The blog of John Rodgers

New Podcast

2009-12-30T15:55:00.001Z

Please listen to the new Hoobada show podcast
Here

Colouring in

2009-04-09T14:36:00.004+01:00

My boy sits colouring his picture in.
His tongue and finger movements synchronised,
And concentrating surgically he fills
Each shape with colour. Carefully he tries
So hard to keep within the printed lines.

Despite his careful touch mistakes are made.
Frustrated by the errors he looks round,
Berates his younger sister, then to me
Blames her for jogging him. He moans aloud,
"She made me mess it up and now it's ruined!"

The SHACK

2008-10-13T14:12:00.002+01:00

The Shack is the sort of book that I thought would be rubbish. I assumed that I would find it predictable and boring. However it proved to be nothing of the sort and I actually really enjoyed it.

The story is well known by now but the most suprising aspect of it was the depth of thinking behind the nature, character and above all relationship of God (as a triune being).

I absolutely loved the theology inherent behind the fiction. I reccomend this book wholeheartedly! (It even made me cry 3 times!)

Tom Wright on The Colbert Report

2008-10-12T10:48:00.001+01:00

All I can say is great!!!

Church

2008-10-11T14:49:00.002+01:00

I haven't blogged about church or related religious things for a while.
At the moment Helen and I are involved with a house church that is trying to create a New Testament style community, based on what we read in the NT but placed in our Cornish contemporary context.
Another thing is that I am halfway through The Shack and I am loving it.

Ethan's Birthday

2008-09-18T19:23:00.003+01:00

Just checking that this works!

BookMooch and journaling

2008-08-31T10:13:00.002+01:00

I have bee mooching on a great site called Book Mooch.
It is cool enough as it is but then I found out about a very interesting idea...

Come join the BookMooch Journal Project, a traveling art journals project!

This is a brand new undertaking, complete with its own blog and a hosting system to track the journals! First, join http://www.bookmooch.com which is a book trading site. There is no cost to join. The concept behind bookmooch is to trade books you no longer want with others. For every ten books you add to the system, you get one point. with that point, you can get a free book of your choice. We’ve utilized this system for it’s sheer simplicity. Rather than mooching just books, you may use your points to mooch traveling art journals!

Search for journals using this keyword: BMJournal

If no journals are presently available, you can search for ‘unavailable’ titles, and then add the ones that interest you to your wishlist. Every time one of the journals becomes available again, you can mooch it!

Click to see images of some of the journals.

People who have obtained a journal or released a journal can leave a note in the comments associated with that specific journal.

Come join us for the journey! After all, getting a journal from 1000 Journals is harder than winning the lottery! Bookmooch journals are much easier to obtain, because it is strictly limited to BookMooch members.

Thanks for participating, from the folks at The BookMooch Journal Project

I of course added a jounal called BMJournal: Inspired by India
So get mooching!

The leaning tower

2008-08-11T18:16:00.002+01:00

Today we went to Pisa to see the famous leaning tower. It was very beautiful and leant surprisingly more that i had expected. Face on the angle of lean is astonishing. The weather today was sunny and hot and the crowds were large. This being so we decided not to but tickets to enter the Baptistery or to climb the tower.
It was a memorable day and much more spectacular that i imagined.

An old article that will begin my book...

2008-08-08T12:09:00.001+01:00

It has always been my intention to live a great life. I have read the biographies of our treasured saints, great men like John Wesley, Charles Finney, Smith Wigglesworth and I have desired to leave my own mark on Christian history in such a way as these. I have longed to build something that is of worth with my life, something that others will look in at and see greatness. For such a long time I have desired to live a memorable life, one that is full and abundant, one that is exciting and adventurous, one that is full of spiritual encounters and experience. And to this end I have looked to create this life for myself. I have put myself in the way of things, deliberately seeking the opportunity to be great.

But now I see that my Christian life has been my Christian career. Opportunities to be great become opportunities to look great. A life of memories becomes a showcase for the gullible. A life of adventure and encounter becomes forgotten and redundant unless shared with those who will listen. I am a chaser of celebrity.

This revelation comes as the gentle breeze of the Spirit dispels the mists of my mind. He blew a true apostle of Jesus into my life and I can think clearly now the reins have gone, my thoughts having formerly been captivated by career and focussed on achievement.

Janaki Mennai met Jesus in a vision as she lay dying. Her prayers to other Gods had fallen on deaf ears and Jesus called her to come and know His love and to work for Him. She was miraculously healed and 10 years later stands great amongst men. She is the founder and director of Faith In Action Ministries (FIAM) in Andrah Pradesh, India. This great christian woman has planted over 60 churches in rural villages, founded 2 schools, supplied many villages with bore hole wells, developed ministry to local prisoners, planted a church in the middle of a leper colony, developed and run vocational training courses for young women, founded an orphanage, fed the widows and children of her village, trained pastors and church leaders over the whole region, seen thousands come to Christ in gospel crusades and street evangelism, run medical provision camps for the poor, fed and clothed the needy, among other things.

Janaki is a great woman but she is not great for doing all this worthy work. She is great for just one reason, the same reason that Jesus was great. Janaki only does what she sees the Father doing.

Martin Scott says that if Jesus had written a book it would have contained those 8 words. “Only do what you see the Father do.”

Jesus’ true greatness lies not merely in His divinity or perfect humanity but His willingness to do only that which he saw Father do. This was revealed in the garden as he sweated blood to say “Not my will but yours.”

I have done so many things to get further in my Christian career. I have got busy for God, led home groups, prayed very long and very loud (only when people were watching), preached sermons, gave seminars, done missions and led worship; all really because I thought that to be great was to appear great. How many of those things did I do because I first saw Father do them? My quest for greatness seen in the light of this paradigm is a quest for the praise of men rather than submission to the Lord.

But I have met someone who is submitted to this way. I have met someone great. And she is someone who is humble and meek, she is gentle and kind, pure and loving. Janaki Mennai only does what she sees the Father doing, and what she sees is a Father who loves people, a Father who feeds people and clothes them, who visits them in prison and provides for them. Being with Janaki is like being with Jesus. I saw Jesus in her and I saw in her great life what my Father is doing.

India

2008-08-08T11:37:00.002+01:00

I still think daily about India, that most fabulous of locations that the sun visits on his rounds.
Over a year ago I was asked to think about writing a book about Janaki's life and current ministry.
However I have been so immensely lazy this has never been got round to. I did manage to take notes and tape some interviews with Janaki during our last visit and i have decided to use the end of the summer holidays to get some of this book done.
I have decided to write in short chapters, each being 1500-2000 words each.
I will use the original article that got Andy's publisher interested as the intro...
Check out the new post to re-read this piece.

Back to Basics

2008-08-07T16:28:00.002+01:00

I am currently in Italy, on holiday with all the family. We are having a wonderful time.
However during the first few days while we have been hiding in the villa away from the heat during the hottest few hours I have once again been thinking about writing, my writing.
I have long dreamed of being a writer but seem to have a block to getting anything done of any substantial value. I have of course submitted regularly to the magazine i edit see here but i want to write more.
I have decided that this being the case i should resurrect the blog again and try to get something down daily on any subject.
So here goes...

