	Welcome
	More about us
	Diary & Information
	Community Café
	Clubs
	Contact Us
	Movie pages

Resources:

Practices For Growth
Resources

A Journey through
Easter Week

Community Café

Tag Board

Blog

Here are the thoughts and news of the people in our community. Leave a comment as you wish. If you want to join the blogging ask Mark.

Friday, November 28, 2003

I really liked this little snippet from an e-mail from www.licc.org.uk:

In the meantime, the Christmas season remains a wonderful time to communicate something of the love of Christ, to bless colleagues, be generous, and explain, in however small a way, what this season means to disciples of Christ. Last year we gave all our staff a star to hang on their trees – a reminder of who they follow, the witness that they are, and the fantastic job they’d done. Others wrap up a Christmas booklet or invest in an advent calendar for their colleagues. And if you’re looking for a free conversation starter, you could simply download the elegant advent calendar screensaver developed by SGM – www.sgm.org After all, it isn’t the world’s job to tell people what Christmas is about. No, it’s our privilege to show and share the wonder of the Christ who came for us all.

Mark Greene

Posted by: Mark | 8:56 am |

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Posted by: Mark | 10:55 am |

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

For those of you who have watched Matrix Revolutions you may enjoy[?!] reading this person's take on it. He is clearly a bit of a sad geeky type to have thought that deeply about it, but I think he manages to make it make a bit more sense!

Posted by: Mark | 12:38 pm |

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

God in everyday: Examen

Last Wednesday in our Home Church we were discussing how to find God in everyday. 2 Particular things were mentioned:

1) praying at the start of the day and having an expectation of seeing him in every situation and every person encounter. We talked about the fact that God was there already we just needed to be able to recognise him. Ivet gave a great example.

2) Praying and reflecting on your day at the end/at point during. Thinking about what has happened and learning to recognise God in it.

Both of these are great and very valid. Of course this idea is not new and Chritians heritage has many ideas on how to do it. Here is one that can be done either individually or as a group:

Examen Explained
Examen was developed by St. Ignatius Loyola whowas a practical kind of person which is reflected in this daily method of prayer he recommended to his brothers. They prayed it numerous times per day as part of their daily rhythm of life.
It is is a prayer where we try to find the movement of the Spirit in our daily lives as we review our day. There are five simple steps to the Examen, which should take about 15 minutes to complete. Many people make the Examen once around lunchtime and again before going to bed. This prayer can be made anywhere—on the beach, in a car, at home, in the library.
The following is just one interpretation (of many) of these five steps to discerning the movement of Gods Spirit in your day.
Before you start: Try to be in a place where you are least likely to be disturbed, and where there is the least amount of external noise.Perhaps you light a candle or change the lighting when you pray to symbolise the start of this activity. Then sit comfortably and still yourself. Relax, be aware of your breathing, your body and how you are feeling.
1. Recall you are in the presence of God
We are always in God's presence, but in prayer we place ourselves in God’s presence in an especially attentive way. God knows intimately. He loves you in the deepest way possible and desires for an intimate connection with you. In John 15 Jesus says ‘abide in me and I will abide in you’ – his invitation is to make our HOME in him. As you still yourself be aware that God is present with you, in creation of your surrounds, your body, in those around you. Remind yourself of his presence with you and desire to BE with you. Be still and know that you are with God.
2. Look at your day with gratitude
After a few moments, begin to give thanks to God for the gifts of today. Special pleasures will spring to mind: a good night’s sleep, the smell of the morning coffee, the laugh of a child, a good meal or lesson learnt. As you move in gratitude through the details of your day give thanks to God for his presence in the big and the small things of your life.
3. Ask help from the Holy Spirit
Before the next step of reviewing your day, ask that God’s Spirit might help you to look at your actions and attitudes. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to understand the motivation of your heart, to see the gifts of God and how you’ve responded to them. Ask that you’d learn and be shaped as your reflect. Remember, this is not a time to dwell on your shortcomings rather, it is a gentle look with the Lord at how you have responded to God’s gifts. It is an opportunity for growth of self and relationship with God.
4. Review your day
This is the longest of the steps. Here you review your entire day, watching it like a movie that replays in your mind. Be sure to notice the details, the context of what happened and how you acted. As you look through the day, notice especially your motives and feelings. This is not psychoanalysis, rather it is a time for you to discern your daily motives, actions and reactions. Don’t try to fix everything in this stage, just examine how conscious you have been of God’s presence and actions in your life.
As you review you may wish to ask yourself some of the following questions.
When did I fail today? (why?)
When did I give love today?
Where did I receive love today?
What Habits and life patterns do I notice in my day?
In what ways did I notice God in my day?
When did I feel most alive? Most drained of life?
When did I have the greatest sense of belonging? Least sense of belonging?
When was I most free? Least free?
When was I most creative? Least creative?
When did I feel most fully myself? Least myself?
When did I feel most whole? Most fragmented?
As you review your day allow your thoughts to wander through the situations you've been in and allow God to speak, challenge, encourage and teach you.
5. Reconcile and resolve
The final step is our heart-to-heart talk with Jesus.
Here you talk with Jesus about your day. You share your thoughts on your actions, attitudes, feelings and interactions. Perhaps in this time you may feel led to seek forgiveness, ask for direction, share a concern, express gratitude etc. There may be an area you’ve felt challenged on or some action you feel you need to take out of this time. Resolve with Jesus to move forward in action where appropriate.
You might like to finish your time with the Lords Prayer.
Compiled by Darren Rowse 2002

