Fruit of The Vine

•May 1, 2012 • 2 Comments

We once had a clematis die mysteriously.  Slowly from the top the flowers died and the leaves turned brown.  It turned out on closer inspection that “someone” had sliced the stalk at ground level whilst enthusiastically mowing the lawn.  The clematis could not survive as it had been severed from its source of water and nutrients.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

A branch cannot survive, never mind bear fruit, if it is not longer attached, part of the whole of the plant.

Jesus uses this analogy for his people.  He is the vine, the strong main support, the conduit of all the branches need to survive and thrive.  To not remain in him, is to no longer be a part of him and his life.

So how do we remain in God?

We need to spend time with him, listen to him, reflect, let it soak in…

Jesus is the vine, are we fruit on his branches?

You Lord

are my sustenance,

my provider,

the one who feeds and nourishes me.

May I remain attached to you,

drawing from you,

maintaining my connection –

that I may continue to grow in you

and produce your fruit

Posted in Jesus, Lectionary
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The Nudge of God

•April 30, 2012 • Leave a Comment

Have you ever had that feeling that you needed to ring someone, or pop round and see them, and you do so only to discover that they needed someone?

Acts 8:26-40

Philip and the Ethiopian

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Philip was told to set out on the road, the desert road.  There is no indication that he was going that way, but he goes.  Along the way, he happens upon an important official, sat with the book of Isaiah on his knee, his reading material for the journey.

Philip follows the prompting and asks the official if he understands it.  Of course he can’t, he says, unless someone explains it to him.

Aha, so this is what it was all about, the nudge to set out and be on that road.  Philip climbs into the official’s carriage and goes on to explain not just that passage, but the whole story of Jesus, what he has done, and what he offers to the official.  Now the official gets it, and is keen to be baptised to show it.

This passage is awesome.  It has so many “just happens”, but clearly Philip is in the right place at the right time, because he listened to the voice of God.

To me, this account suggests two things:

  • when you feel a nudge from God, follow it.  He probably has something he needs you to do.  Your action is unlikely to be wasted.
  • Is there someone out there waiting for you to explain the gospel to them in a way they can understand and respond to?

I’m sure when Philip got up that day he wasn’t expecting it to go that way, but got had other ideas.  By listening to God, God was able to use him, and the official found God and his life was changed.  He found the answer to his questions.

What has God got planned for you and me today?

Thank you Lord

that you have a task for me to fulfil.

Help me to listen to your nudge in my life,

and to respond.

When people need help,

or explanation

to grasp your word and your ways,

give me the words to help them,

that they may discover you.

Posted in God, Lectionary
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Born In Song?

•April 29, 2012 • 4 Comments

Before we got married my mum said to Mr Pamsperambulation, “If she’s not singing in a morning within 3 minutes of putting her feet on the floor, you’re in trouble”.  Music and particularly singing was an important and enjoyable part of my life, especially in worship, part of helping focus on God.

When you add to that the fact that Methodists are “Born in Song” – singing is what we do, you can see the place I was coming from.

One of the saddest parts of my illness is that I can no longer sing, more than a couple of lines and I’m off coughing and hoarse.  Sometimes I can live with this, sometimes, especially in worship, I find it very hard.

I want to make it clear that I am not getting at anyone here, just exploring a way to live with what is, in a community that places a lot of emphasis on singing as a way to meet God – after all it is a way I would have used before I couldn’t.  But I don’t want to let something that used to be such a fundamental part of my life and worship to come as a barrier between me and God, or the community that still worships that way.  It’s me that’s changed – not the church.

It can’t just be me.  What about people who just don’t like singing or music just doesn’t do it for them?  Or people who come into our churches and know none of the hymns and songs we sing, finding it a totally alien concept?  I suppose they find a service that suits them.  But I have lost enough, and don’t want to feel I have to find a different church tradition too.

I had found one way of joining in with the music, by having a percussion instrument.  It helped me to still feel a part of the singing instead of just standing like a lemon.  But it’s not appropriate for all songs – and certainly not for all situations.

So how can I work this out?  I have no answers, but have got to find a way to come to terms with it.  Some days it’s ok, others it breaks my heart and makes me feel even more isolated and de-skilled than I already do.  Anyone any suggestions?

Posted in church, community, disability, faith, Rants and Ramblings
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