How Christians live....

"It is the Christians, O Emperor, who have sought and found the truth, for they acknowledge God. They do not keep for themselves the goods entrusted to them. They do not covet what belongs to others. They show love to their neighbours. They do not do to another what they would not wish to have done to themselves. They speak gently to those who oppress them, and in this way they make them their friends. It has become their passion to do good to their enemies. They live in the awareness of their smallness. Every one of them who has anything gives ungrudgingly to the one who has nothing. If they see a travelling stranger, they bring him under their roof. They rejoice over him as over a real brother, for they do not call one another brothers after the flesh, but they know they are brothers in the Spirit and in God. If they hear that one of them is imprisoned or oppressed for the sake of Christ, they take care of all his needs. If possible they set him free. If anyone among them is poor or comes into want while they themselves have nothing to spare, they fast two or three days for him. In this way they can supply any poor man with the food he needs. This, O Emperor, is the rule of life of the Christians, and this is their manner of life."

- Aristides 137 AD, taken from Jesus for President, by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haws, p232

Soul Purpose Christmas

During Soul Purpose Sunday, we floated an idea to host a big Christmas Day bash and invite people who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day to come along. So far the idea has met with positive response. Today in the book I'm reading, I read this:

"Every culture has particular ways of eating. Some folks eat with chopsticks: others sit on the floor. In India we ate with our right hands. How do Christians eat? Christians eat with poor folks, with the outcast, the marginalized, and the excluded - all who were never invited to anyone else's party."

From 'Jesus for President' by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haws, p241

Soul Purpose: Day 3

Confession: This is written the afternoon following the morning after the night before....

Soul Purpose has finished for a...I was about to write another year, but as Soul Purpose Christmas may yet happen I should be careful. The morning worship was recorded by BBC Radio Shropshire (I'll add the link when it's on the net) and led by Verity Lowe and Fi Iddon. Maggie Kelly spoke clearly and thoughtfully on sharing hope with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

The weather was much better than on Day2 and the afternoon projects went down a storm, more gardens cleared, more rubbish removed, more fun days and drop ins held, and the gross things discovered was 'only' a fridge full of mouldy chips and some mossy girls pants.

The evening was incredible, including the 110 delegates and the 50 or so helpers and leaders, there were over 400 people at the Church of the Holy Spirit! It was packed with so many families having a really good time, the atmosphere was great and there were 50-60 young people outside having a crazy game of football and hanging around chatting and chilling out.

It was spoilt somewhat at the end by a group of young people refusing to move on from the church grounds and then going to a near car pack and vandalising the car of one our helpers. Windscreen smashed and damaged. It was great to then 'pray for those who persecute you'.

It was humbling to receive along with the rest of the steering group a standing ovation from 100+ young people who we admire and respect SO highly. We were speechless.

So, there were some challenges and there are some things to think about it and learn and improve on for next year, as I guess there always will be. But so far the verdict seems clear: This was the best Soul Purpose ever!

Soul Purpose: Day 2

Perhaps 11.21pm is not the best time to write a brief account of the day, but what a day. I've already posted Joel Preston's outstanding talk from this morning on this blog, the service was great. Gareth LeLong-McKean and band led us in worship well, Joel spoke compellingly, we were ready for the afternoon.

The weather was pretty poor all day, with constant rain but every team was impeccable in their attitude and approach. They worked hard, made great progress in their projects and continued to have an impact on a watching community. Conversations with old school friends, thank you cards, another great teenage drop in, gross things found (and kissed Mick Claes!). It never ceases to amaze me how resilient the spirit is when you know you're doing the right thing.

However that spirit was tested in the evening, it was disruptive - but we ploughed on. It was a learning experience but the amazing thing was, that God moved and we'll see what happens tomorrow as the dust settles and we hear all that has happened, but it seems some lives were impacted by what was heard and that was what it was all about.

Roll on Day 3...

Overflowing with hope

This is a great talk by Joel Preston at this morning's Soul Purpose Sunday

Soul Purpose - Day 1

Well Day 1 of Soul Purpose is quite literally over. There are always things, you think you can do better but on the whole it was a great day. We had the largest number of delegates (110 young people), and a team of over 50 leaders and helpers. The fun day was possibly our biggest ever with around 250 members of the local community coming - plus an RAF helicopter (I'll add images as soon as I can) and owls and pet shows. 30 teenagers at the first drop in and loads (hard to count) at the family disco. As an annual event it just keeps growing.

We were the best organised we'd ever been and the worship this morning was passionate and the teaching serious and clear.

Down at Ditherington and at Harlescott Grange the teams continued to amaze with their hard work as garden after garden was transformed. People were continually coming to ask me if we could help with those. It seems that in one small area of life, (sorting gardens) people are turning to the Church first. One day that will not be the extent of it - but in relationships, parenting, debt and most importantly direction of life now and eternally. Just great.

Tomorrow is gathered worship at NSCC, projects, the Try the Polish gig and I'm giving a short Gospel talk. Should be exciting.

SP08

Seeing lives changed

Last Sunday, across 21 churches in the West Midlands over 80 people made the decision to get right with God and follow Jesus. 80. Not in China, or Africa or America but here. In my own church, a guy who'd only been to our church for the first time the previous week gave His life to Christ. I asked him, 'how do you feel?' - 'I feel new!' That's exciting. So exciting that the angels started celebrating and haven't stopped yet. Just think, this coming Sunday night - it could be your friend that gives the angels a reason to party. It could be your friend who has their eternal destiny changed, who will never be the same again, who could be made new. Don't be afraid, instead be bold, (if you're looking for inspiration read the prayer of the believers in Acts 4:23-31) and see what God will do.

Do good works...

I don't believe you get to heaven by doing good works, but I also don't believe we can know how to live on earth without them. God saves us by His grace and then calls us to work for His kingdom.

Soul Purpose is a brilliant, God given opportunity to put our faith into action. This afternoon I was out assessing some of the core projects and so this year we get to:

• Create a better garden for 2 year old Melissa who has Downs Syndrome, who feeds through a tube into a stomach and has to see a heart specialist regularly but who is a real bundle of mischief and joy
• Help an elderly couple (Mr & Mrs Glover) return their garden to the 'English country garden' you can see it used to be. Mr Glover is recovering from a stroke and Mrs Glover just can't manage the work
• Give Julie (in a wheelchair) a new looking hallway, full of light and freshly painted
• Help Tom, who has Parkinsons, and his wife Pam sort out their back yard and get rid of the stuff he can no longer use or lift
• Help Margaret, who suffers with arthritis, recover the jungle of her garden from the invading waist high army of nettles
• Help a small church redecorate their hall for the children and young people they serve
• Create afternoons of laughter and fun for families that need a bright spot in their bank holiday weekend
• Remove litter that degrades the community and insults the Creator
• Turn wilderness into places of beauty

That's not simply a great weekend, that's hope bringing, that's action that is filled with the potential of being eternally significant. That's a God glorifying mix of worship, prayer, mission and action that for a short while demonstrates the beauty and power and hope that is only found in the church. Can't wait, can you?