Resurrection David and Goliath
Resurrection Drama performed first:-(written with help from Churchill Community College)performed first by our drama group. (see drama link)
Documentaries analyzing Resurrection theories today are rife especially at this time of year.
What kind of body was it? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Was he just resuscitated?
But here we have it! From the experts themselves.
The Roman guard confirmed that he did indeed die.
Thomas here testifies too; that Jesus was dead, and now very much alive.
Mary knew her son, there was no mistaking his identity; she was even there at Pentecost with all the others in the upper room, praying for his Spirit to fall on them.
Annas and the Jewish leaders knew something dynamic had happened and just could not preventing the explosion of its truth into spreading into the world.
Devout Jews were now calling Jesus their Lord and their God!
'Look at my hands and feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me, and see! He tells them in today's gospel. 'I'm REAL! I'm not a ghost!' The facts are all there!
A look alike could not have had such wounds without going through crucifixion himself!
'So it begins!" says Annas in the film Jesus of Nazareth, when he picks up the grave cloth, and looks into the future with dread.
In Norway we once climbed Pulpit Rock; (describe the sheer height of it; the table you stand on, complete with fissure which is measured every year in case of frost, in case it shears off , (like the inside of one of my teeth last week!)
Lodal Valley;(check on Internet) great flood wave; crack, rocky outcrop slid into the fjord, once in1905; another time in 1936; Twice this century; total 135 lives lost.
Resurrection similar:
Traumatic. Look at disciples faces in our gospel. And it was an absolute disaster for the Jewish authorities!
And look at the way in which Christianity then gathered momentum down through the years, and is still having a mammoth in put into people's lives today. Massive shock for them to find Jesus alive again after death, especially when he promised he would!
Someone once asked a Brahmin priest, 'Could you say, 'I am the Resurrection and the Life?'
'I could say it,' he replies, but could you make anyone believe it?
The shockwave of the power of the Resurrection,is still being felt in our world today when God's children, receive him fully into their lives, and put themselves into his service.
Can we honestly say, like Paul, "Oh that I might know him, and the power of his resurrection ,and the fellowship of his suffering
(not know about him…but know him.)
we can seek him now and find him, but are we seeking?
and the fellowship of his sufferings."
What does this mean…the fellowship of his suffering.
It has something to do with the need to stand with Jesus, where he is; feeling his pain for the world; rubbing shoulders with those in need, and experiencing the joy that comes, when Jesus comes alongside to help.
Disco dance illustration; where one is in the middle dancing, drawing attention to themselves, then they point to someone else and they take center stage; get the children to show everyone how it works; ask where Jesus is?
Jesus himself stood among them: ' it says in our gospel story.
God is showing us here a picture of the church:
It's attractive, 'Look at what we do?' we say Look at the altar frontal we made… look at our stained glass windows! ..our electric guitars and PA SYSTEM ", It's a little lonely out there in the centre of the circle, trying to convince others to come inside; It's trying to be cool and with it, keeping up to date with music and praise services' pointing our finger at others or even trying to get them to join the dance'
But where in that dance is Jesus is the question?
The answer in Luke 24. 36 b,
Jesus himself stood among them:
Not only is he watching on admiring the show; he's nevertheless among THEM, the people around the outside, rubbing shoulders with those who want to have a turn next; with those also who lack confidence, the nervous, the ones who are not convinced of their worth.
Where does He want us to be as a church?
He is real and present today , but we still need some convincing, like the disciples.
But as long as a church is cut off from others, it can only dwell within its own concerns and stand in its own space, and experience a remoteness…
As long as it spends no time listening to God, it will not hear Him speak.
This church, along with the others in the Willington Team have done so!
The team has been writing a blueprint in recent years and even this week of resurrection power for others to follow in the way they have been a support to people seeking asylum.
It began I believe a few years ago when members responded to a clearing and cleaning of space in which to house asylum seekers.
