Whatever do we mean by this expression? Just recently I have had people coming to me to try to persuade me to come to "their church" and the main thing that each of them tell me is that their congregation is Biblically based and faith filled!!! Some even mention that it is "really following The Lord".
You know I am really pleased for each and everyone of them. I just hope they are in the place God wants them to be not because that for the moment the person in charge is saying what they would like to hear.
I remember when I moved to N.Ireland and decided to look for a church where one could feel the Holy Spirit moving in. Well we went to Presbyterian, Baptist, Church of Ireland, New church, Pentecostal, and more. The biggest problem was that when one waited and listened one could hear/feel the Holy Spirit moving in each one of them. And actually given free reign in most of them but in the style to which each person denomination was comfortable in.
Ok yes I know we can all say we have seen the Holy Spirit quenched, stopped from moving, but I often wonder if that is because there are people who have come because that place at one time suited their needs, that they would say it was "faith filled" and yet now the teaching has moved on to something that isn't what they want to hear and so they squash things from moving. I'm sure there are loads of theories why at times it feels like the Holy Spirit isn't moving and I know as I made Christian friends in N.Ireland that they would tell me that Holy Spirit wasn't moving in certain places but I can only say what I got from God on my 1st impression of entering many buildings.
I think really we need to see the whole gamete of the different congregations like a diamond. A diamond only shines so wonderfully when it has many polished sides. If it doesn't have the many sides then actually it is a piece of glass. It is the way the light catches all the different facets of the diamond that made it so beautiful and as it moves so the way it reflects the light changes and can be awe-inspiring.
So why can't we let all those other denominations, small groups, simple churches, high churches, etc shine the light of Jesus in the way He wants and all join together so that the rest of the world just gasps in wonder?
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Saturday, 26 June 2010
A Dog Example
This week as well as the usual stuff we are walking a friend's dog whilst she is a nurse at Glastonbury music festival.
I find dogs amazing. This dog totally adores his owner but now when we go for a walk he follows me. I have become the new top dog to be followed. I have been reading about the change that comes over us when we start to accept Jesus and follow Him, of how we go from following our own path to following Him. And I think often we can be like dogs where, even though at times it looks like we might have gone off for a wander on our own in fact we are just having a sniff about to see what is around, doing our own thing, but in the end we know how is the one who wants to be with us and so we, eventually, go back to following who we are meant to be with. The dogs always know, even when they have gone off to play with each other, just who they belong to and who to follow home.
It gives me courage when I think of both my children, who both have made that move to follow Jesus and yet at times at the moment look as if they have forgotten who they are following. Using the dog example either one day they will lift their heads up from where they are sniffing and remember or He will call them and they will come scampering.
I find dogs amazing. This dog totally adores his owner but now when we go for a walk he follows me. I have become the new top dog to be followed. I have been reading about the change that comes over us when we start to accept Jesus and follow Him, of how we go from following our own path to following Him. And I think often we can be like dogs where, even though at times it looks like we might have gone off for a wander on our own in fact we are just having a sniff about to see what is around, doing our own thing, but in the end we know how is the one who wants to be with us and so we, eventually, go back to following who we are meant to be with. The dogs always know, even when they have gone off to play with each other, just who they belong to and who to follow home.
It gives me courage when I think of both my children, who both have made that move to follow Jesus and yet at times at the moment look as if they have forgotten who they are following. Using the dog example either one day they will lift their heads up from where they are sniffing and remember or He will call them and they will come scampering.
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Made to feel Welcome
This week I am in the chorus of a local amateur dramatic production of King Lear. Tabi has been in it for a while and asked me to join with her this time.I have found this group to be warm, welcoming, friendly, supportive and accepting of all. We are a team.
I also help with the Citizens Advise Bureau (CAB). I have found this group to be warm, welcoming, friendly, supportive and accepting of all. In both these groups I don't feel like the new girl, though in both I am one of the least experienced and with a potential for screwing it all up. In fact at dress rehearsal last night I did because we are wearing masks and I am almost blind under mine as I have to take my glasses off. Instead of people saying I shouldn't do this everyone has made sure I am looked after and cared for. I did need to make my needs know but felt like I was in a safe place to do that.
