Archive for June, 2009
Posted on June 29, 2009 - by Tim L
Matt’s story
Two years ago I felt like ending it all, my marriage was on the rocks because of mutual ignorance of each other’s wants and needs, We had moved house twice in a year, I had to live away from home for 12 months and my mother died 2 months after we moved the second time. I didn’t care anymore.
Several weeks later I was watching a play at the bridge, dreading going home when I had a bright flash in my eye. After contemplating this I decided, given my current state, It may well be God saying “Ok bud, come with me, lets sort this out”.
It took several weeks to sort myself out mentally, I had rather fallen to pieces in the previous months. Since then I have viewed life in a very different, better way. I feel comfortable with myself, my relationship with my wife has never been better. After several discussions she has also changed and we are both the better for it.
We went to New Wine which was fantastic, my whole attitude is whatever I do, I don’t have to do it alone.
Matt, 42 year old, Engineer
Posted on June 28, 2009 - by Tim L
What Jesus wanted to know
When we think of sharing the Christian faith with other people we often feel like Jesus has to be the answer to every question or that we have to be able to answer and explain everything. So let me ask you a question do you think its better to say I’m gonna tell you something or I’m wanna ask you a question. Which one is more engaging or relationship building?
One of the questions posed is whether Jesus was a great teacher or whether he was a total failure. I mean he ended up getting killed so what kind of success was that?
Which do you think would be more effective?
Totally persuasive, Bottomless depth of knowledge, tells you how it is, convincing argument.
OR
An active interest in people, energetic and passionate, allows you to work it out, provoking etc.
So in line with Jesus’ style I’m not going to give you any more answers but allow you to meet with Jesus and the questions he poses.
We are going to use a concept called a labyrinth. An old tradition which is kind of symbolic forms of pilgrimage people can walk the path, ascending toward salvation or enlightenment. Many people could not afford to travel to holy sites and lands, so labyrinths and prayer substituted for such travel.
So there are different rooms set out around the school have been set out to help you on this journey and we’ll meet back here at 6pm
STAFF ROOM - WHERE ARE YOUR LOYALTIES?
Paying Taxes to Caesar
Mark 12
They sent some Pharisees and followers of Herod to bait him, hoping to catch him saying something incriminating. They came up and said, “Teacher, we know you have integrity, that you are indifferent to public opinion, don’t pander to your students, and teach the way of God accurately. Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
He knew it was a trick question, and said, “Why are you playing these games with me? Bring me a coin and let me look at it. “They handed him one.
“This engraving-who does it look like? And whose name is on it?”
“Caesar,” they said.
Jesus said, “Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his.”
Do you give “Caesar” his due?
Are your taxes up to date?
Are you honest with your employer?
Do you hide your finances from your partner?
Do you pursue monetary wealth?
Is financial security a real concern for you?
Are luxury goods a sign of your success?
Are you often jealous of others?
TRANSFORMATION LOUNGE - WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOUR?
Defining “Neighbour”
Luke 10
Looking for a loophole, the religion scholar asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbour’?”
Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.
“A Samaritan travelling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill-I’ll pay you on my way back.’
“What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbour to the man attacked by robbers?”
“The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.
Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”
Do you share what you have with others?
What wouldn’t you share?
Would you get your hands or your reputation “dirty” to help someone?
Does helping someone have to be on your terms?
Or can they make demands?
Do they have to be grateful or appreciative?
Do you have the time to serve your neighbour?
GYM - DO YOU STILL NOT GET IT?
Contaminating Yeast
Mark 8But the disciples forgot to pack a lunch. Except for a single loaf of bread, there wasn’t a crumb in the boat. Jesus warned, “Be very careful. Keep a sharp eye out for the contaminating yeast of Pharisees and the followers of Herod.”
Meanwhile, the disciples were finding fault with each other because they had forgotten to bring bread. Jesus overheard and said, “Why are you fussing because you forgot bread? Don’t you see the point of all this? Don’t you get it at all? Remember the five loaves I broke for the five thousand? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”
They said, “Twelve.”
“And the seven loaves for the four thousand-how many bags full of leftovers did you get?”
