Meet the Christian Ministers

August 31, 2010 at 12:08 pm (Meet The Ministers)

                                        

                                     Rev. Bob. Smith

Bob is married to Sally and they have four children and three grandchildren. Bob has served at Wessex for over thirty years, initially with the youth and children’s ministry and over twenty years ago joined the Pastoral team and is currently the senior Pastor.

Bob has ministered in and around Basingstoke and as far away as the USA and Malaysia. He has a passion to build God’s Kingdom in the town and works alongside other ministers in this mission.

He enjoys family life, his Harley Davidson and scuba diving. He doesn’t support a football team but works out at the gymnasium and plays squash to keep his aging body fit!

The Wessex Mission is to be a loving, vibrant church where God’s presence and power is active, bringing glory to God through worship, the preaching of His Word and in reaching out to the community.

A fellowship by faith, believing for numerical and spiritual growth as we serve God and work together to our full potential.

                                

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Messages of Note

August 31, 2010 at 12:01 pm (Messages of Note)

                                   

                                 Rev. Doug Williams

FINDING CHRIST IN THE CRISIS!

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne’….Is 6:1

Uzziah (also called Azariah) had reigned from 792 to 740 BC and in the main had been a godly and powerful king. He was however struck with leprosy when he attempted to burn incense in the temple (2 Ch 26:16-21), and he remained disease-ridden until his death. Power doesn’t allow us to circumvent accountability. Such moments of transition can lead to vulnerability, divisions and crisis. But God gave Isaiah something else to look at that diverted his eyes away from the national concern. Whilst an earthly throne shook, a heavenly one was revealed as stable and sure!

We should never forget this as leaders responsible to care for the flock of Christ. In every crisis, we, and they can have a fresh vision of the Christ! When life around us is far from good, we can get a fresh glimpse at the goodness of God.  I have sat with individuals and families whose homes have been plundered by thieves, their daughters raped, their sons sent to jail, their spouses announce the terms of a divorce, or a loved teenager confesses an abortion or secret drug habit.  You can see in their eyes and hear in their tone of voice a sentiment that says, ‘everything around me is dying….what next? What now?’

Isaiah said  …’I saw the Lord’. It was an encounter that changed him (before it changed the circumstances around him).  He saw God. He was surrounded by the presence of the holy one, and all the angelic resources of heaven. The experience was as humbling as it was empowering, but it gave him the courage to say  …’here am I Lord send me!’

I pray that today like Isaiah you will see Christ in the midst of your crisis as well….

                                

 

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Messages by Rick Warren

August 31, 2010 at 11:56 am (Messages By Rick Warren)

                               

                               Rev. Rick Warren

THE CURE FOR PROCRASTINATION 

“There is nothing I cannot master with the help of Christ who gives me strength.”  Phil 4:13 (JB)

The Bible gives us five actions we can take to stop procrastinating.

1.  Stop making excuses The lazy man is full of excuses.” (Proverbs 22:13 LB)
What have you been saying you’re going to do — one of these days? What do you make excuses about? The number one excuse I hear is, “When things settle down, then I’m going to ….”  Things will never settle down. You must make a choice to priorities what is important.

2.  Start today — Not next month, next week, or tomorrow. “Never boast about tomorrow.  You don’t know what will happen between now and then.” (Proverbs 21:1 GNT) None of us is guaranteed a tomorrow.

Don’t ask, “What do I feel like doing?” Instead ask, “What does God want me to do?”

I want you to write down three things you know God wants you to do, one item each these three areas: your family, your personal life, and your career. Choose one of those three and decide to start today. Even if you can only work on your goal fifteen minutes a day, do it – you’ll feel so much better!

3.  Establish a planned schedule — Proverbs 13:16 says, “A wise man plans ahead. A fool doesn’t.” (LB) If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. You need to designate some specific time slots each week for the things you need to do.  Whatever it is, put it on your calendar. And if it’s a big task, break it down into small pieces. Break it into bite sized pieces.

