One year engaged!

Hard to believe, but it's one year today since I asked Lynsey to marry me. Where has the time gone? We're now just under 13 months to our wedding. Thank you Lynsey for being a great fiancee and for making me a happy man!

Exciting news!

Regular readers of my blog may remember me mentioning the History book I was writing when I worked in West Tyrone Voice. There was funding available, and we were publishing it. Well, eventually, we will have the final draft copy for proof-reading by this weekend! I may soon be in print!

I'm not sure if we have an actual title for the work yet, but it's a stroll through Irish history, seeking to understand where we have come from. A main aim of the project is to explode the 'myths' of Irish history - those stories that have been passed down from generation to generation, but which are not accurate!

When the book is published there will be a limited number of copies available, and I'll let you know how to get your hands on one!

Feeding time

Feeding time
Originally uploaded by Gary McMurray.

This is one of a series of photos from the Seaforde Tropical Butterfly House. Enjoy!

The best brownies

Today I went off on one of my random drives. Started off at Loughinisland Old Churches - the ruins of three churches which were once on an island in the middle of a lough - inspired name! Then from there I went on to Seaforde. There I visited the Tropical butterfly house - lots of them flying around me and landing on leaves and flowers. There are also peacocks and pea hens wandering about outside! Anyway, in the cafe there, I got the best brownies I have ever eaten. They were chocolate, and had Maltesers baked into them and pressed in on top. The girl heated the brownie up and served it with cream. Yum yum yum!!!

Taking a short cut in round by Ballydugan (to avoid Clough), I happened upon a place from my distant memory. Uncle Joe (who was married to granny's sister Rebecca) used to take us for drives in his car - probably where I got my love of driving from. And he always used to take us to a lakeside car park where there were ducks, and there was some sort of pub or inn beside it. I could never find where it was, until today! I was driving along, and suddenly, there was the car park and the lake! As I say, it's at Ballydugan, just down the road from Hollymount Parish Church.

From there, I went into Downpatrick, stopping briefly up at the cathedral for some photos of the exterior and Saint Patrick's grave. Then it was on to Struel Wells just outside the town. Amazing wee place with four separate bathing houses and running water passing through (which seemingly has healing properties). My exploring done, it was back home from there. photos coming shortly on Flickr!

Results

Just heard that I got a P1 for this year. In Trinity, that's between 60 and 69. I'm well relieved.

The great responsibility and the greater grace

Last night I was over in Downpatrick at the Ordination of Presbyters service in Down Cathedral. Adrian Dorrian and Craig Cooney were ordained. Another great service, with praise led by the choir of St Mark's Newtownards and the praise group of Shankill Parish Lurgan. A good mix of traditional and contemporary. The last hymn was 'Trust and Obey', which was also the last hymn last Sunday night as I bade farewell to Magheralin, so I guess it will always mean a lot to me.

If you've never been to an ordination service before, then there is a key element in the service, when the Bishop reads the charge to the candidates. Just before they are ordained, they are reminded again of the tremendous weight of responsibility they are taking on in the service. I was going to provide illustrations here from the service, but the Church of Ireland website's BCP2004 section doesn't include the ordination services!

Let's just say that the weight is great, and the responsibility scary. But there is something which shines through again and again, even in the midst of reminding the candidates that they can't possibly do it on their own. And that is the grace of God! Hallelujah!

At the end of the charge, the Bishop invites the congregation to pray for the candidates precisely because none of us can bear that weight on our own. Further, we are constantly reminded of the power and grace of God which will equip us for the task.

If it was down to us, we would undoubtedly fail. With the grace of God, we are more likely to succeed, although we're still human. Praise be to God, who equips those whom he calls!

Should they be driving at all?

Should they be driving at all?
Originally uploaded by Gary McMurray.

Apologies for another awful joke through my photographs! I just couldn't resist it when I spotted it the other week in Portadown at the SELB Centre.

