Friday, November 20, 2015

Every line your story, Jesus


Write me with your glory, 
Jesus Every line your story, Jesus 
Author of my faith

These are the lines from a new song soon to be released on a new album from NewSpring Church, SC. (Watch the full song here)

I left home at the age of 19 starry eyed dreaming of doing great things for the glory of the author of my faith and saviour Jesus. The story to be written was to be glorious.

Now 33 years later I look back and the story certainly has been glorious but not in the way I thought it would be.

It is glorious not because of what I have achieved for God but what he has achieved in me.

It is glorious not because of my greatness but because of His supremacy.

It is glorious not because of my choices but his kindness in protecting me from my own foolishness.

It is glorious not because of my faithfulness but because of His unfailing love.

It is glorious not because of my good deeds but because of His grace.

I am written with Glory because its not my story that is being written, it the story of a faithful, merciful, gracious, supreme saviour, Jesus.

And for the story yet to be written, be it short or long in this life, my prayer is that it be your story that is written Jesus. And that I will embrace your story for my life whatever twist and turn that may take because your story always ends in Glory.


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Top 10 Mistakes Leaders Make


This past weekend we hosted Author and Leadership coach, Dave Kraft at Milton Keynes Christian Centre. During his ministry Dave has served on staff and volunteered in leadership in all sorts of churches, both large and small.

A few years ago he wrote a short book called Mistakes Leaders Make. In it he crystallised both many of the mistakes he personally made and also those he saw other leaders making.

In his conference on Saturday he walked us through 5 of these mistakes giving us time to review our own leadership and discovering any blind spots. It certainly was a challenging day.

Here are what Dave describes as the top 10 mistakes he sees leaders making:

  • allowing ministry to replace Jesus;
  • allowing comparing to replace contentment;
  • allowing pride to replace humility;
  • allowing busyness to replace visioning;
  • allowing financial frugality to replace fearless faith;
  • allowing artificial harmony to replace difficult conflict;
  • allowing perennially hurting people to replace potential hungry leaders;
  • allowing information to replace transformation; and
  • allowing control to replace trust.
You may want to consider picking up the book and reviewing it with your team.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

The motivation for giving?


It was great to have Andrew Shearman with us at MKCC. He has been a great friend and influence to our church and leadership over many many years. He continues to lead G42 Leadership Academy in Spain inspiring many young people into the great mission of Jesus. Here are a few quotes from his message today: We're given to generosity.

  • If we are going to put our head up into the arena of influence we better look like Jesus.
  • Giving is not how the church raises its budget it is how God raises his children.
  • Lovers are the best givers, God is love, so he is the ultimate giver.
  • Tithing and giving did not come out of obligation or command but out of love and thankfulness.
  • Jacob the natural grabber, after an almighty wrestle with God, became a giver.
  • The deepest truth in the Bible is: Jesus loves me this I know.
  • It is possible to give without loving, but it is NOT possible to love without giving

Afterwards the great people of Milton Keynes Christian Centre made their pledges to give to the vision of our church over the next year through All In.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Taste driven effort

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. - 2 Peter 1:3-6
The Psalmist said: "Taste and see that the Lord is Good". Peter makes it clear that it is God that make it possible for us to taste God.

  • It is His divine power, not our power that opened the door to this experience.
  • It is Him that called us when we were not listening or looking for Him.
  • Allowing us to become partakers of the divine, to taste and see that God is great.

Effort and works are very much part of this grace laden life that we have been called into. But our effort flows out of us being partakers of the divine, they don't lead to a place where we are worthy of the divine.

For this very reason, make every effort 

Because we have experience His divine power, because we have been called, because we have tasted the divine and it was glorious, our taste buds are alive and we want more...

Thursday, October 22, 2015

The essential church clothing


A few years ago I was asked to perform a wedding at church. The prospective bride having seen me week after week in church in jeans and a hoodie asked her dad in a slightly concerned manner if I would officiate the wedding in my usual attire.

But I was not always that casual. Growing up in a small village in the North East of Scotland attending the local AOG meant a shirt and tie at the least but prefferably a suit. Changed days I dont even own a suit! I've never believed that dress on the outside matters, as long as you are wearing something! But the Bible does talk to us about specific clothes we should wear:
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you - 1 Peter 5:5-6
Peter here talks specifically to young people but this verse is connected to the previous verses by the word "likewise". Like who? Well just prior to this he is talking to church leaders.

So he is saying, "ALL OF YOU",  including church leaders and young people alike, its time to put your clothes on. And the clothes of choice, HUMILITY.

And it would seem that God, at least in part, leaves this choice to us: Clothe YOURSELVES, Humble YOURSELVES.

God help me to cover my pride continually by taking up and putting on humility today and every day no matter how much the struggle.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

When the church becomes obsolete?


The Telegraph recently ran an article with the following headline: Church of England considers Christmas-only parishes.

It discloses that about 2,000 churches – now have fewer than 10 regular worshippers. At the same time parishes collectively spend about £160 million a year on maintaining their buildings.

These rural churches have been hit by a general decline in  UK church attendance but the main reason would seem to be population shifts over the years leaving some once-thriving churches effectively marooned in the midst of fields.

I suspect that these church buildings, now obsolete, were celebrated wildly on their opening. Loyal Christians sacrificed and invested their hard earn cash to build a great building that would be used to worship Jesus and make his name famous in their locality.

But these buildings have not stood the test of time for the vision behind why they were built. (Although many of them still look amazing). They belong to a bygone era and don't really lend themselves to the requirements of the church today. Their maintenance bills are huge, uncomfortable and difficult to heat. And by enlarge because of advancement in travel and the move towards cities many of them don't even have many people living nearby. The building has become obsolete.

However the Church of Jesus Christ is not defined by bricks and mortar. His church is living and active through His people. Our buildings are useful but they are not the mission. People are the mission.

Let us use our buildings where ever possible to connect us with people, becoming the hub of our communities, while we have them, but in a 100 years they will likely be gone or as obsolete as these village parish churches that are scattered around the English countryside, looking incredible, but serving little or no purpose.

But let us invest our time, talent and treasure in people and in particular the next generation so they will grow up, take the baton, and see a glorious church built that will never become obsolete.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

When our best is not good enough?


