The church is dead...Long live the Church

 

Many people these days seem to think the Church has passed it's sell by date. We're always being told It's irrelevant, pointless and weak. People seem to think it causes nothing but division, and is the decaying remnants of a once great institution that no longer has a place in society...other than maybe as a picture on a postcard or Christmas card...an image of tradition and a reminder of what once, was, the cornerstone of society.

As the cast of Monty python might say:

"Its not pinin'! 'it's passed on! The Church is no more! It has ceased to be! 'it's expired and gone to meet it's maker!

It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! It's pushing up the daisies!

It's metabolic processes are now history! It's off the twig!

It's kicked the bucket, it's shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the choir invisibile!!"

That's what I want to look at in today's post

A quick point of order before we get stuck in:

I thought I was being terribly clever with my witty title, a quick Google search shows that I was very, very wrong, and it's been used a lot (like a lot) so just as a mini disclaimer, this is my own work, not derivative or pinched from anyone else, I've drawn my on conclusions and opinions, so any resemblance to any other post is purely coincidental.

Would the last one out please turn off the lights!

Lots of polls and opinion pieces will tell you that the Church in the west is declining.

A quick Google search provided these sobering graphs specifically in relation to the United Kingdom. Published in June 2022 (click to zoom in)

Source" https://www.kouya.net/?p=13846

I'll leave you to read the full article yourselves if you're interested. But a few sobering points to note:

- some denominations could be extinct within 20 years

- the Church in Wales (including several nonconformist denominations) could be extinct within 30 years

- "The Church of England and Catholics should last until the second half of the century. However, they need to take urgent action now. Stemming losses is not enough. None of us can prevent ageing! Whatever their current denominational emphases, they should put all aside to encourage members to make new disciples who can replicate themselves. Praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit would not go amiss either."

A Church of two halves:

This next section is going to be a bit of a long winded, explanation of my opinion of what the figures and graphs are trying to say...but stick with me...I'll leave a summary/tldr (too long didn't read) at the end of this section if you just want to quite literally jump to my conclusion.

Interesting to note as a starting point, is that while older more established and traditional denominations are for the most part, in decline, more modern denominations seem to be increasing membership, also of note is that the churches that seem to be growing are the more evangelical ones.

I don't fully hold with the distinctions the website makes between liberal/evangelical churches, the definitions are a little unhelpful...a church can definitely be liberal as well evangelical in the sense of having liberal theology/doctrines/policies and still very much be committed to evangelism and reaching out...I think I would prefer the distinction of an insular, inward looking church whose main focus (note: main not only) on deepening relationships and discipleship Vs a mainly outward looking, convert grabbing focused church...which is pretty much the distinction I think they're trying to make, but with slightly dodgy terminology (just my thoughts anyway)

Whatever the terminology, the graphs are quite interesting...the larger Churches that are perhaps somewhat comfortable in their place, have established, and well known, long histories etc have, maybe become a little too comfortable, the sense of urgency is perhaps not there... obviously each denomination and individual church community will have their own reasons for growth or decline, and within the declining denominations they're will, of course be those communities that are still thriving and growing. So I don't want to oversimplify or stereotype whole denominations based on limited figures.

The younger Churches, that don't have that established history, I suppose are fighting to carve out their niche within the UK Christian community...they don't have an established following or reputation, (I guess is the word), to fall back on. So they must constantly be pushing forward, constantly be telling and showing people who they are.

The established denominations have enjoyed being ingrained in the public psyche for generations... generally people know who they are, they're represented on television, with things that are just part of our accepted traditions and shared experiences...just as a quick example, we see a priest in a dog collar we instantly know and understand what their role is, we make certain assumptions about beliefs, traditions and practices. We see a traditional Church and people instantly think of weddings, baptisms and funerals etc...maybe this privileged position in society has led to a certain amount of apathy?

Perhaps this apathy explains a lot of the issues the traditional Church faces...again another quick example...50-60 years ago you could probably assume most people went to church or at very least Sunday school when they were growing up. Stories like Noah's ark, fall of Jericho, David Vs Goliath etc were universally known by pretty much everybody... today, that's not the case. Even key components of Christianity and the story of Christ are not so well known. Even Christmas and the crucifixion are being pushed back and forgotten about...the established church hasn't really had the need to explain these kinds of stories, they have always subconsciously assumed that everybody was starting from an established knowledge base...and so haven't really had to worry too much about getting basic teachings and knowledge out there...and in my opinion haven't kept pace with changing society. 

Lots of the younger Churches are starting from an assumption that the people they're evangelising to, are completely starting from scratch, no prior knowledge or experience of the Church. Therefore seem to have more of a sense of urgency, and are building, pretty much from nothing... this the way I envision it; that the established denominations are like a fortress constantly building up defenses while unbeknownst to them, their foundations are cracking. Perhaps that's a little extreme, as their true foundations are in Christ and unshakable... Maybe a better analogy is to say that they're building defences while those inside are either comfortable and fast asleep unaware of any danger, or sneaking out the back door...in contrast to this imposing but sleepy and unprepared fortress I see these newer denominations as a lightly armed but passionate and strong raiding party, the trade off is that without the established fortress, or place of retreat the raiding party can be vulnerable.

(Skip to here for conclusion or tldr...if you made it through my rambling about the figures then congratulations and thank you)

The point I'm trying to make in all of the above. Is that there is no one way, that is all encompassing and works for everyone and everything the Church will encounter. There are benefits to being established and all the history and collective knowledge and traditions that the older denominations have accumulated. Likewise there is value and strength in the modern more outward looking denominations...both together could be unstoppable...to paraphrase and build on James 2:14-26 'faith without works is dead' I would say: worship and discipleship, growth etc without looking outwards is to miss the point of being the Church, as is looking outward without focusing on our own discipleship and community ties/foundations... essentially we need each other, all our different skills and passions need to work together to truly be the complete and unified Church that we are meant to be, and that the world needs us to be.

