My Dad was a PE teacher, and in my upbringing money and business was never really discussed. In the past few weeks though I have become an expert on global finances! Never before have I been so up to date on business markets, and I expect the same is true for many. It is unheard of to have major financial institutions going under almost every day on both sides of the Atlantic. Many are asking ‘What’s going on?’

Obviously the entire loan/mortgage system of the west has been so slack that the house of cards has come falling down. Christian commentators have for a long time been pointing out the ludicrous amounts of debt in our culture. This and other factors play a practical part in the instability. I wonder whether there is something else at play too? Some of my more prophetic friends from churches around the country have been speaking over the last 2 years that God is in the process of shaking the earth (see Heb 12:26-27): shaking the church, the nations, and their cultures. This shaking is to remove the temporal and enable people to build on Him, things that last. Obviously we need to be careful in pronouncing prophetic words, but I am drawn to that as an understanding of what is going on in our churches and in the world. What do you think?

Anyone following the Florida outpouring will have noted the demise of Todd Bentley know, like the ‘Toronto Blessing’ in the 90s, ‘Lakeland’ today has divided people and polarised people’s opinions. Those encouraged by aspects of the movement will no doubt be saddened, those critical of it will not be surprised and perhaps want to say ‘I told you so’. I know well known Christian leaders have slammed Todd and the movement. I know many who have supported him even if not endorsing some of his methods (which is where I would put myself). As the years progress, I’ve been a Christian since 1991, and in some form of leadership since ’94, I am ever more humbled and convicted not to criticise anyone else’s mission, nor their hunger for God, nor their results, especially if they are achieving far more than I ever have. I am increasingly aware, again and again and again, that the Biblical prophets and the key people over the 2000 years of Christianity of every century who’ve advanced the kingdom and been hungry for revival, have been a little eccentric to say the least and often rejected by ‘mainstream’. This is not to advocate heresy, or wackiness for its own sake, but there is something about such people (Charles Finney, Smith Wigglesworth, Charles Wesley, Jackie Pullinger, Heidi Baker) that I find deeply challenging: they are so hungry for God to use them and to do his work, extending his kingdom, that they care not what other human beings think of them (see 1 Cor 4:3-4 for Paul’s take on this). It is this hunger and detachment from the fear of man that moulds them to be a little …’whacky’. Why is this? I’m not sure but I think it has something to do with the fact that God will not trust unlimited power to someone whose character is not tried and tested to be beyond fearing what others think. When he sees a person so free he pours his love and power into them because he knows they will be obedient with what he gives. I’m not endorsing everything Todd did, just calling for us to be less judgemental, and more prayerful and obedient ourselves. It would appear Todd may have not managed himself and the pressures as well as needed, so let’s pray for him and his family, that they can recover, experience healing in their marriage and begin the road back to ministry. Also, could it be the huge criticism that the church heaped on him had a crippling effect too? Would any of us survive that kind of onslaught? Which brings us back to the subject of one of my earlier blogs about the power of our words and the culture and climate we create. In the meantime let’s commit to pray for and work toward revival in our nation?

Cor that was long. A controversial subject like that is always good for comments!

Tip for the site: Try checking out the photos in the resources section, particularly of 4 of the 5 living people who’ve been ministers at MBC. It was a privilege to be involved with John Balchin, Norman Sinclair (and our Ellen) at the recent and very sad funeral of Cressida Day, and a testament to her life that the church was so packed. Do pray for John and the family at this difficult time.

Apologies if you were waiting for this week’s sermon online, we were late getting it up due to the computer failures of the weekend. Thankfully it’s on the site now and so those who find the virtual sermon helpful can get it easily. Back soon.