| The Encourager - July 2002 | ||||
| Reconstructing the fairy tale |
NIGEL
WRITES ABOUT.... Re-constructing the fairy tale . . .
"Once upon a time, in a land far away, a beautiful, independent, self assured princess encountered a frog as she sat contemplating ecological issues by the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near her castle. The frog hopped into the princess' lap and with a croaky, voice said: `Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome prince until an evil witch cast a spell on me. One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I once was. Then, my darling, we can marry and live together with my mother in my castle beyond the valley, where you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children, and for ever feel grateful and happy doing so.' That night, as the princess dined sumptuously on a meal of lightly sauteed frog's legs, seasoned in a white wine and shallot cream sauce, she laughed to herself and thought, `I don't think so!' " Most of us normal, ordinary folk, though, do not have the ability to create the alternative happy ending. Indeed, the tale of our lives is one in which we can make some decisions, but sometimes feel as if life lives us rather than the other way round. As I write, the England football team is coming to terms with a 2-1 defeat against Brazil in the World Cup finals. There was so much hope abounding in the country - this time, possibly, if we get past Brazil, we might just, perhaps . . . But now the dream is over, for the next 3 years or so, anyway. And many people are now having to adjust to the breaking of the dream. Back to reality. Is your life with God like that? Occasionally, hopes raised that He might make the difference in a particular situation? A general assumption that God is good and is on your side? Football is only a game, although in the world today it has reached the heights of a serious religion. With God the stakes are higher. C S Lewis married late in life and had only a few years of happy married life before his wife died of cancer. After her death he wrote, "Bridge players tell me that there must be some money on the game 'or else people won't take it seriously'. Apparently it's like that. Your bid - for God or no God, for a good God or a Cosmic Sadist, for eternal life or nonentity - will not be serious if nothing much is staked on it. And you will never discover how serious it was until you find that you are playing not for counters or sixpences, but for every penny you have in the world." The stakes are very high indeed. For God raised the stakes in the "game" when he sent Jesus to life on this earth. He did not spare his own son and in so doing demonstrated the limits of his faithfulness and his love for you. This tale has a happy ending. But the events of the middle of the story can often drive people to throw the book away. So I would encourage you to remember that the "events of life" are not barriers to God, unless we chose to make them so. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:28-39 |
Dear God,
Thank you for all involved in this work. For all in Ethos, Pathfinders, 10+, Adventurers, Club 345 Créche and Barney Bears. Thank you for all involved in the Marrick Priory Trip. We ask that friendships and links between the church groups will be sustained through social events. Thank you for Michael Pearson's work in Pathfinders over the last few years. We pray for his work in the future. Thank you for our new leaders Michelle and David. Thank you that Richard has joined the 10+ team. We pray for his and Kathryn and Shelley's outreach to Young People through GenR8 on July 20th. Thank you for Adventurers and Club 345's joining the first part of the Service in church each Sunday. We pray this has been well received by all. We pray that devout reason prevail in decisions regarding children receiving Communion. Thank you for Dave Godfrey; training for those who work with 4 - 11's on July 6th and for his taking part in our All Age Worship on July 7th. Thank for Jools, the new Methodist Church's Children's Worker and for the monthly 'Youth at 6' Service at Alwoodley Park. We pray for local support for a satellite Kidz Klub. Thank you for the meeting at Moortown Methodist Church on July 3rd to discuss this. Thank you for all Holiday Clubs and play schemes and all Christians working with children and young people during the school holidays. We ask that you give us rest, refreshment and renewed enthusiasm in readiness to do whatever you have planned for us after the summer break. There will be a Prayer Meeting on Tuesday 9th July at 8 pm in Church to 'Focus on Children and Youth'.
This Summer.............get training and
discipleship and get on the mission field of England.
ENCOUNTER 2002 14-30 July Nuneaton Warwickshire and the Midlands A platform for 17-25 year olds to encounter God through one week of teaching, worship and ministry followed by ten days of outreach in towns and cities of the Midlands to -give out what you've caught- in various forms of music, art and sports to mercy ministries. Tel:02476348128 E-mail info@encounter2002.org.uk. www.encounter2002.org.uk MORE THAN GOLD 24 July - 4 August Manchester Join YWAM England's Evangelism Department for two weeks of outreach and evangelism to the athletes, spectators and visitors at one of this summer's major sporting events, the Commonwealth Games. Working with World Wide Message Tribe and The Salvation Army under the banner of More Than Gold. Tel:01582463220 E-mail yan@oval.com 40 DAYS 1 July - 8 August Harpenden Herts An international gathering of young people to gain training in understanding biblical and historical awakenings, leadership in this age and \christ-likeness. To prepare for a global spiritual awakening that shakes a generation - on our streets, in our jobs, on our campus and in our lives. Tel: 01582463247 E-mail thefactory@compuserve.com www.the-factory.net
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