When I was younger I used to quite like taking communion at church. My mouth would be so parched from all the beer and smoke from the night before, so the shot of fruity grape juice was always a welcome relief.

Last night I sat in the living room of some friends of ours - there were seven of us there in total. The first (and only) people who have yet to commit to join Everyday Church Southfields in about 100 or so days time.

We took communion together. The bread didn't taste like flesh and the grape juice didn't taste like blood, but it did help us to remember what the most successful of all pioneers and visionaries ever sacrificed and achieved.

Many, many centuries later, we're feeling the sense of adventure from the mission ahead. It 'aint gonna be easy; we will (and already have) made some difficult decisions and it will certainly take our all. It's not quite on the same scale as the mission that Jesus faced (!), but it feels thrilling and costly nonetheless.

My wife and I have been reading through the book of Philippians recently. In chapter one, the author, Paul, says: 'I thank my God every time I remember you; in all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.'

More will sign up, we're sure of that. But last night it was such a privilege to break bread with 6 partnering pioneers.

I was chatting to someone recently who is grappling with an identity rooted in something that is doing him no favours at all. Something he has been trying to run free from for about as long as I've known him for.  

It got me thinking about my identity as a Christian man. After a while, I was taken aback to discover the amount of little lies I had allowed to creep in to my identity as a 21st century Christian, living in London. Lies that have not necessarily been massive stumbling blocks or thrown me off balance, but things that I have tried to put in place to build up who I am in Christ (with emphasis on the fact that it was 'I' and not'Him' who did/does these things!) 

Regardless of the scale, I think I walk taller (and therefore with pride) because I don't get drunk any more; because I give my money; because I don't watch porn; because I have a Bible verse inked on my arm; because I gave my kid a Biblical name; because I live in a church; because I committed and got married young...and even because I write a Christian blog!  

Things that COULD glorify God, but because they're what I've 'worked' for, they often subtract from what He did.  

I think there is a desire as a 21st century Christian to be edgy, with a gritty story of faith. I often hear of people who say they have a boring story because God raised them in the security of a Christian home - as though His grace from an early age may be seen as mundane! 

Trying to become the Christian 'someone' that you think culture needs is dangerous. Standing firm and effecting the surrounding culture as a Christian, starts and ends with Jesus. I think we like the thought of being cutting edge and not too far removed from culture.  

When we try and stay casual in our being 'sold-out' for Him, it usually means we worship reservedly, evangelise too covertly and give safely.  

I have huge dreams and plans for what I'd love to see God do in my life. Some of them are already under way; some are some way off yet. But a fatal thing I could do in the process is try and fabricate my own path, when His direction and timings remain so trustworthy.  

Paul marvellously says in one of his letters to God's people: 

'So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life.' (Colossians 3 v1-3) 

Just one identity and agenda.  

His.

A brand new life awaits

I had the enormous privilege of baptising a few people yesterday. And what's more, the other person doing the baptising was my wife. 

One thing that I said to one of the people we were baptising, was that she would be asked two questions that were arguably the most important questions she would ever be asked: 'do you acknowledge that Jesus is your Lord and Saviour?' and 'will you seek by His grace to follow Him for the rest of your life?' 

There are no other questions that anyone could ever pose to you that would carry greater significance. The implications to your answers are incredible. As far as milestones in life go, these questions are probably THE pinnacle. They exceed the markers of 'which University do you want to go to?'; 'will you marry me?'; 'do you take this women to be your lawful, wedded wife?'; 'what are you going to name him/her?' Being asked whether Jesus is your Lord and Saviour will always be the most significant thing anyone could ever ask you.  

God has many, many amazing things in store for you and me, but no two paths are alike. The only thing that remains a constant through every story of faith is that from the beginning, He chose to lay down His life for us, so that we may one day do the same for Him. 

That is what baptism symbolises - going under the water as the old you and coming out of it as a new person in Him.  Every journey of faith looks different - but the springboard needs to be from that water.  

The Gospel of Matthew  (c 28 v 18-20) famously details Jesus' position on baptism: 'Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: 'Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.'

It has been almost a decade since I came out of the water myself, and I can still imagine the feeling of the water washing over me. Strange, huh? Not at all. There is such power in making that decision and He totally knew it when He gave the instruction. 

Are you prepared to take that first step of obedience? A brand new life awaits. 

