News / Events
From the Pastor
A selection from Pastor Derek's thoughts, as published in 'Hello! ', CCF's weekly information sheet.
October 2008
Ever feel like you’re carrying all of the world’s problems on your own shoulders? Life can be just like that at times, can’t it? You feel physically tired from trying to deal with a load of difficult emotional problems, not to mention the practical things that come along.
If you travel by air these days you’ll know all about the increased cost of personal baggage. Virtually none of it is free of charge anymore and taking more than normal with you - ‘excess’ baggage - is very expensive indeed.
Some airline passengers try to fool the system and stuff their hand luggage with heavy items, rather than putting them in their suitcases. Unfortunately, even hand baggage is weighed now too, so you still have to pay the cost of the excess weight.
It’s much the same in ordinary life too, of course. There is a cost, often hidden, to carrying ‘excess baggage’ around, so people try to disguise it in all kinds of ways. The trouble is that it’s pretty obvious to an onlooker that you’re weighed down with an enormous load, whether you deny it or not.
One day, sooner or later, the effort of carrying and concealing this excess baggage catches up with you, and you find there is a heavy cost to pay. The really unfortunate thing is that in life, this cost is absolutely needless. You can avoid the cost altogether, by allowing someone else to pay the price. In fact, the person concerned has already settled your account on your behalf.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. Try it!
To know more about how you can get rid of your 'excess baggage', try this link:
September 2008
Are you worried about your financial future? Has all the negative news about banks and house prices begun to unsettle you? Jesus made a promise, to every one who chose to believe in Him as Lord and Saviour: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.
Jesus is promising that self-same amazing supernatural peace that He possesses - to you and me - if we believe. What a promise! When Jesus left the earth to return to heaven, His followers must have wondered how they were going to survive. They’d given up their jobs, and whilst with Jesus, their needs had always been met. Now, without Jesus’ physical presence, what would happen?
If you are not yet in relationship with Jesus, is that how you feel? Maybe you feel like that even though you are in a living relationship with Jesus? To quote a 60s invocation - “Peace, man!”
A gift is not a gift until it's received. So it is with Jesus' offer of a "peace that goes beyond understanding". The gift of peace comes as part of the package of the Gift of Salvation. To know more about that, try this link: http://www.rejesus.co.uk
August 2008
How radical are you prepared to become, in order that the people around you sit up and take notice of Jesus? That’s not really a challenge, just an observation. I’ve been impressed by the willingness of athletes to forsake everything for the opportunity of winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games. The question in my mind is actually this one: “What would I give up in exchange for a crown presented by God Himself?
Mark 3:31-35 says, "Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Jesus set boundaries around Himself, in order that He could be free to pursue the purposes and plans that His Father had for Him whilst He was on earth. He restricted His activities to just those that helped Him achieve His goal. His attitude was that everything else was to be put to one aside, since:
" ... being in very nature God, (He) did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Ephesians 2:6-8) *
Jesus focused on just one thing, throughout His earthly ministry - His coming sacrifice on the Cross. Everything he did and said was done so in the context of the Cross and His subsequent Resurrection. Jesus' social life was that enjoyed by those with whom he mixed. Jesus' leisure time was that enjoyed by those with whom he mixed. Jesus' times of spiritual feeding were solely those times He spent in the Father's presence - alone.
In a sense, Jesus only had one opportunity to 'get it right', in terms of obtaining our salvation. Everything was planned to fit with His purpose, and He consistently practiced what He preached. He trusted His Father only for all that he needed, including relationships, and He didn't allow Himself to be diverted from His plans. I wonder how you and I are doing in our lives? Are we trusting the Father for all our needs, purposefully following His plans, constantly practicing His attitudes and character traits? If we are, we will be very different from those around us, noticeably so. Are you?
* Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights Reserved
June 2008
“What, I wonder, do Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and all the other professional atheists who make good money out of knocking people’s religious faith make of the behaviour of Margaret Mizen in the immediate aftermath of her son Jimmy’s murder?”