I know that all that is a massive oversimplification...the established Church does look outwards and the newer denominations do look inwards...I just wanted to help highlight the distinction and help to explain the different main focuses and methods of each type of denomination...my own denomination, the Salvation Army has traditionally been very good at reaching out, both in social work and evangelism. I would also argue that in terms of attractive, meaningful and inspiring worship it's also very good... discipleship, spiritual gifts, meditation all the sort of inward stuff however, it's traditionally been a lot weaker at. It's working to address the imbalance and has come a very long way...but sometimes we're still poor at stopping and looking inwards.

Rising from the ashes, and starting again:

Coventry cathedral ruins

New Cathedral

Coventry cathedral is a great, practical example of a Church literally rising from the ashes... destroyed during the Blitz of WW2 and rebuilt next to it. Since then it has been a key focal point of the city, an important venue for many varied events, and could well be described as the spiritual centre of the city...the new cathedral is several hundred years younger than many UK cathedrals...it's predecessor is around 500 years older and the original priory and cathedral founded around the year 1100, is around 300 years older than that...the Church , as in the whole church is very different from in those days.

Is it better? That would be to dishonour what has come before...it is a different institution for a different age and different needs...but it retains much of the lessons and practices of the past.

One Church:

Whether you belong to some of the centuries old Churches like the orthodox Church or Roman Catholicism. Or if you belong to the new breed from the last 20 years or so. Or those of us in-between, you are the Church! You have all the rights, responsibilities and duties that come with that, you are commissioned to make disciples, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, bring hope to the hopeless, be the hands and feet of God Himself...that is your greatest responsibility, and your greatest privilege.

Our methods may differ completely. Each denomination has strengths and weaknesses, only together, can we be, the true Church of God that this world needs...we have to learn from each other, hold each other up, pick each other up when we stumble...the challenges of modern day life could well pick us all off one by one, if we don't hold fast to the foundations and promises of God, and hold fast to each other.

The established denominations can no longer rest on their laurels of age old traditions and assume the basic knowledge of the Bible and Christ that society once had...it must get out there, meet people where they are. Invest in them, love them, help them grow and nurture them...it needs something of the fire and new ways of thinking that some newer denominations take for granted (and I'm pleased to say many more established denominations and individual church communities are realising that, and are already making leaps and bounds in those areas)...in the same way some newer denominations need the accumulated strengths of the established Church, it needs a fortress, and resources, the established reputations, it needs to use the knowledge and lessons that have been bitterly learned over the centuries...we can't be either/or. In a new and challenging world, particularly with the fallout and decline after Covid, we must be all, and both. A new, united, confident but prayerful, considerate, loving Church. We can keep our traditions, as well as our new expressions but for the love of God, we need to work together and stop fighting amongst ourselves...we can disagree, have wildly different methods, after all everyone is different, some methods and styles will resonate more with some, and not with others, that doesn't make them inherently bad or good. As long as we're worshipping God, and working together then it's all good.

The Church, in 20, 30 or even 100 years from now may well look or be expressed radically different from how it is today, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, I have no doubt, that despite figures like the ones above, the Church will continue to endure and serve this world as it has done for 2000 years. 

The Church on fire:

As a final note, challenge and promise. I'm going to post the lyrics and a link to the song 'Church on fire'. This is a fantastic promise and challenge for the whole Church, for your denomination or community, of course, but also as a combined Church, each of us standing side by side, apart but also connected in brotherhood, celebrating our strengths, and building up our weaknesses, traditional and new expressions of the Church; God's Church, on fire, united, powerful and ready for action.

The church is dead...long live the Church!

"Church On Fire"

https://youtu.be/M76PYwFIgcM

The Holy Spirit is here and His power is real

Anything can happen and it probably will

Something very good

Something good is going on around here

There is a light that shines to make the dark disappear

A power at work but there's nothing to fear

Something very good

Something good is going on around here

This is a church on fire

This is the Holy Spirit's flame

We have a burning desire

To lift up Jesus' Name

Let fire burn in every heart

To light the way defeat the dark

Let the flame of love burn higher

This is a church

This is a church on fire

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Disclaimer: the opinions and comments expressed in this blog are personal and do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Salvation Army

The Gospel according to Mario Kart Part 1: Super Mario Kart (When life knocks you down)

 

When everything's going smoothly, there isn't a cloud in the sky, nothings bothering you and life seems to be going well...then all of a sudden you have a 'red shell' moment... something unexpected and definitely unwelcome happens, you're made redundant, or you suffer a loss, anything like that...what's your initial reaction? Do you get angry? Do you blame others or yourself for your circumstances? Do you blame God and shout at him? The final question is, as Christians how should we react? How should we move forward?

Basing the initial idea for this post on a video game, may seem a little strange. And admittedly it's kind of derivative of those old 'gospel according to...' books that seemed to be all the rage a few years ago, like the Simpsons and Disney, I think there was a superhero one as well. But hey, stick with me. This is my rambling and personal take on the idea...I find inspiration in strange places and I think it's good sometimes to think outside the box. Inspiration and encouragement can be found anywhere if we look hard enough.

This is the first in a planned 4 part series looking at the lessons and biblical truths that we can learn from some of the main Mario Kart games... perhaps a little out there, but stick with me.

I've got a real thing for video games. Especially retro games. I always love it when I get to combine my love of video games, or Star Trek or any of the other strange stuff I'm into with matters of faith and religion, even better when those things let me look at biblical truths from a different angle and learn new things from them.

What is Mario Kart?

the original Mario Kart, released on the Super Nintendo console in 1992, may not have all the bells and whistles of the later games, but I do have a soft spot for it. It wasn't quite the first kart racer, but it really defined this kind of game, and it's just loads of fun to play.

Just to backtrack a little for anyone not familiar with the game series (where have you been?)

The Mario Kart series, is a racing game featuring some of Nintendo's most popular characters, the characters race around on go karts (hence the name) later games added motorbikes, and prams, barrels, rockets and so on. There are a huge amount of items, weapons and power-ups; some that make you go faster, slow others down, make others crash or spin off the tracks...it's almost as famous for causing arguments as monopoly.

