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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. […] The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:1-5, 9-14 Light and darkness cannot coexist. It is a basic principle of physics (even if the nature of light is poorly understood), and a familiar reality in our experience. As soon as you flick on a light switch, the darkness disappears. Indeed, we could define darkness as the absence of light. Darkness is not a thing in itself. It is a negative state. No light. John’s prologue links light closely with two concepts: life and truth. God’s light is truth revealed. Jesus is the Word who existed eternally with God and who is God. In Jesus, God’s truth became incarnate. In him, God’s glory was seen, not visibly (except at the Transfiguration) but in his character, his teaching and his actions. John saw his glory in the grace and truth that filled Jesus and flowed out in every word and each deed. Jesus shone light because he revealed God’s truth in grace. God’s light is also life. Just as the light of the sun is the basis for all life on earth, so the light of God is the source of all life. Jesus is the life. He is not like us – living recipients of the gift of life – he possesses life in himself and he is the giver of life to everything else that lives. When Jesus encountered people, he offered them the light of life. His miracles of healing and words of forgiveness halted death and reversed decay. Jesus shone light because he restored life to those who trust in Him. The first post in this series explored the need for us to step out of darkness into light, turning from hidden sins to walk by God’s truth. The light of God shines on us through Christ. He is the light of the world who gives the light of life to all who follow him (John 8:12). But the biblical image of light does not end with the light of Christ shining upon us. Scripture also speaks of this light transforming those who step into it. While Jesus was in the world, he was its light (John 9:5). But he was also forming a new community of people who will walk in his light and so would become the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). According to John 1, the life that was in Jesus is “the light of all mankind” (verse 4). It could not be overcome by the world’s darkness. Many among the Jews to whom he came rejected his light, branding it as darkness and slinking into the shadows of self-righteousness. They even tried to extinguish his light by handing him over to be crucified. Yet, those who received Jesus received his light. The light of life shone upon them and the opposition and condemnation of those who rejected him could not stop that. In Jesus’ resurrection, a new dawn came. John 1 describes the transformation the light of life brings as a new birth. Those who believe in Jesus’ name are “born of God” (John 1:13). This new birth from above and by the Spirit, as Jesus described it to Nicodemus in John Chapter 3, makes us children of God. Amazingly, John describes the gift of new birth as a right bestowed upon us by God (John 1:12). Our culture speaks much of human rights. Tragically, it does so in a muddled way. In one breath, people can talk about the ‘right to life’ and the ‘right’ to end the lives of unborn children in the womb. When the ‘rights’ of two people seem to clash, we end up with confusion and conflict. Scripture does not say much explicitly about human rights. It is true that the very concept of human rights is derived from biblical truths. The right to life is rooted in our creation in God’s image and other rights flow from this God-endowed dignity. Having abandoned these gospel foundations for the sanctity of human life and cast off the equally important gospel concept of responsibility to God, it seems inevitable that we descend into conflict over competing supposed ‘rights’. Into this darkness shines the light of Christ. Penetrating our confusion about our value and significance is this intense beam – God’s promise that those who believe in Jesus have full authority to be his children. This biblical human right is the ultimate source of human dignity. It is greater even than the truth that we were created in God’s image, for it promises restoration from all that has gone wrong since we rejected God’s good rule. It promises more than personal fulfilment in ourselves as we know them now. If that were possible at all, the incarnation would have been unnecessary. God’s promise is of a whole new life in loving relationship with him. The echoes of Genesis 1 in John 1 are not merely about creation. They are signposting new creation. New birth through Jesus, who is the light shining in the darkness. Later in John’s gospel, Jesus uses another phrase to describe what it means to be God’s children. He said that those who believe in his light “become children of light” (John 12:36). The apostle Paul picks up this phrase twice in his letters. To the Thessalonians he writes, “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). Paul has told them that the day of the Lord will come suddenly, “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2), but he now reminds them that they are not of the darkness. As children of light, they must be alert. It is not time to sleep, but to “be awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). They must put on God’s armour and stand firm in their faith. To the Ephesians, Paul writes, “you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). They must not try to mix darkness with light, as if that were possible. Their calling is not to participate in “the fruitless deeds of darkness” but to “expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). In doing so, they shine the light of Christ, which may wake the sleepers. The call is to a radically counter-cultural lifestyle that is provocative in the best possible sense. Christian living stands out and shines the light of Christ on others. This is not only an individual calling, of course, it is a community project, as Paul makes clear in the verses that follow (see Ephesians 5:18-20). The people you lead are children of light. The light of Christ has shone on them and they have been born of God. The light of Christ is now within them and they are now the light of the world. The New Testament pattern for Christian ethics is always the same. Be what you are. Live out the reality of your salvation. Continue in Christ just as you believed in him. You are light, so let the light shine. As the light of the world, the light we shine is our good deeds (Matthew 5:16). There is, however, an important caveat. The aim in letting our good deeds be seen is that people may glorify our Father in heaven. Children of light do not want praise for themselves, but for him. When Jesus warns against hiding our light, like putting a bowl over a lamp instead of setting it on a stand, he is saying both that God’s work in us should become visible through the way we live and also that we should make it clear that we live this way because of God’s work in us. To be kingdom people (the overarching theme of the Sermon on the Mount within which these words of Jesus are embedded) means to live the way the king commands for the king’s glory. In short, our works of care and compassion must be integrated with words of comfort and challenge. Social action and evangelism belong together. Jesus shone not only with grace, but with truth. When his light shines in us, we too will be known as people of grace and truth. In our culture of deepening darkness, it is vital that we keep these truths together. We need to be doers of good and declarers of the gospel. Perhaps the most profound thing about our witness in this age will be that we are known as people who do good but who act not in defense of our own rights, or even primarily for the ‘rights’ of others, but for the glory of God in the name of Jesus. It is only as Jesus, the light of life, shines on people that they know truth and can receive the gift of life. So, we must reflect him in our words and deeds. As I close this post, let me ask you, child of the light, are you shining with the light of Christ? What about the community you lead within? Do people see you – singular and plural – and recognise the glory of God because you are full of grace and truth? If not, what must change? Perhaps this Christmas as you rejoice in God’s light shining in the darkness you might discover again the immense joy of the right to become and to be known as children of God.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. […] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. - Isaiah 9 verses 2, 6-7 Don’t panic! You haven’t mixed up your dates. Advent doesn’t start until the end of November. You still have time to get prepared. Ministers generally begin to think about the true meaning of Christmas at least as early as decorations start festooning shops. They need to plan Christmas activities and prepare talks. Getting started is easier than normal service planning sermon prep – the dates are fixed and the texts are obvious. Bringing plans to completion can be harder. The planning phase comes at a busy time in church life, when programmes are in full swing and few others are thinking about Christmas, and an emotionally tough time for all of us, when days are shortening and temperatures are falling. The passages and carols can seem overly familiar and it is not easy to scrape away the cultural accretions of materialism and niceness to get to the reality of the incarnation. So, as ministers prepare and plan to lead others in their appreciation of Christmas, we in Living Leadership want to help them enjoy its wonder and apply its significance to leadership. John’s Gospel describes the incarnation as, “The true light that gives light to everyone […] coming into the world” (John 1:9). This three-part series will consider what it means to lead in the light. Isaiah prophesied about a great light that would dawn on people who lived in a land of deep darkness. In our age of electric lighting and (still, so far) reliable energy supplies, pitch darkness is a rare experience. Still, I suppose most of us have experienced a power cut at some time. For sighted twenty-first-century people, being plunged unexpectedly into darkness is unnerving. Assuming we do