to give asylum seekers a quiz on the names of
the Apostles or the books of the New Testament, but this tells us little about
the heart of the matter, which is a matter of the heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On baptism policy<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the C of E, anyone
living in the parish has a right to be baptised after suitable preparation and
other things being equal. It is ultimately for the candidate to make the
promises and declarations and for the priest to exhort them to do so
thoughtfully and sincerely. There is no theology exam. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It now seems that some
sections of the press would like the clergy to make jolly sure that asylum seekers
pass the ten-week Christianity Explored course with flying colours and serve on
the coffee rota for a few months. I wonder if they feel the same when their
grandchild is up for baptism in the pretty parish church. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On the relationship
between state and church <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The C of E has rightly
pointed out that it is not its job to police asylum claims. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The church can too easily
be claimed to be the reactionary traditional conservative Tory Party at prayer
and to have been captured by Guardian reading prelates. Whilst being responsible
citizens, the church must absolutely live by the standards and values of a
different Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-73007058271665429862024-02-08T13:14:00.003+00:002024-02-08T13:14:56.326+00:00Essentialism: The One Necessary Thing <p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have been reading a business book by Greg McKeown, <i>Essentialism: The
Disciplined Pursuit of Less</i> (Virgin Books / Ebury Publishing / Penguin
Random House, 2014). McKeown describes two experiences that caused him to rethink
how he was living. As a young man, he sat down with a blank sheet of paper and
brainstormed for twenty minutes about what he might like to do with his life.
He had filled the paper. But he noticed that nowhere did it say “Go to Law
School.” Which he says was awkward, as he was currently pursing legal studies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Second,
he tells of an email which he received from his boss while his wife was
pregnant. It said, “1-2pm on Friday would be really bad time to have this baby.”
He sort of assumed it was a joke. But sure enough the baby was born on Friday.
After being with his wife in the hospital, McKeown headed off to the supposedly
crucial client meeting. His boss claimed the client admired him for being there
at such a time, but he wasn’t sure he did. And in fact nothing ever came of the
meeting, even though McKeown had managed to upset his wife by going to it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">McKeown
points out that for 500 years the English word “priority” was only ever used in
the singular. It meant the prior, the first, thing. But since 1900 we can speak
of “priorities”. He describes working for a company which listed its ten top priorities.
Of course, if we are trying to focus on ten first things, it is very hard to do
any of them really well. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
would each do well, perhaps, to pause and ask what few things really matter to
us the most.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
in fact once said that only one thing was needful. Martha was busy and
distracted, anxious about many things, serving, working hard, getting things
ready. Her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet listening to him, in the classic
position of a disciple (a learner or apprentice) attending to a Master-Teacher (a
Rabbi). Jesus says only a “<span style="background: white; color: black;">few
things are needed—or indeed only one.</span> Mary has chosen what is better,
and it will not be taken away from her.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whatever else we do, may we take the time and space
we need to listen to Jesus, to receive his words and to put them into practice.
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-6161040601682373012024-02-08T09:34:00.005+00:002024-02-08T09:34:50.219+00:00Prayer as Sacrament <p>According to <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">'Practicing the Way', John Mark Comer,</span> t<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">he Jesuit spiritual director Jean-Pierre de Caussade called prayer "the sacrament of the present moment". </span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-58685483628210051742024-02-08T09:10:00.001+00:002024-02-08T09:10:10.641+00:00Parish Magazine Item for The Diocesan Years Of...<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
The Rectory<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
2023, the Diocese of Chichester focused on the Old Testament. This year we are
thinking about the New Testament. And 2024 will be a Year of Faith to mark 1700
years since The Council of Nicaea and 950 years of Christian mission based in
Chichester, the home of our diocesan cathedral. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
relationship between Old and New Testaments and Christian doctrine is often
misunderstood. Clearly there are differences between them, but what is much
more remarkable is the unity of Testaments and Christian confession. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is quite common to hear someone say that they are more of a New Testament
Christian than an Old Testament person. They mean they are nice and kind and not
keen on war etc. But, if I may say so, this involves rather misleading
caricatures about the Bible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is very hard to make any sense of the New Testament without the Old. As
Christians have often said, the New is in the Old concealed and the Old is in
the New revealed. But actually the Old Testament is often pretty obviously
looking for a New Testament fulfilment. Jesus’ identity as Israel’s Messiah (the
Christ, the Anointed One, the long-promised rescuer king) is only
comprehensible based on expectations going back to the book of Genesis itself
and the promise of a Serpent-Crusher who will defeat evil and undo the curse on
sin. We could wax lyrical about all the patterns and pictures which Jesus, the
prophet, priest and king fulfils. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Arguably,
the Trinity, atonement, resurrection and many other Christian themes are all
clearly present in the Old Testament. They are not hiding if we have eyes to
see them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
commands to love God and neighbour come in the Old Testament. Old Testament
religion was a matter of love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
the New Testament itself comes to sum up the teaching of the Old Testament
