Yearly Archives: 2012

Gateways of City and Soul

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Cairo was my home for seven years. I probably lived most of that time experiencing, but only partially comprehending, what a Gateway really is. Isn’t that always the way of things though?  You live it first, and then afterwards the sense gradually begins to get made.

There is a medieval gate in the wall of the Old City, one of three remaining ones, called Bab Zuweila. In our last few months there the gate was renovated. It had stood immovable and open for five hundred years, and when renovated the giant wooden gates turned on their hinges for the first time in half a millennium. It was ceremoniously closed and then opened again.

In gateway places there can be a lot of waiting. Sometimes they seem to lock down, for days or weeks, and you can really feel it. Then suddenly, inexplicably, they swing open and a lot of stuff happens, and you have to be ready to take advantage of it. Sometimes it felt as though, when the gates were closed, prayers would go into a queue and nothing would shift. Then when it opened they would all go through and get responses in quick succession.

When Martin first wrote about the seven city types, it really helped us to understand where we were and where we were not; to know what to expect and what not to expect; to line up our prayers and efforts behind the potentials rather than irrelevancies.

Gateways are often contested, because whoever, or whatever, is seated in them, controls the flow in and out, and can exact toll or tribute from those who arrive or depart, and decree the conditions that apply. A seat in a gateway is buffeted and challenged, but remains place of far-reaching influence, all without having to go anywhere. To be a gatekeeper therefore involves a lot of just maintaining, even enduring a position for the sake of a far greater good.

I often noticed in Cairo, that although the pattern of life was not ‘busy’, or stressed in an activity sense, the inner stresses and soul-level challenges were sometimes relentless. Keeping seated in my own gates, and keeping them in good working order became a regular part of life. But the fascinating thing was the number of times my own ‘inner work’ was directly mirrored in the city, or at least in the environment around me. That kind of influence was the good news and the bad news. The good news was that the city’s issues were at hand – in my own inner house where I had authority. The bad news was that the issues were in my own inner house where I had to take authority.

A couple of years back I was ‘urged’ by the Holy Spirit to attend a Christian conference. (In the natural I am probably more likely to feel ‘urgings’ to run a marathon than to attend a conference, so this had to be the Holy Spirit.) The speaker was Ian Clayton, and some of you may have heard him. From my perspective he brings a very fresh, invigorating, challenging new perspective on the dynamics of spiritual things. By his own admission, with every answer he leaves ten more questions, and a fair amount went onto the shelf for some future time.  One compelling thing I came away from that weekend with was a sort of ‘map’ of my own house. In the months that followed I used it to help me visualize and move around the inner world of my own spirit and soul, to discover what was there. It’s not necessary or possible to attribute a map or a visualization with the status of immutable reality, any more than any map is itself reality, it just needs to be a useful and reliable guide to help you find your way around for a purpose. What fascinated me, however, was that it was full of gateways.

The map was given as a tool for prayer and transformation, perhaps in the same way that the physical tabernacle structure, or a parable, was given as a picture, a visual experience to facilitate our engaging with a heavenly reality; something that would be not an absolute but a useful tool and guide. The proof of the pudding is always in whether or not it is transformational, so I began to try to visualize and attend to the various gateways in my own inner world to see what effect it would have.

Like all gateways, if we find an authority sitting in them that is not our own, or if we find them closed, there will be stuff that does not get through, or that gets hijacked on the way. Conversely, if stuff that should be getting through is not, then maybe we need to check what’s going on in some gateway or other.

Without a doubt the central revelation for me was of that of a central Holy of Holies; a place characterized by belovedness, intimacy and one-ness; a place where the curtain has been torn and the presence of God unveiled – and most importantly, not ‘out there’, but ‘in here’. Gates may be closed or usurped, but that spirit-core is always there. That meant that it was what was happening between this core and the perimeter that I needed to look into, not to look ‘out there’ somewhere for a dynamic of the presence of God I felt I was missing.

Like gateways of a city if you have the privilege of being ‘posted’ there, these inner gateways are contested, especially if you start reclaiming them. For me, the gateway lessons of Cairo are now beginning to resonate with the quest for these deeper, more basic, more personal gateways. But I’m convinced it is the same journey, and that what we do ‘in here’ is far reaching; not self-indulgent, but destined to transform the world.

[Ian Clayton has a website, and many of his resources are available there.]

The Traveller’s Rest- Non Word for 2013.

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Sound of the Anvil.

Normally at this time of year I release a prophetic word/thoughts for the coming year but this year I do not feel at liberty to do that. More and more the walk and journey are becoming the Word. These rambling thoughts and the daily chat, connections and even solitude become the expression of the heart that God has for us. I’m all worded out. To express something of how I feel I wrote a couple of things on my Facebook page; A Word for 2013 (Part 1)…Live (Nuff said) and a Word for 2013 (Part 2)…Grace (Amazing and outrageous). Along with maybe a few other good words like love, forgive, release etc, what more do we need? Yes I know God wants to talk to us daily sometimes at a more specific level, but what we need is to encourage people to listen to their own journeys instead of telling them what to hear. I should not dictate the journey of a group of people, but should equip and encourage everyone to clear the wax out of their own ears and just listen. I can share thoughts from where I am walking but I want to hear accounts of what others are finding on their own journeys. They may be totally different and even seemingly at odds with mine, but that is what makes this a special journey. Individuals linked in an adventure of incredible proportions. All inter-linked and yet operative at their own level. Members one of another but free to experience, hear, do, try, create.

