Encouragements from the Elders - August 2020
Friday 21 August 2020
Following on from "Can you believe it?" (2 July) and "Can you explain it?" (17 July), Gordon asks "Can you count on it?"
God designed and built the universe with such mathematical precision that theoretical physicist Peter Higgs was able to predict the existence of what he called the Higgs boson, the sub-atomic 'God particle', in 1964, almost 50 years before it was actually discovered in 2012.
So it's no surprise that when it comes to numbers, the Bible is equally precise. Indeed, there is an Old Testament book called 'Numbers'. 'And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered', Matt 10:30. Let's again worship God as we marvel at His Word from a numerical perspective.
'Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father', Matt 10:29.
'From the rising of the sun, to the (entirely predictable) going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised', Psalm 113:3.
Wednesday 5 August 2020
Colin encourages us to "bear with one another, in love" Ephesians 4:2
Dear Church,
I think that we have all had a very hard time one way or another during the pandemic crisis and many of us have been working really hard to get through it while caring for one another, making sure that some form of worship, fellowship and pastoral care takes place.
My dear friends, I am really concerned that some are getting very tired and I want to just mention that there is a sense that some of us could start to become fragile, upset or impatient. Or is that just me?
We are all going to have slightly different understandings of what the Government Guidelines mean and how those should be interpreted alongside the guidance from the URC locally and nationally. There are preferences stipulated by Wirral Borough Council to accommodate also. Some of us feel that this is all making things unnecessarily complicated. Others may feel that we are not being thorough enough. But however we think these things should be dealt with, let us bear with each other in love and make every effort to ensure that we do not fall out.
I am concerned that we will find the next stage of this process more difficult than the previous phase. Now we need to complete the task ahead of us with love as the vital component, making sure that we respect those who are working so hard and not undermining or undervaluing their contribution.
This is not a criticism of anyone, may I say. But it is a recognition of the difficulties of creating a new normal and a reminder that we follow what Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesian Church: 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
So, let us pray over the process and pray for each other so that we may find the right balance as we move forward into the constant change that is before us as we start to meet each other in person.
May God bless you all in all that you are doing and all the hardships that you are facing.
Colin
Following on from "Can you believe it?" (2 July) and "Can you explain it?" (17 July), Gordon asks "Can you count on it?"
God designed and built the universe with such mathematical precision that theoretical physicist Peter Higgs was able to predict the existence of what he called the Higgs boson, the sub-atomic 'God particle', in 1964, almost 50 years before it was actually discovered in 2012.
So it's no surprise that when it comes to numbers, the Bible is equally precise. Indeed, there is an Old Testament book called 'Numbers'. 'And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered', Matt 10:30. Let's again worship God as we marvel at His Word from a numerical perspective.
- One – unity. 'For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus', 1 Tim 2:5. 'I and the Father are one', John 10:30.
- Two – division. Two sexes. 'So God created man....male and female he created them', Gen 1:27. God instructed Noah 'to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female', Gen 6:19. Jesus 'sent them two by two ahead of him', Luke 10:1.
- Three – Trinity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, John 14:26. There are three patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Ex 3:6. Christ's temptation was threefold, Matt 4:1-10. Peter denied Jesus three times, John 13:38, 18:27. The inscription on the cross was in three languages, John 19:20. The resurrection was on the third day, I Cor 15:4.
- Four – creation. The universe was constructed on the fourth day. 'He also made the stars', Gen 1:16. There are four nucleotide bases in the DNA molecule, four seasons, four directions, four gospels, and the good seed of the Word of God falls on four kinds of soil, Matt 13:3-8.
- Five – grace. There are five ingredients in anointing oil, Ex 30:23, and five ingredients in incense(inc salt), Ex 30:34-5.
- Six – man. Man was created on the sixth day, Gen 1:27. The number of man is 666, Rev 13:18.
- Seven – perfection. There is a seven-fold Spirit resting on Christ, the Spirit of the Lord, of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of power, of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2. The book of Revelation contains too many sevens to mention, seven churches, seven spirits, Rev 1:4, seven seals, Rev 5:1, seven angels, Rev 8:2. See if you can find a few more.
- Eight – regeneration. Eight people were saved in the ark, Gen 6:18, 9:19. The eighth day was the day of circumcision, Luke 2;21.
- Nine – finality. At the ninth hour Jesus cried out 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me', Mark 15:34, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit', Luke 23:46, 'It is finished', John 19:30. The fruit of the Spirit is ninefold, Gal 5:22, and the gifts of the Spirit are nine, 1 Cor 12:8-10.
- Ten – order. In Gen 1, 'God said' occurs ten times, in verses 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 28, and 29. There are ten commandments, Ex 20:2-17.
- Eleven – disorder. Jacob had eleven sons, Gen 32:22. Joseph saw eleven stars in his dream, Gen 37:9, before his brothers 'sold him to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt, Gen 37:28. 'But God intended it for good', Gen 50:20.
- Twelve – government. There were twelve tribes and twelve apostles. Correspondingly, the new Jerusalem has twelve gates, Rev 21:12, and the wall of the city has twelve foundations, Rev 21:14. The tree of life bears twelve crops of fruit, one in each of the twelve months of the year, Rev 22:2.
'Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father', Matt 10:29.
'From the rising of the sun, to the (entirely predictable) going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised', Psalm 113:3.
Wednesday 5 August 2020
Colin encourages us to "bear with one another, in love" Ephesians 4:2
Dear Church,
I think that we have all had a very hard time one way or another during the pandemic crisis and many of us have been working really hard to get through it while caring for one another, making sure that some form of worship, fellowship and pastoral care takes place.
My dear friends, I am really concerned that some are getting very tired and I want to just mention that there is a sense that some of us could start to become fragile, upset or impatient. Or is that just me?
We are all going to have slightly different understandings of what the Government Guidelines mean and how those should be interpreted alongside the guidance from the URC locally and nationally. There are preferences stipulated by Wirral Borough Council to accommodate also. Some of us feel that this is all making things unnecessarily complicated. Others may feel that we are not being thorough enough. But however we think these things should be dealt with, let us bear with each other in love and make every effort to ensure that we do not fall out.
I am concerned that we will find the next stage of this process more difficult than the previous phase. Now we need to complete the task ahead of us with love as the vital component, making sure that we respect those who are working so hard and not undermining or undervaluing their contribution.
This is not a criticism of anyone, may I say. But it is a recognition of the difficulties of creating a new normal and a reminder that we follow what Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesian Church: 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
So, let us pray over the process and pray for each other so that we may find the right balance as we move forward into the constant change that is before us as we start to meet each other in person.
May God bless you all in all that you are doing and all the hardships that you are facing.
Colin