To infinity, and beyond!

Yesterday afternoon I went for a long walk with my brother in law. Through fields, coastline, sand dunes and country roads. At one stage we came to a church building, embedded in the hillside, dating back 1,000 years. Entering the building, surrounded by gravestones centuries old, it's mad to imagine the community of people who began meeting there, such a long time ago. Fuelled by the gospel and hungry to establish something for God's kingdom.  

Who knows what kind of successes and failures they encountered along the way. 

Our church is fast approaching an exciting threshold of our own, as we go from one church venue to three (in three different London boroughs). And after MUCH prayer and consideration, my wife and I have made a sizeable decision to join the team going to Everyday Church Southfields, in Wandsworth borough.  

I think a lot of credit for wanting to be a part of this adventure can go to our elders at church. When you have such great leadership to follow, it gets you excited and ready for action. Week in, week out we're presented with captivating and challenging themes through the gospel that galvanise and prepare us for the week ahead as missionaries in 21st century London - a great distance apart from the community of believers who once launched a kingdom work centuries ago, from within the building I visited earlier. 

My wife has been at our church her whole life and I have been there since my teens. We met Jesus there; we got baptised there; we met each other there; got married there; many of our family members attend the church; I worked there and we've even lived there for the last 4 years. And even though we'll still be part of the same church family, it was a big deal coming to that decision to move to a new site.  

If I have learnt one thing over the last 12 months, it's that God's grace never fails to get dished out in perfect measure at exactly the right moments. We have been trying to plug into what's happening at our church for some time now, and God has made us so excited about what He has been doing and what He still has planned. We'll be asking Him to do the same when we relocate a few miles up the road (not exactly the most treacherous of moves in the grand scheme of things!). 

Over the years I have been praying (along with many others) for God to do something significant with our church. It's funny that when those kind of prayers get answered, the reaction is usually one of surprise or hesitance; as if we didn't see it coming! As the plan unfolds, it's bigger and better than we ever had pictured. The longer I am a Christian, the more I realise that that's exactly how He works.  

So, these are terrifically exciting times to help shape a new work for the kingdom of God. Much as they would have been for the believers at St Enodoc church in the tenth century. I hope and pray that the foundations of what we're launching in the coming months will still be having an effect on the surrounding area in centuries to come.  

Let His kingdom come and His will be done.

You may have noticed a certain leave of absence from this blog in the last few weeks. It's not that I haven't had anything to comment on - I have just had my hands full, getting to grips with some very important new life lessons (and some especially grubby nappies).  

Prior to becoming a dad, I tuned into various theology and teaching regarding parenthood and family in general. Most, if not all, advised to putting children and family above other personal interests and becoming more of a servant at home - despite all that would vie for your affections elsewhere in a regular routine. I have always been a big subscriber to being as present and committed to people/circumstances around you as you can be - not giving someone/thing half your attention. So this mindset seemed to make sense. 

With most things, that has been fairly easy to stick to. Aside from being with people, I love reading, writing, fitness/sport, cooking, music etc etc. Hobbies that are generally quite manageable, that I can pick up and put down regularly.

However, I'm currently getting to grips with a new task/hobby/love that's proving to be slightly more of a handful!  

Now, I know it sounds a bit far-fetched to start commenting on fatherhood when I've still only been in the game for 5 minutes, but when people warn that it'll demand your all, they seriously mean it. I don't think I had fully appreciated that! 

**queue brief pause while I change a particularly explosive nappy** 

As I've looked to the Bible for wisdom/guidance over the years, I've been constantly reminded of the steadfast love of the Father; that He only has my best interests at heart; that He will stop at nothing to serve and protect me.  

Looking at the 8lbs bundle wrapped in swaddling blankets in my arms, I can totally see that perspective developing further in me, more than ever before. I thought I had understood that the Father was all for me - but again, another life stage comes along and reveals yet more of that truth. 

Everyday, I place a load of 'dirty nappies' at God's feet. Different sin, issues and impatience that I expect Him to wipe clean. And do you know what? Every single day He does.  

Everyday, He lays something aside so that I might be able to encounter Him, get clean and know His plan for me.  

My son is yet to thank me for putting up with his crying, pooping and demanding. But just as the task is relentless and consuming here, so is the amazing example of love set by God my Father in Heaven.  