The podcast returns

2007-07-11T21:21:00.000+01:00

Hi guys,
John, Reuben, Esther, Ethan and even Helen star in this latest podcast, back without popular demand.
Enjoy!

John meets Baz Gascoyne

2007-04-21T17:22:00.001+01:00

I met Baz Gascoyne for this interview at Blackpool EP 2007

John meets Pete Greig

2007-04-21T17:21:00.000+01:00

Here I interview Pete Greig about his new book and other stuff. Recorded at Easter People 2007 in Blackpool

John meets Andrew Sampson

2007-04-21T17:20:00.000+01:00

John has a chat with the bible teacher Andrew Sampson during this years' EP 2007 in Blackpool

John meets Echolab

2007-04-21T17:19:00.000+01:00

John has this interview with the band Echolab

John meets Mark Williamson

2007-04-21T17:18:00.002+01:00

This is my interview with Mark

John meets Jo

2007-04-21T17:18:00.001+01:00

This is my interview with Jo Wells at EP 2007

John meets Kit Lewis

2007-04-21T17:17:00.000+01:00

Here I am chatting with Kit Lewis from London

John meets Dave

2007-04-21T17:16:00.000+01:00

Here I talk to Dave Hull at EP 2007 in Blackpool

John talks with Reuben at EP 2007

2007-04-21T17:15:00.000+01:00

Here is me chatting with the boy wonder at Blackpool recently

Test media host

2007-04-18T16:20:00.001+01:00

Just testing something

Just back from the last ever Easter People

2007-04-15T21:11:00.000+01:00

Just got back from EP. Had a great time camping! The kids loved the site, especially the hens!
Some podcast interviews coming soon!!

John

Esther and the broken leg

2007-02-26T14:28:00.000Z

Well, look what I got up to over half term! Breaking Esther's leg!!
Doh!
We were going down a slide together at Folly Farm when the accident occured!
I think that the pink cast has cheered her up a bit. True to form though she has been getting her moneys worth out of me for it!

Please check out my other blog FIAM for details of Janaki's forthcoming visit!!

Video Embed test

2006-12-08T15:50:00.000Z

Why the church doesn't need preaching

2006-11-20T09:53:00.000Z

Many Christians that I know may have a problem; they are addicts, users, dependents. They have been “using” the preaching of men and women of God, using it as a fix. They need a regular hit of the “word” of God in order to feel spiritually satisfied, to feel as though they are making progress in their journey of faith and perhaps even to feel the presence of God. They rely on the preachers and pastors in their life to teach them about God, to show them His ways and to guide their relationship with Jesus. I know all about it because I too had this problem.

As with many dependencies one might only become aware of the problem when that which is needed is taken out of their life. I have been through a season recently of not receiving my weekly high, gained from hearing the preaching of the pastor, passing on from the pulpit, things he had himself received from on high. I noticed that all of a sudden my relationship with God seemed to be going nowhere. There was no life in me anymore. I felt that I was quickly drying up and it forced me to rethink much of my Christian life so far. I reached a place of brutal honesty with myself.

What I realised is that we can confuse the temporary thrill and excitement that follows hearing anointed preaching with personal growth and edification. We are often not actually changed by what we hear however much it impacts and challenges us. Many times we have heard amazing sermons, inspiring seminars; incredible preaching and we feel so excited and vow that our response to what we have heard will change the world. Many times however it hasn’t and a few days or weeks later we are back in the same old ruts, stuck in the same lifestyles and disappointed in ourselves. The problem is that we can simply be responding to anointed preaching on a short lived and shallow level. Just like the swirling colours of a titration approaching its end point, there are brief indications of change but these soon revert back to the normal. My feeling is that we are not actually being fed by the preaching we receive week after week. Much of it is excellent, often challenging but it singularly fails to feed our “inner man”.

This thought leaves us looking for how we can go about finding “food” for our spirits. How can we take the inspiration of a sermon and use it to really impact our lives to the point where we are being changed?

I think what we need to do is view preaching differently and learn how to engage with God for ourselves. Preaching is not the place where we are supposed to be fed. God has designed other ways for that to happen. Preaching is like the menu of the banquet that God has on offer for us. We can read the menu, get really excited, even salivate over it, but it is still just the menu, the real food is yet to come.

God wants us to meet with Him in our personal prayer lives. This is the place where He will feed us. We must get the language of the bible, the word of God, into our prayer lives. We must pray the bible, we must sing the bible, and we must meditate on the bible. We must use the language of His word by praying it, out loud, to Him. In doing so He will feed us.

We should realise that we don’t need to rely on others for our sustenance. Your pastor cannot take care of your prayer life for you. God provides everything that we need when we come to Him. He will bring us into incredible depths of revelation. He will show us truths about Himself that will blow our minds. He will change us and mould us into the people He wants us to be.

The church will always have preachers. I think that they should be seen not as shepherds who feed their flocks once a week, but rather people who have seen the amazing and glorious food that God has made available to us. Their sermons will guide us down the menu of this heavenly banquet! We can then go out into our own everyday lives, and find that God calls us to meet with Him there and feed at His banqueting table with a banner over us of His boundless love.

John's Podcast is Back!

2006-10-17T12:46:00.000+01:00

Yes back once again with the renegade matser here is John at his podcasting best!

Titration

2006-10-16T10:41:00.000+01:00

From time to time I do titration in a lesson. Small amounts of one substance are added to another via a biurette, drop by drop. The solution to which you are adding has some sort of indicator, ususually a colour, which cahnges as the second substance is added. There will be a distict end point when the indicator changes disticlty from one coluor to another, indicating as it should that you have dispatched enough of the second solution.
What interests me the most about this is that sometimes when you add a squirt of the titrating solution you can get a temporary swirl of colour change. The experimenter thinks briefly that the end point has been reached but as he swirls the receptacle he finds the colour change is but a brief swirlf of change and shorlty things have been restored to their original and pre change colour.
This reminds me of when in the past I have read inspirational books or heard brilliant sermons. For a moment it looks as though this things that has dripped into my life will change me for good. There is indication of things being different in my life but it soon becomes apparent that this is only temporary and that things have not really changed after all. The swirl of life that I had imparted to me through the book soon is invaded with the original colour of my life.
What i need to do is find a way of keep going with the dripping of thses life giving solutions in to my life. There is a permanent change to be realised but when will it come? When will the end pioint be found that indicates the passing of my old coulours and the bringing of the new.

2006-10-12T10:37:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone!
Not blogged for ages so I thought i should write something!
Lots going on recently!

Updates soon, I hope!
Please look here for my new video blog/ youtube channel!

Bye for now

John

ps a new podcast is on its way!!!
Also I have my own radio show now on Truro Hospital Radio!!

More pics!!

2006-08-09T12:59:00.000+01:00

Some pics for you all

2006-08-07T20:02:00.000+01:00

Back from Brazil

2006-08-07T19:58:00.000+01:00

Hello,
I have just got back from a month in Brazil whcih was cool!
I am going to upload pictures somewhere but haven't decided where yet so we shall see!!

