Blogoliday

Saturday blog-sweep

What the world thinks about sex and marriage

David Cameron does God and is a bit wishy-washy and Is Dawkins leading people to Jesus?.

Biblical and pastoral responses to homosexuality

Five people I admire

The Eagle Huntress

Bent out of shape

Five errors to drop from your Easter sermon

A True Leader (Video)

You can become new (Video)

Muslim Christian Dialogue (Video)

Crucified

Monday Blog-sweep

I was away at the weekend speaking on Daniel at the Vineyard Life Church weekend away at Ashburnham. Such a joyous time. So here is a delayed blog-sweep.

We are losing a generation

7 Reasons we don't make disciples

Andrew Sullivan on The Quality of Mercy and The Church and the LGBT community. The C of E's first gay priests marry and an interesting piece on Gay Marriage in the Atlantic

Six lessons in Good Listening

What the happiest people know about work

A Noah Review

Why Eugene Peterson keeps reading the Institutes and his definition of a pastor

A great wedding moment

What to do with your fear

25 ways to spot leaders you can trust

David Platt on Desperate Prayer

David Cameron's Easter speech

How many people go to your church? 

Flawed

'The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less. I don’t need to notice myself- how I’m doing, how I'm being regarded- so often.

Religion and the gospel also differ fundamentally in how they treat the Other- those who do not share one's own beliefs and practices. Postmodern thinkers understand that the self is formed and strengthened through the exclusion of the Other-those who do not have the values or traits on which I base my own significance. We define ourselves by pointing to those whom we are not. We bolster our sense of worth by devaluing those of other races, beliefs and traits. This gospel identity gives us a new basis for harmonious social arrangements. A Christian's worth and value are not created by excluding anyone, but through the Lord who was excluded for me. His grace both humbles me more deeply than religion can (since I am too flawed to ever save myself through my own effort), yet it also affirms me more powerfully than religion can (since I can be absolutely certain of God's unconditional acceptance).

That means I cannot despise those who do not believe as I do. Since I am not saved by my correct doctrine or practice, then this person before me, even with his or her wrong beliefs, might be morally superior to me in many ways. It also means I do not have to be intimidated by anyone. I am not so insecure that I fear the power or success or talent of people who are different from me. The gospel makes it possible for a person to escape oversensitivity, defensiveness and the need to criticise others. The Christian's identity is not based on the need to be perceived a good person , but on God valuing you in Christ'

Tim Keller,  'The Reason for God', Page 181-2

Bits and bobs

I went on a Clergy day at St Mellitus which was a blessing and I now feel up to speed on matters theological specifically Paul and the NT.

One of our speakers was Chris Tilling who has contributed to this response to Bart Ehrman.

My ethics tutor at Vicar Factory Andrew has posted this in response to the ABC on gay marriage and violence.

Jonathan Martins sermon called 'Go' really blessed me.

Vicky Beeching, the media pundit and worship leader, has posted in support of Gay Marriage which is causing much twitter comment. She follows a road walked by other well-known and popular (post-?) evangelical figures such as Steve Chalke, Brian McLaren, Rachel Held Evans and Rob Bell. I found this post a help which collected responses to Steve Chalke's take on Scripture and one clergy friend pointed me particularly to the Steve Holmes article in the list which I have now read. Some people have clearly not been very kind to Vicky though which is a shame (even if you think she's mistaken, which I do- do please try to be kind).

So that readers know, I take an orthodox and traditional view on marriage, through my reading of both Scripture and tradition, that 'Marriage', as Jesus stated it in Matt 19, is between a man and a women. When I studied at VF I found the chapter in Hays 'A moral vision of the NT' particularly helpful to me on issues of human-sexuality which you may like to seek out. The Bishops of the C of E, of which I am a part, have stated a position here which is the one we Clergy and individual local churches are currently working to and under.  

Don't Act 'Be'

'A Christian is something before he does anything; and we have to be Christian before we can act as Christians'

Martyn Lloyd Jones

Studies in the Sermon in the Mount

Quoted in the excellent 'What's best next' by Matt Perman

Page 123

Saturday blog-sweep

How to be the most stressed out person you know

The Gospel in life

Clutterfree with kids

John Richardson 'Two kinds of marriage' and Marriage and the Way of Jesus

Welby discusses Noah with Crowe and more Noah thoughts and 'Breath of fresh air' phone-in with the Archbishop on LBC who has a good joust with Ann Widdecombe (Essential listening)

Seven habits of highly effective preachers

Warren launches mental health ministry

Living then dying by the economic sword

How history's big thinkers spent their time

In the UK adoption faces a crisis 

The Campfire Story

All in a days work

I have been really rather poor at writing on the blog in recent months. What with church life, married life and life in general musing a few thoughts on the blog has taken a back seat. I do try and post a few link though.

The blog-o-shere and news is awash with matters Gay marriage and in a timely fashion Rev pitched in. The BBC has a primer on those who may not be in favour (like the C of E for example). Peter Ould is my go to thoughtful source on these matters.

I have been reading 'Revolution in world missions' which I am finding challenging.

The excellent and influential Anglican blogger and clergyman John Richardson has sadly died. Obit here.

Ken Costa spoke at Elevation recently which I listened to.

