see-through faith

I read this earlier today over at Church Volunteer Daily.

No, really! Here are five things you can do – in 30 seconds or less – to make your volunteers others feel appreciated…

• Smile
• Use their name (or LEARN their names, if you need to!)
• Be positive (mention the good things you are hearing about their performance, their faithfulness, or their attitude.)
• Pray for them (ask them what you can pray for, and then be sure to let you know you are praying!)
• Ask questions (about their family, job, ministry, hobbies, etc…)

It’s good stuff. Basic really.

Smiling at people, knowing and using their name – both reminds you and the other that they are human, that they matter. When in IWM a few months ago, DD made a comment along the lines of ‘how could people do this to the Jews?’. Answer. They de-humanised them. They no longer saw those men, women and children as human. They were placed on the level of vermin.

And because I’m (generally) a people person, I do ask questions because I am genuinely interested in people’s lives. DD calls that nosyness but it’s not, not really. It goes deeper that that. It’s – I think – a God-given gift of building relationships, of taking them beyond the superficial.

Anyway this gave me something to think about this evening -and a renewed determination to be an affirmer.

But it also made me think. Why is it that Christian leaders need to be reminded of these basics? Why aren’t these the norm?

Went to a lovely pizzeria called Giocondas on Kennington Lane with my friend and her extended team of priests and church workers (and partners) last night. I sneaked in as friend cum house-elf (grin).

We had a lovely time.

London is sizzling hot right now, so we started and ended the evening continental style sitting outside the cafe enjoying a drink and starters.

We did move inside for the pizzas though. I felt slightly guilty because last Sunday the vicar had preached on healing the earth and suggested we might all eat less meat and more vegetables. Only I ordered pizza carne (meat feast) so mine came laden with ham, beef and pepperoni and not a lettuce leaf in sight! The pizza was much smaller than the ones we get in Finland but boy was it covered with (calorie-laden) toppings. It was delicious. And not one of us had room for any desert afterwards.

What I liked too was there was no splitting of the bill according to “I had x, y or z” or asking for individual itemised bills, but rather people put what they could into the pot. And guess what? There was enough to pay the whole bill and plenty to leave a large tip for the lovely waiter and those in the kitchen too. To me that’s a simple picture of Kingdom living.

And we had fun too!

Just got home from a wonderful silent retreat! God is good. I didn’t find it so easy to hear God or even pray … but what ministered to me this time was the seeking God together in community (we were ten participants) and the feeling of being carried in prayer.

The retreat was very different from the one I was on this time last year. That’s in part because I am in a very different place spiritually, but also because the leaders were different. What I missed most was the silent Holy Communion. That impacted me so deeply last year. But what I got in return this year was the ability to communicate with God through a prayer-dance and movement. That was good. And I picked up a sketch pad and colours too.

Each of us were given a fresh flower (and vase) when we arrived. Over the three days my flower opened right up … I felt it was a prophetic picture of what God is doing in my life. I’ve been closed to everything for a few weeks (because of a huge disappointment) and but slowly I’m learning to relax and open up again – and I’m glad about that. It will still be a roller-coaster ride for some time, but best of all I know I’m not alone. Not only is God with me, but He’s given me fellow pilgrims to journey with me – and for that I’m truly grateful.

Today it’s friends’ day here in Finland. I like that. And I have friends to be thankful for! Friends like Jesus had in John, who stayed close to Him.  Of course John (and Peter) did mess up – friends do – but they gave what they could, and learnt from the Master what friendship really means.

Jesus put it this way

This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. (Jn 15:15 MSG)

When you link this with what Paul taught the Corinthians about love …

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

… you get a glimpse of both God’s (agape) love for us, but also how powerful the love of a friend (phileo) can be!

Today I am exploring SHARING FELLOWSHIP by asking “How is my walk with others?”

I am praying that we will share fellowship in mutual support/accountability; and lead one another into deeper communion with God

I bought a Katie Melua CD years ago and somehow it made it’s way into our car recently. I’m glad. I really love her voice and some of the lyrics are thought-provoking.

Along with others in Inspire I’ve been exploring what Wesley would have termed the call to Holiness. Yeah the term makes me a bit very uncomfortable until I remember that the way of holiness is simply another way of saying ‘ journey to the Father’s heart’ or ‘becoming Christlike’ and we do it by the power of the Spirit that is alive and well in us because we have come to know and understand and accept with gratitude what Jesus did on the cross for us.

Anyway Katie Melua sings

Because the line between,
Wrong and right,
Is the width of a thread,
From a spider’s web.

Isn’t that truth?

The extremes of right and wrong are poles apart but somewhere in the middle is a very fine line. A good friend and pastor once taught me … in those areas where you struggle most recognise where the line is and then take at least one big step back from the line. Wise words and one of the real benefits of choosing to be in an accountability band (small group) is allowing others to help you recognise where those lines are and take the necessary step back.

I like her image of the spider’s web too, because we can easily get trapped.

In Turku there is a great piece of environmental art work called spider’s web. You can see it here