This is not my question. Rather, it came from the pen of Will Self as the opening line of a comment piece in this week’s London Evening Standard. He goes on to praise the way in which Mrs Mizen’s faith clearly impacts her response to the death of her son in a brutal attack this week. And in the process he notes, “It’s hard to think of any secularist, no matter how great a ‘humanist’, who can match this level of raw sympathy, understanding and forgiveness.” Now Mr Self is hardly an apologist for religion yet here he is recognising the fruit of an authentic faith.
Mrs Mizen’s response is not unique though. In July 2005, Anthony Walker was brutally murdered in a racially motivated attack in Huyton, Merseyside. Two men had killed Anthony by plunging an ice-axe into his head. Anthony was a devout Christian, as was his mother Gee Walker. After the verdict, Gee Walker spoke to reporters of the forgiveness she offered.
Do I forgive them? At the point of death, Jesus said, “I forgive them, ‘cos they don’t know what they do.” I’ve got to forgive them. I still forgive them. My family and I still stand by what we believe: forgiveness.
© Justin Thacker, Head of Theology, EA
May 2008
How are you feeling today, after last week’s Sunday morning meeting? Encouraged that God is still at work and wants to see us set free, blessed, healed and brought into maturity? Or are you feeling discouraged, disappointed, and a little frustrated?
The real question is not “how are you feeling?”, but what has God said to you this week to confirm what he said last Sunday? Have you been listening to Him, or listening to the ‘father of lies’, the Devil? God works through His promises, both past and present. He delights to tell us what He’s going to do and then rejoices when we respond in faith.
Perhaps you ‘feel’ you haven’t yet seen sufficient faith rise up within you to hold on to the promises He’s made to you. Perhaps you need to realise afresh that “faith as small as a mustard seed” is all you need, so long as the object of your faith is God Himself. Jesus instructs us to come to Him ‘as a little child’ in terms of understanding and faith (trust), recognising that what He is looking for in the first instance is obedience, rather than intellectual reason or proven fact.
The old song puts it simply, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Simple indeed, but oh so true!
April 2008
I set the challenge last week for each of us, including myself, to declare, by what we say, that we’re not ashamed of Jesus or His Word. So far, no one has been offended, no one has criticised me and no one has told me I’m stupid or naive.
What would you think if I told you I’ve spent all week speaking my mind? Your reaction is a measure of the state of your own mind! For me, it has been tremendously releasing to speak my mind to people - a mind that is being renewed daily by the washing of the Word. What comes out when you speak your mind?
Jesus promised that if we chose to remain grafted-in to Him, then our minds would be renewed - we would begin to think like Jesus - because He is living in us. If that is happening, we can freely speak our mind at any time and in any situation - without fear or embarrassment.
March 2008
I published this edited version of an Evangelical Alliance e-mail article on March 16th, and the postbag on the EA website since has produced an amazingly diverse response. Read it, then decide for yourself. In the light of much of Jesus' teachings regarding humility, how much should we 'blow our own trumpet' and how much effort should we put in correcting misinformation and ignorance?
Churches, mosques, synagogues and other faith communities contribute more than £2 billion to the economy, a report claimed last week. An audit in Wales of their contribution to public life shows that faith communities contribute £102 million a year to the Welsh economy which, if projected nationally, adds up to £2.1 billion. Given that 98% of these groups were Christian, the report’s findings are largely a reflection of the Christian contribution.
Yet the mainstream media almost totally ignored this story. You probably hadn’t heard about it. Your friends won’t have heard about it. That is why it is up to each one of us to remind those we know just what being a Christian in public life actually means. It is not primarily concerned with irreverent adverts or defending our own rights, it is primarily about serving our communities to the tune of £2bn per annum, or 40,000 unpaid full time workers.
And when they suggest that our Christianity is fine as long as we keep it private, you might want to ask them if they really want that £2.1 bn taken out of the economy, and if they really want those 40,000 unpaid workers to just stop serving – because that is what a privatised Christianity would mean.
Copyright Evangelical Alliance 2006 - 2008 © Julian Thacker - FNT
February 2008
Do you have a garden gate these days? Linda and I do, but most people don’t seem to have one anymore, do they? I wonder why? Maybe it’s because gardens are now open-plan, or have been changed into car park spaces, or perhaps it’s just plain easier not to bother having a garden gate. I suspect it’s the last of those possible answers. It’s just too much hassle to open and close a garden gate, especially if you’re carrying something in or out of your house.
