What's funnier than 3 cats sleeping inside the car on the parcel shelf?
3 cats sleeping on the dashboard of a neighbours car when they've left their windows open - especially funny as they hate cats!
Monday 23 July 2007
11pm - Just as I'm going off to sleep, live mouse squeaking around my room followed by 3 cats diving under my bed and around the bed ends, down the stairs and back up and round for another lap!
3am - Fight breaks out over dead mouse, now on the frontroom mat!
5am - Thrush begins to chirp behind my unmovable wardrobe as sun breaks into dawn.
5:10am - Thrush thinks now is a good time for the dawn chorus, wakes up the birds who choose to live 'outside' now we are in full throws of Summer song
5:20am - 3 cats and Thrush battle it out over duvet, whilst Christina ignores them as this is now a common event!
5:30am - Christina, who by now can take no more, gets hold of Thrush along with cats and wrings their necks! Truth be known, Christina lets Thrush go free...
5:35am - Thrush plus mad blackbird and 3 cats going mental outside bedroom window.
5:36am - Christina shuts bedroom window and bedroom door!
3am - Fight breaks out over dead mouse, now on the frontroom mat!
5am - Thrush begins to chirp behind my unmovable wardrobe as sun breaks into dawn.
5:10am - Thrush thinks now is a good time for the dawn chorus, wakes up the birds who choose to live 'outside' now we are in full throws of Summer song
5:20am - 3 cats and Thrush battle it out over duvet, whilst Christina ignores them as this is now a common event!
5:30am - Christina, who by now can take no more, gets hold of Thrush along with cats and wrings their necks! Truth be known, Christina lets Thrush go free...
5:35am - Thrush plus mad blackbird and 3 cats going mental outside bedroom window.
5:36am - Christina shuts bedroom window and bedroom door!
Thursday 19 July 2007
One body, many parts: Putting our gifts to work
For those who couldn't be with us at Cell Group last night, we took the passage Mark preached from on Sunday: 1 Cor 12:12-31 and Bev underlined some of the points from Mark's sermon:
- Get connected (on this theme, it seems that the passage from Ezekiel on the valley of dry bones has been popping up in our individual lives recently, prompting the exciting thought that God is breathing life into the body);
- Give yourself to Jesus - live in his presence all the time, know his power in your daily walk with him;
- The health of your local church is affected by yours and my holiness
- Confront issues - get them out in the open with brothers and sisters;
- My cell is my extended family
- Have equal concern for each other - equal talents need using;
- DON'T FORGET YOU'RE CHRIST'S BODY! His hands, feet, to do his will in the world.
Paula commented on v.11: 'All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines' - it had struck her that the Spirit actually decides what gifts we'll get. This led into talk about God resourcing us for His plan, but also to remember the encouragement to eagerly desire the greater gifts.
We also looked at Romans 12:4-8 and then Mark posed the question "Do you feel any differently about yourself after reading these verses?"
Bev asked everyone to draw a spider diagram - put a circle in the middle of the paper and write in it the gifts that you have, then draw 'legs' off that and write down the various ways in which your gifts have been used within the church in the past, and the things you have a heart for doing now or in the future.
Bernie & Jools spoke about their heart for hospitality - in the church where they met, there was always someone designated to provide hospitality to anyone after the Sunday service who would be alone for lunch. Having both enjoyed that hospitality themselves, and having met through that ministry, when they got married they very much enjoyed providing that ministry to others (even though it meant on occasion cooking a meal for 14 using only two little camping gaz burners!). This opened hearts and we were led to recognize that there may be a lot of loneliness within the church that goes unrecognized - an unmet need. Paula spoke of her ministry to singles in a previous church.
There was discussion of the need for someone gifted in youth and children's work, and Paula shared how getting the 11 - 14 year olds involved in leading their own Kids' Club at a previous church really built those young people in their spiritual life and walk with Jesus. Those youngsters were so committed that they used to get up really early on a Saturday and spend two hours preparing a school gym for Kids' Club, and even after Paula withdrew, they continued running it successfully for the next two or three years. It seems those young people are the ones who have gone on to great things.
