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EDITORIAL AND CONTENTS:
Hey guys
Hope you’re doing well. We’re already getting really excited about seeing you in the summer! It really is the highlight of our year worshipping God with you all in a massive tent and we can’t wait. Want to know some of the things we’ve got planned for the events? Check out pages 12-13 for a sneaky peak! But we all know the best stuff about the summer is the stuff we can’t plan because it’s about what God wants to do among us! We long to hear his voice, to know more of his presence and love, to hear his challenges, to get to know him better and be equipped to serve him more effectively in our day to day lives. In some ways our faith is easy when there are thousands of us all gathered together in the summer. But we’re really aware many of you go home to pretty tough situations and we wanted to focus this little magazine around the theme of ‘under pressure’. Pressure comes from all angles: school, friends, family, even church. So what does God have to say to us in the midst of it all? We’ve asked some wise friends to share with us over these few pages about how we handle the pressures of life whether that be about sex, drinking, exams or identity. We hope God speaks to you as you read this and that some of the articles bring a smile to your face too. As always we’d love to hear your feedback so do drop us a line at editor@soulsurvivor. com to let us know your thoughts and to suggest any topics you’d like to read about in future editions Hope to see you in the summer, Love
Mike Mike is the Director of Soul Survivor which means he comes up with lots of good ideas for the rest of the team to put into practice! He is a man of many passions including Manchester United, Facebook, growing grape vines and cooking.
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FIGURING OUT THE FUTURE: BETH CROFT
Ever done one of those online career-finder questionnaires? You answer a long list of questions about your interests, hobbies, strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, etc… and out pops your perfect job. Simple! I did one once. And so my vocational destiny was revealed: Dairy Farmer. Errr…what?! It was definitely back to the drawing board for me, since I had little to no interest in agriculture whatsoever. I still have no idea how the answers to my questions produced that result, but I was certainly going to figure out my future a different way. Some people just know what they want to be from a really young age. A doctor, a fashion designer, a lawyer, a hairdresser
maybe. And happily for them they go straight on to do those things! For others of us, it doesn’t seem that straightforward. In the midst of making decisions, it can feel like the clock is ticking for us to have our futures all figured out – especially when our academic choices influence our career paths. If you fit into this second category – don’t panic – you might find the thoughts over the page helpful:
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SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: SPRING/SUMMER 2011
3. Perseverance 1. Coming alive God has given us gifts, passions and talents for a reason: he wants us to use them! It was him that put creativity, intelligence, skill and ability into our genetic make-up. So when we hand our futures over to God in prayer, why is it that we often expect him to call us into a job that we have no interest in and completely the opposite of what we would choose to do?! God simply isn’t like that; his purpose isn’t to make life difficult for us. He is the loving, wise Author of Life. He has made each of us unique and has given us different gifts because he wants them to be used! In the words of Howard Thurman (a wise theologian/ Philosopher): “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs – ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
2. Pearls of wisdom When you’re trying to weigh up the advice you’re being given from different people, it can get pretty confusing. It’s important that we don’t feel forced into a career by parents or teachers – that story rarely has a happy ending.
The reality is that every job will have its challenges, pressures and dull moments. Plus for many careers paths, we’ll need to invest years in practice and training to get to where we want to be. We could be exactly where God wants us to be, doing exactly what he wants us to do and life could still seem tough. If we don’t fully get this reality, we could end up packing it in as soon as things feel mundane. As Christians, Jesus never promised us an easy ride through life, so there has to be an element of perseverance in our work. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” Colossians 3v23
On the flip-side, don’t dismiss the guidance they give – often they know us better than we think! Whatever decision you come to, remember that these people are giving you suggestions because they care about you and your future. Of course, it goes without saying that God knows us better than anyone else does, so it’s really important to trust everything to him in prayer and involve him in the decisions we make. Pray, ask and leave room for him to speak.
We can practise this discipline of perseverance right now - whether we’re at school, college, or doing a job. Whether we feel totally fulfilled in what we are doing or whether it feels more like a hard slog, let’s choose to persevere knowing that... “surely [He is with us] always, to the very end of the age” Matthew 28v20
Beth is a Watford lass who heads up worship at Soul Survivor. She studied maths at university, is married to Soul Survivor Director Andy and she writes regularly for www.femaleworshipleader.com
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THINKING ABOUT DRINKING: KIERA PHYO
Underage drinking may be illegal but for many of us, it is something that is part of life. Even if we’re not doing it, our mates probably are and the nearer we get to 18 years old the more likely it will become an area of pressure for us. Even our youth groups aren’t always an alcohol free zone. So what should we do? We can’t pretend that choosing not to drink is the easy option, but if we understand some of God’s big truths, it can help us make the tough choices. I made a choice to stop drinking alcohol when I started studying at uni but I found it really embarrassing. I was selfconscious and worried what people would think about me. Would they still be my friend? Would they think I was lame? Ultimately would they think Christianity was really boring?
