Where is God when it hurts?

On the 2nd March 2005 my Dad was diagnosed with throat cancer. What followed was a journey that was hard and painful for our family. So often people ask the question, how do cancer and God exist. Below is a reflection I wrote during Dad's illness, where is God in cancer? God is there, its not always easy but if we look we can see the presence of God in it all. This is part of my testimony and part of a personal journey of where God was for me and my journey with my family facing cancer.

Where is God when it hurts people ask?He is there, I know for myself.
But how can God be there if he loves us they ask?
Well let’s take a look at what Jesus, God made man experienced himself in his journey to his death.
In the garden of Gethsemane he suffered mentally, as he took up his cross he suffered physically, through this suffering he died and returned. Resurrected giving hope, the message of salvation.

Where is God now when life really hurts?
He is there, I know for myself.
Let us open our eyes to see, it may not be easy but when you look you will see God is there.
God is there in the hug of a friend, as you sit and sob, as others comfort you.
“I don’t know what to say” they say.
A hug and the presence is enough, there is God, in others and through the comfort of the Holy Spirit, sharing in the tears with you.

Where is God when it hurts?
He is there, I know for myself.
In the phone calls, conversations, in the visits, greeting cards and the prayers.
In the hands of those that give the treatment, the doctors, surgeons, nurses, radiotherapists and the support groups.
In the hugs and tears shared with one another.
Just when you begin to look God is everywhere in the cancer, in the courage and battle of it.

God is there in it all,
In the pain, tears and courage.
In the past, in the present and future.
Jesus is the alpha and omega.

God is there, faithful and true,
He’s a beacon in the night.
God is there in his promises,
“I am with you always”
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God”
“His rod and staff they comfort me”.

God is here and there.
God has shared from the beginning,
The words he speaks through his Spirit,
“I am with you always”.
God is here in the comfort from the Spirit and those around us.
Through the hugs and tears.

In these days we trust in God’s unfailing goodness and love he offers us.In the everlasting hope he offers, whatever happens.

Rob Bell: Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith

As part of my candidating process I had to read a theological book. It was suggested to me that I tried Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis Repainting the Christian Faith as a good book. So I did! I found it to be a brilliant book, energising and inpspiring! So thought I would share some of my thoughts on the book.
Bell uses the metaphor of a painting that has become redundant and no longer used or seen to look at the need for "repainting the Christian faith".
Bell looks at the need for exploring our faith, he speaks about how in the Bible Jesus demonstrates what it means to explore faith, to ask questions and calling the disciples to rethink the Christian faith. I love the challenge that it brings: "The challenge for Christians then is to live with great compassion and conviction, remaining open and flexible, aware that life is not the last painting."
I think that sometimes for people today, Christianity has become a painting that is no longer relevant or seen as representing something important to them. Yet what Bell highlights clearly is the challenge and task that Christians need to engage in, asking questions, rethinking and redefining our faith today.
The book looks at Church history, engaging with reformation and reforming! Looking at how the tradition that Martin Luther was a part of not just the reformation as a period in history, but as a reforming task, continuing to go on. A great book and not a difficult read!
I think Rob Bell engages with issues that are a problem today, when we think about updating our faith, how often do we think of updating it in technology! Ensuring the Church has a good technology system, yet what Bell challenges people to think about is the need to reform theology. as Bell writes: " We must keep reforming the way the Christian faith is defined, lived and explained." So the question for me personally has been, how do we define our faith today in 21St Century, in a culture that is rapidly changing. How do we define faith, live it out today and explain it in a way that expresses and demonstrates the relevance to lives today?

Some reflections!

I finished my degree on Friday, handing my last 2 essays in. Its a bit weird this afternoon! I don't have essays to write, this is the first time really since starting my AS levels 5 nearly 6 years ago! Since when I finished my A-levels I immediately started my Faith and Worship: Local Preachers course. So now I am left with some time to relax- I find that hard! Today feels very weird because usually I feel I shouldn't have an afternoon nap because I have things to do, yet today I can!

Anyway so what is next? Well I am off to London to do my first year of three as a pre-ordination student, I am currently only doing one year in London and then will go elsewhere for two further years. People keep asking what will I be doing! Well at the minute I am not too sure of that either- apart from working with people on the margins of society. What I do know is that I shall be living at Kings Cross in the Methodist Chaplaincy House. I shall be visiting London in a couple of weeks time to find out more! So then I will know and be able to share with people! So at the minute its a bit of a waiting game! I find this frustrating! I need to learn patience! I look forward to visiting London. One or two people have said how scary London is to live- especially Kings Cross! Thanks for the encouragement and reassurance!

The past few weeks have been a bit strange, having been busy writing essays (as any students have been!), going to candidates committee etc.
What I think I find very strange is candidates committee has HAPPENED! Its finished! For 5 1/2 years it was always something of the future yet it has happened! Not sure that everything has really sunk in! I am wondering when it will actually sink in! Initially I thought it had but now I am not quite sure! I think with all the essays that needed to be written and the stresses of them and then preaching twice yesterday, things have been quite hectic!
I guess this week now essays are finished that things might have more time to sink in!
Any way, enough rambling for now!

New to blogging!

Have decided that blogging seems like fun and means sharing things quickly and easily! So will hopefully begin to use it more!
May take me a bit of time for getting use to it though!