prophets and the New Testament apostles, it does so in almost the opposite way
that we might expect. According to Saint Peter in Acts chapter 10, “<span style="background: white; color: black;">All the [Old Testament] prophets testify
about him [Jesus] that everyone who believes in him receives
forgiveness of sins through his name.”</span> Whereas the New Testament apostles
proclaim a message of coming judgement: that he, the risen Lord Jesus,<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;"> “is the one whom God
appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” The Old Testament speaks of
forgiveness; the New Testament speaks of judgement. Old Testament bad and horrible;
New Testament nice and lovely obviously misses the mark. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Christian teaching is not merely a repetition of
what the Bible says, but the Bible remains true, clear, necessary and
sufficient. All that we need to know for salvation and godliness is taught well
enough in the Bible, if we will only seek to understand it prayerfully
together. The task of Christian doctrine is to study more deeply what the Bible
teaches and to articulate it afresh in each generation, applying it to new
situations using all the help which tradition, reason and experience can give. In
a sense it might be claimed that The Nicene Creed is just an attempt to summarise
what the Bible teaches and what all Christians everywhere has always believed,
even if it uses some technical terms not found in the Bible itself. It aims to
expound and apply, to show the meaning and implications of the Bible, not to
pour in alien ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over this three-year period, let’s pray for a deeper
appreciation of the Bible and the Christian faith. And in particular, let us
pray that we get beyond an academic interest in these things or a merely
intellectual understanding. We aim not only to stuff our heads with more understanding
but we ask that God might move our hearts, wills and hands with these great
truths: that we might see what they mean for us and how they make a difference
on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Revd Marc Lloyd<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-56790304119916562222024-02-02T10:56:00.001+00:002024-02-05T08:18:29.601+00:00The Newness of the New Testament<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am attempting to preach
two sermons for the Diocesan Year of the New Testament in these couple of weeks
before Lent. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have one on the nature
and purpose of the New Testament in which I try to say something about the
historical reliability of the gospels, Jesus’ identity as Lord, the truth and
authority of the Bible and the goal that we might meet Jesus there, hear his
voice, believe in him and have new life in his name. It deserves a whole sermon
series, I know!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am also thinking of saying
something about the newness (or otherwise) of the New Testament / Covenant. All
the time seeking to proclaim and apply the good news of Jesus, not just to give
an academic lecture. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So perhaps you can help me
on content and implications. Much of the New Testament actually wrestles with
issues related to this (how will Jew and Gentile relate in the church, what of
the Law of Moses etc.), but perhaps few of our people are tempted to live as
Old Testament Jews, so we need to work out where the rub is for us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Continuity <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The same Triune God!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The unity of Scripture:
God’s big picture – The Old Testament the Word of God not the Word of God
Emeritus <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Love in the Old Testament;
wrath in the New Testament <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One work of creation and redemption
– one plan of salvation – The Covenant of Grace (in Old and New Testament
administrations) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Salvation always only by
grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Newness of the New
Testament <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here is Jesus come in the
flesh!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The incarnation, life,
death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Old Testament not
abolished but fulfilled – from shadows to substance <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Something of an
internalising and intensification of the Law in the teaching of Jesus? (Though
this obviously wasn’t absent in the Old Testament).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(To say the NT goes from
physical to spiritual etc. would probably be overstating it and misleading?)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All foods declared clean<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The temple and the
sacrificial system, Jesus and the church – the torn curtain, the destruction of
Jerusalem in AD 70<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The people of God no
longer infants under the tutelage of the Law – a mature learning from the
wisdom of the Law, an internalising of its message of love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The New Testament itself,
of course!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">New sacraments <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pentecost: The outpouring
of the Spirit to permanently indwell all God’s people <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The gospel going to all
the nations and the radical inclusion and equality of the people of God as
those who have faith in Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Looking forward not to the
coming of Christ but to his Second Coming<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A new and better glory!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Applications?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Read your New Testament (and
Old Testament), obviously! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Delight in and stick with
this Jesus and his gospel <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Share this Jesus and his
gospel with all the nations <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Right? What else and so
what? How would you aim to communicate some of this engagingly on a Sunday
morning?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Again, this is probably far
too much for one sermon so what main thing or things would you want to communicate?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-64362199941012828382024-01-29T08:37:00.007+00:002024-02-01T18:20:12.392+00:00The authority of Jesus is Ss<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have sometimes heard the
