AMEN Programme Day 2

The brief cheering sunshine of the last two days had given way to steady rain.  I didn't envy the marquee team their de-rig take-down task at Cornhill.  The AMEN guys has assembled in the lounge at Living Stones where our apostolic team meets monthly.  We got straight down to business after a cup of tea.

We still needed to have an update from Mark, and he focussed on the growing interest in community he meets across Europe.  He likes feasts, rather than 'church' as a way to dissolve the tension between the cultures of the Kingdom and the world. 

Kelly and his team (Wilf and Dan) gave the morning focus on brotherhood.  He spoke of needing to share the burden of pastoral care, and of our own frailty.  One day he was doing practical jobs in a small room, with one bright central ceiling light.  Wherever he turned he found he was working in shadow.  So it is if our vision is only illuminated by our own perspective: the light is darkness.  Dan unpacked how covenant is alive with personal reality, not some distant formula or obligation.  Wilf spoke of leaders' vulnerability needing to be balanced by the integrity that means we don't circle round difficulties, but resolve them.

Jonny, Jason and Jenny reported back on their two J Gen projects in Kenya and Nigeria.  In Kenya 19 folks have been trained in the new workshop/college and 55 children helped in their school.  The Lagos school project didn't run so smoothly.  There's room for better planning, and we'll need to note this for India and Sierra Leone, and Zambia next year.  When we look back over two years in which we've initiated this aspect of Multiply, it's been a good start.

 After lunch, Piet gave on overview of Multiply Europe's developments.  Interest in the gospel has sprung up in several ways: pockets of life in the landscape of deadness; the opening up of eastern Europe that has brought poverty into the open; the spread of migrants who aren't infected by prevailing uninterest; the breakdown of society provoking the question where one may find community.  "Urban mission" is blossoming in new places, like Rotterdam.  He has a good perspective.

After this we left the AMEN guys to spend time together.  I nudged Gregory to produce a wish-list of half a dozen priorities for later discussion.  Stephen pinned me down to work out some dates for the Africa visit in Spring next year.

With time to spare before agape, I went to the Skaino office and knocked out the powerpoint for Thursday's session on future developments and initiatives.  There's plenty stirring.

Five Hours at Darvell

Bernard, from the Bruderhof in Robertsbridge, sent Huw an email inviting some leaders to visit.  This followed several rounds of contact between our members and theirs.  The Strong Light saints have been joining with Bruderhof members when evangelising in Luton.  Some of our Living Light and Living Stones J Generation went to visit Roberstbridge for a weekend late last year.  Huw and Mick liked the opportunity to link in a visit to the new sea-front Abundant Grace house in Brighton.

So Wednesday found me catching a train to Northampton to meet up with them, and Kelly, for a drive down together.  On the M25 we listened to a video of Justin Welby visiting Trent Vineyard, which Mick's brother had recommended.  The Brighton saints settled us into their first floor lounge.  It boasts (in estate agent language) an enviable and unrivalled panoramic view over the beach.  We had tasty home-cooked pizza for supper, while Len rehearsed the trials and joys of moving from their previous larger property in Seaford. 

Next morning was bright and cold, with a sharp wind.  I ventured along the Prom; the few puddles were frozen over.  Len timed our journey to Roberstbridge well, and we arrived a few minutes before 10am.  Bernard's father, David, is Guest Warden, and showed us up to Felix's and Emma's apartment.  There are 320 members and guests in residence, in five or six very large houses.  The Darvell site started as a redundant tuberculosis hospital.  Buildings have been added in the last 50 years to suit the Bruderhof's growing needs.  There's a primary school, modern wood-workshop, etc.  Their dozen or so cars are parked at the entrance, making the 80 acre site virtually a pedestrian zone. 

Emma served us delicious home-made apple and cinnamon cake.  Johnny, Bishop and Servant of the Word, joined us to explain their background and practice.  After four years in compilation, last year the Bruderhof worldwide published a statement of faith, Foundations, which Johnny summarised.  There was lots for which we needed no introduction: covenant, common purse, simplicity, pastoral leadership, shared work, temporary guests.  However, one obvious difference is that they haven't planted church congregations, and don't run anything equivalent to Jesus Centres.  Think Jesus Fellowship in 1983, and you've got a fair comparison.  They have a deep pastoral care and yet prophetic lifestyle.  Just before 12.00, David suggested we took a walk ahead of lunch. 

