Not a scrap of help

'Christianity is not a religion, it is the proclamation of the end of religion. Religion is human activity dedicated to the job of reconciling God to humanity and humanity to itself. The gospel, however- the good news of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ- is the astonishing announcement that God has done the whole work of reconciliation without a scrap of human assistance'

Robert Farrar Capon

'What you need isn't a better purpose, another prayer, or one more plan for self-improvement. What you need is what we all need- to "wake up" to God's wonderful and undeserved love. You need to wake up to the freedom and joy of what God- on his own- has accomplished for us in Jesus. What you need is grace'

'It's time to wake up. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, your deeds no longer determine your destiny'

Proof, Pages 16-17, 22

The gap

'You say yes to far too many tasks, scrambling after the slightest hints of praise in the faces around you. When you fall short of others' expectations, you replay your failures again and again. On your better days, your successes almost seem to balance your screw-ups. On your darker days, you suspect that your shortcomings have forever skewed everyone's opinion of you- even God's- and you wonder what it will take to regain God's good favour. In the end, you're left with a calendar that's full but a soul that still feels empty, one more captive of the deadly delusion that your deeds determine your identity. The futility you feel is real, and it's far larger than you. The whole world groans beneath the weight of this vast gap between the way things are and the way we long for them to be (Romans 8:20-25)'

Proof, Page 16

The Way

The song that became the anthem of Focus was 'The Way' by Tim Hughes. I have found myself not being able to get the lyrics out of my head since. Upon returning, I came across David Platt, author of 'Radical', making the case for why there is only one way. (h/t J Taylor). I have been pondering the implications of the gospel afresh ever since. You might be equally challenged.

Monday musing

I last spent week camping at Focus. For me the pick of all the talks were Archie Coates on 'Weakness' and the three talk series R T Kendall did on assurance which was the highlight for our folk (even though I have to confess I slept intermittently through one of the talks and sadly had to miss another).

For those off on holiday this month this might be helpful for some on how to unplug

This quote reminded me anew of needing to reflect on my own weakness and also to keep going.

I have been dipping into this by Andrew Walls as I think about what it means to be a church that 'does' mission.

Now the dust has settled on women bishops in the C of E I think 'The Black Swan Effect' might be an interesting and timely read.

One of my secrets for anyone contemplating a church plant is this. Have a BBQ. I know- it's very profound stuff you get here.

I have been thinking about dating and singleness and its consequences and read most of this on Saturday morning. It contains lots of common sense for both Christians and those who are not.

Camping is made much better when you invest in the right kit. The Therma-rest neo dream air is the cats-pyjamas of a mattress. Also, doesn't the reviewer have a cracking beard! It's pricey but well worth saving up for.

I love books on grace and 'Proof' is going on my bedside table.

We had baptisms and a visit from our Bishop yesterday. Great occasion. I have since been mulling on a couple of Calvin quotes I came across and especially the phrase underlined below:

“It is not necessary that faith and repentance should always precede baptism. They are only required from those whose age makes them capable of both. It will be sufficient, then, if, after infants have grown up, they exhibit the power of their baptism." - John Calvin” 

“How do you know yourself to be a son of God in fact as well as in name?”

Answer: “Because I am baptized in the name of God the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” - John Calvin (from his catechism)” 

If you never get to visit Australia than this is a way to do so through a few amazing photos.

Mrs C has gone wake-skating.

A question to ask yourself

'What are you doing now that will outlive you?'

Bill Hybels

Saturday blogsweep

Two posts on Israel and Gaza: from Welby and John Piper via Mark Meynell

45 random acts of kindness

7 different ways to read a book

Love this beach art via Ann Voskamp

2 questions to improve your churches ministry

The best thing anyone can do

And now for some Good News

6 ways your iPhone is changing you

The gospels and mythical legend

6 nuggets of wisdom for leaders

Fail by J R Briggs

'[As pastors] we are unnecessary to what congregations insist that we must do and be: as experts who help  them stay ahead of the competition. Congregations want pastors who will lead them in the world of religious competition and provide a safe alternative to the world's ways......They want a pastor they can follow so they won't have to bother following Jesus anymore.....[Don't forget] everything depends on God, so we are unnecessary. God never-theless uses us, so let us each and together rediscover our call'

Eugene Peterson and Marva Dawn

The Unnecessary Pastor

'Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter'

Francis Chan, Crazy Love

Fail is not a word most of us want to hear. We live in a success culture almost from the age we can speak living lives of quiet and subtle comparison. Sadly, this is not just about kids exams results, size of houses, cars, careers and who we know. When I gave up my business career, I thought that driven-ness, comparing, sparing and the pursuit of things that don't ultimately matter were all behind me.  Unfortunately, there were a whole new set of markers and measures that, if I was not careful, I could live under and gradually sprinkle my insignificance with. Live under this new stuff though and it's absolutely deadly.

I came across J R Briggs through his blog. After discovering it, I spent the next couple of months dipping into all his back posts and links which so encouraged and resourced me and were incredibly timely as I planned our plant. It's funny how you can have such empathy with someone you don't know. If we were ever to hook up for a coffee I'm sure we would have plenty to share and laugh about. I like him for many reasons, not least because he loves Eugene Peterson. He also started something called 'The Epic Fail Pastors Conference'.

