For the first part of the trip the team will be working with partners from Delhi who run Asha (which means hope) Projects.  The projects address the basic needs in their communities through aid and income generating projects.  They are working with our partners Bright Hope World, who have partnerships in more than 20 countries and directly impacting over 5,000 families each year.

Previously we have funded a sewing centre for women.  The one pictured is in Lucknow where the team will be visiting.  This has been very successful at providing job skills training so women can pursue meaningful employment and help provide for their families.

On this visit we are looking to set up a local computer training centre also in Lucknow which is used to train students and the youth of the community in computer skills.

The second half of the trip will be in Kolkata working alongside Kerry and Annie Hilton, who run Freeset, a business that employs women trapped in the sex trade and gives them new skills to bring them dignity and economic freedom.  We have funded some projects with Freeset, including a revolving credit fund and some renovation projects to extend the business.

While we are in Kolkata, the team plans to also meet with people who work with streetkids at the Howrah railway station and with the International Justice Mission.  Howrah Station has twenty-one platforms that handle over three hundred trains and serve more than one a million passengers every day.  It is home to huge numbers of streetkids – a small proportion of the estimated 11 million streetkids in India.

We are planning a number of fundraising events before we leave, including a quiz night at 7pm on February 17^th and an evening cooking class with Sarah Searancke in March.  If you would like more information or would like to support the team please email them on india@theanchorchurch.org.nz

1. Intimacy. I love the honesty and boldness that Abraham has when he approaches God. I want this kind of relationship with God. How does Abraham get this kind of intimacy? Well if you jump back to Genesis 18:1-8, the answers are there, Abraham gave his best for God.
2. Integrity. Abraham doesn’t question God’s right to judge Sodom, he doesn’t ask him to change his mind. Abraham knows God, he knows that He will always do what is right. Abraham’s whole prayer is based on the question in verse 25, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” In this passage Abraham is standing with God, submitting to His will. God is for the righteous more than He is against the wicked – for the sake of 10 righteous people he would spare Sodom. Abraham is learning about God’s perfect balance of justice and mercy.
3. Intercession. Charles Spurgeon said, “If sinners will not hear you speak, they cannot prevent your praying.” This is so true. We all have people who we would like to see experience God, so we need to pray for them. Prayer is a mighty weapon! What is your Sodom? Is it your school? Your neighborhood? Your office? Your workplace? Your family? Pray and then pray some more for these people.

Do you crave intimacy with God? Do you walk with integrity, confident in God’s perfect will? Do you intercede for others? I encourage you to read this chapter and be challenged and spurred into action like I have been.

May God be with you all, Brad

Perhaps a better thing to ponder is what God thinks of His children.  Titus, a young man ministering in Crete, is asked to remind the people of their responsibility to each other in chapter 2; then in chapter 3 to the civic world that surrounds them.

I get so encouraged when we get these images of what we once were away from God and how we should act now through faith in Christ.

In verses 3-8 GOD THINKS YOU ARE PRECIOUS, PERFERCT, PRIVILEGED AND PROFITABLE.

If you look closely in these verses you see an amazing list of ungodly behaviour that epitomized our former conduct; yet God loved us so much that He poured out tremendous blessing and mercy on us.  Not writing us off but hanging in there for and with us.  He justified us having no account to answer, a legal term that has forgiven us entirely (but not the earthly consequences) making us acceptable for heaven.   That makes us a privileged people; the Lord walks with us, endures with us, provides for us and listens to our prayers.

You are useful to carry out His plans on earth for His glory.  Don’t think for one minute you are unacceptable and left to wander aimlessly through time.  With such assurance and blessings how can do anything else but fall to our knees and praise our God, and rise to get on with His plans for us.

So is there no joy to be found anywhere? Well, it depends where you look, or more to the point, who you look to. We can be burdened by so much in this modern age that we bounce from one thing to another, never really stopping long enough to take stock of where we have come from, let alone where we were heading.

If our life was a line, what would it look like? Perhaps the straightness of a line on a pad resembles your life, or is it more like the bounce of a cardiac monitor? Yet through all the ups and downs, one gift remains constant; the gift of Christ who has taken our ups and downs, brokenness and sin, providing us with the hope of eternal joy. Now that’s a present to keep close.

It’s often been said that it is better to give than to receive. This Christmas it’s better to receive Jesus for He is God’s pronouncement of everlasting joy to the world!

Isaiah 9:6 & 7a : “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice
from that time forward, even forever…..”

I find it a fantastic encouragement. The opening verse gives us that sense of belonging and comfort as we are reminded that condemnation has been laid aside for those washed with Christ‘s blood.  Having said that, we still experience those times when things could be just that little bit better.  Then we are reminded of an amazing promise that God gives us:

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

If we say God is sovereign, we must reckon that all things happen with His knowledge. The circumstances we are facing at present may not have been caused by God, but He also has not prevented them either. He alone knows the reason and we may want to know why, but in the confusion we need to trust in God‘s love. How can we be sure?

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God‘s sovereignty should be our great source of peace, joy and comfort. We all need to know that God is always with and for us.

Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us”

When someone such as Paul asks the church (at Corinth) to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Cor. 11:1), he is expressing that his life is built on the teaching and example of Christ. After his remarks, Paul would have known that the Corinthian church would line up what he said with what he did. Once validated, his actions would provide the impetus for change in the church.

In order for our lives to carry the same impact, we must first look at godly examples and be a godly example to others. Far too often today our examples come from external sources, perhaps someone who can kick,  catch or hit a ball better than most. The media place “stars” on a higher plain, exulting them as the social and spiritual leaders of the day.  That is of course until a few fall, then the whole basket is rotten. So as Christians, in whatever we do, the words of Matthew 5:16 must ring true; ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see  our good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Mat 5:16).

When we see believers acting out their faith in all circumstances, it should inspire and encourage us. The Holy Spirit living so miraculously in us, ministers to our needs as He guides us in our thirst for spiritual refreshment. As brothers and sisters in the Lord, we owe it to each other to be that earthly inspiration in unity to present Christ faithful.

Titus 2:7-8, “in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”

In reading Genesis chapters 1 and 2 this week, I wonder how God felt on his seventh day? He had surely had a very busy time up until then;-much busier than I have been, so he must have felt exhausted (or maybe not, given that he creates energy) but in Genesis 2.2 it says that “on the seventh day he rested from all his work” (of making things).

Every day up until then he had put a big tick against his creation-and he saw it was very good!!Do you feel that about everything you have done this past week or has it all been a bit mediocre?

By next Saturday at 7pm will you have put 3 big ticks where you know is right? Will you have voted for the right person to be our electorate representative, the right party to govern our land and the right choice of voting system for the long term so that you can rest well next Sunday?

God prepared well for his unique and wonderful creation, putting it in logical order and crowning it off with creating humans in His own likeness. Very shortly after that the pinnacle of His creation let Him down badly so he had to put in place His rescue plan for us all- His Son Jesus Christ.  This week let us prepare as best we can so that His will and purpose is done in the way New Zealand is governed