Filled with compassion

I'm preaching tomorrow on marks account of the feeding of the four thousand- and was looking for a illustration about compassion. The point being Jesus' being extended to us to be his hands and feet this story stopped me in my tracks. 

a song that really hit me as a young christian was by noal richards 

Filled with compassion

Filled with compassion
For all creation
Jesus came into a world that was lost
There was but one way
That He could save us
Only through suffering death on a cross

God You are waiting,
Your heart is breaking
For all the people who live on the earth
Stir us to action,
Filled with Your passion
For all the people who live on the earth

Great is Your passion
For all the people
Living and dying without knowing You
Having no saviour
They're lost forever
If we don't speak out and lead them to You

From every nation
We shall be gathered
Millions redeemed shall be Jesus' reward
Then He will turn and say to His Father
"Truly my suffering was worth it all"

what really has surprised and in a sad way was the amount of sites that say they have sermon illustrations that have nothing under compassion as a link in fact looking at there sites there isn't even a tag marked compassion. 

One day a woman was walking down the street when she spied a beggar sitting on the corner. The man was elderly, unshaven, and ragged. As he sat there, pedestrians walked by him giving him dirty looks They clearly wanted nothing to do with him because of who he was -- a dirty, homeless man. But when she saw him, the woman was moved to compassion.

It was very cold that day and the man had his tattered coat -- more like an old suit coat rather than a warm coat -- wrapped around him. She stopped and looked down. "Sir?" she asked. "Are you all right?"

The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like that she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun ofchim, like so many others had done before. "Leave me alone," he growled.

To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling, her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone."

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked.

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by the table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this. Is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

"I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."

"Oh."

The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register. I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. And if you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus. He led me to you."

if we are not touching Jesus feeling being moved by his compassion then are we walking with him. Are we willing to be open to be his hands and feet to sit with the unlovable to sit with the teenage alcoholic or the older person who's given up.. to be Jesus with skin on.. to be there to hold back the hair of a person being sick as they have been out all night. To fall into bed shattered and do it all again. 

news flash thats what we are called to do.

it's not about putting money in the pot outs side the station or supporting via direct-debit that helps  but actively getting involved.....

midlands calling

My patch is off for a few days today- in four mins actually last cuppa and checking last few things ready like wheres my tickets...


I'm off for a retreat not my normal activity and something i'm not really all that fond of. I know that they are good and many people find them useful but I do struggle with them and more often found them a waste of time.


but today I am off to newbuildingsfarm in Derbyshire with the youth team from Leicester who I will be joining in the summer...




ok signing off now

Maze

Yesterday I was out and about in london with the Guides they were taking part in a challenge toward a badge where they got points for different transport used and the things they did or saw around london... we finished up at crystal palace - known in the athletics world for the stadium there. 

It's a park and was the first time i've been there and had a fab time I also got given by the girls a guide name they decided while on the train to Crystal palace that I needed one like the other leaders. the guides use Disney names for the leaders it was a great moment when they decided and a honour in away that they wanted to do it... so my guide name is now  Perry the Platypus, also known as Agent P or simply Perry 

What really got me though was the maze at the end of the day, as part of the centenary the maze at crystal palace was refurbished in the centre is a wonderful message to those who journey through the maze a compass rose design with the guide symbol in the centre 

the words at the centre of the maze celebrating 100 years of guiding 

pause here for a while 

past,present and future

follow in their footsteps

listen for the echos 

repotting

I called a recent post "replanting" I spoke about a time of repotting replanting. Its something that you need to do to a potted plant every once in a while. if you don't it will struggle the roots will grow out of the pot... try wearing shoes too small and you'll get the idea of how the plant feels.. sometimes a plant will stay happy in it's pot for many years others will need to be changed more often. 

In the previous post I mention that the little patch of vauxhall that has been my patch since october 2009 will be left behind.  the patch will become home for someone else. and I have been looking and praying as to where God is looking to replant me. 

Well two weeks ago I went for a interview at St Annes and All Saints in the Parish of Scraptoft and Netherhall in Leicester and this will be my new patch from the summer. 

I will be the Children's and Youth Missioniar 

street party

This was great I wondered down to the street party and met up with friends we ate cake and sausages cooked by the local butcher and his team..

what was great about the past few days is how everyone came together there was a really feeling in the community of hope celebration and joy... the weather has helped in this...  I've found it very different in London that people though often friendly when you get to know them don't talk in the street or at the checkout ( a few brake this idea) which I've been used to in the midlands and north. so to walk and be greeted in the street and people doing life together instead of alone behind there front door bring and sharing food together laughing and joking with new friends has been fantastic..

but it has left me with questions...
questions of why the church isn't part of this bring the community together in more ways... why not just as  seeing it as a event to get people into church but to be there doing life together with the communities we live in.

