Issue 38 SPRING 2020 THE LINK - centraldundee.com

THE LINK • Spring 2020 • centraldundee.com 1

THE LINKSPRING 2020

Issue 38

Yours In Jesus, Jim Turrent Lead Pastor

to this latest issue of The Link

Welcome

And a huge thanks to our dedicated editorial team.

Turning the pages of this publication will bring joy to any Christ follower. To read words of testimony and of faith lifts the spirit. We give thanks to God for all that he is doing among us. To Him be all the glory.Reading The Link is a reminder to us that to be involved in the work of the Kingdom of God is to be engaged in the greatest movement this world has – or will ever see!

Let’s continue to do what the banners at the front of the worship area remind us; – Listen (to God’s word) – Pray (seeking God’s will) – Love (God’s people) – Serve (God’s Kingdom).

THE LINK • Spring 2020 • centraldundee.com2

Please send us an email if you would like to comment on any article in The Link magazine or if there is something you would like to see featured in a forthcoming issue. Email: [email protected]

Any thoughts?


Generation Podcast interview with Jim Turrent

Our lead pastor Jim Turrent was Generation Podcast’s first guest speaker of 2020 when he

was interviewed by Rev David Meredith. Generation Podcast is a Mission Network supported by the Free Church of Scotland. Topics covered in their conversation included: Church Planting, Preaching, Gospel Transformed Lives, Denominations, Church Distinctives, Primary and Secondary Issues, American Church Culture.

Listen to the podcast at:https://generation-mission.org/news/generation-podcast-jim-turrent


We are delighted that Karen Keir accepted the call for the position of Women’s Pastoral

Coordinator and joined our Pastoral Staff Team on 1st February. Karen came to Central Baptist in 2018 when her husband Stuart was called as a Pastor to the church. She has loved being involved in women’s ministry in the form of leading Bible Study, organising women’s events and pastoral

Women’s Pastoral CoordinatorKaren Keir

care both in her previous church and now at Central Baptist in a more formal capacity. She is in the process of studying the certificate course with Biblical Counselling UK. She is mum to four children.

Lead Pastor Jim Turrent prays for Karen Keir at Sunday morning service on 9th February


Deacon Search CommitteeBy Brian BennettChurch Secretary

As our next church meeting approaches (Wednesday 4th March) I thought it appropriate to

highlight one of the agenda items, that of appointing members to serve on the Deacon Search Committee.

In 2016 the church meeting decided to change the way in which we identify church members to potentially serve as deacons in Central Baptist Church. A Search Committee comprising of pastor, elders, deacons and members was formed to both seek new deacons, and also interview serving deacons at the end of their term. This Search Committee would then propose any potential candidates identified to the church meeting for them to be voted into office – or not – by the church membership, usually at our AGM.

Due to changes in membership this group now needs additional members to serve the church in this important area of service. Please give prayerful consideration to who you believe has the spiritual gifting to serve on this committee. Nomination forms are available from myself or the church office. In highlighting this one agenda item it gives me the opportunity to

emphasise the important nature of so many of the items we discuss and decisions that we make at our church meetings. Please make attending these meetings a priority and come along to play your part in discerning God’s will and purpose for our local church.


Children and Families Ministry Update

By Colin WatsonChildren and Families Coordinator

In mid-October Lindsey McCowan presented a cheque to Homestart for £75, this was raised through the sale of children’s clothes, books and toys. Lindsey had approached me asking if we could do something practical for a local charity. After some discussion we were able to choose a charity, set a date, gather some resources and finally sell! We continue to look for opportunities to share Jesus with community groups who use Central’s premises.

Christmas Storytime at

The Overgate

In December we had three sessions telling the Christmas Story in a very public space. We give thanks for a very supportive management (even suggesting we might think about Easter) and for the volunteers who helped give out leaflets and who read the stories; they were excellent.

