I love Ibiza

Last week the guys on our team led two people to become christians. This is very good a real encouragement.

The bibles will we with us by mid June.

We've had to deal with rape victims, robbery victims and some messed up people in the last week.

As you read please remember, that I would bring my family on holiday to Ibiza at the drop of a hat, it's a beautiful place, I would also hang out with a load of mates in the west end if that was what I enjoyed. It is a very safe place.

We just deal with the very small percentage that get in a mess, like lots of other organisations do around the world. The danger with the stories I tell is that it presents a bad picture of Ibiza.

I love Ibiza.

Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Isaiah 42: 10

Two New Ibiza Blogs

Let me introduce you to Claire Ison and Neil Waters who along with Christine Scott have both joined our community for 6 months this summer. They have both decided to blog their adventures, so please feel free to follow them as they come on a manic journey with us this summer.

Neil wrote this today about his little adventure last night: "Last night i experienced my first messy situation of the summer. Myself and Tracy - who lives and works out here year round for 24-7 ibiza - helped take a really drunk girl and her friend back to their hotel. She had been drinking heavily and was petty much unconcious, seni-naked and alone on the street when we received a call from one of our friends who is a pr for a bar. Thankfully we were able to help her and her friend back to their hotel with the use of our 24-7 wheel chair which was well and truly christened.

I am glad that we were there to help her home safely. Im glad im in a position to be able to help those who get into a vulnerable state. I am glad that jesus christ first loved me which is what fuels my passion for this work. I am glad i have a washing machine to wash the chunks and bile from my 24-7 ibiza hoody!!!"

Claire wrote this about dancers at a club the team went to on Friday, I think it's a lovely piece of writing " Every half hour/hour the dancers change, being here in Ibiza you get used to (not sure its a good thing) to seeing scantily clad women grinding on a small stage for the amusement of the male clientele, but last night something i've never either seen or noticed before happened, the male equivaliant dancer ( like an olied up spanish chipendale) climbed the ladders to get to the podium and thereafter arose a huge cheer from all the ladies on the floor. It was like a cry of yes from the women, quickly follwed by the women's camera being pulled out to take snaps to remeber the moment....


I just dont understand it, to me podium dancers, makes everyone in the clubs feel bad. When the ladies come on, all the women in the place see what the world says a women should be and lets face it, not many of us look like that, even the girls up there are a vision of an extreme made up person...and its the same for men... going by fri nights performance the world values and applaudes would men who are olied up bulky men, which just aint true..


I am so glad that God has given me the freedom from all the rubbish, no more listening to what the world would put on me.. i am so happy that i know who i am from God, not from how skiiny my waist is, believe me, out here that is a big plus, where there's alot of that thinking around...Now just have to announce that freedom to the clubs. wheres that ladder, give me that podium... that would be a dance worth watching ...

Pop by to their blogs and leave a supportive comment if you get the time.

That time again

Well we have arrived at the time of year were I bore you with stories of our evenings out on the street. We were out tonight and as we walked along by the harbour we were accosted by two prostitutes who were very happy to see us greeting us with lots of hugs and kisses. One had been here last year, we had prayed for her anemia and it was now much better. She told us how she had been reading the bible we gave her. It was so refreshing to get such a warm greeting.

We walked back into the west end and stopped to talk to a new PR who we gave a bible to, whilst we were talking to her we noticed another guy we had been helping out was surrounded by 5 guardia civil, the hard core police. We was in some sort of altercation with them about money owed at a kebab shop. Whilst I chatted with this new PR Claire just watched and prayed for this other guy. The police eventually punched him to the ground kicked him about a bit and then let him go!!! That is wrong, so wrong on so many levels. 5 guys my size beating up some young guy.

We then walked up a bit further and another girl asked us if she could have a bible, but we had just given ours away! I can't wait until we get the new ones. We stood and chatted with her for a bit.

As we walked around tonight we heard that someone had been stabbed to death the previous evening outside one of the pubs. This doesn't happen often but it is always disturbing.

We talked with many other workers it's very quiet here at the moment, but that gives us time to connect. The centre is getting nicely busy now which is also great. Table tennis is proving a real winner. How does this work? About a week ago two guys pop into use the table tennis table and then tonight two of our guys sit and talk with them on the street for an hour about Jesus. Table tennis is the way forward.

It's good to be back in this random world. Scary at times, sad at times, funny at times but definitely the place we are meant to be.

Ibiza Drum n Bass

Coming soon, a quality Drum and Bass CD being produced to help support the work here.

Also thinking of getting the Jesus loves Ibiza picture put on some t-shirts???

Ibiza Bible Preview

The bibles are with the printers and should be ready within 6ish weeks!!! We are basically trying to sell half so that we can give the other half away for free. They cost £5.00 each, that doesn't include postage and package. At the moment I would only like to take orders for 20 plus so if you are in the position to buy 20 of these bibles or more I would love to hear from you.

Here's the blurb that we wrote for the back of the bible and I hope you like the front cover design?

Does Jesus Really love Ibiza?


Totally. We don’t know what you think about Jesus, but we do know that He loves this beautiful island and all who inhabit it. Jesus loves everyone, regardless of race, gender or social standing.

Following Jesus is a bit like dancing. The wrong things that we have done have put us out of step with God and left us in a mess that we can’t get out of by ourselves, but Jesus made a way to rescue us if we follow Him.

