Hi - Any of you more regular readers may have noted a somewhat reflective feel to my last few posts; at times these may have been a little deep. For this I apologise and promise I will try to remain shallow from now on. Before September concludes, however, I would like to complete my look back on my first year attempting to lead a local church.
There have been a few things that I have learnt (only a few) that I did not know just twelve months ago. For example I did not know the number of meetings, committees and discussions involved in making decisions, some of which at times seem like very small simple ones.
I also did not know how a piece of information that I thought fairly simple could become so complicated and so hard to effectively communicate to any number of people.
Or that no matter how you communicate some information; by handing out written information, putting it on a website, notice board, projector screen, texting and emailing it as well as actually telling them face to face - some people still claim to know nothing about said events!!!
So that's my moan out of the way!
The most important things I have learned are that people never cease to amaze me with their generosity, compassion, love and energy. That the same people throw themselves whole heartedly into action at the drop of a hat, time and time again, seemingly putting the rest of their life on hold to help.
Most of all I've learned afresh that God's idea of people meeting together to regularly support, encourage and equip each other that we call 'church' is a uniquely fantastic idea. When it’s done well 'church' in any format is fantastic. That may be a service on a Sunday morning, or over coffee at Starbucks (other coffee chains are available), or at the pub, on a farm, round a table, on a bus trip, in the Royal Albert Hall or amazingly even in a little place called Selston. All of these times when people gather together to help each other or someone in need or to focus their attention on God and try to centre him in their lives - suddenly 'church' happens.
And whilst one year on, everything doesn't happen (thankfully) exactly how I would choose, the whole world (thankfully) doesn't think exactly the same way as me and everyone (again most thankfully) doesn't live their lives the same way as mine., I would not have it any other way. Church works and is fantastic and as perfect as its ever going to be in this world, because we try to keep Jesus at the very heart of all that we do.
So moaning over and reflection over (for now). I'm simply happy today that God has given me the beautiful opportunity to be involved in any way in his plan, in his church, to help his world.
Really do have a great day
God bless
Chris
Friday, 30 September 2011
Saturday, 3 September 2011
The best laid plans of mice and men - part two
I thoroughly enjoyed writing part one of this post remembering some of the great times of the last twelve months. But when reflecting on a year there are of course some very sad times that this same group of people have experienced together.
We have grieved together as two dear members of the church family passed away and where been united in glory with God in Heaven. Like any good family we remembered these friends with tears of both joy and sadness, celebrated their lives and still feel sorrow over the hole they have left in our own lives.
There have been two more funerals that have touched me dearly this year; one being the first funeral I had the privilege of leading. I had prepared myself beforehand to meet the grieving family, read up on the words that had to be used and felt comfortable about the service itself. What stood out at the time and still stands out today is that it really was a privilege - to be able to comfort, in I'm sure a very small way, a family who had lost a loved one. Then to lead them through part of that grief and tell them that there is a hope of a better tomorrow, really was a great honour.
The second funeral that I led this year was for a family member and many things still live with me from that day. Not least the battle of emotion - of staying in balance between comforting my wife and family in their grief and facilitating a service with respect and honour. It was a tough responsibility but one I would not have chosen to ever step away from.
During the last year there have been heartaches, painful and emotional times; we've seen loss and worry and felt people suffer. But we've been able to do all this together.
I don't know as you read this if you're looking back on a year, month or week filled with joy and happiness or sorrow and sadness. I do know that even our best laid plans don't always work out and life often throws us a curve ball when we least expect one.
What I am most thankful for is that throughout both extremes of lifes ups and downs God holds the plans and cares for, loves and wants to carry everyone of us, every step of the way.
He doesn't promise to remove every pain but He doesn promise to wipe away every tear.
Why not have a chat with Him about how your feeling (happy or sad) today?
Have the greatest day you can
And may God really bless you
Chris
We have grieved together as two dear members of the church family passed away and where been united in glory with God in Heaven. Like any good family we remembered these friends with tears of both joy and sadness, celebrated their lives and still feel sorrow over the hole they have left in our own lives.
