Thanksgiving November 29, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Community, What's happening with me....Tags: thanksgiving
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That’s right! I had my first thanksgiving on Thursday! I guess that’s the joy of working with a few Americans!
Apparently (from what I can remember) it’s the celebration of surviving the first winter in the states (even though they don’t know TRUE winter – not living in Scotland). All in all, it’s a giant feast. You can imagine how much I enjoyed it then?
We had a whole bunch of people invited who I didn’t know from outside church, so it was good to have a few chats with people. But COME ON… the turkey? The HAM? The creamy mashed potatoes? The stuffing? The peakan pie? The cookies? Coffee?
It’s fair to say… that Scotland is lacking one major holiday/celebration… and that is Thanksgiving!
Feast! October 14, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Church, Community, Glasgow, God, Re:Hope, What's happening with me....Tags: Christianity, Church, Community, faith, feast, God, Re:Hope
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At Re:Hope we do something called ‘feasts’! They’re brilliant!
This year I took the role of being Wade Thompson’s right hand man in preparing food for over 225 people!!!
After cooking all day, it was astounding to see how many people had showed up! A large number of whom wouldn’t step inside a church in normal circumstances!
Ill, weak… but with hope… October 2, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Church, Community, Glasgow, God, Prayer, Re:Hope, Read Through, What's happening with me....Tags: Bible, Christian, Christianity, Church, God, Prayer
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Ok. So first off, I’ve not blogged in a while. Second… I’m sick, and perhaps looking for sympathy.
It’s strange. I’ve no idea what happened. Today was bible readthrough, and afterwards we went to the Bier Hall in central for pizza (it’s really good by the way). As soon as I got into the flat, I got super sick, super fast. Which apparently was funny for my flat mate stuart when he walked in to find me lying on the hall floor, groaning.
It struck me though… this is one of those times where I’m weak as heck, struggling to move, and yet… I’m confident that God is bigger than all of it. In my weakness, he is strong, right?
Anyhoo… I’m amazed at what God is doing. He’s moving. He’s answering prayer. He’s the same God he was yesterday, today and forever. He’s bigger than anything you or me can imagine. He created a vast Universe we can’t put an end or an edge to. He’s chosen a tiny planet called earth, and created US.
Last week, I was just stepping into my friend’s car… when a guy stumbled up to me, told me he was scared (having taken drugs), and just wanted to talk. He then told me about the vastness of the universe and how HE couldn’t comprehend how big it is, and how small WE are. He then said there MUST be a God. It “just makes sense, don’t it?”.
Last week I was sitting in Coopers with the same friend, and 2 random guys came and sat next to us. Next thing I know, they’re asking us about church and God. They want to find a church, and they want to grow in their relationship with God.
Last week I watched my readthrough group triple in size so that now we have 3 groups worth of people, pursuing God, and seeking to become people submerged in the word.
On Sunday I saw prayer answered, when we had around 200 people between both services… students in a city where people just don’t… walk into churches anymore.
I’ve watched Re:Hope grow 140% of it’s size over the past year. That’s more than double.
I’ve witnessed people put behind them old lifestyles, and putting God first – completely changed.
I am overwhelmed at what God’s doing. And I’m glad that even though right now, I’m pretty ill… I’m part of it all. I’m able to testify to the fact that my God is alive and moving, that he not only hears prayer – but answers it, and that he has not given up on what sometimes can feel like a hopeless situation.
Watch out for the reawakening.
Glasgow February 5, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Church, Community, Glasgow, Mission, Re:Hope.2 comments
“Its report predicted that half of all families in Glasgow would be headed by a lone parent eight years from now.”
“there are 170 teenage gangs in Glasgow – the same number as in London, despite Glasgow having just a sixth of the population of the English capital.”
“The proportion of young people not in employment, education or training was about 18% – 50% more than the Scottish average and roughly twice that of Manchester.”
“The critical issues are family breakdown and drug and alcohol abuse – which are very high here, with up to 15-20,000 registered drug users.”
Re:Football November 9, 2007
Posted by jonesy24 in Church, Community, Re:Hope.add a comment
That’s right… How are we spending time together as a church? We play football (the american version…). It’s only happened once or twice so far, but it’s fun. It’s definately worth the pain – to see people like your pastor fall flat on his face, or your worship leader standing on the side lines. Haha.
It’s only a matter of time before the guys in our church get good enough to have a team, and then we can challenge whoever else plays football in our City – and show them God’s love – in a rough physical sorta way.
Hense, when we’re sending leaders out – someone is going to have to start Re:football – Next generation football church!
