Andi Swift

There's a Party....but you're not invited

noreply@blogger.com (ajswift) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:54:00 +0000

Do you ever feel that the world is tuning, there's parties everywhere but you are never invited?

Its one of the things we have struggled with most since moving from Yorkshire to Berkshire almost 8 years ago.

But its somthing we have learned to live with. As i was thinking about this earlier today i thought of David in the Bible, when Samuel came to look for the next King.

In 1 Samuel 16 we read how Samuel came to Bethlehem under the guise of offering a sacrafice. This would have been a tremedous event which everyone in Bethlehem would be aware of and be excited about.

Its like a party that is happending and all your friends are invited and excited about.

At this particular 'Party' Jesse invites all his sons except David.

David would be fully aware of the party as he sat in the field looking after the sheep.

Unknown to David Samuel is searching him out as he is presented to each of Jesse's sons. Finally Jesse says to Samuel “There is still the youngest,” . “He is tending the sheep.”

Jesse probably thought...We didnt invite David he's the little Kid, insignificant, he's part of the Family but we didnt invite him to the party, we thought he would prefer looking after the sheep.

You see, even when you arent invited to the Party...God wants you there. Your name is on the VIP list.

There is a Party and You ARE invited.

Church

noreply@blogger.com (ajswift) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:12:00 +0000

I love church, the community that should be beating to the same rhythm as the very heart of God.

But in my mind something is going wrong...

Before i explain this, i want to make it clear that for my entire life i have been, and i still am, someone who believes in Church. By Church i don't mean groups of people who believe in Jesus meeting outside the organised church. I mean the weekly gathering of people for a common purpose:

• Who Worship
• Who reaches out to their communities
• Who reaches out to the wider world
And….
• Who seek to restore the congregation to full maturity, faith and wholeness.

So what’s gone wrong, well, in my mind the issue is that churches across the UK tend to focus on one or at the very most two of the above list, they tend to be great at Worship or reaching their local community but they miss out on the most important facet of Church, the people who attend.

Certainly for the past few years in my experience local churches tend to neglect the very people who make up the church.

The congregation.

I know there is a common trend that local community churches (by that i mean local churches of 40-200 people) tend to lean heavily on local outreach or 'mission' and there is nothing wrong with that and its part of the 'Great Commission' - but what happens is the congregation becomes weak, they become neglected, they hurt, they start to lose spiritual battles, and all the while the message coming the loudest is that 'the church' isn’t for making people 'fatter' - that we shouldn’t use 'spiritual big words' we shouldn’t speak in tongues for fear it will drive the 'lost' away from the church.

Before long - the church becomes an unbalanced group.

Fact or Truth

noreply@blogger.com (ajswift) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Sometimes we can be so caught up in the facts of life, that we forget the Truth of the Word.

We can look at the natural things around us and forget to speak faith in to the situation. You know we can bring heaven on earth by speaking out the Word, the Truth. In Habakkuk 3, the prophet Habakkuk speaks about there being no fruit on the vines and no figs on the fig trees, these are facts, but he goes on to say that he still rejoices because he knows the Truth. The truth is that God can lift you up; he can take you up to the high places. The Truth is God watches over you, and miracles start to happen when we start speaking the Truth into situations.

In Joshua chapter 10 verses 13 we see that God can even stop the sun in it tracks, he can take a huge army and whittle down to 300 men and still win the battle.

What are you facing right now, that in the natural looks like you are defeated? Speak the Word of Truth.

By that I mean read the bible and start speaking out passages that you read. Romans 8 is a great place to start, No weapon formed against me will prosper, I can do all things through Christ that gives me strength. Stop looking at Facts and speak the Truth.

Habakkuk 3
New International Version (NIV)
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.

Building and Growing

noreply@blogger.com (ajswift) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:58:00 +0000

I am called to be the best me I can be, and you are called to be the best you that you can be but sometimes we try and do things that simply aren’t what we need or are supposed to do. We are co-labourers with God, and there are two separate dimensions we need to consider when we do ‘stuff’. The things that God is responsible for and the things we are responsible for. We are responsible for planting, building and producing programs, God is responsible for growing your church, the presence of God and moving people in their hearts. Whether you are a small group leader, lead a church or you are involved in mission – the best advice I can give you is to not worry about numbers, who has attended and who hasn’t. That’s God’s responsibility, for you – have you planted the word? Have you produced a program and done the best you can with your tasks? If you have, now it’s up to God!

