10 December 2007
Tall Skinny Kiwi says:

Absolutely awful to hear of the shooting at the YWAM base in Denver. 9News says two dead (pictured), one critical, another inured and the 80 other missionaries moved to Golden for the time being. Youth With a Mission is a great mission organization and I have had the priviledge of teaching on many of their training bases, but not Denver. Our prayers are with the families of those involved and the other missionaries. Avarda police are working hard to find the suspect.

Update: Apparently, the gunman at both Colorado shootings, Matthew Murray, was once enrolled in a DTS at YWAM but was let go for "health" reasons. ChristianPost has the skinny and Benediction is looking at it also. Technorati Tags: ywam

New deacon

Time rushes by and one can easily forget the communications that one promised.
But Im back.

Local topically thing this week refers to the appointment of "leaders" in the church.

If you were having a new Deacon on your church what advise would you give him/her?

CCLI

The UK office of Christian Copyright Licence International. Where Churches advise of the songs they have used in worship to allow payments to the writers.
www.ccli.co.uk/

Based in Eastbourne

Heartland FM

My next Tuesday night programme is likely to be on the 11 th of December 2007.
here is the possible list of contributions.

Track Singer/s Album

God in heaven	Delerious		world service	2003
Alien youth	Skillet
we are one	Resurection life church		For you I live	2007
Colourful world	CE CE Winans		Purified	2005
What the world needs	Casting crowns		The altar and the door	2007
Shepherd	Robin Mark		East of the river	2007
Hossanna	Exerience his presence			2007
so come intro	Isreal new breed
so come
No place like home		pax217		2000
Let it rain	Lou Fellinghamf
Shipwreck	Starfield
Be still and Know	SC Chapman		Speechless

How to gather the masses

I thought it interesting that when in America a couple of years ago a Church leader was advocating that the church takes to much energy trying to make the church attractive when in fact if there were obstacles for people to get to church it would be in the long term more fruitful.
The age of attractive church might be over. How do we change the culture if we are touching a church centred image when we should be flavouring the world.

Sometime you need to stand on your head to see a different point of view.

Heartland playlist 2

It is a bit lis tbut here is the plavlist from the last programme.

Mama s Kitchen
Ce Ce Winans her current album - Purified,.
Anybody want to pray?
Ce Ce Winans
How great is our God
Open the eyes of my heart
Coming home Lou Fellingham
Worthy is the lamb Hillsongs
Some where east of the river Robin Mark
Heavens gate Robin Mark
Barlowgirl the
This Generation Starfield
Lord you have been good to me

New beginnings

I have often seen the "new beginnings" statement in organisations including churches. What does that mean? Is it a call to shake off what has reduced the effectiveness of ministry?

Most in church circles acknowledge that traditionalism is dead and will not survive but how does one keep alive that which should be growing and developing.?

How does the streams of living water continue to flow when there is stagnation and dams blocking the flow.

It takes wise council to move matters forward.
Some times rushing can be counter productive sometimes waiting too long means a lost opportunity.

What are the answer keys to these questions?

Renovare newsletter October 2007

The newsletter for October 2007 is available at Renovare.

"Personal" Amber continued

Amber continued

Behind the dam at Pitlochry.

"Personal" Amber

The last few days have shown the start of the autumn colours here in Pitlochry. Perthshire Amber is a celebration at the end of summer.

I hope to get some photos in this short time when the contrasting colours are at their best.

Open office 2.3

2.3 open office is availabe for download. Its the alternative to Microsoft word etc.

Heartland FM 10.00 playlist

1 Track 1
Kevin Prosch “Lord of the Dance.“ from “Reckless mercy”

2Track 3
That was “Lord of the dance” and now
Steve Curtis Chapman “The Change” from the album “Speechless”

2Track 3

A lively warm song from Hillsongs Australia
“Touching heaven Changing Earth”

4 Delirious
Grace like a river from World service

5 Track 1

Acapella pure voice no instrument sound. A warm track

Called “Teaching the truth in Love”

6 Track 20
Howard Prior Rick Wakeman

“There is nothing to difficult”
What do you think?

