LOST

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!

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

My wife and my niece

Katrina isn't broody....

3 generations

Granny, Mother and Daughter.

Irene. Ruth. Amelie.

Granny and Granda

How much joy can one person bring to a family?

Amelie Rose McKnight

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

Uncle Stevie!

YFC AGM

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.

1. 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!
2. 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!
3. 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"
4. 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.
5. Bringing XXXChurch over last year - something radical, dynamic and risky
6. Being on Staff Retreat and hearing Alan Wilson share about the importance of looking after the condition of my heart
7. 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
8. Being involved in Celebration of Hope. It was great to build bridges and new friendships with John, Jasper, Michael and Denise
9. 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
10. This year I have actually spoke more in Churches than in schools and I love it and pray for more opportunities
11. 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
12. 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

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:

1. What keeps many of us from growing is not sin, but speed
2. Sin does not always drive us to drink; more often it drives us to exhaustion. Tiredness is equally as debilitating as drunkness
3. the problem with growth in the local church is not the slowness but the rushing of growth
4. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

1. 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??)
2. 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!!!!)
3. No appeal for funds would be made.(He must really take his faith seriously!!)
4. 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)
5. The activities of the mission would be systematic and practical. Evangelism would seek to establish footholds in strategic centres
6. 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

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

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

Galatians 2 v20

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

Lava Lamp

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

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.