New Blog Series: Begins Sunday

With Palm Sunday fast approaching I have plans to blog about the Holy Week story. From the triumphal entry this weekend, through the emotional agony of Thursday night, exploring the physical torture of Friday, the emptiness of Saturday and the mind-bogglingly glorious events of Easter Sunday.

Watch this space...

Widescreen/Inside-out

I’d like to share with you something God has been teaching me over the last couple of years or so ;

There have been moments in history that have turned the world, and the way we think of the world, on its head.
There was a time when we KNEW the earth was flat... and that was proved wrong.
There was a time when we KNEW the earth was the centre of the universe... and that was proved wrong.
There was a time when we KNEW slavery was the way to go... and that was proved wrong.
There was a time when we KNEW something... and it was proved wrong.

The Apostles KNEW that salvation was for Israel, the Jews – they were the People of God, the people of the promise to Abraham... til rumours of Peter breaking all the rules begin drifting into Jerusalem*.
“Peter has been eating with THEM!”

Was this right? Had Peter been hanging out with THEM? Mixing with THEM? Surely Peter knew better than that. THEY were Gentiles, the irreligious outsiders, the no-hopers, the foreigners, the dirty, unclean heathens. Why would Peter even bother? So when Peter turns up, they grill him about it.

Peter explains himself:
“Ok, So I was in Joppa, praying, and fell into like a dream, like a trance. And I saw something like a blanket, a picnic sheet, being lowered down by its four corners from heaven. It landed in front of me and on it was a load of animals, all different kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and God said ‘kill it, cook it, eat it’.
"I was like 'I can’t do that, that’s not kosher. I’ve never eaten anything impure or unclean.' And God said 'don’t call anything I’ve made clean unclean'. And this happened, what?, three times. It was really weird!"

And then he begins to them tell how them Spirit had told him about the ‘outsider’ that was looking for him; how he should go with him, and go into his house, and tell the gospel to the outsider and his family. By this point, the Apostle’s are sitting around the room hanging on his every word...

Peter continues explaining; ‘while I was speaking the Spirit came on them like He did on us, Remember? On Pentecost when this all kicked off? and... they believed... in Our Jesus... and lads... I think they’re saved. I mean, they believe the same Jesus, they got the same Spirit and like, who am I to say who God got it wrong?!

The other Apostles are stunned, silent. Their whole Jewish upbringing has just been totally flipped, their jaws have hit the floor, their brains are working overtime trying to process this – How could...? Why Would...? What about...? What’s just happened?
And yet somehow the Holy Spirit is stirring their hearts to worship and assuring them that actually... what Peter is saying is right. And what he did was ok and that this is how it’s meant to be!

Imagine... Echoes of Jesus’ words are flooding back ‘You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth’. Memories of eating with Tax collectors and hookers and hoodlums come rushing back... the woman at the well, the roman centurion’s servant, the good Samaritan story... all these pieces begin falling into place... This gospel is FAR more inclusive than they ever imagined!

They don’t get it all right from this moment on. They still try to work out what this actually looks like in practice. They still muck stuff up and things get a bit messy and tetchy from time to time but God is gracious to them. They only get four chapters down the road before the main leaders of the Church have to get together to address some of the problems they’re having with this new inclusivity. What do they do about some of the hoops gentiles had to jump through? Do they need circumcision or can they do without it? Is it a help or a hindrance?

The bottom line is; through Christ the outsiders are in, and the apostles need to spread the word.
The foreigners are in.
The outcasts are in.
The uneducated are in.
The heathens are in...
“God has granted EVEN the GENTILES repentance unto life.”

And it’s got to be important cos Luke, the author of Acts, includes this story TWICE. This is the replay of Chapter 10. This is the repeat on Channel Acts+1. Luke wants us to hear this story, and to take on board what it means and go through the same thought processes as the apostles.
We won’t get it all right from this moment on. We still need to try to work out what this actually looks like in practice, in our church, in our lives. How do we live this out?!
We’ll still muck stuff up and things will probably get a bit messy and tetchy from time to time but God is gracious to us.

The bottom line is; through Christ the outsiders are in, and we need to spread the word.
This Gospel is for the foreigners.
This Gospel is for the outcasts because they are included.
This Gospel is for the uneducated because they are included.
This Gospel is for the heathens because they are included.
This Gospel is for the people from the dodgy estate
This Gospel is for the upper class twits
This Gospel is for the disabled
This Gospel is for the homosexuals
This Gospel is for the homeless
This Gospel is for the ugly
This Gospel is for the single mums
This Gospel is for the abused
This Gospel is for those with credit or debt problems
This Gospel is for the people with unsavoury lifestyle choices because they are all included. Everyone is entitled to hear the gospel story! “God has granted EVEN the GENTILES repentance unto life.”
And it made me think: When was the last time you went somewhere and felt out of place?

