I just get a little frustrated when I watch the news lately. The media is getting so sensationalist. What I want to know is what on earth is going on in Iraq when all this stuff has blown up in Israel. What was yesterday’s news just doesn’t seem to matter. Does anybody know that there has been another Tsunami? No they don’t, unless they look very closely. When the one on 26th December 2004 happened everyone knew. Is it because there were more people killed? How must a parent feel when some children who are raped or murdered get headline news for weeks, but others get third place in the headlines, because some other news takes over because it’s more sesational and will grab peoples attention more. There is so much putting fear into people. What ever happened to the ‘bird flu’ that millions of people were estimated to get? The way things are worded on the news is often not based on fact but presumptions, and this puts so much fear into people. It starts to make me wonder if we can really trust what we hear on the news anymore. Especially when you see 3 different newspapers reporting the same story but the facts are all different in each story. I am so glad that I have a relationship with a faithful, trustworthy, truthful God on whom I can rely and depend. Otherwise I wouldn’t sleep at night after watching the news, and some of the stuff you see is just not true.
Tracy
Since I wrote the last blog about the Abundant Life Church in Bradford I have seen more and more searches landing on our website on the subject. ‘Is Abundant Life a good church?’ was one search. It would be good if we could do a survey on this or have a little discussion. I actually went to visit Abundant Life last Saturday as we were in the area. A nice chap called Simon kindly showed us round the building, which looks great but a bit clinical without all the people in it. From what I have heard of Abundant Life it is a great church, and some how I feel they must be doing something right to get 6 thousands or more people there each week. The only story I have heard from a couple of sources, was that they locked the doors once when they were raising money for their last building. The doors weren’t allowed to be open until they reached the required amount that the new build would cost. I really think that this is just one of those Chinese whisper stories that has got blown out of all proportion but I would love to challenge someone at Abundant Life about it. I like to go straight to the horses mouth for these things because you know how rumours start and get pulled out of all proportion and before you know it there is an absolute scandal going round. This does tend to happen especially in Christian circles. So what do you think? Is Abundant Life a good church? What is your experiece of Abundant Life Church?
I have been thinking a lot about time recently. Another school year is about to end and my little boy will be starting school this year. My oldest is already thinking about which High School and I am knocking hard on the door of 40. Now that may not seem old to some but it’s all relative. It brings me to thinking though, that we have to make the most of our time. We have our friend Joanna with Cancer and she doesn’t know how many moments she has left. Neither do any of us for that matter. I have started reading a great book by Erwin McManus called ‘Seizing you divine moments’ and I would just like to share you a passage out of it. If that’s ok with copyright. ‘ TAKE A MOMENT’ If you could capture one moment of your life, which one would it be? Some particular moment in the past? A moment of regret? How many of us haven’t spent many moments reflecting on moments lost, all the time unaware that moments lost in regret are exactly that - moments lost? If you could take a moment, seize it, and squeeze out of it all the life available within it, shouldn’t that moment be in the future rather than in the past? What if you knew somewhere in front of you was a moment that would change you life forever, a moment rich with potential, a moment filled with endless possibilities? What if you knew that there was a moment coming, a divine moment, one where God would meet you in such a way that nothing would be the same again? What if there was a moment, a defining moment, where the choices you made determined the course and momentum of your future? How wouuld you treat that moment? How would you prepare for it? How would you identify it?’ Tough questions eh? Well I just feel I had to share that with you I am sure there are people out there who will miss there moments if they are not careful. If God is calling you to himself don’t resist. If he is calling you to do something for him, to serve him, don’t resist. These things will change the course of your life for the better don’t miss out. Believe me I know from experience and I am sure that I have wasted many opportunities to grow and succeed and move on, but I know that I can expect more moments in the future.
Tracy
Well our second open air service at the car boot went great again. People are now a lot more responsive when we give them the free water and Val had some great conversations with people. We had people who actually came and sat down with us this time instead of just hovering at the back. It was great weather and we all had a great time!! So many people know that we are meeting there, at the college Sports Centre, as a church now and they had contact with us. They realise we are just normal people who have an extraodinary relationship with God. They know we’re not religious, and they know that we can have loads of fun and laughs. They know that we are not pew fillers and that we want to get out there and tell others the difference that God has made in our lives. They know that we have a great worship group and that we all love to worship God. Nobody would know all that if we don’t get out there at the car boot. Let’s face it very rarely did we have a complete stranger walk into church, who wasn’t already a Christian and just coming from a different church, but just today we must have come into contact with around 30 or more people and had conversation with them about God and church. It’s great we have to do it again. Getting out into the real world is where we are meant to be and the car boot is just one of those places. Thanks to all who took part. Last time Emma’s voice could be heard in McDonald car park apparently so lets hope it was again.
Tracy
It’s just amazing recently how the focus of Morecambe Community Church has been shifted a little. We may only be a small group of people around 35, but our influence in the area is getting bigger and bigger all the time. Michl has now been invited into another 2 schools next week and we are all looking forward to the JAM (Jesus and Me) club finale on Thursday, where we are expecting around 80 children. We now have 39 tweenagers on the books at youth club, thankfully they don’t all come at once as we don’t have enough space for them. We are also hoping to do games on the beach in the summer holidays with the parenting small group and their children, which will hopefully attract more children and their parents. Michl has been asked to come into another class at Trumacar sometime in the future and at Grosvenor Park school they said they may require his services in their RE lessons. As Michl was an RE teacher in Austria he really enjoys it. In September we will be starting an 11 week evangelistic series in ‘Kids Church’ called ALF (about life and faith) where we can invite all these hundreds of kids that we are coming into contact with. We will have so much fun doing crafts, playing games, watching DVD’s and so much more, which will teach the children ‘About Life and Faith’. So watch this space, and all those at Morecambe Community Church get ready for the masses of children we are going to welcome and take care of after summer. I am so looking forward to it!!!
Tracy
I have been reading a good book called ‘Tipping Point’ and it’s got me thinking about how people think and what attracts them to certain things etc. I wondered how we could make church a more appealing place to be for people. No that we change the message of first, but I think it that initial walking through the door that seems to be so shary for people these days. They are too afraid to walk into a church, it’s a new thing and they don’t know what to expect, people often feel insecure in new situations. So here are just a few practical questions that would be helpful if people could answer. Is 10.30 until just before lunch a good time for you to come to a church service? Do you like to sing? What relevant message would you like to hear? Are you expecting to have some of lifes questions answered? Do you want to participate in the service (and in the wider church) or do they just want to sit and listen? Do you like drama, dance, poetry, quizez, film clips in the service? Do you like it when lots of people are around you, or do you feel better in small groups? Do you want someone to come and talk to you on your first visit or do you just want to observe? Thanks to all who answered these questions.
If anyone has been experiencing technical difficulties on this blog, I hope that they have been sorted now. I would hate for anybody to have tried to visit and leave comments and be able to. If anyone wanted to leave comments and couldn’t in the last week or so, please try again now. I think that Matt has sorted it once again. Thanks Matt. If anybody wants to contact us directly for any reason email me on Tracy@mcc.uk.com. I would love to hear from you!!
Thanks Tracy