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He was prepared ww to get his hands dirty w. ed tho you? en ught … are -ne s@e an tw den- inform ork netw ati Ema .or ork.o on pail us g rg ck for
/autumn ’09 Welcome to
/thoughts
magazine
This Autumn issue of /thoughts is packed full of great articles and interviews from people like Martin Smith, Siku, Phillippa Hanna and more. Make sure you have a good read and let us know what you think. Better yet, why not send us some of your own work for the /afterthoughts blog? Keep in touch with Emerging Culture... Why not find out how our FRESH leadership course is going, or to find out where the team are speaking - go to www.emergingculture.co.uk. Even better… why not go to the Chatter section to become one of our Facebook and Twitter friends. If you’re off to uni, we hope you have an amazing time and wish you all the best in whatever you’re doing!
Get your own! Did someone give you this magazine? If so, then get your own! Turn to page 30 and sign up to receive /thoughts magazines, and be entered into a brilliant prize draw from Emerging Culture.
wandered around looking like a lemon; big yellow
Are you ready for the next year? What are you expecting?
jumper, green leggings and a yellow hat. Oh yes, we
How does God feature in it? God really wants to be a
looked awesome! (Check out some photos on the
major part of your life and all the aspects of it. Whether
website, www.emergingculture.co.uk/summer)
you believe in God or not, He is so interested in everything you do, from your coursework, to your social
These are just a few of the many great stories of the
life, to your family. Why not take some time out to think
Emerging Culture team this summer. Whether we were
about what this means, and how it could impact your life.
making badges on the Soul Survivor stand, speaking at events, doing missions or generally hanging out, Emerging
I hope you have a great year this year and that we can
Culture’s summer of 2009 was one to remember.
continue on the Emerging Culture adventure together. Keep in touch and let us know about what you’re up to.
As we look to the next year, with FRESH (our leadership course for 15-21 year olds), more /thoughts magazines,
5,4,3,2,1... ARGH!
See you next time!
missions and events, we are really blessed to have a couple of additions to the Emerging Culture team. You
The tension was mounting, my knees were shaking. They
can meet one of them (James) on page 20. So with a
were counting down… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… argh! All of a sudden
growing team, more interns and a new intake of
Dot Tyler
I’m swooshing down a zip wire at a million miles an hour,
FRESH-ers, we are looking forward to a great year.
Emerging Culture
over a river and through the trees. I’ve been with Emerging Culture for a year now and I Another countdown, but this time I’m prepared, my water
have seen God do some really awesome and amazing
gun is full and ready for action… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. There are
things through the team, from chatting to people about
about 40 of us all in a field having a massive water fight;
the fact that God exists and wants a relationship with
needless to say, I was so wet by the end I looked like I’d
them, to equipping young people throughout the UK
been swimming fully clothed.
for leadership, to seeing people become Christians and getting involved with local churches everywhere. We are
There’s no countdown this time, instead there’s a
poised and ready for this next year, expecting that God
lemon costume! You may have seen us at Soul Survivor
will do amazing things, and continue to show people who
where loads of the Emerging Culture team and friends
He is and what He’s about.
WWW.EMERGINGCULTURE.CO.UK
MOBILISE MISSION JUSTICE
Running After You Ben Cantelon Woah-oah, Woh-oh-oh! We
Fireworks
love it! This is Ben’s debut full-length album. In Ben’s
This bonfire night, get online to find your
words: ‘Running After You
nearest firework display and head out with
links in with the idea of being desperate to follow and connect with God’. This is a fantastic album with songs that are great, both at worship events and in your bedroom.
your family and friends armed with scarves, hats and sparklers for a night to remember. Don’t forget to treat yourself to a scrummy
See page 30
toffee apples or some chewy treacle sweets.
What is your fave firework?! Bring Conkers out of the woods
Catherine Wheel
and back into fashion.
Roman Candle Rocket
Summer may seem like a distant memory, but Autumn
Sparklers (ok so not a firework but essential we think!)
is back with its rich colour and style. So why not get together with your mates, enjoy the crispy air, and a
Tell us your favourite on the Emerging Culture Blog!
game of conkers in the park.
WWW.EMERGINGCULTURE.CO.UK/BLOG
6
RTIN SMITH A M H IT W W IE V R E T AN IN 5 guys, 17 years, 15 albums, loads of tours, thousands of gigs and it’s all coming to a close. /thoughts got to chat with Martin Smith about his past with Delirious? and his future without. /thoughts: What are you guys up to at the moment?
/t: So, do you think that you guys will all stay in touch?
makers and Delirious? is only a framework and the God
MS: Well yeah, we’re all still in the same church, so
who is in us lives on, so hopefully we’re all going to go on
there’s no getting away from each other! I think that a
to bigger and better things. Who knows, Delirious? may
couple of the guys might move to America for a stint and
play again in the future but watch this space.
do some stuff there, which I think would be great. That’ll all unfold in time but for now we’re focused on ending
/t: Do you think that your relationship with God has
this season really well because it’s really important to
changed as a result of making the decision
hand on what God gave us and to do that well.
to stop Delirious?