'Fail' is the sort of book that people in my tribe would tend to avoid. There is an attitude in 'Driven-Vicar world', which I have to admit is slightly in my DNA, that doesn't do words like failure, smaller, lesser, down, struggle or, heaven forbid, a phrase like 'giving-up'. 

Let's be honest, no one, unless they are weird, sets out to fail. However, the truth is that I have probably learnt most over my 25 years of following Jesus from being in and involved with 'unsuccessful' and non-glitzy or 'failing' churches and endeavours. One was a traditional Anglican church in Moscow, the other was a tiny church plant on an estate that never grew to more than 20 people (at least in the time I was with it) and my final learning leap happened in a small and, at the time, struggling church in Canada lead by a dear mentor and friend.

We started this church plant here with 20 people. No children's groups, no shiny worship band,  no jazzy website and a borrowed PA. I am so grateful to the folk who joined us and risked leaving the safety of their bigger churches and all they provided for them and their families. We are still small, and for all I know, we might remain so and I may yet 'fail' -though I hope and pray not. The trick I am working out is not to put ourselves under pressure to be like or bigger or better than anyone else. We are who God makes us to be, and I am who I am and we're a local church seeking to love God and to love each other (the funny mixed band of people that we are). It's all very releasing and long may it remain so.

These stats are quoted at the beginning of the book and tell a rather depressing story about Pastors. These are American stats but they are not terribly different here in the UK, so my pal tells me. They are well worth mulling on. This book is for you if:

• You have ducked out of some form of church leadership hurt or disappointed
• You have been let down by others
• You're in danger of burning out
• You feel you've failed God in some way
• You don't take a sabbath
• You seek to be recognised by particular people or institutions
• You've set your heart on 'promotion' (a drop of purple or an archdeaconry perhaps or being the Vicar of one of those 'big' or 'important' churches?)
• You don't have a mentor
• You lead something and you are ignoring your personal relationship and time with Jesus
• You are not caring for your body or soul
• You're addicted to work, porn, drink or growing your church
• You don't meet with other pastors to support you
• You don't go on retreat
• You don't have a small prayer group
• You think this book is the sort of book you will never need to read or doesn't apply to you. You need to read it the most urgently of anyone. 

If you read one chapter make it 'Rhythms' which is the 'how to avoid burnout' checklist and I found it encouraging. Apparently, I am already doing quite a few of the things J R recommends. He has a great 'Recommended Reading' appendix too and all in all this book is a treasure trove of wisdom and blessing. The wonderful irony about the book and the career of JR is that it will now be an absolutely roaring success. Perhaps that's what God had in mind all along?

For the pod: 10 prayers that mattered

I haven't listened to James MacDonald preach for a while and had forgotten quite what a thump in the sola-plexus it is (I think in a good way but feel free to disagree).

This talk is about prayer and I found it just got me thinking about my own prayer life, my churches prayer life, prayers that have changed me/others and prayer in general. As he says, why is it that in the life of the local church and in our lives prayer so easily 'slides off the table'?Listening to this will I hope put prayer back front and centre.

Saturday blog-sweep

Ministerial burnout and contemplative prayer

The most important hour of your life

Christian voices in disagreement over assisted-dying

So your child is dating a non-Christian

Women Bishops the morning after

4 reasons why some preachers get better and others don't

A simple timeline for Acts

10 things pastors hate to admit publicly

No 1 reason church attendance is down

Faith and Mental Illness Part 1 and Part 2

Why you really need to be done with living safe

Assisted dying debate

BBC, The Independent, The Guardian , The Telegraph all to give a flavour on the coverage about the  Assisted Dying debate.

Graham Tomlin of St Mellitus on 'Why assisted dying needs to be resisted'

Two other articles:

Justin Welby

Can we trust assist dying to politicians?

Do please pray.

Thursday thoughts

I have been reading Falling upward and reflecting on the second half of my life. Sometimes when you read a book it can be just one sentence at a time that grabs you:

‘If there is such a thing as human perfection, it seems to emerge precisely from how we handle imperfection that is everywhere, especially our own. What a clever place for God to hide holiness, so that only the humble and earnest will find it’ (xx11)

I listened to this sermon called 'Rejecting the Real Jesus' this morning and the last four minutes of it gave me a fresh revelation of the cross that made me feel like I had just become a Christian.

The other day, I was thinking about taking exams and that moment you turn over the question. If I was setting an exam question right this moment one of the questions would be this:

'Success is not a kingdom value?' Discuss

As it happens, I have just ordered a book called 'Fail: Finding hope and grace in the midst of ministry failure'. Is there a church planter out there who didn't think it was going to be so much easier to make disciples than it actually turns out to be?

Do you think anyone will attend our church on Sunday because Synod passed the women's bishop's measure? I will tell you on Monday...... 

It's interesting to note that the new Education Secretary is a Christian. Do pray for her. 

Pray too about the assisted dying debate.

Someone on my team has never had a fig roll. Honestly- never ever.

