tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174587262024-03-14T09:58:12.367+01:00Curious Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.comBlogger988125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-68677631992621192092018-08-17T11:46:00.002+02:002018-08-17T11:46:51.915+02:00Where’s your garden?<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10px;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 12pt;">The bible began with a regular encounter that took place in a garden, God originally walked with Adam and Eve in a garden.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Genesis 3: 8-9</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">God the creator of the garden would take a daily walk with the stewards of His paradise. The Hebrew verb in it’s reflexive conjugation could mean “walking for pleasure”, and there is also an implication that this was regular occurrence, not a one off! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">God walked for pleasure regularly with Adam and Eve.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">They heard him walking, they heard the sound of his footsteps. Maybe God was loud but I get the impression that to hear his footsteps, to listen out for him, they had to get still, to sit quietly and listen. Psalm 46:10 comes to mind; “be still and know that I am God”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">This all happened in the cool of the day, after the work was done, normally in a hot climate when the evening breeze sets in. So this wasn’t all business this was a rested walk, maybe even a tired walk! I would imagine Adam or Eve didn’t rattle of a list to God!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">What a beautiful picture, of two rested People waiting patiently and quietly for the arrival of God who would walk regularly with them for pleasure. The original plan was one of regular encounter. A set aside time of walking and talking.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Of course we know it all went wrong but this was the original intent; humans walking with creator God.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">We see God calling “Where art thou?”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Do you think when God called out “where art thou?” he didn’t know were they where? I find this hard to believe that omniscient creator of the universe could somehow lose two humans!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">God was not calling out to find out what place Adam and Eve were in but what condition they were in. Almost a modern day </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">“where are you at?”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">It was a gracious pursuit an enquiry after the state of their hearts!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">The plan was encounter, God walking with his creation.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">The plan is still encounter, God walking with his creation.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">We need to create space in our lives for regular encounter. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Where’s your garden?</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">The Hebrew word for garden: gannah literally means ‘a covered or hidden place’, this kind of garden in biblical times was usually a walled enclosure, a place with winding paths, fruit trees, running water, fountains, sweet smelling herbs and blossoms a beautiful, tranquil sheltered place!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">We need to find our Garden, our place of encounter!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">My garden is a chair I sit in every morning, my garden is the prayer beads I use to help me focus, my garden is the small wooden cross I hold, the journal I write in, the bible I annotate, the devotional I read.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">My Garden is the walk I go on, my garden can be the sanctuary of my car, my garden can be the gym where the place of physical exercise becomes a spiritual exercise. My garden is standing still whilst the kettle boils and asking the Lord to rise in me, my garden is music that stills my stress and focuses my mind, my garden is art that I stand and stare at, my garden is the wonder of creation that if I walk slowly enough I get to look at.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px;">Create gardens, small covered hidden places where you can regularly walk for pleasure with your creator, we need to get still when the work is done and listen quietly for his footsteps as he enquires after the state of our hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">We need to take the mundane repetitive aspects of our everyday lives and turn them into gardens, maybe travel a little slower, breathe a little more deeply, still our hearts and minds and try to live as rested friends of God.</span></div>
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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-22471857824355203572018-08-09T13:04:00.001+02:002018-08-09T13:05:43.478+02:00Paul made a tent!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow, looking back over my old blog I have realised how bad my grammar is! Sorry about that.<br />
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Something else I have realised is that anytime anyone tells a story or recounts an incident, you get the highlights, increasingly our world has become a selection of peoples’ highlights reels. Someone said to me recently “If it didn’t appear on social media, did it really happen?”.<br />
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Listening to a phycologist on radio 4 the other week (I’m nearly 50 so radio 4 is increasingly becoming appropriate to my stage of life) she said the problem with instagram was that we end up comparing our lives to someone else’s highlight reel.<br />
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This of course leads me to think about my old blog, the book I wrote <a href="https://muddypearl.com/books/gatecrashing-the-story-of-24-7-prayer-in-ibiza/">Gatecrashing</a> or my friends Pete’s book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Glory-Where-Prayers-Chronicles/dp/1631466151">Dirty Glory</a> and how they present highlights of otherwise mundane and normal lives. Of course we need stories and testimonies to inspire, build faith and challenge the status quo and I love a good read.<br />
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But there is something we mustn’t miss in reading stories and listening to stories and that is the gaps in between the highlights. The book of Acts is a great example - there are not many verses that say ‘One day the apostle Paul got up and made a tent, and the next day he made another tent and the next day he went for a walk and made a tent’. In fact if you look at the chronology there are probably thousands of days in the bible were all that happened was Paul got up, prayed, did his normal Christian stuff and made tents. Throughout the bible people surely went for walks, prayed the same prayers in the synagogue, had meals, sailed on ships and just carried on with everyday daily life that never became a verse or a chapter in the great book. I would imagine they lived their lives faithfully and courageously, but the normal Christian life contains its fair share of activity that is routine and, dare I say, mundane!<br />
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It’s in the journey of routine devotion that the magic happens; people pray the same prayer for 30 years and one day it gets answered, someone prayer walks a certain area for 4 years and then an opening occurs, we try to read the bible and one day we realise we have read it all and start again. The greatest testament to faith is faithfulness, most days nothing spectacular happens but I chose to keep getting up and doing the same thing, praying the same prayer, loving the same people.<br />
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I would like to celebrate devotion more, it’s not sexy and doesn’t look good on social media, it can’t necessarily be captured online but it is what brings breakthrough, changes lives and grows the person who practices it.<br />
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<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-29039790824108046572014-06-27T13:45:00.001+02:002014-06-27T13:45:23.035+02:00Gatecrashing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow it's been nearly a year since I last blogged and nearly two years since we left Ibiza. During that time I have been putting together a little book about our time in Ibiza.<br />
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The book is called Gatecrashing and you can get it here: <a href="http://muddypearl.com/books/gatecrashing-the-story-of-24-7-prayer-in-ibiza/">Gatecrashing preorder</a><br />
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The first challenge was the title, it was very hard to come up with something that encapsulated our time in Ibiza, but in the end gatecrashing felt right.<br />
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The second challenge is to write a book about what we got up to without casting Ibiza in a bad light, we love Ibiza and the people who live there but we were involved in a lot of messy situations, but I feel we have a struck a balance.<br />
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The third thing was strap line, primarily this is a book about prayer and mission but it's part of the story of a movement who believe in prayer and mission. It is part of the story of 24-7 prayer in Ibiza not all of it!<br />
