A few articles and resources that I have found helpful and interesting.
First of all, if you haven't heard of Tim Keller, you should have! I have been very impressed with his teaching and the way in which he is able to relate classic Christian belief to the issues and outlooks of our day. There are lots of video clips and mp3s available as free downloads. The following link to the Reformissionary blog has a page of Keller resources:
http://www.stevekmccoy.com/reformissionary/2005/07/tim_keller_arti.html
Keller has also written a book called The Reason For God. I am currently reading it and finding it very helpful. It has just been published in the UK.
Check out www.bookdepository.co.uk they do free postage on books of any value anywhere in the world.
If you want to keep in touch with the Charismatic / Pentecostal world you could do worse than start with J. Lee Grady's weekly piece at http://www.charismamag.com/fireinmybones/.
There are also some good current affairs articles online. The major national newspaper websites are always worth a look. One online journal I visit occasionally is Prospect. There is a fascinating article that can be viewed online about character and how politicians on the right and the left are beginning to see character development as fundamental to dealing with social problems.
I loved the J.F. Roxburgh quote about his objective as a headmaster being to turn out young men who were "acceptable at a dance and invaluable in a shipwreck". What a very British definition of character!
Have a look and let me know what you think.
http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10283
Thursday 31 July 2008
Monday 28 July 2008
Monday Fun
Is this a send up of Star Wars? Or American Pie? Or both?
(Thanks to Graeme Arthur for this post)
(Thanks to Graeme Arthur for this post)
Friday 25 July 2008
Emotionally engaged worship
I woke up on a recent Saturday with the words "It seems as if eternal days / Are far too short to sound His praise". I instantly recognised that they were lyrics from a hymn we used to sing in pre Redman / Hillsong / Kendrick days. It is called In Tenderness He Sought Me (617 in Redemption Hymnal - or for the less initiated, the red hymn book).
It may have been that a glitch in my mental software meant that I was about to uncontrollably start launching the complete contents of the aforementioned red hymn book from the archives of my soul. It turned out, however, that only a couple found their way to my mind and my lips.
It seemed a littled bit strange after all these years to find myself singing these words - and recalling certain characters from back in the day singing them. And for the rest of the day I found myself thinking about these lines and some others from the same hymn.
What really hit me was the depth of the experience of the man who wrote them. He was obviously blown away by Jesus and God's grace manifested in Jesus and made real in his own life. Think of it: when he wrote "It seems as if eternal days / Are far too short to sound His praise" he is effectively saying that eternity won't give us long enough to praise Jesus! That is simply an amazing thought. And the rest of the hymn carries the same kind of wonder and amazement.
I happened to be reading Psalm 147 that morning, and in a different yet similar way, the Psalmist is swept of His feet by the greatness and glory of God.I felt quite humbled by both the ancient scriptures and the not so ancient yet uncontemporary hymn.
My prayer was - and is - "God, I want to feel how they felt and I want my congregation to feel that way too." Before you have a panic attack, let me assure you that I am not planning to reintroduce Redemption Hymnal. I do want to rediscover, however, the theological truth and the emotional authenticity of the scripture writers and the hymn writer - and yes, of some of those people I knew who sang and meant hymns like In Tenderness He Sought Me. Let's be people who emotionally engage when we worship. Let's be people who allow the grace of God and the love of Christ to overwhelm us.
I woke up on a recent Saturday with the words "It seems as if eternal days / Are far too short to sound His praise". I instantly recognised that they were lyrics from a hymn we used to sing in pre Redman / Hillsong / Kendrick days. It is called In Tenderness He Sought Me (617 in Redemption Hymnal - or for the less initiated, the red hymn book).
It may have been that a glitch in my mental software meant that I was about to uncontrollably start launching the complete contents of the aforementioned red hymn book from the archives of my soul. It turned out, however, that only a couple found their way to my mind and my lips.
It seemed a littled bit strange after all these years to find myself singing these words - and recalling certain characters from back in the day singing them. And for the rest of the day I found myself thinking about these lines and some others from the same hymn.
What really hit me was the depth of the experience of the man who wrote them. He was obviously blown away by Jesus and God's grace manifested in Jesus and made real in his own life. Think of it: when he wrote "It seems as if eternal days / Are far too short to sound His praise" he is effectively saying that eternity won't give us long enough to praise Jesus! That is simply an amazing thought. And the rest of the hymn carries the same kind of wonder and amazement.
