How to be excited about church in the UK!

King David wrote in the Psalms that he was “glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord!”  (Psalm 122:1) Here’s a glimpse of what that may sound like today, as non-church-goer Chris Moyles, well known UK broadcaster/ author/DJ  gets onto the topic of “church” on his popular Radio One talk  show… imagine what would happen if we were that excited about our churches…

My Israel Experience

Had an awesome study trip to Israel!    This is an amazing land which God chose to be the small stage for His great salvation story.  The trip confirmed to me that what I believe isn’t a fairy tale, but a raw real fact of history. I confess that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God!  Here are some pics….

Muslim sign in Bethlehem…Who is this King born?

Arie Ben-David

Calm like when Jesus calmed this sea…

Eating Nemo…

Jesus did amazing things

On this rock…

War

The seed path

Overlooking Jerusalem

The Wailing Wall

Gideons spring

Look mom no hands!

The shepherd

Rays of Hope…more reflections on Ray Shiel’s passing

In my previous blog I shared some of my personal reflections on the sad passing away of my friend and co-Europe church planter Ray Shiels, who together with his wife Claudine founded and pastured our great church in Dublin, Ireland. Over 4000 people have viewed that tribute I wrote, which is an obvious testimony to the many people whose lives Ray deeply touched.

 

Allow me for a moment to put on my preachers hat, and share with you some thoughts from my message at Ray’s funeral service in Dublin last week:

 

ANSWERS & ANCHORS…

I start with acknowledging that I do not understand at all why Ray died. If I were God, from my perspective, I would not have let him die.  I know that “ to live is Christ, and to die is gain,” but right now heaven’s gain seems certainly to be our loss.  As we try to make sense of the why? of this tragic loss of a friend/husband/father/pastor/ musician, I am aware that there are no easy answers. At the same time I know that life is not simple, and cannot be understood looked at from just one perspective. It is like a ship with one anchor which starts to drag, but then we throw out a few more anchors and these hold the ship steady in the storm. Just so, while I can’t make sense of it from one perspective, I do find that there are other strong anchors of hope and promise which can hold us all in this storm of life. Here are 3 of these relevant to us in this sad time:

 

1.       The promise of comfort to those who mourn:

In Matthew 5:4 Jesus said: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”  - Mourning begins with weeping, and helps us in time to a place of being able to “live without.”  “Jesus wept”, and He still heals the broken hearted.

2.       The promise of a better resurrection when there is no resurrection in this life:

In John 11:25 Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies….Do you believe this?”  I remind you about what Ray believed: That God loved him. That his sin separated him from God. That Christ died for the penalty of his sin. That because he repented and received Christ as his Lord and Saviour, he was forgiven and born again and right with God. That he had received the gift of eternal life through faith in Christ, and that “though he died, he will live.” My friends, do you believe this? If not, would you consider this, and like Ray repent and turn in faith towards a God who loves you?  We may be separated now, but we can all join Ray in his “better resurrection” for eternity.

3.       The promise of the church’s future:

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said: “…I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.”  Every Nation Dublin was not Rays church, but Jesus’ church. God’s plans and purposes continue and we know that we will be amazed at what will grow out of this seed that has “fallen to the ground and died.”

 

Hebrews 6:19 says that “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain…” – Ray has gone “behind the curtain” – may our anchors hold us firm and secure to continue living for Christ in this life, until we join him there. God bless you.  

 

MEMORIAL FUND

 

Details of the Ray Shiels memorial fund will be posted here next week and will include account options in Ireland, UK, South Africa, and the USA. We appreciate your patience with this while we try to set this up as efficiently as possible. Thank you in advance for any support that you can give to the family.

 

  

 

Tribute to my hero friend: Ray Shiels

In the early hours of yesterday morning I heard the very sad news that my dear friend and fellow Every Nation Europe church planter Ray Shiels had passed away after a long-standing bout of cancer. With his family, he had been on a trip to the US from Dublin, but because Ray was too weak and getting weaker, they could not travel further so have been hosted in Nashville by our other dear friends Michael & Julie Swain for the past few weeks. While our grief is deep, even deeper are our feelings for Rays incredible wife Claudine, and his two awesome teenage sons Jack and Sam. And off course Rays father and family.  We give them our sincerest condolences, and pledge our whole-hearted support to to help them and the Dublin church with whatever they need now and in the future.

It was about 7 years ago that Ray & Claudine sat with Ali & I in our lounge in London and shared with us their dream to plant an Every Nation church in Dublin, where Ray had grown up. It has been an incredible privilege to send them out and cover and support them from our church in London, and to see Jesus build His church in Dublin over these years.

