URBANarmy

Tears of Dereliction... Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem…. a voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" … lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" ( Isaiah 40:1-9 ) Not a time for slick theological answers; not a time for Godly platitudes; not a time for prosaic predictable apologetics. Simply a time to comfort.

Books I've read this year... Alec Stewart (2003) Playing for Keeps. BBC Court, S and Campbell, W. (2004) Be a Hero: The Battle for Mercy and Social Justice. Destiny Brueggeman, W. (1978) The Prophetic Imagination. Fortress Gibbs, E. and Coffey, I (2001) Church Next: Quantum Changes in Christian Ministry. IVP Brewin, K. (2004) The Complex Christ. SPCK Bonhoeffer, D. (1937) The Cost of Discipleship. SCM Heller, J.(1955) Catch-22. Vintage Myers, B.L. (1999) Walking with the Poor - Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. Orbis Frost, M. and Hirsch, A. (2003) The Shape of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church Elton, B. (2003) High Society Jakubowski, M. and Christian, M. (eds) (2002) The Mammoth Book of Tales from the Road (Mammoth Book) McCourt, F (1997) Angela's Ashes. Flamingo Beckford, R. (2004). God and the Gangs: An Urban Toolkit for Those Who Won't Be Sold Out, Bought Out or Scared Out. Adams, T. ...

Smells of Christmas - who'd be without them, roasting turkey, potatoes, pickles, warmed mince pies, chestnuts. There is one smell of Christmas I have got used to even though it's mere pungency can sometimes be overwhelming. Overwhelming it was this year. When you have 70+ people many of whom have no family; 70+ people many of whom are not simply not wanted; 70+ people many of whom have nowhere to go associated smells are not that difficult to imagine. The associated smells are not that intangible Even without the epic stomach turning Mr Foster of last year, this years "eau de pee pee" vintage was memorable. As I drove people home afterwards - the mini-bus a microcosm of the days madness and love - I got thinking - I wonder what the emerging church smells like on Christmas day? Any lack of "eau de pee pee" I think I'd prefer to remain submerged! The day has gone really well - but right at the end we were rocked. Judith came in right at t...

We're ready. Veggies peeled and cut; turkey's cooked and carved; 80 places set; transport pickup lists organised for the mixture of elderly, lonely and homeless; presents wrapped; supper bags ready for the 20 or so volunteers to fill with sandwiches, fruit and goodies; entertainment organised. We're ready. Maggi has spent sometime recently outlining some alternative christmas days that she has experienced. I'm glad that what is alternative for others is mainstream for us. We all pull together to make christmas happen for those who need family - a sacrifice? Not at all. Fulfilling? Totally. Barky points to some sobering Christmas facts and figures. We have our family day a little late but it is made all the more palateable for trying to do something.

Poplar Carol Service 2004 A giant game ‘pass the parcel’ seemed to work well as in our carol service as we "unwrapped Christmas" together. It was actually chaos, paper everywhere, kids everywhere, hay everywhere. Angels fell off the stage, Joseph with attitude and the Kings returned by another route but as opportunists took Jesus Saviour of the world with them - perfect! But in the chaos you couldn’t help but be encouraged. As the carol service wended its way I looked and saw the small corps/church packed out. I looked into the faces of those who knew what it was to be part of a congregation that had dwindled almost to extinction - there was a glint! I looked and saw people that haven’t been to church for years – “it’s time I came back” . I saw people we have sat through the year with and had cups of tea in the community café - "we've really enjoyed church we didn't realise it could be this much fun - do we have to wait until next Christmas?". I saw ...

I've mentioned before missions false dichotomy the need to beware the blind spot, beware turning the great commission into the great omission . Myers makes some interesting observations, together with a bit of recent criticism as to our 'Christian emphasis' got me thinking further... "Provoking questions that the gospel is the answer unites gospel-as-life and gospel-as-deed with gospel-as-word. Our witness depends on our living lives so that the Holy Spirit may evoke questions to which our faith is the answer…. calls for Christians to live eloquent lives, the key to provoking questions to which the gospel is the answer." "...questions are asked by the people when they witness something they do not expect or understand. The initiative lies with them. This avoids Tillich's complaint that "it is wrong to throw answers, like stones, at the heads of those who haven't even asked a question." 210 Myers, B.L. (1999 ) Walking with the Poor - ...

