A long six months.

We are coming to the end of the six month period that we imposed on our self, where we haven't travelled to any of Churches long distance meetings, instead using the time to recover from the harsh experiences at the end of 2009. This six month break has also given us the opportunity to try to repair some of the damaged parts of our natural family, namely our children.
We have had a small amount of success being able to provide a home for the last three months for our six year old grandaughter while the SS sort out her long term future (with their limited resources, lack of ability and downright useless behaviour).

During this time Caroline & I have visited Christian groups and Churches around Suffolk, something we havn't had the time to do in the past.
We have found many genuine and devoted followers of Jesus, a lot of good works and a whole load of stuf that has nothing to do with the Jesus that I know. I still conclude that although many of these Churches and groups are doing great things there is still nothing as radical and revolutionary as Jesus Fellowship Church. In my opinion we are the most imperfect Church in the UK, but I see that as a positive thing which gives us the edge in making radical disciples. And so we are still feeling the pain of exile at the moment, but are looking forward to the next six months as the adventure unfolds, the journey continues and the bond that we have with our distant brethren strengthens. In my thoughts at the moment are those members and leaders of the mJa who have experienced ongoing dissapointment,being let down by those whom they have invested their live in, yet still hold open welcoming arms when the wanderers return...such grace, it's outrageous, it's as though it comes from the very heart of GOD. Wow that a radical thought!1

Changes

Our grangaughters short term fostering placement is getting near it's end. The SS (remember them) are looking for carers for the long haul. Our experiance of the last 3 months tells me that they will need to be extra special people, and thats just to deal with the SS let alone our grandaughter.
It's only when we had a chance to take stock of our live's that we realised that the last 29 years of childcare (we still have a 12 year old at home) have left us very little in reserve, and we don't have the energy to cope with a troubled, difficult six year old.
Apart from that, and the one still at home, an emerging teenager (both female) clash constantly.. leaving us with the more than occaisional feeling that WW3 is about to break out.

upto-date.

It's around two months since my last post so a quick summary is in order.
We have Lauryn our six year old grandaughter staying with us under a sec 20 order from the SS (that's social services, some say it's difficult to tell the differance). Our ninth and tenth grandchildren have been born, and we are completely Knac.......d, (worn out). In the space of two months we have visited five or so differant Christian groups in Suffolk, trying to discover what is emerging, has emerged or who hasn't gotta clue. Most havn't gotta clue.

There is a general feeling of being in exile from our Church and even the community, knowing that there is very little else in existance that is as radical in nature and life giving brotherhood.

We begin to see why we had to return to Ipswich and why the timing of our move away was wrong, so as we wade through the swamp, we are looking to the future with a degree of expectation and a sense that a forty hour week at Skaino would be more restfull than our current occupation. Hmm.

Reformed or Reforming... uhmm.

Last few Sunday mornings have had an intersting slant to them, Toni, Caroline Myself have been visiting the C of E community Church that meets at the end of the road that our daughter Sam has just moved into. The Church plant happened some 20 years ago but ran into dificulties in the early days. It is placed in the middle of a local authority housing area that is known by its justly earned dodgy reputation. A great place to be Church. But as seems usual in many of these community based C of E Churches it consists mainley of a middle class group of parishoners led by their educated vicar, who in this case is female. I have no particular axe to grind about women in ministry but the last seven or so years of female headship in this parish has produced a very feminized congregation, giving opportunity to individuals of ultra feministic persuasion to assert themselves in the running of the parish.The vicar is about to retire so it will be interesting to see what will happen during the interregnum (between rulers), maybe the Men will rise to the challenge and a balance of rule will arrive. Caroline & I have decided to observe this group of believers during the six months of our time out period. We plan to attend some Sunday gatherings and a fortnightly home group as well as try to build up some relationships among the congregation. They have agreed to this with enthusiasm despite my resevations of all things C of E. You see I dont think they ever properly reformed and are probably still under the rulership of Rome, except for the lady vicar bit. A communion service in the local community hall (thats where they meet) would help to explain. A robed up vicar officiating at the fold up table doing the magic bits, and the liturgy projected from a computer onto a large screen only modernises things rather than reforms them. Despite my resevations a lot of these folk love Jesus so although they practise their Christianity differantly we have choosen to make friends and join in occaisionally with their borderline charismatic meetings and attend their very retro home groups. Why?? well because they are lovely and genuine folk and most importantly they are missional, although I'm not sure they would have the same meaning for the word as we do.