Small Voice in the Big Screen.

Have enjoyed the Christmas season just living and being with family, enjoyed an unexpected visit of a friend yesterday just talking about what God is stirring in our lives and have seen some good and not so good TV. Through it all I have picked up on a few exciting quotes and thoughts. Went to watch the Hobbit on Christmas Eve with the family, a great tradition we seem to have got into. The film has gained mix reviews but have to say I really enjoyed it, what is there not to enjoy about a film subtitled an unexpected journey?  Great film about the journey, the marginalised, the under-dogs. Here is my favorite quote from the film that hit me as I sat in the cinema and lives with me going into 2013. I think this quote has struck home with a few people who have seen the film.

“Galadriel: Why the Hafling?

Gandalf: Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay… small acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? That’s because I am afraid and it gives me courage.”

The small everyday deeds of ordinary folk! Now that is worth chewing over. There is alot of wind on that as one of my friends used to say.

Another one of my favorites came to an end this year, Merlin. Over five years we have seen a fresh take on the legend that is Arthur and Merlin and Camelot, and been captured by tales of relationship, love and magic. That Merlin was played by a nerdy, wimpy young actor was genius as we discovered what this young boy was really carrying, and yet his selfless giving of himself, never after titles or recognition. Destiny was also a big theme and this came out with one of the final quotes as Arthur was dying, ‘It was my destiny to serve you’ said Merlin to Arthur. Is there any higher, Christ-like calling in life? Also what spoke deeply to me was that it was not the throne of Arthur that was established but a fresh spirit and ethos. A Kingdom that would begin to embrace and welcome all, even those who had been marginalised. Through death came forth fresh life for a new day.

Finally from the great film, Dark Night Rises, the third in the latest Batman franchise. I picked up on this the first time I saw it and as we watched it on Christmas day it struck me again. Blake (who turns out to be called Robin) resigns from the police force. When asked if he is sure he replies,  “You know, what you said about structures becoming shackles? You were right and I can’t take it. The injustice.”  That is another great thought to take into the new year. Have not watched the Royle Family Christmas special yet buy who knows what I may pick up :) . Also hoping to see the Life of Pi this weekend too. That small voice is everywhere.

Walk On.

So 2013 becons and the journey continues. What a priviledge to walk and talk daily with God and people. I know there will be many twists and turns ahead, and many hills to climb and valleys to walk through, but walk I will. Anyone looking for the dramatic may have to look elsewhere but those looking for Jesus, He may just have been here all along walking with you but you did not realise it. Those looking for the dramatic find it hard to cope when the ordinary happens, that is why they have to search for the next dramatic, or even create it themselves. But for those with ears to hear, eyes to see, feet to walk, every step on a grain of desert sand is a holy highway of our God. It is time to step into the whatever of the future. You want a word for 2013? Be the word and you may be surprised what you hear back as an echo. And if you hear nothing it is amazing how even silence is full of the voice of God.

 

Another Christmas, another year

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One faith among many? I am actually open to the possibility of some measure of the knowledge of God being present to some in other faiths. To simply interpret Jesus as ‘the way to God’ is to minimise what the Gospel is about. He is not the way to God, he is the way to the God who is known as Father. Christians are not to have the low-down on knowing God but on having an intimacy with the God of all creation. Sometimes we defend something so limited when we forget that we are here to explore depths and heights. Let’s not stop dreaming.

And Christmas. One huge reason why we cannot possibly think of all faiths simply being a variation of each other. One huge reason to keep faith alive and explorative. We encounter the weakness of God. A baby. Living in our world. I am amazed at how God speaks to us. I think I can almost suggest that we do not hear the word of the Lord but we do hear what he says to us. I am not a Catholic and am not about to become one. Yet God can (maybe) speak to someone and call them into the priesthood. And yet in God there is no priesthood class. Is it the word of the Lord or God speaking to an individual? Often we hear God speaking to us, but if we understand God has come to live in our world then what he says to us can increasingly become the word of the Lord. Or to maybe take the charismatic language out of it: our convictions that are birthed from our faith can become the stepping stone to his convictions.

Christmas. Fully human. He understands me. He knows what I am made of. Questions, doubt, uncertainty and growth. His experience and mine. Another year: growth?

Christmas. Into the world comes the first authentic truly human one. All heroes are fallen heroes, but not this one.

Jesus was not born on Dec. 25th, a week after his birth is not the beginning of a new year for God when he makes a set of new resolutions. But the dates are good for me. What a platform for a new year.

So to all who follow this blog, with all the unanswered questions and challenges to faith that will come in this next year, a reminder from Isaiah 9:

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting bFather, Prince of Peace.

Have a reflective Christmas.

