the journey of one ginga ninja

Preaching and Worship

2009-11-25T15:08:00.003Z

We all know and believe that worship is a lifestyle not just singing songs - at least I hope we do! This morning we talked about where in the worship service should the preaching of the word fit in? Some traditions represented have the sermon in the middle of the service as its central. Some services have the sermon at the end of the service. I have tried, in the past with Mannafest, to have the sermon at the start. After all, that is when you expect peoples attention to be at its highest. They haven't had to sit through the announcements, the offering, the childrens talk, the hymn and prayer sandwiches....

But what does the Bible teach? And what it the theology behind the placement of the sermon. Ian took us to Exodus ch.3. Here we see God initiating Moses to come and worship. There is then self revelation from God. Then Moses responds to God.

So we could say that God's word comes before a response time which could include prayer, singing and/or communion.

Going back to Mannafest, the best times of response where in response to God's word. I felt anyway, that young people sang more and engaged more in prayer after the talk. Now to go straight into the sermon might not be the best practise. We did have a time of praise songs, or a time to prepare the heart.

I felt frustrated sometimes that after hearing a sermon on Sunday morning, the benediction was said and everyone ran out, leaving no time for response or reflection.

I think this throws open a bigger question - what is the purpose of corporate worship?

Castlewellan PS SU

2009-11-24T14:47:00.004Z

Haven't been in this school for a couple of years, but its always a great drive down, seeing the Mourne Mountains and all. Katrina came with me, just to make sure I was working, no I actually asked her to come help as they are a lively bunch down here!

A couple of things to note. I have developed some lessons with Compassion UK, exploring the idea of giving thanks and sharing, the problem with money in the world and how to make a difference in the world. We gave out some sweets to show the distribution of wealth to particular countries. 12 kids, 12 countries, 12 gold coins. Enough for one each, but obviously to make a point some countries got more than one and some countries got none. At the end of this activity I asked those who had to share with those who had none. Some snatched, some begged, some huffed, but in the end there was 1 person with no gold coin! And could we find the lost coin...I thought I was going to have to use one of Jesus' parables. We eventually found that one boy had 2 gold coins, 1 hidden in his pocket! Even with something so simple as a chocolate coin, some people don't want to share with those who have nothing.

Secondly, before I closed in prayer, I left it open for any of the children who wanted to pray at the end, and one girl did. I love hearing kids pray. Such honesty and openness

Preaching the Parables

2009-11-19T12:14:00.000Z

We had an interesting discussion based around what we thought was the purpose of the parables. Where the designed to keep people out of heaven? Think about it - after dismissing this question allow it to provoke thought! I didn't ask it - it was Cameron!

William suggested that the Parables are like jokes - they are based around people, they have a twist in the middle and they finish with a punchline!

The Parables of Jesus were meant to shock and they were meant to reveal the mystery of God. Do the Parables teach doctrine and theology?

We looked at how Augustine interpretted the Parable fo the Good Samaritan - very interesting!

The man who was going to Jerusalem = Adam
Jerusalem = heavenly city of peace, from which Adam fell
Jericho = the moon (:p)
robbers = demons
sstripped him = of his immortality
beat him = by persuading him to sin
leaving him half dead = as a man lives, but he died spiritually
the priest and Levite = the priesthood and ministry of OT
the Samaritan = Jesus
bandaged his wounds = binding the restraint of sin
oil = comfort of good hope
wine = exhortation to work with a fervent spirit
donkey = the flesh of Christ's inccarnation
inn = the Church
the next day = after the Resurrection
2 silver coins = promise of life and the life to come
innkeeper = Paul!

I guess you can take things too literal and hear we see the dangers of using the Parables as allegorical!

Sweet and Sour

2009-11-19T12:04:00.000Z

It was my time to preach at BBC. It was an interesting experience. I really enjoyed preparing something that I haven't delivered before. I wanted to take what I had learned and put it into practise. On the other hand, you are being assessed and that was like being on teaching practise again. You are always aware of the tutors writing (or not writing!) comments down at the back of class.

Anyway here's what I shared....

Sweet and Sour – an introduction to Ezekiel

If you ever have a Chinese, there is so much choice in what you can have. I am always drawn to ‘Sweet and Sour’. It’s an interesting mix. It’s a balanced combination.

I think as preachers our message has to be like SWEET and SOUR. We always have to balance out God’s grace with God’s judgement. Some preachers can focus too much on God’s grace – the SWEET, and forget about God’s judgement – the SOUR. I think if we are to proclaim the good news in its entirety we got to first address the bad news. I remember one gospel tract saying that the good news is so good cos the bad news is so bad!

Today I want to look at a book and a character who as a messenger has a SWEET and SOUR message.

The book of Ezekiel is split into 3 parts
1. ch4-24 – Judah’s judgment
2. ch25-32 – the heathen nations judgment
3. ch33-48 – the future blessings for God’s covenant people

The character of Ezekiel is an interesting one. The author, whose name means “GOD STRENGHTENS” is identified as “Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi” (1v3). Ezekiel was probably around 30 years old when these events are recorded. As Numbers 4 makes clear, the ages of 30 and 50 mark the span of the active service of the priests.

There are so many comparisons between Ezekiel and Christ. Both, it seemed, started their public ministry at the age of 30. The title “SON OF MAN” occurs some 90 times in Ezekiel. While the title is applied to Ezekiel himself, it was used by Jesus as well. In ch2v2, Ezekiel was taken up in the Spirit, just as we read in Matthew 4v1, how Jesus was taken by the Spirit into the wilderness after his baptism.

Although we shall hopefully learn form Ezekiel’s character it is his openness to God’s Spirit that we should try to emulate.

Ezekiel as a messenger can teach us as preachers key lessons. The passage we have read (2v1-3v16) has been entitled Ezekiels call and commission. (New Living Translation)

Ch2 v1 says “Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you”

The position is important to note. When Jesus sat down (Matthew 5v1)we understand that sitting down was a position of a rabbi and of authority. To stand then would signal a position of readiness and willingness in serving a master. As preachers we need to be in a position of readiness empowered by God’s Spirit.

Ch2v5 says, “And whether they listen or refuse to listen…”

Here we read of Ezekiel’s need to be FAITHFUL. God told him that he must give the message whether they listen or not. As a preacher it is hard enough to know that people are not listening to you during your sermon, but to know that they will not listen to you before you start would take tremendous faithfulness on the part of the messenger. As preachers we need to be FAITHFUL to God and God’s word.

Ch2 v6 says “Son of man, do not fear them or their words.”

As preachers we can focus our attention son pleasing people or pleasing God. We can fear what people will think or fear what God will think of us. Above all we should have COURAGE in who God is and what God is saying through us.

Ch 2v8 says, “Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.”

This is almost like a bush tucker trial on I’m a Celebrity get me out of here! You have no idea what you are going to eat. But in ch3v2 we read, “So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll.” As Ezekiel was obedient to God so we as preachers should be OBEDIENT to God.

I would like to go a bit deeper and focus on the word ‘SCROLL’. We will look at the word SCROLL in this passage but also look elsewhere in the Bible to when SCROLLS are mentioned and see if we ca learn anything from the Bible teaching the Bible.

In ch2v10 Ezekiel comments that the scroll (which was SWEET) was covered on both sides with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of (which is SOUR). Apparently the reason for the scroll being covered on both sides would mean that the prophet had no room to add anything of himself to God’s message. Very often as preachers we like to add our own slant of things, but we should remember to be FAITHFUL and OBEDIENT to God. I wonder how we would respond when asked to deliver a SOUR message of funeral songs, words of sorrow and pronouncements of doom? I would much rather deliver messages of joy, hope and love.

Secondly, the scroll tasted of honey. (3v3) It was SWEET. So here we have SWEET and SOUR. In Scripture we have other references to God’s word being as SWEET as honey. Psalm 19v10 and Psalms 119v103.

In Jewish tradition when children where learning to memorise the TORAH, apparently they were given a taste of honey. So I want us now to taste some honey and let our senses reveal to us the sweetness of the word of God.

As preachers we need to have the taste and desire for God’s word. I’m reminded of some songs we sing in Church:
“Your name is like honey on my lips…”
“How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believers ear…”

If we approach the Scriptures as bees, as children or even as Whinny the Pooh does with honey it will show in our delivery and sermons. When we present the sweetness of God’s word to people, hopefully they should leave with a desire and taste in their mouths and their lives for more. One of the reasons, I believe, we preach is to motive and encourage and challenge people to go home and get into God’s word for themselves.
This brings me to my main point. In ch3 v10 we read, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. Then go….”

As preachers we should be letting God’s word sink deep into our own hearts FIRST! The key word here is FIRST. Henry Blakeby says that God is more interested in the work he does in and than the work he does through us. But the more work God does in us, the more God will work through us.”

As preachers we cannot neglect our personal devotion to God. If we neglect the spiritual disciplines of meditating and memorisation we will not only suffer ourselves but our congregations will suffer. This is a SOUR and bitter reality. Normally in Christian Ministry the first area to be neglected is personal study and devotions. Here we see very clearly that God wants us to listen to Him for ourselves and then go on others.

The good news is that Almighty God actually wants to speak to little old us. That is SWEET!

The word SCROLL is mentioned between 35 and 65 times in the Bible depending on your translation. Mostly we find the word SCROLL in the books of Jeremiah and Revelations.

Revelation 10v10 says “So I took the small scroll and I ate it. It was SWEET in my mouth but when I swallowed it, it turned SOUR in my stomach.”

I believe the gospel is SWEET and SOUR. It is a balanced message which is full of contrasting imagery. Light and dark. Life and death. Sweet and sour.

As preachers we would do well to learn from Ezekiel’s example. We are to be READY to receive God’s word for ourselves and then READY to go and take that message to whoever God chooses. We are to be FAITHFUL in presenting God’s message whether people listen or accept it or not. We are to be COURAGEOUS in or delivery and not fear peoples angry looks or ridicule. And lastly we are to be OBEDIENT to God when God asks us to do something.

We finish with ch3v14-15. Ezekiel having tasted the sweetness of the scroll left with bitterness and sourness and ended up sitting among the exiles for 7 days.

Very often the sweetness of being in the pulpit can turn sour when we come down away from the crowds, the stage and the lights. I believe we can deal with this if we remember to let all God’s words sink deep into our own heart first and to listen to Gods words carefully for ourselves.

Comber PS SU

2009-11-13T17:56:00.000Z

This was my first time in this school - and it will probably be my last!

We met with a great group of 34 kids, but I had technical problems with the powerpoint. What is it with computers? Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but with computers, projectors and anything to do with sound....

Anyway it got sorted, and thanks to Laura keeping them occupied by playing games with the kids, we were able to talk about the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. I've been listening to these talks from Open Door and it was good to make them applicable for young people. I used 'Finding Nemo' as a modern day parable to teach these kids about God's love for them.

I felt strongly that these young people need to know that as they get older and grow up, that they remember how much God loves them like a good shepherd and a crazy woman! Love that picture of God - as a crazy woman....

Pastoral Care preaching

2009-11-11T14:48:00.003Z

This was a very interesting morning. We looked at being human, and how as a preacher which should try to remain human. Some preachers change their voice, others change their whole personna. We were encouraged to try and be ourselves with a little polishing needed in delivery by clearer diction. Ian talked about how preaching as a vocation can dehumanise you. While the preacher is stuck in the office preparing a sermon, the rest of the world are slogging their guts out trying to make ends meet.

Another point made was, if you detach preachers form pastoral ministry, they are in danger of not knowing people. Being with people is never wasting time. Which is interesting, as I always thought the dream job would be to be a teaching pastor of a Church, and hacve no other involvement in Chruch affairs. I have always thought each person should do one thing and do it well. So expecting a pastor or minister to be a person with many talents, would not only be unfair but unrealistic.

A quote was read from Graham Johnstons book 'Preaching to a postmodern world', that "we don't preach the Bible but we preach the Bible to people. And we don't teach the Bible, but we teach people the Bible."

So a really obvious but challenging question I found myself asking was, I may love preaching but do I love people?

