Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Tuesday terror

1, Unbelievable carnage in Manchester as captured here.

2. My friend Simon saved our church weekend as our speaker cancelled with three weeks to go. You should listen to these talks on Ephesians 3. It's quite beyond me why someone wouldn't want to hear these three talks at one of the big summer festivals but of course we'd rather have a 'big name' which is of course our great loss. It never ceases to amaze me the treasure trove of teachers and preachers the fly under a C of E banner. We were so blessed. Get Si to do your next weekend away.....

3. Seven ways the OT deepens our love for Jesus 

4, Simon ended his talks with this quote from Kierkegaard

''For all that has been thanks. For all that will be yes'

5. I am looking forward to hanging out with Darryl this weekend. I've read and been blessed by his blog for many years.

6. Good post about old books.

7. The book Grit was mentioned on our church weekend and a few of our number have done the Grit test.

8. Off to Canada to do a church weekend for a dear pal and to preach a bit so the blog will be quiet for a few days.

9. I am just closing out 'Love does'.

10. This is a horrifying fact.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

LC17 Talks

The LC 17 talks are now up. I really enjoyed Sinek, Cardinal Tagle and John Gray made me laugh so much it was good for my soul (Wonderful preaching too). Louise Pentland and Miranda Hart were also very funny. The highlight for me was Nicky Gumbel on 'Leadership and love'. Enjoy.

Not the road we want


“Since making disciples is the main task of the church, every church ought to be able to answer two questions: What is our plan for making disciples of Jesus? Is our plan working?” 

Dallas Willard

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Wondered



Jesus is described as having "an uncanny ability to look past the obvious flaws in people's lives and envision who they could become if the power of God were released in their lives  Intrinsically, he just wondered about people. Wondered what they could become. Wondered how they might look in a transformed state. wondered what impact they could have if their lives were invested in things of eternal value'

When was the last time you stopped in the middle of a busy day and simply wondered about someone you came across?

p.34

Friday, May 12, 2017

A conversation with Jean Vanier


Way better

'We're God's plan, and we always have been. We aren't just supposed to be observers, listeners, or have a bunch of opinions. We're not here to let everyone know what we agree and don't agree with, because, frankly, who cares? Tell me about the God you love; tell me about what He has inspired uniquely in you; tell me about what you're going to do about it, and a plan for your life will be pretty easy to figure out from there. I guess what I'm saying is that most of us don't get an audible plan for our lives. It's way better than that. We get to be God's plan for the whole world by pointing people toward him'

Love does, Page 143


Thursday, May 11, 2017

Thursday thoughts

1.My pal recommended a sermon called 'The Land Between' which for a season he tells me he listened to over and over again. It was first given at The Willow Creek Leadership Conference. If you feel you're life is in transition then this might be worth a listen.

2. I enjoy Kevin de Young's blog and books and note he is something of a high-capacity man. He's the author of 'Crazy busy.'  It was a help to me. He has two jobs- a seminary professor and a senior pastor, a Phd in progress, an author, has an international preaching ministry and ....wait for it.....seven kids.....Wow. Pray for him. I've heard him preach and he seems like a good egg.

3. The C of E is entering it's next incomprehensible but not quite yet entered into a 'schism development plan'. Ian Paul to the rescue for what's happened. For a minor point of interest, many years ago I was born again into the love and power of the Lord Jesus in Jesmond Parish Church (the centre of the latest curfuffle).........

4. I've bought 'Play the man' by Batterson. He's another busy bee.

5, I've been pondering on the Great Get Together which is sort of like the idea of something called the church given it's remembering someone who tragically was killed and working good from it (but not church cos it's only on one Sunday...and of course its not about Jesus)

6. Someone cut out Bear and stole him from our Alpha banner.

7. So enjoying preaching a series inspired by this book.

8. This quote was on the Forbes website: 'If you delegate tasks your create followers. If you delegate authority you create leaders' Craig Groschel

9. "For me a leader is a story teller" is something Cardinal Tagle said at LC17 and I haven't been able to shake it.

10. Jean Vanier, when I heard his speak last week, moved me to tears and the word he said that stuck was 'Tenderness'.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Blessings everlasting

'Nothing can surpass or supplement the forgiveness of sins. This is so because the Sovereign rule of Christ is present where there is forgiveness of sins; and with forgiveness of sins everything, life and blessings everlasting, has in fact been granted'

Lohse quoted by Lucas in 'The Message of Colossians, p.42

Saturday blog-sweep

 Some interesting books for pastors The State we're in Attack at dawn Joseph Scriven Joy comes with the morning When small is beautiful