1967 Abortion Act

by Colin Dexter

Its nearly 50yrs since the 1967 Abortion Act.

Intended to reduce the number of dangerous ‘back-street abortions’ in reality it has opened the door to legalised abortion on demand. This act has resulted in a greater loss of human life than any other piece of legislation has in the history of the UK and countless women have suffered-physically and emotionally-from the experience of ending their pregnancy.

Our hearts go out to all women who have experienced the loss of their baby from any cause.

However ,we do believe that unborn children should be afforded full protection and dignity from the time of conception.

Need help or information?

www.beresfordcentre.org.uk/

pregnancycentresnetwork.org.uk

The problem with sin

by Colin Dexter

Divisions are the result of sin! When sin entered the world, it brought 4 levels of alienation:

  1. alienation from God: spiritual problems
  2. alienation from self: psychological problems
  3. alienation from the other: social problems
  4. alienation from nature: ecological problems

A complete, full gospel will be a gospel that will continually analyse the situation of each community in terms of these 4 levels of alienation and bring a relevant message until change happens.

What made the difference?

by Colin Dexter

Like many baby boomers of my generation, growing up in the 70s and the 80s, Christianity was not very relevant to me personally.  Even though I attended church  on a regular basis – it was through meeting people who were passionate about Jesus and making him known that I made a commitment.

Andrew Berry (Director of Outreach Uk OM)

Carers week 12th -18th June

by Colin Dexter

CAP

From 12 to 18 June this year, it’s Carers Week – a week celebrating those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.

To mark the occasion, events are happening all over the UK, bringing together a wide range of charities and organisations to build much-needed carer friendly communities. Carers Week celebrates carers of all ages who are putting in hard work to care for the people they love, often for little or no pay. These are the people that are there at all hours, dealing with a wide range of situations, from long term illness to old age to mental ill-health and addiction. Often they’re there because there’s no one else.

Carers do lots of different jobs depending on the situation of the person they’re looking after. They may be there to offer practical support with day-to-day activities, emotional support or advice in financial matters. They may be measuring and administering medicine or helping the person to get around. The question is: who’s caring for the carers?

Without the right support, both emotionally and financially, being a carer can become very difficult. While these people are so focused on someone else’s wellbeing, their own physical and mental health can be affected, they may struggle to sleep, maintain relationships with friends and family or hold down a job.

Sadly, this was a true story for Richard* and his wife Jodie*. Jodie was suffering with bipolar disorder and, as a result, had to leave her job. As her health deteriorated further, Richard decided to give up his job too in order to be at home to care for her. In a position where neither of them could work nor bring in a stable income, and with Richard finding he couldn’t claim Carer’s Allowance, the couple struggled to cope and sadly fell into serious debt.

‘We had no income,’ says Richard. ‘People lent us money, we used credit cards, and it all got out of control. We went without food for a week once – we just didn’t eat.’

For Jodie, the combination of her condition and the stressful situation they were in caused her to lose all hope.  ‘All I could see was blackness,’ she explains.

Thankfully, Jodie and Richard weren’t as alone as they may have felt. Jodie was volunteering at her local church hall one day when she happened to meet a CAP Centre Manager and built up the courage to explain her situation. The couple were then visited at home and an affordable plan was put in place to allow them to start paying off their debts. With the help of CAP and their church, things started to feel a lot more hopeful. ‘We owe CAP a debt of gratitude,’ says Richard. ‘They’ve saved us. There’s light at the end of tunnel.’

If you need help with debt, whatever the reason may be, call CAP free of charge on 0800 328 0006 between 8:30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. To find out more about Carers Week and how to pledge your support, visit the official website and join the conversation on social media using #CarersWeek.

*Names have been changed in the interest of confidentiality

A call and a destiny

by Colin Dexter

You have a call on your life and a destiny to fulfill. But to find your purpose for living you first need to be sure you are plugged into the Source of all life. That’s the most important thing. If you don’t already have a relationship with Jesus, I(the writer) encourage you to open your heart. God is knowable and He is real. God will be faithful to reveal Himself to all who sincerely seek Him.

There is not a life that  cannot be transformed. A heart that cannot be mended. A wound that cannot be healed.

When we give ourselves to the Lord he is faithful in all things. And if you do already know the Lord, then do what he is calling you to do with all of your heart.

