A fairy tale manger

What might happen if a fairy tale witch visited the new born baby

My gift for the child:

No wife, kids, home; No money sense. Unemployable.
Friends, yes. But the wrong sort –
The workshy, women, wimps,
Petty infringers of the law, persons
With notifiable diseases,
Poll tax collectors, tarts;
The bottom rung.
His end?
I think we’ll make it
Public, prolonged, painful.


Right, said the baby. That was roughly
What we had in mind.

Ups and Downs

“Who do people say that I am?”
It seemed a strange question to ask: he’s Jesus, the Teacher. It’s obvious who he is. Yet I felt that there was more to it than that. There was a look in his eyes, which made me think his, apparently, throwaway question was anything but throwaway. Something was coming. I didn’t know what, but I felt uncomfortable, uncertain. Someone was going to end up looking stupid. I didn’t want it to be me, so I kept my mouth shut and tried to find a natural way to avoid any sudden glances. I listened, I observed, but I wouldn’t be drawn into it.
Some of the others replied, sheepishly, “Some say John.”
“Or Elijah.”
Confidence was faltering.
“Or Jeremiah.”
Confidence was almost gone.
“Or… another prophet…”
Sometimes, it’s strange being amongst a bunch of Galileans – their accent’s strange. Half of them are fishermen, at that: I’m much happier with my feet on dry ground. But when they start snatching at answers like that, it affords some relief: it keeps the attention away from me.
“But you. Who do you say I am.”
Rats. The pressure was on again. Everyone glanced at each other. No one dared shrug shoulders, but… pregnant silence. Someone had to break it. Of course, Peter couldn’t take it much longer. You could rely on him. He’s an impetuous fellow. He doesn’t do uncertain silences for long.
Then he blurted it out: “You are the Christ.”
Everyone’s head swung to stare at him.
“The Son of the living God.”
His head spun to receive one gaze after another.
“Don’t go overboard, Peter.” That was me, but I didn’t dare say it: I just thought it, silently.
Now, this felt humorous: waiting for Peter to get dealt with again. He had a habit of putting his foot right in it. He always knew he’d done it, too. You could see from the way his lower lip wrinkled.
“Simon, son of Jonah…”
Here it comes.
“You are blessed, indeed.”
What?
“No man told you that. It was my Father in heaven.”
Blow me down. Peter landed on his feet, for once. And weren’t we going to know it? He managed to suppress the beaming grin, but he stood up straight, that little bit taller than usual and his chest stuck out - only a tiny fraction of a cubit, but I think we all spotted it. The Teacher seemed quite content with that.
He carried on, “You are a rock and on that rock I will build my church. Death, with all its power, won’t beat it down. I’ll give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. What you stop on earth will be stopped in heaven. What you allow will be allowed in heaven.”
So much for looking stupid.
Then the Teacher’s attention scanned around the group, sometimes lingering on chosen individuals. At times like this, he seemed to be drilling a hole in our minds. “Don’t tell anyone that I am the Christ – no one, do you understand?”
That’s weird. If he really is the Christ, then why not shout it from the rooftops? Use it, or loose it. Up to him, I suppose.
He changed the spell. “We must go to Jerusalem.”
I couldn’t get the connection. Geographically, too, it seemed a bit of a U-turn. We were north of Galilee, going in the opposite way.
“I have unfinished business there. But I warn you: it won’t be easy.”
There were a few worried looks as he continued, “The authorities plan to make me suffer.”
Several people glanced at each other.
And then, plainly, “In fact, they’re going to kill me.”
Gasps, heads spinning, shrugged shoulders, wild gestures, mayhem. Everyone was talking at once. The Teacher carried on, now reassuring, but by this time, no one was listening. It was a storm that wouldn’t be stilled.
Then, Peter strode to centre stage, raised his frame in authority and with a hand on each of the Teacher’s shoulders, shrieked above the hubbub, “Never, Lord, this shall never happen to you!”
With that everyone quietened for the man of the moment, just in time for the Teacher’s caustic reply, “Get behind me, Satan! You get in the way. You don’t think like God, you think like men!”
Silence. That was harsh. Satan? Where we come from, that’s the last thing you call anyone.
I studied Peter. I thought he was glaring at the Teacher, but that surly fisherman was left motionless. Eyes fixed, he just stared. I realised that he was focused on infinity, his face muscles limp, his arms hanging as if paralysed; his mouth dropping a little open; I couldn’t even see him breathing. It was like he was dead on his feet. I didn’t know how long before he’d collapse. I watched for movement: usually, his chest would shudder, slightly, as he sobbed, silently, or his lip would quiver, but this time, nothing.
We were all numb, except one woman, who went, quietly, to Peter and embraced him, to comfort him. She was tiny against his enormous, rough, fisherman’s frame and yet, was there anything else holding him up? Then, one tear trickled down his cheek – one only. He couldn’t even cry. Never before, nor since, did I see Peter like that.
The Teacher moved, sat on a stool and continued. Now, against the stark silence, his words seemed to echo as in an amphitheatre.
“If anyone wants to come after me, deny yourself, take up your cross and, then, come, follow me. If you try to save your life, you’ll loose it for sure, but if you loose your life for me, then you’ll discover real life. What good would it be, if you win the whole planet, but loose your soul – the heart of who you are? Can you buy your soul back, again? But I’m going to return, in God’s glory – with his angels – and then, I’ll reward every person as he, or she deserves. Some of you won’t die before you see me arrive in my kingdom – believe me!”
It was a speech, which could have rocked whole nations, but we were crushed. There was nothing left to respond with.
Then, suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. My head swung round so fast, I ricked my neck. It was another of the women. She must have read my feelings. With a slow, reassuring, kind nod, she spoke, though no sound came out, only her lips moved: “It’ll be all right, Judas.”
Oh no, it wouldn’t.

Steve Wilkinson

Keep breathing!

I have a friend who, when I get anxious, tells me to keep breathing! At this time of year I can't be the only one who needs reminding of that. I found this writing by Christine Sine that sort of helps if read slowly. It doesn't alter how much there is to do, but it does nudge my thinking;

Breathe in the breath of God
Breathe out your cares and concerns
Breathe in the love of God
Breathe out your doubts and despairs
Breathe in the life of God
Breathe out your fears and frustrations
We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation,
We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs
We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fibre of our being
Breathe in the breath of God
Breathe out your tensions and turmoil
Breathe in the love of God
Breathe out your haste and hurry
Breathe in the life of God
Breathe out your work and worry
We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation,
We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs
We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fibre of our being
by Christine Sine
http://godspace.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/a-breathing-prayer/

Celebrating Seventy Years

Thank you Joy, Lucy, Katie and Amelia for this poster.








We celebrated Ashley’s seventieth birthday over the weekend with a barn dance and supper on Saturday and a Service on Sunday. The whole weekend was a very special occasion.

