The rainbow never sets

that there are people so bad that they are described, like recently by the minister for police, as 'animals' and that they should be locked up and the key thrown away! Every person is made in the image of God, even if that image is hidden or invisible.

Division into opposing groups within a congregation is also a common hazard for ministers. I am grateful, though, to have learnt from passages in the New Testament, mainly from Paul, about the spiritual gifts we have been given as Christians. In the church at Corinth the members were divided into 'parties', one disagreeing with the other, and causing the church almost to split up. Paul didn't take sides in the dispute, but rather affirmed each group in its diversity. He said, that each one has been given different gifts or talents, and that all these have been given for the benefit of the church as a whole. Whenever similar divisions occurred, I was able to point to the passage in Corinthians, and the bickering stopped. It was more difficult when it was obvious that I was leaning more towards one side of the dispute, but the Pauline principle of diverse gifts would still persuade them to accept this.

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I have often been asked what the highlight of my life has been. There were a number, of course, but one period stands out for me. It was our time in Indonesia. It was a unique opportunity for me to use all three fields of training I had in my life: agriculture, commerce, and theology. The challenge of a new culture and a new language was at times daunting, but the rewards were immeasurable. The relationship I was allowed to establish with the students was closer than with any other group before or after Indonesia. I loved the people and the work there like nowhere else, although at times it has also been most frustrating. My only regret is that we were unable to serve the church there for a second term.

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