Last week I spoke of Rob Bell from Mars Hill.

Before my trip to Leeds I downloaded a couple of mp3 sermons of his to listen to if I finished my work. I listened to one called ‘The theology of breathing’ which I found interesting and got me thinking differently about stuff. It’s well worth downloading and listening to.

Bell spoke of Ruah and Pneuma, words in the old and new testament for spirit. These words are also translated as breath and Bell opened up the thought being nothing without the breath of God. We were created from dust and God breathed into us to make us human, without ruah/pneuma we are dust, dead, nothing!

Interesting as the thought comes, and Bell brings it up, that when we say ‘God is not close’ he replies, ‘I breathed into you, I am in your breath – I can’t get any closer, I’m so close I’m inside’. Its a sobering and exciting thought to think that since the beginning of our lives God has been dwelling within us. We may not notice, but he breathed into us and he is still there.

I also picked up from Bell a few more bits about breathing. Breathing helps to get toxins out of our bodies. Most of us breathe from our chest only, so our breathing only removes around 20% of thee toxins that it could. If we breath deeply, more of the toxins are got rid of.

Try breathing deeply right now few times. It immediately calms us. Toxins are being removed but I wonder if we are also being reminded of God’s deep indwelling presence? I wonder if as we breath deeply, whether we unknowingly connect with our maker in a way we do not fully understand, yet feel the calming and encouraging effects of?

We all know that in times of stress if we breathe deeply that it can help to calm us. I can recall a few occasions when I have lost it and thought afterwards, ‘If only I had taken a few deep breaths first!’ Breathing deeply, properly, has physiological effects. It calms our breathing, increases oxygen to the brain, aerates our blood and so slows our heart beat.

Is it possible that there is more here then we understand. For centuries Christian meditation has centred around deep breathing and stilling self before God. Does this deepening of the breathing help us to connect deeply with God which we cannot do when we are charging around? On average we breath around 16-20 times a minute from our chest when God created us to breath around 10 times a minute properly. No wonder we feel overworked and tired!!!

I wonder whether breathing has something divine about it. The word in the old testament, ruah, may be translated breath or spirit. When we are born we breath, new Christian’s receive the spirit. When we stop breathing we die, without God’s spirit we are as good as dead. Without ‘ruah’, whether that is breath or spirit, we are just dust.

For the last couple of weeks I have been trying to remember to breathe properly. As I do this I have become more conscious of the presence of Jesus. That is no surprise as that is merely the result of this stuff going through my head. There has been an interesting development, though. Each time I breathe deeply I remember God, and I remember that I am loved exactly as I am. That is great to remember when you are having a hard crappy day, or just received a tirade of abuse, or just started to doubt your calling, or stopped believing in yourself or your ability to do something God has called you to … I think I have covered lots of everyday occurrences there (well most of mine anyway!)! It reminds me, too, of the request to ‘pray continually’.

So … if I say to you ‘excuse me … I need to breathe for a moment’ …you know what’s going on!

I’m a proud dad.

Today in church we saw 6 young people baptised. It was a great and exciting occasion.

It was a mega proud moment for a mum and dad as we watched Beth tell the church why she wanted to be baptised and then see the event itself.

What a great way to end a fantatstic weekend.

Saturday was an amazing day. 225 000 people marching in Edinburgh. 200 000 in Hyde Park. No one can add to what has already been said on the TV, or on radio or in the newspapers.

There were 2 particular moments which I will remember for a while, one shallow and one quite emotional:

1 – Geldof sang “I don’t like Monday’s”. A classic and just as good as I remember from when I was 12!

The second moment is summed up in the report from the Times below:

Then images of wretched starving children filled the screen in London before Geldof ushered onto the stage a striking black figure.

““Who is this beautiful woman?” he asked. “This little girl had 10 minutes to live 20 years ago. Because we did a concert, because we did that, last week she did her agricultural exams at her school in the north Ethiopianian highlands. DonÂ’t let them tell you this doesn’’t work.”

Birhan Woldu, 24, had survived the famine of 20 years before, thanks to Live Aid. Now she clasped the microphone, a vision of possibility. ““Hello from Africa,” she said. “We love you very much.””

Watching the event in my in-laws back garden on a big screen we had set up with a projector, I looked around and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the garden. Adults and children equally were moved. It hit home again what was at stake. the 30 000 is not a number, it is not a simple figure, it is not even a grusome statistic – it is a life; a life that can, and should be, beautiful and full of promise.

Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking we cannot make a difference. If you haven’t done so yet, sign up with Make Poverty History, sign up with Live 8, write to Blair, Brown and your MP. Done all that … then get others too and pray.

Saturday was a busy day.

After the normal football and dance lessons, Beth celebrated her birthday in style with friends and a bouncy castle/slide which then became a Live 8 party on the big screen.

How can so few 15 nine year olds make so much noise?!