Thank you so much for so many of you coming to celebrate with us. We also missed others that couldn't make it and were in all our thoughts. We met lots of friends, families and children. A wonderful event.

I was delighted to see people from Ashley representing all the seven decades that the church has been in existence. It has had many changes and different expressions of our shared faith.

Ashley started in a different world before most of us were born. It has been small, large, more formal, less formal but always attempting to keep Jesus Christ at the centre. This has resulted in many different ministries, styles and initiatives with links across the world. We have all of you to thank for the journey we have been on and for the foundation we have for going further into this century. We have a great building and community to embrace this future.

We are always trying to answer the question ‘Why did God decide to convert a laundry into a church at the junction of Ashley and Hatfield Roads in the midst of many other churches?’ With all your help we have tried to answer that question in the way we ‘do church’ and will continue to do so with ever changing circumstances and personnel. We hope always to do this creatively seasoned with some radical thinking from time to time.

This weekend of celebration acknowledged the many contributions of you all. Some of you for a short time, and others of us for a longer time – but all valued, important and significant. We were so pleased to be together to celebrate God’s grace and goodness. .

When the road is rough and steep

With anniversary celebrations in mind I was thinking about some of the old Sunday School choruses we used to sing and found this one on You Tube.
It is clearly an old-fashioned children's song, but the words aren't just for children.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwDz2boCWzk

Eager Space

I was thinking about the creative writing exercise and came up with the expression 'eager space' to describe being somewhere with an expectation. Maybe that was how the disciple felt in the company of Jesus. They don't know what he is going to say or do next, but there is an expectation that he will do something.

Three Encounters with Jesus

Three dramatic encounters with Jesus that we looked at on Sunday:

The Road to Emmaus

I was very taken by a little bit of reading I did about the road to Emmaus this morning and the 7 'steps' it talked about

1. Jesus comes along side us when we're lost and confused - Luke 24:15-17
2. A lot of people and us sometime don't recognise Jesus when he appears - Luke 24:16
3. Often Jesus has to correct us or tells off before we can get to a place where we understand that He 'means what He says and says what He means!' - Luke 24:25
4. When we want answers to problems we need to go to God's word - Luke 24:27
5. We need to take time to commune with Jesus to sit and eat with Him - Luke 24:29-30
6. As you spend time with Jesus and in the Word of God your eyes will be opened and you develop a passion for Him a fire in your heart. Luke 24:31-32
7. Once Jesus has rescued us and answered our prayers we need to tell others. Luke 24:33-35

God be with you this week wherever your road may lead you.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus

I read a book called ‘Sitting at the feet of Jesus’ that tells of the story of a three week conference in Australia set up to talk about that activity. It was a conference attended by ninety church leaders and several well known speakers were invited to address it. When the day came, all of the speakers were unavailable except the one who had said he would not address the conference as any sort of expert, but he would attend and participate in it. So the organisers went ahead with this huge speaker-less event hoping that God would respond and give them some guidance before the event began, but he didn’t. For three weeks the pastors, all busy leaders, met together and prayed and worshipped each day without any sense of direction – there were no speeches, no grand plans; they just met and prayed and talked. At the end, the speaker turned participant said it had changed his life. Where they might easily have endlessly discussed sitting at the feet of Jesus, what they had done was to do it for real.
I found this inspiring. I can’t imagine how those organisers managed to carry on with the event when it must have felt like it was falling apart. They must have really wondered whether they had misunderstood God’s intention, but God was looking at it differently and wanted more for their relationship with him than they had understood for themselves.

What I was up to on Sunday - Spirited Exchange

I went to a Spirited Exchange Facilitation Training weekend in Oxford run by Jenny McIntosh.

The facilitation training was for people interested in Spirited Exchange Groups or similar gatherings which help people who have left church but are still ‘journeying on’ in their faith. Annunciation Trust helped the weekend financially and I went along as supporter of Jenny’s work. I could only go for the Sunday but found it challenging and inspiring. There were five participants (plus Jenny and myself) on the Sunday morning. Another two had been there the previous two days but had needed to leave. A couple of others had to cancel just before the event.

Jenny is attempting to spread the work of contacting and supporting people who have left church down to a local level. As the sole facilitator she can only do so much centrally. This process does require skilled facilitation allowing stories to be told in an atmosphere of acceptance and respect with no agenda accept to help the individuals on their journey wherever that might lead. The training weekends are essential for this ministry to grow.

The group were people who had been on the journey themselves and had been involved in a group and/or starting a group. I chaired one session and participated in another which mainly consisted of people telling their stories. We discussed the way we can encourage groups to grow when and where they are needed and find the contacts of people who need a group. The stories of the people there were moving and reminded me of how important listening to stories is to facilitate spiritual growth.

I think the conclusion of the workshop was that gatherings such as the weekend were the way forward to encourage and facilitate local level work and that too much planning and organising could not be done. It can only be organic growth with ever changing needs and groups which will come and go and hurting people who will often be averse to joining yet another group. It is real challenge for Jenny to progress this work with limited resources in such a free flowing way. Also we touched on the need to communicate more about people that do leave churches and whether some people could remain in church if their journeys were respected and valued more by the church.

My own view based really just on my gut feel and some anecdotes is that there are a lot of people out there that are looking for a community that can support them in their faith journey outside of church. They often feel vulnerable and lonely and yet they are not that easy to find. It was excellent that Annunciation Trust could provide some support to a ministry which addresses a need which I think Ashley could also make a contribution to.

Jenny will be with us at Ashley on Sunday 15 November to talk more about her work.

Roy Gregory

And the next creative writing title is........

"Someone who is pretending to be something or someone they are not".

Jesus Encounters the Woman at the Well

Here is a UTube dramatic representation of the woman at the well I used last Sunday.

"Describe an interesting person you have met whilst on a journey."

The newly formed Creative Writing Group meets Wednesday 7th October at 8pm at Ashley.

But, for those who don't intend to be at the meeting, but are still interested, I thought it might be good to be reminded of the task for the month.

Light from Lite

Sometimes a bit of light comes into our life from an unexpected source and this week for me this happened whilst reading ‘The London Lite’ football page.

For the non-London commuters ‘The London Lite’ is a free daily newspaper given away on London streets full mostly of show biz trivia and football news which takes about ten minutes to read (well, maybe twelve). Not the place for a spiritual lesson you would think but I find the Holy Spirit often sneaks up on me in the strangest places. In fact I often listen best when I am not expecting it.

It was a Frank Lampard quote (for any non-football fans who are still with me he is an outstanding mid-field player whose scores lots of goals) on the return of Jo Cole (another Chelsea and England player);

“Joe is the type of player who has all the tricks and skills, whereas for me the game is all about arriving at the right place at the right time” (London Lite 24 September 2009)

It’s true! I have watched Frank Lampard play many times and he rarely tries to beat anyone – he often just passes the ball and runs in to space. This suddenly became a strong reminder for me of the way I think the spiritual life works. Life, like football, has a flow about it and the trick can be reading that flow and running and creating space to be in right place at the right time. Sometimes, this is counter intuitive in a society which encourages ‘doing’ just as it can be counter intuitive in football to find space and not chase the ball all the time.

