Forgive and Forget...

Over the past few weeks we will have been remembering 2 events that have both acquired iconic status in the western world. The first happened 14 years ago and was the death of Princess Diana, on the 31 August the UK was stunned by the news of her death in Paris and the second which took place 10 years ago when operatives of Al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and used them as weapons to attack the World Trade Centre and other targets in the United States, an event known simply as “9/11” since the date of the attacks was 11 September 2001.

There are certain events and moments in our personal lives and sometimes in the corporate life of a community or nation that we remember vividly because they impact our lives deeply. Personally, the day we get married, the birth of our first child or the death of a close friend or relative are all such moments.

Memories and the ability to remember for us all can be a powerful experience for us all, we all like to look back on a happy occasion but memories can also be deeply painful and even though “time can be a healer” our emotions can still be ignited by the surge of a memory, even of an event that happened many years ago. Being forgetful is not a positive attribute usually, but for all of us there are times when we all would wish we were able to forget completely some the memories of incidents and events of life.

The Bible say that God not only forgives our sins but he also forgets – by knowing that the wrong we have done and the wrongs done to us can be forgiven and forgotten by God can give us tremendous strength to release forgiveness to others and through this see the pain and trauma healed, so even though we can’t forget we can move on to embrace the new events of today that will be come the memories of tomorrow.

A Big Welcome

A survey by Tearfund UK revealed that 20 million adults in the UK pray. 13 million pray at least once a month and 9 million every day. One in three people believe God will answer their prayers. The morning of a job interview; the night when a family member was sick; the five minutes before an exam; most people have prayed in moments of desperation. Was someone listening? Was the prayer answered? People find praying helps and have had answers. Praying isn’t just for the religious. As we can see most people admit to praying at some time in their life even if they have given up on it later. Jesus prayed. He seemed to have access to God like no one else. He was always doing miracles and teaching about life. But he also spent much time in prayer and taught about it. What did he say? He said that faith was a crucial ingredient. He always responded to faith. On one occasion he said, ‘Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.’ Prayer is not simply about the words we say it’s about what we are thinking on the inside.

One place you might think of when you start thinking about praying is church. In another survey conducted by Tearfund UK  also revealed that some three million people would like to come to church on a Sunday if only they were invited. Some other interesting facts were: many people believe you need a ticket to go to church (where is the box office?); some believe church is like a golf club, only open to members; as well as some who believed they can only go if invited. Visiting a church for the very first time can be a tough experience. Where should I go? What should I wear? What time should I show up? What’s here for my kids? What can I expect? These and many more questions surface. I’d like to put you at ease. There are many churches here in Chester and Ellesmere Port where your first visit will be refreshingly friendly and enjoyable for your whole family.  If you came to Hoole Baptist Church we want you to experience inspiring music, helpful teaching and preaching, friendly people, and a place where you feel welcome and “at home”! This is a place where you can experience new beginnings! During the morning celebration there is usually singing, preaching that helps us to understand God’s word and how to live his way, praying, listening and responding to God and an opportunity to meet with others. Children and young people are in the main church for the first twenty minutes of the celebration, after which time they go out into their groups. There is also a crèche available. I would personally like to invite you along on Sunday 25^th September; on this morning we shall have a special emphasis on welcoming guests to Hoole Baptist Church

 

Try Praying

A survey by Tearfund UK revealed that 20 million adults in the UK pray. 13 million pray at least once a month and 9 million every day. One in three people believe God will answer their prayers. The morning of a job interview; the night when a family member was sick; the five minutes before an exam; most people have prayed in moments of desperation. Was someone listening? Was the prayer answered? People find praying helps and have had answers. Praying isn’t just for the religious. As we can see most people admit to praying at some time in their life even if they have given up on it later. Jesus prayed. He seemed to have access to God like no one else. He was always doing miracles and teaching about life. But he also spent much time in prayer and taught about it. What did he say? He said that faith was a crucial ingredient. He always responded to faith. On one occasion he said, ‘Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.’ Prayer is not simply about the words we say it’s about what we are thinking on the inside.

