Can you spot at least three differences between these two photos?
On Sunday we held our Harvest Thanksgiving Service - and as well as supporting the work of BMS World Mission we also collected a range of dried and tinned goods to help support our local homeless Night Shelter.
The Night Shelter is overseen by Cricklewood Homeless Concern now known as Ashford Place. As a part of their provision they organise, between November and March, a number of venues around north Brent which provide a hot evening meal, a place to sleep and breakfast for around 20 people who would otherwise be sleeping on streets. One of the local Methodist churches is a venue, this year opening from Saturday evening through to Monday morning every weekend over the winter months. Whilst a lot of the work does fall into the hands of a few brilliant and dedicated people at Queensbury Methodist, it is great to be a part of a team drawn from a whole range of local churches. Each church will sign up to a number of evenings and provide the food and volunteers to run the shelter that night.
It might not seem much in the big scheme of things - but as we saw on Sunday, from Matthew 25:31-46, it's not about saving the world all in one go - it's about meeting need one person at a time.
As Mother Teresa said, 'If you can't feed a hundred people then feed just one'.
For those struggling to find all three differences: the tin of hot dogs has moved from front left; a tin of beans has moved front right to centre; and a tin of tomatoes in the middle has been rotated.
When you go to churches in certain parts of the world you are required to leave your shoes at the door - because that is the culture, and a mark of respect.
There are other churches that you may sometimes go to where you are required to leave your brain at the door. At least that is the way it may seem. Contexts where we are not encouraged to think, and ask questions - instead we are supposed to accept what we are told and to have faith. Situations where the intellectual world of science or medicine, or the world of culture are kept at arms length and often seen as the enemy.
But, if you're looking for something to stretch your mind and get you thinking you may be interested in BMS World Mission's Catalyst Live events in November. Tickets are going fast so order soon.
Catalyst Live Promo from
BMS World Mission on
Vimeo.
Let me know if you're going to Reading - I'll see you there.
No idea what this new Channel 5 series is going to be like but if you're looking for something to talk about in your coffee break at work you could do a lot worse...
A website and additional resources can be found here
If you're looking for a challenge you could try climbing the north face of the Eiger.
Alternatively you could try getting your head round Romans 9-11 in 20 minutes.
Over the last few Sundays we have looked at Romans 9, 10 and 11, and I have managed to avoid some of the more difficult questions. Last Sunday Richard Harvey did a quick over view of all three chapters in one go under the title of 'The Mystery of Israel and the Purposes of God'.
You can listen to Richard by clicking here.
You can see his slides by clicking here and scrolling to 29 September.
You can visit Richard's website - Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology - by clicking here.
It might not seem much in the big scheme of things - but as we saw on Sunday, from Matthew 25:31-46, it's not about saving the world all in one go - it's about meeting need one person at a time. 
