Monday musing

We could sit about and wait for our baby but we've decided to go and listen to Mike Pilavachi tonight!

We have our church weekend coming up with Ele Mumford speaking.

I found a lovely Iranian couple outside our church last night taking a photo by our church sign. I introduced myself and they told me their church (8000 members) friend in Seattle told them they must visit HT Barnes. I asked if they were absolutely sure it was us and not the church in Kensington with a similarly lettered name with a congregation of 5000. Ah...........As it turned out, while they still had time  to visit HTB they gamely decided to stay and enjoyed our slightly more intimate service. Mansour works for Sat7 and we had an very interesting chat about his work and Captive in Iran.

Talking of larger churches it's interesting what God is doing in Milton Keynes

I am reading a fictional story of a man who loses his faith pastoring a megachurch and then finds it again through the story of Francis. The book is called Chasing Francis and as I read it I have in mind the many down the years who, for one reason or another, have given up or felt defeated in their faith.

Someone recently commented that they like our church 'because it's small' which I have been musing on. Yancey thinks 'Small is large'

It's interesting to ponder pursing four inner rings via Dash House

Papers better.

Piper, Schreiner and Andrew Wilson are debating whether women can preach in church or not. I am with Wilson.

Two men in deep need arrived at church yesterday afternoon. The church will I believe be increasingly called to step into the gap in the austerity years to come.

Getting by on $84m.

I am gleaning so many things from Owen Jones' book and whilst I am not a socialist I can't help but think something in the election result smells a wee bit fishy. David Keen has an 'Election Reflection' so does Neil Powell. And another very gloomy political outlook posted by a pal entitled 'The only way is down' which caused lots of chatter on his Facebook page.

I read this post 'I quietly admitted God had won' and 'Total Truth' has now gone on my wish list.

We all chatted about the floating light bulb over lunch yesterday. Now this is a room with a view.

Basically, apply the golden rule....

h/t Ann Voskamp

Love these libraries

Saturday blog-sweep

Children's discipleship

The essential man's library

How to boost your follow-up: Six fresh ideas

Why sermons often bore

The Wright Brothers

Reform and Renewal defended and criticised

Choosing not to be angry

Making disciples in the everyday stuff of life

The Tragedy of Time

10 ways to increase baptisms

Notes on 3DM, Mike Breen and The Order of Mission

5 Simple Leadership Practices

Buckets

Britain votes for Cameron

Unity, Preaching, Books and Thoughts

We spent Monday and Tuesday with 10K pastors and leaders @ LC15

Lots of thought and notes and I will post the talks when they are up. The theme was 'Unity'.

Cookie junior is due today but no sign so far. Pray they arrive soon.

Books on my radar after listening to all the talks: Fierce conversations and Soul Keeping

Joyce Meyer was very much new to me and has by all accounts had a huge impact on Nicky Gumbel. I thought she had some good things to share and has apparently written 106 books. I thought I might read one of them but am not sure which one to pick?

Joyce taught on love which is a hard thing to be against. She had four practical ways that we can show love to our neighbour:

1. Pray for them
2. Listen to them
3. Compliment and encourage them
4. Meet a practical need

I'm not sure Tim Keller podcasts Joyce but he has recently taught on 'Preaching to the heart' (which she does rather well by the way)

Justin Welby spoke yesterday to the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Driscoll is re-emerging and you can here what he actually said here. It is in my view too soon for any return to ministry.

Vincent Nichols had a phrase that was then much quoted by many about Bishops.

'Bishops should smell of the sheep'

I enjoyed listening to Raniero Cantelamesa although thought his delivery was a tad dry. This sentence has lived on with me since hearing it,

‘Christianity begins not with telling people what they must do to be saved but what has been done for them so they can be saved’ 

This Miroslav Volf quote is worth pondering for a while;

'In contemporary de-Christianized, pluralistic, and rapidly changing Western cultures, only those religious groups that make no apology about their “difference” will be able to survive and thrive.

The strategy of conformation is socially ineffective in the short run (because you cannot shape by parroting) and self-destructive in the long run (because you conform to what you have not helped to shape).

A good deal of courage in nonconformity is needed both to preserve the identity of Christian faith and to insure its lasting social relevance.'