Till then

Bye

You're Great you are

2006-05-31T21:45:00.000+01:00

John 5:19

2006-05-11T10:20:00.000+01:00

I have been thinking about John 5:19. (Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.) It seems to me that I have lived my life without really taking this statement into account. Martin Scott once said that if Jesus wrote a book then all it would contain would be this statement. I think that on reflection perhaps the most radical thing about Jesus is that he only did what he saw the Father doing and nothing else!
I do not think that I have lived like that at all. I have set goals, I have had ambitions but these have all come from me. I have got busy doing christian stuff which no one could argue was not good or right to get involved with but how much of it did I see the Father doing before hand? How much of it did I do just to move up in the christian world on to bigger and better things?
To live like this, to say I will only do what I see the Father do is at odds with all that I have previously thought about my journey through life.
It has really challenged me to become one who totally surrenders my life to Him and do only those things he does, rather than things that seem good.
How much of what we do is just us getting more and more busy with Christian stuff?

Anyway, this is still a little disjointed and I want to smooth it out in some form of prose, I just wanted to get something down before I forgot!

Seven Steps for the Annointing

2006-05-02T20:35:00.000+01:00

I am reading a great book by Carlos Annacondia called "Listen to me, Satan".

In it he lists 7 steps to the annointing. He says "There are seven requirements to be successful in Christian ministry. These are the basic elements for achieving an annointed and successful ministry. Without them, our service will be insignificant and unfruitful. They are as follows:
1. Consecration: total surrender to God.
2. Vision: What is the God given vision for our lives?
3. Knowledge: we should understand the word of God and know how to apply it's principles to life situations.
4. Faith: faith without works is dead.
5: Action: God wants men and women of action.
6. Prayer and Fasting: We are responsible for keeping the fires on the altars of our devotional lives burning through constant prayer. Then the fire of the Holy Spirit will never go out.
7: Love: We have to surround all that we have mentioned until this point with love.

Well, I think that this is a really helpful list to think on!
What do you think?

Psalm 36

2006-05-02T19:22:00.000+01:00

Well, seeing as me and Kurt are loving the Psalms at the moment I thought I would let you all in on another of my current favourites!

Psalm 36:8
They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of your house
And you give them drink from the river of your pleasures (NKJV)

God has a river of pleasure from which he gives us drink! He is a God of pleasure and of joy!
Man, I really love God!

BBQ

2006-04-30T21:02:00.000+01:00

Just returned from the annual family BBQ at the Parson's in Southampton.
We had a great time and the food was delicious as always!
Got some pictures on my Zenith and Reuben broke our digital camera!!

Had some further thoughts about church stuff and will endeavour to write about this tomorrow.

Psalm 16:11

2006-04-27T10:30:00.000+01:00

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

I have been loving this verse lately!!

Some pics of India

2006-04-26T20:36:00.000+01:00

Podcast 10

2006-04-26T20:35:00.000+01:00

Here it is, the latest installment of theme tunes and fun!!

Stories

2006-04-26T12:20:00.000+01:00

One thing that I wanted to share with everyone here was something that we all felt as a result of being in India. We realised that one of best ways of communicating with people especially about the Kingdom of God is through stories.
We should be telling our own stories to demonstrate the continuing work of God in our lives and we should be telling stories about Jesus more when preaching and teaching people.
In fact I would venture as far as to say that our primary method of teaching should be through the use of stories. Jesus himself did this! Andy and I would like to try a few talks where all we do is tell a few of the Jesus stories and nothing else! How cool would that be? Jesus usually never explained his stories, except to his disciples later, but the crowds were left to mull the stories (parables) over and figure them out for themselves. As Jesus said those who have ears, let them hear.
So I am going back into the gospels in a new fresh way, learning the stories that Jesus told and the stories involving him. I am trying to look at them from new perspectives and engage with what God says through them. I am trying to have ears that let me hear!

Back from India

2006-04-24T08:58:00.000+01:00

Well we are now back from India. We had an absolutley fantastic time and saw and did some incredible things. God was really with us the whole way and encouraged us throughout the trip. I am taking some time to reflect on all that happened and all that God said and is saying about the trip and the future relationship with Janaki and FIAM. I think that there will be some stuff that I hold in my heart for a while and others tht I will write about on this blog. Either way please keep reading as i disseminate the stories our our trip!

Podcast number 9

2006-03-30T21:36:00.000+01:00

Hi guys, nearly a new rodgers on the block!!
This week's show has some great tunes on it and some interesting news for all the fans of John's blog!!

Pocast 8

2006-03-19T21:04:00.000Z

Hi guys, a fairly short one this week but including some excellent theme tunes!
Dave and Jax are due soon!!! Good luck and lots of prayers!

JR

Podcast Number 7 from John

2006-02-22T23:13:00.000Z

Hi guys, thanks for the reminders to get things goin again on the podcast front!

Jax, I hope you enjoy this weeks show! It has you request on it!!

JR

Back to school

2006-01-05T10:18:00.000Z

Just gone back to school today. Not bad so far, was actually quite looking forward to it, even though that seems strange!
Went to the gymn this morning! Don't you love these crazy New Year's resolutions!

Check out the new pics I added on the bottom of the old ones. Pip was harassing me to get some new ones on there!

This is what we vowed!

2006-01-04T09:53:00.000Z

Fool that I am, I vow my whole life, all that I have and all that I am to be true to Christ in the grace and help of our Holy Spirit for every day the Father grants me. I vow to live for Christ and to have a heart that cries “One thing I desire of the Lord, that I may dwell in your temple and gaze upon your beauty”. So help me God.

Weak as I am, I vow my whole life to be kind to people: to see Christ in others, to serve Christ in others and to show Christ to others in the joy and help of the Holy Spirit for the glory of our Father. I vow to invest all that I have in others. So help me God.

Small as I am and wherever I am, I vow my life to the Gospel of Christ. I vow to offer myself on behalf of the broken and poor in the power and help of the Spirit, giving my whole life that you might be loved in every language, tribe and nation, especially the UK and Europe in our generation for the glory of our Father. I will not live for myself. So help me God.

This was adapted from the original (comtemporary) vows taken by Justin and Pete et al.

Podcast 6

2006-01-03T18:55:00.000Z

Hi guys,
hope you enjoy the latest offering from the bat cave.
This week we have studio guests and more theme tunes!
Also we talk about Dave!!

2006

2006-01-03T13:54:00.000Z

Well the new year is here!
I have had a great christmas with visits from and to lots of relatives.
The kids had a great time with their pressies! Reuben is now 4 (I am 29) and he was looking forward to Cristmas becasue he now understnads time passing and future events. I was so excited for them and we had a great time on the day!

The biggest thing to happen in this time was that I took some Vows with Andy Frost and have joined the Order of the Mustard Seed. Justin Blake helped us to do it which was great!
We did it on New Years eve in a Pub called The Sanctuary just round the corner from Methodist Central Hall.

I will post the details of what we vowed soon.

