My Faith

We are in the midst of a preaching series based on Hebrews 11, focusing on faith, and our resident poet - Steve Page - has written a poem to go alongside the series. We hope that it blesses you and stirs your faith today.

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My faith is the certainty that gives me clarity to see
that there’s a path just beneath the current uncertainty.

My faith is a step, a one step at a time
not much of a leap, but me taking his hand with mine.
My faith is a day-by-day holding,
a minute-by-minute treading
of my boot in his footmarks left for me as a blessing.

My faith is choice that needs repeated repeating,
a daily seating at his feet,
it's not a fleeting feeling,
it’s a morning and evening both-knees kneeing.

My faith is a decision and decisions were made
to be made,
so pray,
take him at his word and take the next step,
but don’t be surprised if it involves you getting both feet wet.
Cos that is where you’ll find Jesus
at the point you find yourself out of your depth.

My faith is the certainty that gives me clarity to see
that whatever my path,
my God has gone before me.

Run and Fight

On Sundays at the moment you'll find us working our way through Paul's letter to the Corinthian church.  It's like reading a neighbour's post, but legal.  There's plenty from their life lessons for us to learn from.   1 Corinthians 9 uses the analogies of the runner and the boxer and the pictures they conjure prompted me to write an amplified version of sorts, with follows, after which is written the biblical original.

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Runners Run.
One stride at a time
One push at a time
One lap at a time

And when the climb is steep
when you feel like
you're losing ground,
then every stride,
every push, every lap
that leaves you in the race
takes you to your prize

And every time you stumble
only to regain your feet
that is a victory that is worthy
of your team captain
our captain, Jesus.

Boxers Fight.
One step at a time
One blow at a time
One round at a time

And when life throws
all it has at you,
all at one time,
then every step
every blow, every round
that leaves you in the fight
takes you to your prize

And every time you hit the canvas
only to beat the count
that is a victory that is worthy
of your champion,
our champion, Jesus.

And we will not be disqualified
from the prize.

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1 Cor 9 :24 - 27

24. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 

Parable of The Old River

John 7:37-38
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

The river will find its course, I recall Miss Crabtree, my geography teacher, saying.  But it will be influenced by the terrain, by the obstacles in its way.  Yes, it will find its way down to the great sea, as it should, but there will be a few detours along the way. Its course will not be a direct one.

Then I learned about a river’s 'rejuvenation':  When it gets to its wide meandering stage, in its lower course, the river will slow. It looks like the hard work has been done, there's only a little way to go before it joins the sea.  But if later it hits hard rock, a restricting of the course it was seeking to follow, it will return to its narrower, fiercer youth.  It will flow faster, with a stronger current to force its way forward. The
meandering will end, the white-water will return. The river is 'rejuvenated'.

The river will do all it can to get to the great sea, fighting its way to the finish. It will get noisy, and the going will get rough. But the river will reach its intended destination – the sea.

The river is you. The hard rock... you know what that is. It's different for each of us.

God has given you what you need to rejuvenate, to rediscover the fierceness in your faith, you will find a way to the great sea.

By the way, I also recall Miss Crabtree saying that the faster moving turbulent water typically contains a greater concentration of oxygen, which supports greater biodiversity than the slower moving water.  Faster rivers mean more life.

God knows what he’s doing.

We're All Levites Now

At the end of January we celebrated all those that serve at Redeemer, and encouraged everyone in the family to get involved in one of our Sunday serving teams. Steve Page, our deacon for logistics, reflects on serving in his latest blog below.

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Levites in Frocks

As a young Christian, when I heard or read bible passages featuring the Priesthood or Levites serving in the temple, I immediately conjured up the image of guys in frocks, waving incense; not exactly heavy lifters or people you’d invite to a party. As a bloke in SE London it wasn’t much to aspire to.

When I learned of the ‘priesthood of all believers’ (1 Peter 2:9) and understood that all those who have joined God’s family get direct access to him and that we don’t need to rely on any human go-between, such as a priest, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, it became a core truth of the gospel for me: the temple curtain torn in two, no hidden backroom just for the elite priesthood; an “Access All Areas” salvation.

But the image of frocks and incense persisted.