This past Sunday I got to preach on "We're bringing our best" at MKCC. Here are a few highlights from that preach.
  • Two things our best cant do. Our best cannot obtain our salvation & our best cannot keep our salvation
  • Before Paul talks to the Ephesian believers about them, in the closing part of the first chapter in his letter he brags on Jesus. He explains how he dominates everything. We have to get that right, the majesty and magnificence of Jesus. If we get that wrong we are on shaky ground. Its Jesus then us.
  • Then he turns to us: You, you are DEAD. There isn’t much a dead person can do. Apart from rot! (Eph 2:8)
  • Our best can never earn us salvation, only Jesus best can land it our lap when we least expected it and least deserved it. 
  • If we truly grasp the utter scandal of grace, it will free us from every feeling of failure and rejection and replace them with gratitude and acceptance. Your best cannot obtain salvation but Jesus best brings it in all its glory
  • Our salvation is secure not because of our prayers but because of Jesus prayers, not because of our perseverance but because of the perseverance of God, not because of our good works but because of Christ's work, not because of our obedience but because of Jesus obedience, nor because of our greatness but because of the supremacy of Christ.
  • If your view is that grace, mercy, acceptance & love is a result of your works, when your works fail, and they will, grace disappears, mercy evaporates, acceptance vanishes and love turns to fear. God did not rescue you for a life like that.
  • Our best must not bring glory to us but only glory to God .
  • It's not that there are no works in the Christian life, it is the motivation and purpose of these works that take on a whole new meaning. We don’t show hospitality, love & serve to show how good we are in order to be accepted by God. We do these things because we are accepted by God and for God’s glory.
  • As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: v 10. God's gifts should never point the finger at us and our glory but direct every ones gaze to God and His ultimate glory.
  • We are only ever stewards and servants of God's gifts. They never become our gifts for our glory.
  • God gets glory not from our heroic exertion but from our reliance upon his strength – Piper
  • Be less focused on your deficiencies and more focused on Christ's sufficiency." - Louie Giglio
  • His best opens the door and empowers us to bring our best to bring glory to God.
You can catch the full message here


Tuesday, October 13, 2015

What our best cannot do for us

Had the opportunity to share the latest message in our teaching series at MKCC - Amplify: Turn up the volume of hope.

We continued walking through the core values we hold dear at our church:

We're Bringing our Best

The message may not be what you expect:)

Monday, October 12, 2015

Taking the lonely out of leadership - No 2: Family


I recently posted 10 ways to take the loneliness out of leadership. Here I'd like to dive into the second: Develop a healthy relationship with your family.

A few years ago a guy in our church came to remonstrate with me about my non attendance at a ministry event he was involved in leading. As a pastor I should have been there!

When I explained that I had a planned day out with my son, we had tickets for some sporting event if I remember rightly, and I saw that as being more important on this occasion. This did not meet with his approval. I will never forget his words back to me.

"If you look after God's family, God will look after your family, the church comes first for you."

I can't tell you how much I disagree with that. Too many families have been destroyed through a preoccupation with ministry instead of family.

Our advice as pastors, to men and women, is to ensure they do not neglect their families for the sake of their jobs, yet too often as Pastors we do exactly that. So to take the lonely out of leadership I'd suggest we start close to home:

  • Dream up ways of how you can improve your marriage with the same passion you have to improve the church.
  • Plan fun time with your kids in the same methodical way you plan the church calendar.
  • Put date night in your calendar in the same unshakable way you put the date and time of your next leadership meeting.
  • Develop a vision for your family in the same inspiring way you craft a vision for your church.
  • Start saying no to your congregation and yes to your family a little more often.
  • Understand that showing up at your child's sporting or school event will bring a smile to your dearest face rather than being just a number at the latest conference. 
  • Stop trying to please the church board and endeavour to please your wife.
  • Answer your family as diligently as you answer the ring of the phone or the beep of your email. (And ignore the latter a little more often)
Often behind every lonely leader is a lonely family.

Take a step out of loneliness and champion the family God has placed you in.

Thursday, October 08, 2015

Write me in your story - every line


Every Line
Posted by NewSpring Worship on Wednesday, 7 October 2015
An amazing song written by the amazing people at NewSpring Worship sang by the incredible Lee McDerment who continues to show a life lived for Jesus glory. Thank you!

Where would I be without you
How could I stand this storm alone
Where would I be without you
Out here on my own
Who would I have to hold me
Who else can make these mountains move
Where would I be
Where would I be without you

I close my eyes 'cause faith is seeing for me
I'm out of breath but You are breathing for me
I lift my hands to Jesus be the glory
To Jesus be the glory

Where would I be without you
Facing this fight i'd never choose
Where would I be without you
With nothing left to lose.
Who would I have to hold me
Who else can make these mountains move
Where would I be
Where would I be without you

My fight is gone but you are fighting for me
The battle won Im standing on Your victory
I lift my hands to Jesus be the Glory
To Jesus be the glory

Write me with your glory, Jesus
Every line your story, Jesus
Author of my faith

Monday, October 05, 2015

Free Christmas Graphics


Recently Milton Keynes Christian Centre launched equipchurch.co.uk with a vision to share any resources we have developed for free with other churches.

Hot off the press is the graphic package we will be using to accompany our teaching series this Christmas, thats right even we haven't used it yet! Here is the idea behind it from an article originally posted at equipchurch.co.uk

Do you hear what I hear?

With less than 100 days till Christmas the shop shelves are filling up with seasonal gifts and snacks. Channel 5 ran 3 Christmas movies this past Saturday. It won’t be long till the sound of Christmas music will fill the air as we sip our coffee in the local cafe or look for gifts in the shopping centre. Mixed with the scream of”It’s Christmaaasss!”by Noddy Holder, will be many of the traditional carols that are so familiar to so many.

This year at MKCC we in the weeks leading up to Christmas we are going to revisit many of these carols and dig a little deeper into them. How did they come into existence? Who wrote them? But most of all we will be asking the question “Do you hear what I hear?”.

