Friday, June 26, 2015

One step at a time


Hudson Taylor and his rather eccentric English ways started a movement that is still moving 150 years later. 

More about his life here which is worth a listen. 

(h/t Justin Taylor)

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Ten Thursday Thoughts

1. I am reading 'The Road to Character' and enjoying it. Lots of interesting thoughts. I underlined this quote:

"Thankfulness", the Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, said," is a soil in which pride does not easily grow' p.8

You could also check out '15 history books for your summer reading'. Love a book list....

2. Matt Chandler has preached a repentant sermon that has been much talked about on the interweb after a church discipline controversy. I mused on this observation by Matt Redmond at Echoes and Stars.

'Be skeptical of repentance for which applause is given.'

3. Yesterday, a saint with four kids and eight grandchildren (and one on the way) said to Rachel and I while meeting John. 'Be sure you are investing in your marriage'. I then read this post which put some meat on that bone for me.

4. If you are part of things C of E you probably need to be following the Jeremy Pemberton tribunal. This is the best briefing I've read on it all

5. Watched this and pondered it.

6. Robert Madu's words 'Stay in your lane' are one's my heart has needed to hear and preach a lot to itself recently. I need to listen to this talk regularly. 

7. A book that is unread and not yet bought but is on my radar is 'Saturate' by Jeff Vandersvelt.

8. The man with the golden arm

9. The words of Acts 10:19 stopped me short the other morning....'The Spirit said to him'...... I've been chatting about these words to anyone who will listen since.

10. We have our Gift day on Sunday. Praying for the saints of Barnes to be 'richly generous'. One of our five causes is 'The Riverbank Trust' . They have a bold vision that needs £100k.

Tuesday, June 09, 2015

Out of the limelight

'Who you are as a person when no one is looking is more important than the most public thing you will ever do'

The Longview, P.45

Tuesday, June 02, 2015

Muslims, gloomy church stats and lots of hope for the future

1. I don't want to keep banging on about Mothercare but it is currently a feature of our new life. The other day, I had a long list on items written out for me by Mrs C one of which said '10 coloured muslims'. I now know the difference between a Muslim and a Muslin :)

2. According the Independent there are a million more muslims in the UK and the C of E is on 'the edge of extinction'.

3. I loved this little piece encouraging us to go off script

4. I am going to cook African peanut chicken stew today from 'Bird in the hand'. Tomorrow, I return to the coalface.

5. I went to my friend Matt's church and out side they had a sign welcome home. Here's an article about how church should feel like coming home.

6. Interesting piece at Church mag about learning from the rise and fall of MTV

7. I am sad to read news of Charles Kennedy's death and Alastair Cambell has written a wonderful tribute.

8. I read One Day in one sitting on a train from La Rochelle to Paris and it made me laugh out loud. I've just bought 'Us' which I probably won't read until 2019 but here's hoping.

9. This quote from Francis Chan in BiOY struck me and reminded me of reading Crazy love in holiday with friends in Majorca. If you haven't read 'Crazy love' you should.

‘The idea of Crazy Love has to do with our relationship with God. All my life I’ve heard people say, “God loves you.” It’s probably the most insane statement you could make to say that the eternal Creator of this universe is in love with me. There is a response that ought to take place in believers, a crazy reaction to that love. Do you really understand what God has done for you? If so, why is your response so lukewarm?’

10. Yesterday, I listened to John Peter's Pentecost sermon (One for the pod) and the story of his son being filled with the Spirit aged 7 was powerful. If you want to be reminded anew of all the Holy Spirit has for you then give this half an hour. 

Monday, June 01, 2015

Storytelling trumps 'the insight of Bhudda'

'Given the choice between trivial material brilliantly told versus profound material badly told, an audience will always choose the trivial told brilliantly. Master storytellers know how to squeeze life out of the least of things; while poor storytellers reduce the profound to the banal. You may have the insight if Buddha, but if you cannot tell a story, your ideas turn dry as chalk'

Robert McKee quoted in 'Lessons from the top', Gavin Esler, p.22

Generally, in the leadership model of the C of E we go for 'the insight of Bhudda' option (a Phd) as the gateway to senior leadershi when, perhaps, what we actually need are better storytellers?

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