While shepherds watched ...

At this time of year I love looking at the different characters God chose to be involved in the events surrounding the birth of His Son. I love the fact that the first witnesses to Christ's birth were shepherds whose word was unacceptable in court. Shepherds were often despised, social rejects - we might think of them as having learning difficulties - such were the first choice of a loving God who was turning the world upside down with the birth of His Son.
The shepherds then, it occurs to me, became those who would Find Out, Tell Out and Praise Out:
They went, we are told in Luke's Gospel, into the town of Bethlehem to Find Out if this thing they angels had said had happened; they then went to Tell Out the good news to others (The Message says "they let loose"!); their response was also to Praise Out.
As we think about a New Year approaching perhaps we could make a decision to, like the shepherds, be those with a fresh determination to Find Out more about Christ, Tell Out to others this great news of salvation and Praise Out our love for God more.

Building news

Great news - yesterday RBS approved our loan. This is good news for us and good news for the builders just before Christmas. The challenge still will be paying off the £640,000 - being the total in interest free loans plus the £500k to the bank. Although the loan is technically a 25 year mortgage at 6% I do not intend for us to be paying it off for that long - rather, wouldn't it be great if we could, in 2011, move in debt free?
Thank you so much to all who have given sacrificially so far. Let's be in faith, pray and think creatively for the amount outstanding. We also received a cheque for £5,000 from The Coign Church Woking this week as a gift towards the Building Fund.

Never cease to be amazed

I love Christ-mas. I love reading again the story in The Bible about Jesus' birth. Each year I spend some time with the family looking again through Luke's gospel and wondering at the characters: a young girl's acceptance despite the personal cost; a bemused fiance's obedience and willingness to relocate on the basis of angelic visitation and dreams; an faithful old couple having a miracle baby; a busy and scary angel; excluded and ostracised shepherds - the first witnesses; a baby like no other. God has come - in flesh. What mystery. What wonder.

Whatever happens ....

Today is the day we are due to hear from the bank as to whether we are granted a loan to proceed with the new building. Whatever the decision today one thing is certain - we will praise the Lord. The Bible is full of gritty, grisly praise - where the individuals response to their ugly situation, trauma or disaster is to praise God.
Habakkuk writes in the Old Testament:
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior". (Hab 3:18)
Similarly, Job after hearing unbelievable bad news about his family and property declares:
"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (Job 1:21)
Whatever we face today may we have the courage to do the same. Though there is no money in the bank, though the wash machine has broken down, though the car wont start, the boilers packing up and I still need to get the turkey - I will rejoice in the Lord.

Bad News, Good News

The bad news this week is that Llloyds, after a long time and much toing and froing decided not to lend us £500k for the building project. Shame. Frustrating after such a protracted period.
The Goods News is that on Thursday -the very next day after hearing the bad news, Peter and I met with RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) who seemed much more positive about the proposal. Their Relationship Manager (I did wonder if he organised Speed Dating!) was professional, helpful, attentive and encouraging. He even said we would have an answer at the end of next week! It would be great to have it sorted by Christmas.

In praise of Teenagers

I have been so impressed by the Teenagers in the church this week end.
On Saturday afternoon I watched with glowing pleasure as 25 teenagers served, entertained and looked after 30 senior citizens at the Golden Years Christmas Party. As if that were not enough I then observed another Team of Teenagers arrive early for church on Sunday morning in order to set up the meeting. This entailed arriving at 8.00am (!) lugging lots of equipment and carefully assembling lots of kit. At the end of the meeting these same teenagers without a grumble then put it all away again! A third Team of Teenagers wrote and rehearsed a Christmas rap for the forthcoming Christmas Guest Service on 20th December. Helpful, cheerful, creative, hard working, serving Teenagers.

Miracles everywhere!

Last week I spent 3 days in Milton Keynes at a Newfrontiers leaders gathering. The overwhelming sense for me was that there are miracles everywhere!. It was so encouraging hearing news from so many Newfrontiers churches up and down the land that have been seeing God do truly amazing things: healings in a park in Southampton, miracles on a street in Canterbury, 156 healings in a church in Bedford over 2 years, dozens healed at a Youth event called New Day in Norwich, plus many other astonishing God things.
I was also encouraged to hear news of other churches facing building challenges and seeking large loans: Bedford having bought the old Crayola warehouse for £1.5m and needing another £1.5m to do it up; Hedge End going for a £4.2m project; a church in London going for a £6m project! Phew! God is real. God is big and He is doing miracles everywhere.