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smtreasurer@hotmail.com
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Some
great links for you!
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I can't offer you tea or coffee,
or cook you a meal...but come visit me and let us share and feast upon
some great insights with my readers! May God receive all the Glory!
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www.glasgowelim.org.uk 
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More from Iain Archibald regarding the upcoming dinner in September. If any of you are in Edinburgh at this time, please book ahead. Details are as follows:-
Here at last is the booking slip for the next big - and it will be big! - Holyrood Dialogues dinner - Mon 10 Sept.
Do come and do talk around about it and do bring folk who have maybe lost touch with the Church.
Here is an article you may wish to read and also pass on. ***Iain Archibald has his own website, which you may like to visit after reading the article: www.oasisedinburgh.com Date for Holyrood Dialogues dinner: September 10, 2001 At the Holyrood hotel, Edinburgh By a nationally known (UK) politician for their next dinner in September, none other than David Alton (Lord Alton), who on will speak on: "me-culture" - v -"us-culture" Individualism and Citizenship. A good evening is in store! Iain says, "Do begin to think about who you may like to mention this to and to have come along. Anyone from Head Teachers to City Councillors, from Social Workers to active members of voluntary organisations, from .... to .... (you fill in the blanks)." AN OVERVIEW OF HOLYROOD DIALOGUES (by Iain Archibald) Holyrood Dialogues is the new, more inclusive, user-friendly name for the periodic dinners put on by CIR/Christians in Responsibility. CIR was started in Edinburgh last year by half a dozen business and professional people and public administrators from across the Christian Churches, all active in their work life and keen to put Christian thinking more firmly on the agenda in the new Scotland. The dinners are for any interested in hearing what a Christian view on any given subject may be, and in being able to explore and discuss the same. We sometimes wonder, don’t we, how we can gently and sensitively dismantle friends’ and work colleagues’ prejudices and misconceptions about Christianity and introduce them to real Christian values and the Christian faith. We’ve shared our own values and faith. We’ve given people a book, passed them a video, recommended a TV programme. Here is another method you may wish to consider: inviting them to a dinner in the prestigious Holyrood Hotel! Holyrood Dialogues is a bold and imaginative initiative to help Christians reach work colleagues and neighbours with Christian values over a meal in first class surroundings, but with no "cringe" factor whatsoever. Our non-Christian or nominally Christian guests meet and mingle with fellow professionals and then hear an eminent speaker give a talk. The environment, the tone of the talk and the general dynamic of the evening are "non-churchy". The speaker on each occasion is eminent in their field, someone respected for their expertise – whether in business, the arts, sport, politics, science, medicine, or whatever. In the course of their talk they let it be known that what informs them, what gives real meaning to their lives, what guides them, is the Christian value system and their faith. But be assured: there are no "altar calls". Instead, regulars and guests alike have a chance at tables to discuss what the speaker has said. All very convivial, stimulating and non-threatening. And very tasty, with fine wine! This has proved to be a successful way of introducing / re-introducing people to Christian values and the Christian faith in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, cultures not dissimilar to our own here in Scotland. Some guests attend several times and end up asking their Christian friend: "How can I take this further?" At that point the friend may point them in the direction of, say, a lunch-time Q and A group in a city-centre church or an Alpha course near their home. There have been 7 Holyrood Hotel evenings to date. At the first, in June of last year, the Borderer, medical ethicist, Oxford don and Radio 4 broadcaster Dr David Cook spoke on: "Why Ethics?" At the second dinner, in August, we heard from Professor Neil Hood, the economist who heads up the International Business Unit at Strathclyde University. His theme was: "Is there more to business than profit?" The third dinner was in October when Jill Garrett spoke. She heads up The Gallup Organisation in the UK, and also happens to lead the Sunday School at her local Baptist Church. Her theme "Creating a Great place to Work" had a broad appeal across all sorts of professions. Murray Watts, who is well known for his "dramatic" activities, but in particular for writing the screenplay for "The Miracle Maker", spoke at the fourth dinner, and presented a very thought-provoking view of the role that Christians might/should/do have in the performing arts. Sir John (Jack) Shaw, Governor of the Bank of Scotland, spoke in February of this year. In addressing the issue of "Social Responsibility" he turned the tables on the audience by setting a series of questions arising from the interface of corporate and personal responsibility for business decisions, and the extent to which these "shape" a company. Then a month later came Michael Schluter, Director of the Jubilee Centre and Relationship Foundation in Cambridge. His theme was: "Relationships and Community – Can we change our world?" Most recently we heard from Dr Donald Bruce of the respected Society, Religion and Technology Project here in Edinburgh. He addressed the question: "Genetics – How far should we go?"
