Yesterday the Libyan man who was convicted in 2001 of the Lockerbie bombing was released from prison to return to Libya. It was controversial, some think he was innocent, others that he was a brutal, evil killer. What is obvious is he was a very sick man, with not long to live. Brian Taylor, BBC Scottish political correspondant comments on his blog that the Scottish Justice secretary,Mr MacAskill "told me and every inquiring journalist that there had been no deal with the UK Government or Libya or anyone else which prejudiced him in favour of the decision he took.
That decision had been motivated solely by compassion: justice tempered by mercy
An interesting phrase, which confronts us with the evil that is around us and what we do with it. Do we seek justice for the evil person over there, but compassion and mercy for our own evils? Now I am not suggesting that we are all guilty of murder, but its good to be mindful of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder,and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." and Romans 3:23-24 tells us "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Evil is close to our own door.
We can be so grateful for the grace of God, but not take it for granted. And what about the radical love and compassion of God, who is merciful? That is the kind of life we want to live, becoming people that look into the face of evil and defeat it with the love and compassion of God. If we merely shout for justice, we may be suprised the way we are judged
Friday 21 August 2009
Tuesday 18 August 2009
Justice and Mercy-which do you choose?
Given the choice I'd choose mercy anytime. I'm a bit of a softy, and besides, I know my own weaknesses and limitations better th\n most, so I'm so grateful for the mercy of God. I don't earn it or deserve it, but its freely given. I'd like to think I am merciful in the way I behave, but the truth is I don't follow God's example as much as I'd like to believe. In the way I act I often want justice, I prefer fairness, and if they have wronged me I feel I deserve to have justice. So how does God balance the scales of justice and mercy. Is he a divine softy, or a stickler for retributive justice. The truth is neither. He has the benefit of the big picture, seeing every detail, viewpoint and valuing every person, and he looks eternally. His love is balanced by his holiness, his power by his service and sacrifice. Never mind the wisdom of Solomon, God's wisdom in dealing with us is so much greater.
So what does he want from us? To be like Him, we are made in His image and his is transforming us to be like Him. "What does the LORD require of you, To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly before your God."
So what does he want from us? To be like Him, we are made in His image and his is transforming us to be like Him. "What does the LORD require of you, To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly before your God."
Wednesday 12 August 2009
Moments
A green, unkempt, empty, large grassy area. No trees, flowers or shrubs. Nothing. Simply grass as far as the eye can see. Here lie graves full of dead bodies. Six in a plot. The sad end to lives destroyed by the common factors of homelessness and alcoholism. Who were those men? No one knows. No one cares. An image shown to one of the celebrities in the documentary "Rich, Famous and Homeless"
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you……love each other" John 15 : 9, 12
A man worn, dishevelled and thin sitting on a bench outside Byker Pool, clutching a bottle. I shook his hand it felt sticky. Andy sat next to him, put a hand on his shoulder and prayed he’d know Jesus as a friend. "That’s sweet" said Peter. I looked in his eyes there were tears. He was touched by the love of God. We walked away.
Martyn Joseph sings a song with the line "sweet tender moments with life in between." Moments. Moments of joy. Moments of peace. Moments of healing. Moments of clarity. Moments when heaven touches earth. Moments. A conference on pastoral care for people with dementia, I begun to catch hold afresh onto this idea of moments. Bart Campolo at the Incarnate conference described it differently and yet spoke of moments. In his ministry in the ghettos of America with poor broken people he said he had no miraculous stories to tell, but he told us of moments. Moments such as when he’s helping a young girl who’s been raped and the mother treats her daughter with hate and contempt. Bart he loses it. He has righteous anger on behalf of the daughter. Later the mother confesses, that she’d been raped as a child, never told anyone. Then he has a moment with her.
I’ve worked with people who were at the end of the line, twenty or thirty years or maybe more of mental illness, institutionalisation, drugs and numerous interventions. For about 4 years I worked with some. My stories night not sound very miraculous at all but to me there were moments. Many moments and those moments built upon each other and then I saw breakthroughs. A defensive, isolated institutionalised man with schizophrenia becomes a friend to another man. They would catch the bus together, cook together, make music together, go to a café together. He trusted me and shared his story with me. They were all wonderful breakthroughs.
In the mundane of life and the unglamorous where there are no big awards do we love each other? When no one is looking, or appreciative and the matter seems small or irrelevant do we obey our Father’s command?
Andy Carlisle in a piece in the JAM blog quotes Deuteronomy 23: 12 -14 saying " In case we get too heavenly minded. God reminds us that he is interested in people, all of life and that he cares about justice. Justice for those deprived of basic needs like water and toilets." Campaigning on this is one way we can love each other.
We can love each other by choosing a lifestyle that is respectful of the environment and is selfless. Changing my lifestyle from one that was ignorant, unloving and environmentally destructive began with simple choices. One day in a shop I decided to spend more money and buy energy saving light bulbs. I had a moment. Each moment then led to another until a few years later and my lifestyle is more in tune with the environment and the positive impact I can have in loving others though my lifestyle choices. It’s a similar story with buying fair trade, in a moment in a shop I chose to buy fair trade tea. Another moment where I let go of my money, opened my hands and loved others. The more moments like this, the less of a battle it is and the more open I find my hands becoming.
Slowly I’m starting to understand that my Faith, loving others, living by the spirit is not about any great amazing spiritual act although it can be but it is equally about making everyday choices to love whether that be people at home, church, work, school, my street, town or the other side of the World. It is very simple and it starts with the smallest moments. Shaking a homeless man’s hand, wiping my daughter’s bottom, kissing my husband, getting on the metro, phoning a friend and countless other ways we can obey our Father’s command to love each other depending on our own individual make up. God’s love is desperately needed in this World.
