I came across this too late for the 30th January, but have put the other dates in my diary. You might want to read more here unless you already know about it all!
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Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Parenting
I had a bit of a grumpy old man moment yesterday. It's an age thing! I'd decided to go for a swim and thought I'd chosen a time when any parents with kids were probably heading to MacDonalds. Sadly I was wrong. Slipping into the swimming lane, it soon became crowded as 2 then 3 more people entered the water.
After a short while I gave up swimming around other bodies and retired to the heat and safety of the sauna. Having inspected my foot that had been clawed by the long-nailed woman who seemed to think swimming diagonally across the lane was the best way to get the water to herself, I settled down to roast and watched through the window as parents stood in the pool encouraging their water-winged future Olympians to jump into the water. And that's when the grumpy old man took over and I found myself moaning about the state of parenting.
What struck me was that here were parents who probably complained when their children failed to do what they asked them to do, actively encouraging them to break the rules printed on the rather large notice as you enter the pool area. It quite clearly says: No diving or jumping into the water. It's a safety thing, not a kill-joy rule. The water simply isn't deep enough.
Maybe I'm just being picky, but if we teach our children that you can pick and choose which rules to obey based upon whether they suit you or not, then we can't really complain when they do that with our rules.
Grumpy rant over.
After a short while I gave up swimming around other bodies and retired to the heat and safety of the sauna. Having inspected my foot that had been clawed by the long-nailed woman who seemed to think swimming diagonally across the lane was the best way to get the water to herself, I settled down to roast and watched through the window as parents stood in the pool encouraging their water-winged future Olympians to jump into the water. And that's when the grumpy old man took over and I found myself moaning about the state of parenting.
What struck me was that here were parents who probably complained when their children failed to do what they asked them to do, actively encouraging them to break the rules printed on the rather large notice as you enter the pool area. It quite clearly says: No diving or jumping into the water. It's a safety thing, not a kill-joy rule. The water simply isn't deep enough.
Maybe I'm just being picky, but if we teach our children that you can pick and choose which rules to obey based upon whether they suit you or not, then we can't really complain when they do that with our rules.
Grumpy rant over.
Faith in the Pub
Now I know that it isn't ground-breaking stuff for many folk, but we had our second "Pub Group" last night. There were seven of us altogether and to be honest, Anne and I were really quite excited and pleased with the evening. We had a good discussion across a range of topics and it was all interesting. There were a few moments where it might have got tense, but it didn't, and I think overall it was another positive step.
We also learnt a few more things. First of all, we need to go with some topics in mind. It could so easily drift into an unhelpful discussion that simply focuses on the same things month after month. Last night we talked about the Middle East. About how we felt about it, the politics and issues and the questions. We also reflected on how we can pray most effectively as the events unfold. We drifted into conversations about church and reaching our community, about men in church and about one or two others subjects that cropped up.
Secondly, where we sit is also quite important. We were in the corner furthest from the bar. That meant we had little, in fact no interaction with others beyond our group. I'm not sure quite how we address that. There aren't that many comfortable seats near the bar and I don't fancy standing up all night! We will have to think about it if we want people to be able to overhear our conversation and feel able to join in. But maybe in these initial meetings it's less of a problem while we find our feet.
We also learnt a few more things. First of all, we need to go with some topics in mind. It could so easily drift into an unhelpful discussion that simply focuses on the same things month after month. Last night we talked about the Middle East. About how we felt about it, the politics and issues and the questions. We also reflected on how we can pray most effectively as the events unfold. We drifted into conversations about church and reaching our community, about men in church and about one or two others subjects that cropped up.