We want to go beyond the familiar and find out what the writer really wanted us to hear about the focus of Christmas – the arrival of Christ. Carols will include:

  • Joy to the world 
  • O come all you faithful 
  • Silent Night 
  • Hark the herald angels sing 
  • It came upon a midnight clear 
We will discover Christmas means:

  • Joy 
  • Worship 
  • A saviour Incarnation – God with us 
  • Peace 
We are making our teaching package available now. You can download it here. It includes:

  • Background Slides 
  • Artwork Slides (Photoshop) 
  • PowerPoint Presentation 
  • Social Media Elements 
  • Series Poster 
If you chose to use the material we would love to hear your ideas so we can share with others.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

It is well with my soul


It Is Well
"It Is Well With My Soul"
Posted by NewSpring Worship on Tuesday, 29 September 2015
Loved this song performed by the NewSpring Team and my friend Lee McDerment

Our scars are a sign of grace in our lives,
And Father how you brought us through
When deep were the wounds and
dark was the Night the promise of Your love You proved. Now every battle still to come let this be our song.

Chorus
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul

Verse 2
Weeping may come, remain for a night
but joy will paint the morning sky
You're there in the fast, You're there in the Feast
Your faithfulness will always shine
Now every battle still to come let this be our song.

Bridge
You lead us through battles,
You lead us to blessing,
And You make us fruitful,
In the land of our suffering God
And it is well, it is well With my soul

Matt Redman - It Is Well With My Soul Lyrics

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

When God's will equals suffering


Ex fisherman, eager but flawed follower of Jesus, then elder statesman of the church, late in life, takes some time out to encourage fellow believers who are facing difficulty & suffering.

Tucked away in his letter known as First Peter we find some very surprising advice on a christian response to suffering. Ch 4:12-19.

It ends with these shocking words:

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. v 19

It would seem that at least some suffering we go through can actually be God's will for us! And in the middle of that suffering Peter's advice is to trust the one who's will is it for us to suffer. And in the middle of that suffering, not to be crushed by it but to keep doing good. None of that seems natural.

Here are some thoughts on this small challenging passage of scripture

  1. Often suffering can be a test v12. Often we can ask where is God in our suffering but maybe the better question is where are we? Where is our faith?
  2. We are not only to endure suffering but to rejoice in suffering v13.
  3. When we suffer for Christ the God has never been closer to you than in that moment v14
  4. Not all suffering is God's will, often we bring it on ourselves because of a direct result of our sin. v15
  5. The antidote to this type of suffering is not endurance or rejoicing but repentance. v17
  6. Suffering as a direct result of being a Christian is not marked by shame but by glory. v16
  7. Faith is needed in the middle of suffering, not particularly faith to get out of it but faith to trust your creator God to bring glory to his name by transforming us through it. v19

Sunday, September 27, 2015

_____ In Christ


During our series Amplify at MKCC we are taking some time to walk through our core values. This week Pastor Mark talked to us about:

We're Moving Towards Maturity 
We have made an intentional decision to grow up in Christ.

Here are some of the things that hit me from his message:


  • Maturity is all about being IN CHRIST, Walking in Christ, Rooted in Christ & Being Built up in Christ.

  • I guarantee that if you will build Gods house he will build your house

  • Don't just add Jesus to your life place him at the centre and keep your eyes focused on him

  • Don't let your love for the doing the work of God replace your love for God alone

  • Through life we will walk through difficulties, trials, problems & more but as Christians we walk IN CHRIST

  • If you were arrested as a christian would their be enough evidence to convict you

  • Cut flowers look great in a vase in the house but they won't last because they have no roots, we have to be rooted in Christ

  • Some people build their lives around things close to Christ but not Christ. Some people build their lives around worship. They live to reach that ecstatic moment and are not fulfilled if it is not reached. Others around prayer or fasting. These things may bring us to Christ but they are not Christ. 

Friday, September 25, 2015

Taking the lonely out of leadership - No. 1 Relationship


I recently posted 10 ways to take the loneliness out of leadership. Here I'd like to dive into the first: Putting our relationship with God at No. 1.

Bill Hybels once said that, his work for God was killing the work of God in him.

I am sure that almost every church leader understands that feeling. For a workaholic like me, who sees much of his worth in what he does rather than who he is, this can be a real danger.

I have come to believe, as a church leader, I can pretend that I have relationship with God when I really haven't. I may be working extremely had for him but have a defective relationship. Some signs of this:
  • The only time God's word is read is to prepare for a sermon.
  • We pray much more in public that we do in private.
  • We challenge others to a way of life but never really challenge ourselves.
  • The stories we share about ourselves to encourage others all happened a decade ago rather than last week.
  • We can't remember the last time we shed a tear over a life God has entrusted to our leadership
  • We start to think we are to be served by people rather than to serve them.
As leaders we have to be careful that we live in close relationship with Jesus and not fall into the trap of a second hand relationship. Job prayed it this way:
I admit I once lived by rumours of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise! I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumour. - Job 42 (Mess)
Some practical steps:
  • Revisit and savour your salvation moment often. (remember your first love)

  • Read God's Word often and regularly not in study or preparation. Not to hear God's voice for others but to hear the sweet intimate whisper of your ultimate and eternal lover - Jesus.

  • Be less concerned about the transformation of others but beg the Holy Spirit to challenge and transform you as you apply His word to your life.

  • Talk to God regularly and often. Build time into your diary that moves for nothing, but don't leave it there. Practise the presence of God (as one saint put it) in your daily routine, just between you and him.

  • The idea of a Sabbath is old hat to many and if it is thought about, it is as a day of rest. But I like how John Piper puts it: "It means set the day aside for special focus on what is holy, namely, God and his holy works. For us church leaders it is unlikely going to work for us on Sundays. We can't afford to not build this into our lives!
Relationship dispels loneliness and relationship with Jesus really is the ultimate fix!

Mistakes Leaders Make Conference


In November we are excited to welcome author, Dave Kraft to Milton Keynes Christian Centre.

Dave has walked with Jesus for more than 50 years. He served with the Navigators for 37 years before becoming a leadership coach. Dave has also served as a Pastor at Mars Hill Church.