We also looked at John 3v8 inthe context of preaching. We hear a sermon but the Holy Spirit can take it to many different places and people. There is a mystery in preaching that we cannot predict. There are things that are unseen, like the wind, but we see reactions to the wind(spirit).

BSG

2009-11-09T12:15:00.003Z

On Friday night we had the extreme pleasure of having Dave and Bonnie Johnson at our Bible Study Group. We normally meet on a Monday evening, but in order to accomodate the Johnson's schedule we readily and happily agreed to the change.

After going thru 'Simplicity, love and justice' last year, we wanted to get into the Bible a bit more. I suggested Dave Johnson, as I know no one better at teaching God's word (apart from God himself - or Ray!) So the group listened to Dave and thoroughly agreed. Whats great about the message every week is that is comes along with a message tool which you sign up for at their website and they send you out a set of questions and discussions as well as the occasional movie recommendation. Check out website. I had suggested to the group that I would email the Johnsons since they were coming over to Belfast in November. They thought I was joking but if you don't ask, you don't get!

Friday night was one of those surreal moments. We were all just sitting round chatting and laughing with the Johnsons. Dave is the same guy he is behind the pulpit which says a lot about him. He says himself he is goofy, and he is so animated and passionate. It was so relaxed and normal in a way but also a dream come true - to actually sit done and listen to someone you really respect and idolise in a non blasphemy type way.....

We also got to hear Bonnie's story and slant on things which was great. Behind every good man is a great woman! They even gave us some advice on marriage, which Katrina asked for!

What is preaching for?

2009-11-04T14:15:00.002Z

It was good to be back in college this morning. There is such a diverse group of people. I was sitting beside Maurice from Kenya, Tania from Brazil, Andy from Scotland, Cameron from England, Andrew from Belfast and a cow (who still remains nameless and is actually a cow not some ugly girl!)

This question is a good one to ask. YFCNI staff, yesterday, listened to a sermon by Jim Cymbala entitled "My house shall be called a house of prayer" - not a house of preaching or a house of music but a house of prayer. Who was it said, "If I could live my life over, I would preach less and pray more!"?

But preaching can be to spread the gospel, instruct, give direction, encourage and challenge. I think it has something to do with presenting Jesus to people. I think we need to glorify God in our preaching, by lifting up the name of Jesus, so that all will be drawn to God.

I still love the analogy of preaching being like an appetiser rather than a main meal. After we preachh are people in more in love with Jesus? After we preach will people go away and get deeper into the Bible?

For some reason we mainly have 2 services on a Sunday, nowadays. I always wondered why. Well apparently, the historical background shows that the gentry went to Church on Sunday morning and then the servants would go to Church on a Sunday evening. Some people still feel the Church should be taught in Sunday morning and the gospel should be preached on a Sunday evening.

The problem still remains that Sunday is normally the busiest day in the week for attending services, which raises the question about Sabbath rest. But back to the original question!

In Matthew 28 Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel..." (preach to unbelievers)"...and teach them to obey..."(teach the believers).

Ian Dickson encouraged us to think about preaching being revolutionary. The best preaching should be disturbing. Jesus disturbed people by his revolutionary language and behaviour. When crafting a sermon, remember terms like revolutionary, beauty and gentle wildness!

Ian concluded with 4 points, that the preacher is spiritual, or should be a person under development. This spiritual person has a spiritual book, the Bible. We need the Spirit working in and thru us to bring ultimate interpretation of the Bible. We can use illustrations to bring light, but we need the spirit to bring life to what we are saying. And lastly the preaching event is unsafe, because we are open to a spiritual world.

18 months

2009-10-22T23:20:00.000+01:00

Every month we have a date night on the 22nd, since we got married on the 22nd April 2008. This month was extra special as we where in Lake Garda. Lake Garda is beautiful! Just like my wife...

What is Christian Ministry?

2009-10-15T16:06:00.002+01:00

It is determined by God's own ministry
- which is revelation and reconciliation

Jesus came to do the ministry of the Father

- which is seen in servanthood, obedience and compassion

So every act of ministry should reveal something about God

St John's Crumlin

2009-10-12T14:13:00.000+01:00

Got to speak in this lovely little church on Sunday night. I was given the text Matthew 16 v24"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

I struggled all week with this text. What does it mean? I have heard talks on this about sacrifice, denying yourself, fasting and the like but it didn't sit well with me.

What was Jesus saying here? Was he being literal or was he trying to teach something?

My mind went to Luke 18 v18-30 when Jesus has an encounter with the Rich Young Ruler. When Jesus said "sell everything you have..then coem follow me." did he actually mean it literally or was he trying to teach something different?

In the passage before (Luke 18 v15-17) Jesus says, "Anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." So Jesus was saying you got to live a dependant lifestyle rather than an independant lifestyle.

I believe that if the RYR had gone away, sold everything and come back to Jesus, Jesus would have sent him away again, to do something else, until the RYR would give up and say 'I can't do it Jesus, I give up, I need you.'

So getting back to Matthew 16, was Jesus giving this formula in order to make people realise that they couldn't deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow him? Was Jesus trying to produce brokeness and dependancy? Or does Jesus actually want us to deny ourselves?

Then I read the whole chapter, looking for some context and notices how Peter was a main character in the chapter. In verse 17 Jesus blessed Peter. In verse 23 Jesus rebuked Peter. So was verse 24 about Peter? Was Jesus predicting what Peter would do? Was Jesus stating what he would do at the cross?

So with these questions I wanted to take the words of the verse and explore them. Denying yourself - well Jesu spredicted that Peter would deny him in John 13 v36-38. Peter denied Christ in John 18 v15-18, 25-27.

In John 21 we have Jesus asking Peter to "follow me". I believe Jesus wants us to follow him, even when we mess up and even on the good days.

Methody CU weekend

2009-10-12T14:05:00.000+01:00

This was me with the soldier, athlete and farmer. The athlete is Christine Murphy, who is now in Upper Sixth, and whom I have known since she was 4! Christine stills refers to me as "OSCAR", a character I played in a daily drama in Newtownbreda CSSM. Good memories but boy does that make me feel like I'm getting to old for this!

I've been trying to develop the DOC talk and turn it into a weekend. Its really interesting speaking to another group of young people on what they think a Christian is. Young peoples thoughts and beliefs have definately changed over the years. Seems to be more liberal in a way. The most interesting discussion was around the whole idea of 'clubbing'.

I had a great time with this bunch and as a Wellington College boy, they got me a tshirt stating "STEVIEP LOVES MCB" - delightful!

John the Baptist

2009-10-08T13:51:00.000+01:00

This should be the motto of every preacher.

Some other comments I heard today which stuck with me:
- "Be yourself sanctified!"
- Have confidence in what God has given you to say

When we come to a text or are given a text to preach we should:
- unfold the text
- teach the text
- return to the text
- look out for words that integrate

This can be best seen in John 6v31. Jesus takes a quotation from the OT,"He gave them bread from heaven to eat", and begins to unpack and teach it.

"He gave them" - found in verse 32-33
"bread" - found in verse 35, 40
"from heaven" - found in verse 38
"to eat" - found in verse 53

Also in verse 41 Jesus said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven"

So when you get a text you should look out for the words use and try to use the Bible to teach the Bible. I know this is a bit cryptic but its fascinating!

The older brother

2009-10-05T11:26:00.003+01:00

Last week I was at Global Leadership Summit in Bangor Elim. Some great sessions, teachers, communicators, passion, advice, wisdom and insights. I love being in that environment where you can hear and listen and process and spunge.

One session that stands out with Tim Keller speaking on 'Leading people to the Prodigal God.' Now I've heard talks on the Prodigal Son before - loads of talks. Years ago I heard Dave Johnson speak on the older brother and it blew my mind. Tim Keller added to the insight by asking these questions:

"How do you handle criticism?" and "What should we do in response?"

Our reaction to criticism will be based upon what brother we are. He encourages the older brother to get a new level of repentance which will in turn get us to a new level of joy. The older brother is to look at the things we do right and repent for our right doing. The thing that separates us from God is not sin but good deeds.

Now my wife rightly pointed out that if ur doing so called good deeds with wrong motives, they aren't good! Anyway will try and get my hands on this book and read more about it

Matthew 9 v35-38

2009-10-04T21:43:00.000+01:00

I spoke on this passage at Orangefield Presbyterian today and you can download it here

Exodus 24

2009-09-30T14:59:00.003+01:00

So today I learnt about 3 types of preaching mentioned in the Exodus 24 - speaking, writing and reading.

(v3)Preaching is about speaking the words of God, given by God in a private place. We come from the presence of God and go into the presence of people (and God's presence is always with us!).

(v4)Moses then wrote down everthing that God said. One method to practise is to preach first, then write it down afterwards. Normally we write our talk before hand(don't we? yeah right!!), but actually no joke, I spoke at 1st Bangor BB last Friday night and did come home and write my talk out again. I have been chatting to McCready about this a lot recently, in that we should write out our talks before hand, just to make sure we give of our best and properly prepare. Clarity of thought happens when you write something down.

Ian Dickson(BBC) then asked "What is preaching? Is it for the moment?

So should we record sermons(on paper/online/audio/visual)?
Repeat sermons?
Are sermons an art form?
Can we craft a sermon over a period of time?
Does God have a specific word for a specific group?
Can we give the same message but change the application(for different groups)?

The third area(in v7)was how we can use reading God's word in preaching. We should not neglect the public reading of scripture as it promises to not return void(Isaiah 55v11) - thogh from experience i have learnt to never read out John 4 as it is too long and can ruin the whole service(just for you Andre!)

Jeremiah Lanphier

2009-09-29T16:46:00.003+01:00

Read this story after listening to John Piper preach on Matthew 9 v35-38. Listen to it or download it here!

Jeremiah Lanphier's Example
I will close with a record of something God did 130 years ago in New York City. It illustrates how God has started every harvest time in history through the concerted prayer of his people. Toward the middle of the last century the glow of earlier religious awakenings had faded. America was prosperous and felt little need to call on God. But in the 1850s . . .

Secular and religious conditions combined to bring about a crash. The third great panic in American history swept the giddy structure of speculative wealth away. Thousands of merchants were forced to the wall as banks failed and railroads went into bankruptcy. Factories were shut down and vast numbers thrown out of employment. New York City alone having 30,000 idle men. In October 1857, the hearts of people were thoroughly weaned from speculation and uncertain gain, while hunger and despair stared them in the face.

On July 1, 1857, a quiet and zealous businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier took up an appointment as a City Missionary in down-town New York. Lanphier was appointed by the North Church of the Dutch Reformed denomination. This church was suffering from depletion of membership due to the removal of the population from the down-town to the better residential quarters, and the new City Missionary was engaged to make diligent visitation in the immediate neighborhood with a view to enlisting church attendance among the floating population of the lower city. The Dutch Consistory felt that it had appointed an ideal layman for the task in hand, and so it was.

Burdened so by the need, Jeremiah Lanphier decided to invite others to join him in a noonday prayer-meeting, to be held on Wednesdays once a week. He therefore distributed a handbill:

HOW OFTEN SHALL I PRAY?

As often as the language of prayer is in my heart; as often as I see my need of help; as often as I feel the power of temptation; as often as I am made sensible of any spiritual declension or feel the aggression of a worldly spirit.

In prayer we leave the business of time for that of eternity, and intercourse with men for intercourse with God.

A day Prayer Meeting is held every Wednesday, from 12 to 1 o'clock, in the Consistory building in the rear of the North Dutch Church, corner of Fulton and William Streets (entrance from Fulton and Ann Streets).

This meeting is intended to give merchants, mechanics, clerks, strangers, and business men generally an opportunity to stop and call upon God amid the perplexities incident to their respective avocations. It will continue for one hour; but it is also designed for those who may find it inconvenient to remain more than five or ten minutes, as well as for those who can spare the whole hour.