Signing up for the Pastors.com email sends me a nugget or two of wisdom every now and then.

Mrs C has been reading me sentences from The Cross and the Switchblade. This was one:

'Jesus did not have a television or the printed word to help Him. His was a face to face ministry. Always the warmth of personality was involved' (p129)

I can't seem to stop listening to this song.

I have interpreted the Great Commission in lots of ways. One is by going into all the world and giving people books to read. It so encourages me when someone actually ends up reading one I have given them. Someone has recently started reading 'The Big Story' which has been a recent giveaway favourite. A great discipleship read.

We are showing 'Warhorse' at 'The Big Screen' tomorrow. 7pm @ HT Barnes

Our Bish is coming to visit us which will be fun :)

I reread this today by David Fitch about plagiarism and celebrity. 

Finally, this Gordon MacDonald quote and idea has lingered with me from 'The road we must travel'

‘Deep people are those people whose lives are organized around Jesus, his character, his calling to a serving life, and his death on the cross for their sins. The ability [or giftedness] of deep people may be quite diverse, but each has the power to influence others to follow Jesus, grow in Christ-likeness, and live a life of faithful service. They love the world, mix well with people, but are wary of spiritual entrapments. They are known for their wisdom, their compassion for others, and their perseverance in hard times’ (p156)

For the pod: Maryam and Marziyeh 'Captive in Iran'

Don't miss this great interview with two remarkable women about their vision for Iran and its people.

Who should be the first women bishops?

Last night, I went to listen to these two remarkable women and the authors of this book. I will 'For the pod' it when it is uploaded.

-They both had amazing conversions
-They both studied theology in Turkey
-They both love their nation and returned to it to win it for Christ at great personal risk.
-They single-handedly distributed 20K NT's around Tehran door to door at night.
-They planted a network of house churches- including one among prostitutes.
-They were arrested and imprisoned.
-They led most of their fellow-prisoners to Jesus.
-They were miraculously freed.
-They now have a globally influential ministry on behalf of the persecuted church.

If the C of E is looking for a couple of women bishop's, as they will be after today, then these two are top of my list. As it is, they will probably pick a frightfully nice and competent liberally-disposed ex-dean of a cathedral in her mid-50's with a Phd from a redbrick university somewhere in the West-Midland's. Such is life.

The right perspective

From BiOY today:

'In his book, The Vision and The Vow, Pete Greig tells of how a distinguished art critic was studying an exquisite painting by the Italian Renaissance master Filippino Lippi. He stood in London’s National Gallery gazing at the fifteenth-century depiction of Mary holding the infant Jesus on her lap, with saints Dominic and Jerome kneeling nearby. But the painting troubled him. There could be no doubting Lippi’s skill, his use of colour or composition. But the proportions of the picture were slightly wrong. The hills in the background seemed exaggerated, as if they might topple out of the frame at any minute onto the gallery’s polished floor. The two kneeling saints looked awkward and uncomfortable.

Art critic Robert Cumming was not the first to criticise Lippi’s work for its poor perspective, but he may well be the last to do so, because at that moment he had a revelation. It suddenly occurred to him that the problem might be his. The painting he was analyzing with clinical objectivity was not just another piece of religious art hanging in a gallery alongside other comparative works. It had never been intended to come anywhere near a gallery. Lippi’s painting had been commissioned to hang in a place of prayer.

Self-consciously, the dignified critic dropped to his knees in the public gallery before the painting. He suddenly saw what generations of art critics had missed. From his new vantage point, Robert Cumming found himself gazing up at a perfectly proportioned piece. The foreground had moved naturally to the background, while the saints seemed settled – their awkwardness, like the painting itself, having turned to grace. Mary now looked intently and kindly directly at him as he knelt at her feet between saints Dominic and Jerome.

It was not the perspective of the painting that had been wrong all these years – it was the perspective of the people looking at it. Robert Cumming, on bended knee, in a position of worship, had found a beauty that Robert Cumming the proud art critic could not. The painting only came alive to those on their knees in prayer.'

Saturday blog-sweep

3 tips for better Bible reading

What's so amazing about being Anglican?

Some thoughts on being a pastor's wife

The one thing Warren Buffet and Bill Gates have. (h/t J D Greear)

Carey, Carey quite contrary

Comfort for Christian parents of unconverted children

A top ten film list (most of which I haven't seen)

Yancey says farewell to the golden age of Christian publishing

Will Social Media destroy discipleship?

Love knows no end

I am trying to write a talk and currently, if I'm honest, it's really not very good at all. My wife responded by telling me that even if it's the worst talk ever given and it get's worse not better as I write it, this doesn't change God's love for me or who I am in Him (Nicky Lee's coin illustration comes to mind as I think of this). That was a helpful and timely gospel corrective. She then sat me down, prayed for me and made me listen to this. It was just what was needed.

Maybe you too are anxious, struggling, have things out of perspective or are just trying to get something done or finished? I can't solve whatever it is for you but I can recommend simply closing your eyes and taking a few moments to listen to this. Then turn it into prayer.

Monday Musing

 The digital deadly sins are brilliant.

