Being at home surrounded by those that I love is a great pleasure and feeling. I also enjoy seeing my friends very much, spending time with them and looking after them and having a relationship with them. All my friends are not the same of course. There are some, who are my football friends; these are the people I play football with every Saturday. My good friends, this group is small but they are the people who are very close to me and who have been walking with me in the good times and not so good times. And like that there are some other friends you get the idea. The point is that in order for me to call them friends and to have a real friendship, I have to see them and spend time with them, even if that means once a year. In a few words, I have to make the effort and time to keep up with the relationship. Otherwise, they will be like many of my Facebook friends, better known as contacts, but people whom I don’t really talk to, the only way I know about their lives is because they publish it on facebook not because of me, but because they want to tell the world what they are up to.

“Lets us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of dong, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25.

As I mentioned earlier, in order to maintain a relationship with friends, family and others we need to spend time together and God is not any different. However, there is a huge misunderstanding among many. Many have come to think that in order to have a relationship with God they can get rid off everyone around them. For instance, it is very common to hear people say ‘if I want to speak to God I don’t need to go church’ or perhaps comments like this ‘I don’t need to go to church or meet with other Christians if I want to know God, I can do this from the privacy, and the comfort of my house.’

To such statements there could many answers. But lets pause for a moment and think. If, in order to keep a relationship with someone, all I need to do is to find something in common with that person. And then try to find things to do together, that can be eating, walking, or anything else, without a crowd necessarily, why then do I need a crowd or other people to have a relationship with God? As I said a moment ago there are many good answers to this question, but allow me to answer the question with four reasons why we should meet together as a way forward to this dilemma.

Strength comes from Numbers

Mr Bean has been a character that has always fascinated me, from my early days when I started to watch the short clips called Mr Bean I was drawn to the way he was a funny and excellent communicator. At the time speaking in English was far down on the things I wanted to do, or able to do. Nonetheless, that was not a problem when watching Mr Bean as he was capable of making me laugh without words, he was more or less a modern Charlie Chaplin and the silence movies. However, one of the things that I didn’t really like was the fact that he was very lonely and his only friend was a teddy bear. For all that I like Mr Bean and his show; I don’t think I would have been able to get here just with a teddy bear as a friend. My friends and family have been an important part in my life, not just to go through difficult times but to develop as a person.

In the same manner the first principle to ensure Spiritual growth is to establish strong relationships with other growing Christians. For instance if we take the analogy of the coals, we can see that the coals burn hotter and longer when piled together, in the same way Christians who join together in Spiritual Fellowship will stoke one another’s faith in God.  

Engagement

Sometime ago the service for the mobile phones call Blackberrys collapsed. This meant that the instant messaging services were down. For most teenagers, their life and relationships run through this ‘bb chat’ as is better know. They are always talking to someone on their phones. A joke came out that went something like this ‘the blackberry services collapse, and for the first time I had to put my face up, and see people face to face and speak to them and interact with them. It was horrible I thought it was the End of the World.’ For most of them it was funny, simply because it was true.

The passage we read earlier Hebrews 10:25 asks us to not give up meeting together but to encourage one another. Encourage means ‘to call alongside.’ In order to call alongside we need to engage with one another and to do that we need to meet together.

Inspirations

‘Do not be misled; bad company corrupt good characters’ 1 Corinthians 15:33

When I became a pastor I thought that in order to produce good sermons and keep up a fresh word from God all I needed was to lock myself away pray and read the Bible. But although it is necessary to practise such spiritual disciplines, another strong source of inspiration is other Christians. Especially listening to their experiences with God and the way God spoke to them through the scripture.

The majority of my folks at church would say that the mayor struggle in their spiritual life is the wrong influence and pressure that comes from outside. The Bible tells us that we are temples of the Holy Spirit, God is in us, so by meeting with others in whom God lives give us the aroma of God and inspires us to continue this walk of faith.

Restoration

‘Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.’ Galatians 6:1a

Have you ever found yourself in trouble and needing help, but unable to find someone to call? Nothing is more frustrating and dangerous! Like getting caught in a strong ocean current, Christians can find themselves being swept away by sin’s temptations. Fortunate is the Christian who has a spiritual friend who will not hesitate to jump in and rescue him from danger!

This passage uses the word gentle. Gentle is the translation of the same Greek word from which ‘meek’ is translated. A person who is ‘meek’ is one who is humble towards God. This humility comes from the realization that God is the Creator and we are simply His creation! This keeps us from the pride that would hinder us from helping the Christians caught in sin!

Therefore; meeting together is something that we should not give up but to encourage, because it is there that we are transformed by God and this is through the God that lives in your brother or your sister in Christ.

During the first weekend in May hundreds of Baptist Ministers, leaders and some church members, made their way from all ends of the United Kingdom to our cosmopolitan city of London for what is the annual Baptist Assembly. This is a gathering that happens every year around this time in different towns and cities in England. However this year was extra special as we celebrated 400 years a s Baptists in the UK all the leading leaders of the denomination were sharing what has made Baptist distinctive over the years and what the future is holding for the church in the UK. During Saturday afternoon many lectures and workshops were given, some were full others no so much. All were excellent depending on each person’s likings. New Ministers were welcomed into ministry while others were commissioned overseas with theirs families, some were going to places that none of us would even consider as holiday destinations.

But what today was very fancy conference in Westminster Hall opposite Parliament and the Big Ben, which enjoys one of the most prestigious places in London, surrounded by commodities and all the gadgets to make a meeting of a few thousand go smooth, was a very distance even unthinkable though for the first Baptists in England, whom once gathered by the tens somewhere in a much less prestigious place in London 400 years ago. That small gathering was not even a ministers and missionary gathering nor could even be called conference. It was simply a group of people who had, as the center of their lives, Jesus as Lord and who did not have anything fancy about them, and if anything was distinctive about them it was their strong faith and up to the point that some had to pay their commitment with their won lives.

What marked the difference? Their way of life, better known as the people who practiced the baptism of believers. They thought that going into the waters was not for the parents to decide over the babies’ life, but for the adult who had come to know God and had made his/her decision to follow Him into the waters and a life of service empowered by the Holy Spirit. Their desire to follow and obey was so distinctive that ministry was not limited to the clergy but extended to the church. They believed that in comparison to the Catholic Church who believed that the church was the Pope, the Priests, the Nuns and the Monks, that the church was and is all those who have been rescued by God thought Jesus. And it was them who stated that church meetings were the place to understand the mind of God and to go forward together as Church

The pass 200 years

But the story did not end there, after they found their own feet in this land and after going through a lot of tribulations up to the point of dying for their faith, they did not stop there or feel discouraged, on the contrary, they understood that once we conquered our home, our Jerusalem we are to go out to the end of the world, and so they did. After the first 200 years the Baptists went out of their comfort zone and launched themselves into the adventure of believing that the one who called their brothers 200 years earlier was empowering them too 200 years later, and so they went out to spread the gospel around the world.

Today 400 years later the same question is passed to us. Does the story end here with predictions that some denominations like the United Reform Church would have vanished by 2020, and the church in England later to follow. 200 years ago The Baptist family, a lot bigger and stronger than the one 200 years earlier, took the church to another level, the level of sending missionaries all around the world, known as the modern missionary work. Unfortunately todays picture of the church is not as brave as the one 4 Centuries ago. We have become more relaxed, more complaisant and too afraid to upset anyone, many churchgoers can’t really tell in an articulate manner the foundation of their faith. Some see God and the Gospel as an aid, an assistance, I might go as far as to say that for some, God has become an app the ones we have in our IPhones to help us with practical stuff in our lives. The church of today sees ministry as something for the Paid Minister, the leader, and the deacons to do. In a way coming back to the very thought that once departed the Baptist from the Catholic church but that now for convenience reasons we somehow agree wit silence words, and so we don’t mind flirting with that idea from the pews as we get confortable as all we do is to listen to sermons, sing songs and go back to our business. Tony Complo was saying in one of the evenings that we are happy to be Christians up to a point, as long as it does not interfere too much with our confortable lives.

There is a way forward, it is not a new way it is just a different way from what we are falling into. I encourage you to take the example of those first Baptists who did not leave church to be done by the minister or an association, well none of that was available to them. But who took the calling of God in their lives as something personal; those Baptists who were not only willing to believe but follow Jesus, to go out of their comfort zone to make a difference.

We here in Clapham Baptist church are passionate about including our members, our church in the calling that God has done to the minister, deacons and leaders. We believe that this calling is not for the few but for the many. We have created space for each one of you to develop you knowledge of the Lord, your gift, and talents. Either as young baby in the Lord or as someone who has been in church for many years, we have created a place for you to grow. However this is not going to happen from the comfort of our pews two hours once a week every Sunday. As we have to make the time to make a fife outside work and family commitments, a life to follow Christ doesn’t deserve any less but much more.

1 Peter 2: 1 – 5 

The deacons and I took time away last weekend to seek God’s guidance and vision for the church. We had a great time together, around the table, in prayer, studying the Bible, praying but most importantly seeking to hear God speaking to us.

To some people Church is a matter of gathering on Sunday mornings to sing a few songs, read the Bible, say some prayers and to listen to a sermon. Church is much more than that. Although our main doors are closed throughout the week the church is by no means closed, if anything it is more active than ever. Sunday Service is the place where we come to conclude the worship that we have been doing throughout the week by action, worship, learning and listening to God. It is the time and place where we gather with the bigger community of Christ to worship God.

Why is it important for the leaders to get away from everyone and everything to concentrate on the things mention above? The church is not only a Sunday gathering, but the body of Christ which is journeying towards its final destination. Our final destination is to be the bride of Christ, and to be with Him. What the Bible calls the New Jerusalem. But there are other questions which have been put to the church as she journeys towards its final destination.

What is the church’s calling as she journeys towards her final destination? What should the Church expect as she journeys? What has been given to the church as she moves towards her final destination? All these questions are for the Universal Church and the Church of the Centuries from Christ to now to answer; however, these questions are also addressed to the local church. And we here at CBC as a local church cannot and must not overlook these questions, which, once we seek to answer with the guidance of the Holy Spirit will reveal God’s purpose for us here at Clapham.

