The New Connexion of General Baptists began life not far from where I live, in Barton in the Beans.  According to what little of their history is readily available, they used to hold at least some of their Assemblies in "Dibley."  Yesterday it struck me that these probably took place literally opposite my house in the farmhouse-cum-inn I have looked out on (except when looking out on the chapel) these last five and a half years.

So if this is where Baptist Assembly once was...

Then maybe people should come on pilgrimages to see it!

Trouble is it's hardly ever open and has changed hands umpteen times in my time.

Rather than seaside venues maybe "back to our roots" in either Nottinghamshire (for the original General Baptists (Particulars probably came later out of some sort of primeval stew)) or Leicestershire (New Connexion) would be appropriate.

Thinking back over the NAM conference there was one part of one presentation that really bugged me - that is, annoyed me - it was too simplistic and triumphalist and missed some big questions about how the churhc fials to care for its own.  You can find the story that was read to us here.  It makes for good reading if you want to take a certain stance on what Christian life is about, but not if you you ask any question of it.

No, I'd never heard of Chuck Templeton, but I wonder what it was that cost him his 'orthodox faith' and drove him from the church.  What honest questions was he forced to face alone and unresourced?  What issues challenged his beliefs?  Where were the people who would love and support him?  Presumably still on some happy cloud counting decision cards.

And I've never heard of Bron Clifford but who looked out for him?  Who said 'you're drinking too much?' Who said 'are you struggling financially?'  Who offered help to him, his wife or his two downs syndrome children?  What pushed him over the edge into self-destruct mode?  Some pastors had a collection to buy him a coffin - where were they when he needed them in life?

Maybe these men were arrogant and deluded, I don't know.  Maybe they fouled up big time.  But even so, who was there for them?  I may have moaned about the long list of 'thou shalt nots' that the NAMs had to sit through, but at least someone cares enough to tell them.  I hope also we all care enough to walk with rather than merely censure those who struggle and fall.

From this:

To this:

To this:

To this:

As Jesus was leaving the temple one of his disicples said to him, "Look teacher!  What massive stones!  What magnificent buildings!"

"Do you see all these great buildings?" he replied.  "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

The LORD gives, the LORD takes away, blessed be the name of the LORD.

Demolition next door is nearly complete and already the footings are in place for the first of the new houses - by close of play today the intention is to have footings in place for five out of nine...

What struck me yesterday when I got home after four days away was how much more light there was without the great Victorian barn next to my humble abode.  Is there a parable in there somewhere?  I wonder!

At the NAM conference (see yesterday's post for overview) Karen Smith took as her theme 'ministry in the meantime' and spoke on two threads: waiting with Christ and walking with Christ.  The meantime - the space between now and what we dream of and, maybe (my thoughts here) between the resurrection and the eschaton.  The now and not yet.  She spoke of Eugene Peterson's concept of the 'ministry of small talk' and I found myself reminded of a phrase I have used about 'the God of small things.'  It isn't all about zillions of conversions and streams of baptisms, it's about the little things we do 'in the meantime' about the everyday actions, words, thoughts; about the things we get right and the things we struggle with.

She used the parable of the growing seed (Mark 4, just before the mustard seed) and that while the person gets on with everyday life (sleeping and rising) the seed grows, they know not how, but grow it does.  Back in the days when I was a Sunday School teacher we spoke of planting seeds, alluding to the parable of the sower/soils and the epistular (is there such a word?) allusion to Paul planting the seed, Apollos watering it but God making it grow.  But this week I was taken in a new direction with it all - the seed of a smile, a gentle word, an hour at a bedside; the everyday cycle of getting on with the job...

There is much waiting going on here in Dibley, folk on hospital waiting lists, folk waiting for their children's weddings and new babies, folk waiting for the final breathe... but in the meantime...

God of the meantime

Who shares with us the waiting

And the walking

And the wondering

Grant us patience

Grant us courage

Grant us hope

Amen