Here is a shot of us at the top of Tryfan, a mountain in North Wales. It was hard work, but we all enjoyed ourselves and had a fun weekend.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Wednesday Training 11th March 09
On wednesday we had a talk by Sharon Ansan on Evangelism. Evangelism is about giving or offering Jesus to people. Some references for evangelism are Acts 1 and Acts 4:13. From these verses we can gather that the key to effective evangelism is being with Jesus and having Jesus by your side. We then focused on what is an evangelist. In Ephesians 4:10-13 10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Sharon also encouraged us that in order to reach out in our own communities we need to cater to their needs and that we need to find out what it is that the community needs and what would help them.
We then went out for a walk down the high street talking to shopkeepers to find out what they would want the church to do for them to help them in whatever way or how we could help to make the community better.
Sharon also encouraged us that in order to reach out in our own communities we need to cater to their needs and that we need to find out what it is that the community needs and what would help them.
We then went out for a walk down the high street talking to shopkeepers to find out what they would want the church to do for them to help them in whatever way or how we could help to make the community better.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Friday, 6 March 2009
Wednesday Training 4th March 09
We had our talk on conflict on Wednesday, it was conducted by Doug and Sue Barnet. It was a fun and enjoyable training. We did a lot of team excercises and looking at conflict around us and in the bible. We focused on 5 main topics.
The first 'Conflict is a fact of Universal Life' looked at conflict as being part of the world and all thats around us. For example it was estimated that in the past 4000 years there have been less than 300 years without a mojor conflict. The bible speaks of violence even in the begining with Cain and Abel.
This leads to the next topic ' Conflict is a fact of biblical life' with a lot of examples. David and Saul, Nehemiah and Sanballat, Jeremiah and Shephatiah, Euodia and Syntche, Paul and Barnabas and the ultimate conflict God and satan.
It also came up that 'Conflict is a fact of Personal Life' basically we have a conflict in us to get our own ways, but the peace of the trinity overcomes that. That is becauseGod is the God of peace and Jesus leaves us his peace and the fruit of the Holy Spirit is peace.
We also focused on 'Conflict being a fact of Team Life' and that basically in teams conflict is almost unevitable because of the differences between people and the different cultures and backgrounds that members of the team have.
However, 'Conflict can have positive results'. When it is resolved it can increase understanding of each other and respect for each other. It can help to increase team cohesion and effectivenes and teach how to forgive and to recieve forgiveness.
The first 'Conflict is a fact of Universal Life' looked at conflict as being part of the world and all thats around us. For example it was estimated that in the past 4000 years there have been less than 300 years without a mojor conflict. The bible speaks of violence even in the begining with Cain and Abel.
This leads to the next topic ' Conflict is a fact of biblical life' with a lot of examples. David and Saul, Nehemiah and Sanballat, Jeremiah and Shephatiah, Euodia and Syntche, Paul and Barnabas and the ultimate conflict God and satan.
It also came up that 'Conflict is a fact of Personal Life' basically we have a conflict in us to get our own ways, but the peace of the trinity overcomes that. That is becauseGod is the God of peace and Jesus leaves us his peace and the fruit of the Holy Spirit is peace.
We also focused on 'Conflict being a fact of Team Life' and that basically in teams conflict is almost unevitable because of the differences between people and the different cultures and backgrounds that members of the team have.
However, 'Conflict can have positive results'. When it is resolved it can increase understanding of each other and respect for each other. It can help to increase team cohesion and effectivenes and teach how to forgive and to recieve forgiveness.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
March n:vison Blurb
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! A guest writer for you this month – Caroline Kingham.
If you know me, you’ll know that I love to stand up for my rights. I adore getting cross about women’s rights - I even cried last night during a piece on TV about the Countess de Markievicz, our first female MP. I get positively evangelistic about people claiming all the benefits due to them – "It’s your right, you may as well have it". I’m passionate about democracy – our right to vote and have a say in government. Woe betide anyone crossing my path who can’t be bothered to turn up at the polling station. I love the fact that the Council legally has to listen to resident’s opinions – I ring up to complain about pavements, parks and lampposts so often that I have their number on speed dial.
