False Idols

Welcome to Christian Charity World as we look at the subject of False Idols.

"2 Kings 17:33

So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away."

　

A good friend recently bought tickets for him, me and my son to go and watch my favourite football team play. Since boyhood I've proclaimed that I'm an avid supporter of Gillingham FC but in recent years my actual attendance has been extremely limited due both to a lack of finances and little time. Until recently I'd felt guilty that I could pledge allegiance to the team and yet not back them with my presence. After all wouldn't a true supporter be there for his team come what may; through thick and thin?

　

The fact that I was feeling bad about it perhaps meant that I was giving too much adoration to my chosen team. I was making Gillingham Football Club a False Idol. I remember as a boy attending my confirmation classes; the vicar accused me of treating football as my God because I'd missed one lesson to play for the school team. I couldn't see it at the time particularly as I felt commited to my team mates.

　

Ultimately our awe, adulation and devotion should be aimed in one direction only; at God through his son Jesus Christ. And if I feel bad about anything it should be the fact that I have offended him through my sins. I've heard it said that I shouldn't "beat myself up" if I sin as God forgives us as long as we repent. I'm speaking purely for myself here when I say that I feel that I do need to beat myself up when I sin. I need to know how God feels when I sin so that I can try and learn my lesson. Yes I sin daily particularly through thought, but I must recognise this so that I can attempt to lead a more righteous life.

　

I've also read that you know when you are a Christian when you hate the sin. Yes we continually sin but because we know it is wrong we detest that sin. When God is placed in such high regard that we care so desperately about the actions that offend him we have made him our idol. Not a false idol but our one and only God deserving of our worship.

　

By the way Gillingham beat Bristol Rovers 4 - 1.

　

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

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Cheerful Giving

Welcome to Christian Charity World as we look at Cheerful Giving.

2 Corinthians 9 — “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

I was very proud of my wife the other day. Seeing a "Big Issue" seller in the street she went and bought a cup of coffee and gave it to her. She gave it willingly and it gave her a warm glow in her heart for the rest of the day.

A very simple act you may think but it was a spontaneous gesture; an act of cheerful giving.

How many times have we passed beggars in the street? Do we look at them and begrudge giving them anything because we question as to whether the money we give will be spent wisely?

Very often homeless people have other issues. They can have drug problems, alcohol addiction, perhaps gambling issues. We refrain from giving because we doubt that our hard earned money will go towards food, a cup of tea or other things we consider necessities. Our giving then becomes subject to conditions. Is that the cheerful giving?

God calls us to give and give with a cheerful heart. It is not for us to judge a situation. If we give and give willingly, gladly, then we have fulfilled God's wish. If the receiver then chooses to spend the money on the wrong things then he (or she) has to answer to God. It can't be for us to make judgement on whether the person in need is justly deserving because we will never know all the circumstances that has drawn that person to that position. But God does. He knows that individuals full life history and He knows what is in their heart.

Cheerful giving doesn't have to be about sharing financially. It is also about sharing time, giving hospitality, listneing to somebody's woes, helping somebody in need. We may never know what effect our charity has on somebody but we can be content knowing that we have done The Lord's work. When we do see the difference that our act of kindness has on somebody we then feel truly rewarded.

How fantastic is that?

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Christian Charity World - The Prodigal Son

Welcome to Christian Charity World as we look at the story of the prodigal son.

Luke 15:11-32. The Prodigal Son

A couple of years ago I was with my wife and two boys at Camber Sands. We had pitched ourselves in the dunes on a hot, sunny, Sunday afternoon. As we were enjoying our relaxation we became aware of some children searching for something. They had lost their five year old brother. These children were obviously extremely concerned and worried and the parents were frantic. The police had been called to help find the missing boy and we joined in the hunt as well. I could only imagine the despair of the mother and father as I thought of how I'd be feeling if it was one of my two boys that had disappeared. Fortunately the story had a happy ending as one of the lifeguards on the beach spotted him.

As parents we know that we would do anything to protect our loved ones and if one of them strayed from the fold we would not rest until that child had been found. This is motherly and fatherly love; the bond that forms between parent and child. The very thought that our son or daughter is lost and they would be suffering either emotionally, physically or both, meters out such anguish and pain to a parent.

In The Story of The Prodigal Son the father despairs as his younger son takes off with his inheritance and squanders it on wild living. His son has lost his way and followed the wrong path in life. Eventually he sees the errors of his ways when all had run out. He seeks the forgiveness of his father and is truly repentant; to the point of being prepared to be one of his fathers slaves. The younger son had been humbled. Yet when his father saw his son he was overcome with joy and great celebrations took place. At first the older son could not understand his father's joy and celebration. The senior son had worked hard for his father and had never strayed. Why had a fattened calf been killed in his brother's honour?

The father explained. His son was lost and now he is found. I'm sure that every parent who reads this could understand that. We all can see how feelings of both relief and jubilation would fill our hearts if one of our own was lost and then was found.

The purpose of this parable is to make us understand how God feels when we have been treading along the wrong path and are lost. We are his children and when we are lost He is desperate for us to be found again. When we realise that the road we are on is using up all our inheritance and we humbly seek God's forgiveness, He is as jubilant as any parent who has lost a child and found them again. By turning back and following Our Father makes Him extremely happy; just like the father with the return of his prodigal son. And when we decide to follow His way we can rejoice in the security that comes from knowing Him through Christ and we can rest in His shadow.

How fantastic is that?

Mary's Tale

Welcome to Christian Charity World as we look at Mary's Tale.

Luke 1: 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”

Imagine what must have been going through Mary's mind when she was told that she would be with child despite the fact that she was a virgin. In those days girls who became pregnant out of wedlock could be stoned. It was totally frowned upon to be impregnated by any man other than the husband. And who would believe her.

" The Holy Spirit came upon you and put you in the family way? Yeh right!!"

And yet when the angel Gabriel stood before her as The Messenger from God she had the immense courage to say "OK". In Luke 1 she says

"I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said."

We can see in Mary's Tale, in her story, that she must have been extremely fearful of what the world would think of her; what the world would do to her. Yet she took on the role of being the mother to the Messiah with complete faith in God. She believed without a shadow of doubt that she was doing as God wanted.

It is probably fair to say that in the Western World, as Christians we have it relatively comfortable. Yes we have ridicule occasionally from those who really just don't "get it" but do we really suffer the backlash that Mary could possibly have received. It seems much harder to be a Christian in other areas of the world where religious conflict exists. Where Christianity is a minor religion Christians can suffer horrendous persecution; violence, attacks on their homes, imprisonment, even death. Again in our world of relative comfort it is hard to picture life under these extremes. Would our faith survive the test?

This isn't to trivialise the hardships and pressures of Christians in countries with religious freedooms. The worries of paying bills, keeping a roof over the heads of our loved ones can still weigh us down. God still tests our faith. But we must remain strong in our trust in God. It is amazing that we can off load our burdens onto God and He can sort them out for us. We can rest in His shadow if we just ask Him to.

