A brilliant Head of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London, C E M Joad, was not always a man of faith, but when he was asked on a radio programme which one historical figure he would most like to meet and ask just one question, he didn’t hesitate: “I would meet Jesus Christ and ask him the most important question in the world, ‘Did you or did you not rise from the dead?’”
You see, if Jesus Christ really is risen from the dead, it changes everything. It means that every word, every claim, every statement He ever made is true:
■That He came to bring life, to save the lost, to bring us all home. ■That He came to set us free from religion and rules. ■That He wants us to live lightly. ■That we can move mountains and heal the sick. ■That we are all His children. And that, ultimately, He won’t let harm come to us.
But it all hinges on His resurrection. If He didn’t rise again, then His claims about Himself were not true. In the words of C. S. Lewis, “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic, on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg, or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.”
But if He did rise again, then how? The compelling evidence for the resurrection is hard to argue against. I have tried. Many of the greatest minds of our time have tried. The evidence is so stacked toward it being the truth that many scholars have found faith after setting out to discredit it.
So if He did rise again, it means this also is true: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). And if He is right here, right now. beside us, for us, and within us, then our day really should be full of joy and assurance! Jesus with us. Truth. Soak it in.
When McLaren arrived back on the automotive scene in 2011, it did so with great aplomb with the MP4-12C, later known just as the 12C.
The evolution of that car into the 650S and then the 720S has paved the way for the latest rendition: the GT.
It isn’t necessarily a natural long-term successor to the 12C, though, as the name implies, this is a Grand Tourer – a first for McLaren.
In theory, that should mean it’s easier to live with day-to-day, capable of racking up the motorway miles in a trans-European dash.
Whether that’s achieved in practice might be questionable, though, as McLaren is a pure racing brand and, therefore, drivability remains its priority.
The GT looks gorgeous, as supercars do, albeit not as crazy as the 650S or 720S, and it’s powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 620PS.
Based on the 720S’ platform, it accommodates more brand-new parts than those carried over from its predecessor. It also utilises more carbon fibre, which makes its housings smaller, resulting in more usable space in the luggage department.
In fact, despite being mid-engined, it offers a 420-litre boot as well as 150 litres of storage underneath the bonnet – in total, matching the Mazda CX-60 SUV.
Three trims are offered – Standard, Pioneer and Luxe – although they are all priced identically, with the Standard housing Nappa Leather, the Pioneer coming with Alcantara heated seats with electric memory adjustment, and the Luxe offering the same as the Pioneer but with Softgrain Aniline leather and a lighter colour scheme.
There are additional practicality options, too, with packs offering parking sensors, a rear-view camera, a Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system and a powered tailgate, amongst others – and these are at no additional cost.
The McLaren is noticeably lighter to drive than most GT cars. Indeed, it beats the Bentley Continental GT by nearly three-quarters of a tonne, making it all the more agile.
The steering is right on point, weighting up perfectly to offer the precision you need to tackle bends quickly, and, in this regard, it’s among the best in its class.
It can cruise along slowly just fine, but when you’re hungry to get up to speed, it wastes no time at all, dealing with 0-62mph in a staggering 3.2-seconds and topping out at 203mph – and it’s raucous when it gets going.
Admittedly, although the suspension has been fitted with softer springs, the ride is still firmer than in most Grand Tourers.
Whether you could achieve a GT car’s true purpose – managing a 500-mile journey across Europe without losing the feeling in your legs – remains to be seen.
That said, the suspension is still well-damped, considering its enthusiastic characteristics. Meanwhile, the ability to raise the nose over speedbumps and the luxurious touches in the cabin certainly make it easier to live with than any other McLaren.
The McLaren GT is a lovely car to drive – and it’s just a smidgeon less ferocious than the manufacturer’s other cars.
But really, it’s a halfway house, as it’s far less forgiving than the likes of a bulky Bentley Continental GT.
On the other hand, this is a McLaren, so we shouldn’t be expecting anything else. However, it certainly blurs the lines between racer-supercar and Grand Tourer.
