​Hebrews 11:1 
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

​This is part of the view from my bedroom window – it’s easy to spot BH tower and the sea in the distance. If I’m sitting in my armchair in the living room, I can’t see any of it. It doesn’t occur to me, ever, to think that because I can’t see the English Channel it’s no longer there. I don’t imagine for a second that because I can’t see it somehow it no longer exists.
My bedroom window has a great view and having seen it once I don’t doubt that the sea is there even on a foggy morning. On a hot day I may go down and dip my foot in it or even swim in it and then I actually feel how real it is [and how cold!] Whether I feel it or see it or not doesn’t change the fact that it’s there.
Similarly, if I were to say to you [and almost anyone else on the planet] on a cold, wintry, cloudy day that the sun was a figment of someone’s imagination and if it did exist it certainly wasn’t bright or hot or powerful then I think you’d say I was daft! I’d have to agree😊. The light from the sun, which I was doubting, is the only reason I would be able to see the clouds which obscured it.
Strangely, we don’t often follow this thinking through when it comes to God. God doesn’t always answer our prayers as soon as we’d like or even in the way that we’d like. Some days are difficult or just plain horrible and we wonder if God is there or if He is how could He be a loving, powerful God. If we want to know the reality of God, we go back to that day in world history when His Beloved Son was skewered to a wooden cross because “God so loved...” and we rejoice that God IS love and He never changes whatever the weather, whatever our view. He is the reason we exist and we exist for Him and can confidently put our hope in Him Who raised Jesus from the dead and gives us forgiveness, His Holy Spirit and eternal life.

Faith Tested
 'Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves’ 2 Cor 13:5
 
Many folks are being tested to see if they have, or have had, Covid-19. This verse talks about the ‘testing’ of our faith. You see, there is a danger that our faith can be counterfeit, and won’t save us at all.
Some of the saddest verses in the bible to me are Matthew 7:21-23, where the Lord is warning that not everyone who calls themselves a Christian will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. There will be many on the Day of Judgement who will be shocked not be allowed in. ‘But Lord, didn’t we prophesy, drive out demons and perform many miracles in your name?’ (v22). These people were deeply religious and active in their (counterfeit) faith. But, they were unknown to Christ. ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers’ (v23). Please don’t let that be you!
 How can we test our faith to make absolutely certain it’s the genuine thing? The clue here is in the words ‘I never knew you’ spoken by the Lord. How does He know us? Firstly He knows us because we have entered in through Him already. He is the gate for the sheep. Personal faith in Christ is the way to enter the Kingdom of God. The shepherd knows His sheep. Secondly He knows us because true believers are forever resting on Him, praying to Him, walking with Him. Their faith is not an activity – it’s a relationship with Jesus Christ, and a living one at that.
 
Not sure of your faith? Then test it – examine yourselves in the light of the bible. Seek the Lord now, who is the giver of true faith. Ask, and it shall be given. Seek, and you will find.

There will be a short prayer meeting on Tuesday 21 July 19:30 to 20:00 over zoom.  Please join the meeting via MyChurchsuite.  Please let the office know if there are any problems

Anna is from St Luke's Prestonville, in training for ordination and will be with us on placement until the end of August.

As part of my placement with BH I’m writing a personal journal. In one of the first entries I’ve written that I am full of hope for what I will learn and pray that I might have a prepared mind, and heart to learn it, but also that I’m a bit nervous I won’t be able to serve God as He might want.
It was this passage that got me thinking that sometimes we’re tempted to pin our hopes on things that we can lose, like our sense of identity, our ‘ego’, our worldly achievements, or the football results going the way we want them to. This passage tells me to fix my eyes on Jesus, because, if I keep on in faith and hope in him, he’s going to reveal to me whatever it is I need to learn, he’s going to open new life in me through hearing the Gospel afresh. I am thankful for the wonderful opportunity God has given me, in this placement, for learning and growth as a disciple.  

