Crimperman.org

Broken doll photo by Goran Zec – CC:By-SA

I’ve been thinking about prayer and expectations lately. Yesterday our daughter came downstairs a bit upset. The cause of the worry was that she thought she had ruined her head forever. It took us a short while to figure out that she meant not her own head but one of those toy ones you apply “make-up” to. Quick tip: If you have a child with one of these – make sure they don’t apply face paint to it.

The interesting thing was that the words we said didn’t have as much effect as the actions we took

Almost on automatic pilot we went into standard comforting-parent mode. We started with “Oh don’t worry, it’ll be okay.”, skipped “It’s just a toy” and arrived at “Don’t worry we’ll look at it and sort it outi one way or another.”. You may recognise some of these from your own experience. The interesting thing for me was to see that from our daughter’s perspective the words we said didn’t have as much effect as the actions we took. All the promises in the world would not have convinced her it was actually going to be alright.

She is wise enough to know that sometimes toys are irrepairable but at that time what she needed was comfort, to be reassured that she was not in this alone. She needed a hug. She got that reassurance and – thanks to a can of WD-40 and a bit of elbow grease – it did turn out alright. Legendary Dad status confirmed but long before the fix she was calmer and reassured and you could tell – while worried – she was happier when she knew we were there for her.

How often do we we interact with God on a results basis?

How often do we interact with God on a results basis? We make requests and look for an outcome. There’s a whole industry within the church dedicated to this kind of thinking but even those of us who don’t subscribe to “blab it and grab it” will still often approach God expecting a fix. What if we approached him looking not for a fix but for reassurance that we will come through this. What if we remembered this covenant is not a service level agreement? Sometimes that reassurance comes from the angels – A.K.A. friends – God places around us, sometimes it may be a little more direct. Sometimes it will be fixed, sometimes it will be alright, sometimes it won’t be how we expected but we don’t need to go through it alone.

You know those Think Bike ads. Don't ignore them. This is why.

On Friday morning my motorbike was involved in a head-on collision with a car. You can see what happened to the bike on the right. Miraculously I walked away.

I am grateful for the prayers of friends and relatives who found out when my wife tweeted about the incident. I’m also grateful for the fact that I walked away from it and was back at work on the following Monday.

I am also very grateful for the people who – during the time I was waiting for the bike to be recovered – stopped to check I was okay or if I needed medical assistance etc. including those who gave their details as witnesses. In total I counted:

• 5 cars
• 7 motorcyclists (4 of whom stopped and came to chat despite me waving them on)
• 2 vans
• 7 pedestrians
• 2 bus drivers ( one of whom stopped twice)

I was offered four cups of tea, the loan of two mobile phones and an umbrella! We keep getting told by various parties that “We’re all in this together” as some kind of catchy slogan but my experience shows me that so many of us already know and act accordingly.

Incidentally the A & E at King George  hospital in Goodmayes, Essex – where I went to be seen (nothing broken) is currently under threat of closure. For my part I’ll just say the treatment I received was excellent, cost me nothing (NHS at work again folks) and was carried out in a friendly and professional manner. All this was despite the unit being very busy even for a Friday afternoon. If this unit closes it will be a great loss to the community and a great shame on those who close it.

So thank you to those who stopped, thank you to the staff at King George hospital A & E  and thank you to all those who prayed.

This was sent to me by e-mail. I don’t often pass e-mail jokes on but this one made me laugh – I hope you like it.

The pastor asked if anyone in the congregation would like to express praise for answered prayers.

Suzie Smith stood and walked to the podium.

She said, “I have a praise. Two months ago, my husband, Tom, had a terrible bicycle wreck and his scrotum was completely crushed. The pain was excruciating and the doctors didn’t know if they could help him.”

You could hear a muffled gasp from the men in the congregation as they imagine the pain that poor Tom must have experienced.

“Tom was unable to hold me or the children,” she went on, “and every move caused him terrible pain.” We prayed as the doctors performed a delicate operation, and it turned out they were able to piece together the crushed remnants of Tom’s scrotum, and wrap wire around it to hold it in place.”

Again, the men in the congregation cringed and squirmed uncomfortably as they imagined the horrible surgery performed on Tom.

