tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10629564826058745572024-02-19T08:51:47.180-08:00Bures Baptist BlogThe weekly musings of Pastor Cath on Bures Baptist Church! For more infomation visit www.buresbaptistchurch.org.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-277531419306775502013-07-05T07:23:00.000-07:002013-07-05T07:27:34.810-07:00Do we really know what we want?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The latest thing on starting your baby on solid foods
seems to be, letting your baby choose (within reason) what they eat and how
much of it. My problem is, my baby’s CHOICE seems to be to eat the high chair
and leave the food...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes it seems to me, when left to our own devices,
we don’t always know what it is we want. Or we want things that ultimately won’t
make us happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Proverbs 1 talks about evil men who are so desperate to
get what they want that they will steal and kill to get it. But actually the things they think will make them happy don’t sound so very far from that of the ordinary person:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i>We shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our
houses with plunde</i>r,” (vs 13) they say.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Who among us can say we’ve never wanted some material
object that we thought would make us happy? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And how often is it the thing we thought would make us happy
turns out not to in the end? From the bowl of tagliatelle we ordered and and then wished
we’d chosen the beef, to the woman we left our wife and children for and then
regretted it, human beings often don't seem to know what they really want.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Back in Proverbs 1, we read the fate of the wicked men who sought happiness in stolen wealth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i>Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust
gain; it takes away the life of its possessors</i>” (vs19).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They don't find the happiness they were looking for, in fact it causes their downfall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What are you looking to to make you happy? Is it the love of a partner? Is it money? Maybe just a holiday? Do you ever sin to try and make yourself happy?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Pursuing happiness seems to be many people's reason to live, and yet life is about so much more than that. What is the point of a life spent in the pursuit of your own desires, when you could have spent your life helping others, making the world a better place, serving God?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A life spent putting God first and yourself and other people second, the bible says, can actually be the route to contentment. Not uninterrupted happiness, not a easy ride day-in-day-out, but a life of contentment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">As Paul wrote:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="text Phil-4-12" id="en-NIV-29455" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29455P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></span> whether living in plenty or in want.</span><span class="text Phil-4-13" id="en-NIV-29456" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After his conversion, Paul didn't waste his time chasing after his own happiness, looking for wealth or prestige. He found his happiness in God's plans and desires. When you seek God's plans for your life, above every other desire you have</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, the bible says that Jesus can give us peace and contentment in every circumstance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, a</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">re you sure you know what it is you want?</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20px;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: </span><a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: initial;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-37305320900638763732013-06-21T05:30:00.000-07:002013-06-21T05:37:48.942-07:00Spatial Awarness - Yep, my blog is back!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This week my husband, Chris, has been telling me off again
for my lack of spatial awareness. Or as he calls it, ‘not watching what I’m
doing’. </div>
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I don’t think this is very fair. I DO watch what I’m doing
(for example, putting a bottle of wine on the window sill, which I did
successfully yesterday). It’s just that I don’t always watch what I’m doing <i>for long enough</i>, (for example, nearly
knocking off the glass that was also on the windowsill, as I walked away...).</div>
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Chris tried to teach me to play badminton years ago. He made
one observation that significantly improved my play. He noticed that every time
the crucial moment came and the shuttlecock was flying towards me, I would raise
my racket and close my eyes! Now I don’t really understand me (or anyone else)
having a morbid fear of being hit in the face with a shuttlecock, but that’s
what I was doing. At the last minute, I would close my eyes. And when I made a
concerted effort to keep my eyes on the shuttlecock right through to the moment
I hit it, my play improved considerably.</div>
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How often is it, spiritually speaking, that we are taking
our eyes off the prize too early? Maybe
we start out doing something with God’s plans in mind, but very quickly we
start focussing on our own concerns or ideas.</div>
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When you ask God to lead you, you have to see it through.
Fight the urge to take back control from Him! Likewise, when you give your life
to God - for HIS purposes - you have to fight the urge to start planning what
YOU want instead!</div>
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Your life is about what God wants. Which is, in fact, what
is best for you and those around you. Re-allign your focus and remember what Jesus
said to Martha in Luke 10: 41:</div>
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<i>You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is
needed.</i></div>
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And by that He meant,
<b>you only need to keep your eyes on God</b>.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: </span><a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; font-size: 13.5pt; text-decoration: initial;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-53285616649434701682012-12-11T06:45:00.001-08:002012-12-11T06:45:39.204-08:00Final blog before baby!Well this is my last blog before I go on maternity leave! In all the business and the tiredness of the months ahead, I'm not sure how much I'll be 'getting done', but I do have one hope, and that is that during my time off I will get to spend some time with God. <br />
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I don't know what God is planning to do with Bures Baptist Church in the time that I'm away, but I do know that, whatever time of day or night it is, however tired or grouchy I am (or the baby), God will be there, and I can still speak with Him. And, when I get the chance, I intend to lift the church up to Him in prayer.<br />
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Because I know that, in some ways, my prayers of support for Bures might well turn out to be more important than my persistent beetling around working for it!<br />
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Here is a lovely video to inspire your own prayer life. Gotta love Bill Hybels.<br />
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God bless everyone, have a wonderful Christmas.<br />
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<br />Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-24250513199307012412012-12-04T08:47:00.000-08:002012-12-04T08:47:58.053-08:00Jesus. Family. Friends. Tinsel. The Muppets. Eggnog. Turkey and cranberry sauce... .<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If Facebook is anything to go by, a lot of people seem to
be getting into the Christmas spirit. My parents were always ones for leaving
the decorating until the last minute and certainly not getting the tree until the
final week before Christmas. I seem to have married a man with similar
inclinations, but yesterday I realised I needed to do some wrapping, and it
wasn't going to be possible without some fairy lights up and a
Christmas film on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So we have decorated. A bit. And started an advent
candle. We also had the first advent carols in our service on Sunday, the
toddler group Christmas party, and our Christmas special assembly this morning.
