Charis Christmas Newsletter - December 2009
It’s Christmas !!!
In our house the Christmas tree has been up for a week, the decorations are in place, so just in case I wasn’t aware, my family were quick off the mark to establish our “tradition” with the tinsel in place and the Christmas spirit flowing.
Now I am listening to Christmas songs old and new and there is much wrapping of presents already, but as I have been reminded its only a couple of weeks until Christmas.. wow !!!! It is really almost here again……
I should have realized it last week when I was driving in the city centre and wondered why there seemed to be an excessive amount of traffic on Sheffield’s roads, parking was almost impossible, and then it struck me …the Christmas rush was happening!!
What was it the angelic host said to the shepherds “Peace on earth..”..... “parking in Sheffield” was what I was thinking!!! but I gave up and came home!!!
Don’t get me wrong, it is great to give and receive presents at Christmas time but I wonder if the true meaning has gotten lost somehow
The wise men brought gifts to honour the arrival of the Saviour of the world and of course He is the greatest gift anyone can receive. For God so loved us that he gave us the gift of Jesus His only son, and if we will receive Him into our lives we get the best present ever…the gift of Jesus and eternal life. (my paraphrase of John 3:16)
We have so much to be thankful for. Firstly and most importantly the gift of Jesus and the grace He offers us, and then of course all of the promises of God that find a resounding yes in Jesus Christ our Saviour, 2.Cor 1:20. He has come and brought with Him all His fathers blessings to give to us!
Bing Crosby of “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas “ fame said.” Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it white”. By the way, here is a great verse about snow. "Come let us reason together says the Lord, though your sins are as scarlet they shall be as white as snow". Isa 1:18. Jesus totally eradicated our sin so we are as white as snow in God's eyes. That's a great blessing to consider this Christmas time.
Christmas is such a special time but it should last all year.Even though the snow melts, God's unconditional love in Jesus remains intact, He always sees us whiter then the snow with no blemishes!! So we have something wonderful to give as a gift to everyone we meet. Jesus and His cleansing renewing love for all mankind. That’s something we can all share this Christmas and throughout 2010.
So after the parking nightmares and finding the right presents plus getting the tree up and the decorations in place, spend some time thinking about the “Prince of Peace”, He’s the only one who can bring peace into our lives.He’s the true gift of Christmas and the blessing that we need to receive and share with everyone we meet.
Have a peaceful and joy filled Christmas
Blessings
Barry
back to top
Charis Newsletter 3 - July 2009
Hi,
Welcome to the third newsletter from Charis Church International. We are excited about what is happening this year and would be thrilled if you would register to receive our newsletter by email.
Summertime
It looks like summer has finally arrived ,Wimbledon, the men’s final was exhausting!!!, strawberries and cream!! Cricket, (the Ashes!!) all the sounds of summer and of course holiday time and a well deserved break hopefully!!. It’s a good time to get some rest and recreation and recharge the batteries.
In the Old testament resting was done on the Sabbath day but there were some serious restrictions as to what you could and could not do on that day. Apparently there were about 215 things which were added by tradition that you were not allowed to do on the Sabbath under fear of punishment which turned a day of rest into a day of dread!
Fortunately Jesus was very antagonistic about the legalism surrounding the Sabbath
In Luke ch 6 he states that the Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath. In other words the Sabbath rest day was to be for the benefit of man but man had turned it into a legalistic obligation adding more weight onto mans already heavy laden shoulders.
Jesus said in Matt 11:28-30 “ come to me all you who are weary and burdened, take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light”
There is no legalism with Jesus, He rendered the law and oral traditions obsolete at the cross and introduced a better covenant based on grace
To really find rest we need to understand the finished work of Jesus on the cross. When he hung on the cross he cried out “it is finished“. In that moment in time, Jesus was declaring that He had successfully taken the sin of all of us upon himself thus setting us free from the terrible guilt of living under law so we could enter His rest.
Resting in Jesus isn’t just one day a week it’s every moment of every day. Because His work was finished Jesus entered heaven and “sat” down beside His Father. Sitting indicates rest and the end of labour. Jesus had indeed completed the task His Father had given Him and so could sit down.
The good news is that we also can sit beside Jesus and rest, because in Him we no longer have a burden to carry and can also live in a permanent state of rest Eph 2:6.
As far as God is concerned we have been made perfect forever by Jesus, (Heb 10:14) with no obligation to observe 215 regulations in order to try to get some rest and recreation!!!!
Jesus paid the price so we don’t have to . So whether it is sunny or dull we can enjoy resting in His everlasting love, Jer 31:3..
Enjoy the summer, come to Jesus and enter His rest ,put your feet up and bask in the blessing of being accepted in Him(Eph 1:6) without worrying about legalistic obligations and the traditions of man.
Blessings,
Barry
back to top
Charis Newsletter 2 - April 2009
Hi,
Welcome to the second newsletter from Charis Church International. We are excited about what is happening this year and would be thrilled if you would register to receive our newsletter by email.
Easter Traditions and Symbols - Food for Thought !!
