#LoveFast Thank God for Taxis

as part of the #Mahabba  #LoveFast Campaign  - #30days of Prayer&ACTION  during #Ramadan - we received the following story from Alan in Aylesbury (NB the names of individuals have been changed) 

 

When I first moved to Aylesbury five years ago I asked God to show me the key to making friends with Muslim men in the town.  They and their families number about 6,000 or 10% of the population and mainly come from Pakistan. 

God showed me that using taxis would be the key.   As we seldom use taxis I couldn’t see how this would happen.  But about three years ago, after leading a severely disabled man to the Lord in a local residential home, we’ve been taking him to church every Sunday – by taxi! Including loading and unloading the wheel chair and journey time, I reckon we have about 20-30 minutes every week talking with various drivers.     

I discovered that one regular driver, Ahmed, a devout Muslim, had several daughters but only one son in his thirties, who was severely disabled.  I first met Hassan when he was seriously ill in hospital and have since visited him regularly, watching cricket and telling some of the great OT stories. Family members are always present to join the conversation as Hassan needs continuous help.

Hassan recently suffered a stroke which robbed him of his speech.  I cried when I heard that this young man had now become almost completely disabled.  I asked his father if I could pray to Isa-al-Masih for his speech to be recovered and praise God there has been a slight improvement.  I am now a regular visitor to this three-generational family home and am becoming a trusted friend.  I never thought I’d thank God for taxis!    

"a train is a fire going in one direction"

I attended the memorial service for Ian R Smith (6 Mar 1948- 29 July 2009) at St Oswald's Church, Fulford, York. He was a great railway enthusiast, as well an Area Secretary for CMS, before going on to be General Secretary for CMS Ireland.

You can read more on CMS Ireland's announcement of his death last year

He was a colleague and friend, who had visited us in Karachi in the mid eighties. I remember his enthusiasm for trains nearly got him arrested. He was driving the Mirpurkhas narrow gauge steam train to the Indian border, on the foot-plate playing Ilkley Moor bar 't'at on the train whistle. Therefore on the return the military check post assumed he'd come from over the border. He had a lot of explaining to do......

His family shared movingly about his life through clips and quotes from friends. His son talked about his unswerving hope (Heb 10:23) and how as a stranger and pilgrim he did not receive everything promised but welcomed them from afar (Heb 11:13)

Simon Barrington Ward previous Gen Sec of CMS Britain and former Bishop of Coventry

spoke of his vibrant faith and commitment to the gospel, his role in General Synod and his advocacy of the plight of Christians in Sudan. He finished his address by quoting Robert Browning's poem 'epilogue'

But it was a short film clip 'One Direction' made by Rev Chris Bennett of Holywood Parish Church for Ian's funeral, which will remain with me. It was a powerful image of a life of passion committed to a lifetime of service. And whilst Ian was passionate indeed about trains, it was the gospel that really fired his engine...

"A train is a fire going in one direction"

He wrote a number of railway books, but also a book of his travels in the Middle East, when part of CMS, called A Case of Confidence (2005)

He went looking for vibrant Christian faith in an area of the world where Christians were rapidly leaving. (partly inspired by William Dalrymple's classic 'From the Holy Mountain') And of course because of his enthusiasm and energy, he found many inspiring Christians and managed to communicate their stories in a simple compelling way....

That was part of his gift. Inspiring confidence in the good news of God's love to all he met....

I finish with a prayer written by his wife Carol

Let us remember Ian and thank God for

His life, his love and his gifts

For his cheerfulness and his smile;

His enthusiasm and his flair;

His love of life, and ability to live it to the full;

His love of the natural world, and railways too;

for his gift of friendship; his sense of fun;

His passion for the gospel;

His clear, faithful preaching;

His yearning to share the good news with others;

His love and concern for his brothers and sisters

throughout the worldwide church;

And his love for his family;

We thankyou God

Amen

A Procession of Prayers for Christmas

Prayers from around the world for Saturday's International carol service. All from John Carden's Procession of Prayers

China

Bright moon, scattered stars; so solitary is creation. The universe which God has created is especially silent on this night, It waits with bated breath for the Lord of Creation to return. The universe belongs to God. It is his home

Silence reigns supreme. The flowers of the field sway gently in the moonlight. This night, the vast earth awaits the homecoming of our Creator God. The vast earth and open fields belong to God. They are his home

Bethlehem lies dreaming. In his gentle mother’s arms the babe sleeps peacefully this night, The city of David awaits the homecoming of David’s descendant. The town of Bethlehem belongs to him. It is his home.