The Forgetting River

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I have just finished reading The Forgetting River: A Modern Tale of Survival, Identity, and the Inquisition by Doreen Carvajal. We came across the book when we were researching the expulsion of Jews from Spain. She is a New York Times journalist who discovered her family background was to conversos (Jews who were forced to renounce their faith and convert to Christianity or face torture and death) in Inquisition-era Spain. Incredibly well written, very personal, educational and very moving.

The two main geographies she covers is the area around Cádiz, with a focus on Arcos de la frontera, and Mallorca. She actually moved to Arcos for a period of time and eventually after breaking through the wall of silence uncovered so much. The two geographies of course are of personal interest to us, and it was a great book to read in the few days left before we return to Spain.

Geneticists have found that 20% of the population of the Iberian Peninsula has Sephardic Jewish ancestry (with 11% having DNA reflecting Moorish ancestors). Spain is huge on pork – reason? To ‘prove’ you were not a Jew you would eat pork. To this day in many pueblos household furniture can be seen in the street on the Saturday – again to demonstrate that you were not a Jew, being seen to be visibly cleaning the house on the Sabbath.

I have been deeply impacted by the book. Again having to face up to ‘Christian’ history. It is painful to read about torture and expulsion on the one hand, and then a welcome to Jews from Muslims in Morocco or even Turkey. Challenging at any time of the year, very challenging when we have a festival to celebrate the Incarnation.

Sentimental Memories of Bethlehem

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I really don’t have any high-minded objection to little nativity scenes. I’ve got one myself, made from little pottery characters we bought in Egypt. But I have been to Bethlehem and I remember it well.  It was very different, and I suspect Bethlehem when Jesus was born was very different to my nativity scene as well. The last time I was there I found myself in the middle of a demonstration. The previous night some Palestinian activists had been assassinated by Israeli security agents. As the numbers increased and the atmosphere became more heated we slipped away to continue our journey towards Egypt. Deaths and fleeing; an authentic Bethlehem experience I suppose.

So maybe to update my nativity scene I should slip a flag-waving Palestinian militant in behind the shepherds at the back of the little stable.

The previous day I had also been to the Church of the Nativity that now stands above the spot where Jesus was thought to have been born. We queued to descend some steps into an underground crypt. Mostly women – come from all over the world come to sit there in the place where Mary sat, in the hope of gaining blessing for the unborn children they bear, or for miracles if they have not been able to conceive. Priests, no doubt weary of supervising the continual stream of tourists and pilgrims, were impatient, chivvying us along. That place didn’t feel particularly holy, or even that authentic.

So I can also add a pregnant young Russian woman into my nativity, just reaching out to touch the crib for some blessing.

Banksy has been to Bethlehem, and I’m glad. Some of his most famous and audacious art is there. The militia man throwing flowers; the paradise scene on the security wall. A reminder that humanity is hard-pressed but resilient. That art wouldn’t be there if there wasn’t hope. That was heartening.

My stable would look good with a bit of conscientious graffiti on it too, just to let Jesus know what was hoped of him.

And strangely, in Bethlehem, on my birthday, I received the gift of a year. I had spent quite a while thinking I was 47 until a friend born in the same year corrected me and insisted I was in actual fact only 46. I felt happy all day.

Well, however deluded I am, I can put myself in the scene too. Just passing through.

I don’t think Bethlehem has ever felt holy or slept sweetly under silent skies. Probably always was a messed up mixture of pain, injustices, resentments, idolatry, unfulfilled hopes and a bit of earthy human resilience and humour just keeping it going. Maybe like my town, my home, my soul even. It just got visited, that’s all, and Bethlehem’s visitation was all of our visitations. According to the story, Bethlehem wasn’t ready for Jesus, but that didn’t stop him making an entrance there.

I’m glad that Jesus is not an idealist. Gritty and sometimes grim reality does not faze him at all. He does not need a recreated idyllic past to feel at home in. He doesn’t need us to be who we think we need to be. Right here, right now, as we are is just fine. If not, what hope would there be for any of us?

And yet so often we can let little bits of religious thinking slip back in. Needing to improve ourselves a little bit before we can experience Emmanuel. Needing to get the house ready. Needing to get the salvation kicked off so that Jesus can pick up the reins once we’re a viable going concern. Needing to repent first so that we can be forgiven. All that does is keep us away from the Messiah who has turned up.

Sometimes I do get caught in the delusion of looking at what is less-than-ideal in my life and imagine that something needs to be changed, something should have been done differently for me to be in a better place. When that happens it’s time to give myself up and just get into the event that’s already happening. There’s nowhere else in the world than here, no other time than now, and no condition different to my present, where I would have more of the presence of God.

The Traveller’s Rest- It’s the End of the World as we Know it, and I Feel Fine.

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The Beginning of the End or End of Beginning?

So this could be the last blog I ever write if tomorrow is truly the end of the world. It is purely the well known fact that the Mayans happened to believe that December 21 2012 is the end of the world. Of course we will write this off as a load of old bunkum while others gladly cash in by putting on end of the world events from Brian Cox and Robin Ince to the Last Supper Club in Shoreditch. Yet today I have used the normal hype and hot air from both sides of the argument to think about the many issues that revolve around the possibility of facing God tomorrow, as if in many ways I am not already, but you know what I mean. If this was the end of the world would I be living today any differently? Would I have any regrets? Are there things I wish I had said to people? Are there relationships I would mend? Would I be scared of facing God after death? For some if it was the last day on earth it would be their chance to have a huge drunken party, for others they would spend some time with family. What would we do if this was the beginning of the end?

