I figured it was high-time I let everyone in on how things are going since we moved from City Church Canterbury to the Beacon Church in Herne Bay...
...it's still early days, of course (we moved at the end of April) but it's been long enough to see stuff happening. The whole idea behind our move was a definite sense between ourselves and the local New Frontiers leadership that God had plans for Beacon and that, in an otherwise predominantly older and smaller congregation, the time had come for a younger generation to join and knit in, ready for the future. We joined with no role in mind, nor any defined either, but simply to help lay the foundation for the future. Thus far, there's two significant areas that we've been concentrating on, for others to be focused on later:
1) We've begun a parent & toddler group - "Coffee and Chaos"; the City franchise grows! - which has been heavily invested in financially, and the Beacon folks encouraged to get involved in personally with weekly duties to be shared out on a rota basis. C & C kicked off yesterday, with 7 mums/carers plus about 8 or 9 kids arriving. A fantastic start, without being deluged either! Our own friend Bev (not from church) worked wonders, bringing 3 others with her, and she's been handing out C & C business cards here there and everywhere. Good girl... The idea is simply for Beacon to make friends with the community around us and build quality relationships from there, sharing our faith as we go...
2) We are spending the entire next term training Beacon (everyone!) in Cell as a new small group structure ready to be launched in the New Year. Helping them understand the ethos of the Cell structure over 6 specific sessions with the weeks in between to fellowship, pray, and consolidate together will be invaluable for all the members as well as new Cell leaders. "Getting" cell can take years - that it is Bible-based values that underline it and not a formula, and that it is about building genuine, outward-looking and inclusive community to further the Gospel. Jennie and I have been involved in leading and overseeing Cell groups for best part of a decade and know how well it works WHEN IT'S DONE WELL. We're in this for the long haul and firmly believe this is a specific foundation that needs implementing well (to clarify: we're not talking "Cell Church", which can tip the balance away from the Sunday services, but church life that invests hugely in both the small group community AND the ship's rudder of the corporate worship/teaching/fellowship of Sundays)
There's more stuff on the horizon, which I'll keep under my (enormous) hat, but I'll divulge more as time unfolds...
In the meantime, please pray for:
1) The new small group "revolution" to be received well and enthusiastically.
2) For Coffee and Chaos to progress from strength to strength, and for the wonder and Truth of Christ to be preached through our relationships with the parents we're entrusted with. Each one is a gift from God to be treasured.
3) For more younger Christians to join us quickly. We are more than expectant for growth through preaching the Gospel and subsequent salvation - God's sovereignty is a great reassurance for us - but we do also need able Christians to mentor, lead, disciple whomever will come our way. In a lot of ways, a complete church plant may have been easier, because there tends to be a younger chunk of gifted folks that are available for various roles. Jennie and I have been grieving our City family - which is natural, and expected, of course - but we would now like some more fresh faces to help pave the way for God's purposes here. He is sovereign and we're trusting Him - He is definitely in this - but we need to be realistic and accept that a bit more help would be wonderful. I don't say yes to everything, because I need to protect our family time more and more ruthlessly (especially now Amy's at school) as more responsibility comes my way. And everybody wants more friends, eh? Wanna join us? (*)
(*)I'm serious! Does God want you to come and join the Beacon explosion?
Read more!
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Sunday, 24 August 2008
The Greatest Show on Earth?
"Stunning", "flawless", "using imagery and technology of the highest level", "spectacular", "elegant"... so the initial responses to the Beijing Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies have been filtering through. Good for them. Just one thing bothers me...
... if the budget for our very own 2012 Olympics is a third of the Chinese one, what are our ceremonies going to be like? Here's a rundown of the current plans, leaked from Sebastian Coe's bedside cabinet drawer:
1) The Krankies and the Chuckle Brothers performing a medley of hits from Oliver!, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
2) Instead of Zhang Yimou coordinating the event, we'll have the likes of Michael Winner; OR, the other option (as yet undecided) is a Blue Peter presenter running the show as a hands-on "work experience" feature for the following week's episode.
3) Bruce Forsyth tap-dancing (you gotta love him).
4) Bobby Davro doing, erm... whatever exactly Bobby Davro does...
5) Everyone who's ever been in the Big Brother house demonstrating how to make money from absolutely nothing.
6) Orville the Duck and Spit the Dog upstaging those who have a hand up their bottom.