During the time of worship and prayer, Paula prayed about 'the sound of rustling in the leaves on the trees' and my mind filled in the rest of the words of the song:
I hear the sound of rustling in the leaves of the trees,
The Spirit of the Lord has come down on the earth.
The Church that seemed in slumber has now risen from its knees
And dry bones are responding with the fruits of new birth ...
... and there we were, back to that passage from Ezekiel.
Some of us (well, me for definite) were hoping to have the opportunity of hearing a recording of Christina singing her new song to the tune of Hotel California, but sadly we ran out of time for this. However, we have put a date in the calendar for a Cell Group Lunch at the Beacon building, Sunday 2nd September after church.
Friday 13 July 2007
Harvesting
I was over the allotment on Wednesday to pick some peas for dinner. I had in mind the scripture which says ''the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few". Then I noticed that if I stood up and looked down on the plants, I couldn't see any pea pods ready for harvesting, but if I got down low and looked up, I could see plenty. I took it as a gentle reminder that when it comes to evangelism, I'll have a bigger harvest if I have an attitude of humility, looking up, rather than looking down from the giddy height of spiritual superiority.
Thursday 12 July 2007
Spiritual Gifts and other Blessings
First off it was truly joyful and unspeakably wonderful to welcome Jacob to his first Cell meeting! Thanks to Jenny, Dean and Megan for making the trip.
Here are the notes I made about spiritual gifts we recognized in each other:
Paula: the office of Prophet, plus other gifts including teaching and tongues;
Christina: office of Teacher, plus other gifts including leadership, speaking, singer, discernment, tongues;
Amanda: words of knowledge, interpretation of dreams, mercy, helps, discernment;
Noreen: intercessory prayer, serving, faith, hospitality, sewing & embroidery;
Carola: Welcome to the group, Carola! We don't know Carola well enough yet, but listened as she described her love of singing, of looking after animals, and possibly healing;
Freddy: administration, exhortation, prophecy, musician;
Chris: office of Pastor, plus other gifts including words of wisdom and knowledge, healing and encouragement; tongues (and interpretation of tongues?)
Roger: wisdom in leadership, in sense of getting people back on track and bringing them back to God's agenda, words of wisdom and knowledge, exhortation, tongues and interpretation of tongues);
Me: administration, writing, serving, words of wisdom and knowledge, encouragement, tongues;
At the meeting I mentioned an online test to help you recognize your own spiritual gifts, and here is the link if anyone else wanted to try it.
http://www.elca.org/evangelism/assessments/spiritgifts.html
I mentioned I might have the opportunity to do a spot of gentle evangelism today and Chris gave me the little 'Bridge to Life' booklet to help. I anticipated that the evangelistic opportunity might arise at the funeral I was attending of a former work colleague - I DID get to speak to someone and show them the booklet, but it wasn't at the funeral as anticipated. Please pray that the seeds sown today will be nurtured and will grow to fruition. Thanks everyone for your prayers - I felt surrounded and uplifted by that 'peace which passes all understanding' all day, and was able to be 'real' with former colleagues and speak about some of the healing work God has been doing in my life.
Here are the notes I made about spiritual gifts we recognized in each other:
Paula: the office of Prophet, plus other gifts including teaching and tongues;
Christina: office of Teacher, plus other gifts including leadership, speaking, singer, discernment, tongues;
Amanda: words of knowledge, interpretation of dreams, mercy, helps, discernment;
Noreen: intercessory prayer, serving, faith, hospitality, sewing & embroidery;
Carola: Welcome to the group, Carola! We don't know Carola well enough yet, but listened as she described her love of singing, of looking after animals, and possibly healing;
Freddy: administration, exhortation, prophecy, musician;
Chris: office of Pastor, plus other gifts including words of wisdom and knowledge, healing and encouragement; tongues (and interpretation of tongues?)