not have our mobile phone or a torch to hand, we can either sit in the dark waiting for the light to return or fumble towards where we hope to find a switch. In Isaiah’s day, people knew how deep darkness could be. Night-time was a fearful place in days without streetlights, and when hostile nations and predatory beasts were on hand. It was also a place of hiddenness. Darkness meant both the threat of unforeseen attack from enemies and the temptation to think sin could be concealed from God. The metaphor of darkness would, therefore, have resonated profoundly with Isaiah’s first readers. It was a powerful way to describe the spiritual decline of the nation. Some of the people of Judah in Isaiah’s time, facing uncertainty on the global stage, sought understanding from mediums and spiritists, who promised insight into hidden things. Isaiah says these people have “no light of dawn” (8:20) and describes the consequences for those who consult them “they will look towards the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness” (8:22). Seeking light in the shadows, they stumbled into deepest gloom. This was no accidental stumbling away from God. It was a wilful rejection of his light for falsehood. God had warned clearly in his law that defilement would come through turning to mediums and spiritists (Leviticus 19:31). It has always been so with sinful people. We prefer to hide in the darkness rather than bringing our deeds unto God’s light: “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed” (John 3:20). Where the people should have turned was to their God, to consult his “instruction and the testimony of warning” (8:20). There is no light without God. He is light (1 John 1:5): pure truthfulness and holiness without shadow or hidden recess. His Word spoken to his people shines the light of truth on them, to guide their paths (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:23). The word of God through prophets like Isaiah was an inconvenient truth for those in Judah who preferred to believe a lie. They wanted a God of endless comfort. A guarantor of peace without pain. The light Isaiah foresaw was more than just prophetic words. It was embodied in a person – a coming child and son who would be called Wonderful Counsellor. Whoever this prophecy refers to in the immediate horizon of Isaiah’s time, we know its ultimate fulfilment is in Jesus. In the historic homelands of Zebulun and Naphtali – Galilee of the nations – he preached God’s kingdom now arriving and called people to repentance (Matthew 4:13-17). The great light had dawned for Jew and Gentile alike. What does this mean for Christian leaders? One of the most profoundly challenging books I have read about leadership is In the Name of Jesus by Dutch Roman Catholic priest Henri Nouwen (Darton, Longman & Todd, 1989). He writes (p.10): After twenty-five years of priesthood, I found myself praying poorly, living somewhat isolated from other people, and very much preoccupied with burning issues. Everyone was saying that I was doing really well, but something inside me was telling me that my success was putting my own soul in danger. I began to ask myself whether my lack of contemplative prayer, my loneliness, and my constantly changing involvement in what seemed most urgent were signs that the Spirit was gradually being suppressed. It was very hard for me to see clearly ... I was living in a very dark place. Perhaps you can identify with this experience too? Especially in this busy season, we easily become slaves to what seems urgent and neglectful of what is most important. People may even tell us we are doing well, but we know we are in the dark. When we sense the gloom, we can stumble for any light to brighten our path. False lights promise hope and healing. We may not consult spiritists and mediums, but we look to self-help gurus and pop psychology. We follow the message of our culture that tells us to protect ourselves, love ourselves and develop ourselves. We turn our half-open ears to other voices. We indulge ourselves with stolen pleasures or console ourselves with the success that imperils our souls. It is often in the night-time, when alone and weary, that these temptations clamour and we sin. Struggling with the gloom, we plunge into deeper darkness still. The Spirit is suppressed, even grieved. If you are leading from a dark place, it is time to step into the light. When we live by the truth, we come into the light and others see that our works have been done in God’s sight (John 3:21). Christian leaders are accountable to God. We are people of the light and we must lead in the light. We must resist the draw of lesser lights that are no lights at all. We need nothing less than the light of Christ to rise in our hearts. This is the way of contemplative prayer and meditative reading. We need deep and unhurried time spent gazing on Christ, crying for mercy, and returning thanks for his grace. We must take enough time savouring the words of Scripture to let our hearts’ eyes adjust to its penetrating light – soaking in each promise, heeding every warning, noting each command. Only in the light of Christ can we lead others to glory in him. The Wonderful Counsellor works his words into our inner being through the Spirit he promised as we turn to his light. Coming into the light means naming the darkness for what it is. Confessing the false lights that have dragged us into deeper darkness. Hidden sins like binge eating and watching pornography. Respectable sins of self-aggrandisement and boasting in ministry prowess. Too-readily-excused sins of irritability with our families and neglect of Sabbath, giving our dependents and our Lord crumbs of our time. Coming into the light of God, especially if our spiritual eyes have grown accustomed to the shadows, can be painful. But it is a purifying pain. Only in this light can we see what matters most, distinguishing the apparently urgent from the absolutely essential. In this light, we see things differently. People we had dismissed as insignificant, we now see as indispensable. Blessings we had taken for granted are revealed to be treasures of great worth. Sins that seemed so comforting are exposed as the poisonous snares they truly are. And ourselves, who we had come to love or to despise, we see as deeply flawed yet loved more deeply still. So, brothers and sisters. As you prepare to celebrate the light that dawned over Israel’s darkness 2000 years ago, let the light of the Wonderful Counsellor shine in your heart today.

Editors note: Apologies, this post was initially wrongly attributed to Jess Coles. This post is actually by Richard Collins, about his recent trip to Israel. So much beauty. So much history. So much religion. These were my thoughts as I returned recently from a Mediterranean cruise—a gift from my wife’s parents. Here are some reflections. EPHESUS AND PATMOS Wonderful guides. Knowledgeable and very patient. Ancient Ephesus, you may remember, was a strategic port city in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). No longer. Hundreds of years of silt movement has now moved it inland—a half hour drive from the coast. Nevertheless, it is remarkably well preserved. Its long marble avenue from two thousand years ago is still there. The impressive façade on the library stands out. My wife, Bettina, turned to me and said, “Just think, all those years ago, someone in one of those houses opened a letter from Paul . . . and we’re still reading it.” A humbling thought. Patmos. Name of the driver: John. Name of the man at the church: John. As our guide said, “Guess the name of our host at the restaurant. Yup. John.” Every other man and his dog, it seemed, was named John. The Apostle’s legacy towers over the island. We visited the cave where he is believed to have received the Revelation. There is an indent in the rock face where he placed his hand. Was he there? How can we know? As our guide said, “One thing is certain, he was somewhere on this island, because he wrote, ‘I . . . was on the island of Patmos.’” ISRAEL Jerusalem. Jesus and his disciples, they must have been fit. This place is hilly! Up and down we went, followed by my in-laws who are in their 80s. It was a challenge. Garden of Gethsemane. A sad sight. It is now the size of a postage stamp. The trees are very old—around eight hundred years—but there are hardly more than ten left. The reason? They’ve built churches and religious buildings all over the place. The Basilica of the Agony is a huge structure right next to the garden. And then there’s the Tomb of the Virgin on the other side. Much has changed in the past two thousand years. I had imagined a large, tree-filled space in which we could wander. Instead, in the church, you can kneel next to the rock where Jesus is believed to have wept his tears of agony. I’m sure you can donate to the church also. SO MUCH RELIGION This is a good moment, then, to stop and reflect on what has happened during the past two thousand years. The urge to identify a site associated with an event in the Bible has drawn out our deepest religious impulses. The cynic will say it’s all about money. And maybe that’s part of the answer. But religion isn’t just to do with money. It’s also to do with our attempt to meet with God and satisfy him. And it’s about control and ownership. The Orthodox and Catholic groups have jostled for position for centuries. In some places, one building lies right on top of another of a different denomination. As a leader, there is a message here. Religion is lurking even in our most ardent evangelical churches. It raises its head when a community requires certain cultural behaviours from its members in order to be accepted. It raises its head when law reigns and grace is shunted aside. Religion values church attendance and outward signs of religiosity. It is the antithesis of grace, failing to reach out and embrace our weaker members, who face daily challenges just to survive. Beware of religion. It will gradually corrode your community. It will harden your hearts. It will destroy a community of love and grace. In Israel, it is everywhere. So as I walked and marvelled at what I saw, my primary thought was, “He is not here. He is risen!” Christ is not in the chanting or religious books or churches or the art. He is risen, alive and living in those who