Death by ministry

Scary title, don't you think? Occasionally in our course, we're reminded about the dangers of ministry, and given some statistics about the number of people who are no longer in ministry after five years of curacy etc. And then recently I came across Mark Driscoll's blog, and in particular his couple of articles entitled 'Death by ministry.'

In the first part, he writes of his own experiences of ministry, resulting in stress and overtiredness. Scary reading. Then in the second part, he writes of some frightening statistics, possibly from the American situation, but still - how about some of these?

Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.

Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.

Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.

Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.

---

Will you continue in fervent prayer for me and the other students in college as we prepare for ministry, and also for your own minister or pastor, that he will continue in the strength and power of the Lord?

Mr and Mrs Edmondson

Mr and Mrs Edmondson
Originally uploaded by Gary McMurray.

Last night I was up in the Belmont in Banbridge at the wedding party of Colin and Lorna Edmondson (nee Burns). It was a great night, and a happy day (despite the rain). May God bless the happy couple in their new life together.

Synodalia

Today we had the Down and Dromore Diocesan Synod in Moira. Representatives from each parish gathered to discuss the mission of the church, as well as the business reports from our various committees.

One of the more encouraging items of business was something drawn from the Methodist tradition - a conversation on the work of God. Basically it was an open forum where members could share what God has been doing in parishes and people's lives recently. The stories that were told linked in to the theme of Bishop Harold's address as he reflected on the first ten years of his episcopacy. The tag line for the address was 'Stop talking about decline' - because the figures show that Down and Dromore diocese is not in decline! We are growing, under the blessing and grace of God.

[Speaking of the ten years Harold Miller has been Bishop of Down and Dromore reminds me of the night he was enthroned in Dromore Cathedral - it was my birthday, and Harold led the congregation in singing happy birthday to me in the hall after the speeches, due to the workings of Roderic West!]

We all live in a yellow submarine!

We all live in a yellow submarine!
Originally uploaded by Gary McMurray.

All my Liverpool pictures are now online - click on the photo or the link to bring you to see them! This one was taken beside the Yellow Submarine that is situated just outside Liverpool John Lennon Airport, at the end of our trip to the city. We stopped a random pilot or security man or some guy in uniform to take the picture!

Liverpool!

And now a special report on our day away to Liverpool. I was up at 3.30am and Ruth arrived at 4am, so we set off to Banbridge to lift Robert. As we pulled into his drive, there was the ominous sign of no lights. No sign of life at all (although bizarrely, there were lights on in the house across the road...). Maybe the sound of the car would bring him out of the house. Nope. Maybe if we rung his phone, he would come out. Nope, phone was off. What to do?

I knocked on the front door. Nothing. Knocked again louder. Nothing. Knocked a third time. Nothing. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I rang the doorbell. Nothing. Doorbell again, more sustained ringing. Nothing. Doorbell again and again, and behold, the sound of stirring from inside - Robert had awakened! 'Gimme two minutes' was the hurried cry from inside the door. We retired to the car, laughing.

And then we were off, on the road to Dublin. Er, well, we got as far as Scarva Street before turning back so Robert could get his college room key and his band card. But you get the idea. Eventually we were on the road to Dublin; parked up at the Quickpark and into the airport.

Flight was smooth, once we got out onto the runway to take off - the queue at the airport was as bad as the Westlink. Into Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and onto the bus to the city centre.This was Ruth's first time in Liverpool, I had been there a couple of times, but Robert was the Liverpool guide supreme. From the bus station we walked to Paddy's Wigwam - the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral. (I almost wrote the Metropolitan Tabernacle there!) We had a look around it - such a huge structure, but well laid out liturgically. Everyone could see what was happening. Sadly the original crypts were out of bounds due to exams being held there, so we made our way out to the bus stop for the city sightseeing tour bus.