Running the race

You may already be questioning where I'm going with all this. I originally planned a simple post based around the well known verses about running the race Hebrews, Galatians, Corinthians, Paul in particular seemed to like using the race analogy, but the old testament is full of references to races as well; Jeremiah, Joel, Samuel and the Psalms to name a few.

But that's not really where I felt led to, while planning this post. Mario Kart and those games like it, aren't like normal racing games or any other real world race. Normally you'd expect the best racer to win, the one that's spent the most time practicing. And yes that is part of it, but the items and weapons I mentioned above, as well as obstacles and traps on the game's tracks add a real element of chance. This is where it's reputation for causing arguments comes from...often you can find yourself way ahead of the pack, then just before the finish line, you get hit with a red turtle shell that hunts you down and is very difficult to avoid...then you suddenly end up in last place and depending on whether or not you're a good loser you might have something to say about that...

Our own 'Red shell' moments

I've been pondering, as I often do, and it jumped into my head that getting hit by sudden nasty surprises like that, that totally derail our plans, sometimes send us spiraling in a different direction or cause us to lose our cool can often be a part of everyday life...from an unexpected redundancy, bereavement, illness, even floods and other natural disasters.

Sometimes when these things happen we look for someone or something to blame. If it's a video game like Mario Kart, we look for whichever of our friends or the computer characters (who definitely cheat of course) let the weapon fly, or crashed into us, or even just happened to be better at the game than us. and it can cause tension particularly if you're so close to winning and had it snatched away from you at the last second.

I know something of what that's like, which I'll go into pretty briefly, maybe it needs its own post one day...a few years ago I applied to become a full time minister. After what felt like a long time of doing everything that was expected of me, and working really hard on my personal development, putting my whole self into the process, probably more than I've ever applied myself to anything, and putting my whole self worth on the line I was rejected. it's still something that holds me back at times, that every now and again I still think about...I could blame the panel that made the decision, the way the news was delivered, lack of aftercare. I could blame those that mentored and prepared me (I don't, I was lucky . I could blame myself (and sometimes I do). At the time and occasionally now I still briefly and subconsciously look around for someone to blame, including myself. The truth is that perhaps I simply wasn't ready, or it wasn't the right time, or I'm not a right fit. It doesn't really matter I suppose. The point is that I felt really close to achieving something that I really wanted. I believed the assessment was virtually a formality, I probably was a little arrogant. It was my finish line knock back, and it hurt, and set me back. But I'm determined not to let it dictate how I move forward. Maybe one day I'll try again, maybe I won't, but whatever, I can't let a setback or frustration or anger hold me back from whatever God wants me to be and to do. 

I'm sure at some point or another, to a greater or lesser degree, we've all been hit by a finish line knock back; By a red shell smacking into us when we've least expected it. Whatever it was that knocked you off course, big or small, it's so important (but incredibly difficult) not to play the blame game, and look for somebody to shout at and argue with, even ourselves, even God...it's really easy for me to say, I know that I don't know your individual circumstances, how big that red shell was, how much it affects you. but I do know the feeling of having something holding you down, making you fearful of trying again, but that's no way to live. And you'll miss out on all the wonderful things that God can do through you.

God isn't done with us yet

We have a God who cares about our futures, and doesn't want us held back from reaching our potential. And from being the very best version of ourselves.

Here's a couple of key quotes from the batman begins movie that are really appropriate here (and give me an excuse to quote a batman movie, which is always good.)

Alfred Pennyworth : "Why do we fall sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.

Bruce Wayne : You still haven't given up on me?

Alfred Pennyworth : Never."

Alfred Pennyworth : "I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do with your past, sir. Just know that there are those of us who care about what you do with your future."

That's a promise, and a conversation that I can really imagine God having with us. And a conversation that I would have with you...God won't give up on you, no matter how much you may have given up on yourself. He cares about you, your present and your future. If you're struggling and can't find that faith in yourself, please be assured that God has faith in you.

But let me be real for a moment, as Rocky said in Rocky Balboa (sorry for more movie quotes but it really fits and is just a great quote);

"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

It's rarely quick or easy to get over a red shell moment. It's rarely easy to forgive those that we blame for our misfortunes or failures, it's often even harder to forgive ourselves. It takes time and real effort to heal, and move forward. It takes honesty with ourselves, it involves soul searching and prayer, and it involves turning to others for help, something that I really struggle with. That may be a friend, a minister a mentor, perhaps even a counsellor or other professional. There is no shame, absolutely none, in turning to others for help, in fact I see it as a sign of strength and courage.

But to quote Alfred Pennyworth again, as above:

"I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do with your past, sir. Just know that there are those of us who care about what you do with your future."

All these times we suffer or get knocked back can in a strange way become a positive thing.

Romans 5:3-4 seems really appropriate here:

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,"

I can't really unpack that verse any better than it unpacks itself...it's a great truth; it also happens to be one of the verses that I find kind of irritating. Achieving all it's promises is great, and honourable and all that; but it seems so simple when written down and layed out like that. It really isn't...but the reward both for the kingdom of God on earth,  our place in it, and for ourselves personally if we can achieve it, is immeasurable.

If you persevere, and move forward, trust in God, forgive others, even more importantly forgive yourself. Through self reflection, prayer and with time, you will find your purpose and your victory. It may very well not take the form you want or expect it to, but you will find it, and in doing so, you'll find peace and fulfilment.

A final word.

I thought I'd give the final word to the song 'Wake up O sleeper' by Graham Kendrick. This version Is sung by the Salvation Army's International staff songsters: https://youtu.be/Cd3nHW_ueIo

Wake up O sleeperAnd rise from the dead

And Christ will shine on you

Wake up O sleeper

And rise from the dead

And Christ will shine on you

Once you were darkness

But now you are light

Now you are light in the Lord

So as true children of light you must live

Showing the glory of God

This is the beautiful fruit of the light

The good, the righteous, the true

Let us discover what pleases the Lord

In everything that we do

As days get darker take care how you live

Not as unwise but as wise

Making the most

Of each moment he gives

And pressing on for the prize

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Disclaimer: the opinions and comments expressed in this blog are personal and do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Salvation Army

'By the Founder's Beard!': A Salvationists guide to swearing

Almost all of us at some point have let some unfortunate words fly out of our mouths...sometimes at inappropriate times or unguarded moments.... stubbing my toe is a particular favourite of mine...

