Firm Foundations (FF) was fantastic – a really wonderful weekend. Of course, it helped that the skies were blue, the ground stayed dry, and I personally had a nice comfy bed in a nearby travelodge – but nevertheless, I was deeply impressed by the whole event, and I now know what all the fuss was about. There is something very moving and inspiring about the sight of 1000 young people all praising God together (in their own way); and committing themselves to living for God when they go back home. At several points during the weekend I had tears in my eyes (and I have been to many of these kinds of events); to quote the kids it was “well good”.
On a serious note, there have been times in recent years when I have been deeply depressed about the future of the Church: will the next generation pick up the torch and carry it forward? I now know that the answer is a resounding YES, and my gloominess has turned into an excited optimism. I cant wait to see what God is going to do in and through our young people. It certainly wont be the same as the past – each generation has a new calling and a new way of going about it; but it will be great to see it happening. Meanwhile, we older folk need to be praying, supporting, encouraging, and setting them free to be themselves for God’s glory.
Have a good week and may God richly bless you!
Stephen.
One final joke: “Fisherman, how many fish have you caught? Answer: “Well, when I have caught one more, it will be one.”
FFFFantastic!
Firm Foundations (and dry ones too, please)
Yes, I know I havent posted anything on here for ages. Sorry, but I just seem to have been so busy, and there have been a million other things to do. Not a good excuse, I know – but I will try to get back here more often.
This week though, I am on holiday and going to see my grandson Jacob for a few days. Then I am going to spend the Bank Holiday Weekend with about 800 young people in a field in Hertfordshire!!! Firm Foundations is a youth camp organized by the Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade – a group from our Church goes every year, and this year they have persuaded me to go too. One thing however – they are all camping in tents – I am not. My camping days are over….I dont DO camping (unless it is in a Winebago)…camping and me dont mix. Therefore I will be staying in a local Travelodge (with my own bathroom, shower, TV, toilet and comfy bed). During the four days of the camp, though, I will be “roughing it” with the guys – eating- and no doubt getting rained on like them. I’m sure they will give me a hard time for not “camping” with them – but tough! Hopefully we will all have a good and blessed time, and will return home safely and happily to our loved ones afterwards.
Great to report that our Church Weekend at Eastbourne went very well. 26 of us had a fantastic weekend of study, fun and laughter. I hope everyone had as good a time as I did – there are certainly a few voices calling for a repeat next year – although I think it is more likely to be in two years time. Thanks to everyone who came and took part – we certainly did a lot of laughing!
To those who still keep checking this blog – thank you! Stick with it – I will update more often, when I get back into my routine. God bless – Stephen.
He is Risen – Hallelujah!
Happy Easter everyone! This is such a joyful season, with new life all around us, and the message of new life in our hearts. Enjoy Easter, and celebrate the risen Christ with gladness. On Easter Sunday, we have a 9am Communion Service, followed by breakfast together. At 11am we have our main Family Service; and at 6.30pm we will rejoice with Jane Lennon as she is baptised to profess her faith in Jesus. What a great day it promises to be – I hope you can be with us.
After easter, I will be running another “Enquirers Course” for anyone interested in finding out more about baptism, Church membership and faith in general – do speak to me if you are interested in joining us. Stephen.
“My idea of a balanced diet is a bacon sandwich in both hands……”
Busy, busy, busy
Tuesday 24th March 09
You’ll have to forgive me for the long gap between posts. There has been a lot going on just lately! My sister-in-law sadly passed away in February – very unexpectedly – and we had all the funeral arragenments to deal with. Just about at the same time that was happening, our first grandson was born. Little Jacob weighed in at 7lbs 9oz, and is a beautiful, healthy baby boy. Naturally, we have been up to Norwich to visit him a couple of times aready, and this has meant that I have had little time to think of other things! Things now seem to be getting back to some kind of normality, and hopefully I can resume posting here about once each week.
This is a fairly quiet week at the Church. The usual things are going on – but nothing out of the ordinary. On Saturday, Nicky and I are going to Tonbridge for a farewell Service for Norman Tharby. Norman has been our Regional Minister for the past few years, and has been a great help to us and many other churches in the South East. He is moving back to his roots in Suffolk, and on Saturday we will be saying “thank you” to him, on behalf of the Association.
On Sunday (29th March), at the Morning Service we will continue to look at our Church’s Mission Statement. This week, we will be talking about Pastoral care. In the evening at 6.30pm, we will have one of our occasional “Prayer and Share” services – a chance for anyone who wishes to share something to do so. Our theme will be “Encouragement” – and I am hoping that a few of us can say something that will encourage and strengthen us all in our walk with God.
In case you havent heard, Easter Sunday is rapidly approaching! There will be an early Communion Service at 9am, followed by breakfast. Please sign up if you wish to have breakfast with us- a donation of £1 to cover costs is suggested. The 11am service will be for all the family – but then at 6.30pm there will be a baptism! Jane Lennon will be baptised to profess her love for Jesus. It would be great if she could be well supported, and I hope you can come on this very special Easter occasion. Have a good week – God bless, Stephen.
