Gossip – talk at Ivy MCR by Sarah Small

Sometimes we think it’s quite a trivial thing, but it’s not. We are surrounded by Facebook opportunities to pry into other peoples reality. Cf Levenson enquiry – media stooped so low – why? Because we wanted to ‘read all about it.’ We think it’s ok to put it out there. What they said and did. And it’s in churches too. It can make you feel awful. To have a confidence broken. There are ‘prayer group gossipers.’ but you don’t need to know everything to pray about anything Or we say something negative about someone – but finish it off with ‘bless them.’ Or the one who says ‘I’m just putting it out there’ – as if delivering a helpful truth, when in fact we are assassinating a character. The more quantity – the less its likely to be helpful. Prov 11;13 16:28 26:20 18:8 These verses tell us of serious consequences! Are you a trustworthy friend or a perverse gossiper? Let the fire go out – don’t put petrol on it! Gossip is tasty! To be ‘in’ on something, to […]

@AlanHirsch – ReOrganise at #NWNLC12

Don’t create systems that create dependences. If you want to destroy a movement – don’t make it easily reproducible.We believe in the priesthood of all believers, but it’s largely a doctrine not a practice. As long as you’re wearing a collar it speaks louder than your words. You’re representing the institution. It’s very hard to get a person to understand something when their salary depends on not understanding it.

Playing to my strengths

Tomorrow we go away as a staff team. In recent weeks I’ve asked everyone to do the Clifton Strengthfinders test, most of them have come back from it saying it’s ‘scarily accurate.’ Here’s mine – I took the test a few years ago but I don’t think it changes that much so I haven’t redone it. If you know me, does this sound like me? Have you done the test – or do you prefer others? I’ve done DISC and Myers-Briggs. I certainly don’t agree with the last sentence of the first one. Anyway, I have to be going… Activator People who are especially talented in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient. Maximizer People who are especially talented in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb. Adaptability People who are especially talented in the Adaptability theme prefer to “go with the flow.” They tend to be “now” people who take things as they […]

KP Yohannan at Ivy Manchester

1 John 2:6… He who says he abides in him out also to walk as he walked Anyone who says he’s a Christian should live as Christ lived So How do we do that practically How did Jesus walk his life on earth? Jn 4 – Samaritan Woman The disciples saw something very strange Jesus is talking to a woman Culturally wrong! It was a special assignment for him to go there for one woman. They are confused He says ‘I’m already full.’ He says ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me’ I ate God’s will. The Lord says ‘lift up your eyes – look away from your little world of yours – and see.’ This one woman’s destiny change and the promise of it filled up his heart. Do you let your heart be broken by the lostness of people? 35 million of them in one weekend go into the dirty waters of the Ganges to have their sins cleansed. They perish without having chance to come to know the gospel. We blame the […]