Comments for Beyond Church at St Peter's Morley http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog "Making dedicated followers of Jesus; sharing His love with all." Mon, 03 May 2010 16:14:13 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Welcoming Our Visitors As We Would Welcome Jesus by Alan http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=40&cpage=1#comment-33 Alan Mon, 03 May 2010 16:14:13 +0000 http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=40#comment-33 Jesus could easily relate to 'outsiders' as his teachings and actions were always bringing him into conflict with the ruling 'establishment' of the Jewish faith. He taught us the true meaning of bringing outsiders in from their isolation, today it is not only visitors to our building but the greater outside - homeless, addicts, mentally ill, refugees (legal and illegal), abused, hungry, thirsty, poverty, displaced persons, ... the list is endless. It is difficult at times not to be overcome by the sheer scale of the problems of the 'outsiders' but by making welcome those who come to us searching for that 'something' then we can grow both in numbers and in faith to increase our energies and abilities to reach out beyond our present limits until finally we encompass the world bringing everyone to the true God. Until then we can make our visitors welcome and support the aid agencies at home and abroad. I will now put my soapbox away, thank for reading my comments! Jesus could easily relate to ‘outsiders’ as his teachings and actions were always bringing him into conflict with the ruling ‘establishment’ of the Jewish faith. He taught us the true meaning of bringing outsiders in from their isolation, today it is not only visitors to our building but the greater outside – homeless, addicts, mentally ill, refugees (legal and illegal), abused, hungry, thirsty, poverty, displaced persons, … the list is endless.
It is difficult at times not to be overcome by the sheer scale of the problems of the ‘outsiders’ but by making welcome those who come to us searching for that ‘something’ then we can grow both in numbers and in faith to increase our energies and abilities to reach out beyond our present limits until finally we encompass the world bringing everyone to the true God.
Until then we can make our visitors welcome and support the aid agencies at home and abroad.
I will now put my soapbox away, thank for reading my comments!

]]> Comment on Are Science and Religion really incompatible? by AutomobileInsuranceQuote http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-29 AutomobileInsuranceQuote Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:47:51 +0000 http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=31#comment-29 The web page is full of remarkable advice and also is very fun to take a look at. Nicely carried out:) The web page is full of remarkable advice and also is very fun to take a look at.

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]]> Comment on Are you sick of Christmas already? by Alan http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=37&cpage=1#comment-27 Alan Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:24:06 +0000 http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=37#comment-27 Ah, therein lies the problem Helen, I overeat all year but avoid Christmas style meals, except Chrissie pudding and custard, that way I have had plenty of practice and am able to enjoy the spiritual and the overeating part of Christmas. Food is not commercial it is a pleasure! Hence my weight problem!!! Ah, therein lies the problem Helen, I overeat all year but avoid Christmas style meals, except Chrissie pudding and custard, that way I have had plenty of practice and am able to enjoy the spiritual and the overeating part of Christmas. Food is not commercial it is a pleasure!
Hence my weight problem!!!

]]> Comment on Are you sick of Christmas already? by Helen http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=37&cpage=1#comment-24 Helen Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:04:00 +0000 http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=37#comment-24 Actually, it's not the commercial side of Christmas that seems to interfere with my spiritual preparation it's eating several Christmas style meals well before the actual day which spoils Christmas for me. Actually, it’s not the commercial side of Christmas that seems to interfere with my spiritual preparation it’s eating several Christmas style meals well before the actual day which spoils Christmas for me.

]]> Comment on Are you sick of Christmas already? by Alan http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=37&cpage=1#comment-23 Alan Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:20:26 +0000 http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=37#comment-23 Yes it is possible to retain the spirit of Christmas but I guess we all have our own way of dealing with it. I have to separate the commercial from the spiritual. The commercial side, shops full of cards etc from October is an annoying nuisance, thinking of the obligatory presents is a drag and the realisation that I am a misserable old so 'n so is not a good feeling. The spiritual side is different, I look forward to the services building up to Christmas Eve and then Christmas arrives with the Christingle service and the Midnight Mass - We celebrate the birth of Christ with joy and the long tedious commercial drag is irrelevant. Yes it is possible to retain the spirit of Christmas but I guess we all have our own way of dealing with it. I have to separate the commercial from the spiritual. The commercial side, shops full of cards etc from October is an annoying nuisance, thinking of the obligatory presents is a drag and the realisation that I am a misserable old so ‘n so is not a good feeling. The spiritual side is different, I look forward to the services building up to Christmas Eve and then Christmas arrives with the Christingle service and the Midnight Mass – We celebrate the birth of Christ with joy and the long tedious commercial drag is irrelevant.

