Dear Oaks
March 25, 2009 by mark
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Dear Oaks,
There are many times in life when we face problems that we feel unable to solve ourselves. It may be financial or relational or perhaps a problem at work. As a church leader I am often faced with questions about how we can become more effective in mission and particularly in evangelism.
Yesterday I stood with Mark Bishop at the top of a tower block (no neither of us had plans to jump) on the south Acton estate and surveyed the scene before me. I could see the city of London in the distance and I could imagine some of the concerns facing the banks and financial institutions. Closer to hand I could see the new Westfield shopping centre and imagine the strains and stresses of the businesses there. Much closer I could see the hundreds of windows of the tower blocks and who knows what problems some of the residents living there are facing?
I found myself wondering once more just how we might reach the lost; the lonely and the so called least that live apart from God. To be honest as I pondered this matter over the past 24 hours I found myself getting more and more disheartened by the scale of the need and the lack of an answer.
But then as I read on the tube this afternoon, God took me to a passage in Mark 6. Here Jesus takes one boys packed lunch and gives it to his disciples to feed five thousand people. Please note that whilst this miracle is down to Jesus, he uses his followers to be part of it as well. Later in the same chapter the disciples are in a boat caught in a storm and they are terrified (v50). Jesus comes walking on the water to sort the storm out and calm his followers but then we get a very interesting comment in v52 “for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.”
What does this mean? I think it means this: When they were faced with the problem of feeding 5,000 on one small lunch, God provided. But when they were faced with the problem of the storm they did not take with them in to that situation what they had just learnt. Namely, if God can feed miraculously through them, he can calm a storm or protect them through one.
Truly, they had not learnt the lesson of the loaves!
As I look at problems or challenges as I described earlier, I saw often forget how God has solved problems previously. I so often start from the position of, my hands are empty rather than the fact that God’s hands are full (of provision).
Repentance is the ongoing process of thinking what God is thinking. When we do that we start to ponder his answers and his provisions rather than our empty handedness!
As I consider the need to evangelise Acton I see many more than 5,000 souls. I also feel that we have less than a few loaves and a couple of fish. But the issue is not what have we got to offer, but what can God do to multiply our little in to his great.
Yours in the name of the great provider,
Mark
Market this week…28th March 2009
March 25, 2009 by MarkB
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MarketCHURCH
Well market e-mail receivers! After last weeks pop on Acton landmarks and celebrity claims there
was a barrage of people’s very own local knowledge! Here’s the compilation list of extra’s I recieved
….many thanks!
- Lionel Bart who wrote Oliver lived in Churchfield Road.
- Phil Collins comes from Acton and his mum helped to run the Sylvia Young stage school.
- One of the tower blocks on the South Acton Estate which has now been blown up was Nelson Mandela House in Only Fools and Horses
- Scenes from About a Boy starring Hugh Grant were shot in Acton Old Townhall (the bit where they are on stage at the school concert).
-The first Waitrose shop was in Acton opposite the police station. There’s even a plaque on the pavement!
-The advert for the ‘cajun squirrel’ crisps, with giant squirrels, was filmed in Acton Park
- A recent episode of The Bill was filmed on the Mount!
- The empty green-painted shop on Churchfield Road (near Good News bookshop) was used in Harry Enfield’s latest series.
Of course, to meet the real Del-boy’s and Rodney’s and many more you need to experience our market stall, how about this Saturday?!
We have spaces on both morning (10-12) and afternoon (12-2) shifts… can you give some time?
Thank you for all you choose to give to the market and much more,
mb
Mark Bishop
Out there, Oaktree Church.
Breathe Conference 2009
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a consumer mentality, if you want to embark on a more generous and thankful lifestyle, or if you just want to work out how to follow God in world of non-stop shopping, disposable relationships and unsustainable lifestyles…
Come and join with others who are looking ro travel towards a more simple, free and generous life.
£5 (bring lunch or buy locally)
creche from 10am -12:30pm for under 3s
St Paul’s Hammersmith
Speaker Pete Grieg (24/7 prayer)
Discussion, worship, sharing stories about generosity, community and counter-cutural spirituality.
Rhema – Visual Arts Ministry
On Fridays- some of the Oaks (and friends) get together for Rhema. 
If you feel at all arty or creative – then this is the place for you. We start with a theme, pray and wait on the Holy Spirit to guide, inspire and show us prophetic visions which we translate into visual art forms.
