Sunday 7th Feb, Ammanford Evangelical Church will be holding a special evening to help raise money for the Haiti relief. An evening of talent, promise auctions and my personal favorite…cakes! So if you are in the area why not come. Tickets cost £2 or £3 on the night.
My friend, pastor and boss Jon Thomas alerted my attention to this video. It is advertising Josh Harris’ new book, but I really like the video.
So if you want to know about how Relay/church work is going then here is your opportunity. Here is my most up to date prayer letter. JanPrayer1
Enjoy.
So this video caught my eye this morning. The main theme is God’s mercy. We spend a lot of time looking at grace, but maybe we neglect what it means for God to be merciful. Well, if we think about what our sin deserves (The wages of sin is death) and how God reacts (sends his Son) mercy is clear for all to see.
It has been helpful to watch this video after doing bible studies from Isaiah 1 t0 6 on Relay 2. It reminds me of that situation a lot. God gives them everything they need and they only want to trust the seen things of this world and in simple terms they wanted to please themselves (remind you of anything?). God sends judgement on them but he is still merciful. For a start he saves and transforms Isaiah. He then sends Isaiah with a message of truth. And we know that he foretold Jesus. When we think of wonderful grace I think it is helpful if mercy aint too far away.
Enjoy the video
Now some of you may know I am a Relay worker with UCCF. Some people know lots about what I do, some know less. Some know lots about UCCF and some say they know a lot about UCCF. Well here is an opportunity to see how the movement started, and what it is about. Sit back, watch and enjoy.
I can say that it is a real privilege to be part of this movement and to join with Christians to share this message of Jesus. Amen.
I don’t know about you but I have been deeply challenged by what has happened in Haiti and by the response of many people. If you would like to give then I would like to recomend a charity in which it would be good to give to. They are called Tearfund, and they are a Christian charity.
“At Tearfund, what drives us is a belief that the local church is the answer to poverty. Inspired by the example and teaching of Jesus, we recognise that people have deeply interconnected material and spiritual needs, and we seek to meet those needs by working through our local church partners. Churches are at the heart of their communities – full of dedicated, resourceful people who want to make a long-term difference.”
Tearfund is dispatching emergency aid funds to help survivors of the earthquake that has shattered impoverished Haiti. Thousands of people are missing, feared dead.
If you would like to donate then click here to go to the webpage and have a look at them for yourself.
I think it would be fair to say that the tragic events to have taken place in Haiti have captured a mood of action across the globe. The fundraising has been found in record time, and to happen in a period of global financial hardship portrays a picture of the affects that Haiti has had on the world. I have been deeply moved by the acts of many many people.
In church today we had a special collection for Haiti and I was blown away by the generosity of my brothers and sisters. I have also been encouraged by the action of the church and of Christians in wanting to give. We will be holding, as a church, a special fundraising evening with a talent show and promise auction, in order to raise more funds.
This has come after returning from Relay 2, where I was challenged by the role of the church in issues of justice. We should care for the poor, for the weak, for the needy. The gospel is more than words, not less, but always more. Our life as Christians should live out this wonderful gospel, not to impress people but because we have a genuine burden.
I loved it. That’s all you need to know…
…Unless you want to know more. Then you have two choices. 1] Ask me. 2] Ask another Relay Worker.
I shall tell you one thing that really challenged me. Isaiah 6. Especially from v9 to 13. It challenged me as to how I respond to God and his promises. Do I listen to him or do I harden my heart? I must trust God, trust in his work and his grace. When Isaiah’s sins were atoned for he was changed completely. What am I? Am I changed? Am I walking in the light of the Lord? Or am I trusting myself, following my desires?
The warnings we must take from Isaiah 1 to 6 must be that we are just as sinful and we must trust God and not continue to trust ourselves.
So I have been doing youth work now for a year and a half now and I am far from being any good. But I do hope I am learning from my mistakes and I am still excited about reaching young people with the gospel. This last month has led me to rethink why I do youth work, and why any church should want to. I think if we are honest our answer will be something along the lines of, “we have always had a youth group.” It might be worded better but we tend to have youth groups in our churches because we cannot remember a time when we didn’t.
Well I have been doing a lot of reading and praying about youth ministry and I have worked it out. I now know the answer. The mystery has been revealed. I do youth work because…
…I want to glorify Christ.
Now this is not amazingly profound and infact you could accuse me of using Christian ‘jargon.’ But that is my, our, the church’s mission. Not just in youth work but in every aspect of life. If we fail to glorify Christ in what we are doing then we need to change what we are doing.
With regards to youth work I could be reaching kids with the gospel in a way that does not glorify Christ. So while reaching youngsters with the gospel is vital, it cannot be the primary reason as I can dishonor Christ. So our primary aim mut always be to glorify Christ.