I’ve been collecting this week while playing Christmas carols - it is a big financial support that helps us to love our community. Canary Wharf is quite an interesting place to stand and fairly often you see famous people. In the past Michael Portillo the most generous so far, Mick McCarthy 10/10 for effort 0/10 for generosity 5p! Yesterday threw up two big names in the world of sport. None other than former England Football team Manager Graham Taylor – all I got from him was a smile and a hello ("did I not like that")*. Then not five minutes latter none other than Statto of fantasy football fame. "Staaaatoooo Staaaatoooo Staaaatoooo" didn't seem to impress! But what made my day was seeing Mark ( dreaming of reconciliation ). He smiles and walks over to me and he looks really well. The last time I saw him he was in a state. "I don’t do any of that stuff no more…" he is pleased to inform me. "great… you look kind of clear.. How’s...

I was really disappointed to have missed the recent blah. Disappointed in that for the first time it wasn't mere intrigue that was my motivation to go. For the first time I was more than intrested in the subject matter. It mattered little that HIS EMERGENCE Brian Mclaren was the guest - what mattered was that for the first time since I have been going, justice was on the agenda. It was flirted with by Kester Brewin with his definitions of 'dirt' but Justice was taking centre stage with Brian Mclaren down to talk about The Gospel and Justice. Jonny Baker gives a brief synopsis of the evening which helped my disappointment very little - I wish I was there. It seems that the emerging church contains elements of those licking their ecclesiatical wounds; those preening their 'alternative' feathers; those that at last have found an outlet for their creativity and thinking and many more! But there seems to be an avoidance of real justice talk. Fairtrade, marche...

Andrew Grinnel in unpacking his ideas about 'mission and worship' in a lecture I arranged yesterday said something interesting. "Listen I am not a pluralist but I think that there is much we can learn from other religions..." It reminded me of something I read earlier this year:- From Muslims the Church can learn about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. From Hindus the Church can learn about meditation and contemplation. From Buddhists the Church can learn about detachment from material goods and respect for life. F rom Confucianism the Church can learn about filial piety and respect for elders. From Taoism the Church can learn about simplicity and humility. From animists the Church can learn about reverence and respect for nature and gratitude for harvests. The Church can learn from the rich symbolism and rites existing in their diversity of worship. Sweet, L. (2003) A is for Abductive:the language of the emerging church

Weeks of preparation over - the day has arrived. Eryn - our youngest daughter soon to be 5 is to play the part of a king in the 'younger years nativity'. I've edged my way into the parental paparatzi. With a good use of elbows I'm in a favourable position - camcorder poised. The lights descend. The play is going well and from the thumbs up Eryn is lapping up the atmosphere. The shepherds and very surprisingly a family of mice have found their way to Bethlehem but now the kings are up and following the star. They arrive. Mary and Joseph are looking at the three regally dressed 5-year olds with anticipation. From the thumbs up and waving Eryn the third king is still confident. "I bring gold" the first king whispers. "I bring frankincense" the second king mumbles - pah! no home parental tuition, where is the diction, the pathos - Eryn still confident smiles and with strength and conviction says "and I bring....Merv". Way to...

The last time I saw Tommy he was wandering back to his hostel room, his head and hands heavily bandaged like a scene from the invisible man . He hasn’t been to see us for quite a while, not since I heard on the urban grapevine that someone in a drunken stupor threw car battery acid over him. Well.... Tommy wont be coming to see us any more – I heard from one of his drinking buddies that he never recovered and that the acid caused septicaemia – he died as his body was slowly poisoned. The funeral has long gone – three people were there at the end for him. Sad. Tommy was one of the first characters that we met when we arrived at Poplar 7 years ago. There are snippets of his life in various posts this year. You can paint your own picture of Tommy from some past blog snippets:- ( beauty of Tommy ; christmas day past ; I see them ).

I heard this when driving back from a spot of teaching:- "The problem with fundamentalism is that the fundamentalists have forgotten the fundamentals" Sandi Toksvig on LBC 97.3fm She wasn't particularly talking about Christianity - but nevertheless. Bonhoeffer has some useful insights to those who proudly fly their 'nevertheless fanaticism' colours in the name of the kingdom. "Restless energy which refuses to recognise any limit to their activity, the zeal which refuses to take note of resistance springs from a confusion of the gospel with a victorious ideology. An ideology requires fanatics, who neither know nor notice opposition...the 'word' recognises opposition when it meets it and is prepared to suffer it and is free from that morbid restlessness which is so characteristic of fanaticism" (Bonhoeffer 1937:166). Bonhoeffer, D. (1937) The Cost of Discipleship. SCM That from someone who knew what it meant to be a true fanatic! Perhaps ...

