Angels, Songs and Explanations

On Sunday morning in Coventry we sang Robin Mark's song Take us to the river.  It has an interesting third verse, that runs: Is this Your mighty angel / Who stands astride the ocean and the land / In His hand Your mercy...  On Monday morning I received a somewhat querulous email:  Can you tell me who the angel is standing on the ocean and the land?  There is one in Revelation but he is not doing what it says in the song.  It irritates me every time we sing it because I don't like singing what I don't understand.

I suggest querulous, because it wasn't difficult to track down an answer.  I'm sometimes driven to confront people with, "Well, do you want an explanation, or do you just want to grumble?"   Robin Mark had blogged about the Revelation 10 reference.  http://robinmark.com/the-story-behind-take-us-to-the-river/  He wrote the song with the theme of God's mercy in mind.  The angel has a scroll which is generally interpreted to be the gospel.  Mark points out that this is both sweet and bitter.  His blog continues that, for example, the Father's mercy to the returning prodigal son leaves a bitter taste in the older brother's mouth (Luke 15).  However, the song doesn't go on to explore this intriguing extension.

I thought that, in similar vein, I'd write a bit about one of my songs.  As it's not nearly so well known, here are the lyrics.

Lord, for You my strength, my days;
Follow You in manly ways;
Lift to You deep voice of praise.
Son of Man.

2. Lord, for You my social roles:
Headship, priesthood, guarding souls.
Covenant depth in faith-charged goals.
Abraham's Shield.

3. Watched by You from mother's breast.
Called to serve, achieve the best.
Steeled by trial, succeed each test.
Moses' Friend.

4. Train my mind and gain my will:
Talents, boldness, dexterous skill,
Fire of passion - all fulfill.
David's Lord.

5. Conqueror of my Adam pride;
Prophet search me when I'd hide.
With the towel my falseness chide.
Peter's Rock.

6. Spirit filled and gifted, strive.
Pressed by hell, yet I'll survive.
Sons are with me.  He's alive!
Jesus Lord.

7. Burning eyes and keys in hand.
Lion-Lamb before I'll stand.
Myriad voices; blood-bought band.
Heaven's Man.

NCCC (c) 2000 JesusFellowshipChurchCopyCare Ltd.

I wrote it as an encouragement to my friend Tim, when he was first called upon to lead a workshop in one of our Men Alive Days.  Often these workshops provide a challenge to grow in godly, distinctively masculine, character attributes.  Hence the use of Abraham, Moses, David and Peter as models, then an expression of personal aspiration, all topped and tailed by verses about Jesus.  I like songs with - what Huw calls - raw thump and bite.

Sadly, I don't write too many like that anymore.

Multiply India Visit Starting Tomorrow

The Sunday morning event in Coventry delivered an 'announcements-fest'.  I was itching to give them a blast of 'Mad dogs and Englishmen' as part of a substantial spot on the trip.  But Andy asked if he could make an extended sharing about changes to Sunday nights' programme.  To add to the distractions, Iain was positioning three large cardboard boxes at the front to collect items for the container going to Sierra Leone.  One was marked 'Kids', and there was an obvious interpretation that disaffected parents could do some sort of trade-in.  And then they were due to have a Jesus Centre housekeeping day.  "Well we'll just have to cut the bible teaching, and perhaps opening worship, to get all this in..." I jousted with Andy.

The meeting started well.  The band gave us a good lead on Jesus Culture's 'Worthy is the Lamb'.  I was proud of Gav, and it was good to coincide with Rob's busy schedule.  Simon followed on by sharing how he found himself floored by the perceived chaos of the imminent changes in the Region.  I wondered if Noel Coward may not seem too irreverent.  For the uninitiated, here's the words.

In tropical climes there are certain times of day
When all the citizens retire, to take their clothes off and perspire.
It's one of those rules that the greatest fools obey,
Because the sun is far too sultry and one must avoid  its ultry-violet ray --
The natives grieve when the white men leave their huts,
Because they're obviously, definitely nuts --

Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
The Japanese don't care to, the Chinese wouldn't dare to,
Hindus and Argentines sleep firmly from twelve to one, but Englishmen detest a siesta,
In the Philippines they have lovely screens, to protect you from the glare,
In the Malay states there are hats like plates,  which the Britishers won't wear,
At twelve noon the natives swoon, and no further work is done –
But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

It's such a surprise for the Eastern eyes to see,
That though the English are effete, they're quite impervious to heat,
When the white man rides, every native hides in glee,
Because the simple creatures hope he will
impale his solar topee on a tree.
It seems such a shame that when the English claim the earth
That they give rise to such hilarity and mirth –

Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
The toughest Burmese bandit can never understand it.
In Rangoon the heat of noon is just what the natives shun.
They put their scotch or rye down, and lie down.
In a jungle town where the sun beats down, to the rage of man and beast,
The English garb of the English sahib merely gets a bit more creased.
In Bangkok, at twelve o'clock, they foam at the mouth and run,
But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

Mad dogs and Englishmen, go out in the midday sun.
The smallest Malay rabbit deplores this foolish habit.
In Hong Kong, they strike a gong, and fire off a noonday gun
To reprimand each inmate, who's in late.
In the mangrove swamps where the python romps
there is peace from twelve till two.
Even caribous lie around and snooze, for there's nothing else to do.
In Bengal, to move at all, is seldom if ever done,
But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday, out in the midday [x7]  sun.

