so much for a new year promise to keep this upto date, here we are almost 6 months into 2011 and not made one posting...either laze or more interesting things to do, you can decide.
Been a busy 5 months so far, a few friends called home to glory, my godson gets married in June and I am the celebrant so that should be fun. Church is growing slowly but against all human rules still growing and life goes on.
Had an interesting sermon in my morning church not so long ago. The sermon was really on money but the Pastor spoke on the "love of Stuff" basically anything we build up for ourselves and put before God. Applies to more than money, and the question that falls out for any one who claims to be a believer is this , just what do you put before God? Have to realise that I do need to let a few things go and change some priorities.
We had the long bank holiday weekend, well two bank Holidays back to back with Easter being very late and the following weekend being the "Royal" wedding and them mayday. take the 3 days in the middle and hay presto all but two weeks off work. Got stuck into the Garden, and part of the garden got stuck in to me, cuts and scrapes all over the body...totally knackered but it looks a lot better now, and rather than bin the majority of the Garden waste 80% of it recycled as compost so quite chuffed about that.
Oh yes and i have taken to sponsoring a child through a charity called "compassion", more on that another day but this is the url to the main sight http://www.compassionuk.org/ have a look around you never know you may decide to take part yourself..
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Monday, 3 January 2011
Happy New Year
Well ok not posted for a while but I thought I would get the Christmas season out of the way and start again:
It is the 3/1/2011 (for readers in the US of A that is 3rd January not 1st March :) )
As a year ended a lot to look back on, most of it good although Christmas did end with a bit of a sour note..hay ho..move on quickly.
Have spent most of this Holiday just catching up on sleep. Dratted flu bug. Christmas presents were fun though, especially the remote control Darlek. Oh and the missus brought one of those calendars that give a event of the day...It was a historical one so was looking forward to reading it...we opened it new years day as you do...only to discover that it was for 2010 :) oh dear....ahem!
SO what does this year bring...well the outlook is not bright..work is a bit dodgy and it will be a surprise if I am still there by the end of the year...big changes and i seem to be the only one with no way forward...will wait and see never know it could be a change that I need, God has a habit of closing doors and opening windows, but the stress and the strain I could do without at the moment.
I did make a couple of new year resolutions but not ones that I am going to tell about...one is still in place another lasted about 6 hours :)
Church wise I am still creating lists for this year services, the plan for the four series in the year is in place but there are a couple of events I need to confirm before I can put things into their final form.
SO here we go into the new year, bit like jumping into the deep pool...big breath and go..and see what happens.
Whatever the new year brings for you I will pray that it is blessed by God, that you will have a faith that works not just for you but for others, that the Lord will bless you and keep you, and will turn his face to shine upon you, and bring you peace.
more next week...first day back at work 4/1/2011...oh dear!
It is the 3/1/2011 (for readers in the US of A that is 3rd January not 1st March :) )
As a year ended a lot to look back on, most of it good although Christmas did end with a bit of a sour note..hay ho..move on quickly.
Have spent most of this Holiday just catching up on sleep. Dratted flu bug. Christmas presents were fun though, especially the remote control Darlek. Oh and the missus brought one of those calendars that give a event of the day...It was a historical one so was looking forward to reading it...we opened it new years day as you do...only to discover that it was for 2010 :) oh dear....ahem!
SO what does this year bring...well the outlook is not bright..work is a bit dodgy and it will be a surprise if I am still there by the end of the year...big changes and i seem to be the only one with no way forward...will wait and see never know it could be a change that I need, God has a habit of closing doors and opening windows, but the stress and the strain I could do without at the moment.
I did make a couple of new year resolutions but not ones that I am going to tell about...one is still in place another lasted about 6 hours :)
Church wise I am still creating lists for this year services, the plan for the four series in the year is in place but there are a couple of events I need to confirm before I can put things into their final form.
SO here we go into the new year, bit like jumping into the deep pool...big breath and go..and see what happens.