The Complete Picture

That has all changed now. I know that the Levites, the tribe that Yahweh put aside to run the Tabernacle and from which priests were selected, weren’t just guys in frocks. Reading passages in Exodus, Numbers and Nehemiah, I see that the Levites were given jobs such as taking care of the Tabernacle frame and equipment (Num 3:36); they were foremen (Neh 11:16); record keepers/ accountants (Ex 38:21); musicians and singers (Neh 11:22 & 12:8); tithe collectors (Neh 10:37); security guards (Num 1:50,51); and teachers (Neh 8:7,8). The whole tribe got involved, not just those with a talent for ‘bells and smells’.

We’re All Levites Now

And so it struck me, if under the New Covenant made possible by Christ we’re all priests, here to serve God and one another and all part of one body with all a part to play, then surely it follows that we’re all Levites now. We’ve all got a role to play to ensure Sunday worship comes off without a hitch – some with a flair for taking care of equipment and some for teaching (and perhaps some for both), and all with a calling to serve one another.

We’re all Levites now, but in the 21st Century the roles have changed a little: greeters, sound desk operators, coffee servers, teachers, toddler minders, un-packers, singers & musicians, money counters, administrators, and more: bringing God’s word for one-another, praying for each other and encouraging each other.
And none of these are mutually exclusive. All priests, serving one-another; all Levites, serving in God’s house. No false humility, just a willingness to do our part.

We're the New Levites:
the early risers, the cable layers,
the coffee makers, the sound checkers.
the purple greeters with a ‘good to see-yers’,
the smiling pray-ers, the red kids’ workers.
We’re all priests, cos we’re all believers
and I’ve got news for you – we’re all Levites too
We qualify by turning up,
with willing hands and open hearts.

We're the New Levites
and the rota's open.

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Find out more about serving at Redeemer at redeemerlondon.org/serving

Love is Not Nice

On Sunday the 23rd Pete challenged us from the words in 1 John to take loving one another seriously.

Here's my paraphrase:

Love is not nice.

‘Nice’ is soft and inoffensive.
‘Nice’ is careful and non-assertive.
‘Nice’ is easy and effects no change.
She’s cotton wool trying to soften the pain,
but not stuffed tight, just resting on the surface,
ready to be blown away
or be pressed under a muddy boot of disinterest.

‘Nice’ is a damp whisper.
A mouse cowering in the corner,
hoping you will blink and miss her,
lest she attract your notice,
lest she presume too much
and cause a whisker of offence.

Love is not like that –

Love pushes in, quick and nimble:
A hero with no mask, unasked,
unexpected, dodging the turmoil,
leaving nothing unsaid and little undone
in her pursuit of creating a counter-disruption.

Love defies convention.

Love carefully aims her weapons of choice
and advances relentless and regardless
of any and all obstacles in her way.
Love perseveres all the love-long day

Love doesn’t delay.

Love is gleeful for the chance of invasion,
ready to disarm with expert compassion
with her regiments of patience,
armed to the teeth with gracious,
placing tanks of good faith on all fronts.

Love confronts.

Courage is her currency, kindness her language.
Trust and hope are her passports to lands long unexplored,
happily wearing all-weather clothing
for any and all unexpected storms

Love transforms.

Love weakens all defences
and challenges all camouflaged pretences.
Love pours itself out to fill unhealed wounds
and on shrapnel-seeded battlefields
she - blooms.

Love perfumes.

Love is not 'nice'.
Love isn’t in this for the likes.
Love bites.
She’s a take-on-all-comers, undefeated delight
Love never bails from the fight,
never fails, never takes flight.

Love is nothing casual,
nothing incidental.
This love is elemental.
She is Avengers-Assemble,
End-Game-level, monumental.

Love is not 'nice'.
Love keeps on loving at any price.

Go to 1 John, chapters 1-5 for the original.

Steve is Redeemer’s resident poet, and has been instrumental in encouraging and motivating other creative individuals at Redeemer to pursue the gifting God has placed in them! You can read his poetry HERE, or find his anthologies on Amazon.

The Apprenticeship Is Over

This is a word, which was first shared during our most recent week of prayer, and again at a recent Leadership Training evening, but it’s a word for the church, and so I’m setting it out for the whole church to see.

God has been drawing my attention to the phrase ‘The Apprenticeship is over’.

