Wessex News

Wouldn't you know it. It's been sunny all day whilst I've been working in the church office. I'm getting ready to leave, and suddenly there's a clap of thunder, everything gets dark and the rain starts to pour. Needless to say, I didn't bring a jumper/coat/umbrella or anything like that.

On the plus side, I'm about to meet a Bournemouth friend. I like how close Southampton is to Bournemouth, Winchester and other such places. The area I call Wessex definitely feels like home. So, how about some Wessex-related news for this pleasant Tuesday?

Newfrontiers Wessex Regional Celebration
Perhaps you didn't know, but Newfrontiers in the UK is organised in regions. In the same way that there is Newfrontiers UK, Newfrontiers France, Germany etc. the UK is didvided up into regions and teams of men serve the local churches. The Wessex Region spans from Weymouth and Dorchester in the west to Portsmouth in the east. It includes the church I grew up in, the church I served during my year out, and the church I'm currently a part of in Winchester, Bournemouth and Southampton respectively.

Last Sunday, Winchester Family Church hosted an event to which the Wessex Newfrontiers churches were invited, along with their friends in the 'Mission Winchester' group. It was a kind of celebration of their newly-refurbished Middle Brook Centre, and Terry Virgo spoke. Having spent the morning with Winchester, he spent the evening talking about the church broadly.

In terms of the substance of what was said, it made the same points as the sermon Terry recently preached at ChristChurch London. However, to say it was a repeat really doesn't do it justice. In John Groves' introduction of Terry, he said "I am confident that if you listen to Terry, God will speak to you this evening." He certainly did that! The evening served to show me how important it is that the Holy Spirit is present in preaching. Yes, I had technically heard the points made via a podcast, but that was a totally different experience to what God did in that moment on Sunday evening. Many were strongly impacted across the whole range of churches in Winchester, and from around the wider region of Newfrontiers churches.

Wessex Website
On Sunday, the new Wessex website was unveiled. This will be a great tool through which churches within the Newfrontiers family in this area will be able to communicate and share ideas. If you're in a Wessex church, I strongly suggest you sign up!

Life Church On Songs Of Praise
That's right! Chris Kilby and his family were profiled on Songs of Praise on BBC1 on Sunday afternoon in a special Father's Day edition. Haven't seen it yet (I was at the Wessex event!) but I hear it was great!

I notice that having blogged every day for a month, I'm now suffering the usual setbacks of returning south (= little/no blogging). Hopefully I will soon find a regular space in which to blog. It's a little difficult when you have to wait in line for the family computer (although wireless is being installed soon... means I have to fix my laptop to recognise wireless... any ideas please let me know!). I won't give up on blogging, it's just far more difficult when you can't use your own computer!

Gearing Up For A Sunday

For a number of years now, Sundays have been the day of the week I gear up for. Though it has been to varying degrees, and it has meant different things in different seasons, prioritising the day on which I meet with the family of God has become a normal part of my life.

I know that some anti-traditionalists are thinking right now: "Why Sunday? Every day of the week should be filled with God! Every day of the week should be full of His work!"

While they are right, perhaps they are missing a level of excitement about being part of a local body. I have always been at church on a Sunday, so I'm not talking about simply being there, but letting the prioritisation of meeting with the family of God mould the rest of your week.

Since moving to Southampton just over a week ago, I've noticed that it's more and more necessary for me here, in the kinds of stuff I'm involved in, to make sure that I'm fully geared-up every time Life Church gets together. It's not that Life Church is more special than City Church (or any other church for that matter), but simply a reflection of the fact that I personally am in a different season here than I was there, doing different things here than I was there.

So although my life has been more and more moulded around a Sunday over the last few years, I'm noticing it is particularly so here in Southampton. If I'm going to contribute effectively I need to come prepared and ready to share, not shying away because 'someone else has inevitably got it covered', but embracing the fact that I have a contribution to make.

