Posts Tagged ‘Skype’

catching up with the hartlands…

// August 4th, 2008 // No Comments » // Interview, Missions

I love the fact that these days you can sit on either side of the planet and have a conversation with another person as easily as if they were across the desk from you – and you can do it for free (if you discount the cost of the computer, software, broadband connection, wireless router… yeh great ‘free!’)

Every now and then I get the opportunity to Skype with Rich & Katie Hartland. They’ve been part of Hope City Church for years – Rich originally arriving as student early in the days of my student pastoring. He eventually became part of the student team in Sheffield, then when he and Katie got together, got involved in the kids ministry ending up in Leeds as we took things on. But it had been a call of God on their lives for a number of years to go out and work with a church and mission in the Phillipines.

Last year we had the awesome privlidge of sending them out with the knowledge that they would have at least 2 years support from us as a church to ensure they could get on and make a difference. And a difference they are making..

I’m going to interview Rich & Katie this week on skype as a way of catching up with how things are going – but before I do I thought it would be great to pull together some questions from those of you who are interested in missions work and want to know ask something a little more searching than – ’so how’s things?’

So I’m hoping to interview them later this week – if you have a question – post it in the comments below. Then I’ll post the interview on skype to share with you all soon!

solving theological conundrums via skype…

// August 1st, 2008 // 4 Comments » // Faith, Inspiration

Just been skyped by a friend with a theological conundrum to be answered – I liked my response so much I thought it’s worth posting on my blog. Feel free to add any further comments or questions on this issue in the comments below!

Friend:

I have a theological question thats hurtin my head chris would you care to give an insight?
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Chris:

indeed
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what’s your question?
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Friend:

christ gives us more than we abundantly ask for…….. so should we accept more because surely that contradicts the situation
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and how do we live by faith knowing that God is going to give us all we ask for
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Chris:

good question
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a key passage is that God is “ABLE TO DO more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power at work WITHIN US”… (Ephesians 3:20)
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the thing here is to understand the relationship WE have with God
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God has an abundance that he wishes to pour out
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but we also have a responsibility to engage with the power at work WITHIN US
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so God doesn’t just give us what we ask for… there is a transaction between faith and blessing
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Friend:

How does that work then?
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see Malachi 3:10
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God was ready to open up the STOREHOUSES of heaven and pour out more blessing than you could imagine on the people…
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but the people had to bring the WHOLE tithe into the house
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God’s blessing – meets the people’s faith…
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Friend:

So is it just a case of tithing properly then?
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Chris:

tithing is one aspect of expressing your faith in God – trusting him with your finances and being obedient.. but God’s looking for faith in every area of our life
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so you ask God – I need a job…. he’s looking for the faith in you to go knocking on the doors of great jobs…
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you ask God – I need a car…. he’s looking for the faith in you to pray and believe God can provide a miracle… he may also be looking at the motive of your heart too!
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Friend:

ok thank you
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much better than the answer someone else gave – lol he confused me a lil
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Chris:

My pleasure…