There have been two more funerals that have touched me dearly this year; one being the first funeral I had the privilege of leading. I had prepared myself beforehand to meet the grieving family, read up on the words that had to be used and felt comfortable about the service itself. What stood out at the time and still stands out today is that it really was a privilege - to be able to comfort, in I'm sure a very small way, a family who had lost a loved one. Then to lead them through part of that grief and tell them that there is a hope of a better tomorrow, really was a great honour.
The second funeral that I led this year was for a family member and many things still live with me from that day. Not least the battle of emotion - of staying in balance between comforting my wife and family in their grief and facilitating a service with respect and honour. It was a tough responsibility but one I would not have chosen to ever step away from.
During the last year there have been heartaches, painful and emotional times; we've seen loss and worry and felt people suffer. But we've been able to do all this together.
I don't know as you read this if you're looking back on a year, month or week filled with joy and happiness or sorrow and sadness. I do know that even our best laid plans don't always work out and life often throws us a curve ball when we least expect one.
What I am most thankful for is that throughout both extremes of lifes ups and downs God holds the plans and cares for, loves and wants to carry everyone of us, every step of the way.
He doesn't promise to remove every pain but He doesn promise to wipe away every tear.
Why not have a chat with Him about how your feeling (happy or sad) today?
Have the greatest day you can
And may God really bless you
Chris
The best laid plans of mice and men - part one
Continuing with my reflective mood from yesterday I was pondering this morning about some of the things that have happened over the last year. At church we have had some great experiences; enjoyed some unique, amazing, Spirit filled times where I can honestly say I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else in the world.
We have made steps into our community, visiting the local residential care home twice a month after our main church service to share communion with the residents. This comprises of a short and simple service, singing a couple of old hymns and taking the opportunity to remind the people there that God loves them too. Maybe the most enjoyable and important moments in these visits is chatting with the people in the home and starting to make some real connections.
We had a great Christmas at church which included a candle lit Carol Service with hardly an empty seat in the building, followed by a Christmas eve crib service where another forty people laughed together, sang the twelve days of Christmas and played games. Add on to these an intimate Christmas day morning communion and we see that the true message of Christmas was presented in three very different but equally effective ways to three groups of people. I loved each one of those services and spoke to many people who were touched individually and uniquely at each event.
Easter was a similarly varied and special time - on Maundy Thursday we met in the evening and were led through the steps from Jesus praying with His Disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane to His death on the cross. This was a powerful, moving and emotional time that honestly left several people drained from the experience. On Good Friday we met in the afternoon and recreated the 'stations of the cross' in, around and outside the church building. A church full of people criss-crossed their way around the premises reading, praying and looking at symbols of Jesus journey, the same one we had experienced in a different format the day before. Both of these occasions reminded us of Jesus amazing sacrifice in very different but equally meaningful ways. Easter Sunday we again met, but this time with a spirit of celebration, as we partied together praising God that Jesus didn't just die but rose again in majesty.
Again all three of these times were varied as they could have been but completely in tune, complimenting each other and together making whole greater the sum of the parts.
Easily some of the most enjoyable and memorable moments of this last twelve months, where spent with a group of people in Selston united by just one thing. This group of 40-50 people in normal circumstances probably may not have even met and may have very little in common share one thing. We are joined by the love of God and the knowledge that we are adopted into His family and that one bond has made those experiences together so very special.
It's been a truly great year, with many many highs and also some lows, but I wouldn't have wanted to spend it anywhere or with anyone else - more to come in part two.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
We have made steps into our community, visiting the local residential care home twice a month after our main church service to share communion with the residents. This comprises of a short and simple service, singing a couple of old hymns and taking the opportunity to remind the people there that God loves them too. Maybe the most enjoyable and important moments in these visits is chatting with the people in the home and starting to make some real connections.
We had a great Christmas at church which included a candle lit Carol Service with hardly an empty seat in the building, followed by a Christmas eve crib service where another forty people laughed together, sang the twelve days of Christmas and played games. Add on to these an intimate Christmas day morning communion and we see that the true message of Christmas was presented in three very different but equally effective ways to three groups of people. I loved each one of those services and spoke to many people who were touched individually and uniquely at each event.