My bones, my flesh, my blood, my lungs and my heart, we are all made by his hand. This night, my heart is at peace, awaiting my Creator’s return. My heart belongs to him. It is his home

Sudan

Heavenly Father

We thank you for your love

Especially to women who work with poor people

Teaching, nursing, and helping women during their labour.

We pray you to give them wisdom;

Guide them always to fulfil their duties without difficulties.

Lord, be with those they work with and send your Holy Spirit

To give us love to help all people.

We pray you to lead us through Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen

India (based on Maharati hymn)

Behold how the angels sing

Glory in the highest

Peace on earth

Love has taken a name and a form, and,

becoming meek for his helpless creatures,

has come to earth

The finger on which the sun is set as a diamond

He puts in his mouth

and plays with in a small cowshed

O Christ, give us this mind

That as the finger turns and beckons

We too may respond

United Kingdom

‘Lord God, Farther of Jesus Christ, be present, we pray at our Christmas celebrations which honour the birth of your Son, and make them fine and full; make our greetings sincere and our giving real; make our eating and drinking a delight without becoming an excess; enliven our relationship, both within our families and beyond them,with the Spirit of the Christ child’ Amen

Guildford Cathedral vandalised

Vandals leave trail of destruction at Cathedral

Last night windows were smashed at Guildford Cathedral, the Diocesan Education Centre and the Cathedral Refectory. The damage was found by a cleaner early on Wednesday morning and Scene of Crime officers are currently on site.

The Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd Christopher Hill said he was “Shocked and distressed at this criminal damage and sacrilege” and the Dean of Guildford, the Very Revd Victor Stock said: “It is literally shocking to have Cathedral offices and the Cathedral itself vandalised. The most damaging effect of this vandalism is on the John Hutton engraved angel on the Great West Door, an irreplaceable piece of 20th century art*.”

Cathedral Administrator, Tony Lyddon, said “I was horrified to see the mindless vandalism and considerable damage both to the Cathedral and adjoining buildings.”

Diocesan Director of Education, Canon Derek Holbird also expressed disbelief at such a callous attack on a centre that is popular with huge numbers of teachers and children’s and young people’s workers.

* John Hutton made the great glass West End for Coventry Cathedral

?OSCAR

I signed up to receive updates from OSCAR: the UK information service for world mission. Recently 2 things that may be of wider interest:

Technology and Mission
This month, instead of one article, you're getting six! We've teamed up with 'Encounters', Redcliffe College's mission ezine, to take an in-depth look at how technology is affecting the way we do mission. Articles are included from some key practitioners involved in bringing technology and mission together including Tim Young, field IT consultant with LightSys Technology Services, Tony Whittaker, coordinator of Internet Evangelism Day, and Phil Prior, Head of Marketing for Wycliffe Bible Translators.
To read the articles, go to www.redcliffe.org/technologyandmission

Steps on the Missionary Road
Good and relevant devotional material for mission workers is hard to find. Claudia Smith, a mission partner in Uganda with Crosslinks, has written a series of 28 devotional studies for first time mission workers. These are now available exclusively through OSCAR and downloadable for anyone wherever they are. Why not buy a copy as a Christmas gift for any new mission workers you know?
Go to www.oscar.org.uk/steps.htm <http://www.oscar.org.uk/steps.htm>

Why not sign up to OSCARactive now at www.oscaractive.net

A DJ's view on UK Church

BBC Radio 1 DJ talks up church

By Marie Page | June 26, 2009

This clip from DJ Chris Moyles on his Breakfast Radio Show is so encouraging to hear. It shows that people with no personal experience of church can find a contemporary worship service surprisingly relevant to (post) modern culture. In the UK at least, a whole generation has little understanding of church other than traditional weddings and carol services. Church (and therefore Christianity) is sterotyped as old fashioned and irrelevant. Here Chris Moyles talks about a Pentecost service he saw on the BBC.

The service was called ‘That’s The Spirit!’ and shows worship from Kingsgate Community Church in Peterborough. Its on YouTube  See what you think.