Whatever the new year brings for you I will pray that it is blessed by God, that you will have a faith that works not just for you but for others, that the Lord will bless you and keep you, and will turn his face to shine upon you, and bring you peace.
more next week...first day back at work 4/1/2011...oh dear!
Sunday, 28 November 2010
missed that one
By which I mean it is now Sunday...oops late again
To comment on the week
Last Sunday we had the rehearsal for the Cd...it really was fun although I think most of us were a little horse at the end, in that the voices were sore not that we had grown four legs and pulling carts. It really was good fun, even if we did have to re-record two hymns at the end. All we need do now is set the Saturday for the full recording. Orders are starting to come in :)
Had my mums Birthday bash on Tuesday night. That was good, our Geoff and his wife were home from the US of A, must do something about going to visit if we can, but lots of issues in the way of that. However we were all sitting in a pub, 11 of us all in all, only missing two people really, but believe they would have enjoyed the night.
Next morning uuugh...was I glad that I had taken the day off work..3 orange juices and 1 glass of larger...killed me, it was 7.30pm before I felt almost human.
Work is still there so looks like I will still be in a job over the Christmas period and into next year. However I must admit I find it difficult to get enthused at the moment.
AM preaching twice today the first is on Genesis 36...have a read and you will see the problem! and to might it is Matthew 26 and as we are dealing with the last supper it will also be a communion service. Do not for see any issues but one never knows.
so that is it..Christmas is coming,lots of activity already being planned for next year and this year bowing out slowly ..first time for a long time. Wonder what it is all leading upto????
To comment on the week
Last Sunday we had the rehearsal for the Cd...it really was fun although I think most of us were a little horse at the end, in that the voices were sore not that we had grown four legs and pulling carts. It really was good fun, even if we did have to re-record two hymns at the end. All we need do now is set the Saturday for the full recording. Orders are starting to come in :)
Had my mums Birthday bash on Tuesday night. That was good, our Geoff and his wife were home from the US of A, must do something about going to visit if we can, but lots of issues in the way of that. However we were all sitting in a pub, 11 of us all in all, only missing two people really, but believe they would have enjoyed the night.
Next morning uuugh...was I glad that I had taken the day off work..3 orange juices and 1 glass of larger...killed me, it was 7.30pm before I felt almost human.
Work is still there so looks like I will still be in a job over the Christmas period and into next year. However I must admit I find it difficult to get enthused at the moment.
AM preaching twice today the first is on Genesis 36...have a read and you will see the problem! and to might it is Matthew 26 and as we are dealing with the last supper it will also be a communion service. Do not for see any issues but one never knows.
so that is it..Christmas is coming,lots of activity already being planned for next year and this year bowing out slowly ..first time for a long time. Wonder what it is all leading upto????
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Commitment.....just what is it
The following is an item written by Bishop J C Ryle of Liverpool and applies to all sorts of commitment....just had to share
The True Church
by The Bishop J.C. RYLE D.D. (First Bishop of Liverpool)
Where is this one true Church? What is this one true Church like? What are the marks by which this one true Church may be known? You may well ask such questions. The one true Church is composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus. It is made up of all God's elect - of all converted men and women - of all true Christians. In whomsoever we can discern the election of God the Father, the sprinkling of the blood of God the Son, the sanctifying work of God the Spirit, in that person we see a member of Christ's true Church.
It is a Church in which all the members have the same marks. They are all born again of the Spirit: they all possess "repentance towards God, faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ", and holiness of life and conversation. They all hate sin, and they all love Christ. They worship differently, and after various fashions; some worship with a form of prayer, and some with none; some worship kneeling, and some standing; but they all worship with one heart. They are all led by one Spirit; they all build upon one foundation; they all draw their religion from one single book - that is the Bible. They are all joined to one great centre - that is Jesus Christ. They all, even now, can say with one heart, "Hallelujah"; and they can all respond with one heart and voice, "Amen and Amen".
