Whats also been on my mind this week is God's free gift of grace. Matthew 20:1-15. The parable of the workers in the vineyard. This parable speaks of God’s generous and kind gift of grace to all who would receive it. It speaks of there being no difference between you and I and the criminal who hung next to Jesus on the cross – that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of god but God’s grace is sufficient and Gods heart is for all.
His kind and generous gift of grace is for all!
Friday, 20 May 2011
Relish
“keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have…” Hebrews 13:5.
Relish what you have rather than resent what you’re missing.
I love this concept and think it’s so true of God’s kingdom and the way Jesus calls us to live.
In this book I recently finished reading, the aforementioned - Colin Creel - wrote of the concept of giving out, not from your cup, but from your saucer. We cant but give out from the overflow of our hearts because God gives us all we need and so much more. Its his loving kindness that compells us to live as jesus did. For he longs to give good gifts to his children (Matt 7:9-11) and he knows what we need before we even ask (Matt 6:32).
So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (col 2:6+7).
May we overflow with thankfulness for all that we have and all that he gives.
Relish what you have rather than resent what you’re missing.
I love this concept and think it’s so true of God’s kingdom and the way Jesus calls us to live.
In this book I recently finished reading, the aforementioned - Colin Creel - wrote of the concept of giving out, not from your cup, but from your saucer. We cant but give out from the overflow of our hearts because God gives us all we need and so much more. Its his loving kindness that compells us to live as jesus did. For he longs to give good gifts to his children (Matt 7:9-11) and he knows what we need before we even ask (Matt 6:32).
So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (col 2:6+7).
May we overflow with thankfulness for all that we have and all that he gives.
Identity in Christ
“Without knowledge of self and knowledge of God we are bound to find our identity solely in what others think of us, and that brings disaster. If others define you, you will forever be changing shape until you are just a blob of random traits and habits that were never yours to start with.” From Perspectives by Colin Creel.
Saturday, 14 May 2011
comm - unity
It really feels like the community of people living here and working for 24-7 Ibiza are starting to come together. After 2 weeks of being here I really feel settled and it feels good to be back finding my rhythm and feet in this lifestyle.
One thing that I learnt last year from being here in Ibiza and working as a part of 24-7 Ibiza, was the importance of unity. Brian () shared from Pslam 133 which says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!... For there the Lord bestows his blessing…”. I want to continue to hold onto this.
I guess that any community or group of people needs such unity to thrive.
I think that knowing our value is important to a strong and healthy community. Each part of the body and each brick in the wall is important for the whole body and structure.
I think that knowing our identity in christ plays an important part in the formation of community as well.
From being a son or daughter of our father in heaven and from all that jesus has done for us comes our value and identity.
Jesus as the centre, cement, blood, and firm foundation.
Im loving being in Ibiza and am praying and hoping and seeing and enjoying great unity and community.
One thing that I learnt last year from being here in Ibiza and working as a part of 24-7 Ibiza, was the importance of unity. Brian () shared from Pslam 133 which says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!... For there the Lord bestows his blessing…”. I want to continue to hold onto this.
I guess that any community or group of people needs such unity to thrive.
I think that knowing our value is important to a strong and healthy community. Each part of the body and each brick in the wall is important for the whole body and structure.
I think that knowing our identity in christ plays an important part in the formation of community as well.
From being a son or daughter of our father in heaven and from all that jesus has done for us comes our value and identity.
Jesus as the centre, cement, blood, and firm foundation.
Im loving being in Ibiza and am praying and hoping and seeing and enjoying great unity and community.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
first night
The night before last was my first night out on the streets. It was great to meet up with old friends and familiar faces. I’m really feeling excited about what is going to happen this season. I love the anticipation of things to come that all are feeling at the moment.
I am loving this story that I read recently. A man named Joshua was commanded to lead the Israelites into “the promised land” after Moses had died. No big deal, the leader of all these people has just died and you are to take them forward over the river on the next leg of the journey into the promised yet unknown land.
His words were simple but powerful:
“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous…”
I love this and am holding on to the awesome truth that is said to us by our father in heaven. I know that there are many more, deeper and exciting things to come. I’m so grateful that we all have a loving father in heaven who is with us and will never leave us. I for one am going to take great strength and courage from that.
its hotting up again on the white isle!
I am loving this story that I read recently. A man named Joshua was commanded to lead the Israelites into “the promised land” after Moses had died. No big deal, the leader of all these people has just died and you are to take them forward over the river on the next leg of the journey into the promised yet unknown land.
His words were simple but powerful:
“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous…”
I love this and am holding on to the awesome truth that is said to us by our father in heaven. I know that there are many more, deeper and exciting things to come. I’m so grateful that we all have a loving father in heaven who is with us and will never leave us. I for one am going to take great strength and courage from that.
its hotting up again on the white isle!
Saturday, 23 April 2011
New Season
It seems apropriate but unintended to send this out on the eve of easter sunday.
If you are reading this I do salute you.
