The life and times of a rural Vicar

 12th July - Deeply Saddened

What I read of the posts from Synod are enough to make you weep the liberal agenda of tolerance of all (That agree with me) is being expressed again. Can these people not see that damage they do by creating rifts that are ripping the church apart. To say nothing of the fact that if they push Conservative Evangelicals and Anglo Catholics out of the church it means financial disaster. They know the car will go over the cliff and they would rather see the tangled wreck smoking on the beech and the subsequent damage it does than bear with their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Christ must weep at the state of the church. What agenda are we about the politically correct agenda of the age or the teaching of the God of Heaven. Perhaps though a split is what is needed so that those of us that wish to can get on with the work of preaching and teaching the gospel and growing churches that seek the Lord and funnily enough those seem to be the growing churches.

Lord have mercy on us

21st July - Ready for a rest .

What I need more than anything else is a rest. The Vicar on his own with a multiparish benefice works very hard even if most people think it is a one day a week job. There is preparation for Sunday, assemblies, visiting, and paperwork. I did a quick calculation and I think I work about 60 hours a week. The hassle is just getting enough cover for a 10 day break. I am lucky in that I have some wonderful Godly people that will preach and take services.

This week is one of funerals and it was sad that at a funeral this week there were only 27 people - it just felt sad. How many of us in villages like Mears Ashby live quiet lives disconnected from those around us absorbed in our own self centredness. and when we die we are like the grass of the fields Psalm 103 tells us and we are no more. I don't want the sum total of my life to be my "things and my money. I want to leave this world having lived for Christ and my inheritance is the people I have brought to faith.

It is a time of change here, time to say some tough things with great love, time to be real and to be challenged. We are a great and vibrant place to worship but God is calling us to a new and deeper walk I believe the autumn is all about that. The theme is Love and I have produced a leaflet to explain it lets hope it isn't instantly filed under "R."

26th July 2010 - catch up what has been going on

What a week went to Earls Barton to see the new vicar installed, the Bishop preached well and he preached on the passage read what a breath of fresh air. Great to meet with brothers and sisters in Christ from across the country. We must meet up to chat about this idea of a group ministry.

Ron Norris died and I did his funeral. I arrived at the crem in good time and open thebag i believed had my robs in only to find a video projector - ARGHHHHHHH! - so my pink jumper was not the best thing to be wearing. Tony Edwards came to my rescue with an organists robe. I Looked like a Baptist.

Off to Norwich on the 26th to see Maurice he is very frail and on oxygen 24/7 now and he sat and we discused his funeral he told me that he has no regrets and has enjoyed a great life at sea and a good family. he says that when it comes to dying he is ready and will go to God happily. I want to have this peace at mine ending. It was good to be with him and we will celebrate him if the Lord does take him home.

Only 13 days to a holiday - oh how I need a break.

28th July 2010 - Put your money where your mouth is.

Why should we just sit here and moan about what is happening in the church at large? I feel it is the duty of all Conservative Evangelicals to stand up and be counted and thus after prayer and considered reflection I intend to stand for General Synod. Some might reflect that it is abit like submitting to a slow death by boredom, however It has to be done. For to long the orthodox wing of the church has got on with bringing people to Christ and this has left the offices of the church open to the liberal wing. They have grasped this chance to move the church from its biblical and evangelical root. We cannot moan because we have missed a trick and we now need to retake the ground.

The liberal wing have clearly decided to play the issue of women Bishops at the level of winner takes all. So we are left with no option but to stand up and be counted.

There is a battle about to be fought for the very soul of this Church of England I love and was ordained into; not a battle of my choice and I don't want it, but I will not be forced out of the church in this way. I will listen and be as gentle as a dove but with the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit.

I have just spoken to someone about baptism and I thank God that I can open the doors of the church through this occasional office to so many.

Please pray for me.

25th August 2010 - Back at the Desk

After a great break in the Portugal back to work and whilst away God has been helpping me  and has been forming in my mind a clarity for the way ahead. Today we live in a pix and mix society where there is little if any loyalty and the idea of costly love is an strange idea. Why does this church still fail to grow what is it about this place that resists the gospel?

The key is to be found in the fact that within the life of these churches some people are picking and mixing. You are fine to go to a an activity in church "A" and worship in church "B." This attitude is effective in so many areas of our lives that it seems nautural in Church life, but the book of Acts paints a very different picture. As I sit writing a sermon on 1 John 4:7-12 I see the lack of love that is causing this to happen. The passage says that we are to love one another. How can I love you and God if i decied not to share with you in the ministry and worship here. One fellow Clergy man told me I was to soft and that he would be much firmer with people that live in a duality of church life. Perhaps for the sake of the Gospel and the community here the time has come to call a spade a spade. It is great that we have challenges it proves we are a target worthy of an attack. 

So am I ready to say well there is no hope no because I return to emails telling me that people are open to the gospel and that there are fresh oppotunities to witness to faith.

The new term is all about love and love forgives, but it also has to challenge and maybe I am a soft touch wanting to keep people happy, maybe now is the time to call the church to reflect on its commitment. to praise and encourage those that are fully members of the body here and to deal with the potential problem that could derail the life of the church.

Where from here? To prayer because this is the work of God and I must not act or speak but as directed by him and his word.

Thanks to all the very special people that gave me the chance for a break they have given that I might be refreshed. Pray to God for me that I may have grace to be Gods faith teacher and preacher and to lead these Christian communites forward in the great Missio Dei.

29th August - back in the Pulpit

 At Hardwick and expected a very low turn out as it was bank holiday. not bad and a graet theme and felt that I had preached what God had wanted and that had meant leaving out some of my stuff. The fantastic message that we are loved and we are to love from 1 John 4 was a treat. Home and good lunch and then family time. Teaching on God's love will be a treat.

Sorted out stuff for next week and then on Tuesday the New PC arrived the size of a shoe box bout so powerful and spent a day playing with that and setting it up. then saw Tracy and said that we are getting tight with funds in the MOSH account and she may be coming to the point of having to look for another post. There are some options for us but she needs to be looking for funding ASAP. It would be a shame to have to close the project down but we will see. A sermon awaits.