It is a Church which is dependent upon no ministers upon earth, however much it values those who preach the Gospel to is members. The life of its members does not hang upon Church membership, and Baptism, and the Lord's Supper - although they highly value these things, when they are to be had. But it has only one Great Head - one Shepherd, one chief Bishop - and that is Jesus Christ. He alone, by His Spirit, admits the members of this Church, though ministers may show the door. Till He opens the door no man on earth can open it - neither bishops nor presbyters, nor convocations, nor synods. Once let a man repent and believe the Gospel, and that moment he becomes a member of this Church. Like the penitent thief, he may have no opportunity of being baptised; but he has that which is far better than any water-baptism - the baptism of the Spirit. He may not be able to receive the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper; but he eats Christ's body and drinks Christ's blood by faith every day he lives, and no minister on earth can prevent him. He may be excommunicated by ordained men, and cut off from the outward ordinances of the professing Church; but all the ordained men in the world cannot shut him out of the true Church. It is a Church whose existence does not depend on forms, ceremonies, cathedrals, churches, chapels, pulpits, fonts, vestments, organs, endowments, money, kings, governments, magistrates, or any act of favour whatsoever from the hand of man. It has often lived on and continued when all these things have been taken from it; it has often been driven into the wilderness or into dens and caves of the earth, by those who ought to have been its friends. Its existence depends on nothing but the presence of Christ and Spirit, and they being ever with it, the Church cannot die.
This is the Church to which the Scriptural titles of present honour and privilege, and the promises of future glory especially belong; this is the body of Christ; this is the Bride; this is the Lamb's Wife; this is the flock of Christ; this is the household of faith and the family of God, this is God's building, God's foundation, and the temple of the Holy Ghost. This is the Church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven; this is the royal priesthood, the chosen generation, the peculiar people, the purchased possession, the habitation of God, the light of the world, the salt and the wheat of the earth; this is the "Holy Catholic Church" of the Apostles' Creed; this is the "One Catholic and Apostolic Church" of the Nicene Creed; this is that Church to which the Lord Jesus promises "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", and to which He says, "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world". (Matt. 16:18; 28:20).
This is the only Church which possesses true unity. Its members are entirely agreed on all the weightier matters of religion, for they are all taught by one Spirit. About God, and Christ, and the Spirit, and sin, and their own hearts, and faith, and repentance and the necessity of holiness, and the value of the Bible, and the importance of prayer, and the resurrection, and judgment to come - about all these points they are of one mind. Take three or four of them, strangers to one another, from the remotest corners of the earth; examine them separately on these points; you will find them all of one judgment.
This is the only Church which possesses true sanctity. Its members are all holy. They are not merely holy by profession, holy in name, and holy in the judgment of charity; they are all holy in act, and deed, and reality, and life, and truth. They are all more or less conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. No unholy man belongs to this Church.
This is the only Church which is truly catholic. It is not the Church of any one nation or people: its members are to be found in every part of the world where the Gospel is received and believed. It is not contained within the limits of any one country, or pent up within the pale of any particular forms or outward government. In it there is no difference between Jew and Greek, black man and white, Episcopalian and Presbyterian - but faith in Christ is all. Its members will be gathered from north, and south, and east, and west, in the last day, and will be of every name and tongue - but all one in Jesus Christ.
This is the only Church which is truly apostolic. It is built on the foundation laid by the Apostles, and holds the doctrines which they preached. The two grand objects at which its members aim, are apostolic faith and apostolic practice; and they consider the man who talks of following the Apostles without possessing these two things to be no better than sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
This a the only Church which is certain to endure unto the end. Nothing can altogether overthrow and destroy it. Its members may be persecuted, oppressed, imprisoned, beaten, beheaded, burned; but the true church is never altogether extinguished; it rises again from its afflictions; it lives on through fire and water. When crushed in one land it springs up in another.
The Pharaohs, the Herods, the Neros, the Bloody Marys, have laboured in vain to put down this church: they slay their thousands, and then pass away and go to their place. The true Church outlives them all and sees them buried each in their turn. It is an anvil that has broken many a hammer in this world, and will break many a hammer still; it is a bush which is always burning and yet is not consumed.
