Posts
What, in your opinion, is the role of the local church?
The Church’s role has to be one which embraces a growing desire to make disciples not just converts, through its’ peoples’ own spiritual mentoring/direction process that they undertake; this desire naturally passes on to other followers. ‘Spiritual mentoring is different from pastoral care for it goes beyond the needs of the present moment and deals with the bigger picture of life direction and purpose….its concerned with growing the soul.’
It deals with the whole of the picture, the whole person and their walk with God. This concern goes beyond normal church activities and attendance. There is a genuine desire to build a movement and not a monument.
The local Church must be at home in tension, the scriptures are filled with it, yet we try to resolve and pacify people making the message, which is us, sterile. When we view words like ‘grace and faith, belief and action, spoken and living words, head and heart’ all create this dichotomy that we try to resolve. The 21st century Church needs to be able to take people through this tension rather than through a program which will sterilize them. This tension enables the transformation of Christ in us.
This Missional response further extends our own and the teams understanding. The passion we have for engaging with people and our belief that we can make a different grows. As we begin to face issues of fairness, justice and equality that invade our world we cannot help but care; what we do matters. This dynamic process brings us together in the revelation of who God is and what we are called to do. It affects our theology making it practical and not just word based. Our theology must make us get our hands dirty in the works of kingdom
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Monday, 26 October 2009
Salvation, what's that?
Recently I was asked the following question, I wrote back a short reply and decided to open it up to wider debate, so here's you chance to chip in.
What is salvation? How would you express it?
Most people agree that ‘salvation’ is at the heart of the Christian faith. But too often our use of phrases like ‘being saved’ sounds like religious jargon, easy to use within church culture but difficult to translate in our mission work in the community.
All two often we pay too much attention on how an individual becomes saved and not enough on how he or she lives as a Christian.
We place too much focus on justification and not enough on the sanctification process. So whilst I do believe a decision is necessary I don’t sell ‘fire insurance’ for the end of life. I believe in Belonging before Believing and this is best done in community.
In the Bible, salvation centres upon restoring the whole person, not just the 'soul', to a proper network of relationships. It embraces forgiveness in relation to each other and God, as well as healing and a proper attitude to the whole of creation.
A good example is when Jesus declared that 'salvation had come to this house' when Zacchaeus rejected his previous lifestyle and prioritised restoring relationships in his community (Luke 19). His personal conversion showed itself in social change; biblically salvation is never seen as a purely individualistic concern .
A few years ago whilst working as Project manager for the healthy living centre I discovered that the holistic nature of the project really touched my life and gave it more meaning; I witnessed the fullness of the width, breath and depth of salvation in a dynamic way.
I have experienced how 'Salvation' has many other aspects such as liberation from oppression, suffering, exclusion, guilt and insecurity. All of which can be found within the biblical hermeneutic.
Salvation should rebuild and reinforces a personal and corporate affirmation of ourselves and the community we live in.
What is salvation? How would you express it?
Most people agree that ‘salvation’ is at the heart of the Christian faith. But too often our use of phrases like ‘being saved’ sounds like religious jargon, easy to use within church culture but difficult to translate in our mission work in the community.
All two often we pay too much attention on how an individual becomes saved and not enough on how he or she lives as a Christian.
We place too much focus on justification and not enough on the sanctification process. So whilst I do believe a decision is necessary I don’t sell ‘fire insurance’ for the end of life. I believe in Belonging before Believing and this is best done in community.
In the Bible, salvation centres upon restoring the whole person, not just the 'soul', to a proper network of relationships. It embraces forgiveness in relation to each other and God, as well as healing and a proper attitude to the whole of creation.
A good example is when Jesus declared that 'salvation had come to this house' when Zacchaeus rejected his previous lifestyle and prioritised restoring relationships in his community (Luke 19). His personal conversion showed itself in social change; biblically salvation is never seen as a purely individualistic concern .
A few years ago whilst working as Project manager for the healthy living centre I discovered that the holistic nature of the project really touched my life and gave it more meaning; I witnessed the fullness of the width, breath and depth of salvation in a dynamic way.
