Forward into Faith Camp

Well. Here we go for our 6th consecutive visit as a Church to KF's Faith Camp held in Peterborough all next week. On Saturday, over 100 BCC adults, children and teenagers will be heading up the motorway ready for another excellent time of meeting with God, one another and topping up that tan (come on, let's be positive!). One of the teens said he "loves everything about Faith Camp" and whilst this may not be every one's sentiment (especially the poor parents who have to get 10 tonnes of kit/camping gear/food/clothes etc in a small hatchback), once people get on site, get set up and settle down, the week is always full of good things.

I really enjoy Faith Camp although it can be a very 'intense' atmosphere with everyone living together on the same site for a whole week. I have learnt to treat the week as a time of 'doing business with God' and that I need to make sure I am in the right place, with the right attitude, doing the right thing. To achieve that I have to be sharp in God and spending alone time with Him is a priority. Of course, I do have fun as well and I really enjoy the times 'post-meeting chill out' when people get together to talk, eat and relax. I'm also bringing a few home-baked treats for general consumption too so watch out!

The main meetings are always very full and the worship is always extremely powerful. Often, I hear prophetic themes and teaching coming through these meetings which reinforce what we have been taught here in the Church. This is really encouraging. The standard of children's and youth work is very high. I particularly love the work of The Move (14s-18s) and have complete trust in the anointing on Clive and his Team who run this ministry. Our teens need to be challenged and taught well. At Faith Camp they always are. It is also extremely healthy for ENERGY to receive input from other godly speakers and participate in something different to the usual personalities and routines involved in their Bristol lives.

Some of the most important work comes outside the meetings as people have time to talk and build relationship. I have noticed that as the week progresses, issues begin to surface in people's lives and it is important to allow time for God to work on us in this way. It is vital we are prophetic with one another in moments like this. We can encourage each other by listening, loving and keeping the lines of communication open between us and God so we can sow quality life into the lives of others. We must also take care to honour one another, avoiding the smart-alec remark which turns a person into the joke and to remember why we are on site in the first place: for Jesus!

Of course, not everyone is going but those of you who are staying behind will still have a tremendous time with God. Pray for us too! I am not going to be blogging for a week or so as I'll be up in deepest, darkest Peterborough but I'll be blogging again when I'm back in the Office on Monday 10 August. Have an awesome week, whether you're going to Camp or not.

The Curse of Cool

Yesterday, we took 15 young people down to Exmouth for a day's fun and games on the beach. Thankfully the weather forecasters got it wrong (again) and despite a few small drops, we enjoyed a pretty dry day. Originally, we'd planned to spend the morning on the beach and then go into town for a look around in the afternoon as I thought they might have had enough sandfun for one day. I was wrong. All they wanted to do was stay on the beach and play!

We went in the sea, played rounders, did some catching practice (some nice catches there Mr. Hooper), ate, drank, dug holes (really deep ones), read, listened to music and more. It was such a relaxing time and we had loads of fun. On a couple of occasions I just sat in my chair listening to my ipod and watching the young people play. It was clear that they had been released from the 'curse of cool' and because everyone else was in the same boat (pardon the nautical pun), they forgot about trying to dress cool, speak cool, be cool, fit in with the cool kids and so on. They relaxed and enjoyed themselves into the bargain.

Our culture puts a high premium on being 'cool'; on being in the right places with the right people wearing the right things, listening to the right music, doing the right activities with the right gadgets. Sadly, no-one has ever asked if the 'right' thing is actually the 'righteous thing' in the first place? I understand that we can all be vulnerable to this problem and young people are especially susceptible to it but it is an issue we must nail in our souls or it will consume our lives; we spend our whole lives accumulating cool 'stuff' which has a finite shelf-life, living in transient, meaningless relationships, competing with each other for a place that God does not care about.

I believe that what is at the heart of this issue is acceptance; when we know God accepts us we don't care whether others do or not. This is not a mandate for rudeness or the dangers of turning into an exclusive 'we don't mix with them' cult. We are IN the world but not OF the world (James 4:4, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 John 2:15). Clearly, God wants ALL levels of society to encounter the advancing power of His Kingdom rule but not when it means compromising who we are IN CHRIST for the sake of being accepted and liked.

It was so good to be with ENERGY yesterday and to see them free to relax, be 'uncool' and build sandcastles.

