Category Archives: kingdom

the refreshment of honesty

Posted on by
Reply

Today I have experienced how in a broken and mad world, that honesty can be incredibly refreshing and also quite unexpected.

My car was fixed today and the garage quoted £150 as two parts of the exhaust probably needed replacing. When I urned up to collect the car the bill was £80. Apparently the other part of the exhaust was fine – but I would not have known any different and the mechanic knew that I was expecting to pay £150. The Car Surgery in Rochester is a place I can definitely recommend.

This afternoon I popped into STS Tyres who I have been going to for years for tyres and stuff to have tyres checked out for the MOT next week. Again, clear honesty here showing that all the tyres were fine, but that the rear two would need changing very soon. Again I was surprised as I would have believed him if he said 2 new ones needed – after all they have all done over
50 000 miles since I bought the car!

Finding this honesty has left me feeling good for the rest of the day.

Finding honesty out there shows, I believe, the presence of God in his everyday world. Today it was not difficult to see the Image of God present in those to whom I entrusted my car. This I honestly believe is a sign of God’s Kingdom. Yet … I am still surprised! Why is that?

Big Brother signs (1)

Posted on by
Reply

Last night the Big Brother house took an interesting twist.
Davina found it interesting that they chose people based on status to stay in the luxury house rather than move to the ‘squalid, dingy and not very nice house next door’.
I found it interesting that all the housemates instantly agreed that Ken, the oldest person in the house at 79 and probably needing to stay comfortable more than others, should stay in the luxury accommodation. This was a display of selflessness, a display of putting the needs of others prior to their own … a Kingdom value?

Celebrity Big Brother

Posted on by
Reply

I watched Celebrity Big Brother tonight (more essay avoidance!) and was intrigued by the mix of people. The fear shown by a number of ‘famous’ people was surprising, although I guess the term ‘famous’ might be being used quite loosely here.

The mix of people looks interesting with one character in particular seeming to stand out as a little wilder than the rest although being first night and all that things could change quite quickly.

It would be an interesting experiment to watch and see if we notice signs of the Kingdom in the BB house. All people are made in God’s image, so if we look intentionally maybe we will be surprised?

Kingdom Honesty?

Posted on by
Reply

It’s great and refreshing to experience honesty.
I left my car at STS tyres in Gillingham this morning for a brake and tyre check. I was expecting a phone call telling me how much I would need to spend, but was more than pleased to be told that everything was fine and nothing needed to be done.
I reckon honesty in the world of trade could be one of those signs of the Kingdom which we miss as we don’t look for it.
Today I thanked God for this as I returned home to continue on the ever delaying essay!

What is the Good News?

Posted on by
Reply

It’s been a heady few days over half term.
Sarah and the children have been at SPLAT and things are going incredibly well with over 80 children coming from the local community. Sarah has built this event with Jo and a great team and it seems to have real respect from the community.

While the house has been empty I am using up holiday time (a case of use it or lose it!) to read for and write essays. The last few days I have been mulling, reading and writing on the Kingdom of God.

Some things have struck me in a different way, particularly regarding the good news. Mark chapter 1 got me thinking. Mark 1 verse 14 says:

Jesus proclaims the good news saying the kingdom of God is near.

Further reflection has caused me to ask – what actually is the Good News? Is the good news, as I have usually felt, that Jesus came to die for me? Or is the good news that the kingdom of God, that time when God will return to earth as king to live and reign with us with the absence of pain, hunger etc., is breaking into our world and that we can join in with God at brining it about.

I asked a friend who felt that actually it did not matter. But, you see, I think it does. If the good news is that Jesus died for us then we continue with the same story and keep repackaging it like we see here. If the good news is that the Kingdom is coming then that means we need to change our message and not just repackage the crucifixion and resurrection story.

There again maybe this is a both / and situation rather than an either / or. Whatever … I have a few more days to keep thinking before the deadline.

An encouraging day.

Posted on by
Reply

Today was a day where I feel I achieved a mass of stuff.
I got to grips with some study on the Kingdom of God (my chosen assignment title) this morning before shooting off to Cambridge to have lunch with a great guy called Jim who is the new YFC director there.

I listened to Jim’s story and heard about his dreams and we bounced a few ideas around. If you are in the Cambridge area you should get in touch!

On the way to and from Cambridge I was able to have 3 long phone conversations with people in centres. These were discussions of excitement and difficulties, the nitty gritty of youth ministry. It’s easy to think youth ministry is all glamour when in fact it is a lot of hard graft and sacrifice particularly as far as social life (people socialise at the same time than young people go to youth groups etc so you miss out on the gatherings), finance (youth workers are paid less than other generally), hassles (everyone blames young people and it’s always the youth workers fault.

I was reminded today that it is a real sacrifice to be in frontline youth ministry, although I do not believe there is a better job in the world to be called to!

So, if you know a youth worker – why not encourage them today and show them how much you appreciate what they are doing.