Beside The Burn
This week we continue a new series for the summer, “Meals With Jesus!”.
One of the things that we have all missed during the Covid Restrictions is being able to eat together with friends and family. These are always such important occasions when we catch up, encourage one another and learn about each other’s lives. In church we have missed sharing those cups of tea and catching up, so this summer we are going to eat a number of meals with Jesus, continuing this week as Jesus eats with Mary & Martha.

Glen Scrivener
“Reading Between The Lines” a series working through the bible looking at the well known phrases.
Swords Into Plough Shares

New City Catechism
Since We Are Redeemed by Grace Alone, Through Christ Alone, Must We Still Do Good Works and Obey God’s Word?
Yes, because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, also renews us by his Spirit; so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; so that we may be assured of our faith by the fruits; and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/new-city-catechism/since-we-are-redeemed-by-grace-alone-through-christ-alone-must-we-still-do-good-works-and-obey-gods-word/

​The Dark Before The Dawn
A song by Andrew Peterson which reminds us that whatever darkness we face on a daily basis there is a dawn coming.

Great Faith (5 minute video)
Three times in the Bible, Jesus commends people for their ‘great faith’. What can we learn from the stories of these people? Watch this short message from UCB’s CEO, David L’Herroux on what it means to have ‘great faith’.
https://ucb.lightcast.com/player/21323/386966

How Do We Find The Truth
In a world of conspiracy theories and fake news... how do we find truth? Rev Peter Crumpler joined #UCB1 Presenter Helen to discuss.
https://t.co/e6fJM4Frz1

How To Disagree As Christians
Everyone has different opinions, but as Christians, how can we disagree with each other and still be loving and respectful? Find out in this episode of Talking Point on UCB Player. 

Jigsaw
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw


Jean 2:59
Eddie 4:21

The puzzle today is of Hilltop Farm that inspired so many of teh Beatrix Potter stories.
​Play the "Hilltop Farm Tuesday" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=1be7011a45a6

Beside The Burn
This week we continue a new series for the summer, “Meals With Jesus!”.
One of the things that we have all missed during the Covid Restrictions is being able to eat together with friends and family. These are always such important occasions when we catch up, encourage one another and learn about each other’s lives. In church we have missed sharing those cups of tea and catching up, so this summer we are going to eat a number of meals with Jesus, continuing this week as Jesus eats with Mary & Martha.

Meals With Jesus
The sermon from Sunday about Mary & Martha.

Pray For Afghanistan
Last Wednesday I shared a number of articles to guide us in our praying for Afghanistan and some of you told me how helpful they were. Although the situation is changing fast some of the articles are still useful. You can view last Wednesday’s Blog here.
BLOG FROM LAST WEDNESDAY

Glen Scrivener
“Reading Between The Lines” a series working through the bible looking at the well known phrases.
And It Shall Come To Pass

J.John - Facing The Canon
World-renowned theologian, Professor N.T. Wright joins J.John for a hugely insightful interview exploring the Bible and the First Century world. (Part 1 of 2)

Jigsaw
The times for Friday’s Jigsaw


Jean 14:08
Eddie 17:06
Derek 19:29

This week the puzzles will be from our recent trip to the Lake District.
Today the beautiful Wray Castle sitting above the shore of Windermere.

​Play the "Wray Castle Monday" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=02ffdf35591e

Holiday Photos
Some of you were asking yesterday why there were no photos from our last holiday on the Blog. I thought you might be fed up looking at them, so please feel free to skip, but here is a link to the photos on Facebook (If you have an account)
https://www.facebook.com/100027835771783/posts/902699517334566/

​Beside The Burn
This week we continue a new series for the summer, “Meals With Jesus!”.
One of the things that we have all missed during the Covid Restrictions is being able to eat together with friends and family. These are always such important occasions when we catch up, encourage one another and learn about each other’s lives. In church we have missed sharing those cups of tea and catching up, so this summer we are going to eat a number of meals with Jesus, continuing this week as Jesus feeds the 5000. We begin the week looking at some Old Testament passages which help us understand the meal.

