Chichester Baptist Blog

A new Christian Bookshop for Chichester

2009-12-09T23:29:00.000Z

St Olav Christian Bookshop plans to open in North Street at 10:00 am on Saturday 12 December. You'll find more details here: http://www.stolavchristianbookshop.org/

The Roof is finished! Update from Tanzania

2009-11-17T14:24:00.011Z

'Tunawasalimia wote, waambieni karibuni tena' (we greet them all, tell them they are welcome again)

That’s what everybody said at the opening of the new Uhambingeto Church on Sunday 8th November 2009.

Yes, it happened!
Yes, the roof is finished!
Yes, it was on time!
No, it doesn't leak!
Yes, it rained A LOT

Here's the pictures to prove it!

So despite the last minute nature of the organisation (the truck that went to collect the visiting choir from Nyanzwa village broke down and another choir from pastor Musa's church was roped in at the last minute) - the weekend of evangelistic events went ahead. They built a stage outside the church for the open air events and visiting pastors led afternoon Bible teaching seminars and evening gospel meetings. They also showed the Jesus film in the evening (in Swahili), which was very popular. You might feel dissapointed to hear that the open air evangelistic event was interupted by the start of the rainy season - but everybody there saw it as a definite sign of God's blessing! The meeting carried on under the shelter of the lovely new church roof!

7 people from the village made a 1st time commitment to follow Jesus at the event, so please pray especially for them.

Thanks so much for your prayers, please continue to pray for the church and for Peter, the new pastor, that God will sustain his heart and enthusiasm for reaching the lost and building up the church.

God bless

Andrew and Miriam

Very generous but not very new

2009-11-14T09:15:00.002Z

Heard on the radio today an Oxford academic has created a society for giving 10% of income away to charity

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8360098.stm

He himself is giving away more than that

He said he wanted his beliefs to be more than words.

Sound familiar?

New Year feel

2009-09-03T11:46:00.003+01:00

Prayers appreciated for the deacons meeting tonight and for the coming weeks, so many things are starting up again, Alpha, Back to Church Sunday, New Sunday evenings with the next lot of young people now eligible, CAP public launch meeting, Discipleship groups, people off to Bible colleges, Oasis event, Trip to London, people off to serve God in new ways and many many more things...

An exciting time.

More Tanzania pics and a bigger one of the group shot

2009-08-20T10:05:00.007+01:00

Tanzania Team update

2009-08-18T14:31:00.007+01:00

Great to see the team back yesterday - I asked Tom if he could give me something to post here on the blog - here it is.

The short term mission team spilled out into the CBC car park around midday yesterday (Monday 18^th Aug) having been en-route since boarding the bus in Iringa in Tanzania about 9 in the morning on Saturday. Richard and Debbie are still in Tanzania for a late honeymoon. We had also said goodbye to Katy and to Mairi, our excellent team leader and fluent Swahili speaker, at the airport. So we are all accounted for and full of joy and thankfulness to God for an amazing 19 days.

There were so many positives and a few (but very real) negatives:

The travelling was a bit tedious in places but you could mostly look out of the window and observe a ‘different world’, sleep or talk. It is not everywhere you can look out of a cross country bus and see elephant and giraffe!

The welcome we got in the little Anglican congregation in the Village of Uhambingeto was warm and heartfelt. We had gone to encourage them by kick-starting the building of their new church building (which we did) but have come back with a sense of loss from having to leave them. They live in great simplicity because they can not generate enough income to live in any other way. But their love for Jesus and their firm faith in a gracious God are deeply humbling. They love to worship in song and all that is required is a few voices and some clapping to sound amazing. Give them a guitar (which we did) a drum and some plastic tambourines and they are a delight. And they pray. We prayed with them every day on the building site, they prayed for our sick (see below) and joined with us in prayer whenever we were together in the evenings. A faithful few turned up every day at the building site to supply the constant need for mortar, bricks and water.

The weekday pattern was like this:

Three excellent cooked meals a day, always with fresh fruit, menu different to here but not so different as to be difficult.

Mornings on the building site (with Debbie and another volunteer for the day teaching at the preschool). We found the site with one course of bricks on a newly laid foundation and the corners about waist high. The three builders employed by EI were great guys and amazingly patient instructors: 7 working days later three walls were chest high, two corners were full height (to the ring-beam) and the 4^th wall was a few courses above the base of the windows. By the end, we were building from the scaffolding (same function as ours but otherwise rather different!).

Afternoons, most days a few went back to the building site while the others spent 2 hours with preschool children telling a bible story, doing a craft activity, singing songs and playing games. After a low turnout the first day, we prayed that the Lord would send along as many as we could handle. So on the second day, the word having got around, we had 200 or so children, which was, well, memorable. But the combined gifts of the team came into play and order was restored after only one spectacular moment of utter chaos. So our prayer was answered. It turned out that a lot of children had bunked off school to check us out; it got sorted out the next day. From then on, 40 to 50 turned up and went away joyfully clutching their Noah’s Ark, lost sheep or wearing a crown.

Evenings, we did a bible study together in groups or had fellowship (singing and prayer) with Christians from the village. When the moon was not ‘up’ we looked at the amazing night sky before going to bed.

The middle Saturday there was a wedding and we were invited. It should be said that the Emmanuel International (EI) Reps in Tanzania, Andrew and Miriam, did an outstanding job managing our transport, food, accommodation, contacts and providing hygiene procedures as well as answering endless questions and translating back and forth from Swahili to English. But the wedding was a problem: a great experience not to be missed, an invitation not easily turned down but the catering (and associated hygiene) went out of their control. The outcome was that first Debbie and Katy, later Richard, became ill. After a few days Andrew insisted on taking Debbie (with Richard) into town to get tested and she was found to be genuinely ill and spent a night on a drip in hospital and taking some strong medication. That test showed that Katy might be infected with the same nasty bug (though she had not been so unwell) so she was taken to town for tests (which proved negative). All through this Richard had not been 100% and eventually, as the rest of us were travelling home, he was tested and found to have the same as Debbie. All being well the medication should do the job. Keep praying.

The day after the wedding (Sunday) there was a baptism (christening) in the morning and in the afternoon the Bishop came to confirm around 10 people, to visit us and inspect the progress of the building. So in the ‘hatch, match and dispatch’ line of things we scored 2 out of 3 and sang as a choir at each.

Other activities were climbing the local mountain and spending a night and a morning at the end winding down at a national park where the landscapes, trees, animals large and small are so spectacularly different to ours that it is breathtaking. Oh and did I mention the dark clear night sky where the sky is filled with stars and the Milky Way is as clear as can be? Awesome.

Any questions? Ask one of us. It would be great to lay on an event where we can report in more depth. There are loads of photographs, some interesting (if rough) video and some great stories to tell.

Thanks, CBC, for your generous support and prayers.

Bwana asifiwe sana! (The Lord is greatly to be praised!)

The Tanzania Team are Back!

2009-08-17T16:44:00.001+01:00

The Team arrived safely back in the UK today!

Tanzania Team Depart!

2009-07-31T09:12:00.007+01:00

The Tanzania Team left the UK on Thursday bound for Uhambingeto!

On route to Heathrow, they had to collect their T Shirts from a van on the hard shoulder! (there's nothing quite like a last minute panic!)

Arriving at the Airport!

Ready for Departure!

Please continue to pray for the Team, for safe travel, good health whilst in Uhambingeto, opportunities to demonstrate God's love in practical action and to witness in words despite the language barrier...

Isaiah Chapter 39

2009-07-23T05:30:00.002+01:00

“The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime”. v8

Throughout his life Hezekiah had valued the power of prayer, (see Is 38 v 3) and had seen favourable answers to them. Earlier in the chapter Isaiah does not rebuke Hezekiah for his actions but foretells the future. Verse 8 shows it is a future which the king accepts, maybe because he feels he has done all he can. He is living in the present and feels there will be peace in his lifetime. He leaves the future to God.

How often do we worry about things outside of our control? Seek God to find out what he wants you to do, and what you should leave for others to do.