FOR JUNE I shared some insights of my own, so please "be my honoured guests" and read on! Firstly, see the following from the Amplified Version of the Bible:- Proverbs 16 v 3 & 6. (v3) "Roll your works upon the Lord [committ and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His Will]; and so shall your plans be established and succeed". (v6) "By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man, not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil". What amazing verses! I read them in the AV and the NIV versions, but somehow they didn't have quite the same effect or ring. These are the Scriptures I was guided to read this morning. I asked God for something to pray which reflected what is in my heart. This is what I received and I post on the net here as I believe here there is something for everybody! What encouraging words in these verses and what insight into the loving heart of our Heavenly Father. I see clearly the thread of God's Grace in those Old Testament verses! Beautiful! Let's unpack them a little for you. Firstly, I work as a secretarial temporary, so in one sense I have many "works" to roll onto the Lord. I have had happy and unhappy situations to deal with, all which no doubt, I hope, God uses to make me a better person - Watch this space! Not only that, I believe the "works" referred to here have to do with all that we do for God, in Jesus' name. In verse 6 we are reminded that God is not interested in sacrifice. Jesus has paid the ultimate sacrifice in our stead, and His was a finished work, except that He ever lives to intercede for us. The kind of works God wants us to do for Him are best coming from a place of rest in Him, intimacy, and peace. There is something beautiful about that word, "roll" here. This implies the rolling of all of our anxieties, concerns, weariness, perplexities, deadlines, and so on. In saying that I include together in spiritual ministry all our other works such as the office, the "offices" of "the" ministry, housewives (or "househusbands"?!), single parents, nurses, police, etc. Things that take up a significant amount of your time and sap your energy. So often, the job satisfaction you might otherwise feel is robbed from you by the heavy expectations placed on you by others. Do you ever feel that the hurdle you are expected to jump is placed even higher each time you are told to "jump"? God doesn't call you to jump. He calls you to rest. Hebrews 4 tells us there is a "Rest for the People of God". Ultimately, we will experience this in fullness when we go Home. However, meantime, I especially need to learn afresh and in a much much deeper way, and I am totally convinced do a whacking 95% of Christendom, just what it means to rest in God in such a way as to know His Peace and Joy in our work for Him, that sense of being carried along by Him. It's a thought..isn't it? Anyway, I also was greatly heartened by the words in verse 3, "He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His Will.."! This has been my prayer for so long..even this morning and then I read this! Never saw this before - and it is only in the Amplified you can see the words set out in this refreshing and clear way! This Scripture reminds me of when the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Israel (Jer 29) saying that God would remove their "heart of stone", giving them a "heart of flesh" (soften them, in other words) and CAUSE them to walk in His statutes and ways! I like that! I like that a lot! Another timely reminder that it is not by STRIVING, nor by might nor power that God's work is done! In verse 6, it follows on that, "BY mercy and love, truth and fidelity iniquity is purged out of the heart". When I was a little girl (when I "were a lass"!) a teacher told the class a story I have never forgotten (yet most stories I have forgotten!). Here it is: One day the sun and wind were having a rare old chat about a gentleman walking in the park. The man sat down on a bench for a breather. The sun shone and the wind blew. The man turned up the corners of his raincoat to cover his neck from the draft. The sun and wind decided to play a game to get the man to remove his coat. So the wind decided to blow with all his might but, alas, the man pulled his coat ever tighter around him! The wind was perturbed and not a little annoyed by this. The wise sun shook his head, saying, "Nope, that's not how to do it..watch me". ("Ve have vays!"). The sun put on his brightest smile, and with a twinkle in his eye as the wind reluctantly gave way to his competitor, whom he was sure would lose the