Our first session was slow but steady. We had around 15-20 children overall, a


mixture of some children from DECA churches and others who were just passing by. At our second session we also had a slow start, so we changed our tactics and started giving out the books to those who didn’t have time to stop, we were able to include details of Christmas services. It wasn’t long until folk started to stop and listen.

At our final session on Sunday 15th December we continued with the ‘new’ strategy. This was by far the busiest session for storytelling with

some significant conversations with parents. Two Chinese women chatted for a long time asking one of our volunteers how they could learn more about the Bible. They received details of the Christmas services and their kids took about four books! Pray that there will be an opportunity for follow up. One dad talked with a volunteer for quite a time (his daughter was listening intently and he was enjoying the peace.) Mobile numbers were exchanged and our volunteer will follow up with him – pray for this dad.

Our Loads‘o’ …@CBC events have been very popular and provided a great opportunity to gather from all over the city as well as invite friends and family into The Link. Our most ambitious get together will be Loads‘o’Talent@CBC which will take place on Saturday 14th March from 6.00pm – 7.30pm; we’ve not had an event like this in CBC for years! Put the date in your diary and be prepared to showcase your break dancing, knife throwing and fire eating skills! Failing that we’ll settle for a joke, juggling or some jazz.

Mainly Music is a fun music session for families with young children to enjoy together and for children to grow developmentally. It is a well-established international parent and toddler network with a focus on …music! There isn’t a group in Tayside and we would

like to be the first! It has an overtly Christian ethos and would be something we’d see as an outreach opportunity. A small number of folks have volunteered to support this new initiative for CBC so look out for details regarding start date, day and time. Please pray about this new venture and if you can help contact Colin Watson.


CARNOUSTIE BAPTIST CHURCH UPDATE AND PRAYER POINTSBY PASTOR JOHN TOLLER

Many of us grew up in a programme-driven church culture, particularly in relation

to evangelism, yet we see that it is increasingly hard to encourage those outside the church to engage with church events. Here in Carnoustie we are very aware of this challenge. We have never been overloaded with programmes, but over the past few months we have started a Welcome Group for the retirement age-bracket (which would not have been possible without leadership from Ronnie and Sarah Neill, and help from Angus Morrison), and a drop-in for High School pupils on their half-day Friday afternoon. Sadly, neither have yet had much response.

We need wisdom to know how long to pursue these programmes and would

value your prayers. We are, at the same time, hugely thankful for our Toddler Group, which continues to flourish and grow, with new and meaningful contacts being made all the time.

To some extent our experience stems from the culture of the town, where every organisation finds it difficult to get people to engage. Where we have a great advantage is that we know programmes are not the main way people come to hear the Gospel – it’s people. Praise God for the continued growth in faith, knowledge, and love that we experience as a church family!

In other news – we are now at a stage where we can kick-start our building project again! More news on this will follow but please pray for wisdom, and God’s provision in this.


LOCHEE BAPTIST CHAPELUPDATE AND PRAYER POINTSBY PASTOR ANDI MATHIESON

As a church we have been going through Ephesians which has been really encouraging as we have thought upon what the church is, how we should be united together in Christ displaying the gospel to the world. We are

excited to have brought in new members and had a baptism in January. From 29th November to 1st December we had our annual church weekend away. Matthew and Melissa Shores came over from Woodside NYC and Matthew absolutely ‘smashed’ Philippians 2 and blessed the church massively.

Back in Lochee we took a short break from Ephesians to look at some of the Christmas passages during December. On 15th December we had our ‘Lochee Christmas Carol’ service, with hot chocolate, cakes, singing

and reading the word. We made a video of the nativity with our children as the star of the show. Pray for the unbelievers who came that they would keep the message in their hearts and respond to it in faith. Pray that wasn’t the only time people came into the building but that they would come back through the year and be saved.

