This Christmas I did nothing. Well apart from all the fun Christmassy stuff.  I didn’t read any books, write any blog posts, think about any sermons, plan any meetings or think about church planting.  I just did nothing, and it was great.  So now I am sat back down at my desk, first day back, feeling up for it.  Did I feel guilty at all? Maybe once or twice but I soon got over that.  Did I suffer from leader withdrawal symptoms and start twitching because I wasn’t doing anything? No.  I didn’t even check any e-mails and for almost two weeks had my phone switched off (sorry if you tried to contact me).  It was great.  No guilt, no withdrawal, no sneaky e-mails, no planning, just nothing.  Me, my family, christmas and nothing.

Happy new year everyone.

In February my family and I are moving to Belfast to be part of a team planting a church.  It is probably one of the most exciting and fun things we have ever done.  We look to move around the 20th of Feb.  As yet we have not sold our house here in England, we are considering renting it out but the local rental market is saturated, we have nowhere to live in Belfast and trying to get a job is like looking for a needle in a haystack.  

Are we shaken? No.  

The same God that called us to church planting is the same God that put a cheese sandwich delivery boy in the ring to go one round with the undisputed heavyweight champion of the middle east.  It’s the same God who picked a 72 year old shepherd looser to save his people from slavery and help them get to the promised land.  The same God who needed someone to help out with his grand plan for the entire world so picked a moon worshiping unlikely from nowhere with a wife who couldn’t have kids.  It’s the same God who parted the sea, gave bread from heaven, water from the rock, cloud by day, fire by night,a ram in the thicket, fire on the mountain and a king to the kingless.  

Are we stirred? Yes.

We are more stirred than ever that God is going to do an amazing thing in Northern Ireland, Ireland and beyond.  We are stirred by the God who provides, the God who works his plans in a far better way, in much better time than we could.  

Shaken? No. Stirred? Definitely yes.

Christmas Is Really For the Children

Christmas is really 

for the children.

Especially for children

who like animals, stables,

stars and babies wrapped

in swaddling clothes.

Then there are wise men,

kings in fine robes,

humble shepherds and a 

hint of rich perfume.

Easter is not really

for the children

unless accompanied by

a cream filled egg.

It has whips, blood, nails,

a spear and allegations 

of body snatching.

It involves politics, God

and the sins of the world.

It is not good for people

of a nervous disposition.

They would do better to

think on rabbits, chickens

and the first snowdrop

of spring.

Or they’d do better to

wait for a re-run of 

Christmas without asking

too many questions about

what Jesus did when he grew up

or whether there’s any connection. 

Steve Turner 

We can now confirm that the details for Love Belfast 09 will be:

Love Belfast 09

Saturday April 11th 2009

Urban Soul, May Street, Belfast, BT14NU

http://www.maystreetchurch.co.uk/

Register at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103076085337

or e-mail info@belfastchurchplant.com

A massive thanks to our friends at May Street for allowing us to use their facilities.

Is that you? If you’re asked this, please don’t answer with “Of course it’s me, you idiot!”. They only want to know if you’ve finished  whatever you’re doing. 
Are you away? Again, no stupid sarcastic answers. They’re asking if you are going out / leaving. 
What about ye? What’s up, How are you? 
Tee, Te & Till. Different ways of saying ‘To’, depending on which area of N.I. you come from. 
Catch yourself on! Wise up. 
Dead on! Great. Perfect, Really nice. (Often used to describe people.) 
Wet the tea. Make some tea. 
Away in the head. Lost his senses. Stupid. 
Away on! You’re kidding! 
Sound. Also a word of praise generally used for describing people.- ‘He’s dead sound!’ 
Wait till I tell ye. This is difficult to translate. It’s a way of starting a conversation or introducing something important or interesting into the conversation. 
I tell a lie. It’s what you say when you’ve  realised that you said something wrong! 
Do you think I came up the Lagan in a bubble? Do you think I was born yesterday? (The Lagan is the river that runs through Belfast. This phrase varies depending on which river you were brought up by.) 
Class, Cracker, Grand, Stickin’ out, Magic, Smashing, Brilliant. Just a few more ways to say something’s great. 
Ta, Ta-ta, Cheers, Thankin’ you. And a few ways to say thanks. 
Are you gettin’? Have you been helped / served? 
He/she/that/this ‘Does my head in.’ Drives you up the wall. 
Mucker. Mate, friend. 
Steady/Steady on. Similar to saying ‘Behave’ or ‘Watch it!’. 
I’ll do you! I’ll kill you. 
Clattered, Lamped. Hit, Punched. 
Faffin’/ Faffin’ about. Messing around. 
Peelers. Cops. 
Spide. A term used when talking about trendy people who listen to rave and dance music. 
Wick, Naff. Stupid or useless. 
Eejit. Local pronunciation of the word idiot. 
Bog. Bathroom. 
Boggin’, Mingin’, Mankin’. Messy and horrible. 
Minger. Ugly person.  
Yous. Plural of you. 
Ach! Oh, or Ah. As in ‘Ach, What about ye?’ 
Aye. Yes. 
Bake, Gub. Mouth. 
Crack/Craic. Fun. 
The Black Stuff. Guinness. 
Poke. Ice cream cone. 
Bun/ Wee bun. Sweet roll, danish. 
Round. One portion, i.e.. ’round of toast’. 
Gravy ring. Ring doughnut. 
Bap. A bun or roll. Used mainly for sandwiches. 
Ulster Fry. A fried meal with eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, soda bread, potato bread, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc. ALL FRIED. 
Soda. Soda bread. If you want the drink, you’ll get the bread! 
Sausengers. Sausages.  
Your man/woman. That man/woman.  
All the best! Good-bye, wishing you all the best.

A date for your diaries….Join us in April 2009 for Love Belfast.  A day of prayer for the city, worship, teaching and an opportunity to hear some more about the Belfast Church Plant and meet those involved.

More details about venue and program to follow soon.  To register your interest e-mail info@belfastchurchplant.com  Be great to see as many there as possible!

Today we are meeting people in and around Belfast who are interested in the Church Plant.  Then on saturday along with Jeremy Simpkins (newfrontiers north uk) we will be meeting local church leaders.  On sunday we will be at Newlife Church Coleraine then off for lunch with the church plant team.  Monday back to England.

Please pray for us over the next few days - it is going to be a pretty busy time - much stamina needed!

D

I am not sure if I have written a book review on this blog before, but I am about to.  Well, not really a book review, more of a book comment.  Which book? Look To The Rock by Alex Motyer .

I think this is probably one of the most profound and insightful books that I have read in a long time.  Motyer is funny, sober, technically brilliant, theologically on the money and a wonderful communicator.  I shall stop before my nouns get swamped by adjectives.  

heres a couple of quotes to wet your appetite:

The law of the holy God is not a ladder of merit whereby sinners seek to come to God, to win his favour and climb ‘into his God books’; his holy law is, rather, his appointed and required pattern of life for those who, by redemption, have been brought to him already, who already belong to him and are already ‘in his good books’.  The Law of God is the life-style of the redeemed. 

What the lord does precedes what the lord demands.