Living Life to the Full.

Would I live today any differently if I thought the world was ending tomorrow? Maybe I would but in many ways I am happy with my life. As believers surely we should be living fullness every day, whatever we are doing. We have been very good at using the so called ‘rapture’ to scare monger people to be ready, as in make sure you are caught doing something holy rather than normal. My father-in-law always used to say to Allison pray that Jesus does not return while you are in the cinema. It was used as a blackmail to live a false holiness. People often miss the fact that those who were taken in the Gospel passages (if we interpret it as rapture) were in a field or in bed, doing normal every day stuff. There is no mention of being in church, praying, hymn singing etc. Working and living family life. Sharing all things with Christ on a daily basis. That is why I will still go to work tonight because to me that is vocation, that is holy calling, to walk one last time in those aisles will be a privilidge. To share one last night with those colleagues will be a joy, because every day is a privilidge and joy. Does that mean some nights I do not want to be in work? Of course there are times I want to walk away from there, that’s life. But those aisles remain a place of holy connection. Would I have regrets? I think we all have stuff we wish we had or hadn’t done, but as the song says, regrets I have a few but then again too few to mention. I’ve missed the mark, I’ve lost relationships, communication has broken down with some, I have hurt others, taken wrong turns etc. But when I look over my shoulder I see one thing more than anything else-grace. Amazing grace. The regrets become as shadows in the light of grace. So many of us allow the weight of regret to rob us. The enemy loves the whispers of our mistakes to nullify us and our acceptance of full relationship with Father. There are many things we did our way but He did the most amazing thing His way to make a Way. I now have no fear of facing God in any shape or form because He clothed me. He covered me. The greatest cover up story there has ever been. No wonder we call it Gospel.

The End of The World as We Know it.

Maybe it will just be the end of the world as we know it. God wants to redeem and restore His groaning creation. It may not be the culmination of all things but it can be the beginning of giving ourselves to this world that we live in. Appreciating creation in a fresh light and cherishing the planet. Seeing a fresh release of creativity from the Body of Christ that reveals the Creator and releases creation. Seeing newness as something to embrace and life as something to live, whatever we find ourselves doing. That even sleeping with a right heart is good enough for rapturous life, to be released and taken up to fresh levels. Music, poetry, painting, sculpture, novel writing, film making, all released from out of thr Body but not exclusive to the Body. Nothing worse than a cringy Christian film or book. A new world where we can coexist with those of different beliefs and befriend the one’s of no belief without preaching at them. A new life where the Light will shine as the light of all men. Every day is a new day, we do not need to talk in terms of new seasons. Every fresh morning shouts fresh creativity. Opportunity knocks to live for Him afresh. Yesterdays failure is todays springboard. And tomorrow, maybe it is the end of the world. It probably won’t be but I’ll live it to the full anyway. I feel fine…

I guess it’s the world that we live  in

It’s not too late for  that

This is the world that we live  in

And no, we can’t go back

This is the world that we live  in

I still want something  real

This is the world that we live  in

I know that we can heal  over time
(The Killers The World We Live In)

Spain… what future?

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I have been praying into issues concerning this new year. 2012 certainly does not see the end of crises in the global / western society. I wrote to someone a brief comment the other day:

Exciting days – 2013 will see greater upheavals and some mighty struggles at the margins as they seek to break out. Certainly will be true in Spain as part of the ongoing struggle between the old order being challenged.

I do not enjoy crises. Many suffer in that scenario. As praying today I am suggesting that we are going to see the rise of new political parties and the strengthening of existing ones that are on the extremes. I came home from this to be sent this link about Spain and the España 2000 party BBC video. It is a short but well presented documentary, how the times of Franco are not too far away. It is a good time to live in Spain. Forgetting the past is not the way forward. It is for the reason of not letting the past be remembered in order to be dealt with that Judge Garcia lost his position in Spain (the opinion of many).

In the video there is a clip about the fire bombing of a mosque. In Spain’s history Christians and Jews lived together with Muslims while under Islamic rule. The ‘Christians’ conquered Spain for God and in quick succession the Muslims and Jews were expelled, tortured or had to forcibly convert. Some Jews when expelled received refuge in North Africa from Muslims. Spain might have forgotten with its Amnesia Pact of 1977, but many others have not forgotten what took place with their ancestors.

To move forward we have to remember to forgive and be forgiven.
To move forward we cannot see the other as the enemy.
To move forward we have to find ways of compromise to live and work together.

This is a turbulent decade. Extremes will come and go. What is left at the end of the decade will be very different to what is here today. What it will look like will depend on what is done today. We will have a very different future… how positive it is depends a lot on these next years of this decade.

The western patient?

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Is the Western patient sick?