At least it means you can thunder across the continent and power slide around the twisty backroads of the French Riviera with a warm backside.
And you’ve got the satisfaction that your golf clubs can come along, too.
If a Mercedes-Benz S-Class isn’t posh enough, but a Rolls-Royce Phantom is too excessive, then this is where the new Ghost fits in – theoretically.
Designed to be somewhere between the two, the modern-day Ghost looks ever so slightly more ‘executive’ from the back compared with the Rolls-Royce Phantom’s truly chauffeured aesthetic.
Another car the new Ghost hopes to take sales from is the BMW 7 Series. In fact, the old Rolls-Royce Ghost shared many of the Bimmer’s components, but now it’s based on a new aluminium platform which is also used by its sister cars from Rolls: the current Phantom and the Cullinan SUV.
While there are several ‘trim levels’ (known as ‘Inspired Specifications’), they mainly refer to the Ghost’s exterior styling and wheels.
The equipment list is dizzying, featuring a choice of 19, 20 or 21-inch wheels in a variety of designs, high gloss and open pore veneer interior trim, a panoramic sunroof, a ‘Starlight’ headliner, and an infotainment system. There are also endless personalisation options to make the Ghost genuinely unique to you, right up to the colour of the ring that surrounds the Rolls-Royce badge on each of the wheels.
Quite simply, there are no highlights because everything in a Rolls-Royce is supposed to be a highlight.
It is awe-inspiring – and, not to be outdone, the engine is a 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 with 571PS – and the car comes with four-wheel drive.
Despite its large size, its turning circle is reduced by four-wheel steering, and regardless of its weight, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is still capable of getting from 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds.
It does it with a whisper, though. Yes, you’ll hear a subdued roar if you floor it, but the new Ghost is sublimely quiet and smooth. At times, you’d swear the car was floating just above the road surface – Rolls-Royce even calls it the ‘Magic Carpet Ride’.
The Ghost moves away at a pace then, while the enormous tyres generate a stack of grip around corners. Mind you, that’s not enough to limit the body roll, as you might expect.
Of course, this isn’t a motor built for handling, but although some Rolls-Royce Ghost owners may never drive their car, it’s pretty good for something so large, with responsive steering which weights up pleasingly around twisty bends at speed.
Just don’t expect the trees to smile at you, given you’ll struggle to achieve 15mpg (the official figure is 18.5mpg), and you’ll be producing nearly 350g/km of CO2. That is well over twice the amount of most everyday cars. Of course, the taxman will expect you to pay handsomely for that, although if you’re in the market for one of these, it’s likely just a case of handing over a bit of extra pocket money.
The new Rolls-Royce Ghost interior
The Roll-Royce Ghost’s interior is to die for, with a large number of colour combinations available, an inviting driver’s seat, a shapely dashboard and any number of buttons and controls at your fingertips.
What’s more, nearly everything in the new Ghost is made by hand, or at least by someone controlling a carving, milling, or cutting machine of some sort.
Everything right down to the last button, switch or dial looks like it’s been designed indescribably carefully. And, thanks to BMW’s ownership, the infotainment system is a Rolls-Royce-badged variant of the German automaker’s class-leading iDrive system.
The new Ghost is a joy to sit in, with superbly comfortable seats, while the sufficiency of headroom and legroom is something you simply take for granted when climbing inside. That said, if you must have more space, there is an Extended wheelbase variant if it takes your fancy.
Meanwhile, opting for the four-seater layout gets you two business class-sized seats in the rear. The downside? You’ll then want to opt for a champagne fridge in between the back seats, which means you have to put up with slightly reduced boot space.
Talk about first-world problems!
But to be honest, it’s not a first-world issue because most people, even in the first world, will only come close to affording a new Rolls-Royce Ghost if they sell the house and the kids.
The Ghost is yours for a mere quarter of a million quid.
And remember, this is just the entry-level Rolls-Royce – apparently!