Rachel Charnick

Isaiah Chapter 38

2009-07-22T05:30:00.002+01:00

I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz. So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down. - v8

The laws of nature would declare that such an event is impossible, as it would cause the death of every living thing, and indeed the destruction of the earth.
2 Kings 20 v 9-11 and 2 Chronicles 32 v 24 would seem to confirm the above verse as an historical fact.

How great is our God? He is the God of the impossible. If God is not the God of the impossible, He is no God at all.

Truly the Creator is greater than His Creation

Dennis Mason

Isaiah Chapter 37

2009-07-21T05:30:00.002+01:00

“Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, 'Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.' Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my forefathers deliver them?” v10-12

Has anyone ever told you that you were naive or stupid for believing in God? This is also what is going on in this passage of Isaiah; probably not too dissimilar to what we experience today as Christians. People often say that the intelligent belief is that there isn’t a God- after all there have been many times throughout history where God doesn’t seem to have stepped in and has “let” people suffer.
But, as shown by the outcome of this chapter, God is seeing and planning the bigger picture. He says in verse 26 that "Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass” By the end of this chapter, God shows that he is always in control –an angel of the Lord was sent in and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.

This gave us a really positive message that our God of all days (who achieved massive things beyond our comprehension in the bible) is still the powerful God acting in chapter 37 of Isaiah and indeed is still relevant and powerful today, seeing the bigger picture and able to do amazing things!

Joanne Hawker & Vicky Greening

Isaiah Chapter 36

2009-07-20T05:30:00.001+01:00

Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, “The Lord will deliver us”. Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? - v18

The commander here sought to undermine the faith of the ordinary people in a vain attempt to use these people against Hezekiah. He could not perceive or understand the power of God, the real, the one and only God. As others had put their faith in false Gods and been defeated he believed, much to his own detriment, that the True God whom Hezekiah believed in was no different, even today many people still hold this view and are prepared to verbalise, using a language which we as Christians understand and they too suffer the consequences of their own lack of understanding.

Angus Heron

Isaiah Chapter 35

2009-07-03T05:30:00.003+01:00

"Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Waters will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert". - v6

This is a wonderful promise for those who are bound by some infirmity whether physical, emotional or spiritual. For those who put their trust in the Lord, all that restricts them will be done away with and they will know such a shout of freedom flowing from them that will make them leap with joy.
Where there was once barrenness and times of doubt, when all seemed fruitless, and hope and faith had grown dim, there will be life again.

This is such an encouraging verse for those who are facing a time in that place of darkness and loneliness where hope and faith have abandoned them, the river of life will flow again . Hallelujah!

Christine Mason

Isaiah Chapter 34

2009-07-02T05:30:00.001+01:00

Having read and reread this chapter, I still find it very hard to comment on it as it is so dark.
What keeps coming back into my thoughts is that our loving faithful God will not be mocked. He will have His way. Given the state of the world we live in with increasing rumours of wars and lack of individual and corporate responsibility or community spirit, it is a comfort that He has His plan. My responsibility is to stay faithful to Him and follow His plan for me.

Sandi Webb

Isaiah Chapter 33

2009-07-01T05:30:00.002+01:00

"He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure." Verse 6

The reason why I chose this verse is because it speaks of God's love and his faithfulness. It is all the more significant in light of the context in which it is written. To me, 'sure foundation' emphasizes and reassures me that this foundation is the real and best thing.

The next line then encourages me to continually strive towards fearing the Lord, as it reiterates that fearing the Lord is the key to wisdom, knowledge and more importantly salvation. The knowledge of the store being ‘rich’ emphasises further, the depths of God’s love for His people which includes me.’

Katie Stephen

Isaiah Chapter 32

2009-06-30T05:30:00.002+01:00

A delightful picture of the future Kingdom of Righteousness! Verses 1-2 surely belong together since v2 follows v1 picturing a reign of true justice which the whole world awaits eagerly. Here each person is seen as providing shelter – referring to faithful Christians who will refresh others, giving refuge from storm and offering water in desert conditions. Just picture yourself walking through a desert in searing heat and blistering sun and suddenly finding shade under an enormous rock. What a relief to find respite with clear fresh water! The passage is Messianic when Christ will reign as the King of Righteousness and portrays the privilege of serving our Lord Jesus Christ.

Audrey Hum

Isaiah Chapter 31

2009-06-29T05:30:00.002+01:00

This chapter speaks about where our dependence lies. When we are really in need of help in our lives where or who do we go to for help? Do we rely on ourselves, our families, friends or our material wealth and possessions? Israel looked to the strength and power of Egypt but God points out here that they are ‘only men’. The chapter warned Israel, and warns us today, about relying on ‘earthly things’ and exhorts us to ‘look only to the Lord God of Israel’. He also promises in these verses to fight for us, shield, deliver and rescue us – what more do we need in times of trouble? (See also Hebrews ch12 v 2)

Dot Poulsom

Prayer & Donuts

2009-06-26T18:07:00.003+01:00

Next Saturday (4th July) there will be a special session of prayer for revival. We will start at 8am, break at 9am for coffee, and then resume at 9:30, finishing at 10:30. Do come for the first hour, the second hour, or both.

Mark is buying shed-loads of donuts for the coffee break. If there aren't enough people at the prayer meeting, he may have to take some home! Out of consideration for Mark's health then ...

Killing God

2009-06-26T18:02:00.002+01:00

Six out of ten teenagers believe religion ‘has a negative influence on the world’ and 55 per cent say family, friends, money and entertainment are more important. The findings came in a survey of 1,000 teenagers for Penguin Books. Half of teenagers claim they have never prayed and 16 per cent have never been to church, even for a wedding or a christening. Three in ten believe in an afterlife but one in ten believes in reincarnation. The survey marked the publication of a novel about a 15-year-old girl who questions God’s existence. Kevin Brooks, author of Killing God, said he ‘wanted to explore the personal attitudes of young people today, especially those with troubled lives’ towards religion. ‘Why do some people turn to God for help while others take comfort in drugs and alcohol?’

Source: Daily Telegraph (22/6)

I don't suppose anyone's read the book (it only came out yesterday!) but it looks like one that it's worth keeping an eye on.

Laughing at God

2009-06-22T13:51:00.003+01:00

Hi all

As there are no Isaiah blog thoughst this week because we don't look at the next section of Isaiah this Sunday - let post this ...

This song by Regina Spektor is released this month. Some quite interesting lyrics

What do you think?

Look for them being quoted in a sermon near you..

No one laughs at God in a hospital

No one laughs at God in a war

No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests

No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back

from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake

No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand

with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken

No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and

they say "We've got some bad new, sir,"

No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny

At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or

Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red

in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny

When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way

And when presented like a genie

Who does magic like Houdini

Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

Isaiah Chapter 30

2009-06-19T05:30:00.002+01:00

This chapter is headed Woe (grief, misery, calamity … ) to the obstinate nation. The obstinacy seems to be that the people who said they were God's people did not trust Him or seek His free wise counsel and help and instead bribing Pharoah's courtiers for Egyptian 'help'.

The creator is a rock of ages, we cannot expect too little from man nor too much from God. (from Matthew Henry)

By verses 18-26, the prophecy of the defeat of the invading Assyrians army demonstrate God's mercy and grace to His people.

I randomly chose this chapter and then realised it contained verse 15 which meant a lot to me “In quietness and trust is your strength.”

Some time ago I had to face an ordeal. I was very stressed about the process and the outcome. Thinking about this, I had walked along the beach to Aldeburgh in Suffolk one sunny Sunday in Spring. Along the windswept main street was a small church. A few people were going into the evening service, so I joined them. This turned out to be about 8 of us, and the minister, huddled around a heater in the back room. I was so preoccupied that only this one phrase really reached me “In quietness and trust is your strength.”

It dawned on me that God gives us His strength when we need it most. That as long as we are doing what is right then he will help us, with all His wisdom, power and love.

I will always be thankful for that little group of faithful Christians who gave me those words of renewal and reminder of the great giver of strength and calm when our own is finished.

