The Process of Discipleship.

Sounds familiar........

Atheism:

Atheism:

The belief that there was nothing

and nothing happened to nothing

and then nothing magically

exploded for no reason, creating

everything and then a bunch of

everything magically rearranged

itself for no reason what so ever

into self replicating bits which

then turned into dinosaurs.

The fool hath said in his heart there is no God (Psalm 14:1 & 53:1)

1^st July 11 Your Life is a Vapour.

Have you ever boiled a kettle? within a few seconds the kitchen is filled with vapour (steam) and then a flick of the switch and the steam disappears? Our lives can be just like that one minute you're here and the next minute you're gone!

Two events happened today, which have reminded me of the frailties of life. The first was attending the funeral of Michael Kweku Osei-Boadu (20.8.86 – 17.06.11) who passed into glory a couple of weeks ago after a long battle with illness. Kweku attended the church, of which I pastor, The Potters House Christian Church Croydon, some time ago. I remember him as being bright, well mannered and respectful. It was good to see so many family, friends and colleagues attend the service and that is a measure of our brother’s popularity. (Interestingly we give loved ones flowers when they can no longer smell them?).

The second event was as we were driving home from the funeral a lady was knocked off her bike by a car (which initially drove off before returning) along lower addiscombe road. The lady was passing in and out of unconsciousness and was bleeding heavily from her nose and mouth. Fortunately the ambulance service were on the scene within a few minutes and they stretchered her off to hospital.

Our best wishes and prayers go out to Kweku’s family and the lady cyclist, whom we pray makes a speedy recovery.

These two events remind of James 4:14 “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone”. James reminds us, of the frailties and fragility of life here on this earth. Young's Literal Translation says it this way ”who do not know the thing of the morrow; for what is your life? for it is a vapour that is appearing for a little, and then is vanishing” Have you ever driven a car through the fog? Then after a few minutes the fog disappears? This is the imagery James is using to show us how easily our lives can pass away. In essence what this text is teaching us, is that life is too often and that we need to live our lives in light of eternity.

In one moment of time we can step from this world into the next world, where we will all stand before God and give an account for our lives. Hebrews 9:27 “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement”. I thank God my brother Kweku is “Born again” (John 3:3), but what about you? What about the lady cyclist? If you were to die today, where would you go? Heaven or Hell? Have you made peace with friends? Family? Foes?, but most importantly, with our Father in heaven?

The following are a few scriptures to ponder and reflect on,

Job 7:17 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.

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Psalm 39:5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah

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Psalm 78:39 He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return

Psalm 102:3 For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.

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Psalm 144:4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.

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Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

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Isaiah 2:22 Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear god and keep his commandments, for this is mans all”.

Reflections on Australia

I just arrived back (good Friday) from a 10 day preaching enagagement in Australia. Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a GREAT privilige and responsibility, but travelling to the other side of the world is tiring! Having left the previous Monday, it took me a day and a half to get there, sitting in a seat two sizes too small for 23hours. However I must say the Quantas / BA staff were very helpful and made a very long journey easier.

I first preached a wednesday night to Sunday morning revival for Pastor Darryl and Sister Carol Munckton in Wollongong, 1 hr south of Sydney. Pastor Darryl has been pastoring this Church for a number of years now and the congregation numbers around eighty saints who were very welcoming and hospitable to me. I've known Darryl and Carol now since 1996, when our uk impact team visited them in Armadale and it was good sharing humorous fellowship about the english beating the aussies at Cricket, Rugby and football ;-) Darryl kindly took me to Sydney harbour to see the world famous Opera House, Bridge and street performers ;-)


After the Sunday AM service I was driven 3hours to Canberra the capital of Australia to preach for Pastor Craig & Raelene Holford and their adorable four children. Craig was also very kind to take time off work to take me to the Australian War memorial, which i must admit was an eye opener. I have visted the Haulocast Museum in Israel, War museum in Poland and of course the British war museum, yet I was very impressed (and enlighhtened) by the role of the ANZACs in various conflicts around the world. On another day we visted the Telecoms tower and the very impressive (and expensive AUD1.1 billion) Parliment House, which in many ways is very similar to our own English parliment. The revival meetings went well and on the last night, they had their highest attendance for a while (praise be to God).

I must say after preaching two revivals back to back I was missing family, Church, home, etc and was actually looking forward to the trip home. on the flight I got to have great conversations with the Christian Stewardess sitting opposite me (emergency exits seats..... thank you Jesus), the atheist, Ghandi loving ex Christian (very nice guy) and the GAY young guy sitting next to me who was a Christian until about 20yrs old (God you have a sense of humour).

