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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s The Great Disappointer! The Great Disappointer is capable of jumping absolutely no tall buildings in a single bound. They travel at the speed of an average human being (and maybe slightly slower these days, if we’re honest). They are only capable of an average amount of work each day, and have never managed to defeat that ever re-spawning supervillain, the To-do List. They answer every distress call with an attitude of compassion and a desire to help but, to be frank, sometimes they get it wrong. They do not have the practical, financial, or people-resources to accomplish more than the most essential missions of the day. Their supersonic hearing picks up all your ideas and their X-ray vision sees all your hopes and dreams for the ministry, but they are powerless to make those dreams a reality right now. Then, when The Great Disappointer slinks back into the dead of night after another mission averagely-done, if you listen carefully, you can hear them utter their trademark catchphrase: ‘I’m sorry for any disappointment’. MY OWN SEASONS AS A GREAT DISAPPOINTER Clearly this is all a bit over the top and tongue in cheek, but have you ever had a season where you donned the cape of The Great Disappointer? The people around you look to you for support, for vision; they expect you to deliver solutions to the pressing needs of your church, ministry, or loved ones, but the only superpower you have is the power to disappoint them. Well, aside from the power to disappoint yourself. I have experienced more than one season as The Great Disappointer, and as a recovering people-pleaser, each one was especially challenging and tiring. Yet, God met me in these seasons with reminders of his truths, fresh perspectives, and new experiences of him. If you have worn the cape of The Great Disappointer, (and perhaps are still wearing it), then here are some reflections to help you discard it. JESUS THE DISAPPOINTER Even writing that subtitle feels scandalous to me. How could Jesus ever disappoint anyone? Yet he did. Frequently. Since coming to this realisation by reading God’s word, I have found this truth immensely liberating. We know from the gospel accounts that many people had great and specific expectations of Jesus, ones he didn’t fulfil. Consider, for example, the constant crowds who sought out Jesus for healing and miracles. Jesus healed a lot of people, yes, but on many occasions, he also left towns and cities where crowds were still waiting on him. He left people in need in order to travel further afield, and he withdrew to spend time with his Father (Mark 1.35-39). There were also times when his teaching disappointed people. We’re told that they departed with sadness because the truth he spoke was not what they wanted to hear. The rich young ruler described in Matthew 19 comes to mind. Finally, there is the judgement and scorn displayed by the religious elites, followed by cries of ‘crucify him!’ from the people, many of whom had welcomed him with hosannas just a few days before. Jesus was not the Messiah or military leader they wanted or expected him to be. As a result, their disappointment turned to malice. And yet, this was the path he chose because he was committed to carrying out the will of his Father in heaven. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. John 6.38 Jesus wasn’t swayed by the expectations and subsequent disappointment of others. He followed the will of his Father and completed his mission at the cost not only of people’s opinions of him, but ultimately, death on a cross. WHEN WE DISAPPOINT PEOPLE So what about us? Clearly, we are not in the same category as the Lord Jesus. He was sinless; we are anything but. We are capable of sin and stupidity and, at times, we deserve to be corrected and challenged. Sometimes we will be going in the wrong direction and when we encounter disappointment (or disagreement), it can be an appropriate wake-up call. However, that will not always be the case. As leaders, we want to seek God with pure hearts and pure motives, so the following questions are worth considering. Do you seek God’s will? Do you talk to the Lord and other wise believers about your important decisions? When making decisions, to the best you can discern, and with all humility, are they in line with the Lord’s will for you and the church? Are you acting with integrity, without open or hidden disqualifying sins? Are you leading and caring for the people God has given you to the best of your ability? Once you’ve answered these questions in humility and with faith, then a hard truth must also be accepted. Sometimes, you will still disappoint people. When this happens, though it may feel hard and heavy to do so, you can come to your heavenly Father in prayer. Just as the Lord Jesus did when he was burdened. What a joy to approach your Saviour, who knows exactly what you’re going through! Remember too, that you serve a gracious and loving God, who is never disappointed in those who have surrendered their lives into his care. Ever. He is on your side. Always. I urge you, therefore, to take hold of the following truths. People’s disappointment does not equal God’s disappointment. Your approval rating is not the barometer of God’s pleasure or blessing in your life. This is especially important for those who have become too dependent on the opinions of others. So, take heart! Lift your eyes to your Lord. Know that he delights in your faithful service, even if others do not. GOD IS THE HERO, WE ARE THE SIDEKICK When we take other people’s disappointments on our shoulders, we place ourselves in danger. This is not our job, nor is it healthy for ourselves or those we serve. Yet it’s so easy to buy into this narrative. When everyone comes to you, hoping that you’re some kind of caped salvation figure, it’s hard to turn them down. Who doesn’t want to be seen as the one who fixes problems, makes wishes come true, and leads people to victory? It’s nonsense, of course, but therein lies the danger. Not only does it tap into your pride but before long, you can end up feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You are the one holding everything up and moving everything forward, making everyone happy . . . or sad. The cape has become an essential part of your uniform, but everyone’s still wondering why you can’t fly! I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you this, but . . . you are not the hero! You are the sidekick. Only Jesus saves. Only he can build his church. He is the powerful one. He has the resources. He is the hero. Always. We are weak humans, recipients of God’s extraordinary grace. Like many sidekicks in pop culture, we’re not especially powerful in our own right. I have no need to remind you how frail and vulnerable you are. If you’re anything like me, the longer you live, the more this truth becomes apparent. We are so very weak and limited. Both physically and in terms of our character growth. And yet, we have a mind-blowing privilege. Our hero has called us to be on mission with him. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2.4-10 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28.19-20 We are called to take part in our Lord’s mission to bring all nations into his kingdom. Notice, however, that he doesn’t do this by wrapping a cape around our shoulders and turning us into a superhero. Yes, by his Spirit he is changing and sanctifying us, but this side of heaven, we will never be without limits or weaknesses. In fact, our weaknesses give us the opportunity to rely on him more, and point others to him. Hear the words of the apostle Paul. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12.9-10 Being confronted with our own limits is a good thing. It moves our hearts to seek him in prayer, to submit to him, to trust him, to rely on him. And when we learn to do this well, we provide a model for those we lead. So, take the cape off your shoulders and refuse to put it back on. Follow your hero out into the world, and watch as he performs his wonders. Seek him in all things, and serve him obediently. Remember, also, that he is never, ever, disappointed in you. He loves you. And his grace is sufficient. At all times.

