tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89061741345617967462024-03-13T04:58:45.884+00:00All Things TaylorScotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-64415573967352155282017-02-28T11:57:00.003+00:002017-02-28T11:57:33.870+00:00God's Healing Power<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On Sunday evening I had a great conversation with one of our young ladies at our 6pm meeting, so I asked her to write it down:<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"For about 10 years, suffered with low mood, developing into depression and anxiety, always in and out of counselling and different therapies. I battled with self harm and suicidal thoughts for what felt like forever, and if I'm being honest, that really made me struggle in my walk with God. I was put on increasing amounts of medication as I became increasingly dependent on them - I was on the highest dose of anti-depressants that they could offer. <br /><br />In the autumn of 2015, I experienced a horrible trauma, and was put under emergency care, my medication increased even further, and was having visits from nurses every other day, to try and combat the voices in my head that were very real to me. I had PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), and I didn't ever see myself getting better. <br /><br />One night in November 2016, I was having a flashback when I called on one of my closest friends, and spilt my whole story to them. They prayed for me continuously throughout the night, even once I'd finally fallen asleep, pleading God for peace, and praying for healing once and for all. I prayed that week with the same person and others, until one morning I woke up totally different - I didn't take my tablets that morning, and haven't since - I don't need them, and I feel happier in myself than I ever did before, medication or otherwise. <br /><br />I praise God that I'm here, and I'm alive, because without him, I dread to think what would have become of me."</span><div>
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Praise God!!!</div>
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Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-13536711425078042342017-02-23T12:26:00.000+00:002017-02-23T13:33:52.055+00:00Cakes at Reading Girls School<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Not every one will know this, but every half term Judy, Bea and Alan go into Reading Girls School with cakes baked by our army of outstanding RFC bakers!!!<br />
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Bea was in on Wednesday and one teacher said to her that the cakes bring them together and makes them socialise. <br />
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Another teacher who regularly works in school on a Sunday, asked where we had been this last Sunday. Bea told her about the Mad Stad One Church event and she said that she likes it that we are there when she comes to work!</div>
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It's so good that we get to express our love for the staff at the school in this way and to see that it is making a small impact. Building unity and bringing comfort is part of what it is to be ambassadors of Christ.</div>
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Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-69344269907308813432017-02-22T12:26:00.001+00:002017-02-22T12:26:18.492+00:00Stories from the Mad Stad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We had a great time at our One Church celebration on Sunday. It was brilliant to start with good news stories of answers to prayer and what God is doing in our lives.<br />
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Ethan told of how they have been learning about religions at school and he took in his bible. His teacher read from the bible at the end of the day and he was able to have a couple of conversations with children in his class about how they could be Christians!<br />
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Mick told of how he posted a card of encouragement through the neighbours door; Saffy told us of how she had desired the gift of tongues, asked for it at a youth weekend away and ended up speaking in a language that she hadn't learnt!!! <br />
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These were just some of the stories that were told publicly on the morning.<br />
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As I left on Sunday morning, the security guy was genuinely delighted to see how people had all left smiling and joyful on the morning. It turns out that someone else had had a great conversation with him earlier and he had shown a great interest. <br />
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God is on the move amongst us, let's be alert to what he is doing and let's encourage each other by taking every opportunity to share the good news stories, whether that be answers to prayer, opportunities to pray for others or being able to do good works to help someone out that brings light into someones life. </div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-65679970071330283482016-09-26T12:58:00.001+01:002016-09-26T12:58:32.797+01:00Two Sunday's, Two decisions for Jesus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Two Sunday's ago I heard the great news that a guy who has been coming along to RFC with one of our regulars, has made a commitment to Jesus. He has also on the Alpha course on a Tuesday night via Facetime as he lives in East London!!!! <div>
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Then this Sunday one of our students brought along a girl from his course. She had been to CU and had been chatting to Christians on campus for a while. At the end of the meeting she went for prayer with the prayer team and then committed her life to Jesus then and there. She too will be coming along on Alpha this week.</div>
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Let's pray that these stories will be multiplied many times as we continue to share our faith wherever we may find ourselves as ambassadors of Christ!!!</div>
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Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-73120609810497522122016-08-24T12:00:00.000+01:002016-08-24T12:00:22.957+01:00Referendum Cafe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Fraser and Cheriel from our evening congregation came up with a brilliant idea. Cheriel tells us all about it:<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"About a month ago my husband and I ran a free pop-up cafe
in the centre of Reading to give people a public forum in which to discuss the
result of the EU referendum. It was the weekend after the referendum result,
and we had planned it for a week and put it on. We had been surprised and taken
aback by the Brexit vote, and were concerned by a few things in the immediate
aftermath:</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">1. Many Remain voters were angry and upset, and some
voices from the Leave side were protesting that they felt maligned and misrepresented
in the media 2. Everyone seemed to be talking about the referendum with their
family and friends, but there didn't seem to be any spaces for constructive
public discussion (and Facebook tends not to be the most constructive of
spaces) 3. Despite the almost 50/50 split of the vote, the vast majority of our
friends and family seemed to have voted the same way as us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Put together, this seemed to suggest that the split of
the vote was not only driven by individual opinion, but also by a vast
difference in perception, both of what would be best for the nation and the
voters on the other side, and by social (and quite possibly economic)
differences. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">This has been said a great deal since, but the referendum
highlighted some very profound divides in our country. We wanted to do
something that would strengthen civil society in our local community and enable
people to put a human face to the opinions and perceptions of the other side of
the vote. The wisdom of the Bible tells us that 'a soft answer turns away
wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger' (Proverbs 15:1) and that we should 'put
on the readiness given by the gospel of peace' (Ephesians 6:15). We wanted to
bring something of peace and hope at a time when it would have been easy to
respond in inflammatory ways.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">We spent the week planning and praying for good weather,
begged and borrowed tables and camping chairs from Reading Family Church and
our friends, recruited other members of the church to help man the stall, and
filled out the necessary paperwork from the council. On the Saturday, we set
our gazebo, table and signs up on Broad Street in the morning and were
immediately in business. Lots of people stopped because they were intrigued by
the offer of free cake and homemade lemonade, and a good many stayed to chat.