Over the weekend and in the weeks to come the deacons have set their minds, hearts and spirits to search, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the answers to these questions. We here at Clapham understand that we don’t want to be a Church that is a mile wide and an inch deep. What does this mean? Some churches try to do too much and spread themselves too thinly. When there is not clear guidance from God there is the danger of filling the week with activities lacking understanding of why the church is doing it, and most importantly with a church that lacks an understanding of the God who they have been called to serve and worship.

Over the weekend we identified three main things we have been called to do; to GATHER those who have been call by God, to BUILD them up by helping them to understand their calling and knowledge of God and to SEND them to fulfil God’s purpose. These three things will be supported by 5 pillars which are identified in Act 2.

DISCIPLESHIP

FELLOWSHIP

WORSHIP

ACTS OF SERVICE

EVANGELISM

These will be nurtured by the 5 ministries given to the church by God through His Holy Spirit

APOSTLES

PROPHETS

EVANGELISTs

PASTORS

TEACHERS

We then understand that all these are possible with the gift of the Spirit which has been available to every one of us in Christ to the edification of the Church.

All this might come as a heavy load of information and it is why in the next few weeks and months we will be working hard to convey the vision to the church in a simple and practical way. It is why we invite you this Friday to join in prayer to ask God to open our understanding as we try to listen to what He is saying and to put actions to His words.

May God bless us as we embark into a new year full of promises, challenges, and work for the Lord

We don’t hear the word “vocation” now-a-days too often as was the case years ago.  I remember during my school days thinking about what I was going to be when the time to go to University was due.  What will I study?  What will I be?  What we studied was connected to what we did.  Currently we study one thing and go to do something completely different. The idea of vocation gets further away from our career choices.

As I read the pages of 1 Thessalonians 3 a sentence caught my attention, verse 10, “night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith”.  This verse is not focusing on vocation or on the life of one who has been called to do something.  However, the beginning and the last part of the sentence brought two words to mind, vocation and calling.

Throughout the letter Paul tells them how worried he was for them as he wonders if after he left they have been able to keep the faith he shared with them.  While he is away he has devoted himself to pray for them, and if God allows him to come back to see them he will spend his time filling in the gaps in their faith, the things he didn’t get to teach them while he was with them.

He makes it clear that God has called him to do a specific work and he verbalised elsewhere when he says to Timothy “But you Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.” Elsewhere he expands on his purpose... “My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard”.

Paul, who went under the name of Saul in his former life before he became an apostle of Christ, was a very religious man.  His training under Gamaliel was the finest available.  His intentions and efforts were sincere.  He was a good Pharisee who knew the Bible and sincerely believed that the Christian movement was dangerous to Judaism and that was why he persecuted them.

However, from this life of having the right tools and the knowledge of the Scripture and Judaism, God called him out to a different life.  To something more unsettled, where trust that God knew what he was doing was needed, he says... “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!”  It was the key to his life and calling that he trusted God because the life he was to live under this calling was full of difficulties where many things would appear to be uncertain at times.  He was not only aware of this factor but was also open to include it as part of his teachings to new Christians... “Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come – and they did...”

We have been inspired by Paul throughout our Christian life, we are grateful for the things he wrote for our faith to be strengthened and developed, however, for many of us we just see that.  And we don’t see beyond this, the success of his ministry and the great insight he had in life, because if we did, we would see The Jesus that appeared to him and called him.  Paul met a Jesus that taught him how to trust in God, to do amazing things with little, to passionately wanting to know God and to be passionate to reach those who didn’t know God.

As we read Paul’s words in the Scripture, or, the words of a man of God in a book, or, listen to a sermon, even when we know that what we are reading or listening to is to strengthen and develop our faith, we must be aware that it is also to meet the God behind these men/women of God.

Every time we read Paul, or listen to a preacher, or read a good book we are challenged by the calling of those who are instructing us.  God can be calling you as He called Saul.  We unwillingly have created a dividing gap between those called to the full time service in Christian ministry and those who listen from the seats of the church, not noticing that God is calling you to move closer to Him and to take up Paul’s challenge to follow him, to a more unsettled life where trusting God is the only way forward.  Unsettled because the securities provided by our society are not necessarily the principles by which God’s kingdom functions, however, His promises are given to us as our warranties...like when Paul was spoken to by God during a difficult time... “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me”.

Furthermore, we are also called to help identify and encourage those called to full time ministry.  For the world it might not be an option but for us who believe it is a privilege.  We have to care for those who are stepping forward to take the challenge... “You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion.”  We have all been called to follow HIM, whether full time or not but to follow, to encourage one another, to devote ourselves to Him and his people, instead of just thinking about “us” and “our security”.

For many of my friends doing homework it’s a nightmare especially if research is part of what it has been requested. In a time where long walks to the library and endless hours going through books is not a promising afternoon for any 10 to 12 year old boy.  Computers are something distant that only few can work, like my cousin who is doing her third year on IT Engineering.  For now there is no help from the IT quarter to assist us with our homework.

For many of my friends the library is the only place to find answers to some of our awkward themed projects given by a teacher who we believe has no life whatsoever.  In my case everything is different!  My Library is right at home, the computer with internet is my dad who knows where every single article or quote in his library is.  I sit in front of him with a list of questions to which I will be given either a straight answer or an article which will answer what I want to know.  To many a jackpot, to me a frustration as I think when, if ever, will I be as clever as this man who is called “dad”, and who’s genes don’t seem to be present in me in any way, shape or form.

Learning, being educated and wise is one of my big challenges as I grow up, the reality, my lifelines and hyperactive personality don’t go down well with the hope of being academic and which I think will make me wise and intelligent too.  On the other hand I have a mother whose contribution, as all the mothers that I know, is to tell me that a good in the education gives me a good job, a good job gives me profit, profit gives me power to have access, and power gives me influence.  Education, profit, power and influence give me status.  I feel a huge weight on my shoulders, I am barely 15 and I have all these things to think and to develop and it seems that time is running out and I am not doing remarkably well. 

Life hasn’t got a remote control, not that many TVs have remote controls in the 80s.  We are just happy to have a colour TV at home, TVs with remote controls are a rare breed, my dad’s remote control is me, as he tells me to change the channel every time he gets bored with a channel.  But if life had a remote control I could pause, rewind and try again, unfortunately there isn’t one and life continues, all I have is the formula given to me by my parents. Knowledge + Profit + Power + Status = The Solution.

The Idea of God is something that pops in and out as I am growing up, but I am too busy right now trying to get hold of the formula for my good fortunes.  It is all about knowing, understanding, being capable, doing better than others, having more, storing plenty, exercising power and fighting to climb up the ladder of status.

I am busy running my life, or thinking that I do.  I know that I am not doing that well, but there is nothing more but to continue trying.  The secret I have discovered is never to admit that you are not doing so well.  That was not told by my parents, I learnt that by myself.  I am proud I have my own discoveries.  God has popped into my life.  It was not me that was looking for HIM, it seems that HE rather was looking for me!  Not sure what to make of it. But He seems not to be going anywhere any time soon at least.  He becomes like an unexpected guest you don’t necessarily invite but you accommodate them in your house as you continue with your life.

God now is my guest.  I feel bad at times so I dedicate time to Him so He doesn’t feel like I am not being a good host or make it too obvious that He was never expected.  As time passes I learn to have Him there, I guess He is moving from being a guest to becoming a part of the members of my house, my life and ultimately now the ruler. 

Some time has passed and I come to realized that He has been there for some time now; I have a better thinking to the Idea of having God there not as guest but as part of my house.  I am thinking that the way to get to figure who God is must be by knowing, if I know all about Him, if I understand who He is, I will figure out what God is doing in my house and life.  If I know about Him, I will profit, will have power, influence and status.  The formula that was giving to me years ago and that has ruled my life ever since.

A new formula however was taught by Him after I failed to get anywhere with Him using my formula.  We can use our intelligence and reasoning to help us to discern, to engage and to understand at times, but we cannot use our reasoning as the pillar of our faith, as the way to knowing God or to let God be known to others.  When knowledge comes to an end due to pain, hopelessness and suffering, the power and gentleness of His Spirit gives us another type of knowledge, a knowledge that reveals God’s love and care for us, bringing the principles of His kingdom to us.  The peace that He gives and that no one else can, not even knowledge provides.

It is not about a formula that teaches me to get and to care for me primarily, on the contrary it is a formula where knowledge is founded by faith in God, profit comes from giving, power is not to take but to transform, and status is not to be on top but to serve.  Now-a-days God is not a guest or a member of my house; HE is the ruler and Lord of all I am.

We Christians are not just cruising through earth waiting on the “insurance” we bought when we accepted God to escape an Eternity in hell but to enter a distance hope call heaven. God is concern with all the issues we are being confronted with, by (we) I don’t mean the church only but humanity. Jesus embodied the hope of God and makes it available to his audience. We have been left to continue His legacy we the Church are here to confront and change the system with the kingdom values.

God is relevant because His values are available to those who want to embody them and bring them to others to change their lives. Luke 4

It is so cold that I can feel it piercing through my jacket reaching into my skin and getting right insight my bones, but despite the painful cold the hunger is worst so I go out, my mission, to get to the take-way and back as quickly as possible. Conversing to Johanna keeps my mind away from how low the temperature is. Her job is changing she says, what was a free lance job the company now wants to change it to a contract meaning more restrictions and less money. She is not happy about it, and has less than a week to make her mind up on what to do. As we discuss the world’s economy and how things are getting tougher the subject of my job comes up. “So Francisco how is your work going to be as from March?” she asks... “Well I will be working Wed, Thu and Sun” I say. “Well in this financial climate is better than no job right!” she remarks, as she blows into her hands seeking to warm up, and walks in a funny way as she tries to make the pain produced by cold go away. I usually observe people jumping, or moving funnily, or things of that sort, when they are cold in the pursuit to warms their bodies.

As I myself blow into my hands seeking the comfort of my warm breath I reply “Well...I technically have a job but a non-paid job. You see Johanna, I felt God spoke to me and told me to trust in him by not taking the salary. The problem is that the church has not been doing that well financially” I stop for a moment as I try to make my mind up on what we are going to eat, we have all the choices in front of us, kebab, Chinese, curry... “I think we have too many choices now-a-days that is the problem” I say, as we make our mind up to have Chinese. “Where was I? Oh yes, the church and the finances. The thing is that some think that you give money so the Minister can be paid. But the point is that we give out of how grateful we are towards Him for all He has done, and because He has asked us” at that point I remember she is not a Christian and all this talk might not be making sense to her. Nonetheless I continue to close my thought. “By me removing from the equation what I believe God is doing is focusing them, by bringing them to the real reason why we give”. “But while God is busy teaching them that lesson, how are you going to life?” she asks, there is confusion on her face as she asks. She pauses. Looks down and raises her face, it was like in slow motion, as she slowly raised up and turns to face me, she stares right into my eyes almost like reaching inside my soul and asks, “But do they care? Will anyone care? Will anyone change? Why do you do this? You don’t have to do it, nobody cares.”    

