- IT TAKES A CRISIS
To remind people how frail we are, of how dependant we are, and these are times when people start reaching out for big answers, start reaching out for truth that they’ve needed all their lives, but not felt the need for. Joel Virgo being interviewed by ITV News reporter Andy Dickinson.
The interviews were prompted by the fact that a Brighton church which has a thousand members already, saw 2,000 tune in, live, for its morning service alone. Interviews with Joel and also Archie Coates of St Peter’s church in the same city prompted the Andy Dickinson to conclude his report by saying of the content of the messages presented by Emmanuel (and I am sure St Peter’s too) that were “messages needed now, more than ever” - The interview and accompanying article are to be found here-
- https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2020-03-24/church-doubles-attendance-with-online-services-due-to-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR1wfBT1TQgCKflKvDDj-df8TBZcgMYrf9fhjnXTxgsrWjMkeMwoFub6Xvk
The ITV page has a direct link to last Sunday morning’s meeting at Emmanuel.
REACHING OUT FOR BIG ANSWERS - God –
- Why are you doing this?
- Why are you leading us this way?
- Are you, in fact, leading us this way?
- Where are you? If you are there at all?
- LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL OF A GUN
A few weeks ago, I was in hospital for a few days (nothing serious!)
I was privileged to spend one day on a ward where I was with two guys who were having day surgery for cancer.
As guys do, we talked about just about everything. I learned so much from them and was grateful for their friendship and encouragement.
One of my companions told me of his dreadful experience of church when he was about 8 years old, how he had asked a question, about a bible account which they were being told (I guess in Sunday school), and instead of receiving an answer or even a kind reply, was told that he was a troublemaker, and was banned from the class. Telling the story around 50 years later, it was still vivid in his memory, and was almost re-living it as he told me. He thought, well, if you can’t try and answer my question, then I have no time for this faith.
Having only learned, that morning, of his cancer diagnosis, he clearly was beginning to think within a whole different framework.
As he pondered – almost thinking out loud he said 'of course there are big questions that we know are there, but we put them off, thinking we will think about them later. They are the questions that you think about when you are looking down the barrel of a gun' ….. then a few moments later ‘I guess I am looking down the barrel of a gun”
WHAT TO DO? WHERE TO GO?
Well you could do worse than follow the link on the ITV new site!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVEzWZywlS4&feature=youtu.be
Many churches are livestreaming their services. Why not check out one near you?
The Alpha Course addresses many of the Big Questions in a way that respects the doubts, anger, and feelings of many towards God, Christianity and life!
https://alpha.org.uk/watch/alpha-at-htb takes you to the series run at the home of Alpha, Holy Trinity Brompton in London. This one is kicked off by Charlie Mackesy, the author of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse
Or this https://alpha.org.uk/watch
Alpha works well or best when doing it with other people!
In this period of ‘lockdown’ the internet gives us the ability to do this – which is good for us in so many ways, not least that we are talking to people and actually socialising and making new friends whilst maybe just finding some of those Answers
Let me know if you would like to join such a group – wherever you are!
Contact chris@caughtbythelight.net