CREATION tells the story of the year before the release of “On the origin of species” by Charles Darwin, 1858. In the attached article one person reflects on the film. What do you think?
Due to a technical hitch of my own making (I forgot my password) I have been unable to contribute to the website for some months. As you will see below this has been remedied (Thanks, Dave) and I am up and running again. Please visit us regularly. If you would like to contribute to the site, [either a blog, or adverts for your group, or other reason] send Dave an email for details of how to get a password (or remember your old one!). We will see what we can do… no promises!
S
Have a look at the following link to see how our Bible compares with other traditions of Bibles. Not every Bible is the same. Several world strands of Christianity choose slightly different version of the “canon” of books in the Bible. Have a look and see. Link
Check out the Bible Society’s website at bsni.co.uk
The Albanian Blog SIX
The Flight is now under way and it is time for some personal reflections.
Worship this morning: We gathered in an L Shaped room, two blocks 30ft by 20 ft for a very simple act of worship.
Though billed for a ten o’clock start, the church was locked until 9.40 and the congregation was only finally all there when the first hour of the service was over. The ‘relaxed’ Albanian culture clearly affects church life in general, and it is a relaxed atmosphere that enriched our 100 minutes together. After various tuning and sound test exercises, the band of singing amplified guitarist and two miked singers sat down for Altin’s welcome. Altin is one of the two who pastor the little church, Zeph being the other. Zeph was preaching away today.
After the welcome we had a reading from the Bible, though I know not from where. We did have an interpreter but despite his good English he forgot himself frequently and in the holy atmosphere managed to go quiet more often than was strictly helpful! He was Eddie. A time of prayer followed with contributions from the floor of needs and prayers. The worship team took centre stage and led about five songs, two or three of which were similar tunes to English contemporary worship songs. One or two were catchy and very singable and we all joined in. A few were rather more complex and without a recurring chorus were a bit remote. Paul spoke of worshipping with the mind and worshipping without using the mind. This was the latter today.
The team were then introduced and gave our wee spiels. They applauded our comments and greetings.
We then sang a song, “Amazing Grace”, to loud approbation (they were glad we stopped singing). The kind guys allowed me to sing the first verse unhassled by their glorious harmonies, but the congregation didn’t seem to mind too much. This was followed by a fine sermon in two voices from Lindsay Allen with his Altin Hysi interpreter.
Psalm 1 seemed like an unpromising base for a sermon, and I was a bit mystified with the choice; ironic then that Lindsay’s theme was about choice and consequences.
He used 2 Cor 5.16, Psalm 119.11 and another passage to spread the message’s source. Many Christians choose to listen to ungodly advice, take ungodly viewpoints and settle for ungodly convictions until the point comes that they are no different from the world around them. The suggestion was that a distinctive choice early on would lead to a happy outcome.
He used an illustration of the aroma of the flowers in Armagh’s apple spring season being the cause of fruit in the autumn season: we need to be scented with God’s fragrance as a church if we are to be a church which brings forth fruit.
A further illustration which drew great hilarity from the congregation was about a married woman who recognised a growing affection for a fellow passenger on the train, and who asked her husband what she should do: take an earlier train. Don’t be afraid to get off that train. Obedience leads to godly fruit.
When Lindsay said Amen someone said That’s it. And off we went. Most strange ending to a service ever.
Sunday Morning, Tirana.
Bags packed, Breakfast eaten, Ready for worship.
Today we are going to Emmanuel Church a few hundred yards from “Stefan Center” the accommodation where we have been royally looked after. The preacher this morning is Lindsay Allen from Carrickfergus. Lindsay is heading to Macedonia this evening while the rest of us head home. It will bring to a premature end a very happy and congenial team for all of us.
There have been moments when we have each had the opportunity to address a dignitary, a translator, a host or a guest; these have been moments when well chosen words have conveyed just a little of the joy of meeting people that we have found. John Doherty, our leader, has played a quietly remarkable role in keeping us all on track and there have been few moments, man hole cover besides, when we have faced any uncertainty or bewilderment as we have encountered new people and new situations.
The worship this morning will include, we believe, a short act of musical worship from ourselves (it will give us a chance to sing something we know in a language we know) and Amazing Grace seems the likely but by no means definite or final choice.
