Lighthouse Update

Those of you who have been observant may have noticed that this issue of the magazine only covers two months. We have decided to change the sequence of the magazine to better reflect church activities and the seasons. The first of the new quarterly magazines will run from December 03 to February 04 (Winter).
Walk thru the Bible
We are pleased to announce that we have arranged two Walk thru the Bible Seminars for 2004.

Questions like, which came first the chicken or the egg? have teased people for years. But would we know who came first Jonah or Job?

Walk thru will help us discover the answer to Jonah or Job, and many others, as well as revealing the big picture of the Bible. This is a must for all and we strongly advise that this is not to be missed. Even if you have been to the seminars before, still come

Each seminar lasts for a whole day and will be held on Saturdays. Further information will be available nearer the time.

The dates are 31st January (Old Testament) and the 3rd April (New Testament)

Book these dates into your diary and plan now to come and be part of these exciting journeys into and through the Old and New Testaments.

Thank You

On August 22nd this year Michelle and myself were married at Stanway Evangelical Church. As part of our celebrations many of those who shared the day with us kindly donated to a charity we had selected, 'Compassion UK'.  The objective of 'Compassion UK' is to sponsor children around the world within a Christian framework.

Michelle and we were overwhelmed with everyone's kindness and generosity and are pleased to report we have collectively raised sufficient funds to support a child's educational and spiritual growth for the next four years!

The information we have recently received, which we promised to share with you all, is that we are now the sponsors of a young boy named 'Big' who is four and lives with his mother in Thailand. His mother does work but they live in relative poverty. Bigs' family are actually Buddhists, however Big is attending a Christian Sunday School each week with the support of 'Compassion UK', which he apparently enjoys very much!

Once again Michelle and I can only express our thanks for all those from Stanway Church who made this happen, and we look forward to sharing further updates on Big over the next few years.

With love
Simon & Michelle

How to be safe this year!

 1. Avoid riding in Cars because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.
 2. Do not stay at home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.
 3. Avoid walking on streets or paths because 14% of all accidents happen to pedestrians.
 4. Avoid travelling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.
 5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in hospitals. Above all else, avoid hospitals.

You will be pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given time is at church! Bible study is safe, too. The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even lower.

FOR SAFETY'S SAKE
Attend church and read your Bible
IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

A Memo from God

'How Precious...to realise that you are thinking about me constantly!'
Psalm 139:17 TLB

'I knew you before time began.  I even know how many hairs are on your head!  Like parent, like child; you're created in My image. Not only have I got plans for you, I've also given you the talents needed to fulfill them.  And what I give, nobody else can take away. But don't neglect them; remember to exercise them and stir them up daily.'

'Rest assured that I've started a good work in you and I¹m going to finish it.  I always complete what I begin. My Word concerning you is forever settled in heaven. My commitment to you is unending.'

'In this life, you¹ll have challenges, but cheer up; I've robbed Satan of his power to hurt you, and the world of its power to destroy you! When you're in trouble, remember I'm a very present help. Give Me your burdens and I'll sustain you. When you're stressed-out or weighed down by the pressures of life, lean on Me. I'll be your Rock, your Fortress, your Deliverer and your Strength. Even though you fail from time to time, you won't be destroyed because I'm holding you.'

'But a word of caution: don't take advice from those who are spiritually blind, and don't hang out with sceptics.  Delight yourself in My Word and like a big oak tree growing by a river, you'll be fruitful and prosper in all that you do.'

'PS:  I¹'d love to hear back from you.  See you at My place on Sunday!'

This article was taken from
'The Word for Today'
as published by U.C.B.
PO Box  255
Stoke on Trent
ST4 8RY.

The making of man - a cautionary tale

Once upon a time, the evolutionary scientists were feeling very pleased with themselves.  The great human genome project had been completed thanks to anew fast method of sequencing genes.   Yet another theory on how life had arrived on Earth made them confident that before long they would be able to produce life in their laboratories.

'God' they said, shaking their corporate fist towards heaven, 'you're finished, redundant, a primitive myth'.
'Really' replied the Almighty, 'I don¹t know.  But who will run things if I'm not here?'
'Who?' asked the experts incredulously.  'Why, Man will run the Earth - nay, the Universe. Our scientific know-how will enable us to build a future free from dogma.  One day we expect to create eternal life'.
'You can create life?' asked God
'Why yes!' said the biologists. 'We can already clone creatures; and test-tube babies are yesterday's technology.'
'Can you make a man?' asked the Lord
'Why certainly - given a little more time and plenty of funding, even making a man in the laboratory will be possible'.
'Yes but could you make a man as I made him, from the dust of the Earth?'
'Uh, well yes, eventually, of course we could.  We are entering a technological explosion. Soon there will be nothing that man cannot do. A tower to reach to heaven, that's modern science'.
'Well, do to it then' said God.
Supremely confident, the scientists began to gather up sacks of dust.
'What do you think you're doing?' asked God.
'We're collecting the dust to take back to the laboratories, in order to research how to make a living man from its elements, like you did', they replied.
'Oh, no, no, no, no' said the Lord God. 'You get your own dust!'.

Creation Science Movement

Did you know?

Christmas crackers were first made in 1850 by a London sweet maker, Tom Smith.  One night he was sitting in front of a log fire watching the sparks and cracks coming from the flames and thought what a wonderful fun idea it would be if his sweets and toys could be opened with a crack when their fancy wrappers were pulled in half - and so Christmas crackers began.

Holly and ivy was used in pre-Christian times to help celebrate Winter Solstace Festival.  After Christianity came to Western Europe, United Kingdom and Germany were the main countries to keep the use of greenery and it was given a Christian meaning.

The prickly leaves of holly represent the crown of thorns Jesus wore when crucified.

The berries are drops of blood shed because of the thorns around His head.

Ivy needs to cling to something to support itself as it grows and this reminds us that we need to cling to God for support in our lives.