Launch Night

Late on Friday evening, I found myself at two 'launches'... similar in some ways, and yet world's apart in others. I felt part of both, and yet also utterly out-of-place.

The first was the launch for 2007's non-stop year of prayer, which is inspired by, and connects in with, the Global Day of Prayer (27th May, West Ham football stadium - let's hope they're still in the Premiership by then?!).

Jonathan Oloyede has been a 'main man' in agitating this thing into existence. I like him a lot. Emma and I enjoyed a laughter-filled Nigerian meal round Jonathan and Abbih's house not long ago - I think we're due a coffee again soon, at least?

I don't think I know anyone else amongst the 'Christian arena' who could do what Jonathan has done - he's drawn together leaders and churches from the black Pentecostal and Catholic and Hispanic and Chinese and white communities... not only to meet together, but to actually work together! He's ridiculously (and refreshingly) humble about it, but he has a gift.

Anyway, it was great to bump into another friend, Calum, when I wandered into the Immanuel Centre on Marsham Street (near the Houses of Parliament) - it's always comforting to find a friend at these things!

The hall was packed-out with 1000+ people, full-on worship, etc. I have to confess, I've probably only been in maybe a dozen 'meetings' in the past 2-3 years, and I do feel a bit out of practice! [grin] Having spent that period exploring with Emma and my girls and with other friends how to express our spirituality through every-day life, I find myself a little bit disconnected to 'meeting culture' now (I'll come back to this in another post. In 'Exiles', Micheal Frost decsribes this as the Church's 'third place', the place we invest a large proportion of our spiritual expression... and then suggests that perhaps a better 'third place' might be our meal-table. Interesting stuff).

As-per-usual, while people sang all around me, I offered my tentative "am I ok?" prayers. "Have I simply lost touch with you, Father?" "Do you still receive worship from me and the messiness of my 'meeting'-less life?" God smiled. Slightly reassured, I relaxed into borrowing a few words from the songs on the screens in front of me, and singing my own songs... and talking with my Father about some other things too.

I love the prayer-energy being invested into this year, and even moreso the collaboration between such different churches. I am part of this. I belong. This is my family. And yet I feel sooooo out-of-place. Hehe. Maybe Frost is right. Maybe 'exile' is a good word?

To sign up and join in with the London year-of-prayer, go to the Londonprayer.net website.

- - - - -

A tube-ride across wind-swept London, and I was wandering into the orange-and-black Urban Bar, opposite Whitechapel station. My friend Dan's hip-hop outfit (what do you call a hip hop 'band'?), Judah and Secret, were launching their cd.

I like Dan, and I've known him a long time - since well-before our Kamoflahj 'youth church' days. He's an extraordinary DJ, and has developed his producing skills amongst the hip hop crowd/culture as well. Judah and Secret (he's 'Secret') emerged from a collective of hip hop artists... and they really are very good at what they do. Dan loves Jesus, and that comes across through his lyrics and his lifestyle. Like I said, I like him a lot.

However, he wasn't there when I climbed the creaky stairs into the reserved bar, packed with 'hip hop fans' and throbbing with 'hip hop beats'. Don't get me wrong, I really like the music. It's just that I am *very* aware of One Important Thing... I can't dance. Not like these guys can anyway. I can Christian-two-step with the best/rest (not that I've done even that in a long time), but I can't dance. I can't move. (Emma and I have even decided to get dancing lessons together this year! Hehe)

So, I squeezed into a corner with my beer until my friends arrived, trying (poorly) to 'blend in'... Jon, Susie-Sue and Drew, Richy Rich, Sarah and Dewi, Jo, Pat and Dave. Relief!

Dan... 'Secret' and Judah were brilliant. The wooden-floor bounced like a trampolene as the crowd bobbed/danced (and while I tapped my foot). I loved the energy and the raw faith exploding from their rhymes and the lyrics.

I am part of this, of course. Bonhoeffer makes this very clear. Christian fellowship - our oneness in Christ hurdles every cultural boundary. I may not be able to dance outwardly... but my soul and spirit were dancing. I belong. This is my family. And yet I feel sooooooo out-of-place.

On reflection, maybe less-so in the Urban Bar than I did in the Immanuel Centre. Maybe that comes from being amongst other 'exiles'?

You can listen to Judah and Secret, or pick up a copy of their new cd, Truth Syrum on their myspace site...

Comments

[paulo]

It is hard to believe that 7500 km across the sea and a whole lot of ground that we are on the same journey... exiles, living a meeting-less life after years of being part of a sub-culture I no longer feel connected to.

God is up to something Phil. My wife directed me to your blog tonight and I just shook my head thinking something's up. And it can't even be a pride thing comparing being in or out cos there's nothing to be proud of. If anything it's a dying to self, being hidden with no accolades. Yet engaging to life and culture in a different way that I have never known. I am rambling but that's the point... we ramble, stumble, bumble and live without pretense. Something's up when I can read this entry and go "yah that's the way I feel when I walk into Zona's" just to hang out in a bistro/pub for open mic with musicians, good and bad, playing with passion.

I bless you and your friends as you journey in London and will be thinking of you as we walk this out in Canmore, a little town in the Canadian Rockies. Oh, you and your family are invited to our B&B anytime to chat, eat meals together, and hang out at Zona's.

Cheers, paulo

[linda]

I've not been into meetings for a long time...nice to hear about what you are doing paul. sounds brilliant!

[toggers]

hey paulo! thanks so much for that, for the encouragement and the invitation! i have relatives and friends in canada... you never know, maybe one day! :o)