Falling With Style

'As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.' Is there a richer, more securing, and yet more undeserving statement in the entire bible than these words of Jesus to his disciples, recorded in John15.9? John 17.23 only strengthens the point. Jesus speaking to the Father about his disciples, '....you have loved them even as you have loved me. v26 '...the love you have for me may be in them, and that I myself may be in them.' Are we getting this? Jesus confirms that he loves us in the same way that he has  been loved by his Father. T hat the Father has loved us in the same way that he has loved his son Jesus. T hat the love the Father has for him can be in us too -  indeed, Jesus himself, the personification of that love, will be in us. These are  staggering truths to meditate on! The depth and the richness of the Father’s eternal perfect love towards his Son: This same, eternal, relentless love, has been turned towards us, shared with u

This long hot summer, don’t forget to invest in some reading time, whether for study or just plain old escapism. I’ve got a large pile of books and kindle titles to work through this July and August, but here are four of the best so far this month. 12 Faithful Men - Portraits of courageous endurance in pastoral ministry. Colin Hanson and Jeff Robinson Using stories from the lives of 12 men through church history who have remained faithful to their call in spite of severe pressures, this helpful book acts a reset for our disposable, throw away culture. Indeed, it reminds us that rather than be surprised when the heat is on, that we should expect hardship, pressure, pruning, and even more so in christian leadership. It was both an easy read and a difficult one, where I found the need to stop, think, pray as I faced my reflection in the lives of these pioneers. Honestly, this book is worth it just for the short foreward from Ray Ortlund - that part of a book you normally skip, bu

The World Cup starts this Thursday with all the usual hype, and now, inevitably politics, with the host nation Russia. Football giants Italy and Holland are sadly absent, and perhaps it’s for the best, in order to avoid a Cold War side show, that the Americans also failed to make the cut this time.  The World Cup Prayer guide is NOT about praying for the football! I gave up on that years ago as my team struggled in the lower reaches of the English football league, Heaven apparently deaf to my cries for mercy. To add insult to injury, the team dominating football at the time were nicknamed the Red Devils!  No, enjoy the football, win, lose or draw.  World Cup Prayers will help us to pray daily for countries featured in the fixture schedule. Psalm 2 invites us to make bold requests for the nations to our God who sits enthroned above them,  'Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.’ So each day through the tournament, I

Rob Matthews, a blind runner who broke 22 world records and won eight gold medals for Team GB at the Paralympic Games, died on April 11th in Auckland, aged just 56. This naturally gifted and courageous man became the unwitting subject of a teaching illustration with the local church last Sunday as we reminded ourselves of our dependency upon the Holy Spirit. Like other runners with visual impairment, Matthews ran with a guide runner, tied by a short rope which is looped around their fingers. A blind runner needs to work and work at becoming synchronised with his guide in order that they might navigate the course confidently, and at top speed. Image from Daily Mail Matthews has been quoted in the past with regard to his running guides, 'I'm trusting this guy with my life!' One of his guides, Matt Lawton, was reported in the press last week with this insight; 'Most of Rob's guide runners become lifelong friends, but the guy who ran him into the lamp post o

I've been preparing some questions for students at our training Academy to reflect upon at the start of 2018. In doing so, I've realised that these questions are perhaps ones which could be wisely considered by any disciple in any context, not just those embarking upon deliberate training. So, here are the questions. Maybe you want to add one or two of your own? Happy new year! 1/ What is my Bible reading plan for 2018?  More than just an intentional plan, how will I meet with Jesus through his word and worship him on a daily basis? 2/ What specific step will I take in the new year to love my family and friends better?  What intentional plans can I make which invest in my key relationships and prevent them from drifting 3/ Which non-believer(s) will I focus my prayers and evangelistic efforts in 2018? Who are they? What does it look like in private prayer, and in friendship with them. 4/ In whom will I invest my life as a disciplemaker this next year? Are there s