I also think that great youth work stems from a great walk with Christ. If we as youth leaders are not living to glorify Christ then I imagine our ministry will fail also. I think Paul was helpful when he wrote 1 Thessalonians 2:8and9.
“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.”
Enjoy this video on how not to do youth work…
So we are going through Esther in church and it has been great so far. I rarely like to speak well of JT but I have to say that he has been great in this series. It has been really helpful but also refreshing to look at the book without the familiar sentimental feeling towards the characters in the book. Jon desribes it as living in the grey. living for the things that are seen rather than the things that aren’t seen, i.e Yahweh.
I think that the sermons are worth a listen and you can do that by clicking here
This headline grabbed my attention on the BBC Sport web page. It’s about the Scottish rugby player, Euan Murray who is a born again Christian. I read some articles about Murray during the British and Irish lions tour, about his faith, and even wrote a blog on the guy. I was encouraged by his openness about what it meant to be a Christian. I found this article interesting as Murray has decided that from now on he wont be playing any rugby on a Sunday, either for club or country.
There must be a massive temptation, especially in pro rugby, to play on a Sunday as there is a risk of him being dropped for players who will play all the time. But he has openly but God before the game, which is something we don’t see much of today. Good on ya Euan.
You can read the article here
Today I was reading Psalm 51 today and it was really striking. When I think of repentance I think of just when I sin, or when I sin big creating a need for me to turn to God for forgiveness. While repentance is that, it’s much more. It is turning to God completely as you are. This Psalm is so helpful for understanding this. Read it, note it. We must make sure the heart is well.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
In 2 hours and 9 minutes I am off to the quirky Quinta centre for some team time with Welsh UCCF (also known as IFES Cymru in some circles). This is an extra special team day as it’s a Christmas team day, which brings its own special scent of excitement. Presents, novelty hats and of course some sort of dead poultry cooked in a team way for team bonding – lovely.
Of course this is just an element of team day. It should be a profitable occasion, with teaching from Jason Clark on evangelistic talks, and time to encourage one another in the work we do. I look forward to honest times of sharing and prayer that these team meetings bring and continuing to build the friendships up.
You heard it here, bring on the exhausting and uncivilised journey, and may I add time of journey, to Quinta. Techniquley in England, but I have been telling everyone I am going to North Wales…oops
I love this ‘Christmas’ song, written by Graham Kendrick, hope you do too.
I was talking to Donner last night. She told me a storm was coming. I told her not to worry, its not going to rain dear! I’m sorry for that appalling joke, and I used it last night during the CU Carol Concert, just before I told my story of how I became a Christian. More people laughed than I expected but it is indeed a terrible joke. But I love Christmas and it is now officially December. Tomorrow the Christmas lights turn on in Ammanford, possibly the biggest event of the year in Ammanford, and I am excited.
Another really exciting thing that has happened is a realese of a new Christmas albumn by Mars Hill where they have produced some traditional carols without, in my opinion, the really boring and dull traditional style. If you have time have a look.
Brilliant little video retelling christmas story in poem, produced by UCCF…
Last weekend I was away at the UCCF biblical evangelism conference. It was great for many reasons, not least the teaching sessions on the Bible.
I feel that this is one of the most neglected and under fire aspects of Christianity today. Is the Bible really trustworthy? Can we be sure the 66 books in it are from God? Are any of them from God? Even if they were, surely the original content has been corrupted? Should we take it literally? How far are they God’s words? 
Read more »
I am listening to the latest Driscoll sermon series on generosity, looking at 2 Corinthians and their example. Now money is an important subject at the moment when we consider the current economical situation; property level is low, unemployment is high and belts are being tightened. And now Christmas is here and people will want to spend, spend, spend and money is not there to be spent.
We see in the bible that those who are most generous are the those with the least to give. We don’t see examples of the rich folks giving all they have in the bible, no it is these people that spiritually seem to be in trouble. It is the poor woman who gives pennies, the Macedonian Church whom have little but have real joy. So why? Why are the poor most generous?
Well one of the reasons can be as simple as this. Who is your God? Is it money? If it is your God has died, and as Driscoll says, “your God has died and is showing no sign of resurection any time soon.” I think we make money our idol, into our god but that is dangerous ground. Our God is better and bigger than money and we need to look to this God. Joy is found in his precious arms, his presence is our greatest need and should be our real desire. We must start worshiping him, turn away from our idols and repent.
 | terry on Haiti |
 | Rebecca on Relay 2 |
 | fizz on drogba_dive |
 | gruff on Psalm 51 |
 | jamiehurd on Murray sits out Sunday for… |
