I love our community meal, in many ways it's the heart beat of what we do. Food, family fun, serving together and trying to think about and work out who Jesus is.
Over the last couple of months it's been going through a change and we can't put our finger on what that change is. The change requires us to make some changes to Eat123 ( the name of the community meal). But we're not really sure that we know what changes to make, when or how!
This is not a big deal, the world is not going to end and life will carry on fine. It's just i don;t like not knowing!!
Not knowing is a part of leadership- but i'm not going to blag it and try to pretend i do know.
I'm going to listen to the advice of friends ( most who don't have any more of clue than i do!!)
Listen to God and trust that when i don't have a clue - he does and he might share what he's up to with me and he might not!!
Friday 24 January 2014
Friday 17 January 2014
I think I have been unfaithful-
This is my confession- Sorry I've given the attention and love I promised to one, to another!!
It's not that I meant to, it's just that I've been really busy and not have the time to love as I want too.
The look in the others eyes said to me love me, care for me and touch me!
I felt as if I could only say yes!!
I wish I had given more time to the things which matter, then at least I could have show love to both!
I wish I could say no as often as I say yes.
If only I could make decisions based on what I'm called to do and not on what will massage my ego and pride, then maybe i would not come home smelling of another.
If I could just remember the amazing things God has put into my hand and stop trying to add more and more, maybe I wouldn't be so so guilt right now.
God, you have been so good to me, help me to be good to what you have given me and stop taking what you have given to another.
[Some lovely friends have had a baby, they have a dog. I have helped look after that dog while they were having the baby. My faithful and often ignored dog is asking "how come you can make time for to play, stoke and walk another, but not for me. How can you come home smelling of another?"]
It's not that I meant to, it's just that I've been really busy and not have the time to love as I want too.
The look in the others eyes said to me love me, care for me and touch me!
I felt as if I could only say yes!!
I wish I had given more time to the things which matter, then at least I could have show love to both!
I wish I could say no as often as I say yes.
If only I could make decisions based on what I'm called to do and not on what will massage my ego and pride, then maybe i would not come home smelling of another.
If I could just remember the amazing things God has put into my hand and stop trying to add more and more, maybe I wouldn't be so so guilt right now.
God, you have been so good to me, help me to be good to what you have given me and stop taking what you have given to another.
[Some lovely friends have had a baby, they have a dog. I have helped look after that dog while they were having the baby. My faithful and often ignored dog is asking "how come you can make time for to play, stoke and walk another, but not for me. How can you come home smelling of another?"]
Friday 10 January 2014
Guess how much (in %) a kids spends in school in a year!
Go on? have try?
45%?
32%?
62%?
??%
Well the answer is..... I tell you in a moment and keep you reading for now. The answer is a shattering reminder that the HOME is the key to a child. Teachers are amazing and do an amazing job, but we need to support, cheer on and challenge parents to be raising world changers and not clones of a broken society.
Parents our job is to let are kids know they are loved, have skills and talents which God has a great joy to use.
Parents we need to send our kids out into the world with positive self esteem, being highly socially competent and with the self discipline so they can face the challenges in changing a broken and unjust world.
School is good and important, but lets say sorry for leaving it all to the teachers. Those who spend the most time with children have the most influence on them. Not easy, often tiring, often unappreciated, often flawed and mistake ridden, but if we could rise to our challenge then maybe our kids could change the world to see an end to hunger, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poor. See the 'different' being accepted and loved as humans and not pushed the to sidelines of society.
And so they would see God's kingdom come in ways we can't imagine.
The answer is 16% of year.
PS If they sleep for 10 hours a night thats still leaves 40% with YOU!!
PPS Kids still need to go to school BTW. That 16% is still incredibly important. ( unless you home school)
PPPS I realise some family shapes mean that that % is different, but i don't think that reduces the challenge.
45%?
32%?
62%?
??%
Well the answer is..... I tell you in a moment and keep you reading for now. The answer is a shattering reminder that the HOME is the key to a child. Teachers are amazing and do an amazing job, but we need to support, cheer on and challenge parents to be raising world changers and not clones of a broken society.
Parents our job is to let are kids know they are loved, have skills and talents which God has a great joy to use.
Parents we need to send our kids out into the world with positive self esteem, being highly socially competent and with the self discipline so they can face the challenges in changing a broken and unjust world.
School is good and important, but lets say sorry for leaving it all to the teachers. Those who spend the most time with children have the most influence on them. Not easy, often tiring, often unappreciated, often flawed and mistake ridden, but if we could rise to our challenge then maybe our kids could change the world to see an end to hunger, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poor. See the 'different' being accepted and loved as humans and not pushed the to sidelines of society.
And so they would see God's kingdom come in ways we can't imagine.
The answer is 16% of year.
PS If they sleep for 10 hours a night thats still leaves 40% with YOU!!
PPS Kids still need to go to school BTW. That 16% is still incredibly important. ( unless you home school)
PPPS I realise some family shapes mean that that % is different, but i don't think that reduces the challenge.
Friday 3 January 2014
Did we get the balance right? Did we do too much telling and not enough living!
Over the month of December we as a team had a number of amazing opportunities to share the good news of Jesus at Christmas. We had the local youth centre Christmas faye, the Harold Hill Light switch on, a church Christmas meal, and the pub carol service and other. All were good fun, all we very time consuming. All meant that the relationships I have suffered ( at home and in the community).
But to be honest we weren't say much new- People on the Hill tend to know the story the local school all have nativity based school shows.
Would it have been better to send the time and energy explain the "so what" of the Christmas story and helping people understand how understanding it can free us from some of the trap of the "material" Christmas.
Is part of the problem that so much of the what the church does fits so neatly into the material christmas?
I know as a Dad I'm struggling with what my children learn about life through the way we celebrate christmas.
Is Christmas seen too much as proclamation time of year over a discipleship opportunity?
Would churches and communities be healthier if the time, energy and money poured into telling people what most know and used for helping the saints live it and understand the So what of the christmas story?
I think next year less will be more for us at church1v23
(PHOTO: LIZ doing some out on the streets time with some art work- Inspired by Chris Duffet)
But to be honest we weren't say much new- People on the Hill tend to know the story the local school all have nativity based school shows.
Would it have been better to send the time and energy explain the "so what" of the Christmas story and helping people understand how understanding it can free us from some of the trap of the "material" Christmas.
Is part of the problem that so much of the what the church does fits so neatly into the material christmas?
I know as a Dad I'm struggling with what my children learn about life through the way we celebrate christmas.
Is Christmas seen too much as proclamation time of year over a discipleship opportunity?
Would churches and communities be healthier if the time, energy and money poured into telling people what most know and used for helping the saints live it and understand the So what of the christmas story?
I think next year less will be more for us at church1v23
(PHOTO: LIZ doing some out on the streets time with some art work- Inspired by Chris Duffet)
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