Prayer Meeting for Church and World

On Wednesday, 29th March, people are encouraged to join this meeting with prayers for the various needs in our congregation and for the world during this Lenten season. For all new to the faith, Lent is 'Christianese' for 40 days coming up to Easter Sunday, when we commemorate Jesus' painful sacrifice for us by taking accusations from people, and the sins of the world, although He was innocent.

Are there issues where you wish reconciliation? World problems that weigh heavy on your heart? People whom you wish to lift up communally in prayer? Come with a scripture passage if you can, and a prayer or more - spontaneous or jotted down. The meeting begins at 7:30pm.

Hosanna in the Highest!

Please come and join the Sunday School and Youth Group as we sing praises to God and welcome Jesus during our special Palm Sunday Service on Sunday 9th April at 11am. The children and young people will be taking us through the events of Holy Week up to Jesus' victorious resurrection on Easter Day! There is no better way to start your Ieflections for Holy Week!

Please come and support the youngsters' efforts!

Thank you.

Janette Whitehead

Back to Spring Cleaning - Thursday, April 13th

As our building works are still going on, we will continue with the usual back hall room cleaning rota but give our sanctuary an extensive cleaning along its banisters, windows and nooks, and a good polishing. We start at 6:30pm, but don't forget to bring some food if you can to join in the Maundy Thursday meal an hour later (see below).

Maundy Thursday Fellowship Meal

We remember our Lord's last meal, as He instructed Christians before His ultimate sacrifice, through communion services and with the Maundy Thursday Meal (from the Latin 'Mandatum', or 'command' from the Lord). It's a chance for all to come and break bread, and eat a meal in His Name and to enjoy His fellowship together with that of brothers and sisters. Come with a dish to share for one other also if you can, from 7:30 pm on 13th April.

Walk of Witness - 14th April

We can testify to God's sacrifice by undertaking this walk of witness up the High Road together with Christians from other churches. Christians Together in Tottenham has organised a short service from 9.15am at St. Ignatius R. C. Church on High Road Tottenham (off St Ann's Road) together with churches of many other denominations. The Walk begins 15 minutes later.

The collection from the Walk will be given towards the Broadwater Family Gospel Festival's cause this year, which supports work with people with sickle cell and thalassaemia.

Good Friday United Service

If you can't join the walk above, don't miss the United Communion Service at 11 am on 14th April at our church, where those taking part in the Walk of Witness retire for this service, also organised by Christians Together in Tottenham. Among others conducting the service, Rev Maxine Padmore of Ministry of Praise Church is slated to preach, and the organist will be Rev Francis Ackroyd.

It is always moving to join in this service where people of different Christian traditions contribute and unite to lift the Name of the Creator and Saviour, seeking to fulfil His prayer: "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:20).

Church Meeting - Tuesday 16th May

Here's another opportunity to transform our worship and service in the Lord whichever way we are convicted they should be. Do pray that we be renewed in the Lord's image and be led by the Holy Spirit during this busy meeting open to all formal members. It begins at 8 pm.

Do you believe that you should start a new ministry such as, perhaps, a prison fellowship, an evangelism outreach to Tottenham Spur football fans, or a self-help group? Come and describe your vision and disposition to help so that the church could pray and seek to build any projects if possible.

Happy Birthday to Us!

The Sunday School is 175 years old this year - what a wonderful achievement! We will be celebrating this extra special birthday on Sunday 21st May at 11 am. The young people will be involved throughout the service as we give thanks and praise to God for His amazing faithfulness throughout all these past years.

There will be a prayer meeting at 10:15 am to offer up our thanks to God and to ask for His continued blessing upon - and presence with - the children and young people of Tottenham Baptist. Please come and join us. Everybody is very welcome!

Best wishes,

Janette

North Korea Needs You!!