4.  Face your fears — We hate to admit we have fears because we think they’re a sign of weakness.  But fear is a sign of humanity.  Only fools are not afraid. You’ve heard it said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s moving ahead in spite of our fears.”

The Bible says here is nothing you cannot master with the help of Christ who gives you strength.

5.  Focus on what you gain, not the pain — There are very few things in life that are easy.  You must push through the frustration and look at the gain beyond the pain. Concentrate on how good you’re going to feel once you’ve finished the task.

Galatians 6:9 says, “So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we reap a harvest.” (NLT)

Don’t ask, “What do I feel like doing?” Instead ask, “What does God want me to do?”

Jesus never said life would be easy.  There will be sacrifice and commitment.  But there is tremendous reward when we do the things he calls us to do.

                               

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Focus

August 31, 2010 at 11:52 am (Focus)

                                  

                              Rev. E. Anderson

A QUESTION OF TRUST

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.They are brought to their knees and fall but we rise up and stand  firm” – Psalm 20:7-8.

It is so difficult to trust in the right thing. We see people; we want to trust them. We see the stock market; we want to trust it. We see money; we want to trust it.

We desperately want to trust something tangible because we are visual beings.

It’s very difficult for us to trust someone or something we can’t see. But as believers, that’s exactly what we’re called to do. If we trust in people, in the stock market, in money, or, as these verses state, in chariots and horses, we do so at our own risk. We’re only safe when we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Understanding that God is the only One in whom we can safely put our trust has both long-term and immediate implications. Long-term, we can rest in the knowledge that although we cannot see Jesus now, we have the hope that we will see Him in heaven someday. But the psalmist isn’t talking about that; he’s talking about today. He’s looking over the hill at an army with state-of-the-art chariots and well-trained horses. Humanly speaking, there’s no doubt who’s going to win the battle.   But the psalmist doesn’t trust in human strength; he truts in God.And as a result, he is able to say with confidence that his enemies will be brought to their knees, and he will stand firm.

On whom do a: rely for our promotions – our bosses or God? On whom do we depend for our paychecks |-|our companies or God? Who decides whether the big deal goes through – the decision-maker or God? Who vindicates us when we’ve been wronged – our lawyers or God?

When we’re preparing for a big meeting, when we have to make an important decision, or when we’re waiting for someone to call us with the big news, we can anxiously pace around the room, or we can take our concerns to Jesus. After all, He’s the One Who’s ultimately in control of what’s going on.

                               

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Time for a Laugh

August 31, 2010 at 11:47 am (Time to Laugh)

                                               

                          Rev. E. Anderson

MOTHER’S GREAT COUNSEL

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished
cleaning.”

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of
next week!”

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
” Because I said so, that’s why.”

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going
to the store with me.”

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident..”

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about..”

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper..”

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM..
“Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA ..
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
“This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE..
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out..”

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .
“Stop acting like your father!”

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
“There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t
have wonderful parents like you do.”

16.. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
“Just wait until we get home.”

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
“You are going to get it when you get home!”

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
“If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck
that way.”

19. My mother taught me ESP.
“Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
“When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
“If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
“You’re just like your father.”

23.. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
“Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?”

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
“When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”

And a favourite:

25.. My mother taught me about JUSTICE .
“One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!”

                              

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Powerful Quotes

August 31, 2010 at 11:43 am (Quotes)

                                  

                            Rev. L. Goodwin

THEOLOGY & DOCTRINE QUOTES

“A good reply to an atheist is to give him an excellent dinner & then ask him if he believes there is a cook” –  Anon

“An atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman” –  Anon

                                  “An atheist is a man who believes himself an accident” – Francis Thompson (1859-1907)

“Every effort to prove there is no God is in itself an effort to reach for God” – Charles Edward Locke

“Few men are so obstinate in their atheism that a pressing danger will not compel them to the acknowledgement of a divine power” – Plato (428-348 B.C.)