After 10 months of not touching my blog I thought I should reconnect with this great way of sharing stories.
It is with great pleasure that I will be returning to Ibiza this summer for another season working with 24-7 prayer in Ibiza. Some of my friends still think all I will be doing is drinking marguerittas on the beach for 6 months. No. This summer will be packed with so much more I am sure.
After winter in the UK, after some R and R and some hard work, I very much look forward to getting stuck into the new season. I’m expectant of this summer being even better than the amazing 6 months I spent in Ibiza last year.
I look forward to living with new friends, catching up with old ones, celebrating new marriage, being amazed by our creator, watching out for my neighbour, growing deeper in relationship with Jesus, watching the sunset, living life to the full, hours of prayer, Mediterranean cuisine, living on the same continent as my girlfriend, dancing in celebration of how good he is…
I just can’t help but wonder whether I have slept enough this winter in preparation.
Hoping I can keep a blog going this summer!
Jesus christ is risen ...
If you are reading this I do salute you.
After 10 months of not touching my blog I thought I should reconnect with this great way of sharing stories.
It is with great pleasure that I will be returning to Ibiza this summer for another season working with 24-7 prayer in Ibiza. Some of my friends still think all I will be doing is drinking marguerittas on the beach for 6 months. No. This summer will be packed with so much more I am sure.
After winter in the UK, after some R and R and some hard work, I very much look forward to getting stuck into the new season. I’m expectant of this summer being even better than the amazing 6 months I spent in Ibiza last year.
I look forward to living with new friends, catching up with old ones, celebrating new marriage, being amazed by our creator, watching out for my neighbour, growing deeper in relationship with Jesus, watching the sunset, living life to the full, hours of prayer, Mediterranean cuisine, living on the same continent as my girlfriend, dancing in celebration of how good he is…
I just can’t help but wonder whether I have slept enough this winter in preparation.
Hoping I can keep a blog going this summer!
Jesus christ is risen ...
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Half Way
here's a blog that covers 6 weeks in one hit. there's no way i could cover it all. its been an incredible summer so far. Half way through my time here. Im expecting the next 3 months to be better than the first 3.
crap to blog in this way - will get back on it.
Since June the work here has been building and getting busier all the time. From now until the end of August San Antonio is at its busiest. There are so many great stories, too many to list them all. Praise be to God that more people have reached a decision to ask Jesus into their lives. We continue to sow seeds of truth, hope and love well aware of the new season that the work of 24-7 Ibiza has moved into.
Living as part of a missional community is great fun and very challenging, rewarding and is a great environment for personal growth. Every week we spend time chilling and eating together, and learning and praying together. Im loving getting to know and working alongside people that are living sacrificial lives for Jesus, seeking first his Kingdom and seeing Jesus bind up the broken hearted.
The prayer wall is really filling up now. Heart cries of primarily those who are not Christians calling out to their father in heaven for help, direction, provision, healing and more. He hears every single prayer and we have seen so many of our prayers answered.
The new bibles that 24-7Ibiza has had printed are being snapped up. Such a great design and the message version is so easily accessible. There are pictures on my blog. Minimum print run of 5000 means we intend to give 2500 away and sell the other 2500 to cover the costs. Not sure of exact numbers but somewhere near two thousand still to be sold at £5 a bible. Let me know if you are interested. There has been hundreds given away already. Heres just one story of many opportunities so far this summer we have had to share the gospel. I cannot begin to tell you the extent of countless opportunities taken.
One night last week, myself and Jessica - one of the short term workers here for 2 weeks - were out on the streets and we found ourselves in conversation with a group of about 5 or 6 guys from England. The conversation proceeded and we explained about 24-7 Ibiza and what we did in the West End of San An. I grabbed an opportunity and took out a bible and one of the group requested that I read some of John to them. Though surrounded by bars with the group having consumed a fair bit of alcohol I read out of John 3 to them.
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his son, his one and only son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a hole and lasting life. God didnt go to all the trouble of sending his son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again”.
They responded well to it and I had an opportunity to pray with one of them there and then on the street. Two of the group took bibles and after a few minutes of further chat in which we shared a bit more about what Jesus has done for us we wished them a good night and they moved onto the next bar.
Later that night when in Garlands at Eden (a club in the west end) with the whole of the team I saw some of this same group on the dance floor. I went over and started to dance alongside them. I introduced myself to them again and they recognised me at which point they pulled out their Jesus Loves Ibiza bibles and held them aloft in the middle of the dance floor. Though they were obviously intoxicated having consumed one form of drug or another, we all danced together for a while as they held the word of God up high on the dance floor. It was great to see the word of God that is so powerful, so full of truth and life in the hands of some guys who really wanted it, loved it and need it.
The centre continues to be very busy. Occasionally I reach the top of the table tennis leaders board but generally maintaining a respectable position. The internet and wii are always being used, so too the chapel. Whether its for a free head, foot or hand massage that one of the longer term team members offer on a wednesday or for impromptu bible study with a group of west african prostitutes who pop in increasingly frequently, or for another worker of the west end to chill for a while.