North Korea has been voted the worst country for the persecution of Christians - men, women and children - for 3 years running. In order to help support our suffering brothers and sisters, an International Week of Prayer is being held around the world from 19th June until 25th June. At Tottenham Baptist, we will be having a special prayer meeting on Wednesday 21st June at 7.30 pm. Please do your best to come along and uphold our Christian family before the Lord. Imagine what it would be like if it was happening to us and our loved ones - wouldn't we want our brothers and sisters in Christ to unite on our behalf? See you there!

Janette

Clacton Beach, Here We Come!

We head off to the beach on the Essex coast on 24th June, traditionally at 9 am, and for those with other dispositions there are also lots of shops. It is said that the gardens at Clacton-on-Sea are superb, and the pier offers various attractions.

A seat on the coach will be reserved for you and your party by purchasing tickets in advance - £5.50 for children, £11 for adults. Ask Clare Lee for tickets and any details - tickets do sell out!

Christians Together in Tottenham News & Events

Community Chaplaincy: At the January CTT meeting, Rev. Ackroyd from High Cross United Reform Church illustrated the need for faith mentors for young men leaving Feltham Young Offenders' Institution. Many young men are sent to Feltham (an average of 5,000 per year) and 75% face the chance of re-offending. There has been a dramatic improvement in an individual's life chances with the use of faith mentors. Similarly, youngsters coming out of care need faith mentors. There is a very lively Community Chaplaincy team at Feltham that endeavours to get churches to support youngsters when they leave and at the CTT meeting it was advanced that these young people desperately need our help as the chance of a successful, blessed future depends on help from volunteers. 2 4 people are required in any given church to support a young person. The scheme is spreading all over the country, and in Canada it has been successful in reducing re-offending.

This project is not for hardened criminals, it was noted, but for those young men who come from dysfunctional families. The youngsters are screened and many have attended Alpha courses (for people unfamiliar with the Gospel in order to explore the faith) and have expressed their own faith. Please call Rev. Ackroyd (Tel: 020 8808 0575) with any questions and/or to help.

Youth Gospel Fest: Saturday, 8th April at 6pm for 6:30pm start. Youth are getting it all together - get your friends to come for dance, drama and rap, where Jesus is Master 'C'! High Cross United Reform Church, High Road Tottenham across from Philip Lane. Admission free!

Walk of Witness and Good Friday Service: See 'Coming Events.'

Christians Together in Tottenham Meeting: Thursday, 11th May at 7:30pm. Watch the plans to transform the community unfold in conjunction with other churches - and pitch in! People of all walks of life and abilities are welcome to attend, to participate in the discussions if they wish and, of course, it would be delightful to get volunteers! This time the location is St. Phillip's on the Farm, Broadwater Farm Residents' Association Committee Room, Broadwater Farm.

CTT Anniversary Service: Sunday, 18th June at 6:30pm. This service will mark the remarkable 40th Anniversary of Christians Together in Tottenham! St Mary's Church of England, Lansdowne Rd N17 at Tottenham High Rd.

CTT Gospel Concert: Saturday, 24th June at 6:30pm. Different talents come together to worship the Master in different ways. Details tba.

Mabel Johnson It was with great sadness that we heard that out oldest and longest-serving member, Mabel Johnson, had died at the beginning of March. Mabel, who was 94, was baptised and became a member of TBC in December 1928. In her early days she was a player in the tennis club and part of an 'Institute' where they were active in all sorts of games. In 1935, she became captain of the Girls Life Brigade 3rd Tottenham Company. Until about 1939, Mabel was also in the concert party "The Queer Cards." They put on concerts and pantomimes, which were written by another old member, Mr Alf Blyth, and performed them in our school hall and at other churches. But this finished when the 1939-45 war began and a number of the members had to go into the Forces. In about 1936, Mabel also became a Sunday School teacher and carried on all through the war years and for many years after; also, for a few years during the 1970s, she was Sunday School Secretary. She enjoyed helping with the Church flower arrangements. But in 1980 she had to retire from the Girls' Brigade as a retirement age had been brought in. So came to an end 45 years as Captain of our Girls' Brigade Company - a fantastic achievement, and for this she will always be remembered with great affection. It is not known how many girls went through the company during all those years but so many have so much to thank Mabel for - so much fun and so many lasting friendships made during her later years. Mabel attended the Monday afternoon ladies meetings enjoying the chatter and laughter. Bad health dogged these latter years, hip operations restricting her mobility, and after living at Elsden Road for 92 years she finally moved to a nursing home at Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where she settled in well and was able to see her family. She finally had a stroke and died in hospital there. She will always be remembered with affection as 'Major'. Val Paskell