No! It took a bit of time to get used to not drinking, but I was committed to not retreating into a ‘holy huddle’; I wanted to hang out with my friends in the same way I always had. So, instead of drinking with them, I got to be the sober friend that talked to them when they broke up with their boyfriend, or held their hair back if they were being sick in the loo, or made sure they got home safely. Gradually the embarrassment wore off and I started to find a sense of freedom. A freedom that told me ‘I am made in the image of God and I’m okay’. Alcohol didn’t need to define what I did on a night out, who I talked to, or who my friends were. It wasn’t
A word on the legal stuff: We want to equip you to deal with situations you are facing, but we also need to say that under-age drinking is against the law. In Romans 13 Paul tells us we should uphold the laws the government make for us so it’s worth remembering that it is illegal to buy alcohol at a bar or
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SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: SPRING/SUMMER 2011
1. Alcohol gives you real confidence 2. Getting drunk and being the same as everyone else is ‘good evangelism’
1. A deep confidence comes when we know we are made in God’s image! 2. Being a faithful friend is good evangelism.
3. I won’t have friends if I don’t drink
3. True friends won’t mind if you don’t drink
4. It makes me cool
4. Vomiting all over someone’s shoes is never cool!
5. God thinks alcohol is from the Devil
5. Jesus turned water into wine so we know God’s not anti-alcohol, but he doesn’t want us getting wasted
what made me cool or not and it wasn’t the place I found my confidence. Jesus challenges us not to fit the mould of what everyone else is doing. If you’re not drinking at the moment, well done! Stay true to yourself and find courage in who God has made you. If you are, my challenge is this: don’t let alcohol shape your story, don’t make it so important it defines your night out and becomes the place you find your confidence. If you manage to curb your alcohol intake you may have to face a few challenges but at least you’ll never be the numpty who vomited on your mate!
“Jesus challenges us to not fiit the mould of what everyone else is doing.” Practical ideas: Grab a mate: Don’t do it alone, talk to a friend about not getting drunk, or not drinking at all. Ask them to encourage you on a night out, maybe even join you and to hold you accountable to how much you drink. PACE YOURSELF: If you are drinking, drink in moderation (you don’t need to down as many drinks as everyone else), drink slowly and set yourself a limit.
Reflect on God’s word: Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life, drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Ephesians 5v18-20 Don't become so welladjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Romans 12v1
shop when you are under 18. Likewise it’s illegal for someone to buy it for you. The
Kiera works for Tearfund and heads
police can stop you if they think you have alcohol on you and can confiscate any
up their youth team which means she
that is found. You can also be arrested or fined for drinking in some public places.
also sits on the Soul Action board.
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I was 12 days short of my 21st birthday, when my dad died of cancer having spent two years battling with the disease. I was in the middle of a Christian gap year when Dad was diagnosed. I vaguely remember the phone call I had with Mum where she said that Dad was going into hospital to get a lump checked out but I can't remember feeling a huge amount.
GOODNESS GRIEF: ANDY KITCHEN
Being away from home made it all seem a little unreal. Dad was not in my everyday life; my relationship with him consisted of a phone call every week or so. Whether he weighed 12 stone or 7 stone, his voice still sounded the same over the phone. All I experienced was what I was told about it. I could disconnect myself from it if I wanted. I could choose not to call or go home. Despite that, it began to get difficult to reconcile what I knew to be true from the Bible with what was happening in my life. The temptation was to separate the reality of my dad slowly dying from my faith. I wanted to hold onto this dream of a great God who heals in my head while in my heart I was falling apart. The challenge was to really grapple with the doubts surfacing in my heart and address the issues in my reality, to let stuff reach my heart. I didn't want to shrug my shoulders and hold onto a fuzzy picture of God. I wanted to cry out from that place of reality, determined that God would speak to me about my situation.
SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: SPRING/SUMMER 2011
I realise now that feelings of anger and blame are a natural part of the process of grief that needs to be journeyed for us to move on. We need to express what we are feeling to God, no matter what those feelings are. One of the things I struggled with was that my dad was a Christian and I thought, "Is this how God rewards his followers?" It's hard to admit I was thinking this because I feel I need to be defensive about God and his reputation. Normally I would reel off an answer or Bible verse from my head. But I couldn't deny what my heart was asking; there were no easy answers. I really needed God to speak to me, and to know his presence with me in the midst of everything. I knew from my experience of life so far that Jesus was good. I could see that ‘God was working for the good of those who love him’ (Romans 8: 28) in the way my relationship with my dad and my family improved during his illness.
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Yet, I still needed him to reveal himself to me. And he did! I remember it vividly. About six months after my Dad died, I was standing in my bedroom. I had split up with my girlfriend, was in the middle of my main degree project, church was going really badly and I was suffering from some mild depression. I had a worship CD on and I was in tears crying out to God. At that moment I got angry. I finally spoke out all those questions that were in my heart, hitting out at God. At that moment I knew God was there, like a father being able to take the punches and standing firm. I felt his arms around me and felt his heart for me, one that hurt as I hurt and loved me like no other. So I've learnt just to be honest with God. To give myself some slack as the world doesn't stop turning no matter what you may be going through. Don't shake your fist or turn your back; if you are angry with God cry out to him and wait for his response.
Andy Kitchen, his wife Rachel and their two little uns are in the process of moving from Nottingham to London to join the Kings Cross Church team.
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‘Armistice Live’
SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: DWEEB’S TOP TUNES
‘Brothers’
‘Absence’
Mutemath
The Black Keys
Paper Route
I’ve loved Mutemath since their first self-titled album back in 2006. I love the way they use sounds, energy and most of all their melodies.
Full of vibe and groove this album optimises the raw organic essence of blues song-writing while managing to sound current and exciting. Definitely a musical highlight of 2010. Bman, lead guitar
It combines 80s pop sensibilities with frantic rock and roll, and this album was a revelation for me in 2010. Great hooks, lyrics and musicianship combine with vast soundscapes to create something truly exciting. Dave, drummer
Their latest album is a great example of all the elements that make up the Mutemath sound with the added credit that they can not only pull it off live but they can do it so well; tweaking arrangements and using a whole assortment of instruments creating a live experience I am jealous of and definitely need to see. Matt, Synth/Bassman
‘Tourist History’
Two Door Cinema Club Its ten perfectly crafted little tunes are packed full of great melodies, dancey beats and indie quirks. Songs like 'What You Know' and 'I Can Talk' are personal favourites, but I couldn't pick a bad song from this tasty slice of Northern Irish indie-pop magic! Tim Alford, Lead vocalist
SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT SUMMER
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SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER TIME!
SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: SPRING/SUMMER 2011
This year we’re theming our events around God’s MAD LOVE! After all, that’s what Jesus was all about, love so crazy that he’d die on a cross for us. This year we want to look deeper into what that mad, crazy, untamed, wild and selfless love is all about and ask God to help us understand it better so we can show some of it to the world around us.
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Step out the way and make room for ClubClubby-Club-Club! This is our brand new and exciting club venue where every night will have a different theme. Will it be dubstep? Will it be Glee? Watch out for our requests night where we will only be playing the tunes that you want to hear!
If you haven’t already, don’t forget to invite your mates along. The more the merrier we say and we’d love it if you brought along any of your friends who might be interested in getting to know Jesus for the first time!
We’re busy chatting to some brilliant speakers about seminars we think will help equip you to live for Jesus all year round. Tom & Suzie Brock, Bishop Graham Cray, Jason & Rachel Gardner, Chris Lane and Jeannie Morgan are all signed up and busy working away on their seminars at the moment. We’ll be confirming loads more people soon, so keep checking the web site!
Once again Mike P, Ali Martin and Andy Croft will all be leading us through the madness that is Soul Survivor!
We have a fantastic line up of bands this year – not only will 29th Chapter be running Underground but make sure you keep your eyes open for Dweeb, Brought into Being, BeBe Vox and Ivyrise!
We’re looking for brilliant people like you to help make Soul Survivor happen! We have loads of teams doing all sorts of different things around site and we’re pretty sure whichever team you’re on, you’ll have a blast! soulsurvivor.com/uk/team
Can’t wait to get there? Us too! Make sure you book and pay for your place before 29th April to save £8 per person. We can’t wait to see you!
