by MIMADMIN | Feb 25, 2015
God called us to a quality of life. Are you experiencing that life? We are called to future glory and an abundant life while on earth. We are to experience the unmerited love of the Holy Spirit while we are in the temporal life. 1. We have a new identity in Christ; by grace we are pardoned of our sins and are new children of God. Think of yourself as “among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” (Rom 1:6) The Spirit of grace called us to be saints; the object of God’s mercy, prepared in advance for glory (Rom 9:26). As John said, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1) 2. We are called to a holy life. “Join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.” (2Tim 1:8-9) We are distinct from those not called. 3. We are given liberty. Unlike those not called we are free from sinful passions. Jesus said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36, Gal 5:13. Slaves to sin have no permanent place in God’s moral and spiritual family. John 8:35 4. God calls us to a life of peace in the body of Christ. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called... read more
by MIMADMIN | Jan 27, 2015
Street ministries, under such umbrella titles as ‘Street Pastors’ or ‘Street Angels’ have been around a few decades in England, owing much to the work of the Salvation Army. These Christian ministries take a middle way between evangelism and social action. There is a book to yet be written echoing the famous ‘The Cross and the Switchblade’, which could be entitled, ‘The Cross and Lollipop’. Because armed with lollies, chocolate bars and hot soup, street pastors are out in cities and towns, when there hundreds of (mostly) young folk ‘clubbing and pubbing’, that is going to nightclubs and public houses (bars). There are other people to be encountered such as the street homeless; men and women, some little older than children forced to sleep rough; and there are others making money from the night economy, prostitutes and drug dealers. Alton is a small, market town in rural Hampshire, we do not have clubs, nor street prostitution, nor open drug dealing; yet we have people sleeping in doorways and drugs are prevalent and ubiquitous – but come Friday and Saturday night, many people go to the pubs to drink and socialise. Since November 2014, the local churches of Alton, Hampshire, have combined to send a team of four or five people to mingle with Saturday night revellers. We are identifiable by our hi-vis vests, that have ‘ALTON TOWN PASTORS’ across the back and ATP (with the T written as the Cross) emblazoned on the front. We call ourselves pastors because we administer pastoral care, not because we need to be ‘Pastors’, ordained church ministers or priests. We readily identify ourselves... read more
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