This is the only Church of which no one member can perish. Once enrolled in the lists of this Church, sinners are safe for eternity; they are never cast away. The election of God the Father, the continual intercession of God the Son, the daily renewing and sanctifying power of God the Holy Ghost, surround and fence them in like a garden enclosed. Not one bone of Christ's mystical body shall ever be broken; not one lamb of Christ's flock shall ever be plucked out of His hand.
This is the Church which does the work of Christ upon earth. Its members are a little flock, and few in number, compared with the children of the world: one or two here, and two or three there - few in this district and a few in that. But these are they who shake the universe; these are they who change the fortunes of kingdoms by their prayers; these are they who are the active workers for spreading the knowledge of pure religion and undefiled; these are the lifeblood of a country, the shield, the defence, the stay, and the support of any nation to which they belong.
This is the Church which shall be truly glorious at the end. When all earthly glory is passed away then shall this church be presented without spot before God the Father's throne. Thrones, principalities, and powers upon earth shall come to nothing; dignities and offices, and endowments shall all pass away; but the Church of the first-born shall shine as the stars at the last, and be presented with joy before the Father's throne, in the day of Christ's appearing. When the Lord's jewels are made up, and the manifestation of the sons of God takes place, episcopacy, and presbyterianism, and congre-gationalism will not be mentioned; one Church only will be named, and that is the Church of the elect.
This is the true Church to which a man must belong, if he would be saved. Till you belong to this, you are nothing better than a lost soul. You may have the form, the husk, the skin, and the shell of religion, but you have not got the substance and the life. Yes; you may have countless outward privileges: you may enjoy great light, and knowledge - but if you do not belong to the body of Christ, your light, and knowledge, and privileges, will not save your soul. Alas, for the ignorance that prevails on this point! Men fancy if they join this Church or that Church, and become communicants, and go through certain forms, that all must be right with their souls. It is an utter delusion: it is a gross mistake. All were not Israel who were called Israel, and all are not members of Christ's body who profess themselves Christians. Take notice, you may be a staunch Episcopalian, or Presbyterian, or Congregationalist, or Baptist, or Methodist, or Plymouth brother - and yet not belong to the true Church. And if you do not, it will be better at the last if you had never been born.
The True Church
by The Bishop J.C. RYLE D.D. (First Bishop of Liverpool)
Where is this one true Church? What is this one true Church like? What are the marks by which this one true Church may be known? You may well ask such questions. The one true Church is composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus. It is made up of all God's elect - of all converted men and women - of all true Christians. In whomsoever we can discern the election of God the Father, the sprinkling of the blood of God the Son, the sanctifying work of God the Spirit, in that person we see a member of Christ's true Church.
It is a Church in which all the members have the same marks. They are all born again of the Spirit: they all possess "repentance towards God, faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ", and holiness of life and conversation. They all hate sin, and they all love Christ. They worship differently, and after various fashions; some worship with a form of prayer, and some with none; some worship kneeling, and some standing; but they all worship with one heart. They are all led by one Spirit; they all build upon one foundation; they all draw their religion from one single book - that is the Bible. They are all joined to one great centre - that is Jesus Christ. They all, even now, can say with one heart, "Hallelujah"; and they can all respond with one heart and voice, "Amen and Amen".
It is a Church which is dependent upon no ministers upon earth, however much it values those who preach the Gospel to is members. The life of its members does not hang upon Church membership, and Baptism, and the Lord's Supper - although they highly value these things, when they are to be had. But it has only one Great Head - one Shepherd, one chief Bishop - and that is Jesus Christ. He alone, by His Spirit, admits the members of this Church, though ministers may show the door. Till He opens the door no man on earth can open it - neither bishops nor presbyters, nor convocations, nor synods. Once let a man repent and believe the Gospel, and that moment he becomes a member of this Church. Like the penitent thief, he may have no opportunity of being baptised; but he has that which is far better than any water-baptism - the baptism of the Spirit. He may not be able to receive the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper; but he eats Christ's body and drinks Christ's blood by faith every day he lives, and no minister on earth can prevent him. He may be excommunicated by ordained men, and cut off from the outward ordinances of the professing Church; but all the ordained men in the world cannot shut him out of the true Church. It is a Church whose existence does not depend on forms, ceremonies, cathedrals, churches, chapels, pulpits, fonts, vestments, organs, endowments, money, kings, governments, magistrates, or any act of favour whatsoever from the hand of man. It has often lived on and continued when all these things have been taken from it; it has often been driven into the wilderness or into dens and caves of the earth, by those who ought to have been its friends. Its existence depends on nothing but the presence of Christ and Spirit, and they being ever with it, the Church cannot die.
