1. I know God loves me and he has a great plan for my life
2. Yes, I've faults but God is working on me, changing me day by day-
while he does I can still enjoy my life
3.I realise I'll always have issues to deal with, so I wont be
discouraged when God convicts me of areas that still need improvement
4.Everyone has weaknesses, so I'm not a failure because I am not perfect.
5. I want people to like me but my sense of worth is not dependent on
them. No, Jesus has already proven my worth by dying for me.
6. I refuse to be controlled or manipulated by others. Even if they
reject me I'll survice, for Jesus has promised never to leave me or
forsake me.
7.No matter how often I fail I won't give up, because God is with me
to strengthen and sustain me
8.I like myself. I dont like everything I do and I want to change, but
I refuse to reject myself because God loves me and accepts me as I am.
9.In myself I may be nothing but in Christ I'm everything I need to be.
10. I matter to God. My life makes a difference. Regardless of the
challenge,'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'
(Phil 4:13)
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Local Lower School Carol Competition
There was a wonderful Carol Competition for Lower Schools on 14 December when children's choirs from different schools in the Leighton Buzzard area came together to have a friendly competition. All the children, teachers, parents and judges enjoyed themselves immensely and everyone wants the competition to run again next year. The event was organised by Hockliffe Street Baptist Church as part of our work in the community.
The winning choir was Mary Bassett Lower School, who sang 'No Room, No Room' as an encore.
There were supposed to be 5 schools in the competition but Linslade Lower School unfortunately had to drop out because they had so many children unwell over the weekend. The schools that took part were: The Mary Bassett Lower School, Musical Director Helen Hoare (sang 'No Room, No Room' and 'Dont Worry Mary'); Greenleas Lower School, musical director Pam Mason (sang 'Good News' and 'Child in a Manger Born'); St Georges Lower School (sang 'Zither Carol' and ' Le Petit Roi(think this means Little King)); Heathwood Lower School musical director Paul Dicker(sang 'Great News' and 'Oh Holy Night'. Each choir was competiting in a friendly competition for a special cup that would be awarded to the winner.
The host for the event was one of the leaders of Hockliffe Street Baptist Church, David Allsopp. David engaged everyone of all ages well ,with his humour and interviews of staff and members of each choir before performances. The judges were Susan Cox, Dennis Pim and the Town Mayor, Cllr George Rolf. Each choir sang their two carols and then there was an intermission while the judges retired to consider who the winner would be. Cllr Rolf summed up the judges problem at choosing from what were 4 very good choirs. All the children performed well and we could hear clearly what they were singing, some of the choirs incorporated actions. Cllr Rolfe said; ' it broke his heart to have to choose between them" He wished he was able to give a cup to each of the schools. But as there was only one cup to win that was not possible. However, each school did get a certificate for being involved in the competition.
Feedback at the end from parents, friends and others was it was a very worthwhile event and should be run again next year. Everyone was impressed at how well organised the event was. The organ accompanist was Paul Daggett.
David Allsopp, MC, finished by summing up the reason for the event. He said there was so much doom and gloom around in the papers and the weather. It was good to be reminded of the hope that the true meaning of Christmas brings. The carols that had been sung spoke of the hope we have in Jesus sent by God to help the world.
The winning choir was Mary Bassett Lower School, who sang 'No Room, No Room' as an encore.
There were supposed to be 5 schools in the competition but Linslade Lower School unfortunately had to drop out because they had so many children unwell over the weekend. The schools that took part were: The Mary Bassett Lower School, Musical Director Helen Hoare (sang 'No Room, No Room' and 'Dont Worry Mary'); Greenleas Lower School, musical director Pam Mason (sang 'Good News' and 'Child in a Manger Born'); St Georges Lower School (sang 'Zither Carol' and ' Le Petit Roi(think this means Little King)); Heathwood Lower School musical director Paul Dicker(sang 'Great News' and 'Oh Holy Night'. Each choir was competiting in a friendly competition for a special cup that would be awarded to the winner.
The host for the event was one of the leaders of Hockliffe Street Baptist Church, David Allsopp. David engaged everyone of all ages well ,with his humour and interviews of staff and members of each choir before performances. The judges were Susan Cox, Dennis Pim and the Town Mayor, Cllr George Rolf. Each choir sang their two carols and then there was an intermission while the judges retired to consider who the winner would be. Cllr Rolf summed up the judges problem at choosing from what were 4 very good choirs. All the children performed well and we could hear clearly what they were singing, some of the choirs incorporated actions. Cllr Rolfe said; ' it broke his heart to have to choose between them" He wished he was able to give a cup to each of the schools. But as there was only one cup to win that was not possible. However, each school did get a certificate for being involved in the competition.