But if you’re still in any doubt about the latest Ghost, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, sums up the model better than anyone:
“The first Goodwood Ghost was a response to a whole new generation of clients, both in age and attitude. These men and women asked us for a slightly smaller, less ostentatious means to own a Rolls-Royce. The success of the product we created for them fulfilled our most ambitious expectations. Over its ten-year lifespan, which began in 2009, the Ghost has become the most successful model in the marque’s history.
“To create a new product that would resonate with our Ghost clients for the next ten years meant we had to listen carefully to their demands. Today we set new standards in customer centricity by creating a completely new motor car for a unique group of Rolls-Royce’s clients. These business leaders and entrepreneurs demand more of their Ghost than ever. They require a new type of super-luxury saloon that is dynamic, serenely comfortable, and perfect in its minimalism. The Ghost is this product.
“The only components that we carried over from the first Goodwood Ghost were the Spirit of Ecstasy and umbrellas. Everything else was designed, crafted, and engineered from the ground up. The result is the most technologically advanced Rolls-Royce yet. It distils the pillars of our brand into a beautiful, minimalist, yet highly complex product that is perfectly in harmony with our Ghost clients’ needs and perfectly in tune with the times.”
Fast Facts – Rolls-Royce Ghost II as tested:
Max speed: 155mph
0-62 mph: 4.8secs
Fuel economy: 18.5mpg (WLTP)
Engine layout: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 petrol engine
Creator of The Chosen, Dallas Jenkins (pictured on the left above) embarks on his next chapter with the formation of 5&2 Studios, a new independent studio that will now oversee production of The Chosen franchise in addition to a future line-up of film and television projects set in the biblical world. The announcement was made during the first day of the ChosenCon fan convention in Orlando.
Dallas Jenkins is Chairman and Chief Creative Officer at 5&2 Studios and Creator and Executive Producer of The Chosen. Jenkin’s is also Director of Lionsgate’s upcoming film The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Jenkins explained: “Nearly every time I encounter a viewer, they say something about wanting more Bible content from us. I always say we need to not get ahead of ourselves and remain focused, but now we’ve got a robust enough team to expand our efforts. I’m very excited to bring our ‘Chosen way’ to more great stories from the Bible, and it’s awesome that we get to first announce it to the fans who helped get us here long before we were popular.”
Over 5,000 fans of The Chosen gathered at The Chosen Insiders Conference (ChosenCon) for the two-day fan convention in Orlando. The conference featured panel discussions, cast meet-and-greets, special announcements, sneak previews, and more. The first ChosenCon was held in Dallas, TX in 2023 with over 3,500 attendees.
Digital Editor’s Note: I’m delighted to welcome Matthew White as our Sorted Magazine Guest Writer. Matthew is a priest, poet and songwriter as well as an accomplished musician and singer. He is passionate about faith, poetry and music and has always had a keen fascination with words. His debut book Propelled into Wonder was released in September 2024 (Wipf and Stock Publishers).
Matthew writes: Did you know that approximately 33% of the Bible is poetry? That’s effectively one third of the entire canon of Scripture devoted to various kinds of songs and poems! Followers of Jesus who regularly attend a church will be familiar with the singing of songs as an integral part of Christian worship and discipleship but how many of us actively make room in our lives (or in our services of worship for that matter) for poetry?
If you’re anything like me, you can probably recall, hum, sing or whistle the words or tune belonging to your favourite songs or pieces of music but how many of us can confidently recite a favourite poem that perhaps over time we may even have committed to learning by heart?
For indeed, the “heart” is both pertinent and significant when it comes to engaging with poetry as this is where the best poems emanate from and where the best poems gladly make themselves at home.
In stark contrast to the often laborious and tedious experience of reading a set of instructions or pouring over an academic textbook, the beauty and “magic” of poetry is that it is a medium which demands to be savoured, chewed, interrogated, ingested and pondered. Or, to put it another way, poetry is that which encounters us.
