Preaching From The World Wide Pulpit

What is the church doing about poverty? A Christian viewpoint by Rev. John Rowe

Recently the people of Britain have encountered some surprising statistics. Statistics that, for example, have informed us that an all time British record was established when more that 7 million people took part in Channel 4’s recent Big Brother telephone poll. It has also recently come to our notice that people in Britain suffer some of the heaviest fuel taxes in Europe and it took fewer that 1000 people to bring the country to a virtual standstill in the recent protest of those taxes. Yes, these are surprising statistics.

As a Christian, I believe all men and women have been created in the image of God. Consequently, I do not think I have encountered a more remarkable or deeply disturbing statistic than the one that tells me that 19,000 of the world’s children die every day from the effects of poverty.

Just let this sink home for a minute. Since you got out of bed this morning and till you wake up tomorrow morning, 19,000 people will have died from starvation. Disturbing, isn’t it?

Christian churches throughout this and other nations think so. That is why they and other agencies have been lobbying leaders of the world’s riches nations to cancel the outstanding debts of the world’s poorest countries. Freedom from such a burden would enable these countries to invest in and feed their people. In July of last year the leaders of the worlds richest countries, including our own, met in Japan.

The campaign call was discussed, but sadly, no positive decision to cancel the debts was taken. This was a great disappointment to Christians around the world. Nevertheless, recently church meetings around the country have begun to be arranged in order to continue the fight against poverty. My current prayer and hope is that people will be motivated to support any campaign which helps alleviate world poverty. In doing so they will be making it crystal clear to the worlds leaders that 19,000 deaths a day is a statistic that is totally unacceptable and must be stopped.

Why an Over 40 got Baptised – Christian Viewpoint by John Smith

Central Methodist Church

The quick answer to why I decided to be baptised at the ripe old age of 40 is that I believe in Jesus Christ. Baptism is associated with cooing babies, the exorcist and foreign cults. Why should a rational, hard working, 40 something man consider undergoing such a ceremony?

My early church going was a good grounding in Bible stories, but it grew less attractive as I became a teenager. During my university days, I again encountered Christians – other students who made proclaiming Christ less unusual than I had thought.

Admittedly, the initial appeal wasn’t the salvation of my soul, more the fact that I found several of the young women quite attractive. However, when I left university, I drifted away, only attending church when friends got married. Then, in my 30’s I met a woman who seemed normal, but to my surprise, attended church. As I got to know her better, I started going on special occasions, then more, then to my own wedding.

Three years ago the church ran an Alpha course and I accompanied my wife, partly out of a sense of duty, but increasingly to see what it was all about. This started me thinking about my own perception of myself. I have considered myself as a ‘good guy’ although I wasn’t really a Christian.

The facts presenting in the Bible made me question my existence. I thought more about incidents in my life where a ‘guardian angel’ – even atheists and agnostics rely on them – have saved my life or prevented real pain happening to me.

This added up to the fact that something or someone had a purpose for my life. At first I thought it was helping with the Talking Newspaper, which has been going for 20 years, but lately I have felt there is something more. A Bible study group, which evolved out of the Alpha course I attended, spent an evening discussing the Parable of the Sower. Some seed fell on stony ground, other seed grew and was strangled by the thistle, while other seed grows and multiplies. So far, in my life I have been able to relate to the first two examples, and am intrigued what is in store for me in the future. That is why I decided a 4o something should be baptised, so I could start a new life.

Are all Christians Boring? A viewpoint by Rev. John Rowe

Some years ago, a Christian friend of ours died. Afterwards, his loving daughter said, without being nasty, that her father’s life and faith, like other Christians she knew, had been ordinary and mundane.

These conclusions were based on honest, personal observations. She was not being rude. Many people outside the church consider the Christian life to be unappealing because it appears to be boring. Many Christians would describe their own Christian experience as ordinary. As a lad, my cousin and I attending a European football match at Goodison Park between Everton and German champions Broussia Munchen Gladbach, which ended at full time as a goalless draw and then was decided on penalties. I could not watch, turning away before the first penalty. After two penalties, my cousin said I was being stupid, I was missing the most exciting bit of the game. He was absolutely right! I, as a committed supporter of the ‘toffee men’ was denying myself the special experience; choosing to be only a partial participant in this historic footy moment as though I could only cope with the ordinary and mundane.

The experience of many current Christians resembles my behaviour that night. We accept a participation in the life of faith that the early Christians would have viewed as partial, ordinary, mundane, silly, even impossible, because of our blindness to the Holy Spirit.

