EEC Blog

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33)

Now, I freely admit that it is impossible to hold a Christian service without an agenda. If order is to be maintained, an order of service must exist somewhere. If two songs are to be sung, someone must know which one is to be sung first, and whether this knowledge is only in someone’s head or has been reduced to paper, there is indeed a "program," however we may dislike to call it that. The point we make here is that in our times the program has been substituted for the Presence. The program rather than the Lord of glory is the center of attraction. So the most popular gospel church in any city is likely to be the one that offers the most interesting program; that is, the church that can present the most and best features for the enjoyment of the public. These features are programmed so as to keep everything moving and everybody expectant. . . .

We’ll do our churches a lot of good if we each one seek to cultivate the blessed Presence in our services. If we make Christ the supreme and constant object of devotion the program will take its place as a gentle aid to order in the public worship of God. If we fail to do this the program will finally obscure the Light entirely. And no church can afford that.

Like the apostles, Lord, I want to see the resurrected Christ in all His glory. Help us to focus not on the program of our -worship but on the Lord of glory who is the object of our worship. Amen.

Praise is rising
Come On And Celebrate, MP99
Majesty, MP454
Crown Him With Many Crowns, MP109

Psalms 26:1-12 (NIV)

Praise The Name Of Jesus, MP566
And I’m Forgiven
Thank You For Saving Me, MP937

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 (NIV)

Holy God (in love became)

Sermon on Matthew 7:24-28 (NIV) - “A Firm Foundation“

Luke 6:46-47 (NIV)
Romans 8:9-11 (NIV)
Romans 5:5-6 (NIV)
James 1:22-25 (NIV)
Luke 6:48-49 (NIV)
Isaiah 28:16 (NIV)
1 Peter 2:6 (NIV)
1 Corinthians 3:11 (NIV)
Psalms 18:2 (NIV)
Isaiah 17:10 (NIV)
Genesis 22:1 (NIV)
Genesis 39:1-7 (NIV)
Acts 7:59-60 (NIV)
Matthew 24:43 (NIV)
Matthew 25:6 (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV)

The splendor of the King (How great is our God)

Some personal reflections on the weekend away

Planning is finished, the time’s come so soon
To head off to Kerry, it’s just after noon.
Think Gideon’s calling, I can’t hear a thing
The engine’s too loud, my head’s in a spin….
Phew, now we’ve arrived, with Jimmy behind,
He is new to the place - it’s so hard to find!
Next Ballybunion, to where they will stay
At the Ballyloughran church weekend away.

Back at the place, signs up on the doors.
Bedding’s arrived for sleeping on floors.
Vin’s in the kitchen, he’s remarkably calm
- tho’ food’s coming late (where’s that Gilead’s balm).
Changes to rooms, must show folk the way.
Heard Tom is coming so – hip, hip hooray!
Fire procedures next, there’s no time for play
At the Ballyloughran church weekend away.

Hear Stephen’s held up, rules need to be taught
(I’m starting to feel just a tiny bit fraught!).
No need to panic, Barry’s stood in the breach
and Dave’s here all set up and ready to teach.
His message is simple, he’s using the board
To show we must all give our lives to the Lord.
When could be better than do it today
At the Ballyloughran church weekend away.

The throng are heading off to swim in the pool
Time to relax, I’m still keeping my cool.
Tea and biscuits arrive, even time for a chat
or should I be busy with this thing or that?
Thanks Avril and Dave, for the greatest of favours
for supervising all of our hyper teenagers.
At last all’s gone quiet, I’m tired and yawning.
What’s that? The alarm bell! It’s already morning.
Enjoyed the breakfast, now we’re going to pray
At the Ballyloughran church weekend away.

Then into the hall for singing and praising
Our Lord Jesus Christ – He is truly amazing.
Dave’s teaching on love - what a great word!
His message is something we’re glad that we heard.
Chops and trifle for lunch, then the afternoon’s free
For crafts and the sports hall before we have tea.
We rush back upstairs to prepare for the gig -
Phil needs some help with his make-up and wig.
Dan passes amazed, even slightly afraid
At the Ballyloughran church weekend away.