I don’t expect you to fully understand this I myself am trying to make sense of what is about to happen. I know God cares therefore I do care. Will anyone care, change or notice? I don’t know we will find out soon. But it is not about if they care, it is about that I care. I care enough for them, because I feel that God cares enough for me. Once I didn’t care if God would find me, or if Jesus died on a cross, but now that I have come to understand it, I glad that he cared when I didn’t.

Paul was a man, says the Bible, selected by God to know how much he was going to suffer for His name. The Lord Jesus selected him to go out to the Gentiles (non-Jews) and preach the Good News of God to them. This decision meant to be cut out from his present life, his status and all the rest. He says all that I have for winning now I consider it worthless next to Christ. My point is, no one really cared if he was going to go, no one was expecting him in the world of the Gentiles, however he understood that God cared so much that His Son Jesus died at the cross and therefore he cared too. Thanks to Paul caring for the Gentiles in bringing the Good News to them today I can write these lines to you.

The next 1440 minutes

For the next 48 slots of 30 min throughout the day different people in different places will be praying like one body, the body of Christ. Despite the difference in location and time, we will be united by one common goal that is coming together to worship our Lord, as we stand in the gap.

What to pray

The bible says that we don’t know what to pray for but that the Spirit does and therefore He leads us. Here are some prayer points to start our time of prayer but if you feel the Lord is leading you through His spirit to focus on something else feel free to allow him to guide you as you spend time praying.

Where to pray

Where to pray is a question that I get asked a lot, ideally it would be better if you could find a quiet place for the next half an hour to focus on the Lord and the things you are praying for, however, if this is impossible to do praying while you do your duties is possible too.

How to pray

Many people don’t know what to do when they dedicate a time to pray so here I give you a suggested guide line for the 30 minutes you will be praying.

Opening:

It is always good to focus our minds and thoughts on what we are about to do, and what better way to do that than to read a Psalm, don’t rush it through take your time as you read it, once you finish come back to the parts that are of most interest to you and ponder on those words for a moment.

Opening prayer:

As you might do when you see a friend you start by greeting each other, the Lord is our Lord and Father but He is also our friend, take a moment to say hi, to tell him how you are feeling, how are you, how are things, it’s like having a coffee with someone you love and trust.

Song:

Not many people can sing, me being one of those; but if you can or feel comfortable doing it sing a song and worship him alternatively you can listen to a worship song and just enjoy the song as you listen or sing.

Prayer:

By now you should feel more at home, so take the list of prayer and pray for the points given to you at the back of this booklet if you feel at any point the Lord is leading you in a different way don’t worry and follow his lead.

Deacon’s weekend away

• When:

The deacons will be going away from the 24^th to the 26^th Feb to seek God’s guidance for this coming year

• Pray for:

  Vision, unity, wisdom, fire of God in them and strength for the leaders

• Names:

Milton, Joyce, Mabel, Elaine, Melinda, Sister B, Yvonne, Deji, John, Pastor Francisco

Church 2012

• When:

As from 1^st March Pastor Francisco will be working part time, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays only

• Pray:

Pray for the Leaders of the church to work together during these coming months.

For Pastor to find a balanced routine that allows him to fulfil his duties in and out of the church.

Baptisms

• When:

March will see once again our baptismal pool open to welcome new disciples who will immerse in the waters to obey and to follow our Lord Jesus.

• Pray:

Pray for those whom the Lord is calling to follow him, so they can have the courage to obey him; for the baptismal classes to go ahead without many disturbances. Pray for wisdom, love, and guidance for those who are leading the classes.

• Names:

Deji, Elaine and Milton, will be leading the classes

For those in Hospital

• When:

In the last few weeks and months some of the members of the family here at Clapham have fallen ill and are currently in hospital.

• Pray:

Pray for Pauline who has been struggling at hospital for several weeks now, for her to recover so the desire of her heart to come back home becomes a reality.

Pray for Vicky Woodman who after two heart attacks is gently recovering in Hospital. Pray for her as it is yet unknown the condition of her brain after she struggled for around 30 min during the second heart attack.

Around the world

• Where:

Nigeria is suffering from a harsh wave of violence especially on the northern region of the country in which hundreds of people including children have been killed. Those who are being targeted in its majority are Christians.

• Pray:

Pray for endurance, peace and tranquillity among those suffering persecution because of their faith.

London

• Our City

We have been called to stand up in the gap to intercede for the city where we live and its peace

• Pray:

Pray for the different aspects of our city, maybe news that you have heard that has caught your attention or a particular situation in the area where you live, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Sometimes we wonder; why do we do all we do in the name of God, does anybody cares? We have been asked to live out our faith. It is not about knowing the theory but practising it. However, there are times when we might feel that all we do is just going down the drain. Be encouraged. Paul says to the Romans; “for I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes....God whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. Either by word or action you spread His Good News of how He makes us right in his sight. People might not be seeking for this Good News but is our calling to tell them. They will be glad once they know that they have been found by God as you are glad too.  

As I sip my coffee I glance through the coffee house towards the doorway as I wait for a couple who want to meet with me.  Few conversations have taken place over the phone with her; he is aware of this but has never spoken to me. I have never seen them before nor do I know anything about their lives, I can tell they are young and in some sort of trouble.  When 999 is not the number to call in an emergency it’s me who you call.  They are not an exception to this. I’m expecting an older couple rather than two 19 years old, as she has told me that they have been together for four years.  It is for this reason that I don’t recognise the timid young couple who cross the main door, I guess looking for an older minister not the trendy young man sipping coffee so comfortably while he reads a news paper and does something on his IPhone.  So here we are, both parties finding younger versions of what each other was expecting.

Lisa wants, as many women do, for the love of her life to be a perfect man. Meanwhile it’s the un-perfect man that is the love of her life.  Over the years I have experienced how I or those who come to me in a desperate attempt to change others will go to the extreme in doing so.  Lisa and Jason have struggled over the years with their relationship.  My personal appreciation is that they started a much too serious relationship too young.

As life unfolds and each wants different things, Jason has changed she tells me, “the problem are his friends, he used to be a good boy.  Now he is...well, different.  He could disappear for days at a time, and neither me nor his mum would know his where abouts”.  Lisa, in the midst of her desperation has gone looking for spiritual help.  Oh! It’s not what you are thinking; she has not come to me.  My part in the story comes later.  Allow me to continue.

She went to see a baba and that would for a sum of money return a well behaved, loving, matured, Jason.  What started as a solution soon turned into a problem, when more finances were demanded to finish the job. Refusal was not an option as it would only lead to the spirits being angry, reversing the good intended into terrible misfortunes for the couple.

As they both sit in front of me; their young faces and youthful spirit seem to have been taken away from them as desperation and confusion have walked into their life earlier than any parent would like for their kids.  This baba has promised to improve her surroundings, by changing her circumstances and the people in her life, if she pays him some money.  However, her present state is far from those promises, if anything it’s quite the opposite.  She has run out money and he is not having it, she either pays out or suffers the consequences.

As they retell the story of how it all started and how she came to do what she did.  I sit there sipping my coffee not thinking on what I am going to say, but rather thinking on my own life... “How many times I have prayed wanting for my surroundings to change but God seems to be silent”.  I sip for the last time a coffee cup that has nothing more to offer me, but the smell of the coffee that once was there.  I raise my eyes to hers and in a calm, direct and loving way I begin to say the few words that once angered me when I first heard them, but after these words overcame my anger; they changed me forever.  “You are the problem” I say.  Lisa went pale, and looks confused.  I can tell she is expecting anything but for me to say she is the problem.  Maybe a word to Jason on how and why he could/should change she was expecting, instead of her being under the microscope. 

“Lisa, The God I serve loves you so much that He wants to transform you to the image of his Son Jesus, the price is free.  You see, Lisa, change comes from within rather than from outward-in.   It’s not about changing the surroundings and difficulties will always crop up. But, if we changed we could face each situation”.

As for you who are reading these lines let me share with you the lines written by Thomas Merton: “by meditation I penetrate the inmost ground of my life, seek the full understanding of God’s will for me, of God’s mercy to me, of my absolute dependence upon him. But this penetration must be authentic...but my life and aims tend to be artificial, inauthentic, as long as I am simply trying to adjust my actions to certain exterior norms of conduct that will enable me to play an approved part in the society in which I live. After all, this amounts to little more than learning a role”.

Paul is writing to the Thessalonians who are under persecution because they have accepted the Gospel, and although an “everything will be alright”, or, “things will change for good” line is expected in a letter for a situation like this. Paul says... “And this word continues to work in you who believes” IN YOU, because it’s you and I who needs to change not the surroundings.

I was having a good chat with few friends over dinner about religion and faith, and one of them said; “I hate it when you stop seeing someone you know for a while and then when you see them again they have become all religious. But it is not the fact of becoming religious that I hate, it is the way in which they try to push their new faith up my nose”

For more apologetic I wanted to be, it is true, some of us Christians become judgemental by pointing out all the wrong doings in others when showing our faith, or, too much excitement that leave a taste like the one left after having too much sweat. To this Paul writes; “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause anther believer to stumble and fall” Rom 14:12-13. Let’s live lives that produce curiosity for other to know more about God, rather than to putting people off God with a judgemental attitude or an overwhelming and an-control excitement.

Owe nothing to anyone – except for your obligation to love one another...Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfils the requirements of God’s law...So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living...Romans 13

By meditation I penetrate the inmost ground of my life, seek the full understanding of God’s will for me, of God’s mercy to me, of my absolute dependence upon him. But this penetration must be authentic...but my life and aims tend to be artificial, inauthentic, as long as I am simply trying to adjust my actions to certain exterior norms of conduct that will enable me to play an approved part in the society in which I live. After all, this amounts to little more than learning a role.

