GOODBYE, REDEEMER CHURCH LONDON

Dear Redeemer,

I've never learned so much.

The last 18 months I have been surrounded by the energy and pace of Redeemer Church London. I’ve seen everything behind the scenes; the hard work, the passionate hearts and all the fun! From leaflets to videos, from the prayer ministry to the connections team, from organising huge events like Carols to just having a coffee with one of God’s precious kids. It’s been a blast.

I’ve never seen a Church that has such a urgency to reach out; Redeemer is hungry to impact people, to grow, host and bring others into a relationship with Jesus. The events like Little Fish, Carols, the Running Meet-up and an all year round Alpha aren’t just for fun - they are all charged by the desire to show people that Jesus is for you and wants to live in your heart. This church provides such a warm, welcoming open door to those who have never experienced Jesus before.

There is a rich foundation of community and love amongst the people of Redeemer that just oozes family. There is a solid bridge between the diverse generations and a beautiful mix of cultures and ethnicities that feels like peace, sounds like a friend and surely is a taste of heaven.

Megan and I have felt part of something huge, something that has a long and strong destiny. At only five years old I just know that Redeemer has loads more in store, this is merely the beginning. 

Some of my own highlights from the last year and a half:

• Leading the ‘Activating a Supernatural Culture’ Meetup in our living room, developing deep relationships that we will never forget.
• Preaching my first ever sermon about my story and how God speaks.
• The giant temporary office at Exchange Plaza! Hilarious space given to us by God.
• Learning from Pete and the Advance Church Planting team down in Cornwall for a week.
• Organising the 2018 Carols; a beautiful looking, great sounding event despite the busy period.
• Baptising so many, including my friends Mak, Sunny and Brooksy.
• Moving the Redeemer staff into the new office on Bond Street - pop in for a cup of tea with Pete and Rach anytime! I love those guys!

Of course there is loads loads more. But my true number one highlight is the time I’ve spent doing life with my brothers in Christ - I’ve got to know them so well, prayed with them, cried with them and journeyed with them. We’ve taken huge steps toward the heart of the Father and learn’t about who we are in Christ, that’s called church. Thanks lads, you know who you are!

Finally I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for being so lovely, so kind, so full of the joy of Jesus. Pursue that intimate, raw and vulnerable relationship with your best friend, Holy Spirit. Walk closely with each other as you do, share the blessings and share the struggles, hug each other and feed each other. Shine like Jesus shines.

Let’s go change the world,

Joseph x

To follow what Joseph and Megan get up to as they move to Brighton subscribe here: www.youtube.com/josephthedreamer

THREE WAYS TO CHILL WHEN YOU'RE STRESSED

If you talked to me a month ago you would have discovered quite quickly that I was stressed.

My mum was in hospital, soon to move to nursing care. We were selling her house. Work involved more projects with fewer staff. This year's pay round left a lot of us frustrated. The house needed attention. My kids were stressed with dissertation deadlines. My dog is 15 and showing signs of decline. I've put on far too much weight. I think I've developed RSI in my mouse arm.

What can I do?

Psalm 131 gives me a three step plan.

1. KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS

Verse 1: My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

2. STOP AND CHILL

Verse 2: But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

3. PLACE YOUR TRUST IN GOD

Verse 3:  Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.

Join me while we face this together.

THE DANGER OF POSITIVE THINKING

I heard a radio discussion on the flaws of positive thinking and the false hope that accompanies it:

False hope binds us to unliveable situations and blinds us to real possibilities. In contrast, a healthy uneasiness with the status quo prompts the exploration of alternatives. (The Power of Negative Thinking, Radio 4)

He went on to say:

We use the word hope for situations over which we have no agency.  We don't hope to eat.  We do it.  In contrast, we would hope that the plane doesn't crash."

It follows then, that next time I find myself hoping something will be okay, it's wise to take it as a prompt to ask:

Do I really have no agency over the situation?  Or can I get up and impact the status quo? 

What they were saying was that positive thinking as an alternative to taking action is not positive at all. Believing I am powerless when I'm not is negative.

For example, I wouldn't stand over a heart attack victim with car keys in hand, saying 'I hope you get to hospital'. I'd act. Instead of thinking to myself, 'I hope that poor man finds somewhere to stay this Christmas,' I can support a charity like Shelter.

Hope alone can be unhealthy if it blinds us to what we can do to make a change.

In contrast, sometimes hope is an appropriate acknowledgement that we can't effect change and shouldn't waste energy worrying. Once I've chosen to get on that plane, I can't effect its ability to stay in the air.  So hope alone in a situation that is outside my control might be appropriate. 

But I have a proposal.

Add to hope a dose of trust, and you have a more potent force, bringing peace.

Let me explain.

Acknowledging situations in which you really don't have agency and in which you are reliant on another (e.g. the designer of the plane and the pilot) is a rational response. If the object of your trust is worthy of that trust, your hope is well-founded and brings peace of mind. Instead of worrying about stuff that you cannot change, you have more headspace to instead focus on those things that you can change.

