0I was recently ministering at a church in Norwich (UK) staying with a family who have two sons. One of the sons has been diagnosed with autism and the other with aspergers. As you can imagine it has not been easy trying to manage the boys. They are doing a wonderful job which is a testimony to many other families who face the same issues.
One of the many things that they have discovered when the boys are feeling the pressure is to give them a hug until they feel that the tensions have subsided. When shopping for groceries in their local Asda (A major grocery chain in the UK and part of the WalMart Group) they arrived at the till to pay for their groceries only to discover that the tension levels in the boys were rising. Mum and Dad immediately said, “OK lets all hug” and stopping what they were doing, which was loading shopping on the counter, formed a hug. The check out lady exclaimed “I would like a hug” and Jo the mum said, “Well come and join us” and she did - and for that moment the store stood still.
When next visiting the store, a staff member walked up to Jo and asked, “Are you the hugging lady?” and Jo replied, “I guess I am.” The staff member then asked, “Can you please give me a hug?” Jo proceeded to do so. Since then she has become known as the “Hugging lady” and gets regular requests from Staff to give them a hug. Some have even burst into tears!
In another situation in a church in the States, Grace was at a meeting for women and in the service it was announced “give each other a hug.” Many in that congregation began to weep.
What am I trying to say? Well, we can all give someone a hug. It needs no words
but can radically change someone’s life - why, give it a try?
In talking to others about this, I was shown a clip on “You tube” under the title Free Hug Campaign. The history of it can be found at Wikipedia, which has now gone worldwide.
If you are brave enough to try it why not let me know the results.
by Norman on Friday December 02, 2011
by Norman on Thursday December 01, 2011
As several of you have commented on the book that I recommended by E Stanley Jones has prompted me to write about some of the books that I have recently read that have been a challenge and an inspiration to me.
On the continuing theme of the Kingdom a book recommended to me by my good friend Jason Bollinger was “The Tangible Kingdom” written by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. This book is written by two men who have “lived it out”. They do not theorise but give practical illustrations from their own experiences and as we say in the UK with “warts and all”. This book is a must for those who
are searching for books written about the kingdom.
There is a growing understanding that unless we engage what has become called market place ministry we will not see “the Kingdom Come” and I would certainly agree with that thought. To be honest, and I may well yet do it, to write a book on engaging those who are involved in the world of business. I have however found a book that echoes all my passion for those in business and it is a book written by Ed Silvoso called “Anointed for Business”. In this book Ed tells of his own journey in the business world and challenges the reader not to wait but to believe that they can be effective in the market place and without them the church are the losers! A sub heading to the book is “How to use your influence in the market place to change the world” I could not have put it better myself!
My final recommendation this time around is a book sent to me by my friend Kerry Wood called “The top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make”. Reading this book is brutal! To be honest there was much that I found very encouraging in that I had done many things well but there were other decisions that I had made that made me wish that I had read this book years ago. This book is written by Hans Finzel and if I were teaching /training church leaders I would make this book mandatory reading. I am sure that it would have saved many leaders a great deal of pain.
I must confess that I am amazed at how little people read so if you are one of those people then why not start with what I have recommended - you will no doubt not agree with all that is said but it will challenge your thinking and that cannot be such a bad thing.
On the continuing theme of the Kingdom a book recommended to me by my good friend Jason Bollinger was “The Tangible Kingdom” written by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. This book is written by two men who have “lived it out”. They do not theorise but give practical illustrations from their own experiences and as we say in the UK with “warts and all”. This book is a must for those who
are searching for books written about the kingdom.
There is a growing understanding that unless we engage what has become called market place ministry we will not see “the Kingdom Come” and I would certainly agree with that thought. To be honest, and I may well yet do it, to write a book on engaging those who are involved in the world of business. I have however found a book that echoes all my passion for those in business and it is a book written by Ed Silvoso called “Anointed for Business”. In this book Ed tells of his own journey in the business world and challenges the reader not to wait but to believe that they can be effective in the market place and without them the church are the losers! A sub heading to the book is “How to use your influence in the market place to change the world” I could not have put it better myself!