I made a new resolution to find ways of running into (or creating) space in my life so that I can be in the right place at the right time for God to show me the way. Any thoughts

Be a smelly Christian

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (The Message)

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life.

I was reminded of this passage last week when noticing smells around me that pervaded the air without really being able to discern the source and it has continued to be on my mind this week. Hopefully I am spreading an aroma that is worthy of Christ wherever I go.

A fishy encounter

This morning we considered one of the first encounters described in the gospels where Jesus chooses Simon Peter as his disciple. The power point below can be viewed with my notes which can be viewed here

My Own Version of the Story

In church today we heard the story from Mark 5, of a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years; she touched Jesus cloak and was healed. Most Bible translations talk about her doing that because she believed that Jesus could heal her.
I learned the story in a translation that talked about her wanting to be made whole and another translation talked about her wanting to be safe. I like to think of her as approaching Jesus, not with the thought that if she touches him she will stop bleeding, but more in recognition of him being someone that she cannot help but reach out to; she sees something of who he is. I like to think of her seeing him, not as a magic man or special sort of doctor, but realising as she sees him there, that she has to connect with him, and a result of that reaction to him, she is healed.

Seeds

For a little project later in the year, I would like to collect some different seeds. I have a million and one hollyhock seeds, but if anyone has any other sorts spare in their garden please could you collect them up for me.

Encounters with Jesus

Today's talk became the start of a little mini series where Roy and I will be focussing on the encounters different characters had with Jesus and what we can gain from another look at these epidodes.

This morning I took the story of Zacchaeus, the powerpoint below just highlights some of the phrases of the encounter, what are your thoughts?

Intercession

A friend was describing a picture that she had stuck in her head and we decided to try and get it on paper. Over coffee and a series of emails we came up with the following digital collage. It is called Intercession. It means what it does to her, but I think there could be lots of stories it describes.

A Revive! reflection

Having had a day or two to reflect on my Revive! experience this photo (taken at the site) and Psalm 23 express a lot about what God has been saying to me during the week




















The Good Shepherd
You, LORD, are my shepherd.
I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields
of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name,
and you lead me
along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
but I won't be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd's rod
makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast,
while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
until it overflows.
Your kindness and love
will always be with me
each day of my life,
and I will live forever
in your house, LORD.

The whole thing.

I went to Taize last week. I find it quite an experience. There is so much to take in; so many favourite little moments, it is all a bit of a medley.
I discovered that my computer's photo software offers the option of piling all your photos on top of each other. I'm sure there is a sensible reason for that that I have misused, but here is my entire collection of photos of Taize - the silly hats; the cup of coffee being brought in the morning; the view; a butterfly on some buddleia; the group gathering ready to go in to the amazing space that is the church; the queue for food; a monk's prayer stool; stained glass.

There are just so many images and it is hard to decide what sums Taize up the most for me. So, I was quite pleased to be able to display it as a splurge of mixed images, because that feels quite apt!

God's hand on my shoulder

The last few months have not been easy in the Bramwell household, and I have found it difficult to hold on to God's peace. While we were away in Hereford this week God gave me a dream which I am holding onto tightly. I hope others will find it helpful too.

I was walking early in the morning. It was spring following a long dreary winter, and the air felt soft on my face. The sea was in front of me with a blue sky and warm sunshine. There were blossoms as I walked along and I saw the beauty and delicacy of their creation. I felt as though a weight was being lifted from me.

Then I was aware of a hand on my shoulder and I knew it was God's hand. It lifted me to a new level of peacefulness, which filtered slowly through my whole body. I woke up, still concious of this feeling of wellbeing, and lay in bed thinking about what a hand on your shoulder can do.

It can indicate caring and support, someone drawing alongside and just sharing in whatever we are experiencing, good or bad.
It can be a guiding hand, gently showing us which way to go, without forcing us; out own built in satnav, that never gets cross if we go the wrong way, but always able to find another route to the desired destination.
It can be a supportive hand that steadies us when the ground beneath our feet is uneven and we stumble.

In my dream God's hand was all these things, and since then, when I have felt that things are a struggle, I recall the dream and say to myself that God's hand is on my shoulder. The journey is easier when you know that God is guiding you and dreams like this reinforce the knowledge that He does guide us if we let him. I continue to try and rely on Him and not myself.

I know that this was my dream and not yours, but I pray that anyone who nneds it and reads this will be aware of God's hand on their shoulder too.

The book of Job

Below is the power point from Steve's talk on Job last Sunday. A lot to think about from it. Any thoughts please comment.

Christ in the House of His Parents

I was intrigued by Ray's sharing of this picture this morning and all the symbolism it holds. If you want to know more there is some interesting detail on wikipedia here

A study of the Holy spirit

This morning I condsidered why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and how the bible describes the Holy Spirit so we can understand just what a fantastic resource Jesus left us.

The Holy Spirit

View more documents from shaunperryman.

YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE

A reminder that God is there when we need Him most and when we don't think we need him at all.

Miracles

Miracles I think present quite a puzzle for those of us that want to follow Jesus.

They are very much part of Jesus’ ministry as described in the Gospels and Jesus invited us to follow him. As a breath of fresh air of the spirit I decided to relook at the miracles to see what I might learn to keep faithful to his proclamation of the coming kingdom (Lk 4:18-19). Just a few thoughts that I gave on Sunday after looking myself at all Jesus' miracles again and seeing what Jesus actually did and/or said and looking for ways of following him (Mk 16: 15-18)

• It is very challenging to us and it is important we take our bit of faith and work with that not what others do. There was no one way but many always focusing on the Kingdom ie the teaching, proclamation and actions of God’s Spirit
• We are to establish an ecology of the Kingdom for us as individuals and as a community (light, water, nutriments, balance) ie everything has a potential for following the Spirit and seeing the kingdom manifest
• Jesus often tried to keep miracles a secret. They were not an advertising gimmick but a natural free flowing consequence of God’s Spirit
• Prayer was not often in evidence. The prayer at the time is often for our benefit. For Jesus the prayer seems to be at other times and often in private (most of us need the gathering together more to encourage each other)
• Miracles and the preaching mostly occurred outside of formal religious places and gatherings
• Touch and interaction/conversation were important
• Jesus often connected body and spirit healing together
• Spiritual warfare (a driving out) was involved however uncomfortable that makes us (me?) feel
• Opportunity seem to be important and desperation and seeking are often involved
• Selectivity and sometimes failure for his followers was evident (eg Mk 9:26)
• It was sometimes a person’s faith, sometimes Jesus authority, sometimes Jesus compassion

Learning to Pray

I was thinking about prayer and being prayed for. Being prayed for is not something I have gone in for in a big way in my life and recently when a friend elected to pray for a situation I have concern about, solely because I have concern about it, I found it really surprising. Hearing my concern presented to God as though that was the only natural thing to do with it, removed the weight of it from my shoulders completely. The issue hasn't changed, but the process of it being taken up by someone else and prayed for, changed quite a lot about it for me.
I just found that quite interesting! I couldn't recommend going around wrenching people's troubles out of their hands and hurling them at God; it is a bit brutal, and it has to come out of relationship, but there are probably far more opportunities to enrich people's lives by praying with them, than someone like me will ever be brave enough to take.

