Know where your going (without a Sat Nav).

The other week I was in a meeting where I was the only one that did not have a Sat Nav. I havn't used one but clearly understand what they do and why you would use one. However wonderful and helpful they maybe in directing people around the exstensive British road network, I don't like Sat Navs. It could be to do with fact that "I am a man and we don't ask for directions" or "I don't want to admit to Lizzy that I'm lost." Yet, there is more to it than my flawered character and therefore want to make a case for ditching the technology that tells us where we are going. I know I have not used one (and will not) but want to comment on my frustrations with them.

Apparently Sat navs are better than maps to stop us getting lost. However that is not what is reported in the telegraph where it claims 82% of  18 to 24 year olds despite having a Sat Nav have got lost in the last year. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/caraccessories/8636633/Drivers-are-better-off-using-road-maps-than-satnav-new-research-finds.html This says alot about our reliance on technology rather than the most sophisticate computer of all: our brains. For me, using a map (google maps or paper map) to plan and set eye on the route provides a better indication of the route we need and could need if there are road works accidents or if we take a wrong turn. In our impatients to get somewhere we forget to look how to get there before entering the car and know apprectiate just what the journey may entail.

Even if the Sat Nav's don't get us lost and to our destination on time, we could neglect the opportunity in developing a key life lesson: A sense of direction. With a Sat Nav we could concentrate on being told where to go rather than keeping and eye on where we have been, where we are and what is up ahead. For example: Whilst driving on the motorway we keep going until we hear the voice that tells us to exit in 1 mile (or what ever it may say). Yet you have no idea where you actually are, what city/town you have passed, what road you are going on too or even what number junction it is you have come of at. Now you need to do the route again. I guess you put the post code and repeat the process, oblivious to where you are or where you have been! Imagine what you might have missed out on and what you may have learnt along the way.

There is a point to my ranting about such a minor issues as the use of Sat Navs.

Faith is like living without a Sat Nav. It is faith that allows to develop a sense of direction and then allows us to see the beauty on our journey.

Matt

All together now.

"We are one of them. The staff at the club have got to keep pushing the squad as hard as they can. We have got to push them, pull them, carry them, drive them on - and we have got to do it together." http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/

This quote comes from Southampton manager Nigel Atkins after our sides demolition of Birmingham City which moved us up to top spot in the Championship. Being a loyal and long standing Saints fan I am thrilled with our start to the season and delighted that my club is in a better place than it as a few years back. A lot of that has to do with the new owners but also to Nigel Atkins. Despite my reservations of getting rid of Alan Pardew, Nigel Atikins was the best replacement. In his quote above I think we can see why.

First and foremost, he understands that the modern football club must be focused on the primary objective; is the team winning football matches. This is why teams like Man Utd, Baraclona, Ajax have been so successful. Whether we like it or not (I don't) this is also what the investment has gone in too at Man City (training ground, additional club staff, and top footballers). To win football matches, titles, cups and glory. To be the best team in the world, you don't just need the players but an environment that they footballers can flourish in.

My observation of the church is that we all need to know that we can only be effective and successful if we, as one, work together for the glory of God. This is our primary focus and should always be. If we forget this or take our eyes off the goal we may end up like Leeds, Sheffield Utd or Southampton (2 years ago). More on this in the next few blogs.

We need to work, pray, live and hope as one. United in our primary focus.

Matt

Fatherhood

I am having a break from my usual blogging topics and comment on something I have been thinking a lot about lately. Fatherhood. From the pain when we suffered a miscarriage before Katherine, others experience of the complex nature of conceiving and the trails of being a parent, I can honestly say that I love being a parent. In short it is brilliant and a blessing that I never want to take for granted. Yet as a father there is a dichotomy that we face. Let me try and explain.

It is easy to accept that there are roles that a mother and father play in a child's up bringing yet how realistic they are is up for debate. My observation is that there is a lot of pressure on father to be highly active in a child's up bringing yet we seem to find it difficult in maybe admitting we do. For example: How many men’s public toilets have baby changing facilities in? (In one public toilet it had such facility but the sticker had a picture of a female and baby on it!) This is not the issue the issue is how many men complain about it? Would we admit/point out to our male counterparts that this is wrong or should be made more available? There seems to be an unspoken agreement that we men keep quiet about such conveniences so that we get out of doing nappies!

This is one observation But us fathers need to grasp the significant of being involved in all parts of our children’s up bringing (even the smelly bits) and telling others dads about it too. Why are we so worried about what other blokes think?

I do not claim to be the best dad in the world but I am a dad that wants to be the best and encourage others to do so. Let me know your thoughts and tips of being a good father. We need all the help we can get.

Matt

Resources you can check out:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14880055 - interesting article on the physical changes on a father when a child comes along.

http://www.dad.info/

60 minuet father by Rob Parsons - This book changed my fatherhood. It is brilliant and easy to read.