On 14th November, Dave will walk us through 5 of the 10 Mistakes he sees leaders often make:

  • Allowing Ministry to Replace Jesus 
  • Allowing Pleasing People to Replace Pleasing God 
  • Allowing Artificial Harmony to Replace Difficult Conflict 
  • Allowing Information to Replace Transformation 
  • Allowing Pride to Replace Humility
Dave writes, “As leaders, we can have our ‘sweet spots,’ situations in which we function well and are fruitful and productive, experiencing God’s favour and great joy. We can also have our ‘blind spots,’ where the termites are doing their slow but sure work, which causes defeat, discouragement, and derailment, and eventually leads to the knockout blow that sends us down to the canvas for the count” (from Mistakes’ Introduction). 

I personally have been impacted so much by Mistakes Leaders Make and his first book, Leaders Who Last.

If you can get to Milton Keynes on Saturday 14th I am sure that it would be worth your investment.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Equipping the Church


Yesterday, Milton Keynes Christian Centre, launched a brand new website: equip.mkcc.org.uk.

Our journey as a church over the years has taken us through many twists and turns, highs and lows. God shaped us by this unique journey and by the amazing people he has connected us to. We have made mistakes and learned lessons. We have been thankful for the many helping hands along the way. These include: Andrew Shearman & the G42 Leadership Academy, AOG UK, Hillsong, Saddleback Church, Willow Creek UK, LifeChurch.TV, Newspring Church, Tony Morgan & The Unstuck Group and many more.

Equip.mkcc is our attempt to give others a helping hand. Not that we think we are experts in any way but we passionately believe in the local church and want to do all we can to help in any way we can other local churches.

Equip offers:

Free Resources

These presently include a few of our teaching series graphics and video packages, leadership resources and Children's Curriculum. We will be adding much more as we go. If its not there ask as may have something in the pipeline.

Conferences

These will have an emphasis on equipping, giving you tools to use and next steps to implement. Our first event is in November when we welcome author Dave Kraft for a seminar Mistakes Leaders Make.

Then in June 2016 we are excited to host our first Children's Ministry Conference, Elements: Connecting the components for change.

Lastly we will be offering a series of Coaching opportunities, workshops & planning events.

Check it out and please share with other churches who may be interested.
Equipping churches to bring people to Jesus and develop them to be fully devoted followers of Christ. Providing free resources as well as conferences & coaching

Taking the Lonely out of Leadership


The other day I spent a few minutes talking to a pastor who I'd never met before. We chatted as we waited for a meeting to start. It was great to find out a little about him, his family and his journey. He and the church was doing great but he described the loneliness he felt in the role. It is certainly not the first time I have heard this from church leaders. In fact if you get behind the front that many of us project, it is a deep struggle for so many of us.

I have spent all of my leadership life at MKCC as part of a leadership team, so to be honest this feeling was foreign to me. My journey as a pastor has never felt lonely, challenging, but never lonely. But he was in a very different situation. He was the only pastor from what he described as a small church.

No matter the size of church leadership can be lonely and I am sure this can be magnified for Senior Leaders. It's not that leaders do not have great friends but they also need great friends that understand the life of a leader. But I don't believe leadership in the community of believers should be lonely. So here are some thoughts on things we can do to reverse this feeling of loneliness.

  1. Your No. 1 relationship is with God.
  2. Develop a healthy relationship with your family.
  3. Pursue a hobby and cultivate the friendships you find there.
  4. Deal with your insecurities they kill relationship, its about Jesus not you.
  5. Deal with your insecurities they kill relationship, its about Jesus not you.
  6. Take the mask off and be authentic.
  7. Purposely develop and release other leaders.
  8. Develop a leadership team built around the meal table as well as the boardroom table.
  9. Stay at the table, no matter what.
  10. Pursue relationship with leaders you admire.
I'm going to dive into each of these in more detail over the next few days.

Maybe you can suggest other ideas?

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Amplify: Turn up the volume of hope

An video introduction to our teaching series at MKCC through September and October.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

27 Years : No regrets


After 27 years of marriage here are 27 things I know and love about Nicola.
  1. She loves Jesus with a passion
  2. She has an adventurous spirit
  3. She puts in to practice what she learns
  4. She talks to anyone and everyone with ease (unlike me)
  5. She is VERY competitive (a bit like me)
  6. She does not have a lazy bone in her body (unlike me)
  7. She is a fantastic leader (unlike me)
  8. She loves people more than the task (unlike me)
  9. She does not like the colour grey as she regularly visits the hairdresser for a colour. lol
  10. She seems to have a gift that people feel free to open up to her when then need help, advice or a shoulder to cry on. (unlike me)
  11. She lets me go to and watch sport any time I want without ever complaining. (and sport takes a lot of my time)
  12. Family is important to her. Especially her kids and mum and dad. (well she is really a daddy's girl)
  13. She is passionate about children discovering Jesus on their level.
  14. She enjoyed shooting in a Florida range a little too much for my liking.
  15. She is pretty good at decorating. (unlike me - thank you Jesus)
  16. She likes a night in with nibbles and a cheap bottle of rose (otherwise a cheap date lol)
  17. She juggles a demanding job, studying for a degree, family and home without ever saying how busy she is.
  18. She has a boot fetish.
  19. She ignored lots of people advice even her pastor and still married me!
  20. She is an encourager not a critic
  21. She is not good company on a long drive as she dozes off as soon as we leave the drive.
  22. She puts up with emotional roller-coaster that is me.
  23. She has saved me lots of money on hair cuts.
  24. She NEVER betrays a confidence.
  25. She really doesn't understand how incredible she is.
  26. Best of all she loves me!
  27. She truly is a wife of noble character - Proverbs 31:10-31
A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it.
I have NO regrets only gratefulness! 

Friday, August 28, 2015

The Holy Spirit and Love

There is a video circling the Internet that doesn't really do much to show that we as Christians have grasped the greatest virtue in the area of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 13 - Love!

In it a person who identifies himself as a prophet invades the stage of a well known preacher, who obviously does not share the same view on the Gifts of The Spirit, and shouts and screams at the preacher.

After the so called prophet is removed the preacher in turn ridicules him in front of his audience.

Whatever my beliefs on the subject the name of the Holy Spirit was not exalted in this exchange.

