We’ve just got back from our Christmas break. We spent a week with Jane’s Mum and Dad and also her sister and husband who are over from Perth, Australia. We stayed in a quaint cottage down in the lovely village of Caldecott, Rutland. We had snow....so it was a real Christmas experience - along with all the great food and family debates!
We saw the Chronicles of Narnia while we were away....a great family film – I really enjoyed it.
Great to be back....happy new year to everyone!
Friday, December 30, 2005
Thursday, December 22, 2005
King Kong
Saw it last night. A great film...although at 3 hours it seemed a tad too long. I also felt I should have been a little more emotional at the end but I still couldn't bring myself to shed a tear for a 50 foot Gorilla...now a 3 foot Hobbit, well that's a different thing altogether!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Movies over Christmas
Looking forward to going to see a couple of films over Christmas. First up will be the new King Kong film and then closely followed by the Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Early reviews suggest I’m going to enjoy the Kong film the most, but we’ll see...
Early reviews suggest I’m going to enjoy the Kong film the most, but we’ll see...
Monday, December 12, 2005
Your Burning Bush
Here’s a summary of my notes from another great message from Paul Benger in church last night. Paul spoke on having our own burning bush experience a la Moses. Main text: Exodus 3:1-18
Moses spent 40 years in the backside of the desert. He had been groomed to be a Pharaoh. I wonder if Moses thought a lot about missed opportunities? He questioned God on who he was. ‘Who am I?’
One of the questions many people are asking in life, ‘Do I matter to anyone?’
Even with Moses’ low self-esteem, God is still saying – ‘He is the one’. Even though he thought he’d blown it, God stayed with him! Never think you’ve blown it – God will find a way!
Three things from which the world gets it’s WORTH:
Style – Appearance and fashion. Proverbs 31:30 – Beauty does not last! Nothing wrong with wanting to look good, but it’s not where we get our self-worth.
Status – Keeping up with the Jones’ – not the place where we get our value.
Success – God wants us to do well, but again it’s not where we get our significance. Only in God. Knowing him and knowing his forgiveness.
Moses had all 3 when in Egypt – lost them all in a minute! Even so God still had Moses and Moses still had God.
3 things we need to know about the burning bush experience…
1) God calls you
He is not a silent God – he speaks to us. We need to be ready to hear what God is saying about our lives. Be in church the place where we can find out what God is saying!
2) Where you are right now is holy ground
Where God is – his presence. You might not feel it, just like Moses. But He is with us.
3) It’s time to discover who you are and who God is
Moses asked (vs 11) – Who am I?
And (vs 13) – Who shall I tell them sent me?
Realise who God is – Almighty, awesome God who can do all things! ‘I am who I am’
Realise who you are – God is intimately, infinitely involved in our lives!
Know Who You Are (Paul’s Top 10):
I am CREATED
I am CHOSEN
I am PROTECTED
I am COMPLETE
I am VICTORIOUS
I am SAVED
I am FORGIVEN
I am FREE
I am LOVED
I am ACCEPTED
Moses spent 40 years in the backside of the desert. He had been groomed to be a Pharaoh. I wonder if Moses thought a lot about missed opportunities? He questioned God on who he was. ‘Who am I?’
One of the questions many people are asking in life, ‘Do I matter to anyone?’
Even with Moses’ low self-esteem, God is still saying – ‘He is the one’. Even though he thought he’d blown it, God stayed with him! Never think you’ve blown it – God will find a way!
Three things from which the world gets it’s WORTH:
Style – Appearance and fashion. Proverbs 31:30 – Beauty does not last! Nothing wrong with wanting to look good, but it’s not where we get our self-worth.
Status – Keeping up with the Jones’ – not the place where we get our value.
Success – God wants us to do well, but again it’s not where we get our significance. Only in God. Knowing him and knowing his forgiveness.
Moses had all 3 when in Egypt – lost them all in a minute! Even so God still had Moses and Moses still had God.
