Land of Confusion 17Th July

Pause for Reflection – 17 July 2020- So it was in this context that the song Are we living in a land of was written and it is often referred to as confusion? “a song against apathy.” Over the past few weeks I’ve certainly been mounted Welcome to this week’s Pause for up on a number of my hobby horses Reflection. For the third week running I and I’ve also been using “Fire” as a am on the letter “G” in my alphabetical metaphor for action. Well you’ll maybe journey through my CDs and have not be surprised to learn that I’m still chosen another track by Genesis, this mounted up and still “burning” with one entitled “Land of Confusion,” feelings about a number of issues. released in 1986. Hopefully next week I’ll be a little more This song was written during the period relaxed and calmly contemplative! when Ronald Reagan was President of So let’s take a closer look at the lyrics the USA and Mikhail Gorbachev was of “Land of Confusion.” (extracts) the leader of the Soviet Union, a period often designated the “Cold War years.” I must've dreamed a thousand dreams This was an era of very high tension Been haunted by a million screams running through almost all political spectrums and the issue of nuclear But I can hear the marching feet disarmament loomed large in the They're moving into the street. struggles between USA and USSR. There had been a series of “minor wars” Now did you read the news today across various parts of the globe in the They say the dangers gone away 50s,60s and 70s with almost all of them having one side or the other supported But I can see the fires still alight by one of these two “super-powers.” There burning into the night. The Berlin Wall was also very much still in existence in 1986 and many in the There's too many men western world were agitating for it to be Too many people removed. Indeed, in 1987, only a year after this song was released, President Making too many problems Reagan delivered his now famous And not much love to go round speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin when he said , “Mr. Just tell me why Gorbachev, if you seek liberalisation, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity, This is a land of confusion. come here to this gate, open this gate, This is the world we live in Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” And these are the hands we're given The Wall did eventually open in Use them and let’s start trying November 1989 when East Germans To make it a place worth living in. were allowed to cross into West Berlin and the reunification of East and West Germany was made official in October Now this is the world we live in 1990, almost a year after the fall of the And these are the hands we're given wall. Use them and lets start trying To make it a place worth fighting for. This is the world we live in 11 For the scripture says, "As surely as I am the living God, says the Lord, And these are the names we're given everyone will kneel before me, and Stand up and lets start showing everyone will confess that I am God." Just where our lives are going to. 12 Every one of us, then, will have to

