Just been out on my cycle for 23 miles. No, the picture above isn’t me – but I want to get some of the weight off that’s so quickly accumulated over this festive season. A very western ‘disease,’ – creeping chubbitum. Why is it so easy to put weight on? I can usually take it off okay (blood, sweat and tears), but as you get older it seems to get harder not to end up looking like you’re wearing an inflatable rubber ring under your shirt. that stuff about turning 40 was true for me! Now I’m not paranoid about it. I know God loves every inch of me (so if I put on some more inches will he love me more?). I like the fact that God looked on the fat portions and was pleased… and nobody’s ever going to mistake me for an anorexic, but I just feel so much better when I’m not carrying around Christmas pudding. So tomorrow, I’ll start the New Year running.
Dave Ferguson"A short but insightful read that can change lives forever – Anthony proves again that deep truths don’t have to be complex."
Carl Beech"Anthony is the real deal, a leader full of keen insights into how to unlock the gift and calling God has placed in you. Read this, then get hold of a bunch for your friends."
Dr. Krish Kandiah"Anthony Delaney is a gifted communicator and leader. He has an infectious passion for God and is making an outstanding impact in his community."
The Independent“Delaney is 'above all' a follower of Jesus: he has successfully utilised his engaging, measured manner to grow Manchester's Ivy Church to more than four times its size since he joined as leader five years ago. So significant today is the congregation, that events are now held several times a week at venues across the city, including Cineworld, a warehouse and even a nightclub...”
Dave Ferguson“Anthony Delaney is one of those amazing leaders who loves Jesus, loves the mission and is truly authentic in his faith. I love how Anthony is impacting his community and putting into place a network of reproducing churches to reach the UK. I'm truly inspired by his get-it-done attitude while totally depending on God.”
Mike Breen“Anthony is a rare kind of man. He’s a great leader but he’s honest about his weaknesses. He’s a charismatic personality, but he’s surprisingly self-effacing. He comes from an ordinary background but has never settled for mediocrity. He’s a strong man with a tender heart.”
Tim Morfin“So many people talk leadership theory but are not leading in significant ways. What Anthony brought to the TLG managers was so directly from his personal leadership experience. We were inspired to bring who we are to the leadership opportunities we have, to overcome opposition and build passionate teams who are focused on achieving goals. Inspirational and practical – a great combination!”
Thinking about leading...
Catalyst 2007 Francis Chan
I was at this conference. That’s me at the back somewhere. Why do I go all that way across the pond? Because of the fantastic teaching. Here’s one of the best bits from this year. It’s longish, but worth a watch. Thanks to http://floatingaxhead.com
A Baby New Year
Why is a baby the symbol for the New Year? Why will we very soon say goodbye to the OLD year, and welcome a new baby 2008? Well if there’s one thing you can say about babies that you can’t say as we get older – it’s that babies (especially in nappies) like changes! Someone said to me the other day they think 2008 will be a bad year. I think you get what you believe for. I think the new year is like that baby who’s just entered the world and I want to be ready to celebrate and live life anew. A New Year presents another chance to grow, to develop, to learn:How do feel as you look toward 2008? Will next year be better? What about you? Will you be a better version of you in 2008 than 2007?Sometimes adult children of God can think we’ve grown enough. Like when they measure Mary Poppins and it says, “Practically perfect in every way!” And we can make all kinds of excuses for stagnating…. An old man of 100 […]
Rubbish, Christmas and kids
The Daily Mail says we Britons will chuck out 736,571 tonnes of refuse – just because of Christmas. Or, according to official sources, 3 tons (someone’s talking rubbish). Anyway – it’s a lot. Just look at my drive this morning. A family of 5 with relatives stopping over can generate a lot of junk. I’m glad we can recycle a lot, but it makes me ashamed to be putting out so much empty wrapping/ bottles/ food containers to celebrate that God came to a stable. This, in a world where more than 58 million kids are suffering acute malnutrition and 146 million are malnourished (a nice way to say they’re slowly starving to death). Starvation is the leading cause of child death in the world at the beginning of the (21st. Many of those who don’t actually die in the first couple of years will instead grow up stunted and deformed because of the deprivation of their early years. In 2000, our government and other world leaders promised to halve child poverty by 2015, back then it was at 29%. […]
Why buy?
Books. I spend too much money on books. I love them. Especially new ones. The promise of learning something new. I wish I had the patience to get them from the library (or the discipline to take them back on time when I do). Yesterday I was thinking I either: 1) Buy less books 2) Buy a new bookcase. I think option 2 will prevail. Why can’t I just go (locally) somewhere like those Barnes & Nobles in the USA / Canada where I’ve happily spent half a day reading books I’ll probably not buy while drinking coffee? I’m marginally interested in Russell Brand’s ‘Booky Wook,’ mainly because I can’t understand why so many people are buying it (whether they actually read it is, of course, another thing entirely). I won’t buy it – unless it’s in 3 or 4 years in a charity shop for 50p, but I’d like to read it.
Best of Intentions
I want to be faithful to God. I want to go closer to him in prayer and obedience. I can’t do this in my own strength. This Sunday I stand before His people to speak about the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge (Lk 18:1-8). My questions – in what way am I like/ not like the widow? In what way is God like/ not like the judge? Is it saying I have to hammer on at God to get an answer? Why should this story encourage me to pray?