.

April MANNAFEST

2009-04-06T13:03:00.004Z

So what did people think of the DJ playing the whole way thru the talk?

Did you put on the blind fold?

Did you like the glow sticks?

What about Reedstar and their choice of songs?

April MANNA

2009-04-06T12:48:00.002Z

(from l to r: Rick Hill, Jill Boyd, Mark Charles, Andrew Frame, Charlie Knox, Glenn Jordan)

A great morning with Glenn. Better be careful what is disclosed here!

So, who is Jesus? More angular, not domesticated, a brilliant reader of people and a great teller of stories.

We moved into discussion around different denominations and focussed a lot of contemporary worship songs. Something that stood out was the fact that with age, the individual looks for different elements in their faith. One can focus on and value preaching, singing, fellowship and evangelism at different stages of life.

Some advise on communication:

we need to be more economical with our words
the practise of writing a script can be helpful in preparation and delivery
leave space for the Holy Spirit to apply
the Bible is not an answer book
the job of a communicator is to help people get into the story
prepare together - have a community reading and preach on the same topic
dont be afraid to ask questions of text outside your comfort zone
read widely - outside your comfort zone and tradition
look into Jewish writers for background and context material

March MANNAFEST

2009-03-19T15:07:00.002Z

What did people think of the 2 styles of bands? And what about Bibleman and the Undertaker!

March MANNA

2009-03-19T13:28:00.000Z

(From l to r: Katrina Patterson, Mark Charles, Katie Steiger, Neville Gibson, Rachel Sheppard, Nicole from California!, Andrew Frame, Bill Holloway and Dave Currie just left!)

So Bill came back to talk about personal devotions. We looked at Exodus 3 and tried to find some biblical principles. What is God doing in this passage?

Speaking, revealing Himself, responding to a need, promising, calling, working out His purposes

What is Moses doing?

obeying, listening, hiding

Throughout the Bible we are taught about personal devotions. In Genesis we read about 2 trees in the garden of eden that represent depedence on God and independence. In Luke 4 we read of Jesus being tempted to turn the stones into bread, or act independently from God. John 15 talks about us abiding and remaining in God.

So after looking at what the Bible teaches we looked at how to. Bill used a precepts model - looking, thinking, applying.

I guess the main point was that personal devotions can come out of a legalistic lifestyle, driven by guilt but it needs to coem from a love for God and Bill continually said

"it's all about relationship"

check out this

New yearNew venueNew Format*

2009-01-12T14:44:00.003Z

So we are trying to move away from the old youth service format of praise for 20/25 mins - speaker for 30mins - response time and worship time for another 30 mins. Mannafest has shaped the way for youth service but we believe it needs to change.

Look at the way TV programmes are - 5min magazine shows. Attention span is short. Education has changed the layout of the classroom to enhance pupil development, yet we are still sitting in our stalls, listening to one person speak for 30mins. Church goers are very polite - they just sit and listen, or maybe they just sit....

Can an event transform peoples lives? Does it just create emotional junkies, looking for a monthly high? Do events like Mannafest help or hinder the local church?

So what did you think of having an hour interactive programme? Did you notice any difference?

And what about the new venue? Parking easier? Nice cafe on site?

December

2008-12-14T14:41:00.000Z

What did you think about the Christmas Carols at the start?
What about the persecuted church section and that girl singing?
What about Rick Hill's talk?

Thanks to those who came long and missed the X-Factor final!

December MANNA

2008-12-13T10:10:00.000Z

Back row from l to r: Andrew Frame, Billy Fyffe, Rick Hill, Neville Gibson, Rachel Sheppard

Front row: Jill Boyd, Katrina Patterson, Heather Morris

Heather started by describing Jesus as someone who she could trust. She went on to share some of her story in why she should, could, did and does trust Jesus. Heather recommended Henri Nouwens book "The Wounded Healer"

Heather give us some really good advice about the purpose of teaching.

