So Bad So Soon
You may, like me, have read this in your morning bible reading on Wednesday.
Adam’s oldest son kills his own brother. A deliberate, planned, murder. Cain and Abel.
Why?
A whole load of answers to that one. Life was all about himself. God had rejected his offering (v5) and Cain was furious. But his offering wasn’t the best he could have done (unlike his brother’s). He had done wrong and he wouldn’t admit it. He was at the centre of his own universe; the epitome of sin. And his resentment and jealousy ended up shedding his own brother’s blood and taking his own brother’s life. So soon after the Fall. It’s terrible; and it’s just like us, because our hearts are just the same as Cain’s.
Next Friday is about blood too. Shed blood. Jesus’ blood. Shed not out of resentment and fury, but shed out of love, sheer love. For you and me. So that our Cain-like hearts may be healed and we may have a new life. Next Friday is so important that it’s worth preparing for, and that’s why we have services each evening during the week before Easter, called ‘Holy Week’ in some places. Our little series starts on Sunday (morning and evening) and we’re doing to work our way through the ‘Servants Songs’ in Isaiah. We’re going to think about the Suffering Servant, shedding his blood for us, and we’re going to prepare for Good Friday, and the glories of Easter Sunday.
Prepare well. We’re heading for a wonderful weekend.
​

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Don't forget to book your place at the Easter services.  Full details of the services and how to book can be found by clicking on the picture.

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4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.

As a young leader in the church there’s obviously a reason why this particular passage strikes a chord with me but I think there’s an incredible message which we all can learn from.
We can often get into the habit of saying ‘no’ to God, making excuses “I’m too young, too old, too stupid, too ugly, too weak, too tired, too stuttering, too depressed, too anxious, too useless” to do great things for you.

But do you see what God says to this; “Before I formed you in the womb” I had set aside great things for you to do. As we’ve been looking at in our morning services in Ephesians lately; God chose us before the creation of the world. Before he formed us, he had chosen us and set aside things for us to do

He has called us all to do great things for him. Whether that’s preaching in front of stadiums, speaking to everyone we know about God like Jeremiah, or prayerfully absorbing his word each day and being an encouragement to those around us. God has chosen us to do those things and will provide us with all we need to do them. He will give us the spirit that 2 Timothy tells us is not the spirit of timidity but the spirit of love, power, and self-discipline. He will use that spirit to remove fear from us. He will reach out and put his words in our mouths.
If you see me at any point soon, please remind me of this passage! It’ll probably be the thing I most need to hear.
​Alex.

Few things are more important to our growth as Christians than to be able to understand the Bible, and so to feast on the Word of God.
Phil & Ben have set up two workshops to help us grow our skills in handling the Bible:
Monday 7th June, 7.30pm
Monday 27th September, 7.30pm
Come to one, come to both.
They’re for anyone who wants to be better at understanding the Bible. So that’s everyone then!
But we’d really like all preachers, future preachers, small group leaders, youth and children’s leaders to come, along with anyone doing a 1-1, or anyone who would ever lead a bible study.
We hope to meet in person, it may have to be on Zoom, but for now, it’s two dates for your diary.​

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“ CAMEO = Come And Meet Everyone Online”
 For the next couple of months, at least, Cameo won’t be meeting  in the Church buildings so we would love to invite anyone who is able to access Zoom on a Thursday morning, between 11:00 and 12:00 approximately, to join us for refreshments & chat, topics of interest, quizzes, discussions and more...please come along using the link in ChurchSuite and we look forward to meeting you there.

Life in all it’s fullness
‘
Rivers of living water will flow from within them’ John 7:38
 
Near to where I live in Lewes is the Winterbourne Stream. As it's name suggests, it's a stream that only flows in the Winter months. It's a chalk stream, that begins to flow when the downs around become fully saturated with rain water, then, like a sponge, can hold no more. At that point the Winterbourne flows. One day it's not there, the next day it is. The water is clear and fast flowing - I love it, and walk by it into town most days.
 