I have been in Christian groups that have been warm, welcoming, friendly, supporting and accepting of all, who have picked up those who were struggling and made sure they were part of the team. But I have also been in Christian groups where that does not happen.
Until recently I thought I had a problem with authority as I can get quite fearful around certain leaders and I have done all my inner heal pray with that but still had that fear. Last night I realised I was being open and talking to the director about my sight problem without a stutter and without fear. Also at CAB I was having a laugh and a chat with someone who is very much in a senior position here.
So do I have a problem with leadership or is it to do with the fact of the way the leader is?
As I think more and more about dechurching and what comes next I hope that I can get to be part of a team, build a team, that can be warm, welcoming, friendly, supporting and accepting and going somewhere. I want to say of course this will happen with God at the centre but both the AmDram group and CAB do not have God at the centre. But they do have confidence in what they are doing and trust in their cast/team. I pray that for all congregations this will happen because actually with God at the centre us Children of God should be able to do this with even more warmth, welcomingness, friendliness, support and acceptance.... But also with a huge dose of love :)
I also help with the Citizens Advise Bureau (CAB). I have found this group to be warm, welcoming, friendly, supportive and accepting of all. In both these groups I don't feel like the new girl, though in both I am one of the least experienced and with a potential for screwing it all up. In fact at dress rehearsal last night I did because we are wearing masks and I am almost blind under mine as I have to take my glasses off. Instead of people saying I shouldn't do this everyone has made sure I am looked after and cared for. I did need to make my needs know but felt like I was in a safe place to do that.
I have been in Christian groups that have been warm, welcoming, friendly, supporting and accepting of all, who have picked up those who were struggling and made sure they were part of the team. But I have also been in Christian groups where that does not happen.
Until recently I thought I had a problem with authority as I can get quite fearful around certain leaders and I have done all my inner heal pray with that but still had that fear. Last night I realised I was being open and talking to the director about my sight problem without a stutter and without fear. Also at CAB I was having a laugh and a chat with someone who is very much in a senior position here.
So do I have a problem with leadership or is it to do with the fact of the way the leader is?
As I think more and more about dechurching and what comes next I hope that I can get to be part of a team, build a team, that can be warm, welcoming, friendly, supporting and accepting and going somewhere. I want to say of course this will happen with God at the centre but both the AmDram group and CAB do not have God at the centre. But they do have confidence in what they are doing and trust in their cast/team. I pray that for all congregations this will happen because actually with God at the centre us Children of God should be able to do this with even more warmth, welcomingness, friendliness, support and acceptance.... But also with a huge dose of love :)
Sunday, 20 June 2010
The Garden
A quick update on the garden and the whole no dig things!
It was all very hard work at the beginning digging up all those shrubs and weeds but it is looking good now. And is all reasonably simple to look after, especially if I knew what where the first vestiges of veggie plants and what are those hard ass weeds that will just keep on coming. I am now very good at identifying ground elder and withe-wind, both of which have to go. They are the hardened weeds. And the faithful old bramble that I have been battling with these past 3 years, as well as some Japanese maple that no matter how many times it is cut down sends up suckers to keep the whole processes going.
But we have lots of lettuce, so many in fact that for some the joy of salad with every meal is wearing a bit thin. And there has been red currants that have never really seen the light of day yielding plenty, though as yet I am not sure what to do with them!! There isn't enough to make jam but too many to not do something with. And we've had a nice crop of strawberries, though really only enough to pick and eat. But maybe if we didn't eat them as we picked them we'd have lots! And there are broccoli and courgettes and many other exciting things fruiting along the way.
But knowing that in the beginning I was comparing this whole no-dig gardening to our spiritual lives I do like to ask God what He has to say on it all.
First I notice that to keep it easy I do a little weeding in the morning when I am sorting out the chickens and rabbit, usually in my dressing gown as I'm a morning person and Ian a night owl. In totally animals and weeding takes about 20 mins. But that made me see that this is how I need to be with my inner life with God, checking on it when I get up, pulling out the bad stuff that has grown up over night and getting ready for whatever the day has to throw at me. In fact I have been making sure I get in an hour of Bible reading, journaling and praying most mornings before doing the animals and garden and I have been amazed at the difference that does make to just how I am looking at many things.