So I am feeling a bit festive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But at the same time, I am niggled by a few concerns. The
fact is, even though it's a celebratory season, challenging or difficult
situations are still all around us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It may be obvious to say, but let's face it, challenging
circumstances are more difficult to deal with when you're trying to celebrate! 'S<i>urely</i> I'm due a bit of a break,' we
think, 'It's CHRISTMAS!' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The bible (somewhat annoyingly, you might think) tells us to <b><sup>16 </sup></b><i>Rejoice always, <b><sup>17 </sup></b>pray
continually, [and] <b><sup>18 </sup></b>give thanks in all
circumstances</i> (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18). Not just when everything is super. Easier said than done, isn't it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes instead of rejoicing <i>because</i> of our circumstances, we have to rejoice <i>in spite </i>of our circumstances. And to be
honest, if you are doing this, I really respect you. It takes a lot of bravery
to look a challenging time in the face and say 'I will still rejoice'. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you feel you need the strength to say that right now, my theory is, you will have more success asking God for it, than trying to work up the strength yourself. God has no pleasure in your being rinsed out and overwhelmed, and He can give you a supernatural ability to cope with your circumstances if you
ask Him too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So ask Jesus to help you to celebrate in spite of challenges this
Christmas. It is right to celebrate the Son of God, coming to Earth. It is right to celebrate the birth of the greatest Saviour the world has ever known. And it is right to recognise Jesus' love for us caused Him to come to be with us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remember, there will always be something to worry about if we look for it, but there are always reasons to rejoice too. Jesus. Family. Friends. Tinsel. The Muppet's Christmas Carol. Eggnog. Turkey and cranberry sauce... </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: </span><a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; font-size: 13.5pt; text-decoration: initial;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-29280655162832939952012-11-27T07:27:00.000-08:002012-11-27T07:35:21.361-08:00Are we consuming too much 'filth'?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">An interesting phenomenon in the news this week - after 9
years of being on the third biggest sitcom in America, the youngest regular
actor on "Two and a Half Men" is renouncing it as '<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20506091" target="_blank">filth</a>' that people
shouldn't watch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a boy who has obviously found faith and decided
that his day-job conflicts with his morals. Now perhaps it takes a bit more
guts to renounce your day job on moral grounds if you haven't been earning $350,000
every episode, but nonetheless for a 19 year-old guy to make that kind of a
stand is, I think, in some ways, admirable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps he ought to have spoken to his bosses before airing his views, but putting that aside, how many 19 year-olds do you know that are discerning
about their media consumption in the interest of keeping their minds pure? In fact, how many people in general do you know who give it much
thought?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our media culture is so pervasive, it can be very
difficult to censor ou</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">rselves, and for parents to try and keep tabs on what
messages their children are taking in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But everybody draws the line in different places and it
is for us to settle prayerfully with our consciences and with the bible where
that line should be. Some people will feel it is worthwhile putting up with a
certain amount of language or content they don't agree with, if there are other
merits to a programme/text. Other people simply won't watch/read anything where
people are acting in a way they find immoral, and still more people probably
very rarely find anything offensive enough to switch off or put down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The thought has occurred to me several times recently.
Why am I watching/reading this? How much am I condoning this behaviour? Is it compromising
my values or am I successfully filtering out the bits I don't agree with?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These questions are tricky to answer, but I do have one
good piece of advice on the subject. Instead of reacting <i>against</i> morally dubious content, perhaps we would have more success if we tried to be proactive and <i>pursued </i>more wholesome media to enjoy. Find a new favourite that you don't have any qualms about!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I've been listening to <i><a href="http://www.ucb.co.uk/" target="_blank">UCB radio</a></i> more and more recently, and if nothing else, you know the
messages you are feeding yourself aren't 'filth' (as Angus Jones might put it)
when you have that on in the background!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I enjoyed the wholesomeness of <i>Great British Bake-off</i> (and cookery programmes in general, if you
can avoid the temptation to gluttony) and it occurs to me that the presenters
on <i>Pointless</i> are quite upbeat and
pleasant too...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So do give it some thought and prayer. Can you choose and enjoy media with positive, wholesome messages rather than things which may be
detracting from you spiritually? Afterall the bible does tell us: "<i>Whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
</i><b>Philippians 4: 8<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And if you needed any more motivation, consider this
difficult passage to the church-goers in Ephesus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3 </span></sup></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But among you there must not be even a
hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because
these are improper for God’s holy people. <b><sup>4 </sup></b>Nor
should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of
place, but rather thanksgiving. <b><sup>5 </sup></b>For of this you
can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an
idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God <b><sup>6 </sup></b>Let
no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s
wrath comes on those who are disobedient. <b><sup>7 </sup></b>Therefore
do not be partners with them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8 </span></sup></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For you were once darkness, but now
you are light in the Lord. LIVE AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT." <b>Ephesians 5: 3-8<o:p></o:p></b></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">________________________________________________________________________</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: </span><a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; font-size: 13.5pt; text-decoration: initial;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-9730997816932153112012-11-20T02:30:00.000-08:002012-11-20T02:30:37.266-08:00Tips for Listening to God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since I was talking on Sunday about Peter not discerning
God's plan very easily and this morning we taught the Primary School about
Samuel struggling to hear God's voice, it seems like perhaps it's a good time
to dish out some advice on how to listen to God! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It's one of those things preachers often seem to be
saying - 'Listen to God, anyone can hear from God'. And yet when it comes down
to it, lots of Christians feel like they struggle and very rarely hear God
speaking to them. So let's get practical. How to hear from God and be fairly
certain you're not just making it up...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1<b>) Set aside some
time</b> and find a quiet place with no distractions. A comfy chair and a cup
of coffee may assist with this! Jesus frequently took himself off to pray in
places where He could be quiet and alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2) <b>Actually <i>listen</i></b>. It's okay to pray to God
without listing your requests/concerns. A simple</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> "God, please speak to me
during this time I have set aside," will do. And wait patiently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3) <b>Give God
opportunity to speak to you <i>through</i>
something</b>. Very often listening to God means picking up your bible and
having a little read. Or you could have a flick through a book of devotions, or some other Christian
literature, or watch/listen to a Christian speaker online, whatever means you like. Just pray that God will help you select the
right thing and speak to you through it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(In general choose authors/speakers etc that come
recommended by mature Christians you trust). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4) <b>Write it down</b>.
If you feel you've heard something from God, it is very easy to back away from
it later and start to doubt yourself. Just because you've written it down,
doesn't mean you don't have to test out w</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">hat you've heard, it just means you
won't be so inclined to brush it aside and forget it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5) <b>Test it out</b>.
