Myton Musings

At different points over the past few months I (Jackie) have been delving into Romans 8.  Not only have we had a brief teaching series on the chapter at Myton but I have taken a longer, slower walk through these stunning verses.  My guides have been a book and series of talks.  If it had been a literal walk, all I can say is that whilst I've walked the path before the scenery has been breath-takingly refreshing! So whether you like to read or a leisurely listen let me invite you to explore the chapter with author and preacher, Ray Ortlund. 'Supernatural living for natural people' Five talks from the Keswick Convention 2019

With the clock ticking to the start of a new term some may be full of expectation and excitement. After months away from the physical classroom they will be back to the environment they trained for - teaching in front of class, partnering with colleagues, sending children home at the end of the day. Pray for them. Others maybe in a different place on the emotional spectrum - still fatigued, wrestling with their own fears, anxious about the demands. Something more akin to this! Pray for them. 

As we anticipate moving to both a physical gathering and live-streaming from September 6th, here's an insight in to what to expect!   

At the heart of lockdown many of our interactions with others were reduced to the phone or the new norm of life -  'Zoom'!  Whilst rejoicing in the means to stay in touch these brought their own challenges to good communication and healthy relationships. As we reflect not only on the lessons we might have learnt during lockdown but those that come from the ongoing restrictions placed on the way we can be with others, I wonder what we have discovered about our ability to listen? As he reviews a new book about listening ('Habits of Grace'), Tim Challis draws to our attention six lessons in good listening. 1. Good listening requires patience 2. Good listening is an act of love 3. Good listening asks perceptive questions 4. Good listening is ministry 5. Good listening prepares us to speak well 6. Good listening reflects our relationship with God Flesh these out by reading his review .    

This post , written by Andrew Blunt, first appeared on the 'Think Theology' blog on August 21st. The Answer to Loneliness? Loneliness is a serious and growing problem. The stats are pretty heartbreaking. One study found that 9 million people in the UK are always or often lonely—that’s just slightly more than the population of London or the entire population of Austria. We often think of loneliness as a problem primarily affecting older people, but research published this year suggests that younger men in individualistic societies are the most likely to be lonely. And this is a serious matter, the effect of loneliness on physical health has been shown to be as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and worse than obesity, increasing the risk of death by 29%. Recognising this problem, some scientists are now asking, ‘Can loneliness be cured with a pill?’ The proposal isn’t actually quite as it sounds. The idea, at the moment at least, isn’t to produce a pill that will completely ...

Catch up with Jackie's recent chat with Geoffrey Muatha.

I wonder how much additional time you've spent online during the pandemic? How about your digitally literate children? In a recent article CARE addressed a topic that is perhaps easily overlooked, difficult to talk about and one that we'd like to think won't be a problem under our roof! Yet they insightfully and graciously highlight a challenge that has worsened during the restrictions brought about by Covid-19 as children have spent more time online.  It's one we'd be foolish to ignore. Take a few moments to understand a little more of how pornography may be affecting your children (or your grandchildren, or your relations, or your friends, or the youngsters in clubs or church or...)  Five ways online porn harms your child.

Know anyone who is heading off to University this year? Want to pray for those who are? UCCF have produced a new series of videos seeking to address the most commonly asked questions: What will university actually be like this year? How will I share my faith? What if I’m the only Christian? Will people judge me? Why is the world so unfair? How can I make a difference? Where can we find meaning? How do I speak up?   Each video is only a couple of minutes long and includes the insights and experience of current students.  Take a look and get a glimpse of what University life is like for those starting in 2020.  Pray for them. Equip them by signposting UCCF's support for new students . Want to know more - why not contact Ben or Esther who both belong to Myton Church and work for UCCF. 

Way of the Exile! Today's video gives the specific challenge we explored yesterday a much bigger perspective.  Every believer, in every generation is called to be an exile, asked to display both loyalty and subversion!  How might this calling give us a liberating approach to current restrictions?

Who knew? Purse, car keys, glasses - this used to me my mental checklist of things to pick up before I left the house. Yours was probably similar - give or take!  Summer 2020 and most of us are now needing to include a facemask!  Leaving aside the array of choices before us about what we actually put on our face, this development places a new set of questions before any of us who are seeking to live for Christ in every aspect of our lives. How can I reflect Christ in the way I approach this restriction, particularly now it has become a requirement in church services?  What might God be teaching me/the church through it?  Read how John Stevens has begun to reflect on the issue and pray we will all find Christ-like character being formed in us through these circumstances.  

