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Page 1 Responding to God’s love
Page 2 Responding to God’s love
Vicar Revd. Howard Wright. The Vicar-age, Four Marks, GU34 5AA (01420-563344)
howardwright.cogs @gmail.com
Youth and
Family Worker
Children's Worker : Lorna Littlewood
Jane Hughes (07711 407831)
Lorna.cogs @gmail.com Jane_COGS @btinternet.com
Admin- istrator
Matt Senior Cogsoffice @googlemail.com
Church- wardens
Lynn Vine (560672) Christopher King-Smith (564247)
c.kingsmith@
btinternet.com
Acting Treasurer
David Craigen Cogstreasurer @gmail.com
Synods Deanery: Janet Foster, Howard Short, Frank Maloney.
Diocesan: Kennett Westmacott, Janet Foster.
PCC David Craigen, Paul Dorey, Janet Foster, Alison Frater, Pip Hughes, Helena Hunt, Natalie Senior, Chris McGrath, Tim Littlewood (Sec).
Licensed Lay Ministers
David Bush, Janet Foster, Robert Hughes, Christopher King-Smith, Jonathan Rooke, Alan Thain.
Keyholder Val Lucas, The Flints, Lymington Bottom, Four Marks. (561139) [email protected]
Safeguarding Officer
Paul Dorey (for the parish) cogssafeguarding @gmail.com
Magazine Editor
Robert Parker (563433) Contributions no later than the 15th of the month please
parker305 @btinternet.com
www.goodshepherdfourmarks.org.uk
Other Ministries at The Good Shepherd
Rev. Howard Wright leads the Discipleship (with Val Lucas) and Pas-toral ministries; Alan Thain: Prayer ministry; Chris McGrath: Worship ministry; Nigel Pink: Mission ministry.
Page 3 Responding to God’s love
The Vicar’s Letter The men in charge of the work were diligent, and the repairs progressed under them. They rebuilt the tem-ple of God according to its original design and rein-forced it. (2 Chronicles 24:13)
I am grateful to Roy Lewis for bringing this verse to my attention. The context of this verse is that for years the people of Judah had ignored God and lived by their own standards and rules. The temple was in disrepair and under King Joash the people set-to rebuilding. In that day, the temple was the visible sign of God’s presence with the people. Today the temple is encountered in two related ways.
First, we are individually temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19 and Ephesians 2:21-22). We are to be a visible sign of God’s presence. According to the original design we are to take on the fami-ly likeness, to be like Jesus, and reflect the holiness of God; and to join in the family business, loving as God loves and teaching others how to follow Jesus (Romans 8:29, 1 Peter 1:15-16, John 13:34 and Matthew 28:19-20).
Second, together we make a holy house for the presence of God to be encountered (1 Peter 2:5).
Because of God’s grace the opportunity is always there for us to rebuild according to the original design both individually and together. However, for many of us individually, with our normal routines dis-rupted, we have a greater chance to rebuild and reinforce our calling by God. We have and can establish a deeper prayer life, a richer walk with Jesus through his Word, and through courses, like Talking Jesus, develop our ability at leading others to encounter with Jesus.
Together, this current time has created space for us to think afresh about how we strengthen each other in discipleship and become even more effective in inviting others to discipleship. We do not seek church going, we seek discipleship, for ourselves, each other and all our communities.
As we look to restart gatherings in the building, we will need to be focussed on our God’s call to us to Grow Deeper in Him and Grow Larger in Mission. Much will change practically regarding what we are allowed to do under the pandemic guidance but we all the more need to seek God for the change He would want to make in us that we might be His children carrying out His plan for us and the world.
Yours
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Mission of the Month: Open Doors
Over 260 million Christians worldwide are persecuted. They follow Jesus, no matter what the cost. With our help Open Doors can bring them hope and resources.
