If it sounds too good to be true...

TV programmes like Watchdog and Rouge Traders drum in the message that if a deal sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Whether it be a special deal on a new driveway or hugely discounted prices on batteries, promises of tremendous savings usually turn out to be horror stories of broken promises. And there is another saying: 'once bitten, twice shy'. When we've been let down, when we've experienced broken promises we find it harder to trust again in the future.

But God can be trusted. When God makes a promise He will keep His word. Psalm 145:13 says, "The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does".

The Bible is primarily a story about God. And through the different stories we find that God can be trusted. We are currently looking on Sunday mornings at the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God made Abraham a promise in Genesis 15 - that he would have a son; that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars; and that they would inherit the land. As we read through Genesis to Joshua and Judges we see the fulfilment, over hundreds of years, of these promises. God is faithful and He can be trusted.

Some of the promises in the Bible are specifically for an individual. The promises in Genesis 15 were for Abraham and his wife, Sarah. The promise of Joshua 1:5 was specifically for Joshua. The promise of Jeremiah 29:11 was for the exiles. But because the Bible is a living word, the Holy Spirit can take these promises and apply them to our lives (although not neccesarily). Other promises are general and conditional. They apply to anyone who meets the conditions. Romans 10:9 for example.

The important thing was that Abraham believed the promise of God. Do we have the faith to believe the word of God to us? To live our lives in the light of what He is saying to us. We live in an instant generation - we want everything now or earlier if possible. God's promise to Abraham spanned over 400 years - it was a part of God's bigger plan (see Genesis 15:16). We need to ask God to help us see the bigger picture as we wait for the fulfilment of His word.

Philippians 4:6-7, the promise of the peace of God that is beyond all understanding, is a significant promise in my life. At key points, life and death moments, God has given me that peace, without any reassurance that things would work out okay.

What promises has God made that are significant in your life?

To listen to this message from 23 September 2007 click here.

Can you have an Online Church?

Having recently entered the world of Facebook I joined a group that states, 'The purpose of this group is to prove that church does not need to be in a building, and its time to wake up to post Christendom!' Clearly the feeling of those who set up the group is that a group of people in an online 'community' can be just as much a 'church', as a group of people who meet in a building on a Sunday morning each week.

Whilst I was prepared to join this group and have entered into a number of discussions I am now convinced that there is no way that this kind of 'group' qualifies for the title church in any way, shape or form. That is not to say that it is not a valid exercise and will be beneficial, encouraging, helpful etc to some. I am also not saying that every group that meets together in a 'church' building qualifies for the title church.

I guess the deeper question is about what it means to be church and what are the minimum requirements for something to be called church. I would argue that one of the markers of a Christian church is that the believers come together to celebrate communion/breaking of bread/eucharist regularly. Obviously an online 'community' can't do that.

But that's enough from me. Get your coffee and join the conversation. What makes church 'church'? Can you have an online church?

Harvest Thanksgiving - or do we take our food for granted?

There are a number of themes in Nehemiah 8. We learn about the importance of the Word of God as we seek to live lives that are pleasing to Him. How the reading of the word leads to repentance and worship. How understanding and applying the word leads to joy. Of how we, like OT Israel are called to be a pilgrim people, a people who are not at home here.

But we are also reminded, through the Feast of Tabernacles, which we read more of in Leviticus 23, that we are to be thankful to our faithful God for His provision in the harvest. But living in a city, where our food comes from the supermarket, it is very easy to become detached from God as the source of our food

As someone who has just started growing some of their own vegetables I have been very aware of just how much we rely on God for a good crop. Too much rain, not enough rain, too many harmful insects, not enough of the right sort of insects...they all have an impact on the harvest.



Let us be truly thankful for God's goodness and provision.

A New Chapter?

Here in the UK we're coming to the end of the 'summer' holidays. This is the time when many children and young people begin to think about the return to school, college or university. And for many of them they'll be going to somewhere new: some may be starting for the first time ... others making the transitition from a relatively small primary school to a much larger secondary school ... And it can be an anxious time. I know when I was moving to secondary school rumours abounded as to what we could expect - and most of them were unpleasant!

The first morning of any new experience can be an anxious and nervous experience, even though it is often exciting and we're looking forward to it at the same time. Whether it be a new school, a new university, a new job, a new house ... there is an element of the unknown, and somehow we often fill the unknowns with worst case scenarios.

In Numbers 13 we read of how the people of Israel were on the borders of the Promised Land, the land that God had promised that He would give them. They sent in 12 spies to see what the land was like. And the land was indeed fruitful and good BUT the people are stonger than us, their cities are fortified, we'll never defeat them... And all but Joshua and Caleb forgot that God was with them. They said, "The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." (14:9).

When we go into a new situation we need to remember that we do not go in alone. But God is with us to help us. He can take away our anxiety and give us His peace (Philippians 4:6-7).