(h/t Justin Taylor)

Stories, Longing and Garlic

Last night we cooked the most delicious garlic tart. We may well have no friends today but it was worth it.  Cook this......it's superb!

This morning we listened to 'Stories, Longing and Spiritual Formation'. It was a blessing.

Saturday blogsweep

Why God's will isn't always clear

Side by side

50 people in the Bible confirmed archeologically

Tim Keller on Judges and OT Violence

5 articles Don Miller sent to his staff this week 

Peter Kay's Car Share is making me chuckle and I watched an interesting Storyville on Heinrich Himmler.

Billy Collins

A good Apple Watch review via T. Challies

Strong Tides via Mark Meynell whose Q Marks the Spot is a great round up of interesting bits and bobs- check out the post on Scientology.

The Bible is not a portrait it's a window

Alison Pearson in the Telegraph on how Pornography has changed the teenage landscape beyond recognition

How disagreement makes us civil. We live in a time where it is becoming increasingly important to listen and love those with whom we may profoundly disagree. But how do we do that? We might all do well to take a couple of hours watching this important discussion between three truly great minds and influencers of thought. I could listen to Cornel West's lyrical and musical tone of speech all day.....

To exercise- schedule it

A 'Bishop for Church Planting' gets the green light

For the pod: Chan on having a vital relationship with Jesus

Mrs C awoke me at 5am and told me I had to listen to this talk. She'd been up since 4! This is a stunningly challenging word for anyone requiring a thorough soul MOT. This is a particularly vital word for those of us who are professional Christians (Pastors or Vicars). We can far too easily make the church about us and our plans and not about God and His.

Take time to soak this one in.....

The answer's Jesus

I really enjoy the blog of Matt Redmond called 'Echoes and Stars' and on it I found this treasure from John Calvin's Preface to Olvetan's New Testament. It's worth reading over and over again: 

Therefore, when you hear that the gospel presents you Jesus Christ in whom all the promises and gifts of God have been accomplished; and when it declares that he was sent by the Father, has descended to the earth and spoken among men perfectly all that concerns our salvation, as it was foretold in the Law and to the Prophets — it ought to be most certain and obvious to you that the treasures of Paradise have been opened to you in the gospel; that the riches of God have been exhibited and eternal life itself revealed. For, this is eternal life; to know one, only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent, whom he has established as the beginning, the middle, and the end of our salvation. He [Christ] is Isaac, the beloved Son of the Father who was offered as a sacrifice, but nevertheless did not succumb to the power of death. He is Jacob the watchful shepherd, who has such great care for the sheep which he guards. He is the good and compassionate brother Joseph, who in his glory was not ashamed to acknowledge his brothers, however lowly and abject their condition. He is the great sacrificer and bishop Melchizedek, who has offered an eternal sacrifice once for all. He is the sovereign lawgiver Moses, writing his law on the tables of our hearts by his Spirit. He is the faithful captain and guide Joshua, to lead us to the Promised Land. He is the victorious and noble king David, bringing by his hand all rebellious power to subjection. He is the magnificent and triumphant king Solomon, governing his kingdom in peace and prosperity. He is the strong and powerful Samson, who by his death has overwhelmed all his enemies.

It follows that every good thing we could think or desire is to be found in this same Jesus Christ alone. For, he was sold, to buy us back; captive, to deliver us; condemned, to absolve us; he was made a curse for our blessing, sin offering for our righteousness; marred that we may be made fair; he died for Our life; so that by him fury is made gentle, wrath appeased, darkness turned into light, fear reassured, despisal despised, debt canceled, labor lightened, sadness made merry, misfortune made fortunate, difficulty easy, disorder ordered, division united, ignominy ennobled, rebellion subjected, intimidation intimidated, ambush uncovered, assaults assailed, force forced back, combat combated, war warred against, vengeance avenged, torment tormented, damnation damned, the abyss sunk into the abyss, hell transfixed, death dead, mortality made immortal. In short, mercy has swallowed up all misery, and goodness all misfortune. For all these things which were to be the weapons of the devil in his battle against us, and the sting of death to pierce us, are turned for us into exercises which we can turn to our profit. If we are able to boast with the apostle, saying, O hell, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? it is because by the Spirit of Christ promised to the elect, we live no longer, but Christ lives in us; and we are by the same Spirit seated among those who are in heaven, so that for us the world is no more, even while our conversation is in it; but we are content in all things, whether country, place, condition, clothing, meat, and all such things. And we are comforted in tribulation, joyful in sorrow, glorying under vituperation, abounding in poverty, warmed in our nakedness, patient amongst evils, living in death.

