To get away from ----------------->
(as if that would ever be in your mind!!!)
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
For Brodie......the final frame............
To get away from ----------------->
(as if that would ever be in your mind!!!)
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Pastor Delia
Spent a very pleasant evening last night out for a mammoth dinner party for 16 cooked by one of my colleagues who is also a good friend (always kind of handy that; staff members actually liking one another. Think that's what called a "good witness". ) He put on a feast that would have put Delia to shame - with all the attendant gourmet touches to the meal, none of this boiled pasta and a meaty sauce nonsense. Let's have joints of beef, jus, garnishes, choices of starters etc etc
It was also a weekend where we prepare to say goodbye to a member of our congregation, a young man who has sold his house to pay for his training, given up his job and great earnings, to learn to be a missionary pilot . When he announced this as his intention, I felt a "frisson" in my spirit; you know where you just feel that someone is right at the centre of God's will for their life? Where you feel as if you can see God on someone - physically? Do you know what I mean? (Blogs are hard places to explain this). It's infectious; it's inspiring; it's powerful stuff. It's counter-culture.
He is a good friend to many, he's so warm and friendly; he's a servant, he'll do anything for anyone; someone who smiles all over - a gift to the church. And now a gift being given away.
Special for me is that he has been helping with children's work, and I wanted the children to hear about his call to leave everything behind to go and train for three years on the other side of the world. He told them simply; they listened and he knelt while two children laid hands on him and prayed for him.
God bless you!
It was also a weekend where we prepare to say goodbye to a member of our congregation, a young man who has sold his house to pay for his training, given up his job and great earnings, to learn to be a missionary pilot . When he announced this as his intention, I felt a "frisson" in my spirit; you know where you just feel that someone is right at the centre of God's will for their life? Where you feel as if you can see God on someone - physically? Do you know what I mean? (Blogs are hard places to explain this). It's infectious; it's inspiring; it's powerful stuff. It's counter-culture.
He is a good friend to many, he's so warm and friendly; he's a servant, he'll do anything for anyone; someone who smiles all over - a gift to the church. And now a gift being given away.
Special for me is that he has been helping with children's work, and I wanted the children to hear about his call to leave everything behind to go and train for three years on the other side of the world. He told them simply; they listened and he knelt while two children laid hands on him and prayed for him.
God bless you!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Trade Unions
I've always been a member of a Trade Union. They fulfill an important role, in my opinion.
Now I'm not, and its weird. I'm in a "non-union industry", like electronics and other sunrise industries.
Am I a being awkward if I make noises about trade union-type issues as they pertain to me?? (rhetorical question!)
Am I being subversive? ( have recently been introduced to that word and I like it. Then I looked it up on dictionary.com and found it can mean treacherous, traitorous and destructive!)
Answers on a postcard, please.
What do you think of trade unions ? A thorn in the side to management or grassroots workers' movement? Have you ever belonged to one?
(me: BIFU - banking and finance union - pffft, have experieced tea that is stronger)
then UNISON - public service. Too large to be effective in my mind
then EIS - teaching union. Always been incredibly helpful to me. Screwed up a bit on the McCrone agreement, my personal view!)
Now I'm not, and its weird. I'm in a "non-union industry", like electronics and other sunrise industries.
Am I a being awkward if I make noises about trade union-type issues as they pertain to me?? (rhetorical question!)
Am I being subversive? ( have recently been introduced to that word and I like it. Then I looked it up on dictionary.com and found it can mean treacherous, traitorous and destructive!)
Answers on a postcard, please.
What do you think of trade unions ? A thorn in the side to management or grassroots workers' movement? Have you ever belonged to one?
(me: BIFU - banking and finance union - pffft, have experieced tea that is stronger)
then UNISON - public service. Too large to be effective in my mind
then EIS - teaching union. Always been incredibly helpful to me. Screwed up a bit on the McCrone agreement, my personal view!)
Monday, January 22, 2007
Missed'em
I have been involved in an adult training session all weekend, and as a result shared speaking at the main church service on evangelism in the context of the local church.
And I missed the children I work with! After the service I sought many of them out - that's not hard, head towards the tray of biscuits - to see some of them and chat to them. I really do love them and I miss them when I'm not there. Just as with my own biological kids.
I guess I'm in the right job.
I may have posted before that someone prophesied over me: "that you will save them from that which you went through". I was paralysed by fear when I was a child and I long that these children don't just exist as mini-Christians but that they develop apologetic skills, warrior intent and a disciple's heart!
A fellow SEVEN year old classmate asked my daughter why she loved God because, he said, he loved the devil. Winding her up or a statement of intent?? No matter what the intent behind that statement was - she's not just to stand but to stand strong :-)
And I missed the children I work with! After the service I sought many of them out - that's not hard, head towards the tray of biscuits - to see some of them and chat to them. I really do love them and I miss them when I'm not there. Just as with my own biological kids.
I guess I'm in the right job.
I may have posted before that someone prophesied over me: "that you will save them from that which you went through". I was paralysed by fear when I was a child and I long that these children don't just exist as mini-Christians but that they develop apologetic skills, warrior intent and a disciple's heart!
