Как прекрасны на горах ноги тех, кто несет радостную весть, возвещая мир, кто приносит добрые известия, возвещая спасение.

In English, the Russian title says: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation,"

 A week ago I wrote the letter below to Mr Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.  To date, I have not received a written reply, although the actions reported in the press have formed a reply of sorts.  It is clear that Mr Putin has made the decision about what he wants to be remembered for.  

If you feel that you would like to add your thoughts on this subject, please write to Mr Putin at the address given below.

20^th February 2021

Владимир Владимирович Путин

President of Russia,

23, Ulitsa Ilyinka,

103132,

Moscow,

Russia.

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin,

During the time when you were studying in Leningrad State University, I was privileged to visit the fine cities of Leningrad (now St Petersburg), Moscow and Kiev. During my stay I was very impressed by the way in which the people had repaired the damage done to their cities during the war with the Nazis. The warmth of the friendship that I experienced from citizens who remembered that we had been allies during these difficult times left a lasting impression me, and I would love to visit again to see how the cities have developed in the last 50 years. All the people I spoke to were extremely proud of their traditions and heritage. The architectural and artistic treasures of these cities are extremely precious to the people, and to the world. To think that these were almost lost by the barbarity of war is horrendous.

Due to the efforts of many people, Europe has enjoyed the advantage of the longest period of peace in recorded history since the second world war. During this time, there have been both economic and cultural benefits for people of all countries, knowing that these will not be destroyed by warfare.

Obviously, every country has the right to defend itself, and to deploy troops, and hold exercises within its own boundaries, and yours is no exception. At the moment, the world is anxious about the way in which troop movements have been reported in western Russia, and worried lest a misunderstanding, or a momentary carelessness on someone’s part, plunges the continent into a destructive war which noone wants, and from which noone will benefit.

This morning, our preacher at church referred us to a passage written by the prophet Isaiah over 2000 years ago: chapter 52, verse 7 “Как прекрасны на горах ноги тех, кто несет радостную весть, возвещая мир, кто приносит добрые известия, возвещая спасение”. As true now as it was then, peace is good news.

The internet tells me that the name Vladimir means “Great, Peaceful Ruler”, May I urge you to live up to your name, so that you can be remembered as one who brought and maintained peace. This is a much better legacy that the cause of destruction and economic ruin for which other leaders have been remembered.

Yours most sincerely,

Jonathan Youdan

Week beginning 27th February

 

Week beginning 27^th February

Song: O for a thousand tongues to sing

O for a thousand tongues to sing - YouTube

Prayer:

Praying for peace

Almighty God we pray for the situation on the border of Ukraine.
We pray for those who live in fear, that you may grant them peace.
We pray that the voices for discernment and peaceful solutions may prosper.
Lord, we ask that you raise up peacemakers on all sides, that war and violence might be averted.
Give diplomats wisdom, understanding and build trust.
We ask for the church in the nations involved, may they be salt and light in a dark situation.
Lord we lift this dangerous situation to you.
May your kingdom come,
Amen.

Prayer by Fred Drummond,

Evangelical Alliance Scotland and prayer director

Song: Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart - YouTube

Reading: Psalm 107

Song: My God, I thank Thee, who hast made

My God, I Thank Thee - YouTube

Psalm 107 is a prayer of thanks for deliverance from several different perils faced by the people, “The redeemed”. These people considered that they were redeemed by the regular offering of sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, but it was necessary for this to be repeated regularly. As Christians we believe that we are redeemed by the sacrificial offering of Jesus on the cross. This is a once for all sacrifice, which does not need repeating.

Whilst the psalm was written over 2000 years ago, the perils faced by the people are not exclusive to a bygone era. Over the last couple of years, many of us have experienced these, and similar situations. But people can now say, as the psalmist said, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love, and his wonderful deeds for mankind”

Verse 4: Some wandered in desert wastelands,
    finding no way to a city where they could settle.

Verse 10: Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering in iron chains,

Verse 17: Some became fools through their rebellious ways
    and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.

Verse 23: Some went out on the sea in ships;
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.

Few of us will have actually wandered in desert wastelands, but the experience of the disruption caused by the lockdowns and commercial difficulties have felt similar to this for many. People have lost jobs, and had to make difficult decisions about the continuing employment of others. Businesses have foundered, and suffered setbacks which could take years to rebuild.