authority of Jesus in Mark’s gospel described using a series of words beginning
with (or maybe sounding like) “S”s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Slightly silly, but I suggest we seek Our
Saviour's authority in the Gospels over "s"s: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Some of these might be a stretch and perhaps are
debatable / lack on obvious proof text but here goes:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">With a salute to friends who chipped in:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sin; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sickness; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Scribes; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Spirits; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Satan; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sinners / Seekers / Sceptics; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sailors! (fishermen); <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Simon; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sea; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sandwiches (loaves and fishes!); <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sanhedrin; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sadducees; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Soldiers; Centurions; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Scripture (as its authorised interpreter and
subject); <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sabbath; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Ceremonies;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sepulchres; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sanctimoniousness;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Self-righteousness; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Silliness;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sorrow / sadness; <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Suffering;</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Snakes / serpents;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Sliced ears; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Smells (the stink of Lazarus) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Soft fruit (the cursing of the fig tree)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p>Sanctuary (Temple)</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p>Sausages (The Gadarene swine and the food laws!)</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p>Structures </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.3333px;">(our) Selves?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;">Something else? Supplement, please?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-51697384774547857062024-01-23T10:26:00.003+00:002024-01-24T08:44:40.141+00:00What is a Deanery?<p> </p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>What is a Deanery?</b></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>A question you are no doubt asking! It could be the house in which a Dean lives. But not in this case.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>“The Anglican Communion is a family of 42 autonomous and independent-yet-interdependent national, pan-national and regional churches in communion with the see of Canterbury” operating in over 165 countries.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>These churches are composed of Provinces, in the case of the Church of England, Canterbury and York. There are also, as it happens, 42 diocese in the Church of England, ours being Chichester, which roughly covers Sussex.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>Chichester Diocese is made up of four Archdeaconries, ours being Hastings. And these are composed of Deaneries, benefices and parishes.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>Our diocese comprises 478 churches in 361 parishes grouped into 275 benefices with a clergyperson overseeing each. These are grouped into 21 rural deaneries, each served by a rural dean who is also a parish priest. Ours are largely rural but they need not be. Brighton is a rural deanery. Some diocese have switched to having Area rather than Rural Deans.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p> The word “deanery” comes originally for the Latin for ten: deaneries originally comprised about ten parishes. Nowadays they are geographically-based, and may contain twice that number, or (for very rural areas) fewer. In this Diocese, some of the deaneries have ancient names, after some of the oldest parishes. Our deanery is Dallington, which though it is a tiny village based around The Street is an ancient settlement mentioned in the Domesday Book. The churches here date from the 13th Century. Dallington is roughly central within the Deanery though people living in the deanery might look to various different surrounding towns for their shopping and other amenities. There’s no real shared centre, which is rather different from a deanery such as Hastings or Eastbourne which is very much based around a single town.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>Our Deanery of Dallington extends from Hailsham in the south to Hurst Green in the north, Waldron in the west and Salehurst in the east. A map of the deanery showing the churches is available on the Church Near You website. Hailsham is the largest town in the Deanery. Other centres include Heathfield and Burwash. The Deanery is largely rural.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>When fully staffed, the Deanery is served by 12 licenced clergy, plus any training curates and a number of clergy with Permission to Officiate, who may be retired or have some other work, possibly as a chaplain or in secular employment.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>The Deanery Chapter of clergy meets roughly every couple of months, usually for lunch, prayer and mutual encouragement. Notices are shared and any business is contracted and sometimes we are joined by a guest from the Diocese or elsewhere. Recently Bishop Will, the Bishop of Lewes, visited.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>The functions of Deanery Synods are formally set out in the Synodical Government Measure of 1969. A cynic once said that a Deanery Synod is thirty people waiting to go home, but in fact they have lots of potential for good. Deanery Synods exist to promote co-operation between parishes and as a unit of mission and organisation between the level of the parishes and the diocese. It can be useful to work together and share best practice. A Deanery Plan might guide pastoral reorganisation and we also have a Deanery Mission Action Plan which sets out some our shared priorities. We have also done some work on listing the main things each parish is working on and any areas where parishes feel they may have resources or expertise to share with one another.