Martin Smith: We’re in Hershey, Pennsylvania right
MS: Undoubtedly. I think it’s about surrender. I think it’s
now for another Joyce Meyer concert. So we start tonight
/t: A bit of a standard question; what are your reasons
about saying that life’s not just a brand or a band; there
if we can stay awake, I’m feeling a bit jet-lagged! It’s
for stopping Delirious?
are other things that are more important; family and
actually a very short trip, we got here last night and we’re
MS: I guess there are many reasons. It’s been 17 fantastic
ultimately God. It’s God we serve, not a band. I think it’s
back in the UK in 3 days.
years, but it’s been a lot of time away, a lot of time on the
good to put things in their right place. It’s been a step
road and there’s been a price for that. We’ve all got kids
of discovery for all of us in this last year about having
/t: What is your best memory of Delirious?
and I for one felt that it was time for me to be at home
to have more faith in God and not just in what we do.
MS: The camaraderie. It has been amazing and really
more in this next season. I’ve got 6 small kids at home and
There were nights where we could go out on stage and
extraordinary, for 5 guys to stick together over so many
there comes a time when it’s more important for me to be
do what we do with our eyes closed, but there is a sense
years and be friends and brothers. It doesn’t mean that
a dad. Everything’s good, but they’re just wise decisions.
now of going back to Sunday School and learning what
everything’s been perfect but it means we’ve stuck
it is to live again.
it out, which has been great, and even though we’re
/t: Are you sad to be leaving behind such a massive
ending together on 29th November, we know that the
part of your life?
/t: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
relationships are good and that means that the future
MS: Yeah, of course. We love it. It’s been an
MS: I’d like to be involved in lots of people’s lives,
can have anything in it. As long as the relationships are
extraordinary and very unique part of my life, and I don’t
particularly up-and-coming musicians, worship leaders
good, that’s the main thing.
think there’ll be anything like it again in that sense. We
and artists. I would love to be a part of their discovery
weren’t just a band, we were family, we were definitely
and spend time with them in the studio, recording and
all for one and one for all, so I think that, yeah of course
hanging out. I could see more of that happening, and
it’s sad. We’ve been singing for years about being history
hopefully more songs and more music. I don’t really
7
know how to answer that yet because I’m not in that season yet but I’m sure it will unravel. /t: Over the last few years, you have become a person of influence, you have become a leader, how are you planning to use this over the next few years? MS: The Royal National Lifeboat Institute has a great slogan and it says “Train one and save many”. I think that’s part of the future. It’s all about finding people who will carry on that legacy of pioneering music. As well as that, I’ve got lots more music to make but alongside that, I want to spend time with people and mentor people. You can get lost along on the journey, but I’m excited about the next step, and my wife being involved in everything, it’s going to be good. /t: What would you like to be remembered for? MS: I think, hopefully that I put God first.
See page 30
8
Alien Abduction & Bogeymen Fear is a funny word. It can mean so many different things, from a fear of being different, to a fear of being alone, or a fear of not having enough, a fear of not being enough, or even a fear of the bogeyman…
Carrie Knuckey
/lifestyle
reality for many people is that fear can grip us to such
Carrie is the Training Programme Manager for ALOVE
an extent that it starts to strangle us. This may be fear
UK, The Salvation Army for a new generation, and
of failing, or fear of being unloved, even fear of being
runs Essential1, a gap year programme. She lives in
noticed or quite literally fear of the bogeyman.
Wimbledon with her husband and likes to daydream!
Whatever fear it is, it isn’t truth. It may have come from horrible experiences in life, or from believing lies, or
would choke up - in front of all my classmates I would
quite simply from an overactive imagination. Whatever
be completely speechless. After school, somehow I kept
I have a vivid imagination which, although it keeps me
it comes from, it is not from God and it prevents us from
finding myself in situations where I had to speak in front
amused, it also leaves me susceptible to being over-
living in all that God intends for us.
of random groups of people; instead of letting fear rob
ridden by fear of the most ridiculous things at times. No jokes, I once got stuck upside down between the wall and my bed while I was checking for Doberman dogs hiding under the bed; another time when half way through driving home one night,
me of these opportunities I forced myself to do it. Bit by Once we get trapped in fear it’s very hard to get out of
bit I learnt to control my fear; now I find public speaking
it. So what do we do? The first step is to call it what it
part of my job and can manage to do it without wanting
is. In my late teens I genuinely had a fear that an alien
the ground to swallow me up.
inhabited my teddy bear! I had to recognise that this was simply a fear and nothing else - it clearly wasn’t truth.
the car doors started opening
Through conversations with other people I found that I wasn’t the only one that had spent half my life struggling
whilst the lights flashed and
Then we have to give our fear to God. When I fear that
with fear. Most people I know have at least one fear that
the car beeped seemingly
nobody likes me or that I’m a failure, I need to give this
they really struggle with, whether it’s the ridiculous fears
uncontrollably… I was
to God and trust that He loves me unconditionally. Get
of aliens in teddy bears, to the painful fears of not being
Biblical! Hold onto a few verses that speak truth to you
loved, they exist.
utterly convinced that I was being abducted by aliens. It’s funny
and stick them on your wall or in your pocket. The Psalms are a great place to look for these verses.
now looking back on these situations, but the
Don’t let fear stop you from all that God has intended you to be - choose to live in freedom.
Finally, face your fear full on. I used to hate public speaking; when I had to give a presentation at school, half way through the inevitable would happen and I
9
The idiots’ guide to starting uni If you’re heading off to university then a whole bundle of changes await you. All of a sudden, you’ll find you have new friends, a new routine, new freedom and new responsibilities.