Who you gonna call?

 














I saw the question 'Where do you turn when you get down?' and it reminded me of this bus I'd seen in London. It was a good reminder that I know really where is the best place to go, even though often I might hunt around in all sorts of other places for a solution before I end up taking difficulties to God.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Early in June on a Sunday two people independently felt a cool breeze during the worship time as though a window had been opened. Since that time there has been a strong sense in our Sunday meetings and Saturday prayer meetings that God is wanting to blow through the church with his Spirit. Two weeks ago we looked at the alternative world view of the kingdom through the book ‘Sons of Thunder’. The PowerPoint which I called ‘Dreams’ gives an idea of what I said (see below)encouraging us to dream dreams of faith about God's kingdom and what the church could be like.

This Sunday we believed that God was inviting us to have faith for healing no matter how long it takes or how messy and unconventional it is. We took inspiration from the story of the healing of Jairus’ daughter and the women healed from a hemorrhaged when touching Jesus (Luke 8: 40 – 56). At the Sunday Communion meeting a number people were touched by God’s Spirit and we expect more in the coming weeks.

Festival Pilgrimage

 














The procession of the huge puppets through Verulamium to the Abbey is on Saturday 20th June. The puppets are twice the height of a person and tell the story of Alban.There are Romans and lions and it all looks quite dramatic. It is a good way to remember the town's Christian history.

Community

I really enjoyed listening to Henry Morgan on Sunday. Still thinking about what he said, I read a great quote this morning by Abbot Christopher Jamison (he of the TV programme – The Monastery) He was writing about how difficult he found it when he first become a monk and realised how much time he now had to contemplate the things inside his head. He wrote:

“I had been led over the edge of my own competence to new territory where I had to learn from others how to move forwards. I had to admit that I could not handle my interior world on my own: I needed support and guidance. We are all instinctively afraid of the dark and I was afraid of my own darkness. But just as we can learn to overcome our fear of the physical dark so too skilful friends can help us to overcome our fear of the spiritual dark.”

I know I keep concluding this, but every time it is like a new revelation to me, that the people around us are amazing, and that we in our turn are part of that for others. It sometimes seems surprising that God gives us each other as the best way for us to grow like him, but at other times it sort of makes sense.

Border Guard Converted!

Two Sundays ago I talked about Zacchaeus and this Sunday an even higher high profile conversion - Saint Paul.

The letters of Paul give an insight into the incredible conversion that took place from ‘border guard’ to the one who broke down the barriers - preaching free and direct access to all. His whole world view completely changed. Just like the border guards pulling down the Berlin wall! A Pentecost where God’s spirit breaks down all the barriers.

Paul saw a new covenant that meant the Gentiles could access God based soley on the death and resurrection of Jesus. No need for food laws, circumcision, temple sacrifice, etc. Paul who had been trained all his life as a Pharisee to guard all these borders that divided Jews from Gentiles now preaches that the borders have gone. A cosmic change in the world that means we are free to know God for ourselves.

The PowerPoint I produced on Sunday attempted to say some of that



Do we sometimes need conversion again from guarding our borders to telling people that the wall has gone and we are free. What might be our borders we guard?

Happy Birthday blog!!

Just realised that our blog was one yesterday, doesn't time fly when when you're posting fun. In that time we've had 2158 hits which may not be much compared to other blogs but I think is great. So thanks to all who have contributed and I look forward to hearing from all and more of you in the next year.

MPs Expenses and Sunday School

The story of the hated tax collector Zacchaeus in the gospel of Luke (Lk 19:1-9)is a well worn Sunday School story. Last Sunday at Ashley I re-visited the story and found the possibility that Jesus can change a life with the right word at the right time very hopeful. In a week of MPs expenses it offers the possibility that human beings can change when God comes into their lives. I found this Utube drama from a youth group a way of coming fresh to the story.

Flower power

This 'appeared' at the prayer meeting this morning. Matthew brought the flower and placed it on the floor and after being moved by Gill it ended up 'on the cross'. As I studied it a couple of things occured to me. At one point part of the flower was in shadow and part in the sun, the part in the sun was brighter and looked'nicer' than the rest, the thought that came to me was that no matter where we feel we are in life, in the dark or in the light Jesus recognises our beauty all the time. The second thing that happened was that the flower wouldn't 'stay on the cross' (shadow moving) it reminded me that Jesus didn't either and because of that I am who and where I am today.

Numbers 6:24-26

I am going to a neighbour's plant sale in aid of a local hospice on Saturday morning. There is something very exciting about this passing on of seedlings and cuttings. That a by product of this happy exchange should be the raising of funds for a hospice, is gratifying. If anyone wants to come, let me know. I shall go about 10ish. (It is in Hatfield.)

Just Because.....

"No matter how deeply we journey into the mystery of God's being-there-for-us, we shall never achieve any kind of knowledge that would qualify us as experts. The most travelled knight-errant of faith knows as much (that is, as little) as the beginner. If there is anything to 'learn' here it is chiefly, a matter of unlearning the presumptions that we have aptitudes or rights in the matter. If we are ever more fully welcomed into the infinite mystery of the divine conversation, it is not because we are clever, or interesting, or brave, or beautiful. The only final 'because' is, as the New Testament puts it, God first loved us." - George Pattison

Say it with flowers

Someone gave me flowers today to say thank you for encouraging her to do something. It was touching to know that I had been instrumental in helping her to do something she wanted to do, but was struggling to go for. I hadn't realised that my comments had played a big a part as she says they did. I think it is often the case, that we don't know how what we say to people affects them.
Anyway, thank you to everyone who encourages me. You can share my flowers!

Waves

I was just inspired this morning by Clark Little's Images of Waves. Here are couple to give you a flavour:

Worship encounters

I have come across two things over the past few days that have made me think again about worship.

The first was from reading an article on Jonny Baker's blog (read here) about about 'worship curation'. Effectively he was saying that curation is about managing a space to be used by artists to display their work therefore worship curation is about creating a space in which people are able to worship. Jonny relates it to worship leaders however I think we are all able to facilitate/curate (?) worship for others by sharing a thought, creating a space for someone to think, praying for each other etc who knows what might trigger peoples thoughts towards God.