India is 10th on their worldwide watchlist. Converting from a Hindu background is difficult for Indian Christians at the best of times. Believers often find themselves ostracised by their family, friends and community and are at high risk of persecution. Two things are making it harder than ever: the rise of anti-conversion laws, and the pandemic. When India went into lockdown to com-bat the Coronavirus, hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs overnight. Many of them usually work as labourers and earn each day what they need to survive, without the day’s income they have no money to buy food. There is no financial safety net or fur-loughing scheme and official aid isn’t anywhere near enough for the number of people who need it. Even worse Christians are often deliberately overlooked when this aid is distributed. As the months have passed the situation hasn’t become any easier for many Christians. They are often last in line for essential food and aid be-cause of their faith. Open Doors partners facing the risk of the pandemic and of persecution courageously help those in need. The food they deliver is often the difference between survival and star-vation.
Open Doors partners are among a small number who are still trying to bring resources to these desperate people. The support we give to Open Doors is even more essential at this time. To find out more about their work follow this link to their website: https://www.opendoorsuk.org
Submitted by Frances Pritchard for the Mission Committee.
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Thoughts on Running by Trevor Burch
I was thinking on the subject of running in the last 3 weeks or so − many folk have reconnected with exercise while in lockdown and re-strictions. I still remember the footage of Zola Budd being unfortunate-ly tripped in an Olympic race many years ago. She ran bare foot as Bruce Tulloh also used to.
The footwear we choose can determine how we run. If the surface is grass, AstroTurf, Clay, tarmac or something else, as runners, we would need to look at what best suits the race.
For many these days, flip flops seem to be an easy choice, whether they are shopping or on a beach. But a sudden change of conditions means flip flops become an impediment and not an asset. Injury can occur, and keeping pace becomes difficult. As a result, podiatrists will often find that “fallen arches” are an unwelcome byproduct, making for great discomfort.
Good trainers are an essential part of a runner’s kit; and those train-ers that incorporate a shock absorbency structure are the best. I re-member a runners’ shop in Westminster on my regular business trips, it was called “Run To Become.” A great title that has always stayed with me.
It leads us to consider what race we’re called to.
2 Samuel 18:23 says, “Come what may, I want to run.”
Hebrews 12:1, “Run with perseverance”. Verse 2 says, “Fix your eyes on Jesus”.
Isaiah 40:31, “Run and not grow weary.”
Galatians 5:25, “Keep in step with the Spirit.”
But a warning: Galatians 5:7 “Who (or what) cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth”.
In the 1968 Olympics, John Stephen Akhwari, the Tanzanian mara-thon runner, although injured, kept going to the finishing line. When questioned, he said, “My country sent me here to finish, not to drop out.”
In this different period when our lives are being forced into paces we maybe haven’t experienced before, let’s make sure we are shod with shoes that enable us to share the gospel of peace. (Ephesians chapter 6).
And, “Run in such a way as to get the prize (1 Cor 9:24).
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Messy Church has moved
… into homes and online
Our next COGS Messy Church celebra-tion will be in August.
For up-to-date information and links to the next Messy Church, check out the Facebook page − https://www.facebook.com/Messychurchcogs; or request to join the COGS Messy Church Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2324513037620944/?ref=bookmarks; or look for the Messy Online button on the website.
In July we used the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate how we should live our lives as generous people, loving others as ourselves.
We talked about different ways we can be generous with our time, our words, our Hands and our stuff. Asking the question: How can we live our lives in line with Jesus’ message to go and do the same as the Samaritan did - and love our neighbours?
Jesus asks us to love our neighbour - How can we be generous with our time, words and stuff this week?
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Young Families
COGS Family under 5’s continue to stay in touch via Whats app and zoom. Each week we include a story time or craft, here is some of what we have got up to recently:
Daniel in the lion’s den
Jonah and the big Fish
Commotion in the Ocean linked to Gods creation
Hand print craft – Isaiah 49:16 − (written names in the Palm of my hands)
Talking Jesus
Talking Jesus course is Happening at COGS throughout July and August. a more detailed description can be found on the web-site https://www.goodshepherdfourmarks.org.uk/online-church/talking-jesus/
Page 8 Responding to God’s love
Financial Update Despite the lack of weekly cash collections since March due to Covid-19, overall donations for the half year were nevertheless 2% above forecast, with very welcome one-off contributions boosting income.