I was sent the Link from Music Academy 

Posted in Church stuff, Pick of the Best, Worship | Tagged Chris moyles, Christianity, contemporary worship, DJ, radio 1, songs of praise | 5 Comments

Ethical Guidelines for Christians and Muslims

In a previous Blog I mentioned I was attending the launch of a statement on ethical evangelism

The remarkable thing about it is it has been written by Muslims and Christians together 

The Christian Muslim Forum launched the statement on 24th June in the offices of Islamic Relief in Waterloo. You can read more about the event  and the Statement itself is downloadable

Ethical Guidelines for Christian and Muslim Witness in Britain

As members of the Christian Muslim Forum we are deeply committed to our own faiths(Christianity and Islam) and wish to bear faithful witness to them. As Christians and Muslims we are committed to working together for the common good. We recognise that both communities actively invite others to share their faith and acknowledge that all faiths have the same right to share their faith with others.

There are diverse attitudes and approaches amongst us which can be controversial and raise questions. This paper is not a theology of Christian evangelism or mission or Da’wah (invitation to Islam), rather it offers guidelines for good practice.

--------

The Christian Muslim Forum offers the following suggestions that, we hope, will equip Christians and Muslims (and others) to share their faith with integrity and compassion forthose they meet.

1) We bear witness to, and proclaim our faith not only through words but through our attitudes, actions and lifestyles.

2) We cannot convert people, only God can do that. In our language and methods we should recognise that people’s choice of faith is primarily a matter between themselves and God.

3) Sharing our faith should never be coercive; this is especially important when working with children, young people and vulnerable adults. Everyone should have the choice to accept or reject the message we proclaim and we will accept people’s choices without resentment.

4) Whilst we might care for people in need or who are facing personal crises, we should neve manipulate these situations in order to gain a convert.

5) An invitation to convert should never be linked with financial, material or other inducements. It should be a decision of the heart and mind alone.

6) We will speak of our faith without demeaning or ridiculing the faiths of others.

7) We will speak clearly and honestly about our faith, even when that is uncomfortable or controversial.

8) We will be honest about our motivations for activities and we will inform people when events will include the sharing of faith.

9) Whilst recognising that either community will naturally rejoice with and support those who have chosen to join them, we will be sensitive to the loss that others may feel.

10) Whilst we may feel hurt when someone we know and love chooses to leave our faith, we will respect their decision and will not force them to stay or harass them afterwards.

Christian Muslim Forum

a simple rule of life

 

A SIMPLE RULE OF LIFE 

As part of the discipleship emphasis for GRACEworks  which I reported on in a previous blog on  liminality and 3rd places they have been thinking about discipleship as a lifestyle. Graceworks are already living under the banner headline 

 ^{‘People who are works of grace who work to bring grace’}

Inspired by Mike Frost's  Exiles: living missionally in a post-Christian culture  

there is an interview with Mike about the book on the Blog and podcast ‘small boats big sea’   SBBS 

Mike Frost uses the word BELLS to create a rule of life  

'Bless - Eat - Listen - Learn - Send'

For Graceworks  Ali has been tentatively exploring the word G R A C E 

Give and forgive

Receive

Act justly

Christcentred

Encourage

That got me thinking about CMS and its rule of life as a Mission Order. Tim Dakin the CMS Gen Sec explains it in an article on the CMS website  on the Go!  (you might also be interested in an article called and CMS Covenant for a Community in Mission on the Anglican Communion Institute, Inc website)

But in terms of  a rule of life for Mission (based on the CMS 'pathways to participation') how about something like......

M   Missio Dei - engage in God's transformative mission

I     Incarnational witness  

S    Service as a vocation to others  

S     spirituality shape by prayer bible reflection 

I    Individual discipleship following Jesus daily 

O  Opennes to work Overall the wOrld  - glObal and lOcal 

N  new  - keep commitment vital and 'new' - renewed and reviewed 

I'm sure you have ideas to improve in this one. Ideas and suggestions appreciated............ 

You can read more about small misisonal communities  with more stuff on Missional communities by Ian Adams 

I'd also recommend the 10 marks of mission sprirituality  by Sue Hope.  