Today my reading took me to Hebrews 11 where the writer speaks of faith as belief in things unseen. That is very much my feeling as we face going up into the air in a hairy plane. We trust in God, in physics, and in petroleum to bring us safely up and down to home where I hope to reach Aldergrove at 9.20 tonight.
God bless all who have joined me in this adventure by your prayers and your interest. Thanks for being with me.
Stephen
The Albania Blog FOUR
You know those trees that grow around the Mediterranean, the one with thin leaves, almost devoid of substance but which can survive arid months of summer heat? They fall to the ground like strips of shredded paper and fill the kerbs and corners, many ending up floating on the edge of the sea.
Today we met some of those leaves they were lying on the shore of the Adriatic Sea on the Albanian Coast; they were piled high between the lapping sea and the sandy shore. As we walked the shore we were faced with the truth that we had a warm sea, an idyllic blue horizon stretching off in sunlit immensity, and a barrier between us and them of these leaves, this natural litter.
All it would take is a man with a rake and a wheel barrow, or better still a small tractor, to lift a few barrow-loads of debris each morning and in a few days the beach and the sea would meet.
It made me think [CAUTION SERMON POINT APPROACHING] of the barriers which build up so quickly between our daily experience and the vastness of God’s mercy. The habits which mess up the time of entering into an encounter with God; the point of view or outlook which faces away from God rather than towards God and make entry to the ocean of his awaiting grace impracticable; the sins which obscure the route to washing and cleansing which those same sins so desperately need.
Life is imperfect, and in every experience there are down sides or faults which impair the perfect work of God. But surely we can see some of the things which make the enjoyment of God for ever (as my good Presbyterian friends confess) more difficult, and take steps by God’s grace to sweep them away.
In some countries where there is no snow, the Bible Translation that uses such a metaphor would not work: instead they read:
“Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as coconut.”
As my first Albanian experience draws to a close with tomorrow’s flight home, the Lord being willing, may we all find ways to eradicate the interruptions that prevent us enjoying the fullness of God’s love.
The Albanian Blog: Three
I’m not sure what the PC word for manhole cover is, but on a street not far from here, I need not worry. For there isn’t one. Now over recent days we have been impressed with many features of this new from old country, and have seen signs of growth and development at a rapid scale. But walking a few inches from a 2 foot wide hole in the road was not such a sign. It was terrifying. Like a parable warning of the danger of imminent doom it sat quietly gaping wide in a semi lit street a few yards from the main thoroughfare.
Taking a photograph of a hole is rather dull, but mercifully none of us fell into it.
We were going for a walk “round the block” which turned into a two mile hike through back streets until eventually we asked directions and found our way home. “Tired pair of dogs you have there, a bit tired myself” as they used to say as we all headed for sleep at 10 pm!
Today we had the privilege of meeting the Archbishop of Albania at his cathedral in Tirana. He is a delightful man who sees scripture as a key element of the faith we share with other believers in Albania. He engaged with us for nearly an hour and a half in the midst of a busy schedule.
Team talks, those endless discussions which church leaders have when they get a chance to explore their shared and diverging views, spread far and wide today. They started at breakfast and ended at 9.00 pm with the successful walk around the man hole. We agree, I think, on most things, but chiefly today that it was a good thing we didn’t fall into the hole.
Thursday 1st November All Saints Day
Tirana is a city like you see on Eastern Bloc movies, lots of people, chaotic roads, hundreds of police, “dingey” shops interspersed with very high class outlets, loads of folk standing about watching the traffic, and a general air of decay mixed with energetic and frenetic building.
The individuals we have met and spoken to have all been gracious, kind and friendly. Their relaxed approach to life gives way to a deep and earnest approach to the things of God, and their self-mocking view of their nation is matched with a fierce determination that it will do better. It feels similar to the way we Irish love to mock ourselves, but well dare anyone else!
Last night we met a guy who works for the central bank. We’ll call him “Tony” because his name is Tony. (Sorry! That’s that Eastern bloc thingy again!) He is one of those genuine, godly, capable and energetic guys whom God will use to transform this country in the next few years. He has a passion for godliness in government, quality in church life, application to work and warmth in relationships. His outlook was quite inspiring, and I’ll tell you some of what he said in another context.