The open letter from Wolfgang posted the front page of Der Spiegel asking if the USA was sick. A good question but one that raises a larger question – how sick is the Western world? For those who have the knowledge and the ability it is well possible to enumerate the differences between the USA and Europe, but whatever the differences are there is also a continuation from one to the other. For all the comments that are made that Europe is socialist, it is currently pretty hard to find a true socialist party in power in Europe. And on taxation there really is not that great a difference. The similarities are greater than the differences. The West: not needing an obituary but heading that way!

The US faces the ‘fiscal cliff’. Italy faces the threat of new elections in the early part of next year with the resultant upheaval to the economy there. Spain loses jobs on a daily basis. It seems we, in the West, are on borrowed time. We cannot continue to live today from borrowing from the future, particularly when there continues to be so little that is sowed into that future. The less that is sowed the smaller the future harvest there is to borrow from.

De-regulation that has been a slope over the past 30 years seems to me to fly in the face of some common sense safeguards and also some biblical restrictions. Arguments for a free ‘market’ when applied to the service industry is very different to applying it to the world of hedge funding.

There are some interesting regulations in Scripture. Take the principle of gleaning.

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God (Lev. 19:9).

The family-line of David was certainly blessed through that principle and it was the means of their survival.

So how about society where the market is not ‘harvested’ to the maximum, and where it is not simply leaving space for the opposition/healthy competition, but for those with no support. Gleaning would be to deliberately lose part of the harvest. If, as many economists suggest, that in a healthy economy the natural rate of unemployment should be no less than 4% there needs to be quite a provision for those.

The big issue seems to me to be that of debt. Debt based on greed. Greed fuelled by advertising. It is freeing to be without certain things. Not to run a car, to have a non-smart phone, to have a recycled not-the-latest computer. There is no value in having or not having the latest things, but there is value in being free from having to have them.

So gleaning would be an interesting phenomenom. Food in supermarkets that have a sell by date being made available to anyone who needed it is one solution that has been implemented. But how would we apply this to the wider business world? At the very least the principle is a challenge to maximising profits as the driving bottom line.

Increasingly politics are becoming polarised. The problems facing politicians are enormous. Take Europe. Austerity measures to tighten things up has been implemented. The result has, thus far, been cuts to essential services, rising unemployment and societal pain. It has not produced growth. Is there an alternative? In the US, Romney or Obama, probably both would struggle with giving genuine compassionate wise leadership. The idea that someone or a particular party can bring an answer is in the realm of mythology.

I despair of our politics. The polarisation, the lack of a level playing field, the finances that are poured in to the candidates because of vested interest. The confrontational nature of opposition.

The small things make a big difference

We might not be those who engage with shaping economics or politics but if we believe in sowing something where we are then a few elements are worth considering:

Self confidence, based on knowing who one is, is admirable. But empty promises and projectionism produces disillusionment. Humility that is willing to accept that ‘I don’t know’ is to be cultivated. It is easy to live without vision, maybe it is also easy to live with a big vision such as societal transformation. Big vision without some impact on someone around us seems as unimpressive as no vision.

Dependency on God. Apparently the biggest evangelist in Iran according to an Iranian Christian is Ayatollah Khomeini. The heard line fundamentalism is driving people to find an alternative! Maybe our lack of dependency on God is driving people to find an alternative to our professed faith. I once had a pastor say to me that having heard me speak he understood for the kingdom of God to advance that his nation did not have to be successful. (He viewed his nation as being Christian). I was stunned to hear such a thing. But we can replace ‘my nation’ with many other aspects. The nature of idolatry is take an image that represents our God and to give our allegiance to it.

Investment in the margins, or maybe better put in the future. In the coming of Christ the promise was that the rich would go hungry and the poor go fed. A great reversal was promised. Women and children are still in many cultures marginalised. Education that is having so many cut backs applied to it in Spain is a way of investing in the future. Not the present with a drive to reach standards, but with a desire that each child discovers their own path.

Is the Western patient sick? We will only get sicker the longer we try to preserve an old order. As we come in to 2013 I expect upheavals and some mighty struggles in the margins to break out. It is part of the ongoing struggle between the old order being challenged from below.

The Traveller’s Rest- Flesh…

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Incarnation.

Having four children you always end up getting sucked into the occasion and events of this time of year. And although they are getting older (and that means I am as well), there is still an air of excitement and buzz as we rush around getting last minute presents, decorate the tree and think of all the stuff we will be doing over those few days in late December. Working in Asda you do realise it is just another event to keep the tills rolling over, the next in a line of selling points, this one arriving after Halloween and Bonfire Night and before Easter. With Christmas songs playing over the store radio from the 1st December on until Christmas day itself we are fed with the reason to shop. Yes it has become commercialised, yes there is a muddle of stories where we mix up the ‘so called’ Nativity with a certain man in a red suit, but there is something about the ease in which the name of Jesus is spoken at this time that I really love. He is talked about with no embarrassment or a whisper, but as part of life, the story, the journey, the unfolding of the year. I’ve been through that thing where I wondered whether we should celebrate this time as a Christian because it is just a Christianised Pagan festival no matter how much we try and convince ourselves otherwise. It is the only Mass we charismatics will talk about without flinching, we place pagan symbols around our homes with glee and no thought of bringing demons into our homes and we add characters and events to the Biblical account without even feeling guilty. Yet it all speaks of incarnation, God with us. It is about the greatest truth that we as Christians have available, that if we could really grasp the reality of then not only will we be blown away our whole lives will be lived differently, because the incarnation continues today through our lives.

