Bob Warwicker's blog

In net Sunday’s lectionary, we see Jesus instructing his disciples to do their ministry on the move. They are to go from place to place. No thousand-year-old churches for them: not even much in the way of supplies for the journey.

I wonder if modern Christians could cope with ‘travelling light’. I find it’s good to have time to at least do some literal walking around the place.

Living God, help us as we are,
weighed down by plans and responsibilities,
obligations that genuinely bind us,
to rediscover the adventure
of following Jesus.

Lots of middle-aged men on bikes on the Trail this morning, presumably inspired by the Tour de France. A bit of a nuisance, but it gets my vote nevertheless – anything that helps people be fitter has to be good. And I’ve cycled there myself often enough in the past. I just hope they don’t have horrible crashes like the Tour had yesterday, one caused by the thoughtlessness of a spectator. It was good to see the cyclists using the Trail.

Then to church to hum some hymns – good enough, but not the same thing.

A pleasant calming walk this morning, apart from disputatious dogs and a car abandoned by twockers.

In tomorrow’s Lectionary, if you read the passage from the deuterocanonical Wisdom of Solomon, you’ll see an affirmation that God is the God of life (not death) – this is our heritage.

Living God,
may the risen life of Jesus
be in us all.
May it be in this world,
suffering with those who suffer,
giving hope and the promise of new beginnings.

Living God, as we rush
to save ourselves,
help us not to forget the billions
who cry out in deeper pain.

The rain has made it a quieter day on the Trail today. A ratio of about one deer to ten people.

In Sunday’s Lectionary, “David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan.” Really? Was he really so gutted, when he stood to gain from this? I’d like to think that he was – but maybe that’s naive, and his lament is nothing more than news/history management. Or maybe it’s more complicated, and he was genuinely sad at the same time as he moved gently into power.

The grass is getting high now. Summer really seems to be coming in – although it’s still not hot. The upside is picking stems for javelin games. The downside is getting your trouser legs kissed with dew.

Not only are some fungi delicious. Fungus is also the source of the first antibiotic. They are beautiful too.

Pleasant visit to Lyme Park today. Paths all over the place, lots of curated trees, views of Manchester and the Cheshire Plain, and a fun, bumpy landscape.

In next Sunday’s Lectionary, Paul is writing a begging letter to the Christians in Corinth. He wants them to contribute to relieving the needs of their sisters and brothers elsewhere. He has done something very important: has has connected theology (God-talk) with real life. He writes of ‘the generous act of Jesus Christ’ because he believes it is time for the people to do a generous act. There is no separation between the world of God and Jesus on one hand; and the world of daily living on the other hand. He is also generous with his flattery in order to achieve his ends… although maybe with his mindset infected with the love of Christ, he speaks the truth about his generous feelings about his fellow Christians.