Dear Friends                                                                                                                                               August 2011

Mary and I spent 4 days in Christchurch last week, arriving Thursday morning when there was still a lot of snow on the ground.  It was an invigorating sight reminding us of the winter we spent in northern Canada 1993-94. By Saturday it had all gone but still very chilly for us North Islanders.

The juxtaposition of sheer beauty and absolute tragedy brought about by two very different natural events was difficult to absorb, made more complex by the weird experience of looking into the central city exclusion zone from the perimeter fences while standing in deserted areas where there should have been nonstop traffic and people buzzing in and out of cafes. There are times when nature becomes chaotic and illogical.  As I reflect it seems that much of life is like that. I have been reading some of Paul’s letters to the churches recently and it has struck me that it is quite possible that people who were hearing them read for the first time could have thought him quite nonsensical and at times arrogant. His bold, confident, assertive, statements about Christ seem illogical or in the realms of fantasy, beyond the regular scheme of religious and natural experience.  And yet they are full of truth and sometimes truth is dichotomist.

Just as it takes time to absorb the illogical juxtapositions that we often experience so it takes time and Holy Spirit interpretation within one’s own spirit to grasp the depth of truths that the words of Scripture convey, and the multiplicity of dimensions that they reveal from time to time.  The work of stillness and meditation is required.

I have included the paper “Going Deeper” - kindly sent to me by Ian Brown after my comments last month about pastoral care.  We have permission to print and distribute this article which I trust may challenge and be helpful to some people.

We are moving into the busy season in the office as we end our financial and statistical year and prepare for the Gathering.   The National office will be depleted of some staff and Ministry Heads as they will be on the Pastors Conference road show for the next couple of weeks.

Spring is in the air so there is much to look forward to and enjoy.  God bless you in that enjoyment.