That’s our act over, now it’s on with the rest;
Riverdance is my favourite with pigtails and dress.
Thanks again George for being MC
(He and Stu - surely good enough for TV!)
Avril’s organising the late night of singing
Those who have stayed on are really swinging
It’s great to praise Him – what a noise we can make
(Hope we’re not keeping those upstairs awake!)
Tonight some real gifting has been on display
At the Ballyloughran church weekend away.

The Sunday lesson, God wants our best love.
To Him be the glory, our Saviour above.
It’s lunchtime, I’m hearing that chicken is falling,
Chef’s shut the door, it seems that he’s stalling.
Don’t go in the kitchen if you can’t take the heat!
Ah, it’s fine, all is well, phew, (that pudding’s a treat).
Time to clean up, another year done
Now I look back and see it was truly such fun!
Thanks to all who helped in every way
At the Ballyloughran church weekend away.

I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful prayers for my mam Suzanne who I believe is now with Jesus.  I know the power of prayer and know how powerless we are without it.

Suzanne was losing her health noticeably since Christmas, but God was also softening her heart. She had been touched by Nigel’s Gospel message Christmas day at our house and was in tears afterwards.  One week later she again told us how the message was just for her.

A month before she died God worked circumstances out to delay my return to college so I could be with her. I’m the only Christian in my family so He used me, remarkably! I was able to just sit on her bed and hold her hand and listen to her mostly. I asked her could I pray with her and she said yes. That had never happened before. I always prayed of the wonderful love of The Saviour for her, and the simple Gospel message of forgiveness of sin for anyone that would come.

God continued to give me opportunity while she was in hospital to read scripture and pray with her, all the time telling her she had to talk to God herself. Visiting her in hospital on the Tuesday before she died, she was struggling to speak and her words wouldn’t come out. She was very weak.  We had asked God to let us know if she was His.  I was praying and I asked her if she had made her peace with God.  She opened her eyes and looked straight at me and said, ‘I have’.  Those were her last words. After this she fell into a sleep and died five days later.  God also gave Nigel and I the opportunity to pick the songs for her funeral service.

Thanks also to Avril & Dave for the music and all who came and sang.  I only wanted to share one verse in the church, and I was allowed, praise God, so I’ll just finish with Job 1:21:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised!

Ann

In the last few weeks you’ve probably seen lots of things in shops, houses and maybe in school that are scary - things to do with Halloween.  It’s not nice to get scared or be afraid is it?  Maybe those Halloween things didn’t scare you, but perhaps you’re afraid of the dark, or of being left on your own, or of spiders …

We all have things that make us afraid or scared.  But what does God’s book the Bible say about being afraid?  1 John 4:18 says, “Where God’s love is, there is no fear.”

I want you to read this story about a boy called Tom, and remember it when you next feel scared about something.

Praise God, who is at work both through us and, indeed, without us! VIA has grown as we have gained new recruits from 1st year teens and friends of those who have been attending in previous years.  Also two girls have joined VIA as a follow on from the Friday Club in Cloughleigh.

As teens come from various backgrounds, it can sometimes be uncomfortable or scary and difficult for them to relate, accept and love one other. Please pray that VIA will be a suitable, fun-loving, safe, caring environment where God can break down walls and impact these young peoples’ lives in an amazing and eternal way! Each one needs the Lord; those ‘churched’ and those ‘unchurched’.

We need Jesus: to be our Wisdom, our Teacher, our Guide, our Vision, our Strength, our Protector, our Stronghold, our Peace, our Love, the Word we speak, our Health, our Joy, our Hope, our Salvation - our Way, our Truth, our Life - our All in All!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (Jn 14:6).

The hymn ‘Be Thou my Vision’ (No. 51 in Mission Praise) keeps coming to mind …

… Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord; … Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight, Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight. Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower …

Let it be Lord - For us to live is Christ - Amen!

We forget sometimes - it is a Spiritual battle, but we don’t fight it alone - Praise God! The battle belongs to the Lord!  Jesus has already won the Victory. Amen and Hallelujah!!

For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.(1Sa 17:47)

Pray that we, as His subjects, will serve sacrificially, wholeheartedly and without fear, bringing glory and honour to Jesus our King!