Those Apprenticed To Him

It started when reading Matthew 5 in The Message.  I’m very used to the gospels referring to Jesus teaching his disciples, getting them prepared for the time when they would be given responsibility to build his church.  It’s what his 3-year ministry was all about.  So when I joined a meet up this year that focused on familiar passages in the gospel of Matthew, I decided to read the gospel in The Message (a contemporary translation of the original biblical text - written by Eugene Peterson), with a view to waking me up to what Jesus was saying rather just letting the familiar language wash over me.

Matthew recounts the sermon on the mount in chapter 5.  The Message starts the account like this:

“When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:… “

‘Those who were apprenticed to him’.  That phrase took me by surprise.

There is an apprentice in my team at work – an apprentice accountant.  She works on my projects alongside her teammates, spends 1 day a week in study and has a series of exams to complete over the course of her apprenticeship – and one day she’ll qualify as an accountant.  The apprenticeship will then be over, and she will have a permanent role as an accountant in my team or in a similar one.

She’s been with us for under 2 years, but I’ve seen how she’s grown in confidence, in knowledge, gathering experience that makes her a more competent colleague and makes her better able to fulfil her role.  She’s also begun sharing her knowledge with others, taking more initiative, and adding greater value to the projects she’s involved in.  But she’s still the ‘apprentice’ and that defines some of the expectations we have of her and that she has of herself.

New Expectations

In Matthew 28 The Message tells us that Jesus commissions the 12 (his apprentices):

“Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near,…”

The apprenticeship was over.  He had new expectations of his friends, those he had chosen as his apprentices.

This is what I believe God wants to speak to us about as a church - I think he is stirring us to take on a new mindset –

Our apprenticeship is over.  Now is the time
- to expect to coach and train others, as much as be coached and trained.
- to encourage others as much as be encouraged.
- to lead by example as much as look to the example of others.
- to be responsible for others as much as be responsible to God.
- to be a big sister, not just an obedient daughter.
- to be a big brother, not just an obedient son.

I’d encourage you to consider this for yourself.

What new responsibilities does Jesus have for you, given the time you’ve spent apprenticed to him?

Have you been growing in confidence and ability to play a greater role?

Is now the time for that to start.

As a starting point, look around at those who have been apprenticed to Jesus for a shorter period than you; take the opportunity to share your experience, your story of faith – you’ll be surprised how much they appreciate it.

Your apprenticeship is over – it’s time to begin a new role.

We Are All Levites Now

Yesterday was Serving Sunday at Redeemer, where we encouraged everyone who would call Redeemer Church their home to follow the example of Jesus, and sign up to serve on a team!

Steve Page has written this blog post as a follow up to yesterday’s service.

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As a young Christian, when I heard or read bible passages featuring the Priesthood or Levites serving in the temple, I immediately conjured up the image of guys in frocks, waving incense; not exactly heavy lifters or people you’d invite to a party.  As a bloke in SE London it wasn’t much to aspire to.

When I learned of the ‘priesthood of all believers’ [see 1 Peter 2:9] and understood that all those who have joined God’s family get direct access to him and that we don’t need to rely on any human go-between, such as a priest, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, it became a core truth of the gospel for me: the temple curtain torn in two, no hidden backroom just for the elite priesthood; an “Access All Areas” salvation.

But the image of frocks and incense persisted.

I’ve now got a more complete picture.

The Levites, the tribe that Yahweh put aside to run the Tabernacle and from which priests were selected, weren’t just guys in frocks.  Reading passages in Exodus, Numbers and Nehemiah, I see that the Levites were given jobs such as taking care of the Tabernacle frame and equipment (Num 3:36); they were foreman (Neh 11:16); record keepers/ accountants (Ex 38:21); musicians and singers (Neh 11:22 & 12:8); tithe collectors (Neh 10:37); security guards (Num 1:50,51); and teachers (Neh 8:7,8).  The whole tribe got involved, not just those with a talent for ‘smells and bells’. 

And so it struck me, if under the New Covenant made possible by Christ we’re all priests, here to serve one another and all part of one body with all a part to play, then surely it follows that we’re all Levites now.  We’ve all got a role to play to ensure Sunday worship comes off without a hitch – some with a flair for taking care of equipment and some for teaching (and perhaps some for both), and all with a calling to serve one another.  

We’re all Levites now, but under the New Covenant in the 21st Century the roles have changed a little: greeters, sound desk operators, coffee servers, teachers, toddler minders, un-packers, singers & musicians, money counters, administrators, and more: bringing God’s word for one-another, praying for each other and encouraging each other.  

