I’m not what God is looking for… am I?

Do you ever find yourself praying for God to transform Newport in amazing ways (just like he does else where in the world)? And although you really really want this you simply can’t [and don’t] imagine God wanting to use you to achieve this. You never think of yourself as ‘God’s plan’; you’re not that great man or woman of faith, you explain to God silently, that is required for the job. You haven’t been a Christian long, or you have never told your friends that you have found Jesus, or you really struggle with what little faith you have, in fact you wander if you doubt more than you believe, or… well, we all have an explanation for God; He understands, He’ll use someone more skilled, more passionate, more… Christian.

Sometimes you may even wonder if God ever meant for you to be involved in His Kingdom. Could He have actually chosen you?

Each morning your enthusiasm for God fades a little because you remember how much you screwed up the day before and just how much you need God. You feel such a sense of loss in your life that you can’t ever imagine being filled. Your boldness and outspoken courage never leaves your dreams. Your hurt hinders you enjoying the delight God has in you; comments people have said [and not always to you] wound you more than you would like to realise.

You look at the inspiring Christian books on your shelf and think to yourself, ‘am I really be what God is looking for’?

YES! Yes you are!!!!!

God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.
God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full…
God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. Matt 5:3-6, 10-12

This is the list of people that God is looking for so that He can bless them and reveal Himself to the world through them; the misfits, the hurt, the insulted, the bad, the timid, the weak in faith, the distraught… you and me!

Everything you thought disqualified you from God’s blessing, is actually what God is hunting out. He wants to put things right, He wants to strengthen, He wants to heal. Because of all this you and I are a lighthouse of hope.

You are the light of the world - like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Matt 5:14

We are city transformers!

There is a song on Delirious’ new album ‘Mission Bell’ called Miracle Maker. In it they sing “I’ve nothing much but the wounds I feel.” However, by the time the song ends their words are resounding a different truth “I’m holding on, with your life in mine… I’m walking in the shoes of my miracle maker. I’m standing with the faith of a miracle maker.”

The influence of Pip.

My wife, Ruth, is now 11 weeks pregnant and ‘Pip’ has already caused quite a disturbance in our lives! Within weeks of conceiving Ruth began to feel the effects of Pip’s presence. Before long morning sickness kicked in, which has been progressively disruptive. The influence of little Pip has meant that Ruth has not always felt well enough to go out when she wanted to, and when Ruth has been feeling delicate I have spent time doing the things around the house that she has been unable to do (and when I haven’t been able to keep up with it all my mother-in-law has helped). Routines have changed, lives have been altered and Pip hasn’t even been born yet!

Despite Pip’s small size her/his presence has had a significant impact on what happens in the world… or at least our lives :o)

Recently, during times or worship in our church, we have found ourselves singing ‘History Maker’ (by Delirious?). At times it re-ignites within me a desire to live a life of faith, at other times I doubt the words I sing; how could the faith that underpins my life change history?!

But it can.

"I assure you,” said Jesus, “even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." Matt 17:20

If ‘Pip’ can have such a significant impact upon our lives [and therefore history] then so can I, even if I may feel as insignificant as a mustard seed nothing is impossible. Nothing! We can live our lives with this assurance/confidence. We may not always feel that it’s true, but that doesn’t change the truth. In Christ you and I are history makers on a grand/eternal scale. Believe it; live it; enjoy it!

Choose life!

Through out the New Testament letters we are reminded to fix our eyes on Jesus; he should be our vision [our purpose, our goal]. But have you ever thought what Jesus’ vision is? It’s us. As our passionate gaze reaches heavenward we suddenly discover that God’s passionate gaze was already on us; it’s always been on us, since before the creation of the world! The ‘vision’ of heaven is you.
Just in case you need to be convinced listen to Jesus’ vision in his own words:
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.” John 3:16-17 (Msg)

The purpose of Jesus (and therefore God’s greatest desire) was to give us life – a full life, a fulfilled life. That is what we have, and this is what we can share. Pepsi adverts once resonated with the empty promise that you would ‘live life to the max’ if you drank their product. As nice as it was it did not deliver on the promise.

How many people do you know that are looking for life, for meaning, purpose and fullness? Look around; they all are! Look in their eyes, there is the cry that says, ‘there must be more to life than this.’
How good are you at concealing the truth?
If I gave you 10p to hold (it’s all I have spare) and told you not to tell anyone. Would you be able to conceal the truth if someone asked you if you had 10p. Or what if you heard someone nearby saying that they needed 10p, would they sense from you body language that you may be holding onto the coin they are looking for?

But knowing that people are looking for life [a full life] do we conceal it or do we should out gleefully, ‘I have found it! Look, let me show you!’

The woman left her water jar beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone, "Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Messiah?" So the people came streaming from the village to see him… Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!"… Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe because we have heard him ourselves, not just because of what you told us. He is indeed the Saviour of the world." John 4:28-30, 39, 42 (Msg)

Rejoice: What you have is what people want.

Love is loud.

Aloha!

Ah, there's so much I could say about volume! There's so much that's just reminding me of God and I constantly find Him in all sorts of weird places! But, alas, all things must close and I should move on to another subject (let's see what comes!) so I will leave you with a little something...

Our lives should never be flat. Never be monotonous, or routine. There's always something to shake it up! Some occurrence to shake the good times and a light appear during the bad. Life is so much like music; it's not interesting if it stays level all the time! There has to be crescendo, varying tempos and harmonies. Sometimes you will hear the sound of a hundred voices backing you up and singing along with you. Other times you will be completing a verse solo. Sometimes, you have to be utterly silent and listen to the tune... or another person's part.

