On Fire is a small Christian Conference held at High Leigh during the week. It attracts around 160 people from a wide range of backgrounds and ages, although its timing and history mean that there are a large number of people over 45, and fewer people of working and child rearing age.

What is unique about On Fire Mission is that it is "a network dedicated to promoting Charismatic renewal blended with the riches of Catholic spirituality." In short it is Anglo-Catholic and Charismatic (and inclusive in terms of orders.) You may wonder why On Fire hasn't adopted Bishop Paul Bayes strap line of (Anglican) Charismatic Catholic and Missional, but On Fire as a movement and conference attracts people from a wider range of backgrounds.

And it is a movement that is changing. This is my second year at On Fire, and this year the worship had a more modern feel. There were still some older chorus' and songs, but the worship team had made an effort to use newer songs from the last 10 years. Charismatic Catholic worship works when there is a natural flow between songs, spoken liturgy, prayer time and opportunity for spiritual gifts and ministry. And this On Fire does exceptionally well.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.

Imagine that you come home one day, and there is a loved friend waiting on your doorstep to tell you that they have won the trip of a lifetime, and they are taking you with them.

How would we feel – Excited? Grateful? Joyous?

And then they tell you that this trip is to one of the least hospitable places on earth. That there shall be no food and only just enough water. Not only that, but on that trip you will be accompanied by the person you find the most difficult and unkind in all of the world. At that person would be badgering you, teasing and testing you all holiday.

How would you respond?

Perhaps joy would turn to ashes in our mouths.