November 2011

From the Minister’s Desk.

What a fantastic evening! Our family thoroughly enjoyed the Murder Mystery Evening on 15th October. Personally, I've always enjoyed a good mystery. It reminded me of the old “whodunnit?” series of yesteryear. My favourite mystery solver must be Miss Marple, christened by one fellow (who had initially dismissed her as ‘an old woman who did her knitting’) as “Nemesis”. Despite external appearances, she had a mind like a bacon slicer and nothing would stop her from getting to the truth.

Recently at Harvest, we looked at the familiar story of the Sower. We especially thought about how the secrets and mysteries of the Kingdom are understood. We need to have these things revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, who for many seems to fit the image of a gentle, meek and mild person, is, in fact, the strongest person that ever lived! He was a working man who had remarkable physical, mental and spiritual resources. He fasted for 40 days and nights, kept up a remarkably busy schedule of teaching and healing, yet always had time for the needy. But our Lord never shrunk from the task in front of him, as his whole life, ministry and purpose led him to the Cross. Along the way, He was not afraid to confront people and situations that were difficult and, as God, He had a divine right to judge and put things right. On the face of it, He was a good, kind, ordinary man who, for years presumably, learned and used His trade as a carpenter. Let us never forget what lies beneath that gentle exterior that many tend to hide behind.

Jesus is the supreme solver of mysteries and secrets, and He is ready to reveal to us the most important things of life, provided we are open to His voice.

Anthony