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Recent content by hopeforhappiness

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    Sanctuary Sunday - we are all children of God and we need to be inclusive...

    Well, ARE we all the children of God? And what does it mean to be inclusive? The sermon this morning IMO manipulated these words to guilt-trip us into facilitating migration. In the current context this is NOT the migration referenced in the bible, of individuals or family groups, but mass...
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    How does extreme sin exists along with a powerful spirit-filled ministry?

    Some really good stuff here, recognising the way things are, I would say everywhere. And this is why Jesus died, so that in observed fact, we know that neither our salvation nor our ministry is effective through our own righteousness. But of course this is clear from low-level ministry say...
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    How does extreme sin exists along with a powerful spirit-filled ministry?

    That's what I am driving at, I suppose. It IS possible for a person, even a prophet or apostle, to exercise the gifts of the spirit but with little fruit. There is a danger imo, (while others clearly seem to disagree) in labelling the whole ministry as satanic because it's basically carnality at...
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    How does extreme behaviour exist side by side with a spirit-filled ministry?

    I have been reading about TB Joshua. It got me rather perplexed. Apparently, he didn't just have 'moral failings'. Don't we all? But there were miracles and conversion and church growth (along with all those controversies that always accompany such movements). In my boring, uncharismatic...
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    Starting crying to the Moody Blues - what's the matter with me these days?

    Yes, I'm listening to this album now. Avoided it at the time. Thought it was sickly-sweet. Still do, but there are some powerful songs.
  6. H

    How does extreme sin exists along with a powerful spirit-filled ministry?

    I have been reading about TB Joshua. It got me rather perplexed. Apparently, he didn't just have 'moral failings'. Don't we all? But there were miracles and conversion and church growth (along with all those controversies that always accompany such movements). In my boring, uncharismatic...
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    Were you disappointed by your Christmas Service?

    Agree totally. But don't you see what I am getting at?
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    Were you disappointed by your Christmas Service?

    As a follow on to this. A sermon on the temptation of Christ ONLY focused on our duty and responsibility to God (OK, great), to others (justice, OK), and to creation (Ok). But in this period of Lent as Christ travelled towards the painful fulfilment of his ministry of the reconciliation of God...
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    Were you disappointed by your Christmas Service?

    I have worked 20 years in social concern, most noticeably in Fairtrade. The directing theology was of Shalom - the gospel covers eternal salvation and alleviation from poverty. I KNOW there is no dichotomy. I am NOT forcing my church to come down on one side or other in concern for the souls and...
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    How has life changed for you spiritually, having retired?

    I retired from work this time last year, although I was only working part-time. We had moved house during covid and since then we have lost a number of our Christian friends and acquaintances. We ourselves have had minor brushes with ill health and I have possible long covid in that I have...
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    Were you disappointed by your Christmas Service?

    It's all a bit sad, really. There was an ideal opportunity this Christmas to focus on the person and work of Christ, initiated on earth at his incarnation. Our minister, who is a nice lady, felt she had to interpret the Christmas story in terms of the suffering of certain groups (mothers, the...
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    Were you disappointed by your Christmas service?

    It's all a bit sad, really. There was an ideal opportunity this Christmas to focus on the person and work of Christ, initiated on earth at his incarnation. Our minister, who is a nice lady, felt she had to interpret the Christmas story in terms of the suffering of certain groups (mothers, the...
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    First sermon after the US election.....

    It's all a bit sad, really. There was an ideal opportunity this Christmas to focus on the person and work of Christ, initiated on earth at his incarnation. Our minister, who is a nice lady, felt she had to interpret the Christmas story in terms of the suffering of certain groups (mothers, the...
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    First sermon after the US election.....

    Well, the thing is, we wanted to worship locally after years of travelling, many of the church members are lovely and sometimes the visiting preacher does centre the message on Christ (but not atonement)
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    First sermon after the US election.....

    In almost the first sentence of the sermon of our circuit preacher came the words, "Trump is a liar and it's going to be really bad for the next 4 years" He normally officiates in a very social justice city centre methodist church. I saw a respectful opportunity to push back a little as he had...
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