Britain in Bloom-St Johns garden in September

In our local region we are so pleased that St Johns Church garden is a GOLD standard Category winner for Best kept community or Church garden. Vera and Audrey are very modest about  their achievement and  the hard work that gleaned the Prize for our Parish. Thank you from us all . The garden is a haven for a quiet sit, for Parish Sundae and for events such as family Fun Day, and we are blessed to have the green space as a corridor for wildlife and for  pleasure on the eye.

Another quirky title ...

Today's review is a book by Louis Giglio entitled: "I am not but I know I AM", which doesn't make a lot of sense until you translate "I AM" into one of the many names for God!

The book contrasts the enormity of the power, creativity, love and compassion of God with our own unimportance and tendency to be self-seeking. It takes the example of John the Baptist who recognised his own role as one which pointed to the Messiah rather than being important in itself and encourages us to find freedom from selfish issues by putting Jesus first in our lives.

I AM is "the centre of everything, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, inexhaustible and immeasurable, God himself".

These are all the things that "I am not".

But although "I am not", I AM "knows my name, pursues me with love, has purchased and redeemed me and invites me to become part of His Story" ....

It is a very encouraging book, helping us to get our priorities right, and I would thoroughly recommend it.

I Am Not But I Know I AM

Louis Giglio

Hodder & Stoughton

ISBN: 0-340-90915-3

Is It Just Me?

Is it just me or is something special happening in our Parish? Sunday's joint service at St. John's was packed to the gunnels and wonderfully uplifting the singing was wonderful and the sense of fellowship especially during the Peace was very strong. Parish Sundae goes from strength to strength and is reaching out to many who wouldn't normally go to Church. I have just read Carl's wonderful description of Sacred Space in the Envoy and also the wonderful letter in Saturday's Mercury. I can't help but feel this particular "fresh expression" is a case of perfect timing.

Is it just me or is this our parish blog guiding, challenging, supporting, nurturing, witnessing this journey? It may just be me but I want to say a huge "thank you" to all my fellow parishioners for all that they are doing to take this Church forward to bring us closer to God and in particular to all the contributors of this blog. I look forward to every post!

Is it just me?

Elephant Hawk Moth etc

Well, not quite the Moth yet but a picture of  the caterpillar of the Elephant hawk Moth. This was taken a few weeks ago by Gillian Wilson at Wydale when she and other members of our parish were enjoying a short break at our nearby earthly paradise. Readers of this blog will know how much I enjoyed the Parish Weekend at Wydale. It is a haven for all kinds of flora and fauna. I saw my first woodpecker and nuthatch, Dryads Saddle and brown dragonflies.

 Its Bank Holiday Monday today , and I am going to have a holiday here at home for a day. We've just watched 'The Nuns Story'. Audrey Hepburn made a beautiful nun in 1959. Bank Holiday it might be, but we are not watching TV all day. 

So I have been round the garden and done some weeding, to justify the sandwich lunch we are about to have and  'Summer Holiday'  this afternoon . Let the reader understand that I am of a certain age. 'Summer holiday'  was about as risque as my teenage viewing at the Regal Ferensway  Hull  ever got.  

AND I found dozens of caterpillars on the lettuces and aubergines . They are not glamorous and interesting ones however. Infact I have had all my Insect books out, have Googled 'woolly bear caterpillars'and I still cant decide whether they are the same species of Garden Tiger Moth. I have had to send the pictures to @yorkshirecoast (Lee Westmoreland ) who with his wife Jax are active members of the Yorkshire branch of  Butterfly Conservation  . They will know. I am learning . I know these green ones (below) very well, as I have been removing them to the bird table for years. They are a miracle of greed,the Cabbage whites and the Small Whites. One year, I did a flower arrangement at St Oswalds in August.  Gillian Wilson had once said that an arrangement of foliage, with the different textures and colours could look effective. I did what I thought would be an interesting show of leaves, gray kale, eucalyptus, parsley heads, beetroot leaves and variegated Euonymus japonicus. It looked lovely.I went to water the oasis a few days later. It looked awful as all the brassicas had been shredded to holes by the caterpillars I had not noticed. My big head soon went down.

So I am going to keep my eyes open . I 'm glad that Gillian's picture and Vera's enthusiasm has spurred me on to look around me more.

We thank you, God, we thank you— your Name is our favourite word;
      your mighty works are all we talk about. Psalm 75 v 1 (The Message)

The price we pay.

