A tribute to the late Steve Jobs – founder of Apple and a man responsible for revolutionising the way we communicate. His creative and innovative spirit will be noted by generations yet to be born.
This tribute was recorded in Sheffield (UK).

In May 2011 Great British Churches was introduced by myself, John Greenow from Xcel Church in Newton Aycliffe and Chris Denham from Hope City Church in Leeds with a heart to come alongside churches across Britain to encourage, resource, train and empower leaders as they build and establish nation impacting chruches.

Firstly, I need to say that I like Rob Bell. I cried as I turned the empty pages at the close of ‘Drops Like Stars’. He’s a thinker, a lover of people and a Christian leader of our age. It’s this third Characteristic that has led me to write this short article… Rob has a problem that I have also grappled with (and who in their right mind wouldn’t?). How can a good God send good people to Hell forever? When we say ‘good people’, we mean people that work an honest living, raise an honest family and really care for the world around them. Rob’s answer is to adjust the nature of God, adjust the true nature of people and to adjust the means through which we must all come to God.

Traditionally if you want to mobilise the church, you encourage people to get off the stands and get onto the field – to stop being spectators and start becoming participants of the greatest game in history – the rise of God’s Church in the 21st Century.
Yet, there’s a little place that’s rarely talked about, rarely noticed and rarely appreciated by either players or spectators – it’s called THE BENCH.

Dave Gilpin tries to make a congratulatory video for the 10th birthday celebrations of Citipointe Church in Brisbane Australia led by Pastors Mark and Leigh Ramsay. If only his staff and ministry duties would give him three little minutes to get on and film it… Here’s his attempt!

In Part two of this series Dave Gilpin looks at the importance of developing character by looking at the reflection staring you in the mirror. We spend too much time worrying about others or what we are going to do but neglect to take time to look at what’s going on in our heart and mind.