Archive for February, 2010
Posted on February 28, 2010 - by Tim L
Lent 2 - Nourishment
We’re continuing our theme of being on a journey and what are the things that count as travel essentials? Many of us would say that in life we are on a journey, we’re not always sure where it is heading but the optimistic amongst us usually hope it’s the right direction.
Here at the Bridge we try to think through being equipped for that journey - what are the things that we need? Last week we focussed on direction and knowing where we are going.
This week we’re focussing on nourishment or as Wikipedia sets out the provision, to cells and organism, of food to support life
If you’re heading off on a journey do you stop to think about or where you will eat during the day? Or does it just occur to you later in the day that maybe you need to eat?
Every day we can make choices that help ensure we get healthy nourishment for our journey. But we don’t always make the right choices we often choose things that will give us a short boost or rush of energy. Some foods fill you up to start with but quickly leave you feeling hungry.
There are six major classes of nutrients in food that we need to eat in the right balance so that we can stay healthy. They are:
Carbohydrates - bread/pasta/potatoes
Fats - cheese/milk/butter
Minerals - zinc, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium = cereals
Protein - meat, cheese
Vitamin - Vit C - oranges, Vit D - fish, Vit A liver/carrots
Water - the tap!
Its often easier though to take the quick fix, we’re hungry and in a rush. Let’s just look which is the healthier and which would you choose?
OJ or Coke
Brown or white bread
Fruit or French Fancy
Baked beans or Pot Noodle
Our bible reading today happens after Jesus has fed the five thousand with just bread and fish. In one way we can think of it as a poor meal not one we could get excited about, but it’s certainly a lot healthier than some of the food we eat today. God wants us to take care of the bodies that he has given us, he wants us to be healthy and full of energy but we have to join in and help too.
Let’s talk about it to God about the temptations and challenges that food can often bring to our lives.
Youtube clip go and watch You are what you eat
I used to watch this quite regularly, it used to make me stop and think about just how much food I consumed in a week. Just stop for a minute and think about what have you eaten today.
25When they found him back across the sea, they said, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26Jesus answered, “You’ve come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs-and for free.
27″Don’t waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last.”
28To that they said, “Well, what do we do then to get in on God’s works?”
29Jesus said, “Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.”
30They waffled: “Why don’t you give us a clue about who you are, just a hint of what’s going on? When we see what’s up, we’ll commit ourselves. Show us what you can do. 31Moses fed our ancestors with bread in the desert. It says so in the Scriptures: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32Jesus responded, “The real significance of that Scripture is not that Moses gave you bread from heaven but that my Father is right now offering you bread from heaven, the real bread. 33The Bread of God came down out of heaven and is giving life to the world.”
34They jumped at that: “Master, give us this bread, now and forever!”
35Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.
John 6:25-35 (The Message)
We’ve spent a lot of this evening focussing on food and how we keep our bodies nourished for the daily task of living. But its important that we don’t just focus us in on whether we have a healthy diet. Jesus’ words in the book of John’s talk about him being the Bread of Life but what does that actually mean?
As I said earlier this conversation between Jesus and the people has taken place after the feeding of the five thousand. These are a people for whom the daily grind of putting food on the table is hard work. If the crop fails or the fishing trip is unsuccessful then they go hungry. For Jesus to say to them I am the Bread of Life is like a large supermarket moving into their town with no cashiers or checkouts to pay at. If Jesus can provide them with everlasting bread - long life bread, then they need never go hungry again.
In the world we live that’s not necessarily such a great deal is it? OK we might like the fact that Jesus is offering us food for free, that would save us a huge amount of money and that in its turn might save us heartache about earning a living or the state of our pension. But we don’t tend to go short of food, even if we don’t eat the right kind of food, I’m not sure that many of us in this room go hungry. So if jesus was trying to get this message across to us today what he being saying “I am the what? Of life. Just think for a minute if you wanted an easier life what could Jesus tempt you with…..