PAST GLB & GB MEMBERS It has been suggested by some past members of our GLB and GB Company, in many different places, that they might like to contribute to a fund as a mark of their appreciation and thanks for Mabel Johnson's service and friendship over many years. This would be a gift to help with the provision of better facilities in the Church hall. If anyone would like to contribute would they please contact our past member Mrs Edith Mansell. Her telephone-number may be obtained from Val Paskell.

Words of Comfort When the days are long and empty,    And the load is hard to bear, When no matter where you look    There are problems everywhere, When it seems there isn't anyone who will ever hear your call,    And you stand alone and frightened    With your back against the wall, Remember life's a journey    Of many a turn and bend, Yet always there's a power on which you may depend Gloria Bipta

"Being Strengthened With All Power
According To His Glorious Might"

Gloria's poem above made me wonder what power works through us thanks to God. Hundreds of references to 'power' appear in the Bible; I would like to share some outstanding ones that we may rejoice together: -

...Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. (2 Chronicles 32:7)

In his great power God becomes like clothing to me; he binds me like the neck of my garment. (Job 30:18)

You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! (Psalm 68:35)

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33)

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

...we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you. (2 Corinthians 13:4)

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:18-20)

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11)

.that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father... (Colossians 1:10-12)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

Jose Jurado Aranda

Kids Shine at Beirut School

Poor children from Lebanon and Sudan are growing in confidence at an orphanage school in Beirut, which is led by a BMS worker.

BMS mid-termer Mat Gregory is head teacher of the school attached to Dar El Awlad orphanage in Lebanon's capital city, while his wife Suzanne is a class teacher. There are eight classes at the school and subjects include Arabic, English, maths, science and the Bible.

Over the past year numbers at the school have increased from 34 to 54 children, with a group of nine of them originating from Sudan. Mat says, "These children have had minimal or no education, and live in desperate situations."

He adds, "An orphanage bus collects the children in the morning, they stay for lunch after school and then are taken back to their various drop-off points in the afternoon. The children are settling in well, and seem to be accepted by the other children, which is a real answer to prayer."

Mat and Suzanne have delighted in seeing one of the little Sudanese girls in particular begin to shine. Suzanne explains, "Christina, and her sister Maria, have only been in Lebanon for about a year and a half."

"It seems that starting school has been a big challenge for Christina - she is an incredibly shy and quiet girl and at the beginning of the year chose not to speak at all. Gradually she is starting to talk to her teacher and to speak with the other children in her class. It is amazing to see her smile as her confidence begins to grow."

As well as being head, with jobs like administration, meetings, staff training and disciplining children, Mat continues to teach English and maths to the grade six class.

Suzanne teaches grade four and five children and also English for grade one children. She has also taken on the responsibility of co-ordinating the special needs work and says, "This is quite a challenge as we look at how best to support those with learning difficulties, those with no English and those who speak a different form of Arabic. It is slowly coming together and we look forward to having some extra support in school later this term. Our grade one teacher has some quite challenging special needs children, so pray that we can support and help her in meeting their needs."

Mat and Suzanne have been at Dar El Awlad School since 2003, supported by BMS in their roles there since 2004. The school is run by Kids Alive International.

Please pray:

• That all the children at Dar El Awlad will feel loved and safe, and continue to grow in confidence in their abilities.
  
• That the staff team will have wisdom in helping each child academically, and for Mat as he deals with many different responsibilities.
  