This is the Church to which the Scriptural titles of present honour and privilege, and the promises of future glory especially belong; this is the body of Christ; this is the Bride; this is the Lamb's Wife; this is the flock of Christ; this is the household of faith and the family of God, this is God's building, God's foundation, and the temple of the Holy Ghost. This is the Church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven; this is the royal priesthood, the chosen generation, the peculiar people, the purchased possession, the habitation of God, the light of the world, the salt and the wheat of the earth; this is the "Holy Catholic Church" of the Apostles' Creed; this is the "One Catholic and Apostolic Church" of the Nicene Creed; this is that Church to which the Lord Jesus promises "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", and to which He says, "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world". (Matt. 16:18; 28:20).
This is the only Church which possesses true unity. Its members are entirely agreed on all the weightier matters of religion, for they are all taught by one Spirit. About God, and Christ, and the Spirit, and sin, and their own hearts, and faith, and repentance and the necessity of holiness, and the value of the Bible, and the importance of prayer, and the resurrection, and judgment to come - about all these points they are of one mind. Take three or four of them, strangers to one another, from the remotest corners of the earth; examine them separately on these points; you will find them all of one judgment.
This is the only Church which possesses true sanctity. Its members are all holy. They are not merely holy by profession, holy in name, and holy in the judgment of charity; they are all holy in act, and deed, and reality, and life, and truth. They are all more or less conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. No unholy man belongs to this Church.
This is the only Church which is truly catholic. It is not the Church of any one nation or people: its members are to be found in every part of the world where the Gospel is received and believed. It is not contained within the limits of any one country, or pent up within the pale of any particular forms or outward government. In it there is no difference between Jew and Greek, black man and white, Episcopalian and Presbyterian - but faith in Christ is all. Its members will be gathered from north, and south, and east, and west, in the last day, and will be of every name and tongue - but all one in Jesus Christ.
This is the only Church which is truly apostolic. It is built on the foundation laid by the Apostles, and holds the doctrines which they preached. The two grand objects at which its members aim, are apostolic faith and apostolic practice; and they consider the man who talks of following the Apostles without possessing these two things to be no better than sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
This a the only Church which is certain to endure unto the end. Nothing can altogether overthrow and destroy it. Its members may be persecuted, oppressed, imprisoned, beaten, beheaded, burned; but the true church is never altogether extinguished; it rises again from its afflictions; it lives on through fire and water. When crushed in one land it springs up in another.
The Pharaohs, the Herods, the Neros, the Bloody Marys, have laboured in vain to put down this church: they slay their thousands, and then pass away and go to their place. The true Church outlives them all and sees them buried each in their turn. It is an anvil that has broken many a hammer in this world, and will break many a hammer still; it is a bush which is always burning and yet is not consumed.
This is the only Church of which no one member can perish. Once enrolled in the lists of this Church, sinners are safe for eternity; they are never cast away. The election of God the Father, the continual intercession of God the Son, the daily renewing and sanctifying power of God the Holy Ghost, surround and fence them in like a garden enclosed. Not one bone of Christ's mystical body shall ever be broken; not one lamb of Christ's flock shall ever be plucked out of His hand.
This is the Church which does the work of Christ upon earth. Its members are a little flock, and few in number, compared with the children of the world: one or two here, and two or three there - few in this district and a few in that. But these are they who shake the universe; these are they who change the fortunes of kingdoms by their prayers; these are they who are the active workers for spreading the knowledge of pure religion and undefiled; these are the lifeblood of a country, the shield, the defence, the stay, and the support of any nation to which they belong.