You can probably see where I'm going with this.

Romans 15:13 reads: 'May the God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace as you Trust in him, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.' 

A trustworthy God in whom we hope brings peace and joy.

Hold that thought in balance with James 1:27 where we read: 'Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.'  This is an admonishment to act.

To realise the truth in both these passages we need discernment to recognise when to trust, and when to act.

For example:

My mother is suffering from vascular dementia.  My sisters and I hope and trust that God will continue to give her peace and will care for her.  Equally, we acted to buy a tracker for her keyring so we know where she is, and between us we spend time with her to ensure she takes her medication and that she eats regularly.

So we act to meet her needs rather than sit back and hope God will step in.  Meanwhile, the overflow of hope and trust we have in God empowers us and my mother.

We do not walk with blind faith. We walk with eyes wide open to the hope that is founded on God's grace toward us, while actively looking for opportunities to act.

So here's my challenge to you.

Sit and think this Christmas season. What issues are preying on your mind?  Where will you place your Hope? On a new year resolution? On the lottery? On your ability to think positively?

Or in a trustworthy God?

You can choose to trust. So act now. You'll find fellow travellers at Ealing Town Hall any Sunday morning.

HERE IS WHAT TO DO IF YOU DON'T ENJOY YOUR JOB

I saw a video on Facebook the other day – it was headlined as something like ‘the most important thing you’ll see all month’, and I respected the person who had shared it, so I gave it a quick view.

The message of the video was essentially this:

You are going to be at work for the vast majority of your life, so make sure you’re doing something you enjoy.

This message rings true with me, as I’m sure it does with you. I don’t like the idea that I’m going to spend 40 years doing something with no purpose other than to get money to pay for stuff I can barely squeeze into my spare time.

Even if you have a stand-out ‘successful’ career and earn millions, if that’s only then used to fund a house and a family you barely see, what point is there to that really?

It all comes down to this:

Your life will be better, and you will be happier, if you’re doing something you love, even if that means taking home less money at the end of the month.

I agree.

But I don’t agree with the practical advice this video gave, which was ‘make sure you’re doing something you enjoy.’

Huh?

What would happen if we spun that around, to say instead:

Make sure you enjoy what you’re doing.

If I’m doing something I don’t enjoy, that turns me into a victim. This job is happening to me, and I’m subject to my evil boss’s nasty commands.

But if I’m not enjoying what I’m doing, that puts me in a position of power. I can solve this problem, by changing my attitude.

Instead of answering the questions of what else I could be doing that would make me happier, I’m answering the question of what I genuinely enjoy about this job I’m in. That feels a lot more positive – doesn’t that feel better?

I see the Bible telling us to be content with what we have, and I don’t see the Bible telling us that satisfaction lies in grabbing at things we don’t have.

Homework for today then: Write a list of the 100 things you most enjoy about your job, then if you bring it along on a Sunday morning and share it with me, I’ll share mine with you.

I WAS ASSAULTED - WHERE WAS GOD?

One Sunday evening, I was mugged on my way home.

(I did get my Nando’s card back – yay!)

Following the incident, I started to question God:

• Where was he?
• Why would he let this happen to me?
• I thought he loved me?

I felt very alone and needed answers. Why hadn't God rescued me?

A bearded friend sent me a short yet nourishing verse, “I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

Suddenly, I realised why I couldn't feel or see God’s comfort or care that day.

He is actually always there, whether or not I sense him. When I call out to him, he'll never fail me.

God doesn't take away hard times, but we can certainly find strength and hope knowing that he will always be with us and will help us through.

If we have gone through life trusting in our own judgement, we may find it harder to submit to God and his plan for us. If we refuse to see God’s hand and direction in our lives, we may never know just how good he can be to us.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8)

We will definitely face many hard times. Some of these are inevitable and beyond our control, but these can be endured with God’s help. Some of our anguish and affliction is self-imposed and can be avoided, yet God still offers peace as we gather the courage to make the necessary changes in our lives.

God’s forgiveness and affectionate approval can give us peace as we face hard times, even when the hurting we face is our very own fault.

He has the authority to guide us down the path of life; he has already conquered all the barriers that stand in the way!

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

HOW DINNER IN EALING COULD CHANGE THE MIDDLE EAST

We recently went on our first family holiday abroad – to France.

France has lovely weather, beautiful countryside, delicious food…and a language that I don’t understand.

I never did French at school, so I used up pretty much my entire vocabulary by the time we’d shown our passports.

Swapping between languages can be fun (like listening to French songs written in English – the music’s fine but the words are appalling!) and very frustrating.

Interpretation is clearly a skill, and it’s something that’s very relevant to the modern world. The Middle East has been dreadfully affected over the last few years by an interpretation of Islam that is entirely different from the interpretations practiced by my Muslim friends. The same could be said of those who interpreted Christianity in such a way as to justify the Crusades or the Spanish Inquisition, or those who interpreted atheism in such a way as to justify persecuting the Jews under Nazi Germany or the Chinese under Chairman Mao.