Jenni Clark

Isaiah Chapter 29

2009-06-18T05:30:00.002+01:00

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"? - v16

Verse 16 about the potter and the clay stood out for me. It made me think about my attitude towards God, my Creator. Do I really understand how Big He Is and how small I am? How often do I go through the religious motions, doing the right things on the outside but inside my thoughts and priorities are somewhere else? These verses are sobering, God is so much greater and wiser than I can imagine. He knows all about me, he sees every small detail of my life. I cannot escape him. He made me, he is moulding me. Praise God that like the house of Jacob, he hasn’t finished with me yet. God has a future for me and my children and I like Isaiah want to understand how to put Him first, living the way that my Creator intended.

Louise Gilbertson

Isaiah Chapter 28

2009-06-17T05:30:00.002+01:00

Wow!! What an amazing loving God we have. His people have just messed up again. No thought to Isaiah’s warnings and challenges, but just the determination to do their own thing. How appropriate for the 21st century! Yet God in His love reaches out in verse 16 of this chapter –

‘See I lay in Zion a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed’.

Dictionary definitions of the word ‘Cornerstone’ give a great insight into this love of God.

Definition 1- ‘A stone at the corner of a building uniting two intersecting walls’. This is what God has given to us in Christ, someone who draws and unites us back with himself.

Definition 2 – ‘A piece of rock hewn in a definite shape for a special purpose’.
God has given us Jesus for a special purpose, to forgive our sins and to show us how to live in the light of a loving God.

Definition 3 –‘A stone, often inscribed, laid at a ceremony marking the origin of a building’.

Christ is at the beginning and the central foundation to our new life in Him. Let us give thanks for God’s tremendous loving provision and be not dismayed!!

Charles Riggs

Isaiah Chapter 27

2009-06-16T05:30:00.003+01:00

Israel and Judah were doing their own thing, and ignoring God; but God was not giving up on them. He tried many things to get their attention, and it seemed the last resort would be war. That would and bring them to their knees.

V 8 By warfare and exile you contend with her….

Dear Lord have mercy on me.

I have always taken the words of this verse to heart and for me they mean that my Lord will not give up on me and that behind the scenes He is fighting and will continue to fight on my behalf. However, this verse has a severe warning that cuts to the quick. In our country with so much going on credit crunch and the rest, it feels like as a nation we have given up our Christian Birthright and we like Israel need to find our way back. If like me you feel you have let things slip in the way of standing up for your faith, maybe this is the time to consider where we stand as Christians and in relation to our neighbours, friends and our nation. Not an easy thing to say, and an even harder thing to act on.

Dear Lord have mercy on us.

Sharon Sampson

Isaiah Chapter 26

2009-06-15T05:30:00.004+01:00

"You will keep in perfect peace him
whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you" - v3

This is one of my favourite verses and one of the first that I learnt when I became a Christian - God's promise here is that He will keep us in perfect peace when our mind is steadfast - our thoughts constantly turning towards Him or fixed on Him. The second condition is, bacause we are trusting in Him, this too will give us His peace when we are trusting all of ourselves, our plans, our hopes, our situations and our circumstances, those we love, to Him. Whatever is going on in our lives, as we trust everything into God's hands, He will fill us with His peace. This was the verse that I kept by my bed during a time of illness last year to look at whenever I was awake in the night. I can only say that I experienced the most incredible peace throughout all of that tough time.

Judy Riggs

Isaiah Chapter 25

2009-06-12T05:30:00.002+01:00

Looking at this chapter, it reads like a Psalm, starting with praise to the LORD for his power and mercy and ending with a sense of triumph over old enemies. But the middle section sees the coming together of several striking threads (thinking of the grand sweep of the Bible as a tapestry) into a wonderful knot of bright promises.
Here (in v6) is the great feast at the end of all things thrown by our gracious God to which believing people from the entire world are called.
In a tangential way, v7 is a promise of the coming of the indwelling Holy Spirit who will give understanding of the mysteries of God, clearing the foggy shroud of human spiritual blindness.
And finally in v8 not only will our Saviour abolish death itself but he will personally wipe away our individual tears of sorrow, pain, disappointment, shame...
As Paul says in 1 Cor 2v9, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him-..."

YOU CAN STOP READING HERE!

But if you want to follow these themes or threads further, here are some other examples of where they come to the surface. (This is definitely NOT a full list!) As you do so, you may like to ponder how much they are fulfilled now and how they will be completed at the renewing of the world.

For the feast, see Matt 22v4, Luke 15v23, Rev 19v19.
For 'All Peoples', see Gen 12v3, Psalm 87, Mark 11v17 & Luke 24v47.
For the shroud, compare with 2Cor 3v14 and John 16v13.
For the defeat of death see Job 19v25&26, Hosea 13v14&15, 1Cor 15 especially v54&55.
For tears see Rev 7v17 and finally Rev 21v4.
Do you remember that chorus “Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return….”? It’s from Isa51v11 and is worth comparing with this passage.

Tom Edom

Isaiah Chapter 24

2009-06-11T05:30:00.000+01:00

This chapter pulls no punches right from the off – “See, the Lord, is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it” (v1). Our God is a Holy God and the price of sin and disobedience is made perfectly clear here. Verse 2 reminds us God has no favourites and all will be treated equally – “it will be the same for priests as for people, for master as for servant…” I take comfort in the knowledge that God is just and even handed.

The following verses are full of imagery, leaving us (through the ages) in no doubt as to the price for disowning God. The times we live in now, where God appears marginalised or even denied, by many, seem to echo the depiction from Isaiah only too closely. Our society feels disjointed, selfish, angry, lacking in morality or humanity. Verse 5 tells us “The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant”.

Despite all this there is a message of hope, right in the middle - “They raise their voices, they shout for joy” (v14). It is a glimpse of the redemption to come. June 4th represents a dark day in my family, the recent death of a loved child. Even out of that darkness there is a light that never goes out and a hope for what is to come. God does not leave us, in our despair or our disobedience and we should rejoice in that, even when it is a lesson learned painfully.

Jason O’Hagan

Isaiah Chapter 23

2009-06-10T05:30:00.003+01:00

“…To bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth” Ch23 V9

This chapter foretells the destruction of the great Phoenician city of Tyre, one of the most famous of the ancient world.. It was very wealthy and very evil. God would destroy Tyre because He hated its people’s pride. Pride separates people from God and He will not tolerate it. Out accomplishments come from God, and we have no reason for pride in ourselves. It is understood that some MPs are currently suicidal – their reputations have been shattered by recent disclosures and they have suffered enormous loss of pride. Let us be people of blameless integrity who can take pride in our achievements, recognising that it is God who makes this possible.

Chris Coote

Isaiah Chapter 22

2009-06-09T05:30:00.003+01:00

V 7-11

These verses stood out for me after reading the whole chapter. Too often we rely upon ourselves to protect or defend what we have rather than look to God who has provided everything we need. Chariots, weapons, walls and reservoirs are utilised to preserve that which was temporary. The people looked inwards and outwards but not upwards.
How often do we when we are busy forget to look up to God for help and guidance? Instead we continue on in our own strength and build up our own ‘walls’ or ‘reservoirs’ rather than being open and giving to those around us.”

Duncan Webb

Isaiah Chapter 21

2009-06-08T05:30:00.002+01:00

V 11

“Watchman, what is left of the night?
Watchman, what is left of the night?”

This guy really does want some answers. “Please just tell me...what is going on out there?”

I often feel like this when I look at our society and the world beyond and, if I allow myself to imagine life without a loving God, can elevate panic to my primary emotion! It is a wonderful enemy strategy to make us feel there is no hope; it can paralyse and reduce us to anxious questioning. How many of our neighbours operate like this? Who are people turning to for answers?

If we, as God’s people, can’t act as watchmen then who’s doing the job? Who is taking notice of enemy action? Who is seeking God’s wisdom and help? Who is offering hope and a future?
I believe God is calling us again to take on this role.
I pray our lives reflect God’s peace and power so that those struggling to make sense of life may look to us for answers and, in doing so, meet the living God.

