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Dear Friends, February
2012
The Apostle Paul said these
words, “Don’t you realise that in a
race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” 1 Corinthians 9:24
We are in the year of the
Olympics – Preparations for the games are in their final stages; The Athletes
have become single minded – their aim: “To win!” No-one remembers the second
place person – winning is everything. Winners leave their mark on history
(whiners disappear like the morning mist!). These Olympians leave us in awe
with their displays of incredible natural ability and talent. Christians also
have incredible natural abilities and talents, along with spiritual gifts;
special abilities to be used. Leo
Buscaglia wrote, “Your talent is God’s
gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” We must run to
win!
In what way win? Paul’s race
was to do everything to spread the Good News and share in its
blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:23) His race
has become ours – the baton is in our hands – a baton that one day we will pass
to the next generation, until the Lord returns. Mother Theresa would often
quote the following by Dr. Kent M. Keith: “People are often unreasonable, illogical and
self-centred; Forgive them anyway. If
you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you
spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be
jealous; Be happy anyway. The good
you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never
be enough; Give the world the best
you've got anyway.”
The race we run, and run to
win, is watched by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. We run the race, and run to
win according to the rulebook of heaven, with His glory in mind. We run to win,
and give the best not because we seek to earn ‘brownie points’ – but rather in
response to the One who gave His all, His best for us. We walk in His
footsteps, following His example.
Run the race, and run to win.
Do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. Give your all
– for the One who gave His all – for you!
Your Pastor, Gary.
Finish
more, connect more, believe more
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“GOING
DEEPER”
DISCIPLESHIP & DISCOVERY GROUP
We rejoice with all that God, by His Spirit,
did among and through us during 2011 – truly amazing and a testimony to the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In 2012 Going Deeper moves to an exciting new
slot – Sunday evenings.
Going Deeper will usually take place on the 1st
and 3rd Sunday of each month. (Special events may necessitate
changes – but these will be announced well in advance.)
Also – Going Deeper will include a selection
of Refreshments and Fancy Cakes / Nibbles. Suggested donation of £1.00 (There
will not be a full meal as before, although from time to time we may include
this, ‘as the Spirit leads’.)
Our aim continues to be: ‘to walk with the Spirit, go
deeper in our relationships with God and each other, His Word and Spirit, our
Christian Faith, worship, mission and life’. We will continue exploring together issues
around the theme of, “how to…”
Who is it for? Anyone who connects with the above and
desires such a journey, who desires to go deeper – as well as those who hunger
and thirst for the Lord – or would like to!We
rejoice with all that God, by His Spirit, did among and through us during 2011
– truly amazing and a testimony to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our
first Going Deeper gathering in January was yet another powerful evening, when
the Holy Spirit moved in incredible ways.
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