Pentecost Sunday: Happy Birthday Church…
Vose student Audrey Francis has contributed to this blog a few times. She wrote this prayer for Pentecost Sunday, which I share with you… A Prayer at Pentecost Lord of the cross and empty tomb, Surround us afresh with the power of your Holy Spirit that we may be bold to risk your way. Surround us afresh with the fire of your Holy Spirit that the desire to communicate your Gospel may burn within us. Surround us afresh with the wind of your Holy Spirit that we may show the abundant and joyful life you have given us. Surround us afresh with the peace of your...
Read MoreEvangelism and attentiveness…
On the weekend I led a seminar on evangelism for the good folk at Kingsway Methodist Church. It has been a little while since I have led a seminar on this topic, and I decided to think through some issues in a slightly different way. After reflecting on the importance of pre evangelism, and the many obstacles that prevent people from making a meaningful response to Jesus, I asked those present to think of 5 people they knew who haven’t yet said ‘yes’ to Jesus, and to write their names down. I thought this was important, as it is so easy to lapse into theories that have...
Read MoreWhat spurs us into action? Reflections on Lamdin’s book, Finding Your Leadership Style
I’ve recently been grading some student reviews of Keith Lamdin’s 2012 book, Finding Your Leadership Style: A Guide for Ministers. In spite of the sub title (a guide for ministers) I think Lamdin’s work has a wider relevance, and thought it worth highlighting some of his key insights. After defining leadership as ‘one humans capacity to influence another’, Lamdin suggests that three factors are usually at work before we spring into leadership action: discontent, vision and courage. The first ingredient, discontent, is interesting as the obvious implication is...
Read MoreManaging Monday with Paul Tournier: Take 2
Last week we looked at a few key quotes from noted Swiss physician Paul Tournier (1898-1986), who significantly impacted the way we think about the relationship between psychosocial, spiritual and physical health. His books continue to be used in pastoral care courses. Here are a few more Tournier quotes… Acceptance of one’s life has nothing to do with resignation; it does not mean running away from the struggle. On the contrary, it means accepting it as it comes, with all the handicaps of heredity, of suffering, of psychological complexities and injustices. – Paul...
Read MoreOn the shoulders of giants: A tribute to Noel Vose
Vose Seminary has had only three principals in its fifty plus year history, Brian Harris since 2004, John Olley from 1991-2003 and its founding principal, after whom the seminary is named, Noel Vose, from 1963-1991. This Monday May 2nd, in the early hours of the morning, Noel slipped into the presence of Jesus – an event he had been looking forward to for more than a little while. He was 94 years of age – and what a 94 years he lived. The old saying goes that we are dwarfs who stand on the shoulders of giants. If what we do in the present seems impressive it is because of the...
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