Planted by Water

Had a meeting today with other elders from the Northern region, overseeing churches that are part of the family of churches who relate to Keri Jones.

We had a great time; it is really a privilege to serve alongside and enjoy friendship with such quality men. Recently, God spoke to me about ‘planning now for what you expect in the future,’ so in our discussions together we talked about important things to consider when planning for growth; we just all shared insights we had gleaned over the years. I’m including some of …

Life is busy, so just a quick post today. It is a copy of one of my favourite poems. It is by Stephen Spender - not a Christian poet, but he captures here a sense of passion for life and the pursuit of greatness that springs from a sense of purpose that goes beyond ourselves but which we are born into. We know, for us, that this is the eternal purpose of God and we should be passionate about it, even as we ’suck the marrow out of life’ along the way.

I’ve highlighted those lines which stir me most.

I Think …

Jon Dumville (what a great guy!) has asked me what I meant by the word, superspirtuality, that I used in my last post. So incase anyone else was wondering, I though I’d write a post on it. Of course, the problem with any words that we use is that different people mean slightly different things by them. So I’ll just explain what I mean when I use this word.

It is a false and phony kind of spirituality (though people demonstrating it may be sincere about it and doing what they …

The ultimate proof of truth is vitality; not just what it is in itself, even though it may be truth, but its effect. And the effect of the truth is always intended to be life: life and truth go together. The proof of everything is in the ‘living’ conditions which may result, can result, and, if given opportunity, will result. (T.Austin Sparks, Rivers of Living Waters)

I thought this was relevant in relation to my last two posts. I am looking for writers of revelation rather than just writers of orthodoxy. …

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.  (Jeremiah 2:13)

One of the main enemies we have in the spiritual life is the spirit of religion or religiosity. As I read this verse again recently, I was reminded of this. True life in God, centred on the reality of a relationship with Jesus and imparted by the Holy Spirit, …

I’ve just finished reading The Contemporary Christian by John Stott, and thought I’d share some of the thoughts it provoked in me.

In fact, the book is no longer very contemporary as it was written in the early nineties. I had hoped to get more out of it for my own writing on issues in our world, but actually there’s not much on specific world issues. It is Stott’s attempt to say what he considers the most important things about …