More recently, the same team has leant its support to Fatos & Viollca & their children, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
And we've been witnesses
a) to the joy of fellowship in sharing in their suffering
b) to the flood wave of resurrection power from God, as we have battled with them in the appeal to stay in this country.
Advisors and letter writers, baby sitters, those with experience in court and with councillors, befrienders, those willing to serve at the drop of a hat, longsuffering husbands holding the fort, our mothers and friends who've shared our tears and frustrations.
This team now, just yesterday, has won a larger team to take over in the form of Stephen Byers, our M.P. who says he is going to enlist help for this case.
This Willington Team , without realizing it, has been writing a blueprint for other churches, an invitation for others to take on board.
TRUE STORY
David & Goliath
In my frustration at the imbalance of power during the court case this week, I wrote my thoughts in terms of a David and Goliath situation.
The home office giant versus the more inexperienced solicitor.
When I was in hospital the very next day, I asked a little boy that I had been asked to look after, while his mother went in for her x-ray, for a book from the children's corner.
It was a book called David and Goliath!!!!!
I was telling my friend this story and she put the phone down, and turned on the T.V. and the newsreader was saying, 'This is clearly a David and Goliath situation.
Who says God doesn't speak to us today?
He will guide us, He will tell us what to do/
We've now set our our final arguments on behalf of Vjollca and Fatos, and now we stand back; God is in charge. The battle is his. Please keep on praying, the battle is not yet over.
What next?
Let's keep on listening to God, as we too stand with him, shoulder to shoulder in his world. Let us know Jesus, and seek after his power, minute by minute.
Extract below from : Still Dews: Page 74: Fiona Castle by Frances R Havergal.
Resurrection Drama performed first:-(written with help from Churchill Community College)performed first by our drama group. (see drama link)
Documentaries analyzing Resurrection theories today are rife especially at this time of year.
What kind of body was it? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Was he just resuscitated?
But here we have it! From the experts themselves.
The Roman guard confirmed that he did indeed die.
Thomas here testifies too; that Jesus was dead, and now very much alive.
Mary knew her son, there was no mistaking his identity; she was even there at Pentecost with all the others in the upper room, praying for his Spirit to fall on them.
Annas and the Jewish leaders knew something dynamic had happened and just could not preventing the explosion of its truth into spreading into the world.
Devout Jews were now calling Jesus their Lord and their God!
'Look at my hands and feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me, and see! He tells them in today's gospel. 'I'm REAL! I'm not a ghost!' The facts are all there!
A look alike could not have had such wounds without going through crucifixion himself!
'So it begins!" says Annas in the film Jesus of Nazareth, when he picks up the grave cloth, and looks into the future with dread.
In Norway we once climbed Pulpit Rock; (describe the sheer height of it; the table you stand on, complete with fissure which is measured every year in case of frost, in case it shears off , (like the inside of one of my teeth last week!)
Lodal Valley;(check on Internet) great flood wave; crack, rocky outcrop slid into the fjord, once in1905; another time in 1936; Twice this century; total 135 lives lost.
Resurrection similar:
Traumatic. Look at disciples faces in our gospel. And it was an absolute disaster for the Jewish authorities!
And look at the way in which Christianity then gathered momentum down through the years, and is still having a mammoth in put into people's lives today. Massive shock for them to find Jesus alive again after death, especially when he promised he would!
Someone once asked a Brahmin priest, 'Could you say, 'I am the Resurrection and the Life?'
'I could say it,' he replies, but could you make anyone believe it?
The shockwave of the power of the Resurrection,is still being felt in our world today when God's children, receive him fully into their lives, and put themselves into his service.
Can we honestly say, like Paul, "Oh that I might know him, and the power of his resurrection ,and the fellowship of his suffering
(not know about him…but know him.)
we can seek him now and find him, but are we seeking?
and the fellowship of his sufferings."
What does this mean…the fellowship of his suffering.
It has something to do with the need to stand with Jesus, where he is; feeling his pain for the world; rubbing shoulders with those in need, and experiencing the joy that comes, when Jesus comes alongside to help.
