Ramblings along the narrow way

I appear to have developed a slight limp from playing football yesterday. I’m not sure how it happened, as I received a few kicks to the legs during the game, but I am certainly limping today. I don’t suppose wandering around, on a rather chilly snowy evening, in just my football gear locating a luthier helped. However, my violin (it’s mine now :)) is now having a new bridge and a new set of strings fitted to it.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Mt 7:12

The statement above is probably quite familiar to a lot of people. It is known as the “Golden Rule” to many, yet when understood, is actually impossible for us to keep in our fallen state.

For a start, it is not a prohibitive law of God. Unlike “You shall not steal” and “You shall not murder”, which many people could have some claim to keeping, this law is prescriptive. This is much more difficult to keep, as it requires that we look out for the needs of others, sometimes in cases where someone in need is unable to ask. How do we know we have seen to the needs of all those who we can help?

As we are, our own selfish desires all too often over-ride any concern for others. Sometimes we are blind to the needs of certain people, and sometimes what we think people need is not. When we are told to do to others what we would have them do for us, it requires that we understand other people, to know what they need, rather than assuming their needs are the same as ours.

It is very important that we view this command in context. Jesus prefixes the commandment with “So in everything”, indicating a precondition. We are told to “Ask…Seek…Knock…”, to become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, that he will give us his Holy Spirit that we might be able to follow his commands in his strength. For without his enabling, this commandment is impossible.

After spending the day recovering from the past week, my brother, his wife and myself headed down to Bristol for the evening. The reason for going west was a ‘Chinese evening’ at Totterdown Baptist Church, organised primarily by my sister.
It was an informal event, attended by those from the church, as well as people on the ‘fringe’ – those who didn’t usually attend the church. Around the hall were various Chinese related objects, including a Chinese language Bible. Sometimes we forget that the Gospel isn’t just for those in the English speaking world, but for everyone, so this was a good reminder of the global nature of God’s purposes. There was a Chinese meal, with plentiful amounts of food – of which some of the overflow is now sitting in my fridge! Afterwards, were various competitions to see who could juggle/spin plates/hula best, although not all at the same time. A fun evening where people could get to know each other and where those outside the church could observe Christians in their natural environment, with maybe a glimpse of heaven.

Usually, on a Friday evening, quite a few of us help to run youth clubs at churches in the area. Since it’s half-term, we were granted some respite and so we piled round my place to chill, chat and watch a DVD. After a brief perusal of my DVD collection, we decided to watch The Pianist. I must say this is a great film. Following the trials and tribulations of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Jewish pianist, during the Second World War in Warsaw, we are confronted with the horror of the holocaust, contrasted with the beauty of the music of Chopin. It opens with a routine day for Polish Radio in 1939, rudely interrupted by war.
The full extent of human depravity is allowed to surface in the events of the war, from the sheer lunacy and evil of the Nazi ideology and practice, to the failings of common people when faced with difficult choices. Yet, even when surrounded by difficult circumstances, there are also those who do what is right – and not necessarily where you think you’d find them. The final minutes of the film are seemingly like the opening minutes, with a routine day for Polish Radio, as if nothing unusual had happened between 1939 and 1945. In all of it, the characters are real, none of them are perfect, none of them do what is right in everything they do, and yet, by the grace of God, they all carry out acts of kindness in varying degrees.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labour of my hands
Can fulfil Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Augustus M. Toplady

A few months ago, I was rooting around my parents place and came across my sister’s violin. I can’t remember the last time my sister played it, but it’s been a while. Anyway, after confirming she had no desire to play it, I carried back to London with me with the intention of learning to play it.
Now, I’m not entirely tone deaf, having been the accompanist on the piano for the Harlington Singers, so at least I should have a fighting chance learning how to play the violin…or so you would think.