I implore you, to realise these times and not only acknowledge them, but allow them to make the song as wonderful and as turbulent as it should be.
And I shall leave you with some lyrics from the fantastic David Crowder*Band; that I was listening to the other day and remembered the song title!

OUR LOVE IS LOUD
When we sing
Hear our songs, to You
When we dance
Feel us move, to You
When we laugh
Fill our smiles, with You

When we lift our voices
Louder still
Can You hear us?
Can You feel?

We love You, Lord
We love You
We love You
We love You, Lord
We love You

When we sing [LOUD!]
Hear our songs, to You
When we dance [ROUND!]
Feel us move, to You
When we laugh [ALOUD!]
Fill our smiles, with You

And our love is big
Our love is loud
Fill this place with this love now
And our love is big
Our love is loud
Fill our lungs
To sing it now..

We lift our voices louder still
Our God is near
Our God is here

- Andrew Gordon

From the hoarse mouth.

Aloha!

The other day, prayer was briefly mentioned. Now, it's not something to be taken lightly by any means and it plays a large part in Volume.
"I am hoarse from calling out for help..." Psalm 69:3 (Msg)

Have you ever heard people on TV, screaming out prayers? Bawling at the top of their lungs and shouting as loud as they can? To me it seems like they have to shout so loud because they're so far from their God...but there are times when it's good to praise loud.

In all His glorious and incredible wisdom, God didn't cut us off from listening to Him, or speaking to Him. And what's more He made it simple and attainable; any time, any place, any where! Prayer does not always have to be vocal or loud, when I started out on my faith-journey I had no idea this was possible; prayer can take place in our heads! Prayer in silence! Wow! I was pretty stupid back then (and not much less now); I had no idea up until then that you didn't have to pray out loud [or whispering]! We can pray at any time, in any company, in any place! All from the comfort our own head!

Fact is, it gets better! :-)

God can hear our thoughts. Our hearts, our inner-most desires and troubles. When you kneel down, or lower your head, He's already well aware of what you're going to pray about, what His reply is going to be, and what's going to happen as a result. He already knows!

Wow!!!!! :-)

- Andrew Gordon

A still small voice.

Aloha!

"And he said, Go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake, a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." 1 Kings 19: 11-12

That's a really famous and widely-used scripture, but it’s nonetheless really important. God speaking so quietly, amongst all the devastation and destruction around us.
Partly the reason we struggle to hear God's voice is because our ears are listening in the wrong places. We think the loud, brash comings and goings of everyday life are where we'll hear Him...or hope so we can carry on with our loud lifestyles.

Or natural disasters. Do you remember all the religious-types harping on about "God being angry" with those people affected by the tsunami in 2004? Get real!
The other day, for example; I was working most of the day for God - which was nice change! I spent the day editing a video to a loud rock song that is like a victory-cry for God and then spent the evening at [Ignition] band practice rehearsing for our acoustic set.. but you know where I heard God the most? What affected me, what shaped my character the most yesterday?

I got some more bad news about my family at around midnight...and I cracked. I burst out crying, alone in my room. A friend came and prayed softly with me.
That's when God spoke to me, comforted me, lifted me.
I know all the works I did during the day count for little...but an event like that is where He resides. He's not speaking through the thunder, or the earthquakes. He's that tiny voice that pierces you every now and again.
We have to listen and listen hard, creating space and a quiet, comfortable atmosphere to be willing to listen. And don't talk over Him or nag Him...I don't think anyone likes that.

- Andrew Gordon

Full-filled.

Aloha!

Going back to Mr. Carey's talk on Sunday - this was the line that made me start on this whole 'Volume' series:
"If we're going to echo God's word, don't we have to be so full of it to make it louder?" [not an exact quote]

Volume doesn't just count on sound, or actions. Volume can also describe a measurement by which something is filled. Say, a tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream! (mmm!) It is filled with a volume of 500ml of sweet, juicy ice cream joy!
Not for very long, mind...but hopefully you remember that particular Science lesson!

So if we want to echo God's word, we have to fill ourselves with it! We have to live it, breathe it and act it - always! It'll change you so much but it feels so amazing! Like some Bible-type people said:
"Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation." 2 Cor 7:4
"Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the Glory and praising of God." Phil 1:11
I also noticed a few weeks ago that the word "fulfil" is basically two words of the same nature combined! "Full" and "Fill" - have you ever seen anyone who’s empty fulfil something amazing?

And when we eat, we very rarely stop halfway and say "Hey, y'know, I fancy staying hungry." Be filled! Enjoy the fruits!

Just a thought!

- Andrew Gordon

Actions speak volumes.

Aloha.

Yesterday, I was talking about Volume in terms of sound. Noise. Sonics. Today, let's take a wee peek at another definition of volume; "Actions speak volumes."

We've all heard that before haven't we? Normally, it's when we're being chastised by someone, finger pointing down towards us, but it's very true. Everything we do is being watched and, if we're not careful, we can fall into major traps. Our actions are what define us, what makes us special. Everyone can talk a good talk, but it's what you actually [physically] do that makes you.
"Now, therefore, perform the doing of it; that even as there was a readiness to will, so there may also be a performance also out of that which you have." 2 Cor 8:11

I love that scripture. As an animator, I have to communicate exactly what a character (or shape or object) is thinking clearly so the audience will understand who it is, what it is and why it's doing it. It's a performance. Someone once said that "Animators are actors with pencils." (I don't know why real actors never have pencils, but I'm drifting from my point). I have to make conscious, detailed decisions about every move my character makes, the timing, the force of it, the grace of it....everything!
We even got trained at Sainsbury's, where I used to work back home, on posture and body language so customers would feel able to come and speak to us or be served by us! It's so true though!
Everything we do says something very important about us. People who never speak to you can still read you and get an impression (right or wrong) about who you are. So let's give a good impression! Perform! Let's be open, free and gentle! Let's show strength when it's needed, step up to the plate and if we need to act quickly, then let's have the courage and integrity to do it!

