Deaf Service October 4th

by Colin Dexter

Come and meet Neil Robinson, a Deaf man From Bristol

                           At a BSL Coffee Morning 

Saturday 4th October 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

 Channel View Community Hall,

off Lower Wyndham Terrace

Ty Sign, Risca. NP11 6LE

www.agapéonline.org.uk

Coffee/tea and cakes provided (free)

Neil is also doing a Deaf Service in BSL 

Sunday 5thOctober – 3.00pm

Woodville Christian Centre

Crwys Rd,

Cardiff, CF24 4ND

www.woodybap.org.uk

Buffet provided after the service (free) 

                   The weekend is hosted by Jonathan and

                              Betty Bosman and Ann Jones

by Colin Dexter

ICE 13th Sept2014

This Week August 27th-29th

by Colin Dexter

Connect Group  Wed at TLC Cafe   Contact Mark Jones

Home Group  Wed Contact Deb Dexter

Mens Group  Thurs Contact Tim Crahart

FridayAm group, Contact Mark Jones

Dog owners

by Colin Dexter

Islwyn MP Chris Evans has called on the Government to take action against irresponsible dog owners.

Mums & Tots September 2014

by Colin Dexter

Hi all hope u have enjoyed the holidays!! September and back to school are looming but here’s something to look forward to – ty sign tots will be starting again on Monday 8th September 9.30 – 11.30, hope to see you there!!

by Colin Dexter

agape-logo

THIS WEEK

by Colin Dexter

Home Group  Tuesday 5th August

TLC Connect Group  Wednesday 6th August

Friday Group 9th August (contact Mark Jones)

the ‘are all religions the same’ question

by Colin Dexter

Jesus was always being asked questions. He also answered people with questions. And questions about whether Jesus is unique are not new.

For example, when faced with Jesus on trial, Pilate the Roman governor represents all the political and religious tension of the time in his question in John 18:33: “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Pilate is in this immense conflict within himself. Something within him is prompting him to say that this trial is a charade. But he’s trapped between the political manoeuvring of Rome and the Jewish authorities he’s subjugating. And he asks the crucial question: Who is Jesus? Is he unique?

We often hear that all religions are the same, but this is not true. They are superficially the same, but they are fundamentally different.

How is Jesus different? There are a number of ways:

The Human Condition

Fundamental is Jesus’ description of the human condition. He talks of the alienation of the human heart by being separated from God. He says that the heart is in rebellion against God: so deep is this, that morality alone cannot solve it. It goes beyond mere good vs bad. The heart is in need of something greater than just pulling ourselves up by our moral bootstraps.

The  Unique Solution

Second, Jesus offers a unique solution to the problem. The provision he gives for you and me is absolutely unique, and it is not cheap. It is the cross. That’s why you will find an Easterner, when they come to Jesus Christ, literally sobbing and sobbing and sobbing, because they have felt the anguish of what sin is. Their recognition of the graciousness of forgiveness is very, very unique. Islam says, to get to heaven your good deeds will have to outweigh your bad. In other words, you pay. When Christ comes and says to you and me that he is offering forgiveness and doing so through the payment of his life on the cross, it is an extraordinary truth. The Bible says that we need a Saviour and we need forgiveness.

Love, Forgiveness & Justice

There is only one place in the world where love, forgiveness and justice come together: justice was being revealed, love was being demonstrated and forgiveness was being offered. That is on the cross of calvary. Jesus Christ claimed to be the way, the truth and the life because he is what the absolute truth really is. Repentance is an anguished moment, but your tears are wiped away with the joy of forgiveness. This truth of Christ’s grace is unique.

Sinless

Thirdly, Jesus was unique in that he had no sin. Even Pilate said, “I find no fault in this man”.

The Resurrection

Finally, the resurrection is the ultimate demonstration of his uniqueness. Jesus shows that he is the Son of God through his rising from the dead. And, through his death and resurrection, Jesus conquered through evil, not in spite of it. It shows that there is a hope that comes from beyond the grave.

This is a precis of a talk given to the Keswick Convention 2014. The audio is available free here and will be summarised in a BBC Radio 4 broadcast on 24 August.

by Colin Dexter

assisted suicide update

Football: New Risca United Academy enter the top flight of Welsh football

by Colin Dexter

The best players from across Caerphilly County Borough have been trialled to play for the academy at under 12, 14 and 16 levels.

The teams will play in the FAW Academy League against the likes of Aberystwyth, Carmarthen Town and Afan Lido, becoming the only club in the area to play at this level.

Risca have also secured high profile friendlies against Cardiff City and Arsenal and will represent Caerphilly in both the Welsh and English Schools Cup.

Playing out of the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Risca will also have under 13 and 15 feeder teams to the academy