Pod Bhogal
/engage
The first thing to do at uni is move into halls. The people you’re
Pod is Head of Communications at UCCF. He enjoys
living with will be the first ones you should get to know.
loud guitar music and Pro-Evolution Soccer on the PS2! For more information on getting stuck into
The next stop is the Freshers’ Fair. Go along and you’ll
CUs or if you need advice on what to do at uni, visit
be amazed because whatever your niche is, whether it’s
www.uccf.org.uk/freshers
chess or lacrosse, cheerleading or juggling, you will find like-minded people at the Freshers’ Fair. Join clubs and
Student life presents an almost endless list of challenges,
societies, get involved, and meet new people. If you’ve
Finally there’s your course. Make sure that in your first
from finding your first lecture room to finding friends, to
always thought about surfing but have never had the
week, you get your timetable, work out where your
managing your student loan and studying the idiots’ guide
time; if you’ve always wanted to have a go at wine-
lectures are and get yourself over to the bookshop to get
to microwave cooking. There’s a lot to get your head around!
tasting but have not been able to afford it, now is the
all your text books for the year.
time for that to all change. UCAS is a distant memory, your bags are packed and the
For Christians there are added challenges: finding a
excitement is mounting; but there’s still one nagging
There are some warnings... make sure you decide beforehand
church, finding other Christians at university and not
doubt about this whole university thing: “What if I don’t
how much you’re going to spend. Money has been wasted
abusing new-found freedoms. But don’t think of life as a
make any friends and have an entirely miserable, lonely
on membership of the Tofu Appreciation Society on a
Christian at university an ongoing struggle to survive in
time?” It’s true it may take time to settle in, and it may
realisation at the second meeting that you hate tofu. It
an unknown environment. For help getting stuck in; find
take time to form the kind of deep relationships that
may be quite true that you want to try your hand at skiing,
out what’s going on with the CU in Freshers’ Week and
you’re used to, but you will make friends. Indeed, by the
develop an interest in theatre and make a commitment to
pop along to an event.
end of university, there will be at least one or two people
your course society, but you won’t have time to do them all. A
who will continue as close friends for the rest of your life.
better idea is to choose a few and then get stuck in properly.
Whatever you do, enjoy Uni, it will change your life!
11
“You’ll be a star one day” As a full-time singer-songwriter I feel truly blessed to be doing my dream job. Music has been my life-long passion. However, it’s been a real roller-coaster ride getting to this point.
Philippa Hanna
/lifestyle
believed them. But as I hit those glorious teen years
Philippa Hanna is based in the lovely Sheffield and
things got tough.
she bounced into the music scene in 2007. Her latest album Taste is available to buy now,
As I tried to find my place in school I made huge
alternatively check out page 30 to be in with a
compromises in order to make friends. I went ‘off the
chance of winning a copy.
rails’ and became a self-confessed ‘bad girl’. It had its fun moments but after a while I realised I was squandering
Even going back as far as my toddler bath-times, making
precious opportunities and causing myself and my family
publishing deal for my songs at the age of eighteen. But
up songs about wash products, I’ve been passionate
a lot of hurt.
I struggled to find a ‘niche’ as a writer or the necessary
about music. But like many young people my dream has often felt desperately out of reach. It can be devastating to have a deep sense of destiny about something, yet to hit brick walls with every attempt to reach your goals. I was born into a very musical, completely non-religious family. My earliest memory is of seeing Dad on stage, holding the audience in the palm of his hand with a breath-taking vocal talent. I don’t remember making the decision that I wanted to be a singer too, it just seemed
confidence to be myself, something that an artist needs My music dream was always there
the most!
beneath the drama. I saw it as my shot at redemption in the big
It all changed when some of my friends started chatting
wide world. But as I left school
to me about God and Jesus. I met these friends through
I realised ‘making it’ wasn’t
music but knew there was something different about
going to be that easy. I spent years working
them. I gradually became more open to what they had to say and decided to give the God thing a go.
on projects with a string of producers. I
After years of feeling lost, I became inspired and realised
to be inside me from the start. I recall gathering the
did backing vocals on
that I’m loved regardless of talent or success. Now I sing
family up to hear me belt out ‘’The Greatest Love of All’
pop records and sang
and write songs to share God’s life-transforming power
when I was barely out of nappies. They were so excited!
in smoky pubs where
and I pray that my music impacts people’s hearts to
People began to say things like, “you were born to do
people brushed past
discover it for themselves. What I’ve learned is that when
this”, and “you’re going to be a star one day”, and I always
me mid-song to get
we give our lives and our gifts back to God He can work
to the bar. I secured a
through us in ways we never dreamed!
We’re looking for a web designer!
r e v ie w . . .
Ministers or Ministars
Ministers or Mini-stars is a 20-track project, which carries mature, thought-provoking and undiluted messages of real life and the Gospel truth, which aim to challenge mentalities. Part autobiographical, he reflects on his old life and shares the transformation process into the new. It is set to have a deep impact, especially on the young generation.
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Collaborations include guest appearances from artists such as Jahaziel, Simply Andy, S.O., Matthew and CeCe, Jaz Ellington plus New Kreation, while production comes
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13
You are not a robot
Sarah Burnett
/creative
Sarah is an intern with Share Creative. As well as being a graphic designer she loves creativity in the form of music and books. She’s also quite partial to tea and polka dots and spent a lot of her university days eating cheese toasties.
We have been made in the image of God - the ultimate Designer, Musician, Artist and Writer. Even if you would never call yourself ‘creative’, you’ve been given an imagination, a mind capable of coming up with incredible ideas and inventing new things. Robots are blank, just given instructions and left to get on with it. Your head has been filled with a richness of potential. How are you going to make the most of it?
14
Get out more!
