Pastor's Blog - Food For Thought

Jubilee

Sat, 26 May 2012 19:23:23 +0100

As we are heading towards celebrating the Queens Jubilee, its good to look at what Jubilee represents!

House of God

Sat, 19 May 2012 19:17:53 +0100

You see that a feature of the House of God is fellowship - actual fellowship. Given that, another feature arises and becomes manifest... and that is Life. Oh, what Life there is in fellowship.

The Life of the Lord - His risen Life - is manifested in fellowship, and that is a feature of the House of God. And is not the House of God, the Body of Christ, intended to be the expression in a corporate way of the fact that Christ is alive - is risen?

Turning back

Sat, 12 May 2012 22:10:28 +0100

Psalm 130 is one of probably seven Penitential Psalms - which have a pattern of confessing sin and stating a desire to return to God. What these seven Psalms all have in common is that they are the cries from the heart of an individual: a person who is in dire need of help from God is calling out for him to help.

Ekklesia

Sat, 05 May 2012 22:17:40 +0100

Matthew 16:18 "…And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church (Greek - ekklesia)…"

The Greek word "ekklesia," is used 115 times in the New Testament, and in most bibles, it is always translated as "church" (except in Acts 19:32,39,41, where it is properly translated as "assembly").

Knowing His Voice

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 22:18:22 +0100

–If you are a Christian, the Bible teaches that you are a “sheep that listens to His voice.” Jesus has an intimate relationship with you and “calls his own sheep by name.”

When Jesus is your Lord, Saviour, and Shepherd, you allow Him to “lead you out.” Jesus has a special road for each of us to travel. Isn’t it a wonderful thought to know that He is walking ahead of you clearing the path of danger along the way?

Greater Love

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 07:14:22 +0100

Can anyone tell me where the river Kwai is? It is in Thailand; and is most famous in this country for one thing – its bridge.

Water Baptism

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 22:19:13 +0100

Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. Just before Jesus returned to heaven, He commanded His followers to preach the gospel to all people and to baptize believers. Baptism is a sign to everyone watching that he or she has accepted Jesus and Saviour and that he or she plans to obey Jesus and live to please Him.

Redemption song

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:04:31 +0100

Because of his love for sinful humans, God works to redeem, or to free sinners, from their “slavery to sin” so that he can enable them to become righteous “sons of God” (Romans 8:14) with whom he can relate. Because human beings are by their inherited natures rebels against God’s will and authority and by their personal attitudes and behaviour selfish and independent creatures who are constantly seeking to increase their own possessions and enhance their own glory, their created ...

Grace is more than enough

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:59:39 +0100

God’s sustaining power is seen and developed in our weakness and failure. It is never developed anywhere else.

Audacious Faith

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:15:30 +0100

When we step out in audacious faith and we are thoroughly intimidated by what we are doing, our faith can only grow.

Born for such a time as this

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0100

If you have ever had a moment when everything comes together, you feel like you are the right person in the right place at the right time?

Product Recall

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:26:21 +0100

Recall Notice

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

Dressing with Purpose

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 09:06:23 +0100

In Ephesians 6 v10 -18 Paul encourages readers to put on the full armour of God...

Living a life with no Regrets

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:22:50 +0100

Steve May sets out a tremendous challenge, having had to try and write my 80th birthday speech recently I realised how living life to the full requires we have an understanding of destiny and significance!

Loving my neighbour - whoever they are

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

"Once upon a time. It happened..."

There are no details of where or when but it happened. An educated, religious, titled man asked a question of our Lord.

Are we ready?

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

>Have you ever gone to a swimming pool with the wrong clothing? We wouldn't want to show up at the pool (in our church clothes), would we? What are some things we need to bring to the pool so we'll be ready to have fun there?

Knowing the season you are in

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Greeks embedded two understandings of time in their language. The first chronos, or clock time—we are all too familiar with, its weight a constant pressure on our comings and goings.

Dealing with Fear

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:50:29 +0100

Fear is a strange thing, there are things that we do and things that happen to us that we can fear, these things are influenced by our attitude too them.

