There is a chance to listen again to the BBC Radio Wales interview I did last year, which was repeated again last Sunday - here's the link to their podcast page HERE or if that's expired you can now just listen here - was pleased with this one. It covers a fair bit of ground personally and also about Zac's Place:
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
New Email Address for Exousia Trust and Zac's Place
We continue to have issues with our phone line and main website, both of which we hope to have replaced soon. All previous @exousia.demon.co.uk email addresses are now obsolete and have been replaced by the following one,
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| This replaces all previous email addresses for Exousia Trust and Zac's Place |
Thursday, July 04, 2013
Email and Website Problems
We are currently experiencing poor and erratic service from our Internet hosting company, Demon/Vodafone. As a result the main website and email addresses may be down for Exousia Trust including Zac's Place. In the meantime you have been redirected to the blog. We will keep you updated. Many thanks. You can also find Zac's Place on Twitter and Facebook.
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Postcard from a Tribal Gathering
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| A few of Zac's Place Tribal Gathering Regulars |
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Rich Mullins film 'Ragamuffin' - first trailer .....
This will be well worth watching when it's released ....
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Swansea: Back On The Streets
Due for broadcast from Weds 8 May, the new three part BBC Wales documentary returns. The initial three programmes broadcast last year provoked a big response and highlighted many unseen aspects of those who's lives involve homelessness. Many of those who's stories feature in this next run of three programmes are very much part of our community at Zac's Place one way or another - I would encourage you to watch each of these three, exceptionally thought provoking and moving programmes and would be very surprised if they didn't both challenge and inspire your thinking and actions.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Brennan Manning - Welcome Home
If you have ever wondered why Zac's Place is subtitled "A Church For Ragamuffins", then you need look no further than the writings of Brennan Manning, who's long road to freedom came to completion on 12 April when he passed away aged 78.
His book The Ragamuffin Gospel goes down in my life as one of the most influential reads of my life. It was released back in 1990 and was marketed as, "good news for the bedraggled, beat up and burnt out". It's a label I and many others have taken to heart over the years and by that same grace of God that Brennan bathed in, it's a label that resonates so much with what Zac's Place has matured into. He continued to be a fierce advocate for the marginalised, poor and church-abused, all the while battling his own demons. I longed for an opportunity for him to sit alongside us one day at Zac's Place, but the opportunity never came - but alas, the Spirit with which he lived and struggled, is alive and well, not just in our humble bunch of ragamuffins, but among the many who benefitted from his writing and gentle ability to communicate the profoundness of God's love wherever he took opportunity to speak.
My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones. My hope is that the legacy of his testimony will continue to inspire many to live in the revelation of "Abba's" love. Sometimes the profoundest of truths comes by way of the most gentle whisper, I'm so glad I was listening....
“My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
“Because salvation is by grace through faith, I believe that among the countless number of people standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands (see Revelation 7:9), I shall see the prostitute from the Kit-Kat Ranch in Carson City, Nevada, who tearfully told me that she could find no other employment to support her two-year-old son. I shall see the woman who had an abortion and is haunted by guilt and remorse but did the best she could faced with grueling alternatives; the businessman besieged with debt who sold his integrity in a series of desperate transactions; the insecure clergyman addicted to being liked, who never challenged his people from the pulpit and longed for unconditional love; the sexually abused teen molested by his father and now selling his body on the street, who, as he falls asleep each night after his last 'trick', whispers the name of the unknown God he learned about in Sunday school.
'But how?' we ask.
Then the voice says, 'They have washed their robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'
There they are. There *we* are - the multitude who so wanted to be faithful, who at times got defeated, soiled by life, and bested by trials, wearing the bloodied garments of life's tribulations, but through it all clung to faith.
My friends, if this is not good news to you, you have never understood the gospel of grace.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out
Philip Yancey on Brennan Manning (archive)
His book The Ragamuffin Gospel goes down in my life as one of the most influential reads of my life. It was released back in 1990 and was marketed as, "good news for the bedraggled, beat up and burnt out". It's a label I and many others have taken to heart over the years and by that same grace of God that Brennan bathed in, it's a label that resonates so much with what Zac's Place has matured into. He continued to be a fierce advocate for the marginalised, poor and church-abused, all the while battling his own demons. I longed for an opportunity for him to sit alongside us one day at Zac's Place, but the opportunity never came - but alas, the Spirit with which he lived and struggled, is alive and well, not just in our humble bunch of ragamuffins, but among the many who benefitted from his writing and gentle ability to communicate the profoundness of God's love wherever he took opportunity to speak.
My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones. My hope is that the legacy of his testimony will continue to inspire many to live in the revelation of "Abba's" love. Sometimes the profoundest of truths comes by way of the most gentle whisper, I'm so glad I was listening....
