A blesséd Christmas to one and all.

Once again, it’s almost Christmas.  For some, it is a time of  unwanted pressure and anxiety: frantic last-minute shopping when a gift arrives from a relative who had been forgotten!  For others, it’s sweet sentimentality: a time for the children; Mary, and Joseph, and the infant in a manger.   For yet others, it’s no more than a mid-winter festival that brings an opportunity for an extra party, or two. 

Oddly enough, the verse from the Bible that best sums up Christmas – from a Christian perspective – is one of the best-known in the New Testament.  It’s John 3:16 – “For God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

That verse speaks to me of three simple things:

There’s a fact – “God loved the world ...”  Not just the nice people; the good people; the charming people; but the world – the unlovable and the unlovely; those who are loved by no-one else; those who never give Him a thought; those who rebel against Him, and use His name as nothing other than a profanity.  Love, according to the Christian Gospel, is the very mainspring of the Being of God.  “God is love”, writes the early apostle, John. (I Jn.4:8,16).  And part of the wonder of this is that it’s not a scientific theory to be changed in the light of fresh evidence or experimentation; it’s not a legal speculation to be argued over in a judicial court; it’s not some popular idea to be maintained only while it’s fashionable.  It’s a Biblical fact - “God so loved the world”.   And it’s the basic message behind this Christmas season.      

But the love, even of Almighty God, if it were merely passive and uncommunicated, would not be sufficient.  And so, after directing our thoughts towards the fact, this well-known verse goes on to speak of an act. “God loved the world so much – that He gave His only-begotten Son…”    And here is the love of God being put into action.  God so loved, that He gave.   And He gave sacrificially – even giving Himself in the Persona (that's not a typo - check out my audio message on The Doctrine of the Trinity at www.revcbross.blogspot.com) of the only-begotten Son. 

Christmas is traditionally the time for giving.  And isn’t it wonderful to remember that, at the very first Christmas, the greatest and best Gift that could ever be, was given?  God gave His own Son; putting His love into action; giving the very best that He had; giving all that He had.

A fact; an act; and a pact.  That’s the third thing of which that well-known verse speaks.  “... that everyone who has faith in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” God’s love; God’s Gift; are not mere handouts.   Free they may be – but the Christian faith teaches that they are only so to those who are willing to enter into a living relationship with that same God through the Son; only to those who have faith in Him; who put their trust in Him; who receive Him with humble and thankful hearts.   And that’s the true heart of CHRISTmas! 

Yours, prayerfully, and with every good wish at this Christmas-time,

 

The Wind of the Spirit.

Unlike the summer (!!) that has now passed, my family and I have often enjoyed some excellent weather conditions.  There have also been holidays during which we have experienced greatly varying climatic conditions.

On one such, in Germany, we were all lying on the grass at the side of the Unterbachersee - a large loch near to the city of Dusseldorf.  Suddenly, the sky clouded over, and the strength of the wind increased sharply.  As we joined the fast-moving throng that was hurriedly departing, and made our way back to our caravan, the wind had become so fierce that the very branches were being torn from the trees!  At the same time, some brave (foolhardy?!) young men were windsurfing across the loch, and doing so at a tremendous rate of knots.

About ten days later, we were lying on the grass at an outdoor swimming-pool in Erlangen, not far from the city of Nürnberg, famous as the location of the massive Nazi rallies - and of the post-war trials of Nazi leaders such as Göring, Hess, and von Ribbentrop. The sun was blazing down on us from a clear, blue, sky and, at the same time, a gentle breeze was blowing over us, making the heat bearable.

I recall thinking about God the Holy Spirit.  Jesus' words, as recorded in John 3:8, sprung to mind: "The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear the sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from, or where it is going."

As with the wind at the Unterbachersee, God the Holy Spirit sometimes comes with force.  It was so on the first Pentecost of the Christian era.  "Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven ..." (Acts 2:2).  He drives us forward like those young men on their surf-boards; at times, He has to break us, even as the branches were broken off the trees.

At other times, He comes gently, and comfortingly - "Soft as the breath of even" (Harriet Auber).  Like the breeze at Erlangen, He soothes and caresses; enabling us to bear "... the burden of the work, and the heat of the day." (Mt.20:12).

However He deals with us, let us be open to His continuing moving in our lives - influencing our every thought; our every word; our every action.  Let us seek His guidance, safe in the knowledge that He loves us, and that He desires to use us to touch others with His love, and fill them with His power.

Recreation!

One of the benefits of 'official' retirement is the opportunity to have a long summer holiday!  This year, as I mentioned in last month's post, my wife and I took off to France, in our touring caravan.  What I didn't mention was that it was for a full eight weeks!  My apologies to those who immediately felt a wave of envy wash over them as they read those words - your time will come (although some may have to wait much longer for it!).

The holiday was definitely a time of rest, relaxation, and recreation, greatly enjoyed by both my wife and myself.  I trust that many of you – both warranted officers and staff - did have the opportunity to enjoy some annual leave over these past months, even if it wasn't for as long a period!

