Isolation

We’re living in very strange circumstances. At present, our freedom of movement has been restricted, so that we can only head out of our homes if we’re working in essential jobs, seeking medical care, helping the vulnerable, and getting one form of exercise. We’re approaching the second Sunday of not meeting together in the church building. We’re not used to such restrictions, applied so widely and so stringently. And yet they are desperately needed, as we seek to slow the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.

When we consider the New Testament, we find lots of examples of physical distance and isolation. The early church, and especially the apostles, didn’t have the benefits of Facebook Live, or YouTube, or WhatsApp, Zoom and so many more technological solutions. Their technology was more basic, but was put to good use in combatting isolation.

John, in two of his three letters, says something similar: ‘I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.’ (2 John 1:12 cf 3 John 1:13-14) He has much to say, but longs for the day when he’ll see his recipients face to face to talk with them.

He was also familiar with imposed isolation, having been exiled on the island of Patmos ‘because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.’ (Rev 1:9). Even though he was exiled and far from his Christian brothers and sisters, he was ‘in the Spirit’ (Rev 1:10) and was joined by the Lord Jesus in all his glory. John’s isolation was used by God to produce the book of Revelation, a great encouragement to suffering Christians.

Peter addresses his first letter to ‘God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.’ Yet these scattered strangers ‘have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.’ (1 Peter 1:1-2) While they may seem small and insignificant in the world’s eyes, they are known and dearly loved by the Trinity.

The writer to the Hebrews encourages his readers to ‘Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’ (Heb 10:25) Some had obviously stopped coming together with other believers, not rating it high in their priorities. We’re looking forward to being able to meet together again when it’s safe to do so. Are there ways that we can encourage one another while we wait?

The author then demonstrates his own commitment to meeting together in the closing verses: ‘I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.’ (Heb 13:23) People in three distinct locations, all looking forward to the day when they can meet again in one place - Timothy, the author, and the Hebrew Christians.

Perhaps the best examples of physical distance and isolation come from the pen of the apostle Paul. Having written so many letters to so many different churches and individuals, we get a glimpse of the experiences he endured as he served the Lord.

One of his earliest letters was to the church in Thessalonica. He had been in the city, proclaiming the gospel, and had to make a quick exit when a riot began. From there, he had travelled on to Berea and then Athens, from where he wrote 1 Thessalonians. Here’s how he describes his isolation:

‘But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you - certainly I, Paul, did, again and again - but Satan stopped us... So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow-worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.’ (1 Thes 2:17-18, 3:1-3)

Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians after planting the church there. His letter to the Roman Christians was different, in that he hadn’t been there before. And yet he couldn’t wait to come and see them. ‘I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.’ (Rom 1:11-12) It wasn’t that Paul, the apostle, would encourage these other believers. No, everyone would be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith as they met together.

Paul spent some time in prison, cooped up in a cell. Compared to Her Majesty’s establishments, his prison would have been ghastly. His apostolic ministry of preaching and planting churches had been stopped. His friends may have despaired. And yet even that time of confinement was a time of flourishing, productive ministry. His prison epistles were written at that time - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon - and they continue to speak of the encouragements Paul found even in prison.

As he reminds the Christians in Colossae, ‘All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing.’ (Col 1:6) Paul is in chains, but the gospel isn’t bound! Even in confinement, the gospel is advancing: ‘Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.’ (Phil 1:12-13) That letter to Philippians, penned in prison, is the epistle of joy!

Paul’s letters were written because he was at a distance from the Christians he was communicating with. In most of his letters we find lists of names of people he is greeting and others who are sending greetings. Without modern technology, Paul knew these people by name, and was aware of their situations and circumstances, maybe even better than we do today.

