I just wrote these reflections on our past year of prayer in Guildford and thought you might like to read it.
As I sat in the prayer room at the Undercroft last week, my mind began to wonder back to the places we have prayed in each month over this past year.
It all started in January at St Saviours, with a launch as part of the UK 24-7 Prayer tour, before moving to the oldest building in Guildford, St Mary's church, in February. In March we joined in with the Salvation Army and their brilliant prayer journey through the story of Jesus as part of Easter week. April was hosted by the YMCA and May was in the vestry of Christchurch. June was in the main sanctury of St John's Stoke and July was in the Matrix Trust offices at Albany House. August saw us have a break before we came back with a bang in a tent on the Campus of the University of Surrey as part of freshers week. October was hosted by URC Westborough and the final week was in the Undercroft museum on High St during the busiest shopping period of the year.
In total, we have had 1,680 hours of prayer across 10 venues with an estimated 200 different people entering into these spaces. We have heard stories of healings (physical, spiritual, emotional), people praying for the first time (even those who wouldn't say they believed in God), others who have heard God speak to them and some of who have redicovered the joy and life that comes from spending time with their creator. I'm sure there are countless more stories that we aren't even aware of as a result of our prayers!
Our desire is to build on the momentum of this past year as we look ahead to 2009.
We hope that the church of Guildford will continue to come together for 2009 as we continue to ask, seek and knock that the Kingdom of God would be established on earth as it is in heaven.
"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Matt 7:7-8
Thursday 11 December 2008
Tuesday 9 December 2008
Who's got the world in their hands?
I was watching TV the other day, when a commercial for the Sony 'Playstation Portable' came onto the screen. The song they were using sounded very familiar, but at the same time, different. Then I realised what that difference was, they had taken the classic Sunday school song "He's got the whole world in His hands" and changed it to "You've got the whole world in your hands".
Now on the surface, this seems very innocent and a clever marketing ploy as they have used something that is familiar to sell their product, but sublimely there is a message here that goes right back to the garden of Eden.
In that garden, man fell into sin when they believed the lie that they didn't need God and that they were better off without Him. They sacrificed the opportunity to enjoy the world that God created, for the sake of chasing their own ideals.
Not too much has changed today, and everyday, people make choices that look to further their own kingdom as they chase the illusion of control and the idea that 'the whole world is in their hands'.
I'm not saying that Sony are the antichrist or that we should boycott their products (I quite like the PSP's), but this commercial was another reminder to me that we are confronted daily with the temptation to be something we can't at the cost of losing everything we could be if we acknowledge God for who He is.
He has the whole world in His hands!
I saw a great film recently, which had the theme of letting go of the perception that we are in control. It's called 'Instinct', and it's well worth a watch.
Now on the surface, this seems very innocent and a clever marketing ploy as they have used something that is familiar to sell their product, but sublimely there is a message here that goes right back to the garden of Eden.
In that garden, man fell into sin when they believed the lie that they didn't need God and that they were better off without Him. They sacrificed the opportunity to enjoy the world that God created, for the sake of chasing their own ideals.
Not too much has changed today, and everyday, people make choices that look to further their own kingdom as they chase the illusion of control and the idea that 'the whole world is in their hands'.
I'm not saying that Sony are the antichrist or that we should boycott their products (I quite like the PSP's), but this commercial was another reminder to me that we are confronted daily with the temptation to be something we can't at the cost of losing everything we could be if we acknowledge God for who He is.
He has the whole world in His hands!
I saw a great film recently, which had the theme of letting go of the perception that we are in control. It's called 'Instinct', and it's well worth a watch.
Wednesday 19 November 2008
Good news!
Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard."
How does this make you feel?
For me, this verse always made me feel a bit despondent and a failure. Naturally, I am quite competitive and like to achieve standards that are set before me, both by myself and by others. It's how I work best. So when I became a follower of Jesus, I wanted to be like Him. He seemed to have everything in the right place. He was loved by all, healed the sick and ultimately never sinned. That's what I wanted. He was and is the standard.
But, after a couple of weeks and months of trying to obtain this, I was left feeling guilty that I kept messing up and a bit of a failure. Jesus had asked me to follow Him and I had messed it all up, and then Paul decided to rub my nose in it with his letter to the Roman church.
However, this verse, in it's right context, is one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible.
Let's read on...
"Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us."
This is the Gospel! This is good news! That Christ died for our sins! Why? It's because we can't hit the standards God expects. We in ourselves are not enough, no matter how good we think we are. To understand the beauty of His Grace, we need to first understand the necessity for it. This was the message that gripped Paul's heart, as he had experienced it first hand.
Another man who knew the mercy and grace of God was King David. Having committed adultery and murder, David is faced with his sin. What is his response? Psalm 51.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
How does this make you feel?
For me, this verse always made me feel a bit despondent and a failure. Naturally, I am quite competitive and like to achieve standards that are set before me, both by myself and by others. It's how I work best. So when I became a follower of Jesus, I wanted to be like Him. He seemed to have everything in the right place. He was loved by all, healed the sick and ultimately never sinned. That's what I wanted. He was and is the standard.
But, after a couple of weeks and months of trying to obtain this, I was left feeling guilty that I kept messing up and a bit of a failure. Jesus had asked me to follow Him and I had messed it all up, and then Paul decided to rub my nose in it with his letter to the Roman church.
However, this verse, in it's right context, is one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible.
Let's read on...
"Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us."
This is the Gospel! This is good news! That Christ died for our sins! Why? It's because we can't hit the standards God expects. We in ourselves are not enough, no matter how good we think we are. To understand the beauty of His Grace, we need to first understand the necessity for it. This was the message that gripped Paul's heart, as he had experienced it first hand.
Another man who knew the mercy and grace of God was King David. Having committed adultery and murder, David is faced with his sin. What is his response? Psalm 51.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ;
you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are [c] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
My prayer for us, is that we would face our sin and the reality that we have fallen short, not with guilt or condemnation at our perceived failure, but with the humility and joy that comes from knowing a God who has welcomed us into his family, by the death and resurrection of His Son and that alone. This is good news!
Allow God to show you His love for you and know his forgiveness today and then share it with others for His glory!
Amen.
Wednesday 5 November 2008
Change
Change is certainly all around us. In the early hours of this morning, senator Obama became the 44th president of the United States of America. His emphasis throughout his campaign for the White House was the need for change. The need for a different outlook. A need for fresh hope. Many people feel he is the man to bring it.
The world watches on in anticipation.
My bible reading at this time has brought me to the edge of the Jordan at the start of Joshua. The Israelites have been wandering around the desert for 40 years after their disobedience to God (and lack of faith) in the book of Numbers, and a new generation has emerged, charged by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy and with a new leader, Joshua. Change is all around them. They stand on the edge of their own miraculous water based crossing (Red Sea for earlier generation), not sure what is ahead (although they know it will involve lot's of battles).
The important thing for the people was to acknowledge God in the midst of their change and to keep His commands as He had asked them to do.
So what was the first thing that the people did when they crossed the Jordan into the promised Land?
We are told in Joshua ch5 that the first thing they did as a people, was reestablish their covenant with God. This was the covenant made with Abraham in Genesis 15 that God would make a great nation from him that would be a blessing to the other nations of the world. Their identity would be in God, for they were chosen and set apart, not because they were special, but because they were nothing and God wanted to show His glory through them.
The sign of this covenant was circumcision (Genesis 17), so that is what Joshua and the rest of the men did to each other to reestablish the promise God had given to them (with pieces of flint!). This would have left them vulnerable to attack (we saw Joseph's brother's use this tactic in Genesis 34) as they recovered from the operation, but this was their commitment to God and a sign of their trust in Him. They then celebrated Passover together, to remind themselves of what God had done for them in taking them from a place of hopelessness in Egypt, to a place of hope in a land of promise.
Their first act of change, was to remember and celebrate. A time of reverance and joy.
My prayer for the USA, is that as they face this new dawn, that they would first remember their covenant with God and not forget what He has done for them. Before they face the many battles that lie ahead, my hope is that they will reestablish their covenant with God, which has been made possible because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and that they remember their story as a Nation and where they have come from. I pray that they would be the blessing to other Nations that they have been called to be and not abuse the favour that has been given to them or take it for granted.
I pray that the whole nation would unite together, not in a flag, or a person, or a foreign policy, but in Jesus who is the hope that we all need to cling onto in this time.
I pray that the greatest change would be in the hearts and minds of the people, and not just the outward action of a government.
Lord, let your Kingdom come, let your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.
The world watches on in anticipation.
My bible reading at this time has brought me to the edge of the Jordan at the start of Joshua. The Israelites have been wandering around the desert for 40 years after their disobedience to God (and lack of faith) in the book of Numbers, and a new generation has emerged, charged by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy and with a new leader, Joshua. Change is all around them. They stand on the edge of their own miraculous water based crossing (Red Sea for earlier generation), not sure what is ahead (although they know it will involve lot's of battles).
