The tension of Worship

I have always been struck by the ambiguous meaning of the word worship, not for what it means, but for how it is used. However, the tension that my title suggests is more to do with sung worship. I am aware that the songs we sing, the way they are sung are not always to peoples liking. Although there has to be a way in which people engage with them, the most important question that each worshipper must ask is not "Do I like this song?" but more "Does this song teach me something of God?". I suppose it is a bit like that in our lives as well (our wider worship if you like) the things we do and say should not be about what we get from it, but what God gets. So next time you thing "I don't like that song, or the music is too loud", ask yourself, "What is God getting from this and are people engaging in worship?" and if you can see the answer to the second part is 'yes', then just close your eyes, thank God that others are worshipping and look forward to the next song when you might have the same experience. Just so you know, nothing has sparked this post, it just is something that I constantly have to remind myself and others.

Holidays

Holidays always fill me with loads of blogs to write and then when I get back, they are the first thing to go in the busyness of catching up.
It seems ages ago that I was on holiday (it was) and for one reason or another I ended up (don't ask why) to an evening with a christian musician. I brought the tickets for me and my mum and then went along. Now, I am unsure what I went to, was it to show his latest songs (no, because there were some old ones), was it to remind us of all his songs (no, because we sang some other peoples songs as well), was I meant to be singing along, was this worship that I had paid for?
So many questions. I tried to sit back and enjoy it, but the questions as to what I was actually at, kept coming along.
If it was worship, I felt a bit bad I had to pay for it... anyway, I think I just realised that sometimes we need to be clear about what we are doing. For some people, yes, they are happy to go on for the ride, not really knowing where it is all going, others need to know.
So next time I do something, should really take that into consideration!

I aim to dissapoint

Today I fitted 11 drawer locks to our kitchen. My son has the habit of wanting to play with whatever is in the drawers, and we know that sometimes kitchen utensils can be dangerous. Normally whatever I do I try and make life fun for my son, but this exercise will disappoint him. I have closed doors for him. Sometimes people think God is like this, setting out to disappoint and close doors, however like my kitchen cabinets, the doors will not always be closed to my son. One day he will have access and be able to create amazing things with what is inside, but at this moment it is right that he is patient and trusts that I know best!

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The self taught lesson that media learnt

I was in the car yesterday listening to an interview in connection with the recent trial of Knox. The presenter asked if the media's interest had not been good or had skewed the case and all agreed that the media coverage was not helpful at all. It was good for the presenter to then turn around and note how they were doing exactly what they said was not good in reporting on the story in the manner they were. The show was not sure whether it was helping, hindering or doing anything useful. I sometimes wonder whether my sermons (or even my blogs come to that) are useful and sometimes wonder what the point is and if they are actually helping people. I suppose whether we think something is useful or not, whether that be a sermon, a blog or a news programme, or anything else we just have to put it out there and see what God can do with it, sometimes we may be surprised, sometimes we will just never know, sometimes we may have to call it a day... I think for me, it is just about carrying on and seeing what might happen.

Garden of life and death

On one of my recent away days, I was in the presence of a beautiful garden that was so peaceful and quiet. As I wandered around it soon became clear that the beauty in which I was surrounded in was made up by both living plants and dead ones. The beauty of walking on the pathway with dead leaves making that ever so satisfying crunch sound, the trees that were half alive and green and yet had dead bits around them; the trees that had died yet still were beautiful and the dead grass waiting to be put back into the garden at some stage to help grow life. In life we are surrounded by both life and death, can we ever step back and see the beauty in all life has to offer. Sometimes it is hard and painful, yet it provides something of beauty and majesty.

Jesus and his IPad

Do you ever have those moments when you recall a conversation you had and you can now think of a better response? I remember a conversation that I had with someone who was fiercely opposed to films being used in church to help with an example. Now I am the first to say that the film has to be appropriate and not too tenuous (something I have been guilty of before), but are they not the modern day equivalent of story telling? If Jesus was here today and someone asked him a question I think he would have got his IPad out (other tablets available) started a movie (of which he would have got legally off Itunes) and then afterward they had all watched the film have said, "the kingdom of heaven is like this film..."

Legalistic Faith

Rugby World Cup 2011: Devout Euan Murray questions Sunday matches
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15016776.stm

As much as I admire him for standing up for what I believes, I am led to wonder whether faith is meant to be that legalistic. The Sabbath is a time to stop and rest, it derives from the word 'Sabat' meaning to stop, is there another day that he could do this on, does it have to be a Sunday. I know many of you may say yes and I agree that the Sabbath is an important part of the Christian faith, but I do not believe it just has to be a Sunday. God has given him a talent to use, then I say use it and find other ways to worship and practice your Christian faith, it's not like it's going to be forever, it is a couple of Sundays!

