Sabbatical 2014: I can see you! A sign of the times?

Sabbatical 2014: I can see you! A sign of the times?: ANPR .  I wonder do you recognise those initials?  Perhaps you have heard them referred to on the television programme "Road Wars"...

I can see you! A sign of the times?

ANPR.  I wonder do you recognise those initials?  Perhaps you have heard them referred to on the television programme "Road Wars".  The initials stand for Automatic Number Plate Recognition.  Britain is alive with ANPR.  This has been a helpful piece of technology for the Police and those charged with ensuring that cars are appropriately taxed and insured.  As a Police Chaplain I understand and appreciate that the ability to use technology to discover whether someone is evading their responsibilities under the Law, and possibly putting others at risk, is of very great help.  Locally ANPR camers were one of those things put in to help Olympics Security when we held the Sailing events on Portland and in Weymouth in 2012.  Other venues probably had the same provision on their approach roads into their area.

But ANPR is not confined to the Police or related agencies.  It is in use all over the place.  It might be used at airports where one has pre-booked a parking place and everything is automated so that when you turn up at the car park the ANPR camera reads your number plate and lets you in. The same thing happens when you leave.  No human needs lift a barrier or check who you are.  The computer does it instead.

So far I am pretty much OK with this (not that anyone is going to change anything even if I am not!!!).  However, ANPR creep has reached places which are just completely incovenient and the worst of these is shoppers car parks, particularly those on retail parks or in supermarkets near to other places of interest.  If you haven't realised it already then have a very good look as you enter supermarket car parks and other retail parks.  In many of them you will see small cameras sited at the entrance to record when you come and go.  Those controlling this and logging your visit are not usually connected to the shops you visit but to an independent company that makes their profit by (guess what), catching you out and fining you if you overstay or return too quickly.  There are usually signs that tell you this, but the print is often so small most people do not realise what they say.

Today my wife and I visited three separate shops in three separate car parks joined by one small roundabout.  Each car park had its own independent set of ANPR cameras.  The really frustrating thing was that having visited the three shops and then gone to other shops we realised that the best deal was in one of the first shops visited.  Hold on though - if we return we will be fined for returning too soon.  No good asking in the shop for them to do something about it.  Not their responsibility.  Not their company dealing with that.  So we had to park along the road and I walked to the shop to spend £60.00 on some goods.  Hardly a welcoming helpful attitude towards customers.  I feel for those who do not know the cameras are there and who end up paying £60.00 on a fine rather than buying something from a shop!

This is the age we live in.  We are tracked through a good deal of our day, by ANPR cameras and by more and more CCTV.  Don't get me wrong.  I think CCTV can be very helpful in all sorts of situations.  But sometimes you want to feel that real people are communicating with you and not just watching you, or indeed allowing the computer to watch you.  So often nowadays contact with each other is at a distance or automated.  It would not be a bad thing to remember the importance of relationships - real relationships.

I have been reminded of that again over the last week.  A week when it has been good, again, to meet so many people and to share time with them (even though I was probably being tracked by CCTV and ANPR cameras as I journeyed).  (Wow that does sound paranoid!!!!)

I have been reminded about the importance of relationships through the wonderful people I have met as I have travelled up to Glasgow and back, and then to Bristol both to provide airport transport and to visit Woodlands Church in Clifton, Bristol.  There was a sense of vibrancy as I entered the church (an old building with a new frontage).  It is always difficult to count the size of a congregation but it felt like there were 450-500 present.  It was good to hear David Mitchell speak about "Calling" based on Paul's letters to the Church in Thessalonica.  David reminded us that in addition to us all sharing the universal calling to follow Jesus (note we are primarily called to someone not something) we also have specific callings within that with a responsibility to discover that calling.  How is God calling you, and me, today?   You can find out more about Woodlands Church by going to http://www.woodlandschurch.net/

And then the thread that runs through those relationships from my point of view is God himself. God who wants to be intimately involved in our lives, who is interested in every detail no matter how small. This is a God who can see everything about us.  He can see right into our lives, into our joys and hurts.  But he is not like an ANPR camera or CCTV.  God sees us because he cares deeply about us.  Unlike the song title "From a Distance" God actually wants to draw close to us and have a relationship with us which is deep and wholesome and healing.  He does this in and through Jesus and if you haven't met with him then I commend him to you.  Just ask him to meet with you.