“I am an atheist, thank God!”- Anon

“I was . . . living, like so many atheists or antitheists, in a whirl of contradictions. I maintained that God did not exist. I was also very angry with God for not existing. I was equally angry with him for creating a world”  – C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

“The trouble with atheism is that it has no future” – Anon

                                

 

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Wisdom’s Ways

August 31, 2010 at 10:37 am (Wisdom's Ways)

                                    

                                Rev. A. Linford

Rev. A. Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate.

PRIDE SHUTS EYES AND CLOSES EARS

”Before honour is humility” Proverbs 18: 12,13

Pride, that is, inordinate self-esteem, manifests itself in many ways.  Here we see it from two aspects.

Head in air: A children’s book called ”Strewellpeter” was a companion of my childhood. One of its characters was ”Johnny Head-in-air”, whose eyes were always directed upward and nose tilted toward the sky. He walked off the end of the pier and was drowned. The moral – true for infant or adult – is that pride goes before a fall. A proud man has an unreal estimation of his own gifts and graces, but the thorn of reality pricks his bubble of self-love and leaves him empty. A proud man has over-eager expectations, assuming that the world owes him a living, but the law of the human jungle destroys his specious optimism, leaving him a cynical wretch. His eyes are lofty – he stumbles over life’s boulders and is bruised and crestfallen. But the humble man, conscious of his own abilities and limitations, accepts life, seeks to improve it and toils to lift himself and others. It is in the valley where waters flow, where verdant pastures feed the flock and people prefer to dwell. So God loves the lowly in heart, and honours them with His presence and His blessings.

Ears in muffs: A proud man has ears only for his own voice and opinions; he loves to listen to himself. He breaks in upon the speech of his fellow, and is hasty to answer an argument he has not fully heard: he is a fool. Who can judge from an incomplete sentence? Who can understand a cause that is only half-expressed? But pride butts in where wise men are prepared to wait. We should always give our partners or our opponents’ time to explain themselves, for who can judge a case that is incompletely stated? But a proud man, carried away with his own emotions, conscious only of his own viewpoint, breaks into conversation like ”a bull in a china-shop”, shattering all hope of reasoned conclusions and causing confusion and shame. Listen to your neighbour’, at least you owe him fair consideration.

PRAYER:

Help me to be slow to speak, O Lord, that wrath may be allayed.

                                

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Sermons Starters

August 31, 2010 at 10:33 am (Sermon Starters)

                                       

                                  Rev. E. Anderson

This is a simple outline for you to think about and meditate on. The introduction, main thoughts and conclusion need further material to be added. It is an outline for you to expand, develop more fully and fill in to spiritual profit and inspiration.

THE SUPREME PLEASURES OF LIFE

Reading   John 8

Text        v29

Introduction

In life, one of the main things that motivates our inward being is the great desire to discover real pleasure and satisfaction. All kind of things are pursued in order that the find rich fulfilment and delight. Much is indulged in with the hope that such will provide much pleasure.

It must be realised and understood that is the most ultimate and satisfying factor is to be  sensed in a wholesome connection with God.

1/. TO KNOW A RICH UNION AND COMMUNION WITH GOD AND TO MAINTAIN IT CONSISTENTLY

To those who really know God and have entered into a close and dynamic  accord with Him will taste indescribable   pleasure of and from Himself. He is truly good to know in a very loving and intimate manner and company. The greater the fellowship the greater the pleasure.

2/. TO ADOPT AND APPLY THE PRINCIPLE OF FAITH AND SEE IT CONTINUALLY DEVELOPED

Divine faith is a needful commodity inlife that as it is exercised brings pleasurable results.God desires that this dynamic factoris resident and president it produces untold blessinngs – see Hebrews 11. Note asin the case of Abraham.

3/. TO LIVE A HOLY AND SANCTIFIED LIFE THAT ACCORDS WITH HIS STANDARDS

It must be realised that to be and live holy is not a miserable affair and existence. To be holy means to be made whole and to live a whole and complete life. Holiness does not sell anyone short but offers a full, genuine, and expanding life in and through God. There is no rubbish in the person who is such.