Why do people have gates then, if they’re so inconvenient? The reason isn’t difficult to work out, if you think for a moment or two. Surely, a gate is there to keep out things such as rubbish, stray dogs, and unwanted callers - andkeep in precious items, such as young children and valuable property
It says a lot about our present society that gates are no longer important. Does it mean that we aren’t bothered about keeping rubbish out of our gardens, or keeping young children in our gardens and homes? What do you possess that is worth protecting by a gate, despite the hassle of opening and closing it all the time, because it’s precious to you?
As I travel around Bradford these days, I see gates making a definite comeback in certain parts of the city. In different types of area, I suggest they are there because each of the seperate cultures wishes to preserve and protect what they consider to be valuable. It may be a lifestyle, it may be possessions, it may be both. Have you forgotten, or never known, exactly what you possess as a family? Maybe you have nothing left to protect because it's already been lost or stolen, so fixing a set of gates would perhaps be a waste of time and money.
What about your personal life then? Do you have any gates in place that regulate what comes in and what goes out? I do, and and I keep it firmly closed - unless I'm certain that what is trying to enter is helpful or not. I also only open it to let out those things I want to be rid of - not everything I posess, that could be blown out by a sharp gust of wind.
Jesus said He was the gate. He still is the gate to my life. I allow Him to regulate the comings and goings of my life. If He says"it's OK!" - fine. If He says, "No way!", then it's "Sorry, no entry allowed!" How about yuor life? Who or what is reguating the flow in and out of your life?
January 2008
When you think of passion, what exactly do you mean? The men in Joshua Club struggled a little on a recent Thursday to explain their passions, but did eventually find themselves talking passionately about certain projects they were interested in seeing come to fruition. However, having all talked at length in our groups on a Tuesday, it seems that passion is in fairly short supply. Why is that do you think?
People with a strong passion tend to be different and therefore quite noticeable, so is it because the society in which we live breeds blandness and conformity these days rather than individuality? Or is it that the pressures of modern living simply squeeze out any passions we may have as we try to keep our heads above water in the hurly-burly of today’s lifestyles?
Jesus, when he was on earth as a man, was a man of passion. He did everything to the extreme, whether He was displaying His emotions (varying from compassion to anger) or verbally defying the hypocritical spirit of the religious hierarchy of His day.
Does being passionate mean having to be extreme in some way or other then, or even in every way? I think it probably does, in the sense that a person with a passion pursues something to the extreme. Where do we Christian believers stand in all of this then? Are we so passionate about our faith, and Jesus as the object of our faith, that we pursue it to the extreme, or are we held back by a society that, in general, can’t cope with ‘different’ or ‘individual’?
Jesus was simply Himself – we can be ourselves too, if we choose to be so. Are you up for some passion yourself, being who you are in Christ, a child of God, a joint-heir with Christ, a man or woman of God who has been given "a Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline"? ( 2 Timothy 1:7)
As believers in Jesus we need to know that, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness" ( 2 Peter 1:3).
December 2007
Have you seen something lately that appeared a little different? Something out of the ordinary? A little abnormal perhaps? Did it occur to you that perhaps God could have been trying to get your undivided attention? The Wise Men described in Matthew 2:1-12 were clearly actively looking for physical ‘signs’ that had some spiritual significance. When they saw the 'star in the East’, they were able to recognise it as something unusual because they knew what was ‘usual’.The appearance of this particular star was obviously different to the normal pattern of life they observed.
If you’re tuned-in to God as a way of life, then anything out of the normal will be easily spotted. If you’re not really ‘tuned-in’ to God though, you’ll always struggle to spot any kind of sign that God sends you, however dramatic it’s appearance. The signs are there to be seen if you have the spiritual eyes to see them. The ‘Wise Men’ followed the sign that they saw, and in doing so paid a considerable financial cost, took a significant risk with their personal safety, and exercised a very high degree of faith!
