Fast or slow!

If you want something bad enough, you will do almost anything to get it! Think of something you were desperate to have and consider what you were prepared to do to get it. Did it work?

Sometimes, God likes us to demonstrate how important certain prayers are to us by seeing what we are prepared to do. Fasting demonstrates to God that we mean business about our prayer subject/request, but not only that, but by going without food for a period of time (and I am not talking about skipping a meal!) allows us to control our natural cravings and bring the body under the control of the spirit! Easier said than done!!

When I recently fasted I found that just about the whole day was taken up with food! Everywhere I went, the smell of delicious food was there! If I read a magazine, or watched some tv, there were adverts of gorgeous food to remind me what my body was craving for!

Another benefit is that the time you normally spend in the preparation and eating food is spare time to spend reading God's word and praying to Him. And so the whole fasting experience draws you closer to God. It is not a guarantee that God will answer your prayers the way you want, but you certainly become more aware of God and what He wants you to do! It is not a miracle cure for losing weight either, and if not done properly, can even damage your health.

A few common sense guidelines before fasting:-

1) What is my motive to fast? If it is not primarily to draw closer to God, then you probably am not going to get much out of it.

2) How long should I fast? This is one of those personal questions which vary from situation to situation. If you have never fasted before, I would suggest a 12-hour or 24-hour fast. Once you have managed that a few times, try a 2 or 3-day fast. You will find it an amazing experience!

3) Whatever the outcome, praise God for His drawing near to you.

It may seem that God doesn't answer you in the way you expected, but remember, God will never let you down, because He loves you.

God bless

Pete.

I know how Jonah felt!

I have felt called by God to a couple of weekend retreats from the beginning of this year. It was a clear call to a time of prayer and fasting. But each time I have arranged it, I have had to cancel at the last minute due to emergencies.

"Well", I thought, "It can't be helped!"

A few weeks ago, I was laid up with man flu! The worst man flu I have ever had! It started with a few high temperatures and a chesty cough, and then 'bang', I ended up in bed for two days with fever! All I could do was drink fluids! I couldn't sleep much at night, and not much better in the day time.

On the fifth night, God clearly spoke to me! Now this wasn't in an audible voice, but clear instruction in mind to get up (at 2:30am!) and go to the lounge with my bible and a writing pad. What happended over the next 3 hours was extraodinary as the Lord revealed many things in my life I needed to put right, and that started by a few hours of sobbing as He revealed to me just how I had done things wrong. I felt wretched, I said sorry to God and vowed to Him that I would changed my ways.

He went on to show me what I needed to teach in the church, and how I needed to lead the men to be 'men'. If you have read "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge you will know what I mean.

I wrote out word for word what he laid on my heart, knowing that I would have to stand up in front of the church the following Sunday and read it out! I put everything down about 5:30am and went off to sleep.

The following Sunday was going to be tough, as each time I read through my notes in preparation, I broke down in tears. Now those that know me will tell you I am a big chap and not one to show emotion, as I am a confident leader and do not let things get to me. Well, I knew this was something else. This was the Holy Spirit breaking down some strongholds in my life, and teaching me that if I followed God's way of doing things, I would achieve so much more!

The following Sunday arrived, and I shared what God had given to me and asked the men of the church to stand with me as we take a stand as husbands/fathers/heads of our households. And yes, I did ball like a baby!

God has clearly shown me that when He calls me to do something, I have to do it! Putting off these retreats was just delaying what God wanted to say to me. And like Jonah who didn't want to go to Nineveh, God made sure that I was put in the place where I would meet with Him. Even if it was through illness. My enforced time out and fasting made way for God to move upon me with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Since that happened, a few weeks ago, He has shown me time and again that His ways are so much easier if we go in His strength. Too many times we create our own agenda and do "God's work" in our strength and direction.

I am looking forward to following His lead more closely, because it is far more exciting and productive than my way!

Learn from my mistake, and take time out to listen to God. Fasting focuses the mind on God and allows Him to speak more clearly, so try it out! You won't be disappointed!!


Pastor Pete

Earthquake, famine and flood!

This world is going crazy!

Oil prices are soaring, food prices are rocketing, personal debt is out of control, financial markets are on the verge of collapse, we are seeing more significant earthquakes, more flooding out of season, famine continues to grip some third world, tensions in the Middle East are at an all time high, the UK's relationship with Russia is distinctively cooling, etc., etc.

