Friend of Sinners

I look at the calling of Matthew as Jesus disciple. Matthew’s call was simple . Follow Me, but the result was stunning – Mission. Matthew threw a party an invited all his friends to meet Jesus. I challenge you to look at your response to Jesus. Jesus said he came to “Seek & Save the Lost”, he then told his disciples “As the father sent me, so I send you” Jesus wants us to actively seek those who are far from God in order that we might introduce them to Jesus!

 

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What is your Life Worth ?

Have you ever considered what your life is worth?

Insurance companied value a single year of quality life as being worth £25,000, that is if you needed a life saving medical procedure they would only consider it if it gave you 1 year or more of quality life and it did not cost more that £25,000

Some people say that your life is PRICELESS, but what does that mean. If I value my mobile phone at £100 and no one is prepared to pay the price, then it does not make it priceless, it makes it worthless. The phone is only valuable if someone in willing to pay the price for it.

So, what is your life worth? What price would YOU put on it, and who would be willing to pay that price?

 

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Is Sex Outside Marriage OK ?

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Is the question I am asked the most … by far !

Given the way sex is portrayed in our society, the way it is used to sell everything from Ice Cream to Cars, the way we “educate” our school kids no wonder everyone has so many questions.

We have eroded marriage, family, parenting and the most intimate of actions between two people – The act of lovemaking. Our young people are are confused, society suffers and christians are often caught in the confusion. They therefore ask the question is sex outside of marriage wrong? What does the bible actually say? How should I conduct myself as a true follower of Jesus.

In response to this I have written this paper which I hope of find helpful. You can download the full document for free right here

Is Smoking a Sin ?

What a question – “Is smoking a Sin?”

This is something that has long been debated and, in my opinion, the answer has changed as we have discovered more and more information on the effect of smoking on our health and well being.

I have written a paper that I have cleverly entitled “Is Smoking a Sin” where I examine the whole issue of Smoking and focus on some key areas:

• Addiction
• Rebellion & Deceit
• Health
• Free Choice & Pleasure

The outcome for me was interesting, not because I smoke (I don’t), but because what I discovered affects so much more than smoking. Whilst looking at the area of addiction I was convicted as to my own addiction to caffeine. Whilst looking at the issues of health and looking after the body God has given me I wondered if I do all I could to look after it. So don’t think “I don’t smoke so this does not apply to me”. Take a look!

You can download the full document for free right here

Biblical Confessions to Build Your Faith

Biblical Confessions to build Your Faith by Larry Tomczak is just an incredible way of speaking concentrated truth from God into your own life. Almost entirely made up of scripture it imparts his promises to you as a child of God.

Larry Tomczak’s paper “Biblical Confessions to Build Your Faith” is made up almost in its entirety of scripture. I encourage you to read – OUT LOUD – these amazing truths and encourage yourself in the word of God.

The paper gives scripture verses to help you in various areas and situatuions in your life:

• Who We are in Christ
• Victory
• Faith
• Boldness
• Health
• Joy
• Prosperity
• Destiny

I encourage you to read Larry’s amazing paper whichyou can download here. Read it out loud if you can, speak it out, let yourself listen to yourself speaking out the promises of God over your life. Hear yourself talking about the promises of God over your life as a Christian. You will be blessed of that I am convincedbecause we know that word of God, when spoken, will not return to him empty.

 

Isaiah 55:11 (English Standard Version)
“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;   it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,  and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

 

Young Asked About Commercialism

Originally Posted on 7th April 2008

UPDATE !

I wrote to Prof David Buckingham following writing this blog … And he replied !

Dear AndyThanks for your message. The best thing you could do immediately is respond to the consultation: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/The review is primarily a review of the research evidence, but there will also be events in which views of children, parents and stakeholders (including business) are sought. I will forward your message to the DCSF official who is dealing with that side of things – it may be that your contacts will be useful there. Thanks for your interest – this is a rather daunting task! David Buckingham

 

If you are under 19 then why not complete their consultation survey here. You can complete the survey if you are over 19 (as a parent, group or community leader)

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BBC Report

This report outlines how a panel of “experts” have been brought together to advise ministers on their “children’s plan”. Whilst collecting results they also want to speak to “those most directly affected”.

The work is being led by Prof David Buckingham of the Institute of Education, London University, who is founder and director of the Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media.

He said there was growing concern about the influence of commercial forces on contemporary childhood.

Unbelievable

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said in the article: “As parents we all worry about new influences, and feel pressure to buy the latest toys for our children .I want to know if advertising and shopping, and other influences such as media and entertainment, marketing and promotion, commercial websites, and sponsored events are affecting our children’s lives in any way. I want to know what these things are telling young people about how to behave, what to believe, and what kind of person to become.”

My Thoughts:

I am in an interesting position as I am a full time youth worker of a local church in Horsham West Sussex, but until 2 years ago was the Sales and Marketing Director for an international software company that provides software to most major blue chip organisations to improve their marketing and customer databases.