" As the Father has loved me so have I loved you… love each other" John 15: 9, 12
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you……love each other" John 15 : 9, 12
A man worn, dishevelled and thin sitting on a bench outside Byker Pool, clutching a bottle. I shook his hand it felt sticky. Andy sat next to him, put a hand on his shoulder and prayed he’d know Jesus as a friend. "That’s sweet" said Peter. I looked in his eyes there were tears. He was touched by the love of God. We walked away.
Martyn Joseph sings a song with the line "sweet tender moments with life in between." Moments. Moments of joy. Moments of peace. Moments of healing. Moments of clarity. Moments when heaven touches earth. Moments. A conference on pastoral care for people with dementia, I begun to catch hold afresh onto this idea of moments. Bart Campolo at the Incarnate conference described it differently and yet spoke of moments. In his ministry in the ghettos of America with poor broken people he said he had no miraculous stories to tell, but he told us of moments. Moments such as when he’s helping a young girl who’s been raped and the mother treats her daughter with hate and contempt. Bart he loses it. He has righteous anger on behalf of the daughter. Later the mother confesses, that she’d been raped as a child, never told anyone. Then he has a moment with her.
I’ve worked with people who were at the end of the line, twenty or thirty years or maybe more of mental illness, institutionalisation, drugs and numerous interventions. For about 4 years I worked with some. My stories night not sound very miraculous at all but to me there were moments. Many moments and those moments built upon each other and then I saw breakthroughs. A defensive, isolated institutionalised man with schizophrenia becomes a friend to another man. They would catch the bus together, cook together, make music together, go to a café together. He trusted me and shared his story with me. They were all wonderful breakthroughs.
In the mundane of life and the unglamorous where there are no big awards do we love each other? When no one is looking, or appreciative and the matter seems small or irrelevant do we obey our Father’s command?
Andy Carlisle in a piece in the JAM blog quotes Deuteronomy 23: 12 -14 saying " In case we get too heavenly minded. God reminds us that he is interested in people, all of life and that he cares about justice. Justice for those deprived of basic needs like water and toilets." Campaigning on this is one way we can love each other.
We can love each other by choosing a lifestyle that is respectful of the environment and is selfless. Changing my lifestyle from one that was ignorant, unloving and environmentally destructive began with simple choices. One day in a shop I decided to spend more money and buy energy saving light bulbs. I had a moment. Each moment then led to another until a few years later and my lifestyle is more in tune with the environment and the positive impact I can have in loving others though my lifestyle choices. It’s a similar story with buying fair trade, in a moment in a shop I chose to buy fair trade tea. Another moment where I let go of my money, opened my hands and loved others. The more moments like this, the less of a battle it is and the more open I find my hands becoming.
Slowly I’m starting to understand that my Faith, loving others, living by the spirit is not about any great amazing spiritual act although it can be but it is equally about making everyday choices to love whether that be people at home, church, work, school, my street, town or the other side of the World. It is very simple and it starts with the smallest moments. Shaking a homeless man’s hand, wiping my daughter’s bottom, kissing my husband, getting on the metro, phoning a friend and countless other ways we can obey our Father’s command to love each other depending on our own individual make up. God’s love is desperately needed in this World.
" As the Father has loved me so have I loved you… love each other" John 15: 9, 12
Thursday 6 August 2009
Just Generation Conference - 31st October
Just Generation Conference - 31st October
"Tackling injustice can't be reduced to a one week mission, a conference or a crusade. If we want to see justice roll like a mighty river across this nation we need to see heart transformations. We need to see a new generation of young people rise up and be counted, a movement desperate to step into and tackle humanity's physical and spiritual poverty, stand for what is right and preach the Good News through word and deed across this nation.
It's not about knowing the right model or following the next best ten-point plan. Instead… it's about crying out to Jesus that he might give us his heart of compassion for the poor in this land. It's about grounding ourselves in a strong, biblical understanding of God's heart and desire to see justice flood this nation. It's about gathering together with others, building a community passionate about tackling injustice, supporting and resourcing one another, sharing stories and inspiring vision."
From the blurb about this conference it looks really helpful. October 31st, all day Saturday.
Ruth Valerio of "L is for Lifestyle" is one of the main speakers, as well as the Evangelical Alliance, leprosy Mission, and International Justice Mission
Its a day for £10 and maybe we could organise to share some transport if you are interested
Shared via AddThis
"Tackling injustice can't be reduced to a one week mission, a conference or a crusade. If we want to see justice roll like a mighty river across this nation we need to see heart transformations. We need to see a new generation of young people rise up and be counted, a movement desperate to step into and tackle humanity's physical and spiritual poverty, stand for what is right and preach the Good News through word and deed across this nation.
It's not about knowing the right model or following the next best ten-point plan. Instead… it's about crying out to Jesus that he might give us his heart of compassion for the poor in this land. It's about grounding ourselves in a strong, biblical understanding of God's heart and desire to see justice flood this nation. It's about gathering together with others, building a community passionate about tackling injustice, supporting and resourcing one another, sharing stories and inspiring vision."
From the blurb about this conference it looks really helpful. October 31st, all day Saturday.
Ruth Valerio of "L is for Lifestyle" is one of the main speakers, as well as the Evangelical Alliance, leprosy Mission, and International Justice Mission
Its a day for £10 and maybe we could organise to share some transport if you are interested
Shared via AddThis
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