The important thing for the people was to acknowledge God in the midst of their change and to keep His commands as He had asked them to do.
So what was the first thing that the people did when they crossed the Jordan into the promised Land?
We are told in Joshua ch5 that the first thing they did as a people, was reestablish their covenant with God. This was the covenant made with Abraham in Genesis 15 that God would make a great nation from him that would be a blessing to the other nations of the world. Their identity would be in God, for they were chosen and set apart, not because they were special, but because they were nothing and God wanted to show His glory through them.
The sign of this covenant was circumcision (Genesis 17), so that is what Joshua and the rest of the men did to each other to reestablish the promise God had given to them (with pieces of flint!). This would have left them vulnerable to attack (we saw Joseph's brother's use this tactic in Genesis 34) as they recovered from the operation, but this was their commitment to God and a sign of their trust in Him. They then celebrated Passover together, to remind themselves of what God had done for them in taking them from a place of hopelessness in Egypt, to a place of hope in a land of promise.
Their first act of change, was to remember and celebrate. A time of reverance and joy.
My prayer for the USA, is that as they face this new dawn, that they would first remember their covenant with God and not forget what He has done for them. Before they face the many battles that lie ahead, my hope is that they will reestablish their covenant with God, which has been made possible because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and that they remember their story as a Nation and where they have come from. I pray that they would be the blessing to other Nations that they have been called to be and not abuse the favour that has been given to them or take it for granted.
I pray that the whole nation would unite together, not in a flag, or a person, or a foreign policy, but in Jesus who is the hope that we all need to cling onto in this time.
I pray that the greatest change would be in the hearts and minds of the people, and not just the outward action of a government.
Lord, let your Kingdom come, let your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.
Wednesday 29 October 2008
Story from a prayer room
Below is a story from our last 24-7 prayer room in Guildford, as told by the pastor of the church;
"During the first hour of prayer together, a lady from our cell group felt she had a picture of a well in her mind, with the conviction to pray for a friend that she would drink from the well. A little unsure of whether it was God or not, she prayed for the person anyway. As she left the prayer room, she was shocked and amazed to find that someone else had painted a large picture of a well, with words inside it that encouraged people to drink of it. Needless to say, she left encouraged that God had given her a confirmation that He had spoken to her."
I love these little stories. Nothing really dramatic happened like a healing or angelic visitation, but someone left the room with their hearts 'strangely warmed' as they realised that Jesus is alive and wants to speak to us.
I'm sure we can all think of times when we've had a similar experience to this lady and if you haven't, ask Jesus to speak to you today and be ready to listen...
"During the first hour of prayer together, a lady from our cell group felt she had a picture of a well in her mind, with the conviction to pray for a friend that she would drink from the well. A little unsure of whether it was God or not, she prayed for the person anyway. As she left the prayer room, she was shocked and amazed to find that someone else had painted a large picture of a well, with words inside it that encouraged people to drink of it. Needless to say, she left encouraged that God had given her a confirmation that He had spoken to her."
I love these little stories. Nothing really dramatic happened like a healing or angelic visitation, but someone left the room with their hearts 'strangely warmed' as they realised that Jesus is alive and wants to speak to us.
I'm sure we can all think of times when we've had a similar experience to this lady and if you haven't, ask Jesus to speak to you today and be ready to listen...
Friday 24 October 2008
Discipleship
I've started reading 'The Cost of Discipleship' by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and am finding it hard to get past a paragraph on page 58 as it has both captured and provoked me;
"The disciple is dragged out of his relative security into a life of absolute insecurity (that is, in truth, into the absolute security and safety of the fellowship of Jesus), from a life which is observable and calcuable (it is, in fact, quite incalcuable) into a life where everything in unobservable and fortuitous (that is, into one which is necessary and calcuable), out of the realm of finite (which is in truth the infinite) into the realm of infinaite possibilties (which is the one liberating reality)."
Would love to hear your thoughts on this...
"The disciple is dragged out of his relative security into a life of absolute insecurity (that is, in truth, into the absolute security and safety of the fellowship of Jesus), from a life which is observable and calcuable (it is, in fact, quite incalcuable) into a life where everything in unobservable and fortuitous (that is, into one which is necessary and calcuable), out of the realm of finite (which is in truth the infinite) into the realm of infinaite possibilties (which is the one liberating reality)."
Would love to hear your thoughts on this...
Wednesday 22 October 2008
Enemies?
I was chatting to a friend the other day and he was expressing his frustration and anger with some people he works with. He was talking about how nobody respected him and made him feel unwelcome. He told me that he really disliked some of them, which was unlike him. It was clear to see that he was not happy and this situation was really affecting him, causing him to become angry and resentful. After listening to him rant for a couple of minutes, I asked him a simple question.
'Do you pray for these guys?'
Up until this point, all he had talked about was himself. How he was feeling. How these people had affected his life. He was the victim and it was their fault. My friends response to the question was interesting. His face changed as he thought about what I'd said.
"I don't think I do. Maybe I should?"
Following on from my previous post (Tale of two stories), we can see that my friends inability to see outside of himself and his own story had affected the way he viewed other people. If we only look at ourselves and our own situation, emotions, feelings, then we will always be the victim, there will always be someone better than us and we will never be satisfied. My friend had lost sight of the big picture.
Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 5, which we know as the sermon on the mount. Here Jesus is laying out what the Kingdom of God is like and how we should live in the midst of that. What is clear throughout, is the kingdom of God is unlike anything we have known and seems impossible to live out (many suggest that it is without God and that's the point!). Jesus talks about who receives blessing, the Law, dealing with anger, divorce, prayer, the poor, money and possesions and so on. This is the manifesto of the Kingdom.
The part that has always challenged me and which relates to the conversation with my friend, is the teaching on loving your enemy in verses 43-48;
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This teaching is as revolutionary now as it was at the time it was said. Love your enemies? That's not normal. If people hurt us and persecute us, surely they deserve to be punished. Where is the justice? This doesn't make sense!
But in the eyes of God this makes perfect sense.
When Jesus died and rose again, he wasn't just reconciling us back to God (opening a way to the Father), he was reconciling us back to each other. It is only through the cross and the dieing to ourselves, that we can be raised with Him and experience His love for us and for others. This is His mercy and grace for us.
What is going to mark us out as followers of Jesus? What makes us different to anyone else?
The answer, sacrificial love.
Love that goes beyond feeling. That goes beyond political boundaries, beyond what the world says is the limit to what people deserve. Love that costs, but has great rewards.
We are called to love and pray for those who persecute us and those who we would call enemies. That would range from our boss in work to Osama Bin Laden and everything inbertween.
Why?
Because they need to know the love of God, just as much as you do. Because God doesn't have favourites, and neither should you. Because we are part of a story that is bigger than our own. Our life is no longer ours to own as we die to oursleves and become slaves to Christ (or bound to Him) and this is what He calls us into. We are a kingdom of priests, called to minister to the world, which means the oppressors as well as the oppressed.
It was this radical love that led Jesus to the cross.
It was this radical love and forgiveness that changed the life of a young man named Saul, who as a result of a dramatic encounter with Jesus and the obedience of a man named Ananias, understood the power of grace to the point that he dedicated his whole life to communicating this messgae of love and forgiveness to all for the rest of his life.
He would have been Ananias' (and Jesus') enemy!
It is this radical love that has changed me and many others I know.
In a world that is obsessed with individuals rights and the need to gain revenge/retribution, where are the people that will rise above that, in the grace of a resurrected Jesus, to love, serve and pray for those who wrong us, abuse us and attack us as well as those who love us? Where are the people that know their identity is in the Father and as one of His children, want to see the whole of creation restored back to Him? Where are the people with a kingdom perspective rather than a worldly perspective?
The final verse calls us to be perfect like our father, which suggests this is a hard task!
How then is it made possible?
We must first receive the love God has for us before we can think about loving others. It's His love for us that will change our hearts and it's His love in and through us that will change the world.
I am not, but I know I AM!
Ask God to show you how to best love and serve your enemies today. Ask Him to reveal His heart for them. Let's not avoid the commands of Jesus that make us uncomfortable, for it is in these that we will find life and life to the full.
Amen.
'Do you pray for these guys?'
Up until this point, all he had talked about was himself. How he was feeling. How these people had affected his life. He was the victim and it was their fault. My friends response to the question was interesting. His face changed as he thought about what I'd said.
"I don't think I do. Maybe I should?"
Following on from my previous post (Tale of two stories), we can see that my friends inability to see outside of himself and his own story had affected the way he viewed other people. If we only look at ourselves and our own situation, emotions, feelings, then we will always be the victim, there will always be someone better than us and we will never be satisfied. My friend had lost sight of the big picture.
Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 5, which we know as the sermon on the mount. Here Jesus is laying out what the Kingdom of God is like and how we should live in the midst of that. What is clear throughout, is the kingdom of God is unlike anything we have known and seems impossible to live out (many suggest that it is without God and that's the point!). Jesus talks about who receives blessing, the Law, dealing with anger, divorce, prayer, the poor, money and possesions and so on. This is the manifesto of the Kingdom.
The part that has always challenged me and which relates to the conversation with my friend, is the teaching on loving your enemy in verses 43-48;
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This teaching is as revolutionary now as it was at the time it was said. Love your enemies? That's not normal. If people hurt us and persecute us, surely they deserve to be punished. Where is the justice? This doesn't make sense!
But in the eyes of God this makes perfect sense.
When Jesus died and rose again, he wasn't just reconciling us back to God (opening a way to the Father), he was reconciling us back to each other. It is only through the cross and the dieing to ourselves, that we can be raised with Him and experience His love for us and for others. This is His mercy and grace for us.
What is going to mark us out as followers of Jesus? What makes us different to anyone else?
The answer, sacrificial love.
Love that goes beyond feeling. That goes beyond political boundaries, beyond what the world says is the limit to what people deserve. Love that costs, but has great rewards.
We are called to love and pray for those who persecute us and those who we would call enemies. That would range from our boss in work to Osama Bin Laden and everything inbertween.
Why?
Because they need to know the love of God, just as much as you do. Because God doesn't have favourites, and neither should you. Because we are part of a story that is bigger than our own. Our life is no longer ours to own as we die to oursleves and become slaves to Christ (or bound to Him) and this is what He calls us into. We are a kingdom of priests, called to minister to the world, which means the oppressors as well as the oppressed.
It was this radical love that led Jesus to the cross.
It was this radical love and forgiveness that changed the life of a young man named Saul, who as a result of a dramatic encounter with Jesus and the obedience of a man named Ananias, understood the power of grace to the point that he dedicated his whole life to communicating this messgae of love and forgiveness to all for the rest of his life.
He would have been Ananias' (and Jesus') enemy!
It is this radical love that has changed me and many others I know.
In a world that is obsessed with individuals rights and the need to gain revenge/retribution, where are the people that will rise above that, in the grace of a resurrected Jesus, to love, serve and pray for those who wrong us, abuse us and attack us as well as those who love us? Where are the people that know their identity is in the Father and as one of His children, want to see the whole of creation restored back to Him? Where are the people with a kingdom perspective rather than a worldly perspective?
The final verse calls us to be perfect like our father, which suggests this is a hard task!
How then is it made possible?
We must first receive the love God has for us before we can think about loving others. It's His love for us that will change our hearts and it's His love in and through us that will change the world.
I am not, but I know I AM!
Ask God to show you how to best love and serve your enemies today. Ask Him to reveal His heart for them. Let's not avoid the commands of Jesus that make us uncomfortable, for it is in these that we will find life and life to the full.
Amen.
Thursday 16 October 2008
Call and response
www.callandresponse.com.
Check out the website and find out how you can be a part in bringing an end to slavery and people trafficking.
We have to respond!
Friday 10 October 2008
Tale of two stories
This week I have been studying the story of Moses at the start of Exodus, and particularly the encounter he had with God at the burning bush. A couple of years ago, this story had a profound impact on me as I struggled with my identity and in particular my insecurities around what I felt God was calling me into and the ability I had in myself to carry it out.
In this conversation (Exodus 3 and 4), God makes it clear that the call to 'Go' was not about Moses and his ability to make it happen, but about God showing His glory to His people and continuing the story He had started with Abraham and seeing it through to completion. God wanted to free His children from slavery in Egypt and was asking Moses (or indeed telling Him) to join Him. It should have been a privilege and an honour for Moses, yet the great drama of his own story (murder, failure etc) had caused him to become overwhelmed with fear and hopelessness towards his future.
The same message applies for our lives today. God wants to remind us that the redemption of creation is His story, His mission and He will carry it out with or without us. The amazing thing is that He has chosen to involve us in this plan and has promised to be with us, even giving us His spirit to empower us, which has all authority.
There's a great book by Louie Giglio entitled "I am not, but I know I AM", which talks about this concept in much greater depth, and with honest simplicity. The opening paragraph reads like this:
"Life is the tale of two stories - one finite and frail, the other eternal and enduring. The tiny one - the story of us - is as brief as the blink of an eye. Yet somehow our infatuation with our own little story - and our determination to make it as big as we can - blinds us to the massive God story that surrounds us on every side."
Which story are you seeking to make famous today? Has the drama of your day-to-day life caused you to miss the bigger play that you are invited into? Take time to stop and to ask God to reveal that story to you again. His story for the world and the part that He wants you to play in it. It's not about the size of the part, more the size of the author who has written you into it.
In this conversation (Exodus 3 and 4), God makes it clear that the call to 'Go' was not about Moses and his ability to make it happen, but about God showing His glory to His people and continuing the story He had started with Abraham and seeing it through to completion. God wanted to free His children from slavery in Egypt and was asking Moses (or indeed telling Him) to join Him. It should have been a privilege and an honour for Moses, yet the great drama of his own story (murder, failure etc) had caused him to become overwhelmed with fear and hopelessness towards his future.
The same message applies for our lives today. God wants to remind us that the redemption of creation is His story, His mission and He will carry it out with or without us. The amazing thing is that He has chosen to involve us in this plan and has promised to be with us, even giving us His spirit to empower us, which has all authority.
There's a great book by Louie Giglio entitled "I am not, but I know I AM", which talks about this concept in much greater depth, and with honest simplicity. The opening paragraph reads like this:
"Life is the tale of two stories - one finite and frail, the other eternal and enduring. The tiny one - the story of us - is as brief as the blink of an eye. Yet somehow our infatuation with our own little story - and our determination to make it as big as we can - blinds us to the massive God story that surrounds us on every side."
Which story are you seeking to make famous today? Has the drama of your day-to-day life caused you to miss the bigger play that you are invited into? Take time to stop and to ask God to reveal that story to you again. His story for the world and the part that He wants you to play in it. It's not about the size of the part, more the size of the author who has written you into it.
Monday 29 September 2008
Prayer on Campus
Last week we had a 24-7 prayer week (although it was only 5 days) on the local University Campus. We put up a tent opposite the library, by a busy intersection and our main prayer for the week was that God's Kingdom would break onto the Campus. A simple prayer, but also a massive one!
The rota filled up slowly at first, but as the week went on, more and more people signed up. Then the stories started coming out. People were wandering in on their way to lectures, coming back from the pub or just lost. It was a place to ask questions, ask for prayer or for some, it was a space just to chill out amongst the busyness of freshers week.
Below are a couple of stories from a friend after his time in the tent:
"A group of us were praying for freshers who might be feeling lost or out
of place. 10 minutes after saying that prayer in wondered a guy who turned
out to be a Christian. At the end he said 'I felt so lost as it's only my
first day, I was just wondering round feeling lost and saw this tent'!"
"Earlier today a couple of us were praying and were reminded of the
parable of the prodigal son. So we began to pray for prodigals on the
campus to come home. Then in walks a guy who's just started 2nd year. He
started talking about his struggles and regrets in not living for Jesus. A
prodigal starting to come home? God answers our prayers!"
There were loads more like this!
For me personally, I ended up doing the 2am to 4am slots for two nights running (I'd love to say these were my favourite slots, but I was mainly doing them because nobody else would). The first night I had the chance to talk to about 20 people about faith, Jesus, religion, science. I was getting all of the students who were on their way home from the student union, which kicked everyone out at 2am. Some were just coming in to get out of the cold, but others had burning questions.
Why does God allow pain? Where does science fit in? What about other religions?
I had suddenly become an expert in Apologetics! The best thing I could do most of the time was just listen. For many, they just wanted someone to talk to, to vent at or just to ask those questions that they've always wanted to but couldn't. I found it challenging (especially at 3 in the morning), but enjoyable.
The next night was different.
For a start it was colder. This meant I had less people just stopping in as they were keen to get home to their warm beds, which was something I was thinking about until a loud scream caught my attention.
A couple of hundred yards away a fight had started between a couple of guys and although I couldn't really see it, I could hear it. It was a combination of the thudding of knuckle against cheekbone and the piercing screams of a girlfriend. I started praying, 'God, bring your peace. Bring a person of peace into the situation'. As I stood there in the tent, feeling helpless, the fighting stopped and it seemed to settle down. Everyone except the girlfriend. For the next 20 minutes (although it felt like hours) she continued to wail and sob as she screamed at her attackers and what felt like the world. This girl was in deep distress. Again, this helpless feeling came over me. I kept praying, but only one word was coming out 'Jesus'.