Becky Hartley

Isaiah Chapter 20

2009-06-05T05:30:00.002+01:00

How then can we escape? v6

Although written to Israel who were foolishly relying on others instead of the Lord, these words also ring true Today. Hebrews 2 v 3 reads: ‘How can we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?
It was this warning that if we rely on any but the Lord, we have no hope of eternal life and will not escape the punishment for sin that spoke to me as a teenager and I received the Lord Jesus Christ into my life and knew the forgiveness of sin and the beginning of a relationship with God.

Grace Ruoff

Isaiah Chapter 19

2009-06-04T05:30:00.003+01:00

The Holy Highway is a recurring theme in Isaiah’s prophecy. It will be put in place by God himself after the elevation of Jerusalem as foretold in Ezekiel’s prophecy. At the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule over all the world, Jerusalem will be lifted up to a position higher than Mount Olives.

It will be a super smooth road with no dangers whatsoever, stretching from the heart of Egypt to the Tigris River, designed to have no hazards for anyone whether they are infants or elderly. No-one with evil intentions will be allowed to walk on it. Only the redeemed of the Lord will walk there, and the Lord will join them and have fellowship with them as they go up to Jerusalem to worship him in the new temple on the plateau.

Ray Tribe

Isaiah Chapter 18

2009-06-03T09:59:00.000+01:00

Isaiah 18 talks of the destruction of the land of Cush, which we now call Ethiopia.
God has foreseen their plans for conquest and will undermine them, eventually bringing about acts of worship from a people set against Him. To me this once again reassures me of God's hand in our lives. He can foresee what lies ahead, what plans are being made, and if they are against Him then he can turn that around. Nothing is beyond God's power. In the NLT bible translation, verse 5 reads:
Even before you begin your attack, while your plans are ripening like grapes, the Lord will cut you off.

God is always in control. And this is a certainty. Often we may think that we are in control of our own plans, but we must remember that it is God who makes things possible or impossible for us. Not with our strength and planning, but with God's. So in everything we do we must seek God's wisdom and support. For if not, our plans can be undone, just as the Ethiopians were.

Suzie Timney

Isaiah Chapter 17

2009-06-02T10:05:00.000+01:00

“You have forgotten God your Saviour; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress” Isaiah 17 v 10:

This verse refers to the people of Judah who wandered away from God and ultimately suffered the shame of exile from their own land. For Christians today, the idea of forgetting God seems unthinkable. And yet…I wonder if we “forget” God in more subtle ways – in the way we live our lives and relate to other people. As I was reminded at church recently of the reality of persecution for thousands of Christians worldwide, I thought for these people it would be the easiest thing in the world to give up their faith in Christ and live without threats, intimidation, violence and torture. And yet…they hang in there, determined, clinging to faith in a God they cannot see, putting Him before all else. For many of us (or maybe it’s just me), being a Christian is comfortable because life in general is comfortable; I may not forget God but sometimes I can be complacent about following Him perhaps because I’m free to live out my faith.
God never forgets us – so let’s seek to always remember Him, our Saviour with us by His Holy Spirit, and worship Him with our whole lives.

Chris Hawker

Isaiah Chapter 16

2009-06-01T05:30:00.001+01:00

This chapter continues of the prophecy concerning Moab begun in Ch 15. When threatened by attack, the people of Moab usually looked for security in their mountain stronghold of Sela, the area of Petra in Jordan. Rather than sit tight like birds on their nest, God has stirred them up and made them seek refuge as vassals in Zion. Their tribute would be the gift of lambs, (v1 & 2).

In v 3 to 5, God instructs His people to put their mind and strength into the welfare of these fugitives, lovely words which at one level foretell what God will do through David’s greater Son, Jesus.

Moab was the son of Lot through his incestuous relationship with his eldest daughter (Gen 19). His descendants occupied the mountainous south east end of the Dead Sea. Such an unpromising start does not exclude all Moabites from God’s grace, which thankfully extends to all sinners. An example is Ruth, a Moabite and David’s grandmother, who is drawn into the royal line that leads directly to Jesus.

Isaiah, however, sees through to the heart of the Moabite problem…..their pride ….which will prevent them responding to God’s offer of shelter in Zion. Their choice will result in them being conquered within 3 years, with all the attendant grief that goes with such an end (v6 to 13). Verse 12 is an apt reminder of the futility of all pagan religion.

This chapter speaks directly to us of the consequences of our decisions and choices…… will you accept God’s outrageous Grace as revealed in Jesus, or will you fall foul of your own false gods and pride? The choice is yours. Read verse 4b and 5 again.

Andy Poulsom

Isaiah Chapter 15

2009-05-22T05:30:00.002+01:00

“The waters of Nimrim are dried up and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone and nothing green is left.” v6

This verse gives us a glimpse of what life could be like without the sustainer of life being actively involved in today’s world. The absence of water is the absence of life whether that is in Isaiah’s time or 2009.
Recently while walking around Chichester, we’ve noticed a distinct change in colour... The vibrancy of spring is immense. Lush greens of all shades have appeared from the bleakness of winter. Blue skies and sun, new life and food a plenty. Looking at this verse we see the polar opposite. It occurs to me that without our all loving God who breathes life into everything, who truly is the sustainer of life where might we be? It makes me thankful that His blessing and favour is upon us and we can see it all around!

Matt & Sarah Winfield

Isaiah Chapter 14

2009-05-21T05:30:00.002+01:00

Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.

In a chapter that speaks of God’s ultimate victory over Israel’s and His enemies, verse 24 stands out as a beacon. Even when the world seems to be spinning out of control and sometimes our lives can feel that way as well, the victory will be God’s. He has a plan and nothing will thwart it. God is not up in heaven wringing his hands and wondering how to get things back on track. He is not taken by surprise by world events or events in our lives. As He has purposed, so it will stand.

Cindy Crossley

Isaiah Chapter 13

2009-05-20T05:30:00.005+01:00

Every day we see adverts for "Before and after" cures for all ills or house transformations. In Isaiah 13 God declares Babylon will be destroyed "That great city" v19. But tucked away in this chapter and perhaps unnoticed God said in vs 20-22 that it will never be inhabited, etc and today that is exactly what you see. Saddam Hussein offered a prize to re create the hanging gardens. To me these God given prophesies are silent proof that God’s word is reliable. Men think they are affecting the course of history. God has the last word!!

we can rely on His promise.

David Vallance

Isaiah Chapter 12

2009-05-19T05:30:00.001+01:00

The Lord, the Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

In the light of the day, or 24 hours, that lies ahead, try to answer these 3 questions. (Without being too spiritual!)

1.From where might you get some extra strength? From eating more healthily? From exercising? From taking some rest?

2.Perhaps you’d like to go about the day with a song in your heart. What might make you sing? Some exciting news? Happy times with people you love? Or just some fantastic music?

3.What might ‘save you’ or ‘rescue’ you? Some kind of ‘you’re off the hook’ discussion or a ‘we’ve cancelled all your debts’ type of letter?

The good news is that God has promised and provided three gifts for each day; Strength, Song (joy) and Salvation. All three are on the menu, everyday, and they’re ours for the taking.
Perhaps He is calling some of us to live our lives differently today. Lets step out and allow him to give us the strength we need, lets allow our hearts to sing (even in the darker hours) because of his love, and may the knowledge of our salvation in Jesus, cause us to walk a different walk today.

A prayer;

Father, Thank you that because of you I can be strong today. Thank you that you can put a song in my heart. Thank you that my debt has been cancelled and that my salvation is in you. Amen

Jude Edwards

Isaiah Chapter 11

2009-05-18T05:30:00.000+01:00

3 He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

I am reminded of the gut instinct mankind has to cry out for justice. We see inequality and unfairness wherever we look, and we believe we have experienced this in our own lives.

What I think we fail to do is to acknowledge our own fault in the situations we find ourselves in, or to take responsibility for the impact our choices and lifestyles have on others.

