The LORD bless you and keep you

One of two small silver amulets, dating from
the 7th century BCE, found in the
Ketef Hinnom tomb complex above the
Hinnom Valley in Jerusalem, Israel. A piece
of leather or cotton was threaded through the
middle, and it was probably worn around
the neck

One of the cool (I suppose I'm showing my age by daring to use that word in cyberspace!) things about the internet is the way that it allows ministry to transcend geographical distances. Let me explain where this unbelievable profound comment comes from...

Brenton Prigge was an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. Deeply gifted in music and song-writing, he has been writing new words to old tunes for years. This means that every Wednesday or Thursday I get an e-mail with a hymn especially written for the theme of the lectionary readings for that Sunday. The words are put to an old hymn tune, so there's no copyright hassles, and most of the older folk in the congregation will know the tune immediately. I praise God for Brenton's gifting and ministry.

A while ago Brenton and his family moved to Oz... but that hasn't stopped the new hymns arriving every week (although, by his own admission, not that many over Christmas and New Year... in fact, none). You can find Brenton's resources on http://www.newhymn.com/.

I've just received this week's New Hymn (Light). however, this week we got a "bonus" - a song written by Brenton. The song is called "Blessed", and is based on the Aaronic Blessing in Numbers 6:24-26:
“The LORD bless you
   and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you
   and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you
   and give you peace." (TNIV)

I must admit to quite liking the Message's version:
God bless you and keep you, 
God smile on you and gift you,
God look you full in the face
      and make you prosper.

You can see Brenton's song on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIfLtRPP51k, and download words and music from his website.

Written in early Hebrew,
the tiny scroll contains
the text of Numbers 6:24-26

Watching the video, and singing along to the ancient words, I got thinking about how I, and those around me, use words. Perhaps a simple question - how often do I speak words of blessing into someone's life? Let's be real here... I'm pretty quick to think words of "unblessing" about someone, and. while I would never say some of the things I think, my response is often horrendously negative, or painfully sarcastic. Ouch, it hurt to write those two clauses!

Now I really don't mean becoming horribly "Christian" and "plastic" (I was recently greeted by a friend with the words "Be blessed!" While I understand where he is coming from, and appreciate the thought, what a meaningless statement!). But what about the words I use so freely? At least his greeting was positive and uplifting.

Just a thought...

You/ve just got to love this girl!

The Citizen, Wednesday 12th January 2011

Ireland's Saint - The Essential Biography of St Patrick

Ireland's Saint - The Essential Biography of St Patrick, by J B Bury, Edited with Introduction and Annotations by Jon M Sweeney (Brewster, Massachusetts: Paraclete Press: 2008).

Bury published his landmark commentary on St Patrick in 1905. Sweeney has left the original text as is, but has added a useful Introduction, as well as a whole lot of side-bars, in which he explains the historical background, political context, and quotes other biographers and historians, as well as quoting St Patrick's Confession (a brief reflection on his life published by him just before his death). 

Patrick was born in the English village of Bannaventa in 389. As a young  man Patrick was kidnapped by Irish invaders, and carried off to Northern Dalaradia in Ireland. Having escaped, he spent several years in France, where he became a monk. Returning to England he asked permission to return to Ireland, as he felt God wanted him to bring his captors to salvation in Christ. Patrick served in Ireland for the rest of his life, establishing the Church in several areas. Of course, the legendary  story we all know is that he chased all snakes out of Ireland (which can't be proved either way). He died in the late 5th century (the traditional date is 493, which would make him 120 years old, the same age as Moses!), and was buried in Saul.

I really enjoyed the book, although Bury's strange English was a bit tiring at times. Interesting to see a different take on evangelising and "church planting", from another era. Found Patrick's commitment and stick-ability inspiring.

"There is a sun we see that rises for us each day, but it will not rule or continue its splendour for ever, and all who adore it alone shall suffer miserably. But we who believe in and adore the true sun, Christ, who will never perish, and do His will, know that Christ will abide forever, reigning with God the Father Almighty and with the Holy Spirit, before the ages, and now, and for ever and ever. Amen." The conclusion to St Patrick's Confession (pg. 189).

Christmas has come... and is still coming...




Rebekah, some guy in a red suit, Tara Lynn and Simon

  I know its already 2011... so "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

The build-up to Christmas was a little "busy", as was the week-end (what with five services)... but what a blessed Christmas it was... sharing the celebration with my immediate family... and my Church Family here at Trinity. And I got a really cool t-shirt and CD for Christmas... as well as a whole lot of other neat stuff (spoilt rotten, I am!).