Roger: wisdom in leadership, in sense of getting people back on track and bringing them back to God's agenda, words of wisdom and knowledge, exhortation, tongues and interpretation of tongues);
Me: administration, writing, serving, words of wisdom and knowledge, encouragement, tongues;
At the meeting I mentioned an online test to help you recognize your own spiritual gifts, and here is the link if anyone else wanted to try it.
http://www.elca.org/evangelism/assessments/spiritgifts.html
I mentioned I might have the opportunity to do a spot of gentle evangelism today and Chris gave me the little 'Bridge to Life' booklet to help. I anticipated that the evangelistic opportunity might arise at the funeral I was attending of a former work colleague - I DID get to speak to someone and show them the booklet, but it wasn't at the funeral as anticipated. Please pray that the seeds sown today will be nurtured and will grow to fruition. Thanks everyone for your prayers - I felt surrounded and uplifted by that 'peace which passes all understanding' all day, and was able to be 'real' with former colleagues and speak about some of the healing work God has been doing in my life.
Update upate...
At 01.30 am Mitchelle woke the household up with cat vocal joy, telling us (in his own words) that he had hit again. This time, a very dosy sparrow, totally uninjured and so nt impressed. He must have taken it out straight from the nest!
I reckon if the bird could have spoken, it would have said, "Okay buddie! Showing your pet owner you love her by risking life and limb in your chase for the hunt is one thing, taking me from my sleep is quite another!"
The sparrow just looked at me as if to say, "If you put me back I'll say no more, it'll be like it never happened."
Then at 06:30 am We awoke to a very noisy screeching of a baby blackbird, I say baby, but it was big enough.
Set that one free!
Then at 22:31 pm Mitchell brings in a doormouse - now I'm impressed, he must have caught that one!
Well done Mitch and yes mummy lubs u very much!
Awwwww
Now, sometimes I leave my car windows open if its hot. Yesterday, I was at the back of my car talking to a mate when, just as I turned to say goodbye, I was startled by 3 pairs of eyes staring at me from the parcel shelf!
All three cats, Mitchelle, Pretty(who really should have known better, she usually thinks the others are beneath her) and Jennicat had only clambered into my car and had been kipping on the parcel shelf all day long!
At 01.30 am Mitchelle woke the household up with cat vocal joy, telling us (in his own words) that he had hit again. This time, a very dosy sparrow, totally uninjured and so nt impressed. He must have taken it out straight from the nest!
I reckon if the bird could have spoken, it would have said, "Okay buddie! Showing your pet owner you love her by risking life and limb in your chase for the hunt is one thing, taking me from my sleep is quite another!"
The sparrow just looked at me as if to say, "If you put me back I'll say no more, it'll be like it never happened."
Then at 06:30 am We awoke to a very noisy screeching of a baby blackbird, I say baby, but it was big enough.
Set that one free!
Then at 22:31 pm Mitchell brings in a doormouse - now I'm impressed, he must have caught that one!
Well done Mitch and yes mummy lubs u very much!
Awwwww
Now, sometimes I leave my car windows open if its hot. Yesterday, I was at the back of my car talking to a mate when, just as I turned to say goodbye, I was startled by 3 pairs of eyes staring at me from the parcel shelf!
All three cats, Mitchelle, Pretty(who really should have known better, she usually thinks the others are beneath her) and Jennicat had only clambered into my car and had been kipping on the parcel shelf all day long!
Saturday 7 July 2007
Here is a tally for finely caught creatures of the McKenzie cats:
Feathers Mice Birds Gerbil Toads Frog Bird nest Moss
Mitchell:
Mitchell:
Feathers 0
Mice 5
Birds 4
Gerbil 1
Toads 2
Frog 1
Bird nest 0
Moss 0
Jennicat:
Jennicat:
Feathers 0
Mice 4
Birds 2
Gerbil 0
Toads 1
Frog 0
Bird nest1
Moss 2
Pretty:
Pretty:
Feather 1
Mice 0
Birds 0
Gerbil 0
Toads 0
Frogs 0
Birds nest0
Moss 0
Pretty was so proud of her feather!