Jesus judges the needy with righteousness. He sees the truth through the wisdom and understanding that the Holy Spirit brings. Let us ask the same Spirit which lives within us to give us His wisdom.

Carol Timney

Isaiah Blog

2009-05-11T09:10:00.003+01:00

If you came looking on the Blog this morning for the latest thought on Isaiah Ch.11 you will have been disappointed! - The Blog is taking a break this week as this coming Sunday Paul Mortimore will be speaking on The Persecuted Church. However, we resume our study of Isaiah (Ch's 11 - 15) the following Sunday and the next entry, on Isaiah Ch 11, will be published on Monday 18th May.

Isaiah Chapter 10

2009-05-08T05:30:00.001+01:00

Isaiah Chapter 10 v 1

Verse 1 starts on a cheery note!
“You are doomed! You make unjust laws that oppress my people”.

When I hear the words ‘You are doomed’ I am immediately reminded of Private Frasier in Dad’s Army as that was one of his favourite sayings which he used with great gusto!. Of course, in this context, we are talking about something far more serious - “You make unjust laws that oppress my people”. Verse 2 sets out in more detail the nature of the oppression which had caused the Lord’s anger.
Could any of this apply to us as a nation? – What about us as individuals? Are we passionate or indifferent to injustice? In our daily lives, could some of our simple life style choices including how we choose to spend our money have a positive impact on the poor & oppressed?

Paul Woodfield

Isaiah Chapter 9

2009-05-07T07:35:00.001+01:00

(Apologies for the late publication this morning - the Church Administrator slept through his alarm!!)

‘You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy’.

Gloom is certainly something we’re never far from. We only have to switch on the television to hear of the latest swine flu tragedy or the economic downturn.

Don’t you think sometimes, we are responsible for how much joy we allow ourselves to be partaking of and how much joy we impart on others. Verse 3 of Isaish 9 says,

‘You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy’. In this verse, God is imparting the joy.

As Christians we always have something to be joyful for, WE ARE SAVED! Unlike the nations in Isaiah, we know that,

‘Unto us a child (was) born,
And he is called,
Wonderful Councillor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace.’

Do your part today; tell someone of the joy that was given to you. Make sure that you add the part about it being a FREE gift.

Emma Hughes

Isaiah Chapter 8

2009-05-06T05:30:00.001+01:00

"I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him". - Ch 8 v 17

Waiting, hoping, obeying and trusting. They are all big words for me and this one verse reminds me of the challenge I face. It has been hard at times when I’ve not understood, or when God seems to have gone on holiday and forgotten all about me. It is at those times when I have to keep the knowledge of his perfection and the proof of his love so close.
The determination in this verse of that decision to wait and trust is inspiring. Knowing that the Lord of all is the only one we can fully trust in any situation. Surrendering all my timings and allowing him to work in His perfect and awesome way.

Claire Parker

Isaiah Chapter 7

2009-05-05T05:30:00.002+01:00

It may sound glib but we were never promised that living the Christian life was going to be easy. The reality is that life challenges for us may be no different than for people who claim no allegiance to our God! This chapter conjures up in the mind's eye some disturbing scenes: forests shaken by the wind, smouldering stubs of firewood, tearing apart, plagues of flies and bees and fear of briers and thorns.

However, the big difference for us as God’s people is that we have God’s promises, His resources, His grace and His word so we need never fear!. A sign was given to Isaiah that a virgin will give birth to a son and his name will be Immanuel meaning God with us.

The prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus and so when we trust we can enjoy the privileges of being joint heirs with Jesus, and through God’s Holy Spirit we have the mind of Christ and we can do everything through Christ who strengthens us.

Recognise Immanuel today and experience God working in your life.

Colin Clark

Isaiah Chapter 6

2009-05-04T05:30:00.002+01:00

Isaiah Chapter 6 v 8

Isaiah heard the call of God and responded willingly. This verse is special to me because I too had a dramatic calling. It stirs a desire in me to share God’s love with those who are willing to listen. Here we catch a glimpse of the humility of
God when He desires to work in and through us, a reminder of the words of Jesus, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Each time I read this I am challenged and encouraged.

Lynda Wilson

Isaiah Chapter 5

2009-05-01T05:30:00.004+01:00

Isaiah Chapter 5 v 16

“But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness”

What qualities come to mind as making God stand out as different?

He is passionate about justice and righteousness. In these things he is completely out of our league. (“As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways” Isaiah 55 v 9).

In reality, God gets a lot of bad press about justice. We struggle with how he can allow the innocent to suffer and why he doesn’t intervene more often. Yet when he destroys an evil system (eg Sodom & Gomorrah Gen 19) we struggle with that too.
So how is the LORD Almighty exalted by his justice?

I did jury service many years ago. There was a difficult case of a young man who in a rash moment had overtaken on an unsighted road and killed another driver. It was impossible not to feel overwhelming sadness for everyone concerned yet the emotion that remains strongest for me from that day was a deep satisfaction of the fairness of the judge. I felt admiration for him, he was exalted by his justice.

If we want to make a difference in a society where tolerance and compromise prevail, perhaps we should take a careful look at our own standards of justice and righteousness.

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” Amos 5 v 24

Helen Hubert

Isaiah Chapter 4

2009-04-30T05:30:00.003+01:00

v 6 - “It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain”

This chapter (apart from verse 1) looks forward to the time a redeemed, cleansed and holy population will be living in Jerusalem, the City of God (for us, a picture of the church). The signs of the Lord’s presence (cloud and fire) will be over them all, not just over the tabernacle as happened on the Exodus from Egypt.
I chose verse 6 from the few available, because it shows that adversity (heat, storm and rain) still comes, but the Lord’s presence protects his people. We can take comfort from this, because our Lord has promised “Surely I am with you always”.

Phil Heath-Coleman

Isaiah Chapter 3

2009-04-29T05:30:00.005+01:00

v 13 "The Lord takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people"

Isaiah is known as the “evangelical” prophet - he liked to tell good news and will do so in outstanding ways. But as Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome (11:v 22) we need to “consider both the kindness and sternness of God.” In ch 2v6 Isaiah had said that God had abandoned his people because they had turned away from Him to pseudo-gods. Isaiah now says the consequence for the nation of Judah will be breakdown of “supply and support”. Competent national leadership will cease: ch 3 v 13, The LORD takes his place in court: he rises to judge the people . . . . . judgment against the elders and leaders of his people, –that is, ‘judgement of the legislative and executive arms of government.’ Is this what we may see in a Christian land that has largely abandoned God and his moral laws, which were for man’s good? Why even the haughty women of Zion whose posture declared “I’m worth it” would loose their “Finery” and “Fragrance.” Jerusalem was “defying God’s glorious presence.” (v 8).

David Hum

Isaiah Chapter 2

2009-04-28T05:30:00.002+01:00

Isaiah Chapter 2 v 22

As with so much prophecy, God speaking through Isaiah has several layers applying to – the present situation, the future and the end times “Thy Kingdom Come” where a God of Justice and peace will be seen to reign.

In v 22 “Trusting” - has different definitions. We quite rightly trust our good friends. Here, Isaiah seems to be saying that “You are putting undue faith in man to solve all your/world’s problems and are leaving God out of the equation of your thinking. You are living a man-centred life which equals Idolatry – Man trusting in man alone. You shall have no other Gods before me.

In the current “credit crunch”, very few people are not affected by this through savings, investments, redundancy, stock market, insurance policies and I’m sure there are more. – We could also add the Lottery, gambling, getting bigger houses, getting more possessions. Many of the above can be shown for what they are: Man centred, built ‘on sand’. (Although Jesus did talk about being good stewards of time & possessions so don’t oversimplify!)

Isobel Kahn (a missionary) wrote in 1940, ‘Build for Eternity, Live for eternity’ Her approach to life was the opposite of man-centred living.

Jesus said “Where you treasure is, there your heart will be”. Is He trying to get our attention through world events?