This is what we should in short seek in the whole of Scripture: truly to know Jesus Christ, and the infinite riches that are comprised in him and are offered to us by him from God the Father. If one were to sift thoroughly the Law and the Prophets, he would not find a single word which would not draw and bring us to him. And for a fact, since all the treasures of wisdom and understanding are hidden in him, there is not the least question of having, or turning toward, another goal; not unless we would deliberately turn aside from the light of truth, to lose ourselves in the darkness of lies. Therefore, rightly does Saint Paul say in another passage that he would know nothing except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Blog-sweep

Does the Bible contradict itself?

Is hanging out with friends church?

Building a church planting culture in your church

Jonathan Merrit on the Q conference conversation about sexuality

7 ways to better staff meetings

A view on 'the wedding cake'

5 bad reasons to plant a church

Is the C of E a sinking ship?

Porn and teens

But didn't Jesus say.....

Returning from Rest

We had a week away and upon returning have been a little too busy for the blog. Apologies to readers.

The testimonies from our APCM were breathtakingly encouraging (Claud/Ru/Gerry and do also listen to Ollie (age 10) who encouraged us all a couple of week ago.

I have listened to a few Keller's that blessed me.

A reason for living

Laboring for a God who fights for us (Nehemiah 3-4)

Praying in the Spirit

You won't find a better talk to mail to a clever seeker than 'A reason for living'. The 'meet me' illustration at the start is fantastic.

I read 'Scary Close' on holiday and resonated with Don Miller's emotions and reflections around his marrying late. He's such a gifted storyteller. I have also been reading The Establishment as my political pre-election read. Owen Jones is an interesting, angry but passionate socialist.

I spent a happy half an hour watching a bit of Third Day which was fun.

I made a delicious Onion tart from the Higgidy Cookbook. I've been very much enjoying Masterchef and think the final may even be tonight? My money is on Simon although the chappy with the fine tash might sneak it.

Keller has a book on Preaching coming out and Saturate by Jeff Vandervelt looks like a read to check out.

We had a great visit to City church Salisbury and it gave me a glimpse of what a ten year old church plant looks like.

The This world series is worth checking out.

This song has captured me again recently

The Cooke's are not now far from parenthood (2 weeks to go). 

The times they are a changin.....

Blogoliday

Saturday blog-sweep

Romans set to music

No babies please we're European

Some new and notable books

Nigeria and Boko Haran

The Gay Pizza saga  and The logic of economic discrimination and Interview with a Christian and the CEN has the same issue in the UK

The key to multiplication

An open letter

Honest church planting

How Easter killed my atheism

5 tips for leading strong willed people

Changing (or not?) face of Christianity in Britain

21st Century Church....

or

'You are a Christian because somebody cared. Now its your turn'

Warren Wiersbe

John Bingham has some interesting and depressing stats on belief in Britain in his recent Telegraph article.

A Vicar pal sent me this film from a recent service in Lichfield Diocese and asked me for my thoughts. Where do I begin. My thoughts are simply that 40% of the clergy of the C of E are due to retire in the next 10 years and the average age of a congregant is rapidly advancing towards 70. Also, according to YFC, apparently 85% of children will leave school having had no participation at all in church. David Keen has plotted the latest C of E data and 'minus' seems to be the theme. The C of E is sadly on course to become little more than a minor sect in a post-Christian world to which, according to Bingham, the Chinese will be sending missionaries.

Don't get me wrong- it's a huge challenge with no quick fix and we are, as one local church, trying to write (and pray for) a very different story- as this post encourages.

What would Hudson Taylor and C T Studd have made of it all I wonder?

And the plan is?

Did I mention I wrote a post called 'Why plant churches?'

Instead of spending the next year having shared conversations about human sexuality we could perhaps better focus our energy talking about mission, evangelism and church planting in the post-modern world? Check out Hillsong London (below on USA Today) for one of the fresher faces of contemporary Christianity planting churches in the UK.

Which of these two expressions of Christianity would you want to engage with if you were 19?

