Unforgettable Days

Written on Christmas Eve 2022 after reading Psalm 118 (especially verse 24 – see below)

It’s the day of incarnation

Wondrous day the LORD has made

When the SON is born of Mary

In a manger gently laid

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It’s the day of crucifixion

Dreadful day the LORD has made

When the SON, despised, rejected

Ransom’s costly price He paid

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It’s the day of resurrection

Glorious day the LORD has made

When the SON threw off His grave clothes

Moved the stone – no longer dead

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Soon the day of revelation

Awesome day the LORD has made

When the SON in all His glory

To the world will be displayed

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My Christmas Creed

What a glorious time of the year – as we reflect on the event that changed world history – the birth of Jesus. An appropriate season for believers to re-affirm their faith – and for those not yet convinced to think about ‘seriously looking into it’.

Here’s a ‘personal creed’ to consider, and perhaps even adopt, this Christmas-time:

I believe in Jesus Christ, and in the wonder of the Gospel which broke into the world at Bethlehem.

I believe in the One who dignified an obscure town in Judea, and who brings transformation to people the world over.

I believe in the One who found no room in the crowded inn – sadly reflecting that often my heart excludes Him from my life.

I believe in the One whose cradle was a cattle trough, whose life was lived among ordinary people, and who was largely ignored by earth’s rulers and celebrities.

I believe in the One who proclaimed the invincible love of God, who looked at people with eyes of compassion, and who lifted human weakness up to meet the strength of God.

I believe in my need – of God’s mercy & grace; of forgiveness for my selfishness and greed; of new life in my empty soul; of His burning love whenever my heart grows cold.

I believe in a God who gave the very best – His only Son – for me, for you and for the whole world…

Have a wonder-filled Christmas !

Reconciled

There are significant moments of inspiration which need capturing, recording, committing to memory, sharing with others, never to be forgotten. These occur only rarely in my own experience, and I have often failed to do those afore-mentioned things, meaning the spark of the moment is lost, floating somewhere in irretrievable memory-land. BUT … today was an exception, and I happily set down this brief burst of personal illumination so that it may be shared as widely as possible.

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The Lamb is slain, His blood is shed

I lay my hand on thorn-crowned head

My stain erased, my shame removed

The Father’s loving-kindness proved

The Spirit draws once-wandering heart

My slate is clean, a brand new start

Estranged no more, beloved child

By grace completely reconciled

© Alec Depledge (2021)

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If by any chance this blesses you, speaks to you, encourages you in any way, then it will be worth the small effort expended – indeed, I’ll be more surprised than anyone. Furthermore, you are very welcome to share it in whatever forum you feel it may fit.

If you would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the themes enunciated in these lines, then I will be more than happy to engage in conversation

If any are ‘moved’ to seek this reconciliation, I would be thrilled to have the opportunity of leading you in a prayer of reconciliation – knowing that is God’s heart for you

You are very welcome to contact me through the feedback facility

God bless you my friend

Debacle

A word used frequently by analysts and reporters to describe the discomforting events in Afghanistan following stunning successes of the much-despised Taliban – DEBACLE. For example: “But what is clear is that a predictable debacle is now unfolding under Biden’s watch in Afghanistan.” said Peter Bergen, CNN, 12 Aug. 2021

Even more recently employed by Mark Spencer, of the “i” newspaper, in reference to a botched attempt to rip up anti-sleaze legislation in the House of Commons he describes it as ‘the Owen Paterson debacle’.

According to Google’s English dictionary the word signifies ‘a sudden and ignominious failure’. Merriam-Webster defines ‘debacle’ as: ‘a great disaster’ or ‘a complete failure’, and further explains its etymology: “Debacle derives from the French noun débâcle, and from the verb débâcler, meaning “to clear,” “to unbolt,” or “to unbar.” The verb is from Middle French desbacler, a joining of the prefix des- (equivalent to our de-, meaning “to do the opposite of”) with the verb “bacler” (“to block”). In its original uses, “debacle” meant a breaking up of ice, or the rush of ice or water that follows such an occurrence. Eventually, “debacle” was used also to mean “a violent, destructive flood.” Naturally, such uses led to meanings such as ‘a breaking up’, ‘collapse’, and finally ‘disaster’ or ‘fiasco’.