Keep smiling.

- Andrew Gordon

Life is loud.

I have been following a series of blogs that a friend [from ABLAZE, Bethel’s youth group] has been writing on MySpace recently. Despite apparently being inspired by something I had said when I preached the other week I have benefited greatly from reading his reflections… although in reality they aren’t his reflections, they are the result God’s conversation with his spirit – deep calling to deep. We pick this up when we learn to recognise His voice:
“…the sheep hear [the shepherd’s] voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and… they recognize his voice.” John 10:3-4

Aloha!

I heard something on Sunday, during the dashing and daring Andrew Carey's talk, which too many may have been a quick, throwaway line...but it really stuck out to me...

I considered it, then in House group on Wednesday I was reminded of it and then loads of ideas and inspiration struck! So, for the next few days, I'd like to discuss some thoughts on Volume.
Volume is such a great word. Why? Say it slowly, quick, loud, quiet, deep, high...it always sounds cool! Plus, it has so many definitions! But, today, how about ‘The Volume of Life’.

Now that sounds like a cheesy book title, but ask yourself; How loud is your life?

Are you like me, someone who crams every spare second with music; a DVD, playing instruments or talking through times when I should be quiet?
Do you speak loud?
Do you wear loud clothes?

When was the last time you spent some quiet time with God? Or even just to yourself? Sometimes we spend so much time running our lives that we fail to stop. Think. Take measure. Enjoy, just for a moment, the beauty of it, or taste the fruit of our labours?
"Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit." Eccl 4:6 (KJV)
Or, in other words;
"One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of work and trying to catch the wind" (New Life Version)

The magazine Kerrang!'s slogan is "Life is Loud" - it doesn't have to be.

- Andrew Gordon

Reflections from FUSION.

When I was at Fusion I began reading some of Matthew (from the Message) as I figured, ‘where better to get to know Jesus the man than in the Gospels and through his teachings.’ So I read chapter 5 and [O wow!] I couldn’t stop reading. So I read straight through to chapter 8.
It’s amazing what a dynamic man he was; not just talking to a few people, but a whole mountain side of people. He wasn’t just saying simple pretty feel good things either, he spoke about challenging life questioning stuff. He talks of how we need to live pure, unselfish and humble lives. Those three words sound so simple but they’re not. We all think things and say things about people that aren’t encouraging. Jesus, in Matt 5:22-27, says that to call a brother ‘idiot’ or a ‘fool’ puts you in danger of meeting the ‘fire of hell’. He’s not trying to frighten us but merely show us the effects of negative thinking on us and others. Despite this it’s still scarily easy to do. We also judge others continuously and he also addresses this in Matt 7:1-7. We should not judge others before first examining ourselves. How dare we?!
I found the whole two chapters totally challenging, but not in a bad way. Challenging as in wanting to fill all of those requirements and desperately wanting to seek more of the amazing man that Jesus, my saviour and friend. To know him and know the heart beat of the Father is my life’s goal and these seemingly simple guidelines are just the start. But this isn’t scary but exciting and not a burden by my mere duty for what Jesus gave me and for me.

- Helen Tuckwell

How you finish.

What an awesome weekend it has been. If you took some time to pop along to Fusion then I am certain (from what others have said) that you will have met with God, heard Him speak over your life; it will have been a uniquely intimate time.

.

I found a strap of paper in the back pocket of my jeans; I must have put it in there last week. On it was printed 1 Cor 9:24-27:
“You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.”

As I read this again it reminded me of a daily devotional that I had red the previous week:

When D. L. Moody was moving into old age, he was asked to grant permission for his biography. Moody refused, saying, “A man’s life should never be written while he is living. What is important is how a man ends, not how he begins.”
For better or worse, I have failed to follow that dictum. My biography has been published. Yet I agree with Moody that the way our lives end is the crucial test of authentic discipleship. Only if we remain in a steadfast relationship with the Saviour can we be confident not merely of entering heaven, but of obtaining the victor’s crown (1 Cor 9:25).
Paul was concerned about the possibility of being disapproved by his Lord (v.27). He was a redeemed believer who was serving the Lord, yet he feared that his service might prove to be wood, hay, and straw rather than gold, silver, and precious stones (1 Cor 3:12-13).
What will be the Lord’s appraisal of our lives? Will someone evaluating us be able to say honestly that we continued to bear fruit in old age? (Ps 92:14). Whatever vocation we pursue, with the help of the Holy Spirit we may be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor 15:58).

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion light their way;
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey. —Mohr

Crazy paving praying - FUSION begins tonight!

Crazy paving is mad… by definition I guess :o)
It all looks so dishevelled and unorganised, as though each broken piece was never meant to go together, and yet they make very nice paths! (If you like that sort of thing).

The same can be true of the way we pray. Honestly!
“The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.” 1 Tim 2:1 (Msg)
Just because one person prays standing up with their arms in the air (and there is nothing wrong in that!) doesn’t mean you have to, or that is the only way to pray. Sing, dance, walk, paint, write, whisper, think, drive, hum your prayers! Every one of them!!!

“Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray - not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it.” 1 Tim 2:8-10 (Msg)
When we use everything God has given us (including our crazy creative inclinations) He is delighted and takes pleasure in our prayers. Our prayers are described as golden bowls of incense in Revelations; when we release ourselves to pray ‘every way we know how’ it is like a beautiful fragrance to God. He smiles, distracted with delight by our prayers.

This is what FUSION is all about. We long to enable people to pray for Newport every way they know how. To enter God’s presences with a diversity of prayers. Then, having been changed in His presence (because how can we remain unchanged after spending time with God?!), we go out taking redemptive change into our city.

If you would like to join the Fusion team in serving Newport please mail me fusionevent@fsmail.net.

Here I am.

Even though I know that we are here to reveal the salvation/hope/joy of Jesus Christ I sometimes don’t feel like I can; I feel disjointed and dry like the bones Ezekiel once saw in his vision. How can a failure like me show anyone the way to salvation? We may be called to shine like stars but I often feel like an LED running on flattening batteries. My life is no lighthouse.
This may be a truthful assessment of my life but – here is the breathtaking/giving bit – it is not what God sees. Instead, when he looks at us he sees an army of light! What is wrong with Him; is He blind?!!?!

Ezekiel thought the same as he stood in this nightmare valley of a people not slain but starved into an early grave…. But they couldn’t even bury themselves, they just lay down. God did not look at these bones seeing a vast number of people who had lost their vision, who had ceased being salt and light; He looked, and His heart beat faster because before Him was an army of light! Not even Ezekiel had the faith to think that God could do this and yet despite Ezekiel’s struggle to believe what God has said would happen, God still used Ezekiel’s words (flawed and fragile as they were) to perform this transformation.
If today you stand before a valley of dry bones where your friends and colleagues dwell, rest assured that despite how weak you feel and how flawed and frail you words and witness may be, God is going to use you to breathe life into them. You will hear the wind rushing and broken and disjointed parts being brought together. You will not believe what God will do!

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Is 6:8)
Lord, here I am send me.

What to expect at FUSION.

There are only a few days until FUSION begins, well 3 days in fact.

Do you want to know what to expect when you come along?
Of course you do :o)

Praise & worship is going to weave itself throughout the event in a new way. In fact the whole event is going to begin (at 8pm Friday) with a time of praise and worship led by ‘Ignition’ (Bethel Community church’s youth band). Then between 11am – 12pm on Saturday there will be a time of hymn based worship and prayer. The whole event will then conclude with worship on Saturday night commencing at 7pm.

Another new feature of FUSION will be the Fusion2 coffee house. If you want somewhere to collect your thoughts after encountering God in the main venue, then pop over to the coffee shop (in the building opposite the church). This will be open to everyone from 10am to 6pm on Saturday.

However, when you enter the main venue this is what you can expect to see:

1. Walls of worship
As you enter Fusion you will walk straight into the worship zone. Not only will you find songs of worship being played continually throughout the event, but you will also be encouraged to cover the walls with thanks [to God]; a testimony of praise to our great God!
Praise & worship colours our lives.

2. Agreement zone
Jesus said, “I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
There is power in unity and agreement. Do not go in this area alone; go in with at least one other person so that you may agree over what you are praying.

3. Indulgence
We are encouraged to “let the Word of God dwell within [us] richly.” This is a space in which you can just relax in God’s presence and let Him speak to you though His Word.

4. The wall
This is a prayer wall. Not all prayers need to be spoken, some can be written down, but in doing so you are laying it before God and trusting in Him. Our trust comes from knowing that He “can do abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.”

5. Ark of the covenant
We are God’s temple and yet it is often the case that our lives are not always as homely to God as they should be (or that we would like it to be). Take time here to make God feel at home in our lives so that His residency will be seen by those around us.

6. Way of the cross
At the foot of the cross we can only reflect upon God’s call on our lives to follow Him.

7. The table
At the table we come together to share communion. This is God’s meal to which we are invited, so whether you are alone or in a group feel free to partake in these emblems.

8. Sacrifice corner - something’s gotta give
This is zone that encourages you to prayerfully give. All donations will be given to the work of Scripture Gift Mission (Lifewords) who have provided Fusion2 with gospel tracts.

9. Where the rubber hits the road
How does all this impact Newport? It is in the way we live our lives. Will we let this time we have spent in God’s presence impact our lives and our city?

That is what is going on. I hope to see you there.
God bless!

You tree!

In his book ‘The Vision and the Vow’ Pete Grieg looks at what it means to follow Christ. Here is a small excerpt that really impacted me as I read it:
“I was admiring a friend’s cute little bonsai tree when I noticed a storm gathering outside. As the first flurry of rain crackled against the window, I found myself gazing out at an old, gnarled oak tree standing silhouetted against the darkening sky. Sometimes I feel like the bonsai – a pruned and pampered indoor miniature, a cartoon of those great, wizened giants of another age, weathering storms, defying the lightening, standing strong because they were rooted deep. Where, we wonder, is the cause worth braving the elements of our time?
Perhaps it’s time to make a simple decision: that we will believe the things we believe and therefore allow them to overwhelm us and to doubt the things that we doubt and therefore deny them their power. Perhaps it’s time for the shy kid to raise her hand in class and dare to be wrong, dare to incur a little ridicule for seeming too keen.
Have we the courage to radiate our passion in such a cynical age, to live for Jesus ‘dangerously, obsessively and undeniably’? Not for money, not for fame, not for career, not for popularity? To live our lives for Jesus Christ alone? It seems to me that to do less is to be less than human. It is to cast off restraint. It is to perish. But to live that dream is eternal.”