Let’s not try and grow what we should build or try and build what we should grow. We easily get burnt out or discouraged if we start to worry or immerse ourselves in the things that God is responsible for. Take this as an analogy:

We Build Friendships….

Love is Grown….

1 Corinthians 3 (New International Version)

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Let's Go!

noreply@blogger.com (ajswift) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:20:00 +0000

Let's Go!

Far better it is to dare mighty things to win glorious triumphs, even though chequered with failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory or defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt

In my book 'This Page Left Blank?' there is a chapter on dealing with failure. What happens when we have pursued a dream only to find we miss out? It’s so easy for unfulfilled dreams to lead to despair or disillusionment. Imagine the violin soloist who has trained since the age of 4. She has always dreamed of standing on stage in front of an orchestra but, even though she has studied hard, she still hasn’t succeeded and now it seems her opportunity has passed. What will we say to her, what will motivate her now? Having a dream motivates us on a Monday morning but when that dream has been dashed how do we get out of bed and keep going? I want to encourage everyone who has pursued their dreams only to find them disappear into despair that it doesn’t have to mean the end.

It is OK to fail! But the choices we make after we experience failure will dictate what happens next. You've got to take a step!

Failure is often a sign that you are going somewhere in life. In fact, there would be cause for concern if life wasn’t chequered with problems and challenges. As you overcome each challenge, you will find your spirit is lifted and your faith rises. It’s no wonder Paul said he rejoiced, not because of the trial, but for the greater glory that is given to God as he came out the other end. Can you say ‘I will finish my course, I will fulfil my destiny’? Like Paul, can you say with conviction ‘I run my life to win gold’? As you go through difficulties and you continue to live in faith, you will find that God becomes more important than the dream – not that you will stop pursuing the dream.

There is some great Christian music out there and some of the words are great to reference, which i like to do i lot! - this song by Group 1 Crew with Toby Mac is one such song that talks about life's challenges and dealing with it:

I’ve heard life is like a box of sweet delights
But in reality every day is a fight
So we hold on to the promise that things happen for reasons
We may not understand it but faith keeps us believin’

And I know that we can make it
With faith in our hearts we can face it
Any mountain that comes our way we can move

(Chorus)
There’s never a right time to get up and live life
You only got one try (andale, andale)
So take what you’ve been given and
Make time to turn someone’s day bright
And change how we live life (andale, andale)

The future’s what we make it so let’s go (to the beat ya'll)
So let’s go (to the beat ya'll)
So let’s go (one life, one world ya’ll)
(x2)

The future’s what we make it so let’s go

We in a time when sun don’t shine in all places
Typically nose to the grind just to make it
Take the same old, see the same faces
Sayin’ it’s the hand we’ve been dealt so we take it
But if life’s what we make it
I’ma turn the world around, make the poor people famous
Make the B the new A list
Give your Facebook page a new facelift
And every status you post will compliment who you are
The whole world’s dark while you shine like a star
Then bring hatred to an end
And watch the honor of our generation come alive again

There’s never a right time to get up and live life
You only got one try (andale, andale)
So take what you’ve been given and
Make time to turn someone’s day bright
And change how we live life (andale, andale)

The future’s what we make it

It’s the right time to get up and live life
You only got one try (andale, andale)
So take what you’ve been given and
Make time to turn someone’s day bright
And change how we live life (andale, andale)

The future’s what we make it so let’s go

We got brighter days ahead
I know you got dreams, I believe in them
I know you got problems too, forget them
‘Cause life’s too short so let’s begin

Yep, see it’s all about you
You are the change the world needs to view
‘Cause when we change the world changes too
And it’s a small world after all

‘Cause I got something that’ll change the world
Moms to the dads, every boy and girl
All I wanna do is show ya how it could be
If ya open up and let your spirit free

So let’s go, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go
Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go