Yesterday I had an email from some friends who work in Thailand and who have some loose links with an organisation called Sports Friends Thailand. They posted a link to this video that shows how a group of ladies who knit in northern England support this ministry for young people on the other side of the world.
I have written this post not because I know anything about Sports Friends or because I want to encourage you to support them but because I think this is a great example that demonstrates how anyone can use their talents and their passions to support mission.
Whether you're a runner, a baker, a knitter, a reader, a gardener, a crafter or a builder I'm sure you can think of ways in which you can get involved in supporting whatever mission organisations you or your church are already linked to.
Monday 28 October 2013
Friday 25 October 2013
The Impact of Tax Dodging
Have you ever wondered how tax dodging by big companies works and what impact it has in places like Ghana or Peru? Well this little video might help.
Thursday 17 October 2013
Living Sacrifices
Last Sunday, in our series looking at Romans, we emerged from the difficult issues of chapters 9-11 into the easy to understand chapter 12. The trouble with the bits of the Bible that are easy to understand is that we have no excuse for not obeying them.
Paul starts this section with a couple of verses that set up the rest of the letter. The rest of the letter is the practical outworking of what he says here.
And Paul starts by saying, in verse one, that when we consider everything that God has already done for us the only appropriate response is to offer ourselves over fully into God's service.
Why do we do what we do? One of the issues that the previous chapters raise - if we wanted to read them that way - is the apparent contradiction between being saved by grace on the one hand, and the threat of being cut off from God if we slip from belief into unbelief on the other. We are told that we are not saved by works ... but somehow our works are significant.
So why do we serve? Here Paul makes it clear. Our service is a willing and loving response to everything that God has already done for us - another word for that is 'worship'. Worship is not just about singing songs in church on a Sunday - it's about everything that I do in response to what God has already done.
Paul starts this section with a couple of verses that set up the rest of the letter. The rest of the letter is the practical outworking of what he says here.
And Paul starts by saying, in verse one, that when we consider everything that God has already done for us the only appropriate response is to offer ourselves over fully into God's service.
Why do we do what we do? One of the issues that the previous chapters raise - if we wanted to read them that way - is the apparent contradiction between being saved by grace on the one hand, and the threat of being cut off from God if we slip from belief into unbelief on the other. We are told that we are not saved by works ... but somehow our works are significant.
So why do we serve? Here Paul makes it clear. Our service is a willing and loving response to everything that God has already done for us - another word for that is 'worship'. Worship is not just about singing songs in church on a Sunday - it's about everything that I do in response to what God has already done.
Monday 14 October 2013
Alex's Story
It is only about a month until we turn the church into a shoebox warehouse again and start processing boxes for Operation Christmas Child. This morning I had my first school assembly of the shoe box season, to the Year 7 and 8s at our local secondary school.
If you want to know what difference one shoe box can make here is Alex's story. This is an incredible story of forgiveness that will have you reaching for the tissues - as you hear about how our God can use a simple gift and transform death and hatred into love and forgiveness.
If you want to know what difference one shoe box can make here is Alex's story. This is an incredible story of forgiveness that will have you reaching for the tissues - as you hear about how our God can use a simple gift and transform death and hatred into love and forgiveness.
Friday 11 October 2013
How you doin ?
For those who grew up on a diet of Friends, the question 'How you doin?' was one of Joey's favourite lines - not asked because he was in any way concerned with how you were actually doing, but because he thought it gave him some success with the ladies. It was always about him, never about you.
But how are you doing?
One of my targets for this year was to run 1500 miles over the year. Another was a sub four hour marathon. If you read this blog regularly you will know that the marathon objective went horribly wrong back in April. But all the training at least put me well ahead of where I needed to be to get to 1500 miles by December 31st.
1500 miles equates to just over 4.1 miles a day, or 28.8 miles a week.
Unfortunately, for one reason or another - coupled with a 'can I really be bothered?' attitude, my running over the last couple of months has slipped. So I was a bit shocked when I looked at my training page on Fetcheveryone earlier this week to find this.
Up 3.3. Earlier in the year this number had been over a hundred.
I was only 3.3 miles ahead of where I needed to be at this point in the year. This number decreases by 4.1 miles everyday - the daily average. So one more day of missing a run and that would slip to being behind schedule for the first time this year. Action was required. I've only run more than 28.8 miles in a week twice in the last two months - now I'm going to have to do it every week for the rest of the year!
What goals and targets did you set yourself at the beginning of the year, at Easter, at the beginning of your new job, as you started university, last week ...? How are you doing?