Introduction and moderation: Tom

Scripture Readings:

Songs:

Psalm 145:1-3 (NIV)

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise, MP199

Revelation 4:1-11 (NIV)

Holy Holy Holy Is The Lord, MP239
O Lord Our God, MP507

Psalms 8:1-9 (NIV)

Come thou fount of every blessing
Wonderful So Wonderful, TS1634
I love my Lord because He heard my voice, MP284
Jesus Is King, MP366

John 5:31-47 (NIV)

Loved with everlasting love, MP452

Ann’s Testimony - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

Sermon by Vincent on Luke 12:1-9 (NIV) - "Don’t miss the point!"

Further Scripture References:

• 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
• Luke 11:52-54 (NIV)
• Luke 11:46 (NIV)
• Romans 5:8 (NIV)
• Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
• Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
• Luke 9:25 (NIV)
• Mark 8:36 (NIV)
• 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NIV)

Be Thou My Vision, MP51

I am sure it is no coincidence, but that God had chosen to use Ephesians and Colossians so prominently at our weekend away, subsequently in Stephen’s Bible study on 13th October and in our recent newsletter devotional.

Ephesians is addressed to a group of believers who are rich beyond measure in Jesus Christ, yet living like beggars, and only because they are ignorant of their wealth.  Paul begins by describing in ch. 1-3 the contents of the Christian’s heavenly “bank account”: adoption, acceptance, redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, inheritance, the seal of the Holy Spirit, life, grace, citizenship - in short, every spiritual blessing.  In ch. 4-6 the Christian learns a spiritual walk rooted in his spiritual wealth.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus [1-3] for good works, … that we should walk in them [4-6]” (2:10).

Hello dear friends!

Eighteen months have passed since our last article, and we’re delighted to tell you the Lord has done a great work in that time!

Men for Missions have completely transformed our church building. We have a modern kitchen, a beautiful ceiling in our sanctuary, new men’s and ladies’ toilets, and freshly painted church and home! We’re still “under construction” but the progress is very encouraging.

When we first moved to Newbridge, there were two children in Sunday school, and one of them was Benjamin!  Praise God our Sunday school now has 14 primary aged children.  We have a teen class twice a month as well.  It’s exciting to put out more chairs each week as new people join us.  Growth is slow but steady.  We’re looking forward to a new couple getting baptized soon.

What did Jesus mean by such a statement? What would a Pharisee think of such a radical statement? The Lord Jesus, because He was God Himself, was speaking of spiritual realities. The problem is that the dull, hardened heart of a sinner cannot grasp the import of this statement. It needs the power of the Holy Spirit to bring the spiritual significance forcibly home to the heart. All life comes from God, even the natural life that we have. But Jesus is speaking here of entering into a new realm of life, a new living experience, not just a natural experience of life but to experience spiritual life, the very life of God. As a result of such life, we then have the ability to experience God, experience a living and real relationship with God. The stunning part is, that for the first time in our lives we come to realisation that God is actually real, He exists and we know this because now we have this life within that communicates this reality to our souls. Wonder of wonders, we find our true purpose in life, to know God and to experience Him (or fellowship with Him). No wonder Jesus said that He and the Father would come by the Power of the Holy Spirit within to make their abode in us, the union of the Godhead dwelling within us so that we may know and experience God (John 17:21). This is why Jesus said in John 17:3 “this is life eternal; that they may know You the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

(Devotional by C.H.Spurgeon)

Many Christians remain stunted and dwarfed in spiritual things, so as to present the same appearance year after year. No up-springing of advanced and refined feeling is manifest in them. They exist but do not “grow up into him in all things.” But should we rest content with being in the “green blade,” when we might advance to “the ear,” and eventually ripen into the “full corn in the ear?” Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, “I am safe,” without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fullness which is to be found in him.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ - Eph. 4:15 (ESV)

It should not be so; we should, as good traders in heaven’s market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus. It is all very well to keep other men’s vineyards, but we must not neglect our own spiritual growth and ripening. Why should it always be winter time in our hearts? We must have our seed time, it is true, but O for a spring time - yea, a summer season, which shall give promise of an early harvest. If we would ripen in grace, we must live near to Jesus - in his presence-ripened by the sunshine of his smiles. We must hold sweet communion with him. We must leave the distant view of his face and come near, as John did, and pillow our head on his breast; then shall we find ourselves advancing in holiness, in love, in faith, in hope-yea, in every precious gift.

