Thinking out of the Box

What is going on here with all thids talk about eating His flesh and drinking His blood?
The Jews of Jesus' day, as with some Christians of our day, are unable to think outside the box. Some have constructed a very narrow and restrictive doctrine of scripture which comes close to idolatory. Jesus tells us that the word is like a signpost pointing to God and to Himself- when we say that the word is truth we need to understand also that Jesus is the word in the flesh and that He sets us free.

Thinking in the box limits us and restricts us but Christ sets us free. Our evangelical tradition led me to believe that Christians had to be protestant and unionist and from the evangelical tradition.

The Pharisees saw the Torah as something which sets out the rules for living and keeping the detail was vital and led to salvation as the work that pleases God- Paul said that Jesus was the end of the Torah. Yet Jesus did not abolish the Torah, He completed it. It was abhorrant to the Jew to drink the life blood of an animal and yet Jesus says-"drink my blood and eat my flesh" and He was not advocating cannaballism or a breaking of the Torah but He was, surely, advocating thinking outside the box!!

Needs of Ministers

Needs of Ministers/pastors Recently I received an email from someone who had read my blogger page, www.jackdrennan.blogspot.com where I have sermon notes and some thoughts. Hw wanted to ask the question, "what encourages the minister?" in his/her ministry. That is a good question given that we rarely hear about the good things and the encouraging things in moinistry. Everyone needs those people who ghet alongside to encourage- people like Barnabas who was such a supporter of St Paul. Here are some things which I find encouraging: * those who show themselves to be dependable and faithful * those who demonstrate loyalty * those who can see the big picture and not just their own little corner * those who can add to your work and are not always out to kill and destroy anything which has not originated with themselves * those who share your vision * those who are teachable* those who show that they care about you as a person and they care also for your family and make it quite clear that they do. In short I find it encouraging to work with a team of like-minded people who share my vision and share my work and care about me and my family. We work in isolation far too much and, what's more, our congregations have come to acceopt this as the norm and while we all believe in the priesthood of all believers, in theory, the practise is very different.

Fear of loosing

Do you think it’s true to say that everyone is afraid of something? Is there anything you have realised that you are afraid of? When I was much younger I used to fear my parents would have a fatal accident or I would die of some awful disease. Fear is a God-given part of our make-up which protects us from danger, so we learn not to touch the fire or the electric ring of the cooker. But taken to extremes it makes us paranoid and is only destructive. It can paralyse us into inactivity and make us ultra conservative and cautious. Master Yoda, in the latest Star Wars film, says to Anakin Skywalker, “The fear of losing leads to the dark side”. At the heart of the story Anakin feared loosing his wife in childbirth just as he lost his own mother. He became consumed with protecting her and in his paranoia he became susceptible to the manipulation of the evil chancellor who wanted him to cross the line from light into darkness to further his plan to take over the Republic and become the Emperor. In the end he became the very thing he had dedicated his life to resisting and lost the very person he wanted to save by crossing the line from light to darkness. Fear is a very potent emotion which leads people to do and to act in ways which they would not normally. Fear can lead them to take violent action to defend their community or their home or to exhibit other negative qualities which later they regret. In the heat of emotion they think they are acting for those they love only to find that they too have crossed that line in the sand which makes them part of the problem rather than the solution. The New Testament makes it clear that the way to be free from fear is to trust in Christ. The Apostle Paul says that “nothing separated us from the love of God” and asks: “If God for us, who can be against us?” Who indeed?

Renewing Hope

Renewing Hope
As Christians concerned about our communities and compelled by our faith in Jesus Christ, Lord of Creation and Head of the Church, we commit ourselves to building a future where -
Everyone enjoys freedom from violence, intimidation, criminality, paramilitary activity and sectarianism that tear our social fabric and block political progress
Local politicians and people take responsibility for political progress, co-operating to secure a stable and inclusive society
Healthy and robust relationships flourish based on a generosity of spirit and a realistic recognition of diversity
Truthfulness and honesty create relationships of trust and provide the basis for dealing with the past and engaging with the present
Hope and imagination, justice and love transform our public life as people accept their responsibilities and exercise their rights with due concern for the rights of others.
Do not be weary in doing what is right! 2 Thessalonians 3:13
We invite you to join us in committing to work for such a future.

What do youn think of this statementJ You can find this statement and much more at www.renewing-hope.org Will you join with others in debating and discussing the issues?

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!!

What a night, what a game or was it two games? Perhaps it was all a dream, “Boys Own” stuff. At half time I thought they were going to get a hammering and then I thought that they could come out after the interval and give it a go and stem the tide, at least. I thought the manager would tell them to play for pride but what a complete change. I have supported Liverpool since the birth of my first two children who were both born in Liverpool. Those were the glory days when Liverpool dominated the league and Europe and then it all went badly wrong with the Heissel Stadium disaster and then the Hillsborough fire and it has not been the same since. With the coming of Gerard Houllier there was a suggestion of glory when they won that treble but this is something altogether greater. In this football match we had a game of two halves and in the history of the club there is the good, the bad and the ugly. The Champions League final 2005 was all about character in the midst of difficulty- the refusal to throw in the towel and to “hold your head up high” in the midst of a storm. What about the church of Christ? We have a much better story to tell. We have a divine commission to obey and we have been assured of the presence of God in the good, the bad and the ugly. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is a great song, with an inspiring theme but Bill Shankly was wrong, if I dare I say so. Football is not more important than life and death. Our story is about the coming of God into the world to bring us forgiveness and a new start and with the promise that we will “never walk alone” because Christ is with us, today, tomorrow and for ever and all we have to do is trust him.