The bible tells us to 'weigh up' the things we hear, because it can be very
difficult to separate our own thoughts from Gods. Testing involves:<br />
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a) <i>Praying about it repeatedly</i> and
asking to feel 'at peace' about it if you've heard correctly. If it still feels
right over a long period of praying and considering, that's a good sign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">b<i>) Checking it's
consistent with the bible</i>. If what you think God is saying seems to
contradict the bible, you should have serious doubts about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">c) <i>Asking a mature
Christian</i> to discuss it with you and pray it over too. If you're unsure,
getting a second (or third or fourth!) opinion from sensible, mature, loving
Christians can be really helpful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">d) <i>Looking out for
other signs of confirmation</i>. Did the preacher on Sunday bring up the same
point? Did you hear the very same issue discussed on the radio just the other
day? Were you reading a bible verse that said something similar yesterday?
These may not be coincidences..</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If this all seems like a bit of an effort, just remember, it does get easier. You do start to get more accustomed
to hearing God's voice and separating it from your own. In fact, you'll
probably start to find it extremely exciting living with more and more of God's
guidance - I still find it exciting every time He speaks to me! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Give it a go, you may well be amazed at the results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">________________________________________________________________________</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: </span><a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; font-size: 13.5pt; text-decoration: initial;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-29942797115635960532012-11-13T04:53:00.000-08:002012-11-13T04:53:44.180-08:00Be Prepared?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This time of year seems to be a season of expectancy. And
I don't just say that from the perspective of it being 7 weeks until our baby is
due. Everybody seems to be starting to prepare and look forward to Christmas
already, including myself. In years gone by it has seemed like a faux pas to
start planning and preparing much in November, but this year, it just seems
sensible. And not only that, it seems like 'everyone is doing it'. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don't know if this is a rural thing or maybe it's just
that I'm spending less time with people my own age. Is it just students and
people in their 20s who are more prone to do everything last minute and, quite
probably, in the middle of the night?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was both alarmed and, I'll admit, quite impressed, to
discover that my husband has already bought me all my Christmas presents. Slightly concerned that I only just managed to
scrape him together a couple of birthday presents, and they were late...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But I will say this, I have been getting prepared for the
baby. Buying, collating, washing, reading, practising breathing techniques,
organising people to cover my absence. I keep hearing stories of babies that
have arrived significantly early and getting the feeling that I have to be
ready for the baby to turn up any second. At least we know for sure when
Christmas will happen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chances are, of course, that I'll still be twiddling my
thumbs over the bump in January, but I am trying to be ready in case.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And that, perhaps is the problem. In seasons of
expectation, our reaction is to try and get 'ready'. But is anybody ever
properly ready for their first child? I've read so much information in the last
couple of months and still keep coming up with more and more questions. They are
small things, practicalities mostly, and I expect it will all become clear as
it happens, but the fact is, no matter how well prepared we are, we have to
keep learning as we go along. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I talked a bit on Sunday about trusting God in our blind
vulnerability. We can never know fully what God is up to and where His plans
are taking us. There is always an element of the unknown when we work with God.
At a ministers' meeting recently we mused over how God seems to often use the
things we do unintentionally much more than He uses the things we do
intentionally! Offhand comments have changed lives. Sermons that went awry have
often made the biggest impact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So perhaps we shouldn't set so much store in preparation.
Yes, be responsible, prayerfully make preparations that are necessary, but
don't put too much value on feeling 'ready'. God will lead the unfolding of
events and sometimes, no amount of work will prepare you for what is to come. And that's okay. Because wherever it is He takes you, He won't abandon you when you get there!</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20px;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: </span><a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: initial;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-32404355025214798512012-11-06T08:14:00.002-08:002012-11-06T08:14:43.127-08:00Youthwork Got Harder This Year?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anybody out there who works with young people will
probably be able to attest that the start of a new academic year can be a tough
time. Since September our youthwork has definitely got harder!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It's quite normal I think. Lots of the young people moved
to different clubs this year because they grew too old for the one they were
in, and this meant a lot of new groups forming. In new situations, making new
friends, young people are often out to prove themselves and find their place,
so they can act up. Those that were already attending the clubs can be
unsettled by the influx of new faces on their territory, and the new members
haven't necessarily built relationships with the leaders yet, so they can be
less inclined to listen to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, while I'm glad that there's a logical reason for it
all, the fact is, in practical terms, the Youthwork. Gets. Harder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In nearly all our clubs we have experienced young people
'testing the waters' as it were, pushing boundaries, trying to see how much they
can get away with. It's a time when they are testing you out, and if you don't
have a lot of patience, and a robust system of support and discipline, you
might struggle to get through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But this IS what we're here for, so we all try our best.
We try to get all the training we can on behaviour and class management and we
leave the rest up to God. Who can control a hall full of rowdy teenagers if
they all decide to rebel? No one I know. But God can. Who can teach a class of
up to 30 children on a Friday after school and always make the right calls? No one
I know. But God can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Youth and children's work is messy. And that's not just
because of the paint and the glue. It is messy because you are dealing with
lots of little lives. Each one individual, with its own struggles, talents and background.
It is messy because some of these little lives need help and they are acting
out because of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus didn't spend much time with the 'perfect' holy
types. They were the Pharisees, and in fact He often disagreed with them. He
said "<i>It is not the healthy who need
a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners</i>."