• For Mat and Suzanne's health and strength in their work and for persistence in their Arabic lessons.

Relief Grants to Thailand and Sri Lanka

BMS World Mission has given two new relief grants for work in Thailand and Sri Lanka, totalling £36,000. The grants will give much-needed support to the general relief work of the Thai-Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) and Lanka Evangelical Alliance Development Services (Leads) which are threatened by lack of funding.

TBBC helps to meet the needs of around 150,000 refugees who have fled from Burma to Thailand through a programme of support involving the provision of food, education and healthcare in nine refugee camps. The BMS grant of £25,000 will help to alleviate a funding shortfall that threatens TBBC work and could cut rationing and damage relationships with the Thai government and refugee communities.

Leads received a great deal of funding from international donors for tsunami relief, but because much of this funding is to be used exclusively for tsunami-related projects, Leads has limited funds to respond to other disasters in Sri Lanka. The grant of £11,500 will go towards restocking and preparing emergency supplies to be used in disasters such as floods and landslides. Leads' small fund for 'regular' relief activities is currently exhausted.

BMS gave approximately £200,000 to Leads for tsunami relief and TBBC has received £15,000 a year since 2001 as well as £20,000 in 2005. £12,500 have also been channelled via the Lebanese Society for Educational & Social Development to help provide basic living materials for around 300 of the poorest families now living on the outskirts of Khartoum who have been displaced from other parts of Sudan.

If it Weren't for Gideon Bibles

"One of the additional responsibilities I have here as parish minister in the town of Nairn is to serve as chaplain to our local town and county hospital.

I deem it a privilege to be involved in the caring work that is done around the clock in our much-valued local hospital.

As chaplain, my main responsibility is to visit the in-patients and staff each week and also to organise the rota for, and to contribute to, the Sunday afternoon services which are held either in one of the wards or in the day-room.

Recently, I was approached by the area representative of Gideons International, to see if there was a need for bibles in the Nairn Hospital. If so, he said he would be happy to bring along a supply to present to patients and staff.

Gideons International have a long history of supplying bibles to various institutions. Their aim, throughout the world, is to ensure that the Word of God is made known to as many people as possible. A part of their strategy, they place bibles in all sorts of places - hotels, on board ships, prisons, in doctors' and dental surgeries, and so on.

Indeed, I have in my own home the Gideons Bible which was presented to me when I went to senior secondary school in Glasgow. quite a few years ago! The Gideons are an association of Christian business and professional people who firmly believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God.

They are all regular church members and they named themselves after Gideon's men, mentioned in the Old Testament book of Judges, Chapter 7, who were called to engage in a rather unusual work of faith for the glory of God. Maybe you would like to read that exciting story for yourself!

Gideons began in the USA in 1899, but they have grown to such an extent that they now operate in 176 countries throughout the world, placing scriptures printed in 70 different languages at the amazing rate of nearly 110 every minute, world-wide! In the UK alone, around 940,000 bibles are placed somewhere each year by the Gideons.

Of course, many of the countries where the Gideons are operating are poor in comparison to our own, so it is their policy to send overseas one bible for each one placed in Great Britain. In many of these poorer lands a Gideon Bible may be the only book a person will ever own.

Statistics apart, there are many people world-wide who have had their lives changed as a result of picking up and reading a bible placed by the Gideons in their hotel bedside cabinet or in their hospital locker.

We had a lovely afternoon presentation of several Gideon Bibles to our local hospital and the kindly representative brought along two different editions. We received a supply of larger copies for the use of hospital patients and several copies of a smaller pocket version for distribution to the doctors and nurses.

Over the years, many people in hospitals have benefited enormously from bedside bibles. As they have sought physical recovery, they have also found healing for their souls."

By Rev Ian Hamilton, Nairn Old Parish Church

Submitted by Kath Hatchett. Extracted from "People's Friend" weekly magazine, "From the Manse Window" column

This magazine is your magazine! Help shape TBC whichever way the Lord leads you. Pass on any articles, prayers, poems, or news about new arrivals, graduations, anniversaries, and submit pictures also if you wish!