I know there are a wide variety of opinions on what constitutes  swearing and how acceptable it is from Christians, so here's a short exploration of the issue...

What is swearing?

The first question and probably the most obvious place to start is what is swearing?

I guess any word or phrase used in anger or to put down or belittle others would constitute swearing and really is probably unacceptable...I don't suppose they'd be much argument there...but what about well known 'offensive' words? (if you want examples...use your imagination...we all know the ones I'm talking about.)

Are the words themselves offensive, or is it their use that makes them wrong?
I work in an environment where swearing is a natural and accepted conversational tool...it is simply how people talk; there is no morality connected to it (most of the time). Although I do try not to get sucked into that culture.

We talk about Jesus speaking to people on their own levels and in accessible ways. In that situation would Jesus use swear words in the same way he used parables to get his message across?

William Booth is quoted as saying he'd go to great lengths to be accessible, relevant and to reach the lost:

"If I thought I could win one more soul to the Lord by walking on my head and playing the tambourine with my toes, I'd learn how!"

Do we think this would include swearing... I doubt it, I think that's a big leap...but it's something to consider that joining a culture of conversational swearing might make us more accessible...but there comes the danger...we could easily fill every church and Salvation Army hall if we compromised our beliefs, didn't take moral stances and essentially did everything simply to please and entertain people...here's the link to a post I wrote about this issue. 'How to improve church attendance in 5 easy steps' our first priority and duty is to God, and the mission He has called us to undertake and we must not compromise that.

Does swearing compromise our mission and calling? Just for a little food for thought consider that language has changed and evolved and continues to. There was a time when the word 'knackered' was unacceptable in Salvation Army circles...I think it's mostly ok now...has swearing simply become part of our accepted lexicon with no moral connotations?

Gosh Darn it!
I was watching the Simpsons the other day and anyone will know the devout, church going Ned Flanders often uses gibberish when he talks..."diddly doodly" and so on...in one episode it's explained that this his way of expressing anger...is this godly man one of the worst potty mouths in the show?

https://youtu.be/K_hprv7uaK4

The question is, are the alternative words that Christians sometimes use to avoid swearing in fact swearing themselves...and if they are then they are just as morally reprehensible as the more well known words...

Speaking of alternative swear words, here's a link to a video that helped inspired this post...Tim Hawkins Christian cuss words. https://youtu.be/aHGbKuZzq3E

Context and intention
So this is my opinion... context and intention is everything...I don't really think it matters what words we use and that words are not necessarily good or bad in themselves...but it's how and where we use them that's the issue.
If you know that people around you particularly fellow believers will be offended by them; then it's probably best to give them a miss in order to show ourselves as people that love and support each other and take notice of other people's concerns.
And of course as above using any words to put down or belittle others is totally unacceptable... regardless as to whether you or they consider the words offensive or not.

In conversation...well that's the tricky question...let's be honest if your non Christian friends/co-workers hear you cussing up a storm expect to have questions asked because even in conversational swearing there is a morality attached to certain words...I suppose it's up to each of us to decide where our lines are...the bible clearly speaks out against swearing (Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:8, Psalm 10:7) but once again, as above, I believe that it is the context and intention that makes a word moral or immoral...not the words themselves.

So in summary; I don't offer a solution or hard-line stance on this issue just an opinion...and here it is:
Be kind, be holy.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength...and love your neighbour as yourself...if we keep all this in mind and put others before ourselves I don't think we'll go far wrong...if in doubt though, keep it clean.







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Disclaimer: the opinions and comments expressed in this blog are personal and do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Salvation Army

Thank God it's Monday

Anybody out there really love their jobs? Like, really, really love their jobs?

Do you wake up on a Monday morning (or whatever day your working week starts) feeling energised, inspired and ready for action?

If not, this post is for you...

No Escape from the daily grind
So, work sometimes seems designed to be draining...there's often far more interesting things we'd rather be doing...but we've got to pay our bills, put food on the table and pay for whatever unexpected expenses come our way.

like it or not, most have us have got to keep working for the time being...

Wherever you work it can be stressful, demanding and draining. And of course, since this is a Christian blog the obvious question soon presents itself...where does God fit into all this?

Leaving God at the door
If (like me) you work in a secular environment. You might have been asked to 'leave things at the door' when you get to work...a phrase with some logic of course...the idea is you forget any personal feelings or problems you may be facing so you can focus on what you need to get done; without distractions, prejudices, favouritism or discrimination...a nice phrase...but often easier said than done...

It can be difficult to keep your eyes on God and on higher matters of faith at work; there is busyness, stress, perhaps co-workers don't understand or are actively disrespecting or dismissive or even hostile to our beliefs...it can be easier to 'leave God at the door' to focus only on our work and hide our beliefs from others... I've never made a secret of my beliefs at work, sometimes it would definitely be easier to hide and keep quiet...but how can you 'leave God at the door' when He's with you all the time?

Obviously there is an important difference between walking with God and forcing our beliefs on others or disrespecting them...both of which are inappropriate in most professional settings.

Our heavenly employer
However you feel about your job, love it or hate it... whether you work with 1 person, 1000 people or by yourself; wherever you work and whatever you do, it can be a great opportunity to spread the word and the love of God and to be a positive influence in the world around you.

Ministers, priests and pastors are not God's only full time employees...we all are. We just serve in different arenas...God needs servants, workers and light-bringers in all areas of society...Godly ministers are needed just as much as Godly cleaners, politicians, nurses, lawyers, administrators, carers, soldiers, firefighters, paramedics, accountants and every other possible, conceivable job or responsibility...there are no greater or lesser callings or avenues of service... wherever God places us we can rest assured; even during the bad times, that we're following the greatest boss we could ever have the honour of working for.