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The fourth challenge was writing a book on mission without people labelling it as an overseas mission book, I firmly believe we are called to mission, mission is part of our DNA it's what we do as christians, mission is a way of life not an activity we perform overseas.<br />
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They were just challenges I think we have struck the right balance with all of those things and hopefully produced a resource that will bless, inform and resource people.<br />
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Grab a copy and tell me what you think?Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-46194241624250108892013-07-23T11:33:00.002+02:002013-07-23T11:36:31.983+02:00Questions for God TVWhat would a world without God TV look like?<br />
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This is an occasional personal hobby horse of mine, one I find hard to let go. Yet it is a difficult one to address without cynicism or appearing harsh but somehow I feel just ignoring it, which is what most of us do, may somehow mean that our silence brings validation.<br />
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1. Who is really watching it?<br />
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I know they say they have the broadcast capabilities into literally millions of homes but there is a difference from who is able to watch it and who is actually watching it. Yet when they give their big fund raising push they always mention the potential figure rather than the actual figure.<br />
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2. Why are people watching it?<br />
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I would imagine in countries that are closed to christianity it could be a good tool. If it is to closed countries why aren't there more arabic programmes? In christian countries, why would you watch it unless you couldn't get to church or church couldn't get to you? Even then is this what you really want to watch? A variety of people american accents asking for more cash and proclaiming a specific type of healing ministry!<br />
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3. Who decides the content?<br />
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It would appear to me that the content is poorly regulated, if regulated at all. There are a whole range of theologies on show, some good, some bad, but maybe thats a reflection of church in general.<br />
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4. Can TV really spread the gospel?<br />
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Personally when I read my bible I am convinced that the spread of the gospel happened when God made himself incarnate and dwelt amongst man. Or when the church moved into the neighbourhood and became his hands and feet here on the earth. I would be just as wary when it came to internet church, or discipleship via the web. It lacks the human touch, and God is all about the human touch.<br />
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5. Is it being conformed to culture or changing culture?<br />
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Doesn't it just create it's own celebrities, build up super stars and show us the lifestyles of rich and famous Christians. Doesn't feel very like Romans 12 to me, feels like it does conform to the pattern of this world.<br />
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6. If your church disappeared tomorrow would your community miss it?<br />
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If God TV disappeared tomorrow would your community miss it? Not your home group but the community that God has placed you in? The geographical location or people group you find yourself situated in, the group of people you are called to shine amongst! Would they miss God TV?<br />
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7. Does any of what you are doing relate to a younger generation?<br />
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Old men in suits, or middle aged men trying to look young, note I said men!<br />
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<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-66225318360355585932013-07-08T09:01:00.000+02:002013-07-08T09:03:29.589+02:00Events Theology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So yesterday Andy Murray wins Wimbledon, well done Andy! It only takes about 15 minutes for someone to tweet that Murray's win was a significant sign for our nation. I find myself extremely puzzled by this. How on earth can a man winning wimbledon be a significant sign for us as a nation. He is just a great tennis player who trained hard, worked his way up through the rankings and with dedication, talent and balls eventually won Wimbledon. Which made for a wonderful afternoons viewing and left us all buzzing from having seen an athlete win wimbledon for Scotland.<br />
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I see a creeping idea that sports stars who do something remotely spiritual or even just win something soon get quoted as a spiritual sign for a nation!!!!, I think not! Why? Well because it just further shows how celebrity culture has permeated our society to the point that if the world number one tennis player prays, we make it significant!
In Romans 12 it talks about not being conformed to the pattern of this world?<br />
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Special dates, special events, special people!!!! Oh and if it is televised then obviously it is uber significant!<br />
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Please can we not see how this is so not the kingdom of God? It doesn't work like that.
Last week I know a bunch of people who prayed on council estates around London, people rocking up to a prayer room at 4 in the morning to cry out to God for some deprived area of our land! I watched 5 ladies yesterday morning clean the urine infested stair well of a block of flats near where I live because they wanted to show love to the residents. A group young people worked in sectarian Derry/Londonderry last week clean and serving on the streets. Orphans got fed in Romania, Water projects got launched in Africa, Children got educated in Bolivia. Neighbours helped one another, people prayed and the kingdom was gently but forcefully extended by a serving praying church.<br />
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Not by a man winning a tennis match.<br />
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And if you want to say you get all of that but you feels it's a sign, a prophetic sign. What a sign? that celebrity wins, that 1.6 million pounds is a justifiable pay day, that the fact it was increased by 38% from last year shows an organisation that is in touch with reality? Frankly a tournament that sells 200,000 glasses of Pimm's, 100,000 pints of lager and 25,000 bottles of champagne over 2 weeks is a sign of something. Or here's another one Total top-50 players to have emerged solely through the British tennis structure in both the men's and women's games since 1994: one (Tim Henman). Total cash injection from Wimbledon in that period: £476m. Whats that a sign of?<br />
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Anyway sorry for the rant, it was just a tennis match, a wonderful exhilarating tennis match, Andy murray is a great chap and I enjoyed every tension filled minute.
Lets just keep a grip with reality!<br />
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Spain won the world cup then descended into recession! Greece hosted the Athens Olympics was that a sign?<br />
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Here's what spoke to me this morning:<br />
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<i><b>"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
</b></i>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-91941179024386869062013-01-14T17:47:00.001+01:002013-01-14T17:47:32.366+01:00What nextJust reading some internet stuff about stepping out, hope I am not coming across like a Nike commercial with a kind of "Just do it" feel!!<br />
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I like the occasional pithy saying it helps me keep motivated...<br />
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I like these 3 statements, they resonated with me<br />
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<b>1. If you do not go after what you want you will never have it.</b></div>
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<b>2. If you never ask the answer will always be No</b></div>
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<b>3. If you do not step forward you will always be in the same place</b></div>
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As Martin Luther King said it is also helpful:<br />
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“You may be 38 years old, as I happen to be. And one day, some great opportunity stands before you and calls you to stand up for some great principle, some great issue, some great cause. And you refuse to do it because you are afraid…. You refuse to do it because you want to live longer…. You’re afraid that you will lose your job, or you are afraid that you will be criticized or that you will lose your popularity, or you’re afraid that somebody will stab you, or shoot at you or bomb your house; so you refuse to take the stand.<br /><br />Well, you may go on and live until you are 90, but you’re just as dead at 38 as you would be at 90. And the cessation of breathing in your life is but the belated announcement of an earlier death of the spirit.”</h1>
