Due to a slight technical hitch yesterday, I had to backup my emails, to avoid the risk of loosing any, should my slight hitch get any worse.
In doing this I was quite shocked to notice just how many junk emails had built up over time and what a high percentage of my daily emails I instantly delete without reading. I have therefore spent a few minutes this morning, un-subscribing from some of the many adverts and junk mail senders that have built up.
With Lent just around the corner, starting this year in mid March, this idea of cleaning things up is pretty apt. Becuase, whilst Lent is often seen as a time to give up chocolate biscuits for a few weeks, it is really a time to recognise what may be getting in the way.
In life we are constantly bombarded by so much that seeks to steal our time and divert our attention. Sitting here in my office I surrounded by distractions; the telephone, the internet, books, dvds, paperwork and my radio, all at times steal my attention. The same can be true of people, money, health issues, meetings and full diaries. Whilst all these things can be great, they can all take up time and bring distractions from what we should be really focusing on.
This Lent period, at Selston, we are going to be working through a spiritual spring clean together, when we are going to try and reduce the things in our lives that distract us from God. The first part of these teachings are on the church website here, and will complete in next months update.
I would encourage anyone reading to think about how you are trying to live and what is distracting you from being the person you want to be; then to focus on ways of reducing these distrations.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
What's the opposite of a Bucket list?
I have recently tidied up my office and for a rare change I can actually see the carpet and have desk space, instead of working amid piles of paper. This was a long overdue job, that took a bit of effort but has great rewards - like being able to actually find things.
In my now tidy office, I can see a DVD on my newly organised shelves, entitled "The bucket list"; some of you may know the story. I have never watched the film, but I understand it's about a couple of guys coming towards the end of their lives and planning to accomplish things they've never got around to doing.
Today I am thinking in very much the opposite kind of way; not about things that I haven't yet done, but recognising what I actually have achieved.
My wife has been off work and in bed, sick, for the last two days; so being the fantastic husbands I am (it's ok, she doesn't read these articles) I have been trying to be around and look after her. This has mainly meant that I have been home for the last couple of days. As a bi-product this has meant that I have crossed quite a large number of items off my list of 'to do' jobs for this week; many of which would probably have otherwise got pushed down the list.
In the middle of shopping, helping my wife, cooking, fetching her drinks, etc I have actually achieved a lot more than I realised. And this has got me thinking; if we looked back over the day, the week, or our lives, I imagine we have all achieved a lot more than we ever expected too and definitely more than we recognise very often.
So I would encourage you, dear reader, to take a moment today, and rather than making another list of things to do and dreams which may one day happen, recognise what you have already achieved.
I would wager with you all that your opposite bucket list, is actually a lot longer and greater than you think.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
In my now tidy office, I can see a DVD on my newly organised shelves, entitled "The bucket list"; some of you may know the story. I have never watched the film, but I understand it's about a couple of guys coming towards the end of their lives and planning to accomplish things they've never got around to doing.
Today I am thinking in very much the opposite kind of way; not about things that I haven't yet done, but recognising what I actually have achieved.
My wife has been off work and in bed, sick, for the last two days; so being the fantastic husbands I am (it's ok, she doesn't read these articles) I have been trying to be around and look after her. This has mainly meant that I have been home for the last couple of days. As a bi-product this has meant that I have crossed quite a large number of items off my list of 'to do' jobs for this week; many of which would probably have otherwise got pushed down the list.
In the middle of shopping, helping my wife, cooking, fetching her drinks, etc I have actually achieved a lot more than I realised. And this has got me thinking; if we looked back over the day, the week, or our lives, I imagine we have all achieved a lot more than we ever expected too and definitely more than we recognise very often.
So I would encourage you, dear reader, to take a moment today, and rather than making another list of things to do and dreams which may one day happen, recognise what you have already achieved.
I would wager with you all that your opposite bucket list, is actually a lot longer and greater than you think.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
Friday, 23 November 2012
Stir up Sunday
As you may or may not have noticed Christmas is coming rather quickly; in 33 days at the time of writing this post. And there are many preparations to be made in readiness for the big day.
This weekend is one of the milestones on the way to Christmas as it is traditionally known as Stir up Sunday. This is the day when we should all be gathering and stirring up the required ingredients to make our Christmas puddings.
This is still celebrated in churches, though not as much as it once was, as a day to think about being stirred up by God. In the book of Deuteronomy Moses uses the illustration of an eagle stirring up its nest in order to encourage the young eagle chicks (there must be a proper name for a young eagle, any answers appreciated) to leave the nest and learn to fly.
During this process the mother eagle rips up the comfortable matting of the nest to expose the thorns underneath and may even give the young eagles (missing a proper name again) out of the nest. Whilst this seems maybe a little cruel, she knows that it is essential that her young learn how to fly, and this is the only way.