I am more convinced than ever before that poetry is a rich and dynamic gift from God, the very same God who is himself a dynamic hum of perfect relationship and who “spoke”1 the world into being. I am also convinced that good poetry necessitates being felt as well as read and, sadly, there are plenty of people out there who haven’t tried either.
Poetry has many benefits to offer those who afford it proper time and due reverence. One of the main things I have benefitted from is poetry’s uncanny ability to give a voice to those emotions and experiences that perhaps I would have otherwise found difficult to talk about or make sense of myself.
Poetry has the power to profoundly and wonderfully enrich our lives. Poetry can be a source of healing. Poetry can soothe and comfort as well as stir and agitate. Poetry can lead us to meditate and poetry can provoke us into action. Poetry invites us to slow down and helps us to become present, serving the particular moment or text that we find ourselves in.
As we continually open ourselves to a varied plethora of poets and poems and as we spend time reading (and I would advise speaking and listening to) the Psalms, we quickly discover that our experiences of loss, heartache, abandonment, bewilderment, anger and hopelessness are perhaps not as uncommon as we might think.
My new book, Propelled into Wonder (Wipf and Stock Publishers), is an original poetry collection containing many highs and sighs from the past decade of my life. Several of the poems in the book were written in the gruelling aftermath of losing my beloved father unexpectedly and suddenly to Covid during the lead up to Christmas in 2021. Others were inspired by a selection of my favourite people and places or born out of several incredibly joyful and unsavoury experiences from both within and outside the walls of the Church.
Propelled into Wonder is home to poems about faith, doubt, grief, leadership, beauty, childhood and love (among others). Many of the poems are accompanied by original hand drawn illustrations. My hope is that this book will inspire and speak to others in the same way that the poetry of others so often ministers and speaks to me.
In the book’s introduction, I write the following words: “If nothing else, my hope is that the words on the pages that follow are honest. Moreover, that they are honest in the way that the Psalms are honest, holding nothing back and declining that dangerous invitation to adopt an unrealistic state of permanent politeness, all in the name of showing God due reverence.”
If you are kind enough to pick up a copy of my book, my heart’s desire is that my words will speak to you, or even help you speak, and I am praying that my poems will become both friend and firebrand.
It was one of my favourite poets, Gerard Manley Hopkins, who famously observed in one of his most well known poems2: “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.” Perhaps your world needs to be charged with poetry!
Genesis 1:3, Psalm 33:9
From the poem God’s Grandeur by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Digital Editor’s Note: I’m delighted to welcome longstanding friend of Sorted Magazine and the host of Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, Simon Thomas, as our Guest Writer. In this surprisingly honest article Simon opens up about the difficulties, and the triumphs of his personal journey over the last few years.
Simon writes: One of my favourite TV shows is The Repair Shop on the BBC. It’s become a hugely popular show. In a nutshell (if you’ve never seen it) the show is filmed in a beautiful old barn in West Sussex, and in the barn are a whole group of expert craftspeople.
In each episode members of the public bring in items from old clocks that no longer work, to pieces of broken jewellery to tired old pieces of furniture. Often these items have very little monetary value; but to the person who owns them they mean everything. They might be an old family heirloom or something that reminds them of a loved one who has passed away or an old toy that evokes memories of a happy childhood. The emotional value of these items to the people bringing them in is immeasurable.
Photo Credit: Gorodenkoff via Getty Images
Each show follows the story of these heirlooms being restored to their former glory, and the show always finishes with them being reunited with their owners. As the cover is lifted from the restored clock or childhood teddy bear, there is often a visible emotional reaction, as they see that beloved item restored to its former glory. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has found myself shedding a tear as you witness this moving moment.
But for me it isn’t just about the restored item; it isn’t just the joy of seeing these highly skilled men and women in action; it isn’t even just the emotional reaction of the owner that has caused this show to connect with so many people, I think it taps into something much deeper – as people, we love stories of restoration.
We are drawn to the power of the restoration narrative. Whether it’s the story of a football team that has risen from the ashes of almost going out of business, or the moment Tiger Woods came back from his life implosion and injury hell to win The Masters in 2019; or a classic car being brought back to life, we love seeing life being restored.