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>The Deanery Synod normally meets three times a year in a different church or church hall. This consists of the House of Clergy and the House of Laity who are elected by their parishes according to the number on the electoral roll of the parish church. The Church Representation Rules and the Standing Orders govern business. The Deanery Standing Committee (a Secretary and Treasurer and others) help the Rural Dean and the joint (lay) chair to plan the meetings. Normally there is a speaker. And we always have one parish share items for praise and prayer. General Synod (rather like the church’s parliament) or Diocesan Synod can refer matters to the Deanery. And a motion could go all the way from a Parochial Church Council to General Synod via the Deanery and Diocese. Importantly, the members of Deanery Synod are also the electors for General Synod.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>Only members of synod are entitled to speak and vote but anyone is normally welcome to attend.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>(This article draws on material from the Anglican Communion, Church of England, Diocesan and Deanery websites as well as other sources).</p><p> </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-74619248859801240702024-01-20T09:36:00.003+00:002024-01-20T09:36:57.641+00:00Two points and a challenge <p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
want to make two points and then pose a challenge, if I may. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(1)
We live in an amazingly beautiful part of the world. Okay, there are pot holes
and power cuts. And many of us have serious struggles. Ill health or various kinds
of disaster can afflict any of us at any time. But many of us have relatively good
lives much of the time. We are amongst the most affluent people in the world.
Indeed, most of us are probably relatively comfortable by UK standards. There
is so much in the world to appreciate and enjoy. A sunset. Music. Food and
drink. You could make your own list. Perhaps you have a nice home and are
looking forward to a holiday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(2)
May people of different faiths or none will be amazingly kind and generous. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
my challenge is this. And I say this as much to myself and my own family as to
you. In our context, if you think of yourself as a committed Christian believer,
what difference does it make? How are you distinctive compared to your friends
and neighbours? Do you live as salt and light? Could someone ask you for the
reason for the hope that you have? Would someone look at your relationships and
say, “see how these Christians love one another?” To put it pointedly, what
shows that you are not living for this world alone but are seeking a greater
heavenly City whose architect and builder is God? Yes, you are no doubt often a
lovely respectable member of your community who does your bit, but when did you
last give something up for Jesus – something you cared about? Are you willing
to do something for Him which is actually a bit hard, or weird, or costly,
something that you don’t in a sense want to do? How has Jesus changed you? How is
he changing you? What might he be calling you to which perhaps involves an element
of risk, a step out with him into the unknown? He gave up all for you. What
might you joyfully give up – or take up – for him?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
might take some time this Lent to reflect on some of these things. Maybe you
might like to make them a matter of prayer too. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-40249105101092822082024-01-07T12:34:00.005+00:002024-01-07T12:34:54.513+00:00New Year's Resolutions and The Epiphany<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ephesians
3:1-12 (p1174)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Matthew
2:1-12 (p966)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">INTRODUCTION: New Year’s resolutions?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What? How? Why?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">READINGS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not just me, but Christ<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Focused on ourselves <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take a look at ourselves maybe, but fix your
eyes on Christ<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two looks at Christ for every look at self <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A resolve to seek Christ<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whatever the cost<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The cost for the wise men<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“The East”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Babylon? – Daniel a wise man in Babylon – just
a guess! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Babylon – near <span style="color: #040c28;">Al-Ḥillah
in Iraq, </span><span style="background: white; color: #202124;">55 miles south of
Baghdad<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">684 miles to
Jerusalem and Bethlem <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 81.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">259 hours of walking – 6 hrs a day – 43 days of walking <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 81.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">And back again, perhaps by the long way!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 81.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 81.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Difficulty, expense, danger <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 81.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The whole of life on hold for a few months <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 81.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Risking their lives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not just my failings (or
achievements), but Christ’s glory<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When we look at ourselves, what do we see?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cf. our failings or achievements <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A positive vision of the glory of Christ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Worship him!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Give him their gifts!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lay their all at his feet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Honour him <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The King of Kings, of whom we should make much