It's coming to the end of another summer season and we Filey folk can look forward to our journeys being a bit easier when we are not competing with so many tourists. The price we pay for living in such a lovely place.
Last week one of my daily readings was from Genesis 22 verses 1-19 all about Abraham being told by God to take his beloved son Isaac to sacrifice him at Mount Moriah. The name on its' own sounds sinister.
The reading got me thinking about my own journeys and things I have had to sacrifice in my own life. I'm not trying to pretend that my faith is anything like Abrahams' far from it; but as we pass along life's journey some changes of direction demand sacrificial choices.
Yet we have the wonderful reassurance that whatever we have to give up we can only ultimately gain if we put our trust and faith in a loving God.
Enjoy the Bank holiday!!!

Prayer

Talking to Strangers about our faith

Dusk, Filey Beach as a Sacred Space is set out last night 

Sacred Space

At my sisters 60th Birthday Tea party on Saturday , held at the back of her Inner City Church, we were all enjoying the afternoon Tea . I met the people she worships with, and  her old friends , and her colleagues from over the years and her delightful neighbour. 

It is always difficult for me , talking to strangers. I appear polite and interested, I can make small talk. I am genuinely interested to hear about the lives of others, but I am in an inner turmoil. I do not want to upset anyone, I do not want to be seen as a nutter or garrulous, I want people to like me and affirm me and be glad we've met. It is a strain. If I am the hostess it is so much easier, I am serving , introducing and moving swiftly on. I wonder if Martha was like that too. 

Saturday was easier  than I had hoped. I only had one hiccup, when one of her acquaintances jumped down my throat and told me how I should be praying. I wanted to tell her to shut up. I then remembered that not minutes earlier I was telling another guest how she should be praying. Its all a question of moats and beams.

The post mortem for the party, showed up only one negative happening. One of the guests had been an aggressive proselytizer of the Christian Faith towards another  guest who was a suni Moslem. Wrong Place, Wrong time. Wrong.

Evangelizing to total strangers is something I have never done willingly. Yes I have put leaflets thro doors, Yes I have  answered questions . Yes I have prayed, and do, for opportunities to share my personal faith, my testimony. I know that the turning point, the leap of faith to Christ , the accepting , the trusting ,the questioning and the sharing has defined me. I know that I cannot now separate who I am with What I am in Christ. Anyone who meets me, gets to know me, and continues with me has to have the package.
Spending ones whole social life with Christians seems an easy option in the security blanket stakes. We are aware that as older people who no longer have to work for money every day it would be so easy to work every day for the  church. I am doing a review of my time. Talking to Strangers about our faith  is a way that Good News  spreads. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict and encourage towards a Living Faith, but  often  He uses us to do the groundwork.

The Groundwork done  on Filey Beach then, as a Fresh Expression, needs for all of us to get the strangers to the place where talking may be done,where  the Holy Spirit is definitely hovering over the sand  and waters.

Vera , Pam and Colin -not strangers!

Colin and Bobby -not strangers!

I talked to strangers last night, I prayed for strangers sitting around . They will never know that I prayed for them . Sacred Space on Filey Beach last night was for me a springboard to the rest of my life . I now know something I didn't know until I sat down to write this post. I am going to talk to strangers about my faith. 

Gone fishing ... 2

Yesterday, we began to think about a story from Luke's gospel. Today we're going on to think about what happened next ......

We left Jesus standing in a small fishing boat, teaching a crowd who had followed him to Lake Galilee. And Simon, whose boat it was, was in the boat with him, making sure it didn't drift too far away from the crowd.

Some time later, Simon was talking to his friends, and he said: "And do you know what happened next?" After all that teaching, suddenly Jesus turned to me and said: "Simon. Let's go fishing! I'm sure all these people have heard enough for one day. You and me have a job to do."

"Fishing!", I exploded!!! "Come off it, teacher", said I. "I've been out all night fishing. They're not biting! Not one single fish - all night! You think I want to go out fishing? And anyway, my net's broken. If it hadn't been for you, it would have been mended by now, but as it is ...

"Trust me" said Jesus "Just row out until I tell you to stop, then we'll see if there are any fish in this lake."

"Well, you'ld never believe it", Simon said to this firends "there was so much fish I couldn't pull it all in. I had to shout James and John to come and help, and even then we struggled. And, do you know what, all that fish and a broken net - but the fish came tumbling into the boat - and James and John's boat! Never seen anything like it!"

But that wasn't the end of that funny old day. We finally managed to get back to the shore and the teacher man - Jesus - he said to me: "Right Simon, you've got yourself a new job. From now on you're going to be a fisher of men." A fisher of men! What sort of a fisherman is that?"

