Reflections on the Three Day Event

The month of May saw the first of our “three church” events, bringing together Welling Baptist Church, Northumberland Heath Baptist Church and ourselves. The motivation for the day came out of a commitment the pastors of the three churches have made together in prayer. The focus of that relationship in prayer has been one of mutual accountability, God calls us to be holy, seeking His Kingdom above all else. It has also been a commitment to cry out to God for His blessing on the church and for an awaking of His power in our area, drawing men and women to Himself.

Earlier this year our pastors called the three churches to a “sacred assembly” based on the word in Joel, calling us to repentance and prayer. Out of this day a strong sense came that we should come together to grow in His purposes for us.

For some, the event started on Friday in prayer and fasting. A small group met in the evening to pray for the weekend. We started the day at Welling with prayer and then on into the morning sessions. If you had got there early you would have seen the children getting their badges and being registered for the special children’s programme planned for the day. Our thanks to all those who helped. The morning started with a time of teaching, equipping us as members together to know our heavenly Father better and be secure in Him. The afternoon was given over to prayer. Many spoke of finding this time helpful, an hour for personal prayer with many different aids to help us in meditation. This part was held at Belvedere after a “bring and share” lunch. During the second hour of corporate prayer we were joined by a police chief from our Borough who brought information about the needs in the area. One item stands out; the Borough Commander has asked the churches to provide one Street Pastor for every 1000 people in the Borough. That is a request for 270. Let us continue to pray that our churches will come alive and be able to respond to this amazing opportunity. The day concluded with a celebration of praise at Northumberland Heath.

One person has shared that they experienced God’s love in a new way that brought healing to past traumas in their life, “I shall never be the same again.” Others commented that the day went all too quick - it was so rich with His love. Realistically it has to be said that numbers together were lower than the usual three churches added together. We will spend some time in refection, seeking to hear God together, to improve on some practical details.

Frank Payne

The Ten Commandments of Retirement

1. Thou shalt not cease to be active just because thou hast retired,/li>
2. Thou shalt pay due attention not only to thy mind by keeping it open but to thy body by regular checks and to thy purse by prudent usage of what money thou hast
3. Thou shalt not overdo anything nor yet underdo it but thou shalt preserve a relaxed attitude and an increasing interest in all things.
4. Thou shalt not thoughtlessly answer job advertisements nor insert any, lest thou fall among thieves and time wasters.
5. Thou shalt never begin a conversation with “when I was your age …”
6. Thou shalt eat and drink in moderation so that thy days may be long and comfortable.
7. Thou shalt not associate only with people of thine own age but shalt mix with the young whenever possible and keep thyself young in mind.
8. Thou shalt have an adequate philosophy of life.
9. Thou shalt not bow down and worship endless leisure, lest thou become bored and rusty.
10. Thou shalt do a job of some kind, preferably one that helps others.

Women’s Own Anniversary Service – Thursday, 21 May, 2009

Well over 50 people, including 5 men, from a number of local churches gathered to celebrate the anniversary, followed by afternoon tea.

The service, which was led by Ruth Johnson, included the story which Linda Tythe told us about a reporter for an American magazine who interviewed 99 year old Catherine Bramwell-Booth, the granddaughter of General William Bramwell Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. At the end of the interview he asked “Do you, Catherine, have any plans when you wake each morning?” Her reply was: “Each morning when I wake I sit up in bed and look towards my window and there stands my Lord, holding out a beautifully wrapped gift box for me to open. Upon unwrapping it I find it is empty and the Lord says, ‘Yesterday has gone, tomorrow do not worry about it, the present is what you make of it; however, I will be with you whatever happens.’ Only the Lord can make a promise like that!