7 Track 4
CE CE Winans
From the most recent “Purified album”
Ce Ce Winans sings a variety of styles this softer one is
“All That I need”

8 Title track 1

Kelita Who used to have a support singer on her Gospel tours in the name of Shinia Twain!
“The strange one”

9 Title track 9
Avalon
“Oxygen”

10Track 10
Mal Pope - haunting track about our world
“This is your land” from”City of gold”

11 Track 1
Lou Fellingham
“O God of love”
From her first solo offering Lou Fellingham known for her distinctive voice on Stoneleigh music and the rock band Phat Fish, based in Eastbourne

Lou has brought together some lovely tuneful songs and reworks in to an album that seems to be as yet undiscovered by the masses.


12 track 6
Acapella once more with there focused song
“Get to the point.”

13 track 9
CE CE Winans
Best singer 2005 in USA

From the album of that year CE CE from a musical background sings the mellow song “The way things were”.

Enjoy...

Facebook

Meet me at facebook.

Heartland FM

Looking forward to my programme on heartland Fm Tuesday night the 18 of September. What an opportunity to present my choice of music. 97.5 FM in the heart of Highland Perth shire as the advert goes!

Bourne Ultimatium

Bourne Ultimatum on 1 September in Dundee, followed by pizza and then home. Enjoyed the film but strained my eyes from being to near the front.

Barlowgirl 2007

Barlowgirl on Godtube if you dare

Listen to Barlowgirl from Elgin......

Sunday night at the Theatre garden

150 came out to the "churches together" service.
A bit tight for set up time but it was a good service. The sing by way of solos and the congregation was tip top. A team approach meant the whole setup was taken down packed and replaced in little time.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre

And here it is nestling behind some cottages Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Toffee and fudge single nought wafer.

Lovely day looking forward to the service in the Theatre garden on Sunday.

Hope there is not rain or midges!

One show

Whats his name on the One show is a follower and has an interest in clouds. Here is some from Dornoch beach from a few months ago.
Before the summer!


The green that we are experiencing at this time is exceptional . Usually the green has dried to orange and yellow. I wonder if the tree leafs will fall quicker this year due to their weight? or are we in for an indian summer.
Today in North Perthshire it is warm bright and a breeze. Must go down to the theatre and get an ice cream. Summer days.....

Casting Crowns new cd

"Casting Crowns'" new cd is out 28 August 2007.
I wonder what deal I can get from Amazon?

23

God tube psalm 23

Helicopter view of things

I recall the Rev Bob Jones in a sermon some 30 plus years ago talking in terms of the choppy sea and when one is in the sea things look bad. Yet from the helicopter view, the rescuer sees a different aspect all together. Some times we as humans can be taken up with the current situation and forget to look at the helicopter view of things. In the fullness of time it might not look so bad.

Now from Gods view, where there is no time it looks even smaller. So next time it looks a bit daunting try and see it from the helicopter view.

Printing to culture change

It is not a simple matter of the church re branding. The changes in culture have been too great for a change in “window display”. Recall the printing press and the education of the community linked to the church. The corresponding requirement for an engaging church in the community that is not a sub-culture but is or changes the culture is clear. This has not to be a liberal or compromising stance but rather relevance rediscovery and in fact more biblically based mission. The “Hillsongs” mega churches might not survive even if they don't ever make an impact in Scotland.
The church needs to be looking at ways to deal with those who want to be submerged in the culture and not seen to be different from others and to the individualists who make a stand on his or hers pet conviction. A tough task. Yet I think there are those being groomed by God for the job.

Answers in Genesis

Found the website very interesting in defending the faith....

Is this the nature of the new church?

How many give over this perception?

Renovare July 2007 newsletter.

The July 2007 issue of the RENOVARÉ Perspective is now available at www.renovare.org.

In this edition, Richard J. Foster addresses "Spiritual Formation and the Local Congregation," noting that institutional maintenance as a primary concern needs to be avoided and the development of a kingdom heart should be primary for spiritual fromation efforts to bear fruit....

Emerging Church questionaire and poll

Thank you for taking part in the poll.

Roof tops thoughts

Getting re established in a routine is good for the behaviours as well as creating a anchor for the future. many yearn for the summer holidays and when they are into week two they wish they were back to work. Not because they particularly want to be at the desk or machine or vehicle but to get back to the reassuring routine that gives stability to the day.