“Seven.”
He said, “Do you still not get it?”
What do you understand about following Jesus?
What questions do you have?
To trust him more do you have to have answers?
What does Jesus have to do to convince you?
Is it OK to have questions?
“Good Christians” don’t have questions - is that what you think?
STAGE - WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?
The Messiah
Mark 8Jesus and his disciples headed out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. As they walked, he asked, “Who do the people say I am?”
“Some say ‘John the Baptizer,’” they said. “Others say ‘Elijah.’ Still others say ‘one of the prophets.’”
He then asked, “And you-what are you saying about me? Who am I?”
Can Jesus be trusted to take care of you and those you love?
Do you have a Plan B just in case Jesus doesn’t deliver?
What will calming the storm in your life look like?
Are you comfortable having a friend who can control the elements?
Would you rather have a safer, more manageable friend?
Closing words
Jesus’ questions attempt to open up the lines of communication. Just like a child asks questions , why, why, why?
Jesus asks questions because he wants our attention; he wants to relate to us, to have a genuine interaction.
He wants to help people realise where they stand
He wants to start a conversation
He wants to help us to become all that we can be.
Posted on June 21, 2009 - by thnkr7
Father’s Day
Go to the Youtube clip - Michael Macintyre at the Royal Variety performance in 2008 (Click here)
Do you have a Man’s drawer in your house?
Jeff Lucas tells a story about one day returning a DVD to a rental store.
Clutching his DVD he joined the queue at the till. He noticed there was a sticker on the DVD case, Be kind, rewind, it urged on the case. It confused Jeff deeply, so much so that when he got to the counter this is the conversation which took place between Jeff and a somewhat disinterested acne fighting youth serving behind the counter.
Jeff; Excuse me, could I ask you about this sticker?
Spotty youth; Yeah, what about it?
Jeff; well, it says “Be kind, re wind”
Spotty youth; Right, it does.
Jeff; That sounds silly.
Spotty youth; (mildly incensed) What? Why?
Jeff; because this is a DVD it is therefore impossible for one to rewind.
Spotty youth; (rolling his eyes) Of course you can’t rewind a DVD. It’s a DVD
Jeff; er. Yes, that’s what I just said. So why put the stocker on the DVD case, which is likely to confuse people and prompt them to ask questions about it?
Spotty youth: It’s simple. When we stopped doing videos and changed over to DVDs, we had hundreds of stickers left over and the boss didn’t want to waste them, seeing as we’d paid to have them printed, so she made us put the stickers on the DVDs’
Jeff; so your boss paid for the stickers that are now redundant and then paid yet more money in staff time to place these useless stickers on DVD cases that are likely to confuse customers like me?
Spotty youth; (looking over Jeff’s shoulder at the customer behind me with a look that said “I’ve got a right one here.”) You’ve got it. We used up the leftovers stickers. Any other questions?There was indeed really only one place for those outdated and misleading stickers - and that’s in the bin.
(Taken from Christianity Magazine April 2009, http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/ )
Do you have a mans drawer in your house? What is it full of? Maybe you have a mans shed? What is it full of?
Is it full of things that you are not quite sure what to do with? Or is it that you are just afraid to throw them away? Unused batteries, (I find them in the PA boxes we use here at the Bridge), old money from countries that no longer use that currency? A radiator bleeding key,
I have a pot of old nails and screws of indeterminate length and size that I keep in the hope that one day they might be useful.
I wonder if you have any stickers in the man drawer of your house? Stickers that say “Be kind rewind”
I think that men are often consigned to the man drawer themselves.
I sometimes think that some people, including the media, think the same thing about fathers as they do about stickers that are on DVDs that say “be kind rewind”.
I believe men are looking for adventure.
I believe they are looking for something to live for that is bigger than them but which they can be involved with that makes a difference.
Men are looking for strong leadership.
Men are looking for role models to aspire to, men of substance who they can follow,
God once said to a man “Leave what you know and go to a place that I will show, as you get to know me you will become great, you will be a blessing to others, Come lets go on an adventure, you and me together.”