When I try this with God however, I seem to hit a bit of a brick wall. However grumpy I get with Him, there doesn’t seem to be a politically correct button to press when I talk to him. How dare He? Surely God knows my rights doesn’t he? The gospel doesn’t change – Jesus died for me, and therefore I receive eternal life. (And quite frankly, given the pressures of modern life, it’s jolly decent of me to go on believing).
Complacency can kill our view of God’s love. The cross and God’s phenomenal gift of life, becomes a human right, rather than an outrageous gift of grace. The Romans 9 quote "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy" is not a popular train of thought these days. Some of us can even catch ourselves thinking "well it’s very reasonable for God to save me – He must have realised I’m worth it." As we live in the benefits of the gospel, sometimes we forget that we are dealing with a real living awesome GOD who could after all just wipe us all away if he chose to. We are utterly dependent on his mercy and grace to keep us breathing each day, for the world to even go on turning. How can we say we deserve it?
How can we demand any rights at all with God, especially a right to our own salvation? He makes the rules and we lost our rights when we broke them. It is grace alone that gives us access to His love and kindness. It is grace that has marked us as His children, that allows us to TRUST God and lean on Him as a Father. He owes us NOTHING and we owe Him EVERYTHING. This realisation is the one that usually prompts the most gracious response from Him.
Look at the life of Jesus. He never stood up for his own rights - the cross would never have happened if he had. He didn’t even seem to stand up for the rights of others (not in the way that we would anyway, which so often involves bitterness). He showed us how to serve others - to wash their feet and care enough to pray out demons and heal the sick. The only time he seemed to get angry about rights, was to do with the honour due to His Father - to swing the spotlight away from us, and onto Him. Philippians 2 asks us to let this attitude seep through to our daily lives. Stop fighting for your rights, but give yourself on behalf of others and aim only for the honour and glory of God. After all, He is the only One who can lay claim to any of it.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
3 W's
so.. i suck at doing blogs on here regularly.. i'm sorry.
On Monday, Andie showed 1 Corinthians 13 in a light that I hadn't really realised before. Everyone just associates it with love, marriage, romance etc... but it's actually all about evangelism. In the first 3 verses, it talks about the 3 W's... Words, Works and Wonders.
"1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing."
can you spot which ones are which?
On Monday, Andie showed 1 Corinthians 13 in a light that I hadn't really realised before. Everyone just associates it with love, marriage, romance etc... but it's actually all about evangelism. In the first 3 verses, it talks about the 3 W's... Words, Works and Wonders.
"1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing."
can you spot which ones are which?
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Wednesday Training 25.2.09
On Wednesday Kathy Goddard came in to give a talk about Forgiveness, Mercy and Judgement. We went through the 3 topics in a concise manner. Kathy provided clear explanations and meaning using the bible to back up what she said. For example, when she spoke on forgiveness she stated that if you don't forgive others you cant receive forgiveness from God which correlates with Matthew 5:23-24.
One of the phrases that really stood out to me was that God's love is unconditional but God's forgiveness is conditional - we must ask for redemption. This really stood out to me cause its so simple yet something people find really difficult myself included. We need to be able to forgive others as an extension of God's love through us and then because of God's love we will be forgiven as well.
One of the phrases that really stood out to me was that God's love is unconditional but God's forgiveness is conditional - we must ask for redemption. This really stood out to me cause its so simple yet something people find really difficult myself included. We need to be able to forgive others as an extension of God's love through us and then because of God's love we will be forgiven as well.
Friday, 27 February 2009
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Monday, 16 February 2009
parable of the sower
today we were discussing the parable of the sower (Matthew 13v1-23) at our morning meeting. something to think about...
who has planted seed in you over the years?
what were those people like/what did they do?
who are you planting seeds in?
Friday, 6 February 2009
Snowy Times
Here we all are in the snow after training on Wednesday, minus Jan who is currently in Germany.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
February n:vision Blurb
One of the embarrassing problems of growing old is those haunting photos that tend to surface of you wearing ridiculous clothes in the past. Now I tend to be past embarrassment when it comes to clothes but even I have felt the odd twinge when remember how cool I thought some of my clothes were 25 years ago. Imagine what it would be like if we never actually took our old clothes off. Imagine going on the January shopping spree but simply putting on your funky new gear over the top of what you’re wearing now. I guess drainpipes don’t fit well over flairs so one way and another we’d all start to look (and probably smell) a bit weird.
