MenUnited Wiltshire

Recently Strive have been in contact with some like-minded men from MENUNITED Wiltshire – based over in Trowbridge. We find this a huge encouragement! Hopefully over the next few months & years we will be able to share events. Look out for those in our events section.  For now though, read & be encouraged by their latest newsletter;

 

MENUNITED
Wiltshire
(The newsletter of the Wiltshire Men’s Prayer & Fellowship Group)

In opening our April prayer and fellowship group meeting, Tony Smith quoted from an article prepared by Southampton Christian Network on “Transforming Prayer”. The author, referencing her own experience in Manchester, said that where there is vision – the kind that is realistic, sustainable and easy for people across the board to grasp – a great deal can be achieved. Tony exhorted us to pray specifically into the vision God has given us – for our town; our county; the nation and for non Christian men in our area –and not be sidetracked. He encouraged us to ask ourselves “What do we want Trowbridge to look like five years from now?” For about 45 minutes a dozen guys interceded for our Queen; David Cameron and other government leaders; Christian MPs of which there are known to be 49 “committed Christians” and could be more; and for various aspects of Trowbridge life including the Town Council, the Mayor and Town Councillors, the emergency services; our schools; and the large amount of voluntary work that is being carried out.

In his Easter Address at No 10 as reported by The Guardian, the Prime Minister, David Cameron said, “This is the time when, as Christians, we remember the life, sacrifice and living legacy of Christ. The New Testament tells us so much about the character of Jesus; a man of incomparable compassion, generosity, grace, humility and love. These are the values that Jesus embraced, and I believe these are values people of any faith, or no faith, can also share in, and admire.

“It is values like these that make our country what it is – a place which is tolerant, generous and caring. A nation which has an established faith that together is most content when we are defined by what we are for, rather than defined by what we are against. In the book of Luke, we are told that Jesus said, ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’ – advice that when followed makes for a happier, and better society for everyone.”

He told the assembled guests that he welcomed a Christian “fight back”. He said: “I think there’s something of a fight back going on, and we should welcome that. The values of the Bible, the values of Christianity are the values that we need.”

These comments – a public avowal of his faith which is to be welcomed – contrast with previous jocular remarks. In a 2008 interview in The Guardian the then future Prime Minister said: “I am a sort of typical member of the Church of England.” The Sunday Telegraph commented recently that ‘the bemusement of Christians was understandable when David Cameron, at his Easter reception for churchmen in Downing Street, welcomed a Christian ‘fight back’, while his own Government is pursuing a case at the European Court to enforce the ban on the cross at work.

Let us continue to be steadfast in praying for the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Government – particularly Ian Duncan Smith, a cabinet member who is a committed Christian – and all MPs. Let us pray for wisdom to be granted to our leaders. Let us pray also for the many Christian Members of Parliament, that they will bring a godly influence in the affairs of state.

Around 300 people from different churches – and none – gathered in Holy Trinity Church on Easter Sunday evening for an Easter Celebration. The celebration was organised by the Maranatha Church and is yet a further demonstration of how churches can work together effectively in Trowbridge. Surely this is a further indication that God has started something new and exciting in our town.

In anticipation of our July prayer breakfast, we are seeking to establish links with men’s groups across the County. We have been able to make a good link with Emmanuel Church in Chippenham. Spencer Shaw, the Pastor, tells us that a group of men from his church attend the Bristol Men’s Convention – now in its 3^rd year and being held at the Colston Hall. If you are interested please visit the convention website – http://www.bristolmensconvention.org.uk/

We have been given a link to Paul Bradbury from the Salisbury Diocese who was licensed in Sept 2008 into the regeneration area of Poole. Paul runs a project called Wild Spirit which is a series of social and spiritual events specifically for men. Those of you who have a love/passion for walking/climbing may like to have a look at his web site – http://wildspirit.org.uk/

We have been encouraged with up to 20 men on occasions meeting to intercede for our town and its leaders; the County and all its elected officials and civil servants; and our Nation – our blessed Queen Elizabeth, the Prime minister and the Government. We have had some powerful times when we have sensed that we were being an influence for good as we brought these matters before our mighty God. We are conscious however that 7.00 pm on the second Wednesday evening each month may not be convenient for some of you who feel a burden like us to pray together. So we are considering having a second meeting on another day, perhaps another time and would appreciate input from any who would be interested in us developing this. The only suggestion that was made the last time we raised the subject was to have a meeting during the day which might be more suitable for men who are retired or who work in Trowbridge and could get away from their business around lunch time. If you have any thoughts, could you email them to Geoff Tate please?

