This month - In this month - What makes June so special - The moderate middle - Dealing with difficult people

In this month

 Football was banned in England by King Edward III on 12th June 1349.
  Due to the ravages of the Black Death the previous summer, the population had been decimated, leaving only half the people to do the same number of jobs.  Wages increased and food prices fell.
England was at war with France and concern for the defence of the country was paramount.  Only three years before, English archers had won the battle of Crecy.  The king realised people had, of necessity, had different priorities since the plague - with the skill of archery becoming a low priority.
  The King was concerned that the people would lose their skills as archers and so, on 12th June 1349, all sport such as football was banned.
  Every able-bodied man was to spend his spare time practising with a bow and arrow - playing no sport but archery.  The archers regained their skills, and went on to help win the Hundred Years War against France.
  For personal prayer:  Help me Lord, to discover the talents I have been given, and not to let them lie unused.  May I make the best use of them, both for myself and for others.
  May sport help to bring out the best in people, teaching us the lessons of commitment and co-operation; of fairness and appreciation.
  May sports, hobbies and interests help me to develop my personality so that I may be renewed and re-created in your image and likeness. Amen.

Adapted by Helen Little from ‘Praying each day of the year’, by Nicholas Hutchinson.

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What makes June so special

  June is the month of light - the month of the summer solstice, when millions of people in the northernmost parts of the world stay out late to enjoy the light - especially the ‘midnight sun’.

  Light and glory where there is usually darkness is something to celebrate, we welcome.  In John 9, we read that Jesus said: “I am the light of the world.”

  He wasn’t preaching over the summer solstice, but at a Jewish occasion which celebrated light every bit as much.  It was the Feast of the Tabernacles (John 7: 14), which was a celebration not only of God’s provision of water, but also of the light of God’s presence with the Israelites in the wilderness.

  During the Feast of Tabernacles there was a joyful celebration.  The priests would light four huge lamps in the Court of Women.  The flames would reach as high as the temple walls and would provide light that could be seen throughout Jerusalem.  Men of deep piety would dance throughout the night for the entire week of celebration.  A choir, accompanied by an orchestra of instruments, would sing psalms - such as Psalm 27, which declares ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation’.

  At the height of this grand celebration, Jesus has the temerity to stand and say that he is the light that was foreshadowed by the light for the Israelites in the wilderness.

  The Jewish leaders were furious, and tried to stone him to death.

  Jesus did not fight back.  He simply illustrated his claim to be the Light of the World by immediately giving sight to a man born blind (John 9).

  In the 20 centuries since then, the Word of God, when it is proclaimed, has drawn people out of the darkness and into the light of Jesus.  The word is, as the psalmist said, ‘a lamp to my feet and a light for my path’. (Psalm 119: 105)  

  David said: “In your light we see light” (Psalm 36: 9b).  Today, by the light of the word of God, we can see Jesus as he is: truly the light of the world.

From Hillside News, the magazine of Chorleywood Free Church and spotted by Robert Little.

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The moderate middle

  Strangely enough, extreme ‘lefts’ and ‘rights’; extreme liberals and conservatives are not opposites.

  Instead, they're twins under the skin.   

  In fact, they're indistinguishable when it comes to three basic principles:

1. All extremists over-simplify issues and demand absolute answers.  Things must be black or white.  There are no grays.  Things are either perfectly good or completely evil.

2. All extremists totally condemn and, indeed, try to exterminate those who have different beliefs and agendas.  They can't disagree without being disagreeable.

3. All extremists consider individuals as expendable and, therefore, subordinate them to their ideology.

  Jesus, on the other hand, was in the ‘moderate middle’.  His mission was equally at odds with the Sadducees, who represented one extreme, and the Pharisees, who represented another extreme. 

  Jesus never practised absolutism.  He was flexible when it came to traditions and taboos. 

  Jesus was not prejudiced.  He associated with people who represented a wide range of races, religions and lifestyles.  He saw good in Samaritans, Syrophœnicians and Roman Centurions.

  Jesus never subordinated individuals’ needs to rules and creeds.  He forgave the woman taken in adultery.  He ate with publicans and sinners.  He allowed his followers to pick grain on the Sabbath and omitted fasting.

  So, let's avoid ‘either/or ‘extremes.  Remember, very cold temperatures can kill you, but very hot temperatures can also kill you.  Polarising groups politically, religiously and economically is not productive in a democracy.  In order to accomplish anything, we must work together in the ‘moderate middle’.

By Miles Wesnr, of Tom Baptist Church, Oklahoma, and supplied by Graham Clarke.

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Dealing with difficult people

  One of the most important skills needed to succeed in business is knowing how to handle troublemakers.  If you learn how to deal with difficult people, you’ll be light years ahead of the competition.  When asked what he was willing to pay the most for when hiring employees, John D Rockefeller immediately answered: “The ability to get along with people.”

  Troublemakers come in all shapes. There’s the:

            * Sherman tank - who will run over you if you let him.

            * Megaphone - who will talk your ears off.

            * Bubble buster - who deflates everyone’s enthusiasm.

            * Volcano - who has an explosive temper.

            * Cry baby - this chronic complainer holds a pity party.

            * Nit-picker - who is the unpleasable perfectionist.

            * Space cadet - who is on a different wavelength.

  What should you do with these types?  Jesus had to deal with a lot of difficult people.  Here are four tips we can glean from his life:

1. Realise that you can’t please everybody. (John 5:30)

Even God can’t do that!  One wants rain... the other wants sunshine.

2. Refuse to play their game (Matthew 22:18)

Learn to say ‘no’ to unrealistic expectations.  Confront them by ‘telling the truth in love.’

(Eph 4: 15)

3. Never retaliate

(Matthew 5: 38-39)

It only lowers you to their level.

4. Pray for them

(Matthew 5:44)

It will help both of you.  Let God handle them.

  At all times, try to recall this Bible verse in your dealings with others: ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.’ (Heb 12: 14)

By Rick Warren.