[SteveJay2005]

Chris talks about his Sunday morning experience watching the BBC televised Pentecost Service: 'That's The Spirit!' from Kingsgate Community Church (Peterborough) - as Rachel said there are loads of contemorary 21st century churches around. Amazing!

[Ed Pummelon]

YouTube is blocked on this PC. Would this post make more sense if it wasn't?

[re vis.e re form]

Can I just say that the Anglican blogosphere is so chuffed about your comments on the radio as you reflected on the worship service you watched on the BBC. You speak so well and share your excitement about what is kicking off. There are so many churches out there that are doing just this. Have you considered that maybe God might be calling you to do exactly what you did the other day and speak like that about what is going on and encourage people back into a relationship with God. If the last bit sounds a bit heavy, I apologise, but once again thank you for sharing your thoughts on these things with the public.

Bless you hugely
Rachel

See http://hrht-revisingreform.blogspot.com ... -full.html

[foot-loose]

No.

[SteveJay2005]

If you want the original file for this Youtube clip see http://www.orwellchurch.co.uk

When I posted this Youtube clip I didn't expect it to go to 7,000 hits in just 5 days - testimony to Chris' popularity. I also think there is a shared interest in Chris' genuine surprise that there are a growing number of substantial, contemporary and lively 21st century churches in the UK. Some of the largest (1,000's attending) and fastest growing churches in the UK are those that attract a high percentage of 18-35yr olds. This is because of their authentic and relevant values and message of Jesus Christ that cuts through the rubbish and hopelessness in today's society. Go along to one and find out for yourself - you don't have to live in Peterborough to find one near you.

Newday is just another example of this growing trend. Newday is an annual Christian festival that attracts thousands of people - having outgrown last year's venue it is being held in Norfolk Showground in 2009. Chris might like to visit or do a 'live' show from the Newday 2009, it might equally amaze the saviour of radio 1 that the popularity of the original Saviour is increasing at an incredible rate throughout the UK!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvJGoyo93T8

[Ed Pummelon]

I watched the last episode of The Incredible Human Journey last night. They were showing human skulls and spearheads which were 14,000 years old. They didn't mention religion in the programme, but then it was only an hour long so they probably didn't have time to fit everything in.

[Yudster]

The Incredible Human Journey has been really good, and I love Alice Roberts. I want to be her.

[Ed Pummelon]

I came across it by accident a couple of weeks ago and found myself getting completely drawn in by it. Not usually my kind of thing, but this was really well done.

[Yudster]

I'm not sure it said anything new, and it certainly didnt answer the questions - but it was well done and it illustrated current thinking really well.

Alice Roberts though - she seems to be able to do everything. She is a medical doctor, anthropologist, paleo-archaeologist, osteo-archaeologist, she has qualifications in structural engineering (although i understand that unlike everything else she does that isn't quite to PhD level.....) - and she's an athlete, rock climber, and on top of all that she's gorgeous. I should hate her but I don't, she's fab.

[saviourmc]

My youth group are going to pray for Christ tonight!!!!

I reckon so many celebrities are searching for Christ, they are (apparently) living at the sumit of human existence, yet there is something lacking, something more, they are always trying to fill a hole they never can and they can't ignore it! I see it on TV everyday!

Go Christ & Go Christ

Chris should pop into the nearest mega-church - and so should you - the person reading this!!

Now!

[MK Chris]

My youth group are going to pray for Christ tonight!!!!

I'm pretty sure he doesn't need you to.

Chris should pop into the nearest mega-church - and so should you - the person reading this!!

Now!

I would do, but I'm worshipping Satan tonight.

[Ed Pummelon]

Why is it that strong religious conviction seems to be synonymous with forcing other people to adopt your lifestyle?

[MK Chris]

It isn't always. I know lots of Christians who are quite happy with me being an atheist.

[Yudster]

It isn't. I'm not sure what these people are convicted of, but it isn't the saving power of Christ that I am familiar with. And anything which would allow itself to be called a "mega-church" is definitely somewhere to avoid.

[Ed Pummelon]

Seems I'm just unlucky then. I must have one of those faces. Satanic maybe.

[Yudster]

It isn't always. I know lots of Christians who are quite happy with me being an atheist.

I'm not the least bit happy about it - I want people to be saved, not damned, especially the people I care about. I just know that it isn't my job to make you change your mind, that's all!

[Ed Pummelon]

However, most Christians I have ever been in conversation with have at some point tried to convince me to either go to their church, pray with them, or in some other way get involved in a Christian activity with them.

So why do they believe they need to do this, but you believe it's not part of the deal? I don't understand why there appear to be different "rules" for want of a better word. Is it a question of interpretation?

[Yudster]

I can't see the point in asking a non-Christian to pray with me. it makes me uncomfortable enough, goodness knows what it would make a non Christian feel. I do think however that if, as I do, you are lucky enough to attend a good church where intellect is valued and the bible isn't dumbed down then listening to some of the talks would be interesting for anyone, regardless of their beliefs. And if the outcome of such a visit is that it raises questions (and it always is), then there are always people around to answer them from a Christian perspective. But assuming that such visits are immediately and inevitably going to result in a "conversion" is just plain silly, and its a waste of time thinking otherwise.

We get lots of non-Christian visitors at our church, I hope and believe that its a comfortable experience for them. I know that if they are listening, it will be an interesting one.

[English Bob]

Atheist here. Peddle your tripe elsewhere.

[English Bob]

Oh I forgot, here's a link for you to go to! It has a forum where Atheists can debate issues with Theists. These arguments usually end with the Theists shoving fingers in their ears and shouting 'IT SAYS IT IN THE BIBLE LALALALALALA NOT LISTENING YOU ARE GOING TO HELL JESUS LOVES YOU'

http://www.atheistnetwork.com/index.php

[foot-loose]

Didn't we decide recently that being an atheist meant that you still had a belief? One that God doesn't exist? Prove to me that God doesn't exist.

Surely its better just saying "I don't have a clue whats going on, I don't think there is a God but who am I to decide such things? Lets just have a cup of tea and a big cuddle.".

[English Bob]

Didn't we decide recently that being an atheist meant that you still had a belief? One that God doesn't exist? Prove to me that God doesn't exist.

Surely its better just saying "I don't have a clue whats going on, I don't think there is a God but who am I to decide such things? Lets just have a cup of tea and a big cuddle.".

Prove to me god exists. I can think of many ways to prove god doesn't. Praying being one of them.

[catherine]

Why do atheists argue with other atheists? You don't believe in it and yet you still argue with eachother about it.

[foot-loose]

That's my point though - they can't prove he does, you can't prove he doesn't.

Personally, I think it's a load of nonsense but I think it is a tad arrogant of me to assume that I am correct and they are wrong when fundamentally, I have as much evidence to go on as they do.

[English Bob]

How do you work that out? There has been absolutely no evidence at all to point to th existence of a god. Aside from some scribblings in books from ancient times, nothing. Atheists don't need to prove god doesn't exist as he's doing a good enough job of it by himself!