Feedback at the end from parents, friends and others was it was a very worthwhile event and should be run again next year. Everyone was impressed at how well organised the event was. The organ accompanist was Paul Daggett.
David Allsopp, MC, finished by summing up the reason for the event. He said there was so much doom and gloom around in the papers and the weather. It was good to be reminded of the hope that the true meaning of Christmas brings. The carols that had been sung spoke of the hope we have in Jesus sent by God to help the world.
Carol Service Address by Andrew Selous, MP
The annual Leighton Buzzard Lunch Time Carol Service took place at Hockliffe Street Baptist Church, Leighton Buzzard today (19 December). This special carol service is arranged for all the local office and shop workers who want to take 30 minutes out of their lunch hour to enjoy singing carols at Christmas. This year Andrew Selous, MP,Cllr George Rolfe, Town Mayor and Karen Cursons, Deputy Town Mayor attended. Traditional carols were sung and Andrew Selous gave a short address. He spoke with humour and from the heart about 3 key points relating to the real meaning of Christmas: (1) Christmas is based on history, a real person, Jesus, existed and there is so much evidence to back this up. (2) Christmas is essential. Christ came into the world for a reason, he came for each of us to reconcile us to God. (3) Christmas is about Joy. It not the gloom and bar humbug some make it. On the contrary, a true Christian knows a deep down peace in spite of circumstances of life. Mr Selous noted the serious concerns of those in Leighton Buzzard who have or may lose their jobs and suggested each of us could look to God to help us through this difficult time.
Approximately 90 people attended the Lunchtime Carol Service and many of them said how they appreciated the event and that it had set them up for Christmas. The service lasted for 30 minutes and refreshments and home made mince pies were served at the end. Thank you to everyone who came and to all those involved in running the event. The organisers wish all in Leighton Buzzard a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
Approximately 90 people attended the Lunchtime Carol Service and many of them said how they appreciated the event and that it had set them up for Christmas. The service lasted for 30 minutes and refreshments and home made mince pies were served at the end. Thank you to everyone who came and to all those involved in running the event. The organisers wish all in Leighton Buzzard a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
Monday, 15 December 2008
Hope at Christmas!
Hope for you this Christmas
Do you ever wish you could get back the excitement you once felt as a child looking forward to Christmas? Some adults I meet say "bah humbug" and do not see the point. For a true believer the excitement never dims and is renewed every year. Christmas day is nothing magical in itself but what it represents is very special. Many people will be approaching the New Year thinking there is nothing to look forward to but there is hope because of what Christ has done for us. His birth is a fact and gives us hope, God has not abandoned us- God became a man and lived as one of us, a true human being. This is astounding, we hear the words (some of us at least every Christmas) and the words float by familiar but with little impact. Think again- how wonderful, if God really identifies with each of us, in our troubles and suffering. This is the meaning of Christmas to a believer.
Someone said to me last week: "I wish I had your faith, it must be nice having hope in the midst of the world as it is". I told him - faith is open to everyone. All Jesus said you need is a little trust in who Jesus is and why he came. It was explained to me that it is like putting God in the driving seat of your life. He has a plan for each of our lives and has our best interests at heart. We can trust him, and that is all that faith is -trusting God. Pray that to God (and prayer is just talking to him like you would talk to anyone), pray and see what God will do!
Do you ever wish you could get back the excitement you once felt as a child looking forward to Christmas? Some adults I meet say "bah humbug" and do not see the point. For a true believer the excitement never dims and is renewed every year. Christmas day is nothing magical in itself but what it represents is very special. Many people will be approaching the New Year thinking there is nothing to look forward to but there is hope because of what Christ has done for us. His birth is a fact and gives us hope, God has not abandoned us- God became a man and lived as one of us, a true human being. This is astounding, we hear the words (some of us at least every Christmas) and the words float by familiar but with little impact. Think again- how wonderful, if God really identifies with each of us, in our troubles and suffering. This is the meaning of Christmas to a believer.
