Eagle Rider

We were talking last night about prayers getting answered.

It was our weekly mid-week group for children, "Brilliant Bible Club" where we help the children to understand what the Bible teaches and what it means to be a Christian. There's no pressure but they need to understand what it means for themselves if they are ever to decide to follow Jesus. Someone said they'd once prayed for a car 'like the one their friend has' and were completely stunned when that friend gave them the car.

My own anecdote involving a car begins back in 1987. I was 21 and although I'd passed my driving test I couldn't afford to get a car. One day in November I bought a ticket for a 'Grand Christmas Draw' because the 1st prize was a car - a 1987 Seat Ibiza Designer 3 door hatchback.

I don't remember actually praying to win but I certainly thought a lot about having a car like that. Un-surprisingly I didn't win and eventually forgot about it.

Ten years later, by which time I was married with a young family (still no car) and attending a church very close to where we lived. We'd had some contact with the church a friend attended and really felt we'd like to get involved and help with the children's work they ran but because of where it was there was no way we could do that without a car of our own. It was October Half Term week. This time we did pray.

The answer to this prayer proved to me that God not only knows the difference between what we need and what we want (better than we do sometimes) but also that he has a sense of humour.

Within a few weeks of us starting to pray one of our dearest friends said they wanted to give us a car!

Not just a car but a 1987 Seat Ibiza Designer 3 door hatchback!!!

In 1997 we needed the car to get involved in something God wanted us to do whereas in 1987 I didn't actually need the car - I just wanted it!

Earlier this month I renewed my phone contract and got myself a shiny new Android. It's better than the one it replaced in every measurable way but only a week later I was on my way back to the shop due to a battery drain issue.

I won't say which network (they have a blue logo with bubbles) but they were great. The phone was exchanged without quibble after checking everything was backed up - they couldn't have been more helpful.

Was it really frustrating to have to exchange an eight day old phone? Sure it was.

Was it the fault of the advisor in the shop? Not at all. Nor did it put me off the brand. With any product common sense says there's going to be the odd has an issue.

What was most important was the way the matter was handled, by the person I spoke to by phone and by the advisor in-store whose main concern was that I left with the problem resolved and a phone that worked as it should.

It occured to me that in life too there can be things that go wrong; sometimes disagreements or misunderstandings can get in the way of relationships but what's important is not who's right or wrong, not who said what or who misunderstood who but the problem being resolved and the relationship being restored to how it should be.

It's a warm day, bright and sunny outside but inside the tunnel there's a chill in the air. The darkness is so intense that you have no way of knowing how close to the side of the tunnel you are as you walk slowly and carefully forward. Under your feet there are bumps and pot-holes; occasionally you feel water in your shoe as you step in a puddle you'd no chance of seeing. Behind you is the bright arch of light that is the tunnel entrance, and ahead - it seems so very far ahead - is the tiny glimmer of light from the far end of the tunnel.

The Bible talks about being in darkness when we don't know Jesus:

"You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You're out in the open now."

It also tells us it's our job to be light in a dark world. In other words to reflect the love of God to those who don't know Him.

In the book of Romans we're told that fulfilling the requirements of God's law is not about obeying commandments but about showing love to those around us - treating others in the way we'd like them to treat us.

If the human race could learn to live like this and to show love to one another as God intended then Jeremy Kyle and co would be out of work!

Here we are, a week after Easter weekend, the day the school Summer Term begins. The two week school holiday may be over but don't for one minute think Easter is over!

For those of us who understand it's true meaning Easter is not just a one off. The message of Easter is that the Son of God, who lived on earth in human form and was executed in the most horrific way ever devised walked out of his tomb fully alive, and that means that today and every other day of the year He is with us to help, guide, strengthen and heal and to be in and part of every situation we find ourselves in.

That isn't something we should just celebrate on one Sunday out of 52!
It means Jesus is Risen! is the celebration of every Sunday, and every day in between too.

To quote one of my favourite worship songs:

The empty cross, the empty grave
Life eternal, You have won the day
Shout it out, Jesus is alive
He's Alive

He is Alive, and if you don't yet know Him - really know Him - you can today and He really does make a difference in every aspect of your life.