In his second letter to Timothy, we hear of Paul’s most painful experience of isolation. ‘At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ (2 Tim 4:16-18)

Facing the might of Rome, and the threat of the death sentence, Paul stood alone. Alienated and isolated, but not totally abandoned. The Lord stood at his side and gave him strength. In these days of isolation, we are never truly alone, even if there’s no one else in the house with us. The Lord is always with us, giving us his strength. But the Lord gives us much more - he also gives us hope. No matter what may happen to us, as we trust in Jesus, we have the promise of being brought safely into his heavenly kingdom.

For Paul, that would involve an executioner’s block. Yet the moment the axe fell, the Lord ushered Paul into his heavenly kingdom. For all of eternity, we will not be isolated or alone, because we will be with the Lord and all his people. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to all our feelings of loneliness and isolation.

These next weeks or months may be difficult. It might appear that there’s no end in sight, particularly if you’re on your own. But remember that you’re never alone - we have the fellowship of the church, and the Lord is with you, both now and for ever more.

The Battle Within

There's a battle raging within me. I'm under attack. Despite coming a little later than usual, the post-Christmas cold has struck with a vengeance. I'm just thankful that it didn't happen before yesterday, when all the Christmas services and all the New Year services have been completed!

The battle is raging. My body is under attack from germs and bugs, trying to gain the upper hand. Right now, it seems as if they're winning. Tiny, microscopic organisms bringing down something so much bigger than them.


But it's not all one-sided. My body is fighting back. It is marshalling its own armies, fighting against the invaders, defending my body and boosting the immune system. The multiple hot drinks and tablets and soothers are helping the task by sending reinforcements. In a day or two, the battle will have been won, the aliens defeated and I'll be getting back to normal.

The human body is amazing - fearfully and wonderfully made, to quote a former King of Israel. It just gets on with the task of fighting infection, seeking to stay healthy, defeating the things that just shouldn't be there.

It reminds me of another battle that rages within, but one which isn't always as successful. Sin ravages and rampages within, seeming to have a free rein (and reign), but am I always as quick to fight against it as my body is to fight infection? The remedy is the gospel, the medicine supplied by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as we seek to fight back against sin, the world and the devil. Victory may be a longer time coming, but it is sure and certain one day - that same day that suffering and sickness and sadness will be no more.

The defeat of this sin-sickness will come courtesy of the red cross, where the blood of my Saviour was shed for me, and the unhealthy, miserable sinner will be made right and whole and healed. O Lord, give me grace for the battle, to stand in your victory, to battle against all that is sinful in me.

The Ugly Bugly Weight Loss Program

This morning I popped on the scales after my shower, and discovered that over the past week I've lost half a stone. That's some going, you might think, but I can assure you, you don't want to follow my weight loss regime.

The plan was that I would return from holiday and get stuck into plenty of work, especially with my Rector away on sabbatical. What actually happened was I spent the most of the weekend in bed, weak, sick, with excess amounts of fluids flowing freely.

I'm a bit better this morning, but taking things fairly easy and building strength for later in the week big events over the weekend. One thing is certain - while I could do with losing a bit of weight, I'd definitely not want to commit to the ugly bugly weight loss programme any more! Healthy eating and hearty exercise, here I come!

Book Review: Code Red

This may not have been one of the longer books I read this year, but it will certainly stay with me for a long time. Andrew J Drain, a fit cardiothoracic surgeon, flying high in his career, very suddenly had a complete reversal, and became a patient, with the most serious form of leukaemia. This book is the account of his life, his suffering, and his reflections, as well as a series of sermons he preached on another sufferer from the book of Job.

Published by Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), this book was a must-read for me for many reasons - I'm a preacher, so I want to read other's sermons in order to improve my own preaching; I'm a pastor, so I want to learn how to better pastor those who are suffering; I'm married to a doctor, so I want to better appreciate those serious medical situations and their effect on patients and staff; I'm a human, and one day I too will be facing my death, and I want to die well.

This is a compelling account, with many deeply personal and moving reflections as Andy tells his own story, written in the months leading up to his death. He knows he is going to die soon, and yet there's a strong confidence in the face of death, because he is trusting the Lord Jesus for his salvation. It's not the position of many in our world, because 'we live in a youth-orientated, health-worshipping, death-denying society.'