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whom we should obey<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For whom we should risk all <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus’ glory <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paul: “the unsearchable riches of Christ”
(Ephesians 3:8)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Richest person in the world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong><span style="color: #181716; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Forbes: Elon Musk - Net worth:</span></strong><span style="color: #181716; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $251.3 billion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #181716; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He was the
richest person in the world for much of 2022 as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #181716; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His fortune
rose by $6 billion during December 2023.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You can’t know how rich Christ is! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Inexhaustible <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why seeking to know Christ better would always
be a great resolution! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not just for me, but Christ’s glory
for all the nations <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus is too good to keep to ourselves! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paul a prisoner / a servant for the sake of
the nations <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All people <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mystery – secret now revealed <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The non-Jewish nations like us are invited in<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ephesians 3v6<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Co-heirs with Israel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Co-members of the same body<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Co-sharers in the same promise in Christ Jesus
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Will I seek Christ whatever the cost?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How could I serve God’s gospel purposes this
year with my time, effort, money, prayers, by how I live and speak?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-383901399997232642024-01-05T10:05:00.002+00:002024-01-05T10:08:44.333+00:00A response to Kate Andrews, In Search of a Second Epiphany<p> On the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, I want to say something, if I may, in response to Kate Andrew’s thoughtful and moving <i>Spectator</i> piece (16 December 2023), ‘In Search of a Second Epiphany’. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-search-of-a-second-epiphany/">https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-search-of-a-second-epiphany/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>I hope it will not seem patronising to commend Andrews for her honesty and her seeking. She expresses cogently what many feel. Despite the dominance of scientific materialism in parts of the middle class press and the academy, most people are convinced, as Andrews is, that God exists. “Believing in a higher power has never been the hard part”, she says. “It’s everything that follows as a consequence of having faith which I find difficult.”</p><p><br /></p><p>There’s much truth in that. As G. K. Chesterton once said: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” What would a serious commitment to follow Christ day by day mean? I am glad that many go to church on Christmas Eve. But Christ is not just for Christmas. Too right, this way is difficult. All of us veer off it before breakfast. And so moment by moment we need the mercy and compassion of God who knows us better than we know ourselves. </p><p><br /></p><p>Andrew’s specific issue is that she finds belief in God brings no particular strength, comfort or assurance. She speaks of the anger over the death of her mother and of God’s failure to intervene to reduce suffering. She says she takes her anger to church. And I think she’s right to do so. God can cope with it. Our anger at pain and injustice is part of the evidence for God, of our being made in his image. If blind chance were all there is, our anger would be nonsensical. Why rage against fluke upon fluke if all your raging is fluke too? But Jesus shared our anger. He drove the money changers from the temple and he snorted with indignation at the damage done to human lives by disease and evil. If we cry out for a better world and for God to act, these are Christian cries. </p><p><br /></p><p>Andrews mentions the book of Job. Job’s comforters get little right, but they do go and weep with Job and sit with him in silence for seven days. I hope Andrews has Christian family or friends ready to do that with her. </p><p><br /></p><p>Only after more than thirty chapters does the LORD God speak to Job. The Almighty asks Job where he was while God was making the universe. Does Job have some advice for the omniscient one? I realise that is a stark message. The answer of the book of Job is that we don’t have all the answers. None of us. Andrews at least admits it more readily than some of us Vicars sometimes do. Faith means trusting God that he knows what he’s doing, even when we don’t. Job comes to believe that God can do all things and that none of the LORD’s purposes can be thwarted. Inevitably if we speak of God and his ways, we speak of what we do not really understand, things too wonderful for us which we know not. </p><p><br /></p><p>Is there more to say, then, than shut up and trust God?</p><p><br /></p><p>I think there is. A measure of comfort, strength, assurance, peace and joy are possible. And Andrews already points to their source in the life, death, resurrection and return of Christ. </p><p><br /></p><p>C. S. Lewis speaks of the elusive nature of joy. Ask yourself whether you are happy or not and your happiness begins to tarnish. It is a mistake to seek peace, joy and strength directly. What we need is Jesus. He gives meaning and purpose and all these things are to found in him. In Jesus alone are the depths of the wisdom and knowledge of God. He is our peace. </p><p><br /></p><p>Andrews is right to look to the church and to the Scriptures for Christ. Our feelings are often fickle and can depend as much on our blood sugar levels or our sleep patterns as on reality. Who knows what an epiphany might be like? For some it is spontaneous and overwhelming flood of happiness. For others it is a rational conviction which leads to a commitment to stake everything on Jesus. As a journalist, Andrews knows the importance of the search for truth. As we seek The Truth, we will find him also to be the Way and the Life. Love, joy and peace are to found in Him. I for one am going to go on praying Andrews’ prayer. </p><p> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-67029237460945141182024-01-01T16:39:00.003+00:002024-01-01T16:39:54.435+00:00Some potentially useful ideas for a better year<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://drchatterjee.com/13-powerful-ideas-to-make-2024-your-best-year-yet/">https://drchatterjee.com/13-powerful-ideas-to-make-2024-your-best-year-yet/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Get some time alone with your thoughts. Be still and