My motto for this year is "To have a life well lived"

With plans for India and Brazil progressing and the Gap Year Team and other stuff it shuld be an interesting year!

Pocast Number 4!!!

2005-11-22T19:49:00.000Z

Great news, I passed my driving test!!
Tune in this week for some great chat and a request theme tune!!

I don't think the correct ID tags went on to this MP3 so I hope it works via iTunes!!!

Bye for now

John

Driving test

2005-11-10T10:22:00.000Z

I have my driving test on Friday 11th November at 3:02 pm.
Please pray for me that I pass!
Thanks

Catching up

2005-11-10T10:16:00.000Z

Oh man, I have not posted for so long. I don't know why. I think it has to do with the fact that I am trying to wait to pst on particular topics rather than just blogging about my life. Anyway this post is very much just a catch up blog of what has been going on.

The Gap Team have settled in now and I am trying to increase the pace and quality of what we do together. I see myself as the spiritual father of the team and am trying to impart as much of what I have as possible. I am praying for them that they will catch the vision and the heart we have for God and Cornwall. I am concious that I did not start this year as well as i could, I was in a dry spell as they say! However I fell like I am coming back online more now and am trying to do better!

Prayer is back on the agenda in my heart in a big way. Martin Scott's emails from Brazil have been inspirational to me especially in the area of prayer and prophecy. I am so keen to "see" more!

Suprglu

2005-11-04T15:36:00.000Z

How about this for a site that collects all the things I have an involvement in and feeds it into the one page!!
Very cool

Slack

2005-10-26T13:12:00.000+01:00

I am so slack at keeping up with blogging! Lots to say but...

One things is the Saturday Night Service that I am helping to lead. See here for details about this event.

If you are in Cornwall on Nove 5th at 8pm the please come along to worship God with us at Elim Church Camborne!

Podcast Number 3

2005-10-19T16:27:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome to the third podcast from here in Cornwall. This week, as usual there are many great theme tunes!! And an exclusive interview with Mr Andy Frost!

An article I posted on Steve Cottons Website

2005-10-17T19:34:00.000+01:00

Revival is a misused and misunderstood word. In this brief essay I will be using the term as shorthand for a move of God's Spirit. This is the definition that has come to be used for the concept of Revival. In reality revival speaks of giving life back to something which is dead, a state which, despite it's difficulties, the church in this nation is still avoiding. A sovereign move of God's spirit does little to revive the church but much to reinvigorate the purposes of God for a nation, even for continents.

Students and witnesses of revivals from around to world tell of remarkable events, miraculous happenings, wondrous encounters with the living God that fill us with awe and excitement. How we long to see these things in our midst, how desperate we become to live amidst the wind and power of the Spirit, how hard we press in prayer to see these scenes of joy and conversion. Yet how long have we waited for revival to come? How long, how hard, how urgently must we pray to see that which we hope for?

Over the last 10 years I have come to change my view of what we are actually praying for. I no longer expect that my street will be set ablaze with the gospel of Christ. My hope has gone when I think of my town under the pressing glory of God. This nation may never again burn with the fires of revival. I say these things because society has changed. How well do we know our neighbours? The family across the street, that bloke who walks his dog past our house every night? Not as well as I might. The social structure of the UK has fragmented. It has become increasingly tribal, each to his own social group focused around interests rather that location. We simply do not have the same community spirit that once could be found across the land.

This is proving to be a stumbling block for the gospel carrying church. We struggle to create events, occasions, situations that allow us to meet people, make friends and hopefully share the gospel with. How will the flames of revival spread in a community where no one talks to each other, where the links are simply not there? Revival may tarry because there is no fuel to add to the fire.

BUT, universities (colleges and schools) may be different. Surely on university campuses we find exactly the close knit communities through which revival can spread like wildfire? In an environment where everyone knows everyone surely a spark of the Holy Spirit can cause an outbreak of contagious conversion? Has there not been revival in the prison system? In the Gypsy community? Both examples of communities like universities that have a large population in a specific location.

Another factor may well be the susceptibility of students to the gospel. The university age is a very influencable age, an impressionable age. Your university days are filled with exploration and discovery, everyone (more or less) has an open mind to new things. This may even include the gospel!

I believe that God is calling for students like you to be the tinder for a great revival. God's heart for the lost remains as fiery and as jealous as ever. He wants and needs people to be set ablaze with His holy passion for the people of this nation, to be changed into contagious carriers of an infectious gospel. He is requiring a people who are so intimate with Him that His very presence in their lives affects others, that the Spirit of God would bring conviction and conversion. He is looking, searching for those who are willing to stand up and be counted for His Kingdom, saying "here I am, take me and use me". He cries out to see His people walk in faith that He is the Almighty, that there is nothing that He cannot do, that He will be with them always wherever He asks them to go.

So will you be on of those few?, will you answer God's call?

I believe that revival is coming to university campuses around this nation. I believe that God will do extraordinary things through ordinary people. I believe that God will send the sparks of ignition right now if you ask Him. And if you walk in intimacy and faith in His power, He will change the course of a nation, the course of a continent and even the course of history.

Podcast Number 2

2005-10-16T08:18:00.000+01:00

Hi guys, please follow the title link to download my latest podcast. Again it is full of TV Theme tunes taken largely from tv.cream.org.
Once i have got a few silly podcasts out of my system then I intend to make some slighty more serious ones where I talk about issues of importance and relevance to my journey as a christian.
Thanks

First Podcast Proper (it's only a laugh)

2005-10-04T22:00:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome to my first ever proper attempt to do a podcast. I am afraid I got a bit carried away with all the great theme tunes I downloaded (see my delicious site for details). Anyway it's alla bit of fun.

On a more serious note I have been thinking about how much leadership to give the girls on the Gap Team and of what sort. I am caught between letting them get on with things themselves and really investing heavily in them in terms of prayer and the prophetic etc.

I suppose I am starting to lean more to the increased involvement side of things but we'll see...

Gapy Year and the New Term

2005-09-15T13:31:00.000+01:00

Just started back at school for the new term, very busy and a lot more responsibility now! But in a strange way it is good to be back.

The Gap year team has now stated with Zoe and Terri living with us as part of their year in Cornwall. You can keep up to cate with their adventures on their blog here. You can get a feed from their for their podcast!! The podcast is also listed (with this site as well) in the ITunes directory of podcasts under christianity! Cool

Ethan is in hospital at the moment with bronciolitis. He may be releasde later today and has improved a bit overnight but after last week with Esther and the hot potato incident...

I am reading a book which is the most significant book for a long time at the moment called "Threshold of the Future" by Mike Riddell. There are some really excellent and very challenging chapters in there! More on that later, I am sure! It really reminds me of, and explains more fully, some of the things i discussed with Joff and Elaine Day a few weeks ago.

Any way...

New Seasons

2005-08-27T18:26:00.000+01:00

In a short week I am starting back at school! I am also starting a new position having just been promoted at the very end of last term. I am now the KS3 coordinator in science and will be paid a bit more money for my trouble. (A financial blessing?)