100th Blog Entry

This is my 100th Blog entry! Thanks to all of you who have read it, left comments and shared your thoughts with me over the last six months. It has provoked a great deal of discussion and I've really enjoyed having an outlet for my musings. Yesterday's meeting was another excellent time. I found the anointing on the worship to be something very fresh and new. In all my years of leading worship at BCC, I sense we are on the edges of something powerful and life-changing. Something is rising up within the people and the spontaneous shouts and applause were truly awesome to behold; God's people were encountering Him and the life and power of the Holy Spirit was flowing out of us as a result.

I want to use this 100th Blog entry to share something I read in John Wimber's book Power Evangelism that has really arrested me. Wimber says (p.131) this, " When the Vineyard Christian Fellowship was a small, struggling - and controversial - church, I was shunned by many former colleagues and friends. Then we began to draw large numbers of people. Suddenly the Vineyard Christian Fellowship became a legitimate institution, acceptable in their eyes even though our so-called controversial teachings and practices had not changed. We had met their criteria for success: a large and growing membership and budget."

As I read this I felt the Holy Spirit say to me that we are experiencing this too: this is us. Suddenly God helped me see the pioneering work He has been doing here in BCC. This is why we have often felt so different from other models of 'doing' Church. At this time God is developing a new wineskin in and through this ministry which will become the standard by which many others are judged. It is being criticised and rejected by a few and ignored by others because it does not meet the current 'success criteria' which is inadvertently applied to the current UK Church scene.

However, this will change. As God grows us, people are saved, Christians, fed up with the mediocre spiritual diet served up by some Churches find their hunger satiated in the ranks of BCC and the 'word gets out', we will see something quite unprecedented. The very model criticised and ignored by others will suddenly become a model that many will seek to emulate and follow. The prophetic words over us from a number of trusted external ministries as well as from within our own ranks confirm it all.

I am not boasting in us. Anything we achieve is through Christ. It is all about Christ and His Kingdom advancing through us here on earth. I just know this is right. I believe this is true. Be encouraged BCC, there is so much more to come.

Walking Away

I was reading Acts 13 and came across something I'd never really thought about before. In this passage, Barnabas and Saul (soon to become Paul) are on their first missionary journey preaching the Gospel first amongst the Jews and then amongst the Gentiles. Signs and wonders are in abundance as is persecution and opposition. The verse which got my attention was Acts 13:13, "From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem." Luke identifies this as 'desertion' (Acts 15:38 NIV).

Theologians speculate as to why John Mark did this. Having given it some thought I notice a couple of clues which may lead us to consider this as an issue of honour: John Mark did not honour Paul.

1. Role Reversal At the start of the journey (Acts 13:2), it is Barnabas who takes the lead and Saul comes second. However, something changes in the narrative as Luke (a precise and concise man with an exemplary command of the Greek language) suddenly shifts the pair from being "Barnabas and Saul" to "Paul and his companions" (v13). This is no accident. Through Luke, the Holy Spirit is speaking to us. I wonder how John Mark felt about seeing Barnabas relegated to the 'Number 2 Man'? Let's not forget that the only reason Paul was embraced by the disciples in Jerusalem was because of Barnabas (Acts 9:26-28) - without him this man would not be where he was and I suspect John Mark may have found Paul's meteoric rise a bit difficult to accept.

2. Saul Had Become Paul There was a powerful anointing on Paul who had changed so much that he was now starting to take the lead (v9). His spiritual growth was exponential. I wonder if John Mark remembered the Saul of old; the persecutor and murderer of Christians, the arrogant, zealous religious Pharisee who were part of the group guilty of murdering Jesus in the first place. I wonder if John Mark may have felt a twinge of jealousy too?

Of course, this is speculation but I think it stands up to scrutiny. Although Paul and John Mark were reconciled (2 Timothy 4:11), it seems that John Mark might have found it difficult to honour Paul. He may have struggled with Paul's meteoric rise in ministry and resented the treatment of 'The Son of Encouragement'; Barnabas. Whatever the case is, I am reminded again of how important it is that we honour one another and keep cheering each other on to see God achieve bigger and better things in our lives even if that means we are eclipsed by people we once outran. Have a great weekend. I'll be back on Monday for my Centenary Blog!

