Todd the Cod, Charlie Chips, and ‘Kay with a blue fish’ start the show (with the help of many, many helpers…you know who you are…thank you everso!)

http://www.dailyliked.net/crazy-man-jumps-into-lion-enclosure/ video

I did not show this in church today as involves violence, (you don’t see any blood…and the chap is interviewed at end!)

I was searching ‘lion’, thinking of Genesis 4:7, where we are warned sin is always crouching nearby like a lion.

Sin is separation from our loving God. Sin very often starts with a tiny decision to do something you know is wrong, but you make your own excuses. Then it is all too easy to get a bigger ‘fix’ for whatever that short term desire is, and sin sneakily gets you more & more.

This fella ended up on amphetamine, (available around Morton), literally fighting lions.

I hope this makes YOU think about that little temptation or desire you WILL have.

Be richly blessed, Pastor Andy.

Hi Readers.

Yes…summer is here, people are walking past the Manse in shorts and T shirts, and the garden is growing at double speed. Our flimsy pagoda (posh word for big trellis thingy) has bloomed from spartan wood to a veritable jungle, and I can even see grapes starting to form. Mrs McManus, knowing I am allergic to gardening and other forms of DIY, yesterday went out and chopped the ‘extra’ bits off. I am not a gardener, so cannot explain, but if we don’t get rid of the extra bits, they turn into waste, and hinder the good stuff, i.e. grapes, growing.

Now there are a whole lot of symbolism I could think of here, particularly linked to John 15 in the Bible. But what is on my heart is something sometimes called ‘affluenza’, the disease of always wanting more (covetousness).

How about looking at you, your stuff. We all have clutter, especially me, but it is surprising what might be waste, and stopping us from growing.

My mobile phone broke last week. Initially I thought this was SO important, more important than all ‘the grapes’, and I simply couldn’t do without this slab of plastic. Well, what happened is one of my favourite words. I ‘adjusted’. From reacting to the instant world in my pocket, I had to look and listen to real people, think about the immediate world around me, and I even started to read more quality books.

What I thought was vital had turned into waste, was restricting my growth, and needed trimming.

So…how about chopping off some waste stuff this summer, and just enjoy the sun in your shorts and T shirt!

Blessings, Pastor Andy

Pastors blog for July 2016

Hi Readers.

Looking back so much has happened recently. Although the weather was against us, May Camp was a huge success with loads of Christ-centred kids craft, Bible discussions twice daily, communal food and great evening entertainment. It was literally a full house on the final evening with 50 enjoying the 4 fellas doing their first private gig away from worship at Bourne Baptist (thank again fellas).

The Queen’s 90^th birthday was celebrated in grand style at Dyke Chapel, with her official message of serving our divine King and those around us fitting perfectly with the chronology of our Sermon series on the Lord’s Prayer. Also a substantial money gift was raised for our Ladies in the Congo. Thank you.

We had a very positive Member’s Meeting where we unanimously agreed to press on with all the refurbishment proposals. These include pseudo-stained glass to upper front windows, sage green curtains, new carpet, folding glass partition doors and a lick of paint throughout. The repairs to the plastering will be finished next week.

The Gift Day raised over £5,000. I am absolutely blown away by your generosity. Forms are being prepared to apply to East Mids Baptist Asscn for a matched grant.

Looking forwards the ‘Your Youth Club’ are around 20 strong, and are going to ‘Bounce’ in Peterborough this month, and we are still looking for volunteers to work in our shop on the normal roster and the Morton Street Fair this month.

Please pray for both MND & Dyke churches. Let the love of God that we have been blessed with shine out to all that we meet, particularly in our villages.

Be richly blessed, Pastor Andy.