Learning To Let Things Slide

When I started this bog my first post was about how I handle criticism and relationships with other people.

Last nights session of christianity explored went really well. Apart from the fact that I made lots of silly mistakes. Asking the wrong questions and such. In the past I would have got really hung up on this and felt pretty bad about it. I'm delighted to say that I realise I was doing my best for Jesus and feel ok about not being perfect :)

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Sunflower Festival Photos

Sunflower Festival

I have to be honest as I sat last night thinking about all of the work that had gone into arranging this event I was a bit worried. Would we get more than one man and his dog turning up?

As I distributed flyers around the campsite an hour before the event I was struck by how much the festival resonated with me. In many ways these are my people with a generation in between. 20 years ago I would have fitted right in :) I wonder would Jesus have felt the same way as he walked around?

We were due to start at 12 however things were a little bit hectic and it was probably closer to 12.10 by the time we got started. The format we had chosen was for readings from the writings of CS Lewis. (Thanks to Brian for picking the readings!)

I felt that the first couple of readings went well and we had attracted a small crowd of around 20 people. It was at this point that Shauna Tohill took to the stage. I must say it was delightful to meet Shauna, she is a very talented and gracious young woman.

Shauna was like a magnet and before long the group had grown to maybe 50 people. Its very hard to tell and I don't want to exaggerate. This is a massive lesson for me- if you are involved in something where people need to come to a venue then its vital to have a guest who they can relate to. She spoke very well also about her faith and life.

Next it was time for two more readings and by this stage it felt like we had settled into a rhythm. The Shaken Bones took to the stage and we were treated to some folk gospel with an American twist. Peter McCauley then shared a word about his faith and played a beautiful song of his own. This felt consistent with what had come before and the guys did a great job. I really enjoyed the final reading, it was almost shakespearian. I believe that the Lord helped me to bring the gravitas of the reading across. It felt great to be sharing Lewis' thoughts with the people gathered.

I then thanked everyone for coming and invited everyone to join me in prayer. I really felt God's presence with us as we joined together. As we prayed we asked for healing for Shaunas back. Her friend put her arm around her as we prayed. I hope the visitors came away thinking as the Romans did- see how these Christians love each other.

Thank you Jesus for the privilege of serving you in this way.

Amen

Christianity Explored

One of the ways of reaching out with the gospel that I get really enthused about is being church outside of church.

Back in march Stephen McWhirter and I began hatching a plan to carry out an alpha course in a local establishment. This was inspired by seeing this done on the fresh expressions website. As part of googling the subject I also found that Lisburn cathedral were running alpha in Lisburn SERC. I spoke to Simon the Curate there and he had lots of positives things to say about their experience.

The next thing to do was select the right course. After chatting with Jim Carson we decided to go with Christianity Explored as it seemed to fulfill the purpose we had in mind. The next thing to do was find a venue!

I am a great lover of the noble Ulster Fry and spend a lot of happy moments in Coopers Restaurant on the Longstone in Lisburn. I can thoroughly recommend it! Stephen was chatting to Alan Thom the owner regarding Creed and managed to build the contact. Alan's a great guy and was quite happy to allow us to use his premises and provide a meal at a very reasonable price. There is a substantial cost attached to running the event. A few friends and I decided not to be afraid of this and go forward in faith.

For me the food aspect of studying God's word in this way is vital. I was pretty sure of it before we started the course and am completely convinced of it now that we have just completed week 3 last night. It's so much easier to relax and talk about deep things with people that you are comfortable with. The 45mins of chat and food has allowed lots of new friendships to blossom and very honest conversation.

Last night was a hard hitting night on the nature of Sin and what Jesus had to say about Hell. When the DVD was finished I could hardly speak, words didn't seem appropriate in the light and weight of Jesus' words. I know there were some very worthwhile conversations that went on around the tables as we looked at the words of Jesus regarding Hell and our own rationalising of what Hell might mean.

I've really enjoyed being a part of the course so far. I've tried to be relaxed and trust God to give me the right words when needed. Theres a cost to leading, a responsibility that I sense more and more as I approach 40 in a few weeks. The responsibility to be honest, faithful in personal prayer/study and  have a vision and stick to it. I praise God that we have been nearly filling that restaurant every week. No-one involved expected such a large response. I delight that as I talk to people there I hear converstations of hearts moving closer to the Lord and the decision to follow him in repentance being made.

Moving From Concept To Reality

Here is the first draft of the flyer for Sunday.

Sunflower Festival has an enchanted glade based around the theme of the Lion The witch And The Wardrobe I believe. I thought that this flyer might attract  families and anyone interested in the books.

It’s not an approach I was going to take initially but heres the reading that inspired deeper magic as a title (the rest of the flyer grew from that...)

From C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe:

"You have a traitor there, Aslan," said the Witch. Of course everyone present knew that she meant Edmund...