While rain did put a damper on things for a little while, we estimate that by
the end of the day we had spoken to over 120 people and families. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">We spoke to people on both sides of the vote, and tried
to encourage conversation. Many Remain voters spoke about a sense of
devastation and outrage, while Leave voters spoke about optimism and feeling
unfairly judged. On both sides there was apprehension about political
uncertainty ('The UK has no government'). We spoke to immigrants from Europe
who felt disappointed, unwelcome and angry. Wherever possible, we tried to
encourage the people we spoke with to consider what the vote said about society
and local communities in the UK, and what we could most productively do as
individuals and as a community moving forward. One of our friends, a Remain
voter, had a long conversation with a couple who had voted Leave about the
thought processes and motives that had led them to vote the way they did. They
came away with the realisation that, though they had chosen opposite sides of
the vote, they had very similar interests at heart.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">While not all conversations resulted in that degree of
convergence, we found ourselves challenged and humbled by differences of
opinion in the people we met. The conversations we had helped us to consider
more deeply the importance of speaking our perception of truth lovingly in
public debate. We hope and believe (at least, from the feedback of others) that
many people came away from the pop-up cafe feeling a little more encouraged, a
little more understood, and a little more willing to seek a constructive,
diverse conversation. We all find it hard to be truly neutral about issues that
affect us deeply, but with a little loving work we could perhaps create a
society where we can deal with difference in ways that strengthen our
communities."</span></div>
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Reaching our town is not all about 'the church' centralising and doing outreach, it is about Christians who are the church taking the initiative and bringing the gospel through their own unique way. The bible is clear, 'Blessed are the peacemakers' and that's what Fraser and Cheriel and friends were doing that day being peacemakers.</div>
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Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-82285922120699042042016-08-22T15:21:00.000+01:002016-08-22T15:21:12.052+01:00Reading Festival This Weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.readingfestival.com/sites/live.b.leedsfestival.com/files/styles/fr_page/public/images/news/readingfestivalticketfaqs.jpg?itok=r1OzsVBw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://www.readingfestival.com/sites/live.b.leedsfestival.com/files/styles/fr_page/public/images/news/readingfestivalticketfaqs.jpg?itok=r1OzsVBw" width="320" /></a></div>
Well it's the August Bank Holiday which means this week some 80,000 extra people, from all over the UK, will start to descend on Reading for the annual music festival. Aligned with the festival in Leeds, this is the biggest event that hits our town each year and is one fo the cornerstone events in the British music calendar.<br />
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For years now churches in Reading have played their part in the festival by helping festival goers who find themselves in problems, by feeding hungry revellers and of course, buy offering them the good news of Jesus.</div>
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This year sees followers of Jesus in Reading unite again to come alongside the 80,000 to help, encourage and share the gospel.</div>
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Here's a link to the website <a href="http://jesusdiedfor.me/">Jesusdiedfor.me</a>, to tell you all about what is going on.</div>
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If you are here in Reading and are a Christian, please will you consider getting along to get involved.</div>
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If you are a festival goer and a Christian, please look out for these guys and encourage them as well as being a good witness yourself.</div>
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If you are not a Christian, then why not take the time to see what Christians really believe as you spend time in between the bands that you have come to Reading to enjoy. You may just find yourself surprised, that this is exactly the sort of festival where Jesus would have found himself as he walked on this earth.</div>
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Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-91887031220879996442016-07-11T11:08:00.002+01:002016-07-11T11:08:15.345+01:00Praying for a colleagues knee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Flo Keith sent me this yesterday, it's a brilliant read:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">A couple of Mondays ago, I went to one of my colleagues in
the English Department after a crazy day at work and we sat and had a chat. She
mentioned that she was going to her dance class tonight which was why she was
working late (she also teaches dance at school!) but her knee was really sore.
