by Martyn Colley | Mar 24, 2017 | Uncategorized
In the last few days we have seen once again the terrible evils of terrorism, fuelled by hatred, and blind fervour, seeking to unleash fear and violence in our society. As Christians we are called to meet hatred with love, to unleash the power of God’s transforming love in our community. Lets stand up and seek to share the wonderful love of Christ with everyone around us, in our actions and our words. May God continue to pour out His love into our hearts through the Spirit, and however hard it may be sometimes…. let’s be agents of Christ’s LOVE. 
by Martyn Colley | Mar 16, 2017 | Uncategorized
‘As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.’ (Luke 9:51) Or more l
iterally, ‘He set his face to go to Jerusalem.’ From the very beginning of his ministry Jesus was determined to walk the way of the cross. From His resistance of the devil’s temptation in the wilderness, to Caesarea Philippi where He told His disciples what must happen to Him, and on to the unbearable tensions of Gethsemane and the horrors of Golgotha beyond. And all along He knew what was coming: ‘Jesus took the twelve aside and told them, ‘we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be turned over to the gentiles, they will mock Him, insult Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him. On the third day He will rise again.’ (Luke 18:31) Jesus knew He must fulfil God’s purposes set out for Him in Scripture. Isaiah 50:6, one of the servant songs says ‘I have not drawn back, I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the sovereign Lord helps me I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.’ Nothing could deflect Jesus from the way of the cross, because of His amazing love for you and me. For beyond the cross lay the wonderful joy of the Resurrection and our salvation!
As we countdown to Easter this year, why not attend CROSSLIGHT: a Passion Play for Lent by Riding Lights Theatre Company at the Vine Church on Sunday 26th or Tuesday 28th March from 7.30pm (Tickets cost £10). On Friday 14th April we will have a Good Friday service of readings and reflection from the Passion story at 9am, followed by an opportunity to share in the Good Friday March in town, which culminates in shared worship at Jubilee Square at 11am. On Easter Saturday there is a Family Fun Day at the Gallagher Stadium to raise awareness and funds for a shelter for the homeless, followed by an evening concert and sponsored sleep out. On Easter Sunday we hope to be having our usual Easter breakfast, followed by a joyous Easter celebration together at 10.30am. Let’s rejoice together in the living Lord who loves us so much!
by Martyn Colley | Mar 4, 2017 | Uncategorized
Choices. We all have to make them in life. But some of them turn out better than others. So how do we make the healthy choices in life? Why not choose CAFE Church@ABC on Sunday 12th March from 10.30am, and find out more? You could always choose to bring a friend. See you there!
by Martyn Colley | Mar 4, 2017 | Uncategorized
Its always good to know you’ve got a friend. Someone to laugh with and have fun
together. Someone to put a smile on your face, hang out with, enjoy messing about together. Someone to share your worries when things go pear-shaped. Someone who understands how you feel, and someone you can count on.
Of course not all our friends are like that. We all know about fair-weather friends. They hang around when it suits them, but otherwise you won’t see them for dust. Sometimes people can be so fickle. But a true mate sticks with you through thick or thin. Proverbs 17:17 ‘A friend loves at all times.’ Proverbs 18:24 ‘There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.’ Have you got a friend like that? Ecclesiastes 4:10 says ‘If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the one who falls down and has no-one to help him up.’ A friend is someone you can dare to be yourself with. You don’t need to put on a front or be on your guard with them. One young lad summed up a friend as ‘someone who knows all about you, and likes you just the same.’ If you’ve got a friend like that, don’t neglect them. Friendship is precious. Friends make life seem worthwhile. And a true friend can never be replaced. So if you’ve got friends, thank God for them. They are real blessings. Howard Hughes, the American billionaire with a vast fortune once said ‘I’d give it all for a good friend.’
Of course the best way to have a good friend is to be one. Listen to your friends, try to Overlook their faults, Value and Encourage them (by the way, that spells out LOVE)! Sometimes true friendship calls for loyalty and sacrifice. As Jesus said to His disciples on the night before He died, ‘Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:3). And that’s exactly what He did. Jesus laid down His life at the cross for us, even though we were not yet His friends, so that we could be forgiven all the wrong things we have ever done. He didn’t have to die, but He went to the cross willingly, taking the punishment for our sins because of his great love for us. You could say He went to hell and back for us – literally!
But He didn’t stay dead. He’s alive now, ready to be our greatest friend, forever. Jesus really is the Best of Friends. He knows all about our hurts, and the times when we have hurt others. And the times when we have let God down. Yet He still wants to be our friend. Even the best of friends will let us down sometimes, but Jesus never will. He will always be there, ready to give meaning to our lives as we look to Him in repentance and faith. You won’t find a better friend!