]]> Comment on Are Science and Religion really incompatible? by Alan Clark http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-18 Alan Clark Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:15:09 +0000 http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=31#comment-18 Hi Ian Thanks for your comments. it would appear that there are several versions of Atheism as the Atheists I have known, and do know, deny the existance of a God. Therefore they believe there is no God ie they have faith in there not being a God rather than a 'lack of faith in a God'. I don't seek to discredit atheism, I only reiterate the points made by Nicky Gumbel in response to Richard Dawkins. I am a commited Christian and believe that God exists but I accept that other people think differently to me and will defend their right to put forward their beliefs. I don't know where you live, but if you are ever in Morley on a Sunday pop into the church for a cuppa and a chat, I would love to meet you. Regards Alan Hi Ian
Thanks for your comments. it would appear that there are several versions of Atheism as the Atheists I have known, and do know, deny the existance of a God. Therefore they believe there is no God ie they have faith in there not being a God rather than a ‘lack of faith in a God’.
I don’t seek to discredit atheism, I only reiterate the points made by Nicky Gumbel in response to Richard Dawkins. I am a commited Christian and believe that God exists but I accept that other people think differently to me and will defend their right to put forward their beliefs.
I don’t know where you live, but if you are ever in Morley on a Sunday pop into the church for a cuppa and a chat, I would love to meet you.
Regards
Alan

]]> Comment on Are Science and Religion really incompatible? by Ian Maxwell http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-16 Ian Maxwell Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:22:27 +0000 http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=31#comment-16 Some interesting views here but Alan is missing the point about Atheism - it is not "faith" in "no God", it is lack of faith in a God - these are not the same. It is logically impossible to prove the non-existence of something and thus an attempt to discredit atheism by reference to it's inability to disprove the existence of God is meaningless. The burden of proof is always on the claimant to prove the claim. However, "faith" requires that the adherer to the belief does so in the absence of proof. Thus, the inability to prove the existence of God is a necessary condition to believing in God. Those that do so accept this, those that don't do not. After all, of God's existence could really be proved, incontrovertibly, there would only be one religion and everybody would be a member of it. As a final comment, I personally have never found any problem with the idea that things have "just happened" and the universe "just happens" to be here and we "just happen" to be in it. I would be interested to hear why others think there has to be a reason. Some interesting views here but Alan is missing the point about Atheism – it is not “faith” in “no God”, it is lack of faith in a God – these are not the same. It is logically impossible to prove the non-existence of something and thus an attempt to discredit atheism by reference to it’s inability to disprove the existence of God is meaningless. The burden of proof is always on the claimant to prove the claim.

However, “faith” requires that the adherer to the belief does so in the absence of proof. Thus, the inability to prove the existence of God is a necessary condition to believing in God. Those that do so accept this, those that don’t do not.

After all, of God’s existence could really be proved, incontrovertibly, there would only be one religion and everybody would be a member of it.

As a final comment, I personally have never found any problem with the idea that things have “just happened” and the universe “just happens” to be here and we “just happen” to be in it. I would be interested to hear why others think there has to be a reason.

]]> Comment on Are Science and Religion really incompatible? by Alan Clark http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-15 Alan Clark Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:57:53 +0000 http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=31#comment-15 I have just read a book 'Is God A Delusion' by Nicky Gumbel which challenges the book 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins. There follows a few thoughts not a book review, if you want to read the book it will be in St Peter's library. Atheist - doesn't believe in God but can't prove 'no God'. Christian - believes in God but can't prove 'God exists'. Christians are accused of having 'faith' in something that cannot be proven BUT atheists also have 'faith' in the belief of 'no God' which also cannot be proven. So both atheists and christians believe in something that cannot be proven ie faith. Scientists both christian and atheist generally agree on HOW the universe was formed (big bang, how life evolved etc) and that it followed the order set out in Genesis but over a longer period of time. What science cannot answer is WHY it happened and WHY it evolved in the way it did and WHO/WHAT triggered that very first reaction that led to it all happening. We christians believe (faith again) that God was the instigator and guiding hand and He continues in that role. Atheists really don't have a credable answer as to where the first 'particles' came from to start it all off! So the logical answer is be a christian, have faith and believe in God. Read Nicky's book, it written in understadable english and is well worth the effort. Alan I have just read a book ‘Is God A Delusion’ by Nicky Gumbel which challenges the book ‘The God Delusion’ by Richard Dawkins. There follows a few thoughts not a book review, if you want to read the book it will be in St Peter’s library.

Atheist – doesn’t believe in God but can’t prove ‘no God’.
Christian – believes in God but can’t prove ‘God exists’.

Christians are accused of having ‘faith’ in something that cannot be proven BUT atheists also have ‘faith’ in the belief of ‘no God’ which also cannot be proven. So both atheists and christians believe in something that cannot be proven ie faith.