Great thinkers, developers, strong theologians or writers and the likes of new ideas people have needed to switch off from the routine and break through the confines of "normal" thinking. Today when we have so many self ego thinkers how much more do we need people who will suspend the normal to deconstruct and reconstruct their lives.

I really like the possibilities of back to basic thinking that can then revitalised the present for the future. Yes there is nothing new under the sun but there is a need for freshness in the thinking of the present. last weeks fruit and veg is withering...

So as I look over the Pitlochry roof tops in another wet weekend, as we settle in our new area of responsibilities and look forward to a holiday break I consider the winter ahead and the possibilities that might be in this part of the Highlands

WIKIKLESIA 23 July 2007

Tallskinnykiwi says"Wikiklesia may be the world’s first self-perpetuating nomadic business model - raising money for charities - giving voice to emerging writers and artists - generating a continuous stream of new books covering all manner of relevant topics. Nobody remains in control. There is no board of directors. The franchise changes hands as quickly as new projects are created." Wikiklesia Press Release

As a missionary and church planter, I like anything that can self-perpetuate, multiply, reproduce spontaneously and keep on giving itself away until it reaches it goal. That means churches, conferences, training systems, and also this little publishing experiment called WIKIKLESIA that LAUNCHES TOMORROW on Lulu."

Read more at Tallskinnykiwi.

Moulin Church

Duff was minister here in Moulin Before his international mission work.

Duff monument Pitlochry

Alexander Duff (2)

Pitlochry memorial to A Duff The Church of Scotland's first appointed missionary to India was Alexander Duff. Born in Moulin in Perthshire his academic career was at St Andrews. He carried off the top honour for Greek Latin. Logic and moral philosophy. He also gained the essay prize for best translation into Latin of Plato” Apology to Socrates. he was indeed a excellent scholar. He was in debited to the encouragement of Dr Thomas Chalmers who took up the post of professor of moral philosophy in 1823. It was Chalmers the most prominent evangelical in Scotland who later became a national leader that inspired Duff in to the mission and its work in the church. It was doctor Ferrie of St Andrews who proposed Duff as the first missionary of the Church of Scotland in Calcutta. Duff felt at this time in 1829 ready to be sent to India. Before departing for India he was married to Anne Scott Drysdale (July1829) and ordained on the 12 August of that year. Next month Duff and his new wife boarded the Lady Holland at Leith for London and on route the trials started with a ship wreck off Cape Town with no loss of life. The continued later on the Moira which also had difficulties after a cyclone, which left them all having to wade, to shore through the undignified mud of India. At a little over 24 and two narrow escapes not to mention the many dangerous escapes as a youth Duff was obviously being preserved to carry out the mission work. Duff, the educationalist went on to attract the attention of many including the governor of the East India company and indeed Gladstone. He was the founder of the University of Calcutta. It is unfortunate that his efforts on education and mission have been neglected in the last 100 years. He had several travels back to Scotland and it is noted that in 1839 he raised the foreign giving for mission from £1200 to £ 7,538. On one return to Scotland Duff found himself in the middle of the debate that would grow into the “disruption”. In early 1843 he was still silent on how he would act in respect to his loyalty to the mission, church and conscience. He in due time sided with the Free Church and was instrumental in raising the first endowment and to become the first professor of the Free Church College Edinburgh of Mission and Education. In 1871 Lord Shaftesbury wrote to Duff asking if hos name could be added to the list of vice-presidents of the bible society. Duff was highly honoured and accepted. His life had been a life of many seasons in Scotland in India, married and widowed early. He also advocated the mission work outside of Scotland. It is unfortunate that Alexander Duffs contribution to the church, abroad has not been greatly recognised. At his death the tributes showed what a godly man he was- Gladstone acknowledged his intelligence energy devotion and spirituality and likened him to William Carey. [Andrew Duff]

Dive Steve Curtis Chapman video

Watch the google video clip of Steve from some years ago diving in....

Alexander Duff

I never thought some few months ago I would be living in the village that Alexander Duff preached and lived in before his Indian mission work. But here we are in Pitlochry area. So how do you find the church for you when you move to a new area?

Is it doctrine ...? Is it closest to your experience..? Is it catering for the family unit? Is it the church that invites with a warm welcome?