present. Allow yourself to be bored. Don’t be always connected / accessible /
distracted. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Embrace discomfort. Confront your feelings and fears. Your
emotions are in flux and change. Much passes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can’t control all that happens to you / circumstances,
but you can have some control over your responses. We spend a lot of time
trying to avoid a future which hasn’t happened yet. Past hurts lead to fears of
the future. Tension and worry can be self-fulfilling – we bring our anxiety
with us. Be aware of your patterns and be compassionate towards yourself. It is
funny that we go to such effort to avoid a future we are imagining. What upsets
us is us. We can take responsibility. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It Is very liberating not to mind what happens, but we might
still have a preference! We need not be victims. We can have some control. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We sometimes live in others’ perception of ourselves. We
base what we think of ourselves on what we think others think of us. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We want to jump to have but we have to be, do, have, share. Head,
heart and hand must be aligned. Mindset (assumptions and attitudes – what I
believe is possible for me), motivations and methods matter. Nouns must be turned
in to verbs. Our self-talk / beliefs are very powerful. Not so much time
management but mind management. The most important thing is to keep the most
important things the most important things. We should seek to control the
control-ables. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Common sense is not common practice. People often know what
they ought to do (e.g. eat more fruit and veg, quit the fags), but they often don’t
do it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Self-help is sometimes shelf-help. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">90% of your thoughts today are the thoughts you had yesterday!
What fires together wires together. We get automatic. We become what we habitually
think / feel / do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We do well to become conscious of our unconscious thoughts.
We should seek to become aware of our thoughts, emotions, behaviours. What do
we want to change from and to. Practice feeling (imagine, role play – the real
thing might not be so different from pretending). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our expectations often make us happy or unhappy. Be okay
with life! Austin Martins are not perfect and tend to disappoint. Calm and peaceful
contentment, acceptance is necessary. We can even feel pain without it leading
us to despair and endless suffering. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stress responses last about 90 seconds. After that, we either
repeat or move on. I can make myself angry and miserable again or not. I can
choose to dwell on my upset. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Victimhood can have a utility, but you are not six years old
any more. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many events are neutral. It depends what story you attach to
them. Or how you react to them. Stories can be changed. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Live from the inside out, not dependant on what happens. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hatred is probably not useful. Pity might be better. Love.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You create what you think / feel / behave. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ironically, we can criticise ourselves for being overly
self-critical. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Turn towards what is, even if it is painful, without being
consumed by it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Be aware and seek perspective. Respond kindly and wisely
with compassion. If you were your friend, what would you say to yourself?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Feel connection to others. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Hi-Five Habit: Look at yourself in the mirror and hi-five
yourself – it’s going to be okay! You can do this! Give yourself some positive energy.
Be excited to see yourself! Unconditional support and celebration. Partner with
yourself. What do you need from yourself today? Trashing yourself does not
work. Don’t reject yourself. Don’t depend on validation from others. Show
gratitude for yourself. This doesn’t change your circumstances but it changes
you. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is a poverty in uniformity. Resist moving to the
middle ground. There can be good stuff at the untidy edges. Express what you
care about. Live don’t just perform / conform. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We want results, but the way to get the results is to fix
the inputs, to form the habits that get results. How you are now, depends on
how you were each day six months or a year ago. We tend to over value the results.
We need the systems. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">True behaviour change is identity change – part of who we are,
of the story we tell ourselves. Writing is natural to writers. Athletes train.
Healthy people eat in a healthy way. Every action casts a vote for the kind of
person you are becoming / want to become. Who do you want to become? Do one
thing now. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Real change is long, slow, hard and requires dedication to a
process, little things repeated imperceptibly and incrementally. Deadlines /
rules can really help you. Be patient for the long journey of learning,
growing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You overestimate what you can do in the short term (a couple
of weeks) and underestimate what you could do in the long term (a few years). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Make a commitment to yourself. Recruit a community to keep
you accountable.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can’t make time for everything that matters. Just make
sure you make time for some things that matter. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Everything is a choice – conscious or not. Every choice is a
choice not to do something else in that moment. Every YES is also a NO. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Make some time today for something you really care about.