Nativity 3.

Having recently sat through the great comedy film Nativity! featuring Martin Freeman and then yesterday going to see my youngest son, Matthew (10), in his school concert called Nativity Rock and Roll, I realised once again the powerful story of the birth of Jesus. The words to the songs and the readings and prayers communicated with power from tiny lives who are probably more excited about gifts than the true Giver. Yet both focused on the birth of a child. Immanuel, the God with us. These parents and many who watched the film would hear about a miracle through young lives without embarrassment or questions. The barriers were down. No one asked about all the wars in the world or the suffering. No one called the believers hypocrites or Bible bashers. No one wanted to leave because the meeting was irrelevant or not seeker friendly. Through the lips of their own children and the media a message of eternal significance was being communicated. The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us. There was no theological discussion about possibilities of virgin births, just the simplicity of story, wonderment, magic. Everyone left with a warm glow despite their debts, family troubles, addictions to drugs or alcohol. No one was singled out as being saved or unsaved. Just people arrested by miracle.

God loves Flesh.

What hits me most is that God loves flesh. Simple human flesh. He is not ashamed of it’s limitations or imperfections, He loves flesh. He lived in it when He was born, He grew up in it and He even died in it. Yet that was not the end of His relationship with flesh. The pain this flesh carried for Him was not the end of His choice to work with it. Through the Spirit He continues looking for flesh to dwell in. Incarnation takes place everyday as He dwells amongst us, in us and through us. Our lives as a living temple, not made with hands. My life is significant as far as the continued story of incarnation goes. He tabernacles in and through us, not in church buildings or temples. When we awaken to this fact it does change everything and the original incarnation takes on even more power and significance. The same Spirit that rose Christ from the dead lives in me, this ball of flesh and blood. This imperfect, misshapen, overweight body, He lives in it. This life that makes mistakes, makes wrong decisions, sometimes willfully sins and hurts others, this life that sometimes lacks character and holiness, He lives in it. This body that falls, wants to throw the towel in, sometimes cannot be arsed, with all my habits and failings, He lives in it. Emmanuel, God is still with us. The Word still becoming flesh and dwelling amongst us. Now that is the miracle to live daily by and one to be reminded of time and time again. That is why the religious mix and commercialism of this season no longer bothers me like it did, because in the middle of all the trimmings, additions to the story, wonderment about angels and Santa appearing, there is a story about God and flesh. And we can add and take away what we like but it will never change that one thing, Immanuel, God with us, then, today and every day to come. The God in flesh making dwelling with us.

The american patient

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Wolfgang and Mercy Simson sent out this open letter the day of the US election, with permission for it to be made available to a wider audience. The spirit of the letter is admirable, as it always so difficult to write to another culture. He quotes from Der Spiegel ‘The American Patient: The decline of a Great Nation’. In reality there is either a better question, or a parallel one that has to be addressed to western society as a whole. Here then in the letter.

Our dear America – where do you go from here?

Today, Obama has been re‐elected; all the efforts of many Christian leaders, prayer movements, “prophets” and “concerned Americans” who have lobbied, written appeals, articles, books, letters ‐ some have even done films ‐ to warn not to vote for him have come to nothing. Many of them have behaved as if the future of the Kingdom of God is at stake. Well, it is not.

Can we, as foreigner who dearly love you as a people, say a few words into this situation? Because it is evident to us that God has a clear plan with your nation. But many don ́t seem to see it, and therefore run the danger of fighting the wrong fight, wasting precious time and resources, and even endlessly call upon God to do what he just will not do.

The German weekly Der Spiegel, kind of a German Time Magazine, has a cover picture of Uncle Sam in bed, titled, The American Patient: The decline of a Great Nation. We think this is a prophetic picture. As your friends, we know, acknowledge and admire that America has had a great past. But how will your future look like?

God chastises whom he loves because he knows: pride will come before the fall, and humbleness and brokenness is the only condition he responds to. We personally sense we need to tell you: the destiny of your nation is in God’s hands, not yours. It is not at all about Obama or Romney, it is about God using all the nations in the world according to his global and unchanging plans. Did you ever allow the thought that God in his sovereignty is using Obama like a pawn on his chessboard to humble the US as a nation because he wants to show his grace to a nation gone completely self‐sufficient? A nation that is so full of independence, individualism, nationalism and trusting a greed‐and fear‐based economy that there may be only one way open to heal it from its idolatry and re‐align itself with the Kingdom of God: a crisis beyond anything that America has ever seen?

In 2008, God has been challenged by a man standing up in public, preaching to the cheers of a huge crowd: “Yes we can!” We watched it; we saw the tears of excitement in the eyes of the people; the statements were received as if coming from the Messiah himself, and the electoral rallies had all the flavor of a religious revival. “Yes, we can” is the exact opposite of the King of kings saying: “Without me, you can do nothing!”