A Great Goodbye

On Tuesday evening we had our annual leavers' Service; a final 'farewell' to those members of the Group who are now too old to continue to come. This year we only had one Leaver (Samuel) and it was an excellent time. We give the Leaver an opportunity to do a short talk passing on their accumulated 'words of wisdom' to the other members of ENERGY, gleaned from their years of youth group attendance. They can also do any 'thank yous' they want and explain briefly what their next step will be (e.g. University, Home Group, Power for Living etc). This talk is always very important: it often reinforces what we teach the young people but it comes from someone who has been living it and experiencing it for many years! This helps the young people receive it. The value of this wisdom from older members is priceless.

On reflection, I was aware of how good this goodbye was. Samuel has completed this stage of the race; God had called him to do 7 years at school/in ENERGY which he did. He did not leave us because he was offended or thought another Youth group would be better for him. Clearly, God does sometimes move people on to other Churches but in my experience this happens far too often. Samuel stayed put and as a result he is now enjoying the fruit from faithful service.

Although it was sad for us as a group to be saying goodbye, there was also a sense of release and excitement; God was moving Samuel on and we could let him go. The un-neccesary trauma inflicted on Jesus' Bride by people leaving with no regard for the guidance of the Holy Spirit was eradicated. As we sent Samuel on from among us there was joy, peace and a clear sense of God's pleasure. Thank you God and thank you Samuel for doing it God's way.

Newquay Pukey

Last week, a number of media outlets were running a feature on Newquay. Both the BBC and The Telegraph (see below) were covering a story about the deaths of two teenagers (Paddy Higgins aged 16 and Andrew Curwell aged 18) who were so drunk that they had fallen to their deaths from one of the cliffs near Newquay's beaches in two unrelated incidents. Paddy's parents had challenged the bar's underage drinking policy, claiming that they continued to serve alcohol to their son and his friends even when it was clear that they were already intoxicated (a criminal offence). They were urging other parents to boycott Newquay until assurances were given by the civic leaders and the police that the underage drinking policy was tightened up and enforced.

I really felt for this family. What a waste of a young life and how tragic that it should end in such dreadful circumstances; so drunk and out of control that a teenage boy stumbles off a cliff and falls to his death on the rocks below. Not even his friends were sober enough to stop him. All of us who are parents and even those who are not (like me) will pray that these parents somehow manage their grief and find a measure of peace about this whole sorry affair. Sadly, I fear that this will not be the last teenager to go to Newquay and end up either dead or messed up, having made very poor life-choices under the influence of drugs, alcohol and negative peer-pressure. According to estimates, 10 000 teenagers head for Newquay to celebrate the end of their exams. It has become something of an epicentre for excess; drink, sex, partying, drug use and so on.

Some of you may think that it is all a bit of innocent fun and I should lighten up: 'Boys will be boys' you may say and 'they've got to grow up sometime' and that this is an 'isolated incident' and the vast majority are fine. Well I think that attitude is both naive and, frankly, dangerous; the loss of one life warrants a thorough and unremitting analysis of this whole situation.

A few months ago God really spoke to me about...Newquay. I noticed that a pattern was starting to form and that each year a steady trickle of young people from BCC were going down there; it had become something of a tradition and an unwelcome one at that. This year was to be no exception and it sat heavy in my Spirit. After a lot of prayer, fasting, taking counsel and discussion with parents, I believed the Holy Spirit was telling me to address those Young People who were planning on going. My conviction was that they should not be going. I believed that Satan himself had earmarked this time for his own devilish purposes and all the forces of darkness were amassing for a strategic onslaught on a generation vulnerable and exposed in a way they would not normally be in the relative safety of home (Ephesians 6:12). He was going to be on the prowl (1 Peter 5:8) and looking for people to pick off (John 10:10).

I spoke to these young people and, on the whole, they received what I had to say. It was not easy as it had major financial implications for some and I did not make myself very popular with others as they had already been given the 'green light' by their parents and now here I was coming along and 'interfering'! However they honoured me. Moreover, some Parents who shared similar fears and concerns carefully explained their own position and made the decision for them.

I have no doubt that Paddy's parents would have talked to him about their concerns and pleaded with him to be careful only to be fobbed off with a 'it'll be fine, don't worry about it, I'm going with a load of mates, we'll do some surfing and have a few drinks. What could possibly go wrong?'.

The Bible has much to say about honouring those in authority over us including parents. In fact, Ephesians 6:2-3 (emphasis added) says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honour your father and mother" - which is the first commandment with a promise - "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."" See also: Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Matthew 15:4, Romans 13 and Hebrews 13:17.

