July 21 -The Miracle of Friendship

“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” 1 Samuel 18:1 (ESV)

The mother of one of our dearest friends here in Netherfield, is dying of cancer right now. I came across this article I have adapted, by Melanie Shankle, and was struck by how closely we are united by our feelings at this time.

I realize that’s not really an uplifting start to your day. But it’s the reality. We have all experienced the pain of saying that last “goodbye” to someone we love and Shirley, Bryn, and family, are heartbroken right now at the prospect of losing their mum. She’s been a constant presence in Bryn's life since he and Shirley first met. and at Netherfield, our love and friendship with Shirley, and Bryn, goes back to the 1970's when they were baptised and gave their lives to the Lord's work.

Quickly they became our dearest friends, along with mum, as we learned all the ways we were alike and all the ways we were different. God used them to draw hearts back to Him as they demonstrated how to make faith a priority. I look back at that time and realize God very purposely knitted our hearts together during those years. He knew all the ways He would use us to encourage and strengthen one another.

As we see in our key verse, 1 Samuel 18:1, God sometimes knits our hearts with others like He did with David and Jonathan. He puts people in our path because He knows we’ll need them.

Jonathan was just what David needed at that stage of his life. David was a young shepherd thrust into the spotlight. And based on some of his future writings in the book of Psalms, maybe a little overemotional at times.

David was often overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy and depression, and being hunted by a crazy king. (aren't we all - with the exception of the crazy king.) But Jonathan loved David, believed in him, and sought God’s best for him. Jonathan’s friendship was what David needed to grow into the king and leader he was to become.

As women, many of us spend our early lives thinking about marriage and hoping to find Mr. Right. Then we realize our husbands don’t necessarily want to hear all about the best supermarket bargain or cry with us over the kid who’s failing math or eats cookie dough straight from the bowl. That’s why God gives us our girlfriends.

Beyond common interests, affection and a sense of humour — the aim of friendship is to sow into each other words of eternal life and blessing. We remind each other of God’s wisdom and provision, refresh each other’s spirit and strengthen each other’s faith.

Good friendships require walking with one another down some hard roads, losses, a bad diagnosis, financial problems and much more. We need friends to help us remember what God has done for us and that He will be faithful.

In 2 Samuel 1:26b, David says of Jonathan, ” … Your friendship was a miracle-wonder, love far exceeding anything I’ve known — or ever hope to know,” (MSG). That’s ultimately what God gives us in friendship: a real life, everyday miracle in the form of another person.

But having our soul knitted to another isn’t for the faint hearted.

It means you bear your own hurts along with those of your friend. You cry when they cry and laugh when they laugh and feel like your heart will break wide open when you face not having them by your side, or see them hurting.

But it’s worth it because they cause you to love harder, laugh louder, live richer and become more than you could ever be without them. It’s putting your heart and your name in the hands of another person and saying, “I trust you with all of this,” as they do the same.

More than this, we have the promise of God - “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” - John 14:1-3.

"Hold me While I Cry" will be the music today. Click on the picture to listen.

Baby Step 6 - Paying off your Mortgage Early

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.   Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.…" - 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Baby step number 6 is where we start to pile extra cash towards your mortgage in order to pay it off early.

The baby steps can sometimes seem like a Marathon race. By the time you finally get to baby step 6, your muscles have started to seize up and you are about to hit that infamous “wall” that seasoned runners talk about. The “wall” is the point in a race where things transition from being pretty hard to being really, really hard. It is that point where your body and mind are simultaneously tested. It is the perfect intersection of fatigue and diminished mental faculties. It is the point where you look back and realise just how far and how much you have achieved. You have managed to get out of consumer debt, you have saved up 3-6 months of expenses for the emergency fund, you have started to invest 15% of your income for your retirement and you are saving for your children’s college/university fees. Surely you deserve a rest now. Why not kick back and relax. Enjoy the fruits of your labour.

The path to financial freedom is not a 100m race. It is a marathon. Those you finish the race reap the rewards. I am always amazed when I read and listen to the stories of people who have paid off their mortgage early. The sacrifices, the extra jobs or overtime, working 7 days per week, 12 hour shifts etc. It takes a lot of mental will power as well as physical stamina. You will be tempted to relax by the time you have reached step number 6 mainly because by this stage you are in control of your finances and you have even started to build some wealth. But to give up now would be a mistake. You still have a few more miles to go to get to the end of the baby steps. Just 2 more steps and you are done!

So why should I pay off my mortgage early?

Simply paying an extra £155 per month towards your mortgage could reduce it from a 25 year term to 20 years. On top of that, you could save up to £30,000 in interest.

