Thursday 14 March 2024

Book Review: Heaven is Real by Vassula Ryden

Vassula Ryden is unusual in that she is a Prophet in the Roman Catholic Church. She has been to the Vatican to meet Cardinals and Priests about her prophetic ministry. She speaks to small groups and large crowds - mostly Roman Catholic. Heaven is Real and so is Hell is a collection of Vassula's prophetic messages. There is much about Jesus, Satan and The End Times. The essence of the book is a clear call back to God and for Christian Unity. What may be unnerving for non Roman Catholic readers are the frequent references to The Virgin Mary, the Rosary with very few references to The Word of God - The Bible. Dispite her popularlty (she can fill a stadium) Vassula remains prayerful and humble. With great clarity she communicates God's heart for broken humanity and for His Church.

Friday 1 March 2024

Leadership Conference Day 3

After a grey, rainy start in Bournemouth Rico Tice brightened our day by encouraging us from Mark's gospel to Lead Like Jesus (the theme of the conference) which involves serving and sacrifice, so different from many other leadership models; Steve Petch encouraged us as leaders to not to play it safe - such a temptation for many of us. There was another great spread of seminars ranging from Family Life ( which Beverley and I did) to Faith at Work and Death. Another highlight of the conference has been the City Gate Church building in Bournemouth - large, well equipped, welcoming, great coffee shop with social housing above. Inspiring on many levels. The conference has been great, just great. So much to digest and think about. So many areas where our leadership needs to change to be like Jesus - the best leader ever...

Thursday 29 February 2024

Leadership Conference Day 2

Wow, what a day. Three good main sessions on Day 2: John Groves from Winchester bringing a plumbline to leadership that we all need to be reminded of; Natalie Williams from Hastings who always delivers and with humility and self-deprecating humour tells her own story from poverty to CEO; Segun in the evening dazzled with his story of being brought up in Nigeria, coming to know Christ and now leading in Epsom. Apart from the sessions a real highlight is seeing friends and making new ones. I particularly liked meeting Edwardo & Tanya from Spain - he a game designer and she from the fashion industry, both doing a wonderful job changing the lives of refugees. Great anitipation for Day 3...

Wednesday 28 February 2024

Commission Leadership Conference Day 1

The Commission Leadership Conference in Bournmouth is for anyone in leadership - in church, in business, in school, in the home. Just being with hundreds of other leaders and hearing about their context, their struggles and joys is encouraging. Delegates have arrived from Spain, Portugal, India, Canada and Newbury! To worship together is a real highlight. The theme of the conference is Leading Like Jesus and Day 1 speakers beautifully pointed to Him as our model of strong, compassionate leadership: Tim Blaber from Winchester, Mike Reeves a professor from Oxford - copious notes were taken in his sessions; Guy Miller who leads Commission ended the day with an impassioned call for Unity. Looking forward to Day 2 and Natalie Williams...

Sunday 4 February 2024

Losing my voice...

Day 3 and all is quiet...too quiet. I have lost my voice. Viral laryngitis. I don't feel partucularly ill just under the weather. But I can whisper. Just about. All a bit awkard really in my line of work. Lots of talking. All day. I had a meeting yesterday in person but by text - asking questions and responding through my phone. Strange. And frustrating. So it is rest, no speaking, fluids and lots of texting. Laryngitis also means not being able to whilstle or laugh. Funny how we take things for granted like the larynx also called the voice box and the vocal chords. How wonderful they are. What incredible detail and design. So if I don't answer the phone you know why...

