It’s hard to swim against the tide. The flow toward power, prominence and platform. The addiction to addition. The fear of subtraction. The ego hates to lose, even to God. Yet, this is the way of Christ: He emptied Himself. The Creator in a manger. The King on a cross. The Centre of all things … Continue reading Kenosis
Contemplative Pentecostal?
I’ve been thinking about the highlights of my week. The things I look forward to. The things that get me out of bed in the morning. I feel blessed to have a good number of those things I can add to my list. A meal out with my wife Helen. Cheering for my daughter Hannah … Continue reading Contemplative Pentecostal?
Heart Goals
So many of the goals we set for ourselves are numerical and quantifiable. In my church-world, we can end up measuring success by the ABC’s of attendance, buildings and cash. In your world, success may be determined by sales, results and scores. Productivity. Performance. Efficiency. The problem is, for so many of us, success in … Continue reading Heart Goals
100 Days
God doesn’t waste anything. At the start of the first COVID-19 lockdown, uncertain how to communicate with the church I love, I decided to broadcast an online devotion each evening, thinking I might do this for a week or two at maximum. It turned out that I prepared 100 short talks and delivered them ‘live’ … Continue reading 100 Days
Kenya
Earlier this week I, along with four other Elim pastors from the UK, returned from a twelve-day trip to Kenya visiting some of the 350 Elim churches and church plants there. As well as visiting churches in Nairobi, we travelled south to Malindi to play a part in training leaders and supporting the launch of … Continue reading Kenya
Willpower or Want-power?
Willpower is not enough. In our efforts to change, willpower only takes us so far. I’ve found that willpower diminishes throughout the day. I start the day with good intentions. I employ my willpower in the morning and I eat muesli with fruit. By the end of the day my willpower-tank empties and I’m eating … Continue reading Willpower or Want-power?