Even though it was a short distance to Liverpool Cathedral, we were able to have the ticket for the whole day to jump on and off as required. Liverpool Cathedral is massive - seemingly the biggest in the British Isles, with the highest and heaviest peal of bells in the world. Up we went to the top of the tower to enjoy the view of the city and further afield. Then back down to explore the cathedral, and get lunch in the cafe. One of the most refreshing things about both cathedrals in Liverpool was the fact that you aren't confronted with a till as soon as you arrive. Rather, visitors are asked to make a donation - much better than being forced to pay a set fee when you arrive at Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, or St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin, or Westminster Abbey. The respective Deans, take note!

We got back on the tour bus, and were taken right round the two cathedrals again, before going on through the city centre, and arriving at Albert Dock. Here we find the headquarters of Granada Television. This Morning used to be filmed here, but sadly the floating weather map has been removed. In the sunshine, we had a wander around the dock, calling into the Tate Liverpool, then the Merseyside Maritime Museum and the Customs and Excise Museum. Fun stuff, although I couldn't help but wonder if the displays could be used to help the forgers and smugglers get better at their trade...

Back onto the bus again, and surprise, surprise, back round by the two cathedrals for the third time, before back to the city centre, where we left the bus tour for the day. Speaking of the two cathedrals reminds me of a couple of problems with the bus tour commentary. The claim was made that Liverpool is unique in being the only city with two working cathedrals. I'm not sure where their catchment area is - possibly only England, because within Northern Ireland there are three cities with two working cathedrals in each - Londonderry, Belfast and Armagh. The other howler was when the commentary talks about the four bells in Paddy's Wigwam's bell tower. I quote - 'They are named after the four apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.' Hmm, slight problem in that they are four Evangelists, rather than apostles. Matthew and John were apostles, but Luke and Mark didn't have that role or function!

Having got off in the city centre, we wandered about, finding the essential commodity of water (in a roasting hot day). We then went into the Cavern Quarter to find the home of the Beatles - the Cavern Club in Mathew Street. From there, it was on to the World Museum Liverpool, which we explored in the last hour before it closed. This was a brilliant place - completely free (museums in Northern Ireland take note!) and packed with brilliant displays.

My favourite was the Wallace and Gromit exhibition. There you could see some of the models used in the 'Were-Rabbit' film, and there were interactive elements. One such element was where you could add your own sound effects to a clip from the film, then watch it back! In total there were five floors of stuff, with a bugs exhibition with tanks of tarantulas, beetles, scorpions, bees, stick insects and many others; and an aquarium feature with lots of colourful fish.

Then we sat in the gardens for a while, taking it easy, and marvelling at the lack of traffic in the city for rush hour. Had it been London, Dublin or Belfast (or even Lisburn) at the same time, traffic would be crazy, but in Liverpool, you could hardly notice any cars, and there were no queues!

We then went for dinner in a Chinese buffet restaurant, where there was a special offer of 10% off food for students. I have to admit, that partly swayed our decision, and in we went. We said we were students, and the waitress asked to see our cards. On seeing that we were students at Trinity College, Dublin, she refused us the student discount, because we weren't students at a British university. We were the victims of racism from Chinese people! The food was decent, although they were very prompt in coming to clear away plates almost as soon as you had finished eating, which I wasn't too fussed on.

From there, we went back out to the airport, getting photos taken beside the Yellow Submarine fixture outside the airport. Inside, it was virtually deserted as there were just two more flights going out that evening, so we grabbed the comfy chairs at the (closed) Starbucks and relaxed until the flight was called.

All in all, it was a great day. Just a pity Simon Genoe (to name and shame him) wasn't able to go with us as he was tired!

Photos will soon be available at the usual place - Flickr!

Hearing, Understanding and Doing: My last sermon preached in Magheralin on 10th June 2007. The Parable of the Sower - Mark 4:1-20

As we approach the bible passage tonight, we are in great danger of being over-familiar with it. You probably heard the opening words of the reading and though, ah, here we go again, the parable of the sower. We’ve heard it all before.

This evening we’re going to look at the passage in terms of hearing, understanding and doing, as we follow the structure of Mark’s account. This way, we’ll see how we move from being interested listeners, to disciples, to those who bear fruit.