Let me really clear here, I am not wagging the moral majority finger and apportioning blame. I am not lecturing these grieving parents or trying to score cheap points from the tragic death of a precious teenager life. Instead, I simply want to highlight that God's word is there for our benefit. I rejoice that the young people from this Church did not go to Newquay and that we will continue to teach the Kingdom Principles for as long as it takes the message to be heard, understood and obeyed!!

You can read more by clicking on the links below: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/5797351/Newquay-a-rite-of-passage-gone-wrong.html and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5788686/Family-hits-out-at-towns-bars-after-underage-son-dies-after-booze-binge.html

The Grass Isn't Greener On The Other Side

When you preach, you have moments of real 'connection' with the Congregation; you suddenly feel everyone is listening the people communicate a corporate 'YES' to what you are talking about. As I was preaching yesterday I felt that moment of powerful connection. It came when I said, "The grass isn't greener on the other side". I was surprised by the response I got from people; they really seemed to understand what I was talking about before I explained it.

This principle of God's Kingdom can be summed up in a more theological way: don't be quick to break a covenant. A 'covenant' is a serious commitment made before God to someone or something, expressed through faithfulness and a refusal to give up even when things get hard and you want to pack it in. Marriage is an excellent example of a covenant as is your membership of a Church family plus business partnerships and so on. It is not limited to a Church.

Our culture is characterised by the ease and speed with which we enter and exit holy covenants with little or no regard for what it is we are doing. The divorce rate here in the UK is just as high amongst Christians as it is amongst non-Christians. People pick and choose Churches based on what they can get rather than on what they can give. We have a generation of spiritual nomads wandering around from Church to Church who are governed by their own desires rather than the prophetic positioning of God's Holy Spirit.

I love B.C.C. Although I am single, in many ways I am spiritually married to the work of this Church and what God wants to do in and through us. This is one of the significant covenants in my life. Since September 1995, I have had times when the grass has seemed greener on the other side. Other Churches or ministries seem to be far more exciting or producing much greater fruit than me. In all honesty, at times I have sought out profile and position, trying to prove that I am a success too. A combination of immaturity and deception has tempted me to break covenant but through the grace of God (and some considerable repentance and character development), I remain here. Satan's age-old strategy of promoting a 'grass is greener' attitude (Genesis 3) continues today. Don't believe it. Don't entertain these subtle lies.

Remain covenanted (committed) to your covenants. Stay faithful to what God has called you to do here with the covenants that exist in your hand and as the seasons change, you may notice that the grass on the other side of the fence which looked so green and lush last year has now withered, faded and died.

Honour Thy Forces

I was watching the news on Tuesday and the top story featured a quite extraordinary display of public honour for those members of the armed services fighting in Afghanistan. Wootton Bassett hosted grieving friends, family as well those members of the public who wished to express their respects for those who have died in the service of their country.

Unlike the United States of America, this country seems to find demonstrative expressions of 'private' emotions and feelings rather difficult. It is only in exceptional circumstances (for example the death of Princess Diana) that people seem to feel an unspoken 'permission' to express themselves. Moreover, when it comes to our armed services, the UK likes to debate the merits of military operations rather than simply support those men and women who are out there doing an extremely difficult job in equally difficult surroundings.

As I watched these images on Tuesday evening, I was aware of how authentic this was; it had not been organised or formally set up for the benefit of TV cameras or through media hype. In fact, this un-reported ritual had been going for many months and hundreds of friends and family had used it as a way of saying 'goodbye' to loved ones.

What moved me was the way these people honoured the dead. Teenage lads and young men came to stand with the fallen; sobbing, crying, comforting one another with no shame or embarrassment at all. All they had to say were words of honour and respect as they stood shoulder to shoulder with other mourners. Bereaved Mums and Dads dabbed at their eyes with tear-soaked tissues. Girlfriends and siblings look on as the cortege drove by. The sense of honour in the air was palpable.

In his book Honour's Reward, John BeVere says that to honour something means "you consider it to be valuable, weighty, precious such as gold. You have appreciation for it, hold it in esteem, favourable regard and respect". The Bible speaks alot about the importance of not just honouring God (that is easy), but to honour one another. Although these mourners will have little or no understanding of this principle, what they demonstrated through the death of these soldiers was the biblical principle of honour. They deserved a national expression of honour for paying the ultimate price so others can enjoy the freedoms we so readily take for granted here in the UK.

