Hello!
I am writing this weekly Praise and Prayer News on Saturday morning. I should be studying but most of the morning has been spent (so far unsuccessfully) trying to find B and B in Winchester for Monday night. I have to attend a session at the University on Monday evening and it ends too late to get a train home and driving doesn't seem an option. So I am taking a break to write this and to thank you for your prayers.
The Past Week
My ministry at Foulsham Baptist Church, Norfolk last Sunday brought blessing to me. It was just a great time meeting old friends and making some new ones too. Two people responded to the message of the gospel and many others commented on how helpful it had been. In the afternoon I led a session looking at rural evangelism. Please pray for those who have opened their hearts to the Lord.
The Thursday Bible Discussion Group really buzzed this week, though we were sorry that illness, accident, and family commitments reduced our number slightly. We looked at Philippians 3: 12- 4:1 which revealed Paul to have a sense of humour but also a tender and loving heart. We had previously explored 3:12-14 but needed to go back slightly to get some context. It seems to me that Paul is being a bit of a tease in verse 15. Having emphasised that he was not yet perfect (v 12) he now addresses his remarks to those who consider themselves to be perfect or mature (it is the same basic Greek word in both verses)! Some clearly did not have the same attitude that Paul had regarding the fact that there was still more to discover. To rub it in he then seems to say that if these 'perfect ones' did not quite agree with him God would open their eyes to the truth! We also noted his profound sadness regarding what we concluded were professing to follow Jesus but whose lives were focused on the sensual and this world.
Paul contrasts with this those whose city home is heaven and who longing is to see Jesus. Many years ago a missionary who had spent many years away from home returned to the USA on the same ship as a politician. The missionary received a kind welcome from a couple who had come to pick him up from the ship. Meanwhile the politician had a ticker tape welcome with a band and crowds to cheer. Somewhat discouraged by the comparison between the two welcomes he commented on it to those who had collected it. Whereupon they responded to remind him that he was not yet home! Our home is heaven, and what a welcome awaits us!
Two Congregational meetings this week proved useful. On Wednesday I was in Nottingham for a Pastoral Care Board and on Friday in Leicester for an Area Executive meeting. Good work done at both.
The Coming Week
Sunday 5th - Yelvertoft, Northants (following the morning meeting we will be celebrating the 90th birthday of one of our members)
Monday 6th - Winchester University
Tuesday 7th - Gartree Prison, Leicestershire
Wednesday 8th - Bible Discussion Group, Yelvertoft
Sunday 12th - Market Harborough Congregational Church
As the weather forecast is not good your prayers for safety in travelling will be appreciated, ad of course that each day will bring opportunity to share something of God's love and the good news with others.
Thank you.
Barry
I am writing this weekly Praise and Prayer News on Saturday morning. I should be studying but most of the morning has been spent (so far unsuccessfully) trying to find B and B in Winchester for Monday night. I have to attend a session at the University on Monday evening and it ends too late to get a train home and driving doesn't seem an option. So I am taking a break to write this and to thank you for your prayers.
The Past Week
My ministry at Foulsham Baptist Church, Norfolk last Sunday brought blessing to me. It was just a great time meeting old friends and making some new ones too. Two people responded to the message of the gospel and many others commented on how helpful it had been. In the afternoon I led a session looking at rural evangelism. Please pray for those who have opened their hearts to the Lord.
The Thursday Bible Discussion Group really buzzed this week, though we were sorry that illness, accident, and family commitments reduced our number slightly. We looked at Philippians 3: 12- 4:1 which revealed Paul to have a sense of humour but also a tender and loving heart. We had previously explored 3:12-14 but needed to go back slightly to get some context. It seems to me that Paul is being a bit of a tease in verse 15. Having emphasised that he was not yet perfect (v 12) he now addresses his remarks to those who consider themselves to be perfect or mature (it is the same basic Greek word in both verses)! Some clearly did not have the same attitude that Paul had regarding the fact that there was still more to discover. To rub it in he then seems to say that if these 'perfect ones' did not quite agree with him God would open their eyes to the truth! We also noted his profound sadness regarding what we concluded were professing to follow Jesus but whose lives were focused on the sensual and this world.
Paul contrasts with this those whose city home is heaven and who longing is to see Jesus. Many years ago a missionary who had spent many years away from home returned to the USA on the same ship as a politician. The missionary received a kind welcome from a couple who had come to pick him up from the ship. Meanwhile the politician had a ticker tape welcome with a band and crowds to cheer. Somewhat discouraged by the comparison between the two welcomes he commented on it to those who had collected it. Whereupon they responded to remind him that he was not yet home! Our home is heaven, and what a welcome awaits us!
Two Congregational meetings this week proved useful. On Wednesday I was in Nottingham for a Pastoral Care Board and on Friday in Leicester for an Area Executive meeting. Good work done at both.
The Coming Week
Sunday 5th - Yelvertoft, Northants (following the morning meeting we will be celebrating the 90th birthday of one of our members)
Monday 6th - Winchester University
Tuesday 7th - Gartree Prison, Leicestershire
Wednesday 8th - Bible Discussion Group, Yelvertoft
Sunday 12th - Market Harborough Congregational Church
As the weather forecast is not good your prayers for safety in travelling will be appreciated, ad of course that each day will bring opportunity to share something of God's love and the good news with others.
Thank you.
Barry
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