What is your attitude to a Sunday? Do you let the world's precedents get to you? Or are you eager to expend yourself for the people of God?

End Of A Busy Day

Tomorrow I will move out of my house in Sheffield forever! Seems like a bit of a milestone, but in reality, it already feels over. I've said all my goodbyes and this is a formality.

Tonight I spoke at our Alpha course - I really enjoyed it and sensed God with me, giving me the words to say. It's great to get to know others in the church and see who God is adding to us (the whole church is doing this Alpha in addition to guests).

By the way, today I was pleased to find out that someone has written to Evangelicals Now on the subject of Jonathan Carswell's article to which I responded. I'm glad that I don't seem to be completely off the wall with my comments, and that people would indeed prefer to collaborate than to exclude local churches. Thanks Dave Bish for pointing out (and typing up!) the letter.

John Stott On The Fruits Of The Spirit

"But there is another lifestyle, as beautiful as the other is ugly.

"Love, joy and peace characterise our relationship with God; patience, kindness and goodness our relationship with others; and faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control our mastery of ourselves. They seem to be a portrait of Jesus and are identified as the fruit of the Spirit, since like fruit they grow naturally and steadily."

In The Thick Of It

It's funny how a day can be both relaxed and busy. And it's funny how many things I have found to do despite only being home a few days. Today has been catching up on various things and preparing for the rest of the week.

NewGen Books is a business I am giving a go at the moment - it understandably was put on the back-burner when dissertation and finals approached, and today was the day to chase people up and catch up on some paperwork! It's amazing how it all piles up when you leave it for a while.

I spent most of the morning preparing a talk for Alpha this Wednesday at Life Church Southampton: How Can I Be Sure Of My Faith? It's great to be able to get into this kind of stuff now the pressure of deadlines isn't hanging over my head!

Meanwhile, I've noticed that this blog is becoming more of a diary than a blog. Maybe you don't mind, but (while I think it's important to have a personal touch) I've found that this blog becomes more of a diary when I don't have the time/am too lazy to write anything else. Basically, I've not found a routine for blogging yet. Towards the end of uni I had it down to a fine art: I'd write for half an hour before bed and publish it the next morning, with any additions as necessary. Any longer articles I would write in spare time during the day. But so far, because I don't have a routine going yet, this is a bit problematic!

I'm sure I'll sort it out, but please bear with me while I make an effort to get into things here!

Celebrating Brilliance

Last night I was at a 40th Anniversary Concert for the Southampton Youth Brass Band who I played with during 2000-2003. Whilst it was great to see old friends and hear what people are up to now, the best bit was having the opportunity to honour one man, Ian Smith.

I have mentioned before that I reckon that brilliance in a person is a quality sorely lacking in the world today. And yet, as we gathered in New Community Church's Central Hall it was clear that this man has touched many lives over his 33 years directing the band. Many have gone on to be professional musicians and others have stories of how their experiences in SYBB helped them later on in life. However you look at it, this one man has had an incredible impact in many many lives. I love that. I want to be like that.

Listening to him speak after the first of his two standing ovations showed that his passion for what he does isn't going to diminish even though he's soon to 'retire'. And I wonder how many times over the past 33 years he could have done with a little bit of the huge encouragement he received last night. We often leave encouragements until it's too late; or at least later than it could have been.

Don't be slow to celebrate brilliance: be quick to encourage!

Getting Excited About Together On A Mission

If you're at a Newfrontiers church tomorrow, look out for the DVD highlighting the work of Newfrontiers. Every year a DVD is made to show members of churches in the family all over the world what we're involved in. This year, Life Church Southampton features!

There are interviews with Chris Kilby, who leads the team, and with a number of others (there's even a brief appearance made by yours truly!). I hope you will go, watch it and be inspired! The church plant in Durban, South Africa is also featured, along with many other exciting projects.