As the passage opens, we find Jesus teaching by the lake. Galilee was the scene of so much of his early ministry, as he travelled about teaching and healing. On this particular occasion, the crowd is so big that there’s a possibility of Jesus being swamped. So he gets into a boat, going out a short distance from the land, and begins to teach.

Mark records many of the parables Jesus taught, and here we find the parable of the sower, or rather, the parable of the soilsp. You’ve heard it before, so let’s just recap. The farmer sows the seed, where it lands in various places – the path, the rocky places, the thorns and the good soil. The various places bring various responses to the seed – some seeing initial signs of growth which are ultimately disappointed; and only the good soil produces a crop.

And that’s it. The parable is complete. Jesus adds his tagline to the end – ‘he who has ears to hear, let him hear.’ Jesus calls the crowd’s attention to hear what he has just said. To go away and ponder it.

And yet, you can’t help feeling that he’s perhaps being a bit unfair. As the crowd break up and go back to their homes, you might be able to hear them discussing what he has said. Was it just a story about farming techniques? The story was accurate enough about how the farmer would sow seed freely, before it would be ploughed in. But was that what Jesus was teaching about?

Was Jesus just someone who told nice stories – maybe even humorous stories? Would the crowd have gone away that day having gained a tip about sowing? Maybe that is like us. Are we just like the members of the crowd, who are on the edge of things. We think Jesus might be important, and his teaching sounds good, but we don’t really grasp what he’s saying?

We can take heart tonight. On first hearing, the disciples didn’t grasp what Jesus was saying either. Think about how slow they were to understand when Jesus told them plainly he would have to die and rise again. So we find also here, that the disciples didn’t understand what they had heard. They had ears to hear, but weren’t understanding!

So later on, when the crowd has dispersed, when ‘Jesus was alone’ (10), the Twelve ask him about the parables. What is it he’s saying through them? Here the disciples move on from hearing (like the crowd), to the next level – understanding.

Hard as it may be for us to think about it, Jesus seems to be saying that the parables are a deliberate way of teaching. While we can remember the standard definition of a parable from Sunday School – an earthly story with a heavenly meaning; it appears that without being let into the secrets, they will only ever appear to be earthly stories to some people. They’ll never move beyond the hearing to the understanding.

Look at the end of verse 11. ‘But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!”’

Jesus is here quoting the words of Isaiah 6, from the commission of Isaiah. You remember that occasion, when Isaiah was caught in fear by the sight of the Lord, holy, holy, holy? Normally when we read that passage, we finish with the words of Isaiah, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ But these words come from the start of the message Isaiah is tasked to take to his people.

The message is one of God’s judgement on the people – that even though they have the words of God, they don’t listen; and even though they have seen God’s actions, they refuse to turn. And, as Webb points out, ‘the very unresponsiveness of the people will be an aspect of God’s judgement on them.’

The fact that Jesus quotes these words here shows that a similar hardening is taking part in his hearers. Even though they’re hearing the words of God, and the message of the kingdom, they don’t realise it, and refuse to heed its message. Indeed, it is significant that this message of judgement linked to hearing God’s word is contained within the parable of the sower – in that parable we see the very process of hearing but not understanding the message. The seed is sown, but Satan takes it away, like the birds eat the seed on the path.

And yet, at the same time, the message is not complicated or difficult to understand. As Hewitt writes, ‘Jesus will always reveal enough of God’s truth for faith to make its response. Where there is a response then more faith truth can be given. A parable would sort out those who were keen to listen and to learn from those who were just casual in their interest.’

So what is the key for us to understand the parables? Look at verse 11. Jesus tells the disciples: ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.’

That word ‘secret’ is also that of ‘mystery’ – things hidden. Paul is fond of this word too, speaking often of the mystery of God’s will, or the mystery of the gospel. But it’s not like a mystery story where we have to work it all out. Rather, the mystery of the gospel is revealed in Jesus. The secret, the mystery has been given, to them – revealed to the disciples. In this way, they can understand what they have heard.