'Touch the sky when your knees hit the ground'

It's just a thought......

Shared Conversations

The Church of England has embarked on a season of shared conversations about human sexuality as a result of the Pilling Report.

There are two competing schools of thought currently on this issue. What the Archbishop hopes to achieve through this process is 'good disagreement' in light of it being unlikely there will be consensus:

1. One school (my own) reads from the Bible to the culture which lands you in a place that acknowledges the shift in the culture but seeks to remain faithful to the teaching of the Bible and the historic position of the church on issues and definitions of marriage and sex. The C of E (as overseen by its Bishops), for the time being, remains doctrinally in this place.
2. The other (taken by revisionists) reads from the culture to the Bible and seeks to change the churches position on the nature of marriage to line up with shifts in both attitude and practice in (Western) culture.

I personally found this discussion an interesting and informative one that covers quite a few of the critical issues that will no doubt be raised and discussed at length during these many shared conversations. The content offers no radically new material for those who have, like me, read and thought a lot around this issue but it does collect most of the arguments helpfully into one place. Jackie Hill's short description of why Jesus is good news to all of us is well worth watching at the end and really blessed me.

A Book List on the Holy Spirit

We are starting a new preaching series on the Holy Spirit taking us through Pentecost and into the summer. The theme of our church weekend away in May is 'The person and work of the Holy Spirit' which I am really excited about.

As a result, I have started to read afresh quite generally on the Holy Spirit and also am taking delivery of a new book by J D Greear called 'Jesus Continued'.

Here are some of the books I will revisit, dip into and reread over the next few months:

God inside out, Simon Ponsonby

The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts, Max Turner

God's empowering presence, Gordon Fee

I Corinthians, Gordon Fee

Keep in step with the Spirit, J I Packer

Come. Holy Spirit, David Pytches

Spirit-shaped Mission, Andrew Lord

Forgotten God, Chan

Come creator Spirit, Cantalamessa

The Descent of the Dove, Charles Williams

Jonathan Edwards on Revival

Nine o'clock in the morning, Dennis Bennett

Know your spiritual gifts, Stibbe

The way in is the way on, Wimber

Power evangelism, Wimber

More, Simon Ponsonby

Be filled with the Spirit, David Watson

A new pentecost Suenes

Encounter the Holy Spirit, Morgan

Prophesy, Bruce Collins

Understanding Spiritual gifts, Arthur

When heaven invades earth, Johnson

The works of John Owen (Vol 3 on the Holy Spirit)

What happened to the power of God? Brown

Great Revivals, Whittaker

Joy Unspeakable, Lloyd-Jones

Spirit-filled church, Virgo

A good read, pastry and resurrection

We had a good Easter.

Tom Wright's tlittle phrase that when we die in Christ we say 'Good night and see you in the morning' has really stuck with me.

A book I spotted while clicking about is 'Redefining rich' which I may, at some point, read.

Sometimes, listening to a Jonathan Martin sermon is just what my soul needs.

Yesterday we made a pie. I have been reading this cookbook for more pie inspiration.

Darryl has been helped by reading Honest evangelism which has a good first line.

A pal sent me this book called 'Jesus Christ the Lord' which was a gift to me from its author who is part of my friends church (I can't find a link to the English version). By the way, he's looking for an Associate Vicar is you know anyone who might fit the bill.

This post called 'The dead end of sexual sin' is one I am pondering. I was particularly struck by her post-conversion emotions and turmoil that characterise all of us, to varying degrees, after we are born again.

'Conversion brought with it a train wreck of contradictory feelings, ranging from liberty to shame. Conversion also left me confused. While it was clear that God forbade sex outside of biblical marriage, it was not clear to me what I should do with the complex matrix of desires and attractions, sensibilities and senses of self that churned within and still defined me.'

If you are happy and you know it clap your hands :)

Saturday blog-sweep

100 Best Children's Books of All-time

Religious freedom vs gay rights? and Rod Dreher on Indiana: A Religious Liberty Bellwether and Post-Indiana and the future of Christians both make interesting and thought-provoking reading.

7 small changes that will make a huge difference to your life

Tom Wright on the Resurrection

Everything is supposed to be different from what it is here and this essay in particular.

He descended into hell?