Dreaming Big

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:41:41 +0100

A dreamer comes in many shapes and sizes. They can be a man, a woman, a boy or a girl. Their dream was conceived and is waiting to be birthed, but many things can put a hold or stop to their dream.

Laying Hold

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:35:50 +0100

Probably one of my favourite scriptures, no excuses, I just like being reminded, encouraging others to lay hold of destiny, grasping hold of purpose, capturing destiny, here it is in Paul's letter to the Phillipians.

A year of fresh opportunity

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:31:07 +0100

O God of infinite creativity . . . At the beginning of this New Year – winter for so many – the rich brown earth is even now preparing to burst forth with a spring of possibilities and new life.

What has God done?

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:17:30 +0100

Why Should You Share Your Testimony? Give God the glory! When we testify of the things God has done in our lives, it is a form of praise and worship. We are saying to the whole world, "It is not I who is great - It is Christ who is great in me!" It turns everyones attention to the Lord and shows them His greatness. Refuse to forget! When God brings us through a trial, as time passes, we can forget how much He has done. Many Christians who hav...

What can I give him -

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 23:46:38 +0100

Words: Christina Rossetti, 1872; she wrote these words in response to a request from the magazine Scribner’s Monthly for a Christmas poem. In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,In the bleak midwinter, long ago. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.In the bleak midwinter a stable place suf...

His Grace is sufficient

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:03:44 +0100

Through times of prayer God has shown me that he is all I need. I've felt the sting of the firery darts of the enemy. I am more than a conqueror. God has proven that to me over & over again. That when I put out my shield of faith it will catch those fiery darts that are headed my direction. My friends, the most high God, march, jump stamp your feet and begin to march as if your life depended on it and while you are marching stick out your sheild of faith, give the Father praise. ...

Starting the conversation - reaching out

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:36:01 +0100

I think it’s obvious, as we unravel the argument of what the church is to be about, we end up being forced to admit that our theology is the basis for our conclusions. And if you are like we were, you may be forced to revisit the basis of your theology. I’m not going to talk theology. For one, I’m still very much a novice teacher. And with all the varying doctrines represent I don’t think it’s very wise What then, is our role in the Great Commission? How do we tangibly reach the lost ...

Now concerning Spiritual Gifts

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:03:10 +0100

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed" (1 Corinthians 12:1). I assume that applies to us also: we ought not to be uninformed about the nature and purpose of spiritual gifts. If you were reading through the New Testament, the first place you would run into the term "spiritual gift" is Romans 1:11,12. Writing to the church at Rome, Paul says, "I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to ...

Trusting God

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:57:00 +0100

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:4–5 (NIV) God is the sovereign, supreme ruler of the universe, powerful enough to overcome any problem or defeat any enemy: “Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him” (Romans 11:36 MSG). God is love (1 John 4:16), and so we know he is patient and kind; he’s never rude or self-see...

Walking by faith at dark times

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 17:37:10 +0100

All of us have experienced one of those dark periods at one time or another. It's a time when you feel helpless, like there is nothing you can possibly do to fix a situation and feel whole again. Maybe it's a death of a loved one, maybe you feel lonely, or maybe you have a goal that currently seems unattainable. Whatever the case, the feeling is the same. You can feel the darkness, the uncertainty and the fear. These are the times when Christians must rely on God and trust that his almighty ...

The Hand of the Father

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:25:43 +0100

The Hand of God the Father is a figure of speech which points to God’s sovereign power in creation and in His actions on His people’s behalf, especially in redemption. In our Scripture we hear the cry of Jabez who understood the need to have the Hand of The Father upon his life in order to see a difference. He knew the impact his life would have if the Hand of God was upon him! a. God creates by His hand [Acts 7:50] b. God holds the world in His hand [Psalm 95:4] c. God’s creatures...

Daily trust for a miracle

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:21:04 +0100

Is there anything we need to know in order to see miracles happen in our lives? We hear about miracles happening all the time. Why have they not yet happened in our lives?

Men of Faith

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:18:52 +0100

Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee – Judges 16:28

What an embarrassing scene. What a shameful spectacle.