Whether those goals were health related or fitness related or to do with relationships or attitudes or your walk as a disciple of Jesus ... how are you doing?
Sometimes we're not where we hoped we'd be because our goals were unrealistic. Sometimes life just gets in the way - things we never expected happen - and we do need to be sensible and flexible. But sometimes we're not where we hoped we'd be because we've taken our eye off the ball; we've lost focus; we've allowed other things to get in the way; we've slipped into a 'can't be bothered' frame of mind.
If that sounds familiar then let's not beat ourselves up about how rubbish we are - because that tends to make things worse - but let's refocus, maybe set some new short term goals, and then get on with it.
But how are you doing?
One of my targets for this year was to run 1500 miles over the year. Another was a sub four hour marathon. If you read this blog regularly you will know that the marathon objective went horribly wrong back in April. But all the training at least put me well ahead of where I needed to be to get to 1500 miles by December 31st.
1500 miles equates to just over 4.1 miles a day, or 28.8 miles a week.
Unfortunately, for one reason or another - coupled with a 'can I really be bothered?' attitude, my running over the last couple of months has slipped. So I was a bit shocked when I looked at my training page on Fetcheveryone earlier this week to find this.
Up 3.3. Earlier in the year this number had been over a hundred.
I was only 3.3 miles ahead of where I needed to be at this point in the year. This number decreases by 4.1 miles everyday - the daily average. So one more day of missing a run and that would slip to being behind schedule for the first time this year. Action was required. I've only run more than 28.8 miles in a week twice in the last two months - now I'm going to have to do it every week for the rest of the year!
What goals and targets did you set yourself at the beginning of the year, at Easter, at the beginning of your new job, as you started university, last week ...? How are you doing?
Whether those goals were health related or fitness related or to do with relationships or attitudes or your walk as a disciple of Jesus ... how are you doing?
Sometimes we're not where we hoped we'd be because our goals were unrealistic. Sometimes life just gets in the way - things we never expected happen - and we do need to be sensible and flexible. But sometimes we're not where we hoped we'd be because we've taken our eye off the ball; we've lost focus; we've allowed other things to get in the way; we've slipped into a 'can't be bothered' frame of mind.
If that sounds familiar then let's not beat ourselves up about how rubbish we are - because that tends to make things worse - but let's refocus, maybe set some new short term goals, and then get on with it.
Wednesday 9 October 2013
Spot the Difference
Can you spot at least three differences between these two photos?
On Sunday we held our Harvest Thanksgiving Service - and as well as supporting the work of BMS World Mission we also collected a range of dried and tinned goods to help support our local homeless Night Shelter.
The Night Shelter is overseen by Cricklewood Homeless Concern now known as Ashford Place. As a part of their provision they organise, between November and March, a number of venues around north Brent which provide a hot evening meal, a place to sleep and breakfast for around 20 people who would otherwise be sleeping on streets. One of the local Methodist churches is a venue, this year opening from Saturday evening through to Monday morning every weekend over the winter months. Whilst a lot of the work does fall into the hands of a few brilliant and dedicated people at Queensbury Methodist, it is great to be a part of a team drawn from a whole range of local churches. Each church will sign up to a number of evenings and provide the food and volunteers to run the shelter that night.
It might not seem much in the big scheme of things - but as we saw on Sunday, from Matthew 25:31-46, it's not about saving the world all in one go - it's about meeting need one person at a time.
As Mother Teresa said, 'If you can't feed a hundred people then feed just one'.
For those struggling to find all three differences: the tin of hot dogs has moved from front left; a tin of beans has moved front right to centre; and a tin of tomatoes in the middle has been rotated.
On Sunday we held our Harvest Thanksgiving Service - and as well as supporting the work of BMS World Mission we also collected a range of dried and tinned goods to help support our local homeless Night Shelter.
The Night Shelter is overseen by Cricklewood Homeless Concern now known as Ashford Place. As a part of their provision they organise, between November and March, a number of venues around north Brent which provide a hot evening meal, a place to sleep and breakfast for around 20 people who would otherwise be sleeping on streets. One of the local Methodist churches is a venue, this year opening from Saturday evening through to Monday morning every weekend over the winter months. Whilst a lot of the work does fall into the hands of a few brilliant and dedicated people at Queensbury Methodist, it is great to be a part of a team drawn from a whole range of local churches. Each church will sign up to a number of evenings and provide the food and volunteers to run the shelter that night.
It might not seem much in the big scheme of things - but as we saw on Sunday, from Matthew 25:31-46, it's not about saving the world all in one go - it's about meeting need one person at a time. As Mother Teresa said, 'If you can't feed a hundred people then feed just one'.