“My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
“Because salvation is by grace through faith, I believe that among the countless number of people standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands (see Revelation 7:9), I shall see the prostitute from the Kit-Kat Ranch in Carson City, Nevada, who tearfully told me that she could find no other employment to support her two-year-old son. I shall see the woman who had an abortion and is haunted by guilt and remorse but did the best she could faced with grueling alternatives; the businessman besieged with debt who sold his integrity in a series of desperate transactions; the insecure clergyman addicted to being liked, who never challenged his people from the pulpit and longed for unconditional love; the sexually abused teen molested by his father and now selling his body on the street, who, as he falls asleep each night after his last 'trick', whispers the name of the unknown God he learned about in Sunday school.
'But how?' we ask.
Then the voice says, 'They have washed their robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'
There they are. There *we* are - the multitude who so wanted to be faithful, who at times got defeated, soiled by life, and bested by trials, wearing the bloodied garments of life's tribulations, but through it all clung to faith.
My friends, if this is not good news to you, you have never understood the gospel of grace.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out
Philip Yancey on Brennan Manning (archive)
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Sorted!
Zac's Place features in a three page article in the March/April edition of 'Sorted' magazine. You can purchase it in WH Smith's or online at this link.
If you've not checked out this alternative men's magazine before, this is a good opportunity!
If you've not checked out this alternative men's magazine before, this is a good opportunity!
Saturday, February 09, 2013
Meanwhile in Melbourne
After a rather cool sub zero 150 mile ride to Berkshire, where I left the bike in the very capable hands of Grub for some routine work whilst I'm away, I've headed a long way south from Heathrow. Some dates to follow in NZ next week, but in the meantime I shall be getting rid of jet lag and preparing in Melbourne. Catching up with great friends here and speaking at St. Martin's in Collingwood on Sunday - on a day when many remember the tragic fires that burned four years ago taking the lives of dear ones. Every stop along the way is punctuated by people and their stories - sometimes it's óur story' as many of the folks I spend time with I've know for a few decades now - whether it be lunch with my mechanic mate back home, my hosts here in Melbourne, dear friends at St Martin's I shall try to encourage, Buckshot out in NZ who's organised my itinerary there and the New South Wales crew I'll see for 24 hours enroute home. As I reflect on 25 years of ministry this year, the 'story' involves so many people and places. So many complex interwoven threads of friendships, support and challenges. As we remember the Transfiguration of Christ this week, I am reminded of the ongoing transformational power of the living God - occasionally it's a miraculous mountain top experience, more often it's back down the hill, in the valley, where Jesus took his mates directly afterwards amid the chaos and questions.
Sunday, February 03, 2013
New Zealand Dates
I'll be hitting the road in New Zealand 14-25 Feb for a few dates on the road - full info available here. I'll be on the North Island in the regions of Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerstone and Wellington covering a variety of speaking engagements and retreats and finishing up at Passion Fest. Looking forward to travelling somewhere new, immensely grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to sharing the journey with two club brothers and meeting a heap of interesting folk along the way.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Additional Tribal Gatherings At Zac's Place
Deliberately different to most 'church' gatherings, but in a similar vein to our long running Tuesday night Tribal Gatherings, Zac's Place - A Church For Ragamuffins, will also provide opportunity for Jesus followers to gather, to share stories, prayers, readings, songs, art and struggles in a unique environment on the first Sunday of each month from 3rd Feb.
It will be similar, in as much that group participation is encouraged, (but not compulsory) and a little more structure to Tuesdays - but it's not about a couple of people entertaining a congregation, more about a corporate adventure rather than any heroic individual pursuit. It continues to be about a community of people working out together what it is to live under the rule of Christ. So come along and feel free to bring something to the table - either to eat or to share in words, or just be in the company of like minded pilgrims and feed on the fellowship, conversation and honesty that marks our gatherings.
For this first gathering we'll be looking at what Jesus meant when he said; "Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 5 v 3) - using Bill Taylor- Beales painting based on the words, as inspiration.
Psalm 31 will also feature - so have a read of it, at this link first and see what it stirs up.
It will be similar, in as much that group participation is encouraged, (but not compulsory) and a little more structure to Tuesdays - but it's not about a couple of people entertaining a congregation, more about a corporate adventure rather than any heroic individual pursuit. It continues to be about a community of people working out together what it is to live under the rule of Christ. So come along and feel free to bring something to the table - either to eat or to share in words, or just be in the company of like minded pilgrims and feed on the fellowship, conversation and honesty that marks our gatherings.
For this first gathering we'll be looking at what Jesus meant when he said; "Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 5 v 3) - using Bill Taylor- Beales painting based on the words, as inspiration.
Psalm 31 will also feature - so have a read of it, at this link first and see what it stirs up.
Zac's Place - A Church For Ragamuffins
Sunday 3 Feb and each first Sunday of the month, from 4pm
Tuesday Night Tribal Gatherings continue each week from 7.30pm
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