This is the Church which shall be truly glorious at the end. When all earthly glory is passed away then shall this church be presented without spot before God the Father's throne. Thrones, principalities, and powers upon earth shall come to nothing; dignities and offices, and endowments shall all pass away; but the Church of the first-born shall shine as the stars at the last, and be presented with joy before the Father's throne, in the day of Christ's appearing. When the Lord's jewels are made up, and the manifestation of the sons of God takes place, episcopacy, and presbyterianism, and congre-gationalism will not be mentioned; one Church only will be named, and that is the Church of the elect.
This is the true Church to which a man must belong, if he would be saved. Till you belong to this, you are nothing better than a lost soul. You may have the form, the husk, the skin, and the shell of religion, but you have not got the substance and the life. Yes; you may have countless outward privileges: you may enjoy great light, and knowledge - but if you do not belong to the body of Christ, your light, and knowledge, and privileges, will not save your soul. Alas, for the ignorance that prevails on this point! Men fancy if they join this Church or that Church, and become communicants, and go through certain forms, that all must be right with their souls. It is an utter delusion: it is a gross mistake. All were not Israel who were called Israel, and all are not members of Christ's body who profess themselves Christians. Take notice, you may be a staunch Episcopalian, or Presbyterian, or Congregationalist, or Baptist, or Methodist, or Plymouth brother - and yet not belong to the true Church. And if you do not, it will be better at the last if you had never been born.
Saturday, 20 November 2010
a little bit of this, a little bit of that
Hi All:
Not really sure who reads this but post anyway...
What is there to say...not a great deal. It's my wifes Birthday today (Sat 20th)and we are officially the same age...although she looks far better than I do. It is strange to think I we have been together longer than I lived at home with my Parents. Something to think about when it comes to deciding who is important in your life.
Been a good week was off for two days as my eldest Daughter and her Partner visited for an early Christmas visit. She has to work Boxing day and can not get home mid-December. Wonderful of tiring time.
Went looking for the elusive Camera and cheque books last week..talk about seek and ye shall find..Not much seeking was needed and , not a bad guess, they were both roughly where I thought they would be...e.g in the house :) so watch out for the photos they are coming....some time.
Oh and my wee church is having a sing-a-long service this Sunday evening. It should be fun we are going to make a CD of the songs we sing from Sacred Songs and Solo's and this Sunday night we are having a rehearsal. No sermon to prepare but as each song comes from Scripture we will have the appropriate reading and I will give a thought on each one. These are quite interesting services to run and can mean a lot to members of the congregation. it also gives me a chance to concentrate on the following week as I am speaking both Morning and Evening and the evening service is a communion service.
Still need to submit work to the course. am now behind, story of my life but have cleared the decks in other areas so hopefully can catch up. Work work work work work...must learn to say no one day.
It is now that time of year, dark night and dark mornings, the only time i get to see daylight is when I am at work...I do dislike this time of year always tired....
Would you believe we are nearly ready for Christmas..must be a world record but yeah except for immediate family shopping all done, only food and odds and ends to get.
Christmas is a reminder though of just how long we have had the chance of being in the family. I wrote earlier that my wife and I had been together longer than I had lived at home with my Parents, but how long have you been a member of Gods family. That is another question and when I ask that of myself it is longer than I have been married and longer than I lived at the family home, and once my family have departed this world and when we are finally called home, then it will just be another transition from one family to another, I do pray that those that read this are also members of that heavenly family, it is good when a family is reunited.
Not really sure who reads this but post anyway...
What is there to say...not a great deal. It's my wifes Birthday today (Sat 20th)and we are officially the same age...although she looks far better than I do. It is strange to think I we have been together longer than I lived at home with my Parents. Something to think about when it comes to deciding who is important in your life.
Been a good week was off for two days as my eldest Daughter and her Partner visited for an early Christmas visit. She has to work Boxing day and can not get home mid-December. Wonderful of tiring time.
