When I'm In A Funk In The Twilight Zone

As I’m appreciating all the more, life is not about what we want and desire at any given time. I am appreciating that it is about flexing around the needs of others and being sensitive to the responsibility that vocation brings about in your life. So even when you don’t have your own ICT equipment, the world does not stop turning, your pregnant wife does not stop requiring your love and devotion, your children do not stop needing your paternal attention and care, your workplace does not stop requiring your services for the people that live and work there. Life goes on.

Ideally, left up to me, I’d be at me own home this evening merrily typing away at some inspiration that I’d want to turn into something or other, whilst listening to quality music and also having the girls scampering around to the music. We don’t live in an ideal world and as people know at such a crazy period as moving, the interim period can be a bind. So I find myself in that crazy twilight zone of having moved to Salford already – the vast majority of the earthly possessions of Christopher Dryden are now there. Yet my time at work in Stoke has not yet ended. So mentally, emotionally and in every other way I’m already up there busy thinking about to sort things out for the next step. Physically though I’m still here. Tough life, but someone’s got to live it because the pregnant wife, the children, the workplace, etc. don’t stop even if I want to!

Something that provides encouragement and motivation in this limbo period is good company. I’m blessed to have a Saviour who doesn’t just save to fly away, but saves and then settles within and through the Comforter I am not alone in limbo. So He keeps me going with promptings of opening up things that I didn’t see before when I considered even the most basic scriptures. For example did you know that the end of Genesis 2 defies the most basic thing we learn in mathematics? The implications of that are greater than just a maths quandary. Not only things like that, but he also gives me an insight into the kind of fun things that are ahead even if it would be challenging.

Good company takes you out of the funk you maybe in and keeps your eyes on the prize – that prize is the high calling in Christ, that prize is eternity with Him – no more moving, thank God!

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd

Culmination of Things

So much to say, so little time as Take 6 once put it. In many ways it is the culmination of a number of strands that have been buzzing around in the atmosphere for the last two years or so. I would love to be able to write at length, but time does not afford me to do that at this time.

Here’s what is going on in nutshell. Throughout 2009 there have been a number of developments through each quarter of the year that got me seriously thinking about some of the things God has been bringing to my attention.

In the first quarter of this calendar year (Jan-Mar) there was the big deal about moving from COG Phase 1 to Phase 2, which was a pressured and stressful time for me and me family.

In the second quarter of the calendar year (Apr-Jun) we as a family moved house to a more spacious location, but as you know I hate moving and the process itself was pressured and stressful.

In the third quarter of the year I moved the location of work from the main hub of accommodation activity to the COG Centre which held lots of promise of space to do stuff, but that process was also pressured and stressful taking place at a particularly pressured and stressful time in me life for a number of reasons that maybe God will grant me the grace to share at a later time should the return of His Son permit.

Now you don’t have to be Columbo to know that there’s a common thread in the activities of the year thus far. In the light of that I reflected on some of the thoughts I was having earlier on in the year about being in my element for my season and really moving away from being a misfit that doesn’t fit towards fitting exactly where God would have me to be.

Part of the pressured and stressful element of my life was grappling with enacting some serious decisions to do with that and as I approached the final quarter of the year I enquired of God what would be next to complete the set. Moving church building, moving home, moving work place location – what next? Could it be moving church? How about moving from work altogether? What of moving home? I was prepared for one of the three in the light of the grief that I’d gone through in the year.

As it turned out, God had it mind to do all three. Hence the lack of blogs lately – that and as you know the failing IT situation, which is till ongoing, I’m typing this on a proper desktop computer!!! Can you believe that?? Yes indeed as things would turn out there was a call to move on from church (local expression), from the job and from Stoke-on-Trent and in the last month or two it’s been about working on enacting those decisions.

These are not light decisions as you can appreciate and indeed they have taken the previous stressful and pressured situation through the roof, leading to some most unfortunate scenarios including personal illness, disappointing work performances and strained relations. Still in it all God has remained faithful and in accordance with His Word has allowed me to experience His peace as long as my mind has been stayed on Him. I’m not doing these things on a whim or because of personal issues or general discontentment; this is part of being obedient to what He calls of me in line with the ethos of Psalm 1:3.

So at present we’ve just completed a move from the house we only moved into in April to our new home in Greater Manchester. Just working through the work deal but to all intents and purposes the North Staffs YMCA season in my life is over for the time being. As for the church situation … watch this space for more interesting details on that.

