This week we came to the end of our autumn series, 'From Empire to Exile'. In terms of dates we've reached 586 BC and the people of Judah have been exiled by the Babylonians, the city has been destroyed and so has the temple.
But even in this darkest hour there remained a glimmer of hope. There remained a core of people who continued to be faithful to God. One of those was Jeremiah - who had known his fair share of persecution under the reigns of the final four 'bad' kings of Judah. Jeremiah experienced the events of the exile first hand, and as the people are taken away from their homes as captives, as they are settled in a foreign land, as they wonder where their God is - Jeremiah continues to bring God's word to them.
The Old Testament book of Lamentations is a collection of five acrostic poems that move from despair at the current situation, through the acknowledgement that this is the punishment of God - punishment which is deserved, to hope in God for the future.
We all know what it is to live through tough times, but often it is in those tough times that we grow the most. It is then that our character develops - and God is more interested in our character than in our comfort. And yet through our experiences we know that we have a faithful and loving God - who is working out his purposes.
To listen to this message click here
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Thursday, 9 December 2010
It's not my fault
It is said that a bad workman blames his tools. Certainly this golfer does!
I wonder if we've ever uttered the words 'it's not my fault' - even if it was.
Last Sunday we looked at the life of king Josiah (2 Kings 22-23), a good king who was compared to king David. One of the things that these two men had in common, and one of the lessons we can take from his story, is that when they were confronted with sin they didn't make excuses, they didn't point the finger at anyone else, but they acknowledged the wrong doing and they confessed and repented.
Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that when a person is a Christian they will be perfect - but we all know that that is just not the case. Whilst we seek to be like Jesus, none of his followers is ever going to be sinless whilst we live here on this earth. We will make mistakes, we'll get things wrong...But what do we do when we realise it? Do we make excuses? Or do we confess and repent, believing in the God who has promised to forgive us (1 John 1:9).
To listen to this message click here.
I wonder if we've ever uttered the words 'it's not my fault' - even if it was.
Last Sunday we looked at the life of king Josiah (2 Kings 22-23), a good king who was compared to king David. One of the things that these two men had in common, and one of the lessons we can take from his story, is that when they were confronted with sin they didn't make excuses, they didn't point the finger at anyone else, but they acknowledged the wrong doing and they confessed and repented.
Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that when a person is a Christian they will be perfect - but we all know that that is just not the case. Whilst we seek to be like Jesus, none of his followers is ever going to be sinless whilst we live here on this earth. We will make mistakes, we'll get things wrong...But what do we do when we realise it? Do we make excuses? Or do we confess and repent, believing in the God who has promised to forgive us (1 John 1:9).
To listen to this message click here.
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
Friday, 19 November 2010
Shoebox World
Shoebox World is not a new theme park opened by Samaritans Purse but it is their brand new web site that allows you to take part in their shoebox appeal even if you are unable to get to the shops to buy the gifts to fill a shoebox yourself.
Once on the site, which can be found by clicking here, you first choose the wrapping paper for your box, and whether it is for a boy or girl and which age range. Then you select between 14 and 16 gifts from four categories: toys, hygiene, educational and some additional items and then ... I've not explored the site any further but presumably you pay and add a message. Then volunteers in a warehouse somewhere will make up your box and send it off to a child somewhere in the world in time for Christmas. If you've not yet done a 'real' shoebox why not try the site out now.
[For those of you who have not yet dropped your box off at our church it is still not too late - due to unavoidable circumstances today's collection has been postponed until Monday morning - so bring your box along on Sunday].
Once on the site, which can be found by clicking here, you first choose the wrapping paper for your box, and whether it is for a boy or girl and which age range. Then you select between 14 and 16 gifts from four categories: toys, hygiene, educational and some additional items and then ... I've not explored the site any further but presumably you pay and add a message. Then volunteers in a warehouse somewhere will make up your box and send it off to a child somewhere in the world in time for Christmas. If you've not yet done a 'real' shoebox why not try the site out now.[For those of you who have not yet dropped your box off at our church it is still not too late - due to unavoidable circumstances today's collection has been postponed until Monday morning - so bring your box along on Sunday].
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)