Some things are not going to get done and that’s okay. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Priority was a singular word for hundreds of years. It can
be risky to have lots of priorities. It’s not all important. A few things
really matter. Much is trivial noise. We are not coal miners but diamond
miners. We don’t need to simply do more. Find what matters and focus on that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Are you led by your scared self (e.g. comparing, fear of missing
out) or your sacred self?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Perfectionism is a common form of self-sabotage since it sets
an exhausting impossible standard. Comparisons push us out of the moment in to dissatisfaction.
Tolerate imperfection. Expose yourself to imperfection. You could have people
round in an untidy sitting room and it would be okay. Get perspective. There is
lots of mess out there and its okay. We don’t all have it all together. No one
is perfect. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone fails. Successful people have to be comfortable
with failure – trying and failing often is the only way to have some success.
Training is failing. The growth is where the failure is. Failure is inevitable.
Failure is a comma, not a full stop. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If identity is a construction, what would be the ideal
identity? That of a learner. This is a non-fragile identity since it embraces
not knowing and failing. Criticism is an opportunity for growth. If people throw
stones at you, think of them as gold nuggets. Or use them as bricks. Is there
an element of truth in the criticism that can be put to use?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The psychological immune system is not always helpful: the
more deluded someone is, the happier they might be! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is the friction in your life. Why? Why does that bother
you? Is it a revealing opportunity for growth?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Life is change. We think we can control it, but we can’t. We
try to avoid difficulty. Busyness can be a kind of avoidance. We need space to
process change, to adapt and thrive. Distraction can serve us. Sit with your
feelings and see what comes up. Pain can be the agent of change. Squash a
feeling and it will come out in some other way. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Breathe – it is free and accessible and you can control it.
Be present. Pay attention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Take a moment to reflect. Slow down for a minute. Don’t be
in such a hurry to get to a future where you can relax and enjoy life! Breathe
now. Can you be comfortable in your own skin whatever is going on around you?
Don’t pin your hopes on a future with the perfect body, bank account etc. Be
content here and now. Don’t feel the need to react, control or manipulate. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-35246425065279723602024-01-01T14:26:00.001+00:002024-01-01T14:26:16.403+00:00On Journaling <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Dr <a name="_Hlk154998167">Chatterjee</a></span><a name="_Hlk154998167"> </a>recommends journaling.
In fact, he suggests buying his journal! <span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">(<a href="https://drchatterjee.com/#">https://drchatterjee.com/#</a>
Podcast #413 How to make 2024 your best year: 3 questions to ask yourself each
day). </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">But nevertheless:</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Journaling need not take long. You could do it each morning
over a cuppa. Or more irregularly. You only need a few minutes. </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">A ritual can help us. Try attaching journaling to another
habit. And to have a visual cue. And get rid of any friction. Put your journal
and pen near your mug, kettle and morning coffee. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Journaling might not be that
different from prayer and reflection. But it is helpful to write something down
to crystalise it. Writing on paper may be better than typing. It may help you
to have a journal (or pen and paper) which you like and look forward to using. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You could journal in the form of
prayer, “Father, thank you… sorry… please….” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Journaling can help you to stand
outside your life and examine it. It can help you to break the loop of stress
and anxiety. It is a way of having a conversation with yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Start small and easy and repeat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Journaling can be a good way to make
the day more intentional (less reactive or unconsidered). It can be a great way
to help you to do other good stuff. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Chatterjee</span> suggests we ask ourselves three key
questions everyday:<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(1) “What’s the most important thing
for me to do today?” Pick one and then do it. That day will seem like a win. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We can sometimes feel that we have
many important things to do today. Which may be true. But it is helpful to
choose one. Likely we can never do everything we feel we ought to do. But we
can get on and do something meaningful or necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(2) Journaling can also help to
deliver us from the negativity of the news and social media. It is worth asking
ourselves what we are deeply grateful for in our lives. What do we really
appreciate? It is better to be positive rather than to look at lacks. Be
specific. Try to focus more on people than things. Seek to connect with your
emotions (to feel what you appreciate, engage the senses). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The more we practice these things, the
better we will get at them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(3) We might ask ourselves: “What quality
do I want to show the world today?” For example, if we seek to show patience, we
might begin to notice what makes us impatient and how we can be patient. Imagine
yourself being patient. Practice! Choose who you want to be. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the evening, one might reflect on
