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Dear friends
 For some odd reason I have been in a nostalgic mood recently. At least, as far as music is concerned, perhaps, it was the FAST groups 70s evening which started it off. I found it a real joy to re-visit some of the tunes which inspired me as a teenager. I must admit, that now and again, the thought did cross my mind 'that they don't make music like that now-a-days'. But then I realised that my sons would probably laugh at the thought, which is what they tend to do when they hear some of dad's old stuff. I suppose it is quite likely that they will grow up thinking that the music of their youth was exceptional.
It is very easy to look back at the past with 'rose tinted spectacles'. It made me wonder whether it might have happened to the first disciples of Jesus. Did Peter, for example, burdened with the responsibility of church leadership, look back longingly at those times when Jesus was about the place. As a human being, I'm sure he must have done and compared them favourably to what was going on in his present. The reality of that present however, was that the church was flourishing, expanding way beyond its humble Palestinian origins. Perhaps the here and now wasn't so bad after all and maybe on closer inspection, some of Peter's early days with Jesus weren't so splendid. After all, Peter did tend to say and do the wrong thing rather a lot.
Whether we are thinking about our own lives, or that of the world or the church, the past can have a very attractive allure which makes the present seem very unappealing. Perhaps the past was good, (perhaps I should say that I have no intention of changing my view about the musical merits of 70s), on the other hand, maybe the present is not altogether without promise. Compared to the relatively recent past the contemporary church in the west does struggle. But this does not mean that there is nothing positive to say about the present or that we are without hope. Here in Portchester and else where, I am constantly amazed by the character and courage of Christian people, their creativity in worship and mission and their willingness to give of themselves in community. Perhaps we should get rid of the old 'rose tinted specs' and exchange them for bi-focals, glasses which which allow one to celebrate the past, whilst noticing the positive in the present.
Stephen
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