At the moment, with war in the Ukraine, thousands of the citizens are experiencing disruption not seen in Europe for many years. They are truly wandering in a desert wasteland. They will be “crying out to the Lord in their trouble”, and will be led to a “city where they can settle”. We must remember them in our prayers, and if opportunity exists for practical assistance, we should prayerfully consider what to do.

Most of us are fortunate in that we have never sat in darkness and been chained. But for millions of people, the lockdowns where they were denied the opportunity to meet with friends, family, and loved ones was a similar experience. Humans are by nature social, and not to have regular contact with others was a very real problem. I remember commenting to my wife that I hoped that the government was prepared to invest heavily in mental health care after all this was over. Eventually, the restrictions eased, and people could see one another, and meet up in various ways. Much better than the electronic contact which had been all that was permissible. A true release.

Rebellion will always produce distress, and yet it is many people’s nature to rebel, we don’t like being told what to do, and yet, the psalmist tells us that people make fools out of themselves by rebelling, especially when rebelling against God. And yet, when people cry out to the Lord, he will respond, and heal them of their suffering. There are many examples in the modern world of where people are rebelling, and suffering as a consequence. We need to be alert to opportunities to remind such people of God’s healing love for them.

I understand the people of Israel were not one of the world’s great seafaring nations. The oceans held many terrors for them. In our lives, whilst we may not actually be on storm tossed ships, we may nonetheless experience storms and terrors in our lives. We are told that God stilled the storm and guided the people to their desired harbour. Very reminiscent of Jesus calming the storm in the gospels. What ever we are experiencing, God is there alongside us, and will calm the storm for us so that we can complete our journey with Him.

Let us give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

Song: Now thank we all our God,

Now Thank We All Our God (Grace Community Church) - YouTube

week beginning 20th February

 

Song: Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace (Tune: New Britain - 6vv) [with lyrics for congregations] - YouTube

Prayer:

Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of all:
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Taken from www.churchofengland.org

Song: When we walk with the Lord,

When We Walk With the Lord (Trust and Obey) - with lyrics - YouTube

Reading: Book of Isaiah, chapter 30, verses 1 to 18

Song: How Lovely on the mountains

How Lovely on the Mountains (Our God Reigns - 4vv+refrain) [with lyrics for congregations] - YouTube

The book of Isaiah is a wonderful book. Written thousands of years ago, and hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, it is both prophetic and historical. It is quoted many times in the new testament, and records the reaction of God’s people to his word.

In the passage we read today, we discover that the people were saying that they wanted good news, but Isaiah contends that they really need the truth.

When we go to the doctor’s, we want good news, but it would be harmful if the doctor were to tell us that all is well when we are really sick.

The people are in rebellion, looking for a replacement for God. They are refusing to acknowledge the one who will judge the living and the dead. Instead, they want to hear pleasant words which cover up the truth. The people prefer darkness, they like it and want to exchange the God of truth and love for lies.

In our modern world, people reject God’s word, they don’t wish to hear, read or listen to what God has to say. The result is a world full of hurting people, people who have lost their way and have no hope. They want to be told pleasant things rather than truth and justice, as the bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray”.

Jeremiah tells us that the heart is the most deceitful of all things.

To people such as these, God sent his Son 2000 years ago. He was born and raised and at about the age of 30 he began his ministry. He raised the dead, cured the ill, cast out demons, and spoke like no other, but he was rejected. “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1, 11) And, in Mark’s gospel we read that the people even pleaded with him to go somewhere else (5, 17)

He was hated by the religious leaders, He was tried, and even though found innocent, he was crucified. Truly, he was “despised and rejected”. God used all this in his plan. We can rest easy because God has laid all our sins on Jesus. This was the price paid for the sins of the world.

When people say “Tell us pleasant things” in the modern world, what they want is to be told that there is no hell, that all is well, that all will be saved. But in everyone, even the most sophisticated, there is a problem; the fallen nature of humanity. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Ecclesiastes says that such people are “Chasing the wind”. They are chasing pleasures and material objects which give no peace or satisfaction. Confronted with such things and beliefs, we only ask “Is this the best that the world has to offer?”

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. If there is no God in our lives, there will always be a void. Jesus told the parable of the rich fool, (Luke’s gospel, chapter 12, verses 13 to 21). Ultimately, having no room for God in one’s life leads to life without peace, life without hope, and death, Eternal separation from the living God.