Accordingly at twelve noon, September 23, 1857, the door was opened and the faithful Lanphier took his seat to await the response to his invitation. Five minutes went by. No one appeared. The missionary paced the room in a conflict of fear and faith. Ten minutes elapsed. Still no one came. Fifteen minutes passed. Lanphier was yet alone. Twenty minutes; twenty-five; thirty; and then at 12.30 p.m., a step was heard on the stairs, and the first person appeared, then another, and another, and another, until six people were present, and the prayer meeting began. On the following Wednesday, October 7th, there were forty intercessors.

Thus, in the first week of October 1857, it was decided to hold a meeting daily instead of weekly.

Within six months, ten thousand business men were gathering daily for prayer in New York, and within two years, a million converts were added to the American churches.

Undoubtedly the greatest revival in New York's colorful history was sweeping the city, and it was of such an order to make the whole nation curious. There was no fanaticism, no hysteria, simply an incredible movement of the people to pray.

Is there a Jeremiah Lanphier among you?

The Biblical Theology of Preaching

2009-09-23T14:42:00.000+01:00

So just started to go to BBC one morning a week to look at Contemporary preaching. Its a small class and there is lots of interaction and discussion, which I love. Really looking forward to this opportunity of reading and going a bit deeper. DC has joined me too which means a good laugh! Wanted to get back into blogging as a way of recording my thoughts on this expereince.

John Stott says," Technique can only make us orators; if we want to be preachers, theology is what we need."

Some questions that arise:
What are we doing when we preach?
What is God doing when we preach?
To whom are we preaching?

Some more thoughts

2009-04-24T14:47:00.002+01:00

Discipleship is probably the most misunderstood word in the church today. Here's a simple definition: discipleship is 'people leading each other to maturity in Christ'.

Today's evangelical church has dicarded the discipleship model in favour of an academic model. Instead of discipling people, we teach them. We put people in classrooms and present them with Bible knowledge. We offer them a weekly lecture(sermon) from an educated person...that is why a man who has sat in church for 30 years without much life change will be suddenly transformed after going on a mission trip. men are changed by what they experience, not necessarily by what they are told.

At the conclusion of Matthew's gospel, Jesus gave his followers 3 responsibilities:

1. make disciples
2. baptize them
3. teach them

we have reversed this process. We teach a lot of people, baptize some, but produce very few genuine disciples.

page 33-35 Why men hate going to Church

Adjusting the thermostat

2009-03-30T16:43:00.003+01:00

Chapter 5 of 'Why men hate going to Church' page 29

Every Church has a spiritual thermostat. Where it is set will determine whether that church attracts or repels men. Here are 6 common settings found in today's congregations:

Confrontation
Challenge
Comfort
Conformity
Control
Ceremony

The 3 settings atop the thermostat represent the methods of Jesus. Christ confronted the religious, and He comforted the needy. But he challenged everyone else...Jesus hated the bottom 3 settings - and so do men!

What you think?

Tithing

2009-03-30T16:12:00.003+01:00

We are trying to resist getting Sky +, even thought it sounds so good and easy. It would probably work out at an extra £40 a month. But not only for financial reasons are we resisting, we also want to make a statement.

Romans 12 talksabout not conforming to the standards of this world, and it got me thinking about what are the standards of this world and what ways do we conform?

This might come across as judgemental but hopefully it will get some response!

So the early church was characterised by having everything in common(Acts 2v44) and the children of Israel were told that their should be no poor among them (Deuteronomy 15v4). What does this mean for us today? How does this challenge us in how we live our lives? Most people are concerned with church attendance and daily devotions but what really matters?

If I look at my life it looks like this:

Mortgage
Car payments
Mobile phone monthly contract
Gym membership
Season ticket for Norn Iron

I wanted to determine what I need and what I want. I would also like to have an Iphone a Mac laptop and have Sky Plus, but how much more would that cost me a month?

And looking at most of my mates(and lets hope they stay friends with me!) they have most of this list as well. I wonder how many of us tithe? And should all our tithe go directly to our local Church? How much money should go to helping the poor? Is this extra than our 10%?

I was always told to put aside money for the Church and for the poor first - before all my monthly bills, as if I leave it to the end I'll probably have no money left!

So now I sit and think should I get Sky Plus or should I sponsor a child? If I do sponsor a child am I just doing this to easy my conscience? Are my motives right?

Romania Team

2009-03-03T10:00:00.003Z

Back row from l to r: Richard, Ryan, Richard, William and me
Middle row: Katie, Una, Danielle
Sitting down: Danielle, Katrina, Anne

So this is the full team heading away with HABITAT to Romania at the end of June. We need to raise £1000 each and decided last night, apparently, that we will be doing abseils and even the fun run in May. I hate running, unless I have a football at my feet!

Toilet reading

2009-02-27T15:12:00.002Z

So I have been meaning to blog about this book for ages. This is my toilet book at the minute, not because its cra or anything, just like to have a book sitting on the toilet so I have something to do...

Anyway its one of those books that you disagree with a lot, it has so many generalisations but it has some fair comments as well.

One thing it talks about is comparing attendance at the sunday service to the type of movie you like to go to watch. Women, in general like romantic, happy ending movies. Men, in general like action movies. Apparently the sunday service has become like a chick flick movie - which I thought was hilarious! But thinking about it, theres all this talk about intimacy and relationship, we expect people to behave and listen and know when to stand and when to sit. No wonder, the writer continues, no men what to go to sunday service!

On one hand, yes the Christian faith is all about relationships (loving God and loving others) but even the word 'love' and the term 'personal relationship' aint a manly concept!

Looking at the life of Jesus, was He more about adventure and risk? Denying yourself, picking up your cross and following Him. And will there be a nice ending, where everyone lives happily ever after.....

First Aid

2009-02-20T18:25:00.001Z

Having to give CPR to little Anne wasn't the best way to spend an afternoon, but then I thought..."imagine having to do this for real"

You never know how you're going to respond until you are actually in the situation, but I just pray that if I ever am, I'll be able to help.

From l to r back row: James "loveboat" McAlister, Kim Cousins, Alan "scousescum"Cowan, Robyn, The Stitler, Jonny
From l to r front row: Laura Magee, Jamie Plant, Miriam "on the piste" McAlister, and me

Stories of Jesus

2008-12-18T12:15:00.004Z

So we can take good things out of Christmas, and last week at the Ballysillan Board meeting Carrie asked us to think of stories of Jesus that we love.

The first one that came to my mind was when Jesus turned the tables upside down in the temple! Awesome!

You can find the story in Mark 11 v15-19

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written:
" 'My house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

When evening came, they went out of the city.

Its not about turning the tables over that I love, just the fact that Jesus said "You got it all wrong!" We get so comfortable in our traditions and routines, that worshipping God becomes a ritual, even a business, and its wrong. If anything gets in the place of others meeting with God should wedisgard it, turn it upside down? Jesus might have woken some of the people up, when he turned the tables. Did Jesus disturbed the peace and tranquility of the temple? Again in Church, is there any life or emotion?

Christmas

2008-12-17T14:50:00.003Z

I used to be of the opinion that if you take CHRIST out of CHRISTMAS you are left with M-A-S, Minus A Saviour.

I used to say Jesus is the reason for the season!

I have seen a couple of groups started wanting to save Christmas as a Christian festival.

I have also come across people who want to take Christ out of Christmas.

I say let them! Let people change the name and call it winterfest or whatever they come out with.

I say its about time we Jesus followers take a stand and speak out about this pagan commercialised holiday. What is Christian about it? Some good morals or sharing, giving and receiving but thats about it.

Not to be a scrooge but there are so many people who get into debt during this time of year. Kids have become like spoilt little brats who want more, more, more!

And Jesus was probably born in spring, when the shepherds were out in the field so lets celebrate it then and let the heathens do what they want in december! I said this to someone whose response was "But then we cant celebrate Easter if Christmas is in the spring as well!".....DOh!

I'm not going to sin this week!

2008-12-08T14:34:00.002Z

So I was speaking last night at Christ Church YF and the topic was on being 'Sold Out for God'.

I was reading thru 1 John last week and was focussing my talk on 1 John 2 v9-11.

But while reading thru 1 John I came across some interesting verses. The type that make you rub your eyes, and go 'how did I miss that before??'. The verses that o one really talks about or even dismiss them as being taken out of context.

So 1 John 2 v1 says "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."

So John is writing to these Churches, (probably in the region of Ephesus?)inorder that they might not sin! And if they do sin....

Is this crazy thinking? Can followers of Christ live without sinning? Is it possible? The problem might be that we don't think we could do it. And we are right - we can't, but with God's help thru the Holy Spirit. I think we get it easy being Christians. While other world faiths have a call to prayer 5 times a day, fast for a month, memorise scripture, we get off with reading a thought for the day, goig to church once a week and thats only if we are the holy ones! We fall into sin becasue of our lazy, greedy, self indulgent lifestyle.

John continues in verse 6, "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

If Jesus needed to get up early and go spend time with God, then how much more do we need to? And who ever said it was an option to ready your Bible and pray everyday? We mst walk as Jesus did - in step with the Spirit.

So how do we not sin?

Verse 15-17 says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

Now I know that this can be an external view of sin - not dealing with issues of the heart, but we can and are effected by the external.

1 John 3 v5-6 continues, "But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him."

If we live in Him we don't keep sinning! We might want to but it is possible to live for Jesus, like Jesus be sold out completely for Jesus. Jesus deals with extremes. Light and darkness. Hot and cold. Righteousness and sin. There is no middle ground. In fact, John who wrote this letter also writes to the Church in Ephesus in Revelation 3 v16, "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

Verse 8 states, "He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work"

I hear a lot in the church of being still a sinner saved by grace. To me, we are either one or the other.

And this is the key verse that blew me away,

"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God"

So do I limit God's Spirit in my life?
Do I settle for second best?
Do I live a defeated life?

I maybe do still sin because I don't identify my problems and ask God to deal with them. But even this language is strange. I have been taught that I am still a sinner. But the Bible does not teach this. If I have been reborn of God, I am a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5 v17) I might fall back into old bad habits but I am not a sinner anymore. Thats got to be good news!

So why do I still sin?
Is there a need for confession?
Is confession more for us than it is for God?
Does God know what we are talking about when we confess our sin?
Has God not forgiven our sins?

I believe God has removed my sin (past, present and future) as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103 v12)

I believe Jesus has saved me from my sin (Matthew 1 v21)

But I continue to say things I shouldn't say, do things I shouldn't do, think things I shouldn't think, go places I shouldn't go.

Maybe I underestimate myself? I love what Rob Bell says about Jesus. Jesus believes in us.

We probably don't believe in ourselves. We probably beat ourselves up with guilt. We probably try and protect ourselves from pride. We probably don't put ourselves in a place to be transformed by God's Spirit.

So especially during this advent season, which gives us the perfect opportunity to take time out of our busy schedule to think about who God is and why Jesus came to earth, could we try and not sin?

Habitat

2008-11-20T16:14:00.003Z

So my good wife supports me so much in YFC, and I want to help and support Katrina in al she does. So here you see us taking a well earned break on site, up the shankill, doing a team leaders day. We are going to lead a team to Romania in the summer of '09. Katrina is recruting some students from UUJ. More to follow...

Focussed Leadership

2008-11-17T16:37:00.003Z

I've been watching a lot from the Willow Creek Leadership Summit DVD's and this guy has really stood out as a communicator, in terms of how he said and what he had to say.

Andy Stanley, from North Point talked about the greatest leadership decision he ever made - to cheat the Church and not his wife! He gives 2 biblical references and shed new light upon them.

The first was found in Ephesians 5 v25 "Husbands, love your wives as Christ has loved the Church".

Now I always read this as husbands having to love their wives, sacrifically, laying down their lives, not being selfish, and that could still be a correct interpretation. What Andy says is, he is to love his wife and focus his love on his wife as Christ will then in turn love the church. I'm probably not explaining this. Basically, our call or role as husbands is to love our wives (or should I say wife??) and the church comes second or third (cos God comes first!) Many people put the church before their family and that aint good, it aint even biblical. As we love our wives, Christ will love the Church.