2. Do you really want to be tied to a mortgage in your retirement years? Your income will be significantly reduced when you get to retirement. Do you think you can still afford to pay £1,265 in monthly mortgage payments when you stop working?

I was blessed a while back. The bank made a mistake and found they needed to give me some money. After giving tithe, something I find easy to do these days, I piled the money, it turned out to be 10% of the mortgage I owed at the time, into paying off my mortgage. As a result I have saved over £1000 in interest I would have paid and now can pay off my mortgage several months early. That means that I can use the money I would have paid on my mortgage on something else.

NB: before you start paying extra on your mortgage, check with your bank/mortgage provider that there won’t be any penalties. Better still, before you sign on the dotted line for the mortgage in the first place, check that there are flexible features that allow you to overpay without incurring any penalties.

Music choice is "He Was There All The Time.  Click on the picture to listen.

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6

The world sure is a busy place lately. Even if you are not or have never been interested in politics here are a few headlines from this month alone.

• ‘Brexit’ Britain leaves Europe apparently without a plan.
• Race fuelled and police killing at an all time high in America.
• Theresa May becomes Britain’s second female prime minister, appointing Boris Johnson as Home secretary much to the shock of world leaders.
• Zimbabwe at tipping point after wages have not been paid for up to five months prompting riots.
• Donald Trump seems to be heading for the office of President in the USA.
• Coup attempt in Turkey after 2,800 military personnel were arrested.
• More than one million migrants and refugees are seeking asylum in Europe alone.

I could go, but these immediately to my mind although I am sure I have missed more as current events.

The bible clearly tells us that this is not the end; these are merely warning signs. What an opportunity to point a frightened world to prophesies made over 2,000 years ago in the bible!

Don’t leave the world without hope, go tell the story of someone who has the answers. The world says this is doom and gloom, the bible says in Luke 21:28

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

What a promise, what a God we serve.

Kurt Carr sings ‘I almost let go.’ Click on the picture to listen.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

As the bus went around the corner I noticed a lady next to car about 5 yards away from the bus stop. The driver made to continue past when all of a sudden her hand shot out and started waving frantically. The driver managed to pull up safely only because there was no one following the bus.

As she stepped on to the bus she remarked “Didn’t you see me?” to which he responded, “Yes, I did see you but you were not at the bus stop. You were next to a car which was 5 yards away. You need to be at the bus stop not near it so that I know whether to stop.” He said it with a smile in his voice, although I could he was slightly miffed at her line of questioning.

It reminded that we could miss the mark of going to heaven so easily, if we take our eye off the prize. There is a saying ‘halfway to heaven is all the way to hell.’ Standing near the bus stop is not standing at the bus stop. Meaning, to develop you walk with Jesus through daily bible study, is not the same as actually rising early to meet with Jesus.

Let us resolve to do the things to enable us to be at the right place when Jesus comes. With His help we can all make it.

Richard Smallwood singers sing “I have come too far.” Click on the picture to listen.

July 15-16

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9

I love my world to be ordered. In control. Predictable. And I like it when everyone follows the rules to do things the way I have laid them out. If only it was that easy. If only our world would cooperate with us and fit into our neat, tidy box, life would pass by much more smoothly. Agree?!

This last Wednesday, hot on the heels of Brexit, David Cameron, then Prime Minister, was nudged out of office before his intended time of departure, and Teresa May, on the winning vote of her parliamentary colleagues, installed in 10 Downing Street, in his place, until a general election takes place in three years time.

Teresa immediately went to work to produce order and control as she would like it, slicing into the Cameron Cabinet, installing a fresh, new team to support her and laying down new rules. She is already making it clear that she will demand cooperation and compliance to follow those rules as she has laid them out. A hard task lies ahead of her as she works towards a post-Brexit future for the United Kingdom.

Pre Teresa May the referendum resulting in Brexit, uncovered the root of an obsession to control, a root of pride and distrust. Surely, if we truly believed that God was wise, sovereign, in control, and knew what was best, then we wouldn’t struggle so much with the desire to hold the reigns. We would be content to know that God is in control and busy working His purpose out. 

Nebuchadnezzer's dream of the statue, outlining history down through the ages (Daniel 3:) proves that as humans, we are flawed to want to be the drivers of our own destiny and life. We have to allow God to take control, we have to submit to His Kingship over every circumstance. He is a good Father and loves us more than we can grasp! And He is so deserving of our trust.

“And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” - Daniel 2:42-44

Yes, the EU is fragmenting, breaking up. It seems as if the whole world is on the move as multitudes seek peace, safety and security, and those in authority cling ever tighter to their last vestiges of authority and control. We have reached the statues feet.