As the sun rises first on mountain-tops and gilds them with his light, and presents one of the most charming sights to the eye of the traveller; so is it one of the most delightful contemplations in the world to mark the glow of the Spirit’s light on the head of some saint, who has risen up in spiritual stature, like Saul, above his fellows, till, like a mighty Alp, snow-capped, he reflects first among the chosen, the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and bears the sheen of his effulgence1 high aloft for all to see, and seeing it, to glorify his Father which is in heaven.

Please give thanks for answers to prayer:

• The safe return from Uganda of Dave, James & Yvonne
• The birth of Robbie, grandson to Tom & Phil
• That the Lord kept everyone safe and blessed the weekend away. 

• Glen & Linda, as she begins treatment for cancer following the birth of son Robbie
• Smooth-running of the shoebox appeal and an end to adverse publicity
• All involved to be blessed by the recent mission to Uganda
• Healing for Jimmy, friend of Noreen (now attending VIA), who is partly paralysed as a result of an accident
• Those being made redundant, that they would find jobs quickly. 

• Strength and recovery to full health for Margaret & Carrie
• All whose finances are uncertain as the recession continues to bite
• Street witnessing every other Saturday night in Ennis (planned this month for 7th & 21st)
• Our Lord to provide for the new church building
• That God would continue to stir up His people to reach out to those around them
• That we would seek God for a deeper walk and a closer relationship with Him.

November 2009 Newsletter

… is available for download and print.
Copies can be collected on Sunday at Church.

As always, the content will be published here as well, one per day, since the downloadable version is not well suited for on-line reading.

Content:

• Grow Up in Him (Devotional by Spurgeon)
• Prayer Requests
• Ephesians & Colossians
• News from Afar - the Duffields
• Youth Zone
• Kidz-2-Kidz "Are You Ever Afraid?"
• Message from an Elder - "You must be born again!"
• Ballyloughran 09 Report
• Verse of the Month: Col 3:12-13 (NKJV)
• Suzanne
• November Calendar

Barry introduced our Sunday Service,
we heard report back from the team that went to Uganda,
a report from a Missionary from Greece
and Michael Grant preached on Luke 8:4-15 - "Sowing the seed of God’s Word."

Scripture Reading: Psalms 138:1-3 (NIV)

Hymns:
Give Thanks To The Lord Our God and King, MP1046
Jesus Hope Of The Nations, MP1079
Unfailing Love (Chris Tomlin)
Who Is Like Unto Thee, MP768
Jesus Jesus, MP872
I Will Build My Church, MP305
There Is Power In The Name Of Jesus, MP944
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers

Sermon by Michael Grant on Luke 8:4-15 (NIV)

Final Song: In Heavenly Armour, MP639

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

If we were to judge John 3:16 on the basis of its value to the human race, we would have to say that it is probably the most precious cluster of words ever assembled by the mind of an intelligent man; a twenty-five-word compendium in which is contained the eternal Christian evangel (gospel), the message of genuine good news! . . .

We learn in school that diamonds are made from native carbon which has been placed under tremendous pressure which in time brings about the process of crystallization.

If we will just let our imaginations soar a bit, we can properly say that the Holy Ghost has taken the redemptive evangel and has placed it under the emotional pressure of the triune God, so unbelievably strong and powerful that it has been crystallized into this shining diamond of truth.

Using our imaginations again, I believe that if we could place this John 3:16 text on one side of some vast eternal scale held in space by some holy one to measure its value to mankind, it would prove to be more precious than all of the books that have ever been written by men.

I worship You today, Lord, for the truth of John 3:16, a precious nugget that expresses Your saving grace. Amen.

Todays service was introduced by Mossy and Vincent gave the message on Luke 10:39-42 “Do you listen?

You are my strength (All in All) MP1019
King Of Kings Majesty MP1000
Thine Be The Glory MP689
O For A Thousand Tongues MP496

Psalms 99:8-9 (NIV)
Psalms 100:1-5 (NIV)

I want to worship the Lord with all of my heart MP304
Thank You For The Cross Lord MP 1109
What A Friend I’ve Found
O happy day (Doddridge) MP499
Happy Day (Jesus is alive)

Before The Throne Of God Above MP975
Jesus Christ (Once again) MP995

Sermon on Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) - download recording
Further Scripture References:
Matthew 14:12-14 (NIV)
1 Samuel 3:9 (NIV)
Psalms 46:10 (NIV)
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
John 8:28 (NIV)
Philippians 2:6-7 (NIV)
Luke 4:1 (NIV)
John 14:23 (NIV)

I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say MP275

“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the father, he hath declared him.” — John 1:18

I always note with a little chuckle the frustrations of the translators when they come to such passages [as John 1:18]. . . .

