Children’s Page presented by Rev. E. Anderson

November 4, 2007 at 11:01 pm (Kids Stories)

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Rev. E. Anderson

The story is taken from a book compiled by the late Rev. Gerald Chamberlain, a great children’s story teller and a person who inspired and influenced many young people. With kind permission from his son. 

THE STRANGE STORY OF BUBBLES THE BUDGIE 

Text:  ‘Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful’ - Psalm 1: 1 

Bubbles the Budgie was a great talker, a rare conversationalist, even for a bird of his breeding and background. He was always chatting away to his mistress, housekeeper MISS Mary Luckman. 

But Bubbles isn’t talking any more. Instead he makes the most alarming parrot noises  - - - - - - - - - and the change has made Miss Luckman wild. 

The reason she claimed, as she flew home to London yesterday after a Dublin holiday, was the company Bubbles had been keeping. Those terrible, loud-mouthed, ill-mannered parrots at Dublin Zoo….. 

The trouble started when Miss Luckman, of Melton Court, South Kensington, touched down at Dublin airport to begin her holiday. Health officials eyed the chattering Bubbles perched proudly in his Golden Cage and told Miss Luckman, ‘He’ll have to do into quarantine.’ 

There were tears, but the authorities were adamant, and off went Bubbles to the Zoo. He went chattering….’I’m a pretty boy…and I’m a lovely boy’ and those were the last words he spoke. Miss Luckman said, ‘ It was terrifying to be parted from him,’ and on she went to spend a fortnight with her cousin, Mrs. Maive O’Driscoll at Red Cap, Rathcoole, County Dublin. And with no mistress to gossip to, Bubbles turned to the nearby parrots for company.

A great imitator, he was soon almost as good as they were when it came to parrot noises. Yesterday Bubbles and Miss Luckman met again at the airport. Instead of the usual greeting….’Good morning Mary, I love you Mary,’ the sky-blue budgie started shrieking. Miss Luckman tried everything to get him to speak, repeating over and over again his best-known budgie talk. Bubbles just went on shrieking, with an occasional whistle thrown in. 

LAST NIGHT, Miss Luckman said, ‘I’ll have to start teaching him all over again. Perhaps he will change once he gets to his old home, but it’s very sad.

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Sermon Starters provided by Rev. E. Anderson

November 4, 2007 at 10:56 pm (Sermon Starters)

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Rev. E. Anderson

This is but a sermon starter to get you thinking and studying in relation to the text and theme. Trust it will be provocative and promotive.

POSSESSING THE RIGHT PRIORITIES  

Reading     Matthew 6  

Text            v33  

PURSUIT: In life, each one has to discern what is best, right and good and be fully committed to a hot pursuit of the same. There has to be an ascertaining of what is really vital and important and then believe in and be steadfastly devoted to such. GOD’S WORD: The Bible is the divine Book that aids man in this by revealing what should take precedent in all matters. In studying and searching the Scriptures one becomes thoroughly acquainted with what should be the dominant directives of life so that it will turn out successful. CHRIST’S EXAMPLE: The person who exemplified possessing and going after the real priorities was and is Jesus Christ. He perfectly revealed what ought to possess and direct men whilst here on earth. He set the unique and supreme pattern for all to accept and follow. The following are but a number of priorities that should be established in the life of all who would please God and live successfully.

          1/.  LOVING GOD SUPREMELY ABOVE ALL BEINGS AND THINGS             

Both Testaments of the Bible place an emphasis on God having priority affection above all – Deuteronomy 6: 4, 5; endorsed by Christ – Mark 12: 29, 30.

         2/. PURSUING THE SPIRITUAL ABOVE THE NATURAL          

Regretfully Adam and Eve chose the natural as the priority and lost it see Genesis 3 but Christ selected the spiritual when tempted – Matthew 3. 

       3/. SEEKING THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN PREFERENCE TO THE EARTHLY          

Christ laid the precept down for all to know and accept that His kingdom rule is to be supreme in all would be His disciples above all earthly kingdoms and pursuits – Matthew 6: 33.

          4/. GOING AFTER WISDOM RATHER THAN MERE HUMAN CLEVERNESS          

The book of Proverbs which is a wisdom book lays emphasis upon the need to acquire true knowledge and understanding above all things – Proverbs 3: 13-18; 4: 5. It then lays down the principal and procedure by which it is obtained – Proverbs 3: 5, 6

        5/.  KNOWING RIGHTEOUSNESS INSTEAD OF CHASING AFTER SIN          

Sin has always been an inviting and enticing force and factor but it must be rejected in the pursuit of divine righteousness – Matthew 6: 33. ‘Sin with its follies we should gladly resign’ as expressed in the hymn.

         6/.  SERVING AND HONOURING OTHERS BEYOND ONESELF        

The perfect example of how one should give preferential to everyone else has been ably illustrated by Christ – see Mark 10: 45. This is also seen in the Good Samaritan – Luke 10: 25-37.

         7/.  OBEYING GOD AHEAD OF MAN          

Very quickly the infant Church discovered who should have top place of priority in human dispute – Acts 5: 29. 