Glen Scrivener
“Reading Between The Lines” a series working through the bible looking at the well known phrases.
White As Snow

NEW HORIZON

Below is a summary of all that took place last week at New Horizon.
It is an email that New Horizon sent out with links to all the messages.
​

For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...
Ephesians 2:14
Highlights of NH 2021 OnlineDear Friends
For five days last week, we enjoyed a feast of Bible Teaching, worship and thought-provoking seminars with NH2021 - People of Peace.  As we look back over such an encouraging, inspiring and challenging time together, we give thanks to all who worked tirelessly to make it possible, to those who joined us on the live stream or together as churches and most of all to our Faithful God  who has sustained us through these strange and uncertain times.  All the sessions from this year's event are still available on the  New Horizon YouTube Channel and on the website.  We also have session notes available for the main sessions. Here are some highlights as we look back with gratitude.  
Shalom in the Drama of Scripture Chris Wright provided a breath-taking journey through the whole of scripture as we explored the message of peace - of Shalom - from Genesis to Revelation.  
"The Bible is like one great drama – an action-packed “play” with many characters and scenes but with God Himself as the author and director of the drama and the principal character within it." - Chris Wright
Shalom in the Drama of Scripture - Tracing "shalom" through the story of creation and the fall, in his first session Chris Wright describes shalom as, "knowing the daily loving, living presence of God in our hearts and in our midst."
Shalom in Practice in Society - What should a society of "Shalom" look like?  Speaking from Leviticus 19, Chris Wright showed how God's peace extends to all aspects of our daily lives. 
Shalom is accomplished in Christ. - "God’s ultimate purpose is to bring reconciliation, healing, integration and unity – Shalom in all its fullness – to His whole creation and God is going to do it in, through and under Christ.... 
"Ultimately, the best, indeed the only hope for peace on earth, for goodwill among men, lies, as the angels said, in Jesus, the prince of peace, the one who made peace, preaches peace, and who is our peace.  Let us then be “People of peace” – through proclaiming the gospel of peace, and heeding the words of Jesus, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
Shalom on Mission in the World - in the light of God's purposes, how then are we to live as people of peace?  Chris Wright continued his series considering how our lives can either "adorn or discredit" the Gospel.
Shalom restored in New Creation - as our journey through the drama of Scripture reached its conclusion, Chris Wright explored the promises of Shalom restored in Revelation.
"Peace is not just a distant ideal to aim at. 
Peace is a personal relationship with the Prince of Peace." 
Chris Wright
Evening Celebrations with Malcolm DuncanPeace in the midst of chaos - beginning in our land of saints and scholars (which is also a land of sinners and scars) Malcolm Duncan considered how peace is rooted in Christ.
"Can peace be possible in the most conflicted of situation? Can the peace of God that goes beyond human understanding be evidenced in the church on these shores, amongst our people?  I think it can but only God can do it."
Peace between People - "Peace cannot be maintained by avoiding the hard questions or by pretending that the wrongs were not wrong."  In the face of harsh realities, Malcolm reminded us how the out-stretched hands of Jesus brought us peace and enables us to reach out a hand to others.
Peacemakers not Peacekeepers - "Let us understand God's call on us to be peacemakers... May God give us grace to remember that one day the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our God. Peace will prevail. Swords will be beaten into ploughshares."
Evening Celebrations with Amy SummerfieldPositioned for Peace - in the first of two evenings, Amy Summerfield urged us to change our posture and to spend time gazing at the Lord Jesus.  "Our lives should be changed forever as a result of this face-to-face encounter," she said.
Walking in Peace - exploring the story of Abigail in 1 Samuel 25, Amy Summerfield urged us to pursue peace even when we are living in stressful environments.  
"God wants to do a deep work in you
so He can do a deep work through you."

 NH ExploreLive streamed and recorded seminars brought challenging insights into the realities of our world and considered what God's Word has to say.  Malcolm Duncan's session "Good Grief" was a moving and relevant look at bereavement.

Jigsaw
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw


Jean 2:53
Derek 3:25

As usual the Friday puzzle is a little more challenging.
​Play the "Harbour Friday" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=3f23f82e5387

Beside The Burn
This week we continue a new series for the summer, “Meals With Jesus!”.
One of the things that we have all missed during the Covid Restrictions is being able to eat together with friends and family. These are always such important occasions when we catch up, encourage one another and learn about each other’s lives. In church we have missed sharing those cups of tea and catching up, so this summer we are going to eat a number of meals with Jesus, continuing this week as Jesus feeds the 5000. We begin the week looking at some Old Testament passages which help us understand the meal.

Glen Scrivener
“Reading Between The Lines” a series working through the bible looking at the well known phrases.
My Beloved Is Mine And I Am His

Afghanistan - Tearfund Response (5 minute video)
The people of Afghanistan are facing the triple-threat of conflict, drought and coronavirus. Corine Verdoold, who leads Tearfund’s work in Afghanistan, shares how their partners on the ground are responding, and how you can pray. 
UPDATE - Tearfund have removed this video because of the sensitive nature of the situation in Afghanistan, instead here is a short report about the earthquake in Haiti

​Andrew Peterson
Is He Worthy?
​Do you feel the world is broken?

The Bible In 30 Minutes
Ever wanted to understand why the Bible is so important? Join theologian Phil Moore and UCB's David Taviner as they discuss why we need to get into God's Word and read the Bible to understand how God relates to us. Listen now and grow your Bible knowledge!

