Comments for A Rambling Guy

Comment on Sermon for the unborn by Steve McAlpine

Steve McAlpine — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:02:00 +0000

Hi Mike

This is a really well written piece. A sermon?

I found this compelling and challenging to my own desire for the material things over the difficult things. Thanks mate

Comment on Sermon for the unborn by Michael Nares

Michael Nares — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:57:18 +0000

Great sermon Tinks, really thought-provoking but effective, see you when you get back!

Comment on Some reflections on Fasting by jolly

jolly — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:06:17 +0000

I used to fast frequently in my university days but now I take long. I appreciate what you have gone through. recently I tried again and was shocked by how much attention I put on food. it helped me toremember God whenever I felt hungry. I am trying to pick up again- atleast once a week.
I encourage you to go on.

Comment on The Women – Film Review by anon anon

anon anon — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:07:41 +0000

So are you saying individuality is a “beast” of our culture?

Comment on Speaking out for those who cannot speak by Goblin

Goblin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:47:48 +0000

Hi Michael
I think all of us who were there touched by your message on Sunday and the challenge it brought. I wouldn’t have been able to hold it together as well as you did, but neither do I think it would have mattered if you had wept openly.
On the subject of abortion it hasn’t always been like it is now. As of this week I have been a Christian for exactly thirty years. Back when I was a young believer abortion was very much an issue for evangelicals. Many, myself included, got involved in groups like ‘Life’ who not only campaigned against the law on abortion, but also raised funds to establish houses where young women could be looked after, supported through birth and equipped with any life skills they were lacking as a real and loving alternative to having an abortion. I’d be encouraged to hear if any evangelicals are still involved in such work.
However, I think I read fairly widely and my conclusion is that abortion has been off the evangelical agenda for a long, long time. It seems to be another one of those issues were we have been beaten into silence by the arguments of our postmodern world and not wanting to look stupid in front of the scientific authodoxy of our day. Its a bit like the retreat on the creation / evolution debate, where many now tend to hide their heads in the sand of not being definite either way. Similarly, we are now less certain exactly when life begins – so perhaps IVF is ok after all, perhaps the morning after pill isn’t really that bad, perhaps early term abortions are ok and what about miscarriages after all? Bit by bit we surrender the argument and think we’re being everso humble by claiming that no-one really knows for definite. And anyway, it’s such a personal issue , who are we to decide and foister our views on others? And so we retreat to where we are today. However, unlike other areas where we have retreated, this one REALLY matters – abortion has become just another form of contraception and thousands of babies are put to death every year as we hide our heads in the sands of postmodernism.
We all bear responsibility. I used to be actively involved in ‘Life’ , but haven’t been for many years. We consider social justice projects and those involved in abortion barely feature on the list. We have resources – time, money, accommodation, church manses, church buildings but we don’t use any of them to provide a viable alternative to those who feel they don’t have one. I can’t help thinking that one day the Lord Jesus might ask us why?

Comment on Church planting with our children – an opportunity for discipleship and evangelism… a post by Matt Spriggs by Laura del

Laura del — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:10:36 +0000

I’ve found these 2 posts really encouraging, challenging and helpful, thanks guys
We currently have neighbour problems particularly targetting the kids, so this is a hot topic for us. I’ve been challenged by the “don’t waste your life” treasuring him sermon jam currently doing the rounds (see tim chesters or anthony adams blog- well worth a watch) to show my kids in all I do that they are not my treasure, my house/garden is not my treasure, my comfort/routine is not my treasure… CHRIST is. Matt and Becks great to have you exemplifying that to me. Thanks so much

Comment on Family… the last idol, or final protectorate? by Goblin

Goblin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:02:52 +0000

Hi Michael

I’m still working through my understanding of the role of ‘lead church planter’, which seems to be a bit of a mixture between the apostle/apostolic workers and local elders described in Acts.

Totally agree with you regarding the dangers of possible church planting in an environment like Soweto. Although I know you will rightly listen to everyone offering counsel, ultimately it is a decision that only you and Jo can make before the Lord between you. I don’t think it would be right for anyone to judge you either way whatever decision you finally make.

Thank you for the example you and Jo are to us all.

Comment on Family… the last idol, or final protectorate? by Michael

Michael — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:27:07 +0000

Thanks Paul

As you know I never would think of just a single family going into a pioneer context – that’s not how we do church planting at TCH.
However, not everyone is gifted to be a lead church planter (although everyone should be a church planter). There is a difference and God has equipped some to do it and not others.

In the post I was trying to make the point that there is a problem with the approach if the family is being neglected in church planting, rather than the church planting happening with them – see Matt Sprigg’s post.

I agree with you that church planting is about doing normal life with gospel intentionality. However not every situation is as physically safe as Sheffield. ‘Normal life’ is different in Soweto than it is in Yorkshire.

With regards to our thinking about South Africa I know of one church there where they discovered a decapitated body on the doorstep of the church building. And like I say in South Africa there is a lot of violent crime against women and children, including rape of babies. So, in this case there are peculiar pressures and difficulties facing a team, not only seeking to do pioneer planting, but to do so in this context. These need to be considered carefully and prayerfully, knowing that the gospel enables us to be generous, even with our lives and to take risks, trusting in our sovereign God.

Comment on Church planting with our children – an opportunity for discipleship and evangelism… a post by Matt Spriggs by Goblin

Goblin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:24:22 +0000

Hi Michael

Matt’s little example is a particularly good one in demonstrating practical outworking of the gospel. It demonstrated welcome and putting Christ first to the girl. It taught their kids that, although an afternoon nap is ideal, it isn’t sacrosanct and they aren’t actually at the centre of the family – Christ is. It was also a witness to the doctor and anyone else who knew the situation that Jesus doesn’t turn his back on people because they have messy lives and so neither do we.
Another underlining of ‘living an ordinary life in an intentional way’.

Comment on Family… the last idol, or final protectorate? by Goblin

Goblin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:11:02 +0000

Hi Michael
I guess you hit on the point in the back of my mind which was that, although different people have different gifts, all are meant to be used in a similar way in building up the body of Christ. Surely that shouldn’t then put some individuals in a more pressurised or difficult situation than others such that their family life suffers or is neglected in some way?

I agree that the pioneer context is different because, by definition, you don’t immediately have the support network of brothers and sisters in the local church around you. That’s why I would always question the wisdom of the traditional single ‘missionary’ situation. I guess it can also be questionable whether a single small family should go into a pioneer context ‘alone’, but I guess it depends on the people in question and the location concerned.

Apart from the obvious issue of the lack of a functioning ‘body’ support network, I don’t see that much difference between church planting and ordinary day to day living for Christ in an ‘intentional’ way. Probably the best thing I’ve read recently on church planting is an article which I think is by Bill Lollar entitled ‘Planting a new church: like falling off a log’ and can be found at his blog http://www.thin-edge.org (sorry don’t know how to do direct links!). I think he says what I’m trying to convey, but much better than I can!

I guess the bottom line of what I’m trying to say is that if a particular ‘ministry’ or church planting situation is causing significantly bigger difficulties and struggles with family life, then there is possibly something fundamentally wrong with what is being expected of that person or what they are expecting of themselves.

Enjoy grace!