3 things we need to know about the burning bush experience…
1) God calls you
He is not a silent God – he speaks to us. We need to be ready to hear what God is saying about our lives. Be in church the place where we can find out what God is saying!
2) Where you are right now is holy ground
Where God is – his presence. You might not feel it, just like Moses. But He is with us.
3) It’s time to discover who you are and who God is
Moses asked (vs 11) – Who am I?
And (vs 13) – Who shall I tell them sent me?
Realise who God is – Almighty, awesome God who can do all things! ‘I am who I am’
Realise who you are – God is intimately, infinitely involved in our lives!
Know Who You Are (Paul’s Top 10):
I am CREATED
I am CHOSEN
I am PROTECTED
I am COMPLETE
I am VICTORIOUS
I am SAVED
I am FORGIVEN
I am FREE
I am LOVED
I am ACCEPTED
Saturday, December 10, 2005
ON YOUR MARKS!
Good news on the London Marathon front, after receiving confirmation the other day that my name had not been selected in the ballot - I’ve just received a call from the local Hospice (Ashgate, Chesterfield) and they’ve asked me to run for them!
I’d been a little disappointed in not gaining an automatic place...but after reading the LM magazine and seeing one of the charity pages (Help the Hospices) I decided to try another door, as it were. I was always going to make it an opportunity to raise some money for a great cause and so my goal has still been achieved (in a roundabout way!)
I want to raise as much money as possible for the Hospice. They do a fantastic work of which we’ve had experience of in recent years after the death of my brother-in-law Mark Loveday a few years ago. We spent a number of weeks with him in the local hospice down in Gravesend, Kent. This run will be mainly for him who I know would have been very proud of what I’ve achieved in the last couple of years. The London Marathon will be run on 23rd April...almost 5 years to the day since Mark passed away.
My running mate, Rob, will be running with me. He got an automatic place...and has promised to help raise money with me.
I’m also thinking about setting up another blog to keep track of my training progress, monies raised so far etc. There will also be a link to my ‘Just-Giving’ site where monies can be donated/pledged. So...
WATCH THIS SPACE!
I’d been a little disappointed in not gaining an automatic place...but after reading the LM magazine and seeing one of the charity pages (Help the Hospices) I decided to try another door, as it were. I was always going to make it an opportunity to raise some money for a great cause and so my goal has still been achieved (in a roundabout way!)
I want to raise as much money as possible for the Hospice. They do a fantastic work of which we’ve had experience of in recent years after the death of my brother-in-law Mark Loveday a few years ago. We spent a number of weeks with him in the local hospice down in Gravesend, Kent. This run will be mainly for him who I know would have been very proud of what I’ve achieved in the last couple of years. The London Marathon will be run on 23rd April...almost 5 years to the day since Mark passed away.
My running mate, Rob, will be running with me. He got an automatic place...and has promised to help raise money with me.
I’m also thinking about setting up another blog to keep track of my training progress, monies raised so far etc. There will also be a link to my ‘Just-Giving’ site where monies can be donated/pledged. So...
WATCH THIS SPACE!
Friday, December 09, 2005
Ashes Rematch?
The England coach Eriksson admits he would rather avoid the "English speaking countries" such as Australia and the United States.
"They are desperate to beat England in a big tournament, which is why I don't want to play them," he said. "But there is a wider aspect to Australia, there is a sporting rivalry between the two countries. What I saw during the summer in the cricket was amazing."
Read on
"They are desperate to beat England in a big tournament, which is why I don't want to play them," he said. "But there is a wider aspect to Australia, there is a sporting rivalry between the two countries. What I saw during the summer in the cricket was amazing."
Read on
Monday, December 05, 2005
Blessed! Part II
Last night in church, Paul Benger continued our series and spoke a great message on the Foundations of Blessing.
We looked at the ‘blessed man’ in Psalm 112. He mentioned that the blessed man had no name, that it could be anyone....it could even be YOU!
As we read the bible we cannot escape the fact that God has blessed us, and it’s not because of what I can do for God but because of what He had done! Faith says it’s not what I’ve done – but what God has done.
