Wales and Norwich

Wow, it's been a while since I've updated. Apologies to all.

So I finished up in Edinburgh, and then caught a plane to Bristol, Wales. From there I had to catch a train for thirty minutes, and it cost me eight pounds. Eight pounds for a half hour train ride! Ridiculous. In any case, that took me to Newport, where I met up with Mike. For those not in the loop, Mike was the first Aussie guy to have gone through the Sovereign Grace pastor's college, and he's currently doing an internship in Wales.

Spent some time talking with him and the other pastors there, and was quite excited to discover that they're looking at planting the first Australian Sovereign Grace church in Newcastle. Quite intriguing how God's leading works, hey? I was able to fill them in on the current church situation around there and we brainstormed about how they would best be able to serve the community and stuff, it was great.

I also got to hang out with these guys:



They're what's known as the "Gap team" at the church - 5 Americans and a Pom. I stayed in an old English house with the three blokes, and we had a great time bach-ing it up, playing PS3 and doing ministry stuff.

Anywho, speaking of God's leading, remember our mate Chris, the guy on staff at St Helen's in London? Well, I went to that church, and asked about some decent churches in Norwich. One of the pastors there gave my email to another guy there, who emailed me with an email address for a pastor here in Norwich, who I then emailed. He then put a notice in the bulletin asking about accommodation, and the day after I got an email from Janet Malcolm saying that they were going to an au pair agency that week for some help around the house, but saw my advert and decided they'd offer the place to me first.

What that means is that in exchange for doing 15 hours a week of vacuuming, washing dishes and the like, I get free food and accommodation. What's best is that their house is just up the road from the uni, their 5 kids (from 9-18) are an absolute blast to be around, as are Paul and Janet (the parents), and their house is chockablok with musical instruments (2 pianos, guitars, brass, woodwind etc) and they have a million and two Christian books/commentaries! The theology-nerd in me is absolutely drooling right now.

Speaking of my theology-nerd-drool, while I was in Edinburgh hanging out with Evie and her mate Erin, we went into an old bookstore. Inside said bookstore, I managed to find a book of C.H Spurgeon's sermons from 1882-83. These are the original printouts that he'd done for the congregation, and someone bound them all together into a book. It's absolute gold, Spurgeon was one of the biggest champs known to man. I've only read through three thus far, but he's been a massive inspiration to me.

Well, that's about all I think I need to add for now... I'll endeavour not to take so long between posts next time.

"We're all about Jesus - we preach the Bible."

As many of you well know, my sense of direction isn’t the best. Today it served me quite well. On trying to find my youth hostel, I managed to walk down a wrong street – which took me to a man putting up a sign in front of a church declaring that “London Christian School” met there. His name was Chris, he’s on staff at St Helen’s next to the gherkin, and he’s a good bloke. I learnt two things about England’s Christianity from this chance encounter and following conversation:

1) You can tell a lot about how England’s Christian education scene is different to Australia’s when you realise that the school with the name “London Christian School” was established last year and only has twelve students. Chris’ hope (and I assume the hope of many evangelical churches in the city) is that there will be lots more schools with lots more students popping up in the near future.

2) You can tell a lot about England’s churches when the answer to the question “Tell me about your church” is “Well, we’re all about Jesus – we preach the Bible straight up, I hope you’re into that kind of thing.” I chatted with Chris for a bit about the state of England’s churches, mentioning that I’d heard bits and pieces about the shocking state of the Anglican denomination. He replied that their church was one of the few Anglican ones that weren’t a waste of time, because of the very reasons that he straight up came out with – they preach Jesus and the Bible.

I’m beginning to think we’re spoilt in Australia. It seems that in the US everyone claims to be a Christian, and so you need to delve for a bit to find out if they actually are or not – you need to find out what they think about the Bible, and what they think about Jesus before discovering what they truly believe about Christianity. It seems in England, everyone claims to be religious, and yet don’t have any gumption to stand up for their faith lest they offend someone else’s religion. One must wonder whether their religion has any faith behind it at all.

At least in Australia, if someone’s not a Christian they’ll tell you. But to be honest, I don’t think it would hurt to have to clarify exactly what a Christian entails. Rather than just saying “I’m a Christian”, how good would it be if we made known what we actually believed – “I’ve been brought into a saving faith through Christ alone, and therefore live my life to glorify Him”. Rather than simply saying we’re Christians, using the Bible to express what we believe and why we believe it.

WE may know we’re Christians, and know what being a Christian entails, but do the people we’re talking to know that? Over here, you can’t assume that giving yourself the label “Christian” automatically makes you one. I wonder how many people in Australia are just giving themselves that label and we don’t even realise it – simply because we don’t have that polarisation between the Christians and the “Half-Christians”.

Can’t wait to go to St Helen’s tomorrow and see the church in action.

Aiireland, London and Norway

Well, it seems that I haven't updated this blog in quite some time. My humblest apologies.

What's been happening over the past few weeks? I flew from Washington to Dublin - and somehow or another an hour delay on the US end made for a five hour delay in Heathrow airport. I couldn't get an earlier flight because my luggage was already checked through for the later one - and then once I got in, the luggage was left behind in London anyway. I quite dislike Heathrow airport. It all just seems so messy.

But it was cool being in Dublin, because it meant I got to see Steve, Trudy, Libbeth and Jordi again, but perhaps overshadowing them was the fact that Matti came along for the ride too! We were doing a kids club, and I got to meet a bunch of other cool people who were helping out also.

Here's a photo that basically sums up the awesomeness of the time:



And here's a photo of the most brilliant shop name in the known universe:

Heh, it makes me laugh every time.

The kids club went really well, the kids certainly seemed to enjoy themselves, and they memorised some good verses and stuff. Matti and I spent a few days reading through Romans, which was really quite helpful and insightful to read through as a pair rather than by oneself. I also got to read a few excellent books, which I've sent back with the Aussie guys for you to have a browse if you feel like a good read.

Speaking of good reads, I'm currently reading "Humility: True Greatness" by CJ Mahaney, which is excellent. I'm also investigating the doctrines of grace, which has been quite humbling and a real eye-opening journey for me. I'm turning into a Calvinist, watch out.

After Ireland, I changed my flights so that I could spend a few days in London/Ipswich with the rest of the guys. Because I was with a bunch of girls, I got to have the Hugh Grant tour of London - which basically says that if Hugh Grant was filmed there, then you have to see it. Also got to watch the second half of Timon of Athens in the Globe, which is about as authentically Shakespearean as they come. Now I can say I've done it, and be a true English/Drama teacher.

Currently I'm in Hamar, Norway, hanging out with my mate Stian who I've been chatting to over MSN since I was 13 - seven years, and we've finally met. It's pretty cool, but mega expensive here. Getting the chance to catch up on a whole bunch more reading and podcasts and all round learning stuff which is very exciting.

Should find out in the next few days where I'm off to next - won't share all the details now, but just be praying that the university will let me do correspondence study, ok?