Missional Cyclist

Quirky Song

2011-10-13T08:45:00.000Z

Love the use of Yurt and flugelhorn in the lyric - that must be rare...

U2 Grace

2010-11-06T16:07:00.003Z

Woah!- dusty in here....
Thought I'd post my latest video - preaching on grace so spent most of my prep time making a video (as you do)..

Joining with the spirit

2010-06-18T07:41:00.002Z

I was reading this post from Johnny Baker in bed last night on my iPod (my wife forbade be to eat in bed, but has as yet not forbidden nocturnal surfing...)

The book looks really interesting - but at 25 quid I'm thinking I'd bewtter not add it to my (tetering) reading pile - hopefully one of my friends has a copy.

the title joining in with the spirit comes from the notion that mission is finding out where God is at work and joining in which is certainly something john v taylor said, perhaps along with a bundle of other people. discernment then is the first act of mission.

I like that quote - I've often used the quote in helping people consider church when they move home - but as a first act of mission that is challenging.

Particularly as I'm in PR for WEC....

The Sweaty Jocks - Anyone But England

2010-06-17T08:51:00.000Z

Partnership and Mission

2010-06-01T07:47:00.003Z

I was reading Krish Kandiah's excellent blog on mission partnership. He makes some excellent points in it - well worth a read.

Very tempting it in a way so as to tick off the points in the manner of "we would never do that" - and that is certainly often arguable. Sadly these mistakes do get made.

Challenging - but I want to believe we can do better - even in a big global agency. Particularly if we can pull of the challenge after nearly 100 years, of getting back to our roots and be less an organisation, more a Spirit-led movement - and that is our aim...

Andrew & Lesley's Wedding

2009-08-13T15:43:00.001Z

An absoluteley brilliant day yesterday: Andrew (my son) and Lesley (new Daughter-in-law)now married.

From Andrew & Lesley's Wedding

A new landscape

2009-08-10T22:03:00.000Z

I found this post, and the material it refers to fascinating.

Tall Skinny Kiwi on "Christianity's next challenge"

President Obama's speech in Cairo

Missional Downsizing

2009-07-06T22:06:00.001Z

Here's the video I made with Jody. We'll be using it at Keswick convention in the "Earthworks" exhibition.

Powerpoint slide

2009-05-07T11:10:00.006Z

Having spent some time on this slide I thought it might be worth sharing.... (animated powerpoint available on request)

A lifebelt (for Darwin)

2009-04-04T17:41:00.002Z

Been meaning to read something on Darwin / Evolution / Creation / Theism for a while now. So when this book "Rescuing Darwin" dropped through the letterbox, (intellectual) laziness and stinginess took hold and I decided to read it.

I fell asleep a bit (been working at an exhibition all week), but enjoyed the read.

Thanks to Christian Research for sending it out.

I have to say it uncovered whole valleys of sloppy thinking in my mental landscape - but then what's new!

The book gives a good understanding of both contemporary and older forms of "creationism" as well as "intelligent design".

It also looks at the current fad amongst "evangelical" atheists for using Darwin as a blunt weapon in arguing against the existence of God. I'm torn between pictures of God being amused and angry at their views....

Oh - and at the end I found that it is released under a Creative Commons license - cool! So if you like you can download it for free.

New cycle - same mission

2009-03-18T22:04:00.002Z

Got a new bike - hooray! Saved up all my birthday money, Christmas money, ill gotten (Ebay) gains and got a new bike. First time I've ever had a new one.

I've noticed a worrying tendency to want to wash the mud off, and to lock it up V carefully...

Thanks for the photo Chris - makes me realise that all that money (200 squids) was wasted on a lighter frame - because my own frame appears to be heavier.

Big Buck Bunny and the post greed economy

2009-03-14T17:53:00.002Z

I sort of like this cartoon - it is funny, and technically clever - but that isn't the point. The point is that it is licensed under the (fantastic!) Creative Commons license. So for you and me it is free (but even that isn't really the point).

So you can download it for free - even in HD. Or you could buy a copy.

But it doesn't stop there - if you wanted to you could download all of the source material - the materials and objects that form the animation - a bunny's eye, a blade of grass, a musical score.