You may see me on this blog a little less frequently than I'd like, but it's only because there's some big lessons being taught from a Father to a son.

He/he demands my all. 

Love at first sight #part 3

**WARNING  - this following blog does not ignore the fact that there are 101 other sins that I commit on a regular basis!**

If you’d said to me in my early 20’s that I would be married with a kid by the age of 27, I would have either laughed or fainted. At that point in time my main concerns were partying hard, getting up late, doodling in lectures, drinking pints, playing football and generally coasting without focus.

Responsibility was absolutely nowhere to be found. Direction, vision and discipline were not on the agenda. I was very good (or so I thought) at getting away with committing to anything. I was generally a good guy who loved his mates, music and sport and liked going to church because it was something that I had grown accustomed to doing – it just felt like the right thing to do. Getting to a church service once a week was probably about as much as I would/could commit to.

But somewhere along the line, God’s grace has picked me up and dusted me off in a way that I cannot believe. He has blessed me with four years of marriage to a girl who is mega Godly, focussed and out of my league and has now given us this bundle of joy as well – Elijah George.

From my perspective, I don’t deserve any of it and it should be a task that overwhelms me - but for some reason it doesn't at all!

The reason is that God has shown me how much of a sin adolescence can be. That gap between being a boy and man that most guys stretch out for as long as possible. Some do it by not working; some do it by not committing to a girl and instead commit to dozens of girls online in private; some do it by not paying rent and staying at home for as long as possible; some do it by blowing their cash as often and as freely as they wish, without a second thought. There are heaps of examples – but generally speaking, it’s just not maturing and taking responsibility when they should.  

As a young guy living in London, it only takes a quick glance around you to feel challenged and overcome by the responsibility of growing up. The media is saturated with a call to young guys to extend their youth for as long as possible – often into their 30’s.

I've read otherwise in the Bible; I've experienced otherwise through several years of marriage, and now there’s a little guy in a Moses basket next to me who is helping me to think ‘long-term’ as well. I was just reading something in 1 Corinthians 3 which helped me get my head around this even further – in the passage, Paul is referring to a work that he began in the church in Corinth, but it’s applicable to this as well: ‘By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder…each one should build with care - for no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ It’s tough being a faithful steward of everything God entrusts you with – but not when you have Christ as your cornerstone.

   

You could play the field, blow your cash, free-load off people, hit the snooze button until midday, get hyped about Fifa 13 and care more about your looks than reading your Bible. Or you could surrender it ALL to Jesus and watch an absolutely amazing journey kick up a gear. Whether you end up just taking responsibility for yourself, a wife and a kid or a greater numbers of lives, it’s a dangerous adventure to begin while you’re still young, but it’s totally worth it.  

Later, Paul says: ‘Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight’ (1 Cor 3 v18-19)

The high streets, the media and the bars/clubs argue against laying down foundations, taking responsibility and building wisely in your youth. Surely it would be foolishness to go counter-cultural too early!?

Worldly foolishness/Heavenly wisdom = get married to that girl, build a family, give your money away, get up early, surrender your time over to your church, fall to your knees, go public about your faults (the list could go on and on).

Buck the trend and become a ‘fool’ – you’ll love it. 

Now, excuse me while I go and change this kid's nappy.

Love at first sight #part 2

'Awww look at him, he's dead to the world.' A statement recently expressed by someone meeting little Elijah George, who was fast asleep at the time. It reminded me of what the apostle Paul declares in the book of Philippians: 'But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ' (ch3 v7).

I desperately want that for this little guy too - that he might one day count everything else as dispensable because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ as his Lord.

I've already been praying that God will use him and send him to the deepest, darkest places (either in London or anywhere else in the world!) and that his fullest confidence and security will only come from God.

I was reading a brief account of Moses in the book of Hebrews this morning that says: 'He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward' (11 v26).

Little Elijah doesn't realise it yet, but he has entered into a world that is both wonderful and challenging - a place that will pull him from left to right, tempt him and fight for his affections at any given opportunity. He'll be introduced to stuff that will try and reward him with fleeting highs and security through things like sex, money or success. But to know fullness of joy and peace he will need to give everything over to Jesus.

The world says take, consume, indulge and upgrade. Jesus says lay it all aside for my name and watch how full and satisfied your heart feels.