And none of these are mutually exclusive.  All priests, serving one-another; all Levites, serving in God’s house.  No false humility, just a willingness to do our part.  

We're the New Levites: 

the early risers, the cable layers,
the coffee makers, the sound checkers.
the purple greeters with a ‘good to see-yers’,
the smiling pray-ers, the red kids’ workers.

We’re all priests, cos we’re all believers
and I’ve got news for you – we’re all Levites too

We qualify by turning up,
with willing hands and open hearts.

We're the New Levites
and the rota's open.

Written by Steve Page

Poet's Corner - Believe In More

This week on Poet’s Corner, we feature a video from our sung worship time on Sunday 10th October, where Steve shared his poem Believe in More.

Inspired by Ephesians 3:20-21, Steve encourages us to remember that our God can do more in and through us than we could possibly ask or imagine.

Oh My Soul!

Have you been hearing voices?  Or to be more precise, a voice, when alone in the house?

During these months of lockdown to one degree or another, have you heard yourself giving a narration to everyday activities?  Or giving yourself some much-needed advice?  Maybe you’ve even held a timely conversation with yourself?

One egg or two?  Oh, go on, you deserve 2.  Right-o-then, 2 it is.

Where did I put it?  I didn’t leave it in the car, did I?  Oh, blast.

When was the last time you heard Neil Diamond?  “Sweet Caroline! Da, Da, Daaa!..”

Just me?  I didn’t think so.

The good news is, I’ve just been reading how self-talk (or ‘private speech when said out loud) is okay, and might even be good for you.

Thinking Out Loud

Thinking problems through in spoken language is helpful.  Children do it.  Adults do too, when left alone.  

It’s okay.  Words said out loud is a perfectly natural response to the pressures of lockdown.

And you’re in good company.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why are you so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will praise him, my Saviour and my God.”
Psalm 42:5

“Awake my soul!  Awake, harp and lyre. I will awaken the dawn!”
Ps 57:8

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
Ps 62.5

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
Ps 103.1

“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”
Ps 116.7

Sometimes you just need a good talking to.

Go on.  Give it a go. 

As a starter, I recommend this worship song, ‘Remember’ (the chorus starts, “And oh, my soul…”)

Written by Steve Page

Steve is Redeemer’s resident poet, and has been instrumental in encouraging and motivating other creative individuals at Redeemer to pursue the gifting God has placed in them! You can read his poetry HERE, or find his anthologies on Amazon.

Poet's Corner - The Brightest Of Days

This is a poem I wrote back in March of 2019, it was a time in my life in which I was being taught humility and patience, and did a lot of waiting on God.

It seemed apt to share today, as another delay to the lifting of restrictions can easily leave us feeling frustrated or unsure as to the part today plays in God’s grand plan for us.

I hope this poem blesses you, and encourages you to seek and trust God today, whatever situation you find yourself in, knowing that there are brighter days to come, whether on this earth or in eternity!

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I won’t give up.
I won’t give in.
I won't let impatience drag me into sin.

I won’t back down.
Or try to skip ahead.
I won’t ignore what my father has said.

I won’t stop listening.
I won’t forget.
I won’t demand things I know I’m not ready for yet.

I won’t run.
I won’t hide.
I won’t question your ways.

For I know still to come is the brightest of days.

I will stand tall.
I’ll let my heart burn.
I’ll follow you down every twist, every turn.

I will let tears flow.
Of joy and of sorrow.
I’ll trust in your promise, for now and tomorrow.

I will let You
Fight this battle for me.
For you have won an everlasting victory.

I will worship my King.
I will cry out in praise.

For I know, still to come, is the brightest of days.

Today’s Poet’s Corner was written by Toby Elliott, and is arranged each month by our resident poet, Steve Page.

Poet's Corner - Psalm 139

Psalm 139 - A personal prayer

Sometimes it is helpful to take a well-known scripture and meditate on it in a very personal way. Here is Psalm 139 written in such a way:

O Lord, 

Please search me and know me.

I give you permission to know my sitting down and my standing up;

To understand my thoughts from far away.

Please understand the path of my life,

My lying down –

Indeed, all of my ways.

Lord, please purify the words on my tongue…

Before…

I speak them.

Put your hedge around me,

Lay your hand upon me.