Telling the story of God - loving the Bible, living the story, decide what not to teach
Proclaiming truth about God
Preaching as an event - allowing God to meet His people

Other books Heather recommended were Mike Greaves "Fully alive preacher" and a Donald English book called "Noticing transcendence in the midst" (i think!)

November

2008-11-11T14:42:00.003Z

Did anyone sign up for Fast4Africa?

What did you think about our 3 options of where to go, venue wise - stay in Spires, The Crescent or option 3 - gingerfield...i mean Orangefield!

November MANNA

2008-11-08T14:03:00.000Z

Back row: Neville Gibson, Dave Currie, David Dunlop, Jonny Farrell, Neil Armstrong, Andrew Frame.

Front row: Rick Hill, Katrina Patterson, Laura Blakley, Katie Steiger.

A great morning with 'wee dee' aka Jack Bauer!

we focussed in on communicating and David gave some handouts out...which i will upload when I get them. A lot of new faces this morning, which was great to see, lettuce pray they get up next month!

Congratulations to Dave Currie who had baby girl #2 - Hannah

And to Rick Hill who got engaged to the lovely Sarah!

October

2008-10-12T14:36:00.000Z

Any comments on the Yone commissioning? It was great to see everyone up praying over these young people who are taking a year out so please continue to pray for them?

What did people think of Steve's talk on the Great Commission? Remember Jesus told people to go, those who doubted and those who worshipped, and Jesus promised to be with us no matter our state

September MANNAFEST

2008-09-18T12:57:00.004Z

So what did People think of our new band REEDSTAR? There was also the more interactive talk from Gav. And any thoughts on PROJECT 32?

September MANNA

2008-09-18T12:57:00.002Z

So the first MANNA of a new year seen Gordon McDade join us. So much good stuff. Questions Gordon put to us:

What am I learning?
What do I want to learn next?
Who am I mentoring?
How does my lifes authenticity validate my message?

This last question was what we focussed in on. Gordon said that it was important we look at our:

Conversion
Call
Character
Contribution

We can work on our character by:

Reading alot (esp biographies, not just of christians)
Confessing
Reflecting
Being Mentored
Self leadership

Gordon also siad that in years gone by he always had at the top of his talks/sermons - AIM. What is my main point? We also need to answer the 'SO WHAT?' question in our application, so we just don't impart information but we look to transform lives thru the Holy Spirit.

2 other interesting conversations looked at 'inappropriate self disclosure' and ' stewardship of influence'.

A lot of info to stew over. Thanx Gordon and for all who attended (Charlie Knox, Jill Boyd, Andrew Frame, Rick Hill, Dave Currie and Katrina Patterson)

June Mannafest

2008-06-16T12:42:00.002Z

We had a great night with Paul Flavel and Kate John from British YFC. Also Tom, Hannah and Simeon were with us as well.

Any questions to ASK TOM?

Any comments on the night?

June MANNA

2008-06-15T12:45:00.000Z

We asked Adrian Eagleson 'Who is God to you?'

Adrian had 3 answers. 2 immediate and 1 long term experience of God. Firstly, God is JEHOVAH JIREH. Secondly God has been his advocate. And thirdly, and most interestingly, God is his cloud.

Now before you think Eagie has lost it and got his head in the clouds, its not a Care Bear thing, but its about the story in Exodus 13. The children of Israel followed God by cloud during the day and fire by night. A great image of who God is. We need to trust and obey God. Life is a journey with God. Wherever God is moving we will follow!

Adrian also threw in some gems:

Be like a busdriver - people get on and get off in your life, but be nice to them as they might get back on sometime
We need to know God, we don't need to understand God
Learn to swim in different rivers, different strokes
Look after your core (physically and spiritually)

Adrian encouraged us to look after our INSCAPE. He described it by using a triangle. We need to know God. We need to know our roots. We need to know our purpose.

One question that Adrian asked of us:

How are we teaching young people to engage in all areas of life?

Handling money, dealing with the first night in Uni, cooking. Yes we need to address their spiritual being and their soul, but what about their skills, knowledge and experience, their life skills. Ponder!

