Who are you?
I am Robert Cartwright. Who do you say I am
What brought you here?
My two feet. Circumstance and I guess God’s guiding hands.
In your own words, what’s this house thing all about?
I guess it’s about sacrifice. Sacrificing a normal life to live with other people who’ve also made that sacrifice. (more…)
Who are you?
I’m Celia. I’m a human, a person. I’m a sinner. Who am I? I’m an ambitious lazy girl!
What brought you here?
God brought me here. At first Jack invited us, and then we just wanted to experience new things, be with people from this country, that was the first reason. Then after coming here once or twice we didn’t want to come back any more because it’s quite weird staying around with so many boys. But we found you were really kind, nice people, friendly, easy to talk with, so we were attracted to it.
(more…)
The Hebrew faith was very physical. Unlike the ancient Greeks, they saw every part of a person as having some connection to their body. The heart is the centre of your emotions and desires. Your spirit is your breath, or the wind. Your soul is your throat. People who bring good news have beautiful feet. Your life is in your blood.
When Jesus was moved with compassion he wasn’t merely sympathetic for people, he was gutted. Really gutted.
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
The Greek word they used meaning ‘moved with compassion’ is esplanchnisthē, to be moved in the splanxna, the inward parts. (more…)
Who are you?
I am Aidan Christopher Ashby, I’m 28. Trying to keep up with Jesus. I’m a part time student and work part time for the Church and help lead this thing here.
What brought you here?
Really wanted to see people find Jesus so we thought we needed to move into town to be among people. Wanted to be part of a group discipling one another, wanted to explore new ways of doing community.
In your own words, what’s this house thing all about?
All of the above, plus learning to cook. (more…)
Who are you?
I’m Jack Palgrave Brown. I’m a human.
What brought you here?
I initially wanted to bring my international student friends over here and it made sense to be part of this scene a lot more because I was considering what was the next chapter of my life. I still enjoy community and I enjoyed being with people and sacrificing some elements of time to be together and strengthen one another and to see a change in the neighbourhood.
And also town is a new territory for me and I still like to push my evangelism ministry before I consider marriage. (more…)
You know, I’m mainly writing this for myself.
As our who are we page says, it’s important to take stock, to properly process lessons as they come and to celebrate all God does. You may even find some of this useful and/or thought provoking too.
Without further ado:
I can’t emphasise the importance of prayer enough. If prayer is communion and communication, literally everything flows out of prayer. The universe, for instance, is the overflow of the constant communion of love flowing through the trinity, and through the communicated Word life came into being. The same is true now: life flows from the throne of God.
The 16th century scholar and Presbyterian minister Matthew Henry said “whenever God is about to do something truly great, He first sets His people a praying!” (more…)
Who are you?
My name is Joshua Hubbard, I’m 21 years old, believe in God and live in Northampton.
What brought you here?
My desire to see peoples lives changed by Jesus and follow my calling in him.
In your own words, what’s this house thing all about?
It’s about making friends, disciples, forming relationships, gaining life skills, training young people for mission. (more…)
Who are you?
I’m Rhiannon. I don’t know really. I’m a part of the house, the Bostock Avenue crew.
What brought you here?
Well I got to know everyone through bible study and then when you moved into Adams Avenue I bought you some gifts. I planned to leave after handing them to you but you invited Hannah and I round for dinner, and then the next day and the next day, so we came. The community and how much everyone here loved and pursued God, it was just something I wanted to be a part of. (more…)
In 1 Chronicles David told God he wanted to build a temple for Him in place of the tent in which He’d dwelt in since the time of Moses. God’s response really stood out to me, “I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house!” David’s intentions were good but God wanted to show him His sovereignty, power and love.
Often with good intentions we can tell God we’re going to build His church but we miss the simple truth that God builds His church, and by His choice and grace we can be included in His work. Here at 93 Bostock Avenue we’re in the fortunate position that we’ve experienced the truth of God building His church, and now it’s time to ‘enlarge the place of our tent’ and get a second house.
Saw this thread of tweets from Phil Whittall, a chap I follow on Twitter. It struck a chord so I’ve reproduced it below, with permission.
Question: Why don’t I think having friends over for a meal and showing biblical hospitality are the same thing?
First, I don’t think these meals are worthless at all. Time with friends, deepening relationship, building community, sharing stories is a deeply human thing. Very worthwhile and important. This is called friendship and investing in it is vital everywhere. I think this is a good thing.