Cor, Stone Me!

Yesterday was a most fulfilling day.  My wife Nicola and I travelled to Arran.  It was a good crossing from Ardrossan (both going and returning) and we enjoyed some wonderful sights on Arran, including the mountains and deer.  My compliments to ScotRail as well.  Our journey between Glasgow and Ardrossan was via a clean, efficient, on time train with a good number of powerpoints to plug mobile phones and laptops into and free WiFi which was easy and quick to access which meant one did not have to waste a lot of time typing in names, emails, phone numbers etc etc just to get near the internet.

On Arran we visited Sannox Christian Centre.  At present there is an old Congregational Church there but the vision for the retreat centre is BIG!  It will take great faith and commitment and considerable money.  Why not check out the vision online - http://www.sannox.org/

Holding or falling?

While at the site of this exciting Christian vision Nicola took the photograph of me that you see here.  Am I holding up the stone or is it holding me up?  Well, if you look from one angle it can look very much like I am indeed superhuman and able to hold up a gigantic stone that is falling over.  In reality of course having leaned forward if the stone was not there I would not have to lean much further before I would tumble and fall flat on my face!  I am certainly not superhuman.

I wonder how often we give the illusion of holding up the things around us?  We may feel we do that with people around us, or situations.  But perhaps sometimes actually it is an illusion and the reality is that we are almost ready to topple.  It may be the very thing we think we are holding up is the only thing stopping us from falling flat on our faces!

The amazing standing stone in the photograph could not be held up by my feeble efforts.  But I could lean my whole strength against it and know that it could hold me up.  This has got to be an image of Jesus.  You can lean on him as forcefully as you like.  He will never let you down.  He will never collapse under us.  He will always be reliable.  He will always stand and will always catch us when we fall.  I believe this fervently with all my heart.

Going Where?

My wife Nicola and I have arrived in Glasgow for a few days where I am trying to catch up on the Church's preparations for the Commonwealth Games. More Than Gold 2014 is the ecumenical co-ordinating body for much activity and I praise God for all they are doing.  The Church in Scotland has a tremendous opportunity to share good news in word and deed.  Those who pray please support them.  This might be God's opportunity for Scotland to move forward generally and the Church in Scotland specifically.  I am looking forward to two further visits to Scotland to engage with More Than Gold 2014 before the Commonwealth Games start.

While in Glasgow reflecting on the opportunity to move forward with God  I saw two roads (see photographs).  It made me wonder how many of us are poised to move forward in our lives.  Perhaps we have been travelling a road that is going nowhere.  Perhaps we have come across an obstacle.  Maybe we have chosen the wrong road.

Nicola and I shared lunch today with Revd Alan Anderson and his wife Sheila at a beautiful place called "The House for an Art Lover".  As we pottered outside afterwards and made our way back to the car park there was a narrow path which took us to the car park.  Alan pointed out there is a narrow way, just as Jesus said.  Jesus spoke about a narrow way that leads to eternal life and a wide road that leads to destruction.  Which one are we on?  Where are we going?

Revd Terry Wright in the Worship area of one of his churches

I am so grateful to Revd Terry Wright who has shown me some of the Commonwealth Games venues during my visit and who pointed out the road in the air (intended I believe to be the Inner Ring Road at one point).  It was good to hear what Terry and his churches will be up to for the Commonwealth Games.

As I observe what is happening in Glasgow  I am prompted to think back to 2012 when I was privileged to serve together with The Church in Weymouth and Portland as we sought to respond to the opportunities presented by being the venue for the Sailing events in the Olympics.  I am struck again at how many people can be moving in the wrong direction in life and how those of us who follow Christ have an absolute responsibility to make known Christ's way.