The real purpose of this video is to raise faith for the work of the wider family and to encourage people to consider giving to the annual offering at Together On A Mission. It's always a great opportunity to give, with the Thursday night at the conference built around the desire both to pray, and give generously.

It's reminded me again how good it is to come together at Brighton representing our respective parts of the family, from within Newfrontiers and outside. If you haven't booked in already, why not give it a go this year?

Refreshing

Today was my first day being away from Sheffield permanently. It's gone very quickly, and there are about as many things to be getting on with here for Life church as there ever were when I was in Sheffield, but it's been a great day.

I arrived in Bournemouth mid-way through a regional session with other Newfrontiers leaders in which Greg Haslam presented a paper on the authority of scripture. It was educational, and yet at the same time touched the heart. It's good to remember the absolute innerancy and sufficiency of this book as I start a new season. It will be great to have Greg with us on our first church weekend away in August, too.

I spent the rest of the day with the Southampton team which was hugely encouraging, and great to get stuck right in from the beginning of being back from uni. This Sunday we're hosting John Groves from Winchester Family Church. John has had a huge influence on the lives of many in the church plant, and it will be great to have him with us.

The reality of being part of this new church is dawning on me little by little. And the excitement of not simply being able to dip my toe in (as I was able to do over Easter before returning to finish off in Sheffield), but the joy of being able to commit 100%, is something I'm gradually realising is possible!

Goodbyes

Caught in the middle right now of a whole host of goodbyes. Said goodbye to my church on Sunday, my wonderful small group last night, my coursemates today, and later on yet more people I've spent these three years alongside.

Tomorrow I won't post until late because I'm being picked up at 6am, will be in Bournemouth by 11:15am, Southampton by 3pm and finally back home by 6ish. It'll be my first day as a permanent Southamptoner, which I'm really looking forward too. But in the meantime, got a number of goodbyes to preoccupy myself with. See you tomorrow.

Christians & Harry Potter

The subject of Harry Potter among Christians is one which often generates a lot of heated debate. There are those who things it's completely harmless and those who would say it's demonic, inspired by Satan or that it will lead children into the occult.

I first started reading the Harry Potter novels when the fifth book (Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix) came out. I decided that I wanted to find out what all my friends were talking about and see why so many people were gripped with Potter-mania. I felt a bit naughty reading it (I remember not being allowed to watch Aladdin when I was little because it had magic in... or Alice In Wonderland... or Fantasia - but then I was allowed to watch The Sword In The Stone and Cinderalla and Snow White...). I started with The Philosopher's Stone and worked my way through. I gradually got more and more into it, and now I am firmly among those who are looking forward to the release of the final installment later this summer.

But then, at the same time I am cautious not to recommend it to children (and not just because their parents' might not approve). I'm not sure I would have found it helpful to immerse myself in this world as a child (I would have found it difficult not to), when there are other more worthwhile things to be pursuing. Obviously it depends on the child, and I know some Christian parents who are very good at reading ahead in the series and deciding when their children can read the book. Their children accept this, and because they are told that they're not allowed to read it yet because it's "too dark" it means that when they do eventually get to read it they have an awareness of how it doesn't fit with Christianity.

A few years ago I bought a book by John Houghton called Looking For God In Harry Potter. Perhaps I'll write a review once I've read it, but from just flicking through I think I agree with most of what he says (which is basically that the type of magic in Harry Potter is no different to that in Lord Of The Rings and Narnia). I don't know what others out there think; I know that David Fellingham at CCK warns everyone away from it, believing it's demonic. Part of me wants to resist that judgement, but another part of me suspects that as a Pastor he has seen the effects of a side of the occult I have never dreamed of. So I am cautious; not proudly but quietly. But secretly I can't wait for the next book.

Mobilise 2006: The Strouds

Seminar Three: 21st Century Men & Women

We are at our most fulfilled when we are who God made us to be. Our goal should be to release one another into freedom to do what God's called us to. Keep pursuing the purposes of God and He will bring you the right person. But you never have as much time as you do when you are single. Purity is the biggest relationship-challenge to us as single people.

