Wednesday 29 June 2011

handing out leaflets

This week we're having a family gathering asking the question "is God a good parent?" judging him on the parenting course we run!!

So on Monday i went out to deliver 10 invites to families to attend a gave myself a couple of hours to do.

The evening proved to be a complete failure as well as a complete success. i only got to deliver 4 invites, but all the families invited me in and so i got to spend 2 hours hanging out with those we're here to serve.

Please pray that these parents and children come to see that God is the greatest parent ever.

Monday 27 June 2011

and now the end is near it's time to face........

On saturday as a family we had the privilege of being at Shoebury Baptist for Jim Hamilton's leaving do/ retirement. The church, as ever did a great job, and it got me thinking about loads and loads of different things.

One of which is that for Shoebury it now has to face the reality that change must come, as they pursue a new man or woman of God to be part of their team leadership.

Change is never easy to face and churches aren't known for being the best at accepting change, change is not easy, painful or always welcome. Often we seen the need to change, but doing it is another matter. (I speak as daily failing dieter)

Just as shoebury baptist must now face the reality of change, i think the THE church must also face the same reality. Today i had lunch with my amazing 91 yr old grandmother. i was asking her about her early life and she was telling me how hard it was to find a church which was alive to bring up her children 60 years ago!! (They ended up commuting 30mins to find such a church). Seeking a way to honour and be faithful to God and have mission as high as a priory as HE does is not going to easy. I just hope most churches don't leave so late that the church is going to be retired/ shut.

As for us, i pray that we have courage to be open to God and what He is calling us to here. (Not easy, even i like the old ways, well some of them!!) And give thanks to those who are faithfully supporting us in exploring what church is for today, tomorrow and most importantly for God.

I'm sure the people of God at Shoebury will have the ability to get to know, love and support whoever comes in and the changes that it will bring as it's a church in which many people know that 'it's not that the church of God has a mission, but that its the God of mission has a church.' (Rowan Williamson said that not Jim H!!)



Wednesday 8 June 2011

And breath..……

Took Monday out to pray and to listen, in tray full, diary full, but boy did I need it. The next month has a lot of churchy meetings and to be honest although all good I find it hard to square away in my mind, I love spending time with those who don't yet know Jesus, but I need the time I spend with those who do.

Why do I ( and others ) feel guilty for spending large chucks of time with you father? Jesus did it and yet the perception today of ministers is a couple of retreats a year will do!!! Pray I/ we get the balance write and pray that Jesus is always my model for this.



Saturday 4 June 2011

'mate well done'

I realised that there are people in my life for whom the only way I've been able to really connect with and talk about life to is only possible because we've moaned and been talking people down.

These people have find it hard to praise encourage and listen. People that I've gone to with a good idea are a deep question only to be dismissed or to only have a short conversation. However if I'd gone to the very same person and said, I've just been to that church and the sermon!! So bad, have you heard xxxxxxx preach?? We'd have had a twenty min passionate and animated chat putting the person/ church down. Shame . And to my shame I've become the same sort of person when people come to me.

Two weeks ago I spoke to a dad who had been meeting with different professionals all day. He'd done some really good things and made some good steps forward, but he'd not been encouraged all day, only the negative had been focused on. This I didn't know when I praised him saying ' mate well done' . He told me it changed his day.

When in the pub and other places in which the conversations are founded upon the same negative Tone I try to only run myself down or be positive, it's hard work, tiring but in the end I believe makes a difference.

If I've led you to talk too negatively about someone God loves forgive me, let's try and speak differently to the way the world does.


Lord may we lights of hope not pessimism, joy rather than despair and encouragement over unnecessary criticism and lord if I can be those positive things help me keep my mouth shut!!!