And that man did go on an adventure with God, and he did become great, and he did live for something that was much bigger than he was, and he did make a difference.
This is what it says in the book of Hebrews in the bible about this man.
Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen. Because Abraham had faith, he lived as a stranger in the promised land. He lived there in a tent, and so did Isaac and Jacob, who were later given the same promise. Abraham did this, because he was waiting for the eternal city that God had planned and built. Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son. Her husband Abraham was almost dead, but he became the ancestor of many people. In fact, there are as many of them as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the beach.
Hebrews 11: 8-12 (The Good News Bible)
What life of adventure is God calling you to? Will you respond to him?
Posted on June 17, 2009 - by Tim L
Caroline’s ’story’
WHAT ARE YOU?
What are You to the little child?
Christmas
King
Magic!What are You to the hurting?
Medicine
Safe Place
Sleep.What are You to the fearful?
Answers
Strength
Acceptance.What are You to me?
Shoulder
Umbrella
Duvet.
by Caroline, mum, wife, vocalist, performer and poet
Posted on June 15, 2009 - by Tim L
RS2 Sunday 14th June
We were exploring what church is and what it is all about with 4 11- 14 year olds. It was such a good discussion we all agreed it would be worth putting onto the website and letting others have a read.
So, …..here it is,….
We played a quick game of word association and then got into an exploration of the body - called church.
What is church?
Praising God, a place you go to worship God, thanking God for things, a place to praise, God’s favourite place, religion, gathering,
What are the favourite things about people in your family?
They help you do things
They hug you
They care. They don’t always annoy you.
What are your favourite things about your home?
A comfy settee, the people, my bed and teddy
What are you favourite things about the Bridge?
Nice people, not boring like other churches, food, my family goes,
Everyone around was in awe-all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.
They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
Acts 2; 42 - 47 The Message
What’s good about the church described here?
They are always happy, they help each other, people keep coming, they trust each other, they all live together, every meal was a celebration, growing, exuberant and joyful, commitment,
Do you think this style of church could happen today?
Everyone thought that this type of church was possible to day but not exactly as described in Acts 2 e.g., living together, having everything in common,
We ended up writing down those folks who we are thankful for and those people who we are worried about and need our prayers.
Thinking of You
Joy Joy, Anita, grandma and granddad, family,
Thanking of You
Family, friends dog. My sister, Mum and Dad, good food, friends, Claire, J&D, mum,
Posted on June 14, 2009 - by thnkr7
How not to answer Jesus’ questions
Words aren’t always what they seem
No-smoking is permitted
( does this mean no-smoking or NO SMOKING?)
Fine for parking
(does it mean you’ll be charged or its OK to park?)
This is an incredible resource for students
(this book has no credibility or is very good)
How not to answer Jesus’ questions
(how to sidestep the questions or what not to do when answering his questions?)
While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message-in round numbers about five thousand!
The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander-everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?”
With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you-we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone. Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”Bible reading - Acts 4 ; 1-12 (The Message)
Question time - how do you handle questions?
- What good ideas do you have for side stepping questions that you don’t want to answer
- What should you not do if someone, may be Jesus, asks you a question?
Feedback session(here is a summary of the answers people gave)
1. Answering a question with a question, craftily change the subject, tell a lie or white lie, bring the conversation to a standstill, blind them with science, ignore the question and stick to your own agenda, pass the question onto someone else, redefine the question, refuse to answer and say why, ask where they are going, walk away, don’t listen - intentionally or otherwise, answer a different question, say “That’s a very good question” repeat the last question - to stall, too much detail - confusion, digress, steer it round, waffle,
2. Be embarrassed of the truth, try and run away, think you have to come up with an answer, ignore the question, pretend you didn’t hear the question, say what is expected - be honest
Avoid answering, answer rhetorical questions, try to be clever to impress, feel intimidated - put on the spot
Now its time for a classic comedy moment - when it comes to answering questions there is none better than the Two Ronnies. What can we learn from them? (to view the clip go to http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?q=two+ronnies+&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#)
(how to sidestep the questions or what not to do when answering his questions?)