This sentence from 'The Cross and the Switchblade' has lingered with me:

'As quietly as that, a new ministry was born. Like most things born of the Spirit, it came simply, humbly without fanfare' (P. 80)

My mother-in-law can't put 'If God is for us' down.

If you are a mum and you are looking for a way to a slower, simpler life this might be a good read.

10 Bible promises for parents.

Sometimes, all you need is the music which is perhaps why I am starting to love 'Without words'

A Vicar Factory pal and encourager Sean Doherty was instrumental in establishing 'Living out' (you can watch him, and his wife Gaby, speak about his being someone who is same-sex attracted whilst also being married with children).

He recently spoke on the subject of 'Sexual Integrity'.

I spoke on abortion a couple of weeks ago- a subject that is not spoken of here anywhere near as much as it is in the States.

Nicky Gumbel quoted this from a former Bishop of Kensington in the BiOY the other day:

'These are not the problems associated with the ministry, they are the ministry'

Until Saturday, I had never heard of Cursillo.

I pray that I might one day have that 'Indefinable, Indescribable, Something.'

Today, if you are interested, I am pondering 'The Seven Characteristics of Evangelistic Christians'. Oh, and I am also meeting with my Archdeacon.

Maybe creation was just an accident but looking at these I'm not so sure.

If you read one Psalm this week why not make it 27. Here's a tip. Read it slowly two or three verses at a time- pausing for a good bit of silence and responsive prayer between chunks. Then, as the say on the shampoo bottle- 'Rinse and repeat'

Have a fruitful week :)

Saturday blog-sweep

Top 10 relationship killers

How to preach every Sunday.....without dying

Annotated bibliography for preachers

How to stop email taking over your life

Why my family doesn't do sleep overs

The Unfair Deal

How to find a good commentary

A delicious invitation to rest

Predestination: What does it mean?

Mrs C and I have been dipping into 'Boundaries' a bit recently. Here it is in 30 minutes (h/t David Murray)

Do Londoners believe in God?

(h/t Adrain Warnock)

REBOOT 2014

Please put the word out about REBOOT 2014

I recently quoted a statistic that on any given Sunday 50% of churches have no teenagers attending worship. We've tracked down the data and supporting article (thanks Pete!) for any who are interested and it is well worth reading and reflecting on.

The raft but not the shore

In years gone by I have always watched the World Cup. This time around I have not watched a single  game which is largely a function of being newly married and trying to get a church plant established. However, what little I do know about football is that it's not much use being ahead at half time because the game is won or lost only when the final whistle blows. We all know this, but so many of us don't lead out lives like that.

At the beginning of 'Falling upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life' Richard Rohr writes:

 'I find that many, if not most, people and institutions remain stymied in the preoccupations of the first half of life. By that I mean that most people's concerns remain those of establishing their personal (or superior) identity, creating various boundary markers for themselves, seeking security, and perhaps linking to what seem like significant people or projects......But in my opinion, this first half of life task is no more than finding the starting gate. It is merely the warm-up act, not the full journey. It is the raft but not the shore. If you realise that there is a further story, you might do the warm-up act quite differently, which would better prepare you for what follows. People at any age must know the whole ark of their life and where it is tending and leading'

An experienced Vicar pal of mine told me that he has noticed recently a few younger Vicars and planters he meets are starting to need help and encouragement as their first flurry of energy and enthusiasm dissipates. As I reflect on this for myself, I do see much more tendency to go for the 'lead at half time' goals rather than the far better one of 'still standing at the end'. This is not true of pastors alone. It's true of a culture that seeks to accumulate, consume and retire early but with no real idea or purpose behind what might be done with the precious and most important second half of the game that remains.

I also confess I am being humbled and shocked anew but the utter chaos that ensues when Solomon dies and finishes so badly. We are in 2 Kings in my BiOY and the mess, sin, rivalry and factionalism is truly devastating for the people of God. We far to easily mirror similar things- though hopefully not the sticky end Jezebel met in this mornings reading!

This post called 'Autoposy on a burned our pastor: 13 lessons' is worthy of some consideration if you want to avoid burnout and ask a few good questions of yourself:

• Are you taking a sabbath?
• Are you reading the Bible for yourself?
• Are you doing any exercise?
• Are you giving time to your marriage and children?
• Are you investing in developing your leadership skills?
• Are you taking a decent holiday?
• Are you committed to being a life-long learner?
• Are you learning to face and deal with conflict well?

I am by no means an expert on all this but I have been following Jesus for 23 years and many of the early years where mistake-ridden and painful for me. Let me recommend to you ten bits of reading that I have found helpful and resourcing for my soul down the years and you might want to put one of them on your summer reading list: 

1. Finishing strong: I don't know of a better book for a man to read who wants to do the second half well

2. Leading from the inside out: This is a book about cultivating your inner life

3. A Resilient Life: Gordon MacDonald fell of his bicycle half way through but got back on it humbly and with courage.

4. A long obedience in the same direction: I recently gave this to someone and they keep quoting it back to me and to others which is always a good sign. 

5. Leading on empty: I read this when I was feeling a bit burnt out on holiday in Switzerland. This contains some really helpful stuff on coping with choppy waters. 

