Today I have been thinking about what it means to be a disciple and "disciple" others.
Jesus said "Go out and make disciples" but I am beginning to think that this is something best done on a small scale. I believe the idea is that we should make disciples one by one. In much the same way as Jesus healed individuals and brought the paraplegic, the blind man, the Samaritan woman to him by means of a one to one, face to face experience. For example, we should concentrate on making disciples one at a time by means of a sustained personal relationship.
We should follow Christ's example and "call out" to a person by name. We should commit to devoting time and patience to love that person, regardless of how different we may be or how difficult it might seem. It is important to spend time together, in conversation or sharing a meal or a hobby and take time to thrash out opinions on life. Communication on a deep level is necessary and we should not be worried about sharing our own hopes, dreams, aspirations with the one being discipled. There is a sense of opening up ourselves and becoming vulnerable in a reciprocal relationship.
We should nurture the image of God we see in each other, affirm the good and address the negative. Truly seek God together.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Over the last few days I have been helping my daughter clean her new flat in London, ready for her to move closer to her job. Commuting has proved very tiring so she is looking forward to more sleep and being able to walk to work, instead of taking a taxi, train and a bus!
The flat is very small but feels safe. There is a good atmosphere in the building. My daughter would not consider herself religious and is "not sure" about God, so I was very pleased when she asked me if I knew how to bless the flat. It is not something I have done before but it was good to ask God's blessing on that place and her life in it. It was good too, to remember, that God is everywhere. He is in that small flat, in the streets that surround it and his loving arms hold us close.
The flat is very small but feels safe. There is a good atmosphere in the building. My daughter would not consider herself religious and is "not sure" about God, so I was very pleased when she asked me if I knew how to bless the flat. It is not something I have done before but it was good to ask God's blessing on that place and her life in it. It was good too, to remember, that God is everywhere. He is in that small flat, in the streets that surround it and his loving arms hold us close.
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
I am a big fan of the internet site Facebook. I think it is a wonderful way to connect with people from all over the world and it is a wonderful tool for evangelism. I have been really heartened to see the growth of popularity of pages such as "The Bible" with over 400 000 "friends" added in the last few months. This is a place to share favourite verses, study and generally build each other up. Similarly with the group "Praying People", over 11000 people have got together to pray for each other and the world. Awesome!
However, there are sad stories attached to the use of Facebook. I have read today about a man who has been accused of murdering his partner after she changed her Facebook status from "married" to "single". There had been arguments about the length of time she spent using the networking site and jealousy had eaten away at her partner. This culminated in a stabbing that has left four children without a mother.
It is possible to become addicted to many different things in this world that, ultimately cam destroy lives. Drink, drugs, gambling and most recently, surfing the internet can all be detrimental to our lives if used to excess.
However, there are sad stories attached to the use of Facebook. I have read today about a man who has been accused of murdering his partner after she changed her Facebook status from "married" to "single". There had been arguments about the length of time she spent using the networking site and jealousy had eaten away at her partner. This culminated in a stabbing that has left four children without a mother.
It is possible to become addicted to many different things in this world that, ultimately cam destroy lives. Drink, drugs, gambling and most recently, surfing the internet can all be detrimental to our lives if used to excess.
Monday, 17 August 2009
This morning I have been watching an online video of the Harvest ministries 2009 South California Crusade that took place in Orange County this weekend. www.harvest.org
This is the twentieth year for the Crusade and it would appear that over the weekend over 11000 people have made a commitment to God in the Angel Stadium.
Strong messages from Greg Laurie and music from Skillet, The Katinas, Chris Tomlin and more. A wonderful sight!
How many of those 11000 will follow up their commitment? How good is the support network now to work with those people? I pray that lives have been changed forever.
This is the twentieth year for the Crusade and it would appear that over the weekend over 11000 people have made a commitment to God in the Angel Stadium.
Strong messages from Greg Laurie and music from Skillet, The Katinas, Chris Tomlin and more. A wonderful sight!
How many of those 11000 will follow up their commitment? How good is the support network now to work with those people? I pray that lives have been changed forever.
Sunday, 16 August 2009
I have just returned from a wonderful holiday, cruising in the Adriatic. The ship visited Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Italy. We saw some beautiful scenery, visited some interesting buildings and met some wonderful people.
The thing that impressed me most was the attitude of the ship's crew. The 500 plus members of crew were mainly from Bali, Fiji, the Philippines and Greece. A lot of the time they work in hot, cramped conditions for long hours and yet were unfailingly happy, smiling, courteous, polite and very hard-working. There was a sense of pride in their work that was obvious and very refreshing. The company award "Oscars" for the crew and the Cabin Steward or Waiter of the Month award for instance was highly prized.