Dormancy. When you read my ‘word of the season’, what thoughts come to mind? Here’s the Cambridge Dictionary definition. Something that is dormant is not active or growing but has the ability to be active at a later time. This sums up winter for me, though I must admit that I am conditioned by one of my favourite mysterious archaeological structures. Located on one of the islands of Orkney, Maeshowe is a remarkable burial chamber dating back over a thousand years. History records that marauding Vikings broke into it looking for treasure. It’s believed they took shelter inside the chamber during a storm and whiled away their stay by carving runic graffiti on the walls. The record of their vandalism can be clearly seen. How do we know all this? It is all recorded in the Orkneyinga Saga of the twelfth century. The chamber itself was built by an ancient race of neolithic people who were certainly in tune with the cycle of the seasons in the northern islands. It’s a timepiece (of sorts) that still works all these millennia later. For around six weeks in the winter (from the end of November through to mid-January), the setting sun, should it break through the clouds, aligns with the central chamber of the cairn. In fact, the entrance passageway is aligned so that the rear wall of its central chamber is illuminated on the winter solstice, (the day I am writing this). There is no clear evidence of why the cairn was built, but some have seen its alignment as symbolic of death and resurrection: the sun illuminating the rear wall of the chamber on the longest day of the year, promising the return of the sun and the arrival of spring. For winter, the earth lies dormant. It will be active later. The Lord Jesus used this idea of dormancy in one of his more enigmatic parables—the story of the growing seed in Mark 4.2-9. I’ve reflected on this before in this blog, but it deserves another go within the context of the season. There is a man who simply scatters seed and then allows nature to take its course. The miracle of the seeds’ DNA and the nutrients, water, and soil has its effect as the seed sprouts, grows, and produces a head of grain. All of this happens without the man’s help. The concept has been described by theologians as ‘ex opere operato’, meaning ‘by the work worked’. Jesus puts it this way. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. Mark 4.28 So, if we take the seed to be the Word of God (Mark 4.14), we can reasonably guess that the growth of the plants is the working of God’s Word in our hearts. Is it possible, then, that because the grain grows without a farmer’s intervention, God can cause us to grow in our Christian lives, bearing fruit by his own sovereign power and the latent authority and effectiveness of his living Word? Paul seems to assume this interpretation when he states that ‘I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow’ in relation to the church in Corinth. (1 Cor 3.9) What a thought—growth during dormancy. I’m quite happy to lie dormant during the winter months, knowing that the seed of God’s Word is being effectively transformed into something active for a later time. Maybe we all feel like that as we lie recumbent for a short season of rest. There are periods in our calling as leaders when life enters a hiatus. I have been through a few recently. Retirement from a full-time pastoral role; the end of a nine-year commitment to an annual mentoring programme for pastors; fewer interventions in struggling churches, and a commitment to a new local church as an ordinary member. All of this coincides with a more permanent change in capacity because of disability. It has made me realise that life is just a series of transitions, and inevitably there will be cyclical changes to my level of activity. At moments of transition, we can decide for ourselves whether it’s time to change pace. If we’re wise, we won’t immediately seek to refill our plate, but instead we’ll wait patiently for what the Lord has in store for us. If leadership is our calling, there will be many, many opportunities to lead. Transitions, however, may be few, and when they come, we should be alert to what they are offering. We need to allow seasonal change to educate us, to show us whether our age, health, finances, even our relationships need attention, and even adjustment. We belong to God alone, and so, as leaders, there is an absolute requirement to live according to his ways, to be obedient to his plans for us instead of prioritising our own. This requires the following principles. WAIT. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (Ps 27.14) I’m so glad he repeated ‘wait’ twice. Often, we don’t hear it the first time! BE HUMBLE. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?’ (Mic 6.8) Notice he says ‘walk’, not ‘charge ahead’. BE PATIENT. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. (Ps 40.1) I’m cheating with this one because it includes waiting again! Nevertheless, this is about the character of our waiting. It is not to be the toe-tapping, deep-sighing, watch-checking kind of waiting. We are to be patient in our waiting—to pause and listen for the whispering of God. I wonder if you are in a kind of dormancy. Perhaps your circumstances have changed, or transitions are taking place in your life or the lives of those you love. Maybe you are leading less, and waiting more. Dormancy is a time to learn about ourselves and our dependence on the Lord. Remember that, most often, dormancy comes to an end. In time, we will be energised by the rising sun of a soon-returning spring. So, wait patiently. Dormancy is not death, just a temporary and brief respite.

“My father is Welsh but I was born in Ireland. Who should I support? Should I be governed by blood or birth?” These were the words uttered by a preacher I heard recently during the Six Nations Rugby Tournament. Wales faced Ireland in a critical match, with Ireland still aspiring to become Grand Slam Champions, and Wales trying to avoid the wooden spoon. The preacher was asking where his loyalty should lie. To his bloodline—his father’s Welsh blood specifically—or to the land of his birth—Ireland? LOYALTY Loyalty is one of those words that generates debate. There are some who believe that loyalty is an unvarnished virtue. We should be loyal to our friends in particular, no questions asked. By contrast, others argue that loyalty can lead to disaster. What happens when our friends turn out to be responsible for terrible deeds, and we have continued to support them long after their guilt has been laid bare? Essentially, loyalty is about our hearts. To whom have we given our hearts? We must make a choice, and then hold to that choice. From that flows loyalty, whether for good or ill. In the Bible, loyalty comes up when Jesus speaks about family. So, family (birth), Jesus (blood), and loyalty. Here are some reflections. THE ROLE OF FAMILY I love my family. My wife and children, especially, are dear to me beyond words. They are essential to my wellbeing. I imagine you feel the same about those dear to you. In addition, it’s clear that the Scriptures speak highly of our commitment to our families. The following verses come to mind. Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Ex 20.12 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Tim 5.8 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Gen 2.24 If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? 1 Tim 3.5 Family is important, no question. But hold on, because Jesus says some very uncomfortable things about family, doesn’t he? What about this one? If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. Luke 14.26 Ouch! That’s a tough ask . . . until you place it in context, and realise that Christ isn’t calling for his disciples to abandon their families, but instead is challenging them about their loyalty to him. He must come first in all things. He makes this clear when he follows this statement up with a question about planning to build a tower. This is about the cost of discipleship, made clear with his summary statement in verse thirty-three. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14.33 Absolute commitment to our Lord is the cost of discipleship. MAKING FAMILY AN IDOL To whom is our greatest loyalty? To our loved ones or to the Lord? As painful as it may be, I think we need to ask ourselves the following question. Have I made an idol of my family? Were we ever to ask this question during a sermon, a few caveats are in order. ALL FAMILIES ARE DIFFERENT Our families are central to our identity; they give us meaning, and aside from the Lord himself, they are our greatest source of love, without which we cannot survive. Hyperbolic perhaps, but you know what I mean. By contrast, family members are often the ones who have caused us the most pain. Abuse, neglect, stinging criticism—our families form us in so many ways. So family is complicated. Very complicated. Ministers of the gospel cannot possibly know the depth of joy and pain that people experience from their family relationships. Which is why the question above should never lead to dogmatic conclusions about what it means to make family an idol. We just don’t know enough. Just because some are always in church, serving, and others do very little, we cannot draw conclusions about what’s going on their hearts from these observations. Family relationships are too important, too varied, too complicated. BEWARE OF THE CONVERSE We tend to think that more is better. We shouldn’t, but some of us do. More hours teaching, more time doing evangelism, praying, serving. More is good. But could this be a false dichotomy? Since Jesus is focused principally on our hearts, could it be true that some people serve at every opportunity because they’ve never really understood grace? They’re involved in every church initiative, because inside they’re soothing a painful wound to do with . . . well, take your pick . . . not being good enough, seeking affirmation, subconsciously adding to their tally of heavenly brownie points. Some people might actually need to spend less time serving and more time caring for their loved ones. And they may need a better understanding of grace. So is this a question we should avoid? Is it just too fraught with danger? I don’t think so. Jesus certainly didn’t think so, since he specifically spoke about his followers’ need to prioritise him ahead of their families. It matters to him that he’s number one. He doesn’t shrink from pitting himself against our blood relatives. What’s the solution? LEAVE ROOM FOR THE SPIRIT TO WORK First, this is an important question. It touches on our hearts, and Jesus is all about our hearts. It touches on how we spend our time and our money, a couple of our most important resources. So yes, it’s important. But it’s complicated, which is why there is only one person who can truly speak to us clearly on this question. The Holy Spirit. Only God himself can truly challenge us, encourage us, and give us wisdom on this most important of questions. Only he can do this, because only he truly knows our joy and our pain. He it is who guides us, loves us, calls us to follow Jesus and place him first above all things. BLOOD OR BIRTH? Are you completely committed to following Jesus? What does that look like when your family consumes so much of your time and energy? It’s tempting to reach for the word ‘balance’ at this point, but I think this is a mistake. ‘Balance’ gives the impression that all our priorities are lined up before us—God, family, career, hobbies—and each receives a measure of our time and devotion. We ‘balance’ them out. But this is wrong-headed. Because Jesus calls us to radical discipleship. He wants our commitment—one hundred percent. He’s not one of several. He’s one exclusive. The answer may turn out to be hidden in that word, ‘hate’. Once we let go of our traditional understanding of the word, with its swirl of emotions, then it’s easier to get at the truth that Luke 14.26 is about our priorities, and our ultimate loyalty. A challenge expressed with hyperbole in Jesus’ inimitable fashion. He wants our unrivalled devotion. That’s the point. It is not that we shouldn’t love our families, it’s that our hearts’ first love should be our Lord. And since he is love, he calls us to love. And whom do we love on earth the most? Generally, our families. With Christ as our Lord, and in his rightful place, he will lead us to love by the power of his Spirit, to live in his ways, with his priorities. By doing that, our families gain a loving family member, they don’t lose one. In the end, it’s not blood or birth, but blood and birth. We just need to make sure that blood (Jesus) has our unrivalled loyalty. Jesus first. Always first.