As soon as she told me, I felt prompting me to pray for her "Do it, do
it," and with everything in me scared to, I just blurted out "do you
want me to pray for your knee?" To my surprise, she said yes, so I asked
if I could lay hands on and then prayed for the pain to go and a general
blessing.<br />
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Now, she wasn't healed, but what happened after was just as awesome! She sent
me an email about 10 mins later titled "The power of prayer" and this
was her response:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<i>Thank you so much for your prayer today, I really appreciate it. God was
clearly listening – the one lady who usually comes to Fitsteps on a Wednesday
has just messaged me to say she can’t come tonight, meaning I can have an
evening resting my knee </i></span><i><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have a lovely evening.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">x</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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So God answers prayer in the most unexpected way, and when I asked her about
her knee on Friday afternoon, she said that the pain had gone a while ago.<br />
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So it wasn't a moment of "Wow, immediate pain gone!" but in my
opinion, still an amazing opportunity (plus now she's not in pain, and I have
no idea where her walk with God is, but I think her email back and the language
she's used is really encouraging!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Let's all be a little more like Flo and take the opportunities that come our way!</span></div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-48049242146396910982016-07-06T13:37:00.000+01:002016-09-27T14:01:34.138+01:00Always being ready...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Peter speaks about always being ready to give a reason for the hope that we have. Here are a couple of stories from our kids worker, Sarah, who did just that:<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">I was at the chiropractor’s and I
said something about church and she started telling me that she wished she’d
been brought up with a faith. I told her I hadn’t been either, but that I’d
become a Christian at 18 and was able to tell my story of how and why I’d
become a Christian. She told me she has other patients who are Christians who
have also spoken with her about their faith. I don’t know them, but I feel like
we’re working “on team” to help this chiropractor come to faith <span style="font-family: "wingdings";">J</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p>I was walking down London Road and a guy looked drunk
and as though he was going to fall into the road. I considered walking past,
but decided this might be a Holy Spirit moment, so asked if he was ok and
started chatting with him. We ended up walking along the road together
chatting. I was asking the Holy Spirit if He wanted to say anything. I had the
guy’s mum on my mind so asked about her. She is dead and he misses her and
various other family hurts came out. I told him I’m a Christian, about Jesus dying
for him and God being a good father. He listened and asked questions. I don’t
imagine I’ll ever see him again, but I hope our conversation will have
contributed to his understanding of our good God in a hurting world and maybe
one day he’ll come to faith.</span></div>
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That's Sarah, just taking the opportunities that come her way! Let's be praying for her chiropractor and this guy on London Road.</div>
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Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-75235749275351601222016-05-25T12:00:00.000+01:002016-05-25T12:00:21.920+01:00A God encounter causes pain to leave!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here's a story from one of our great students, Charis:<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">A few days ago, God challenged me in how I
don’t need to ‘feel’ full of faith for God to move through me powerfully. Both
humbling and exciting!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">I was walking back from one of the Church’s
mid week meetings, and two people stopped me and asked for money just outside
the hospital. I didn't have any spare change, but one was in a wheelchair
so I asked if I could pray for him. The lady with him got really excited, and
said that she's a Christian, and that God totally changed her life after
struggling with alcoholism. So I knelt down and ask him where the most pain is,
as he suffered from wounds after serving in the army and now lives with a lot
of pain. So I asked him if I could lay my hand on the area of pain, his shin,
and told him that God could heal him. After a brief prayer, he looks surprised
and said, "I just felt warmth all down my leg….. Can you pray for my
other one?"<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">When I say I had no faith, literally the
whole time I felt nothing, no excited feeling, no 'surge of power' or
anything! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">So I prayed for the other leg, and then he
said he felt shooting warmth all through his leg this time. I asked him to
stand up and walk around to see if anything had happened, and HE HAD NO PAIN!
He didn't even want to try walking at first, but he got up and hobbled around,
slowly, then more confidently. The woman with him said she hadn't seen him walk
like that in a long time! She then told me that she went to RFC once and a
woman prayed for her leg, and skin that was all black on her thigh got healed!