Friday 6 July 2007
Hearing The Voice of God - Guidance
A couple of weeks ago, Christina brought a book along to Cell that her family had finished with, and I borrowed it. The book is called 'Is that really you, God?" by Loren Cunningham with Janice Rogers. Loren Cunningham was the founder of YWAM (Youth with a Mission) and the book is easy to read, exciting, inspiring and has a lot to say and underline on the subject of receiving guidance from the Lord. I was going to go back through the book and extract the key points on receiving guidance, but then when I reached the end of the story, I discovered that the authors had already done that in a helpful section titled 'Twelve Points to Remember: Hearing the Voice of God'. I wrote to the publishers and asked permission to reproduce that section here, and I'm happy to say they have granted permission:
Twelve Points to Remember: Hearing the Voice of God
from "IS THAT REALLY YOU, GOD?" by Loren Cunningham with Janice Rogers
YWAM Publishing pp200 - 203
If you know the Lord, you have already heard His voice- it is that inner leading that brought you to Him in the first place. Jesus always checked with His Father (John 8:26-29), and so should we. Hearing the voice of the heavenly Father is a basic right of every child of God. In this book we have tried to describe a few of many ways of fine-tuning this experience. The discoveries are never just theory. They come out of our own adventures:
1. Don't make guidance complicated. It's actually hard not to hear God if you really want to please and obey Him! If you stay humble, He promises to guide you (Prov. 16:9).
Here are three simple steps that have helped us to hear God's voice:
God may choose to speak to you through His Word: This could come in your daily reading, or He could guide you to a particular verse (Ps. 119:105); through an audible voice (Exod. 3:4); through dreams (Matt. 2) and visions (Isa. 6:1, Rev. 1:12-17). But probably the most common of all means is through the quiet inner voice (Isa. 30:21).
3. Confess any unforgiven sin. A clean heart is necessary if you want to hear God (Ps. 66:18).
4. Use the Axhead Principle - a term coined from the story in 2 Kings 6. If you seem to have lost your way, go back to the last time you knew the sharp, cutting edge of God's voice. Then obey. The key question is, Have you obeyed the last thing God told you to do?
5. Get your own leading. God will use others to confirm your guidance, but you should also hear from Him directly. It can be dangerous to rely on others to get the word of the Lord for you (1 Kings 13).
6. Don't talk about your guidance until God gives you permission to do so. Sometimes this happens immediately; at other times there is a delay. The main purpose of waiting is to avoid four pitfalls of guidance: (a) pride, because God has spoken something to you; (b) presumption, by speaking before you have full understanding; (c) missing God's timing and method; (d) bringing confusion to others; they, too, need prepared hearts (Luke 9:36; Eccles. 3:7; Mark 5:19).
7. Use the Wise Men Principle. Just as the three Wise Men individually followed the star and, in doing so, were all led to the same Christ, so God will often use two or more spiritually sensitive people to confirm what He is telling you (2 Cor. 13:1).
8. Beware of counterfeits. Have you ever heard of a counterfeit dollar bill? Yes, of course. But have you ever heard of a counterfeit paper bag? No. The reason is that only things of value are worth counterfeiting.
Satan has a counterfeit for everything of God that is possible for him to copy (Acts 8:9-11; Exod. 7:22). Counterfeit guidance comes, for example, through Ouija boards, séances, fortune-telling, and astrology (Lev. 20:6; 19:26; 2 Kings 21:6). The guidance of the Holy Spirit leads you closer to Jesus and into true freedom. Satan's guidance leads you away from God into bondage.
One key test for guidance: Does your leading follow principles of the Bible? The Holy Spirit never contradicts the Word of God.
9. Opposition of man is sometimes guidance from God (Acts 21:10-14). In our own story, we recognized much later that what seemed like blockage from our denomination was, in fact, God leading us into a broader scope of ministry. The important lesson here, again, is yieldedness to the Lord (Dan. 6:6-23; Acts 4:18-21). Rebellion is never of God, but sometimes He asks you to step away from your elders in a way that is not rebellion but part of His plan. Trust that He will show your heart the difference.
10. Every follower of Jesus has a unique ministry (1 Cor. 12; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Rom. 12; Eph. 4). The more you seek to hear God's voice in detail, the more effective you will be in your own calling. Guidance is not a game - it is serious business where we learn what God wants us to do in ministry and how He wants us to do it. The will of God is doing and saying the right thing in the right place, with the right people, at the right time, and in the right sequence, under the right leadership, using the right method, with the right attitude of heart.