Expenses for the first six months have been necessarily curtailed due to the lockdown, with, for example, cancellation of such events as the Village Picnic meaning costs have been lower than budget.
Another unexpected and significant one-off donation in July has helped mitigate the result for that month.
Overall the impact of Covid-19 to date has thankfully been minimal, with virtually no reduction in donations allied to an inevitable reduction in expenses. Result? Effectively a “favourable” break even for the half year.
We are immensely grateful for your generosity in these extraordi-nary times.
Chart:
The chart plots the cumulative income against cumulative expenditure as the year progresses.
The continuous line shows the cumu-lative expenses, actual for the first six months and forecast for the next four months.
The columns show the cumulative income received each month, again the first six being actual (solid fill) and the remainder (spotted fill) being an updated forecast.
Where the columns are higher than the expenditure line indicates that The Good Shepherd was in surplus for those months.
Conversely where the expenditure line tracks above the columns indicates an overall deficit situation.
So, as you can hopefully see, halfway through the year we have realised a break-even situation. The forecast suggests that we will move into deficit from July onwards for the rest of the year.
As things stand it would appear that the forecast deficit for 2020 is now likely to be less than £20,000 (compared to a forecast at the start of the year of some £29,000).
David Craigen, Treasurer, [email protected]
Page 9 Responding to God’s love
All About God
The COGS Four Marks Village challenge on Friday 7th August, 2-5pm
Embracing the opportunity to be church out in the village, we hope to have checkpoints on driveways around the village. Each checkpoint will have an interactive challenge (or a window display of clues/quiz, ques-tions/pictures, etc.) for families to complete as they walk around the village.
Each checkpoint will link with the theme: All About God.
We will produce an accompanying map to show each checkpoint and challenge and families will each have a passport to be stamped at each checkpoint.
Initially we anticipate the main footfall to be Lymington bottom from the A31 junction to the school, and the length of Blackberry lane and possibly Brislands lane to the recreation ground, although if we have enough offers from other areas of the village we would love to extend this.
Contact Lorna − [email protected]
or Jane − [email protected]
Page 10 Responding to God’s love
Lockdown Poems by Rosemary Vine.
A Cry for Help
Hope
I cried a million tears for you
What else can I do
Prayed many, many times
Just want to be with you
Looking out on this morning
The world looks fresh and new
I can’t comprehend how life has changed
Where is our green and pleasant land
A virus so deadly is taking our loved ones away
Rain is falling now to join our tears
It will be good for the garden that’s true
Coming from above we look up to the sky
With hope for the future after the pain
But when, when, when, and hear
Keep strong you will know when the time
Is right you will see
Easter Holiday
Easter holidays that’s a shame
Can’t even go on an aeroplane
Must stay at home not go out
Shops will close what shall we do
I nearly cry no church today
Do exercise that’s fun indoors
I must try hard I need some fun
I sing a song and play a tune
Thankfully I know amazing grace
That will see me through
Play and sing alleluia
Love to everyone
Page 11 Responding to God’s love
”Early on Easter Sunday morning, looking out on a very quiet day”
The Message
I heard a whisper in the trees
A sound not heard before
Listening very carefully
As they swayed and moved
In a strengthening breeze
A cry so strange and sad alarmed me
Stay away it seemed to say
I wondered what was happening
At this special time of year
It is Easter Sunday morning
Then a glint of sun came shimmering
Through our fear
With sudden news our world stood still
Daily life was ceased
This message came with disbelief
DO NO COME OUT your life’s in danger
A hidden enemy, a deadly virus is here
What can we do as we stood still
Shattered by unknown fear
When all at once and clearer
A new voice called, Dear children
I am here you are not alone
We bowed our heads as we felt that love
And prayed as the tear drops fell.
The top three litter items picked this month Masks
Plastic gloves
Paper wipes
Signs of the times?