On Christmas day Deborah cooked dinner in the church for folk from the community, many of whom have chaotic lives and addiction issues. Pray for these guys, the team see many of them daily and share the gospel with them frequently. It’s been

a tough year for many in Lochee. Dundee now has the unenviable honour of being the drug death capital of the World and we have seen this run up close and personal, one of our regulars at Progressing Pilgrims (our community Bible study) died of an overdose in late November. One of the last things he told Debs was that he was looking forward to his Christmas dinner. This tragedy reminds us all that life is both short and fragile. The only true hope for this community is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, thank you all for enabling us to be here preaching that good news. We couldn’t do it without you.


‘IDENTITY MATTERS’WOMEN’S CONFERENCE AT CENTRALBY ALISON WOOD

Last November we were delighted to host a women’s conference at Central which was open to all

women. The title of the conference was ‘Identity Matters’. In this article one of our church family tells us about the day.

About 130 women were blessed to attend the Identity Matters conference at which Helen Thorne, Director of Training and Mentoring at London City Mission, was the key speaker. Helen’s own story had been impacted by the love she had received from Christians. This had resulted in a personal relationship with God, who had brought purpose and identity to her life.

Leaving our wounded identityHelen explored the things that can make us believe who we are deep down. It could be our job, relationships, past hurts and losses, reputation, or life decisions we’ve made. We can do things to change, control or cleanse our wounded identity, but none of it enables us to enjoy our true identity in Christ.

Living our new identityAlthough we are wounded, God is in the process of transforming and renewing our identity to become who He designed us to be. We are the image bearers of God; reflections of Him, each uniquely handcrafted.


We live out our new identity when we:• are content (for example

with the gifts we have and the way we look);

• celebrate who we are in God’s word (Ephesians 1) – blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed forgiven, secure and loved;

• commit to live a life worthy of our calling – take off the old self, have our mind renewed and put on the new self (Ephesians 4).

And when we do this, we are contributing to an alluring Church identity that attracts people to Christ, when they see that we love one another. Helen urged us to spur each other on by linking arms with each other and pursuing a life of celebrating who God is and who God has made us to be.

The conference was enhanced by:• seminars: Leoni Poole – ‘Our Father in Heaven’; Jenny Stirling – ‘Eat Pray Love’;

Karen Keir – ‘Walking with the Wounded’; and Shona Mason – Identity in the Workplace’.

• stalls: crafts; confectionery; and books.• and essential back-up. A huge thanks to CBC family for hosting the event,

especially to conference administration, catering and hospitality, hall decoration, photography, sound amplification, Praise Band and CBC leadership.


TEARFUND CHRISTMAS CONCERTBY ERICA BANKIERTEARFUND SCOTTISH EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR

Hello and blessings to you all! Some of you may remember me from my time at Central Baptist Church as a student, but for those who don’t, I’m Erica and I’m currently the Scottish Events Co-ordinator for Tearfund*. At the moment, my job

mainly consists of working closely with musicians and Scottish churches to create uplifting and engaging concerts highlighting the work of Tearfund. Like any other job it has its challenges. However, what outweighs it all is the opportunity I have to support and encourage the local church through these concerts and the chance to travel across the length and breadth of Scotland (the furthest north so far being Orkney). I love working with an incredible God-centred organisation and I know this is where God wants me to be for the moment.

Central Baptist Church is my, what I call, home away from home so I was over the moon in December to join you all for an evening of Christmas celebration and cheer with Tearfund’s Christmas Concert featuring the New Scottish Hymns Band – such fun! During the evening of wonderful acoustic Christmas carols, we were also able to pause and share with you our work with Syrian refugees who have taken refuge in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. The night was a wonderful success and I just wanted to, again, say a massive thank you to everyone who came along on the night and for those who were involved in organising and assisting on the night. My love to you all, and I can’t wait to hear what God has in store for you in 2020.

God Bless, Erica

P.S. If you would like to keep in touch, or find out more about my work with Tearfund, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. *Tearfund is an international Christian relief and development agency which partners with the local church to help people in communities escape extreme poverty.



