Freedom!

As we read Scripture, we constantly encounter freedom, or versions of it. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent tempted Adam and Eve with the power to be like God - to have freedom to choose. Yet rather than liberty, they found they were held in bondage by sin, and separated from God. Later we find the people of Israel struggling as slaves in Egypt. The message of God through Moses was freedom. The Passover brought Israel out of the land, and on the road to the Promised Land. They were free!

I’m sensing something of their excitement at being free tonight. The exams have finished, at least for another year. The hard work has been done, the summer lies open before me for relaxation. It’s nice knowing you don’t have to go over those notes again, trying to cram information into your head. Now I can look forward to Summer Madness and my Romania mission trip.

Have you known that sense of liberation that Jesus offers in the gospel? We don’t have to be in bondage to our sins any more - Jesus has borne the burden of them. He offers us freedom and release. The choice is yours.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. - Luke 4:18-19

---------- originally posted at Dromore Cathedral's website----------

Six down, none to go!

It is with great joy that I can report that my exams are finished! The last one was this morning - Church History, and it seemed to go all right. Church History in second year is a composite course, made up of several different sections. Section A is the Church of Ireland from 1660 to 1800; Section B (in teaching chronology) is the Church of Ireland from 1800 to 1870; and Section C is the Roman Catholic experience in the 19th century.

With the three hour paper, there are four questions to be done. We had to answer one question from each section, then an extra one from the section of our choice. Surprisingly, my extra question was from the Catholic section, which I hadn't greatly revised, but could remember a good bit about. (One of the questions I had planned to do in another section didn't come up as I had hoped).

So that's it. Second year done and dusted - just the exam results to get now. But I'm not homeward bound just yet. There are still some things to attend to tomorrow. First off is my viva voce. Roughly forty minutes talking about my pastoral experiences this year, and combining the whole course together. Then later in the day we have the closing Eucharist of the year, then dinner at the Principal's. There'll be lots of other stuff to do as well - packing up what I'm taking home, and moving up what I'm leaving in college. Room 38 and the final year, here I come!

Five down, one to go!

After the break provided by the weekend, it was back into the exams this morning. Today's excitement was Old Testament - perhaps the paper I feared the most. To my relief, the topics revised came up in ways that could be answered, although this time I completely answered three questions before doing the essay plan and answer for the last one, as my mind did a bit of a blank at the start. The patriarchal traditions came to me in enough time to answer the question. We're now in the position of being almost finished - just one exam left, tomorrow morning, and then a viva voce (oral) on Thursday morning. To quote Carmen, Happylujah!

Occupational Hazards

My time in Magheralin is coming to an end. I have just three services left before I finish in the parish. I'll probably say more about it coming up to, or just after my leaving sermon on 10th June. But in the mean time, I'll say that I've really enjoyed my year and a half working in the parish, assisting at services, teaching, and gaining some practical experience. Soon after I started, I blogged about some embarrassing moments I'd been having, as well as the hazards of preaching. It seems that the end of my placement will be similarly fraught, judging by yesterday; although this time, it was not my embarrassment!

I'm sure the rector won't mind me retelling the story (Gareth, sorry!). We were singing the hymn before the sermon. It was drawing to a close as Gareth climbed into the pulpit. Turning round, he descended the steps again, and went to the prayer desk. Rifling through the books and papers on the desk, his face went red and a smile burst on his face. I was leading the service, and wondering what was going on, as the singing of the hymn ended. Gareth turned on his radio mike and asked the organist to play the song again quietly while he went out to see if the sermon notes were in his coat pocket in the vestry! Absolutely priceless!

Thankfully they were there, and after the moment of hilarity, the sermon proceeded. As Gareth said, it could happen to a bishop, and probably has!

Talk about occupational hazards. Thanks to Gareth's moment of embarrassment, I've learnt to make doubly sure the sermon is with me and I don't leave the Bible down from leaving the house until climbing into the pulpit!

It also made me wonder what I would do, if it did happen to me. Would I go and get the notes? Would I try to preach with just the passage in front of me? Would I panic? As you'll have noticed, I tend to have a full script of the sermon in front of me. I would probably get a copy of the script - to ensure I covered what I wanted to cover, and get the points of detail right.

Some might argue that we should let the Spirit do the work, preaching without any notes and going where He wills; but surely the Spirit can be just as at work in leading and guiding my scriptwriting? I'm not confident enough to go for it without any notes... maybe it will come with time.