Those three conditions apply to any and every sign that God gives to those who are seeking to follow Him to fresh and unknown places. There is a cost to seeking out Jesus in this way. You need to lay aside other pursuits and re-allocate your time. You need to be prepared to take risks. Your journey may well bring you alongside some dodgy characters (such as a smiling and apparently helpful King Herod!). You'll also need a measure of faith (an amount as small as a mustard seed is enough!). After all, the goal you seek is not yet visible, even to you, let alone friends and family!
So, are you still looking for a sign? Beware - It’s a dangerous business following signs from God. It's a journey that involves you giving something to God (not vice versa) and then receiving back simply the experience of meeting Him in a new way. However, as you leave His presence, listen carefully because he will undoubtedly re-direct your path, now you're willing to go where he directs.
The signs are there - you simply need to 'see' them.
November 2007
What’s your present goal in life? What are you working towards completing in the near future?
Nehemiah was working for a foreign king in a city a thousand miles from home. Not a single thing on his CV suggested that he was able to start from scratch and restore a ravaged city and its people. But he did eventually revive both the city and its people. To do so, he took several significant steps:
• Though it seems counter-intuitive, Nehemiah acknowledged from the beginning that he was actually unequal to the task.
• Nehemiah used his connections to get started - he appealed to the king for safe passage to Jerusalem and for financial support.
• Nehemiah met regularly with a small group of people who cared about getting the job done.
• Nehemiah knew that any task worth doing is worth doing initially in a way that seems to be not very good… at least in the eyes of your enemies!
His critics mocked him mercilessly... but Nehemiah wasn’t just building a city wall; he was actually building a community of co-workers. After considerable effort, the wall was only "half its height," but that in itself didn’t matter because Nehemiah's team of co-workers was more than halfway to becoming a group of people able to accomplish everything God asked of them.
What are you helping to build? A social outreach project; a small business; a new ‘church’ - or a team of people able to work together and fully-equipped to do whatever God asks them to do? Check it out!
October 2007
Ever asked a stranger for directions and been given the answer, “I wouldn’t have started from here, mate”? In Acts 16 ‘Paul & his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia... when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to...’ Don’t you find it frustrating when your route is blocked for some reason? You’ve always used a certain route but now you are being sent in a completely different direction and you feel quite uneasy.
At this point you need to trust the guidance you are receiving and continue to go forward, looking for the next signpost. When the route’s blocked, you need to follow the diversion and enjoy, and even explore, the unexpected scenery. Even if you’re using SatNav, it can be difficult to understand quite why you have been sent in a particular way, but confidence in what you’re being told to do comes from previous experiences. It’s exactly the same with God. Psalm 119:106 says, "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." NLT.
Charging up and down every possible alternative road doesn't really help to find the way forward when travelling through an unfamiliar landscape. Neither does trying to push open every single door in view when looking for God's way forward for you. His Word, the Bible, really does guide our feet for the next step, and lights up the immediate path in front of us. Listening to the Spirit confirm His Word brings tremendous confidence when, in theb natural, things don't look as you expect them to look.
Paul, when his path forward was blocked, didn't worry about what was not possible - he did what was possible, and went down to Troas. God had plans for Paul to strengthen and encourage the existing churches in Asia, rather than plant a few more farther away (was that someone else's job?). Once he did that, God gave him clear direction for the next stage of his journey, in the form of a vision (a bit like SatNav plotting a new route for you on the screen!).
Travel directions only ever really make sense, of course, once you are on the move and can see the signposts and landmarks. Doing what we can, where we can, is always the best starting point for new directions. Wandering off into the wilderness with no plan or purpose is a recipe for disaster in any walk of life and even more so in God's Kingdom life.
God moves us on when we're actively doing His expressed will, are content with where we are, and are completing the last task He gave us to do. Then we're in a position to be re-positioned!
September 2007
Do you ever take time out to look around you and think about what you see? Spending time in other peoples’ (different) cultures is a great way of assessing your own. This year I’ve travelled to India, France and Spain and been struck again by the, to me, blindingly obvious conclusion that family life in the UK has moved far, far away from where it was when I was a child.
How often, when eating out, do you see children in the UK staying seated at the table and joining in the conversation? Not very often in my own experience. What I seem to see all too often is a child roaming around the restaurant all on their own, having first eaten food totally different to their parents and then being unable to participate in any of the conversation.
