What about him, Lord?

John 21:18-22
"I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go." Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me." Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, "Lord, who will betray you?" Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?" Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me."


I love the characters of the bible. They are there in black and white, warts and all. Their failings and their humanity for all to see. It's of great comfort to me as it shows me that God can use anyone, even me. Peter is one of those classic characters. He is first to speak, fails in a spectularly obvious way, is restored, renewed and becomes a key figure in the birth of the church.

The passage in John 21 is something I think everyone can identify with. Jesus gives a cryptic prophetic word outlining how Peter would die for Jesus. It wasn't lost on him though. He knew what it meant. When Jesus said 'you will stretch out your hands' he said this with holes in his own from the cross he had been on only a few days prior. Did Jesus say this as he visually motioned His own outstretched arms? I think so. Peter knew what Jesus was saying.

It's a tough load to carry to be told one day you will die like I did. But then he sees 'the one Jesus loved' - John. His reaction was probably the same as many of us would have - 'what about Him?'. Jesus, don't tell me I have to die a cruel death and he gets away with something easier. Isn't this our issue. We don't mind so much a heavy load to carry as long as someone else isn't getting off lightly. But that's not God's way. Each has his own load to carry.

So for me, I have to stop being concerned with whether life 'is fair' or not. Whether I have a tougher deal than others. The reality is my load is my load to carry. I can look at someone and say 'what about them Lord' but that's not my call. In fact if I look beyond my own cross to carry I see that there are in fact real people dying real deaths for their faith in Jesus. I don't suspect they are saying 'what about Him Lord'.

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Charity Giving - The Orpington Foodbank Marathon

Charity Giving - The Orpington Foodbank Marathon

Does my bum look big in this?

Proverbs 24:26 An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.

What's the question men most dread being asked by their wife? "Does my bum look big in this?" It feels like a trap. How do you answer a question like that?

Well I've found there is only one way to answer it. Be honest. Now being honest doesn't mean being tactless. There's the obvious need to be sensitive, encouraging and diplomatic. But if you lie to this question what does it mean when you say "you look lovely today". How do they believe you. Do you really mean this or just saying it to sound good. It's a simple application of a biblical principle but so often we can think God's word only works in the big issues but God's word is true in all circumstances.

Proverbs says an honest answer is like a friends kids. When we are people of our word, our yes is yes and our no is no, we can be relied upon. We stand for integrity. Why would a friend lie to someone? We can tell ourselves we lie to help the other person feel good. But in all honesty we are placing short term gratification over long term deep friendship. Our honesty, both tough and lovely statements, are like a friends kiss.

If you're going to apply this to the difficult marital question for the first time. Go with caution, if its the first time. You've probably overly developed your honesty beyond your tact. Both are required!

Loving the praise of man

John 12:42-43 Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn't admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.


I think people in general fall into 5 categories when it comes to faith.

Some people, in fact many people, don't believe in God or put their trust in His son Jesus. They are clear about their lack of faith. They are not embarrassed by this or ashamed of this. I watched a 5 minute interview with Richard Dawkins who when asked 'would you like there to be a God' simply stated it was "a silly question and what he liked or not was irrelevant to the facts". When the same question was put to Ricky Gervais, a self confessed atheist, he replied "I wish there was a God but I know there isn't".

There are those who have a religious faith in a God of some form. Its not the God of the Bible but they follow a life of faith. There confession is neither ashamed or embarrassed.

Then there are those who openly confess their faith in God. He exists, He came to earth in the person of His son Jesus, is alive and well today working through His body the Church. There confession is equally unashamed or embarrassed. They don't have all the answers but are convinced of the reality of God. I think I safely fit in this category.

There are those who are exploring whether God is real and if Jesus is truly alive. They're undecided and open to suggestion. For the time being they are 'on the fence' and should be allowed the time to explore their faith and allow Jesus to reveal himself and the Holy Spirit to convict and save.

Then there is the last category. This is the category referred to in John 12. These people have been convicted in their heart and come to realise Jesus is the Christ. They believe in Him. The only problem is they are embarrassed. In truth they know their faith will alienate some people. They know some will mock and some will think less of them. But as John puts it "they loved human praise more than the praise of God". What a tortured life. To love someone but to love the praise of others more than that love.