May you overwhelm me with your wonders.

Help me understand my place in the world.

Let there be no escape for me from Your Spirit.

Don’t let me ever be out of Your Presence.

If I ascend into heaven or

Pitch into hell –

Please still be there.

Even in the early morning and at the seaside,

May your hand hold me wherever I go.

Even in the darkest night:

May your light shine on me.

Thank you that you’ve formed my inward parts,

Put me together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you.

I marvel how you put me together secretly.

Before I was born you already knew every day of my life.

Your thoughts are so precious to me, Lord!

You are so big! So wonderful!

I can’t even begin to count or explain your thoughts.

How could I ever really understand what’s on your mind?

Every morning I wake up – 

You are still with me!

Oh Lord, please get rid of wicked, evil people who don’t acknowledge You.

Please get them away from me.

They are so anti- God, so hate-filled.

They take your Name in vain.

I hate those who hate you, Lord.

I loathe them.

I hate them with perfect hatred.

Your enemies are my enemies too.

(Now back to the NKJV for the last two verses)

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Today’s Poet’s Corner was written by Mandy Hudson, and is arranged each month by our resident poet, Steve Page.

Easter - The Directors Cut

Today is marked in the church calendar as Ascension Day! It falls 40 days after Easter Sunday, and is the day that we celebrate the ascension of Jesus back into heaven. This moment is described in most detail by Luke in his gospel (Luke 24:50-53) and in the book of Acts (Acts 1:9-11), as well as featuring in Peter’s sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:32-36).

Steve Page has written a blog to commemorate the day, you can read it below.

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Sometimes a movie gets edited down to a nice neat 3 acts, but you just know you’re missing something.  There’s a story line that has no neat conclusion.  Someone’s back story seems a little off.  The ending feels – well, it feels unfinished, despite the high drama.

[I could add a pop culture reference here about Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but that will probably lose most of you, so I’ll keep quiet about that.]

Easter got great reviews this year – time off in the sunshine; lots of references to new starts; plenty of chocolate and a few bunnies thrown in for good measure.  It gave us a much-needed lift.  

But it wasn’t the director’s cut.

• Triumphant entry into Jerusalem – check.

• Last Supper – check.

• Horrific torture and death scene on the cross – check.

• Disillusioned disciples – check.

• The miracle of the resurrection on Sunday morning – check.

Then what?

There’s a scene missing that fell on the cutting room floor.  It’s a scene some 40 days after Resurrection Sunday and it’s celebrated by the church on 13th May this year (the 6th Thursday after Easter Sunday). 

After his resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days meeting with his friends, walking with them, fishing with them, eating with them, explaining what his death and resurrection was all about.  Then he re-joined his father in heaven.  The Apostles Creed describes it like this:  

“He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.”

This is one of the fundamentals of the Christian faith.  It’s why we pray to Jesus Christ and we don’t simply remember a great teacher and miracle worker.  Jesus ascended to heaven.

No chocolate, no bunnies – but a resurrected and ascended God.

If you see a Christian with a smile on their face this month – it might be because we’re celebrating the Ascension.  You see, it was worth waiting for that post credit scene in the director’s cut. 

A Disciple’s Prayer

I’m been thinking a lot about prayer recently.  This is partly prompted by the Sermon on the Mount series on Sundays [Matthew 6 contains The Disciple’s Prayer, taught by Jesus] and partly by Frank Skinner’s book - A Comedian’s Prayer Book - which explores his own imperfect conversations with God.

Saint Paul admonishes us:  “…in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…” [Philippians 4:6] and tells us that whilst “we do not know what we ought to pray for, the Sprit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” [Romans 8:26]

My daughter asked for the Book of Common Prayer for Christmas, which pleased me; I have a copy and I love the poetry and depth of phrase it contains.  I also value the more off the cuff conversations I have with God – especially alongside siblings in Christ.

So what form does prayer take?  What is it really about?

Is it two life-long friends side by side in silence, walking through life?

Is it the laughter and noise of family around a dinner table?

Is it a hug held in silence, punctuated with sighs and tears?

Is it an appeal for forgiveness and reconciliation?

Is it a song sung in harmony, full of the pleasure of sound and resonance?

Is it a hand instinctively reaching out and another hand taking hold?

Is it an intense Q&A, bible open, seeking truth?

Is it a plea for clarity in an argument of confusion?