“Now,” she announced in a quivering voice, “thank the Lord, Tom is out of the hospital and the doctors say that with time, his scrotum should recover completely.”

All the men sighed with unified relief.

The pastor rose and tentatively asked if anyone else had something to say.

A man stood up and walked slowly to the podium. He said, “I’m Tom Smith.” The entire congregation held its breath. “I just want to tell my wife the word is sternum.”

A few posts back I included an excellent video about judging. In my remarks I mentioned how well it was made and that I’d like to see more videos of that quality from the Church.

I found another one with an equally important message for Christians.

I’ve often read the analogy of God not being a vending machine but rarely have I seen it put so well and so clearly as this.

This prayer is attributed to St Patrick. I adapted it as a closing blessing/collective prayer the other week.

As I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.

May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.

May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.

May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Photo by MetFilmSchool http://twitpic.com/1lj6mj

In the lead up to the general election there was a lot of talk, bluster and chest beating about who should or should not lead the country (particular about who should not). We all had our favourites and we all had our hopes and dreams – even if for some of us it was just for the whole circus to go away so we could get on with our lives. Now it is finally over and we have a new government. Is it the one you wanted? I doubt it. I doubt anybody really wanted this as it is so hard to predict such an outcome but it’s possible that this rather unique outcome has given us Christians a real opportunity to collectively do something we would normally find hard to do in unison. That is pray for our leaders.

With our usual first past the post result there could be a large section of the Church who struggle to pray for a government they disagree with. Certainly there will be some who even now will find it hard to pray for the Coalition government. Of course the scriptures call us to pray for those who rule over us but this coalition gives us a real opportunity to do so for a change.

Messrs Cameron, Clegg and the rest have a tough job ahead. Working with each other for a start, let alone sorting out the economy, figuring out what to do in Iraq and Afghanistan and trying to restore public faith in a political system which many feel has largely failed us: the people it is supposed to serve. No matter how vehemently we may disagree with the more extreme stances of either the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats, here we have the possibility that if they work together such policies will be at the least tempered down and at the best not see the light of day.

As Christians we owe it to our country to pray that these two different viewpoints can work together for the good of the country.

As Christians we owe it to our country to pray that happens, to pray that these two different viewpoints can work together for the good of the country, that they will be able to put their differences aside and produce something which while it may not be perfect will be better than if one party had achieved a large majority. We should pray that they will keep each other in check and will be able to concentrate less of party politics and more on government.

We have an opportunity to genuinely pray for our government here not just some half-hearted prayer while thinking “Please God get them out”. Dare I say that the fact this is not a government of one party might make it easier for us to pray – because in this case none of us voted for this government. I didn’t vote for this government and I don’t know whether or for how long it will work but I’m going to pray it does, I’m gong to pray this government achieves what is best for this nation and I’m going to pray for the people involved.

If you weren’t already, I invite you to join me.

Oh Lord will you teach me to pray?
Help me get close to You.
Feels like I’m just not getting there.
Don’t know what else to do.
Do You hear my feeble voice?
Is it worth me trying?
Am I doing something wrong?
Should I lament, start crying?
Is that it, do you want my tears?
Should I fast … again?
Should I say the Lord’s Prayer first?
Or maybe at the end?
What is it that I have to do?
To get an answer from You?
Just when’s the best time for You Lord?
Morning? Evening? Afternoon?

But then, what right have I to ask?
To present this shopping list?
When through the day I run my life,
To suit the things I wish.
Oh sure I’ve read my bible,
I say my piece each day.
But when I come to each crossroads,
I don’t ask You the way.
In searching for the plan to pray,
Perhaps all that I’ve done,
Is complicate what comes down to
A chat ‘tween Father and son.
Perhaps it’s not the order,
Or the words I use.
Maybe I just should just relax,
Enjoy my time with You.

“Hi Dad” I would say to You.
“Hello son, how’s the walk?”
“Not too good, I’m struggling”
“Come here, let’s sit and talk”
And maybe during our chat I’d mention my friend too,
She might want to be adopted?
She’d like a Dad like You.
Oh and while I’m here You know that job, the other day?
What d’you reckon I should do I mean – should I go that way?
Oh yes, let’s spend some time like that I really, really want to.
“Bye Dad, I’ll see you later”
“No son, I’m coming with you”