But most of all we love seeing the restoration of people. We love the comeback narrative. We find inspiration in seeing someone for whom life looked almost over, rising from the ashes and becoming their glorious old selves again.
The Christian faith I have had since I was just a young lad is all about restoration. The God I follow is in the business of restoring broken lives. The story at the centre of the Christian faith is the ultimate story of restoration, with Jesus rising from the dead having been brutally crucified three days before.
In late 2017 and for the next couple of years, I was like one of those items brought into The Repair Shop. I was broken, I was in pieces, I was an emotional mess, the colour had left my life and I feared I was beyond repair.
In the space of a few short weeks towards the end of 2017 my life was turned upside down and inside out, after my first wife Gemma died very suddenly from a rare, but aggressive strain of blood cancer at the age of just 40.
In three short days from her diagnosis to her death I had gone from a 44 year old happily married man with a brilliant eight year old son and a wonderful job presenting Premier League football on Sky Sports, to being in the darkest and most fear filled place I had ever been.
Life for me now felt over. I was beyond repair. My only aim in life after this biggest of blows was to somehow keep it together for my boy Ethan, get him through school and college and then my work was done. Beyond this life felt pointless, and more worryingly it felt devoid of hope. Over many moths my life descended into a dark period of alcohol abuse and despair. On more than one occasion it led me to the precipice of ending it all.
Photo credit: Rod Long via Unsplash
But somehow throughout this; despite my anger with God that this had all happened; I held on to my faith – even if at times it was by a single finger nail. If my life was ever to become something again, a life worth living again I had to find hope – I had to find purpose again. Time and time again a verse from the Old Testament would come to me during those dark months and it’s a verse from Micah, chapter seven:
“Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
The Lord will be my light.”
The story of my life over the past few years has been this – in the same way The Repair Shop brings loved family heirlooms back to life; the God I follow has been the master of turning devastation into restoration.
Somehow out of the wreckage of late 2017 he has done something extraordinary in my life. It’s been a tough and rocky road to walk at times; but God has been incredibly faithful, he has never left my side.
I have met and married the most amazing woman Derrina, I have been blessed with two more children (Talitha and Theo) and having been in the career wilderness for may years after leaving Sky in early 2018, last year I became the new host of Sky Sports Soccer Saturday. And after years of alcohol self medication, I have now been sober for over two years.
I don’t write this last part as a boast, or a moment of ‘look at me now’ I write it to be an encouragement. Whatever your story is; however much you may feel battered and bruised by the storms of life; God is still massively interested in you. There is no situation too hopeless for him; no life so broken it’s beyond repair. And in Him there is always, always hope.
He is the master craftsman; he is the God who brings restoration, life and hope out of the ashes.
Tributes are pouring in for the founder and editor of Sorted Magazine, Steve Legg, who died on Monday September 16th. His wife Bekah, told Christian Daily: “Steve was one of a kind and the best of men. And I am so grateful I could call him mine for 16 years. His love and joy and relentless cheerleading encouraged me to do things I never could have imagined. But it wasn’t just me, he did that for so many people. He leaves a legacy in the lives of all those he met and believed in.”
