Moldova 3 Moscow 0. A new unity in Europe as the wagons start to circle in Moscow, European intellegence is strategically on the front foot.

 It's been a busy week in Eastern European news,  but significant events have gone the way of democracy and freedom. Undoubtedly things are ramping up and the admittance that we are at defacto war with Russia (even if that war is a collective fusion of sabotages and cyber threats or a "hybrid" war) by the ex chief of MI5  shows the significance of all events in this arena. Of most note I think are two events. Both show that European intellegence is on the front foot.

1. Modova votes for democracy. 

Pray for those who have gone "underground" and our own debate on freedom of religion in the UK.

 Following on from yesterday's post about believers facing persecution because of their faithfulness, I received another friend's prayer request this morning. In their situation the church has been prohibited from meeting and those connected interrogated. The tactic of imposing fear, opponents pooring abuse and anger on the church is often followed by  a season of growth within the church. The issue is not whether the church meets in public or underground, the issue is the authentic presence of God proven to be in operation keeping His people in resurection power. The reasons for persecution in such instances are so illogical. If authorities were honest they would say they want to control society, to keep people from free thought, and control social and fianncial influence for themselves or the religious/ social structure they defend which is inherently abusive. In reality, many folks see through this. This is especially so in women who are often the most abused in such a structural system. 

 The clarity this brings, that God lives amongst his people, that women and any downtrodden are treasured by God,  and that human governance leads to hopelessness and selfishness is doing the church's work for them as the ground is prepared for the good news of Christ and God's word. I have seen this pattern countless times. However the immediate cost is paid by those who have laid aside their lives, reputation and comfort for the gospel to go forward. Pray particularly for women in this situation who are not only abused culturally regardless of religion, but especially intimidated if they belong to Christ. They are the one's often to pay the highest price for the growth of the church. 

Pray for those women who lead such women and are showing great faithfulness particulalrly in this specific situation. In this context the church is relatively young in an unreached / frontier region. However, the maturity being shown is nothing other than superaturally inconquerable. Leadership is influence. Many of these women have never had social status, but their influence for the kingdom is parabolic. 

As an aside in the light of this, let me say a word about the UK context and all that is going on regarding our debate of appropraite access for imigrants to make their home here. 

We want to be different, without this clarity the church does not grow.

 Hi Friends,

An encouragement to pray for some persecuted friends and to learn from their distinctiveness in following Christ. 

Two things came together for me this weekend. A clear word in our church plant context from one of the pastors preaching on 1 Sam 8-11 and some much awaited news of persecuted church in a frontier context. Sometimes we can read too much into circumstances colliding, other times we can miss God speak through what He does as well as what He instructs. An over academic approach can sometimes miss the bloomin obvious (theological phrase). God is so patient with us. 

Both are summed up by Romans 12:2, I make no apology for repeating it as it what God seems to be pointing me to so often in this season. 

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

In 1 Sam the issue is that the people of God wanted a King "like all the other nations". (1 Sam 8:20). Their issue wasn't actually that they wanted a King. Wanting Godly, clear leadership is a univeral passion that comes from the law of creation and our image bearing of God which hungers for fruitfulness (Gen 1:21, 9:1, 17:6) . No, the issue was that they wanted the same life as those who didn't want God. Therefore their cry was a personal rejection of God relationally, all He had done for them, and all of His wisdom to be LORD and protector over them. It was a passion that would do them no good. It was a retrograde step back to the land of slavery, bitterness and hardship (EX 1:13-14) from which He had rescued them, a desire to return to sin (as proverbs 26:11 so graffically states it). 

When the enemy comes to God's people he has a well trodden tactic, to show us what we don't need and does us no good, but to make us think that we are missing out by not having it. "Look what you could've won if you ran your own lives without God." It is a wide path as old as the hills (Gen 3:1) which leads to incomprehensible tragic consequences and destruction.

So back to the persecuted church. Saved from physical slavery, poor families and believers in their early days of faith  pooled their small savings from hard work in street businesses to build a small building for God's people to meet. As they saw God bless both with finances and new believers being added daily (Acts 2:47), a new row of bricks was placed to window level in the baking hot sun. Simultaneously a local mob of persecuters came, angered by this new venture of love, and destroyed what they had built, (well, physically anyway). We have been praying for them. I asked them "how they you doing?"