7) Barbara Windsor doing arm exercises in a bikini.
If you're anything like me, you'll be chomping at the bit to see such a spectacle... Read more!
... if the budget for our very own 2012 Olympics is a third of the Chinese one, what are our ceremonies going to be like? Here's a rundown of the current plans, leaked from Sebastian Coe's bedside cabinet drawer:
1) The Krankies and the Chuckle Brothers performing a medley of hits from Oliver!, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
2) Instead of Zhang Yimou coordinating the event, we'll have the likes of Michael Winner; OR, the other option (as yet undecided) is a Blue Peter presenter running the show as a hands-on "work experience" feature for the following week's episode.
3) Bruce Forsyth tap-dancing (you gotta love him).
4) Bobby Davro doing, erm... whatever exactly Bobby Davro does...
5) Everyone who's ever been in the Big Brother house demonstrating how to make money from absolutely nothing.
6) Orville the Duck and Spit the Dog upstaging those who have a hand up their bottom.
7) Barbara Windsor doing arm exercises in a bikini.
If you're anything like me, you'll be chomping at the bit to see such a spectacle... Read more!
Saturday, 16 August 2008
Life Lessons
Since the Lakeland "Revival" (it wasn't) began, I've had my fears for how people were getting excited without looking for doctrine, and so hesitate to write this without looking smug. I believe what we saw on satellite TV and read about on the internet was a genuine outpouring of God's grace; I believe what we witnessed was God's sovereign grace and a raising of witnesses' faith which continued in further healings, etc. I hope and pray the best for Todd Bentley and his family. I'm NOT suggesting that what has occurred in Florida is of the wrong origin.
However, I have had extremely grave concerns over the doctrine of Todd and his circle. I'm not going to list the issues here and add to potentially negative internet traffic, that's not fair, but email me if you want more of my thoughts. Suffice to say, many of Todd's articles are hugely errant and unbiblical, and people lap it up. However, sadly, now that the TV coverage has come to a close, it's been reported that Todd and his wife have separated. Let's not point the finger but let's learn from this:
1) Let's pray for the Bentleys; for prompt reconciliation and healing in that family.
2) Let's continue to remember in future that we need to be ever discerning in our acceptance of ministries, etc as they occur. We can neither decry immediately anything supernatural - and risk throwing the baby out with the bath water - nor embracing every 'move' of the 'Spirit' at face value. For further, see John Piper's or Josh Harris's thoughts...
3) Let us still continue to seek signs and wonders in our church - not for the sake of them, but as a divine endorsement of our pursuit of God as we glorify Him - by stepping out in faith as we seek Him and pray for healing, etc. Don't let this or other incidents/examples be an excuse to not step out further in what the Spirit has available for us and those around us. Just be sure of our doctrine at the same time...
4) Remember your family when church work sucks up so much precious time. This is something I've been struggling with over the past few months - coming home from work and starting my 'other' job. If I can't fulfil my church role whilst at work, guess who I have to steal time from? My wife and daughter. It's hard and we need to strike a wise balance. If "the harvest is plenty and the workers are few", then we're going to have to do plenty of overtime between us, but God does NOT want us to do it at the expense of our precious families. There's the old adage of "God first, family second, church third"; I've heard report of a prominent leader in my movement explaining that it depends on the season, and sometimes church comes before family, sometimes vice versa. I'm not convinced: I can see what he's saying, but I do still feel that your family should never suffer at the expense of church. Our families are a mirror of our leadership qualities (1 Tim 3.4-5) If you're too busy, then maybe it's time to raise up yet more leaders (where possible & appropriate)? Be wise, know when to say no, talk about it openly with your family, and know when you're doing too much... Read more!
However, I have had extremely grave concerns over the doctrine of Todd and his circle. I'm not going to list the issues here and add to potentially negative internet traffic, that's not fair, but email me if you want more of my thoughts. Suffice to say, many of Todd's articles are hugely errant and unbiblical, and people lap it up. However, sadly, now that the TV coverage has come to a close, it's been reported that Todd and his wife have separated. Let's not point the finger but let's learn from this:
1) Let's pray for the Bentleys; for prompt reconciliation and healing in that family.
2) Let's continue to remember in future that we need to be ever discerning in our acceptance of ministries, etc as they occur. We can neither decry immediately anything supernatural - and risk throwing the baby out with the bath water - nor embracing every 'move' of the 'Spirit' at face value. For further, see John Piper's or Josh Harris's thoughts...