Dates for your diary:
Saturday 21st April: Breakfast meeting at The Food Factory, Airsprung Beds, Canal Road, Trowbridge, BA14 8RQ – speaker Joey Perez from Philadelphia, USA.
9th May: our usual time of prayer, fellowship and ministry at Bethesda Baptist Church at 7.00 pm. We would encourage you to join us if you can.
25th – 27th May: Mighty Men’s Conference at Nidderdale Agricultural Showground, Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire. Speaker – Angus Buchan. The conference is free of charge. For more information visit www.daleybread.org
29th June – 1st July: CVM’s “The Gathering XII” at Lynt Farm, nr Swindon SN6 7QZ. As the UK’s biggest Christian Men’s Movement they hope to provide the perfect weekend for guys to take stock of their lives with excellent activities and top class speakers, including Carl Beech, Lyndon Bowring and Jon Burns, and worship led by Graham Kendrick and his band. For more information visit http://cvm.org.uk
7th July: MENUNITED Wiltshire – “Sharing the vision: Moving on with God” – a men’s “doughnuts and coffee” morning from 8.30.am to 10.30.am at Holy Trinity Church, Trowbridge. Rees James from Bethesda Baptist Church will be the speaker. We are now in contact with groups of men from across the County and are praying that this time will be a good opportunity for us all to worship together; network; share stories; hear God’s word and make a commitment to unite in prayer right across Wiltshire. May God be pleased to heal our land.

Finally, a couple of thoughts for you to mull over. A study in the USA shows that if a married man comes to church/Christ, 90% of the time his family does too. May this encourage us in our prayers for men.
TRANSFORMATION. “[All] change, even very large and powerful change, begins when a few people start talking with one another about something they care about.” ( Margaret J. Wheatley)

There is a real sense that God is doing something new in Trowbridge (and we are sure this is reflected elsewhere in the County). Let us continue to pray in the expectancy of a real spiritual breakthrough in the area and indeed in our Nation.

Produced on behalf of MENUNITED by Geoff Tate
Issue No.8 – April 2012

The Gathering XII – Life In Full

The Gathering is coming!

We spoke about this event back in February here on our website.

It’s a huge camp for men, held near Swindon.  This year it’s 29th June – 1st July.

I’m pleased to say we have a growing group of guys who want to come… you should come too!  It promises to be a great event.

So book now while it’s still £75 (£35 for students).  Follow this link over to the event website for more details and to submit your booking.  Please put ‘Simon Pope’ as the main group contact.

Nearer the time we will arrange transport & tent-shares where required, so please also drop us an email on
Strive.Warminster@gmail.com

Look forward to spending the weekend together, learning to live LIFE IN FULL!

Breakfast in April – 28th April at 8.30 in the Church Hall

Last month we heard from a guy who helped to design the space shuttle and was responsible for decommissioning a Radiochemical facility and how his faith was important to him in the workplace.  This month we have another clever chap coming to talk to us.

Matthew Street has graduated twice from Oxford university and is currently the vicar at Peasedown St John but prior to ordination he had a distinguished career in marketing, working with brands as diverse as Samsung and Heinz.  He will tell us how he reconciled his deep faith with the challenges of developing a professional career.

I have known Matthew for many years had heard him speak often; I promise you a stimulating and encouraging talk.

If you want to come along please let us know either email revpfoy@gmail.com or call the office 01985 212138.
According to my research Peasedown is the largest village in South England; so how many houses do they need to build to be the smallest town?

Generosity

The CVM guys Beechy & Willmott are back & the latest episode is a great one on ‘Gold’.  You can get their podcasts here.

We’re called to be generous, the bible talks about it in 2 Corinthians 9 & that podcast also struck a resounding note for me.  Not purely about money, but also following on from my last blog on time.

What if you find yourself with a little time on your hands… or you’ve taken that day off I spoke about previously and your loved ones are all good?!

Or you feel you don’t have time?  You may well be surprised what you can help achieve, even with a few minutes here and there.

Here are some ideas, some that take seconds, some longer.  There is such a variety & many more than I could put down here.  Have a look at some, search for things you find interesting, challenging & engaging.  Many of these will end up in you having fun, building people up & be a brilliant use of time.

Seconds to 30 minutes (Help From Home);

All sorts on here, using your skills & time on the internet.  This video intro will give you an idea;

Opportunities in our area (Do-it.org);

This website is superb for those looking to help our community.  Lots of opportunities, from buddying young people who need support, befriending the elderly, helping with local charities – the list is huge, even just in Warminster.

The Besom

Encouraging practical acts for serving those with need.  The local coordinator is in Taunton & it would be superb to put the Warminster area on the map!

Raising money while you use the internet (Easy Fundraising);

This site has lots of charities to chose from… if you’re wondering who you may chose, Sambourne school is on there!  By renewing insurance & clicking through to the likes of Amazon through them we have raised over £100.  As a governor there I can tell you every penny of that is gratefully received & well used!

Reachout Bulgaria;

There are a team of people from Christ Church going out to Bulgaria in a few weeks.  Renovating, painting, tidying, supporting and caring for those in need.  We hope to bring you more on that soon, but have a look on the website for more details.

Raising money;

Guys need a challenge from time to time.  I know for sure I do.  Life is meant to be interesting, challenging, and it’s good to make it so!  While doing this we can raise money for charities – many fantastic organisations depend on it.  There are lots of companies that can help this.  The link here is for the company Andy & I used a couple of years ago.  We walked from Winchester to Salisbury – the Spire to Spire Trekathon over marathon distance.  It was a great challenge & we raised a stack of money for NSPCC, Help for Heros and CC21.