I have a strange childhood memory that I’m slightly embarrassed to admit. Here goes . . . Long before I became a Christian, I distinctly remember thinking it would be great to be a vicar. I know, I know, that’s a pretty odd thing for any child to think. But it’s the reasoning I have never forgotten. In my childlike way, I was convinced that if I was a vicar . . . . . . I would always know what to do. I’m not sure where this idea came from, but I suppose I simply saw vicars as people who were full of moral certainty. If anyone knew what to do, it would be them. As a small child, the world can be pretty confusing. How nice to always know what to do! IDENTITY Reflecting on my childhood, I think this rather odd idea may also have been tied to identity. All the vicars I knew put on a special outfit, a bit like Spiderman—although his was a red and blue rather swanky lycra number and most vicars avoided those colours. Nevertheless, their outfits gave them an immediately recognisable identity. I liked that. And then all they had to do was perform in a way expected from someone wearing the outfit. Spiderman saved the world. A vicar gave talks, shook a lot of hands, and drank tea. How hard could that be? Yes, I know I was naïve. I was young! But fast forward forty-something years, and I find myself in the curious position of actually being a vicar. Well, in my church they call me a pastor, but it’s the same thing. Over the years, I have come to understand that life is far, far more complicated than my childhood self could ever have imagined. Indeed, as a theologically trained pastor, I probably have more questions now than I did then. So, the ‘certainty’ piece was certainly wrong. The identity issue, however, is more interesting. For example, I have sometimes reassured myself with sentiments like this one: ‘I’m glad I’m a minister, because my job keeps me walking with Jesus!’ I suppose what I mean is that my job actually requires that I spend time studying the Bible and spending time with Jesus, and that’s great. What a privilege! It’s a little disturbing to admit this, but I sometimes wonder if I would still be walking with Jesus if I’d opted for a job outside the church. Would other things would have crowded him out? I don’t know. I hope not. This idea, however—that my job keeps me close to Jesus—doesn’t bear much scrutiny. If my time with Jesus is only something I do because it is ‘part of my job’, then there is something profoundly wrong. It’s the wrong way round. ‘Being in ministry’ shouldn’t be the thing that keeps me walking with Jesus. Surely, my ministry should flow out of my relationship with Jesus. It shouldn’t just keep me hanging in there. Instead, my walk with the Lord should be the source, the wellspring of my ministry. This should be obvious, but I fear that many in full-time ministry forget it. In a curious sort of way, my childhood insight into identity brought me closer to the truth. Christian discipleship is all about identity. It’s about who we are, and that doesn’t come from signing up for vicar school, but when we turn to Jesus and follow him. After all, he calls me ‘a new creation’. He gives me a new identity and a new beginning. With or without the cassock! (Though I don’t actually wear a cassock.) WALKING WITH JESUS As I walk with Jesus day by day, and am united to him by faith, I am being changed. I am growing. As his Spirit works within me, and as I feed on his Word—both understanding it and applying it—I am being transformed into the likeness of my Saviour. And this brings me back to my initial thought about knowing what to do. It’s not that vicars know what to do more than other Christians. The truth is, all those who grow to be more like Jesus gain an increasing sense of what to do in any situation. This is what it means to grow in wisdom, which as we know begins with the fear of the Lord. It may seem obvious, but my job as a church leader doesn’t, of itself, keep me close to Jesus. Anyone can be a minister and become overwhelmed and lose their way. Putting on the outfit will never change that. In truth, healthy, joyous, obedient ministry only flows from a direct, ongoing relationship with our Saviour. This will always be true. It is from the outflow of this relationship—and his work in our hearts—that we minister to others. DANGER! FAKE MINISTRY AHEAD The danger for some of us in ministry is that we are closer to my childhood idea. Instead of living joyfully from our connection with Jesus, we rely on the outfit. We know what’s expected and we have learned the skill set necessary to do the job. We can lead a service, counsel someone, preach a sermon, and we can do all these things while our spiritual life is cold and thin. We have enough ‘muscle memory’ to keep going through the motions. Over time, however, these outward behaviours, these ‘shows of ministry’, will neither bless others nor be good for us. We will increasingly find that running on empty is damaging to our health, our relationships with others, and most of all our relationship with God. (It’s worth adding that our primary role at Living Leadership is to support leaders, and we are especially eager to support those who are struggling in their roles. If you feel like you’re running on empty, then do get in touch. WARNING AND ENCOURAGEMENT So, brothers and sisters, this is just a reminder that we neglect our own spiritual life at our peril. We underestimate the importance of our own spiritual life to the detriment of ourselves and of the people we serve. As it happens, I don’t wear any special outfit that marks me out as a pastor—unless you count check-shirts! Instead, I am clothed with something far more important—righteous robes I don’t deserve and the full armour of God. You are too. So enjoy your outfit, and be thankful it’s not lycra. I’ve heard it can chafe 😉. The clothes we wear, the ones that really matter, are a gift from our gracious God. And remember that these beautiful clothes—our righteous robes—come with an undeserved new status: beloved child of God. So, whilst I cannot promise certainty, I can assure you of something much more important. When you delight in your Saviour, when he's the wellspring of your life, you will find a source of security and joy that will power your ministry. For the Lord is your Rock, your strong tower, your fortress. Whether you happen to wear a cassock or lycra on Sunday . . . or not.