Secondly, where we sit is also quite important. We were in the corner furthest from the bar. That meant we had little, in fact no interaction with others beyond our group. I'm not sure quite how we address that. There aren't that many comfortable seats near the bar and I don't fancy standing up all night! We will have to think about it if we want people to be able to overhear our conversation and feel able to join in. But maybe in these initial meetings it's less of a problem while we find our feet.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Foundations and footings
I watched a video of Ken Robinson talking about education that I may have seen before, but I can't remember. Anyway, the link came via a friend and I'm really glad they sent it. The basic premise of Robinson's argument is that our educational systems educate creativity out of us. The result is that by the time most of us reach adulthood we are only interested in the right answer and generally afraid of getting the wrong answer. So we simply learn not to think creatively, because that might lead us to the wrong answer. It's a really interesting video and there is much to learn and apply to the church.
What also interested me was something he said about what originally drove public education and how it came to colour how we deliver and measure it. Two things determined all public education policies. One was the enlightenment the other was industrialisation. To some extent you hear echoes of this every time an industrialist wades into the argument about the outcomes of education. Anyway, I'm moving away from the point I want make.
Some time ago I began to ask questions about the nature of leadership in church and I wonder if we'd been building on the wrong foundation. Instead of building on apostles and prophets, we were building on pastors and teachers. But Robinson's point made me wonder how we got there. Where did we start? What turned a missionary movement into an institution? Was it just the result of moving from the margins to centre of society after the conversion of the Roman emperor? I don't think so.
For the most part we have to acknowledge that we are essential a selfish people. We not naturally predisposed to think what might be best for others at the expense of what might be best for us. You never hear the wealthy say to government, "Raise our taxes so that the poor don't have to suffer." On the contrary, we wriggle and squirm our way towards an economic construct that assume that if you make the rich richer, it will trickle down to the poorest parts of society.
So I think we need to take seriously that simple truth that we do what meets our needs first. And that is true of church. Perhaps we have built upon the wrong foundations, but we have done so because it suits us. It creates a comfortable environment for us and we can simply blame the world for not recognising the truth we preach. And that needs to change.
I have long held the view that those of us who know Jesus as leader and forgiver will have an eternity to sort out our problems and issues. An eternity where we can enjoy the fruit of our relationship with God and possibly even improve our backhand! On the other hand we are surrounded by people who only have a lifetime in which to make that choice. So what should be our priority? comfort for ourselves or engagement in mission for the sake of others?
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What also interested me was something he said about what originally drove public education and how it came to colour how we deliver and measure it. Two things determined all public education policies. One was the enlightenment the other was industrialisation. To some extent you hear echoes of this every time an industrialist wades into the argument about the outcomes of education. Anyway, I'm moving away from the point I want make.
Some time ago I began to ask questions about the nature of leadership in church and I wonder if we'd been building on the wrong foundation. Instead of building on apostles and prophets, we were building on pastors and teachers. But Robinson's point made me wonder how we got there. Where did we start? What turned a missionary movement into an institution? Was it just the result of moving from the margins to centre of society after the conversion of the Roman emperor? I don't think so.
For the most part we have to acknowledge that we are essential a selfish people. We not naturally predisposed to think what might be best for others at the expense of what might be best for us. You never hear the wealthy say to government, "Raise our taxes so that the poor don't have to suffer." On the contrary, we wriggle and squirm our way towards an economic construct that assume that if you make the rich richer, it will trickle down to the poorest parts of society.
So I think we need to take seriously that simple truth that we do what meets our needs first. And that is true of church. Perhaps we have built upon the wrong foundations, but we have done so because it suits us. It creates a comfortable environment for us and we can simply blame the world for not recognising the truth we preach. And that needs to change.
I have long held the view that those of us who know Jesus as leader and forgiver will have an eternity to sort out our problems and issues. An eternity where we can enjoy the fruit of our relationship with God and possibly even improve our backhand! On the other hand we are surrounded by people who only have a lifetime in which to make that choice. So what should be our priority? comfort for ourselves or engagement in mission for the sake of others?
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Friday, February 11, 2011
Home Again!
So, we've been away for a short break. Every year for the last 10 or more years, Anne's parents have spent 2 or 3 weeks in Tenerife and this year we joined them for a week. There's something very pleasing about winter sunshine. It's a very odd feeling to walk around in shorts and a t-shirt in February. It's almost surreal, but surprisingly easy to get used to!