(Mark 2:17) And so He spent His time with the rough and ready in society. Those
that didn't know to behave well, those that were going through tough times and
needed a lot of grace. Tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If our church and our youth and children's clubs attract
some of the messy, or difficult or rowdy members of society, chances are we are
right where Jesus would have us be. So do pray that we have the patience, and love to know how to manage it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-3811128358459400892012-10-30T09:23:00.001-07:002012-11-05T13:05:52.947-08:00Lovely Video<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's half term and I will be on holiday for a couple of days, so just a brief blog today.<br />
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Can I draw your attention to this lovely, tear-jerker?</div>
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<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SIXe8zBM2-U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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A shoebox of gifts for an underprivileged child that may have nothing else for Christmas this year. You can't argue with that that.<br />
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We will be collecting Operation Christmas Child gift boxes at our church again this year, get in touch if you want a leaflet. The list of what to buy can be found here: <a href="http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/what-to-pack">http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/what-to-pack</a> Anyone who wants to make one up from in or outside the church is most welcome.<br />
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They need to be with us at the latest November 18th.<br />
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Have a blessed half-term week, especially if you are enjoying family time or a break.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a></span></div>
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</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-59620202557227000902012-10-23T07:37:00.000-07:002012-10-23T07:37:09.697-07:00Distractions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you ever worry that you are spending your time
distracting yourself and maybe life is passing you by? I heard someone on
the radio this week theorising that we spend so much time distracting ourselves
that we never really <i>live</i>. Facebook,
TV, chores, 'keeping busy' is an art we seem to be perfecting in this country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In a lecture I was watching this week on Genesis the
teacher was talking about the moment when the serpent said to Eve "You
will not surely die" if you eat from the forbidden tree. God had told Adam
and Eve that they would surely die if they ate of it, but the serpent, knowing
this effect would not be immediate, chose to deceive them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those fatal words are whispered into our ears all the
time by today's distraction culture, aren't they? Why worry about the
consequences of your living? You will not surely die! And if you do, well, it's too far off to concern yourself with now. And what good does it do to think
about it anyway?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And slowly but surely, to support our distraction from it, we try to eradicate the reality of
death from our radar. Celebrities in the public eye hide signs of aging any way
they can. TV and film directors choose not to use aging female actors or presenters
for substantial roles. Emergency services and funeral directors deal with our
dead and we need never even come into contact with them unless we choose to. We don't talk about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And yet, spending our lives denying the passing of time can
prevent us from engaging with real issues and living purposefully. Do you have
enough space in all the 'keeping busy' to consider your
impact on the world? To consider whether you'll be happy with what you achieved
when you look back? Did you do some good while you were here? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you have time to consider if God actually exists? Or in
general what life might actually be about?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nobody has time to waste, but we each can make time for a
little contemplation. Reviewing your life, your priorities, and taking some
time to search for purpose, could well be a good investment... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-84018718681023360052012-10-16T07:50:00.000-07:002012-10-16T07:50:20.859-07:00Emotional Rollercoaster<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What does it take to knock you off your perch? I mean, if
you're having a good day and you're getting along contentedly, how much does it
take to bring you down and start making you feel anxious or tense?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes I think it doesn't take us very much. A careless
remark from somebody, a bad decision that we feel guilty about afterwards, a bit
of negativity of one sort or another. It's not that people set out to bring us
down, or that we intend to do silly things and stew over them, but sometimes we
can find our mood and our outlook has changed very suddenly and it's hard to
get it back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They say a good percentage of the things we worry about
are unnecessary. When people say "Smile, it may never happen!" they're
probably right. We show a lack of perspective when we let little upsets get us
down. We need to remember that everyone makes mistakes, and we also need to understand
that we can't do everything and we're not called to. When we try to do everything,
and do it perfectly, we're bound to experience, in with our moments of triumph,
a lot of disillusionment. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you are feeling guilty about some minor grievance, or
some good work you didn't do, maybe you need to give yourself a break. Jesus is
perfect, you're not. It's not your job to display every virtue at every
opportunity, or to solve every issue that arises. You need to ask God what He
is expecting of you, and you can bet on it being more reasonable than your own
or anyone else's expectations!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course, as I said on Sunday, what God asks won't
always <i>look</i> reasonable (think Jesus
telling Peter to get out of the boat to walk on the water with Him), and it can
be extremely challenging. How much more important is it then, that we are not
sidetracked with unnecessary worries and agendas that we've put on ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Look at these verses from James. Is there doubt in your
life which is causing you to be unstable? Maybe you need to ask God to develop
wise perspective and steadfastness in you. Ask and trust Him. Trust and do not worry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"2 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Count it all joy, my brothers</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">when you meet trials</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">of various kinds,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span id="en-ESV-30253"><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">3 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">for you know that</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the testing of your faith produces <b>steadfastness</b> . . . </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">5 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If any of you lacks wisdom,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">let him ask God,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given
him.</span></i></span><span id="en-ESV-30256"><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">6 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">let him ask
in faith,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">with no
doubting, for the one who doubts is like</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <b><sup>7 </sup></b>For that person must not suppose
that he will receive anything from the Lord; <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span id="en-ESV-30258">8 </span></span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">he is a double-minded man,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">unstable</span></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> in all his ways.</span>"<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">1 James: 2-8 (ESV)</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-47949476552090407362012-10-09T08:36:00.002-07:002012-10-09T08:36:54.580-07:00When you don't feel like a champion!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope you won't mind if I use my blog this week to ask
for prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I think about my congregation today, particularly
those who serve a lot in the church, I can think of a lot of people who could
use a bit of extra strength at this time, something to cheer them and help them
along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God can refresh people in a way that nothing else can so
if you could take a moment to pray for His help for the attendees of Bures Baptist
Church that would be great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have spoken to various people recently who are either
exhausted, grieving, ill, in difficult practical circumstances, feeling worn
down, stressed at work, lacking direction or any combination of the above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It does make me sad to see people like that, especially
when those people are my church family, people I care about, serve alongside
and see week in week out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I've said it so much that I think it's probably a cliché in my
sermons now, but being a Christian is not about having an easy life. I thought this
the other day, as I was driving my car and singing along to "We Are The Champions"
at the top of my voice! While it is a very gleefully arrogant song, there is
something quite profound about it. Life is hard, and a little defiance in the
face of it is probably quite helpful sometimes. So try belting out, "We'll
keep on fiiiiighting to the eeeeeend," when you have the opportunity! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Christians believe that life is a fight. A fight with
forces of darkness to help bring about the goodness of God's plans on this Earth. And
sometimes it can really feel like it too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can spend all your time trying to keep up with your
commitments and being a good employee/family member/Christian etc, and find that
life is getting you down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You are in a fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Your strength is in God. Not in effort or busyness. Take
time out to focus on Him and ask for refreshing, He will be there for you.