The second verse helps, Matthew 16 v18, Jesus said "I will build my church..."

So while we are away loving our wives it allows Jesus to build his church. If we aren't loving our wives, we put ourselves in the place of Jesus, and that is probably why the church isnt being built up cos we are neglecting and disobeying the command to love our wives.

This is freeing. It doesn't mean we become lazy and careless, it just means we have priorities, so my prayer and goal is to love Katrina, as Christ has loved the Church

My Jerry Maguire moment

2008-11-11T14:25:00.000Z

The past, the present, the future….

In the past we had up to 1000 young people. 23 years ago there was no youth meeting format. It was a great time to meet young people from other churches. Mannafest was radical and way ahead of its time. It paved the way for churches to plan and style youth meetings. It was free and we had a collection – the boxes went round and people threw in their sweet wrappers and shrapnel. Mannafest would bring across big name speakers – excellent communicators, funny storytellers. It was more of an event for all people, not just young people. We would stand for a period of time and sing praise songs led by a rock style band (with drums!!), which was in direct contrast to stand-up-sit-down-prayer-hymn-sandwich. Drama was a big pull as well. We had some excellent groups over the years and it was the best of the best actors/actresses in our wee country.

We have had to adapt. We have gone through seasons of change, but there has always been a desire for the continuation of Mannafest.

I can remember sitting in Mannafest one night and not being happy at the big event. Yes we had lots of people, but those people were not engaging in an authentic way. I remember being challenged with how Jesus dealt with the crowd. He spoke to them and basically gave them a choice. He made it hard for them to continue following. A big criticism of Mannafest was that it played into the whole event-junkie-monthly-top-up-emotional-experience. So I can remember thinking we should change our efforts and focus from evangelism (shallow) to discipleship (deeper). In reflection, this could have been a bad choice. I believe we made a deliberate change in direction. Some young people and youth leaders commented that they couldn’t bring their non Christian friends along to Mannafest anymore.

We were hit big when we had to move venues due to the closing of the Ulster Hall for refurbishments. Ulster Hall is the home of Mannafest. It’s not attached to any denomination so people don’t feel like we are attaching ourselves with any particular church.

When I was asked to take over Mannafest, I believe God spoke to me from Judges 7. Here Gideon starts of with an army of 32,000 and God sifts them down to 300 committed soldiers. I sat with Steve and talked through how we wanted to make disciples – not just Christian converts who might fall away when they hit 18. I also believed it was time to rebuild and restructure for the future. I felt the speakers over the past couple of years had become Christian comedians. They weren’t teaching from the Bible and while they got a physical response from young people, it was always the same people who went up. Or even worse, the kids that had been talking the whole way through the talk went up!

I also thought we cant we develop local talent? Why do we have to bring in outsiders? I believe we can become a sending country again. Maybe Mannafest wasn’t the right platform to give younger local speakers? But I believe in these people. I love their hearts for young people and for communicating God’s word. I believe we are investing in the future. It will have long term effects, which we probably won’t see for a while.

We have also noticed that a lot of youth leaders have stopped coming. This could be because they don’t know or like the local speakers. We have noticed that a lot of youth events now happen on Friday and Sunday nights, so Saturday is their night off. Also Mannafest has been said to be a glorified youth fellowship now. Everybody is doing their own type of Mannafest. However there is something about bringing life to the city. A minister once said to me if you can capture a city, you inherit the land. There is something about meeting together in the city centre to pray for our country. Bluetree sing, “Greater things are still to be done in this city.” Mother Teresa said, “It’s not about doing great things, it’s about doing small things with greater love.” There is also a song that says, “Knowing you Jesus – there is no greater thing!”

My heart is for young people to get to know God more. We can have youth events with the best bands, the best speakers or worse speakers, lights, cameras, action but what I fear we are in danger of is having over entertained under challenged young people. I want the balance of having a professional and passionate event, with one that has values of reality, authenticity and depth. My question is – is this the job of Mannafest? Surely it is the job of the local church. I have been told discipleship can only take place in the context of the local church – but surely discipleship can and should happen anywhere and everywhere, even at a monthly event. And I don’t just want to make converts; I want to be in Jesus’ business of making disciples.

So does Mannafest have a future?

The Shack

2008-11-07T12:34:00.002Z

So I finally got to read this book while I was away over half term with my family. A cople of people were like, "You must read this book!", "You'll cry", "You'll love it!"

I did enjoy it. Rather than give a book review, I thought I'd put some quotes in which I thought was good, but before I do that it was interesting to see how authors open up now about what they are listening to while writing, and their influences - pretty cool.

I'm listening to my fan blowing air...

Also, there is a follow on, next stage, what to do after reading the book which I like. It's all on their website.

So some quotes:

"I often find that getting head issues out of the way first makes the heart stuff easier to work on later...when you're ready" (page93)

"I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature.If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman, its because I love you. For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest you call me Papa is simply to mix metaphors, to help you keep from falling so easily back ito your religious conditioning" (page 93)

"Have you noticed even though you call me Lord and King, I never really acted in that capacity with you?" (page145)

"Women, in general, will find it difficult to turn from a man and stop demanding he meets their needs, provides security, and protects their identity, and return to me. Men, in general, find it very hard to turn from the works of their hands, their own quests for power and security and significance, and return to me." (page147)

"Seriously, my life was not meant to be an example to copy. Being my follower is not trying to 'be like Jesus', it means for your independence to be killed" (page 149)

"Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again." (page 235)

Judgement

2008-10-15T15:21:00.002+01:00

I always laugh when people mention the 'credit crunch' in conversations, as a reason why things are going wrong, people aren't giving, charities are going under, blah-blah-blah...

For us in norn iron, its probably effecting daddy not buying his daughter a new mini cooper, or only being able to go on 2 or 3 holidays a year , rather than 4 or 5.

Anyway, found it interesting when I was talking to a friend last week and she said, "Well if the governments had cleared the debt during the G8 summit, we wouldn't be in this mess! You reap what you sow!" - and she wasn't a Free P...or Brethren!

Hole in one!

2008-09-18T13:46:00.002+01:00

I kid you not. Friday 12 September 2008. Blackwood "Temple" Golf Course. Hole 15. 126 yards.

How not to speak of God

2008-08-27T12:15:00.002+01:00

Reading this book by Peter Rollins at the moment, well trying too. It is extremely wordy for a book (off course you need words to have a book!), very intellectual and academic and all that. The book is written in 2 parts - theory and practise basically. The second half is a description of 10 IKON services that have taken place. It is really interesting to see (or read) how they outlined their meetings. I like the whole relaxed, informal mood and atmosphere that is described. As I sit in the normal sunday church service, it kills me how boring and irrelevant a lot of it is. As a trained teacher, I understand the importance of the classroom layout in creating a positive learning environment. If we want to learn in the church service we are going about it the wrong way (rows of seats focussed at one person). Maybe the purpose of the sunday service is just celebration?

Anyway, Katrina and I are beginning to look for a new church, and I really don't think the ideal church is out there. We both want good teaching, so that is top of the list, but should we approach this search with a list?

pg113 "...Nietzsche commented that getting drunk and getting religion were pretty much the same thing - both activities of the weak, both offering an escape from the difficulties of real life with the illusion of warmth and womb-like protection..."

Finishing well

2008-08-20T15:09:00.004+01:00

Just spoke at The Crescent Church at lunch time. They had a 10min service, so I shared some thoughts. When I was thinking last night about what to say I couldn't get the phrase 'FINISHING WELL' out of my head, so I take it as God's spirit proding me!

You might recognise one person in this photo - Billy Graham. Well this was taken in 1946 right before the boys came over to Northern Ireland to do a YFC mission. I remembered this story being told to me by JD back when I joined YFC in 2003, and it has stuck with me, almost haunted me.

The guy on the left is called Chuck Templeton. He was described as a brilliant, dynamic preacher. One seminary president called him the most gifted, talented young preacher in America. Templeton and Graham began working together in YFC.

By 1950 Templeton had left the ministry. He pursued a radio career, telling the world he no longer believed Jesus to be the son of God. Read the whole article here

I was watching this last night:

Again it probed me to think about FINISHING WELL. Lola Jones was built up as the favourite to win, and she had a great start. I'm sure she is devastated after all the preparation and sacrifice but I'm sure and hope she will come back and win some day.

When I was a lot younger and a lot lighter, I used to love to sprint the 100metres. I was good. I was fast. So was my sister, and I used to train with her at making her starts faster. The problem was I flew off at the start and slowed down. My sister started slower but got faster and faster, making her better at 200m and 400m.

Adrain Eagleson once siad to me, how you are on the sports field can reflect how we are in life. I tend to start things well, but don't finish them as good. So these 2 stories are reminders and challenges for me to finish well

DOC

2008-08-20T11:35:00.000+01:00

I was speaking at DC's youth last night down in Ballyholm. We normally talk about this to young people but last night felt more real as if I was almost warning them about the reality of falling away from God.

DOC is something McCready and Gareth Bell developed when they were in Dromore.

90% of statistics aren't true(so does that mean that even that statistic aint true??) but as I look back at my life and see or don't see the same friends round me, it is devastating. People fall away, and it is a harsh reality. Last nights talk was hard to deliver but it was needed. The reason why I am involved in youth work is to change the statistic that 80% leave when they hit 18. That's why I do Mannafest and want to go deeper. FOr years I heard people criticise Mannafest for producing christians who need a monthly fix. Now we are trying to teach deeper and we get criticised. We have been told to MAKE DISCIPLES not converts, so that is my aim, my goal, my desire

The Rapture

2008-08-13T15:56:00.003+01:00

just came across this sight listening to xxxchurch podcast.

someone has created a site called youvebeenleftbehind.com and basically it sends out emails to relatives or friends of yours 6 days after the rapture. its like your last chance to warn them. so you set up and address book and write a note. it kinda reminded me of the film P.S I love you! only it would be a lot more freaky

so do we take this serious or is this just ridiculous? intentions seem good, oh but you have to subscribe $40 to join....

LOST

2008-07-16T16:06:00.002+01:00

This year Summerserve took on the theme of LOST. Looking at the old SS tshirts I saw a lot of themes but surprisingly no Biblical texts. I always like to have some scripture in there. I was asked by the americans to come up with a welcoming letter for our projectserve friends. Reading over the old ones from Allan and Suzi I came up with the idea of 'LOST'. Everyone seems to be in on it - we are going to watch season 4 after SS! (Thanx Jonny/Andy) The tshirts look like this (thanx Jonny!)

SO here is what I wrote,

"IMAGINE BEING STRANDED ON AN ISLAND. AWAY FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WITHOUT THE STUFF THAT BRINGS YOU COMFORT. YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY EXPECTED TO LIFT YOUR EYES OFF YOURSELF AND PLAY YOUR ROLE IN THE GROUP. YOU ARE IN A MESS BUT YOU FIND YOURSELF RISING TO THE CHALLENGE AND DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. PROBABLY THE MOST TRYING TIME WILL BE GETTING ON WITH ONE ANOTHER. JUST WHEN YOU HAVE MANAGED TO SETTLE YOU FIND OUT THAT "THE OTHERS" ARE ON THE ISLAND AS WELL. HOW WILL YOU DEAL WITH THEM? WILL YOU WELCOME THEM INTO THE CAMP?

THE ISLAND IS IRELAND! ITS GREEN AND LUSH. IT RAINS EVERYDAY. WE HAVE BEACHES, MOSTLY COVERED WITH STONES. THERE ARE NO POLAR BEARS...

YOU WILL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP GIFTS THAT YOU HAVE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU WILL BE PUT INTO SITUATIONS THAT WILL MAKE YOU RELY FULLY UPON GOD TO SHOW UP. THIS IS WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WHO GOD IS

LIVING TOGETHER, WORKING TOGETHER AND PLAYING TOGETHER CAN CREATE A LOT OF FRICTION. WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ROLE DO YOU HAVE TO PLAY? ARE YOU A MAN OF SCIENCE OR A MAN OF FAITH? WHAT WILL BE EXPOSED IN YOU? WHAT IS THE WHOLE TRUTH? WHERE YOU BORN TO RUN? WHY DO ALL THE BEST COWBOYS HAVE DADDY ISSUES?