Writing in Premier Christianity magazine, Steve’s friend of 20 years, Carl Beech said: “When we were both diagnosed with serious health conditions, we kept cheering each other on. A message here, a catch up there. As his cancer started to grip him, his unwavering faith and constant humour inspired me so much. We were real with each other though. The odd tear was shed. The last time I saw him, he answered the door wearing sunglasses, explaining that it was so ‘you wouldn’t see me crying when I give you a hug.’ I’m going to miss my mate like you won’t believe, but my faith in Jesus assures me that we will see each other again soon. Perhaps in the blink of an eye. Until then, I know he will bring joy and laughter to the heavenly host. See you soon mate.” Read Carl’s tribute in full here: Steve Legg (1967-2024): The comedian who covered one million miles for the gospel | Opinion | Premier Christianity
Those of us who’ve had the privilege of working with Steve on Sorted Magazine have been sharing our memories, remembering our happy “Steve stories”, counting our blessings and missing him lots. It seems only right to give Steve the last word on this subject, so here’s an extract from his candid book The Last Laugh. Steve Legg: “I chose to get busy writing” – Sorted Magazine
The Word One to One is a UK-based ministry dedicated to mobilising and equipping believers to evangelise through Bible-sharing. Simon Lennox, previously of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) International, has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Since its founding in 2006 by businessman Richard Borgonon, The Word One to One has empowered thousands of Christians to read God’s Word with their non-Christian connections through its books, mobile app and other resources. Simon, brings extensive experience in both business and ministry. He steps into this role at a pivotal moment as the ministry embraces a fresh vision, strategy, and direction. Simon explained, “There are so many incredible stories of Christians bringing people to Christ through simply reading God’s Word together. I am thrilled to join this movement.”
Simon is eager to build on the foundation laid by founder Richard Borgonon and Le Fras Strydom, who led the organisation to date and remains as Chief Operating Officer. Richard Borgonon, Founder and Chairman of The Word One to One said: “With this great addition we are massively blessed to have such a complementarily gifted leadership team and hugely excited to see what God has in store as The Word One to One continues to expand worldwide. It’s not our ministry, it’s our Saviour’s, and it’s His Word that is so very clearly changing lives wherever it’s introduced.”
Simon previously worked at Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) International, where he played a crucial role in overseeing innovation projects that expanded the reach of their Bible engagement resources. His work at BSF included the launch of the WordGo Bible study app, which helped thousands worldwide to connect more deeply with God through Scripture.
Simon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of CEO, within Christian ministry and evangelism and in the business world. He studied theology at Oxford University, served as the youth ministry coordinator at his home church in Belfast and then spent several years in business and finance roles, led by his interest in people, travel and entrepreneurship.
Visit theword121.com for more information on The Word One to One’s resources.
I looked around. I was the guest speaker in a large, successful church, and the service was hopping – literally. The congregation were well into the songs, and a gaggle of enthusiastic teens had rushed to the front of the auditorium to the edge of the stage, where they were dancing to the high energy tunes. On stage, the worship team were technically brilliant, the graphics on the huge screen behind them stunning. Each member of the band (there were about ten of them) looked like they had stepped out of a fashion magazine. Fabulous teeth that facilitated gleaming smiles, the ladies all young and beautiful, and the chaps all appeared to be sporting six-pack abs and fruit-of-many-workouts biceps. (I wondered if slightly overweight, average-looking folks were banned from the platform, but surely the ‘ugly’ quota would be more than fulfilled once I got up to preach.)
Everything looked great, but inwardly, something still wasn’t right with me. I often feel like that in church. Everyone else seems totally caught up in the holy moment, and I catch myself fretting; distracted; questioning; anxious. I feel more like a refugee than a local. Perhaps you know the feeling.
What’s wrong? I asked myself. This church had grown from a fledgling plant to a thriving congregation of 2,000 people in ten years, and had planted other congregations in that fruitful decade. I didn’t know the pastor well, but he came across as an authentic leader and a brilliant communicator. So what was up?
I wondered if I was struggling because this was the third service of the morning. I had sat through all the songs, announcements, the ‘spontaneous’ witty asides twice already, and perhaps this was just beginning to feel a little redundant.
But that was not it. My home church has three Sunday morning services, which means that I get to hear myself three times over when I preach. I’m used to repetition. And then I identified the source of my vague disquiet. These are great people. The music is wonderful.
And, beneath the surface, they are truly committed to the gospel – the financial giving of the church shows that they mean business and are willing to sacrifice to full their mission. It’s all good … but … it’s all just too exciting. I couldn’t attend this church regularly, because I can’t be that thrilled about being a Christian that regularly. Being ecstatic about being a follower of Jesus on a weekly basis is just beyond me.