​A Protestant Visits A Presbyterian Church
Matt from the Ten Minute Bible Hour visits a Presbyterian Church. It is fascinating to see what someone makes of things that are very familiar to us.

I am the Way, the Truth, the Life (42 minute audio)
I don’t have a favourite verse in the bible, but if I was pushed, this is perhaps the verse I think of most often.
Austin Gentry explores the verse in this podcast.
Jesus’ statement, “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life” may be controversial, but it may be his most comforting.
It challenges the 3 biggest worldviews of...

• Universalism
• Relativism
• Humanism

...showing us where real hope is found.
Listen here:
https://t.co/OTyHjMAUBa

Beside The Burn
This week we continue a new series for the summer, “Meals With Jesus!”.
One of the things that we have all missed during the Covid Restrictions is being able to eat together with friends and family. These are always such important occasions when we catch up, encourage one another and learn about each other’s lives. In church we have missed sharing those cups of tea and catching up, so this summer we are going to eat a number of meals with Jesus, continuing this week as Jesus feeds the 5000. We begin the week looking at some Old Testament passages which help us understand the meal.

Glen Scrivener
“Reading Between The Lines” a series working through the bible looking at the well known phrases.
Of Making Many Books There Is No End

Prayer
Wednesday is always the day that we concentrate on prayer on the Blog, today we have lots of articles helping us to pray for Afghanistan and Haiti.

​5 Ways To Pray For Afghanistan
We have watched the news reports this week and it is so difficult to know how best to pray, here are some suggestions from Open Doors.

https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/afghanistan-prayer/

How To Pray For Afghanistan and the Taliban
More suggestions from the Gospel Coalition

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-to-pray-for-the-taliban/



A Prayer For Afghanistan
A video prayer for Afghanistan and some additional background on the country.

https://www.prayercast.com/afghanistan.html



5 Prayers For Afghanistan

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/prayers-to-lift-up-for-afghanistan.html




A Prayer For Afghanistan - Evangelical Alliance

https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/prayer-centre/a-prayer-for-afghanistan



Afghan Pastors Ask For Prayer

https://www.9marks.org/article/afghan-pastors-ask-for-prayer/



Prayer Guide For Afghanistan
This guide was produced before the recent events but provides a lot of background information.

https://www.imb.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Afghanistan-Prayer-Guide.pdf

FIRST-HAND PRAYER REQUEST FROM AFGHANISTAN
Pete Greig (The 24/7 Prayer Course) writes the following
“The fear for Afghan people is not so much the unknown, but rather the known: a brutal regime of daily life filled with unbearable tension: regular public executions, oppression for women, fear of a knock at the door from the Taliban…
“For too long people in Afghanistan have looked for salvation from Western powers. Well that hasn’t worked. It’s failed spectacularly. We need our brothers and sisters in the global church to take spiritual responsibility and stand with us in prayer.”
Let’s pray urgently for:
1. Protection, peace & courage for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are understandably terrified. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
2. Political & humanitarian aid for the vast number of Afghan refugees suddenly displaced from their homes by the terror the Taliban.  May they discover that “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and he knows those who take refuge in Him.” (Nahum 1:7)
3. Wisdom for world leaders as they seem to respond and build an international consensus for peace. “Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;”(Proverbs 8:14-15)

Prayer For Haiti and Afghanistan

https://news.americanbible.org/blog/entry/prayer-blog/pray-for-haiti-facing-earthquake-and-afghanistan-in-national-turmoil


How To Pray For Haiti
Several pastors share their concerns for Haiti in the aftermath of the recent earthquake.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/august/pray-for-haiti-earthquake-2021-2010-christians-theodicy.html

Tides
Ruth Bromley wrote in yesterday’s Tides devotional about prayer.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
REFLECT
CS Lewis said in the movie Shadowlands, “I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me.”
 Prayer is an incredible gift that we have at our disposable to daily communicate with our maker. The Bible tells us to not be anxious or worried about anything but to pray, tell God how we feel, present our requests in every situation to him. We get to talk to God about anything at any time and in any place. Wow!
And not only that but God’s peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds. What could be better than that?

​The Blessing

Among The Ashes
Among the Ashes is a new film and prayer resource for churches from Open Doors. Learning to Lament with the Persecuted Church.

https://www.opendoorsuk.org/churches/resources/among-the-ashes/?_cldee=YnVybnNpZGVjaHVyY2hAZ21haWwuY29t&recipientid=account-4df2addbca6ceb11a82f000d3a2cff99-46a1caf3068c4db6909936574518a856&esid=d985d401-30ea-eb11-a830-000d3a2cff99