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"When was the last time you spoke to someone who has completely lost hope? When was the last time you spoke to someone whose light at the end of the tunnel has gone; whose smallest glimmer of hope has just been snubbed out? When was the last time you spoke to someone who can see no way out of his or her problems? Whose life once secure, has been rocked to near destruction?" Seems a long time since I found myself feeling pretty hopeless. ( Sometimes ministry makes me feel pathetic.... ). Today has been good. Another encouraging day today. Our little inner city church had a great feel today, this morning did anyway. I was away preaching at another church but got back in time for coffee at the end of the service that Kate had just led. There was a strong sense of community; identity; unity - I feel I have missed out. I look round quickly but ' he's ' not there again - it takes the edge off it for me. ' He' doesn't realise it but ' he' is a rea...

We've felt encouraged recently... We started a new children's after school club last week geared specifically at looking at the concept of Christmas from a Christian perspective. "Unwrapping Christmas..." We really had no idea how it would go, what interest, what numbers to expect. So with materials from friends made through blogosphere (thanks Rob ) and elsewhere we have created a four week fun-packed, interactive after school activity. I say 'we' although it has little to do with me - ok nothing to do with me - I should rather say Kate, Lisa, Rhonda and Bram. But it was great to see 23 5-9 year olds come along to the first session; 26 to the second; it was great to hear how the parents enjoyed sitting in the community lounge enjoying ... umm ... community; it was great to get the positive feed back from the parents - but more importantly it was great to hear and see the young people really enjoying the christmas message and hearing their excitment....

Maggi draws attention to a new initiative by the Church of England and the Methodists which observes and analyses new forms of church. It starts with a description of twelve new kinds of church activity or community as described in Mission Shaped Church: Alternative worship communities Base Ecclesial Communities Café church Cell church Churches arising out of community initiatives Multiple and midweek congregations Network focussed churches School-based and school linked congregations and churches Seeker church Traditional church plants Traditional forms of church inspiring new interest Youth congregations and adds on two more that ought to be there: Fresh expressions focused on children Fresh expression focused on under-fives and their families Not an exclusive list but it will be interesting to see how this develops. But the issue is as Maggi points out that: "There is something defiant, joyful and messily challenging about grouping them together: it ...

Just noticed that it is URBANarmy's first year birthday! I thought I'd check out my first blog to make sure I am holding with what I wanted it to be for me. I always held that I would do this blog thing for a year and then see after that. It has been a good exercise for me, it has brought reflective discipline to why we do what we do. It has done me good to get down and out of my head some of the daily lessons that come my way. It has been great to make connections with people all over the world and I feel blessed and resourced by the diversity of thought and backgrounds. Thank you for your words of encouragement, comfort, challenge, thank you for moving my thinking along. Apart from anything it is great to look back over a year and smile as I look at the stories that have shaped me this year. I don't want to lose any of that which has already been, nor what is to come so I'll start another year! (especially if I can get the code off SHP for his archiving system!...

This guy scares me. In seven years involved in ministry in Poplar there are two people that scare me. Ray is one of them. Phillipa the other - both unpredictable, both volatile, both impossible to reason with, both known to carry knives. We've cadets (trainee SA officers) with us leading our morning service. They've got the kids doing all kids of things and all is going well - however I pick up an element of panic. I can see it in the eyes of Alex just along from me. It is enough for me to turn around and there is Ray. I haven't had this feeling in my stomach or my legs for two years. We haven't seen him for ages now he is there at the back of our church - a time bomb. Actually it turns out ok. He is only after a change of clothes. Ok he's after money but after many a hard fought battle over that one he knows nothing is going to happen on that front. So with the sounds of worship in the back ground Ray and I set about sorting him out with a change of clothes. I...