In other cultures, I see children eating and talking with adults whilst sat at ease around the same table. I see children positively included in all that is happening around the meal table and children content to be present with adults. What do you see - around you and at home? Is there something you need to learn from others of a different culture (either here in the UK or Overseas)? I wonder what Jesus learnt at the meal table - about life around Him, about good social manners, and about the ways of His Father in heaven?
Our Christian life is shown to the world around us in very practical ways. What do people see as they observe us as families, eating, talking, playing in public? Does what they see reflect the life of Jesus? Do they see a lifestyle characterised by "a spirit of power, love, and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7), where the parents possess real authority, alongside a deep love and clear self-control? Following Jesus is all about being radical, of living in the world but not being of the world.
How radical is that, to be in control of your kids and have them sit and eat at the same table as the aprents, enjoying conversation?
July 2007
As we struggle with the ‘summer’ weather in Bradford, and grumble at the lack of any periods of sunshine at all, let alone prolonged ones, let’s think about why we feel as we do. Changes, especially in the weather, cause more comment than almost anything else, it seems, yet life’s all about change, isn’t it?
We grow, develop, move, mature (hopefully!) - even our very appearance changes (whether we like it or not!). Every part of life involves change. Life itself is change. So why do we moan and groan when life simply displays its built-in character - change?
If, as Christian believers, we never changed, why would anyone around us ever want to share our faith and believe in Jesus too? Jesus’ whole ministry is to be transformational - to effect permanent and contagious change in the lives of every believer, changing them into true disciples. The changeable weather reflects life itself. Our aim is to practice ‘living above the clouds’, where it’s perpetual sunshine!
The following verses in the Bible proclaim the Truth that indeed we are, spiritually, far above all powers, authorities (and circumstances):
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." [Eph.. 2:6-10] *
Are you a picture of tranquility in every situation - a safe harbour in the middle of a storm? Do you have words of godly Wisdom (not mere common sense) when everything else is confusion and despair? Jesus always knew what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. Do you?
* Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Bible NIV
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights Reserved
June 2007
These are exciting times for all of us involved in CCF. The Lord clearly has plans in hand for us to stretch our wings and expand the geographical area in which we minister. It seems too that he has a somewhat larger vision than I have at the present time! On my desk are the words from a prophetic song given to us some time ago:
“Lift your vision high,
You’re on a way you’ve never been before.
Lift your vision higher,
And you’ll see the Glory of the Lord.
Without a progressing vision,
We run aimlessly.
Lift your vision higher and you’ll see the Glory of the Lord.”
Together, we need to catch the extent of this vision for the future, and begin to work it out from today onwards, recognising two essential points:
Where will our success come from? The Lord!
Where will our troubles come from? The ungodly!
Let’s move forward together, step by step, all the time looking to Jesus, and away from the world. He will do amazing things, as Proverbs 20:24 says, “The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”
May 2007
Ever heard the phrase, “What planet is he on?”, when someone has done something that seemed quite bizarre or bewildering? It might sum up your thoughts about God receiving Ange into Glory at 31, leaving Adam to care for three young boys.
The answer, of course, is that God is indeed not on this planet - at least, He doesn’t live on Planet Earth as a human being! I, for one, thank Him that He doesn’t live on this planet, but that He actually inhabits the complete universe that He created for us to enjoy.
That means His apparent lack of action is far beyond my human finite mind’s ability to understand, and His perfect ways are there simply to be trusted. It is as easy to trust the unknown as it is to distrust the unknown, so we have a straightforward choice. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6) and so since I want to please Him, I choose to trust Him. My experience so far is that God can indeed be trusted inplicitly. It’s as simple as that for me - how about you?
April 2007
Do you find it frustrating when you’ve begun something new and haven’t quite got the hang of it just yet? Do you want to ‘run before you can walk’? I certainly do, every time.
This past week has been one of those times for Linda and I. We’ve pursued the acquisition of various properties, both domestic and commercial, and at the same time pursued the Lord’s leading regarding extending the discipleship teaching we offer, beyond Vision Groups. We have had to learn all over again what it means to ‘leave it with the Lord’ and get on with life.
