The Advent Code 2021

This year, for what is fast becoming an annual tradition, I had to decide on a semi-familiar Christmas-related phrase to disguise day by day throughout December. It was harder than in previous years, but then I started listening to the carol 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel'. It has featured in this and last year's online carol service from my church, Emmanuel, Brighton and in two very contrasting styles. If you haven't yet watched those carol service films, I strongly recommend you do. Here are the links:

Light in a dark place (2020):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80iInC8YWFo&t=128s 

Son of man (2021):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoiOEWl4oCw 

In this song, I heard this verse:

O Come O King of Nations bind,
All people in one heart and mind.
Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease
Fill the whole world with heaven's peace.

It is strange, because the exact wording of this verse varies from version to version, and even one recording had slightly different lyrics in the book compared to the recording! I think my wording may be a slight cobbling together of different versions, but it expressed what I felt on my heart. 

This is a prayer I want to lift over our world, and specifically our nation and how it relates to the rest of the world, as we enter 2022. I thought I'd take it line by line and explain a bit more of what I felt.

O Come O King of Nations bind

This is a cry for someone to come, to step in. Wonderfully he already has! Christmas celebrates how Jesus came down and became human! He knows all of our struggles, fears and temptations, having faced them himself! 

Also, I love reminding myself that Jesus is King of the Nations. He is sovereign over every country and every President, King, Queen or Prime Minister is under his overall authority. Despite the many problems in our world, this is extremely comforting. Also, it shows that Jesus loves all nations equally. The West is not extra blessed! He cares about every individual in every tribe and nation, and he is King over all of them!

The issue of asylum seekers and refugees has also been topical this year, especially with the tragic death of 27 people in the English Channel just a few weeks ago. This issue strongly divides people, but we must seek a heart of compassion and seek to make their home countries a better and easier place to live as well as welcome them here with love and acceptance. 

All people in one heart and mind.

I am not naive enough to think everyone is going to agree on everything. In fact, diversity of opinion is important. As much as I assert that celery, beetroot and marmite are all utterly repulsive, I have to accept that some people find them an absolute treat (including close members of my family). 

However, this line speaks of a broader feeling. In society, we hear some very worthy statements. Be kind. Treat others as you'd want to be treated. Don't be prejudiced against anyone who is different to you. Help out those in need. All of these are important. People often talk about completely eradicating racism for example. I am 100% in support of all of these ideals. However, to pursue idealistic ends without calling on God to bring them about is futile. As long as sin exists in the world, people will be selfish, unkind, prejudiced and thoughtless to others. We have a sinful nature inbuilt inside us. That doesn't mean we don't continue to educate people or speak up for justice, but we need help from beyond our own effort.

These last few years have brought about great division in society. Political issues such as Brexit, as well as the correct response to the pandemic have been issues that have sharply divided our country. Tribalism is a slightly over-used word but it has some validity here.  

Social media has poured rocket fuel on this with people having access to easier ways to interact, but hiding behind keyboards makes people feel they can express themselves in ways unthinkable in face to face contact, shouting down and demonising those who disagree with them.

I pray that God begins to break down the walls we build around ourselves and soften the words we say more and more, and I include myself in this.

Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease

There is some overlap with the previous line here, but I like that this verse particularly names three problems we face, and prays that they would come to an end.

Envy - I wish I had what they have. The grass is always greener. If only I had.... then I would be happy. This is an infinite journey; an itch that won't be scratched. It can be divisive and destructive. 

Strife - conflict. Exactly the issues I mentioned above, but generally society and discourse seems to be more aggressive and combative these days. Entitlement can lead us to be demanding with people on the phone or in the shops when a particular item or service is unavailable. Strife strife strife. It is not wrong to on occasion fight against injustice, but often we need to accept we won't get everything our own way. Too often, adults are quick to fall into conflict with each other, and the sad thing is it is rubbing off on our children too.