believe and seek to share his love with the world. He is in the church, his beloved. SO MUCH BEAUTY In Nazareth, we visited the Church of the Annunciation, believed by Roman Catholics to be the place where Mary grew up. It has multiple churches from previous centuries on the site, but the new one, built in the 1950s, is a wonder to behold. The art in the courtyard is truly stunning. The art inside the building is equally impressive. The ceilings and designs from across the centuries which decorate so many of these churches is of the highest quality. It is, at times, breath-taking. That’s what good art does—it takes the breath away. Whatever you may think of icons in the Greek Orthodox church or the beautiful murals in Roman Catholic churches, it happens to be true that the appreciation of beauty often leads to worship. We just need to be careful that we don’t worship the art, but instead are reminded of the beauty of our creator. I marvelled at every beautiful piece of art . . . and I worshiped our loving creator. For God has made us beautiful, and he has made us creative. For we are made in his image. BAPTISM . . . AGAIN We visited the Jordan River. Some Christians were getting baptised . . . again. I was unsure how to respond to this. Baptism is wonderful; it’s a powerful symbol. As such, I’m not sure it should be done so we can stick up a picture saying, “Look, I did it again in the Jordan!” The site was a spot where they said Jesus was baptised. How can we know? And, of course, why does it matter? THE WESTERN WALL Reading, chanting, keening, kneeling, reaching, bowing, praying, crying—it was all on display at the Western Wall, a remaining section of the Second temple built by Herod the Great. This is the most sacred location in Jerusalem for the Jews. It is considered the holiest place where Jews are allowed to pray, as close as you can get to the holy of holies. The Temple Mount itself has severe entry restrictions; it is now home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Two world religions sitting right on top of each other. No wonder it’s considered a powder keg. A couple of thoughts. First, it’s hard not to take sides in a place like this. To see the Jews restricted from visiting their most holy site by another religion is hard to watch. In truth, however, neither side emerges without blemish. The daily suffering of Arab Israelis in the West Bank cannot be ignored. So I turned to the people, our two taxi drivers. The first was Jewish, and he was not happy. Mostly he was upset about inflation, but he was also frustrated by all the road closures related to the recent killing of two Jewish soldiers. The second was called Ramsi, an Arab Israeli who drove us back to Ashdod, an hour’s journey away. He had nine children, talked a lot and told us that he was “wishing for the return of Jesus.” I must say, this was a surprise. I hadn’t realised that muslims were also waiting for Jesus’ return. He asked my wife to pray for his family, which she did. What did I learn? That while we and our taxi drivers hold different beliefs, we face many of the same challenges. We seek to raise our children, love our spouses, and make a living. In short, we are all struggling sinners. And we met in the very location where salvation was purchased for us. We were right there near the hill where blood was spilled for all of us. May God have mercy on all our souls. MARS HILL Before we embarked from Athens, we spent a couple of days there. We visited the Acropolis, and various archaeological sites in the city. We visited Mars Hill. At its base is a rather dirty inscription written in Greek. It’s from Acts 17. There is no church, no monastery, no shrine. It’s just a small hill, towered over by the Parthenon. Tourists walk about on it, but there is nothing on the actual hill to remind us of what took place there. Perhaps that is how it should be. For on that hill St. Paul delivered one of the great sermons of history. He preached the gospel, and it included these truly wonderful words. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. - Acts 17.24-28a He is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. How gracious is our God, that he would draw near through his Son. How merciful he is that, in Jesus, he would live with us, and then suffer and die for us. Mars Hill needs no church, no plaque, no monument. For its importance lies only in the message that was preached there. This word, this gospel, has gone out through all the world. It has been received by all who have ears to hear. “He is not here. He is risen!”

A church leader is a teacher. No question about it. Teaching is an integral part of the job description. It’s right there in the Great Commission. . . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matt 28.20a Fine. But teaching what? And to whom? The content is clear. It’s “everything I have commanded you.” It’s the gospel, the teachings of Jesus, the beliefs and practices that lead to Christ-like godliness. The “whom” part, however, isn’t always quite as clear. Every Sunday, church leaders get up and teach. Or preach.* They faithfully expound the word of God to the congregation and fulfil their calling. And this is fine, but I wonder if it’s enough. Today, I’d like to offer up an area of ministry which is both fruitful and essential for all church leaders. It’s called . . . SEE ONE, DO ONE, TEACH ONE I believe that church leaders should be aiming to do themselves out of a job. By this, I mean that by equipping and releasing people for works of service (Eph. 4.12a) we train people in all areas of ministry. In turn, the church becomes less and less reliant on the leader, and more and more led by God’s Spirit speaking through trained and equipped people in the community. Trained speakers, teachers, preachers, carers and servers of all kinds begin to fill the church. That’s how it should be. So how does this process happen? I think a clue to this can be found in the Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy. As you probably know, he wrote the letter when he knew he was close to death. It was his last piece of advice to his mentee, the young Timothy. Here’s the relevant section. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Tim 2. 1-3 First, he exhorts Timothy to guard his spiritual life. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Second, he calls attention to the teaching he himself has given over many years. This is the teaching that Timothy will be passing on. Third, he tells his mentee to find “faithful people” to whom he will pass on this teaching. Faithful people. Not just anyone. They must be faithful. They must be people of good character. But they must be even more than this. They must be “able to teach others also.” Is the work of passing on this teaching easy or difficult? It’s difficult, because back then, followers of Jesus and especially leaders, were subject to persecution. “Faithful people” would show their faithfulness by “suffering hardship.” FIND FAITHFUL PEOPLE Church leaders should pass on their skills to others. Especially the skill of teaching. May I encourage you, then, to consider who it is in your community who is both faithful and able to teach. They must have both these requisites. Character and skill. Once you have found one, two or three people suited to the work, then you will notice the order in which the work is performed. SEE ONE The things you have heard from me. Model the work. Be a good teacher. Display your skills and discuss them with your trainees. Explain your preparation. Don’t be secretive, as some are, fearful that they will lose their position of authority. Instead, be open and generous with all you know. Show them how your sermons and classes are prepared and delivered. DO ONE Entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. Give opportunities to your trainees to use their skills. Explain to your congregation what you’re doing, so they understand why you won’t be seen quite as often as before. Provide feedback to your trainees. Be supportive. It sounds so straightforward, doesn’t it? WHY DOESN’T IT HAPPEN MORE OFTEN? Often, it’s simply that leaders hold false beliefs about position and authority. What will people think if they don’t see me speaking every Sunday? They’ll think I’m lazy. They won’t see me as the leader. Maybe they’ll fire me. Or they offer excuses. I don’t have the time. It’s too much effort. I don’t have the skills to do it. Every one of these objections and excuses is wrong-headed. The objections are underpinned by insecurity, and that is a quality that causes great harm in a leader. If you serve in fear, you will never be free, and you will never experience joy. If you are fiercely protective of your visibility in church, and see others as a threat, then you will reap the rewards of such an approach. But worst of all, ensuring you are the only one who teaches in church is NOT the model of the New Testament. The Apostle Paul clearly took delight in passing on his knowledge and skills to young Timothy. He brought along young men and passed on his knowledge and skills to them. Silas, Luke and others all benefited from his calling. It’s time each church leader did the same. TEACH ONE The one sure sign that you are doing the right thing is when your trainee manages to train others. That will bring you joy upon joy. Perhaps not all are able to do this, but when it happens, it is the means of producing exponential growth. Spiritual growth and often numerical growth too. Teachers teaching others to teach. This is a sign of the growth of God’s Kingdom. Teachers growing in the grace and knowledge of God who in turn model Christ-like character as they teach. If that happens in your church, then you are a healthy community, growing in character, grace, and love. Don’t believe the objections. Don’t offer excuses. You can do this. God has equipped you to do this. Go and find some faithful people who are able to teach. Pass on your skills to them. Equip and release teachers in your community. The Lord bless you as you go out in his name to teach others. Embrace the concept of “passing on.” For what you have received, you must pass on. As the Apostle Paul wrote, For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Cor. 15.3-4 *Teaching is not the same as preaching, but that’s a post for another day.