The morning began with a meeting with Zeph, one of the three guys who translated a new version of the New Testament into Albanian which was published last Monday. Zeph is a multi linguist, a pastor with Altin at the local church we will attend on Sunday next, and is currently doing a Ministry Degree. The principles of translation he outlined for this New Testament were clarity, dignity and beauty. Maintaining clarity involved using words which people could understand. Developing dignity required a careful attention to the sacred source of scripture that nothing of its content would dishonour God. Creating a thing of beauty, in terms of syntax, cadence and style, was appropriate for that which contains the word of life.
Later in the morning we visited an Orthodox Theological College, and the delightful Bishop Nicole, as well as meeting the second of the three translators, a guy called Johan. A very high quality academy was situated a half mile down a muddy track which led directly from the motorway/A1 we have come to know and love. (32 petrol stations in 23 minutes etc) About twenty staff taught about forty students in basic languages, theology and other courses, using the medium of English for reading, Greek for worship and Albanian for teaching. The Church was very special: simple yet fulfilling all that is expected of a church in the Orthodox tradition. Pictures some other time
Lunch was followed by a marvellous rendition of music by the student body, strengthened by about 40 young people from the local high school. A rather lame joke (don’t ask me, ask John D: at least he tried) was followed by an impromptu performance of Crimond and the Lord’s My Shepherd by the five Ulstermen. It was good to be part of that community for those hours.
Another meting awaits us tonight after a short break which I have savagely interrupted by writing a blog, whatever that is.
See you.
The Daily Albanian Blog:
Wednesday October 31st
Greetings from downtown Tirana; it’s a warm evening in this busy dusty city a few dozen miles inland from the Adriatic Sea.
Some interesting statistics:
on a 23 minute journey along the A1 (or its Albanian equivalent) we passed 32 petrol stations, 29 of which were open.
the roads here are drive-on-the-right in style, except in downtown Tirana where it is more like drive-wherever-you-feel-is-right.
electricity here operates mots of the time but never all of the time and a trip into a restaurant involves finding one with a generator!
people are very friendly and helpful and don’t take themselves too seriously, including our very kind host Altin Hysi
In order to help us get a grasp of the country and the culture, Altin took us today via Autoroute and cobbled 40 degree mountain track to a castle on a hill in Berati.
The castle contained some forty churches and chapels, many of which were still beautifully decorated with centuries old icons and wall paintings. The most beautiful, the cathedral, is only slightly younger than our own and displays the icons (paintings on wood with meaning depicting biblical scenes and saintly characters) of its history. Most iconocasts (the screen between the body of the church and the sanctuary) traditionally and by rule of the Orthodox Church, contain four icons at least: one of Christ Pancreator, (Jesus who made the world) one of Mary with the infant Jesus, one of John the Baptist, and one of the particular saint commemorated by the particular church. This particular cathedral had almost 160 icons.
The electric has just gone off in the “Stephen Centre” where we are staying tonight… and on again.. since thankfully they have a generator here.
The food in Albania is fine: the place we are staying is owned by Americans so it will be something with chips tonight, having had a tradiotnal Albanian lunch at 3.30 pm.
As we discover more about Bible Society in Albania, it appears that the country’s problems are reflected in the Society itself: essentially it is an economy which relies on money coming into the state (from children working abroad, international aid, churches and companies investing in members here). The Society cannot sell New Testaments at their actual cost, because there is no way ordinary Albanians could afford it. Nor dare they give them away, since paper is so scarce that the pages of the Bible could be misused for e.g. wrapping food in at the markets. Hence a subsidised market is the only way to create sustained sales. The New Testament is just that: launched on Monday 29th October it is the fruit of the labours of translators from Orthodox Catholic and international translators working to produce a text which is readily understandable and usable by people here. It sells for about $5 equivalent.
Production is in China, and delivery takes weeks, and the next batch (after an initial 50 or so) will not arrive until December. So Altin and his team have a few months to develop a sales programme which will help encourage clergy from the various traditions to use the new version, in turn to encourage their congregations to purchase them and use them, and so in turn to help the church grow.
They have done a tremendous work here, and it is exciting to see them at the start of the process of spreading the word, literally. We need to find ways of helping them do this as they cannot do it on their own, but have the heart to do so with some help.
Funding the sales of Testaments, Supporting the cost of a translation of the Old Testament, helping to provide copies for key individuals, developing the usability of the Bible using e.g. computerised versions: these and other methods will probably have to be considered and adopted by the local Bible Society and the United Bible Society which supports them internationally.
It is interesting to be part of this and I’ll let you know more when I get a chance.