Here in John chapter 7, the Lord Jesus invites the 'thirsty' to come to Him and drink. He means, of course, the spiritually thirsty. For those that do come and 'drink' of the saviour - those who 'believe' in Him (v38), there begins a flow of 'living water' that flows out from within them. This 'living water' is the Holy Spirit (v39). Not only does this water satisfy the believer, but it overflows to be a blessing wherever the believer goes. God's love is a river that flows out, not a lake that stays still.
 
The Winterbourne stream ceases to flow in late Spring. God's living stream never ceases to flow. It's a spring of water that 'wells up to eternal life’ (John 4:15). 'Give me this water' cries the Samaritan woman at the well.
 
Why not make her words your prayer today?
 
'Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life'
Revelation 22:17
Phil

​I wish…
This poem is taken from Paul Tripp’s Lent Devotional ‘Journey to the Cross’. I found it really stimulating and hope you will to!
Enjoy!
Ben

I wish I could say I asked you,
But I didn’t.
I wish I could say I reached for you, but it didn’t happen.
I wish I had thought that I needed help,
But my mind was elsewhere.
I wish I had sought your wisdom,
But I saw myself as wise.
I wish I had leaned on you, 
But I thought I was standing up straight.
I wish I had cast myself on your grace,
But in the mirror I looked like someone who didn’t need it.
I wish I’d begun each day with you,
But I was too busy.
I wish I had ended the night with you,
But I was too tired.
I wish I had spent more time in your word,
But I had people to see, places to go.
I wish I had looked ahead to a pathway I couldn’t traverse alone,
But I was too focused on the here and now.
I am older now with more life behind me than in front of me.
I mourn my 
assessments of strength,
my appraisals of wisdom,
tagging myself righteous,
my quest for independence.
I regret the moments lost,
Opportunities gone, 
Dreams now faded.
I would spend my last days
In the cloud of despondency,
beating myself up,
hoping to get back what is forever gone,
if it were not for your grace.
I would not be able to
look up as I
look back.
You went to the cross knowing
every choice I would make,
all that your mercy would need
to cover.
I can be honest about my choices.
I can confess it all,
and I can rest
because your grace is that
thorough
and your love has that much power.
Through the years I have learned
that to find strength to
look back,
I need the grace to
look up.
 
Question to consider… What resonates most with you in the poem and why?
 
Lets these words refresh you as you repent and receive God’s forgiveness…
 
‘Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,  and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.’                                      

Please click on the link below:
https://mailchi.mp/b9ba082cc9d9/noticias-3941646?e=714c4585fc

Divine Peace
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
  
Most of us know the words of John 3:16 by heart, but perhaps 2 Thessalonians 3:16 should also be added to our memory banks.
 
The Apostle Paul concludes his letter to the church in Thessalonica by praying a profound blessing of peace over their lives. During seasons of difficulty, suffering and even persecution, we who have put our faith in Jesus can experience an unshakeable, divine peace. The constant presence of Jesus in our lives helps us to walk forward with calm; we are confident that He is sovereign over our circumstances.
 
God’s presence with us is not wishful thinking; this is a promise from His Word – and He always keeps His word! See Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, Zephaniah 3:17 and Matthew 28:20.
 
God’s peace is always available to us – and in every way. Jesus is our peace, and through the power of the Holy Spirit His presence is always with us. His grace will guide us step by step and fill us with peace – even when we face problems and difficulties.
  
Dear Lord, fill me to overflowing with Your peace today. Help me to focus on Your holy presence, not on my problems. Amen
​

A video from Laura about the Easter garden in case you missed it at the services yesterday

​“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.” John 6:44-48
 
Quick context: Jesus has just fed the 5000, a miracle that reminds the people of what Moses did in the desert, and they are suddenly clamouring for him to give them more. In fact, they want to make him King (v14) and overthrow their oppressive overlords.
 
Jesus has just told the people “I am the bread of life”. It’s some statement isn’t it: How can belief in a man lead to physical hunger being abated? The people don’t get it. We might miss it ourselves; Jesus is the single and most important thing we need. And not just day to day, but as v40 says, for eternal life.
 
And then we get Jesus’ response to the people after they grumble about his words: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them…”
 
This is challenging isn’t it? It’s a reminder that God is the only one who can open eyes. We can present the most logical and rationale of arguments for belief in God, live a moral and upstanding life, but however much we may try, only God can draw people to himself.
 