This morning was a beautiful time of chaos and joy as Beth opened presents ands cards from family members and friends. She even had a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ sand down the phone to her.

Have a great day Beth!

For the next 3 days I will be joining others from YFC on retreat at Stanbrook Abbey, which is a community of Benedictine nuns.

Beth will be 9 in the morning and it will be great watching her open her presents and thinking “where the flip have the last 9 years gone!” Then I’ll think to myself “Rob you are starting to sound old!” It’s a sad vicious circle which I must not allow myself to fall into to. I won’t be leaving early so I will be able to experience the fun that 9 years olds have on their birthdays.

It is weird to sit and think how long ago Beth was born. Lots has happened. We had just left Bristol, GYFC was just starting and we were (thankfully) in the last dying throws of a dead, defeated spiteful and unimaginative Tory government. Beth has not had to experience any of that! I’m looking forward to seeing her in the morning.

Thankfully the retreat does not start until 3 so leaving at 11.30 should mean we miss most of the crappy traffic that is around on the motorways.

I’m looking forward to spending more time with people that I like and wish I knew more. I’m looking forward to what God is going to do and say. Taking time away from work and having a slower pace, allowing God the space to speak and ‘do his thing’ inevitably results in learning something new. I’m looking forward to the chats on the way and back from the pub in the evenings.

I’m looking forward to a chilled time with friends and God.

If you have not checked out the Make Poverty History website recently then do so.

If you are not able to get to Edinburgh this weekend (as I am not due to the double celebration of my daughters birthday and baptism)the MPH website gives you many other things that you can still do.

Last week I had a letter from my MP with updated information on the debt relief and aid situation. This encouraged me as he wrote because I had written a while ago (to which he had already responded)about the campaign. He was updating me further which I think shows that, at last, the government is taking this seriously.

I was in a discussion a little while ago who thought, in a very American way, that the situation was not as simple as Bob Geldof was outlining. I know I am passionate and sometimes idealistic (comes with being young!!) but it really is simple!

This weekend, and over the next few days, these 8 people have the power to change the world. How cool is that!! These 8 people can really make a difference; they can do what many only ever dream about – they really can be history makers. They can do down in history as the people who cared enough to act.

The decisions can be made. This weekend in my house there will be a candle burning as a vigil to remind us to offer up prayers. We need to be praying that these 8 leaders take the opportunity and change the world for the better.

The alternative really is too horrible to contemplate -as you read you can hear the alternative: every click, every 3 seconds, a dead son/daughter/brother/sister.

PRAY for the right thing to happen.

This is great from Phil and worth a look.

It’s based on post secrets which I wrote about a while ago.

Phil has merged some of the postcards with Psalm 139 quite effectively and very usable in the right setting – just check it, though, before you use it in your church as it may not be appropriate for many!

It’s been a long day and I want to write so much but have failing energy!

Tonight has been fantastic at the youth group. The plan (sex!) had to go out of the window as there were so many issues flying around the place. This could have ended in disaster and tears but the determination of the young people themselves to attempt to get personal things sorted meant this was ‘one of those’ sessions!

Tonight, on reflection, I just get very excited and can see how Sarah and others have provided relevant stuff for these young people so that they feel able to help themselves, but also see a duty to help each other when the ‘other’ is struggling. Actually, duty is the wrong word, they do this because they want to, not because they have to.

Tonight I have witnessed young people cry together. I have seen them praying together. Tonight I have seen people just sitting and being together. I have seen laughter. I have seen sensitivity. I have experienced the desire of the youthful to do that extra bit to show others that they care and want to be able to help, but with a maturity that acknowledges they can do very little to help other than ‘be there’.

Tonight I have seen top examples of what it means to be friends and Christians.

These young people are great and I wish the press would acknowledge the simple beautiful and fantastic things that young people like these do all of the time.

This evening I spoke at a united service at Chislehurst Methodist church where we commissioned Matt, the new director of Chislehurst YFC.

This was a good supporting occasion where I kind of challenged the local people. I drew their attention to the fact that rich areas seem to give little to mission projects, whereas poor areas give more. I challenged the people tonight to break that mould and so give out of their richness to support Matt and assist him in developing the team he needs to work with him.

People spoke to me after the service so I guess I did not challenge and upset them enough! I hope I made them think. In fact the after service chats were good – even if I was made jealous by a local ordained woman able to do loads of skiing – but, hey, some of us have to do the work!!

afterwards I went for a pint of Spitfire with Matt so I could learn more about him and answer his questions about YFC and stuff. Just by him asking for a Spitfire I knew he was going to be a good bloke!

Matt is going to be a great guy for Chislehurst; passionate, energetic and a strong will to remain focused and get things done. I see here a young man that is passionate about his calling of reaching he young people of Chislehurst and will not allow himself to be distracted from that.

I really hope the local people are able to take this opportunity and support him as much as they can. I look forward to my next visit!