I have been singing loudly along to every word (especially the chorus 'You're not finished with me yet') from Song 8 on this album. Do sing and pray along with me.

I am looking forward to listening to and being encouraged by Rich Warren at this.

I am writing much more in my journal as I read this bit by bit.

I have been mulling on this quote and have written it in my journal (see what I'm doing here :)

''All God's giants have been weak men and women, who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them" W. Weirsbe

We are sending a team of 16 out with 'Mission direct' to Brazil  and had a little fundraising bash to support them which was jolly. See a wee film Beth made of the night here.

Alpha finishes tomorrow and then the plan is to learn how to pray.

This book looks interesting for someone who wonders what to do once they have become a Christian.

Ten things for a Monday

1. Read a 'A Thread called Grace'

2. Seven tips for a long marriage

3. Twelve ways Christians can be less mean

4. How busy people make time to read and Your not as busy as you say you are

5. How middle class are you?

6. How to memorise entire books of the Bible and a really helpful post on Bible reading called Never in January

7. How to fill your life with joy and Let the nations by glad

8. Two wills and a horror behind UK hospital heating

9. A whole city blown away

10. Pope goes to public confession

The end result

'The end result of mission must not be a better church. The end result of mission must be a changed community.' 

Quote from Verge 2014

Decoupled

Like Krish in this post (do read it in full), Coldplay has been a significant soundtrack to my life and seeing them play Wembley was a memorable evening.

Mrs C has a Paltrow cookbook that she brought as part of her dowry and not long ago I was flicking through its pages. What a perfect life she seemed to have. Married to a seemingly normal rock star, healthy kids, beauty and fame and all wrapped up in home made food bliss in the LA sunshine. How sad when your moments of escapism from a wet evening in West London come back at you with the ever so sad truth that things that seemed so perfect actually weren't.

I am sad for them, as am am for all who have to go through what they now do. Celebrity or not it's always a hard road when a marriage fails.

God's not dead

This post put me on to 'God's not Dead'.

The Samaritan?

This post by Cranmer is destined to cause much blog-o-sphere comment. Thought-provoking stuff for a wet Wednesday which is why Cranmer remains one of the Renaldo's of the Christian blogging world. You will need to click the links in the piece for the background story to all this.

Postscript

World Vision have in fact reversed their decision so I don't know what that says about Cranmer's parable and who the supposed good and bad guys are in the story? Also, this demonstrates the power of influential bloggers and the twittersphere to impact large organisations and charities whereever you stand on all this. A thought from Kevin de Young on the why,  a counter thought from Rachel Held Evans and Thomas Creedy collects lots of things together.

The Art of Celebration

I usually have a CD on the go in my car and this is the one of the moment. If you have not discovered these wonderful Irish worshippers then I commend them to you.  An album to listen to loud and sing-a-long in the car over and over and over. Splendid stuff that's currently warming and stirring my heart.

For the pod: Alpha TV

Like many churches we run the Alpha course in a local deli. We have supper together and then we watch a talk on DVD. I love preaching so not speaking at something is not my natural inclination but playing the talks and discovering young, new and gifted speakers has been a complete joy this term. They are doing the speaking on our course far better than I ever could! We have had guest speakers via DVD download or you can stream on wifi and Alpha seems to have taken on new life. (I have done Alpha many, many times down the years and ran it first in my flat in Moscow in 1994).

You may not know about Alpha TV which is a way of running Alpha for yourself in your home through streaming. Us Vicars get set in our ways and so it's well worth an overhaul on how you do things and tapping into Alpha TV to see what's new and what you can learn and encourage whoever runs Alpha in your church to do the same. There are tons of testimonies and new things that if you haven't looked for a while are worth exploring. With Alpha TV, you can now gather some friends in your home and then bring them all to HTB for a fantastic day of teaching on the Holy Spirit as we did on Saturday. I am gathering with a few Vicar pals to see what we can share with each other about running Alpha and how we can benefit from each others learning.

Some of the talks and speakers we have been blessed by are these. They are worth watching whether or not you plan to run Alpha:

Amy Orr-Ewing 'How and why should I read the Bible?': This is a terrific on the Bible and the story about the dove is one not to miss.

Toby Flint 'How and why should I pray?': LOVED the story about his boy-band audition.

Naomi Trenier (do read her story called Beautifully broken) 'How and why should I do tell others?': So refreshing, honest and real. This is the second talk she has ever given and she gave it to 500 people on the most recent course. She also did a talk on Saturday called 'What does the Holy Spirit do? which is worth watching once it is upload.

Saturday blogsweep

Courage

The Challenges of Christian Leadership

The Habit of Change

History of Christianity in 25 Objects: Youversion

The 30 second habit with a life-long impact

Alice Coopers testimony

Osteenification

Vicars have the best job

The celebrity pastor problem

Home for Good for Mothers Day

I reject Christianity because.....

For the pod: 'The best talk I've listened to in 20 years'

My pal sent this text to me this week:

'At New Wine Leaders. Listening to Jon Tyson- on culture- the single best talk I've heard in 20 years! Utterly breathtaking. I'm undone'

It seems that we should all be making time to listen to this one.

Church planting far and wide

Here is a film of the hopeful and inspiring story of church planting that's happened down the years through HTB.