Steven Cotton
/engage
If you’re young, a Christian and wanting to keep on loving Jesus then you should never go to a club. Even if you intend to stay sober, the alcohol will grab and grip you, take over your mind and poison your blood stream.
From a different perspective clubs are also the places
Steven is the student worker at St Thomas’ Church
where you’ll find some of the loneliest, isolated,
Philadelphia in Sheffield.
dissatisfied and desperate people our generation has to
www.becomestudentchurch.co.uk
offer. Not everybody in a club is in that state but having
He loves business, people, wine and travelling! He is
done a fair bit of club mission I can assure you that clubs
also engaged to be married!
do attract people who are struggling with life a fair bit. So what do we do? Do we leave people to just get on
perhaps you love dancing and appreciate spending time
In addition it is impossible to spend an evening in a club
with life and distance ourselves from their reality? Do we
with friends.
without finding yourself in a compromising and indecent
create more Christian subcultures to detach us from the
situation with a member of the opposite sex. You will
things in life that aren’t pleasant? I’m not convinced that
For you, I’d say go for it and have fun. My perspective is
become an alcoholic and maybe even pregnant by the
is the best approach.
that God loves every person in that building and He is
end of the night.
especially keen on showing some love to the ones who Disclaimer: If you find clubs too difficult then I can fully
are in a mess. Maybe He’s given you a love for music and
Is that view a little extreme? Do you find yourself
appreciate why you should steer clear. If it’s not your
dancing for a reason.
disagreeing with it? If I’m honest I find it quite funny.
sort of thing then that’s all good, but more importantly
Maybe I shouldn’t, but as a student worker I’m just
if relating to the opposite sex and drink is a big issue that
This comment may get me into trouble but I would love
imagining the look of disdain and the mass exodus that
is stretched to the limit in those places then just don’t
to see more Christians going clubbing. I’d love to see
such a speech would cause.
make life harder for yourself. It’s not worth the feeling
more of us hanging out in the places where the normal
you’ll have the morning after.
world plays. If we’re called to be salt and light then
The question that I’ve been thinking through is: should
what’s the point in us hanging out in a salt factory or a
Christians go clubbing? Clubs and bars can be some of
I want to talk to those of us who are pretty keen on
the darkest places our generation hang out. People have
going out for a bit of a dance with mates and find club
described clubs as the devil’s playground. This may seem
culture easy to connect with. If you’re that sort of person
dramatic but let’s be honest, if you want to drink a lot,
then I’m sure you’ll appreciate that not everything
enjoy other mind altering substances and find easy sex,
you’ll find in a club is sordid, evil and challenging to
clubs are the places to go.
your relationship with Jesus. Maybe you love the music,
light shop?
GO DEEPER IN THE WORD MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD Theology b Theology, Music & Worship b Theology & Counselling b CertHE DipHE BA Hons b Postgraduate Degrees MA MTh MPhil PhD b Open Learning
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Has your quiet time hit a brick wall? You can break through by using WordLive.org – an online multimedia Bible experience. Try it today! London School of Theology b Green Lane b Northwood b HA6 2UW t 01923 456000 e enquiries@lst.ac.uk w www.lst.ac.uk Registered Charity No. 312778
www.wordlive.org On your PC • MP3 Player • Mobile/PDA • Visual meditations Podcasts • Creative prayer • Group studies • Worship songs
16
Does God Exist?
/deeper
The Bible never tries to prove the existence of God. It would be like a math textbook proving that 1+1=2, or a historian trying to show that there was such a thing as the past - there would be no point.
There are two problems with this. One, the majority
seems to be present in every civilization we have ever
is often dangerously wrong. The majority of German
discovered. Often the explanations provided for these
officers in the 1930s agreed with persecuting Jews; the
facts are so ridiculous that they call into question the
majority of nineteenth-century Europeans thought
worldview itself (like the ways atheists try to explain
black people were second-class citizens; the majority of
Jesus’ empty tomb). Denying the existence of God
medieval scientists thought the world was flat. But also,
creates many more problems than it solves.
lots of beliefs we hold - often, the most important ones! To the Bible writers, God’s existence is foundational,
are just not provable scientifically.
essential, and startlingly obvious. So anyone who does
The Biblical perspective, on the other hand, accounts for the unbelief of other people in terms of sin. Look
not believe in God, the psalmist says, is quite simply a
Take the statement: “For something to be true, it must
at Paul’s argument in Romans 1:18–20: For the wrath of
fool. Lots of clever people since then have come up with
be provable scientifically.” Can that statement be proved
God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
ways of proving God’s existence, and some of these can
scientifically? Can you do an experiment in a lab to
unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness
be useful. But it is interesting that - in a book spanning
demonstrate that it is true? Or how about, “My daughter
suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is
two thousand years of history and with stories about
loves me”? How can that very important statement ever
plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His
all sorts of people who don’t believe in Him - the Bible
be proven? The fact is, we believe things because they
invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine
never presents an argument for God’s existence. It is so
make sense of the world as we see it, not because some
nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation
obvious, it doesn’t need to be argued for.
outside authority (like scientific proof) says they are true.
of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are
So the real question is: How does belief or non-belief in
without excuse.