6. A Million miles in a thousand years: Helped me view my life as a story and an adventure.

7. Leading with a limp: Just the title should make you want to check this out. 

8. The Letters of John Newton: There is that great scene in 'Amazing Grace' where Wilberforce goes to see his mentor Newton who is mopping the floor in his church. Reading these helped me realise that dead guys make great mentors if you seek them out.

9. The Circle Maker: This is a hopeful book and the chapter on 'Life Goals' will help you mark out what the second half ought to look like. 

10. The Road we must travel: My most recent read of a book that might help me not burn out and one that gets a highly commended. 

I also listen to this talk at least once a year.

For the pod: Our relationships matter

I heard Nicky Lee preach this sermon on Colossians 3 last Sunday. You could use its contents for a one-session marriage preparation or simply sit your husband or wife down and give yourselves a marriage audit. If you are single, it's also just good general help from God's word on how to manage and built good relationships.

A friend told me recently that six marriages of parents who have children in her very small primary school have ended in the last two years. The stories she told me of all the pain, adultery and heartbreak are quite devastating. Nicky and his wife Pippa are the authors of The Marriage Book and Course, The Parenting Book and Course and Parenting Teenagers ands Children designed to help and support those who are married or parenting. A few of my pals are now reaching the teenage years and they might do well to reach for the Lee's book on just that subject.

You can explore all these resources here. We have just got hold of the marriage preparation material and DVD and are planning to start using it. Also, if you haven't discovered the Appendix in 'The Marriage book' its full or wisdom, questions, common sense and resources. You might even feel prompted to start running one of these in your church.

I hope this 'For the pod' is a blessing and encouragement.

You do it

We are in our last week of 'The Prayer Course'. Pete Greig quotes this in the notes for his last talk on 'Spiritual warfare':

"You will never pray a higher or more effective prayer than when guided by the Holy Spirit, you go to the Word, find the promise that relates to you and your situation and say "Lord, you've said it; you do it"

Derek Prince

Bloggers in one sentence

I caught a 4.5lb brown trout on the Test yesterday with my last cast of the day. Sheer joy.

I know you're captivated by what I am going to write next.

Andrew Wilson (whose excellent book I've just started) has written the best post I've read in ages with a great comment stream too (for those of us that read theology blogs which, granted, is a fairly niche market)

NB

I have also been pondering 'Six subtle ways you know your church is dying'.

Monday musing

Yesterday was a long day but a good one. It started with some Jillian and then a cheery sermon on murder. A great lunch planning some new things for the autumn, a good time of prayer with a small crowd and then a trip to HTB with a few folk.

We listened to Nicky Lee speak from Colossians 3 on forging good relationships. It was really excellent and grounded teaching which I will 'For the pod' when it is posted.

HTB are planting in Bournemouth and in East London. Do get in touch with Tim or Phil if you know folk who you think might like to be involved or live close.

I enjoyed reading 'The 4 Marks of Discipleship'

Talking of discipleship, someone on our Alpha team gave a guest 'Crazy love' to read -start radical I say! (Tim Challies shares his thoughts on it in his 'Bestsellers' series).

David Stroud spoke last week at an event HT Barnes attended (without me as I was on MoM) and he quoted a stat that on Sunday 50% of the churches in the UK will have no teenagers attending their services. Does anyone know where the data comes from?

My copy of 'If God then what?' has arrived.

Ru who is part of our merry band here is putting on Reboot- a youth apologetics event. If you have teenagers in your church then do recommend it to them (and their friends)

Here is an update from the Bishops on human sexuality who are also in a bit of soup about Wonga. If we think Wonga is wrong then the clergy should surely take it on the chin and have even less of a minuscule pension. At least it will be rather more ethically sound minuscule pension?

I enjoyed Ben Armett's thoughts on the internet.

Do scan these 30 Leadership Tweets- one may catch your eye and heart and help you lead better.

Watching Borgen is a good lesson in not putting your work before your marriage. Great series.

Saturday blog-sweep

Perfection, stress, worry and guilt

Slow to anger parenting

Why Christians need to stop quoting Romans 3:23

Why sleeping longer improves productivity

6 Reasons Pastors need learning communities

Rooftops

Church history in one book

5 ways to mess up your kids

Latest trends from around the world

Rachel Kelly's 'Black Rainbow'

Seven men

'The society of the spectacle creates passivity among its citizens, a reluctance to initiate, to lead. Instead we are encouraged to view, to consume. We fear committing, worrying that by doing so we will reduce our freedom, cut ourselves off from a myriad of choices that constantly entice us.'

Facing Leviathan: Leadership, Influence and Creating in a Cultural Storm

Mark Sayers, Page 60

I have just returned from Men on Mountains.

We think it's been going 15 years but our middle-aged memories are a little hazy.  The quote above suggests 'we fear committing' in today's culture, which may well be true, but this is something all seven of us have committed to until we drop.

Incidentally, one of my books of the last 18 months was 'Seven Men: And the Secret of their Greatness'.