I had an interesting conversation with a chaplain of an AIDS/HIV hospice about evangelism, it kind of connected with some reading that I have been doing recently. "For Christians, therefore, our thinking and practice of transforming development must have an evangelistic intent, although this needs to be understood with some care. This is not a call for proselytism; neither is it a call to coercive, manipulative, or culturally insensitive evangelism. It is not even a call for all development practitioners to become evangelists. After all, no one knows the moment when someone is ready for faith, nor is God limited to the staff of a particular Christian development agency in bringing God's good news. Rather, it is a call to be sure we do our development with an attitude that prays and yearns for people to know Jesus Christ." (pp 205) "Questions are asked by the people when they witness something they do not expect or understand. The initiative lies with them. This ...

Read these strong themes of salvation today in Resist the Powers ... There is nothing as sterile as a Christianity that seeks to benefit only its own... "Jesus has rightly been described as a Man for others. While He lived for the sake of the kingdom of God, this kingdom was to benefit all. It meant reconciliation for the alienated. Forgiveness for the sinner. Empowerment for the poor. Hope for the disillusioned. And, finally the transformation of the whole world." (Ringma, C.) "We are liberated, not to make ourselves happy, but to live effectively, to be in the world, to go everywhere bearing liberty." (Ellul, J.) Sterile Christianity - no thanks!

Patrick has never hit me but today it was close. “Go on then…Patrick hit me...c’mon on then...c’mon” I take off my glasses. I can feel his anger through the fist of cloth he has me by. But I know he is not going to hit me – he has never hit anyone. He tries to side-step me. I refuse to let him by. I want to calm him down. I want to talk. He is pushing me as he tries to escape . “You alright mate…?” a driver of a passing - actually I am almost under it - 'dial-a-ride' van enquires. I weigh it up in my mind 'ok...I’m 6' 3"; 14 stone; 38, once quite sporty!?? and he is asking me if I am alright' – Patrick is 70 odd for goodness sake . “Yes thank you…” I reply politely...my pride hurt. Minutes before I happened to see Patrick going for someone in our luncheon club; minutes before he had a new member - a sqeaky quiet unassuming little alcoholic guy - by the throat; minutes before Patrick was shaping up to hit this new guy. I know he is not going to hit him...

Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, talks about "existence-communication,' by which he meant that our lives - our very existence - is our communication. Your existence as an authentic human being communicates more than what you say or even what you think The only essential sermon one can listen to and appropriate comes not from the pulpit via the minister's words but from one's own existence. Christianity is not a doctrine but an "existence communication." Sontag F (1979) Frost, M. and Hirsch, A. (2003) The Shape of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church If believers are to make an impact in todays fractured and disoriented society, they will need to learn survival skills and themselves be transformed by the message they seek to communicate. Discipleship simply means the imitation of Christ. Through the first-century Thessalonian believers the gospel spread as imitators of Christ became examples to others, so that ...

I held her hand, it wasn't cold. I looked at her, she wasn't dirty. I somehow doubted her story. Judith is an alcoholic. She has lost her flat because her daughter came out of prision and set up her very own 'crack den' under her mother's nose. Her daughter's boyfriend moved in and made sure there was nothing Judith could do. Here she was telling me she had been sleeping rough for several weeks. I look for the tale-tell signs of living on the street and there were none. I look for the deep imbedded grim; the intense cold; the saturated wetness of living rough in November and there were none. I listen to her story. Her sobs and sniffs grow stronger and more frequent. I get her a tissue. She continues to weep and wail. I feel awkward, gangly - then she grabs me and tells me to give her a hug. I don't do hugs! - it cost me but I don't think she has had that for a while. Her story is an excuse to talk. Her story is an excuse to be with others. Her stor...

There is an old swahili proverb that says something like... "when two elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers". I always say that there are highs and lows in ministry - but even in the lows I feel fulfilled - It's been a tough week and I'm feeling a little flattened. Flattened - but fulfilled!

Community Cafe was just coming to an end when he walked in. Triumph, victory etched across his face. Eye's gleaming. A smile of conquest. "I've just been witnessing in the market" he drawled "...there was this Muslim and I felt I should speak to him...so I told him straight - 'you my friend are a sinner and you are going to hell...!'" I look at this gentlemen who introduced himself as an American pastor earlier on in the week - and I feel - to be honest - a little sad, a bit sick "what'd he say...?" . He looked back at me and said "Well…well… he walked away!" We talk and I get the distinct impression that I am being judged, I get the distinct impression that in this guys minds eye - that Muslim and I are going to spend eternity together! The evangelistic adrenaline is still coursing through his veins as we talk - he has had his evangelistic fix but at what cost? I look at this guy and I ask "can I tell you a st...