Quarrels - Arguments are everywhere. I have outlined above some of the biggies, but the world just seems a much more argumentative and less forgiving place these days. Personal insecurities can lead to defensive behaviour and discourse which quickly looks to assert a point of view and not budge. 

We desperately need to learn to listen to each other properly too.

Fill the whole world with heaven's peace

This last line provides a glorious answer. Peace. Not just any peace. Heaven's peace. The biblical meaning of peace or 'shalom' is not just inner fulfilment or tranquility, not just the absence of any form of conflict, but a state of wholeness and completeness and this can only be found in one person - Jesus Christ. Only in Him can we truly rest, knowing our relationship with God is truly unbreakable and nothing we can do or say can cause us to lose it. One of my favourite, and most often prayed verses in the Bible is Philippians 4 v 7 where it talks about receiving a 'peace that surpasses understanding' that 'guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus'. Here is the wider context of this verse:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4 v 4-7).

What this tells us is that not if we find God's peace that every problem will be taken away, but that we don't need to be anxious or worry. In fact, if we receive this peace, we will miraculously (by God's wonderful Grace) feel completely at peace in the midst of the storm. We can rejoice! Note that this peace 'guards our hearts (feelings) and minds (thought life). Guard it. And guard it well. 

Note another key word hidden in there too. Thanksgiving. Say thank you a lot, whether in prayer or just to those who do kind things for you. Appreciation is the antidote to entitlement, and it will make you a much more pleasant person to be around as well. 

So I pray that everyone would know this miraculous life-changing peace this year. It won't mean that every problem disappears, but it will equip you in the best way you can imagine.

As I make this verse my prayer this year, I find myself praying for a whole myriad of things and people. If you already know this peace, I hope and pray you discover more precious depths of it this year. If you don't, I invite you to explore it, whether meeting up to chat with a Christian friend, attending a church service or attending an Alpha Course, many of which are online now which is so easy.

A very Happy (and peace-saturated) New Year!

The Advent Code 2020

 A few years ago, I did an advent quiz on Facebook, uploading pictures each day that spelt words, eventually making a phrase relevant to the Christmas season and what it means to me.

I didn’t plan to do one this year. Work is busy etc. A few days before December began, however, I was listening to some Christmas music, and last year’s excellent album from Emmanuel, ‘The Gift’. I was listening to ‘Oh Holy Night’, possibly my favourite carol and one I am very familiar with. Often though, lines stick out to me in a new way. 

‘A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.’

These words struck me powerfully. Our world is weary at the moment. 2020 has presented a whole host of challenges to our physical and mental health, job security, finances, education and spiritual life too as well as many other things. People are tired, fed up and ... weary. Never has this line been more relevant. 

Fortunately, the thrill of hope remains. Despite all that continues to happen, there is a sure and certain hope that is at the centre of what we celebrate at Christmas. 

God stepped down. He came and lived a human life on Earth so he would know exactly what we experience.

When I started this advent code, I thought sympathetically of friends in the north who found themselves in ‘Tier 3’ and who were quite restricted in many ways similar to how we were in the Spring.

Christmas plans have been made and adjusted several times and 2 days before Christmas we discovered we were moving to Tier 4 from Boxing Day. We’ve gone from visiting to going for a walk outside to now making zoom plans. I am grateful for family time on Christmas Day, which has been denied to many millions this year who are far worse off than we are. 

Meanwhile, lorries queue at borders, viruses mutate, governments debate and negotiate the future of how countries relate to each other, we have a new president in the USA and opinion is sharply divided there. 

Never has the ‘weary world’ been so relevant. 

Wonderfully, the hope remains steadfast. It never changes. ‘Hope’ isn’t an uncertain commodity here. A sure and certain hope is something you know will happen. Many hope that the vaccine will restore order to our lives during 2021, and it probably will to some degree. However the exact nature of life going forward is filled with uncertainty. Eternally, though, we can hope in something sure and certain. 

 We can celebrate Jesus’ birth with joy whatever life is throwing at us. Those who have known this hope for some time - does it thrill you still? Those looking in, come and investigate. Those not interested, I pray you find reason to be so.