Went looking for the elusive Camera and cheque books last week..talk about seek and ye shall find..Not much seeking was needed and , not a bad guess, they were both roughly where I thought they would be...e.g in the house :) so watch out for the photos they are coming....some time.
Oh and my wee church is having a sing-a-long service this Sunday evening. It should be fun we are going to make a CD of the songs we sing from Sacred Songs and Solo's and this Sunday night we are having a rehearsal. No sermon to prepare but as each song comes from Scripture we will have the appropriate reading and I will give a thought on each one. These are quite interesting services to run and can mean a lot to members of the congregation. it also gives me a chance to concentrate on the following week as I am speaking both Morning and Evening and the evening service is a communion service.
Still need to submit work to the course. am now behind, story of my life but have cleared the decks in other areas so hopefully can catch up. Work work work work work...must learn to say no one day.
It is now that time of year, dark night and dark mornings, the only time i get to see daylight is when I am at work...I do dislike this time of year always tired....
Would you believe we are nearly ready for Christmas..must be a world record but yeah except for immediate family shopping all done, only food and odds and ends to get.
Christmas is a reminder though of just how long we have had the chance of being in the family. I wrote earlier that my wife and I had been together longer than I had lived at home with my Parents, but how long have you been a member of Gods family. That is another question and when I ask that of myself it is longer than I have been married and longer than I lived at the family home, and once my family have departed this world and when we are finally called home, then it will just be another transition from one family to another, I do pray that those that read this are also members of that heavenly family, it is good when a family is reunited.
Saturday, 13 November 2010
how to put ones foot in it, without even trying
Well an interesting two weeks or so since I last posted: I found out something quite interesting about people. There seems to be a thought that just because people are Married in a specific church, and have their kids baptised in a specific church that they have an automatic right to that church, even to dictate how that church acts and what it does.
You never see them year in year out, they do not attend any church functions, but get a formal bit of paper asking what church they belong to and they write a default denomination and church where they are not known, they even go about calling themselves Christians! and say the church is not "christian" because it will not bow-down to their needs.
The Bible has a lot to say about People like this, that abuse the term Christian and the church. Let us set this straight in our minds. To be a Christian to bask in that name, has several conditions. Firstly one must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, trust on him and in his atoning works for everything, anything less than that dis-allows you the usage of the word Christian.
To be a member of a church you are supposed to attend on a regular basis, e.g weekly although allowance should be made for those that have to work. But going to say a football match or to a party or theater or picture house instead of church, places in my mind an automatic challenge to anyone's claim to be a member of that church. If the church runs extra activities , bible classes or similar then there is an expectation that you as a member of that church will, if at all possible attend such events, you who claim to be Christian are called by God to be a living active part of the body of Christ and that means taking a full part in the workings of that body.
If you are one of those who only go to church for "hatches, matches and dispatches" as my wife tends to describe sections of our local paper, then NO you are not a member of that church or any church and no church is going to recognise you as a member. It really is very simple you are either a part of the Body of Christ or you are not. Just saying you are because you were baptised, married or had your kids baptised, named there, does not cut the mustard with anyone....
Otherwise not a lot to comment on. was going to to finish the second second of the first part of the course I am on today but have to work so that is not going to happen, I have done all the reading but writing...well!
I did get to go as the speaker for a dinner in Sheffield last week, A really good night with, mostly, Christian folk and thoroughly enjoyed the event. It seemed to go well, although I was only meant to speak for 20 mins did the usual Preacher thing and it went on somewhat double the time but no complaints yet and reports back are pleasing. As it was the first time for that type of event I am surprised it went so well.
I was hoping to get some photos to put up, and I have even brought a new camera. Put it away safe, so safe I can not find it now...oops and Christmas is coming.
ah me...back to the drawing board....have a good week all
You never see them year in year out, they do not attend any church functions, but get a formal bit of paper asking what church they belong to and they write a default denomination and church where they are not known, they even go about calling themselves Christians! and say the church is not "christian" because it will not bow-down to their needs.