game! The Sun shone on the little man, who quickly removed his coat, reclined and soaked up the sun. Well now, just what has that got to do with verse 6? Surely, it is a picture of Grace! God's Grace! Surely, none of us deserve anything from Him yet He loves to forgive us and give us another chance, blessing us etc. We all have done things we dearly wish we hadn't. Such a line pains me to write and only God knows the costs of failure I have borne, but like Paul, my life is a 'token' of God's Grace. Nevertheless, we have all fallen short of God's standard and Glory, but He knows how to get us to willingly remove our "coat" represented by our sin, shame, guilt, fears, strivings, and legalism. See: "Romans 1: Romans 1:4-6, "Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith". It also comes from the heart and is a wonderful work of God's Grace! God Bless you. Shona M.Treasurer Hello Friends & Funky Dudes! The sun is shining today as I update this page for April, since Spring appears to have truly arrived at long last in Scotland! This month, my friend Margaret Ann, a nurses teacher from Glasgow, lover of Jesus, and faithful member of Glasgow Elim Pentecostal Church (my link opposite is worthy of a visit!) has sent me some great "doings" on herself! Margaret Ann is, in my opinion, a mighty woman of prayer, faithful, and a great bubbly personality! She also compiles material for the church magazine. Margaret Ann is also a lady with many talents: I mean, there's not a lot of people I know who can speak on a mobile phone providing helpful advice and prayer over the telephone, bake fish with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top, and do the ironing almost at the same time! Margaret Ann can! Nothing seems to much for her, but like the rest of us she likes to relax (I can almost hear I say, "I need to!") and when she is not socialising or surfing the net herself, she likes to do tapestries or create mini stained glass windows. She can create stained glass effect also on glasses, plates etc. So I can verify the truthfulness of all she says below!! Not only that, like me, she loves dogs. I have seen the
Doberman Pinchers photos in her living room. Beautiful creatures! There's
one thing we don't have in common: I hate butter! However, we do like
our food, and apart from the blessing received via Margaret Ann's prayer
and devotional ministry, it is a privilege to be "ministered" to by the
use of her culinary skills! Me, I open a tin I confess, when it's just
one mouth to feed (mine!). 1. LIVING
ARRANGEMENT? 5. FAVOURITE
MAGAZINE? 20. IF
YOU COULD MEET ONE PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE Rev. Colin Symes is my guest for March 2001! Thank you Colin! "'CUTHBERTUS", by Colin Symes A poem on the life of St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne c.634-687AD A solitary stretch this is; a place too sacred To be conjoined
to the main, but by a path Washed daily by the ebb and flow of cleansing
tides Here is a place aloof, a natural hermitage, a cocoon of
greatness, a wild, awesome shrine - Holy Island whence, Here trod bold Aidan first; called by the Northumbrian king And thus did deem it as a vision for his life to be a monk
at Mailros, and to serve Lord Christ, Cuthbert his name; raised by his mother-nurse, Kenswith
, he learned the glory of the King of Heaven's love, Like his heavenly Master he grew in favour high and, by
his vision, came he up to Prior Boisil , To read, to copy, memorise and preach Christ's word, from
Boisil, father to the novice youth, in all a man of holy purity and prophetic
grace. To stand beside their village wells and bring them truth Beloved indeed, not only of the lower orders, Through testing days of Whitby Synod calm he stayed, Desired the peace and furtherance of the holy life, Here built the holy man his oratory, cut off from interference
in his communion by tides. To hermitage had turned his thoughts of late, In chapel, where no view of sea nor land could draw Yet would he still not turn away the faithful ones Nor yet went back accompanied by sorrowed mind He would not - too dear to him was his hermitage To go back to the mire and frenzy of the world - He could
not ! Boisil , his beloved prior, whose prophecy 'The Lord be praised !', the brothers' voices rose to sing, And spoke; 'The comfort and advising of the weak Exchanging sees with Eata of Lindisfarne, He read men's inmost thoughts and saw their deep desires How many blessed the day God spoke to Boisil first, And even in those last few days of life Underneath a slab of grey inscribed ,'CUTHBERTUS'.