Then I notice when I go out later in the day to just check on things that often a few other of the hardened weeds have crept up and need pulling out or they will start to get big in the sunshine. Now this is where with me I am not so good, I do not often take stock of what is going on in my heart during the day and pull things out. These are the things that I can ignore and let grow, and often they are the hardened weeds of attitude, of those niggles with family and friends that always seem to occur. This one I need to let the gardener in a bit more often to deal with my hardened weeds.
Then at the end of the day I have a final check on eggs and then water things, especially any new plants I have put in. And again there are some of those hardened weeds that have some how reappeared. I am learning at night that before I sleep, as my head is on the pillow, I need to just go through with God where I've screwed up, where I've let in those weeds, and also to make sure we water what needs to be grown in my life.
Today Ian noticed that some withe-wind had grown up with the runner beans. It had managed to disguise itself and had grown to the height of the beans and was all twisted round them. It took ages for him to unwind them and not harm the runner beans. But again this makes me see how easy some of the strongholds in my heart can hide and look like something good and grow up together. And how then I have to be more careful how I deal with them as I could destroy some potential fruit too.
I am learning that for my garden it is an every day thing, even with the easier no-dig gardening, and for my heart, my spiritual life, it is also an every day thing even though I am as one with Jesus and have the power of the Holy Spirit walking with me. Neither can just be left!
It was all very hard work at the beginning digging up all those shrubs and weeds but it is looking good now. And is all reasonably simple to look after, especially if I knew what where the first vestiges of veggie plants and what are those hard ass weeds that will just keep on coming. I am now very good at identifying ground elder and withe-wind, both of which have to go. They are the hardened weeds. And the faithful old bramble that I have been battling with these past 3 years, as well as some Japanese maple that no matter how many times it is cut down sends up suckers to keep the whole processes going.
But we have lots of lettuce, so many in fact that for some the joy of salad with every meal is wearing a bit thin. And there has been red currants that have never really seen the light of day yielding plenty, though as yet I am not sure what to do with them!! There isn't enough to make jam but too many to not do something with. And we've had a nice crop of strawberries, though really only enough to pick and eat. But maybe if we didn't eat them as we picked them we'd have lots! And there are broccoli and courgettes and many other exciting things fruiting along the way.
But knowing that in the beginning I was comparing this whole no-dig gardening to our spiritual lives I do like to ask God what He has to say on it all.
First I notice that to keep it easy I do a little weeding in the morning when I am sorting out the chickens and rabbit, usually in my dressing gown as I'm a morning person and Ian a night owl. In totally animals and weeding takes about 20 mins. But that made me see that this is how I need to be with my inner life with God, checking on it when I get up, pulling out the bad stuff that has grown up over night and getting ready for whatever the day has to throw at me. In fact I have been making sure I get in an hour of Bible reading, journaling and praying most mornings before doing the animals and garden and I have been amazed at the difference that does make to just how I am looking at many things.
Then I notice when I go out later in the day to just check on things that often a few other of the hardened weeds have crept up and need pulling out or they will start to get big in the sunshine. Now this is where with me I am not so good, I do not often take stock of what is going on in my heart during the day and pull things out. These are the things that I can ignore and let grow, and often they are the hardened weeds of attitude, of those niggles with family and friends that always seem to occur. This one I need to let the gardener in a bit more often to deal with my hardened weeds.
Then at the end of the day I have a final check on eggs and then water things, especially any new plants I have put in. And again there are some of those hardened weeds that have some how reappeared. I am learning at night that before I sleep, as my head is on the pillow, I need to just go through with God where I've screwed up, where I've let in those weeds, and also to make sure we water what needs to be grown in my life.
Today Ian noticed that some withe-wind had grown up with the runner beans. It had managed to disguise itself and had grown to the height of the beans and was all twisted round them. It took ages for him to unwind them and not harm the runner beans. But again this makes me see how easy some of the strongholds in my heart can hide and look like something good and grow up together. And how then I have to be more careful how I deal with them as I could destroy some potential fruit too.
I am learning that for my garden it is an every day thing, even with the easier no-dig gardening, and for my heart, my spiritual life, it is also an every day thing even though I am as one with Jesus and have the power of the Holy Spirit walking with me. Neither can just be left!
