Mid week musings

 I was saddened and taken-a-back this morning by the photo in The Times marking the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. Of course my reaction was illogical (there are thousands more, and on both sides), but the shock I felt stopped me quite suddenly. This is on a par with the great World Wars. The article I read recorded that where once Ukrainians were calling for revenge, that all they want now is peace.

I was musing this morning upon how when I trained for the Ministry at Spurgeons, that all of the "how to do .." ministry books suggested good answer machines, phones by the bed for night pastoral care, and in one case a Minister friend used to have a ring-code for his family so that he would know when to answer (they would phone and let it ring twice, then put the phone down, then re-dial and he knew to pick up), and I distinctly remember the then Baptist icon Steve Chalke who was one of my fellow students, turning up with a black brick phone, which made us all mavel at how high-tek he was. Now Smartphones have completely turned most of our lives upside down (and the job of Ministry too), and landlines are almost dead. We no longer blink at instantly dialling or messaging. So for me getting through my day off yesterday and attempting to ignore most of my church based coms was a massive challenge. The trouble with the tiniest of ministry coms is that it sparks a forest of thoughts. Having a "day clear for the recovery and restoration" - a sabbath, is impossible, particularly when the mobile goes a buzzing!

The lighter and brighter days are hopefully beginning to have a positive effect on everyone, and whilst today is set to be a heat wave and the week pretty dry, we haven't thrown it all off yet. After all, "April Showers" is still well written into British-psyche. And so we start to awaken and feel the need to do new things. I haven't yet heard the first lawnmower though. People start cleaning, writing lists, making plans.

I have started making a list too and my love-hate relationship with them always surfaces: writing a list feels somehow carthatic, until that is, the list becomes too big, or even too detailed. The trouble is that writing it down solves little, until the task is completed, and its in the ticking-off that it feels very satisfying. For me, the world is list-writing is full of uncertainties: too much on the list and I feel defeated.  And where has that bit of paper actually now gone, which was such a brilliant list? Writing the list feels fine, but then other stuff often invades, and the help of using a list seems to wither away rapidly. Lists make me feel somewhat driven, when often I find myself more here and there and everywhere! Lists can make me feel satisfied that I have achieved something, and in the next breath defeated by my lack of achievement. I have an electronc list I haven't looked at in ages - that drives me too much, but at least I don't lose it. The most useful tool I have in my mind is to "elephant task" jobs, and by doing that it feels far more productive and satisfying. If you don't know what is - please feel free to ask!

I posted on Baptst Ministers FB page last week at how I had had a conversation with a fellow church leader in the town as to why on earth the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" is always held at the worst time of year: when its dark and wet and no one comes out! The question I posed was who decides what this date is, and apparently its "The World Council of Churches" and usually in a EST climate. The sub question I posted was whether any other towns do their own thing and hold it at different times of year, more conducive to attendance and unity? The responses poured in: most definitely - Pentecost, Summer Time, and "do whatever suits you". It seems that the way ahead is obvious.

As a Baptist flavoured Christian pastoring a Baptist Church, I often reflect upon how our ecclesiology is different to other tribes. We absolutely believe in the gathered church. This means that when we come together we are the church, wherever that is. When we don't, we stop being the church. That means that in a Baptist Church, you cannot be a Church Member if you stop attending worship. There is no membership card or lifetime membership. It's possible to be away for a short few weeks, but intentionally staying away isn't an option, in the same way that if you start attending somewhere else, that the expectation is that you have cleaved to that church and left your former church. It's important that the integrity of this doctrine is honoured and personal integrity with it too.