Came back rejoicing

Had a fantastic day preaching the gospel in Plymouth today. Last Saturday everything was against us and its sooo easy to become discouraged, but praise God who has shed his love abroad in our hearts. As we move around Plymouth there are many buskers, entertainers and the like. All of them have PA's blasting out. But you've guessed it the moment we put on our puny 15 watt PA which is the size of a corn flake packet someone complains. Its usually a shop keeper. I wouldn't be suprised if its the same one! The police approach ask us to turn it down. Of course we oblige wanting to keep the peace but its so unfair!!!!I've preached without a PA and they still complain. The truth is they dont want to hear what your saying however or whatever vehicle you choose to say it through. Praise God we still have freedom of speach and the church still retains many rights concerning open air worship and preaching. I've got quite friendly with a Community police officer who prides herself in being fare unfortunatly it was her day off today. Next time I see her I shall take it up with her. As with any right, sometimes you have to protest loudly when you think that right is being compromised. We are to be people of faith and courage. Of course we know Christians will always be the underdog but as the saying goes, every dog will have his day, he who barks loudest etc. I heard a fantastic joke last night. Some one walked into a club, which looked good on the outside, but when they entered it was anything but good. When he protested to his friend of his judgement of the pleasant exterior of the building his friend said "Thats what the Christians thought about the Coliseum." Sometimes we have to look behind the reactions of others and see there hatred for Christians and there deep seated passion to throw us to the lions!!!God is good and IN HIM we trust. Amen.

One world religion in Cornwall to be set in concrete

Leaders of most of the religious faiths in Cornwall met last week to discuss a project to build a inter-faith centre where all of them could meet. The buildings name 'Dor Kemmyn' is Cornish for common ground. Representatives from the Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Pagan, Buddhist, Bahai religions and Anglican Bishop Tim were all present. Plans are afoot for a stand promoting the project at this years Royal Cornwall Show and a faith walk this September. The interfaith movement recognizes that God is present in every religion. Apparently this is the common ground they meet on. However this statement is seriously flawed. Just a casual look into the beliefs and practices of these world religions will quickly reveal they are certainly not worshipping the same God. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. NO MAN comes to the father, but by me" John 14:6. "Through him we have access to the father" Eph 2:18."For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" 1Tim 2:5. This truth is foundational to the Christian faith. If Jesus is the way to God and the only way then all other ways are wrong. How then can someone proffessing to be a Christian agree to take part in such a worthless excercise? Spurgeon said that lack of concern for the salvation of souls was a sure sign of a false conversion. I believe he is right. A true Christian could never withold the very means of salvation to his neighbour if he truly cared for his eternal well being. We are called to preach the gospel to all nations and make followers of Jesus. This surely is the most loving and unifying thing we can ever do.

True Revival

"Old-fashioned, Spirit-filled, Christ-honouring, sin-hating, soul-winning, Bible preaching! It is the hope of the church! It is the hope of the nation! It is the hope of the world!" -Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001). When the spirit and the word come together...then we will have revival. At the moment there is a famine for Gods word in the land and yet the Bible has never been so easily obtained. But the spirit is brooding. God is raising up many in this hour with the faithfulness of John the Baptist, with the spirit of Elijah, with the power of pentecost to preach Gods word with boldness. They wont give up, shut up, or lie down. They will be hated of all nations and yet to the nations they must go. Nameless faces who look not for the glory of man but for God's name to be gloryfied. They will receive supernatural provision, supernatural strength and supernatural endowement. Let it be.

How To Avoid Swine Flu

Millions of leaflets will be deposited through the nations letterboxes over the next few days instructing us on how to avoid swine flu. One of the instructions on the leaflet will be to wash your hands after sneezing or coughing. This advice can be found first given hundreds of years ago, before the age of science, yes you've guessed it...The Bible! Had any taken heed of this advice many millions of lives could have been saved during the black plague! Arturo Castiglione wrote about the overwhelming importance of this biblical medical law: ‘The laws against leprosy in Leviticus 13 may be regarded as the first model of sanitary legislation’ (A History of Medicine)." It would seem the publicity this bug is getting is not being matched in casulaty numbers. Perhaps the scientific community know something we dont? However Jesus warned us that before his return perilous times would come and rumours would abound. The only sure way to avoid it is to avoid ALL human contact which for many of us is impossible. I for one shall not be rushing out for a face mask!

150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL ALBERT BRIDGE, SALTASH

This weekend the people of Cornwall and Plymouth will celebrate 150 years since the official opening by Prince Albert in 1859 of the Saltash rail bridge. The bridges engineer I.K. BRUNEL 1859 appear in large metal letters on either end of the bridge, added as a memorial after his death on 5 September 1859. The bridge provided the vital first railway link between Cornwall and the rest of the country. Nearly two thousand years ago God engineered a plan that would bridge the great divide between lost sinners and himself. He sent his Son to die on a cross to be the spirtual bridge of reconciliation. The work cost him his life and it costs to cross it. It's more than a pound, nothing less than the surrendering of ones life to him who surrendered all from mankind. On the Tamar bridge which sits beside it, on the Cornish side, is found Plymouth Cities coat of arms and motto "The name of Jehovah is a strong tower." There are many who are running into it and finding safety and shelter. Let us continue to proclaim the Son of God as the bridge to the people of Cornwall and Devon and believe by faith that many will choose to take that first step of faith, and crossover from death to life.

3 Greatest Sins Of Mankind

There are three great sins committed by mankind, before God which rise up like a bad smell to his nostrils. The first great sin is the sin of UNBELIEF. Unbelief manifests in an attitude of mind which says "My way not your way." You have clearly revealed your truth to me God, but I shall find another way. It is not that the unbeliever cannot believe for God has given to ALL men a measure of faith. It is that they WILL not believe and therefore choose to put their faith in something else. The second great sin is the sin of INDIFFERENCE. Indifference manifests itself in coldness toward God and his people. The heart has a big sign saying 'Shut Door.' Again it is not that the indifferent cannot love but rather chooses not to. The greatest love, the love God shows is 'agape.' The love of action, shown ultimatly in the cross, yet many respond with deadness of heart. Love is a command and the greatest command is to love God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength. When God gives us a command we must also believe he has also given us the ability to obey it or it would be a worthless command. The third greatest sin is REBELLION. Rebellion manifests itself in refusal to obey Gods commands, in part or in fulness. 'My will, not Gods will.' The rebellious soul will not accept Gods absolute authority or rule over them. God is looking for a relationship but with rules attached to it! This is why Jesus placed such importance on submission to God and his ways as a sign of our love for him. "If you love me you shall obey my commands." When we share Christ we must also be aware of these three sins. All three must be repented of and forsaken. Unfortunatly we have many proffessing Christians who have not dealt with one or all of these three sin issues. We have unbelieving believers, cold hearted fellowships and open rebellion of Gods commandments. The proffessing church has now taken on so much of the world in thought, deed and action it is becoming hard to tell them apart! Let us prayer for one another that in this hour we shall redeem the fallen through the power of the gospel and through the ministry and power of the word, constantly check our walk.