Date Nights

Date Nights

As with most couples Bev and I try to have a date night each week when we are alone together. This week we had 2. One night we chatted and played scrabble the other we watched a movie: Fireproof. If you are married and have not seen the movie I can wholeheartedly recommend it. A movie that portrays how to save your marriage, how to avoid an affair whilst holding down a demanding job (the main character is a fireman) is very refreshing.

You may want to visit the web site: http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/ to get a feel of the movie. It is amazing – well worth a night in with your wife.

What a Sunday!

What a Sunday!

This Sunday we had a Gift Day for the new Beacon Centre. In one Sunday offering £264,000 was raised. Amazing. I am amazed at God and amazed at the faithfulness of the people of God.
This means that, altogether, we have half the £1.5m required to put up the new building in the summer.

On Sunday morning I also recommended the book: “7 secrets of spiritual success” by Selwyn Hughes and the worship cd “Compassion art”.

Affluenza

For my birthday a friend gave me the book Affluenza by Oliver James. I am so glad he did. Affluenza is the culmination of 3 years study by the author on the causes of depression and anxiety in the affluent parts of the world. The richest countries have the highest rates of “affluenza” because we are not content and feel the need to always have more material possessions. Oliver James offers some refreshing anti-virus to the epidemic: staying with your partner and working at your relationship (divorce costs too much); spending more time with your children; being content with your home; not getting into debt; resisting the pressure to always have more and have the latest.

Simple really.

Encouragements at Easter

Encouragements at Easter

I have been encouraged this Easter. I was encouraged on Good Friday by the number who came to our Small Group Good Friday breakfast held at our home. We served breakfast for 20 then had a meditation from Matthew’s Passion starkly reminding us of the Easter story. Then we walked into Camberley to join Christians from other churches for a Walk of Witness through the town. As I took my turn in carrying the cross in the rain passed bemused onlookers the story gained yet more personal credence. Add this to the Easter Week supplements in The Times newspaper, The Passion Play in Guildford and the several versions of “Sundays comin” on youtube and I am encouraged this Easter.

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

“if the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you”. Rom.7:11

Approaching the Gift Day

Approaching the Gift Day

As we head towards The Beacon Gift Day on Sunday April 26th it may help if I share a few thoughts:

We will need about £1m for the new Beacon Centre, the building of which should commence in August 09 and last for nearly a year.

I expect us to make a considerable dent in £1m on 26th April. I am not expecting us the raise the full amount at once. I expect we will have other gift days during the course of the year. I would much rather pay for the building outright than take out a large mortgage.

When considering giving think not so much of giving to a building but giving to the mission. The building is a tool for us to fulfil our mission of helping people be Passionate about Christ, Compassionate towards others and engaged in Mission. A new building facilitates mission in that we are able to do all that we do bigger and better.

The new Beacon Centre will serve not just the Old Dean but Surrey Heath and beyond. Many of the existing ministries held at The Beacon draw people from beyond the Old Dean. I would expect that to increase.

Finally, let’s come prayerfully to the Gift Day. Ask God how much you should give. I would rather you did not go into debt to give as I would rather you did not give by credit card. Apart from that, let’s join together in the exciting adventure of giving.

So much to learn …

So much to learn …

This week, amongst other things, I have been involved with Fleet Family Church on Sunday evening (at a Family Night - catching up on the need of a leader) and in Leicester for 2 days at a Newfrontiers Team Leaders gathering. These are the guys, like me, who oversee the Newfrontiers churches in the UK.

Steve Tibbert and Dave Stroud reported back from their recent trip the the States where they visited Tim Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian church in New York www.redemmer.com and Mark Driscoll in Seattle www.marshillchurch.org . During the course of the discussions, I was also introduced to Craig Groeschel’s church www.lifechurch.tv. Added to this is the news of many churches in the UK are growing beyond their meeting spaces and are exploring multiple Sunday meetings and multi-site meetings. I have so much to learn …

2009 Year of Challenge Year of Change

2009 Year of Challenge Year of Change

At the beginning of 2009 I was only really sure of one thing – this year would be a Year of Challenge and a Year of Change.

The Quarterly Church Meeting on Sunday 22nd March brought the Challenge and Change into sharp relief: changes in staff and personal (Jem going on Maternity Leave in May, Will and Sarah leaving us in the summer, Pete considering his future and Andrew joining the staff); the Challenges facing us as we redevelop The Beacon Centre and seek to raise £1m meanwhile finding alternative accommodation for the staff and ministries. All this against the backdrop of global financial uncertainty.

At such times it is comforting and strengthening to know a Saviour who is our rock, our fortress, our strong tower, our helper, sustainer, deliverer, provider, shepherd, friend and The One who is the same yesterday, today and forever – He does not change and His power enables us to face and overcome challenges.