Someone said to me last week: "I wish I had your faith, it must be nice having hope in the midst of the world as it is". I told him - faith is open to everyone. All Jesus said you need is a little trust in who Jesus is and why he came. It was explained to me that it is like putting God in the driving seat of your life. He has a plan for each of our lives and has our best interests at heart. We can trust him, and that is all that faith is -trusting God. Pray that to God (and prayer is just talking to him like you would talk to anyone), pray and see what God will do!
Monday, 10 November 2008
W. Oliver Stone's Film on George W Bush
W. is this really a fair picture? This film makes painful watching. Bush is portrayed as a bumbling personality on the borderline of obsessive thinking and fixated on pleasing his father.
W gives a very truncated view of the whole of Bush's life from aged 21 to the end of his first term of president. I fear it will reinforce the many prejudices Brits have of the gun-ho attitudes of our cousins in the U.S. The reviewers I have read talk about a sympathetic coverage of W's conversion to be 'born again' but I found that aspect of the film particularly difficult. There were many times when the camera zoomed in on the prayer times W led at the end of significant meetings when decisions had been made which would have global consequences. I can't help but think there was a sinister element to the way this aspect of W's faith was explained. Stone seems to be making a link between prayer, obsession with the need to please his father and detachment from good rational thought.
W gives a very truncated view of the whole of Bush's life from aged 21 to the end of his first term of president. I fear it will reinforce the many prejudices Brits have of the gun-ho attitudes of our cousins in the U.S. The reviewers I have read talk about a sympathetic coverage of W's conversion to be 'born again' but I found that aspect of the film particularly difficult. There were many times when the camera zoomed in on the prayer times W led at the end of significant meetings when decisions had been made which would have global consequences. I can't help but think there was a sinister element to the way this aspect of W's faith was explained. Stone seems to be making a link between prayer, obsession with the need to please his father and detachment from good rational thought.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Malcolm's queston 1: Hypocrites
"All Christians are hypocrites"; that was one of the points made by Malcolm in the conversation we had the other day. He felt that the Christians he had met or read about said one thing but did another. The Christian who was ranting and raving about the evils of homosexuality. Malcolm was disgusted at this as he knew some very nice homosexuals and they did not deserve to be talked about like this. According to Malcolm the news was also full of Christian hypocrisy, he was thinking in particular of priests involved with child sexual abuse.
Yes Malcolm has an important point to make and we would not want to defend any wrong behaviour by so called Christians. However, just because a person or group claim or call themselves Christian does not mean they are like other Christians. The true meaning of the word 'Christian' is a follower of Jesus Christ, someone who lives their life imitating he life of Christ. Jesus Christ showed the meaning of God's forgiveness and unconditional love to the world. The Bible calls this Grace: the undeserved favour of God on those who are unworthy.
True Christians should be reflecting this special grace to the world.
I would say to Malcolm. please don't classify all Christians as the same. There are true and false, imitation and some 24 carat Christians around. Noone is perfect but there are those who are true followers of Christ and are worth knowing.
The point to be missed is that it is not about the Christians we meet that is important but the meeting we have with Christ himself. If what the Bible says is true and he is alive, risen from the dead, then meeting him is life changing and that means different things to each of us.
It is also worth considering that hypocrites exists in many walks of life, not just Christians. It is possible to have hypocritical Atheists, Hindus, New Age believers etc. Lets keen this in perspective.
Yes Malcolm has an important point to make and we would not want to defend any wrong behaviour by so called Christians. However, just because a person or group claim or call themselves Christian does not mean they are like other Christians. The true meaning of the word 'Christian' is a follower of Jesus Christ, someone who lives their life imitating he life of Christ. Jesus Christ showed the meaning of God's forgiveness and unconditional love to the world. The Bible calls this Grace: the undeserved favour of God on those who are unworthy.
True Christians should be reflecting this special grace to the world.
I would say to Malcolm. please don't classify all Christians as the same. There are true and false, imitation and some 24 carat Christians around. Noone is perfect but there are those who are true followers of Christ and are worth knowing.
The point to be missed is that it is not about the Christians we meet that is important but the meeting we have with Christ himself. If what the Bible says is true and he is alive, risen from the dead, then meeting him is life changing and that means different things to each of us.
It is also worth considering that hypocrites exists in many walks of life, not just Christians. It is possible to have hypocritical Atheists, Hindus, New Age believers etc. Lets keen this in perspective.
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