God will only test our faith to the point that He knows we can take it. He won't try to break us. So for those who have always had life easy, never really had to face the downs in life, perhaps God hasn't felt that their faith is strong enough.

In Mary's Tale we can see that her strength of faith was tested and she was equal to it; which of course God knew it would. Which is just as well as the whole course of history would have changed and you and I wouldn't be experiencing the joy of being saved by our Saviour Jesus Christ.

How fantastic is that?

The Christmas Story

Welcome to Christian Charity World as we look at The Christmas Story.

"Luke 2: 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

A couple of years ago I rember talking to a good friend at a church service the Sunday after Christmas. I'd asked him if he'd had a good Christmas. He answered, "Yes, but I get extremely sad when people try to destroy The Christmas Story. It is such a beautiful story so why do people want to analyse and disect it so much?"

He'd obviously dwelt upon this point over the festive period and had somewhat dampened his spirits. I can understand his sorrow. Whether it be aetheists or historians, there seems to be a body of people that are bent on discrediting The Story. We can be told that Jesus wasn't born on the 25th December and this date has been hijacked from a pagan festival. It is said that it actually took The 3 Wise Men two years to find the baby Jesus so was unlikely to be found in the stable at that point.

Despite attempts to place doubt on The Christmas Story, whatever so called facts emerge, we are still left with the one undisputable fact, that Christ was born. What ever date he was born, he did arrive, and he came as our saviour. From my understanding, this has never been disproved.

Astrologers have declared that at the time of Jesus's birth, certain stars and heavenly bodies had moved into alignment such that a bright star appeared. Facts like this are giving credence to The Christmas Story rather than discrediting it and it also shows that God is in control as the prophocies of scripture unfold.

I wonder, as various people try to place falsehood on the birth of Christ whether these same people still join in the festivities. Do aetheists eat turkey and brussel sprouts, drink wine and offer presents? If so, isn't this a bit hypocritical?

Fortunately we know differently. Jesus came to this earth, born of a virgin and laid in a manger, in a stable. He came to be our king and to save us from our sins, to give us hope and a new life.

How fantastic is that?

Manger Trail

Welcome to Christian Charity World in this Season of Advent

Luke 2: 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

I know I’m not the first to feel that the true meaning of Christmas gets left out of many people’s celebrations. How many people do we know that quite happily eat, drink and be merry without giving a thought to the birth of a baby in a stable some 2011 years ago and laying its head down in a manger. Sometimes it is nice to remind others exactly what they are celebrating.

Certainly when we watch our little one’s portray the nativity scene this gives us a good nudge in the right direction, but last weekend I was extremely fortunate to be involved in our town’s Manger Trail. For those who are unaware of the nature of a Manger Trail, it takes children (and adults if they so wish) through various scenes of the nativity as they search for the baby Jesus. Within these scenes actors act out the various roles and try to make it interactive for the children. Our town’s Manger Trail started with an actress dressed up as a Christmas decoration acting very confused as to why she came out every year. She then took the group of children on a journey via scenes of wise men, King Herod, shepherds, Roman centurion, innkeeper and finally the stable where baby Jesus was found before heading off for donkey rides. In the process the children had to find the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and answer silly riddles from King Herod helping the children to take in the story whilst having fun at the same time.

A project such as this takes a lot of organising and being as this is the first time that a Manger Trail had been produced in the town the organizers were really unsure as to how successful this would be. Indeed, they were only aware of one other having been held in the country, so felt they were nervous trailblazers. Fortunately within the town there is a very strong Churches Together movement and it was marvellous how a combined effort spectacularly brought things together.

However, people were still wary of how many visitors would come through the doors. As the opening time drew closer the nerves set in. Yet as the doors were unlocked it was truly amazing how many children with their parents came flooding in. It was constant from start to end.

There was no entrance fee, just a suggested donation. The whole idea was to spread the Christmas message to as many children as possible, not to make it a money spinning venture. This wasn’t a professional production, just Christians working voluntarily together to help others understand the true meaning of Christmas. Everybody that took part were enthused by the experience and not one bad word was uttered.

It just goes to show that when God’s work is done with Him in mind and faith to shore it all up, God will come good every time.

How fantastic is that? 

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.com/

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So Are We A Church?

Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

When teaching on the subject of self growth and positive thinking many Life Coaches advocate the idea of only mixing with positive thinking people. They encourage you to socialise with the successful and avoid those who express any negative views or thoughts. Looking from the human perspective it does make sense. Being immersed in an environment where success is the only way to think will undoubtedly rub off in the end. One would no doubt start thinking in a successful and positive way.

So am I advocating that we should only mix with successful, positive thinking people?

No, not at all. I was thinking more about associating with Christians. Should we only mix with like minded people; those who follow Christ and and those have similar views on life as ourselves?

Well I answer this very ambiguously by saying Yes and No. I'll explain the "no" bit first of all. Our saviour Jesus Christ didn't continuously surround himself with believers. He mixed with sinners. He had a message to preach, souls to save. By surrounding himself with the people who got the message, those who knew and believed in all he said meant that he would not be spreading the word. He needed to address the non believers, the sinners in order to help save more souls.

Likewise we are called to witness. We are called to spread "The Gospel", the good news. This isn't going to happen if we preach to the converted. We need to engage those who don't believe, those who don't understand if we are going to fulfill our calling.

Now to answer the "yes" part of me sitting on the fence. I think it is very important that we also mix with fellow Christians and that word "fellow" means we create fellowship. If we go back to our group of success thinking people we recognise that their way of thinking rubs off on each other; they encourage each other. Likewise, being amongst other Christians our positive thoughts on life, our faith and testimonies encourages each other as we continue to experience our Christian adventures, journey on our Christian path through life. When we pray together our prayers can be so much more effective if we pray as a group.

And people coming together in the name of Christ is a church. A church isn't about the bricks and mortar that makes up the building; it's about the people. In countries where Christians are persecuted people come together in the name of Christ in secret, behind closed doors. This constitutes a church every much as the ones that we attend on Sunday mornings. I attend a wonderful bible study group that totals just seven people but we have some lively and encouraging discussions mixed with prayer and worship and I see this group as part of my church also.

So as Christians we have the opportunity of weaving a wonderful tapestry as we envelope ourselves with the good and the bad, the wealthy and the needy.

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

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http://www.cryinthedark.org/

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Welcome to Thoughts at Christian Charity World.

Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Hands up all those who have complete, utter and absolute faith in God?

Can we really say that in our most dire and stress ladened moments that we don't worry or panic because we put all our trust in The Lord?

I've heard it said recently that worrying is not scriptural. I also read that to worry or be anxious is a sin. And yet it is very human to worry. Particularly in this economically burdensome times it is extremely difficult not to fret over where the next penny is coming from, how to keep the family clothed and fed. Yet the scriptures have many wonderful verses to dwell on in times of trouble. When the chips are down we can turn to the bible for help and inspiration.

