John Milton is one of those people I've occasionally thought I should know more about - as I understand it he was a poet, theologian, political theorist, civil servant who inspired and irritated people in equal measure. Within the Reformed tradition earlier generations revered him enough to name churches or other buildings after him - the Congregational bit of St. Andrew's is one such and the road beside the church is still Milton Street (although I can't work out from the maps whether Milton Street was named before or after the church - I suspect they were named at the same time as they were developed together.) 

Last Wednesday was his 400th birthday and so those that understand him have been reflecting on his writings and influence. Andreas Whittam Smith: Life, liberty and the lesson of Milton contrasts Milton's views on censorship with the latest government rumblings about controlling the media and Celebrating Milton's birthday: on Milton and polit... will point you to Paridise Lost and reflect on his Politics.

Milton confuses me but the more bits I read about him the further he climbs 'the must look at' list.

Well I didn't manage a post every day - didn't really think I would and once real life kicked in I haven't really been inspired to find or write anything. The hope this week was to build on the John the Baptist texts and think about preparation - not one of my strong points unless a deadline is upon me - yet I seem to have spent this week preparing stuff. Monday was a quick visit to Coventry to pick some colours for the house and measure the rooms - which has then led into some head scratching wondering how we can fit our furniture into a smaller house. I was then back for two Elders meetings that evening, whose agenda's were making plans for me not being around. Two funerals brings more preparation and another one for next week. And tomorrow is our Christingle - always good fun - but that only comes from preparation and I think I know what I'm doing, with a bit of room for an ad lib.

However, nothing to do for Sunday as Lessons & Carols look after themselves and are looked after by the Choir - just a shame about two carol services I need to go to in the evening - no joy. This is where we give in to an overriding desire to ignore the difficult themes of Advent and race on to the nice cute themes of Christmas (whilst of course ignoring the difficult themes of Christmas - perhaps we will look at some of them here)

So time for some more preparation ...

Mark 1:1-8

Isaiah 40:1-11

2 Peter 3:8-15a

The last few Sunday's I have found myself preaching on Investments. The theme seems to be dominating our world news and it seems to be the message I am finding to share at the moment.

The Parable of the Talent as a story about investing what God has given us and seeing the return

The day of Judgement as the Kingdom of Heaven investing in hungry, thirsty, naked, strangers & prisoners.Calling us to invest in people who don’t look like good investments.

The first day of Advent as a reminder of endings and beginnings as a natural part of the rhythm of life. God is involved, so we should not be afraid we are invited to invest in God’s future

And so to this morning. Isaiah 40 a call to encourage and comfort the people and care for the flock. It is people that God has invested in, it is a people that God is going to rescue - God’s focus, God’s investment

Mark 1 - John the Baptist pictures God investment in infrastructure - making a way straight. God’s investment takes time & resources & planning. 2 Peter reminds us of a patient God

The Big Investment is the “good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” - God invests everything in us - hope and love and pride and wealth, invested in a people who are called to turn around and follow, invested in a people who have done nothing to deserve such trust, 

Big Question - God has invested so much in each of us - what are we prepared to invest in God?