“Get out of my way, I’ve got a machete!” On return from a recent holiday, I almost found myself uttering this threat to all and sundry. Why, you might ask. Allow me to explain. This summer, we took a week off very late in the season. Our visit to Shetland was wonderful, but as we set off, I carried with me a nagging worry. I hadn’t cut the grass for two weeks and it was already very long. On my return, I was met by a scene reminiscent of my visions of the Garden of Eden. Abundant growth everywhere. Especially the lawn, which swept out before me like an undulating green ocean. To make matters worse, I’d returned during the wettest week of the year in Perthshire. Have you tried to cut wet grass? It’s not advisable. And it’s especially inadvisable when the grass has been treated with a Late Summer/ Early Autumn feeding by Greenthumb (a grass feeding and maintenance company I retain). So I had to wait until the end of the third week since the previous cut. In Perthshire, that’s a long time. A machete may be an exaggeration, but I did have to raise the height of the lawnmower further than ever before. It was the only way to make a first cut of the crop. That word “crop” is an interesting one. Nowadays, it’s associated with the annual ingathering of cereal or other plants, but it can also mean “the top of a flower or plant.” The lawnmower was soon filled with an overflowing crop. In fact, the crops choked the lawnmower every five minutes. What would normally take me an hour took me nearly four hours instead. I had an abundant crop of grass. As I trudged back to the house after my battle in the garden, my attention turned to a second-hand book I had received for my birthday from my sister-in-law. The Chemistry of Crop Production. She certainly recognises my geekiness. What produces long grass? Water, air, light and heat, ash, lime, potash, phosphate, nitrogen and microbes combine with the phenomenon of photosynthesis so that the plants’ chlorophyll absorbs the energy of light and the plant’s protoplasm so that it separates carbon dioxide from the air into carbon and oxygen. Exhausted, I sank into an armchair and reflected on my experience and my reading. IN SEASON, GRASS DOES WHAT COMES NATURALLY – IT GROWS Grass produces more grass. It’s inevitable. The mystery of growth is a creative miracle: converting chemical matter into completely different matter. The principle of a seed falling into the ground works out in grass too—rye grass being an example of seed-born grasses. It must, in other words, produce “fruit”. This is the mystery of the Christian experience, that by “abiding in Christ” we will produce “fruit”. Jesus said that “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit” (John 15.6). There is one critical element to this: who we are is a consequence of who we have become. When we are linked to Jesus in the new birth, fruit will be displayed in our lives. The growth is supernatural. It is in our character as well as our deeds that we will see the imperative of a changed life. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Gal. 5.22 MULTIPLE CUTS ARE BETTER THAN A “ONCE ONLY” CUT The Vinedresser of Jesus’ teaching in John 15 demonstrates his patience by gradually paring down the unfruitful branches. The unproductive fruit, which saps energy from the plant and hinders other fruit forming, needs to be cut off. In my own life, I’ve discovered that the painful process of paring down unfruitful areas of life must continue without check. Those things which hinder my ability to be fruitful need to go. In truth, the Greek word for “prune” (kathairō) often means “clean”. Its root is similar to the adjective translated “clean” in John 15.3. You may remember Jesus’ words to his disciples. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. John 15.3 As I cleaned the lawnmower, wiping it down and pushing it into the shed, I thought about the way the Lord has worked in my life. The constant practice of reflection, confession, repentance and striving to maintain a clean life is very much like the continual passes of a lawnmower on stubborn, resistant grass. It is the Lord who makes me clean, who “crops” me as I submit to his will in my life. GRASS NEVER GETS SHORTER BY ITSELF As I stared out of the rain-streaked windows into the leaden skies, I knew the grass wasn’t going to cut itself. It wouldn’t get shorter as a result of my earnest display of hoping! It was going to be a mammoth task, so when that first sunny, windy day arrived, it wasn’t just the washing that had to go outdoors, but me too. In my wellies! It wouldn’t be my favourite day of the year, but then so much of life is filled with must-do tasks. DISCIPLINE During my life, I’ve experienced many “head-down” days. Discipline isn’t a favourite word among many. We often believe it entails a loss of freedom, but in reality, discipline is not a bad thing. We kick against it sometimes because it forces us to confront challenging issues in our lives, but the results of a disciplined life are clear to see. Spiritual disciplines are the simple habits and practices that help us to develop, grow, and strengthen our faith in Christ. They are things like prayer, Bible study, meditation, confession, solitude, worship, and celebration. These things don’t bring us salvation and they aren’t a recipe for God’s approval. Instead, they are practices that help us develop a lasting faith, a strong faith, and a faith that bears fruit in our daily lives. The disciplines don’t have power in themselves; they help to develop and strengthen our faith in our Lord who is powerful over all things. “Must-do” things aren’t millstones around our necks. Quite the opposite. If we discipline ourselves to seek the Lord in all we do—and include habits which help us to know and serve our God better—then we will see results that are often rewarding and reassuring. We will witness a lasting crop. A fruitful harvest. So when you are next faced with a lawn that needs cutting, be encouraged. You may not want to cut it, but the discipline will do you good. Spiritual disciplines do us good. They produce fruit. They produce a wonderful, healthy crop.

Hi there! Thanks for stopping to read this post. You’ve stopped. Briefly. Has this guy got anything meaningful to say? Well, let’s see. Imagine, for a moment, that this post might possibly add something valuable to your life. So, pause and breathe slowly. Stop. For two minutes. Three times a day. Stop. How hard can that be? LIFE IS BUSY First, I get this. Leaders have a lot on their plates. There is a lot to accomplish. There are tasks to complete, people to meet, goals to achieve. So let me be clear. I’m not suggesting that these tasks and goals aren’t valid, nor that your work doesn’t require hard work. It does. There is, however, a price to be paid for constant movement, continual running and reaching for the next thing. It creates stress and tends towards exhaustion. And in fact, a person who never stops often achieves less than the one who rests at appropriate moments. Studies show that for students, they retain more information if they take a ten-minute break every hour. And so today, I set you a challenge I have attempted myself. First, the challenge. Second, how I fared. Third, why it’s worth having a go. THE TWO MINUTE BREATHER Stop for two minutes three times a day. That’s just six minutes a day. This will benefit you whatever you do during those two minutes (that’s how God has created us), but I suggest one of these ways to enrich the time further: Meditate on a Scripture Worship Short devotional prayer Three times a day. HOW I FARED In truth, not well. Not well at all! I found it very hard. It’s only six minutes a day and I often forgot. Days would pass and I would simply forget. Once I had put on an alarm to remind me, that helped. But then I found it hard to slow down and stop. It was like slamming on the brakes on the motorway. Everyone else was speeding by, and I was resistant to stopping. I thought I would somehow lose momentum. But this turned out not to be true. Once I had got used to stopping for two minutes even once a day, I discovered the benefits. Which is why I’m recommending this practice. WHY IT’S WORTH HAVING A GO First, the practice of stopping regularly through your day is a reminder of your need to slow down. It actually reduces the stress in your body. When you stop, you slow your breathing and take deep breaths. The focus moves from the external to the inner life with God. Second, it acts like a regular wake-up call to the purpose of your life. Instead of distracting yourself with Facebook or Twitter, you are brought before the Lord to worship him, and since that is the ultimate goal of your life, it is good to be reminded of it. Third, the practice confronts a number of lies about your work. 1 – If you stop, you’ll get behind. Just two minutes and you’re behind? I don’t think so. If you believe that stopping for two minutes will cause you to get behind, then there is something very wrong. Because that simply isn’t true. Not unless you’re a paramedic or a trauma surgeon. If you feel a constant drive to press on, it’s precisely by stopping that you gain perspective. Indeed, after stopping and worshiping, you will bring into the next portion of your day the joy of having spent time with your Lord, if only for a couple of short minutes. 2 - This isn’t a good time or “I’ll lose track of what I’m doing.” Well, a little clarity might help here. I’m not asking you to stop in the middle of a team meeting. I’m suggesting you find three times a day when you can simply stop. Anybody can find that. Anybody, that is, who makes it a priority. And perhaps that is the crux. You will only do this if you make it a priority. It’s like the excuses we make for not sending emails. I haven’t had time. Really? It takes about a minute, and you haven’t had a minute? Of course you have, but , most likely, the email simply wasn’t important enough to you. If you prioritise this, you can do it. It’s not impossible. 