We stayed in a place that was created from nothing as a holiday resort by the looks of old photographs of the area. Not even a hint of an old fishing village. One suspects that Tenerife has suffered a little from over development and is now suffering the consequences of the economic crises that have hit the more affluent economies of Western Europe. Testimony to this was a large abandoned hotel complex overlooking the town. What was once the boom industry of time-shares and holiday homes has fallen on very hard times indeed.
We spent 7 days in a hotel built in 1967 as the focal point of this new resort. My in-laws like it because they feel safe and they know a lot of regular visitors who come year after year. It's quite interesting to be the person with new eyes, seeing what they overlook because they like the company and the security. Luxury is no substitute for feeling comfortable in your surroundings.
The food was okay, but probably not what you might expect from the star rating of the hotel. Their idea of a vegetarian option was somewhat lacking in imagination. I don't consider a quarter of a white cabbage and a baby marrow to be a well balanced meal!
Anne and I set ourselves the target of doing 15,000 steps a day and we were well in advance of this until yours truly got floored by a nasty little virus that stole two days of the holiday and got everyone wondering about alternative travelling plans in case I wasn't fit enough for the return flight on time. I was, and we made it home, but it meant that for the first time in over 6 months I actually had a day when I didn't walk further than the bathroom, which fortunately wasn't far!! Still, I managed the equivalent of about 50 miles in only 5 days.
I spent my time when well playing tennis, swimming, reading, walking and playing more tennis. Having started to learn to play in the cold months of November and December, it was something of a revolution to have the sun on your back and dry tennis balls to hit. We had two courts at the hotel and I found a partner for a singles game and a group for social doubles in the mornings. Sadly the virus put paid to being able to play everyday, but it wasn't a total loss.
We didn't explore the island at all, too much tennis to be played. Maybe another year we'll get up into the mountains and visit a few places. To be honest, I'm not that interested in doing that. I like being active, but I'm not a great sight-seer.
We stayed in a place that was created from nothing as a holiday resort by the looks of old photographs of the area. Not even a hint of an old fishing village. One suspects that Tenerife has suffered a little from over development and is now suffering the consequences of the economic crises that have hit the more affluent economies of Western Europe. Testimony to this was a large abandoned hotel complex overlooking the town. What was once the boom industry of time-shares and holiday homes has fallen on very hard times indeed.
We spent 7 days in a hotel built in 1967 as the focal point of this new resort. My in-laws like it because they feel safe and they know a lot of regular visitors who come year after year. It's quite interesting to be the person with new eyes, seeing what they overlook because they like the company and the security. Luxury is no substitute for feeling comfortable in your surroundings.
The food was okay, but probably not what you might expect from the star rating of the hotel. Their idea of a vegetarian option was somewhat lacking in imagination. I don't consider a quarter of a white cabbage and a baby marrow to be a well balanced meal!
Anne and I set ourselves the target of doing 15,000 steps a day and we were well in advance of this until yours truly got floored by a nasty little virus that stole two days of the holiday and got everyone wondering about alternative travelling plans in case I wasn't fit enough for the return flight on time. I was, and we made it home, but it meant that for the first time in over 6 months I actually had a day when I didn't walk further than the bathroom, which fortunately wasn't far!! Still, I managed the equivalent of about 50 miles in only 5 days.
I spent my time when well playing tennis, swimming, reading, walking and playing more tennis. Having started to learn to play in the cold months of November and December, it was something of a revolution to have the sun on your back and dry tennis balls to hit. We had two courts at the hotel and I found a partner for a singles game and a group for social doubles in the mornings. Sadly the virus put paid to being able to play everyday, but it wasn't a total loss.
We didn't explore the island at all, too much tennis to be played. Maybe another year we'll get up into the mountains and visit a few places. To be honest, I'm not that interested in doing that. I like being active, but I'm not a great sight-seer.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
January walking
Well another month is over and another tally of steps and miles has been calculated. I might just see what it all comes to after a year, but I'm not sure. It is quite interesting to see the miles add up and the steps pass certain markers. I'm also wondering about what to do as a next challenge. I've already done my 100-day challenge and I've walked the equivalent of the length of the country. I wonder how far it is around the coast? That will probably keep me going for some time to come!