Many people today think the opposite. Lots of people
God make sense of the world around us?
believe that non-belief in God is the default view, and science has removed the need to add God into the
You see, every view of the world has to provide an
picture. People take it for granted that God doesn’t
explanation for every fact there is. People who do not
exist, and if you say He does, they will want you to prove
believe in God still have to account for beauty, the fact
it scientifically. If you ask them to prove scientifically
that the world came into being in the first place, the
what they believe, of course, they are very unlikely to be
occurrence of miracles, the awareness in people that
able to - but mostly, they will not see this as a problem,
there is such a thing as evil, the existence of things like
because it seems that the majority agree with them.
conscience and emotions, and the sense of God that
17
Andrew Wilson People don’t believe in God because they suppress the
Andrew is a Youth and Children’s Worker for a
truth. They want to be independent of God, without
church in Eastbourne. He enjoys running training
accountability for their actions, and so they don’t
programmes and taking seminars all over the world.
want there to be a God. As Thomas Nagel, professor
He is married to Rachel and is also the author of
of philosophy and law at New York University, wrote
God Stories.
recently, “It isn’t just that I don’t believe in God and, naturally, hope that I’m right in my belief. It’s that I hope that there is no God! I don’t want there to be a God; I don’t want the universe to be like that.” It is simply foolishness and sin that lead people to deny that God exists. The Bible never argues for God’s existence, but titles it as the foundation stone of all thinking and living, because God’s character is so clearly evident in creation. From morality to mercy, from miracles to mountains, God’s existence is displayed in all things. Only the fool denies it.
• • • • When:
Serve the poor Play football with an orphan Be a big brother or sister Let your life count for God
sp i ri t ua l
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www.moorlands.ac.uk Moorlands College, Sopley, Christchurch, BH23 7AT Tel: 01425 675000 e-mail: admissions@moorlands.ac.uk
19
Answer with Authority OK. You’re at work/college/ the pub/elsewhere (delete as applicable) and someone says to you: “You go to church, that means you believe in heaven and hell, don’t you?” or “You’re a Christian, does that mean you are against abortion?” or “As a Christian, what do you think about the conflict in Afghanistan?”
Piers Lane
/deeper
about by the prevailing wind, sometimes getting it right,
Piers is Director of Evangelism at Cliff College,
and other times getting it hopelessly wrong.
Derbyshire (www.cliffcollege.ac.uk). He likes Cornershop’s new album and would like to buy an
At the end of the day, what we base our choices and
old Vespa.
decisions on is all about authority; whether we see ourselves as being the one who makes the rules, or submitting to the rules which have been made by the
God shows His love in so many ways, and one of those
One who made us.
ways is through inspiring people to write the words of the Bible. When Christians choose to submit to the
I know authority is not a popular word. But Christians
Bible they’re not submitting to other people’s thoughts
choose to submit to the authority of the author. If you
or opinions, they’re submitting to the thoughts and
Or maybe you’re firing the questions at yourself: “Does it
notice, the clue is in the word authority. The authority of
guidance of the Creator of the universe. The Bible says
really matter if I drink too much tonight?” or “How much
the Bible is not a cold, legalistic authority, but one which
that, ‘prophets, though humans, spoke from God as
money should I spend on myself and how much should I
comes from the heart of the Author, a God who longs for
they were carried along by the Holy Spirit’. It is God who
give to my church?” or “Why am I so rubbish?” This is a bit
us to avoid falling into holes or traps and instead wants us
is speaking through people; the Author of all things,
of a random selection of questions but how you answer
to walk safely along a path that has been laid out for us.
writing His story for everyone to read.
‘What authority has the Bible got in how I see the world/
The only way we can know anything about God, the
Next time you’re asked a question about... well just about
others/myself?’
Bible and the reference point for our choices is because
anything, stop and think where your answer is coming
God chooses to reveal it. This revelation is a mark of love,
from. Unless you can answer with confidence that God’s
a generous act, which is made for all people, everywhere.
Word is not being compromised, then perhaps you need
them indicates an answer to another question, namely
That is a vital question for people living as people who follow Jesus today. If the Bible has authority in our lives then we will have a reference point when we are making moral or ethical or lifestyle choices. Without a reference point, we’re making choices based on our own limited understanding. It’s as though we’re at sea, being blown
to think about where you’re submitting your authority.
20
Reality Hits: God Provides… Doesn’t He? Have you ever been in one of those situations where everything just seems impossible? You know the kind of situation; no money, no work and nowhere to stay.
James Palmer
Last year I did a gap year with Ichthus Christian Fellowship
James is the brand new local youthwork
which was great. I loved every moment of it. I laughed, I
co-ordinator at Emerging Culture. He loves going to
cried and it changed my life. I was supposed to go back to
the cinema and eating chinese food. He is looking
Scotland at the end of this year but God seemed to have
forward to seeing the lives of people he works with
other ideas. Whenever I thought about home or about my
changed as they get to know Jesus.
future I kept having this strong sense and pull to stay in London. A week before I was supposed to leave the course and go on holiday for a month my lecturer invited me
of mine who knew I was looking for a job in London, he
to his house for tea. “James” he said, “I don’t think you’re
had sent me the application for Emerging Culture.
ready to go home yet. I think you need to stay in London for longer and get some more training.”