"Well," said Aslan. "His offence was not against you."

"Have you forgotten the Deep Magic?" asked the Witch.

"Let us say I have forgotten it," answered Aslan gravely. "Tell us of this Deep Magic."

"Tell you?" said the Witch, her voice growing suddenly shriller. "Tell you what is written on that very Table of Stone which stands beside us? Tell you what is written in letters deep as a spear is long on the firestones on the Secret Hill? Tell you what is engraved on the sceptre of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea? You at least know the Magic which the Emperor put into Narnia at the very beginning. You know that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill...that human creature is mine. His life is forfeit to me. His blood is my property..."

"It is very true," said Aslan, "I do not deny it...Fall back, all of you," said Aslan, "and I will talk to the Witch alone..."

...

The rising of the sun had made everything look so different - all colours and shadows were changed that for a moment they didn't see the important thing. Then they did. The Stone Table was broken into two pieces by a great crack that ran down it from end to end; and there was no Aslan...

"Who's done it?" cried Susan. "What does it mean? Is it magic?"

"Yes!" said a great voice behind their backs. "It is more magic." They looked round. There, shining in the sunrise, larger than they had seen him before, shaking his mane (for it had apparently grown again) stood Aslan himself.

"Oh, Aslan!" cried both the children, staring up at him, almost as much frightened as they were glad.

"Aren't you dead then, dear Aslan?" said Lucy.

"Not now," said Aslan...

"But what does it all mean?" asked Susan when they were somewhat calmer.

"It means," said Aslan, "that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know: Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitors stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards..."

"And now," said Aslan presently, "to business. I feel I am going to roar. You had better put your fingers in your ears."

That reading brings a tear to my eyes... our Lord gave Himself to die for us yet He is so powerful thatHis voice is like thunder. It is pure grace.

Psalm 29 1-4 NIV

A psalm of David.

Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of his  holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is majestic.

A Christian presence at a secular rock festival

As part of my journey I have had the opportunity to get in involved in a local rock festival called Sunflower Fest. Its a festival representing the cream of local talent but also has a spiritual aspect with many alternative therapies being represented.

As part of this holistic ethos I was asked if I would be interested in bringing an hour of Christian worship to the event. The big question had been how to do this without being unattractive. How to really present the good news about Jesus  as good news about Jesus?

My first thought was to use our praise band from church. On reflection though I had to admit that as trendy as any praise band might think they are, sadly we are mostly 30-50 year Olds playing soft rock.

I've been reading Dan Kimballs "Why They Love Jesus But Not The Church". He paints a picture of modern day spirituality that is searching for depth and meaning, not entertainment. With that in mind I've settled on a low key, laid back hour of music and readings from the works of CS Lewis.

I've been fortunate to work with Stephen McLoughlin who has contributed much, especially in recruiting two of the major acts to come and be part of this. Now that is being contemporary and relevant!

The stage we are using is the art and poetry stage. I hope that what we are doing will fit in with the ethos of the event and present our beautiful saviour in a winsome and intelligent way.

Photos and comments to follow after the big day on Sunday!

Thinking about the nature of preaching

I'm on a path that may lead to being an Anglican minister and it also may not. I'm prepared to see where God is leading but also im not afraid to say that might lead to ordination. I'm happy that God is in charge. I really do trust Him and I'll do my best whatever he asks.
One of the subjects I will be thinking about a lot is preaching. Is it still relevant? Is it important? What aspects of preaching are key? Let me share my current position.
I have always believed that the word of God is alive and has power. It was studying the gospel of Luke that brought me to my knees in repentance in 2000. What follows is an opinion based on much reading and listening ( especially to Martin Lloyd Jones)
I believe that God has spoken to us through the scriptures. That conversation between God and the individual begins when the person begins to read or hear the word. its an ongoing conversation in that although the word has been in print for many years it speak afresh to us each time we read it.
The preachers job is to allow God's holy spirit to work through him. In doing so he becomes ready to bring the message of the scripture alive for those who listen. He reads, explains and applies. This is quite a simple view yet the more I read, the more  this model of preaching attracts.
If we stopped relying on our own wisdom and experience what might God say through us? I find myself very excited that the less I rely on me the more God might speak through me. I love inspirational stories and meditations on worthy themes however it is the depths and wonders of scripture that inspire and change us. It would be a privilege to be allowed to share God's word.
So to wrap up this post I simply say this. I hope to be able to take a text, explain it and apply it. After that its God's work. My role is to be moved by the scriptures and channel that energy into sharing God's word passionately and clearly.

getting started!

Just a short post on one if the themes that will most likely run through this blog. I have struggled all of my adult life with bring very defensive. As much as I want to serve God can I do so in the difficult world of church without getting into conflict with those who disagree with me? That's going to be a big part of my journey.