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Maybe I should have popped a few bible verses in as well......</div>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-67858072804388642842013-01-09T12:32:00.000+01:002013-01-09T12:32:19.026+01:00Yes but how?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have a friend who tells me the best thought to have in mind when preparing a talk is "Yes but how?" I use this a lot when preparing a preach.<br />
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I guess when I start with this whole, life on the edge, scaring ourselves type vibe I want to ask the same question "Yes but how?"<br />
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I have words not sure I can fully verbalise them, abandonment, surrender, sacrifice, obedience<br />
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Visually the idea would be the early celtic monks getting in their small coracles and pushing themselves out to sea without actually knowing where they would end up or even if they would live.<br />
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Increasingly I think that the pattern of our world here in the UK is risk averse. Have we been conformed to this pattern. In a world of risk assessment and health and safety have we allowed that to creep into our faith. Our we becoming conformed to this pattern of the world?<br />
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When we left for Ibiza, we had two sons who were in school, people thought it was unwise to mess with their education, we didn't have a salary people thought it was unwise to move without having the full amount, we couldn't speak Spanish and we were moving to Spain that seemed unwise. We had very real fears about all of this. You know that the people who helped fuel these fears were predominantly christians!<br />
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What made us do it? I guess we had a sense that it was right but we also thought "God responds to movement" Look at various biblical encounters and you soon realise that sometimes you have to get out of the boat, move, for God to respond!<br />
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We also had a few other little thoughts like "whats the worst that could happen?". You then also need to confront the fact that you may be wrong, you may come back with your tail between your legs having failed!<br />
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In the end you have to accept this reality, deal with your own pride and ego and realise "Yes it could go wrong, but am I going to let this stop me?"Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-21465962039628766252013-01-08T13:27:00.000+01:002013-01-08T13:29:14.383+01:00Keepers of a gentle flame<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have just been to a wonderful event at <a href="http://www.htb.org.uk/">HTB</a> in London. For those of you who don't know HTB is the birthplace of <a href="http://www.alpha.org/">Alpha</a> a course for those wishing to explore christianity. So far nearly 20 million people worldwide have been on this course. At the birthplace of alpha they have just launched a permanent 24-7-365 prayer room. The Bishop of London opened it, and I was blessed to be a part of the morning.<br />
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I have been thinking about some stuff recently and felt it was time to start putting my thoughts back out there. My blogging has become a little tame and a bit sporadic. Probably due to recovering from what was the most challenging year we have ever lived through.<br />
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Anyway I keep thinking about the church on it's knees...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why does the church need to spend more time on it's knees?</span></span><br />
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Because we can't do it on our own, we can't organise, plan and administer the growth of Gods kingdom, we can only call out with faith and fall to our knees in acknowledgement of our absolute and utter dependancy on him. </div>
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Yes we have plans, initiatives and resources but if these are not fuelled by prayer they will be shallow expressions of a deeper reality. </div>
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All the fires we seek to light must start with a spark of prayer, must be sustained by the fuel of prayer and when they spread they must ignite more prayer. </div>
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<b><i>The spirit of God is unpredictable wildfire yet I wonder if have we become keepers of a gentle flame?</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the church in the UK I believe we have got good at we do, we know how to connect, we know how to run an alpha course, to run good youth work, to engage with our communities, to be agents for social change and regeneration, we are in faith for more money, we apply for grants and create budgets, we ask the church for more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We make our stuff sexier, more attractive, slicker and if I'm honest it all kind of works, which is good and </span>definitely<span style="font-family: inherit;"> an answer to our prayers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't help but feel there is another dimension that we need to access, another place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For me that place would be the edge! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The edge of what? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The edge between what we can physically do and what we can't, <b><i>the edge for me is faith</i></b>. The point where we have to take ourselves and our communities, the place where if it all goes wrong we'll look stupid and our elders will tell us they saw it coming. The place where we will be embarrassed if it doesn't work. We have to start scaring ourselves again. </span></div>
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This is the place of prayer, it takes us to the edge, it leads us out in faith. This is Noah building a boat, Abraham on the mountain, Moses crossing the sea, Peter walking on water, or Stephen before the Sanhedrin. For me this is the edge.</div>
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I want to get on my knees because, although what we are doing is great and blessed, it is not enough.<br />
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What do we have faith for? What do we need faith for?</div>
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Just thoughts......<br />
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I want to get out on the scary edge again.</div>
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<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-18417498236002005612012-12-14T10:07:00.002+01:002012-12-14T10:07:26.976+01:00Prayer for Peace in Belfast<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the 15th December 2012, at 8.30am, a call to prayer for peace will ring out at Belfast City Hall.</span></div>
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<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">People from every background and community in Northern Ireland will circle the City Hall building in a response to the trouble and the distressing scenes witnessed across our land over the past weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This call to prayer is free from any political, social, organisational or denominational agenda. It is free from any motivation other than the fact that we believe in the power of God and the power of prayer to change our circumstances. We believe that God is alive and able to heal our land if we humble ourselves and pray.</span></div>
<blockquote style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;" type="cite">
<div style="border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is not a protest. It is not a protest against protests. In a spirit of unity, this is an expression of prayer and blessing for our city, our politicians, our police, our society, our shopkeepers and hard pressed businesses.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We want to hold on to the Northern Ireland Tourist Board slogan that this is 'Our Place, Our Time' and pray simply and boldly for the peace and prosperity of Belfast and Northern Ireland in this season of goodwill and thanksgiving.</span></div>
<div style="border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">- We want to pray for peace to reign<br />- We want to pray for the return of hope</span></div>
<div style="border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is an open invitation to prayer and so, at this time, we have no idea as to the number of people who will turn up but we expect representatives from all branches of Christianity across Northern Ireland to take part. We have been in contact and have complied with the advice of the police by gathering at a time that will cause least disruption to local businesses and thereby cause no negative impact on this city which we love. Furthermore, we will be encouraging all those who gather to tangibly bless the city centre traders who have lost so much business over the last 10 days.</span></div>
<div style="border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This time of prayer will be short, private, silent and reflective. It is avowedly non-political.</span></div>
<div style="border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Please try and arrive between 8.15 and 8.20 on all sides of the city hall where stewards will help organise people into a line. At 8.30 you will hear a whistle to commence the prayer and 8.35 a whistle to end it.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-61824592642489947162012-11-23T13:00:00.002+01:002012-11-23T13:00:50.644+01:00Prayer in the high street<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
