More Monthly Personal Reflections

This month really appears to have been one rooted in prayer. So even though for COG as a whole it’s been themed on young people, personally it’s been more of a journey in the importance of prayer.

This is reflected in the prayer day we had at the YMCA as well as the overall time of prayer and fasting that COG joined with the rest of North Staffs in the run up to Pentecost. Then as you’ve noticed there’s been, the season on prayer in the Daily Thoughts.

God’s been answering prayers in a major way Kevaughn got baptised this month which was a serious answer to prayer. Authrine had an outstanding personal breakthrough which again can be linked to prayer. Yesterday I had a brilliant day with Karen Way a dearly loved friend from Derby who’s about to take on leadership with her husband of their local YWAM. She was just such a blessing to the mission at the YMCA and also as a result a great Kingdom connection.

There have been various God encounters throughout the month that highlighted the fact that prayer has to be the foundation of growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Abi Birthday

As it’s so close to the time I still remember the events leading up to the birth of my second child and Authrine’s third child. As with Deborah the second birth did not arrive on time. The circumstances were different in the sense that the tension, drama and trauma around the first were not so pronounced in the second.

As night fell on Sunday 28th May 2006 I went to sleep not expecting a disturbance, but low and behold after 1am the wife woke me up insisting she was having the pains more regularly. Thankfully our friend Hughie was awake and ready to come to our aid, so eventually we made it in the hospital for minutes to 3 in the morning. There it was not a long protracted process at all. Indeed it was at 3:29am on Monday 29th May 2006 that Abigail Elizabeth Danielle Dryden made her appearance on planet earth.

Abigail was immediately different to her older sister in being very light in skin tone. This was the source of much merriment among the extended family especially our church family who would have launched enquiries as to the legitimate father of the child. Praise be to God, however, there were distinctive features that could have only come from the Dryden side of the equation.

Since her birth I’ve found Abigail’s development fascinating. It’s not unusual to see her mimicking her sister and others around her. She already wants to help with chores around the house and of course is investigating what’s going on around the house and creating chaos as well as helping in the clean up process. She’s quite something else is Abigail.

I love her smile and her giggle and laugh and making her laugh is harder than making her mother laugh so it’s always an achievement when my efforts hit home! She is a beautiful baby and I often chuckle at the fact that she’s of all people the daughter of Christopher Dryden! No she’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but she is such a blessing to my life that I’m grateful to know her and have the privilege and honour of being her father.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Return of Family Fortunes

It’s approaching 21:00 as I start typing this entry. I’m at home watching the friendly England vs. USA and it’s not a great match, but then you gotta say what is expected from an end of season game with the majority of the 11 from the Chelsea and Manchester United side that played in the Champions League.

I like the looks of Jermaine Defoe and I’d actually give him a chance to play more often. I hope next season he really does it for Portsmouth in Europe and in the Premier League. Rooney also looks the business; it’s just a pity that the team system will never make the most out of him because it will always compromise team balance. I’m up for being proven wrong on that one though. The midfield looks unimaginative though – Lampard, Gerrard, Hargreaves and Beckham. Where’s the width? Where’s the pace? Three central midfielders and a player on his last legs playing in a second rate league across the pond. Wow is that really the best England can do? I won’t put any money on them wining much with that line up.

Anyway, what to blog about? Well it’s been a long time since I’ve blogged a personal blog as it were which has more to do with me than spiritual things that I’m contemplating. It’s a good time to blog as tomorrow, should God spare our lives, we’ll celebrate Abigail’s 2nd birthday. I hope to do an entry especially on her tomorrow. In the meantime things are fairly well in the Dryden household.

The wife hasn’t been too well of late. She was hospitalised at the start of the month with breathing difficulties and she’s really not taken the hint to slow down. She is by nature a battler with a servant heart and so as long as there is the function and capacity to breathe she will be up and doing something to help someone somewhere. By God’s grace then she is what she is and is doing what she’s doing and God is blessing what’s going on in her life in amazing ways.

It is a blessing and an honour to inform you that Authrine’s firstborn Kevaughn got baptised recently, which for us is a big deal as it suggests publicly that Kev is at least interested in following Christ, which in essence to me is the only thing in life worth pursuing. Deborah has really come into her own in terms of developing her character and personal style. Yeah I think she’s a bit of a daddy’s girl, but thankfully because I’m reclusively minded she’s getting her mum’s habits of socialising, being bubbly and making her voice known wherever she can, it’s a delight to see her develop and show what a beautiful girl she is. So that’s the state of the family.

There’s so much more I could say about me own state of mind, but the wife calls, so I’ll look at updating what’s going on there when another precious window of opportunity opens. Remember the Dryden family in your prayers, it’s not a straightforward thing doing family and all that jazz, but God’s grace remains ever sufficient for me to be grateful for what I have.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Pray Believing

As we approach the end of the month, so I approach the end of the Daily Thoughts series at work on prayer. Just like the Word itself, coming to the end of something like this only highlights how much more could be said on the subject. It’s fascinating even approaching the subject in the way that DT does it to see the many dimensions and factors involved in talking about prayer. Today’s particular thought inspired this blog entry.

