Number Fir Tree Free

We’ve just signed contracts for our second house, which you can call The House Thing II, or Number 33, or my favourite: Number Fir Tree Free.

Fir tree? Yup.

Yonks ago a few of us spent a few days praying individually about the house, and met up on a Friday evening to pray together and share inspirations and what God had been saying about it all. Josh often gets some quite specific words of knowledge but wasn’t sure about one in particular: one thing he heard from God was simply “fir tree.” He had no idea what it was about, and neither did we. (more…)

Pithy profile #: Yulia

Who are you?
My Chinese name is Wang Yuying and my English name is Yulia. I’m a person who loves God.

What brought you here?
Jack. First of all my friend Chris invited me to church, and Jack invited me here.

In your own words, what’s this house thing all about?
Bible study, experiencing the love of God and talking with Jesus. (more…)

Pithy Profile #6: Rob

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…)

Pithy Profile #5: Celia

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.
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Jesus wants your guts

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…)