The foundation of blessing is God himself. God created us for relationship, fellowship and blessing – right from the beginning. God’s position has always been, ‘I want to bless my people’.
Deuteronomy 30:19 - Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live!
We have a choice to make. We need to reposition ourselves. Choose God’s way…
Psalm 112:1 - Fear the Lord
Not being afraid of God but having reverence, respect, putting Him first. Is God first in your life? To fear God takes faith. Are you faith-filled or faith-drained?
God wants to bless you...make God first in your life. Plant the seed that produces faith in your life. We cannot induce faith, we need to sow the seed, search God’s word. Romans 10:17 - Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Promises for fearing the Lord…
Psalm 112:2-4 – Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will never be forgotten. When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
Our past does not dictate our future. God’s grace gives us a brand new start!
The blessed man is fearless and confident - trusting in God.
Psalm 112:7-8 - They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
We looked at the ‘blessed man’ in Psalm 112. He mentioned that the blessed man had no name, that it could be anyone....it could even be YOU!
As we read the bible we cannot escape the fact that God has blessed us, and it’s not because of what I can do for God but because of what He had done! Faith says it’s not what I’ve done – but what God has done.
The foundation of blessing is God himself. God created us for relationship, fellowship and blessing – right from the beginning. God’s position has always been, ‘I want to bless my people’.
Deuteronomy 30:19 - Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live!
We have a choice to make. We need to reposition ourselves. Choose God’s way…
Psalm 112:1 - Fear the Lord
Not being afraid of God but having reverence, respect, putting Him first. Is God first in your life? To fear God takes faith. Are you faith-filled or faith-drained?
God wants to bless you...make God first in your life. Plant the seed that produces faith in your life. We cannot induce faith, we need to sow the seed, search God’s word. Romans 10:17 - Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Promises for fearing the Lord…
Psalm 112:2-4 – Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will never be forgotten. When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
Our past does not dictate our future. God’s grace gives us a brand new start!
The blessed man is fearless and confident - trusting in God.
Psalm 112:7-8 - They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Blessed! Part I
We began our new series in church on Sunday night on the subject of what it is to be blessed! I kicked off with the whole subject of ‘blessed are those who dwell in your house’ (Psalm 84:4)
It is God’s will for our lives to be blessed to flourish...to grow! God loves you and wants the very best for you!
The psalmist knows what he needs for happiness. Happiness, for him, is being in God's house!
Psalm 84:10 - Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
There are those who attend church who never reach full potential, don’t really grow. As well as dwelling in the House of God…the key is being planted!
Psalm 92:12-15 – (12) The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; (13) planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. (14) They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, (15) proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."
Not those who just attend…but those who are planted! Put down our roots, be watered/fed…and watch God make us grow! Not uprooted – moving from place to place, but planted/rooted in local church. Only then will we grow!
Here Psalm 92 it tells us the key to a productive and flourishing life is to be planted in the church. The house of God is the church - the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
We have to remember the church is not a place you go to, but it’s a place you belong.
4 Steps to being truly planted in the Church
1) Be a member of the household
Ephesians 2:19 - ‘Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household’.
2) Form Friendships
The church in Acts came together often and shared. They developed relationships. They developed the family.
Connect yourselves with others. We have to make time for each other. Church is more than Sundays; we need to make an effort to meet up regularly at other times.
3) Build Partnerships
1 Corinthians 3:9 - For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
We need to work together! There is a corporate anointing when we come together. When we gather together, when we serve each other.
4) Love people (Kinship)
1 John 3:16 – This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers
If you love Jesus, you will also love other people. You can’t say you love God and hate people at the same time.
Be blessed! Get planted!
It is God’s will for our lives to be blessed to flourish...to grow! God loves you and wants the very best for you!
The psalmist knows what he needs for happiness. Happiness, for him, is being in God's house!
Psalm 84:10 - Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
There are those who attend church who never reach full potential, don’t really grow. As well as dwelling in the House of God…the key is being planted!
Psalm 92:12-15 – (12) The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; (13) planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. (14) They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, (15) proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."