I emailed Dot on the off chance that the job might still be open for application. I filled out the form, sent it off and
My heart sank; I had made all the arrangements and I was
an hour later I got a phone call. They were asking me to
all set to go home. I knew my lecturer was right, he was
come for an interview.
only confirming the quiet voice in the back of my mind. The reality of this new decision wasn’t just a shock to my
Two weeks later I was in a job and I had a flat. There are
system but a total nightmare. I was moving out of the
loads more miracles in this story, of how I got to and
halls I was staying in, I had no job and no money.
from Heathrow and Central London and how I got to my interview. All of this has shown me that God really
At this point I did what any rational normal human being
provides and He always answers prayer; it might not be
would do…I panicked. I had two weeks to go and I had
straight away but he will answer and meet our needs.
nothing, and I needed the answers! So I prayed and prayed and then prayed some more. Something had to change in my situation and I was certain the only one that could change my situation was God. The next day after I prayed my heart out I felt like I should check my emails, so I did. In my inbox was an e-mail from a friend
21
Irrelevant Injustice? The Justice generation is on the move. More than ever before people are responding to the increasing needs of a world we all know is not perfect.
/engage
Pete Wynter
I still encounter too many Christians who are busy playing
Pete leads ‘Onelife’ with his wife Sarah, an organisation
church or so immersed in our culture that they have no
committed to raising up transformational leaders and
time to live a life characterised by justice. It can’t be an
also works at St Andrews, Chorleywood. When he’s
optional extra to our faith; it has to be central because it’s
not busy with all that, he plays plenty of sport and gets
all to do with loving God and loving our neighbour – even
away to Cornwall as much as possible!
the neighbours we don’t find easy to love. What’s more We are becoming more and more aware of people’s
I’ve found that my desire to encounter God has been met
situations all around the world; we’re buying more
in the midst of the poor, where His power at work in me
relationship with countless forgotten people who need to
Fairtrade and recycling more than ever. This need to
has chipped away at transforming communities.
encounter the grace and love of God.
speaking about it for millennia, unfortunately we haven’t
How can you let justice flow in your life? Get active while
Don’t stand back now, wake up and make the daily
always heard.
making sure you are cultivating a deeper relationship
choice. Talk to someone, find out the needs in your area,
speak and act about injustice isn’t new, God’s been
with God. Don’t just stand for justice, stand also for In our day, the Church is being challenged to be at the
righteousness – that’s what will mark Christians out as
centre of the world’s response to injustice, and that’s exactly
different to the countless others who do good but don’t
where it should be. If Christians don’t get hold of this issue
carry the message of the Kingdom, and at the end of the
and become pioneering in bringing transformation, the
day it is God’s Kingdom breaking in that will bring lasting
Church will increasingly slip down the slide of irrelevance in
and eternal change.
a world that desperately needs change. It’s time for all of us to fulfil the words in the Bible (Amos) I remember someone droning on about injustice, the
‘let justice flow’. A daily choice to live a different way. A
plight of the poor and environmental issues when I was
daily choice to get out of our own worlds for a few minutes
in youth group. It didn’t grab me or change me and all
and spend ourselves for the sake of those around us
I really wanted to do was write the next worship song
who struggle in their worlds. A daily choice that doesn’t
or go to the next big event. I couldn’t see how it related
throw the odd bit of charity in someone’s direction, but
to my desire to encounter God and change the world I
grows a lifestyle committed to building true equality of
lived in.
get information on the internet, open your Bible, pray and let justice flow!
22
Angels and Demons I had only been a Christian for a year. There was nothing that had qualified me for what I was about to witness, I’ll never forget it.
Chris Frost
/engage
are laughed at. The term ‘Angels and Demons’ is reserved
Chris loves cheese burgers, Starbucks’ frappuccinos
for a fictional thriller featuring Tom Hanks; fun but fake.
and using different accents in shops to make his wife Jo laugh. He currently works for Gateway
Are angels real? The Bible resounds: yes. It says that
Church in Leeds.
angels were created by God; they continually praise “Can you see it? Can you see it?” my friend hushed
Him, and are used to do some of His works. Angelical
excitedly with eyes wide open after a time of prayer. “Up
interaction with humans is also Biblical; take a look at
our relationship with Jesus tight. Remember also that
there...its...there’s... an angel!” Following several sceptical
characters like Mary, Philip, Cornelius, Peter, Paul and
demons are limited by God’s control, have limited power, and
seconds of trying to match my eye-line to where his
even Jesus himself to see what they do.
all Christians have the authority to command them to leave.
suddenly I saw it. It was high in the sky, but I could
Recently I stumbled on a pile of books about angels
It’s encouraging to remember that greater than the
clearly see a large bright angel running round and round
in my local bookshop, detailing how to use them for
threat of demons, even greater than the assurance of
throwing something invisible out from a pot under
guidance or healing. I had to restrain myself from
angelic protection, we can know that Jesus is always with
its arm. I looked away and back again over and over in
jumping up and down on these books that are a
us, right by our side.
disbelief yet it remained there for well over 30 minutes.
distraction and distortion of truth. It’s vital that we keep
It was so encouraging for me to see that Jesus was
Jesus our focus; it’s Him that can guide and heal and it’s
already on with answering our prayers using an angel
Him that we should long for, not angels.
finger pointed (this guy had a history of practical jokes),
and it has been a continual encouragement to pray for several years now.
It’s important that we can think clearly about demons too. These are Biblical too; we learn that they were once
I was slightly hesitant about retelling the story above, in
angels but sinned against God and now partner with the
fact I think it is the first time I have told any more than a few
Devil against the work of God. Where God uses angels
people. Will people think I’m a Looney tune? Or worse, some
to speak His word, demons try to twist it. Where God
sort of self-appointed, super-spiritual Star Wars figure?
uses angels to strengthen faith, demons try to weaken it. Demonic activity is normally more subtle than foaming
Often in our Western and materialistic world-view,
mouths and red eyes so it’s important we are ready to
suggestions that things exist that we can’t prove or feel
stand strong by soaking ourselves in truth and keeping
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24
Big Boys Don’t Cry Crying, for men, has always been looked upon as a soft option. Instead of letting the tears flow, biting your bottom lip and making sure you do not embarrass yourself by doing the ‘womanly thing’ is priority.
