The Rock ConneXion Blog

What if you need space?

A bit of a difference between this week and last week's photo. One, a small hotel room, this, the beautiful panorama of Swinsty reservoir, recently visited by several of the church. Well, I'm sat there now, Monday afternoon at about 3.30pm, as the sun prepares to descend towards the evening.
We're starting a new series on Saturday, looking at the build up to Easter during the period of Lent. Jesus regularly took 'time out' to pray and meditate by himself. Why did He do that? Wasn't there more important things to do? Healing the sick, feeding the hungry, releasing the captives. He was 'led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the Devil, isn't that a bit wierd?

Well, Swinsty isn't the desert, haven't seen the Devil while I've been here, I've got some jobs to do at home, but I've taken a couple of hours out to walk and pray.  We all need that sort of time, time to think, time to step back from the hurry and worry of the lives we live.

I walked past a few pine trees today, blown down by the winds, moved out of the way by the Forestry Commission.  Before they were moved, they may have blocked the path.  Jesus tackled the issues in His life that could have deflected Him from His purpose - what were they?  If you want to know - turn up on Saturday!

Would be great to see you

Mike

"24" Week Four Talkback

Week Four, Mike looked at Breathing In and Breathing Out!
Download the talk notes here

What's your personal life like?  Does your inner and your outer life match up?  Let's breathe in what God wants us to have, breathe out the rubbish.

"24" Week Three Talkback

Week Three, Tim  looked at Happiness comes from pursuing goodness, not pleasure!

Download the talk notes here
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Where do you feel at home?

So here I am, Monday night at 11.30pm at the National College for School Leadership in Nottingham (or as James calls it, Shottingham, a reference to gun crime I think). It's a lonely night away from home, 90 miles from Harrogate, and that's my bed that you can see in the picture.
But I'm not on my own tonight, many others across the world are in far worse situations than this, existing in difficult, dangerous situations, making a nest for themselves and their loved ones.
Have you ever been to a poverty stricken area of the world and noticed the lengths that people go to in order to make it 'home'? Beautiful gardens, attempts at decoration, something that leaves their individual 'mark' on the territory. I think Jesus understood our desire for permanence when he said in John 14 v 2 , words we used at my father's funeral a few weeks ago.

"In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am"

Wherever you are tonight, whoever you are with, whether you feel at home or not, Jesus awaits you, ready to take you with Him. Not tonight literally(!), but in the assured hope of a certain future. As I type, I can hear the ambulance siren going past, my prayers are for the passenger. We do not know our 'deal' on this planet, but do we know where we are going beyond?
I'm glad that, in one sense, I'm always "away from home", so in the midst of the darkest nights I know that there's no place like home - and that's my promise from Jesus.

Have you heard Him say that to you yet?

Mike

"24" Week Two Talkback

Download "24" week two talk notes

Click here to listen to BBC Simon Mayo programme
(choose Wednesday)

Week Two, we looked at LIVING IT!  and SHARING IT!
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She's got it - Poster campaign

Download the full text here

We're so excited by this poster campaign, set up to stimulate discussion and help people to get connected to our community.  We need ideas about how to distribute the A3 posters.  Please put your ideas here?  Thanks - Mike

"24" - Week One Talkback

Download "24" week one talk notes here

A mini series on 24.  The first week, we looked at the number 1440, that's how many minutes you get in every day - Is Jesus at the centre of your wheel, or is there a God box trying to squeeze into the spaces?  What do you think? What does it mean to you to follow Jesus?

Snow arrives - Spring draws near

So here we are, Thursday 8th Feb, forget global warming today, it's back to good old fashioned snow, for how long, we don't really know.  We do know that Seasons are still there, even with all the climate change, we still have Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.

What about seasons of the soul?  Or maybe seasons of life?  Or maybe seasons of the church?

In the winter, roots grow deeper, the plant is protected from the bitter winds, and ready to 'spring' into growth.  That's where we've been in Rock ConneXion over the last few months.

Are you ready for Springtime?  Are you ready for the burst into new life?

There's an exciting time ahead for all of us - Here comes the Son!