The issue here is faith. It is a topic we looked at as a church on Sunday and I found it really engrossing and fascinating looking at this basic of connecting with God and how it’s discussed with people just starting their own journey with God. It reminds me that part of the fun of building relationships and making disciples is being ready to share what you understand in a palatable format. That is the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) model (I’ve got to find another S for Stupid, it doesn’t get at what I’m getting at).

In any case here is the initial thought that’s been shared and following that some extended thoughts that I meditated on.

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Matthew 21:22 ESV

What a deal! Jesus seems to have turned into a game-show host offering the sale of all time – whatever we ask for we receive!! The catch in the deal, which makes Jesus a peacemaker connecting rather than a dodgy second hand car salesman, is that the key ingredient is faith. This is not mere positive thinking with fingers crossed, but a trust in our Father, built on a growing knowledge of Him so when we ask for ‘whatever’, we do so out of love from and for Him. Then there is reassurance that He hears and answers prayer.

This verse could get people into trouble and give people a reason to ‘disprove’ God. After all many are the stories of disillusioned people whose loved ones died or suffered trauma and wonder why God didn’t help them out, even when they prayed. The explanation that someone didn’t have enough faith can be patronising, insulting, hurtful and insensitive (even if on some occasions accurate). The deal here about having faith is not about having a divine cashcard to spend on absolutely anything you want, but being connected with the Source of Creation to get from Him the very best He wants for you.

The issue of believing is not primarily about belief in things to change, but trusting in the One who makes all these things, even the seemingly impossible, possible. The issue of prayer is relational and so is motivated out of a love for God and such a connection with Him that you’re able to walk in ways pleasing to Him and astounding to others. That’s why the definition and condition of faith outlined in the scripture on people of faith – Hebrews 11 – is so crucial. Faith according to verse 6 is about trusting God exists AND that He is the rewarder of those who are looking … for Him.

The deal then is not about what’s in his hand, or what am I looking to get out of Him. The deal of faith primarily is looking for Him. So as we look its fair to expect Him to give us what we need in the day to continue live as though we’re looking for Him. It is the reassurance we so desperately need when prayers appear ‘unanswered’ because if our issue is a reassurance of the reality of God we can say like the Hebrew boys in front of Nebuchadnezzar that God is able to deliver and even if He doesn’t, He’s still God.

For every Peter miraculously delivered from prayer, there’s a Peter who’ll end up crucified upside down. This doesn’t negate the worth of the gospel and the reality of God, because the bedrock is not on what He will do for me, but we will do for and through Him and we show Him most glorious as He is our strength at our weakest moments of confusion, hurt and pain. Seeing Him doing the miraculous, impossible and unexpected becomes the norm as we embrace the mysterious yet sovereign nature of the God we serve. That is why we can pray believing.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd

Football Prizes and Following Christ

It’s 22:52 as I start writing this, and I’ve just seen Manchester United lift the UEFA Champions League. They have now won the top trophy in Europe for the third time.

I am a Liverpool fan which makes the club on the Red side of Manchester my most bitter enemies. Yet I sit here and have to say without any malice in mind or even resentment that I am happy for Manchester United. They deserve to win the trophy. They have been a better team than anyone else in Europe all season, they have showed the class needed to win the important games when it mattered and played classy football when they needed it. Congratulations Manchester United.

When you look at the team from back to front this is a team that deserves to win the top trophies. Ronaldo has undoubtedly been the best player in the world over the season. Rooney has been awesome when he needs to be. The Vidic-Ferdinand partnership has been the best defensive partnership in Europe this season. I am really happy for Paul Scholes, he’s been a player I’ve always admired despite playing for United. One player that I do bring up is Ryan Giggs who has been such a loyal servant to United for so long and now has been decorated with ten league trophies and a number of other trophies over his time at the club. He’s been a great player and has matured well over the years adapting to squad rotation extremely well and deserves the success he’s achieving.

I am also not too proud to mention Alex Ferguson in all this. It doesn’t matter if it’s taken him 22 years to make it this successful, he has once more set the bar of success and has every right to the claim to be the most successful manager in British club football far eclipsing any achievements by Clough, Shankly, Paisley, Busby, Stein, Revie, Dalglish, Wenger, Mourinho or any other candidate you may care to mention. I salute those who succeed and so I pay tribute to the great achievement Alex Ferguson has brought about at Manchester United.

In fact to type this is not difficult for I am first and foremost a follower of Jesus and that means that football is not the be all and end all of my situation. Following Liverpool comes well below Jesus and as a result I can appreciate quality football when I see it and that is what United have produced this season. I may give an analysis of Liverpool’s season. I may not. What this is, is congratulations to champions.

And also to give it the spiritual spin that you would expect from me, Philippians 3 gives me an insight into another set of champions which is even more valuable than winning the richest prize in football. That is the prize of the high calling in Jesus and I’m grateful that whether Liverpool win or lose, whether Manchester United succeed or not, I want to collect the trophy of the crown of life after finishing the gruelling season of life following the only prize worth living and dying for – becoming like Jesus Christ. They say following Jesus is a matter of life or death – as Bill Shankly said, it’s a lot more important than that.

For His Name's Sake
Shalom
da man cd