All the jobs on boared ship were seen as of great value and, speaking to the crew, they obviously felt proud to be working for the cruise line, even though, in most cases, the cruise season meant working away from their homes and families from March to October, with little or no chance of a home visit during this time. One beauty technichian from the Philippines had left her 3 month old baby and her 2 year old son behind, in the care of her husband's family, to take the opportunity to earn a good wage to help support them in the future.
I wish everyone had the same attitude to life as the crew of this ship.
The thing that impressed me most was the attitude of the ship's crew. The 500 plus members of crew were mainly from Bali, Fiji, the Philippines and Greece. A lot of the time they work in hot, cramped conditions for long hours and yet were unfailingly happy, smiling, courteous, polite and very hard-working. There was a sense of pride in their work that was obvious and very refreshing. The company award "Oscars" for the crew and the Cabin Steward or Waiter of the Month award for instance was highly prized.
All the jobs on boared ship were seen as of great value and, speaking to the crew, they obviously felt proud to be working for the cruise line, even though, in most cases, the cruise season meant working away from their homes and families from March to October, with little or no chance of a home visit during this time. One beauty technichian from the Philippines had left her 3 month old baby and her 2 year old son behind, in the care of her husband's family, to take the opportunity to earn a good wage to help support them in the future.
I wish everyone had the same attitude to life as the crew of this ship.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
As I am writing this there is an act of worship going on in Trafalgar Square, London, as part of the "One & Other" project. www.oneandother.co.uk
A brave man is standing on the fourth plinth and leading an hour's worship, including Holy Communion. What an oasis in the middle of the city. The service is being streamed via webcam and so the total number of participantrs in the service may be many more than the small crowd gathered by the plinth.
I have been reminded by the actions of some of the people in Trafalgar Square that the Word of God is not always received in the same way by everyone who hears it. There are those in the crowd who are standing respectfully, heads bowed in prayer, many who have come particularly to show support for the speaker. Some passers-by have stopped and are genuinely interested and listening to the proceedings. Yet others are hurrying past, intent on going about their own daily business and completely oblivious to what is going on. I pray that everyone who has passed by that plinth today or watched the service online may feel the soft touch of God in their lives. There in the midst of the city, the presence of God is being affirmed today. For God is everywhere with us, in quiet sanctuary or noisy street.
A brave man is standing on the fourth plinth and leading an hour's worship, including Holy Communion. What an oasis in the middle of the city. The service is being streamed via webcam and so the total number of participantrs in the service may be many more than the small crowd gathered by the plinth.
I have been reminded by the actions of some of the people in Trafalgar Square that the Word of God is not always received in the same way by everyone who hears it. There are those in the crowd who are standing respectfully, heads bowed in prayer, many who have come particularly to show support for the speaker. Some passers-by have stopped and are genuinely interested and listening to the proceedings. Yet others are hurrying past, intent on going about their own daily business and completely oblivious to what is going on. I pray that everyone who has passed by that plinth today or watched the service online may feel the soft touch of God in their lives. There in the midst of the city, the presence of God is being affirmed today. For God is everywhere with us, in quiet sanctuary or noisy street.
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
I have been watching the Symposium on Christianity in the Digital Age which is being streamed from St John's College, Durham.
As someone who is going to candidate as a Deacon in the Methodist Church and who is passionate about being mission-focused, committed to enabling outreach, evangelism and service in the real world, I am equally as passionate about how we engage with the billions of people using the internet. How can we reflect Christ in cyberspace?
Some of the points made at the symposium make good discussion starters.
Maybe, for instance, the MDO should have a division of "Digital Deacons" who go into cyberspace, engage with people where they are already meeting eg Facebook, My Space, Warcraft?
We need to make God the centre of our virtual world as well as our real world. How can we be Incarnational on the internet and introduce the cyber population to Christ?
As someone who is going to candidate as a Deacon in the Methodist Church and who is passionate about being mission-focused, committed to enabling outreach, evangelism and service in the real world, I am equally as passionate about how we engage with the billions of people using the internet. How can we reflect Christ in cyberspace?
Some of the points made at the symposium make good discussion starters.
Maybe, for instance, the MDO should have a division of "Digital Deacons" who go into cyberspace, engage with people where they are already meeting eg Facebook, My Space, Warcraft?
We need to make God the centre of our virtual world as well as our real world. How can we be Incarnational on the internet and introduce the cyber population to Christ?
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