My final recommendation this time around is a book sent to me by my friend Kerry Wood called “The top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make”. Reading this book is brutal! To be honest there was much that I found very encouraging in that I had done many things well but there were other decisions that I had made that made me wish that I had read this book years ago. This book is written by Hans Finzel and if I were teaching /training church leaders I would make this book mandatory reading. I am sure that it would have saved many leaders a great deal of pain.
I must confess that I am amazed at how little people read so if you are one of those people then why not start with what I have recommended - you will no doubt not agree with all that is said but it will challenge your thinking and that cannot be such a bad thing.
Posted on Monday September 19, 2011
Recently I was at what is known as Grapevine Celebration and whilst there met up with the leader of Oaks Community Church which is in Derbyshire UK. I have ministered to that particular church over a number of years and been touched again and again by the commitment of the people who really do live out kingdom life. The name, community church, is not just a title but an expression of what they believe and practice.
Recently in the church one of the members shared his story with the church people that he had what was a genetic disease that affected his kidneys. He had experienced some difficulties only to be told that his kidneys were not functioning as they should, that they would deteriorate and that he would eventually need a transplant or go onto dialyses. After sharing his story and asking for prayer the leader made the statement to the congregation “He only needs one kidney”. As a result of that statement six people volunteered to be tested to see if they were suitable donors.
On hearing this story I was almost in tears. This truly is an expression of being family and a demonstration of living Kingdom life. I do not as yet know the outcome of such commitment. I will keep you touch if I am able as to how the ongoing story unfolds.
Yours,
Norman
Recently in the church one of the members shared his story with the church people that he had what was a genetic disease that affected his kidneys. He had experienced some difficulties only to be told that his kidneys were not functioning as they should, that they would deteriorate and that he would eventually need a transplant or go onto dialyses. After sharing his story and asking for prayer the leader made the statement to the congregation “He only needs one kidney”. As a result of that statement six people volunteered to be tested to see if they were suitable donors.
On hearing this story I was almost in tears. This truly is an expression of being family and a demonstration of living Kingdom life. I do not as yet know the outcome of such commitment. I will keep you touch if I am able as to how the ongoing story unfolds.
Yours,
Norman
Posted on Wednesday July 06, 2011
Well this is my first attempt at writing a blog so I am not sure what I should be writing but I guess that I will find out soon enough! I have been encouraged by several to begin writing down my thoughts, etc, so that is some of what I am planning to do. I also want to recommend various books that I have read and that have been either a challenge or an inspiration.
In my blog you will quickly find out that I have a passion to see “The Kingdom come”. In listening recently to an interview of Bill Hybels and Bono of U2, it seems that I am not alone as it is also the passion of Bono so I am in very good company. I do feel that the subject of the Kingdom of God has been to a large degree neglected by the church. It is interesting that Jesus said “I will build my church”. We are given the keys to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:17-20). I am not saying that the church is not relevant - it is. I believe it is God’s plan A and He doesn’t have a plan B! When you read the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, look at the kingdom reference and that kingdom is clearly to be on earth now and in the future. There are so many books on how to build “your church” which in itself gives me a problem as it is clear that it is His church not ours! Church clearly in scripture is a people who are called to live a lifestyle that characterises kingdom life. It's not a building!
As I have already said "Kingdom" will feature strongly in my blog. If you want to know more, can I recommend that you read The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person by E. Stanley Jones. This book is a classic written years ago but in my opinion is the definitive work on the subject of the Kingdom of God.
In my blog you will quickly find out that I have a passion to see “The Kingdom come”. In listening recently to an interview of Bill Hybels and Bono of U2, it seems that I am not alone as it is also the passion of Bono so I am in very good company. I do feel that the subject of the Kingdom of God has been to a large degree neglected by the church. It is interesting that Jesus said “I will build my church”. We are given the keys to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:17-20). I am not saying that the church is not relevant - it is. I believe it is God’s plan A and He doesn’t have a plan B! When you read the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, look at the kingdom reference and that kingdom is clearly to be on earth now and in the future. There are so many books on how to build “your church” which in itself gives me a problem as it is clear that it is His church not ours! Church clearly in scripture is a people who are called to live a lifestyle that characterises kingdom life. It's not a building!
As I have already said "Kingdom" will feature strongly in my blog. If you want to know more, can I recommend that you read The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person by E. Stanley Jones. This book is a classic written years ago but in my opinion is the definitive work on the subject of the Kingdom of God.
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