You can rejoice. Accept the invitation of Jesus and you will rejoice along with many others in this weary world. And your rejoicing won’t be tempered by your weariness. Life isn’t easy. Jesus’ message was exactly that.

 “In this world you will have trouble”. (John 16 v 33).

But equally..

“ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What a thrilling hope! 

I think the book of Psalms articulates this dual feeling of frustration at our circumstances alongside wonderful hope in Jesus so well. I have revisited Psalm 27 many times this year at different points.

The Lord is my light and my salvation 
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Saviour.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong  and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Merry Christmas and a hope-filled new year to you all. 😃🎄🌟 

Access

I was carrying my recycling down to the room of bins in my block of flats (and there was quite a lot due to some recent pre-Christmas festivities), when I came to this:

This is the combination lock used to guard the recycling bin area against teenagers and others who may have previously sheltered there. It requires me to know the code to prove that I am a legitimate user of the room.

It then struck me how many times in my daily life that I require some form of proof of who I am to gain access to something. The first time I check my phone, it requires either my thumb print or a six digit number to be given for me to use it. As I step onto the bus, I need my orange key card which lights the nice machine in a green colour and the bus driver knows I have already paid for this journey. When I get to school, there are codes to enter both the gates and the front door. Once at work, I need a password to access my computer then my school e-mail, home e-mail, my Twinkl account and Class Dojo (those last two may be lost on non-teachers, apologies). Lots of different words and codes to remember! On returning from work, I need my fob to gain access to my flats and the key again to open my front door.

I have also been struck in a fresh wonder at the Christmas story and what it represents. An all-powerful, loving God in the form of a tiny, vulnerable baby. But why? Well he had a purpose. His life was under threat from the moment He was born, but only when it was time did he surrender fully to this destiny. And in doing so he created access for all mankind to a relationship with an amazing, loving, all-powerful, gracious God! When I come to pray or worship Him, I don't need a thumb print, a code or password. I can just speak! He knows my voice! In fact He knows what I will say or ask before I do, yet He loves us speaking to Him! There is no ritual I have to go through to be 'good enough' for Him. If it relied on me, everything is hopeless. Thankfully, it depends on a victory secured 2000 years ago!

That's what makes Christianity so unique. In no other religion or belief does God come down to experience how hard life can be, totally understanding what life is like for us, but also making a way for us to have access to Him and to his kingdom forever! I mess up every single day of my life, and yet all mess-ups past, present and future were dealt with on the cross where this baby who had grown into a man, eventually surrendered to man’s schemes. In so doing, at that central point of history, he defeated death, and now I am viewed as fully righteous by God. Far from making me want to ‘get away’ with lots of stuff, it motivates me to want to be more like Him!

Romans 8 says:

 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

This world needs secure codes and passwords to protect us and prevent us from going where we shouldn't or taking what is not ours. But Christmas means that I have full unrestricted access to the most amazing and life-changing relationship you could ever know! I urge you to find out more!

Merry Christmas to all!

Perspective.

Yesterday was another really enjoyable day. I welcomed a lovely man who came to survey my flat for a valuation (I'm buying a bigger share, not moving!). This was followed by a pleasant lunchtime swim at my local 15m pool, just 5 minutes walk away - such a blessing to have it nearby. After this, I relived my childhood by getting out my SNES (still the best console ever), and in the evening I went to Nando's with friends from church. We won the quiz a few weeks back and so had £100 to burn, which we did between 6 of us!

It is funny how God can speak to you at the most unexpected time. Yesterday it was lying flat on my back in the water doing armless backstroke to strengthen my legs. The pool was restored two or three years ago after storm damage and they have a glass ceiling. As I focused intently above me, making sure I didn't stray into the path of an adjacent swimmer, I noticed what a beautiful day it was becoming (after an indifferent start). I noticed the blue skies and wispy white clouds floating along. Then I noticed that of the windows in the roof needed a clean, and also there were several 'ornithological indiscretions' (as my Dad would say, most people say 'bird poo'). What a shame I thought, and immediately my focus was on those, not the blue sky. Well at least my focus was on how they had ruined the blue sky view I had previously enjoyed.

