Toggie Tales

Hanging Out @ Al's and Gordon's

Shameless, I know. I got invited to a Christian leaders reception-thingy at #11 Downing Street on Tuesday - something to do with the National Prayer Breakfast and the Global Day Of Prayer. But here's the *real* reason I went along... for this photo! Shameless, I know. Ha ha.

Wimbledon, 2009

Emma and I have managed to get tickets to Wimbledon for the past 4 years... but I don't think we've ever seen such a packed 'Henman Hill' as we did on Wednesday. First Federer breezed through his match, and then Murray did the same.

Adopting the Moretons

The Moretons came to stay with us in our community house for most of last week.

Jon Bilbrough 'Who Wants It All?'

They just get better and better Jon. :)

The Wonderful Jo Norton

Jo Norton, and her husband Alan, have been leading the Wandsworth (Salvation Army) 24-7prayer Boiler Room community since it launched in November 2004. And this small community have wreaked beautiful havoc for the kingdom of Heaven in their part of London ever since... loving homeless people and prostitutes, spearheading prayer and intercession, launching Street Pastors, counselling and caring for the most desperate and broken people... I could go on! Fearless and tireless, they've been an example to the wider 24-7 prayer family in so many ways.

At 4.30pm on Saturday, Jo Norton died, having spent four weeks in hospital after suffering a shock aneurysm. Those of us who knew Jo are desperately sad, and yet we want to join with Alan, and their children, and with the wider Wandsworth Boiler Room community in thanking our Father in Heaven for Jo... who is now with the Lord of all Life, Jesus.

If you knew Jo, we'd recommend that you click across to Lyndall Bywater's blog and read her post, simply entitled 'Jo'. And please continue to pray for her family.

School Report: St Eds, day/3

Students were queuing outside the prayer room when the team arrived. Others lined up beside the Prayer Chair to be prayed for during the morning RS lessons. We even had the school cricket team come in and ask us to pray for them!? The 'sorry' prayers were amazing too...

School Report: St Eds, day/2

An extraordinary day... more than 250 students visited the prayer room today. And here are a few pics (I'll upload the lot at the end of the week).

24-7 UK Network Day, Gateshead

Megan loved our day in Gateshead because she got to hang out with Hudson (Greig)... as usual, they talked for hours! I loved the day for lots of other reasons...

School Report: St Eds, day/1

This, believe it or not, is me. I was 17, a bit of a goth, I had a lot more hair, and I was at St Edwards C of E Comprehensive School, studying Maths and Economics and Art with Art History 'A' levels.

This week, I'm back there to help host their very first 24-7 prayer room.

Emma & Phil, 17th Anniversary

17 years ago today, Emma and I got married. :o)

24-7 PrayerCast, Human Trafficking

Jon Bilbrough on Tour

My good friend, Jon Bilbrough, is touring with Athlete this week. Tonight they're in Gloucester. Catch them if you can. Or catch up with him, and listen to some of his recent EP on his blog. Love the new song, Jon. :o)

Week of Prayer, day three...

Five years ago today, a bunch of us stood around a long board-room table in the Cabinet Office - Christians from Parliament and Government who'd never even met before - and we prayed together. I think that's where this all began.

Week of Prayer, Parliament & Government

day two... it began as we huddled under the memorial to Wilberforce's Anti-Slavery Act in Victoria Park Gardens. A memorial to freedom. We prayed that God would mark our lives, and the Government in our nation, with His freedom. This is the year of the favour, the liberty, of our Lord Jesus. And then we set out prayer-walking...

Transit learning day... 'Hospitality'

I love being involved in these learning days.

24-7 PrayerCast

24-7's first PrayerCast, presented by Pete Greig. It's time to pray.

Prayer and Politics

Late last night, having wandered round the corner to our local primary school a bit earlier to scratch an ‘X’ next to candidates names, our conversation turned to the current political chaos. Funny... I don’t remember us ever talking politics before? And yet I bet we weren’t the only ones... it seems like everyone’s talking politics at the moment.

Prayer and Action

“Prayer and action, therefore, can never be seen as contradictory or mutually exclusive. Prayer without action grows into powerless pietism, and action without prayer degenerates into questionable manipulation. If prayer leads us into a deeper unity with the compassionate Christ, it will always give rise to concrete acts of service. And if concrete acts of service do indeed lead us to a deeper solidarity with the poor, the hungry, the sick, the dying, and the oppressed, they will always give rise to prayer. In prayer we meet Christ, and in him all human suffering. In service we meet people, and in them the suffering Christ.” Henri Nouwen
(Thanks for this, Tim)

(more) Toggie Tales

post-Pentecost Festival

"So what's all this about then?" asked the man, looking slightly confused. Crowds of people around him were cheering the hip-hop group on-stage, who's just finished a track about their faith in Jesus Christ. "Well," said Dot, "it's church... is there anything you'd like us to pray for you?"