I changed jobs 2 years ago totally out of choice, taking a significant pay cut to work full time with young people. In this capacity I work in schools, run youth activities through the week and camps away etc. Additionally I am also a volunteer advisor for “Young enterprise” the UKs leading business and enterprise education charity which aims to allow young people to learn about commerce through doing!

Dealing with commercial pressures, from both sides of the fence, as a consumer and a business person, is a constant battle. I too believe that childhood has become too commercialised, but I personally believe that the role of parenting has a huge part to play in the amount of advertising our children are exposed to, particularly on TV, as all TVs have an ON/OFF switch! A fact that seems to elude many of the parents I have regular contact with.

On one hand we blame the marketers for targeting the kids, parents complain that their kids are then coerced by advertising into purchasing various goods, products and services, but as a parent I believe that I have the ability to say “No” to the requests of our kids and we should exercise some degree of control in our own home.

I think Mr Ed Balls comments in the article reflect the demise of good parenting skills. If he is unable to say “no” to the pressure his kids put him under to buy toys how will he cope with the pressures of office! 

“I want to know what these things are telling young people about how to behave, what to believe, and what kind of person to become.” [Mr Ed Balls]

As a parent I want to be responsible for what my children become, to influence their understanding of morals, of right and wrong and how to behave … I am not going to leave that to the media or advertisers and certainly not to the government … especially if this is the attitude of the children’s secretary

I agree that this is not always easy but I believe parenting is a huge factor in the debate on child consumerism. I really look forward to the results of this study and I am sure that Mr Ball will not be surprised at the results. I am sure that we will see that advertising, shopping, and other influences such as media and entertainment, marketing and promotion, commercial websites, and sponsored events are affecting our children’s lives in EVERY way!

Conclusion

Mt plea is that as a society we encourage better parenting, teaching and training young parents how to love and discipline their kids, how to wisely give them the things they need, to be able to “treat” them, but to to give them everything they ask for or be held to ransom by them. If you are wanting help or advice on Parenting then there are some great resources here

 Other Relationship Resources:

• Marriage Preparation
• Marriage
• Recovering from Divorce and Separation
• Parenting 

Sex, Violence & Judgement

Sex, Violence, Judgement & One Man’s Zeal for God

I have been looking at various individuals in the bible and been very excited by many individuals that had a massive impact, for either good or bad, on the people of God throughout the bible.

Currently I have been looking at Phinehas from Numbers 25 and how his decisive action as an individual, whilst still under the authority of God and those leaders God had appointed over him, saved the people of God from a plague and the wrath of God.

I spoke on this at Kings Church. You can listen to it here.

FREE! YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OR LISTEN TO THIS SERMON HERE

Prime Minister Backs Down

Originally Posted on 25th March 2008 

There has been unprecedented pressure put on the Prime Minister regarding the very controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryo(HFE) Bill by pressure groups such as Passion for Life as well as many leading public figures. Today he announced that he will, after all allow a free vote for Labour MP’s

 

Hero of the Hour

My hero of the hour is Cardinal O’Brien. I may not agree with with much of his churchmanship, some of his theology and certainly his position on key issues, but this weekend (Easter Weekend) he was THE MAN! In his easter address he spoke BIBLICAL TRUTH. He urged MP’s and other decision makers to stop supporting “Unspeakable Crime”

 O’Brien was reported as saying “I can’t change the teachings of Jesus Christ. I can’t change the 10 Commandments. That’s what I’m ordained to teach and to preach: ‘Thou shalt not kill.”‘ (Source)

 Not Pulling Any Punches

Cardinal O’Brien said yesterday he hoped that Catholic ministers would be prepared to resign rather than accept orders to back the legislation but, ultimately, it was a matter of individual conscience. (Source)

 You Can Make a Difference

You can still sign the 10 Downing Street Petition here and make your voice heard. If you want to go further, and I urge you to do so, write to your MP and ask them as a future voter what their position is on the key issues. If you are unsure what to write then click here for the Concern for our Nation – Information & Action Pack as it is packed with great advice, sample letters and every thing you need. I wrote to Francis Maude (MP) and he wrote back too!

You Can Turn the Tide!

It is possible to push back the tide on this. But we must act, voice our concerns in an appropriate and decisive way. We don’t all have the visibility that Cardinal O’Brien has, but we can email, write and apply pressure to government. Don’t sit back and hope it all turns out right in the end – ACT

 

 

 

 

 

HFE Bill

Originally Posted on 23rd March 2008 

 

Later this month, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill is due to be voted upon by Parliament. Within it are likely to be several amendments which will increase ease at which abortions can take place; deny the right of a child knowledge of their biological father; and allow the creation of genetically modified human embryos.