Kelly had spotted diggers a work at two points on the site: one to house a new biomass boiler system, and the other to replace a residence block that was progressively being demolished.  "What's this place?" I asked David.  "The dining room."  Sure enough, we walked into a huge modern hall, with views over the fields on three sides.  The uniform lines of tables and chairs were set out with equally matched cutlery and plates.  Without a signal, the tables filled up.  A voice from the PA bade us welcome.  The diners tended to sit in family groups, and conversation was muted.  While we ate, children from the school related the highlights of their previous day's visit to a local aquarium.  They began with sincere thanks for the adults arranging this field-trip.  As an exercise in burying self-consciousness in front of 300 people, it was excellent.  I didn't realise a puffer fish can only inflate nine times because of the strain on its heart. 

After lunch we tramped round the fields they cultivate for self-sufficiency, and looked into the school.  David commented that neighbours scrutinise everything: erect a tool shed and the complaints pour in.   In the workshop, Oliver explained the manufacture and assembly process, and how they rota the jobs.  Although the workshop pays its way, with no wages, or congregations or Jesus Centres to support, their business ventures are held well within the Bruderhof's balance of life.  They've chosen to be self-supporting from cradle to grave, so need this means to earn their keep.  I took some photos in the workshop showroom; they were for Jack, but I felt a little awkward. 

Back for a cup of tea before we left, I asked Emma about her experience.  She spoke of keeping the covenant living by daily resolving misunderstandings or tensions that arise.  Beautiful.  As we parted, I commended Felix on his name: he truly has a sunny disposition.

The four of us came away with different impressions.  Mick loved their honour for all members, including the children.  Huw saw warnings how the Holy Spirit's urge to move on could be lost.  Kelly valued the spontaneity and ownership of decision-making, and flexibility of programme.  I felt that nobody coming into leadership in Jesus Fellowship in the last 20 years could understand how this lifestyle formed us, and how different we have subsequently emerged. 

Len told me since, that Darvell regularly hold open days.  Although they don't encourage "sightseers", you'd receive a warm and genuine welcome. 

Prayer (Watch) Survey

A couple of years ago, one of our prayer watch "motivators" quizzed me about prayer.  Here's a compilation of the exchanges.  I didn't have room to add it to my Sunday morning session notes. 

"I've been doing a few interviews of brothers on the prayer watch recently and wondered if you would mind taking part yourself.  If you wouldn't mind- perhaps you could answer the questions below.  The idea is that you just get to express what prayer means to you - what you do, when you do it etc,. if you don't like a question you can ignore it - or you can add anything you think I've missed."

Q1  You're a well busy apostle...when do you find the time to pray?

Hmm.  Not apostle - member of the apostolic team.  I have a time of prayer and "personal devotion" every morning, which entails getting up early.  I also try to practise "recollection" or spiritual responsiveness, when I'm doing other things and feel a nudge to take a time out - may be a few moments (like 1-1-1), or a bit longer.  If I'm travelling on a long journey, I try to fit in some prayer: I find no problem speaking in tongues at any time.  And, I pray as I prepare for meetings and correspondence, decisions, and counselling/ministry, or church discipline times.

Q2  Do you pray "apostolically"?  How?

A rather sketchy definition is that the apostolic ministry is a bridge between God's purpose and the world's need, with the body of Christ as the unit God uses.  So, you need to be clear on God's side (like, mJa has a very specific call to UK), aware of the spiritual and human context you're operating in, and skilled to build the church so Jesus incarnated again can do what Jesus does - though us!  In Jesus Fellowship structure terms: assistant pastors oversee a group of sheep; elders oversee groups of sheep forming households; senior leaders oversee clusters of households in Regions; and apostolic men oversee clusters of Regions.  All that gives you plenty to go at.  I'm conscious that I may be the "last line of defence"  in a church situation, and so need conclusive wisdom.  I also need clear sight to distinguish what's actually God's vision for us, and what's feasible to bring into application; to weigh up initiatives and to get households over their obstacles.  I need both pace and patience, and I need to understand the powers that are at work in scenes.

(after Q2)....So, how, by praying, do you get to know about, or deal with the "powers at work" in a scene?

I suppose I can most relate this to church planting situations, where you come to recognise territorial opposition, and household building, where people go though various  scrapes.  We need God to reveal stuff to us, not be humanistic or psychological, and that means probing in prayer.  Sometimes it can come as people share their discernment together, but then we need to focus prayer on the challenge that's been unearthed.  In evangelism, too, very uncomfortably, we're the sort of church that provokes spiritual opposition out of its hiding.  But I'm assured that's so that we can press for more victory!  It can seem you're getting shaken to bits, but God says, "Don't lose your nerve".  Most (white) UK churches only know defensive prayer.  Despite the secularism, the UK is very idolatrous: for example, I love to see consumerism overturned by our common purses and simplicity.

Q3  Do you think regular prayer times are important?  Why?