Also on the 10th September Terri and Zoe start here as part of the Gap Year Cornwall that we are running for SJI. They will be living with us (bringing in a small amount for board and lodgings - more financial blessing?) and working with several local churches and organisations to serve God in Cornwall. We will make regular podcasts to enlighten people as to what they are up to. A feed for this can be found here.

September is often a start to a new season and this year will be very much different to loast year for us. There is a great deal happening in Cornwall and I am so excited to be playing even a small role in God's plans.

Finally just a quick note to those people who comment on this blog. My brother in law Dan (seen here on the interweb) suggested that I remove the facility for people to comment anonymously on this blog. However I do not intend to do so as I feel that people may feel more able to say things anonymously than they would if their identity was known. I do not want people to stop reading and commenting on this blog and fear they might if they could not continue to comment anonymously.

Tithing

2005-08-27T18:09:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post to note how much of a reaction I have had about the subject of tithing. There have been several comments about tithing on the posts below. It is interesting to see there is so much difference of opinion.

If it all the same to those commentators who are opposed to tithing I am still going to go for it!

I would also like to point out that I fully agree with all those who say we should not give just 10% but extravagantly. For me this is a lifestyle choice of honouring God with our finances and depending on Him for His provision. I already have testimonies about the financial blessings God can bring but this is not what I am seeking. I want to know the giver not just get the gift. I want to build a history with God, a history of dependence and provision, a history of testimonies and miracles, a history of knowing God as provider, Lord and friend. I am not satisfied right now with the level of dependence I have on Him, or how well I know Him, or my experience of Him. I am desperate for more of God! It is in this spirit and with a hungry heart that I am putting lifestyle changes in place for me and my family, not because I have to to earn that which I seek, but because I want to, because I believe God deserves it (at the very least!) and that I believe God will enjoy it! (I know already how much he enjoys me right now too!)

As I am getting better now at regular posting I hope that I can blog the story of this particular aspect of my journey with God! Please keep reading!

23:23

2005-08-27T09:02:00.000+01:00

Many times over recent months I have seen the number 23. On digital clocks, buses etc. I have, in the past also seen 22 a great deal as have a number of other people (I posted on this issue some months ago). I always assumed that 23 was just missing out on 22 but I have just read Matt 23:23 that Helen pointed out to me after recent comments on this blog about tithing. Any way I laughed out loud at the coincidence that the verse was about tithing and lifestyle when that is the very thing God has been speaking to us about.

Podcasting

2005-08-24T17:11:00.000+01:00

Here goes!

Fasting

2005-08-23T08:22:00.000+01:00

I am going to enter a three month season of prayer and fasting. I really want to see my intimacy with Jesus and Father deepen and I want to walk in a level of Holy Spirit power that sees greater works.

I am still praying about what forms the fast will take but I am excited about the next few months!

Joff and Elaine Day have helped me see that I do not need to earn, nor indeed can I ever hope to achieve, the approval of God, it is already there. I do not need to qualify myself in to getting Him to bless me. This fast is more about pursuing Him, seeking Him and training myself to rely more on Him. I don't need to do this but I want to. There is a real sense that I must train myself and learn myself what it is to see what the father is doing and rely on Him to do that myself.

Martin Scott says that if Jesus had ever written a book it would only have said "I only do what I see the Father do". If we are to do this then we must learn to see what he is doing!

He must increase and I must decrease!

(Also we have another COPP day with Martin on 3rd September)

Catch Up

2005-08-23T08:06:00.000+01:00

There is a lot to catch up on so this post is going to be a little bit "bitty".

First off, Helen and I have recently heard a teaching tape by a man called Clive Pick. It was very challenging and all about finances. We have made, as a response to the conviction we felt, a commitment to sort our finances out once and for all. We have been doing a great deal better recently. One major thing is that we have become regular tithers. We have done this occaisionally in the past and always been amazed at the financial blessing that God brings in response to it! Last time we tithed on our monthly income we were given a brand new car (or the promise of! We actually picked it up yesterday!) Since deciding to go for this we have already been blessed financiallly with gifts and open heaven type incidents where we are seemingly walking in God's blessing and provision. I cannot wait to tithe next month and I will try to record all the testimonies I may have.

Next, progress is still being made on the India trip. My friend Justin Blake is getting excited about coming with us and our relationship deepens with sister Janaki. The best news is that Helen is planning on coming as well, we will leave the kids at my mum's.

Also concerning Justin, Andy Frost and I along with JT and Chris Frost are planning to take the VOW together. Justin has agreed to help us to do this which I am very excited about as he was one of the main guys to research it all and prophetically see that this is the time to bring that sort of thing back in to the mix!

Road Trip is stil going and i have got one or two words for them to encourage them which I will post on the journal site (see post below for link).

As Andy is away I do not know how things are shaping up with the house at Land's End.

Rugby season starts soon and I am well excited abouth this, having fully recovered from my injury that put me out of the end of last season.

Our new car is great!!!

Road Trip Mission

2005-08-20T15:57:00.000+01:00

Hi, I am on a holiday at the moment staying with both sets of our parents. Back soon and I will have a greater chance to write some stuff here. Just to mention though that Andy's mission called Road Trip has now started and can be read about here.

Walking on Water

2005-08-09T14:12:00.000+01:00

I must write fully about last week where I led the SJI event called Walk on Water. Basically we had an incredible time and I especially got so much from it. However more later...

Share Jesus House

2005-08-09T13:59:00.000+01:00

This is just a quick post to make sure that I have the things that are happening on record so that in future days I can look back and learn.
Share Jesus International have been given a house (an old farmhouse) with a bit of land and the remains of a few farm buildings. This is very exciting as they can do with it what they want. The really cool thing is the location of the house which is just outside St Just and on a hill that overlooks Land's End. There is an uniterrupted view of the lighthouse and rocks there! So we are pressing into to hear what God would have us do with the place. This is an extract from an email that I sent to Andy Frost with my own thoughts and vision for the place:

The vision that I have for the house and land is this (similar in lots of ways to the transit course on the boiler room site)

I want to see a community created there that is focussed on prayer and mission, on intimacy and power much like we have been talking about this week! Imagine 60 people living in a permanent community like we had at walk on water. I want to see the site used to make money to support the community. People would be living in a rhythm of life that is monastic, work, prayer and mission. The place could be a modern day Hernhut community with the prayer birthing missionaries from there to go to the nation and nations (like India!) I would have visiting speakers to come and bring not sessions of teaching but rather themselves for a small period of time. So Martin Scott (eg) could come down for a week and invest what he has in that community, being part of it for the time he was there. We could run specific events from there such as DP, wow, Destiny and all that small scale type stuff that fits in to our heart for prayer and mission. We could also have people who come in to the community for shorter spaces of time, either a few months to do a course like Transit (see Boiler rooms site) or just for a while to have a retreat and renewal type experience. But overall I see there should be a permanent community of people who live, work to support themselves on site, pray and go on mission from there. It will be a monastery, a base for prayer and mission. This would still leave it open for all the extra stuff like conferences, training and church weekends away. That could be another source of income and work for the guys! It will be a centre of excellence! The other really exciting thing about what I feel is the idea of recreating (in this new time) the Moravian community at hernhut. Remember what Justin said about the 24-7 movement and the Methodist Church. This place could combine those 2 and amazing things could happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited about all of this and the whole India thing. This is definitely a time of acceleration towards the things of God. My heart is for Intimacy and Power. In fact I want to do some writing now about all that so check my blog out for my thoughts as I try to describe all that I feel God is laying on my heart.

