Who runs the church?

Who runs the church? ”I”, said the Pastor, “I am the master. l run the church”.

Who runs the Church? “I”, said the deacon, “Don’t think I’ll weaken. I run the church”.

Who runs the church? Said the man in the pew, “Let me tell you, I run the church”.

Who runs the church? All these are wrong.

This is the right: When Pastor and deacon And men in the pew Are simply just channels For God to flow through – GOD RUNS THE CHURCH.

From Aaron Linford

So leaders & attenders alike its time to get our hands off:)

When the crap hits the fan?

A few thoughts from Pastor Mark's message at MKCC on Sunday. Image Bearers - Fruitful.

• Even when you or anyone else didn't see anything in you God intentionally chose you.  
• Often we feel like we are striving not thriving - but God is at work in both these extremes to transform us. 
• God is at working in your life to make you an OAK not a twig.
• You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit! - John 15:16 
• Jesus is the only TRUE vine (source of life) not even the church can give you what Jesus can 
• Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes,t hat it may bear more fruit - John 15:2 / God's plan is to make you more like him.
• When the crap hits the fan in your life, maybe don't blame the devil, & ask what is God trying to teach me. 
• The Christian life has to be a supernatural life because without Jesus we have no hope of living it 
• Jesus is the centre, not a priority on a list 
• Abiding in Jesus love means we will love others. Love not condemnation will always be our highest goal towards others

Check out the full message here.

The Simple Invite

Today sees the consecration of the first female Bishop in the Church of England. As discussion rages on the rights and wrongs of this development, an article in the Telegraph about Libby Holden simple journey of faith gripped me much more:

It was as an 11-year-old girl that Libby Holden, as she then was, first found her way into the church. 

Her family, from Glossop, Derbyshire, were not regular churchgoers and it was only through an invitation from a young friend to a children’s group at St John's church in nearby Charlesworth that she first attended. 

It was a simple, almost unthinking, act of kindness when she got there which had the biggest impact on the schoolgirl – and, by extension, helped alter the future history of the Church of England. 

“From the moment I turned up, that church community welcomed me into their extended family and their love for me loved me into faith,” she explained last month.

Read the full article here

A Simple invitation from one child to another, kindled by the love of a community, changed a life forever.

Ye mind me o' departed joys, Departed never to return

Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon
How ye can bloom so fresh and fair
How can ye chant ye little birds 
And I sae weary fu' o' care

Ye'll break my heart ye warbling birds
That wantons thro' the flowering thorn
Ye mind me o' departed joys
Departed never to return

Oft hae I rov'd by bonnie Doon
To see the rose and woodbine twine
And ilka bird sang o' its love
And fondly sae did I o' mine

Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose
Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree
But my false lover stole my rose
But ah! She left the thorn wi' me

- Robert Burns

Happy Burns Day

Cant see the video click here.