After talking with them for a while about the goodness of God, they say
have a nice night and walk away.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">I was so stunned that something had happened,
I forgot to tell them more about Jesus, so 30 seconds later I felt like a bit
of an idiot! But I thought it was incredible that God can use my lack of faith
to reveal the reality and mystery of a present God, and that the lady with him
actually knows the Lord so can tell him more and (hopefully) take him to
Church! I have faith that God is gonna work in this guy's life!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: blue;">It’s such an adventure to live to live
in step with the Spirit of God! He loves it when His kids ask for the big
things!</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
Amazing stuff! It's always good to take the opportunities that are presented to us. You never know what God will do!</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-40780510893547891562016-05-23T15:04:00.002+01:002016-05-23T15:04:22.347+01:00Many links over many years!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here's a story from Sarah Rooke from our 9am congregation, I found it so encouraging when thinking about persevering in prayer and in love for friends who don't yet know Jesus.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"Although
we were different as teenagers my friend Sarah and I were good friends all
through secondary school.She knew I was a Christian and we would have the odd
chat about this.During our late teens she and I talked on a more deeper level
often coming back to my faith and how this played out in my life.She agreed to
come on a Christianity Explored course with me and was struck by the love and
welcome there, she often asked questions and kept coming. There was no
conclusion for her following this and soon after she moved to
Southampton.<br />
We continued to be close friends, especially seeing each other more at times
like when she had her first baby. Through various life events we would often
quickly get to a deep and meaningful conversation especially during the
tough times.I remember clearly she said she couldn't have any faith or believe
there was a God at one point and I felt so sad about this but prayed for her
eyes to be opened spiritually.<br />
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Now in our early thirties we remain close and conversations have been around
prayer this past year. We prayed for her to have a healthy pregnancy and
baby,we prayed for a difficult housing situation and both of these prayers were
answered in an amazing way -that she could see too! At my baby's thanksgiving a
few weeks ago Sarah prayed something for her daughter and was very excited the
next day that her prayer had been answered!Praise God! She has since started to
go to the church on the estate she lives on and her children had been involved
in youth activities there for a while. She went to a guest service about
healing and her and her partner prayed with someone from the church
after,they've been reading booklets on prayer they've been given and are booked
to start Christianity Explored next week! We speak on the phone most days and
it's so exciting to see God working so powerfully and how God can choose to use
us or choose to speak directly with people without needing us- a real reminder
that there's often many links over many years." </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It's good to share stories to encourage one another and it means we too can pray for Sarah's friend Sarah!</div>
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Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-67700447843953544502016-05-09T14:23:00.000+01:002016-05-09T14:30:40.438+01:00Being a good neighbour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This term I am running a group called Being Ambassadors as part of our life group system. It's basically an opportunity to share stories and be encouraged. As part of that the guys involved have agreed to share their stories on the blog as well. So here's the first from Glodine:</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Something I am learning about being
an ambassador for Christ is that I no longer have to put pressure on myself to
see conversion or an immediate change in someone's life. With time I have come
to appreciate that coming to faith is a journey and it is God's responsibility
to get my friends saved, my role is to walk the Christian faith in a way that
showcases who Jesus is through love, patience and grace. Earlier this week my
neighbours gifted me with lovely flowers and a card that read 'Thank you for
bearing with our renovations so gracefully!' This made me smile, encouraged me
to keep loving people the way Jesus loves me. I am incredibly grateful for the
wonderful people in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Katie also sent this through to our what's app group</span><span style="color: blue;">:</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Buzzing today after being at my cousins baptism in Birmingham, she bought loads of her non-Christian friends and people gave their lives to Jesus! So exciting to see God moving everywhere we go</span>.</span></div>
</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-39057575335168609272016-05-03T11:25:00.001+01:002016-05-03T11:25:46.719+01:00Restarting with Purpose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For 15 years now, evangelism has been going on around RFC. By evangelism, I don't mean programmes or Alpha courses, I mean real people connecting with other real people. Over the years we have been going we have seen 104 people make a response to the gospel.<br />
<br />
Some of those have matured and are going on with God at RFC; others have gone on and are living out their Christian lives in other towns and countries of the world. There are others still who we have lost contact with and don't know where they are. But each of these responses shows us that God is still at work today. Each one of those responses has a story behind it, and often a story that involves at least one person who is following Jesus.<br />
<br />
As followers of Jesus we get the great opportunity to make real friends with real people and love them regardless of whether they follow Jesus or not. In the midst of that friendship, our expectation should be that there will come an opportunity to share our faith with our friends or family. We pray for the right opportunity and we take them when they come along.<br />
<br />
That could be an act of kindness that goes above and beyond, it's an 'extra mile' type of act. You didn't have to, but you did! Now that is not unique to Christians, but maybe just finding the right words to say to display that you are doing it because of Jesus in your life, sets it apart.<br />
<br />
Over the years people have loved their friends and their friends have noticed it which has given them the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://girlsgotsole.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/christambassadors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://girlsgotsole.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/christambassadors.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Evangelism is not about clinching the deal - only God can do that - rather it is about representing Jesus wherever we find ourselves - living as he lived, around the people that he would have spent time with, responding how he would have responded, asking questions as he did, and ultimately giving people the opportunity to meet him.<br />
<br />
It's not something that we do, it's the very essence of who we are - ambassadors of Jesus.<br />
<br />
As a church we want to celebrate the times that we have been ambassadors. That's why I have reignited this blog. It's mainly to record the ambassadorial stories of RFC - those ambassadorial moments when you have shared your story, prayed with someone, had a word of knowledge and shared it: whatever it may be and whether it was received well or not! Let's get into the habit of sharing our stories in order to spur us and others on in our calling to represent Jesus.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-77528539798511082002013-12-13T11:21:00.000+00:002013-12-13T11:21:08.663+00:00Carol Singing Life Group!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8dUVPF2V1BXnI2tndxeKy_oL6r_FaN4J8wvm08eBmtBr66AGROCuKYJunegLzoyUAUPwNQz81qYT5-6dv0nV-gH84lCRXPIuudUzQ9P5OOWkErnzvF_1-kZLjuQqcqCo5B3SikbWlMI/s1600/west+village+reading.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8dUVPF2V1BXnI2tndxeKy_oL6r_FaN4J8wvm08eBmtBr66AGROCuKYJunegLzoyUAUPwNQz81qYT5-6dv0nV-gH84lCRXPIuudUzQ9P5OOWkErnzvF_1-kZLjuQqcqCo5B3SikbWlMI/s400/west+village+reading.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