From the moment I rediscovered my Christian adventure, it took another eight years before I actually understood what faith is truly about. It was my first real involvement with a Christian charity that opened my eyes to the meaning of faith, a trust in God and the power of prayer. Seeing how this charity had started with nothing; no money, no assets, just an amazing faith in God to help build a wonderful orphanage in Romania, is an incredible testimony to a belief that God will provide. And now seeing the fantastic work of many Christian charities as they do God's work with limited resources yet achieving such amazing results, strengthens my faith in God.

Let me give you some thoughtful Christian quotes about worry:

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.- Corrie Ten Boom

Knowing that God is faithful, it really helps me to not be captivated by worry. But knowing that He will do what He has said, He will cause it to happen, whatever He has promised, and then it causes me to be less involved in worrying about a situation.- Josh McDowell

Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise and providence of God, and yet it is a sin that Christians commit perhaps more frequently than any other.- John MacArthur

　

When we worry we ultimately concentrate on the problem. What we need to do is focus on the solution. If we pray to God we can then let go of the problem and allow God to come up with the answers. We can rest knowing that God will look after us if we positively believe he will.

　

How many times have we prayed to God for an answer when all else fails?

　

God ends up being the last port of call when really he should be the first. Our strength in a crisis doesn't come from our own making, it comes from God, and we should do well to remember that and give thanks and praise to him for it.

　

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

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Delight in Doing The Lord's Work

(Psalms 40:8) I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart."

I recently attended the 50th birthday party of an old school friend (kind of gives away my age). It was a great evening and naturally at the end of the evening he gave a little speech. In this speech he imagined himself having a conversation with a stranger in a cafe. It went something like this.

Stranger: How many children do you have?

Friend: I have six.

Stranger: Wow, and where do you live?

Friend: Oh I live in a good part of town. I live in a five bedroom house and we overlook the neighbours swimming pool.

Stranger: And you have cars?

Friend: Yes my family have two cars.

Stranger: And your children, which school do they go to?

Friend: They go to a private school.

Stranger: Fantastic, and where do you go on holiday?

Friend: The last few holidays have been spent on the beach in Thailand.

Stranger: I'm so in awe of you. You must be extremely rich?

Friend: No my family and I haven't got a penny to our name.

When you look at the detail, my old school friend's lifestyle isn't quite as it seems. Yes having been married 18 years he and his wife have been blessed with six wonderful children.

The house they live in is owned by one of the organisations that he works for.

He does have two cars but he confesses that to call one of them "a car" is flattering said vehicle. The other acts purely as a family run-around.

The private education for the children comes courtesy of part time work he does for the school.

And the holiday? Well that is the give-away. He has spent the last eleven years in Thailand doing mission work. You see for the past twenty five years he and his wife have been doing God's work. His mission work has taken him to many countries visiting the poor, the sick and the vulnerable and he has spread the Word of the Lord where-ever he's gone.

He counts his blessings. He can see that the Lord has provided him with a wonderful life but he has willingly given his life to doing God's work. His faithfullness has been rewarded.

My old school friend may not have "net worth" but he has much more than that. He has the love of God, the love of a wonderful family and the love of some great friends.

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

http://www.christian-charity-world.com/

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http://www.cryinthedark.org/

Reasons to be Cheerful

Romans 1 verse 7. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have a wonderful new patio thanks very much to one of my neighbours who gave freely of his time to help me lay the slabs. If I'm honest about it, he laid the slabs whilst I looked on and tried to learn. The time it took would have cost me hundreds of pounds but as a neighbour he just said "I'm sure there'll be opportunities to return the favour". As friends and neighbour this is what we do. We help each other out and then we return the favour.

When we're subject to such neighbourliness we often feel the need to return that favour as soon as possible. That feeling of being in debt to somebody, albeit not financially, makes us restless until that debt is settled. We seek the opportunities to help our neighbours just to ease our minds.

Are we indebted to God?

Have we the same desire to settle any debts with God?

God has bestowed upon us so much in the way of blessings. He floods us with his grace and mercy despite our many sins. I may not be the richest person in my community but there are a heck of a lot more poorer people in the world than I. I have always been fed and watered and have a loving family and this is just the start of the blessings that God has given to me. He's even given me a brand new patio.

How conscious am I of what I owe to God?

How conscious am I of the debt I have to God?

How conscious am I of the debt that I owe to Jesus Christ?

In hindsight, not enough. I'm conscious of what I owe to my neighbour but I forget what I owe to The Lord. I can be conscious of what I owe to the bank in the way of mortgage payment but I forget about my monthly, weekly, daily repayments to God.

Through Moses, God rescued his chosen people from their sufferings in Egypt, but these same people soon forgot about God's grace and mercy. They fell into the ways of sin deviating greatly from the life that God longed for them to follow.

So how can I/we settle that debt with God?

God will continue to poor his blessings upon us. To show our gratitude we must try to live a holy life. By that I mean a life that is good, righteous and free from sin and in God's name. And we do this because we desire to please God. It may be a tall order I know. Only Jesus Christ led a sin free life. But if we truly want to please God we will endeavour to live a life as close to that of Jesus as possible. And when we do stray away from the straight and narrow, we know that if in our hearts we are extremely sorry then God will forgive us and continue to envelop us with his grace.

How fantastic is that?

A Wish or A Prayer

A good Christian friend of mine was recently challenged to explain the difference between a wish and a prayer. Hazel Butler is an accomplished writer and so consequently chose to answer in the written word in the form of a poem. To me these are beautiful words and Hazel has allowed me to share them here.

                                                            Wishing
I plunge my knife in virgin cake,
My eyes screwed tight, my wish to make;
Or pull the greasy chicken bone
My wish to others never known.
As coins I throw in wishing well
My hearts desires I throw as well.

And now it's time for Christmas lists
To Santa - That's if he exists!
So many hopes, desires, dreams;
The list is enless, yet it seems
That with the passing of the years
They fall on ever deafening ears.

                                                           Praying
My new found love - With Him I walk
Our hearts entwined, we laugh and talk.
I tell Him of the day that's gone
Of how my love for Him just shone
Because I knew how much He cared;
Oh! How I relished all we shared!
Of all we did and said and thought;
Of how His loving ways I'd caught;
How all my plans had Him in mind
And all my thoughts were re-defined
To how to please Him - Make Him smile
As we drew closer mile by mile.
His hope, ambitions, now made mine.
Our plans and wishes intertwine.
For now I clearly understood
His greatest longing was my good.

So prayer is love's communication -
Silence, worship, supplication.
Opening my inmost heart,
Allowing Him to have, not part,
But all my thinking, hearing, seeing,
Every part of all my being.
So I'll grow much more like Him
Not shooting prayers at every whim,
But resting in a love so vast
That it is safe for me to cast
My every need, concern and care
Into His hands - He's always there.
This mighty friend, who's endless power
Created sun and earth and flower,
Reveal Himself in many ways
But most of all within the maze
Of complex lives like yours and mine,
He reaches down with love divine
And then, in answer to my prayer,
Transforms with love the mess that's there

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

http://www.christian-charity-world.com/

Climb Every Mountain, Ford Every Stream

Job 12:7-10. But ask the animals, and they will teach you; or birds of the air and they will tell you; or speak to the earth and it will teach you; or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the lord has done this. In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

In my earlier years when I hadn't really started my Christian journey I probably had alot of un-answered questions. I believe I was a good man but not really a Christian because I didn't understand or even know Jesus's part in a Christian's life. I didn't go to church save for the usual weddings, christenings and funerals. Yet that one question that always stood in the back of my mind was "How was the universe created?"