All on the CMS website 

3rd places and liminality : Graceworks - Woking

Ali the Graceworks Youth Minister at Christchurch did a presentation on Youthn ministry as par tof his Pioneer ministry course at St Militus  (Graham Tomlin )

I want to reflect on 3 things I picked up on  Liminality, Thrid places and a simple rule of life 

LIMINALITY 

Roxborough is the guru on Liminality. See for example The Sky Is Falling: Leaders Lost in Transition  and also the Roxborough journal  where I found the following:     

the mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot famous for chaos theory, who generated the idea that when a butterfly flaps its winds in the middle of a South American rain forest it causes a storm over New York City. They were discussing how we typically imagine ourselves living in a managed, predictable world where repeated patterns of activity cause us to assume the patterns will continue on into the future. Their challenge this belief by stating that, in fact, small, unnoticed disturbances result in massive, unpredictable consequences in the most unexpected places.

Jonny Baker calls him   A kindred spirit

I like the expression: 'Living with the impact of the improbable'. It is on the edge of chaos where the most creativity is to be found.

If you are interested it also worth looking at together in mission  and their work on 

Responding to a changing landscape   gathering - learning - travelling

 

In their Youth strategy  Graceworks focuses on 4 areas of

Leadership discipleship worship and mission

This is part of the mission-shaped church focus. They are looking at pushing the boundaries with a possible change of venue and time  and video based teaching.  

 

THIRD PLACES

 

The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg (1989, 1991) 

“Most needed are those ‘third places’ which lend a public balance to the increased privatization of home life. Third places are nothing more than informal public gathering places. The phrase ‘third places’ derives from considering our homes to be the ‘first’ places in our lives, and our work places the ‘second.’”

Third places  (home is 1^st place, school work is 2^nd) are the most significant places for Christian mission to occur because in a third place people are more relaxed more open to meaningful conversation and interaction.

Places where community can be built, where access is  free, food is available  accessible places within walking distance,  gathering places which are comfortable and welcoming where friends are to be found.

BT had  agreat quote about small rituals and 3rd places 

'Third Places' are neither home nor workplace, but somewhere between. Places to meet, socialise, relax, hang out, work away from the office. Places to eat and drink without pressure to consume or move on. The 'third place' is epitomised by the modern coffee shop, with its sofas and newspapers - a revival of its 18th century role - or by the internet cafe.

That coffee shops should be third places more than bars, say, has to do with the beverages consumed. Stay in the bar all afternoon and you will get drunk. Stay in the coffee house and you will get things done. Of course it's not always that clear-cut. But for a place serving alcohol to function as a third place, its raison d'etre must not be the consumption of alcohol.

Of course, in many ways this is a new name for the role that cafes have long performed in Mediterranean life. But the 'third place' is not focussed on the act of eating and drinking in the fashion of traditional cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs. The food or drink one consumes is the entry fee, not the point. The 'third place' is a living room, but not in someone's house; a workplace, but not in someone's office.

Mission is incarnational it is about knowing 'God in Culture'   The goodnews can only be proclaimed IN a culture not AT a culture. And 'coffee shops' are part of our culuture

Exploration of the use of the coffee shop space in Christchurch (Beacon) is under review. Is it possible to create a third space which is multi-user-friendly for young and old alike ? Starbucks sees to have done so.  

Whatever he does Ali has my support.  Gracework's  Re-roote has been great for all of my kids.   

I'll leave it at that and think about the Simple rule of life next time 

Walking in the Air

We have just had a week in the Lakes based at Corner Cottage,  High Street Keswick (near the Pencil factory and museum) walking with Wainwrght, accompanied by my old guides mostly purchased in 1977. And ordinance survey maps of the same era. 

Day 1 Easter Sunday
One group went to the Sunrise Service and then for a walk around Derwent Water Lake starting at Grange.  

I went to the communion Service at Crosthwaite Parsih Church then joined the group ascending Skiddaw starting at Ravenstone Hotel Baseenthwaite.  Walking along Ling How - Ullock Pike - Longside edge - Carl Side - Allerdale Ramble to the top of Skiddaw and a scramble down Birkbeth Gill across Bassenwhaite Common eventally back to the hotel.

Views of Melvyn Bragg’s favourite church St Bega's  overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake

Wainwight's impression of Skiddaw: 

Silence Solitude and seclusion characterise the unfrequented valley of Birkbeckdale, which runs deep under the steepest slope of Skiddaw and reveals an aspect of the mountain not often seen.
Ask any Barkbeth sheep what the northwaest ridge of Skiddaw is like and it will reply without hesitation ‘c’est magnifique’ (if it is French, which is unlikely) – which just shows how tastes differ for most walkers less easily satisfied will consider it disappointing. ..