Is it a pre-prepared line, borrowed from someone more versed in articulating the unsayable?

Is it a brief and to the point message, with two ticks to show receipt and a wait for a response?

Is it all of these?

And so, I start: “Our Father…” And I repeat as often as I can.

A Muslim colleague at work asked me, how often do you pray each day?  I understood what he was asking – how devoted are you and how disciplined are you in your devotion?  The answer is complicated, as all relationships are.  I said, “sometimes only once, but often it takes all day”.  

I’m still learning about prayer, as I’m still learning to recognise my Father’s voice and to listen to what he’d saying.  And I expect that it’s a conversation that will last a lifetime.

‘Father, whether we are still learning how to voice our first words to you, or whether we have enjoyed a life-long walk with you, please teach us the language of prayer.’

Poet's Corner - A new blog for 2021

Hi there, and welcome to our second brand new blog series here at Redeemer for 2021! Once a month, our resident poet Steve Page, will be sharing with us some of his favourite poetry. We’ll be hearing from a range of voices, from famous poets to some of our very own Redeemer family members. We hope this blog builds you up, and helps you to grow in your relationship with God, maybe it will even stir you to write some poetry of your own!

Without further ado, here’s the first Redeemer Poet’s Corner of 2021…

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Hope

This is my favourite poem on the theme of hope. It calls us to not give up.

(And we know a hope that keeps singing.)

”Hope” is the thing with feathers
Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I've heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.

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Jesus was poetic too, using vivid imagery to communicate timeless truths - painting pictures that stick in the mind.

Here's what he had to say on the topic of hope and worry.

Matthew 6:26-34
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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You might say that Hope is a person called Jesus.

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Poet’s Corner is arranged each month by our resident poet, Steve Page. In addition to being a poet, Steve is a deacon at Redeemer, a true friend, a trusted advisor, and a giver of great hugs. You can find more of his poetry at hellopoetry.com and follow him on Instagram.

#RedeemerRecommends - Faith Locked Down

Over the course of lockdown there has been a wealth of content produced by the incredible creative individuals here at Redeemer (though the blog took a bit of a summer break!) As we look forward to returning to physical services again, we thought we would restart the blog with a home grown edition of #RedeemerRecommends, and point you towards some of the inspiring and challenging pieces of writing produced by the Redeemer Creatives over the past six months.

These Psalms, Prayers, Poems, Posts and Portraits tell the story of how some of our closest friends and family have processed the events of 2020 so far through the written word, I hope that as you read them you are inspired, challenged and comforted, but most of all I hope your faith is stirred, and your eyes are drawn not towards the mountains you may face, but to the one who can move them.

Some of the co-authors of the book have recorded audio versions of their written pieces, you can find them on the Redeemer Youtube channel, or by following the link below.

I’ll leave the final word to our senior pastor, Pete Cornford…

“During these difficult and uncertain times these believers have fought for faith and we get to walk the path behind them. Raw, honest and real; let their encounters ignite and fan your faith!”

The true vine and the true fruit

I started writing a poem about the fruit of the spirit and it ended up being more about wine.  So, this a kind of bridge between two series of Sunday morning messages.  We’ve just concluded the series looking at the ‘I am’ saying of Jesus captured in the gospel of John, culminating with ‘I am the true vine’ and we’re about to spend some time with the Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5.

Jesus said 

‘I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. … I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…”

Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians that the fruit of the Spirit of God is 

“… love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

That list captures the character of Jesus – which makes sense as it’s the Spirit of God (Jesus) that we’re talking about here. So here’s a foretaste (see what I did there?) of the next few weeks in Galatians and a reflection on Jesus as the vine.  

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True Fruit

Fruit goes off.It gets mushy and smelly, losing its colour and beauty - losing its taste,
eventually drying out,losing all resemblance of what it once was,only good for waste.
But fruit nurtured by a master grower,a seasoned gardener,fruit watched, pruned and watered til ripe and at its peak,this fruit is harvested, fermented,blended til building to a fuller physique,brought to full maturity til ready for the tableand for the banquet where no one's poorand no-one is able to maintain a semblance of meek.
The gardener and the wine maker,sitting at the top seats both smile their blessing.And the table branches out
giving room enough for the whole family gathering.

And the feast to end all feasts begins.