Going back to the Bible passage you know we can be very critical of the court, they prevaricated, they dodged the truth, they span and tried to play the political game. We can understand their response - how many of us when caught in a tight spot have adopted some of their behaviours or resorted to “I don’t know” as a soft option.
But can’t we accuse Jesus of doing the same thing, he has parried their questions with questions of his own, he’s ducked their questions, he’s played a good game of verbal chess.
I think not - Jesus’ questions show him as someone who has perhaps seen more deeply into the problem, than the person who is asking the question. If he dismisses a question its because he thinks they’ve missed a bigger issue or the real heart of the matter.
Refusing to allow the status quo to be questioned is not unusual. Such behaviour is not limited to the first century. I do it, you do it. What do you think prevents most people today becoming committed followers of Jesus?
Why would anyone want to avoid answering questions from Jesus. Inconvenient, self-image, poor image of Jesus (trying to catch us out?), unwilling to change, to think about a difficult issue, admitting that you’ve been wrong
Jesus is asking us that question all the time - what will it take for you to become my committed follower?
Sometimes it might be intellectual issues like if god is good why is there evil, why do good people suffer?
It might knowing that your life would have to change in some very earthy practical way
It might be the fear about what people who I respect and care about would say about me
It might be feeling that you need to understand it all before you can start on that journey
In answer to the question - what will it take for you to become my committed follower - we often work on the works for me principle and so lets not change it. But relationships are not static, they change and grow and develop. Our walk with Jesus needs to be able to do the same thing. The words of the following song may encourage us to trust that in answering the question - what will it take for you to become my committed follower?- we will end up in the most amazing place of freedom.
Come into these arms again
And lay your body down
The rhythm of this trembling heart
It’s beating like a drum
It beats for you,it bleeds for you
It knows not how it sounds
For it is the drum of drums
It is the song of songsOnce I had the rarest rose
That ever deigned to bloom
Cruel winter chilled the bud
And stole my flower too soon
Oh loneliness
Oh hopelessness
To search the ends of time
For there is in all the world
No greater love than mineLove O love O love
O love O love O love
O love still falls the rain
O love O love
O love O love O love
O love still falls the night
Love O love O love
O love O love O love
O love be mine forever (be mine forever)
Love O love O love
O love O love O love
O love O love O love
O love O love O loveLet me be the only one
To keep you from the cold
Now the floor of heav’n is laid
With stars of brightest gold
They shine for you
They shine for you
They burn for all to see
Come into these arms again
And set this spirit freeAnnie Lennox, Love song for a Vampire
Posted on June 10, 2009 - by Tim L
Badminton cancelled
There will be no badminton for young people or adults on Friday 19th June. The school hall and gym are being used for a school activity.
Posted on June 9, 2009 - by Tim L
Men’s Moot - 15th August
A special Men’s Moot. A chance to get away from it all, to slow down for the day. Good company, good food and good fun.
Cost £15 for the day
For more info please contact John via the website contact
Go to Ashby Canal Boats for a closer look
Posted on June 7, 2009 - by Tim L
Jesus asks hard questions
Jesus overheard and said, “Why are you fussing because you forgot bread? Don’t you see the point of all this? Don’t you get it at all? Remember the five loaves I broke for the five thousand? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”
They said, “Twelve.”
“And the seven loaves for the four thousand-how many bags full of leftovers did you get?”
“Seven.”
He said, “Do you still not get it?”Mark 8: 17 - 21 (The Message)
Ok, Ok, Jesus has just fed 4000 people. The Pharisees have just been on at him to do a miracle. Makes you wonder if they were not around at the feeding of the 4000. he refuses to show them a miracle, the text says that Jesus “gave a deep groan” and said they would not be given proof. And then, and then to sum it all up, after having seven baskets of bread left over from the feeding of the 4000 Jesus is in the boat with the Disciples and it says that they had not brought enough bread with them.
Doh!!!! Literally! You can perhaps imagine at this point that Jesus might be a little frustrated. Mark gives us little record of the time frames here, but it Jesus comes up with 7 questions in 5 verses, one after another, bang, bang, bang! Staccato style.