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So much has happened at Soul Survivor over the years! We thought we’d ask some of the team which moments have stood out to them.... WE’RE SURE THERE ARE MORE MEMORIES TO BE MADE In 2011!
Ali M:
I’ll never forget seeing Mike doing ministry dressed as batman – that was something I never thought I’d see!
Beth Croft: My favourite memory is when the power cut out during the worship in 2006 and everyone got their phones out to light the tent and carried on singing. That was pretty awesome!
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN?
Mike P:
Tim Hughes
I’ve had a fair few embarrassing moments at Soul Survivor and one of the worst was when I rushed in a bit late to do a seminar a few years ago.
I’ve been going to Soul Survivor since the first one, back in the early 90’s. There have been so many amazing, special moments and God-encounters that have transformed my life. Also, having the privilege of leading worship for many of these events, seeing God at work, seeing young people respond in worship with such passion and commitment has been of the most exciting adventures I’ve been involved in.
I was feeling really flustered, said hello to everyone, started doing the seminar, and after about 25 minutes I realized that people were looking at each other and looking a bit blankly at me. One or two even started leaving. I carried on, trying to work out what was going on and then it dawned on me. “Am I doing the wrong seminar?” I asked and everyone started laughing and cheering. As it turned out I was supposed to be doing a seminar on healing and I’d been doing one on ‘how to read the Bible’ so it wasn’t even remotely similar! I can’t believe everyone sat there for 25 minutes and didn’t tell me what a mistake I’d made!
If I had to pick one stand out moment, I’d go with SOULINTHECITY 2004. After 10 days of amazing mission around London, we all gathered together in Trafalgar Square. It was an amazingly sunny day and 15,000 joined to worship; it was something I’ll never forget. It felt like we’d pushed the boundaries and seeing the name of Jesus being lifted high in the very centre of London was such a profound statement.
We would love to hear your best Soul Survivor memory so why not post one on our Facebook page or drop us an email at testimonies@soulsurvivor.com!
WHO AM I?: NATHALIE SAUNDERS
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“It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.” Ephesians 1v11 (The Message) Before I was a Christian I spent a lot of my time trying to fit in. The truth is, I was awful at it! I didn’t like what the ‘popular’ kids liked, I didn’t dress like them, and to be honest I didn’t even like them that much! But I did so much to try and be like everyone else, that I didn’t take a chance to find out who I wanted to be. I was stuck, I wasn’t fitting into their mould of how I should be, and I didn’t know what I wanted to be! I had nothing concrete in my life and nothing to look to. However it all changed when I found Jesus. Suddenly I had him to look to, and I had his heart to search after, and in the comfort of his presence I could search my heart and find out who I really was. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, we have something stable and unchanging to hold onto. You don’t need to look to others to find out who you are, and when you do it can lead to a destructive path that God doesn’t want for you. There’s all this pressure to be like everyone else, and being a Christian is counter-cultural, so it’s going to be hard. But the truth is, we don’t have to be like everyone else! God made each one of us to be individuals, and to bring something unique to the world, and he loves us for it! Knowing that God loves me no matter how popular I am, or how well I fit in, takes a huge load off my shoulders! God loves each one of us just as we are, and he wants the best for us. Trust him and trust that it’s best to be found in him!
Nathalie is studying for her A-levels at college in Godalming, Surrey. She’s a big fan of guitars, films, and Buffy but not such a big fan of essays and deadlines.
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LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX: RACHEL GARDNER
Every summer loads of you tell us how pressured you feel about having sex. But as Christians we’re often dealing with two pressures: one from the world around us saying we should be having sex, and another from our church community saying we shouldn’t. This is because society and church hold very different ideas about what sex is actually all about. One view says sex is just an act (albeit a very nice one) therefore as long as you are considerate and safe, go ahead. The other view sees sex as a commitment, meaning no matter how considerate and safe you might be, the fact remains that you are still doing something that has serious and lasting consequences. When Jesus reminds his disciples of the awesome bond that happens between a man and a woman who have sex, he puts it in the context of the life-long committed covenant relationship: marriage (Matthew 19:5-6). This is the teaching of the whole Bible, that God joins people together in marriage, not through the magic of a white dress and embarrassing relatives dancing to Abba at the reception, but through blessing this new couple with the gift of being totally joined in body and heart through sexual intimacy.