In our lives we may often feel like the comfortable world we know gets stirred up and the thorns exposed, and sometimes feel like we are being nudged out of our comfort zones.
But our God knows that we all need to learn to fly and very often we only grow in this way through the most uncomfortable and painful feeling times.
The greatest part of the eagle analogy is that after the mother eagle has nudged the chicks out of the nest, she swoops down to catch them again and again until they learn to fly for themselves.
What ever you are facing today, even if it feels like you are falling from your nest, God will always swoop down and carry you on his wings that will always keep us safe.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
This weekend is one of the milestones on the way to Christmas as it is traditionally known as Stir up Sunday. This is the day when we should all be gathering and stirring up the required ingredients to make our Christmas puddings.
This is still celebrated in churches, though not as much as it once was, as a day to think about being stirred up by God. In the book of Deuteronomy Moses uses the illustration of an eagle stirring up its nest in order to encourage the young eagle chicks (there must be a proper name for a young eagle, any answers appreciated) to leave the nest and learn to fly.
During this process the mother eagle rips up the comfortable matting of the nest to expose the thorns underneath and may even give the young eagles (missing a proper name again) out of the nest. Whilst this seems maybe a little cruel, she knows that it is essential that her young learn how to fly, and this is the only way.
In our lives we may often feel like the comfortable world we know gets stirred up and the thorns exposed, and sometimes feel like we are being nudged out of our comfort zones.
But our God knows that we all need to learn to fly and very often we only grow in this way through the most uncomfortable and painful feeling times.
The greatest part of the eagle analogy is that after the mother eagle has nudged the chicks out of the nest, she swoops down to catch them again and again until they learn to fly for themselves.
What ever you are facing today, even if it feels like you are falling from your nest, God will always swoop down and carry you on his wings that will always keep us safe.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
Friday, 16 November 2012
Nandos
Yesterday I had a very nice lunch with a couple of friends in Nottingham. It was a great time spent catching up, sharing thoughts and ideas; encouraging each other and praying together. This took place over an hour or so spent in a Nandos restaurant.
To make myself very clear, I had a great meal, the food tasted really good and this is not an article criticizing the Nandos chain in any way. I do have, however, a small issue with a restaurant that only serves chicken. I love chicken and may well have ordered chicken anyway. I would have liked to choose from steak, lamb, pork, and vegetarian options etc as well.
And if God was designing a restaurant, I don't think he would come up with anything like Nandos. My reason is simple; I think God is all about variety and abundance and creativity. There is not a single way to live our lives in a God honoring way, in the same way that there is not one single correct way of 'doing' church.
I think that God is interested in all aspects of our lives and wants us to live for him in millions of different ways.
A simple message today with a simple prayer for anyone reading - may God bless you in every way in everything that you do.
Have a great day
Chris
To make myself very clear, I had a great meal, the food tasted really good and this is not an article criticizing the Nandos chain in any way. I do have, however, a small issue with a restaurant that only serves chicken. I love chicken and may well have ordered chicken anyway. I would have liked to choose from steak, lamb, pork, and vegetarian options etc as well.
And if God was designing a restaurant, I don't think he would come up with anything like Nandos. My reason is simple; I think God is all about variety and abundance and creativity. There is not a single way to live our lives in a God honoring way, in the same way that there is not one single correct way of 'doing' church.
I think that God is interested in all aspects of our lives and wants us to live for him in millions of different ways.
A simple message today with a simple prayer for anyone reading - may God bless you in every way in everything that you do.
Have a great day
Chris
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Post match analysis
If you have ever watched 'Match of the Day' or a similar sports tv show, then you will be familiar with the post match analysis.
This comes, obviously, after the game has been played when a pundit, player or manager, shares their view on how the match has gone for their team.
A succesful manager may give a review along the lines of, "our training paid off, we stuck to the game plan and it was the result we deserved". On the other hand, the manager of the loosing team may say, "we didn't get the run of the ball, we didn't take our chances and the other team simply out-played us".
In 2 Timothy 4:1-8 Paul is writing a letter as he sits in jail expecting his life to come to an end at any time, and he provides us with an analysis of his life to this point.
The passage can be found here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20tim%204:1-8&version=NIV
Paul states with assurance that he has "fought the good fight ... finished the race ... kept the faith".
When we get to the post match analysis of our lives or even looking back on what we've done so far, can we all say the same?
Have a great day
God Bless
Chris
This comes, obviously, after the game has been played when a pundit, player or manager, shares their view on how the match has gone for their team.
A succesful manager may give a review along the lines of, "our training paid off, we stuck to the game plan and it was the result we deserved". On the other hand, the manager of the loosing team may say, "we didn't get the run of the ball, we didn't take our chances and the other team simply out-played us".
In 2 Timothy 4:1-8 Paul is writing a letter as he sits in jail expecting his life to come to an end at any time, and he provides us with an analysis of his life to this point.