I have three bugbears about Easter. And I’m conscious they may make me sound like a grumpy middle-aged man. But rest assured, once I get these off my chest, I will end this post on an encouraging note. First, the bugbears. 1) DATING No, not romantic liaisons. I’m referring to the method we use for setting the date for Easter. As a planner, I find the variability of the date of Easter frustrating. It causes me a headache when scheduling courses and conferences in the spring. It imbalances the lengths of terms in my children’s school and college. And it isn’t just a little variable. The earliest and latest dates—22 March and 25 April—are more than a month apart! I got excited a few years ago when it was announced that the Pope and other major global ecclesiastical leaders were in discussions over setting a fixed date for Easter, perhaps on the second or third Sunday of April. I’m not sure if they came to any decisions (and I note that Living Leadership has not yet been invited to participate 😉), but they would have my vote if they decided to do it. When I reflect on this desire for regularity, however, I fear this may have more to do with me than the dating of Easter. If I’m honest, this may be a sign of my tendency to want to over-programme things. Am I resentful of one of the few things in the calendar that is not entirely regular? Might it be a healthy thing for me to have to check up on when Easter will be this year, and to be creative about the implications of its variability for my plans? The date of Easter is, of course, set by the moon. It is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the northern spring equinox. Lunar calendars have served humankind well for millennia, and are still used in both Judaism and Islam. Is my preference for the regularity of the solar calendar over the more anarchic lunar programme reflective of a defect in my psychology or spirituality? Might I need to temper my solar intensity with a bit of lunar chill? As I pondered this, I realised that perhaps my first Easter bugbear is in tension with my second. 2) SECULARISATION For the average person on the streets of Britain or Ireland, Easter seems to be about three things. Time off. The arrival of spring (symbolised by bunnies, chicks, and flowers). Chocolate (usually in the shape of eggs). None of these is a bad thing. I enjoy the lengthening days, the signs of new life, and the taste of cocoa as much as the next person. But they are not what Easter is truly about. Easter is, of course, about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This is the occasion when we focus on the very centre of our faith—'the things of first importance’ (1 Cor 15.3ff). It is the great high feast of the liturgical year when we have more reason to celebrate than anyone has ever had. What greater story could ever rival Easter? Yet, I find myself struggling to remember this every time Easter approaches. Instead, I feel like I’m winding down to a break. That isn’t bad—and not at all contradictory to festal celebration—but I know I could be more disciplined in my preparations for Easter. I must admit that I’ve never been a committed Lent observer, so that may partly explain it. In addition, my low church heritage and my relative ignorance of the ecclesiastical calendar may also play a part. All that said, Easter is a gift. Such a gift! Each year, I am given the opportunity to draw close to the heart of my faith. Indeed, it is presented as a holiday and a time of celebration. However, this leads to my third concern. 3) NAMING I have never understood why we call it Easter. I know that, following the Venerable Bede, the etymology of the word is often traced to the name of a pagan fertility goddess, Eostre, although it may simply come from the word for East. Why we should settle for this term after so many centuries of Christian influence, I do not know. So, despite my usual love for good old Germanic (Anglo-Saxon) words, I envy the French, whose name, Pâques, derives from the word, Passover. I find it ironic that the other popular festival of the Christian faith—Christmas—has a name that is undeniably tied to Jesus, and has become a much more prominent holiday. I wish we could rename Easter something like ‘Resurrection Day’, or ‘Lordmas’, or ‘Jesus has been declared to be the Son of God in power Day’. It would make it much easier to bring conversations round to Christ. However, although that would be a positive thing, I suspect none of these will ever catch on. I’m also aware that the idea of renaming days as well as changing calendars has a whiff of revolutionary zeal. So, before I cry ‘Vive La Révolution!’ with too much gusto, let me finish by focusing on what Easter is all about. SETTING ASIDE THE BUGBEARS My three Easter bugbears are shared partly in jest. None of them has much to do with my experience of Easter. The date could be fixed and I would still be in danger of failing to make the most of it. I have no power to reverse the secularisation of society, but I can remedy the secularisation of my heart, large parts of which are ‘Un-Christianised’. I may not like the name, but I can still take the opportunity to stop and gaze in wonder. At the cross. At the empty tomb. New life is breaking forth as I write. I see it from my window, with buds about to open and birds making nests. We even enjoyed a couple of hours of sunshine here in Ireland today! The return of biological life, with its beauty, colour, and variety, never fails to surprise me. Not in the ‘unexpected’ sense, but in the ‘astonishing’ sense. No matter how many years I have walked on this planet, it is still capable of taking my breath away. Yet more startling still is the new life burgeoning in people across the world who are coming to faith in Christ. And of endless wonder is the new life that can sprout in this heart of mine. The revolution I need is within my jaded soul. When I stop and ponder the cross and the resurrection, I discover that my bugbears flee and my joy rises. My body’s resurrection is yet to come, but I have already been raised with Christ and, when I gaze on him, this new life in me springs up, irrepressible. This Easter, I pray that you are able to make time to bask in the glory of this simple fact: God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.

Have you ever attended a prayer meeting for church leaders in your area? You may know the kind. As the reports are given, you sit there dreading your turn. Everyone, it seems, leads a healthy, successful community, with a schedule packed full of exciting initiatives. Your turn comes round . . . Our church? Er, well . . . Maybe, like me, you’re tempted to over-egg your report, omitting anything negative and focusing exclusively on the positive. Our evening service has doubled in size! You submit an upbeat report . . . to encourage others, of course. BREAKING THE MOULD At a ministers’ conference a few years ago, I remember a pastor who broke the mould. Before teaching from the Word, he began with a shocking description of the challenges he faced in ministry. The room fell deathly silent. It was one of those moments when you knew something significant was taking place. We listened in rapt attention as he spoke candidly about his struggles. Many of them we had faced ourselves. His words touched our hearts. We were very grateful for his honesty and courage. ON PATMOS When John introduced himself to his readers at the beginning of The Revelation, he reassured them that he was one with them in their struggle. I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Rev 1.9 The location from where he’s writing is important. He’s on Patmos—an island for exiled prisoners, not a holiday destination. Conditions were harsh. Just as soldiers often form close and lasting friendships when they’ve fought in a conflict together, so John and his readers could relate to each other because of their shared struggle and suffering for the Lord. Two thousand years on, we still stand with John and the early church. Following Jesus with obedience and commitment is still tough. It’s challenging. It brings suffering. SUFFERING Suffering comes in many forms, and is faced by all humanity. Some is truly horrendous, almost impossible to put into words. For followers of Jesus in particular, however, there is a unique kind of suffering related to our faith. All Christians suffer from a daily struggle with temptation. Many Christians suffer the burden of seeing loved ones reject Jesus. Many Christians face rejection. Some are ridiculed at home, in their families, in the workplace. Christians suffer as they ‘stand against the devil’s schemes’. (Eph 6.11) He accuses, sows doubt, brings friction, encourages discord, raises suspicion, spreads gossip, spoils friendships, fuels wars, feeds greed, approves selfishness. The list goes on. Christians suffer for simply holding fast to God’s way. If this describes your experience, you are ‘participating in his suffering’ (Phil 3.10). We are brothers and sisters with him, and with each other. MEMBERS OF THE KINGDOM Being a member of the Kingdom of God is good. Really good. This is precisely what Jesus saves us for—to participate in the kingdom he is bringing into this world. But this also makes us very different. In his letters, Peter calls his fellow believers ‘aliens’ or ‘exiles’. We belong to a different world to this one because we live by kingdom principles, and this means the closer we follow Jesus, the more we clash with our culture. Hence why the apostle Paul urged the believers in Colossae to keep their eyes on heavenly things. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Col 3.1-2 What an encouragement. Since you’re a member of this heavenly kingdom, not only are you my brother or sister, but we’ll spend eternity together! PATIENT ENDURANCE Though we have important work to do here on earth, our hearts yearn for eternity. The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us of this wonderful truth. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart. Ecc 3.11a C.S. Lewis picked up the same theme in his writings. The fact that our heart yearns for something earth can’t supply is proof that Heaven must be our home. Life can be tough. Very tough. But our suffering—and the suffering of those we love—is not without purpose. Indeed, as we develop patience, it is converted into endurance, the ability to remain faithful whatever we face in life. Believers in the first century faced unbearable suffering at times—persecution, loss of property, loss of life. The apostle Paul, as we know, was among those who were flogged, imprisoned, and stoned. He knew what it meant to suffer for the sake of his Lord, so to encourage others, he reminded them of their ultimate hope. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Eph 1.13b-14 What an encouragement his words can be to us. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Rom 12.12 Oh, but my fellow voyager, maybe you’re feeling at the very end of your tether. Perhaps the struggle has simply become too much for you, and you’re just about ready to give up. Do not be down-hearted. For there is hope. The apostle John describes the extraordinary moment when he saw a vision of his risen Lord. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Rev 1.17-18 The Jesus, on whose shoulder John rested his head at the last supper, now stood before him with such terrifying glory that he simply fell at his feet as though dead! Yet it’s what happens next that fills me with hope. He placed his right hand on me . . . Jesus stooped down to John on the ground and placed his hand on him. What an amazing image that is of our Lord ministering to his servant in his abject weakness. But then, listen to his next words. Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and Hades. Rev 1.17b-18 My friend, the message of Revelation is simply that Jesus wins! In fact, he has already won, he is our Champion, he has gone before us. In him we have the victory. So be encouraged. He will never leave you, never forsake you. And if you ever reach a point when it all seems hopeless, call to mind this stunning image of our Saviour stooping to lift his servant, John. He will lift you too. He will lift you with his words of life. For he is faithful, good, and true.