What an incredible wedding present! It is a tremendous and extravagant gift from a Creator God who understands pleasure and the joy of true intimacy. It should be an unbreakable bond that weathers everything and sees the couple grow in love and sex-skills! Sex is the gift that enables us to become one with someone else, to become ‘one flesh’. So isn't it strange that our society reckons that the purpose of sex is not to be joined with one person, but to have this kind of one-ness with lots of people? That sex often becomes less about intimacy with someone we love and more about fulfilling our individual desires?
SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: SPRING/SUMMER 2011
But the church is in no way perfect when it comes to attitudes towards sex. Lots of us as followers of Jesus feel like we’re supposed to act as if we don't struggle with sex, lust, masturbation, porn, fear of intimacy, longings to get married, or confusing sexual feelings. I think it breaks God's heart that his people can't talk about these very real and often very difficult issues when church should be the very place where we can get all our struggles and hopes out in to the open! We need to model to the rest of the world that God extends his love and mercy to us no matter what. Our relationship and sexual status shouldn’t define us. Before anyone is ‘a virgin’, ‘single’ 'straight', 'gay', 'married' or 'divorced' we are God's beloved children. This is our first identity and the one that is the most important. It is in this relationship with God that we ask him to fill our hearts and help us with our hunger for love, intimacy and meaningful relationships. Our role as people who are trying our best to follow Jesus is not to be anti-sex and wag the finger at others. It’s not to be pushing
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the boundaries to see what we can ‘get away with’. It’s not about pretending we’re not interested in sex and are immune to sexual desires.
“Before anyone is ‘a virgin’, ‘single’ s' traight', g' ay', m' arried' or d' ivorced' we are God’s' beloved children.” Our role is to offer all we are to our loving Saviour. To come to him in our weaknesses, to admit our struggles and to ask for forgiveness and grace where we need it. In his presence we can let go of the pressures that are coming at us from all angles, ask him to give us his perspective on the gift of sex, and choose to surrender everything we are, including our sexuality, to him.
Rachel Gardner heads up the brilliant Romance Academy which is a nationwide sex and relationships education initiative. She is married to Jason and they are both regular Soul Survivor speakers. Find out more about Romance Academy at www.romanceacademy.org
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AGONY AUNT AND UNCLE: SEX QUESTIONS!
I was having sex with my girlfriend before I became a Christian. How do I tell her that I want to stop?
We know talking about sex throws up a whole bunch of issues so we put a few of your questions to our agony Aunt & Uncle. We’ll also be posting some talks on line from previous Soul Sista and Soul Man events that might help. Check them out at soulsurvivor.com/uk
This is an incredibly difficult conversation to have, and it’s easy to try and avoid it and just keep going as you were. However being a Christian is about facing up to things and moving away from sin. If you have recognized that what you are doing is wrong, then this is a conversation that will have to happen sooner or later – sooner is definitely better. Your girlfriend should be in a relationship with you for more than just sex, so if you explain your decision isn’t about her but about the choices you want to start making, hopefully she will understand. If she does start getting upset or angry, and refuses to accept your decision, it’s worth thinking about whether this is a relationship that is healthy for you to stay in. This is a big step to take, and is something that will need to be worked through if you want to stay together, but in order to move forward it needs to be done. Not having sex can actually be a really positive thing for your relationship. Taking out the physical stuff can give you more time to talk to each other and get to know each other on a deeper level which only strengthens your relationship. Take a step of faith that God knows what he is best for you and remember to rely on him whatever the result.
SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: SPRING/SUMMER 2011
My boyfriend and I decided that we want to wait to have sex but we keep messing up and going too far. What can we do? Firstly don’t feel bad about the fact that you’re physically attracted to each other – that’s a normal thing! It’s unhealthy to pretend we don’t have any sexual desires but to be sexually pure we need to find ways of keeping those desires under control. Secondly, know that you have a loving Father who is graceful and forgives you when you’re sorry. Yes, we all slip up and sin one way or another, the important thing is to chose not to do it again. Ask God for forgiveness, accept it and try to move on. Don’t keep dwelling on the fact that you have done something wrong and definitely don’t start thinking ‘it’s already happened once – what’s the harm in doing it again?’ Thirdly to keep from slipping up in the future, think about a few of the practicalities: 1) Set really clear boundaries for each other so you both know exactly where you should draw the line. 2) Spending time together within a group or in a public place is a helpful way to keep things from going too far! 3) Find someone to be accountable to. Make sure it’s somebody you trust, maybe a close friend or a youth worker who you can talk honestly with. Tell them what’s been going on and ask them to challenge you regularly about how things are and to pray with you about the situation. Sometimes just knowing you’ll have to answer to somebody cools you off in those heated moments! 4) If you’re struggling, think about stopping even kissing for a while to give yourselves a chance to get back on track. 5) Don’t forget a relationship is about far more than physical intimacy! Choose to prioritise having fun together in other ways, getting to know one another and investing in your relationship.