The passage can be found here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20tim%204:1-8&version=NIV
Paul states with assurance that he has "fought the good fight ... finished the race ... kept the faith".
When we get to the post match analysis of our lives or even looking back on what we've done so far, can we all say the same?
Have a great day
God Bless
Chris
Thursday, 11 October 2012
Left a bit, right a bit ... Getting closer
Hi reader - how's your day going so far?
Mine has just begun; I've taken my wife to work, and returned to my desk with a coffee, ready to face the day.
I am leading a school assembly tomorrow, where the children have been studying a simple question with a not so simple answer; "where is God?"
The truth is that God is in so many things and demonstrates himself in and through so many ways that it is hard to simply say where God is. With the exception that I can say, God is with me and all of us, in all that we do.
It has been said before, that this is an amazing promise that can bring us great comfort; when no-one else is with us, God is. But it also brings a great challenge, that God is with us at all times, even when we would maybe rather he wasn't; like the times when we are not acting or thinking in a way we are proud of.
The fact that God is with us, and the lesson that I am going to try and share with the children tomorrow, and therefore challenge myself is this - God is with us but we need to make sure we stay with him.
This is a life long process of small adjustments, making sure that our lifestyles, our language, our relationships, and every aspect of life is being fine-tuned to move closer to God. Sometimes this can be simply listening to the whisper of guidance in our minds, sometimes its listening to other people or through reading good books. Other times it may mean making hard decisions that come at a greater cost.
The amazing reassurance behind all of this challenge is, that God will be with us throughout, no matter how often we get it perfectly right or make the odd mistake.
Have great day
God Bless
Chris.
Mine has just begun; I've taken my wife to work, and returned to my desk with a coffee, ready to face the day.
I am leading a school assembly tomorrow, where the children have been studying a simple question with a not so simple answer; "where is God?"
The truth is that God is in so many things and demonstrates himself in and through so many ways that it is hard to simply say where God is. With the exception that I can say, God is with me and all of us, in all that we do.
It has been said before, that this is an amazing promise that can bring us great comfort; when no-one else is with us, God is. But it also brings a great challenge, that God is with us at all times, even when we would maybe rather he wasn't; like the times when we are not acting or thinking in a way we are proud of.
The fact that God is with us, and the lesson that I am going to try and share with the children tomorrow, and therefore challenge myself is this - God is with us but we need to make sure we stay with him.
This is a life long process of small adjustments, making sure that our lifestyles, our language, our relationships, and every aspect of life is being fine-tuned to move closer to God. Sometimes this can be simply listening to the whisper of guidance in our minds, sometimes its listening to other people or through reading good books. Other times it may mean making hard decisions that come at a greater cost.
The amazing reassurance behind all of this challenge is, that God will be with us throughout, no matter how often we get it perfectly right or make the odd mistake.
Have great day
God Bless
Chris.
Friday, 5 October 2012
Of multi-coloured honey
Hi reader
Sorry for going AWOL for the last few months. Life has kind of got in the way, but I am back now with an intention to stay back.
Just before retiring to my bed last night I caught a glimpse of a late night news program, that was finishing with its 'and finally' slot.
This program reported that a French factory which produces honey had noticed something very strange; their bees had begun to produce multi-coloured honey. Some of the bees produced honey in different colours; red, blue, green and purple. Some investigation followed and resulted in an unlikely explanation; the bees in question had been dining on the sticky waste produced by the local M&M sweet factory, and the colouring of the sweets had affected the honey.
The French government has, of course, stated that this honey cannot be bottled and sold as regulations state that honey has to be honey coloured - of course!
So my thought to leave with you today is - what is colouring your life?
Are your actions and is your life coloured or flavoured by your beliefs, values and hopes? Do the people that you spend time with notice the difference that sets you apart from everyone else, or do we all blend in pushing our beliefs down burying them so that no-one will ever know?
Just a though.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
Sorry for going AWOL for the last few months. Life has kind of got in the way, but I am back now with an intention to stay back.
Just before retiring to my bed last night I caught a glimpse of a late night news program, that was finishing with its 'and finally' slot.
This program reported that a French factory which produces honey had noticed something very strange; their bees had begun to produce multi-coloured honey. Some of the bees produced honey in different colours; red, blue, green and purple. Some investigation followed and resulted in an unlikely explanation; the bees in question had been dining on the sticky waste produced by the local M&M sweet factory, and the colouring of the sweets had affected the honey.
The French government has, of course, stated that this honey cannot be bottled and sold as regulations state that honey has to be honey coloured - of course!
So my thought to leave with you today is - what is colouring your life?
Are your actions and is your life coloured or flavoured by your beliefs, values and hopes? Do the people that you spend time with notice the difference that sets you apart from everyone else, or do we all blend in pushing our beliefs down burying them so that no-one will ever know?
Just a though.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
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