Book Review: Just Like Us by Stef Liston

Stef Liston is a regular preacher at Newday where his anointed, dynamic and passionate preaching impacts many young people. He is currently planting Revelation Church in London.

'Just Like Us' is his first book, and takes a look at many characters throughout scripture to see what lessons we can learn from them. Stef draws out how they are just like us, and yet points to the incredible ways they walk with God.

His book is both encouraging and very challenging. It is very accessible, with short, punchy chapters that end with a summary and questions for further reflection. I'm not sure if this book is aimed more towards young people, but the theology certainly isn't lightweight and the engaging writing style and succinct chapter structure really enabled the message of each chapter to hit home each time.

The chapters, and things that spoke to me, are outlined below:

1. Jacob: Persevering in wrestling with God unlocks a change in us, and God's blessing.
2. Moses: Successful intercession is based upon knowledge of the character and promises of God.
3. Gideon: Enquiring of God reveals more about the reality of the situation.
4. Hannah: Suffering and desperation connect us with God, teach us about our need, and give God a door to demonstrate his glory and goodness.
5. Solomon: God loves to answer prayers based upon his already promised favour.
6. Elijah: He was just like us; he was a servant of God; He knew who he was; he persevered in prayer in what God had called him.
7. Elisha: Prayer unlocks revelation.
8. Mary: Prayers of surrender remind us it's God we serve and attack roots of unbelief in our lives.
9. The Other Mary: God loves silence before him, so he can speak.
10. Jesus: Faith is a gift from God when we ask him for it.
11. Jesus: Unforgiveness opposes intimacy with God.
12. The Early Church: There is power in corporate prayer.
13. Paul & Silas: Our praise and prayer during pain reveal where we are really at.
14. The Martyrs: God will judge in his time.
15. John: The heart of the Christian life is "Come, Lord Jesus."

Overall, I'd sum up the books message as this: prayer effectiveness and intimacy with Jesus are interwoven.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone of any age who wants to be challenged to grow in prayer and walk with Jesus.

Stepping Stones

I've been considering what is next for me – which really means where, for the moment. The 'what' is less of a priority right now. As you know, I finished my leadership role in my old church at the end of July because I felt Gods leading to. However, I had nothing to walk into job wise or ministry wise, and 'coincidentally' I had to move out of my flat at the same time, leaving me homeless and unemployed. I've been enjoying having time and space over the last month or so, and I feel very refreshed because of it. I'm even starting to get bored and wanting to have something to get my teeth stuck into. And my six weeks in South Africa is only two weeks away! But what about post South Africa? What happens then?

At the start of August, I went to a youth camp thing as my final act of leadership with my old church. I wrote about it here, but I didn't go into some interesting proceedings which were more personal to me. I had been considering moving to Brighton, getting a job there and being part of a large church of about a thousand down there, which a number of friends of mine attend. I'd prayed about it and not felt God say 'no' so began to put feelers out. In the run up to Newday though, I'd begun to feel less certain about Brighton – not for any reason other than a loss of peace about it. Which is one way God speaks to us.

At Newday, I spoke to my friend Julian, with whom I'm going to SA with. We were talking after one of his seminars, and he shared with me where he is moving back to in the UK in the new year, and invited me to move with him. My immediate reaction was negative – only because I didn't want to move somewhere purely because my friend is.

Later that day, I went to see people at my old church in Hastings, where I grew up. It was strange seeing kids who I used to teach in Sunday school now taking driving lessons, and guys who were in the youth group when I lead it now functioning as youth leaders! I was sitting down with a friend of mine who is now an elder in the church and he told me he had nearly brought a prophetic word for me at our recent Sussex leaders meeting, but as it was very directional about my future he didn't, and so wanted to share it as an opinion now. He said exactly the same place my friend is moving to, and gave reasons why he felt it would be a good move. Naturally, this caught my attention!

The next day, I took my young people to a seminar about the prophetic gifts, and during one part of the meeting a prophetic word was shared which indicated God was going to speak to people about cities and nations He was leading them to. I had a picture in my mind which tied in definitely with the place my two friends had spoken about, but dismissed it as mental association. As we were walking back to our campsite, one of the lads in my group asked me if God had told me where I was going yet. I said no, and he seemed surprised because during the meeting he felt God tell him “I've just told Ant where he is moving to.” He had no idea about my picture or recent conversations.