Page 12 Responding to God’s love
Resource Sharing Network (RSN) The Resource Sharing Network (RSN) will accept and circulate requests from the Church Family − for themselves or for family and friends − who need some help because they are in isolation. As always, money is not to be part of RSN requests.
If you are not on the RSN circulation, Email [email protected]
Small Groups For further information contact Val Lucas, the ministry leader for small groups (01420-561139).
Online Church Refer, please, to the website for what’s going on and for the necessary connections.
We have the 9.30am Service available from 6pm on the Fri-day before, the Coffee on Zoom at 11am, the 7pm Service, COGS Kids Online, Messy Church at Home, Alpha Online, and COGS on YouTube.
Prayer Chain If you have any urgent requests for prayer through the Prayer Chain, please email Matt Senior ([email protected]), or Howard Wright ([email protected], 01420-563344) or Alan Thain ([email protected], 01420– 85185).
Pastoral Care If you would like to hear from a member of the Team or you know of someone who would, please contact the team leaders, Debbie Norgate (84534) or Gilly Cobb (544404), or Howard Wright (01420-563344) or Matt Senior.
Page 13 Responding to God’s love
God, give me what You want and not what I want.
Joyce Meyer
Your worst day with Jesus will be better than your best day without Him.
Joyce Meyer.
What the devil meant for my destruction, God used for my instruction.
James Robison.
Our hearts were restless until we found rest in God.
Saint Augustine.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to reject the status quo. Montague Williams .
Meditations with Taketime.org
There are differences between the 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes ver-sions.
The sessions enable you to imagine a setting in which you encoun-ter Jesus. You are then given an opportunity to speak to him and then to hear him answering you:
The 5 minute version is simply an imaginative encounter.
The 10 minute version adds to this a relaxation exercise and a few moments to rest in God’s presence.
The 15 minute version adds more space in which to rest in God’s presence.
The 20 minute version adds to this an option to go back into the story and imagine who you might be, how that might feel and what God might be saying to you through the experience.
Afterwards: relax, have a break, enjoy the sense of peace.
[Source: https://taketime.org.uk]
Page 14 Responding to God’s love
Saint John Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom, was born at Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) in about the 347 A.D. He earned the title of “golden mouthed/tongue” – chrysostom in Greek – for his eloquent preaching. Born into a middle class family of a military commander, he spent his early years study-ing under the finest philosophers and rhetoricians. He was headed for a career in law but after his baptism at age 19, he became a desert monk until he was convinced to return to regular church life and or-dained a deacon in the year 381 by the bishop of Antioch Saint Me-letios. Because of his exceptional speaking ability as a deacon, and against his own desires, he was ordained a priest in 386 A.D. Because of his popularity as a preacher, his commentaries on Scripture, and his leadership, he was summoned from Antioch to become the new Patri-arch of Constantinople in 397 A.D.
John was a diplomat who was called upon to make various kinds of political and ecclesial interventions. He was a “rough reformer” who spoke frankly and acted decisively. He defied the political and religious leaders of the day by preaching against extreme wealth and lax mor-als. He lived what he preached and sold the expensive furnishings in his residence to give money to the poor and to hospitals. He ate like a monk and eschewed the large festal dinners of his predecessors. Some authorities, including the Empress, took a dislike of him and plotted to depose him, but the people protested in multitudes and John kept his position.
He was only five feet tall but his small stature never prevented him from standing tall in defiance of injustice, bowing only to God and nev-er compromising his Christian principles. This eventually proved too much for the authorities and John was exiled in 404. The Emperor eventually sent him into deeper exile to Pitius in Abkhazia to break his continuing influence. After long illness because of the first exile, he died on the journey on September 14, 407 A.D. Before falling asleep in Christ, he received the Holy Eucharist and said “Glory to God for everything!”
[Sources: Wikipedia, various]
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“When you are weary of praying and do not receive, consider how of-ten you have heard a poor man calling and have not listened to him.”
-- Saint John Chrysostom.
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The Christian Gospel
God reveals Himself in many ways; including in creation, in the proph-ets and apostles, and supremely in Jesus Christ.