Thursday 1 February 2024

Goodbye to Shoemakers

This month something significant happens in Newbury – Shoemakers Bookshop closes. Shoemakers has been selling Christian books and Bibles in The Arcade for 20 years. Quite remarkable for an independent shop to operate successfully for so long. Shoemakers has been staffed by Steve Wood the manager, helped by a dedicated team of cheery volunteers. Behind them an equally dedicated team of faithful Trustees. Steve has been the manager all that time, always ready to find a book or Bible (in any language) - he quite likes the challenge. But there has been more to Shoemakers than books. It has also served as a meeting place, serving tea, coffee, and gluten free yummies. And a quiet, safe place. A prayer place. Shoemakers derives its name from Christopher Shoemaker – one of the Newbury Martyrs. He was burned at the stake in 1518 along with his friends for reading The Bible (see the plaque in Enbourne Rd). The startling image of Shoemaker holding his Bible aloft in the flames can be seen on the mosaic next by the library. So, it is goodbye to Shoemakers. Goodbye to Steve and the Team. And thank you for faithfully serving the people of Newbury and reminding us of the power of The Bible.

Friday 19 January 2024

Let's Talk about Fitness...

I am trying a daily new routine: run to the pool, swim, run home again. I call it my daily commute. It is a good start to the day for me as I have a largely sedantary job. Don't be impressed. I have got to know a few others at the pool now, John - he is the same age as me. He runs to the pool, swims, then does a body attack class, a spinning class, runs home and today is also playing golf! Or Liz at the pool who has swam the channel twice this year; or Liz aged 70 who beat me over 100m; or Irwin aged 70 who I couldn't keep up with over 5k this week; or Claire who over took me pushing a buggy at Park Run; or any of the triathletes I swam with this morning and had to keep stopping to catch my breath. I have to remind myself what the apsotle Paul said: "physical training is of some value but godliness has value for all things".

Thursday 4 January 2024

Mark's Film Review: Ferrrari

Hell hath no fury like a women scorned, the saying goes. And wow do we see this played out before our eyes in Ferrari the movie. Penelope Cruz is stunning as the brooding, jealous, violent, scene stealing scorned wife. Cruz is quite simply magnetic whilst Adam Driver is strangely wooden and grey behind his dark glassess as Enzo Ferrari. The film is built around 1957 a crucial year for Ferrari - in debt and struggling privately and in business. The cars, race and crash scenes are brilliant and shocking. The film is rightly up for various awards incluing Best Sound and Best Supporting Actress. You will love the cars and you will love Penelope Cruz.

Wednesday 27 December 2023

Book Review: Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

If you like gaming, you will probably like this novel. It is full of games, anecdotes to games, lists of games and the main characters play computer games a lot. And a little about Shakespeare - hence the title from Macbeth. But this is a novel also about work, race, relationships, money, sex and America. There is a fascinating description of the difference between east and west coast. Sam and Sadie are childhood friends, good friends, special friends. They grow up to be come successful game developers. They fall out - more than once. In fact, aside from gaming, this is the charm of the novel - relationships and how they change over time. And what is love? Can a man and woman be just friends? Must it always become sexual? How should conflict be resolved? And what if you are in an abusive relationship or know someone who is? There is more than one surprise in the novel, more than one shocking and violent death. And what do we do when we lose someone, how do we deal with loss? Oh, and did I mention gaming...?

Thursday 21 December 2023

Christmas Dinner for 100!

We are now full. 100 for Christmas Dinner is enough. That is the CTNA (Christians Together in The Newbury Area) Christmas Dinner for 100 older West Berks residents who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day. St Georges Church Newbury is again the host venue. Joanna Abrahams has done an amazing job organising the event - booking, shopping, preparing, cooking, clearing up, drivers, co ordinating teams etc. And at 100 we are full despite another 45 requests. Sorry about that. We will have a think for next year if we increase capacity or do another dinner if we have enough team members! It is not too late now however to invite a lonely neighbour or family member round for Christmas...

Thursday 7 December 2023

Running 200k...