But that is not the end of the story...

Honour is not just for the dead. It is something which, if understood and applied to our relationships today, unlocks a rich spiritual blessing. It opens up the channels of heaven to reach deep into our lives. Honour draws out the work of the Holy Spirit in someone else's life and allows it to flow into our own. Honour disarms the defensive and creates the environment for miracles to happen. I have no doubt that we will be thinking more about this in the weeks ahead as God re-emphasises the importance of this Biblical principle of honour.

Today I too honour the dead who have served our country with such diligence and commitment, offering up their own lives in the pursuit of peace, hope and freedom.

A New Season for CTK

Churches Together in Kingswood is a local fraternal representing some of the different Christian denominations based here in the town. Since I started working for B.C.C. in September 1995 (no - Moses was not walking the earth in those days although fire had only just been invented), we have been involved in this local gathering of ministers. CTK itself has had its ups and downs. There have been different initiatives ranging from BBQs to Family Fun Days in Kingswood Park, to Alpha Courses, to Carols in the King's Chase, Youth outreach and more.

After a rather quiet season, CTK is starting to get a new lease of Holy Spirit life. With the arrival of two new ministers and a renewed sense of dynamism and vision to see Kingswood's residents hear the Good News, there are exciting times ahead. Yesterday we had a luncthime meeting and for the first time in a while, the attendance was extremely good. What stood out for me was the unity that was viscerally present between us. there was some laughter and good-natured leg pulling (particularly at the Anglicans' expense). We talked about last Saturday's Family Fun Day in the Park. We drank coffee. We caught up on different Churches' news. It was one of the most positive CTK meetings I have been to for a while.

Following this, a smaller group of us gathered to talk and pray through future youth evangelism initiatives and how we can work together in a more co-ordinated way. No-one was threatened by anyone else's ideas or suggestions and it was exciting to sense a common purpose uniting us together for the sake of the lost souls of Kingswood. I was really impressed with the deep love, respect and commitment these ministers had for Jesus. They are dedicated, devoted people. Yes, there are some differences in how we express some theological perspectives but this burning, strong desire for Jesus soared high above these minor issues like a flag billowing in the wind.

On reflection, I suddenly remembered how much we have been praying for all the other Churches in this area. We do not want to 'sheep steal' and only want God's rich blessing to take up residence in all the congregations of Kingswood who truly love and worship Christ as King over and above all. I recalled the prayers from Wednesday and Saturday morning meetings; seeking God for a new, fresh work of the Holy Spirit in this area and that He would strategically position the right people in the right jobs for such a time as this.

What an awesome God!

"We Must Move On Or We Will Perish"

Every meeting we have is different; it has it's own character, personality and emphasis. Yesterday's meeting carried a quieter presence of the Holy Spirit but we still did business none-the-less. I quoted a section from a book by Smith Wigglesworth called 'On Spirit-Filled Living'. He says this (p.132), "We never get into a new place until we come out of the old one. We must model God's personality. We can never be satisfied to stay where we are spiritually, for the truth continues to enlighten us. We must move on, or we will perish. We must be obedient to the Holy Spirit who guides us." Standing still is not an option for a Spirit-Filled believer but how do we ensure this forward motion in our faith?

John's message explained beautifully the importance of applying Biblical principles to our lives. As we do what the Bible commands (it never suggests we give something a try), the outcome is blessing and massive spiritual fruit (i.e. we move forward). The key is found in the Word of God. Sadly, many Christians don't really know the Bible. This leaves them vulnerable to false teaching and a false Gospel. I wonder how many people would swallow the teaching in books like the Shack with 'no questions asked', if they had a solid grounding in the Bible? In the West, we have access to vast amounts of Biblical resources but so few of us actually make use of it. Bible Study is a discipline and there are times when I don't feel like reading it but I often start in the flesh and then move into the Spirit.

My faith rises. My heart is stirred. God speak fresh words of hope and challenge to me and I move forward as I apply them. Make it your goal this week to love the Word, live the Word and learn the Word. There is no shortcut to spiritual maturity, it all begins in the pages of His Word.

Let me leave you with another quote from Smith (p.150), "Do you dare to say to God, "I am ready for all that You have for me"? It will mean living a pure and holy life. It will mean living a sanctified, a separate life. It will mean your heart is so perfect and your prospects are so divinely separated that you say to the world, "Goodbye.""