Hopefully an IT solution will emerge in the next week or so in order that I’ll resume regular service especially in the run up to the end of the year.

Indeed as He leads me it really is as if He reads my mind and prepares me in advance for the stuff that’s coming my way and assures me that He is in control however pressured and stressful the situation may be. This is a most comforting thought and will need to be so for the challenges and excitement ahead. Keep praying for me and the family as we enter unchartered territory and see what God has in store for us there.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd

Peace and Love

Coming across songs that don’t have that great a public exposure but have a solid lyrical message with a brilliant musical hook is a great joy to me. Now this is all about connections.

You’re aware that I’m a Jon Gibson fan. Yeah, you know that. I love the man’s music big time and I obviously don’t blog about him enough. On an album he did not too long ago he worked with a brother called Tommy Sims to do a song I’ve treasured ever since I’ve heard it called There For You. If you remind me I’ll blog it and share the goodness.

Even more scandalously is the lack of Marvin Winans that has been evident on this blog. Now here is a brother who’s talent for singing and writing quality songs has helped me a great deal in life. All I have to refer you to him is a brilliant spoof of the guy by a Christian comedian called Broderick Rice.

Well as love would have it, Tommy did an album displaying his undoubted music talent and who should be his guest vocalist on the main track? So just thought I’d take the time to allow you to enjoy it for all it’s worth and I really will have to do something about the lack of quality music on this blog. By that I’m talking quantity, not disrespecting the stuff that’s already here!

Enjoy this beauty about two of my favourite words outside ‘baked’ and ‘beans’.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

Something Up With DMCD

What is up with the da man cd?

I have not been that prolific recently with blog posts on this site although things are trundling along well with Among Friends (old and new) and I’ve been able to recently update LJN following a few days out of the loop. At present however I am taking time off from work.

Today I was scheduled to be doing some other work, but since Monday or Tuesday I was coming down with heavy cold and it’s only fitting that I should. Having encouraged others to take time off and not to work themselves to a frazzle I find myself in need of taking my own advice.

There is a lot of exciting things happening, there is a lot of hard work ahead. There are some crucial decisions to be made and some activities to take part in that will stretch and enhance my faith in Christ. It is exciting times, but it won’t mean a thing if I’m not healthy enough to enjoy it. My sleeping and eating habits of late have been atrocious as the workload has increased and it’s just not good enough.

So I’m hoping to use the time off to recover some much needed rest and reflection to set myself aright for the busy season ahead. I am taking it easy – I won’t be taking any phone calls today unless it’s an emergency. I won’t even Twitter or Facebook today (other than to link to this explanation). I’ll probably check my email tomorrow as well.

This is all to say that for today at least I’m focussing on just chilling and doing the absolute minimum. I do feel run down and the heavy cold contributes to that. I am not indispensable; the world will carry on just fine without me. More importantly I serve a God of rest as well as creativity and so it’s only right that I should take His advice and find rest for my soul in Him.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
dmcd

The Good Fight: My Current Perspective On The Struggle

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11, 12 ESV)

Today I took part in a training session looking at alcohol awareness. This was especially in terms of helping those who either suffer from the effects of various levels of alcohol dependence, or are affected by someone who is. It’s good to be informed about alcohol and how it affects the body and psychological damages. What was particularly fascinating about the training is how it skirts around the real issue of why people get into such a state. Listening to the comments and observations it is tragic to sort out life without a sin consciousness and as a result God-consciousness. Without that we are left with will-power or cycles of change that does not bring about real change but give glimmers of hope without substance.

It’s not surprising because yet again we are separating things and thinking that mental schemes or behavioural changes will bring lasting result. The issue for a Christian is that all of these issues we face are external symptoms of an inner problem. That problem namely is rebellion against God and subjection to the other guy. As worshipping beings dependence is inevitable. Natural predispositions to oppose God leaves us open to oppression and depression by other sources. How can we possibly expect to enjoy a fulfilling life without guidance from the one who gave it to us?

This question is all the more pronounced for the Christian … for me. Knowing what I know leaves me with the challenge to take on board Paul’s words to Timmy and pursue what it is to do and be everything pleasing to God which is particularly by being like Him in character. As one or two other followers of Christ may have gathered, this is often easier said than done – but not impossible.

