October 2009 Minister's Message

 Created on Thursday, 01 October 2009 11:48

Dear Friends,

If I were to ask you what is 'success' what would you say? What is a successful life, what is a successful event or project? What is a successful home life? What is a successful church? I am sure we all want success - but what is it?

To many people success is about winning or losing, about climbing the ladder, to be popular or to draw great numbers. Yet is this really the way of Jesus? One author writes "Success is acquiring God’s values as my own". Despite what others say life is not a game to be won or lost but a gift to be received from a loving heavenly Father. The biggest prize that we can aim for is the 'high calling of God in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 3:14). Whilst goals, aims and objectives may be helpful they are nothing without the values of Jesus. That is why I am glad that the Homegroups are starting a Bible study series based on a gospel helping us to get back in touch with the real Jesus.

This is a bit counter-cultural but I am thinking about who Jesus thought of as successful. He once uttered eight brief
statements describing people he called 'blessed' in the Beatitudes in Matthew Chapter 5 and surely to be called
blessed by Jesus is the ultimate success. In the message the verses read as:
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."
"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."
"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."
"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat."
"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for."
"You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."
"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."
"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom."

As I begin my third year as your minister I hope that these truths will take root in all our lives so that we might know Gods blessing in all that we do.

With best wishes
Your friend and Minister
Eddie