Oh to see the dawn

Recently I got a new phone, a great upgrade from O2. It's a Nokia 5300, and one of the special features is the built-in mp3 player. Now I will have music wherever I am, even without my Creative Zen V. Anyways, enough about gadgets.

This morning I was half awake, and waiting for the bathroom to become free. Saturday morning is the only morning there is a queue for the bathroom in our house! I remembered I had put some music onto the phone, and started up the music player. It was then that my half awake moments were turned to praise - through the effect of one song.

It's from last year's Summer Madness CD, and is entitled 'Oh to see the dawn.' The words are very powerful, in reminding us of the power of the cross - without which none of us could be saved.

OH, TO SEE THE DAWN, Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, Torn and beaten, then,
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the power of the cross: Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath - We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain, Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought, Every evil deed,
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees, Now the ground beneath,
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two, Dead are raised to life;
'Finished!' the victory cry.

Oh, to see my name, Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death, Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

This, the power of the cross: Son of God - slain for us.
What a love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross.

Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

Four down, two to go!

We're making good progress now, with this first week of exams completed. Two thirds of the way through now. Today's exam was Christology and Hermeneutics, and I was able to write on the themes I had revised. Now I'm home again for the weekend, so a serious bit of relaxation is needed after all these early starts!

The exam schedule means that I've been getting up at 7am and leaving college by 7.45 to get into the city centre on the Luas. We then get breakfast in the city (normally Bewley's on Grafton Street) before being at the exam halls by 9am. By choice I would only be rising at about 9am! Then thinking solidly for three hours, and writing for most of that time is tough on my wee wrist! So a chilled out weekend is planned in Dromore before returning to Dublin for the next exam on Tuesday morning.

Halfway through!

It is with joy that I can say that I'm now halfway through this period of exams. Today's effort was Ethics, in the Regent House at Trinity - the very front building at the main gates. See the big huge window over the main door? That's where our exam was. With all the tourists walking underneath us, and all the buses and traffic going past. Here:

The exam was fine. The first part was two case studies (out of a choice of four), where we had to identify the ethical issues involved, and then advise the people concerned. One that I did was where the health care providers wanted to place a 'Do Not Resuscitate' order on an 82 year old man because of failed health, lots of things wrong with him, and he was unable to communicate. His family wanted to keep him alive, believing that God could heal him. Discuss.

The second that I looked at was a Hindu termination case - seeking to apply Hindu bioethics to the situation concerned. Interesting stuff!

Given this grounding in medical ethics (on a ministry course?), I'll be able to discuss the big thorny ethical issues with Lynsey... won't that be romantic?!

The second section of the exam were more straightforward essays - I chose to do the ones looking at changes in society and how they affect ethical beliefs; and on the differences between Christian and secular ethics.

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

As a bit of a wind down, I ended up going to Dundrum cinema straight after lunch to see 'Pirates of the Caribbean' 3. While the others weren't fussed, I thought it was an ok film. Similar funny moments to the previous films, but lots of complications. Using the rules of a trilogy from Scream 3, it appears that this is indeed a trilogy film. But having said that, they may have opened the way up for a fourth film in the series... who's to say.

Now it's back to the study for the next exam, now just 13 and a half hours away. Christology and Hermeneutics. Two questions from each. Then it will be home for the weekend and some relaxation!

Two down, four to go!

The second exam has been finished! Today's exam was New Testament, we had to answer four questions. I think I had two strong questions that were well done, and two questions that I could answer. But we'll see how the results go!

Tomorrow then, I have a bit of a break as we have no exam, but then Thursday and Friday mornings are go. So I might take a journey away to Bray or Dun Laoghire or somewhere nice for a walk. Hope the weather is good!

One down, five to go!

The first exam has been done, and I have lived to tell the tale. This morning it was an early start (after not a great night's sleep - music, and pillow wrestling and regular wakings up) and down into Dublin for the Soteriology exam. This was our two hour exam, with three questions to be answered. I think two were quite good, and the other was fine.

I'm not used to such sustained writing - afterwards my head hurt a bit and my hand was sore, so I took an easy afternoon. Had a lie down for a while, did some reading, then went for a walk.

Our New Testament exam is tomorrow afternoon, so I'll hopefully get a bit of a lie in. Four questions in three hours. Bring it on!

The Immobile Shop

The Immobile Shop
Originally uploaded by Gary McMurray.

