United In Passion

Before The Throne Of God Above

2009-02-04T23:41:00.004Z

Let these words minister to you, find a recording, and lift your hands to a Holy, awesome God...

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest,
whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!
One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

©1997 PDI Worship
Words and Music by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vikki Cook

Zimbabwe (10)

2009-02-03T23:50:00.002Z

"More than 3,000 people have died from the worst outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe's history, which has infected more than 60,000 people.

The epidemic has been fuelled by the country's economic meltdown, which has led to the collapse of the country's water, health and sanitation systems."

See full story here...

... and still so much of the world sits back and does nothing!

God's Infinitude

2009-01-02T22:35:00.001Z

The infinite nature of God is something almost impossible for us as finite creatures to comprehend! We sometimes think of space as being infinite, but even this (having a creator) has limits and boundaries! God, as Ephesians 1 finishes by telling us, fills everything everywhere with His presence. We are finite beings, as all created things are. We have limits and bounds to our nature and our presence. God, however, is the uncreated one. His nature and his presence have no limit, have no bounds, have no constraints.

Sin & rebellion aginst God, horrible parts of man, have limits and bounds... they're finite as they're part of a people with a finite nature, and not part of God's infinite nature. God's grace & God's love however are part of the infinite nature of an infinite God! The love & grace of God know no limits, know no boundaries... God's grace truly is sufficient for me!!!

"Abounding sin is the terror of the world, but abounding grace is the hope of mankind. However sin may abound it still has its limits, for it is the product of finite minds and hearts; but God's 'much more' introduces us to infinitude. Against our deep creature-sickness stands God's infinite ability to cure.... His love is measureless. It is more: it is boundless. It has no bounds because it is not a thing but a facet of the essential nature of God. His love is something He is, and because He is infinite that love can enfold the whole created world in itself and have room for ten thousand worlds beside"

(A W Tozer - The Knowledge Of The Holy)

New Year, Same Awesome God!!!

2009-01-02T21:42:00.005Z

At the start of 2008 I had no idea what the year ahead would look like... where God would take me, what opportunities He would throw my way, what blessings He had in store. I didn't know where I'd be after graduating, whether I'd graduate etc. At the end of 2008 I was able to look back and see how gracious, how generous and how faithful God had been.

Five years after being rejected by Cambridge I was able to think back to this summer and my graduation, and God's amazing provision in bringing me here and sustaining me through my studies. From not knowing where I'd be at the start of the year... I'm now in the middle of an exciting year of theological and leadership training... preparing me to serve and lead in the future, and in the present. I've met amazing people, been to amazing places and seen amazing things! God's blessed me in numerous ways, and being continual faithfully in everything!

Looking to this new year ahead, I'm not sure where I'll be work wise after the summer, I'm relying on God to open doors... but I know that it is the same God I worship & serve this year that was so faithful and abundant in grace & provision last year, and the year before that, and the year before that...!

This year, despite the doom & gloom that fills the newspapers I can be confident of God's faithfulness, God's provision and God's grace. My hope isn't in the materialism of the world or imperfect political ideals... my hope is in a God that knows no boundaries, no limits, no end to His goodness & love. What an exciting year ahead!

Happy New Year!

Zimbabwe (9) - Time To Go

2008-12-23T19:55:00.006Z

"Zimbabwe is mine" declared Mugabe. No it isn't... You are in a position of great privilege, a position where you're expected to serve the people of the nation and not destroy them as you have been doing. The nation of Zimbabwe is not yours... it belongs to God. The people of that nation are God's creation, and His love & passion for them is the very opposite to your greed and evil.

When the world's leaders seemed satisfied with a power-sharing deal with Mugabe and the opposition... what sort of message did it send to the world... that you can intimidate and manipulate elections and then still remain in power. What is happening in this nation is appalling! What the world is doing about it is also far from adequate!

As famine and cholera tear through that nation, and Mugabe's greed and selfish grip on power bring despair to many struggling to stay alive... it seems unbelievable that nations such as South Africa can still press for power-sharing deals. Will we look back at this in the years to come with regret we didn't act sooner to prevent an even greater atrocity? Or will we take decisive action now? Christians it's time to pray, politicians it's time to stop talking & act (surely this is what the UN was set up for), and humanity it's time to give, support & love! Write/e-mail/pester your MP to make sure this can't be ignored!

In all the gloom and misery that surrounds that situation... there is hope for that nation, because of the reality of God coming down to earth as Jesus, because of His obedience to death, death on a cross, because of the way He conquered the grave and sits now with all glory and authority! There is hope for Zimbabwe! That hope is being expressed by churches across that nation, lets be praying for them as they work to bring hope to the people!"