Steve Page

Redeemer reads Ephesians 5

Welcome! Here at Redeemer we believe that the Bible is the word of God, that it’s alive, and that its words can and should shape every aspect of our lives as Christians. But we also know it’s not easy to get into the habit of reading it every day! So we are following the CBR Bible Reading plan - which can be found below - to help us read the bible together.

We are currently reading the book of Ephesians, and every week day we will be releasing a video on our social media & YouTube accounts, with a member of our Redeemer family explaining what they feel God is saying to them through the passage! 

Today we hear from Steve as he shares with us from Ephesians 5.

If you have time, and a desire to know more, you’ll find ideas for further study of todays passage below.

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Further Study

One of the verses in Ephesians 5 which sticks out, especially when reading it in today’s culture, is Ephesians 5:22 - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

In this blog - Confessions of a Reluctant Complementarian - Rebecca McLaughlin talks honestly about how she grappled with this verse and it’s implications in how she should live her life.

You can read the blog by following the link below.

Rebecca McLaughlin holds a PhD from Cambridge University and a theology degree from Oak Hill seminary in London. She is a regular writer for The Gospel Coalition and author of Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion (Crossway, 2019). You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram, or her own website.

Lockdown Peace

‘Lockdown’ – that sounds familiar

We’ve been spending time in the gospel of John - first looking at the account of the Passion and more recently looking at the ‘I am’ statements made by Jesus which give a mind-blowing insight into who He is.

But I keep going back to Easter and the aftermath of Jesus’ death.

The confusion of Easter Saturday resonates with me.  What was going on?  This wasn’t in the script as His disciples understood it.  

In John 20 (Sunday evening of the Easter weekend in the timeline) the disciples were still frightened, still confused – and staying behind locked doors!

Then it happened – as they were huddled together,

worried about the consequences of leaving their safe place, 

speculating about what would happen next (some of them had seen the empty tomb and the women said they had seen Jesus…), 

in the middle of their fear and confusion – 

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders…

JESUS CAME AND STOOD AMONG THEM AND HE SAID, “PEACE BE WITH YOU!
John 20:19

The peace of God and the God of peace

 In Philippians 4 Paul (who had more than his fair share of trauma) writes about this peace:

The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent and praiseworthy – think about such things…
And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:5-9

Lord Jesus
in our restricted space
amongst the speculation and uncertainty,
with our emotions exhausted and our anxiety fuelled daily,
come, Lord Jesus, stand among us
and speak your peace into our households
and set it guard over our hearts and minds.

And the people of God said with one voice:
AMEN

Steve Page

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This blog was inspired by the movement of the Holy Spirit during one of our weekly Zoom Prayer Meetings which are happening on every Wednesday night! If you want to join us, then let us know by filling our an I’m New Here Form or by emailing hello@redeemerlondon.org

I Do

This Sunday we celebrated marriages in the church and heard a fantastic testimony from Chris and Tricia, a couple at Redeemer who have been married for over 50 years! We were also blessed by a visit from our resident poet Steve Page, whose poem - I Do - is below.

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Rather than offer my own advice to my son and his bride on their wedding day, I asked various Christian couples who have a few years of marriage behind them to offer their thoughts on the ingredients of a successful marriage.  And I then sought to weave them together.  So this poem is the fruit of around 250 years of marriage.

It’s called – “I Do”

Ignore the lyrics:

You can't pursue love.
You don't find love.
Love's not a thing to be kept or had;

it's a doing word that you both have to work at.

Love is a language expressed in deeds
and so clear expression of your love best succeeds when you
both discover what the other most dearly needs.

So spend time planting daily deeds of love, every one of them a fragile seed.

Continue to listen day and night
and learn what each other prefers and what you both like.
And then, when you get it right
you'll be answered by a unmistakable light in their wide
glistening eyes.

Do it on a date.
Do it with your mates.
Do it when you're tired and it's heavy eyed late.
Do it in the everyday mundane way
you pair your own socks
and clear away last night's takeaway.

Laugh often and have fun
especially when you feel life has you on the run
and be sure to surprise each other both regularly and often
Maybe even invest in a pair of water guns.

Share the fragile thoughts
you find at the forefront of your mind.
Reveal your vulnerability,
the hurt you feel when life's been unkind.

And in response to that revealed insecurity, ensure you tread carefully 
until you see the healing that comes from interlacing lovingly.