STOP! And have a honest evaluation of yourself may be what needs changing is NOT the surroundings but YOU!

KALI

The heat in Dakshineswar city near Kolkata on this sunny afternoon is more than my English companions can tolerate.  Pastor Khan leads the way to the Kali temple.  He is taking us to a temple priest, so we can enter. The priest tells us that there will be a charge for the favour, which he likes to call offering.   Kali means lord of death.  She is revered as "redeemer of the universe” and is often seen standing on her husband, Lord Shiva.

The temple has a majestic architecture.  As I stand there taking in the sight before my eyes, I get the sensation of a place that was once in its full splendour but today stands on what is left; on the pride of those great memories; still accepting the venerations offered by those who pilgrim hundreds of miles to visit Kali at her temple.  The priest now leads the way as pastor Khan retreats to the back of the group.

As we stroll through the temple which then becomes more like a small city, I can see how the small population which resides in this small, smelly and dirty city lives; a city which demands that her visitors and habitants remove their shoes while they are within her ramparts.  One particular lady catches my attention.  She is senior, short hair from what I can tell and may be disabled.  Her fragile body lies on a dirty, smelly, floor that is divided by a stream of water coming from somewhere behind a pair of doors not far from her.  As we walk passed her I cannot stop staring at her, my body moves forward but my eyes stay with her.  Even today some years later I can still see her there.  “Francisco!”... Kenneth calls me out of my trance... “Man what is it with you?  You seem a bit disconnected.” Kenneth remarks, and says...“Listen we cannot see the inside part where Kali is, she is eating and the doors are closed.”  He continued... “We missed the sacrifices and now we can’t see the statue...what a waste of time!”  She is eating!  I can almost scream inside me, the goddess is being fed while the lady on the floor dies...

TERESA

As we cross the doors there is nothing majestic about the architecture, or signs of a former glory.  The place is peaceful.  We are told by a small gentle lady that soon people will come, they are eating and resting. Inside these walls there is not much space; it is like a big house, not a small city.  There are pilgrims from all over the world.  They turn up every morning and afternoon to help.  For a day, a month, a year, a life time. There is not a god to see; it is the fragile, old, ill, hopeless people which are lying on top of small, simple metal frames with leather cover mattresses, dressed with a one-thousand-times-washed sheets.  The focus is not on any god or in how beautiful the place is.  The focus is on the people lying on the beds, which have nothing glorious about them either.  ‘Let’s make the man to our image.’  It is quoted in the opening lines of the Bible.  I can see that image right here in front of me.  

No matter if you are rich or poor, white or black, literate or not; all that matters is these who need help.  Putting aside all that divides us and putting on what unites us as the motive for being there; giving care, love and mercy for one another.  Outside an old figure of Christ being crucified hangs from the top of the big house; to the view of the world a face of hunger, thirst, pain while he is being humiliated.  Inside there is a different story, all those on the beds are being honoured.  This is the former abandoned temple to Kali. This massive structure have been split in two making the two halves face away from each other as if each half didn’t exist to the other.  Kalighat, the Home of the Pure Heart, a hospice for the sick, destitute and the dying, was established by Mother Teresa.

Despite the obvious pain, lack of hope and severe suffering experienced by those inside these walls, they can’t see God, they can experience HIM.  They are not outside lying on the floor while God is inside being fed.  They are inside being look after, while the image of Christ is outside hanging from a cross.

So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you.  In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. ⁷ As a result, you have become an example to all the believers... And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere. 1 Thes. 1:6-7

His message brings faith, hope and love and all these three things produce Joy.  He doesn’t take from us He gives.  By allowing others to experience God in you, as you do faithful works, lovingly, with the hope that even when we know that our knowledge is partial and incomplete now, He will lets us see everything in perfect clarity.  With the joy produced by faith, hope and love we could confront suffering.  

GOOD MORNING!
For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself...they cling to their own way of getting right with God...“the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart”... For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved
All you have to do is believe it and live it out...  

Reading is one of my passions; however, I am still learning who the good writers are.  Good books to me are the ones rich with good literature, insightful thoughts about life, a bit philosophical.  As I enquire who the good writers and the good books are, I am told he/she is brilliant and this is the book that made him/her famous.  What makes someone, a place or an activity, famous, or well known?

Good performance, good taste, uniqueness, good service, all these things and similar ones are attached to a person, a place or activity are the things that make them famous, or at least worthy for us to come back and recommend to others.

In a very fast developing city like ours, thriving churches seems to be the ones which keep contemporary to their surroundings.  I make a stop here to briefly explain that the methods used by the churches that are contemporary – contemporary is something that is not to last forever, contrary to the message held by the church, which is to last.

We talk about how wonderful, inspiring and challenging a particular preacher is.  We also refer in a similar fashion towards worship groups/ministries, activities, outreach ministries either aimed to the people of our city or overseas.  When all these wonderful things are allied to a church, calling them, the church’s ministries; we consider then that such a church is a thriving church.   These wonderful churches are the ones that are attracting multitudes.

As I reflect on these wonderful and thriving ministries, I can’t stop thinking on the feelings and thoughts produced in some of its members making them think and feel that their churches are so wonderful even if they are not; creating a distance and detached sensation between the church and the person.   Making the person see and think of his/her church as the place where he/she could confidently take someone to be impressed or inspired.

Somewhere along the line we have inverted the order of elements.  We see churches who are working so hard to be contemporary and relevant succeeding in their attempt, while others are left behind on their quest of such contemporary relevance.   This seems to determine who is successful and who is not.  Many of those churches left behind are stuck over the discussion of what is the Godly way to do things, new over old, modern over tradition and so on.

Paul writes the following lines to the Thessalonians. “so you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit...as a result, you have become an example to all the believers...the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere...we don’t need to tell them about it. 1 Thes. 1:6-8.

What made the Thessalonians known to others and ultimately made the Lord known too, that others wanted to know more about that Jesus they were worshiping?  It was them as individuals and as a unit.  The focus was not on a particular ministry, preacher or worship group but the focus was on how the power and the persona of Christ was so evident in them.  Pauls says “for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.”

It was them not the ministries or shows put up by them.  It is you who makes this place relevant and inviting.  The “you” that lives outside the church is what causes others to want to meet with the Jesus they experience in you, or to not want to meet with that Jesus.   YOU MAKE HIM FAMOUS AND WANTED.

David Cameron has announced how people who have earnings over 43k a year will not get child benefit, targeting single mothers, or one household earner. For a couple who are under 43k each a year but together will go well over 43k a year will receive child benefit. As families take the hard road of one parent staying at home to see the children grow up. Or a single mother who struggle to make ends meet. This government is sending both parents out to work, and single mothers’ longer hours outside the house to meet their responsibilities; leaving our children to the care of others. Then when events like the one in August take place from a fatherless and motherless generation. We wonder, WHY? What really matters the presence of a parent at home to spend time with those who are growing up is compromised for MONEY.



We are tied by time.  Time determines our daily lives, when to go places, when to eat, sleep, etc.  Time also changes our style of life. For instance as time passes seasons come and go; winter, summer, autumn, spring and with those seasons our routines and clothing changes too.  Genesis retells the account of how God created time.  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.  Gen 1:3-4.

As time is a logical fixation to our ongoing reality, it can also be used in an abstract manner.  Eccl 3:1 says “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...a time to be born and a time to die...a time to tear down and a time to build...a time to weep and a time to laugh...a time to search and a time to give up...a time to be silent and a time to speak...”

January is the beginning of a New Year once again!  Along with January and the late Merry Christmas wishes from those we didn’t see over the holiday’s season, it also comes with cliché phrases like... “Another fresh new year is here...another year to live!  To banish worry, doubt, and fear, to love and laugh and give...” and who can forget the New Year’s resolutions which make GYM’s memberships go through the roof.

Although you might be thinking I’m sounding pessimistic, miserable and grumpy, what I am trying to put across is that although God created time, and we start a day in the morning and a New Year in January.  To Start with God any day, any hour, any place, any situation, and in any mood are perfect for God to start a new beginning with us.  Even though the start of a year could give us a booster to change, once we move into the year and January becomes a distant memory, the reality of a God who is willing and capable to act at any time is what will sustain you.  God created time but is not tied by it.

We hear the common phrase “time changes us”.  But what it really changes is what occurs during that time.  We could let the hardship of life and the bad experiences change us into someone full of grief, or the successes change us into someone arrogant and self-sufficient.  On the other hand we could make time the witness of how we interact with God, allowing his love to flood us, changing our sorrows into joy, our failures into success.    

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30.  This promise is for every day of the year, and all the years to come.

At the back of the manse (the church house) a nine house development is taking place on what used to be a school and then became a play ground.  It consequently closed to the public as it was not built properly.  Having the open space at the back of the house was one of my great pleasures, as I could, from my bedroom window, have a peek onto London.  That pleasure has long gone as the three stories houses are now being erected to occupy the empty space that I love so much.  

The main structure has now been completed and as they work on making the houses a beautiful and liveable place, the whole structure is surrounded by scaffolding making it look a mess and unattractive.  That view made my mind roll back to something that I once heard, “love me when I least deserve it, because it is when I need it the most.”

It doesn’t only sound good but it is true too.  John said “This is how God showed his love among us:  He sent his one and only Son... This is love:  not that we loved God, but that he loved us...” 1 John 4.  We didn’t deserve God’s love but He offered it to us.  We needed it.  God created everything we know, but he unveiled His heart when He sent His only Son.  His love was the initiative to send Jesus to us, so we could find life in Him.  When you or I get an understanding of that love of God, it cannot go without changing our lives and behaviours.   Change doesn’t happen at once, but it is a process, a process of building up.  And like the houses that are being built at the back of the manse, we might not look that attractive.

But that process is not just happening in us but in many others around us. Others might be where we once were, a closed park, not in use waiting to be developed into something beautiful, useable and new.  Whichever place they are, once we are touched and inspired by God’s love, we are called to show the same kindness and love towards others.  Only true love can be given when we experience God’s love in our lives.  As God’s love was the initiative to send his Son, let that very same love we claim to have be the initiative to overcome the barriers that divide us and love one another. 

Don’t look at the scaffolding that surrounds me as the Lord works in me but with his love see beyond at the beauty of His work in me.  I promise by His love that I will do the same to you.  Let this be our statement for this coming year, as the Lord builds us.

