Summer Reading 

What books are you planning to read this Summer?

The Bible! 

Correct answer! But are you planning to read any other good books?

As the schools break up many of us will be packing for a Summer break. Whether you're heading abroad, somewhere in the UK or even on going a 'saycation'  there's always a question about what to take.

Clothes. Obviously.

Washbag. Also fairly important.

What about some books to read?

A good idea.

But what?

Here's a few I'm hoping to get round to reading this Summer.

'Scattered Servants' by Alan Scott explores what it means for Christians to go beyond the Sunday service and to love our local communities.  It's time to move beyond the building. It's time for a movement of people empowered by the Holy Spirit and sent to bring life to entire cities.  Sounds great.

'Faitheism' by Krish Kandiah takes a look at the tensions generated by the Religion vs Atheism debate. Krish contends that whether you are a Christian, an Atheist or somewhere in between, we can all grow in our own beliefs and understand each other better.

'Staying in the boat and other things I wish I'd known' by Jeff Lucas looks like one of these 'lite' reads that ends up being rather deep. Life itself, with all of its ups and downs. is the classroom. Our everyday is the academy. Wisdom takes time to develop - a lifetime. And sometimes our adventure requires us to faithfully stay put.

Christian authors and speakers provide an added resource for us to engage with as we seek to become more like Christ Jesus.

So, what books are you planning to read this Summer?

Ascension to Pentecost 

Ascension. The day Christians remember the return of Jesus to his heavenly Father.

Ascension. The day Christians remember the promise that Jesus will one day return.

Ascension. The day we remember that Jesus left us? Alone?

Not quite.

Did you know there are 9 days between Ascension Day and Pentecost Sunday?

The Latin word for nine - novena - describes the 9 days when the disciples, together with Mary the mother of Jesus and other women united in prayer and waited for the promised Holy Spirit.

Jesus knew that believing in him and following him would be tough.

The Holy Spirit is that gift from God to us to help us believe and follow.

The 9 days between Ascension Day and Pentecost Sunday are an opportunity for us to join with Christians around the world in prayer.

We pray for one another. We pray for our children. Our communities. Our workplaces. We pray for people we know. And for those we don't.

In doing so we join with Christians throughout the centuries in praying: Come, Holy Spirit, Come.

Why not join in?

I'm taking part in the 9 days of prayer being supported by Premier. I like it because it's easy to get involved, free and quick to use! Follow the link below if you'd like to give it a go.

https://www.premier.org.uk/Projects/Novena/




 

Creating a Kingdom Culture 

In his book, An Unstoppable Force, church leader Erwin McManus argues that the church ought to shape culture by knowing and living out it's own Christ-formed ethos.
"Ethos - the fundamental character or spirit of a culture, the underlying sentiment that informs beliefs, customs and practises of a community, group or person. To simplify, an ethos is expressed through spontaneous recurring patterns."

What is the ethos of our church?

Do we value the culture of the Kingdom or do we live more by the culture of this world? 

The Kingdom of God? Or the Kingdom of the World? Which is it to be?

It's actually not to hard to make an assessment of this.

Just listen in on a few conversations.

People will talk about what they're passionate about.

People will share with others what really matters to them.

Are our conversations Kingdom conversations?

There's another way to test this.

Do something wrong today.

And then see how people react.

The comments. The emails. The texts and the twitter feeds. Even those emojis.

They all say something about the culture, the ethos, we subscribe to.

We're surrounded by a culture of rights, legal codes and opposing opinions. 

In contrast the kingdom of God is defined by a culture that celebrates peace, forebearance, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self- control. (Galatians 5: 22-23)

Where do you want to live?

The world as we know it?

Or the kingdom where each person is valued because of the values of God.