tag:i-church.blog.co.uk,2009-11-09:/Is there a need for i-church?MokoFeed2009-11-09T22:45:58+01:00tag:i-church.blog.co.uk,2006-04-08:/2006/04/08/chruch_get_me_out_of_here~713061/i-church2006-04-08T20:52:47+02:002006-04-08T20:52:47+02:00 <p>Hi - let me introduce myself <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wave.gif" alt=":wave:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>My name is Mark Sturgeon - I'm 29, live in Halesowen with my wife, Sarah and we have a little one on the way. We've only lived in the Black Country for just under a year, so are still trying to understand that accent!</p> <p>I like to think of myself as a pretty regular guy, but one thing that does single me out from a lot of my mates is that I'm a follower of Christ.</p> <p>What does that make you think of me? - A geek, nerd? Lost the plot <img src="/img/smilies/icon_crazy.gif" alt=":crazy:" class="middle" border="0"> - "ok for him, but not my cup of tea"</p> <p>I'll hold my hands up and be first in the queue to say that often the church doesn't connect with our generation. It's full of smells and bells and grannies - something we just wouldn't afford the time for.</p> <p>BUT still, we have the nagging questions in us:</p> <p>"What's the point of my life?"<br> "Why do things happen that make me hurt?"<br> "Is there more to a good time than getting hammered and eating kebabs?"<br> "Why does work seem like such a treadmill?"<br> "Would God even give a stuff about me anyway?"</p> <p>I know how hard it is to talk about this stuff, even though we want to. We don't want to look like ponces with our mates - we just push on and say we're "fine". In my reckoning, for us in 2006, this often means:</p> <p><strong>F</strong>eeling<br> <strong>I</strong>nsecure<br> <strong>N</strong>eurotic and<br> <strong>E</strong>xhausted</p> <p>Catch my drift? <img src="/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I'm not saying 'become a bible basher' or even 'come to church'.</p> <p>This is why I'm writing this blog: I want to relate with you guys in Halesowen (and if you're not from Halesowen, you're still welcome <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0">) - church through this blog can come to u.</p> <p>I want to chat with you, laugh with you, cry with you and 'do life' with you. I'm calling my blogspot i-church, because I reckon church is key - no, not the smells and bells - but the relationships with each other, love, vision and hope - stuff we're desperate for in our generation.</p> <p>Share with me - what do you think - what's going on with you. We can connect through this blog, e-mail, text (07880 610187) and if you'll feeling really brave, I'd always meet up with u for a McDonalds or a pint.</p> <p>Take care,</p> <p>Mark <img src="/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif" alt=":p" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://i-church.blog.co.uk/2006/04/08/chruch_get_me_out_of_here~713061/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>