.png)
If you are a chocoholic then Easter can be a difficult time. In case you weren't aware it's almost Easter! I walked through the supermarket the other day and the variety of chocolate Easter eggs on sale was incredible, not to mention chocolate Easter bunnies as well and of course we mustn’t forget the famous Cadbury's crème egg. mmmm ..... How do you eat yours? I yielded not to temptation though and walked swiftly by to the salad section to get my "Italian Herb salad" for my lunch!!!
We do have some amazing traditions at Easter time though. In Australia they have something called the Egg-Knocking Game. Everyone pairs up and everyone then chooses an egg. The two partners take turns tapping their partner's egg with theirs. The first egg to crack loses and the winner goes on to challenge other winners until there is one egg. How interesting is that !!! I know…. not very !!!
Throughout history, eggs have been associated with Easter celebrations. In ancient times, the egg was a symbol of fertility and new beginnings. Christians adopted this to represent their Saviour's resurrection. The egg knocking game seems a
long way off the original intent doesn’t it!
Now where did we get hot cross buns from? The Greeks and Egyptians ate small cakes or buns in honour of the respective goddesses that they worshipped. Buns marked with a cross were eaten by the Saxons to honour their goddess Eostre - it is thought the bun represented the moon and the cross the moon's quarters. To Christians, the cross symbolizes the crucifixion.
The popularity of lamb as a meal at Easter is undoubtedly related to its importance as a symbol at Easter. During the Middle Ages roast lamb became the traditional main course of the Pope's Easter dinner, and it is still customarily served on Easter Sunday in many European countries. As a Christian symbol, especially associated with Easter, a lamb is often depicted with a banner that bears a cross. It is known as the Agnus Dei, meaning "Lamb of God" in Latin. (John ch 1v29)
The origin of the symbol is related directly to the Jewish Passover when the Jews sacrificed a lamb just prior to their deliverance from Egypt. The blood of a lamb was sprinkled on the doorposts of every Israelite house as a sign of protection from God’s wrath (Ex.ch.2 v13) as He delivered them from the oppression of Egypt. The Apostle Paul recognized that Jesus is the true Passover lamb (1.Cor ch5 v7) who died to remove our sins permanently. He took the penalty we deserved and delivered us from the power of sin so we are no longer under God’s judgment or anger.(John ch1v29). He then gave overwhelming evidence for the physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead (1.Cor 15). After Jesus paid our debt completely, He came back from death to prove and reassure us it was indeed all paid up, once for all (Heb ch 9 v12, 26:ch10v10). Easter is certainly the most amazing demonstration of God’s love for us(1.John ch 4 v10).
Therefore by His death and resurrection we have certain confidence that our debt is cleared permanently and we have certainty of new life now and forever.
So this Easter as you have a roast lamb lunch, munch away at your chocolate egg or chocolate bunny and devour your hot cross bun, bear in mind the real meaning behind the symbols and traditions. Through the sacrifice of Jesus (symbolized by lamb and hot cross buns) and His resurrection, we have forgiveness and new life (symbolized by the eggs and the bunnies!!). How amazing is that! Better start living this new life we have in Jesus now!!!
Now a final word for all you chocoholics, if you are struggling this Easter……..I’m prepared to come alongside you and help you, I’m prepared to make the sacrifice !!!
Blessings,
Barry
back to top
Don’t forget to check our website to see what’s coming up at Charis in the next few months …
Ken McGreavy is coming to Charis on Sunday 19th April.
Pastor Musa Bako of Victory Assembly, Sheffield is with us on Sunday 24th May.
Pastor Alan Hawkins from New Life City in Albuquerque USA is speaking at our conference on Saturday 6th June. The theme is; The Wide Open Door - Empowered for Effective Kingdom Ministry
Chuck Elmore, an accomplished singer, songwriter, worship leader will also minister at the conference go to www.chuckelmore.com to sample Chuck’s music.
Check here for conference and booking details. Don’t miss out, book early.
Charis Newsletter 1 - February 2009 Newsletter_1
Hi,
Welcome to the first newsletter from Charis Church International. We are excited about what is happening this year and would be thrilled if you would register to receive our newsletter by email.
Though the world is heading downhill with recession, at Charis we believe that… those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17). Why? Because of the finished work of Jesus at the cross. “Finished” (John 19:30) means Jesus completed all the work assigned to Him by His father when he died on the cross. Hebrews 10:12-14 tells us that after Jesus… had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God… for by one offering he perfected forever those who are being sanctified”. When Jesus sat down He demonstrated that the work of salvation was finished. Under the old covenant the priests who served in the tabernacle never sat down but stood offering repeatedly the same sacrifices that could never take away sins (Hebrews 10:11). However the good news is that through Jesus the work is finished on our behalf so now we can sit down also next to HIM! (Eph 2:4-6).
Sitting is a picture of the believer resting in the finished work of Jesus. He accomplished all the work of salvation on the cross for us. Now salvation in Greek means wholeness; which takes care of sin, sickness, and poverty.
We can now stop depending on our self efforts to earn and qualify for God’s blessings in our life. Our part is to rest and trust in His perfect finished work, receive with open arms the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness and begin to reign in life through Jesus Christ.
Today you can sit down with Jesus at the Father’s right hand and by His power, REIGN IN LIFE
Blessings,
Barry
back to top