The second thing was whilst being squash amonst several thousand people at the radio 1 big weekend music festival on Sunday. I was very struck by all these people worshipping their 'gods' and what it was in them that made them need to do it what need was it meeting. One of the performers came down into the crowd and it was interesting to watch them clamouring for a touch of his hand - why? what need did it meet? It made me think of the woman who was healed by reaching out and touching Jesus' robe probably in a similar sort of crowd.

There is a need within all to fill the 'worship' gap, our challenge is to be curators to create the spaces where all people can meet God and have their needs met.

Some More Public Than Others

I was looking for something else and I came across this image again. It reminded me that we all make mistakes but some are more public than others.

God knows about the seen and the unseen and still loves us.

Dancing in Woodley

We sat in the centre of Woodley, near Reading, on Monday with a brass band playing and experienced the infectious nature of dance just like the T-mobile advert (well a bit smaller!!!).

As the band played some little girls started to dance and them some ladies on a flower arranging stall and everybody started to smile. The atmosphere changed and the weather seemed better and less cold.

Dance and joy are infectious. How about we try to infect someone with joy today. Do something different to celebrate life. Maybe even dance...........

Just to remind you of the advert:

Do you know him?

I thought this was worthy of being on the blog, thanks to who ever found it.

More 'in the gap' - On the road to Emmaus

I had been challenged last week thinking about the gap and seemed to more focused on it being a place where Jesus isn't or at least isn't recognised so my thoughts were draw to the Emmaus road encounter where the disciples failed to recognise Jesus because of the darkness of their percieved situation. Talking to Roy after the talk he said and I agree that often we can ask Jesus to lift us out of the hard places/situations when in reality Jesus will climb in with us and then help us to move out as we begin to recognise Him and listen to what he has to say about the issue. Jesus drew near to the disciples on the road to Emmaus and listened to all they had to say, their hurts and heartbreaks. Gradually he turns their thinking around and eventually they realise who is with them and believe once again.



My notes can be read here

Community Sermons as a Worship Trick 65

Through Sue Rockhill's e-conversation with Jonny Baker we are now Worship Trick 65 on his Blogg. Sue ask permission to use his labyrinth ideas and in return he asked Sue to describe the service.

I like very much Sue's description which keeps us well grounded. Well done Sue for the labyrinth and the contact.

We are an ordinary group of people but at times God seems to do extra-ordinarily gifted things through you all at Ashley. Lets keep going!!!!

IKEA Church?

It is not new to say that shopping malls are, for many, the church of today. I went to IKEA in the week and really enjoyed it. What is so special? What can that tell us about what church should be like today.

At IKEA you are taken on a journey that you didn’t necessarily choose and shown ways that the items on show can be accessible to you. You can take them home and make them your own and I find the experience inspiring in terms of developing my own home.

Is there something there for us who are attempting to make church relevant and contemporary. We need to take people on a journey that maybe they would not have undertaken and provide ways for them to develop that are accessible and can be taken away and used in everyday life. Do our Community Sermons make a start on that? Do we need to go further and learn a lesson from IKEA?

Being more thoughtful, accessible, available, ready to use, child friendly..........

More of the Gap

This is the sketch Steve did for Sunday. He was telling me that it was based on his own outstretched arm and that holding the position even for the time taken to draw it was painful which gave him cause for thought.

In the Gap

 














Glyn cast this in lead from sand moulds and the detail is just incredible. I love the curved cut to the left which shows that all of this that happened is just a small part of the whole that is God. Mindblowing.

In the Gap Reflections between Easter and Pentecost

Our Sunday Service with ‘In the Gap’ as its theme had contributions of photographs, drawings, narrative, a lead casting and in the middle of the church a labyrinth with various prayer activities. It reinforced for me the way gaps (ie no planned ‘service’) can be transformed into creative spaces.

Gaps can imply something is missing that we wish was there but space can imply that there is room for new creative things.

At Easter the disciples had a gap wrenched in their life but it was in fact a space for the Spirit to come. Is this meaning of the story of Mary Magdalene not wanting to let go of Jesus after the resurrection?

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, `I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" [John 20:17]

The labyrinth on the church floor for me symbolised the way an expanse of church floor usually occupied by seats (a ‘gap’) could be transformed into a space for prayer and meditation.

Has anyone experienced this type of transformation from gap to space? Why not let us know through a comment?

"with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" Luke 6:36-38

I had been challenged last week by watching Susan Boyle on Britain's got talent so shared my thoughts on Sunday. They went something like this:-
- how often do we judge others by their outward appearance and not bother to see what they are like on the inside. Thankfully Jesus looks at the inside first and recognises our gifts and talents despite what we might look like outwardly.
- perhaps we have an insight into how Jesus was treated in his day - the audience on the night were quite cynical and potentially hurtful in their initial reaction - I'm sure Jesus had this experience being just a carpenter from Nazareth ("what good can come from Nazareth")
- lastly I was amazed how the audience (and judges) were transformed within seconds of the singing starting - Jesus has the power to do this within our individual lives aswell if we are prepare to get past our predjudices and also in our churches when we receive and allow his spirit to move

On playing the video we were also challenged by the fact that so many of us were affected by it at an emotional level.

What do you think?

The video clip can be viewed at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il5TBgD9kHI

Little bits of Bible

Recently I have read a couple of articles that suggest bible reading should be left to the experts; that we need it explained to us. Certainly there are bits that are so unclear our only hope of understanding comes through someone who has studied the surrounding issues. However, I believe huge chunks of it are very accessible for us ordinary people and so I like to keep looking at it, and if I miss layers of meaning, then I do, but I take what I can from it.
Putting verses on the blog is just a way for me of remembering to look at the bible a bit more often, and I make no claim about how inspired the verses are - they just caught my attention that day. I invite anyone else to chip in at any point.

Psalm 141:2

I always knew tea was important!

I have been reading 'Three Cups of Tea', by Greg Mortenson; an American mountain climber who after a mountaineering trip up K2 went wrong, arrived exhausted and lost in a mountain village in Pakistan. He was welcomed with tea and rest and eventually regained enough strength to leave, but in that time, the warmth of hospitality shown to him by people who had no idea who he was, made a huge impression. He decided, despite having no money, to return and build the school the community wanted.

It is a great book about one person seeing something through new eyes and deciding to help. He had lots to learn about how differently things were done there and there were lots of difficulties, but it is a thought-provoking story, both in terms of seeing a need and being willing to help, but also in terms of the hospitality that started it all.

Antidote to Anxiety - Well it might help!

There was a piece on the media about how we are more stressed than ever and that the news tries to attract our attention by fear. I expect it is only partially true but certainly if you look at the headlines of the newspapers the fear bit seems to be right. The Mail and Express frontpage headlines are both extreme examples of this most days. Always the worst weather is coming, the gravest financial crisis, etc, etc.

The piece I heard went on to interview an occupational psychologist who I thought was surprising sensible. Three simple things to help de-stress:
• Take control
• Keep a good social support network
• Challenge your negative thinking

Not always easy or possible but good to have as an aim.