DISABILITY AND INCLUSIONIN THE CHURCH TRAINING BY KIRSTY LOCKHART

Being invited to deliver training on Disability and Inclusion in the Church at

CBC (on 25th January) was a real

As a person with visual impairment, Sorcha gave us her interpretation of some of Jesus’ healing miracles and also her perspective on some of the well-intentioned attitudes and behaviours that she has received from Christians. She advised us on the best way to welcome and include people with physical disabilities in God’s church. Leading from my own background of working with people who have learning disabilities, we were reminded that everyone has gifts in the body of Christ and everyone is called to serve. People with disabilities are made in God’s image just as much as those without. As a group, we did an accessibility audit of CBC and while there will always be things we can improve on, it was an opportunity to appreciate the resources we already have; signed services, a lift, step free access, visual timetables for (all) children and most of all, people with disabilities

who richly contribute to the life of the church. The sound desk has recently been upgraded, improving the functionality of the Hearing Loop and we are looking forward to a new video camera system which will improve the quality of media ministry for those who are unable to attend services. Tech-takeaway-top-tip: We have good microphones; if you’re given one, speak into it! We want to hear what you have to say.

privilege, as it is a topic that Dundee-based community musician, Sorcha Pringle, and I have spoken about often. The training was based on the concept of ‘imago dei’ as laid out in Genesis 1:26 – ‘Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”.’ We looked at how this has been interpreted by the church and applied (or not) to people with disabilities historically.


“The training day raised my awareness of the experience a person with special needs would have in participating in church activities. It also provided practical ways in which we could be more welcoming, what to do and what to avoid doing.” Deacon“The training gave me an insight into ways in which people who need additional help can participate in church activities and also what can be done to facilitate their needs. Very interesting and informative.” Thursday Club helper

BEING A CHRISTIANIN THE WORKPLACE

BY MARTYN LINK

Some jobs are easy to explain, others less so. I have one of those jobs that takes a few minutes to explain, it’s enjoyable, interesting and very demanding. For the last

nine years I’ve been heading up to Aberdeen most days and often wider afield. I am very blessed to do something that I love doing and believe that God built me to do.

Being a Christian in Wood1 has been a journey of gentle perseverance. We are a company of 60,000 people and change comes slowly. In the first few years I found many ‘secret’ Christians, and over the years have sought to connect believers across the city (through The Business Connection2 charity). In June 2019 we established the ‘Christians at Wood’ network and have 55 people in it now across the world. I would appreciate your prayers as we seek to become an officially recognised staff group this year. This year promises many opportunities to embrace God’s vision for the calling of all believers to whole life discipleship. We are currently learning about our ‘Frontlines’ in the Big Night In, which will be more fully developed at our church conference on 22nd February. Later in the year there will be two catalyst Thrive conferences3 in Aberdeen and Edinburgh where we have some amazing speakers coming to Scotland. Hope to see you there!

1. www.woodplc.com2. www.thebusinessconnection.org3. www.thrivescotland.org


STUDENT MINISTRY UPDATE BY PASTOR STUART KEIR

We continue to be greatly encouraged by the work amongst the students who make up such an important part of our church family.

It’s a real privilege to be able to get to know these young men and women and to support them as they grow in Christ.

Over the summer we said a sad farewell to some really special folks but were delighted as autumn began, and a new university year commenced, to be able to welcome many more. During the first term we ran Life Explored for the first time and especially encouraged those in first and second year to come along, to feel at home and to explore together where life in all its fullness is to be found. Beyond the first term we try and encourage our students to integrate into the wider life of the church through Sunday services, the Big Night In, growth groups and opportunities for service – always keeping up the regular programme of fellowship around hot chocolate and cake!

Many of our students are involved in the Christian Union groups which meet on the campuses of Abertay and Dundee, and also other groups such as Christians in Sport. Do please pray for them and especially as they, along with other CUs up and down the country, hold special ‘Events’ weeks where they seek to hold out the hope of the gospel to those around them. Thanks are always due to the wonderfully committed student team – for transport, cake, prayers and encouragement.