I guess upon my return the biggest question that I have is "How do we take what we learnt in Ibiza and transfer some of the principles to the UK?"<br />
<br />
Over the last years I feel that I have been on an intensive prayer and mission training school. Trying to live a life that is both intimately involved with God and actively involved with the world. We have tried hard to breath God in and breath God out, to have out hearts aligned with His and from this form a place of prayer that connects with the world.<br />
<br />
Prayer rooms in the right places are a big one for me, I believe we need to see an increase of spaces where people can connect with God on a regular basis. For me that would mean seeing an increasing amount of permanent prayer spaces in situations were the general public can feel able to drop in and reflect on their maker! Shop front prayer rooms would be a great start with this. Creative spaces that give people the chance to pop in be it for a few minutes or a few hours and connect in a tranquil environment with God.<br />
<br />
The UK's high streets are littered with empty shops, I would love to see a move within the church of hiring these shops and making them connecting points with the community.<br />
<br />
<b>"we need to position ourselves amongst need"</b><br />
<br />
If shopping is the new religion we need to be there in the midst of it all, blessing the community by giving them the opportunity to sample a different way of being and have a connection point with God.<br />
<br />
I have just spent an hour in the a prayer room in the town where I live, in that time had the opportunity to pray with a depressed guy who is living in a hostel and chat and pray with another guy who is working through some issues. It was life giving not just for them but also for me. The place of the church in the high street will inevitably lend itself to connection with broken and damaged humanity. We need more of this.<br />
<br />
I want to develop a network of prayer rooms and spaces that are present in the high street and accessible to all.<br />
<br />
I am curious as to whether this could work?<br />
<br />
<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-77054659789685691062012-11-19T16:11:00.001+01:002012-11-19T16:11:39.927+01:00Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I took this shot at a graveyard yesterday, it was a really simple cross with the word peace inscribed on it.<br />
<br />
I find peace in the cross, the redemptive work of Christ has brought me peace. Although right now my inner self has felt turmoil, at a deeper level I do know peace. Many years ago I was in a prison cell and felt tremendous unease and just couldn't sleep. I remember praying and asking God for peace and at that moment I felt peace. It permeated through the prison walls and made it's way into my heart, I slept like a baby. My circumstances didn't change but peace helped me deal with the the internal disruption and it's that same peace I feel today.<br />
<br />
Sometimes we can't change our situation we just have to learn how to 'Be' in the situation. It may not pass quickly but we do have a hope, a hope that He will remain with us in the storm.<br />
<br />
Peace to you.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-46999931220070899042012-11-12T11:03:00.000+01:002012-11-12T11:03:28.222+01:00Are we there yet?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<br />
Sorry for the lack of blogging, life has felt so hectic since our return, I haven't found blogging easy. I guess it's because I want to be positive and feel if I am anything but positive I would be doing a God a disservice because of all the great things he has done for us. I try to focus on Him remembering that we have jobs, we have a home, we have health, we have each other, that is all true and all so good.<br />
<br />
Underneath all of that I am still struggling with unease, I feel unsettled, I feel a bit lost, I feel a sense of loss!<br />
<br />
My boys have become invisible immigrants, they look British, the speak accent-less English, they dress in an appropriate manner but inside they are this international mix of Spanish, English and they are struggling. If your children aren't happy thats not so good. You have the questions that run through your mind like <i>"Have we screwed their lives up?"</i>. I am pretty sure we haven't but it is a tape that plays out in my head!<br />
<br />
Then we are back in our old house, our old church and it feels odd. Church is great but it's not what we are used to and if I am honest I guess we are finding it a struggle to make friends, although we are not lonely! You see thats it right there, life is full of paradoxes!<br />
<br />
Surrounded by loads of old friends and family, yet feel lonely!<br />
In our home that we own, yet feel like visitors!<br />
In the land that we originate from, yet feel like foreigners!<br />
In a church we love, yet feel like outsiders!<br />
<br />
Our rhythms have changed, maybe we were presumptuous to feel we would settle quickly. I know people tell you it will take a while and the mistake we have made is believing that once all the external factors are in place we will be settled.<br />
<br />
But that is failure to recognise the internal displacement we feel right now!<br />
<br />
Are we there yet? Externally yes, Internally no.<br />
<br />
We are not depressed, if anything we do feel blessed. I am just trying to articulate the internal battle of resettlement!<br />
<br />
Maybe I am guilty of this myself I often look at what is going on for people externally and assume they are all good, when the deeper questions are about what is going on on the inside.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong people have been asking how we are doing? but we have defaulted to saying "fine" because we really don't want to seem gloomy and we also don't want to vulnerabate in front of everyone! but here I am blogging about it, so the truth is out.<br />
<br />
We are not there yet, but we recognise that we are on a Journey and <b>"God is with us on the journey"</b> and we will get there, eventually.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-79770613310084871732012-09-25T12:44:00.001+02:002012-09-25T12:44:31.228+02:00Praying at Wembley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This Saturday will see a prayer gathering at wembley stadium, for a <a href="http://www.ndopwembley.com/">National Day of Prayer and Worship</a> they are expecting about 40,000 people to turn up and pray.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It should be fascinating I was at wembley a couple of weeks ago for the England Ukraine match and there were about 64,000 people and it looked a little empty. Also running an event without being able to go on the pitch should be difficult but all said and done, despite the difficulties, I think it is a wonderful thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love this from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Taylor">Hudson Taylor:</a> <span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><i><b>"The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!'"</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The more opportunities we have to gather and pray the better, I want to witness mighty wonders of divine power and grace in the UK.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-43143629878672018742012-09-23T10:40:00.000+02:002012-09-23T10:46:12.041+02:0024-7 prayer UK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Well I have been in my new job now for <a href="http://www.24-7prayer.co.uk/" target="_blank">24-7 Prayer</a> about 3 weeks and I am enjoying it.<br />
<br />
Still adjusting to UK life, still looking for a car, still trying to find a way of feeling at home in Diss. But all of this leads to the thought "Be still, Be still and know that I am God." I am often not very still and I sometimes try to be God.....<br />
<br />
As this job takes begins to take shape my fears are that I don't end up spending all my time with christians and also that I don't end up feeling like a I work for a PR company whose sole client is prayer!<br />
<br />
It has to be about<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://wmpl.org/resources/quotes/" target="_blank"> <span style="color: blue;">prayer and mission.</span></a> </span>You can't divorce the two, the minute you do you end up in all sorts of muddles! Right now I am trying to see the woods through the trees, trying to get a sense of what we need to do in the UK to effectively catalyse prayer and mission. Although right now I am just watching, tuning into God, trying to get his heart for this nation! I hope that doesn't sound to grand.<br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">A
puritan non conformist scholar and pastor called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Alleine" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Joseph Alleine,</span></a> who was
imprisoned on a number of occasions in the 1600’s for his faith said this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><i>“though
I am apt to be unsettled and quickly set of the hinges, yet, methinks, I am
like a bird out of the nest., I am never quiet till I am in my old way of
communion with God; like the needle in the compass, that is restless till it be
turned towards the pole. I can say, through grace, with the church, ‘with my
soul have I desired thee in the night, and with my spirit within me have I
sought thee early’ My heart is early and late with God; ‘tis the business and