Fruit of the Spirit

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:17:11 +0100

Paul was a follower of Jesus and God. The book of Galatians was his letter to the church of Galatea but what he says is helpful to all Christians.

Healthy Living

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 21:16:02 +0100

1 Thessalonians 1:9 – For they themselves report concerning what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned from serving idols to serve the living and true God.

It is easy to get caught up in thinking that the Christian life is a complicated combination of competing tasks.

Fight the good fight

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:37:19 +0100

What fight is Timothy going to fight? The good fight of faith.

1Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called
2Tim. 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
Jude 3 ...contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Running the race of faith

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:32:03 +0100

As Christians need to belong to a community of faith. Why? Because your faith cannot grow while you are isolated from the community of faith. Actually it may die.

Reaching the World

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 11:53:28 +0100

Are we to minister as those in the world? Absolutely. That’s an answer to Jesus’s own prayer for His followers (see John 17:14-16). But let’s be very discerning here. Does this mean we must minister as those of the world? Do we have to adopt postmodern thinking to minister to the postmodern mind? Absolutely not. Such behavior and words are not fitting in the life of a Christian (see Ephesians 5:4). They are obviously, then, not fitting in the context of worship. Nowhere in the book of Ac...

Salty people

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 23:07:39 +0100

If you are loving God more than anyone or anything else, if you are taking up the cross and following Jesus, then you are going to make a difference. You will impact your culture. The first-century church turned their world upside down because they lived this way. It is also why the 21st-century church is not turning our world upside down, because, frankly, not enough people are living this way. We have fair-weather followers, but we have very few disciples. Jesus said, "Salt is good for seasonin...

Water walking

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:02:31 +0100

Ever read the passage about Peter coming out of the boat to walk on the water with Jesus? His faith got him out of the boat. A lot of people read this passage and only pay attention to the fact that Peter's lack of faith made him sink. But think about this...None of the other disciples even asked to do so. They stayed in the boat where they knew it was safe. Peter stepped out on faith and then doubted. How many of us have really stepped out on faith and left the safety and comfort of our lives?Co...

God's purpose in our lives

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 22:51:58 +0100

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" we ask children. As if we can choose whatever we want, and through strong ambition, we can make it happen. We can choose, because God has given us free choice. But He has also given us a specific, custom-fitted plan for our lives. His plan for your life is different than His plan for mine. If I go on to do "great" things that I wasn't called to do, I will impress many people, but I will sadden my Father. Jesus could have done far greater miracles on thi...

Knowing God's will

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 22:40:58 +0100

Have you ever wondered what God's will is for your life? Have you needed to make a difficult decision and wondered what God wanted you to do in that situation? We all struggle with questions about our future. Questions like: How can I know God's plan for my life? Which job should I take? Is this the person God wants me to marry? Is this a good investment to make? Should I share the gospel with my boss? You probably have questions you could add to that list. The greatest discovery I have eve...

The Heart of Worship in a song

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 22:37:19 +0100

Verse 1: When the music fades All is stripped away And I simply come Longing just to bring Something that's of worth That will bless Your heart Bridge: I'll bring You more than a song For a song in itself Is not what You have required You search much deeper within Through the way things appear You're looking into my heart Chorus: I'm coming back to the heart of worship And it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it When it's al...

Gone Fishing

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 22:33:55 +0100

Point to Ponder “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.” -Henry David Thoreau Storyline - by Rajiv Shah Bruce Lee dedicated his life to pursuing an understanding of the body, mind, and spirit within martial arts. He pushed the boundaries of traditional techniques and the limits of his own body. The results were evident in his physique, his strength, and ability to lay an opponent on the floor with the most economical and explosive m...

Worship as a lifestyle

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 22:30:41 +0100

I love to hear what Christians have to say about worship. Many people talk about passion and feeling the very heartbeat of Jesus. The glorious presence of God is one of the most marvelous things people encounter and want to talk about. Yet, when the subject of worship comes up a handful of people are quick to point out, “You know, worship is really not about music; it is about a lifestyle.” Yes, that phrase is true! Worship is more than music and singing. I think we all know that! Yet it s...

