Ben Blogs

Is it me, or is the whole idea of mission an odd one? When I think of spy missions, I'm thinking inhospitable places, or secret locations, and normally immensely dangerous (hence Bond being so sexy). Yet in a church context, it seems that mission is all about putting on events exactly where we are and inviting the people in: as if we've been excluding 'outsiders' except for this particular week.

What's this all about? We believe that Jesus, Paul, and many others stepped out to share their faith; and we still don't want to be in the same place as 'pagans'. What's it all about?

When a minister, at the end of a service, say 'Go forth' or 'Go in peace...', are we willing to go out and do anything regarding what we've heard, experienced, or want to share?

Now is the time to change that - Go forth and be Good News to all who you meet. May our churches remember that Jesus is with us always, even when we are trying to be like Him to someone who doesn't get it. Let us never be down hearted, because believing also leads to suffering as well as fullness of self.

Go Forth!

It seems that we have been preparing for Easter since the decorations for Christmas were taken down. The chocolate and the sunny scenes have, somehow, been in the ether since we downed our last sherry cocktail and declined our last turkey sandwich.

Is it me or is the 'getting ready' for Easter (which has no relationship to Lent) some form of filling the collective existential vacuum that inhabits so many lives? Are we so spiritually and emotionally bankrupt that we need to get ready for another form of gluttony and tomfoolery soon after the last one went?

I see it when autumn arrives; we have Hallowe'en, Guy Fawkes night (a anti-Catholic festival, but we all seem to ignore that); and then it's Christmas (not Advent, Xmas). Then it's New Year's, Burns Night, then Easter - even though Easter is not for a couple of months. What's that all about?

I believe that 'living in the moment' could be an impossibility for many people, until we recognise the need to take stock once in a while and be real about our lives. Am I just living from one 'hit' of hedonism to another? What is my life without that 'hit'?

The church can bring people to their sense, by living John 10:10 lives - Jesus says 'I came that you may have life and to live it abundantly'. This is not about busy-ing ourselves; but to live knowing that life is worth living, everything big and little thing in it.

When we recognise our need to live life fully, God brings us to our sense and is guiding us to see what life - all of it - can bring.