His only concerns at the moment revolve around boobs and nappies, but before he knows it there will be some more significant decisions to choose and paths to select.

Please Lord, raise up my little boy to fearfully know and worship you. Please give him a heart for the most broken and lost people and please give him Heavenly wisdom and judgement from an early age. Help him to be brave and courageous in the battle. In the name of Jesus, AMEN!

Dead to this world indeed. I don't think the midwife knew how solid her theology was in uttering those words!

Love at first sight #part1

Well, that was a pretty overwhelming couple of days. I'm not really sure where to start - there are just too many things that I want to praise God for.

At 12.30am on Saturday 22nd, our little boy, Elijah George Bream, entered the world. So I thought it'd be interesting to write a little something from three different perspectives over the next few days.

The first perspective is my wife's...


There's something that must be totally amazing about carrying a child inside you and then holding that same person in your arms after birth.

But then there's the labour; a fairly sizeable hurdle in between both those stages.

Words really cannot fully describe it.

I knew my wife had a firm faith in God prior to this weekend's action, but when you see someone on all fours bellowing out to God to help her and reciting scripture from memory, you know that person has been doing some preparation in the build-up.

Having prayed into particular scriptures and memorised verses that she knew would help her in that time of need, it was awe-inspiring to witness God stand up to those promises - especially through the gritted teeth and bleary eyes of prayer in those last couple of hours. With all the tension and anguish heavily etched across her face, she certainly needed a Saviour who would stand firm for her.

And He did.

Verses like:

'For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.' (2 Tim 1v7) 

'There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear...' (1 John 4 v18)

...and 

'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.' (Joshua 1 v9)

When your wife falls pregnant, it's very easy to feel smug and macho - like you're 'The Man'! When you're totally helpless and pretty much just a spectator in that delivery room 9 months later, you soon realise that you're not quite the alpha male you thought you were!! So it was awesome to see my wife very vocally telling her God how much she needed HIM.

He was so constant and gracious through the whole rollercoaster. And the little man He created in the first place made her soon worship Him in a way she never has done before.

No other rock could or would do such a thing.

She (and we!) could not have gotten through that period without the grace of God that was all over the situation and His timings and guidance were about as perfect as the little guy he gave us at the end.

There's a new kinda love in our household now - and we're thanking God for every little bit of it!!!

A hundred years from now

It must have been a bit strange for my folks. This afternoon we showed them the bedroom that we have recently finished decorating for their soon-to-be-arriving grandchild. Twenty-four hours prior to this they were scattering the ashes of my grandparent's in the same churchyard that my great-great-grandparents were buried in nearly a hundred years ago.

Talk about life flashing before your eyes!

As I was considering this, I was reminded of the lyrics 'Age to age He stands/ And time is in His hands/ Beginning and the end.'

One reason this came to mind was because on the gravestone of my ancestors there were some words that I find very significant. I don't know much (if anything) about these people, but their gravestone reads: 'The Lord is my strength, in whom I will trust.'

Now, this could either be a phrase that was common to most gravestones back then. Or it could mean that these people believed in God and did actually put their hope in His unfailing love during the time that they were alive.

I'd like to hope that some of the generations that walked before me in my family will be in Heaven, but with very little knowledge to go by, I've never really known much about them. So it's fair to say I'm pretty chuffed about this little discovery!

I sometimes wonder whether future generations of my family will stumble across this blog when I'm long gone. I hope it gives a good account of what I believe in (and HOPEFULLY encourages them to explore the claims and miracles of Jesus for themselves!!), but to be honest, the words on that gravestone will do just fine as well.

All strength, energy, joy, passion, creativity, laughter and desire is from the Lord and He really is the only one to put trust in - a century later that truth would still appear to be evident.

There's a new generation fast approaching our household who I plan to spend the rest of my life trying to explain these truths to as well.

How could life ever be boring?

I find this quite an exciting question to ask myself from time to time - it's worth investigating yourself, if you have a moment.

A couple of days back, my lead pastor shared some updates about some forthcoming developments within the life of our church. New buildings, new projects, new leaders, new parts of the city reached, new challenge.

A few days before that, the midwife informed my wife that our baby is ready to come out whenever it wants now. There's a V.I.P who God has been creating over the last eight and a half months, and He's about to introduce us to him/her. A new life, new responsibility, new job title, a new form of joy, a new challenge.

