SPIN LIKE THE WIND-the blog of Nigel James.

AUTHENTICITY OR INTEGRITY

The Erwin McManus book UPRISING is sending a few shock waves through me at the moment. Take this excerpt for instance:
In recent times in our culture we have put an increasing value on authenticity and a decreasing focus on integrity... In principle I wholeheartedly embrace the shift, except where authenticity is romanticised. When calling for authenticity, we need to take seriously the brokenness and sinfulness of the human heart.
If to be authentic means to be who we really are or to express what we really feel, then in most case I'm going to vote for hypocrisy..... Our claim that we are committed to being authentic can actually be a facade for self-indulgence.
I've been using the word 'authentic' a lot in some of my preaching lately and this book has really challenged my thinking. To be authentic when 'our hearts are dark and corrosive' to quote McManus again, is very dangerous! Authenticity must go hand in hand with Integrity. Sounds like a partnership for 2 Christian record companies!!

PREACHING AND STUDYING

I've just returned from a conference at the Elim College, and I'm back there a lot in the next couple of months. Tomorrow I begin my module of lectures on Communicating in a Youth Setting, on the Serious4Youth Ministry course, and on Tuesday I have my final interview for ordination as an Elim minister. At the conference a few days ago, college principal and Elim director of Training, Nigel Tween, said this great line; 'The person who is called to preach is also called to study'.
I've been thinking recently about doing a Masters degree part-time at the college over the next couple of years, and began some preliminary enquiries about the possibility. The MA in Pentecostal and Charismatic Issues is looking likely.

THIS LIFE...

Like most people this time of year, I've been spending some time having an honest review of my life. it's been made all the more reflective tonight as Gill and I watched This Life +10 on BBC2. This Life was a series about a bunch of 20 something's and was big in the mid-1990's. Tonight's show was a one-off 10 year reunion special. Relationships, hopes, dreams, fears, failures, priorities and friendships were still the core themes.
As for my life, well I've realised that although things look great on the outside- great family, productive ministry, plenty of opportunity to 'do loads of things', all of this is actually a smokescreen for the fact that deep down I'm unsettled and recognise I have to make some major changes. I'm disappointed. Not with circumstances, or people, or God, but with myself. An honest appraisal tells me that I spent most of 2006 on autopilot and didn't really give much focus to keeping a strong relationship with God. My sabbatical in May stood out as a bright spot, but was a bit of an oasis in the wilderness.
Thankfully, Gill and I had some very good friends around for dinner last night and they gave us an opportunity to share from our hearts. Amongst loads of things we talked about, a few things really stood out. Although it's me I'm frustrated with, this affects Gill and we have to be in any future changes together. One of the consequences of me travelling so much is that Gill and I have learnt to be independent to a certain extent, and we've been reminded that we could be a lot closer spiritually and devotionally speaking. I used the image last night of an iceberg. The tip of my iceberg looks fine, but it's the big bit under the waterline that people don't see, and it could be in a lot better shape. In other words, I've been neglecting the foundations of a strong Christian life, and that can't go on.
2007 will bring with it some major changes in what I do and hopefully who I am. I know there are new challenges from the Lord on the horizon but I don't feel fully released for them quite yet. Gill and I also know that we can start making some small adjustments to improve the quality of what has always been a good relationship to make it a great one. We've committed to meet the same friends who helped us so much last night, every month to eat, talk, pray and read the Bible. We have much in common as individuals and as couples, and so we are excited about how this is going to develop. I ended 2006 feeling pretty despondent, drained, guilty, and frustrated, but already I begin to sense optimism, excitement and a healthy dose of God's grace.

ENGAGEMENT!

The big family news this Christmas was that our daughter Rachel and her boyfriend Andrew got engaged on Christmas Day. They turned up for lunch at our house with Rachel wearing a huge smile and a shiny ring. We are all delighted for them, and already Rachel and Gill have been planning the wedding-which is likely to be around Christmas/New Year in 12 months time.