Ray & Claudine

The Shofar blower

Going up the Alps

Action Man

That famous penny-whistle

Some of the Dublin power team

Europe Pastors antics

Ali & I with Ray & Claudine

Spot the Guinness…

With a best friend Michael Swain

Ray

Ray the Baptist

Jack and Sam

With Steve Murrell two weeks ago

After preaching my Sunday morning message for the London service to a video camera at 3am (!), I was on a 7am flight to Dublin to be with our church there to share the sad news and support them at their Sunday morning service. This is a very special group of God’s people – and Jesus’ promise to build His church not matter what still stands: Watch this space for the incredible church rising here in future…

On the flight to Dublin yesterday I penned these words in an attempt to express my memories of this great husband, father, preacher, pastor, architect, and friend:

“Ray was my friend and my Irish Kingdom co-labourer. A man with an infectious convincing passion for life, and for His Lord Jesus Christ.  He walked worthy of His calling, not settling for the rewards and honour of this world. He dreamt big. As a high-flying architect he had been a part of planning and architecting many magnificent structures around the world, but his greater dream was for the church which Jesus Christ is building. He stayed true to what he believed. He always hoped. He fought bravely. He lived by conviction, definitely not for convenience and comfort. He died to self, long before he died yesterday.

Ray was a man in love with his wife Claudine. He was so proud of his two sons Jack and Sam who are fast becoming men, and who will now be forced to grow even faster. He knew and lived out his priorities of family first.

I had the privilege of laughing with Ray, of dreaming with Ray, of praying with Ray, of crying with Ray, of planning and planting churches with Ray, of standing on the upper slopes of great Alpine mountains and skiing down with Ray, and eating Goulash and drinking Glu-wien at the bottom…

Ray loved music, but more than music he loved worship, and I like thousands of others I had the privilege of worshipping with Ray. His saxophone and Irish penny-whistle seemed irresistible to the Holy Spirit. Ray brought a new sound to Ireland. He raised the spiritual temperature there. He worked for unity among the ministers and churches, and saw great fruit in this through the “Arise Dublin” initiative.

I was challenged by Ray’s life and by His passionate preaching of Gods Word. The most impacting message I ever heard himpreach was at our London church men’s weekend last year, which he entitled “Let your pain be your pulpit.” It was the story and lessons from his struggle with the cancer up to that point. It was the best “apologetic for suffering” I have ever heard (And I have heard many, by the best!). He challenged us as men to live beyond all excuses and comfort zones. He spoke of being willing to give it all up and lay your life down for the cause of Christ, if that’s what it required. Our recording equipment failed for that session, and that message was never recorded. But Ray’s life will keep telling the Great Story. His pain WAS his pulpit, and continues to be. I am sure that Ray would want nothing less than that our own pain at his loss would at this time also be our pulpit to tell the Great Story of the life which he had found through faith and hope in Christ as Saviour and Lord – a life which Ray is right now living in its fullness for eternity.

I look forward to worshipping our King Jesus again with Ray in eternity. I know that we can’t take anything with us from this life to the next, but I do hope that Ray will have his sax and Irish penny-whistle with him there, because eternity, like the past, will be all the richer with it! Until then, I and we will miss you deeply my friend.”

 

THE FUNERAL HAS NOW BEEN ARRANGED FOR mONDAY 20 OCT IN DUBLIN, AT 13.00.  http://www.stmarks.ie

If coming from out of town and ned a hotel, try the Jurys Inn Christchurch Hotel, 10 minutes walk from St Marks. website is www.jurysinns.com/

 Details of a Ray Shiels Memorial Fund, will be posted here as soon as they are available. God bless you.

Live life to the max – like Ray did…

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”

My Lakeland Outpouring / revival experience…

I’m writing this from Lakeland in Florida where I have spent the last couple of days at the so-called “Lakeland Outpouring/revival”, today in its 98th day of consecutive meetings with 1000’s of people from all over the world coming here looking to “get some” and take it back to wherever they came from. (And off course there are a bunch of people – including a crew from CNN last night – who are just “checking it out”)…

Would I have come to Lakeland just for these meetings? Probably not, but since I had a trip to the States planned, and have had some deep hungers stirring in me for a while, I decided that I’d swing by Lakeland and get into a different type of atmosphere to my usual. I asked myself why I came here, and here are my answers:

First, what I didn’t come for: I’m personally not looking for or particularly into gold dust, gold fillings or even diamonds (sorry Ali!), although I’m sort of open to God doing all these things…I guess I just want more of the “true riches” Jesus speaks about…so: I came because I am hungry for a few things which aren’t as real/evident in my life as I’d like the to be, being:

1. The “power of the Spirit” …something the early church Christians seem to have had in massive doses more than me…In Luke 4 Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit, and came out “in the power of the Spirit.” I want that – preferably without the temptations, wilderness, and fastings please – I guess that’s why places like Lakeland seem an attractive option!
2. The “fire” part of the “you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit and with fire”… Still not really sure what that is supposed to really look like. Maybe its the same thing as the “power” of point one above?
3. More evidence/activity of the “gifts” of the Holy Spirit in my life and ministry. I have had much more “gift activity/activation” in my personal ministry lately, and its been great and effective, but I do long for more. healing’s. accurate words of knowledge. discernment. the GIFT of faith…I need/want these more…
4. At a point today I wondered whether I came for my own healing of the effects of the crippling arthritis I had in my late teens and which destroyed both my wrists.  Its marked my life for 26 years now. Do I believe God can/will heal/restore these?

What have I found so far?

1. I have found a gathering of hungry/thirsty Christians from all over the planet who for the most part are genuinely looking for something to power them up to effect change wherever they came from by their 10’s of 1000’s.
2.  I have found a place and leaders who emphasise and actually believe the “signs and wonders and healings” parts of New Testament teaching which many of us move away from over time…and they seem to be seeing a massive bunch of people reporting to be healed of all sorts of stuff…there were some truly incredible miracles reported. this challenges me.
3. I found people who are pressing into something they feel God has lead them into and called them to, and they have been going for 98 days! They certainly haven’t let their strategic calendar get in the way…
4. I found 1000’s of people genuinely passionately worshipping Jesus – He definitely seems to have centre stage, and doing something.
5. I found a few things relating to style and practice which irritated me and which I purposefully had to decide not to get distracted by or hung up on. (Note to self & other leaders visible on meeting “platforms” during worship times: If you aren’t going to participate in worship like you expect the congregation to participate, then stay off the stage and out of eyesight if you want to joke and chat while the worship leader is leading the congregation…its distracting and rude.)
6. I found a people and leaders who are being severely criticised from some quarters for all sorts of reasons. I haven’t checked this all out, but my suggestion is: don’t criticise what you haven’t personally fully checked out, and don’t criticise that which you don’t need to criticise. Yes, there are always “wheat & tares” growing in the same field (even in your & my life & churches). My advice: Don’t kill the good stuff by a  hasty witch-hunting attitude.  I think its time we all looked at the log in our own eye a lot more closely…
7. I found that just because something has been chosen to be aired on God TV doesn’t make it THE revival. There are incredible things happening in churches all around the world which will never make it to the limelight, but God is pouring out His Spirit in many parts. Get into a solid Bible-based, God-honouring, Spirit-fuelled disciple-making church wherever you are and let God use you to bring His glory to your world…

Have I found the “power, fire, gifts, and healing”? Cant say I have yet, but its been a good time of being alone for two days with God and in an environment of passionate faith with people from every nation. On my final evening meeting there tonight I experienced an amazing passionate and unrestrained worship time with the other 3-5,000 people there. At one stage I had a strong impression of Jesus joining in this wild worship dance with this praising & worshipping international crowd of admittedly mostly first-world believers…  The last time I had a similar impression was at our Every Nation world conference in Manila last year, with 14,000 people from around the world packed into the Areneta stadium – it was really awesome and a taste of heaven! 

Anyway, I’ve been challenged in my faith to step out more boldly in these areas.  I’ve “stirred up the gifts,” and I’m as committed as ever to ”go and make disciples of all nations” – and expectant to see this followed by at least a few more “signs and wonders”…in His power…using his gifts…

PS (added on 17/6) – What I won’t be doing on my return to London is starting “special meetings” in addition to what we do already. I am persuaded that all our meetings should be “special”, allowing room for all of Gods “special works.” – if they dont, we shouldnt be having them in the first place…and we should get back on the mountain with God to revisit the why? what? and how? of what we are doing what we’re doing “in His name.”

“Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.” – I Thessalonians 5:19-21

London’s new mayor knows his Latin & Greek…

So Boris Johnson is London’s new mayor… Educated at Eton, Boris’ father says that his son knows his Latin and Greek, and that someone who knows Latin and Greek is able to do anything. Well, I’ll have you know that I do know a little Greek – his name is Georgie! (Seriously, I the Georgie I know is an awesome preacher …)

I do pray for the new Mayor, especially that he will appoint a decent group of executives to the City Hall administration. I pray against ungodly counsellors finding his ear, and against the temptation to please the loud minority agenda, versus serving the majority of this great city. I pray that he will be a servant leader who is in touch with the real people of this city.