I had heard the "Big Bang" theory of how the universe came about; one single atom exploding to create galaxies, suns and planets but nobody could answer the question as to how that atom got there in the first place. And no doubt if some boffin scientist comes up with a theory we would still be left with the question as to how that came about. While to some the Big Bang theory is completely plausible we still don't know how the detenator was driggered.

This question was one of the reasons that I eventually came to faith. I reasoned that a greater power, an authority that we couldn't possibly understand must have created it all. It dawned on me that something far more intelligent than us human beings must be in control of the process. I have read somewhere that some mathematician had calculated the odds of this universe being created by chance. It stacked up at 10 to the power of unimaginable and his conclusion was that it was impossible that the world and all that surrounds it was created by chance.

Recently I was listening to a Christian radio programme and a pastor was delivering his thoughts on creation. He pointed out that if the sun was 5% closer to the earth then much of this world would be to hot to survive on. 5% further away and this world would be to cold for much to live. The sun has been placed in exactly the right place for life to be supported. The world is tilted on its axis at 23.5*. This is exactly the right position to give us the four seasons that we experience. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter produces all its wonderful colours and glories because earth spins on exactly the right axis.

Could all this have developed by chance? Could all the glorious creation that we see around us be the product of some fluke? Or was it designed?

I certainly believe that God was the great architect and constructer of this world. He has sculpted every mountain, routed every stream and breathed life into every living creature. We only have to watch and observe the wonders of his creation to know that we are here by design and not by accident.

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

Be Still and Don't Make a Noise

Psalm 46
Be still and know that I am God

It's been an extremely hectic last two weeks. A thoroughly rewarding week in Romania with the charity Cry in the Dark was followed by seven days with the family in Blackpool. It has been a very socialable time having met many old friends and made new, and of course having two boys at the ages of seven and eleven, there is never a dull moment. This constituted my holiday for the year and at the moment I don't do "restful". It almost seems like I've come back to work for a rest.

For all the hustle, bustle and enjoyment there was always something missing and coming back to work kind of emphasised this as well. It was the quiet time. The time I have with God.

Granted I prayed to God and read a bit of the bible when I could catch a moment but I couldn't really say this was "quality time" with God. I wasn't really seeking God. A good part of my working day is spent alone. I drive to work and the majority of the time I work by myself. I am quiet and I have time to pray, think, look and listen. For some people this may sound boring and I know from the past it can be very easy to dwell on the negative aspects of life. But now that I am on a journey, my Christian journey, I can focus on my relationship with God and the joy that it brings. These are positive thoughts that fill me with hope rather than despair. I have peace in my heart and I have time to strengthen my faith.

If we can get away from all the man made structures of city life and immerse ourselves in God's creation, the countryside, we can feel so much closer to God. Being quiet and soaking up the stillness and the harmonious sounds of nature leaves us peaceful and rested. God offers us rest if we turn to him in times of trouble and we can find him if we can just be still.

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

Friendship. Romania Day 7

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

It is the last day and work at Casa Lumina continued. Although the plasterboarding didn't get completed there were alot of rooms that are near completion. The Fire Authorities can fine Cry in the Dark if these fire resistant ceilings aren't installed so it is hoped that progress is enough to keep the wolf at bay.

The Holiday Club at Casa Albert finished on a high and the enjoyment it has provided to all of the children this week is amazing. The bond and trust that has been built up between the volunteers and children during the last five days is one of the real highlight of the week and will provide some wonderful memories for those that have been involved.

On this last day eight of us went to see a state run institution. About an hour and a half drive from where we have been staying at Casa Albert it was noticeable how out of the way this place was. Although the building forms part of a village and creates employment for a few, we had to drive up and down hills on dusty tracks and narrow, pot-holed roads to get there and felt that the institution was very much placed in isolation; out of site, out of mind. This particular institution housed about eighty adults with severe learning difficulties and disabilities. The building itself was very tired looking with plaster falling away from the walls and much damaged woodwork. Ceilings are high creating that hollow, echoey sound when we talk which in turn gives the whole place an austere, unfriendly feel. It didn't hit me as hard emotionally as I expected at first, but on reflection, remembering the smell of the place, seeing beds crammed inside rooms head to toe and stained with human waste, plus the fact that we seemed to be shown only certain rooms, I can see what a depressing place a state run institution can be. Some of the adults living there rushed up to hug us and seemed really excited to have us visit. Apparently they don't have many visitors which became so obvious when viewing the visitor's book and observing that most of the comments in the last year have come from Cry in the Dark teams. Do we really want to see our residence at Casa Lumina ending up there?

As this is my last blog about our trip to Romania I am consciously aware that some team members have been mentioned alot and others have just had a fleeting glance. Each and every one has contributed to yet another brilliant week so I want to re-dress the balance now. Wayne, Alan, Tim and Tom are from Devon and created another team whilst working at Casa Lumina. Wayne and Alan have really lead the work at the orphanage and have done so with an easy, friendly manner that has commanded respect from us all. Both are in the "building game" back home so we viewed them with authority as the work progressed. Wayne and Alan have supported Cry in the Dark for a few years now and this has been Alan's 10th trip out here. Tim did alot of the electrical work on site and made a true friend in Radu. Radu seems to have a fascination in all things electrical and can now handle a screwdriver very well. Radu was Tim's constant companion throughout the week. Tom was the youngest member of the four yet shows a very practical side to him making him an extremely useful member of the squad. His musical bent came to the fore when we had our emergency prayer meeting as he lead the worship that evening.

Bethany hales from the North East as does Stephen and Nathan Squires. A lovely young lass she has spent her time mostly at Casa Albert this week but has put in a stint at Casa Lumina as well. She has a bubbly, friendly nature and was a joy to be around. Stephen and Nathan hadn't known Beth before the trip but I'm sure they will keep in touch when they get back home.

Peter has come to Romania with his dad David and both have been valuable members of the team. The Holiday Club was Peter's choice of activity for the week and has spent his time interacting with the children at Casa Albert and forming that special bond. I've no doubt that he will take away some wonderful memories from this trip.

I know Iris from last years visit. Iris has been to Romania on many occasions, not just with Cry in the Dark but with other charities as well which I think demonstrates the wonderful compassion that floods from her. She and Shirley have budded up together and hopefully have formed a friendship for life.

Each year that I come to Romania I experience something different. My first trip truely helped to accelerate my Christian journey by teaching me about the true meaning of faith. Seeing what has been achieved by Cry in the Dark since its formation in 1998, starting from nothing to where it is now by the power of prayer and faith in God was a real eye opener. Last year I came back from Romania with a desire to do more for Cry in the Dark and have put some effort into this during the course of the year for which I have to thank my family for their tolerance. This year has been the most emotional. Seeing the situation at Casa Lumina unfold during the week has been hard but really a necessary process for me to understand the real difficulties a charity such as Cry in the Dark have to face. We have been called to prayer and now we have to believe that God will answer those prayers and look after those amazing young people at Casa Lumina.