Balanced

2008-06-04T10:44:00.002Z

Following on from David Stanfields comments about 'balance' not being a biblical term or even a spiritual concept, I came across this section written by Mike Yaconelli (page90)

"Balance is a cherised value in modern society. Balance means that there are no extremes....Balance is a condition of neutrality, where the middle is considered desirable and healthy. When someone is described as balanced it is understood as a compliment...blanced describes a person who moderates all aspects of their life, physical, mental, social and spiritual....balance sounds like a characteristic of the christian faith...

Beware of balance!

...it is silently destructive, crushing the unbalance of giftedness, taming the extremes of passion, snuffing out the raging fire of a genuine relationship with Jesus."

I suppose that fits to what it says in Revelation 3v15,

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot, I wish you were either one of the other. SO cos you are lukewarm (balanced?) I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

Interesting?

Yahweh Shalom

2008-05-13T16:19:00.000Z

So Dave Currie, sorr professor David Currie told us that even though we had been looking at names of God in the Old Testament, the correct Hebrew is not Jehovah but Yahweh.

SO dave spoke of Yahweh Shalom and taught us how to write in Hebrew. Cool!

What worries do you have in your life?
What questions do you have?
Do you know that God is in it?
Do you know God wants to bring wholeness to your life?

The Lord is our peace

The Last Gig

2008-05-12T16:10:00.000Z

Anyone want to leave comments about Bluetree?

We have loved the 3 year journey with these guys. They are mad, up for it, love wrestling and waterfights. They love God and love leading people in praise and worship.

As Aaron said on Saturday night "Your relationship with God is as dangerous as you want to make it!"

Greater things boys!

Cos we're so happy!!!

May Manna

2008-05-12T15:22:00.002Z

Just back from our honeymoon on the Friday and up on Saturday morning for MANNA - hard core! Joining us were: Nicky Blair, Andrew Frame, Dave Currie, Charlie Knox, Rick Hill, Katrina Patterson and Bill Holloway.

I keep forgetting my camera so I have picked a picture what sums up the theme of the morning.

Bill started with an icebreaker which took the whole session! We were meant to look at 'Who we are?' and then 'Who God is?' but didnt get anywhere near the second part.

This was probably the most interactive and intense morning we have had. Might be something to do with the bright sunny morning compared to the dark, cold, wet mornings....anyway

#1 - Are you saved?

#2 - Are you sure you are saved?

So we didn't get passed these 2 questions. It was great tho. We looked at what the word 'saved' actually means. It is more than life after death. There is redemption. There is atonement. Needless to say at 730 in the am it got interesting.

Then we gave different opinions of assurance of salvation. On one side you have people who believe you can lose your salvation and on the other side you have 'once saved, always saved.'

Being saved is more than a one off experience. Sanctification comes into play as well, as an ongoing process, on a daily basis, it is about a way of thinking, learning to change to think like Jesus.

Any comments?

The Lord of Hosts

2008-04-14T15:14:00.000Z

Jill Boyd spoek about the Lord of hosts.

Do you want to be in God's army?

Will you stand and march with the army of God?

April Manna

2008-04-12T16:02:00.000Z

So apparently there are 3 main parts to a boat:

the deck
the hull
the sails

this can be compared to 3 main parts to our life:

our public life
our private life
our spiritual life

Integrity is about having these 3 areas as close together as possible.

David and Mairisine Stanfield came to us this morning and they were both so good we probably should have had them on separate occassions. BUT, it is so good seeing and hearing them work together and off each other.

Mairisine started off explaining who God is to her - sovereign. Even through her illness, pain and isolation she still sees God as sovereign. She believes ministry can become idolatrous, as we can focus on pleasing people. She said she believes the church has lost its theology of suffering.

Concerning leadership we talked about how you need to understand who you are. Ask yourself the question 'What part do you play in the body?'

1 Timothy 4 v12-16

we need to set example
don't neglect your gift
weakness helps dependance
independance aint biblical

David went on to say how balance isn't biblical either. Jesus told us to take up our cross, deny ourselves and follow him - aint no balance there!