Jesus was about with people he picnicked with them, the biggest of all street party's and one boy with bread and fish supplied the food. What if we took this approach to life and journeyed with our committee through life. not just with those we connect with but with all of our community those who live under the railway bridge and those who live in the big gated house. what if we lived as Jesus called the church to live.

eve of the wedding

I had to go just to say I was there.. just to see... to hear... to be part....

It was a long walk 2.5 hrs stopping to talk to people and just take in the atmosphere it seems the whole world has its focus on a small patch that I can just about see from my window... I can hear the helecopters flying over head and see the sky lit up by the many lights.

so I had to take the short walk over to the other side of the thames to see.. what was going on.... people I haven't seen so many people out and about at 930pm in I don't know how long... Oxford street on a saturday had nothing on Parliament Square or The mall. I chatted with people from Australia, Canada who waved their flags and sat chatting with them for some time after geting a photo of them camped out, North of Scotland, Wales saw flags and messages from Cuba, South africa, oh and even a guy carrying the cornish flag... and stopped to chat with a group of guides from Streatham who offered me a place to stay with them over night.... but alas I had to decline... as I told them my kingsize bed was calling me home... 

people decked out in red white and blue...walking along the mall singing I'm getting married in the morning was a amazing atmosphere to take in.  People just wanting to be part of something special  enjoying a time of hope and joy...

even the London eye tonight is not its usual blue or green or purple but is a hugh red white and blue ring that looks great against the dark sky.

later I will go down to the street party in vauxhall and properly watch the wedding on tv.

School assembly

I'm doing the assembly at Archbishop Sumners school today... and following on from easter and other assemblies I've done this year on building your life on the right things as I was looking at ideas I came across this wonderfully simple video (I've got it ready to use at the school hope it works I think they would enjoy it I know I did when I saw it.)

Either way

I'm gonna use flash paper and strong paper to show that when we build our lives on God even when we're shaken (strong paper is hard to tear but it does happen) the base of our lives are in God and though knocked we can deeped on God..

flash paper is cool it burns in an instant and leave no ash or any sign it was ever there... when we base our lives on things not based in the truth of God just like the house on the sand there is nothing to hold on too.....

I'm not saying about using God as a crutch but as a climber I know that if you don't have a strong anchor for your rope there is only one result if you find a loose rock or slip and fall.....

What this day are you building your life on what I am I building my life on...

How is that lead out into what we building into the patch's that God has given each of us to tend...

up and running

Today I managed to sort out my mac (not my winter coat or rain jacket but my laptop) I backed up an erased the hardrive reinstalling just the information I really need.

How good would it be if we were able to do that... wipe out the things that we don't want to remember those things that went wrong mistakes or things we have picked up over time that weigh us down and have a fresh clean slate.

well heres the news it is possible this past weekend is the reason its possible.... God made it possible for each of us to have a fresh start with him our sins forgiven a fresh new start. 

what wonderful news for all of our patches...

that God would take these old broken clay pots called our lives and make them into something remarkable in Him 

my mac will only know the all that was in it's memory if I reinstall it- the memories we have may not be taken away but he will redeem if we would let him.

just a thought....

Easter day

In March over on 365-my patch I took a photo of one of the allotments just down from my flat. The ground was stating to be prepared for planting it was towards the beginning of lent then. Today I went past the same allotment and it looks very different. Laid out each plant and vegetable in its patch in a place where it can grow and  develop. I'd spoken to the tender of the allotment and he said to watch out for something he had just built a frame a frame that looked like a gallows. 

Thursday at the globe I heard Esther recited. A gallows was built in there for much darker reason as someone who wanted power plotted to do evil in order to get it and ended up hanging from the gallows he built for another. Friday, Good Friday saw another image used for destruction the Cross. 

Yet both were used so very differently both the gallows and the Cross saw in them the beautiful. 

The tender of the allotment used for growing tomato's.

The cross a sign of suffering and pain and shame. bring forth the beauty of new life new hope through the resurrection of the one who died who shed his blood upon it.

¹ Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. ² But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. ³ Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ And it happened, as they were greatly^[b] perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. ⁵ Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, ⁷ saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”⁸ And they remembered His words. ⁹ Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

What this easter day is there in your life in my life that can be changed from something that is a seemingly harmless past time or a object that as you read this you recongnise as being like the gallows or the cross and needs that change that turning over to God so that He can reshape it into somthing beautiful.

How does that allotment that was being prepared look now well....