Yesterday I sat and listened to a couple tell me simply how the Holy Spirit had showed up in a real time of need and uncertainty and made a real difference.

They listed miracle after miracle and talked about the peace and comfort that God the Holy Spirit had provided for them. The selling of a house in impossible situation, the "coincidence" of a door closing at last minute, the provision of a job at just the right time, the list went on and on.

The interesting thing to me is that one of the couple is from a pentecostal background and the other a brethren background and belief system. But yet that have been married and in ministry together for nearly 50 years.

Their story will probably never do the rounds on the Internet like the sensationalised shouting match I mentioned before.

But their simple faith and obedience has seen the Holy Spirit at work in their life in a miraculous but almost anonymous but certainly common everyday way.

If the greatest is love i am always left scratching my head with a puzzled look on my face when people "use" the Holy Spirit to cause such tension and division in the body of Christ.

It is no surprise that the Holy Spirit decided to inspire Paul to insert the most amazing passage on love right between two passages on the working of the the Holy Spirit in the Church! Doh!


Old Innovation


Change and innovation in church life and ministry is prized by many and resisted by others.

Following advice by Rick Warren to ensure in reading that the whole of church wisdom was dipped into from the ancient to the modern, I keep being surprised how much of modern innovation is actually quite old.

Reading about Samuel Medley a preacher and hymn writer who lived from 1738-99 I found that he was looked on as a bit of a rebel who did things a little different.

He was renowned for preaching on just one word. But, Not or His..

Frustrated that his congregation couldn't sing the hymn's because of a shortage of hymnbooks, he ditched the hymnbook and printed the songs on broadsheets. On attending the service he handed everyone a copy and all could join in. I'm wondering if he was the first to remove the hymnbook? Long before the argument I remember in the late 70's in my home church about the use of an OHP?

He would also often, pen a hymn, that went with the text he was preaching that day. Was he the first to plan a service so that one spiritual point or lesson could be empahasised in the minds of his congregation.

This was also done by none other than the famous John Newton and his friend and hymn writer William Cowper. Each week they would meet up in the orchard that connected their two Olney homes. John would share his text and topic and William would compose a song that would reinforce the message. These were often at the same rhythm as the looms in the local lace mills would beat at so people could sing as they worked.

Reading a little of our history would really help us contextualise the present. Maybe the new thing we get excited about is really quite old and not to be prized or feared but to be held lightly in the shadow of the infinitely important - the message of Jesus

Thursday, August 27, 2015

A Beggars Prayer


Samuel Medley, preacher and hymn writer, of the 1700's penned the following hymn as a description of himself. For me its like looking in a mirror and seeing myself. I am so thankful for the perseverance of God with a sinner like me.

A beggar poor, at mercy's door,
Lies such a wretch as I;
Thou know'st my need is great indeed,
Lord, hear me when I cry.

With guilt beset, and deep in debt,
For pardon, Lord I pray;
O let thy love sufficient prove
To take my sins away.

A wicked heart is no small part
Of my distress and shame;
Let sovereign grace its crimes efface,
Through Jesus blessed name.

My darkened mind, I daily find,
Is prone to go astray;
Lord, on it shine, with light divine,
And guide it in thy way.

My stubborn will opposes still
Thy wise and holy hand;
Thy Spirit send to make it bend
To thy supreme command.

Affections wild, by sin defiled,
Oft hurry me away;
Lord, bring them home,
nor let them roam
From Christ, the Living Way.

A conscience hard does oft retard
My walk in holy peace;
Let it by thee made tender be,
And all its hardness cease.

My memory bad, but what is sad,
Can folly still retain;
O fill it, Lord, with thy sweet word,
And let it there remain.

Before thy face I've told my case;
Lord, help, and mercy send;
Pity my soul, and make me whole,
And love me to the end.

Samuel Medley 1738-99

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Anyway

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centred. Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

People favour underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

A Picture of Humble Leadership

Below is a post by Ron Edmondson on 10 attributes of a humble leader. I am a long way from a number of these attributes but I strive to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus.

I also have the honour of working for a leader who I believe the below attributes describe to a T.

Dangerous Trust
Humility always demands a certain level of trust. Obviously, for a believer, it begins with a trust in God. But, a humble leader is willing to take a risk on others also, trusting them with the sacredness of the vision, even at the chance they may be disappointed with the outcome. 

Sincere investment
Humble leaders know the vision is bigger and will last longer than they will. Wow! That’s a hard reality, isn’t it? But, knowing this humble leaders willingly invest in others, raising up and maturing new leaders.

Gentle, but strong
One can’t be a leader and be weak. The two — weakness and leadership — don’t go together. Every position of leadership will provide a challenge to the leader, but humble leaders have learned the balance between being gentle and remaining strong. (Think Jesus!) 

Readily admits mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes. In fact, we often learn more through failure than through success. The humble leader is quick to admit when he or she has done wrong and deals with the fault-out without casting blame or making excuses. And, they seek forgiveness when the mistakes they make impact others.

Forgives easily
Leadership is filled with disappointment; often at the expense of other’s mistakes. A humble leader forgives easily, remembering how many times he or she has been forgiven.

Quickly diverts attention 
We all like to be recognised for accomplishments, but a humble leader is quick to divert attention to others, sharing the limelight for successes with those, who many times, may have even had more to do with the success than the leader did. They celebrate the success of others louder than personal success

Remains thankful 
A humble leader is appreciative of the input of others into his or her leadership. So much so, that a humble leader naturally praises the actions of others far more than the time spent patting themselves on the back for personal accomplishments. Humble leaders recognise that all good gifts come from above.

Recognises limitations
No one can do everything. A humble has the ability to say, “I can’t do that or I’m not the one who should“.

Shares authority 
Humble leaders don’t take all the key assignments for themselves, but gives out prime responsibility and authority to people he or she is leading.

Invites feedback 
A humble leader wants to learn from his or her mistakes and wants to continually see improvement. Humble leaders initiate other’s suggestions and feedback, not waiting until complaints come, but personally asking for the input.

Humility is not putting yourself down as a leader. It’s ultimately recognising who you are in view of Christ and others. The danger in not being a humble leader or considering ourselves better than others, is that one day we may be “humbled”. Many of us learn humility the hard way.