Better health, fitter bodies, more money, promotion, an interesting job, a new partner, a better relationship with a family member or a friend, happy and successful children…
I am the £ sign of life,
I am the new job of life,
I am the bigger house of your life,
I am the size 12 of life.
I am the fixer of relationships
What would it be that Jesus could offer you that would have rushing to his side to find out more.
The problem here for us, just as it was for the people around the lake, is that we’d be getting excited about the wrong thing. We’d be rushing to Jesus’ side for the wrong thing. Long life bread, renewed health, more money, more fulfilling work, the future of our children.
Jesus understands this now just as he says to the people then
You’ve come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs-and for free.
This is real, Jesus understands the things that motivate us and inspire us. But he still sets out the challenge. Has come to come offer an easier way of life, to solve all of our problems, to give us a happy life. That’s not a journey of friendship and companionship. That’s an unhealthy sugar daddy relationship where we always beholden to him for the things we want out of life.
Jesus throws out a stiffer challenge “Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.”
To go back to the food analogy we get to make the choice. We can regularly choose the quick fix, the French fancy, the chocolate bar, the packet of crisps but then we shouldn’t be surprised if we are lacking in energy, under the weather and overweight which is not the way that God created these wonderful, heavenly bodies to be. Not fulfilling the potential that God has designed into our physical bodies.
Nourishment is not just meeting our physical needs, its also our emotional, spiritual, and intellectual needs. Regardless of our nationality, language, or individual tastes. As we need food, so do we need emotional nourishment: love, kindness, appreciation, and support from others. We need intellectual stimulation and we need spiritual resources.
Be aware of what it is that would draw you to Jesus, more food, more money, successful or happy children, improved health and then think about the choices you make -
Are they poor quality economy choices that keep you alive but little else, choices that are fine while they last but they soon fade. The choices we make in life we need to make with Jesus at our side, we need to be able to hear what he is saying, to listen the small quiet voice which often prompts us but which we ignore. Our journey in life needs the kind of nourishment that is longer lasting and keeps us going through the ups and downs of life.
listen to what Jesus actually says
35Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.
When Jesus says to you I am the…. Of life - you fill in the blank.
He’s offering you opportunity to come to him - hungry as you are
What is Jesus to you? The I am the ….. of your life?? Ponder on it, talk to God about it during the week
Posted on February 26, 2010 - by Tim L
Robin Hood Tax
A tiny tax on bankers that would give billions to tackle poverty and climate change, here and abroad.
This tax on banks - not you or I - has the power to raise hundreds of billions every year. It could give a vital boost to the NHS, our schools, and the fight against child poverty in the UK - as well as tackling poverty and climate change around the world.
Not complicated. Just brilliant.
Go to to watch a great clip
How it works
The Robin Hood Tax is a tiny tax on bankers that would raise billions to tackle poverty and climate change, at home and abroad.
By taking an average of 0.05% from speculative banking transactions, hundreds of billions of pounds would be raised every year.
That’s easily enough to stop cuts in crucial public services in the UK, and to help fight global poverty and climate change.
Why now?
Because of the financial crisis, frontline services at home - like the NHS and our schools - are under fire.
At the same time, poor communities and the environment are being hit hard - as aid and green budgets are slashed by rich countries.
So it’s time for the people who caused this mess to pay to clean it up.
For more info go to
Posted on February 23, 2010 - by Tim L
Well worth a listen….
Bishop Graham Cray, the leader of Fresh Expressions, gives an very interesting podcast on the mission reality we face in the UK and some fascinating thoughts on lay leadership and discipleship.
Posted on February 21, 2010 - by Tim L
Lent 1 - Direction
If you make a journey what counts as travel essentials?
I dare say each one of us would answer in a different way. You might even have a list that you keep on a computer or on a piece of paper that you get out before you go on holiday. You might not be that organised and just gather it all together in the last half hour as it comes into your head.
What would you take on a journey with you?
Many of us would day we are on a journey, one that is more spiritual in nature, but it has some very earthy impact. What are the travel essentials for that journey?
What do you need to put in the rucksack to carry with you?