As I looked around the prayer room in this time, I grew frustrated and angry. I looked around at the nice pictures and bible verses that were hung up on the wall. One was of a boat on a lake, which said 'Jesus the boat of life'. There was something about this picture that particularly disturbed me.
It all just seemed a bit too nice.
The boat was on a calm body of water, tied to the safety of the dock. I'm sure for the person who drew the picture (it was well drawn) the picture meant something, but in the midst of the screams of this young lady outside the tent, the boat of life seemed to be in the wrong place. Surely it should be in the rough seas where people are drowning? Where their screams seemingly couldn't be heard? This is where the boat would have been surely?
This led me to think about myself. Am I where people need me to be? As a church, are we amongst the hurting and dieing of this world? Are we following Jesus to these places or are we asking him to join us in our activities? Jesus came for those who need a doctor and that is who the church is meant to be for too.
This experience highlighted to me once again the importance of our prayers not just staying in prayer rooms or in the comfort of our safe lives and routines. They must lead somewhere. How can we not be moved into action from the place of prayer? Can we meet with God and not be changed in some way? I definitely felt that God was beginning (and continuing) to break my heart for the people and situations that break his.
Later in the night, I spent an hour or so talking to a young Hindu guy about Jesus and faith. He knew so much, yet knew so little. I could understand why Jesus used to say to people 'the Kingdom of God is near'. So many people are so close without knowing it.
Who will tell them?
There is a lot more I could write, but the main thing to say is that this prayer week has shown me again that we have to take the Good News of Jesus to people and that although we may face questions and ridicule, there is 'good soil' out there and Jesus has promised us that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say in tough situations. We just need to be available and obedient.
What are we waiting for?
The rota filled up slowly at first, but as the week went on, more and more people signed up. Then the stories started coming out. People were wandering in on their way to lectures, coming back from the pub or just lost. It was a place to ask questions, ask for prayer or for some, it was a space just to chill out amongst the busyness of freshers week.
Below are a couple of stories from a friend after his time in the tent:
"A group of us were praying for freshers who might be feeling lost or out
of place. 10 minutes after saying that prayer in wondered a guy who turned
out to be a Christian. At the end he said 'I felt so lost as it's only my
first day, I was just wondering round feeling lost and saw this tent'!"
"Earlier today a couple of us were praying and were reminded of the
parable of the prodigal son. So we began to pray for prodigals on the
campus to come home. Then in walks a guy who's just started 2nd year. He
started talking about his struggles and regrets in not living for Jesus. A
prodigal starting to come home? God answers our prayers!"
There were loads more like this!
For me personally, I ended up doing the 2am to 4am slots for two nights running (I'd love to say these were my favourite slots, but I was mainly doing them because nobody else would). The first night I had the chance to talk to about 20 people about faith, Jesus, religion, science. I was getting all of the students who were on their way home from the student union, which kicked everyone out at 2am. Some were just coming in to get out of the cold, but others had burning questions.
Why does God allow pain? Where does science fit in? What about other religions?
I had suddenly become an expert in Apologetics! The best thing I could do most of the time was just listen. For many, they just wanted someone to talk to, to vent at or just to ask those questions that they've always wanted to but couldn't. I found it challenging (especially at 3 in the morning), but enjoyable.
The next night was different.
For a start it was colder. This meant I had less people just stopping in as they were keen to get home to their warm beds, which was something I was thinking about until a loud scream caught my attention.
A couple of hundred yards away a fight had started between a couple of guys and although I couldn't really see it, I could hear it. It was a combination of the thudding of knuckle against cheekbone and the piercing screams of a girlfriend. I started praying, 'God, bring your peace. Bring a person of peace into the situation'. As I stood there in the tent, feeling helpless, the fighting stopped and it seemed to settle down. Everyone except the girlfriend. For the next 20 minutes (although it felt like hours) she continued to wail and sob as she screamed at her attackers and what felt like the world. This girl was in deep distress. Again, this helpless feeling came over me. I kept praying, but only one word was coming out 'Jesus'.
As I looked around the prayer room in this time, I grew frustrated and angry. I looked around at the nice pictures and bible verses that were hung up on the wall. One was of a boat on a lake, which said 'Jesus the boat of life'. There was something about this picture that particularly disturbed me.
It all just seemed a bit too nice.
The boat was on a calm body of water, tied to the safety of the dock. I'm sure for the person who drew the picture (it was well drawn) the picture meant something, but in the midst of the screams of this young lady outside the tent, the boat of life seemed to be in the wrong place. Surely it should be in the rough seas where people are drowning? Where their screams seemingly couldn't be heard? This is where the boat would have been surely?
This led me to think about myself. Am I where people need me to be? As a church, are we amongst the hurting and dieing of this world? Are we following Jesus to these places or are we asking him to join us in our activities? Jesus came for those who need a doctor and that is who the church is meant to be for too.
This experience highlighted to me once again the importance of our prayers not just staying in prayer rooms or in the comfort of our safe lives and routines. They must lead somewhere. How can we not be moved into action from the place of prayer? Can we meet with God and not be changed in some way? I definitely felt that God was beginning (and continuing) to break my heart for the people and situations that break his.
Later in the night, I spent an hour or so talking to a young Hindu guy about Jesus and faith. He knew so much, yet knew so little. I could understand why Jesus used to say to people 'the Kingdom of God is near'. So many people are so close without knowing it.
Who will tell them?
There is a lot more I could write, but the main thing to say is that this prayer week has shown me again that we have to take the Good News of Jesus to people and that although we may face questions and ridicule, there is 'good soil' out there and Jesus has promised us that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say in tough situations. We just need to be available and obedient.
What are we waiting for?
Tuesday 5 August 2008
Home
Every year, the wandering band of nomads that is the 24-7 prayer family, comes together to share stories, eat food and just celebrate what God is doing around the World. I've been to the last 2 and have found them refreshing, relaxing and really encouraging. It really is amazing to take a step back and just allow God to speak through other people's lives.
This years gathering is entitled 'Home' and it is being held in Southampton, England from the 12th to the 14th of September. For more info, and to book in, go to www.24-7prayer.com.
Tuesday 29 July 2008
"I want you to be merciful"
While in a worship gathering recently, I felt led to read from Matt 9. The second section (v9-13) of this chapter is the story of Matthew the tax collector's call to follow Jesus. Here it is:
As Jesus was going down the road, he saw Matthew sitting at his tax-collection booth. "Come, be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
That night Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. The Pharisees were indignant. "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?" they asked his disciples.
When he heard this, Jesus replied, "Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do." Then he added, "Now go and the learn the meaning of this scripture: 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.' For I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough. (NLT)
I'd heard and read this passage many times, and there are lots of things I could say about it, but in the environment of a worship gathering, one section took on a different meaning to me. The particular verse I was struck by was Jesus suggestion to go and learn what Hosea 6:6 says 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.'
Hosea 6 in the New Living Translation is entitled 'A call to repentance'. It is a description of God's despair and loving judgement of a nation (Israel) who has totally abandoned her God and is chasing after others, but continue to make sacrifices to God in spite of that. v6 in full says 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that's more important than burnt offerings'.
As I sat surrounded by people with their hands in the air singing their praises to God and offering their 'burnt offerings' I felt convicted.
Am I just going through the motions? Am I just hiding behind the usual 'burnt offerings' of sung worship? Do I know God? Am I just playing lip service while putting other things before him?
The other question I had was;
What does it mean to be merciful?
Wikipedia's definition of mercy is;
'Mercy is a term used to describe the leniency or compassion shown by one person to another, or a request from one person to another to be shown such leniency or unwarranted compassion for a crime or wrongdoing.'
God offers us mercy by showing us leniency and compassion where we don't deserve it. The penalty for sin is death, yet God has shown us mercy by sending Jesus to take our place.
Ok, so how do I become merciful? Firstly, what does compassion mean?
'Compassion is a profound human emotion prompted by the pain of others. More vigorous than empathy, the feeling commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another's suffering.'
Another definition is 'shared suffering'. 'Com' meaning to share and 'passion' to suffer.
So to be merciful, I need to be someone who is willing to forgive those who in the eyes of the world don't deserve to be and even share in their suffering! This sounds quite extreme! Yet, this is what it means to know God and to love him.
What Jesus is saying to these Pharisees is that to know God is not just to offer him sacrifices. It's not just about turning up on a set day at a set time and giving God our attention then going home. It's more than a ritual or service. To know God is to know the people he loves. Jesus revealed that he came for the sick and those in need. His life was devoted to those that needed him.
There are people all around us today that need to know God's mercy. They need to know a doctor. They need to know that no matter what they have done, they can find forgiveness. This is the Gospel ('Good news') and this is what we've been asked to share, both in word and action, to a world that is hurting and dieing.