Labels: discipleship, reflective, worship

Posted by: Mark | 2:03 pm |

Monday, November 17, 2003

Don't know about you but I really enjoyed our gathering on Sunday. What Jean shared was so personal and relevant that it was a real challenge. It is such a practical and powerful lesson to learn to allow our understandoing of God to inform our thinking and responses to situations. Please keep praying for the Hills and Dave's mum as the doctors proceed to give her treatment for the cancer.

Maddy also was suitably provocative as she encouraged us to breakdown our us-and-them thinking to people around. Language really encapsulate our thinking, it is worth changing it.

Go on, leave a comment...

Posted by: Mark | 1:23 pm |

Friday, November 14, 2003

A Full Life

Found this. Thought you might appreciate it!

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions--things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else--the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups, take your wife out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."

Amen!

Posted by: Mark | 11:39 am |

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Oh, also next week I am at a 2 day conference with a couple of guys well experienced in Home-based church: Tony and Felicity Dale. The forum is organised by someone in Salt and Light but is advertised on the website. Look under 'Events'. The website will also let you know a little more about them.

Posted by: Mark | 3:30 pm |

Well, a few people have been invited to join the blog, a few have even accepted - so come on guys!!

I really enjoyed being with the 'other' Home Church last Sunday. There was a really great atmosphere in the Nightingale's home. Nice one! I was really pleased to with the feel of corporate ownership in the group. Every looking to play their part and influence the direction and planning of the group. This whole Home church thing really needs to be a team effort. 'Every Member functioning' is a great watch word. It is quite hard at this really stage to keep it not revolving around me but about everyone, I hope I am not getting in the way!

I had a great time at the Salt and Light Church Planters Day on Sunday, by the way. There really is a ground swell of people looking at and trying Home Based church. It is God moving, I am convinced. It is exciting and nailfun to be right in there. People were really keen to know how we are getting on. "All good" I said!

By the way, see here for the Salt and Light Update for November.

Posted by: Mark | 3:26 pm |

Sunday, November 02, 2003

Well, all, if you have looked at the diary page you may well have noticed that I am at a conference for the next 3 days. It is called "A New Kind of Church", and features the excellent writer Brian McLaren and the ubiquitus Steve Chalke. I am expecting it to be very stimulating, even a little bit fun - but I don't want to expect too much! I am going with two friends: Steve Gee and Graham Old. In adidition I will be meeting up with Aled Griffith (you remember him?).

I'll let you know how it all goes!

Blessings, Mark

Posted by: Mark | 7:47 pm |