We don’t have a firm answer to fully understand if Jesus really is venting his frustrations on the Disciples. It would be too much to draw a firm conclusion but I would like to think that it is perfectly possible knowing what I do about Jesus. The problem comes with our understanding of frustration. Jesus is not just venting his feelings in a moment of frustration but he is asking the Disciples to get a grip. He wants them to get a grip on the stories he tells and the miracles that happen because they will help the Disciples to understand. Get a grip so that the key will start to fall into place. Get a grip so that the penny will begin to fall.
But I can identify with the Disciples too. Someone once asked when they had been reading Mark’s gospel if it was supposed to be taken literally or metaphorically. Fives loaves are enough to feed a crowd of 4000, surely that is figuratively? No, Doh!. The evidence of the next 30 minutes means it is literal.
Then a little later he says he is the bread. He warns against some types of bread from the Pharisees. What is going on?!!!!
Jesus also treats the Disciples with some disdain in other parts of their life together. The Disciples are in a boat with Jesus, remember some of them are fisherman and know about boats and how to boat them. They would have been in storms before and known what to do. But here they are in a storm and Jesus is asleep at the back. The Disciples panic and wake Jesus. (It reminds me of Daniel when in London and Jack was sick, he slept through the lot). He seems to rebuke them, he questions their faith. “Where is your faith?” And then he rebuked or scolded the storm and all was still again.
Why was Jesus so hard on them?
I like to think the Disciples got it partly right. We talk a lot in the Bridge about following Jesus and relying on him 24/7, At 11am on a Monday morning, following Jesus has to make a difference. Surely this is exactly what the Disciples are doing - going to Jesus to ask for his help in a situation. But the problem they have is one of how they approach Jesus. In the boat they approach Jesus in an attitude of panic. They are worried they will drown. And Jesus asks them on more than one occasion “where is your faith?”
Faith is very different from belief. I often think that we make a mistake in calling Christians believers, it would be better to be called ‘faithers’. Belief is impersonal agreement, faith is trust, it is about relationship. The Disciples believe that the storm is deadly, they believed that Jesus could change things- otherwise they would never have woke him in the first place! The beliefs are in order. The problem they have it with their faith, it seems to have deserted them. They come to him and demand to know if Jesus cares about them at all. But they have lived with this man for more than a year by now and still they don’t know him. It is not a question you ask someone you’re really connecting with. It seems that you are not as close as you think you might be.
Here we see a Jesus who is sharp with his friends, his followers, we might even say he is abrasive. But he is not making it difficult for the sake of it. Jesus is sharp or abrasive with the Disciples because he believes that they can do better.
There is a healing in Mark 8 when Jesus comes to a blind man. He takes him out of the village and spits on the mans eyes and places his hands on them. He asks the man if he can see and he replies that it is only partly. Jesus places his hands on the mans eyes again and this time he can see clearly. I might have talked before about how Mark puts one story next to another to help us understand what Jesus is doing and saying. This is a classic.
It is almost as though the Disciples can see partially and not completely. Remind you of anyone?
Jesus asks us hard questions for our own good, not to trap us us or make us look silly or small
Did you know it was OK not to understand everything and follow Jesus? It is OK to follow Jesus and be dull! But Jesus will be tough on us and ask us difficult questions, because, well,…. simply because he has faith in us and a big enough faith that we can do better!
Based on, with permission, Jesus asked. What he wanted to know, Chapter 5 Rebuke by Question, Conrad Gempf, Zondervan, 2003. http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Asked-Conrad-Gempf/dp/031024773X. To learn more about Conrad go to http://www.lst.ac.uk/index.php?pageid=71
Posted on June 1, 2009 - by Tim L
Network course reunion
There will be a reunion for all those who took part in the Network course (http://www.thebridgeonline.co.uk/think/the-network-course) just before Easter. It will be an opportunity to catch up, share stories and hear what God has been up to.
Come along and join us on Wednesday June 17th, 7.45 for 8.00pm at Hastings High school.
Please let Tim know if you will be coming.