A clean house and a wasted life

Work life balance Google style

Because the resurrection is true

Michael Gove in defence of Christianity and Christianity has become a laughing stock.

David Cameron's wonky cross

Amy Carmichael

Coalition spirituality

I stand at the door

I Stand at the Door

By Sam Shoemaker (from the Oxford Group)

I stand by the door.
I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out.
The door is the most important door in the world -
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There is no use my going way inside and staying there,
When so many are still outside and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where the door ought to be.
They creep along the wall like blind men,
With outstretched, groping hands,
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,
Yet they never find it.
So I stand by the door.

The most tremendous thing in the world
Is for men to find that door - the door to God.
The most important thing that any man can do
Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands
And put it on the latch - the latch that only clicks
And opens to the man's own touch.

Men die outside the door, as starving beggars die
On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter.
Die for want of what is within their grasp.
They live on the other side of it - live because they have not found it.

Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,
And open it, and walk in, and find Him.
So I stand by the door.

Go in great saints; go all the way in -
Go way down into the cavernous cellars,
And way up into the spacious attics.
It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is.
Go into the deepest of hidden casements,
Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood.
Some must inhabit those inner rooms
And know the depths and heights of God,
And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is.
Sometimes I take a deeper look in.
Sometimes venture in a little farther,
But my place seems closer to the opening.
So I stand by the door.

There is another reason why I stand there.
Some people get part way in and become afraid
Lest God and the zeal of His house devour them;
For God is so very great and asks all of us.
And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia
And want to get out. 'Let me out!' they cry.
And the people way inside only terrify them more.
Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled.
For the old life, they have seen too much:
One taste of God and nothing but God will do any more.
Somebody must be watching for the frightened
Who seek to sneak out just where they came in,
To tell them how much better it is inside.
The people too far in do not see how near these are
To leaving - preoccupied with the wonder of it all.
Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door
But would like to run away. So for them too,
I stand by the door.

I admire the people who go way in.
But I wish they would not forget how it was
Before they got in. Then they would be able to help
The people who have not yet even found the door.
Or the people who want to run away again from God.
You can go in too deeply and stay in too long
And forget the people outside the door.
As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place,
Near enough to God to hear Him and know He is there,
But not so far from men as not to hear them,
And remember they are there too.

Where? Outside the door -
Thousands of them. Millions of them.
But - more important for me -
One of them, two of them, ten of them.
Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch.
So I shall stand by the door and wait
For those who seek it.

'I had rather be a door-keeper
So I stand by the door.

H/T Perry Noble

From here to there

'Cookies day's' is a place that I hope some of you find some interesting things to read and click on. A friend sent me an encouraging email about the blog that blessed me and has spurred me on the keep on writing and sharing.

Today, Paul Sohn's '30 'Must-reads' on leadership' and Mark Meynell's 'Q marks the spot'  are worth clicking around on.

Mrs C and I watched this talk on the Holy Spirit together and we chatted about it at length afterwards.
We decided it's one to watch again with a notebook and one to pass around to others.

Monday musing

If I was preparing a sermon on the resurrection for Easter day I would certainly recommend reading the chapter in Andrew Wilson's 'If God then what?'

There has been a big debate across the pond about religious discrimination in Indiana. The Governor seemed determined not to want to answer the gay bed and breakfast guest question.

I am happy to see that Sunday worship is now being viewed as something that can be missional.

I cooked Lamb with apricots from Camellioa Panjabi's book. It's absolutely delicious but I added some creme fraiche and through in some left over gravy from this great Normandy Lamb recipe I did the day before.

I had a moment considering 'costliness' in Matt 8 listening to talk 5 in the series 'Follow' yesterday.

A quote from Sundays sermons that has stuck with me and I will ponder during Holy Week is this one:

'Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us we have to see it as something done by us'

John Stott

Lots of academics seem to be in a stew about changes to theological education. I think I need to dig around more to better understand what their beef is.

Some tips on taking better photos from Steve McCurry, whose exhibition we visited on honeymoon in Sienna. You can see his work in Monza if you happen to be in Italy.

We are starting a new teaching series on the Holy Spirit after Easter it being Pentecost n'all soon. J D Greear has come on my radar in the last few months and this belting talk on the Holy Spirit is worth checking out. The Holy Spirit is a person with power to bestow to his children who ask for it......