A bad day
However much you enjoy your job, I'm sure there are days when you feel disheartened or unfulfilled, maybe you feel like that more often than not...

That's why I decided to write this blog post... I often don't feel fulfilled at work...it has its moments, but sometimes I wish I was doing something 'more' whatever that means. I wanted to write some words of encouragement and challenge to anybody who might have similar feelings about their own careers or place in God's kingdom.

'Only following orders'
It's so important that we remember who we serve; and who our real boss is.
We serve God first and foremost. The decisions we make, the things we choose to do, the orders we choose to follow all play a part in defining us personally and our mission in the kingdom...
We are not just called to be holy on a Sunday but even more so during our working week with those who we will come into contact with....the Salvation Army often refers to their church services as 'meetings'... because as we often say; our service starts after we leave the building...that's where we put into practice all that we are taught and experience on a Sunday.

The well known Bible verse Matthew 6:24 says: "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.'

Our jobs often make us face this dilemma...do we do what God asks of us, what we know is right...or do we do what our boss asks of us after all they're paying our wages...do we owe them our unquestioning loyalty?

We have to decide who we will serve and where our focus will be... however hard it might be we can't just follow our employer's instructions blindly...our real employer; God comes first...we must never compromise our faith or ideals because of what someone tells us to do;
again I know, that's easier said than done when your employer pays you and ultimately is responsible for you being able to pay bills and keep a roof over your head...but God is with you and will bless your courage in stepping out, He will take care of you...you might be asked to lie to a client or customer, to bend the rules or even break the law...sad to say, but it does happen, and some of the most disgusting and shameful acts in human history have happened because people were 'only following orders' from massacres, to the Holocaust, and even the crucifixion of Jesus...we have to be better and stronger than that.

The Mission
This is the privilege and responsibility of us as believers in the workplace...to be Christ's hands, feet, voice and heart where we are, secular or religious employment, days off, leisure time etc... wherever we are, we are God's employees, His friends, of course. But also called and commissioned to serve Him; not just to pay lip service once a week but all the time in whatever we are doing and whoever we come into contact with.

If we lock ourselves away from the world even in church we miss reaching our full potential and being all that we can be...we miss the opportunity to reach all those that God wants us to reach.

Surviving Shift Work
My own experience of work is as a hospital worker. Obviously a hospital is a 24/7 workplace...we can't close down evenings and weekends or bank holidays; this means that shift work is necessary to keep the place running...shift work is awful when it comes to trying to build any kind of work/life balance...of course wherever you work this can be a struggle, but shift work is particularly draining, there's no sense of continuity or pattern, and forget having a body clock... I'm sure many reading this will have had that experience. It takes over your life and drags you down if you let it, it can damage friendships, personal life and make it harder to get to church and fulfill commitments, it has any number of disastrous consequences...if you let it...and that's the real issue; the fact that all these excuses do not let you off, it might make life difficult or make planning ahead difficult...but you can't let these excuses beat you... you've got to find the reasons why life, church, family are important and make them a priority...no holding back, no excuses!

The only way we'll reach our potential is to grab hold of the opportunities, to reach into the lives of those around us...so when you start your working week and work gets you down, when it's been a struggle just to get out of bed, when you're feeling unfulfilled, unappreciated or wasted at work, remember your true calling, your true job given by God Himself, thank Him for the opportunity to reach others, and for paid employment that so many in our society long for and struggle to find...when you face all these situations, challenges and opportunities; bow your head and, above all else...
Thank God...it's Monday!







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Jesus Christ: Humanitarian, Showman or Dictator?

Today I'm asking probably one of the most foundational questions about Christianity:

Who Is Jesus Christ?

Is He a liar or a fool, mentally unstable, a power hungry despot, a great teacher, a good man, or just a figment of the Gospel writers imaginations?

Or is He... something more...

Matthew 4:1-11 (What kind of Saviour)

I love the account of Christ's temptation in the desert. We, as readers are still trying to understand who Jesus is and what He's about...we know He's the Son of God, who has come to save us from our sin...but we're still wrestling with exactly what that means.

The crowds at the river Jordan have seen and heard strange, bewildering things and like us, don't really know what's going on.

Jesus enters the desert and faces some foundational temptations: physical need, ego, and power...

It's as if He's being given the choice of what kind of Saviour, what kind of man He's going to be.

THE HUMANITARIAN (verses 1-4)

So let's imagine you're stuck in the desert, no food or water, starving...but with the power to do something about it, what do you do?

Pretty reasonable request I suppose, to get yourself some food, but that wasn't the point of entering the desert; it was to meditate, to seek nourishment and energy, not from physical things but from the Father. Jesus is presented with the choice of relying on His own power or that of the Father.

Now, before I get carried away, I have to clarify that food, water, a safe place to sleep etc are important, of course they are.

As a Church and as Christians we cannot ignore the needs around us, we are commanded to do something about it, to serve our fellow man. 

But if we become simply a charitable organisation, we lose the heart of who we are. Jesus could have spent His earthly ministry simply doing good. He probably wouldn't have been crucified, but He would have failed in His mission to reconcile God and man, the very heart of why He was sent.

The fundamental truth of humanity is that we are not just physical beings but spiritual, and both physical and spiritual needs must be met...but really the physical only affects our short earthly lives...the spiritual, echoes into eternity. (shameless gladiator movie reference)

'Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (verse 4)

THE SHOWMAN (verses 5-7)

The next temptation is that of ego...the desire to put ourselves on a pedestal, to make ourselves the centre of the world. In the account of Christ's temptation, His own particular challenge was to put His humanity aside, to complete His mission by putting on a show, by wowing the crowd, essentially by putting style over substance.

But Christ is not distant or aloof...He walks with us, meets us where we are. Whatever situations we are facing Christ is there at the heart of it, not playing to the crowd but invested in our situations and in us as individuals that loved and valued by Him

For us, the challenge is to remember Christ's attitude and example.