When I was in Kilkenny recently, I saw this signpost. It advertises a 'stationary' store. I'm sure the customers are glad the shop won't be moving!

Shower Psalms

This morning as I stepped out of the shower, found myself breaking into song. Don't worry, my life is not a musical, where a full chorus emerges from the hot press to accompany me in the theme song... (I wonder who would play me in the musical or film of my life, though... answers in a comment!)

Music is very important to me, and can encourage and cheer. One of my favourite hymns is the Tate and Brady metrical version of Psalm 34 - 'Through all the changing scenes of life'. But the song I broke into this morning was the metrical version of Psalm 23. I only sung the first line, but that was enough for the purpose.

'The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want.'

When growing up, I always used to puzzle over this line. What could it mean? Was it saying that while the Lord was my shepherd, I wouldn't want him to be that?Is Jesus the shepherd I don't want?

I now understand that what the line is saying is that because the Lord is my shepherd, then I won't be in want - he supplies my need and is all I need in himself. The cattle on a thousand hills are his. What could I possibly need?

And that truth was enough for this morning.

The Lord's my shepeherd; I'll not want.' Amen!

Coasting along

Today I was completely free, so headed off to do the touristy thing on the north coast. After having a wander round the town of Coleraine, I headed off along the north coast. With stops at Portstewart, Portrush, Dunluce Castle, the Giant's Causeway, Dunseverick Castle and bay, I had a great day.

It was even a clear-ish day at the giant's causeway this time... until I got back on the bus to come up the hill again. Then the rain lashed so very hard! Before it did, I got this photo of the causeway. More will be on my Flickr site in the very near future.

Looking intently up

Perhaps one of the lesser known days in the Church Year, today was Ascension Day. We read in Acts 1 of Jesus appearing to and teaching his disciples for forty days after his resurrection, and behold, today is that fortieth day after Easter. It was on the fortieth day that Jesus ascended to heaven, from where he will return. This much is promised by the angels who appear to the disciples - 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.' (Acts 1:11).

So what does the ascension mean for us today?

Firstly, it means that we have a job to do. The angels came along to ask the disciples why they remained standing where they were, looking intently up into the sky, as if wanting to see Jesus again. their question is more a rebuke though - as if the disciples would gain anything by looking up at the sky every day for the rest of their lives. Rather, the disciples had a job to do; they were to wait in the city for the gift the Father promised; then with the power they would receive when the Holy Spirit came on them, they would witness to the resurrection in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Ten days later, the Holy Spirit came, and the apostles preached in every language, and the gospel began to spread. They couldn't have achieved the 3000 baptisms on Pentecost had they stood looking up at the sky. They had to obey the words of Jesus!

But secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, Jesus is seated in heaven. Our Saviour, King, Judge, Brother, Friend, Advocate is at the Father's side. The salvation is complete, yet his work is not done, as he intercedes for us, and prays for us from his throne.

'Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.' (Hebrews 7:23-26)

Thirdly, we see that Jesus is coming back. Remember the words of the angels again, as they told the men of Galilee that Jesus would return as they had seen him go. Hebrews 9 supplies a fitting verse to think of this - 'Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.' (Heb 9:27-28)

So on this Ascension Day, we have a gospel to share, a priest who lives to intercede for us, and a returning Saviour to look forward to!

All work and no play...

Would drive me insane! I know that the impression from my blogging is that I'm doing no revision at all, but that is far from the case. Today I managed to get my Hermeneutics revision done - so just some Old Testament and then Ethics to finish off now.

To prevent us from going mad, Robert and myself went off to Dundrum this afternoon to the cinema. It's so handy to have the centre and cinema very close. Means we have a place of escape! With the jokes and criticisms from the other students, we went to see Mr Bean's Holiday. Yes, it was at 4.20pm in the afternoon. Yes, we were the only non-child-accompanied adults, but we didn't care!

The film is quite funny, although I think the funniest bits had already been shown in the trailers. The best bit of the Bean film was that we didn't have to think at all, or keep up with a complicated plot. We just had to laugh! When your head is full to bursting of stuff being stored up for exams, it's good to just relax and not think for a while.

Tomorrow will be another day of revision. But tonight will be a time of relaxation!

Exam nearness

This time next week, the first exam will have been done. I'll be into the swing of writing non-stop for two or three hours. The first one will be forgotten almost immediately as the next one comes the following day. Then the rest will come speeding through.

