What else could I have done? 1

Last Good Friday I shared a series of brief meditations as part of our Good Friday Service. To be honest I'd forgotten about them, but some one in one of the churches I serve mentioned them the other day. They follow the Passion narrative in Luke, and try to give some thought to how the supporting cast in this drama may have been feeling as those tragic yet wonderful events unfolded.

So, here's part 1 - Judas.

Look, things didn’t work out quite as I’d hoped, I have to say. From the look on Simon’s face I’m not going to be welcome back in the group again: I’ve never seen him so angry – and that’s not nice to see when he’s got a dirty great sword in his hand. Poor Malchus: though you’d hardly know he lost that ear now to look at him.

I just felt that someone had to do something. After the way the crowd greeted us last Sunday, I just thought ‘this is it! The revolution starts here: an end to Roman tyranny!’ But instead of leading us to the Fortress Antonia, Jesus went to the Temple, and started causing a riot there. I thought ‘this isn’t how it’s supposed to be; this isn’t what I expected at all’.

So I decided I had to try and force his hand. Box him into a corner, so that he’d come out fighting. That’s why I went to the High Priest… Oh the others will say I only did it for the money: they think I’ve had my fingers in the till for years now, that that’s all I’m interested in. But I only want what’s best – for everyone.

He knew I was going to do it, you know… he said so last night while we were eating. I don’t think any of the others saw me slip out – too busy arguing among themselves who was the best, the most loyal: well, they all ran away when he was taken: not one of them stayed.

I feel dreadful, I really do. They’ve taken him to the High Priest: God knows what’ll happen to him now… But what else could I have done?

(c) John Simms 2010

Feast or picnic?

I was reminded this morning of a quote I'd noted down a few months ago. At the end of a book written with Richard Foster called 'Longing for God' Gayle Beebe speak about feasting on "the real whole-wheat Bread of Life", quoting someone called Thomas Kelly.

This left me wondering: how often have I given people stale white bread, with most of its goodness bleached out of it? And realising that I need to feed God's people with food that will fully satisfy them, not just providing them with a snack.

But for that to truly happen, I have to ensure that I am receiving a sustaining diet too: that I am feasting on "the real whole-wheat Bread of Life" myself: for there to be bread on the table I have to make sure that I'm well supplied.

That set me thinking about some of the 'nutritional' metaphors that are used in the New Testament for Christian teaching. Both Paul and the writer to the Hebrews talk about giving their hearers 'milk' rather than 'solid food', which they would not be able to stomach, and Peter speaks of craving 'pure spiritual milk'. But how many of those in our pews appear to be lactose-intolerant, let alone ready for the 'meat' of God's word?

What I have found is that there is, at least within the congregations with whom I minister, a deep hunger for God's word, and a longing for a rich and varied diet. Lord, feed me, that I may feed your sheep!

Luke & Jon

Music came to the wilderness last night. In the midst of the art we were delighted to welcome two contrasting musicians, Luke Leighfield and Jon Gomm.

Luke, a young man from Southampton, played us his own compositions on a solo keyboard. Someone on YouTube said of his music 'his songs sound like they should be in musicals' - see what you think. It was a good set, though I thought the sound balance between keyboard and vocals could have been better.

Jon Gomm is a sensation (my considered opinion). He has a unique way of playing guitar that almost turns it into a band on its own, and has a dream-like, mumbling vocal style somewhat akin to John Martyn. Again, here's an example of his work that I hope you'll enjoy. He did struggle a little with the acoustics in the church, and the 'natural reverb', but an excellent set, and only a shame that there weren't more there to hear.

A new season

Well, the wait is almost over. Today sees the start of the English domestic cricket season, and as a true-blooded, card-carrying Yorkshireman obviously my hopes are with God's own county to bring home some silverware this year.

Yorkshire are the only team not fielding an overseas player this season, so it will be interesting to see what purely home-grown talent can do. And what talent we have! Tim Bresnan, Ajmal Shazzad and (briefly) Adil Rashid have all been on full England duty this winter; Rashid helped South Australia to T20 success, and also joined Andrew Gale, Adam Lyth & Jonathan Bairstow on the England Lions' team who were one wicket away from topping the West Indies Domestic 4-day table. And the return of Ryan Sidebottom to Yorkshire colours, after being part of the Championship-winning Notts team last season, will give some experience to the side which has some promising young talent within it.

Probably the biggest threat to Yorkshire this season will be Somerset, who were so close to a clean sweep last season but managed to finish runners-up in all three competitions. Marcus Trescothick continues to produce the goods, and has been ably supported by James Hildreth, who may see himself in England colours this year.

As well as the English domestic season, today also sees the start of the 4th Indian Premier League T20 competition, and thankfully ITV4 are showing live coverage of it. Although T20 is not the 'purest' form of the game, it can at times be highly entertaining, and I'm looking forward to the thrills.

Following from their Ashes success this winter, England will be taking on the two World Cup finalists, India & Sri Lanka in 7 Test matches, 10 ODIs and 2 T20Is. It all promises to be a full and exciting programme of cricket. Let the games begin!

A nation celebrates

Well, after 6 weeks, the Cricket World Cup is over, and India have emerged as worthy winners after a thrilling final against co-hosts Sri Lanka.

It's been an interesting tournament, with some outstanding displays of batting, bowling and fielding, and some abject disasters too in all three fields. It has thrown up some surprising results - well, surprising to some - as England lost to Ireland but beat South Africa, and shares in that fabulous tie against the eventual champions.

We have seen, perhaps, the final World Cup performances from cricketing legends such as Ricky Ponting, Muttiah Murulitharan and Sachin Tendulkar, who failed to score his 100th international century during the contest, but who still thrilled the crowds with his poise and timing.

England went to the competition with high hopes of repeating their T20 World Cup success, but sadly, despite some excellent individual performances from Jonathan Trott and Tim Bresnan to name but two, they were not able to come up to the standard needed. Their campaign was not helped, of course, by a number of injury and health problems which surfaced, but they were still able to reach the quarter final stage.

And now, as the parties continue across a continent, the English prepare for the start of the domestic season next week. Here's to a summer of more excellent and enjoyable cricket! (And hopefully a Yorkshire Championship!)