Reepicheep

Unhand the tail. Aslan the Great gave me this tail and no one, repeat, no one, touches the tail. Period, exclamation mark! 

narniaweb.com

You gotta love Reepicheep..... little mouse big heart


an he has a real point, That tail was a gift a from Aslan and he guarded it no-one would be allowed to take that gift from him..


How do we treat the gift and call that Aslan has given to each of us. Do we allow the gift of God to be touched or taken by another. 


Reepicheep uses his gift- not hiding it away but uses it day to day 


Reepicheep a little mouse in a film on a Saturday afternoon just a bit of entertainment!!!!


nothing to do with our my daily lives our walk with God our discipleship.....

The globe

I'm still not sure really what I had expected last night going to the globe to hear three books of the bible read Esther, Job and the Psalms. 

To hear the word read in a semi dramatic way ( I say semi dramatic as it was through those reciting own engagement that made it dramatic) it was more than just being read there was a real engagement it was truly to be part of the story. We I think has lost something by no longer being a oral community we write down our stories and really if ever tell them.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening I loved the way that Esther came alive and the psalms job was the book for me I wasn't to worried about missing but was en captured by the recital. But the Psalms that was for me worth more than I can really begin to share. 8 people recited I loved the way in which the two actors above all most egged each other on to say greater things of the Lord. There was sarcasm and desperation love and hate. 

It was a dangerous occasion too dangerous as to think that as this version created to be recited to be heard was a gateway for the masses to have the word to hear and meditate on. That as parts of the psalms came up you found yourself joining in with the spoken word. 

How much more is there in what took place this Holy week.. As a friend reminded me today how great that the word of good has been proclaimed over the capital of this nation this week.

Maundy Thursday

This morning I was at Southwark cathedral for the service there which was great  was so glad I went the opening Hymn was sung with such power and truth that you thought the roof really would be shaken. I'd never sung this before but was hit by the words 

Refrain:

Lift high the cross,
the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore
his sacred Name.

Come, brethren, follow where our Captain trod,
our King victorious, Christ the Son of God. Refrain

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
the hosts of God in conquering ranks combine. Refrain

Each newborn soldier of the Crucified
bears on the brow the seal of him who died. Refrain

This is the sign which Satan's legions fear
and angels veil their faces to rever. Refrain

Saved by this Cross whereon their Lord was slain,
the sons of Adam their lost home regain. Refrain

From north and south, from east and west they raise
in growing unison their songs of praise. Refrain

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
as thou hast promised, draw the world to thee. Refrain

Let every race and every language tell
of him who saves our souls from death and hell. Refrain

From farthest regions let their homage bring,
and on his Cross adore their Savior King. Refrain

Set up thy throne, that earth's despair may cease
beneath the shadow of its healing peace. Refrain

For thy blest Cross which doth for all atone
creation's praises rise before thy throne. Refrain

I'm missing a service tonight at St Peters vauxhall one I'm sad to miss last year it was a amazing service and the first time i had witnessed the stripping of a church and was very much looking forward a agin to being part of it again this year.....

but I will be at another place and my first visit to the famous globe theatre and will be hearing the King james bible read...

THURSDAY 21 APRIL

6pm – Midnight: Esther, Job and Psalms

Free tea and coffee will provided after 11pm.

This session features the book of Psalms containing 150 beautifully written hymns, psalms and prayers covering the whole range of human emotions from joy to anger, from hope to despair. Many famous verses have roots in the psalms including, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’, ‘The Rivers of Babylon’, ‘Handel’s Messiah’. The book of Job explores the problem of sufferance in an unjust world, where God appears not to care about the fate of the just.

Two of my favourite books will be read Esther and psalms and yeah I'm very much planning to listen to the whole evening not sure what it is going to be like but I'm sure it will be a wonderful evening though the expectation is that people will drop in and drop out throughout the sessions. its suggested it will take a team of actors 69 hours to read through the bible in Holy week and will conclude on easter tuesday. What I found really interesting is that there will be no reading on Holy saturday. That it was actually called by the theatre Holy saturday the real name for the time of waiting and not easter saturday as it's often miss called.

I like the statement in a interview too that The Globe's artistic director, Dominic Dromgoole

"We are celebrating the word," he says. Whatever one's spiritual convictions, the anniversary is significant; it is hard to think of any other work that has played such a large role in shaping English-speaking culture.  

celebrating the word.

Tonight I just plan to sit and listen no distraction no phone or gadgets this Maundy Thursday no words of my own just the words inspired by God written down by man to wash over

Love wins......

There's been a lot said and written about the contains of Rob Bells latest book Love wins... I haven't read it yet have my copy on the desk in a pile of to reads. I had a ticket for a evening with rob bell tonight at westminster central hall, I missed the first part of the evening as I was returning from viewing a new patch in the midlands but I did get there to here the questions and answers session...   