Sorry - a bit more H&F...! "The church by its very nature has an indissoluble relationship to the surrounding cultural context. This relationship defines the practical nature of its mission. But the reason for mission comes from somewhere else. To say it more theologically, Christology determines missiology, and missiology determines ecclesiology. It is absolutely vital that the church gets the order right." In other words if the mission of the church doesn't reflect what we read of Jesus in the gospels - well perhaps we're missing the point. If it doesn't reflect true liberation; true justice; true hope - I'm not sure where we are getting the blue print from. If it reflects an insipid, bland, characterless form of salvation that is shot through with gaping holes - I'd love to know how we bought it. I'd love to know how we managed to get the order so wrong. I'd love to know how we managed to be so pre-occupied with ourselves we hardly no...

Barky points to an article in the Independent about the Ship of Fools website and their Mystery Worshippers Struck me how we judge a church by what happens on a sunday. Seems a little superficial to me - perhaps they should go and see what is happening on a wednesday morning a 8:30am!! Belies the what H&F comment on as being attractional. "When we have consulted with churches that recognize the need to embrace a missionary stance in their communities, we are amazed at the number of times, when asked to discuss specific ways they can recalibrate themselves to become missional churches, they begin talking about how to change their Sunday service. It betrays their fundamental allegiance to being attractional. … The Come-To-Us stance taken by the attractional church is unbiblical. It's not found in the Gospels or the Epistles. Jesus, Paul, the disciples, the early church leaders all had a Go-To-Them mentality." Frost, M. and Hirsch, A. (2003) The Shap...

I’ve seen Mr Singh in all kinds of conditions. I’ve seen him beaten up. I’ve seen him scared. I’ve seen him angry. I’ve seen him desperate. I’ve seen him with no hope. We battled to get him into accommodation and apart from one brief visit we haven’t seen him for months. ( giving hope ; I went looking for Mr Singh ; Mr Singh came into today ; Mr Singh at last! ). Well I saw Mr Singh today in the market. I saw Mr Singh today and he looked great. I saw Mr Singh today he was clean, smart. I saw Mr Singh today and his pride is back. Seems he and his wife are back together, seems he has given up his drinking ways, seems that his life is back on track. For one small part of his life, when life for him couldn’t get worse – we journeyed together. For one small part of his life when he had nowhere to go we were what he needed. I saw Mr Singh and he seemed pleased to see me too.

Whether another William Booth urban myth or not - I read this in 'The Officer' (an internal SA mag) and thought it and Richard Munn's application and comments a timely reminder. "I've heard it said that in Victorian London every Christmas, the churches sent clergy onto the streets inviting the poor to Christmas festivities. As the crowds gathered for this annual display of kindness the Anglican representatives declared: 'All of you who are Church of England come with us.' The Methodists proclaimed 'All of you who are Methodist, come with us.' And the other denominations similarly announced: 'Whoever belongs to us, come with us.' Finally, when all the churches had made their various invitations and a large number of people were still standing about, William Booth would shout: 'All of you who belong to no one, come with me.'" Richard Munn comments: "Fads come and go, trends ebb and flow and times change, but...

It wasn’t really very alt. but it was certainly worship! Ghana; Nigeria; Zimbabwe; Congo; Germany; Spanish; Basque; Cornwall!; American; England; Scotland;Wales; Russia; Botswana; Guyana; Jamaica; Kenyan; Sierra Leone; Sri Lanka; Trinidad and more – all represented and all valued. These are events that are foundational to our church – celebrating God through our diverse, varied cultures as one. Ok this was unpolished; ok pretty chaotic, a bit hectic. Ok the musicians were late by a good hour. Ok we’re not being pressed by ‘Kingsway’, ‘Marantha’ or whoever produces Christian stuff these days to record a live worship set! But the vibrancy; the enthusiasm, passion - the unequivocal joy is something really inspirational, up lifting. I’ll let you into a secret – it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. What really is uplifting is there is recognition that sometimes as a church family you get involved and ‘enjoy’ something that isn’t totally your thing. I look at the saints of our church wh...