It doesn't even stop there - you can also download - still for free - all of the software that was used to make the movie. (Blender is one key part)

Now don't be fooled - 99.99% of us have ZERO hope of making a good (or even semi-good) cartoon! I have to say I'm a bit fed up with the thinking that goes "I could do good stuff if only I had the right/latest/grooviest software" NO - we cannot.

But I do love the fact that God's creative spark exists in all of us (well buried in my case...)

And I love the post-greed economy that exists out there - particularly creative commons. I have been instrumental in puttting some CC tracks on a CD - and all my Photos on Flickr are licensed CC.

Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady

2009-02-27T08:28:00.004Z

Thanks to Glenn I've started using Spotify - and today U2 No Line on the Horizon became available - excellent - as I have no cash for the CD right now having just blown all my savings on a new bike....

Album is of course brilliant - complete with this great quote from the lyrics of "Stand up comedy"

Charismissional

2009-02-12T11:05:00.002Z

I love the idea of this fusion of Missional thinking into a Charismatic environment.

Read about it here...

There is so much danger of an inward looking approach inherent in charismatic/pentecostal circles. Though I have to say that Pentecostals have been in the vanguard of much missional activity.

I am using my own perspective on "missional" - Missio Dei - yes - but looking practically at the life of Jesus there is this balance of the "miraculous" - the doing - the works of the kingdom, balanced with the sense of priority that he seems to give to his purpose - that of announcing the kingdom - the word - the preaching.

Then of course my second hobby-horse - balancing local and global...

Things I dont like about running websites...

2009-02-11T14:32:00.001Z

Having to post this news, The whole bigger story is unutterably sad and brings home the tragedies being acted out in S Australia right now.

Rarely do you see a county's leader crying and being so angry on TV.

Has the world gone mad?

2009-01-24T22:40:00.004Z

No - wait.... - it is just the BBC.

Or - no.... actually it is the BBC management. (Am I right??)

Read this BBC "news" story. And Hurrah for Tony Ben!

I am so angry at the BBC I find myself resorting to that great british form of anger - sarcasm. (This for non British readers who happily do not suffer from this rather unattactive trait.)

I am shocked that once again the management of the BBC are going to stifle "charity" in the name of "objectivity". It is quite clear to me that BBC management understand the true meaning of neither of these words. (There I go again - sarcasm....)

This reminds me of the ridiculous coverage of Live8 - where in the name of balance they covered all of the music (where musicians had signed up to play in order to make a point) but cut the very sections (the videos between acts) that explained why. Again - in the name of "balance".

Now I have written and read broadcast news, I have even taught it. - So I am not totally ignorant about these things. (Just a bit)

The thing is this is not an issue of balance being made by professionals in the field - ie journalists and news editors - no this seems to be being made by managers!

BBC MANAGEMENT: "I'm so sorry that you appear to be dying, and I could help you with very little effort, but it is my principles you see"

My heart bleeds - or something does.

I'm off to write an email.

Rough - but Ironic

2009-01-13T08:27:00.002Z

Kez got there first - and go read...

This Rough Sleepers thing has got to me too. (And I only did one evening) Sunday night I was chatting with the guys who came in from the cold - in Church - they having been the first to pray out loud when space was given (gobsmacking). One of them (boyfriend of the pregnant woman) asked if I had a spare bed.

Now I sort of do - and sort of dont - for one thing the house isn't mine. (I'm housed by the mission I work for). But for 2 pins....

Back home Flora agreed - it would be really daft - but.....

One of the ironies was Andy's sermon (and for once he didn't cry - got close though) - one of his passages was the parable of the banquet - inviting all of the rough sleepers in.

The big irony though was Christmas night - the shelter was open, and in our church we had a pregnant woman come in from sleeping rough.

Sometimes irony is really beautiful - but very sad.

Epiphany

2008-12-21T23:36:00.003Z

On the way to a meeting this evening I was listenong to U2 up loud (nothing new here) and thinking about Christmas. "Original of the Species" came on. Just be thankful you weren't in the car - it was loud, and I was singing along (loud, out of tune, words wrong, bad timing) (plus ca change).

I love the track - ostensibly to the daughter of the Edge. I've always seen more there - there is a touch of worship there (references to kneeling) - perhaps normal when considering a child - particularly for a parent.