What about worship or should I say Praise accompanied or not modern What ever that means or traditional- what ever that means!

And the leader/pastor is there vision? has the church got behind the work ?

And finally you have to agree there is compromise...

The Church compromises and accepts you the way you are!
That is a sign of the kingdom. Happy hunting.

Suzy W Yaraei

Susi's song at My space worth a listen
Dance! Suzy W Yaraei

Changes

Pitlochry is a lovely place. Now that we as a family have moved we can begin to pick up the thoughts old and new. Thanks for holding on. I hope the meeting in Lairg have been fruitful.

Moving house

So Pitlochry is about to get a new family. The next few weeks will be hectic!
Returning to Perthshire was not really in the plans but as we adjust to the new chapter in lifes book there is a sense of real anticipation.
Dont expect much from me until the boxes are packed and un pack.
I am so pleased Connect Scotland has been a success... hope its dry for the rally in Edinburgh tomorrow.

Gathering of like minded people

It is encouraging to hear of some meetings coming up in Lairg drawing people from all parts of "stations" North of Inverness. Hope these meeting are fruitful and last. First on Friday 17 May.

New job new focus

With the speedy run around the country of late i have not been attending to you good readers. With a new job just started I hope to get back into routine soon.

Consider this:
Jesus could not go straight to heaven from the cross. He had all the sins of the world and there is no sin allowed in heaven. So he dumped them in hades and preached there before the Resurrection.!

PFKTC etc

The post of a few weeks ago The people formerly known as the congregation has had several updates. You might like to track the developments via achievable ends or the last comment version VII.

Meet the neighbours...

When the new neighbours came to town we were wondering what they may be like? What interests they might have and would they be good neighbours?

What makes a good neighbour?

They arrived recently and with a few more added to the offspring they already had, I hoped they will not be noisy. They settled in quickly.

Strange how we have got accustomed to their habits. They have really become part of the community. But I don't like it when they come in to my garden and lounged around...you got to draw the line somewhere. How will I tell them that they are upsetting that their approach is not to our liking? Would it be too forward to raise the issue?

I remember last year a party of French students stopped on route on their holiday travels and as it was a nice day thought they would sit on the grass to have a very European lunch. They kindly asked if they could sit in the garden for lunch. Because I was taken aback I had said yes without realising it. You could tell they were continental...wanting to sit on the grass... chequered cloth... eating French stick bread in Sutherland.

Well the French students had a good relaxing lunch and set off South. It was a first for these parts. We often get strange glances as we eat out in the garden in Sutherland. Our garden table from B & Q Huntington has been well used.

That reminds me I must get some paint and stop the enset of rust.

But as for the new neighbours they continually eat out and have taken to eat in our garden without a request to us for approval!

Well maybe we will have to tolerate their different habits... I suppose they havent carried out any damage and it does increase the numbers in the community.

Here is the proof of their anticts.

The neighbours...

Wating for a train...

"Waiting for a train waiting for a train the whole wide world is waiting for a train...but the train aint coming..." words to an old gospel song sung at many a beach mission in the seventies.

There has been tremendous changes since then.!

Kierkegaard meets the emerging church

It was only the other day that Soren A Kierkegaard embarged on a review of the emerging church.

He was reminded of his earlier thoughts in as much as the wider community around him was transforming in to a theatrical exsistance and stage sets.

He had concluded that society no longer consisted of individuals or groups devided in to social hierarchy. Its make up was of an undifferentiated mass, " the public". He had concluded that the mass "the public" was most dangerous and significant in power.

It , "The Public" would march as soon as someone said march! It would never ask the least of questions which could make it seen as the power more or less proportionate to its state of anonymity..

His observation of the mass and its "great levelling" had impact in the mass psychology of the age. It would also highlight the phenomenon of alienation. With the colapse of the social pyramid ( all have stations in the paramid higher or lower.) the levelling did not lead to equallity as such but to a rivary of one another as like in a game.

One outcome of this was that place were once there had been a fear of God was now a fear of man.

Kierkegaard said " close air always becomes noxious"

So Kierkegaard walks along the street to a cafe orders a Starbucks and reflects.
He gathers some around and tells the story.