Even when life doesn’t make sense, when we are wrestling with the unknowns, or scared of what lies ahead, we can quote this promise found in Scripture, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) He will make your paths straight, He will not lead you somewhere and abandon you. Christ is on His way – a new history is about to be created.

God’s Word tells us that His ways are higher than ours. His knowledge and wisdom are far greater than man’s. He can see the whole purpose behind the things that happen in our lives. When life is not the way we think it's supposed to be, our vision is much more limited. It only makes sense to trust the One who can see the situation from every angle, and who we know has our best interest in mind as he sets forth the dream for our lives.

Acknowledgements Ewomen.

Music today is another from Bryn's collection – Charlotte Richie presenting “Revelation Song.”

July 14 – Pass the baton

“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” - 2 Timothy 2:2

Recently, a friend underwent major surgery. Thank God, it was successful and she is now slowly getting up and around again. The surgeons were well trained and experienced in their field. She could be confident that they were highly trained. But I wonder, what would her reaction have been had she been told on her way to the theatre, “I've never actually done surgery before....but hey, don't worry, I'll give it a go?” GULP!!

“Wait, stop, get me out of here!” comes to mind. In a situation like that, a skilled, trained, seasoned surgeon is essential – really trained – one who has studied under the best in the country....professionals who were taught specific, tried-and-tested techniques. Only someone who has spent years being guided, observed, confronted, reproved, rebuked, and corrected will fit the bill. Someone who has been mentored.

Mentoring is literally handing something or someone over....entrusting them for safekeeping. Second Timothy two was Paul's final letter to Timothy, and it shows how the best kind of mentoring occurs and applies to us all.

Paul the apostle entrusted his heart, soul, truths, encouragements, affirmations – his very life – to Timothy. Timothy received the baton of this mentoring, then looked for others who would be faithful to pass it along to others also. In fact, today, we are all recipients of Paul's baton.

At sometime in our lives we have probably all been mentored – whether at school, university, or in our work-life....people who have made an impact on our lives, people who have helped to make us what we are today.

You're probably wondering how this applies to you, you who feel past your prime and somewhat useless? Is the nest empty – children grown up and left home – no-one left to influence? Believe me, you haven't lived this long for nothing. You have a wealth of experience to pass on to a younger generation....they need your time, your wisdom, they long for a trusted mentor willing to invest in them and help shape their character.

We all need mentors, and we need those we are mentoring – we receive as much – and more, of what we give.

Do we care enough about people to build into their lives? Are we willing to join them by becoming vulnerable, open, unguarded, honest, and a person of authenticity as we pass along the baton passed down from Paul?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” - Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

Bryn's choice is our music today - Tamella Mann - “Take me to the King.” Click on the picture to listen.

July 13 - Modelling behaviour

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;" - James 1:19

The men of the Newcastle Seventh-day Adventist church do communicate. They don’t just say, ‘yes’ and ‘no’. When they use Facebook or Whatsapp they don’t just offer a ‘thumbs up’ to show they agree or understand something. They often reply in detail.

We occasionally find ourselves answering questions from men in our men's group. A while back one of our men asked the following question, “I’m trying to teach my young man to save money. It isn’t easy. Can SmartStewards help?”

I didn’t directly reply, but I did add the following to the discussion.

“When my Dad died I had to deal with his papers. He kept accounts for everything - all his receipts, for every single expenditure going back to 1940. Somehow he had paid for his first house by the age of 30. I would guess that was an easier process than now, but still impressive especially as my Dad wasn’t a stockbroker but a sheet-metal worker in the aerospace industry. My friend Chris decided he would be a rich man. He set himself an aim – and wrote it down. He developed a plan – and wrote it down. He retired aged 50 a millionaire. Both learned at an early age to be careful.

I could suggest that their success came from their abstemious habits – that would be partly true but my Dad took us on foreign holidays to Germany when others went without. I could suggest that having a written plan was the reason for the achievements – and that might have more truth.

In fact, the main reason that they succeeded was that they learned from their parents. Their parents were effective in avoiding debt, in saving money, in having a plan and in applying the plan. My Father and my friend Chris observed their parents and simply ‘grew into’ a sensible debt-free lifestyle. They had a model to follow.

If your whole family sits down and works on a family budget on a monthly basis and sees that money is building up towards a plan objective they will take note. If they simply see their parents spending money and see no savings being put away - they will follow the same model.

SmartStewards suggest that the family budget is just that. It isn't there just to deal with debts but is there to model sound financial practice for the whole family.

