points to ponder

May 31, 2013 at 7:43 am (Points to Ponder)

ernest reading pose

Rev. E. Anderson

JUST THE SITE!

London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash all over the place. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, he took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. The buyer said, “Forget about the repairs. When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building; I want the site.”

That’s God’s message to us! Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God’s the old life is over. He makes all things new. All He wants is the site and the permission to build. There are still some trying to “reform,” but God offers “redemption.” All we have to do is give Him the “property” and he will do the necessary “building.”

 PICT0009

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past illustriouis men and ministries

May 31, 2013 at 7:40 am (Illustrious Men/Ministries)

Adamclarke

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke (1760 or 1762–1832) was a British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar. He was born in the townland of Moybeg Kirley near Tobermore in Ireland.

COMMENTARY

He is chiefly remembered for writing a commentary on the Bible which took him 40 years to complete and which was a primary Methodist theological resource for two centuries.

That commentary, published as: “The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The text carefully printed from the most correct copies of the present Authorized Version. Including the marginal readings and parallel texts. With a Commentary and Critical Notes. Designed as a help to a better understanding of the sacred writings. By Adam Clarke, LL.D. F.S.A. M.R.I.A. With a complete alphabetical index. Royal Octavo Stereotype Edition.” [In six volumes of approximately 1,000 pages each] “New York, Published by J. Emory and B. Waugh, for the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the conference office, 13 Crosby-Street. J. Collord, Printer. 1831.”, may be the most comprehensive commentary on the Bible ever prepared by one man. By himself he produced nearly half as much material as the scores of scholars who collaborated on the twelve-volume The Interpreters’ Bible. His commentary, particularly that on Revelation, identified the Catholic Church with the antichrist and bordered on antisemitic, as illustrated by the following quote:

“The Jewish philosophy, such as is found the Cabala, Midrashim, and other works, deserves the character of vain deceit, in the fullest sense and meaning of the words. The inspired writers excepted, the Jews have ever been the most puerile, absurd, and ridiculous reasoners in the world. Even Rabbi Maimon or Maimonides, the most intelligent of them all, is often, in his master-piece, the Moreh Neochim, the teacher of the perplexed, most deplorably empty and vain.” A.C. 1831 VI p. 486

THEOLOGIAN

As a theologian, Clarke reinforced the teachings of Methodist founder John Wesley. He taught that the Bible provides a complete interpretation of God’s nature and will. He considered Scripture itself a miracle of God’s grace that “takes away the veil of darkness and ignorance.”  With such an understanding, Clarke was first and foremost a biblical theologian, often uneasy with purely systematic approaches to theology.

Clarke followed Wesley in opposing a Calvinistic scheme of salvation, preferring instead the Wesleyan-Arminian positions regarding predestination, prevenient grace, the offer of justification to all persons, the possibility of entire sanctification, and assurance of salvation.

Perhaps his most controversial position regarded the eternal Sonship of Jesus. Clarke did not believe it biblically faithful to affirm this doctrine, maintaining that prior to the Incarnation, Jesus was “un-originated.” Otherwise, according to Clarke, he would be subordinate to God and therefore not fully divine. This was important to Clarke because he felt that Jesus’ divinity was crucial to understanding the atonement.

Clarke’s view was opposed by many Methodists, notably Richard Watson. Watson and his allies argued that Clarke’s position jeopardized the integrity of the doctrine of the Trinity. Clarke’s Christological view was rejected in large part by Methodist theologians in favour of the traditional perspective.

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news and views

May 31, 2013 at 7:13 am (News and Views)

madara sniedzina, Alex, elisabeth

Madara Sniedzina

FUN IN THE SUNDAY!

A CONGREGATION that invites friends to church for breakfast and : children’s games – followed by a snappy family service – has seen at­tendance rocket by 45 per cent.

Funday Sunday takes place at St Jude’s Church in Southsea every two months. Worshippers imite families to a fun morning that includes great coffee, bacon sandwiches, and the chance to catch up \\ith the Sunday papers. Children can have their faces painted or their nails varnished, play Wii games and table football.

Families then enjoy comedy sketches, messy challenges and lively-songs during a quickfire, 45-minute presentation about an aspect of the day by texting the leaders, and those responses appear on the big screens during the morning.

The usual 200-strong congrega­tion can swell to 350 for Funday Sunday.

Rev Mike Duff said: “This was part of the vision we had to open up what we do at St Jude’s to those who wouldn’t normally come. Each time I see dozens of new faces, and we also hear how much people have enjoyed their time with us.”

Madara Sniedzina, who originally comes from Latvia, attends with her children, Alex and Elizabeth.

She said: “I like Funday Sunday ; because it explains things and makes  everything better and everyone feel better.