Knowing God - JI Packer

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 22:27:29 +0100

my own real identity? My own real destiny? I am a child of God. God is my Father; heaven is my home; every day is one day nearer. My Savior is my brother. Every Christian is my brother too. Say it over and over to yourself first thing in the morning, last thing at night, as you wait for the bus, any time your mind is free, and ask that you may be enabled to live as one who knows it is all utterly and completely true. For that is the Christian’s secret of—a happy life?—yes, certainl...

Forgiveness of Sins

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:22:58 +0100

Forgiveness of sins 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." Titus 2:14, "Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from EVERY lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (NASB) Psalms 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Ephesians 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the fo...

God as Father

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 22:19:20 +0100

God loves all of His children equally, and doesn't play favorites. All that He has to give is available to all. God is the ideal Father, the perfect example of and to all fathers. The Father provides, protects and keeps His promises. If necessary, He disciplines and corrects, shedding light on the error, but then always reassuring His children of His love. He never rejects or abandons them. The father listens and He is gracious, merciful and forgiving. He wants men and women to thrive, not jus...

Created for this

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 22:16:00 +0100

Who am I, and what is the purpose for my existence? A simple enough question-but one with profound implications. It has been asked countless times since the dawn of man. From ancient philosophers contemplating questions of “ultimate reality” to the small child gazing up into the universe, the question of man’s purpose in life and place in the cosmos has been a subject of great curiosity. The Scriptures teach that men and women were created for this purpose: to worship, love, and serve God ...

Walking by Faith

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 22:14:59 +0100

If I know where the stepping stone is, if I can see it, I can step on it…but that wouldn’t be faith. Faith is stepping out where there is no place to step, the invisible place.

Finding strength in unlikely places

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 17:51:46 +0100

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life (Psalm 138:7) Have you ever been in a painful trial in life which made you feel like you were all alone? The storms you face in this world can sometimes make you feel isolated and without hope. And, although well-meaning friends want to help you, there often is little that they can do. You really want to believe that God is with you in that battle, but that may be hard to do when the enemy surrounds you on all sides! When you come...

Faith to move mountains

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 17:29:28 +0100

Without Faith, God cannot move on your behalf. In fact, the bible scriptures clearly state Jesus could do no miracles in His own home town because of their unbelief (Mark 6:1-6.) Is God saying the same thing about your situation right now? There were many widows who needed help in Elijah the Prophet’s time, or many lepers in Elisha’s time, but in each instance the prophet of God was only sent to one (Luke 4:25-27.) It’s persistent and expectant faith that moves the han...

Godly satisfaction

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:21:54 +0100

I was in a business meeting last week when the high profile personnel were rewarded for what had been achieved, however all the people who behind the scenes made the project happen on time were not so pleased that they had not at least been acknowledged. Paul said "consider how you may spur one another on to love and good deeds", his statement takes no account of whether people are doing well or struggling, he just says "consider", think about, bear in mind how you may encourage, challenge, cau...

Dealing with Giants

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:19:46 +0100

As the spies were sent into the promised land, most came back with the report of the size of the giants, the comparison of their size to the giants. It was all looking at the problems, looking at the immediate detail of why and how! Numbers 13:31-32 - But the men who had been with him said, 'We cannot attack these people. They are stronger than we are. All the people we saw there were of enormous size.'However two of the spies came back with the promise of the land, the recognition that this ws...

Gifts make a difference

Sat, 28 May 2011 14:16:35 +0100

The first-century church had the reputation of "turning the world upside-down" with Christ's message. It was a place for devoted fellowship and valuable instruction, and it serves today as our model. God wants the church, also called in Scripture "the body of Christ", to stand out and be His light in these ever-darkening days. Any Christian who wants to please God and make a positive impact for Christ must become part of a local church. Christ designed the church to provide us with tremendous bl...

