further thought on 'that porch by debenhams'...

Maybe I got carried away there...It should be made clear, not everyone needs to go and get mad about helping homeless people giving themselves on behalf of the poor. I know that sounds like a contradiction of scripture – but bear with me. I mentioned that it shouldn’t be a surprise to do such a thing, shouldn’t be a one off, that it should be the natural thing to do…in a sense it may be the case, but the important thing isn’t that we get hyped up about helping the homeless and poor, or anyone actually…(still bear with me!)…

The important thing is that we follow Jesus, and by that I mean follow the Holy Spirit and his leading, keep in step with the Spirit, to see what God is doing and join in. We serve only Jesus.

For some, that may mean they keep walking past the guy in the porch next to debenhams, and just pray for him.

Follow Jesus, not our own thoughts / guilt trips about ‘what we ought to do’…

This actually means that sometimes, he'll lead us to do something very unnatural or fairly abnormal, even though doing it would be the natural thing, because our ultimate action is serving Jesus in the various ways he leads us in. It's this that needs to be our natural response, our 'normal' way of life.

The social gospel is in just as much danger as the prosperity gospel simply because it puts a word before the word “gospel”, as if the word gospel wasn’t enough already. It categorizes the gospel and takes away some of its meaning. It means ‘this is the gospel, and that is not’…ok, there are things that the gospel is not, but it’s holistic if anything – its goods news for all of life, in every area of life.

It’s good news because it means Jesus in all of life. If our focus leaves Jesus we focus too much on social things, or wealth and riches, our ethic quickly becomes man made. The holy spirit may lead us to give up all to help the poor. Equally we may be lead to help someone dressed in a suit, looking very wealthy – but they’re in just as much need for care and the love of Jesus as anyone else.

We can’t restrict our view to people and to man made things and ideals – our eyes always have to be upon the Lord Jesus – to see what he’s doing and to do the same.

I heard yesterday, that “Jesus didn’t die that we’d become Christian, but he came that we may become Human.”

He came to give life to full. That’s what we need to live. His life is the criteria for human living, for humanity – for what humanity is meant to look like. That’s what we embody, we are meant to live a life that is different to the world. To live in such a way that those around us realise that ‘that is the way life was meant to be lived.’

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franciscan benediction...challenging stuff.

Good to pray and eat breakfast (with a glorious view of the canal - thanks sainsbury's) with Chris this morning. I probably talked more than prayed, but it was a wonderful, for many reasons. Some good prayers were prayed too.

None quite so full on as this though, and I write it here for your (and also my own) contemplation.

May God bless you with discomfort;
May you be dissatisfied with easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your hearts

May God bless you with anger;
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people
So that you may work for justice freedom and peace

May God bless you with tears;
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war
So that you may reach out your hands to comfort them,
And turn their pain into joy

May God bless you with enough foolishness;
To believe that you can make a difference in the world
So that you can do, what others claim cannot be done,
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and to the poor,

(and, if you dare:)

Amen

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that porch by debenhams...

Today I met a friend sat in the familiar porchway next to debenhams, strangely the a favourite place of another homeless friend in the past.

I'd gone out to get some space from the claustrophobia in my office and the mounting claustrophobia in my head from a busy morning.

Like most days, i hadn't really taken notice of my moravian daily scriptures, although they echoed in the back of mind as i walked out of the office in search of some fresh air and space for my head to cool down and switch off a bit.

Happy are those who consider the poor; the Lord delivers them in the day of
trouble. Psalm 41:1

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Matthew 5:7

Taff hadn't been around for a long time, so i stopped to talk and found out he'd got a promotion so to speak. he'd got his own place and was moving out of his rehab type half way house place, but needed to move out before tomorrow, and to his clear distress, 'no one' was helping.

I didn't want to go back to the office, and i felt i couldn't just leave him there. I couldn't be like 'oh well, see ya'!?...i heard myself tell him i'd take him back and help him. he got up straight away and we walked together to the car. we picked his stuff up and went back to town and moved him in. nice flat. his first having been on this road for fourteen years. it was worth celebrating.