One of our life groups, on the initiative of Geoff White, went out carol singing last night. They visited many homes around West Village, the new development of flats and houses down near the Oxford Road Tesco's. An intrepid bunch went knocking on doors and singing. Left people surprised as instead of being asked for money, they were given chocolates by the carollers! <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It had such an impact that not only did the official <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thewestvillage">West Village Face Book pag</a>e thank the RFC carol singers but they have also advertised our carol concert on their page! Quality!</div>
<div>
<br />Something to think about and store away for next year maybe!</div>
</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-22196375596249625022013-12-13T11:02:00.001+00:002013-12-13T11:02:37.580+00:00Attitudes of a Leader @ RFC # 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">(Week five of this 5 week series taken from a talk given at the RFC Leadership Summit.)</i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></i>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">5: Ready to
learn</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-be-ready-to-learn-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-be-ready-to-learn-1.png" width="274" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">This is our 5<sup>th</sup> and final attitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">As we look at leaders at RFC and actually across the
board, we must be those who never got to a point when we think we have made
it. We will always be a faint reflection
of the great leadership that Jesus brought to bear as he walked on the earth
and we must recognise that and remember that we are a work in progress. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">his takes great humility. Being learners
means we need to acknowledge we are not the finished article and that we are
just on a journey of developing our gift the same as any one else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">We need to be those who are learning about ourselves
constantly. Now to deliver this with
integrity, you need to know that I find self reflection very hard. It’s not natural for me and so I have to work
on it. Sean is a trusted friend who is
able to draw stuff out of me to help me to reflect and over time I have become
better at this, but it isn't my default way of thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">As leaders we are under the microscope and we make
mistakes. It’s not always easy to hear
that especially when we feel we are giving our all. Over the years I have
received criticism that has been really painful and at times have felt that it
has been harsh, but at the very core of what has been said there has been
something to learn from. If we shut out criticism and don’t sift it we will
miss the learning point. Even the
harshest criticism will teach us something if we let it. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">This therefore means we will be teachable, ready to receive
criticism well and ready to learn from wherever the learning may come, even if
it’s from the new person on the team!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Being ready to learn also means that we will take
seriously our walk with Jesus. As his disciples we constantly need to be
growing in our understanding and knowledge of our God, who sent his son to
display these five attitudes and more.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-49265098811185544442013-11-28T11:43:00.001+00:002013-11-28T11:43:03.555+00:00Attitudes of a Leader # 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">(Week four of this 5 week series taken from a talk given at the RFC Leadership Summit.)</i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></i>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">4: Eager to
listen<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://femmefiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/listening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://femmefiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/listening.jpg" /></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">As a guy with a reasonably strong leadership gift and
the experience I have this is something that I am constantly working on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Have you found yourself in a position when
you have been trying to speak about something but all you sense is that the
person has heard your first statement and is just waiting to put forward their
wisdom, their expert take, their opinion that of course is the considered best
practice! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Actually you just want help to process an issue or
just want to be listened to.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">I know that I have been that person who hasn’t
listened and I know that that has not been
constructive at all, but I want to be a leader that is eager to listen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">To know when to speak and when to be
silent. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">To feedback reflectively when
someone is speaking to me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">To take time
to really hear what the person is concerned about or is proposing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">The truth is when someone feels listened to, you may
not agree with the content and you may not come to an accord on it, but the
person will feel valued. They will feel their voice has been heard, that they
haven’t wasted your time and it keeps the relational bridge open. This results in everyone being able to move forward together living with differing opinions.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Let's work our attitude of being eager to listen.</span></div>
</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-85009627735766341062013-11-20T11:39:00.003+00:002013-11-28T11:36:22.605+00:00Attitudes of a Leader @ RFC #3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>(Week three of this 5 week series taken from a talk given at the RFC Leadership Summit.)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3: Easy to
lead</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.montrealdogblog.com/wp-content/themes/LondonLive/thumb.php?src=http://www.montrealdogblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NOT-moving.jpg&w=340&h=192&zc=1&q=100" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://www.montrealdogblog.com/wp-content/themes/LondonLive/thumb.php?src=http://www.montrealdogblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NOT-moving.jpg&w=340&h=192&zc=1&q=100" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are you easy to lead or more like this dog?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At a leadership summit we must be aware that a leader
must be one who can also be led and led easily. How could you ever expect anyone you lead to
have a good attitude to leadership if you yourself do not display that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">What does this mean? </span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It certainly does not mean being yes people. Being easy to lead </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> mean you just have
to agree, although agreeing is also fine.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">It means that we are 'can do', willing to see problems, but
talk about them positively, with potential solutions. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It means we are flexible, the very nature of working
with volunteers in a growing setting, where the Holy Spirit can lead, means we
can’t just live in our trenches or silos of thinking. Flexibility is so important in an ever
changing environment. Now this does of
course meaning having a positive attitude to change, I know that I don’t like
change but I have tried to cultivate a positive attitude towards it because
change is inevitable as the kingdom of God advances.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">It means we are willing to do whatever is needed. Again we will not always be engaged with the
things we feel we are necessarily good at.