In the middle of all this, though, the Lord has brought about some amazing situations - ones which on the face of it could be seen as extremely negative. However, these situations are actually ‘fruit from past seed’ and are bringing forth a harvest of righteousness.
Whenever He brings us into difficulties, He also brings us into fruitfulness. Maybe not as we expected, but definitely as He has planned. The frustration of learning something new is perfectly balanced by the joy of seeing the fruit of something from the past. Isn’t the Lord gracious and compassionate?
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.”
(The words above were written just three days before Ange Carver was taken to Glory [aged 31] very unexpectedly. What a wonderful 'Word in season' in preparation for what was to come! The Lord is proving Himself all over again to be 'gracious and compassionate'. And what a promise to all those who have been rocked by recent events - "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out")
March 2007
It’s quite a while since I’ve talked about ‘your community’ and the need to be God’s Presence within it, but I feel the time is right to bring the whole issue back to the forefront of our thinking and praying.
This week I have had further opportunities to speak with people in various ‘communities’ of which I’m a part. As I’ve prayed and meditated on what God has already spoken over me about ‘communities’ I’ve come to the conclusion that His purpose and plan for each of us is to become even more integrated into these communities of people.
Our personal ‘mission’ is, after all, to be His presence wherever He places us. Whatever anyone else thinks regarding the effectiveness, or wisdom even, of this course of action is immaterial. If God has specifically placed us somewhere, then He has a specific purpose in doing so, and it’s therefore His responsibility, not ours, to decide what outcome He requires.
Our responsibility is to respond in a Christ-like manner to the situation, allowing Jesus to live-out His resurrection life through us and reacting in an appropriate way to what happens. That is the essence of S.P.A.R.K. - being content to live like Jesus in whatever situation we find ourselves.
February 2007
A verse I have quoted often, and a favourite of Steve Goss (FICM), is “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
(2 Peter 1:3)
The thrust of the verse is that God has already given each and every believer all that they need for life and godliness. All our basic physical and spiritual needs have been taken care of completely.
We know the verse too that says, “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”. In other words, all your future, ‘extra’ needs are guaranteed as well.
The question therefore is this - “If we’ve received already, in fact or by faith, every single need that will ever arise - why are we so anxious about situations?” This coming week, read the following verse every day and meditate on it for a few minutes: Philippians 4:6. It’s God’s formula for a stress-free and joy-filled life!
January 2007
It’s traditional (?!) in January to state or re-state your goal or vision for the year. Why in January? I suppose because we inevitably follow the West’s secular calendar, rather than God’s Spirit-given times and seasons.
It is quite hard to get out of that way of thinking, isn’t it? So hard that in fact we as a church are going to follow that tradition. Actually, it’s simply convenient to look again at what God is saying to us as a church. We have come to a point, in January, of needing to see the way forward more clearly than was the case in December!
Ever had the feeling that you’ve stepped onto a rollercoaster and you’re not sure you wanted to? That’s how I feel this week. Excited about what may happen yet slightly wary of what God might ask of me. When I hear His voice and act upon it straight away, I get an amazing sense of peace, but with it comes this ‘tingling’ sensation that warns me to be ready for absolutely anything.
Right now, in January 2007, I’m ready for some real excitement in my life, something that will spur me on to major spiritual exploits. How are you feeling today? How did you feel when you got the letter about fasting and prayer? Did you say, “No way!” or “Yes, Lord!” ?
December 2006
Have you seen a ‘rising star’ anywhere recently? On X-Factor perhaps, or on Strictly Come Dancing? Where will Leona or Mark be in a year’s time - five years time?
The Wise Men from the East saw a rising star and then travelled a very long way to worship the King whose birth the star announced. The ‘rising star’ that they saw has lasted rather longer than any winner of X-Factor, Pop Idol or Big Brother.
In fact, that rising star is still in the ascendancy, still high in the charts, still at No. 1. Not for him the ignominy of being excluded due to old age like Cliff!
The One who was born King of the Jews still reigns supreme. His Book is still the world’s No. 1 best seller. The only question therefore is - who will you worship this coming year? The world’s all-time and ever-present No. 1 - or a soon-to-be has-been?
