The people of Israel had been chosen as a source of blessing for the whole world, and in the opening verses of today’s reading God reminds His people of this calling and responsibility through the protection He had offered them from the Edomites. However, even though God was utterly committed to His people, at the time of Malachi this faithfulness and commitment was not being reciprocated – Israel was not living up to its responsibility Read more…
Following the Together Weekend at our Church which was a special time for us I was asked to participate in the Great 50 Days. At the time the email arrived I was not in a place where I felt I could write down anything worthy of telling. With the deadline very close I drafted a reply regretting I could not write anything intending to send it today. It is now 4.30am and I awoke remembering Read more…
I am a Christian from Pakistan. I never knew that God will use me as an ordained minister in the Church of England. God chose people from all over the world. He moves them from everywhere to everywhere and “…if you [we] belong to Christ, then you [we] are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). Psalm 98 is a wonderful psalm that helps us realise about joy and excitement when we overcome Read more…
Have you heard the old story of the two shoe salesmen, sent by their company to Africa to set up new outlets? Forgive me if you have! One salesman sent a message back to his office: “Send return ticket – nobody bothers wearing shoes here”. The second salesman’s message read: “Send good selection – plenty of opportunity for sales!” Or we could update this story: Two Lay Workers applied to a small circuit. One walked Read more…
Some time ago a much respected minister led a weekend workshop at our church based on the Holy Spirit. On the Saturday evening he said to me, “Steve, I think it’s about time you gave a word of testimony. How about tomorrow’s service?” “Who me?” I said, “I don’t think that would be right, I’m way too much a sinner.” “That’s ok,” he said, “join the club.” If we are honest, we would probably all Read more…
“I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light.” John Keith Falconer. As Christians we are called to make a difference. The “life of mission” is the life that God desires of every Christian. The power of our Christian influence should be undeniable, unmistakable and inescapable. Like yeast, we are called to permeate the dough; Read more…
An Invitation to stillness “I meditate on the works of Your hands” (Psalm 143: 5) For you Jesus Christ came into the world; For you He lived and showed God’s love; For you He suffered death on the cross; For you He triumphed over death, Rising to newness of life. For you He prays at God’s right hand: All this for you Before you could know anything of it. Methodist Worship Book Read more…
At Guide camp, my patrol leader asked me to go and invite one of the leaders – our favourite one! – to come to our midnight feast. To me this seemed a very scary task, and I tried to get out of it by asking lots of questions: What if the other leaders are there? What if she’s not there? What if … and so on. I must have sounded quite pathetic because my patrol Read more…
Are you a person who lives for adventure, do you need to see what is around the next bend on a mountain walk despite the gradient? Well, join Moses, who had an insatiable curiosity and God knew it. A burning bush with no sign of burning up attracted him and like the next bend he had to go and investigate. God knew Moses so well, He neatly manoeuvred him not only into a conversation but Read more…
Genesis tells the story of God’s mission to steer humans, with whom He had shared His world into being the sort of people He wanted them to be. But having the gift of free will, humankind attempted to do things in their own way, not God’s. Today’s reading centres on a new approach God made to try to reach those He cared for. He chose a 75 year old man, married to an infertile wife Read more…