Another Ringma/ Ellul combo In many ways the church justifies its existence as mapping out a vision of how the world should be and how life should be lived i.e. how to serve the world better. The reality is that the church so frequently serves itself and so the ideology propounded by the church both binds and blinds. (Ringma). Jacque Ellul laments "Christianity can clearly also become an ideology. In fact, it has become one, for ideologies serve no one but themselves." Ouch again...!

"Gordon you are a musician aren’t you?" "…well I’m not sure about that, I like to play but that doesn't necessarily define me a musician" I say to Victor secretly preening my ego. Victor carries on with his unrelenting praise "well when you play your guitar you really make that thing talk…", "Victor... you are really kind – no, no.. really ..well …I.." Ok sad as it is - I am beginning to enjoy this. False modesty is beginning to kick in.* The conversation takes a twist "I made my flute talk last night". Victor has been buying second flutes and is learning to play. "Really!... that is great Victor" I say encouragingly . Victor looks at me and leans closer. His gappy teeth. The smell of tobacco, stale BO – all a little too intense, a little too close. He looks carefully around then whispers "I was playing it and then it came out with it…"..."what" I say pinned to the wall – nowhere to go....

I irritate people. I have a bad habit of folding the corner of book pages that I want to re-visit. Don't worry all those kind people that lend me books ... I only do it to books bought by me! Here are some fold overs from - Frost, M. and Hirsch, A. (2003) The Shape of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church and a recent thought by Maggi. The Gospel and Our Culture Network (GOCN) says, "The missional church represents God in the encounter between God and human culture. It exists not because of human goals or desires, but as a result of God's creating and saving work in the world. It is a visible manifestation of how the Good News of Jesus Christ is present in human life and transforms human culture to reflect more faithfully God's intentions for creation. It is a community that visibly and effectively participates in God's activity, just as Jesus indicated when he referred to it in metaphorical language as salt, yeast, and light in the ...

Talking to Kenny our local ‘fruit and veg’ man in the market, I hear my name, I turn, I look into the face of urban clad young man and I am truly shocked. The baseball cap and hoody can’t disguise a face that has taken a terrible beating. The face of young man whose face is swollen, bruised, battered. Jack used to come regularly to our youth club but I can hardly recognise him. I hear Jack’s story. A local gang took mob justice against someone who stood up to them. Someone who didn’t what to be pushed around. Now he is waiting for corrective surgery around an eye socket that broke under the tirade of blows and kicks. I look into a face that reveals more than bruises and cuts – I look into a face intent on revenge. "I know where they live…I’m getting my mates down…they’ll not get away with it". I try to suggest the futility, the senselessness, uselessness, pointlessness of revenge. I try to communicate grace. I try to communicate the value and worth of breaking the cycl...

I'm quite taken at the moment with Charles Ringma's - Resist the Powers (with Jacques Ellul) . A recent comment and observation made me uncomfortable... "Instead of a God who blazes at injustice, we have created the docile God who lovingly forgives and forgets the inhumanity of our world." (Ringma) Jacques Ellul argues that the God of the prophets has now become "a senile Good Shepherd whose beard all the world might tug..." ouch! The Branch From Jesse 1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD - 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD . He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the p...

For many reasons I'm glad I started blogging. I'm glad I've found and am constantly finding community with people from all over the world. I find diverse conversation. I find myself being resourced. I find myself being challenged. I find myself being encouraged. I find myself enthused, inspired, motivated...and all this with and by people I never knew existed!! Yesterday I met Rob - AKA the shiny headed prophet . As I said goodbye and walked up to school to pick my girls up I thought to myself "I'm glad I started blogging...!"

I'm proud of my big brother! I'm proud that 30 odd years ago he started as a office junior in the social services in Croydon. I'm proud that he has worked and worked and worked and 30 years later is a social services director. I'm proud that he has fought for justice and fairness and has tried to make a difference to society and I'm proud that this week he was decorated with the OBE for services to social work. [BTW - Philip is the one on the left]

Arthur can be a bit grumpy. Keeps himself to himself, always sits by himself – happy with his paper. Always polite - but in a grumpy kind of way. Arthur went missing about a month ago. He always lets us know when he is not going to be at our luncheon club. So a couple of days without Arthur left us concerned. A few phone calls and we soon discover that a fall has left him in hospital with a broken leg. We visit and its not long before he explains that in his fall his glasses were broken. His opticians were not being helpful with his niece – could we help? Can you believe how unhelpful people can be? A three-week battle of almost daily phone calls and visits to the opticians eventually ended up in the form of a pair of glasses. Excuses were fended off. Blatant inconsistencies challenged – we fought. I’m the one who takes the glasses up to Arthur. I’m the one who sees the gratitude. I’m the one who sees the deep appreciation. The one who sees the relief, the smiles. I’m the one ...