Questions of faith

Please pray for this area tonight as a small group of is discuss faith, Christianity and what it all means. It's not too late to come along and be part of an informal group based discussion. I'm not promising answers, but I am promising some thought provoking and maybe even life changing topics. It runs for 4 weeks (with a break between sessions 3 and 4). Contact me if you want to come an please pray whether you are coming or not.


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Twitter

You can now follow Horfield Baptist Church on Twitter as @horfieldbc come and join the conversation!

Church Publicity

I have just finished reading this little book from Phil Creighton about church publicity. I found it in an article from the Baptist Times and thought it would be a useful read, and that would describe it well. You should not expect this book to give drastic re-imaginings of how to do church publicity, but it does give you some new and interesting ways of viewing different things. Phil shows a good understanding of different churches having different abilities and finances to draw from, if you were to do everything in this book I think your budget would be very very stretched. Being 5 years old the book is a little dated in some respects, but the general concept and theology behind it is very sound and does not suffer from the 5 year gap from print to my eyes scanning it. It was reassuring to go through the book ticking off the things that we do at Horfield, and also thinking of some new ideas (some of which I hope to share soon). A good read if you are interested in this kind of thing, or are able to offer something to the table (any offers welcome if you are part of Horfield and want to get a team of people together to talk this through more!). I maybe would like to see an updates version with Social media featuring more heavily (watch this space next week for announcement on social media and Horfield BC taking a step more together), until then... you can get this book for under £3 from amazons marketplace.

The question you should know the answer to

The other day I was asked a question that any minister should have an answer to, but yet always takes me by surprise! 'what do you want God to do in your church?'. I quite quickly responded by explaining something that has been on my heart for a while. I want God to enable people, I want people to be enabled by what happens on a Sunday and for that to empower people to be who God wants them to be. I desire for people to be empowered to be Christ in the world and realise how our weekly gathering on a Sunday is just the start.


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Day of Prayer

Our day of prayer, setting a day aside specifically to pray together for our world, ourselves and each other. The theme is "moving onto fresh ground". What is the fresh ground in your life you are moving onto and are you ready to take that step, or is where you are standing too secure?


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Location:Gloucester Rd,Bristol,United Kingdom

Today

Today I lead the cluster quiet day. But also at the same time we have the builders unblocking drains, removal people cutting up radiators to take away, piano tuner in and flower strangers in. Logistical nightmare! But hopefully in all that the quiet day will be fruitful.

Faith website

What, if anything, does it say when faith.co.uk is a website for selling shoes?

Community

I was with a friend at the pub the other day and he very kindly pointed out the huge snot mark on my shoulder, and I was wearing a jumper I had only just taken out the wash! The joy of children.
It's good to have friends like that, who point out the problems and issues. It is good though to have friends who point out the deeper issues.
I was talking to someone in church yesterday, and we were remarking on this very fact. How surely, if we are an authentic community that reflects Christ, we should be able to "watch over one another" and speak truthfully into each others situations. Maybe this is the challenge, that it is not nearly enough to be ‘a part of a community’ but you need to be ‘part of a community’ and all that entails. Not just a part of you, but your whole self making part of the community. This may include vulnerability, maybe openness to receive love and criticism but most definitely care and a togetherness.

Catch up

Well, I had a great and tiring time with the youth yesterday as we travelled to Weston. My mind however was drawn to Tuesday nights church meeting. I don’t get to lead many of these so I always lack a bit of experience and confidence. The meeting was generally fine, however I always like to take what people have said and wrap it in a neat sentence. I’m not sure if this is helpful or right to do, or whether sometimes I just need to let the conversation go as it is and realise there may be no real way of summing up all the thoughts into one package.
Just finished a first draft of Sunday’s sermon and have done a PowerPoint to go with it (which is fairly unusual for me!) we will see how people respond. A bit tired now though!

Telephone

I have ran around quite a bit today, and am preparing for the Church meeting this evening. But one of the most important things I think I did today (so far) was to pray with someone over the telephone. I am going to see this person soon (was not just lazy ministry) but it was a quiet and special moment that I believe helped this person.
Jose (the preacher from Sunday) preached on being a community of love, something that I have started to try and express in different thoughts. I can't help but think this all links together.