We have a few more creaky knees and aches and pains but we still managed to scale two impressive peaks and all stay in a one room camping barn on the floor. The words 'Bed and Breakfast' are still not being entertained. 

My job always seems to be capturing a few thoughts and recommendations from us all so here they are.

Three of us listened to Simon's two talks in the car on the way home. I am reflecting on the fact that his father reads the Bible through 4 times a year, except when he's busy when he just manages the once. 

TV and Film

We watched a variety of things this year. Happy Valley, Broadchurch, Boston Legal, Suits, The Good Wife, Borgen and House of Cards. 

On the film front, Calvary was the strongest recommendation. One of our number thought potential ordinands should simply be required to watch this and then write an essay on why they want to be a priest. An interesting idea, given the reasons some have shared with me down the years about the 'why' of their vocation. I shared with the lads that I heard of a Bishop in Singapore who will not even consider someone for ordination unless they can demonstrate they have lead at least five people to the Lord.

The other film that got everyone enthusing was 'Seaching for Sugarman' which clearly completely passed me by.

Books

'Mountains of the mind' (this is now the set text for MoM and we are all going to try and read it for next year)

One of our number reviews books for Premier and his current favourite is Alister McGraths 'Deep Magic, Dragons and Talking Mice'

'If Mayors ruled the world' is a good read about the importance of cities. 

'Falling upward: A spirituality for the two halves of life' is apparently a great read for any in the midst of a mid-lie crisis.

'If God then what?' by Andrew Wilson is by all accounts a 'Mere Christianity' for our time. Andrew Wilson is the chap who debated Steve Chalke on 'Have we misread the Bible?. This is a wonderful book to add to your list of 'Give to friend with questions about God'. It's destined to become a classic.

'Lowside of the Road' was the recommendation from the muso of our gang. He's loving it. He also enjoyed Pinker's 'The Better Angels of our Nature' and do check out the conference he's pulled together. 

Michael Sandel's 'What money can't buy' prompted one of our many discussions up the mountain about the economy and ethics.

One of us if he were recommending one book he would give you to read opted for St Francis by G K Chesterton

Music

We did enjoy singing along to Stevie Wonder: The Collection at the end of our long day. The new music recommendation was Audrey Assad

Food and Drink

One of us stayed in a Cistercian Monastery and told us about 'terce' which is prayer that happens at 3am in the morning [N B my pal read this and apologised for misinforming me - Terce is in fact post- 9am and Vigil is the horrifically early one as, of course, the word implies]. He went to Vigil. I am sure I should have known about terce but it was all news to me. I did do a placement a Vicar Factory at Burford Priory but somehow missed 'terce'. As an aside, the monastery my pal stayed in makes the world's best beer. By all accounts, its near impossible to get hold of- unless you do Terce and Vigil :)

We all enjoyed a glass of Tamdu which is a nice drop.

A crisp flavour that was new to me

Questions

We meet to hold our lives account and once each of us have told the story of our years we get cross-examined.

Questions like: 'Tell us about your sin?'

I confessed to my new fitness regime :)

New questions this year:

"If your wife was here what would she want you to tell us?"

"Where in your life are you experiencing most freedom?"

"How can we best support you over the next year?"

We spoke a lot about raising children and I spotted this new book about growing up as a pastors kid which might be on the reading list for next year.

I told all the chaps they should read 'Finishing Strong' at some point.

Prayer and Scripture

'Enrich Lord

heart, hands, mouth in me with faith, hope and charity that

I may run, rise and rest in thee'

George Herbert

The text of the year was Psalm 131 and was the springboard for much prayer and conversation. One said of it

'It's the text I have tried to fashion my heart on'

Word of the Year

'Juridical' used by one of us which apparently means 'pertaining to the justice system'

Apps

Reflections for daily prayer


Finally, I've been pondering on one quote from someone who when they shared the gospel got the response

'Christianity is for people who can't cope'

Exactly.

Blogoliday

Saturday blog-sweep

Seven ways to hurt your pastor

Are you too Christian for Non-Christians?

The fault in our stars

In search of meaningful

Soul Keeping

Justin Welby at the 'Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast'

This man is a legend

Eight ways to say 'no'

The thing that drives me most crazy about church

A book on the Spiritual Disciplines

5 Crucial Steps for New Leaders

Friday thoughts

I spent the morning in a 2 Michelin star kitchen this week and will shortly post on what I learnt about discipleship through it. I washed the potatoes which, though I say it myself, I did quite a good job on.

I listened to the testimony of Mark Stevens who came to speak at our joint churches prayer meeting. He used to be in Neighbours back in the day when I used to watch such things. Apparently he was adopted into the Robinson family.

Talking of watching things Pastor John is not a fan of Game of Thrones.

I am really enjoying Facing Leviathan.

Love this story simply called 'My shepherd'.

I spent the morning with a crowd of pastors from Kingsgate and was much encouraged and blessed. They are a South African pentecostal church plant in Kingston and are brimming with passion and youthful energy. An inspiring and truly refreshing time.

Two people have spoken of how much they are enjoying reading 'In a pit with a lion on a snowy day' which I recommended here a few years ago.