God became a man in Jesus Christ.
He lived the perfect life that we couldn’t live.
He died on the cross the death for sin for which we should die.
Three days later he rose from the grave, so proving that he is the son of God.
He offers forgiveness of sins past, present and future (Hebrews chapters 9, 10) and eternal life to all those who repent and believe.
Those who do:
become children of God (John 1:12),
have sins forgiven; but not forgetting to turn to God when you do (1 John i:9),
have prayers answered (Mark 11:24),
Have a new spirit and power to live a transformed life (2 Cor 5:17),
and have no need to fear death (Hebrews 2:9).
and find their proof because Jesus is alive.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism or Mazdayasna is one of the world's oldest religions. It is a multi-tendency faith centred on a the dualism of good and evil and predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of monotheism and polytheism. Ascribed to the teachings of the Iranian-speaking spiritual leader Zoroaster, it exalts an uncreated and benevo-lent deity of wisdom, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), as its supreme being. The most important texts of the religion are those of the Avesta, which includes as central the writings of Zoroaster known as the Gathas, en-igmatic ritual poems that define the religion's precepts
With possible roots dating back to the second millennium BC, Zoro-astrianism enters recorded history in the 5th century BC. It served as the state religion of the ancient Iranian empires from around 600 BC to 650 AD, but declined from the 7th century onwards following the Mus-lim conquest of Persia of 633–654. Recent estimates place the current number of Zoroastrians at around 120,000 at most with the majority living in India, Iran, and North America.
[Source: Wikipedia and others]
Page 16 Responding to God’s love
A Message from Archbishop Justin Welby on Responding to Coronavirus,
13th March, 2020 As we continue responding to Coronavirus, a lot of us are wondering how we can walk in faith, resist fear, and sup-port those who are most vulnerable.
The first thing to say is that following the advice of experts – espe-cially about washing our hands regularly and self-isolating if we have cold or flu symptoms – is a really important place to start.
But what else can we do? Well, the thing about having hope, faith and courage is that although they are gifts from God, we can do our bit to nurture them.
We can take some time to sit quietly and pray, letting God know about those things that are on our hearts and minds. When we do that, we make that connection with God that nourishes and sustains us.
We can pray for those who are physically vulnerable. Those who are financially insecure and worried about needing to take time off work. Those who live in countries without public healthcare systems. Those who do not have family or friends and are facing this situation alone.
We can pray for healthcare workers and political leaders who are responding to this crisis and bearing the incredible responsibility of try-ing to keep us safe.
That brings us to resisting fear. One way to avoid being over-whelmed by fear is turning our attention to helping someone. Is there a person in your life, or your community, that you could call on the phone and see if they’re okay? Maybe it was someone that you prayed for?
Perhaps they can’t get to the shops – could you pick up some gro-ceries for them? Perhaps they are self-isolating and feeling lonely – could you call them on the phone and see how they are?
If you have some spare income, or some spare food, could you do-nate to your local food bank?
Let’s remember that we are in this together. Let’s look after our-selves and our communities, gain courage from each other, and walk together in hope and faith.
As it says in Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
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How to Move from Grief to Joy
By Rick Warren, Author of The Purpose Driven Life
“ . . . He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing in-stead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair . . . ” Isaiah 61:3
Many of us are experiencing grief right now because of a job lost, a business shut down, or a health issue, including the fear that you or someone you know may contract COVID-19.
We’re also experiencing grief because of closed schools, cancelled proms, and postponed weddings. We’ve been unable to visit family and friends, even when they’ve seriously sick in the hospital. And, heart-breakingly, some of us haven’t been able to mourn the loss of a loved one through a traditional funeral.
Yet, God promises that for all who mourn, “ . . . he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair . . . ” (Isaiah 61:3).
The greatest example of how God transforms grief into joy is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. After he was crucified, Jesus’ disciples went through two days of the deepest fear, pain, and grief anyone could ever experience. Even though Jesus promised his disciples he would return from the dead, they couldn’t grasp the reality of that through their grief. But once the disciples saw Jesus resurrected, they understood sin and death had been defeated. They were released from their fears and anxieties. And in that release, they found joy again.
