SPIN LIKE THE WIND-the blog of Nigel James.

HITTING THE TARGET.

Just back from leading another WILD AT HEART weekend with Chris Cartwright. As well as watching 8 DVD sessions from John Eldredge and his band of brothers, we enjoyed a high ropes course and some archery. Chris and I never cease to be amazed at how God breaks through into men's lives during this weekend. Especially powerful is the session when men share their 'wounds'. It was humbling to hear stories of brokenness from the participants-all involved in City Temple church but originally from Poland, the Congo, Malaysia, India, and Nigeria, as well as a few from Wales! What I love about Wild at Heart is that it's not about sin-management or rigid accountability, more about an adventure, a brotherhood. It's non-religious and allows blokes to be blokes. The introductory session when we talk about our favourite films and film characters never fails to get the guys talking and laughing, and another highlight was the testimonies from David and Richard who had both been on WAH weekends with us before. They spoke of the crossroads experience they had at WAH previously and how they've seen a positive change in their lives as Men of God since. I've been impacted by Wild at Heart over the last few years, no doubt about it, and it's brought Chris and me to a deeper and more vulnerable level of friendship.

INDIAN SUMMER.

Well I'm back home after a mammoth 30 hour journey from Pastor Prasad's house! I fell ill on Tuesday night and didn't travel with the team on the overnight train. Instead I flew Rajahmundry-Hyderabad-Delhi-Zurich-London with long waits in Hyderabad and Delhi. Feeling very hot, tired and ill all the way! Apart from that minor frustration, the mission trip was a great success and the team from IPFW were outstanding.

It was particularly good to get to know Ben Gates and his wife Janet better. They are a good couple! One of the highlights I previously forgot to mention was when I presented Sagar, our Ignite India Youth Director, with the keys for his new motorbike-funded from the Ignite Office in the UK. It came in very handy on a number of occasions, especially when we visited a remote hillside village church only accessible by motorbikes. Sagar will use the motorbike to visit the growing number of Ignite youth in the many villages in which Gateway ministry have churches. The day at the Come Together Compound included speaking to 20 or so student teachers brought along by Prasad's wife Sunnee who is studying to be the head teacher of the school. Some of the students are Christians, but the number who are Hindu's were intrigued by my presentation about it's not just important what you know but who you know!

Particularly special was seeing the school a couple of steps nearer to completion-although I'm not sure we'll reach our September target- and to see children both having great fun and worshipping the Lord. India made a massive impression on the whole team- Ben,Janet,Benjamin,Rachel,Sarah,Jenn,Brittany,Valerie,Tony, Ryan, and Jordan. I'm sure that collectively IPFW Campus Ministry will develop a relationship with Prasad and help us with our Ignite India work and the school. For me, I'm praying that their experiences on this short-term mission will have long-lasting impact in their walk with Jesus.

RAJAHMUNDRY-WITH IPFW STUDENTS.

Only 2 days of our mission trip to go and it's the first time I've been able to get to an internet cafe.

Highlights have included:

Seeing an Ignite church being built in a remote mountain village

Visiting the Leprosy church- I've seen a drastic worsening of the illness in some of these lovely people over the last 3 years

A full day at the Come Together Compound with over 250 children and a bunch of student teachers.

Pastors conference with 90 pastors.

Will post  a fuller report and some photos as soon as I get home. Overnight train to Hyderabad tonight and then fly to London via Zurich.

THE LOVE OF JESUS CONSTRAINS ME...

I'm off to India tomorrow, leading a mission team with my friend Ben Gates from IPFW university in Fort Wayne, USA. He's bringing his family and students with him, and we'll be partnering with my great Indian friend Pastor Prasad. I'm taking money for our school, for the leprosy church that we visit, and for a motorbike so that Sagar, our Ignite India youth director, can visit the rural villages more effectively.

The Lord has been filling me to the brim lately with inspiration and insight, so although India is always physically demanding my spirit will be strong!

A highlight of the Elim national conference last week was the worship concert by Godfrey Birtill- he's a very English style of worship leader and already his latest live album has become a fixture on my iPod. You can catch some more reflection on the Elim conference on my Third Day pastor site.

Last night at City Temple we were treated to an evening with Bill Wilson from Metro Ministries in New York.

Bill preached on this verse:

2Cor. 5:14 For Christ’s love constrains us..

Bill focused on the dictionary definition of 'constrains' and unpacked what it meant to be motivated by the love of God.

1. Constrain means to 'force movement', so connecting to the love of God means that you will be moved, you will powered to move, you will be on the move, you will be someone who has to GO.

2. Constrain also means 'to keep you away from other things', so God's love will not only make you do the things you know will please him but also will prevent you from coming close to doing the things that you know offend God.

3. Constrain also means 'to keep you in', so the love of Christ keeps you in the work of God, the will of God, his plans and his purposes. Despite hardship and persecution, our commitment will always be stronger than our emotion.

I'm aiming to be constrained, compelled and controlled by the love of God during my trip to India. I'm taking my laptop so hopefully should be able to post some blogs and some photos.