The Church loves it's Choirs, bands, stained glass windows, buildings, traditions...the list goes on of course. And these are not necessarily bad things in themselves, they can be amazing and truly make us aware of God's presence...but they aren't the most important things...not by a long shot.

We must care, love and walk beside our hurting world, it won't be healed by fancy shows and nice looking buildings...but by getting involved in our world, walking with the broken on their level, by genuinely caring about each other and the things that matter to each of us... that's where we'll find Christ...waist deep in the nitty gritty of life.

THE DICTATOR (verses 8-11)

The final temptation that Christ faces in the desert is the temptation of power.

The temptation to make the world fall into line...to use intimidation and control to achieve His ends.

Of course power like that comes at a cost...it means once again losing sight of who we are and why we're here.

Had Christ accepted the proposal He would have moved away from the Father's purpose, away from worshipping the Father and instead worshipping satan, and power itself...this always reminds me of the scene in the first Lord of the Rings movie; the Wizard Gandalf refuses to use the evil power of the ring, knowing that although he would be much stronger, the power would corrupt him and destroy everything he was. He would lose his very being in order to achieve power for powers sake.

As the Church we face a similar temptation, we seek power to achieve political and social objectives which in themselves are good and righteous.

I have met Church leaders like this... people who would make fantastic social justice champions and politicians but have lost sight of the God who calls them, the mission for which they have been equipped...Christ has been replaced by social, and political ends...again these are honourable aims...but when these leaders rely on themselves and without realising it, subconsciously push out Christ, they are worshipping a different power, putting results ahead of what their true focus and mission should be.

Putting Christ first doesn't mean that we won't be as affective at achieving social and political change, the opposite is true...what it does mean however, is that our aims and mission become aligned with God's. It means that we might have to sacrifice looking good or popular in order to make sure that the glory goes to God.

Christ made that decision...to worship God alone, it meant sacrifice and humiliation but it also meant final victory and put Him at one with the Father. He was made to be nothing so that the Father would get the glory and honour...and this is what is asked of us today.

THE REAL JESUS

"To holy people the very name of Jesus is a name to feed upon, a name to transport. His name can raise the dead and transfigure and beautify the living." - John Henry Newman

The title of this post was deliberately controversial and thought provoking... hopefully it will as intended provoke some thought and discussion and not unintentionally cause offence.

Jesus is of course far more than a Humanitarian, Showman, and certainly not a dictator. He is a Friend, guide, guardian, protector, teacher, master, servant and king. He is all of these things...but so much more.

He is not an abstract concept, or a distant unreachable cosmic entity. He's a real, living, loving, laughing individual being; God incarnate, who walks, laughs, cries alongside us, and who builds us up, rebukes, corrects and desperately calls to us to walk, serve and live by His side.

But it's one thing me telling you all this, it's not up to me to tell you what you should believe...your job is to decide for yourself who Jesus is to you. What will you do, and how will Christ change and inspire you?

Is He just a good teacher, moral example or something more...who do you say Jesus is?

I'll give the final word to C S Lewis...he gives us some brilliant thoughts to ponder as we try to answer all these questions for ourselves:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

 - C S Lewis (Mere Christianity)

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The trap of manipulative worship

When does worship become theatre? And when does the Holy Spirit become a smokescreen for pure emotional manipulation?

As someone who has led services and meetings before, I can understand how meeting plans are put together. Sensitive and deliberate song selections, placed specifically to follow a sermon or thoughtful moment, songs and atmosphere to enhance prayer times...and of course the dreaded altar call...

What is true worship?
So I've recently been reflecting on true worship... and where exactly do we draw the line between genuine Spirit led worship and emotional manipulation... and I don't think I have the answer.

Sermons themselves could be seen as manipulation...after all they are written and preached in order to get a response... whether that's encouraging Spiritual growth, participation in the service, encouraging the congregation to stay faithful, or to evangelize, or even just to encourage and inspire... whatever its purpose, is the fact that a sermon is trying to elicit a response and deliberately works towards that aim in itself manipulation?

Every part of a worship service is included or intended for a reason...or perhaps I'm being just a little bit cynical...but think about it; even a noble and righteous purpose like bringing others to faith is, in its own way manipulative when we use strategies and tactics to achieve this goal...

So should worship just be a personal thing? Just ourselves and God, no music, no sermon, no multimedia etc?

That sounds a bit puritanical and dare I say it boring for my liking... the problem, if you're anything like me; is that we're all human and actually all those things above help make worship accessible and help us reach and connect with God...a powerful sermon designed to inspire and encourage can (believe it or not) be inspiring and encouraging; reflective and sensitively placed music can enhance prayer times and of course even that dreaded altar call can, and often does draw people closer to God and reinforce our commitment and focus on God.

Just for entertainment?
Sowhat's the difference between all the different aspects of worship and dramatic music in a movie? We all I'm sure, are aware of the effect music can have in a movie...think of the greatest theme tunes... I'm thinking Jurassic park, Star Wars, Indiana Jones (ok so everything by John Williams) but how many other films use music...well probably somewhere around the 100% mark; dramatic moments, scary moments, heroic moments and so on are all enhanced by music...so back to that question again what's the difference?

Getting the motivation right
Well, in my opinion, it's the motivation that makes the difference, and the source of our desires and reasoning for trying to achieve a response.

If our hearts and desires are in sync with God, then our actions must follow on. Worship is put together in a certain way to help us all connect and meet with God easier. The motivation is (or at least should be) to worship and honour God above all. In movies or secular entertainment the motivation is to entertain for the sake of entertainment and of course to make money... now I'm not saying that in Church we don't sometimes cross that line...I think it would be naive to think we always get it right; sometimes I'm sure worship leaders pick their favourite songs for the sake of it, or try to elicit a response for the sake of it, maybe even for the sake of their own egos or to push the boundaries or any other number of false motivations because of course, like all of us they are human...