Bart sat by the side of the road. Nothing new there really – he’d sat in the same spot every day for forty odd years. Bart’s clothes were a bit tatty, even smelly, but they did have a purpose. His brown beggars cloak marked him out for what he was – a poor blind man. They said to the people passing by, "Hey, please look out for me, cos I can’t look out for myself". I suppose forty years of begging does something to a man? Forty years of disrespect, forty years of people assuming you must have done something terrible for God to have taken your sight away. I suppose Bart ought to gotten used to it, accepted his place in the ‘food chain’ of Jewish hierarchy, but there was something in the air that day, a name buzzing in atmosphere of the passing crowd, that set a spark in his lifeless eyes.
"Jesus!! Hey JESUS!!!!" His hoarse cries rose above the general chaos.
"Shut up old man!" the repercussions were sharp and blunt at the same time - "what would the teacher want with you?!!"
"JESUS!!"
The crowd stopped – mostly because Jesus had. Bart felt rough arms grab him. "Come on old timer, He’s calling you, get to your feet!"
I don’t know what it was that made Bart pause, but pause he did. He stopped long enough to peel off his old cloak. "I guess I won’t be needing you anymore" he whispered as it slid off into the gutter. " I have a feeling that ‘Old Bart’ is about to stop being a blind beggar". And so it was that Bartimaeus left something behind that he’d lived with for most of his life - an old set of clothes. An old uniform you could call it – something that told him and everyone else his place in this world.
Sometimes it’s hard to let go of our old uniforms. Sometimes we struggle to let go of the things that identify us because, while they may well be smelly and tatty around the edges, they still feel safe. We know who we are with them. The problem is that Jesus has a new identity for those who follow him and news clothes don’t fit well on top of the old.
Who you were, is part of your History – nothing changes that. But now Jesus is calling you. Don’t let your history continue to shape your future. Peel of your old clothes (a layer at a time if necessary) and step forward. It’s time to let the One who has made all things new tell you who you are. He has promised to redefine your Future.
Bart sat by the side of the road. Nothing new there really – he’d sat in the same spot every day for forty odd years. Bart’s clothes were a bit tatty, even smelly, but they did have a purpose. His brown beggars cloak marked him out for what he was – a poor blind man. They said to the people passing by, "Hey, please look out for me, cos I can’t look out for myself". I suppose forty years of begging does something to a man? Forty years of disrespect, forty years of people assuming you must have done something terrible for God to have taken your sight away. I suppose Bart ought to gotten used to it, accepted his place in the ‘food chain’ of Jewish hierarchy, but there was something in the air that day, a name buzzing in atmosphere of the passing crowd, that set a spark in his lifeless eyes.
"Jesus!! Hey JESUS!!!!" His hoarse cries rose above the general chaos.
"Shut up old man!" the repercussions were sharp and blunt at the same time - "what would the teacher want with you?!!"
"JESUS!!"
The crowd stopped – mostly because Jesus had. Bart felt rough arms grab him. "Come on old timer, He’s calling you, get to your feet!"
I don’t know what it was that made Bart pause, but pause he did. He stopped long enough to peel off his old cloak. "I guess I won’t be needing you anymore" he whispered as it slid off into the gutter. " I have a feeling that ‘Old Bart’ is about to stop being a blind beggar". And so it was that Bartimaeus left something behind that he’d lived with for most of his life - an old set of clothes. An old uniform you could call it – something that told him and everyone else his place in this world.
Sometimes it’s hard to let go of our old uniforms. Sometimes we struggle to let go of the things that identify us because, while they may well be smelly and tatty around the edges, they still feel safe. We know who we are with them. The problem is that Jesus has a new identity for those who follow him and news clothes don’t fit well on top of the old.
Who you were, is part of your History – nothing changes that. But now Jesus is calling you. Don’t let your history continue to shape your future. Peel of your old clothes (a layer at a time if necessary) and step forward. It’s time to let the One who has made all things new tell you who you are. He has promised to redefine your Future.
Phil Kingham
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
On The Road Camden - Sublime
Following the celebration on the Friday night, the team went out on the streets of Camden on Saturday to evangelise and invite people to the Sublime gig night. Here are just some of the pictures from the rehearsal and the gig itself.
Monday, 19 January 2009
On The Road Camden- The Celebration
Friday night saw the first of our celebrations, hosted this month in Camden. It was very odd for the team to be working in a new place, but we enjoyed the challenge.