The truth is if anyone should be ashamed or embarrassed it should be Jesus. To call us as His own is not a great acclaim. But nonetheless he call us His own. When we fail and bring His glorious name down by our sin He still calls His own. When we are at our worst He holds us close and calls us His. Let us not be ashamed to call Him our saviour. Let us not love the praise of man more than the praise of God.

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I found treasure!

Proverbs 18:22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.

I have been married for 18 years this Sunday. I have known my wife for 22 years. More than half my life has now been spent with this wonderful woman. The word of God is truth, and nowhere can I see that clearer than Proverbs 18:22. I often wonder what life would be like if I had never met my wife. What a gift I would have missed out on. What a treasure I would have lost.

I know not every marriage is a happy one. I know the statistics about divorce. I cant answer why this isn't everyone's experience. And I can't be complacent that marriages that last a lifetime just happen without any work. But I have a treasure, and I have found favour with the Lord. All God's gifts are good, and none so much as this one.

Thank you Lord.

Ego and Security

Genesis 11:4 Then they said, "Come, let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world."

The tower of Babel is a curious story. It provides some explanation to the diversity of language and geographical dispersal of the worlds population. In all honesty I struggle with the explanation but accept by faith it's in the Bible to teach me something.

With that in mind it's interesting to see the motivation of the people planning to build this great tower; to "make us famous" and "keep us being scattered". The drivers of ego and security. How often these still drive our decisions today.

We want to be noticed, to get some attention, to be well known and highly thought of. Our pride and our ego fights against accepting God is the only one worthy of fame, glory, honour and praise. We look for security in the people around us, the structures of society, and the power of a united crowd. We strive to make our own security rather than trust ourself fully to God where true security is only found.

I'm looking for ways to make this alive in my everyday activities. To not seek to be getting the glory. To trust myself to His promises. I have more blind spots than I realise and probably make most of my decisions based upon ego and security. But just like Babel, God loves me too much to pander to this. He comes along and confuses the situation intentionally. Until all I can do is trust Him and give Him all the glory.

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You can't teach me

John 9:34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.

Who can teach us about Jesus? Surely they need some formal education. Perhaps even to have gone to Bible College. Obviously they need to be living free from sin. Of course, they must posses some form of communications skill. It goes without saying they must hold some position within the church with a grand title. Never let us forget they need to also be dressed smartly in a clean white suit or even a robe.

Its difficult to see these conditions in the Bible though. But over time we have built up a set of criteria that qualifies people to be able to teach. Don't get me wrong there are certainly qualities expected of those 'overseeing'. I also hold the pulpit in high regard and wouldn't throw it open to any old nut-job to spout their latest theory. But let's not get too religious either.

The pharisees showed themselves unteachable when they refused to listen to the man born blind in John ?? To be born blind they considered he must have been born a 'total sinner' and hence how could they ever learn from him. Far too often we limit God's ability to use others to teach us by placing restrictions on who is qualified to educate us. But its just being like the pharisees.

Let's stay continually open for God to use all manner of people to show us the character of Jesus, His amazing power, His limitless love, the truth of His word and the extent of His grace. Lord, don't let me close my ears to the message you are saying simply because I don't like the look of the messenger you are using. Help me daily to kill my judgemental and self righteous spirit.

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We need strong oxen!

Proverbs 14:4 Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

Ever been told something obvious by someone? It makes you wonder 'Why are you telling me this? I already know that.' By its nature something obvious is something you already know or could come to the same conclusion without any great effort. But when told something obvious you have to ask yourself what the reason for being reminded is?

The book of Proverbs has many sayings that while profound and are often not earth shattering. They are somewhat obvious. Working hard is a good thing that will benefit you. Adultery will ruin your family and your life. Correction will refine you, don't ignore it. But God put them all in His word for a reason. Each for a reason. Proverbs 14:4 says 'Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.'

For churches wanting to see growth there is a great principle here. If you don't want to see any growth, any salvation, any lifes changed then you don't need any strong leaders, any devoted followers, any passionate believers. The opposite is also true. Without any strong leaders, any devoted followers, any passionate believers you won't see any growth, any salvation, any lifes changed. But if you want to see a large harvest you better have some 'strong ox'.