Today was my first real lesson. After finding and arriving at the location where my new violin teacher teaches, we spent a while finding out what previous musical experience I had and if any of it would be useful. After ascertaining that some of it would be useful, it came to practicalities. On the piano, to play a note, you wander up to it and you just hit a key. On the violin, you need to tense up the bow, apply stuff to it, tune up the violin, adjust the shoulder rest, get the violin into position, hold the bow just so and then you can play a note. Then there’s actually making a sound by applying bow to string with just the right pressure and angle and drawing it across the string in a smooth consistent motion. By the end of the lesson (about an hour) I’d played two distinct notes. This might be trickier than I thought.

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays for all his disciples, both those who were following him at the time and those who would follow him in the future.

He asks the Father to protect them, just as he has protected them. This should be a great comfort to those who have faith in him. We are not left to fend for ourselves against the world and Satan, but God the Father provides for our every need, protects us and is able to deliver us. By his power, we are able to persevere to the end and glorify him.

He asks the Father that we might be one, just as he and the Father are one. Not that we should have superficial unity with those who claim to be Christians, but that we should have a genuine unity with all those who follow Jesus Christ and hold to his word. Something that will only be true of those whose walk is close with God.

He then refers to Judas Iscariot, giving us a sober reminder that not all who say “Lord Lord!” and do many things in his name will be truly his. After all, Judas spent a good few years as part of the twelve disciples, going from town to town preaching the Gospel. At the Last Supper when Jesus said one of the twelve would betray him, the disciples didn’t say “It’s that Judas – you can tell from a mile off”, rather Judas was indistinguishable from the rest, that they answered “Surely not I, Lord?” Judas himself may well have thought he was a follower of Christ. After all, he did what the other disciples did, he looked like them and talked like them. Are we like that? We should be careful that our claim to salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, by the grace of God.

Just got back from an evening organised by the Christian Institute intended to brief Christians on the proposals by the British Government to introduce an incitement to religious hatred bill.

This bill was first proposed in 2001, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. At the time, the Home Secretary argued a law was needed to address the many reports of attacks on mosques and physical and verbal attacks on people because of their religion.

On the face of it, it sounds like a good idea. After all, Christians are told to “love your enemies” Mt 5:44. With a little thought, the bill turns out to be half-baked and unreasonable.

For a start, the very reason the bill was proposed was because of physical and verbal attacks committed against Muslims and mosques, yet there are already laws which cover attacks on people and property, for whatever reason – regardless of religion. Why do we need a new law to cover what is already covered?

Further examination of the proposed bill reveals it will severely limit freedom of speech. The proposed bill will amend Section 18 of the Public Order Act 1986 to read:

1. A person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, is guilty of an offence if�
   1. he intends thereby to stir up racial or religious hatred, or
   2. having regard to all the circumstances the words, behaviour or material are (or is) likely to be heard or seen by any person in whom they are (or it is) likely to stir up racial or religious hatred.

It will criminalise “inciting religious hatred” which is legal speak and could well cover saying something which could be considered insulting to a religious group, which would include saying a religious group is wrong. Before you know it, a Christian would not be able to quote words of Christ such as “no-one come to the Father except through me” Jn 14:6, which in its very essence rejects the claims of all other religions, and is likely to be insulting to someone who holds a deeply held alternative view. Not many people like being told they’re wrong. It would mean that other religions and even atheists would not be able to make disparaging comments about Christianity or other religions.

Additionally, the bill does not define a religion and effectively requires that judges and the Attorney General become theologians. This leaves the system open to abuse from cults and sects, especially those of a litigious nature.

This would appear to be just another instance of political-correctness gone mad, but if this bill goes through, the right to freedom of speech of both Christians and non-Christians will be severely curtailed. Indeed, a basic Christian desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ will become increasingly difficult – after all, the truth is insulting to many people.

Are we going to do something to stop it? Or will telling the truth be stopped?