I remember being the church administrator for a while, now for some of
you that know me well you will now that this was me playing well out of
position, but as leaders at RFC we need to be those who are willing to do
whatever the church needs, whatever will help her to flourish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 18px;">Do we exhibit an attitude that says that we are easy to lead, or is this something that we need to ask for God's help on? </span></div>
</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-11918801861393086362013-11-14T09:57:00.000+00:002013-11-14T09:57:00.106+00:00ITP update #2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This Monday I went for my specialist appointment at he hospital. I've got to be honest I went with high expectations of getting some more clarity as to what the next treatment was going to be. This drug that they were going to apply to put me on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoRsfaFUCBCJwm8XYzNiJCVdfZDutSAf0tSt4LXa1-bo-WIDfDSh5jKyhD15Dh127igUjBk_uW_-Biih4Wda5ZMo1o2ZCF620yKUn7Ma8cZ_7N91VrXaySl1vDkyPgGbgIPz2UOpYa5o/s1600/lack-of-clarity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoRsfaFUCBCJwm8XYzNiJCVdfZDutSAf0tSt4LXa1-bo-WIDfDSh5jKyhD15Dh127igUjBk_uW_-Biih4Wda5ZMo1o2ZCF620yKUn7Ma8cZ_7N91VrXaySl1vDkyPgGbgIPz2UOpYa5o/s320/lack-of-clarity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As I sat in his room he told me that he was pleased that the platelet count was over 30 and that we could leave it now for a while to see how things will progress. At this point I asked about playing badminton and cycling, after al he had said he was happy with my count. At this he scoffed and said that I should still steer clear of those things! He also said that the drug that had been suggested the week before was not actually the next line of treatment, the next line of treatment was to remove my spleen. ( I thought that the ritoxamab was instead of this.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He also sent me for another blood test to check for some stomach bug that may cause ITP to come on. in fact this specialist was surprised I hadn't been checked for this already.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So in all it was a visit that left me with little clarity at all. I see a specialist again in 4 weeks time to see how the count is doing, as they are leaving time for the ritoxamab to work. In the meantime I remain on a low dosage of steroids reducing slowly over a longer period than was first stated to reduce the side effects of withdrawal.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The only thing that did bring some clarity was some understanding as to why I feel tired most of the time. He was very clear that the reason for this is because of the low platelet count. he is the first of the doctors and nurses who have treated me to make this clear to me, it's not the steroids or any other treatments, it's the fact I have low platelets.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The last thing I want is for anyone to read this is as me moaning. This must be such a hard thing to treat as there is no clear cause and I know that it is all trial and error and having to wait. I have been generally looked after so well and I now have to get used to the long haul care of a people who are stretched to the limits. My prayers are with the medical staff and I ask that yours would be too.</div>
</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-41860706598883303572013-11-13T09:40:00.001+00:002013-11-13T09:40:59.234+00:00Attitudes of a Leader @ RFC #2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2: Embracing
generosity<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.theunitive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/err-on-the-side-of-generosity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.theunitive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/err-on-the-side-of-generosity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Generosity is a thing we practice but starts as a
heart attitude. Generosity basically
says I am open handed with what I have.
Of course it does have financial implications. As leaders at RFC we know that we are given
the great responsibility of being stewards of the resources that God has given
to us and we take that seriously and with great joy. When we lead others into gift days and
regular giving we can only do that if we have a positive attitude ourselves, an
attitude that says this is not always easy or convenient, but is a blessing to
us that helps us to display our faith and trust in Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This has time implications. Leadership often means
that we will be those who go the extra mile and put in the extra hours and that
takes a positive attitude as time is precious and there is so much we can do
with it. With a generous attitude we can
guide against bitterness and thinking others should be doing more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">However embracing generosity also means that we are
generous with our words, with praise with affirmation and with
encouragement.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">We can be so keen to get
the job done that we forget to take time to congratulate and recognise effort, and this needs to be done far more than we think.</span></span></div>
</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-53406955940517146842013-11-07T11:40:00.001+00:002013-11-07T11:40:29.902+00:00Anticipating meeting with God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jq-toKk0njIH7IEiOhAY1szYcx8Q8PHqX8tWN9DpVBtSk9zMU5LVWFHbBP3hSMbawRdvqk6pT6tJ0IO88txETu0FEvyd2AkTiBpp3QmZfAbLzKUpjP9aXG9teMMkMKuZ1NyDHnLo2ms/s1600/gift_of_the_holy_spirit.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jq-toKk0njIH7IEiOhAY1szYcx8Q8PHqX8tWN9DpVBtSk9zMU5LVWFHbBP3hSMbawRdvqk6pT6tJ0IO88txETu0FEvyd2AkTiBpp3QmZfAbLzKUpjP9aXG9teMMkMKuZ1NyDHnLo2ms/s320/gift_of_the_holy_spirit.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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This Saturday the RFC Alpha course travels to Beaconsfield for the Alpha Day Away. There are 24 of us travelling over and we look forward to a time where we will further build relationships with each other and eat good food. <div>
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However I am also in anticipation that we are going to encounter God powerfully. I am believing that the Holy Spirit will change hearts and minds as he comes and meets with individuals just as he did in the home of Cornelius in Acts 10. I am also looking forward to meeting him again personally as I speak through three sessions and lay hands on those who come forward for prayer. </div>
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Our God is a Father who loves to see his family grow and I am believing that Saturday will be a day of growth! Please pray for salvation and tangible experiences of meeting with our God, that get people moving further on in their journey with Jesus.</div>
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Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-71418508317081216552013-11-06T12:00:00.000+00:002013-11-06T15:09:04.947+00:00Latest news from the ITP journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://getwellnatural.com/images/categories/healthy-platelet-count-150x113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://getwellnatural.com/images/categories/healthy-platelet-count-150x113.jpg" width="200" /></a>So I have had a couple of blood tests since first I blogged about the ITP thing. One recorded a drop to 26 and the latest has recorded a rise whereby the platelet count is currently at 32. this is still a long way off 150!<br />