This is not an art class and there is no emphasis on mastering techniques. If you can draw stick men – you are welcome! Let us know the Sunday before if you wish to come.
Visual Arts Ministry
- as an act of worship to God
- to serve the Body of Christ
- a tool for discipleship and outreach
Our facebook group is here.
This term we will focus on the following themes:
- How to Hear God
- Made to Serve
- Made for Mission
These 3 themes are following teachings from the Bible, ‘How to Hear God’ by Mark and Patti Virkler and ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren.
They are also tied in with the themes that we are focussing on in the Sunday services and our evangelism course this term ‘Breaking News’.
If you fancy exploring these themes in an atmosphere where visual expression is encouraged -do come!
Members from other Acton churches are welcome.
Contact the office or speak to Thalie at a Sunday service if you would like to come.
Market this week… 21st March 2009.
March 17, 2009 by MarkB
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MarketCHURCH
HOTS & The investment in prayer
March 17, 2009 by mark
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Dear Oaks,
Healing on the Streets is scheduled to re-start on Saturday 4th April. On TUESDAY (17th) we are having a HOTS training session in the normal Church Central slot. This meeting is open both to those who want to be part of the team and to other Oaks who just want some input and fellowship. In other words everyone is welcome. Venue: Acton Green Church. Time: 8pm.
If you came to the previous training evenings I do urge you to come to this one as well. We need to refresh on some of the training and we need to pray.
In Mark 9 we see the disciples trying to do some ministry that they must have seen Jesus do many a time. No doubt they used similar words and a similar style but they did not get the same result. Why is this? Well in part it must be that the answer is not in a technique or the right words. In the economy of God factors such as faith and prayer make a difference.
When the disciples asked Jesus why they were not successful (v28) he answered that this was only possible by much prayer. Jesus clearly did not mean that at the time of the encounter much prayer was needed since he often healed speedily and with few words. The investment in prayer happened prior to the encounter.
So I invite you to come along on the adventure of learning to pray and minister the same way as Jesus did. He is indeed the way, the truth and the life. But be warned HOTS and Jesus ministry generally is not for the prayer less!
I hope to see you Tuesday evening. Why not read Mark 9:14-32 as preparation.
Blessings, Mark
Church Central
Church Central is a monthly meet up of Oaks to go deeper in teaching, training and ministry than we have time for on a Sunday.
We meet at Acton Green Church, Cunnington Street, W4 at 8pm.
Back from India
March 13, 2009 by mark
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Dear Oaks,
Well because of my week in India this is my first devotional message for about two weeks. Firstly, I want to thank those of you who prayed for me whilst I was away. You will not go without your reward and I was certainly aware of the favour of God that was upon our ministry there.
Amongst the highlights (not including the driving which was quite other worldly!) I must mention the healing of an elderly man called Jabez. He was completely deaf in his right ear and came to me for healing having lost his hearing ten years previously. On the first two occasions I prayed nothing whatsoever seemed to happen. However, in such situations I do encourage you not to give up to quickly. It is always God’s will to heal and so the question is to be asked as to why the healing is not coming through.
This reiterates the need not simply to ask in prayer but to listen in prayer and for the leading of the Holy Spirit.
As I waited on God I felt the Holy Spirit say to me that Jabez was putting his faith in me rather than in Christ. This is a very foolish mistake since mis-placed faith is not effective in bringing the resources of heaven to the earth. I gently challenged Jabez about this and reminded him of the work of Christ upon the cross and that Jesus was the only true healer.
I then prayed a third time and this lovely man had his hearing fully restored. Thanks be to God! What is more it then came to light that Jabez was a little backslidden as a Christian and that God wanted to restore their relationship with one another. Remember a healing is a sign and signs point somewhere or in this case to someone –TO JESUS. Healings or indeed any miracles are not ends in themselves they point to God and his kingdom.
Other highlights included seeing 19 people come to Christ. To see a Hindu have their Hindu band cut from their wrist as they profess Christ is a wonderful sight to behold. It was also a privilege to meet a woman who had converted and refused her husbands demand that she should not read her bible. He then cut both of her arms off! Her response has been to work through to a place of complete forgiveness –how about that for a sign and wonder?
Much more could be said but enough for now. I hope to show you some photos from India on Sunday, technical issues allowing.
Every blessing,
Mark
Easter Sunday
Celebrate the most exciting day in history….
We meet as usual in the cafe at Twyford High School.
Market this week – 7th March 2009
March 4, 2009 by MarkB
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MarketCHURCH