​Take a moment and think of someone that you know really well, the sort of person who you can finish their sentences or just glance across the room and know instantly what they are thinking. Thought of someone? Now ask yourself this question, is your relationship deeper, fuller, richer because you know them in a deeper, fuller, richer way?
 
Keep that in mind as you read these words from Paul:
 
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.  (1 Timothy 1:3-5)
 
When Paul wrote to Timothy about the church in Ephesus one of first things he told Timothy to do was to tell some of the leaders to not teach certain doctrines (Doctrine means truth). In other words he was to tell them to not spread things that were not true about God, and by implication to teach people right doctrine, right truth.
 
Right doctrine leads to right understanding of God… But here is the key bit… the more we know God, the more we will love him. The deeper, fuller, richer we know God, the deeper, fuller richer our relationship will be with him.
 
Therefore as Christians we ought to be those that long to know more about God, we ought to be trying to understand what it means for God to be the creator and for us to be his created creatures. We ought to be longing to know something more about what it means for God to be a triune God. Why? Not so we can pass a theology test, but because the more we grapple with such things the deeper, fuller, richer our love of God will be.
 
To close, here is a really helpful quote from Frank Sheed that sums it up well:
 
‘A virtuous man may be ignorant, but ignorance is not a virtue. It would be a strange God who could be loved better by being known less. Love of God is not the same thing as knowledge of God; love of God is immeasurably more important than knowledge of God; but if a man loves God knowing a little about Him, he should love God more from knowing more about Him: for every new thing known about God is a new reason for loving Him.' 
 
If you would like to try and dig a little deeper into God but don’t know where to start please get in touch and i’d love to help you start digging.

​Ben

On October 31, 1942, Winston Churchill addressed three thousand mine- owners and mine worker delegates. He said:
‘I sometimes have a feeling of interference. I want to stress that. I have a feeling sometimes that some guiding Hand has interfered. I have a feeling that we have a Guardian.’
 
His faith was vindicated to the full by event after event during World War ll
It would appear, however, that that guiding Hand responded to a national willingness for this nation to call upon God in their hour of need. 
 
Post-virus, post-Lockdown plus the glorious weather is having a rejuvenating effect on society. For now. But the future, especially for younger generations, holds daunting challenges.
 
Will we as a nation take a lesson from history as outlined below and will the Church lead the way?
 
Dunkirk 1940 -  the King called for a Day of Prayer. Crowds flocked to church to pray. What was widely acknowledged as a miracle occurred with a gap in the awful weather, plus Hitler inexplicably halted his advance. 
 
Battle of Britain 
August 11,1940 - a Day of Prayer was called by George VI.  The following week 180 enemy aircraft were shot down
September 8, 1940 - defeat in the air seemed inevitable.  The King called another Day of Prayer. That week, 185 enemy planes were shot down and Goering gave up his assault.
By 15th September, Churchill was able to declare victory in the air.
 
Planned invasion of Britain 
23rd March, 1941 - the King called another Day of Prayer unaware that this was the date chosen by Hitler for the invasion. German ships were blown off course and the Fuehrer changed his entire plans.
 
North Africa 
September 1942 -  a fifth Day of Prayer was called. Montgomery was appointed as the commander of the Eighth Army and led the British forces to the significant victory of 
El Alamein - a major turning point of the war.
 
Italy
3rd September, 1943 - a sixth Day of Prayer was called. Italy surrendered within 24 hours.
 
D-Day and beyond
Spring 1944 - a seventh Day of Prayer was called for all military personnel. As at Dunkirk, the poor weather hindering the offensive suddenly gave way to fine weather on 6th June allowing the Normandy invasion to begin, during which time far fewer lives were lost than expected.
​
Psalm 11:3
​"When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
Phil

​https://mailchi.mp/5a90f2b807af/noticias-3876338?e=714c4585fc

It’s Time to Pray

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy?
Let them sing songs of praise.”
(James 5:13 NIV)