The 17th of September 2016 was a bad day. A day when the unimaginable almost happened. The unimaginable was avoided

MEMBER FILEGRANT MCCOWAN

thanks to an open AA meeting. I had never been in an environment where such honesty prevailed and where people so clearly cared for each other. From that day on I learned a lot about the disease of alcoholism and about how my behaviour, around a loved one suffering from this terrible, progressive illness, could accelerate that progression and increase their suffering. I started on the Al-Anon program.

The Al-Anon program is a sister program to Alcoholics Anonymous. It taught me that alcoholism is a disease, that the person with the disease is suffering and that my behaviour towards the sufferer was wrong... I wouldn’t treat a loved one, sick with any other disease, in the same way. It taught me to take an honest look at myself and the unhealthy behaviours I’d developed. And it taught me to seek the help of a higher power to manage things that were out of my control. It gave me the courage to change.

The ‘higher power’ in the program was a ‘God of my understanding’. My understanding of God at that time differs considerably from my understanding now. I practised the programme for 18 months, changed my attitude and my life improved. Then something external happened that changed me. I felt a peace so pure and serene that I knew it was God. I realised that my knowledge of Him was limited and that my higher power was, in fact, a God of which I had a real lack of understanding. This had to change.

I found a local Baptist Church and another environment where people clearly cared for each other. The focus in this place was not so much on honesty but on truth. Over the next nine months I slowly learned the truth of the Gospel until, in December 2018, I was found. My heart was opened, and the scales fell from my eyes.

I now understand the simple Gospel truth: I feel the love of the Father and the sacrifice of the Son. I know that I’m connected to his crucifixion through my sin and I know now that he has been with me all along.

Following this epiphany, the daily Al-Anon readings (that I’d read at least three times over before this) amplified in their meaning and power as the God of my limited understanding was replaced by my faith in Jesus Christ. I had renewed courage and His work in me has brought about positive changes in all aspects of my life.

The unimaginable never happened. My loving family is still intact and more loving than ever. I’m eternally grateful to the Father for saving this wretched soul and blessing me so bountifully with, not just an amazing wife, but three incredible children too.

I pray that I’ll continue to grow in my walk with Christ and that I’ll have the opportunity to help others on my journey.


SERVING GODIN CENTRAL’S PRAISE BAND

I’m sure you’ve noticed that we sing quite a bit on a Sunday. Between morning and evening services usually somewhere between 12 and 15 songs. And then there’s prayer gatherings,

conferences, church meetings... Pretty much any time we’re doing something as a church family, we sing.

And when you think about it, from the very beginning, God’s people have always sung, in joy and in sorrow, in times of triumph and lament. From Moses’ song of praise in Exodus 15 to Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1, to Jesus singing with his disciples as they had their last Passover supper together (Matthew 26). And let’s not forget the entire book of Psalms!

What is more, we know that God’s people will never stop singing. Just read Revelation – singing all over the place, and forever!

So why do you think that is? The answer, ultimately, is very simple: God has given his people a song. A song of rescue. A song of redemption. A song of forgiveness. A song of freedom from the guilt of sin and from slavery to sin. A song of mercy shown to sinners like us, of grace poured out on rebels like us. A song of that perfect mercy and perfect grace meeting with God’s perfect justice and wrath at the cross, where God demonstrated his love for us in the giving of his Son Jesus, to bear our sins in his body, turning away God’s wrath and giving life everlasting to all who come to him in repentance and faith.

There is no greater song. It’s such a beautiful song that we keep having to find new ways to sing it; new words to express its glorious truths. How thankful I am that writers of hymns, psalms and songs through the centuries have done just that, and continue to do so, allowing us to express in song the wonders of God’s grace, in a way that words alone cannot.


BY DAVID ROWORTHLEADER OF PRAISE BAND AND AN ELDER

It’s such a tremendous privilege to be able to take my part – alongside Michael and Stewart and all our singers and musicians – in leading the CBC family in praise, as we draw on those songs, new and ancient, to sing in worship of our God. I’m also continually grateful for the depth of musical talent we have among us at CBC. Of course musical excellence is not the focus, but it certainly makes my job easier, and more enjoyable!