Friday, August 14, 2015

The Chosen Ones


But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. - 1 Peter 2:9-10 (The Message)

Peter makes it quite clear to the early believers, facing huge trials and tests, that they hadn't just stumbled into this new life in some accident. But that they had been divinely chosen. They were:

Chosen to Worship

When Luther taught of the priesthood of all believers, he was maintained that the "plowboy" and the "milkmaid" did priestly work. Moreover their plowing and milking was priestly work. Access to enter the presence of God was not restricted to a select few specialists in a sacred place. Worship was now an everyday, anywhere experience where the division between secular and sacred had disappeared.

Chosen to be holy 

The rituals that the priests of the Old Testament had to go through to be accepted before God on the day of atonement were immense. Even then they entered God's presence with fear and a rope tied round there ankle in case they had to be pulled out dead.

Now all this is replaced. The atoning altar is replaced by Jesus Christ and his shed blood. Fear has been replaced by gratitude as we now stand holy in God's presence, not because of our rituals or righteous acts, but because Jesus is Holy then I am holy.

Chosen to witness

Now we have the opportunity to tell others about the transformational difference God has brought about in our lives through the perfect work of Jesus. From a "nothing to a something" from "nobody to a somebody and from "rejected to accepted".



Thursday, August 13, 2015

Just another brick in the wall


Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. - 1 Peter 2:5 (message)

Before we meet Christ we are focused on building a life. After we meet Christ, our life is consumed with building a Christ centred sanctuary for those searching for life.

The transformation that has taken place, the hope that has been birthed, the gratitude the overflows, compels us to abandon our carefully crafted plans and find overwhelming fulfilment and purpose in a new plan. God's plan!

That plan is to show up, bowed in worship, adoration and thankfulness before our deliverer and say "not my will but yours."

I'm ready to take my place, build me into your glorious kingdom, I am ready to be a simple brick in your glorious creation, it doesn't matter where just include me. Let me be an other brick in the wall.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Remember....who taught you the Word of God

As part of Discovery Kids Live, where the the children's ministry of MKCC was showcased in all our services, my wife Nicola brought a great word.

Based on Hebrews 13:7

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Check it out here



She even quoted me... very wise:)

‘I’ve learned my greatest spiritual lessons talking to giants of the faith who rarely took the platform in their local church never mind elsewhere’ - Billy Ritchie

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

The art or leadership: Who is it about?


Below is a copy of a great post from Dave Kraft on his view on two types of leaders. (Note: Dave Kraft is at MKCC hosting the seminar: Mistakes Leaders Make in November. Check it out)

Unfortunately I have met many of group one in "church" world but I am privileged to work for someone who is firmly in group 2, in fact he could have written the manual!

There are two kinds of leaders. Which are you more like?

As you can well imagine, I have known, and worked for, many leaders through the years. I have spent my 47 years of ministry life in Southern and Northern California, Sweden, Colorado and Washington State. I have been involved in a variety of ministry responsibilities and have had a lifetime of experience during those years. I have been an astute student of leadership and leaders for over 30 years.

Now, I am well aware that I can get myself into a heap of trouble by saying you can divide leaders into two groups…three groups…four groups, or any number of groups; but, anyway, let me take a stab at two groups.

Group one is composed of leaders whose world revolves around themselves. 

It’s all about their responsibility, their successes, their books, their place in the leadership pecking order, etc. They love to hear themselves talk about their favourite subject…themselves.

A number of years ago I had an appointment with a leader who was experiencing an unusually high degree of success. In my world he was tops. I think I may have spent an hour with him. During that time he never asked me a single question. He never asked me about how I was doing, how my family was doing or anything about my life or ministry. With very little prompting from me, he talked non-stop about his many successes and accomplishments. It was all about him!

He was not the first or last leader I met who was totally focused on himself. A person who is all wrapped up in themselves makes a very small package. How sad!

Group two is composed of leaders whose world revolves around others. 

In one of his blogs, Michael Hyatt shared that when he was new in the publishing world, he was on assignment to interview Billy Graham. He was nervous and unsure of what to expect, being in the presence of such a well-known man of God. Here, in Hyatt’s own words, is his experience of meeting and spending that time with Billy Graham:

“I arrived at the arena where Mr. Graham was scheduled to speak about an hour before the program was to begin. My palms were sweating. My mouth was dry. But I was eager to meet this great man of God, counting it an extraordinary privilege to meet such a living legend. “One of his aides ushered me back to the “Green Room”—the special preparation room where speakers wait until it is their turn to speak. 
When I walked into the room, Mr. Graham was the only one there. He immediately stood up, smiled, and extended his hand, ‘Hi, Michael, my name is Billy.’ (As if I didn’t know.) “He invited me to sit down and visit with him. I pulled out my day planner with my list of questions. 
I never got to ask a single one. “Mr. Graham pummelled me with questions. He asked about my upbringing, my family and my business. He asked me about my relationship with Christ. “These were not the questions of an interrogator but a friend. He laughed easily, and followed up every answer with another query—before I could turn the tables. He never took his eyes off me. He was totally present. “I left feeling known and validated. 
I was on cloud nine. In 20 minutes, he had an impact on me that would forever change the way I think about leadership. I remember thinking; if I am ever in a position of leadership, that’s the kind of person I want to be!” 
I am grateful that, over the years, I have worked for a few leaders like Billy Graham. Here comes the question for you and for me: What kind of a leader am I and what kind of leader am I becoming as the years progress? 

“You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you.” Mark 10:42, 43 The Message

“Jesus also taught: ‘Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets.’” Mark 12:38, 39 The New Living Translation

Monday, August 10, 2015

Satisfied with a Taste?


You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God. - 1 Peter 2:2-3 (Message)

The dictionary defines taste as:

the sensation of flavour perceived in the mouth and throat on contact with a substance.

No nothing can compare with the taste of God in our lives. The Psalmist wrote a song with the great line "Taste and see that the Lord is Good." We were not sure what to expect. We had heard other people tell us how incredible it was but as we had never tasted for ourselves before we really didn't know. So nervously we took the plunge not sure if the sensation of the taste would make us gag or smile. Only to find out it was the most delicate, sweetest taste that we had ever found.

