ISP problems causing delay to the incarnate network website.

The incarnate network website has caused its own set of problems. I have been using the fantastic open source Joomla which has been an interesting learning curve for me. The biggest problem has been the isp we have been hosting with. He migrated to a new server during the initial stages of the project which caused no end of trouble and delay. In the end we decided to sent our own server and start from scratch. We ordered the server from 123-reg.co.uk who offer unlimited bandwidth at an unbelievable price (the customer service is not so hot though.

The network web site seems to have three main purposes:

• To act as a social networking site for people who are involved it front line mission or church planting in Europe.
• To provide a magazine of regular stories and information to the church planting community.

It also gives of my first opportunity to start pod-casting. All i have ever done is post the odd MP3 to my site and link to it through my Blog it will be interesting to do something a bit more regular and intentional.

A journey of reflections.

Driving over to Ilkley in Yorkshire the other day to meet two other ministers for some discussion gave me some time to reflect on the last few weeks. I have found them quite significant. Every year the church have a weekend called “the church anniversary”. For someone like me who doesn’t pay much attention to his own anniversaries (Louise and I both forgot our wedding anniversary last year) they are something of a curiosity. However, they are a good opportunity to invite a speaker who is beyond our normal sphere.

This year we invited John and Olive Drane to join us for the weekend. Though I have never met John before his books have had quite a profound effect on my own spiritual journey. One book in particular (Faith in a changing culture) helped me look differently at a number of things I took for granted. The weekend they spent with us was quite helpful and I have had a number of conversations with people about some of the issues they raised since.

Olive’s rather unusual approach to Sunday morning worship involved changing herself into a clown and encouraging us to see the world as God sees it. I think it is possible that the serious message she left was lost on some because they were unable to see past the clown. That was a shame really because the world (not to mention the life of the church) would be a far better place if we could all take the time to try and think of it as God might.

John’s main message in the evening was taken from Acts chapter 10. He showed us that Peter, although a devout follower of Jesus, had to change his attitude towards mission (you might even say that he repented of his attitude). John and Olive also left some slightly different ways to think about prayer and worship which I personally found very helpful.

During the week that followed I went to spend a few days with people who are involved in starting new churches across the country. To be honest I’m a bit of an imposter. I’m not involved in church planting at the moment (although I was part of the team that started the church in Long Whatton). They are an inspiring Group to be involved with. The dedication of the people who have given up so much in order that they can share about Jesus with people is both humbling and inspiring. I got involved because I have a long term interest in church planting and mission but also because Peter (one of the organisers got wind of the fact that I am a bit of a geek and I might be able to help with the website.

Meeting With Richard Kidd, potential supervisor.

I met with Richard Kidd on Tuesday last week. I was late, whenever I meet Richard I seem to be late. It is a 60 Mile journey from my house to Luther King House, but it took me over two and a half hours to get there. The traffic in Lancaster and Manchester is diabolical.

Once I had managed to come down from the stress of the journey I had a good discussion with Richard. He had read through my proposal and made the following observations:

• A Thesis needs an argument. My title is too vague and needs some more shape and specific direction.
• I need to pin down the cultural side of the study. I could for example look at the research done by political parties amid their rapid decline in membership. This may present some opportunities for discussion.
• Are the churches that I am wishing to study simply reclaiming values that are intrinsic in our heritage but have been lost at some point?

Richard thinks 3 more months working on the proposal would be a good idea.