Zion Baptist Chapel
WHAT HOPE FOR 2006?
Well, Christmas is over and the New Year is here. It only seems like yesterday
that we were celebrating the start of a new millenium, but already 2005 is
consigned to the history books. Despite all of those lovely things we enjoyed
over Christmas - somehow the first credit card bill of the year brings us back
to earth with a bit of a bump! And what about those New Year's resolutions
- some of us have given up making them because we know they all too often turn
into New Year's disolutions!
Life sometimes seems like one long cycle of expectation and disappointment, of hope and despair. When we set out to change our lives for the better our will power often seems to be no match for our won't power. I recently read these words written by someone who clearly understands what it is to be human: "I obviously need help! I realise that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable."
How most of us long to break out of this and to see something dramatic happen to our life! How we long to 'live life to the full' and not just 'survive another year'! In the same book that I have just quoted from I also found these words: "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present." Each new day is the first day of the rest of our lives, we get another opportunity to take a couple of steps forward, even if we end up taking one step back in the process.
But we needn't take the journey alone. These quotes, perhaps surprisingly, both come from the Bible - and the second quote concludes "This is what God says: I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is!". Christians around the world will tell you how they have experienced the miracle of life change as a result of meeting Jesus. If you're interested in meeting Jesus for yourself, then the Alpha Course is one way that this could happen. A course will be starting locally in February - more details will be in the next issue, or call us for more information. Here's hoping that 2006 will be a significant year in your life - Happy New Year!
Additional Notice
A ladies Bible study will be running over 10 Thursday evenings between January and July 2006. The study is based around a book by Beth Moore entitiled 'To Live is Christ', and a video which is shown during each session. A fee of £5-£7 will be payable to cover the cost of the book. Anyone interested should leave their details on the Chapel Answerphone (01223 811524) and Denise Wells, who is facilitating the study, will call you back. All women are welcome.