“O Sovereign Lord, you alone know” - March 2010

As a community of people at 2 Cluny Road 15 months ago we were scattered to new places of work. We watched as the living building we had been working in was reduced to a bare hulk, just the dry bones remaining. We have seen the tendons and flesh of ducts, piping, cabling put into place. Beauty has returned - the skin of plaster, paint & decoration drawn over the flayed building. Finally, on 12th of March the big move back into the building took place! There has been a great deal of excitement, relief and happiness to finally settle back in the new office. But is it enough to renew a building?

In a startling vision, Ezekiel stands in a valley of very dry scattered bones. In an unusual command, God tells Ezekiel to speak to the skeletons of the dead and he obeys. The combination of God’s word spoken by a person & God’s power is astonishing. There is a terrifying rattling sound as the bones of bodies find each other. Scattering is reversed. Tendons & muscle appear & attach to bones. Structure is put in place. Skin covers the body again. Beauty is restored. Physically, everything is in place that needs to be - renovation & structure & beauty. But nothing is happening. Dead bodies still litter the floor. Ezekiel must obediently speak again before the wind of the Spirit brings new life.

There is much talk & work on re-structure & change in OMF. We want to meet the challenges of an urbanising China, of a radicalised Islam, of a resistant Buddhism among others. We want to engage with a new generation, a wired world, a media marketplace. We want to grow, draw people together for a common purpose, to structure well. We want to do this in ways that are beautiful, honouring to God. But what will the end result of re-structuring & change be? A bunch of beautiful bodies lying dead on a valley floor? Or a community of people full of God’s new life?

The Orientation Course went smoothly and most of the 45 new workers have scattered across East Asia. Last week we reviewed all that needs to be done over the next eight months, so that we can hand over a smoothly running department to our deputies before going on Home Assignment in late November. It was very sobering – we have a great deal to set up or see through to completion.

Josh & his friend Reggie did a great job directing and producing their school drama production ‘The Flying Circus’. There were rave reviews, including a thank you note from the headmaster who attended both nights. Aimée worked in set design and in the backstage crew, eliciting cheers and applause every time she appeared to change the set – obviously she has made her mark too! However, Josh spent his half-term break in enforced rest with a chest infection – bitterly disappointed as he had been invited to Indonesia with friends. He is thinking hard about how to pace himself better this term. We'll see how that goes!

Amor e Morte? - February 2010

Years ago, wandering round woodlands in central Portugal, we came across an old building, rotting away, half-hidden under the trees. A passing graffiti artist had drawn a dramatic picture in a Gothic style of a gaunt, haunted-looking Jesus and underneath had scribbled, “Amor e Morte” – Love and Death. For some that seems to sum up the message of Christianity. There may be love but there is much about death – to the world, in self-denial and as punishment. But is death really the focus?

The words of God given to Ezekiel are challenging and refreshing. God says that he looked at the fragile kicking baby of the nascent nation of Israel and says, “I saw you…as you lay there…I said to you, “Live!”” At the core of this book all about the severe and cleansing judgment of God there is a clear message that God’s desire is to bring life to people. As people whose perception is clouded by sin, we are tempted to see judgment as God’s delight. In fact nothing could be further from the truth. God says, “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone…repent and live!” To know God is to know the source of all that is most worthwhile and pleasurable about life. We are made in His image to think rationally, choose morally, create beauty and to love God and one another.

This declaration that God’s desire for us is life has been especially poignant this past week of Chinese New Year. Singapore opened the doors of its first “integrated resort” – a euphemism for what is the most expensive casino in the world, built in the face of opposition from the people of Singapore. Seventy-five thousand people poured in on opening day, despite the minimum $100.00 charge for Singaporeans just to get through the door. Now it is possible to gamble here 24 hours a day. Adverts calling for responsible gaming and a soap opera series where actors suffer from gambling addictions seem feeble. The risks being run include rises in problem gambling, loan sharking, money laundering and organized crime. In the face of all that life has to offer, this is courting a kind of death.

In contrast, OMF colleagues in Taiwan, David and Ruth Ullstrom have been watching their 17 year old son rapidly deteriorate. Ian died this morning of a rare cancer. David wrote, “Our beloved Ian stopped breathing at about 1am Sunday morning. The whole family was together with him. Thank God for the hope of one day laughing again with him…” In the face of death, trust is affirmed in the God of life who can make dry bones live.

The Christian name for God - January 2010

What’s in a name? Does it matter what word is used to name someone? It seems that it sometimes matters a great deal. As we mentioned in our latest Newsletter, in this part of the world there has been controversy about the name of God recently. The debate has spilled over from courtroom into violence and destruction. Most animists regard any creator spirit as unknown and unknowable. For Buddhists, a creator God who is personally known is incompatible with the Buddha’s teachings. From ancient times right up to today, across the region in which we live, the Koran is daily read and studied by many – but “Father” is not one of the 99 names of God recorded there. In Old Testament times, the Jews did not dare to speak of God in intimate terms.

A friend reminded us recently that Jesus taught us to pray to our creator God as “Abba”. In most Semitic languages “Abba” is the word used for father, or rather “Papa” or “Daddy”. Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth to adopt us into the Father’s family, to make a way for us to join the household of God. J.I. Packer comments: “What is a Christian? That question can be answered in many ways but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father. Everything….that is distinctively Christian is summed up in the knowledge of the Fatherhood of God. ‘Father’ is the Christian name for God.”

Anna had a repeat MRI last week to check for tumour recurrence in her spine. We are grateful that the results showed no evidence of any tumour. The surgeon told Anna that he will have her rescanned in a year’s time (instead of six months) so we are glad and give thanks to our loving Father.

There has been a lot of nervous anticipation as the date for release of IGSCE results draws closer. In our home both parents and child have been having vivid dreams about various outcomes, both excellent and catastrophic. Today was the day! Josh burst through the door, overjoyed! He got six A* and two A’s, coming sixth in his year of 130. We are delighted and give thanks to the Lord!