Away We Go

We're off camping again for Kate's birthday... Do you remember last time? Two years ago? We do...

Let's hope it is not quite as wet as last time!

As a Christian...

I'm a regular listener to various phone-in shows on the radio - mainly on 5live (and mainly in the form of football phone-ins!) Sometimes, they can be fascinating and involving and other times they can infuriating and frustrating at best. 5live can often be the audio equivalent (or at least the national mouthpiece) of the outraged Daily Mail reader! Such is the mindlessness of some of the 'points of view' that sometimes I have to turn the sound down to avoid shouting at my car stereo on the way to work...

However, one phrase causes me to shudder and flinch more than any other for I know what is coming next and now that I want to mentally "distance" myself from it as soon as possible... Here it is... Brace yourselves...!

"As a Christian..."

I have no problem with believers speaking out or offering opinions on moral & cultural issues. It's just that most of the time when someone begins their argument with this preface, you know exactly what is coming. It is often a very poorly reasoned, rather dogmatic standpoint, that sometimes even misses the point of the original discussion.

"As a Christian, I don't drink at all so...", like that's an argument... Again, it is not that I have a problem with abstinence as I don't (although I also don't believe that abstinence is required to be a Christian). It is the fact that people are arrogant to suggest that they are speaking on our behalf just because they are a Christian. Christian disciplines and theology are not necessarily a viewpoint in themselves (as far as the 'world' is concerned) - they are only a valid contribution when they are applied to the issue in question. It's perfectly fine for a person with an opinion to be a Christian - provided that the opinion isn't *just* that they ARE a Christian. We can come across as blinkered, naive and uninformed to the watching world...

The reason we are Christians is that we are growing to become more like Christ, rather than feel the need to correct everyone. Jesus didn't randomly quote "dogma" from the Scriptures without reason. He used the wisdom of the Scriptures in context and applied God's "best" to the contemporary situations to offer hope, freedom and a future to the people. That's what I want to aspire to.

The other thing that I constantly find frustrating is that these same phone-in shows will often turn to 'Christian Voice' and their extremist views for their "balanced" theological viewpoint... I know that these shows rely on conflict between extreme yet populist positions but even so... Spare us from our supposed collective 'Voice'!

Paul Windo @ Urban Saints / #6 / 27.5.09

What’s my role…
One of the less inspiring aspects of my job is keeping track of our publicity – both adverts and leaflets. It means I’m often pursued by advertising sales types and juggle spreadsheets of our design schedule and our publicity bookings. Mundane though it may sometimes seem, this is crucial to the huge task of spreading the word about the great work of Urban Saints and what we can offer to others in their ministry. It is often only truly appreciated, sadly, when things go wrong…!

Elsewhere in Urban Saints
Every year, we train hundreds of volunteer leaders, equipping them to be more effective youth & children’s workers. We run at least one training conference in each of our English regions as well as Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with the hope that no leader has to travel more than a couple of hours to get to a session. In the past few years, we’ve run sessions on handling discipline, effective use of story, psychological development in children, sharing your testimony and contemplative youth work. In my other role as a local volunteer leader in Hitchin, I had the privilege of attending one of these training days back in March and found it to be very helpful and encouraging.

How can you help?
Please consider taking just a few minutes to pray for Urban Saints and the work that I’m involved in. We are currently in the middle of, not only the UK Prayer Week but also our own '40 Days of Prayer' for the movement so there couldn't be a better time to get involved! Let me know if you’d like any specific prayer points to guide you… Thanks for your support!

Salvation comes...

My mate Paul has now invited me to go and see this and so I'm getting pretty excited now. Reviews sound promising despite the presence of Mc-"Charlies Angels"-G as director. Love the Terminator movies and am hoping this takes us down new avenues. Let's hope my hope is well-placed...

Prayers answered... kinda!

I'm not sure how many of those who happen upon this page will believe in the power of prayer, but I really do. I believe passionately, that no prayer uttered in faith returns to us without an answer. The problem is that God is no intergalactic slot machine. We don't always get the answer we're hoping for or quite the answer we were expecting! In the otherwise disappointing sequel to Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty, Morgan Freeman's God says something very profound:-

Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?

I can identify with that logic & let me tell you for why...

Each day at Urban Saints, we take a few minutes to pray and each day we pray for a member of the team. On Tuesday it was my turn and, amongst other things, I asked for prayer for more "boldness" in my role at Spotlight, the Thursday night kids club I help with. I'm trying to be more involved with the leading up front. I tried it once a few weeks back, with mixed success, and have been trying to do more and not be too nervous to really go for it. It's not my most natural role to take, I must confess...