delight of my life to seek Him.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So right now I am making it the business and delight of my life to seek Him. Hoping that God will lead us forward, give us a clear sense of who we are meant to be.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-38681104619925924012012-08-23T15:45:00.001+02:002012-08-23T15:45:53.460+02:00Overwhelmed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijX6yXlA7-_VW7HsGY4eQv0n2jjYWDMd3Wwg4sL7EfJkLG4KJApwOvOPwQzSr3rMpz1TBfWspMUo9hyphenhyphen6TRgOeauPUtnsbaKiM1VHRRPp32Whod0pEnn058em9Om6zQMYvTrQd5og/s1600/overwhelmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijX6yXlA7-_VW7HsGY4eQv0n2jjYWDMd3Wwg4sL7EfJkLG4KJApwOvOPwQzSr3rMpz1TBfWspMUo9hyphenhyphen6TRgOeauPUtnsbaKiM1VHRRPp32Whod0pEnn058em9Om6zQMYvTrQd5og/s320/overwhelmed.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If I used the word overwhelmed you may think I was being overly dramatic, but it pretty well sums up the last 4 weeks. Although I think Tozers words have helped me keep it in perspective.<br />
<br />
We have been overwhelmed by God's goodness and kindness to us as a family. We have been overwhelmed by our welcome home and all the kind things many people said to us as we left.<br />
<br />
Then we get overwhelmed from the normal to the ridiculous. I never thought I would find, large supermarkets overwhelming, or buying a rug overwhelming, but it has happened.<br />
<br />
Church is a little overwhelming, lots of kind people asking you how you are doing, which is okay but after 2 weeks you realise the holidays over and this is life. You don't really want to go deep with everyone, so you end up skating on the ice of conversation, hoping it doesn't crack and you drop into what could look like an overwhelming splash of emotion!!<br />
<br />
We miss Ibiza, it leaves an ache in my heart, but we are also excited to be here and know that being here is right, so you feel kind of conflicted.<br />
<br />
Hope that gives a little idea of how we are doing.<br />
<br />
On another note my eldest son has done brilliantly with his GCSE's 9 A stars!!! and and A for his AS Spanish. Once again totally blessed by that.<br />
<br />
On a practical level everything is going well and Gods provision is overwhelming. The last big resettlement challenge is getting a new car, I sold the land rover in Ibiza but didn't quite make enough on it to totally replace it, with a sensible car that will help me as I bomb about the UK in my new role as director of 24-7 prayer. So if anyone sees a great looking Volkswagen Passat Diesel out there let me know!!<br />
<br />
The words of Paul spring to mind: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Phil-3-13" id="en-NIV-29435">Forgetting what is behind <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29435Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup></span>and straining toward what is ahead,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NIV-29436">I press on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29436AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></sup></span>toward the goal to win the prize <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29436AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></sup></span>for which God has called <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29436AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)"></sup></span>me heavenward in Christ Jesus.</span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NIV-29436"><br /></span></span></i></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NIV-29436">God is future focussed and positive, and I will never forget about Ibiza, but I want to remain in this place of contentedness that is about forward momentum and pressing on.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NIV-29436"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NIV-29436">Hope this all hasn't sounded bleak, we are happy and know this is where we are meant to be, just dealing with change.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NIV-29436"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NIV-29436">Thanks for your prayers.</span></span></span>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-5151602159223838012012-07-17T11:31:00.002+02:002012-07-17T11:31:35.260+02:00Last post from Ibiza?
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1c3UuSkdA0l0qmR8UGC0VVkCy_QB2lJc7Y0o7qdKCZVV9gf58j6RBdGwbWYXZWZ8SzhTrv_KndeIYZxTygJBpOjl6g_fJ8Xx4VCU2O3Eggx_OcgbCpohtHZRFbhygcnNFyEldcA/s1600/jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1c3UuSkdA0l0qmR8UGC0VVkCy_QB2lJc7Y0o7qdKCZVV9gf58j6RBdGwbWYXZWZ8SzhTrv_KndeIYZxTygJBpOjl6g_fJ8Xx4VCU2O3Eggx_OcgbCpohtHZRFbhygcnNFyEldcA/s320/jesus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Sunday we were sitting in the centre,
getting ready for our last ever Sunday evening Service in Ibiza, when in walked
Sam. Sam was a worker who came here last year to party and do what workers do;
this year Sam has come as member of one of our two week teams, because he found
Jesus! This was the first time we had seen him since last summer; he sat down
to chat to us and one of the first things he said to us was,<i> “I am one of the
fruits of the tree you guys planted”.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What a particularly beautiful moment for
our last Sunday!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Tracy and I took the service on Sunday
evening surrounded by friends: bar workers, teachers, tourists, prostitutes,
summer workers, Spanish friends and residents, team members and our new leaders,
Abby and Charlie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We felt an
overwhelming sense that what has happened here has been good and that God has
been faithful. We actually have been overwhelmed by God’s goodness; a ‘mantra’
we are repeating a lot at the moment is <i>“God is good and His love endures
forever.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The 4 of us arrived here in March
2005.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t have a lot
established - there was no centre, no grounded work, but there was a tremendous
foundation of prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
foundation of prayer was what gave this work depth and set it up to grow. Thank you for standing with us through the growth: from the first prayer room,
to the internet drop in centre, for the vomit van and wheelchairs, for workers
packs and Jesus loves Ibiza Bibles, for lighters and condoms, for full Bibles
for prostitutes. You have stood with us as we have developed strip club
chaplains, massages for girls in prayer rooms, prayer requests on the streets,
relationships with the health centre and local police, encouragment from the British
Consul and even the odd shout out on Radio 1!!! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If you're a regular reader of this blog you know that we have faced some big
challenges, but you prayed with us when we got the illegal taxi fine, were
understanding when the farm didn’t work out, and generally stood with us as we
have battled through some of the lows of Spanish administration and the
challenges of living abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When I think back over these last 7 years I am pretty convinced that lives have been changed; people have been prayed for and learned
to pray themselves; people have been listened to; drunk and drugged people have
been taken to safety; help and support has been given to people who have been
injured, robbed and even raped; meals have been served; hospitality has been
extended; people have been baptized; lives have been transformed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it has been wonderful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The beauty is that the work continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s bigger than us and God’s
relentless, unstoppable kingdom will continue to advance in Ibiza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ask you to pray for Abby and Charlie
as they lead and join in with what God is doing here on the island.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Our boys have grown here and it has been
particularly beautiful to see them both wanting to come out and help with the
work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dan(14) has been out ‘on
call’ on a number of nights and Ellis (16) has been working with our teams on
the streets for the last 5 weeks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
they arrived here aged 7 and 9 we prayed that we weren’t messing up their
lives!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once again God has been
good. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, they are unhappy about leaving
Ibiza, they are leaving their lives and many friends here - please pray for
them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We had a surprise going away party last
week and a lot of bar owners and managers came to say their goodbyes - they
made us a cake and said encouraging things about us and the work of 24-7 Prayer
in Ibiza. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the bar owners
thanked us on behalf of all “The Westenders”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This touched us
so deeply as we recall that years ago the nightmare UK paper<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daily Mail called the west end Sodom and Gomorrah. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never saw it that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, this is what we pray for and
believe about the West End, this is how we feel God sees it, “Never again will
you be called the Godforsaken City or the desolate land. Your new name will be
the city of God’s delight and the Bride of God, for the Lord delights in you
and will claim you as His own”. This will continue to be our prayer of faith
for San Antonio long after we have left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">All of this happened because of the