I am not an aggressive person. I can be manipulative; I can be awkward and obscure. I can be pedantic on semantics. In terms of physically aggressive exerting what advantage I may have in that sense is fairly alien to me. I can be sharp but not in a physical sense. Growing up at home I was rather soft comparatively and resorted to the cerebral for contentment. So talk of warfare, battle and struggle can at times be at odds with my natural predisposition.

Gradually over the years, however, I’ve recognised that these concepts are only too real for me and I must get used to it until Christ is fully formed in me. Even reviewing the Beatitudes and noting the one linked to recognition as God’s heirs, it is implicit in the concept of peace-making that the predominant environment is not peaceful (or even peace-some). In fact it’s pretty clear that the predominant environment is not naturally ordered around theocentric dynamics for peace, hence the delight of God’s children to make it wherever they are internally and externally.

Yet this is a very real call to battle. It takes war to make peace even as it took death to bring life. The difference of course being that as Paul put it, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty to the bringing down of strongholds (the very ramparts that prevent peace) which connect to the reality expressed in another Pauline epistle that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places. Where do you think the current rule and systems are imposed and reinforced? 10 Downing Street? The White House? Do me a favour and check the first two chapters of Job. The war is real and comes straight from some serious spiritual foes and is evident through sin, something that the Christian is constantly battling with.

The worst aspect of sin is what it says about the relationship with God and belief in who He is, who we are in the light of who He is and how we now can live free because He is. It’s all the more jarring because intimacy with Him through prayer and walking His way by wisdom should see us making progress. What it only highlights though is the utter depravity of humanity and wonder of salvation that allows me to live by grace through faith.

The solution comes with the problem. Without condoning or minimising sin, swift confession repentance can be used to draw us more towards a complete dependence on His grace. That confession is both negative (I have sinned) and positive (as Lord you cleanse) and is crucial to the cleansing and healing process. Not only are we cleansed but we are reminded and reconnected to the power that allows us live above sin.

I see the struggle in prayer meetings where people can be vulnerable and share honestly what prayers they want for their own lives. It’s not about being nosey or looking for material for the grapevine. It is about sharing the compassion of Christ to see people walk in the freedom with which Christ has set them free. That distinctive freedom needs to be constantly reinforced and establish a focus for what we do, or it is so tragic to see beautiful, gifted members of the Body of Christ fritter away their potential under issues that comparative to the Kingdom are inconsequential. It is summed up in the song Let Freedom Ring to which I’ve referred to in the post noted.

This is why ‘The Victor’ is such an important song. It reminds us that victory – real freedom – is not found in man-centred cycles of change but is found in the One who defeated death and the grave itself and through Whom we can now have access to the Father for grace and mercy in our time of need. We may have dead situations, but if the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead lives in us, we know that no set-back will prevent us from rising to new life in Him as long as we keep out trust, confidence, hope in Him alone. That’s a good fight worth persevering in.

Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. (1 John 5:4 CEV)

(This entry was inspired by a lot of personal events today, but was also hugely inspired by reading this article about what the warfare against sin can look like. Thanks to Jonathan Leeman for posting it and confirming something that I felt compelled to share.)

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
dmcd

For Peace Sake

Talk about a tall order. So Alan sets this chain blog after some mug suggests that something is done about peace. Remind me to find the mug and give him what for! Alan really sets the standard high in his look at peace. (I mean just check out the first paragraph – here’s a guy who knows his business. And we’re meant to follow that??) His particular focus looks at how the church lives together in peace and the challenge of leading and living a lifestyle of humility seen in considering others more important than ourselves that Paul encourages in Philippians.

Then J.R. Miller (when I read his name the theme tune to Dallas rings off in my head, but he’s alright, really he is.) picks up the baton. He stirs the mind in challenging us on righteousness as a quality of peace and how the pursuit of peace must go hand in hand with pursuing holiness. Again maintaining a piece at peace that cannot but leave us challenged to take Christ seriously in living out His call on our lives.

So picking up the baton, I want to explore the difference between the peace that the world gives and what Christ offers.