Last summer, Kat and I went to the Polo with some friends.
We knew it was going to be a fairly posh do when it said on the invite you could arrive by car or bus or tube or boat... or helicopter.
I HAVE NEVER FELT MORE OUT OF PLACE IN MY LIFE!
There were sales pitches for yachts and holiday villas and horses and stables.
There were small children ‘utterly outraged mummy.’ Cos we called them horses and ‘they're quite plainly obviously ponies’.
I’ve been to many a sporting event in my life: Football matches – you go to the ground, you have a drink and a pie you watch the football, you go home (you try and spot yourself on match of the day later).
I’ve even been to the Winter Olympics Ice Hockey: You go to the rink, you have a drink, you watch the match, you go see the Olympic flame, and then you go home.
Apparently the actual polo match is a sideline attraction at a polo event. These people seemed more intent on looking more important and richer than anyone else.
And as I walked around the venue... I was distinctly aware that I was expected to behave like them before I could belong in their club.

Church was never intended to be like that... Jesus met people where they were, loved them for who they were, and THEN helped them change their lives. Widening our vision of the gospel, even just a little bit to include those people who are just on fringe can bring huge growth. The gospel we know and love and believe is far more inclusive than we can imagine. We not called to decide who to share it with.

One songwriter put like this – Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come.

Who can you include?
How can you widen your sights?
Are you ready for a bit of inconvenience?
Are you willing to let people belong before they behave the right way?
Who is it on the fringe of your friendship group?

through Christ the outsiders are in, and we need to spread the word.

*this story is found in Acts 11:1-18

Old Choking New

I don't want to this first proper blog of 2010 to sound like a rant, but it is so that's how it comes across. I'm fed up with the narrow-minded bureaucratic madness that is entwined with the church in the UK.

I'm currently going through the early stages of the Ministerial Recognition process to become an accredited baptist minister. To be honest, I'm wondering if it's worth the hassle. Emails and forms have been bounced back and forth demanding this information and that arrangement.

One particular issue is the apparent need for an association member to see me lead and preach at a service (evidently the word of my references, all well regarded ministers in their own right, is not good enough for the association). The churches I am involved with are contemporary churches. They have a gifted set of worship leaders and preachers for each service (as one pastor puts it "you don't have a dog and bark yourself!"). It is highly unusual for one person to do both tasks. However, in the traditional 'old-school' Baptist world there are churches where the minister would lead and preach. This though is a model that is slowly dying out in favour of wider teams. It was suggested that if I couldn't lead and preach then I should just preach but at least be involved in the preparation of the service and 'certainly lead the prayers'.

In my opinion, this model of identifying potential church leaders is too rigid a structure built in a fading era, out of date and struggling to keep a grasp on reality. The system seems a lot like the Choluteca Bridge.

The bridge was built to get people from dry land, across the river, to dry land. It was an effective transport system. Until 1998 when Hurricane Mitch tore through Honduras causing a lot of damage and re-routing the river which once flowed under the Choluteca Bridge.

It now perfectly and soundly straddles nothing and is useless. Its structure is secure. Its strength remains. But it's pointless now the environment has altered around it. Perhaps this is the same for some of the old-school baptist processes. As the culture shifts and the ways we do church broaden and alter to meet the needs of the culture around us so too the system of appointing leaders of those churches should probably adjust to its surroundings or risk looking like a stupid, out-of-place bridge straddling where the river used to be.

Top Ten*: People I would love to Duet with.

01. Michael Buble
02. Amy Lee (Evanescence)
03. Lily Allen
04. Hayley Williams (Paramore)
05. Kelly Jones (Stereophonics)
06. Coldplay
07. Sting
08. Paolo Nutini
09. Robbie Williams
10. Nadine Coyle (Girls Aloud)

(*in no particular order)
Proper Blog coming soon...

2010 starts... NOW!

There are only twenty-one days left of this decade. There is much talk about the legacy the 'noughties' will leave behind; a world scarred by 9/11, a culture infatuated with reality TV, a decade that saw the launch of Facebook and Twitter and the explosion of social networking. There is also speculation about what the next decade of this century will bring; what will it be like? what will it be called?

Soon, the 6.8billion people who currently live on this little blue planet will welcome in the year 2010, and a large majority of them will be making the traditional New Year's Resolution; those personal goals to quit this, start that, spend less, exercise more, go here, be different.

And so I got to thinking what my New Year's Resolution would be and I've decided to be a Dipstick.