Jesus has to go on and explain the parable to them. There seems to be an element of rebuke as he does this. Do you see verse 13: ‘Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?’

The question arising here is if we are understanding Jesus’ words. Are you on the outside, or the inside? As we read the Bible, do we accept what it says, or do we search the scriptures? Is your Bible reading at a superficial level, or do you dig deeper to understand what the text is saying?

It’s so easy to read a passage in your quiet time and glance through it. But how often do you pause to think about it? If you were asked five minutes afterwards what it was about, could you remember?

So how can we ensure that we understand our Bibles more? Maybe by varying how we do the quiet time – not getting stuck in a rut. Or by using some Bible reading notes to help our reading. I have found ‘Explore’ by the Good Book Company very helpful, others may find Daily Bread or some other notes useful.

It’s important that we move from being on the outside, hearing, to being on the inside, and understanding. But it’s not enough! The reason that we are called to understand God’s word is to make us fruitful. In the parable, there is only one successful outcome, even though early signs seemed positive.

You could argue that the three groups of people who see some growth all had a measure of understanding. The ‘rocky places’ people received the word with joy; and the word was received by the ‘thorny places’ people. But the end result was that what understanding they had was crowded out or lost in the end.

The rocky people’s understanding was ruined for lack of roots. When persecution or trouble comes, they wither away. Their understanding is shallow, just on the surface.

The thorny people’s understanding was choked out by other concerns. Rather than developing their understanding, they concentrate on the other things of life – worrying about life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things. Their understanding gets choked out by other, more pressing things.

We’ve seen so far that Jesus calls us to hear, and to understand. Now we see that Jesus calls us to do. The group of people that are commended in the parable are those like the good soil. Having heard and understood (or accepted it, as we read in verse 20), they produce a crop. The word is powerful in the hearts and lives of these people.

As Gareth has said earlier, tonight is my last service with you in Magheralin. I’ve enjoyed my time here over the past year and a half, sharing in your lives as we share in God’s word together. The parable of the sower also reminds us that the word of God does the work of God – that God’s purposes are accomplished by the preaching of his word. That is certainly what I have found in this place – that you are a people committed to the Bible, and are gospel people. It has been a privilege to be involved here and I want to thank Gareth especially, and you all, for your encouragement, support and prayers over my time here.

God’s purpose is accomplished by God’s word. We’re reminded of this in Isaiah 55 – ‘As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

We find this emphasised in the parable of the sower. God’s word achieves the bumper crop – thirty, sixty, one hundred-fold in the good soil. Jesus calls us to hear, to understand, and to do. If you’ll allow me to mix parables for a moment, we see the same principles in the parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:

‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.’ (Matthew 7:24-25). Do you see the emphasis on hearing Jesus’ words and putting them into practice?

To return to our passage again, I want to ask you - are you that good soil tonight? Are you hearing, understanding and producing?

Jesus says: ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’

Here's my two cents!

Two cents isn't very much. I'm not sure you could buy anything with it. It's worth just over a penny in sterling. So we could buy a penny chew. And yet tomorrow, my two cents (above) is taking me to Liverpool and back with Ryanair!

A couple of weeks back, at the height of exam fever, we stumbled upon the Ryanair specials. On most routes, there were flights for 1 cent - including taxes! So tomorrow Robert, Simon, Ruth and myself are heading off to Liverpool for the day.

Robert has already been to Glasgow and Manchester - check out his blogs and photos on the two trips. Photos and blogs will follow from both of us in due course!

'Well' reflected!

'Well' reflected!
Originally uploaded by Gary McMurray.

The title says it all! It's me, as seen reflected in the well in the grounds of the ruined cathedral in St. Andrew's, Scotland.

The Ant and the Ladybird

The Ant and the Ladybird
Originally uploaded by Gary McMurray.

Using the close up feature on my camera, I was able to catch this amazing shot. Look closely (or visit the larger version at Flickr) to find the ant on the edge of the leaf. This was taken between the castle and the cathedral in the city of St Andrew's in Scotland, where Prince William went to university. Lots more photos are available at my site too!