Border Crossing

I've been reflecting on boundaries and borders.  Who crosses them and who is entitled to?  I confess that, with my wife being disabled, one thing we both keep an eye on is those who feel quite able to park in disabled parking spaces even though they might not suffer a disability that would mean they could apply for a Blue Badge.  Supermarkets seem remarkably relaxed about ensuring such spaces are used properly whilst ensuring that someone can reap the profits of automatic number plate recognition technology by fining those who dare to return to the supermarket too quickly!  Oh of course that is money!  I have to be honest and say that time and time again, particularly in schools where there are disabled parking spaces, I see vans parked there (presumably because they are usually slightly bigger and nearer the entrance of the particular establishments.).  Vans are not the only culprits though and drivers of cars dropping off or just wanting to nip in for a moment can be found in fairly frequent supply.  I had just walked back home from a local school the other day, and en route passed the local chemist where there is space for two cars with disabled badges outside.   There I observed a car in the designated disabled space which showed no evidence of needing special parking facilities.  This one had a parking ticket on it though.  Was it wrong of me to smile?  But then there is a whole new topic on traffic wardens and whether the huge number that seem to be around is cost effective or just a way of Councils seeking to drive up income.  Another day perhaps.  Anyway it is clear that for some having designated, clearly marked spaces for disabled drivers or passengers is something that can easily be disregarded.  When should boundaries be observed and when do we have the right to ignore the boundaries?

Boundaries and Borders continued to be the theme of the week when members of my family were seriously inconvenienced and nearly had to rearrange a holiday because the UK Passport Office were, in my personal view, completely ineffective and inefficient.  I will cut a long story short but it involves Passports going missing and birth certificates being lost and an incredibly relaxed attitude to all of that, with the angst and worry of not getting passports in time exacerbated by the way that one cannot access the Passport Office direct.  The numbers given are effectively Call Centres and they leave a message for the Passport Office to ring back (which in this case they did not).  It was only when Oliver Letwin MP got involved that things moved very quickly and all was put right.  Passports have arrived!  Yippee!  Birth certificates of two children still lost.  At least my family will be able to cross the borders they need to for their holiday.  Thank you Oliver Letwin.

The Kingdom of God is interesting in that it has open borders.  All courtesy of the frontiersman Jesus who broke down barriers of sin and death that would keep us out of God's kingdom.  As we face European and local elections in the near future it is fascinating to find that so many political debates tend to focus on how to keep people out.  Praise God that he has opened the way and no border guard can say no when we have a spiritual passport in and through Jesus.  Which borders have you crossed recently?  Where have you tried to keep people out?  Where do we need to welcome people?

Very many thanks to New Community Church in Southampton based in the old Methodist Central Hall.  It was good to share in worship with them last Sunday.  The sermon started off based on Psalm 139:7-12 and Colossians 1:17 with the overall theme of "God is with us".  Main points of the sermon:
God is Everywhere;
God is more evident when God's people gather together;
God is with us in a special way in our worship;
God manifests his presence with us at particular times and through particular experiences;
God's presence is in us.

That is Good News!

Good news indeed and ably supported with various other Bible references.

Why not visit the New Community Church website - http://www.newcommunity.org.uk - or better still, why not visit them in person?

More locally it was good to slip into All Saints Church, Easton, on Sunday evening to share in the service of celebration commemorating 100 years since the foundation stone was laid.  This Civic Service was well supported.  I sometimes think that our society does not really understand the strong and stabilising influence the Church has brought to our society.  Yes we make mistakes in the Church, but the longevity and consistency brings something special in terms of social cohesion.  Why is that?  Because we are founded on a rock - not Portland Rock (although that is a pretty good foundation in this world!).  No, ultimately we are founded on Jesus himself.  And that is as well founded and grounded as you can get!!!!!

Are we there yet?