11. Practice hearing God's voice and it becomes easier. It's like picking up the phone and recognizing the voice of your best friend - you know his voice because you have heard it so much. Compare young Samuel with the older man Samuel (1 Sam. 3:4-7; 8:7-10; 12:11-18).
12. Relationship is the most important reason for hearing the voice of the Lord. God is not only infinite but also personal. If you don't have communication, you don't have a personal relationship with Him. True guidance, as Darlene pointed out, is getting closer to the Guide. We grow to know the Lord better as He speaks to us, and as we listen to Him and obey, we make His heart glad (Exod. 33:11; Matt. 7:24-27).
Twelve Points to Remember: Hearing the Voice of God
from "IS THAT REALLY YOU, GOD?" by Loren Cunningham with Janice Rogers
YWAM Publishing pp200 - 203
If you know the Lord, you have already heard His voice- it is that inner leading that brought you to Him in the first place. Jesus always checked with His Father (John 8:26-29), and so should we. Hearing the voice of the heavenly Father is a basic right of every child of God. In this book we have tried to describe a few of many ways of fine-tuning this experience. The discoveries are never just theory. They come out of our own adventures:
1. Don't make guidance complicated. It's actually hard not to hear God if you really want to please and obey Him! If you stay humble, He promises to guide you (Prov. 16:9).
Here are three simple steps that have helped us to hear God's voice:
- Submit to His lordship. Ask Him to help you silence your own thoughts and desires and the opinions of others that may be filling your mind (2 Cor. 10:5). Even though you have been given a good mind to use, right now you want to hear the thoughts of the Lord, who has the best mind (Prov. 3:5-6).
- Resist the enemy, in case he is trying to deceive you at this moment. Use the authority that Jesus Christ has given you to silence the voice of the enemy (James 4:7; Eph. 6:10-20).
- Expect an answer. After asking the question that is on your mind, wait for Him to answer. Expect your loving heavenly Father to speak to you. He will (John 10:27; Ps. 69:13; Exod. 33:11).
God may choose to speak to you through His Word: This could come in your daily reading, or He could guide you to a particular verse (Ps. 119:105); through an audible voice (Exod. 3:4); through dreams (Matt. 2) and visions (Isa. 6:1, Rev. 1:12-17). But probably the most common of all means is through the quiet inner voice (Isa. 30:21).
3. Confess any unforgiven sin. A clean heart is necessary if you want to hear God (Ps. 66:18).
4. Use the Axhead Principle - a term coined from the story in 2 Kings 6. If you seem to have lost your way, go back to the last time you knew the sharp, cutting edge of God's voice. Then obey. The key question is, Have you obeyed the last thing God told you to do?
5. Get your own leading. God will use others to confirm your guidance, but you should also hear from Him directly. It can be dangerous to rely on others to get the word of the Lord for you (1 Kings 13).
6. Don't talk about your guidance until God gives you permission to do so. Sometimes this happens immediately; at other times there is a delay. The main purpose of waiting is to avoid four pitfalls of guidance: (a) pride, because God has spoken something to you; (b) presumption, by speaking before you have full understanding; (c) missing God's timing and method; (d) bringing confusion to others; they, too, need prepared hearts (Luke 9:36; Eccles. 3:7; Mark 5:19).
7. Use the Wise Men Principle. Just as the three Wise Men individually followed the star and, in doing so, were all led to the same Christ, so God will often use two or more spiritually sensitive people to confirm what He is telling you (2 Cor. 13:1).
8. Beware of counterfeits. Have you ever heard of a counterfeit dollar bill? Yes, of course. But have you ever heard of a counterfeit paper bag? No. The reason is that only things of value are worth counterfeiting.
Satan has a counterfeit for everything of God that is possible for him to copy (Acts 8:9-11; Exod. 7:22). Counterfeit guidance comes, for example, through Ouija boards, séances, fortune-telling, and astrology (Lev. 20:6; 19:26; 2 Kings 21:6). The guidance of the Holy Spirit leads you closer to Jesus and into true freedom. Satan's guidance leads you away from God into bondage.
One key test for guidance: Does your leading follow principles of the Bible? The Holy Spirit never contradicts the Word of God.
