_{UK Director's blog}

I love reading! Everything from books and magazines to competitions and recipes on the side of cereal packets if I am desperate.

I see this as a good thing, and being in this role - I find that people are always passing articles and books to me with the recommendation 'You should read this!'

Now I read quite widely, but want to focus these thoughts on the nature of Christian books that I have been encouraged to read recently. (I should clarify that these have mostly been in the devotional genre.)

These books have been both contemporary and classic - and it is this that I want to reflect on. Most of the contemporary books I have stopped reading after one, perhaps two chapters. This has been for two reasons, both of which increasingly irk me.

1/ The author has said everything they want to say in the first chapter and the rest of the book seems to be restating the same thing in different ways ... Ie - there is a lack of spiritual depth ... Instead we get sound bites!

2/ These books also seem to me to be very formulaic ... If you want this, then do this ... And God will answer all your prayers. However the doing never seems to 'cost' anything, as if somehow our Father's world is centred on us, and He is just waiting to answer our prayers, and make our lives 'nice'. Spiritual life coaching for those who want to improve their lives ...

I'm afraid I don't see that this message is reflected greatly in either Church history, or in the world in which I live (ie my messy reality) nor, more importantly, in the pages of the Bible - despite valiant efforts by authors to make it appear so!

Contrast this with the classics which seem to expound and exhort us to Biblical and, dare I say, deeper spiritual realities, such as humility (utter dependence on God in ALL things), consecration (giving over of all that I am, and have, to His Lordship) etc. etc.

Is this a moan or a longing for something deeper in contemporary, western, Christian faith?

Perhaps what I now consider classics were themselves surrounded by books such like those I have been reading recently ... But which have long been forgotten. My fear is, however, that in this 'modern world' anything contemporary has value simply because it is contemporary ... What is the latest must read? What is shaping Christian thought today?

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I was walking home in the snow this morning, having dropped the smallest member of the family off at school, my normal habit when doing this is to walk in a straight line across a nearby common to get home ... Which I started to do this morning. This was harder work than normal due to the snow which was deeper where I wanted to go, so I found myself deviating in order to find a path that many had already used ... Thus it was well worn down, flatter and easier to walk on ... Then the challenge came to me 'Is this how I have been called to live my Christian life?'

Not following the normal paths and cutting afresh into new areas is always harder work ... But it is worth it - in fact, if we are being obediant to the word of the Lord we will always be following another!

It then reminded me of the time in, 1993, when the Lord gave me what I can only describe as a 'prophetic burden' ... which has been foundational in the shaping of my life and ministry since ... Occasionally it finds it's expression through a 'prophetic word', but always it is in my mind and heart.

I don't think it is profitable to share it as it is so personal, and would probably mean little to any reader ... But from time to time since 1993 people have shared words and thoughts with us that confirm this 'burden' ... This happened again recently at a meeting in Germany.

The full expression of the burden I have yet to experience, but I feel it is coming, even though I am not entirely sure how it will look ... I continue to trust the One who is faithful.

The idea of walking in obediance on a less travelled path, regardless of the cost ... Especially in terms of reputation in the eyes of men, whether inside or outside the body of Christ ... should surely be the aim of all believers ... By His grace, it is mine!

So, we Press On!
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I trust that you are feeling refreshed and ready for all that the Lord has prepared in advance for you to do in 2010!

As I was seeking the Lord for a word for 2010 I believe He led me to Isaiah 30:15-18, which says;

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

What struck me most powerfully from my initial reflections on this short passage was the immensity of the promise. We face many huge challenges in the coming year - some we are already aware of, others are yet to be revealed, but we can look forward with confidence as daily we learn to 'return, rest, be quiet and trust' that we might know deliverance, salvation and strength. However, as powerful as the promise is so to the sense of sadness if we should ever be like the Israelites who 'would have none of it'! Certainly there have been seasons where I have tried to 'work things out for myself' and insodoing exhausted myself and quickly realized that my human resources are totally inadequate - only to eventually come to my senses and find a Father who is just waiting for me to look to Him, that He might glorify Himself by fulfilling His promise. Let us wait on Him and be Blessed!!
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It is the middle of the last afternoon before going away for a few days to celebrate Christmas with family in the south west ... I hope the snow will permit the travel!
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