Jose Jurado Aranda, First Floor Flat, 63 Becket Avenue, London E6 6AE
E-mail: tbceditor@hotmail.com
Prayer Calendar: Vacant
Meeting Nicodemuses Today: Neil Honor
Printer: Les Paskell
Webmaster: Jim McGlynn

You can also read Focus online at: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/voter/tbc.htm

For really young ones - Answers for questions

Do you have some questions you would like to ask about God and His creation? You can ask one of our Sunday School teachers, but here are some answers that a Sunday School teacher from another church has answered!

"Does the Bible mention dinosaurs? I was just wondering." - Debbie

Hi Debbie! Yes, I think the Bible does mention dinosaurs, in the book of Job. Job had been asking God a lot of nosy questions, and finally God answers

Job by saying, "Job, if you think you know so much, where were YOU when I made all the marvellous things in the universe?" And one of the marvellous things God described to Job sounds very much like an Apatosaurus: "Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; he eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles. He moves his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. His bones are like beams of bronze, his ribs are like are like bars of iron." -Job 40: 15-18

There are some other creatures described in Job chapter 41 that may also be referring to dinosaurs.

"Do animals go to heaven?" - Jana A. The Bible doesn't say, Jana! This is one of those cases where when the Bible is silent, Aunt Betty had better be silent, too. This much I know: in heaven we will be so happy to be in the presence of Jesus and all His people that we will be perfectly content..

"Why did God create all the other planets if nobody can live on them?"
- Jimmy

Hi Jimmy! It is God's nature to create beautiful things. Why are puppies so cute? Why do flowers smell so good? There's no good reason except that God enjoys beautiful things, and He wants us to enjoy them, too. The stars and planets make the night sky beautiful, and that's probably reason enough. In Revelation 4:11 it says "Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Here's another reason. In Genesis 1:14 the Lord said he gave us the lights in the sky are to help us determine the seasons and to help us tell time.

And one final reason is that the stars and planets show the glory of God. When King David looked up at the stars (which would also include the planets) he was overwhelmed with the glory of God. He said

"When I consider Your heavens. the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You visit him?" -Psalm 8:3,4

There are some neat things to read also elsewhere on the website called "Beantown"! Look for yourself at www.calvary.com\beantown

For 11 year olds and up - Science reports from the newspapers

Tests show prayer cures illness

Scientists seem to have shown what Christians have always known - that praying to God to heal someone may get that person cured. Dr. Peter Fenwick, a neuropsychiatrist from the British Institute of Psychiatry, told 400 top scientists at the University of Salford in England about studies that showed that patients who were prayed for had much better recovery rates, even though they didn't know they were being prayed for.

One study looked at the effects of prayer on almost 400 cardiac patients. Patients were not told whether they were being prayed for. Half were prayed for by strangers who had only the patients' names. Those prayed for had fewer complications, fewer cases of pneumonia, needed less drug treatment, and left hospital earlier.

A study at Columbia University in New York asked people in Australia, Canada, and the United States to pray for IVF patients in Korea. Among the half who were prayed for, the success rate doubled. Dr. Fenwick said, "These are very good studies, properly done. Subjects who are unaware they are being prayed for can be significantly helped."

(The Sunday Mail, September 21, 2003 (p. 47).)

Religious teens get into less trouble

Teens who attend religious services at least once a week, or who said they have deeply help spiritual values, get into less legal and other trouble than other adolescents, a new study has found.

The findings come from the National Study of Youth and Religion by the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. They support earlier research, even though most academics have ignored the religious connection. Study director, Dr. Christian Smith, said: "We found that kids who go to church regularly or who say that religion is important in their lives are much less likely to be involved in various forms of substance abuse, get into trouble, commit crimes, are less involved in violence."

They have fewer school problems and fewer difficulties with their parents. Dr. Smith also said they are "more likely to behave safely, try to stay healthy, and be involved in volunteering, sports, and community activities."