To the numbers:
Steps: 372,212
Equiv. distance: 181 miles
Days over 10k: 29
Av. per day: 12,007
Total from 1st August: 2,237,639 steps; 1,109 miles (1,774Km); 12,161 steps a day average.
Apparently, as far as I can determine, the total coastline of Great Britain runs to about 7, 700 miles. The main island is about 5,000 miles. So, at my current rate of approximately 6 miles a day, that would take 833 days of which I've done 184! That leaves 649 days. I think that would mean I'd finish that challenge around the 11th Nov. 2013. Maybe a day early given the leap year!
I think it would also cost me about four or five pairs of trainers! Maybe I'll buy them all now before the price goes up!
To the numbers:
Steps: 372,212
Equiv. distance: 181 miles
Days over 10k: 29
Av. per day: 12,007
Total from 1st August: 2,237,639 steps; 1,109 miles (1,774Km); 12,161 steps a day average.
Apparently, as far as I can determine, the total coastline of Great Britain runs to about 7, 700 miles. The main island is about 5,000 miles. So, at my current rate of approximately 6 miles a day, that would take 833 days of which I've done 184! That leaves 649 days. I think that would mean I'd finish that challenge around the 11th Nov. 2013. Maybe a day early given the leap year!
I think it would also cost me about four or five pairs of trainers! Maybe I'll buy them all now before the price goes up!
A Challenging Call
When Jesus stood strong, He was crucified. When the apostles spoke the truth, they were martyred. When the early church modelled the message, they were persecuted. But they turned the world upside down. Many were rescued from emptiness and despair by their message of the cross! Is our calling any different?
Church Awakening, 270
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Monday, January 31, 2011
Two great questions
I came across tow great questions while reading a post about missional communities:
I've rephrased the questions slightly, but the essence is still the same. We might even rephrase the first question again by asking:
Of course we'd probably answer that globally and therefore generally. "Everyone," is what we'd most likely say, but that misses the point. If God has placed in a particular community, then maybe that is where he'd most like to partner with you in mission.
And the question is important because good news might look very different in one community compared to another. It's also helpful because it asks us to stop making the good news a set a beliefs we present, but a life we live.
- To whom do you want to be good news?
- What does good news look like to those people?
I've rephrased the questions slightly, but the essence is still the same. We might even rephrase the first question again by asking:
- To whom has God called you to be good news?
Of course we'd probably answer that globally and therefore generally. "Everyone," is what we'd most likely say, but that misses the point. If God has placed in a particular community, then maybe that is where he'd most like to partner with you in mission.
And the question is important because good news might look very different in one community compared to another. It's also helpful because it asks us to stop making the good news a set a beliefs we present, but a life we live.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Psalm 48
I was struck yesterday by two phrases in Psalm 48 that caught my attention and got me thinking. The first comes in verse 8:
As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord Almighty
I'm not really sure what it was that resonated in my heart about these words, but something did. Perhaps it's the sense that we don't see, that we've done a lot of hearing, but we simply don't see. "As we have heard, so we have yet to see" might be our experience and feeling. And yet God is doing things, he continues to be at work and yet we don't see.
I long to see.
The second phrase comes right at the end:
For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.
The God who is described and active in the Bible is the same God we know today. Times may have changed, but our God has not. If he did it then, whatever "it" might be, then surely he is able to do it now!
There was a third thing in this psalm that I noticed and wondered what difference it might make if this were our practice too. In verse 9 it says:
Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
Notice that the preoccupation in the Temple was not with right doctrine or expression of worship. It wasn't about dotting the i's and crossing t's of our theology. It was about meditating, focussing on the love of God.
Three things worthy of reflection I thought.