So what is our focus as we lead the music each Sunday? For me, I find Paul’s words to the church in Colossae helpful. In Colossians 3:16 he writes, ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.’


SERVING GODIN CENTRAL’S PRAISE BAND (CONTINUED)

When we sing together, we are to be teaching each other, reminding one another of,

the gospel. And with thankfulness! So, we want to play skilfully and in a way that doesn’t distract, but that draws the church family into joyful singing of gospel truths. It means the songs we sing must be Word-focused, and we try hard to make sure they are. It also means that the whole congregation (including the band!) must be ready to praise, ready to listen and learn, ready to be corrected, ready to be comforted, even by the songs that aren’t our favourites! For we aren’t merely singing a few tunes; we are proclaiming the gospel to one another, and to the watching world.

So don’t worry if God hasn’t blessed you with the world’s best voice – if you are his child he has blessed you with eternity’s best song, so let’s sing it together!

‘Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;make known his deeds among the peoples!Sing to him, sing praises to him;tell of all his wondrous works!’Psalm 105:1-2

The Bands FavouriTe hymns

“My favourite hymn is Chris Tomlin – ‘At the

Cross’ (Love Ran Red)” Andrew Watson

“Although

there are many

modern hymns I

love singing, it’s

wonderful to sing

ones that have

been around for

centuries and still

have a powerful

message, it’s hard

to single out my

favourite, but one

that is up there is

‘How Great Thou

Art’ – the words of

it say it all!’

Fiona Peters


“I have been playing

the oboe since I was 12. I also play a range of different whistles and

the cor anglais – the instrument I use depends upon the style of the song. My

musical interest goes back to JS Bach – in my view the ultimate praise band

leader (and the best composer for the oboe). Bach’s B-minor Mass and his

Motet ‘Jesu Christ, Mein Leben’s Licht’ (‘Jesus Christ, my life’s light’) are

without question my favourite pieces of music! For me it is just a real

privilege to be able to use music to help lead people in worship –

there is simply no greater use of music. Favourite song? too many to

choose from: ‘This is our God’ the words say it all: ‘Freely you gave

it all for us, surrendered your life upon that cross, Great is the

love, poured out for all. This is our God’.” Andrew Mason

“I am not actually certain how long I have been part of the Praise Band at CBC! But this I know – it’s a privilege to play with others whose hearts reflect God. It would be very easy as musicians to be caught up on making the music perfect, the balance just right – so we could sound good on a Sunday but I am so grateful to be part of a team who genuinely play and pray for God’s glory first and foremost. A favourite of mine at church over the last year would be ‘He Will Hold Me Fast’ (tune by Keith Getty). Whether in the praise band or in the congregation on a Sunday I am often challenged by what I am singing and who I am singing to. This song has such honest words. I often feel I can truly sing them from my heart.” Katie Ferguson

“Hi everyone,

I’m John. You can also call me JP or

Tiger. I joined Central 10 years ago, and

this is my spiritual home. I play Cajon in the music

group (the box thingy). I’m a firm believer that a worship band can

enhance people’s worship capabilities, and Central has so many talented

musicians and singers. I’m very humbled to be a part of the music group! My

favourite hymn is ‘Christ is Mine Forevermore’ by City Alight. Jesus never said

the road would be easy. But Him being mine means the road is possible.”

John Peterson


Deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Saviour’s love.I, though so unworthy, still am a child of His care;

For His Word teaches me that His love reaches me everywhere.