Two days later, we started the club night as usual and our main leader, Sam, was awaiting a call from the doctor for her daughter, ill at home. She said she may have to leave the room to take the call suddenly and that I might have to cover in her absence. Sure, I thought, I can handle a few minutes on my own up front. As the evening continued, it looked like the moment had passed and we'd make it through together. Then suddenly in the middle of an activity, Sam dashed off and left me running things. Moments later, she was back but then she had to rush off to a pharmacy to pick up a prescription before they closed for the night.

"Just read the story..." she said. To lead an activity was one thing but to engage the kids with story-time with zero preparation time (and already feeling like I'd outstayed my welcome on the stage) was another thing altogether. Considering the circumstances, it wasn't a total disaster...but it felt pretty close! Then the next activity was answering questions in small groups - phew, a chance to mentally re-group. But I had no idea where the question sheets were and when I did find them, they had the answers written on them already!! Aaargh... It would have been a great time for the ground to open up and swallow me.

I was out of ideas. Everyone's looking at me wondering what will happen next and I'm looking back at them, hoping someone will jump in and help, while the more disruptive of our kids look like they might tear the place apart. Caroline came to the rescue, organising an impromptu relay race and we finished that just in time for Sam to return to round up the evening...

In truth, it was actually a good experience. A valuable lesson (or several actually) and a definite opportunity to display more boldness. But I must confess, that it wasn't what I had in mind when I'd asked for prayer earlier in the week. I think I'll be tempted to think twice about that in the future!!

At whose expense?

I'm sure that pretty much everyone has had their say about the whole "MP's expenses" thing... Well, everyone, except me - so here goes!

I've been listening to this 'story' unfold with vague interest & mild indignation, as the media spin this out for yet another few days (until, of course, something bigger and "more shocking" comes along...). But, I think things finally have gone too far. On FiveLive the other morning, they were asking if the whole of the Parliamentary system was corrupt and we should remove them all? Is this not just a bit too much of a leap? Are we REALLY that self-righteous?!

I'm not trying to suggest that the situation isn't screwed up. The level of frivolous claims seems outrageous, especially when many ordinary (voting) people are struggling to survive. It smacks of the people in power getting fat on their rights and privileges. When there are many losing their only homes and livelihoods, to be claiming extra expenses on their second homes from the same tax payers, does seem criminal. But systemic corruption? Hardly! The only corrupt system on display here is that of human nature.

Human beings are essentially selfish and greedy things. We all want everything we can get out of a situation or one another, without cost to ourselves. There's something vaguely worrying about the level of outcry that is happening here - it almost makes me question whether people are more upset about the MP's abuse of their position or that it isn't them that gets to put a £1600 "duck house" on their expenses?! After all, the reason we are in the current financial crisis has a lot to do with our collective greed and selfishness, right?

In the defense of some of those accused, other MP's have come out and said that the system encourages (or even forces?) them to take these expenses, suggesting that this is not about individual morals but rather that it is just the "culture" of Parliament. Perhaps claiming for "moat-cleaning" is the parliamentary equivalent of 'taking pens from work' - everyone does it so it is almost expected of you? I'm probably pushing it now but I'm sure we can all think of situations where we have clamoured for all that we can get from our employers. "It is all about our rights!", we cry... Even in my work-place, at a charity, I must confess that it's not hard to fall into the trap of looking after no.1 first of all

Perhaps we need to take a long, hard look at ourselves before we go about dramatically pointing fingers and looking for scapegoats - whether they are Speakers, MP's or anyone else for that matter? After all, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3)

Finally, though, how to go forward? Calling a snap election, seems, even to my limited political understanding, to be a mistake. An over-reaction. We need some perspective. In fact, even the very situation everyone's so upset about has been used "selfishly" by the opposition parties to force the Government's hand. But DO need some careful work to ensure that any MP that struggles with the modest concept of "reasonable ministerial expense", is not responsible for the far more difficult task of running our country honestly and fairly!