CONCLUSION          

There is a need to look at every area of life and work to make sure that there is an utter engagement in who and what should have first place – see Luke 2: 49.     

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In Hindsight subscribed by Rev. David Hind

November 4, 2007 at 6:44 am (In Hindsight)

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THE FIRST STEP THING 

BY Rev. David Hind 

During a time of worship at the Christian Centre church in Nottingham some years ago, we were singing a song about how Jesus is precious. During this song, Jean, a good friend of mine, felt God say to her, ‘That’s how I feel about you’. 

Some time later she was talking to another person and said, ‘It seems easier to hear God speak, about the little things, but harder to hear Him on the bigger things of life.’ That night God spoke to her again and said, ‘Your priorities are wrong. I did firstly speak to you about the biggest thing and that is, ‘you are precious to me. 

To be forgiven BY His grace and know we are precious to Him are two of the first steps in our walk with Jesus.

Alongside these there are a number of other ‘first steps’ that we can take. In Acts chapter 9, Paul the apostle, after he begins to believe in Jesus, sets an example that all new believers would do well to follow: ·          He  is humbled (v6)·          He receives a miracle (v18)·          He is baptised in the Spirit (v17)·          He is baptised in water (v18)·          He takes food and becomes stronger ( v19)·          He shares his faith (v20)·          He joins a church (v20) I believe these steps are still vital today. 

  1. Humble yourself

 Humility is something we choose in life. Bible says, ‘What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’ – Micah 6:8. If we make a start, God ill help us on the journey of humility. 

  1. Anticipate miracles

 Never underestimate the power of a changed life. God is still able and nothing is too hard for Him. Expect and believe for miracles for your life. 

  1. Be baptised in the Spirit

 To know the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives propels us into a more intimate walk with Jesus. It’s not complicated. Jesus says that if we ask, we will receive – John 16: 24. 

  1. Be baptised in water

 I was baptised as a baby, confirmed in Southwell Minister and then became a Christian. To be baptised as a Christian was then a simple act of obedience in following Jesus’ example. 

  1. Eat and become stronger

 Begin to read the Bible and you will learn to hear God speak to you. Pray that the words will come alive. 

  1. Share your faith

 To tell another what Jesus has done for you does not just impact them. It is a step that leads you into a deeper knowledge of Him – Philemon v6. 

  1. Join a church

 We all need people and Christianity is a personal faith to be celebrated with others. How are you doing with your first steps.

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Meet the Ministers introduced by Rev. E. Anderson

November 4, 2007 at 6:39 am (Meet the Ministers)

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John and Elsie Tait J

John and Elsie Tait are extremely grateful to the Lord for their Christian conversion as youngsters. Both were saved under the ministry of the late Tom Beckett: Elsie in Paisley and John in Cairnbulg, Scotland. With an impeccable Pentecostal pedigree, their aspiration was for overseas service. Elsie trained in general nursing and midwifery while John graduated in pharmacy, supplemented with a diploma in theology. 

When David Newington, Executive Director of Emmanuel Press, introduce ‘Lifeline to Africa’ project at the Assemblies of God Conference, there was an immediate witness of the Holy Spirirt in the hearts of both that this was the will of God for them.  As the first ‘Lifeliners’, John and Elsie with their three young children left for South Africa in 1967, tentatively for a period of two years which, by the grace of God, was extended to twelve years! In that ‘apartheid’ era John was obliged to resist the politically correct agenda and befriend the African constituency by regular visits to the town ships with practical help and literature evangelism sponsored by Emmanuel Press.

After such a long period in Africa, it was an emotional wrench to depart from the ‘rainbow nation’ and a decided culture shock to adapt to the British way of life again. On their return to the UK they supported their family during their tertiary education, who are all medically orientated. Sharon, their oldest is a pharmacist now married with two daughters. Iain, their son, is a consultant surgeon. Married with two daughters and Fraser their youngest is a dentist with one son. For over 25 years they have been happily engaged in pastoral ministry with the Assemblies of God in Scotland and England.

On reflection, their profound conviction is that only what is done for Jesus will last in the full consciousness to be of minimal hindrance in the cause of Christ for His exclusive glory. Although there have been an occasional longing for a successful business career, the Lord has proved no man’s debtor in providing all that they need in His service. One of their priorities has been to arrange pastoral succession, in the will of God, and to make themselves redundant before responding to a new call for ministry.   

Their last invitation was to join the international board of Emmanuel Press South Africa as the representative of Assemblies of God UK. This was not unexpected because with a view to short term missionary service, they obtained the Graduation Certificate of the World Harvest Institute Course (now absorbed by Mattersey Bible College), designed to sharpen communication skills and update multicultural awareness. 

As well as regularly visiting Emmanuel Press and its continent-wide ministry of the printed Word cemented missionary vision with the Assemblies of God. And toady there are vast and escalating opportunities awaiting exploitation of the written Word of God in Africa, which undoubtedly qualify for continued support in prayer and resources. Acutely conscious of the conspicuous silence of the prophetic voice in our society, John regularly responds in the public media by challenging the secular smear.

Their international vision has taken them to many countries in Africa, Adia, America and Europe. ‘Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord’ – Romans 12: 1, has been their motto throughout their Pentecostal life, 

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