One of the definitions of creativity is the process of doing something new, of being or showing inventiveness. I love this aspect of God’s character because it brings with it a sense of being new and fresh and something unique.
I remember watching an episode of the BBC programme, The Apprentice, where one of the candidates made the following statement: ‘Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon’.
I have to admit, it did come across as somewhat cringe worthy and I did laugh at it at the time and the candidate was subsequently the butt of many jokes in the media.
One of the most amazing things about being a believer is that you carry the very presence of God within you. God, the creator of everything, who holds all things in His hands, dwelling within you through the power of His Spirit.
I enjoy reading blogs online about people who set off on a period of extended travel and their experiences. Having done this myself, I can relate with the sense of adventure they feel as they see new places and do new things.
I also enjoy reading through people’s comments on their blog posts. Consistently what you will find is that people comment about the person and their blog using a common term: inspiring.
One of the problems the Church faces today is not outright attack from those opposed to it but rather the apathy of those who form a part of it. People, somehow, somewhere along the way, can lose their passion.
Worship is more than skinny jeans & haircuts. It's more than "gigs" and every other church kid with a guitar wanting to get "signed" and go on tour. Worship is our highest calling. It is exalting Jesus as Lord & King over all that we are & ever hope to be. If you sometimes feel distant in worship then discovering the length, breadth, depth & height of God's love for you will have your heart crying out to God with thanks. John Piper (!) put it this way..
When my nephew was a very young boy, I remember my mum making us a cup of tea and, being a good grandmother, she was trying to help him learn at the same time. She asked him, ‘Where do we get milk from?’ She, anticipating another answer, received the reply ‘From the shop!’
Of course, my nephew’s answer was true enough, but it was not the whole truth.
od is not angry with you today. He is not disappointed with you. He has not woken up in a bad mood and He is not waiting to teach you a lesson by messing with your life in a negative way. The ministry of His Holy Spirit today is positive.
We are continuing today looking at our value of being Charismatic. The word for today is Supernatural. It strikes me that this should be a value for anyone who has a relationship with Jesus. There is so much more to reality than what you can see, touch, taste, hear & feel. We are not simply natural people but we have been transformed by a supernatural encounter with God.
This week we are looking at what it means to be Charismatic - For many people the word is code for some of the more "crazy" & "alternative" streams of the church. Is that a true reflection? What does biblical "charismatic" look like? The English term charisma is from the Greek χάρισμα (khárisma),
I love bacon and eggs.
But here it is. Whilst the hen plays a role in the provision of my favourite breakfast, the pig is committed - there is no walking away for it!
Growing up in the 1980’s, a staple programme for us as a family on television was Bullseye, a TV game show based around darts and general knowledge. Its mascot was ‘Bully’, a large, brown bull in a red and white stripy shirt with blue trousers and it was hosted by the comedian Jim Bowen, supported by darts commentating legend, Tony Green.
The world in which we live is very much focused on self and what you as an individual are entitled to, have rights to or should be doing or buying to help achieve the ‘perfect’ life. This is part of the consumer mentality which has ‘me’ at the centre.
One of the things I learned from my parents growing up was to always to be straight in any dealings I have in life. Whether this was with family, friends, organisations or anyone else, it didn’t matter.
Let’s face it, there are times when people wind us right up, disappoint us, annoy us, overlook us or neglect us. This is real life after all, not a Disney production of Narnia.
Churches have at times been lambasted, and sadly, fairly so, for being places which have been characterised by the fallout of the poison of bad relationships.
A few years ago I arrived into Beijing airport and had to get a taxi to a specific destination. I had taken great care to get the address written in Chinese to give to the taxi driver. As I showed him the piece of paper, he nodded enthusiastically, smiled and said, ‘Yes, yes, no problem sir’. Happily I climbed into the passenger seat and started the journey. Three hours later, after driving in circles and visiting countless wrong destinations, I decided to cut my losses and just got out of the car.
In one of the greatest speeches of all time, given at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, USA, on 28th August 1963, Martin Luther King Jr said:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Have you ever been on holiday and upon your return thought to yourself ‘Here we go, back to the real world’? There is something nice about the ability to have a break and get away from the normal routine of things but we also realise that living like we do when we are on holiday is not the real world.
A few years ago a friend of mine bought an imitation Rolex watch. He was very pleased with it and tried to convince me that it was a perfect replica…that was until he decided to wash the dishes with it on. Believe it or not, this ‘diving’ watch couldn’t cope with a basin of hot water and never worked again!