Reflecting on this I was reminded of a track from the new Delirious? CD which echoes this desire to live for Christ, to shine for Him.

Now Is The Time
The winds are blowing through again,
So we must follow.
A people daring to believe
We can change tomorrow,
And be the miracle of light,
And we won't give up the fight.

Now is the time for us to shine,
Shine with the face of Christ divine.
No compromise, for all heaven cries,
Now is the time.

The river's running through again rejuvenating,
For everything you touch you change,
And we've all been changing.
We're a city shining on a hill,
Tell this world you're shining still,
Tell this world you always will.

Now is the time...

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, King of lights.
Jesus, Jesus, raise a church that's shining bright

I want to follow but what does it mean,
To live in this world and keep everything clean.
Nothing I own here is ever my own,
When I live in the mercy and blessing you've shown.
I lay down my rights; see the world through your eyes,
And fight for the hungry who pay for our lives,
I want to have you in all of my world.
So Jesus consume me, flow through me, cos now is the time...

Full harvest, few workers.

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Matt 9:37

Have you ever found yourself listening to someone, nodding enthusiastically thinking that you have understood everything that they’re saying, only to find that immediately afterwards you haven’t got a clue what they meant; it no longer makes any sense.

I realised this when I re-read what Jesus said to his disciples. It was always seemed so clear and then all of a sudden I thought, ‘What?! How can the harvest be so big without the workers? Surely the workers were there at the sowing?! Surely the harvest in somehow relational to the sowing?’

Jesus is saying [to us], ‘I have call all of you to collect in the harvest.’ Some of us may be driving combined harvesters collecting in whole fields while others may be tenderly picking individual stems. Others still will may be responsible to combing the edge of the fields retrieving those scattered, knocked down, discarded or forgotten.

In my misunderstanding I realised that I had thought that the harvest was a result of our efforts and work, but this is never the case. The harvest belongs to God; it is His work. But He involves us in the harvest, we are employed in the Kingdom for this purpose.

Martyn’s response.

When I was growing up [in England] I had a friend called Martyn. On the surface of things we had little in common; he was outrageously out going while I was cripplingly introverted, but we shared a similar appreciation of movies.

While, after some deliberation, I decided that it would be worth while giving my life to Christ, Martyn hesitated. He always said [with a playful smile],”I want to party first, then I’ll become a Christian.” I always thought that his response was based upon some misguided priorities or ideas that God did not allow fun. Instead I now realise that he did not want to respond to Jesus’ call to “follow me” because he under no false illusions as to the seriousness of this commitment. In his denial he had a deeper appreciation of the cost of discipleship than I did! He had come to realise that when he gave in to Jesus he would have to live by Christ’s priorities and not his.

Years later Martyn did give his life to Christ and gave it all. It happened when, despite not being a Christian, he joined a group of Christian friends on a short term mission trip to an African orphanage. It was her that he realised his heart for these children was the same as God’s, and so why should he keep his heart from god any longer. He returned home changed; completely changed. The same outrageously vibrant man took a year out before university to help on further mission trips, some of them independently organised as God led him. He held nothing back from God, he said that he would follow Jesus and that naturally consumed him. Jesus is not looking for a half-hearted army; He is looking for a people wholehearted in love with him and therefore willing to take his priorities.
Martyn was only in his early 20s but is now with God in glory, shining far more brightly than he ever did here; he is now with his Lord that passionately shared through the way he loved. He went home after being involved in a tragic car accident along with his older brother and two friends while on holiday in Australia.

Martyn’s life seemed to echo Paul’s very words, “For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity].” Phil 1:21 (Amp)

Holy moments 4 – God will lead you. (Or, ‘Look who’s talking!’).

These holy moments are not supposed to leave you burdened or exhausted. Ironically you’ll find life heavy going without them.
This is what David observed in his life: “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.” Ps 23:2-3 (NKJV)
Look at it, the focus is on God. He leads us, He restores us.

Quiet times are not about us; us praying, us ranting to God. While God encourages this it is the luxury of our friendship with God. Quiet times are not about us taking God by the hand and leading Him through our day, He wants to take us by the hand and lead us through His take on the day!
‘Quiet times’ speak for themselves, we are quiet, God is vocal! It’s not rocket science.

The nature of these times can be encapsulated in one wee prayer uttered by one confused young lad, not yet in his teens, trying to sleep on an uncomfortable bed in the corner of the place where he worked.
All he said was “Speak Lord your servant is listening.” 1 Sam 3:10
God changed his life through this and the lives of generation after him. In fact changing our lives too!

It is as though God is saying, ‘Things are going to change. I may not explain everything because it may not be helpful to do so, but don’t worry I am in charge. I have been waiting for you, let’s get moving.’

What happens as a result of this is seriously history changing, not to say life changing!

We need holy moments in our lives. We can’t afford not to have them!
What would life be without God’s voice in our ears?

They may be necessary but they are radical by nature. If you are not radical minded after a quiet time then it’s all wrong. When you watched Mission: Impossible you didn’t hear the message and think, “Ah. ‘Mission: Walk in a park’”.

We need to defend our holy moments because with out them we become lost and ineffective. Make a habit of them.

Ex33:7-11 (NLT) “It was Moses' custom to set up the tent known as the Tent of Meeting far outside the camp. Everyone who wanted to consult with the LORD would go there.
Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in their tent entrances. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at the entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses. Then all the people would stand and bow low at their tent entrances. Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, stayed behind in the Tent of Meeting.”