Things won't always feel this way, but you will need to go back to Him time and again to ask for His help. And as
you do that, remember that I'm praying for you, and so are other readers of my
blog now! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-6110780009701046252012-10-02T07:59:00.000-07:002012-10-02T08:00:47.106-07:00Growing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With all the Harvest events in Bures this week (the school
visiting the church to present their gifts, the Harvest supper, Harvest lunch
for the elderly [which Chris and I get to go to – yum!], and the Harvest
Festival on Sunday), it makes me wonder what there is for us to learn from
harvest.<br />
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Like Christmas, it is a good time to remember all the
blessings we have, and to seek to bless others - particularly those who need
food. But harvest is specifically about the end of a growing process – and I
think it can teach us a lesson about appreciating growth. </div>
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In anybody’s life, the end of a growing process is worth
celebrating. God often allows us to go through challenging times because they
are part of a growing process and getting to the end of that process is often a
real achievement. I wonder how many people are in the midst of a ‘growing
process’ right now. It could be trying to get to the end of a course, or an
illness, persisting through a period of grief or unemployment or stress at
work. I expect in one way or another most of us are in the middle of some sort
of process we are working through. If you feel you are coming to the end of one, well
done! Don’t forget to celebrate what you’ve achieved and learnt through that
time of growth. You might also want to thank God for standing by you in it.</div>
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In the farming world, the whole point of the growing process
is the fruit that is harvested in the end. What fruit has been developed in you
by the growing process you’ve been going through? What is developing in you
now? Perhaps it’s one of the fruits of the spirit, “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
If the process is developing any of those in you, it is helping you to become
more like Jesus! And if that is the case, both for you and the people around
you, it is growth worth having and will yield a harvest worth celebrating.</div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-5096301352419395372012-09-25T08:00:00.002-07:002012-09-25T08:00:53.006-07:00Encouragements at Bures Baptist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;">I sat having tea
with a friend this week and we got to discussing the encouraging things that
have happened recently at church. I actually discovered there were quite a few
and I hadn’t really been counting my blessings as much as I could have been, so
I thought I would share them with you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lots
of new members at Youthclub. The last session we had 19 teenagers there,
which is a record for us, and while it seems to pack the hall out, is still
brilliant! Giving thanks to God that a good bunch have moved onto Youthclub from
Tweens last year and seem to be settling in well.<br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">New
mums and babies at Footprints. We lost about 10 lovely kiddies this year from
our toddler group because they have gone up to school/nursery, so it’s amazing
that we still seem to be chocka on Tuesdays. Meeting some lovely people, new
ones seem to be turning up all the while, and everybody has lots of great baby
tips for a pregnant pastor!<br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
of our youthclubbers coming and helping lead at our brand new “More Club” for
years 5-8 (what was Tweens) last week – three cheers for you - a young person being
a total star!<br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bures
Churches football team materialising seemingly out of nowhere last week. Big
thanks to all the men involved with getting that started – a great outreach rather
than just a church club (looks a bit like a game of spot the church member) and
a fun (if excruciating) match last Monday!<br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A
lovely visit to the school the other day to organise the Harvest Services the
children have at our church. It’s great to be able to work closely with the
school and enable the children to give gifts to the hungry.<br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">New
housegroup in Wakes Colne seems to be taking off successfully, well done to everyone
who had to make adjustments because of the change around! I’m really encouraged
by the support and prayer and good conversations that I hear are happening in
our small groups.<br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One
of our members stepped into the breach and took on leading our coffee morning
when it seemed we might have to stop it – all our regulars are back again this
term and some great chats seem to be happening, so glad God continued to provide
for them all in that way, and very grateful to that leader.<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Generally
good conversations about God seem to be happening unprovoked! I hear mum’s
encouraging each other to church, children encouraging each other to Sunday school
and asking what Jesus has been up to lately, house groups inviting their
friends to come along, just because they want to<i>.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
So God seems to be moving at Bures. I think I
could go on probably and I wish I could give you more specifics, because the
stories of individuals are even more encouraging! <br />
<br />
So my prayer at the minute is ‘Thank you Lord for opening our eyes to these blessings,
help us to not get in the way of the things you are doing, but to get alongside
you while you work here.’</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">________________________________________________________________________</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-16390006806579796182012-09-18T02:07:00.000-07:002012-09-18T02:07:41.867-07:0040 Years in the Jungle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My friend was
describing a book she was reading to me. It was about a missionary God sent to
one of the most fearsome tribes in the Amazon. He couldn’t find any Mission
Boards to send him and when he arrived independently, none of the missionary
groups would support him. And so, alone, he headed off into
the jungle. Apparently the book describes weeks of staggering lost in the
Amazon, getting shot with arrows, deliriously waiting for wounds to heal,
sitting around in various tribal settlements unable to communicate, until
finally, after 30 or 40 YEARS away, God uses him to convert the entire tribe he
went out to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It’s a
thought-provoking story for us, in our high-paced society. I’m always
amazed by how much ‘journeying’ time God allows people. In bible times journeys that we would do in a few hours in the car, would take days and days
on foot. And yet the Israelites, Jesus, the disciples, the early church, they
all travelled a lot. God thought it was a worthwhile use of their time to
travel and spread the word, in spite of its slowness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We know Jesus
stopped in some towns along the way, teaching and healing people when He was
journeying, and that the Israelites spent their time whinging while they were
travelling through the desert, but really, there’s a lot of ‘travel time’ in the
bible the details of which are not described. We don’t know what their daily
routine was, what they discussed over hours and hours of travelling, whether
they got ill, how they travelled, what they ate and where. The silence on this
minutiae seems to suggest life simply ticking over. What were they doing?
Just plodding on, getting on with it, as we all must.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Realistically,
living the Christian life probably has a great deal more to do with plodding
on, than it does actually <i>arriving</i> at
significant places or moments. When that missionary was prostrate in the
jungle, wounded and delirious, how effective do you think he considered his
mission to be? And yet God was working His purpose out. It was a long term
plan, with some serious, plodding ‘travel time’ involved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Remaining
faithful to God in the quiet, ordinary times, when chances of revival seem
remote, when faith seems routine and when outreach seems slow, develops real
persistence and trust. If you are praying regularly, reading your bible and
growing spiritually, then you are not idling, in spite of how things may feel.
Ask God to give you patience to trust in His plan, even if it seems to be
unfolding very slowly! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-1644340248539350562012-09-11T07:52:00.001-07:002012-09-11T07:52:35.598-07:00If You’re Ever Going to Start Praying, Now’s a Good Time!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This Sunday some of us stayed on after church to pray for
our Baptist Union Day of Prayer. After a yummy bring and share lunch together
we went back into the church to pray for the changes that are being considered
in our denomination. The union are hoping these discussions will end up not
just with ways of addressing our financial deficit but also the renewal of the
way we do church as a union.</div>
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It can be quite difficult to understand the ins and outs of
all these meetings and proposals but what we do understand is that if we want
God to heal our land, and reinvigorate our churches we have to ‘humble
ourselves and pray’ (2 Chronicles 7:14). It was great to know that we were
joining with other Baptists from across the nation to pray on that day.</div>
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On top of this, on 29<sup>th</sup> September Christians from all different
backgrounds and denominations are meeting at Wembley Stadium to pray and
worship together on another (aptly named) <a href="http://www.ndopwembley.com/" target="_blank">National Day of Prayer and Worship</a>. Just
as I feel that our prayer meetings for Bures are a real assurance that we will
see change in our village, these national prayer initiatives encourage me that
we will see change across our country.</div>
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I think a lot of people, Christian or otherwise, would
concede that our country is in need of a moral and spiritual overhaul and I
personally long to see it, for our own sake and for the sake of the generations
to come. The meeting in Wembley is a
good start, but we must all be prepared to join in if we want to see real
change.</div>
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The church has to ask
itself, are we, across the nation, prepared to get down on our knees and pray?