But you know something, this Jesus, well he's got this aura about him. It's as if he's known everything in creation ever since the world began. And the odd thing is, once you've met him - really met him - you can't say "No" to him.

And so that was it. I left the fishing. So did James and John. And we all set off following him - and the rest - as they say - is history ...

Strange thing, though, when I think back to that day, I often think - I wonder what happened to all that fish rotting on the beach - I do hope someone was able to make good use of it!

...

Yesterday we wondered what Jesus might have been teaching the crowd from the boat, and what he might be trying to teach us today. Jesus' instructions are so often so unexpected. Like Simon, we feel like saying: "Come off it, I've been doing that for ages and it doesn't work!"

Perhaps that's because we try to do things in our own strength instead of his.

Jesus says to us: "Listen to me. Trust me. Lean on me! Allow me to lead you. Love me and love my people."

So where do we go from here? Are the results of all our efforts - or even God's intentions for us - rotting on the beach? What is he calling us to do? And what is preventing us from seeing it? Or doing it?

We haven't got Mary beside us saying "Just do it", but we have got Jesus, his loving Father, and his Holy Spirit trying to get through to us - if only we will listen.

Let's go fishing!

Gone Fishing ... 1

I am still haunted by Pam's poem about Hiding Jesus (See "No Hiding Place." on this blog on 10th August). One of the things that I have a real thing about is the need to use language which is understandable, and how in church, or when we are talking about what we believe, we often make it hard for people to understand what we mean because we use too many "churchy" words. So I thought that today, for a change, I would try retelling a story in a different way. The passage I have chosen is Luke 5: 1-11. See what you think and let me know ...

Jesus woke early. He had no real need to get up just yet, but he felt restless. Everything had happened so quickly. He thought back over the past few days since that wedding at Cana. His Mother had really dropped him in it there! He'd always known he had a special job to do, but he was waiting for God's word giving him the go-ahead. Then his Mother just said: "Do whatever he tells you". At a party! Everyone watching! Well, I wasn't ready, was I? But what could I do?

Then, soon after that, there was the time that I met my cousin John down by the river - and being baptised - and this voice from heaven, my Father's voice, telling everyone who I was. Strange, or what?

And to think that my own Mother would set this whole thing rolling - and not the first time she has set things moving that would change the world .... she's a bit of a liability if you ask me.

"Ah, well", thought Jesus. "I'd better get up and do something."

I know, I'll take a walk down to the lake. It'll be peaceful down there at this time of day. Maybe I'll get some quality time to catch up with my Father. See what he's got lined up for me next. It'll be cool there too. Just him and me and the gently lapping water - and perhaps an odd fisherman ...

But of course it didn't turn out like that. Well, it wouldn't, would it! Word had got round that this new holy man was living locally. This one seemed a bit special. Not like your usual holy men. This one said things differently - saw things from a different angle. So people were on the lookout for him, even first thing in the morning. And as Jesus walked towards Lake Galilee a growing procession of people followed him. So much for a quiet time in prayer!

As he came near the edge of the water, Jesus realised he had a problem. He was running out of land - and the crowd just kept on coming. Just like a football crowd on cup final day. Or youngsters going to a rock concert. All pressing forward to get the best position. They kept coming - and he was going to be up to his neck in water - literally.

But just then he saw a boat and - hey presto - he had his answer. (Funny that - how every time he needed transport it always seemed to appear - just as the right time - remember that little donkey?) So he jumped in the boat just in time ....

Further down the beach was a fisherman called Simon. He was really fed up! He'd been out all night fishing and hadn't caught a thing! Not even a tiddler! Zilch! Zero! Nothing! And even though he hadn't caught anything he had somehow managed to snag his net . So there he was, worn out, no catch, a useless net - things couldn't get worse - or could they ...

All of a sudden he looked up. He hadn't noticed the noise till now, so wrapped up was he in his own problems. A huge crowd was coming down the beach ... all pursuing this one man ... Hey, just a minute! That's my boat he's getting into! This is the end! The last straw (although he didn't call it that -- that phrase hadn't been invented then!).

He got up and was about to go and tell this man what for, when suddenly he heard him calling his name. This man stealing his boat was actually calling his name! Bold as brass! How does he know my name anyway? Better go and find out what this is all about. I could do without all this, this morning. You just don't know what will happen next ....

But we do, don't we ...

Jesus stood in the boat, teaching the crowd.