Click here for more posts on Zimbabwe!

God Came Down...

2008-11-29T13:24:00.003Z

Jesus... altogether worthy, altogether lovely, altogether holy, altogether God!

Jesus... seated high in authority, knowing all the joy, all the honour, all the praise that comes with being God.

Jesus... stepped down from heaven, and came to earth. Coming from light into darkness to be light, to remove darkness. Jesus, humbling himself, coming from heaven to earth, from earth to the cross, from the cross to the grave... and on the cross knowing the reality of being in the depths of hell... He Came Down!

Jesus fully human, and yet fully God... knowing the pain and emotions that humanity knows, and yet remaining perfect, remaining sinless... so that He could take our shame, our penalty.

Jesus, the image of the invisible God... the transcendent one... becoming imminent, the word becoming flesh. God coming down... the lion and the lamb... mighty, majestic, king & humble slain servant. Jesus, able at any moment to stop it all... and yet not doing so, but remaining on the cross to win our freedom, to stop the power of sin and death for US!

God came down... He stepped out of the most perfect place to come into the world! God came down... fully man and fully God... so scandalous, so radical, so shocking... and yet, the truth of it has and will continue to turn the world upside down!

We Will Remember Them...

2008-11-09T22:31:00.007Z

Whatever your politics, whatever your views on the wars of past & present... today as Remembrance Sunday, and Tuesday as Remembrance Day are times we look back as a nation and think of the many who laid down their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we celebrate today, the many who were separated from loved ones, and the many evacuated from homes and families. We will remember them...

"For your tomorrow we gave our today"

Archive Photos (4) - Rose Window, Notre Dame

2008-10-27T22:16:00.000Z

Mission 193: Completion

2008-10-25T19:47:00.004Z

Mission 193, a mission to send pairs/groups to every nation in the world to take Bibles, pray and declare God's prophetic word has now been completed! Pairs/groups have gone to almost every nation, with the remaining few nations being visited very soon! I used my fieldwork in Chile to visit that country and take part in a mission there!

Prayer is a powerful thing, declaring and depositing the Word of God is a powerful thing... what has been sown into the nations through these two years is significant... and there is now much more to do by preaching the gospel, planting Churches, and advancing the Kingdom of God by bringing God's justice and righteousness in on earth! Let's go...

More 193 posts...

"Stop Weeping! Look..."

2008-10-20T09:29:00.006Z

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:1-5

Stop weeping! Look... Jesus has won the victory!

The Bride - Restoration & Worldwide Evangelisation

2008-10-07T20:27:00.002Z

I love the Church, and I long to see the Church built God’s way. That means we need to see radical change in many structures, many doctrines and many teachings… in many Churches! It means we need humility to change man-made traditions and to be grace-filled to serve other local Churches in moving forward into God’s purposes. I’ve written many things in the past about the church as the bride of Christ, and a passion for restoration!

I had a fantastic conversation with a friend the other day in which we were talking about the mission of the Church to take the gospel to all nations, and the huge task that is still ahead of us. The chart below shows many ‘unreached’ areas, and many of the ‘reached’ areas still have huge huge populations of unsaved people.

I long to see the gospel taken to all nations, and long to see many people come into the Kingdom! The task ahead of us can seem big, and it is, but I don’t think it needs to be daunting. When the Church functions as God intended it to then it can see such significant things! I truly believe the Church is the hope of the world… because there’s nothing else that can be used as effectively to communicate the message of Jesus Christ, and advance his Kingdom… the Church is God’s No. 1 plan. If that’s the case, then seeing the Church restored has got to be a major priority… building the Church God’s way is something we must address as the people of God now! A church built mans way, with man-made traditions and structures put ahead of Godly and Biblical teachings & structures will be a hindrance to that great mission… to see the Kingdom advanced, the gospel go to all nations and Jesus return for His radiant bride.

Money, Money, Money (2)

2008-10-05T19:55:00.006Z

Some more great articles by Gavin White and Mark Lawrence on the current financial situation!

Money, Money, Money

2008-09-29T19:34:00.003Z

Roger Aubrey has written a fantastic article on finance, the credit crunch and Kingdom principles... read it here

Archive Photos (3) - Chile Vineyards

2008-09-24T21:06:00.003Z

On this day last year...

A Pioneering People (3) - Newfrontiers

2008-09-23T17:33:00.004Z

Following on from our fantastic time at Brighton this year, and Mark Driscoll's powerful teaching & exhortations... it was exciting to read this on Terry's blog! Newfrontiers are an apostolic people, a people on the move... we're a people who have a very clear vision of what God is doing and are taking, I believe, significant pioneering steps into seeing that vision made reality, especially by seeing churches established across the nations & pioneering into nations and people groups which seem otherwise shut off to the gospel!!

