Kerith Revealed - Facts are Friends

One of Bill Hybels most memorable sayings (or as he calls them Axioms) is "Facts are Friends". So often we run away from the facts, afraid of what they are going to tell us, whereas instead we should embrace them as once we know where where we're at we can begin to make the journey to where we want to be.

That's true on a personal level, where those facts may be the reading from the bathroom scales, our bank balance or what our friends really think of us! It's true for companies where those facts may be the sales figures, the profit margin or what customers really think. And it's true for churches where those facts may be what people think of the church, whether people are growing in their relationship with Christ and which ministries are working and which ones aren't. We all might like to close our eyes to the facts, but the reality is that they really are our friends.

So we want as a church community to get the facts on where we're really at, and in that to give everyone a voice. To do that we've signed up to do a survey called Reveal, which was developed by Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. The survey has been used extensively in the US, but we'll be one of the first churches in the UK to get to do it. It's an online survey which takes about 30-35 minutes to complete and which we'd like as many people as possible to do. You'll be able to do the survey between Saturday 20th February and Friday 5th March.

Nearer to the 20th February I'll send out a link to the survey so that everyone can complete it. Some time after we've all done the survey (I'm not exactly sure how long) I'll get a report back from Willow on how we're doing. I'll then find an opportunity to share that with the whole church (unless it's really bad, in which case I'll set fire to it and pretend it got lost in the post!).

I'll send out more details nearer the time, but just wanted to give you early warning of what I hope is going to be a really exciting opportunity for us all.

Simon.

Choose Where You're Planted - The Finance Choice

Last week it was announced that the UK is officially out of the deepest recession since the Second World War. In many ways that's good news. Good news for people looking for jobs, good news for employees in companies which have struggled through the recession, good news for people who own businesses, good news for people in sales and their bonuses and annoyingly good news for the bankers now returning to their exorbitant bonuses!

But I have a huge concern that we've failed to learn the real lessons of this recession. That at the root of the recession was a belief that a debt fuelled lifestyle is the way to go. We've bought into the belief as individuals, as companies and as nations (and even as churches) that debt is the way to go, and it really does make sense to get stuff today and hope we can pay for it tomorrow - "For everything else there's Barclycard" could be a tag line for our generation. I do fear that if we don't learn the lessons of this recession then in a few years time we could be in a much worth place, both individually and as nations.

So now is a great time to get well planted financially. That doesn't happen by accident. So here are my three steps to being well planted in 2010.

First be honest about where you're at. Paul wrote to the church in Rome "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another". That's a great starting point for being well planted financially. Are you in trouble and just sticking your head in the sand - if so then admit to yourself, to some friends you can trust and to God. Don't struggle on in isolation, church is a safe community for all of us to be honest and open about whatever it is we're struggling with.

Secondly believe that with God's help you can be well planted and begin to prosper. God isn't going to condemn you for where you're at, but give you all the help you need to get to a better place. We'd often just want God to drop a huge sum of money in our laps to sort everything out, but God often has lessons to teach us through financial hardship - that's been my experience anyway.

Thirdly come up with a plan. It's so true that if you fail to plan you plan to fail. So come up with a plan to get planted where you want to be. The core of financial planning is very simple - getting to a point where your income is bigger than your expenditure. But inevitably the details will be more complicated. You'll almost certainly need some help. That might be going to CAP for debt counselling, or doing a CAP money course. And then when you've got a plan continue to work it, even when you're tempted to give up or unexpected things happen.

There's so much more I could say, and perhaps will in a future blog. But for now can I encourage you to think seriously about your situation and what God might be saying to you in all this.

Be well planted and prosper!

Simon.

Haiti Update

You might be interested to know that the offering for Haiti is now just over £6,200 with Gift Aid and a contribution from the Mission Tithe still to be added. That's a magnificent total - thanks so much to everyone who gave.

I also just got this update from Lindsey Reece-Smith in Haiti. Let's keep praying for her, as well as the people of Haiti and all the other relief workers out there.

Simon.
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The compound that we are camped on belongs to a church and we attended the church on Sunday. Although the pastor is American, and it is in the only English speaking church in Port au Prince, the vast majority of the congregation are Haitian. There were a few Americans, Canadians, Dutch and us from the UK.

The pastor relayed the story of when the earthquake had struck at 4.53pm on 12th Jan. The church and building had not been damaged, and an initial assessment of the library showed that not one book had fallen from the shelves. They were looking for medical supplies and the pastor turned back to have one last look in the library, he discovered that one book had fallen, face down. It was a copy of the bible and he picked it up to look at the passage. It was Jeremiah 19, the pastor spoke on the passage verses 3-4.

It was a very moving service where the pastor spoke of needing a second quake, to shake people’s souls and for faith to pour in and change the country.

Two young women also gave a testimony that at the time of the quake both were in separate parts of the town, they looked out over the city, from a roof top and a second floor window and sang the song City of God and then the quake happened. The congregation reflected on the power of God and the need to not return to 11/1/10 but to have a new beginning and to make changes for God.

Bracknell Samaritans

I went yesterday to the opening of the refurbished offices of the Bracknell Samaritans. It was inspiring to chat to some of the people involved, and to hear some of the great work they do in our community.

I'm understanding more and more how God wants us to work in partnership with other local organisations. That we do what we can do, whether that's CAP, foodbank, sparklers, special needs or crisis intervention and look to work with others who do the things we don't.

Being at the Samaritans also reminded me of the power of just listening. I can be so quick to try and reassure people, offer them advice or try and solve their problems, rather than giving them the gift of just listening to what they have to say. It's often the most powerful thing we can do when faced with someone grieving or in difficulty. Why not give it a go.

Hope to catch you this weekend.

Simon.

Thanksgiving Service for Ron Ball

We've now finalised the date for Ron's thanksgiving service, which will take place on Friday 12th February.

There will be a small committal service from family and close friends at 1.30pm at Easthampstead Park Crematorium, followed by a service to give thanks for Ron's life starting at 2.15pm at The Kerith Centre .

I know that many of you will want to come to The Kerith Centre to both remember Ron and to support Barbara and the family. Please can I just request that if possible you park in the town centre car parks to leave the limited Kerith parking for visitors, the elderly and the disabled.

Simon.

Haiti

I'm at the prayer meeting where Zoe Hayes is leading us in praying for Haiti. We'll be taking up an offering for Haiti on Sunday, as well as in the morning meetings hearing from Lindsey Reece-Smith who goes out to Haiti on Tuesday for two months as part of the Tearfund relief effort.

Hope to see you there.

Simon.

Ron Ball

I received the sad news earlier on today that Ron Ball passed away this morning.

Ron and his wife Barbara have been part of our church for over 38 years. He came from a Salvation Army background and I'll always remember him playing his horn in the band in the days when we met in Wick Hill Hall, and in the early days of The Kerith Centre. Since I've taken over leading the church Ron has always been incredibly supportive and would always speak positive things into me at every opportunity. He will be greatly missed by me and many others.

Please be praying for Barbara and for the rest of the family at this time. God is the God of all comfort who comfort's us in all our troubles - let's pray that they know the reality of God with them in all they are going through.

There will be a service of Thanksgiving for Ron's life. I'll let you know via the blog and on the family news section of the website when we've got a date and time for that.

Simon.