24-7 Prayer Gathering – HOME 21 June 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're up to.....Tags: 24-7 Prayer, Home 2008, house of prayer, isaiah 56.7
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Nate and Marissa 13 June 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we've done....Tags: community, friendship, Kansas City Boiler Room, KC Boiler Room, Nate and Marissa
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On Monday night we had the privilege of having Nata and Marissa from the Kansas City Boiler Room come and join us for the afternoon and be part of our Monday night meal. They are leaders at the KC Boiler Room and were part of the group who started the Boiler Room community there and also are the people who came up with the transit course.
I really enjoyed the opportunity to talk to Nate about some of the challenges they had faced and how they had grown community. How had people got involved? How had the house come together? How did the community deepen friendships? What were there prayer rhythms? What did mission look like in the community? It was great to draw on his wisdom and experience.
In the evening he and Marissa shared a little of there story and about day-to-day life of the KC Boiler Room. It was great to hear their stories; stories of God’s faithfulness, God provision, good friendships and the self appointed security guard, Terry.
I think the things that struck me most was when they talked about how the life of the community is primarily built on friendships, not on programs. The programs and structures come and go but the friendships remain. I was also struck by how naturally this seemed to have come about. I’m sure they have worked hard to achieve various things and to see it develop and the people discipled, but the core seems to have come together naturally over time.
I guess i may well write some more reflections as different thoughts settle. Please do add your own comments on your reflections on Nate and Marissa’s visit.
Last week’s prayer week 11 June 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we've done....Tags: 24-7 Prayer, Architect's Plans, John 12, prayer stations, prayer week, St John's
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So last week was our prayer week, hosted by St John’s Church Egham. The theme was the architect’s plans, pulling together the fact that st John’s is looking to build a new pastoral and mission centre on the church grounds, that as The Church locally we are seeking God’s will (The Architect!) and as individuals we want to know what it means to walk in God’s will.
The week began on the Sunday with the second morning service transformed into a prayer room style morning, with over 25 prayer stations set up across the grounds, from confession and world prayer, to a room laid out like a house (“my father’s house has many rooms”) through to kid’s prayer with bubbles and plenty of paint. In the first service I spoke on John 12, looking particularly at the verses where Jesus says, “where I am my servant will be also” and “Father, glorify your name”.
The prayer week began properly on the Monday (2nd) with a number of people coming from the Besom to join with us to launch the week. It was great to have them there with us, as we joined together to pray for the week and all that God is doing among us and through us.
Every evening we joined with whoever wanted for a meal. The people of St John’s are well known for their culinary expertise and so many people contributed food to provide a feast every night. We ranged from about 6 people one night, to over 30 on the Tuesday.
People interacted with the prayer room in all sorts of ways, through the many prayer stations set up, through reading a bible or praying in the corner, reading and engaging in others prayer on the wall. It was great to see many people meeting friends to pray with them during there time in the prayer room.
We’ve had all sorts of comments about how people found the prayer room, here are one or two….
“God really met us there. For me it was unforgetable.”
“It’s been a really significant week in the life of St John’s”
“It was great to be in a place with a strong sense of God’s presence”
Photos to follow. Please leave your own comments about the week of prayer
Psalms and Sin 9 June 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're reading..., What we're thinking about...Tags: confession, Eugene Peterson, Forgiveness, Perfectionism, Sin
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I’m reading a great book by Eugene Peterson, The Jesus Way. Peterson is a wordsmith and in his usual poetic style explores what following Jesus looks like by studying a number of characters in the old testament.
I’ve just finished reading his chapter on David. One of the key themes is looking at imperfection. The fact that we live imperfect lives. So often we try to counter imperfection with perfectionism. The idea that we should strive to be perfect. Peterson using the life of David suggests that this isn’t the solution. He points out the high points of David’s life and the low points of David’s life and talks about how this looks in the Christian life.
One of the most interesting things about David is that alongside these accounts of his life, there is also a record of his inner-life through the psalms. Through looking at the psalms, particularly the penitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) Peterson explores a different response.
Psalm 32 particularly shows the problem of unacknowledged sin. When we fail to admit sin it eats away at us. Vs 3 and 4….
When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long. For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
And what is the solutions? Vs 5
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD “—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
The solution is to choose to deal with God. God’s forgiveness is the only answer to sin. Peterson points out that if we choose not to go to God then we end up trying to deal with sin through punishment, education, moral strategy or denial. The answer isn’t resolve; “that’s the last time, I won’t do it again”. We need to confess, we need God’s forgiveness. I’ve realised that I need to get into a better ‘habit’ of confession and receiving forgiveness. I need to learn this response, confession, not the resolve and relying on myself.
Talking about psalm 38 Peterson tells us:
The Psalmist certainly takes the responsibility for the personal consequences of his or her sin. But the social dimensions are also very much involved: no illusions that if I just get “right with God” everything is going to be fine, no fantasies that if I can just convert or conquer and so get rid of my detractors I will be home and free. God is the one with whom I must deal. My inside world is not, nor will it ever be perfect. The outside world is not, nor will it ever be perfect. In all matters of sin, my business, first and foremost, is God: “make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation” (v.22).
I am unable to totally deal with my sin. I’m unable to be perfect, therefore I have to rely more heavily on the Lord. I have to put friends around me who will remind me to confess my sin and receive God’s forgiveness.
Prayer Week Underway 2 June 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're up to.....add a comment
The Prayer week hosted by St John’s Church in Egham is underway. We had a great day yesterday with prayer stations set up across the grounds of the church. Join us as we spend a week in prayer.