Even in churches prayer sometimes still seems taboo, uncomfortable or boring. ‘It’s
an added bonus if I can make it to the occasional prayer meeting – brownie points
for me!’ I suppose this is one of the devil’s greatest successes, making
Christians unwilling to pray. We have been fooled into considering prayer
dispensable and a low-priority, when actually it is our lifeline. If we want
God’s help, we need to ask for it. If we want a relationship with God, we have
to work at it. And if we want change, we can’t do it without Him. </div>
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Will you be joining in and praying on September 29<sup>th </sup>and
beyond? As a moustachioed ancestor of my husband’s once said (yes, I married a
descendent of Lord Kitchener – impressed?), Your Country Needs You! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-34063829909963333022012-09-04T08:08:00.004-07:002012-09-04T08:08:55.849-07:00Persevering - Year on Year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It was great to be back at our toddler group, Footprints,
this morning. Sad to see the place a little quieter because some of the
toddlers have now moved up to school, but also nice to see a couple of new mums
and babies there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me there is something very reassuring about coming back
together in September and seeing the same friendly faces again. Sometimes the
realisation that the ministry God has for you is long term can be a frustrating
thing, things never seem to happen fast enough. But when it comes to building
genuine relationships with people in the community, you can’t beat long-term investment,
and that’s why I’m so happy to come back and see everyone again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t want to fly into people’s lives, get to know them just
long enough to win their trust a bit, hit them with the gospel, hope they make
a speedy conversion and then move onto the next victim. And I don’t think that’s
what God wants from us either. As Christians we have a duty to love and support
people in the community regardless of their religious beliefs. After all, Jesus
died for us “while we were sinners”, and doesn’t ever force us to accept His
sacrifice, so how can we put strings and ulterior motives onto the love we
offer, if Christ doesn’t?<br />
</div>
<br />
Christ loves unconditionally and so must we. That is why I find it reassuring
to come back to ministries and continue to see friends from the community again
after the summer, because these people aren’t projects, they are genuine
friends, and as Christians we’re here to ‘do life’ with them, year after year. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Part of genuine friendship is that people get to see the way
your faith works out in your life and sometimes you will have the privilege of
sharing your faith with those people, particularly when you ask God for the
opportunity too. But regardless of these elements, the bible tells us we must
love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Steadfast love” is a phrase used over and over again in the
bible (try typing it into the keyword search on <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/">www.biblegateway.com</a> - ESV
version) to describe God’s love for us and the way in which we should love God
and others. So don’t be impatient if you are settled and in a ministry for the
long-haul, “steadfast love” is a powerful and Godly thing to persevere in, year
after year.</div>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-21545166165834814432012-08-21T09:44:00.000-07:002012-08-21T09:44:41.810-07:00Summer Advice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Just a quick update for you all. I hope you are all enjoying the holidays. No blog last week because I was on holiday and none next week because I will be at <a href="http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/" target="_blank">Greenbelt Festival!</a> All fun and frolicks in the sun.<br />
<br />
Chris and I enjoyed a relaxed break away visiting friends and family last week, I hope you're all getting the chance to rest a bit this summer. Apparently our speaker last week did a good talk about compassion for burnt out Christians, so in keeping with his theme, I too encourage you to take some rest and let others do likewise!<br />
<br />
I am hoping Greenbelt Festival will be a good source of spiritual refreshment for me. There should be lots of challenging talks, great music and ridiculous comedy, usually in a laid back, friendly atmosphere, so I'm really looking forward to it. Let me encourage you all to do a bit of this yourselves if you can. It may not be a festival, it may be an inspirational book, a conference or a retreat, it may be a trip to a different church. Whatever the method is, treat yourself to a little spiritual refreshment, some spiritual food which is different to your usual diet. Particularly if you are serving and 'giving out' a lot, it's really important to make sure you're still 'taking in' too. Get some nourishment! <br />
<br />
The day after Greenbelt I have my interview for ministerial training at Spurgeon's College, so please do keep me in your prayers as I prepare for that. I am deferring my entry to September 2013 (a little time to get our heads around our new arrival in December!). Please pray that I respond as best as I can to their questions/tasks and that the college arrive at the right decision, whatever it may be.<br />
<br />
Lastly, I advise enjoying the weather while it lasts and, as the song said, always remember to wear sunscreen...<br />
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<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
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<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-12949056948632463602012-08-07T05:14:00.001-07:002012-08-07T05:14:06.949-07:00Where did all my friends go?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today Spartacus (our cat), bought me a present. It was a
tiny, little, shivering mouse. He was so sweet, and when I’d put him in a box,
he ate his cheese so enthusiastically that I half thought about keeping him.
The impracticality of this aside, I seem to have this problem. When I take a
liking to a new friend (animal or human apparently!), I want to keep them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate it when friends have to leave (or when I have to
leave friends)! I’m still not quite sure I’ve fully recovered from all my
friends swanning off at the end of Uni, let alone my own swanning off after 7
years in Norwich. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In some ways it’s easy enough to adjust, and day by day,
life is good. After all, there are new friends to be made and God always
provides us with company for the journey wherever we are. But what of all
those relationships that were? What of all the people you knew so well, who you
shared your life with day to day before, and now you rarely, if ever, see?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve yet to find someone who knows what to do with those
relationships except to say, “It’s okay, because I know that the next time I
see them, everything will be exactly the same as it always was.” And that seems
to be our only option. “When and if I <i>do</i>
see you, at least it won’t be awkward...” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But do you ever leave those reunion encounters thinking, “Why, if we
still get on so well, do we live so far apart/meet up so seldom/talk so little?”
