A Day with Hannah...

Just got back from a 'Church Leaders' Day' at Redcliffe Bible College, where our own Hannah Coggins is studying, in preparation for  long term overseas mission in Africa.

Hannah was at the front entrance to greet me when I arrived and take me for coffee (the obligatory day opener for all Christian conferences of any kind). After a bear hug from Dr Haroon (who spoke at Woodgreen on Sunday evening) we joined the 60 or so other students for  student devotions, a time of singing and Bible teaching. Hugh Kemp (who spoke at Woodgreen on Sunday morning) led the devotions, asking the question: 'How can we know God's will?'. It was a really helpful summary of the Bible's teaching on guidance and it was immediately clear that Redcliffe is a learning environment that is pastoral as well as academic. 

Hannah in entrance of Redcliffe College - impressive staircase!

After devotions, I went with Hannah to her 'Community Group'. This is  Redcliffe's version of our Growth Groups. The group of 9 students and staff gathered in the flat of a swiss student and her husband, Nina and Ben, who plied us with more coffee... and swiss chocolate! Hannah has clearly landed on her feet with this group! The students take it in turns to lead these times, which involve some time in the Bible, and sharing and praying for one another. The degree students are about to embark on their 6-week post-Easter placements, so it was great to hear about what they are planning. 

Hannah's Community Group

Next was lunch in the dining room. We arrived a little late, which was fun because Hannah was on the rota to give thanks for the meal, so they hadn't been able to start without us!

Hannah giving thanks for lunch!

During lunch it was good to catch up with Mike Frith, who ran our 'Serving as Senders' mission training day last year at Woodgreen. Mike and his wife are based at Redcliffe and run a website called OSCAR - a one-stop-shop for all things related to overseas mission. It's a wonderful resource which is well worth a look at. Want to know how best to support a missionary? Want up to date news on what is happening  around the world? Want to know what opportunities there are for long or short term mission? Considering overseas mission and want help about where to start? Follow this link!

After more coffee (!) I and the other church leaders met Rob Hayes, the Principal of Redcliffe College, who gave us a presentation on 'The Redcliffe Experience' and answered questions. 

Hannah and I then had the chance to sit down together and talk about how things are going. For me, this was the best bit of the day. Yes, it was great to meet some of the extraordinary young people who are preparing to serve God around the world. Yes, it was good to be able to visualise the experience Hannah is having. Yes, it was great to build on the growing relationship between Woodgreen and Redcliffe. But being able to support Hannah and pastor her through this exciting time is such a privilege! Her clarity and maturity throughout this process has been both humbling and inspiring.

We spent some time talking and praying about her final interiew next week with AIM (Africa Inland Misson). AIM place great importance on involving the sending church, which is one of the reasons Hannah was drawn to them as a missonary organisation. I have been  involved in the application process from the start, meeting with the regional representative Steve Lancaster in the early stages. As part of this partnership I have been invited to sit on the final interview panel. It will be great to be there to support Hannah. Please pray for her as she has to give a 15 minute presentation, as well as answer questions. Pray that she will give a good account of her call and that the interview panel will see both her gifting and genuine heart for missionary children.

As I left Hannah at the end of the day, I was reminded of one of the things Hugh Kemp said during his morning devotions. As he concluded his talk on guidance and discerning God's will, he displayed a picture of Gloucester harbour, full of docked ships. However overlaid were these words:

A ship in harbour is safe.

(But that's not what ships are made for)

It was a timely reminder of what Bible colleges like Redcliffe - and churches like Woodgreen - are called to do.

We are safe harbours - but our job is to 'prepare God's people for works of service' (Eph 4:12). As Christians we must resist the temptation all around us to pursue lives of safety, shelter and security. This is worldliness, pure and simple. Instead we are called by our Captain, Jesus, to 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.' (Mark 16:15).

This is the call Hannah is obeying. She is currently in the harbour, but soon she will be plotting a course for the open seas. We should be both challenged by her example and committed to supporting her as she prepares to set sail.

If you want to receive Hannah's prayer letters - please email me.

Direct links:
Redcliffe College: www.redcliffe.org/
OSCAR: www.oscar.org.uk/
AIM: www.aimint.org/eu/

Diagnosing a Captured Heart

I'm  reading a wonderful book in the moment called 'Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands' by Paul David Tripp. Tripp is the main speaker at the Evangelical Ministry Assembly in London this June, which is the one Pastors' conference I try to get to every year. I've had it my bookshelf for a few years, but last week I thought to myself  'Seeing as I'm going to be hearing this guy speak, I really MUST get round to reading this!'

I'm so glad I did.

The subtitle gives away it's theme: 'People in need of change helping people in need of change.' Tripp's central thesis is that every Christian is called to be a 'minister' (with a small 'm'), ministering into the lives of others, for the maturing of the church. His aim is therefore twofold: to help the reader see where change is necessary in their life and to equip the reader to help them minister into the lives of others so that they change to be more like Jesus. I've read lots of books before about how to pastor others, but few that are as helpful and insightful as this one.