Who are we to decide who hears this? Who are we to judge? We, as believers, are no better than they are. We do not not deserve Jesus any more than they do. We have been shown mercy, so let's show it to others. Let's be prepared to join in their suffering, just as Jesus did. We have to realise that we must 'Go' into ALL the World. It's part of our mandate in the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20). We haven't been saved from the world, but have been called into it to be salt and light. The church was never meant to be a safe place to hide, but a dynmaic group of people who represented the risen Jesus on the earth. The body of Christ.
Jesus was addressing the area of pride in the Pharisees hearts and as I sat in the audotorium, I knew he was doing the same to me. I had stopped wanting to know God more and had settled for what I already knew. I had begun to make a god I was comfortable with and knew, and this was His way of reminding me that He can never be worked out, but as the prophet Hosea said at the end of 6:6;
'I want you to know God; that's more important than burnt offerings.'
As we search after God, it will be the revelation of who He is that will lead us to right worship and will move us out into the hurting, smelly, sinful World around us that often we try to avoid. Offering love and sharing in the suffering with those to whom the World has given up on.
This is what it means to be merciful.
As Jesus was going down the road, he saw Matthew sitting at his tax-collection booth. "Come, be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
That night Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. The Pharisees were indignant. "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?" they asked his disciples.
When he heard this, Jesus replied, "Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do." Then he added, "Now go and the learn the meaning of this scripture: 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.' For I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough. (NLT)
I'd heard and read this passage many times, and there are lots of things I could say about it, but in the environment of a worship gathering, one section took on a different meaning to me. The particular verse I was struck by was Jesus suggestion to go and learn what Hosea 6:6 says 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.'
Hosea 6 in the New Living Translation is entitled 'A call to repentance'. It is a description of God's despair and loving judgement of a nation (Israel) who has totally abandoned her God and is chasing after others, but continue to make sacrifices to God in spite of that. v6 in full says 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that's more important than burnt offerings'.
As I sat surrounded by people with their hands in the air singing their praises to God and offering their 'burnt offerings' I felt convicted.
Am I just going through the motions? Am I just hiding behind the usual 'burnt offerings' of sung worship? Do I know God? Am I just playing lip service while putting other things before him?
The other question I had was;
What does it mean to be merciful?
Wikipedia's definition of mercy is;
'Mercy is a term used to describe the leniency or compassion shown by one person to another, or a request from one person to another to be shown such leniency or unwarranted compassion for a crime or wrongdoing.'
God offers us mercy by showing us leniency and compassion where we don't deserve it. The penalty for sin is death, yet God has shown us mercy by sending Jesus to take our place.
Ok, so how do I become merciful? Firstly, what does compassion mean?
'Compassion is a profound human emotion prompted by the pain of others. More vigorous than empathy, the feeling commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another's suffering.'
Another definition is 'shared suffering'. 'Com' meaning to share and 'passion' to suffer.
So to be merciful, I need to be someone who is willing to forgive those who in the eyes of the world don't deserve to be and even share in their suffering! This sounds quite extreme! Yet, this is what it means to know God and to love him.
What Jesus is saying to these Pharisees is that to know God is not just to offer him sacrifices. It's not just about turning up on a set day at a set time and giving God our attention then going home. It's more than a ritual or service. To know God is to know the people he loves. Jesus revealed that he came for the sick and those in need. His life was devoted to those that needed him.
There are people all around us today that need to know God's mercy. They need to know a doctor. They need to know that no matter what they have done, they can find forgiveness. This is the Gospel ('Good news') and this is what we've been asked to share, both in word and action, to a world that is hurting and dieing.
Who are we to decide who hears this? Who are we to judge? We, as believers, are no better than they are. We do not not deserve Jesus any more than they do. We have been shown mercy, so let's show it to others. Let's be prepared to join in their suffering, just as Jesus did. We have to realise that we must 'Go' into ALL the World. It's part of our mandate in the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20). We haven't been saved from the world, but have been called into it to be salt and light. The church was never meant to be a safe place to hide, but a dynmaic group of people who represented the risen Jesus on the earth. The body of Christ.
Jesus was addressing the area of pride in the Pharisees hearts and as I sat in the audotorium, I knew he was doing the same to me. I had stopped wanting to know God more and had settled for what I already knew. I had begun to make a god I was comfortable with and knew, and this was His way of reminding me that He can never be worked out, but as the prophet Hosea said at the end of 6:6;
'I want you to know God; that's more important than burnt offerings.'
As we search after God, it will be the revelation of who He is that will lead us to right worship and will move us out into the hurting, smelly, sinful World around us that often we try to avoid. Offering love and sharing in the suffering with those to whom the World has given up on.
This is what it means to be merciful.
Wednesday 9 July 2008
Do you feel 'Equipped'?
One term I hear a lot when I'm talking to people in church circles is the whole concept of 'being equipped for ministry'. Working alongside young believers, I see a real desire to learn more about what it means to lead people and how they can find the skills/tools to do that. This is what many would call 'being equipped'. It is the idea that we need more than what we already have to become the leader we aspire to be.
It was while reading a book recently ("You see bones, I see an army" by Floyd McClung), that I was introduced to the New Testament Greek meaning of the word 'Equip'. The word is katartiðzw and it's definition is below:
This word is used 13 times in the New Testament. An example being Hebrews 13:20-21:
20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
It struck me that this definition does not talk about an addition to self, but a fixing/mending/strengthening of what is already there. For me this says that we already have been given the 'tools' we need, but they are in fact broken or not used. It encourages the idea that God has created us with characteristics, personalities, skills and talents to live the life he's called us to, but as a result of living in a fallen world, these have been damaged, tarnished, not realised or accepted.
When we think about 'Equipping' people, are we focusing on the areas of their life that need fixing or mending? Are we asking God to bring restoration and redemption to their lives, rather than putting people in boxes? By this I mean having the assumption that a leader/christian should be a certain way and moulding them in that way, or are we allowing God to make them the unique person that they were meant to be by allowing Him to do his thing and posturing ourselves humbly to guide with spiritual wisdom and discernment.
Through my relatively short experience of seeing God work in people's lives, this 'journey to the heart' is something I can really relate to. As we see young people come with the desire to be trained and sent, it usually results in God taking them to the dark, rejected, broken places that he wants to heal, mend and restore in their hearts. I truly believe that we've all been made with unique gifts, talents and experiences that have been given to us to reach the people we most relate to. Unfortunately, for different reasons, we have been hurt, had doubts, suppressed and struggled on in our own strength, with our own coping strategies and techniques. Normally, our greatest fears are an indication of where our passions lie. We need God's love to replace that fear so that he can equip and release us in those areas. Do we trust God enough?
To be 'equipped' by God is a difficult, painful process (if anyone has had a bone put back in place they would know what I mean). It's painful because we have to face up to ourselves and our own weaknesses and hurts in order to allow God to prod at places that are soft and tender. Many of us shy away from this, but if we allow it, then I believe we will come through much stronger. There is also a sense of adjustment, maybe a changing of worldview that we hold. It's not quite as glamorous as people seem to think, but it is a core part of discipleship (which is another can of worms for another time).
These are just my initial thoughts. I would love to hear what comments you have.
What is clear to me is that I think we need to be aware of what we are saying when we are offering to equip people.
Who does the equipping?
It was while reading a book recently ("You see bones, I see an army" by Floyd McClung), that I was introduced to the New Testament Greek meaning of the word 'Equip'. The word is katartiðzw and it's definition is below:
| |||||||
This word is used 13 times in the New Testament. An example being Hebrews 13:20-21:
20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
It struck me that this definition does not talk about an addition to self, but a fixing/mending/strengthening of what is already there. For me this says that we already have been given the 'tools' we need, but they are in fact broken or not used. It encourages the idea that God has created us with characteristics, personalities, skills and talents to live the life he's called us to, but as a result of living in a fallen world, these have been damaged, tarnished, not realised or accepted.
When we think about 'Equipping' people, are we focusing on the areas of their life that need fixing or mending? Are we asking God to bring restoration and redemption to their lives, rather than putting people in boxes? By this I mean having the assumption that a leader/christian should be a certain way and moulding them in that way, or are we allowing God to make them the unique person that they were meant to be by allowing Him to do his thing and posturing ourselves humbly to guide with spiritual wisdom and discernment.
Through my relatively short experience of seeing God work in people's lives, this 'journey to the heart' is something I can really relate to. As we see young people come with the desire to be trained and sent, it usually results in God taking them to the dark, rejected, broken places that he wants to heal, mend and restore in their hearts. I truly believe that we've all been made with unique gifts, talents and experiences that have been given to us to reach the people we most relate to. Unfortunately, for different reasons, we have been hurt, had doubts, suppressed and struggled on in our own strength, with our own coping strategies and techniques. Normally, our greatest fears are an indication of where our passions lie. We need God's love to replace that fear so that he can equip and release us in those areas. Do we trust God enough?
