Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Wednesday wanderings

1. I have finished 'Strong and Weak' and it's a book that I think I now need to re-read. Profound and helpful.

2. I meet on a Wednesday with some other Pastors. We are a great and eclectic bunch and today's discussion was, among other things, the Jordan Peterson interview.

3. Tonight, we are gathering to remind ourselves of the blessing of the ministry of the Holy Spirit with the help of the wonderful Rev Barry Kissell. A night of teaching and prayer.

4. I am reflecting on a gathering yesterday of the churches in our Diocese with more than 10 people aged 18-30. I think we were about 25 in number. It was a good crew and an interesting time. However, that means that there are another 300 churches with less or none ( there may I pray be a few more who couldn’t come), nonetheless it is salutatory and reflects the urgent challenge of the C of E in reaching this generation. This article in the Church Times tells me the C of E is in the 'last chance saloon'. Not particularly glass half-full but on the showing yesterday perhaps not too far wrong.

‘Revd Dr John Walker wrote that the C of E was in the “Last Chance Saloon”. Six years later, the saloon doors are swinging shut for the last time.’

5. I like having an Archbishop who gets furious for the C of E being 'inward looking'. Just what the last chance saloon needs.

6. We sang a line 'My wealth is in the cross' from a song last Sunday. Someone asked me what that means and I am going to try and answer that with my preach this Sunday. It's a good question.


7. Piper has caused the twittersphere to twitter about women seminary professors.

8. This little section has caused me to reflect and it's a profound observation:

Commenting on the martyrdom of the Charleston Nine and the subsequent faithfulness of the surviving congregation, the Episcopal priest and writer Fleming Rutledge said "They were not ready"- how could anyone be ready for such gratuitous violence?' - "but they were prepared".

Strong and Weak, p155

9. If I was recommending a one-stop book on leadership to a pastor it would be 'Relational Leadership'. Superb.

10,. Reckless love.  He has indeed been so so good to me. Grace upon grace.

3 comments:

TJ said...

Thanks for your selection of links and thoughts - useful as ever.
Following on from point 4 - I am reminded of how the 'Healthy Churches Handbook' started. This was the observation that around 25 churches in a diocese were growing significantly. The reasons behind the growth were searched for and a worthwhile set of principles were set out. Perhaps your group of 25 churches with young people could be the start of something similar ...

David Cooke said...

Thank for the recommendation. On the 25 I pray so. More Lord!

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Saturday blog-sweep

 Some interesting books for pastors The State we're in Attack at dawn Joseph Scriven Joy comes with the morning When small is beautiful