I have convinced Mrs C to try watching a Danish political drama called Borgen (she is put off by the thought of both the Danish and the political bits of this idea but happily is quite enjoying it so far)

I have started a new fitness regime but I am not yet ready to reveal to blog readers what it is. It does involve using two tins of baked beans as hand weights because I am too mean to buy any.

This weekend I am preaching about adultery.

Week five of the prayer course was on hearing God and was brilliant.

Nicky's been hanging out with the Pope.

Toby preached to us last Sunday and you can listen to his excellent sermon here.

The film Belle is on Mrs C's radar, it being a costume period drama n'all, and she has not been put off by my pointing her to its poor review in the Spectator.

A number of pals are doing Guess my age? I am 42. Hilariously, my wife has come out as 47 which she is most disturbed by given that in real years she is a decade younger than I!

Men on Mountains is coming around again.

One word that assists significance

The author of Hebrews readily admits that discipline is painful (Heb 10:11). But He also assures us it is profitable. It produces a "harvest of righteousness and peace". The purpose of God's discipline is not to punish us but to transform us. He has already meted out punishment for our sins on Jesus at Calvary: "The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him" (Isaiah 53:5). But we must be transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ. That is the purpose of discipline.

Trusting God, Jerry Bridges, P 121

I chatted with a pal who was welcoming folk into our church yesterday about box sets. He told me they have completely redefined our viewing habits which must be rather frustrating if you are an advertiser. My pal told me that the phenomena of immersion is now very common with people disappearing for hours and even days on end into the fantasy world that the box set opens before us. No more the long wait for next weeks instalment in between which real life is lived- now escape can be imbibed intravenously. I am sure this is true of gaming too, although I have have never really caught the vision nor understood the bug for such things. I am sure 'Grand-theft auto' addicts feel equally mystified by my passion for fly-fishing.

One word seems terribly important if we are to live lives of significance. That word is discipline which I was reminded about today. Discipline requires what M. Scott Peck called in 'The Road less Travelled'' delayed gratification. The phenomena that every good thing seems to require a level of costliness or sacrifice in order to bring it into being. Most of us dislike this idea. Especially we dislike the delay part. I bought a bunch of flowers on Saturday and the florist told me as we chatted that almost every one she ever serves says this to her 'Just so you know- I am in a hurry'. As my florist tritely and humorously told me "It takes ten minutes to wrap and prepare these flowers whether on not they are in a hurry"

In order to build up a canon of work, or turn a creative idea into a reality or simply to read a book from cover to cover each of these things requires discipline.  Discipline too is required to if you want to get in shape or lose weight as I am currently and painfully discovering. Two books come time mind when I think of discipline in a Christian sense. One is 'Celebration of Discipline' which made me see how little I had and the other is 'Ordering your private world' which revealed my inner world to be like a cupboard under the stairs that I had been meaning to tidy. In contrast, when we think of grace we tend not to think of discipline but seemingly the two do go together. Learning 'the discipline of grace' and its rhythms is for me seemingly a life-long thing but one I am slowly but surely starting to comprehend a little better.

For more on this random Monday musing you might like to check out Philip Yancey being interviewed about both grace and suffering.

Saturday blog-sweep

Oxfam's 'Perfect storm'

Evangelical churches and intellectuals 

4 Strategies to cut your to do list in half and The Essentialist

According to Preacher Smith Slow Church and these five posts are essential reading (Part 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)

N T Wright interviewed by J John on Gay Marriage and World Mag's popular theology book of the year.

Canon Andrew White- the Vicar of Bagdad's plea for Iraq

A set of Top 10 book lists

Wherever you are be all there

J R Briggs' book 'Fail' looks interesting.

The benefits of the afternoon service

This Trevin Wax review prompted me to buy Mark Sayers book. I note it has a forward by Jon Tyson who gave this brilliant talk on culture.

Simple Simon [Francis Chan) says....Make Disciples

Four runs

Yesterday, I went on my annual pilgrimage to Lords. My pal is an MCC member (about to celebrate his 50th year which apparently gets you a special tie) and we chatted, drank a glass, watched a century from Root and caught up on life and God and friendship. Joyous.

I came home for the Prayer Course which we are running in our home and we all grappled with the question of unanswered prayer. If you struggle with this -so many have recommended 'God on Mute' to me.

A friend said to check out this talk and it's possibly one if you have a conflict or a relationship that seems to have gone sour and needs reconciling.

Another friend sent me a text saying this.

'Read [Peterson 'Under and unpredictable plant'] Ch 4. 'Finding the road to Nineveh'.  P. 138 Spiritual growth vs religious cancer especially.'

I read it this afternoon.

Someone is off the see a wedding dress exhibition which might be fun (if you like a wedding dresses that is). I am not sure I am exactly the target market.

We have a church film night watching this and I am worrying that it has a few rude bits which of course I failed to remember when I suggested it. I loved it so much- it caught me at just the right time. A film to watch as Father's Day approaches. 

This talk called Quenched (3/23/14) really blessed me

We have Toby coming to preach on Sunday which will be fun.

