News Archive
May 2006
Open book: Mark Elder
What book are you reading at the moment? Is God past his sell-by date? by John Blanchard. I'm reading it because I received it as a freebie when John recently came to speak at Poynton. It's an excellent apologetic of a range of issues that come up in conversations with unbelievers, with chapters broken into two sections: the first looking at the theory and the second the experience of a personal testimony. He is a clear writer (and speaker) explaining helpfully the differences in belief between the two brands of agnostic and the three brands of atheist. Other helpful chapters on science and evolution are good, but the best is on the ongoing dilemma of suffering entitled, 'Where was God on September 11?' A cracking book to pass on to either believers who want to know how to be more effective in their witness, or atheistic or agnostic friends who are open-minded.
What are the books that have had the biggest impact on you? David Bosch's Transforming Mission is an outstanding book that unpacks why all the different strands of the church practice mission as they do. An absolute must read for anyone remotely interested in mission. An easier read, and it's years since I read it, is John Wimber's Power Evangelism. I'm a real fan of Wimber - thought he was a breath of fresh air to the church - and this book really helpfully introduces the dynamic of signs and wonders in the context of mission.
What do you plan to read next? I've got a little book in front of me by Rob Jones entitled You will receive power. And the reason I'll pay it some attention this week, as well as another read of Acts 2, is because I'm preaching this coming Sunday on Pentecost.
Church weekend away
Hidden talents were revealed this weekend at Abbott Hall. Christine Jensen does a fine rendition of "My Favourite Things" and Zoe Elder an even gutsier "Do-Re-Mi". Ever seen Amy Barnes gargling "Hickory Dickory Dock"? It's worth asking her for a repeat if you missed it. Even Ian Wylie scrubs up well in a suit, but 007 need not fear, Ian has his weakness: tying a bow tie is not one of his talents. He was a fantastic MC, borrowing heavily from Jacob's 1,000 Worst Jokes book.
What is it with men and directions? Mark Elder, apparently, is so well prepared he never gets lost or needs to ask for directions; at least that's what he maintains. Unluckily Zoe begged to differ, and that lost them the chance to be "Mr and Mrs" Champions. Congratulations instead go to Mark and Claire Thomas!
Around 60 of us made the trip to Grange over Sands for the church weekend away. We were really blessed by Mark's ministry and spending time with each other. Mark spoke on the theme of the fruit of the Spirit: one fruit, nine flavours, and helped us to look particularly at being joyful and experiencing freedom. I will remember his illustration of a one winged bird flapping around in a circle representing an unbalanced life: we need to have fruit and gifts of the Spirit to live a balanced and healthy Christian life.
A particular feature of each session was testimony; we heard the very honest testimonies of Ted Gladstone, Rachel Rai and Karen Richardson. Despite traumatic situations in each of their lives over the past year they have been able to see God working. Thanks for your honesty and encouargement.
Thanks also to Fran and Amy, and the mums and dads
who did a great job looking after the children. New friends were made
and old ones renewed.
Open heart surgery
With little to choose from for Saturday night viewing I ended up watching Casualty. I don't normally watch... given the setting of the show it's a safe bet that I'll be watching someone's misfortunate run-in in an accident that ends up in A&E with a bizarre relationship twist thrown in.
But I was dragged in by the storyline of a 'charismatic' church leader who was self centred and only interested in 'shepherding' impressionable young people including an 'anointed' young faith healer who he was mentoring (and lying to about his miraculous works). "God's favour is on you and our church is growing," he assured the young man.
I'm not sure what wound me up more... the negative typecasting of manipulative 'believers' or perhaps the fact that somewhere in the church someone has given the script writer the opportunity to write about his or her experience of church.
Don't get me wrong - I'm all for praying for works of power, signs and wonders; but the storyline showed up what the world will always see first... our heart.
No matter what words we disguise our actions with, our hearts will quickly be on display. Perhaps like "Bullhorn guy" in Rob Bell's recent DVD short, we need to examine our hearts rather than ask people to judge us by our 'works of power' or 'acts of obedience'.
Actually,
all this made me really excited about the NE1 project. A chance to
share our hearts with the community in a practical way. This
demonstration of God's compassion could lead to greater 'works of
power' than we might otherwise expect; but first and foremost our
hearts will be on display. Jesus had sharp words to say to the
Pharisees on this very issue. His message is still relevant to us today.
A-E-I-O-U
At the last 'school mums' ( a group for mums of school-age children that meets fortnightly), we looked at a way of meditating that is very simple to use. It follows steps beginning with the vowels. I thought I would share it with a wider audience.
Meditating on God's word: storing up treasure.
Choose a verse. for example, “I wait for God my Saviour” Micah 7v7
A Ask questions: How can I help myself to wait? Where would be a good place to wait? Do I want to wait? What do I expect from God if I wait? How do I know if I have waited long enough?
E Emphasise each word
--I wait for God my Saviour
--I wait for God my Saviour
--I wait for God my Saviour
--I wait for God my Saviour
--I wait for God my Saviour
--I wait for God my Saviour
I Illustrate the verse with a picture/image, eg You sitting somewhere special with God?? Him being with you in a really busy situation??
O Obey what God has told you to do
U Use it in your everyday life
Open book: Christine Jensen
What book are you reading at the moment? A Hunger for God by John Piper. We feed ourselves with a lot
of stuff that actually means not a great deal in the light of what's
really real. Food, the net, TV, projects, work, relationships, and so
much more. Often we have no appetite for God because we've stuffed
ourselves full of things that don't eternally satisfy. The focus of
John Piper's book is to lift our eyes to God and feed on him. It deals
with the spiritual discipline of fasting as a means of both
creating a hunger for God and demonstrating a hunger for him. ''This
much, oh God, I want you''. A challenging read so far.
What are the books that have had the biggest impact on you? No Compromise by Melody Green, and Shadow of the Almighty by
Elisabeth Elliot. Two biographies of men who gave all they had to
honour God and tell people about him. Both very different men, both
serving God in very different ways, both books written by their wives.
I read these books following a summer in South Africa. I had just met
people who's own families had tried to kill them as a result of their
faith in Jesus. It really shook up my complacent, comfortable, Sunday-morning Christianity. It was a summer
of figuring out if I really did actually believe Jim Elliot when he
wrote "he is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he
cannot lose".
What are you planning to read next? Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets. I've read it already, but I
want a second helping! There were so many huge thoughts which I'd
like to revisit. It's a book dealing with what prayer is all about, how
God uses the prayers of his people, and the fact that God has given us
the privilege and responsibility to ''stand in the gap''. The first
time I read it, God really used it to enable a very large penny to drop
in my life. I just didn't 'get' prayer, I believed God was God and he'd
do as he pleased, so what was the point of telling him my thoughts. Now
I know that prayer is a whole different world away from that, but I'd
like those truths embedded a little more deeply.