Andy then said that his friend John had invited him to come and help out at a worship event in Hernhut in October!
I am taking around a gut that financially supports SJI on Friday this week so we will see what happens!

(Also there is other stuff that I cannot record here but I write this to remind myself that it is there!)

India: Excitement Grows

2005-08-08T12:32:00.000+01:00

I spoke with my friend Justin Blake last night and am very excited about what he said! We speak about once evry 2 months and catch up on what is happening and so last night I was telling him the story about India (see post below for the story). When I had finished he was very excited and said that just that week he had been chewing things over and was on the verge of speaking to me and Andy about setting up a missions trip to a poor nation such as Africa or India. Because Justin is so prophetic this fills me with faith and a buzz! Justin also said that he may even be possibly able to come with us!! Amazing, Andy and I are so excited about that!
The other cool thing is that on Walk on Water this week we had 2 girls that have been or are going to India and 1 girl who went to Mumbai and is now setting up a project to raise money for the street children feeding programme that she saw! So the connections continue to build. Oh yeah, I was emailing the 24-7 office to register the WoW prayer room and a girl in the office, Becca Horsley, who I sort of know and she is telling me about the Dehli mission team and all the pryare rooms that have been set up there!! Cool.
Hang on, even more cool is that I just spoke to Ruth Horsely who I have been with this week in WoW and she was in my small group and everything. She even stayed round our house last night as she was ill! Any was just a I was writing this i noticed that Becca Horsley had the same surname as Ruth so I just phoned Ruth and she said they were sisiters!!! Unbelievable.
I am soooooo excited and buzzing right now about all the things that are happening. Please read more posts soon about the other cool stuff that is going on here!!

Galatians 5:16

2005-07-11T20:04:00.000+01:00

Live by the Spirit is the command. What does this mean? How can I do it? How does it work? Obviously the purpose of this is to bear the fruit v22.

I guess that for me this is a time of re-examining the role of the Holy Spirit in my life. Do I walk with him? Do I allow him to guide me? or do I seek his voice throughout the day?

v25 since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with Him. Our walk must be a full relationship. The NIV study notes say that the "live by" verb is continual, to go on living by the Spirit, living by the promptings and power of the spirit. This is easily enough done if I keep my mind on listening out for Him! This is key to conquering the sinful desires of the flesh.

Rom 8:2 and 4. That chapter is a description of a life walking in the fulness of the spirit! To live by the spirit is to be Rom 8!! Oswald Chambers speaks of Rom 8 as being the highest pinnacle of christian life (or something like that)

2Cor 5:17 we are new creations once we have the spirit!

And my favourite verse purely for its poetry John 3:8. What a challenge that is, to live like the wind being blown by the spirit with noone knowing which way it will blow!

1 Samuel 15

2005-07-11T19:58:00.000+01:00

The basic message that I read into this was that of obedience to what God has laid before me. Saul did not completely destroy the Amelakites but rather saves the King and keeps the best cattle for a sacrifice. But God tells Samuel that he is not happy with that. There have been many times in my life (including recently) that I have not fully obeyed God and even times when I have refused to completely destroy something from my life, to cut it all out, some root has always remained. But that is disobedience. It keeps me from being the person that I could be.
God says in verse 22 that he prefers obedience to sacrifice, he likes us to do what he knows is best rather than what we think he wants!
The call is for obedience, this will allow me to fullfill my purpose and destiny in God! I should be totally sold out for acomplishing the things God has laid before me and not hold back until that has been achieved.

Studies

2005-07-11T19:56:00.000+01:00

Been having a great couple of days with God and the word and am really going for it at the moment after a quiet spell, (why am I so up and down?).

I wanted to make a few notes here about some of the things I have been reading and praying through for further future reference.

Ouch

2005-07-11T19:54:00.000+01:00

Man I have been so busy in the last few weeks. I have been camping with the school and organising a science fair as well as having my vasectomy, ouch! Still all better now!

Funnies in the Times

2005-06-09T18:40:00.000+01:00

I read some hilarious things in the Times T2 section today. They were remarks apprently made in American courts that were recoreded word for word by court reporters.
1. Q: Are you sexually active?
A: No, I just lie there
2. Q: All your responses must be oral, ok? What school did you go to?
A: Oral
3. Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?
4. Q: Now Doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
A: Did you actually pass the Bar exam?

How I laughed!

Biology Smart Crowd

2005-06-08T19:17:00.000+01:00

I am taking part in an online conference at school this week that is looking at the use of technology in education. There have been some wonderfully interesting papers submitted. One such paper was about how different technologies can create smart crowds. This is a group of people that interact in some way (blog or forum etc) and each contributes some of their own knowledge, information or learning. The central blog then becomes a source of great info and knowledge as more and more people share this creating a smarter crowd.
So I thought this was such a great idea I set a biology blog up to develop such a smart crowd (especially in my A-Level students!).
See here for the blog!

India on my Mind

2005-06-07T10:06:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post to say that God is keeping India on my mind. I was surfing the net and checking out the Order of the Mustard Seed site and found a link from there to the Operation World Site who have a daily bit about a given part of the world for prayer. Anyway today it was coincidentally not only India that was on there but the very region of India that I have been to and have on my heart, the Himachal Pradesh. Unbelievable!

What things to change?

2005-06-06T14:12:00.000+01:00

Thinking about my last post I was wondering what sort of things I want to change in my life. There are probably many. However it is usually beneficial to focus on one or two areas.
In no particular order these for me would be:
1. Financial skills and budgeting
2. Diet and fitness
3. Maturity in Christ (stepping up to the next level)

Time to make a difference

2005-06-06T13:38:00.000+01:00

I believe that we are in a particular season, a kairos season. This season is all about having grace and mercy in order to achieve something or to put it another way this is a "time to make a difference".
The number 5 is the number of grace (see here). This is 2005. The recent UK elections were held on the 5th day of the 5th month. (Incidentally I believe that Labour got in by the grace of God and only on order that they complete the things God has set for them to do. It seemed as even though the electorate were giving Blair a "bloddy nose" they still wanted more of Labour).
The other major sign is the G8 summit and all the press that surrounds it. Many significant people are calling out for 2005 to be the year that we made a difference for world poverty. (see here). The number 8 is significant here. The G8 summit and Live8. The number 8 in the bible is all about new life or a new beginning.
So I believe that this is a time of grace in order that we can make a difference and to create a new beginning.
This means individually, corporately, nationally and internationally.
There are things that the world can achieve at this time (I think particularly of the chance to change trade rules etc).
Nationally there are things that we can see happen as Tony Blair pushes into an historic third term.
Corporately we can see breakthrough in our churches (I sense that this is a key year of decision for many people about the new emerging church and accompanying theology maybe ending with a recognised new beginning in terms of the way many of us see and do church.)
Individually we have the chance in this season to change some things.
This is a time of grace in order that we can make a difference.