A fellow SEVEN year old classmate asked my daughter why she loved God because, he said, he loved the devil. Winding her up or a statement of intent?? No matter what the intent behind that statement was - she's not just to stand but to stand strong :-)
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Top Ten Last Words from Children's Pastors
I visit a great, flippant site on children's ministry now and then and I felt like having a giggle tonight so I have decided to post something from it....
TOP TEN LAST WORDS FROM CHILDREN'S PASTORS
10. We don’t have to preview this video; one of the deacons told me it was clean.
9. Just go ahead. It’s easier to beg forgiveness than to obtain permission.
8. The leadership team won’t mind.
7. We can set up the lightbox in the baptismal tank (that one is specially for Brodie)
6. What does this switch on the sound desk do?
5. I've seen this done once on TV.
4. I'm sure it's strong enough to hold both of us.
3. Let’s go ahead and order it, the church will pay for it.
2. I decided we’re not providing Sunday School this summer, we all need a break .
1. I don’t care if he is the pastor’s kid........
TOP TEN LAST WORDS FROM CHILDREN'S PASTORS
10. We don’t have to preview this video; one of the deacons told me it was clean.
9. Just go ahead. It’s easier to beg forgiveness than to obtain permission.
8. The leadership team won’t mind.
7. We can set up the lightbox in the baptismal tank (that one is specially for Brodie)
6. What does this switch on the sound desk do?
5. I've seen this done once on TV.
4. I'm sure it's strong enough to hold both of us.
3. Let’s go ahead and order it, the church will pay for it.
2. I decided we’re not providing Sunday School this summer, we all need a break .
1. I don’t care if he is the pastor’s kid........
Money money money
Oh my, January in my part of the world is synonymous with fiscal issues.
(hey, remember my post on oxymorons? What about this one: January pay)
Got to do tax return by Jan 31st - not done yet
Got to put my budget submission in - not done yet
Got to pay various bills - not done yet, awaiting the fulfillment of oxymoron above.
Thinking about budget submissions - how does one budget for the work of the kingdom?
Think of a number and double it because you are faithful in your area of ministry? (prosperity gospel approach)
Pray and write down the first figure that comes into your mind? (charismata approach)
Declare the victory won RIGHT NOW over budget poverty? (triumphalistic approach)
Spend, spend, spend and believe that you'll not be sacked (blind faith approach)
Actually a little known fact about me is that I spent my first three years in the world of work in a major UK bank. I even sat three years of banking exams, making me ACIBS (Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers). In other words I know how to:
* spend money and
* say exactly what I spent it on :)
(hey, remember my post on oxymorons? What about this one: January pay)
Got to do tax return by Jan 31st - not done yet
Got to put my budget submission in - not done yet
Got to pay various bills - not done yet, awaiting the fulfillment of oxymoron above.
Thinking about budget submissions - how does one budget for the work of the kingdom?
Think of a number and double it because you are faithful in your area of ministry? (prosperity gospel approach)
Pray and write down the first figure that comes into your mind? (charismata approach)
Declare the victory won RIGHT NOW over budget poverty? (triumphalistic approach)
Spend, spend, spend and believe that you'll not be sacked (blind faith approach)
Actually a little known fact about me is that I spent my first three years in the world of work in a major UK bank. I even sat three years of banking exams, making me ACIBS (Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers). In other words I know how to:
* spend money and
* say exactly what I spent it on :)
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Theological question
I have been pondering over this verse for a few days now. As someone pastorally involved with children, it's obviously a verse that drives me. But I have been applying some of the theological questioning that I am being taught to some of the values and visions that I have in my work; which I share with my teams:
Matthew 18:2-3
Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Here are some of the questions I am revisiting:
Why are we told that Jesus called a little child? How little is little in NT times?
He said "unless you change". What attitudes do we need to change?
How can we become like little children? Clearly we can't do it physically; we are all "grow-d up".
And for me, the cruncher - what did Jesus mean when he said "you will never enter the kingdom of heaven"?
I don't happen to believe that verse 3 is just about having a place in heaven when we die.
I could post more about my thoughts here but I would really like to reflect on others' opinions. However, I will say that academic studies on children's spirituality have enlightened me; particularly on the capacity of children to use their senses to have awe and wonder and "see" the kingdom (.....coming?) in a way that we can't; where we place logic and reason and "ahhhhh, buts" and fear and discomfort.
Enough Lynn! What are your views on my questions?
Matthew 18:2-3
Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Here are some of the questions I am revisiting:
Why are we told that Jesus called a little child? How little is little in NT times?
He said "unless you change". What attitudes do we need to change?
How can we become like little children? Clearly we can't do it physically; we are all "grow-d up".
And for me, the cruncher - what did Jesus mean when he said "you will never enter the kingdom of heaven"?
I don't happen to believe that verse 3 is just about having a place in heaven when we die.
I could post more about my thoughts here but I would really like to reflect on others' opinions. However, I will say that academic studies on children's spirituality have enlightened me; particularly on the capacity of children to use their senses to have awe and wonder and "see" the kingdom (.....coming?) in a way that we can't; where we place logic and reason and "ahhhhh, buts" and fear and discomfort.
Enough Lynn! What are your views on my questions?
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