I wonder what he was teaching them about on this occasion?

We aren't told ... but perhaps we could speculate ...

What could he have been teaching them about?

What is he trying to teach us now as we sit in front of our computers?

Let's spend a few moments in contemplation as we allow God to speak into our hearts and minds about his will for our lives ....

Let's try and get some of that quality time that Jesus was looking for that morning ...

...

Like Simon's unsuccessful night, sometimes it seems that, however hard we work, nothing seems to come to fruition. At times like this we can feel like giving up. And we're so wrapped up in the problem that we don't realise that a whole new situation is evolving - and its one that will inevitably involve us. We need to be prepared. To be open to what God is trying to tell us. To find time each day to listen to God - not just to talk to him.

We haven't got to the end of the story yet - but we'll continue it tomorrow ...

God Bless America

It is quite hard to avoid bumping into God in the USA. Be it a number plate or dollar bills or radio stations, God is everywhere.


Just having returned from a holiday in Florida it is easy for us to scoff at the brash nature of American religion and to feel umcomfortable with the moralising and politically conservative nature of some of it. However it got me to wonderin'. I remembered a few weeks in Texas during my 20s working for an American company. I was in a small town several hours drive from Dallas and very typical of much of the deep South. The town was in a "dry" county ie there were no outlets for the sale of alchohol and for a town roughly the size of Filey there were 14 Churches. There were, it seemed to me, two types of people. One were the God fearing, Church going majority and the other were so called "red necks" whose idea of fun was shooting anything that moved with a semi automatic weapon in the woods during the weekend. Then driving to the County line to by lots of beer in the adjoining "wet" county.

Somewhat stereotypical perhaps but the point is America was founded on the values of free religion and these values strongly resonate today.

In scrolling through the radio channels in the hire car I stumbled across a channel called Z 88.3. It's strapline was "positive music and messages for all the family". Initially sceptical it was a truly great channel with wonderfully uplifting music and supportive stories for the whole family. As we toured and walked about there were no incidents of road rage, people were courteous and polite, children called me Sir and Shop staff said "have a great day", most of them meant it.

I hate to say this but in contrast in the UK within hours of arriving back we were subject to rude inconsiderate driving, discourtesy, poor service and the unrelenting negativity that is Eastenders. I retreated to the study switched on the computer, found the blog and my gloom lifted.

Here was the love of God in all His glory.

The importance of a name

Gareth on Watch and Welcome at St Oswalds today

Yesterday my mother rang me and called me , unusually for her, Margaret Mary, my baptism name. My sister Susan always calls me that,and my aunt used to call me MM. I like being called Margaret Mary. It recalls my childhood days playing  in the gardens of Saltshouse Road, with 2 other Margarets, who for sake of bidding were called Margaret Ann and Margaret Rose. My Father used to tell that when he was at Hull Grammar School in the 1920s he was called Bruce major, because of another boy with the same surname Bruce. No Christian names there then!

In our Parish of Filey each church is identified by the name of its dedication.  I would like to do away with the names of saints given to a church, much preferring titles like Christ the King, ChristChurch, or All Saints and Holy Trinity, but that  patronage has historical roots, albeit in bits of bones and dubious biographies. Its not worth making a fuss about so long as the name is in perspective today as just that, an identifying name. St Oswalds Flamborough and St Oswalds Filey h/t to the Celtic roots of our northern spirituality.

Click to enlarge this photo

I like our new notice boards. They are simple and effective. Filey Town council had omitted to name St Oswalds as a place of worship in Filey on their Map and town Guide for 2009/10. That has not stopped the visitors from seeking out a sacred space, a cup of coffee on their morning walk  or bit of History in  the oldest building in Filey.
So it was lovely for me this morning on a flying visit to water the flowers, to meet someone who has only been a name on a rota up to now. Gareth Moberley- it was great to put a name to a face, and to put a face to a name, as he Watched and Welcomed.

Back to names-God is not only talking to Israel when he says. 

(Isaiah 43 v1)

But now, this is what the LORD says— 

       he who created you, O Jacob,
       he who formed you, O Israel:
       "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
       I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

We all have names , so lets use them and find out the names of all those who we daily come in to contact with .

Margaret Mary

Hebrews 9 and 10

Checking out one of the many Bible translation sites and found this

Blogroll again

6 spot Burnet Moth

I had done a post about Cropredy and Fairport Convention, but my spouse has made me remove it . You've gone too far! he said. We have a rule that a blog may not be deleted, but as I hadn't published it , and I'm the pre post modern, post war, love, honour and obey sort of wife,  you will have the second string to my mind's bow. That  is another list of blogs you might like to visit, and subscribe to. 