3) Let us still continue to seek signs and wonders in our church - not for the sake of them, but as a divine endorsement of our pursuit of God as we glorify Him - by stepping out in faith as we seek Him and pray for healing, etc. Don't let this or other incidents/examples be an excuse to not step out further in what the Spirit has available for us and those around us. Just be sure of our doctrine at the same time...
4) Remember your family when church work sucks up so much precious time. This is something I've been struggling with over the past few months - coming home from work and starting my 'other' job. If I can't fulfil my church role whilst at work, guess who I have to steal time from? My wife and daughter. It's hard and we need to strike a wise balance. If "the harvest is plenty and the workers are few", then we're going to have to do plenty of overtime between us, but God does NOT want us to do it at the expense of our precious families. There's the old adage of "God first, family second, church third"; I've heard report of a prominent leader in my movement explaining that it depends on the season, and sometimes church comes before family, sometimes vice versa. I'm not convinced: I can see what he's saying, but I do still feel that your family should never suffer at the expense of church. Our families are a mirror of our leadership qualities (1 Tim 3.4-5) If you're too busy, then maybe it's time to raise up yet more leaders (where possible & appropriate)? Be wise, know when to say no, talk about it openly with your family, and know when you're doing too much... Read more!
Saturday, 26 July 2008
A Knight's Tale
I've seen it.The Dark Knight; a film I'd been so hungry for since the early days of that remarkable viral campaign... since Batman's flipping over of that calling card at the end of the last one, in fact... a film that was destined to have geekdom in a fever without Heath's sad and premature death adding to the frenzy...
... but was it THE film of the year thus far, to quote the early US reports?
Well, I'm reluctant to get caught up in hyperbole for hyperbole's sake, nor sentiment for sentiment's sake. That's always a danger, and I know I can be prone to it. So I'll just try and stick to the facts:
1) With Heath's performance, we finally have the Joker as originally created: a maniacal and unpredictable and FUNNY catalyst for chaos. You will not see Heath anywhere on that screen, only a clown with no origin who will leave a trail of destruction and death and pain in his wake. He's not a man, nor a beast, nor an icon. He just is. Can anyone fill Heath's shoes for a future installment? Yeah: Ben Whishaw (Perfume, I'm Not There), but it won't be easy. And would Heath be worthy of an Oscar next year? For sure. Check out that disappearing pencil magic act. The best intro to a character I've seen for years...
2) Aaron Eckhart gives Harvey Dent the soul he needs for us to invest in his fall from grace. He makes us care, and makes us genuinely believe in a DA of integrity in a city of rampant corruption. I BELIEVE IN HARVEY DENT, I really do.
3)The script is crafted so that no one gets left in the shade of the Joker. Wayne/Batman, Dent, Gordon, Rachel, all have depth and breadth and the performances fill them well. Maggie Gyllenhaal slips into Katie Holmes' role well, and you don't miss Mrs Cruise in the slightest (no offence :-)). And Bale, of course, is solid.
4) The effects will leave you wondering how on earth they did Two-Face's deformity. A fantastic, horrific design that serves the character well.
5) The action - not Nolan's strong point, let's be honest - is still gripping and pumping. He's learning on the job and coping well. With the likes of him and Marc Forster and others, Hollywood has a future...
6) The film may be relentlessly dark, but thank goodness the Nolans (and Goyer if he played a part in this detail) have retained some glimmer of hope in the climax. The people of Gotham City - both ends of the spectrum - reaffirm a faith in mankind that we needed all along. EVIL WILL NOT WIN.
I'll leave it there. I could go on forever about every detail, and have already said more than I intended. Don't wanna fall into the usual trap of getting carried away. You may notice I do that...
...so, was it THE best film of year thus far?
Absolutely. Read more!
Sunday, 20 July 2008
The Author's perspective
The current controversy in the Anglican Church is yet again confusing the world on what God's people should be standing for. Certain parties point the finger at "other issues" that are "more important" and "shouldn't we be arguing about those instead of the current quarrel(s)?" Well, yes and no, actually. And all you're doing in the meantime is merely attempting to deflect the heat away from your own beliefs and practices that ignited this in the first place...