9. Opposition of man is sometimes guidance from God (Acts 21:10-14). In our own story, we recognized much later that what seemed like blockage from our denomination was, in fact, God leading us into a broader scope of ministry. The important lesson here, again, is yieldedness to the Lord (Dan. 6:6-23; Acts 4:18-21). Rebellion is never of God, but sometimes He asks you to step away from your elders in a way that is not rebellion but part of His plan. Trust that He will show your heart the difference.
10. Every follower of Jesus has a unique ministry (1 Cor. 12; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Rom. 12; Eph. 4). The more you seek to hear God's voice in detail, the more effective you will be in your own calling. Guidance is not a game - it is serious business where we learn what God wants us to do in ministry and how He wants us to do it. The will of God is doing and saying the right thing in the right place, with the right people, at the right time, and in the right sequence, under the right leadership, using the right method, with the right attitude of heart.
11. Practice hearing God's voice and it becomes easier. It's like picking up the phone and recognizing the voice of your best friend - you know his voice because you have heard it so much. Compare young Samuel with the older man Samuel (1 Sam. 3:4-7; 8:7-10; 12:11-18).
12. Relationship is the most important reason for hearing the voice of the Lord. God is not only infinite but also personal. If you don't have communication, you don't have a personal relationship with Him. True guidance, as Darlene pointed out, is getting closer to the Guide. We grow to know the Lord better as He speaks to us, and as we listen to Him and obey, we make His heart glad (Exod. 33:11; Matt. 7:24-27).
Thursday 5 July 2007
Cell Group - 4th July
Paula began the meeting with Psalm 98
1 Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
Let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
Paula invited us to meditate on the words of the psalm whilst a worship song played. There were pens and paper to draw a picture if we received a picture or a word from the Lord as we meditated. Afterwards we went round the group sharing our pictures - Steve spoke about all creation praising the Lord, and we were reminded of Jesus saying that if the people kept quiet, the stones themselves would cry out (Luke 19:39-40).
Mark had been focusing on the words of the worship song. It was about revival.
Bev's picture was of gates being thrown open wide, that "It's NOT A SECRET" - we should be shouting the Good News aloud and throwing open the gates of our hearts/lives/homes/church to call people in to meet with God. Coincidentally, Bev had made a 'Sing to the Lord' card earlier in the day!
Chris's picture of the moutain peaks with successively higher summits, a river and a green valley below reminded us that sometimes we are called to rest in green pastures beside still waters, but other times we're called to climb the mountain to meet with God, where the view is open. Chris drew attention to the fact that the source of the river is up there, high up, and that Jesus is the source to which we must return time and again for refreshment.
Trish was in touch with joy and was reminded of the verses from Isaiah 56 about those who hold fast to God's covenant "these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer".
We took communion together. Roger spoke about the symbols of bread, wine and water - when Jesus was crucified and his side was pierced with a sword, water flowed out which was the evidence that Jesus was dead. God's power raised Jesus from the dead. That same power is available to God's children today.
Just as Jesus had a wilderness experience before his ministry began, Paula spoke of how many pastors and evangelists have gone through a time of dryness and humbling, being brought to repentance before revival breaks out around them. We felt encouraged to pray for revival, beginning with each one of us.
Chris spoke about the process of refining silver - how the ore is heated until it becomes molten, then the silversmith keeps skimming off the dross which rises to the surface until the test of the silver's purity is that he can see his own reflection - that God wants to refine us and keep skimming off the dross in our lives until our lives are a pure reflection of God's glory.
Steve had a question from the Lord for himself and the rest of us: "Are you ready to pay the price?"
We prayed for the Old Dean and Mark shared his vision of taking the church out into the open in line with Bev's picture - of staging a service in the Park.
Christina had a mental picture: "I saw complete darkness, and where we are going to impact is where this darkness is [now]. I then saw [like a procession] one behind the other, what seemed to be angels, I don't know if they were angels or the saints themselves, if angels they were to line the perimeter to resource us in battle. [still in darkness] The only light in the vision were the haloes and this was for a reason, firstly, so much is in darkness and secondly it 'was like' as a simile when young children hold the neon lights at bonfire night. The neon lights alone do not light the darkness because there aren't enough of them, however, the good thing is that little chidren see them and want them too. I felt that people are like little children and when they see the light of the neon lights or indeed the halo of the angels, even the Light of the World in us, they will desire it too."