Speak your love every day.
Articulate it come what may.
And that way you'll ensure that it stays
at the forefront of each of your todays,
on the tip of your tongues
so when you inevitably take a step wrong
you'll both recall why you're together
and why it's worth the endeavour
that it takes to push through that unexpected foul weather.

Love one another through that gale
and sail on to meet the adventure
that's yours to discover:
Through the miles of your wherevers,
for the duration of your whenevers,
strong enough for your whatevers,
standing together,
forever relentlessly loving each other.

So may the Lord of your tomorrows bless you together.
May the Lord keep you smiling whatever.
May his face shine on you in all kinds of weather.
And may He give you peace
that will never cease
to give you pause to thank Him for his grace
forever.

And all the assembled people said

AMEN.

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We also heard about some other great resources on Sunday, which we hope will bless you if you as a married person during this time.

The first is Tim & Kathy Keller’s book - The Meaning of Marriage.
”In The Meaning of Marriage, Timothy Keller, along with Kathy, his wife of thirty-six years, draws a profound portrait of marriage from the pages of Scripture that neither idealizes nor rejects the institution but points us back to the relationship between God and man. The result is a vision for marriage that is refreshingly frank and unsentimental, yet hopeful and beautiful. This book is for anyone from singles, to couples considering marriage, to those who have been married recently or for a long time.”

The second is an app - available for Apple and Android devices - Toucan is designed for couples, and includes various tools to help you to build your relationship.

The third thing we recommend is the HTB marriage course. Designed and run by Holy Trinity Brompton (A church here in London), The Marriage Course is a series of seven sessions, designed to help couples invest in their relationship and build a strong marriage.

Resurrection Monologues - Thomas

On Good Friday we published ‘The Golgotha Monologues’ four monologues written from the perspectives of people who would have been there on the very first Good Friday. But we know that after Good Friday comes Easter Sunday, after Jesus’ death comes his resurrection, and so, today we are publishing ‘The Resurrection Monologues’!

The fourth is from the perspective of Thomas.

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It had been a week since Passover.  We were still staying behind locked doors.  There were all kinds of rumours and we couldn’t be sure what would happen next.  And the others had me worried.  

We’d all been through a lot.  Two weeks previous it seemed like Jesus was going to overturn Roman rule, it was like he’d been taken off the leash – telling the authorities exactly what we thought of them.

Then - Judas!   I can’t believe he set Jesus up like that -

It happened so fast, one minute we were celebrating Passover – God’s great deliverance of his people - and then within a few short hours our world fell apart.  I thought I was ready to die for him, but we ran - and we left him to face the soldiers alone.  

It was a mockery of a trial.  They couldn’t wait to get rid of him.

Seeing Jesus flogged and nailed to that cross; hearing his cries, seeing his mother break down - we we’re devastated.  I admit I couldn’t hang around, I went off by myself, to get my head straight.

And then the others started going crazy.  First the women and then the guys.  Even Peter, I hadn’t expected him to lose it.  They said the tomb was empty - that they’d seen the Rabbi – but that was impossible, we all saw him die.

Part of me was tempted to believe it, but I told them – unless I saw with my own two eyes, I couldn’t accept it; it was too fantastic.  

I’d seen him – I saw his body – lifeless and beaten.  So, unless I saw the same nail marks, unless I put my hand into his side, where they’d pierced him, I couldn’t believe it.  

They continued to try and convince me, but I wouldn’t have it.  I was such as fool.  

He came.

He stood there – in our locked room - and he looked straight at me.  I was dumbfounded.

And then he had me place my hands on his scars – they were real – just where I saw them pierce him, just where the nails went in – but his flesh was now warm and very much alive.  

What do you think I did?

I exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”  It was true – he wasn’t our Rabbi – he’d shown himself to be our God.

And he stayed.  We spoke with him, peppering him with questions, and he ate with us, he fished with us.  Those were the best days.  

I’m not sure he wanted to go – but in the end he did; he went back to his Father.

So that leaves us to tell our story – to tell his story.  And even though you didn’t get to see him, you can believe it – we are his first-hand witnesses:  

Jesus of Nazareth, teacher, healer - the man who was sentenced to death and who died – he is the Son of God and his Father has raised him to life.

And because he lives, we can start a new forgiven life.  Even fools like me.  Believe me – it’s true.