Yesterday we went to Altincham and noticed four large security men outside the Asda home store in Hi- VIz jackets. They weren’t taking any chances, even though they were miles away from the trouble spots.

The BBC reported that heavy, persistent rain was part of the reason that Manchester was quieter last night. Thank you God for precipitation! People also met yesterday to help clean up the streets.

I also believe that our prayers and fasting have been effective in the heavenlies!! Thank you to everyone who got on their knees for peace here.

The BBC site added that the police statement read, “There has continued to be tremendous support from people across Greater Manchester who are providing us with information and updates about any concerns.

People are continuing to phone through to the freephone hotline 0800 092 0410 and more than a quarter of a million hits on the Flickr site featuring images of wanted people.

A major police investigation is under way to identify and put people before the courts.

They have worked throughout the night to deal with individuals, a number of whom have already been jailed.

Detectives are working through the information but they have hundreds of photographs and footage to work through and more than 200 scenes of crime that are being managed.”

Two hundred scenes of crime! What a crazy amount of needless damage and waste! And yet, I think God is at work, even in the midst of it all.

People are starting to question if it is right that messenger devices such as the Blackberry one are a good idea… people are starting to question why young people feel so bored that upturning a red wheelie bin in front of a police van gives them joy… people are going to start asking “What can we do?” and then next question will always be, “Who can help us?”

ENTER: THE CHURCH, that’s who.

It is not enough to blame the parents… I have worked in enough schools to have seen my fair share of poor parenting. But it’s not always their fault- not exclusively. I shall never forget Kenny – the little boy who broke into my boot (and was trapped inside) and his father. The exchange between them when I righteously deposited Kenny back home was this,

“Son, I didn’t know you could do Toyota’s too!” (Clear pride on his face)

This guy was not well-parented himself. How could he be a good parent? It was never modelled for him.

As a church we need to model society. We need to model how to love, how to listen and how to give. If we don’t, people will have absolutely no reason to learn anything from us or let us be part of their solutions.

God, teach us today how to model your love for your people, for looters and loners, trouble-makers, window breakers, insolent, silent, rude and leud youths. Teach us how to reach those who you always reach out to with your unbreakable, unshakable and unshockable love.

Help us not be an impotent church full of our own self-importance, but a church of loving, active revolutionary life-changers who make a difference where we are, to all we meet.

Amen