Humble in defeat

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
-Luke 14:11

The above words of Scripture currently strike me as very fitting. I was playing football this afternoon in Nottingham-
St. Johns of Nottingham vs. Cliff College Cougars

We played them three times last year and won on each occasion, so it has to be said that we were feeling confident entering this game. Something was very wrong with this 'Oh, it'll be a walkover' mindset, as I came to learn. I was probably the most guilty offender in terms of complacency and confidence, which I soon discovered were not characteristics becoming of a child of God.

After a match in which I was confident we would win, the final score was 3-2 in favour of St. Johns. Fair play, for we deserved to lose. But other things must be taken into account. I gave away a penalty from a defensive handball in our area (which they scored from), and I also became a different person when false handball claims were made and heavy challenges clattered into me later on. I am so very ashamed of my conduct, for I never swore or reacted violently in the heat of things but I may as well have done. In-team bickering and finger-pointing isn't something I like to do, but I was certainyl guilty of the former. All in all I accept the result but am disgusted with my own conduct on the pitch, and the attitude with which I entered the game.

I thank the Lord that he has taught me an important lesson this day. In many ways I was exalting myself, and the team, without considering the consequences. I am grateful that he teaches us important things through little things like football. I was a fool to make it, and us, bigger than we really are, and have left the field a changed (if disappointed) person. Praise be to the Lord most high for his infininite wisdom, and that he chooses to impass important snippets of it onto fools such as myself.

In Jesus name I'll be ready for St. Johns next time-in mind and spirit if nothing else!
God bless;)
<><

'Preacher'- a poem

I just came across a poem I would like to share. I wrote it around this time last year after my Mum had preached at a church on our circuit. There was a moment when she stepped aside from the lectern, leaving her notes and everything she had prepared behind. This is when the Holy Spirit completely took over, evidenced both by her eyes and, more strikingly, her voice, which went considerably lower. The words she spoke were not her own, but the Lord's. I don't believe that effectively capturing an experience as mighty and anointed as that is humanly possible, but here is my attempt:


Preacher

Another battle rages.
Tired verbs, blunt adjectives;
Armour
C r u m b l i n g.


Tears are falling now.
Blood is shed (upstairs).

I know you are here.
Come on in! Do your stuff.
You are taking over
I am a mouthpiece
I am your mouthpiece.
I leave the lectern.

Octave lower, earnest plea

Turn the handle!
Receive the goodness.

Please.

I hope this poem blesses any preacher who is reading this, in that, even though we may not always feel that we have preached the right sermon or gone about it in the right way-even if we think it hasn't spoken to anybody, the Holy Spirit is always at work, and people see Jesus in us if only we are willing to allow! Aah, complete openness to the Holy Spirit's work and to God's will, that is my prayer, for my life, for Cliff College, for this nation, for the world!!! Can I get an amen?!:)
<><

New Facebook Group

If you are reading this and you are on Facebook, feel free to check out (and join) the following group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5455413564

It's really important that residents, supporters etc. of Cliff College commit time in prayer to who the next principal will be. It's a role with so many demands and responsibilities, and it's easy to think we know who will be good in the role but ultimately God is the only one who truly knows (to Him be the glory!), and may His will be done.

Amen:)
<><

P.S. Anyone can become an admin/officer or anything like that. Even if no one joins the group but it encourages people to pray, then 'mission accomplished!'

Open Mic Church?

I'm at that time where I need to start thinking seriously about my dissertation. As an open mic enthusiast with a heart for evangelism, I'm trying to link the two together and am beginning to formulate my title, but in the project itself I intend to explore how 'open mic churches' in secular settings may help the gospel spread to many who are instantly turned off by the word 'church', and wouldn't ever dream of entering one. The subculture I believe such churches would attract is yet to be defined, as most of my ideas are still in their early stages, but if I could be forgiven for stereotyping, they would primarily be a people in their late teens/early twenties with gifts of, or at least an appreciation for, an artistic/creative nature, i.e. poets, musicians, etc.

As I am really keen to get this project officially off the ground, I would appreciate any help I could be offered in terms of suggestions for how an open mic church would work, what you may expect to happen there should you attend one, and so on. Literally, ANYTHING to do with the concept of 'open mich church' would help me. Art is a subjective thing, and there is no right or wrong here either. If I do proceed with this project and anything you say has helped me, I will also show my appreciation by crediting you in the acknowledgments section (should this be any sway!)

Paul, in Romans 12:6-8 among other places, encourages those with specific gifts to make use of them. An open mic church would celebrate every God-given gift that the attendees/congregants are willing to offer. Potentially non-Christians would be encouraged to use their gifts, whether they be musical or whatever, and as it strikes me that there are many Christians already in churches who don't get the chance to use their gifts in church and whose gifts are often forgotten or go unnoticed, this would be their chance too. It may sound like the project has emerging church leanings, which is true, but the primary focus would be evangelism. If non-Christians can't see Jesus in the words or actions of the Christians at the church, opportunities for relational evangelism would theoretically be plentiful. Perhaps the songs/poems etc. the Christian individual uses to praise God may lead to questions being asked about their faith, and we can't hope for a better opportunity than that!

Any ideas or suggestions about open mic church i.e. should there be a compere, is a pub a suitable setting, which rules/guidelines would need to be established (i.e. would drinking be allowed) and so on, even helping me settle on a name for the aforementioned subculture (if there is one) would be most welcome.

God bless you in your reading, and hopefully in your response,
Matt:)
<><

Football Church

I was at a football match at the weekend and after the match I came away with an overwhelming sense that football stadiums are churches. There is definitely a spirituality about the whole experience of going to a match to actively support a team, which I will delve into now, with the following observations:

-In the club shop was a T-shirt with the slogan: ‘Football is not a matter of life and death. It is much more important than that’. It struck me that, for many, this is sadly a very real outlook!

-People arrive early, sit often in set seats
(To soak up atmosphere/experience excitement before main event/converse with friends who sit near them-similar to church?)

-Where they worship their god (football) and gods (players) and doubt them when things aren’t going as they hope, which Christians do with the real God!

-Fans sing songs of adoration and sometimes even pray over the result

-Parents teach their children how to chant as they would to sing worship songs

-Supporters dancing and being really vocal in their praise. This behaviour is almost expected, yet would be frowned upon in many churches!

-One pitch-side advertisement read ‘Football unites. Racism divides.’ Yet there was so much division between the fans that day, to the point of verbal abuse and even violence.

-Programmes are Bibles? They are certainly read by fans looking to be educated, stimulated, encouraged and informed among other things, which are some of many of the functions the Word of God performs.

-It is easily possible to feel out of depth or ‘at home’ in that kind of environment, depending on whether the individual is used to the experience or not, which is not unlike church

-Supporters shout at/talk to their gods who often can’t even hear them, and certainly can’t always alter their circumstances, whereas Christians in church do so to a God who both can and does!

-One player on the team I was supporting looked like the stereotypical image people have of Jesus. ‘Jesus! Jesus!’ the fans chanted. It was truly awesome to chant along with them. Celebrating the name of Jesus at a football game with such excitement and praise was a rare joy for me. Granted, the fans weren’t chanting for the Jesus I know, but I wonder what it would take for them to be doing so. How to evangelise the hardcore away supporter who often lives for football and their team is something that really interests me.

I’d be interested to hear what you make of these musings-whether they can be added to, expanded upon, or even challenged, especially the last one. God bless.
:)