‘passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>24-7 Prayer have joined in that
commitment, sending early prayer teams to Ibiza and being willing to go to what
people have perceived as dark places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are blessed to have been sent here by them and supported and
encouraged throughout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that has
happened so far is a beautiful example of prayer and mission working hand in
hand and we feel privileged and humbled to have been part of that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We travel back on Thursday night and value
your prayers as we try to adjust to life in the UK.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You have traveled with us on the journey,
you have helped plant the tree and for that we deeply indebted to you. Please
accept our gratitude and appreciation for all you have done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>God is good and His love endures forever</b></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-13478145804251649592012-07-04T08:55:00.000+02:002012-07-04T08:55:04.237+02:00Movement update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVhBJGuLDDteAh5u64mEblnC9BVMCjN4N50uOVknaaYQPGs_z2OIPfP1TLUHkvzDgBwDl4i_YJhL0QcN45sLX5x8w4QtPlgp_Tpw-gVVfe9ytCC-DBKFMbRZOT4X40qwWCgkgEQ/s1600/formentera12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVhBJGuLDDteAh5u64mEblnC9BVMCjN4N50uOVknaaYQPGs_z2OIPfP1TLUHkvzDgBwDl4i_YJhL0QcN45sLX5x8w4QtPlgp_Tpw-gVVfe9ytCC-DBKFMbRZOT4X40qwWCgkgEQ/s320/formentera12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Well today is my 20th wedding anniversary, I feel so happy to have shared life with such a wonderful woman. Tracy and I are off to formentera for 24 hours to celebrate. Then we return to one of the most hectic times we've had for a while.<br />
<br />
The removal man comes on Monday, so it is box packing central. We have had a lot of lasts recently, last night out on the street, last school run, last time at the anglican church, it's all been okay but slightly emotional.<br />
<br />
My sons did brilliantly at school and we are so glad for Gods provision that they could attend such an excellent place. Ellis won the directors award for academic excellence which is a good way to finish. Dan won the award for best non native speaking spanish, they both made me very proud.<br />
<br />
I sold the Landrover, which was great, it was such a blessing to us and now hopefully it will bless someone else here on the island.<br />
<br />
Please pray for us, that we remain calm, focussed and steady. Especially for Ellis and Daniel this is very tough on both of them, its a massive change.<br />
<br />
Anyway I am off to catch a ferry to an even smaller island for the day with the most beautiful woman in my world. 20 years flies by when you are with the one you love.<br />
<br />
CiaoBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-33272186738777616082012-07-03T12:18:00.001+02:002012-07-03T12:18:25.580+02:00Prophecy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm doing a little teaching on the prophetic this morning, it got me thinking:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My own understanding and experience of
prophecy comes from the Charismatic/Pentecostal church. During an inspiring
time of worship someone would get up and say they <i>“had a word” </i>from God, or a
scripture and would normally start by saying <i>“God wants to say this morning”</i> or
words to that affect. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a church leader I often had to be the filter of these
words. Someone would come and share with me and then I would release them on to
stage to share at the appropriate time! Occasionally people would say one thing
and then get up and share something completely different! Occasionally they
would go on for to long or even use the time as an opportunity to bang their
drum or have a go about a specific part of church life, all dressed up nicely
in spiritual language.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot of church prophecy leaves me cold, it’s always about
revival imminent, every time we have heavy rain fall you get the prophets
predicting…. Or often it is stating the obvious. The best prophecy I ever heard
was this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“we don’t need another
prophecy”</b> we just need to live in the reality of the ones we already have.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We then had prophetic teams which I really liked the idea
of, although at times they can become a little independent and try to drive the
church forward from the rear, occasionally speaking out of their rears!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Funny really the
most damaging thing that ever happened to me in church leadership was fellow
prophetic Christians. Once I was told that I was the bulldozer and the
prophetic guy was the driver, it got under my skin. Someone else said you are the
word guy and the prophetic are the spirit guys! It made me question my own
spirituality.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem with many charismatic prophetic people is that
they make it difficult for you to challenge what they have said by dressing it
up in language that makes it sound like they have spoken the exact words of
God. Some prophetic types needed it to sound like it came direct from Jeremiah
or Elijah for it to have weight. Like all of us they don’t like being told they
are wrong and make it very hard for you to do so. There can be a lack of
accountability when do we ever invite them back to our church and say “you were
wrong, explain yourself”?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then you had the guys with prophetic ministries, many of
whom I admire, but it was always slightly scary that they could pick people out
of a crowd and give them this fantastic word that would encourage them and send
them forth into greatness. It just made you feel a little second-class if you
didn’t get one! I have had a few of those I swear a couple went to people that
should have been for me!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get a bit weirded out by the prophetic I personally have
had a number of very clear premonitions over the years, something inside me
knows it is God but I can’t work it up or make it happen. I just get these
impressions that then come true!!!!! We’re not just talking minor things
either, I unexpectedly get impressions a lot, but I struggle with them. My biggest worry is being wrong so I keep quiet or that I mistake
one of my paranoid worrying shadow thoughts as the voice of God and become a
suspicious whacko. Or that I try to drive my own agenda by calling it a word
from God.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I have a much healthier and broader view of what is
prophetic and what is pathetic. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The prophetic is so much broader than words, in fact it is
much more powerfully revealed in lifestyle. Mother Theresa was prophetic she
jarred against a culture and made others aware of Gods heart for the poor. Jackie
Pullinger was prophetic by showing that God wanted to walk amongst the crack
dens of the walled city in Hong Kong. Shane Claiborne is prophetic by
challenging others to embrace a radical form of Christianity. Willow Creek is prophetic by challenging comfortable middle class churches
to think of seekers rather than themselves? I have seen Church being prophetic
by moving to slums or starting orphanages. Or communities being prophetic by
moving into houses together and spending their money and time differently.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I see prophecy happen every week in local church communities
where kind words are spoken, people are encouraged and built up by the voices
of others. I know of a guy who walked around his city in chains another who
carried a cross a prophetic sybolism. I have placed hyssop in ponds and poured
oil on ancient stones as gestures of break through from a higher power and a
desire that my God would intervene. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prophecy calls people back to ancient
paths, it propels people forward into greater intimacy but should also
challenge the status quo it should make people uncomfortable, it should
challenge predetermined mindsets, it should provoke, jar and inspire.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It should also encourage, strengthen and build up!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do believe in prophecy if anyone’s got one for me I’d love
to hear it…….</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-77076868189527335182012-06-25T10:56:00.001+02:002012-06-25T10:56:43.811+02:00A dream from 2006<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqvkd_xalKFuTbOuMALTR2eBpuxnaSyHci6nrPjOFqJD3h3mE3yMFchLr7GpcIhkIOwyeW54dEZpMnTyWRbyYSJDofJXn089FEyxfVjh4jfX2QADUAYyML9IYC80NzNjTyJiagQ/s1600/dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqvkd_xalKFuTbOuMALTR2eBpuxnaSyHci6nrPjOFqJD3h3mE3yMFchLr7GpcIhkIOwyeW54dEZpMnTyWRbyYSJDofJXn089FEyxfVjh4jfX2QADUAYyML9IYC80NzNjTyJiagQ/s320/dreams.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wrote this in a journal in early 2006 and found it again yesterday!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I have a dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a big dream - in reality it could almost be an impossible dream
-but I am not prepared to live with the word impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to live for my dream.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The dream is this: it’s of a vibrant, year round, praying
and worshipping community here on the island of Ibiza. A community that is