I am thinking about starting on Instagram. Cutting edge me :)  Just as I am joining all the trendy folk will be moving to some much  more hip platform. Any suggestions of alternatives?

John Legend singing Amazing Grace

h/t Ann Voskamp

Saturday blog-sweep

15 Essential Quotes from Bill Hybels

Effective leaders makes decisions

8 Values of TEAMWORK that make a church healthy

7 things I've learnt in 30+ years of pastoral ministry

Should I start a relationship with a non-Christian?

Kept for Jesus

Teaching Jewish studies in a state 'haunted by Jesus'

Keeping it simple

Monika Lewinsky on the price of shame

What is your exit plan?

Why nobody wants to go to church anymore

For the pod: People pleasers

I've been working through Rick Warren's 'Best Messages' and recently listened to 'Escaping the people pleaser trap' which I found very helpful.

So many live in fear of disappointing others or feel the pressure of keeping up with the crowd and conforming to their opinions. We worry about the performance of our kids, the lives of other parents at the school gate, the opinions of colleagues and friends, the views of our boss and a whole host of other people who we let dictate how we react and feel and think.

I hope this message is a help if you find yourself falling into the people pleasing trap.

True and Better

Wednesday bits and bobs

Matt Bird the founder of 'The Cinnamon Network' has written an interesting book called 'Relatianology: Secrets to grow your business through the power of relationships'

John Lennox, an apologist and Math Professor at Oxford, taught be the book of Daniel at Vicar Factory and he's just written it up into a book called 'Against the flow:The inspiration of Daniel in an age of Relativism'. His Bible teaching on this material moved me to tears when I heard it.

Keep a watch on your life and illustrations

Three bad reasons to leave your church

This is an interesting piece about the 'Four pervading themes in the writing of Dallas Willard'

I am very slowly working my way through Capital and this is an interesting piece about the solutions to inequality. Worth a read, as it seems the middle classes rather than the poor are absorbing all the political energy on the build-up to the election.

I had to make a big leadership call this week and this insight was interesting on changing your mind. I also found 10 Dumbest things a Pastor says on a Building Project a help to me.

I always love a new or interesting commentary on Romans like this one.

Enjoyed the seven distinguishing habits of highly effective pastors.

Have you ever considered a stand-up desk?

3 Team Killing church cultures

You may not be working in the White House but this is ....How the most powerful people get things done

The 20 most popular TED talks if you happen to have hours to watch them all. A 20 minute TED when you are in need of some inspiration can be a good thing I've found.

Scandinavian church planters

It's rather fun to have a crowd of Norwegian and Swedish church planters visiting HT Barnes this afternoon. I have been asked to encourage them and to share our story. As I have been thinking this through I have looked back on the books, websites, sermons and resources that have been part of the story for me personally and for our church.

Books

DMLJ Iain Murray (2 Volumes)

A Resilient Life MacDonald

Finishing strong Farrar

The Missionary Movement in Christian History Walls

The Cross cultural process in Chrsitian History

Edward George Marsden

The Shaping of thing to come Hirsh

More Ponsonby

Who is my enemy Rich Nathan

Wesley Pollock

Leading with a limp Allender

Leading from the inside out Rima

A million miles in a thousand years Miller

Bonhoeffer Metaxas

Leading on empty Cordiero

Confession of a reformission rev Driscoll

Vintage Jesus by Driscoll

Why Revival Tarries Ravenhill

Sensing Jesus Eswine

It Groeschl

The Reason for God Keller

Working the angles Peterson

Total Church Chester

Churchill Johnson

The Big Story Buzzard

Rethinking the church White

Courageous Leadership Hybels

Fresh wind fresh fire Cymbala

The way in is the way on Wimber and Hayford

Reformed doctrine of predestination Boettner

C T Studd Norman Grubb

Too busy not to pray Hybels

Ordering your private world MacDonald

Church in the making Arment

The Heart of a Servant leader Miller

In a pit with a lion on a snowy day Batterson

Fail J R Briggs

Talks and Films

Furtick's advice is not to plant a church unless God has called you to. I concur

Platt's advice is to pray. Good idea and do lots of it.

Driscoll is a very flawed man but this sermon did something deep in me. Not for the faint-hearted so you've been warned but it's part of my story so I share it.