As you hold onto the promises of God through these dark days, you, too, will find release from your fears and anxieties—and you will find joy again.
How can that happen? By relying on the power of God, the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead. It can change ashes into beauty, grief into joy, and despair into praise.
The only way for us to get to heaven is by trusting in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious stand-ard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins” (Romans 3:22-24 NLT).
We live in uncertain times, so if you haven’t already, reach out for the one thing that is absolutely certain—the forgiveness and hope found only in Jesus.
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Saint James, Apostle, the Lord’s Half Brother
Saint James, also called James, The Lord’s Brother, (died AD 62, Jeru-salem; Western feast day May 3), a Christian apostle, according to St. Paul, although not one of the original Twelve Apostles. He was leader of the Jerusalem Christians, who with Saints Peter and John the Evan-gelist is one of “the pillars of the church.”
Confusion has arisen over his identity because he has often been mistaken for St. James, son of Alphaeus. Exactly what the Biblical Gala-tians 1:19 means by designating him “the Lord’s brother” is also uncer-tain, although he is mentioned elsewhere in the Gospels as one of Je-sus’ four brothers (Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55). Hypotheses have been forwarded that James and Jesus were brothers (after Tertullian and Clement of Alexandria), stepbrothers (after Origen, among others), or cousins (after St. Jerome).
James evidently was not a follower of Jesus during his public minis-try. Paul attributes James’s later conversion to the appearance of Christ resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:7). Three years after Paul’s conversion, James was an important leader in the Jerusalem church (Galatians 1:18–19), where he assumed even more significance after King Herod Agrippa I of Judaea in about AD 44 beheaded the Apostle St. James, son of Zebedee, and after Peter fled from Jerusalem (Acts 12:1–17). He was the chief spokesman for the Jerusalem church at the Council of Jerusalem regarding Paul’s mission to the Gentiles (Acts 15:13) and final visit to Jerusalem (Acts 21:18).
Later tradition records that James was called “the Just” and was noted for his fulfilment of Jewish law. Though opposing those Jewish Christians who required that Gentile Christians submit to Jewish Law, including circumcision, he believed Jewish Christians should continue loyalty to Jewish practice and piety, as he did himself. His piety and zeal for the Law had become a basis for various legends; thus, later traditions emphasize James’s piety and popularity with Jews and Jew-ish Christians. This popularity is evident in the Jews’ anger when priestly authorities had James put to death, reputedly either by stoning (after Flavius Josephus, historian of the Jews) or by being thrown from a Temple tower (after the early Christian writer St. Hegesippus). The early church designates him the first bishop of Jerusalem, though the title is not used in the New Testament.
[Source: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica]
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The First Great Awakening of 1727 onwards Commonly called "The Great Awakening" this was certainly not the greatest revival in numerical growth or geographical scope. Neverthe-less, it well deserves the title because it was the first discernible occa-sion that God's Spirit was outpoured simultaneously across different nations.
Historically, the beginning of this awakening can be traced to the Moravian community called "Herrnhut" (the Lord's watch), where a vis-itation from God was experienced after a period of prayer, repentance and reconciliation in 1727. Nikolas Count Ludwig Von Zinzendorf, a German, was the leader of the movement that began a 24 hour-a-day prayer meeting, which lasted the next 100 years. In the next 65 years that small community sent out 300 radical missionaries. Their revived German Pietism was destined to influence two other harvest fields, which were on God's agenda for that time − England and America.
Griffith Jones, a young Anglican clergyman, often called the 'morning star of the revival,' was making a mark in Britain through his revival preaching for at least 10 years before Theodore Frelinghuysen, a Dutch reformed Pietist, began to see remarkable conversions in America. He preached in 1727 with revival signs following his ministry in New Jersey. The revival spread to the Scottish-Irish Presbyterians under the ministry of Gilbert Tennant, whose father, William, founded the famous "Log College", which later became the Princeton University. Revival then spread to the Baptists of Pennsylvania and Virginia before the extraordinary awakening that occurred on Northampton, Massa-chusetts, under the ministry of Jonathan Edwards in 1734. Edward's personal experience of revivals and his sharp mind, enabled him to produce a number of revival theologies and pastoral observations which have yet to be surpassed in their wisdom and insight. Thereaf-ter, the revival spread to England and was further advanced in America by a visit of George Whitefield in 1739.