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minute message

May 30, 2013 at 8:46 am (Minute Message)

ernest reading pose

Rev. E. Anderson

THREE RULES FOR LIVING

Taken from the Word for Today

To succeed in life you must do these three things:

1) DECIDE WHAT’S IMPORTANT. The story’s told of a family who moved to the country to get away from the city. They decided to raise cattle so they bought a ranch. One day a friend visited them and asked what they’d named it. Dad said, ‘I wanted to call it The Flying-W, but Mom wanted to call it The Suzy-Q. One of our sons liked The Bar-J, but our daughter preferred The Lazy-Y. So we compromised and called it The Flying-W, Suzy-Q, Bar-J, Lazy-Y Ranch.’ The friend asked, ‘How are your cattle doing?’ Dad replied, ‘We don’t have any. They didn’t survive the branding.’ Come on, decide what’s important to you!

2) PRIORITISE YOUR TIME. Too many of us are like the store owner who got so busy trying to keep the place clean that he forgot to open the front door. The reason you’re in business is to serve customers and make a profit, not get distracted by secondary things. Base your life’s decisions on your priorities. And if you need help figuring out what they are, ask God: ‘For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.’

3) LEARN TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF. Most times, nobody else will. When tragedy struck his life, we read: ‘David encouraged himself in the Lord…’ (1 Samuel 30:6). You need to learn how to do that too. Jude writes: ‘…building up yourselves…praying in the Holy Ghost’ (Jude v. 20). To succeed in life you must learn to encourage yourself, pray and build yourself up.

sparrowhawk

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message by rick warren

May 30, 2013 at 8:43 am (Messages By Rick Warren)

rick warren

Rev. Rick Warren

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE: THE BATTLE OF THE BLANKETS

“For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.” (Proverbs 5:23 NIV)

How have you been doing with your quiet time? If you’re like most people, you struggle with making time for a quiet time. That’s normal. As soon as you start trying to build the habit of a quiet time into your life, you’ll encounter all kinds of roadblocks. Satan will fight you to keep you from meeting with the Lord daily. In fact, there are four very common roadblocks to having a consistent quiet time. Over the next few devotionals, I’ll share with you a different roadblock each day and a few ways you can overcome the roadblock.

By far, the most common roadblock that Satan puts in our way is the problem of discipline. I call this the battle of the blankets! To win the battle of the blankets, you have to get out of bed in the morning even though you’re tired. That’s not easy! The devil will exaggerate how tired you are. This lack of discipline can have disastrous effects. The Bible says in Proverbs, “For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly” (Proverbs 5:23 NIV). To overcome the battle of the blankets:

Get up immediately! The battle is won or lost in the first few minutes.

Be aware of time robbers. For you, these could be surfing the Web or watching TV — whatever you’re doing instead of your quiet time.

Go to bed with Scripture on your mind. Read a piece of Scripture you read in the morning so that you go to bed and wake up with God’s Word on your mind.

You can do this! Tomorrow morning you can win the battle of the blankets!

TALK ABOUT IT 

  • Consider ways to keep Scripture on your mind, like writing verses on an index card and taping it to your bathroom mirror.

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message of note

May 30, 2013 at 8:39 am (Messages of Note)

JohnPartington

Rev. John Partington

LAST WORDS

It has often been said that the last words spoken by someone before they leave this world are recognised as the most important; being significant, strategic and often filled with sentiment.

In His final address to His disciples before leaving planet earth, Jesus instructed the followers to: “Go into the world and preach the Gospel.” The young disciples were given the Kingdom mandate, given significant, strategic and words not just filled with sentiment but filled with intent.

Jesus did not come just to make those within the walls of church more comfortable – He came set an example of missional living and show the way! Jesus exemplified a harvest mindset that looked for quality and quantity that was recorded within the pages of the book of Acts.

Frank Damazio highlights the six practical steps that help us maintain the harvest mindset;

1. Possess it – you must contend for it, as its not what you confess, but what you possess that counts.
2. Pray it – make it a daily art of your prayer life, ask God to stir you in evangelism.
3. Discuss it – it’s been said that you get what you preach for, take time to discuss evangelism / mission in every meeting.
4. Encourage it – people need constant encouragement, especially when it comes to evangelism and mission.
5. Assist it – get involved whenever your church is hosting some form of outreach.
6. Model it – Jesus led by example and we should do likewise.

Looking forward to hearing of evangelism explosions across our nation and people being saved!

 moumtainbluebird

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meet the christian ministers

May 29, 2013 at 6:57 am (Meet The Ministers)

winfieldpriceand mary

Rev. Winfield  and Mary Price

Hillingdon Pentecostal church is a growing congregation of all ages and nationalities. We are a charismatic church engaged in weekly systematic Bible teaching, study, prayer and communion.

ABOUT US

Hillingdon Pentecostal church is a growing congregation of all ages and nationalities. We are a charismatic church engaged in weekly systematic Bible teaching, study, prayer and communion.

We are affiliated to the Assemblies of God and the Evangelical Alliance.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to be the body of Christ locally and universally reaching out to whom and wherever He directs.

We endeavour to build each other up in the most holy faith so that each part of the body reaches its full potential to become effective in establishing His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. 

