Does God test people?  Does God allow people to be tested?  Should we test people?  If so, how, and what do we mean by it?

These are questions that have being rolling around my brain a bit recently, in response to various things that are happening or are being said by various people I meet.

The key is, I suspect, what we mean by 'testing.'  Many, maybe most, people equate 'test' with 'exam' and with pass/fail.  There is a mind of headmaster view of God who sets hard tests to see if our faith is kosher or not.  If we pass the test - endure hardship with a cheesy grin, pray faithfully, whatever it is, we are 'in'; if we don't then presumably we are 'out.'  Not the most helpful view of God who is Love.

A friend's daughter who is 21 and has just qaulifed as a nurse offers a much more helpful image, I'd like to suggest.  She has observed how patients are assessed (tested) before they leave hospital to see if they are adequately ready to go home - not perfect but good enough.  The intent is not pass/fail but to prevent futher injury or illness because a person is not yet equipped for discharge.  Thus, for example, the physio will check they can walk up stairs, the OT will ensure they can prepare a meal,  a social worker may check for support mechanisms.  If a person is not yet ready, then plans can be put in place to give the support needed to develop the strength or skills needed.  Maybe it is semantics, but this to me seems a more positive understanding of testing.

So does God test people?  If we mean set pass/fail tasks I'm not convinced.  Does God allow testing situations to arise - well, yes, experience shows me this is so.  In Evan Almighty God said something that seemed to fit with this view.

Should we test people?  People who feel they have a call from God?  Poeple who offer to serve in some way?  If by that we mean setting them up a pass/fail task, I'd suggest not.  But if we can see it as working with them to explore whether they are at this point ready enough for a role or responsibility then I think that, yes, we should.

As I type this, I am reminded of the 'Sheepdog trials' sermon quoted in Susan Howatch's novel The High Flyer which attempts something similar in thinking about God's judgement.

I don't know why. but for some reason yesterday I found myself recalling a rather daft game we used to play at work about 10 yeasr ago, and wondering if it could be applied to churches...

It was the Native American Name Game - probably totally non-PC but it kept us amused in the more boring moments of daily life.  I suspect it emerged fromthe title of the film Dances with Wolves becuase it involved identfying a verb and an object associated with individuls.

For example, one of my colleagues was a bit of an exercise junkie and went to the gym every lunchtime.  He also brought a carrot in his packed lunch every day.  So he became Exercises with a Carrot.

Another colleague was a heavy smoker and had an inflatable Mr Blobby as a kind of mascot, so he was Smokes with Mr Blobby.

They never told me what they named me, but perhaps these days it'd be Blogs with a Mug of Tea (since despite the title of this blog I'm more of a tea drinker and there's usually a half drunk mug sitting in my office).

For another, unexplained, reason I found myself thinking about churches mission statements and one I came across several years backthat said 'we seek to be purpose driven in a balance fashion.'  Sounds impressive but I'm not sure what it means!

Sohow about combining the name game with the church's statements?  What one verb and one object sum up a congregation?

"Recalls glory days with a green hymnbook?"

"Talks about mission with Powerpoint?"

"Prays with a cup of tea?"

"Seeks trade justice with kitkats?"

I'm not letting on which churches these might relate to but they are not totally imaginary.  As for dear old Dibley... "Keeps on keeping on with a mad woman minister" I suspect.

Check this out... where else could you have a degree in the things you surely ought to have learned at home?  And is there a parallel programme for men?  A degree in being a vicar's wife - now there's an idea (not)!

PS You may need to follow the threads on the Sheri Klouda situation to make full sense of this.

It seems to be the season of Quiz Farm quizzes again.  Which LOR character are you?  Which theologian are you?  Seemingly I am Galadriel and Moltmann - I'm happy with these.  So if I ever need an alias, this could make a rather impressive sounding name, don't you think?

Saturday's wedding is still being talked about, it seems, all positive, all we we dared to dream of.  The key word seems to be 'inclusivity' - not compromise to some kind of lowest common denominator mush, but authentic and inclusive.  If you fancy taking a peek at some of the photos, then check out the photographer's blog here .

Today's funeral went well too.  The family were happy with what was offered (and someone told me I have a nice singing voice - wish my old music teachers could hear that one!!  Useful for singing funeral solos, I find) and it felt a 'together' kind of service - as in no great big gaps between the family and the other people who came.  So often funerals see a handful of mourners then several empty rows, which to me seems to say something about fear and isolation.

As my week nears its end - and weekend brings its own challenges of politics over which special services to attend - I have a sense that this week some things have been got right, that we have shown people a glimpse of the God who is Love, Mercy and Grace.  In the midst of all the pain and suffering that news reports announce hourly, it is good to catch a glimpse of God's glory, to trace the rainbow through the rain, to know that there is a hope for all eternity.