Messy Church
Great Day- Spent the Morning at the Southwest London Vineyard which meets at the Elliot School, under an arrangment very similar to what we will be doing in Clintonville.
OUt visit coincided with the first time that James Wake led worship at a main service. The worship was great and we were so proud to see how much God had develpoed James in the last year. Following the service we had a wonderful lunch at the Mumford's house.
James Wake then picked us up to go to Holy Trinity Brompton (originators of the Alpha Course) to participate in a Pentecost service led by Sandy Millar. HTB is an old Anglican Church located not too far from Harrods. The Church is adorned with beautiful stained glass and stonework, but the pews have been taken out to allow more freedom in worship. The Worship band was entirely composed of young people. Sandy Millar is an older man with a very tender preaching style. THe mix was amazing. Adrienne and I took a lot of notes for Central Vineyard.
After all of that Adrienne and I stole away for a quiiet date at a Pub in New Malden. I am looking forward to a romantic 4 days in York starting Tuesday.
When we were waiting for our plane in DC I was obsessing on my mps player and dramamine (or Bonien actually) while Adrienne was reaching out to some older ladies across the way. By the time our flight arrived Adrienne knew there life stories. She has an unbelievable ability to connect with people, even when her husband is grumpy.
We also found a picture of Megan Crawford in a UK Christian Magazine. (no kidding) I know the suspense will kill Megan! Heh Heh
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Great time so far. Listened to John Wimber's Church Planting conference on the plane flight here, bookended by the Flaming Lips "Soft Bulletin."
We have had a wonderful time being hosted by the Wake houshold. Yesterday James took us around Wimbledon as well as a tour of Richmond Park (largest urban park in the world) I almost got stuck in a tree I was climbing.
Last evening went to a local pub with James Mumford and caught up. This place was quite a change from the last place we tipped a few, The Eagle and Child in Oxford. The Eagle & Child, where Lewis & Tolkien hung out, reminds me of the Blue Danube, a real dive.
Today we are day tripping to Canterbury, and stopping by the Vineyard offices.
Hopefully I get to post some pictures later today.
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Have not slept since 8:00am Tuesday Morning,
Adrienne and I have safely arrived at thw Wake's house in London England.
They have WiFi!
So I hope to post a bit when I wake up.
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Kathleen and I just got back from out weekly date at cup o Joe. She wore her pretty little dress, a big hat with ribbings, and brought her pink umbrella, sipping hot chocolate out of a little demitasse.
On the way back home she had this to declare:
"Daddy, when I am thirteen years old I will never again be afraid of mimes!"
(I was tempted to tell her that mimes were dangerous at any age, but I zipped my lip.)
I love riding my scooter more every day, it is amazing the people you will meet. I was on campus last night checking out The Secret Sound of the NSA (Link under Arts) and some drunk dude hopped on the back of my scoot asking for a ride to Frambes)
I have been reading NT Wrights book on Matthew, it is amazing. I really need to get a book link list up.
Tonight is Date Night! Woo Hoo!
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my sister Elizabeth Jackson just had her baby after 18 hours of labor. His name is Owen Jeffrey Jackson and he weighs 9 lbs 11oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. I'm so proud of my baby sis. I remember clearly the day she was born (March 3rd 1976) (Mommy, where is her penis?)
Jeff & Elizabeth are going to be great parents.
Thank-you Jesus for a healthy baby.
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5 days with two kids and no Adrienne. It has been a crazy time. I have tried to make it as fun for them as possible. Today we had vreakfast at Big Boy, bought a kite at Toys R us (unsuccessfully tried to fly it at Como Park, had ice cream at the new joint on High street, swam in the baby pool in the front yard while hob-nobbing with neighbors and watering the Flowers. Jared Boyd (I agree with jared) stopped by and a good time was had by all. At around 4:30 the kids stopped paying attention to me and getting pretty spassed out. I began to get frustrated but then said to hell with it and joined the fray. We cranked out the tunes at full blast, opened all the windows and rocked the neighborhood while danceing for three hours, only taking a break for a dinner consisting solely of ice-cream and red-punch. We listened to:
Fleetwood Mac: Go your own way, Monday Morning
Devo: Snowball
The Cure: Why Can't I Be You
Spice Girls: Wannabe
the Smiths: Panic
a-Ha: Take On me
Alice Cooper: Schools Out
Ramones: Blitzkrieg Bop, Do YOu Remember Rock n Roll Radio
The Clash: London Calling, Lost in a Supermarket
Billy Bragg: 7&7 is
Outkast: Hey Ya
Tom Petty: Running Down A Dream
Beach Boys: Fun Fun Fun, Breakaway, Do It Again
Neil Young: Keep On Rockin in A Free World
Weezer: in My Garage
the mix played out a couple time, with us screaming some of the chorus's,
We also managed to detail the downstares.
Been reading the Prophet Jeremiah in my spare moments: Great stuff
Wolfman Jack Hickman stopped by and Matt Gordon, he and I discussed Obadiah: Minor Prophet with a major message.
BTW RS, i'm not correcting my spelling of anoneemoose just to annoy you :)
Adrienne just Got Back, so I better get off the computer and see if we can have our own dance party.