Unfortunately, the whole debate of homosexuality, ordination of women bishops and so on is merely scratching the surface; these are all symptoms of something far deeper: the authority of Scripture. If you choose to dismiss just one aspect of it, then by the same model you have to dismiss everything else, simply because of the rules you're viewing it by (and the Bible is clear, particularly on the former issue I mention). When it comes to the Bible, it's all or nothing. Dismiss one part, and you automatically call into question everything else by your same action. I'd rather people threw the Bible out completely rather than pick-and-mix... (*)
If, as Timothy informs us, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3.16), and Jesus Himself says that, "Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10.35) - and taking on board that same rule of thumb that these statements are fact because I'm not calling any other piece of Scripture into question either - then the Bible is more than a book, more than a guide, more than just a manual; it is God's revelation to us of Himself, it is prophetic, it is inspired through man (as opposed to the common assumption that it was written simply by man), it is His living Word...
In which case, ask yourself the following:
Do I understand the Bible in the light of my own life and surrounding culture?
Or do I understand my life and surrounding culture in the light of the Bible?
I know where I stand...
Unfortunately, the whole debate of homosexuality, ordination of women bishops and so on is merely scratching the surface; these are all symptoms of something far deeper: the authority of Scripture. If you choose to dismiss just one aspect of it, then by the same model you have to dismiss everything else, simply because of the rules you're viewing it by (and the Bible is clear, particularly on the former issue I mention). When it comes to the Bible, it's all or nothing. Dismiss one part, and you automatically call into question everything else by your same action. I'd rather people threw the Bible out completely rather than pick-and-mix... (*)
If, as Timothy informs us, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3.16), and Jesus Himself says that, "Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10.35) - and taking on board that same rule of thumb that these statements are fact because I'm not calling any other piece of Scripture into question either - then the Bible is more than a book, more than a guide, more than just a manual; it is God's revelation to us of Himself, it is prophetic, it is inspired through man (as opposed to the common assumption that it was written simply by man), it is His living Word...
In which case, ask yourself the following:
Do I understand the Bible in the light of my own life and surrounding culture?
Or do I understand my life and surrounding culture in the light of the Bible?
I know where I stand...
(*I'm not for one moment suggesting that we accept the Bible blindly or naively [the writer to the Hebrews reminds us in chapter 5.11 - 6.8 that learning should be a part of our maturity - in fact, it is part of that process, no?], but we need to be absolutely determined in every way that our study of God's Word is not filtered by a subjective approach. Remember Who ultimately wrote it. Then study it.)
[For further blogging on the same theme, check out bluefish ) Read more!Friday, 11 July 2008
Brighton Rock(s)
Wow.
I'm back from the New Frontiers' Leadership International 08 conference in Brighton and I have to say... it was so profoundly resourcing in many ways, so much fun and so ground-breaking as an event. Where on earth do I start?
"...so profoundly resourcing": the wealth of equipping tools provided from the likes of Dave Holden, John Groves, Matt Hosier and others was phenomenal (those named being the particular guys I heard on my training track: between them, they spoke on building counter-cultural churches; on how the post-modern world - which is basically the world coming back full-circle to the multi-faith, multi-culture, multi-idol, multi-sexual, multi-truth world of the Apostle Paul's day - thinks, and how Christ IS relevant to every area; on how the church should be fearless in speaking out on what good Biblical sex really is, on porn and many Christian men's proclivity to it - let's not pretend they/we're not). Practical and profound... And the main session speakers? Terry Virgo himself, Steve Van Rhyn, David Devenish, David Stroud, PJ Smythe, and the phenomenon that is Mark Driscoll. He da man... All these godly men spoke deeply into where we are at as a movement, and prophetically, more importantly: God used these mighty men to lead us ever-stronger into the next phase of New Frontiers history. And speaking of the prophetic, Julian Adams and Keith Hazell (love him - had the privilege of getting to know him recently, great guy) brought powerful prophetic words to us all about radical changes in New Frontiers and, more significantly, in our nation at a political level. Hold on tight, guys... [listen to the downloads if you missed it: TOAM 08 ]
"...so much fun": I caught up with so many of my old and new friends - Dave Watt and Tom HC from ChristChurch London; Dave Pask from my Vietnam jaunts; Jennie White, Sarah Fergie, Kev & Lydia Jones and Bill & Margaret Law (all ex-City); and of course my buddies still at City - Tom G, Oli & Hazel, Dodge and George, Rob, Ashley, Bill Hayes (loved your dancing, man), Olly, Ben & Jo, Tom & Josie Shaw and the girls, and not forgetting the unforgettable Joey Natali... the list goes on... oh, and I got to know Darren Blaney from the local Baptist Church a whole lot more. And I couldn't get enough of the dancing in the worship times. Oh, and I saw Wanted at the cinema (3.5/5)
"...so ground-breaking": well... that Mark Driscoll (I love him in a non-gay way - here's an intro if you don't know the guy: MarsHillChurch) is fearless. He spoke to us gently and humbly but also boldly. What he shared with us allows us to speak openly about the future of New Frontiers: life after Terry... it was to be one of those moments when you say "I was there..." History was made. Mark basically warned us against dishonouring the future of NF by only honouring its founder. We need to honour both simultaneously, or risk becoming an institution and a museum, dead within 2 generations, rather than a pioneering movement ever-continuing forward, making progress for the magnificent good news of Jesus Christ, seeing lives, communities and cultures transformed into HIS people for HIS glory... Hoo-ha...