3 - It doesn’t suit my personality. Maybe so. However, have you noticed that when Jesus taught people, he didn’t adjust his teaching to different personality types. If devotional practices bring benefits, then those benefits are available to everyone. It may be that highly-strung people will find this more difficult, but all the more reason to have a go. Jesus doesn’t say, “If you can’t concentrate, then don’t bother to pray.” He calls us all into his presence. In truth, you can do this. If you want to. Your God is well able to meet with you, whatever personality type you may have. 4 - I can’t slow down. Yes, you can. That is just a lie. The two-minute breather may be a challenge at first, but it is not impossible. I’ve added this last one, because it’s obviously an excuse. Anyone can slow down if they determine to do it. Back to how I fared . . . I will confess that I found this harder to do than I would admit to myself. It shouldn’t be hard, but it was. I made excuses or I forgot. Allow me to quote from Brother Lawrence, the master at holding Jesus before him all day long. I make it my business only to persevere in His holy presence, wherein I keep myself by a simple attention, and a general fond regard to God, which I may call an actual presence of God; or, to speak better, an habitual, silent, and secret conversation of the soul with God. - The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence. Why do I quote from Brother Lawrence? Because the two-minute breather is simply a technique to draw us back to a constant awareness of God’s presence. For he is always with us. Every moment of every day. There is nothing magical in the breather itself. Stopping for two minutes every now and then won’t transform you into the perfect Christian. But it may help you slow down. It may help to remind you regularly of your life’s purpose. If you struggle with it, it may even function as a warning signal. That you’re moving too fast, that you’re doing, doing, doing, without being grounded in your relationship with God. So, what do you say? Are you willing to try? I would love to hear how it goes. Do email me to let me know what you have learned through the practice. My email: richard.collins@livingleadership.org The Lord bless you as you serve him today.

This Sunday is Clergy Appreciation Day—9 October. It’s also known as Pastor Appreciation Day. The cynical among you are probably saying, “What next?! Another excuse for greeting card companies to cash in?” Well, whatever you think of designating a special date for it, clergy or pastor appreciation can hardly be a bad idea. So, let me ask you some questions. • Do you appreciate your minister?[1] • Would your minister know that you appreciate them? Or . . . • If you are a minister, do you feel appreciated? In our experience in Living Leadership, leaders are often chronically under-encouraged. I suspect that also runs true for many church members. Recently, someone suggested to me that many younger preachers only have one way of applying the Bible. The point of every sermon seems to be, “you need to try harder and do better”. That may well be a legitimate application to draw from some Bible passages, but I don’t think we can say it’s the point of every portion of Scripture. Nor is it true that we don’t need other messages, including that precious thing we call “encouragement”. A little appreciation goes a long way. It’s a familiar saying, isn’t it? And I’m confident that you know how true it is in your own life. Psychological research backs it up. Studies published in March 2022 found that an attitude gratitude can reduce our tendency to objectify others. The researchers defined objectification as, “treating others merely as things or tools while denying their personhood”. Sadly, this tendency to treat people as a means to an end can creep into ministry, as I have blogged previously. To guard against it, these studies say, we should cultivate gratitude. By showing appreciation, we become people who are less likely to objectify others. So, ministers, encourage your people, when you’re preaching and in pastoral encounters. If you’re a church member, don’t forget to encourage your minister. It’s so important to let them know they are appreciated. It seems so straightforward, doesn’t it? So what seems to be the problem? Why do ministers feel unappreciated?[2] Critical comments stick more easily and for longer than positive feedback. This is especially true when we feel overworked and tired. Cultural communication styles can sometimes cause harm. We can be overly reserved or pitifully superficial. Banter can be fun, but it can also bring people down if we are never sincere. Church members often underestimate the amount of time and effort that leaders pour into their job. Some make a superficial judgement based simply on what they see. We find it easier to praise people to others rather than to their face. Sadly, the praise sometimes never reaches the one praised. In other words, the encouragement never reaches the ears that need to hear it. Some church members fear that praising a pastor might breed pride or complacency. They erroneously believe that encouragement will negatively affect their humility and dampen their motivation. This simply isn’t true. Some church members hold unjustified beliefs and unbiblical ideas. For example, they believe that “it’s my minister’s job to keep my spiritual fervour”. Or, “if a pastor is doing the job well, the church will inevitably grow”. When things aren’t going well, resentment grows towards the minister. Finally, there is old-fashioned jealousy, rivalry and competitiveness. If you’re a church member, I wonder if any of these apply to you. It’s worth saying at this point that I’m not saying that all ministers need to be drenched in unconditional positive affirmation at all times. I’m also not arguing that when ministers behave badly, they shouldn’t be disciplined. Of course they should. Ministers need godly support and encouragement. They need wise counsellors who can both admonish and encourage. They need to hear the truth spoken in love. That means we shouldn’t tell ministers their sermons are wonderful when they aren’t. It means we should provide honest, loving feedback. If their hearts are in the right place, they will appreciate it. That caveat established, let me suggest three ways to show appreciation for your leader. DON’T JUST THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY DO. APPRECIATE WHO THEY ARE. Encouraging feedback often focuses on what a leader does rather than on who they are. I scanned the internet for advice on how to show appreciation on “Clergy Appreciation Day.” It was discouraging, to say the least. “You are the best pastor ever” is both ridiculous and unhelpful. “We appreciate your messages every Sunday” is slightly better, but still falls short. It focuses exclusively on what the minister does. Instead, the most meaningful feedback should focus on the leader’s character. If you see Christ-like qualities in them—compassion, gentleness, wisdom, faithfulness, humility—let them know. And be specific. “I truly appreciate how thoughtful and kind you were last week, when you called after my mother died. Thank you.” That would warm any leaders’ heart. Yes, it’s an action, but the focus is on the leader’s character that produced the action. DON’T JUST THANK THEM, THANK GOD. APPRECIATE GOD’S WORK IN THEM. In our culture, it is generally deemed polite to thank people for what they do for us. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but what about an additional dimension? St. Paul often showed his appreciation for others by offering thanksgiving to God for their service. Leaders love to see their church members growing, so when they hear a person say “I thank God for who he has made you and how you use the gifts he has given you,” that goes a long way. It keeps the focus on God and his glory. DON’T JUST SAY IT, SHOW IT. APPRECIATE YOUR LEADER IN TANGIBLE WAYS Words are powerful. But so are actions. Appreciative words bless the soul. Actions bless the body. Words can sometimes lack sincerity and they are easily offered. Actions require some effort. So, if you’re a church member, sending a card shows you care. Offering to baby-sit or sending a retail voucher—anonymously is best—are things that touch a leader’s heart. Confectionary may not be good for the teeth, but most leaders enjoy a little sugar! Two final suggestions. PASTORAL REFRESHMENT CONFERENCES Why not pay for your minister to attend one of our annual Pastoral Refreshment Conferences? They are spaces designed to encourage and fortify your leader(s). Spouses are encouraged to come too. If the price is too high for you, why not club together with others, or ask your church to provide the funds? LEADERSHIP COMMITMENTS SCHEME Consider signing up to our Leadership Commitments Scheme. It includes a Code of Best Practice in Caring for Leaders. By subscribing to the Scheme, you show your commitment to work towards appreciative working conditions for your ministers. In addition, the church gets access to a range of toolkits that help embed that culture, including one for ministry reviews. October 9. Clergy Appreciation Day. Pastor Appreciation Day. Whether you’re a minister or a church member, may I encourage you today by leaving you with some advice from the Apostle Paul. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thess. 5.11 The Lord bless you as you serve him today. 1. Insert the title used in your community for those who provide spiritual leadership. 2. If you’re a minister, and you feel brave, you’re welcome to forward this post to your church members. Just blame me if they don’t like it!