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I don’t want to have sex until I’m married but I don’t want people to think I’m a freak – help! Good for you that you’ve taken this decision! It’s definitely not the easiest choice in a culture where people often give away their virginity without really thinking about what a precious thing it is. The truth is some people may judge you for not having sex, but the important thing is that you are true to what you believe. People who tease or bully you about it, may actually feel threatened by your confidence not to go along with the crowd. If you do find people are asking you about your decision, make sure you’ve thought through exactly why you want to wait and what the benefits are – it might actually get them thinking about their choices. Real friends won’t think you’re a freak even if they decide to make a different choice to you. Have courage in your decision, get the support of others in your youth group and know that you are following God’s best for you when you keep sex for marriage.
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SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: FRESH SOUNDS IN OUR SHOP
SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: HANG OUT WITH US ONLINE!
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THE WORK IN, WORK OUT: BY MIKE PILAVACHI
“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.” Philippians 2 v12-13
SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: SPRING/SUMMER 2011
It’s a bit exhausting isn’t it, dealing with all this pressure that comes at us from every angle? Sometimes even before God we feel pressured to be a certain way. One thing I am realising more and more is that we’re not pressured by God, we simply need to work out what God works in. He initiates everything in our relationship with him and his amazing promise to us is that what he began, he will see through to completion (Philippians 1 v6). As Paul points out in the verse above, it is God who works in us; it’s not about us gritting our teeth and trying to will ourselves to be better. It is God’s grace in us that leads us to change; we simply respond to his love and mercy. The way to grow in our faith isn’t to bully ourselves into anything. As we get closer to Jesus, it’s like any time we fall in love with someone. We start to want what they want. With Jesus we start to want to serve him and as we get to know him better and understand more about his love for us, we start to realise that he only wants the best for us in every area of our lives. The story of our faith is the amazing partnership between the divine and the human. It’s about God’s grace and our humanity. We have free will to respond to God how we want. I think sometimes we can forget that, say when we are given a prophecy, and we become fatalistic about it. I think each prophecy has an RSVP. Has someone told you you’ll do great things for God? Brilliant! But you can’t just sit back and wait for that to happen, doing whatever you like in the meantime.
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If God has spoken to you then he has shown you what his intention is for you – it’s now up to you if you choose to walk there. Sometimes this will mean tough choices. Saying no to things that you want to do because you know they’re not God’s best for you. Not having a ‘what can I get away with’ attitude to sin. Practicing the spiritual disciplines (like prayer, worship and fasting) because they hold the keys to life. I always recommend this book every summer but it is one of my all time favourites – Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. It should be compulsory reading for every Christian! We can so easily think of the disciplines as dry, boring things imposed on us but as Richard Foster so amazingly shows us, they take us to places of incredible intimacy with God. They keep our relationship with him going from strength to strength; they are the doors to liberation and freedom in our faith. There are sacrifices to being a Christian. Jesus asked us to take up our cross like he did and there is a real intimacy that is gained through doing what Paul called ‘sharing in the fellowship of Christ’s suffering’ (Philippians 3). That said, it’s easy to spend loads of time focusing on the hard aspects of being a Christian. We can get into habits of thinking ‘I mustn’t do this’, ‘I mustn’t do that’ and we miss the fact that this Christian life is supposed to be a celebration, a party! Let’s focus on all the ‘do’s’ of our faith for a change! This partnership isn’t a legal document, it’s a relationship where we’re invited by the Creator of the world to run with him, to enjoy him and his promise that in him we have life to the full. Go for it guys. Give him everything; you’ll never regret it.
Mike already has a bio that explains all about him under the editorial on page one. So, here’s some extra facts about the Soul Survivor founder: 1) His doppleganger is Greek singer Demis Roussos. 2) He uses a lot of hair product (mainly mousse). 3) He loves the West Wing with a passion.
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SOUL SURVIVOR MINI MAG: COME AND SEE US!