I think we’ve all been in situations that appeared to be impossible, with no way out. We’ve desperately needed or wanted something, but it seemed as though there was no way we would ever have it. The power of God that is channelled through prayer, changes all of this.
One truth that the Bible presents very clearly, is that prayer can dramatically change situations, people – and sometimes even the very course of nature. But what prayer changes the most, is you and me; we change when we pray.
It is easy to forget that the purpose of prayer is not to change God, or to get Him to do something differently. The objective of prayer is to align ourselves with the will and purposes of God.
It is sobering that God will allow hardship, challenges, need and sometimes even tragedy, so that He can reveal Himself to us. He allows things to happen in our lives to show His power and glory – and so we will turn to Him in prayer.
Often, prayer our last resort. How often have we said, ‘Well, I’ve contacted all my family and friends; I’ve done all I can do, I can’t do any more. All I can do now is pray.’
However, the first thing we should do, is to pray and ask God for His help, His direction and His provision. We need God’s help – and that’s why we pray. When we realise our own weakness, we are ready to see God’s strength.
Someone put it this way, “If you are swept off your feet, it’s time to get on your knees.”
Whatever our situation in life, we need to pray.
 
Dear Lord, teach me to pray, with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength, at all times, in all situations, and for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
​Simon

​As we gradually come out of lockdown there are a number of positions
that we could love to be able to fill in the coming weeks. Could this be
your opportunity to serve your church family?

PCC Secretary - Preparing paperwork for PCC and Standing Committee
meetings, and taking the minutes.

Pastoral Team members - our Pastoral Team do a wonderful job, but
there's also a lot of demand, and we'd love to supplement the current
members of the team with a few others. This would involve some visiting,
dropping by, perhaps the odd errand, and looking out for people.

Website / social media team. Our digital presence will probably always
need to be enhanced, and we need people with the skills to be able to do
this - from the commissioning, to the editing to the tech side too.

​Or maybe you would like to serve but don't think you quite fit the bill
above. If so, do be in touch with the Office, as there are many
opportunities to serve at BH. office@bhmc.org.uk or 01273-732965
Phil

​“And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.” Ezra 3:11-13

As Evangelical Christians we have an ambivalence about church buildings. We know that we don’t need to be in a special building in order to hear from God’s word or worship him. Yet the buildings in which we meet with our brothers and sisters do become special to us. For some, they are spaces in which they were married or baptised. They may be the place we first heard the gospel and the place in which we are most comfortable worshipping. As we begin to use our church buildings again it will be a great joy to see one another again yet there will inevitably be disappointment too as we sit apart, unable to sing God’s praises together.

We must continually remind ourselves that the physical and visible gathering of God’s people is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to being ‘church’. We are sometimes a group of people in the same place at the same time but we are always the body of Christ. We are always brothers and sisters of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are children of a heavenly Father, living stones, beloved sheep who know their Shepherd’s voice; we are a holy people, a chosen nation, saved by grace, bought at a price and given an inheritance in heaven! What an incredible thing it is to be the church!

As we meet, physically or virtually, feel free to make sounds of joy or of weeping…or both at once!
​Catharine

​For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. (2 Corinthians 7:5–6)
 
I’m grateful for this snapshot of the apostle Paul needing and receiving encouragement from a friend. I’m feeling pretty…well…blaaah. Well, even those who know God so well, those who grasp the gospel a zillion times better than us—even these saints experience restlessness and weariness.
 
It’s easy to default to “performancism” and “spiritual-giant syndrome.” If we just prayed enough, believed enough, or were filled with the Spirit enough, we’d skip right through this pandemic which has shattered everything that’s normal.
 
God comforts us when we’re “bugged,” disgruntled, and conflicted. He doesn’t deride, chide, or hide from us. He comforts us. He’s “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). Even when we fall (or jump) into self-pity, he woos us back to gospel sanity.
 
He often does that through comforters like a Titus (above), or a Phoebe (Rom. 16:1). He loves to show his kindness for his children through his children. May he comfort us. And may he point us to other weary travellers who need a listening heart, a gentle word of comfort, and a non-anxious presence.