A noticeboard to Sacred Space

So, my first day back in the office and already there are 2 new notice boards going up as I type (thanks to Ken G) and the cabling being installed for the new TV screens that will adorn the corridor and Cafe area. It’s quite amazing when things in your head start to become reality and especially when it happens so quickly. I suppose there are links to ministry there, you have a vision for individuals or communities and when it comes to fruition, there is such a sense of amazement at how God gives vision and see’s completion. Sometimes though, I am aware that we do not always see completion for one reason or another. And so my thoughts now turn to how to open Sacred Space back up, we used to open the sanctuary for prayer and meditation. I am thinking of doing this between 11 and 1, Tuesday to Thursday, and with a 30 minute led meditation at 10.30 on a Tuesday. Any thoughts, any comments, any ideas, any concerns, anything that you have done before in your context, please let me know... what would you need to have sacred space?

Post Holiday

Well, I am back in the office tomorrow after what was an incredibly eventful holiday that included most of us being sick and not really being able to do alot! Anyway, as I return tomorrow my thoughts are around the people I need to catch up with (if you think that is you, let me know) and also around the internal communication and noticeboards of the church. All this needs to be done through the focus of God and Christ. What does the God who communicates with us teach us about the way we communicate to each other, including the use of noticeboards... discuss.
Also, I am now using twitter to update people on what's going on in the church and when I have blogged. I am @revtimp hope to see you on there.

Ministers Conference

I have just spent some time with the other ministers of the WEBA area. This is no reflection on the speakers, but one of my favourite bits is catching up with old friends and making new ones. This is not an excuse for a jolly, but gives opportunity to charge batteries, see what other people are doing and how things are going. I recognise that I am in a very privileged position to do this, but I suppose the question is where do other people get the opportunity to do a similar thing? I would like to think the answer was church, but am I being naive in that thought? Is it a place where people feel charged and able to connect with others, and more importantly God.

Packing

Over the last few days I was packing to go to the WEBA ministers conference where I need to take a piano. I went to a box, which I know I packed neatly, to fin all the cables tangled together. It's amazing how cables, like things in our life, can become muddled and complicated if we do not attend to them often.

Burdens

During our N:counter group this morning I was taken by a discussion that we had about worries and concerns. I was reminded of the old hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus”, there is a line that says “have you trials and temptations, take it to the Lord in prayer”. I reflected on how easy it is to take our burdens, worries and concerns to the cross, but then how easy it is to then want them back again. We pray and ask Christ to help us, but then we want to take it back again and try to sort it out in our own way. Over time, maybe we are happy to leave a bit more each time, and there are occasions when we want to take a bit more back. It’s easy to take it to the Lord, much harder to leave it there and not want it back again.

Transfer Market

I am a football fan... but seriously, the money spent in Britain on transfers (200m+) I can't help think would be so much better being used for something else. There were players who have only played in top flight football for 6 months being sold for £35m. I wonder if football played out in church...
Dear church
This is my written request for a transfer to another one down the road. I have been your minister for a little while now, but feel I would be better treated and have more opportunities there. This has nothing to do with the larger amount of money they are offering or the huge transfer fee you will get, I want a new opportunity. I know I have only just last month promised I will be here for 5 years, but these things happen...
I await your response, if it is yes... great, if it is no... I will just sulk, stomp my feet and wait for them to make an offer you can't refuse, obviously I would still continue to give my all!!

Kind Regards

Your faithful minister

Social responsibility

I have never really taken much notice of what supermarkets are up to. I usually just shop in them and that's about it really. However, I don't have much choice but to take notice of what Waitrose are doing. You see, since they arrived in Nailsea they have invested and helped with community events in such a big way. They helped at the community fair, supported local projects and now are planting flowers in local flower beds. Let's take this out of Nailsea, because all the churches are great, but if you were to ask another place "what makes the most difference to the community, the church or the supermarket?" I wonder what the response would be? Is it a case we need to shout louder or do more?

Sorry again...

Sorry, I know it has been ages.
So, my first post of 2011 is one that may be a bit contentious! I want to start by saying that what they did was wrong, but I think there is a wider issue going on here. This time last week life was normal for Richard Keys and Andy Gray, two football pundits on Sky Sports, until they made some very stupid and wrong remarks about a female referee assistant. Let’s get this straight, they were not stupid for being caught, they were stupid for even saying them or thinking them in the first place. Here we had a classic example of one person demising and belittling another. It was not until I was coming home from a meeting last night and listening to the radio when they played (in the context of this story) some clips from an ITV show called ‘Loose Women’, they too were belittling and demising men, apparently questions whether men could make capable nurses etc…, but said in a very pointed way.
I think both these shows were wrong, both should be faced with the same outcry, both should take a look at themselves. But while Richard Keys and Andy Gray, quite rightly, are no longer associated with the programme, one resigned, one sacked, Loose Women continues to be on air with their sexist attitude.
Like I say Andy and Richard were wrong, but then again, so are many others, yet they seem to get away with it, or are encouraged to continue.