Today Kim Hubbard reflects on singing the Psalms.   Christ will be my hideaway   When we think of the Psalms, most of us think solely of reading them. But we should also sing them, particularly in the gathering of the church. Indeed, for 3,000 years the Psalter has been the songbook of God’s people. (Keith Getty & David Robertson)   As a congregation, we don’t sing many hymns and songs that are paraphrases of psalms or closely based upon them. I’ve checked our song database and found a few.  All people that on earth do dwell (Psalm 100), Create in me a clean heart (Psalm 51), How lovely is your dwelling place (Psalm 84), Lord how majestic you are (Psalm 8), O God our help in ages past (Psalm 90), Safe in the shadow of the Lord (Psalm 91), The Lord’s my shepherd (Psalm 23), Through all the changing scenes of life (Psalm 34), To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul (Psalm 25)…  A few, but given there are 150 psalms there’s plenty of scope for more!...

Catch up with CARE's recent live session reflecting on the issue of Abortion. The session can be found here

Listen to one person's story of responding to God when life takes unexpected turns.  In the midst of confusion and lament how does someone begin to trace God's goodness? Rachel Wilson speaks about the unexpected path she and her husband Andrew were taken along just a couple of years into being parents. Read a fuller account of their story in the book ' The Life you never expected' .  

When we hear the word 'library' we probably think of one of these... Filled with lots of these... And our response may depend on who are! But here's a different 'library' , stretching back over the past decade.  Multiple resources unveiled with a simple click on a picture .    

Sarah Sherratt updates us on the work of the Good News Hospital in Mandritsara. 

At the beginning of August we wrapped up our short series on 'Promises for a Pandemic' from Romans 8. Sandwiched in between discovering that our sin can not diminish God's love for us and that higher powers can not part us from it, was the awesome truth that our suffering does not contradict God's love.   Too easily we can interpret our difficulties as a sign of God's displeasure, doubting that he love's us because life is tough. Yet Romans 8:31-39 teaches us that nothing can separate us from God's love, and the author Paul should know as he was no stranger to suffering and struggles. So how do Christian's walk through times of suffering holding onto God's love.  Listen to Bob Telford describe his experience of this reality. More stories can be found on our website

Name the chocolate bar? How many did you get?

A Christian pastor in Beirut shares his thoughts and reflections on the recent explosion in the city.

How has your lockdown been? An article by Louise MacMillan (Biblical Counselling UK) How has your lockdown been? As we slowly emerge from our homes it has become clear that we have all had differing (in some cases wildly differing) experiences of the last few months. Some have been anxious, busy, bored, distressed, lonely or overwhelmed. Some have been of all of these! But it’s become clear to me, as I talk with people, that very few experiences have been exactly the same. Even our anxieties seem to have disparate roots. For the last 100-plus days we have been shut in our personal echo chambers with the voices in our own heads and houses. Yes, we have been bombarded by news and media, but the lockdown has had that strange effect of distancing us from any reality that’s not within our four walls. I suppose that was only to be expected and for many of us that has been a mercy. That was, after all, part of the purpose of lockdown – to keep us away from the outside! Read ...

Here's one for those missing a daily dose of Superheroes! Awesome Cutlery put something together for 'Virtual Keswick'. Check out all the convention put on for adults, youth and children on their YouTube channel.  

It's the summer. The beginning of August. South town is quieter. There is space on the buses (not all caused by social distancing) and parking on residential streets. Campus seems deserted in the absence of summer conferences. Yes - Warwick students are largely out of sight on their long vacation.   But so it's not 'out of sight, out of mind' here's a new video introducing the work of Warwick Uni CU. Why not have a watch and then pray for the CU.  Whilst their mission will remain the same some of the activities you view will no doubt have to adapt to current restrictions when the new academic year begins.

What has the early part of 2020 held for you? I finished my Fine Art degree at home during lockdown, and although it was really disappointing not to be able to exhibit in the normal physical Final Year Degree Show, you can see some of my work here.   What are you planning to do next and why? Next year I will be based in London volunteering with a University and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF):  UCCF: The Christian Unions is a fellowship of students, staff and supporters that aims to give every university student in the UK an opportunity to hear and respond to the great news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Going to university is a formative time for many. Someone has the chance to question the beliefs, ideas, and ways of living they were brought up with. It can be a key time to explore faith and make big life decisions independently. I definitely found this to be the case – I left for university as a Christian, and by God’s grace I am still walking with the...

I (Jackie) am not a great one for quizzes - as anyone in my small group will have discovered on Tuesday night! Rounds on landmarks, children's books or 'name that country' seem designed to reveal the information my brain doesn't store away for a rainy day (or a quiz during a pandemic)! But here's a round I think should be in every quiz.   'Name the chocolate bar'!  See how you get on - answers will be posted next week.