But for now, I revise and relax. Managed to get five topics covered today, which was good. Then this afternoon walked over to Nutgrove Shopping Centre as the ink on my printer was low. Nice sunny day. A day for ice cream as we walked back. And the rain came on as we were in the centre. Amazingly it stopped as we started walking back; and started raining again when we got back. So a dry walk back - except for when Robert hit a tree and the leaves yielded the water lying on them!

Soon it will be time for a hot chocolate - our way of relaxing and socialising in college. The problems of the church and world are resolved over our cup of hot chocolate. And good times are had.

John Piper is Bad

I came across this video, and having seen the title, thought that it was yet another attack on faithful gospel preachers. Having watched it, I now realise that it is hilarious, and very good. Enjoy it, and remember that Gary McMurray is bad too!

Wedded Bliss!

Just a quick posting to congratulate Mr and Mrs Dan and Primrose Avila on their wedding yesterday in Kilkenny. In a packed church, they were joined together in marriage, and afterwards we partied in Abbeyleix!

(I have been trying to get a photo of them up here, but the college network won't allow me to upload files... it will be with us as soon as possible!)

The Family Likeness

I have a confession to make. I don't like family functions very much. Well, not all the time, but more whenever you see family you haven't seen in a while. They insist on making the usual comments about - oh, you would know you were your mother's son. Seemingly I look quite like mum. I can't see it myself. And I'm not entirely chuffed about it either!

But it got me thinking. It seems to me that Peter calls for the development of a 'family likeness' when he writes his first epistle. Let's see what he said:

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."' (1 Peter 1:14-16)

In verse 17 he again mentions calling on him as Father, making sure the family references are clear. The motivation for our holiness is because our Father is holy - and we are to be like Jesus. Note that Peter isn't saying that the way to be saved is to be holy, because we can't possibly be holy on our own efforts or merits - he deals with his we're saved quite a lot in his letter, and especially in the three 'cross scenes' (1:19-21; 2:21-25; 3:18-22).

No, rather, because we're saved, we are called to be holy 'in all your conduct'. As the Holy Spirit works in us, transforming us, we change and become more like Jesus. But what does it mean to be holy in all we do? How would our use of time change? What about the use of our money? How we treated those around us? What we read and watched on tv?

Father, you are holy, just as the angels sing around your throne: 'Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty'. Change me by the power of your Spirit, and make me holy. In Jesus name. Amen.

Synod snapped!

One last bit of synodalia before I move on to write about other things again! I've noticed that we made it onto the gallery on the Synod 07 website:

Ruth West, Gary McMurray and Bertie Logan, all from the Diocese of Dromore.

The Invisible Synod Members?

If you've heard anything about General Synod, you've probably heard about the Synodical Representation Bill, which failed once again. The proposers were seeking a review of the numbers of synod members from each diocese, using the criteria of cures (parishes) in each diocese to reckon the representation. It was rejected, being called unfair by members of those dioceses (generally in the south) who would lose seats.

Some speakers during the debate called for the Synod to be made more representative in other ways - perhaps by ensuring that there were more women, and more younger people. One speaker went so far as to ask where the students were (inferring that there were none). Ruth and me just looked at each other, wondering if we were invisible. Then another member of synod, in a later debate, made the sweeping statement that there was only one member under the age of thirty. This caused a bit of a stir on the bench of bishops as those who knew Ruth and me looked at us, wondering which of us looks over thirty - ok, yeah, it was probably me, and probably on account of my beard... But his facts were very wrong. The youngest member of synod is from Cashel and Ossory, and he's about 22, then Ruth and myself are around 25/26, and a member from Derry diocese is about 24.

The same speaker then called for diocesan synods to elect younger members, to ensure that they were present and represented. Yet here's the thing that I can't quite understand. The synod wants younger members to come along and take part, but don't seem to want to encourage, or even acknowledge us.

In the main synod hall, in the exhibition area outside and in the hotel, it was as if I was invisible for most of the time. I would smile and say hello to members, both clerical and lay, and be greeted with stony silence, or them staring right through me. Not a very encouraging situation to be in - especially as the synod wants more of us there! How would they treat 50 or more young people - with the same stony silence?

Full credit to (among others) Trevor Williams, George Davison and a lady from Killaloe diocese who did talk to us - as well as those who knew us already, of course.

Let's hope that in future, synod members take seriously their own call for more young people, and properly make us feel welcome at General Synod.