Enter the Dragon?

According to the BBC, an interesting debate has been sparked off in the House of Commons. It appears that Wrexham's Labour MP - Ian Lucas, has called for the Dragon of Wales to appear on the Union Flag.

Peterborough's Tory MP - Stewart Jackson has opposed the idea and labelled it as "eccentric" and unpopular.

However, I'm all for it. The intellectual legalists will argue of course that Wales is technically a principality and not a full blooded country... so there is no need. Crusty traditionalists will be opposed because "it's been like this for 207 years and hasn't needed changing, so why change now?" However, we refer to Wales as a "home nation" in our sports... and most people seem to culturally identify Wales as a country if you talk to them. So surely this weakens the former argument. The latter argument against - the traditionalist one, isn't even a supported one. It's just an opinion based solely on personal feeling.

I actually think sticking a dragon on the front of our flag will give it attitude... I also believe Wales has a right to be represented on the flag. It's not right that we treat the Cymru as cultural pets. They are equal brothers in my view. This is something that should be debated. Okay lets not spend years arguing over it, but we should have a genuine open debate to see what the general consensus is.

Unlearning

"You must unlearn what you have learned."

Yoda - Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

On several blogs in the past,I have explored the issue of conformity. I didn't just talk about the need of Christians to avoid conforming to the pattern and nature of this world, I looked at it in terms of personal development - for myself and for anyone else reading these pages who might benefit from my musings.

There were times when I'd told you of my exasperation at being the odd one out... about how I felt different to the people around me (even Christians), how my natural instincts were frowned on and I felt a great strain to comply with certain social expectations.

At the moment things feel very different from the stark days of last March. During the past year and a half I have found myself able (by God's grace) to close the book on a few situations that were burdening me and causing me distress. It's not to say the situations have necessarily been resolved... but God has taught me to unlearn how I react to them.

Much more important than this though, I have discovered over time that as different as I am from most around me, I have discovered individuals dotted around here and there who I share similarities with... I am nowhere near as alone as I might have once thought. I am not the lone man on the train who sees everyone partying on another train on the other side of the tracks. I have wandered down a couple of carriages and discovered plenty of parties of my own. I think my original issues may have come from living in a fairly insular community. It's been the act of branching out and meeting people from further afield over a course of a couple of years, that has gradually made me realise this. This in turn gave me the confidence to accept that I don't need to become a clone of the Christians around me if I want to fit in. I have found I can totally be myself and be accepted for all my quirks.

Naturally over time, this has led me to feel a little like a fish out of water in my own surroundings. I certainly feel a lot less bound to my town than I used to be... and I have to strongly consider whether in fact God is preparing me for something as yet unrevealed. Many years ago, whilst in prayer I had a vision of an eagle stripping it's nest... preparing it's young for flight. Could it be that God is preparing me for an entirely new phase in my walk with him?

Spirit of 164 (BC)

Today... is my birthday.

33 years ago... just prior to the IRA attacks in Birmingham... I was born at 6:40pm.

The 21st of November marks another anniversary though.

According to wikipedia in the year 164 BC, Judas Maccabeus overcame two armies of the Seleucid Empire and liberated Jerusalem. This led to the Second Temple (which had previously been defiled), being purified and used for sacrifice and worship once more. Thus began the first celebration of what modern Judaism calls Hanukkah.

So at midnight... as we passed over into the 21st, I went into a quiet place and I set about getting my own house in order. I gave thanks for the dawn of a new day and a new year in my life... and I gave them both these gifts back to God. There are things I really want to achieve this year, there are places that spiritually I need to go and there are ways in which I need to grow.

I have been waiting for God... but a few things recently have made me wonder whether actually the ball is really in his court... or whether it is actually in mine. There are several possibilities... but I really lack focus. I'm always getting inspiration about things I think I should be doing with my life... but I never set on one.

I want to sort this... I need to sort this.

As I prayed to God last night I earnestly said that I do not want to feel this year that I have buried coins or withheld a handful of seed from being sown. I have got to lock onto something and go for it.

I'm going to chase God on this and ask him for revelation regularly... but I'm also going to do my best to inspire growth in others. There are people who I should really be engaging in prayer with, people who can help me... who also need stirring up. I've not approached them because they don't appear to be in that place yet... but I think I need to start encouraging them to wake up and rediscover that place.