On second thoughts, let's just sack the lot of 'em! ;-)

Paul Windo @ Urban Saints / #5 / 20.5.09

What’s my role…
I guess you’d summarise my role at Urban Saints as ‘communications’. This is a pretty broad remit but one of the most recent tools I have started using for communicating with supporters, (potential) volunteers and partners is ‘Twitter’. The “micro-blogging” application allows me to submit short news updates & links immediately (and more informally) rather than waiting to get things published & branded through the official website. If you’re interested in following what we put out there, go to http://twitter.com/urbansaints

Elsewhere in Urban Saints
Back in the Easter holidays, two teams of young people and leaders went to South Africa to build houses for a deprived community near Johannesburg. The ten-day ‘Youth Mission Project’ (YMP) experience is a great opportunity to get young people working as a team, challenging their faith and making an impact in the lives of others. YMP is not primarily about “building houses” but about “building people” and several hundred people have already experienced and benefit from these opportunities.

How can you help?
Support is about so much more than money – your time, as a volunteer, and your prayers are even more valuable – but without sufficient funding, many of these opportunities will have to be cancelled. Even a few quid a month can make a massive difference. Thanks for your support – please get in touch if you’d like to do more!

Cats - the great icebreaker

Let the cats outside for the first time yesterday - they were pretty excited but also a little nervy too. Harry is really loving the new experience and has quickly mastered the cat flap! Spent a while in the back garden with them Saturday... Got into conversation with our neighbours about the cats and their cats. We've barely had two words of conversation with them since we moved in - they seem to keep themselves to themselves normally. But we got to find out all sorts of things about them and it really seemed to help that we have a mutual love of felines!

Interesting how things go, right?! Not sure our other neighbours are going to be pleased about having two more cats next door...!

This is my church...

As Faithless once put it, "...this is where I heal my hurts..."

Provoked by a sermon this weekend, I've been thinking about how church is perceived. What Faithless might have said cynically and athiestically, I say with confidence. Church is my home. My family. It is where I am fed and find support. It is where I explore and am explored. But is my church, is our church, easy to join? Is it even appealing to join?



Personally, I think my church IS appealing to join. There's lots going on - a balance of talk and action - and the people in it are friendly enough. A listening ear is usually available but it is also big enough to allow you to come without feeling pressured into commitment. There are always ways that can make it more appealing but as church families go, it has a lot going for it. I wonder whether a bigger challenge for people observing church from the outside is the apparent unspoken entrance requirements? I'm not sure if this assumed or if we give this impression but there is often a sense that you're not holy / happy / smily / or whatever enough to be included and accepted. I've thrown together a description of my church and what constitutes eligibility - perhaps you can see yourself in one or other of the categories...

My church is full of good people. It has people who smile all the time. It has people who are so friendly and helpful that you wonder if they ever have a selfish thought. It has people who know every, single, word of the Bible. Off by heart! We have people that are so brimming with faith that they don't even have to try to be a Christian anymore - it is just automatic! We have people so holy that just being in their presence is enough to heal you of that troublesome wart...

But most of us know that these people DON'T exist. Despite what appearances might suggest. Actually my church is REALLY like this:

My church is full of real people. People with real jobs. Real joys. Real aspirations. Real problems. Real dark sides too. We have people with so many hidden agendas and selfish ambitions that it can be hard work listening to them - even when they are trying to be encouraging. My church is full of people who make mistakes. Many mistakes. My church is full of people who want to put their family first. People who are trying to survive their everyday life. We have people who want to plan their future and those who just want to know they have one. My church is full of people who are hurting and don't know where to turn. Full of loneliness and bitterness. It is also full of people who care about each other even if they sometimes allow being busy to stop them really showing it. We have people who are so generous but ultimately don't know how to really share things. We have people who actually don't understand what it means to live your faith out in everyday life and who fall asleep during prayer times. Even people who wonder if they're just talking to the ceiling... We have people who just go through the motions and get involved because they feel they should and then begrudge the burden of it all. My church is full of people who are great to hang out with, who tell the best jokes and give the sharpest banter. It is also full of people who are so boring that you have to have an escape strategy for. There are even really shy people - but chances are you won't see them unless you're looking. It's full of people so damaged that they can be hard to approach - let alone love and it can be full of people who seem intent to damage others to keep them away. My church is full of people who love others so much and are so caring that you want to "bottle" them. It's also full of people who long for just one person to remember their name or something about their life or situation. We have people who know that they should have a heart for people in their neighbourhood but often end up feeling nothing more than guilt. My church is full of good intentions but not always good outcomes. We have people who want to see transformation but are reluctant to change themselves. My church is full of those earnestly seeking God and the answers even when they're not even sure if he even exists. We have people who want to feel significant even to one person. People who want to make a difference and have a purpose. People who want to be noticed and missed. My church offers more questions than it ever does answers. My church is flawed and failing BUT it is learning, growing and in search of wholeness and healing. The perfect presence of Christ in the cracked vessel of humanity.