I want to be more Disciplined with time and work and Sabbath.
I want to be more Intentional. To do the things that need doing; not be distracted or just faff around.
I want to be Present. To give people the time and attention that they deserve. To be in the room and focused when I'm talking with people and not thinking about something else.
I want to be Spirit-Filled. I need the Holy Spirit. I don't want to try and do life in my own strength. I don't want to let myself run dry.
I want to be Thankful. To recognise more often the support of those around me and to acknowledge it more intentionally.
I want to be Inter-dependant. "I can't do this all on my own. No I know, I'm no superman". I want to invest more time and life in relationships and team.
I want to be Christ-Centred. After all, He is the one I'm living for. I want to keep Jesus central to everything I do.
I want to be Kat's. Kat and I get married on 18th Sept 2010. I want to be the best partner I can possibly be for her; support her, challenge her, surprise her and love her.

2010 is the year of the Dipstick. I want to be foolish in the eyes of the world as I live out my faith the best I can. And so, somewhat foolishly, I'm starting my New Years Resolution now! On 10th December 2009 (at about 4am!), with 21 days of this decade to spare, I'm starting as I mean to go on... As a DIPSTICK!

Happy New Year everybody!

Worship: Central or Skewed?

Our culture is celebrity mad.

I'm not making a value judgement on that, I'm merely making an observation that the times we live in have a serious obsession with celebrity and status. Whether it be TV shows with minor-celebrities desperately trying to get more attention by living in a jungle or talent competitions enticing members of the public with the promise of stardom. At the end of the day we're fascinated by celebrities, their lives, their styles.

But what happens when the celebrity culture begins to seep into areas where it is neither helpful nor wanted? What do we do when our obsession with making much of people hinders the very job they are trying to do? How do we address the issue of 'celebrity' worship leaders?

Firstly, let me say that I recognise that there are certain worship leaders who are extremely good at their job and that God has clearly anointed with new songs and abilities. It is the culture and industry that has been built around them that troubles me.

Over the summer I looked to buy a CD from one of these high-profile worship leaders and the website selling the album, who shall remain nameless, were offering 'signed copies' of the album. Alarm bells began to ring - why would I want the signature of a worship leader on a CD? The whole point of a worship leader is to point to Jesus and become virtually invisible. I can appreciate that the artist is proud of his work and pleased with how the album has turned out. But signed copies of a worship album somewhat miss the point surely?

There is no room in worship for celebrities other than God. And even within the Trinity, no one member of the Godhead ever puts themselves about the others. There is no self promotion. The Father does not exalt himself but instead he is glorified through the Son. The Son does not exalt himself but seeks to glorify, and is glorified by, the Father. The Spirit likewise does not seek to draw attention to himself but is glorified in his works with the Father and the Son.

I'm involved in leading worship; I have been for some time. I've had the privilege of working and worshipping with some of the high-profile worship leaders. I now have a certain level of responsibility to lead a worship team at the church I'm part of. The responsibilty is to lead the others in the church in worship; to take them to a place where they can engaged with God. The is absoltuely no room for me to turn it into the Jimmy Orr show.

Worship is to God, for God and about God. And all the time we let this celebrity culture invade our worship world I can't help but fear that we're robbing God of part of his worship.

To be continued...

Time-Out...

"I'm supposed to be the soldier who never blows his composure. Even though I hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders I ain't never supposed to show it, my crew ain't supposed to know it Even if it means goin' toe to toe with a Benzino it don't matter. I'd never drag them in battles that I can handle unless I absolutely have to. I'm supposed to set an example. I need to be the leader, my crew looks for me to guide 'em. If something ever does pop off, I'm supposed to be beside 'em."
(© Shady Records)

These are the lyrics of a song by Eminem. I've had these words circling round my head for days now and I'm battling with the lies that they're feeding me. The past few weeks, months even, have been stressful. Issues with churches and politics, the dead-weight of a dissertation hanging around my neck like a millstone, organising rotas for various worship teams, applying for the ministerial recognition process, trying to organise a place to play football, picking up the pieces of this and that and over and above it all trying to hold it together...

I'm feeling empty, tired, fatigued...
I feel as though I'm running out of stuff to give...
I feel as though I've still got to hold it together and maintain this facade that everything is fine and that I'm coping... But that last feeling is a lie!

I'm realising and remembering that I don't have to hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders. I'm remembering that I am allowed to show it and let my 'crew' know it.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

I'm calling time-out. I'm re-learning lessons I thought I'd nailed ages ago. I don't have to live like this. I'm re-learning to get close to Jesus again; to listen to him, learn from him, follow his example.
Perhaps better lyrics to get lodged in my brain are these...

Drop thy still dews of quietness till all our strivings cease. Take from our souls the strain and stress and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace.