Controversey

So its been a few weeks (!) but I am back to supply my latest thoughts.... This poster makes me laugh for lots of reasons. When I was younger one of my main dreams was to own a putting green.......

When I think about potential I default to a position that goes something like this - my talents, abilities and all that stuff have been placed in me by God - I then have to develop those things and max out the potential that God has put on the inside of me (parable of the talents anyone?)

One of my favourite verses is Romans 5 vs 17 "For if by one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will REIGN IN LIFE through the one Jesus Christ.." The word reign here is a greek word meaning to reign as a King....

And this is where all the controversey kicks in. That to me seems really straightforward. God wants you to reign in life - not to be in defeat, sickness, guilt, condemnation, anxiety, broken, lacking financially or in broken relationship. I know that people will read this and say "there you go he's on that health and wealth thing again... I told you so...." but here's my thoughts on that...

1) why do so many christians see that as controversial and fight for the right to be sick and poor?
2) I have really been trying to find the "health and wealth" gospel but you know what? It does not exist. There is only 1 gospel that is good news for the WHOLE man and that is the gospel of Jesus. That is based entirley on his Grace and should lead to blessing, restoration, protection, breakthrough, security, peace and wholeness.....

I beleive that the gospel of "my own personal experience is King" is a lot to do with it and also the devil has prevented the people of God from fully benefitting from the fullness of Gods promises by establishing controversies around these key areas. For example healing.

I believe in these times that God is restoring the truth of the healing power of the cross and the devil has created a controversey surrounding this called "heresy". Instead of studying the word of God to see what Jesus himself says (2/3 of His ministry was healing...) we default to our experience (whether good or bad) and make that the Gospel. Does it not strike us that the fundamental problem with that is that if everbody thinks what they did / did not do etc is "God" then it is no wonder that we are all over the place?? Does the bible say anything about people who are double minded and the results of that??

I think it is time for the church to stop backing off just because of man made controversey cause that is all it is. If you dont believe that God wants you well and prospered then why do you take your child to the doctor when they are not well? Do you as a parent want your kids to be sick and diseased and living in abject poverty?? Why send them to school (aside from the legal argument..)??

Is it because you want your kids to be blessed, healthy and have a prosperous future? Why would your heavenly dad want anything less than that for you? No seriously.. Why???

These controversies, originating from the devil and propagated by christians need to be called for what they are.

God blesses you not because you are good but because He is good. His grace is based on HIS faithfulness and goodness towards you. It is not contingent on your performance....

Now that to me is good news.....

Til later

Tropbon x

A big boy did it and ran away........

Had a wee break but I am on a rant this morning....

I remember one day when I was a kid playing football outside my house. I must have been all of 9 years old. One of my mates took a shot at goal which went flying past me and smashed the window of an ice cream van that was parked at the other side of the road (the window that they serve from) leaving the window in about 32,000 pieces..... The ice cream man (skinhead, vest, tatts all the way up both arms got out and came running over to us -all my mates did a runner and left me standing there to take the blame. Actually he was okay but still my dad had to replace the window.

I have been really thinking about how many times I am still, not left standing, but tempted to do what my mates did even though I am now 34 years old. Why do we want to run from stuff and point the finger at others when really there is every need for us to stand there and face what we need to. I wonder why it is difficult for us to accept responsibility for stuff in our lives, what we do, say, think, feel even without always looking for a reason, scapegoat or someone else to blame. Maybe it sbecause we think that God will reject us or our friends will reject us, maybe its because we think that somehow our failure is too much to face - or a mixture of all of that. Who knows? Sometimes its easier to point the finger and cast all kinds of accusations and talk about where everyone else gets it wrong, rather than starting to look at yourself first. It strikes me as pride and arrogance and I dont want that in my life. I have seen this so very clearly recently.

Now why is this so important? I think most of us have bought in to the short term view without really thinking about the longer term implications of taking responsibility and not blaming others for what is going on in our lives. In the short term we may feel like we have escaped the consequences, got away with it, kept our reputations intact, made short term gains, but all the while I am really starting to think that we are actually doing ourselves way more harm than good. King David in the bible is a good story to illustrate this - Saul was actually Gods first choice to lead Israel but one of the major character flaws that kept him from fulfilling his destiny was his inability to accept it when he screwed up - he always looked to pass the buck onto someone else or make excuses. Read the story - its very illuminating. For all David screwed up he was a man to put his hands up and accept it his stuff and work it out. This is why I think he was described as a man after God's heart.....

So here's the deal - we will never (and I mean NEVER) be a success by blaming other people for where we have fallen short. You might make what look like short term gains but I know in the final analysis it only ever leads to more harm in your life. This is a constant challenge for me, even in the smallest things of life, to not be afraid to take my responsibility at every turn. People do get it wrong and that is life. I wont have to account for what they do with that but I know that I will for what i do. So here it is - God will never ever turn his back on me because I get it wrong - I'm betting on that and so at every opportunity I'll stand and face up to what ever I need to without blaming others. That is probably a key ingredient in real "success".....

Til Later

Tropbon x

Just another brick in the wall......

So the last few months for the tropbons have been quite a ride. One day, sitting in front a big fire when I am old and grey, puffing a pipe, I will write my memoirs and let the world know all the gory details LOL..... I will change the names to protect the innocent!!
Some of you will know that we have started an new church in Belfast called Exchange. More on that to come. I have been thinking lots about what that will look like and piecing together all the parts that go to make up a church and that is starting to get me excited. We have been so blessed already with fantastic worship leaders and musicians (Aaron Boyd , Bluetree, Ryan Griffiths, Pete Nickell) and they are probably the strongest line up of new lead worshippers in the UK and beyond - believe me they are freaking awesome in their ability to lead us in worship and also to write songs that are already having global reach. Wow.... watch this space 'cause there is more to come. We have some great teachers, great servants, childrens and youth workers starting to emerge and so all in all the future is looking so so bright. I often get to thinking now about what we would like to see and my first thought is "we need someone to do....."

And here is where I have been getting the nod from the Holy Spirit. If the last few months have tought me anything is that the way of the world is you are more often accepted , applauded, welcomed, approved of and dare i say it "loved" if you are producing the goods and prepared to keep your thoughts to yourself. People, even in the church, have become necessary to perform functions and make things happen but actually I have discovered that that does not automatically mean that you are actually anything more than useful. Why is is that we measure someones value often by what they can do for us? The issue is then that if we cease to become "useful" then we cease to be of value and that leads to all sorts of stuff that I am sure just breaks the heart of God. Surely that is totally screwed up? Not all the time though and I have found incredible love and support from friends who have stuck thier necks out and dared to love us in their actions and for that I am so so grateful. But I have been really provoked about this. I want our culture in Exchange, and in life to be that people's worth and value is in WHO THEY ARE and not what they do. Jesus did not die for you because of what you can do - It was all about who we are. Thats sounds so flippin simple but i have really been chewing it over. Talent and all is important to make things happen but I am committing us to be a group of people who see each other first as people of value and worth, created in the very image of God himself - irrespective of what they can produce. I am going to be honest and say that that will not be easy all the time because I am realising that I need to re program my mind on this one as I have not always go it right. I do not ever want to be in the position again where structures and the institution are more important than the folks in it. That is just plain wrong...

So thanks to all you people who have ventured to Exchange - we are starting to roll baby and its gonna be a blast.

Til Later

Tropbon x

Chinning all round you

I was going to leave a few days until my next blog but I am raging. Something happened today that got right on my goat.
Aaron and the guys from Bluetree were flying back from a concert in England with a well known "low cost" airline that I won't name but sounds a wee bit like Brian Adair......

After checking at check in that 2 of the guys could carry on thier guitars (as they have done lots of times)they were happily waved through security and waited to board the plane - ONLY to be stopped as they were boarding the plane by an employee who would not let them board with guitars (they are in small cases that easily fit in to the overhead).
They were denied boarding, NOT ALLOWED to check the guitars in and were simply told that there was nothing they could do AT ALL to get on that flight and there were no more Brian Adair flights to Belfast today so they would be stuck until tomorrow. It was more than her job was worth to let them walk on the plane............... All this despite the fact that the plane was 1/2 empty... the result was they had to spend £309 on two flights with another "low cost" airline (who charged £35 to pay with a credit card... despite the fact there was no other way to pay..................) in order to get home.

Now after speaking to Boydo who was, and I quote, "going to chin all round him" (imagine the Nottingham News headlines......) I was indeed really pretty annoyed at the total lack of concern shown for my mates. It strikes me that the "customer service" agent was more concerned with being "right" than doing what was A) Sensible b) gracious c) kind d) helpful e) courteous f) ........and I could go on.....

I think though we are the same. Admitting that we may be in the wrong can be a huge hurdle and we can sometimes get ourselves into positions where we can try to defend the indefensible cause we are too proud to let our guard down and show some humility and admit when we dont quite get it right..
In fact even the last few months have shown me that you can be right and still be wrong. What I mean is that there are times and situations where it does not really matter who is "right" and who is "wrong" or who has the "truth". I just have a feeling that God says at times that what is more important is that we are loving, kind, gracious and courteous irrespective of whether or not we are in the "right"

Truth is I need to work on this. I too often want to be proved right when I am, and I get the feeling that God is teaching me that He has got my back - He will look after me and mine and vindicate where and when he needs to. My first call though is to love and be gracious in every situation. Thats probably tougher than arguing my point.

Boydo is a better man than me - I would probably have "chinned all round me..."

Til later

Tropbon x

Im back to this..........