IN LUKE 15 JESUS TELLS 3 STORIES OF BEING LOST....AND FOUND. WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT GOD THRU THESE STORIES? HOW WILL IT HELP US LIVE OUR LIVES? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE THESE LESSONS TO "THE OTHERS"?

IN YOUTH FOR CHRIST WE ARE GEARED TO THE TIMES BUT ANCHORED TO THE ROCK. IF YOU ARE NOT INTO ‘LOST’ THEN I APOLOGISE FOR ALL THE REFERENCES TO THE TV SHOW. YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY FIND YOURSELF LOST READING THIS! THAT’S OK BUT WE HOPE YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE LOVE AND THE JOY OF THE FATHER DURING YOUR TIME IN IRELAND. I PRAY YOU HAVE A SAFE FLIGHT OVER JUST MAKE SURE ITS NOT OCEANIC 815…"

4 generations!

2008-07-07T15:50:00.000+01:00

Ruth, Granny, Amelie and Mum at my 31st birthday meal

My wife and my niece

2008-06-25T14:02:00.002+01:00

Katrina isn't broody....

3 generations

2008-06-25T13:54:00.001+01:00

Granny, Mother and Daughter.

Irene. Ruth. Amelie.

Granny and Granda

2008-06-25T13:44:00.002+01:00

How much joy can one person bring to a family?

Amelie Rose McKnight

2008-06-25T13:41:00.003+01:00

Born Monday 23 June 2008 at 252am, weighing 6lbs 7ounces and 49cm long!

Uncle Stevie!

YFC AGM

2008-06-04T10:46:00.003+01:00

There is a great story in Joshua 4. The children of Israel have just crossed into the Promised Land. They have crossed 2 rivers - the Red Sea and the Jordan. They have wondered about in the desert for 40 years. They had received the 10 Commandments. They had been fed with Manna falling from the heavens.

Joshua asks 12 guys to go back into the river and lift 12 stones. They were to serve as a sign among them. In the future when the kids would ask, "What do those stones mean?"

Joshua said, "These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever"(v7)

Last night I was at the most inspiring meeting EVER! Now if you know me, I can't really meet over an hour. I love interaction. I can't just sit there and listen. But last night - WOW!

Our passionate President, Mrs Evelyn Knox, spoke like William Wallace, I wanted to yell "FREEDOM!". El presidente declared "What a faithful God!"

Our National Director gave an annual report based on the 4 seasons. So many highs and so many lows, but amazing what we actually got thru last year, or should I say amazing what God brought us thru this year, or got thru with God's help....

Jude went round the staff beforehand and asked what our highlights of the year were. At first I let out a big sigh as its been tough and I feel as if I've been stuck in an office all year. BUT actually when I went thru my diary and filled in the ministry report forms, I was quite shocked.

So here are some of my 12 stones, which I want to place down, so that I can look back and declare the greatness and faithfulness of God.

Getting married to the lovely Katrina Boucher - I am so happy! This includes our wedding, honeymoon in Egypt, doing up the house, our families being together more - good times!
Hearing my sister was pregnant - I'm going to be an uncle in July! And so many of my friends are pregnant and/or have had babies this year. Jackson Charles, Charlie Thomas, Nevaeh Currie, Abbey Jackson, Reuben Robinson, Allison Buchmeyer, Josiah Cowan - still to come Peanut McCready, Kate + Andre's, Nick + Heidi's, Dave + Heather again!
Taking Mannafest deeper - I've learnt that greater things aren't necessarily bigger things. Mother Teresa said, "There are no great things, only small thing s with great love"
Getting up once a month at 6am to come down to MANNA. I'm still humbled and excited how people get up early and come to MANNA. I have loved building, growing, sharing this small group of amazing people.
Bringing XXXChurch over last year - something radical, dynamic and risky
Being on Staff Retreat and hearing Alan Wilson share about the importance of looking after the condition of my heart
Speaking at 4 weekends. I always find it such a privilege to come into a group and speak into their lives, challenge them, inspire them. So thanx to Shore Street Presby (DJ's group), First Ballynahinch, Wallace High CU and Ballyholm Parish
Being involved in Celebration of Hope. It was great to build bridges and new friendships with John, Jasper, Michael and Denise
Ignite the Flame was an amazing event of churches coming together and organisations working together. SO proud of Mannafest volunteers who helped make this event happen
This year I have actually spoke more in Churches than in schools and I love it and pray for more opportunities
On the sporting front it has been a great year - going to the Norn Iron matches with Neil and nearly qualifying for Euro 2008 - the nights at Windsor have been immense. GAWA! Also been playing a little more golf this year, starting up our golf society with the McCready bros, Charlie, Nicky but I think I've found my course over in Bangor. I had had some great rounds at the par 3 with Alan Cowan
How could I not mention the Double for Manchester United. Winning the league in the way that we played was an achievement in itself but I will never forget the night at our house with both our families over watching the drama unfold in Moscow. All I can say to John Terry is that 'It couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke -except maybe Cashley Cole!" Great for my hero, Ryan Giggs to get the winner against Wigan and score the decisive penalty. Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs running down the wing....

Messy Spirituality

2008-06-02T13:41:00.004+01:00

So this is the book I currently read while visiting the toilet in work! Its always good to have a book. Some really good points to consider:

What keeps many of us from growing is not sin, but speed
Sin does not always drive us to drink; more often it drives us to exhaustion. Tiredness is equally as debilitating as drunkness
the problem with growth in the local church is not the slowness but the rushing of growth
How would our understanding of the spiritual life be altered if we used these words: resting, listening, waiting, startign, returning, savouring, celebrating, dancing, learning, growing rather than good, bad, positive, negative, high, low?

Friday 20 June

2008-05-28T15:45:00.002+01:00

Instead of having a formal we thought we would do something different! All money raised goes to the great work in the Bluehouses. It will be different! Leave me a comment if you want a golden ticket!

Awake

2008-05-27T14:27:00.002+01:00

One of the best Bible teacher's I have ever heard is Dave Johnson. He is Senior Pastor of Church of the Open Door (check out website and sign up for podcast here)

On Sunday morning Dave spoke in Newtownbreda Baptist. He is over for 2 weeks. What gets me is the way he opens the Bible and talks about what it says. If got me thinking though about the responsibility of the hearer.

I arrived early to church. I had a note book and pen. I was genuinely excited to hear what Dave had to say. On a normal Sunday morning, I arrive late (if at all), I feel guilty if I don't go and would go just to show my face to show I am still alive. How I prepare myself is so important to receiving the word.

What was intersting in Jesus' day, the rabbi's or teachers sat down. The hearers stood up. They were active learners. Now the roles have been reversed. The hearers come to be entertained and demand to be fed. We are lazy. The speaker does a song and dance routine, trying to keep the attention of the hearers.

So anyway back to Dave's talk. He spoke from Matthew 9 were the young girl was raised from the dead. Everyone thought she was dead, but Jesus siad she was asleep.

Dave explored the concepts of neing awake and asleep, being dead and alive. He challenged us if we were asleep/dead and awake/alove in certain areas of our lives. He went on to say that we talk about eternal life as something we have or something that happens to us after we die. Dave doesn't use the term eternal life anymore but 'an eternal kind of life'. Life in the kingdom is now, not just life after death.

So not focussing of whether I am saved or not, what areas in my life am I asleep/dead?

What areas in my life am I awake/alive?

Live the dream

2008-05-21T16:07:00.002+01:00

please sponsr my wife!

Katrina is doing an abseil of the Europa on Saturday. I was thinking of maybe sponsoring her not to do it, but she is a dare devil and an adrenlin junkie, so I just have to support her!

u can donate on line here - thanx

The beautiful Bride arrives

2008-05-20T16:04:00.002+01:00

SO here is the late Katrina Boucher...who was in fact early!

All I can say is stunner!

I feel so blessed to have Katrina in my life now. She gets me. She knows how to handle me. She laughs at me and she builds me up. Katrina has taught me to let things go and most importantly to not cast things up. She is so forgiving and kind - she needs to be married to me!

So may I present to you the new Mrs Patterson...

Great is thy faithfulness

2008-05-20T16:00:00.003+01:00

What do you choose as an opening hymn? I love the words to this song. Its a declaration of God's goodness. Nowadays songs are mostly written from our self centredness, it's all about how we feel and what we are going thru. This tune lifts the spirits because of who God is.

So glad to have Rick leading the praise at our wedding. We didn't know how this song would go down, cos it is kinda slow and there is normally an organ playing, but the voices were raised in adoration. So thanx to Dave, Buff, Rick pictured with 'Little and Large'. Also to Sarah for doing powerpoint!

The big day

2008-05-20T15:57:00.003+01:00

Here I am. Tuesday 22 April 2008. I got my best man, Charlie and my grooms man, Phil by my side. 2 amazing guys. What an amazing day. This was taken by the very talented Andre Alves Areias. Nice one Dr Dre!

6 distinctive features of Mission

2008-03-31T14:19:00.002+01:00

Reading thru the life of Hudson Taylor. He set up the China Inland Mission (CIM) and here is his 6 distinctive features, which I think are still applicable today:

Missionaries will be drawn not from any particular denomination but from all the leading Christian churches - provided they could sign a simple doctrinal declaration (How could we agree on that??)
Missionaries would have no guaranteed salary, but trust in the Lord to supply their needs. Income would be shared. No debts would be incurred. (But thats not practical!!!!)
No appeal for funds would be made.(He must really take his faith seriously!!)
The work abroad would not be directed by home committees but by people on the spot, in the field (people who actually know what is going on)
The activities of the mission would be systematic and practical. Evangelism would seek to establish footholds in strategic centres
The missionaries would wear clothes from the region and worship in building built in the style of the area (geared to the times, anchored to the rock!)

Food for thought...

Rambo

2008-03-13T11:30:00.003Z

Talk about a good boys night out! Went with Pete Comfort and Jonny to watch this epic! You know what you get with Rambo, but even this was too much. Some really interesting thoughts came to me during watching this.

First you have the missionaries going into a country to help yet they cause a lot of problems. It made me think. These missionaries were warned to not go in, yet they went in. Was it obedience to God? Was it to ease their conscience? In the film it is actually quoted that there were doing an honourable thing. One of the mercenaries said he was the devil doing what God couldn't do. So going in as outsiders, does it help or does it cause more problems. Also, watching LOST with Katrina and the episode we watched last night 'Stranger in a strangeland' was about how Jack walked among them but wasn't part of them. It can have good effects, like with Hudson Taylor gaining the respect of the Chinese, but it can also be harmful. I know I'm mixing fact with fiction even fantasy but an interesting point I think!

Second you have the pure brutalness of this movie. I asked Pete how this got made and even passed. But this actually happens in Burma. It is horrific, but this type of stuff happens. I don't know if Sly was trying to make a political point or a moral point and if anything is going to happen about this but its mad, worse its evil and is anyone doing anything about it? The way movies go as well, we are manipulated by the director, writer, music so we actually want the good guy to go get the bad guy, so here we want Rambo to go get some revenge in the only way Rambo can! But who is good then and who is bad. Is it justified Rambo killing everyone cos they are bad people. A verse that kept running thru my head was from Romans 12 v 19 "It is mine to avenge, I will repay, says the Lord". But can we wait for judgement? Is it fair to let evil continue and even prosper? That passage in Romans 12, do not repay evil for eveil but overcome evil with good - is it practical? Is it philosophical? Can ideas like that actually work in the real world? And again I know Rambo aint real but stuff like tis actually happens it the world, so my question is how does the Jesus follower respond?

Thirdly you have some pure cheese in quotes from the movie "It is better to die for something than live for nothing!" Oh yes! Come on! You got to love it!

Childlike faith

2008-03-13T11:26:00.001Z

Just finished reading this book. Its good. Easy read. Thought provoking.