Not those who just attend…but those who are planted! Put down our roots, be watered/fed…and watch God make us grow! Not uprooted – moving from place to place, but planted/rooted in local church. Only then will we grow!
Here Psalm 92 it tells us the key to a productive and flourishing life is to be planted in the church. The house of God is the church - the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
We have to remember the church is not a place you go to, but it’s a place you belong.
4 Steps to being truly planted in the Church
1) Be a member of the household
Ephesians 2:19 - ‘Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household’.
2) Form Friendships
The church in Acts came together often and shared. They developed relationships. They developed the family.
Connect yourselves with others. We have to make time for each other. Church is more than Sundays; we need to make an effort to meet up regularly at other times.
3) Build Partnerships
1 Corinthians 3:9 - For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
We need to work together! There is a corporate anointing when we come together. When we gather together, when we serve each other.
4) Love people (Kinship)
1 John 3:16 – This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers
If you love Jesus, you will also love other people. You can’t say you love God and hate people at the same time.
Be blessed! Get planted!
Monday, November 28, 2005
Personal Best
Ran in the Clowne Half Marathon yesterday and recorded a PB of 1:41:06. My mate Rob just pipped me by 3 seconds this time....well done mate! I can't believe it's a year since we last ran this race. (See archive)
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
The Power of Worship Part III
Paul Benger finished our series off in style on Sunday night with a great message on the ‘serving’ aspect of worship.
Romans 12:1 – And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
When would God be asking too much of you? What would it take for us to say no to God?
Service to God does not belittle us.
Jesus shared about the good and faithful servant in Matthew 25. The highest aspiration on life is to be a servant in whatever sphere of life we are in.
Martin Luther King - ‘Everyone can be great because anyone can serve’
Even in prison Joseph did well! He had a ‘nobility’ about his life, nobility inside of him – a servant heart, an excellent attitude.
Jesus said the greatest among you is the one who serves. The way to greatness...serve! Jesus was our great example:
He came to serve - (Mark 10:45)
For those who aspire to lead - (Mark 10:44)
Jesus showed the way (John 13:14)
Paul’s main text for the evening was from Genesis 24:12-28, when Abraham’s servant went looking for a wife for Isaac and found Rebekah. He shared with us 6 characteristics of great service and great worship.
Great service is WILLING (vs 18)
Great service has a willing attitude, willing heart – and is uncomplaining!
Great service EXCELS (vs 19)
Goes beyond the required norm. Excels expectation – not a one-off.
Great service is SWIFT (vs 18)
Gets on with it – not grumpy. Does not procrastinate!
Great service is HONOURING (vs 18)
‘Certainly sir – drink my Lord!’ Serving looks for ways to honour - ‘How can I serve him, her or them’. Helps those to fulfil their potential.
Great service means WORK (vs 19-20)
She ran! Kept on working, backwards and forwards to the well.
Great service is UNSELFISH
Laying down your life. Putting others before self. Serve where you’re needed not just where you want to!
Romans 12:1 – And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
When would God be asking too much of you? What would it take for us to say no to God?
Service to God does not belittle us.
Jesus shared about the good and faithful servant in Matthew 25. The highest aspiration on life is to be a servant in whatever sphere of life we are in.
Martin Luther King - ‘Everyone can be great because anyone can serve’
Even in prison Joseph did well! He had a ‘nobility’ about his life, nobility inside of him – a servant heart, an excellent attitude.
Jesus said the greatest among you is the one who serves. The way to greatness...serve! Jesus was our great example:
He came to serve - (Mark 10:45)
For those who aspire to lead - (Mark 10:44)
Jesus showed the way (John 13:14)
Paul’s main text for the evening was from Genesis 24:12-28, when Abraham’s servant went looking for a wife for Isaac and found Rebekah. He shared with us 6 characteristics of great service and great worship.
Great service is WILLING (vs 18)
Great service has a willing attitude, willing heart – and is uncomplaining!
Great service EXCELS (vs 19)
Goes beyond the required norm. Excels expectation – not a one-off.