Attending we had; Clare Woodward, Charlie Knox, Andrew Frame, Jill Boyd and Nicky Blair.

Creator God

2008-03-12T15:05:00.001Z

God wants to work around us, in us and through us.

Anyone any stories about these areas?

Jehovah Melekh

2008-02-12T16:07:00.000Z

Any stories of you knowing God as King in all areas of your life?

February Manna

2008-02-12T14:57:00.000Z

(From l to r: Rick Hill, Katrina Boucher, Jill Boyd, Dave Currie, Phil Emerson, Laura Blakley, Andrew Frame, Clare Woodward, Lisa McPherson)

Quite a powerful morning with Phil Emerson. It still amazes me that people get up this early! It is getting easier as we have go tthru the cold, dark, wet winter mornings. It's interesting that we don't open with a prayer, or sing a closing hymn, we just sit and share and have some breakfast together - emerging church or what!!!?

Phil gave us a couple of real gems. He shared his heart and his lifes experiences and we were captivated. There wasn't so much of a discussion this morning as we just soaked it all in and Phil is a wise man.

We talked about blogging actually and Phil warned us to be carfeul with what we share in our blogs, so I even feel bad writing this! But its interesting how we are in an age of blogging our inner most feelings to the world, whether it be on BEBO, FACEBOOK, MYSPACE or the world o blogs.

Phil shared with us about the importance of solitude balanced with spending time with people. He writes to God every morning and finds it easier to write than pray out loud or into himself, but I suppose prayer can be writing! Phil would normally start in January and read from Genesis 1, Psalm 1, Matthew 1 and Acts 1. This year he has just focussed on the gospels.

Some more thoughts:

As responsibility rises, relationships suffer. Rev 2 v1-8 talks about how the Church in Ephesus grew but they lost their first love.

We never ask each other "how do you feel?" - its always, "so what you been doing?" or "how ae things going?"

Dying for God would be easy - live for God is hard!

Keep short accounts! Both financially and spiritually

Speak for people who don' t have a voice

Be real

Be honest

Don't admit to having all the answers

Wee things bite you not big things - I have never known an elephant to bite you! You are normally stung by a bee or a wasp.

We looked again at giftings (as brought up by Steve Cave in Dec 07). Bill Hybels talks about having 3 main giftings. Your main gifting gives you a buzz and energises you. Second one you enjoy doing. Third gift you will get tired quickly if you do it too much.

Phil finished off by sharing from Isaiah 40v31 and compared it to life. They that wait on the Lord will first of all rise on the wings of eagles. Secondly they will run. Lastly they will walk. So the enthusiasm dies but its all about how you finish the race. Run with perseverance!

January Manna

2008-01-18T11:23:00.000Z

Unfortunately Alan couldn't make this MANNA and with exams on and it being really dark and cold, we didn't have MANNA. Alan however did send thru some notes to read.

As Jesus concludes, he wants to speak about the kind of service that he rejects. Remembering that this is probably the first teaching that Jesus gave to his Disciples after he called them to be Apostles, it is important that these first Apostles understood that not all service is acceptable to him.

When Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount, he began by talking about Beatitude people, those who were broken and dependent solely upon him for life. Jesus concludes his sermon by describing those who have moved away from being broken dependant people, to those who are self-assured and self- sufficient.

In Christian ministry it is very easy to make this shift and not even notice it. Sometimes our service is a waste of time, it has no value. It may appear to be successful or effective but success or effectiveness is not evidences of acceptance or approval by God.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 7:21-23.

Hiding behind spiritual language.

Look how these people addressed Jesus. “Lord, Lord.” The use of repetition in scripture usually is to bring forth emphasis. Repetition in addressing another person is only used about fifteen times in the Bible and it always brings out personal intimacy. When the angel intervened and prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, the Lord said "Abraham, Abraham."

When God called Moses at the burning bush, He addressed him, "Moses, Moses."

