Oct 9th

1 Kings 12     Ezekiel 42     Philippians 3     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Phil 3

I am writing these reflections at home. My neighbour is having their kitchen extended and every few minutes I feel as though a drill is about to appear through the wall on my left. I have tussled with the idea of going to talk to the builders and explaining that I work from home and need to concentrate, and could they do this drilling tomorrow, but I have decided I can work despite the noise, I can focus on the task of writing despite the destruction going on a few meters to my left.

V 13 ‘But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.’

Oh, it is so easy to be distracted from our goal of knowing Christ Jesus. Life crowds in on us like the almost deafening grinding of the drill next door. There is so much to do (in my life this means: writing letters, cleaning the bathroom, emptying the dishwasher, lots of emails I haven’t read, sandwiches to make for the school pick up, people I should have phoned last week…..)! How do we refocus on our goal?

You are doing it, if you’re reading this and the Bible passages for today you are doing part of the pressing on toward the goal that Paul is writing about – well done!

 (part time member of staff)

Oct 8th

1 Kings 11     Ezekiel 41     Philippians 2     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Phil 2:14-16

No church is perfect, no person is perfect, no relationship is perfect…there are always things we can complain and argue about and so we do and this is what the world sees. The world sees the Church argue about whether women should be Bishops and that’s it, a cloud has obscured the stars in the dark night sky. The world hears us complaining about our church leaders and that’s it, a cloud has obscured the stars.

I love camping. I love the simplicity of only having the bear minimum to cook with and eat with. I love being so affected by the weather. I love that it really makes a difference whether there are clouds in the night sky, blocking out the light from the moon and the stars, making it necessary to have a torch to walk around without tripping over a guy rope. I love that when there are no clouds in the night sky the light from the stars is enough to see where you are going.

Our complaining and arguing is like clouds in the night sky obscuring the word of life. While we complain and argue the world is left to trip over the guy ropes and get lost in the dark. When we speak positively about our church family, we shine and then others can see the word of life, the gospel, the news about who Jesus is and what he’s done.

(part time member of staff)