Easter was a similarly varied and special time - on Maundy Thursday we met in the evening and were led through the steps from Jesus praying with His Disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane to His death on the cross. This was a powerful, moving and emotional time that honestly left several people drained from the experience. On Good Friday we met in the afternoon and recreated the 'stations of the cross' in, around and outside the church building. A church full of people criss-crossed their way around the premises reading, praying and looking at symbols of Jesus journey, the same one we had experienced in a different format the day before. Both of these occasions reminded us of Jesus amazing sacrifice in very different but equally meaningful ways. Easter Sunday we again met, but this time with a spirit of celebration, as we partied together praising God that Jesus didn't just die but rose again in majesty.
Again all three of these times were varied as they could have been but completely in tune, complimenting each other and together making whole greater the sum of the parts.
Easily some of the most enjoyable and memorable moments of this last twelve months, where spent with a group of people in Selston united by just one thing. This group of 40-50 people in normal circumstances probably may not have even met and may have very little in common share one thing. We are joined by the love of God and the knowledge that we are adopted into His family and that one bond has made those experiences together so very special.
It's been a truly great year, with many many highs and also some lows, but I wouldn't have wanted to spend it anywhere or with anyone else - more to come in part two.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
Friday, 2 September 2011
What a difference a year makes
This Sunday, the 4th September, marks one year since I took the full position of leading our church and started writing these blog posts a couple of weeks later. This Sunday is also our churches anniversary and we will mark the fact that people have met in the same building for 112 years with a celebration and then enjoy lunch together. Both of these facts put me in a mood of reflection today as I look back on a year and wonder what the next one may hold.
For me this last year has been one of learning many lessons, not least that things wont always happen in the ways or to the timescale that I have planned. I remember clearly standing in the pulpit at church and sitting in a number of meetings talking about a vision for the year ahead and honestly believing that everything was suddenly about to change. A year on, things have definitely changed, but not necessarily to my plans or ideas. Things are certainly moving and progressing very well but I have realised very quickly that God's plans are much better than mine and things work much better when He is in control.
This is a lesson that I am starting to learn in so many areas of my life and one which could ring true for us all. As we go though our busy lives, rushing from one problem to the next, it often seems like everything that possibly can go wrong, does. But when we stop and take a look at how we get into these problems I suspect, if you're anything like me, that in the majority of cases we've been the cause of the problem in the first place.
When I lean on my own understanding, trust in my own abilities and try to function in my own way too much things generally get more than a little messy. When I realise that I need God, my loving Father, to guide, direct and steer my life and trust in Him over myself, then things tend to work out much more sucessfully.
I hope and pray that this time next year I can look back and say that God was in control more often than Chris was and thank Him for showing me much greater success than I ever could have imagined on my own.
I pray that you all will look on life in the same way.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
For me this last year has been one of learning many lessons, not least that things wont always happen in the ways or to the timescale that I have planned. I remember clearly standing in the pulpit at church and sitting in a number of meetings talking about a vision for the year ahead and honestly believing that everything was suddenly about to change. A year on, things have definitely changed, but not necessarily to my plans or ideas. Things are certainly moving and progressing very well but I have realised very quickly that God's plans are much better than mine and things work much better when He is in control.
This is a lesson that I am starting to learn in so many areas of my life and one which could ring true for us all. As we go though our busy lives, rushing from one problem to the next, it often seems like everything that possibly can go wrong, does. But when we stop and take a look at how we get into these problems I suspect, if you're anything like me, that in the majority of cases we've been the cause of the problem in the first place.
When I lean on my own understanding, trust in my own abilities and try to function in my own way too much things generally get more than a little messy. When I realise that I need God, my loving Father, to guide, direct and steer my life and trust in Him over myself, then things tend to work out much more sucessfully.
I hope and pray that this time next year I can look back and say that God was in control more often than Chris was and thank Him for showing me much greater success than I ever could have imagined on my own.
I pray that you all will look on life in the same way.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
Friday, 1 July 2011
Do you "plus it"?
As anyone who knows me will tell you, I am a bit of a fan of a certain Mr Walter Elias Disney, his life, films and most of all theme parks. Amongst other things he was a visionary and a creative genius but what made his attractions and cartoons stand out was his commitment to challenging his team to "plus it".