A Pioneering People (2) - City Church

2008-09-22T16:38:00.005Z

My church family in Cambridge, City Church, are in an exciting season of life! We're rapidly approaching maximum capacity at our Sunday morning celebrations (10.30am @ Brickfields, next to Newmarket Road Tesco's). Our children's work is going from strength to strength, with room for growth soon to be very difficult, and in many other areas of Church life we're at a critical point... we're at a point where we need to remember our vision, and then keep pioneering.

Looking at where we are now, compared to where we were even at the start of my time in Cambridge.. it would be quite easy to sit back and think "wow, thank you God for bringing us here, this is great!" ... BUT, our vision is to see a Church of over a thousand, gathering people from every walk of life, growing through salvation coming to the people of Cambridge... and so we need to continue to pioneer... we sit back and think "wow, thank you God for bringing us here, this is great, and now lead us forward into the fullness of your purposes for us as your church!"

From January therefore, we're going to move into two meetings, one at 9.30am and one at 11.30am... one church, one vision, one mission... gathering on a Sunday at two times so that we can continue to accommodate growth and see the growth that God has spoken to us prophetically about! We're a pioneering people, moving forward into the fullness of God's purposes for us. There's never been a more exciting time to be in Cambridge, or to be within the City Church family... God has put each and everyone of us there for such a time as this. We're marching... heads held high, in full confidence that the battle has already been won... and taking this city for Jesus.

A Pioneering People

2008-09-21T19:38:00.003Z

As the Church we are called to be a people who pioneer... a people who open up and prepare the way, a people who initiate, a people who go ahead! There's a call to us corporately, and a call to us individually to be pioneers.

I love being a pioneer... it's exciting, it's radical, it's something that God has called me to be! I long to be a pioneer who won't settle for second best, when I come to a good place will keep pushing forward because I want the best place. Too often we can accuse ourselves of unnecessary perfectionism and settle for the status quo, have a 'let's make do' attitude... when actually in that situation our calling isn't to 'make do' but to continue pioneering and moving into the land that God has promised us.

I was immensely struck by what was written in the new Restoration publication, brought out by Ministries Without Borders, and edited by one of the greatest pioneers I know, Keri Jones. It wrote of the need to see a restoration of our vision of Church... in order that we would continue to move into that promised land, rather than settling for second best (article by Trevor Lloyd). If we're going to be a pioneering people then we MUST be a people of vision, not limited vision but heavenly vision. If we capture once again the vision of God, the vision of Church and the vision of Christ restoring all things... bringing everything under the headship of Christ, making all things new... then we can lift our eyes from the good things of today, and onto the things we were destined for in the future. We can continue to pioneer and move forward... being a people living to see the 'restoration of all things as the prophets spoke of' and the day when Christ returns for his radiant, beautiful bride!

I've been reading a lot by men such as Arthur Wallis, Bryn Jones, Keri Jones, David Matthew and Terry Virgo recently... men who were or are pioneers. In all the lists of books we tell people to read, let's not forget these pioneering books... let's allow them to renew and refresh our vision and passion for the restoring work that God is doing. I've been listening to music by David Hadden, especially a song of the 1986 Proclaim Him King tape (Dales & Wales Bible Weeks)... with a resounding chorus along these lines...

We stand as the church of the living God,

Declaring He is king of all the earth.

No power or principality can shake us anymore,

For we stand united,

Never to be divided,

Yes, we stand together with our God

If we want to be pioneers, then there is so much we can learn from these guys... so much vision that they are still bringing and imparting. Let's once again catch hold of God's great plan, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth... to restore all things to His original intention.. in order that He may be glorified. With that vision, let's move forward united, as the church of the living God... pioneering, throwing ourselves into the accomplisment of God's purpose for our generation... and believing that we CAN be that people that see Christ return in our generation. It is too small a thing to stay where we are now and be satisfied with the aspects of Church in which we have seen restoration... it's too small a thing because it's settling for less than the fullness of God's promises!

Archive Photos (2) - Greece 2007

2008-09-12T19:35:00.000Z

The Parable Of The Net (Matthew 13:47-52)

2008-09-02T18:48:00.003Z

Date: Sunday 31st August

Preaching Series: The King & His Kingdom

Passage: Matthew 13:47-52 (The Parable Of The Net)

Click HERE to listen!