I felt it quite a challenge on the first day - a slog bt then iw as very much out of condition and got bad cramp going on the final stretch up to Skiddaw itself. And the Scree-walking down got to different muscles.

Day 2 Bank Holiday Monday Keswick
My sister Liz and Stew came over on their motorbike from Richmond came over and we went for a short walk Friar’s Cragg with the Ruskin’s Monument and along Strandshag bay. 

This was an opportunity for Jess to recover from her strenuous walk of the previous day. There were quite a number of tourists, including Pakistani families (first time I have seen in Lakes) 

Stew made Joanna’s day by offering her a ride on the back of the motorbike.

Day 3 Tuesday 

as walk as group from Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge and the slate shop now a trendy tourist spot. Mike (who I used to share a flat with)  joined us for the day. 

  

This was a low level walk,  with views of Loughrigg and the Langdales and Lingmore fell all of which we have done in the past. This was a  'Low Bob' walk (Bob Allen: On Lowere Lakeland Fells)  It finished for me with a great couple of pints of Conniston Ale at the end of the walk in Elterwater village itself.  

Dropped into Grasmere and looked around the gallery bookshops and St Olswold’s church where Wordsworth’s grave is and a fascinating money spinney steps in the Daffodil garden for about £150 each - very lucrative,  The famous Ginger bread shop was the school house, where Wordsworth aslo taught. 

Day 4 Wednesday Helm Cragg from Grasmere ' 

The virtues of Helm crag have not been lauded enough. It gives an exhilarating little climb, a brief essay in real mountaineering, and , in a region where all is beautiful, it makes a notable contribution to the natural charms and attractions of  Grasmere.’

And I must say I really enjoy the 'The Lion and Lamb' and its almost universally known. It's a great little mountain. As for descent, Jess and I chose to take Wainwright's advice and come down by the same route as the ascent from Grasmere:

‘for then the Vale of Grasmere will be directly in view ahead and this fair scene is at its best when the shadows of evening are lengthening, with the Langdales silhouetted in rugged outline against the sunset, Tarry log over the exquisite picture of serenity and peace and memorise it for the long winter of exile!’

Day 5 Thursday High Rigg

This isolated wedge is High Rigg (locally known as Naddle Fell) It is rough and craggy although modest elevation only. Northwards the ridge falls to a pass where there is a Church so sited to serve both valleys equally (and an object of pilgrimage for many visitors to Keswick)...   The full traverse of the ridge, starting up the wooded slope from Smaithwaite Bridge snf continuing over High Rigg and Low Rigg …. Is a splendid little expedition admirably suited to old and rickety fellwalkers long past their best. The journey should be made form south to north so that the fine views of Blencathra is in front.

We three 'old and rickety walkers' came back along St John in the Vale.  Past the  Carlisle Diocesan Youth centre and Church , finishing with the tea shop near John's (a friend) Viking Burial Mound. and later made a pleasant detour to  Castlerigg Standing circle. It was  very blowy on top of the Crag and we felt somewhat exposed. But great for blowing out the cobwebs.

  

Day 5 Friday Patterdale From Patterdale and Hartsop to Haysewater and Angle Tarn

'A very enjoyable walk, with a series of varied and beautiful views; and the tracking of the indistinct path, which has many unexpected turns and twists, is interesting throughout’

However the ascent from Hayeswater AW describes –

‘ but they will not enjoy the climb which is steep, dull, and overburdened with scree’

I couldn't agree more! A.W. describes High Street as having been: 

‘known and trodden, down through the ages, by a miscellany of travellers on an odd variety of missions: by marching soldiers, marauding brigands, carousing shepherds, officials of the Governments, and now by modern hikers. Its summit has been in turn a highway and a sports arena and a racecourse, as wella s it is today, a grazing ground for sheep.

He says its not worth going if you lack imagination. In the end we did not go up High Street,not becaus eof lack of imagination,   but because of time.  We did however enjoy the highlight of the whole week, sitting by Angle Tarn watching the pattern of the wind on the waters. A reminder that the spirit blows where he wills……