The Bible has a lot to say about People like this, that abuse the term Christian and the church. Let us set this straight in our minds. To be a Christian to bask in that name, has several conditions. Firstly one must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, trust on him and in his atoning works for everything, anything less than that dis-allows you the usage of the word Christian.
To be a member of a church you are supposed to attend on a regular basis, e.g weekly although allowance should be made for those that have to work. But going to say a football match or to a party or theater or picture house instead of church, places in my mind an automatic challenge to anyone's claim to be a member of that church. If the church runs extra activities , bible classes or similar then there is an expectation that you as a member of that church will, if at all possible attend such events, you who claim to be Christian are called by God to be a living active part of the body of Christ and that means taking a full part in the workings of that body.
If you are one of those who only go to church for "hatches, matches and dispatches" as my wife tends to describe sections of our local paper, then NO you are not a member of that church or any church and no church is going to recognise you as a member. It really is very simple you are either a part of the Body of Christ or you are not. Just saying you are because you were baptised, married or had your kids baptised, named there, does not cut the mustard with anyone....
Otherwise not a lot to comment on. was going to to finish the second second of the first part of the course I am on today but have to work so that is not going to happen, I have done all the reading but writing...well!
I did get to go as the speaker for a dinner in Sheffield last week, A really good night with, mostly, Christian folk and thoroughly enjoyed the event. It seemed to go well, although I was only meant to speak for 20 mins did the usual Preacher thing and it went on somewhat double the time but no complaints yet and reports back are pleasing. As it was the first time for that type of event I am surprised it went so well.
I was hoping to get some photos to put up, and I have even brought a new camera. Put it away safe, so safe I can not find it now...oops and Christmas is coming.
ah me...back to the drawing board....have a good week all
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Saints and Sinners
Well this weekend, in the UK, at least is Hallow'en, or All Hallows Eve, the day before All Saints Day.
Hallowen when some believe is that day when the gap between this world and the spirit world is so thin that ghoolies and ghosties and long legged beasties can creep in and for a night run riot, or as we know them "teenagers"
It is mischief night, when I was young it was bob apples and toffee apples now it is eggs and flower at windows and doors and damage to property all good fun eh....hmmmm
Of course 31st of October is also something else, it is Reformation Sunday, that day that those Christians that would go under the term Evangelical remember the day that the German Monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the doors of Wittenberg Cathedral. The 95 Thesis was written against a specific action of the Roman Catholic church, and it's full title is "95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences (Latin: Disputatio pro declaratione virtutis indulgentiarum" And Rome responded with Exsurge Domine .
It made sens for Luther to post this on the 31st October, given that on All Saints Day, 1st November, many many people would be going to church and would see his posting.
So which are you going to celelbrate Dark, dance around for a short time dressed up, vandalising, for fun, other peoples property, or Saint, study the Gospel read it for yourself and witness it to the world.
Remember this, we are all Sinners and because of Christs death on the cross and for no other reason we can all be Saints as well.
Hallowen when some believe is that day when the gap between this world and the spirit world is so thin that ghoolies and ghosties and long legged beasties can creep in and for a night run riot, or as we know them "teenagers"
It is mischief night, when I was young it was bob apples and toffee apples now it is eggs and flower at windows and doors and damage to property all good fun eh....hmmmm
Of course 31st of October is also something else, it is Reformation Sunday, that day that those Christians that would go under the term Evangelical remember the day that the German Monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the doors of Wittenberg Cathedral. The 95 Thesis was written against a specific action of the Roman Catholic church, and it's full title is "95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences (Latin: Disputatio pro declaratione virtutis indulgentiarum" And Rome responded with Exsurge Domine .
It made sens for Luther to post this on the 31st October, given that on All Saints Day, 1st November, many many people would be going to church and would see his posting.
So which are you going to celelbrate Dark, dance around for a short time dressed up, vandalising, for fun, other peoples property, or Saint, study the Gospel read it for yourself and witness it to the world.
Remember this, we are all Sinners and because of Christs death on the cross and for no other reason we can all be Saints as well.
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