During a missionary slot Avril Harding used the BMS World News leaflets to give two examples of the work they do. One was about a set of miracles which unfolded in front of their worker in Tunisia, when a young unmarried woman gave birth and then had to flee the hospital with her baby and mother, with no money and in fear of their lives, as it is extremely ‘shaming’ to have an unmarried pregnant daughter. A series of miracles meant they finally ended up in a single mothers’ safe house in the capital, a six hour train journey away! The other item was about the work of Hope Home, a residential care home for children with disabilities in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The visiting speaker, Maureen Varrall, gave a powerful message based on James 3:1-12 – “Controlling the Tongue,” which I am sure made a big impression on each one of us. She pointed out that the tongue governs the whole of our lives, that man cannot tame the tongue but that the tongue can be tamed – by Jesus! Verses to which Maureen referred during her talk, which are well worth reading, were:

James 3: 2
Philippians 4:8
Psalm 19:14

Why not look them up and, maybe, join us in celebrating our Anniversary next year. The offering was for Christian Aid.

The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24hrs in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the two cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.

He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes’. The professor then produced 2 cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

‘Now’ said the professor as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions – and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else – the small stuff. ‘If you put the sand into the jar first’, he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.’

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said ‘I’m glad you asked.’ The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.’

Natalie Edwards

MY TESTIMONY - By Coralie Mitchell

“The Lord is my Shepherd, and I shall not want”

I have hit some very low times in my life, but in October, 1983, I was at a very low ebb; all I had hoped for and worked for had just fallen to pieces, my life felt empty, there seemed no reason for anything. I went to see my sister, Gloria, one day with our elder sister, Jean. I had noticed a big difference in my sister Gloria over the last few months – there was a softening in her.

As we were leaving, Gloria asked us both if we would like to go to Central Hall to hear a man called Steve Ryder speak. He was leading a Crusade for London. As ignorant as I am I did not really know what a Crusade was, but I thought it would be nice to be together! We went along on the Monday and as soon as I walked into the building I felt the presence of God, although at the time I did not know Him. When I walked into the Upper Room, I knew instantly that I had found what I was looking for, that all different denominations were there and that was as it should be. It had always puzzled me that churches believed in one God, and yet they were against each other. I joined in the praise and worship – I did not take in much of what was said that night I just felt so different, and I wanted more of this wonderful feeling of joy and belonging inside me.

On the following Wednesday, I went again and took my younger sister, Denise, with me, together with my brother-in-law and his family. On the Sunday Steve Ryder was speaking again but in Brighton. It was in an old cinema. I went along with about twelve other people and it was there that I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and God just revealed truth after truth to me, like a film rolling over in my mind, questions answered and things forgiven. I could believe that there was a God who really cared what happened to me and who loved me; He was my Father, I was a new being in Christ. My life turned around. It has not been easy but God has always been there for me, and given me strength, even in the very dark times; when my best friend was lost to me and my family were very anti and hostile. But God’s love for me has never faltered, even if I do sometimes. God does not take away your problems, but He shows you a way around it, through it or over it, if you go to Him and ask Him. My children are slowly coming around to the Lord, as God answers pray.

God will never leave me nor forsake me,

His love endures for ever.

“One Step Beyond” by Gram Seed.

My friend, June, gave me this book for my birthday as an encouragement to me in my activities as a Street Pastor. A question on the back cover asks “What road takes a Middlesbrough lad from a life of crime and addiction to the Bible?” This book is about that lad – Gram Seed had been written off by family, neighbours, teachers and the police as a lost cause, his early life taking him through shoplifting, football hooliganism, multiple stabbings and beatings, alcoholism, drug addiction, homelessness, several jail sentences to a six-day coma.

This is such an easy to read book – but so sad! Gram was born in 1964, but by the time Madness, in 1980, sang, “Embarrassment” he thought of it as his song as it summed up what everyone – family, teachers, police and neighbours – thought of him!

On being released from Leeds Prison at the end of 1992 Gram decided to return home to Middlesbrough - having ‘phoned some old mates to let them know what time he was arriving. Excited and expectant he could not wait to see everyone at the station – but nobody was there! It was Christmas and the decorations and lights were everywhere, and he got more and more depressed as he wandered around on his own, not knowing where to go or what to do, asking himself “What has happened to my town, my mates, my life?” And then he found it: the place where he could finally be himself, stop pretending and feel safe – it was a bench bang in the middle of Middlesbrough’s red light district. A place which has little to attract anyone – but it attracted him. It was his bench, his home, his place to die, and where he spent the next three years of his life.