God says of this approach to life (man centred) in Isaiah 2 v 22 ‘..of what account is he? Man is dependent upon God for his life ‘ who has put breath into your nostrils’

Yet we can often live our lives independent of God. God is saying ‘Stop trusting in man’

We quite rightly stress that God is a God of love but he is faithful to all his attributes including… anger and judgment as Judah was to find out and… what about us?

Clinton Grant

Isaiah Chapter 1

2009-04-27T05:30:00.002+01:00

Every time there is snow I am reminded of Isaiah Ch 1 v 18, especially recollecting the time when I walked through a park after very heavy snow. It was outstandingly beautiful; pure, unspoilt, transforming and glistening in the winter sun.

It is so good this verse starts with ‘come’, for snow is a reminder of this invitation from God to make clean what is wrong in my life. Is anything more white than untouched snow? It transforms. As I look as snow I recall the words found in 1 John 1 v 9. The visual aid of snow beautifully illustrates this.

I wish we had a bit more snow in this area!

Hope Rudge

Coming to a screen near you - Isaiah Comments

2009-04-21T15:42:00.003+01:00

Not been here for a while?

Me neither - sorry about that.

We will shortly start publishing the daily thoughts for our Isaiah series here.

And to cap it all ...

2008-01-18T16:17:00.000Z

Every week I get a short e-mail news digest from the Bible Society. This one is pertinent to one possibility we are praying about this year ...

"As thousands of debt-ridden families wake up to the reality of Christmas overspending, a Christian charity is offering churches the chance to come to their aid. Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has produced CAP Money, a course featuring Alpha-type filmed talks, to help people budget their way out of hardship. CAP founder John Kirkby said they were launching the course ‘in response to the overwhelming demand for a simple, easy-to-follow money management course that will make a long-term difference.’ Alan Meyer, senor minister of Elim Community Church in Carlisle, said a pilot scheme they had run ‘had a fantastic response’. ‘We are looking forward to using it as an evangelistic tool because of the huge impact it is able to make in people’s lives,’ he added. Meanwhile, the Methodist Church has produced thousands of fake credit cards bearing the inscription ‘Buy L£ss, Live More’. The cards are designed as a reminder to fit in a wallet and carry the inscription ‘MARK 10:17-27’ in place of a credit card number."

Sources: Christianity (Feb 08); Church Times (18/1)

What would you do with £25?

2008-01-10T21:38:00.000Z

Here's a shocking story of what one pastor did by way of explaining the parable of the talents!

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/pastors-challenge-shocks-congregation/20071220192509990001

I wasn't born again yesterday

2008-01-09T11:04:00.000Z

I stumbled accross this website today
http://www.ex-atheist.com/index.html

I have no idea who this guy is but there's some interesting stuff here. In particular 2 things caught my attention
His story of from atheism to faith (from skeptism to worship)
His illustrations and exercises to illustrate a new way of thinking (Learning to think spiritually).

Provocative Christianity

2008-01-08T12:16:00.000Z

I read this at the end of a series of 'health' articles in the Times last weekend. It reminded me so much of what we have been communicating about being provocative Christians:

I was standing in the queue at midnight waiting with my daughter to buy a copy of the final Harry Potter book. It was cold and I was tired. There was a man offering hot coffee at a stall nearby. How enterprising, I thought. I went to the stall to get a coffee. "How much?" I asked. "It's free," the man replied. Looking down, I noticed a flyer for a Christian group on the stall. "But you want some sort of donation, right?" "No," said the man, "it's free." "Why would you give coffee away for free? What's in it for you?" I asked. The man just smiled. I took my free coffee. I've been thinking about that smile for six months, trying to figure it out.

Advent Calender

2007-12-13T11:10:00.001Z

I love our Advent Calender on the doors as you come into church, I even forgive the people responsible for making me a fairy (or just possibly and angel) on day 6.

Here's another good Advent Calender.

http://www.paperlesschristmas.org/jp/sj-site/index.html

Not sure who has done this and I can't seem to skip ahead and see what the days ahead will be like but I quite like, day 7 and day 12.

Am I the only one who missed this?

2007-11-28T16:05:00.000Z

According to the BBC they found Herod's tomb this year, did I miss the news that day?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6630000/newsid_6635400/6635479.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&news=1&bbcws=1

Perscuted church

2007-11-26T10:50:00.000Z

Following the prayers a week ago for the persecuted church a number of people asked where they can get further information. Tom has written a helpful note with links below. He also mentioned some murders in Turkey and I noticed this weekend that the court case has just come up for those accused of the killings there:

www.guardian.co.uk/turkey/story/0,,2216358,00.html

'Thanks to all of you who listened to me talking about the persecuted church on the 18^th November. Some of you have asked for some more information and especially about Shuang Shuying, the elderly Chinese lady being held in a Beijing prison. This article gives the fullest account of her story that I have found: http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-8-30/59228.html# and the website of Prisoner Alert below has a page on her that looks as though it will be updated with any news.

Here are the websites I know about. There are certainly others but I think that this covers the major organisations that operate in the UK as well as some that may not. Please let me know if I have missed any out.

Open Doors UK - Christian Persecution Charity this is ‘Brother Andrew’s’ organisation.

Release International - The voice of the persecuted church this has similar roots to Voice of the Martyrs in the US.

Barnabas Fund ...hope and aid for the persecuted church concentrates with great understanding on Christians in the Muslim world.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, promoting religious freedom and human rights for persecuted Christians

PrisonerAlert.com Linked to CSW.

Compass Direct News A news agency specialising in the persecuted church that has wide international contacts.

Burma prayer

China Aid

If you want to keep informed, at least the first four on the list send out regular magazines and prayer calendars. Typically they also send our e-mail alerts or regular updates that you can sign up to. They all have slightly different emphases and specialisations and I have not yet come across any evidence that they tread on one another’s toes! Sadly, there is plenty of work to be done in this area, so they don’t need to compete.

"Remember the prisoners as if chained with them, and those who are mistreated..." Hebrews 13.3'

So who's to blame?

2007-10-09T21:42:00.000+01:00

I was browsing this site http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/ following a link just now, and it struck a chord with me. We live in the "I couldn't help it" age. We blame the devil and he blames us!

Update on Beven

2007-10-03T15:16:00.000+01:00

Thanks, if you are following news and praying for Beven.

I spoke to Keith this morning, they now have the results of all the tests.

It seems that Beven has a tumour somewhere between his jaw and eye on one side but that the prognosis is quite a bit better than the news they were hearing in Sri-Lanka.

The child specialists are intending some sort of chemotherapy and are ‘very optimistic’ about the outcome.

One other thing worth mentioning is that since we have been talking and praying about this Beven has been feeling increasingly better and the lumps have been decreasing.

Clearly there is stuff to give God thanks for and need for more prayer.

UPDATE ON THE UPDATE

Bevan has now gone into hospital for treatment for 1 week and must be kept under observation for 3 weeks, after which he can leave. Also they must bring him back to India 3 or 4 months later. They are still positive about the outcome.

Thanks for praying

2007-09-24T11:07:00.000+01:00

I mentioned in the service last night the need for prayer for one of my family in Sri-Lanka - Beven Benjamin - the son of Keith Benjamin.

Keith is my cousin but considers me a brother - relationships are like that in Sri-Lanka. He is a pastor of a church out there.

Beven is 9 years old.

I've spoken to them both this morning - there is a need to further investigate two lumps on his head near the ear and eye, there is a possibility of very bad news and a real possibility of very good news.

One outcome might be that the right treatment will be performed best in South India and the family are looking into that now.

Thanks for praying

UPDATE 15:30 - just heard by email that both parents and Beven will fly to India tomorrow. Not sure what that means.

New start

2007-09-13T12:02:00.000+01:00

We often talk about how September feels like a new year - new start in many ways. This year in particular I am aware of people starting new jobs, new courses, new schools and new things.

I recently re-read this poem by Ted Loader and it seemed to capture the moment.

I love the phrase 'tremble on the edge of a maybe', I believe God is there with me when I tremble like that.