I happened to be reading Psalm 147 that morning, and in a different yet similar way, the Psalmist is swept of His feet by the greatness and glory of God.I felt quite humbled by both the ancient scriptures and the not so ancient yet uncontemporary hymn.
My prayer was - and is - "God, I want to feel how they felt and I want my congregation to feel that way too." Before you have a panic attack, let me assure you that I am not planning to reintroduce Redemption Hymnal. I do want to rediscover, however, the theological truth and the emotional authenticity of the scripture writers and the hymn writer - and yes, of some of those people I knew who sang and meant hymns like In Tenderness He Sought Me. Let's be people who emotionally engage when we worship. Let's be people who allow the grace of God and the love of Christ to overwhelm us.
Wednesday 23 July 2008
txting is good 4 u
Ever heard people of my generation whinge about what texting is doing to the English language? Well it looks like a very clever person has written a book that indicates x-ers and boomers are just over reacting and millennials are racing ahead in their linguistic abilities thanks to texting.
I suppose all us x-ers can say is "gr8".
Check out the link and find out what "text" looks like in other languages - including Chinese - yes Chinese!
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/non-fiction/article4356458.ece
I suppose all us x-ers can say is "gr8".
Check out the link and find out what "text" looks like in other languages - including Chinese - yes Chinese!
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/non-fiction/article4356458.ece
Tuesday 22 July 2008
What's out there
I thought I'd direct you to a few websites / blogsites that I have found interesting lately. There is a lot of free downloadable stuff around. Some of it very worthwhile. Listened to Eddie Gibbs of Church Growth fame. He is a professor at Fuller in the U.S.. Younger leaders influenced by the Emerging / Emergent Church would do well to listen to this interview. You can pick up the link at the following website: http://rangescc.org/2008/07/15/eddie-gibbs-on-fuller-conversations/
For a bit of contemporary church history that seems to be in the making check out the following link and the coverage of Mark Driscoll at the Together On A Mission conference: http://adrianwarnock.com/
And if you want something a bit more mind bending, how about some philosophy lectures from Berkeley in California. I have listened to the first one on The Brothers Karamazov: http://webcast.berkeley.edu/rss/course-archive.php?seriesid=1906978538
Let me know how you get on!
I thought I'd direct you to a few websites / blogsites that I have found interesting lately. There is a lot of free downloadable stuff around. Some of it very worthwhile. Listened to Eddie Gibbs of Church Growth fame. He is a professor at Fuller in the U.S.. Younger leaders influenced by the Emerging / Emergent Church would do well to listen to this interview. You can pick up the link at the following website: http://rangescc.org/2008/07/15/eddie-gibbs-on-fuller-conversations/
For a bit of contemporary church history that seems to be in the making check out the following link and the coverage of Mark Driscoll at the Together On A Mission conference: http://adrianwarnock.com/
And if you want something a bit more mind bending, how about some philosophy lectures from Berkeley in California. I have listened to the first one on The Brothers Karamazov: http://webcast.berkeley.edu/rss/course-archive.php?seriesid=1906978538
Let me know how you get on!
Monday 21 July 2008
Saturday 19 July 2008
He's with us always - even at the local festival
Last Saturday (11th) our church took part in the Langley Green Festival, a local event organised by the council and local people. The feed back I have had from both people in the church and those who aren't part of the church has been overwhelmingly positive.
We pitched a marquee on the school playing fields and offered free cream teas, activities for toddlers and older children, a puppet show and some beauty therapy (for women, I think!). We also gave away loads of balloons and stickers with Smile Jesus loves you written on them.
Those who commented to me about the church's involvement remarked on the peaceful atmosphere within the tent and the fact that just about everyone was smiling. That might not seem like a big deal to us, but for many people such an atmosphere can be pretty disarming.
You might wonder what this has got to do with our mission in the world. How does this relate to proclaiming the good news of Jesus. It's really all about being there. We often miss the importance of this in our particular expression of Christianity. We are prone to thinking that the Holy Spirit hasn't shown up unless there are bodies on the floor or that our involvement has been a waste of time unless we have done a gospel presentation.
Whilst we do want to see people powerfully touched by the presence of the Spirit and we are committed to making Christ known (actually we did proclamation and power on Sunday!),we need to remember that our presence in this world is also of great importance.