Galatians 2 v20

2008-02-20T16:06:00.002Z

Can't get this verse out of my mind. It's a constant challenge to everything I do, say and think

Lava Lamp

2008-02-20T16:00:00.001Z

Found this cool prayer tool on emerging church website and it actually helped me focus and pray more - cool!

Lava lamp prayer

Tony the Tiger

2008-02-18T14:45:00.002Z

Got to reading this book over the weekend, my good friend Shaun leant it to me, as someone had leant it to him. Didn't realise tho, that this guy is actually called 'Anthony Anthony'! Reminds me of Gary Neville's dad, Neville Neville. (And apparently the United team of the 90's had Gary Pallister's dad - Alistair, Steve Bruce's dad - Bruce, Peter Schmeichel's dad Michael...)

But the book and the life story of Tony is amazing. I must admit there is something about the Far East - I'd love to walk alone the Great Wall of China, and there is something appealing with their culture and heritage. I love watching martial arts films and everybody loves kung foo fighting, fast as lightning ha ho ha (doing the dance!)

I also have something deep down within that is attracted to such a disciplined life, being flexible, fit, controlled....I am so lazy and very indisciplined/undisciplined. What struck me (Judo chop!) was when Tony talked about the way of Kung Foo compared to Jesus saying "I am the WAY..."

So all these years I've been intrigued about the way of Kung Foo, (never done anything about it tho!) yet have I been following the WAY of Jesus. The Bible in a year has just started into Mark's gospel and the first chapter is full of kick ass action:

Jesus baptised, tempted, starts preaching, casting out demons, healing people, praying, healing some more. Brilliant! That's the WAY of Jesus my master, and I want to be about the WAY of my master.

Rumour has it that Tony is coming over the the Celebration of Hope event in April, or he is being recorded to do a video clip. Apparently he loves Northern Ireland as a guy Michael Wright from Belfast led him to Jesus when he was in prison in Cyprus. Amazing story and again I encourage you to read this book.

An idea

2008-02-06T12:42:00.001Z

So reading thru Starving Jesus, Craig and JR encourage the reader to do something - not copy them but do something. Apparently they always get people asking "What should we do?"

So we've been thinking about this in YFC and Steve and myself have started workin towards doing a prayer tour of Ireland. One of Steve's goals is to get 32 drop in centres in every county in Ireland. This summer we got 12 Canadians coming over to do something. SO we thought if we could match that maybe with 12 Irish people, could we hire some RVs and travel round Ireland for 2 weeks and just pray...

JR and Craig fasted and preached and cuffed themselves to a pew, which is very Jeremiah/Ezekiel/prophet like - I love it but like I said don't want to copy these guys.

I think in YFC we are in a new period so we got to pray, seek God, see where God is working and then join God's work. This nation will become a sending nation again, but we got to start doing stuff and get serious. This is step one.

Now we have had one door close after approaching Motorhome Ireland but maybe we can get a couple of mini buses, travel round and sleep in churches. We just want to pray with people, as if that isn't enough! God will do stuff and guide us on the way. So we are looking for churches throughout Ireland who would like 24 people to come pray and encourage them at the start of July this summer.

Step two - promoting it and getting the word out!

Live Simply

2008-02-06T12:35:00.001Z

So started going thru this 10 week or should I say 10 chapters on a Monday night with Katrina, Dave, Heather and Nevaeh. It's really challenging and has all the charts and tables to impress Dave and myself.

Its very practical and here are 5 simply things you can do right now:

Think of a neighbour or friend who needs some help, whether financially or in some other way, and do something to meet that need this week
Set aside 2 half hour periods during the week when you can have some space for sitting quietly
Go thru your clothes and give away anything you have not worn in the past year
Look at the amount of packaging involved in the food you buy and work on reducing it to a bare minimum
Do not use your car this week for any journey under 2 miles

Starving Jesus

2008-01-23T12:33:00.000Z

Sometimes books just come along at the right time. Dave Currie is like my local library as he is always giving me good books to read - so thanx Dave.

I'd seen this book about and heard about it, especially when Craig was over with XXXChurch.com in November, but don't know why I didn't read it then. You know when you read, and you're like, "I should read more, rather than sit and waste my time on Football Manager..."

Anyway I'm nearly finished the book so will blog later what really inspired me, but really want to encorage people to read this

Lay Witness

2008-01-22T17:11:00.000Z

Wanted to commenton a 'Lay Witness' weekend that I experienced for the first time. Katrina and Cheryl had organised for 13 people to come to Newtownabbey Methodist and minister to the congregation there. Now me being a Baptist and all....

Seriously tho it was really interesting as an outsider to come in an witness, experience and observe people open up to one another. Interesting as well, cos most of the people who shared were feeling tired and weary.

What struck me was this expression of Church. On Sunday night there was a celebration service for the weekend. There wasn't a dry eye in the house! But it was amazing. Honesty, silence, love, compassion, thanksgiving, release, hurt, pain, healing, praise, encouragement, victory and freedom.

Why do we have order and ritual and formality? Why do we have an order of service? Why is there an agenda? And do people find freedom when we continually do this every Sunday? Is comfort good? Is tradition strangling us?

We need to wait on God. We should stop and be still. We should, but we don't. We could but we can't...

I love hearing testimonies. I love the fact that people get up and say, "Oh I'm not a speaker" or "I'm no good at this" and they are brilliant and normally far better than the ordained! Why cos they are honest, they are raw, they have passion and they have something real. I don' think you could have this format every week as it would be far too emotional and draining but maybe thats what the Church needs - a bit of emotion. Something that when you go into work on Monday morning, you look as rough as those people with hangovers but you have a lightness in your spirit and you can share with your workmates that Jesus is alive, that God is faithful and that you had an amazing weekend which you can remember!

So I pray for the Church in Newtownabbey as I feel this weekend coming is so important. I pray for those in leadership for wisdom. I pray that they rest, that they are revived and refreshed.
Some verses that came to me was from Luke 10 v38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Drawing out of a dry well

2008-01-21T14:53:00.000Z

Well well well! Apparently today is the most depressing day of the year for everyone. Finance, credit cards, debt, waiting for next months wage packet, weather, cold, wet, floods....

"I'm wrecked" is what I normally say, apparently all the time, but its more than that. It's like tired and weary. Maybe it is the weather effecting me. Been thru so much with YFC over the past 6 months, I think its taking the toll on everyone. Steve is over in Canada and Gav is off on paternity, so missing the boys in work as well.

Was looking for a good picture to use and came across some really interesting and provacitive pics. Wanted a picture of a dried up well, or someome trying to draw water from a well and came across pictures of people in Africa, with smiles on their faces, drawing water from a dirty well. You think these people have something to be tired and weary about? I get to go home and crash on a really comfie sofa and watch TV. Probably feel so down cos I'm just looking inward. I dont feel down in my life, just maybe in work I feel down or tired and weary.

Looking out the window now, the Lagan is overflowing. What a picture that is!

Other pictures I came across was Jesus at the well. But why is it that even tho I know Jesus is living water and if I go to Jesus I wont thirst again - why is it that I do? Is Jesus not enough? Is the problem with me? How many Christians do I know who are satisfied and content and at peace???

Hudson Taylor

2008-01-18T12:16:00.000Z

Katrina has passed on this book to me about Hudson Taylor - which we will probably name our children after as Katrina is in awe of this bloke and I'm beginning to see why!

Hudson went to China as a missionary and took on their customs, lifestyle, language to basically become Chinese in order to gain respect and credibility. An interesting read so far.

Want to encourage others to read about these guys: George Muller, Hudson Taylor, David Livingstone. Think we can learn a lot from them. Any other recommendations?

Genesis

2008-01-18T12:03:00.000Z

So probably like every good Christian I've started reading thru Genesis - new years resolution and all that. A couple of things on this before I go on:

How come some Christians have never read thru the whole Bible?
Why do we fog off new years resolutions as if they are bad and legalistic?

So I've probably managed to offend some or make others feel guilty but come on lets get serious! If we say we are Bible believing Christians (and who says that?!) then we need to know what is in there. Many and I mean loads of Christians do or don't do certain things cos of what the Bible says, yet when you (or I!) ask them where do you find that in the Bible they have no idea. Some Jews can recite the whole Bible. Jewish young people can recite the first 5 books of the OT, and these are the books we kinda leave out...I'll just leave this hanging....

"But the Pharisees knew all the Bible and didn't know God!" - true

"Some people worship the Bible more than they worship God!" - true

So is it good to read the Bible? Is it good to make people feel guilty about not reading the Bible? Should we include the Bible in our talks or read the Bible out more??

The Golden Compass

2007-12-11T15:15:00.000Z

What is all the fuss about? You got to love those Christians or Church goers who judge everyone and are negative about everything. William Crawley contacted YFC and asked for a comment on the film. So Gav passed on my number as I love films and use films in most of my talks. Click on the link to hear the interview. It was early Sunday morning and is the first 20 mins of Sunday Sequence. Video killed the Radio Star!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/noscript.shtml?/radio/aod/ulster_aod.shtml?ulster/sundaysequence

Porn and Pancakes

2007-11-23T16:08:00.001Z

Got to get the GAWA top in! I actually gave this shirt to Craig as he was going over to London baby...Criag is like, "So you guys are better than the English?" and I had one word for him - HEALY!

I'll write some updates about the XXX events after this weekend. But check out http://www.xxxchurch.com/ and click on the Irish tour bit. You also got to see Pete Comfort and Paul McLean on youtube talking to Craig - brilliant!

Shane Claiborne

2007-11-01T16:01:00.000Z

Shane came to the Spires Conference centre on Tuesday 30 October for free.

The main thing that came out was that he challenged us to pray with Catholics and work with Catholics. Definatley a touchy and sensitive subject here in Norn Iron.

I got to ask:

If we want to reach the young people of Norn Iron, why are we ignoring half, if not more of them?

Is the main problem, we don't want Catholics going back into the Catholic Church to grow as Christians?

Do we think that there are Catholic Christians and Protestant Christians?

The other challenge was to be extremist of love and you got to read Jill Boyd's blog on this!

XXX Church

2007-10-18T17:20:00.000+01:00

So booked these guys for hopefully 3 events in November.

#1 - Tues 20 November at lunchtime, hopefully in Mandella Hall, QUB

#2 Tues 20 November from 730pm in Bangor Elim, tickets £6

#3 - Wednesday 21 November from 10am to 12 noon in City Church Belfast, cost £10

Sir Francis Drake

2007-10-18T17:05:00.000+01:00

So my lovely fiance sent me an email with this prayer on it saying it was from Sir Francis Drake. After receiving the prayer and thanking Katrina for her kindness I asked if it was really Sir Francis Drake. I stupidly thought she maybe got it wrong....and that it was from St Francis of Asissi....but I was wrong and should have just accepted it and kept my mouth shut. And he sort of is ginger! Anyway here is the prayer and it is very applicable or timely:

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

attributed - sir francis drake -1577

George Muller

2007-10-09T16:57:00.000+01:00

Reading a book about this german dude who actually looks like Abraham Lincoln!

I think I'll get a lot out of the book - he was a great preacher, a great man of God, he had great faith...

Some things I have been challenged about already:

He preached about the Lord's return - have I ever mentioned that? Do we live in the light of his return?

He prayed that people would respond to his message/he prayed for converts - do I pray for the hearers of the word before I speak/preach/teach

He offended people and said that if people weren't offended then he probably wasn't preaching the true gospel - he liked offending people, not for the sake of offending people tho

he said that,
"the important feature of your life is not so much what you do but the formation of your own strong Christian character"

Run Forest Run

2007-10-09T16:25:00.000+01:00

Not to be confused with "RUN FAT BOY RUN" which has been mentioned to me lately! This picture was given to me by Mairisine Stanfield. Mairisine and David took a prayer night for YFC at the start of September.

4 things I was told:

To trust (in God)
To have no guile (or agenda)
To have fun
To keep it simple

"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never can tell what you are going to get!"