But so many of us then revert to the taster menu of the essence of God. Happy every now and then to taste bite size samplers served to us as we dip into the presence of God rather than sit down for a feast at his banqueting table.

A taste was never meant to be the end of the journey but the prelude to show us how more we need. We cannot grow as healthy followers of Christ with a mere taste.

Its time to tuck into the feast - God's Word.

The key to growth as a Christian is savouring the supremacy of God in every moment and every situation in our lives not just the odd ecstatic spiritual moment.

The Essence of Discovery Kids

This past Sunday at MKCC we had Discovery Kids Live. The leaders, volunteers & children of our church showcased the great work of Discovery Kids in all our services. Here is a short video that was used to intro the services. I think it sums up very well what Discovery Kids is all about:


Thursday, August 06, 2015

Defective Leaders


Reflections on Mark Driscoll and the Church from Desiring God on Vimeo.

John Piper hits it out of the park with a truly Jesus view on the problems faced when Christian's and christian leaders fail. In this video he is answering a specific question retaliated to people walking away from church because of the failures of well know leaders Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill, Seattle.

  • There is no church that I like everything about..including my own.
  • It (Mark Driscoll) is not a unique situation, in history or in our day, Christians are failing, lay people and pastors everyday and bringing reproach on the gospel.
  • Who has not let Jesus down.
  • Historically God has been willing to use people to speak Gospel truth who have motives that are defective.
  • Gos is unbelievably merciful to use you and I to speak Gospel truth with our defects.
  • You have to have a category for gospel faithfulness in defective containers.
  • Don't throw the baby of truth out with the bathwater of sin.
  • To walk away from Jesus because Jesus representatives are failures is to make an absurd choice, Jesus is our only hope.
  • Jesus is the one person in the universe who has no defects, he has no failures.
  • As I look over history God must be the kind of general who looks over his army that willing accepts tactical defeats for strategic victories.
  • The general is not out of control!
  • If you walk away from the church you are walking away from church.
  • To say that I love Jesus and not submit to his word is a lie. Jesus founded the church I didn't
  • The choice of Jesus over the church implies a choice of your opinion over the Bible...because the Jesus of the Bible is the Jesus of the church.
Very wise words from Rev Piper!

Wednesday, August 05, 2015

7 years later


So there I am minding my own business at my in laws Golden Anniversary party and this lady comes up to speak to who I've never seen before. A slight challenge for an introvert like me:)

This was further heightened when she said let me tell you about our interaction 7 years ago.

She said, "7 years ago I was struggling spiritually. I had been brought up a catholic and was full of guilt and fear. For some reason that even I can't explain I ended up attending a service at Milton Keynes Christian Centre. I was fearful and felt all alone knowing no one. I had never been there before so sat nervously alone wishing I'd never come."

Not knowing about this lady at the start of the service, hearing what I thought was a whisper from God I decided nervously to share something with the congregation. It wasn't the most earth shattering thought and I almost dismissed it.

I can't remember the actual words but it was something like, There is a lady here today for the first time. She doesn't even really know how she has ended up here today. She knows no one and feels all alone. But God wants to say to her even though no one here knows her name that, He knows her name. He knew she would be here and he loved her.

That was it. No thunder and lightening, in fact to my knowledge there was no response and it helped no one.

But now 7 years later I find out that actually I did hear the whisper of God and through simple obedience with no fanfare, God's Word found its home in a moment of need.

Just a small reminder to me and us all that listening and acting on the whisper of God can change lives. And maybe just maybe God arranged for us to meet just to give me the encouragement I needed.

Saturday, August 01, 2015

Golden Anniversary


This weekend is the 50th Anniversary of Nicola's mum and dad. So all the extended family are heading down from Mansfield to be joined by all the local friends for a shindig.

I've known them since I arrived in Milton Keynes in September 1984 and became part of the family in September 1988 on marrying their oldest daughter, Nicola. (Well actually she was pretty young at the time, only 19!)

So here are ten things I can say about them after these years:
  1. They love Jesus with a passion.
  2. They love their kids - even if Jonathan is a challenge. lol Only Joking!
  3. Their greatest success is bringing up three kids that all passionately love Jesus.
  4. They adore their grand kids. (Lost count of the number of times Abbie was leaving home to live with them)
  5. They may have grown to like their first son in law after a rocky start:)
  6. They serve God in so many ways without ever wanting to be noticed.
  7. They have always had an open home, welcoming all and helping many without any fuss.
  8. They are fun to go on holiday with, many happy memories in Florida. (Except the time we nearly drowned Vic)
  9. I'm sure Vic has some Scottish blood in him as he loves a bargain
  10. Whilst Viv reminds me of my mum as she likes the more expensive things in life:)
P.S. Just one more they gave me the most amazing lady who I have the honour to call my wife.

Have a great celebration.


Wednesday, July 29, 2015

What Mark Driscoll has learned, and I could too


Much has been written about Pastor Mark Driscoll, some good some bad. People have taken positions most against and some for. Whatever the stance this interview with Pastor Brian Houston has lots to teach us all as leaders.

  • At the core Mark has his own simple story of salvation.
  • There is the lords calling and there is the lords timing.
  • His character was not caught up with his calling and if he had to do it again he would start off under the guidance of a older more spiritually mature leader.
  • In the past I would have fought for reformed theology and since it is supposed to be a theology centred in grace fighting for it is probably not the best representation of it.
  • I was told to put down the binoculars and pick up the mirror.
  • I pray that in the future I can draw people and not drive people.
  • I think love and grace is good theology
  • When anyone dies they will have to give an account and that won't be to Mark Driscoll.
  • Grace centred relationship is so important.
  • The culture at Mars Hill would have been different and better with the increased involvement of Godly women.
  • I would like to find a way where I am not violating my convictions or convictions whilst also not severing my relationships.
  • It's never the wrong time to do the right thing.
In summary, it's gut wrenching to watch people who have impacted your life & been used by God to inspire you, go through grief and loss caused by their sin. God give me the grace that I need and deliver me from temptation.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Faith & Suffering


Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. - 1 Peter 1:7

Too many people would have you believe that suffering is a result of lack of faith. More faith, purer faith, greater faith is the shield we are to use to deflect suffering as it would try to enter our lives.

