Tortoise

Last week I went to a meeting at Lambeth Palace for the launch of Back To Church Sunday. It was a great event and Archbishop Rowan spoke eloquently on the simplicity of invitation – inviting a friend to something like church should be as natural as inviting a friend to a party!

Anyway, that’s not what I would like to talk about.

In one of the meeting rooms at Lambeth Palace there is a painting of Archbishop Laud. Underneath the painting is a glass display stand and inside the stand is a………..tortoise! Well actually it’s the shell of a tortoise. This tortoise, called Timothy, belonged to the Archbishop and lived for many years (outliving Laud and nine other Archbishops no less).

The famous fable of the tortoise and the hare proclaims the tortoise as a hero. He’s a hero not because of his speed, as we all know he’s a very slow creature, but because of his gentle perseverance and constancy – he gets there in the end and actually beats the hare who sets off at such a pace that he thinks he can take it easy.

But that’s not why I think the tortoise is a hero.

I think the tortoise is a hero because he reminds me of what I should do in my life. In order to get anywhere the tortoise has to stick its neck out. A tortoise can’t physically move without sticking its neck out.

As Christians we are called to stick our neck out for the Gospel. We are called to take risks for God. We are called to not settle for the easy life. We are called to be adventurers.

In the Bible God said this to Joshua when calling him to take a risk but he also says it to you and me as Christian believers when we step out in faith for Him: “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous…..be strong and very courageous. Do not turn from the scriptures in that way you may have success wherever you go…meditate on the scriptures day and night….then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” Joshua 1: 5-9

C. S. Lewis said “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point”

Where do you need to stick your neck out for Jesus?

Looking forward to seeing you as we gather as church on Sunday. In preparation you might like to read the texts we will be using for the talks: Psalm 27: 4-5 Philippians 4: 10-19

Until then

Every blessing

Lee

The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project
www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693

Change

It’s often been said that the only person who likes change is a wet baby!

Change is something that happens to all of us as we grow in life. Indeed change is vital for healthy church life even if it sometimes feels uncomfortable – somebody once said this “Every major move or revolution we’ve had looked like it was going to kill us, & sometimes it almost did, but we’ve always come out better than before!”

The Bible speaks of change as something that leads to new horizons “Do not conform any longer but be changed (or transformed) by the renewing of your minds” Romans 12: 2

Are you coping with unexpected change? Chances are the answer is yes. Our world is changing on a grand scale, but our personal circumstances change all the time too. Either way, it’s not exactly a relaxing process. We’re often frustrated and frightened when the people and institutions we rely on are no longer what they were.

The Bible offers us very clear reminders that we can always rely on God. No matter how dire our circumstances, no matter how uncertain everything may be, God is eternal. You may like to reflect on the following verses as change occurs in your life:-

Psalm 18: 7

James 1: 17

See you in Church on Sunday

Every blessing

Lee

The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project
www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693

New Year – hope or fear?

As we enter a New Year do you look upon it with hope or with fear?

A recent survey said that the top 3 fears at the moment are

1. The fear of public speaking

2. The fear of death

3. The fear of death while public speaking.

Fears are sometimes irrational.

Fear stops us from doing so much. We fear failure so we don’t try something new. We fear change so we stay as we are. We fear taking risks so we stand still and stagnate. Fear paralyses. What are you afraid of right now?

“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which have never happened” John DeLaFontaine. Most of us live in fear of things which will probably never happen.

What is the most often repeated command by God in scripture? The answer – Do not fear; Do not be afraid; Fear not; It was repeated to David; Moses, Joseph, Mary, Paul, John and countless others in the scripture. Fearnot! In fact it’s been calculated that there are 365 occasions in scripture when God says ‘Don’t be afraid’ – one for every day of the year!

As we enter 2012 God wants you not to fear. God wants you to know that He can do anything! “I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand” Isaiah 41: 10

God can do anything – at Christmas Gabriel came to Mary and said she was to have a baby. “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” It was an impossibility for a virgin to have a child – Gabriel said “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. Fornothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:36-37).

God can do anything

Gideon believed God to be with him in battle, and his tiny army of 300 slayed over 100,000. (Judges 8:10)

God can do anything

The disciples questioned Jesus about salvation – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

God can do anything.

When the Israelites were faced with mighty enemies too big to defend against God said “Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. Don’t be intimidated;. I will support you with my victorious right hand” Isaiah 41: 10

God can do anything.

The apostles believed God would send power to them, and 3,000 became believers in one day. (Acts 2:1-41)

God can do anything.

Let’s go into this New Year full of confidence that our God can achieve anything.

With this in mind I will be preaching on “How to Live Well in 2012” this coming Sunday. You may like to look at some of these texts as a way of preparation beforehand: Psalm 91: 9-14; Romans 8: 28 and Matthew 5: 38-48.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Every blessing

Lee

The Reverend Lee Townend MA
All Saints’, Ilkley
Weddings Project
www.Ilkleypc.co.uk
Twitter: @Leethevicar
01943 430693