Irresistable Revolution

2007-09-17T14:09:00.000+01:00

So just finished reading this book. Dave Currie lent me it, and big Charlie recommended it as well. Interesting. It comes ontop of reading thru some of Brian McLaren's books - the new kind of Christian trilogy. But its true. There is a sense of discontent among people who call themselves christians. I don't even call Church church anymore. Its something you do or go to on a sunday - if even that. I spoke at REACH about Church service and said how when you say those 2 words they don't seem to go together or fit. We think about dressing up in our sunday best, when we should we dressing in our dirty clothes so we can go and serve. We sit in our pews, listen to one person speak, and sing songs to move our emotions and feel good. Meeting together is good, but if we stay there we have missed the point. Thats why we continue to go week in week out with the same problems and struggles and we don't change, we don't transform.

Also listening to Michael Frost (recommended by wee Charlie) who says that as christians we got it all wrong. We separate the sacred from the secular, so that we can be holy and set apart, but the incarnation was all about God bringing the scared and the secular back together thru Jesus.

Anyway, back to the book. Shane Claiborne goes in search of a Christian, and he finally meets one, but in the most unlikely places - amongst the poor and in Iraq! So it gets a bit political, but it got me thinking about politics. Obvioulsy here in Norn Iron, politics and religion are a touchy subject. I've stopped voting, having voted in years actually, which may be bad, I don't know but reading this book I felt that God was calling me to stand up and speak out.

"We are called to be prophets to this nation" - Brian Houston.

Some parts of the book which stirred something in me:

The parable of the Good Samaritan. You got to love your neighbour and your enemy. You got to help those in need like the guy who was robbed and beat up, but it gets to the stage where you have to start addressing the road itself, and the people who are in charge of the road. This is something Martin Luther King said, I believe....
There is a fire. You see a hose. You grab the hose. You have a choice. You can fight the fire yourself or you can use it to wake up the firefighters. I believe this is a real call to support, encourage, challenge, resource the local church. No matter what grievances or complaints we, I, have with the local church, the church is the bride of Christ. This is something I have been discussing with Steve Mac, concerning the role of YFCNI.

Bureau

2007-09-17T13:15:00.000+01:00

The last clue/surprise was that both families would come to the Bureau about 930pm to celebrate and finish off a perfect day. It was class that everyone could make it at such short notice but the did...make it happen!

She said YES!

2007-09-05T12:42:00.000+01:00

Without going into too much detail....it was our 6 month anniversary, so we'd planned to take the day off and do something on the Tuesday. We got a ring in Dominican but kept it quiet, so not to take away anything from Chris & Ciara. On the Monday night my sister told me the rings had been valued and were ready to collect, so I text Andrew to see if he could meet up the next day! I'm very impulsive and spontaneous. To look back everything was perfect and how it all worked out I will never know but be eternally grateful!

So i met Andrew (Katrina's dad) on Tuesday morning and had the talk. He was such a gentleman and gave me some great advice. Then I started a little treasure hunt of 4 clues using 'CRANIUM' cards. Katrina had to guess were we we going by using the clue. So we went back to were we had our first 'lunch' date, which goes to prove that having lunch dates don't just lead to friendship! (Just Friends - Ryan Reynolds)

I had planned to propose that night, but walking round Castlewellan lake, was too good an opportunity to miss. We both love up there and have so many fond memories as kids, not together cos I'm like so much older....

So we went to La Tasca for all you can eat for a tenner which is well good and then headed to the Bureau in Newtownabbey, where we had our first kiss....

The day I wore pink....

2007-08-21T11:52:00.001+01:00

I never thought it would happen but there you go! Katrina - stunning!

Anyway, this was Tuesday 14 August at Chris and Kiera's wedding. It was a great day. Weather wasn't the best but a really relaxed and friendly atmoshpere at the Boucher/Rainey wedding. It was a full on Methodist bash, with 12 Methodist ministers there. But don't worry, I stood strong as a Baptist!

Squad numbers!

2007-08-21T10:51:00.000+01:00

I normally like wearing #11 or #10, even #7 with my d.o.b, so when Katrina handed me this shirt on my birthday in the Dominican Republic, it sunk in. I was now 30 years old! It's time to step up and be a man. It's time for consistancy. It's time to deliver! No pressure....

Born of the 7th July 1977 at 7lbs 7 ounces, the 7th baby born in Newtownbreda Baptist that year, 7 letters in my first name, born at 430 pm (4+3=7), lived in 25 Burnside Park....the number 7 is my lucky number. Also the number 7 in the Bible means 'perfection'.....

I don't believe it was any coincidence that Jesus didn't start his public ministry till he was 30. It is a significant milestone. I believe you have matured physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually so it is time for action. My prayer is that I honour and glorify God in thoughts, words and action

Ballymoney High

2007-08-21T10:37:00.001+01:00

So this was the last day of term for us in June. We looked wrecked cos we had just finished a whole day of lessons, one after the other. Not to justify myself , but what we do is completely different to teaching. It is a more intense style of delivery and interaction - nad yes we are getting old!

So Harry Bruce from PAIS had organised this day for all Year 8 pupils in Ballymoney High school. Workshops were taken by Crown Jesus Ministries, Youthlink and YFC. The were also some cool brake dancers and rappers from Dublin. Harry Bruce is very impressive on the beat box, for a ginger!

This kinda felt like the end of an era for me anyway. Gav and myself have been working together for 4 years in the schools department. We have come a long way and now it feels like the end. I think it would be great for some new blood to come in with fresh and innovative ideas. I will still be involved in schools work but it will be more focussed round Mannafest

Suicide is painless?

2007-06-22T12:25:00.000+01:00

The theme tune from M*A*S*H comes to mind this week. Not cause its true. In a way it's such a tranquil song, and I can remember listening to the tune while in the background there is chaos and havoc.

This week has highlighted a great need in our country, something which has been going on for too long. On the news we have heard of 3 young people commit suicide in Craigavon. The reality is that this has been happening a lot all over Northern Ireland. Years ago I was made aware of how Ballynahinch had the highest rate of suicide in Europe pro capita and that’s why ‘The Edge’ started. Check out their website and pray for Jamie and Claire who work there.

Apparently, in Kilkeel one person a week has committed suicide from Easter.

In Tyrone there were 2 guys who had made a suicide pack.

John 10 says 'the devil is out to steal and destroy' young peoples lives and young peoples minds. We know and say that Jesus came to bring life, but what is going on?

We can put suicide down to so many reasons but more than ever I am aware that we are in a spiritual battle. We need to pray for our young people. We need to stand in the gap.

There's only one Ronaldo!

2007-06-14T15:17:00.000+01:00

This is Ronaldo, the boy I sponsor with Compassion UK. He is from Haiti. He has a great name! I didn't chose him just for his name. I felt really bad looking at all the profiles and choosing one. And I guess we have no idea where our money is going, it might just ease our guilt. I suppose I just wanted to let people know about the work of Comapssion UK. I have actually been doing some lessons in schools based around the work of Compassion. We call them MAD lessons -Making A Difference. The lessons address issues of giving thanks and sharing, the problem with money in the world and how to make a difference by sponsoring a child. Let me know if you'd like more info about the lessons and check out www.compassionuk.org

Everyone knows John 3 v16 but how many people know 1 John 3 v16?? Thats the real gospel message!!

2037 goal

2007-06-12T13:08:00.000+01:00

It is 7 July 2037 and I am celebrating my 60th birthday. All my family are with me - Katrina at my side, looking as beautiful as ever. She leans over to kiss me in her caring nature and i notice our grandchildren laughing and sniggering at the 'two old love birds'. I hear wee Stephen give out an "uugghhh!!"

I feel content. I feel at peace but we both have itchy feet and want to do more. There are more children to help, more young people to invest in and more people to pull together. I have led by example in working in partnership with as many people and organisations as possible.

If I could go back and do it all again....what would I advise my younger self?

1 - Have more fun
2 - Treasure time with family and friends
3 - Get up earlier
4 - Read more books
5 - Sing more songs
6 - Enjoy the mountains
7 - Jump into more rock pools

2010 goal

2007-06-12T12:56:00.000+01:00

It is 1 July 2010 and I've just crossed the finishein line. I feel the tape break thru my chest. I'm wrecked! I've given it my all. The sweat is dripping of me. My mouth is dry. The adrenaline is flowing thru my veins.

Im ecstatic at how young people at MANNAFEST have developed into DISCIPLES. Yes I have heard how some have tripped on hurdles and fell and made mistakes but they have learnt o depend on God and one another - even when they mess up and especially when things are going well.

I have seen 100's of young people realise their potential within them and discover 'Who God is'.

I feel a sense of pride which is burning bright inside me at how different people have started working togther - churches, charities, young and old.

I am pumped that I invested in other people. I have learnt a lot from others - older men, fellow speakers. I have trained and develpoed my muscles. In one sense, there is regret as I pass the baton on, but I also feel a sense of accomplishment at a job well done.

A lap of honour to cool down but not to rest on my morals - a new team needs me. Another eveent to run in....

Woolworths

2007-06-12T12:42:00.000+01:00

This was one interesting exercise I did with Kelly. Poor Kelly tho, it was like getting blood out of a stone. But made a good list - then I had to make my top 8 - I think they will change and they maybe aren't what i actually value but they were to do with what I value in work....

finish well; make a difference; to be liked; integrity; humility; confidence; honesty; accountability; fun; enjoyment; friendship; satisfaction; purpose; inspiration; trust; freedom; structure; challenged; truth; relaxed; appreciated; technique; communication; delivery; professionalism; inspiration; motivation; variety; freedom; making a difference; helping people; break from the norm; against status quo; different; creativity; partnership; making the most of something; respect; honesty; accountable; working together; team before self; sacrifice; organisation; doing my best; being professional; tasks over people; results; fun; have a laugh; God; exploring spirituality; make meaning to life; being different; going against the flow; realising potential; hope; change; role model; example; not messing up; no regrets; integrity; reality

TOP 8 in no particular order

1 - HAVING FUN
2 - BEING PROFESSIONAL
3 - FREEDOM
4 - HONESTY
5 - INTEGRITY
6 - BEING INSPIRED
7 - CHALLENGING THE NORM
8 - FINISHING WELL

Toward

2007-06-12T12:13:00.000+01:00

So last week I was at a leadership conference for 3 days in the lovely setting of the Culloden Hotel. We didn't get to stay or use the spa or anything, but it was still good! Johnny Parks was taking the course so it was interesting to see him in a different light and without a guitar. Wasn't it??!!

It's always good to write down what you learnt after such an intense time, and it normally takes a while to reflect and digest everything, but honestly, my head is still fried. If anything I got to understand myself a bit better, why I react the way I do or behave the way I do. I'll say this tho - "I did NOT find myself" - never understood that statement. So there is no such thing as a problem....

What did I learn? I learnt that I actually exist. Might sound strange but it was an eye opener. I learnt that if someone criticises me or doesn't like me(which is quite often!) that rather than try to change their opinion, I just fuel their opinion of me by throwing the head up and maybe try to annoy them more. Now that was a revelation, cos it don't make sense, but I continue to do it.

So what do I want? I want people to like me. And what is the intention of people liking me? Well i want to be appreciated. And what would that get you? I suppose that would get me purpose and meaning in my life. And what's the purpose of you having purpose?

OK so I'm making a mockery but I use humour as a defense system...

We also looked at neuro linguistic programming model of communication, sensory acuity, rapport, cause and effect, parts integration, timeline, values, creating an achievable outcome and metaphors - all in 3 days! My head is pickled!

What I really enjoyed was meeting other people. When you go through something as intense as this you bond more quickly with people. So I worked with Dave Hines from City Church and Angus form CFC; Kelly and Sean from Woolsworth; Mags and Leeangh; Clare and Louise from YMCA; Christina; and Mims and Steve from YFC. A great bunch and I wish them all well. Just ragin I didn't have my cmaera to get a photo ot them, even tho I did have my camera but didn't know that I had my camera...