These two areas of my life are filling much of my thinking time at the moment and whether I like it or not, they are going to force me well and truly out of my comfort zone over the coming weeks and months.

For sometime now, I have been praying for an adventure. Previously that would probably have involved travelling to a far-flung destination with a backpack and a very vague itinerary. The 'adventure' continues, but a lot closer to home at the moment. Reading through parenting pamphlets and documents detailing new church vision, I can only thank God for what He's doing in my life.

Whether it's being part of a church that is soon to be multi-venue, or being part of a family that is soon to grow by 50%, it's all incredibly exciting!!! His grace over these two situations is totally and utterly incomprehensible.

Whatever your circumstances, the plans and purposes that God has earmarked for your life are staggering. He didn't intend for you to simply fall in line and trudge through your 9-5; flutter from fleeting experience to fleeting experience; pursue empty relationships or consume as much 'stuff' as you possibly can manage.

There's a very well known verse in the Bible which I always take great encouragement and direction from:
'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' (Jeremiah 29 verse 11)

Sometimes the big challenges/milestones come along in life. Other times there's continued routine, consistency and focus required. Either way, acknowledge that there is a God who is forever looking to grow and develop your character through the circumstances, challenges and people around you.

Remembering this, how could life ever be boring!?!

Have a read of this:

www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=NIV

...and then take a look at this:

www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/589217




*You may have read or seen these both before. But it helps to stop and wonder every now and again.

A story to shout about

Several months ago some very good friends of mine were given medical advise. The advise was to terminate their pregnancy. The doctors told them that the pregnancy had major complications and the baby was very unlikely to survive the 9 months.

With huge faith, and trusting God for an almighty miracle, they carried on. And prayed - along with many others. Even last week, at 9 months and nearing the due date, they kept believing - despite the probability of a still born baby.

Well, tonight I met someone for the first time.

Baby Micah.

5 days old. Now at home - crying, pooing, feeding. Doing everything a guy his age ought to be doing.

You may not be a believer in God. You may think that prayer is weird and fruitless - that God doesn't actually wonderfully create and sustain EVERYTHING.

Well, there's a little guy who's now living and breathing who you should definitely take a look at...he might make you think otherwise.

In the book of Isaiah (chapter 46), God makes this promise: '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.'

Whether you're 5 days old or 5 decades old, this fact remains.


Praise God, indeed!

Just one boast

Awesome talent. Awesome truth

http://soundcloud.com/luciamuko/nothing-but-the-blood-1st-take

How will your's pan out?

"He told me everything I'd ever done."
 
Everybody has a story. That story is their life - what they've done (the good and the bad); what was done to them; what they think is true and what they think isn't; what they love and what they hate...etc etc.
 
For some reason, which will perhaps be uncovered in a moment, Christians in particular like to tell people about 'their story'. Not because they are necessarily more successful or scandalous, but because there is something quite remarkable that happened to them along the way - something that demands great exclamation from the rooftops.
 
Jesus stepped in.
 
Sometimes this moment came in the depths of addiction or depression. Other times it was in the depths of comfort, pride and satisfaction. But at somepoint in 'their story', He moved from being a Christmas fairytale in a manger, to being a real-life, eye-popping Saviour.
 
The opening quote is from the Bible. It was uttered by an adulterous outcast who had encountered Jesus when she needed Him the most. He explained to her that despite how much He knew of her sordid life, the love of God was there for her, if she just acknowledged Him and turned over her trust to Him.
 
She did. And then went running to tell anyone who would listen about this remarkable man and life-altering truth and freedom that she had just discovered. 
 
Much as I've tried to do on this blog from time to time I guess.
 
You see, I have a story as well. It was no more or less selfish or satisfied than yours or hers. I wasn't a drug-dealing murderer and I wasn't a clean-nosed Choir boy either. I was disobedient, lustful, drunk, lazy and too concerned about gaining popularity and credit.
 
But Jesus stepped in.
 
Some of those old things rear their ugly heads from time to time - but I CAN walk in total freedom from it all.
 
Try Him too - regardless of where you'd place yourself of the moral spectrum. We all need Him.
 
Later in the Bible the response of those she ran to tell reads like this: 'We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.' (John 4 verse 42)
 
What would your response be to my/His claims?