21st Century thinking and culture doesn't work.

For men (there was a section of the talk for women - I didn't take notes for that part, not least to avoid strange looks from others in the seminar!): we need to bring strength and energy. Strenght is to be expressed through service to the people in our world. We're called to take responsibility and initiative to protect and serve. We have control for our own lives, choices and a responsibility to take.

We need to take responsibility for ourselves and our communities; take energy to communicate, to bring fun to life, to confront. We need to be "tender and numbskull-tough".

Every man needs to receive affirmation from a Father.

Look for role-models, spend time with them.

Practise strength.

We need to become good at personal change before God.

The Happy Song

I post this for three reasons. Firstly because my exams finished today so I am happy. Secondly, look at the dancing on this video and make it more extreme, and that is how I move on the dancefloor. I call it understated. It's how I was dancing earlier when I got home. Thirdly, because everybody knows you're more holy if you have three points. Three points. Just like the trinity.



Enjoy.

Finishing Off

Tonight is my last night in Sheffield University's new Information Commons. Just finishing off with a bit of revision for my final exam tomorrow on Geological Engineering (yes, I have an exam on rocks - why do you think I've been blogging so much over the past few weeks?!).

It's a strange feeling leaving university. I was sat in a silent study zone earlier wondering what I would do without the Information Commons. I was wondering where I would do work from now on. It just shows that no matter how hard you try to be a 'normal' person whilst a student that you always end up with a degree of separation from the real world. Of course, normal people work in offices, or at home. When I take a step back and realise how ridiculous it sounds to 'wonder what I'll do without the Information Commons' the gap betweens student life and normal life seems huge.

I also think that student life spoils you a bit. In some ways it clearly doesn't (you should have seen the state of my house when I moved in!) but in others we are very spoilt. For example, I was in an office recently and was for some reason a bit taken aback at the quality (or lack thereof) of their printer. How trivial, but as students we're used to having access to excellent facilities of that type (though we have to pay for them). It would be a shame if that's the only legacy my university experience will leave me. But thankfully there has been much more going on than that, and a lot more to be thankful for.

So tonight it's Luke's random thoughts (owing to the final 'final' tomorrow). You can pray for me if you like (Luke Wood, Geology exam, 9am tomorrow). Thanks!

Strange Coincidences?

Over the last few days there have been a number of other bloggers who have said what has been on my mind (without realising it I presume!). Part of me wonders whether this happens because I read bloggers whose minds work in a similar way to mine. But another part of me is secretly and quietly excited that in God there are no such 'coincidences'.

Yes, I sometimes wonder whether God prompts me to write about things for a specific reason - and when others are writing things I have planned to blog about, this sparks my curiosity even more.

Adrian Warnock has commented on Terry Virgo's latest blog post, in particular the part which I disagreed with but didn't take the time to say so. Namely, that a blog becoming personal is something to apologise for! Finding Terry's latest post was, far from being a bore or an imposition, a delight: an insight into the life of the man who founded and still leads Newfrontiers was offered voluntarily - I find that powerful, welcome, and it is indeed the mark of the man.

I was first introduced to Peter Day through Dan Bowen's blog. Peter has recently written about inventions that changed the world: the printing press and the internet. As I mentioned recently, there are a number of examples of excellent people knowing how to get their message out to the culture, which have inspired me recently. I had half-drafted a post about it (I've been drafting posts in advance to save myself time dureing exams) when I found Peter's post.

These overlaps encourage me because even if there is no 'divine hand' in it whatsoever, it shows that we are feeding off each other, bouncing ideas around in a positive way in this corner of the Christian blogosphere. Coincidences or not, I reckon we should be encouraged by them.

Terry Virgo On Marriage

"Let me recommend marriage to you. Some of you young guys and girls, don’t be scared of commitment. Don’t be shaped by the modern drift. I know that statistics tell us that marriage is going out of fashion, but break with fashion! Ask God to help you find a partner and then ask Him to help you be loyal, faithful and fruitful to the praise of His glorious grace."