Now there is a clue above to the sort of blogs that I have trouble with there. I am beginning to tire of the endless pourings out of some of the younger  professional Christians, twitterers and bloggers. Its not that what they say is poor or boring.  Its just that they write so much and so often I wonder when they have time to read their Bibles or do any work. My Google Reader page has at least the facility to mark all as seen and delete.

• Although Rev Gary's My Gospel right or wrong has frequent posts they are so funny I don't want to miss a single one.  
• Bad Vestments will turn anyone Low church in one viewing.
• The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus will have to change his blog name soon, but his subtle jokes are great. Thanks to Rachel for telling me about this one.
• THE OLD GEEZER BLOG is a new one to me. I noticed that the Old Geezer had become a public follower of the Filey Parish Blog, always an encouragement, so I looked at his profile and found his blog. It is worth reading for the Personal Testimony. So Ron White h/t to you and thanks.
• Nick Baines Blog is still my favourite blog ex cathedra. His post on something which really worries me and confuses me was a BIG HELP. 
• If you like Butterflies and Moths and live within a 10 mile radius of Scarborough, or even if you dont , I like my Twitter friend @Lee Westmoreland's gentle and faithful record of everything in his Moth trap, back garden, walks with his wife @Rambling Jax. His blog is called Yorkshire Coast. He alone is responsible for rekindling our interest in all things lepidopteral here at Kiaora.  I even have a yellow sponge soaked in sugar water next to the birds feeders to attract them.

Summer Nights Sacred Space in Filey

It's about 9.00pm and a family of about six walk past the entrance to the beach in Filey and see something happening down there. There are lights flickering all over the beach and people standing or kneeling by them. One of the group asks someone who seems to be part of it all 'What's all this about then?' 

  'It's about lighting a candle,' they reply, 'Maybe for someone you know or used to know, or maybe you would like to say thank you for something, or you can write a message in the sand.' 

  'How much does it cost?' the mother of the group asks. 

  'Oh, it doesn't cost anything. Just go with our blessing.' 

  They look confused for a moment and then the beginings of a smile flicker at the corners of their mouths. They wait, embarrassed to ask for themselves. 

  'Would you like to light a candle?' 

   The mother slowly nods and the little girl shouts 'Can we mum?.. Go on.. Can we?'

  'Let's light one for Grandma shall we!'

  They make their way down and choose a lamp which someone helps them to light before moving discreetly away, leaving them to remember their mother, grandmother, sister and aunty. One of them kneels down and writes something with her finger, just like Jesus once wrote something.... in the sand.

Music 'Faithful' by Brooke Fraser

Biscuit Week in Filey?

The Lectionary today invites us to celebrate St Clare of Assissi, so my pictures are of the Basilica of St Clare (or Santa Ciara) and of the great Basilica of St Francis taken from the Santa Ciara.

All of which has nothing to do with biscuits. But the following post on the "Eternal Echoes" website does. http://sallysjourney.typepad.com/sallys_journey/

After our discussion yesterday about reaching out in love to those around us as the most effective witness to Christ, I thought this might give us another line for discussion.

We do ourselves a disservice when all that is seen in the media is arguments about this and falling out about that. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't challenge what we believe to be wrong. St John's is a lovely welcoming church, a church where people can feel at home and valued. A church (in the true meaning of the word) which does amazing things in supporting people at home and abroad. But, dare I say it, there are also pockets of dissention, some of which are overt and some swept under the carpet.

We should not be afraid to address these; accepting our own responsibility and involvement, as we challenge those aspects of our church life which we know to be wrong.

Like the biscuits we don't need to be "Nice", some people may think we are "Crackers", but perhaps we could aim for a church life closer to a "Wafer"?

No hiding place.

I was catching up with the July /August edition of Inspire mag from Church Army. One of the articles talked about responses to Churches working out in their community. The comment that caught my attention said that practical outreach has a greater impact than hiding in a church building. At Parish Sundae last week and we had a lot of games in the garden. We were able to welcome folk who were not regular church goers simply because they knew we were there.

All this reminded me of a poem that has been in my collection for many years.

How to hide Jesus.

Steve Turner.

There are people after Jesus,

they have seen the signs,

quick, let's hide him.

Let's think; carpenter, fishermans' friend

disturber of religious comfort.

Let's award him a degree in theology,

a purple cassock and a position of respect.