Next week – a model budget - Pastor Peter Jeynes

In the meanwhile, the music choice is "The Promise" with Lyrics, by the Martins.   Click on
the picture to join in.

‘Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.’ Isaiah 55:6-7

I think I must be in the minority of Christians who have not seen the Mel Gibson film ‘The Passion of Christ.’ Apparently it was shocking in it’s honestly especially in terms of the gore and horror of the crucifixion. Not being a film buff myself, I would rather these imaginations be in my head rather than challenge a film director’s interpretation of this poignant scene.

That being said, I was rather intrigued by makers of a new Christian movie to be called Jesus VR – The story of Christ. The VR in the title stands for ‘virtual reality’ and the film was shot in 360-degree 4K video; this means not only will viewers be able to look around all the scenes and see action from every angle, but the quality will be amazing.

“The viewers truly feel they are there with Jesus and his disciples,” director and producer David Hansen said in a statement. “This is the most powerful story of all time and virtual reality is the perfect way to tell it.”

It seems that the way people are trying to connect with Jesus today is through social media, the silver screen or an app, when he extends a personal invitation to each and every one of us. Let us seek the Lord while he may still be found and not fall prey to the deceptions being offered by the Television of movies theatres.

‘Draw me close to you’ by Hillsong. Click here to listen.

‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1

Does anybody know what they’re doing? Apparently now that Britain have left Europe a large enough percentage to make a difference want to change their vote. Why? Because apparently the leave campaigners don’t actually know what they are doing.

That happens quite often after the horse has bolted. That is, everyone becomes a politician and knows what they should have known when the horse was grazing in the stable. That throws up another quandary, as if Britain knew what they were doing then why did people vote to leave in the first place?

The plan that was in place turns out not to have been a plan in the first place. Confused? Well, most people are and scared too. Does anyone know what they’re doing? 

Well, the bible makes in clear in John 14:1 ‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me’ God is in charge not the politicians. Also Daniel 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. Daniel is a more complex study but maybe you should take a look at this verse in context with someone who understands how the bible interprets itself.

We will always be blaming one another when God clearly tells us what is happening. Spend some time with him today to find out the path he has designed for your life.

Kirk Franklin sings ‘My life is in your hands.’ Click on the picture to listen.

July 8-9 – What's your motivation?

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames” - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)

Anyone who has visited Corinth, and the marketplace there, will have noticed a raised platform constructed from carved stones-the city's judgement seat. This was one of the sites where, twenty centuries ago, the Apostle Paul ministered so untiringly, and also stood on that very spot as the Roman Proconsul Gallio sat on the judgement seat (Acts 18:13-17). Later, Paul was to write to believers in Corinth comparing his appearance at Corinth's judgement seat with the appearance each individual will face before “the judgement seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10) determining our reward on how well we have followed Christ....Jesus will examine and reveal our motives and the quality of our service (2 Corinthians 3:10-15; 4:5)

Paul's motivation, and the source of his courage throughout persecution is clear, “But now abide faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

So, what's your motivation – my motivation?

Jesus was walking in the temple in Jerusalem when one of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12: 28-31.

Love, and love alone was the motivation for every action of Jesus, from His planned birth, to His death and resurrection. And, according to the Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Sotah Folio 31a, love was the highest motivation, even among the Jews. We read in the Talmud:
"What difference is there between one who acts from love and one who acts from fear? — The difference is that indicated in this teaching: R. Simeon b. Eleazar says: Greater is he who acts from love than he who acts from fear…" Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Sotah Folio 31a.

Love prompts to action, first and foremost directed toward God and then toward others: God, family (especially our mate), fellow-believers, our neighbour, and even our enemy. Love subordinates the interests of the lover to the one who is loved. Love inspires deliberate, diligent, self-sacrificial service to others, intended for their good, at our expense.

“Love is greater than faith and hope because love is eternal, while faith and hope are temporal (see 1 Corinthians 13:8-13). In this life what God has promised cannot be seen, so faith and hope are necessary. But when our Lord returns and we're living eternally in His presence, we'll no longer need faith, because we shall see Him and experience all that He has promised. Our hope will be fulfilled. Our love for Him, however, will last for all eternity, inspiring our worship and service in His presence” (Bible.org).

Perhaps these questions will help narrow our focus – What is your motivation in life, your motivation to serve?....my motivation?

Why are we planning a certain course of action? Why are we involved? Why do we say “yes” or “no” when asked to participate? Why did I write that letter? For those of us who are preachers or lay preachers, why am I preaching this message? In our personal relationships, why did I respond like that...and why mention that persons name?

For music today we have the Gaither Vocal Band singing “Let it Start in Me" (LIVE). Click on the picture to listen.