I have experienced how 'Salvation' has many other aspects such as liberation from oppression, suffering, exclusion, guilt and insecurity. All of which can be found within the biblical hermeneutic.
Salvation should rebuild and reinforces a personal and corporate affirmation of ourselves and the community we live in.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Integration into Local Communties
Recently I was asked this question:
How would you integrate yourself into the local community? Please give examples from your own experience.
Whilst working on several social action projects over the years I have seen numerous examples of projects that start out with all the right intentions of integration from the Christian viewpoint of responding to need, however I have seen them drift off course because the project becomes the main thing instead of the attitude of Christian witness and service. A useful tool which I have used is one of: Prayer, Action and Reflection, again notably a cyclic form which helps keep the main thing the main thing.
The variety and diversity of responses to these realities illustrate the dynamic changes we are undergoing, I am cognisant of the phrase in Ecclesiastes that reminds us of ‘nothing new under the sun’, however this is a mark of the embracing paradigm of the 21st century leader; they live by a biblical hermeneutic and largely ignore the 20th century Church script. Rather more, they desire a more ‘ancient future’ Christianity that lets leadership explore and take risks along the way, one that as Webber puts it ‘is shaped by the reflection of the Church throughout history and expressed in the concrete situation of the Church in its particular place in culture’
These leaders respond to the process they are in and the story to them is more important than the model they operate in. It’s the story that has incarnational qualities that can transform the situation they find themselves in. Keel in his book says ‘to live in the world today and not to be aware of the radical transition of our context is to be either hopelessly out of touch, dangerously naïve, or wilfully stubborn’ . The bible is full of stories and the 21st century leader will have to encourage themselves and those they lead to mine the stories for timeless principles which they can engage in together along the way. Living an incarnational message helps to demonstrate these stories, understanding ‘we are not the bearer of the message or story but we are the message’
One of the fundamental points is the awareness of the time and context we live in and applying that to our situation, leaders today need to be able to function both transactionally and transformationally . Interestingly this combination of leadership style can be seen to be more evident in a team based approach rather than the CEO style. The 21st century leaders find that the interchanging of leadership for differing roles and situations can have greater benefits of solidarity and safety than previous models. The nature of leaders in the team needs to be one of servant leaders, serving people and each other and was adequately modelled by Jesus in the biblical script.
The preceding paragraph was both clearly evident and passionately lived in my last post as director of St. Luke’s Church. Where we changed hearts and minds of an aging traditional Pentecostal Church into an Emergent Expression relevant to its own time and space.
Webber. R. The Younger Evangelicals . p.242
Keel. T. Intuitive Leadership Baker Books. 2007. p.23.
Keel. T. Intuitive Leadership . p.56.
Macgregor Burns, J. Transforming Leadership. P24. Atlantic Books.
Transactional Leadership / Management has been defined as: ‘the basic, daily stuff of politics, the pursuit of change in measured and often reluctant doses.’
In contrast, Transformational Management is more metamorphic in nature, often having radical and conceptual leaps in style, shape and presence - a different matrix altogether.
What's your view point? I'd love to here from you.
How would you integrate yourself into the local community? Please give examples from your own experience.
Whilst working on several social action projects over the years I have seen numerous examples of projects that start out with all the right intentions of integration from the Christian viewpoint of responding to need, however I have seen them drift off course because the project becomes the main thing instead of the attitude of Christian witness and service. A useful tool which I have used is one of: Prayer, Action and Reflection, again notably a cyclic form which helps keep the main thing the main thing.