Their response was... "we want to show that we are different to those around us, that God lives in this community". "We have started to be much more open, and started to meet again together regularly". "We are very bold now, but we know our boldness does not come from us. We are ready to die for Jesus, it is what we agreed to when we accepted Him. Our churches are growing in THE LORD. We know these things come together. " The Pastor said "We are teaching them about strong relationships with our LORD and saviour, we appreciate your concern, love and prayers."

Continue to pray for friends in Odesa and places peppered with reminders that everything is being attempted even if nothing ultimately succeeds.

 Over the last few days there has been a significant increase in activity around the coastal region of Odesa. Rockets and drones of course are sadly not unusual. What seems more brazen is the constant efforts to target civilian targets as a gesture of street bullying by military means. 

The post service office was just one of many targets, which cannot be defined in any way as of military significance. From the beginning of this full scale invasion the objective has been to terrify, kill, torture and intimidate, not so much a milirary exercise as a terrorist plan of chaos and destruction. 

Too good for our world, too good for God ?

When we think we are too good for God, that we are virtuous and good for our world, there is no hope. 

We live in a sick and broken world. 

The response and reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk was so revealing. There was enough online without me wading in. In schools of several Western countries there were numerous quotes from teenagers, assemblies and R.E. discussion groups saying "he deserved to die". One vox pop speaker in Amsterdam said on the streets,  "I don't know his positions, but i'm glad he is not with us anymore, it is a good thing."  and even a teacher was quoted as saying "we need more assassinations." The Western World has become an asylam run by the lunatics, and what it says makes no sense. Hate is irrational, and the depth and width of it present in our age is not isolated or confined. The Oxford Union President said "some institutions are too broken to be reformed, they should and must be taken down by any means necessary". Any means ? The celebration of a murder is as broken as it gets. To define life by getting rid of people and killing people who don't agree with us (especially when we don't understand what they stand for), is as inhumane as it gets. The value of human life has plummeted to subhuman levels. One spokewoman Lizzy Page became the centre of attention when she said she spoke on behalf of the those who said Charlie deserved to be " a human water fountain". She describes herself as a writer, poet and mental health worker. In these chilling words she describes mental and social health in  terms that can only be described as sick, without the remotest sensitivity to the human condition, with calculating callousness and ruthless grimness. 

A critical step has been taken. It only took 1000 days.

 Over the last 3 and a half years a constant conversation has gone around in circles about what could be done with the frozen Russian financial assets secured from banking sanctions after February 2022's full-scale invasion.

 Numerous complex and protracted discussions have deliberated on what was legally permitted with such frozen assets. What became clear over the last few days is that because Russia has clearly not complied with international law, the way is open to utilise these assets for the protection of Ukraine and European citizens. What still makes us want to scratch our grey matter is why this elementary analysis took so long.

Although the European union can be ponderous with decision making, on many fronts, it appears that when critical action is needed and Europe faces an existential threat or crisis the rubicon is traversed, laws can be changed. Put another way, when Europe is truly going to foot the bill, it sees the wisdom in trying to contain the cost and limit the tab. 

Keep praying for Nepal.

 The flurry of messages yesterday from Nepal all said the same thing, "heartbroken". As one friend put it so eloquently "What began as a movement with noble intentions was tragically hijacked, turning into violence, destruction, and fear. Lives have been lost, public properties destroyed, and hearts wounded."

Multiple videos of anger and brutal beatings were opened in many apps. Of greater importance than the tech however were the lives destroyed and the depth of despair at the reality unfolding. The conversation has dramatically moved in 48 hours. Following government resignations, it was not enough to quell anger, readdress the situation. Mass protests and mobs ignored curfews, the police and army ordered to control the outbreak said "no", "we are here to look after our people". Familiar, well known streets became unrecognisable places of fire, vilence and devastation. Anarchy was reality (Judges 21:25). The situation now shows some stability with only essential vehicles on the roads.

"We don't need a corrupt government" and "Youth cannot be killed"

Government building as PM resigns and numerous ministers.

Healing for the wounded – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Comfort for the bereaved families who have lost loved ones in this chaos.

Wisdom for national leaders to act with integrity, humility, and a commitment to justice.

Restoration of peace and security in every community and street.

Cleansing of corruption and greed from our politics and society.

Rebuilding of trust and reconciliation among diverse communities.

The Church to rise as a beacon of light – showing forgiveness, serving the needy, and proclaiming the hope of Christ.