Disco dance illustration; where one is in the middle dancing, drawing attention to themselves, then they point to someone else and they take center stage; get the children to show everyone how it works; ask where Jesus is?
Jesus himself stood among them: ' it says in our gospel story.
God is showing us here a picture of the church:
It's attractive, 'Look at what we do?' we say Look at the altar frontal we made… look at our stained glass windows! ..our electric guitars and PA SYSTEM ", It's a little lonely out there in the centre of the circle, trying to convince others to come inside; It's trying to be cool and with it, keeping up to date with music and praise services' pointing our finger at others or even trying to get them to join the dance'
But where in that dance is Jesus is the question?
The answer in Luke 24. 36 b,
Jesus himself stood among them:
Not only is he watching on admiring the show; he's nevertheless among THEM, the people around the outside, rubbing shoulders with those who want to have a turn next; with those also who lack confidence, the nervous, the ones who are not convinced of their worth.
Where does He want us to be as a church?
He is real and present today , but we still need some convincing, like the disciples.
But as long as a church is cut off from others, it can only dwell within its own concerns and stand in its own space, and experience a remoteness…
As long as it spends no time listening to God, it will not hear Him speak.
This church, along with the others in the Willington Team have done so!
The team has been writing a blueprint in recent years and even this week of resurrection power for others to follow in the way they have been a support to people seeking asylum.
It began I believe a few years ago when members responded to a clearing and cleaning of space in which to house asylum seekers.
More recently, the same team has leant its support to Fatos & Viollca & their children, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
And we've been witnesses
a) to the joy of fellowship in sharing in their suffering
b) to the flood wave of resurrection power from God, as we have battled with them in the appeal to stay in this country.
Advisors and letter writers, baby sitters, those with experience in court and with councillors, befrienders, those willing to serve at the drop of a hat, longsuffering husbands holding the fort, our mothers and friends who've shared our tears and frustrations.
This team now, just yesterday, has won a larger team to take over in the form of Stephen Byers, our M.P. who says he is going to enlist help for this case.
This Willington Team , without realizing it, has been writing a blueprint for other churches, an invitation for others to take on board.
TRUE STORY
David & Goliath
In my frustration at the imbalance of power during the court case this week, I wrote my thoughts in terms of a David and Goliath situation.
The home office giant versus the more inexperienced solicitor.
When I was in hospital the very next day, I asked a little boy that I had been asked to look after, while his mother went in for her x-ray, for a book from the children's corner.
It was a book called David and Goliath!!!!!
I was telling my friend this story and she put the phone down, and turned on the T.V. and the newsreader was saying, 'This is clearly a David and Goliath situation.
Who says God doesn't speak to us today?
He will guide us, He will tell us what to do/
We've now set our our final arguments on behalf of Vjollca and Fatos, and now we stand back; God is in charge. The battle is his. Please keep on praying, the battle is not yet over.
What next?
Let's keep on listening to God, as we too stand with him, shoulder to shoulder in his world. Let us know Jesus, and seek after his power, minute by minute.
Extract below from : Still Dews: Page 74: Fiona Castle by Frances R Havergal.
Begin at once; before you venture away from this quiet moment, ask your King to take you wholly into His service, and place all the hours of this day quite simply at his disposal, and ask Him to make and keep you ready to do just exactly as He appoints.
Never mind about tomorrow; one day at a time is enough.
Try it today, and see if it is not a day of strange, almost curious peace, so sweet that you will be only too thankful when tomorrow comes, to ask Him to take it also-till it will become a blessed habit to hold yourself simply and 'wholly at Thy commandment for any manner of service.
The 'whatsoever' is not necessarily active work.
It may be waiting, (whether half an hour or half a lifetime) learning , suffering, sitting still. But shall we be less ready for these, if any of them are His appointments for today? Let us ask Him to prepare us for all that He is preparing for us.
Amen