Although we admit the existence of God and the gift of God the Son, we are distrustful that receptacles of the Holy Spirit can exists in the world today.

Pentecost, and the experience of those first Christians, are reminders that the life of faith is not mundane. Rather, it is one that is extraordinary because of the gift of God’s Holy Spirit. Today, seek the life that this life giver offers, receive the understanding of the Spirit of truth, accept the fellowship of the Spirit of unity.

Live a life less ordinary!

A PERSONAL TESTIMONY BY KAY GREEN - A CENTRAL MEMBER

If I was to be asked what was the greatest thing that happened to me then without doubt I would answer “When Jesus came into my life”

This He did when I was 14 years old and He has been an important part of my life ever since. It is true that there have been other important events in it like my wedding day and the births of my three children but these events have been enriched by my faith and acceptance of Him as my Saviour as has my life as a whole.

What do I mean by saying He has enriched my life as a whole? Who of us as wives at some time have forgotten to add sugar to the custard or salt to the potatoes? What a difference the salt and sugar make and how tasteless and flat the custard and potatoes are without them! To me, Jesus is the sugar and salt. He has transformed my whole life. Without Him it would be dull and insipid.

It is great to discuss matters not only with my family but also with Jesus through prayer. For me to talk with Jesus is like plugging in the kettle - it is as easy as that. To some who read this they will find this easy to understand but I do appreciate that many will not.

It is so difficult in this modern day and age when things materialistic pervade our lives to see that which is spiritual, lovely and beautiful. Faith in Him brings an inner peace. That is not to say that you are cut off from horror such as that we have recently seen. Acceptance of Him is not one way traffic though. It places an enormous responsibility on those who have accepted Him for they are required to use their time and talents in His service. For example, running a shop, as I do, is not always easy but I do ask Him to have me be helpful and patient with all I see even if they are difficult or just come in because they are lonely and want somebody to talk to.

If you have not already received Him then I pray that you can also invite the greatest Companion and Friend into your life too! You will never regret it if you do.

MY FAITH AND MY WORK BY PAULINE LILLEY –A CENTRAL MEMBER

The 5th September 1977 is a significant date for me because it was the start of an eventful journey which shaped me into the person I am today. As an 18 year old with suitcase in hand and accompanied by proud parents I arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to commence my training as a nurse.

Three years later, after having done a lot of “growing up”, I emerged as a qualified SRN. For the following two years I worked as a Staff Nurse at what was then the Birmingham General Hospital. This was followed by a move into midwifery and then health visiting.

Throughout the whole of my career my faith has been of utmost importance to me. It has given me the strength to deal with unexpected events and situations and the courage to cope when things go wrong and emergencies arise. It has guided me in making decisions, taking responsibility and being accountable for my acts and omissions. It has told me that things worthwhile are not always those that show. Through my hands it has given me the greatest gift of all and the realisation that Jesus, the Healer, works through them. It has given me the compassion to deal with people who are at their most vulnerable - the ill, young families in difficult circumstances, the dying and the bereaved.

All of this is not to say that my faith has not been tested. As a student nurse I have a vivid memory of working on a cancer ward in which there was a lively, chatty 11 year old. We got on well playing games during the night when he was unable to sleep. One morning I left night duty only to discover that he had died later that morning.. I was stunned and cried for hours making no sense of it. This incident caused me for the first time to look to my faith to “pull” me through.

Faith is not a joy ride and with it comes responsibility. I am now a tutor of student nurses working in a system that has its difficulties. Despite the advances in medicine this does not have all the answers. Further challenges lie ahead but with faith in Him they will be overcome.

OUR TESTIMONIES - MYRA AND REV. RAY HODGINKINSON

It was my 12th birthday writes Myra and I was setting out in my new outfit to the ten o’clock Sunday School where I learned and caught my Christian Faith. It happened to be the third Sunday in October which was celebrated in those days in Methodist Churches as Decision Sunday. Mr Ellis, a much loved Sunday School Superintendent, challenged us, some forty or so boys and girls in the Senior Department, individually to accept Jesus to be the Lord of our lives and to love and serve Him and our neighbours. “You’ll never regret it” he said. Rather haltingly I responded with the words “I’ll try” and signed my decision card and ever since I’ve been trying!