If you want to know more ask your local church (or mine - www.newpastureschurch.com)

During the run up to Easter I was reminded just how commercial it has become.
On Good Friday, for the first time, I attended a Service of Reflection followed by a Walk of Witness in Kingsthorpe. It was so moving. To take time out to focus on what Jesus went through for each one of us.
On the way back from there we passed a local supermarket and I was quite surprised at how packed the car park was. Everyone panicking that there might be a day when shops weren't open. So many people oblivious to the significance of the day.
Inside the shops, of course, were shelves crammed with eggs and other chocolate products in such quantities that heavy discounts and BOGOF deals are needed to get them sold.
To many Christians Easter is at least as important as Christmas. At Christmas we remember the birth of Jesus as a baby - God's gift to the world - but Easter is when we celebrate what He accomplished. His death on the cross freed us all from the punishment we deserve as sinners. Through His death we can live, free and in harmony with the God who created us and who loves us.
Sometimes you hear people talk about the real meaning of Christmas, but the truth is that the real meaning of Christmas is EASTER!
If you want to know more ask your local church (or mine: www.newpastureschurch.com)

We live in an automatic world!

So many things that would have astounded someone living 40 years ago are taken for granted today. Buildings have automatic doors, lights that come on as you enter a room and air conditioning that adjusts the temperature setting according to how nmany people are there.

Cars too are just as gadget packed with automatic lights and wipers, cruise control and rear wipers that activate as soon as you select reverse gear.

I'm not convinced that so much automation in cars is a good thing. I wonder if drivers don't think about putting lights on in fog because they're used to the car lights coming on automatically as they do in the dark.

There's one thing which will never be automatic - entry into Heaven.

That has to be a personal choice. Your parents, spouse or siblings can't do it for you. Each person must make a concious decision to try to follow God.

Notice the word 'try' - it's not about perfection, just doing your best to do things His way and being honest about it when we get it wrong.

If you want to know more ask your local church - or mine: www.newpastureschurch.com

Did you ever wonder, as a child, what it would be like to be a King? Ever think about what you'd do if you had the authority that goes with being royalty?

Would you have the freedom to do exactly what you wanted or would you be considered to young to rule alone?

Hundreds of years ago an eight year old boy named Josiah became King of a land called Judah. Everyone thought he'd behave the way his father and grandfather had before him - they were both really bad people.

Amazingly Josiah, at the age of just eight, found the strength to steer his own course. He had the determination, against all the odds, to make his own choices and make huge changes.

Have you ever been in the position where you really felt powerless to make a difference to a situation; that no one would listen to you?

If an eight year old boy can change the way a country is run, reversing over 50 years of evil we can all find the strength to change a difficult situation for the better.

What's the difference between looking and seeing?
Looking outside tells us whether it's sunny or cloudy but by looking closely we can see all of the beauty of the world around us.
Looking where we're going helps us avoid walking into someone but looking carefully lets us see the beauty - not outward physical beauty but the character and individual personality - of those we come into contact with each day. Let's remember too that each person has their own priorities and needs.
Anyone who watches the TV series 'Sherlock' still know that he doesn't simply look but sees. Sees everything - every detail, missing nothing. We can't all be Sherlock Holmes but let's try to see rather than just looking. Don't miss out on seeing the world around us in all it's glory, and be thankful to the one who made our all.

One of my favourite films is Bruce Almighty, where God gives His powers to a TV news journalist who complains about his lot in life.

At one point in the film Jim Carrey's character, Bruce Nolan, asks God "How d'you make someone love you without affecting (their) free will?" God, personified by Morgan Freeman, replies "If you work that one out let me know"

I don't pretend to have all the answers but I'm pretty sure part of the answer is that we should love those around us, regardless of how they are with us.

In the Bible we're told to love one another 'as I have loved you' and in another passage told to love those who hate us. Loving people who love you is easy. Loving those who hate you is a real challenge.

Are you up for a challenge?

Love is another much over-used word.
Partly due to the inadequacy of the English language which gives us only one word for Love. We say we love our family, siblings, spouse etc but also love chocolate or football. Doesn't make sense.
We should show love to all those around us, even when they're difficult to love. It will really make some people think!