Secret places

Every week I try to withdraw to my secret place. Recently, I have ceased taking my phone and when there I can't get on the internet. It's hard. I don't think Thomas a Kempis had a phone:

'Be faithful to your secret place, and it will become your closest friend and bring you much comfort. In silence and stillness, a devout person grows spiritually and learns hidden things of the Bible. Tears shed there bring cleansing. God draws near to the one who withdraws for a while. It is better for you to look after yourself this way in private than to perform wonders in public and ignore your soul'

Kempis quoted by Gordon MacDonald in 'The Road We Must Travel', Page 145

Dancing

What do you make of dancing?

What about the idea of a church that dances?

We recently brought three churches in Barnes together for a Barn Dance. We ate food, we danced and we got to know each other. It was terrific fun.

Yesterday, I went to see Jimmy's Hall and it too was about church and dancing (and Irish politics). The local priest was none too keen on the dancing and in fact he did all he could to stop it.

Why is it that so often religious people hate dancing? Remember in Footloose when Kevin Bacon quotes Ecclesiastes.

Then today I watched a great rendition of Happy by Elevation Church and two thirds of the way through what happens?

You guessed it - dancing.

People have always had trouble with dancing since David danced into Jerusalem, much to the chagrin of his Mrs.

On Monday, we learnt than my Diocese is in something of a crisis. Two thirds of the churches are unable to cover the costs of their pastor and depend on the other third for support and an increasing number are unable to cover their parish share.

Cuts are a coming.

Just a thought.

Maybe we should try a bit more dancing?

PS

Did I mention I wrote something called 'Why plant churches?'

What two books?

'Greatness is determined by service'

Martin Luther King

A pal Tim who is a Vicar and a magician always says to me when we meet that I should write more and he's probably right. I realise I have not written much this year which is probably as it should be given this is our first year of marriage.

Today's piece of writing was inspired by my watching Oprah speak to Stanford University while in bed with a head cold feeling sorry for myself. Quite why I watched it I am not sure because I knew bits would annoy me, but it was more interesting than a Panorama about Bernie Ecclestone which was its competition.

We all need a life purpose, so says Oprah, and without it even having $ billion's is meaningless. She's right of course. As I pastor a little church, I realise most people are trying to work this out in some way or other. No one deliberately tries to cock life up and, be they Christians or not, are wondering whether their lives are on track or headed in the right direction and whether they will count for anything. Oprah annoys me with all her 'search for the hero inside yourself' platitudes but at the same time I do find her rag's to riches story inspiring. Someone came to me recently with a purpose dilemma and asked me about guidance. I recommended the excellent 'Just do something' as a good read to help them with all their questions.  If you feel like you need a 'what should I do next' and your own personal commencement address then do read it.

Yesterday, I preached on Ananias and Sapphira in our series on The Ten Commandments- a nice cheery passage about money and possessions and dropping dead and it struck me many of us want 'a nice life' and are so fearful of having a vision focussed on eternal life and what this may require of us. If we are rooted in grace then we are freed to be risky, brave, generous, content and expectant. As Don Miller writes in 'A million miles' a life that reads 'I saved up for a volvo and then I parked it on the drive' doesn't make a very good or interesting read but it's the story most lives in our secular materialist culture are writing.

Keller's must-read book on suffering has deeply impacted someone in our church and another friend (a Vicar's wife and mother of three boys) recently completed listening to his 30 sermons on Galatians- at my recommendation. She has found them transformative and, as I have often written, I credit these talks with changing the course of my life- not bad for $67.50. I think risking discomfort and uncertainty is part of what following Jesus necessitates and it's what makes it such an adventure. My Bioy today and the story of George Masterson is a case in point. Another pal, an elder in a local church who I pray weekly with, is about to give up the comforts of West London to go and live with his family in Hong Kong as a missionary with Jackie Pullinger (who happens to be his Aunt). It's the most thrilling thing I have heard in ages and reminded me of this stunning sermon on missions.

At the end of the address Oprah gives all the students two books (which must have cost her a bob or two but clearly she can afford it). One is by Daniel Pink but the other by Tolle seems to be one of Oprah's new age nonsense books that she's so terribly keen on. She put them under the seats and it got me wondering what two books I would stick under the seats of a stadium full of students.

Today I would choose 'The Reason for God' and 'Chasing the Dragon'. Ask me tomorrow and it may be something different.

What would your two be?

Saturday blog sweep

Use words

The most boring commencement speech ever

The Road between Ephesus and Thyatira and God and the Gay Christian

When it's time to talk

Did Jesus make mistakes?

Building your faith on Jesus

Why Christianity went bust in Britain

10 Cures for over-promising

Tim Keller on 'Being the Church in our Culture' Part 1 and Part 2

6 subtle things highly productive people do each day

Denzel Washington on the Christian Faith

For the pod: Scazzero on Emotional Health

I went to listen to Pete Scarzzero at HTB and he has an interesting story. When he started talking about the daily office and the liturgy I thought he should have joined the C of E :) Worth sending your Pastor if you think they are a workaholic or don't take their day off. Worth listening to also if you are not a pastor!

Quite interesting but also quite of his North American context. See what you think- you can watch here.

Choosing hands

(h/t John Valentine)