A rare treasure that is the desire of everyone is located so far out on thin ice that whoever goes out to retrieve it places himself in mortal peril. But the hero who of course dares where others are scared rushes off, attended by the breathless crowd. The crowd would tremble for him and with him in the mortal peril of this decision; it would mourn him in his death:it would deify him if he gained the treasure.

But Keirkegaard repeated the scene to the listening group. This time the crowd less breathless and more a crowd of spiritless public that rationally calculates the extent to which such a feat of daring will pay off: “ They would go out there. They would stand where it is safe and sound, and putting on the airs of experts. They would evaluate the skillful skaters who could skate almost the the outermost edge... and then turn back.

Among the skaters there would be someone or other who was exceptionally talented: he would even manage the tour de force of going to the extreme edge, making yet an other attempt, replete with the deception appearance of danger, so that the spectators shout and I translate into Scottish ,

Dinne da that yur mad.... he's risking his life!.

But see he was remarkably skilled that in fact he was able to turn away at the extreme outermost edge, that is where the ice is still quite safe and the mortal peril has not yet begun.
Just as in the theatre the crowd would shout out “bravo” and salute him with acclaim; they would return home, bringing with them the great heroicness artist, and they would honour him with a sumptuous banquet. Reasonableness had come to predominate that it had transformed the challenge itself into an unreal stunt and reality into theatre.

While the passionate hero had been honoured because he alone ventured where none of the others dared go, the hero of reasonableness was celebrated because he understood how to simulate the seriousness of the danger – that is, how to “transform an inspired feat of daring into a stunt”. A twisted transformation of this sort is greeted with approval because, first of all, collective self-deception is easier to endure than envy of that single individual, and second, levelling has broken down the representative function formerly exercised by the hero in the days when he could “exalt the idea of what it is to be a human being”.

And the emerging church as it skates to the outerlimit not because it is there but to collect the rare treasure " the desire of everone" can continue to be passionate.

Then the establishment may not try and "level it out."

We so need feats of daring and not calculated stunts.

So I am left with the conclusion that Kierkgaard is most comfortable with the discourses happening around the globe as christian discover the Church is far more than a building or a group of likeminded people who are religious.

May the skating be spectacular.

Steam train return South 13 April

On time this day the return leg South.

Steam trains through the Highlands

Going North 12 April

The last two days have seen the steam train go North to Caithness and today(13/4/2007) return on its way south via Inverness.

Prayer for Scotland. Connecting Scotland

12 April 2007

Connecting Scotland is well on its way, having started in Shetland earlier this week in its praying for Scotland campaign.

With 5 rallies under their belt the team need endurance to complete this prayer drive, walk, and move through Scotland to the final rally on the 27 May in Edinburgh.

Connecting Scotland have a really clear vision which is being translated on the ground and will hopefully unite christians throughout Scotland.

Last night the Lairg rally saw people from truely all walks of life and church experience pray, praise and listen to pastor Bert expound :

On John 17 Love one another ...a mesage to the churches in Scotland.

He highlighted

The Church needs to be different.

A need to make every effort with ones brothers in the church.

Call not to waste time.

Unity is not automatic.

Unity is not uniformity.

There is and should be diversity in the Body of Christ.

The Church was urged to maturity.

Mindful of the 50 year old vision and prophetic word from a lady regarding UK revival coming from the North of Scotland. We are nearing that time!

A splendid unifying meeting. Praise God.

Details at Connecting Scotland.

known as...congregation and the underlying issues, missional, pastor

You need to read the part three and part four to follow the recent conversation.

Emerging Grace

You need to read this as well from this post on emerging grace.(part two of the discussion on "The ...formerly known as the congregation" )Its refreshing to read constructive discussion.

The people formerly known as the congregation

An interesting post this day at The people formerly known as the congregation I leave it with you to digest.

Emerging but not from the water

You would expect emerging conversation to be filled with modern logos and symbols pointing to newness and post Christian thinking. But how do you relate this theology or way of life in the Scottish context or indeed in the Highlands and Islands.

Stuart Blyth on his barricade blog makes mention of some baptists meeeting to discuss the emerging scene.