It seems to me this is much what happens when we find faith in Christ. We put our trust in God both in our actions and our thinking and join a faith community. Well anyway it should help!

Corrie Ten Boom

Romans 8:26
There is so much we don't know how to pray for, but I think the desire to concentrate God's gaze on a particular situation is prayer in itself.

Today my family is going to the museum in the former home of Corrie Ten Boom in Holland. Reading her story reminded me what a strong sense she had of doing what she was believed she was called to even when the circumstances didn't seem to suggest it was a good plan. She was clearly a scary lady and not necessarily easy to live with, but as a consequence many people were helped.

(Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch watchmaker who helped Jews escape persecution and who was arrested and put in a concentration camp where the rest of her family died. Her life on release was devoted to talking, all around the world about her faith and especially about forgiveness and renewal of hope in dark situations.

PS - Dancing with God's Spirit

I just love the words of The Lord of the Dance. Here is a You Tube Version

Ashley at Easter - Dancing with God’s Spirit

What I tried to say in this morning’s service at Ashley was that following Jesus through death to resurrection with love, forgiveness, and sacrifice is not easy. Each situation we find ourselves in requires not so much a literal ‘what would Jesus do’ (since it not always straightforward to translate Jesus life to ours) as a takeover by God’s Spirit which allows The Holy Spirit’s reaction in our circumstances. I used three metaphors to describe this spiritual take over:
• A stick of rock – wherever you break it there is the same name
• Genetics – the blue print for an organism means it will grow true to its originator no matter where it is
• A dance – I think this is one of the best metaphors for a life led by God’s Spirit – dancing with ‘the unforced rhythm of God’s grace’ (Matt 11:30, The Message).

We need to learn how to dance with God.

Keeping Jesus Contained

Matthew 27:65 - 66

I was imagining the officials trying to make sure this whole Jesus episode is over now; how to stop the story continuing. They know that it has potential to spill over and affect the future if they don't manage it and they think they have Jesus contained.

I was thinking that today as christians we might even do that a little - guard the doors against the escape of Jesus into the rest of the world, in case he goes places and does things that we are not comfortable with.
This is personal, but is challenging to think that God needs the response of individuals to be that which accommodates him while he moves arounds the world, rather than tries to contain him, even though we might think we do it for his preservation.

Palm Sunday - the coming of the messiah

A modern day coming of a messiah (Alan Shearer at Newcastle) with similar crowd behaviour to that recorded in the gospels.

Being a Palm Sunday people?

- We can give Jesus the time he deserves and Easter can be an opportunity for that a time to slow down, reflect, listen, ponder, and take some walks with God
- we can worship Jesus and celebrate what we have seen and heard him do
- we can show our adoration without embarrassment
- Psalm 48:1 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise.

To be a Pilgrim

I came across these to quotes about journeys in an historical adventure I am reading. Both obvious and not new to me but it spoke to me again about my own faith journey:

“in order to go anywhere, one must leave where he is and arrive somewhere else”

“unless a pilgrim carry with him what he seeks, he will not find it when he arrives”

Byzantium, Stephen Lawhead (p19)

Anyone else came across the obvious and familiar perhaps from an expected source which has spoke to them afresh?

Poor Worms or Giant Slayers?

We had our discussion evening last Wednesday on The Secret by Rhonda Byrn. It is a book about positive thinking and suggests that this is the way to achieving anything you really want. It is not a Christian book and we discussed to what extent it encompasses the Christian gospel.

It reminded me of the prosperity gospel and the teaching of the Korean Pastor Yonggi Cho. The faith, vision and optimism can be a real encouragement when stuck in “I am a poor worm and can do nothing“ type of Christianity and it is time for a bit of being a “David with the faith to slay giants” type of faith.

On the other hand the book does not seem to address the reality of failure and painand the way this can be overcome which I would consider also part of Jesus teaching. It could easily get us into a 'catch twenty –two’ way of thinking which says that “you just have not got enough faith or positive thinking, so it is all you fault”. It is all about that old thing of balance yet again.

There are days when a good dose of positive thinking and praying is the way forward and we need to reach for whatever does this for us. Whether it is The Secret, or Jesus teaching on asking and receiving or David slaying the giant Goliath or somethng else. Other days we just need to know and have the faith that sometimes things happen to us that are difficult, painful, and mysterious and we just don’t seem to have an answer.

Our discussion evenings always make me think and because we take turns to choose a book I read things that I would otherwise not have read. Out next book is 'Outliers: the Story of Success' by Malcolm Gladwell. We would welcome anyone to come along (Ashley 8 pm on 21 May) who wants an exploring and stimulating evening based around the chosen book.

If you can’t come along we welcome comments on the book here or by email and/or suggestions of interesting books we might consider reading/discussing in the future.

Where else would we go Lord?

Sue's suggested bible reading (see below) reminded me again of the disciples response (see title) to Jesus and that even when things seem to be going totally 'pear shaped' where else can we turn but to Jesus. There may be many things that give instant relief from a situation but does not solve the problem or make it go away. We have to be prepared sometimes to grit our teeth and decide to keep going knowing that God will be with us even if at the time it doesn't seem like it. Not always easy but the guys didn't know God's deliverance until they were actually thrown into the furnance but they had the faith and the assurance not to turn to other 'gods' or disown their God.

Daniel 3:17-18

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

New beginnings

I really like this quote -


Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Extreme Sheep LED Art

This has absolutely nothing to do with God except creativity and i appologise for the name they give themselves but I think it's great and shows what can be done with a bit of creative thought and determination and some friends!!

Double Joy Children's Farm - Letters

Ashley supports Double Joy Children's Farm, an orphange in Kenya. We have just recieved two excellent letters from the children to Ashley.

Click here to read them.

Heart , Head and Old Books

At our housegroup last night we had an excellent presentation from Mike Elliott on Frank Morison’s book ‘Who Moved the Stone’. It was good to hear the details of the Easter story again. The book was required reading in my early days as a Christian giving a logical defence of the resurrection of Jesus based mostly on the New Testament documents.

I think we all enjoyed the presentation but generally found it very much ‘in the head’ and of more use and encouragement to someone who is already a Christian on a journey. The beginning of the journey itself is more often stimulated by the ‘heart and soul’ and not ‘the head’. It is very much an appeal to the rational and I was struck by how much the experiential was left out.

It then occurred to me as I re-visited the book through the presentation that the book was really a faith journey diary of this particular man who needed this for himself. He was very much a ‘in the head’ man. I guess we all have a need to journey with our head and with our heart and in different proportions for different people and at different life stages. Maybe quite a few of us at Ashley are now in a more ‘heart’ and intuitive phase of our faith.

On reflection I found that it is interesting to visit old books that I have read before and see whether I relate to them in the same way – this time it certainly gave me a perspective on my journey now and where I am.

Any thoughts?

For the beauty of the Earth

"For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the skies
For the love, which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise."