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seeking permanence in friendships can sometimes be too much
to ask. Friends can’t easily commit to be by your side permanently, much as they
might like to. Who knows when a family member or a job opportunity or even a
call from God might demand they uproot their life and move on to pastures new.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps this is why Jesus is known as the “bridegroom” in
the bible. He is the husband to his bride, the people of the church. Marriage –
the one ordained relationship which affords us some permanence, and that is our
relationship with Christ! Jesus friendship with us is not like a normal
friendship. It is not a friendship which might today be close and tomorrow be
distant, it is a marriage. A promise to always be by our side. </div>
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<br /></div>
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And not only that but it transcends the permanence of even
the happiest of marriages – because Jesus is our faithful companion into
eternity. There is no “Til death do us part” with Christ. There is only “I love
you, <i>forever</i>.” Now that’s what I call
good news for anyone who, like me, longs for a bit of permanence with their companions.</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
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<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-35364188136931458022012-07-31T07:17:00.000-07:002012-07-31T07:18:52.435-07:00Supporting Your Evangelism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been enjoying helping out at Bures Holiday Club this
week. It is a joint venture between the 2 churches, but it is largely run by the Anglican Church in the village. They are doing a really
brilliant job, the children are having a ball as well as learning more
about Jesus!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s Olympic themed this year and the teaching so far has been about being on Jesus’ ‘team’, like the disciples were. Since some of the
disciples were fishermen, they were probably quite used to working as a team. I
was reading this week about net fishing and how it is a team effort, taking
several men to haul nets back into the boat after a catch. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though we are meant to be "fishers of men" I don’t think we think of evangelism as a team effort very
much. We put pressure on ourselves to draw people to Christ, because we want them to share the happiness we have in our relationship with God, but perhaps we don't realise we would be more effective if we worked together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am really keen for people in our house groups to support
one another in their evangelism, as a team. Having a little group of people
around you, discussing it and praying about it regularly can keep your outreach
on the straight and narrow. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Often evangelism can suffer from being either too aggressive
(trying to push or manipulate people into new beliefs) or too passive (just
getting to know people and hoping your faith will impact them somehow). With a
team you can help each other to find that proactive middle ground - evangelism characterised
by regular prayer, listening to God, respect and genuine love for those we
evangelise to, and both patience and courage.</div>
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It’s a tall order – wouldn’t it be useful to have some
people around you to share the challenge with?<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons (recently updated!) at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-26428273825923383492012-07-24T04:07:00.000-07:002012-07-24T04:16:49.848-07:00Is it okay to be ordinary?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
They say in your 20s you start to realise all the things you
could do with your life and everything that you could be, but then in your 30s
you start to realise all the things that you’ll never be. Seems like a sad
thought doesn’t it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well I turned 27 this month, and I wonder if that’s why I’ve
started thinking about ordinariness. If I never achieve
any level of fame or renown as an international speaker/Christian author/rock
star or anything else for that matter, will I feel like I’ve failed? Like I
squandered my potential and never really <i>achieved</i>
anything?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course ‘potential’ is a biblical concept. God has given
you gifts and talents, it says, make the most of them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But potential for what? Culturally it’s very difficult for
us to get away from the idea that our potential to succeed is measured in pound
signs and celebrity. Who does the media see as successful? People who have ‘done
well for themselves’. Tidy earners and popular stars. Slender, well-dressed
people. I’m sure in times gone by, if you’d grafted hard and maybe raised a family,
you’d lived a good life. But now it's about getting wealthy, having career success and being well thought of – are these the important achievements in life?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is that the potential God sees in us? I’m fairly sure that
in other cultures people’s idea of what constitutes success are quite
different. I picture old, grey-haired tribal leaders in distant hot places, who
are respected elders, and yet their life must surely have consisted mostly of
looking after their family, and working for a harvest. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps the main difference between their culture and ours
is that we have become fiercely individualistic in the West, when elsewhere
(and certainly more biblically), people view their lives in terms of community.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is no ‘If I don’t make my mark, I won’t have achieved
anything’. Instead it’s ‘If I play my part, we will achieve something together’.
Maybe in tribal places when they all work together they achieve good crops to sustain themselves. In the Western church when we all pull together our achievement
is seeing God’s Kingdom coming to Earth. Little by little, and whatever our
contribution might be, that is what is important to work towards in this life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In that respect, a life can seem perfectly ordinary, not
marked by fame or wealth or recognition, but in fact be quietly contributing to
the most extraordinary and important mission there is. What are you hoping to
have achieved when you reach your latter days? </div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Interested in more?</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out some of our Sunday sermons
(recently updated!) at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-1975760992962294162012-07-10T07:34:00.000-07:002012-07-10T07:34:16.351-07:00Enjoying Prayer Meetings??<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was greatly encouraged by our prayer meeting this last
week. We joined with some members of the Anglican church and our purpose was to
pray for our village. I think this is something God has asked us to do
and so it’s not really a surprise when He works through it, but it’s certainly
still exciting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spent the first 20mins in silence, listening for what God
had to say and flicking through our bibles for verses that stood out to us. One
of ladies later said she had been on a course recently where they had stressed
the importance of being silent before God and that it had been much on her
mind, so we were pleased to have done it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After 20mins we started to share the things that had been on
our minds whilst listening to God. It was amazing how many people had been led
to write down or think about similar things.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One person had a picture of two hands clasped together,
while another had been thinking about the disciples being sent out in twos and
how God was sending the two churches out together – two messages of unity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple had been thinking about the plight of the lonely in
our village and how that might be addressed. One had come already with a
ministry in mind for the needy in the village, which God had laid on someone’s
heart recently in a dream. One mentioned how she felt God longed to spend time
with each individual in the village and be involved in their lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two people mentioned fruit, and two people mentioned rivers,
which led us to consider some verses in Psalm 1 and Revelation 20 about being
well nourished with God’s word and spirit and how that leads to regular
‘fruit’. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And three people had been thinking of the song “God is
working His purpose out”! Especially the verse:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;">All we can do is nothing worth<br />
unless God blessed the deed;<br />
vainly we hope for the harvest-tide<br />
till God gives life to the seed;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Which related to Matt 9: 37-8, a verse
which had been on my mind recently and came up again in our scheduled
bible reading this Sunday. If you look at my last blog you will see its
relevance:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">37 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white;">Then
he said to his disciples,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white;">“The
harvest</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white;">is plentiful
but the workers are few.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">38 </span></sup></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white;">Ask
the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest
field.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white;">After all these words from God we spent some time
in open prayer, praying for the village and all these things that God had put
on our hearts. A truly encouraging experience of God speaking clearly to us. We
hadn’t communicated these things to each other or co-ordinated them, we simply
sat in the quiet and listened and God confirmed His messages through 2 or 3
people hearing the same things. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white;">This has happened at our last few prayer meetings
too, it’s not a rare occurrence. If you listen to God He will speak to you. As
Liz said to me the other day “I actually look forward to our prayer meetings!”
and so do I – it’s exciting to hear from God and to know He is ‘working His
purposes out’ with us!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i>Interested in more?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a></div>
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</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-86650759019138870362012-07-03T06:56:00.000-07:002012-07-10T07:34:06.679-07:00When Small Churches Get Thin on the Ground<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is going on at Bures Baptist Church? I ask myself as I
sit down to write another blog. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d love to be able to fill it with stories of all the small
miracles that happen in the life of an active church every week. I’d love to
share with you all the little details and answers to prayers, but frankly, mostly all
I’ve talked about this week is babies, and the ways in which our prayers have
been answered, well, I’ve been too sick to notice!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it’s not necessarily an easy time in the church all round.