“I’m going to London to have bagpipe lessons! How can I afford it? The neighbours all chipped in!”
Our grandson Jacob
The Heart of our Faith 6. World Mission (22.3.09)
The Heart of our Faith 6. World Mission
Our Mission Statement says:-
“We have a heart for God’s world….through engaging in the task of World Mission.”
Are we “Worldly Christians”, or are we “World Class Christians”?
“Worldly Christians” are basically selfish, seeking to have their own needs met, putting their own preferences first, considering their own tastes and desires as primary.
“World Class Christians” put others before themselves, and ask what they can do for God, not what God can do for them.
If we are going to have a true World Vision, we will need to change.
- We will need to change from “self-centred thinking” to “other-centred thinking”. See 1 Corinthians 14.20. This is about growing up, and becoming mature Christians!
- We will need to change from local thinking to global thinking. Our society now works globally – we are influenced by all parts of the world. We need to start thinking and praying and working for a world won for Jesus.
- We will need to change from “here and now” thinking to “eternity” thinking. Do we spend much of our time and effort on things that are unimportant and temporary? God wants us to concentrate on things that will last – things of eternal significance! This is what Jesus meant by “treasure in heaven”.
Are we ready to change our way of thinking?
Are we ready to become World Class Christians?
Are we ready to be a part of a World Vision Church?
Try using this prayer this week :-
“Lord, forgive me that I am so often self-centred in my thinking, so often lacking in a vision for world mission, so tied to the here and now that I forget to think in the eternal dimension. Forgive us, as a Church, for being narrow, parochial, and for lacking in compassion and love for your world.
Teach us what it truly means to be “World Class Christians”, with a vision for the whole world to be reached for you.
Help us to do what we can to share in the task of mission, so that your children in every part of the world may have the opportunity to hear about Jesus, to come to know him, and to love and serve him as we do.
We ask this in your great and wonderful name – Amen.”
The Heart of our Faith 5. (22.2.09)
The Heart of our Faith 5. Service
As well as reaching out to the world with the Good News of Jesus, God also wants us to become servants, just as Jesus came to serve.
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” Matthew 20.26-7)
Our first calling is to serve God – but how do we serve God? By serving others, in his name. The Bible calls this MINISTRY.
We need three things in order to be a faithful servant.
1. We need availability. We must be available to God and others – not afraid to be interrupted. This can be disrupted by self-centredness or perfectionism or materialism
2. We need an attitude of gratitude. We will be willing to serve if we have a right attitude towards ourselves, and see what God has done for us.
3. We need to be faithful. That means not giving up, but keeping going. It means recognizing what is significant, and not just prominent. It means never belittling the little!
God needs you to be available as his servant! You cannot leave it to others – your gifts are essential, whoever you are.
Ø How is God calling you to serve?
Ø What gifts has he given you to use?
Ø Are you ready to be a part of our Church’s ministry of service to the world?
Try using this prayer this week –
“Lord, thank you for placing your trust in me so much that you want me to serve others in your name. Help me to be available to you this week, whatever that may mean. Forgive me that I am so often selfish, and prefer to put myself first. I want to use the gifts that you have given me – so help me to find out what they are, and how best to be a servant of others in your name – Amen.”
Upstairs downstairs….
Sunday 15th February 09
A few weeks ago, I moved my study upstairs. For those of you who know the Manse, you will be familiar with the layout – small study downstairs, and four bedrooms upstairs. This was fine for me from the time we moved in two years ago – but recently, it has seemed to be a very poor use of space. For one thing, my small study was overflowing with books, files, papers and technology (computer, printer etc). In fact, I often used to go into the conservatory to work – which annoyed my wife, who feels our dining table should be for dining – not writing sermons. For another thing, the third bedroom (which is a fair size) was not being used at all. In fact, it had only been slept in twice since we moved in. The solution to our dilemma was for me to move my study upstairs – which I duly did. This has had several beneficial results. 1. I now have a very nice view over the garden, instead of looking at a fence.2. I have much more room to store my books and files etc, without annoying my wife. 3. We now have a small extra bedroom downstairs (which could be useful in the future) – waiting to be redecorated. And not forgetting 4. I am now nearer to heaven than I was!
I am telling you all this so that you know life at the Manse is pretty much like life anywhere else. People sometimes think ministers are different from other people – superspiritual maybe, or perhaps just plain “weird”. A friend of mine who is also a minister once told me that someone from his Church was amazed to see him in a supermarket. “Oh – I didnt realize you went shopping!” she said. He said he felt like saying “No – my food usually comes down from heaven” – but he didnt. Yes – we may live in a Manse (and a very nice one it is too!) – but we still get bored, and have new ideas, and try out new ways of doing things, and have ups and downs like everyone else. At least now I am “up” more than I am “down” – and my sermons are coming to you from much closer to God!
I am now posting our Sunday Morning Notes here on my Blog – so if you missed them in Church, you can still catch them here. They may help you to remember what we have been studying, and to go over it again in the week.
On Wednesday (18th February 09) – we will be holding one of our “Open Forum” meetings at 7.30pm. Do come along, as we will be looking back at the year just ended here at MBC – a year of serving and celebrating.
