Asia Stories July 2008

  Burmese bishops visit CMS

Anglican bishops from Burma, in Britain for the Lambeth Conference, made a brief morning visit to CMS in Oxford  23 July 08 Read More 

  Plumbing for living water

Coping in a Middle Eastern country without enough access to mains or 'living' water — just two challenges facing these friends of CMS who must remain anonymous.

17 July 08 Read More

  The certainty trap
The upsurge in fundamentalism has its roots in a crisis of confidence in two world faiths, argues Bill Musk.

15th July 08 Read More 

  Tales of ordinary madness
Every culture throws up its own anomalies, psychoses and asocial behaviour. University chaplain Pam highlights a few recent Japanese newspaper items that have stopped her in her tracks     11th July 08  Read More 

  The walking wounded
Courage is far more common than is usually supposed. A CMS contact in Pakistan, who needs to remain anonymous, pays tribute to Christians enduring harassment but showing grace under fire.   3rd July 08  Read More 

This Grace Gerard Kelly

This Grace

This grace we have been given is enough.

When the mountains set before us

Won't move by faith

Until by faith we start to climb.

It is enough.

When our cry for Heaven's miracles

Rings  hollow, like a doorbell Howling through an empty house.

It is enough.

When from the wheelchairs of our weakness

We say yes

To pressing on,

It is enough.

When we have reached the end of our energies,

And face the end of ourselves,

But can't yet see the end of our task,

It is enough

Enough

To know that you have loved us.

Enough.

That we are called before all time.

Enough.

That every fingerprint is valued.

Enough.

That you remember every name.

So we will embrace this grace.

And turn our hearts to face grace.

Loosening the locks

On our personal space,

We'll make each home a place of grace.

We'll drink from your wells

'til we're wasted on grace;

We'll speak out your words

'til our tongues taste of grace.

And we'll live to love your laws

Until our lives are laced with grace.

Down dark and dingy alleys

We will chase grace.

We will hold as something precious every trace of grace.

We will celebrate and consecrate this grace, because this grace we have been given, is enough.

Posted by Bless on December 05, 2005 |

Asia Stories from the web June 08

  Sichuan earthquake: 'Comfort my people'

One month on from the earthquake, David Wang, president emeritus of Asian Outreach, has been to the disaster zone to see for himself how Christian groups have been responding.  17th June 08 Read More

  Dreaming of a new Nepal 

In the world’s newest republic, there's both optimism and confusion in Nepal as post-election debates rage 5th June 08   Read More 

Asia Stories from the web May 08

  China earthquake update Sat 24 May

Speedy and targeted action by Chinese Christians is making a difference community by community, says Francis Tsui, president of CMS partner Asian Outreach, whose ActionLove teams are working in the earthquake zone 24th May 2008 Read More

  China earthquake: love in action

With 80,000 people now dead or missing in Sichuan, Chinese Christians have been among the first in the relief effort, working with traumatised families and helping to bury the dead   24th May 08   Read More

  In the shadows of Nineveh

Convinced they are hated, northern Iraq’s Christians are gripped by fear and facing a stark choice: flee or protect themselves.  3rd May 08 Read More 

Asia Stories March & April 2008

Stories about Asia on the CMS website 

  Let Chinese Christians fan the flame
As London prepares to welcome – or protest – the arrival of the Olympic Torch, many international missions are gearing up for outreach at the Beijing Olympics. But David Wang of Asian Outreach would prefer foreign ‘gospel-tract bombers’ to stay away  4th April 2008  Read more 

  Halima makes her traffickers pay

In a month when it was reported that more than 40,000 children were trafficked in Benin in 2006 alone, a woman in Bangladesh forced into prostitution wins a ‘miraculous’ court victory over her exploiters.  14th March 08 Read more 

 Five alive

An historic drive by CMS to support more indigenous international workers is bearing its first fruits in one of the most remote regions of the world  26th March 08 Read More 

  'Taking up the cross' in the context of Islam

The Crusades: Francis of Assisi and Martin Luther. What does it mean to take up the Cross in the context of Islam?  3rd March 08  Read More 

'Love bade me welcome' George Herbert

I remember being introduced to this poem, when I was at Keele University in the late 70s, by Roger Pooley, who was an English lecturer. It has stuck with me since. I used it the first time I presided at a parish communion service,  post-ordination.  It is not just about the Eucharist, Holy Communion, Lord's supper - call it what you will -  but it speaks to me of that profound sense of invitation and welcome that is found at the table. In spite of everything we are. . . . .   It is the Innkeeper offering a meal to a weary traveller, The generous host welcoming an unworthy guest. The Father welcoming back his prodigal son.

LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning	5
If I lack'd anything.
'A guest,' I answer'd, 'worthy to be here:'
Love said, 'You shall be he.'
'I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on Thee.'	10
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
'Who made the eyes but I?'
'Truth, Lord; but I have marr'd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.'
'And know you not,' says Love, 'Who bore the blame?'	15
'My dear, then I will serve.'
'You must sit down,' says Love, 'and taste my meat.'
So I did sit and eat.

George Herbert. 1593–1632

for more on Geroge Herbert see his works and his life

 

'Let nothing disturb thee' Teresa of Avila's prayer

Let nothing disturb thee,

St. Teresa of Avila 

Let nothing disturb thee,
Nothing affright thee;
All things are passing;
God never changeth;
Patient endurance
Attaineth to all things;
Who God possesseth
In nothing is wanting;
Alone God sufficeth

for more about the icon and Teresa of Avila quotes