Following Him is about catching His rhythm and allowing your life to move to the rhythm of His beat! His dance is a dance of love, mercy, justice, forgiveness, selflessness and sacrifice. It’s a dance that leads us to repentance and relationship with God.

So what you have here is part of the bible that tells the story of Jesus; it communicates His rhythm. The author Eugene Peterson wanted to get the bible back to its roots, to the way we talk when we are not trying to sound religious. Whether you have been reading the bible for years or you’re exploring it for the first time, the Message will surprise you. In it you will read about the love revolution that inspired the women and men who first experienced it to dance to a different rhythm and change the world forever.

“Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.” - Jesus

Tests

I have just been to the UK for some test, I have a confirmed iguanal hernia. I went for tests earlier in the year but they couldn't confirm what was the matter!! If the truth be known deep down I was a little stressed, it's the not knowing that is a stress, your mind works overtime. Well I now know and am relieved, will have to go back for an op but that is fine.

I am now at home in bed with tonsillitis which is not much fun.

I'll blog when I am better

back

One very long conversation with a guy tonight that resulted in us praying with him, but politely refusing to drink the sambucca. This happens a lot he stopped us and asked to talk, regardless of what people may think we do very little forcing ourselves or opinions upon people, if asked we will give and honest answer but always trying to do so in a way that doesn't seem judgmental or religious, because we are not judgmental or religious! We were able to pray with the guy which was lovely.

I had a quick chat with some other guys whose friend was in a bit of bother, hopefully he'll be fine.

Then a girl who was drunk and puking taken home to her hotel with her two very helpful friends. No one sets out to get puking up drunk at the beginning of an evening, it creeps up on people. Still messy smelly and not very nice way to finish up. Although she is sorted now.

It felt good to be properly back.

Car Park Porn

Went to the beach today with the boys, Tracy, Bruce and Neil. When we were leaving we started to walk towards the car park which has a pine tree in the middle. Now you have to understand that Sundays is traditionally a family time in the afternoon at the beach. As we walked into the car park there was a woman straddling a tree with two guys taking photos and holding up lighting screens. She was naked and as we walked in we could see right up her anus. It was pretty grim.

My first thought was "oh well this is Ibiza" but then I just felt angry. Why should we have to have such a grim image burnt into our minds. So I walked right up to the photographer and told him what he was doing was disgusting , I was furious. They were germans and this definitely wasn't a fashion shoot because there were no clothes involved, basically it was porn.

I was just so angry, they kept doing what they were doing, I couldn't stop them and I had the family with me. I don't know why I am disturbed angry but I just don't like not having a choice. I hate women being turned purely into objects of lust. I know people will say it was her choice to be snapped and all that.

Anyway just angry with having to endure car park porn on my way home from the beach.

Shred your prayer

We have a shredder in the corner of the prayer room which people can shred their prayers of repentance in. Here's the wording once again you have make it clear:

CONFESSION BOX


Micah 7 v 18-19
Who is a God like you, 
      
who pardons sin ...... 
     
......... You will again have compassion on us; 
      
you will tread our sins underfoot 
      
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Take a moment to think about things you have done that you regret, things that you are sorry for.
Write them down, confess them to God. Think about whether you need to do anything to make it right with another person.
Then take your confession and shred it, destroy it – accept God’s forgiveness and ask Him to help you not to do that again.

"I'll face myself

To cross out what i’ve become

Erase myself

And let go of what i’ve done
So let mercy come
And wash away
What I’ve done"
Linkin Park

This a popular part of our prayer room.

Ibiza Season 6

Well this is our 6th season on the streets of Ibiza, 24-7 prayer has been coming here for over 10 years now which is very exciting. Although tonight wasn't very exciting just cold and empty but it was still good to get out and about walking the streets meeting familiar faces and connecting with some new people.

I enjoy blogging after a night on the streets, I don't know why it is, probably because it is cathartic.

What does season 6 hold for us? I'm not sure but it feels like it's going to be a good one. We feel more focussed and ready than we have ever been.

The farm was good in one way it showed us what we did and didn't have capacity for! We are now back doing our core business we did it last year but with a sense of distraction as we tried to do two projects!!!

I remember hearing John Wimber say "keep the main thing the main thing" I like that.

Focussed and ready for season 6 although tonight's episode was quiet I feel it we will be part of a slow burning series that will soon quicken it's pace.

Open house

Matthew 5: 14

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

The Message

Needless to say; I like this

First Day

Today is we open our centre for the first time this year and we are out on the streets tonight. It's hard to believe that this will be our 6th season here!

It feels good and we feel ready.

Here's another one of our little notices that we put on our prayer wall, once again if you are going to get people using your prayer room who don't normally go to church etc. you need to explain things well:

Prayer Wall
Please take a ‘prayer request’ card and write on it what you would like to pray about.
Then stick it to the wall in whichever section you think it best fits; we promise to spend some time praying about what you’ve written. When we have done that, we’ll put a green sticker on the card.
If your prayer is private, you might prefer to put it in one of the bottles and it will stay just between you and God.
If you wrote a prayer a little while ago and can’t see it, we will have prayed for you, but the card has been moved to make space for others. Please feel free to write another one.

I thought the picture symbolized taking the plunge!!!