Where is your chair?

Bill Hybels asks the question where is your chair?


Can't see the video click here

Faith in Crisis

For what its worth my latest preach at MKCC


Enduring Faith - By Faith from MKCCpreaching on Vimeo.

At the moment of salvation....

Ten things that happen AT salvation:

1. You are reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18–20).
2. You are forgiven for all of your sins (Col. 2:13).
3. You become a child of God (John 3:3, 7).
4. You are accepted by God (Eph. 1:6).
5. You are justified by Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:1–5:1).
6. You are brought close to God (Eph. 2:13).
7. You are delivered from the power of darkness (2 Cor. 4:3–4; Col. 1:13).
8. You join the people of God (1 Pet. 2:9).
9. You are granted access to God (Heb. 4:16; 10:10–20).
10. You receive an inheritance (Eph. 1:14; Col. 3:24; 1 Pet 1:4; Heb. 9:15).

HT: Bill Clem

Kindling

Seth Godin recently wrote an article titled "Wasted Kindling", here is a paragraph:

"It's hard to imagine a bigger waste than cooking an entire meal using nothing but kindling. It burns fast and bright, but it doesn't last. You might be able to cook something, but then there's be nothing left for the next guy. No, the useful technique is to have some bigger logs standing by, and to use as little kindling as possible."

Most churches that are growing are seeking out ways to make the experience of attending church a great experience. Nothing wrong with that. My early experience of church would not have come under that category. So one of my passions in life is to ensure that the church of today is different.

But we need to ensure that we are going way beyond the initial "Kindling" that gives a great impression to substantial fire that is built out of the "logs" of reality.

A smile and a handshake on the way in from the car park is great but always remember that every single person needs deep relationship. To know and be known.

Great music that takes us on a journey of corporate worship of Jesus stimulates the heart and the emotions but will not satisfy unless it transitions into a life sold out in day to day moment by moment acts of worship when the music and emotions have faded.

Biblical preaching, communicated in a stimulating and enlightening way is a springboard to a journey of life of adventure based on God's principles. However unless the Word forms part of everyday life and we can encourage people to devour it for themselves the journey will become a cul de sac and a stay in the familiar.

To watch a video & hear about the Holy Spirit has moved by miraculous power in some one else's life brings tears of emotion and joy to our eyes. But God wants us to be participators with the Holy Spirit not spectators of the Holy Spirit in our every day lives.

Lets not mistake the speedy combustion of kindling, which without doubt is vitally important, with the long hard work of obedience of building a huge consuming fire in our lives and churches that is not over before it began.

Smile at the storm

For me one of the most crazy experiences on my recent India trip was being driven around on Indian roads. I expected them to be bumpy and non existent in places. What I wasn't ready for was the crazy driving on them.

It seemed to me that mild mannered quiet nice guys turned into demons when the got behind the wheel. It seemed to be a competition for the duration of the journey to not let anything pass and to pass by any means possible anything that was in front.

Add to that all the other hazards outside the drivers control on roads that had NO rules I have to say that travelling around India was not a pleasant experience.

My best tactic was to close my eyes and pretend I was sleeping so I wouldn't have to watch the mayhem ensue and remain in a state of tension for hours on end.

One day on a 3 hour drive to the airport with a driver that resembled a "bat out of hell" (His driving style only!) the guy in the front seat stuck on a CD. Out of the speaker came this soothing symphony of music. Totally opposite to the mayhem taking place outside the car.

Sitting in the back seat God brought a smile to my face by dropping into my mind an old Sunday school chorus that had the line in it:

"With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm, smile at storm, smile at the storm, as we go sailing home."

Whatever storm is going on around, no matter the chaos, no matter the danger, if we truly have Christ, and our trust is in him, we can still have a calmness and a deep Joy because of Him.

Jesus knew I was hurting & he wasn't OK with it...

Trish Crossley's Story from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

True Heros

On the way beck home from visiting the The Home of Faith near Markapur, India I had a bit of a wait at Hyderabad Airport for my evening flight. To be honest I just wanted to book into a hotel and sleep. However a couple who used to attend MKCC wanted to meet and take me to their home.

They are quietly using their time, talent and treasure to build Jesus Kingdom in what can only be classed as a very poor part of Hyderabad. There they have built a small church and support Pastor Barnabas and his family in reaching the neighbourhood for Jesus.

Barnabas lives in the community with his wife and two children. He receives around £50 per month. Like the early disciples he has no formal education but he loves Jesus and serves this poor community.

Before going to India I read a tweet by a young guy that said that because Ps Brian Houston, Hillsong hadn't turned up he had been given his latte to drink and it was a bit like drinking from the Holy Grail. (Please note that I have NO axe to grind with Ps Houston he is doing an amazing job, nor the person that wrote the tweet in any way)

But I worry that the celebrity culture that so permeates the world can so easily seep into our world.

Hillsong and Ps Brian Houston are serving the same Jesus as Pastor Barnabas and family. Ps Brian faithfully preaches to 1000's each week and Ps Barnabas faithfully serves 30.

To me people like Pastor Barnabas are the real hero's in the church. No one knows their name except their immediate flock, they survive by the skin of their teeth and never venture outside their small village.

We are all serving the one hero - JESUS!

So I was honoured and humbled to share a plain glass of water with Barnabas.