Here God is doing the talking. It doesn’t say that Moses chatted with God, it said that God spoke to Moses like a close friend. These holy moments are about listening and then doing.

Look at the last sentence. It is the making of the man who conquered the Promised Land. Joshua is not likely to have been a tame and timid lad. He was a warrior, full of beans. But he was made in God’s presence, he was sculpted in the quiet times.
If you want to take this nation for God, listen first. Wait for the command to go.



The radical thing about all of this is that it is not about you, it is about God.

This is what David Crowder writes in his book Praise habit:

There is a sign in my favorite restaurant, which happens to be located directly across the street from my house, that hangs by the bar and states, in black letters on a pale-yellow background, "You Are Here." I call often for takeout. I pretend that they are my residential kitchen staff that just so happens to cook the most flavorful foods on the planet. The chef's name is Bill, and he knows exactly how I like my pork tenderloin. We have never discussed it; he just knows. He's always known. And as I wait for my order to be packed in white Styrofoam and placed in a plastic bag for transport. I sit at the bar and read, "You Are Here," and it brings a comfort and solidity to things. You often hear or encounter inspirational art convincing you to live as if today is the last, to engage each moment as if it were all we had, but usually this is married to the idea that it is. That this is it. There is nothing more than now. All we get is what we suck out of this moment. But I disagree. I read, "You Are Here," and I am equally inspired to be fully present in this moment, but it is not because that is all I have but because I am bringing something more. I am bringing the very kingdom of God. I read, "You Are Here," and I, ignoring the dramatic punctuation of finality, think, ”The kingdom of God is sitting at this bar, waiting to bring something better." We are to be rescue. We are to be redemption. We are to carry the story of God to the ones waiting. To the ones with their hands on their chest, begging you to notice that things aren't right. And this is praise. You are the note sounding in a thousand different rooms. There are chords and reflective surfaces around you. There is context.
Sometimes life comes at us with the delicacy of a sunset, and other limes it comes with the rawness of sushi and the bitter bite of wasabi [sauce]. Sometimes the tears will be because you cannot stand empty-eyed in the presence of such beauty and sometimes they will be full of fire, but notice/know this: You are here. You Are Here! You are here and you are not alone.

We are here as radicals.
Living on the edge.
Our life should scream redemption, it should reveal hope. But people will only hear the echo of their redeemer in our lives if we let our redeemer speak into our lives. Not blanking Him, but letting his words break in – fill us – when we are quiet before Him. When we keep moments of our lives holy, dedicated to Him alone.

Holy moments define your life.
Failing to listen to God for 7 days makes one weak.

Holy Moments 3 – God has a purpose for you.

I’m not that old, but I remember when days used to begin.
When I was in primary school I can remember waking up and the only noise to be heard in the street would be that of the milk man finishing his early morning round. The TV wouldn’t be on because there wasn’t any early morning TV shows … but now it just continues. TV is around the clock, wanting to captivate our attention the moment we get up, whenever we get up. I don’t know when it happened, it wasn’t announced; the day that never ended.

Here’s a question: who invented weekends?

We are so reliant on weekends, or at least we look forward to them (we’re free from the office for two days) but they weren’t always around. Our weekends are predominantly Jewish in nature, relating to the Sabbath (to rest). They’re holy moments.
Before God invented them in Jewish law there were no weekends. But the weekend is not just about reminder to rest, it’s about reminding us in whom we rest.

Ex 20:8-10 (Msg) “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to GOD your God. Don't do any work.”
Or as it says in the Amp “withdrawn from common employment and dedicated to God”

This wasn’t one of the ten requests, or ten suggestions. God commanded it for a purpose and not as a burden. So there is a necessity in it. We cannot afford to think of our time alone with God as being optional.

We are told to keep a time holy (i.e. devoted to God), taking time to relax is essential too, but these holy moments are about restoring, revitalising.
We need to be people that hear from God not people that simply talk to God. The world is desperate for us to be God hearers not God gassers. That is what we need to be [to have a fulfilling life] and what the world wants from us.

Our lives have changed but what the world needs is the same.
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.” 2 Chron 7:14 (NLT) Our land still needs healing.

Seeking God’s face is done is the quiet times, those holy moments.
I’m sure you’ve seen Westerns where the trackers are seeking someone. They do it in silence, observing, listening, following.

Holy moments 2 - God has plans for you.

I’m sad to say that I am not sharing any of this from a position of success in regard to my 'quiet times' with God. I’m not writing this because I have been successful in this respect for decades or won any awards.
My time alone with God has been troublingly inconsistent. This has often left me unresourced when dealing and responding to situations. It has left me out of step with God’s plans. All I know is that none of us can afford to live like that. God has plans for us and wants to share them with us!

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer 29:11) This verse reminds us that God wants to declare this to us! To share His plans with us. This is personal and empowering. You see, as disciples of Christ, we are not going to hear what God’s plans for us are in a church meeting first; it will be when we are alone with God!
Having said this I must admit that God has had to resort to shouting at me in a meeting so that I would get alone with Him so that he can share His plans with me! But it shouldn’t be that way around, we should be hearing God’s whispers.