The effects of the revival were phenomenal. Statistics are hard to find, but we know that 150 new Congregational churches began in a 20-year period and 30,000 were added to the church between 1740 and 1742, probably doubling its size. Moral results were equally notice-able. Nine university colleges were established in the colonies. The wild frontier society was thoroughly Christianised. Early missionary desire began to emerge, most notably in the ministry of David Brainerd among the Indians. His journals are essential reading for all those
Page 20 Responding to God’s love
seeking revival.
Back in Britain a massive movement of revival had began and was bound up with the ministries of two young men, George Whitefield and John Wesley. Both had been members of the Holy Club in Oxford while they were students. Wesley went off, still unconverted, to America to preach to the Indians in 1736, returning in 1738. The only benefit of this venture was his contact with the Moravians, who he could not un-derstand, but for whom he had a great respect. On Wesley's return, Whitefield had been converted and was already preaching with great effect. For 34 years he exercised a most amazing preaching ministry, with revival signs often following him. His eloquence was commanding and convincing, full of vivid pictures and graphic expressions. "His hearers were taken by surprise and carried by storm" (J C Ryle).
The height of Whitefield's ministry was at the famed Cambuslang Awakening in 1742, when 20,000 and 30,000 people gathered to hear him preach, followed by mass weeping and repentance for one and a half hours.
During Whitefield's ministry he preached in almost every town of England, Scotland and Wales, crossing the Atlantic seven times; win-ning countless souls in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. He publicly preached an estimated 18,000 power-packed messages, although none of his 75 recorded sermons do justice to his style and delivery.
Whitefield's friend, John Wesley, must go down in history as the ar-chitect of the 18th century evangelical revival. Converted in 1738, at the well-known Aldersgate Street prayer meeting, he proceeded to preach whenever the opportunity afforded itself, usually in church. Then, in 1739, at Whitefield's request, he preached in the open air at Bristol and followed Whitefield in his preaching places. There began those unusual manifestations which periodically attended his and Whitefield's ministry; falling, crying out, fainting, shrieking, convul-sions, etc.
Wesley wisely began small societies designed for mutual encourage-ment and support. These became forerunners of the class-meetings and then of the Methodist Church. They were surely used to conserve the fruits of his revivalistic work. Wesley was an itinerant preacher for 65 years. He travelled an estimated 250,000 miles on horseback to preach 40,000 sermons! He wrote 233 books, including his voluminous journals and a complete commentary on the whole bible. He left be-hind him 750 preachers in England, 350 in America; 76,968 Methodists
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in England and 57,621 in America. With Charles, his brother, he penned 9,000 hymns. Wesley's influence has far outrun his long life. His practices and theology has affected Holiness, Revivalist, Pentecos-tal and Charismatic groups right down to the present day.
Clearly, then this Awakening was truly 'Great' and had notable affect on the majority of countries where Evangelical Christians could be found. It affected the existing church, saw thousands converted and impacted social conditions. Historians usually refer to 1766, the year of the American revolution, as the year by which the revival had spent itself and had began to decline.
[Source: http://www.revival-library.org]
Atheism: the deliberate, definite, dogmatic denial of the existence of God.
Atheist: one who maintains that there is no God.
Its ramifications:
Difficult to pin down a moral law, so evil is trivialised.
What meaning do we attribute to life?
There is no hope, death is the end.
If one is wrong in these choices, where is the recovery line?
Frank, son of L’Abri Fellowsip founders Francis & Edith Schaeffer, after the death of his mother: “I’ll miss her voice. I learned to trust that voice because of the life witness that backed it up. I know I’ll hear her voice again. You won Mom. I believe.”
