On Beside The Burn this week, we turn to Daniel and find out that God Rules The Earthly Kingdoms. These are chaotic times that we are living in. We are approaching two years since the first lockdown and we are still struggling to see any sort of normality in the distance.
For those who expect government to have all the answers, one disappointment comes after another, and while we watch one government expecting a collapse, the disintegration happens elsewhere.
We may use that word “unprecedented” to describe what we are experiencing, but as we turn to Daniel we see that there is nothing new under the sun.
This week Daniel interprets another of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and Nebuchadnezzar discovers who is really in control of his kingdom.
All of these have been mentioned on the Blog before but you may have missed them.
The Book Of Daniel
This is an excellent retelling of the story of Daniel,
Free on YouTube or a higher quality version is available with a Amazon Prime subscription or can be rented from Amazon for £1.99.
https://youtu.be/FYDvYkbnabk
Another Daniel Film
Here is another film of the story of Daniel
https://youtu.be/xtwy-cLpoi0
Daniel An Overview (9 minute video)
This is an overview of the book from the Bible Project.
https://youtu.be/9cSC9uobtPM
All the previous Episodes of Beside The Burn on Daniel
https://burnsidechurch.weebly.com/blog-bstb/daniel-beside-the-burn
40 Women
Lent this year begins on Wednesday 2nd of March and covers the 40 day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. This year we are going to take the 40 day journey exploring the lives of 40 significant but perhaps often overlooked women. Each day on Beside The Burn we will read a bible passage about one of the women and consider their part in the Easter Story. The 40 women can be found in the book “40 Women - Unseen Women of the Bible from Eden to Easter” by Ros Clarke. Like our journey at Advent it isn’t essential to have the book but you will probably find it a helpful addition. You can order “40 Women” at any good bookshop or online. It is available as a download on Kindle - £5.69 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/ From Amazon in Paperback -£7.75 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/ From 10 of Those in Paperback - £8.49 - https://www.10ofthose.com/ If you would like me to order you a copy which you can pick up in Burnside please email me or tell me on Sunday or leave a comment on the blog. (Cost £8 for ease of calculations) You can read the first 3 chapters at either of the Amazon links above. |
Let’s Pray For Keith Preston (International Meeting Points - IMP)
Pray for wisdom and guidance for Keith as he leads the work of the two IMPs. Pray for the staff and volunteers, especially Shirley McGonigle the new Assistant Project Leader in North Belfast. Pray that many of those who come along to the IMPs will come to faith in Jesus Christ. Donegal & Stranorlar (Co Donegal) Pray for the ongoing work and witness of the two congregations. Pray too for wisdom as they consider restarting activities and programmes now that restrictions are beginning to ease. |
“Reading Between The Lines” a series working through the bible looking at the well known phrases.
The Fatted Calf
Open Doors are encouraging us to pray for Afghanistan this Month.
More Details Here - https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/afghanistan-prayer/
Tuesday 8 FebruaryWith Afghans in diaspora, the opportunities for the church all over the world to come together and welcome them have multiplied. Today, pray for all the church communities reaching out to Afghan believers – may it be in Central Asia, or anywhere in the western world.
Pray for all the church communities reaching out to Afghan believers, that they would receive the refugees with genuine warmth. Pray that the refugees would assimilate well in their new lives, and that, through the testimony of the church, they would know and accept Christ’s gift of salvation.
A wonderful animation helping children (and indeed anyone of any age) to find out what it means to know God - from J.John.
JJohn_KnowingGod.mp4 from Canon J.John on Vimeo.
China
Over the next fortnight, China will look to further showcase its capabilities on the global stage as it hosts the 2022 Winter Olympics. However, for the country’s Christians, the games are expected to bring increased monitoring. It's symptomatic of the increasing persecution facing believers. Someone who has experienced this first-hand is Pastor Timothy. This is his story... https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/china-tea-persecution/ |
Online Worship?
Online worship ruptures our common sense: our eyes (sight) and ears (auditory) are in the sanctuary while our bodies (tactile) and our noses and mouths (chemical) are in our living rooms. Read More https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/common-sense-worship-debate/ |
Faith After Doubt (40 minute audio)
Ever notice how Doubt gets a bad press in Christianity? Always seen as a negative & dangerous, but what if doubt is not always the evil pitfall, but is sometimes the compost from which the green shoots of faith can spring? What if the danger is not that we doubt, but that we deny doubt, pretend that it does not exist & so do not handle it well what if that is the real issue & the real pitfall. Brian McLaren is author of ‘Faith after Doubt - Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do About It’ https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21332/421855 |
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw
Jean 2:35
Eddie 2:40
Play the "Mussenden Tuesday" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=0c3814fdf517