Bev suggested maybe the service should be a concert in the open air in the dark and spoke about 'Miracle Street', a mission support team from Southampton who stage dramatic concerts and empower local churches in evangelism. Trish mentioned the 31st October, to 'reclaim' All Hallow's Eve for God*, and there was some talk around the 5th November as a possible date.
Rachel was very keen that we should not forget tonight and the things God has shown us.
*I spoke to Ivane last year shortly after Hallowe'en about the idea I'd had that next Hallowe'en, when 'trick or treaters' come knocking at our doors, we could each hand out a helium balloon [or other treat] with an invitation tied to it, inviting children to a praise party a few days later - now I'm thinking that the invitations could be to a Miracle Street concert for all ages on 5th November, ending with a firework display.
Trish
1 Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
Let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
Paula invited us to meditate on the words of the psalm whilst a worship song played. There were pens and paper to draw a picture if we received a picture or a word from the Lord as we meditated. Afterwards we went round the group sharing our pictures - Steve spoke about all creation praising the Lord, and we were reminded of Jesus saying that if the people kept quiet, the stones themselves would cry out (Luke 19:39-40).
Mark had been focusing on the words of the worship song. It was about revival.
Bev's picture was of gates being thrown open wide, that "It's NOT A SECRET" - we should be shouting the Good News aloud and throwing open the gates of our hearts/lives/homes/church to call people in to meet with God. Coincidentally, Bev had made a 'Sing to the Lord' card earlier in the day!
Chris's picture of the moutain peaks with successively higher summits, a river and a green valley below reminded us that sometimes we are called to rest in green pastures beside still waters, but other times we're called to climb the mountain to meet with God, where the view is open. Chris drew attention to the fact that the source of the river is up there, high up, and that Jesus is the source to which we must return time and again for refreshment.
Trish was in touch with joy and was reminded of the verses from Isaiah 56 about those who hold fast to God's covenant "these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer".
We took communion together. Roger spoke about the symbols of bread, wine and water - when Jesus was crucified and his side was pierced with a sword, water flowed out which was the evidence that Jesus was dead. God's power raised Jesus from the dead. That same power is available to God's children today.
Just as Jesus had a wilderness experience before his ministry began, Paula spoke of how many pastors and evangelists have gone through a time of dryness and humbling, being brought to repentance before revival breaks out around them. We felt encouraged to pray for revival, beginning with each one of us.
Chris spoke about the process of refining silver - how the ore is heated until it becomes molten, then the silversmith keeps skimming off the dross which rises to the surface until the test of the silver's purity is that he can see his own reflection - that God wants to refine us and keep skimming off the dross in our lives until our lives are a pure reflection of God's glory.
Steve had a question from the Lord for himself and the rest of us: "Are you ready to pay the price?"
We prayed for the Old Dean and Mark shared his vision of taking the church out into the open in line with Bev's picture - of staging a service in the Park.
Christina had a mental picture: "I saw complete darkness, and where we are going to impact is where this darkness is [now]. I then saw [like a procession] one behind the other, what seemed to be angels, I don't know if they were angels or the saints themselves, if angels they were to line the perimeter to resource us in battle. [still in darkness] The only light in the vision were the haloes and this was for a reason, firstly, so much is in darkness and secondly it 'was like' as a simile when young children hold the neon lights at bonfire night. The neon lights alone do not light the darkness because there aren't enough of them, however, the good thing is that little chidren see them and want them too. I felt that people are like little children and when they see the light of the neon lights or indeed the halo of the angels, even the Light of the World in us, they will desire it too."
Bev suggested maybe the service should be a concert in the open air in the dark and spoke about 'Miracle Street', a mission support team from Southampton who stage dramatic concerts and empower local churches in evangelism. Trish mentioned the 31st October, to 'reclaim' All Hallow's Eve for God*, and there was some talk around the 5th November as a possible date.
Rachel was very keen that we should not forget tonight and the things God has shown us.