As the thought registered, the worship leader stepped up a gear in terms of exhortation, yelled that Jesus was awesome, and with a hint of rebuke in his voice, commanded the now sweaty congregation to dance more, shout louder, clap together, because Jesus was worth it. Inwardly, I groaned.
Now don’t misunderstand me. Despite my 61 years, I can shout and clap and even bop with the best of them, even if my dancing does look a little uncoordinated and people have been known to want to call for medical assistance when I break into my jerky, frenetic moves. I love to see a congregation giving their best when they praise the Lord. Sullen, spectator churches depress me.
But I worry when church has to always be exciting. When every service has to be a breakthrough, when every gathering has to result in an eye-popping, life-altering encounter with God, and when we have to be excited all the time, surely some unhealthy traits emerge.
First off, life isn’t always exciting. On the contrary, I recently spoke to a young widow whose 35-year-old husband had just passed away following a brave, five-year battle with multiple brain tumours. She’s trusting all right, but she’s far from excited. There’s the danger that we reduce faith to having excited feelings, and then when those feelings fail to appear, we wonder where God has gone.
And then there’s the problem that looms if every service has to be awesome. Quite simply, we can end up faking it, over-egging what happens because we’re desperate for a result.
Surely sometimes church can be predictable. We get together, sing our songs, pray our prayers, open the great Book, ponder its meaning, affirm our faith, and go home. No mountaintop transfiguration experience required, just the people of God huddling together and reminding each other that they are the people of God, and that Jesus is still alive.
Surely we should make allowances for church to be rather ‘boring’ sometimes? The Early Church must have had at least a few services where they weren’t dancing on the tables. Some of their gatherings were punctuated by deep disagreements. And on one glorious occasion, the apostle Paul droned on for so long that a hapless young chap fell asleep and tumbled out of a window. OK, so they raised him up (that bit was exciting) and the slumber was explained by the lulling warmth of oil lamps burning rather than the apostle being tedious, but it happened nonetheless.
Boredom is part of tenacious relationships. Not every conversation with a trusted friend will necessarily be exhilarating. Marriage isn’t scintillating every day. Can’t the same be true of the collective relationships that we call church?
Recently, there’s been a call for worship songs that more accurately reflect the different seasons of life. There’s been a dearth of ‘songs of lament’ that can be used to express struggle, doubt and pain.
While I think such songs would be challenging to write (‘Let’s all stand together and sing number 47: I’m naffed off, how about you?’), surely there should be some songs that are appropriate for when a national disaster is announced, or that can express uncertainty, fear, or despair.
The great songbook of the Bible, the book of Psalms, contains plenty of these statements; frequently the psalmist asks, why, how long, and even “God, where have you gone?” Can we not create songs that express the full texture of life here on this broken planet?
Perhaps I should start a new organisation called the International Federation of Occasionally Boring and Predictable Churches. That’s silly, I know. Nobody would join. But we could at least give each other permission to truthfully say that life is not an endless hop, skip and jump, and that, at times, although we’re still trying to follow Jesus, we’re dragging our feet as we do so. Weekly exuberance is therefore not always required. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit; excitement is not.
This is an extract from Staying in the Boat by Jeff Lucas. It is published by CWR and available here:
Festival Teesside marked the beginning of the summer for the Luis Palau Association in the UK, but that was just a catalyst for things to come.
Through the combined efforts of local churches working hand in hand with their team, they saw people from different communities across Teesside come together to share in family fun and live music and the good news about Jesus was shared.
In the days that followed, the 1,685 people who responded to the Gospel, were personally invited to follow-up events throughout the summer holidays. Additionally, local churches hosted barbecues and picnics and invited their neighbours along, ensuring the presence of the church continued to be felt.
The Palau Association ran a targeted digital evangelism campaign sharing the Gospel through social media channels. This reached over 43,000 people and anyone who was interested in finding out more was given information about the upcoming Alpha courses.
Churches in Teesside, from almost every denomination, are currently preparing for the launch of 46 Alpha courses in the week beginning September 16th.