He says

"Under the broad auspices of the Centre for the Study of Scottish Christian Spirituality we are going to be hosting a coffee-shop discussion on the Emerging thing in Scotland on the evening of Wednesday 25th April at 7.30pm at Starbucks in Borders, the Fort, Glasgow."

Hope the conversation is fruitful.

View the pictures at Saltcoats

Pictures of the college at saltcoats are viewed here. This will take you to a slide show.

Follow up Saltcoats College

Saltcoats college says:

"We have just spent two weeks on demolition work, taking down the area of the building that had become unsafe and we are ready to rebuild when the money comes to hand. Right now, we are looking for immediate support of £10,000. We have a £25,000 bill that needs to be paid imminently; £15,000 has been received already but the remaining £10,000 of this installment is now sought with some urgency – hence the need for this communication to those who might feel minded and able to help. If you feel led to help us we would be awfully glad of a quick response. Cheques, large or small, payable to the “Come back to God Campaign” will be very gratefully received at the address below, but do please get in touch to discuss Gift Aid, any queries or to arrange a visit.
The area that needs to be rebuilt – the ‘Sun Lounge’ is a main thoroughfare of the College, if we cannot rebuild this structure, whilst replacing the walkway roof, and securing disabled access to our Lawn area, we will not be able to continue the work we are engaged in for the Lord Jesus in the same way. We have prayed, fasted and brought this matter to many praying friends, we have also sought to earn the revenue required for this rebuilding venture through taking on outside print jobs and using all the skills amongst the team to earn money. But we are also now dependant upon the generosity and stewardship of our friends, supporters and brothers and sisters in Christ. If you will invest in our work today, you will help us continue to tell others about Jesus, to teach and train people in healing and deliverance ministry and to reach out to this nation of Great Britain and bring its people back to God. Your prayers and financial support are needed today.
Thank you so much."

Kierkegaard goes to the doctor

Soren Kierkegaards been to the doctor. This is what he said.

Victoria station

Returning from a meeting in London I am taken aback once again, by simply the numbers of people in the City at any one time. Thousands of people travelling by the underground. The variety of styles, cultures and faiths represented in such a small space. Yet there is still the eerie silence,... the avoidance of eye contact and the ability to avoid a new relationship. For all these people and all these cultures God is available and continues to make access to them. But the eyes avoid an encounter that might challenge and show any falsehood, they prefer in someways to remain in their non-relational rat race. Victoria station so important if you want the Gatwick Express to the airport at Gatwick. Direct route to the terminus for one's journey. Jesus the Christ direct access to God, despite what many would indicate in there lifestyle or verbal stance.

Sheep Rustlers in Sutherland ?

Two weeks ago this headline took front pages news in the Northern Times. Apparantly its not the first time over the last twenty years that unaccounted high losses of sheep have been noted and recorded in the Bonar Bridge/Rogart area. Strange how no bones were found.

A need to be met!

Sun Lounge project pictures

As you know I am not in the habit of putting round requests, but I thought if some of our contacts and other connections could help - Tim and Ben would be delighted.

Hey Lets further the Kingdom Now.

I have had a communication from a friend who said to me this morning:

Tim said to Brian Robertson in Rogart

Ben, my son, is over at Saltcoats where he graduated from Bible College last autumn. He's stayed on in the Come Back to God Campaign and I'm trying to help him raise £50k or thereabouts urgently to tackle some structural collapse that hit the building. The were blessed with £16k received a couple of weeks ago but the builders have got on well and will need the next £25k instalment next week! They have faith in the Lord's Provision and Will but know too that we are His Hands and must take the necessary actions.

Do you mind having a look at the attached, think/pray if it's any good, and if you're happy sending it on to your Christian networks to seek any support that might be out there?

Any input would be great!

Tim

To see Ben's pictures click here
Add to the comments if you would like me to send a pdf of the work.....

Meal of the day

Cant beat a good curry.

Rogart last week

Getting over a sore throat and this week in to a holiday. Spring is on its way.

feedreader 3.08

I see there is a new version of feedreader out.

Future of your church

If you are wondering How to move forward as a church how about considering the following.:

Firstly I will not be advising whither you start a Mums or Toddlers group. I am thinking more about first steps in the process of gaining an insight in to the future work.