Even with a full life we can feel empty inside. Yet some people face health scares, get stressed about money or worry about relationships. Others suffer from depression. Whatever it is, you know you could do with some help. God is good and often meets us when we reach out to him. You don’t have to have a problem to pray. Many people simply want to know if there is something that can make sense of life. You are open minded and willing to check things out. Pray for seven days and discover the adventure of a lifetime: getting to know God! This week could open your mind to new possibilities. This week you could find the help that’s been missing. TRY PRAYING Prayer is conversation with God. You don’t need to use special words or a special voice. You can pray out loud or silently. God knows what you think and is familiar with all you do. You can talk to him about anything.

Use your own words, or you could say this: ‘God, if you are there – and I am not sure you are – but if you are, I want to know you. I don’t want to kid myself about it; I really want to know you. So as I pray this week please make yourself known to me.’ TRY PRAYING for the next 7 days. So what to do and do you get started; Find a time and a place that will suit you. Read the first 13 verses of chapter 11 of Luke’s gospel from the bible one day at a time. Try to keep going for a week, but don’t feel guilty if you miss a day. What else? Do you have a ‘big issue?’ This is something that you really want God to do something about. Pray about this each day and see what happens. Is there someone you’re concerned about? Why not pray for them – or with them – during this week? Let me know how you get on by connecting with me here at my blog or on Facebook or Twitter.

What's the quality and quantity of your light?

I was reading some interesting statics about Britain today recenly. While 92% of Americans believe in God, only 35% in Britain do and 43% say they have no religion, according to Britain's National Centre for Social Research. The number of people who affiliate themselves with the Church of England was 23% of the population in 2009 from 40% in 1983. In truth though, if Britain's Christian tradition is dying out, the leaders of the faith have only themselves to blame, for perpetuating the country's highly centralized religious structure. Some would argue that we have become one of the most godless societies on earth. Its principle religious exports today are thinkers who despise religion. From Richard Dawkins, who has compared religion to child abuse, to Christopher Hitchens, who titled his 2007 book God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, the British have cornered the market on being anti-God, at least the Christian and Jewish varieties.

Some would argue that the demise of religion in Britain is a good thing, but I’m not too sure! This decline of faith and optimism may account for why Britain -- once the most advanced nation on earth, which gave the world parliamentary democracy and its inimitable centers of higher learning -- is today more famous for exporting reality shows like Big Brother, The only way is Essex and Project Catwalk. For while religion affirms the infinite dignity of the human person, its absence robs life of its sanctity. Exploitation for fame and humiliation and cash are the inevitable outgrowth. Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807 and ended it completely three decades before the U.S., with Christian abolitionists like William Wilberforce taking the lead against the abomination. But two centuries later Britain is better known for football hooliganism, the gratuitous depictions of women in its most-circulated publications and the demise of the family with one of the highest out-of-wedlock birthrates in the world.

I find it interesting to reflect that at the same time attendance figures for chruch have been declining a very fast rate. Some recent research states that by 2050 Sunday attendance to C of E services will fall below 88,000, compared with just under a million now. In fact all mainline demonations within England have and will continue to expereince declining membership, one of the main reason for this is the age profile in may congreations, within the Methodist Church the average age of its members is 82!! For Baptists the average size of congreation is 35 adults, with many congreations having no under 16’s in them! Someone said to me recently that we shouldn’t just complain about how dark it is but we should review the quality and quantity of the light! Christainity has a role to play as light and salt into society and I very much belive that if the church began to get its act togther more then we would see a ripple effect for good into our commiunites and families. It is sometimes too easy just to moan and complain about the “state of our society” for me and others who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ we must examine our lives and our churches in order that we can shine more brighly and be the salt in our world to help stop further decay!