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Dechurching
I have been following some comments on Neil Cole's blog about Organic church, something that God has been talking to me about for a long time now. Sometimes I listen and "get it" and give it a try and other times I just don't get it at all and get despondent or even try to join a church, which seems to often end in tears, on my part.
But there was one comment that struck me from someone in Arizona about how when they have people come to them to talk about organic church they tell them first to detox from what they are use to. This comment has sat with me a few days and then I had an email from someone wanting me to help someone out who's daughter has had a rough time at school and at 13 is going to go for home schooling. Well interestingly the first thing I suggested to her was that she deschool. Deschooling is a way of the child and parent getting all the stuff of school out of their system, detoxing, and then being able to get into home schooling without trying to do school at home or feel guilty that they aren't doing what school would be doing.
Please don't get me wrong, even though I am/have been a dedicated home educator I have nothing against schools and people who send their children there. As I write this I do wonder if I could say the same on the church front. I think I can with home educating because apart from a year and then 5 weeks in year 9 for Ben and now this year at college for Tabi we have not done school so to speak, so really apart from things I've got to get over about when I was at school :) we haven't had any issues with school at all. So can be happy with our choice and happy with others.
Now as I said I feel that organic simple church is something God has placed on me years ago and yet I have never really dechurched. I do it for a while then want to get involved so I can be a part of something. So all the things I'd started to detox on all came back, but a bit like a drug addict or exsmoker the hit is harder than before and more destructive.
Again I am really not saying that this path is for everyone and I feel I am working towards the place where i can say, as with school, that so long as people have made an informed choice and can be who they are meant to be then I have nothing against organised church in whatever form it comes in from CofE to Pentecostal, Charismatic to Catholic, but that for me, like home educating, simple organic church is for me.
And very much like the child who goes in and out between school and home school they actually are the worst behaved, hardest to get on with, hardest to fit into a group, whether that group be home ed or schooled, I think I am bouncing between the two and need to give myself permission to detox, to dechurch and then to see what God decides He wants to do with me.
For another blog but so often I try to sort out God's plan for me and really do need to carry on with where I was on the last blog and trust that His will will be done.
But there was one comment that struck me from someone in Arizona about how when they have people come to them to talk about organic church they tell them first to detox from what they are use to. This comment has sat with me a few days and then I had an email from someone wanting me to help someone out who's daughter has had a rough time at school and at 13 is going to go for home schooling. Well interestingly the first thing I suggested to her was that she deschool. Deschooling is a way of the child and parent getting all the stuff of school out of their system, detoxing, and then being able to get into home schooling without trying to do school at home or feel guilty that they aren't doing what school would be doing.
Please don't get me wrong, even though I am/have been a dedicated home educator I have nothing against schools and people who send their children there. As I write this I do wonder if I could say the same on the church front. I think I can with home educating because apart from a year and then 5 weeks in year 9 for Ben and now this year at college for Tabi we have not done school so to speak, so really apart from things I've got to get over about when I was at school :) we haven't had any issues with school at all. So can be happy with our choice and happy with others.
Now as I said I feel that organic simple church is something God has placed on me years ago and yet I have never really dechurched. I do it for a while then want to get involved so I can be a part of something. So all the things I'd started to detox on all came back, but a bit like a drug addict or exsmoker the hit is harder than before and more destructive.
Again I am really not saying that this path is for everyone and I feel I am working towards the place where i can say, as with school, that so long as people have made an informed choice and can be who they are meant to be then I have nothing against organised church in whatever form it comes in from CofE to Pentecostal, Charismatic to Catholic, but that for me, like home educating, simple organic church is for me.
And very much like the child who goes in and out between school and home school they actually are the worst behaved, hardest to get on with, hardest to fit into a group, whether that group be home ed or schooled, I think I am bouncing between the two and need to give myself permission to detox, to dechurch and then to see what God decides He wants to do with me.
For another blog but so often I try to sort out God's plan for me and really do need to carry on with where I was on the last blog and trust that His will will be done.
Monday, 14 June 2010
Your Will Will Be Done
Apparently, according to Nehemia Gordon, in the correct Hebrew translation of Matthew's gospel the "Lord's Prayer" should read "...Your Kingdom come Your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven...". Now that puts a whole different slant on things. In fact as one friend said it makes your prayer life different.