4/. TO ENTERTAIN A GENUINE LOVE OF HIS WORD AND THE DIVINE REVELATION THAT IT GIVES ON ALL ISSUES

When God’s Word is feasted on and it is vitally quickened to mind and heart it conveys supreme pleasure. In hungering for and tasting the richness of divine truth especially when there is choice disclosure, how special it is and what a pleasure. The two on the Emmaus thoroughly enjoyed the time of spiritual edification that came through Christ’s scriptural exposition.

The Word of God is our chart and compass for life giving the pleasure of true and sure direction. It is satisfying to know you are on the right track. A common saying informer days was, ‘He who is slave to the compass enjoys the freedom of the open sea’.

5/. TO POSSESS AND EXPRESS A REAL AFFECTION FOR THE OTHER CREATURES GOD HAS CREATED

Immense delight should be discovered in relating to other people, especially those in the household of God. There is something joyous  in being to serve others with a good heart and spirit and witness its delightful impact on others as in case of Dorcas – Acts 9: When we serve with good will we not only have the immediate thrill, there is the happy experience of seeing the long term effects.

6/. TO WORK AND SERVE IN A HUMBLE, HONEST AND EARNEST MOTIVATION OF BEING

Life was given to be enjoyed in happy industry and employment but it is imperative that the inward motive be sweet, sound and perfect if real pleasure is to be found and known in doing. If that is wrong then there is no personal benefit or pleasure. It is sad of Christ, “I delight to do your will O God” – Hebrews 10: In serving in a humble, honest and earnest fashion He thoroughly enjoyed living and serving.

7/. TO SEEK SUPREMELY HIS HONOUR AND GLORY AT ALL TIMES

It should be a pleasure to please Him and to give Him pleasure. Being free from selfishness and being imbued supremely to bring glory to God is a great additive to the pleasure of life. A person has everything right when they possess and pursue with a single eye the glory of God in all things and at all times.

CONCLUSION

It is God’s wish and will that we should know and enjoy a pleasurable life. He would not have it otherwise.

                                    

 

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Points to Ponder

August 31, 2010 at 10:27 am (Points to Ponder)

                                   

                             Rev. E. Anderson

TRUE LOVE

TRUE LOVE is a splendid host.

There is love whose measure is that of an umbrella. There is love whose inclusiveness is that of a great marquee. And there is love whose comprehension Is that of the immeasurable skY. The aim of the New Testament is the conversion of the umbrella into a tent and the merging of the tent into the glorious canopy of the all-enfolding heavens . . . Push back the walls of family love until they include the neighbour; again push back the wails until they include the stranger; again push back the walls until they comprehend the foe.

John Henry Jowett  

                                  

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Illustrations that Light up Life

August 31, 2010 at 10:23 am (Illustrations)

                                     

                              Rev. E. Anderson

NOT JUST THE MINIMUM

‘…don’t just do the minimum that will get you by..’ 1 Colossians 3:23TM

One of Michelangelo’s greatest masterpieces was his sculpture of David. He worked on it with such passion that he often slept in his clothes, resenting the time it took to take them of and put them on again. He repeatedly examined and measured the marble to see what pose it could accommodate. He made hundreds of sketches of possible attitudes, and detailed drawings from models, He tested his ideas in wax on a small scale, and only when he was satisfied did he pick up his chisel and mallet. He approached the painting of the Sistine Chapel with the same intensity. Lying at uncomfortable angles on hard boards, breathing the suffocating air just under the vault, he suffered from inflamed eyes and skin irritation from the plaster dust. For the next four years he literally sweated in physical distress; but look at what he produced !

Dr Martin Luther King Jr said, ‘If a man is called to be a street sweeper he should sweep streets as Michael Angelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause and say, ”Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well’.. If you’re not passionate about what you do, find something you can be passionate about! Don’t just strive to make money, strive to make a difference. Significance should be your goal, not survival. Paul gives us the ultimate reason for always giving our best: ‘…Don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best.. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ’ vv. 23-24 TM.

                                  

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