[Source: Ravi Zacharias]
As o’er each continent and island the dawn leads on another day,
the voice of prayer is never silent, nor dies the strain of praise away.
John Ellerton
God is love. Crazy, relentless, all-powerful love. God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself.
Francis Chan
Faith talks in the language of God. Doubt talks in the language of man.
E.W. Kenyon.
Page 22 Responding to God’s love
Ann and Adoniram Judson in Rangoon, Burma Rangoon was “a miserable, dirty town” built on a swamp in one of the outlets of the Irrawaddy River. All the sewage of the city—and the smell—accumulated in the channels of the river until tides moved it out to sea. The vegetation was beautiful, but the people went hungry because they had no in-centive to grow much. The government seized what-ever they produced. Food was costly. At the very least, the Judsons had a home— an earlier missionary, who had aban-doned the work in Rangoon, turned his house over to them.
Such an arrival in 1813 could only be a matter of wild chance—or of God’s extraordinary providence. The Judsons had fled Calcutta because the East India Company was prepared to deport them to England. Escaping, they made their way first to a French island and then to Madras. Learning that the East India Company had attempted to send fellow missionaries to England as spies (the United States and Britain were at war), the Judsons determined to leave India at once. The only ship they could get was bound for Burma. They boarded the Giorgianna, which Judson described as “a crazy old vessel.”
The Judsons had hired a Portuguese woman to accompany his wife, Ann. This maid dropped dead the day they boarded ship, and the shock of the incident weakened Ann’s health considerably. Their vessel sailed into a typhoon and Ann almost died. But by God’s mercy, she did not, and the credit for evangelizing Burma was as much hers as Adoni-ram’s. She proved a better linguist than he, which greatly assisted his efforts to learn the language and translate the Bible. It was five years before the pair baptized their first convert. By then, other missionaries had joined them.
In 1824, Britain went to war with Burma and Judson was arrested. Burma’s king made no distinction between Americans and British, as long as they were white. Ann laboured to free her husband and provide him the bare necessities of life. But in that hot climate, she sickened. The British defeated the Burmese and after twenty-one months, Judson was released. Joy turned to sorrow when Ann and their young daugh-ter, Maria, died soon after. Adoniram’s own death came in 1850 at sea, but the Judsons’ lifelong labour had not been in vain. By then, there were seven thousand Burmese Christians.
[Source: Christian History Institute]
Page 23 Responding to God’s love
The word worry comes from a Greek word meaning “to divide the mind”. Worry splits you right down the middle; instead of dwelling on God’s promises, you dwell on your problems. Worry is like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere. Instead of relieving you of tomorrow’s troubles, it robs you of today’s strength – and you can’t afford to lose your strength.
So how can you stop worrying? The Bible has a two-part answer: God’s part, and our part. Our part includes prayer and gratitude: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (verse 6). In order to worry less you must pray more, and also remember to express your gratitude. You can go to God confidently for the next thing, when you’ve taken time to thank Him for the last thing.
And what’s God’s part? “If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can under-stand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (verse 7). Note the words: “You will experience God’s peace.” Imagine having God’s peaceful state of mind! Do you think He battles anxiety? Or wrings His hands and asks the angels for antacids? Your problem is no more challenging to God than a twig is to an elephant. He enjoys perfect peace because He enjoys perfect power – and He offers His peace to you.
When you do your part through prayer and thanksgiving, you’ll have a peaceful state of mind.
Through the Bible in a Year: Luke 13:1-21 , Psalm 72-73
A sample from UCB’s Word for Today
Faith
A peaceful state of mind
“His peace will guard your hearts and minds.”
Philippians 4:7 NLT
Copies of The Word for Today are available from www.ucb.co.uk
Page 24 Responding to God’s love
The Lord’s [Disciples’] Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be
done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil
one.
Amen.
A Blessing of St Columba
See that you be at peace among yourselves, my children,
and love one another.
Follow the example of good men of old,
and God will comfort you and help you,
both in this world
and in the world which is to come. Amen.
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