Who you worship (follow) says a great deal about you as a person. Actually, I think it says everything about you as a person. The object of your worship (worth-ship) defines the real you. If it doesn’t, then you don’t really worship that person, do you?
You don’t worship anyone, do I hear you say? Think again! Who do you spend the most time thinking about? Pause for a few moments and try and answer that question. You may be surprised by the answer that comes to mind.
You didn’t realise you worshipped yourself? Not even after all this time and all the aggravation you’ve had from so many people? God’s Word says, ”Know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.”
You may not like the Truth that’s being revealed to you right now, but if you accept it as Truth, and then respond to it as Truth, you’re on the way to understanding yourself a whole lot more than you have done up to now.
You’re also beginning to understand that there is Someone greater than you and therefore Someone more worthy of worship than yourself. Now that is a great place to be at – discovering that the God of the universe may just be bigger than you!
November 2006
‘Herod immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in prison, and brought back his head on a platter.’ Mark 6:27-28
None of us today have a unique mission like that of John. Nor do we, in Britain, live in a country in which our lives are in danger if we speak out about the evils of our society. But - hypothetical though the question may be - I sometimes wonder how long I would hold out if under pressure to renounce my Christian faith.
In spite of the fundamental liberties that are enshrined in our law, there are, these days, increasing attacks on freedom of speech, and Christians feel a creeping unease about assaults from militant atheists and adherents of other religions. So our present dilemma is more subtle. Afraid of giving offence, of being labelled ‘fundamentalist’, many mainstream Christians have remained quiet about the wrongs and injustices in our society or workplaces, and in the face of misrepresentation and ridicule.
Paul sums up Christian witness like this – that ‘you may shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life’ (Phil.2:15-16). The gospel is indeed the word of life for everyone, and if we are not ready to offer it, nobody else will.
The simplest way to avoid being shot at is to keep our heads well below the parapet. After all, if we make ourselves invisible nobody will bother to shoot at us.
(From LICC article by Helen Parry)
What about you and I then? When we complain that the various national Christian leaders fail to take a stand on spiritual, ethical and moral issues, what are we doing? Are we willing to stand in the gap and make our views known beyond our church buildings and front rooms, or are we going to take the route of faulty theology and 'pray and trust God', without getting involved ourselves?
If Wilberforce hadn't got involved, we would still be a nation and a continent that found slavery perfectly acceptable. It took him several decades to see slavery competely abolished. Do you and I have that kind of persistence? Do you and I have the same view of God that Wilberforce had?
Perhaps this Christmas we could reflect on our life priorities and how they affect the lives of others around us.
October 2006
Today (15th October) we welcome two very special guests to Chellow Fellowship. One Linda and I have known for a number of years, and the other we will meet today for the first time. During the ‘Love Bradford’ mission in the nineties, Les Wade was the national director for Operation Mobilisation’s ‘Love UK’ organisation.
Through that relationship a group of U.S. young people came to this area and helped us visit every home on the Haworth Road estate. Out of those visits came the beginnings of Chellow Christian Fellowship.
Having followed Les’ ministry over the years, we became aware of his links with N.J. Varughese and All India Mission. N.J.’S work in north-east India seemed to fit our vision of a truly world-wide mission, hence our regular support for him through Heartlink, Les’s own outreach ministry.
This morning we want to bless these two men of God financially, establish a whole-church friendship with them, and be blessed ourselves by their ministry amongst us. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with ‘family’ in a different part of the world and begin to see how we can be effective in helping others in their ministries.
My personal prayer is that we will follow the example set in 1 Thess. 3:1-3 by the Apostle Paul and demonstrate our support in a very visible way. I am planning to visit India in February 2007 and invite you to consider joining me. Pray about it!
September 2006
We have been looking at ‘The World of Work’ for several weeks now. Have the thoughts and ideas presented actually penetrated yet into your mind, and therefore into your daily life?
I’ve been having great fun putting the ideas into practice. I say ‘fun’ because it’s incredibly amusing to see people’s reactions to patience, kindness and goodness, not to mention gentleness and self-control.