O Lord, who by this faithful Cuthbert spoke, From February 2001
Jim Patterson entered the Elim Ministry as a pastor in 1963. Jim and his wife Ruth were missionaries in Uganda during the 90's, where Jim ran a Bible College. Now pastoring in North London, Jim has a radio ministry represented by his websites (see above). Jim and Ruth also have a keen interest in drama. Jim and Ruth have quite a story to tell, and you are warmly invited to visit his links above to find out more! "BORN TO BE A WINNER". Let me begin this life-changing message by asking you a few simple yet pivotal questions. How do you see you yourself just now, are you a winner or a loser? - Are you successful at what you do or are you a struggler? If I ask you how you really are would you reply "I'm alright under the circumstances". Do you ever answer that same question by saying, "I'm surviving"?I invite you to listen very carefully to the voice of God as you read these words. Deuteronomy 28:13 "And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them". Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Have you discovered the key that will open the door for you to be a winner? The key is called WORD. The word is the word of God. My friend it does not matter what anyone has said to you or about you, this is not what we estimate our value or potential by. Perhaps people around you have spoken negative hurtful destructive words over you and you have come to believe that the things they say are true, but listen my friend - let God have the last word. One word from Him can change your life forever. I was born to an unmarried Mother at the time when this event was a thing to be frowned on. At the age of three I was adopted and after the death of my new Father, my Mother became a very angry, bitter and verbally abusive woman. Many times I had to endure her barrage of negative destructive words, and in her opinion I would never amount to anything because of the circumstances surrounding my conception and birth. I came to faith in Christ as my personal Saviour and Lord when I was 18 years of age and by the time I was 23 I was appointed to my first Pastorate. The fact is that although I was now a Spirit filled Christian and a Pastor, I still had not been fully set free from the effect of the words spoken over my life, by my Mother and other people. The key that set me free was the WORD of God. I read these words and they set me free. John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Jeremiah 1:4-9 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you (I set you apart for a Divine purpose); I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth". Psalms 139:13-18 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. These were the words that God turned into a key to set me free. I had come to know the truth and the truth about my past present and future as God saw it set me free. Of course I had to do more than just read those words, I had to believe them, accept them and allow them to saturate my whole being, especially my mind. As I kept thinking about the words that I had read, I discovered that my mind was renewed and the words I had read seemed to erase the memory and effect of all the negative, hurtful, destructive words that had kept me prisoner for so many years. Another passage of God's word that has really helped me so much is found in Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things. Thinking on the type of things in the list above are what helped me to be the winner I was born to be. Yes of course I still have battles the same as all who follow Christ experience, and according to Ephesians 6:12 I fully realise that I do "not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places". However I am always a winner because when the devil comes against me, he is not just coming against flesh and blood, for inside me is the greater One, the Holy Spirit, and when I let Him use the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. I am a winner every time and in fact as Paul says in Romans 8:37 I am just one of the millions of winners who are "more than conquerors through Him who loved us"... I found his sermon a real encouragement! God wants nobody to lose! In Jesus we can all be winners! If Christ is in our lives, then we are on the winning side, though it does not always feel like it sometimes! "Life happens" doesn't it. Often the negative influences that come at us day after day which put upon us to perform can be very wearing. It is good to be reminded that God, unlike man, declares us as winners. **Just a small update for June regarding Jim Patterson. I had the privilege of spending quality time with Jim at Elim Conference, with our mutual friend Joan, a lovely old lady who is a member of his church (she thinks nothing of walking 4 miles a day! Bless her!). At present, the congregation worships in a Salvation Army Hall on a rental basis. They could lose the building due to it being sold. They hope, God willing to retain it and the asking price is likely to be circa £500,000. Please pray that whatever God wants in this situation is done. The present building is functional for the congregation's needs, plus there are over 10 years worth of happy memories for the members. Whatever the outcome, I know that Jim, Ruth, and Joan are optimistic. Certainly, just to speak to Jim one quickly discovers that he has an infectious faith - he is a "can do" type person, who makes the most of every opportunity. He is prayerfully hoping that soon an opportunity shall arise to preach in the U.S. |
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