b-inspired

A few thoughts:

Things the logo and name remind me of:
Church spire.
We should not be contained within church walls.
Sparklers of bonfire night (draw) Light a sparkler.
So my challenge to myself and to all of you is that we should not be contained within our church walls, within our spires but that we should be not in spires but inspired.
Jesus talks about himself as being the light of the world and that we should be little lights reflecting Him in the world. In Matthews Gospel it says of Jesus,
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bowl, but on a lampstand/candlestick and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.’
let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

This logo is a visual reminder to me to be a light out there in this dark, sad world that we live in. It’s not just about being a Christian in church or in your youth group, in the diocesan office but being a Christian/taking your faith seriously out there, in the real world, in school, with your friends, with those you find hard, with your family
What does it mean to shine your light?
It means sometimes holding your tongue when you snap at someone or say horrible things about someone. It means taking that extra bit of time to care for someone or listen to someone who needs it. When you ask, ‘how are you?’ really want to know.
It means speaking up with kind words, encouraging others, building one another up.
Think about it, how much easier is it to criticise than it is is to praise.? Add to that pour human nature to remember to criticisms and forget the praise and is it any wonder we have suicide, and problems with self harm and eating problems and children being diagnosed with depression.

Paul writing to the Church in Phillipi says, ‘Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.’
Be inspired people, live inspirational lives. Let your light shine. Shine like stars and point to Jesus.. what a challenge….

So… I see lights exploding like fireworks, I see stars bursting out of the church buildings… what else???

Bubbles….bursting

Visual thing for me about exploding God’s kingdom out there….
What are the kingdom values which we live by?
Do we buy fairly traded things or do we prioritise saving our money?
I feel very strongly that we as young people needing to be leading the way on this. The b-inspired t-shirt are a little more expensive than others, but the people who make them are being paid a fair wage for their work.
The new flyers are made form recycled paper.
The b-inspired pens are made from recycled car parts. The amount of stuff we throw away is immense. And what’s the problem with that?? The problem is away doesn’t exist!!!
Are you doing your bit, recycling, re-using even though if course it’s easier to just throw it in the bin?
Do we give to charity?
Take action; St. Basils sleep out
Sign petitions to Stop the Traffic.
Christmas; add to all the unnecessary stuff; think about buying a gift from Oxfam Christmas Unwrapped; goat, toilet, education

Imagine what a difference we could make in Birmingham if all of you went away from here inspired to get out and make a difference. Spill out Kingdom values, burst out the kingdom of God. Its not neat and tidy and predictable and safe, it’s a risk. In a dark room if you turn a torch on you won’t blend in… you’ll be noticed.
But go for it, take a risk, spill out kingdom value, light up with God’s love for others. Live as inspired people.

Of course no image works entirely. What happens once the sparklers have burnt out, or the bubbles have burst??

Another image:

Plant; flowers springing up, tree with autumn leaves

But how do we maintain that energy for God, that zest, that colour, that spark.
To be inspired people out there, we need to be inspired ‘people in here’ (heart)

When God made human beings. He didn’t just make them.
He made them the breathed his life into them. His life giving breath.
Inspired is another word for breath.
Allow God to breath his life giving spirit into us; to inspire us.

Without it, our spark for God will be short lived, it will go out…
So how do we maintain it, how do we keep on keeping on??

How does a tree do it? Where does it get it’s energy from?
Roots.
Rooted in God; nutrients, water, life…
STABILITY; when all around is changing, when life is hard, sink your roots deeper into God.

Sometimes tough; mavbe not sparky.
Don’t let that be an excuse to stop…..
Under line underground, what’s going on underneath?
Imagine a bulb; plant them round about now, but they don’t flower/burst into life until the spring…. What’s going on in the meantime??? nothing? No!
The bulb is putting its roots down, it sucking up nutrients, water, energy ready for it burst of colour in March/April.

Sometimes life is hard, you might be in a dark place right now; tough stuff going on at School, with friends, or with your family, maybe someone close to you has died, or left you and your heart has been broken.
Don’t just give up on God. Cling onto Him, find your security in him.

But how do you do that?
Someone said to me, the Bible is God’s love letter to you. If you want to know how much someone loves you/God loves you… read it.
So read the Bible…
Drummed into me; sit down 20 mins every day.
If you don’t manage to do that, do feel so guilty that you put even more distanced between you and God. Try different ways of getting into the Bible. Imagination; Ignation Spirituality, Lecto Divina, internet.. b-inspired website; ‘worship on the web’
Bible on CD, podcast talks… all sorts of things…

It’s in the dark that most of the growth happens. It may not be the visible growth that you see outside of the ground, but this growth underneath is the thing that makes this flower/tree even more effective.
Blessed be your name;
When things are good AND when things are tough, bless God’s name.
God is just as loyal, holy

Tree not symmetrical

Not predictable.
John 3:8 ‘The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit’

Don’t always/often know where God is leading you.
Confusing, messy….. ok!

But God is at work. Recognise Him. Recognise His fingerprints in the world; through people, beautiful creation, circumstances, films, art, music. Recognise Him at work, give him glory and join in.

God is energy and life and freeing and compassionate and passionate and I would much rather risk my life with a God like that than know where I am all the time with a dull, predictable God.

Be inspired by God and live inspired lives.

e.mail:
helen@birmingham.anglican.org