The who and not the how.

As I blogged yesterday, I have been challenged as to whom I share my faith with. It is easy to get caught up with the how that we forget that this is about the eternal hope of those that have no faith. Telling people about who Jesus is and the difference he makes in and through my life needs to be higher on my agenda. I have always been good at connecting with people, taking the church to new places and being prepared to venture in territory undiscovered but have not always been clear and open about the message. It is easy to hide behind my "role" and try and do evangelism purely as a church rather than personally. This is where the who comes in. Essentially, I know a lot about the how but have not been intentional enough about the who I share it with. But I want to be.

As I said at the end of my last blog, making evangelism part of my normal everyday life is the hard bit but I am making a start. There are two people I am praying for to come to faith. Today, I had a great opportunity to talk to one of those people about the purpose of the church and the difference God should make in a Christians life. That's it. She didn't come to faith and become a christian but we have begun a journey that I pray will see her know God. It's a start and is more than we have spoken about in the past. Now I need to keep going because the thing that strikes me deeply is that if I don't who will. This is not to say I am better than others at evangelism but I have the opportunity and ultimately the responsibility.

God is always at work, his spirit is always speaking. My prayer is that I am always ready and available to join in with what he is up to. 

Matt

but I don't have any friends.........

Don't worry, I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I do have friends and some good ones at that. I have been challenged once again to reflect on my personal sharing of my faith with others, especially those that don't have a faith. One of the dangers of being involved in church leadership at any level is that you can be isolated from those that don't know God and quickly be immersed in a church culture surrounded by Christians. When challenged to invite their friends to church, an event, Alpha course or such like, I  have heard many Christians say the words "but I don't have any friends."

Over the next few Sundays at Aspley I am going to be looking at this very issue. How do we share our faith with others? Maybe the question should be: "Who do I share my faith with?" The main excuse that church leaders use to neglect their responsibility in person evangelism is time. It is easy to use our role as a way of not engaging in evangelism. It is easy to lead and challenge others to do it but it is not always being backed up by our own actions. There are many factors that influence our lack of engaging in evangelism (time, work, family, scared, not feeling gifted) yet these should not become excuses. I have been really conscious of the way I use my time so to be able to engage with evangelism but it is still a struggle. I still find it hard to create regular and meaning time with people that don't know Jesus so that they may see him in me and for me to be able to speak about him  openly.

What I have learnt is that evangelism isn't hard but making it part of my normal everyday life is.

Matt

Busy Busy Busy

I was with a bunch of church leaders today and was presented with the classic first question: "Are you busy!" Maybe in the past I would have responded with a yes or tried to ignore or deflect the question but this time I went for the brave answer. I said "no, busy is over-rated." I was met with a shy laugh and then silence. I have a few frustrations I need to share:

• Why is it that people assume that busy means we are doing the right things? We get caught up in a world that says the more we do the better and more valuable we are. Just because we are busy doesn't always mean we are getting things done and done well. I have been quilty in the past of doing lots of stuff but doing few of them really well. I want to do less but do them better.
• Why do we value busy people more than those that consitently and quietly go about their work at a healthy pace? Maybe it boils down to the fact we are jeleous of those who have slower paced, calmer and more blended lives. For many of us we have many presures that compound this issue that are out of our control but there are many things that are.
• Why can't we ask better questions about each other? At no point did anyone ask how my marraige was, how being a father is going or if I need any prayers! I have to be honest and say that I didn't ask them any of these questions. I should have and will try to next time.

Of course the danger of being less busy is we slip into a place of comfort or even worse, an attitude of complacency. This will be just as damaging as being too busy. But we are only doing ourselves a dis-service if we don't get thie sorted.

Matt

Jesus on the phone

On twitter this week was a tweet from the Guardian regarding a banned advert ran by Phones4U. There were complaints on the use of the Jesus image on the advert as irreverent and inappropriate.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/sep/07/jesus-mobile-phone-ad-banned?CMP=twt_fd

I do wonder who it was that complained. I understand why they would, even if I think they are wasting their time. For me the issue of the use of this image is not offensive, irreverent by simply highlights the underling message of Jesus still in people's lives, even if they don't know it. The fact that they used the word "miraculous" says to me that people relate the story of Jesus still to our culture in the 21st Century. What is it about this man Jesus that still stirs up interest in people imagination? For me it is the mystery of a man who walked on earth, created controversy and yet was willing to be a sacrifice for a world that didn't deserve God's forgiveness is pretty facinating. The stories of Jesus miracles are brilliant, not because of what Jesus does but because of who he does them for and the reactions those that are healed express. The churches responsability should be to tell the stories openly and passionatly rather than complaining about silly adverts. If we get that right people will know and understand what all the fuss is about when it comes to this man Jesus.

If you don't know much about him, he's worth finding out about.

Matt