What this meant put simply was that in every project and on every job he challenged people to ask themselves if they were putting in every possible effort or could anything be done better. Was it being "plussed"?
The Disney team, known as imagineers, would not rest until they had examined every aspect of their project and attempted to stretch every detail to the very highest level. Because of this approach they pushed boundaries, invented new methods and technologies and created things thought impossible beforehand. Much of this approach to "plussing" probably explains why so much of their work is still so popular today.
At church we are beginning a time of studying the Sermon on the Mount, which is a series of short lessons that Jesus taught. The majority of these messages seek to "plus" teachings that people had already received and understood. For example several messages within this series take one of the Ten Commandments and then raise it to a new level. The first of which takes the law "do not murder" and goes onto explain that killing a friendship is, in Jesus view, just as serious.
This all got me to thinking how I approach life and if I seek to raise levels and "plus" situations throughout my world and contact groups. Do the people I come into contact with feel "plussed" when I walk away from a conversation with them? Does my life have a positive affect on the people I love, bring them joy and ultimately show them Jesus' love?
When I go to work am I giving my all to "plus" my job? When a friend calls for a favour or a shoulder to cry on, do I give them all of my attention and "plus" that friendship? Does my wife and family and church get "plussed" by my energy, attention and attitude?
Most of all does my life "plus" my relationship with God?
None of us are perfect and none of us will ever get all of this right every day - far from it! God knows and understands this and still loves us all just the same, thankfully. But when we choose to have the attitude of "plussing" our lives and give Him the very best we can surely He will help us every step of the way.
Have a great day.
God bless
Chris
What this meant put simply was that in every project and on every job he challenged people to ask themselves if they were putting in every possible effort or could anything be done better. Was it being "plussed"?
The Disney team, known as imagineers, would not rest until they had examined every aspect of their project and attempted to stretch every detail to the very highest level. Because of this approach they pushed boundaries, invented new methods and technologies and created things thought impossible beforehand. Much of this approach to "plussing" probably explains why so much of their work is still so popular today.
At church we are beginning a time of studying the Sermon on the Mount, which is a series of short lessons that Jesus taught. The majority of these messages seek to "plus" teachings that people had already received and understood. For example several messages within this series take one of the Ten Commandments and then raise it to a new level. The first of which takes the law "do not murder" and goes onto explain that killing a friendship is, in Jesus view, just as serious.
This all got me to thinking how I approach life and if I seek to raise levels and "plus" situations throughout my world and contact groups. Do the people I come into contact with feel "plussed" when I walk away from a conversation with them? Does my life have a positive affect on the people I love, bring them joy and ultimately show them Jesus' love?
When I go to work am I giving my all to "plus" my job? When a friend calls for a favour or a shoulder to cry on, do I give them all of my attention and "plus" that friendship? Does my wife and family and church get "plussed" by my energy, attention and attitude?
Most of all does my life "plus" my relationship with God?
None of us are perfect and none of us will ever get all of this right every day - far from it! God knows and understands this and still loves us all just the same, thankfully. But when we choose to have the attitude of "plussing" our lives and give Him the very best we can surely He will help us every step of the way.
Have a great day.
God bless
Chris
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Two poems for someone who may need them
These are two poems; one of which many of you will know almost off heart, the other I read for the first time today.
Footprints
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”
Mary Stevenson, 1936
This too shall pass
If I can endure for this minute whatever is happening to me,
No matter how heavy my heart is or how dark the moment may be-
If I can remain calm and quiet with all the world crashing about me,
Secure in the knowledge God loves me wWhen everyone else seems to doubt me-
If I can but keep on believing what I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with the morning and that this will pass away, too-
Then nothing in life can defeat me for as long as this knowledge remains
I can suffer whatever is happening for I know God will break all of the chains
That are binding me tight in the darkness and trying to fill me with fear-
For there is no night without dawning and I know that my morning is near.