Dangerous Places

2005-06-05T16:03:00.000+01:00

We had a great party yesterday as Esther and Helen celebrated their birthdays aloha style! At our church meeting this morning Chris was talking about Luke 5. (Download the teaching here - a password is needed!) One thing he said really caught my heart and that was this:

When do we put ourselves in situations where, if God does not step in, we would look totally stupid? The dude who was lowered from the roof by his mates would have been so embarrased and gutted if Jesus did not step in and heal him (after forgiving him!). In fact Jesus loved the faith that they had just to even try and get away with that!

I am sure that Jesus loves it when our faith takes us in to some dangerous places. Maybe they are not physically dangerous but they are ego damagingly dangerous!

My friend Andy Frost sets himself the challenge to scare himself once a week (in terms of exercising his faith). Maybe I should try to get in to some of these dangerous places myself?

Walk on Water.

2005-05-26T09:44:00.000+01:00

God is looking across the face of the Earth for people who will serve Him. He is searching for people who will stop to hear His voice and act on what He says. He is calling out for people who will give their lives to His purposes. God is looking for you. God is calling out your name. Will you respond?

If there is a “YES!” in your spirit to the call of God on your life then Walk on Water is a week for you.

Taking the heroes of the Bible as a starting point we will study how ordinary men and women can do extra-ordinary things when the Spirit of God moves them. We will look at how modern day heroes, like Wesley and Wigglesworth, came to lead lives that were ablaze with the glory and power of God, how they came to walk in the presence of God in a radical way.

As well as in depth and inspirational bible study there will be a chance to receive practical teaching in a range of seminars designed to train and equip you in your pursuit of God. We will look in particular at aspects of our walk with God that require a step of faith, for this is a week where God is calling us to step out of the boat and walk on the water.

There will also be the opportunity to visit some of Cornwall’s most famous and historic sites of Christian heritage. Sites like Gwennap Pit where John Wesley preached to thousands, Billy Bray’s Chapel a place of intensity and passion, Carn Brea and St. Agnes beacon, sites of much intercession with prayers sown deep into the land, and Land’s End the first and last place in the nation.

This week will be characterised by intense worship, passionate intercession, encouraging discipleship, deep friendship and intimacy with our Father God.

God is looking for people to rise up for the sake of His Kingdom, to stand for His purposes and live in His ways. If not you then who? If not now then when?

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

2005-05-23T21:41:00.000+01:00

The Raven
by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore--While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door."'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-- Only this and nothing more."

Please read the comments for the full text of this great poem.

Emerging Church

2005-05-23T21:33:00.000+01:00

Yesterday Helen and I met with Joff Day and his wife Elaine. I was put in touch with them by Justin Blake. We had a great time with them and some really good conversation. Most of our talk centred around their journey into the emerging church. What they said to us was both challenging and exciting. They also spoke to us prophetically and suggested that we were at the point where we now could take a step of faith into maturity and after that point it would be inapproriate to go back. It reminded me of something Gerald Coates aid to me which at the time was rather random. "Be careful as you are further on than you think." So we are now talking about what all of this will mean for us. Is God calling us out of organised church and int a greater maturity and a very different walk with him? They also suggested that I go down to Land's End to pray and thought that God would reveal himsl;ef to me in a new way. All very exciting and a little daunting!

If by Rudyard Kipling

2005-05-23T21:31:00.000+01:00

If
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

One Thing

2005-05-18T21:30:00.000+01:00

This verse has a great deal to say to me about how much I need to devote my time and energy towards an intimate relationship with Father.

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple."

Lord may I be more like David, who desired you with his whole being, his whole energy.
May this be the one thing that I desire also.

At this point I ask myself the question, looking at my life what would I say the one thing I desire is?

What's yours?

Blaze Church Men's Weekend

2005-05-16T19:18:00.000+01:00

This weekend I have been away on the Blaze Church Men's weekend. It was really great. There were many things that God spoke to me about during the weekend through all that was said and done. Primarliy the weekend was about responsibility.

"The price of greatness is responsibility" Sir Winston Churchill.

I want to record some of the thoughts and resolutions from the weekend here. SO watch this space.

India and the Call of the Lord

2005-05-12T19:22:00.000+01:00

Last summer I went to India for a just over 4 weeks. It was a revelation to me, no matter how much I had been expecting it, that the contrast between my culture and Indian culture was so huge. Ever since my visit I have had a special place in my heart for India, I have often prayed for India, began to read up on her history and generally had India in the back of my mind. This became more apparent since my move to Cornwall and settling in down here. Over the last few weeks I have begun to think and pray about going back to India on a missions trip. I even looked up flight costs and started to search for local in country churches to work with.

Yesterday evening during a chat with my friend Andy Frost I ventured to ask him whether he would like to come with me and a small team to India on a missions trip. (Normally it is Andy that does the asking!)

He said he would like to and we talked about his one Indian contact (I have none) a man called Peter Perrera. So we agreed to make some tentative suggestions and see where it went.

Then today Andy sent me an email that he recieved at lunchtime from a pastor in India asking him to come over and preach the gospel!! When I read it I was stunned, but at first assumed he was asking for money, but then I got through it and the pastor was actually asking for... "Dear Friend, If it is possible to you please come to India and share the love of Christ with the needy and spread the word of God as you led by the Lord ". The pastor then explained why he had written to Andy..."Dear Friend I am writing this letter to you by the leading of the Lord for your prayers, encouragements and fellowship for leading this lord’s ministry in Jesus name."

Unbelievable. I was totally shocked and stunned, this sort of thing only happens in great stories! So we have contacted the pastor back and who knows, this could be the start of an amazing adventure with Jesus! Praise God!

What I want to be excellent at.

2005-05-10T20:33:00.000+01:00

1. Surfing
2. Rugby
3. Being a Dad
4. Prophecy
5. Preaching/speaking
6. Knowing God
7. Knowing the Word
8. Loving

Heroes of the Faith

2005-05-10T20:07:00.000+01:00

I have just begun to re-read some of my books about Smith Wigglesworth. I have already been so inspired to live a life ablaze with the power and presence of God. I am so conscious of my mediocrity and compromise and I seem paralysed to do anything about it most of the time. So I want to commit myself to becoming more like those people, more like Jesus! Living a life that is characterised by the presence of God.

RSS

2005-05-10T19:30:00.000+01:00

I have just discovered a fantastic new web tool (thanks Dan!). It is called RSS which stands for (so they say) Really Simple Syndication. It is absolutley brilliant and you can find out about it for yourselves it here (the BBC version of events). Also you can use it in these 15 Ways. This site called delicious will help you to create an online list of bookmarks, great fun to search around on!!

Saturday Night Service

2005-05-08T09:01:00.000+01:00

Last night I spoke at a Youth event called The Saturday Night Service in Camborne. I spoke on how much God loves us. You can download the talk from here.

