A bit of calm before the storm

Probably won't blog much in the next couple of days (not that I blog daily or anything anyway.) I'm having a few days R&R and will probably be banned from the computer; although if today was anything to go by the R&R will include lots of trips to the tip (a new bank holiday past time judging by the queues) and more gardening. I got a chiminea (not a bushman's one but similar)for my birthday and I'm hoping to enjoy some glasses of wine admiring my efforts in the garden in front of the fire. My holiday reading is going to be How to Play Poker as the first missional poker night is planned for the end of June. Still haven't made a decision about what to do about the Alexandra Palace event yet, I think I'm in denial.

Time to tell a story

I'm reading Experiential Storytelling at the moment. It's quite fun and I enjoyed this quote from a Jewish Teaching Story.
Truth, naked and cold, had been turned away from every door in the village. Her nakedness frightened the people. When Parable found her, she was huddled in a corner, shivering and hungry. Taking pity on her, Parable gathered her up and took her home. There, she dressed Truth in story, warmed her and sent her out again. Clothed in story, Truth knocked again at the villagers' doors and was readily welcomed into the people's houses. They invited her to eat at their table and warm herself by their fire.
Let's go story tell..

The Soul in the City celebration at Wembley Conference centre on Saturday 

It's a bit mad at the moment

Saturday night I was involved in hosting a Soul in the City gig at Wembley conference centre (Picture Above). It was a good night and I think people are genuinely getting excited about all that God's going to do in the Summer, through the various projects. We're trying to work out whether we can afford to hire Alexandra Palace for a big event during the two weeks. It would cost a packet but could have a big impact for North London churches. Any thoughts?

Relaxing post BBQ. After we'd grilled the food,we chilled and grilled David about church planting instead. 

The Autumn House post Holy Space. We had a good morning with a couple of new faces and talked about Jesus bringing sight to the blind. Then most of us headed back to mine for a BBQ with special guest David Parker from the Desert Vineyard in California. Photo below. 

Transformation beckons

Since Tuesday I've been in Liverpool at the New Wine leaders conference. It was good to catch up with some of my buddies and make a few new ones as well. Beer was only £1.10 a pint in one of the bars, so a few pints were consumed...

On Monday night, before we headed up North, Paul Cowley who I was at college with and heads up the Alpha for Prison and caring for ex-offender ministry, came over and spoke to our Emerging Leaders group. His testimony of personal transformation through the power of God, and his willingness to share his faith in prisons was inspiring. I've heard his story a few times but everytime I do it challenges me to talk about Jesus more.

At the conference I was reminded again about the need for us to get more passionate about Jesus and share the difference he's made and continues to make in our lives.

We got back this afternoon to discover the police had rung the church because a lady had committed suicide. We didn't know her, but some literature from the church and the church plant had been found in her flat. She may have been searching, sadly she didn't find the one who could have helped her. There are many hurting people out there who need more of the good news that we've got.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

This verse from Philippians 1 has been going round my head for the last twenty four hours with the question, is it true for me? I'd like to think so but the reality is that so much of my life is reacting to situations or providing for the needs of family and life. As someone who's easily distracted , how much am I truly living for Christ in a fairly distracting world?

Off to Liverpool tomorrow for the New Wine leaders conference for three days, probably won't be blogging.

A Distant Visitor

This morning we had a visitor at St. B's who'd come all the way from Brixton (at least an hour on the tube) to visit Holy Space. Holy space meets fortnighty in a local pub, but it wasn't meeting this morning. I was intrigued as to where she'd found out about us from and why she'd come so far to meet us. Apparently she'd found us on the web (I have no idea where & the info obviously needs updating), and she's looking for an alt worship service.
Now I'm worried, not least because I don't think there's anything particularly alternative about what we're doing. It's a group of friends doing an informal version of church, in a more pleasant venue than usual. My desire is that we'd be a very accessible & very missional community. I'm happy for visitors to visit, but I'm more excited about those who are seeking Jesus than a worship experience.
I hope she won't be disappointed....