I preached this message on Sunday, exploring what this passage teaches us about the nature of the Kingdom of God, and especially about the end of this age, and the beginning of the age of the Kingdom here in all it's glorious fullness!

All Change

2008-09-01T21:56:00.005Z

It's been an eventful month, which has seen me move from Bolton to Cambridge, complete a month-long internship at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, move into a new house and bring in some Kingdom excellence to the garden (watch out for a post on that!). Alongside that I've been preparing a preach on a tough passage from Matthew 13:47-52, which I preached yesterday morning, and preparing to start the next season of my life doing a voluntary internship at City Church Cambridge (starting tomorrow!).

Today it's finally sunk in that my time as a student in the geology department has come to an end... I can't imagine a more pleasant place to have studied, and a more pleasant group of people to have studied with. It's strange that it wasnt at graduation, but at this time now it would sink in so much... i guess that's the result of moving into this next phase of life. God has blessed me so much with an amazing group of friends from my course, most of whom are staying on to do the 4th year MSci in the dept, and so most of whom I will still see.

God's been challenging me so much about catching hold of His heart for these guys... to love them with such an intense love that I'm driven to my knees praying for and weeping over them.

‘Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, moved by love and the sorrow of those around him. He wept over the city of Jerusalem in it’s rejection of him, feeling deeply the heart’s desire of His Father for his people ‘As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said “If you, even you, had only known of this day what would bring you to peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:41-42).

No doubt his tears frequently flowed freely as he prayed in the secret place. They were part of his seeking of the fulfillment of His father’s will in the saving of the men and women he loved so much.

Bryn Jones, Worship... A Heart For God

It's so crucial in this new season, and time of busyness that I continue to make time for these guys, and that I continue to love them. They are God's creation, they were made to worship him... and God longs for them to know and to experience His love for them. My love for them is growing continually... and yet I know compared to God's love for them it is nothing... one of my biggest prayers for this coming year is that I would catch hold of more of God's heart for humanity, his amazing creation made in God's image.

The Bride - Ephesians 4 Ministries

2008-08-09T21:31:00.005Z

Before the Lord returns, a Church will emerge across the whole world that is characterised by incredible beauty and unity, but this is contingent upon these ministries [seen in Ephesians 4] being donated and properly received: to do what they are meant to do.

Greg Haslam

Church, we need to recognise, equip and embrace all of apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors if we are to see the Church built, brought together and matured in the way Christ intends her to be. These ministries are not optional extras, they are crucial to seeing the Church built God's way, and the Church functioning as Christ intended!

Bolton: A Town On God's Heart

2008-08-02T00:02:00.006Z

For the past 22 years I've been a resident of a huge northern town, Bolton. It's where I was born, where I was brought up, where I went to school... and although for the past three years I've been away in Cambridge for a large part of the year, I've also spent many weeks back here, enjoying spending time with friends etc.

Tomorrow I move back down to Cambridge after being back in Bolton for a few weeks, the huge difference is that this time the move feels like it is a much more permanent one. I feel very much like my time in Bolton has drawn to a complete close. University is always a strange time... there's a 'now and not yet' element to it... but now university has finished we're moving from that season of 'both/and' into a season of 'Cambridge being my home.'

Bolton is a wonderful place, and God is doing significant things here... it will always be a place I'm passionate about, but I know God is infinitely more so. Keep praying for this town, the best is still to come!

The Bride - Glorious & Radiant

2008-07-25T22:05:00.009Z

One of the most significant things God spoke to me about at the Newfrontiers 'Together On A Mission' conference this year in Brighton is the nature of the Church as the bride of Christ. Over the past couple of weeks as I've been dwelling on this God has helped move my passion for His Church into a greater and deeper love. This time, combined with a fantastic wedding of two amazing, Jesus-loving individuals last weekend (left picture), and an opportunity to dig into a number of writings and books over the past couple of weeks have stirred within me a passion to see the Church understand its calling and destiny to that radiant, beautiful and spotless bride.

The Church is Christ's bride... Christ is our bridegroom! Throughout the Bible we see this relationship between Christ and His Church clearly outlined. At the end of this age the Church will present herself, pure and spotless, to Jesus and the relationship will be comsummated (Rev 19:6-8). In this consummation we will see Christ and Church truely become one body. This relationship between Church and Christ isn't a reflection of marriage as we have now on earth, it's THE OTHER WAY ROUND! Marriage on earth reflects something of the relationship between Christ and Church... God in his wisdom chose to proclaim to mankind this glorious truth, reality and destiny of His people by giving us the gift of marriage in order to reflect the relationship between His people and His Son. This is why, as Christians, we MUST take marriage seriously, why I passionately believe in marriage (not as an 'institution' but as a prophectic proclamation to the world), why I believe that marriage is and will always be between one man and one woman (I'll maybe come back to look more at marriage as a reflection of Church & Christ in a later post)