Pastoring during the pandemic was hard, wasn’t it? As leaders, we found ourselves isolated and unable to connect with our communities. For some, the pandemic has also left a sting in the tail, a nasty barbed spike. The absence of face-to-face contact has served to aggravate minor pastoral issues that were smouldering away in the background. It’s like someone poured petrol on the fire, making it burn more fiercely. Personally, I’ve found myself getting scorched. And I’m not the only one. My wife, Katie, and I have been greatly saddened to hear of other “pandemic-related church blow-ups” among our friends and those further afield. Many in ministry are still feeling the effects. It takes time to move beyond the scars. As we’ve reflected on this season, and the length of time it takes to heal, we’ve considered some of the things we’ve learned. At times, could we have shown greater godliness? Almost certainly. Greater wisdom? Without doubt. We are a work in progress and we have much to learn. So, here are a few thoughts on what we’ve learned, in the hopes that some of these might speak to others who’ve gone through similar challenges. We’ve written from the perspective of a married couple, but most of what follows is relevant for a single person too. Remind yourself of God's sovereignty and grace, and his faithfulness to you. Take time to be thankful even if you don't feel like it. We’ve been finding Psalm 25 especially helpful recently. Pray for the faith to believe that God can still use you in the midst of your circumstances, no matter how you’re feeling or how hard it seems. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine (Eph 3.20), and delights to make His strength known through our weakness (1 Cor 1.17-31). Remind yourself that the critical views are held by a minority in the church. Pray for those that persecute you—even if it's hard (Matt 5.44). Be gracious towards people who have reacted in extreme ways. Some have found the pandemic very challenging—sometimes due to issues we know nothing about. Deliberately hang out with positive people who are “for you.” Drink in encouragement from those who build you up. Find someone outside your community whom you can trust. Don’t be afraid to share your challenges with them. If you don’t know a suitable person, a Living Leadership Associate can help. Be careful how you talk about church issues with your children (if you have any). Teenage children, in particular, do not need to know about your struggles with “those difficult people.” It’s not their burden. Protect your times of intimacy with the Lord. Even if you don’t feel like it. Don’t heap up strict requirements, like long prayer lists. Keep it simple. Enjoy God’s presence. Receive his love. Go for a walk somewhere beautiful—whatever helps you enjoy God’s grace. Remember that He will never let you down, will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb.13.5-6). Protect your time off away from church. Ensure you make time to do things that bring you joy—sport, hobbies, time with family, whatever helps you de-stress and enjoy life. Chill. Laugh. It’s restorative. So do that. A lot. Don't allow “church issues” to dominate every conversation with your spouse. Or even those with other friends and colleagues. Consider setting one specific time aside each week to chat and pray. Then, as far as you’re able, try not to drag your worries through the week. Leave them before the Lord, who cares for you. Make a fuss of your spouse, (if you have one.) Ensure you protect those times of physical intimacy that are so important in marriage. Listen to the 'You're Not Crazy' podcast by Sam Alberry and Ray Ortland on TCG, especially the most recent season: You're Not Crazy. We found it very helpful. And finally . . . Pray boldly about possible next steps for the future. Perhaps the Lord is shaking you up, unsettling you for a change in direction. Or not. Seek his wisdom. Listen to advice from godly friends on this too. One thing is certain—whatever He has in store, it's going to be for your growth. It’s going to lead you to rely on Him more. This season may have hurt—it may have hurt a lot—but the Lord has not forsaken you. He has good plans for you, as you seek to serve him each day.

Beep beep! Waaaa-waaa! I was just drifting off to sleep the other night when my car alarm went off. I sighed. Not that again. Must be a cat or a fox that set it off. I trudged downstairs and went to turn it off. Next night, the same thing happened. Okay, fine. I need to turn off the audio part of the alarm, because this will eventually upset the neighbours. My indicator lights and sidelights can flash all they want. As long as I’m not aggravating these lovely people down the street! Warning signals. They’re there for a reason. To warn us of danger. To tell us to pay attention. You may have heard stories or seen videos of those unwise (I’m being polite here) people who zigzag their way round railway barriers. In some of the videos, they only just escape with their lives. In the really shocking ones, they don’t. Didn’t they see the flashing red lights? Of course they did. They chose to ignore them. On the night of 14 April 1912, the Marconi operators on the Titanic received no less than three warning messages from ships in the area. At 9.35pm, the steamer Mesaba sent a warning of “heavy pack ice and a great number of large icebergs.” The message never reached the bridge. At 11pm, Senior Marconi operator Phillips, under extreme stress, claimed he was too busy to pay attention to any more warnings from the Californian. Phillips told the Californian’s operator to “shut up, I’m busy!” At 11.30pm, a slight haze settled on the horizon, decreasing visibility. Five minutes later, the Californian’s operator, Cyril Evans, retired to bed. He never heard from Titanic again. Warning signals. Oh the trouble we could avoid if we just paid attention to them. Leaders have warning signals too. THE BODY The body has a pain system, designed to alert a person to danger. Yes, pain hurts, but without it, we would be in huge trouble. Indeed, when the brain fails to receive pain signals, awful things can happen. Those with leprosy, in particular, are prone to burn themselves, cut themselves, and develop sores. Quite often, amputation is the only way to save a person who has lost the ability to feel pain. What about you? Stress presents first in the body. It is critical to pay attention to the body. It is speaking to you. Loss of sleep, inability to concentrate, headaches, shortness of breath, muscle constriction, they are all signs that something isn’t right. We become stressed when the rhythm of our lives is out of kilter. We are not resting enough or we aren’t really resting when time is allocated to rest. We’re still checking emails, still scrolling. We all have different personality types—some say they thrive under pressure—but at the very minimum, I appeal to you to pay attention to what your body is telling you. EXCUSES Overworking, stressed out leaders tend to make excuses. The most common one is, “I don’t have a choice.” Instead of leading, they see their job as one long list of tasks. Services, meetings, decisions, more meetings. When challenged about the need to attend a meeting or lead a service, they reply, “But I have to. It’s expected. There’s no one else.” They’re not really leading at all, but struggling along, trying to survive. If you make excuses to yourself about your lack of agency, then it’s a warning signal. It’s a warning that the job has imprisoned you and your life has become defined by a set of tasks. This lack of agency leads inevitably to the next warning signal. LOSS OF JOY The joy of the Lord is my strength. Rejoice in the Lord always, and I say again, rejoice! Joy isn’t a static emotion, but a glorious experience that comes from being known and loved by God. Joy emerges from knowing him. It fortifies the spirit. It is also a powerful weapon to counter fear. When we serve God joyfully, we are made free. Fear does not constrain and imprison the person who serves joyfully. Instead, joy liberates the soul. It puts wind in our sails and empowers us to serve freely and with a willing spirit. It is a gift from God, received gratefully. Its loss is therefore a warning signal. If you have lost your joy, or are in the process of losing it, then the warning lights are flashing. They are calling you to pay attention to what’s going wrong. To ignore these warning lights is like a cyclist who zigzags his way past the railway barrier. It will not end well. LOSS OF SPIRITUAL CONNECTION What is life for, if not to love God and be loved by him? Overworking leaders begin to shortchange their times with the Lord. They begin to “dial in” their quiet times. Prayers become ritualistic and deep down, they know all is not right. Those good intentions to talk to someone are put on hold, because well, there’s so much to do. The ship slowly sinks even as the captain is pulling handles, ringing bells, and barking orders as loudly and as fast as possible. No captain can sail the ship when he’s on the verge of collapse. How’s your walk with the Lord? Really. Only you will know if it has become a warning signal. WISE COUNSEL Overworking leaders become experts at giving the right answers to those who counsel them. Oh yes, our fraternal is excellent. A wonderful group of chaps! What’s wonderful is that they never actually ask difficult questions, and even if they do, the overworking leader has a ready answer to every one. Oh, he has fooled everyone. Except God. He can fool himself, perhaps, but not forever. Eventually, the piper will call the tune. The thing about warning signals is that they