New Church

Its interesting and possibly good about the announcement of Zion merging and consequently planning for a brand new "superchurch" - read about it here.

I think its fantastic that two churches are merging together instead of splitting. Its great that a site is potentially being rejuvinated for Godly use, and bring top Christian speakers, teaching et al to a much needed part of the country...

I feel however somewhat dismayed though. Essentially it was a church largely built and supported around the Heartsease estate, which - correct me if I am wrong - is a very needy place. Furthermore that the church attracted a lot of people and youth from the area into a Christian environment. The article talks about being good for the community - this might be true for Drayton and Hellesdon, but its a shame the plans for Heartsease haven't been revealed. Currently Zion bus people into Drayton for the Zion church service, but economically and more so environmentally is not sound.

I don't subscribe to the philospohy that bigger, bolder and newer is the best thing in God's space and this decision seems only to fit the church's ethos and propogation of the prosperity Gospel.

I also wonder where this leaves the plan for a Evangelical School. Although thats another subject
I am not getting into now.....

I wish them well but have a sad feeling that a heart of something community based, Godly and right has moved purely on the opportunity to be bigger and bolder and make "more of a name". I hope its not true and say God Bless them......

How ironic

Football

Norwich (Yellows) were beaten by Chelsea (Blues)
Arch rivals Ipswich (Blues) were beaten by Watford (Yellows)...

Even more so consideration the last minute goal was scored by Damien Francis (Ex Norwich player)....

Bizzare but true............

Nackered by Children

Oh my goodness. Children are the best gift in life you could have.....
But at 5.30 in the morning for the past two month, although I love them to bits, its starting to wear this ol' daddy out....

I look at a friend of mine with great envy, he has kids that are slightly older and want to stay in bed.... oh .... oh.... oh please let me be like that soon.

And my wife wants 3 more . . . . . . .

God of the whole universe

I have always had a fascination with astronomy and in fact for my GCSE IT got 100% for covering how computers are used infrared spectrometry and monitory emmsisions. As a Christian I am often amazed at the University that’s been created before our eyes however it does prove somewhat of a challenge at the same time. Clearly as a galaxy we are not alone, there are millions of other galaxies, some bigger than ourselves, some containing more stars and many so much more older than ourselves. Even today science has proven the evidence of planets going around some of our closest neighbours, albeit admittedly these tend to be gas giants such as we have in Jupiter and Saturn.

The challenge to me is that as a Christian, I have adopted whether rightly or wrongly that the Earth is at the centre of God’s plan. To think that there is intelligent life like ourselves outside the solar system seems somewhat wrong. I guess it doesn’t neatly fit into our Christian thinking. Neither am I convinced by some people try and cover this by saying “Well, Jesus said (and I paraphrase) – go to the very ends of the earth and beyond”. I guess the question of other intelligent life beyond earth is, somewhat a mute point – its along the lines of “Did Adam have a belly button”, “Did Noah and the flood exist”, “Is Norwich going to get promoted” – they are things we will never know for sure. This is where I turn to core principals that Jesus was alive, he died and there is evidence he rose again to crowds, plus I feel I have a personal relationship with him.

But what if science discovers life elsewhere – taking a simple scenario – lets say the Mars rovers Spirit or Opportunity discover a recognisable organism, something that clearly is life. Does that matter? What if science says “Look, here is a planet, we can tell that there is evidence of life on the planet that is intelligent like ourselves”. Does that matter. My heart wants to say no, my mind says a big yes. If life is found in our simplistic looking the implication therefore is far reaching, it probably means life is in abundance throughout the Universe. The argument is that we have never heard from such life, but given the vast distances to travel this argument is mute. For example, to get to the nearest star in our OWN galaxy, would take 4 years at the speed of light. Given that science says travelling at the speed of light is impossible and worm holes are only theory at the moment, then the time take to do anything between our next door neighbour suns becomes problematic.

Christian Pomp

I have been enjoying reading the posts that Mark has been putting on his blog.
One post was about street preachers and whether they are irrelevant. He subsequently said that irrelevant was the wrong word. Anyway, this got me thinking....

It strikes me that as Christians are quick to complain, are quick to say "oooh, don't like that its not how it should be done". I include myself in this as well. I wonder actually if its not Christians, but life in general. When you do something regular and someone comes along and is doing it different, even when you think the way your doing something is better and more productive, its easy to waggle a finger and go - "Your irrelevant because I know that people don't need that and frankly I can / know a better way".

I don't really want to make this a rant blog but if your a Christian, lets stop doing a critique of everyone elses methods (and I include myself). Using the Street Preacher example - I don't think its probably the best way of sending the gospel - but the street preacher's walk is not my walk - likewise a street preacher might see me leading a band in corporate worship a waste of time, similar other Christians might see a band as irreverant and prefer quiet meditation with God in a church.

Thank God we are all different - Thank God he is pleased with the man on the street preaching, for the woman quietly meditating, for people that are branching out a church service and reaching a community, for people that are loud, vivacious and brash. Christianity is simple, but more importantly should be tolerant of each others passions and desires whatever we do. Its basic simple faith. Lets stop judging each other and each others choices, lets just love people.

Sorry for rant and thanks Mark for stimulating a good thought.