Stables were meant to be messy. They were never intended to be clean, well organised, sterile environments. They were meant to reflect the mess of the work going on. If you want to keep the stable clean best you keep the animals out! But if you really want to see a big harvest then be prepared for the mess and make sure the ox are strong enough to cope with the harvest.

This is a wake up call to all in church whatever their responsibility or role. If we truly want to see growth, even of revival proportions then we need to both be ready for the mess and be strong enough to cope with the harvest.

Co-incidence that Jesus was born in a stable? I think not. Most christian are also born (again) in a stable.

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Flesh eating

John 6:51-53 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.". Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. So Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.

In popular culture there seems to be somewhat of an obsession with vampires and other mythical type monsters. There are films and TV shows that depict them as 'normal people' with a strange habit and those that present them as evil personified. They drink blood and eat human flesh. A rather graphic and distasteful image. Whatever the case there's no mention of them in the Bible!

When Jesus spoke in John about eating His flesh and drinking His blood the people of the day must have been both confused and shocked. Jesus' words are equally graphic. But they are intentional also. This level of graphic language shocks the hearer or reader. It causes you to stop and ask yourself - "What does Jesus mean here?". It certainly caused the crowd to ask this question.

Now we have the benefit of hindsight. We can see the story more fully than they. But lets not simplify this statement down to just a communion service where we eat bread and drink wine symbolically. What Jesus is saying is deeper than that. He's saying "you have got to participate in the life I live". We cant be spectators or distant admirers. We cant simply observe that Jesus was an amazing person. That wont allow us to experience the wonder of having eternal life within us.

It's hard to consider the words "eat my flesh" and "drink my blood" without being fully immersed in the life of Jesus. That's not a light touch christian experience. It's a full on, radical transformation of living for Him. There's a part of me that reacts by saying "I'm not there yet". But I'm certainly having a nibble and a sip!

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Prove it!

John 5:36 But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.

In our post-modern society there is often a lot of talk about truth. What is truth? How can you prove something is true? Just because I say something is true should not prevent you from asserting that the opposite is also true. Truth is relative.

So when it comes to Jesus people often ask how can you prove Jesus is really the son of God? How can you prove God exists? All interesting questions as if it were a maths exam or a science experiment. But its a bit like asking 'how can you prove its wrong to brutalise a child' or 'how can you prove your wife loves you'. Proof is the wrong test. I know its wrong to brutalise a child. I don't know how to prove it. I know my wife loves me. I can see how she demonstrates that love but I can't prove it.

Jesus spoke in John 5 about how He was the son of God. His cultural context was nowhere near post-modern but it had the same demand. 'Prove it!'

Jesus reminds them that John testified to who He was. However He also states that this is not important or necessary as He brought with Himself a greater witness - His teachings and His miracles. The trouble is that so many who reject the witness of Jesus have not truly assessed His teachings or received His miraculous work in their lives.

The only way to see if teaching is true is to give it a go. The only way to experience a miracle is to receive it by faith first. So if we truly want to know that certainty that Jesus is the Son of God, that He is alive and that He is the saviour of our souls we have to read His teachings, put them into practice, ask for His miraculous work in our lives and wait expectantly for Him to work in our lives.

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The heart is a rudder!

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It's no coincidence that we use the word 'heart' in two different but similar contexts. Of course, we all have a biological heart. It's sole function is to pump blood around our bodies every moment of the day. It goes without saying that the most common use of the word 'heart' in the Bible is not referring to this. More commonly when we, and the Bible, refer to heart we mean that all encompassing word that attempts to capture the essence of who we are, what makes us tick and where our greatest affections lie. Whether we can adequately define what this heart is, doesn't really matter. We know we have one and we know the sorts of things that fill it!

Proverbs offers us some strong advice "guard your heart". Motorbike riders guard their head with a crash helmet. Soldiers guard their bodies with bullet proof vests. Machine workers guard their fingers with safety guards. But the advice to all is to guard your heart, something we rarely think off. The Bible says that it's this one single thing that determines the course of your life. It's like the rudder of our life. We know this to be true just by looking at our lives or history. Those with a heart for the stage pursue this with great determination. Someone falls in love and changes all their life priorities to be with their new love. Someone's heart is in their career and they 'make it to the top'.