Why? For a number of reasons:
Firstly, we carry the presence with Christ with us wherever we go. That's why people can feel the difference when they meet us - especially at a corporate event like the festival. People might not always be able to explain what it is they encounter when they meet us, but they do "feel" the difference.
Secondly, if we aren't prepared to spend time with people, we will never have the opportunity to talk to them about Jesus. It doesn't matter how good our preaching and teaching is, how contemporary our websites and slick our flyers are, if we never make contact with people, we will never have the opportunity to share Christ with them. I know all this sounds obvious, but many Christians act as if we can win the lost without ever talking to them!
Thirdly, there is a whole biblical theology about being salt and light (Matthew 5.13-16) and seeking the good of our towns and cities (1 Timothy 2.1-2)that we sometimes forget, but we'll look at this another time.
Finally, I believe it is important to reiterate the importance of getting out among people, as we live in an era, particularly in the Pentecostal / Charismatic world, in which many are seeking the key to revival or the "fix". We watch and read about revival movements across the world and instead of rejoicing in what God is doing we begin to live revival vicariously through tv and magazines. And we begin to reason that if we had that here, we'd have an instant outpouring of the Holy Spirit, with thousands being brought in to God's kingdom.
That is a great dream, and if it happens I'll celebrate. However, if that kind of dream diverts us from doing the hard work of witness in our own backyard, we're in trouble. So next year, if there's a festival, we'll be there. And Jesus will be with us.
Last Saturday (11th) our church took part in the Langley Green Festival, a local event organised by the council and local people. The feed back I have had from both people in the church and those who aren't part of the church has been overwhelmingly positive.
We pitched a marquee on the school playing fields and offered free cream teas, activities for toddlers and older children, a puppet show and some beauty therapy (for women, I think!). We also gave away loads of balloons and stickers with Smile Jesus loves you written on them.
Those who commented to me about the church's involvement remarked on the peaceful atmosphere within the tent and the fact that just about everyone was smiling. That might not seem like a big deal to us, but for many people such an atmosphere can be pretty disarming.
You might wonder what this has got to do with our mission in the world. How does this relate to proclaiming the good news of Jesus. It's really all about being there. We often miss the importance of this in our particular expression of Christianity. We are prone to thinking that the Holy Spirit hasn't shown up unless there are bodies on the floor or that our involvement has been a waste of time unless we have done a gospel presentation.
Whilst we do want to see people powerfully touched by the presence of the Spirit and we are committed to making Christ known (actually we did proclamation and power on Sunday!),we need to remember that our presence in this world is also of great importance.
Why? For a number of reasons:
Firstly, we carry the presence with Christ with us wherever we go. That's why people can feel the difference when they meet us - especially at a corporate event like the festival. People might not always be able to explain what it is they encounter when they meet us, but they do "feel" the difference.
Secondly, if we aren't prepared to spend time with people, we will never have the opportunity to talk to them about Jesus. It doesn't matter how good our preaching and teaching is, how contemporary our websites and slick our flyers are, if we never make contact with people, we will never have the opportunity to share Christ with them. I know all this sounds obvious, but many Christians act as if we can win the lost without ever talking to them!
Thirdly, there is a whole biblical theology about being salt and light (Matthew 5.13-16) and seeking the good of our towns and cities (1 Timothy 2.1-2)that we sometimes forget, but we'll look at this another time.
Finally, I believe it is important to reiterate the importance of getting out among people, as we live in an era, particularly in the Pentecostal / Charismatic world, in which many are seeking the key to revival or the "fix". We watch and read about revival movements across the world and instead of rejoicing in what God is doing we begin to live revival vicariously through tv and magazines. And we begin to reason that if we had that here, we'd have an instant outpouring of the Holy Spirit, with thousands being brought in to God's kingdom.
That is a great dream, and if it happens I'll celebrate. However, if that kind of dream diverts us from doing the hard work of witness in our own backyard, we're in trouble. So next year, if there's a festival, we'll be there. And Jesus will be with us.
Friday 4 July 2008
The Beeb on Sunday School
I don't often get the chance to watch tv on a Thursday evening, but last night I decided to watch what turned out to be a fascinating documentary on BBC4 about Sunday Schools in Britain.
Huw Edwards, who can be seen reading the news on BBC1 narrated the programme and interviewed some famous characters along the way, all of whom had been to Sunday School in their childhood. They included Lord Hattersley (a former deputy leader of the Labour party) and Anne Widdecombe.