Another walk to Weymouth from Portland accomplished in the last few days.  For locals this time it was a mixture of the Rodwell Trail and the Coast Path.  In addition to this slightly different route the sun was shining, unlike my last venture when it rained for much of the walk.  It is remarkable how the same piece of ground, or land, or view can look and feel so very different depending on rain or sun.  A bit like life I suppose.  The surrounding conditions can make the object of our worry or enjoyment or fascination seem very different.  I can look at a good meal and identify it as a good meal and know it should taste like a good meal but if there is something scary going on in my life at that moment, or a particular worry that I have then somehow the good taste disappears.

After the walk to Weymouth it was rather nice to meet my beautiful wife Nicola and young handsome son Lisle at the swimming pool where a little more exercise took place.  A combination of the walk and the swimming meant I did not feel in the least bit guilty at having the Mr Whippy Ice Cream on Weymouth Sea Front.  After all ice cream is one of God's greatest creations, so every opportunity should be taken to savour one.  After the swimming pool the three of us had a picnic lunch at Sandsfoot Castle (which I had stopped by on the way into Weymouth as well). There is not much left of what was a fairly small castle to start with, but you get the bonus of a beautiful view of Portland from Sandsfoot Castle - see

Me in front of Sandsfoot Castle

accompanying photographs.

Nicola in front of Sandsfoot Castle

Yesterday was my first Sabbatical visit to a larger church.  My very grateful thanks to Citygate Church, Bournemouth for their hospitality (http://www.citygatechurch.net/).  It was good to share with hundreds of other Christians in worship and to hear a sermon on "God's People - The Community of the recycled"  This was based largely on Ephesians 2:1-10 looking at how we can experience the power of Christ.  Main points were that we can have "Joy filled humility, Confident Boldness, Awestruck Worship".  Citygate is a pretty new building with some marvellous resources which the church is seeking to use to best effect for the whole community.  A snack lunch in Upton Country Park made for a pleasant break on the journey home.

Yesterday saw good friends Conrad and Sonia arrive for a few days break.  We were at theological college together in Edgbaston.  Those days seem far away in one sense and like only yesterday in another.  Life does rush by.  I find myself dwelling on that more often nowadays.  So many things that seem worth trying or doing for God and his Kingdom, and so little time to do it all :-).

Don't waste your life.

While I am walking between Portland and Weymouth and while I am swimming up and down the swimming pool I am tempted to think of that phrase that many of us hear on journeys - "Are we there yet?".  Well eventually I reach my target with the walk and the swimming and I am there.  Hooray!!  It's not quite the same with life though, or faith.  Am I there yet?  No.  Methinks there is some way to go.  The Jesus who calls us to himself also sends us into the world to travel pathways he directs us onto.  Sometimes the weather is sunny and sometimes rainy.  There are things to do along the way -mission, ministry, work, leisure.  And on that journey there might be laughter or tears or rugged determination or a sense of helplessness and an inability to go on.  But the great thing about the journey is that we do not have to travel alone.  Jesus will walk with us.

Are we there yet?  Maybe not, but he will get us there in the end.  And even the journey itself could be quite interesting :-).

Mistaken Identity

What a snug fit

Following my last post I guess a number of people have been overcome with curiosity about my new Bass Guitar Case, so here is a photograph which demonstrates how the guitar is an ideal, very snug fit. Not much room for the guitar to rattle around inside that case!

The Stubble Look

I was swimming again today and as I methodically went up and down the pool I reflected on one or two things.  Since starting my Sabbatical I have not shaved.  It just seems nice to not have to do that.  As you can see from the other photograph here though it is not going terribly well.  I don't think my new stubbly beard looks very nice and methinks it will not last too many more days.  However I was reflecting whether people would recognise me if I let it grow into a proper beard.  Maybe some would still recognise me and maybe some would not.  That led on to me thinking of three occasions this year when there has been a case of mistaken identity.  The first involved me being mistaken for a Zumba Teacher which, for those who know me, seems a little incredible.  The second involved me being mistaken for the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Tim Thornton, who is a jolly good chap and a jolly good Bishop but who certainly does not look like me (which is very fortunate for him).  The third involved me being mistaken for a Fashion Designer in a Clothing Shop.

