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Tuesday 31st May 2011
It’s the first Tuesday of summer half-term and I’m sat in my office – normally this would be a relatively quite time. But as it’s half-term there are over a 100 screaming laughing and energetic children in the building – yes, it’s holiday clubI
For the past 14 years Alison Jensen and her remarkable team of 50 helpers have put on a four day fast moving, fun-packed and God ‘present’ children’s programme.
It is always a fabulous event with so much happening, but above all there is the fact that these dear children are hearing about the love of God and a number choosing at such a young age to become a friend of Jesus.
The theme this year is taken from the wonderful Disney film, ‘UP’. So the church is full of balloons, balloon baskets, music, lots of clouds, paints and drinks . The helpers are dressed up as boy scouts, all sorts of different animals, fairy’s and so much more. You should see them – they look great!
But then there are helpers who have taken a week’s holiday from work so that they can help. There are some very young helpers and some very mature helpers - people who love Jesus and are giving their time to serve the children of the local community and in doing so honouring Jesus. This is a taste of the Kingdom of God.
 hope not!
Rather, we are demonstrating that we are intentionally taking time out of our very busy lives to spend time with God and one another and to hear his whispers and maybe shouts!
We are coming together to bring people, projects, ministries, countries and ourselves to our Father God We want to hear from God, we want more of God. We want our friends, families, neighbours, city and nation to encounter and know the love of God.
We want to see changed lives and transformed communities. We want to see justice reign and righteousness at the heart of our relationships. Let us step out and take a few risks. Let us give up a night in front of the television. Let us make some sacrifices and join and engage with this weeks.
And let us
hear your stories,
God’s stories,
of how is Sprit has worked with you and through you.
To find our more about this week - go to the home page and follow link to 'Prayer and Fasting'.
Looking forward to praying with you all!
Monday 31st January 2011
 Two events so encouraged me last week. On Monday and Tuesday we had Tony Campolo with us to speak at a couple of celebrations, the first in Glenwood then the second in Bristol. Tony is a remarkable man who at the age of 76 is still travelling around the world to motivate and challenge followers of Jesus to get involved in helping the poor. As I sat listening to him speaking with the same passion as when I first heard him over 18 years ago I simply thought to myself, Lord help me to keep the flame burning! Go and check out the talks on the website (resources section) and be refreshed and inspired. The second event was 24/7 prayer at the church starting at 8.00am Saturday and going through to 8am Sunday. It was so great to see people engaging with prayer and the vision for 1000. Jane and I turned up at midnight and found a small group of people, Ben, Rachel, Helen, Sue and Becky praying and writing down verses and encouragements from God. Chris then took over from us and saw through the small hours along with Damian and Stephen. This is a wonderful part of our strategy and would encourage all of us to get involved. I finish with a verse written down in the 24/7 prayer journal by someone
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit Psalm 34:18
Tuesday 11th January 2011
 Last night Jane and I went to the cinema and saw one of the most amazing films I have ever watched. It is a French film called 'Of gods and men' and tells the real story of a group of monks living in Algeria at the time of the rise of extreme fundamentalist Islam. It is beautifully shot and raises so many issues to do with calling, community, faith, values, friendships, teams, love and hatred. At the end I was emotionally spent! I simply cried. It so challenged and provoked me and I wish that every Christian could see it.There are some wonderful moments and lines none more so than by the Monk who is really grappling with his faith and is finding that God seems to be silent. We watch his struggle through the film and finally, alone in his dark cell, we hear him whisper to God 'I feel your embrace'. He is at peace. It is deeply moving. And then the sad but very true quote of Pascal by the elderly monk Luc, "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction"
But it is the climax of the film with the incredible "Last Supper" sequence which is just so powerful. This is where the monks share a glass of red wine to the accompaniment of Tchaikovsky's Grand Theme from Swan Lake. As the camera pans across the faces of the monks it has to be one of the most moving scenes I have seen on film.
Go see it. Take your friends. It will challenge and inspire you at the same time!
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