Being at home surrounded by those that I love is a great pleasure and feeling. I also enjoy seeing my friends very much, spending time with them and looking after them and having a relationship with them. All my friends are not the same of course. There are some, who are my football friends; these are the people I play football with every Saturday. My good friends, this group is small but they are the people who are very close to me and who have been walking with me in the good times and not so good times. And like that there are some other friends you get the idea. The point is that in order for me to call them friends and to have a real friendship, I have to see them and spend time with them, even if that means once a year. In a few words, I have to make the effort and time to keep up with the relationship. Otherwise, they will be like many of my Facebook friends, better known as contacts, but people whom I don’t really talk to, the only way I know about their lives is because they publish it on facebook not because of me, but because they want to tell the world what they are up to.

“Lets us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of dong, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25.

As I mentioned earlier, in order to maintain a relationship with friends, family and others we need to spend time together and God is not any different. However, there is a huge misunderstanding among many. Many have come to think that in order to have a relationship with God they can get rid off everyone around them. For instance, it is very common to hear people say ‘if I want to speak to God I don’t need to go church’ or perhaps comments like this ‘I don’t need to go to church or meet with other Christians if I want to know God, I can do this from the privacy, and the comfort of my house.’

To such statements there could many answers. But lets pause for a moment and think. If, in order to keep a relationship with someone, all I need to do is to find something in common with that person. And then try to find things to do together, that can be eating, walking, or anything else, without a crowd necessarily, why then do I need a crowd or other people to have a relationship with God? As I said a moment ago there are many good answers to this question, but allow me to answer the question with four reasons why we should meet together as a way forward to this dilemma.

Strength comes from Numbers

Mr Bean has been a character that has always fascinated me, from my early days when I started to watch the short clips called Mr Bean I was drawn to the way he was a funny and excellent communicator. At the time speaking in English was far down on the things I wanted to do, or able to do. Nonetheless, that was not a problem when watching Mr Bean as he was capable of making me laugh without words, he was more or less a modern Charlie Chaplin and the silence movies. However, one of the things that I didn’t really like was the fact that he was very lonely and his only friend was a teddy bear. For all that I like Mr Bean and his show; I don’t think I would have been able to get here just with a teddy bear as a friend. My friends and family have been an important part in my life, not just to go through difficult times but to develop as a person.

In the same manner the first principle to ensure Spiritual growth is to establish strong relationships with other growing Christians. For instance if we take the analogy of the coals, we can see that the coals burn hotter and longer when piled together, in the same way Christians who join together in Spiritual Fellowship will stoke one another’s faith in God.  

Engagement

Sometime ago the service for the mobile phones call Blackberrys collapsed. This meant that the instant messaging services were down. For most teenagers, their life and relationships run through this ‘bb chat’ as is better know. They are always talking to someone on their phones. A joke came out that went something like this ‘the blackberry services collapse, and for the first time I had to put my face up, and see people face to face and speak to them and interact with them. It was horrible I thought it was the End of the World.’ For most of them it was funny, simply because it was true.

The passage we read earlier Hebrews 10:25 asks us to not give up meeting together but to encourage one another. Encourage means ‘to call alongside.’ In order to call alongside we need to engage with one another and to do that we need to meet together.

Inspirations

‘Do not be misled; bad company corrupt good characters’ 1 Corinthians 15:33

When I became a pastor I thought that in order to produce good sermons and keep up a fresh word from God all I needed was to lock myself away pray and read the Bible. But although it is necessary to practise such spiritual disciplines, another strong source of inspiration is other Christians. Especially listening to their experiences with God and the way God spoke to them through the scripture.

The majority of my folks at church would say that the mayor struggle in their spiritual life is the wrong influence and pressure that comes from outside. The Bible tells us that we are temples of the Holy Spirit, God is in us, so by meeting with others in whom God lives give us the aroma of God and inspires us to continue this walk of faith.

Restoration

‘Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.’ Galatians 6:1a

Have you ever found yourself in trouble and needing help, but unable to find someone to call? Nothing is more frustrating and dangerous! Like getting caught in a strong ocean current, Christians can find themselves being swept away by sin’s temptations. Fortunate is the Christian who has a spiritual friend who will not hesitate to jump in and rescue him from danger!

This passage uses the word gentle. Gentle is the translation of the same Greek word from which ‘meek’ is translated. A person who is ‘meek’ is one who is humble towards God. This humility comes from the realization that God is the Creator and we are simply His creation! This keeps us from the pride that would hinder us from helping the Christians caught in sin!

Therefore; meeting together is something that we should not give up but to encourage, because it is there that we are transformed by God and this is through the God that lives in your brother or your sister in Christ.

During the first weekend in May hundreds of Baptist Ministers, leaders and some church members, made their way from all ends of the United Kingdom to our cosmopolitan city of London for what is the annual Baptist Assembly. This is a gathering that happens every year around this time in different towns and cities in England. However this year was extra special as we celebrated 400 years a s Baptists in the UK all the leading leaders of the denomination were sharing what has made Baptist distinctive over the years and what the future is holding for the church in the UK. During Saturday afternoon many lectures and workshops were given, some were full others no so much. All were excellent depending on each person’s likings. New Ministers were welcomed into ministry while others were commissioned overseas with theirs families, some were going to places that none of us would even consider as holiday destinations.

But what today was very fancy conference in Westminster Hall opposite Parliament and the Big Ben, which enjoys one of the most prestigious places in London, surrounded by commodities and all the gadgets to make a meeting of a few thousand go smooth, was a very distance even unthinkable though for the first Baptists in England, whom once gathered by the tens somewhere in a much less prestigious place in London 400 years ago. That small gathering was not even a ministers and missionary gathering nor could even be called conference. It was simply a group of people who had, as the center of their lives, Jesus as Lord and who did not have anything fancy about them, and if anything was distinctive about them it was their strong faith and up to the point that some had to pay their commitment with their won lives.

What marked the difference? Their way of life, better known as the people who practiced the baptism of believers. They thought that going into the waters was not for the parents to decide over the babies’ life, but for the adult who had come to know God and had made his/her decision to follow Him into the waters and a life of service empowered by the Holy Spirit. Their desire to follow and obey was so distinctive that ministry was not limited to the clergy but extended to the church. They believed that in comparison to the Catholic Church who believed that the church was the Pope, the Priests, the Nuns and the Monks, that the church was and is all those who have been rescued by God thought Jesus. And it was them who stated that church meetings were the place to understand the mind of God and to go forward together as Church

The pass 200 years

But the story did not end there, after they found their own feet in this land and after going through a lot of tribulations up to the point of dying for their faith, they did not stop there or feel discouraged, on the contrary, they understood that once we conquered our home, our Jerusalem we are to go out to the end of the world, and so they did. After the first 200 years the Baptists went out of their comfort zone and launched themselves into the adventure of believing that the one who called their brothers 200 years earlier was empowering them too 200 years later, and so they went out to spread the gospel around the world.

Today 400 years later the same question is passed to us. Does the story end here with predictions that some denominations like the United Reform Church would have vanished by 2020, and the church in England later to follow. 200 years ago The Baptist family, a lot bigger and stronger than the one 200 years earlier, took the church to another level, the level of sending missionaries all around the world, known as the modern missionary work. Unfortunately todays picture of the church is not as brave as the one 4 Centuries ago. We have become more relaxed, more complaisant and too afraid to upset anyone, many churchgoers can’t really tell in an articulate manner the foundation of their faith. Some see God and the Gospel as an aid, an assistance, I might go as far as to say that for some, God has become an app the ones we have in our IPhones to help us with practical stuff in our lives. The church of today sees ministry as something for the Paid Minister, the leader, and the deacons to do. In a way coming back to the very thought that once departed the Baptist from the Catholic church but that now for convenience reasons we somehow agree wit silence words, and so we don’t mind flirting with that idea from the pews as we get confortable as all we do is to listen to sermons, sing songs and go back to our business. Tony Complo was saying in one of the evenings that we are happy to be Christians up to a point, as long as it does not interfere too much with our confortable lives.

There is a way forward, it is not a new way it is just a different way from what we are falling into. I encourage you to take the example of those first Baptists who did not leave church to be done by the minister or an association, well none of that was available to them. But who took the calling of God in their lives as something personal; those Baptists who were not only willing to believe but follow Jesus, to go out of their comfort zone to make a difference.

We here in Clapham Baptist church are passionate about including our members, our church in the calling that God has done to the minister, deacons and leaders. We believe that this calling is not for the few but for the many. We have created space for each one of you to develop you knowledge of the Lord, your gift, and talents. Either as young baby in the Lord or as someone who has been in church for many years, we have created a place for you to grow. However this is not going to happen from the comfort of our pews two hours once a week every Sunday. As we have to make the time to make a fife outside work and family commitments, a life to follow Christ doesn’t deserve any less but much more.

1 Peter 2: 1 – 5 

The deacons and I took time away last weekend to seek God’s guidance and vision for the church. We had a great time together, around the table, in prayer, studying the Bible, praying but most importantly seeking to hear God speaking to us.

To some people Church is a matter of gathering on Sunday mornings to sing a few songs, read the Bible, say some prayers and to listen to a sermon. Church is much more than that. Although our main doors are closed throughout the week the church is by no means closed, if anything it is more active than ever. Sunday Service is the place where we come to conclude the worship that we have been doing throughout the week by action, worship, learning and listening to God. It is the time and place where we gather with the bigger community of Christ to worship God.

Why is it important for the leaders to get away from everyone and everything to concentrate on the things mention above? The church is not only a Sunday gathering, but the body of Christ which is journeying towards its final destination. Our final destination is to be the bride of Christ, and to be with Him. What the Bible calls the New Jerusalem. But there are other questions which have been put to the church as she journeys towards its final destination.

What is the church’s calling as she journeys towards her final destination? What should the Church expect as she journeys? What has been given to the church as she moves towards her final destination? All these questions are for the Universal Church and the Church of the Centuries from Christ to now to answer; however, these questions are also addressed to the local church. And we here at CBC as a local church cannot and must not overlook these questions, which, once we seek to answer with the guidance of the Holy Spirit will reveal God’s purpose for us here at Clapham.