The variety and diversity of responses to these realities illustrate the dynamic changes we are undergoing, I am cognisant of the phrase in Ecclesiastes that reminds us of ‘nothing new under the sun’, however this is a mark of the embracing paradigm of the 21st century leader; they live by a biblical hermeneutic and largely ignore the 20th century Church script. Rather more, they desire a more ‘ancient future’ Christianity that lets leadership explore and take risks along the way, one that as Webber puts it ‘is shaped by the reflection of the Church throughout history and expressed in the concrete situation of the Church in its particular place in culture’
These leaders respond to the process they are in and the story to them is more important than the model they operate in. It’s the story that has incarnational qualities that can transform the situation they find themselves in. Keel in his book says ‘to live in the world today and not to be aware of the radical transition of our context is to be either hopelessly out of touch, dangerously naïve, or wilfully stubborn’ . The bible is full of stories and the 21st century leader will have to encourage themselves and those they lead to mine the stories for timeless principles which they can engage in together along the way. Living an incarnational message helps to demonstrate these stories, understanding ‘we are not the bearer of the message or story but we are the message’
One of the fundamental points is the awareness of the time and context we live in and applying that to our situation, leaders today need to be able to function both transactionally and transformationally . Interestingly this combination of leadership style can be seen to be more evident in a team based approach rather than the CEO style. The 21st century leaders find that the interchanging of leadership for differing roles and situations can have greater benefits of solidarity and safety than previous models. The nature of leaders in the team needs to be one of servant leaders, serving people and each other and was adequately modelled by Jesus in the biblical script.
The preceding paragraph was both clearly evident and passionately lived in my last post as director of St. Luke’s Church. Where we changed hearts and minds of an aging traditional Pentecostal Church into an Emergent Expression relevant to its own time and space.
Webber. R. The Younger Evangelicals . p.242
Keel. T. Intuitive Leadership Baker Books. 2007. p.23.
Keel. T. Intuitive Leadership . p.56.
Macgregor Burns, J. Transforming Leadership. P24. Atlantic Books.
Transactional Leadership / Management has been defined as: ‘the basic, daily stuff of politics, the pursuit of change in measured and often reluctant doses.’
In contrast, Transformational Management is more metamorphic in nature, often having radical and conceptual leaps in style, shape and presence - a different matrix altogether.
What's your view point? I'd love to here from you.
Monday, 21 September 2009
Leadership?
Recently I was asked this question;
Describe what you understand by the term leadership, illustrating your perspective with a recent example from your present church and leadership context.
In a leadership context, I value more the fact that leaders never ‘arrive’ but that we are journeying just like everyone else.
By applying this thought to the previous prefix, ‘leaders’ and ‘players’ are able to be interchangeable. The primary language is one of ‘hearing the call’.[1] Therefore, by providing the arena and creating a safe space, people can find their vocation through experience, experimentation and connections
I would go further and state the leader must set the pace and fashion this by his personal Missional life. This ‘Spatial Evangelism’[2] is not just done in a program or project and is not linear or two dimensional it has volume to it, three dimensional, spirit, heart and venue. It encompasses all of the week, time and space the leader works in. This space is made safe by core values and virtues: providing a positive culture to live and work in. As stated by Nelson;
‘Leadership is the social process in which people confer influence to individuals so that they can organise and assist the people in achieving what could not be otherwise be accomplished.’[3]
In this very social process I find the best expression is done in a team. Leaders need to move away from an isolation mentality towards the team where they can explore together the process of achieving.
In the last two posts I have held, as a project manager and director of a Church / Charitable Company. I have been the catalyst that has begun this change away from traditional Church leadership models. I believe in progressive change that enables rather than change for changes sake.
Today’s leaders need to be learners, but I find the more I understand about how much there is to know, I become aware of how little I know.
The futurist Alvin Toffler says ‘ the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn’[4] Thus our understanding of different models of leadership and the culture of the organisation in which we apply our principles and values to is key to the successful working. I am convinced that the models of leadership I have encountered to date in the late 20th century are inadequate, out dated and will be of little use in the future.
The next question is to ask what this means for the next generation of leaders. The leader’s shape in the 21st century needs to be aware of past and present but is not shaped by ‘being right’ or driven by ‘meeting needs’[5]
Leadership needs to be ever more aware of the fact that life is messy and sometimes chaotic yet however the leader embraces this and asks, what is God doing here and then asks How can I interact with this?
What is interesting is that a linear sequence is excluded. Cyclical and seasonal influences are rhythmic and ritual to this process. I find this exciting as it reflects my own journey: I have become dissatisfied with next-level thinking and the next new thing. I feel more at ease exploring the dimension of the present.
Another important aspect of leadership is the leader’s perpetual learning and development, a leader is a reader and acknowledges that they will never master the art of leadership. They continually learn and develop and recognise that in order to hone their skills it will take a life time.