This is an important issue for us to be aware of. PLEASE would you to write to your local MP, briefly explaining your view of the proposed bill, and requesting them to vote accordingly.

You can find more information, including sample letters to your MP, on the Passion for Life website which is: http://www.passionforlife.org.uk/.

The House of Commons website includes a search function to help find the contact details of your local MP http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

Sign the 10 Downing Street petition… …on allowing free votes to all MP’s on these vital issues of conscience by clicking here… (this is required because so far the Government wishes to impose a whip on it’s MPs to force this bill through – even though issues of conscience are traditionally free votes). Both main opposition parties have indicated that they will allow free votes.

Other Useful Links: CCFON – Concern for our Nation – Information & Action Pack on the HFE Bill

Evolution & ASBOs

Originally Posted on 18th March 2008

I want to take a slightly abstract look at the current obsession of our government, police, local authorities and community groups with Anti-Social Behaviour.

Fix the cause not the symptoms
As always it seems that the government is looking for a “fix” for the symptoms rather than looking to see is there a “Route Cause”. They take a cursory look at the parents and either blame them for everything, threaten to send them to prison or fine them for not taking control of their kids, or they slap an ASBO on the kid and hope that telling them they can’t go there or do that will stop them.

Lets ask WHY
A better questions would be to ask Why do the young people feel as bored as they do, or why do they seem so lacking in drive, why are they so aimless, not care about anything, why such a lack of purpose, vision or drive?

We are the cause – This and previous generations
Have you ever considered that it is OUR FAULT? This generation and the prior ones for simply brain washing them into believing that life has no meaning or value? There is no point to their existence. The fact that they are here at all is, we tell them, because of a freak chance, the result of some cosmic accident millions of years ago. Their existence is chance and after surviving in this world it ends and they return to oblivion, the same nothingness that they came from.

No morals without a moral absolute
Given that world view why are we surprised that they have no respect for authority, no idea of right and wrong, no common decency or morals. Morals can not exist without a moral absolute and we tell them there are no absolutes. That would be wrong (assuming we can say it is absolutely wrong rather than just wrong for them). Instead we say well truth is relative, what is right for you might not be right for me. And yet when they say that this behaviour which is wrong for you (anti-social even) is not wrong for them, after its all relative anyway! This goes to show that they were in fact listening at school, they did take it in, and took it to heart.

Can we expect more?
If you believe that this life is all there is and then there is nothing, why are we expecting them to do anything than live for the fun of the moment. This moment after all might be their last moment! If we tell them that survival of the fittest, natural selection is what caused us to be here then why would they not all be sleeping together, getting pregnant, expanding the race to evolve and live equally pointless lives … especially if that process is fun!

You reap what you sow
I believe that the moral decline we are seeing, the lack of respect demonstrated for the law, authority of any kind, the family etc is a direct result of the teaching as FACT the theory of evolution. Whilst, I believe that the biblical account of creation is true and scientifically justifiable I do recognise that not everyone holds to this truth as truth and may argue that the biblical account is a THEORY also. I would therefore suggest that both CREATION & EVOLUTION are taught together as plausible theories, or even “intelligent design” if the whole bible account is just so unpalatable for people to swallow in one go. This said I do believe that the current wave of ASBO Fever and the sharp rise in Anti-social behaviour is directly related to the fact that we have told these kids “This is it – This life is it!”

More to Life Than This!
I believe that there is more to life than this. I don’t hold to the fact that I am a freak of some cosmic mutation of chance. I refuse to believe that my life counts for nothing, that my decisions matter not one dot, that if I am “good” (however that might be defined), or moral that the result is the same regardless. If is suffer for a good cause it matters not in the scheme of eternity. I refuse to believe that the wonders we see on this planet and in our solar system are random fluke. That it intricacies of the human eye is the result of some mutant cell deciding to crawl out of some soup, grow legs and become human. There must be more to life than this … deep down we all ask the questions why am i here, where am I going, what is the point? Deep down we all know there must be more to life than this … and I have discovered there is!

There is purpose and eternal life
I believe that there is a purpose to my life and yours. That god created the universe and he created you. He knows you, he knows all about you … yea even that! And he loves you. He wants you to love him too, that’s why all those years again Jesus came, walked the earth and got involved hands on. Just like today we believed we knew best. Ignored him and killed him, but he rose again, beat death and lives today. This act took the punishment you deserved so you might be able to know God. You may have heard that a thousand times before … but have you really considered it. Because if its true, and i believe it is, then it has eternal significance for you, this generation and those kids getting ASBOs, because if its true there is a point to our lives, our decisions and actions do matter and there is a bigger picture than here and now

Your call
If these thoughts have provoked you to think about eternity, your future, the purpose of your life and actions then I would urge you to find a good church where you can go and ask some straight questions. I am part of a family of churches called NewFrontiers. Why not Click here to see if there is one near you. They will be really happy to answer any questions you might have and you look to enquire more about Jesus.