To be 'equipped' by God is a difficult, painful process (if anyone has had a bone put back in place they would know what I mean). It's painful because we have to face up to ourselves and our own weaknesses and hurts in order to allow God to prod at places that are soft and tender. Many of us shy away from this, but if we allow it, then I believe we will come through much stronger. There is also a sense of adjustment, maybe a changing of worldview that we hold. It's not quite as glamorous as people seem to think, but it is a core part of discipleship (which is another can of worms for another time).
These are just my initial thoughts. I would love to hear what comments you have.
What is clear to me is that I think we need to be aware of what we are saying when we are offering to equip people.
Who does the equipping?
Friday 16 May 2008
The story of the unknown
I was watching a TV programme last night, which was discussing the sudden rise in the amount of biography's that are being written at the moment. You only have to walk into a book shop and you will be faced by the life stories (I say life, but some of these guys are in their 20's) of people ranging from top politicians to Big Brother contestants. The programme went on to say that off the back of this sudden surge of interest in memoir writings, some publishing companies are offering to write the life stories of ordinary people who have not been in the limelight. The example they used was an elderly couple who had lived through the 2nd world war etc. What was interesting about this is that the guy doing the report recognised that although not as high profile, these unknown stories were fascinating and in many ways more captivating than those of a higher profile as they felt like real people with real lives, rather than people who we know all about as they are plastered all over magazines and newspapers, often with little substance.
This got me thinking about the worlds desire to be known, seen and acknowleged. The desire that to many people validates their lives and gives them a feeling of self worth for which they aspire and to people who aren't in that position, gives them an overhelming feeling of insignificance and worthlessness.
On the surface it looks like such a superficial desire, but unfortunately you can see the way that this desire has seeped into the church.
Many of us would admit that in our lives we have felt spiritually inadequete. We look at the big church leaders, those with amazing gifts and just think "If only I could be like that". We look at them and suddenly our own lives seem boring and insignificant. We even start thinking that God somehow loves these people more than us as they are 'better Christians'. The obvious dangers here are that we put these people on a large pedestal from which they can fall (and fall hard), and that more importantly, we begin to have a skewed view of God, how he views us and the value that our lives have.
God doesn't have favourites. He doesn't work on a commission basis where the more we do for him, the more he does for us. We are told in 1 John 4:19 that:
"We love because he first loved us."
Everything that we are comes from God's love. Our life is validated by that. It is our identity. We are the loved children of God. The reason we often don't feel close to God, is not because he is reluctant to be near to us, but because we struggle to accept and receive his love and forgiveness because of our perceived faults and failings.
Once we have rediscovered that our life is validated by God's love for us, our desire to be known and validated by others goes. In whatever role of society we have, our lives matter as we are 'trophies of His Grace' as Paul would put it. Although seemingly ordinary, our lives are in fact extra-ordinary as 'we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us'.
Just because we are not known by others, does not mean God does not know us. Don't feel the pressure to be something your not just to try and be accepted by God and others. Also, don't feel that what God has called you to is somehow less than what others have. We are all priests in His kingdom. Mediators between God and people. If you feel God has called you to something really think and pray through what this means. Don't limit God's plan in your life by copying others or trying to 'keep up with the Joneses'. You have been made the way you are for a reason to fulfill a specific role in the Kingdom. Don't forget that in this world of comparison.
So the point of writing this is to say, don't belittle your story. Your story brings hope to many as they see the joy, peace and love you have found. As you accept and receieve God's love, your life will be changed, not so you become successful and famous but so that you realise that the only thing that matters in life is God and everything is made by him, for him, including you.
If you don't already, why not begin journalling. Write accounts of what God has done and is doing in your life. Write your joys, your frustrations and dreams. If writing is not your style, how about making a timeline. Let God show you how exciting and important your story is to him. Don't downplay what God has done with false humility. Give Him the glory!
"Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!"
Prepare to be blown away by the bestseller that God is writing in your life, and recognise that it is part of a much bigger story that starts and finishes with God.
This got me thinking about the worlds desire to be known, seen and acknowleged. The desire that to many people validates their lives and gives them a feeling of self worth for which they aspire and to people who aren't in that position, gives them an overhelming feeling of insignificance and worthlessness.
On the surface it looks like such a superficial desire, but unfortunately you can see the way that this desire has seeped into the church.
Many of us would admit that in our lives we have felt spiritually inadequete. We look at the big church leaders, those with amazing gifts and just think "If only I could be like that". We look at them and suddenly our own lives seem boring and insignificant. We even start thinking that God somehow loves these people more than us as they are 'better Christians'. The obvious dangers here are that we put these people on a large pedestal from which they can fall (and fall hard), and that more importantly, we begin to have a skewed view of God, how he views us and the value that our lives have.
God doesn't have favourites. He doesn't work on a commission basis where the more we do for him, the more he does for us. We are told in 1 John 4:19 that:
"We love because he first loved us."
Everything that we are comes from God's love. Our life is validated by that. It is our identity. We are the loved children of God. The reason we often don't feel close to God, is not because he is reluctant to be near to us, but because we struggle to accept and receive his love and forgiveness because of our perceived faults and failings.
Once we have rediscovered that our life is validated by God's love for us, our desire to be known and validated by others goes. In whatever role of society we have, our lives matter as we are 'trophies of His Grace' as Paul would put it. Although seemingly ordinary, our lives are in fact extra-ordinary as 'we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us'.
Just because we are not known by others, does not mean God does not know us. Don't feel the pressure to be something your not just to try and be accepted by God and others. Also, don't feel that what God has called you to is somehow less than what others have. We are all priests in His kingdom. Mediators between God and people. If you feel God has called you to something really think and pray through what this means. Don't limit God's plan in your life by copying others or trying to 'keep up with the Joneses'. You have been made the way you are for a reason to fulfill a specific role in the Kingdom. Don't forget that in this world of comparison.
So the point of writing this is to say, don't belittle your story. Your story brings hope to many as they see the joy, peace and love you have found. As you accept and receieve God's love, your life will be changed, not so you become successful and famous but so that you realise that the only thing that matters in life is God and everything is made by him, for him, including you.
If you don't already, why not begin journalling. Write accounts of what God has done and is doing in your life. Write your joys, your frustrations and dreams. If writing is not your style, how about making a timeline. Let God show you how exciting and important your story is to him. Don't downplay what God has done with false humility. Give Him the glory!
"Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!"
Prepare to be blown away by the bestseller that God is writing in your life, and recognise that it is part of a much bigger story that starts and finishes with God.
Wednesday 12 March 2008
Simplicity in Obedience
One of my favourite characters in the Bible is a guy called Ananias. We find him in Acts 9, seemingly minding his own business in Damascus, when suddenly, God appeared to Him in a vision. It turns out that God wants him to go to a house on Straight Street (I love the detail!), and ask for a man named Saul who has seen Ananias come to him in a vision and pray to restore his sight.
Sounds simple enough!
Except, Saul is one of the main instigators of the mass persecution that the early church is facing in this time! Quite rightly, Ananias points this out to God. "Do you realise who this is?!?" God, of course, is aware and this time is a bit firmer, "Go! This is the man I've chosen to go to the Gentiles."
Ok, it seems God has thought this one through.
So Ananias goes to the house and indeed finds Saul blind (after his previous experience on the road to Damascus). He lays his hands on him and prays that God would restore Saul's sight and would fill him with the Holy Spirit. At once, his sight is restored and he was baptised (a public sign of repentance) and ate food for the first time in 3 days.
The rest, as they say, is history as Saul/Paul goes throughout the surrounding area carrying the message of Jesus to many tribes and Nations, while suffering for His name. Indeed, the majority of the New Testament is written by this man.
But at the start of all this we see Ananias.
He is only mentioned in 8 verses. We don't know anything about his life, his occupation, family, history, future. All we know is that when God said 'Go', he went. But let's not underestimate where God said for him to go to. He asked him to go to the person that we are told was muttering threats under every breath, who was going from house to house dragging people away in chains. Ananias was potentially putting his own life at risk. What is obvious is that he had a deep understanding of God and trusted him. He knew the Lord's voice when He spoke and trusted enough to obey. I can't imagine what was going through his mind as he approached the house. Did I hear right? What if he's not there? What if he is there!?!? Ultimately, God was right and what He said was fulfilled. Ananias then probably returned home and got on with his life.
The reason I like Ananias so much is that he was so unassuming and is not really talked about much in comparison with a Simon Peter or a Martin Luther, but yet he had one of the most important roles to play in church history.
Did he even know what Saul went on to do?
It makes me think about my own life and the way I respond to the Holy Spirit's prompting. There have been times where I've felt God say to go and talk to someone and I haven't through fear. Fear of being wrong and looking silly.
'It can't be God because that makes no sense!'