Pray for THE LORD to work through His people, proclaiming good news to the poor, binding up the broken hearted, proclaiming freedom to the captives, seeing prisoners realeased from darkness. 

Communications control speaking.

Many friends will have noted the government communications ban that was enforced yesterday for all media apps not registered with the ministry of communications in Nepal. Several things have come together here as I see it. A volatile geopolitical situation has recently been exacerbated, and the Nepalese are fearful. The public partnership of solidarity (however real - see BBC) between China, Russia and N. Korea has not eased tensions, with an already taut tug of war in  progress involving Nepal's identity on the world stage. 

Yesterday 19 deaths were confirmed and hundreds injured as Gen-Z protestors called to clamp down on corruption and the move which further limits free speech and communication. Computer / tech folks discovered that there was corruption in government communications. Hence the desire to shut down all platforms before it was exposed through them. The pain, suffering, bloodshed and destruction over the last 48 hours has been horrific. These are sad times for peaceable people who want to see their country in peaceful prosperity. (link) 

The Gurkha regiment in the UK have been connected with us in major heroic partnership, keeping peace for 200 years. 130,000 Gurkhas died in WW2.  This was true friendship, mutual admiration and a partnership founded on bravery which endured for generations. The bond through suffering and joint sacrifice runs deep. (Note brilliant video featuring 8 year old Reva and Ganesh for KS2 UK school syllabus).  It was with great sadness to both Brits and Nepalese in '24 when Russia recruited 15,000 nepalese to fight in a way which the vast majority of the country did not support. (See helpful article). I sat with an ex military man in Kathmandu recount the situation with tears, as he showed me photos of his ancestors who had fought with UK soldiers against such tyranny, dictatorial control, and destruction. The desire and prayer in the UK is for a peaceful Nepal. 

What is behind this communications ban?

God is good - Keep going. PS 91

Probably the simplest title in a while :), but the essence of where much of life and ministry is for many of us. I simply wanted to share encouragement. Life for many of us is full of complexity, business, evil prospering, massive brokenness in our world (war, persecution, poverty of many kinds, our bodies, cancer and untreatable illness, getting old). Followers of Jesus who are not yet what they should be and churches in numerous places are acutely in need of lots of help, encouragement and wisdom , this side of heaven. It is a view of colossal need wherever you travel in the world for anyone who has a prayerful passion for His kingdom bride. It is especially a burden for those who are called to spiritual oversight of network mission, teaching and training disciples for interconnected churches in His kingdom mission to the unreached. Yet we need to remember that there is a perspective on top of the storm, a view from a higher vantage point. 

During our hardest times, our sense of need and dependence on God is greatest. Some of you will know the true story of Dwight Moody being stuck in the ocean (1892). After a great year long trip to the UK, he sailed from Southampton only to be stuck at sea three days later with a broken drive shaft, the ship taking on water.  For two days with the very real prospect and anxiety of sinking, he asked to gather folks together for a time with God and spoke on Psalm 91, holding on to a pillar to steady his feet. " He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty"

He later talked of how struggling that night was his darkest hour, with relief coming in prayer as He cried out to God, enabling him "in the depths of his soul". As he prayed "Your will be done" he almost immediately fell asleep, waking another day to find the ship being towed by one which had come to help. 

Psalm 91 reminds us of two things we need to keep in perspective for all the ups, downs and disasters of life. 

Part 3 Timeless lessons summarised. Countercultural community ministry in an age of shorttermism, individualism and self promotion.

Passages to meditate on: Romans Ch 12-15, (Phil 2:1-8, 1 Cor 13, 1 Peter 2)

Key themes from Romans 12-15

• 12:1-3 : A countercultural model of God's priorities renewing our minds as we walk with Him.
• 12:9-21  : Our core motives are tested. What and who we love (ourselves or His  new community).
• Romans 15:  The model and priorities of Christ outworked in servant shepherd leadership. 

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed...

Key Points from Romans 15:14–18 Meditation & Reflection

Paul’s Ministry Example

• Paul takes joy in seeing God at work among believers, even though they are not perfect.

• His satisfaction comes from progress in love, obedience, and sanctification, not from self-promotion or image.

• Believers share in a “priestly ministry” (Romans 15:5-6; 12:12-18, 1 Peter 2:5-9), as we serve, interceding for one another and encouraging growth in Christ before we are presented to Him together. 

Lessons for Today’s Church & Leaders