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Celebrations On The Road
The n:flame celebration is going ‘ON TOUR’...
At the October celebration we made an announcement; the n:flame team have made the decision to take the celebration on the road in 2009. We will tour seven boroughs of North London and offer the n:flame package as a tool that can be used to equip, excite and release local young people.
This tour will aim to cast the net again and reach a new generation of young people. A group that so far may not have been in contact with n:flame or any of its current projects. It can also be a great way of reconnecting with churches and leaders who may not be aware of what n:flame can offer.
The original vision of ‘asking young people to stand up and be set on fire for Jesus and then spreading that fire’ is still extremely relevant and will continue to be the aim of the celebration tour. We will continue to enthuse and motivate people for mission and offer an outlet for this enthusiasm to be channelled.
We will offer each area a weekend package that will include the celebration event, practical training in evangelism and the evangelistic event ‘Sublime’
Sublime was an event was started in order to reach young people in a relevant and culturally acceptable way. It provides an outlet for local Christian bands and artists and its aim is to see young people come to Christ through music and the message of the Gospel. It is in the form of a band / artist gig that is accessible for non Christians and shows practically and through the Gospel that Jesus is still relevant and the only real hope that young people can cling to.
At the October celebration we made an announcement; the n:flame team have made the decision to take the celebration on the road in 2009. We will tour seven boroughs of North London and offer the n:flame package as a tool that can be used to equip, excite and release local young people.
This tour will aim to cast the net again and reach a new generation of young people. A group that so far may not have been in contact with n:flame or any of its current projects. It can also be a great way of reconnecting with churches and leaders who may not be aware of what n:flame can offer.
The original vision of ‘asking young people to stand up and be set on fire for Jesus and then spreading that fire’ is still extremely relevant and will continue to be the aim of the celebration tour. We will continue to enthuse and motivate people for mission and offer an outlet for this enthusiasm to be channelled.
We will offer each area a weekend package that will include the celebration event, practical training in evangelism and the evangelistic event ‘Sublime’
Sublime was an event was started in order to reach young people in a relevant and culturally acceptable way. It provides an outlet for local Christian bands and artists and its aim is to see young people come to Christ through music and the message of the Gospel. It is in the form of a band / artist gig that is accessible for non Christians and shows practically and through the Gospel that Jesus is still relevant and the only real hope that young people can cling to.
This weekend we will be in Camden Town. Please come along and join us.
Monday, 5 January 2009
January n:vision Blurb
I wonder what made Moses falter at the burning bush. What was it that caused this proud princely leader to falter before God and say "I can’t do it – please send someone else". Maybe he did stammer? He certainly claimed that his brother was a better speaker, but surely he didn’t get that cringing nature from his upbringing? Raised as Pharaoh’s grandson, with the whole civilised world at his beck and call - why so insecure, why so uncertain?
There are few as insecure as those who have lost their confidence. Maybe it was the shock when, convinced that he was ‘Israel’s deliverer’, his countrymen rejected his leadership when he tried to arbitrate in their squabbling. One way or another, all the confidence built during his short privileged life vanished, and this great man ended up running for his life, hated by Pharaoh and sidelined by those he had assumed would call him "saviour". Self confidence can vanish in an instant, but maybe it took longer. Maybe 40 long years looking after sheep solidified his cynicism - The prince of Eqypt, washed up and abandoned by the tide of fate like a piece of beach driftwood.
I used to wonder why God used a burning bush to speak to him? Why not an angel or something? Burning bushes are no miracle in
the desert - Dried up resinous trees often burst into flames in the blazing sun. What really grabbed at Moses’ jaded attention was that this bush did not burn up.
I’ve no idea if I’m right, but this is what I think God was saying ...
"Hey Mo check this out! You’ve seen people fired up with ambition,. You’ve seen them go out in blaze of glory (or a whimper of disgrace). You’ve seen people pursue greatness and a few even achieve it. You’ve sat in the palace of kings and known real power, but it always fades and failure can snatch it from you in an instant"
"Tell me Moses, have you seen a life full of glory that never fades? Have you seen a life set on fire from Heaven? The fire of my love burns brighter than the midday sun, but this fire will not consume your life Moses, spitting you out as a burnt ember having had its way with you. This fire will ‘make’ you Moses. If Pharaoh will not listen because of your clever words or imposing appearance, he’ll sit up sharp when this fire burns his butt! Now Moses for goodness sake quit whingeing, remove everything that stands between us and come close. Let me burn in you and I will blaze a trail across this wilderness that the world will never forget!"
