How watching a naked German woman can bring you closer to God

I knew that my recent sabbatical would offer a welcome opportunity to explore different ideas and maybe encounter God in unexpected ways.  

However, I sometimes choose to stay within some fairly narrow grooves in what I read and watch.

So I decided to place some of the choices beyond my immediate control.

I emailed a number of friends and colleagues:

“I am writing to small number of friends, seeking your suggestion of something to help me in this. In many cases this might be something to read, since I enjoy reading a great deal and this is probably my main way of acquiring knowledge and challenging my thinking. But different kinds of cultural texts would also be welcome:  film, music, art, poetry, drama, places and new people to meet.

“And none of these need to be explicitly Christian, although I hope that in some way they would help deepen my discipleship and appreciation of the breadth of life, seeing God in the whole of his creation not just in the usual places.

“So I would be very glad if you felt able to recommend something to read, watch, listen to, visit, meet or experience. “

And (I’m really glad to say!) friends responded with some amazing suggestions. I managed to tackle quite a few – with some others to carry forward into the summer and autumn.

Over the next few days and weeks, I’ll be sharing some of those that I found really helpful – and also exploring the journeys of thinking they took me on. I probably won’t name those who first suggested each item: in this way the focus remains on the material not personalities. But I want each person who so kindly helped shaped my thinking in new ways to know: I really appreciate your contribution.

Here are three really good TED talks. TED is a non-profit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less).  You can browse the full list here. 

For Christians or people of other faiths, they offer opportunities to sharpen your thinking outside the usual ruts. I invite you to look at some examples now. Agree or disagree; like them or not: each of these challenges is worth watching and thinking through. 

So enjoy them.  Don't rush.  And if you have a response to these three talks, why not add your comments below?

• To explore what living ‘incarnationally’ might mean, watch this naked German woman here

• Look here to begin to understand the role of the OT prophet in embodying a different reality (maybe like the Kingdom of God?)

• And here is a way to begin thinking about hope and transformation

I'm back. And this time it's personal

Last Saturday’s affirmation of Dan Dupree as a Baptist minister and the commissioning of the Dupree family to go and live in Albania marked my return from 11 weeks of sabbatical leave.  It was a memorable day, with many there and taking part.

My sabbatical began on Easter Sunday as we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus in the Hadleigh Roundhouse, with breakfast, the amazing log fire, songs, the Easter story, praying for one another and the Easter Egg hunt.  As we heard then, Sabbatical = Sabbath which means ‘STOP!’

Stop the treadmill, the email, the phone and the flattering voices all needing attention.  Stop answering the call to be needed. To be necessary. Stop identifying myself by my roles or my productivity.

Plenty of friends from other churches asked me “What are you doing with your sabbatical?” Although they asked in a kindly way, the question suggested that sabbatical couldn’t possibly mean rest, recharging, listening, slowing down. Stopping. 

It was sometimes hard to do less. I am an activist – I love to be doing. There is also another part to my working life which didn’t involve stopping for 11 weeks, so each week was a blend of activity and quietness.

My friends in Church from Scratch by and large didn’t ask “What are you doing with your sabbatical?”  They understood and supported my break and steered clear of emailing or phoning about ‘work’.  They gave me space.  And I want to say a big Thank-You to CFS and to those within it who carried some of my usual workload. I really appreciate you.

Over the next few days and weeks, I will share some of what may be God-thoughts I jotted down while on sabbatical. Some will go firstly to the partners in CFS to think and pray about and test.  Many friends made welcome suggestions for meeting new people, reading, watching, listening and thinking and I will share here what I found fun and useful from these suggestions.

It is too soon to name all the lasting changes that may come from the past 11 weeks.  I have a final sabbatical week in the autumn which means I have the summer to gather my thoughts and make some sense of them.  

What I am clear about is that I will no longer be trying to ‘tick so many boxes.’ I am the person that I am. I have some strengths, skills and experience and I am going to be working on the basis of these in the future. Which means that I may not do all the same things as before.  I'm back - and this time it's personal.

There is much more to say. But for now, once again: Thank-You. 

Interesting times

It’s an interesting feeling but, then again, it’s been an interesting time.  

I blogged in December that change was afoot for me in 2014.  From 1 January, I reduced my paid hours as co-leader of Church from Scratch by 50%.  Back then I said: 

“ One thing is clear already – we need to halt the process of centralizing (ideas/decisions/power) on stipended ministers and take greater steps to encourage, equip and draw upon the skills of all.  That is hard to achieve unless leaders reduce their paid hours. Our church also needs to reduce its spending and ministers' stipends are the largest budget item. “

So how have the first 3 months of the new way been?  Well I would describe the experience as wholesome, feeling right, fulfilling, timely and (mostly) fun.

Church from Scratch remains my spiritual home and Southend the community in which I am rooted. The past three months have brought into sharp focus for me that the choices I face daily about how to use more limited time lie often between ‘doing’ and ‘equipping / encouraging others to do’. 

Paul, writing to the Ephesians, speaks of this:  “ Others have a gift for caring for God’s people as a shepherd does his sheep, leading and teaching them in the ways of God…that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity. “  A pastor who does too much robs others of the opportunity to learn.

I am deeply grateful to colleagues and friends who have continued to check that all is well - which it is. This was the right change to make. 

The other side of my time is now mostly working with Paul, Jean and Sarah from Ten Spires community interest company.  Ten Spires assists Christian churches and charities to make better use of their buildings for mission and to bless the communities they serve. This creative and fun team supports urban churches as they choose new ways to share the good news of Christ, as well as managing major development programmes, usually without significant financial cost to the churches.  Most of our clients are Anglican, although we have hopes that we may find some others as the year unfolds. 

I am also working with two church leadership teams to help them explore new ways forward for their work. 

From Easter Monday I will be taking sabbatical leave from CFS (but not Ten Spires) until early July. Again, it’s a strange feeling for an activist.  I am looking forward to it very much and hope that the few things I have arranged will help structure the time without my falling back on tinkering with work.  Just to be clear, I would welcome ‘coffee and cake’ moments with friends during that time!

I thank God for all these experiences and especially for my friends, for your prayers and encouragements.