How?
Well if God's will will be done then we can relax a bit because what He knows is the right thing to happen will happen. But also it ups things a bit too when one gets one's head round prayer as being a partnership with God. We really do need to know what God's will is so that we don't waste countless hours praying for something He doesn't want to happen. I know with the partnership thing we can be negotiating because we do have that amazing honour of, through Jesus, being allowed into Father's throne room. But still we need to know we are coming in in His will not in our own great ideas.
So once we know what God's will is we can be praying in His will that will be done, which then makes more sense of Jesus putting this line in for His disciples to simplify the whole prayer thing.
How?
Well if God's will will be done then we can relax a bit because what He knows is the right thing to happen will happen. But also it ups things a bit too when one gets one's head round prayer as being a partnership with God. We really do need to know what God's will is so that we don't waste countless hours praying for something He doesn't want to happen. I know with the partnership thing we can be negotiating because we do have that amazing honour of, through Jesus, being allowed into Father's throne room. But still we need to know we are coming in in His will not in our own great ideas.
So once we know what God's will is we can be praying in His will that will be done, which then makes more sense of Jesus putting this line in for His disciples to simplify the whole prayer thing.
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
Surprises
I was doodling this in church the other Sunday and decided to submit it to the local Climate Change group who are publishing a book on people's thoughts on climate change and they have decided to publish it! Surprised or what!!
CLIMATE CHANGE!!
Changing, changing! We know the climate is changing!
Everything in the world is always changing!
With it comes floods
With it comes rain
With it comes total change in the whole system of climate as we know it
We are told to embrace change
Told that change is always with us
Change when ecospheres are destroyed
Changes when species die
Changes when what we knew has gone
Changing, changing! We know the climate it changing!
Should we embrace this change?
Should we try to change and stop this change?
Is all change good?
Is all change bad?
How can we see and harness what is good from this climate changing?
How can we deal with and stop what is bad?
Can we stop what is bad?
Is life as we know it all over?
And yet, and yet!
In all of this what picture can we hold on to
Is there hope is all of this?
Is there something to help us through all this?
When we see the world leaders not seem to be able to agree
When we see protests appearing to be ignored
What can we hold on to?
And yet back in a flood
Back in a time of total livelihood being destroy
There comes a symbol of hope.
There comes something we can hold on to
There in that tree as helicopters fly above the floods
There is the woman, labour induced by the trauma
There she is giving birth in a tree
There is our symbol of hope
There is a sign that God has said He will not destroy the world with a flood again
There is a sign of new birth
There is a sign of hope
In all this fear,
In all this disillusionment
There in a tree in an forgotten African country
There is a symbol of hope
There is new birth
Help us hold on to that symbol of rebirth
The symbol of hope
In all this change and change and more change there is hope
Hold on tight to it
CLIMATE CHANGE!!
Changing, changing! We know the climate is changing!
Everything in the world is always changing!
With it comes floods
With it comes rain
With it comes total change in the whole system of climate as we know it
We are told to embrace change
Told that change is always with us
Change when ecospheres are destroyed
Changes when species die
Changes when what we knew has gone
Changing, changing! We know the climate it changing!
Should we embrace this change?
Should we try to change and stop this change?
Is all change good?
Is all change bad?
How can we see and harness what is good from this climate changing?
How can we deal with and stop what is bad?
Can we stop what is bad?
Is life as we know it all over?
And yet, and yet!
In all of this what picture can we hold on to
Is there hope is all of this?
Is there something to help us through all this?
When we see the world leaders not seem to be able to agree
When we see protests appearing to be ignored
What can we hold on to?
And yet back in a flood
Back in a time of total livelihood being destroy
There comes a symbol of hope.
There comes something we can hold on to
There in that tree as helicopters fly above the floods
There is the woman, labour induced by the trauma
There she is giving birth in a tree
There is our symbol of hope
There is a sign that God has said He will not destroy the world with a flood again
There is a sign of new birth
There is a sign of hope
In all this fear,
In all this disillusionment
There in a tree in an forgotten African country
There is a symbol of hope
There is new birth
Help us hold on to that symbol of rebirth
The symbol of hope
In all this change and change and more change there is hope
Hold on tight to it
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