So what do you think of the new look blog? Does the template work for you? Does my ability to add photos impress those of you who know me - it should..

Vancouver Island Rocks 

Just trying out a few new things that the new look blogger allows, and getting ridiculously excited over the fact that I've managed to get one of my favourite photos up. This was the boys having fun on the beach on Vancouver Island a couple of years ago. I was sitting with Sue, drinking a beer, taking photos and watching the sun go down over the pacific..it doesn't get much better....

New Template, and Pluralistic Birthdays

Bloggers' had a face lift. I love change so I've changed. Hopefully comments, links and everything else will reappear soon.

Yesterday was my birthday, it was spent on a Post Ordination Training Day, at the London Inter Faith Centre. Now some of you have realised what an exciting life I lead. It wasn't as bad a birthday as it could have been and we had a great family meal out in the evening. At the inter faith centre we had a hindu "evangelist" encourage us to become pluralists. It was quite funny in a slightly disturbing way - he was a hindu version of J John (some of his jokes were the same and there was a passing physical similarity as well - I hope he's not moonlighting.)

It did get me thinking about the tension between dialogue and mission. I'm supposed to be speaking on multi-racialism in a few weeks time at St.B's, and came away from yesterday thinking that I might try and make contact with the local imam and rabbi, so that they know I'm there. What do you think?

Markers on the Way

I spent a day with Roy who runs our youth and community charity Hope House yesterday. We talked a lot about evangelism and discipleship. The thing I've been wondering is how do you mark the journey. Through NT Wright, Todd Hunter & Brian Mclaren, I think I've begun to get a better understanding of discipleship and bringing in the Kingdom. I can see that modernity was all about bounded sets and too much of the time we worried about who was "sound, saved and in" and who was out. Now I feel much more comfortable about my role being to encourage people to follow Jesus and to be intentional in ensuring that they're moving towards him, however I find myself asking what are the markers on the way? Have we in our desire to be relevant and accessible, devalued the cost of discipleship? Are we seeing those with no knowledge of Jesus coming to a place of loving Him and wanting to give everything for Him or are we just massaging the church weary?

I'm not sure my questions make sense, it's quite late and I'm tired, and I'm pretty sure there are no easy answers, but the questions won't go away.

It was really fascinating to read at Erics about Todd Hunters new job, check out the linked article, there's still a world to win.

Gardening and Weddings - Bank Holiday Highlights

There's something very special about marrying your friends. Maybe it's because I'm still quite a newbie when it comes to doing weddings, but I really enjoy that "I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife" bit. I think I'm begining to understand the spiritual dynamics involved in marriage more now that I'm thinking about other people's in a way that I've probably been guilty of taking my own marriage and it's spiritual dimensions for granted at times in the last 13 years. If you're reading this and married, make sure your protecting that relationship.

Here are Saturday's bride and groom.

Bank Holiday Monday was spent gardening and painting and as I wrestled with a tree stump that wouldn't come out, I realised the strength of deep roots. In the end I won the battle with the stump, and was challenged to ensure that my roots go deep enough that I won't give up without a struggle. Psalm 1 comes to mind.

P.S. I've come to the shocking realisation that I'm truly middle aged as I seem to spend all my free time gardening or decorating - come Lord Jesus...fast...

Weddings

Today the wedding season starts as I marry Sophie and Nathan. They're good friends and took us and a few others out to a great french restaurant in Islington last night, as a thank you for supporting them. I'm looking forward to this afternoon.

It's been an eventful week with a bit of firefighting taking place with regards to Soul in the City as one of the local councils has started to get a bit edgy about the local churches plans. I think we've reassured them that we're not trying to create religious unrest in North London.

On the New Wine front we've put a flyer together for the remaining places at Week B, to hopefully attract some younger leaders from New Wine Churches who haven't booked in yet.

Had a great Holy Space planning meeting this week where someone asked the question "What makes Jesus glow?" and we're going to spend a few weeks looking at the things that attract us to Him and how we can show those things to others. Any suggestions?