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Whilst on the phone to the hospital they told me to reduce my steroid intake again which is good and there now seems to be an end to that treatment and they also told me that they are looking into another line of treatment that will boost production of my platelets. This will either be by tablet or injection. I guess I will have to wait until the specialist appointment on Monday to know whether they will pursue this course of treatment with me or not.<br />
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In the meantime please pray for energy levels and clarity of thought as I do all I need to do this week.</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-54748221110260376462013-11-05T14:17:00.003+00:002013-11-05T14:17:41.523+00:00Attitudes of a leaders @ RFC #1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>You may have seen from Sean's blog that he has been going through his session notes from the leadership summit that we had back in September. I too have been asked for my session notes and will put them up here as I try to get the blog back on track!</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">John Maxwell argues that our attitude is our
greatest asset in leadership, because being a leader is to bring influence and
therefore our attitude affects the attitudes of all those around us.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">At RFC we are people who want tp work at being those who </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">have</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> positive </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">attitudes</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> as we believe that is what it is </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">to</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> follow Jesus, particularly in leadership.</span></span></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1: Erring to
grace<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span id="goog_1315211230"></span><span id="goog_1315211231"></span><br /></div>
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<a href="http://sandrahersey.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/2017924_f5201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://sandrahersey.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/2017924_f5201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The other way of looking at this is to say how do we
respond when someone messes up around us or </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> quite do it how we would do
it and therefore maybe not as well as we might think we may have done? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When someone lets you down on team by not turning up,
when you feel you’re being asked again to go again, when someone </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> do
what they said they would or what you have asked them to – how do we
respond? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We could go straight for the behaviour. This is the way to is done, this is what you
said, this just </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">isn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> good enough! The
problem with this is that firstly we are a volunteer organisation. As much as we need people to follow through
on what they say they will do, they will mess up just like us! </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The second thing to remember here is that God </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> treat us like this. He walks with us in our behaviours bearing with
them training and teaching us, that we might become more like him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Erring to grace </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> mean we shrug our shoulders
and ignore the fact that things are not going well, it means that we choose to
work with the person to help them grow and that could mean releasing them to go
do something else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Within church leadership, grace is paramount. Grace
says there’s room to get it wrong, grace says there is room to do it
differently, grace says there is room to grow, and grace says we deal with you
as an individual.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><i>That's it for this week, next week we'll look at Embracing Generosity</i></span></div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-57526136612282127452013-10-23T16:38:00.002+01:002013-10-23T16:38:42.548+01:00ITP is...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/The_Royal_Berkshire_Hospital_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2356331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/The_Royal_Berkshire_Hospital_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2356331.jpg" width="320" /></a>Something I had never heard of until 3rd September. It transpires that it is a reasonably rare blood disorder where your immune system attacks the bits of your blood that make it clot. These are called platelets and they should be at round 150 in a healthy person. When my blood was tested on 2nd September my platelet count was 4. Low eh!<br />
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This kick started a hospital chain reaction: 2 phone calls from the on call specialist, an admission to A&E, a 7 hour wait to see a doctor, admitted to the Clinical Decision Unit for three hours sleep before a day of observations and blood tests. <br />
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When I did see the specialist on the 3rd, he could at least rule out, leukaemia! I didn't even know it could be leukaemia! Phew! However I was also told not to cycle or play badminton or do anything to strenuous in case i had an internal bleed or of course an external one!<br />
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Since that time I have had many blood tests and have got very used to the 'sharp scratch' that I am always readied with. I have got used to some medical jargon and also being treated really well by excellent health care professionals. I have had two different drugs pumped into me via infusions, the latest of which we are till waiting to see if it will have the desired effect. <br />
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I have told the story many times and I have even taken to using Face Book to update people as to the latest status reports. I even wonder whether Bruce Forsyth may start a new game where he can do higher and lower and just call it 'The Platelet Count'!<br />
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Today I sit here not knowing what has caused me to have ITP and I do not know when the count will be normal and I do not know if it will stay normal once it has to to that place. I generally feel fine, but just get very tired very quickly. The steroids I have been on are the cause of this as well as the increased appetite, the irritability, and the facial puffiness that are recognisable side effects (honest governor). It's also been an emotionally tiring time. Not knowing what will happen next and just riding the rollercoaster is an exhausting journey; not being able to do things that you really enjoy, in case you hurt yourself unnecessarily is frustrating; being irritable with the ones you love the most is upsetting; and just choosing positivity in itself can be a battle.<br />
