after Harvest at fluid

Yes, I am happy that the event was pulled together with such a good group of people with the desire to see a difference in the way we do church. The manager of the venue said to me after that he thought it was a good event and one of the folk that attended commented on the feel of the place as you came in. The publicity, grapevine or bother of people to come was disappointing and there were a number of youth there. A + and a - because the event was not aimed at teens but they were good and I will follow through with their leader to see what they made of it. Would I do a similar again with all the nervous energy and work. My answer is a bit like a parent fresh out of the delivery room ...

Harvest at fluid

In recent weeks I have been involved in overseeing a Harvest with a difference. The churches together decided to do a harvest that would involve the younger people (20's to 40ish). We worked with the fresh expression in Stoke-on-Trent and took their lead calling the event "Harvest Without Walls". The notion is to have a different visual/audio approach toward encouraging prayer and observation from a Christian spiritual perspective. I was delighted to have the manager of the fluid nightclub in Newcastle town centre respond so positively straight away to the proposition. So on Sunday between 4 and 5.30 pm we are hosting an event in the town that we hope will inspire the unchurched/dechurched 20's to 40's to make a journey of faith in the hope of Christ.

Stop the War

The War against Terror is approaching its sixth year. Following the atrocities or the 9th of September 2001 the response made by George Bush was not long in coming. Invasion of Afghanistan in order to Osma Bin Laden (still free), the Invasion of Iraq to chase Weapons of Mass Destruction (still not found), the heartbreak of terrorist murders in our capital and the more recent action of Israel against “terrorists” and the Lebanese people (not spoken against). The War against Terror has brought more terror, murder, destruction, widows, orphans and death as the cost of the U.S to “protection” of its people. The unequivocal support of our Prime minister, Tony Blair, and the Labour government in meeting terror with terror has caused many to despair over the blinkered use of violence that has caught up the innocents in its enormity.

Before the Labour Party Conference in Manchester last week I joined with the tens of thousands of people who converged on Manchester to show their opposition to the continuing fruitless use of violence to combat terrorism. But I was dismayed to see among the organised groups attending from Islamic, Socialist and Marxist groups, few Christians. I was dismayed because my belief is in the responsibility we own as people of faith to speak out. We are to stand with those who are subject to the oppression and violence of others. Christianity, Judaism and Islam share a common foundation in the faith of the Hebrew prophets. Isaiah said, in the way of the prophet to speak for God, “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:15-17 NIV)

While you may think that such protest is unavoidably political, I would argue that to protest is unavoidably spiritual. Our religion must be substantiated by our view of the world and how we treat those who are oppressed by the actions of others.

The most powerful impact of the march against the War for me was when the shouting and drum beating stopped and we held a mass “die in.” In those minutes I reflected on the loss of life of innocents seen as “collateral damage” by the hawks of Washington and Westminster. I thought of my own children and how precious their small lives are to me. I mourned for the loss of life taken by the fear, hatred and violence of people who would better serve their cause by seeking peace through dialogue with their “enemy”. I prayed for a better world free from violence and fear for the widows and orphans made by terrorists of all descriptions. I prayed for a world free from violence and fear for my children to grow up in. If this is political it is also spiritual and necessary to follow the command of Jesus "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:43-44 NIV)

to preach or not to preach ...

I was at the Greenbelt Festival for the day yesterday. There are some brilliant and contemporary Christian thinkers who speak at this arts and music festival. I heard Jim Wallis speak on a moral response to terrorism and it moved me to write to Mr Blair (again) with a broken heart for those who are treated as "collateral damage" in the war games of the powerful. I also heard Jonny Baker speak about deconstructing the sermon. I blogged a response to Jonny ( http://jonnybaker.blogs.com/jonnybaker/2006/08/summer_is_over.html#comment-21676282 ) and you might like to read his full chaper on the subject that is available as a download from his blog. The day was a fantastic experience for Catherine and me (not least because the girls were with their grandparents in Wales). I love being with people who are into Jesus and honest about their enjoyment of life in all its diversity as Christians. Thanks to Andy Kind, who was doing stand up for the first (not the last) time supporting Paul Carenza, for the tickets. Sometimes the best things in life are free even if the food costs over the odds. Long live the Greenbelt Festival.

No more mister nice Christian?

It has to be said, no I can't avoid it any more, I have to stand up and say that I don't think that Jesus was nice. Yep you got me right. I don't believe that Jesus is the comfortable provider of religious satisfaction that he has been purported to be in recent history. We have gone beyond the terrible judge who took pleasure in sending sinner to a firey place in the medieval incarnation to an incipit character who takes little interest in what we do as long as we are quiet about it and nice to oneanother. A bit like a heavenly parent with a bit of a head at all the noise his children are making just waiting until bedtime when he can have a bit of peace. Perhaps my anaolgy is a bit strong but I don't think that Jesus is nice. I believe that he is the image of God and gives us ample warning to tidy up after ourselves and get to grips with what it means to take on board the pain of a world in a dreadful state of spiritual conflict. His command, not his request is that we should love God and one another in an all out manner. This is not something we want to do, can ever feel comfortable with either, because like all children we want to please ourselves. Derek Tidball said at the Keswick Convention this year that the problem with many of our churches is that we are descent selfish people. I would add to that we think that Jesus should be as nice and inoffensive as we are ourselves. I have (good) news for you all. If you read the gospels Jesus is offensive and noisey for the kingdom of God. I see a loving and sacrificial nature in Jesus but never could he be said to be nice. So I suggest for any Christian who wants to follow him, no more mister nice Christian.

Good for the soul

It was my wife's birthday and as a treat I took her to Paris for the weekend. We have both been having a hard time with work and I have not been spiritually on track. The lead up to going away was o.k. but I didn't have much enthusiasm until a couple of days before. Then I started to get a spark about the approaching expreince. To cut a long one short it was everything that I would hope. The sights, the art, the food and drink was all wonderful. Even in the rain Monmartre was thrilling and our time was well used for relaxing as well as recreating. Fabulous time that led me to think how necesary it is that we find time away from the rush and push of life (even church life) because it is good for the soul.

east and west

The day with the asian fusion emerging church chaps Pal and Richard at Cliff College yesterday was excellant! Engaging and challenging in all kinds of was that exceed the notion of cross cultural mission. I love these guys. Their heart is for the Jesus I know and their focus on brining all peoples into a real relationship with the living God. While not dismissing the real presence of the Holy Spirit throughout the witness of faith in God througout theirs is not an indistinct pluralism but a sensitive approach toward seeking souls in need of the revelation of Christ. A poignant quote "If you enter a completely dark room and there is someone there with a candle that you want to introduce to the sunshine you won't extinguish their light until you have taken them into the sunlight" We have much to learn in seeking dialogue and common ground with people of faith in the world. We need to experience the love of God for all his creation and all people whether we understand or agree with them. It is true!