Delirious, driving and stepping up

I went to the delirious gig at the O2 last Saturday night, they were so good. To think that for nearly 13 years they have been entertaining crowds on both sides of the pond with their soaring guitar riffs and God-centred lyrics. Saturday night had passion, emotion and intensity. What impressed me is that Delirious can switch between the emotion of songs such as Jesus Blood or All Gods Children to the pace and charisma of God is Smiling Over Us and History Maker.

Delirious were ably supported by Tree63 who are an old favourite of mine, and the gig was well worth the ticket price of £18 for the “VIP” section at the indigo O2. Somehow the VIP tickets were all that were left, so we managed to avoid the queues and get into the lift with Jon Thatcher (the bassist from Delirious), and then enter the VIP lounge where the band and their kids were sitting before the gig! It pays sometimes to book late!

What impressed me most about Delirious is that through all their successes and criticisms they still love God and are unashamed to bring his message. Martin Smith spoke a couple of times about God moving and anything he missed was aptly filled with the lyrics of songs such as Jesus blood.

All in all for those in Loughborough next week, you are in for a treat.

This Saturday I’m hopefully getting a car, quite possibly a Seat Ibiza 1.2, so it will be interesting to start driving around, rather than walking, cycling or catching the train.

Lastly thought I’d just mention at the moment at NCC the real emphasis is on being missional re: Mark Driscoll’s word at Brighton and also to see people stepping-up, as a church we have been increasingly shaped by Luke 5 and the disciples catching many fish, and we are also being stirred as we go through Acts, there is real momentum and expectation, which is exciting, we just need to make sure we don’t lose sight of God and that we are ready and willing to be used and to step out and to step up.

Pride, anger and Sin

Football is a game that I enjoy passionately. However recently a lack of time has prevented me from playing. So upfit and eager I trained for the first time in ages and played a 6 a side game. Now for those of you who don't know I'm a defender, I play to win and try to stop attacks and generally anyone coming past me. I only know one way to play football, and most sports for that matter, it's all or nothing, phrases like "it's only a game" only serve to aggravate me as the inference behind the comment is always you are playing too hard or don't take it seriously. I have no 99% only 100%, sometimes I'll admit my 100% is not great but it is always 100%. The problem comes where playing at 100% often means going over the limit, my blood starts boiling and tackles fly. Unfortunately football brings out the worst in me, it flares my temper and causes me to take vengeance which isn't right, but I know no other way to play.

The pride part is where I believe I'm better than I am or that I deserve status and acknowledgement. Now i am a leader, I don't believe that statement is a proud one as it takes a lot for me to write that, however I oftne have thoughts, of "I could do that better" or "I deserve to be more important" etc. etc.

Why am I blogging about my shortcomings? Because I am becoming more and more aware of them, as I have started working, I have become more tired and when I am tired I am more often tempted into sin or more likely to make foolish errors. It is only God's grace that holds me, his love that perpetuates me, I am weak, but I am so glad God uses weak people. I am a leader but have done nothing to deserve such a title, yet God has placed it upon me out of his love and grace, praise be to God.

Whatever God has given you whether much or little use it wisely and widely. It is better to have few gifts used to their maximum than many gifts that are squandered.