A key shift in my thinking and theology is that we move away from the leader who comes and sets the vision for the Church largely based on their ability and then whips people up to fulfil this vision. This is sadly par for the course in many Churches and is the main reason why there is so much fatigue in Christian circles.
We must raise up team and body ministry and ask the questions ‘What is God doing here? Where can we see him in action in our community? Why are we here? Why do we do the things we do?’
All these are key components the leader must encourage his people to answer and work through. Teamwork encourages a communal expression of faith and helps us to re-frame and re-form our individual limitations of our revelation of God. The paradox the leader lives in here is that they fully understand and are committed to team yet are aware of times of isolation and aloneness; they must try and bring that into the team in an appropriate manner so that the burden may be shared.
My Question to you is;
What do you think about Leadership?
Have you an example that may help the discussion along?
I really would like to hear your thoughts on this matter.
[1] Sweet, L Summoned to Lead. Zondervan P.13.
[2] Creps. E. Off- Road Disciplines P.145
[3] Nelson, A. Spirituality & Leadership Navpress 2002 P.24
[4] Sweet, L Summoned to Lead. P.122
[5] Webber. R. The Younger Evangelicals. P.240
Describe what you understand by the term leadership, illustrating your perspective with a recent example from your present church and leadership context.
In a leadership context, I value more the fact that leaders never ‘arrive’ but that we are journeying just like everyone else.
By applying this thought to the previous prefix, ‘leaders’ and ‘players’ are able to be interchangeable. The primary language is one of ‘hearing the call’.[1] Therefore, by providing the arena and creating a safe space, people can find their vocation through experience, experimentation and connections
I would go further and state the leader must set the pace and fashion this by his personal Missional life. This ‘Spatial Evangelism’[2] is not just done in a program or project and is not linear or two dimensional it has volume to it, three dimensional, spirit, heart and venue. It encompasses all of the week, time and space the leader works in. This space is made safe by core values and virtues: providing a positive culture to live and work in. As stated by Nelson;
‘Leadership is the social process in which people confer influence to individuals so that they can organise and assist the people in achieving what could not be otherwise be accomplished.’[3]
In this very social process I find the best expression is done in a team. Leaders need to move away from an isolation mentality towards the team where they can explore together the process of achieving.
In the last two posts I have held, as a project manager and director of a Church / Charitable Company. I have been the catalyst that has begun this change away from traditional Church leadership models. I believe in progressive change that enables rather than change for changes sake.
Today’s leaders need to be learners, but I find the more I understand about how much there is to know, I become aware of how little I know.
The futurist Alvin Toffler says ‘ the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn’[4] Thus our understanding of different models of leadership and the culture of the organisation in which we apply our principles and values to is key to the successful working. I am convinced that the models of leadership I have encountered to date in the late 20th century are inadequate, out dated and will be of little use in the future.
The next question is to ask what this means for the next generation of leaders. The leader’s shape in the 21st century needs to be aware of past and present but is not shaped by ‘being right’ or driven by ‘meeting needs’[5]
Leadership needs to be ever more aware of the fact that life is messy and sometimes chaotic yet however the leader embraces this and asks, what is God doing here and then asks How can I interact with this?
What is interesting is that a linear sequence is excluded. Cyclical and seasonal influences are rhythmic and ritual to this process. I find this exciting as it reflects my own journey: I have become dissatisfied with next-level thinking and the next new thing. I feel more at ease exploring the dimension of the present.
Another important aspect of leadership is the leader’s perpetual learning and development, a leader is a reader and acknowledges that they will never master the art of leadership. They continually learn and develop and recognise that in order to hone their skills it will take a life time.
A key shift in my thinking and theology is that we move away from the leader who comes and sets the vision for the Church largely based on their ability and then whips people up to fulfil this vision. This is sadly par for the course in many Churches and is the main reason why there is so much fatigue in Christian circles.
We must raise up team and body ministry and ask the questions ‘What is God doing here? Where can we see him in action in our community? Why are we here? Why do we do the things we do?’