OK so it probably didn’t come across quite like that, but the love of God turned this cringing man into one of the greatest leaders this world has ever seen. Moses became known for the fire that burned within Him. God did not snatch him to public prominence when he was at his best and half way there already, but waited till Moses was 80 – past his "sell by date". It is not our brilliance that God needs but our submission to His brilliance – any old twig or branch can become a blazing fire in the hands His hands
Imagine Jesus strolling the supermarket aisle. HE has no concern for "sell by dates". HIS interest is in one thing - "ON OFFER" or "NOT AVAILABLE". It’s HIS fire and no matter how broken and washed up we become (he searches the bins out the back of the store) HE has a way of restoring our confidence because HIS confidence in HIS ability to make us blaze...
... NEVER WAVERED!
There are few as insecure as those who have lost their confidence. Maybe it was the shock when, convinced that he was ‘Israel’s deliverer’, his countrymen rejected his leadership when he tried to arbitrate in their squabbling. One way or another, all the confidence built during his short privileged life vanished, and this great man ended up running for his life, hated by Pharaoh and sidelined by those he had assumed would call him "saviour". Self confidence can vanish in an instant, but maybe it took longer. Maybe 40 long years looking after sheep solidified his cynicism - The prince of Eqypt, washed up and abandoned by the tide of fate like a piece of beach driftwood.
I used to wonder why God used a burning bush to speak to him? Why not an angel or something? Burning bushes are no miracle in
the desert - Dried up resinous trees often burst into flames in the blazing sun. What really grabbed at Moses’ jaded attention was that this bush did not burn up.I’ve no idea if I’m right, but this is what I think God was saying ...
"Hey Mo check this out! You’ve seen people fired up with ambition,. You’ve seen them go out in blaze of glory (or a whimper of disgrace). You’ve seen people pursue greatness and a few even achieve it. You’ve sat in the palace of kings and known real power, but it always fades and failure can snatch it from you in an instant"
"Tell me Moses, have you seen a life full of glory that never fades? Have you seen a life set on fire from Heaven? The fire of my love burns brighter than the midday sun, but this fire will not consume your life Moses, spitting you out as a burnt ember having had its way with you. This fire will ‘make’ you Moses. If Pharaoh will not listen because of your clever words or imposing appearance, he’ll sit up sharp when this fire burns his butt! Now Moses for goodness sake quit whingeing, remove everything that stands between us and come close. Let me burn in you and I will blaze a trail across this wilderness that the world will never forget!"
OK so it probably didn’t come across quite like that, but the love of God turned this cringing man into one of the greatest leaders this world has ever seen. Moses became known for the fire that burned within Him. God did not snatch him to public prominence when he was at his best and half way there already, but waited till Moses was 80 – past his "sell by date". It is not our brilliance that God needs but our submission to His brilliance – any old twig or branch can become a blazing fire in the hands His hands
Imagine Jesus strolling the supermarket aisle. HE has no concern for "sell by dates". HIS interest is in one thing - "ON OFFER" or "NOT AVAILABLE". It’s HIS fire and no matter how broken and washed up we become (he searches the bins out the back of the store) HE has a way of restoring our confidence because HIS confidence in HIS ability to make us blaze...
... NEVER WAVERED!
Phil Kingham
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Creative Worship Dance Workshop
The title may be a bit wordy, but we didn't know what else to call it!! Those of us who dance at the celebrations each month are hosting a free workshop that is open for anyone to attend. It will be at IGC in Edgware on Saturday the 6th of December, from 10.30am-3.30pm. For more details contact info@nflame.org.uk
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Updated GAP Team Photo
Sammy (UK) - Kirk (UK) - Jan (Germany)
Ruth (team co-ordinator)
Ray (Zambia)
Megan (UK) - Muonga (Zambia) - Tracey (UK) - James (UK) - Michelle (US)
Monday, 17 November 2008
It was the end of an era on Saturday night, seeing the last celebration at the Wood Green Christian Centre for a while. The celebrations are going out on 'the road'. For more information check our website.
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