I think I'll shut up now; does it sound like I'm buzzing? Jennie's had it in the ear-hole since I got home... I'd best leave it to my good buddy Tom "Absolutely" Shaw to summarise:
Read more!
I'm back from the New Frontiers' Leadership International 08 conference in Brighton and I have to say... it was so profoundly resourcing in many ways, so much fun and so ground-breaking as an event. Where on earth do I start?
"...so profoundly resourcing": the wealth of equipping tools provided from the likes of Dave Holden, John Groves, Matt Hosier and others was phenomenal (those named being the particular guys I heard on my training track: between them, they spoke on building counter-cultural churches; on how the post-modern world - which is basically the world coming back full-circle to the multi-faith, multi-culture, multi-idol, multi-sexual, multi-truth world of the Apostle Paul's day - thinks, and how Christ IS relevant to every area; on how the church should be fearless in speaking out on what good Biblical sex really is, on porn and many Christian men's proclivity to it - let's not pretend they/we're not). Practical and profound... And the main session speakers? Terry Virgo himself, Steve Van Rhyn, David Devenish, David Stroud, PJ Smythe, and the phenomenon that is Mark Driscoll. He da man... All these godly men spoke deeply into where we are at as a movement, and prophetically, more importantly: God used these mighty men to lead us ever-stronger into the next phase of New Frontiers history. And speaking of the prophetic, Julian Adams and Keith Hazell (love him - had the privilege of getting to know him recently, great guy) brought powerful prophetic words to us all about radical changes in New Frontiers and, more significantly, in our nation at a political level. Hold on tight, guys... [listen to the downloads if you missed it: TOAM 08 ]
"...so much fun": I caught up with so many of my old and new friends - Dave Watt and Tom HC from ChristChurch London; Dave Pask from my Vietnam jaunts; Jennie White, Sarah Fergie, Kev & Lydia Jones and Bill & Margaret Law (all ex-City); and of course my buddies still at City - Tom G, Oli & Hazel, Dodge and George, Rob, Ashley, Bill Hayes (loved your dancing, man), Olly, Ben & Jo, Tom & Josie Shaw and the girls, and not forgetting the unforgettable Joey Natali... the list goes on... oh, and I got to know Darren Blaney from the local Baptist Church a whole lot more. And I couldn't get enough of the dancing in the worship times. Oh, and I saw Wanted at the cinema (3.5/5)
"...so ground-breaking": well... that Mark Driscoll (I love him in a non-gay way - here's an intro if you don't know the guy: MarsHillChurch) is fearless. He spoke to us gently and humbly but also boldly. What he shared with us allows us to speak openly about the future of New Frontiers: life after Terry... it was to be one of those moments when you say "I was there..." History was made. Mark basically warned us against dishonouring the future of NF by only honouring its founder. We need to honour both simultaneously, or risk becoming an institution and a museum, dead within 2 generations, rather than a pioneering movement ever-continuing forward, making progress for the magnificent good news of Jesus Christ, seeing lives, communities and cultures transformed into HIS people for HIS glory... Hoo-ha...
I think I'll shut up now; does it sound like I'm buzzing? Jennie's had it in the ear-hole since I got home... I'd best leave it to my good buddy Tom "Absolutely" Shaw to summarise:
Read more!
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