Scientists both christian and atheist generally agree on HOW the universe was formed (big bang, how life evolved etc) and that it followed the order set out in Genesis but over a longer period of time. What science cannot answer is WHY it happened and WHY it evolved in the way it did and WHO/WHAT triggered that very first reaction that led to it all happening.

We christians believe (faith again) that God was the instigator and guiding hand and He continues in that role.
Atheists really don’t have a credable answer as to where the first ‘particles’ came from to start it all off!

So the logical answer is be a christian, have faith and believe in God.

Read Nicky’s book, it written in understadable english and is well worth the effort.

Alan

]]> Comment on St Peter’s Goes Beyond Church… Our New Online Church by Daniel http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=3&cpage=1#comment-14 Daniel Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:14:34 +0000 http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=3#comment-14 Hello to the good people of St Peter's and All Saints'. Well, it has been two months since we launched the 'beyond church' website at St Peter's on July 5th. I just wanted to give you an overview of what people have been looking at on the website (and also how many people have visited!). Since July 5th there have been 5000+ visitors to the site! Amazing for such an early stage. The top 5 most visited pages are: > Sermons > Blog > Church Life > Youth Zone > Prayer Request Visitors are flooding in from all over the world, including China, Mexico, Australia, the Seychelles islands and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. I had to look up where the Cocos islands were! They have a popularion of just under 600 people. How wonderful is it that a small island nation 7000 miles away in the Indian Ocean has found their way to St Peter's Morley?! Keep up the good work everyone. Daniel. Hello to the good people of St Peter’s and All Saints’.

Well, it has been two months since we launched the ‘beyond church’ website at St Peter’s on July 5th. I just wanted to give you an overview of what people have been looking at on the website (and also how many people have visited!).

Since July 5th there have been 5000+ visitors to the site! Amazing for such an early stage. The top 5 most visited pages are:

> Sermons
> Blog
> Church Life
> Youth Zone
> Prayer Request

Visitors are flooding in from all over the world, including China, Mexico, Australia, the Seychelles islands and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. I had to look up where the Cocos islands were! They have a popularion of just under 600 people. How wonderful is it that a small island nation 7000 miles away in the Indian Ocean has found their way to St Peter’s Morley?!

Keep up the good work everyone.

Daniel.

]]> Comment on Are Science and Religion really incompatible? by Daniel http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-13 Daniel Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:47:57 +0000 http://www.beyondchurch.org.uk/blog/?p=31#comment-13 Hello everyone! I've just logged onto the blog and found myself being drawn closer and closer to writing a response, so here it is... I have believed for a long time that much of what science teaches is affirmed through my own belief in God. It is well known that some of the most famous physicists around the world are also Christians. Quite a few years ago, along with half the planet it seems, I read one of Dan Brown's books: Angels and Daemons. In this novel the writer refers to the 'God Particle', something science has been battling to find for many, many years: the particles that were present at the 'big bang', particles that apparently only existed for micro-seconds. It is worth noting that science has yet to find its own answer to the 'big bang' theory, the moment when creation began. Even if they find this all allusive particle that was present at the moment the Universe was created, they are still unable to explain HOW it began! Well, we Christians already know that answer surely? "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, 'Let there by light,' and there was light." I was recently asked about my faith by someone who has never been to church, specifically about my belief in God. My answer was simple: "I don't have a belief in God; I KNOW God exists. I see God's hand in all that I see. I see God's creation around me each and every day, from the fields at harvest to the people I am with. I do not believe God exits, I KNOW God exists." My blessings and prayers are with you all at St Peter's Morley. God bless you all. Daniel Hello everyone! I’ve just logged onto the blog and found myself being drawn closer and closer to writing a response, so here it is…

I have believed for a long time that much of what science teaches is affirmed through my own belief in God. It is well known that some of the most famous physicists around the world are also Christians.

Quite a few years ago, along with half the planet it seems, I read one of Dan Brown’s books: Angels and Daemons. In this novel the writer refers to the ‘God Particle’, something science has been battling to find for many, many years: the particles that were present at the ‘big bang’, particles that apparently only existed for micro-seconds.

It is worth noting that science has yet to find its own answer to the ‘big bang’ theory, the moment when creation began. Even if they find this all allusive particle that was present at the moment the Universe was created, they are still unable to explain HOW it began! Well, we Christians already know that answer surely?

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there by light,’ and there was light.”

I was recently asked about my faith by someone who has never been to church, specifically about my belief in God. My answer was simple: “I don’t have a belief in God; I KNOW God exists. I see God’s hand in all that I see. I see God’s creation around me each and every day, from the fields at harvest to the people I am with. I do not believe God exits, I KNOW God exists.”

My blessings and prayers are with you all at St Peter’s Morley. God bless you all.

Daniel

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