All these are key components the leader must encourage his people to answer and work through. Teamwork encourages a communal expression of faith and helps us to re-frame and re-form our individual limitations of our revelation of God. The paradox the leader lives in here is that they fully understand and are committed to team yet are aware of times of isolation and aloneness; they must try and bring that into the team in an appropriate manner so that the burden may be shared.
My Question to you is;
What do you think about Leadership?
Have you an example that may help the discussion along?
I really would like to hear your thoughts on this matter.
[1] Sweet, L Summoned to Lead. Zondervan P.13.
[2] Creps. E. Off- Road Disciplines P.145
[3] Nelson, A. Spirituality & Leadership Navpress 2002 P.24
[4] Sweet, L Summoned to Lead. P.122
[5] Webber. R. The Younger Evangelicals. P.240
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Grace and Truth - An Away Day with Rick Lewis.
Hi folks below are a few photos of the Mentoring Awayday I recently attended with a group of friends at at Bawtry Hall, also some notes i took of the day.
I hope you enjoy this blog and loook forward to your responses.
I hope you enjoy this blog and loook forward to your responses.
Grace and Truth
Just recently my wife and I sandy poppins, joined up with quite a few of our friends at Northern Connections at bawtryhall for a conference on Mentoring with a guy named Dr. Rick Lewis from Australia.
Rick is currently pastor of Castle Hill Community church in Sydney, Australia, and has a new book out called Mentoring Matters.
Rick is currently pastor of Castle Hill Community church in Sydney, Australia, and has a new book out called Mentoring Matters.
Rick also has a website which is very useful called, Mentoring Matters
We began the day with worship and prayer and our host Jonathan Dunning introduced Rick who skilfully guided us through the rest of the day.
The following notes are what I sketched down, hopefully they will refresh peoples' memories of the day who attended and for those who didn’t, well, enjoy and I would welcome comments from both parties, have fun and be blessed.
Our opening passage and indeed theme for the day was,
We began the day with worship and prayer and our host Jonathan Dunning introduced Rick who skilfully guided us through the rest of the day.
The following notes are what I sketched down, hopefully they will refresh peoples' memories of the day who attended and for those who didn’t, well, enjoy and I would welcome comments from both parties, have fun and be blessed.
Our opening passage and indeed theme for the day was,
Jesus; full of Grace & Truth.
Session 1:
We read the following passage:
Session 1:
We read the following passage:
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
Grace & Truth both needed in the same measure!
From a theological foundation we need to see that Jesus presents himself to us and others as;
1. The revelation of the Character and nature of God.
2. Full of Grace & Truth
We need the character of Christ to live ‘in us’ and ‘through us’.
A word about the ‘Law’ – Law is a coercive power; Law is about compliance, judgment.
The hallmark of a leader is to lead with Grace & Truth. (Together)
Looking at several gospel narratives we began the conversation with Rick at the helm.
1. The woman at the well. John 4: 1 - 26
2. The Tax Collector. Luke 19: 1 - 10
3. Peter’s confession you are the Christ Matthew 16: 13 - 20
4. The woman caught in adultery.
A few of my thoughts from the discussion;
- Grace enables you to accept the Truth
- Grace opens the door to Truth
- Is there real truth without Grace?
- Grace and Truth are expressions of God’s love.
Session 2.
Question? How was Jesus full of Grace and Truth?
Close your eyes and ponder these thoughts anew.
Grace in Actions? Or vice versa?
Actions in Grace?
Truth in Actions? Or vice versa?
Actions in Truth?
Grace and truth are FUNCTIONAL AND POSITIONAL Characteristics of Jesus.
A conversation progressed about functional and positional aspects of leadership, Grace and Truth.
What do you think?
Session 3.
Coercive Power
A great session around power, with contributions from many people, it was great to see, how we using what we have been taught in the previous sessions and put into place aspects of Grace and Truth when speaking about power.
- The POWER within is OK!
- The POWER OVER is the PROBLEM!
Quote: If a Mentor is truly expressing love toward a Mentoree, they will not attempt to wield power over them. Dr R. Lewis. Mentoring Matters. 2009. Monarch books.
If you constrain people against their will you are wrong, what is required is a change of HEART, not external compliance.
