‘What are you here for?’ or ‘How do you imagine God?’ are the possible open- ended questions that my ‘spiritual director’ asks me.  I have been going to see him about three times a year for about five years.

 I always leave him challenged and encouraged. Sometimes the challenges are very practical such as ‘How about taking up a new sport?’ Last year I took up sea canoeing, which I am now hooked on.
Let me explain what a ‘spiritual director’ is by saying what he isn`t!
He is not a director…..we discover God’s path for us and discern where God is taking us by conversation.
It is not always spiritual….. it could be practical or physical.
I am not accountable to him….. I am accountable to my prayer triplet and my wife.
He is not a counsellor….but he is unshockable and the session is confidential.
He is a spiritual companion or soul friend, so if I was in pain, with a situation that had no solution he would ‘hold my hand’ and just be there alongside me.
The title ‘spiritual director’ is not an accurate description, but because it is in fairly common use we are probably stuck with it now!
If you could imagine strolling round your garden with an experienced gardener, he might suggest a few improvements or changes of design or easier ways of maintenance. Gardening is very open- ended and some folk think of it as an extension of the kitchen and others of a haven for wildlife. Some just want a concrete patio! So perhaps this is a helpful picture of ‘spiritual direction’.
If you would like more information please contact the London Centre for Spirituality or email me via CVM.
 

We are living in exciting times, a period of volatile, rapid and even discontinuous change. I think that I can safely say that we 50 plus guys have seen more changes in our lifetimes than our dads and their dads did.
Our churches can change either because they have to in order to survive or change because they want to. This involves embracing the opportunities that God is giving us. There is of course a third option of doing nothing!
Where do we go from here? Most church leaders believe in ‘every member ministry’ but many don`t act on it or encourage it. We church members could perhaps help and encourage them by focussing on making disciples and moving out of our comfort zones.
Jesus said “I will build my church”. So let’s leave that to God and step out of our ‘front doors’ where there is a big harvest waiting. We are not alone, the Holy Spirit is alongside us. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “When the Holy Spirit comes you will do even greater things than I do.”
Let us move closer to the first century church with its movement, love and Spirit filled energy at the grass roots.

Date: Saturday 12th October 2013
Venue: St Thomas Church, Chatsworth Road, Brampton, Chesterfield, S40 3AW
Cost: £5 Includes lunch and refreshments
Contact: Steve Martin steve.martin@cvm.org.uk
We are very aware of the unique challenges, opportunities and skills that exist with older men across the CVM Network. We are looking to expand, focus and build this work, to better equip older men to serve each other, address the unique challenges that they face as they get older and encourage them to witness to their friends. Another area that we are keen to explore is how younger and older men can interact to support, encourage and disciple one another. We are therefore holding a workshop in Chesterfield on 12 Oct. We are praying that there will be CVM group leaders and coordinators, those involved in church leadership, members of the CVM 50 plus blog team, those with a heart for reaching the boomers and any men who wish to develop their ministries of apostle, prophet, evangelist , pastor and teacher. We particularly welcome anyone who wants to develop their gift of encouragement!
The seminars will be interactive with a feedback and wash up session at the end of the day. Considerable time will be spent in prayer and listening to God. We will ask for ideas for perhaps a new name for the 50 plus group. Some guys feel that 50 is a bit young while others feel that preparation for retirement may start early! It is important to remind ourselves that the 50 plus group is an integral part of CVM, at the core and not an extra.
Seminar 1 – Suneel Shivdasani
Individual challenges eg loneliness, loss, preparation for retirement, vocation, family, old age, change.
Seminar 2 – Steve Redman and Roger Leitch
Local Church eg Discipleship, prayer triplets, men`s ministry across all ages, men friendly churches.
Seminar 3 – Steve Winks and Eddie James
Practical Outreach eg Besom, food banks, overseas ministry, outreach to older men, mission strategy.
 

Forgiveness and grace are linked very closely. When I led a junior school assembly last month I explained ‘grace’ by saying ‘no matter how good or bad we are, God loves us just the same.’

In a conflict situation, how do we halt the cycle of blame and pain? In Greek, forgiveness means to release and free yourself.
The Lord’s prayer…’forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.’ This challenges us to make a decision to act.
Forgiveness is the opposite of resentment, that clings to the past and keeps picking and repicking the scab and the wound deepens. Hence the victim suffers twice.
On the cross Jesus said ‘Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’
What would have happened if Jesus hadn’t forgiven them?
The most important difference between Christianity and all the other religions is that we receive God’s grace as a free gift.

I had a knee replacement 8 weeks ago, so in between lots of exercise I have had time to catch up with some reading!
Right Here, Right Now by Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford is a ‘must read’. This book got me very excited, so I make no apology in doing a review for this blog.
When I read Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch in 2006 it blew my mind but I felt frustrated as I couldn’t communicate Alan’s ideas to many of my church leaders, even though my own understanding of mission had been liberated and energised. David Bosch said, ‘It is not so much that God has a mission for his church in the world, but that God has a church for his mission in the world’. That simple idea was hard for me to explain!
‘Right here right now’ challenges us to start today…. yes, you and me….and start in the place where God has put us today. I have been waiting since 2006 for my church to have mission at the centre of everything, but many are still muddled and think of mission as just a great extra activity. I can’t wait any longer…since reading ‘Right here right now’ I am no longer frustrated, I am released like an arrow out of a long bow. As Prof Leonard Sweet said in his review of the book, ‘It’s now time for doing’. God wants us all to be involved in ‘every member ministry’
Mission is risky, it means going out of our comfort zones. Jesus intended us to pair up, so don’t go it alone (Luke 10). We know from several studies that within three to five years of a person becoming a Christian, they will have few meaningful relationships with anyone outside the church. Hence our own mission activities should be focussed outside the walls of the traditional church, and we need to keep strong connections with the secular community.
Anyone reading this who wants to talk or pray further can email me at eddie.james@cvm.org.uk or post a comment. You may find shapevine.com useful.
A final quote from Albert Einstein ‘There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.‘

 
My experience as a civil engineer working on development projects for many years in 10 African countries taught me a lot.  I discovered that the most effective and sustainable outcomes always come from projects that are bottom up and not top down. I am not just talking about money but ideas, leadership and information.
‘Listen to the poor‘ was the advice I was given by UNHCR before one of my missions to Tanzania.  Following this advice blessed me greatly.  I learned so much from the farmers, community workers, mechanics and labourers.  More importantly they learned to express their feelings and formulate ideas which in turn empowered them.
The same principles apply to us here today in the UK.  The poor are feeling disempowered because they are not being listened to.  The church has a vital part to play in leading by example.  We have God as our partner, we are not alone.  It is important that the local churches send out their public, private and voluntary sector workers fully equipped with prayer, encouragement and training. ‘We are not wrestling against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers in high places.’
This mission is urgent and important.  Start this week with your prayer triplet or home group.  Discuss how each member can be supported in their work place.