a couple of weeks ago in house group we were given £5 and a handfull of cards and told to use it to bless people. the most interesting way was given a chocolate bar. with my £5 i gave it to the staff in the coffee shop in the caludon centre. I asked them to use it to pay for peoples drinks and give them a card. it took a lot of explaining because people dont get it but eventually the 3rd person i told understood what they were to do. i dont know what the customers reactions were, it would be interesting to know.

Does God take sides?

Last Sunday we asked this question and had a brief look at the evidence. In any conflict each side usually thinks that God is on theirs. In 1 samuel 2:12-25 we read how God will no longer allow the people who were supposed to represent him, were oppressing the people who came to worship. These priests chose not to reflect the character of God to others, and had effectively excluded themselves from God's blessing. We then read that God is about to do something shocking (1 Sam 3:11-14).

The Israelites go out to fight the Philistines and are defeated. Where is their God? They just got beat. Before round 2 they decide to use their secret weapon, their trump card, their mascot: the ark of the covenant. The ark was so much more than this but this is almost the regard that the people have for this symbol of God's loving presence amongst his people.

The people think that with this box they can guarantee God to fight on their sides. The problem is: You cannot manipulate God. Using the ark of the covenant as a means to ensure a military victory is attempting to manipulate YHWH. God’s grace was being abused. The ark was being used as an idol, the people were trying to twist God’s character into their own.

God does the unexpected, the ark is captured. And just when the Philistines thinkthat they have captured God, they realise that this God is not like the gods they are familiar with (1 Sam 4-5).

God will not be exploited. Don’t think that we can pick God to play on our team. God plays by different rules. Time and again he has caused a revolution against the religion that he instigated.

So does God take sides?

We read these verses:Ex 19:3-6, Joshua 5:13-15, Psalm 124, Romans 2:11. And then we read Hannah's song in 1 Sam 2:6-8. My belief is this:

God does not take sides. Except against evil and oppression. God will always fight for the weak and helpless the victims and the vulnerable. Why? Because they have no one else to stand up for them.

God stands with the oppressed and the poor. In Jesus day the Pharisees thought that God was on their Side. The general idea was that if you were wealthy it showed how God had blessed you, and how he was for you. If you were poor or sick it showed that God had abandoned you. Jesus came on the scene and turned this opinion upside down.

Whose side are you on?

Are you working with God in his revolution of love? Are you cooperating with him? Are you and I partners with a God of love and compassion? Are you still "determined to use the weapon of love" (-Bono)? Are you willing to be a blessing to others, or, by your actions, are you bringing cursing to others?

We had such fun the other night when we went out to Nandos for a leaders meal. Hayley had the wonderful idea of everyone taking £10 to buy a meal for someone else in the restaurant. Everyone who came joined in with the idea, and we ended up with £120 in cash.

Then the fun bit came. We stood by the tills, where people were paying for their food, and offered to pay their bill for them. It blew them away to think that a complete stranger would buy their meal. I especially loved the fact we had a great meal with all the leaders, and others had a great evening because their meal was paid for. Roll on the next idea! Vicki

The Bigger Picture

Next Sunday (21st Jan) we are continuing our series exploring the messages behind the movies. Every movie tells a story. Movies are the parables of today.

We sit in the cinema or stick in a DVD and let directors, scriptwriters and actors influence our lives. As followers of Jesus, we choose to engage culture, our desire is to see how God’s view of reality fits with the realities we experience on our screens.

Next Sunday we will be watching the movie "Children of men" and chatting about some of the issues in this thought provoking action thriller. At the moment this will be at our house but if you want to come along phone us on 024 7627 8669 and let us know, be aware the venue may change!

What do you want from God?

How many of us actually ask this question? Do we catch ourselves wishing for things to be different, hoping that a circumstance will change? Are we hurting because God seems to be silent when we cry out to him for something that we desperately need?

This Sunday morning we are starting anew series of talks on "David: the birth of a kingdom". I want us, as a community, to explore the stories of David and Saul and Samuel and see how these stories apply to us today. We're going to start with the story of Hannah; a woman who was desperately in need of God to help her; a woman who knew what it meant to feel the pain of victimization; a woman who was willing to give the one thing she most desired, back to God.

When Jesus met with one man who was in pain and in need he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mark 10:51). I believe that you and I are allowed and expected to ask God for the things we yearn for. The question is: are you willing to ask?

Community Projects

This Sunday each of the housegroups will be serving the community with unconditional acts of kindness. Our group will be putting together toiletry packs for women in a local womens refuge. We will also be buying coffee for people. Meet at Starbucks at 10:30am. What is your housegroup doing?