I have a right not to be offended! That seems to be the view in modern Western culture of ‘expressive individualism’[1]. The logic of expressive individualism goes like this. My greatest need is to be authentic as my best self (self-actualisation[2]). The real ‘me’ is the ‘me’ of my inner thoughts, feelings and desires. To be happy and fulfilled, I must discover the real ‘me’ and be true to myself. To be true to myself, I must express the inner ‘me’ to the world. This approach to the pursuit of happiness has implications for society. If I cannot express myself authentically, then I suffer harm. So, society must grant me complete freedom (so long as I don’t harm others). But we’re increasingly told that tolerating others is not enough. We have a duty to affirm others in their self-expression and sense of identity. To offend someone by disagreeing with their inner sense of self is not merely arrogant, but and act of aggression. REBUKE IS NOT UNLOVING These values play out daily on social media and in public discourse, and we Christians are not immune to them. In recent years, I have observed a tendency for Christians to approach conflict with the assumption that if words cause offence, they must be wrong. Or at least, if our tone is anything less than gentle, we’re in the wrong. Rather than engaging with questions of right and wrong, truth and falsehood, the discussion remains in the realm of feelings. Everyone is hurt. We just need to be kind to each other. Against this background, the apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthians are profoundly counter-cultural. Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. 2 Cor 7.8a We might expect Paul to apologise for the hurt he caused the Corinthians, but he knew there is something more important than hurt feelings. There is one to whom we must give an account (2 Cor 5:9-11). The apostle had written to the Corinthians because of sin in the community. He called them to repent, and he did not enjoy doing so. Indeed, he regretted hurting them for a time, until he heard about his letter’s result. He says their sorrow was ‘godly’. When we grieve at sin and its effects, we are aligned with the heart of God. Such grief leads us closer to our Saviour. Their godly sorrow led the Corinthians to repentance, and this birthed within them an eagerness to do what is right. This is life-giving grief. The person who provokes such grief is not harming them. It is the work of God. The apostle Paul says as much. You became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 2 Cor 7.9b Living in our offence-averse culture, Christians ministers may shy away from confronting sin. We want to maintain harmony and live at peace with others. This is all well and good. However, if we become people-pleasers who avoid challenging damaging sinful behaviours, then we leave vulnerable people at the mercy of these behaviours. Rebuke is not unloving. Listen to the Lord Jesus addressing the church in Laodicea. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Rev 3.19 Perhaps you respond by arguing that this a role uniquely assigned to the Lord. Not according to the New Testament. Here’s the apostle Paul instructing his co-labourer, Timothy. Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Tim 4.2 We read a similar message in the book of Proverbs. Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Prov 27.5 James goes further and writes of the value of rebuke. Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5.20 Rebuke is not unloving. Dietrich Bonhoeffer helpfully reminds us that the unloving thing is to ignore sin. Nothing can be more cruel than the tenderness that consigns another to his sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe rebuke that calls a brother back from the path of sin.[3] So, how much do you love the people the Lord has entrusted to your care? GENTLE . . . OR NOT? Perhaps you might argue that such challenges should be done gently so as to minimise the risk of hurt. Certainly, gentleness should be our default tone when confronting a brother or sister. As the apostle Paul wrote, ‘if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently’ (Gal 6.1). There is a time, however, when gentleness is not appropriate. When people are stubbornly set in a pattern of sin, or when their error is causing harm or contradicting the gospel, we need to follow Paul’s advice to Titus in his ministry in Crete. He writes, ‘rebuke them sharply.’ (Titus 1.13). The word translated ‘sharply’ —apotomós—derives from the verb ‘to cut’—temnó. It could be translated ‘cutting’ or ‘abruptly’ or ‘curtly’. This word is found in only two places in the New Testament—here in Titus 1 and, unsurprisingly, in 2 Corinthians, when Paul writes that he does not want to be ‘harsh’ in using his authority (2 Cor 13.10). The godly minister does not want to bring a sharp rebuke but will do so if necessary. In Crete, a sharp rebuke was necessary because the believers there were stuck in cultural tendencies to be dishonest, stubborn, and lazy (Titus 1.12). In Corinth, it was needed because of the destructive sexual sins being tolerated there. Paul also modelled this more urgent approach when he opposed Peter to his face (Gal 2.11). He did this because the matter in hand was too serious for gentle correction. These sharp rebukes were needed because the people were resistant to a more gentle approach or the situation was urgent. If you see someone teetering towards the edge of a cliff, you don’t say gently, ‘Excuse me, but you may be in danger’. You cry out with urgency. A sharp rebuke is an urgent cry to help someone avoid disaster. How do we decide whether a gentle correction or sharp rebuke is in order? We should consider five things. What is the issue? Is it sin, division, or gospel unfaithfulness (and not just my own opinion)? How serious? Are the potential consequences bad enough to need a swift and decisive intervention? What is going on inside me? How pure are my motives? Am I angry or prideful? To whom am I speaking? Are they able to take a sharp rebuke? Have they been repeatedly resistant to correction? What is our relationship? Do they know I love them? Do they trust and respect me as a person who is godly and caring? If we decide to rebuke the person sharply, we should consider how best to do so. The following suggestions may be helpful. Have the conversation in private or with one trusted witness. I suggest that it’s essential to include another person, if you are confronting a vulnerable person or someone of the opposite sex. Keep your focus on the issue that necessitates the rebuke. Don’t drift onto other tangential matters. Don’t judge the person’s motivations. Avoid words like ‘always’ and ‘never’. Commend the person for the good things you see in them, and remind them of their past faithfulness. Be aware of the tone of your voice. Do not raise your voice. Listen well to their response, even if they are defensive. Assure them of your love and openness to future conversations. With humility, be open to criticism. Ensure the grace of God and his forgiveness are always central in the conversation. Deciding when and how to rebuke others is not straightforward. We must be patient and prayerful. Wisdom is needed. But we should not be afraid of hurting someone or losing our relationship with them. The apostle Paul faced just such a fear when writing to the Corinthians, but he still rebuked them. Of course, rebuke is much easier in a culture of mutual encouragement. We need to create a culture of this kind, because when people know we love and support them, they are much readier to receive our challenging words. But this isn’t just about others. It’s also about us. How often do we justify our own behaviour? How open are we to hearing words of correction? Do we value obedience and truth above our position and feelings? Only with an attitude of humility and by God’s grace can we build a culture that includes rebuke. In both giving and receiving the gift of correction, we are called to set our fears and our pride aside. We do so for the sake of our Lord. Expressive individualism is a term coined by American sociologist, Robert Bellah, and popularised by Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor. It is critiqued from a Christian perspective by Carl Trueman in The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. The term ‘self-actualisation was coined by therapist Kurt Goldstein and popularised by Abraham Maslow as the pinnacle of his ‘hierarchy of needs’. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1954) Life Together, trans. by John W. Doberstein. San Francisco: HarperOne. p.105

Where do you live? In your head, I mean. The past, the present, or the future? GLORY DAYS My wife and I like to joke about our ‘glory days!’ These days are now so far in the past, they are almost recorded on papyri. Yes, I’m talking about the 1970s and early 1980s. At school—a small school, it must be admitted—I was the outstanding athlete. I was captain of almost every team, won every award, and loved every minute. But then I left that school, and went to one three times the size. Suddenly, it wasn’t so easy. Aside from tennis, the prizes dried up. As for my wife, Bettina, she was very quick in her teenage years. She was on every athletics team, played basketball, and flourished academically. She won numerous prizes. But then she grew up. This is now all in the past, and we both view these years through rose-tinted spectacles, perched on our aging noses! Nostalgia, huh? It’s not what it used to be. 😉 TIME Though we live in the present, it is extremely hard to stay there. Our minds are inevitably drawn forwards and backwards. Looking back can lead to regret, while looking forward can lead to anxiety. What does the Bible teach? It certainly takes a view on this issue. A very clear view. THE PAST In the Old Testament, whenever Yahweh wanted to remind his people of his character, he would point backwards to one singular event: the Exodus. It’s the headline statement that forms the basis for the Ten Commandments. And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20.1-3 Not only is it in the Torah, but it’s a theme that occurs in the Psalms, the histories, and the prophets. You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. Jer 32.21 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. Ps 81.10 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 2 Kings 17.7 In the Old Testament, the repeated reminder of the Exodus highlighted the character of Yahweh as a saving, covenant God. His saving act, bringing his people out of slavery into freedom, is the basis for the covenant he makes with them. Sadly, it was often a reminder used to call them back from their apostasy. Nevertheless, it signals an important aspect of the way in which God communicates with his people. History matters. It really matters. God stakes his reputation on an historical event, and repeatedly emphasises the historicity of this event to shine a light on the kind of God he is. A saving God. A covenant God. A faithful God. His attributes flow from his actions. When we get to the New Testament, the same methodology continues. The writers emphasise an historical event to demonstrate the character of God. Here is Peter explaining the healing of a lame man to the Sanhedrin. It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4.10b Whenever the apostle Paul preached, he always focused on the Resurrection. This is how his visit to Thessalonica is described. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. Acts 17.2-3a As believers, we are urged to reflect on the past as a source of encouragement. Indeed, in our songs, we often refer to God’s actions in the past to help us cope with the struggles we experience in the present. Hence lyrics like these from You’ve Already Won. I don't know what You're doing But I know what You've done. I have chosen these lyrics because they connect the present to the past. Right now, we face all kinds of challenges, but we know whom we serve, and what our God has done for us in Jesus. So we hold on. This is how we should relate to the past. It is an anchor for us, because nothing can change what God has done for us. It is written in history and in our hearts. What about the future? THE FUTURE The Bible speaks of the future in glowing terms. We call it Hope. The Day of the Lord. The Day of his Appearing, when ‘he will wipe every tear from their eyes’ (Rev 21). In the New Testament documents, the future is held out as an encouragement in the midst of suffering. The hope of heaven serves to encourage saints who are being persecuted. There is an assumption in the apostle Paul’s writing, in particular, that followers of Jesus will face persecution for their faith. Back in the first century, they were flogged, had their property taken, and paid with their lives. How are we to view the future? It contains a certain hope, which should lead us to engage with a suffering world. Heaven is never presented as a reason to withdraw. Personally, I take encouragement from the apostle Paul, who wrote this towards the end of his life. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Tim 4. 6-8 As he longs ‘for his appearing’, Paul looks forward to ‘the crown of righteousness.’ He has kept the faith; he has finished the race. Such is the function of our future hope. It spurs us on to faithfulness. As the final lyrics of You’ve Already Won make clear, No more fear in life or death I know how this story ends. THE PRESENT Which brings us to the present. What did Jesus teach about the present? The Kingdom of heaven has arrived. The Kingdom of God has come near. Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6.20b) The present rule and reign of God has come. It is here. It is life, found in the Messiah, who brings in his kingdom, where joy, peace, and love can be experienced to the full. In the here and now. Jesus makes this clear in John’s gospel. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10.10b This is our message. Life. Abundant life. ENCOURAGING THE SAINTS So, how do we encourage those stuck in the past? Grace and more grace. There is nothing we can do to cancel out our sins. However, grace tells us that our past is never held over us. The slate is wiped clean. Our clothes are now righteous robes, because of what Christ has done for us. The cross and Resurrection—past events—live on now in our hearts and lead to worship. How do we encourage those fixated on the future, who use it to tune out the present? Invite them into new life found in Jesus, the king. And remind them what their king is doing now. Not in the past. Not in the future, but right now. Two things stand out. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Rom 8.34b He is praying for us. Imagine that. He’s not stuck in the past or a distant thought in the future. He is praying for us. Right now. But there’s more. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 1 John 2.1b The Lord Jesus is on our side. Our advocate, our protector, the one who represents us, and fights for us. Between what God has done for us and what he will do to display his glory, we live now in union with our Saviour, who prays for us, who advocates for us, who loves us. For we live now. Right now. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Right now. This is where we savour new life in God’s kingdom. In the present.

You may have noticed that things have changed a bit in the blog recently. In our effort to diversify the contributors– and we really hope you’ve been enjoying the different voices – we have settled into a new pattern. In the first and second weeks of the month we continue to hear from our usual core writing team, Richard & Paul; on the third week we hear from one of our Associates; and then on the fourth week we hear from one of our staff team. But what about fifth Thursdays, like today? Well, on them (which happen about 4 times a year) we want to share with you where we are seeing God at work in and around the ministries of Living Leadership - what we are praising him for and what we are praying about going forward. We hope this is an encouragement to you too. Refreshing leaders and spouses in Hertfordshire and the Lakes At the start of this month, we had the joy of gathering with around 200 leaders and spouses across three Pastoral Refreshment Conferences (two in the Lakes, run in partnership with Keswick Ministries, and one in Hertfordshire). At Pastoral Refreshment Conferences we try to create a place for leaders and spouses to be able to rest, reflect and receive from the Lord. Some people come feeling worn out or discouraged and is our hope that they can find a space where they can exhale and experience rest and encouragement, others come as part of a healthy rhythm of refreshment that they have built into their life. Like most conferences, at PRCs we have a theme and this year’s was “The Way of Wisdom”. At the Central (Hertfordshire) Conference the teaching was brought by Peter Comont, a pastor from Oxford, and at the Lakes the teaching was brought by Ian Coffey, Baptist Minister and Lecturer at Moorlands College. One of the things that was really appreciated by many delegates was Peter and Ian’s honesty in sharing their own experiences of leadership and faith, both the ups and the downs, and the practical nature of their teaching. The “secret sauce” of PRC has little to do with us as the organisation running it: It is always such a joy to hear of how the Lord uses the conferences to meet people in a variety of different ways as he speaks to them through his word, as they reflect and pray with other delegates and the pastoral care teams and as they take time to be physically replenished. Here’s what some delegates said about this year's conferences: “PRC is when I come up to breathe and a spiritual MOT. That now I’ve discovered it, I never want to stop going. It feels like a lifeline” – PRC Central Attendee “A beautiful location, wonderful worship, great teaching and authentic, vulnerable fellowship all combined to provide real refreshment for this thirsty soul” - PRC Lakes Attendee As in all things, we also want to continue to grow these Conferences to be as helpful as possible to as many leaders and spouses as possible, so if you are a recent delegate (or interested person), we’d love to hear your feedback on what else we can do to make the conferences a welcoming and supportive an environment. Do get in touch – info@livingleadership.org Looking ahead: Refreshment Days With nine spring Refreshment Days and two Autumn Refreshment Days currently open for booking (with more to come), we are looking forward to a year ahead of being able to support more leaders and spouses to receive pastoral care and refreshment. This is especially a cause for celebration for us, as it marks a growth in the regions of the country we have been able to support. We are especially excited to host our inaugural Refreshment Day in the North East of England and further establish Days in other regions. We acknowledge that for a variety of reasons, Pastoral Refreshment Conferences are not viable options for some so it is our hope and prayer that the shorter Day format will still be an oasis for leaders and spouses, and that the Lord will be at work mightily to comfort and encourage his people. We’d love it if you could join us in praying for this work, and maybe even join us at a Day near you. Find out more: www.livingleadership.org/days Looking ahead: Growing our team We are currently looking to appoint a part-time Ministries Administrator. If you are reading this before March 2nd, do direct anyone you think might be a good fit to our website: www.livingleadership.org This role marks a small restructuring of our team, but we hope it will enable us to continue to serve more leaders and spouses in the coming years. We are also overjoyed to be further expanding our Associates Network, with four more associates due to come on board in the next few weeks (and a few more in conversation). This is particularly exciting as this increases the number of Associates we have in Yorkshire and the North of England, as well as increasing the overall capacity of the Network to support leaders and spouses. Please do pray for our team at this time of growth and change – that the Lord may lead the right people to be able to support leaders and spouses to the best of our ability. Find out more about our growing team: www.livingleadership.org/our-people For more updates on the work of Living Leadership, you can sign up to our main "update" mailing list: www.livingleadership.org/subscribe

That stone in the field you just walked past—did you notice it? Look closer. Smoothly edged, or perhaps slightly fuzzy? Dipping slightly towards one corner. Could that possibly be the barest outline of a head? Maybe ears laid flat along the topmost edge? Was that a twitch? Let me just risk a short, careful step towards it . . . aah! It’s off. Boy, can that stone move. I knew it. That stone’s a hare! LOVE THE HARES In the last few years, I have fallen in love with these astonishing creatures. Apparently, hare numbers in the U.K. have fallen by eighty percent over the last hundred years, and are still declining rapidly. However, I’ve seen far more on my walks than ever before. Living in Reading helps. Yes, you did read that correctly. Sandwiched as it is between extensive downland areas to the west and the gentle slopes of the Chilterns to the north-east, I’m within easy reach of decent hare-country, especially at this time of year. Last Friday, for instance, I came upon a field where I counted at least fifteen. It may have been more, but I wouldn’t want to inflate my figures with suspicious-looking stones. Two were boxing; others were grazing calmly; some sensed me and flowed away across the field. Watching them run evokes both awe and worship from deep within my soul; their Maker has done an amazing job. Here’s the thing. Having seen one or two, I have started to look. Really look. When out on the downlands, my eyes are constantly scanning. I’m certainly no expert, but I can now discern with more accuracy which stones might actually be hares. I’m getting better at knowing where to look and what to look for. Consequently, I spot them far more often than I used to, and when I do, it’s glorious. The more I see, the more I see. PROMPT AND RESPONSE Some of the believers I admire most are those who seem to be constantly hearing directly from the Lord. Often what they hear relates directly to their lives. A verse leaps out at them as they read their Bibles. When listening to a preacher, they hear from the Lord when many of us might dismiss the sermon