It's been a tough week, yet full of surprises, with many attempted comebacks and some events which suggest that there is no coming back. As midterm results come in advising that it will be difficult for Donald to return, it also seems nigh on impossible that Christiano will be able to... for Man Utd at least. Matt Hancock's inclusion in "I'm a celeb", has prompted over 1100 ofcom complaints, suggesting that it wasn't a great comeback move either as a politician or a "celebrity" (the definition of which seems to get looser and looser on TV). Whilst he is persistent in asking for forgiveness, it appears at this stage that the British public are not convinced that this is either genuine repentance, that this is the right way to do it, or that he is deserving of greater freedom having flouted the rules of covid that he was responsible for making himself. For forgiveness to happen, those who have the responsibility to forgive need also to have a capacity for it, which simply isn't there in this case. There are some comebacks that are harder than others. Sometimes there really is a point of no return. There are some resurrections and resuscitations we are powerless to achieve.
As Elon tries to resuscitate the twitter bird that cost him so much ...
...my newsfeed tells me that TV series "Neighbours" is not dead
and like many of its characters over the years the series has been brought back to life (this time by Amazon). I ask myself if either of the above are critical to civilisation and our future ? Would we seriously be any worse off without their existence? What has Ramsey Street taught the world ? Maybe that is a little unfair, we've learned that Kylie maintains incredible youthfulness, Harold has been the same age for 30 years, and Lassiter's must have an amazing business model to survive so long with so few guests, and numerous disasters.
In a world of fake "life", it is incredible how passionate people can get about things that don't ultimately matter. People apparently travel at great expense to Australia to visit a fake place. Others foam at the mouth and make numerous programs about how angry football fans are over Ronaldo's unfaithfulness. Like a relationship which has been constantly rocky over the years, my only surprise is that fans are surprised by this, after what has been one of many "re-couplings" by footballers who look to revive careers and bank balances. It suggests that footballers may have other priorities other than faithfulness to a club or pleasing their fans. Call me cynical but I suspect that ego and cash may be a higher priority than faithfulness in the "beautiful (modern) game". What ultimately matters to us though, may not ultimately matter.
Conversely consider this week in Eastern Europe, as a window on many situations which have a solemn gravity and volatility hinging on life or death decisions, where things of real importance are determined. This is where events of true significance happen. The commencement of World War III (or not) can depend on serial number of a missile. In a retaliatory scenario which tried to kill so many, and dissect live cooperation between governments, mission agencies and bring death to a nation, at the end of the week things are more alive and concerted than they have ever been. We praise God for the increased cooperation this week between mission partners and church families to get aid to the most difficult of places. My special thanks goes to our Polish partners. I've grown to so love Poland and Polish friends. God bless this nation for all they have done in compassion. Thank God for good leadership of a nation, and pray for many gospel churches to be planted in a nation which already in great spiritual need is now vasty increased in population due to migration and displacement. As hard as this week has been then, after the missiles have fallen we (as a team) are certainly stronger, and have increased in number at the end of the week by God's help. That is a profound thing to say when death, trauma, and wanton destruction have been witnessed, life is undoubtedly harder, and the challenges greater.
The Apostle Paul says...
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13) and " So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (2 Cor 4:16).
This is not like Kelly saying that strength is a matter of mind over matter, escapism, or trying to drum up self appetite to push through and smash life in another difficult season, this the voice of a broken man, in a broken world, saying that there is a source of life which never runs out, even when we do. This life is available to all who confess their need and ask for it in relational forgiveness and humble dependence. It is only found in one place, resurrection life and loving victory of Jesus Christ. This life, this gift is what has been supernaturally at work in our world this week. It is estimated that another 52,000 people came into a living relationship with Jesus Christ across the world this week.
In Eastern Europe this was certainly happening, with numerous new traumas prompting people to ask the big questions of life, death and eternity all in one day. In it they found Christ and settled eternal issues once for all, and so started a new life (John 3) amidst death and destruction. They became "reborn", "made new" to a living and open relationship with God. Their past, with all its mess and failure was dealt with through Christ's death, gone forever and never to return, their future In him and his victory woken to the realities not only of this life but also the one to come. The dread of standing before the creator one day, which hung over them like a cloud (however subconsciously), was swept away by his burning love which beamed into their lives in the cross of Christ. This is life on another level, free from guilt, full of love for everyone God has made, overflowing with gratitude, shaped by undeserved grace... everything looks, feels and is different. This is eternal life emerging from the ashes of daily life.
Across the world this week, this resurrection occurred, not a resuscitation of old life, but a completely new start. Ukraine and Poland are not unique, but a stark and poignient illustration of the issues of life and death. Furthermore, this new life scenario happened in places you would least expect life to exist. In places where frontier friendship works hard to encourage new communities built on this grace, new Christians, and communities of grace are sprouting and turning into solid Oaks across the world. Our roots go into Jesus Christ, and it is he who makes things strong.
Col 2:6-7
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
I was so encouraged by the live communications video from our good friend Pastor Bishnu sent from Nepal. This is a place where God demonstrates that he is very much alive and seriously at work. Here is a remote place, where in past generations it was so hard to live. In many ways it would be classed as "poor" simply because of its lack of a shopping mall, cinema, fast roads or fancy restaurants... but I suggest it is a place of immense wealth. This is where friendships flourish without all the trappings of artificial life and entertainment, and where mutual service to bring about new communities of grace are flourishing. This is where people work together, and solar power fuels global communications. It is possible for a remote man on a Himalayan hill to be very full and content in Christ and his work all around him.
- Please continue to pray this weekend for so many friends today who work in contexts where no new community of grace has yet existed. Pray for the life of Christ to sustain them and overflow for many.
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