I don’t want you to be mistaken, this isn’t tough to do; in fact it couldn’t be simpler. A quiet time is simply time when it is just you and God, listening and reading – any time any where.
God isn’t just in church on Sunday, He’s always with you! King David wasn’t above reminding himself of this – check out Psalm 139! Spending time with God doesn’t even have to be done somewhere traditionally thought of as ‘holy’. My quiet times have recently been taking place in a toilet cubicle in work, and trust me what happens in the cubicles around me is less than holy! But in there I read God’s Word, I hear His voice and I learn to respond.
(Handy tip - when you read the Bible there are 3 easy questions you can ask that will help you hear what God is saying to you – 1. what did it mean then, 2. what does it mean to me now, 3. what do I need to do as a result).

Do you remember the original Mission: Impossible TV series?

It always began with a tape, an audio cassette. Nothing dynamic about that, but there’d be a message and then it would smoulder. From that message all of the thrills and excitement of the show unfolded. Without the tape there’d be no plot.
God’s Word is our mission file, and it doesn’t self destruct.

Holy moments 1 - Big things happen in small places.

I was asked to preach on Sunday [just gone] and so I thought that I would put my notes on this blog over the next few days because if you heard me I may have spoken to fast (or waffled too much) or you may not have had the ‘privilege’ to hear me :o)


Before I begin I really must warn you; there’s danger in what I want to share.

Pastor Andrew spoke about ‘living on the edge’ last week, what I have to say is equally unsafe and un-comfort zoney (?!).
It’s about something radical, uncontrollable, revolutionary, life altering, history changing… and it is really small. In fact it may seem like nothing at all.

This probably going to be more instructional than inspirational, but I want us to think about what is popularly tagged our ‘quiet time’ (which is a bit wimpy sounding for what it is, it needs something more powerful…. ‘power time’ or something), our time alone with God. Now don’t be fooled into thinking that these are sweet little sedate times. Real quiet times are a high octane affair. It’s not spiritual Ovaltine, it should be the spiritual equivalent of a high energy drink (giving you wings).

I hope this will help refocus us who are young in our faith and refresh those of you who are mature. Paul had no worries in repeating basic stuff: “Whatever happens, dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord give you joy. I never get tired of telling you this. I am doing this for your own good.” (Phil 3:1) Or as it says in the message, “better safe than sorry.”

I have 3 points which I will share over the next few days:

• God has plans for you
• God has a purpose for you
• God will lead you – or, ‘Look who’s talking’.

All this time.

Your invitation to Fusion.

As I drove into work yesterday (enjoying another traffic delay) I began listening to the new Delirious? CD [again] called ‘The Mission Bell’. As the music resonated around my car this song really stood out to me and I was struck by its honesty and hope.
It ends with a line that reminds me of Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” I had this verse saved on my mobile phone for some time and every time I noticed it these words would inspire/remind me to live for Christ.

All This Time

I’m a father and a son; I’ve been a lover with just one,
But this world can get me all undone,
And I’m frightened I’m the only one.
I wrestle with the thoughts I keep,
If I sow the seed of arrogance then it’s loneliness I’ll reap,
It’s loneliness I’ll reap.

Please don’t leave me stranded here,
With a head of lies and a heart of fear.
My life’s a show on Gods TV,
The world an audience, watching me.

So wake me, shake me, keep me sharp,
As I touch the power of Gods great harp.
And this world can fill your head with praise,
That steals me from eternal grace.
So how can I serve God and wealth?
I can captivate an army, but I can’t control myself.
I can’t control myself.

Ghostly figure out at sea, I hear a voice that’s calling me,
To walk upon the waves of faith.
For in the arms of God, I am safe.

All this time, since the day that I was born,
I’ve never known a time like this,
I don’t wanna let you down.

I will sing, sing for your light has come.

Aging beautifully.

Your invitation to Fusion.

When the 24/7 prayer movement ‘accidentally’ began Pete Grieg wrote The Vision on one of the walls in that first prayer room. Now, some 5 or so years later, he wrote the following in his book ‘The Vision and the Vow’:

George McDonald, the nineteenth century Scottish mystic who inspired JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, compares the Christian vision to a beautiful portrait painted by God, depicting the person we will one day become:

‘Tis but a vision’ I do not mean
That thus I am, or have one moment been –
‘Tis but a picture hung upon my wall
To measure dull contentment therewithal,
And know behind the human how I fall;
A vision true, of what one day shall be
When Thou hast had they very will with me.

To those who accuse ‘The Vision’ of being idealistic, I can think of no better response than George McDonald’s poem. I would be a liar if I pretended that light currently “flickers from every secret motive” in my heart. “Sulphuric tears” scorch my prayer life less than I would like. Sometimes – more often than I want you to know – I fly on autopilot, praying as if it all depends merely on me, yet living lazily as if it all depends on God. George McDonald was right. You hold in your hand little more than a dream, “a picture hung upon my wall” measuring my own “dull contentment,” and yet it is also a “vision true” anticipating “what one day shall be.”
People tend to have portraits painted or photographed when they are in their prime, as a flattering reminder of the fading beauty that was. But the passing years are not cruel for us in Christ. Quite the reverse! The Word of God assures us our features “gradually become brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him” (2 Cor 3:18 Msg).

Touching Christ.

Invitation to Fusion

I read this in my daily devotional during the week. It gripped me and so I thought I woud also share it.

Mythology is filled with legends of ancient gods who descended from heaven and took human form, but no one ever heard or saw them, and no one ever touched them. These were dreams born of human desire for God and the hope that someday He would draw near. The incarnation of Jesus—God who came in the flesh—is how those dreams came true.
Author Dorothy Sayers put it this way: “[God] can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted from Himself. He has Himself gone through the whole of human experience, from the trivial irritations of family life and the cramping restrictions of hard work and lack of money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation, defeat, despair, and death. When He was a man, He played the man. He was born in poverty and died in disgrace and thought it well worthwhile.”
The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the irrefutable proof that God will do anything to draw near to us.
Augustine said, “[God] gave Himself for a time to be handled by the hands of men.” And we have the written record of John, a man who actually did touch Him. We can trust his account—and we can trust that God wants to be near to you and me.