I also need to go to a few independent sources away from my own church or regular social circles... who can advise me. I know of one or two people I can go to, however there are a few regular readers on here who's thoughts and prayers I'd greatly appreciate. Even if you are normally a silent party... I want to hear your thoughts.

Nicholas means "victorious people". The 33rd year of my life is one that I intend to go out and claim a few victories.

In God's will, by God's grace and through God's strength.

London Redux

I'm off to London and other mystical destinations this weekend.

My journey begins in a couple of hours as I board the train on a mission for work. I'll be visiting an organization that is just across the road from Mi5 headquarters... so if you hear nothing from me for the next 28 days, you know what has happened - heh heh!

I'll be staying at my sisters and I have no idea what we'll be doing (although I'm reliably informed I'll be playing Lego on Saturday night). Mys sister and Ron are looking at moving to Egypt, so I suppose it's possible they'll want to take me round the Tutankhamun exhibition. I'm not sure how I'd feel around that. It's nothing to do with superstition... and I'm actually pretty keen on studying the culture and history of ancient civilizations... I just feel a bit bad about the manner in which his corpse was treated, when Howard Carter's team went about stripping artefacts from the tomb.

Keen as I am to study the past, I think we should treat what remains of our ancestors with respect, even though the soul has long gone. Yanking corpses apart to get to jewellery doesn't come under that.

Modern archaeology has changed a lot since the time of Carter... in fact, probably a lot because of him. The discoveries of the early Egyptologists inspired the evolution of modern archaeology. To me that is his greatest legacy - triggering a hunger and passion for knowledge... not collecting a pile of pretty trinkets. To me, knowledge and wisdom are of far greater value than gold, silver, rubies, diamonds and emeralds.

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand;in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

Proverbs 3:13-18

So back to London... and I guess I'm spoiled for choice as to what to do. If you are a regular/casual visitor here and you've looked at the general style of my blog, maybe you could suggest something. Truth be told, I'm most looking forward to Monday... as I'll be making an excursion out of the city to somewhere else of greater personal importance. However that is another tale, and it'll remain an Enigma for now. :-)

May God bless you and keep you safe wherever you are from and whatever you do with yourself this weekend.

Sacrifice

I've been absent from my blog for the past week, because to be honest... how do you follow news like that covered in my last post?

Now seems an appropriate time to reflect on other things, whilst still bearing in mind the events of the last week.

Today is Remembrance Sunday... the day when we traditionally call to mind the horrors of the last century's wars (and of course, more recent and even current conflicts). We think about those who laid down their lives, those who suffered due to the loss of loved ones, and those who came back and somehow tried to put the pieces of their lives back together in the aftermath of the harsh events they had witnessed.

For me remembrance is less about the war itself, and more about showing respect for people who had the courage, conviction and willingness to sacrifice their own lives (in life or in death), to preserve the freedoms and relative well being that I can experience in this country today. Today for the first time in my living memory, Alcester called out the names of men who had not died due to military conflict - the names off course, were the names of the firefighters: Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates-Badley, Iain Reid and John Averis. They may not have died to save their country from a foreign threat... but nobody, NOBODY can deny that the sacrifices they made in life and in death... preserved people's freedom and well being as well. How many people today enjoy liberty and life due to the work of those men... and for that matter all this world's fire, rescue and emergency workers? So it is all the more fitting that they also were remembered along with the war dead today (read more about their lives here).

Many of the tributes that have poured in to Alcester and indeed Stratford-upon-Avon over the past week, have included condolences from teams of firefighters in other nations. Most notably and poignantly among those, have been the words of the Firefighters of New York. They (and several others) quoted a passage from the Bible:

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

Those were Jesus words to his disciples. I am also reminded of something Paul wrote to the Romans:

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:7-8

So when I read of the sacrifices made by others... irrespective if it is with respect to the Christian faith, it always reminds me of the sacrifice Christ made for the salvation of mankind - you and me.

How then, should we respond to the sacrifices made for us... be it those of servicemen, the emergency services... or ultimately the sacrifice made by Christ for our redemption?

As I passed by the war memorial to look at the names inscribed on it... and at the wreaths, I also read one of the adjoining plaques... and the words (pictured below) resonated especially with me at this time:

Live as nobly as they died. It's a big ask isn't it? However, if we continue to live only shallow lives, do we not dishonour the sacrifices that all those people made on our behalf... in good faith?

Remaining on the theme of sacrifice, I'd like to conclude with an idea of what I believe from the Bible, is a good way to "live nobly" as the memorial suggests. It is the 12th chapter of Romans, the first section of which is fittingly entitled "Living Sacrifices":

Living Sacrifices

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Romans 12

We will remember...