This does not seem to be the message that the Apostle Peter is communicating to the hearts of the hard pressed believers who were in the midst of great suffering.

His message was not that faith was an escape route from suffering but that suffering was proving the genuineness of that faith. And, that faith proved by suffering would never be forgotten and would one day be displayed for all to see.

Just as the conquering armies of the day would hold a homecoming celebration where all the spoils of war, gold and riches, were put on display as proof of their victory, on the day of all days, Jesus will put on display your faith forged and proved genuine in the battle of suffering.

It would seem that God suggests that suffering proves faith is genuine and not that faith is lacking!

Monday, July 27, 2015

Hame

The place I got to call home for the first 19 years of my life and will be forever hame in my heart.

Obedience

God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours! - 1 Peter 1:2 (Message)

For so long I lived like my continued salvation was determined by the extent of my efforts to be obedient to God's commands.

It felt like God had opened the door to a relationship that I had been looking for all my life but I couldn't maintain the level of obedience that was required to maintain my presence. I became a miserable follower of Jesus. Continually failing at being who I thought I should be.

Then one day I read that I had a partner in this struggle and this partner had ALREADY DETERMINED my obedience. This partner was God himself through the Holy Spirit.

Being brought up in a Pentecostal church, I'd heard much about the Holy Spirit. He had gifts of miraculous power, which pointed people to God. I know that he could give me the ability to speak in an unknown language but I had missed the fundamental point, the Holy Spirit was now my partner in my salvation and sanctification. The door had be cracked open and instead of holding on to the lintels by my fingernails the Holy Spirit took a firm grasp of my had and sat with me at the table. Now I strive still, but not through fear of expulsion, but through a deep love of being accepted as I am & the continual presence of a God who always wants my best.

And he has already DETERMINED MY OBEDIENCE not because of my ability or will power but through the SACRIFICE OF JESUS. Who am I to argue with Him?

Determined obedience looks very different when your obedience has been determined!

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Have you heard the one about?

An introduction video for our new teaching series starting next Sunday at MKCC - Have you heard the one about?

Friday, June 19, 2015

We are the under rowers

JUST A THOUGHT by Aaron Linford
THE UNDERROWER

Ancient triremes had three banks of oarsmen to provide the necessary propulsion. The lowest tier was called “the under-rowers”. They could but rowed their rhythmic strokes at the drum-beat of the director above. To use the Greek word, they were hygerétés – under-rowers. –
Paul uses this word in 1 Corinthians 4:1, when he speaks of Apollos and himself as “ministers of Christ”.

What a vivid term for Christian service. As under-rowers we receive our directions from above, and pull our spiritual oars together at our Captain’s command. We cannot always understand the way we are going, but we trust our Pilot and give our strength and attention to His will.

It may seem undignified so to serve, but our trust is in our Lord and Master. We are ready to serve Him whether seen or unseen, whether regarded or disregarded by men. And it is our confidence in our heavenly Guide that enables us to bend our strength to the progress of God’s-“Ship of State” – His Church on earth.

Via - Barnabas Ministries

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Happy Families

Check out our new teaching series at MKCC - Happy Families.

Monday, June 08, 2015

Faithfulness

Watch my latest message at MKCC - More Than Words - Faithfulness

Saturday, June 06, 2015

The Faithfulness Of God

There are seasons in the lives of all when it is not easy, no not even for Christians, to believe that God is faithful. Our faith is sorely tried, our eyes bedimmed with tears, and we can no longer trace the out workings of His love.

Our ears are distracted with the noises of the world, harassed by the atheistic whisperings of Satan, and we can no longer hear the sweet accents of His still small voice.

Cherished plans have been thwarted, friends on whom we relied have failed us, a profest brother or sister in Christ has betrayed us. We are staggered. We sought to be faithful to God, and now a dark cloud hides Him from us.

We find it difficult, yea, impossible, for carnal reason to harmonise His frowning providence with His gracious promises. Ah, faltering soul, severely-tried fellow-pilgrim, seek grace to heed Isaiah 50:10,

"Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God."

Arthur W Pink (The Attributes of God - Faithfulness)

Friday, May 22, 2015

I am His and he is mine

Beloved with everlasting love,
Led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above,
Thou hast taught me it is so.
Oh, this full and perfect peace!
Oh, this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease,
I am His, and He is mine


Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue
Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine

Things that once were wild alarms
Cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms,
Pillowed on the loving breast.
Oh, to lie forever here,
Doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear,
I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His:
Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart.
Heaven and earth may fade and flee,
Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But, while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine.

George Wade Robinson 

Sunday, April 05, 2015

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

This song and video about sums today up. From NCC 
Worship.

Friday, April 03, 2015

Calvary's Anthem

"The day that he crucified our death and overcame"

"The day he brought us back to the father as sons and daughters"

Click here if you can't see the video.

Wednesday, April 01, 2015

This IS genius


Click here if you can't see the video

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery



VERSE 1
Come behold the wondrous mystery
In the dawning of the King
He the theme of heaven’s praises
Robed in frail humanity

In our longing, in our darkness
Now the light of life has come
Look to Christ, who condescended
Took on flesh to ransom us

VERSE 2
Come behold the wondrous mystery
He the perfect Son of Man
In His living, in His suffering
Never trace nor stain of sin

See the true and better Adam
Come to save the hell-bound man
Christ the great and sure fulfillment
Of the law; in Him we stand

VERSE 3
Come behold the wondrous mystery
Christ the Lord upon the tree
In the stead of ruined sinners
Hangs the Lamb in victory

See the price of our redemption
See the Father’s plan unfold
Bringing many sons to glory
Grace unmeasured, love untold

VERSE 4
Come behold the wondrous mystery
Slain by death the God of life
But no grave could e’er restrain
Him Praise the Lord; He is alive!

What a foretaste of deliverance
How unwavering our hope
Christ in power resurrected
As we will be when he comes

What a foretaste of deliverance
How unwavering our hope
Christ in power resurrected
As we will be when he comes

– Matt Boswell, Michael Bleecker, Matt Papa 2013