But there is good news. The good news is that the price has been paid on the cross.

We need repentance and rest, which is our salvation. If you don’t know God, Don’t put it off. Come to God, Just as you are. There is no need to change, improve or alter yourself, come just as you are. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. We need to hear the bad news, We are lost! But we can embrace the Good News, Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.

No God,

No peace.

Know God,

Know peace.

Song: To God be the glory

To God Be The Glory ( Royal Albert Hall, London) - YouTube

Week beginning 13th February

 

The Love of God:

Song: God is Love, let heaven adore Him

ABBOT'S LEIGH-GOD IS LOVE - YouTube

Prayers:

Song: O Love of God how strong and true

O Love of God, how strong and true (Horatius Bonar) - YouTube

Isaiah 53: 1 - 9

Song: Love divine

Love Divine All Loves Excelling - YouTube

John 3: 11 - 21

Song: Come let us sing of a wonderful love

Come let us sing of a wonderful love - YouTube

“Love” is a strange word. Try walking up to stranger and saying “I love you”. It could get all sorts of responses; you might be offered violence; you could be reported for sexual harassment; it might lead to shows of affection, or even passion; it could lead to offers of marriage, although that could lead to complications if you are already married!

It might be safer to say that “ I like you”, although some of will remember a comedian called Dick Emery, who used a line “O you are awful, but I like you!”, with comic consequences.

Can you love somebody you don’t like? Can you like someone you don’t love?

Perhaps the answer to these questions depends on what we mean by “love and “like” in the contexts of the sentences.

Considering that English has somewhere approaching a million words, and the typical native speaker knows about 40 000, we are quite impoverished when we try to talk about love. Some other languages can be more explicit about this subject because they have different words for some of the different ideas behind the word.

Greek, the language of the N.T. has 4 words.

Storge; Usually translated as “affection” of the expected and familiar. Probably the commonest form of love we experience, and yet often ignored or dismissed.

Philia: Often translated as “friendship”, the bible translators usually use “love”. A kinship developed over something in common. Friendship is usually about something. A hobby, a like of something or somewhere.

Agape: Sometimes translated as “charity”, sometimes as “love” . The unconditional love that God shows towards mankind.

Eros: Romantic love. Much more than friendship, lovers are always talking to one another about their love, face to face, absorbed in one another.

Bible only refers to two of these, Agape and Philia, although mit is not always clear in translation which is referred to. Sometimes a book such as an interlinear testament can be useful. Helps to understand the reference.

Most frequently, Agape is the love referred to and expected. It is seen as higher and deeper than Philia.

There is a story from John 21, where Jesus askes Peter “Do you Love (agape) me?” twice, and gets the response “You know that I Love (Philia) you” Twice! The thhird time Jesus asks the question he uses Philia. He is settling for what is on offer. But he would rather have the higher love, the love God showed to humanity.

When we talk of the “Love of God” we are referring to Agape, the selfless love which put others first.

In our reading from Isaiah, we read of one who was despised, and rejected, acquainted with grief. Famously the subject of an Aria in “The Messiah”. This prophecy of Jesus depicts him as one who will come and know suffering. This is important for our understanding of God’s love.

When God came to earth, to restore the relationship between His creation and Himself, He did not come as a mighty, superior being. He came as a human, one of us, who experienced everything that we experience. We can never say to God “You don’t know what it’s like.” “You haven’t suffered what I have suffered.” God knows what we go through; joys, sorrows, pleasures and griefs, gains and losses.

John tells us that sending Jesus to the world was a demonstration of the extent to which God loved the world. And an illustration of the love we are called upon to show to others.

John tells us that the love of God is not to condemn but to save (or heal).

Last week, we were talking about our Christian response to the current problems with the environment issues, and made the point that it was important to love people into cooperation. To show God’s love to people in order to show them the way of the kingdom. In the past, there have been sections of the church which have sought to condemn people into cooperation. The church became very heavy on the “Thou shalt nots”, and was seen as a joyless place. Recently I took it as a compliment when a colleague at work said “You haven’t got a bad sense of humour for a bible-basher!”

We are called upon to show the love of God to others, so that they can see the love of God for themselves. To answer a question I asked earlier, this does mean that we can love someone who we do not like.

We will be following in the footsteps of Jesus, because we will be going to places we might not want to go.

C.S. Lewis, the author and theologian, said “we are made to love and we are in want of it. If we play it safe, we are not living out the Gospel, but burying the coin in the safe ground, as the parable says. Lewis reminds us:

There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken.

But we experience this in the sure knowledge that whatever we experience, God has been there before us, and is there with us.

Song: The love of God comes close

474 The love of God comes close - YouTube

Week beginning 6th February

 

Song: Jesus is Lord.

Jesus is Lord! Creation's voice proclaims it - YouTube

Prayer:

Creator God,
In your hand are the depths of the earth.
The mountain peaks belong to you, The sea is your creation,
The dry land is your handiwork,
The fruit of the land is your design,
The taste of the produce is your gift,
And we are your people,
a flock under your care.
We give you our thanks and praise, O God.
Amen.

Taken from www.allwecan.org.uk

What is a Christian response to the environmental issues which surround us at the moment? What markers can we use to guide in our use of God’s creation?

Our main interest has to be to learn more of God. So our response to the creation has to be worship. The creation is a signpost to God. It is a means to learn more of God who provided these things for our enjoyment.

If we are a church, or for that matter a business, with a sign outside, the state of the sign tells people something about the church or business responsible for it. Similarly, the state in which we leave our bit of creation tells people something about how we regard that particular gift from God.

If we destroy creation, we are destroying a signpost to God.

Some countries have no tradition of gardening for pleasure, just growing plants for food. In the U.K. plants have been grown for their beauty for centuries, which many people have used as a way of getting closer to God.

Reading: Psalm 19

Another aspect of our approach to creation has to be dignity. We need to treat God’s creation with the dignity it deserves.

There is a view amongst some Christians that since we are going to get a new creation when Jesus comes in glory, why should we need to bother with the existing one! Christ could come tomorrow, they reason, it would be waste of resources to spend time on this creation.

Would you look after your house like this? Especially if you were trying to sell it? Of course not. Creation is not ours to do with as we please, we are merely stewards, trustees of something which is not ours, but for which we are responsible. It is a part of our revelation about who God is.

We are all creative. This does not just mean in one of the crafts, such as painting, music or needlework. All of us have a skill. How we use that skill shows something about us. How we look after that which has been entrusted to us tells others something about us. We have a responsibility to the world, regardless of when Christ is coming.

Song: How lovely is Thy dwelling place

How Lovely in Thy Dwelling Place by Ted Sandquist - YouTube

In the past, some people have been abusive in their treatment of animals. They say that they believe in life and love, but fail to show this in their treatment of animals. We need to show respect for life, perhaps learning something from other cultures such as that of India which places great reverence on the well-being of animals.

In the creation story (Genesis) the idea of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge tells us that we don’t need to exploit everything, there are things which we can leave alone.

Song: From the rising of the sun

From The Rising of the Sun To The Going Down of the Same OLPS OCDC 2018 - YouTube

Our meeting together shows a desire to be with God. This means that we can be here now, and respect the environment in which we find ourselves. At the same time, we can hope for the better things which are to come. When we celebrate Holy communion, we are remembering the suffering and hardships of Christ, and others. We are looking to Christ’s return, and celebrating his presence in the world.

What should be our motivation in our dealing with creation?

Do we go on protests? Do we get concerned about the sort of light bulbs we use? Should we be bothered about the amount and type of packaging we use? How can we be more “green”? How do we dispose of waste? Is the disposal done safely?, properly? What drives us in making these decisions?

Many different campaigns are being fought using advertising at the moment. Many of them seek to use guilt as a motivating force.

Guilt should not control us. This is not the way of the Christian. We can point out wrongs, but guilt should not be the weapon we use to motivate others.

We should use love.

We should look after what point to God, or its misuse will point to our neglect.

Loving our neighbour does not involve harming somebody or something else. Especially, we are not loving our neighbour if our waste, or trade practices impact badly on them. We should motivate others by our love. It cannot be a legalistic approach, “If you’re a Christian you shouldn’t buy/do………” This may be O.K. for those who have sufficient money or resources, but for others, this may be a choice that they cannot make.

In order to make decisions, and to encourage others to make decisions, we need to understand people and their circumstances in order to behave in a loving way towards them. Christ is the answer which will assist us in the questions of life and the environment.

Song: Blessed assurance

Blessed Assurance - YouTube