First, though, I’ll give a bit of background about the look at peace (for indeed I am the aforementioned mug who got this ball a rolling). It’s interesting to note Alan’s reference to peacemakers being children of God. Over the last three years I’ve been challenged by the Beatitudes, especially the hunger and thirst for righteousness. There is something counter-cultural and radical about Jesus’ outlining of Kingdom characteristics. It was brave then and it’s brave today. It was odd then and it would be really odd for us to live it out today. Anyway, in my role as a Christian Spiritual Development Worker at the North Staffs YMCA one of my colleagues alerted me to this initiative about an International Day of Prayer for Peace. It’s another noble effort to do something about the evident lack of peace in our world and for me it’s another opportunity to link that to something that gets people thinking about the peace that God offers.

A year ago or so I went my son won a competition with some other people in his school to create a song about peace for a national competition. The winners got to go to the Royal Albert Hall in London to perform in a televised concert featuring some other notable music ‘stars’ headlined by Annie Lennox. Obviously my son’s crew won through to the finals and performed at the concert. The whole thing was called Peace One Day. I was honoured to be invited with my wife to watch the son perform at the concert. What was so disappointing about the whole event was how there was a great push for peace that transcended religious and political barriers as if it was possible for man to really rid himself of cultural ties and by the sheer power of emotion and reason desire this nebulous concept of peace for one day. As with a lot of movements it relied on a positive perspective of humanity that we were capable of achieving peace one day. Obviously this picture of peace saw children who were not bullied and the Middle East situation resolved with people putting their weapons away and everyone living together in harmony.

Remember that Coca-Cola advert I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing? We have that picturesque multi-cultural scene of peoples of all races rising their bottles to peace. The irony is, as with most subtle deceptions, it plays on an aspect of truth.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

People want the real thing. People want the authentic article – the truth – and yet when confronted by the truth, when the Real Thing enters human history how do we respond? Rejection, neglect, denial and crucifixion. Real peace cannot come without attending to the truth – the truth of the flaws of humanity – its depravity if you will. Even as we view the course of history and various advanced and not so advanced cultures we fail to address the truth of many attempts at peace that have failed to deliver because we’ve attempted to do it without reference and humbling ourselves to the Creator of mankind.

The Peace One Day movement and others like it paint a picture of humanity as if it were possible from within to just bring about harmony. As if there’s something different about human nature from various attempts over history. Bringing with it false hopes ad false dreams so easily frustrated by an anthropocentric view of us truly being the centre of the universe.

What Christ offers is true peace from without and within. It’s true peace – not the peace that the world offers – because it’s theocentric in nature. It doesn’t say that humanity is without hope, but it does say that the hope is intrinsically connected to returning to the Creator of the universe. It doesn’t say that races cannot ever co-exist but it does say that a new mind and new spirit from above will be required to bring this society about. This truth is good news … if we’re willing to only see it, (which only comes by God’s grace) but it’s bad news for those desperately seeking for it to be based on our own self-given merit and worth.

I believe the opposite of peace is not war but division. That’s why the Prince of Peace has come to end all wars by bringing reconciliation – a reuniting, of something that has been divided by sin. One of the definitions of sin ironically hits the nail on the head. This concept is from the idea of seeing sin as missing the mark and if we keep missing the mark there literally is something always missing. Scripture narrative is the tragedy of mankind’s rebellion to His creator and thus missing the mark whether through fear or pride. And so must this ever be the case until we are reconciled with Him.

So the peace of Christ doesn’t offer the mirage of conflict resolution which acts as conflict evasion. The peace that Christ offers as reflected in the Beatitudes is one of reconciliation with the Creator through recognition of poverty of spirit, subsequent mourning comforted by God and being under His control to be a fresh perfume in the world hungering after that which is pleasing to Christ displaying the tendency of mercifulness with purity of heart in replicating the mission of the Son – making peace between God and man that brings real peace between man and man. Now as the last Beatitude assures us, this mission is in a culture which rebels and refuses to accept this light and this truth. Their refusal to come to terms with the basic missing element to bring peace – right relationship with God – means that they are forever pursuing in the dark something that only the light can offer.

Post Note: Please pray for peace .Over this month the Daily Thoughts will be based on the theme. We’re scheduled to be having a day on the subject and the prayer is that people can be reconnected with God and thus have the character to be peacemakers and join John in rejoicing over being sons of God.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

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"Peace" Chain

Link 1: "Peace - A Chain Blog" by Alan Knox
Link 2: "Peace - A Chain Blog" by Joe (J.R.) Miller
Link 3: For Peace Sake by me