You Are Not Alone

Yes, I know. I was going on about Michael Jackson yesterday and today I'm quoting one of his songs! Let me try and explain. I was lying in bed last night when I really felt God speak to me. He simply said, 'You are not alone'. As I heard these words in my head, I felt a tremendous sense of peace come over me as I lay there in the dark.

Now the cynics amongst you will say, 'Aha! Proof of the power of suggestion!You were talking about Michael Jackson yesterday and the media has been soaked with his music for the last week or so. That's all it is,' but I beg to differ. God often speaks to me through music; I am a musician after all. Sometimes I will hear a song or a lyric and it cuts through me like a knife and captures my attention. It is normally a very visceral encounter; I feel it before I understand it. As we walk with God, we learn how He 'normally' speaks to us. I know that in that moment God was dropping something into my life and it has stayed with me ever since. Not only that but I came into work today and someone had posted a link to a YouTube clip of an American Worship Leader called Jason Upton singing a song 'You're not alone'. Coincidence - I don't think so!

Reading through Acts at the moment, I am aware of just how close God was to these believers; even in times of persecution, opposition and in some cases, death. Knowing that God truly is Immanuel (God with us) is essential for all Christians. When was the last time you felt His closeness? Minutes? Hours? Days? Weeks? Months? Make a moment to open yourself to the Holy Spirit and receive His Presence. We all need to know that we are not alone and God is indeed with us. Have a good weekend, see you Monday.

Finally: Adam Rutherford (a Guardian journalist) is blogging about his experiences attending a 10-week Alpha Course in London. I've read the first installment and it is quite interesting although judging by the posts on his Blog Wall, the Guardian readership are an extremely cynical bunch! Check it our for yourselves in the coming weeks. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/10/alpha-course-religion-science

Wake Up

On Tuesday evening, an estimated BILLION people around the globe, watched the Wake/Memorial Service for Michael Jackson. The death of a loved one is always sad and I am, in no way, seeking to diminish the grief of Jackson's family and friends. Neither am I seeking to question his supreme talent for song-writing; much of our music today is based on his fusion of r+b with white rock in the early 80s and hearing much of his back catalogue being played ad nauseam on the radio provides an aural feast spanning 40 years of work.

What concerned me was the blurring of Jackson with Jesus. At the start of the Service, the Andre Crouch Gospel Choir began to sing 'Soon and very soon, we are going to see The King'. As this wonderful old hymn, sung with considerable passion and skill, echoed around the venue, Jackson's body was then wheeled out in a gold coffin and positioned at the front of the stage. Which 'king' were they referring to, I wonder? If you watch footage of his concerts and shows, people have often described him as 'messianic' and the adoration and worship of his fans verges on religious hysteria. During the Service, people's eulogies seemed to promote his perfection and ignore his problems. Of course, funerals are not places to run down the dead (!), but a healthy dose of reality is needed and should be welcomed as it provides a genuine insight into a person's whole life and not just the edited highlights!

On reflection, I saw, once again, that humans have an inbuilt need to worship someone or something whether that be food, sex, money, sport or, as in the case of Michael Jackson, high profile public figures. The Bible teaches that only God can fulfill satiate this worship instinct (Exodus 20:3-4, Matthew 22:37) and that Jesus alone is the perfect, sinless, spotless Man who is worthy of our praise.

Cancer Killers

Last night I was watching a programme on Channel 4 called 'Teenagers Fighting Cancer'. It was very moving. One scene showed a young man called Adam. He has suffered with cancer for over a decade and, at the tender age of 26, had to face up to the spread of this vicious disease into his lungs after a four and a half year remission. His Doctor explained the circumstances and Adam grew very upset; he thought there were no further treatment options and that he was going to die. Thankfully, he was wrong but the future was still bleak as Adam now had to face further radiation therapy on his already emaciated, suffering body.

Just recently I have picked up a book by Smith Wigglesworth, a man used very powerfully in the healing and deliverance ministry. This contains some short messages based on his own Sermons/Bible Studies and is extremely provocative in that he lived a life punctuated by daily signs, wonders and miracles. In addition to this I am working through the Book of Acts and I have been astonished by the sheer volume of signs and wonders which preceded the preaching of the Gospel in the opening Chapters: it seems that for the early Church at least, supernatural demonstrations of God's power and the preaching of God's Gospel went hand in hand. The results were awesome to behold.