Chances are that it is more likely to be God if it doesn't make sense! Who knows what a simple act of obedience can do. A smile, a prayer, a hug, a letter of encouragement, a cheque in the post. These could all be the key that unlocks someones heart and releases them into something new with their Saviour.
We have had a couple of examples recently in our community, where people have felt the Holy Spirit prompt them to do something and it ended up being an answer to someone else's prayer. Below is a story that some of our Transit students Rebekah, Frances, Louise and Chris wrote about after a recent trip to the West of England:
"It was Tuesday morning, and we had left later than intended, which usually happens when embarking on a road trip. We were heading West with our only plan being to see what the Lord wanted us to do when we arrived.
Our first stop was to get petrol and pastries. The second was to look over the valley and pray. We had a couple of thoughts after this, take the white roads and seek out the "old paths."
Let's be people who are open to the Spirit's promptings. Who live lives of simple obedience, bringing glimpses of the Kingdom as we do. Who knows what or who will change as a result!
Sounds simple enough!
Except, Saul is one of the main instigators of the mass persecution that the early church is facing in this time! Quite rightly, Ananias points this out to God. "Do you realise who this is?!?" God, of course, is aware and this time is a bit firmer, "Go! This is the man I've chosen to go to the Gentiles."
Ok, it seems God has thought this one through.
So Ananias goes to the house and indeed finds Saul blind (after his previous experience on the road to Damascus). He lays his hands on him and prays that God would restore Saul's sight and would fill him with the Holy Spirit. At once, his sight is restored and he was baptised (a public sign of repentance) and ate food for the first time in 3 days.
The rest, as they say, is history as Saul/Paul goes throughout the surrounding area carrying the message of Jesus to many tribes and Nations, while suffering for His name. Indeed, the majority of the New Testament is written by this man.
But at the start of all this we see Ananias.
He is only mentioned in 8 verses. We don't know anything about his life, his occupation, family, history, future. All we know is that when God said 'Go', he went. But let's not underestimate where God said for him to go to. He asked him to go to the person that we are told was muttering threats under every breath, who was going from house to house dragging people away in chains. Ananias was potentially putting his own life at risk. What is obvious is that he had a deep understanding of God and trusted him. He knew the Lord's voice when He spoke and trusted enough to obey. I can't imagine what was going through his mind as he approached the house. Did I hear right? What if he's not there? What if he is there!?!? Ultimately, God was right and what He said was fulfilled. Ananias then probably returned home and got on with his life.
The reason I like Ananias so much is that he was so unassuming and is not really talked about much in comparison with a Simon Peter or a Martin Luther, but yet he had one of the most important roles to play in church history.
Did he even know what Saul went on to do?
It makes me think about my own life and the way I respond to the Holy Spirit's prompting. There have been times where I've felt God say to go and talk to someone and I haven't through fear. Fear of being wrong and looking silly.
'It can't be God because that makes no sense!'
Chances are that it is more likely to be God if it doesn't make sense! Who knows what a simple act of obedience can do. A smile, a prayer, a hug, a letter of encouragement, a cheque in the post. These could all be the key that unlocks someones heart and releases them into something new with their Saviour.
We have had a couple of examples recently in our community, where people have felt the Holy Spirit prompt them to do something and it ended up being an answer to someone else's prayer. Below is a story that some of our Transit students Rebekah, Frances, Louise and Chris wrote about after a recent trip to the West of England:
"It was Tuesday morning, and we had left later than intended, which usually happens when embarking on a road trip. We were heading West with our only plan being to see what the Lord wanted us to do when we arrived.
Our first stop was to get petrol and pastries. The second was to look over the valley and pray. We had a couple of thoughts after this, take the white roads and seek out the "old paths."
Frances took the map and the responsibility to find the most obscure route to Tewkesbury. We left the motorway at a little village called Maisemore and began our search. Our first turn off was down "Old Road" which led us to St. Giles Church. We got out to explore a bit. As we were wandering around, Jackie arrived to pray. We shared a bit of what we were doing and asked to join her. After a short Lenten liturgy we were invited back to her house for tea and cake.
As we enjoyed her hospitality Jackie told us a bit of her story and how the Lord had led her and her husband to Maisemore and to the little parish church with ever dwindling numbers. To be honest her dedication, faithfulness, and sacrifice were inspiring.
We asked to pray for her before we left.
She was thrilled at the suggestion and it became a time of mutual blessings as she began to explain a bit more of what has been happening in the local parish and of the hopes and frustrations that she and a few others have been experiencing.
Three of the nearby parishes will be merging in the near future, due to a decrease in numbers as well as difficulties remaining from the flooding last year. Jackie, her husband and two other couples have been meeting together for the past few years, praying for the area and the church, and Jackie explained that they were all at a place of discouragement. In fact, only recently had she cried out to God asking for something to show that He was hearing their prayers and they weren't just wasting their time and effort.
Having us arrive when we did came as a great gift to her, and so we spent some time praying for her, the other couples, the parish, and were able to give some further words of encouragement for them all.
Let's be people who are open to the Spirit's promptings. Who live lives of simple obedience, bringing glimpses of the Kingdom as we do. Who knows what or who will change as a result!
Tuesday 4 March 2008
Play spaces
A few summers ago, I had a job with the local council working with children as part of an initiative called 'Play Wales', which was trying to address the problem that seems to be rising in this country of children not having a chance to play anymore. By play, they meant the times when a child has the freedom to explore, create games, with no boundaries, no adults telling them what they can and can't do, which often results in lot's of fun and a building of confidence.
Due to many factors (fear of paedophiles, busier parents, technology), children's leisure time has become more dictated and lacks a level of exercise, which along with poor diets, has led to a rise in child obesity. So the idea that 'Play Wales' had was to create spaces in which children could have the freedom to play.
So that's what we did.
We would go to different places around the city, be it a church hall, community centre or park and just provide a safe space in which the children could play. We provided equipment and resources for them to use, but the children had to decide what they wanted to do. We were told that the children dictated what happened. They created the games, the rules and we were only allowed to play if we were asked too and even then we had to play by their rules. Of course, we were to step in if we could see that it was getting out of hand or dangerous, but even then we were told that as much as possible we would allow risk and the children to resolve conflict themselves. It's not always beneficial for us to step in.
The main thinking was that as we gave the children space to play and explore, they would begin to learn more about themselves and their environment. They were forced to engage their mind and not just follow orders or be corrected all the time.
It was during this time that God really spoke to me about what it means to lead people in the church and gave me a glimpse of what God does for us. This experience made me realise that my role as a leader was more about creating safe spaces for people to explore, ask questions and make decisions for themselves in their faith. To give things a go, in the knowledge that someone is there to help and support them and step in when it is needed. What I am not called to do is order people around, setting rules and obligations, putting pressure on people to follow them and showing my displeasure when they don't or can't carry them out. This sounds a lot like the pharisees in Jesus time to me.
How many of you went to children's groups when you younger, where you were told what game you were playing, the rules and then told that you were having fun when you quite clearly weren't, so when you did try and make it fun you got shouted at for spoiling everyone else's fun when in fact you were only spoiling the leaders fun!
This example, I have found can often be translated into the life of the church. We attend every week and as long as we are going along with the vision of the church, we are ok, but if we question it or ask if we can do something else that we feel God is asking us to do, we find ourselves shot down and made to feel like trouble makers. It doesn't feel like a safe place you can explore or ask questions in. It's more like a club where you play by the rules or you 'go and sit in the corner until you feel like you can join us again'. I'm being a bit extreme here, but can you see the point? If the church isn't somewhere we can explore, play and ask questions, then there is something wrong.
We need to be leaders who are full of discernment, constantly asking the question "Holy Spirit, what are you saying in this situation?" We need to be willing for things to fail, for situations to get a bit messy, but in the midst of this trust that people are growing and maturing in their faith. Let's not limit what God wants to do in those around us with our fear of losing control.
We also need to remember that Jesus is the head of the Church and in many ways he sets the guidlines we need to follow! So let's study Jesus. How did he make disciples? How did he teach? How did he create these play spaces?
Let's not be leaders that hand out paint by number sheets, but give people blank canvases to create on, so that together we will see God's masterpiece.
Due to many factors (fear of paedophiles, busier parents, technology), children's leisure time has become more dictated and lacks a level of exercise, which along with poor diets, has led to a rise in child obesity. So the idea that 'Play Wales' had was to create spaces in which children could have the freedom to play.
So that's what we did.
We would go to different places around the city, be it a church hall, community centre or park and just provide a safe space in which the children could play. We provided equipment and resources for them to use, but the children had to decide what they wanted to do. We were told that the children dictated what happened. They created the games, the rules and we were only allowed to play if we were asked too and even then we had to play by their rules. Of course, we were to step in if we could see that it was getting out of hand or dangerous, but even then we were told that as much as possible we would allow risk and the children to resolve conflict themselves. It's not always beneficial for us to step in.