When one of Jesus' dear friends Mary, sat at His feet while her sister, another dear friend, toiled to prepare a meal and complained to the Lord, He responded "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things."

Before He was crucified, Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you (all of you) like wheat. But I have prayed for you.”

The way these people addressed Jesus at this time was consistent with how they always used spiritual language. Often people can develop a whole new sub-language in an attempt to hide what is really going on in their hearts. They way these people addressed Jesus had the appearance of intimacy, but in reality is was words without substance. Jesus was able to see past their words.

WHAT’S IN THE HEART WILL COME OUT. OUR LIFE SOURCE WILL BE REVEALED

There is an important dynamic at work in this passage that we need to grasp if we are going to understand what Jesus is teaching here.

Jesus tells us "Many will say to me on that day Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' The reason why these people spoke about their ministry was because that what was in their hearts, and what they lived for. When we stand before Jesus, what we lived for will be revealed.

Many will say Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

Others will say, ‘did we not raise a family in your name?’

‘Did we not work hard and earn money to provide the best materially for my family in your name?’ ‘Did we not serve the church in your name?’

In other words, what we lived for, and what we did not live for shall be revealed.

As we work through this passage, we need to put our life source into this verse, and realise that if we have the wrong life source, then the response of Jesus to us will be the same, ‘I do not know you.’

Being known by God is more important than serving God.

Being known by God is more important than service, even if we do it in Jesus' name.

Look how these people introduced themselves. They did not talk about their relationship with Jesus, they did not say how pleased they were to see the Lord. No there whole focus was on what they were doing, as if Jesus would be impressed. Their ministry had become their life.

We need to unpack what these people are saying when they say 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles.’ This was a spontaneous statement, which blows the whistle on where these people were. They could no longer hide. They could no longer hide what was really in their hearts. They were saying to Jesus

“ For me life equals ministry.”

How they effected other people's lives was more important than what God was doing in their life.

Power for ministry was more important than intimacy in fellowship.

Spiritual maturity was measured by success in ministry rather than fruitful characters.

If we think that life is about what we do, then according to this passage we are false prophets; we are not the real thing. We conveniently associate a false prophet with what they teach. However, Jesus goes a lot deeper, he says that if anyone thinks that their life is more valuable, more useful, more important because of what they are doing, then they are false.

Jesus is very clear in what he says. ‘MANY will say to me on that day, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles.’ Most of us fall into this trap, we congratulate ourselves, and we think how wonderful we are, for we have served the Lord.

However, when we stand before the Lord, our service should be the last thing in our minds. Finding life and value in your service is an indication of being false. Finding life and value in anything, no matter how good or respectable it may be, is an indication of being false, according to this passage.

What kind of person would never say these words? What kind of person would never try and impress Jesus with their ministry? Someone who understands Kingdom life, a Beatitude person.

Often people fall into the trap of confusing ministry with being spiritual. They believe that because they are involved in some kind of ministry then they must be all right. Yet, many people get involved in a ministry to meet needs within them as they may have a hidden agenda. If you were to take their ministry away from them, their whole life would fall apart, for their ministry has taken the place of God in their lives.

Sometimes we need to ask God to take our ministry from us so that we can find Him. Those who have a fear of loosing their ministry, are the people who need to loose it.

You can be involved in ministry for God, and yet not be known by God.

Jesus said "I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you."

When Jesus said these words, He spoke words that sounded familiar to His Jewish audience – especially to the Rabbis and their students.

The Jewish writings tell us of a time when a student said or did something wrong, a very scholarly Rabbi said to him, "I never knew you." Upon saying that he did not speak to the student for a period of 30 days. He gave his student the silent treatment, the cold shoulder.

Now note what Jesus did not say. He didn’t say “you never knew me” but “I never knew you. Surely Jesus is God, surely he knows all things, so how can he say that He doesn’t know us?

When Jesus says ‘I will tell them plainly’, he uses a very strong word, which means to confess, or give thanks. What Jesus says here is an honest assessment of our relationship with him.

