M25 circle

Posted on by
Reply

I nearly drove the whole circle of the M25 today and only got stuck once for less than 10 minutes.
I drove up one side to Aylesbury, and back round the other from Wycombe.
I caught up with Dave at Aylesbury YFC and then with Paul at Wycombe YFC.
I heard of exciting things happening and of the frustrations of ministry.
It wass exciting to hear of God’s transforming mission.
Tomorrow its off to Rugby to meet with the rest of the national YFC staff to catch up with each other and gain a bit of training.

can our worship be mission?

Posted on by
1


I have had a much needed day at home today catching up on a mass of emails as well as adding some finishing touches to a couple of minor assignments.

Yesterday I spent a good time with Bishop Brian, the Bishop of Tonbridge, to think about what might happen with me as a pioneer minister beyond ordination. It was an interesting conversation and I was very pleased with what we spoke about – watch this space!

Bishop Brian posed an interesting question to me to think through. It was a question of mission and worship and he asked me how, in a pioneering sense, do we bring worship ad mission together. How, in fact, can we (or even, is it possible to) to make our worship missionally and our mission worshipful?

It’s a question worth considering, and he even lent me this book to delve into to start to answer my questions around this and community – so I’m now keen to get on with SEITE assignments and finish so I can read something I want to again.

The really funny thing is – and I have only just realised this a few seconds ago as I look for a link to the book on Amazon – is that this is Bishop Brians’s own book. When he said this was ‘my book’ I assumed he meant his personal copy … but it seems he is the actual author. The bishop told me this and I made no response or comment at all!!! It’s not that I never looked impressed, I didn’t even really look at the bbok at all unti I got home! Good job I’m not in this for promotion! As it is I may need to start looking for another diocese!!!

so … worshipful mission, missional worship hmmmmmm maybe I shall start to read the book and make some positive comments quick!

Great Holiday, new family member, what more could we ask

Posted on by
2

The holiday was fantastic – so good to be away with great people (well all in my family are great!) and to be in a top location.

Highlights – too many to remember but they include fantastic scenery, paddling my canoe for the first time in years, paddling Andrew’s surf kayak, watching the children body boarding, laughing, eating and enjoying each others company, the fantastic weather (apart from one very wet and windy day where we tied the awning down but the elemnts still caused a fixable injury to it)ending the day with great malt whisky.

The holiday ended with a big ‘wow’ when we heard of the arrival of Lucy Mann to Chris and Juliet on June 1st. No doubt many pics will be flying about soon. Congratulations Chris and Juliet – and welcome Lucy!

Lowlights – only the long drive, but 7 hours is no time for such a wonderful place.

I just wish to thank all for making this a special time away. I’ve come back thinking how great God is – how long before the realities of life are causing me to say .. ‘God … why the flipping eck is this happening…!’

Holiday

Posted on by
1


We’ve gone here for the week!
Cool!

MBS re-visited

Posted on by
Reply

I was back at the dekhomai stand at the Mind Body Spirit Festival again today and had that same sense of privilege. Again people spoke and shared concerns, again people asked for prayer, again God blessed what was going on.

Today someone came back to say thank you as she had been healed through the prayer one of the team prayed earlier in the week. She was amazed and wanted to share more and receive more prayer. While praying with someone else I had a vivid mental picture of Mary and Martha and when I shared it the woman was amazed as it spoke to her on a level that only God could be aware of!

Today was an amazing time and privilege again.

I have some thoughts and in particular how my charismatic upbringing enables me to relate and offer prayer in this ‘spiritual supermarket’ – we were discussing this with Steve when the stand was at a very rare time of quietness. It’s interesting that I need to use the gifts that came from that experience but yet reframe them so that they fit into the MBS setting where people are spiritually searching and wish to avoid much of what established church is all about, preferring to take what may work from a variety of different spiritualities.

It’s an interesting situation which I am going to ponder on over the next week or so – we are off on holiday to (hopefully) sunny Cornwall!

Top Secret!!!

Posted on by
Reply


On my way to Ongar I stopped and took this pic as the irony of the sign made me laugh.
Must visit this place sometime as I’m told it’s interesting.

Epping Forest Retreat

Posted on by
Reply


Today it was a pleasure to lead the retreat day for the staff of Epping Forest YFC held this year at Mulberry House in Ongar.

On retreats I like to be able to give people a few ideas for how to connect with God in fresh ways that they can use again in their everyday lives. This morning we considered Psalm 139 and did a bit of an Ignation Examen thing. After a fantastic lunch, we looked at The Emmaus Journey using the Benedictine Lectio Divina. As well as this we looked at the idea of Labyrinths too.

It was great to see how God was moving and speaking through normal everyday things. The grounds of this place were amazing and leading a retreat from a summer house in the garden was quite a unique experience and one that I’d like to repeat – as long as it stays warm!

It was also great to catch up with good friend Leesa for a coffee before travelling home.

Mind Body Spirit

Posted on by
2

The festival today was another great experience.

I took a few photos which can be accessed via my flickr badge in the sidebar. The picture here shows Debbie getting to grips with the Jesus Deck before we opened.
Today I simply had an overwhelming feeling of privilege as people let us into their lives and asked us to pray for them.

Whether we massaged feet or hands, prayed for healing, used the Jesus deck, or prayed a simple blessing it seemed to me that Jesus was touching the lives of these people that are searching. No one, when offered, declined the option for prayer and I don’t think anyone went away feeling that something had happened.

I can’t explain this, and in some ways I don’t feel the need to – but I am convinced God has called us to this, and I can see that something works; and I think that is good enough for me at the moment. I have again come away buzzing with that excitment that I only get when I know that I have experienced God at work.

I also had a wander around and, as with last years festival, there were a number of interesting stalls around – it really is amazing what people are prepared to try (and pay!!) to understand more of their spirituality.

If you are visiting the festival, be sure to say hito those on Dekhomai.

Some days

Posted on by
2


Some days I have very little to say.
Today is one of those days!

Today is also a daywhen I have genuinely been surprised.
I’m not a great Alpha person – I see it works and is a great resource, but I don’t sit easy with the one size fits all approach that it has. As I said above, though, I can’t knock it as the reality is that it is changing people’s lives.

Anyway I was surprised today by Alpha video – its quite cool!