That was where he was, addicted to drink and drugs, cut off from his family, with no friends, when a group of young people from a local church befriended him and he was told about God’s love. Later, when he fell desperately ill, they gathered around his hospital bed to pray for him, and when they invited him on to an Alpha course he came to faith in Jesus Christ and his life began to change. Nicky Gumbel writes “Gram is living proof that Jesus is alive and is still transforming lives today.” Gram Seed currently heads up Sowing Seeds Ministries, a Christian charity bringing the message and love of Christ to young prisoners and ex-offenders. He also runs Alpha courses for those with a damaged and troubled past

A CHAT WITH Mary Franklin

At the suggestion of Glenys and Betty, I popped round to visit Mary, the day after her 93rd birthday and I, too, was so blessed when I heard a little about her life, and was amazed when she told me about the day she fell down in the garden!

Mary, many thanks for agreeing to chat with me. Would you like to tell us a bit about your life?

Well, I was born in Dulwich and then lived in Peckham until I moved to Streatham when I married at the age of 25. I have gone to church regularly during my life – in fact I went to a church school, but not a very good one, and I left at the age of 14 and started work. Whilst growing up there was often a shortage of money – sadly my mother gambled – and at one time, when my father lost his job, we had to receive charity food parcels. My sister and I hated having to go to collect them; we were so embarrassed!

I was actually picked up in Ruskin Park by John, whom I married. This was so out of character for him, so there must have been something about me which attracted him! We met just before the war started, and two years later we were married at St John’s Church in Lewisham – in those days it was cheaper if you left by the back door after the ceremony, so that is what we did! We were married for 54 years, until John’s death 13 years ago. We had a daughter and a son, and I now have six grandchildren, six great grandchildren, with two more on the way!

I remember sitting with you when I first came to Belvedere Baptist – so how long have you been worshipping here?

When we moved to Bexleyheath we tried various churches and then about 17/18 years ago we came along to a Flower Festival and was so impressed with the lovely atmosphere that we came along on the Sunday morning and we stayed, getting involved as stewards, catering, washing up etc.! I joined Women’s Own after John died and have always enjoyed the meetings – it makes a pleasant break during the week, especially now as I am virtually housebound. It is a friendly, caring group and it suits me as it is not over the top with religion, but it does make you think! I find the hearing device I use at the meetings helps me to hear better, but now that I cannot see to read I cannot fully participate in the meetings.

Will you tell us about that day in March last year when you spent the whole day in the garden?

It was about 9 o’clock in the morning and I was doing the washing in the garage when I fell over in the garden. Somehow I crawled into the garage to turn the spinner off, then back into the garden so that I could call out for help. The day went by and no-one heard my cries, I was afraid to move because I knew my hip had come out and I kept calling out all through the day “Can anyone hear me, I need an ambulance.” “Please God, do let someone hear me.” It started to get dark, it was pouring with rain so I crawled back into the garage. Then it was night and still no-one had heard me; I was in such pain, I was hallucinating, and I knew I had to try to get indoors. I crawled across the lawn, in the pouring rain and howling wind, still calling out for help, managing somehow to pull myself up to open the door and eventually crawled to the phone to get help. When the ambulance arrived I was as bright as a button and was able to answer all their questions before they took me to hospital – it was midnight by then! They operated on my hip the next day – the sad thing is that when I left hospital I could walk without a stick, but two days later the hip came out again, so now I have to use a stick all the time!

Mary, it has never failed to impress me that, despite the degeneration in you eyesight, you are always so cheerful, and still are, even now when life must be more difficult. How much help do you have in your daily life?

Very little really. I like to keep busy so I do my own housework, washing and ironing. I always cook a proper lunch, as well as making cakes (a piece of which I had; it was delicious!) I have a cleaner for an hour a week, mainly to do the hoovering, and a gardener for an hour once a fortnight. I can’t do the shopping now, so Kitty and my family help me, and I do have milk, eggs and potatoes delivered. In answer to your comment about me always being cheerful, I suppose, in a way, it is in my nature and I had a very long happy marriage, so I have so much to be thankful for!