Yes, I do.  We humans arrive a better point of connection with spiritual things when distractions are tamed.  This can include the distractions of constant novelty, irregularity, and disorderliness.  A daily time and place has been my practice for many years - in fact a brother commented recently that he came away from a marquee campaign some 15 years ago with the memory of me sitting praying on the top deck of the bus each morning.

(after Q3) ...What else helps you "tame the distractions of constant novelty, irregularity and disorderliness"

Well, lots of veteran charismatics have got fed up with the happy-clappy, and gone back to traditional churches, even the Orthodox church.  I'm committed to finding long-term satisfaction and meaning in mJa (as well as leading!), so I need to note that it's not always what's spontaneous, or even informal, that carries spiritual life.  The J Generation is the speed-dating, binge-drinking culture.  I love 24/7 because it's the sort of "crash and burn" approach that the J Gen does naturally.  But it can't be everything!  I think our relationship with God is worth costly investment!

Q4  What do you do in your prayer watch hours?

I pray through Together, because my prayer and ministry is for the Church.  I may meditate so I can listen better, and mature a bit.  I value opportunities for any longer time because that shows the Lord - in a little way - that I hold Him as a priority in my busy life.  It also means I'm not just skimming  in the shallows. That's all three times a week on average.

Q5  Do you think we have to have something to say before turning up for a prayer time?

I very rarely haven't, but I'm happy to abandon it for the sake of  touching the spiritual more firmly, by letting God set some agenda.  Having said that, I'm the sort of person who, if things are "flat", gets on with the obvious thing to do - pray about groups of leaders, or events, etc.  I find I do the same thing with meetings - if they're going nowhere, I'm likely to step in and do something to get moving again.

Q6  Do you think listening is important in prayer?

Always.  I think that our Church wants and needs its leaders to have heard from God.  Sometimes that's the only "different" contribution I can bring, because other guys in my various scenes are better than me at evangelism, organisation, relationship, detail, etc.  To pass on truth and grace you've got from God is just so essential.

Q7  How do you listen?

First you've got to be ready to grapple with whatever it may be that God could say.  That's my inward preparation.  I know saints who, quite frankly, are too afraid of what God might say, ever to level with Him.  That's tragic - living on the run.  Then I find some trigger that has carried "life" in the past few days - maybe something I've read, or that someone has shared, or some incident.  (I jot these things down, too.)  And I say, "Okay Lord, talk to me some more about that..."  Or I may say, "I wasn't very happy about the way I handled that - give me the truth", or, "We didn't seem to get very far in that incident - where was the power?", etc.  And we go on from there.

Q8  What would you say you have learned as a pray-er over the years?

I most enjoy prayer that suits my temperament - you have to discover that for the long haul, and develop it.  But if it's only that, it can be self-indulgent.  So sometimes you have to go another way - just respecting that the Lord isn't made in your image, and the value of any prayer time isn't measured by your own buzz!  I did about three years of contemplative prayer - just sitting for half an hour or more, more or less in silence, and telling God I was doing it 'cos I love Him.  Other times I'll punch the air or whatever.  Equally, I'd be very happy if I could find an isolated spot and bellow my head off - I find that breaks oppressions.  I don't do "union with God" very well; I have to think of Him being somehow "out there".  And I don't know how to get my spirit to other places, like Elisha and Paul did.  So there's lots more to learn.

Q9  What about fasting?

I've fasted one day per week for many years.  I don't find it easy: my attention at work falls off, and I get moody and irritable - actually the second day of a longer fast seems better.  I fast for perhaps a week, two or three times per year, usually when we've got a bigger event coming up, like a campaign, or the AMEN Multiply visit.  Recently, if necessary, I'll have a light breakfast, because I can't afford concentration lapses when I'm driving.  But usually I find an anointing, and, at the end, I find more spiritual flow in my everyday life rather than anything spectacular.  Do people know that seven days is the limit in mJa? So agape to agape is best.

Hope this helps.  Feel free to edit, or ask for clarification - Mary couldn't follow everything on the first time of reading it. 

ohmygosh ...one week two or three times a year...ohmygosh.....Didn't know about a 7 day limit with fasting though, I've heard of some much longer ones going on.  If I manage more than 6 hours, however, I'll throw a big party.

Mmm -  1 Corinthians 7:17.  I will say, on the subject of (longer) fasting, that for us it should be within our covenant commitment, or else it becomes "will worship".  There are times when I'd gladly make 6 hours the limit, too!  Coming off caffeinated drinks once in a while is even more "crawling up the wall".  Bless you

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Mother God or Mother Zion?