These are the words Terry Virgo used yesterday on his own blog to encourage us young-uns not be be afraid of the c-word.

They stood out to me starkly. The reason is that though we are now seeing more and more excellent teaching on marriage and singleness (see below), we don't often hear someone from another generation say "let me recommend marriage to you."

The confidence that statement puts across about the right-ness of Christian marriage is helpful for us. There is much teaching around which seeks to validate being married and validate being single. But it must be possible for an older generation to recommend marriage, without that being interpreted as an attack on singleness. Both marriage and singleness are good, and yet we can clearly see God's intention for man to have a helper at the outset in Genesis. I'm not sure we can ever move away from that.

Recent teaching which has caught my eye on the subject of singleness are:
John Piper: Single In Christ - A Name Better Than Sons & Daughters
Adrian Holloway: Single In The City
There are many others too.

My point is that we mustn't marginalise the single. And we mustn't marginalise the married. And though we are more and more exposed to good teaching on the issue of singleness, that does not take away from the fact that marriage was in God's original plan for the world. Although we won't experience marriage in heaven, I believe it is very good for us to desire it for the very reason that God himself calls it "very good".

The Drill-Down Of Anonymity

I don't know about many other bloggers out there, but when I first started this blog two years ago, I was sorely tempted to make it anonymous. But very quickly decided that wouldn't be the best way for me. Why?

It's helpful for people to see who you're aligned to and why. In this particular case, I wanted to make it obvious on my blog what church I belong to for example. It not only adds weight to what you're saying, but in some cases it seemed to me that you just wouldn't be able to make a substantial point whilst hiding your identity.

"That's OK though," I thought, "I can make it clear what church I go to, and the fact that I'm a part of Newfrontiers whilst remaining anonymous."

But, as with all groupings, there are differences of opinion of different issues. and people from within my church or family of churches may want to disagree, or may take exception to the fact that I would write certain things giving the impression "this is what so-and-so thinks". I felt that to publicly align myself with a group or a theological view without the accountability for the reader of knowing my identity would be like trying to have a staring match with a pillowcase over your head: you might be staring magnificently, but the achievement of that is lost; you might make a wonderful argument but its urgency and power is lost.

And if I was going to blog, I was hoping it would have some kind of impact!

You might say "so don't align yourself to a group then - you can give your opinions without doing that." That may be true, but again it's my feeling that an understanding of who you are adds weight to what you're saying - without an identity to engage with people are likely to walk away.

The internet is full of mechanisms to help us create an alt-world for ourselves. These mechanisms deviate from the longing we were all built with for community and a home among strangers. The warmth of friendship which have emerged for me on the internet through this blog simply would not have happened had I kept my identity secret.

But what do you do if you need to keep your identity secret? How might you still enjoy blogging if you need to protect yourself as an overseas missionary for example? A couple from City Church recently spent six months in India serving a Newfrontiers church there and encountered this problem. They started a blog but subsequently decided to put a password on it so that they could write freely about their experiences. That is one option. Their readers still know who they are, but their content isn't available to everyone. Seems like it could work well. There are other options of course.

Adrian Warnock has this to say about anonymous blogging:

"I do feel that it is vital for blogger to be accountable offline for the personna they have online. I am so glad that my pastor knows about my blog and reads it from time to time and whats more that bloggers could easily find his email and drop him a line if they felt I was out of line. Thats accountability. Some of the blogs that get into the biggest hot water dont have that level of offline accountability available to their readers because they are totally annonymous"

It's an incredibly powerful thing for me to know that every time I write something it's going to be published at www.lukewood.info. That's my name right there, so I need to make sure I'm saying things I really believe, which are defensible from the Bible if at all possible. The mechanisms of internet anonymity have the potential to remove most of the positive things I love about blogging.