As we left, I heard myself again. I was offering to pray for him. I was praying already. thanking God for his miracle and provision, praying for God to be in the house and for Taff and all his visitors to know it, to bring peace, to bring safety, to change it from a shell into a home. we both said 'amen', and I believe, God moved in.

A coffee, 5 sugars and a celebratory muffin later, we said our goodbyes as he took his place back under the porch next to debenhams.

This was a great opportunity to show the love of Christ. but there's a long way to go until i start just 'being' Christlike - for Christ to inhabit my nature. I want to be frank, this post isn't meant to make my deeds look good, the post is here as a stark indicator of how far i have to go. if I were truly Christlike, this wouldn't be such a one off thing to do, and it certainly wouldn't become the most interesting blog post of the week! The coolest thing about this post is what God has done.

As Taff makes progress in staying clean off his addiction, there's a long way for many of us to lose the addiction of our self image. it wastes a lot of time. When Jesus talks of the sheep and goats, the sheep are surprised when he applauds them: "when did we do this Lord?!" they humbly reply...they weren't focussed on themselves, continually evaluating their good deeds, they just did them because the life of Christ compelled them to. They praised God for what he was doing and almost missed the fact that they had a part to play. They just knew the privilage of being involved. They received mercy, because they were merciful.

Today I thank God for taff, and for letting spend an hour or so with him, for letting me pray in his house. But I look forward to the day when this isn't such a shocking thing to do.

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ambling along...

good to prayer walk with Chris this morning. i had it easy as we started from my place, through the park and through the centre of town.

good to pray underneath the deep cloudy and muggy sky. we prayed that the spiritual clouds would part and Christ's light would shine down. we missed the rain thankfully. well, until Chris had gone into work and I had started to walk home. then the rain came. and i was soaked! haha.

all good fun...i tried to contrive a good spiritual meaning out of it all, but in the end, i think i just got rained on.

a highlight, whilst praying and chatting, was this interesting thought:

'Does God desire a relational community or a community of relations?'

spiritual siblings...the sense of family seems to hold an interesting dynamic when thinking about community and church, and a different to just a group of friends.

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culture and mission...part 2

Think of the new testament church.

They lived a lifestyle and held a worldview that was dramatically opposed to the culture around them. They gave their very lives to stand up against injustice, unrighteousness, hatred and all kinds of immorality – but more importantly – they stood primarily for the gospel of Christ. The truth.

The whole point of it was Jesus, they cried out the name of Jesus as they were martyred and persecuted. Not in the name of a just cause or a political agenda or even a hippy dream for peace and love. But the name of Jesus.

They lived purposefully to kill the inherited culture within themselves, but entered the culture of those around them in order to save it, to see it transformed into the image of God, not of Caesar. Definitely not naïve, but wise in the ways of the world, every act and every word spoken; they proclaimed a better way of living life. The way of Jesus.

Yet somehow they were not irrelevant. Quite the opposite. They truly lived within their culture but not of it. they didn’t shun those around them, but came alongside them and showed them how life was meant to be lived. Not under the empire, but within the kingdom of God. Their relevance was not found in their close resemblance to the pervading culture, but precisely in their difference. It became infectious.

They didn’t do violence to the culture around them, but they took it by force. By love. And by truth. Love without truth excuses a multitude of sins, but love with truth covers a multitude of sins, leading to repentance, wrenching them out of wicked ways into the righteousness of Christ Jesus. A clean slate. A new beginning. New creations ushering in heaven on earth.

‘amazing grace, that saved a wretch like me’

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prayer walking...

It was wonderful to stroll along through the park yesterday and meet up with jack and ben.

Together we walked the streets of Gloucester, around the docks and new developments, through alleys and on the cross. we prayed for God to bless the people and things we saw - the things that inspired us, the things that challenged us. we prayed for the ‘prosperity of the city’ where God has called us, and it was good. very good.

It's been a long time since I've done any prayer walking, and if there was ever a time to pray - it is now. prayer is always vital. and though we've seen amazing things happen through our prayers over the years, we can never become complacent. It is good to pray. And good to pray with our eyes looking out, not in.