I don’t want that to be a discouragement for us in our evangelism! Rather the opposite, that it would spur us to pray. Particularly for family members and friends whom we would desperately love to see turn to Christ. Pray verse 44, that the Father would draw those for whom we pray, so that Jesus may raise them at the last day for eternal life with him.

​If you would like to support the BH Lent Appeal please see the details in BH News or contact the church office office@bhmc.org.uk
​ 

Do you remember that moment on the school playground? 
Everyone lined up for a game of footy, the self-appointed team captains chose their favourite players, and everyone was desperate to be picked.  I can tell you from personal experience it felt pretty awful being the one left until last!
​
 It feels like that is the story of life a lot of the time.  We LONG to BELONG. 
 
Ephesians 2:19-22 says that our inherent human desire for belonging is profoundly fulfilled in the gospel.  Paul has been saying how the Gentile Ephesian believers (and therefore all of us who aren’t Jewish) did not belong.  But Christ’s death has destroyed the barrier bringing peace, reconciling believing Jew and Gentile into one new humanity.  The incredible result of that is that ALL believers belong together as the people of God.   
 
Ephesians 2:19-22 
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.  
 
Previously, Gentiles were like Brits abroad sticking out like a sore thumb (imagine the locals playing spot the tourists!)  They were like someone watching through a window into a cosy home but having to stay out in the cold.  They were foreigners and strangers, excluded from any of the benefits and blessings of belonging to God.  Now, in Christ, they DO belong!  Paul has three images he uses to describe this belonging: 

1. Citizens: Gentile believers are not 2nd class citizens but fellow citizens.  They have the full rights of inclusion into God’s kingdom.  This citizenship transcends all national or ethnic identities as God gathers a people from every tribe, tongue, language, and nation.   
   
   
2. Family: Believers are not just welcomed into the kingdom but given a place at the family table.  Regardless of our experience of earthly families, how wonderful that the gospel brings believers into God’s household- adopted by our Heavenly Father and made brothers and sisters with other believers.   
   
   
3. Temple: Believers are not just like children who live in the house but also the bricks that make up the house.  Whereas the temple was where God lived, now – remarkably – it’s his people!  Built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets (i.e. the gospel) and with Jesus himself as the essential part of the construction, God is growing his magnificent building project brick by brick as more people trust in him.   

 
Human beings do have an 'inherent' desire to belong.  Our culture tries to find all sorts of ways to make that happen, creating boxes to fit people into.  However, when circumstances change then we no longer fit into that box and we need to find another one.  The world will never be able to offer a fully satisfying solution for our desire to belong.  But Jesus does- he demolishes the worlds boxes and gives us a sense of belonging that transcends all the categories our world could come up with.  Therefore, if you are a Christian your story of life doesn’t need to feel like lining up on the school playground being picked for football!   
 
You belong… in the most profound of ways. 
You belong... to something precious, stable and eternal. 
You belong… to the big thing God is doing on planet earth. 
You belong… as citizens of the king, family members of our heavenly Father and a temple dwelling where the Spirt of God lives. 
 
You belo​ng, with me and with every other believer, TOGETHER AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD! 
Rich

Following the first part of the JHMT Lent Appeal earlier this month in which the Frith's new Ayla Project was featured please click on the link below to view their video again:
https://youtu.be/R2SfUPA1N0g
Please also find the link below to the written information:

                  Running the race to win
 
‘Let us keep in step with the Spirit’ Galatians 5:25
 


Every year at my primary school sports day I used to win the three-legged race. There was a science to that race that my fellow competitors (losers) failed to grasp. Now that my race days are over, let me let you in on the secret.
 
1) Strap yourself REALLY tightly together when you tie the tape around your ankles. So tight, that your two legs act as one.
 
2) Run with your arms around each other, and let one person take the 'Lead'. That way you will run in absolute harmony - the two running as one.
 
3) Most importantly, choose the fastest boy in the school as your partner. In my case this was Martin Green, also known as the human whippet.
 