Need to Meet to find a "Corporate discernment"... moving forward inch by inch. Take time together to sift out ideas etc. Allow everyone their input. Have a facilitator as leader for the meeting. Also sometimes the quieter person has the answer or discernment.

Prayer and discussion on " How God, would you have us steer?"
This is realisation. and the need to go on or in other words you cannot go back...
Retreat a time of rest and reflection

An uncluttered time to reflect and breathe - away from it all - including the Sunday routine.
What does God want for us?
What might he be calling us to?

Often he wants you to stop something first. Is there activity continuing that has past is sell by date and is not producing...?

Show a high value in Missions home and away.

Community/City/region impact

Where is God currently working, look for opportunities something to get alongside?

Move from Doing....to... becoming
Rally to a cause seems easy. Rallying around God -more difficult.

How does one move forward?

Teach me to live my life the way he would if he were here. (physically)

Head off discouragement

Calm be the person you want to be!
When God reality is present and someone comes into the body.
Then God has brought them in.

Remember "Come follow me".
Too many in the full time ministry are in a "rat race".
The next step should be "a dance with the Trinity and others"

Living in love speeds the coming of Jesus.

1 Our Corporate lives as examples and patterns
2 our assumptions about ministry
3 Our ministry plan
4 Our life rhythms and ministry
rest periods
5 Our ministry results

Are the activities -one purpose?

Step back from the need to see immediate results.

Happy discerning in the way forward.

Church new or old...

I had a meeting with someone in Eastbourne last week regarding new churches.

Daniel is looking for leaders to encourage in new church activity. I am sure he will not mind the link as he needs to speak to lots of people.

My question to him was is this a "new style for an old church" or is it "new church" the conclusion was new church. So often we are loking to replicate with a modern feel the old systems of church. The emerging people have got it right - go back to first principles. Seek ye first the kingdom. Then how de we do that where we are in the community and how best will this be developed. It may result in a system or structure of leadership or activity but it needs to be born out of the "seek ye first" bit first.

We had a good conversation that crystalised some of my thinking as well as his.

He coped with the Robertson probe.

I am sure Daniel would be encouraged by your comments and e mails.

Judgement coming...

AN NEWS SERVICE PREDICTS LAST JUDGMENT 20 MARCH

An official Iranian state news service is predicting that the Last Judgment will occur on 20 March. The website of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) claims the Mahdi, or 12th Imam believed in by Shi’ite Muslims, will appear in Arabia on the spring equinox of the Islamic calendar. ‘Imam Mahdi will be the leader while the Prophet Jesus will act as his lieutenant in the struggle against oppression and establishment of justice in the world,’ the site claims. Iranian government policy is believed to be deeply influenced by expectations of the imminent return of the Mahdi, the Church of England Newspaper says. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is on record for expressing his longing for the Muslim leader’s return to ‘establish justice, peace and brotherhood’.

Source: Church of England Newspaper (26/1)

Strong enough to think?

If you are in a church that is rigid or controlling it may be a constraint to your personal expression. How do you vent your thoughts and concern. The house groups and indeed the House Group Movement sought to engage with one another in the comfort and less formal setting of home. There needs to be dialogue and in the appropriate place midweek business meeting etc. There is more than ever in the current churches a need to evaluate and seek the plan for the future. In 1970 if some one said the Boys Brigade will decline rapidly people would have laughed. Yet in the space a of a few years it did.

Now consider the church- ok more established, yet it, recognises the decline. What now?

Of course where there is dialogue there will be differing opinion!

This can be seen, by some as inconsistent with a rigid theology of black and white! Debate can only improve the understanding. This together with a more thoughtful process linked to solitude will surely provide a positive Christ centred practice rather than a regimental, all believe the same, untested theology of the “Victorian age”. Sure there will be mistakes but the distilling down will be a purifying process. Can you imagine Abraham trying to answer the question while he was in the desert ;
Where are you going? “Eh... Following God, he told me to follow this column of cloud... of smoke.” “and the end result?”...”eh the best land a promised land.” How will you know what its like? “ Sorry don't know... but when we get there we will know I simply have to trust in God to take me and lead the people to where ever that is.”
The conclusions from the discovery walk or the de-construction, I await rather than dismissing as out of hand. I am encouraged that the de-construction that many fear, from their so called established church, is questioning not purely for the sake of it but with a God fearing responsibility. While Emerging people will not simply set up Churches as we have known them, they will, seek to find a way of expressing the Kingdom in the community which has a more holistic approach.
So where in the say 70's and 80's indeed the 90's the church set up “alternative church” which took the flavour of a sub-culture we see the emerging people wanting to be the culture and shape the culture head on. (Like the Joshua story “tread the land” -possession). The difficulty comes from within the established church which is trying to keep doing what worked or did not work over the last 300 years. Status Quo (not the group) is seldom forward thinking. Where are the visionaries?