aren’t worth a dime if they’re ignored. How often, when we hear a car alarm, do we say “Oh, let’s make sure the car is safe”? Hardly ever. Routinely we conclude that the car is fine and the alarm is broken in some way. The alarm can be ignored. I’m stressed, can’t concentrate. That’s just modern life. Making excuses? Not really. I just have a lot on my plate right now. That’s life. Loss of joy? Struggling to hear from God and feel his presence? Everyone knows our spiritual lives go through rough patches. That’s not a warning. A friend asking me awkward questions? I told him it’s all under control. Challenges, of course, but I can cope. The warning signals are there—they’re flashing and beeping—but it’s just so easy to ignore them or switch them off. How, then, we do install a warning system that actually works? They once tried to install a pain system for the body using electric shocks and other technology to substitute for the body’s neural pathways. It was quite sophisticated. It would work until the subject decided that s/he would override the system. Even intelligent subjects would do it. Without actual pain, they would pick up boiling hot kettles without gloves or walk around on open blisters. It turned out that the pain system we have is the only one that works because it’s outside our control. Which means you have to trust it. There’s a message in there, I think. I wish I could finish off this post with some encouraging words about a warning system that is foolproof. I would love to tell you that there is a guaranteed way to save you from yourself. I’m sorry to report that I know of no such system. Save you from yourself. Sadly, we cannot save ourselves. And while we exercise free will, God will not step in to do it for us. As glorious as our Saviour is, he will not coerce us. He permits us to live with the consequences of our choices. So I will simply reiterate the warning signals I’ve already listed. Body. Please listen to your body. It is speaking to you. Excuses. Only you will know when you’re making them. Ask a spouse or close friend, “Am I making excuses?” Then listen to their answer. Loss of joy and loss of spiritual connection. Seek the Lord while he may be found. He is longsuffering and gracious. He answers those who call upon his name. But if you are experiencing a deep sense of joylessness, then please go and talk to someone. Wise counsel. Be real. Take a good look in the mirror and come clean with those who love you. Stop the self-deception. If you ever find yourself asking, “Are things really bad enough to warrant talking to someone?” I want to be absolutely clear. That is a warning as loud as a flashing red light at the railway crossing. It is the dog barking next door. It is the honking horn from the car behind you as you reverse towards its bumper! If you’re asking the question, the answer is “YES!” Please listen to the warning signals. If you don’t have close friends nearby or you want to talk to someone outside your community, please get in touch with one of our Associates. They are ready to listen and pray. The Lord bless you as you serve him today.

Photo credit: Nicolas de Camaret, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons The last week has brought tectonic changes. After seventy years on the throne, the Queen has died. She is no longer with us. It is no surprise that so many around the country are feeling a degree of personal bereavement. Whatever one’s thoughts about her or about the monarchy, she has been, simply, there. I have found myself reaching for Psalm 46. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. Psalm 46.1-6 Therefore, we will not fear . . . Huge changes in leadership can make people feel unsafe. It can feel like the earth is giving way. Many centuries ago, when Israel faced danger and the people were fearful, the psalmist called attention to God’s strength and his faithfulness. His constancy. That’s a word you may have heard or read in the last week. It’s been associated with our late Queen. I am in my mid-50s and, outside of my immediate family, no other figure has been so constantly visible for my entire life. In an age which is so conscious of the power of image, hers has been literally all-pervasive. No doubt a day has passed in my adult life when I haven’t seen some representation of the Queen, but there haven’t been many. Whether on stamps, or on TV, or when handing over coins in the supermarket, her image has been everywhere. That’s why she became part of our sense of identity and community. She was always there. She projected constancy. With a steady hand, she managed to steer the country through turbulent times as the U.K. moved from being an empire (when she came to the throne) to a Commonwealth. Constancy. We all crave constancy. It underpins and anchors who we are. Having some reliable certainties in life is extremely valuable to us. And that is what many will feel has gone. We do not just feel sadness at the loss of our sovereign. For many, it feels like a small (but quite foundational) part of everyone has died. This would be disorienting enough on its own, but the country is also facing global instability, an economic crisis, post-pandemic challenges, and a change in prime minister. No wonder it can feel to many that the waters are roaring and foaming, and the mountains are quaking with their surging. Yet constancy can be surprisingly ephemeral. Paradoxically, even constancy is fleeting. People are saying that they felt the Queen would go on forever because she had reigned for so long. But even seventy years is transitory. Indeed, in the grand scheme of things, it’s momentary. Christian leaders are shepherds. To care for people at a time like this, we need to be aware of the strength of feeling running through our communities. It’s good to be aware of our own emotions too. We are experiencing global and historic change, which can make us feel inadequate, and leave us feeling punctured, disoriented and afraid. Those we serve need to be reminded that while it may feel like the earth is moving, it is not. There is genuinely solid ground. Those we serve want assurance. They need assurance. As the Queen knew, and often reminded us, it was not to be found in a monarch or any other human being—except one. In contrast to the terrifying surging waters of Psalm 46, there is also a river whose streams make glad the city of God. There is a place where God dwells, that is safe and secure. His rule won’t fail, he helps his people when nations are in uproar, when even the very earth melts. As the Psalm repeats: the LORD Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress. This is a moment for gentle shepherding. It is also a moment to lead people to Christ, our rock and our fortress. Many will feel bereaved. Some will be considering their own impending death, while others will find the passing of the Queen triggers memories of other bereavements they have experienced. Still others will be afraid of the unknown. The answer—the only answer—for each and every one, is trust in our King and his kingdom that cannot be shaken. They need to know that there is no power in heaven and earth, in life or in death that can separate us from his love. Sentimental sermons are not the answer. When facing insecurity, nothing less than God himself is enough. He is always enough. And he is constant. In the Scriptures, divine constancy has another word: faithfulness. Our God is faithful, even to the end of the age. So, as you lead your communities in the coming days, remind them that comfort and consolation come from knowing a faithful God, one who is working all things for the good of those who love him. Then the uncertain future will take on a different complexion. Not because we are adequate to the times, but because he is. And because ultimately, we are safe in the cleft of our Almighty Rock, who has us in his unshakeable grasp. A prayer by my friend and colleague Paul Coulter: Gracious God, Majesty in heaven, blessed and only Sovereign, We give thanks for the public service of Queen Elizabeth. In countless interactions, she treated people of every station with honour and dignity. We give thanks for her public profession of faith in your Son, our Lord Jesus. In her coronation vows and Christmas messages, she testified to dependence on Him. We give thanks for her steadfast devotion to family, nation and Commonwealth. Through changing times and personal challenges, she was a faithful wife and matriarch. We, who knew her a little from afar, pray for those who loved her dearly and nearly. May her family, friends, and servants find comfort in your love. In their grief may they seek refuge in your Son, and rest in your great promises. We pray especially for the new king, Charles. We give thanks for his expressed intention to serve with your help. May he seek your kingdom and righteousness above all else. May his advisors give wise counsel in accordance with your will. May his influence be for good, that your people may lead peaceful and quiet lives, Free to live in godliness and dignity in every way, and to proclaim the gospel of Christ. In the name of our Lord and eternal King Jesus, Amen. Photo credit: Nicolas de Camaret, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Editor's Note: This post was written by our Associate, Mark Howson, a follower of Jesus and a farmer. He wrote this post at the height of the drought in August. Do join with him in his prayer, "Let it rain, Lord, let it rain . . . " “Boy, ass as hud as ion!” declared Will, the pigman, kicking the soil. We stood on the edge of the field, looking out at some of the driest conditions on record. Our pigman, “a good old Suffolk