/engage
From an early age most boys are told to stop crying and
Why is it that men are embarrassed about crying? Do we
to grow up. From a young age, crying has been frowned
not want to appear weak? Well, consider this: crying is
upon: it’s not what ‘real men’ do.
not a sign of weakness, but of strength.
Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson has written a couple of
At the age of 15 my life was to change forever. I was given
articles slating men for crying. He said: “Men are very
the dream opportunity to have a two-week football trial
confused at the moment, it is simply not normal for a
with a professional club. Things were going really well
man to cry.” He is not happy that men are seen to be
until the third day; the first team players and I were lying
crying in public, and calls for this ridiculous behaviour to stop.
on the playing field recovering from some sprinting when it happened. The player coach came up to me and grabbed my testicles. He did not say anything and neither did the players who saw this. I was totally confused and angry so I just told him to **** off and at the end of the training session got changed without getting a shower and never went back, pretending to my friends that I failed the trial. The anger from this incident continued to build up for the next ten years and would manifest itself whenever I played football or rugby. As I continued carrying this hurt around I was determined that no one was going to hurt me again and that I was never going to cry about it or tell anyone what happened.
25
Baz Gasgoine When I was 17 I thought I was in love and when the girl
the conference team came to me and said “when you
Baz leads a church in Sheffield and has written two
of my dreams ended our relationship at a party, I was
were 15 you were sexually interfered with, and God
books - ‘Dead Men Walking’ and ‘Cut to the Chase’.
devastated. So I got drunk, went to the bathroom and
wants to heal you of the pain that this caused.” I tried to
To find out more about Baz and to read a bit more
began punching the bathroom wall and crying. Angry
show no emotion and just said “I’m sorry you’re wrong.”
visit www.crossrhythms.co.uk
and drunk I left the party thinking ‘everyone is out to get
He humbly apologised and left. ‘What the hell was
If you have more questions following reading this
what they can to make them happy no matter who they
that?’ I thought. ‘Who’s been talking to him?’ The next
article, get in touch with the Emerging Culture
hurt’ and I was exactly the same.
day he came up to me again, saying the same thing and
office - team@emergingculture.co.uk
apologising for any discomfort this may be causing me Deciding that life stinks I took an overdose of pills and
but urging me to talk to someone I trust as this could be
drink and ended up in hospital having my stomach
the beginning of knowing real freedom and healing.
pumped. After I discharged myself, I tried to get on with
As men we find it difficult to express openly the pain we feel and allow ourselves to be vulnerable. We need to
life and do the manly thing - fill my life with stuff rather
That night I decided to take a risk and tell my mate
realise that crying brings healing from things that have
than facing the problems head on. However the anger
Steve what had happened when I was 15. Thoughts of
caused us so much pain.
now had other ingredients to add to the mix: depression,
rejection were spinning around my head. After what
isolation, misunderstanding and embarrassment. All
seemed an age I told him and his wife. I sat there waiting
‘There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. There is a time to
blended together making one mixed up man.
for him to reply. The silence was deafening. Steve came
be sad and a time to dance.’ Ecclesiastes 3 verse 4
over to me and hugged me. Something broke and the Six months later God ambushed my life in an amazing
floodgates opened. I cried like a little lost child, weeping
Why not begin to allow yourself the time for tears and
way. I discovered Jesus was real, not a myth, and His life,
uncontrollably. Tears and snot began to run loosely out
laughter as you begin to allow yourself to break the lie:
death and resurrection could and would turn my whole
onto his shirt but he still hugged me. A huge dam had
‘big boys don’t cry’!
life upside down as I began to follow Him. I continued
burst and there was no turning back.
journeying with God in my new life but was never sure if He was interested in the areas of my life that really hurt.
In the Bible we read that ‘Jesus wept’ when he heard
So I didn’t tell anyone what happened when I was 15.
about his close friend Lazarus’ death. The dictionary says weeping means to: cry, sob, moan, lament, wail, bawl,
This went on until I was 26 at a conference in Sheffield.
blubber, snivel, and whimper. To express intense, usually
During this conference God amazed me again. One of
painful, emotions by shedding tears.
S? GOT WHAT IT TAKIAHE6:8 'I said, "Here I am, send me' ISA
Are you one of those people who’s always sticking their hand in the air, volunteering, saying ‘pick me, pick me’ a bit like the donkey in Shrek? Are you saying to God, ‘Send me’? Before you do, check out these three key ‘Cs’ for leading and succeeding for God: 1) Commitment: Real leaders don’t quit; even if they want to. Have you ever started tidying your room, and it gets messier before it gets better? It’d be easy to give up halfway through, thinking you’d failed, but that’d be a disaster! Just like leadership, you have to see it through to the end to get good results, to see the tidy room. You can’t quit halfway through, even if it gets tough. With God’s strength, you’ll be able to handle the demands of people, pressures and problems that come your way
? s i h t e k i L
2) Creativity: Just before the birth of Jesus a Roman poet called Horace wrote: ‘Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant’ - which can be put simply as, problems unlock creativity. Wise leaders look for a solution to every problem, then act on it. 3) Compassion: What moves you? What gets you excited? If you’re going to lead, you need to love - and you can’t always pick and choose who you’ll be leading. So before you say ‘Lord, send me’, ask yourself; are you ready, and do you have what it takes?