Created by Kathryn Wright

KeyWordsWideDeepSaviourUnworthyCareWordTeachesLoveEverywhereHeavenHighOceanSeaChild

L W W S G E I G D OL O U E R B S H M BO R S A V I O U R VV D C R H E A V E NE V E R Y W H E R EH I G H O R J D C OZ U N W O R T H Y CK U D E E P I F Q EM T E A C H E S P AC H I L D K V I S N


BOOK REVIEWSBY GAVIN CALLAGHAN

The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield

Book BriefsAnyone who knows me well will know I am a Spurgeon enthusiast. There are endless collections of his sermons out there, but ‘Christ’s Glorious

Every month the elders and deacons read a chapter of a book to discuss at their meetings. We have just finished ‘The Gospel Comes with a House Key’ by Rosaria Butterfield. In this book, the author puts forward a vision of ‘radically ordinary hospitality’. What does that look like in 2020? I (I suspect with the other elders and deacons) found this an incredibly challenging book. Rosaria Butterfield, and her husband are remarkable people, showing Christ’s love through hospitality in a phenomenal and sacrificial way. It is easy to read this book and be overwhelmed, thinking we could never do what she does. We probably can’t. But it can help us think through what that kind of radical hospitality might look like in our own circumstances. So if you don’t want to be challenged, best steer clear of this book – but if you want to think through how we can open our homes and ultimately reach others with the gospel, it’s a really helpful read.

Achievements’ is an excellent introduction to his preaching and is sure to teach us more about Christ. Also, on the topic of suffering ‘Invest Your Suffering’ by Paul Mallard, a Baptist Pastor, is a wonderfully encouraging book on the topic; while ‘He Will Hold Me Fast’ by Connie Dever, a Pastor’s wife from the United States, honestly charting her journey through treatment for thyroid cancer is very helpful, and a book I would recommend to those suffering from serious illness.


READING THE BIBLEBY RACHEL JANKOVIC Reading the Bible is not a completely different activity than you reading what I have written here. It is a simple activity.

Because the Bible is worth a close look – because it bears up under intense word studies and original language comparisons and special in depth highlighting methods does not mean that it cannot be simply read. It can and should be!

You have a Bible – just read it! So you don’t understand what you just read? That’s ok. You don’t have to understand everything you read in order for it to nourish you. Do you understand everything about the apple you just bit into? How God made that out of stardust and air? Do you understand how it tasted good to you? Do you understand it’s parentage and the careful grafting that went into it? Or the shipping routes that brought it to you? Or can you see that a simple receiving of it is enough?!

I am not in any way opposed to more in depth study – but there is no denying that we have made it an obstacle to taking up the Word and eating. How much could you tell someone about what you just tasted? Juice running down your cheeks? Ummmm... it was TART!

When you begin eating the Word faithfully, you will start finding out how much more you have to learn. That’s a good sign, not a bad one! Keep eating! Come to the Word and simply accept what it says as the Word of God. You don’t actually have to understand it all for it to change you – because this isn’t a great brain activity, it is an activity of the heart. It is an activity of submission to the Word. It is primarily the Holy Spirit’s work, not ours.

That apple bite? What do we actually know about it? Almost nothing other than our own desire to eat it. But God knows. He knows what it will nourish in you, where it came from and why it all makes sense. He knows His purposes with it. To say that we don’t understand is not to say that it isn’t understood. Trust Him. He knows.

Study is a good thing but a horrible obstacle to simply eating the Word. So try just picking it up and simply reading!

*This article is reproduced with

the permission of the author.


YOU DIDN’T DO ‘NOTHING’ TODAYBY EMMA SCRIVENER

“How was your day?” I mumble into a cushion. “Yeah, fine,” he says. “Couple of meetings. Finishing scripts for new Easter videos. Skyped someone in the States. Wrote my talks for the conference and sent off

My husband comes home to find me face down on the sofa. The house looks like we’ve been robbed. The kids are hollering and trying to find a comfortable sitting position on my spine.

a manuscript. Sent off the funding applications and did a session on the Trinity with the interns. How about you? What were you up to?” I rack my brain as tiny fingers push Play-Doh into my ears. Um. I tried


to stop our son from climbing into the washing machine/scaling the fridge/eating cat treats/taking off his diaper/pushing his fingers into sockets/pulling the cat’s tail/dropping plastic cutlery down the toilet. I pretended to be a garbage truck and a trash collector. Drafted half an email. Filled out forms

for school. Texted a friend. Shopped. Ironed. Listened to a psalm. Cooked lunch (which my son threw on the floor). Made truck noises. Scraped unidentifiable foodstuff from the floor. Replied to a message from my daughter’s school saying she’d had a minor accident: a nosebleed caused by aggressive picking. Cooked dinner. Wheeled out recycling bins (making garbage-truck noises).