2 Timothy 2: 24. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
Paul knew that effecting a change of behaviour through coercive power is worthless, for it does not change the heart.
Rick says; "It is helpful for a Mentor to minimize the sources of power over Mentorees. I have noted that the accrual of power to the mentors stems from either personal power or positional power"
Quote: Where love rules, there is no will to power, and where power predominates, there love is lacking. The one shadows the other. Carl Jung.
Throughout the day we had plenty of time to chat with each other and also walk around the gardens at Bawtry Hall, I would like to thank Jonathon Dunning for organising the day and a special thank you to Rick for sharing his heart with us.
Hope you enjoy the blog and look forward to your comments, once again sorry for delay in this post.
Monday, 10 August 2009
A Few Quotes
Hi folks,
I'm busy reading The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning, an excellent book.
http://bit.ly/5iV8J
these quotes come from chapter 2; Magnificent Monotony.
Julian of Norwich; "The greatest honor we can give the Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love."
Jacques Martain; "The culmination of knowledge is not conceptual but experiential."
Ignatuis of Loyola; " The direct experience of God is Grace indeed, and basically there is no one to whom it is refused."
3 quotes that Brennan then goes onto to expand, you'll have to read the book to find out more!
But what strikes me more and more as I journey with God is that we experience this Grace at first however slowly but surely let the Law replaces it as we get travel weary.
My prayer therefore more than ever is that I (We) experience God's Grace daily in our lives.
I'm busy reading The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning, an excellent book.
http://bit.ly/5iV8J
these quotes come from chapter 2; Magnificent Monotony.
Julian of Norwich; "The greatest honor we can give the Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love."
Jacques Martain; "The culmination of knowledge is not conceptual but experiential."
Ignatuis of Loyola; " The direct experience of God is Grace indeed, and basically there is no one to whom it is refused."
3 quotes that Brennan then goes onto to expand, you'll have to read the book to find out more!
But what strikes me more and more as I journey with God is that we experience this Grace at first however slowly but surely let the Law replaces it as we get travel weary.
My prayer therefore more than ever is that I (We) experience God's Grace daily in our lives.
Just recently whilst speaking about Grace at a friends church I was overwhelmed with "This Grace" as I was speaking, It disarmed me and I thank God that I experienced the transformation as I spoke, in addition those listening responed to the message and numerous Grace transactions occured. He truly is wonderful.
Monday, 27 July 2009
A Prayer to refresh our souls.
ANIMA CHRISTI
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bidst me come to Thee
That with thy saints I may praise thee
Forever and ever.
Amen
Often we prayer with our own agendas and motives, often we set off well and fade quickly.
In this prayer our attention is fixed upon Christ, upon his grace that has entered our lives.
Oh how he longs for us to draw near to Him.
I've been away from my blog for several days now, although I've looked at it daily, thinking I ought to say something, but not knowing how to start to say things.
I came across this prayer in a new book I'm reading, surprise surprise!
"Becoming the answer to our prayers;" prayer for the ordinary radicals.
by Shane Clairborne, Founder of the simple Way. www.thesimpleway.org and Jonathan Wilson - Hartgrove.
Published by IVP
Take a moment to consider the words of the prayer and ask Jesus to walk into your life and stay with you. Relax in his presence friends it is truly lovely.
We'll speak soon
Andrew
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bidst me come to Thee
That with thy saints I may praise thee
Forever and ever.
Amen
Often we prayer with our own agendas and motives, often we set off well and fade quickly.
In this prayer our attention is fixed upon Christ, upon his grace that has entered our lives.
Oh how he longs for us to draw near to Him.
I've been away from my blog for several days now, although I've looked at it daily, thinking I ought to say something, but not knowing how to start to say things.
I came across this prayer in a new book I'm reading, surprise surprise!
"Becoming the answer to our prayers;" prayer for the ordinary radicals.
by Shane Clairborne, Founder of the simple Way. www.thesimpleway.org and Jonathan Wilson - Hartgrove.
Published by IVP
Take a moment to consider the words of the prayer and ask Jesus to walk into your life and stay with you. Relax in his presence friends it is truly lovely.
We'll speak soon
Andrew
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