as unremarkable. Sometimes, God speaks to them through their reading, or they hear from him simply by observing the world around them. Their lives are a constant, dynamic cycle of prompt and response. It strikes me that this is rather like those hares. The more you see, the more you see. As believers, we all have the Holy Spirit within us. He is active in so many ways, revealing the Lord to us, and working in us to elicit a response. In the Scriptures, we see examples of people being led by the Spirit—Simeon in Luke 2.27; Paul in Acts 20.22, and of course, Jesus himself in Matthew 4.1. The apostle Paul tells us that ‘those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God’ (Rom 8.14). He exhorts his readers to ‘keep in step with the Spirit’ (Gal 5.25), having told us a few verses earlier that if we’re led by the Spirit we are not under the law (5.18). Why are some believers more aware of this than others? FIRST RESPONDERS Firstly, because when they sense the Spirit prompting them, they respond. That sounds obvious, but this truth can also highlight a common failing among us. As I think of my own spiritual life, I carry regret for all the times the Lord has prompted me when I have not responded. Sometimes it’s because I didn’t like what he was saying and I’ve flat-out refused. There have been plenty of times when I should have been quicker to repent, quicker to mend a strained relationship, quicker to apologise. That’s true. But probably more often, it has been a prompt to reach out to someone, to speak or get in touch. In truth, I have hesitated, not quite sure what I want to say, and my hesitation has resulted in delay. Which has turned into failure to act. After a while the prompting dies down, and I move on. The opportunity has become a lost opportunity. Or so it seems. But I don’t want to leave you pondering my regrets. I want to encourage you. THE MORE WE LEARN, THE MORE WE LEARN I truly believe that the more we respond, the more the Lord will show us. The more he shows us, the more our ears become attuned to his voice. We hear the prompts more clearly. Just like my eyes scanning the downlands, or taking a moment to stare more intensely at a particular stone, we’ll start learning where to look. And what to look for. Our spirits will become more sensitive to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Of course, this comes in the context of a steady diet of God’s word and a life bathed in prayer. Without these habits, we are far more likely to be led astray by promptings from other places. The apostle John urges his readers to ‘test the spirits’ and we should be mindful of this advice. But with that admonition in mind, we should open ourselves to God’s voice. He speaks to us in all kinds of ways and from all sorts of places. After all, like those wonderful hares running through God’s good creation, the Spirit may seem elusive, but he is most definitely active in this world and in our hearts—moving, flowing, stirring up, smoothing down. Sometimes he is almost teasing us with a brief glimpse. Was that the Spirit? Will we look more intensely or just move on with a shrug? So here’s my challenge. How much do you really want to see? How willing are you to respond? For myself, I am asking the Lord to make me more alive to the leading of his Spirit. I want to be more excited about hearing his voice than I am about . . . well, seeing hares. And I love seeing hares! I also want to learn where to look and listen, and grow in my understanding of what it means to hear from my God, who loves me and guides me. I hope you’ll join me. I hope that, like me, you too will develop an earnest desire to respond. Without delay. If that means taking difficult steps, be assured that the God you serve is trustworthy. He will be with you as you respond obediently to his voice. I’m also convinced that as you learn and grow . . . the more you see, the more you’ll see.

‘I’d rather not be here!’ It’s not what you’d expect to hear from your minister on a Sunday morning. But this thought might be going through your minister’s mind. Living Leadership’s annual survey of the spiritual health of Christian leaders and their spouses regularly shows that ministers often feel like leaving their role.[1] Ministers’ spouses don’t respond much more positively. They often wish they could escape the unrealistic expectation that spouses come as a ‘buy one, get one free’ offer. Burnout continues to be a serious issue in ministry. On the day when I wrote this post, I was speaking to a leader who told me that half the ministers in his area belonging to his denomination have taken stress-related leave in the past year. Meanwhile, others have taken early retirement because they can’t face continuing. This is a major reason why Living Leadership exists. We want to help leaders and their spouses maintain a joyful life so they can sustain a fruitful ministry. What are we to say to the minister who wants out? WANTING OUT Well, it might surprise you to learn that the apostle Paul also wanted out and he was bold enough to say so. He wrote, ‘we would rather be away’. The use of ‘we’ suggests he thought this attitude was normal for a person in Christian ministry. It is almost as if he saw the desire to leave as a sign of authentic service for God. Now, some of you are doubtless suspicious of my use of Scripture here. Perhaps you think I’m shamelessly taking five words out of context. Of course, you’d be right. But I’ve done so to highlight the fact that a longing to leave is not necessarily a bad sign in ministry or in the Christian life. To understand why, we need to hear those five words in the wider context of what Paul wrote. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Cor 5.6-10 Paul’s longing was not to be away from the Corinthians. In fact, by definition, he wasn’t with them when he wrote this letter. Nor was it to be away from the complexities of church life. His longing was to be away from his body and at home with the Lord. This isn’t the only place where he writes like this. Philippians 1.21-26 is perhaps better known. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Phil 1.21-26 It’s not that Paul had a ‘death wish’. As I read him, both in Philippians and 2 Corinthians, I think he loved life and ministry. He was committed to serving Christ. He wanted to see fruitfulness. But life was not easy for him. Opposition from without and unrealistic expectations from within. Conflict and tensions inside churches and a constant drift away from the gospel. People preaching from selfish ambition and pride in their own apparent strength. If any of that sounds familiar to you, be assured it was also Paul’s experience. So, how did he keep going? YEARNING FOR HEAVEN Well, he did not deny his desire to be extracted from these circumstances. He found in himself a deep longing to be away. But it wasn’t a longing to be away from Jesus. It was a longing to be with his Lord in closer union than he could know in the limitations of his fallen body. When we feel like we want to get away from the pressures of ministry, or of life, what we are really longing for is heaven. Our souls are crying out to be in the courts of the Lord. Our hearts are craving the beauty of Christ. Our bodies are groaning, along with all creation, in the hope of resurrection and glory. It’s vitally important that we realise this, because when we find this longing in ourselves, the enemy will whisper in our ears. He will tell us that we can quench our thirst in salt waters. We should give in to temptation and it will relieve the pressure. “Look, eat, taste”. The echo of Eden rings through the ages and through our hearts. In such moments, in our weariness and hurt, we must cling to the truth that only the living water that Christ offers can truly quench our soul’s thirst. It is the water of the Spirit who wells within us now. We can taste and see that the Lord is good as we meditate on him in his Word. But this is only a foretaste—the firstfruits of what is to come. This eternal view puts our present struggles into perspective. What matters in the final analysis is not the judgements of others now. Nor is it the demands we place on ourselves or those we accept from other people. What ultimately counts is the assessment of the Lord Jesus at his judgement seat. With that truth clearly before us, we must make it our aim to please him now, since one day we will see him face to face. Because of this, we can be of good courage. The right perspective is vital if we are to stay fresh in ministry. TAKE A BREAK? Perhaps, however, you feel this truth is too weighty. You are just too tired. If that is your experience right now, then I urge you to stop. Slow down and breathe. Literally, take a deep breath of air into your lungs, and as you do so, breathe the air of the gospel into your soul. Pause and ponder the person of Christ. Think of his words and his actions. Remember what first drew you into ministry. Of course, this simple exercise won’t undo your exhaustion. But it can be the start of recalibrating your life. If you are truly weary, then maybe you need to take some time off. There is no shame in doing so. For you are now clothed with a fallen body, not a glorious resurrection body. And that means you have limitations. I suppose your resurrection body will have limitations too, but the limitations of this fallen body are greater. So don’t think you can do more now than you can actually do. You need sleep, food, exercise, and rest. You need Sabbath—a weekly day of non-productivity when you enjoy God’s good gifts in creation and covenant. It is good to long to be away. And sometimes it is necessary to leave a ministry position. But remember that the grass is seldom as green on the other side as it looks. There is work to do in our own hearts, whether we stay in our current position or move to another. It is a work of grace, the crafting of the Spirit. He works within us as we hear his voice and say no to the demands of the flesh, as we boldly reject the enemy’s voice that says, ‘You can do more. You can be more.’ The subtlety of this lie resides in its partial truth. You can do more and be more, but not limitlessly and not necessarily now. The more will come when you are made perfectly like Christ, and are given a glorious body. For now, you can only do what you can do. You must not try to do more for Christ than you are made to be in him. So, remember that your deepest longing is for the presence of Christ and the fullness of the new creation. So long as you serve in this body, you must stick to its limitations. Not to do so is a kind of idolatry. It’s the kind exhibited by the false apostles Paul mentions in his letter to the Corinthians (2 Cor), who boasted in their own apparent strength. Instead, when you live within your limitations, you testify to your createdness and your fallenness. You live a life that testifies to the coming resurrection. It's quite normal to want out, but it’s only healthy when your longing is to be with Christ. Only when you keep your eyes on where you’re going can you figure out why you are here. Only when you long for eternity can you live well in the here and now. 1. Our survey of the spiritual health of Christian leaders and their spouses runs each year in the month of February. If you’re reading in February, we'd love your contribution.