One thing that is clear about the Bride is that she will be a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless! One question I keep asking myself at the moment is 'is this what God intended for His Church?' because we can't afford to settle for anything less than what God intended. While my wisdom is limited, I do believe through good studying of the Bible and openess to the Spirit we can grasp God's vision for His Church, and then put things in place to make that vision a reality. We have a simple, but crucially important choice... we either build God's way, or we build something that when shaken will collapse. That means we have to be radical, we have to be ruthless and we have to be restorers when it comes to assessing our Churches and, reforming our Churches and rebuilding our Churches. It means we have to tear down structures and and practices that have been in place for centuries but that aren't from God... this will take humility and grace. This is why it is so important that we get our theology straight... that's why an 'any old way' attitude simply isn't Biblical... it's why I believe that where God has, through His word, outlined something for His Church we must embrace that in it's fullness. An example.., the work of the Holy Spirit is not just something for 'charismatics' and the Word of God is not just something for 'evangelicals.' These are both things that God has ordained for His Church and therefore if you choose one over the other, or one instead of the other, than you are missing out on something that God has for you... which as Tozer said, is a tragic thing. Again, I'll write more on this aspect in a later post.

It's been said that one's eschatology (beliefs about the end times) shapes one's ecclesiology (beliefs about the Church)... and I believe this is so true. In looking at these descriptions of the Church being wed to Christ, and seeing the Church as a radiant, spotless one then I can't be satisfied with a broken, disjointed and dis-united 'denominationalised' Church. Christ is coming back for a bride that is in ruins, ragged and torn. He's not coming back for a Church that is weak and collapsing. God isn't coming back on a rescue mission to take his remnant few away from a world that is defeating them. Christ has defeated the world, the enemy HAS been defeated! Christ is coming back for a glorious, radiant bride not half a dozen brides, but one bride in full unity and maturity.

As I've meditated on this, as I've read a number of writings from men such as Arthur Wallis, Bryn Jones, Terry Virgo, David Matthew, Hugh Thompson, Keri Jones, Tony Ling and others over the past week or so (through such books as Revive Us Again - Ed. David Matthew) I've been capturing something of their hearts for the Church, something of their longing for revival (not just bringing a season of refreshing, but bringing lasting change and restoration to the Church - preparing her for Christ's return), something of their radical zeal for the Lord's house... whatever that costs and takes, and something of their faith, that they would be that generation that ushers in the Kingdom of God in all its fullness, that they would see dead religion crushed and Jesus glorified and made famous to the ends of the earth, and that they would see Jesus come back in their day, in their generation, to a beautiful bride. What I've caught in recent days, however, I know is small compared with the zeal and passion that God will continually burn on my heart as I continue to pray, read and study... as I spend time with the Church, and devote my time and energy to serving within the Church... as I walk amongst this world, seeing the need, and knowing that Christ is their only hope and the Church is Christ's means of advancing His kingdom and taking His message of redemption, reconciliation and restoration to their lives.

"My heart's desire is to see Glory in the Church, Jesus in the streets, and righteousness and justice in the earth"

(Bryn Jones)

Archive Photos (1) - Austria 2005

2008-07-18T17:15:00.001Z

Together On A Mission 08 - The Relevant Gospel

2008-07-15T16:13:00.005Z

"We don't make the gospel relevant to people, the gospel IS relevant to people, we need to show people how!"

Mark Driscoll (paraphrased)

This was something that Mark Driscoll said in one of his session that I thought was fantastic. The gospel message is relevant to everybody without exception, it is the only thing that can bring people into relationship with God, setting them free from guilt, shame, fear and the power of sin. The gospel is the only thing that can bring true transformation to the injustices of this world. The gospel means that in the light of all the headlines we're having at the moment regarding the economy, knives, gangs etc we can believe for transformation, not just damage limitation. The gospel is the only hope for this nation and the nations of the world.

We preach a gospel that IS relevant to everybody, the gospel of the Kingdom of God... God extending His rule and reign across the earth, making all things new, bringing everything together under the authority of Jesus Christ... our Lord & Saviour. This crucially means that Jesus is the hope for the nations, and the only hope. It saddens me to hear discussions amongst 'Christians' as to whether they should be preaching Jesus as the only hope, and preaching this to all people groups/religions/cultures.... yes we should, and yes I will. There is no other way to being made right with God, other than through Christ and accepting the grace and redemption he offers to all who turn to him!