That word ‘recreation’ is an interesting one.  Maybe I’m just naturally slow, but I was well on in years before I caught on that it is actually ‘re-creation’.  Now, if I re-create something, I am making it all over again; making it like new; restoring it to its original state and condition.  And that is what real recreation should surely do for each one of us – it should leave us refreshed, restored, and ready to face the winter months that, as I look out of my study window, and at the thermometer, are now upon us.

Actually, the Christian Gospel speaks in those same terms.  There are many, even among those who would not class themselves as ‘Christians’ in even a nominal sense who, if not familiar with, will have a nodding acquaintance with, the words of John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”    Those words come at the end of a conversation that Jesus of Nazareth had with a very religious man named Nicodemus, and in which Jesus tells him that he must be “born again” or, we might say, re-created!  Neither Nicodemus' nationality, nor his religious practise, nor his good works, nor anything else, could do that for him.  It is only by submitting ourselves to Jesus - confessing our sinfulness, and accepting His sacrifice made on our behalf - that we may have this new life within us.

That's the basic message of the Gospel - that all who wish may have such a life; one that is so different it’s like being born all over again.  Now, that, I would suggest, is real re-creation!

Follow Me!

Earlier this year, I purchased a Sat-Nav before heading off to France, with my wife, for our annual touring holiday in our wee caravan.  Previously, I had depended on my wife, with a road map on her lap - my "wife-Nav"!  Having now used both, I have decided that they make a great combination.  As is so often the case, they are complementary, rather than mutually exclusive!

Of course, at the end of the day, all of the Sat-Nav systems (and even wife-nav!), directions, and maps, don't match up to the truly personal touch. It was many years ago, when our children were still coming on holiday with us.  We were in the Belgian city of Brussels, looking for the address of a Christian evangelistic organisation with whose workers we had arranged to spend the night.  In those pre-Euro days, we only had one Belgian coin left over from a previous holiday.  I used it to telephone – but the person who answered didn’t speak any English, and my French was still little better than schoolboy level!

It was now dark; we were in a strange city; the children were tired; my wife was concerned (as was I – but I tried not to show it!); we now had no local currency at all; and everyone from whom I tried to get directions spoke only French, or maybe it was Flemish.  Then, as we drove down a particular residential road, I noticed a younger man about to get into the car in his driveway.  I stopped our car, and went over to him and, in my halting French asked if he could direct us, in English please, to the address that I had written down.  He replied with just two words in the English language: “Follow me!”  Within less than twenty minutes, we were at the correct address.  We had found someone who knew the way, and who could guide us, safely, to our destination.

Everyone, I suspect, wants to follow someone who already knows the way.  That knowledge provides the follower with assurance that, whatever pitfalls or diversions are met, the destination will, indeed, be safely reached.  The early disciples of Jesus of Nazareth were first known as followers of “the Way” – they believed that, in Him, they had found One Who knew what He was doing, and where He was going.  So they followed Him, as millions continue to do today – many of them suffering greatly, but certain that His “Follow Me!” is an invitation that is worth accepting.

Have you heard His voice, and accepted that invitation?

Welcome!

For some two years, I have been involved as a Force Chaplain within 'Q' Division and, more recently, 'N' Division.  I am also an associate member of the Christian Police Association (CPA), and seek to play an active part in the Strathclyde Branch.
 

I have a considerable breadth of life experience, having commenced my working life as a chef; spent a number of years in parish ministry; and, until my ‘retirement’, teaching – latterly in Lesmahagow High School.  In between times, I have managed to fit in some radio broadcasting, legal work, and even politics!  A brief bio is on my main 'ministry blog' at www.crazyrev.blogspot.com  while some additional information may be found at my “AllExperts” (!!) page – link provided on my ministry blog.   Married to Joyce – a former ‘P’ (now ‘N’) Division FSO – I am a father, and grandfather; and the son of a former officer in the R.U.C.

All very well, you may say, but what does a Force Chaplain actually do?   Well, I am not an alternative to H.R., O.T., or the Mediation Service, but am complimentary to them.  There may be an occasion on which one, or other, of these support services would suggest a referral to me and, equally, it may be that I would suggest a referral to one of them!

Nor am I acting as an evangelist.  However, I am unashamedly, and unapologetically, a disciple of Jesus and, while not preaching at anyone, will always approach a situation from a specifically Christian perspective. 

I see myself as an integral part of the Support Services, and I am available to all – of any rank, or of none – within my Divisions, to provide any necessary pastoral support.  That support is available to those who subscribe to any belief-system, or to none, and every situation would be treated with sensitivity.  I do not have set hours and, outwith family holidays, am available at any time, and for any reason – even just to get something “off your chest”!

The one thing that I do, that may seem strange to some, is to pray for all of my oficers on a daily basis.  I pray for their physical safety, and also that there will be a continuing decrease in criminal activity within the Divisions, and a corresponding increase in detection and conviction rates.  If, at any time, anyone wises me to pray about a personal situation, then they are welcome to contact me, and I will be happy to do so.  At all times, and in every situation, confidentiality is absolutely assured. My services may never be used, but my availability is assured.

With prayerful good wishes.

              








C.Brian Ross (Rev)