So I suppose this is the challenge of today's post: to work hard and pray hard to ensure that our worship is and remains God centred and focused at all times... this includes both leaders and those of us in the congregation... both have to take responsibility and action to stay connected to God, to make our worship genuine and not just going through the motions...

Wrong worship
For some food for thought here's a funny but thought provoking​ video that was recently shown to me during a leadership training weekend: 'Wrong worship'

https://youtu.be/AoDi157qdGw

Including hits like: 'I will sing of your love on Sundays', 'I surrender some', 'Saviour, I don't need a savior'. 

As I said at the start, I'm not really sure of the answer, or where the line is... the only thing I'm sure of is the need to guard against false worship and promote true and God centred worship...
All your churches and experiences will be different, any thoughts you have please comment below or on the Facebook page by clicking here:






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Diary of a grumpy night shift working Christian

So once again I find myself on the night shift at work...and once again life seems to stop and the world passes me by...

The struggle
At the time of writing it's about 3pm I've not long got up... I've eaten too much and I'm watching rubbish daytime TV.... for the rest of the week...work/sleep/rubbish TV/dinner....then rinse and repeat for 7 days...

Night shift week always goes super quick, I don't have the will or the energy to be sociable or do anything much... I'm generally a little bit grumpy and not the easiest person to be around.

So where does this leave my Spiritual walk and life? Well like the rest of my life it feels like it's on a break. It takes a real effort to do anything other than vegetate in front of the TV...I almost feel like I've locked myself away for a week.

God isn't going anywhere!
What I'm reflecting on while I'm sat here though, is that God doesn't lock  Himself away...when I'm grumpy and grouchy God hasn't abandoned me or decided to avoid me... if anything it's the other way around...my grouchiness doesn't stop God caring about me.

The only way I generally manage to stay in touch with people is on Facebook (speaking of which don't forget to like and share the Facebook page by clicking here) and as we all know that isn't the best way to build and maintain genuine relationships... Facebook is definitely no substitute for a real conversation...and that's the important thing...God obviously accepts and loves me despite my grumpy old self and tired, worn out night shift working self...I can talk to God when I'm feeling like this, I can even give God the occasional thought and remember Him occasionally in my grumpiness, but if I'm honest I know God doesn't want what's left of my time and some half hearted grumpy conversation...He wants my best. The best of my time, the best of my energy and the best of who I am.

God wants our best
I'm sure I'm not the only shift worker out there. This is an important message for anyone who struggles balancing shift work and life with faith and actually for anyone with busy lives who faces the same struggle to balance everything they've got going on..God needs to come first, He needs, wants and deserves the very best of who we are, our gifts, talents, time, energy etc.

All that being said...we are only human, there are going to be times when we don't feel our best, when we're tired and not the best of company, times when it's a struggle to get out of bed and actually do anything productive, and times when life is just passing us by. We're not always going to be the life and soul of the party...and actually that's ok...but don't make it a habit...if you're not careful life will really pass you by, you'll find yourself slipping away from people, even from God... although don't forget that although people might drift away from you...God won't...

For those stuck with a grumpy, grouchy night shift worker...please remember that shift workers need love too... don't forget us, and show us the little bit of grace we need and above all... don't let us get away with disappearing and letting life pass us by.

In every area of life, whatever it is that saps your energy and drains you, don't forget that God loves you, always and completely, He is patient with you, He will accept you and your prayers even when life is grinding you down, He hears you, love you, walk beside you, and lift you up...but that isn't an excuse to let life pass you by and not to do everything you can to give God the absolute best of who you are... because who you are is an amazing person. You have been created, developed, and equipped to continue to be an amazing person, you are someone who is absolutely loved by God, someone He is desperate to have a genuine and deep relationship with. You're His best friend, His favourite child... don't ever forget how amazing you are, don't let life pass you by stay close to God and always give Him the very best you can...even if the best at the time is a grumpy, grouchy night shift worker like me.






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How to build Spiritual muscle... the old fashioned way

Today's post is about strength, courage, determination and above all hard work...all things that are a bit out of favour with today's 'quick fix' fascination. But all of which are vital if you want to build strong spiritual muscles that will help you navigate and thrive and keep you moving forward through the hostile and often difficult journey of faith and life.

This is a personal message to myself... I hope others find encouragement and inspiration through it...but really this is me telling myself off and giving myself a kick up the backside, not letting myself give up and ordering myself to put in the hard work and effort it will take for me to be the very best version of myself I can be. Not because of my own ambition but because I believe that God has given all of us the skills and talents to fulfill our potential and occasionally I need to be reminded of this...and inspired to put these skills to work.

Why we need to build spiritual muscle
The Spiritual life is an amazing and truly worthwhile journey...but it was never meant to be easy...it means being vulnerable, exposed, opening ourselves to ridicule and sometimes worse...it takes a strong foundation in Christ, resilience, hope and bucket loads of determination and focus.

If you want to see a great example of physical strength...I would really recommend watching the 'Worlds strongest man' competition. If you've never seen it then basically it's a competition in which contestants have to compete in some ridiculously difficult events lifting cars, huge boulders, pulling trucks...you get the idea...

These are some big guys and I don't think I've ever watched it and thought..."I could do that"
Those athletes have not become that strong overnight...it has taken each of them hard work, patience, pain, determination, struggle, injuries and pain to get where they wanted to be...

Now of course it's important to note that we are not talking about physical strength...but the principle is the same... the Spiritual life of a Christian can be difficult, lonely and can grind you down if you let it... people won't always understand, you'll probably be ridiculed and dismissed...of course we serve a God who is much bigger and greater than all of that...but we have to learn to tap into His strength, listen to His voice and find comfort in His heart...

This isn't a natural response... we're human and fallible and desperate to do everything by ourselves and in our own strength.... building Spiritual muscle is training yourself to respond differently...to face everything with God...to instinctively turn to Him not just when things are tough but all the time...to walk in harmony with Him through your whole life... like a tree planted by a river (Psalm 1:1-3) constantly fed and empowered...

