On the final day of the congress, Sam Leonor preached (again) on how a belief in the destination of our journey affects how we act along the way. We had read to us Revelation 21.1-6 and were thinking about the New Earth; about when there will be peace and reconciliation between all people, and even all things. Where there will be no pain, or suffering, or tears, and where God will dwell with us. Where nobody will hurt or abuse anyone, or oppress or despise anyone, but all will live in harmony and compassion alongside each other. And what Sam was saying, was that if that's what it's going to be like in the future - if that's what we believe, and hope for and long for - then that's what it should be like now. In our everyday lives NOW, we should be witnessing to and demonstrating that the future is beautiful, by living like that now. It pains me that Christians do not demonstrate the joy and hope and love we believe in. It gets blocked out or pressed down by all the other things going on around us. And it should not be! It shouldn't be that when someone throws me an off-comment, I want to show everyone that I can hold my own and explain why I'm in the right so much that I turn it into a fight! If I believe in and long for God's Kingdom of peace and reconciliation to be fully brought in, then I should be making peace and reconciliation in my relationships now. It shouldn't be that when I see someone lost or in need or alone, I'm too scared to reach out to them and I just walk by on the other side and leave them there. If I believe in and long for God's Kingdom of love and compassion to be fully brought in, then I should be recklessly giving love and compassion to those around me now. Sam finished by saying, 'Let's give credence to the belief in the New World we hope for, by living like it now.' In other words, let's give credence to our faith - all of it, who God is, what Jesus did, the hope that's coming - by living like we have what we have! God is incredibly beautiful, and having faith in God makes my life beautiful too. Just sometimes I get weighed down too much to see it. That should not be! My joy and strength come from the Lord, and so I can live making peace and reconciliation; giving love and compassion; and trusting in God no matter what my circumstances are. If that's what it's going to be like, then that's how I want to live now. What do you believe but don't really live? You are precious and loved by God; let him open your eyes to see his beauty, that you may be blessed, and be a blessing!
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Also based on one of Sam Leonor's talks; the idea about the precious and wonderful things we've all got, being to be given and not just to have. The woman who anointed Jesus' feet did so with a jar of nard. The kind of jar that is so expensive, that it's more an indicator of social status than something you use. The kind of jar that sits on a prominent shelf in the house, where every guest can see it. NOT the kind of jar that you break open and pour on someone's dirty feet. But as Christians - as followers of this Christ-like way - we need to be reckless in our outpouring of what we have so that others can glimpse the outpouring of Christ's love for them. Reckless, just like that woman was. She walked into a room where she didn't belong, with a jar of something so expensive and precious that she wasn't supposed to use. Sam imagined with us, that as soon as she went in, the whispering and staring would've started. The judgement, the questioning of what she was doing. And if she hadn't had her eyes fixed on Jesus; the one she loved, the one she was there to anoint, she never would've managed it. If we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus then we don't count the cost of being radically hospitable to others. If we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus then we don't get scared by the risk of reaching out to someone else. If we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus then we won't join in with, and add to, the injustice in our world, but live demonstrating grace, and hope and love.
This post was my thoughts and notes based on a talk given by Sam Leonor at 'The Journey' AYC 2017 European Youth Congress in Valencia, Spain."Come, follow me, we're going to change lives." Not, 'Come, follow me, we’re going to be rich and famous, or popular, or liked.' Not even, 'Come, follow me, we're going to travel around Palestine for 3 years, and I'm going to say some amazing things, and teach you so much about who God is and who you are, and you'll see amazing miracles, and wonderful love, and then I'll be killed, and you'll go on, and then you'll be killed, and probably your families too.' When we follow Jesus, we are not promised greatness and success in how the world terms it. And we are not told exactly what will happen. It is a risk, to follow Jesus. But it is a risk not to. This is what Sam Leonor preached about at the first 'The Journey' talk (it was actually the second, but my flight was delayed the day before, so I missed the first). About risk vs. risk. I don't so often think about the risk of not doing something, but always the risk of doing something. I really struggle to meet and talk to new people, because the risk is, they won't like me and I'll be rejected and embarrassed and so on. But the risk of not meeting and talking to new people, is that I am left friendless, or that I am only friends with people like me, and don't see the world through different eyes, which is so important. Also, I LOVE being with people; I LOVE hearing other people's stories and finding out about them! I think exploring other people (that sounds strange; not in a strange way!) is one of the most exciting adventures we embark on in life! Maybe I should consider the risk of not doing it more, and move out of my comfort zone to know and love people wherever they are. One of the things Sam talked about was the risk of changing ideas or plans. Maintaining the status quo is far easier, and I always think of it as far less risky. But just as there is risk in changing, or starting something new - for the disciples, stopping their fishing and going with Jesus to become "fishers of people" - there is risk in staying the same; of something draining you, of something not fulfilling you, of missing out on something unknown, yet amazing! Jesus says, 'Come, follow me. It's going to be amazing!' Not safe, not always clear beforehand, but amazing. Are there any journeys Jesus might be calling you to embark on, but the risk of doing so scares you? What is the risk of not following? How does thinking about that change your thinking? This post was my thoughts and notes based on a talk given by Sam Leonor at 'The Journey' AYC 2017 European Youth Congress in Valencia, Spain.I've just been away for a 5-day European Youth Congress in Valencia, Spain. It's been AMAZING! For a start, it was my first time in Spain, which did not disappoint! It's been beautifully sunny most days, and wonderfully cloudy on others, cutting out just a little of that heat! Valencia has a beautiful town centre, and a stunning beach where I witnessed crazy people doing beach aerobics and volley ball in close to 40 degrees heat!!! 😯 And where I stayed in the sea until well after sunset because it was still so nice and warm! Wouldn't dare to do that in England! But the real reason why it's been amazing is that I came into this week feeling like a mess. I'm unsure exactly what my future will hold, and I guess I was - a little bit - doubting that even God knew it anymore. Which, of course, I didn't really think when I thought about it, but you know how you can know things but not feel them sometimes - well it was like that. But I am going home so confident that my God is a good God, who loves me and does not leave me. And though I can't see that far into the journey ahead, I know that God is Lord of that entire journey, and journeys with me in love and grace. There has just been such an atmosphere of joy here this week. True joy; unhindered and unceasing! Joy in worshipping an amazing and, actually, beautiful God. I think I call God beautiful a lot, without really thinking about it, but the way God loves and is interested in me, and made all that is around me, is actually beautiful. And so I come out of this week excited, more than anything else. Excited about what God has in store for me, and where he might lead me! Because I'm convinced it will be good. I have faith in an amazing, wonderful, inspiring, loving, challenging, exciting, beautiful God! "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Heb 11.1)
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AuthorI'm a recent Cambridge Theology graduate now studying for a Masters in Biblical Studies and blogging about all sorts of things! I'm interested in faith, Church, theology, social action, the great outdoors and being creative, and all of those things - along with many more - come through in my posts!
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