Text: ‘Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should’ – Psalm 90:12 The Living Bible (TLB) Thought: Some days can be very special as we remember and celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or other significant events in our lives. In Todays’ Teaching we will consider three days which have significance for every person, whatever their age and wherever they live. Most countries require by law three days to be recorded for all citizens– their date of birth, marriage and death. These records are so helpful when tracing one’s ancestors. The days we will look at have an even greater importance. Yesterday “Yesterday”, so the Beatles’ song goes, “all my troubles seemed so far away, now it looks as though they’re here to stay, oh, I believe in yesterday.” It’s all too easy to look back into the past with rose-tinted glasses. Oh the good old days! It’s true that many things were better then, and have now changed beyond all recognition. However, there are also many things that have vastly improved to help make life so much easier. This is particularly true concerning medical science. Diseases and infirmities that once ravaged and shortened lives, have now largely been eradicated...
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Text: ‘You know how, when you were a small child, you were taught the holy Scriptures; and it is these that make you wise to accept God’s salvation by trusting in Christ Jesus’ – 2 Timothy 3:15 – The Living Bible Thought: BBC News reports that The Folio Society commissioned a YouGov poll to ask 2044 British Adults to rank books from a list of 30 works, according to their significance in today’s world. They made their selection based, not on enjoyment or popularity, but for their influence on humanity. The Bible was named the world’s most influential book! So it is! Written for humanity by men who were inspired by God’s Holy Spirit.¹ Look around the house and the chances are there’s a bible or bibles lying around somewhere, collecting dust. Like an undiscovered diamond, few know the Bible’s true worth, particularly in the Western world. Many of these bibles were presented to children and teenagers during school. Once read, now forgotten. Where do we get the true Christmas story from? The Bible and archaeology proves it to be one of the most accurate historical records man has ever had. But it’s much more than that. It contains the words and the way to eternal life. My first...
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Text: ‘I saw the dead, great and small, standing before God; and The Books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in The Books, each according to the deeds he had done. The oceans surrendered the bodies buried in them; and the earth and the underworld gave up the dead in them. Each was judged according to his deeds.And Death and Hell were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the Second Death—the Lake of Fire. And if anyone’s name was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire’ – Revelation 20:12-15 Thought: They say that death is the only certainty in life. We prepare for it by taking out life insurance and writing a will. However the uncertainty is that we do not know when that day will be. The goal of most people is to reach old age, relying on the medical health service to keep their bodies going, and the financial world, taking out pensions and saving plans to ensure they have enough money to make life enjoyable throughout their retirement. Also, wishing to leave something worthwhile for their surviving relatives. All sorts of events can end our life...
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Text: ‘Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content’ – 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NLT) Thought: Christmas will soon be upon us! Adverts scream out to buy, whether on the TV, in newspapers and magazines, via our mobile phones or alongside the bus shelter! Wherever people are and go, one can be sure adverts will be there too. Even in one of Africa’s poorest nations, I saw the Coca Cola bottles everywhere and Manchester United football shirts! Having just spent nearly three weeks in Burundi and Uganda, I couldn’t help but be struck by how little they do have of this world’s goods, yet at the same time, they exhibit a richness in faith, thankfulness and the ability to still laugh and smile. I ‘survived’ hotels without any water to wash with and was nearly electrocuted by poor wiring in the bedside lamp! My ten nights in Lira saw the power off virtually every day from 7am – 8pm, and even during the night, unable to cool the room and having to read...
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Text: ‘But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified’ – 1 Corinthians 9:27 Thought: September ’14 sees an exciting development – launching a midweek link group in Saltash. My wife Jenny is heading this up, commencing with a five week training programme on friendship evangelism, drawing on her skills as a personal development trainer. Giving an open-invitation to the church we attend in Plymouth, we were pleasantly surprised by the number who expressed an interest in doing the course, especially when the musicians’ practice night was changed so that people could come. As this launch came about quite suddenly, there is an air of excitement. However, as with anything we do or that needs to be done, there are some key steps. First there is: Desire – I want to! The old adage, “You can lead a horse to the water but you can’t make it drink” remains true when it comes to Christians sharing their faith on a one to one basis. Most want to do so, but many find it a challenge to say the least. They have a desire which is good, but this leads us on to the next step: Discipline...
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