Romania
Ok Romania was a really wild time. I had real encounters with God’s Grace and Love. I had a great Revelation of the Kingdom of God in action. Networks are a great missionary organization showing the compassion of Christ to the poorest people of Romania. I hope and pray their work continues.
I really hope to comeback to Romania and support the works of networks in Romania.
P.S. My Wee team from All Saints Clooney where amazing.
A painting on the wall
Ok I was thinking the other day about my time in Wolverhampton.
I remember one day when in the Chaplaincy building speak with the chaplain Rev Geoffrey Wynne I commented on the painting which hung on the wall at the front of the small meeting hall in the building. I said something like “that’s one of those all creeds are the same nicely, nicely painting to show diversity in the University.” I was quickly rebuked by the Chaplain.
Let me describe this painting it was on a circular canvas. It was all the colours of the rainbow coming out from the centre. Like light shooting out from a prism.
The Chaplain informed me that he felt it was the most wonderful image of the gospel. I was puzzled at this reply he said the painting name was the light of the world. (Jesus was called the light of the world in the bible) don’t you see like the gospel the rays of light shooting out all around touching lives. “But look again at that painting Matthew,” Geoffrey advised “do the rays of colour just go out or do they draw u in?” I looked again and I say the painting in a ne way I understood how it showed the gospel as it drew u into the centre and at that centre was Jesus and his Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ that shoots out and touches lives and draws you into the story of an amazing Savour.
Peace and blessing
Matt aka Mr Hamilton
Thoughts from the toilet on Life
I think a lot on the toilet because it’s a private place and it’s just you and the bog roll.
Yesterday evening I was thinking on how people put up anything to not just say “Jesus Christ it the Son of God and I need him in my life.” Because it is admitting defeat we have to see that all earthly things fade way where as God is eternal. The bad thing about this is that loving god living for Jesus doesn’t sit well with people as they look at the sinful wants of our bodies and minds we see that we want it more than to know God’s glory. Human sinful nature is very short sited as we live for our wants but not for what we need; Grace, the forgiveness and Love of a Father through Jesus Christ.
A friend of mine would say “well God is everywhere and he doesn’t need us to worship him and that religions our all the same.” He is right in one part God doesn’t need us but our Souls need him his Holy Spirit is water to our Souls. The God of the Bible is a god who loves and looks to relate to the head, the jewel of his creation even when we don’t want to relate to him he is there like a Good Father there waiting to show us his amazing Love if we must admit defeat and surrender to him. We must ask for Gods Amazing Grace through Jesus Christ. We may say we are good people and I’m not sinful I’m a good person, I help people I don’t harm people well yes you are a good person by Human standard. But what of God’s Standards don’t we need to love God and love our neighbors as our self’s. Is that not God’s greatest Commandment? Then be a Good Person who admits that God is Holy and pure. That we need him in our lives we need Gods amazing Grace that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
Street evangelist on Dudley Street Wolverhampton
Ok I’m steeling something from Transforming grace Neil Robbie’s Blog Because he is smarter than me so check it out for more on this diagram.
Ok the people on Dudley Street who try to express their faith to people in Wolverhampton are in the Fundamentalist section as they have no wisdom. So really mostly they only need one thing to be better at connecting with people. Sometimes I would say I’m not dead center on that diagram and I don’t know many people who try to improve themselves. Neil Robbie in a conversation with me about evangelism in Wolverhampton said he would put those people in the fundamentalist section a short description of this position is ….
“If you have faith in Christ and the keep the law but are not wise you are a fundamentalist. You do not relate well to people outside your church or Christian sub-culture. You don’t understand the way the world around you works and so appear weird to people you meet.”
Now really we should try and use our wisdom as we deal with people and would recommend UCCF’s www.bethinking.org and www.theologynetwork.org to help with answering difficult question or to learn about question so that you may know more others point of view. (The fusion movement don’t help equip young Christian leaders lol ) for more on the Diagram to see were you fit look at Neil’s Blog Transforming Grace.
So in closing be wise. Look to relate to people where they are. I now that a lot of people laugh and mock these street evangelist but we most remember they are I brothers and sisters in Christ and God loves them and they are trying their best to bring the gospel to people. I hope we could have that sort of passion for telling people about Jesus.
Blessing
Matt
the finish line is a great place to start
The Cross for Jesus followers they seen this as the end their leader had been taken away this great miracle maker and amazing preacher. He healed many and showed great signs and wonders there where crowds hanging on every word but after a very memorable supper Jesus is arrested and then the next day nailed to the Cross like a criminal for what he did and said and he only did good and spook of Love. Or maybe he died for what we thought, did and said.
Anyway the other day i was sitting in Saint Martins in the bull ring Birmingham the where two gentlemen (middle class toffs) talking about a street preacher preaching from one of Paul’s letters while handing out tracks and how the police asked him to move on. then there Conversation moved on to the Lambeth Conference and Rowan William views on gay people in the Church and woman Bishops i was trying to pray and connect with my maker not listen to two men who where blowing hot air i looked up and it hit me between the eyes as i glazed at the Cross in the centre of the stain glass window above the alter the great light of hope that shines out from the cross the transforming grace that is in Christ. I got up and walked towards the alter. then i seen what was around the outside of the Cross was Christs heeling’s and the great things done in his name. But the Cross is the greatest miracle, the greatest wonder in the bible as through Christs Suffering we our saved by grace alone.
I can’t stand self righteous church people from America and Northern Ireland. A Speaker was asked a 5 minute long question at a youth conference in Northern Ireland about does God love a person who is gay and is dying of A.I.D. the Speaker answered that “…God’s love is not conditional on what hole a person puts penis in”(the speaker got alot of heat from this comment from other Church leaders) I personal don’t think Jesus was on his way to the cross 2000 years ago just for the sins of straight people he died for the sins of the world his suffering is not lacking!
So my final thought is If in Christ death on the Cross we our saved why don’t we let Jesus into our heart and fallow him. Let us live a life that is lead by his words and why don’t be try to live out what he teaches, instead of seating in old church building worrying about what the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and York think on different issues lets try to live as Jesus would ask us to live and see were that takes us as people.
thanks for reading
matt