*I spoke to Ivane last year shortly after Hallowe'en about the idea I'd had that next Hallowe'en, when 'trick or treaters' come knocking at our doors, we could each hand out a helium balloon [or other treat] with an invitation tied to it, inviting children to a praise party a few days later - now I'm thinking that the invitations could be to a Miracle Street concert for all ages on 5th November, ending with a firework display.
Trish
Monday 2 July 2007
Communion
Synchronicity has the effect of focusing my attention, so when out of the blue a letter from my cousin arrived this morning offering his understanding of 'communion' hot on the heels of Mark's sermon yesterday on this topic, it didn't seem beyond the realms of possibility that God has something to say to me. My cousin is a Christian but not a Roman Catholic, so I was interested to find his letter quoting from Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter which speaks of the need to promote a spirituality of communion:
'A spirituality of communion indicates above all the heart's contemplation of the mystery of the Trinity dwelling in us, and whose light we must also be able to see shining on the face of the brothers and sisters around us. A spirituality of communion also means an ability to think of our brothers and sisters in faith within the profound unity of the Mystical Body, and therefore as "those who are a part of me". This makes us able to share their joys and sufferings, to sense their desires and attend to their needs, to offer them deep and genuine friendship. A spirituality of communion implies also the ability to see what is positive in others, to welcome it and prize it as a gift from God: not only as a gift for the brother or sister who has received it directly, but also as a "gift for me". A spirituality of communion means, finally, to know how to "make room" for our brothers and sisters, bearing "each other's burdens" (Gal 6:2) and resisting the selfish temptations which constantly beset us and provoke competition, careerism, distrust and jealousy. Let us have no illusions: unless we follow this spiritual path, external structures of communion will serve very little purpose. They would become mechanisms without a soul, "masks" of communion rather than its means of expression and growth.'
(That bit about us being able to see the light shining in the faces of our brothers and sisters seemed particularly apt as I commented to Julie M-F last night on the bright light of Jesus in her eyes.)
But getting back to yesterday's morning service, coming from an Anglican background, I was very glad Mark included the general confession before communion yesterday. I hadn't realised how much I was missing that! Plus it gave me the opportunity to confess my unfaithfulness in not reading out the scripture I felt I was being called to read - and I'll take this opportunity to give it here:
Isaiah 56 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Isaiah 56
Salvation for Others 1 This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."
3 Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." And let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree."
4 For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant-
5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."
8 The Sovereign LORD declares— he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."
It all sounds very encouraging, don't you think?
'A spirituality of communion indicates above all the heart's contemplation of the mystery of the Trinity dwelling in us, and whose light we must also be able to see shining on the face of the brothers and sisters around us. A spirituality of communion also means an ability to think of our brothers and sisters in faith within the profound unity of the Mystical Body, and therefore as "those who are a part of me". This makes us able to share their joys and sufferings, to sense their desires and attend to their needs, to offer them deep and genuine friendship. A spirituality of communion implies also the ability to see what is positive in others, to welcome it and prize it as a gift from God: not only as a gift for the brother or sister who has received it directly, but also as a "gift for me". A spirituality of communion means, finally, to know how to "make room" for our brothers and sisters, bearing "each other's burdens" (Gal 6:2) and resisting the selfish temptations which constantly beset us and provoke competition, careerism, distrust and jealousy. Let us have no illusions: unless we follow this spiritual path, external structures of communion will serve very little purpose. They would become mechanisms without a soul, "masks" of communion rather than its means of expression and growth.'
(That bit about us being able to see the light shining in the faces of our brothers and sisters seemed particularly apt as I commented to Julie M-F last night on the bright light of Jesus in her eyes.)
But getting back to yesterday's morning service, coming from an Anglican background, I was very glad Mark included the general confession before communion yesterday. I hadn't realised how much I was missing that! Plus it gave me the opportunity to confess my unfaithfulness in not reading out the scripture I felt I was being called to read - and I'll take this opportunity to give it here:
Isaiah 56 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Isaiah 56
Salvation for Others 1 This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."
3 Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." And let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree."
4 For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant-
5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."
8 The Sovereign LORD declares— he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."
It all sounds very encouraging, don't you think?
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