Mission Week - Day Two

Not wanting to be out done by Andy on the blog front, I thought I had better blog while I have 5 mins.

I have always said that we should seek God and join in with what he is already doing. Today I have experienced that in a real way by digging out some grass to lay a patio.

We (Aspley SA) are hosting the East Midlands Divisional Mission Week and are doing a range of activities from Arts and Craft, sports and laying a patio.

This afternoon we have we have been digging out about 5 tonnes of soil ready for a patio to be laid on Thursday. This is a fantastic project that has been organised by a local council worker, funded by a counsellor and other organisations and we do the donkey work along side a guy called Darren. The local residents and estate manager are delighted we are doing this as they have been waiting 10 years for it.

So, where is God in all of this? He is in the hard graft of the 4 guys who have given up their week, in the conversations with Darren who is surprised we are doing this, in co-operative ways this has all come together and in the result that will bring joy to the residents.

Where will we see God tomorrow?

Matt

Seeing God at work

It is just over a year since Lizzy and I first came to meet people at Aspley. Time has flown by, lots of stuff has happened and will happen. Today was another of the many occasions where I have meet God at work. I recently joined the partnership for Children and Young people for the west area of Nottingham. Having attended about 5 meetings I have been asked to chair the group until next March. I feel completely out of my comfort zone, quite apprehensive about the responsibility and what work it may bring.

But here is where God shows up! My vice chair is someone I meet randomly just 3 weeks ago on a litter pick and she happens to go to a local church. She is someone that I instantly clicked with and will work well with. What an opportunity to be in a very significant position within the structure of Youth and Children's work for the. It will bring many opportunities for our church to show people God's grace and mercy.

At the end of the meeting I warned them that if I say "we will now close in prayer" to forgive me. I got quite a laugh! I guess you had to be there but for me I love it when I get to see God at work.

Matt

Is God extinct?

Found this article very interesting, two scientists talking about the whether science has "buried God."

It was really helpful in trying to look at something that I don't doubt (the existence of God) from a hard line scientific point of view. Sometimes it is hard to be subjective about such things because the significant part faith plays in my experience and belief of God.

http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/B2EEA54CB5882BE2802575040053CDF2?opendocument&id=2235A1F2C9E5E225802575040052259C

The "God Delusion" has been sitting on my book shelf for a while maybe I need to dust it down and see exactly what Richard Dawkins has to say.

Matt

P.S - have just recieved the new Rob Bell book - "Jesus wants to save Christians". Thanks Chris and Lib.