Melody Green (No Compromise)

 

 

 

 

by Colin Dexter

If the son sets you free

by Colin Dexter

I saw a picture of a person in a prison cell.

The cell represented sin.

Jesus came to the cell and opened the door with the key.

He opened the door and told the person they were now free

He invited them to leave the cell.

The person was very grateful and thanked Jesus profusely

They even knelt down and worshipped and promised to read his book.

Jesus invited the person to leave the cell.

But the person remained seated with a look of resignation.

“I’m a bad person really. I’m not good enough to be let free from this cell.

When I feel a better person perhaps then I will leave this cell.

But I’m really grateful for you opening the door”.

Jesus said “ the door is open not because of who you are or what you have done but because

I have taken the key off the jailer. The price was my death on the cross.

Please , just walk out of the door.” The person sadly bowed their head.

Another person approached the cell bars. It was the Father.

Father says “my Son has set you free. He came to earth to pay the price for sin. The door is open.

Please take your right of freedom. The person sat in silence.

Another person sat alongside the person in the gaol. He was the Holy Spirit.

He said “I have come to help you live life outside this prison of sin. I have great plans for your life, things that you have never imagined while you sat in this cell but we are limited in what can be accomplished here.

Jesus Christ has opened the door, the Father calls you and I will go with you every step of the way. Come, leave your cell and enter into life with us.”

The person looked up and as I watched I just longed for that person to grab the opportunity of free life.

The question is from which side of the bars are you reading this story.

Suggested reading John 8

by Colin Dexter

Hundreds of thousands worldwide prepare to pray Thy Kingdom Come

by Colin Dexter
Christians of all denominations are soon to take part in the global prayer movement Thy Kingdom Come.
Last year more than 100,000 people joined with the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to pray during the 10 days between Ascension and Pentecost.
This year, even more are expected to participate between May 25 and June 4.
Archbishop Justin Welby said: “Jesus prayed at the Last Supper that we, those who follow him, might ‘be one that the world might believe’. We are invited to make a lasting difference in our nations and in our world, by responding to his call to find a deep unity of purpose in prayer.
“It’s not a Church of England thing, it’s not an Anglican thing, it’s a Christian thing.”
Archbishop John Sentamu said: “It is my prayer that we shall continue growing in confidence to share Christ; that we shall see the Holy Spirit bringing joy, healing, reconciliation, and hope to many, and bringing new life both to Church and community, to the glory of God the Father. Remember, whilst the big events are fantastic, Thy Kingdom Come is really about being part of a movement of prayer – so small is beautiful, for Jesus says ‘where two or three gather together in my name…’ ”
Emma Buchan, project leader for the Archbishop’s Evangelism Taskforce, who heads up Thy Kingdom Come, said: “The global response to the campaign this year has been overwhelming. We’ve heard from churches across the world, including different denominations and traditions, who have all pledged to get involved from South Africa to Canada and from the Brazil to Hong Kong. Each place is organising the time in their own way, for example in Hong Kong they are planning big celebrations in the cathedrals and establishing a network of ‘prayer warriors’. That’s the beauty of Thy Kingdom Come.
“Last year Thy Kingdom Come gave people time and space outside their normal worshipping patterns to come closer to God and we heard many stories of the deep impact it had on people’s lives.
“This year we have developed a wide range of resources for everyone which includes ideas on prayer stations, prayer walks, finding fun and creative ways of praying together as a family. We also have Novena prayer booklets and liturgy for a range of traditions.”
The Revd Canon Chris Russell, Adviser for Evangelism & Witness at Lambeth Palace, said: “Thy Kingdom Come is a wonderful opportunity to join with Christians around the world in praying that most ancient of prayers ‘Come, Holy Spirit’, so we might rediscover our vocation to all be witnesses to Jesus Christ.
“While there are ideas and resources and prayers and activities available for all, it is at the core about God’s people praying for the empowering of the Spirit. And we can all do that.”
Churches across the world have planned activities including prayer walks, candlelit services, street parties, psalm drumming, fireworks and prayer tepees.
There will be a live service on BBC1 at 10am on Pentecost Sunday with Archbishop Justin Welby, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes and Liz Adekunle.
Elsewhere in the UK people will gather for 34 special beacon services in Cathedrals and thousands are preparing to pray in churches.
For more information please visit: https://www.thykingdomcome.global/

by Colin Dexter