What's been really significant is how the themes in the book have resonated with the themes of my evening sermon series in Luke. In Luke we have been looking at how Jesus confronted the Pharisees and exposed their religious hypocrisy. Jesus said that it's what's on the inside - in our hearts - that really matters to God - not what we appear to others.

Tripp's theme is the same. 

Chapter 5 is entitled 'Understanding your heart struggle'. In it he says:

'What controls our hearts will exercise inescapable influence over our lives and behaviour... Our desire to set up our own kingdom in direct conflict with the King who has come to rule in our hearts. This is the war beneath all others. Who will rule that tense situation at work - your desire for a raise, or God's glory? Will God rule that conversation with your child, or your desire for peace and quiet? Will God rule your relationship with your father, or your desire for vengeance for years of mistreatment? these skirmishes within your heart are battles in the most important war.'

So... how do good desires gain control of our hearts so that they become ungodly desires that lead to conflict with others and with God? Or as Tripp puts it:

'How do desires that were okay in themselves become our functional masters?'

Trip uses the opening verses of James 4 to show that the objects of our desires are not always evil. However our desires have a trendency to grow and the conflict and control they exercise over our hearts can then lead us away from God and into ungodly thinking and behaving. Unless we hold them in check, good desires can become idols.

'What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?' (James 4:1)

Our desires must therefore always be held in submission to God's desires. Our hopes must bow before THE great hope: God's kingdom purposes and plans.

How then can we guard our hearts and diagnose our own condition?

Tripp says part of this is understanding that there are 5 stages in the capture of our hearts and the conflict that ensues:

1. DESIRE morphes into DEMAND ('I must..')

2. DEMAND quickly becomes NEED ('I will...')

3. NEED inevitably produces EXPECTATION ('You should...')

4. EXPECTATION leads to DISAPPOINTMENT ('You didn't ..!')

5. DISAPPOINTMENT leads to some form of PUNISHMENT ('Because you didn't, I will...')

Tripp explains  this last stage in this way:

'I am angry because you have broken the laws of my kingdom. God's kingdom has been supplanted. I am no longer motivated by a love for God and people so that I use the things in my life to express that love. Instead I love things, and use people - and even the Lord  - to get them. My heart has been captured. I am in active service of the creation, and the result can only be chaos and conflict in my relationships.'

This is a terrible position to be in!

So, what is the solution to a captured and conflicted heart? What is the way back to right thinking and behaving?

Surprisingly, in James 4, James' solution to the conflict that overgrown desire brings to a captured heart is not horizontal (I need to sort out my relationship with other people), it's vertical (I need to sort out my relationship with God).

'Submit yourselves, then, to God... Come near to God and he will come near to you... purify your hearts you double-minded... humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up' (James 4:7-10)

The solution to a captured and conflicted heart is to put God in his rightful place again - on the throne of our hearts. Our desires must be supplanted by a desire for Him. Our priorities must submit to his priorities. Our hearts must surrender to him as King.

The fruitful Christian is one who has a heart captivated by God himself.

If you want to get hold of a copy of 'Instruments in the Redeemers' Hands' follow this link or get in contact with Alistair Walker-Cox at Grace Cards and Books on Droitwich (01905 774856). I've since discovered that Peter Barham is reading his during his sabbatical.

Elders' Advance: thank you for praying

Just got back from our 24 hour Woodgreen Elders' Advance (we don't do 'retreats' in Christian ministry - God's kingdom is always advancing!).

We stayed in the Elim Conference Centre, which is attached to Regents Theological College in Malvern. It was the first time we have used this centre and I think it's safe to say we will be using it again! Not only did we have the dramatic backdrop of the Malverns  to inspire us, we also enjoyed wonderful hospitality and accomodation. It was a blessed time together.

Trevor Archer, FIEC's Training Director joined us to lead two sessions this morning on 'Practical Spiritual Oversight'. He led us in discussion of a number of passages from 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and 1 and 2 Thessalonians, helping us to think through our primary calling as Christian leaders to be both disciples and disciple-makers. It was really helpful to concentrate on our core mission as a church, that we need to be modelling as Elders.

Our MISSION is to make disciples who understand our culture and  know, sow and show Jesus in Warndon Villages, Worcester and the World.

Needless to say, we have been left with a lot to work through over the next few weeks!

On a relational level, it was wonderful to be away together with a bunch of godly guys who care deeply for the flock at Woodgreen and are willing to work hard as a band of brothers to further the gospel. We had some wonderful times of prayer as well as some fun and laughter as well!

Ultimately, we came back to the truth that we are broken, flawed men, leading broken, flawed people, but we have an all sufficient Saviour!  Please pray for us as we seek to work through the key lessons God has taught us together.

Here are a few snaps to help you get a feel for our time away...

The coffee lounge in which we met.

 Trevor Archer, who led our sessions.

 The view from our lounge window!

Our meeting room is the top room.

Healthy eating for dinner...not! (Well, apart from Noel who had a salad)

NB: If you can't see these pictures you may need to log on to the Pastor blog website: http://woodgreenpastor.blogspot.com/