Faith's Journey

At Last: Two New Blog Links...

2008-09-17T11:27:00.005-04:00

I get locked out of this blog more often than I am in! But there are some newer posts on Premier Radio's new website "community". You should be able to visit my page here:

http://premiercommunity.ning.com/profile/JohnRuffle

although I'm not certain if you have to be a registered user to view or not. As I am heading up a teaching project for our department at the college where I work, I also have a college-authorised blog which is more up to date than this one.. here's the link:

http://alstutor.blogspot.com/

Meanwhile, I'll try to get some photos and update this one shortly...

'Just Passing By'

2007-08-31T11:26:00.000-04:00

A typical journey in west London -- our Underground system, and into Knightsbridge where Harrods is located. Opposite Harrods, we find a rough-sleeper, complete with cardboard 'blankets'.

But the rest of us just pass on by, not caring or maybe not knowing how to respond. A society of contrasts. Our local church is one of about a dozen churches of different denominations that are part of a night shelter project during the winter months. At least 35 men and women get a warm meal and friendship 7 days a week during these months. At our 'Riverside' centre, we welcome our guests with more than just the basics - we have table clothes, candles, flowers and live music. I was privileged to work on the project last winter - I learned so much from these precious brothers and sisters of mine, often leaving the shelter with tears in my eyes. Thanks to the fabulous cooks, and the dedicated volunteer staff, we have without question the best meal in London - at any price. These guys have so much to offer us all, yet they are out on the margins for all sorts of reasons. And I do so little for them. Let's encourage each other to remember the poor - and they are right here on our doorstep!

London streets: A new meaning to the term, "Just passing by" (left)

Back from Break

2007-08-31T11:02:00.000-04:00

Yep, it's back to lecturing work and currently, I am just now finishing the first full week of enrollment of new students. I also volunteer my time working with our student Christian Union - so just as a little reminder to remember us in prayer, here's a picture or two of last year's service held at St. Mary's West Kensington.

Please pray for our Christian Union student leaders especially, some of whom are under great pressure at home. Also, that we can beat the timetabling problems of previous years, in order to get as many together at one time as possible. We would like to reach out creatively and sensitively to the student population and see the Christians grow in discipleship. One idea is to invite an Orthodox priest to address the CU, as we have a growing number of Orthodox students from Eastern Europe. Altogether, we have over 120 nationalities in a college of around 20,000 students. Quite a big parish! Although there pictures are old, I was back at St. Mary's Church last Sunday night, as guest preacher. I consider it a sacred privilege to bring God's Word to his precious people here.

Locked out of my blog!

2007-08-31T09:13:00.000-04:00

Four months and no posting - the reason being mainly because I locked myself out of the blog! I will try to keep this a little more up to date; so much is happening, but I am trying to keep family central to what I do. I've cut back on loads of "extra" things that take my time, including the Internet based prayer group that I've hosted since 1995 or 1996. Most recently, our hosting company pulled out of supporting on-line groups, and resulted in our loosing all our archives from 2001 onwards. I do however, have the original documentation for the agape.com group I hosted from the early days of the Internet. Frankly, teaching in a college full time, completing my masters in pastoral theology, running a film club at our local church and being the dad, husband and family pastor my wife deserves keeps me occupied around 18 hours a day, but I'm not complaining. Life is full, and wonderful - but it is all down to Jesus' sustaining grace and power. Wonderful! - Oh and the awful picture of me ion a suit is off the blog but is this one really any better?

Finding God in a Night Club

2007-04-26T07:39:00.000-04:00

Ekklesia is an influencial UK-based think tank that presumes upon itself the role of being 'Christian' voice in the UK. Frankly, they fail to represent classic or orthodox Chrisitan opinion in any shape or form. None-the-less, engagement is better than anger, so I wrote a response to a piece they posted yesterday, and they were gracious enough to post it to their site. Then this morning I came in, and found that all sight of my article had vanished, (although my name still comes up on a site-based seach). So -- for better of for worse, here is what I wrote:

“Ekklesia researcher Jordan Tchilingirian, who is also a club DJ said: "Young people, including many Christians, don't make the same sacred-secular divisions that many bishops do. Young people can find God in a night-club or at a gig as easily as they can in St Paul's Cathedral" he said.”

My response:

I agree that the sacred-secular divide is a residue from the Enlightenment, but is it really that easy to "...find God in a night-club..." unless the Christian faithful are intentionally planting seeds of hope and dialogue, along with an element of challenging young people to think through life's issues?

No one disputes that it is possible for a person to find God in a night club. The question is, will they? The primarily intention of the average clubber in west London where I live, is almost certainly to simply "have a good time". I question how many out there on a Saturday night are on an immediate and desperate quest for God. An apostle of the ‘pre-modern’ Church of the 1st century indicates why this might be: “…the god of this present age has blinded their unbelieving minds so as to shut out the sunshine of the Good News of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor 4:4, Weymouth). I therefore suggest that a contextualised, intentional dialogue is therefore needed. For instance, a local community pastor and I run a film night periodically in our community. We do not push Christian "message" movies - but we do endeavour to provide a safe non-church space whereby life issues may be thought about in the context of society rather than the church, and where questions can be raised.

So while I agree with Jordan Tchilingirian that there is an over-arching sense of the spiritual that goes beyond church walls, there also needs to be an intentional engagement for Christian spirituality to have meaning and engagement in everyday life. As Robert E. Webber says in 'Ancient-Future Faith', "In the post-modern world evangelisation will take place within the various cultures of the world" (p 146). I endorse the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, in that as a part of our own media culture herein Britain, (paid for by public licence fees), Radio 1 has no right to be excluded from intentional dialogue when it comes to Christian spirituality.

Christian Gunned Down in Kashmir

2006-11-29T10:25:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of stories I could have highlighted right now. Yet this picture of children in Kashmir featured on www.mnnonline.org tells of hope and innocence. Yet violence abounds very close to home, as the following Mission Newwork News report filed on 29.11.06 tragically reveals:

Kashmir (MNN) -- A tragedy has hit a ministry in the predominately Muslim region of Kashmir. Bob Savage with Partners International says they're supporting a program called, 'Seeker Seminars' for Muslims interesting in learning about Christianity. The first convert from these seminars became actively involved in evangelism. However, his story took a tragic turn.

"He would bring people to these seminars when they happened. As often happens, a guy like him attracts bad attention. And, some people were watching him and threatening him and they just came up and point blank range and shot him." He leaves a wife and five children.

Will these 'Seeker Seminars' continue? Savage says, "People are nervous, but they'll go on. I mean, all of these guys, they know that it's a lot of risk what they've been doing. That's part of their life. Out of their commitment to reach these areas they just keep going back. You've got to admire that. It's really heroic."

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/9324

The Nativity Story: My Daughter's Take

2006-11-23T11:59:00.000-05:00

The Nativity Story: Here’s my 17 year-old daughter’s review hot from a 23rd November 2006 London preview, so this is a typical teenage take on this new motion picture release. “The film has a realistic spin”, she told me shortly after exiting the theatre, “but toward the end it got so overdone; like the Christmas films with a star shining through a hole in the roof of the stable scenario. Then, the wise men appear right there in the stable, on the same night Jesus was born, and lo and behold, there were three of them!” (Contrary to popular myth, the Bible never does mention the number of wise men.)

“The film was well paced at the beginning,” she agreed, “but toward the end, it seemed rushed, like they had to finish off the 100 minutes of screen time.” This may reflect the tight production schedule – how many movies make it from a blank piece of paper to world-wide theatrical release in 12 months? An amazing accomplishment by any standard.

Asked about the humour angle, my daughter thinks that it “..could have done with a little humour; yes, the wise men did add some comedy flavour, but it wasn’t that funny. Oh, and by the way, let’s change the name, the title reminds me of every single nativity film you’re ever likely to see.” She rated it in the 7/10 range, (the rating on imdb linked to this piece reflects my rating, not hers – parental privilege, let’s call it!)

Interesting that I had to remind Rebekah who Keisha Castle-Hughes is, considering both young women are the same age, but she made the connection in the end, and thinks Keisha turned in a quite tidy performance. For me, I take my hat off to Mike Rich, for turning out that screenplay in one month, start to finish, and to Catherine Hardwicke for getting this to the screen for Christmas.

Regardless of how she rated the finished screen-time, at least my daughter got to see “The Nativity Play” several days earlier than Pope Benedict XVI (who is enjoying Turkish hospitality right now) for its Vatican world premier. My take on the film is that it takes us back to the time when one could openly be thankful for that quite amazing birth so long ago, and not have to make apologies to be politically correct (don't get me started on that one!)

I would like to think that this big-screen rendition will do at least as well as Mel Gibson's "Passion" at the box-office. But regardless of its commercial outcome, the "Nativity Story" is sure to touch and change countless lives around the world. Frankly, that is all that matters.

My original review can be read on International Movie Database - click the link below:
http://imdb.com/title/tt0762121/usercomments-8

The Fellowship

2006-11-20T14:17:00.000-05:00

A quick plug for "The Fellowship" is in order. This international group of ministers started life in the 1960s under the direction of Gordon Linsey, who was the editor of a famed magazine, "The Voice of Healing". During the 1990s, 'The Fellowship' came to Britain, and is now looking toward a bright future bringing ministry together from across the denominational spectrum. Not that "anything goes" - the basis of the organization is to assist "full gospel" ministry around the world, and includes all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in spirit and in truth.

It has been my privilege to network with Anglicans, Catholics as well as non-liturgical churches in the quest to improve chaplaincy provision across Britain. It is early days yet, but the fellowship I've enjoyed has at many times, brought tears to my eyes, as I reach across the denominational divides - not with compromise, but with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. Please do visit 'The Felowship' website at http://www.fgfcmi.org and do contact me if you are based in the UK or Europe and would like info on joining or becoming involved in caring outreach and chaplaincy.

London: A Sunny Afternoon on 11th September

2006-09-11T10:25:00.000-04:00

As I write, I am at the top floor staff room of the College where I teach in west London. Here, some six miles from Heathrow, I can see across London. I can see the Post Office Tower in central London and across, way across, into the country beyond Westminster and the Docklands. I can hear the gentle roar of a Boeing 747-400 banking hard as she climbs out of Heathrow Airport at around 8,000 feet. The weather is hot - most unusual for September here in Britain. A fairly average day at the beginning as a busy term - in this case, not. Because today is the afternoon of September 11th, 2006. Exactly at this time five years ago, a painstakingly-built Boeing aircraft was hurtling toward the second WTC tower, having been turned into a crude missile of mass destruction, laden with precious human cargo.

As did many others, I saw those surreal yet all too starkly real events unfold live on satellite television. I was in the hotel lobby, along with other fellow Full Gospel ministers who were attending our annual UK FGFCMI convention, where we had hastily abandoned an early afternoon business meeting when the first news came through.

How did I commemorate that bleak unfolding of evil five years on? As it happened, I've just come out of a class of foreign students - mostly Moslem - who are learning English. Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and many other countries besides represented. We had the students get to know each other; find out where they were from; their aspirations for the future; their dreams and hopes. We had fun. I only briefly drew one student's mind to remember five years ago. After all, no one present would have been over twelve years old when 9/11 happened, and some of them have their own all too real personal tales of trauma and battle-zones to tell. Strangely, five years on, and we had fun. Fun being human. Trusting that these students really will remain human, and not give themselves to a spiral of sub-human evil of hatred and religious rhetoric.

Today, having fun seemed to be the best strategy. I think those who perished five years ago - whether American or British, or from abroad, and whether their end came in a lonely field in Pennsylvania, or at the Pentagon or in New York - those who perished (and I trust, their grieving families today) would want us to move on and make the bravest, boldest positive contribution to the societies we find ourselves servants within.

We had no two minute silence here in Britain. I wished we did. Yet even so, I can never forget. My life has been deeply marked - all the more so since September 11th is very bitter-sweet for me; today we celebrate our teenage daughter's 17th birthday. But in that English class this afternoon, God used these foriegn students to help turn my pain into a positive experience. They unknowingly helped me make a turning point today. Before taking the class, I entered our college prayer room. Perhaps strangely, not to pray. But rather, to phone a dear friend, Janice. A flight attendant with American Airlines. US based, often flying out of Boston. Five years ago, it took five days for Annette and I to establish contact with her and find that she was safe. She had indeed been aloft as the flights crashed, but that particular day, she'd been taken off-line her normal duties and was at thirty-some thousand feet winging her way toward Dallas-fort Worth for her annual re-certification. Some she knew however, had not been so fortunate and perished.

Quiet and un-assuming by nature, Janice agreed to do an exclusive taped interview over the phone with London's Premier Radio. When Premier called her, it turned out her interview went out live in London's drive time. I listened, as a transformed woman shared her faith and her confidence in Jesus Christ, and her determination to stay flying; fearless in the face of anything the enemy of our souls could bring. Janice was speaking for many millions of brave Americans that day, I felt.

It was the day Christians began to man the spiritual battle stations. Alas, many have returned to slumber, or worse, veered off into all sorts of crazy doctrinal aberrations. Meanwhile, Christ continues faithful in his promise to build his Church. Not by human effort or ambition. But by His Holy Spirit. Today, long after the natural dust has settled, I wonder how many of us can stand up tall with Janice, that dear American Airlines flight attendant, and truly be a surrendered part of that which Christ is building through love, compassion, understanding mercy and.. perhaps hardest of all - forgiveness.

I cannot do it on my own power. I can only do it through fresh surrender to Him who so loved us, that - despite the pain, laid His life down that we may live. I still cannot look again at the images of those Twin Towers falling. Yet, together with you, I can respond to His love and see our world change. And starting from within is the only real place any of us can begin that journey.

Blessings

The Nimrod Crash, Islam, 9/11+5 and President Bush

2006-09-07T14:11:00.000-04:00

Afghanistan:
Sad news of the Nimrod MR2 crash in Afghanistan a few days ago. Especially touching for me, as I was onboard an operational Nimrod from this same squadron, with some of our RAF Air Cadets earlier this summer. I was so fascinated with the Nimrod and its dedicated crew, and took loads of pictures (which are stuck on my digital camera right now- will post them later). The aircraft is based on the Comet, which was the 1st passenger jet aircraft ever to enter service.

We remember the families who are grieving at this moment, as they attempt to come to terms with their loss. May the comfort of the Holy Sprit enwrap them closely, and may they find grace to help in time of need. May sensitive counsellors be with them, who may lead them to drink from the Living Waters.

New York:
Also, as I write, my dear friend Dr. Bruce Porter from Littleton, Colorado is standing at Ground Zero, being interviewed by the 700 Club for a special they are airing on 11th. May God grant great wisdom to Bruce and the on-camera presenters and crew. We must remain resolute; but at the same time, remain full of compassion. This is the “battle of the ages” and we all are a part of it. May all of you be surrounded by God’s love as we remember, and may this short presentation bring comfort and help us reflect.

Israel:
Bruce arrived back in USA after 10 days working on the front lines with the bereaved and hurting in Israel. I’m sure Bruce would endorse this: Never be ashamed of your support for Israel. Unfortunately, some voices in the Churches are becoming very vocal in putting Israelis down. They are a downtrodden minority, with neighbours who have a declared and open intent to never rest until Israel is annihilated. My support for Israel does not mean a blanket condoning of every policy and every action. But it does need to mean compassionate care, concern, support and prayer. So, let’s re-affirm our prayers for "the peace of Jerusalem” – the City of Peace.

President Bush:
I’m already out on a limb with my pro-Israeli comments (above) so I may as well also lend support for President George W. Bush as well. On the 7th August 2006, he said:

“It is the great challenge of this century and it's this: As young democracies flourish, terrorists try to stop their progress. And it's the great challenge of the United States and others who are blessed with living in free countries. Not only do terrorists try to stop the advance of democracy through killing innocent people within those countries, they also try to shape the will of the western world by killing innocent westerners. They try to spread their jihadist message -- a message I call, it's totalitarian in nature -- Islamic radicalism, Islamic fascism, they try to spread it as well by taking the attack to those of us who love freedom.” (White House Press Office)

Plain speaking – and in my view, it needed to be said! In this instance, he did not call the Moslem people Islamic fascists; he was referring to the jihadist message (which is a part of Islamic faith) promoted by extremists. (I am aware he has used similar language on I believe 2 other occasions – I’m limiting my comment to this verifiable source.)

It is time we become clear on the threat we are facing, and in that respect, I am glad that Mr. Bush made these remarks. Some of us in Britain have been so back-peddling this that my support may come as a jolt of electricity to some of you reading this. I will qualify it only by re-affirming that which is known by those who know me personally – that we love the Islamic people and work with them every way we can. Most of all, we desire them to come lovingly to the arms of Jesus, who is mighty to save.

However, as a religious system of belief, let’s not ignore the clear facts that Islam is founded upon principles of violent conflict that originated with the practices of Mohammed himself, so “extremism” is at the core of its faith. Yes, Christianity as a religion has much to be repented of. Let's not make excuses for the excesess of the Crusades; or the Great Inquisition for instance. But there is a significant difference: these were aberrations to the true faith -- this is not at all a picture of the faith that Jesus taught or practiced.

In Britain, I’m glad we still have some freedom of speech, and therefore am thankful I'm allowed to speak my perceptions. I’ve stayed silent too long. I will still be tolerant, caring and supportive toward all. Closing thought: Christianity is not a religion but rather a transformation.

The Da Vinci Code: A Myth for our Times?

2006-05-20T12:51:00.000-04:00

This weekend, cinema-goers in no less than sixty-eight countries (1) will be eagerly filling first-run movie theatre seats to view the heralded “Da Vinci Code” (Ron Howard, 2006). I’ve read the best selling novel, but have yet to see the movie: few people have. No one yet knows how the film will fare at the box office, but I am more concerned with the sociological issues at stake in this present writing.

A “wicked distortion”?

The film has created enormous interest and not a little controversy. For instance, in an interview published this week, a Catholic Archbishop described "the whole book (as) a wicked distortion of the truth" (2). Whatever one thinks of Dan Brown’s novel however, the story has caught the spirit of the age, full as it is of conspiracy theory and mystery; fuelled, of course, by the quest for the ‘holy grail’: on the very surface at least, roughly comparable to a 21st century “Indiana Jones” (1981, ‘84, ‘89).

Potentially, the film could beat James Cameron’s “Titanic” (1997) at the box-office, and almost certainly show crucial record-breaking first-weekend receipts (after all, how many other films have opened simultaneously in 68 nations?) While hardly a modern epic, “The Da Vinci Code” does share several similarities with the 1997 blockbuster: “Titanic” is a fictional love-story intricately woven into a true historical backdrop, and at the time of release, interest in the wreck of the actual Titanic was phenomenal. James Cameron accurately read and targeted the pop-culture climate of the times (3). “The Da Vinci Code” shares a similar formula, in that Dan Brown’s fictional thriller plot is woven against a supposedly historical backdrop. The difficulty is that, unlike “Titanic”, the background is not at all historical, but rather, is a figment of imagination –a fact that Dan Brown submerges in his book.

“Entertainment, not theology…”

As the movie hits the big screen, a question Christians of all stripes are asking is: 'Should we see the film and dialogue with others; or cast it out as anathema?' Angela Doland, reporting for Associated Press from the Cannes Film Festival, quotes director Ron Howard saying in defence "…This is supposed to be entertainment, it's not theology” (4). Be that as it may, it by-passes the fact that today’s entertainment industry is the primary means that many in our consumer-driven western world are informed. Millions form their world-views from entertainment, and the industry knows this very well.

Christians in western nations are, indeed, mostly suggesting that they dialogue with the issues the film raises. Reactions in other nations have been quite different however. The AP news-feed quoted above catalogues the pre-release backlash being experienced in mostly non-Christian countries such as South Korea, Thailand and India. The Indian government, AP reports, has “…delayed the premiere, putting it on a temporary hold while it weighs complaints by Catholic groups that want the film banned.” Likewise, film censors in Thailand, responding to Christian claims of blasphemy initially cut ten minutes from the film, prior to a successful appeal by Columbia Pictures.

Post-Modernism and Faith:

If “The Da Vinci Code” was a ‘one-off’, then Christians could be advised to either ignore it or protest against it. However, by marginalizing the film, Christians run the risk of turning their backs on an entire culture, and returning to a religious ghetto that refuses to engage the stark realities of today’s society.

At the risk of being over simplistic, I suggest that interest in the film is an indication of the extent post-modernism is becoming the predominant influence of our western culture. Post modernism rejects the idea of absolutes. Our viewpoint on life and reality is processed within a matrix of what is relative. In this subjective minefield, what is truth for me may not be truth for you. Certainly, I am permitted to search for truth, provided I do not arrive at any conclusions leading to a universal truth or law. That would be a violation of the post-modern paradigm, and may explain why historic Christian faith has generally become so hated in western societies. Such thinking can result in a not-so-subtle form of moral anarchy. ‘Do what is right in your own eyes – just don’t hurt anyone else’.

From this mindset, it becomes easy to justify abortion and euthanasia, because we may freely redefine our concepts of reality and the value of human life within such an amoral society: absolutes have been washed away. In its essence, it reveals a rebellion against the historic and redemptive centre of Christianity, revolving as it does around the Christ event. To deny the existence of Jesus Christ is implausible: far better to insinuate a diabolical cover-up. And this is exactly what Dan Brown and Ron Howard have done.

“The Da Vinci Code” could mark the beginning of a cycle of mainstream productions that may delve more deeply into ways that post-modernism seeks to de-construct and mythologicalise the Christian faith. The film may also help fuel a hunger for truth that can be met through the saving grace of Jesus Christ. For these reasons, I suggest that Christians engage the film, dialoguing with those around them.

As for a natural bloodline from Jesus: I think not. Indeed, God has something far superior in store for those who love Him and obey Jesus Christ, our risen Saviour. As a Christian sage once said: “Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of glory. (for) …flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These perishable bodies of ours are not able to live forever… So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”(5)

References & Notes:

(1) List of openings: http://webmail.wlc.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/davincicode/international/
(2) http://webmail.wlc.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.zenit.org/ - article #: ZE060518
(3) Going back further in time, the “Indiana Jones” trilogy, set against a backdrop of Egyptology, merely served up three fast-paced adventures, and never attempted to offer audiences anything other than pure escapism.
(4) 5/18/2006 Associated Press. source: http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060518/1057464.asp
(5) St. Paul the Apostle quoted in: 1st Corinthians 15:43, 50, 58. NT, (New Living Translation).

Which Theologian Are You?

2006-02-08T13:46:00.000-05:00

Waiting for my daughter for 2 hours to get her some snow shoes; she is going up and down on our Tube system getting lost, so came back to my office to surf the Net and found this quiz. Don't take it too seriously, even though I feel quite honered to have scored a bullseye with Karl Barth, (that was 1st time around, before I lost the results!) I really do not think the questions were that revealing. anyhow, here's my answer...

You scored as Anselm. Anselm is the outstanding theologian of the medieval period.He sees man's primary problem as having failed to render unto God what we owe him, so God becomes man in Christ and gives God what he is due. You should read "Cur Deus Homo?"

Anselm

100%

Karl Barth

93%

John Calvin

67%

Martin Luther

60%

Jonathan Edwards

53%

Charles Finney

53%

Augustine

33%

Paul Tillich

27%

Friedrich Schleiermacher

J. Moltmann

Which theologian are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

Chaplain's Call Blog

2006-02-05T17:28:00.000-05:00

Check out my other, rather more formal blog and find out why I took this photo of eagles this morning in central London. You'll find a several other shots and also a second posting relating to this event I attended. Read all about it on my "Chaplain's Call" blog and tell your chaplain friends and Anglophiles!

St. Paul's Prayer Room

2006-02-05T15:29:00.000-05:00

Here is an overview of the entire prayer room, seen in closeup in the previous post. I took both the shots just as the week of prayer came to an end. A map of the room was provided, inviting participants to engage progressively in the act of personal sanctification, followed by prayer for the Church and prayer for the community. Even though this experience is far more multi-sensory than most evangelicals expect, (including incense, it seems) interestingly, there still remains a very clear verbal focus: written prayers; scripture banners; written guidance and so on. The only "icon" is that of a lamb underneath the cross.

Orthodox or Evangelical?

2006-02-05T15:19:00.000-05:00

This could almost be the inside of an Orthodox Church. Actually, it is the prayer room at St. Paul's Hammersmith, a charismatic Anglican church that is closely aligned with Holy Trinity Brompton, creators of the internationally acclaimed Alpha Course. St. Paul's have this evening concluded a week of prayer, and a central focus has been this 48 hour prayer vigil area. The pieces of paper are prayer requests, and the wall hanging in the background has scripture lovingly hand crafted. The overall atmosphere is very similar to an Orthodox approach to worship, and reveals what on the surface of things, seems like an unlikely convergence. Actually, many evangelical Christians both here (UK) and in the States are beginning to reconsider the claims of the historic Church tradition, which has been preserved through 2,000 years of continuous worship in Orthodoxy.

Worshipping Christians in London (1)

2006-02-04T17:39:00.000-05:00

Here is the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in London, (from their website, of which I do not understand a word, as it is all in Russian!) For my account of worshipping with this precious congregation, see previous posting. Then compare this pic with the Cathedral links in Canada. In time, as I get to know these folks, I am hoping to get permission to take some original pictures of the inside. Might form part of a photo-essay on Worshipping Christians in London that I started in 2005. More on that later.

Rediscovering Catholicism

2006-02-03T15:42:00.000-05:00

I logged onto Matthew Kelly's faithjourney blog totally by accident -- this blog you're on right now is faithsjourney - one little "s" in the URL makes all the difference! One of my all-time favorite websites, Holy Spirit Interactive, also happens to be hosted by a Catholic group, and it's a website with something for everyone. As to Matthew Kelly's blog, let's have you post a comment here please...

Orthodox and Evangelical

2006-02-03T06:55:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday night, my young son and I visited the Russian Church Orthodox Abroad cathedral in London. (It looks just like St. Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Canada.*) We ventured in right in the middle of the Liturgy of the Word. What a truly awesome site never to be forgotten; candles everywhere highlighting the gold screen and images, and a deep reverence mingled with humanity and humility! Fortunately, I'd already discovered that it is acceptable to walk in or walk out during Divine Liturgy, so we walked in. I did not understand a word, not being Russian, (it sounded just like Pentecostal tongues).

Anyhow, back to the Liturgy: the Bishop lifted the Bible high, (actually the Gospels richly bound in gold), and set among the people on a stand. (See photos of a similar liturgy in Canada). The faithful approached, crossed themselves, kissed the Book and then received a blessing from the bishop, kissing his hand. To answer your question not yet formed, "Yes, I did kiss the Gospel Book and also the hand of the bishop! I had to study what was going on and follow the best I could; the Orthodox even cross themselves differently than Catholics, which my son can do as his school is Catholic. By the way, the Orthodox Church does believe in the priesthood of all believers; as do the Roman Catholics.

Now, listen to this. As I approached God's Holy Word, bowed down and kissed this precious Book, full of our Saviour's love and compassion for us all; the anointing of the Holy Spirit was upon me in a mighty manner. It was as strong as any Pentecostal meeting I've been in. Then, as I stepped to the bishop, and kissed his hand in accordance to the Liturgy, it was all I could do not to throw my arms around him, and cry out, "My brother!" The Holy Spirit's hallmark is that of love, and He was so present in that act.

It is very moving to see how the children go first to kiss the Gospels, with the adults following behind: certainly demonstrating to me the child-like faith that pleases Christ. At my side, however, my son was not sure what to do, so he touched just about everything there, by the Gospel Book. (Being so young, he could get away with it, but it is not a good idea to go touching stuff in an Orthodox Church.) Afterwards, Jean-Paul asked me, "Dad, was that a foreign language, or was that God's language?" I told him that it was probably both! Thereupon, he began singing in the car, on our way home, the liturgy he'd just heard, in "God's language" -- it sounded just like in the church! Then he sang in English, "I love, I love, I love you Jesus!" over and over again! Right there, an eight year old demolished the idea that "liturgy" is too hard to understand; something weird or cultish.

On arriving home, I checked the Net to see what had been actually going on. (I knew it was true worship; this is nothing to do with pagan ritual, but rather a symbolic and mystical worship of God and His son Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit; a rite that is one of the oldest and most evangelical in the whole of Christendom, past or present.) It's not that I'm not a pentecostal, or charismatic, an Anglican or Evangelical. Labels highlight human disunity. I am one thing only, and that imperfectly: I trust in grace alone to be a disciple of Jesus. Thus, my one main desire is to be at peace with all my "separated brethren" who love Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth.

*These hyperlinks go to the home page of St. Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, not the Cathedral in London. However, this site gives a very good 'feel' of what the Cathedral is like in London, England, (the other links go to images within that website). The blue and gold cupola, (i.e. the external onion-like dome) as featured on the Canadian website, for instance, appears identical to the one over here, and is a striking landmark when driving from Heathrow into Central London: see it on your left, behind trees, just as you come off the elevated section of the M4/A4 dual carriageway (see map-quest).

HEMS London's Air Ambulance

2006-01-28T16:20:00.000-05:00

Tuesday February 2nd 2006: The HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) chopper has just flown over the college building in Acton where I lecture, and dropped down into the park 100 feet away, giving me a full-frame view of the bird in flight from my top floor window.. Guess what -- no camera on me! As it happens, I posted this photo here on the blog just 4 days ago -- I took this Summer 2005. Now for the original posting I made last week...

Saturday January 28th 2006: (original post) This is the London Air Ambulance and this is no exercise. The crew have just dropped off an RTA casualty in the park across from our home. It is used for a landing pad for our local hospital - they were bringing in a casualty from an accident on the M25 orbital motorway. The one aircraft serves the entire Greater London area, and can access an Accident & Emergency (A&E) department in less than 5 minutes flight time, they tell me, from any location in greater London. Not bad! The service is under-funded, however, with Sir Richard Branson chipping in a few hundred thousand quid each year - hence the "Virgin" livery. Link to: London Air Ambulance fact file.

Postscript: The London Air Ambulance doesn't just fly for the fun of it. At the back of my mind five hours ago today (2/2/06) I was wondering what emergency the medics were responding to. I found out via my students, who told me a "B&Q" tractor-trailer unit (articulated lorry) had caught a 21 year-old girl on a bicycle and crushed both her and the bike, and that the (unconfirmed) report is that she was dead at the scene. Doesn't make me feel very proud that my first instinct was to reach for a camera. On the other hand, to respond to emergencies like this is the reason that HEMS serves London. Click on my links above it you want to donate directly to keep the team airborne.
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US Security Alert Gizmo

2006-01-19T07:41:00.000-05:00

Homeland Security Advisory

I posted this little alert gizmo on my other blog Chaplains Call (dedicated to workplace ministry) last year, (from the US Dept for Homeland Security so it reflects USA not Britian). Thought we should have it up here too. This blog is dedicated to my own personal faith journey. Which I think is self-explainitory looking at the title!

Personal Church Survey - Take Two!

2006-01-19T05:40:00.000-05:00

After a term of studying Catholic theologian Avery Dulles at St. Mary's College, Twickenham, my results for the Church Survey (on which it is based) are somewhat different this time around. (I'll be honest: I'd not even heard of Dulles' book, "Models of the Church" when I posted my first survey results on this blog, 10th August 2005.) Is there some ecclesiological 'morphing' going on in my life, I wonder? No easy answer, as it represents a stage in my on-going journey of faith and devotion to Christ. Anyhow, here's the second time around results:

"You scored as Sacrament model. Your model of the church is Sacrament. The church is the effective sign of the revelation that is the person of Jesus Christ. Christians are transformed by Christ and then become a beacon of Christ wherever they go. This model has a remarkable capacity for integrating other models of the church. "

Sacrament model

83%

Herald Model

67%

Mystical Communion Model

56%

Institutional Model

56%

Servant Model

33%

What is your model of the church? [Dulles]
created with QuizFarm.com

Still Active!

2006-01-19T05:20:00.000-05:00

Anyone even bothering to click on my blog will notice nothing new at all... This is a reflection of my battle with passwords, log-ins etc., that very often defeat all my best intentions! Also, my writing has been directed mostly of late in the essays required on the MA Pastoral Theology degree I'm undertaking at St. Mary's College, University of Surrey. Having now got the website up and running for my gardening friend, Edyta, at www.edytagarden.com my confidence is on a roll, and I may just get around to re-do and update my ancient freelygiven website (at http://www.freelygiven.net/ ) It needs work for sure! Don't loose sleep, but --- let's hope I get things a bit more up to date in the not too distant future. - John

"Let's Roll!"

2005-09-11T08:18:00.000-04:00

Today we pause to remember that tragic day four years ago, when the centre of power and commerce in America was attacked in such a tragic manner. In remembering those who died in the Twin Towers, let's not forget those who perished at the Pentagon and also those brave warrior heroes on board a flight destined to destroy the White House, who defeated the terrorists, even at the cost of their own life, dying in a remote field in Pennsylvania.

I recall those agonizing minutes, as I watched on live television half way around the globe, as air traffic controllers attempted to contact that lone Boeing aircraft, flying high above the American homeland.Let our prayers and our vigilance ensure that none of these innocents at those three locations died in vain. Let us pray that He, (my reading of this indicates the Holy Spirit), who does restrain, shall continue to restrain, until He (and let's pray us) - are taken out of the way.

Until that time, we are on a world-wide damage limitation exercise, called to respond to a world in crisis with the compassion of Jesus Christ.Four years on, and those simple words "Let's Roll" still speak powerfully of those who put others first, before their own dreams, families and security. Let us always remember.

Fly the Flag!

2005-08-13T18:25:00.000-04:00

Just so you know I'm proud to be British. Proud to wave the flag. Also very ashamed that I'm among so few flag-wavers this side of the Atlantic! I took this shot of a prestine Union Flag at Marvern Garden Show a few weeks ago where an ex-student of mine was exhibiting her garden. Now you'll want to see the shots I took of her garden.. so does she! When I find them, she'll get them and I'll direct you to her website. In the meantime, I'll stay just proudly waving my flag!

Recovering From 7/7

2005-08-11T16:24:00.000-04:00

A Piccadily Line train around 4 hours after central London deep level tube service is restored, exactly 4 weeks after the 7/7 attacks. That's my backpack - not the most popular carry on baggage. The blog is new, which is why these photos are only now just going up. On the day, I emailed these photos to members of my wonderful Internet prayer group hours before an almost identical shot (sans backpack!) appeared on the front page of London's Evening Standard.

Terror in the Tunnel

2005-08-11T16:20:00.000-04:00

Self-portrait, taken as close as I could estimate to the spot in the deep level London Tube tunnel where the Piccadily train bomb took so many lives. I took this on the first morning the system was up and running -- exactly 4 weeks after the morning the terrorists struck. I was alone in the car.. it was very sobering moment as I tried to imagine the carnage, and thought of the loved ones of those lost, and those who were horrifically injured.

Tube Transit Resumes in Aftermath of 7/7

2005-08-11T16:15:00.000-04:00

A totally deserted Russell Square station, central London. No commutors; no tourists. Normally, you'd only get a shot like this after midnight on a weekday or really early before 6:00 am. I took this shot on the morning (exactly 4 weeks after the horrendous 7/7 terrorist attacks on London) of the first day the Underground system was re-opened. This is a Picaddily Line tube. This would have been the last thing some precious people ever got to see. We must stay alert and awake and close to God at all times. In situations like this, surrendering to Jesus Christ and making peace with God is all that matters.

Personal Church Survey

2005-08-10T05:02:00.000-04:00

Here's a quiz I just took... just for fun. This is how I scored..

You scored as Herald Model. Your model of the church is Herald.The organization of the church is much less important than the urgency of announcing the Good News of salvation to all the world. The Holy Spirit moves the individual to belief in Jesus Christ and to do the will of the Father by sharing this message with others. As with other models, the narrowness of this model could be supplemented by drawing on other models.

Herald Model

89%

Mystical Communion Model

78%

Servant Model

61%

Sacrament model

56%

Institutional Model

22%

What is your model of the church? [Dulles]
created with QuizFarm.com

Welcome!

2005-08-07T14:49:00.000-04:00

Welcome to a journey of faith into the realms of taking raw belief, and translating it into action that will inflluence our world for good.