Of course there is no guarantee that what your heart is set on is what you will get. But the proverbs is still true. It will determine the course of your life. Why? Because your heart will determine the choices you make. Jesus said that your heart is where your treasure is. What you hold dearest is where your heart will be. If your child needed a life saving operation that would cost you more than you could afford. Who wouldn't sell their car or even their house to pay for this? Because they are your treasure, your heart. They will dictate your choices.

But the warning would imply two things. One, that our heart can be directed towards the wrong thing. Be on guard. Make sure you allow your heart to be filled with the right things. The other implication is that we are not fully in control of where our heart is direct towards. Be on guard. You can wake up one morning asking yourself how did I end up here?

So we need to watch out. Although in my romantic mind I think the idea of love at first sight is lovely. No-one can really fill our heart until we start to get to know them. The same is true with anything that can fill our heart. We can 'court' the things that fill our heart and slowly let them fill our hearts, good or bad. They then become our treasure, direct our choices and ultimately determine the course of our life. But this isn't a negative thing. If we let Christ fill our hearts this will determine the course of our life. And what a life it will bring. He will become our treasure, the most treasured part of our life.

Some people are very loveable. Spend enough time with them and you wont help but let them fill your heart. Jesus is the ultimate example. The more time you spend with Him the more He fills your heart. Let this happen and the direction for your life will be like no other.

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Nothing just happens

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I recently listened to a preach by Paul Scanlon on the well known scripture Romans 8:28. The theology is not new but the way he put it was new for me. It made me think...

When we look at this scripture what happens if we consider a negative of this. Ask yourself 'how many things that have happened to you was God NOT working for your good?' How many? If God is working all things for my good then surely there are literally absolutely no things that God is not using to work for good.

I know there have been disappointments that turned out for good. The first house my wife and I wanted to buy fell through. God founds us a better one. My career choice of drama at school was not available. This led to my current career. Far more stable and fulfilling. I didn't get a recent promotion. I'm grateful now as I would have hated the job and not been up to it.

But what about the really low parts of my life. My mother passing away. My father emigrating. My worst arguments with my wife. My cat being run over. A deal to build a new church falling through. Bad financial decisions. When my children are really ill. When those close to you hurt you. When you let people down and can't repair the damage. Is God at work in these too?

Our assurance is that God is at work in ALL things. As I heard someone say recently "you've got to have a very big God to make sense of all this". And we have such a big God. His ways are higher. His thoughts deeper. His plan is glorious.

How do we know this? God took the horror of false accusations, vicious beatings, meaningless violence, a brutal and bloody death, all done to the kindest most innocent man who ever lived. He took all that and used this for the salvation and hope of the world, He can certainly use ALL things in my life for good.

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How to build a good reputation

Proverbs 3:3-4 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favour with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.

Few people live in an island completely isolated from others. We are all in some form of community. Many of us have a number of communities we are part of. Whether its the family, the workplace, the church, the friends, the neighbourhood, there are still relationships to be managed.

Despite what we may tell others we actually care what others think of us. It's not a bad desire. We know what we think of ourselves. We know the person we want to be. We just hope that others see past our faults and see our best self. We want a good reputation. But how do you get a good reputation?

Proverbs gives a clear instruction that loyalty and kindness are the key. These oppose self interest, looking out for 'number one'. These aren't surface attributes that we put on every now and again to win favour. We are not kind one day and cruel the next. We are not loyal one day and back-stabbing the next. When the writer says 'write them deep within your heart' he's saying 'make them an integral part of your character'.

This isn't a quick fix. Its probably a daily battle. Loyalty is about looking out for others. Standing by others in difficult times. Lifting them when they are low. Defending them when under attack. It's tough. It takes effort and self sacrifice. It's built over years and shown at its best in the worst of times.

Kindness is a generous spirit. It's thinking the best of people at all times. It's saying difficult things because we want the best for others instead of taking the easy path of 'ear tickling'. It's loving those we would happily see harm come to. It's showing grace and forgiveness. It's going the extra mile. It's not easy and it's a life's mission.

We want the reputation but do want to pay the price. What will I do today to not only show loyalty and kindness but to build it into my character. What will I put to death today, oppose and 'nip in the bud' that fights against this? The things that seek self interest and self gain.