This poster sums up what my fear about blogging has been. There are some great blogs (some of my fav's are Jill Boyd and Brian Heasley) and some pretty awful ones (not going to mention....). Then I had a read of Jill's latest blog and was reminded that in the sharing there can be great encouragement and so I was challenged again.

Anyway with it being a new year and all I have set myself once again to the blogging thing and this time I will make much more of an effort to lay wide to the world the random stuff that goes on in my head. There is so much happening in the life of Mr A Toogood that it may be helpful to some and to others will be waffle. Ah well that is the nature of this thing.

So Happy New Year to all and lets see what 09 unfolds for us. I for one am believing for increase in every single area of my life and I'm pressing on for that. God is Good all the time and that is my starting point.

Til later

Tropbon x

Happy Christmas......

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1149339176

I'm Back....

Apologies for the delay in number 3....

The reason is that Penny has been in Hospital getting her appendix out. In all honesty I was useless. I fully intend to read a medical book so that I am much better equipped for medical emergencies in the Toogood house. I thought you could cure most things with 2 aspirin. In fairness I was much encouraged when I arrived at Casualty with her. The only doctor available to see her was a Neurosurgeon who was covering A&E... His line was classic. On examining Penny he said "if this was in her head it would be easy... umm.. I'm not really sure - I'll get someone else to look at her....." Oh my word.

Made me think though. The appendix is tiny and serves no absolute purpose in the human body. It can however reduce perfectly healthy people to a heap. In some cases if an infected appendix is left the results can be death for the person affected. That pretty much means that you are better off without it.

Sitting in the City Hospital this week I thought that I need to get rid of some of the things that are in my life that may "kill" me if left alone. What are the habits, thoughts and beliefs that I would be better off without? I'm now 5 weeks into my new journey and its funny how that after the initial buzz of excitement there is a stage of crapping yourself. I know though that this is a time of growth and if that is going to happen I am going to have to change some things that would otherwise be my spiritual appendix - I'm learning new things about trusting God, my identity primarly as a son of God and this is cutting across attitudes and beliefs that I have had (some deep rooted) for along time. These did not seem to be so serious a while back but now I am realising that they are not just small and insignificant but could "kill" me if left unattended to. I'm better off without them. I'm trying to cut them out.

I asked the Doctor at the hospital if appendix's (appendices??) can grow back. He asked me if I had ever had my brain removed.... No he didn't, but he did looked at me as if I had only 1/2 my faculties. You see I dont think our spiritual appendix's are dealt with as "easily" as the physical one. The fact is i think that I will be "cutting" at these for a while yet...

Am I mad or what?

Going with another demotivator for blog numero deux....

Some people have told me recently that I am mad. In fact plain bonkers. Why? In September I resigned from my job (quite a good one in fact) with an international bank. Why did I do that? Well it comes down to a dream that I have in my heart. That dream is not to be a lazy hallion who sits aroung all day doing nothing hence my departure from employment. No its about something that is really deep inside me and has been for years.

I am not one of lifes natural heroes but over the last year I have found myself "struggling" more and more with my every day life and how much that was at odds with what I really do believe I was born to do. It was doing my head in. I was doing Pennys head in. So after spending some time praying it over I felt God say to me clearly that I had a choice to make - keep on going as I was or make the jump and trust that this was all part of his big plan......

So I freakin' jumped. Just a little bit scary but oh so very very exciting at the same time. You see for me here's the rub. God wants us to be an "idiot" and chase down the dreams that he has put in us. People may tell us that we are being mad, being unwise, being naive, being irresponsible etc etc etc. But I have a sneaky suspicion that God's heart leaps when he sees his kids chasing down His purposes for their lives. He's not looking for heroes. He's looking for people who trust Him enough to believe in the dreams that he has put in thier hearts and then to actually act on upon them. I get full on excited about that. I just can't get away from that fact that God has fantastic things for his kids. Thankfully I have had some real encouragement from loads of people. Thats good for me because if this all goes pete tong I will be round their houses looking for somewhere to live......

Dont know what your own dreams are but I'll share with you how this little life adventure works itself out. Whatever you are up to, wherever you are, wherever you want to be - chase the rainbow - only an idiot would'nt.

I'm Coming Out

So here's the deal. I never really wanted to blog - I've always been an avid reader of blogs but never ventured into it my self. Why? In my mind I thought that it was simply a little too much about bloggers ego... and then a curious thing happened. A very good friend of mine suggested that I write a blog and I rehearsed the same old arguments in my head. Then as I thought about my own thoughts I realised that actually my ego was the problem - "....what if no one reads it...... It might just be rubbish..... Im not that funny." That in fact was the real issue.

So stuff that - I love the poster above and maybe, just maybe some of my thoughts might provoke or stir someone or give someone a laugh or whatever. I hope so and I look forward to seeing what you think too. There is some cool stuff going on around here these days as my journey with God, church and friends goes on and it'll be cool to share some of it.

So there you are - I am out of the closet. I am a blogger and I am proud of it.