The main thinking was that as we gave the children space to play and explore, they would begin to learn more about themselves and their environment. They were forced to engage their mind and not just follow orders or be corrected all the time.
It was during this time that God really spoke to me about what it means to lead people in the church and gave me a glimpse of what God does for us. This experience made me realise that my role as a leader was more about creating safe spaces for people to explore, ask questions and make decisions for themselves in their faith. To give things a go, in the knowledge that someone is there to help and support them and step in when it is needed. What I am not called to do is order people around, setting rules and obligations, putting pressure on people to follow them and showing my displeasure when they don't or can't carry them out. This sounds a lot like the pharisees in Jesus time to me.
How many of you went to children's groups when you younger, where you were told what game you were playing, the rules and then told that you were having fun when you quite clearly weren't, so when you did try and make it fun you got shouted at for spoiling everyone else's fun when in fact you were only spoiling the leaders fun!
This example, I have found can often be translated into the life of the church. We attend every week and as long as we are going along with the vision of the church, we are ok, but if we question it or ask if we can do something else that we feel God is asking us to do, we find ourselves shot down and made to feel like trouble makers. It doesn't feel like a safe place you can explore or ask questions in. It's more like a club where you play by the rules or you 'go and sit in the corner until you feel like you can join us again'. I'm being a bit extreme here, but can you see the point? If the church isn't somewhere we can explore, play and ask questions, then there is something wrong.
We need to be leaders who are full of discernment, constantly asking the question "Holy Spirit, what are you saying in this situation?" We need to be willing for things to fail, for situations to get a bit messy, but in the midst of this trust that people are growing and maturing in their faith. Let's not limit what God wants to do in those around us with our fear of losing control.
We also need to remember that Jesus is the head of the Church and in many ways he sets the guidlines we need to follow! So let's study Jesus. How did he make disciples? How did he teach? How did he create these play spaces?
Let's not be leaders that hand out paint by number sheets, but give people blank canvases to create on, so that together we will see God's masterpiece.
Thursday 21 February 2008
Sheep and the Goats
I've found myself being convicted of the way that I live my life this week as I've spent time in the 24-7 prayer room that we have had in Guildford over this period. Once again, Jesus is challenging my heart.
I was reminded today of the passage in Matthew 25:31-46, where Jesus talks about what will happen at the final judgment. He talks about how the Son of Man will return and separate the sheep from the goats. I'm sure the people at the time, as do we, assume that the sheep are the good people and the goats are the bad people. The sheep will be with Jesus because they are without sin, and the goats who have lived bad lives will go to an eternal punishment. But
it doesn't appear to be that clean cut.
Indeed, we find that the reason the sheep are seen as righteous is because of the way they treated the poor and those in need. We find that as they feed the hungry, give the thirsty a drink, house the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit those in prison, they are actually doing this for Jesus, and the best thing is, they didn't even know they were doing it!
The goats feel like they've had a rough deal and you can sense that if they knew Jesus was in trouble they would have helped him, but they have missed the point.
The point is that we should be caring for those in need around us.
While I lived in Kansas City, I used to pass a guy who would always stand in the same part of the street by the bank. He was in his 60's, had no teeth, wore about 6 layers of clothing and always had a cigarette in his mouth. Through different circumstances he had lost everything, had fallen out with his family, and now lived on the street. Like many homeless guys in this part
of town he was very chatty and we soon struck up a bit of a friendship. Every Friday we would discuss things from the weather to politics to church. We also talked a lot about his family and his dreams. He was a poet and an artist and had a dream of writing a book where both could be incorporated. I was able to pray with him and help him out financially on occasions, but often I was the one who came away the most blessed. Most often his language was choice and sometimes the topic of our conversation was not wholesome, but he would ask me questions that really searched my soul and I'd often walk away feeling challenged and provoked. I believe that Jesus was speaking through him to me. Who knows if he is a believer or not, but what I do know is that when I stopped and tried to help meet this guys needs, I felt closer to Jesus than I did in a lot of church services I went to. It was not my motive when spending time with him, but it happened.
Jesus came for those in need and he calls us to do the same. It's such a simple call, yet we (definitely me here) find it so hard to do as it requires leaving our comfort zones and plunging head first into the mess that is the world. But as we do, we find ourselves closer to Jesus than ever before. It will be hard and messy, but this is what we are here to do.
Lord, may we not miss you in those around us. May we not be so consumed with ourselves, that we neglect the needs of others. By your grace alone, Amen.
A friend of mine named Kelly, who inspires me in many ways, is living this out in Boystown Mexico. Check out her blog for more info.
I was reminded today of the passage in Matthew 25:31-46, where Jesus talks about what will happen at the final judgment. He talks about how the Son of Man will return and separate the sheep from the goats. I'm sure the people at the time, as do we, assume that the sheep are the good people and the goats are the bad people. The sheep will be with Jesus because they are without sin, and the goats who have lived bad lives will go to an eternal punishment. But
it doesn't appear to be that clean cut.
Indeed, we find that the reason the sheep are seen as righteous is because of the way they treated the poor and those in need. We find that as they feed the hungry, give the thirsty a drink, house the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit those in prison, they are actually doing this for Jesus, and the best thing is, they didn't even know they were doing it!
The goats feel like they've had a rough deal and you can sense that if they knew Jesus was in trouble they would have helped him, but they have missed the point.
The point is that we should be caring for those in need around us.
While I lived in Kansas City, I used to pass a guy who would always stand in the same part of the street by the bank. He was in his 60's, had no teeth, wore about 6 layers of clothing and always had a cigarette in his mouth. Through different circumstances he had lost everything, had fallen out with his family, and now lived on the street. Like many homeless guys in this part
of town he was very chatty and we soon struck up a bit of a friendship. Every Friday we would discuss things from the weather to politics to church. We also talked a lot about his family and his dreams. He was a poet and an artist and had a dream of writing a book where both could be incorporated. I was able to pray with him and help him out financially on occasions, but often I was the one who came away the most blessed. Most often his language was choice and sometimes the topic of our conversation was not wholesome, but he would ask me questions that really searched my soul and I'd often walk away feeling challenged and provoked. I believe that Jesus was speaking through him to me. Who knows if he is a believer or not, but what I do know is that when I stopped and tried to help meet this guys needs, I felt closer to Jesus than I did in a lot of church services I went to. It was not my motive when spending time with him, but it happened.
Jesus came for those in need and he calls us to do the same. It's such a simple call, yet we (definitely me here) find it so hard to do as it requires leaving our comfort zones and plunging head first into the mess that is the world. But as we do, we find ourselves closer to Jesus than ever before. It will be hard and messy, but this is what we are here to do.
Lord, may we not miss you in those around us. May we not be so consumed with ourselves, that we neglect the needs of others. By your grace alone, Amen.
A friend of mine named Kelly, who inspires me in many ways, is living this out in Boystown Mexico. Check out her blog for more info.
Tuesday 12 February 2008
Who am I following?
As a Boiler Room community here in Guildford, we have been going through the Bible in chronological order and reading it as a story. We call it God's Story, basically because it is the story of God revealing himself through time.
Anyway, we have now reached the climax where Jesus (the author in flesh) has come to earth to love, teach, serve, die and be resurrected (and I thought my life was complicated!). As we have started reading through the Gospel accounts again, I cannot help but stop in wonder at the person of Jesus. It feels like the more I read, the less I understand. Who is he? Is this the same Jesus I am following, or have I created my own personal Jesus who I find comfortable?
It has challenged me again to think soberly at what it means to be a Christian. A follower of the way. Who am I following? Do I spend time daily seeking Jesus? Asking Him questions, wanting to be near him? Or have I put him in a box somewhere, where I get him out once a week to talk to and then occasionally show him to others?
Who is it that we seek? Who are we following?
Take time to read the Gospels afresh. Ask the question, 'Who is Jesus?' and be prepared for Him to meet you in a new way.
A friend of mine gave a great talk on this recently. Check it out at this link.
Anyway, we have now reached the climax where Jesus (the author in flesh) has come to earth to love, teach, serve, die and be resurrected (and I thought my life was complicated!). As we have started reading through the Gospel accounts again, I cannot help but stop in wonder at the person of Jesus. It feels like the more I read, the less I understand. Who is he? Is this the same Jesus I am following, or have I created my own personal Jesus who I find comfortable?
It has challenged me again to think soberly at what it means to be a Christian. A follower of the way. Who am I following? Do I spend time daily seeking Jesus? Asking Him questions, wanting to be near him? Or have I put him in a box somewhere, where I get him out once a week to talk to and then occasionally show him to others?
Who is it that we seek? Who are we following?
Take time to read the Gospels afresh. Ask the question, 'Who is Jesus?' and be prepared for Him to meet you in a new way.
A friend of mine gave a great talk on this recently. Check it out at this link.
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