The Bride of Christ

2005-05-05T10:18:00.000+01:00

This is an article that I am working on for the Share Jesus Website.

One of the descriptions that scripture gives to the people of God is "the Bride of Christ". John the Baptist is the first in the New Testament to call Jesus the bridegroom and his people the bride (John 3:29), Jesus refers to himself as the bridegroom (Mat 9:15) and John the Apostle has the great vision of the Bride in the wedding of the lamb (Rev 21:2).
These titles of Bride and Bridegroom relate to particular perspectives of the relationship between Jesus and his people. And it is these perspectives on which I will focus. Much can be said about the whole imagery of husband and wife, bride and bridegroom throughout Scripture but I want to concentrate on those images that refer directly to the relationship of passion and desire that exists between Jesus and His people, His bride.
The first and most important point to recognise is that Jesus is passionately in love with His people. He is truly, madly, deeply in love with us. This is true both at the individual level and at the corporate level. It is vital that we get a hold of this truth! Jesus loves us, Jesus is passionate about us, Jesus longs for us, Jesus is desperate for us. He loves his people so much that he gave his own life for us (Eph 5:25) in order that we might one day be presented before him spotless and blameless and without blemish, a perfect bride for a perfect bridegroom. (Eph 5:26-27, Rev 21:2).
I remember my own wedding day. I was so excited and nervous, looking forward to the day when I would marry the woman that I loved. I remember the hustle and bustle of the morning, the business and the anticipation. And then, all too quickly I was standing at the front of the Church, waiting for my bride. I remember the hush that fell as the congregation realised she had arrived. I remember the music beginning to play as she made her way down the aisle toward me. I remember not turning round to see her, but rather choosing to wait until she stood beside me before looking into her eyes for the first time that day.
I remember that I could not bear it any longer, that I just had to turn and glimpse her, and she arrived next to me as I did. My heart felt as though it stopped, my stomach involuntarily jumped, I gasped with amazement at the beauty of my bride, I was overcome with emotion and wept right there. My bride was here; she was so lovely, so beautiful and standing at my side ready to be married. I was so much in love (and still am) with my bride. That first glimpse of her ravished my heart. Jesus feels like this about us, in fact he feels this even more intensely. "You have ravished my heart with just one glance of your eyes" Song of Songs 4:9.

(Please read the comment for the end of this post)

Election

2005-05-05T10:04:00.000+01:00

Today is the day when we will elct the next government. I am praying that whoever gets in will be honest and true to the promises that they have made. I assume that it will be Labour.

Wild Men

2005-05-02T12:41:00.000+01:00

I have been away for the last 2 days with Paul Hatecher, Mark Wood and a couple of other guys. We wanted to explore some of the themes in a book called "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge. We were in the fantastic setting of Snowdonia, at the foot of a mountain called Tryfan. We walked, talked, ate and prayed together and it was so much fun. Very wild.

Big Wave Surfing

2005-04-25T13:38:00.000+01:00

Helen and I watched "Billabong Odyssey" last night. It was immense!! I loved it. The story is of a team of top big wave surfers who go round the world like delta force looking for the biggest waves to ride. It ends with a huge session at Jaws and this one guy catching an enormous wave. It is so cool. http://www.billabongodyssey.com/

An Emerging View of Church

2005-04-16T07:51:00.000+01:00

God is speaking to His church. He is calling us to see church differently and then to be church differently. In this post modern world attendance in the traditional, mainstream denominations of the western church is falling. Questions are being asked about whether the future even has a church. The old structures and methods seem to be failing the culture of the new millennium. Society in a post modern age does not see the need or value of the traditional church. But people like Jim Thwaites and Pete Ward are seeing new shapes of church emerging. The church that they are describing is radically different to anything you have ever dreamt of or imagined. It is a church that reaches out into every sphere of creation and brings God’s goodness and light. This church is the body of Christ, but seen from a different viewpoint.

Click on the Comments to read on...

Behind my house there is a hill

2005-04-16T07:50:00.000+01:00

Behind my house there is a hill. And on the top of that hill there are some rocks. And when I clamber to stand astride that stone I gaze out on a wondrous scene. There, stretching away beneath me is the Atlantic Ocean. “A dark illimitable ocean without bound, without dimension, where length, breadth and highth and time and place are lost.”* Is it any wonder that I feel closer to God my Father here? For it is here that I glimpse the ocean of love that he has for me, that same love, so limitless it passes our earthly understanding (Eph 3:18-19), that is made so real and obvious by this tiny corner of creation.

My Father in heaven is a God who has created beautiful things and has done so on an epic scale. As I stare from the hill behind my house I can turn from one Cornish coast to the other and it truly stirs my soul to worship the one who made this. I feel so close to Him when I look out on to His creation, absorbing images of the things that He first imagined then sculpted. When I am up high on hills or mountains it feels as though I am finally seeing His world from His perspective.

Last summer I trekked through a region of the Himalaya. Never have I seen beauty and wonder on such a stage. The uncompromising enormity of those landscapes and the breathtaking glory of the mountains will never leave me. And when I lay upon the grass of the campsites and stared out into space to see uncountable numbers of stars, a view unhindered by man’s night lights, I found myself contemplating with amazement my Father God who is big enough to fill all of creation.

This is the God who meets me atop my small Cornish hill. This is He who I meet on the summit of Himalayan peaks, and when I walk in His creation. This is the God who calms turbulent oceans and softens violent winds. This is the God whose love for me is without end, who gave His own and only son to die in my place, undeserving as I am. This is the God that draws close to me and this is the God who, in my own very small way, I love back.

* from “Paradise Lost” by Milton

Marrakech

2005-04-12T10:48:00.000+01:00

We recently had a great holiday in Marrakech. It was so nice to get away as a family and enjoy end explore new surroundings!

New Site

2005-04-11T19:41:00.000+01:00

I have just put together a few pages about me and my family.( see The Rodgers) Included on it are copies of the now defunct other blogs that I ran. This means that I am now going to write everything on to this one blog!!

So, wait for a report on Easter People and an update on things that are on my mind!

Thanks
John

Lovesick

2005-04-11T19:39:00.000+01:00

I watched Mike Bickle on the God Chanel last Sunday and he gave a great talk about intimacy and the bridegroom.
He ended with a call to have a vision for 5 things. They were...

1) A vision to be wholehearted
2) A vision to be great in heaven
3) A vision for fullness
4) A vision to fast and pray
5) A Vision to equip your heart for the other 4 things.

The last point is perhaps the most exiting and definitley the most important. Encounters with intimacy will keep me in the place of achieving the 4 visions. I must pursue intimacy with God at the heart level.

Love Sick Bride
I want this blog to have a series of studies in to the area of becoming more and more lovesick for Jesus Christ. He is the bridegroom and the church is the bride. I know that He is desperatley in love with us as his bride and that leads me to a place of response where I am a lovesick worshipper, a bride that is desperate for the bridegroom.
Jesus, I love you.

Some photos

2004-10-28T09:03:00.000+01:00