Bible? Check. Tent? Check. Taittinger? Absolutely!

Today is a big day, not for any of the more obvious reasons (Olympic fever anyone?), but because I am going on my very first church camping holiday. Typing that sentence alone feels pretty weird, after all, spending a week in a tent has never been top of the charts for me in terms of a relaxing pursuit, and juxtaposing it after a frankly amazing holiday in Pariis seems all the more strange if I allow my normal way of thinking to take route. But what is the point of spiritual discipline if you do not occasionally stretch the imagination and go out into your comfort zone? So I am off, to HTB Focus which is being held in Lincolnshire to hopefully have some life affirming and life changing experiences. In my head I am imagining a sort of Glastonbury without the illicit activities but with music and the general poso vibe that seems to come when thousands of people enthusiastically gather for an event. As a novice to all this I have made sure my rucksack is stuffed with the following Christo Chick girl essentials:

1. Bible - well it is a church holiday! I am opting for a rather natty travel sized NIV. The translation is easy to follow, has some, though of course not all of the lyricism of the King James edition and as it is a slimfit copy can fit into a side pocket rather easily.
2. The tent. Possibly the single most daunting prospect of the holiday. I have no idea how to put it up, but my sister, a camping veteran who has lent it to me has assured me it is easy to do and is spacious to boot. Let's hope this house gets built on the rock, rather than the sand eh? Prayers from readers gratefully received.
3. Clothes. Quite tricky, especially with variable weather and constrained conditions. It's a church do, so perhaps not the best time to rock the cut to I don't know where denims, but style will not be compromised. The Mexican silver cross is a week essential,and a ton of layered t's. This will not be my sartorial high water mark, but that's not the point is it? And I am sure there is a verse in Luke 9:3 where we are encouraged to take nothing at all for journeys. Oops, I cheated a bit. 
4. Champagne. What else better expresses the overflow and the extravagant love the Father has for us than some booze from Reims? And before anyone tuts, the first sign in John's gospel was the wedding at Cana. I am opting for Taittinger this time round as it works particularly well with food. I can just see it now, a simple campfire meal of sardines and tomatoes, washed down with serious bubbles...

In the spirit of taking this time of contemplation, prayer and worship seriously, I shall be pretty much offline until my return..see you all the other side!

Chicks in Mitres, Thicko Theists and the Angel Next Door

Phoebe, a deacon of the church of Cenchreae

Another week and a couple of headlines to get us the Christo contingent pondering what’s really going on. No, not why the sales seem to be awash with items  that are a size too small or whether there is any spiritual merit in praying for a couple of Olympics tickets (100 metres final please Lord!). The question that seems to be in urgent need of answering is whether what we purport to believe is under threat? The recent ruck in the General Synod about women bishops and the announcement that Higgs Boson, the so-called God particle  has been identified could be described as a double sucker punch. Especially if one reads some of the more virulent pieces out there on the web (yes, I clearly have a lot of spare time) which are heralding this as the death of Christianity: out of touch with the rest of the world and now found out to be one big elaborate hoax.

To begin with the case of women bishops in the Anglican community:  A case that has run so long, and had so many soapy twists and turns it seems surreal; tune in this weekend for the next instalment. First there were the threats and counter threats, then the lobbying and sympathy pieces written by both sides, right through  to the cheeky invitation from Rome for all truly fed up to come on down and join the Catholic Church, and now more concessions made to try and keep both sides happy, as in women soon, but not quite yet, for now. But from the lay side of things it all seems to be a ridiculous storm in a teacup, but a very damaging one nevertheless. If you ask the average Anglican; and by this I mean someone who actually rocks up on a weekly and not someone who parachutes themselves in for weddings, christenings and funerals and thus might be expecting some time-warp action, in the form of creaky pews and  a  male vicar in full-on raiment, if they are piqued when a female vicar or curate leads rather than a male counterpart, they could care less. God does not dish out the gifts of biblical exposition, teaching,  pastoral and healing gifts on a gender basis, so why lose sleep and members over this very true fact being reflected in the configuration of leadership? And for those arguing against female leadership based on historical precedent, please have a look at Romans 16:1, where St Paul begins with these words “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church of Cenchreae” . Female leadership was alive and well in the second century. So there was a hiatus of eighteen centuries or more,  and the church was not structured as it is now, but really in this the season for us to get caught up on internal admin and bickering and lose sight of the bigger picture of what is going on in the world at large? We live in an era of trenchant secularism,  suspicion and derision of those who have a faith but curiously in a society that hops from one fad to the next desperately seeking spiritual fulfilment. The church is missing a trick if it continues in the way of some backward Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 firms that still have no females at board level. If we are the true body of Christ, then everyone should  be represented at the top table not just those who fit the existing ‘look and feel’.

Speaking of look and feel, or rather matter to be more precise, what of the God Particle, Higgs Boson which has recently been discovered? For those, who like me were absolutely rubbish at science at school, from my reading Higgs is described as being responsible for matter, the building blocks of everything in the universe and beyond. It all sounds wondrous  and I am particularly pleased that the retired Professor Higgs is alive to see the discovery that bears his name, and is quoted as making sure his family put the champagne in the fridge. But to call it the death knell for belief is a step too far. For too long ith as been assumed that to be a believer of whatever flavour was to somehow suspend both logic and curiosity. Or ideally to lack either, to be the thicko theist, who believes just because they do or have been told to, or both. I have always been a believer first and foremost of the transformative power of God’s love. I also think it is good and right that people should continue to seek answers to all sorts of questions which back in the day would have labelled you a heretic. For me there is no either or in the face of intellectual enquiry.  And curiosity neither killed the cat nor does having it mark you out as a danger to the flock, if you do go to church. Why people believe what they believe is more tied into how they feel, which is as valid and true as any scientific discovery.

Returning to the transformation of God’s love I had an awe inspiring encounter with a disabled pensioner who has  kindly allowed for me to share her story here: Christine is my friend’s next door neighbour. She lives on the third floor of a block of flats in Brixton and is ‘salt and light’ if anyone needed to see it live. A horrific car accident as a child saw her dragged along the street under a car and pronounced on arrival at hospital as within 15 minutes of death and with a definite shortened life expectancy and one that would be at best in a vegetative state. Her father, a devout Christian prayed and told the doctors that he was convinced God said she would live and have a full life. Now this is not one of those ‘miracles live!’ type testimonies so please, bear with me. Christine did survive but she  not only did not speak for a year,  but also lost sight in one eye and was left with severely impaired walking skills. The sunny pensioner who I had the privilege to hang out with yesterday was full of grace and is a fixture in her block. It was her who over the years has welcomed new migrant families in for a cup of tea, and as a testimony to her loving nature she is godmother to many  including a little girl from Nigeria, who she had me in stitches by saying she was practising saying the baby’s name properly as it was so long. She told me she always proclaimed Jesus’ love for all to everybody, even those who called her names because of her disability, to the point that  the security guard at the local supermarket felt encouraged to do the same with the legendary line; ‘We’re all one in God. End of!” In her spare time Christine knits blankets for the elderly (and there I was thinking of her as elderly!), works tirelessly with cheer for the Salvation Army in Balham and has a big and warm hug for everyone. She is also very much a ‘girl’s girl’, we discussed summer diet plans, a mutual love of carrot cake and the importance of perfume. Within minutes of us hanging out I was ‘Mazz’ and  as I typed up a couple of letters for her ( our chance encounter began because she had knocked looking for assistance with her computer), I was struck by one thought: Higgs Boson might be responsible for matter, but it is only God the Creator who could have crafted such a selfless, brave,  loving and good for a laugh heart.