Over the last few months a lot of our church members and helpers have been away
or out of action, for short or long periods, sometimes once, sometimes
repeatedly. Some have simply gotten a bit worn down, others have had changes in
their day job, various different reasons.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not talking about any one person in particular, but
across the board, circumstances seem to have conspired to make our ministries a
little difficult to manage/staff recently. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a small church perhaps already punching above its weight
with its contribution to the community, it can be a struggle. I hate to see
people weighed down by their responsibilities, unable to get a break because we
simply don’t have the back up. It’s not fair, and yet as a church God seems to
have given us a lot of work to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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We spoke this morning at assembly about how when life gets
hard it’s easy to think God is being unfair to us. But actually we know that
God is always just and if we look out for it we can still see the good things
He is doing for us.</div>
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So we take heart and we find ourselves praying for God to ‘send
more workers into the harvest field’, and to give rest to the weary, as the bible
tells us He will.</div>
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A small church must still let God’s people get out and do
the things they feel are right, it can’t be constantly hauling them in for
meetings or refusing to let them move on in their journey. </div>
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But ‘sending out’ (however biblical) can be painful when
your numbers are few, and it can feel a lot more like ‘letting go’. So please
pray for us to have grace in times when we are short staffed, to courageously
prioritise rest for our members and attendees and to be able to sustain our
ministries where God is calling us to. Thanks.<br />
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<i>Interested in more?</i></div>
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Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a></div>
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</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-23847282093238232352012-06-26T07:59:00.000-07:002012-06-26T07:59:42.132-07:00Dangerous Trust<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It’s been a big week for Chris and I because we were able to
announce in this week’s service that we are expecting a baby in December! </div>
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Ever since finding out a lot of people have been impressing
on me how different life will be when we have children, and how it’s like
nothing you’ve experienced before.</div>
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I don’t think any first time parent can really get their head
around all the changes that are about to happen in their life, and for a
Christian, you really have no other option other than to just trust God for the
future.</div>
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Trusting God for the future seems to be a very easy thing to
do when it’s unfolding the way you expect. (And so far, with the pregnancy that’s
been the case, thank God). But a few unexpected occurrences at church recently
have shown me that really, it's lot harder to trust God’s got the future in hand
when things happen in a way you’re not expecting.</div>
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I’m not one for unpredictability to be honest, I like things
planned and organised. However God doesn’t always let me in on what He’s
planning and that’s when I have to trust Him all the more. When it’s not quite clear
why things are happening the way they are.</div>
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When questions come to you like: Why hasn’t God moved yet?
How is this ever going to work out? Why isn’t God doing what I expected Him to?
You’ll find you are having to trust God more than you feel comfortable or safe
doing. But the bible tells us over and over not to play it safe but to give
ourselves completely over to God.</div>
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Remember God’s words from Isaiah 55 <span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></sup></b></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“For my thoughts</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">are not
your thoughts,</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" />
</span></div>
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">neither are your ways my ways,”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">declares the</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">.</span></span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span id="en-NIV-18750" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“As the heavens are higher than the earth,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">so are my ways higher than your ways</span></span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and my thoughts than your thoughts.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">”</span></span></span><br />
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We’re not always meant to know what God’s up to, but we are
always meant to trust Him to get it right. If you are trusting God to the point
where you feel vulnerable because He’s more in control than you are – your faith
is growing. It may not feel like it, but it’s a <i>good</i> thing. Trust Him, and do not panic.</div>
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<i>Interested in more?</i></div>
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Check out some of our Sunday sermons at: <a href="http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php">http://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/sermon_catchup.php</a>
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</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062956482605874557.post-72470415316032649512012-06-19T08:23:00.000-07:002012-06-19T08:23:15.006-07:00A Summer of Celebration?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So far it seems to have been a ‘summer of celebration’ for
me, although perhaps less of the ‘summer’ and more of the ‘celebration’ if you’re
watching the weather.</div>
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We’ve had jubilee parties, my grandparents’ 60<sup>th</sup>
wedding anniversary, the 20 year anniversary of the Anglican vicar and his wife
coming to Bures, Father’s Day, my own wedding anniversary, family reunions,
birthdays, and there’s lots more to come. By the time England win the Euro’s
and make a sweep of the golds at the Olympics, I imagine Tesco will be well and
truly out of champagne.</div>
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It’s got me to thinking a little bit about celebrating. </div>
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Celebrating is after all, very biblically based. Right back
into the beginnings of Christian history the early Jews were taught to party
and celebrate their blessings. Celebrations are good for morale. They also
call us to thank God for all the good things He gives and to spend time with
our loved ones. </div>
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But if you’ve been feeling a bit ‘celebrated-out’, don’t
feel bad. Sometimes when we celebrate a lot, we don’t find the time to talk
about the things that are difficult in our lives. That need to share our pain,
as well as our joy, can start to make all the partying seem a bit hollow. </div>
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It’s not that life isn’t worth celebrating, it’s not that we
don’t have an amazing Saviour to praise and it’s not that there’s anything
wrong with the parties, it’s just that, the bad things in life keep ticking
over, just the same as the good.</div>
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The good doesn’t undo the bad, though it might pleasantly
distract for a while. Your problems and struggles still need recognising, and
dealing with. Don’t let them eat away at you inside while you plaster your
jubilee smile on for the umpteenth time. Make time to discuss life’s hardships
with people who will listen and give you wise advice. </div>
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You need to know that when the last party popper goes off
(and it will eventually), you’ve got an ordinary life to go back to which isn’t
falling apart around you. So give yourself a break, make space in all the
celebrations to attend to your needs.</div>
</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09191955579890782850noreply@blogger.com0