Having completed three trips to Romania now I can say that each group has been a joy to be a part of. Everyone seems to get on well with the other and friendships have developed accordingly. Indeed on this trip I have been fortunate to be with people I have known from both my previous visits. Considering the amount of work that has been achieved, it couldn't have been possible if we hadn't of pulled together, remained positive and looked out for each other.

How fantastic is that?

Nathan' s latest photos can been found at http://www.facebook.com/groups/237913819581952/.
Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

     

Can You Help. Romania Day 6

Proverbs 22:9
 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

We made better progress today. There was a bit of a swap around today and Iris, Shirley and Beth came down to Casa Lumina for the first time on this trip. Shirley was extremely keen to see the extension as she hadn't seen it first hand since her trip two years ago to help with the construction. As per usual with all members of the team they equipped themselves very well and also provided us with an exceptional lunch. "The Toon Army Team" were back on form and got alot of plasterboarding done today. God had answered our call for renewed energy.

The Holiday Club at Casa Albert goes from strength to strength and today the fruits of the spirit were "goodness" and "gentleness". With the change around in volunteers it gave others the opportunity to spend time with these deserving individuals.

Jeff has commented, and I tend to agree, that the young people at Casa Lumina seem to be calmer than on previous trips. It isn't quite known why but maybe it is because, as time goes on, they feel more settled and secure. There are true characters here at the orphanage. Lilly and Maria are very tactile, always looking for cuddles and running their fingers through our hair. Radu wants to get involved in all the work and will grab a screwdriver to dismantle bits of furniture at any given chance. Carmen is the boss though and tells all the other orphans what to do. She stands on gate duty and greets us with a "Hello Darling". Not just these but all of the young people fill our hearts with joy and compassion.

Yet their future is tragically in jeopardy as I write. As previously written, the Romanian government is pulling funding for the personal assistants that attend to these orphans. These personal assistants provide that love and security each and every day and that sense of security that these young individuals experience could be gone. The orphanage will not be able to function in its current capacity without the care provided by these valuable members of staff. It is not an exaggeration or scare mongering to say that Casa Lumina may have to close. The result of this would mean that the orphans would have to return to state care in a state run institution. Yet this isn't the worse that can happen. It could take upto a year to find placements for them and in the mean time, because they are young adults, they could be turfed out onto the streets. Just imagine, these youngstsers with varying degrees of life limiting illnesses and disabilities yet with mental capacities far below their years thrown out of the gates of Casa Lumina with nowhere to go; no means on which to support themselves or even survive. These are people we have grown to love and care for and it is heartbreaking to hear of this current episode in this financial climate that could devastate the lives of these vulnerable individuals.

One alternative is to reduce the number of orphans cared for by half to meet current charity funding levels but the other half would still go back to state run institutions with the possibility of them ending up on the streets. This doesn't really provide a more palatable solution. To keep the orphanage running as it is, although with reduced staffing levels, will mean Cry in the Dark will have to find an extra £4,000 per month; income they just don't have at the moment. Just think, if 40 churches could support Cry in The Dark to the tune of £100 per month, or 400 churches encouraging just one person to give £10 per month, Cry in the Dark could keep all there young people loved and cared for in a safe environment. These are innocent victims unknowingly trapped by finacial and political decision making. We who are out here at the moment know they are worth £10 per month. That is 35p per day. Do you?

If you would like to be a monthly Cry Partner or would simply like to make a one off donation visit http://www.cryinthedark.org/. It could save an awful lot of suffering.

As said in Proverbs 22:9, A generous man will find himself blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

How fantastic is that?

Why not view Natha Squire's latest photo updates of our visit here to Romania at http://www.facebook.com/groups/237913819581952/.

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/   
 

A Tiring Day. Romania Day 5

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

It almost seems traditional that on the Wednesday people "hit the wall". Fatigue sets in, mistakes are made and progress is slow. This certainly seemed to be the case for me again this year.

Nathan decided to spend the day at Casa Albert with the Holiday Club so David joined the crew at the orphanage as did Sarah. Isabella and Sarah are two lovely young ladies who I believe come from the same church back in Gloucestershire. They teamed up today to finish the skimming of the walls and also to paint. Now these ladies not only have plastering as a career path ahead of them but painting and decorating as well. There's money in it you know. Isabella and Sarah are quiet people but have always willingly gotten on with any task put before them without complaint, showing that serving attitude that God desires of us. They certainly have gained the respect of the group particularly when they seemed to keep on going as I was starting to flag.

Elaine's mural is proving to be such a work of art. Again she is another lady who has applied herself to the task and the young people at Casa Lumina will soon be experiencing the joys of the animated characters that I knew as a youngster (a long time ago); The Smurfs.

It was David's 56th birthday today. At the start of the day he was presented with a cake made by Beth and given a card created by Shirley and Iris and signed by us all. I think he was a little bit shy but did appreciate the fuss. He joined us down at Casa Lumina at the wrong time really as energy levels seemed to be at there lowest. The plasterboarding didn't seem to be progressed as we would have liked particularly on "The Toon Army Team". Stephen and his son Nathan are "Geordie Boys" and proud of it and Jeff originates from the area; his accent being a dead give away. I have become an honoury "Geordie Boy" for the week. With Nathan on the sidelines today, substituted by David, it became a team of two halves divided by that great divide; Watford Gap. Not that this had anything to do with our poor performance today, it was just a very tired and jaded team that lacked any true fire power in front of goal.

The Holiday Club looks like it has been a true success. Today the focus was on the fruits of the spirit "patience" and "kindness". There were plenty of craft activities today based on these subjects and , unlike "The Toon Army Team", the children seemed to experience an adrenalin rush; particularly getting very excitable in the afternoon. Shirley, Iris and Peter are the ever presents at the Holiday Club at the moment but looked exhausted when we caught up with them in the evening.

Mutley and Jane spent the day with Steve Cooper at Lacramoira's house again and was able to get some flooring down. Back home Jane is working extremely hard studying to improve her career in teaching. Last week she was away on a signing course which helps with communicating with deaf children and she had returned home at 2.30 in the morning of the day we left to come here to Romania. She must have been so exhausted yet she has kept going and going. Jane is truely dedicated to teaching young people. Mutley, well Mutley is Mutley and we all love him for it. He has really developed a great relationship with Stephen Squires using the Watford Gap divide as a cause for banter whenever the opportunity arises. Stephen's North East accent is very strong and Mutley uses it to great humour.

As I said, some of us have hit the wall today and could do with some replenishment. Thursdays normally have shown renewal of strength and I hope this is the case again this year. By trusting in The Lord and having faith in God we know our strength will be renewed.

How fantastic is that?