“Nothing” I told him.I didn’t march for world peace. Didn’t write a novel. Didn’t set up my own business. Didn’t sort out the filing cabinet. Didn’t

return the library books. Didn’t break the internet (except for unplugging the router by mistake). Didn’t take the kids to Disneyland or overcome a major illness. Didn’t run a marathon (or even run). Didn’t see the northern lights.

“You can’t have done nothing” he replies.


Nothing ≠ Nothing

If I look back on how I spent the moments of my full day, I realize they add up to something much greater.I cared for a little person who can’t care for himself. Subdued a little piece of the earth (including some stubborn wrinkles). Created a home. Listened to words of life that fed my soul. Completed essential administrative tasks. Invested in my daughter’s education. Foraged (well, shopped) for my loved ones. Lavished my children with carefully chosen gifts in the form of after-school snacks. Encouraged a struggler. Walked all day with the living God. Enabled my husband to share the gospel. Executed an Oscar-worthy portrayal of a garbage truck.At this stage in my life, I’m home-based, with small children. Sometimes it’s wonderful, and sometimes it’s hard. But whatever my brain tells me, it’s not nothing.Maybe you feel your life is achieving little. But maybe you are doing far more than you think.How about you? Maybe you’re a student, studying hard but with no pay check. Maybe you’re in a retirement home, dependent on others to provide for your needs. Maybe you’re struggling with sickness or grief. Maybe you spent most of the morning in bed.

Dorcas’s To-Do List

The Bible gives us an example of someone who, from one perspective, is known for doing nothing. And yet she is one of the New Testament’s heroes.Dorcas, whose story appears in Acts 9, had days filled with what many would call ‘nothing’. She didn’t write a bestselling novel, plant a church, or perform before a stadium of people. We don’t know if she was married or single, attractive or plain. We only know one thing about her: she quietly served others. And her acts of kindness will never be forgotten.


The story of Dorcas (or Tabitha) takes up only a few sentences in the Bible. But those lines tell us a lot. We learn she was a follower of Jesus who was ‘full of good works and acts of charity’ (Acts 9:36). One day she became sick and died. The community was devastated and sent for Peter, who prayed over her body and raised her to life. As a result ‘it became known throughout all Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord’ (Acts 9:42).

Dorcas may have been a widow herself – she certainly helped other widows. These women were at the bottom rung of society, weak and exceptionally vulnerable. Yet look at what her ordinary service achieved. She was so beloved that her church community couldn’t bear to be without her. She was a wonderful witness to Jesus in her life – and even more so in her death and resurrection.


Unseen Labor

It’s tempting to feel our ordinary lives and ordinary service are of little value, especially when we compare them to our culture’s standards of success. It’s easy to assume we are doing nothing. But that’s simply not true. A homebound friend, constrained by chronic illness, prays faithfully for others and thereby achieves great things for God’s kingdom. God uses the weak and the unseen and the overlooked.

Remember Dorcas! Even our most mundane tasks, performed in faith, are achieving a weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:16–18). Whatever you’ve been doing, it’s not nothing.

Emma Scrivener was born in Belfast, Ireland. She now lives in Eastbourne, England, with her husband, Glen, and their two children. Emma blogs about identity, faith, and mental health at emmascrivener.net. She is the author of several books, including: ‘A New Name’ and ‘A New Day’.

Editor’s notes: This article was published on The Gospel Coalition website on 21st January 2020 and is reproduced here with their permission. You can view the article online athttps://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/you-didnt-do-nothing-today/

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