God’s Word is just too big for the translators. They come to this phrase in the Greek: The Son hath declared Him. In the English of the King James Version it is just declared. In other versions they skirt it, they go around it, they plunge through it. They use two or three words and then they come back to one. They do everything to try to say what the Holy Ghost said, but they have to give up. Our English just will not say it all.

When we have used up our words and synonyms, we still have not said all that God revealed when He said: Nobody has ever seen God, but when Jesus Christ came He showed us what God is like (paraphrase of John 1:18).

I suppose that our simple and everyday language is as good as any.

“He has revealed Him—He has shown us what God is like!”

He has declared Him. He has set Him forth. He has revealed Him. In these ways the translators shift their language trying to get at this wondrous miracle of meaning.

Lord, I am too limited to fully understand or express who You are. Fix my eyes on Jesus, that I might see you. Amen.

(by A.W.Tozer)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

Our Tuesday Night Bible Study lead to a discussion on the subject of the Trinity (or "the Tri-une God"). This reminded me of a very popular book that many Christians think would help understand this difficult topic but is very controversial. As we have learned in this Bible Study, the only valid revelation about God, apart from the Creation, comes from the Bible and the Son of God, our Lord Jesus, in particular. To think that other ideas, that are not derived from or deeply rooted in the Holy Scriptures might help in understanding a difficult topic is, to say the least, dangerous.

Recently, the book The Shack has been approaching sales of seven million copies. There is even talk about making the book into a movie. But while the novel breaks sales records (in Christian circles!), it also breaks with the traditional understanding of God and Christian theology. The issues and discussions around this book seem to be:

1. "Does a Christian book of fiction has to be doctrinally correct?"
2. "Do not the good points of the novel outweigh the bad?"
3. "Could not this book lay the foundation for seeking a growing relationship with God based in the Bible?"

If we look at Young’s doctrinal statements (direct or perceived), the question arises: How much error are we willing to tolerate? If the theology of Young is so different from our understanding of the foundational truths (see also our basic beliefs in our constitution), how can we expect to get a better understanding of one of those major foundations like the Trinity?

So what are the major fallacies in this book?

• Young’s view of revelation and the Bible
• his depiction of God, the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus
• how he describes Jesus’ death and the meaning of reconciliation
• the subversion of institutions that God has ordered, such as the government and the local church

In clear text, these are the major errors:

1. No eternal punishment for sin - basically, there is no hell
2. All are eventually being saved
3. An incomplete picture of the enormity of sin and evil; 
4. The subjugation of God’s justice to His love;
5. The institution of the Church is "diabolical".

The following are excerpts from a review published by James B. De Young about "The Shack" that demonstrate the deficiencies in Young’s theology. As already mentioned in one of our earlier articles, many others have pointed out the theological errors they find in the book.

"The common thread tying all the errors together is Christian universalism. A study of the history of universal reconciliation, which goes back to as early as the third century, shows that all of these doctrinal deviations, including opposition to the local church, are characteristic of universalism. In modern times, it has undermined evangelical faith in Europe and America. It has joined with Unitarianism to form the Unitarian-Universalist church.
Read on…

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” (Matt 6:20)

As Christians we look at everything differently. …

People of the world, for instance, hope for life, health, financial prosperity, international peace and a set of favourable circumstances. These are their resources—upon them they rest. They look to them as a child looks to its nursing mother.

Christians do not despise these temporal blessings, and if they come to them, they sanctify them by receiving them with prayers of … gratitude to God. But they know their everlasting welfare is not dependent upon them. These blessings may come or go, but true Christians abide in God where no evil can touch them and where they are rich beyond all the power of their minds to conceive—and this altogether apart from earthly circumstances. …

The world’s resources are good in their way, but they have this fatal defect—they arc uncertain and transitory. Today we have them, tomorrow they are gone. It is this way with all earthly things since sin came to upset the beautiful order of nature and made the human race victims of chance and change….