Keep upto date with the latest Nathan Squire's photos at http://www.facebook.com/groups/237913819581952/

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

Troubled Times. Romania Day 4

James 1
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

A good days work by all which seemed to be rewarding for everyone. Work continued at Casa Lumina on the plasterboarding and credit has to begiven to two ladies today. Firstly Isabella joined the crew at the orphanage. I believe she is about sixteen years old (forgive me Isabella if I've gotten that wrong) and really put herself into the work. She handled the work with true enthusiasm and has learned the art of skimming plasterboards. Apologies to her family if she returns and requests to become a plasterer by trade. I must also praise the wondeful artistry of Elaine. She is currently painting a mural of The Smurfs on one of the walls at Casa Lumina and the time and effort she is taking with this project is certainly showing fruit. Although these are animated characters they are really coming to life and every one of us working at Casa Lumina stay in awe of Elaine's skills.

The Holiday Club at Casa Lumina is going well too. The team have been concentrating on the theme of The Fruits of The Spirits and today they were looking at the fruit of peace. Craft work was the main activity and the children seemed to really take to this which in turn instilled a certain sense of peace. Shirley, Iris, David, Peter and Sarah have been ever presents so far and today were also joined by Mutley and Jane. All sparkled with joy at the end of the day and the children went home extremely happy if just alittle exhausted.

Mutley is proving to be quite a character. On first appearance he is the most unlikely of Christians. Shaven headed and burly he looks more at home on the doors of a nightclub rather than in the pews of a church but you couldn't get a more genuine and God fearing guy. He will do anything for anyone and has put his heart and soul into all he has been asked to do.

Unfortunately the evening became very emotional. After dinner we were all invited to attend an emergency prayer meeting. This meeting started with a prayer and then we were given details of the precarious financial state at Casa Lumina. I think most of us had heard snippets, but this evening Steve Cooper elaborated on the situation. Each young person at Casa Lumina is supported by their own personal assistant so at present there are 22 PAs at the orphanage. Romania, like most nations in Europe and many around the world, are gripped by financial problems. Indeed they call it "The Crisis". One of the ways that the government has decide to save money is to sack all the personal assistants. The PAs at Casa Lumina are funded by the mayor's office and the mayor is saying that he doesn't have the funds to support all the personal assistants. He wanted to try to keep on 10 staff but the government have outrightly said NO. For Cry in the Dark to pay for these personal assistants would mean finding an extra £4,000 a month which again in the current financial climate appears virtually impossible.

The future for Casa Lumina is now full of uncertainty and the scales are finely balanced. The options at the moment are firstly to close Casa Lumina completely with the orphans going back to state run institutions. Going back to these institutions means returning to the dark days where all the love and care these young people have just doesn't exist. In fact there is no guarantee that they will find their way back there and could be abandoned on the streets. As we have all grown to love these people that thought is unbareable. The second choice is to halve the current numbers with, again, the others going back to state run care which is still unpalatable. The last choice is to keep trying to raise the funds to pay the personal assistants but there is just no guarantees that an extra £4,000 per month can be found. Much talking is going on between the director of the orphanage and the mayor's office and Steve is communicating with other similar charities in Romania to find solutions. On Saturday the trustees of Cry in the Dark are holding an emergency meeting to thrash out a solution.

A good hour was spent praying to The Lord for answers and wisdom for those having to make such critical decisions. We know that it is impossible to understand the way in which God works but we also know that he reveals all in the fullness of time. In our prayers we acknowledged that God is in control and that his will will be for the benefit of these orphans in the long run. For those of you reading this blog I ask you too to pray for the orphans of Casa Lumina, the wisdom to be placed on those having to make such overwhelmingly difficult decisions but to also give them peace in their hearts knowing that those decisions will be the will of God. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ.

It is so hard to understand God's plans when times are difficult and stress befalls us. Fortunately Cry in the Dark has ridden many difficult times and keeps on going thanks to prayer and a tremendous faith in God. Times of trial breeds perseverence and perserverence builds character. Those who stand strong against the test with faith in God and a belief in Jesus Christ will receive the crown of life. Steve Cooper has certainly faced up to many trials and tribulations during his time running Cry in the Dark yet with amazing faith stands strong today.

How fantastic is that?

Why not catch up with  Nathan Squire's latest Cry in the Dark photographs at http://www.facebook.com/groups/237913819581952/

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

Be Positive. Romania Day 3

Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (NIV)

"What do you want to do that for?"

"I'm not going to do that."

"So and so's been a right *** today."

In every day life we hear negative and disparaging comments from people. Comments that get us down or knock our self confidence. Some people seem to take great satisfaction in destryoying others emotionally using some well chosen words at exactly the right time to cause maximum damage.

I know my young boys back home jokingly say to me "No offence dad, but" and I know they are going to try to insult me in some way or another. But other people won't use this statement in jest, they'll use it as an excuse to pull somebody down.

Fortunately this week I'm in the company of good stock. Men and women who care about each other, take the time to find out about others lives and about the kind of day they're having. They encourage when something isn't quite right or another member of the party is feeling down. I'm always fascinated by people's testimonies and the stage they are at in their Christian journeys (probably the nosiness in me)  and our group are people who have been brought up with faith. Some are deeper into their relationship with God than others and I can see that I'm still one of the "newbies", but each and everyone of them are fantastically good people with genuine compassion in their hearts and concern for others. That is why they are all here I suppose. It is amazing that when you get a group of Christians together the "vibes" that are generated are so positive. There is so much that can be acheived when the atmosphere is positive and there is a willingness to succeed in doing God's work.

It is great to be in the company of this group this week as we soldier on. If there are obstacles to overcome there is no complaining about them, just an attitude of "How do we get around this one". There is a desire to succeed and serve. I love that spirit which is so refreshing from normal life back home when so many people are just out for themselves. Need to be careful here as I'm starting to complain about others but hopefully the illustration is that Christian folk are able to face things positivily when they know that any mountain can be overcome when God is on our side. This group exudes that attitude.

Today the party was split in two. Jeff, Stephen, Nathan, Wayne, Alan, Tim, Tom, Elaine and myself headed off for Casa Lumina to continue refurbishment and alterations to the old part of the building. Cry in the Dark have been instructed by the authorities to fit fire resistant plasterboards to the walls and ceilings where they don't exist at present. Each year the rules and regulations seem to get tougher and I can see that that it provides extra safety for the young people in the orphanage, but I still wonder whether the rules are being applied across the board or if the orphanage is an easy target (oops, complaining here aren't I). Any how we cracked on at a good pace and one room had its ceilings re-plasterboarded by the end of the day and a wall was plasterboarded both sides as well. At the beginning of the day we were given a brief tour of the extension which houses the young ladies there, and it was agreed that it looked amazing. Another demonstration as to what can be acheived with the power of prayer, faith in God and a positive attitude.

Back at Casa Albert Iris, Shirley, Beth, Sarah, Isabella, David, and Peter entertained the children as they attended the Holiday Club week. None of them quite knew what to expect as the children arrived particularly not knowing their particular illnesses and disabilities, but they thoroughly enjoyed their first day which involved many games, crafts and Christian teaching. Again the enthusiasm and willingnes to serve shown though.