It's not all tears though, as Andy's humour and wonderful sense of irony comes through - particularly in describing the incident which gives the book its title. There were moments to smile as well, as he reflected on his school days and some of the things that happened during medical school in Belfast.

The sermons, preached as a sufferer, are particularly helpful, and don't settle for the easy answers but closely follow and explain the text, always pointing beyond Andy and Job towards the ultimate sufferer, the Lord Jesus, crucified for us.

This book is to be highly recommended, and would be suitable for medical staff (with lots of thoughts on the transition from doctor to patient, and the insights gained from the role reversal), as well as anyone preparing to face a longterm terminal illness, and those seeking to help pastor them. As the foreword (by Steve Midgley) reminds us, though, 'The Bible's teaching about suffering is like prophylactic medicine - best administered in advance.' Pointing to the hope of the gospel in the midst of despair, this is just what the doctor ordered.

Retreating

Well, I'm meant to be in Newcastle at the CME retreat, but it just wasn't possible. A tummy bug has prevented me from heading to where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea, so these past two days have been like a retreat at home - not out over the door, unable to do very much. I've caught up on some reading and finished three books in the past twenty-four hours or so (the reviews will follow over the next few days).

It's disappointing to not be able to join with the other curates, but even so, I've had a couple of days of quiet - and this way I won't be afflicting my colleagues with the bug!

The Church of Ireland on Swine Flu

Got a letter this morning from the RCB (Representative Church Body, which is a bit like the Church of Ireland's Civil Service) containing Interim Advice to Clergy on the H1N1 Flu Pandemic from the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Ireland. The text sets out some commonsense precautions for ministers and the wider church to deal with the spread of Swine Flu.

The very high level of media attention on the H1N1 pandemic has led to a variety of enquiries and expressions of concern as to practice in the Church of Ireland. The notes that follow are advisory in nature and offer an initial framework to parishes as they address the issues raised by the pandemic. These have been drawn together following consultation among the Bishops and are offered subject to further approval or other advice that may be considered appropriate by your diocesan bishop as the pandemic develops. They may require future modification if further advice from Government agencies in each jurisdiction is issued.

1. Keep a sense of proportion. However, infection rates in Ireland are rising and likely to rise significantly if holiday makers come into contact with the virus and bring it home or visitors to Ireland bring it with them.

2. Use common sense. If you feel ill and display influenza-like symptoms stay at home. Do not come to church services until you feel well. Do not call the clergy for pastoral visitation unless you are told by a medical professional that your situation is grave. The symptoms to be aware of in the case of the H1N1 strain of flu include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pains and gastrointestinal symptoms.

3. Hand to hand contact, as in the normal procedure for greeting people, including Exchanging the Peace at the Eucharist, involves some risks. The spreading of the virus by hand to hand contact is an important risk factor. However, spread is, first and foremost by respiratory means. It is possible to continue to exchange the Peace as long as proper hand and good general hygiene is observed. The same observation applies to all other physical contact including the shaking of hands in greeting.

4. The canonical elements in Holy Communion are bread and wine. Communicants may, if they wish, choose to avoid the Common Cup and receive in one kind only. This is acceptable and may be advisable if we see a significant rise in the rates of infection in Ireland.

5. The practice of intinction involving the use of wafers is permitted under Canon 13(5) but is only envisaged for Communion at home with the sick and housebound where this is necessary. It is not advised for services in church where intinction might take the form of each communicant dipping the Bread of the Eucharist in the Cup. This practice is no less risky than taking wine from the Common Cup.

6. The use of antiseptic gels and tissues may be of some assistance to both celebrant and recipient, but personal cleanliness at all times should be the invariable watchword whether or not a pandemic situation obtains. In the case of tissues, careful and hygienic disposal is absolutely essential. Thorough hand washing is just as effective and disposal is provided for via the waste disposal system. Respiratory masks have been widely advertised as ineffective.