the day. One study found this could lead to a 25% increase in performance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Possible evening questions are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(1) What went well today? Again, this
cultivates positivity and gratitude. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(2) What can I do differently
tomorrow?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(3) What did I do for someone else
today? One study found practicing kindness may have more effect on mental
well-being than diet or exercise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If we try something like this over
seven days, we are likely to experience positive effects. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On Christian journaling see: <a href="https://www.churchsociety.org/resource/s08e05-christian-journalling/">https://www.churchsociety.org/resource/s08e05-christian-journalling/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-28889550655592193412024-01-01T09:55:00.003+00:002024-01-01T09:55:46.943+00:00Five Happiness Tips <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09by3yy">Just One
Thing - with Michael Mosley</a> - Happiness Special – with Dr Rangan Chatterjee<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001ts5r">https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001ts5r</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Health has four main pillars: eat, sleep, relax, move <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We sometimes settle for the junk happiness provided by ice
cream and video games. Alignment of inner self and self in the world,
contentment and control lead to more core happiness. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Five tips for happiness: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(1) Say hello to strangers. Or at least smile or nod. Speak
to the taxi driver or the barrister. Any / minimal positive social interaction
is good for us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(2) Use social friction as free therapy. Reframe this stuff
to be calmer and less stressed. Lead with compassion. Ask yourself why. Put
yourself in the shoes of others. If someone is grumpy with you, what might be
going on in their life? Try not to get stressed by the actions of others as you
can’t control them. If you depend on how others treat you for your happiness,
you set yourself up for failure. Think of the dancer in the concentration camp
who performed the same day her parents died. In her mind she was able to be
free and in an opera house. The greatest prisons are the ones we create in our
own minds. You don’t have to be the victim who resorts to sugar or caffeine or
booze. You can take a measure of control and make choices. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(3) Think about your death bed and what you would want or
regret. Write them down: I want to be surrounded by family and friends whom I
love and who know that I love them. I want to leave the world a better place. What
weekly habits would lead to a better death bed? E.g. eat with your family five
times a week, make space for your passions (e.g. run and play the guitar), fit
work around these things. Be more intentional. Prioritise the important. Be
willing to say no. See further: Five Regrets of the Dying <a href="https://bronnieware.com/blog/regrets-of-the-dying/">https://bronnieware.com/blog/regrets-of-the-dying/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(4) Eliminate choices so that you have to make fewer
decisions. Know what clothes you will wear, what work out you will do, what
breakfast you will have. Decide the important stuff which matters to you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose when it matters no you, not when it
doesn’t so as to reduce stress. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(5) Think of your phone as a real person and change your
relationship with it. E.g. if you and your spouse are in bed together both on
your phones, are you having eye-affairs with two others? We have our meals together
and we don’t use our phones at our table. Phones are addictive. Get a grip of
phone free times and spaces. Do you want those notifications on? You are in control
of your phone. Don’t be a slave to it. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20918615.post-41106428003900276082024-01-01T09:27:00.003+00:002024-01-01T09:27:46.468+00:00The Trendy Bespoke Examen<p> The Examen is a practice of prayer and self-examination recommended by Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. </p><p>A quick Google will show that this has been adapted e.g. for ecology or well-being. </p><p>At one level this is all well and good. These things are likely to be beneficial. And they may prove to be gateway drugs to the real hard stuff: sin, repentance, forgiveness, transformation by the power of the Spirit. </p><p>But there is a danger we never get there. </p><p>We want to proclaim the gospel afresh in every generation. We may, probably should, perhaps must adapt the language we use. </p><p>For example, people today may not say they share Luther's guilty conscience. Perhaps better to speak of inauthenticity. If we do not feel ourselves, necessarily, to be transgressors of the moral law, we may admit that we have a spectacular ability to muck things up for ourselves or others. </p><p>But in the end you have to call sin, sin, even if not in so many words. </p><p>You need not confine yourself to the language of the Bible. You may even sometimes use Bible words in a way the Bible does not, though this risks a muddle. But the Christian must always re-connect with the language and meaning of the Bible, which alone has final authority. </p><p>By all means, reflect on your happiness and your impact on the environment, but Ignatius would like you to trace these things back to their source and to know yourself to be a loved sinner in the presence of a holy God, and to know what to do about it, which is to cling to Christ in repentance and faith. </p><p>Go for the traditional Examen and you will get the other stuff thrown in. Go for the new trendy light version, and you might miss the real thing. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Marc Lloyd</div>Marc Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12532904022047805067noreply@blogger.com0