(www.youthandreligion.org, October 2002)

New evidence for Christ's Resurrection

A professor of philosophy has used a probability formula to weigh evidence for and against Jesus Christ's Resurrection, and says the probability of the Resurrection comes out to be a whopping 97 per cent!

At a conference on ethics and belief at Yale University in April 2002, a Greek Orthodox professor of philosophy from Oxford University, Richard Swinburne, used a probability formula known as Bayes's theorem to assign values to factors like the probability that there is a God, the nature of Jesus' behaviour during his lifetime, and the quality of witness testimony after his death.

Professor Swinburne's calculations allegedly show that the probability that the Resurrection really happened is a staggeringly high 97 per cent. Many other academics have weighed into the defence of the Christian faith, The New York Times said. Brian Leiter, a professor of law and philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin, noted, "It would be accurate to say that it's a growth movement."

Christians of course do not need probability theory to convince them of the Resurrection. But this certainly is a good point to throw back at atheists and sceptics who say there is no chance that the Resurrection took place.

(The New York Times, May 11, 2002.)

From www.creationtips.ws

Sending First-Time Bibles and Mending the Earth

Did you know that you can make it possible each day for different persecuted persons somewhere who have never owned a Bible to own one for free, if you have internet access? An anonymous 'concerned Christian foundation' has committed itself to finance a new Bible each day that you click on a 'Donate Bibles' button at www.thebiblesite.org. The site is run by the well-known organisation, Open Doors, that tries to track down, expose and fight abuses against Christians worldwide.

There are similar websites such as www.thehungersite.com, which has been running for years and which commits itself, through sponsors, to financing '1.1 cups of staple food' in hunger spots worldwide each time that websurfers click on a button there (once per surfer each day). See also www.ecologyfund.com, where you can similarly save 35 square feet of South American rain forest and 8.25 square feet of Mexican wildlife for free, among others.

The Vessel

The Master was searching for a vessel to use;

On the shelf there were many - which one would He choose?

"Take me," cried the gold one. "I'm shiny and bright,

I'm of great value and I do things just right.

My beauty and lustre will outshine the rest

And for someone like You, Master, gold would be best!"

 

The Master passed on with no word at all;

He looked at the silver urn, narrow and tall;

"I'll serve you, dear Master,

I'll pour out Your wine

And I'll be at Your table whenever you dine.

My lines are so graceful, and my carvings so true,

And my silver will always compliment You."

Unheeding, the Master passed on to the brass,

It was widemouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.

"Here! Here!" cried the vessel, "I know I will do,

Place me on Your table for all men to view."

 

"Look at me," called the goblet of crystal so clear,

"My transparency shows my contents so dear.

Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,

And I am sure that I'll be happy in Your house to abide."

 

The Master came next to a vessel of wood,

Polished and carved, it solidly stood.

"You may use me, dear Master," the wooden bowl said.

"But I'd rather you used use me for fruit, not for bread!"

Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay,

Empty and broken, it helplessly lay.

No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,

To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.

 

"Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find,

I will mend it and use it and make it all Mine."

"I need not the vessel with pride in its self;

Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;

Nor the one who is big mouthed and shallow and loud;

Nor the one who displays its contents so proud;

Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;

But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might."

 

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay,

Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.

He spoke to it kindly, "There's work you must do.

Just pour out to others, as I pour into you."

 

Author Unknown

Submitted by Sheila Love

Will You Behave?

   An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him, "How do you expect to get into Heaven?"

   The boy thought it over and said, "Well, I'll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St Peter says, 'For Heaven's sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!'"

