Are the blessings ours alone?

Recently, went to see U2 live at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield. They were out of this world as they went through their latest album with many of the hits added in for good measure.

One line still rings in my head loud and clear; "Blessing are not just for the ones who kneel, luckily." It has made me think about the experience of God that non-christians can have with out asking for it. It could seem unfair for all the life long Christians who do the right things, say the right things etc and then someone who doesn't even ask or maybe want God's blessing can receive it.

However, I have been excited that God can speak to and bless anyone and everyone. So often I have reduced God, restricted Him to the churches property. I am beginning to understand what this mean (but have some way to go) and how differently it means are approach to church should be. If we keep God inside our churches, is it any wonder that the Salvation Army (as well as other churches) is in decline.

Jesus didn't bless his followers all that often, it was the poor, the sick and the oppressed to whom the whom the blessings were given!

Matt

Vision over Visibility

I am a huge U2 fan (going to see them in August) and always buy their latest album. On of my favorites is called "moment of surrender" which I have listened to an awful lot. The line that has got me thinking a lot recently is this line; "At the moment of surrender of vision over visibility."

Why? Because it has made me think about my life as a follower of Jesus and as a leader of a church. Sometimes it feels like the visibility is limited or non-existent in our relationship. We wonder where we are headed, what is going to happen next and are we doing the right thing. I have been questioning myself a lot recently about what I need to prioritise in my life and what our church should be doing to be effective in Aspley.

I even though the visibility maybe poor, the vision is not. The vision of a community connected in Jesus, with each other and for each other is very much alive. Our vision sustains us, it bring hope and passion to keep on going. It breathes life in to our being to get on and do what is required for the kingdom. The vision demands us to surrender to God's plan and let him loose on our lives.

This post may not make much sense to you but its where I find myself and where God finds me too.

Matt