More information about this bill can be found at the Christian Institute’s website.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures for ever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21

You’re Brave New World!

by Aldous Huxley

With an uncanny ability for predicting the future, you are a true psychic. You can see how the world will change and illuminate the fears of future generations. In the world to come, you see the influence of the media, genetic science, drugs, and class warfare. And while all this might make you happy, you claim the right to be unhappy. While pregnancy might seem painful, test tube babies scare you most. You are obsessed with the word “pneumatic”.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Seems about right. Whilst I preferred Nineteen Eighty-Four as a book, I think Brave New World is more in line with the problem of the human condition and where it will lead us. Saying that, I read it years ago, so maybe I should dig it out and read it again?

…or “Gung hei fat choi” for those who think there’s four random pictures in the title. 🙂 Apparently, it’s now the year of the rooster/chicken, although what that means, I don’t know. I must admit to being a bit of a geek when it comes to calendars. Did you know that the Chinese calendar is lunisolar rather than solar? It also isn’t counted from a single point in time (or epoch), but gets reset at the beginning of each emperor’s reign, unlike the Gregorian calendar which counts from the birth of Jesus Christ.

Geek stuff aside, to most people it’s about wishing each other prosperity and giving each other little red envelopes of money. Whilst I’m not going to wish you economic prosperity (as that might not necessarily be a good thing for you, depending on who you are), I will wish you prosperity in that which rust and moth cannot destroy and which thieves cannot steal.

Happy (Chinese) New Year!

I must take note that playing 3-a-side football is completely shattering! After running around, yesterday evening, for what seemed like forever, I got home in rather a useless state. Fortunately, the DVD player was willing to assist and I spent the rest of the evening watching The Madness of King George (III).
Having a passing interest in history, I thought this film was superb. Set soon after the birth of the United States, the film follows King George III as he takes a rather peculiar turn for the worse! The film highlights the distress caused by his illness, to both him and his family, as well as his government and his country. It also shows the future George IV in his attempts to take advantage of the situation, battling politically with William Pitt, in order to become Prince Regent. All this happens amongst a backdrop of superb architecture, countryside and the very regal music of Handel. A great film which is well worth watching.
Today is Shrove Tuesday, so I’ve scoured the internet for a decent pancake recipe, finding this one at Sainsbury’s.

125g plain flour
pinch of salt
1 medium egg
300ml milk
oil

I’m just waiting for my batter mixture to rest a little now, then I’ll be seeing if I can flip my pancakes onto the ceiling. 😀

In his first letter, the apostle Peter writes on the behaviour of an elder – rather than how an elder should behave.
Above all, an elder should be able to testify to the work of Jesus Christ in their lives. Without this testimony, their witness will be false and worthless. How can they speak of Jesus Christ if they do not know him?
An elder should be willing to do God’s will, rather than out of duty. It should something that happens because of a regenerate heart wishing to serve God.
An elder should watch over the church, as a good shepherd watches over his sheep – even laying down his life for his sheep, guarding against error and feeding the church. This should be done not by driving the flock, but by leading, by example, yet without being afraid to point out error, as well as feeding the flock by bringing the word of God to them.
Finally, an elder should be waiting for appearance of the chief elder of the church, the head of the church, Christ Jesus.
Those Christians who are not elders should not consider themselves exempt from these conditions, but should seek to be more like the chief elder by the power of the Spirit working in them. Moreover, someone should not be appointed as an elder until he exhibits these qualities.

Went wandering around Albury Heath today, with a few of the usual ramblers. We were joined by a small contingent of ‘older’ young people from the church. (If that makes any sense!) The weather was clement and dry, despite being a little cloudy. A good opportunity to have fellowship, whilst enjoying God’s wider creation at the same time. Photos should be up soon.
A few of us sauntered down to the local snooker hall, where a 3-1 result in my favour was racked up. I guess one day I might be beaten, but not today. 🙂
Finally, one of the church’s ‘older’ young people recently had a birthday, so the usual suspects piled down to Chiquito in Feltham to celebrate. Everyone appeared to enjoy themselves – including most importantly the birthday boy, who even got to go home with a bunch of balloons.
Thanks be to God for a very good day!

Q: What is the chief end of man?
A: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

(Question I from the Westminster Shorter Catechism)