We are in the midst of a Volcanic Smog

Dear Oaks,

First let me give you an update on Christians Against Poverty.  Today three members of the public have confirmed that they wish to attend our Money Course starting on 5 May.  Two of them being members of the Somali community.  Furthermore another member of the public has become our first full client.  So we now have four contacts from completely outside of Oak Tree which I hope you will agree is very encouraging.  Remember the first four weeks since the launch were for publicity only!

May I also remind you that tomorrow we have the all important meeting in order to choose which contractor we shall employ to do the works on 216.  Please do pray that there will be unity as we discuss any cut backs required dependant on the costs.  The cheapest tender is not always the best one!

As I write this I am, perhaps like you, enjoying the sunshine in London.  However, my hope was to be in Helsinki speaking at a conference with Bill Johnson and John Coles.  This is a conference which has been over a year in planning but sadly all three of us have to this point been unable to reach Finland due to the disruption to air traffic.  I shall be trying again tomorrow and then hoping to return late on Friday.  Whilst our airports are open Finnish ones are not.  I would value your prayers.

In Acts 16 Paul and his companions were kept from preaching in the province of Asia (v6) and when they tried to enter Bithynia we are told ‘the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (v7).  However, just two verses later we read “During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “come over to Macedonia and help us”.

Paul drew the conclusion in verse 10 that God had called him to preach the gospel there.

As I ponder this passage I find myself in a tension.  Should I be praying that the Lord would clear the volcanic ash from Finnish skies allowing me and others to speak at the conference?  We have planned long and hard and there seems no alternative such as a call to Macedonia.  Or should I be praying that I would be able to lay down my desire to speak at the conference and see how instead the Lord wants me to use the next couple of days.?

All of that, even as I write it, suggests that this is all about me and of course it is not.  I am quite sure that this Icelandic volcano didn’t blow its top just to see if I would do the same!

My point is really that we all struggle to know what God is doing in our lives on all sorts of levels.  We can interpret circumstances in many different ways.  I have no easy answers but I do know that somehow God will use all that comes along in life to shape us and mould us in to His likeness IF we will constantly bring our longings under His Lordship.

I remind you want John Arul spoke to us last Sunday.  “Too many Christians know Jesus as their Saviour but not enough know Him as their Lord”.

These are challenging words so as you and I walk through life, sometimes feeling that we are in the midst of a Volcanic smog let us always seek to keep our eyes on Him.

The writer to Hebrews says “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”.  (Hebrews 12:2).

The cross must have felt like a mystery; a smog, to Jesus yet he chose to obey completely.  Let us do likewise.

Every blessing,

Mark

lots of different important matters

Dear Oaks,

This week my message is more about lots of different important matters rather than a devotional message.

First, I want to update you on 216.  By the end of this week we are due to have all the tenders back from various contractors.  This will give us the headline cost and details such as when that particular contractor could start on site.  We then have a meeting scheduled for next week which will ultimately decide according to cost and other relevant factors which contractor to go with.  Obviously if all of the costs come in above budget there will be important decisions to make.  The Diocese has confirmed that they are ready to go full steam ahead!  As soon as I have more news I will pass it on to you – we are so close and builders should be on site soon.

Please pray for fair and just tenders to be returned and for myself, Kate, Sarah and Carolyn (as the 216 committee) to make wise decisions.

Secondly, the publicity period for Christians Against Poverty is now over and we await the first clients.  Of course Teresa as our CAP manager will keep working hard to publicise this work (do look out for an article in the Ealing Gazette, I think).  If you know anyone struggling with debt please be aware that CAP are highly respected in their help afforded in this area.  A new CAP money course will also be promoted this coming Sunday at church.

Please pray for Teresa as she pushes this work forward and for the first clients.

This coming Sunday is going to have a strong Indian flavour.  Our guest speaker is John Arul who has made, with others, a wonderful response to the abject poverty he has encountered in India.  John is himself Indian and oversees the work of caring for many hundreds of orphans, some of whom were orphaned after the terrible Tsunami that hit southern India about 5 years ago.  I and more recently the Willis family have visited one of his orphanages and seen for our selves the compassionate and humble service that is offered.  Not only are stomachs filled but minds educated and souls nourished.

I thought it would be fun to give the whole service an Indian feel so look out for my Indian suit (if I can still fit in to it) and if you want to wear a Sari (women only!) feel free.  In a spontaneous moment I joked last Sunday about Bombay mix (nut free) on the tables and I might even add something more!

Please pray for John as he comes to speak and for this Sunday’s meeting which is also a communion service.  Let us pray that as word and bread are broken open and wine poured out that we will deeply engage with the Living God.

Finally I want to make mention of Core Groups.  Recently I met with the group facilitators and I think it would be truthful to say that the picture is somewhat mixed.  Some groups are absolutely thriving and others are not.  It always takes a while to adjust to any changes and I do urge you to try and make these groups work well.  These are of course happening alongside the Church Central meetings where we are doing Sozo/Healing School material.   These meetings have been amongst the most powerful I have experienced for quite a while, and I know many who were deeply touched by the “fire tunnel” prayer. Come along and find out more.

You are personally invited to be part of these evenings of Word and Spirit.   Dates for the next few months will be announced just as soon as we hear back about the availability of the venue we use.  I hope this will be in the next day or so.

May you recognise the Risen Lord Jesus as you walk through this week, even in unexpected places, people and ways.

Alleluia Christ is risen, He is risen indeed, alleluia!

Mark