Over the weekend and in the weeks to come the deacons have set their minds, hearts and spirits to search, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the answers to these questions. We here at Clapham understand that we don’t want to be a Church that is a mile wide and an inch deep. What does this mean? Some churches try to do too much and spread themselves too thinly. When there is not clear guidance from God there is the danger of filling the week with activities lacking understanding of why the church is doing it, and most importantly with a church that lacks an understanding of the God who they have been called to serve and worship.

Over the weekend we identified three main things we have been called to do; to GATHER those who have been call by God, to BUILD them up by helping them to understand their calling and knowledge of God and to SEND them to fulfil God’s purpose. These three things will be supported by 5 pillars which are identified in Act 2.

DISCIPLESHIP

FELLOWSHIP

WORSHIP

ACTS OF SERVICE

EVANGELISM

These will be nurtured by the 5 ministries given to the church by God through His Holy Spirit

APOSTLES

PROPHETS

EVANGELISTs

PASTORS

TEACHERS

We then understand that all these are possible with the gift of the Spirit which has been available to every one of us in Christ to the edification of the Church.

All this might come as a heavy load of information and it is why in the next few weeks and months we will be working hard to convey the vision to the church in a simple and practical way. It is why we invite you this Friday to join in prayer to ask God to open our understanding as we try to listen to what He is saying and to put actions to His words.

May God bless us as we embark into a new year full of promises, challenges, and work for the Lord

We don’t hear the word “vocation” now-a-days too often as was the case years ago.  I remember during my school days thinking about what I was going to be when the time to go to University was due.  What will I study?  What will I be?  What we studied was connected to what we did.  Currently we study one thing and go to do something completely different. The idea of vocation gets further away from our career choices.

As I read the pages of 1 Thessalonians 3 a sentence caught my attention, verse 10, “night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith”.  This verse is not focusing on vocation or on the life of one who has been called to do something.  However, the beginning and the last part of the sentence brought two words to mind, vocation and calling.

Throughout the letter Paul tells them how worried he was for them as he wonders if after he left they have been able to keep the faith he shared with them.  While he is away he has devoted himself to pray for them, and if God allows him to come back to see them he will spend his time filling in the gaps in their faith, the things he didn’t get to teach them while he was with them.

He makes it clear that God has called him to do a specific work and he verbalised elsewhere when he says to Timothy “But you Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.” Elsewhere he expands on his purpose... “My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard”.

Paul, who went under the name of Saul in his former life before he became an apostle of Christ, was a very religious man.  His training under Gamaliel was the finest available.  His intentions and efforts were sincere.  He was a good Pharisee who knew the Bible and sincerely believed that the Christian movement was dangerous to Judaism and that was why he persecuted them.

However, from this life of having the right tools and the knowledge of the Scripture and Judaism, God called him out to a different life.  To something more unsettled, where trust that God knew what he was doing was needed, he says... “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!”  It was the key to his life and calling that he trusted God because the life he was to live under this calling was full of difficulties where many things would appear to be uncertain at times.  He was not only aware of this factor but was also open to include it as part of his teachings to new Christians... “Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come – and they did...”

We have been inspired by Paul throughout our Christian life, we are grateful for the things he wrote for our faith to be strengthened and developed, however, for many of us we just see that.  And we don’t see beyond this, the success of his ministry and the great insight he had in life, because if we did, we would see The Jesus that appeared to him and called him.  Paul met a Jesus that taught him how to trust in God, to do amazing things with little, to passionately wanting to know God and to be passionate to reach those who didn’t know God.

As we read Paul’s words in the Scripture, or, the words of a man of God in a book, or, listen to a sermon, even when we know that what we are reading or listening to is to strengthen and develop our faith, we must be aware that it is also to meet the God behind these men/women of God.

Every time we read Paul, or listen to a preacher, or read a good book we are challenged by the calling of those who are instructing us.  God can be calling you as He called Saul.  We unwillingly have created a dividing gap between those called to the full time service in Christian ministry and those who listen from the seats of the church, not noticing that God is calling you to move closer to Him and to take up Paul’s challenge to follow him, to a more unsettled life where trusting God is the only way forward.  Unsettled because the securities provided by our society are not necessarily the principles by which God’s kingdom functions, however, His promises are given to us as our warranties...like when Paul was spoken to by God during a difficult time... “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me”.

Furthermore, we are also called to help identify and encourage those called to full time ministry.  For the world it might not be an option but for us who believe it is a privilege.  We have to care for those who are stepping forward to take the challenge... “You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion.”  We have all been called to follow HIM, whether full time or not but to follow, to encourage one another, to devote ourselves to Him and his people, instead of just thinking about “us” and “our security”.

For many of my friends doing homework it’s a nightmare especially if research is part of what it has been requested. In a time where long walks to the library and endless hours going through books is not a promising afternoon for any 10 to 12 year old boy.  Computers are something distant that only few can work, like my cousin who is doing her third year on IT Engineering.  For now there is no help from the IT quarter to assist us with our homework.

For many of my friends the library is the only place to find answers to some of our awkward themed projects given by a teacher who we believe has no life whatsoever.  In my case everything is different!  My Library is right at home, the computer with internet is my dad who knows where every single article or quote in his library is.  I sit in front of him with a list of questions to which I will be given either a straight answer or an article which will answer what I want to know.  To many a jackpot, to me a frustration as I think when, if ever, will I be as clever as this man who is called “dad”, and who’s genes don’t seem to be present in me in any way, shape or form.

Learning, being educated and wise is one of my big challenges as I grow up, the reality, my lifelines and hyperactive personality don’t go down well with the hope of being academic and which I think will make me wise and intelligent too.  On the other hand I have a mother whose contribution, as all the mothers that I know, is to tell me that a good in the education gives me a good job, a good job gives me profit, profit gives me power to have access, and power gives me influence.  Education, profit, power and influence give me status.  I feel a huge weight on my shoulders, I am barely 15 and I have all these things to think and to develop and it seems that time is running out and I am not doing remarkably well. 

Life hasn’t got a remote control, not that many TVs have remote controls in the 80s.  We are just happy to have a colour TV at home, TVs with remote controls are a rare breed, my dad’s remote control is me, as he tells me to change the channel every time he gets bored with a channel.  But if life had a remote control I could pause, rewind and try again, unfortunately there isn’t one and life continues, all I have is the formula given to me by my parents. Knowledge + Profit + Power + Status = The Solution.

The Idea of God is something that pops in and out as I am growing up, but I am too busy right now trying to get hold of the formula for my good fortunes.  It is all about knowing, understanding, being capable, doing better than others, having more, storing plenty, exercising power and fighting to climb up the ladder of status.

I am busy running my life, or thinking that I do.  I know that I am not doing that well, but there is nothing more but to continue trying.  The secret I have discovered is never to admit that you are not doing so well.  That was not told by my parents, I learnt that by myself.  I am proud I have my own discoveries.  God has popped into my life.  It was not me that was looking for HIM, it seems that HE rather was looking for me!  Not sure what to make of it. But He seems not to be going anywhere any time soon at least.  He becomes like an unexpected guest you don’t necessarily invite but you accommodate them in your house as you continue with your life.

God now is my guest.  I feel bad at times so I dedicate time to Him so He doesn’t feel like I am not being a good host or make it too obvious that He was never expected.  As time passes I learn to have Him there, I guess He is moving from being a guest to becoming a part of the members of my house, my life and ultimately now the ruler. 

Some time has passed and I come to realized that He has been there for some time now; I have a better thinking to the Idea of having God there not as guest but as part of my house.  I am thinking that the way to get to figure who God is must be by knowing, if I know all about Him, if I understand who He is, I will figure out what God is doing in my house and life.  If I know about Him, I will profit, will have power, influence and status.  The formula that was giving to me years ago and that has ruled my life ever since.

A new formula however was taught by Him after I failed to get anywhere with Him using my formula.  We can use our intelligence and reasoning to help us to discern, to engage and to understand at times, but we cannot use our reasoning as the pillar of our faith, as the way to knowing God or to let God be known to others.  When knowledge comes to an end due to pain, hopelessness and suffering, the power and gentleness of His Spirit gives us another type of knowledge, a knowledge that reveals God’s love and care for us, bringing the principles of His kingdom to us.  The peace that He gives and that no one else can, not even knowledge provides.

It is not about a formula that teaches me to get and to care for me primarily, on the contrary it is a formula where knowledge is founded by faith in God, profit comes from giving, power is not to take but to transform, and status is not to be on top but to serve.  Now-a-days God is not a guest or a member of my house; HE is the ruler and Lord of all I am.

We Christians are not just cruising through earth waiting on the “insurance” we bought when we accepted God to escape an Eternity in hell but to enter a distance hope call heaven. God is concern with all the issues we are being confronted with, by (we) I don’t mean the church only but humanity. Jesus embodied the hope of God and makes it available to his audience. We have been left to continue His legacy we the Church are here to confront and change the system with the kingdom values.

God is relevant because His values are available to those who want to embody them and bring them to others to change their lives. Luke 4

It is so cold that I can feel it piercing through my jacket reaching into my skin and getting right insight my bones, but despite the painful cold the hunger is worst so I go out, my mission, to get to the take-way and back as quickly as possible. Conversing to Johanna keeps my mind away from how low the temperature is. Her job is changing she says, what was a free lance job the company now wants to change it to a contract meaning more restrictions and less money. She is not happy about it, and has less than a week to make her mind up on what to do. As we discuss the world’s economy and how things are getting tougher the subject of my job comes up. “So Francisco how is your work going to be as from March?” she asks... “Well I will be working Wed, Thu and Sun” I say. “Well in this financial climate is better than no job right!” she remarks, as she blows into her hands seeking to warm up, and walks in a funny way as she tries to make the pain produced by cold go away. I usually observe people jumping, or moving funnily, or things of that sort, when they are cold in the pursuit to warms their bodies.

As I myself blow into my hands seeking the comfort of my warm breath I reply “Well...I technically have a job but a non-paid job. You see Johanna, I felt God spoke to me and told me to trust in him by not taking the salary. The problem is that the church has not been doing that well financially” I stop for a moment as I try to make my mind up on what we are going to eat, we have all the choices in front of us, kebab, Chinese, curry... “I think we have too many choices now-a-days that is the problem” I say, as we make our mind up to have Chinese. “Where was I? Oh yes, the church and the finances. The thing is that some think that you give money so the Minister can be paid. But the point is that we give out of how grateful we are towards Him for all He has done, and because He has asked us” at that point I remember she is not a Christian and all this talk might not be making sense to her. Nonetheless I continue to close my thought. “By me removing from the equation what I believe God is doing is focusing them, by bringing them to the real reason why we give”. “But while God is busy teaching them that lesson, how are you going to life?” she asks, there is confusion on her face as she asks. She pauses. Looks down and raises her face, it was like in slow motion, as she slowly raised up and turns to face me, she stares right into my eyes almost like reaching inside my soul and asks, “But do they care? Will anyone care? Will anyone change? Why do you do this? You don’t have to do it, nobody cares.”    