Great Omission

Just finished Dallas Willard's "The great... Omission".
It was refreshing and re encouraging that some of by thoughts back some years ago he concluded in some bits of his book. As a busy man who needed time to write a book I look forward to his next piece of print which will be written on allocated time so to speak.

I see why his thinking gels with emerging people. He thinks. Not many christians do!


Paul M Dubuc writes

Dallas Willard's latest book is a collection of previous writings and lectures surrounding the importance of discipleship for Christians. This book is a great introduction to Willard's other books and a stirring exposition of his chief concern: That becoming a disciple of Christ is seen as optional in most churches today. It is enough that a person accept Christ as saviour and affirm certain beliefs to be a Christian. While these things are absolutely essential, they are not enough and they only partially fulfill the teachings of scripture and the commands of Jesus.

When many people consider discipleship, or spiritual formation, they think of what it costs (a la Bonhoeffer). This is a valid perspective, but Willard asks us to take a look from the other side: The cost of nondiscipleship:

"Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith
that sees everything in the light of God's overriding governance for good, hopefulness
that stands firm in the most discouraging circumstances, power to do what is right
and withstand the forces of evil. In short, nondiscipleship costs you exactly the
abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10)."

Discipleship is essential for every Christian, not just for the "super Christians." There is nothing in the teaching of scripture that suggests that being forgiven and "saved" is all there is to being a Christian. To the contrary, Willard shows that Christians need to be undergoing a profound transformation in character becoming more like Christ from the heart. How does this happen? By the faithful acceptance of everyday problems, interaction with God's Spirit in and around us and spiritual disciplines. He recommends four spiritual disciplines as basic to discipleship: solitude, silence, fasting and scripture memorization. For those to whom spiritual disciplines sound like "works righteousness," Willard repeatedly emphasizes the difference: "Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action." The process of transformation isn't passive on our part. Its effectiveness is all due to God's grace. But our effort makes us receptive to this grace. God will not impose it upon us. Willard likens spiritual discipline to the physical discipline of an athlete (cp. 1 Cor. 9:24-27). The spiritual disciplines aren't meant to be burdens that we groan under. They are tools which we can help us make God's grace more effective in our lives. In fact, our bodies themselves are tools for spiritual growth.

The heart of the book is chapter 9, "Living in the Vision of God." Here Willard distinguishes between the substance of devotion to God and its effects. When we become too attached to the latter we are in danger of losing the former. Here there is a very good analysis of how this happens and what can be done about it. We are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength in Mark 12:30 and Willard assures us that, "It is something we are to do, something we /can/ do. We /will/ learn learn how to do it if we /intend/ to do it. God will help us, and we will find a way." Amen! Let it be so.

The book ends with a few short chapters about various books on spiritual living that have been a tremendous help to Willard and which he commends for our use. I've added a few of them to my reading list.

Dallas WIllard is a very wise, and practical teacher. He has deep and valuable insight into what it means, and what it takes, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ today. He is a trustworthy guide for the efforts of any Christian who wants to break an addiction to mediocrity in their relationship to God. This book will never be the classic that _The Divine Conspiracy_ is bound to become, but it provides a a much needed impetus for modern evangelical Christianity to reclaim the great omission for its life and mission. I hope it gains a wide reading.

Windy.... winding on

Its been very windy in the UK these past few weeks.
The new year is fast moving. How are your resolutions?

Weather report...

Minus 6 midday last week. Then plus 9 the next day. Strange weather here. plus 10 this morning. Let me wish you all a happy new year for 2007 . Picture: neighbour off to feed sheep in his "banana splits" vehicle!