As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord Almighty
I'm not really sure what it was that resonated in my heart about these words, but something did. Perhaps it's the sense that we don't see, that we've done a lot of hearing, but we simply don't see. "As we have heard, so we have yet to see" might be our experience and feeling. And yet God is doing things, he continues to be at work and yet we don't see.
I long to see.
The second phrase comes right at the end:
For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.
The God who is described and active in the Bible is the same God we know today. Times may have changed, but our God has not. If he did it then, whatever "it" might be, then surely he is able to do it now!
There was a third thing in this psalm that I noticed and wondered what difference it might make if this were our practice too. In verse 9 it says:
Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
Notice that the preoccupation in the Temple was not with right doctrine or expression of worship. It wasn't about dotting the i's and crossing t's of our theology. It was about meditating, focussing on the love of God.
Three things worthy of reflection I thought.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Daily Prayers
Over the course of the last year or so I've developed a routine of daily prayers that I pray for the church. Recently I shared them with the leadership team and we thought it would be good for us to take on board these daily prayers ourselves. We've since presented them to the church and asked them to take up the challenge of praying five things everyday. Here are the five prayers in outline form:
It took me a while to adapt to feeling that they were no longer my prayers but someone else's. Originally I chose to pray these prayers because I felt a sense of call to do it and a sense of discipline about developing a routine of intercession on behalf of the church. I still feel that way. In fact my list of daily prayers has ten items on it, but in truth I can only every remember these five, the other five I have to look up! And maybe five things are enough. Who knows.
February has been a month of prayer for me for a number of years. I try to write a simple prayer guide for the church so that we can all pray about the same things. Each year I look at the previous year and ask myself which items should remain and which should be reworded or replaced by something new. Each year I also wonder what impact last year's month had!
Anyway, if everyone prays at least the five daily prayers for the month, that would be great. Perhaps there will be stories to share along the way. Maybe this year I will try and blog about the prayer month as we go along. We shall see.
- Renewal and restoration
- That God’s Spirit will overflow continuously in me and the church
- The Growing Kingdom
- That God will draw into his kingdom those who are far from him
- Sharing God’s mission
- That God would lead us in mission
- Sharing the struggle
- That God will give us his peace, as we help each other through our struggles.
- God-Honouring Change
- That God will guide us as we seek to make changes that honour him.
It took me a while to adapt to feeling that they were no longer my prayers but someone else's. Originally I chose to pray these prayers because I felt a sense of call to do it and a sense of discipline about developing a routine of intercession on behalf of the church. I still feel that way. In fact my list of daily prayers has ten items on it, but in truth I can only every remember these five, the other five I have to look up! And maybe five things are enough. Who knows.
February has been a month of prayer for me for a number of years. I try to write a simple prayer guide for the church so that we can all pray about the same things. Each year I look at the previous year and ask myself which items should remain and which should be reworded or replaced by something new. Each year I also wonder what impact last year's month had!
Anyway, if everyone prays at least the five daily prayers for the month, that would be great. Perhaps there will be stories to share along the way. Maybe this year I will try and blog about the prayer month as we go along. We shall see.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
New Books
The second book to drop through the box is Right here, right now: Everyday mission for everyday people by Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford. According to Reggie McNeil it is a powerful new resource. It is both inspirational and instructional for serious Jesus-followers who understand church as a verb.
I'll get going on these just as soon as I finish Church Awakening.
In between times I'm dipping into Hit the ground kneeling by Stephen Cotterell and I want to have a look at All-Age Worship by Lucy Moore, bought on the basis of a review I read the other week.
So, as usual, a lot of reading to get through!
New Trainers
It was mainly in the sense of support and cushioning, which all suggest that the old ones were well past their best. They will become general purpose, wandering around the garden and garage, doing jobs trainers. The closest thing to recycling them I guess!
Do you think that now I'm lighter they will last longer?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Church Awakening
I'm only part way through reading The Church Awakening but I have to say it is full of gems and encouragements and challenges. Often reading a book like this can leave you feeling somewhat inadequate-wondering if you fall into the category of leader who would be judged as falling short of pressing biblically or failing to pursue grace. But you have to cut through those insecurities and let the book both refresh your sense of call and commitment to seeking to lead according to God's heart and to challenge you to invest more fully in building those things into your ministry.