OUR STATEMENT OF BELIEF

We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. We believe in the unity of the One True and Living God who is the Eternal Self-Existent “I AM”, who has also revealed Himself

As One being in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe in salvation through faith in Christ, who died for our sins, was buried and was raised from among the dead on the third day according to Scriptures, and through His blood we have redemption.

 We believe in holiness of life and conduct in obedience to the command of God. We believe in deliverance from sickness by divine healing.

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, and the everlasting bliss of all who truly believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.

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living devotions

May 29, 2013 at 6:53 am (Living Devotions)

ernest reading pose

Rev. E. Anderson

INACTION CAN BE SIN

Senior Living Ministries

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” – James 4: 17

Have you ever been in a situation and known the right thing to do, but just didn’t do it? If so, you’re not alone! Most of us can probably relate to this scenario.

The Scriptures clearly show us what actions are sin. But how do we know when inaction becomes a sin? Well as believers, we all know the difference between right and wrong. And it’s not enough to just avoid sinning. We are commanded to pursue righteousness and justice. You’ve heard the term “half-truth” before. Half-truths are telling the truth without telling the whole truth. Thus, you can omit certain information without actually lying. But this is precisely what James is talking about. Some people say that a half-truth is actually a half-lie. I think they’re on to something.

There are many times in our lives when we’re faced with difficult situations. But we do not have the luxury of burying our heads in the sand or looking the other way and pretending we don’t see what’s before us. Friend, you and I must do what is right, even when no one is looking, and even when it might cost us something!

PRAYER CHALLENGE

Ask God for courage to do what is right, even when it is difficult.

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leadership factors

May 29, 2013 at 6:48 am (Leadership Factors)

JACKIEWILLIAMS

Jackie Williams

GOVERNANCE

Yesterday, Jackie continued with the partnership series of teaching, highlighting the importance of governance. This is a word we don’t hear mentioned often, but it is centrally important to building a strong, healthy church which is honouring to God and vital to the growth and development of those within it.

We know that Jesus is passionate about His church and, from the beginning of creation, in the garden of Eden God acknowledged that it was not good for man to be alone. We are fashioned for fellowship and family.

Leadership can appear to carry prestige and status, a raised profile or reputation and even an opportunity to exercise power and control. Many aspire to reach it’s dizzying heights, and yet, in reality, leadership is costly! It’s about building and serving. It’s a position that requires consistent character, credibility and integrity, both in public and in private. Leadership demands responsibility. It’s essential and where it functions well, there is growth, maturity, health and wholeness to be found.

Jackie identified the 6 key aspects of governance:

1/. VISION AND DIRECTION. Passion needs to be harnessed with purpose.

2/. ESTABLISHING IDENTITY. Every church is individual, and good governance enhances its character and flavour.

3/. STEWARDSHIP OF RESOURCES. Making wise decisions with, not just, our finances, but also with our best asset – that’s you!

4/. PASTORAL CARE. Ensuring that people are loved, cared for and cheered on.

5/. ACCOUNTABILITY. Being answerable and responsible to others allows church to function in safety and security. Its a two way street. Partners are accountable to leadership and leadership are accountable to partners.

6/. SETTING A STANDARD. Through example, instruction and teaching, sharing revelation, and exercising correction and discipline, all whilst maintaining an uncompromising personal reputation.

Christ loves us and has entrusted us to play our part in building the church He gave His life for. As we place wise structure at our centre, we can help to ensure that the picture the world sees of the Body of Christ will bring honour and fame to God.

Please pray for our leaders – from the Core Leadership and Management Team, through to our Life Group Leaders and Department Heads. They all need our support and encouragement as they give of their time and effort to see us thrive in local church. Partnering with them, let’s be a blessing and help to make their responsibilities a pleasure and not a burden.

Church, governed effectively is not just a good idea, it’s a God idea!

deer

 

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just a thought

May 28, 2013 at 7:12 am (Just a Thought)

aaronlinford

Rev. Aaron Linford

THE SHADOW OF DEATH

 

I once attended a sale of household goods. Among them was a striking picture, not so much from its art as from its aspect. Close to, it depicted a boy and girl seated under an archway, but looked at from a few yards away the arch appeared to be a skull, symbol of death. Its message was clear. Death overshadows us and ours. No age, or sex, or situation is free from its menace. As the Book of Common Prayer states: “IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH”. 

But there is hope in God, for, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me” (Ps 23:4).

Here are three precious things, first, shadows are caused by light. Death might seem a fearful passage, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Secondly, we may enter, but there is an exit, we pass through. Death is not a cul-de-sac, it is a thorough-fare. Thirdly, the Lord is with us. In our direst experience His presence is there to strengthen and sustain. Nay, more, in our Lord Jesus Christ we see victory over death. He has blazed a trail through this region of distress – “the path of life” – and risen from the dead to live forever. We, too, in Him, shall triumph over sins darkest penalty and live with Him.

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