Once again Christmas was a time of quite serious reflection for me. Struck afresh, as I am every year, I suppose, by God's incredible love and the stupendous way that that Love was given to us. Oh so creative!



Nativity set from Old St Paul's Church, Wellington, New Zealand
A gift from my friend Maurice :-))

 
Struck this year by the response of the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). having seen the Christ-child they:
~ worship - the only honest response to Jesus, I suppose. How can I make this more of a focus in my life... in every aspect of my life... this year?
~ witness - they can't help but tell others. And yet at times I seem so reticent to share my faith-experience with others... a major challenge for 2011.
~ wonder - they leave the stable filled with wonder and awe. How easily I lose that as the pressures and "things" of each day tumble in.

And so, time to get showered and shaved before Church this morning. I must admit to really looking forward to sharing in worship today (I'm leading the worship at the 9.00am, Cecil is preaching; and I'm doing both at the 10:30am. I'm also doing communion in the evening service: Dayne is preaching, and Audience of One is playing - generally a fun day... I really do have the best job in the world... except maybe a pro racing driver).

2011... here I come! Well, actually... here we come (Matthew 28:20)!

Phew! But this blogging requires discipline!

Well, Christmas Eve, and I haven't touched this blog for over three months! How embarrassing is that!

And so much has happened in that time... part of the reason why the blog-thing isn't as regular as it should be. Simon and Tara finished another year at University, Rebekah finished Matric (and registered for Wits University next year). Two books published, and another one 2/3 finished. A short holiday in December. Preparation for Christmas services and celebration. And all while running a large Church in the northern suburbs of the third largest city in Africa.

Of course, the real problem is not busy-ness, but... lack of discipline. There, I've said it! The uber-disciplined perfectionist has owned up... aah well, that's one more resolution for 2011. :-))

The Malihambe! Bible Series continues to grow... although still a little slower than I'd originally anticipated. Still... baby steps.

Of excitement is the publication of two books in the last while...

The isiZulu translation of volume 1 in the Malihambe! Bible Series - Malihambe! Reading the Bible in Southern Africa today was published in September. That means the book is now available in English, seTswana and isiZulu (the Afrikaans is ready to go to the typesetter, and the seSotho is almost ready for final editing - unfortunately the isiXhosa seems still some way off).

The book has been really well received (very humbling) and is selling well (very gratifying). The new language will make it far more accessible to the people of Southern Africa.

A week later the first book in the companion Malihambe! Growing Spiritually Series was published - A Simple Rule for Life. This little book examines the "Methodist Rule of Life" (do no harm, do good, stay in love with God) in a practical and challenging way. It is also published by Africa Upper Room Ministries (www.aurm.co.za). Once again it has been very well received, and the isiZulu should be out early next year (followed by several other languages of the sub-continent).

There are two books at the typesetters right now, and so I am hoping they will be out in February or March - the isiZulu of volume 33: The Book of Good News – a commentary on the Gospel of Mark and of A Simple Rule for Life.

Not only is the publication of a book always exciting, but we now have five volumes being written (Psalms, John, Romans, Philippians/Colossians/1 & 2 Thessalonians, and John's letters/Jude).

2011 is going to be an exciting year for the Malihambe! dream............

But now, back to my Christmas services...

Rhinos, Walrusses, Sea horses... and me

International Rhino Day... and 11 people appeared in court today to be charged with poaching over 200 rhinos in South Africa this year! I must admit that some of my thoughts as to what to do with these men have not been too Christ-filled... I just hope and pray that justice will be done and they will receive the appropriate sentence (news flash - they all got bail!).

Was idly watching Al Jezeera last week-end, and was drawn into a report on walrusses... yep... those seriously ugly, blobby, smelly (I am sure) things with big tusks that don't seem to do much except eat, fight and mate. For the first time ever they have left the Arctic ice-pack and swum to land in Alaska, as the ice-pack has melted to its smallest level ever recorded. The real concern of scientists is that there is not enough food in Hudson Bay to enable even half to stay alive. The only hope is that this winter is vrek cold, and the ice returns close enough to the land to entice them back to where they belong.

Last week TIME Magazine reported, in a little throw-away note, that scientists are really concerned that the dwarf seahorse endemic to the Gulf of Mexico (hippocampus zosterae) is about to go extinct from the BP oil-well blow.

Worrying about rhinos I can understand (they're African, and a part of how I define myself as an African). Being upset about the diddly little seahorse kinda makes sense too, as its all little and cute. So why am I so fixated upon these horrendously ugly beasties with really bad teeth?

