Jesus' Call: An Overflowing Heart: Generosity

The saying of Jesus from Matthew's Gospel beginning, "The eye is the lamp of the body" (see opposite) has always been a puzzle to me but reading the NIV footnotes helps. Jesus appears to be talking about taking care as to what steers and guides us.

Just as our eyes, if sound, guide us -  so do our choices: If our ‘eyes’ are healthy (if our soul is set on choosing generosity and not storing up for ourselves) we will know the light, the lightness and joy of God, a spiritual health, running through us. 

If our eyesight is poor (our souls given to stinginess, unyielding, not thinking of others) we will know a darkness within – and what a dingy, dismal experience that will be!

^{God’s call is for us to be generous – materially, with our time and with our love. For this, we need the Holy Spirit, fresh, poured out, in our hearts; generosity is His nature and we want to share it with Him.}

Red Roses, Romance and Martyrdom: Tell The People Jesus Loves Them ...

14 February, the night for romantics and here we are, setting off from the Jesus Centre with 650 red roses carefully labelled with an explanation of who exactly was the great saint Valentine and a Bible verse (John 15:13 - see picture below).

Now, you understand, it’s not a tranquil evening, one for lovers to saunter in the hidden corners in back alleys of our streets for some quiet, romantic moment together; there’s quite literally a howling gale outside and there’s been fierce rainstorms across the country. But, undeterred ....we set out.

Armed with ... red roses ... Nick, Steve, Ann and Andy

And it’s such fun. 13 of us (aged 17-73) sweeping through pubs, restaurants, even the Belgrade Theatre (foyer - not the live performance that’s going on), giving out our red roses to whoever ... and telling them that this is really true, God does love them. It’s only the beginning of the message, the Good News, but it’s a start.

 We ask some if they need prayer; I speak to a young guy, Barrie; he didn’t used to believe but his mate died at Christmas and yes, he did pray then and he wants to know if heaven is real. ‘Thanks,’ he says, ‘I’m open to God these days and what a warm feeling I had in my heart when you prayed!’

 You know, sometimes evangelism is hard work, especially when it’s filthy, rotten weather but tonight, no. I guess people sense the fun, the adventure in our eyes and respond. Yes, and I only got kissed once on this romantic night (one of the hazards) but that must be because I’m getting older!

Eric the Dog: A Lesson in Listening to God: For Matt

It was my turn to do Kids’ Spot again at Coventry Jesus Centre.

Volunteers: Matt (left) and Mark (right) 

After telling the following story, my friend Matt (who helps me set up on Mondays with his friend Mark) can't stop reminding me of it - he really liked it and stories aren't just for kids, you know. Anyway, this story is dedicated to him ... see picture, right.

I took a walk last Saturday to the beach, minding my own business of course but, you know, other people’s habits and ways are always very interesting and walking back from the sea I met a woman walking two dogs, a poodle and a limping, old retriever.

The poodle was following her nicely but, o dear, the retriever (Eric his name) decided about half-way along the route that it was time to go home. He turned and began walking back.

“Eric!” I heard her shout. “COME HERE! ERIC! ERIC-EE! 
ERIC–EE! COME HERE!” 

Eric stopped, turned and looked at her and then carried on walking in the opposite direction.

I heard her shout again, “ERIC! ERIC-EE! COME HERE!”

No chance.

In the end, the lady (and accompanying poodle) turned on her heels, abandoned her walk to the beach and returned to walk home with Eric. I captured some of this amusing scenario on my phone but, joking apart, I couldn’t help thinking it was my turn for kid’s spot next week and what a great illustration it was of the father-heart of God.

“MY PEOPLE! COME HERE!” He cries.  "I called you so often, but you wouldn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention (Proverbs 1:24: New Living Translation).

Here and elsewhere in the Bible, is revealed the compassion, sadness, frustration and anger of God, all rolled into one. He calls, desperately; we hear but do not listen and walk our own way. 

The woman in my story turned around and followed; God too turns and walks towards us, not in weakness but in strength – in the form of His Son.

But hey, let’s not be like Eric: hearing and not listening, determined, perhaps in his weariness, to go His own way. 

The truth is, I can see something of myself in Eric. The going is easier when I'm full of enthusiasm and energy; if I'm tired or discouraged there are other 'voices', unhelpful ones, that are easier to hear; at times like this, there's a need to live near the Source, listen as best we can to what He is saying and find our energy in Him.

Kramskoi, Christ in the Desert and a Russian Dissident

Painting by Kramskoi: 'Christ in the Desert'  (1872)

We've just started running a course at the Coventry Jesus Centre: 'ESOL and the Bible'.

A Russian intellectual comes; he's great company and full of interesting insights and facts. 
In the middle of the session this week he said, "Can I show you something?" 

"Of course", I said. This is the best kind of lesson, when we share-and-share-alike, learning together.

My Russian student googled this picture, 'Christ in the Desert' by the Russian artist, Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837-1887), and told me why he liked it: Jesus is resolved, determined; the temptation in the wilderness is over. His hands are clasped, tightly together; His course is set. His brow is furrowed; there is no turning back. 

There is suffering, pain in the picture. Dare I say, it has a definite Russian flavour: Jesus is not a china-faced, impassive, detached figure with little expressed emotions. The image conveyed is one of deep anguish and, as we know, anguish of a different kind has certainly been the experience of the Russian people. Jesus is heavy-laden, feeling the weight of His calling on His shoulders.

My Russian friend is a one-time dissident, having left behind a great deal, his distinguished livelihood, his family and friends. He has had to start again - with nothing. Perhaps that's why he finds such a strong identification with this picture.

 Note: Russian novelist, Ivan Goncharov (1812-1891), wrote of this picture: " there is nothing festive, heroic, victorious — the future fate of the world and of all livings is concealed in that miserable, small being, in pauper appearance, under the rags, in humble simplicity, inseparable with true majesty and force".