The Christian Voice Alan Craig did not get enough votes for a seat on the London Assembly, so its up to all of us Christians to get stuck in at grass-roots and make a difference from the bottom up… I guess that’s the way Jesus would have it anyway, isn’t it?

God bless Mayor Boris Johnson, and God bless London – may this city be governed in righteousness and be a blessing to the nations.  

 

Voting for opposition..

Here are a few rameling thoughts on todays London mayoral election…

Today is election day for the position of Mayor of London. I voted early, though not to avoid the queues – when last have you seen queue at a British polling station?!  I’ve done my best to prepare for this vote, including attending a candidates hustings in central London last week. In the end, I voted for Alan Craig of the Christian Choice, because I hope he’ll get 5% of the vote and get a seat in the London Assembly and add his Christian principled voice to the sometimes stupendously politically correctness gone mad  It’ll probably come down to Boris Vs. Ken in the end, with my second vote favouring Boris from the Conservatives, not because I am wild about any of his policies (getting rid of bendy buses???), but mainly because I feel having a conservative mayor may strengthen the opposition party a bit, something which has been sorely lacking in the past decade of British politics.

Labour needs some stronger opposition. Opposition is a good thing. Even for Christians.  The lack of direct opposition to our faith has led to an often passive and luke-warm church.  Whatever opposition we are facing, may it serve to WAKE US UP and be the force for good Jesus called us and empowers us to be.

Tomorrow will tell who we will be London Mayor for the next four years. Tomorrow may also bring you and I and the church some opposition. Lets take it as a wake up call…

Jesus & St George…

April 23rd is St Georges Day here, when we (ok, some) fly the Flag of St George’s and celebrate this patron Saint of England who slew the dragon…

St George’s story is part fact part fiction. He was a real person in history, martyred in 303AD for his Christian faith, but of course the dragon slaying thing is a myth… Its also seriously doubted whether this patron Saint of England actually ever set foot on England…

This makes me think of another red cross. The wooden one on which Jesus Christ died about 2000 years ago. Its historical fact that He lived and died, and there’s massive evidence that He rose from the dead after slaying the real dragon – the Devil – on the cross. Fact or Fiction? What have you decided? As for me, every day is Jesus day…

This weeks Big Questions, including: How can I know that God exists?

I’m  getting ready to answer this first Big Question in my sermon this Sunday, and you will be able to see a written summary of this on our Big Questions blog from Monday.

  

If you are a believer, and someone asked you that question, how would you answer it? What are your reasons for believing? What about when the God you believe in feels a million light years away, and doesn’t seem to be at all involved in your circumstances? How do your reasons for believing stand the test of tests? Is it more reasonable to believe that God does or does not exist?

Anyway, I have some other big questions about life generally this week:

1. How is it possible that Robert Mugabe is still remotely trying to hold on to power in Zimbabwe after this weeks elections? Would it be wrong to be happy if someone “took him out”?
2. Who should I vote for in the London Mayoral elections coming up on the 1st of May? Does any candidate represent my priorities? Do I even know what I expect from a mayor?
3. My boiler needs replacing after breaking down on the coldest weekend of the year… should I accept the cheapest quote, or go for a far more expensive one guaranteeing quality workmanship?
4. What was my other question…?

Thirst was made for water; enquiry was made for truth…

Easter adventure in Dublin…

Over six years ago Ray & Claudine Shiels sat in our lounge in London sharing their dream to plant a church in Dublin Ireland, and soon after they were sent out from our church on this adventure. They have faced every imaginable opposition on this journey, but this weekend as Ali & I visited the Dublin church we witnessed once again what an amazing thing it is when individuals answer Gods call and against all odds persevere to see God do what He promised. I had the privilege of preaching some “Resurrection Truth” in the Easter Sunday morning service, where a congregation of nearly 100 people gathered, passionately worshipping and faithfully serving a church through which many had obviously encountered a brand new life of faith in Christ.  The weekend before on St Patrick’s Day the church took part in ”Arise Dublin”, a prayer gathering of 1,000 Christians which Ray had been instrumental in birthing with a group of other pastors in Dublin. Watch this space!

Despite Ray’s cancer history disqualifying him from getting life insurance and therefore a mortgage to buy a home, this weekend we sat in the lounge of their new home and listened once again to the story of God’s faithfulness and miraculous provision.

I can report that without a doubt Jesus is building His church in Dublin!

(Oh, and by the way, we had our own little family Easter adventure in Dublin, with the airline loosing our luggage, and it only getting to us ten minutes before we left back for London! We arrived back in London with unopened luggage and wearing the same clothes as when we left – but truly grateful for the privilege to have been a small part of a great work God is doing in that great city…)