Mutley and Jane returned with Steve Cooper to Lacramoira's house to continue work on the small extension so got to experience the joys of serving some of the poorer members of society as well.

We all come from different backgrounds, are differing ages and certainly have different personalities. We have different skills to offer and it appears that God is equiping us with new skills as we go along. As a group we are united as one with a goal to serve, and serve with a joyous and positive heart.

How fantastic is that?

Why not view the photos at http://www.facebook.com/groups/237913819581952/

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

Poor People in the Land. Romania Day 2

Deuteronomy 15:11
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

As much as yesterday was pretty standard, today was fantastically diverse. Choices for today were fourfold. One was to go to Lacramoira's house to help refurbish a room, second was to to help cut the grass at Casa Albert, the third choice was to move a control panel for a pump at Casa Albert and last but definately not least was to prepare for the activities of the children as they attend the Day Care Centre during the week. Jeff, Stephen and Nathan Squires and I chose option one to join Steve Cooper on the refurbishment project.

Lacramoira is under the Casa Albert Medical Outreach Plan and has been within the radar of Cry in the Dark for quite a few years now. She has been in orphanages and Cry in the Dark got to know about her and her medical condition through their involvement with the hospital in Bacau. Now married and with a five month old baby she lives in a small one storey house with her inlaws. There are eight of them sharing the house which, without trying to be disrespectful to them, is verging on third world standards. Lacramoira, her husband and their bay daughter Gabriella had one room which acted as their total living accomodation, including cooking, sleeping and dining. My living room at home isn't large but this was about as much room as Lacramoira and her family had to live in. The woodwork that supported the sagging asbestos roof was rotting, revealing gapping holes for the weather to intrude upon on them. Last week Steve Cooper had managed to construct some timber framework to create an extension to this room and the task of the four of us was to enclose this framework. I'm happy to report that we successfully completed this task with the outside of this small extension being covered with OSB board and the inside plasterboarded. Although this was an all day task with a few drops of sweat shed along the way, the immense satisfaction and reward all four of us felt at the end of the day was amazing. Although we couldn't speak the lingo, we knew that our efforts were extremely appreciated by the family and their hospitality was second to none. Though they had little to offer we sensed that they would gladly give what they have.

Once we had finished  Steve Cooper took us on a small diversion. This took us into a remote rural community where living standards seemed to be even worse. Where as Lacramoira's house was in the vicinity of amenities and slightly more affluent conditions, here the entire village was poverty stricken. Water has to be drawn from either one of two wells and the condition of this water is dubious to say the least. Earlier this year a mission team from Colchester had transformed a room for a family who again are supported by the program at Casa Albert. We viewed this room and stood in total awe at the work and effort that had been achieved by this mission in just one week. Some of these Make Over TV programmes have alot to learn from their achievements. Again what was noticeable was the family who lived in this small mud-hut styled house were tremendously grateful for the work of Cry in the Dark and were so proud of their "new found comfort". It seemed that the entire village came out to greet Steve and it really showed how Cry in the Dark are making a difference to both individuals and communities in North East Romania. Touchingly, as I walked back to the mini-bus I watched as Nathan, surrounded by local kids, sat patiently on a bank chatting and interracting with them. Despite the language difference he too was making a difference.

Back at Casa Lumina the others were having a successful day too. Most of the grass had been cut thanks to Mutley, Elaine and Jane, the control panel had been moved and plans for the entertainment of the children had come together. Surprisingly Mutley was in good spirits despite his overnight capers. Many of the group suffered a bad nights sleep due to the constant yapping of a small dog. At 3 o'clock in the morning he tore off after this dog and managed to reason with it. Fortunately it wasn't part of the barbecue we enjoyed in the evening thanks again to the wonderful hospitality of Beth.

Deutoronomy 15:11 states that "There will always be poor people int he land". Today God has allowed us to be open-handed to the poor and needy.

How fantastic is that?

Why not view the photos at http://www.facebook.com/groups/237913819581952/

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.com/

Truly I Say to You. Romania Day 1

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, [6] you did it to me.’ Matthew 25 : 40

Getting into the car at 6.15 in the morning the first thing I did was turn on the radio just in time to catch the travel news. M25 closed between junctions 7 and 8. A major part of our journey to Heathrow airport. Picking up Jeff Henderson and Shirley Docker we discuss the various options to get around this particular obstacle. Fortunately God was obviously guiding us as our option of the A25 through Redhill and Reigate meant we only added another 20 minutes to our journey.

Isabella and Sarah had already beaten us to the airport and we gradually gathered up the full crew which grew to 18 by the time we got on the plane. Others included David, Peter, Alan, Wayne, Tim, Tom, Stephen, Nathan, Beth, Colin (affectionately known as Mutley), Elaine, Jane and Iris. Phew.The flight took off on time and was rather uneventful to be honest but we still had the 4 hour journey from Bucharest airport to Casa Albert. It was I who volunteered to drive one of the mini-buses and it became the usual chase to try to keep up with Steve Cooper who was driving the other vehicle in front. However we arrived safely at destination end and was greeted with a fabulous meal courtesy of Beth Johnson

Of the group that have generously given of their time, some I knew from previous visits and some I didn't but it was great to meet faces old and new. Their are some younger members this time and it was heartening to see them mixing and making friendships from the very start. Hopefully they will be inspired enough by what the week has to offer and enthuse about the work of Cry in the Dark to others when they get home.

We all met after dinner to discuss what was on the agenda for the week. There is plenty to do both at Casa Lumina with building and alteration work plus the wonderful opportunity for members of the group to be involved with the holiday club at Casa Albert. No doubt those who participate in this activity will get the rewards and joy of interacting with these children whose lives are so limited by their illness or disability. Steve finished the meeting by reading a passage from scripture, Matthew 25 which sums up the ethos of Cry in the Dark. Verse 40 jumped out at me; And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, [6] you did it to me.’

I believe we all have come out here with the spirit of charity and generosity in our hearts.

How fantastic is that?

Why not view the photos at http://www.facebook.com/groups/237913819581952/

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.com/ 

Love Thy Neighbour

Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 19:18-20 (in Context) Matthew 19

I love my neighbour.

OK, he has just helped slab my patio area but he has showed a very selfless act which he has done as a good neighbour.

I like to think I get on well with all my neighbours. But what constitutes a neighbour?

Is it the person next door?

The person down the street?

Perhaps we should consider everybody our neighbour and love them as thyself.

Tomorrow a group of us from different corners of the United Kingdom set off for Romania to help with the wonderful charitable work that Cry in the Dark provide. This charity supports children and young people with life limiting illnesses and diseases in impoverished areas close to the city of Bacau. They have the Casa Lumina Orphanage in Comanesti and also the Casa Albert Day Care Centre in Luncani which also doubles as a Medical Outreach Centre, creating much needed medical care for some of those that the state system fails to help. Without a doubt there is a tremendous amount of love, care and attention lavished on these vulnerable people; the love and care that is so sadly missing in the state run institutions. When Cry in the Dark started back in 1998, their hearts poured out to these suffering children and their love for these new found neighbours and faith in God have kept them going to this very date. Steve Cooper and his dedicated team have certainly shown amazing love to their neighbour.