Hirsch and Frost seemed to have stirred quite a debate with their recent tour courtesy of BLAH. Personally I felt that their voices were worth hearing. Personally I felt that the consequent debate was healthy. Personally I wanted to keep the strong themes that ensued fresh and accessible. Two major issues seem to underlie the debate. Firstly the perceived slap in the face for the institutional church. Maggi picks up the theme by identifying their portrayal as a "less-then-truthful caricature of the institutional church…". The slap comes in their analysis of Christendom and its love child – the institutional church. Given that they suggest a return to a more incarnational than attractional DNA – the slap stings for anyone operating from within a theology of space. Therefore the assumption is easily – whether rightly or wrongly - made that centre based activities are based in Christendom and therefore of no value as they are by spatial definition attractional and not mis...

Norman was a different man tonight. It is our Men’s get together – Poplar Men Together (PMT) a Bar-B-Q at our house and Norman is here. He takes over the grilling that’s what he does well. He starts talking – he seems to do that well too! Five days ago he was desperate, devastated, inconsolable. We spent time together - prayed. His wife was stabbed trying to stop thieves stealing her niece’s car was now in hospital in Botswana. Norman was beside himself, the grief, pain, anguish of a man thousands of miles from his wife not knowing was tangible. Not much you can say really. But listen. That was five days ago. Tonight Norman is different – the relief on this lonely man’s face was obvious. The wound is not as severe as first thought and she will be out of hospital. I look around the range of men each with a story to tell and I see something special - I see a beauty in community. Compassion. Concern. Interest. Inclusion. I see something of the kingdom of God in this community of div...

I spent the day being wrongly labelled. Courtesy of blah I’m listening to Hirsch and Frost’s take on mission. Feeling the ‘missional pulse’ of how to be church in a culture where people are not interested. The importance of recognising the need for proximity, presence, powerlessness, proclamation. The DNA of mission - mDNA. Contrasting communication and hair styles is mixing the day up nicely – although I’m sure I suffer from a form of dyslexia connected with complicated diagrams!! Hirsch and Frost are challenging all things parochial, all things settled, all things institutional, all things Christendom. Challenging Church Growth (defined as ‘Christendom on steroids!’) but interestingly offering as an alternative a jazzed up evangelical ‘friendship evangelism’ re-mix. Their outward emphasis for mission is healthy with a strong identification of the realities of being church in the post Christian west. Their message is compelling, well presented. I look around the attendees - ...

Jim Wallis – changed the way I think. I read ‘ Call to Conversion ’ 20 years ago and I saw the world in a different way. Suddenly years of going to church came together. Suddenly I began to see the life of church as being as being so much more than just a Sunday singing type thing! Suddenly the fragmentation of the world seemed so much more acute. Suddenly I realised it was not enough just to sit back a gripe. Suddenly I was involved. I don’t do conventions – I break into a sweat in mega-crowds, it does nothing for me. But Roots 2004 was a temptation a real temptation. Jim Wallis was on the speakers list. I’ve only just got round to listening to the teaching tape. Someone gave it to me with a shrug "shame really – I found him a bit dry…too political…perhaps his books are better…you can keep it" Without a joke or a borrowed story or anecdote in sight - I was hooked as I drove. "The trouble with the church is that Jesus Christ has been stolen from it – it’s time...

Hidden away in the comments at theopraxis I found this gem. Personally I don't want to lose it so Jeff has allowed me to post it. To me it paints a vivid picture of incarnational mission. The Jesus of My Day By Jeff Jacobson I see him riding in on a Harley, the Jesus of my day. It looks like he’s been on the road for a while, but his eyes are still bright and he smiles when he sees me. His hair is long and wild from the wind. I guess he travels light because his saddlebags are mostly empty. In a cloud of dirt and dust he calls me over. I’m not sure what to do, but I’m drawn to him so I go. He puts his hand on my shoulder and he promises me a great adventure. I believe him, but I ask him to wait. I need to take care of a few things because my plate is full. His strong hand grabs hold of the clutch and he races the engine and he tells me that now is the time. And it feels like a dream and maybe it is, but I drop it all on the ground. My cell phone, my Palm - everything...