What does it mean for God not to know us?

Surely God is Omniscient, so how can he say to these people, “I never knew you.” He is not saying “I know nothing about you.” We all know certain things about others but we don’t know them in a personal way. Jesus is saying to these people who have found their life in their ministry, “You have never really opened up your heart to me.”

What kind of person finds it difficult to open up and become completely vulnerable? The person who is not broken, who is not poor in spirit. If God does not know us, it is our fault. We must be totally honest and open before him.

Lack of Worship prevents God from knowing us.

It is interesting to notice what these people did not say. There were no expressions of gratitude, joy or worship, and their whole emphasis was on what they were doing. ‘Did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles,’

When the emphasis of our lives is on what we do, worship becomes unlikely.

These people were guilty of sanitised idolatry. When a person struggles with worship, that struggle is always the consequences of idolatry. If we have a heart that is looking for life outside of Jesus, we are going to find some reason to justify our lack of worship.

These people could not worship Jesus when they met him face to face, because they never worshipped him before they met him. If worship is not a priority in this life, then it will not be a priority in the 'next life.'

This passage redefines the will of God for our lives.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

God's will is that he knows us.

God's will is that worship must always take the priority over ministry.

God's will is that we remove all our sheep’s clothing.

God's will is that we be honest open people, with no hidden agenda.

How will Jesus respond to these people? He says that they are evildoers. What makes the deeds (both good and evil ones) "lawless" is not disobedience to some law (the Pharisees worked hard to obey all the laws), but what is in the heart i.e. the motivations for those actions. Ministry that is not a reflection of our fellowship with God is unacceptable, even if it appears to be effective.

Some questions we need to ask

Are we satisfied with our relationship with God in the present?

Are we looking for life in something, rather in having an intimate experience of God?

What idol has robbed us of our passion for God?

Has worship ceased to be a priority in our lives?

Can we identify some of the sheep’s clothing we have been wearing?

Some Practical steps we must take in order to open our lives up more to God.

We need to pray differently about ourselves. Can you identify an attitude or a motive in your heart you have never prayed about? We are inclined to pray about external things. God will only know us when we open our hearts to him.

Is there anything in your life that has become a source of life or identity? Maybe you think if I loose this ministry, or if I loose this job, or family, life for me would be pointless. We need God to change our attitudes to these things. When Jesus becomes our only reason for living, then we have the freedom to enjoy these other things.

We need God to teach us the importance of worship. False prophets cannot take the worship of Jesus seriously. If we do not understand the importance of worship, then we need to ask some serious questions about what is in our hearts.

December Manna

2007-12-18T11:00:00.000Z

(from l to r: Rick Hill, Steve Cave, Charlie, Dave Currie, Jill Boyd, Gavin Robinson)

When asked 'Who is God?', Steve said you had to look at the person, Jesus. Jesus has been turned into a theological argument. Jesus came to show us what God is like. This was really interesting as each speaker had started to talk about God and finished off with Jesus. Every time I was listening to a talk I was like, "Keep that for next year! We will talk about Jesus next year! This year we are meant to be focusing on God the Father...", so my bad!

Steve went on to comment on a book by John Humphreys " In God we doubt" which is confessions of a failed atheist or angry agnostic. Anyway it talks about how there must be something more than heaven. In John 17 v3 the Bible says that 'eternal life is knowing God', so we went on to discuss 'what is the gospel?'

Probably the biggest point Steve brought to the group was about leadership. He said he had made some mistakes so encouraged us to ask ourselves these questions which he did not:

Are you totally sure of who you are?
What are my gifts?
Am i prepared for whatever role i have?

In order to be in leadership we need to have the highest integrity. Steve encouraged us to discover our strengths. What stayed with me was that Steve admitted to being competitive - something which I am or have. This can be used as a positive in that it will drive you and you wont burn out.

The foundations of what we do have to be GRACE and TRUTH.

Another book Steve encouraged us to read was Andy Stanley's 'Choosing to cheat' - check this out!

.