   Submitted by Lena Starling

Meeting Nicodemuses today

Life is Short - Use It Well

One of my favourite quotes from the Venerable Bede is this - Paulinus, an evangelist who later became Bishop of Rochester, was talking to the Court of Edwin, King of Northumbria, when one of his wise men said:

"The present life man, O king, seems to me, in comparison with that time which is unknown to us, like to the swift flight of a sparrow through the room wherein you sit at supper in winter amid your officers and ministers, with a good fire in the midst whilst the storms of rain and snow prevail abroad; the sparrow, I say, flying in at one door and immediately another, whilst he is within is safe from the wintry but after a short space of fair weather he immediately vanishes out of your sight into the dark winter from which he has emerged. So this life of man appears for a short space but of what went before or what is to follow we are ignorant. If, therefore, this new doctrine contains something more certain, it seems justly to deserve to be followed."

Our lives, measured against eternity, are as brief as a sparrow's flying in and out of a feasting hall. What we do with them is largely up to us.

If we know and love God, we ought to live our lives to please Him. Allowing His love to work through us, not wasting our time in useless disputes, which can only harm God's work.

I believe it was Augustine who said that churches are never destroyed from outside, but only from within, by gossip and division.

So let's guard against it, "making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all." (Eph 4:3-6 NRSV) And Jesus prayed: "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21 KJV)

God is very keen to bless us, as can be seen by the new people who come to us, week by week. And by the way in which we have been able to do so much to physically improve our buildings. Thanks to God, blessing us financially! Let us enjoy His blessings, and praise Him for His work among us.

Our lives are brief. Let's use them to glorify Jesus. This is not a rehearsal. This is the real thing.

Neil Honor

Let's encourage each other to witness and share the Good News of the Lord! You are welcome to tell Neil Honor or the editor your witness stories or thoughts!

Bible Society News

It's 8:32. Time To Set The Truth Free

Using John 8:32 - "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" - as a campaign banner, James Catford, Chief Executive of the Bible Society, writes: "The call to care for the world's poor has never been of more concern to Christians. But what of the poverty of not knowing the God who made you? As Jesus said, "The Scriptures say: 'No one can live only on food. People need every word God has spoken.'" Matthew 4.4 (CEV) That's the reason for this wake up call. Bible Society's 8:32 campaign is a plea to open our eyes - and our hearts - to Bible poverty. At its root are language barriers, blindness, illiteracy and people simply being too poor to own a Bible. Others are Bible-poor because they live in a 'sophisticated' culture where the Bible is written off as irrelevant."

"Bible poverty is robbing millions of the truth that Jesus can set them free. We are praying you will catch our vision for a day when the Bible is shaping the lives and communities of people everywhere. This stark reality of global Bible poverty is a scandal as great as global poverty. Both break the heart of God. How can they not touch our hearts too?"

Bible ownership is down by a quarter in the UK in just 50 years. And it's being used less and less. For a billion people the Bible is a luxury they can't afford: when you live on 60p a day owning a Bible is out of reach. And there are millions more who live on the edge of poverty, using every last penny for life's essentials. It's hard to imagine longing for a Bible but having no hope of ever affording one. But that's how it is for millions.

Meanwhile, the Church is growing fast in some of the poorest communities. The demand for Bibles is phenomenal among poor communities. For example, Tassew Negash, from Bible Society of Ethiopia says, "We could distribute 40,000 Bibles every month in Addis Ababa alone. But we don't have the funds to meet demand."

Translations press on: there are over 6,900 languages in the world while more than 4,500 languages still wait for one book of the Bible. However, only 422 languages have translations of the whole Bible and little more than 1,000 languages have the complete New Testament - about 1 in 7.

"Let's make Bible poverty history"

People can say 'yes' to fighting Bible poverty through various ways:

- by getting someone on the case: churches will already be committed to the needs of global poverty and world mission, but Bible Society hopes that Bible poverty will also be on our praying and giving agenda by appointing a Bible poverty representative - to share news, encourage prayer and coordinate action. Bible Society would provide updates and information to make that church part of the action.

- by ordering and then watching the free 8:32 DVD with as many others as you can - family, friends, your home group, your whole church. And help those who are touched, challenged and inspired to respond.