Please don’t interpret that to mean that I’m criticising Islam, Christianity or atheism – I’m not. The point I’m making is that the way we interpret something can be as important as the thing itself. The desperately horrifying actions of so-called Islamic State would be no less horrifying if Islam were true.

In all these challenges, surely the best thought we can take away is that understanding one another better is categorically a Good Thing.

So I wonder if I could invite you out for dinner, to do exactly that. I’m doing something called Alpha, where I’d love to share a bit about what Christianity means for me, and I’d love to hear what your faith means for you.

Sign up here, and we can interpret life together.

You can find out more about Alpha here.

THE VIDEO OF A SYRIAN BOY THAT COULD CHANGE THE WORLD

There are certain people that I enjoy being around more than others. Without fail, if asked to describe them, one word that would come up repeatedly would be kind.

I’m trying to teach my children to be the best people they can be. More often than not, I find myself saying to them, ‘Please be kind to one another.’

Last week, a video emerged of a young boy. About the age of one of my sons, he was being carried out of a pile of rubble (presumably his house), shocked into numbness.

His face shows no panic or pain, despite the chaos around him and the blood flowing down his face from his head wound.

His completely neutral expression as he sits still in the ambulance is one of the most upsetting sights I can remember ever having seen.

And I found out this morning that his older brother has since died.

I understand the whole world doesn’t agree on everything, and that has led to conflict. But as I see images and stories revealing the true horrors of those conflicts’ results, I’m ever more convinced that building walls and attacking those who are somewhat unlike me doesn’t make the world a safer place.

Put simply, I wish that the world was kinder to each other.

I feel indescribably helpless when it comes to the Middle East – I have too little knowledge, and too little influence. But what I know is that I can be kind to those who are in my life, and pray that others will do the same.

Who wants to join me?

The Bible tells us that one of the fruit of the Spirit is kindness. In other words: if I try to be kind, I will fail. But if I look to God for everything, kindness will grow naturally.

Please gather with us on Sunday, to receive from God and to practice kindness to one another and the whole borough!

BUSY, OR EXISTENTIALLY BORED?

I love living in London.

One of the advantages of living in London is that something is always happening.

Life here is fast-paced and full of activity.

But I find that the constant busyness leads to a temptation to try and create busyness when things are slowing down a bit. Of course, I put it down to me liking activity, but it's probably fair to admit that sometimes I fill my time because I'm scared of the boredom that might come with slowing down.

I read a blog post the other day that captured this so well. It's only short, so I'd encourage you to read the whole thing, but here's a quote to whet your appetite:

Our culture now equates busyness with importance, hard work with ability. We like representing ourselves as capable, so our egos swell approvingly with each overtime hour logged. Our work has thus become our identity—when meeting new people, I’m likely to be asked ‘what I do’ before I’m asked my name. Even 2,000 years before Headspace offered free 10-day trials and lifestyle magazines wrote about mindfulness, Roman Stoic Seneca noted this human tendency with enough scathing accuracy to elicit a collective 21st-century cringe: ‘It is inevitable that life will be not just very short but very miserable for those who acquire by great toil what they must keep by greater toil. They achieve what they want laboriously; they possess what they have achieved anxiously... New preoccupations take the place of the old, hope excites more hope and ambition more ambition. They do not look for an end to their misery, but simply change the reason for it.’

So read the entire post on the Salt London blog, and why not put this into practice by ceasing your busyness this August, by enjoying our Holy Smokes Barbecues every Sunday.

HANWELL'S BEST HANGOUT

Among the things I love about living in Hanwell are the great parks, the canal I can walk, run or cycle beside, easy access to Ealing and London, the great schools (I teach in one of them!), the fantastic sense of community here and events that encourage this (we recently had the Hanwell Hootie)...and The Clocktower café! 

I'm very fortunate to only work four days a week, so I love to visit the café on my day off each Friday. It's a great place to relax and hang out!

What do I love most about this café?

• I love the quirky, vintage interior and the different array of seating from bar stools to armchairs and sofas to benches with cushions – a very ‘homely’ environment in which to unwind
• I love the fact that I always bump into someone I know from the local area – it really is a great place to connect with others from the community
• I love the fresh, authentic, home-made food that is available from breakfast to brunch and lunch – not to mention the delicious cakes that are pretty irresistible (the Battenberg being a favourite!)
• I love the slowed-down, relaxed feeling you get there – you are never hurried away – you are always made to feel very welcome by the staff
• I love the fact that it's on my doorstep so I can enjoy it as often as I like – it really is one of Hanwell’s great treasures

If you haven't been – why not check it out on Facebook?

It's good to discover places where you can hang out, and be refreshed from the busyness of life.

I love gathering with the Redeemer community on Sundays to know God’s refreshing and empowering presence in our lives

Jesus said:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)

And one of the early church leaders explained the truth of gathering together:

...that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord... (Acts 3:20)

Why not come and hang out this Sunday?

I trust that you will also feel welcomed, feel that you have 'come home’, enjoy the coffee and cakes, and know something of God’s peace for you in the busyness of your life.