I don’t expect you to fully understand this I myself am trying to make sense of what is about to happen. I know God cares therefore I do care. Will anyone care, change or notice? I don’t know we will find out soon. But it is not about if they care, it is about that I care. I care enough for them, because I feel that God cares enough for me. Once I didn’t care if God would find me, or if Jesus died on a cross, but now that I have come to understand it, I glad that he cared when I didn’t.

Paul was a man, says the Bible, selected by God to know how much he was going to suffer for His name. The Lord Jesus selected him to go out to the Gentiles (non-Jews) and preach the Good News of God to them. This decision meant to be cut out from his present life, his status and all the rest. He says all that I have for winning now I consider it worthless next to Christ. My point is, no one really cared if he was going to go, no one was expecting him in the world of the Gentiles, however he understood that God cared so much that His Son Jesus died at the cross and therefore he cared too. Thanks to Paul caring for the Gentiles in bringing the Good News to them today I can write these lines to you.

The next 1440 minutes

For the next 48 slots of 30 min throughout the day different people in different places will be praying like one body, the body of Christ. Despite the difference in location and time, we will be united by one common goal that is coming together to worship our Lord, as we stand in the gap.

What to pray

The bible says that we don’t know what to pray for but that the Spirit does and therefore He leads us. Here are some prayer points to start our time of prayer but if you feel the Lord is leading you through His spirit to focus on something else feel free to allow him to guide you as you spend time praying.

Where to pray

Where to pray is a question that I get asked a lot, ideally it would be better if you could find a quiet place for the next half an hour to focus on the Lord and the things you are praying for, however, if this is impossible to do praying while you do your duties is possible too.

How to pray

Many people don’t know what to do when they dedicate a time to pray so here I give you a suggested guide line for the 30 minutes you will be praying.

Opening:

It is always good to focus our minds and thoughts on what we are about to do, and what better way to do that than to read a Psalm, don’t rush it through take your time as you read it, once you finish come back to the parts that are of most interest to you and ponder on those words for a moment.

Opening prayer:

As you might do when you see a friend you start by greeting each other, the Lord is our Lord and Father but He is also our friend, take a moment to say hi, to tell him how you are feeling, how are you, how are things, it’s like having a coffee with someone you love and trust.

Song:

Not many people can sing, me being one of those; but if you can or feel comfortable doing it sing a song and worship him alternatively you can listen to a worship song and just enjoy the song as you listen or sing.

Prayer:

By now you should feel more at home, so take the list of prayer and pray for the points given to you at the back of this booklet if you feel at any point the Lord is leading you in a different way don’t worry and follow his lead.

Deacon’s weekend away

• When:

The deacons will be going away from the 24^th to the 26^th Feb to seek God’s guidance for this coming year

• Pray for:

  Vision, unity, wisdom, fire of God in them and strength for the leaders

• Names:

Milton, Joyce, Mabel, Elaine, Melinda, Sister B, Yvonne, Deji, John, Pastor Francisco

Church 2012

• When:

As from 1^st March Pastor Francisco will be working part time, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays only

• Pray:

Pray for the Leaders of the church to work together during these coming months.

For Pastor to find a balanced routine that allows him to fulfil his duties in and out of the church.

Baptisms

• When:

March will see once again our baptismal pool open to welcome new disciples who will immerse in the waters to obey and to follow our Lord Jesus.

• Pray:

Pray for those whom the Lord is calling to follow him, so they can have the courage to obey him; for the baptismal classes to go ahead without many disturbances. Pray for wisdom, love, and guidance for those who are leading the classes.

• Names:

Deji, Elaine and Milton, will be leading the classes

For those in Hospital

• When:

In the last few weeks and months some of the members of the family here at Clapham have fallen ill and are currently in hospital.

• Pray:

Pray for Pauline who has been struggling at hospital for several weeks now, for her to recover so the desire of her heart to come back home becomes a reality.

Pray for Vicky Woodman who after two heart attacks is gently recovering in Hospital. Pray for her as it is yet unknown the condition of her brain after she struggled for around 30 min during the second heart attack.

Around the world

• Where:

Nigeria is suffering from a harsh wave of violence especially on the northern region of the country in which hundreds of people including children have been killed. Those who are being targeted in its majority are Christians.

• Pray:

Pray for endurance, peace and tranquillity among those suffering persecution because of their faith.

London

• Our City

We have been called to stand up in the gap to intercede for the city where we live and its peace

• Pray:

Pray for the different aspects of our city, maybe news that you have heard that has caught your attention or a particular situation in the area where you live, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Sometimes we wonder; why do we do all we do in the name of God, does anybody cares? We have been asked to live out our faith. It is not about knowing the theory but practising it. However, there are times when we might feel that all we do is just going down the drain. Be encouraged. Paul says to the Romans; “for I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes....God whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. Either by word or action you spread His Good News of how He makes us right in his sight. People might not be seeking for this Good News but is our calling to tell them. They will be glad once they know that they have been found by God as you are glad too.  

As I sip my coffee I glance through the coffee house towards the doorway as I wait for a couple who want to meet with me.  Few conversations have taken place over the phone with her; he is aware of this but has never spoken to me. I have never seen them before nor do I know anything about their lives, I can tell they are young and in some sort of trouble.  When 999 is not the number to call in an emergency it’s me who you call.  They are not an exception to this. I’m expecting an older couple rather than two 19 years old, as she has told me that they have been together for four years.  It is for this reason that I don’t recognise the timid young couple who cross the main door, I guess looking for an older minister not the trendy young man sipping coffee so comfortably while he reads a news paper and does something on his IPhone.  So here we are, both parties finding younger versions of what each other was expecting.

Lisa wants, as many women do, for the love of her life to be a perfect man. Meanwhile it’s the un-perfect man that is the love of her life.  Over the years I have experienced how I or those who come to me in a desperate attempt to change others will go to the extreme in doing so.  Lisa and Jason have struggled over the years with their relationship.  My personal appreciation is that they started a much too serious relationship too young.

As life unfolds and each wants different things, Jason has changed she tells me, “the problem are his friends, he used to be a good boy.  Now he is...well, different.  He could disappear for days at a time, and neither me nor his mum would know his where abouts”.  Lisa, in the midst of her desperation has gone looking for spiritual help.  Oh! It’s not what you are thinking; she has not come to me.  My part in the story comes later.  Allow me to continue.

She went to see a baba and that would for a sum of money return a well behaved, loving, matured, Jason.  What started as a solution soon turned into a problem, when more finances were demanded to finish the job. Refusal was not an option as it would only lead to the spirits being angry, reversing the good intended into terrible misfortunes for the couple.

As they both sit in front of me; their young faces and youthful spirit seem to have been taken away from them as desperation and confusion have walked into their life earlier than any parent would like for their kids.  This baba has promised to improve her surroundings, by changing her circumstances and the people in her life, if she pays him some money.  However, her present state is far from those promises, if anything it’s quite the opposite.  She has run out money and he is not having it, she either pays out or suffers the consequences.

As they retell the story of how it all started and how she came to do what she did.  I sit there sipping my coffee not thinking on what I am going to say, but rather thinking on my own life... “How many times I have prayed wanting for my surroundings to change but God seems to be silent”.  I sip for the last time a coffee cup that has nothing more to offer me, but the smell of the coffee that once was there.  I raise my eyes to hers and in a calm, direct and loving way I begin to say the few words that once angered me when I first heard them, but after these words overcame my anger; they changed me forever.  “You are the problem” I say.  Lisa went pale, and looks confused.  I can tell she is expecting anything but for me to say she is the problem.  Maybe a word to Jason on how and why he could/should change she was expecting, instead of her being under the microscope. 

“Lisa, The God I serve loves you so much that He wants to transform you to the image of his Son Jesus, the price is free.  You see, Lisa, change comes from within rather than from outward-in.   It’s not about changing the surroundings and difficulties will always crop up. But, if we changed we could face each situation”.

As for you who are reading these lines let me share with you the lines written by Thomas Merton: “by meditation I penetrate the inmost ground of my life, seek the full understanding of God’s will for me, of God’s mercy to me, of my absolute dependence upon him. But this penetration must be authentic...but my life and aims tend to be artificial, inauthentic, as long as I am simply trying to adjust my actions to certain exterior norms of conduct that will enable me to play an approved part in the society in which I live. After all, this amounts to little more than learning a role”.

Paul is writing to the Thessalonians who are under persecution because they have accepted the Gospel, and although an “everything will be alright”, or, “things will change for good” line is expected in a letter for a situation like this. Paul says... “And this word continues to work in you who believes” IN YOU, because it’s you and I who needs to change not the surroundings.

I was having a good chat with few friends over dinner about religion and faith, and one of them said; “I hate it when you stop seeing someone you know for a while and then when you see them again they have become all religious. But it is not the fact of becoming religious that I hate, it is the way in which they try to push their new faith up my nose”

For more apologetic I wanted to be, it is true, some of us Christians become judgemental by pointing out all the wrong doings in others when showing our faith, or, too much excitement that leave a taste like the one left after having too much sweat. To this Paul writes; “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause anther believer to stumble and fall” Rom 14:12-13. Let’s live lives that produce curiosity for other to know more about God, rather than to putting people off God with a judgemental attitude or an overwhelming and an-control excitement.

Owe nothing to anyone – except for your obligation to love one another...Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfils the requirements of God’s law...So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living...Romans 13

By meditation I penetrate the inmost ground of my life, seek the full understanding of God’s will for me, of God’s mercy to me, of my absolute dependence upon him. But this penetration must be authentic...but my life and aims tend to be artificial, inauthentic, as long as I am simply trying to adjust my actions to certain exterior norms of conduct that will enable me to play an approved part in the society in which I live. After all, this amounts to little more than learning a role.