Maybe its because the walrusses and the seahorsie are a visible witness to the statistics. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature have stated quite strongly that within the next 10 years 1/4 of all mammals will be extinct [1]. Maybe its because other citizens on this planet being wiped out is an offense to the God who created, and continues to create. Perhaps it is because I know I'm partly to blame for what is happening to these ugly monsters and cute fishies. Most probably all three.

Ignoring the statistics. Its easy to think things are not too bad when the weather isn't totally screwed up (yet!?) and none of the cool animals are in real danger of disappearing. I mean, does it really matter whether the Madagascan moon moth or Gulf of Mexico dwarf seahorse become extinct? The chances are pretty good that I would never have seen one anyway (and certainly won't now!).

But it does matter... it matters because every time a moth or a frog or a gorilla (or a walrus) disappears the sacred eco-system that gives us all life is messed up, and it will eventually reach a point where it cannot make up for the imbalance we are forcing on it. The walrusses needing to give up their natural home is a sign as to how far out of balance the system is becoming in places.

We can't ignore the stats... this planet will not allow us to do so for too much longer.

An offense to God. "The earth is the LORD's, and everything that is alive upon it" says the psalmist [2]. This is why the natural world reflects God in so many ways each day - from a magnificient sun-set to a butterfly lighting up the garden to the cry of a fish eagle over a river. And how does God feel, knowing that the divine creation is being killed off by the arrogance, greed and stupidity of only one species?

And especially seeing as, according to both the creation-stories in Genesis, we are here to live in relationship with God and one another, and to care for this world that we have been given. The greatest command may be to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength... and to love your neighbour as you love yourself" [3], but the first command in Scripture is to "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." [4] [5]. While this verse has been used to justify wrecking the planet and destroying whole species, the Hebrew root of "rule" is mishpat = "justice". In the Church (quite rightly) stressing "justice for all", I wonder why we've never included the Nigerian Cross-River Gorilla (fewer than 300 left) in the "all"!

May God forgive us humans for the crime we are committing against our planet... and the sin this is against our God!

Because I know I'm to blame. Now we get to the real issue! While I consider myself reasonably "green", I know my hands are not that clean. I do recycle... save electricity and water where I can... walk whenever I can... and every little bit helps (I read somewhere that is all Americans unplugged cellphone chargers when they were not in use they could mothball three powerstations!). But the real issue is the lifestyle of the community that gives my life meaning and identity. The cars we drive... security lights on all night... for me (and here it gets really personal), my racing car!

"Lord, please forgive me for, and set me free from, all I do that contributes to the killing of Your planet."

But I think the thing that saddens me the most is that the wider church is incredibly silent on this matter. And when it does pontificate the hot air produced only adds to global warming, as the words are seldom accompanied by action [6].
Sorry this is so introspec and depressive. At least they caught the rhino poachers!
 [1] “The New age of Extinction”, Brian Walsh, TIME, April 13, 2009.
[2] Psalm 24:1
[3] Mark 12:28-34
[4] Genesis 1:28]
[5] While ignoring the second part of this command, our species has certainly got the first part right! And its killing our world... and us.
[6] http://www.creationcare.org.za/ is the attempt of one Church to make a difference. Unfortunately we have struggled to find someone who can keep our website updated... but its coming...

 

Random thoughts about Life, the Universe and Everything

Shalom!  Here goes... a fifty-something (although only just!) entering cyber-space!

Why? Not sure, really, except that I read several blogs on a regular basis, and think (arrogant swine that I am) some of my thoughts will be of interest, and perhaps even beneficial, to others. There is a second reason - while chatting to my friend Delme Linscott (delmelinscott.blogspot.com) on Saturday he asked "Why not?"... and so I thought... "Why not!"

And so, what will let the Word spread be about? I can't wait to see!

Nothing quite as heavy as the title of this blog suggests (of course, we all know the answer is "42" - according to The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams). But I'll make a point of sharing the things that are important to me... my relationship with God... my family... the environment... books... words... thoughts...

So why the name let the Word spread? And why the capital "W"? While the capitalization of the "W" kinda makes it clear (to fellow Christ-followers, at any rate, that some of my thoughts will be about the Bible (not from a sermonising perspective, as a pastor and preacher I do enough of that on a Sunday!), it will also be about other words, words that (hopefully) give life to those who are gracious enough to read them.

And join in whatever discussion they may bring into being.

So here goes... "To infinity and beyond!"