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In all this we choose, as a family, to cling to God, to thank him that this is not cancer or anything else more severe; we thank him that we can continue pretty much as normal in family life; we thank him for a great church who has stood in prayer support; we thank him for a great job which has shown flexibility with random hospital appointments and procedures; we thank him for family and friends who have been a great support; and we thank him that we walk this journey of faith with Him.</div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-8287053376485897782013-10-22T13:12:00.002+01:002013-10-22T13:14:34.179+01:00Encouraging feedback is always nice!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">This is an entry posted on the RFC student page on Face Book. It's from an oversees student who saw that there was a home here for her. I'm so glad to be part of a church like this!</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Hi Reading Family Church! Most of you wont know me but for those of you that do, I just want to take the time to thank you for all the warmth and hospitality that you have extended to me over the last year that I was in Reading finishing my final year of LLB Law! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">I am currently doing a Postgrad in Cardiff, am in the midst of searching for a church to settle into, but RFC was definitely homeee for me, the whole of last year! I am sooo thankful to have met and known alot of reaaaally great friends from there, and with whom i'm still in touch with until today! </span><span class="_4-k1 img sp_fuslt2 sx_88de95" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yA/r/UCB4YRmLPJN.png); background-position: -17px -767px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> (you know who you are :P) </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Thank you Student Team for organising so many student lunches and having different families/couples hosts us for Sunday lunches! If you are new, trust me! You wont regret joining those student events! Id say, its at those smaller gatherings that i got to know people on a more personal level and have the privilege of enjoying a good meal with </span><span class="_4-k1 img sp_fuslt2 sx_88de95" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yA/r/UCB4YRmLPJN.png); background-position: -17px -767px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Sorry for this long post, should have done it earlier, but finally got around to doing it! </span><span class="_4-k1 img sp_fuslt2 sx_88de95" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yA/r/UCB4YRmLPJN.png); background-position: -17px -767px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> God bless, folks! </span><span class="_4-k1 img sp_fuslt2 sx_88de95" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yA/r/UCB4YRmLPJN.png); background-position: -17px -767px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> xx</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Let's be encouraged and keep welcoming and extending warmth to all who we come across, we just don't always know the impact it has!</span></span></div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-84596191112834105942013-05-16T16:43:00.000+01:002013-05-16T16:43:13.520+01:00It's a faith thing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Things have moved fast over these past few months - as such I have accidentally had a blog sabbatical! <div>
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Most of my energy has gone into Alpha, being a dad and of course helping RFC jump to 3 meetings on a Sunday.</div>
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These three meetings mean we now have 823 seats available to us on a Sunday in two venues over three meetings. Current numbers show us that we are about 50% there so we have enough seating capacity to grow.</div>
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It's brilliant to know that we can invite our friends along to church knowing that there is room for them. It's brilliant to know that when new people arrive they will see that there is a place for them.</div>
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As we have made more room, we have already seen new people join us and long may that continue. </div>
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To aid this, over the next few weeks we are going to be stepping out in faith. Instead of sitting around waiting for people to arrive, we are going to do something. This Friday we put out a wrap on the local newspaper, Get Reading, which has a circulation of 68,000 homes (<a href="http://seangreensblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/this-weekend-67000-homes-in-reading.html">see Sean's blog entry here</a>). We will then be putting out 20, 000 leaflets around the reading area as life groups.<br /></div>
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Why don't you take the opportunity to use these two things to have a conversation about your faith and maybe invite someone to church. We have been called to join Jesus in his mission of seeing a people brought back into relationship with our father God. Let's grab any chance we can. </div>
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Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906174134561796746.post-90766841211120496582013-02-28T17:11:00.002+00:002013-02-28T17:11:21.285+00:00A Church endeavouring to show grace and love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have just returned from our good friends in Croatia, Zdenko and Ivana. I spent the weekend there encouraging and cheering on a pioneering work. Zdenko has a great vision for his nation that we will cheer on and partner with for as long as he wants us to<br />
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It may sound so obvious to many of us that the Christian faith is about Jesus and ultimately the fact that we have been invited into a wonderful relationship with a Father who loves us. We are so familiar with the concepts of grace and mercy and love not legalism, that it passes us by that in parts of the world where this is not the predominant understanding of what being a Christian is.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/299974_2303992757646_1941394_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/299974_2303992757646_1941394_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zdenko and Ivana with Ian and Judy Anderson</td></tr>
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The people who are making up Light of the World Church are endeavouring to bring the message of grace and love to a country that deeply needs it. A message that says Jesus not religious traditions is King. <br />
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I am deeply impressed with their perseverance and faith to keep going in the face of suspicion and even people talking against them as being a cult. They love Jesus and are willing to stand for the very things that we take for granted. <br />
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Keep praying for our friends there that the mission that they have been called to, to change the expression of Christianity in that brilliant nation, will have a great impact on both church culture and the prevailing culture of the country. Please pray for a venue for them to meet in on a Sunday morning in Varazdin. Pray that many will find Jesus through the growing ministry there.<br />
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Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09705912182649897859noreply@blogger.com0