You can hear the original on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BifLPGi4X6A

On the journey home, I substantially relaxed.  My last official duties before getting round to packing were done.  Sharon had given me a wad of US dollars, and Iain the decent video camera, so bits seemed to be falling into place at last.

Very early today I was awakened by Colney texting to say he'd like us to bring some wristbands (Jesus Revolution, etc) for his wife.  Mercifully, I drifted back to sleep.  I can report to Kelly that I'm getting into better shape.  When I rang Resources to place an order, Ruth announced that the Farm Household would be spending the evening packing for Nathan.  Great back-up.  Hannah even sent me a copy of the travel and medical insurance policy.

I managed a successful first fill-up of my luggage before doing my usual Monday morning admin at the Jesus Centre.  The case for check-in tipped 18kg with just a pair of shoes and pair of trousers to go.  That's not going to create too much problem when we transfer to domestic flights in the middle of the trip.

Who knows, I may even get an hour on the cross trainer before bedtime tonight.

Apostolic Men Empowering the Nations

The biennial AMEN conference starts this week.  Eight Multiply leaders will arrive by Friday: Matthew from Nigeria, Desmond from Sierra Leone, Gregory from Kenya, Rukundo from Rwanda, Stephen from Zambia, Daniel from UAE, Colney from India, and Mark from Switzerland.  Their interests all also extend to surrounding countries.  I've met - and shared conferences - with five of them, on their home turf.  Brilliant.  Two years ago we took a big move forward and set up a Fund to share resources and decisions to move the Network forward.  This year we want to build on this partnership foundation.

Western Christians have earned a reputation for "gospel colonialism" in their approach to global churches.  The first world - in any manifestation - just doesn't grasp how arrogant it comes across.  Now I don't go along with the thesis that all our wider Empire - and later Commonwealth - involvement has been a disaster.  In fact, a lecturer I met in Delhi insisted that the foundation for modern India was laid by British legislation.  It meant they could trade on a par with rest of the world.  He also provocatively added that, in this regard, the British did more for India in 90 years than 900 years of previous Muslim administration had achieved. 

Then I met the contrary opinion, and somewhat more formally, in Zambia.  At the national museums, in both Lusaka and Livingstone, an unfavourable comparison was drawn between the typical standards of living before and after independence in 1964.  I understand the political desire to assert a positive self-identity for the people of a recently-emergent nation.  And the  battle for self-government wasn't pretty.  But it seemed too easy a pass-off to imply that everyone would otherwise still be living in destitute squalor.  (They have a more pressing current issue in engaging with China.)

Well, it makes it clear that we need to move with humility.  A pastor (also in Delhi) explained that Westerners - especially Christians -  wishing to do something for the plight of the disadvantaged should place their generosity in the hands of local on-the-ground churches.  He was preparing us for heart-tugging sight of beggars, street kids, and the like.  So, that's what we seek to do with Multiply.  My plea with the guys is, "Please don't take everything in the church in the West uncritically."

I've been busy researching how to get a minibus to Freetown, Sierra Leone.  It's Desmond's no1 priority from quite a bunch of projects he has ambitions to promote.  First we'd need to get him a suitable vehicle.  Although we run a over 40 Transits, the technology has got so baffling that you wonder if a decent de-fleeted one would do any favours.  The standard Toyoto mutatu, fixable with hammer and screwdriver, may be a more durable offering than Ford's drive-by-wire engine management system.  Desmond must decide!

There's an option to book half a container and just export direct from UK.  This is over £3,000, and you feel it must be more sensible to add it to the donation so they can simply source a vehicle in Africa.  Problem is, some things aren't available at any price.  Or, you can drive to Algeciras or Tarifa and ferry over to Tangier.  Then you take the coastal road (N1) right round Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, and Guinea.  "And ideal job for some retired bod", quoted Kelvin, the transport guru from Darlington.  Google says 4,250 miles; 80 hours of driving.  I also found a ferry route from Lisbon into Freetown if we want to half-and-half it.  You can fly back from Freetown for £250.  We're going to have fun with this one.

Gregory and Daniel have already arrived, and Rukundo told me he flies today (Wednesday); Colney arrives on Friday.  I'm intending to stay around in Northants/Warwickshire for the duration, ending up taking the Sunday meeting in Coventry on 2nd June.