Sometimes it has been fairly easy and, at others, very difficult. When the going gets hard I pray for grace to know God’s will in each situation. I fervently believe that, in the end, our loving Father is only interested in our desire to obey Him. and He will see us through. Thankfully, there is forgiveness freely given when I get it wrong! Through the years, Jesus has done more for me than I have ever done for Him.

Jesus is my Lord and my Saviour in whose love I shall always trust - thanks be to God.

I attended a Methodist Sunday School from the age of three writes Ray and grew up with a large number of other children for whom church became “special”. Our Leaders knew the importance of letting us help with the different club meetings during the week and I loved to do the simple jobs required in any organisation. My Decision was taken on October 17th 1937 at the age of eleven.

When I was thirteen war came. At the age of 17 I went into the Royal Navy. By this time I had felt God’s call to become a preacher and minister. During of duty hours I did preparation. The chaplain allowed me to lead some of the services and supervised my work. Aged only twenty I was posted to Plymouth to fill a ministerial gap. After two years during which I tried my best to be a minister and met Myra I was called to college to take up full time study but, before doing so, Myra and I became engaged. After completing college, my second posting was at Weybridge. A year later she and I were married and we have ministered jointly in no less than eight different circuits

Retirement eleven years ago has given us time to reflect on the way God has guided us and blessed us. Life with Father God in charge is a joy. Indeed, there is no greater joy nor deeper peace than in serving Him to the end.

FROM DAVID JENKINSON – CHURCH MEMBER AND ORGANIST

John Powell a professor at Loyola University in Chicago writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy:

Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith. That was the first day I first saw Tommy. My eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders.

It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know in my mind that it isn’t what’s on your head but what’s in it that counts; but on that day I was unprepared and my emotions flipped.

I immediately filed Tommy under "S" for strange ... very strange. Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father-God. We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew.

When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a slightly cynical tone: "Do you think I’ll ever find God?"

I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. "No!" I said very emphatically.

"Oh," he responded, "I thought that was the product you were pushing."

I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called out: "Tommy! I don’t think you’ll ever find him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!" He shrugged a little and left my class and my life.

I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line: "He will find you!" At least I thought it was clever. Later I heard that Tommy had graduated and I was duly grateful.

Then a sad report, I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted, and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe. "Tommy, I’ve thought about you so often. I hear you are sick!" I blurted out.

"Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It’s a matter of weeks."

"Can you talk about it, Tom?"

"Sure, what would you like to know?"

"What’s it like to be only twenty-four and dying?"

"Well, it could be worse."

"Like what?"

"Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real ‘biggies’ in life."

I began to look through my mental file cabinet under "S" where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification God sends back into my life to educate me.)

But what I really came to see you about," Tom said, " is something you said to me on the last day of class." (He remembered!) He continued, "I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, ‘No!’ which surprised me. Then you said, ‘But he will find you.’ I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time. (My "clever" line. He thought about that a lot!) But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, then I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven.

But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit.

Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn’t really care ... about God, about an afterlife, or anything like that. "I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said: ‘The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.’ "So I began with the hardest one: my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him."

"Dad". . .

"Yes, what?" he asked without lowering the newspaper.

"Dad, I would like to talk with you."

"Well, talk."

"I mean. .. It’s really important."

The newspaper came down three slow inches. "What is it?"

"Dad, I love you. I just wanted you to know that." Tom smiled at me and said with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him: "The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me.

And we talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me. "It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years. I was only sorry about one thing: that I had waited so long. Here I was just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to.

"Then, one day I turned around and God was there. He didn’t come to me when I pleaded with him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop, ‘C’mon, jump through.’ ‘C’mon, I’ll give you three days .. .three weeks.’ Apparently God does things in his own way and at his own hour. "But the important thing is that he was there. He found me.

You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for him."

"Tommy," I practically gasped, "I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love. You know, the Apostle John said that. He said God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.’ Tom, could I ask you a favour? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn’t be half as effective as if you were to tell them."

"Oooh . . . I was ready for you, but I don’t know if I’m ready for your class."

"Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call." In a few days Tommy called, said he was ready for the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date. However, he never made it.

He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed.

He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined.

Before he died, we talked one last time. "I’m not going to make it to your class," he said.

"I know, Tom."

"Will you tell them for me? Will you . . . tell the whole world for me?"

"I will, Tom. I’ll tell them. I’ll do my best."

So, to all of you who have been kind enough to hear this simple statement about love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven: "I told them, Tommy . ... ...as best I could."

Had this sent to me thought it was great and does say get this out to as many as possible. Hay theology not so bad after all
God bless, Alan.

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