One more thing and i know this is a generalisation and that I am deleting and distorting some information.... I found that the Christians on the course were mainly driven by guilt andhad a really bad opinion on themselves - myself included. So we want to be a really good witness but what we say and what we do or don't do, but infact what would really speak to people is if we vlaued ourselves and seen ourselves how God views us -

dearly loved children

We are so caught up in selling Christianity and making hte gospel attractive that we have missed the good news that God takes and transforms lives for the better. I wonder do people want to be a Christian because of the way that I am living my life; because of the way I view myself and others or do people want to become a Christian so they can get a ticket for heaven or do people not even think about becoming a Christian....?

Ballydown

2007-06-12T11:43:00.000+01:00

So here is me and the boss outside Ballydown Presby, near Banbridge. I look a bit flustered as it was absolutley boliling in the Church. It was a very hot day already and then I made the smart decision of sitting beside a radiator that was one! Presbys must be loaded having the heat on this time of year...
So I spoke at the childrens service, which was actually very good. The Church have a cool wee jazz band, led by a guy called Harry who was a bit of a musical maestro. The Church was packed - obviously cos they heard we were speaking....but it had a mixture of all ages. The atmosphere was brilliant. This weather influences people anyway in a good way and maybe being childrens day everyone is more relaxed. But we both really enjoyed the service. It was over in less than an hour as well, which always makes people in norn iron happy!
Steve spoke at the youth service that night and joined up again with the Dromore crew. They have a band and a drama team that took part and Dinger shared his story. You can't beat Dinger. He just says it as it is, which makes people a bit uncomfortable but needs to be said. Why do we want people to be dramatically transformed then conform to a respectful style of behaviour, where you start to play church or lip service??
Anyway it got us thinking, that this is what YFC should be doing more of - imagine having a YFC Sunday! We could come and take both services, for those holy spiritual churches that still have 2 services on a sunday....We love communicating God's word in a relevant and dynamic way. We believe we are great communicators. It would be great if we could get churches to support our work, get them onboard, so we could actually go and do work in schools and communities were young people have no contact with church. So anyone want to book us??

YFC v CJM round 2

2007-05-23T15:37:00.000+01:00

So picture the scene. Saturday 19 May 2007. FA Cup Saturday. Windsor Park. 11am. Last year YFC ran away with the match 7-1. This year CJM had brought in Roy Walker for training and tactics. YFC lost some experienced players but have recruited some new supporters/volunteers/staff. CJM run out wearing the Linfield kit. YFC are warming up in Distillery's kit. Back into the changing rooms and the team talk is motivational by presenting each player with a 'norn iron' squad number and top. Kick off. Titterington passes back to captain Alexander who trips on his long studs and dislocates his finger. "He fell over" was the chant that rung round Windsor Park. Soon all watching realised that Phil was in pain. He rushed off to hospital to return for the second half and lift the trophy for the second year in a row. 3 goals separatd the teams managed by an unknown manager, with his only experience coming from playing Championship Manager and Football Manager 2005. Roy Walker might be taking over at the Glens but this young man has lead a Norn Iron select out at Windsor Park and won 3-0. Watch this space.....

My family

2007-05-23T15:27:00.000+01:00

So this is April 10 2007 so its Ruth and Gavin's 3rd anniversary or 4th - I can't remember think its 3. It's also my Mum and Dad's 36th wedding anniversary - think they got married in 1971. Ah well! So here is the latest addition to our family, not officially, but she is lovely. Yes its Katrina. She's the one!

Prayer

2007-03-01T15:52:00.000Z

From l to r we have Jenny, Libby and wingnut! I have been asked to pray specifically for Jenny and Libby, so please pray that God's Spirit moves in their lives and that they reach their potential as young women

National Director

2007-02-28T13:54:00.000Z

So this is Steven McCready with his national staff. Steve took his first official staff meeting this morning and shared with us how he was going to lead - thru communication, commitment, cohension, caring, challenging and change; and his personal standards and in turn what he expected from us - respect, support, servanthood, approachable and trust. It was inspiring! YFC needs to be dynamic and Steve believes we need to come out of our wilderness experience. He asked us, "How do we make a difference?" There is a need for a time of Repentance, Renewal and Revival. Liking the alliteration Steve! I want to learn from Steve and already he is motivating me, challenging me and encouraging me. But its not about me..its about YFC!

Minus Charlie

2007-02-12T15:53:00.000Z

So we deliberately left a big space for the big man to be pasted in just to show our super holy spiritual accountability group. We try our hardest to meet every week to chat, and when I say 'we', I mean 'them'. Just finished going thru 'Catalyst' which was interesting but wasted a lot of paper, and as men who hold the environment in high esteem, we have decided to move onto something more ozone friendly. Honestly tho we have no idea what to do or look at next so if u have any idears please let me know

The good, the bad and the ugly...

2007-02-12T15:48:00.000Z

Dave Currie, Nicky Blair and myself at the Dromore YFC Annual Formal, which is always a good night. As per usual Dave didn't shave. Nicky came along and did some DJing. He played Ntrance "Set me free" just for me, so I want to thank him for playing my favourite song ever. However I didnt feel the music as have been feeling quite poorly as of late and even looked a bit "Peekie" on Friday night - never heard that expression before, but apparently diagnosed by Doctor Marks it means "white or sickish"...

Oakwood and Cranmore workshop

2007-02-12T15:41:00.000Z

So I think the topic was "Racism". We wold explore differnt countires and how they are different to us and how we should celebrate differences rather than slag one another off. (From l to r)Ashlee Coday(USA) Amy Logan(Japan) Dingo laid back Aussie guy and Gav as a spic...sorry Spainish. Ash and Amy are on Y1 in Kilmakee this year and they have been a great help when we do workshops in Primary school

Guidance

2007-01-17T15:04:00.000Z

Read Exodus 13 (focus on verses 17-22)

We were asked to look at our past, present and future. I suppose after wanting to be a truck driver, then a journalist, I always wanted to be a teacher. When a became a teacher it was like, ok, what now? I've always wanted to teach missionary kids abroad and would love to go back to Stran and become a teacher tutor!
I feel like I need a new challenge at the moment. The past couple of months have been ones of frustration and not very much direction. I'm excited about McCreedy coming to lead us. Things will happen, as he has lots of ideas and he is good at delegation and releasing people into their gifting. I know he is nervous and it will be an interesting dynamic with us as we've been friends and shared each others hearts and frustrations over the past 4 years. But I am excited at the potential of what God could do thru us.
This year I want to focus on making short films for Mannafest and general youth work. I have a couple of ideas and really want to create time to write, direct and act. Its a passion of mine which I've let slip lately. Oh and I also want to learn to play the drums and maybe do a bit of ballroom dancing!

Sacrifice

2007-01-17T14:59:00.000Z

Read Genesis 22 - the story of Abraham and Isaac. Never liked this story. It would never happen today with child protection and all that, so why is it in the Bible? Doesn't seem to fit. Then when you think about it, it does, so its ok....

Is there anything you think God wants you to sacrifice?

Probably the high opinion I have of myself and the low opinion I have of others. That I would stop living life for myself and put others before me. It is a revealing meditation

YFC 24/7 Prayer Room

2007-01-17T14:54:00.000Z

From Mon 25 Jan to Mon 22 Jan YFC have got the hold of the Methodist prayer room to do 24/7. Its a great location, in Aldersgate House, and even tho it is just a room, there is something holy and sacred about that place. Its easy to understnad how people can get caught up with a place or experience that they make sacred and limit God to moving only there. Here in YFCNI we want to be a people in tune with God's Spirit, doing God's work in God's strength. Its in the manual....

Reunion with Reona

2007-01-09T14:03:00.000Z

This is what Christmas is all about - meeting up with old friends. Reona was a year below Charlie and I in Wellington, but we sang in the choir and performed in schools plays together. How much fun did I have in school! That was a rhetorical question. The choir trips were immense. I only realised I wasnt a bass after like 4 years, during our last gig. I wasnt a tenor either more baritone but I only had the choice of 2, sometimes you just dont fit into neat wee boxes.
Reona was also in the Mannafest drama team with me. I nicknamed her "space cadet" just cos she was. Lots of fun. Very sincere.
So Reona has been living over in Atlanta Georgia for the past couple of years and she has got married to Jesse. They work for a church but it is cool cos they dont work in a church. They are placed in like these appartment blocks to live out their lives eveyday in community with people. I think they are employeed to organise events as well throughout the month for all residents. I hope Ive got this right but its very cool what they are doing. They have also just adopted Zoe, who has a great smile and goes about and does her thing very content and happy.
It was so good to meet up at Reona's parents house and the grandparents were loving the family reunion. Reona's dad is called Steve Martin...brilliant. Her brother, Gavin, also just got engaged to a beautiful mexican girl, which gets me thinking....

Corona

2007-01-09T13:50:00.000Z

Also a name of a beer, but Ross came up with it first. This is my other band that I've been known to dabble in. We got the opportunity to play at PANTS on New Years Eve, well actually we got on stage at 230 in the am, much to Craigs delight, so it was New Years Day. I suppose this band came out of CSSM. Alan and Craig used to play in Native Spirit, but they split up. Ross has always wanted a band from CSSM days and we've played a few gigs. Last year we played at a battle of the bands and thought officially we didnt win, we did, and everyone there knew it and knows it. We rocked that joint, and this stupid girl band got the sympathy vote. Anyway, I love playing with these guys. Craig or Judas as I like to call him, cos he betrayed me once and I wont let him forget it, is a talented beatch, seriously the guy is amazing on the guitar, the best Ive heard or saw/seen. He wont play certain songs, so getting a set list together is quite difficult but its worth it in the end.
This year we played Mr Brightside, Breakfast at Tiffanys, A little respect, Back for Good, Hit me baby one more time (my fav), When September ends (but we changed it to December!) and just for Ross 'Best of you' by the Foos. Rock on wee man!
From l to r - Craig "Judas" Jackson (lead guitar), Alan "funny trousers and strange hats" Currie (lead vocals and rhythm guitar) and Ross "Baby" Jackson (drums). I played Bass sort of and sang a bit...

Christmas band

2007-01-09T13:42:00.000Z

This was the second year, maybe even third, when we got together to do a little bit of "rockin around the christmas tree"..although we didnt actually play that one....classics include slades "merry christmas", shakin stevens "snow is falling", whams "last christmas", a not so "silent night", and a collection of reliant k songs. My favourite is "celebrate the day"
This year we played in Killyleagh, so we had to do "Away in a manger" just for the line..."the stars in the bright sky looked down where HEALY HEALY HEALY...".
This picture was taken in Ballysillan. We had no idea how the young people would respond to Christmas rock, as they are all into dush-dush music, but they really got into it, whicyh meant we were able to enjoy it more
From l to r - Alan Currie (Sound), me, Mark Currie (Drums), Pete Harrison (Bass/backing vocals) and Dave McConnell aka Shaggy (Electric guitar/keyboards/violin/acoustic/harmonies...legend!)

IPODS

2006-12-25T18:07:00.000Z

So we are not very creative in our house/family! Just incase you are wondering the women are in the kitchen doing the dishes....leaving us men alone to play with our toys! (from l to r) Dad, Gavin, Colin and myself. I think if you bought 2 you got 1 free...Merry Christmas everybody!

YFC Staff Christmas party

2006-12-25T17:40:00.000Z

So this is everyone who could make it to the party or find Jude's house. Secret Santa was probably the highlight, with the 'rockin Santa' and the Christmas lights being hot potatoes. But surely Gav went home with the best gift! This was also the night James got unveiled as the newest YFC worker, taking up a post in Donaghadee with Alan and Ashley. Welcome Jamesy

Maverick

2006-12-25T17:26:00.000Z

I feel the need...the need for speed! As a fundraiser the Bluehouses put on Top Gun in the wee cinema in Comber. Loved it. As one of my favourite films, it give me an opportunity to dress up in uniform - love dressing up! I suppose some people would call me a bit of a maverick, in that I like to do things my way, and go against authority and all that jazz. I want to buy a motorcycle..and get one of those bomber jackets like Tom - not Bros...