Undoubtedly, my well-experienced readers will be all too familiar with personal and corporate ‘debacles’ of which they’ve been a part, and we could spend many an hour debating the accumulative ‘debacles’ of the political, religious and business fraternity (just for starters)

The older I get the more I am confronted by childhood memories – and here are four of my finest debacles:

• Lying to my best friend’s mum about his whereabouts as she called him in for bed-time – not a smart move, especially when she told my parents and I was appropriately disciplined.
• Cheating at school during a chemistry exam – quickly discovered by my teacher when the ‘mate’ I’d colluded with & I were the only ones to get the same incorrect answer – more un-smartness.
• Bunking off school to avoid a physics test, then attempting to ‘thumb a lift’, but managing to get picked up by the police as a suspected escapee from a local prison (I obviously looked the part in my well-worn donkey jacket)
• Engaging my dad in a fist-fight after arguing with my younger brother – with some fairly serious consequences (especially guilt and shame & relational breakdown).

In the course of more than 35 years of full-time pastoral ministry – in Immingham (15 years) and Brigg (20+ years) I contrived to preside over numerous ‘debacles’, which I look back on in horror, mainly because of the detrimental effects on others:

• Deciding to introduce ‘membership’ into the Immingham Church, which I pursued with the tact of an elephant, and the legalism of a Pharisee.
• Appointing people (at least twice) into the office of senior leadership, who were utterly unfit for such a vital role
• Insisting on implementing a ‘vision’ of cell-style church in the Brigg Church, with which neither of my associate leaders agreed – resulting in a serious schism.
• Stepping aside from full-time ministry after a series of pressure points which wore me completely down (and which I wrote of in an extremely raw piece: https://wordpress.com/post/stryka66.wordpress.com/4557

The Epic Fail (Debacle) of all time is narrated in the first book of the Old Testament – Genesis. It involved the first couple – Adam and Eve – in an act of direct disobedience to Creator God, the consequences of which we are all living with daily in our own lives, and seeing all around the world.

Known by theologians as the Fall it defines a moment in time when human beings declared and asserted their independence of their Maker, bringing death upon mankind (and the multitude causes of death).

One serious outcome is our persistence in denying this Catastrophe (in the same way that misguided souls deny the Holocaust), and so failing to understand that, left to our own devices, we are incapable of repairing the damage resulting from the Fall. Yes, despite best efforts of philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, scientists, politicians, and religionists (especially) we find ourselves constantly on a downward trajectory.

So, is there any hope ?

I believe there is … despite our brokenness & rebellion God, who created us, and loves mankind as the pinnacle of His creation, provided the only answer to our epic fail. He sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world.

An early Christian writer, St Paul, put it this way: “… sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned … because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man …” BUT Paul continues: “… much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many … much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ …”

There is a way for mankind to rise from the ashes of defeat, from the debacle of failure, for although ‘the wages of sin is death’ we also discover that ‘the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord’.

These ‘quotes’ are taken from St Paul’s letter to the Romans – described by E W Bullinger as ‘the ABC of the Gospel’ – and which I heartily recommend to you. Here’s a link to take you directly to this much-treasured document, where you will discover more of the amazing grace of God & His gospel (good news) which is ‘the power of God, bringing salvation to those who believe’ …

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201&version=NIV

Happy reading !!!

Being Up-titrated !

You know how I love new words, well …

… back in July, after a Facebook post about my medication increase, a good and learned friend commented: “Great, you’re getting all the added benefits of up-titration (as we call it in the trade)“. I have to admit this was ‘foreign language’ to me. So, eagerly looking it up I found a very clear and helpful definition courtesy of The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, US. Here I quote: “Titration is a way to limit potential side effects by taking time to see how your body will react to a drug. In titration, the medication is started at a low dose. Every couple of weeks (or so) the dose is raised (‘up-titrated’) until the maximum effective dose (‘target dose) has been achieved …”

In my research I also came across these guidelines, entitled:

The NHS Protocol for Titration of Beta Blockers for Heart Failure:

How to use:
• Ensure patient has stable mild to moderate HF
• Start with low dose & double dose at not less than 2 weekly intervals
• Aim for target dose or highest tolerated dose (some beta blocker is better than none)
• Monitor heart rate, blood pressure, & clinical status (especially signs of breathlessness, swelling, body weight increase)
• Blood test to check kidney function 1-2 weeks after initiation

Advice to patients:
• Explain the benefits – given as much to prevent worsening HF as to improve symptoms &
increase survival
• Temporary side effects may occur during initiation/up titration phase
• Advise patient to report any increasing breathlessness, fatigue, swelling or weight gain, but stress that it can usually be managed by adjustment of other medication; patients should be advised not to stop beta-blockers without first consulting the clinician
• Consult clinician in the event of persistent weight gain occurring

What became immediately obvious and heartening to me is that my brilliant personal cardiac nurse, Michelle, carefully employed ‘best practise’ in my treatment, following protocols described above to the letter. This I’ve appreciated enormously, considering the potential side-effects of the particular medication in question, listed in the package leaflet:

Common side effects can include headaches, dizziness, feeling light-headed, weakness, fatigue, cold hands & feet, sickness, diarrhoea or constipation

Serious side effects could include shortness of breath (especially when exercising), swollen ankles/legs, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, wheezing, tightening of chest (which can be signs of lung problems) yellow skin or whites of eyes turning yellow (signs of possible liver problems), sleep disturbances, depression, muscle cramps.

Thankfully, I can report that side effects have been minimal – some light-headedness (days within each dose increase, but short-lived) fatigue and some sleep disturbance – but none of those other ‘nasties’ mentioned above occurred in the 5-month long process between mid-March and August when the ‘target dosage’ of 10mg daily was successfully attained. The outcome in my case it seems is that ‘up-titration’ has facilitated maximal tolerability (10mg) to the Bisoprolol Fumarate.

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REFLECTING on this experience it occurs that over many, many years I’ve been the beneficiary of what may be termed “spiritual up-titration”. I’m finding a “stretched similarity” with the phenomenon formally known among theologians as “sanctification” – that long, slow (and in my case, painful) process beginning at ‘conversion’ in February 1967 and continuing to this day, with the intention of transforming me into someone more resembling Jesus Christ.

Oh, I acknowledge there have been loads of set-backs, and lots of static (even stagnant) periods, due to my propensity for poor choices, selfishness, laziness, rebellion and other unsavoury characteristics. So, clearly I’m not talking ‘quick fixes’ here, nor suggesting anything that produces instant maturity. As one of my favourite Christian authors teaches in his classic work, “A Long Obedience In The Same Direction”. Eugene Peterson typically identifies in this work a major problem for travellers on the Way – which is both spiritual and cultural. “Everyone is in a hurry”, he writes, “the persons I lead in worship, among who I counsel, visit, pray, preach and teach, want shortcuts … they have adopted the lifestyle of a tourist and only want the high points“.

All that said, I can testify that, step by step, little by little, line upon line there is a metamorphosis occurring – I may not be what I should be, but most certainly I am not what I used to be. I simply love the description shared by St Paul in one of his letters in our New Testament. Writing to the church at Corinth he declares: “And we all (i.e. believers) with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18.

That’s exactly it – the process of being transformed (up-titrated, even ?) from one degree of glory to another. I find it not without significance that the word translated ‘transformed’ here is the exact word translated ‘transfigured’ in the amazing account of Jesus’ Transfiguration – literally ‘metamorphosed’ – such is the magnitude of the change taking place in Christ-followers as they co-operate with the Spirit of God.

Other translations have:

“…we are becoming more like Him with ever-increasing glory …” – International Standard Version

“… our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him …” – The Message Bible

“… we are being transfigured into His very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another …” – The Passion Translation

I’m mindful of similar Bible passages which speak of God’s purpose in this way – here are a couple of examples:

“God knew what He was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in Him.” – Romans 8:29 from The Message Bible

“My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He really is.” – 1 John 3:2 from the Good News Bible

There’s the “target dose” (if you like) – Christ-likeness, which will be fully realised when we finally behold him. So, now it dawns on me that I share precisely the same hope as the psalmist, who exclaimed excitedly: “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with Your likeness” – Psalm 17:15

OH, YES – I’m being up-titrated !!