Usage and Abusage

Language is an interesting tool. Using language, we can communicate with each other, and generally can be understood. We can express hopes and joys, fears and sadness, and so many other emotions. However, it can also be used in a negative way, as we've seen in the recent Big Brother incident.

Even without having watched that programme, it is obvious that language is being used in a negative and offensive way. No one should be abused because of their race - or on any other grounds. Thankfully Channel Four has acted swiftly this time to prevent it all getting out of hand.

But what I am left asking is this - is there a hierarchy of offensive language? Is it more offensive to use inappropriate language against one group or section of society than against another? Racial slurs and abuses are wrong. No doubt about it. Yet within Big Brother and many other programmes on TV we see offensive language and nothing is done about it.

How many times have you heard someone take the name of the Lord Jesus in vain? Or exclaimed the name of God? Have such examples passed into common parlance and are ignored now? Such a step is to be pitied, because in seeking to not offend some religious or ethnic groups, others are offended wholesale.

'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.' (Exodus 20:7)

Belfast Castle

I got back from Scotland last night. Sadness. Five weeks until I see Lynsey again (with her finals in between). Then it will be the weekend of the Kee-Wilkinson wedding. Good times to look forward to!

Today I headed off in the sun. I was nominally heading towards Templepatrick - to visit the Book Aid shop at the Haven Christian Centre, but didn't want to go on the Airport Road or Dundrod, having come home that way last night. So I ended up going through Belfast and up the Antrim Road. Saw a sign for Belfast Castle, which I had never been to before, so swung up round it.

There's a great wee antiques shop in the basement of the castle. Got some very nice prints by a local artist at a bargainous price. Then I had a wander in the grounds with my camera. I seem to be in a very photography mood recently. Maybe it's my creative side coming out (eventually!). Tried to get a picture of the Harland & Wolff gantries, but even standing on a park bench, they were just out of sight. So instead I took photos of some of the nice poppies in white, red and pink in the cat garden, and got the above angle on the castle.

As always, check out my Flickr account for lots more recent photos!

The Substitute

Thanks to the wonders of Google Reader, I'm still able to keep up with my blog reading. As I've probably mentioned before, I subscribe to about thirty blogs of friends, other ordinands, and random ones I have stumbled upon on my journies through the internet!

Have a look at this post from SaintSimon. A useful illustration of penal substitution that will be used at some point in my future preaching! Well done Simon. Keep it coming!

No rest for the wicked

When it came to Thursday night, and the end of term Communion service and the later bash at the Principal's house, my holidays had started. You hear holiday and think - relaxation; unwinding; taking it easy. I laugh at such notions! The start to my summer holidays has been hectic, but I'm starting to relax now.

Friday was the appointed day for going to Tesco in Lisburn. With the parentals not driving, and me heading off for a few days, it was absolutely necessary for the groceries to be got in before I headed away. You can't have the family starving, now, can you? Then it was off to Lurgan to lift dad from work (and to get a hair cut), before running Neil to Sprucefield for urgent electrical supplies. Home again, got changed and out to Belfast (via Dromara), to a service in Richview Presbyterian Church on the Donegall Road. It was the Licensing service for Father David McCarthy, who is now a Preacher of the Gospel and a Probationer for the Ministry. An excellent service, with musical anthems from the King's Chorale (which David is in), and good congregational singing. He now begins to work full time in Abbot's Cross Presbyterian, in Newtownabbey. May the Lord bless you, David.

A late night led into an early morning, up at the scrake of dawn and off to Aldergrove for my flight to Scotland. I'm here in Dundee for a few days in the time between my exams finishing and before Lynsey's last few weeks of revision before her finals kick in. Yesterday morning we again went to Logie's both morning and evening, enjoying and being challenged by the preaching.

Today I went off to St Andrew's and explored the castle and ruined cathedral. Some photos will no doubt soon follow on Flickr, when I get back home and connect the camera up to the computer! Still two days before I go home again, so I will go and enjoy them!