The origins of what eventually became the Sunday School movement can be traced to an idea of Robert Raikes of Gloucester aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour caused by children. His plan was to take children off the streets on a Sunday and teach them basic literacy skills and Bible stories - reading, writing and redemption.
In its early years the movement grew rapidly but sometimes met with stiff opposition from the establishment because it empowered the poorer classes. A particularly difficult period was during the French revolution, as the ruling classes were afraid that Sunday Schools could help to spark the kind of revolution experienced in France - I know that seems hard to believe today!
During the 19th century and into the middle of the twentieth century millions of children attended Sunday Schools in Britain. In some towns thousands of children attended Sunday School; in Stockport at one time it was estimated that 6000 children were in attendance at Sunday Schools throughout the town.
What was really striking was how Christians with the gospel empowered thousands of children in 18th and 19th century Britain, children who spent the rest of the week working in factories or down the mines. It was also impressive that thousands of Christians invested time and energy in teaching sometimes quite unruly children. The social transformation that this helped bring about was duly noted in the programme.
Personally, I found the presentation thought provoking and challenging. Thought provoking, because it made me think "How can we engage masses of children and young people today?" We can't just do what was done fifty or one hundred and fifty years ago. But we can support projects like Lighthouse and ministries like Nomad / YFC, Kingdom Kids and Youth Club. If anything this BBC production reminded me just how important these kinds of ministries are - not just for the church but for the whole of our society.
And it reminded me what God can do when ordinary people, if anyone can ever be called "ordinary", decide to serve. He uses ordinary people, thousands of them, to do the work. Without armies of volunteers, society will remain more or less the way it is - or just get worse. All of you who volunteer play such a strategic part in what God is doing and will do in this nation.
It challenged me as well. Can we be bold enough to see answers to the social ills of our day? Do we believe that the gospel can still empower the powerless? I hope so. Society needs us to be bold believers.
So Thursday evening in front of the telly was well spent on this occasion! You can watch the programme on BBC iPlayer. You can access it by clicking this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ccffw
If you do happen to watch it, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by what Huw Edwards says at the end. Let me know what you think.
Huw Edwards, who can be seen reading the news on BBC1 narrated the programme and interviewed some famous characters along the way, all of whom had been to Sunday School in their childhood. They included Lord Hattersley (a former deputy leader of the Labour party) and Anne Widdecombe.
The origins of what eventually became the Sunday School movement can be traced to an idea of Robert Raikes of Gloucester aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour caused by children. His plan was to take children off the streets on a Sunday and teach them basic literacy skills and Bible stories - reading, writing and redemption.
In its early years the movement grew rapidly but sometimes met with stiff opposition from the establishment because it empowered the poorer classes. A particularly difficult period was during the French revolution, as the ruling classes were afraid that Sunday Schools could help to spark the kind of revolution experienced in France - I know that seems hard to believe today!
During the 19th century and into the middle of the twentieth century millions of children attended Sunday Schools in Britain. In some towns thousands of children attended Sunday School; in Stockport at one time it was estimated that 6000 children were in attendance at Sunday Schools throughout the town.
What was really striking was how Christians with the gospel empowered thousands of children in 18th and 19th century Britain, children who spent the rest of the week working in factories or down the mines. It was also impressive that thousands of Christians invested time and energy in teaching sometimes quite unruly children. The social transformation that this helped bring about was duly noted in the programme.
Personally, I found the presentation thought provoking and challenging. Thought provoking, because it made me think "How can we engage masses of children and young people today?" We can't just do what was done fifty or one hundred and fifty years ago. But we can support projects like Lighthouse and ministries like Nomad / YFC, Kingdom Kids and Youth Club. If anything this BBC production reminded me just how important these kinds of ministries are - not just for the church but for the whole of our society.
And it reminded me what God can do when ordinary people, if anyone can ever be called "ordinary", decide to serve. He uses ordinary people, thousands of them, to do the work. Without armies of volunteers, society will remain more or less the way it is - or just get worse. All of you who volunteer play such a strategic part in what God is doing and will do in this nation.
It challenged me as well. Can we be bold enough to see answers to the social ills of our day? Do we believe that the gospel can still empower the powerless? I hope so. Society needs us to be bold believers.
So Thursday evening in front of the telly was well spent on this occasion! You can watch the programme on BBC iPlayer. You can access it by clicking this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ccffw
If you do happen to watch it, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by what Huw Edwards says at the end. Let me know what you think.
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