The Men's Alpha course held its concluding 1998 session on 16th December.
We have so enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere of the Bradworthy Inn, the hospitality received, and the company shared, that we hope to meet again from time to time. Since the last issue of the Bradworthy News, we have looked at the importance of being open about our faith, at healing, the Church, and how to make to most of the rest of our fives.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that the healing ministry of the Church was limited to its beginnings. Like other areas of the Christian faith and Biblical truth, if we lack understanding we shy away from it. We will never fathom all the mysteries of God in this life and so must accept that some are physically healed and others are not; that some find healing through a wholeness of mind and spirit despite some physical limitation; and that some find healing as they past from this life to the life to come. Our human bodies are not immortal, they are destined to die; but the promise to all who have put their faith in the saving power of Jesus, is that our spirits live on eternally in the presence of God. Then we will be clothed in our imperishable heavenly bodies.
Of the Church, William Temple is quoted as saying that it is the only co-operative society which exists for the benefit of nonmembers. This is entirely true in the sense that as the people of God, we are called to serve God by serving a needy world. But there is also a sense that we are a mutual society. We are to look out for each, and to help build each other up in the faith; for we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, the children of and hence the family of God. And Jesus loves his Church as a bridegroom loves his bride, and desires her to be a holy people delighting in the worship of God and seeking to proclaim and reflect his love.
In the final session we looked at making the most of the rest of our lives (with God that is).
Despite what "the world" may be shouting through the medium of advertisements and the rest, life is only truly lived to the full and at its best by doing it God's way.
In writing to the Christians in Rome, the Apostle Paul urged them to present or offer themselves to God as living sacrifices, dedicated to God. And to allow God to transform them from within rather than to be squeezed and moulded by the thought patterns of "the world". To give our all to God; that is all we have and are and all we hope to be; frees us to be all that God wants us to be and leads to true fulfilment and contentment as we live for him.
We had hoped to start an Alpha course for ladies in the Bradworthy Inn from about mid-January, however on reflection this has been postponed for the time being and will be considered again later. it may well take place in the Autumn.
Following the Alpha course which came to an end last month, there was a general feeling that we should continue to meet on some sort of regular basis. The group which met on the Alpha course was a fairly equal mix of Methodists and Anglicans, and this certainly was one of the positive aspects of the men's Alpha. We are not a closed shop, and any other man will be welcome to join the current meetings. We will be looking at the Christian faith in the context of lifestyle. On 19 January Colin Manning spoke on living under God's blessing.
On 2nd February I will be speaking on having an influence on society. The Biblical basis for these talks/discussions on "Challenging Lifestyle" is in Matthew Chapters 5 to 7.
We meet at 7.30pm starting with a fixed menu meal with the talk starting around 8.208.30pm. Any man is welcome but we do ask that John Peak (or Colin Manning or me) be informed as numbers are required for the meal.