This year we have a choice of activities to be involved with. Some of us will be working at Casa Lumina helping with further building alterations whilst others will be at Casa Albert organising and running the entertainment for the young people as they visit the Day Care Centre.

I'm not sure as yet if everyone going on this trip is a believer and follower of Christ. Certainly the ones I know are, but without doubt their is compassion in all our hearts with a desire to demonstrate our love for our neighbours, with action.

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/  

Hold Tight To Your Faith

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

We're having a good life aren't we?

There's a roof over our heads, we have money coming in to pay the bills and we get to go on holiday each year.

Marvellous.

God is really looking after us. Our faith in God is really strong isn't it?

Life is full of ups and downs. Very few people will enjoy the good things in life without having suffered the hardships of life before hand. Life is very cyclical and it may well be that many reap the benefits of the highs and endure the wretches of the lows many times in their life.

It is very easy to have faith in our Lord when the going is good. But when the going is tough and even the tough can't keep going, where is our faith then?

Can we really say that our faith is as strong during the darker times?

Focussing on God and our relationship with Him can be so much harder when our troubles and woes engulf our every thoughts and moods. The Holy Spirit seems so removed from our hearts that it feels that God has departed us. Yet it is not God that has left us it is us that has left God. Our worries and our fears have created a self-built barrier between us and our Creator.

When our troubles and problems seem insurmountable, when we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, we must remember that in God no problem cannot be overcome; no mountain cannot be climbed. Having the utmost faith in God during times of troubles, knowing that He will give us both rest and strength in our battles, gives us hope and confidence that we can tackle all obstacles that life throws in our path. We would do well to remember that our strength is in Jesus and not in ourselves.

We may not understand why we have to suffer hardship but we must believe that God has his reasons. Invariably this become obvious once we hit calmer waters but at the time the reasons aren't clear. God loves all of us and dearly wants us to turn to Him and follow Him. He wants us to be happy and full of the joy that the Holy Spirit can bring. God wouldn't make us suffer unnecessarily; He loves us too much.

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

Forgiveness Isn't Easy.

Matthew 18:21, 22 (23-25 illustrative parable)

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

 As Christians we are taught through scripture that forgiveness is one of those virtues that we must strive to possess. I know that I have preached many times that holding a grudge hurts me more than it does the other person.

So why hold onto that grudge?

Easier said than done though, perhaps.

I recently heard a radio story of a man with Downs Syndrome who was walking the High Street with his father. A drunken thug approached the man, insulted him and punched him in the face. The police became involved and the thug was given a court order not to approach this man again. But the thug was a person with a conscience. On seeing the man with Downs Syndrome and his father, the repentent thug did indeed approach them and asked for forgiveness. Despite his Catholic background the father was outraged, however his anger melted away when he saw his son offering his hand in forgiveness.

How many of us could honestly say that we could easily forgive somebody who had subjected us to physical or even emotional harm?

The Old Testament mentions "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" and many of us would see that as exacting revenge on a perpetrator. However at a recent Bible study group I was given another perspective on that phrase. If, for example we were smacked in the mouth and had a tooth knocked out, the natural reaction would be to want to retaliate and knock all the teeth out of the other persons mouth. Probably an over-reaction. "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" could be seen as telling us to seek no more justice than the hurtful act warrants.

On the other hand Jesus teaches us to turn the other cheek. This can seem at times as a recipe for becoming a "doormat". Yet it is amazing how often a passive reaction can quell the most tense of situations.

So how can we forgive those who have so deeply hurt us?

It isn't easy. Pride is considered a sin yet we are all cursed to a greater or less extent with this burden. Probably borne out of a sense of insecurity we all place ourselves on a pedastal. And when somebody tries, deliberately or unintentionally, to knock us of our pedastal we feel agrieved. But we need to let go of that hurt, that grudge. We must forgive that other person.

The question of how was a major topic of discussion at the same Bible study group and we all agreed that, as human beings, this wasn't an easy thing to do. However it was general felt that if we made a conscious decision to forgive our assailant that this was a start. We might not readily feel the spirit of forgiveness, but if we prayed to our Lord with sincerity to help us forgive, then what we think with our heads and say with our mouths will eventually fill our hearts. Prayer is our greatest tool and if we use it with a sincere heart then our prayers will be answered.

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

   

Jim's Amazing Testimonial

Ephesians 2:4-9
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Here at Christian-Charity-World it is always great to hear about how anybody comes to Christ. As I've said before, the journey can extend a life time, or it can be quite dramatic with conversion happening almost instantaneously. I was priveleged to actually witness a friend of mine as he finally saw the light.

I came to know Jim by attending a wonderful Alpha course held by the Zion Baptist Church in Tenterden. Jim is a retired gentleman, his regional accent giving away that he originates from bonny Scotland. I was told that the Alpha course was for those fledglings, people either new to the faith or those who really wanted a greater understanding of Christianity. By focussing on both the bible and Jesus Christ, over ten weeks we would start to understand the tremendous importance that Jesus has in our lives and our connection to God through him. Jim had been co-erced into going to one of the local Men's Breakfasts hosted by "Churches Together in Tenterden" and had become a little intrigued by the faith. However he still had alot of unanswered questions and was more than a little doubtful of Christianity.

During the ten week period of the Alpha course, we attended one of our usual bi-monthly Men's Breakfasts on a Saturday morning and Jim was there too. These breakfasts always have a guest speaker who imparts some Christian message gained from their own experiences. This particular gathering, Joe Marriot was the guest. Joe has created several churches in the past and was currnetly running a flourishing church in a deprived area of Eastbourne. He had helped change the lives of many people including drug addicts. Joe was performing commendable work in that community.

His talk started by introducing his love of restoring old cars and of course this lead into the restoring of peoples lives through Jesus. Jim was fascinated by the analogy and when Joe mentioned about the spark from the spark plug igniting the petrol fumes, the comparison really sunk in for Jim. However the spark was soon to be igniting Jim's Holy Spirit.

At the end of his talk, Joe invited people to come forward in order for him to lay his hands on them and pray for them. Jim took up this invite. As the prayer was said Jim had to be stopped from falling over. He said he could feel a sensation like electricity running through him, from the point where Joe laid his hand on his head, right through his body which, momentarily took away all his strength. For the rest of the day he was in a complete daze, completely oblivious to all that was going on around him. He was convinced he had experienced the Holy Spirit with in.

It does seem that from that point on Jim is a changed man. The aggressive nature that is characteristic of many a Scotsman seems to have been quelled. He no longer gets anry. The man is alot calmer and is truly following a more Christian lifestyle. The Alpha course completed, he has followed up by attending bible study classes and is reading a whole host of Christian literature. His thirst for knowledge of the faith is almost unsatiable

This is just one story of a man's conversion to the Christian faith. There are many more stories to be told and who knows it could be your testimony that we report at Christian Charity World.

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

http://www.cryinthedark.org/

http://www.christian-charity-world.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8fB3X_xdzc