Such was the winning recipe and it guaranteed top marks for the our team plus a bit of 'street cred' for Martin and I.
 
You can see where I'm going on this as regards Galatians 5:25 can't you? The Christian life is often referred to as a 'race'. A race that we are called to win (1 Cor 9:24). In order to win, we must keep in step with the Spirit. I'll let you apply my three-legged science to the Christian race and to take comfort from the truth that we have God Almighty as our partner. Always let Him take the lead and bind yourself tightly to Him with the cords of obedience and trust.

'I run in the path of your commands' Psalm 119:32 
Phil

Please click on the link below for details of JHMT's second Lent beneficiary:

There will be another opportunity this evening to pray again for our country starting at 7pm. It will finish at 7.30pm when you will be able to join your Small Group meetings.  The links can be accessed via MyChurchSuite.​

On Sunday we heard that we are all part of the One Body, the church and we all have a part to play. Almost every part of church life is in need of extra support and help but the two we focused on in particular were our children and tech teams. If you think you might be able to serve in one of those roles we would love to hear from you.
Get in touch with the office for more information.
(office@bhmc.org.uk or 01273-732965)

      God cannot be measured
 
      Our God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty
           There are some things God cannot do.

In our primary school there was a craze of the bendy rulers. Was that just a London thing?
Now, bendy rulers are useless for drawing straight lines but everyone seemed to own a bendy ruler where I was, they were cool and fun. So of course I had to have one too.
I remember getting this ruler and measuring everything. Shoe size, mug circumference, the length of my fingernails – I had my ruler so nothing was off limits!
 
You may chuckle at my sadness (!) but I think it’s a human condition. We humans LOVE to measure things. We ask how tall are you? How wide is that sofa? What’s the calorie count of that Galaxy chocolate bar? We want to know! Because measuring something, it makes us feel safe, we can quantify and compare and it gives us that feeling of control and comfort.
 
Just look at Isaiah 40:
 
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?
13 Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counsellor?
14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
    or showed him the path of understanding?
15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
 
God measures out EVERYTHING and no one and nothing can measure out God.
Do you see how on human scales He is off the charts!!? There is no ruler big enough, no scale large enough, no tape measure long enough; God is off every chart and rips apart every scale. It’s like Isaiah is trying to depict God’s greatness but struggling to come to terms with it! This is a God we can’t conceptualise; we spend so much time wanting to know measurements but God doesn’t fit into our boxes.
​
Clever theologians call this God’s Infinity, nope, He’s not like Buzz Lightyear!! Infinity means limitless, boundless, uncontained, not finite, unmeasurable.
God is not like us, He is infinite, we are very definitely finite.
God cannot be measured.
 
Woah.
Isn’t this incredibly humbling? And a little bit scary?
Let that thought inspire you to humility but also to worship, why not use the words of Romans 11:33-36 to praise and worship the God of no limits. What. A. God.
 
3 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counsellor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Stephen

In 1963 Martin Luther King spoke of his dream, where people will not be judged by the colour of their skin. And yet racism today is rife. His dream is way off coming true. Indeed, our world is a world divided. There is a depressingly relentless cycle of racial hostility, and political strife, and military conflict.

Then there are personal conflicts: tensions between colleagues in our offices, the cruelty and hurt online, and the cruelty and hurt in many households in our neighbourhood – perhaps in yours. All of us will know something of the pain of broken relationships: the broken hearts; the broken lives.

Billions is spent trying to control divisions, to keep us from strangling each other, and on diplomacy and social work and education and so on. But if there’s progress in one area, it’s often short-lived. And even if it lasts, there’s always another division elsewhere that’s starting or continuing. We’d love to wake one morning to find that hatred, bitterness, division and warfare were things of the past. But we seem no closer to a solution to all this hostility.

Yet there is a passage in the Bible which describes a group of people who used to be deeply divided, but who are now “one”, that is, utterly, deeply, permanently united: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2.13-14).
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There is a way to achieve Dr King’s dream. There is a way to bring deep and lasting peace between people. It is the cross. And only the cross. So consider what a great act of love it is to our society for you and I, individually and together, to promote the message of the cross.
Dave