Absolutely tender! Absolutely true!

Understanding all things; understanding you;
Infinitely loving, good and kind and near—
That is Christ our Saviour. What have we to fear?

“From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in--we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.
We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!” 1 John 1:1-4 (Msg)

A Made Up Mind.

Your invitation to Fusion

This was something that my Pastor emailed me just the other day. It reduced him to tears because it is fiercely pasionate for God. I almost want to pray this over my life but it scares me and thrills me all at the same time, I find myself on the edge.... I want to step out but the ground pulls at my feet. Lord, I am Yours.

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
The dye has been cast.
The decision has been made.
I have stepped over the line.
I won't look back, let up, slow down or back away.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with selfish living, sight walking, small planning, "smooth knees," colourless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, pity or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with His patience, live by prayer and labour with His power.

My face is set; my gait is sure; my goal is heaven; my road is narrow; my way is rough, my companions are few; my Guide is reliable; my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity because I have been sustained by Christ.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner is clear.

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

- written by an anonymous young African pastor, tacked on the wall of his house and found after he died as a martyr for the Gospel.

Does Tesco get more than God?

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In a recent financial report it transpired that for every £8 that we spend in the UK, £1 of it is spent in Tesco. That’s a staggering 12.5% of our spending! How mad is that!!!!

"A tenth of the land's produce, whether grain from the ground or fruit from the trees, is GOD's. It is holy to GOD.” Lev 27:30
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Mal 3:10

When I realised how much we give to Tesco I wondered if we give what we should to God? (A tithe is not a gift, it is the payment of goods received – a planet to live on and a life worth living). Does more of our finaces go to Tesco or God?

Tithing is not just about money or produce, it is about us too.
Do we just give money or our time, our heart, our life?

“I appeal to you therefore, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.” Rom 12:1 (Amp)

Or as it says in the Message:
“So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.”

Do we believe in salvation?

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I have been redeemed. Knowing this makes me feel secure and happy, but do I live it? I sing about it on Sunday with everything that I have [and mean it] but do I live and breathe the same song throughout the week?

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” Rom 1:16

I have been thinking about this a lot recently.
We are the army of the redeemed that God has raised up from among the lost (just like He did before Ezekiel’s eyes in the valley of dry bones). An army equipped for service, built to win; not to capture but to release. The ‘lost’ are not simply a ‘faceless crowd’, they are our family, friends, colleagues, those we love, people worth redeeming!
This is why we should ‘go mental for the lentil’, because we look the enemy in the eye and say, ‘Enough. You go no further today.’ The victory always belongs to our commander because we stand in His strength! Glory to God.

I would emphatically agree with the first part of Paul’s sentence; I am not ashamed of the gospel! I would defend it and explain it to anyone (and just pray that God puts the right words in my mouth). But the second part of the sentence is something different, it’s territory claiming. If I really believe that it is filled with God’s power to redeem (and His desire is to redeem everyone) then why do I not tell everyone [regardless of whether they ask about it]? May be I don’t because I worry that the power may not be there, because it may not work; what would I do then?! But how will they know about salvation unless they are told about it?

Lord, help me to be like Jonah after the whole fish thing so that you don’t have to send a ‘giant fish’ my way. Amen!

Ps139 – Counting thoughts as though they were sheep.

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"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!" Ps 139:17-18

This makes me smile every time I read it.
I often have to remind myself that God is not like me. I can sometimes be so busy that I don't give Him a second thought! God, however, is nothing like this. I am always on His mind! You know those weird times when you are thinking about someone for no apparent reason and then all of a sudden they phone you up and you think, 'weird!' Well it is like that with God all of the time!

This very realisation is what dawns to the song writer in these verses, and in a stroke of brilliance he decides to see if he can count God's thoughts about him! It is like counting sheep, their shear volume in the end puts him to sleep (not that they are boring but there are just too many). Any way, he's out for the count. The next thing he knows it’s morning and he realises that God hasn't gone away or even stopped thinking/caring about him. He's amazed, he can barely comprehend how many of God’s [loving] thoughts about him have passed him by as he slept.

In essence this Psalm reminds me that God is for me. He loves me and surrounds me. He is wonderful, so wonderful.

Ps139 – Any where, any time!

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"I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night - but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you." Ps 139: 7-12

Unintentionally we often confine our experience of God to church on Sunday, or the midweek prayer meeting or our quiet time in the morning [or whenever]. However, these verses from Psalm 139 take us on a journey of the imagination, reminding us that we can experience God all of the time.

Too often we think about "where we are" rather than "who we're with". What do I mean? When I'm in church, for example, I behave in a certain way, but then when I am hanging out with church friends I am far more out spoken and animated. Then again my behaviour is different in work, and when I am in a library I am very quiet indeed. This is often because of where I am. Thinking like this tricks us into thinking that we are only 'with God' at certain times in certain places. Crazy I know!

When we think more about "who we're with" we will soon realise that we are always with God. That will suddenly fill us with confidence and security and we will find ourselves praying and worshipping God in ways and places that we never thought possible. We'll find God speaking to us while shopping or waiting for a bus, and He'll even give us prophetic words when we are NOT in church!