Folliot S. Pierpont, 1835-1917 and others

A Sunday Afternoon Stroll with Ashley

Nick and Gill led a Sunday afternoon stroll to Shenley and back for anyone from Ashley. Above Nick is seen leading the way over the M25 bridge after leaving the Marks and Spencer’s car park at London Colney. We will follow him anywhere!!

I was reminded that walking together can be a great way to get to know each other. There is no need to talk but there was always the changing country side to comment on. Somehow, the ease and the relaxed atmosphere makes for good communication and lots of interesting conversations open up.

Lots more walks to come on 19 April,10 May,14 June and 12 July. Click here for details.

Bible Verses

This week, while Shaun is away daily bible verses will appear here!

The Ashley Limerick Bible!

No we are not re-writing the Bible but just trying all sorts of ways of making it fresh and alive. It can help to have a structure to write new things and we tried Limericks last Sunday in the Service. The two voted the most popular are below. These and the rest can be seen in the form of an ‘Ashley Limerick Bible’ spanning stories in both the Old and New Testament. Click here to see a copy:

If we all turn to Jesus as saviour
And change our outrageous behaviour
Then the message is clear;
The Spirit is here
And if you will let Him, He'll change ya!

When Abel thrust his offering on the burner,
It weren't long till Cain committed murder.
Cain thought, "Nah, not mince pies -
I'll do some French fries!"
But Abel done a whopping great burger!
(Nice one, son!)
(Genesis 4)

Spring Time at Ashley

Spring time and our door is open.

Ship to shore conversation

Someone I know is sailing around the world. The crew of five, aims to complete the challenge non-stop in 80 days. Currently on day 60 they are looking (although apparently not smelling) good, despite some difficult weather and a couple of emergency repairs. One repair required a trip up the mast, the height of 6.5 double-decker buses, on a trimaran tossing around in the middle of the ocean! It is terrifying just to read about each day on their website, but also thought-provoking – they are sailing around the world and in this technological age we can read of their adventure, almost as it happens.

The great thing about being a part of a community of people trying to keep connected to God in our sometimes storm-tossed lives is the live-ness of it all. Even to those of us not engaged in high adrenaline activities, the daily stuff of our lives is where God is – even the bits that don’t seem very wonderful. This is where we have our highs and lows and this is where we need him and each other.
The sailors are really bolstered by messages they get from people at home – not that there is anything anyone can do, but the contact encourages them, and the same is true here at home – Sometimes we don’t know whether people around us are having storm-tossed moments or not, but we keep talking and hope that somehow it helps, and are grateful in turn for those conversations that keep us connected.

A Swimming Pool and Free Access to God

Ashley was started by people who would go out into the streets and villages and preach the Gospel and although I have done that in the past it really is not my thing. I have been wondering recently if there was anything that connected those early founders of the church I lead to me and my way of thinking about the Christian message. Then standing in the changing room at Hatfield Swimming the words Free Access to God suddenly came to me and they seemed to connect the past and the present at Ashley. I am always amused at the places when insights come.

I think I could offer anyone such a wonderful message. No other agenda than a relationship to God. No special things to do, prayers to prayer, ways to talk, behaviour to conform to, songs to sing, church to attend, etc, etc. Just God and you. I believe at Ashley we try to put some of that freedom into practice. I wonder how much we succeed and how much further we could go?

What could lent be about?

What could you do this lent to enhance your relationship with Jesus. We considered the encounters that three people had with Jesus and how that could help us this lent.

Community Sermon and Limericks

On Sunday 8th March we are having one of our Community Sermons at Ashley.

This is a way of describing a service where as many people as possible take part coming ready to say something short on the given topic. This time it is on 'Men and Women of the Bible and the Holy Spirit' and I rather rashly suggested some might come with a limerick on the subject (and maybe write one of their own). I found 'The Bible in Limerick Verse' on the internet which I will try to get hold of and bring along.

Having searched the internet I have realised that good Christian limericks are not easy to write. Just as a start here is one from a website. The limerick is called The Buyers Remorse based on the story of Jeremiah buying a field as an act of faith when he knew the Babylonians are about to capture the city (Jeremiah 32:24-25).

Under siege, yet You told me to buy
Real estate. Seemed like pie-in-the-sky.
Then You said, "I am God,
Jer’ don’t think like a clod.
Now I’ll help you to understand why.

Maybe not the best but it is not that easy. To help us are there any offers via the blog? Ones you have found or written.......

Can We All Be Perfect?

I came across this quote and have been pondering on it for few days. It is from Saint Therese of Lisieux:

"perfection consists in being what God wants us to be"

I like it because it has, for me, an uncomfortable feeling about it. Isn't this presumption gone wild ... and yet it has something of truth about it too. Was this one way that Jesus was perfect?

I suspect saying these things in the wrong places could get one into a lot of trouble.

Ashley is Seventy Years Old This Year

I have been thinking this week about the fact that Ashley Church is seventy years old in October of this year and wondering what we should do about it. I have been involved in leadership for about half that time and it still fascinates me as a church.

Why did it start? What has been its journey? Why did God set it up? What is this little church doing at the intersection of two busy roads? Why has he gathered this collection of people in this place?

Any comments and /or conversations about it are welcome.............................

The 100th post

1386 hits from 42 different countries on our bolg and now we've reach our 100th post. Thank you to all those that have contributed and if you fancy joining our discussion for the first time or if you haven't commented for a while why not take a moment to do so we'd love to hear from you.

Why not take a look at the new stop, look and listen feature top right.

Come and Dance with me

When Shaun was talking about his 'Are we human or are we dancer' photo this morning, I was hearing quite clearly the invitation from God to 'come and dance', and although this was for me and tied up with something I have had rattling around in my head recently, it is probable that others know that that invitation is directly for them too.
I don't always like to join in with things and can easily find myself sitting and watching, but God challenges that and invites me to dance!

Bible verses

A friend of mine recently took to posting bible references on her facebook comments. It is great because I just have to look it up; I can't not know what it says, so my bible reading has increased by her frequent postings. At first she posted bible verses that meant something to her, but on some days when she was not feeling inspired she posted other references anyway and was amazed how many people told her it was valuable to them to have this almost daily verse to look up and hopefully think about.
So, in case that is true for anyone else.......here's a verse.......feel free to add others!
Isaiah 62:3

Daily Meditation in Cyberspace

I was reminded recently of the Sacred Space Website and thought I would share the address with you. It takes about 10 minutes a day and can be helpful sometimes to find that space to stop, look and listen which most of us find so difficult. You may have found it already. Perhaps we could share sites that we have found helpful.

God's Perspective in a Snowstorm

On Sunday at Ashley I tried to say something about Getting God’s perspective on a difficult situations in one’s life. It reminded me of trying to imagine summer flowers in the garden in the middle of a winter snowstorm.



Seeking God’s perspective might sound a very arrogant thought but I am really not thinking of situations where two people know that ‘God is on their side’ – a formula for wars! But times when such perspective may bring, in one’s own life, a breakthrough or release from something.