How we build Spiritual muscle
When I think of training or growing as a Christian I always think of Psalm 144:

"Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me." (Psalm 144:1,2)

This always helps me to remember that our God TRAINS us for war... he isn't a magician who snaps His fingers and does everything for us... He's the God who wants us to grow and develop into the best versions of ourselves that we can be...of course God can instantly give us what we need and strengthen us and empower us in the moment...but most of the time it takes patience and hard work to develop ourselves... it's not a destination but an ongoing process of learning and growth that lasts our entire lives and beyond.

Most of my heroes are people that have spent time in the wilderness, that are human and imperfect but determined to be better and then they are or were... it's this determination, the never giving up, whatever they've faced that makes me admire them so much... sometimes life sucks... sometimes we want to run away and give up... this is where our spiritual muscles (or lack of) will show...

Like a bodybuilder or athlete.... building our Spiritual muscles is going to take time, and hard work... it's going to take us getting knocked down and hurt, bruised and battered...but you become stronger when you keep getting up...you become stronger when you become closer to God...you become stronger when you learn to instinctively trust in the God who is greater than anything and everything you're going to face...

It's important not to get impatient or frustrated...of course ambition in itself is not a dirty word...when it's focused on God's heart and God's will it gives us the drive to keep getting better... that being said, don't force it, build the foundation on Christ, on the word of God, the Spirit of God and the heart of God, work with those who inspire you, be willing to take a hit, to fall and to fail and above all to keep getting up...but it will take time and effort...but if you're feeling discouraged don't forget that well known wise man you learnt about in Sunday school all those years ago who built his house upon the rock...and what happened to the other guy...






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How to improve church attendance in 5 easy steps

Have you ever wanted a foolproof way to improve church attendance in no time flat?

Perhaps you've found attendance falling and you've decided to take extreme and direct action to solve the problem.

If you want to fill your church and send your attendance figures skyrocketing and you are willing to sell out all that you are then read on...here are 5 guaranteed ways to fill your church week in, week out...

The 5 Steps:
1) Replace hymns with pop music
2) replace your sermon with the latest movies and sporting events
3) undercut the local bars by selling cheap alcohol
4) replace the sanctuary with a casino
5) Remove anything remotely religious from the building we don't want to put people off...

Ok so all of that is a bit tongue in cheek; but I wonder if sometimes it's not close to the truth... we measure success and effectiveness by how many people come through the door, or sign up as members or join our programs...now obviously I understand why we use the measures of success...I get that these are helpful things and are obvious ways to keep track of how we're doing...but really they are only one small part of the story...

If our ambition is simply to get people through the door, then no problem...follow the measures above and people will flock to your church...but that's not really the point is it?

Our mission
Our mission is to build the kingdom, not to build a social club...our ambition and the measure of our success should be changed lives and closer walks with God...now obviously these are highly personal things and not really measurable...at least not in the way we usually measure things.

Christ however, as we know measures things in a different way:

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" - Matthew 7:16

We have to decide what standard we are going to use... whether we will let our own need for approval and measuring of success or whether we will listen to what God wants us to do and measure success His way...or better yet; don't measure success, just be faithful to God's purposes, promises and mission....a bit of a stretch with our human need for approval but definitely something to aim for at least...

Ok so before I get carried away let's back track a bit... there's is nothing wrong with tracking figures, seeing what works, what events or programs are more successful than others...to a point...the danger comes when we put more trust in the figures themselves and our own good ideas and pride that we lose track of who we are and who God wants us to be. If this happens we end up trusting in ourselves and congratulating ourselves and we begin to worship ourselves and our figures, forgetting to listen to God... rejecting ideas because of those age old Christian excuses 'we've never done it that way' 'we've already tried that' 'that's not the way we do things' and so on...

Not the best example!
This is a really dangerous road to travel down...the best example I could think of from scripture is 1 Chronicles 21... King David takes a census:

"Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”

But Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My Lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.

But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king’s command was repulsive to him."

On the face of it, taking a census seems a pretty reasonable thing for a king to do... taking stock of your strengths and weaknesses, resources, making sure the nation is defended adequately, that it's financially secure etc.
The problem as usual is the motivation... this is what ultimately led to David's punishment... David was motivated by pride; he wanted to take the census to satisfy his own ego, to prove to himself how great he was, how powerful and secure... rather than relying on God for his security and confidence.

It's so easy for us to fall into this same trap... when we want to start a new program or organise an event  how often do we start by looking at our resources, efficiency, what people want or expect from us...as I said earlier this in itself is not a bad thing... it's often responsible and necessary but we have to make sure we don't remove God from the equation and forget to prioritise His will over our own...we must always be ready and willing to hear and act on God's voice rather than our own.

So what now?
Hearing God's voice is not always easy... learning to trust Him above our own thoughts, worries, concerns and 'practical' considerations is even harder...but not impossible... That's what discipleship is all about!

Christianity is not about popularity or doing what the world expects of us... It's about connecting to God and doing what He expects of us however strange and counter cultural that might be... that doesn't mean we shouldn't grow, move with the times and become the welcoming, servant hearted, forgiving and loving Church we can be...but we should do this not because the world tells us to but because God leads us and calls us to be better and more like Him than we are.

Check out this old post about what the Church really is, and what it should be:
'The Church is...'

And what the Church, in particular my own church, means to me:
'A Place to call home'

All this aside...if you just want to fill your church building and get some more money in the weekly offering... maybe you should refer to the tips at the start of this post, start a social club and remove God from the equation...on the other hand if you're willing to trust God and put in the time and effort to build yourself and the kingdom then it's going to be a long road but worth it to become the renewed, faithful Church that it is God's call and our duty to become...

"Lord of the Church, we pray for our renewing:

Christ over all, our undivided aim;

Fire of the Spirit, burn for our enduring,

Wind of the Spirit, fan the living flame!

We turn to Christ amid our fear and failing,

The will that lacks the courage to be free,

The weary labours, all but unavailing,

To bring us nearer what a church should be."

- Salvation army songbook 817

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