Simon is a pal and he blessed me and made me laugh as I planted our church and spoke at our first weekend away.

#

Nehemiah is a book I have often turned to on our planting adventure.

I read 'The purpose driven life' and Romans while fly-fishing in Chile for 2 months and I've been set on a different course ever since. 

A bit of advice. Read the bible and pray said so brilliantly by Hybels

Billy Graham's talk on the Cross moved us all deeply when I showed it in church and blow me down someone gave their life to Christ. Wonderful stuff.

Watching this moved me and compelled me pray that we might see a few folk believe and be baptised. We haven't quite got to 2158 yet but give us time :)

These Keller sermons on Galatians were a turning point in my encounter with grace. I listened to them driving up and down the A3 to work over a months and have never been the same since.

Leaky roofs and other matters

The budget gave a tax break to church roofs.

Thanks to David Keen for putting me on to the Evidence to Action website of church growth resources. Well worth breaking a fast for!

These lyrics were quotes in the BioY notes:

‘The night is deafening,
When the silence is listening,
And I’m down on my knees,
And I know that something is missing…

Sooner than later, I’ll need a saviour,

I’ll need a saviour...

I just wanna run to you,
And break off the chains, and throw them away,
I just wanna be so much,
And shake off the dust that turned me to rust.

Sooner than later, I’ll need a saviour,
I’ll need a saviour...’

I always love discovering cheap kindle books.

J D Greer in chapter three of 'Gospel' describes asking his wife to tell him about his sins. It is a very challenging read if you happen to be a pastor (as I am) and it came on the back of my reading this post about envy and rivalry in ministry.

Interesting piece entitled 'What's at stake in the Dolce and Gabana controversy'

Wednesday bits and bobs

Loved these reading nooks

A strong response from Peter Ould about the Southwark crisis now spreading across the C of E. It made the front page of the CEN this week and the Church Times. Looks like this one requires some bold decision making and leadership and requires it pretty fast.

If you lead something these four things are worth dwelling on for a moment.

I appreciated the post '7 things the church can't do for the pastor'.

I am enjoying reading 'The Pregnancy Book' and I would heartily recommend giving it to anyone in your church expecting a child.

Justin Buzzard has written an interesting post about pastors working a five day week like everyone else.

I am pondering this piece on why God doesn't remove sinful cravings. I am also enjoying reading J D Greear's book Gospel which someone gave me after church last weekend.

I am excited afresh about the things of the Holy Spirt and have been reading this material called 'Understanding spiritual gifts'.

There is quite a lot of comment on the Dolce and Gabbana gay adoption debate/argument with Elton John.

I found listening to Paul Maconochie on Missional Communities helpful and interesting.

 

h/t Ann Voskamp

Saturday blog-sweep

Muslims prayers in a C of E parish and Southwark in the news over the same story.

Nine marks of an unhealthy church

Six reasons sexual predators target churches

Is discipleship Anglican?

Your pastor is a better than your podcast

What will happen when the Queen dies?

The disciples first assignment- do nothing

Before I go

The trouble with swearing an oath on a holy book

How to be happy when someone leaves your church

A brief defence of infant baptism

4 ways to raise up Godly girls

The fellowship of differents

Why can't the church just agree to disagree about homosexuality?

The book I never realised I was desperate for

How to make a new habit stick

The Longview

'Your ministry doesn’t need the flair of your inflated ego; rather, it is your authenticity that will most effectively motivate those you serve in leadership. And that genuineness is most often communicated in a soft tone that has no relation to bravado— a well- reasoned argument that can be coupled with passion to get the attention of internal and external constituencies, and a caring and gracious spirit that attracts around it people ready to listen and respond.'

The Longview: Lasting strategies for rising leaders, Roger Parrott

Monday musing

It's late on Monday and I have a few things I've read that have stuck with me that I share.

The first is N T Wrights piece on Cranfield which was fascinating for anyone a wee bit interested in the scholarship of Romans.

I also appreciated 10 Christian Influential Leaders 5 best books. I always love a book list.

Cranmer has a punchy post on Islamism.

There is much in the blogosphere about inerrancy after John MacArthur held a conference about it. I found R C Sproul's thoughts on the subject interesting.

Finally, lots of posts about Apples new watch and Kester has views. Also, I enjoyed the 'Art of the Keynote' which has some helpful thoughts if you speak a bit- as I do.