If the world’s foundations crumble we still have God, and in Him we have everything essential to our ransomed beings forever.

Thank You, Father, for the eternal treasure that can be mine when I serve You. Keep me from the lure of transitory treasure and focused on that which is eternal. Amen.

"Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Deut 31:6)

To many Christians Christ is little more than an idea, or at best an ideal; He is not a fact. Millions of professed believers talk as if He were real and act as if He were not. And always our actual position is to be discovered by the way we act, not by the way we talk. . . .

Many of us Christians have become extremely skillful in arranging our lives so as to admit the truth of Christianity without being embarrassed by its implications. We fix things so that we can get on well enough without divine aid, while at the same time ostensibly seeking it. We boast in the Lord but watch carefully that we never get caught depending on Him. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it" (Jer 17:9)?

Pseudo-faith always arranges a way out to serve in case God fails it. Real faith knows only one way and gladly allows itself to be stripped of any second ways or makeshift substitutes. For true faith, it is either God or total collapse. And not since Adam first stood up on the earth has God failed a single man or woman who trusted Him.

(By A.W.Tozer, †1963)

Thank You, Father, that my faith rests in an unfailing God. Help me remember that I don’t need a backup plan, "’just in case. "I rest in Your faithfulness today. Amen.

1 John 1:9 (NIV)
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Acts 5:30-32 (NIV)

I hear the Saviour say
Amazing Grace (My Chains are gone)

Psalms 103:1-22 (NIV)

When Peace Like A River (It Is Well) MP757
O God Of Burning Cleansing Flame MP1004
I will sing of my Redeemer
All Heaven Declares MP14
Praise is rising
What can wash away my sin?

John 1:29,34 (NIV)

Sermon by Tim on Galatians 1:11-24 (NIV)

I Love You Lord MP287
My Jesus I Love Thee MP894

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Ro 14:12)

What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at the last day. For each of us the time is surely coming when we shall have nothing but God. Health and wealth and friends and hiding places will all be swept away and we shall have only God. To the man of pseudo-faith that is a terrifying thought, but to real faith it is one of the most comforting thoughts the heart can entertain.

It would be a tragedy indeed to come to the place where we have no other but God and find that we had not been trusting God at all during the days of our earthly sojourn. It would be better to invite God now to remove every false trust, to disengage our hearts from all secret hiding places and to bring us out into the open where we can discover for ourselves whether or not we really trust Him. That is a harsh cure for our troubles, but it is a sure one. Gentler cures may be too weak to do the work. And time is running out on us.

(By A.W.Tozer, †1963)

Lord, may I indeed live this earthly sojourn in such a way that I have no fear or dread of standing before You, giving account of my life and having nothing but You. Amen.

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Luke 9:24)

A Christian poet of a bygone generation wrote a rather long hymn around a single idea: You can, by three little words, turn every common act of your life into an offering acceptable to God. The words are "For Thy sake.". . .

All this seems too simple to be true, but Scripture and experience agree to declare that it is indeed the way to sanctify the ordinary. "For Thy sake" will rescue the little, empty things from vanity and give them eternal meaning. The lowly paths of routine living will by these words be elevated to the level of a bright highway. The humdrum of our daily lives will take on the quality of a worship service and the thousand irksome duties we must perform will become offerings and sacrifices acceptable to God by Christ Jesus.

To God there are no small offerings if they are made in the name of His Son. Conversely, nothing appears great to Him that is given for any other reason than for Jesus’ sake. If we cannot die for Christ we can live for Him, and sometimes this is more heroic and will bring a larger reward.

"For Thy sake." These are the wondrous words which, when they are found in the heart as well as in the mouth, turn water into wine and every base metal into gold."

(by A.W.Tozer, †1963)

Lord, whatever seemingly small thing I am called on today, let me do it joyfully for your sake. Amen.

Sunday School

Firstly I want to say a big WELL DONE to all the children who are so quickly learning the Books of the Bible. By the time you read this hopefully everyone will be able to say all the way from Genesis to Job, that’s 18 books… we are just about half way through the Old Testament. Don’t forget keep practising.