passionate about being kind and doing good for others, a community that does
not live for itself alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
community of Jesus followers who love this island and want to bring His
flavours to it.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>This community will have a home, a building; it will be a
large multi-purpose building, a tool that will define what we do here on this
island. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>This building will provide a place of refuge and spiritual
reflection. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>This building will allow us to run a multiplicity of
courses. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>This building will be
actively used all year round.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>This building will be a facility for the people of Ibiza. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>It will be a place for the young to use after school or at
the weekend. It will be attractive to all age groups.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>We will host xbox clubs, pool tournaments, relaxation
sessions, Spanish classes, coffee mornings and poker nights.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>It will be a facility for information and advice about life
on this island, an access point for workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just a place to use the internet, but a place of support
when people are in need. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Sexual health and drugs awareness will be issues we will
tackle from this building.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>It will be a training centre – we could train people in
DJing, drumming, guitar, dance, art and cookery… to name but a few.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>We will gather people in the building on a regular basis for
creative, chilled out teaching and worship services. We will run spiritual
discovery courses such as alpha.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>In my mind’s eye I see counselling taking place, massages
being given, conversations being had, coffee being drunk, all in this building.
</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>It will be the venue out of which summer teams work, the
base for our community’s West End summer work.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>At its heart it will have a prayer room - it’s vibrant
beating spiritual heart will be prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prayer will sustain it. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The next step is a building.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It hasn't all happened yet but I am so privileged to see some of the dream fulfilled in our time here, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see!</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-5914288546929618272012-06-24T09:53:00.000+02:002012-06-24T09:53:11.231+02:00A place at the table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1e_U_B9jwekh-lWfXyLwwkmNsOsp7Cxvco8wUJn-r61sjS4wQKQtE7OUhrzzDg-NUVbc6_z3G-2bG0Hs0AZTlm6AAcwNP4Q7mOFQnmMjqqylRyz0eriSgbClZ6vVBRJHlA_fhg/s1600/Designer+Table+and+Chairs+For+Childern10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1e_U_B9jwekh-lWfXyLwwkmNsOsp7Cxvco8wUJn-r61sjS4wQKQtE7OUhrzzDg-NUVbc6_z3G-2bG0Hs0AZTlm6AAcwNP4Q7mOFQnmMjqqylRyz0eriSgbClZ6vVBRJHlA_fhg/s320/Designer+Table+and+Chairs+For+Childern10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Just bought a new table on ebay, in preparation for our return, it got me thinking about the phrase <i>"a place at the table"</i>. Do you ever get that sense that you just don't belong? Somehow you don't deserve to be where you are or a niggle at the back of your mind <i>"One day I will be found out!"</i><br />
<br />
You're an impostor, you don't deserve a place at the table!<br />
<br />
This can be do with <b>where you came from:</b> for me coming from N.Ireland lends one sort of tension, am I Irish or am I British? Which one of those tables should I sit at? or can I sit at both? Then I have: am I N.Irish or English? I was born in N.Ireland and grew up in England from the age of 9 so I sound English to the Irish and a little strange to the English, I have a schizophrenic accent! If I am honest I am not sure it matters, although I am definitely Irish. I love what Paul says on this subject "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">But we are</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">citizens</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives"</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
<br />
Another interesting factor can be <b>what you have done: </b>I used to be frightened of what people would think about some of the things I have done in my past. The prison, the fights, the selfishness, the drugs but the thing about the past is that it has passed! God is more interested in who you are becoming than who you have been.<br />
<br />
There is also the consideration of <b>what you have: </b>I am not qualified academically, this used to play on my mind, but it hasn't held me back. We can get so focussed on what we don't have that we can lose sight of what we do have. <i>"In all things give thanks" </i>thankfulness brings perspective to lack!<br />
<br />
For me problems around identity and feeling worthy to sit at the table have been to do with disconnectedness, shame, and lack!<br />
<br />
This Psalm should help anyone struggling with this:<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4 style="margin-top: 1em;">
<span class="text Ps-23-1"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A psalm of David.</span></i></span></h4>
<div class="poetry" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Ps-23-1" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">1 </sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is my shepherd, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14237A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>I lack nothing. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14237B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-23-2" id="en-NIV-14238" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">2 </sup><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span>He makes me lie down in green pastures,</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-23-2" style="position: relative;">he leads me beside quiet waters, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14238C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-23-3" id="en-NIV-14239" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">3 </sup><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span>he refreshes my soul. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14239D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-23-3" style="position: relative;">He guides me <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14239E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup>along the right paths <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14239F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-3" style="position: relative;">for his name’s sake. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14239G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-23-4" id="en-NIV-14240" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">4 </sup>Even though I walk</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-4" style="position: relative;">through the darkest valley,<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-14240a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NIV#fen-NIV-14240a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14240H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-23-4" style="position: relative;">I will fear no evil, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14240I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-4" style="position: relative;">for you are with me; <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14240J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-23-4" style="position: relative;">your rod and your staff,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-4" style="position: relative;">they comfort me.</span></span></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Ps-23-5" id="en-NIV-14241" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">5 </sup>You prepare a table <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14241K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup>before me</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-5" style="position: relative;">in the presence of my enemies.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-23-5" style="position: relative;">You anoint my head with oil; <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14241L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-5" style="position: relative;">my cup <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14241M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup>overflows.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-23-6" id="en-NIV-14242" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">6 </sup>Surely your goodness and love <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14242N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>will follow me</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-6" style="position: relative;">all the days of my life,</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-23-6" style="position: relative;">and I will dwell in the house of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-6" style="position: relative;">forever.</span></span></span></i></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-83371447943926066892012-06-05T05:13:00.001+02:002012-06-05T05:13:22.966+02:0022 Hours<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