...Helen Steiner Rice
No matter how heavy my heart is or how dark the moment may be-
If I can remain calm and quiet with all the world crashing about me,
Secure in the knowledge God loves me wWhen everyone else seems to doubt me-
If I can but keep on believing what I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with the morning and that this will pass away, too-
Then nothing in life can defeat me for as long as this knowledge remains
I can suffer whatever is happening for I know God will break all of the chains
That are binding me tight in the darkness and trying to fill me with fear-
For there is no night without dawning and I know that my morning is near.
...Helen Steiner Rice
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
Nothing clever to say about these - just read, enjoy and relax
Do not worry! That's easy for you to say!
Matthew 6 tell us not to worry about anything in regard to our natural requirements and Philippians 4 instructs the reader not to be anxious about anything. You can read these two passages here and here.
If you are anything like me you may have read these passages many times in life and at that moment thought to your self "OK I am not going to worry and instead trust in God". And this works very well sometimes for up to several minutes until life next big problem swings into focus and quite naturally worry and anxiousness arrives with it. How can we then hope to live our lives obedient to God's teaching not to worry when life throws so much at us which knocks us off our feet time and time again?
There is very little that we can do to prevent anxiety from entering our minds, thing happen which are completely out of our control that have an effect on us and those close to our hearts. What we do have a choice over how much control of our lives we allow these worries to have. When we allow these problem to grow in our minds and take over our thoughts then we very soon begin to feel the repercussions. Sleepless nights, upset stomachs, headaches and many over stress related complaints can have serious effect on our health over long periods of time.
Psalms 55:22 does give us the solution when it says "cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you". Note that this verse does not say He will remove your cares or make them smaller, but that he will sustain you. When you ask God to help in your times of most worry, anxiousness or when the world seems to deal an unfair hand God will sustain you and give you the strength to walk through the troubled days.
That act of casting our cares on the Lord is really not a complicated process simply chatting to God is enough, just ask God to help you and He will. Someone very dear once said that we can talk to God like the Martini advert - anytime, anyplace, anywhere - and those words have never been trues.
If simply talking doesn't seem enough; why not write God a letter telling Him everything that is on your mind, put it in an envelope addressed and sealed for God's attention. Then burn it, rip it up, post it to your church or give it away to a friend you can trust - what ever you do get rid of that letter and don't re-open it yourself. There is no point to handing your worries over to God only to pick them back up again on the way out.
This is not my normal cheerful encouraging post and for that I am not sorry - I just really feel that sometimes people need to know that God is there when we're in the valley as well as on the mountain top.
God bless
Chris
If you are anything like me you may have read these passages many times in life and at that moment thought to your self "OK I am not going to worry and instead trust in God". And this works very well sometimes for up to several minutes until life next big problem swings into focus and quite naturally worry and anxiousness arrives with it. How can we then hope to live our lives obedient to God's teaching not to worry when life throws so much at us which knocks us off our feet time and time again?
There is very little that we can do to prevent anxiety from entering our minds, thing happen which are completely out of our control that have an effect on us and those close to our hearts. What we do have a choice over how much control of our lives we allow these worries to have. When we allow these problem to grow in our minds and take over our thoughts then we very soon begin to feel the repercussions. Sleepless nights, upset stomachs, headaches and many over stress related complaints can have serious effect on our health over long periods of time.
Psalms 55:22 does give us the solution when it says "cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you". Note that this verse does not say He will remove your cares or make them smaller, but that he will sustain you. When you ask God to help in your times of most worry, anxiousness or when the world seems to deal an unfair hand God will sustain you and give you the strength to walk through the troubled days.
That act of casting our cares on the Lord is really not a complicated process simply chatting to God is enough, just ask God to help you and He will. Someone very dear once said that we can talk to God like the Martini advert - anytime, anyplace, anywhere - and those words have never been trues.
If simply talking doesn't seem enough; why not write God a letter telling Him everything that is on your mind, put it in an envelope addressed and sealed for God's attention. Then burn it, rip it up, post it to your church or give it away to a friend you can trust - what ever you do get rid of that letter and don't re-open it yourself. There is no point to handing your worries over to God only to pick them back up again on the way out.
This is not my normal cheerful encouraging post and for that I am not sorry - I just really feel that sometimes people need to know that God is there when we're in the valley as well as on the mountain top.
God bless
Chris
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