If God is the one who “deposes kings and raises up others” (Dan 2:21), does it really matter what are the names of the current puppets set in place by God that advance both the New World Order and the Kingdom of God? Neither Herod, Pilate nor Cesar were truly important for the development of the Kingdom. That is exactly why Kingdom people do not play in the Second League, but the First, the one that matters. The one that puts the Kingdom first, and everything else ‐ including their own nation ‐ second.

The problem of the current commotion and insecurities arises when even the people that call themselves after God keep confusing the Kingdom of God with the United States of America. And when that happens, especially through Christians with a public voice, then we have truly lost all perspective of the coming Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the predictions he has made that will precede his coming.

America is being publicly humbled by God; and he is going to use Obama – and those after him ‐ to further advance his agenda that will lead all nations to kneel before that one true King Jesus very soon. If any nation wants to become a tower that reaches up to high heaven, it will be humbled by a God who will not share his glory with people relying on their own strength.

America, where do you go from here? What does this mean for you? The future is going to be very, very rough. Your securities will vanish, the economy will go down, the education system will become even worse, the streets more dangerous, the churches even more divided, the youth even more disillusioned – unless there is a true movement that abandons all those idols mentioned above, and radically repents, makes a radical alignment with the King of the Kingdom of God and his constitution, live the Law of Christ in all areas of life, first and foremost in the areas of sex, money, power and how we “do church”. This is a defining moment for you as a nation. You could go down, as the German journalist of ‘Der Spiegel’ predicted. Or, America could be literally re‐invented by Kingdom people who are ready to implode the prevailing myths about Americas greatness, and replace it by God’s greatness. The King has even greater things purposed and would fulfill those purpose IF those who call themselves after Jesus the King, would turn away from their self‐made religion, self‐made churches and religious factions, self‐made visions of success, and their self‐made, harmless God.

Can we lovingly but urgently call you back at this hour to begin and initiate a movement to reposition and repatriate yourselves into the eternal Kingdom, by submitting yourself not only in theory but also in practical deeds to Jesus the King, starting to obey the King and his liberating decrees in all the areas that count? You might even want to write a declaration of dependence on God and each other, because by idolizing anything else before and over God, you will become illegal aliens in the country that counts, where we all are called to have our home: the Kingdom, the one place where our true citizenship, nationality and allegiance lies (Phil 3:20). This is the only one country that will not be shaken, as it has an unchanging King.

If there is any way that we can help you in this great challenge and task – we want you to know we will.

Wolfgang and Mercy Simson, Germany

A Texas conference

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We were a couple of days in Texas at a conference graciously hosted by John Paul Jackson, and I thought I would take a post to reflect on our time there, not a report as such, but more a reflection. I am not going to give a full report as the conference was by invitation and the content that some shared of course was shared in a private setting.

There were a few of us there from outside the UK. We enjoyed sharing time with Justin Abraham (Wales) and Aliss Cresswell (Chester). Also something I appreciated on the wider front was the honesty and non-judgmentalism. No big deal but we were joined each evening by a few of the delegates in the hotel lobby (visible place) for a glass of wine. I appreciate those who by conscience do not drink, but I do not like, nor understand, drinking in private in such a way that other people would be stunned to discover that we actually partake. Small point, but another pointer to the positive environment.

It is always interesting to step outside of one’s context. Challenging of course to one’s own culture. Spain is a challenge. We are Europeans… but there are more differences than just the language. South and North Europe is different. Crossing the Atlantic there are more differences than just the accent. So I want to reflect back as objectively as possible. I am very appreciative for the recent post by Paul Wood on how Jesus comes to us to let us know that he is not for us or our enemies: he comes with a big fat ‘neither’. Or maybe put a little more subtly: the line defining right / wrong is not drawn between us but is always drawn through us. Very annoying of course!! I watched the last days of Hitler (film) and was challenged: he treated women and children near him with respect. Was he not ‘totally’ evil? And am I not totally right? Apparently not.

There will always be elements we do not understand about other cultures. Politically there are always challenges. Maybe I need to learn that the ‘right’ politics does not exist. I lean left of centre, the options for the US presidency were both (my perspective) way right of centre. So the angst that the right person did not win was a mystery to us.

So trying to lay on one side my biases.

We were very impressed with John Paul. Humble, accepting and gave me 15 minutes to speak into the group of invited guests. He has his perspectives but not controlling. 10/10 for his hosting and the environment he created.

He had Lance Wallnau address us on the 7 mountains of society. For those who have read what I have been writing will know my reservations about the term ‘mountain’. I have not met him before nor read his material. We loved his pragmatism. ‘Doctors always want to know where they fit… so I simply create for them another mountain, an eighth.’ Wonderful pragmatism that says – this model is not fixed, it is just a helpful tool. I still have two major reservations: why is there a church / religion mountain? And is the ‘we must infiltrate the 3% who shape the ideologies’ the Jesus-way. However the message he was bringing was very potent in this mix, where he suggested that all the emphases on ‘church’ (mega, revival etc.) was in the main simply business and business as usual. And he s doing what he is talking about, working alongside influencers to consider how to shape things for the release of a good environment for people to prosper.