My Ma's church are having a series of Lent film nights and one they showed was 'The fault in our stars'. It has gone on my radar as a result. Others she has watched are 'The Way' and 'Pass it forward' which are both excellent movies (apart from the fact that the DVD broke down for 'Pass it forward' and I told her the ending).

Mrs C made Hemsley and Hemsley's kale pesto for supper which you might think would be vile but we both agreed was rather delicious and interesting.

Saturday blog-sweep

The Three Sieves

Faith in politics

A Bishop for 'Church plants'

Three Christian misconceptions about Muslims

The Wheelchair or the Throne

Mums with one day old babies

How do I become a ........priest

A simple way to reading and applying the Bible with Jesus as hero

Why our children don't think there are moral facts

5 things every church planter needs

John Stott on Christian ambition

Spurgeon's Sorrows

Anna Marie Cox a Liberal Journalist (with the Daily Beast) 'comes out' as a Christian

Put the mobile in the basket and be friends

The first word is the bravest

4 Reason every pastor needs a good pastor friend

Archbishop Justin's lecture on Evangelism

Conversations with Poppi (for 48p)

A bit and a bob

Yesterday we went to see 'The Second Best Marigold Hotel'. In truth, we had turned up expecting to watch 'The Theory of Everything' but discovered we were a day early and I had misread the website. The administrative cross I bear :) The film had some lovely bits and I enjoyed the Tennyson moment and Maggie Smith's thoughts at the the conclusion. Dame Judy is as stupendous as ever.

We were all rather surprised that the Kentucky Fried Chicken Ad at the start brought a tear all our eyes. That's a first.

I preached a lively message on Sunday from Psalm 73. I quoted this from Donald Miller. 

“Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which, given the brief nature of their existence, seems an oddity and, for that matter, a waste. Nevertheless, this is the driving influence behind every human's social development, their emotional health and sense of joy, and, sadly, their greatest tragedies. It is as though something that helped them function and live well has gone missing, and they are pining for that missing thing in all sorts of odd methods, none of which are working. The greater tragedy is that very few people understand they have the disease. This seems strange as well because it is obvious. To be sure, it is killing them, and yet, sustaining their social and economic systems. They are an entirely beautiful people with a terrible problem.” 

Donald Miller, Searching for God Knows What

I chatted to someone who has started writing a book about their recent spiritual journey and recommended Blue like Jazz' to them. It's a fantastic read. 

I've started reading 'The Longview'. 

I am trying to make time to read the Bishop's pastoral letter 'Who is my neighbour?' A neighbouring parish were challenged recently in a sermon to read the letter and to at least consider voting differently from the way they normally vote or differently from your default political leaning. 

I've been wondering what we are left with in the Bible if we take the Dean of St Paul's advice on Scripture. 

It reminded me of the section in 'The Reason for God' about creating a 'Stepford Wives' God:

“If you don’t trust the Bible enough to let it challenge and correct your thinking, how could you ever have a personal relationship with God? In any truly personal relationship, the other person has to be able to contradict you.

“For example, if a wife is not allowed to contradict her husband, they won’t have an intimate relationship. Remember the (two!) movies The Stepford Wives? The husbands of Stepford, Connecticut, decide to have their wives turned into robots who never cross the wills of their husbands. A Stepford wife was wonderfully compliant and beautiful, but no one would describe such a marriage as intimate or personal.

“Now, what happens if you eliminate anything from the Bible that offends your sensibility and crosses your will? If you pick and choose what you want to believe and reject the rest, how will you ever have a God who can contradict you? You won’t! You’ll have a Stepford God! A God, essentially, of your own making, and not a God with whom you can have a relationship and genuine interaction.

“Only if your God can say things that outrage you and make you struggle (as in a real friendship or marriage!) will you know that you have gotten hold of a real God and not a figment of your imagination.

“So an authoritative Bible is not the enemy of a personal relationship with God. It is the precondition for it.”

– Tim Keller, The Reason for God, pages 113-114

We are watching an episode or two of 'Lie to me' which is really rather interesting on deception and lies. 

I cooked Kedgeree over the weekend and also made my mothers delicious spicy sweet curry sauce with it.  I enjoyed watching Tony Singh on India and Indian food recently. 

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