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Its a balancing act

Psalm 2:11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling

One of the great things about the global church is the diversity of its expression. If the church really is the body of Christ then its a very broad, mixed and imperfect bunch. I think some of best examples of Churches expressing Christ are those who have acheived 'balance'. This balance is where the whole council of scripture is considered. These churches do not focus purely on one aspect of God's character or one part of the story of the Bible. This doesn't mean the watering down or ommission of difficult doctrines. It means the rightful positioning of all parts within the overarching context of the gospel.

Psalm 2:11 gives a verse where seamingly opposing perspectives are placed together. It says "Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.".

Service is normally willing. You would associate slavery with fear. Servants have usualy elected to serve. Rejoicing is often associated with happiness and joy not trembling fear. Nonetheless these are together. The reality is I am a servant of Christ, but I am bound to Him much as a slave is bound. I am joyful in Him but must never forget His awesome might and power.

A blog is simply too short to adequately balance and contextualise many of these together. However, God is my friend while He is also my King. Jesus has compassion and forgives whilst He will also judge and condemn. The Holy Spirit both comforts and convicts.

Our best place to know God as fully as we can is where we can hold a number of these contending views in one context much as the Psalmist has in 2:11.

• I will live a life bound to Christ, free in His grace.
• I will rejoice in my suffering.
• I will subject my flesh to a spirit led life.
• I will come just as I am and never be the same again.
• God's will is at work in my choices.
• The Holy Spirit convicts hearts through the words of men and women.

It's a balancing act to not over-emphasise only one half of these statements!

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Everyone has a right to education.

Proverbs 1

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.

2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. 5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.

In the western world the right to education has become a norm. We see how essential it is to educate the young, to equip them for adult life and to enable them to support themselves and contribute to the society around them. Where we see other countries in poverty we know that establishing education for all is fundamental to the well-being and development of that community. What a shame we so often neglect these concepts in our own Christian communities.

The same principles stand for us as new born believers. In order to equip us for a mature adult life with God we need to be educated. To support our own development and to contribute to the community around us we need to develop in our education. But this education isn't just head knowledge. The opening of the book of Proverbs promises us that these words teach wisdom and discipline, help us understand the insights of the wise, to build a disciplined and successful life and do what is right, just and fair.

Access to education can be a problem in less developed societies. Praise God for the his word. This is our unending source for education. We no longer have to wonder where to find the resources to equip us for life. He has provided this in His word. I believe in the Church of Jesus Christ. His body. A living and vibrant organism that expresses His life on earth. Yes, its messy. Yes, it has its faults. But it's all part of God's amazing plan. I believe in preaching. The power of the word of God expressed with life, vitality and relevance to every day lives. But if we rest there and don't invest in our own education through engaging with the Bible on a daily basis we will be 'under-educated' and inadequately equipped for all the greatness of a daily walk with Jesus.

I have just committed myself to a yearly bible reading plan. A daily appointment with God. Now I'm good at starting and poor at continuing. But it's my commitment. How are you going to invest in your ongoing education?

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If it feels good, do it!

Romans 8:4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Welcome to the SatNav generation. Streets upon streets full of cars with little boxes declaring 'in 300 metres turn right', and 'at the next roundabout take the second exit'. Punch in your destination, stick it to the front screen, switch of your brain's personal sense of direction and do as it says! For someone like me who has very poor sense of direction these are quite handy. My SatNav has shown me many a useful shortcut when in less familiar territory. However, I won't speak of the times it has directed me to drive through rivers or private farms!

Prior to the SatNav was the compass. Still used as a primary instrument at sea. But imagine if everyone's compass had a different North or everyone's SatNav had a different map it was following. There would be chaos. It's a picture of the 'if it feels good, do it' culture. Everyone being led by their own personal compass. I want to do it, I enjoy doing it, I'm going to do it. Is that our personal compass?

But what about the 'right' thing to do? There is a true north that all compasses point towards. I could decide what I think is north but in reality it won't help me get to where I want to or need to go. In our everyday life the Holy Spirit wants to provide a true North for us to follow.

My own desires, directed by what feels good, may want to guide me. But let's face it, its a fake compass. When I follow this compass I have placed my frequent idol, self, in the driving seat and told God 'it's OK. I know best'. But I don't. My personal compass is my sinful nature as Romans describes it. It's broken and guides me exactly to the place I don't want to go. The true compass is the Holy Spirit. He guides me to the best I can be, the best God wants for me, the way God intended it to be.

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