7. Arrangements for parochial activities on parish premises should observe the commonsense provisions set out above, especially at note 6.

8. Commonsense arrangements locally adapted should be put in place as circumstances require. Significant numbers of deaths may occur associated with H1N1 Flu and these may reflect the particular vulnerability of younger people and children. When this happens pastoral care may be particularly demanding and clergy should seek colleague help if they feel the need.

9. Prayer. It is an obligation on the Church at all times to pray for people in their need. The outbreak of Swine Flu has created a great deal of fear as well as significant sickness among the community. Church members are urged to remember these matters in their prayers as well as those in the caring professions.

10. For reference:

Northern Ireland: the UK Department of Communities and Local Government has published Faith Communities and Pandemic Flu: Guidance for faith communities and local influenza pandemic committees which should be read in full by everyone concerned with the running of local churches: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/1219379.

The Northern Ireland Swine Flu Helpline is 0800 0514 142 and up-to-date information is available on the NIDirect website: http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/health-and-well-being/swine-flu.htm

Republic of Ireland: Advice is available from the HSE in the Republic of Ireland on its website: http://www.hse.ie/eng/swineflu

There is a helpline on: FREEPHONE 1800 941100.

It seems that cleanliness is next to godliness, whether in flu time or not. It remains to be seen how hard the flu will hit come the winter - especially since many die from flu every year anyway.

Numb (Part 2)

Last week it was the right side, this time it's the left side. Numb. Without feeling. Lopsided smiles and an inability to talk properly. (Although some of you are saying what's new on that one...)

Two more fillings today, but that's it all fixed now, and I can hopefully slot into the regular routine of 6-monthly check-ups. Rather than having a weekly appointment, which is much too much!

Dentophobia is the fear of dentists, and it's easy to see why some people would be afraid - holding your mouth open while someone sticks things into your mouth, drills and pointy things and suction things. Thankfully I am not afflicted by that fear, and my teeth will be better for it.

Numb

It's a good job that blogs are written media, and not spoken, or else it would be most difficult for me to blog this lunchtime. Having avoided Dentists for at least 10 years, maybe 12, I was there this morning to start some remedial work. Last week's check-up revealed some necessary fillings, so at the moment, the right side of my mouth is still numb from 3 new fillings making their home in my teeth.

Numb, yet slightly uncomfortable, and I can barely speak. As well as all that, there's the eating ban for several hours, so I won't even get lunch until later on. Hope I have my full speaking ability back for the next session of The Money Revolution in church later. Otherwise my group will get an easy night without any input from me!

The Road To Recovery

Headache - gone
Aches - absent
Shivers - finished

Just the cough and sputum to finish up now, but thankfully I'm well on the way to recovery. Many tablets and cough mixture stuff later. Thank you to all for your prayers and best wishes.

Fallen Foul of the Flu

Well, it would appear that I'll not be preaching at the Christmas Communion service later tonight. I wasn't feeling great yesterday, but last night I didn't sleep much, and I'm still shivery, bunged up and feeling unwell.

The post-Christmas cold almost seems like a Christmas tradition, as vital as watching the Queen on television or eating a wadge of Turkey. Hmm... maybe not this year... Except the post-Christmas cold has migrated to the days of Christmas.

Instead, I'm tucked up in a blanket trying to recover. Very sad that I could potentially miss my first Christmas in Dundonald, but we'll see how I am in the morning.

Bedridden

Amazing how quickly illness can strike, and plans have to be abandoned! Yesterday evening I knew a cold type thing was coming on - runny nose, sore throat etc, but didn't think it would be too bad.

Wow. Last night I didn't sleep at all - and today I wasn't in any shape to be getting up. Dear me! I've now managed to eat my dinner this evening and get out of bed for a while, but it's not very pleasant, seeing as we've only got a couple of days until Lynsey heads off to Romania.

Hopefully I'll be able to get out of the house again tomorrow and get back to normal quickly - particularly seeing as I'm conducting the services and preaching morning and evening in Annalong this Sunday!