The story of Joseph (the amazing coloured dream-coat one) and the way he could forgive his brothers for selling him into slavery is one of the most remarkable biblical examples of this I know. Towards the end of the story his words to his brothers are:

I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. [Gen 45:4-5]

Together in the church service we listed some of the factors that might help us to find or have clues to God’s perspective when we need it:

Faith that it is possible!
The willingness to get out of the box (imagination)and change
The courage to be different
The patience to stop, look and listen (praying alone)
Listening to the tune of hope with relaxed attentiveness
Keeping the words of the Bible in one’s mind
Being with people of faith (praying together)
Re-visiting who God is (the character of God)
Believing that you are a wonderful person

Any more to add........................

If you want the whole talk it will on the Ashley Podcasts.

Lord in your mercy... by Steve W

Following on from this mornings talk I think this is an excellent piece of writing about how we need God to help in this 'bad news' world

Lord in your mercy...

I saw people chase ambition,
Driven by their schemes.
Half the world is starving,
But we indulge our dreams.
Neighbour fighting neighbour.
Injuries are claimed.
Eye for eye and tooth for tooth –
Are we going insane?

Lord, in your mercy, please cast out the lies
And set me seeing this world through your eyes.

I heard a single mother’s anguish,
A deserted child’s grief.
Families that are shattered
Don’t know what they can believe.
Nation fears nation,
Belief and conscience clash.
Mistrust between old friendships
Often festers in a flash.

Lord, in your mercy, please cast out the fears
And set me hearing this world through your ears.

Don’t worry if you’re suffering,
We can help you meet your end.
Rules are rules, I’m sure it’s true,
But there’s nothing we can’t bend.
I saw tiny souls aborted,
But it’s all done for “the best”.
And a web-site cheers each suicide,
What a sad, sad, crazy mess.

Lord, in your mercy, please help me to start
Living in this world with your heart.

Snow, Morrisons and Estate Agents

My short normally rather boring walk to Morrisons Supermarket was transformed this morning by the snow even though it was slippery and I know that for many the weather was less than a blessing. It was just a delight to see mundane places transformed into wonderlands of light. It stuck me it was bit like falling in love or conversion in that everything changes and looks wonderful. The snow does, I know, end up all slushy and messy but it is wonderful while it lasts and falling in love doesn't have to be always that way!! Even the estate agents signs look stunning:




and our church looked sparkling

Baptism service

Today we celebrated Jenna's baptism. If you would like to comment on the service or post something for Jenna please do so. We looked at the story of Naaman and how his story teaches us about change, obedience, and receiving more of God’s grace.
Notes can be read here

What's in a name

I came across this image as I was searching for other stuff today. Very clever and intriguing I thought.

Who and Where are you? - Any Comments?

Being part of a blog is intriguing. The map on the site shows that people have visited from all over the world - but who are they? Did they hit the site by mistake? Do some re-visit? Have we any regulars we don't know about? Would anyone like to contribute but not sure how? Maybe you want to be anonymous and that is fine but perhaps you could say a few words even anonymously if you want.

Maybe this blog is an opportunity under 'Comments' to give us some feedback or make a contribution from people in St Albans, UK or around the world. We might know you and don't know you read this or maybe new friends to be made.

Just click on 'Comments' and say a few words and maybe even start a conversation.

Ashley News Download

There is a new edition of the Ashley News for Janaury to March 2009. Click here to view a copy and download

Unexpeted Blessings on the M25

I gave a talk at Ashley on Sunday triggered by what I considered an unexpected blessing on the M25. Not my favourite place in the world!

The road was clear and the 20 mile drive to Heathrow to meet our family was easy on a Friday morning at 8.30. It made me again think about this whole area of meeting God through life events and how important that is for me. I looked at Jesus mother’s life and the way she dealt with the announcement that she was to be blessed by a child. Was it a blessing or not? Did she make it a blessing by the way she received it? The acceptance and the trust of Mary’s song in Luke is worth revisiting (Luke 1: 46-55).

I always struggled with these types of blessing when others talk about them with such questions as “Why you and not someone more deserving”, “Hasn’t God got more important things to do than sort out the M25 just for you?”, “What does it mean when bad things happen?”, etc.

I decided in spite of those questions that a blessing is there to be received and celebrated. I was reminded of the importance of remembering all the times God has blessed me as a way forward and a source of courage and faith for the future. An Ebenenzer time or book or conversation can be such an encouraging thing, modeling the story in the Bible of a stone being placed to remember a famous victory.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." [1 Sam 7:12].

Any Ebenezer stories?

Amazing Grace

I watched the film 'Amazing Grace' last night. It is about William Wilberforce and his campaign to bring about the abolition of the slade trade.
My favourite lines came when he was found sitting under a tree studying a cobweb when he should be getting ready for Parliament. He mutters something about God, to which his companion replies;

"You found God, Sir?"

"I think he found me; do you have any idea how inconvenient that is?"

Broken Resolutions, New Computers and Wild Horses

I have broken already my only new year’s resolution , but I might try to repair it. I decided to contribute to ‘Ashley Alive’ once a week – even a small contribution.

My excuse for my failure is a new computer which was supposed to help me with this sort of thing. I thought I would have more time!!! I would not have to spend all that time looking at the screen while the Operating System does other things and ignores me.

Unfortunately the new computer is for me like wild horse training. Not that I have trained wild horses but I can imagine. My only time on a horse was not an amazing success – just hanging on and hoping I could stay there – and at the end it turned its head and bit my leg!!

My new computer is sleek and fast (compared to my old workhorse that is) but I noticed a tendency for it to carry me away me away in a gallop to new things it can do and eat up the time I thought I would gain. All that power needs to come under control otherwise it tends to carry me off into a world that shrinks to a small screen being able to do all sorts of things I didn’t know I wanted to.

There must be so much of technology (and probable life generally) that is like this and it takes quite an effort to train it (and yourself) to do want you want it to and not what it wants to do. Is it part of the perspective that God can give us when we are reminded of what really matters in our lives?

I find the Ashley prayer meeting on a Saturday morning can sometimes give me back this perspective and help me to train the wild horses that invade my life. Not a computer in sight (it may not be of course be computers for you) and a group of people to talk to and pray with. It’s worth a try if life gets out of perspective.

Anyone else have these troubles?

The Handbag Story

I liked Carole's story on Sunday. It was about a woman who had to collect a supply of communion wafers and travel with them to the church where they were to be used. On the journey the bag spilt open into her handbag, and the question was, had the handbag's contents ruined the sanctity of the wafers, or had the spilling of the wafers sanctified the handbag?
It is so easy to feel that we really are not the most reliable interface God could have chosen to have with his world, and that being associated with our lives does diminish his 'sanctity'. But, the spilling of God into our ordinary lives is an amazing thing and believing that because of that touch, he can use us as we are is mindblowing!