Feminist theology challenges the traditional exclusive use of a masculine pronoun for God.  It’s reported that half of the seven million Christians in UK don’t attend churches, so at some level see no reason for a gathered people.  Is there any validity in their arguments?  The biblical testimony is to Jerusalem (or Zion) figuratively being a mother country, giving us citizenship.  Let’s explore the message.

The bible includes natural images of God such as rock, bear (Hosea 13:8) and eagle (Deuteronomy 32:11).  Among the human images we find "eyes", "ears", “face” (1 Peter 3:12), and "fingers" (Luke 11:20).  Such anthropomorphic (= based on the form of man or woman) language is given to help us understand something more about God, though none of these is totally God.
  
There are points at which the bible does use feminine word-pictures to express God’s activity.  They include birth, nurture and comfort, protection, etc.  Do they define something feminine, or are they also just to help us to understand better?  Jesus called God Father.  Every place God is mentioned in the bible it is with the masculine pronoun.  Not once is God addressed as mother.
   
If the root metaphor for God is masculine father, the language is more generous in bridal and motherhood images for His gathered people.  The focus is principally in Jerusalem/Zion, the city of birth and flourishing.  The Psalms and Isaiah are full of such references (though sometimes a little idealised).
   
This image carries over into the New Testament as the church, and her eternal destiny as part of the heavenly New Jerusalem.  The strength of covenant brotherhood speaks of balanced “parenting” within the Holy Spirit’s activity, the immanent presence of God.

God’s covenant desire is a people with the right heart within/among whom He can abide.  They are gathered as a united community: Zion, the church.  Individualism is not part of this, because it isn’t part of the new heart.  For us this is all made possible through regeneration and uniting by the Holy Spirit.

So what’s this about?  The God Who conceived birth and motherhood has these dimensions planned for us.
PSALM 50:2  From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
PSALM 131:2  But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Feminine activities of God.  The prophets attribute birth, nurture, sustaining and compassion to God.
DEUTERONOMY 32:18  You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.  19 The LORD saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters.
ISAIAH 42:14  "For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back.  But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.
ISAIAH 46:3  "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.  4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
ISAIAH 49 15  “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

The city of our birth.  Equally, Zion, established by God, is the city of our birth, identity and comfort.
PSALM 87:5  Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her."  6 The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: "This one was born in Zion."
ISAIAH 66:7  "Before she goes into labour, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son.  8 Who has ever heard of such a thing?  Who has ever seen such things?  Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment?  Yet no sooner is Zion in labour than she gives birth to her children.  9 Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?" says the LORD.  "Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?" says your God.  10  "Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.  11 For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance."  12 For this is what the LORD says: "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.  13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

The city of God’s heart.  God purposes to dwell among the holy people He has redeemed, and causes to flourish.  He will faithfully rescue and restore them into this favoured habitation.  Here we see the church.
ISAIAH 52:8  When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.  9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
ZECHARIAH 8:3  This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem.  Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain."  4 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age.  5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there."  6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "It may seem marvellous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvellous to me?" declares the LORD Almighty.  7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.  8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God."

The New Testament also uses feminine imagery; it helps us to understand our relationship to the Lord.
MATTHEW 23:37  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.    39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
1 PETER 2:2  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Zion, below and above.  We are drawn away from the emphasis on works, to the covenant promise of God.  Our destiny is a heavenly city; while on earth we have the Spirit’s grace now to display our citizenship.
GALATIANS 4:24  These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants.    26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.  27 For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labour pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." [Isaiah 54:1]
HEBREWS 12:22  But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.  You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.  You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
1 PETER 2:5  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Application  Multitudes of every nation, Now come and seek and find salvation; This Zion mother church shall be writes Charles Wesley; and Isaac Watts, And Zion is His dwelling still, His church is with His presence blessed.
·       Sin’s separation left us exiled (Genesis 3:24).  Have you found your place and heritage in God’s “new Eden”?
·       May we say that when churches are weak, a need for identity, comfort and nurture is missing from living truth?
·       It’s clear that God invests Himself in His Zion/church.  Do you fully play your part in making her strong, too?

Scripture quotes from the New International Version.
You can replay or download our Sunday meetings on http://recordings.crownoflife.org.uk/

When the beauty of the church
Captures my eyes,
I’m overwhelmed with tears of love
That flow from somewhere deep inside.
And all at once
Her preciousness shines through;
The joy of seeing lives now changed
Is bringing change to my life too.

Oh heavenly mother,
I love all you do;
You go to the dark place,
And there you find the roughest stones
And fashion them into your jewels.

Ending:
Oh heavenly mother.

NCCC © 1997 Jesus Fellowship Songs/CopyCare Ltd