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Understanding..


"Old wine and new, which take away the understanding of my people"Hosea 4v11.

This is almost a thorowaway line in Hosea, the book the women are studying together on Thursday mornings. But despite being a throwaway line, it still has a lot to say!

I am struck by the desperate need people have for understanding; that is, we need to think clearly and engage our minds if we are to obtain any insights into spiritual things, the only things which will ultimately do us any good.

We can't get to heaven on a good salary, or a nice house, or a satisfying job. And, at the risk of banging a drum, getting to heaven is really all that matters.

The problem with substance abuse, be it "old wine and new", or drugs, is that our understanding is taken away. So we can't engage with the gospel at all. We can't take on board our desperate need for a Saviour. This dwarfs the other, social, problems associated with substance abuse. This is the MAIN THING! If we get this wrong, all else is lost. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose his soul?

I write as someone who likes her wine. But I can really understand the temperance movement of former years. For some people moderate drinking is just not an option. So no drinking is the way it has to be. And I don't think that moderate illegal drug use exists..! (Anyway, it's illegal). The reason people take these things (and drink to excess) is that they specifically want NOT to have to think. They want to dull their minds to whatever problems are too much for them. Or maybe constant exposure to reality is too much for them. But booze just kills you. Quickly or slowly. And takes you to hell. That one's worse.

At Wellfield Church we're surrounded by people who are alcoholics, reformed or current. Also drug users. It's a devastating thing to see people deliberately shutting down their brains to the only thing that can help them.

The power of the gospel is enough to change people. But they have to embrace Christ or they will never kill these deadly habits. It's getting that across to them that needs lots of hard work, lots of prayer, and a miraculous work of God each time.

"Wellfield Walking Club"

Ian's report from Saturday:

"11 intrepid walkers set off on time and in good spirit for our first church walk, the prospect of rain didn't dampen our enthusiasm.

The first casualty was jack (william nodders friend) finding a puddle that was a tad deeper than he thought! Then jack again falling over in the stream, it did dampen his pants and his mood but jen soon sorted that out with a chocolate treat.

David owen didn't disappoint with his overall knowledge of the area and the terrain with a few tales on the way.

The rain held off for the walk and even let us have our dinner on the cricket pitch. A good time was had by all, we missed all that couldn't come but there is always next time.

Ian"





The end of apathy


On the point about the cross bringing an end to our apathy, yesterday, here's a quote from Spurgeon on being 'A good soldier of Christ' (2 Timothy 2:3):

"The true soldier is an ambitious being. He pants for honour, seeks for glory. On the field of strife he gathers his laurels, and amidst a thousand dangers he reaps renown. The Christian is fired by higher ambitions than any earthly warrior ever knew. He sees a crows that can never fade. He loves a King who best of all is worthy to be served."

I confess I feel pretty flat sometimes on a Sunday after we've all met together. I did yesterday - in spite of many things that should have lifted me, I was just conscious of things that weren't as I wished: people who I'd prayed for, but weren't there, etc. But I should obey my own sermon, and these words are a good reminder - press on! You're a soldier serving a good master. Who ever said it would all go your way? Who ever said it would be easy to serve him? If a few disappointments made a soldier give up, where would that leave him?