To find out more about the work of The Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal, follow this link.

To find out how to write condolences for the Alcester and Stratford-upon-Avon firefighters or to donate funds towards the support of their loved ones, click this link to the Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service.

Fire and Tears

This blog entry is dedicated to the brave firefighters who have been tackling the recent warehouse blaze at Atherstone... and the grievous aftermath that has followed. One fireman has died and three others remain missing after over 24 hours. Two of the four come from my hometown... which is understandably in a state of some shock. Alcester's firefighters are retained and not "full time".

If the worst case scenario proves to be reality, this will have been the worst loss of life in the fire service for over thirty years. It is a testimony to the skill, teamwork and dedication of our fire and rescue teams, that this figure has remained so low for so long; especially when you consider the quantity and frequency of call outs they receive... and the variety of hard situations they willingly put themselves into and jeopardise themselves on our behalf. None of this can be much comfort to the families, friends or colleagues of those men today; however it is important we recognise those sacrifices... and acknowledge the cost when it is high.

Police have described the fire as "suspicious" and it is being treated as an arson attack. An early witness report has suggested a possible suspect fled from amongst bushes not far from the scene. Search teams have been sent in...but the building is still extremely unstable and has not yet finished collapsing. It may take up to 36 hours to clear the scene and gather evidence... and more importantly to discover what happened to the other three firefighters (and for that matter anyone else who may possibly be in there).

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who are suffering as a consequence of the tragic events. The image below comes from one of the many tributes to the emergency services in the wake of 9/11. However, I think it is just as appropriate for this smaller local tragedy. We all need to support and pray for those who are prepared to risk their lives for us.

The Focus of Repentance

"Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge."

Psalm 51:4

The above words are taken from a famous biblical psalm that was written by King David after he was convicted by God with regard to his sin. Whilst I was at home group on Wednesday studying Ephesians 4, we were discussing repentance... and I was reminded of a truth about it, which I feel I should share.

Too often we focus on the things we have done wrong... we wallow in them and make it all about us. In a perverse way... is it possible that sometimes our "repentance" can be self centred?

Think about when you have let one of your friends and family down, or hurt or disappointed someone who is very important to you. At such times, which was more important to you? Making up for your actions... or restoring your relationship with the affected person?

I want to take you back to my blog of September 9th. During that time, I experienced a strong convicting sensation that I had let God down. It was knowing how much I had hurt God that enabled me to change a few things round for the better. I believe this is because neither myself, nor my previous actions were the focus in my repentance. I believe that God was.

This is therefore my encouragement to you. When you have been convicted of doing wrong, be mindful of your actions and repent of them... but do not concentrate on them. Concentrate your thoughts instead on the One you love... on God himself.

Being a Christian is not a matter of worshipping a distant, vague being... it's about engaging passionately in a relationship with God, through the saving power of Jesus. King David - who I quoted at the beginning, was described as a man after God's own heart. He didn't just follow a set of rules and regulations, or offer sacrifices and rituals to ease his conscience. He pursued a genuine relationship with God - whose thoughts and feelings really mattered to him... even when he could not understand them... or when they conflicted with his own actions and desires. When you read David's compositions in the Psalms, you see a man who is being brutally honest about himself and open with God. We need to be the same.

If you genuinely want to turn away from your sins, then you should invest in developing your relationship with God... because it his strength that enables us to walk in the paths of righteousness.

Maybe that sounds a little heavy... so here is a clip from The Empire Strikes Back, that I'll use to illustrate my point :

In the above clip, Luke fails to use the force to lift his spacecraft out of a swamp... he sees it in terms of it's size and his own ability. Yoda instead, simply focuses on the true source of strength inside and summons the ship out of the murky waters and onto dry land. Now I'm not suggesting for a minute that God is merely a "force". He is a real person. What I'm trying to illustrate, is that as Christians, if we look to ourselves too much... we aren't going to be tapping into God's infinite riches. It is God who takes away our sin and it is God who equips us with power from on high, to be able to perform mighty deeds in his service. Like Luke we need to stop trying and start believing.... and be God centred, not self centred... even and especially when know we have done wrong. If we continually look at how we have failed, instead of looking to Jesus Christ who gives us the victory over our sins... then we will continue to stumble.

My prayer is that God will enable every one of you to walk upright in his grace.