Then I saw that this (for me) had the feeling of a nativity song.

Wonderful.

Video link (cannot embed it - it is an official one)
Lyrics Link

Preach it brother!

2008-12-21T15:14:00.003Z

Woah - cynicism lives!

Or is it sarcasm? (sorry - too lazy to google the difference)

Way to go (if you are British - because we love cynicism) If you aren't - sorry to say this national trait is not one of our nicer features - but hey somebody needs to say it sometimes...

Well done Simon.

Evangelistic Sermons

2008-12-12T17:50:00.002Z

Read this today.

I don't think the problem only exists in Japan - I have heard it rather nearer to home.

(Not you Mary/Andy/Kez/Glen)

Dogville

2008-12-02T16:23:00.003Z

Being home alone last night gave me a chance to watch a film at random. Thanks to Ruth who lent it to me.

The film is intruiging, boring, fascinating, though provoking, and shocking.

It is a lot about Grace - both the name and the idea. Same link as in the U2 song of the same name...

Grace - its a name for a girl
It's also a thought that can change the world

At times the grace is so great that the undeserving recipients accuse Grace of being arrogant. Interesting thought...

In the end grace stops and something else happens - even that has biblical overtones.

Tagged ...

2008-11-21T14:32:00.003Z

I was tagged by Mark Robinson

I'm not wildly excited by it - but hey - why be a grumpy old git all the time?

The Rules:
Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write six random things about yourself.
Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1. I cannot tell left from right
2. I do sometimes like my music soft and calm
3. I once ran a disco from a Hearse
4. I once did PA for Graham Kendrick with only one mic (and no guitar pickup)
6. I'm not very good with numbers

I have tagged Simon Cozens, Glenn Myers, and Andrew (My son) Only 3 because I am not greatly convinced about these pyramid viral tagging things..... (I suspect they may be less so)

God forbid!

2008-11-19T21:57:00.002Z

Really excellent piece from that wonderful source of "news" the Onion.

"I'm Not One Of Those 'Love Thy Neighbor' Christians"

No starbucks....

2008-10-30T11:55:00.001Z

Spent my last Sunday morning reading a book in Costa Coffee, then I read this.

Apostolic plants

2008-09-07T15:10:00.004Z

Fresh back from an very enervating couple of weeks, I have my blogging face on again (do I hear a cry of "spare us!" - well if I do I'm ignoring it.)

My few days at Grapevine festival were really exciting - despite going to no meetings (I did hear a few on the radio) - I was working in the "Expo" (every Christian event has a different name for the exhibition - and it is often revealing - guess who calls it "marketplace"?). The buzz came from working alongside some very unexpected Christians (best sort) from "Betel of Britain".

One sentence description of Betel: "Church planting amongst the addicted and marginalised" (totally fails to do it justice). One word description: "Gospel". A good write up can be found on the NCVO website.

Normal conversation:

"WEC - what's that"

"We plant churches where there arent any"

"Oh"

"Yeah - in the Sahara, the Amazon Jungle, and in Nottingham - Heard of Betel?"

"(variable response often positive)"

"Well that's part of WEC, this guy here's from Betel - let him tell you a bit about it",

"(later followed by sound effect of innocent enquirers socks being blown off)"

Then from Lincolnshire to Suffolk & Norfolk for my holiday - including some excellent boating in less than excellent weather. And some reading. One book I couldn't put down was "Apostolic Networks in Britain: New Ways of Being Church" by William H Kay. Brilliant stuff - and fascinating - though Ch 19 (Mission) was a bit thin. The description of mission agencies and apostolic networks in overseas CP was sparse - and not representative of my own experience.

Then home and a quiet Sunday - time to make another stab at "Evangelism After Christendom" by Bryan Stone.

The eureka moment came as I started to reflect on working with Betel, and the two books. Betel neatly (for me anyway) sums up the key things I got from the two books (so far).

Betel is a CP project of WEC - and the UK planted churches relate apostolically into the Ground Level Network (under Stuart Bell) - the missing link in chapter 19 of Apostolic Networks in my opinion - and not the only example of WEC relating church plants into apostolic networks.

Betel is a brilliant story of the reign of God here and now - and it grows for that reason. I suspect as I read further on in Evangelism after Christendom there will be other points of contact.