Family Values

Sat, 21 May 2011 14:14:46 +0100

For every Christian household entrusted by God with the faithful stewardship of the members of their house, our decisions directly impact the people we live with whether we are willing to admit it or not. For this reason every decision we make should include our consideration of what impact that decision will have on them. For example where we reside, what local church we join, what recreational activities we pursue, and how we educate our children, all impact our household in a very important wa...

Active Faith

Sat, 14 May 2011 14:12:49 +0100

What is faith? faith is not only a noun but also a verb and therefore requires action. Belief & faith is action because if we're not working with and for the Lord, our faith is in trouble. Faith is also doing something we're not comfortable with, taking gigantic steps that are out of our comfort zone, such as sharing our testimony with non-believers. Should we just sit there and ask for the Spirit to fill us? Remember: the Holy Spirit is a helper, enabler, and encourager. It is by taking...

Creative Hospitality

Sat, 07 May 2011 14:08:57 +0100

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:9-10 Paul, in his epistle to Titus, encouraged being hospitable as one of those marks of a mature Christian that ought to be present in our church leaders. (Titus 1:7-9) Peter, encourages all his eaders to be hospitable, and like Paul, links hospitality with good stewardship of the gifts that God has given us. As we think about th...

A covenant making God!

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100

God is a covenant God, and He created marriage as a covenant. So before we can understand what marriage is, we need to learn what covenant is. Without the binding commitment of a covenant, a marriage is only a promise on paper, which moths and rust can destroy. (Matthew 6:19-20)

Who is my neighbour

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100

When Jesus was asked to summarise the entire law, He chose two primary commands:

Be the best salt

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 09:49:23 +0100

Matthew 5 v 13-14 - "You are the salt of the earth,......you are the light of the world"

Welcomed with Palms

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 08:02:57 +0100

Before going to Jerusalem, Jesus was staying at Bethany and Bethphage, and while he was there he sent two disciples to collect a donkey that had been tied up but never ridden. If they were challenged they were to say that the donkey was needed by the Lord but would be returned....

Prayer of Jabez

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 08:03:54 +0100

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ

And Jabez called on the God of Israel,
saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed,
and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might
be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil,
that it may not grieve me!
And God granted him that which he requested."
1 Chronicles 4:10

Power to overcome

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 08:08:00 +0100

The Power to Overcome - 1John 5:1-5

Charles Spurgeon, describing the Epistles of John, writes that they "are perfumed with love". Yet, Spurgeon concedes, that when we reach chapter 5, we "hear a sound of war". Though John speaks again of love, and again, of our status as God's children, John also alerts us of our need to "overcome the world"(v.4).

A New mindset!

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

A new mindset changes everything - People won't "go to church" but will be the church on a mission.

-People can't help but feed deeply on the Scriptures on their own to keep their hearts soft and their minds sharp and ready to give an answer of hope they have to those they interact with (1 Peter 3:15-16).

The gospel of peace

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:31:13 +0100

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. — Ephesians 6:15

An unhindered Gospel

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:34:27 +0100

One of my favourite books in the Bible is the book of Acts, it describes how Jesus’ disciples, empowered by the spirit, fulfilled the words that Jesus had said “You will do things greater than me.”

Rules for Holy living

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 22:37:28 +0100

The thing about holy living is it's not about what others do. It's about us as individuals.

Family values

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:41:25 +0100

Value of our prayers

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:46:24 +0100

A very necessary Prayer

"But above all [George Fox] excelled in prayer.

Paul's 5 simple challenges

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:49:54 +0100

The Apostle Paul puts us to the test (2 Corinthians 2)

Paul gives us five tests in verse 17 to help us know that. I will turn them into questions for you to answer:

Finding fresh Faith

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 22:53:48 +0100

What is faith? faith is not only a noun but also a verb and therefore requires action.

Dreamer, nothing but a dreamer

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

How do we like where we are in life? Do we love it? Do we hate it?

Practice Hospitality

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

[blockquote]Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:9-10[/blockquote]

Getting Hold Of The Bigger Picture

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

One day a traveller, walking along a lane, came across 3 stonecutters working in a quarry.

Feasting With The King

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

[blockquote]Phillipians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.[/blockquote]