- by pledging to give a regular gift of £8.32 every month through one's bank as the best way to bring change on a global scale. Bible Society will undertake to use the gift wherever the needs are greatest. In return, contributors will get updates on how your gifts are transforming individuals and communities.

- there are also 8:32 Sticker sheets, 8:32 Prayer Guide, 8:32 Ideas sheet (fundraising, sermons etc) and a 8:32 A4 landscape poster. Resources on sale include 8:32 T-shirts, wristbands, badges and polo shirts at the dedicated campaign website: www.its832.org.

- by marking our watches or clocks with an easy-peel 8:32 red dot as a reminder to pray at 8:32 - am or pm - and as a sign of commitment.

Cure for covetousness: think of something to give instead of something to get. Our Daily Bread

ëComing Eventsë praying hands clipart from:
www.freecc.free-online.co.uk

ëComing Eventsí The Lord on way to Jerusalem clipart from:
www.dn.anglican.org.nz

ëComing Eventsë cleaning bucket clipart from:
Microsoft WorksSuite 2001 Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2001 Setup, Designs and Art disc

ëComing Eventsë breaking bread clipart from:
www.cc-art.com

ëComing Eventsë Christ on the Way of the Cross clipart from:
johnmpinto.com

ëComing Eventsë cross on Calvary clipart from:
www.freecc.free-online.co.uk

ëComing Eventsë children at celebration clipart from:
Microsoft WorksSuite 2001 Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2001 Setup, Designs and Art disc

ëComing Eventsë ichthus clipart from:
www.truthimages.net

ëComing Eventsë shoreside clipart from:
office.microsoft.com

'Christians Together in Tottenham News & Events' visit at prison clipart from:
Microsoft WorksSuite 2001 Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2001 Setup, Designs and Art disc

'Christians Together in Tottenham News & Events'  young musicians clipart from:
www.100000freecliparts.com

'Mabel Johnson' cross clipart from:
members.tripod.com/~jagnow/galerias/gallery_clipart.htm

'Past GLB & GB Members' flower clipart from:
members.tripod.com/~jagnow/galerias/gallery_clipart.htm

'Words of Comfort' sad face clipart from:
Microsoft WorksSuite 2001 Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2001 Setup, Designs & Art disc

'Words of Comfort' Jesus clipart from:
www.wecare.org

'Being Strengthened With All Power According To His Glorious Might' Jesus with deceased clipart and apostles at Pentecost from:
clipart.christiansunite.com

ëBaptist Missionary Society Newsí The Gregorys photo credit:
BMS World Mission www.bmsworldmission.org

ëSpecially for Young Peopleí wasp clipart from:
www.cksinfo.com

ëSpecially for Young Peopleí dinosaur connect-the-dots clipart adapted from:
www.free-coloring-page.com

ëSpecially for Young Peopleí skunk, seal, turtle and elephant clipart from:
www.awesomeclipartforkids.com

ëSpecially for Young Peopleí rabbit colouring page clipart from:
www.coloring-page.com

ëSpecially for Young Peopleí children at telescope and microscope clipart from:
www.coloring-page.com

ëSpecially for Young Peopleí therapist with patient clipart from:
office.microsoft.com

ëSpecially for Young Peopleí young lady reading clipart from:
í75,000 Clip Art Imagesí CD-ROM by Focus Multimedia

ëSpecially for Young Peopleí open tomb clipart from:
members.tripod.com/~jagnow/galerias/gallery_clipart.htm

ëSending First-Time Bibles and Mending the Earth' Holy Bible clipart from:
www.wecare.org

ëSending First-Time Bibles and Mending the Earth' bowl of food clipart from:
office.microsoft.com

ëThe Vessel' vessels clipart from:
office.microsoft.com

ëWill You Behave?' Gates of Heaven clipart from:
www.heaventour.org

ëChinese Proverb' box background with frame clipart from:
 Microsoft WorksSuite 2001 Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2001 Setup, Designs and Art disc

ëBible Societyí two crowds, 8:32 CD cover and clock photo credits:
Bible Society www.biblesociety.org.uk