I've been going back to Hastings church since I left – its important to give the guys who have stepped into my role the opportunity to grow into it without me in the background, for a number of reasons – and as I walked in, many familiar faces saw I'd come back home. One wise old woman came over to say hello, and we got chatting. She told me her son had recently moved. And guess where he'd moved to!? This guy is someone I've grown up with so I know him well, and she gave me his number to get into contact with him. So I now had a very real link to this place, which came my way without me doing anything!

I rung him later that week and chatted for a while, as he told me about the area, city and church. The next course of action was a visit up there, which we decided to arrange once he had moved into his new house up there (they'd been renting).

Two days later, another old friend phoned out of the blue – we've not spoken for about a year or so. He wanted to speak about ministry things I've been involved with, and seem to be getting more involved with. In the conversation I suggested being open to the idea of moving to a place where the area he wants to grow in is more central in the life in the church – and I suggested the place I've been considering. Lo and behold, he has a number of very good friends there – including the church leader! In addition, he is planning to visit them sometime before Christmas I'm a firm believer that if you don't ask you don't get, so I invited myself to accompany him. So when I get back from SA in November we've got a provisional date to fly to the north of England where I can scout it out!

Finally, last week I had a meeting with one of the leaders at Brighton, who I did a two year Theology course with. We chatted about me moving, and at the of the conversation both came away feeling it wouldn't be the right move for me. His recommendation, when I shared about this other option, was that it was an exciting opportunity and to explore it!

Now, having said all that I'm still not definite its the right place. Sometimes God leads us on paths to grow our faith and show us how He can speak and move mountains. And whilst He hasn't said no, He also hasn't said yes. I'm spending six weeks with a guy with a proven prophetic ministry, so I'm in faith God is going to speak to me! Seriously, SA will be a key time – many people have said this to me, and I feel it. We walk by faith - Proverbs 3:5 is a verse for the moment. Faith works when it is faith in the character of the God we know. Faith is having confidence that God will act on our behalf. And He is a God who kindly tends, cares and shepherds us.

Praise God For Newday

I got back from Newday yesterday afternoon. Wow. Of course, I would have written earlier but I just had to sleep. And shower. Getting home meant I could stand under the shower. And flush the toilet. And lie on my bed. And eat food from a fridge. All just because I could!

Oh yes, the showers. We had vastly superior sanitation facilities this year. The toilets were so non-camping I actually got through quite a bit of various reading materials. And the showers were always warm, and with no queues mornings were blissful with the pleasure of forgetting we were camping. And so people took wholehearted advantage of the showers. However, this meant too much water was being used on the campsite – which had to sustain over 6,000 people – so a five minute limit was imposed on showers. Of course, short of draconian measures this restriction was unenforceable. So I had the pleasure of waiting one afternoon for 25 minutes as three lads decided to not only discuss the fittest girls in their youth group cross cubicle, but also pass conditioner to each other over the top! And they didn't look old enough to shave, let alone understand the mysteries of Eve!

But I can't write about Newday and spiel on about soaking showers. Newday is about young people meeting God. And in that sense, it was an incredible great week!

Being part of Newfrontiers has always been a privilege. As I grow and understand more, the more I realise the cost that godly men before me have paid to establish something I'm now part of, and have been shaped by. Not to undervalue any other movement of course, but speaking about the movement I'm part of, I cannot speak more highly of it.

Watching young people encounter God is an amazing privilege with spirit-filled, God centred worship. I know we don't have a monopoly on that, but I feel so thrilled my young people aren't part of an emotionally empty, thrill seeking 'ra ra ra' concert – they are singing truth, to the God of Truth.

I love hearing superb biblical exposition that is more than just a shallow rally cry, knowing young hearts are being shaped. They are being encouraged to meet God in the Bible, to bring their lives in line with the Book, and to read and study the Bible for themselves. We heard messages on Purity, on Materialism, on Prayer, on Grace, and on Honouring Parents. There was a depth to the teaching that brought a challenge and conviction to many. On top of the main sessions, there were seminars in mornings and afternoons on the prophetic, on leadership, on Christian heroes, on apologetics and on evangelism. One evening, Terry Virgo told the story of Newfrontiers and encouraged this generation to take the baton and continue running with it.