The church service we run on a sunday has been growing exponentially in number. Last sunday our centre was packed out with 30 people. Such a diverse group of people. West end workers – PR's, strip club workers, bar workers, prostitutes; short term and long term team members and visiters. People from Nigeria, America, Australia, Germany, England and Ireland. It was truly beautiful to see.
Most nights we speak with the prostitutes on the street, most nights we pray with them in the midle of their busy working schedules of performing sexual acts as a source of income. We show love to these truly beautiful women as Jesus did.
Just this week a couple of the girls on our team went into the three strip clubs of san an to pray, chat with the dancers and see what would happen in stepping out into these places to shine for Jesus and share his love. They handed out curly wurlys, chatted with men in the clubs, chatted with dancers and got to tell the dancers how much God loves them.
Some random thoughts and experiences of my life over the past weeks. Honestly im not lying on a beach for 6 months.
The kingdom of heaven is really coming to san an this summer. Honoured and Priviledged to be a part of it. Thank you for all your prayers and support.
crap to blog in this way - will get back on it.
Since June the work here has been building and getting busier all the time. From now until the end of August San Antonio is at its busiest. There are so many great stories, too many to list them all. Praise be to God that more people have reached a decision to ask Jesus into their lives. We continue to sow seeds of truth, hope and love well aware of the new season that the work of 24-7 Ibiza has moved into.
Living as part of a missional community is great fun and very challenging, rewarding and is a great environment for personal growth. Every week we spend time chilling and eating together, and learning and praying together. Im loving getting to know and working alongside people that are living sacrificial lives for Jesus, seeking first his Kingdom and seeing Jesus bind up the broken hearted.
The prayer wall is really filling up now. Heart cries of primarily those who are not Christians calling out to their father in heaven for help, direction, provision, healing and more. He hears every single prayer and we have seen so many of our prayers answered.
The new bibles that 24-7Ibiza has had printed are being snapped up. Such a great design and the message version is so easily accessible. There are pictures on my blog. Minimum print run of 5000 means we intend to give 2500 away and sell the other 2500 to cover the costs. Not sure of exact numbers but somewhere near two thousand still to be sold at £5 a bible. Let me know if you are interested. There has been hundreds given away already. Heres just one story of many opportunities so far this summer we have had to share the gospel. I cannot begin to tell you the extent of countless opportunities taken.
One night last week, myself and Jessica - one of the short term workers here for 2 weeks - were out on the streets and we found ourselves in conversation with a group of about 5 or 6 guys from England. The conversation proceeded and we explained about 24-7 Ibiza and what we did in the West End of San An. I grabbed an opportunity and took out a bible and one of the group requested that I read some of John to them. Though surrounded by bars with the group having consumed a fair bit of alcohol I read out of John 3 to them.
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his son, his one and only son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a hole and lasting life. God didnt go to all the trouble of sending his son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again”.
They responded well to it and I had an opportunity to pray with one of them there and then on the street. Two of the group took bibles and after a few minutes of further chat in which we shared a bit more about what Jesus has done for us we wished them a good night and they moved onto the next bar.
Later that night when in Garlands at Eden (a club in the west end) with the whole of the team I saw some of this same group on the dance floor. I went over and started to dance alongside them. I introduced myself to them again and they recognised me at which point they pulled out their Jesus Loves Ibiza bibles and held them aloft in the middle of the dance floor. Though they were obviously intoxicated having consumed one form of drug or another, we all danced together for a while as they held the word of God up high on the dance floor. It was great to see the word of God that is so powerful, so full of truth and life in the hands of some guys who really wanted it, loved it and need it.
The centre continues to be very busy. Occasionally I reach the top of the table tennis leaders board but generally maintaining a respectable position. The internet and wii are always being used, so too the chapel. Whether its for a free head, foot or hand massage that one of the longer term team members offer on a wednesday or for impromptu bible study with a group of west african prostitutes who pop in increasingly frequently, or for another worker of the west end to chill for a while.
The church service we run on a sunday has been growing exponentially in number. Last sunday our centre was packed out with 30 people. Such a diverse group of people. West end workers – PR's, strip club workers, bar workers, prostitutes; short term and long term team members and visiters. People from Nigeria, America, Australia, Germany, England and Ireland. It was truly beautiful to see.
Most nights we speak with the prostitutes on the street, most nights we pray with them in the midle of their busy working schedules of performing sexual acts as a source of income. We show love to these truly beautiful women as Jesus did.
Just this week a couple of the girls on our team went into the three strip clubs of san an to pray, chat with the dancers and see what would happen in stepping out into these places to shine for Jesus and share his love. They handed out curly wurlys, chatted with men in the clubs, chatted with dancers and got to tell the dancers how much God loves them.
Some random thoughts and experiences of my life over the past weeks. Honestly im not lying on a beach for 6 months.
The kingdom of heaven is really coming to san an this summer. Honoured and Priviledged to be a part of it. Thank you for all your prayers and support.
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