While we were away this last week, Linda and I enjoyed one of the best restaurant meals ever. Not the most expensive, but the most exquisite flavours and presentation. As we were enjoying a superb ‘pickle’ as part of the cheese board, the Holy Spirit clearly said to me, “Invite the Chef to your table and say ‘Thank You’ to him in person”. So I did!
The Chef was so pleased. The other diners were amazed. A financial tip for a waiter is common, but a personal expression of thanks to the Chef is something else. Isn’t that what the fruit of the Spirit should be causing us to do all the time, bursting forth into words of thanks and practical good deeds? How are you doing
August 2006
What’s your deepest passion? My personal deepest passion right now is talking to people about their passions! I’ve become convinced of late that we can only function at out best when we’re following our deepest passions. As Christian believers, of course, that means our godly passions, not our fleshly passions.
Psalm 37 instructs us, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Some 18 years ago, the Lord asked me, point-blank, “What your deepest desire, Derek?” My answer was simple - “You already know, Lord. I want to devote all my time to working with believers, young and old, to equip them for effective Christian service in the non-Christian world.”
It has been an amazing journey since the autumn of 1988, when Linda and I were travelling the North of England with “Coming Home - the Prodigal”, a musical drama starring 9-13 yr. olds. The Lord has done fantastic things for us and through us, as we’ve followed our God-given passions. Don’t give your second-best. God wants your first-best!
Sunday 23rd July 2006
What are you doing during the summer holidays in terms of refreshing your spiritual life? I ask the question because so often people don’t take advantage of the break from ‘normal’ routines and end up as stressed in September as they entered August!
Can I encourage you to pick up and read (perhaps sat in the garden sunbathing) that book you’ve been going to look at for ages? Maybe you could take time out for yourself (it’s allowed and definitely necessary!) and do a special study of a Bible passage, or a particular subject that’s been ‘bugging’ you for a while?
Perhaps you could spend time developing a fresh pattern of regular prayer, asking the Lord what he might want you to focus on for the next few months?
Whatever you decide to do this summer, don’t do nothing, because that will mean you’ll start the next ‘season’ in the same state as now, which means stagnation not progress. If you’re stuck for what to do, look in your daily (once a week?) reading notes and start to follow the extra passages listed - you’ll me amazed what you begin to see once you look!
Sunday 18th June 2006
Isn’t it amazing what God can do if we simply let Him have His way? When Joshua did exactly as he was commanded regarding attacking Jericho, he saw a miraculous result. It’s also very sobering to realise that when we choose to deliberately ignore God’s specific commands to us, the consequences can be horrific.
Today’s Bible passage gives us a realistic picture of the two sides of God’s character - His grace and His judgement. Why is it that far too often we find ourselves in situations of real pain and distress, turn to the Lord for help, and then find that He actually warned us ‘not to go there’ in the first place?
We then complain that God isn’t listening; God doesn’t really love us; God can’t be trusted; God isn’t fair, etc. etc.. What do we expect God to do? If He is faithful and can be trusted, then He will act according to His Word - even His Word of warning! How can you complain when God acts according to His character?
Perhaps we react as we do because we don’t fully understand God’s character and the fact that He doesn’t change and will never change. If you’re in a ‘hard place’ right now, ask yourself how you got there. If you’re there because you disobeyed God, confess that and choose to repent (turn around and go the other way). God will immediately give you a way out (which may not be easy!) and a way forward. He can be trusted
Sunday 21st May 2006
This week I was in Weaverham, Cheshire, at the Apostles’ & Elders’ Forum. One particular item of note came out of that time together. It concerned the matter of faith, and was a Word that God had me bring to the meeting during the opening worship.
We had been praying about long-term difficulties being experienced by various families, and the Word was Luke 18:6-8. The specific phrase that God brought was, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
I thought, “Yes, what a good question. When we pray about something, and the Lord brings about a change in the situation, do we actually have the faith AT THAT POINT to believe He’ll do it? Or have we prayed for so long that when the moment comes, we have no faith left to believe Him for anything?”
Does that thought echo in your mind? If so, what can you do to lift your level of faith to believe God for all He wants to do in and through you? God’s Word tells us plainly, “...faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” So how about it? Spend some time waiting on God and then choose to hear from God when He speaks - you’ll soon have some Good News - faith will soon arise in you!