I won't go into detail about how this all happened, but it did make me think about our identities.  There is a very real danger that while I am on Sabbatical I will feel bereft and rejected because my role as an active Presbyter has disappeared, at least for a while.  Now I don't feel like that, and I don't think I will feel like it, but I can imagine that is a danger because so often we define ourselves by our roles or our jobs, or our responsibilities.  That is not really a definition of who I am though.  I am Christopher Philip Briggs, created in the image of the Triune God and an apprentice of Christ.  That is more to do with my identity than any role which is attributed to me.  That is not to say roles, responsibilities and jobs are not important.  But that does not make me the person I am.  I am a child of God, a precious child of God - and so are you for that matter.  The problem when we define ourselves by roles, responsibilities and jobs is that when those are taken away from us we almost do not know who we are and life can seem very barren.  Years ago I worked in the Superannuation Department of what was then the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.  It was a sad fact that too many people seemed to die not so very long after retiring.  The job was the reason for their existence (subconsciously rather than consciously) and it had been taken away.  They had mistaken their identity, just as many who are living today mistake their identity.  Just as I have been mistaken for various different people this year.  Indeed some people try to cover themselves up with various masks so they look like someone else (perhaps we all do that sometimes).

Back to the Bass Guitar and the case.  What a fit!  It's good when we find who we are and where we fit.  And as I ponder today I think I want to say that who I am is a person loved by God, created in his image, and where I fit is in his loving embrace.  Wow it is snug!

It's Early Days

Seven years on and the latest Sabbatical starts.  Methodist Ministers are entitled to a period of three months Sabbatical Leave after their first ten years of service and every seven years thereafter.  This leave is for reflection and further study. My third Sabbatical started on Monday 28th April and is round the theme "BIG"!  I will be looking at Big Churches, Big (Christian) Events, learning (Big) Bass and doing a Big Swim (well slightly improving on the number of times I swim each week).

I hope what will happen during this Sabbatical is that I will be drawn away from usual pathways and find I am encountering God through the Burning Bushes he calls me aside to.  There I pray I might find holy ground.

I have been swimming on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and today (oops that's every day - pat on back :-)) making almost 2 miles of swimming.  I also managed to walk from Portland to Weymouth before swimming on Tuesday.  So add 6 miles of walking into the mix.  I have started a book called Exponential (by Ferguson and Ferguson), which is about "How you and your friends can start a Missional Church Movement",  So far so good.  If I were to summarise the opening chapters it suggests we must breed like rabbits and organise like early Methodists".

I have also managed to book some flights for Glasgow where I will be exploring the Church's response to the opportunities afford by Commonwealth Games - Glasgow 2014.  The Commonwealth Games are a terrific opportunity for the Christian Church to connect with people and to share something of the love of God.  I feel deeply privileged to have been involved with organising "Refresh 2012", which was The Church in Weymouth and Portland's response to the opportunities the Olympics brought to our area with Sailing events being in this part of the world.  I think Christians and the Church in this country need to seize the moment when these big, once in a lifetime opportunities come along.  Sometimes in some places we do and sometimes in some places......

Meanwhile the life of Portland Methodist Circuit continues without me.  That is so good, for if a church collapses without the presence of one or two individuals it probably means that it is centred around the presence of those individuals rather than Christ.  Portland Methodist Circuit is a small circuit within the Methodist Connexion but with a big heart and with big dreams.  It is a privilege to be associated with the circuit in any way, shape or form.  Sadly because the circuit is small and because geographically it is away from the decision making centres of Methodism little attention is paid to the innovations or Godly risk taking discipleship that goes on there.  Sad really when Methodism faces such challenges.

Anyway back to the Sabbatical.  Where would I be without Amazon!  I ordered a guitar case for my Bass Guitar earlier in the week and despite being told that it would be with me in several days it actually arrived the next day having travelled all the way from Scotland.  And it is a perfect fit!

Already this feels like a different rhythm.  I guess in the end though what is important is not whether it is a different rhythm, but whether it is God's rhythm.  And the burning bushes?  One or two small fires already :-).