It would seem that the planet is heading for disaster! The good news is that this is all in God's control and has been prophesied to us. So take some comfort that God is in control, and Jesus is coming again!

Pastor Pete

Easter Message

What a great weekend! The weather hasn’t been very kind and more akin to Christmas, but to see the daffodils and cowslips in bloom it is good to see new life blossoming in the countryside. It is also poignant that we remember Christ’s resurrection on Easter Day, and that through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead three days later, we can now approach out heavenly Father through the price paid by His Son on the cross.

Easter provides the foundation of the Christian faith, because without the resurrection, we would have no hope. But Christ has won the victory over death, and we can all have eternal life, if we just repent of our sins and follow His ways. Now that’s new life!

Pastor Pete.

What are you doing for Christmas?

It's been a long time since my last post! Boy, have I been busy!

Unfortunately, my other job has become extremely busy meaning that I have had to work away from home, work long hours taking calls into the evening! I haven't even bought my wife's Christmas present yet! And, somehow, all this rushing around for work has taken the edge off the usual excitement for Christmas.

The good news is that I finish work about 5pm Christmas Eve and can rest all the way through to 2nd January! Well, that's the plan, but somehow I don't think there will be a lot of rest.

In the UK, Argos has broadcast a good advertisement, (or 'commercial' as the US say), showing everyone running around getting absolutely frazzled with Christmas shopping and preparations. The director seems to have caught the 'spirit' of Christmas about right when I look at our shopping centres.

On the news this morning the reporter mentioned that there has been a 50% increase of the number of people working on Christmas Day. This isn't due to emergency service staff, but mainly retail staff opening their sales even earlier this year! So if you forget that present, you can nip out on Christmas morning and grab yourselves a bargain!

I remember the days when nothing was open on Christmas Day: no petrol stations, no corner shops, no pubs, and that made it a very special day as family and friends would get together and share that day with no pressures. With the secularisation of our society today, not only does Christmas go out the window, but so does family gatherings as more people are called upon to work, and others called upon to go shopping! This adds to the continued breakdown in society where family values are further eroded away.

Well, on Christmas Day I will be at church in the morning, 'cause I'm hosting the service, and then I will go home to celebrate our Saviour's birthday with my family.

Shopping??? Bah humbug!

Countdown to Christmas

Christmas is just 27 days away when we celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. But these days, the Christmas season seems to run from October to Christmas Day as each shop vies for position with the seasonal publicity. The sight of baubels as you come back from a late summer break is depressing, not because it reminds us of our Saviour, but because retailers see it as an early opportunity to make money.

I struggle in my own household to postpone the Christmas decorations until mid-December, and each year there is pressure to get the tree up and the tinsel out as soon as the Advent calendars are put up.

The season of Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, and rather than focusing on this, we all seem to be busy with preparing for the big family meal of the year, worrying over what socks to buy Uncle George, or whether buying Boots vouchers for your favourite niece smacks of a lack of thought; did I order the right size turkey? And of course, don't answer the door to the Carol Singers as I don't have any change. All these things distracts us from the object of our celebration - the coming of our Saviour!

The fact that "... God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV), should make us all stop and think that the greatest gift this Christmas is what God gives us - eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Well, I am off to update last year's Christmas card list and make sure my overseas cards get off in time. I'll do the present shopping on Christmas Eve!!!

Pastor Pete

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends

It is difficult to describe the feeling of sadness and grief following the devastating warehouse fire at Atherston on Stour and the loss of four brave firefighters. It has touched the communities of Stratford and Alcester and surrounding area as the lives of these brave men touched so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends as they grieve for their loss.

An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of their death, but that does not distract us from the fact that men and women of our emergency services are putting their lives on the line to serve us in the community. These men went into the burning warehouse to search for anyone trapped inside. There is no doubt that facing a raging inferno would test the mettle of anyone, and yet they continued in to save the lives of others.

Not many of us are faced with that decision, and certainly don't face it as often as some, so how would we respond to a similar situation? In the gospel of John, chapter 15 verse 13, Jesus reminds us of such a sacrifice as He foretells of His sacrifice for each one of us.

I pray that the joy and hope that we receive from following Christ and His teachings may eventually go someway to fill the void in the lives of the families and friends of these brave men.