It's been a while since I have done one of these really tired posts. Tracy is away in England at the moment with Ellis preparing our house for when we move back in 6 weeks! So I got up at 7am to do the school run with Dan, then tried to get some rest but had to walk the dog, do the dishes and all the other normal household stuff you have to get on with, we then had a team orientation, I spent the afternoon in the centre, had a lovely meeting with charlie and Abby over tea then spent the night on the street, it is now 5am. Birds are singing and if I stayed up I could catch Venus passing in front of the sun in 2 hours time. I think I will give it a miss.<br />
<br />
The streets were phenomenal tonight, prays prayed, bibles handed out, drunks taken home all very good. I love my life here and don't mind the occasional 22 hour day, just not sure I can handle it for much longer. Anyway 6 weeks to go, I'll just suck it up.<br />
<br />
I love Hebrews it says this in Chapter 12<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>: <span class="text Heb-12-1" id="en-NIV-30214">Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30214A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>with perseverance <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30214B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>the race marked out for us,</span> <span class="text Heb-12-2" id="en-NIV-30215">fixing our eyes on Jesus, <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30215C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>the pioneer <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30215D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30215E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup>scorning its shame, <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30215F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup>and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. </span><span class="text Heb-12-3" id="en-NIV-30216"><sup class="versenum" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30216H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup>and lose heart.</span></b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><span class="text Heb-12-3" id="en-NIV-30216"><br /></span></b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Heb-12-3" id="en-NIV-30216">I consider Him, He is my life blood, my inspiration, my hope.. 22hours is nothing in light of His sacrifice.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Heb-12-3" id="en-NIV-30216"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Heb-12-3" id="en-NIV-30216">Peace to you and good night!</span></span>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-44554893970691450732012-06-04T08:11:00.000+02:002012-06-04T08:11:05.956+02:00You give and take awayTracy is in the UK at the moment getting our house prepared for when we move back next month. Yesterday we had 18 people round for a barbecue and then over 30 people at our little evening service, which was fantastic. We have our first 2 week team here at the moment.<br />
<br />
I sat in our little meeting last night and James sang, "Blessed be the name of the Lord" we came to the bit that goes "you give and take away" I was looking out from the corner of the room at the the eclectic mix of people in the room, I found it hard to fight back the tears. I genuinely feel so lucky (blessed!) to have been part of this journey over the last 7 years and the leaving is starting to feel very real.<br />
<br />
It's not just the room, the service, the people we have helped, it's the guys that have come to serve, some have met and got married, others go on holiday together, people hang out, skype across time zones, etc. there is a real sense of Ibiza community that goes beyond Ibiza. People who wouldn't have known each other now do because of the work here, it's wonderful.<br />
<br />
Tracy and I have been so enriched by all the people who have come to serve over the years, blessed and humbled that people would want to come to be part of this.<br />
<br />
So I regained perspective fought the tears back and praised God that what he has started he will complete, that His church, this unstoppable kingdom, is bigger than me, it will grow without us here in Ibiza. Blessed that it has new leaders with vision and energy, blessed that old team members have been willing to come back, blessed to have been at the start of something.<br />
<br />
Excited for what is next.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-25426640246037630902012-05-29T07:53:00.000+02:002012-05-29T07:53:03.193+02:00Last Visitor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Ian Nicholson is here at the moment, Ian heads up 24-7 prayer in Europe and has been overseeing Tracy and myself since we came here in March 2005. He has been a faithful friend and encouragement throughout that whole time. He normally gets off a plane and listens to me moan about all sorts of random stuff for about 3 hours then it all settles down and he brings wisdom, friendship and love.<br />
<br />
Ian is one of the people who helped us stay the course, he has been an encouragement to us as a family and a real strength to the work here.<br />
<br />
So last night we toasted our time with Ian and enjoyed a lovely little glass of champagne and gave God the glory for allowing us all to have been on this journey together.<br />
<br />
What is lovely is that I will continue to work with Ian in my new role within the UK.<br />
<br />
<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-22248428749082576192012-05-24T19:14:00.000+02:002012-05-24T19:14:05.043+02:00We were not meant to be comfortable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
It's funny isn't it how we get so stressed. I was driving along in the car the other day thinking about all that is going on in our lives right now, having a little moment. A moment of frustration and worry which in the end boils down to a little discomfort! Then a thought struck, <i>"this is how it was meant to be!" </i><br />
<br />
We were not meant to be comfortable, who really wants comfort. I read about it, hear about it, how God wants it all to be okay, how he wants to me to have the pie, have the car, enjoy the prosperity, enjoy the good health, all the riches he has in store for me, the kingdom of comfort is preached all over the show. Maybe I have bought into that. This is a kingdom that is advancing moving forward, growing, changing, growth and change aren't always comfortable. Moving forward means leaving stuff behind, thats natural, growth means stretching, change, well change, means what it says on the label.<br />
<br />
You can hide from it but it's all around us, our children force change on us, the years force change on us, our health changes us, what we eat, where we go, who we know they all change. Thats beautiful, thats life, I am not going to fight it. I'm going to embrace transience the fact that change is all around, sometimes minor sometimes minor but it is definitely unavoidable.<br />
<br />
Here's a beautiful thought, once we stop fighting it, stop trying to manage it, give in to the the wind of the spirit allow him to blow us, embrace change, go with it move with the kingdom; forwards, we find comfort and riches that we never imagined.<br />
<br />
My life has been enriched beyond belief since I opted for discomfort, I have found comfort like never before as I have embraced change and movement. Weird how I have moments where I lose sight of that.<br />
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We were not meant to be comfortable.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17458726.post-43884695189254872722012-05-18T07:26:00.000+02:002012-05-18T07:26:19.881+02:00Making People Safe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday we where out on the streets until 3 in the morning. Two of our girls were walking the streets when they bumped into a soldier who had been on leave from Afghanistan for just 3 days. He was unwinding and had a fair bit to drink.<br />
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He was pretty uninhibited and clumsy walking into stuff and generally stumbling about, he walked down to the port and nearly fell into the sea. In fact as he walked off a prostitute grabbed him and told him to wait for our two girls.<br />
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When they eventually got him calm and sat down he couldn't remember his hotel, which can always prove to be a bit of a nightmare! Poppy and I then went to help them, we do this tag teaming because it can get wearing for the original people just to sit there for over an hour going "where's your hotel mate?" over and over.<br />
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Eventually the police showed up and we had a detective moment, we got his camera out of his pocket and checked his photos and one of the police recognised the bar where he was staying. By this time he had woken up and sobered up especially with the police about. They offered to take him to the hotel in their car but he nervously refused! So we walked him back. It ended well, a little hug which was slightly messy as he had puke down his front, and then he trundled off to his room.<br />
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he could have drowned, he could have got robbed, he could have stepped out into traffic, but in the end, with the help of a prostitute, the police and ourselves we all got him to safety.<br />
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Thats what it is all about, making people safe.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215877954470519727noreply@blogger.com0