Looking forward to next time.

(ps. Yay ! New look blog for a new season!)

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culture and mission...

I was on my way to bed last night, and I had this epiphany type moment that is fairly rare. I may go as far to say that God was saying something, but said when I least expected it. I started to write it down, and then continued to reflect on it, and this is what I wrote:

“all the major moves of God, revivals, renewals in the church have come from a person’s / people’s response to God – not to culture” …

It is the response to God that renews the church, that unites it, that sends it out to live life radically and uncompromisingly, in prayer, mission and justice. We need to be in our culture, but not of it. A response to God (which is always new, and fresh, and living) transforms the culture around us into his image. we should not let the culture around us transform the church in its own image.

“if the response is to culture, then we often miss the fact that our own efforts and questions are a fruit of the culture itself, the culture we inherit, the culture we are trying to engage. If we question how the church / following Christ relates to our culture, and question its relevance, and how it ‘should’ be this way or that, which then in turn leads us to form new ‘cool’ movements and ‘cool’ missions to better assimilate it – it is precisely our culture that bids us do it. It beckons us to question our practise, our beliefs, our truth. It is our culture that makes us think its wise. And thus, unhindered, welcomed even – but undercover – culture assimilates the church in a new generation, only to cut it off from the biblical teachings, and to become ambiguous in its relation to the wider church, or worse – in relation to those who are truly embodying the gospel for ‘today’ as a response to God.

Thus, in our day, new movements become fashionable, their leaders celebrities, both for the conformists and for the non-conformists movements, labels become idolised, even if they are labelled as not having a label, they protest against consumerism but only provide a different style menu to consume from. The ‘new’ breathes fresh air into their parched lungs; it bridges the gap between their desire for popular culture and their conviction to live differently and not be of the world. It sooths the conscience. Socially, it may indeed be costly, such is the attraction, but the discipleship is cheap.

But, where are those who are meek, who are humble, and oblivious to these things? Those who celebrate Christ and follow him no matter what the cost, unaware of the impact they make, not caring for fame, but just enjoying the Jesus life day in day out? Those who’s right hand does not know what the left is doing, yet they are a light that cannot be hidden. Those who hold onto Jesus and his way; the way of the sermon on the mount, unlike, unknown, the unsung heroes of the faith? where are these disciples?”

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onions

We picked our onions the other day. And I have to say, there is something glorious about gardening. This is our third year growing veg without using any chemicals, so I guess that means we're truly organic, right? Thanks to the fine weather our 30 or so onions are drying out a little on our table before we platt them together and hang them round our necks like frenchmen in the countryside!

I've currently got the cricket on the background - oh my goodness. It's quite a distraction and I think I'll have to turn it off, but 98 for 8, though a complete demise, is quite enthralling to listen too! Anyway, I've been doing a bit of work. Over the summer I've been taking a look into new monasticism and the emerging church. I've made a questionnaire and sent it to a few key practitioners and authors. I like this from Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, on being asked how new moves of God can keep a balance between unity, yet also maintain the prophectic challenge for renewal to the wider church - whilst not making a new denomination (does that make sense?!):

"For a challenge to be prophetic in any real sense, it has to be directed toward the community that you're part of. Most of what gets called "prophetic" is just protest--people yelling at "those people" about what's wrong with them. But the prophet engages in lament as a member of the people of God. Without submission to the church, there is no prophetic witness."

The whole thing of unity in mission, and especially unity during times of renewal has been buzzing in my mind recently. My good friend Gaz Higgs pointed out the other day, that there hasn't ever been a renewal of the Church - there have been many renewal movements, but usually the new moves of God end up with mankind creating new denominations, as some people take to the call whilst others hold fast to tradition.

Don't get me wrong, tradition is important - and this is the crucial thing; just as we cannot be stubborn enough to keep tradition, we shouldn't be stubborn enough to throw it away. We have to follow Christ. We often think that 'new wine' needing 'new wine skins' means that we need structure to change. But structure doesn't carry the wine. people do. Hearts do. peoples hearts need changing during a renewal, in order to carry the 'new wine', and people's hearts change when we encounter Jesus.