Seeing my guys motivated for building a missional church was one thing. But seeing them put on red 'Jesus' t-shirts, get onto a coach en masse and be driven into Derby to do practical social works and action in the city was a powerful sight. Seeing them come back after an afternoons grafting after cleaning graffiti, or hedge trimming, or litter picking, reminded me and taught them that Jesus proclaimed a gospel of works as well as words.

But Jesus also preached a gospel of wonders. There were numerous healings, of which I could list so, so many. My friend Julian hosted some seminars in the Prophetic and prayed for many to be healed – and he wasn't the only one. Some of the reports are here, as well as another perspective about Newday.

We also saw new life – around 300 first time commitments during the week, as non-believers who had come along met Christ at the Cross for the first time and gave themselves to Him.

I think the way the last session ended, with the worship band quietly leaving the stage during 'How Great Is Our God' as the congregation, lost in wonder, love and praise continued to sing unaccompanied, summed up so well what the message of Newday 2007: "God First."

Other non-spiritual highlights of Newday for me included:

• A bet between two of the testosterone fuelled males in my group. One boy licked a guys armpit for the princely sum of.... five pounds. The licked guy then had his armpit waxed by a mad group of frenzied females. And of course, we recorded it. The Youtube link will be published soon...

• A sweet and innocent looking girl cunningly tied string around my chair, then round my neck without me knowing. So after lunch, I stood up and subsequently choked myself violently, much to the mirth of my ward

• Pegging: Pegs with written bible verse references written on are clipped to random people during meetings to bless them. Unless they fail to notice them, as they then just look stupid. Bonus points are awarded for attaching the peg to flesh – especially earlobes. You'll be thrilled to know I resisted the temptation to change peg bible references to rude or random verses.

• Meeting a little 13 year old kid with big gold chain, all acting cool and hard and speaking like a London gangster in hip hop shizzle stylee. I suppressed a smile when he introduced himself as 'Reg.'

• Various duct tape attacks on people

• Terry Virgo being commandeered by one of my group during a game of American Football, and dropkicking the ball back to the group. He shanked it right into a caravan. Then ran!

• Various children feeling sick after eating their own body weight in Haribo

• Rolo doughnuts sold by the questionable stall traders in the Grand Ring

• Our geezer coach driver providing highly illegal, yet very good quality copies of the new Transformers and Simpsons movies for keeping the kids quiet on the four hour journeys to and from Derby

Newday 2007 was my final act as a Youth Worker at my current church. So the goodbyes when we got home were emotional. They are great kids, and during the week I made sure I got round them all to see how they were doing. Without fail, they had all met God. Which, as a leader, is what you want your people to do. They belong to Him – I'm leaving them in very capable hands.

Praise God for Mystery

This Sunday just gone was my last ever time with my church - the church I've been staff at for three years. But more than that, its the church I've been part of. So its more than just a job change. Its like moving away from family, knowing next time you see them there will have so many changes there will be but a distant recognition.

Part of the morning included praying me off. Quite amusing in one sense, as I'm not going somewhere known right now. Various prophetic words came my way, including a picture of me diving off a diving board in faith, into a swimming pool - I've done faith dives before, but this time the board is higher and the swimming pool is larger and deeper, and a pool that I'm going to be swimming in. Also, a reminder that I'm on a walk of faith and God will come through for me, but it is gonna be an 11th hour thing. Frightening!

I'm now gonna stay out in SA for six weeks - i feel that's a longer time to rest, heal and enjoy being with my friend. Plus, its a longer time to be in that environment - I've got a sense its going to be a significant time for me, somehow.

This means that I'm out there from mid September to the end of October, coming back to the UK in November. Of course, this raises a few issues for me. Job-hunting in August is now kinda pointless, as no one will employ me now with a view to me starting in November. Plus, i still have no idea where I'm going to town-wise, which again ruins the job hunting thing. I feel less certain about Brighton too, so basically I'm totally up in the air!

People do keep saying to me "its really exciting" but it always is when its someone elses life, isn't it.....

So, please remember me in your prayers and/or good thoughts - somehow I've found myself in one of those crazy situations where me, a fixer/doer/activist, can't fix, do or activate anything and I have to trust God in a way that seems somewhat crazy!

I'm going away to Newday now for a week, which is our annual Godfest Bible camp for teens from Newfrontiers churches. 6,000 of the little darlings! I'm there in a ministry setting of course, but I'm sure God will speak to me there...