Leadership is influence. Have you ever considered that? I read this in a Bible study a few weeks ago, and it’s stayed with me. I can’t shake the feeling that there is something profound in this observation. Perhaps this is because we so often associate leadership with the exercise of power. UNCOMFORTABLE WITH POWER Leaders are often uncomfortable with the word ‘power’. We know that decisions must be made, vision must be given, a culture created . . . yet strong leadership often generates opposition. Am I leading the Jesus way? Am I misusing my power? So, a natural response is to assert that we’re servant leaders. Which is absolutely correct, of course. Servant leadership was modelled by Jesus, and we follow in his footsteps. But we’re still left with the problem of power. Who makes decisions? Who exercises power? Isn’t it in the hands of those with formal roles, those who lead ministries? Pastors, teachers etc? It must belong to those with job titles. These are the leaders, surely. Perhaps not. Today, I’d like to suggest that leadership in the church often functions outside those with formal roles. Instead of focusing on power, we should think of leadership as influence. Let me explain. SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS Beautiful girl in a swimsuit. Handsome young man sporting the latest fashion. Professional photography—or not—and, what?! Three million followers? You’ve got to be kidding me. These, we’re told, are the influencers. A whole industry has developed around beautiful people able to attract sufficient followers on social media. They sell their profiles to companies, who then ask them to model their clothes, sunglasses etc. What’s actually happening? They are selling their power to influence millions of people. It has a financial value, because their beauty/charisma/lifestyle persuades others to follow. And those followers will then buy merchandise suggested or modelled by the influencer. They have followers. So did Jesus. And we are followers. Hold that thought. INFLUENCE What is influence? Here’s the dictionary definition. The action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others. Influence is the process whereby we effect change in another person. But here’s the thing. In the church, this change should, if done in a godly manner, be aimed at producing at least one or more of the following. Correct doctrine. Christ-like behaviour/disciples who grow. Promotion of the gospel. If it isn’t doing this, it isn’t godly influence. Instead, it can sometimes become self-serving or even manipulative. Yet to the degree that we are living obediently and faithfully in relationship to our brothers and sisters, we are exerting influence over them—for the sake of God’s glory. Hence the emphasis on humility and service in the Bible and in the church. THE FLOW OF THE BIBLE In the Bible, God begins by using particular people in particular places for particular purposes. Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. Joseph. Moses. David. The prophets. This is how he reveals his glory and tells a story that leads to the Messiah. But then everything changes. The Lord Jesus arrives and the church is born. No more do we look for a human being to reveal God in spectacular ways. The Spirit has arrived and everyone, everyone who believes is given the job of living under King Jesus, and all that entails. This is why the concept of the ‘Christian celebrity’ is such a nonsense. Who cares if you’re the leader of a huge church?! The only thing that matters is the humble obedience of disciple-making disciples, who exhibit faith, hope and love. Social media influencers call attention to themselves to sell products. We should be the opposite. We call attention to the beauty of the Lord Jesus, shining a light on the awesome majesty of our God. And since we’re ALL called to do this, we ALL have influence. But perhaps you’re wondering why this should be linked to leadership? It’s really down to the purpose of the church and each follower of Jesus. Our purpose is to lead people to Jesus, to help them love him more, serve him better. That’s how leadership should be defined in the church. Leaders are those who lead people to Jesus. HOW DO WE INFLUENCE? So, how do we exercise our influence in the church? Words Actions Essentially, we influence others by the way in which we live our lives. And here, I think, we find strong backing from the example of the apostle Paul. He doesn’t hold back from using the word ‘imitation’. Here’s a line from his letter to the Thessalonians. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 1 Thess 1.6 He then follows it up with this line, which drives home the same message. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 1 Thess 1.7 So, we follow the Lord. We obey him. We influence others to do the same. That’s what true Christian leadership is all about. And that’s why it isn’t just squeezed into formal job titles. We are all, in our different ways, leaders, because we all influence others. PAID STAFF I acknowledge that churches need paid staff. These people have job titles. There must be some kind of authority structure or there is simply anarchy. However, when it comes to the idea of leadership, job titles fade into the background. It’s influence that counts. Let me tell you a story. In Los Angeles, I worked at the American Red Cross Blood Services. It’s a huge organisation comprised of hundreds of people, all focused on delivering blood products to hospitals in Southern California. A man called Steve worked in IT, an unassuming, gentle man, who wouldn’t say boo to a goose. One day, he retired after thirteen years’ service, and they held a celebration for him. I still remember trying to find a space in the room. It was absolutely rammed. There were probably a hundred and fifty people in there. Steve’s job title was IT support. He had no authority at all. He just helped people with their computers. That was it. But wow, he had influence. Huge influence. Everyone loved him. He was gentle, patient, kind, and hard-working. So they came to honour and thank him for his service. There were bosses who retired during my time at ARC who were never so honoured. I know a couple who have served, and listened, and loved, and volunteered in almost every area of our church. I don’t even think they’re home group leaders. But the influence they have is enormous. They model patience, kindness, and love. They are leaders, because of the huge influence they have. Again, please don’t mishear me on this. I’m not arguing that job titles and formal leadership roles are not important. They are. But don’t confuse formal roles with leadership. At least, don’t confuse an official role with influence. This Sunday, look around at the people gathered in your church building. Who is serving faithfully? Who is reaching out to the disadvantaged? Who is praying with another? Who is putting away the chairs? This week, who will disciple another? Who exhibits faith, hope, and love in ways that cause the Kingdom of God to grow in the hearts of his people? These are your leaders. They are your influencers. There is no need to give them job titles. They already have a job title. Influencers for God’s glory. Otherwise known as . . . children of God.