Discussion groups on how would we enable apostles and prophets to work together. Less positive on this! My reflection was not reflected back in the feedback – wonder why? I am still unconvinced that a summit to decide best practice will achieve too much!! In my 15 minutes I did suggest that there is less difficulty in people working together when we are not shaped by the four walls but can find ourselves dealing with the issue of the values of Jesus within a multi-cultural society is the context. Wrong context and there are no solutions, other than the further establishment of religious structures.

Gayle sitting two days 9.00am – 9.00pm probably speaks volumes. Although our cultures (US/ Europe) are poles apart, and many of our concerns and conclusions differ enormously, we have not appreciated two days in such a context as much as this in a long time. We leave provoked to be what we personally need to be within Babylon. We are not responsible for cultures we do not fully understand. We are responsible to understand the culture where we live, and what our responsibility is to be, in some measure, a manifestation of Jesus within that culture.

Finally, what a privilege to sit with John Sanford (Elijah House). His major contribution to the two days was to inject humour. Someone who carries God’s presence, with totally nothing to prove. Another challenge to us to grow up!!!

Tomorrow I will post an open letter from Wolfgang Simson, Germany to the USA.

The Traveller’s Rest- Tonight’s Gonna Be A Good Night.

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What A Feeling.

On Sunday night I was out at the Asda night colleague’s work’s do. About 15 of us found our way to Pontypridd and dived into the night life of the place. We started with a meal and then moved onto a place called ‘The Skinny Dog’ and finished up at a late night disco/karaoke place. We had an amazing time, a real laugh, I have not raided the dance floor so much since last years do. To think that until a few years ago I would have avoided such nights like the plague. Who wants to be out on the town with a group drinking themselves silly, especially on a Sunday night when I could be safe and snug in church at a Gospel service. I looked down my nose at such people and probably tutted under my breath when they told of their weekend exploits, the bits they could remember anyway. As a believer I should not be found in such dens of iniquity where I may become tainted and fall from grace. All the time convincing ourselves that we were building bridges into our community and loving the people and doing Gospel services just for them. When you go out on a night like this you realise why no one comes. Our nights, supposed celebration meetings, are so boring with a capital B. Who do we think we are kidding when we offer something radical for the unchurched? Our seeker services are not offering the unsaved what they want but offering them what a Christian thinks they want which is completely different. Slick music, short talks, lights, drama etc. This is not what seekers want at all, they love a mess, they love a rollicking good night out, they love a laugh, they love being around people that let themselves go, they want to go out and be themselves and not be bound to behaving like silent angels. They want those inhibitions to go and just have a good night out. To us believers this can be very different to what we are used to. It can be the opposite of inviting them into an alien environment, we are now the aliens, that is until we truly become one of them. By saying that I do not mean we have to behave like them but we have to be part of our community. Part of the family. Not afraid to venture in. We are IN the world… Most believers are out of this world and therefore can never be related to.

You Look Good on the Dancefloor.

I have come to a place where I love the atmosphere created by a night out like this. Even how a drink or two lowers the guards of people. Those quiet on the edge people all of a sudden loosen up and everyone sits shoulder to shoulder instead of some above another. I look around and thank God for this community of night owls that God has allowed me the privilege of being a part of. One with humanity. While eating together, drinking together, dancing together, laughing together, more and more barriers come crashing down. There were times on the dance-floor when certain songs were played and I was singing along it was worship raising up to heaven. I raised my arms in praise and shut my eyes in adoration. A community where all are embraced without prejudice. Yes there are times in work when people bicker and argue and some leave, but this community gets on with it’s task. And the banter is so much fun. This is church, these are the called out one’s. We are gathering together. I do not see each of them as an evangelistic target to pluck from the jaws of hell, but I love them, respect them, talk sense and nonsense with them, and answer any questions they may have. Jesus was not mentioned on Sunday night but He was there as Immanuel, the God with us. The Word made flesh and dwelling amongst us. He was made flesh and dwelt, we keep changing Him back to spirit and withdrawing to so called Holy places. To me there was nothing more Holy than our works do. Community, laughter, people, friends. A great night out.

In but not of…

We need to learn that we are in this world and not think we are protecting ‘weaker’ brothers by withdrawing them. We are not of this world, we know that, but it is not because we create a counter culture somewhere else, a different reality, we are in the world. We rub shoulders with those in the world. We are different because we have a treasure in our jar of clay. We have either found the treasure by looking or stumbled across the treasure, but we are still cracked pots encasing something so amazing, so precious, so real. We are still flesh beings, there is no shame in flesh. We do not have to hide. It will only be by discovering the treasure that lives will be transformed, but that will only come as they glimpse it in the mud of the field not in the sparkling clean hospital ward of making perfection, or what we think is creating perfection. They do spy it as the light glints from the crevice of our lives. Just a couple of weeks ago an ex-colleague and his wife became Christians, now the talk of the shop floor. Only today a colleague asked me to take a funeral for them. I love this community. That glint of light is shafting through the crack and being seen by those there. It is not about collecting scalps but about living and loving humanity. About turning water into wine at weddings just for the fun of it, yet revealing glory. And as I have said before, it is all in the glory, including the dirt of our lives.