We have settled back now into Sunday school and Bible class and numbers are always increasing. Please pray for the Sunday School teachers as they prepare each week and also as they teach. Kids … listen well … what you learn in Sunday School you will remember until you are old. Some of the older people in our church never got to go to Sunday school when they were kids and they wished they had so they could have heard all the amazing stories from the Bible and how much God loved them.

Friday Club
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Exodus 6:1 (NIV)
Jeremiah 24:7 (NIV)

I am not skilled to understand MP257
You never let go
Blessed Be Your Name MP1036

Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)

Mighty to Save (Everyone needs compassion)
Eternal God (Our Great God)
The splendor of the King (How great is our God)

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers

Psalms 32:1-5 (NIV)

Face Down

Galatians 1:11 -24 (NIV) “Freedom in Christ”

Amazing Grace (My Chains are gone)

About Uzbekistan (source: Wikipedia)

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country in Central Asia.  Less than 10% of its territory is intensively cultivated irrigated land in river valleys and oases.  The rest is vast desert and mountains.  Its capital is Tashkent.  Uzbekistan’s economy relies mainly on commodity production, including cotton, gold, uranium, and natural gas.  About 45% of the population of 27.7 million lives on less than US$1.25 per day.

Uzbekistan was incorporated into the Russian Empire in the 19th century and in 1924 became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union.  It has been an independent republic since December 1991. Uzbekistan has been heavily criticised by international organizations for arbitrary arrests, religious persecution, and torture employed by the government on a regional and national level. 

Islam is by far the dominant religion in Uzbekistan.

Persecution of Christians
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(by Afolabi)

The Making Of A Star!

There is no mystery about recovery; recovery is simply a result of discovery.  The Word says when you have found wisdom, there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be hindered (Pr 24:14). So, it is your discoveries that validate your expectations.
The Bible is not a religious book; it is the Creator’s manual for living.  God is the sole Creator of man.  We are His creatures, and the Bible is His manual (Isa 34:16).  The Word is a manual for maximized destiny (Jos 1:8).  Whatever is too big for your mind is too big for your hand.  As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Pr 23:7).  Until your mind is renewed by the Word of life, your life cannot be transformed in truth and in deed.
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Quiz Time!

This is the 6th month that we have put forward a Verse of the Month.  Yes, hard to believe isn’t it, but the first one came out in May 2009!  Who can remember any of them or why we have them?

Each month, the Lord has given us a verse that encapsulates a truth that He has been showing us.  This may have come either through our teachings, His work in our daily lives or it may be more prophetic.

The idea was to lay hold of these verses corporately, in our prayers, quiet times, daily devotions, etc.

Reviewing the ones we’ve had so far makes interesting reading:
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“My praise shall be continually of You” and “I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth”
(Ps 71:6b & Ps 34:1-2, NKJV).

What amazing words, so easy to read, so hard to do!

As I was recovering from my recent surgery and having experienced some days with bad headaches and a feeling of great weakness, the LORD God challenged me.  I was challenged to question whether I just praised God when I was feeling well and when life was going well, or did I praise HIM when I was in pain, weak, lonely, poor or going through the valley.

He challenged me to realise that He is the same God whether I am well and happy or when I am in pain - or whatever my circumstances might be.  He still is a good, loving and just God, He still loves me and is caring for me.  I was struck by the story of Job when he lost his family and then his health.  He said, “How can we accept all the good things that God gives us and not accept the problems?”

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:10)
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Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.  Conscience accuses no longer. Judgment now decides for the sinner instead of against him. Memory looks back upon past sins, with deep sorrow for the sin, but yet with no dread of any penalty to come; for Christ has paid the debt of his people to the last jot and tittle, and received the divine receipt; and unless God can be so unjust as to demand double payment for one debt, no soul for whom Jesus died as a substitute can ever be cast into hell.  It seems to be one of the very principles of our enlightened nature to believe that God is just; we feel that it must be so, and this gives us our terror at first; but is it not marvellous that this very same belief that God is just, becomes afterwards the pillar of our confidence and peace!

… so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Ro 3:26b)
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Jesus Lover Of My Soul (I Love You)

Matthew 7:13 (NIV)

Blessed Be Your Name MP1036
Jesus Is King MP366

Matthew 21:5-11 (NIV)

Hosanna (Hillsong)
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross MP755

Sermon by Dave Stephens on Revelation 2:1-7 (NIV)
"The thing that God wants most from His Church"