boy,” knows what he’s talking about. The earth was hud as ion. This summer, we’ve observed our gardens drying up, the leaves on the trees turning in August as they normally do in late September. To make matters worse, some parts of the country have been affected by hosepipe bans. None of us has escaped the effects of the drought . . . with the possible exception of the Scottish Highlands. Lack of rain brings a whole host of challenges. This summer, we finished harvest earlier than ever before. We harvested our last field on 29 July—the week we would ordinarily be starting. Which brings me back to Will, the pigman. Ass as hud as ion. In late August, as I write this, we would normally have prepared the land for planting the oil seed rape. Indeed, we would have finished planting it. But as our pigman pointed out, “ass as hud as ion.” You cannot plant in soil that’s rock hard. It’s impossible. Until we get a substantial rain, lawns will remain brown, rivers will continue to dry up, and the seed will stay in the store. A phrase sometimes used by insurance companies is “an act of God.” It describes an event, often weather-related, which could not have been foreseen or prevented, and for which no one can be held responsible. As we feel the frustration arising from fields where the ground is simply too hard to work on, we are conscious that only God can bring the rain. We are completely dependent on him. We need “an act of God.” In Exodus, we read about many “acts of God.” Mostly, we focus on the plagues, but it’s worth remembering the act of God in hardening Pharoah’s heart. You may also remember this section from John 12. Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[h] For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”[i] Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. John 12.37-41 According to Jesus, it is by an act of God that the people are blind. As hard as that might be to read, it surely only makes sense in the light of verse 37. It is the people’s unbelief that renders them blind; their sin is at the root of verses 40-41. They need to turn to God in faith. During this season, we are completely dependent on an act of God to bring rain that will soften the soil. Only then can we work to produce the food upon which we all depend. No wonder farmers are fascinated by the weather! The most visited app on a farmer’s smartphone is the weather app. In the same way, as leaders in the church, we are also completely dependent upon the grace and mercy of God to bring the softening work of the Spirit on hard hearts. Only when God acts are people receptive to the wonderful life-giving gospel. PATIENCE NEEDED Last week, I noticed a large plume of dust rising from my neighbour’s field. Upon investigation, I discovered that he had run out of patience and decided to plant his oil seed rape. He had calculated that his precious seed would be better off in the ground than in the store. Who knows? Maybe God will show him mercy and send rain so that the seed can germinate. If the rain doesn’t arrive, however, he will have expended a great deal of time and labour to produce very little. At worst, he may have to re-plant the whole field again in the spring. In ministry, I have made similar mistakes. I have tried by my own efforts to break through to hard hearts, and that’s been especially true where loved ones are concerned. Often, I have done more harm than good. In spite of the best intentions, I have not always been patient, and have instead resorted to nagging in an attempt to reach a loved one. I have learned painful lessons through it all. It is humbling to confess this, yet I can also testify that God has been very gracious to me. When I have lacked patience, he has demonstrated it in spades. His grace and his mercy towards me is the air I breathe. I have learned—and am learning—to be dependent on God’s patient, longsuffering love. Now let me strike a balance. Paul wrote to Timothy, Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— 2 Tim 4.2a It is good to be prepared and to preach the word. It is good to encourage and to take the opportunity, when presented, to share the gospel with those who don’t yet know Jesus. But then he finishes off the verse as follows: . . . with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Tim 4.2b Be prepared, yes, but also be patient. So here I am writing this in August when I would normally be out on the farm. Lessons in patience are hard, not just for me but for others. A fellow believer—also a farmer—said to me last Sunday, “Mark, we need to pray that God will bring rain!” I could feel his desperation. Yet how much more do we need to pray for God’s Holy Spirit to soften hearts so they can respond to the life-giving message of the gospel! And we do pray, even as we learn to be patient and depend on our gracious and merciful God. How we pray for rain right now. Please, Lord, bring rain, which is so desperately needed by so many. And as we depend on you, Father, for rain, so we also pray for you to act in the hearts of those we love. To reveal the wonder of the Lord Jesus. Only you can break through and soften the soil of a hard heart. AND FINALLY . . . Be encouraged. The Lord IS at work. He’s always at work in this world to bring in his kingdom. His will can never be thwarted. Remember Lydia, and be encouraged. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. Acts 16.14-15a The Lord bless you as you serve him this week.

Are you ready? End of the summer. A new term beckons. A new year. Forget January 1, September is the start of the new year, we all know that, don’t we? Students back, new school year for the kids. This particular year may feel a little different. The pandemic is now firmly in the rear-view mirror (though Covid lingers in some places.) Now we’re facing something at least as fierce. Anxiety over paying our energy bills. The prices in the supermarket. These are real issues for people in your community. Are you ready? Ready to lead them through a time of testing? After the quiet months of the summer, there is a real temptation to do a ‘re-set.’ Maybe try some new things. Perhaps be a little bolder in setting a clear vision. Nothing wrong with those ideas, of course, but on the back of them comes the temptation to work harder. Got to work harder. Got to project to the congregation that I’m working hard. They like that. So here come twelve-hour days. Even worse, maybe you are one of those leaders who only just made it to June/July. You collapsed, exhausted, into the summer. Now it’s September, it’s time to get back on the horse. Another nine or ten months of the flat-out. If you’re a regular reader of our blog, or you’re familiar with our philosophy here at Living Leadership, you’ll know what we think of that approach. Not much. In fact, we exist to counter this kind of attitude to leadership. Work, work, work, then drop. No, absolutely not. That is NOT godly, and it is not right. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37.7a REST Godly rhythms of work call for a life rhythm that incorporates rest. Right at the heart of how we live. So, as you begin this new year, I have some questions for you: Did you ‘collapse’ into the summer? If so, how is that approach to life working for you? Do you intend to ‘do it all again’ this year? Do you have regular rhythms of rest in your life? If so, what are they? Are they working? What changes do you need to make in order to create space for rest? You may have heard this little aphorism: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I’m not sure I totally agree with it, but this I will say—when facing a challenge, it’s essential to set out clear, achievable goals. In short, a plan. May I, therefore, encourage you to consider carefully how you will approach this coming year? Some more questions. What changes do you need to make to live a godly life of service and rest? What support do you have to help you navigate the challenges of leading your church? How is God speaking to you about the need to rest and find support? TALK TO A LIVING LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATE In answering question two above, may I encourage you to consider meeting with one of our Associates? Here are four reasons why this is a good idea. 1. They are—every one—wise and godly people. 2. Collectively, they have hundreds of years of experience in the work you’re doing. Each Associate has decades of experience. And I mean decades, plural. 3. They are outside your community. This means you can speak freely about any issue you’re facing without worrying about betraying confidentiality. They will focus on you, alone, to help you process the challenges you’re facing. They won’t judge. They will listen. They will pray with you. To get connected with a member of the team, email support@livingleadership.org Perhaps you’re thinking, ‘this is looking suspiciously like a marketing blog for Living Leadership!’ Well, you’re partly right. In a world where there is no such thing as a free lunch, we offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We exist only to bless and support you. So, here’s my final invitation. Consider attending the Pastoral Refreshment Conference. Make it part of your year as a statement that you understand the critical importance of rest. (Find out more) As I finish, may I encourage you in your role as leader? If you’re looking for a re-set, you can’t do better than remind yourself of your job description. Your purpose. And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God. Eph 4.11-13a Equip the saints. Or as Jesus puts it, ‘make disciples.’ The Lord has called you. He is with you. Even to the end of the age.