They'll never think of looking here.

Let's think;his dialect may betray him,

his tongue is of the masses. Let's teach him

Latin and seventeeth century English,

they'll never think of listening in.

Let's think; humble, man of sorrows,

nowhere to lay his head.

We'll build a house for him,

somewhere away from the poor,

we'll fill it with brass and silence

it's sure to throw them off.

There are people after Jesus,

Quick, let's hide him.

Are we helping people to find Jesus or are we hiding in a church building like a secret society?

God deliver us from our judgements

Ever been tempted to judge someone? This is something I struggle with, it's so easy to judge people, to believe you are better than them.

Being a sad sort of person, I am currently wading through Romans verse by verse using the superb Greek and parallel English translations at Greattreasures.org . I learnt a bit of modern Greek a few years ago and thought I would have a bash at reading the old stuff. It's been a revelation.

I never realised, just how talented a writer Paul was. He produces lists of words with rhyming endings which punctuate his point, like some kind of Celestial symphony. Here's Romans 2 verses 1 and 2 in the Greek. If you go to 'Great Treasures', you can click on each word and the translation and tense shows up.

1Δι¦ὸ ἀ¦να¦πο¦λό¦γη¦τος εἶ, ὦ ἄν¦θρω¦πε πᾶς ὁ κρί¦νων_· ἐν ᾧ γὰρ κρί¦νεις τὸν ἕ¦τε¦ρον, σε¦αυ¦τὸν κα¦τα¦κρί¦νεις, τὰ γὰρ αὐ¦τὰ πράσ¦σεις ὁ κρί¦νων_.
2οἴ¦δα¦μεν γὰρ ὅ¦τι τὸ κρί¦μα τοῦ θε¦οῦ ἐ¦στιν κα¦τὰ ἀ¦λή¦θει¦αν ἐ¦πὶ τοὺς τὰ τοι¦αῦ¦τα πράσ¦σον¦τας.

Not being an expert in such things here's a reliable translation:

1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. (NIV)

This is a big warning for those of us who are tempted to judge others. Paul uses the word 'krinon' when he is talking about human judgement, the meaning appears to be an ongoing judgement, where the verdict has not yet been given. In verse 2 when he talks about God's judgement, he uses the word 'krima', which apparently implies judgement when the sentenced is being passed.

Whilst on this Earth, Jesus never condemned a sinner, but he did tear to pieces, those who set out to use their religion and their interpretation of God's law to judge and condemn others (e.g the Pharisees). In my short time in Filey Parish Church and despite prolonged abscences and lousy committment, I have never felt judged. Frankly this is humbling and liberating, it speaks volumes of a God of Grace, as John 1 says:

¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

In verse 4 of Romans 2, Paul talks about God's kindness 'bringing us to repentance'. Nowhere have I seen God's kindness expressed better than in the attitudes of believers in our church.

PS. Added the above Photo of the 'Boy Bishop' at St Oswald's as he doesn't look like the judgemental sort.

Bobby B.

Psalm 7

Something different again!

Being honest with God

Click here to hear a wonderful sermon on 'Lying to God' from St Michael Le Belfry in York which deals with one of the most difficult passages in Acts (Difficult for me anyway!)

Walking on Water

Margaret has suggested that, from time to time, I might like to offer some suggestions of reading, so today I am going to review a book with a rather quirky title.

"If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat."

It is written by John Ortberg and published by Willow Creek, ISBN 0-310-23927-3.

It is fundamentally about risk-taking for Jesus.

According to the back cover:

"Deep within you lies the same faith and longing that sent Peter walking across the wind-swept Sea of Galilee toward Jesus.

In what ways is the Lord telling you, as he did Peter, "Come"?

John Ortberg invites you to consider the incredible potential that awaits you outside your comfort zone."

It is a very readable book with chapter headings as quirky as the title - eg: "Boat Potatoes", "Seeing the Wind" and "That Sinking Feeling".

Each chapter addresses a different aspect of our journey with God, focussing on the things that hold us back and those steps of faith that result in growth.

From time to time pithy quotes are highlighted, such as "Storms have a way of teaching what nothing else can." or "Trying and failing, learning from failure, and trying again works a lot better than waiting for perfection."

Each chapter ends with a series of questions helping us to identify what is helping us to reach out in trust to God, and what might be preventing us.

I would thoroughly recommend using it as a sort of check point on what growth we have made so far, and what more we could achieve if we were to reach out in faith and put our trust in our loving God and Father.

Jesus Walks on the Water

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

29"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."