Way Back When..

In 1980 I married Caroline, for better or worse. That was easy to say back then, now I have a deeper understanding of this part of the marriage vows. 12 months later Caroline gave birth to our first child, five more followed at regular intervals and the seventh arrived about 13 years ago (you work it out). I don't have the brain space to tell you all of their life stories but in summary this is the state of play at the moment.
One is married with two children, three are single mums with two children each, one is a part time dad to one child and one is a heroin addict and up to just recently the primary carer for one child. Oh yea! one more still at home with us, she's 13 going on 21 with an intelligence level that matches her attitude.

I guess we could that our plans to bring up a regular family were totally blown out of the water. We still now have times of self examination "what on earth did we do wrong?" "Could we have cared for them better?" etc etc. But, like the rest of the journey up to now we have come to see that life's curve balls (if you are American) or googlies (if you are English) have all been part of a loving fathers training programme, preparing us for a life focused on others and following Him.

It's still swinging !

The pendulum not the sixties that is. I have vague memories of reading a book about the pendulum swinging, this is way back in the dim and distant when as a new Christian I had an enthusiasm that was both obnoxious and inspiring in an odd sort of way, well that's what folks would tell me. Anyway back then, when anyone and everyone became legitimate targets for my gospel six guns I remember reading this book that tried to explain away the excesses of various branches of the Christian Church. Basically any new movement always experiences the swing of the pendulum to both extremes before some sort of middle ground or balanced approach to matters of faith are found.
Around 2010 years ago a new movement started swinging it's pendulum, and its still swinging today.
Did the balance come? well you probably have your own take on that, from where I'm sitting I would say not.
The thing is, God entrusts us with His plan to reach into the lives of those around us, and then in His great wisdom lets us work out how to do it, while giving us little pointers along the way. I Wonder why everyone has a different little pointer, and why its the person who can shout the loudest and and who claims the biggest amount of spiritual authority who does the most pointing.
You might be thinking "that's a bit cynical" you could be right of course its hard to be totally objective after nearly thirty years in Christian ministry.
OK back on track again, it doesn't take a great mind, and mine is nothing like a great mind, to realise that we are in the presence of masses of people who have not been initiated with the peculiarities of the Christian Church let alone its excesses. Phrases like post modern or post Christendom are phrases the enlightened use in discussion and the outsider never uses full stop. So this is not a dialogue about what these two wonderful terms mean, but a gritty and real learning experience drawing on things past, things present and a quick look at things to come.

Christmas Vs Xmas

It's been said that xmas is Christmas with Christ crossed out, I guess that for a lot of folk Christmas has got Christ crossed out as well. I know some Christian folk who almost seem afraid of Christmas, afraid of its commercial enterprise pushed by the big money people seeing an opportunity to make more. I think this time of year is a great opportunity to celebrate JESUS, not his birthday "it was probably spring time anyway" says Shane Claiborne of the "Simple Way", but to celebrate the greatest rebel with a cause who has ever lived...
I found a Christmas carol on Brian Mclarens blog... "The Rebel Jesus". Jackson Browne sings "I bid you pleasure & I bid you cheer from a heathen & a pagan on the side of the rebel Jesus" Seems like even the heathens and the pagans want to be on His side... "But!! they won't get into heaven unless they are born again, saved, washed in the blood, etc, etc, I guess there's more than one way to cross out Jesus.