Leslie Newbigin says that if the will to unity is not great, it is because 'we are not living close enough to Jesus'.

There's loads more to say. But I'll leave it there today.

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goodbye family Volland...

Yesterday my phone rang and woke me up. I'd slept in given the immense wedding day and I struggled to find my phone. I picked up the Voicemail. Still half asleep, I struggled to make out what was being said. It was Michael Volland, and he was presiding at the Cathedral Eucharist. I got myself out of bed and walked through the Docks along to the service and just made it.

The service was moving. Not least because, it was their last. The family Volland are moving away to Durham today, and the Eucharist service was the last thing Michael had to do in his official capacity here in Gloucester. Since arriving 3 years ago, he and the family have had a profound impact on myself and my wife's life. There's no way possible that I could give a good enough tribute to them on here. It's been an amazing three years.

We've walked with them, and tried our best to support the birthing and emerging of feig, a flourishing community that didn't exist at all until they arrived. Starting with themselves and a brief of living the kingdom of God, the community 'feig' is now home to over twenty core people, in two small groups, many others have come and gone (sent. not left), with regular monthly feasts in the Cathedral for up to 50 people. They have done an extraodinary job out of "impossible circumstances" (quoting Biship John, who put himself on the line to create the first ordained Pioneer Minister post here in Gloucester). The story is nothing but inspiring, and having walked it with them to some degree, we feel that we have infact received far more than we have tried to give.

Knowing these guys has at times over these three years been like an oasis in the desert. And, although we pray a huge blessing on them and a continuance of God's plans for their lives, especially with the new job as 'Director of Mission and Pioneer Ministry' (what a title!? fairly jealous - hehe), it is with much sadness that we say goodbye.

Michaels new book (which can be pre-ordered here) tells the tale of the first 18 months of feig, and takes a good look at Fresh Expressions in general. I'm sure it will be a great resource. Plus, I'm quite chuffed to say that a chapter in there has my name as it's title. haha. So, go and buy 'through the pilgrim door' now!

Just one last thing. There are countless stories and moments where Michael has inspired, challenged or encouraged me personally as a good friend. But I'll just finish with this image of a painting he did a couple of years ago. For me, for some reason, this will be an endurring memory of them. After one of our weekly early morning prayer walks, I strolled into the study and seeing this on the wall, it just jumped out at me and I loved it. It often reappers in my minds eye as a brilliant piece of advice. So, to everyone out there, whatever you do, keep it simple. And to Michael and family Volland, the only thing that could be right to say is: "big love"

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Wedding...

Well, what a beautiful day. It was one of the best wedding days and celebrations that I've ever been too. Much joy, fun, but filled with gentleness and humility, and a day where the Lord was honoured through two wonderful people becoming Mr and Mrs Clayfield. Literally, awesome.

Ben and Nai are treasured friends part of our prayer community too. So, this was a special day in so many incredible ways. Ushering was great fun, every one worked so hard, God stopped the rain whenever someone seemed to step outside, and the day went smoothly with lots of time for lots of laughter, fun, and even a kick in the face..!! (hahaha - pic above)

I'd love to say more but I wouldn't be able to do the day, or the happy couple justice. An amazing thing was thinking that God had ordained this before time ticked it's first second. In this small but significant way, God's plans were achieved. This was a holy day. A special day for two awesome people.

Thank you Jesus.

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skate for Jesus...awesome!

This is an extraordinary article on the BBC News today. Alongside smuggling drugs and demolitions going wrong, the most viewed video story on the BBC International news is 'Skateboard for Jesus at Ramp Camp'...and, shockingly - it's not cheesy at all, in fact, its awesome! View it here:

Also, an interview with Felipe Massa is pretty cool - on asked who he'd like to thank on his recent progress after an awful accident, he replied that we wanted to thank doctors, but then he wanted to thank everyone who prayed for him, he wanted to thank God, he went on to say that it meant a lot to him to hear of so many people who don't even watch Formula 1 who were praying for him, 'cos if you pray, you're doing a good thing for you and a good thing for many many peoples'.

Brilliant!

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