Sound familiar? Church was never meant to be for the spiritual elite - if you were always healthy, you wouldn't go to the doctors (chances are, if anything, you might catch something!) - but for the spiritually hungry, the theologically uncertain and the morally flawed.

I'm sure you'd feel right at home...

To give is better than to receive

It was my 31st birthday today. I'm not exactly known for "over-hyping" these occasions, but today was a particularly odd birthday experience. I shall explain...

It started well enough, with Michelle risking missing her morning train (the one she gets a seat on!) to make me some bacon butties and generally sort me out with my breakfast. From there, I headed into the office to discover Patrick waking up, having slept on my office floor and the staff kitchen brimming with Urban Saints team members. There was a strange air of recrimination hanging about as bleary-eyed staff members tried to work out who was to blame for burning the porridge...

Then I went down to Esher for my day trip to the Christian Resources Exhibition. The intention had been to revisit this much-lamented event, catch up with friends and colleagues and maybe steal some promotional ideas. In reality, it was an experience that proved, for now at least, that we had made the right decision in dropping this from our schedule. It is not a bad event but it feels a way from our current target audience and definitely out of our budget. Personally, I find it too intense and uncomfortably "sales-y" to boot. The day became something of a reunion - swapping notes with Candy from Premier (thanks for the birthday beer!), Tim from ICC, Alan & Erika from CLS and various others as well as an "audience" with the irrepressible James from Yeomans and even the offer of a "subsidised coffee" from the legend that is Dave Landrum. That the guy even remembers who I am is testimony to his warmth and care...

After a brief, fleeting visit to my uncle in Feltham, I returned home for the last stage of my strange day. Handing out prayer cards with my home group around the streets surrounding our house. It won't be many that can say that they gave out more cards than they received on their last birthday! They do say that it is better to give than to receive! But before anyone even starts to think I'm complaining or looking for some shallow sympathy, I did get a very awesome chocolate cake to help mark my big day. However, it does rank up there as one of the more unusual birthday experiences.

Paul Windo @ Urban Saints / #4 / 13.5.09

What’s my role…
It’s my birthday today…but life goes on! This past weekend I was at Alton Towers for the annual Ultimate Event – a massive Christian concert that we help sponsor. I was in charge of our exhibition area and we also ran a leaders’ Chill-Out marquee. It was an amazing event – just like last year – with thousands of young people enjoying the gig as well as a hectic day in the theme park to boot!



Elsewhere in Urban Saints
We also had another special event taking place on Saturday – an old favourite at our very own residential centre on the Isle of Wight – Grand Day Out 2009! Loads of young people from around the south of England went over on the ferry to Westbrook for an exciting day of games, inflatables, craft, music workshops, worship and fun! Grand Day Out has traditionally run every two years and is a popular event in the calendar for many of our groups and is another great way to introduce young people to how much fun being a Christian can be!

How can you help?
Please consider giving, praying or volunteering – details available on request – and if you can’t do any of these things, please do continue to take an interest. This work really needs your support! Thanks so much

Paul Windo @ Urban Saints / #3 / 7.5.09

What’s my role…
As you receive this I’ll be on my way home from filming some puppets in North Wales! We’re producing some introductory talks for our meeting plans aimed at children (for leaders to use to introduce the theme or instead of a more-traditional “God slot”) and we’re using puppets in these videos. So I’m on my way home from 36 hours in Bala with our very own “puppet-master”…

Elsewhere in Urban Saints
Energize is our key group resource for all ages and is a massive online database of meeting plans, drama sketches, discussion ideas, craft, games, leadership training and networking opportunities. All our groups are resourced through it and it is constantly being updated with specially-written material exclusively for Urban Saints. Energize is a subscription-based system but it still requires massive time and funding to keep it cutting edge and effective – check it out at www.urbansaints.org/energize

How can you help?
Please consider giving, praying or volunteering – details available on request – and if you can’t do any of these things, please do continue to take an interest. This work really needs your support! Thanks so much

Not such a tangled web

It's been a long time in coming but I must congratulate Mr Paul Rigby (and friends, no doubt!) on the excellent new HCC website! It is pretty simple to use and really comprehensive. We're very fortunate to have found a very active, dynamic and living church community and I feel the website now reflects this life too.

Well done Riggers!

[Now all we need is an HCC Twitter!]

I want to break through

Urban Saints are launching into '40 Days of Prayer' today to see some breakthroughs in key areas of the movement. If you'd like to join us in this venture, please download a prayer card to guide you HERE