God spoke in that moment, (despite my ears being submerged in the water). He said 'Be wary of focusing always on the negative and forgetting the beauty that you see as well.' We live in such an entitled and unappreciative age. I see it more and more, and it is infecting our children too. The more we have, the less we appreciate it, and as soon as something is slightly faulty or not right, we can too often complain, blind to the blessings that sit alongside it.

My train is late,for example. But instead I should be thankful there is more than one train a day, (as is the case in some countries). My favourite program isn't on because of major sport event coverage. I could go on...

If we focus on the positive and being appreciative, it will make us more happy and joyful too. And that leads to strength, for 'The joy of the Lord is my strength'. (Nehemiah 8 v 10). I am sure this will be tested in the days ahead, but I am going into such tests more armed than I was.

Swimming doesn't just have physical benefits.

Day One

Today has been a testament to the power of collaboration. Somehow, with two people, a job gets done so much more quickly than with one. I mean that it seems to take less than half the time it would have done alone. Maybe working together adds motivation. Anyway, Dad came round and helped me clean my flat. My back is still quite painful, and end of term tiredness has flared it up, so he did all the hoovering (I mean properly hoovering) and a little floor washing. I cleaned the kitchen thoroughly and tidied up.

We walked into town and as a partial thank you, I bought him lunch in Pret; always a joy. As well as productive, it was great chatting to Dad, making jokes, having a laugh and putting the world to rights. We used to do this often on Saturday mornings after the church prayer meeting, but since that moved to Sunday and I moved sites, we haven't so often. In town I bought a phone case, two books and a kettle. I have taken almost 9,000 steps so should be on course for my 13th consecutive day of 10,000+ steps.

Joshua chapter 1: Be strong and courageous. I love how God makes promises to 'be with you wherever you go' and to 'give you the land I promised.'

A lot of faith, trust and sticking to God's commandments are required, but he speaks the promises beforehand to assure Joshua. He has the promise spoken, but he still needs to step out and make it happen himself. I want to pray for many breakthroughs this holiday. Things God has promised to me, and I want to step into them now. I am ready. Exciting times ahead!

School's out for summer.

This morning, a colleague and I both blared music out of our classrooms at 7.30am, because we can and it is the last day of school! 'One Day More' from Les Mis and the afformentioned Alice Cooper hit featured heavily.

So here I am. The day I have longed to arrive for weeks finally does arrive and then the inevitable 'oh' moment and you feel a little lost. I have felt that a little tonight.

It won't last long. My flat is a pit and a nice man is coming to value it on Thursday lunchtime, so tomorrow is clean, hoover, scrub, tidy and shove stuff under the bed time!

I want to use these holidays productively. I want to write more. This blog is filled with promises to write more often, and this time I will.

One thing I want to do is read more, and that includes getting stuck into my Bible. I have decided to go through the book of Joshua as well as trying to learn a few passages elsewhere too.

I may post my thoughts on what I find, and also general amusing things that happen in my holiday too.

Must go to bed now and play some Catan on my iPad, because.... I have no alarm to wake me up tomorrow!!!!

...slogan ad nauseam...

 Sneering at the arts is only the start.
"Taking back control" by shouting, but not listening.
 Railways private, thieving and incompetent,
"Ordinary working people" with "Zero" job security.
 Nuclear revolution that betrays our planet's future
 Going deeper into rocks to frack us to oblivion.

 Austerity has ballooned the national debt. An
 NHS on its knees, soon we will all pay the price.
 Doubled homelessness and food banks used like never before.

 Slowly police and firefighters disappear.  Ministers
 Treating human beings as problems, not people.
 A "Hard Brexit" not even the 52% voted for.
"Bring back fox hunting!" (because that's humane!)
 Lies, broken promises and unrealistic targets.
 Education cuts - bring your own pencils on Monday, kids!