Throughout the book there are sets of principles and patterns that set out the core of being a biblical community. There's nothing controversial, just a plain and simple call to profound realignment of the church with biblical models. A call to face up to the reality that we need to pay attention to those things that work to erode the fundamentals of being the church that Jesus wants to build.
The danger with such a book is that it makes a straw man of the emerging church or the ideas behind missional communities. I think Swindoll avoids this. His concern is not with a return to some bygone age where all in the church garden was rosy. No, his concern is to address the slow, subtle and silent erosion of core values that happens over time as we drift gently on the tide of popular thought and away from our biblical moorings.
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Monday, January 17, 2011
Who's to say?
I've been quietly annoyed ever since I read a comment about someone being a challenging preacher even though they hadn't had any formal training in preaching. I remember the times we had some apparently very good preachers come to college to show us how it's done. I'd like to think that it was the artificial nature of the circumstances that made these events less than inspiring!
Maybe one day we will describe someone as a challenging preacher despite their formal training.
Rant over.
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Maybe one day we will describe someone as a challenging preacher despite their formal training.
Rant over.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
What kind of leader am I?
A little while ago I took the APEST assessment. I first came across the concept through reading about it in books and on blogs. Essentially proposes that the leadership of the church comprises apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists. If the church leadership is going to function properly, then it only do so with all five of these leaders present.
So anyway, I took the assessment and came out strongly as apostle and prophet. Now at first glance I was a bit confused because I'd always though of myself as a preacher/teacher primarily. But then I dug a little deeper and discovered that in fact the role of preacher was actually subsumed into the role of prophet and the role of teacher was actually more of the role of organiser.
Now that makes more sense to me, even if you don't define teacher this way. I'm no organiser, but on my good days I can be an effective preacher.
I guess the question that arises now is what does this mean for my ministry and my leadership role, and of course for the role of those with whom share
leadership responsibility. At its most basic, the question is: where are the evangelists, the pastors and the teachers?
Too much of church leadership rests on the shoulders of an individual. It's time that changed. How you change that I'm not sure, but would it be too apocolyptic to suggest that the future of the church depends upon it?
A time may very well be approaching when all ministry will have to be what is euphemistically known as bi-vocational. We will no longer be able to hide behind the paid professional church leaders of whom we expect a wide range of gifts and skills than in truth none of us actually possess.
It is quite unsettling to think that one day one might actually have to carve out a career outside of the church in order to minister and lead effectively within it. After 20 years of full-time ministry one wonders what else one might be suited to do! And I also wonder how many of us would feel if we no longer had our professional status to wear as a badge of honour.
Much to ponder!
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So anyway, I took the assessment and came out strongly as apostle and prophet. Now at first glance I was a bit confused because I'd always though of myself as a preacher/teacher primarily. But then I dug a little deeper and discovered that in fact the role of preacher was actually subsumed into the role of prophet and the role of teacher was actually more of the role of organiser.
Now that makes more sense to me, even if you don't define teacher this way. I'm no organiser, but on my good days I can be an effective preacher.
I guess the question that arises now is what does this mean for my ministry and my leadership role, and of course for the role of those with whom share
leadership responsibility. At its most basic, the question is: where are the evangelists, the pastors and the teachers?
Too much of church leadership rests on the shoulders of an individual. It's time that changed. How you change that I'm not sure, but would it be too apocolyptic to suggest that the future of the church depends upon it?
A time may very well be approaching when all ministry will have to be what is euphemistically known as bi-vocational. We will no longer be able to hide behind the paid professional church leaders of whom we expect a wide range of gifts and skills than in truth none of us actually possess.
It is quite unsettling to think that one day one might actually have to carve out a career outside of the church in order to minister and lead effectively within it. After 20 years of full-time ministry one wonders what else one might be suited to do! And I also wonder how many of us would feel if we no longer had our professional status to wear as a badge of honour.