Something that stood out in all that was said was a image of what a leader or pastor should be doing first and for most.

Rob used the image of the emergency information given on a plane. That  you always put your mask on before helping anyone else. 

that is the same with out spiritual lives we need to be spending time first with God, that we don't get burnt out or work from a place of empty.

I really like that image of the plane safety it really challenges though... what does it mean for those in my patch when you try to put there mask on while not wearing on first and slowly being suffocated.

what would it mean in our churches is pastors (or whatever term your denomination uses) worked from  this place....

Palm sunday

This week starts and finishes with celebration yet the week itself becomes more contemplative as we close in on Maundy Thursday and the striping of the church  and good friday. this week sees two walks in the parish today we walked from two of the churches to a joint celebration at the third. friday we walk from the imperial war museum to waterloo station in silence as we think and pray out way round stations on the way and hear the passion read.


we sand Hosanna and give me joy and ride on ride as we walk in the sun palms waving and a white pony leading the way

Short service to start the walk outside St Peter's Vauxhall

Walking up Kennington Lane

 Inside the church with perugin ( courtesy of vauxhall city farm )

Celebrating in the SUN as we closed the time together outside singing we are marching in the light of God 4 churches today met together as one a LEP ( local ecumenical partnership methodist /CofE) Methodist church and two CofE we broke bread together too I love this aspect of the north lambeth we come from many traditions within the church from many countries and languages oh for a thousand tongues to sign our great redeemers praise today a small glimpse of that was shown who wonderful it is when Gods children meet together to celebrate HIM and HIM alone.

Phantom of the opera

Ok not quite but a similar mask is being worn.

Phantom hand mask

Last week in a moment of madness I managed to brake my hand. Since then a rainbow of colours has greeted me over the past week. ( ok that's two west-end shows refered too in just a few words should stop there I think (over the rainbow is a show about Julie Garland) )

I mentioned in a earlier post that I had been on my MA week during the week we were asked what happens when we loose sight of God my friend tapped me on the arm.  A innocent jester of teasing or something much much deeper when we take our eyes of god wether as a disciple or as a community it is then that we start to wither.  Wesley comments in his sermon on the wilderness state (sermon 46)

4. With loss of faith, and love, and joy there is also joined, Fourthly, the loss of that peace which once passed all understanding. That sweet tranquillity of mind, that composure of spirit, is gone. Painful doubt returns; doubt, whether we ever did, and perhaps whether we ever shall, believe. We begin to doubt, whether we ever did find in our hearts the real testimony of the Spirit; whether we did not rather deceive our own souls, and mistake the voice of nature for the voice of God. Nay, and perhaps, whether we shall ever hear his voice, and find favour in his sight. And these doubts are again joined with servile fear, with that fear which hath torment. We fear the wrath of God, even as before we believed: We fear, lest we should be cast out of his presence; and thence sink again into that fear of death, from which we were before wholly delivered.

I'm not sure which really comes first but do understand what wesley is saying. It is easy to slip into that place where we loose peace.. for what ever reason that may be loss of hope and peace is something that is a day to day reality not just behind the front doors on the estate but behind the long gated driveways of the rich. 

Theres many reasons why  we end in a place that we loose faith, and love, and joy and peace.  How do we get back to the place of having our eyes on jesus is what matters. it may be through seeking forgiveness from another and Going to God in prayer. It may mean letting others those mature and trusted into you life to hold you in prayer to challenge and guide to help you focus again on the truth on God's truth that then stops the dripping tap that ground you down. 

Are you am I  willing in your patch to be the person to come along side and be that still small voice to another, or to be at times that rush of thunder both are needed but wisdom as to when is needed to. 

Are you am I willing to let another be the voice of truth and let them speak in to you my life.....

Replanting

houseplants.com

My patch on the move, Later this summer the little patch of vauxhall that has been where I've been planted since october 2009 will be left behind. Just as with plants it's time for me to be repotted, it's said but also a good time as I seek to find where God wants me to go next. 

As I googled a site today to look at more info about a patch I've applied to today I came across this job title on the rejesus site which was one of their links.....

Job title

Follower of the way

Disciple

Employer details

Jesus of Nazareth

Location

Flexible. You will essentially be a field worker fulfilling the requirements of the role in your local community. You will be prepared to leave the security of home behind at certain times.

Role and purpose

You are to live as Jesus taught, and follow his example. 

I've just finished a intensive MA week over at cliff college which was one of the reasons why blogging was non excitant last week. my MA is in mission Wesleyan Theology and Spirituality and spent a lot of time looking at what it meant to be a real follower of jesus.

whatever happens patch wise this is the job description the way of life that is first and foremost