Great service is SWIFT (vs 18)
Gets on with it – not grumpy. Does not procrastinate!
Great service is HONOURING (vs 18)
‘Certainly sir – drink my Lord!’ Serving looks for ways to honour - ‘How can I serve him, her or them’. Helps those to fulfil their potential.
Great service means WORK (vs 19-20)
She ran! Kept on working, backwards and forwards to the well.
Great service is UNSELFISH
Laying down your life. Putting others before self. Serve where you’re needed not just where you want to!
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Monday, November 14, 2005
The Church at Worship
Simon Wood continued our ‘The Power of Worship’ series last night in church. He spoke on the ‘Church at Worship’…
‘Worship’ is hard to put into words. You can’t just use the dictionary definition.
We need to get what God is really like into our hearts!
We’ve been created to worship. God has put the desire of worship into our hearts...but what are we worshipping?
We’ve been created for greater things...to be worshipping in God’s house. God is a great Father and wants the very best for us!
In our worship God wants the very best for us. It’s a two-way relationship. Give to God what He deserves. And know this...that God loves you and,
Zephaniah 3:17 – The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing!
We are a worshipping church, but worship is not just a church thing…it’s a lifestyle.
But there is great strength and power when the church comes together in worship. There is a great anointing!
Psalm 133:1-3 – How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And the LORD has pronounced his blessing, even life forevermore.
God sees the aroma of our worship...our love, our heart for Him.
Great message!
‘Worship’ is hard to put into words. You can’t just use the dictionary definition.
We need to get what God is really like into our hearts!
We’ve been created to worship. God has put the desire of worship into our hearts...but what are we worshipping?
We’ve been created for greater things...to be worshipping in God’s house. God is a great Father and wants the very best for us!
In our worship God wants the very best for us. It’s a two-way relationship. Give to God what He deserves. And know this...that God loves you and,
Zephaniah 3:17 – The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing!
We are a worshipping church, but worship is not just a church thing…it’s a lifestyle.
But there is great strength and power when the church comes together in worship. There is a great anointing!
Psalm 133:1-3 – How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And the LORD has pronounced his blessing, even life forevermore.
God sees the aroma of our worship...our love, our heart for Him.
Great message!
Friday, November 11, 2005
...now for Pakistan
England’s attempt at world domination continues this weekend with the commencement of the First Test in Multan, Pakistan.
With Vaughan out injured I’m hoping England can still rise to the challenge. A good start tomorrow morning is vital so it will be interesting to see the starting line-up. Should Ian Bell get another chance?
With Vaughan out injured I’m hoping England can still rise to the challenge. A good start tomorrow morning is vital so it will be interesting to see the starting line-up. Should Ian Bell get another chance?
Friday, November 04, 2005
The 'Attitude' of Worship
I will be speaking this Sunday as part of our ‘The Power of Worship’ series. My focus will be on the ‘Attitude of Worship’.
For a prosperous life - live life with these three great attitudes...
Let me introduce the GTS of worship:
An attitude of Generosity – a generous heart
An attitude of Thanksgiving – a thankful heart
An attitude of Serving – a servant heart
A well-used phrase is that ‘worship is a lifestyle and not just what happens in our services’.
When you consider these attitudes remember those verses from Philippians 2:1-11 – Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...
A Generous Heart
Choose to have a generous spirit! Sow generously...bless God, bless others. 2 Corinthians 9:11 – You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
A Thankful Heart
Thanksgiving reminds you to choose a life of giving praise and thanksgiving to God. The Apostle Paul gives this instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
A Servant Heart
Worship is the very first commandment: To love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all of your strength. Worship should be the priority in our lives – to love Jesus, to put Him first in your life and to serve Him, whatever He calls you to do. Live to delight the heart of God!
For a prosperous life - live life with these three great attitudes...
Let me introduce the GTS of worship:
An attitude of Generosity – a generous heart
An attitude of Thanksgiving – a thankful heart
An attitude of Serving – a servant heart
A well-used phrase is that ‘worship is a lifestyle and not just what happens in our services’.