For those struggling to find all three differences: the tin of hot dogs has moved from front left; a tin of beans has moved front right to centre; and a tin of tomatoes in the middle has been rotated.
Tuesday 8 October 2013
The Mission of the Mind
When you go to churches in certain parts of the world you are required to leave your shoes at the door - because that is the culture, and a mark of respect.
There are other churches that you may sometimes go to where you are required to leave your brain at the door. At least that is the way it may seem. Contexts where we are not encouraged to think, and ask questions - instead we are supposed to accept what we are told and to have faith. Situations where the intellectual world of science or medicine, or the world of culture are kept at arms length and often seen as the enemy.
But, if you're looking for something to stretch your mind and get you thinking you may be interested in BMS World Mission's Catalyst Live events in November. Tickets are going fast so order soon.
Catalyst Live Promo from BMS World Mission on Vimeo.
Let me know if you're going to Reading - I'll see you there.
There are other churches that you may sometimes go to where you are required to leave your brain at the door. At least that is the way it may seem. Contexts where we are not encouraged to think, and ask questions - instead we are supposed to accept what we are told and to have faith. Situations where the intellectual world of science or medicine, or the world of culture are kept at arms length and often seen as the enemy.
But, if you're looking for something to stretch your mind and get you thinking you may be interested in BMS World Mission's Catalyst Live events in November. Tickets are going fast so order soon.
Catalyst Live Promo from BMS World Mission on Vimeo.
Let me know if you're going to Reading - I'll see you there.
Sunday 6 October 2013
Something to watch in December
No idea what this new Channel 5 series is going to be like but if you're looking for something to talk about in your coffee break at work you could do a lot worse...
A website and additional resources can be found here
A website and additional resources can be found here
Saturday 5 October 2013
Climbing the north face of the Eiger
If you're looking for a challenge you could try climbing the north face of the Eiger.
Alternatively you could try getting your head round Romans 9-11 in 20 minutes.
Over the last few Sundays we have looked at Romans 9, 10 and 11, and I have managed to avoid some of the more difficult questions. Last Sunday Richard Harvey did a quick over view of all three chapters in one go under the title of 'The Mystery of Israel and the Purposes of God'.
You can listen to Richard by clicking here.
You can see his slides by clicking here and scrolling to 29 September.
You can visit Richard's website - Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology - by clicking here.
Alternatively you could try getting your head round Romans 9-11 in 20 minutes.
Over the last few Sundays we have looked at Romans 9, 10 and 11, and I have managed to avoid some of the more difficult questions. Last Sunday Richard Harvey did a quick over view of all three chapters in one go under the title of 'The Mystery of Israel and the Purposes of God'.
You can listen to Richard by clicking here.
You can see his slides by clicking here and scrolling to 29 September.
You can visit Richard's website - Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology - by clicking here.
Wednesday 2 October 2013
It's a balancing act
Do you ever feel that you're being pulled in two opposite directions at the same time?
Sometimes when we read the Bible it seems as if we are being asked to accept two things as true even though it appears that these two things are mutually exclusive. What we are left with is what some people call 'creative tension' as we try and hold onto both ideas at the same time.
A couple of Sunday's ago we were looking at Romans 11 in our morning service and one of the things we looked at was Paul's image of the olive tree with some branches cut off and other branches grafted in.
Paul wants the Gentile Christians in Rome to see that they have been grafted in because of the grace of God - but there is a word of caution too. If they become arrogant and start to live any way other than faith in Jesus there is a danger that they may be cut off once again.
And so we hold these two ideas in tension - we are saved by grace, but we are required to work out our salvation. We trust in God, but we keep a careful check on our own thoughts and attitudes and behaviour.
It's the balance between the kindness and the sternness of God that Paul talks about. When we start to swing too far one way or the other we lose our balance and fall over.
Sometimes when we read the Bible it seems as if we are being asked to accept two things as true even though it appears that these two things are mutually exclusive. What we are left with is what some people call 'creative tension' as we try and hold onto both ideas at the same time.
A couple of Sunday's ago we were looking at Romans 11 in our morning service and one of the things we looked at was Paul's image of the olive tree with some branches cut off and other branches grafted in.
 |
| New branches grafted into an old root |
And so we hold these two ideas in tension - we are saved by grace, but we are required to work out our salvation. We trust in God, but we keep a careful check on our own thoughts and attitudes and behaviour.
It's the balance between the kindness and the sternness of God that Paul talks about. When we start to swing too far one way or the other we lose our balance and fall over.
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