give an account to God. These words are, in my view, an exhortation to us all to speak up for 13 So then, let us stop judging one what is right, to do what we can to fight another. Instead, you should decide oppression and to stand up to make this never to do anything that would make world a better place. We must guard others stumble or fall into sin. against apathy and standing idly by 19 So then, we must always aim at whilst unjust actions and oppression those things that bring peace and that continue to affect adversely those who help strengthen one another. do not have a voice. We need to try to make sure there is “plenty love to go 1Timothy CH6 vv11-12 &17-19 around” and we need to do what we can to make this “a world worth living in.” 11Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. One of my “mantras” for life is “don’t ever be one of the silent majority!” So 12 Run your best in the race of faith and join me on my hobby horse this week as win eternal life for yourself; for it was to I continue to rail against the injustices of this life that God called you when you this world and the abuses of power firmly professed your faith before many which cause so much suffering and witnesses. pain to so many of our fellow citizens. 17 Command those who are rich in the Do the lyrics from Genesis ring any things of this life not to be proud, but to bells with you about what our Lord place their hope, not in such an Jesus implores us all to do? uncertain thing as riches, but in God, who generously gives us everything for I think they might and I hope that my our enjoyment. chosen Bible readings for this week will further illuminate this. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and Romans Ch14 vv 7-9;11-13 & 19 ready to share with others. 7 We do not live for ourselves only, and 19 In this way they will store up for we do not die for ourselves only. themselves a treasure which will be a solid foundation for the future. And then 8 If we live, it is for the Lord that we live, they will be able to win the life which is and if we die, it is for the Lord that we true life. die. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. In these readings we learn that we should “always aim at those things that 9 For Christ died and rose to life in order bring peace and that help strengthen to be the Lord of the living and of the one another” and that we should “be dead. rich in good works.” I am very aware that there have been We pray for all in our Church family as many occasions in my life when I have we continue to be unable to congregate not been as rich in good works as I in your house for communal worship. could or should have been. I know too Whilst we understand and accept the that I have not always run my best in the reasons for our temporary closure, help race of faith. Indeed there have been us not to become downhearted, not to times in my teens and early 20s when I feel isolated or lost but to continue to could only have been designated as a worship you in our own ways and in our “false starter” in the race of faith. But I own homes so that your love is always have often spoken of the “life journey of with us wherever we may be. faith” and I trust that you, like me, Be with those who find themselves continue on your own personal journey living at this time in a “land of of faith and that you find Jesus a confusion.” Help them to come to terms constant companion and trustworthy with life as it is meantime and to strive guide on that journey. to change that which can be changed Let us pray. and to accept that which we know must remain . Above all dear Lord, help us to Dear Lord, we bring our prayers to you remain caring, loving and helpful to one today full in the knowledge that we are another and to strive for righteousness, at times weak, we are at times lazy and godliness, faith, love, endurance, and we are at times reluctant to stand up for gentleness. what we know to be right. Help us also to run our best in the race Help us then, as we pray, to be of faith and win eternal life. emboldened , to be strengthened and to be fortified so that we may always try to We pray for Jenny, Paula and Sonia bring love , peace and harmony into this and all who do your work here on earth. world of ours. Help us to fight Give them strength, stamina and oppression, to call out wrongdoing courage as they lead us in your ways. wherever we find it, to challenge the Finally, we pray for all in our families cruel and uncaring attitudes and and our loved ones near and far. Keep actions of others which we know to be them safe, keep them warm and shelter wrong. them from darkness. Help us to use the hands we have been All this we ask in your name. given to build a better world and to make it a place worth living in. Amen. We know what is right. We know from The lines in the song by Genesis which our scripture and from our own moral read: upbringing what we ought to do, but yet we find ourselves faltering when faced And these are the hands we're given with adversity or when faced with cruel Use them and let’s start trying and overbearing oppression. Be with us To make it a place worth fighting for. then Lord and support us as we try to are lines which have inspired my 1st follow in your ways and to fight the good choice of hymn for this week fight. Help us to stand up for Jesus and all that he taught us to do. Fight the good fight. let courage rise with danger, 1 Fight the good fight with all your and strength to strength oppose. might; 3 Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Christ is your strength, and Christ your right; stand in his strength alone; lay hold on life, and it shall be your joy and crown eternally. the arm of flesh will fail you, 2 Run the straight race through God's ye dare not trust your own: good grace, put on the gospel armor, lift up your eyes, and seek his face; life with its way before us lies; each piece put on with pray'r; Christ is the way, and Christ the prize. where duty calls, or danger, 3 Cast care aside, lean on your Guide; be never wanting there. his boundless mercy will provide. Trust, and your trusting soul shall prove 4 Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Christ is its life, and Christ its love. the strife will not be long; 4 Faint not, nor fear; his arms are near; this day the noise of battle, he does not change, and you are dear: only believe, and Christ shall be the next the victor's song: your all in all eternally. to him that overcometh And my second choice for this week a crown of life shall be; Stand up , stand up for Jesus he with the King of glory 1 Stand up, stand up for Jesus shall reign eternally. ye soldiers of the cross; lift high his royal banner, I’ll finish this week by repeating these it must not suffer loss: two lines from my chosen track . from vict'ry unto vict'ry Stand up and let’s start showing Just where our lives are going to. his army he shall lead,

'til ev'ry foe is vanquished, To Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the and Christ is Lord indeed. God whom we adore, be glory , as it 2 Stand up, stand up for Jesus, was, and is, and shall be evermore. the trumpet call obey; Until next week, keep safe and make this a place worth living in! forth to the mighty conflict Alistair – Session Clerk- B/P 17/7/2020 in this his glorious day: ye that are men now serve him against unnumbered foes;