Much to ponder!
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Friday, January 14, 2011
What's outside the jar?
Here's a post that I picked up about organic/simple church that asks a really pertinent question or two about how we do church and why we do church the way we do.
So much of what we do is condition behaviour. That's not always a bad thing. In fact, if we've been trained well as children, then we can grow and become even better adults than our parents! But the counter is also true, and more fundamental than any of this is that if we are not careful we fall into the trap of one-dimensional thinking about almost everything.
Church is organic. It grows, changes, develops. The message stays the same, but the packaging changes. I honestly believe that church in the 21st century, the established church that is, is way too complicated, too unimaginative and far too dependent upon professional leaders doing the very ministry that the whole church was designed to do.
Here's the video in case you don;t have time to follow the link to the other post.
So much of what we do is condition behaviour. That's not always a bad thing. In fact, if we've been trained well as children, then we can grow and become even better adults than our parents! But the counter is also true, and more fundamental than any of this is that if we are not careful we fall into the trap of one-dimensional thinking about almost everything.
Church is organic. It grows, changes, develops. The message stays the same, but the packaging changes. I honestly believe that church in the 21st century, the established church that is, is way too complicated, too unimaginative and far too dependent upon professional leaders doing the very ministry that the whole church was designed to do.
Here's the video in case you don;t have time to follow the link to the other post.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Church Awakening
I'm reading The Church Awakening by Charles Swindoll. We're doing a study in Acts at church and this struck me as a useful book into which I could dip along the way. In the first chapter he talks about course correction in order to address issues of erosion in church life. He sets out three simple truths about erosion: it is always slow, always silent, and always subtle. The implication of this is that unless we measure it, we simply will not spot it before it's too late.
Learning from the early church, Swindoll identifies three principles and three imperatives:
As he goes on to say: “you can have more than these, but you can’t have church with less than these.
Learning from the early church, Swindoll identifies three principles and three imperatives:
- Clear, biblical thinking must override secular planning and a corporate mentality. (Principle)
- Think spiritually (Imperative)
- Studied, accurate decisions must originate from God’s Word, not human opinions.
- Stay biblical.
- Wise, essential changes must occur to counteract any sign of erosion.
- Be flexible.
As he goes on to say: “you can have more than these, but you can’t have church with less than these.
Friday, January 07, 2011
December Walking Stats
Having completed my 100-day challenge back in November and avoiding becoming overly obsessed with the numbers, December has still worked out to be a fairly successful month for walking.
Total steps taken: 366564
Daily average: 11825
Number of days over 10k: 28
Equivalent distance walked: 172 miles
That took me to an equivalent total distance from Aug. 1st of 928 miles!
Overall it's not bad. Lower that November and October, but not by much and anyway, it's never been the point to keep pushing the average up.
My goal for January is to reach my 1000 mile target. I had initially thought I might do that by the middle of the month, but then I realised I'd got the maths wrong and it's more like the beginning of February. My trainers will definitely need replacing by that point!
Total steps taken: 366564
Daily average: 11825
Number of days over 10k: 28
Equivalent distance walked: 172 miles
That took me to an equivalent total distance from Aug. 1st of 928 miles!
Overall it's not bad. Lower that November and October, but not by much and anyway, it's never been the point to keep pushing the average up.
My goal for January is to reach my 1000 mile target. I had initially thought I might do that by the middle of the month, but then I realised I'd got the maths wrong and it's more like the beginning of February. My trainers will definitely need replacing by that point!
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Be afraid, be very afraid!
A quote from the Evening Standard:
Now there's a worrying thought!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
“Now and in the future whatever device you use Windows will be there,” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said. “Windows PCs will continue to adapt and evolve. Windows will be everywhere on every device without compromise.”
Now there's a worrying thought!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Questions for the start of the year
If you want a list of questions to ponder at the start of the year, then here's a list of 31! All good questions, and you don't need to answer them all in one go, but maybe 31 is stretching it a bit.
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