Discussion - Where are you?
There is a sort of map here on the screen for you to look at - Where are you? Where does it feel like you are at this season of your life?
Turn and talk to someone about where you are
“Follow the Yellow Brick Road. Follow the Yellow Brick Road.
Follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow the Yellow Brick Road.
Follow the Yellow Brick, Follow the Yellow Brick,
Follow the Yellow Brick Road.”
Sang by Dorothy in the 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz.
Do you know where you going to? Do you like the things that life is showing you?
From the classic song by Diana Ross that was a massive hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
“You’re packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen.”
Bono in the clip you have just seen called Walk on. How can you pack for somewhere none of us have been to?
The recent TV series hit from the USA called Lost has featured a group who survived a plane crash on a desert island
Lostness, or a lack of direction is as old as what it is to be human.
Do you know where you’re going to?
Do you know what it is like to be lost?
Have you ever been completely lost?
Have you ever had the map in your hand but have still no idea where you are?
“Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking.”
Thomas said, “Master, we have no idea where you’re going. How do you expect us to know the road?”
Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen him!”
John 14:1-7 (The Message)
Now we have to set the passage in it’s context. Jesus is in Jerusalem with his Disciples at the time of the biggest festival in the Jewish calendar - the Passover. Jesus has told the Disciples he is going to die, he has washed their feet as an act of service, he has told them of his betrayal and has now told them they will all desert him. The Disciples cannot follow the way he is going right now but the time will come when they will. Peter has said he will do anything for Jesus, even die for him.
Then, in the midst of all this bad news, all this gloom, all this turmoil Jesus asks them to trust him and in His Father.
Jesus knows where he is going but he also knows where the Disciples are going and there is plenty of room. Jesus will get things ready and he will be back for them. Trust me.
And then Thomas comes up with this wonderful question, “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way” Sound familiar, Sounds like lostness or a lack of direction. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way” A child to a parent, a passenger to a driver, a friend to another friend, a student to a teacher, anyone to God,
I am not sure where you put yourself on the jelly baby map. Maybe you are on a high, maybe in the depths, struggling to keep afloat, maybe you don’t know,
Jesus says to Thomas and the Disciples I am The Road, The Truth and The Life.
Jesus being The Road or the Way - Difficult concept to get you head around. Jesus says he is the way, but how does that work, what does that mean?
The way the truth and the life has often been used as a doctrinal statement of who is in and who is out, but what happens if this statement by Jesus is an invitation.
It is an invitation to walk. An invitation to walk with Jesus. It is when we walk with Jesus that we are on the Road, we are on the way.
Dorothy followed the yellow brick road with her companions, the way was yellow and easy to see. I think Bono might have been more right that it might possibly have first seemed.
“You’re packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen.”
That does not make it easy unless you put in the context of joining with Jesus on the journey he is making.
If you are lost who do you trust for direction?
Try Jesus, join him on his Road, on his Way.
Posted on February 12, 2010 - by Tim L
Shrove Tuesday 16th Feb
Mmmm. What a great way to start the season of Lent
You are invited to a pancake evening, anytime between 16:30 - 20:00 on Tuesday 16th February at Darren & Helen Bishton’s, 56, Falconer’s Green,Burbage
Can I bring anything? Yes, please toppings for your pancakes
For more information, please contact Helen on (01455) 250468
Posted on February 12, 2010 - by Tim L
Badminton 19th Feb
Please note there will be note badminton during half term week - Friday 19th Feb.
Back to normal on 26th Feb. Thanks
Posted on February 10, 2010 - by Tim L
Quiet Day
HINCKLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT
LED BY REVD PAT OLIVENT-HAYES
(Superintendent Minister - North Norfolk Circuit)
Does God need to do a work IN US before He can do a work THROUGH US?
What does the Lord require of you?
‘O that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory’
SATURDAY 13 MARCH 10AM - 3PM
(Please bring a packed lunch)
at
NEWBOLD VERDON METHODIST CHURCH
ALL WELCOME!