​Have you got a favourite Bible verse? I wonder what it is? Before going on to mine, why don’t you just say it in your head again and enjoy the truth it tells you and cling to it afresh this morning.
 
Well here is mine:
 
‘He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.’ 2 Timothy 1:9-10
 
I can remember sitting in my bedroom as a 15 year old using some book i’d been given to help me with my devotions when I was pointed to this verse. I haven’t a clue what the book said but the verse has stuck with me ever since.
 
I love it because in these two small verses I am reminded that..
 
1.) God has saved me entirely and completely by Grace
2.) This grace is seen in the real walking and talking Jesus.
3.) Jesus has destroyed death (just read those words again… destroyed death!!)
4.) Jesus has brought complete life.
5.) He wants me (even me with all my mistakes and baggage) to follow him today.
 
That is my favourite verse, read it again, and it doesn’t matter if you forget this bulletin in a few hours time… I hope you cling to 2 Timothy 2:9-10.
 
But even if you don’t, keep clinging to Christ and your favourite verse in the Bible.

Revelation 20:4-6 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
 
 
Recently I’ve been listening to the book of Revelation, read by David Suchet. Massively recommend this way of opening up the last book of the Bible. It really feels like what’s being read is happening right in front of you. As I listened to Revelation 20:4-6, I found it incredibly moving to picture great saints and martyrs of old being elevated to positions of authority in God’s kingdom, reigning with Christ for a thousand years. Especially considering that some of the people who fit that mould came from fairly lowly backgrounds, thinking back to the apostles and those who gave their lives standing up for the gospel during the reformation, many of whom were just your average blokes.  
Obviously, it’s up to God, not us, to decide who sits in those positions, but knowing that ordinary people just like us will reign with Christ for a thousand years. WOW! What an encouragement to live blessed and holy lives that seek to emulate those great saints of old, and ultimately emulate Jesus. But also, to know that we will get to be part of the same kingdom, sharing in the same resurrection as the great heroes of faith that have gone before us, should bring us so much joy. I often wonder what it will be like in Heaven to sit round and chat to Bonhoeffer and Thomas Cranmer. Can’t wait to find out!

​As Phil has already mentioned services are starting again in church with a 9am service on the 12 July.  This will be with a few people who normally attend the 8am service plus a few extras.  For services from the 19 July onward there will be the opportunity for anyone to come but spaces are limited so you will need to book your place.  When the booking opens for a service there will be 30 places available and as people book depending on the size of groups that book more places will be made available.
You can book your place either on MyChurchsuite, the website or if you don’t have internet you can ring the office.  You will need to book a place for everyone in your group that is coming including anyone under 18.  Booking for the service on the 19, 26 July and 2 August will open on Sunday 12 July. After that booking for each service will open 3 weeks before the date of the service.  Booking will close at 12:00 on the Friday before the service.  Please don’t come if you have not booked a place because if we are full we will not be able to let you in. When you book you will receive an email confirming your booking.  This will include some instructions about the service so that we can keep everyone safe.  We would be grateful if you could read them before you come.  This is new for all of us so please bear with us as we get this service up and running.

​                    Make God Your Goal

In the front of my bible is a verse from the hymn by Frances Brook:

My Goal is God Himself, Not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, My God.
‘Tis His to lead me there - not mine, but His –
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.
 
Over my Christian life it has been such a help to have that aspiration in the forefront of my mind and prayers. Seeking God, not blessing, is what true worship entails. Our eyes and hearts, should be fixed on Him. Knowing God is eternal life (John17:13).
Don’t misunderstand me – in seeking God there are blessings by the bucketful -  joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, goodness, comfort, power, provision, guidance, spiritual gifts - to name but a few! I can say this with confidence, because it says in Hebrews 11:6 that ‘God rewards those who earnestly seek Him’. Do you want Gods blessing and reward? Of course you do. Then make God your goal. Earnestly seek Him – through prayer, trust, faith and joyful obedience.
Phil

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