Lending money (Kiva.org);

The costs associated with loans are crippling developing countries.  Kiva is a good way to lend small amounts of money to projects around the world.  This takes very little time, a small amount of money & makes a big difference.  Collectively $301 million has been lent across the world!

The Church;

What about the church?  The church always needs more people with a wide skill set.  Yours is very much required, I can guarantee that personally!  It’s written in the bible in Romans 12.  From the sound and vision desk through prayer ministry, grass cutting, and especially Strive!  Chat to people who already do it & see if you can give it a go.

Let us know what you find – if there are ways to give you find, please do let us all know.

Children of the Resurrection.

Children of the Resurrection.

I write these words as we approach the end of Good Friday and I am still in a reflective mood. The question I am pondering?

“What does Good Friday mean?”

Of course it means an enormous amount to Christians but we have allowed something to influence the story of Holy Week and Easter that is not altogether wholesome.

First: we have sanitised Good Friday and everything related to the Cross.

Secondly we have placed the Cross and the history of Good Friday into a post modern, saccharine coated world where the events on Calvary have been bowdlerised as much as the Nativity.

This thinking was first triggered by a Tweet from Canon J John when he said:

“Christians are an Easter people living in a Good Friday world.”

Before I say another word let me confess that I think J John is an inspirational church leader and I encourage you all to visit his site. http://www.philotrust.com/

But he’s wrong on this one!

My first contention is that Good Friday, and the first Easter, is a historical event. Christ was taken arrested, tortured and executed. Subsequently He was buried and rose from the dead. This is history. I hold this to be a fact.

No Christian should have a problem with this contention: Good Friday was a historical event. It happened, and it’s finished! Yet so many have a maudlin approach that encourages a reliving of the event – in the Philippines folk are temporarily crucified – it’s like a Civil War re enactment! It is time we accepted the historical truth of Our Lord’s death and embrace the truth that comes from it.

To do this we first need to understand the reality of what happened on that Friday nearly 2,000 years ago. The Christian Church and much of Western Civilisation have sanitised the events of the cross. The images we have shown is of a “noble” man with minimal damage to his body and a loin cloth protecting His modesty. The bible tells a different story: Christ was beaten so badly that He was unrecognisable, see Isaiah 53, read how Simon the Cyrene was forced to carry the cross.

Jesus was so weak, so broken, that He could not carry the cross. The story of Good Friday is a story of abuse and brutality.

When we look at the representations of His suffering we are influenced by painters, such as Valezquez, or media, Robert Powell on TV. All of those portrayals are a nonsense, do not believe them.

In churches and, I suggest, in popular mythology we depict Christ crucified on a Gold, maybe brass, cross between two candles set on a white linen cloth.

The truth is that our Lord is nailed to a cross of roughly hewn wood, has been tortured for the amusement of the guards. He suffers all of the pain and naked indignation of crucifixion and He dies in excruciating agony.

He accepts this torture and embraced death because He wants to save us. Through His sacrifice we are offered the chance of redemption.

Good Friday was a bloody awful day for Jesus!

While I enjoy the liturgy and public demonstrations, Passion Plays etc., that commemorate the dreadful events of that first Eater I fear that they have lost connection with the historical fact of the event.

The fact is Good Friday happened a long time ago and it will never happen again. Today, as we remember Our Lord’s suffering and sacrifice we must also remember what happens on Easter Sunday. As we thank Christ for His Good Friday sacrifice we need to rejoice at His bursting from the tomb.

We are not tomb dwellers, we do not live in a Good Friday world; there is no Good Friday world. We are children of the resurrection We know the end game and we rejoice in it.

Of course it is easy to embrace the idea of a “Good Friday world”; we live in a world of sin and hurt. Of course we need to accept the fact that the sin and hurt is real but we must also accept that the resurrection gives us new hope.

How can that work out in the “real” world; well if you live in the “Good Friday World” you see the murders of those brave guys in Afghanistan only as a source of grief. In Warminster we are still feeling that grief. The Children of the Resurrection also share that grief; at the same time they honour the selfless commitment to duty of the men and women who choose to serve us.

On a personal level; every week I attend a local clinic for treatment. All of us there are in various degrees of physical failure. Some of us will die sooner than we would like. It could easily become a place of gloom and despondency, but it’s not. It’s a place of hope, love and care. A place to celebrate vocation. It is not in the Good Friday World; it’s in the Resurrection world.

It’s the world of Jesus; the Risen Lord. He rose nearly two thousand years ago; every day since has been a Resurrection day. Only one day in history was Good Friday when, by his one oblation of himself once offered, He saved the world. Since then every day has been Easter!

So,

“What does the Good Friday mean?”

It means Hope, Sacrifice and Salvation. But only because it leads to Easter Sunday; the day that makes sense of Good Friday.

I belong to an Easter People, a Resurrection People. We honour Good Friday, we kneel at the cross and, more importantly, we lift our eyes to heaven and every day declare.

“Alleluia He is risen.”

Have a joyful Easter.