When you consider these attitudes remember those verses from Philippians 2:1-11 – Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...
A Generous Heart
Choose to have a generous spirit! Sow generously...bless God, bless others. 2 Corinthians 9:11 – You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
A Thankful Heart
Thanksgiving reminds you to choose a life of giving praise and thanksgiving to God. The Apostle Paul gives this instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
A Servant Heart
Worship is the very first commandment: To love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all of your strength. Worship should be the priority in our lives – to love Jesus, to put Him first in your life and to serve Him, whatever He calls you to do. Live to delight the heart of God!
Monday, October 31, 2005
Gruesome?
Hope this is not too gruesome for you! They're called 'sutures' or clips to be removed in a few days time.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
I, Robot
I will be continuing this Sunday with a message based around a movie as part of our ‘movie-themed’ month at church. This week we are looking at the film I-Robot.
Based loosely on the book by sci-fi writer, Isaac Asimov, the story centres on the attempts by humans to restrict and control their creations. It optimistically looks at the ability of technology to improve the lives of humanity, and in the case of robots, to be even more moral than human beings.
I believe the film highlights two important issues for us as human beings, freedom or freewill and purpose.
Freedom - What does it means to be free?
Purpose – What is our purpose?
The two are intrinsically connected. God has created us with ‘freewill’, freedom to choose. But I believe only real freedom comes when we serve the purposes of our ‘creator’ – God.
(Psalm 139:14-15) - (14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (15) My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
(Genesis 1:27) - So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them
The idea that we are made in God’s image is a powerful one. We resemble our creator! God’s imprint is upon us. The worth of each and every person, who has lived, is living now or will ever live has been established from the beginning!
(Psalm 139:16) - (16) All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
In other words the script of our life was written by God - before we were even born!
And the purpose of life is to serve the purposes of God.
Based loosely on the book by sci-fi writer, Isaac Asimov, the story centres on the attempts by humans to restrict and control their creations. It optimistically looks at the ability of technology to improve the lives of humanity, and in the case of robots, to be even more moral than human beings.
I believe the film highlights two important issues for us as human beings, freedom or freewill and purpose.
Freedom - What does it means to be free?
Purpose – What is our purpose?
The two are intrinsically connected. God has created us with ‘freewill’, freedom to choose. But I believe only real freedom comes when we serve the purposes of our ‘creator’ – God.
(Psalm 139:14-15) - (14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (15) My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
(Genesis 1:27) - So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them
The idea that we are made in God’s image is a powerful one. We resemble our creator! God’s imprint is upon us. The worth of each and every person, who has lived, is living now or will ever live has been established from the beginning!
(Psalm 139:16) - (16) All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
In other words the script of our life was written by God - before we were even born!
And the purpose of life is to serve the purposes of God.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Fear Not
The verse from Psalm 112 sprung to mind this morning when I opened my mail.
Psalm 112:7 - They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
As a Payroll Manager of a large UK business I’ve been awaiting the day when the Inland Revenue (now HM Revenue & Customs) would come calling with regards to doing a PAYE review/audit. Today that day has come. They have requested a preliminary meeting in the coming days and then they will come and do a full audit of our systems and procedures.
Having now read Psalm 112 in full, verse 7 now needs to be read in context considering my situation!
Psalm 112:5-7 - (5) All goes well for those who are generous, who lend freely and conduct their business fairly. (6) Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. (7) They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
I’m sure all will be well!
Psalm 112:7 - They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
As a Payroll Manager of a large UK business I’ve been awaiting the day when the Inland Revenue (now HM Revenue & Customs) would come calling with regards to doing a PAYE review/audit. Today that day has come. They have requested a preliminary meeting in the coming days and then they will come and do a full audit of our systems and procedures.
Having now read Psalm 112 in full, verse 7 now needs to be read in context considering my situation!
Psalm 112:5-7 - (5) All goes well for those who are generous, who lend freely and conduct their business fairly. (6) Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. (7) They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
I’m sure all will be well!
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