STOP! And have a honest evaluation of yourself may be what needs changing is NOT the surroundings but YOU!

KALI

The heat in Dakshineswar city near Kolkata on this sunny afternoon is more than my English companions can tolerate.  Pastor Khan leads the way to the Kali temple.  He is taking us to a temple priest, so we can enter. The priest tells us that there will be a charge for the favour, which he likes to call offering.   Kali means lord of death.  She is revered as "redeemer of the universe” and is often seen standing on her husband, Lord Shiva.

The temple has a majestic architecture.  As I stand there taking in the sight before my eyes, I get the sensation of a place that was once in its full splendour but today stands on what is left; on the pride of those great memories; still accepting the venerations offered by those who pilgrim hundreds of miles to visit Kali at her temple.  The priest now leads the way as pastor Khan retreats to the back of the group.

As we stroll through the temple which then becomes more like a small city, I can see how the small population which resides in this small, smelly and dirty city lives; a city which demands that her visitors and habitants remove their shoes while they are within her ramparts.  One particular lady catches my attention.  She is senior, short hair from what I can tell and may be disabled.  Her fragile body lies on a dirty, smelly, floor that is divided by a stream of water coming from somewhere behind a pair of doors not far from her.  As we walk passed her I cannot stop staring at her, my body moves forward but my eyes stay with her.  Even today some years later I can still see her there.  “Francisco!”... Kenneth calls me out of my trance... “Man what is it with you?  You seem a bit disconnected.” Kenneth remarks, and says...“Listen we cannot see the inside part where Kali is, she is eating and the doors are closed.”  He continued... “We missed the sacrifices and now we can’t see the statue...what a waste of time!”  She is eating!  I can almost scream inside me, the goddess is being fed while the lady on the floor dies...

TERESA

As we cross the doors there is nothing majestic about the architecture, or signs of a former glory.  The place is peaceful.  We are told by a small gentle lady that soon people will come, they are eating and resting. Inside these walls there is not much space; it is like a big house, not a small city.  There are pilgrims from all over the world.  They turn up every morning and afternoon to help.  For a day, a month, a year, a life time. There is not a god to see; it is the fragile, old, ill, hopeless people which are lying on top of small, simple metal frames with leather cover mattresses, dressed with a one-thousand-times-washed sheets.  The focus is not on any god or in how beautiful the place is.  The focus is on the people lying on the beds, which have nothing glorious about them either.  ‘Let’s make the man to our image.’  It is quoted in the opening lines of the Bible.  I can see that image right here in front of me.  

No matter if you are rich or poor, white or black, literate or not; all that matters is these who need help.  Putting aside all that divides us and putting on what unites us as the motive for being there; giving care, love and mercy for one another.  Outside an old figure of Christ being crucified hangs from the top of the big house; to the view of the world a face of hunger, thirst, pain while he is being humiliated.  Inside there is a different story, all those on the beds are being honoured.  This is the former abandoned temple to Kali. This massive structure have been split in two making the two halves face away from each other as if each half didn’t exist to the other.  Kalighat, the Home of the Pure Heart, a hospice for the sick, destitute and the dying, was established by Mother Teresa.

Despite the obvious pain, lack of hope and severe suffering experienced by those inside these walls, they can’t see God, they can experience HIM.  They are not outside lying on the floor while God is inside being fed.  They are inside being look after, while the image of Christ is outside hanging from a cross.

So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you.  In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. ⁷ As a result, you have become an example to all the believers... And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere. 1 Thes. 1:6-7

His message brings faith, hope and love and all these three things produce Joy.  He doesn’t take from us He gives.  By allowing others to experience God in you, as you do faithful works, lovingly, with the hope that even when we know that our knowledge is partial and incomplete now, He will lets us see everything in perfect clarity.  With the joy produced by faith, hope and love we could confront suffering.  

GOOD MORNING!
For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself...they cling to their own way of getting right with God...“the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart”... For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved
All you have to do is believe it and live it out...  

Reading is one of my passions; however, I am still learning who the good writers are.  Good books to me are the ones rich with good literature, insightful thoughts about life, a bit philosophical.  As I enquire who the good writers and the good books are, I am told he/she is brilliant and this is the book that made him/her famous.  What makes someone, a place or an activity, famous, or well known?

Good performance, good taste, uniqueness, good service, all these things and similar ones are attached to a person, a place or activity are the things that make them famous, or at least worthy for us to come back and recommend to others.

In a very fast developing city like ours, thriving churches seems to be the ones which keep contemporary to their surroundings.  I make a stop here to briefly explain that the methods used by the churches that are contemporary – contemporary is something that is not to last forever, contrary to the message held by the church, which is to last.

We talk about how wonderful, inspiring and challenging a particular preacher is.  We also refer in a similar fashion towards worship groups/ministries, activities, outreach ministries either aimed to the people of our city or overseas.  When all these wonderful things are allied to a church, calling them, the church’s ministries; we consider then that such a church is a thriving church.   These wonderful churches are the ones that are attracting multitudes.

As I reflect on these wonderful and thriving ministries, I can’t stop thinking on the feelings and thoughts produced in some of its members making them think and feel that their churches are so wonderful even if they are not; creating a distance and detached sensation between the church and the person.   Making the person see and think of his/her church as the place where he/she could confidently take someone to be impressed or inspired.

Somewhere along the line we have inverted the order of elements.  We see churches who are working so hard to be contemporary and relevant succeeding in their attempt, while others are left behind on their quest of such contemporary relevance.   This seems to determine who is successful and who is not.  Many of those churches left behind are stuck over the discussion of what is the Godly way to do things, new over old, modern over tradition and so on.

Paul writes the following lines to the Thessalonians. “so you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit...as a result, you have become an example to all the believers...the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere...we don’t need to tell them about it. 1 Thes. 1:6-8.

What made the Thessalonians known to others and ultimately made the Lord known too, that others wanted to know more about that Jesus they were worshiping?  It was them as individuals and as a unit.  The focus was not on a particular ministry, preacher or worship group but the focus was on how the power and the persona of Christ was so evident in them.  Pauls says “for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.”

It was them not the ministries or shows put up by them.  It is you who makes this place relevant and inviting.  The “you” that lives outside the church is what causes others to want to meet with the Jesus they experience in you, or to not want to meet with that Jesus.   YOU MAKE HIM FAMOUS AND WANTED.

David Cameron has announced how people who have earnings over 43k a year will not get child benefit, targeting single mothers, or one household earner. For a couple who are under 43k each a year but together will go well over 43k a year will receive child benefit. As families take the hard road of one parent staying at home to see the children grow up. Or a single mother who struggle to make ends meet. This government is sending both parents out to work, and single mothers’ longer hours outside the house to meet their responsibilities; leaving our children to the care of others. Then when events like the one in August take place from a fatherless and motherless generation. We wonder, WHY? What really matters the presence of a parent at home to spend time with those who are growing up is compromised for MONEY.



We are tied by time.  Time determines our daily lives, when to go places, when to eat, sleep, etc.  Time also changes our style of life. For instance as time passes seasons come and go; winter, summer, autumn, spring and with those seasons our routines and clothing changes too.  Genesis retells the account of how God created time.  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.  Gen 1:3-4.

As time is a logical fixation to our ongoing reality, it can also be used in an abstract manner.  Eccl 3:1 says “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...a time to be born and a time to die...a time to tear down and a time to build...a time to weep and a time to laugh...a time to search and a time to give up...a time to be silent and a time to speak...”

January is the beginning of a New Year once again!  Along with January and the late Merry Christmas wishes from those we didn’t see over the holiday’s season, it also comes with cliché phrases like... “Another fresh new year is here...another year to live!  To banish worry, doubt, and fear, to love and laugh and give...” and who can forget the New Year’s resolutions which make GYM’s memberships go through the roof.

Although you might be thinking I’m sounding pessimistic, miserable and grumpy, what I am trying to put across is that although God created time, and we start a day in the morning and a New Year in January.  To Start with God any day, any hour, any place, any situation, and in any mood are perfect for God to start a new beginning with us.  Even though the start of a year could give us a booster to change, once we move into the year and January becomes a distant memory, the reality of a God who is willing and capable to act at any time is what will sustain you.  God created time but is not tied by it.

We hear the common phrase “time changes us”.  But what it really changes is what occurs during that time.  We could let the hardship of life and the bad experiences change us into someone full of grief, or the successes change us into someone arrogant and self-sufficient.  On the other hand we could make time the witness of how we interact with God, allowing his love to flood us, changing our sorrows into joy, our failures into success.    

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30.  This promise is for every day of the year, and all the years to come.

At the back of the manse (the church house) a nine house development is taking place on what used to be a school and then became a play ground.  It consequently closed to the public as it was not built properly.  Having the open space at the back of the house was one of my great pleasures, as I could, from my bedroom window, have a peek onto London.  That pleasure has long gone as the three stories houses are now being erected to occupy the empty space that I love so much.  

The main structure has now been completed and as they work on making the houses a beautiful and liveable place, the whole structure is surrounded by scaffolding making it look a mess and unattractive.  That view made my mind roll back to something that I once heard, “love me when I least deserve it, because it is when I need it the most.”

It doesn’t only sound good but it is true too.  John said “This is how God showed his love among us:  He sent his one and only Son... This is love:  not that we loved God, but that he loved us...” 1 John 4.  We didn’t deserve God’s love but He offered it to us.  We needed it.  God created everything we know, but he unveiled His heart when He sent His only Son.  His love was the initiative to send Jesus to us, so we could find life in Him.  When you or I get an understanding of that love of God, it cannot go without changing our lives and behaviours.   Change doesn’t happen at once, but it is a process, a process of building up.  And like the houses that are being built at the back of the manse, we might not look that attractive.

But that process is not just happening in us but in many others around us. Others might be where we once were, a closed park, not in use waiting to be developed into something beautiful, useable and new.  Whichever place they are, once we are touched and inspired by God’s love, we are called to show the same kindness and love towards others.  Only true love can be given when we experience God’s love in our lives.  As God’s love was the initiative to send his Son, let that very same love we claim to have be the initiative to overcome the barriers that divide us and love one another. 

Don’t look at the scaffolding that surrounds me as the Lord works in me but with his love see beyond at the beauty of His work in me.  I promise by His love that I will do the same to you.  Let this be our statement for this coming year, as the Lord builds us.