I’ve been thinking about Sunday just gone. It was memorable. I learned a couple of lessons, here's one of them. Patrick’s timing was impeccable. He usually is waiting for us to open up on Sunday’s. His role is to cause as much ‘white noise’ as possible in order to get who-ever it is leading the meeting as stressed as possible. It takes a particular skill to continue getting ready for the service, get everything in its right place – create that atmosphere that is ‘conducive to worship’ – while Patrick is giving all he can to create verbal mayhem. Sunday he wasn’t there when we opened up. He wasn't there as I tuned my guitar. He wasn't there when we sorted out the PA. He wasn’t there to confuse me as I get the songs into order. He wasn’t there when we started. He wasn’t there to call out, chuntter, swear . He wasn’t there. It could have had something to do with what had gone on earlier in the week ( Sir that is a load of madam ). It could have had something to do...

I went along to the "East London Contextual Theology Group" last week. Seems a good environment to think and reflect on missio praxis! I guess I'll have to wait and see if it is the right environment for me. One plus point was we were all different! Andy Turner - from the Kingsmead Kabin project outlined the story and I found it encouraging to hear his reflections and frustrations. The values of the project as he outlined seemed so grace centred and authentic and in terms of the kingdom - effective. Apart from having the importance of offering safe space as a church underlined and hearing the concept of sanctified disorder. The big story for me was hearing the pressure and pain of working with those who seem so adept at maintaining a false dichotomy that sees Christian witness, and specifically evangelism, as being unrelated to community development. Those who see evangelism (restoring people's relationship with God) as spiritual work, while social action/tran...

It's not often you have a young person doing work experience as a Salvation Army officer. Richie turned up this week and he has been getting involved. "I never knew you did all this..." We'd just been spending some time with an old dear who used the "I've got some jumble.." euphemism roughly translated means "I'm pretty lonely and could do with someone knowing I'm here..." He's found himself chatting with Patrick, Eva and our luncheon club crowd. He's found himself helping in the charity shop; helping out in parent and toddlers. He's seen people wander in off the street worse for wear and seen different people try and help as best they could. He has seen much and seemed staggered at our involvement. Today it was me though that was staggered. "Gord...have you seen The Passion of Christ..." I had to admit I hadn't ( The Passion...evangelical marketing hijack...authentic evangelism? ) I'm still waiting...

For seven years Patrick....! has lovingly terrorised our luncheon club. We know he is harmless; he knows he is harmless - but not many others do. His tendency to shout and swear, to go off on one at the slightest, to throw his dinner at times is causing casualties. People are voting with their feet. I had to sit with him and talk. I had to sit and explain how people were scared of him. How people were intimidated. How people had stopped coming. How when people see him being abusive in the market they stay away. "Sir, that is a load of madam..." he says in his defence. "I know it's a load of madam..." I reply " but no one else does and they are leaving our luncheon club because of your abusive behaviour... So for them it is not a load of madam!" This is breaking my heart. No one wants this guy but equally he is squeezing the life out of our community efforts. We can't cope by ourselves anymore. We've learned that the only way we cope...

prod·i·gal ::Rashly or wastefully extravagant: prodigal expenditures on unneeded weaponry; a prodigal life. ::One who is given to wasteful luxury or extravagance. Ever thought about what the Prodigal Church looks like?

Robert Beckford really should be read! He warns : "To avoid becoming a lukewarm presence in the community, the urban church must guard against being seduced by the benefits gained from certain associations - sources of revenue or support that become more important that defending the weak or standing for justice - it needs to be a living and committed presence in the community unafraid of taking on any manifestation of evil or injustice, even if it means risking funding or support..." Beckford, R. (2004). God and the Gangs: An Urban Toolkit for Those Who Won't Be Sold Out, Bought Out or Scared Out. Looking at Church™ and all it's manifestations; looking at the pre-occupied church - in whatever form - the 'bought out church' is a timely reminder as to what and where we ought not be! A lukewarm presence in the community, seduced - not really that attractive! How bought out are we...? "I know you inside and out, and find little to my l...