I didn't do it on my own course. It was a team effort. 25 of us ran a total of 200k for the charity Loose Ends in one hour this week. Loose Ends is a marvellous charity in Newbury that feeds the homeless but provides support in many other ways - clothing, job advice, housing advice, a listening ear. So with 25 other athleletes from Newbury Athletic Club Wednesday Runners we ran together and raised £1,500. The only sadness was that Irwin Fairclough, club coach, was unable to attend due to illness. Irwin is a popular club coach who, whatever the weather, is often track side or mud side orgainising or encouraging athletes young or older. There is still time to donate: https://shorturl.at/LMQY1

Tuesday 21 November 2023

One of the best days of 2023 - my day at CST

CST - Commission Students and Twenties is an annual day gathering in Winchester for young people. The event on Saturday was one of the best days of 2023 for me. Just to be clear, I am not in that age bracket (in case you wondered!) but I was helping John Groves with the prophetic seminar and on the panel for interesting and tough questions. The be in the room with 300 young people giving up a Saturday (some travelling from Torquay!) hungry for God, wanting to follow Him through the rapids of life was brilliant. The worship band from Hope Church Winchester continue to raise the bar of excellence; Chris and Catherine Kimbangi hosted the day with aplomb bringing faith and warmth to the expectant room; Steve Petch was at his finest speaking on What's Your Passion whilst a stunning line-up of seminar speakers made it hard to choose. Guy & Heather Miller ended the day sharing their story with humilty and candour. Apart from the sessions, I loved the conversations in the breaks - meeting old friends and making new ones. With a room full of passionate young people like that - there is hope for the nation. CST 2024 - watch out!

Saturday 11 November 2023

Highlights of Commission Prayer & Fasting.

Prayer & Fasting is one of the regular gatherings of Commission UK Leaders. This time it was held at Grace Grace Chichester - a marvellous building that used to be an ambulance centre (I admit to a little building envy). With all that is currently happening in the world 2 days of prayer is a good thing to do. One of the highlights for me was having the new assistant pastor of Bridge church Newbury with me - Tom Newbold - just great. It was an double blessing to have Beverley there too. There was plenty of time to worship and pray about all kinds of things: Commission churches espeecially in the South West of England; NewDay - the Newfrontiers gathering of 8,000 teenagers each year; an international focus praying for New England USA; we were joined on screen by Eustace in Ghana - always a joy; the encouragements and challenges of Commission churches in India (now 316 churches!); plus praying for each other and for our home churches. A great way to spend 2 days...

Saturday 14 October 2023

How do we pray for the Israel Gaza war?

We have all felt shocked by the events of the last week. Sick in our stomachs watching the death, destruction and suffering unfold before our eyes. Feeling helpless. Undone. How then do we pray? For both sides and for the innocent civilians and families caught in a heinous war. Just sitting in silence before God will do. Weeping. As will saying "Lord have mercy"> many times if necessary. The Psalms sre helpful in times of uncertainity and calamity. The raw power of the emotions expressed gives voice to our own feelings. Psalm 147 for instance can help us in praying for the region. Here we find references to Isreal, to heart ache, pain, suffering and healing. Words and phrases are given us that we might pray back to God who sees and hears and feels. We are reminded that God is still to be praised. Lets pray for both sides: for those grieving in Isreal and the suffering of those in Gaza. "The Lord builds up Jerusalem, He gathers exiles of Israel, He heals the broken hearted, and binds of their wounds,

Tuesday 26 September 2023

Book Review: Foundations for Pastors by John Groves.

If there is a set book for those in pastoral leadership - this is it. But do not think this book is just for church leaders. It is much more than that and speaks to a wider audience. Anyone in any position of church leadership or pastoral leadership or caring professions will benefit. John cadidly shares from over 40 years of pastoral wisdom with consumate skill and humilty. How to be a shepherd, the importance of character, dealing with those who have difficulties, building team, are all here. And there are gems to be found. Laid out in short chapters with penetrating questions to reflect on (ouch!), this is a book to read slowly and probably go back to. Laced with good things and laced with grace. Do yourself a favour and learn from one of the best...