God Bless
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obligitory blog on politics
A lot of petition purveyors have been knocking on my door lately. Being that Clintonville is such a bastion for "progressive" armchair activists I am not surprised. I had a very interseting discussion from a nice old man representing
NARAL (he was gathering signatures for is daughter.) I told hime that I do not sign any petitions in regards to any kind of legislation where I am not furnished the opportunity to read all the riders attached to said legislation. He understood and started asking me about my thoughts on the President, the Upcoming Election, etc. I replied that I like Bush's stance on some issues (i.e. Africa Relief) as well as my questions over some of his stances (i.e. check out mpg's blog). I told him I thought that the upcoming election would be a nightmare. All in all we had a friendly discussion for ten minutes. What I noticed was that the real purpose of the petition was to catalog "progressively minded households" for future NARAL intitiatives (he let me read his script sheet for a second, but I am a speed reader). I did not want to miss the opportunity for future dialogue by tipping my hand to quickly on some key issues. I guess I could have done the stereotypical fundalmentalist thing and argued with him and called curses down on him, but hospitality seemed the better way.
All that said, I
despise, hate, loathe, weap over, the stench of Abortion that has bloodied our Country. It is hard to think that aynone could view us as a righteous nation when we kill more of our people every year than Sadaam killed in his entire career. I wonder if a Christian nation will ever rise up and liberate the preborn Children in the US. Many of my friends who have had abortions count it as the most painful shame they have ever had to endure. Thank-you Jesus for redeeming all our brokeness.
I believe that often followers of Christ often sacrifice the Gospel on the altar on the one-size-fits all altar of political leaning. Voting is almost always a choice between the lesser of evils, a choice that many of my friends and co-laborers make differently. (some taking the anabaptist route and completely abstaining) One thing is certain, If it is a choice between tipping my hand on politics or the Gospel, I will always choose the Gospel. When our nation as we know it is long gone (Like the Assyrian Empire, Babylonian Empire, Roman Empire, Chilicothe, etc) only the gospel will have mattered.
Gotta get ready for tonights church planting party.
Jesus loves everyone you disagree with!
p.s. if my comments (if any) degenerate into a flame war i will simply delete them. No pressing world issues will be solved on this blog)
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Adrienne is in Florida and I'm flying solo with the kids!
Walked with the kids to the co-op
Visited the Fruechtnichts
Picnic in the woods at the Park of Roses
Numerous rides on the scooter in the back alley
Yard Work
Visited with Neighbors
Installed Keypad in Garage with Matt Gordon
Hanging with Mark, Q, and Matt
MISSING ADRIENNE
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AVC
Adrienne and I got back yesterday from the Association of Vineyard Churches Regional Conference: Great Lakes Region. Much heartfelt thanks to Joy & George, JoBeth & Andy, and Aunt Lynne for hanging with our Children whilst we were in Cincinatti. I thought I would share a couple of random thoughts gleened from this week.
The most dangerous enemy of "Jesus Brand Community" is viewing it as an ideal to be achieved rather than a gift to be received - - Ken Wilson
Love community and you will kill it, love your brother and you will build it. --Bonhoeffer
Community does not work when it is driven by ideology without affection for others. - -Rich
Six things to keep in mind while pursuing spiritual disciplines-- Dave Nixon
1. Embrace the awkwardness
2. Be faithful in the small things (set little goals)
3. This is work done over a LIFETIME, a distance race, not a sprint
4. Unify your desires
5. Work on what is broken, not wht you are good at
6. Work with others, not in isolation.
We were kindly hosted by Kevin and Tracy Rains at the Brownhouse while at the conference.
Spen great time with the in-laws who are planting the Athens Vineyard. Especially enjoyed getting to know a wonderful couple in their Church, Bill and Jo. These guys are such servants. I expect that Bill will be in VLI soon.
It was also great to see Chuck Lawson at the event. He was the man who first discipled me when I was in High School in the late 80's. What a cool dude!
Politics? Johnny Mac said it
best! Check the May 6th entry.
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Eventful weekend indeed!
Friday: Holy Spirit Retreat at Vineyard, 175 registered, 340 attended, mostly middle aged boomers, Jim Zartmen led worship with great intensity. It was amazing to see the boomer crowd entering in to worship at such volume! I think we will crank it at Central Vineyard.
Saturday: Retreat continues, finish Sermon for Saturday, then went with Brian Carle to Zoot Scoots to pick up my
Venice Scooter. After purchasing I rode it to Chris and
Chelsea Kay's, with Brian following behind and had an imprompto dinner with Chris and Chels along with Joshua and Natalie Weir. Following a wonderful time with my buds I departed solo to Four Winds, the coolest place to find Indonesian Furniture in Columbus (not expensive either) Chatted with Kris Batchek and me the Vineyard Short North posse! Wilson and Sylvia Biaz have gathered such a team of loving people! WIlson as well has been a tremendous help for me in getting our Church plant team together. He is a mentor, a friend, and former tagger!
I dropped by Andy and JoBeth's, and then drove home to meet Saffen and Webbie to spend the evening hanging around the fire, looking at Randy's
portfolio. (cool stuff), and after it started raining we hit Shi-Sha Lounge to park in middle eastern culture. It was a nice mellow evening that I needed badly. Great evening, well do it again with some other bloggers perhaps.
Click
here for a picture from the evening.
Sunday morning I preached in Athens, accompanied by Bob Koert,
Grant Wentzel, and the entire Gallaugher clan. I would not have been able to get out the door without Bob's help, and I would not have been up to preach if not for the time of worship at the begginning! (Thanks guys).
As we travelled home we stoped at the "Old Dutch" pseudo Amish restaurant. Had a great conversation with our Waitress Chelsea about the severe problems they are having with employee theft of the
precious moments figurines.
That evening celebrated Jean Hickman's 22nd Birthday, and wound up the evening with
Dave Hill and Kara Murphy. I get to perform the wedding in about 7 weeks and I am so excited. These guys are amazing, and a tremendous encouragment to out family.
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