Please keep the Muncktons and the Holfords in your prayers

BBC Worst place in the world for being GAY (Homosexual)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00yrt1c/The_Worlds_Worst_Place_to_Be_Gay/

Someone sent me the link and asked me to watch the above programme that was aired recently.

Firstly as a Christian and a Pastor, it was sad to see people being victimised and brutalised because of their sexuality, whether we agree theologically, socially or ethically with it or not! The way of Christ is to ‘love our neighbours’ for me the story of Stosh (sic) was very harrowing and will live long in the memory.

What was the purpose of going to Uganda? Well, Uganda was recently in the media following reports of anti homosexuality legislation and the recent death of a Ugandan Homosexual (though some reports say the attack had more to do with robbery than homophobia) seems to have promoted Uganda to the premier league of anti homosexuality. So with that in mind, Radio DJ Scott Mills, a Gay man travels to Uganda to see what life would be like as a Homosexual.

I actually found this programme to be quite racist and condescending. I suspect Scott Mills is not a serious Journalist, but he came across as quite ignorant and arrogant. You are surprised that huge sections of the world don’t agree with a lifestyle that (as you admit) was illegal in this country thirty to forty years ago. So the insinuation is we i.e. the UK have change our position on this issue, why haven’t you? The problem with a lot of Europeans is that they consider their worldview to be the most superior consciously or not. There is a sort of intellectual, social and elitist snobbery that exists. Do you notice that if you have views contrary to the pro homosexual movement how they use shame? How you are viewed as some backward stone age Neanderthal? Whilst I am happy that the Radio 1 DJ had an easy time coming out as a Homosexual in the UK (Portsmouth) that does not mean that everyone in the UK is supportive of the Homosexual lifestyle!

As he visits a slum with open sewers making comments such as ‘If you want to see what homophobia does’? What a class one, or should that be radio one idiot! He obviously has not spent much time in Asia, Africa and many other parts of the world? I suspect on his salary he does not do much visiting of third world countries? So being anti homosexual forces people into poverty in Africa eh? Scott Mills seems shocked that people have ‘Bars on the windows’ in Africa, has this guy never been to many of housing estates in Hackney, Peckham, Harlseden, Kilburn and many other places in London? Contrasting the quay in White middle (or is that upper?) class Portsmouth with the bustling market places of Uganda is not really a fair comparison is it?

Did you notice the repeated attacks on ‘Pastors’, and ‘Preachers’? (I actually thought the pastor was not as bad as the DJ tried to make him out to be! In fact the pastor seemed quite tactile with the DJ, hmmm maybe not that homophobic eh?) let me guess Scott Mills, you’re not a devout Christian? Possibly atheist? Agnostic? Give me a break just who the heck does this guy think he is? A white, well paid middle class guy, who has lived an easy life, much of it spent in nightclubs treated like a VIP, travelling to the other side of the world to criticise and critique other peoples culture??!! Does being a Gay (or straight) radio 1 DJ qualify you to do that? I must say the Homosexual movement is clever and pervasive in the media, did you notice the dramatic changes in background music (watch it again) and crouching down in the back of the minibus to try and convey a dangerous mood?

I must say the visit to the witch doctor was hilarious – I suspect they saw him coming and thought to themselves ‘there’s one born every minute’. Also the look on the politicians face when he found out that Scott Mills was Gay was hilarious.

Having said all of the above, there is a serious issue at hand and that is how those with a Christian worldview engage with a world that is ‘sin sick’. We are called to love those in the world but not be like those in the world. I think that as Christians we should state our theological position in a clear and loving manner. God bless ALL.

Book Review 'Son of Hamas'.

Just finished reading an 'incredible' book called 'Son of Hamas', written as the title suggests by Mosab Hassan Yousef, the eldest son of one of the founders of Hamas. It is a gripping read from someone who was raised in Hamas. The book is also up to date in that many of the events spoken about happened in the last 10-15 years. This book gives you an insiders perspective to all the stories we read and saw in the media at that time. If you want to quickly try and understand some of the struggles of the middle east, this book will help! God bless.

What a wondersful Sunday we recently had, as we witnessed the joining together in marriage Ashley & Sarah. The groom was smooth, and the the bride beautiful. It was a packed house with many visitors who thoroughly enjoyed the day. Please keep Ashley and Sarah in your prayers.



Wow!! I just got sent a picture of my grandmother, I estimate this picture is 40-50yrs old??



Oh my dayzz, I actually remember this picture! Guess which one is me? Obviously I'm the cute one in my dads arms ;-) along with my two older brothers Peter, John and my beautiful and stylish mum.

This picture was taken circa 1974-5 (I'm 2-3 yrs old)and i remember the car, it was a peugot 504, seven seater, back then this was the lick!



Myself, alonside Jad and Nana from 'Nightwatch' a local homeless charity that we support.