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28
10 minutes with Christina Otoo-Anakwa We caught up with Christina, a member of the hip-hop/R&B band, Twelve24. Want to know more? www.twelve24.co.uk
/interview
Genetik Revolution. The band was meant to be part of the
/t: How did this affect your life?
Hope ’08 stuff going on, so it was only supposed to be for
C: It wasn’t an easy process for me. It wasn’t as though,
six months. During that time The Message said that they
one day I was doing all these crazy things, and the next
really wanted a third band to help going into schools so
day I’m not going to do them anymore; it was a massive
we became Twelve24.
change for me. If you were raised to do one thing, or
/thoughts: What do you do?
follow a culture that does something, it’s very difficult to
Christina: I work for a Christian organisation called The
/t: How did you become a Christian?
change. I had to learn how to live the life of a Christian.
Message Trust and we go into schools, communities and prisons
C: It started when I saw a change in my sister; she’d
Did I make mistakes? Yes! I’m still making mistakes but
and teach about Christianity. I’m part of a band called Twelve24.
become a Christian. She seemed so peaceful and I thought
God is teaching me loads.
‘there’s something different about her, what is it?’ I wanted /t: How did Twelve24 start?
to be peaceful; I wanted to be a better person.
When the course was coming to an end the Message asked us to apply to be in a band called
/t: What is the best aspect of your job? C: Going into schools! It’s so cool getting to meet
C: I was on a training course in Manchester called Genetik.
She told me that she had met Jesus. When she told me
so many people. It’s not about the fame of people
this I’d thought I’d check it out. I had experienced church
recognizing you, but it’s about them remembering who
when I was younger but thought it was boring and that’s
you represent, and that’s Jesus. Often we go into schools
probably why I wasn’t interested in church or Christianity.
and they don’t understand why we’re Christians, they
When I went to her church I was blown away, people were
think we’re too cool to believe in Jesus but I love being
jumping around and clapping. I thought, “WOAH what’s
able to show them that Jesus is cool and changes lives.
going on?” but at the same time I loved it. When you love someone you put your whole heart into it and these people clearly loved Jesus. I kept going back until I really understood why they love Jesus. And one day,
/t: Who influences you to do what you do? C: Can I be really cheesy and say Jesus? The first person is Jesus, because of the change He makes in my life. After
when I was 19 I gave my life to Jesus. I realised that
Him, I also look up to my pastor back home in Milton
this is what I wanted and needed.
Keynes and my pastor here in Manchester. People who are close to me really influence my life because I get to see the way they live their lives.
29
Let’s talk about sex Me and my boyfriend made a decision not to get involved physically in our relationship. I know, we’re really, really great and really, really holy, but can I let you in on something? It is not easy. It’s not easy at all.
Carina Morton
/lifestyle
Wrong. We’d already started crossing boundaries that
Carina is heading up release:potential, the youth
weren’t supposed to be explored yet, and they weren’t
stream of Release International. She loves shoes, the
easy to pull back from. Have you ever driven at 60mph
colour coral and she has just got engaged!
and then tried to stop quickly? It’s uncomfortable. So we decided we had to pull-up and take a good look at how our actions were affecting our relationship.
God’s plan was always for sexual union to be within the protection and safety of marriage. Not because ‘it’s the
It’s easy to think you’re emotionally closer to someone
rules’ but because it’s the best way. The plan was for it to
When we began our relationship the ‘holding-hands
than you really are because of physical closeness and
be enjoyed by two people who intend to be with each
stage’ was great, it gave me butterflies to be close to him.
we didn’t want to get those two things confused. “If this
other for life, to share such an intimate connection that
The hand-holding slowly progressed to hugging...which
is the man I’m supposed to be with” I thought “I need
would bring them even closer to each other.
in turn became longer hugging which soon became
to know that this relationship goes deeper and further
kissing and then... STOP! Brakes on. God says no. I mean,
than just physical intimacy”. Thankfully God had been
God loves sex! I mean for real, He designed it. He designed
kissing is fine as long as it’s not long kisses right? And
speaking to him about the same thing so we were able to
it to be pleasurable and enjoyed and anticipated and
hugging is cool if you don’t get too close right? ... Right?
share our thoughts openly and honestly.
treasured by a man and wife. It’s not a dirty word, or a subject that should be avoided; it’s amazing.
When we were speaking about our decision my boyfriend put it like this “It’s like fasting, each time we
I’d love to be able to kiss and hug my boyfriend all the
feel the urge to be close physically we need to pray and
time, but I know that would be starting something that
ask God for the strength to resist temptation”. I liked
could not be finished and that would not be honouring
that. I feel like I’m storing up little treasures each time I
the God who brought us to each other in the first place.
don’t give in to what I want. In Song of Songs it says “Do
So now when we walk together down the street and
not arouse or awaken love until it so desires”, this basically
he gently nudges me or my hand brushes past his, it’s
means don’t “see-how-far-you-can-get-before-you’re-
electric. It’s a reassurance that this time of abstaining will
tempted”. Don’t start something that cannot be finished.
reap rewards later.
/thoughts magazine
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knowing the word knowing the world 20-22 November 2009 Eastbourne youthworkconference.co,uk
Inspirational speakers include Jim Wallis, Maeve Sherlock, Jill Garrett, Jason Gardner, Pete Greig, Jenny Baker, Ruth Valerio, Ruth Hassall, Rachel Gardner and Worship from Ben Cantelon and Vicky Beeching.
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