“I Tremble on the Edge of a Maybe”

O God of beginnings, as your Spirit moved over the face of the deep on the first day of creation,

move with me now in my time of beginnings,

when the air is rain-washed, the bloom is on the bush, and the world seems fresh and full of possibilities, and I feel ready and full.

I tremble on the edge of a maybe, a first time, a new thing, a tentative start,

and the wonder of it lays its finger on my lips.

In silence, Lord, I share now my eagerness, and my uneasiness about this something different I would be or do;

and I listen for your leading to help me separate the light from the darkness in the change I seek to shape and which is shaping me. Amen.

Alpha Starts on 18th September

2007-08-25T18:57:00.000+01:00

Alpha starts again in a few weeks' time. It is a fantastic opportunity to explore the big questions of life in a safe and friendly environment. If you're already convinced of the good news about Jesus Christ, then please pray for the right people to come. If you're not sure, we'd be delighted for you to join us. Contact us by e-mail at alpha@chichesterbaptist.org.uk or phone on (01243) 782582.

Interest in religion is alive and well

2007-08-17T15:31:00.000+01:00

Amazon reports that in the last three years sales in the 'religion' category – whether the books argue for or against religion – have climbed by 50 per cent. The increase outstrips growth in all other categories. Anti-religious titles The God Delusion and God is Not Great were the top sellers, leaving Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth to uphold faith in third position. The Dawkins Delusion, Alister McGrath’s counter-blast to The God Delusion, has also done well.

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=43289

So people are thinking and reading about these things. That should encourage us in our prayers for the next Alpha course.

A final word from John Stott

2007-07-31T18:59:00.000+01:00

Wasn't it fitting that 87-year old John Stott, in his final address at the Keswick Convention before retiring from public ministry, encouraged his hearers to 'become more like Christ'?

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=42531

Our own church aim, that people commit to and become more like Jesus, is as current as it ever was.

Keeping are eyes on Him

2007-07-19T10:23:00.000+01:00

I read a great quote today, I was doing some early thinking for a sermon subject I have later in the summer about 'keeping spiritually fresh' and came across this thought by Spurgeon.

It is to do with keeping our eyes on Jesus, rather than focusing on feelings or spiritual experience:

'I looked at Christ and the dove of peace flew into my heart; I looked at the dove and it flew away.'

Lots of answers to prayer

2007-07-12T13:41:00.000+01:00

I felt that there were lots of answers to prayer in the church meeting last night. If any of you weren't there you will want to know that the vote for Vic was unanimous.

Good doing church with you all.

How do I want you to treat me?

2007-06-26T18:09:00.000+01:00

Several people has said they found the last bit of Sunday morning's message useful, and on request here it is. It started with the Golden Rule ("do to others what you would have them do to you") and then asking "How then would I want to be treated?" Using 1 Corinthians 13 as a starting point, for me it came out like this ...

I want you to be patient with me and kind. I don’t want you to envy me if I am successful or appear to have gifts that you do not have. I don’t want you to boast when you do things better than me. I don’t want you to be rude towards me. I don’t want you to be totally preoccupied with your own interests, but have an eye to mine as well. If I get things wrong, I don’t want you to blow up at me. In fact, I’d like you to destroy the record you have in your head of the mistakes that I have made.

If I lose my way, I don’t want you to rejoice in my downfall. When I walk with God, I want you to give thanks with me for what God has done. I want you to watch my back, to protect me from those people and things that would bring me down. I want you to trust me, to think the best of me, and to persevere with me.

That’s how I want you to treat me. Is that not how you would like me to treat you?

Sustained to the end

2007-06-26T08:34:00.001+01:00

Some of the leadership team met with representatives from our groups for older people yesterday. I guess that silver surfers don't make up the majority of our Blog readership, but all the same I found these words from Isaiah encouraging this morning ...

"Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you." (Isaiah 46v3)

Yesterday

2007-06-11T14:41:00.000+01:00

Good to do church with you all yesterday.

Thanks for not mentioning that I spelt 'Galatians' wrong on all my Powerpoint pages.

Some great illustrations from the Dean I thought.

I shall remember than we are 'meanwhile' people, in a 'snakes and ladders' world who play cricket with sermons.

Ken

Find Time To Do Nothing

2007-06-08T14:04:00.000+01:00

Take time out to do nothing – and start an adventure of self-discovery. That’s the message from the Bishop of Reading who spent Monday morning handing out egg-timers to stressed commuters at the town’s railway station. The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell urged people to spend three minutes a day in silent reflection - and find out what happens when we simply stop and rest. The Bishop’s theory is developed in his book Do Nothing to Change Your Life, an impassioned plea for people to resist the pressure to cram more and more into each day, and to find ‘delight and purpose in the ordinary things of life’.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/05/nbusy105.xml

The Power of One

2007-06-05T11:06:00.000+01:00

I read something just now which gave me cause for thought.

ONE VOTE made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of the Commonwealth and gave him control of England. (1645)

ONE VOTE caused Charles I to be executed. (1649)

ONE VOTE made Texas part of the United States. (1845)

ONE VOTE changed France from a monarchy to a republic. (1875)

ONE VOTE made Adolf Hitler head of the Nazi Party. (1923)

What a difference one can make.

Questions

2007-06-05T08:52:00.001+01:00

We're two days into the Old Testament Reflections series and I was struck by the fact that on both days the questions that were asked could be applied both ways.

We might ask God, "Where are you?" and "What are you waiting for?"

But he might well ask us the same thing.

Ideas ...

2007-05-22T10:10:00.000+01:00

from the Joint Meeting earlier this year to help us translate our good intentions into actions...

http://www.chichesterbaptist.org.uk/pages/downloads.html

If you've missed our priorities for 2007, where have you been?! Here they are again:

Praying and working towards...

More conversions;
More regular time alone with God to read the Bible and pray;
Greater lifestyle integrity.

It's often the simplest ideas ...

2007-05-21T21:51:00.000+01:00

Back in February many of us shared our thoughts in a Joint Meeting about how we could take forward our church's 3 priorities. We hope to make all of the ideas available shortly through the Download area of the web site, but in the meantime under the "conversions" heading the following 7 suggestions came out as ideas that we could indivually act on.

Pray for 2-3 people you know – for opportunities to share the gospel and for their conversion
Make friends with non-Christians
Commit to spending social time with non-Christians – missing the occasional Sunday if need be
“Practise” sharing your faith with a Christian friend
Learn to become comfortable about talking with Christians about spiritual things
Look out for “people of peace”
Pray for a “burden for the lost”

What strikes me about them is their simplicity, but that is not to knock their power. The "mere" act of starting to pray daily for conversions (idea 1) could have an incredible impact. One idea I find personally interesting is number 5 below, because it begs the question, "If I can't talk easily with other Christians about spiritual things, how easy will I find it trying to talk to unbelievers?"

Any way, if you are one of the ones that have covenanted to 'pray and work towards' our three priorities, then have a think about what you could be doing in this particular area, and maybe add a comment if you have a good idea of your own.

Start date

2007-05-15T15:36:00.000+01:00

Looking back to 15 May 2006 my diary simply states 'start date'. This was, of course the day, a year ago today when the building work for the upstairs youth hall began.

Thanks to Peter Stockwell for reminding me.

Does it seem like a year?

How blessed we have been to get to the point where the money side is now sorted.

What could God do for us individually and together in the next 12 months if we consider today a start date on our journey with Him?

John 5:13 ....

2007-05-08T16:13:00.000+01:00

The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

I was just thinking about this verse today.
I found myself wondering how many people receive God's healing touch and have no idea that it was God. How many of them will never know that it is God unless someone tells them?

The next verse says that Jesus then found him - not the other way around. I wonder if there is a challenge in that - namely that sometimes we are supposed to point out the ways in which God is already at work in the lives of our friends who don't yet accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

A sort of encouragement ...

2007-05-07T09:15:00.000+01:00

According to the Baptist Times last Thursday (comment, p13) "only 27 per cent of Baptist churchgoers read the Bible for themselves at least once a week."