Next Sunday (22nd February) we meet for Morning Worship at 11am, and then at 6.30pm we will have another of our Cafe Church Services. These are always entertaining and different – a chance to meet, greet, eat and be upbeat, whilst worshipping our wonderful God in ways that are a little different. COME AND BE A PART OF IT!
Thank you for you prayers for Nicky and her family at this difficult time. Have a good week – Stephen.
“If you ate pasta and anti-pasta, would you still be hungry?”
The Heart of our Faith 4. (15.2.09)
The Heart of our Faith 4. Evangelism
Our Church Mission Statement says that we must have a heart for God and a heart for God’s world. The first way that we show we have a heart for God’s world is through evangelism amongst our neighbours. Jesus said “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1. 
1. We are called to share the Good News in our own world (Jerusalem) – which for us is the place we live and work. Mission starts at home. Do we lack confidence? Do we think people are not interested? Well, we are not called to be experts or spin doctors – just witnesses of what we have seen and heard in our own experience. God changes lives – not us!
2. We are called to share the Good News beyond our own world. Judea was nearby to Jerusalem, and its people were similar. Samaria was very different, and its culture was foreign, its people enemies. We are called to “cross-cultural” mission, as well as mission to those who are “like us”. Where would Jesus be, if he was here on earth today? He would be caring for the poor and needy and the outcasts…so must we!
3. We are called to share the Good News with the whole world! We will look at World Mission another week.
Is anyone going to be in heaven because of you – because of us? Are you using your time here on earth for the purpose God has given it to you? You cant say God without saying “Go”. You cant say Gospel without saying “Go”. It is our task to “go and tell”.
Try using this prayer: “Dear Lord, thank you so much that Jesus came to die for me, and that I know I am your precious child. Forgive me for keeping that Good News to myself. Help me to share it with everyone that I can this week. Give me opportunities to speak a few words for you to someone close to me this week. Use me to bring others closer to you. In Jesus’ name – Amen”.
The Heart of our Faith 3. (8.2.09)
The Heart of our Faith 3. Obedience
Matthew 7.21 says “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven”
Obedience to God’s will is a crucial part of our lives as Christians, and as a Christian Church. Our Church mission statement says “We have a heart for God..through obedience to God’s will and to God’s Word”
But how can we know what God’s will is?
God uses certain ways to guide us into his ways
1. He gave us common sense
2. He gave us His Word – the Bible.
3. He guides us by the wise counsel of other Christians
4. He guides us through our feelings and emotions
5. He guides us through circumstances, when we commit them to God
All of these have dangers, and can be misleading – for example, we may be tempted to listen only to the parts of the Bible that say what we want to hear – or only to listen to the advice that agrees with what we want. Our feelings can often mislead us too. But if we prayerfully ask God to reveal his will to us, and commit all our ways to him, he will not fail to guide us in his will and purpose.
Once we know God’s will, we must then obey it – listening is not enough we must become doers. “Trust and Obey”
Try using this prayer this week:-
Dear Lord, forgive us that we are not always obedient to your will. We much prefer to go our own way, and do our own thing, without listening to you. Help us to seek your will – to pray, and study the Bible, and listen to the advice of others, so that we can discern what you are saying to us. Then Lord, help us to trust and obey, both in our own lives and in the life of our Church family. For Jesus’ sake we pray, AMEN.
The Heart of our Faith 2. (18.1.09)
The Heart of our Faith 2. Prayer
Our Mission statement says “We have a heart for God …through prayer that is passionate and consistent.”
How passionate is your prayer life? Do you pray as if your life depended on it? Do you long to spend time with God? Or is prayer more of a chore or a duty that you feel you must fulfil?
How consistent is your prayer life? Do you pray regularly? Do you pray whatever the circumstances? Or is prayer something you turn to when your need is great, or when you feel “in the mood”?
Matthew 7.7 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
1. Jesus offers us a pattern for our praying -
Ask - acknowledge your need
Seek - put in some effort on your own part
Knock – the idea of effort plus persistence
2. Jesus offers us a promise for our praying
You will receive…you will find…the door will be opened
3. Jesus offers us a proof for our praying
v 9-11 – God loves to give good things to those who ask him.
The proof that prayer is real lies in God himself – who he is and
what He has done. He is our loving Heavenly Father.
Three Practical Steps to a better prayer life this week:-
- Find a time to be quiet with God each day this week. It need only be for 10-15 mins, but make time to talk to God and listen to Him.
- Ask God to help you pray for what He wants, and not just for what you want. Pray that his will may be done.
- Tell God what you are going to do to try to be the answer to your own prayers.
Here is a prayer that you can use this week:-
“Lord, please help me to pray as Jesus prayed. Help me to pray with real passion, instead of from duty or habit. Help me to pray consistently, instead of just when I feel like it, or when trouble comes.
Lord, when I get to heaven, I don’t want you to say to me that you don’t recognize my voice. I want to spend quality time with you every day – listening as well as talking. Help me to be a Christian who loves to pray. And help us to be a prayerful Church, as we serve you together. Amen.”