As I watched Adam going through this agonising journey, battling these hated invaders slowly taking over his chemo-ravaged body, I imagined what it would be like to simply pray in the Name of Jesus and see him healed. The challenge to myself (and to you) is that this should be normal life for all Christians. I don't care about cessationist theories and arguments advocated by people who have never seen God heal people and so form a theology based on that experience. I believe in Jesus so I have to believe in healing; not just for my sake but for the sake of people like Adam.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/teenagers-fighting-cancer

Here Comes the Bride

What an excellent weekend! On Saturday the Bourne Chapel was packed out as many of us turned out in force to celebrate the wedding of two BCC Members: Jamie and Kat. Despite it resembling a carpeted sauna and steam room, the Service was truly inspired and God owned the whole thing.

I was trying to work out how many weddings I have been to in the last 20 years or so and I came to the conclusion that it must be about 25-30. In many cases, I have been involved in leading the worship, praying over the couple and on one occasion I was the Best Man! Some of those weddings have been better than others (!) but I can safely say that this particular one was up there in the Top 5. Here are a few reasons why...

1. Christ-Centred Like funerals (I went to one of those last week as well - see previous Blog Entry), weddings offer a hope that non-Christian ceremonies simply cannot. All through the Service and on into the Reception, Jesus was given prime position. The Bride and Groom know that Christ is the third member of this marriage and He will lead and guide them both through the good times and the tough times.

2. Fun-Filled It's interesting that Jesus began His ministry at a wedding and not in the Temple. I think this was deliberate: He was making a statement about what mattered to Him by where He positioned Himself. Weddings are great opportunities to see old friends, make new ones and enjoy food and drink. They are big social occasions and it was so good to see everyone dressed up in their best clothes (especially the young people who normally dress very casually), enjoying each other's company and making the most of the day. Christians should be the life and soul of the party without needing to be drunk/high or immoral!

3. Faith-Inspiring Many of you will know the Bride and Groom and the testimony behind their relationship. Despite some challenging circumstances (including the fact that the Groom was not a Christian until last year!) God has delivered a truly faith-inspiring story through their lives. They did it God's way and as a result it sets a prophetic precedent for all of us (especially the Youth) about how to go about this whole process. It also reminds those of us who believe we will be married to keep pressing on and persevering in this matter until God resolves it.

Many, many congratulations to Jamie and Kat Branch. God is so good.

A Tribute to Mrs. Betty Wilton

Yesterday, many, many people braved the suffocating heat and merciless sun to convene on Westerleigh Crematorium for Mrs. Betty Wilton's Memorial Service. Betty was a long-standing member of this Church and, with her husband Brian of 60 years, made an invaluable contribution to the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people. They were in this Church long before I ever turned up and, for so many of us, acted as surrogate Grandparents in a Church which does not have many 'senior' members!

During my time in BCC, Betty always made an effort to say hallo to me and offer an encouraging word or promise of prayer. There was always an update on what her children and grandchildren were doing and she was unashamedly forthright in communicating her faith in and love for Jesus.

Yesterday's Memorial Service beautifully captured the multi-faceted life of Betty; wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, Christian and so much more. Whilst it is sad that she has died (she will be greatly missed by us all), there was a strong theme of hope running through the Service. We know that for a genuine Christian, death is not the end - it is just the beginning. As I write this Betty is now with her Lord and Saviour: Jesus Christ. She has a new body. There is no more suffering, pain, tears or hurt. She is truly liberated and rejoicing with Christ in heaven.

I conclude today's Blog with the words of a very moving song which was sung at the Service. It encapsulates this hope, in which we can rejoice today.

Good bye Betty. Thanks for everything. You have run the race, you have kept the faith and now you have the prize (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

1) There is a day that all creation’s waiting for
A day of freedom and liberation for the earth
And on that day the Lord will come to meet His bride
And when we see Him in an instant we’ll be changed.

2) The trumpet sounds and the dead will then be raised
By His power, never to perish again
Once only flesh, now clothed in immortality
Death has now been swallowed up in victory

Chorus:
We will meet Him in the air and then we will be like Him
For we will see Him as He is, oh yeah!
Then all hurt and pain will cease
And we’ll be with Him forever and in His glory we will live
Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

3) So lift your eyes to the things as yet unseen
That will remain now for all eternity
Though trouble’s hard, it’s only momentary
And it’s achieving our future glory

Words and Music: Nathan Fellingham
Copyright 2001 Thankyou Music