I went back to the results from our annual survey last December and was pleasantly surprised by the comparison which showed a 77% figure for CBC. If we were in the game of league tables we could get quite smug at this point.

But we're not, are we? Our standard is not the 'average' Baptist church in the UK, whatever an average Baptist church looks like. Our standard must be Jesus' standard, because our hope is that CBC will be full of people committed to following Jesus. Such people will be reading the Bible most days because they love their Lord and want to walk closely with him. When we look at the CBC figures for personal Bible reading 'most days' or 'every day' the number drops to 53%.

So we continue to pray that more people will take up the practice of regular personal Bible reading, not because it's a CBC priority, but because they love Jesus and want to walk more closely with him.

Stories of faith

2007-05-03T22:10:00.000+01:00

"Church attendance may be in decline but people in the UK are still becoming Christians in their thousands. What can we learn from their stories?..."

I think there are some useful lessons for us here: http://www.licc.org.uk/node/321

I'm not on commission but ...

2007-05-03T16:58:00.000+01:00

can I recommend two books which you may not have on your shelf?

Out of the Black Shadows is a book that made me depressed, excited, tearful and joyful at various points. It is an outstanding account of God's dealings with one man - Stephen Lungu. It's full of God's coincidences (aka "answers to prayer") and amazing grace. Incidentally, the action is centred around Zimbabwe and Malawi.

Unlocking the Bible has got to be at £0.015p per page one of the best bargains around at the moment! It is a hefty tome to carry, but a light read, and it gives an excellent introduction to each book of the Bible. Encouraging reading the Scriptures is a CBC priority at the moment, and this will help you to better understand what you're reading. I'm plugging it at a small group tonight, and it's required reading for CBC staff (!) ... so why not join the party!

Useful web sites

2007-04-23T11:31:00.000+01:00

I'm made reference to a couple of web sites recently that I think are very useful. Here they are:

http://www.rationalchristianity.net/ - particularly for those thorny "contradictions in the Bible" objections that people throw our way sometimes

http://www.gotquestions.org/ - for general questions about faith

Another good one for Christian apologetics is ...

http://www.tektonics.org/

As with anything else you read (or hear from Ken, me or anyone else!) don't just take everything on these or similar sites on trust - check out what you read or hear and come to your own conclusions.

Psalm 22

2007-04-23T11:30:00.000+01:00

PS 22:16 Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.

PS 22:17 I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.

PS 22:18 They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

Just thinking about Psalm 22 and how many references there are in it to the crucifixion. Roger mentioned it last night as one of the many sources we have for believing in the Bible.

A thought which I recently read from a couple of sources which blows my mind is that this Psalm is not only written a thousand years before Jesus' death it is also written long before crucifixion had even been invented.

When we bring our worries to God in prayer

2007-04-17T15:01:00.000+01:00

When we bring our worries to God in prayer-we often think of that prayer as giving our burdens up – handing them over to God and that is a very helpful image.

But sometimes, the concern is still very much a real part of our day.

I read an interesting analogy with prayer recently which I can’t get out of my mind.

The gist of the analogy is to do with carrying weight around – all sorts of weights of varying shapes and sizes.

Until we pray it is like we are carrying these weights in the most disorganised way possible. Carrying some in weak carrier bags – balancing others in our hands which are already overfull – and stumbling on with too much weight carried in ways which cannot be good for us.

When we pray, very often the weights are still there, God hasn’t yet completely removed the problem. But the act of praying has helped us to sort and arrange our weights into a manageable rucksack properly packed and balanced.

And then we can carry on, in a way which would not have been possible without the prayer.

We regularly need to stop, take stock and sort out our bags and sometimes put some new things in which we have unintentionally found ourselves balancing awkwardly in our hands again.

And sometimes when we have a sort out - some of things which were in the bag before have somehow shrunk or gone entirely.

Perseverance

2007-04-05T15:47:00.000+01:00

I've just finished reading Stephen Tomkins' biography of Wilberforce (thanks, Ken). He really was quite an amazing guy. When we hear the name Wilberforce, we think "anti-slavery", but the Church Missionary Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and even the RSPCA (!) can trace their roots to Wilberforce. What stands out for me more than anything else is his perseverance, amply evident from this quote taken at a time when he anticipated one of the many defeats of his bills:

"Interested as I might be supposed to be in the final event of the question, I am comparatively indifferent as to the present decision of the House. Whatever they might do, the people of Great Britain, I am confident, will abolish the slave trade... For myself, I am engaged in a work I will never abandon... Let us persevere, and our triumph will be complete. Never, never will we desist, until we have wiped away this scandal from the Christian name, released ourselves from the load of guilt, under which we at present labour, and extinguished every trace of this bloody traffic, of which our posterity, looking back to the history of these enlightened times, will scarce believe that it has been suffered to exist so long a disgrace and dishonour to this country."

Wow! "Never, never ..." And he kept to his word. May we have the same dogged pursuit of what is right in our time, and never, never give up.

Easter Week

2007-03-31T09:29:00.001+01:00

For various reasons I have been taking a look at C H's Spurgeons' daily readings this week. He tends to take one verse to think about in the morning and one in the evening.

His language appears quaint and dated to us, but every so often there is a gem to hold on to and today the thought of Jesus' sacrifice bringing me to tears has resonated with me.

'Morning, March 31

“With his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

Pilate delivered our Lord to the lictors to be scourged. The Roman scourge was a most dreadful instrument of torture. It was made of the sinews of oxen, and sharp bones were inter-twisted every here and there among the sinews; so that every time the lash came down these pieces of bone inflicted fearful laceration, and tore off the flesh from the bone. The Saviour was, no doubt, bound to the column, and thus beaten. He had been beaten before; but this of the Roman lictors was probably the most severe of his flagellations. My soul, stand here and weep over his poor stricken body.

Believer in Jesus, can you gaze upon him without tears, as he stands before you the mirror of agonizing love? He is at once fair as the lily for innocence, and red as the rose with the crimson of his own blood. As we feel the sure and blessed healing which his stripes have wrought in us, does not our heart melt at once with love and grief? If ever we have loved our Lord Jesus, surely we must feel that affection glowing now within our bosoms.

“See how the patient Jesus stands,

Insulted in his lowest case!

Sinners have bound the Almighty’s hands,

And spit in their Creator’s face.

With thorns his temples gor'd and gash'd

Send streams of blood from every part;

His back’s with knotted scourges lash'd.

But sharper scourges tear his heart.”

We would fain go to our chambers and weep; but since our business calls us away, we will first pray our Beloved to print the image of his bleeding self upon the tablets of our hearts all the day, and at nightfall we will return to commune with him, and sorrow that our sin should have cost him so dear.'

Hope you like the new blog and web-site

2007-03-27T08:38:00.000+01:00

You'll find opening comments from Roger and Ian below.
Following last nights meets for parents of teenagers I promised to put some key verses and 3 useful websites on the new blog today. They relate to different questions - well here goes:

Verses I used for the first question about God's view on sex and marriage

Gen 2:24, Mark 10:7-9, 1 Cor 6:12-20, 1 Thes 4:3-7 and Heb 13:4

Websites I mentioned, designed to inform about some of the issues of the internet + mobile texting + messaging etc.

www.getnetwise.org
www.chatdanger.com
www.thinkuknow.co.uk

God, that wasn't what we meant!

2007-03-25T15:58:00.000+01:00

This next Sunday is Psalm Sunday. It seems a natural extension of this term's series on prayer to consider the prayer that the crowds offered as Jesus made his way into Jerusalem, and how God answered it in the way that they least expected and certainly hadn't intended. I hope that you'll pick up something of the tension as Jesus entered between the two authorities ruling Jerusalem, and how he responded to what was almost a nationalistic cry against foreign occupation with a rescue package for all nationalities.

The verse that blessed me most this week

2007-03-24T20:44:00.000Z

All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.
Isaiah 28:29

New place for CBC blogging

2007-03-24T18:32:00.000Z

This is where you will find us blogging from now on. It will be worth removing 'Ken's blog' from your favourites etc. (as if it ever was!)