In trouble spiritually?

Romans 8:3-4 The real explanation of the trouble in most Christian lives is the fact that believers start thinking about salvation in terms of themselves rather than of God, the Holy Trinity and what God has planned and purposes before time. They start by looking into themselves, and they spend their lives doing so. If they looked at Him, looked out and saw it all there, then they would humble themselves and be filled with praise to God for ever having brought them into relationship with His great and glorious plan. That is the way to look at salvation.

That is why every teaching about justification or sanctification which puts its emphasis upon man or his "decision" or his "abiding" at any point is a denial of the Apostle's teaching. We are not saved because we decide to go in for salvation, either justification or sanctification; it is God that justifies or sanctifies; it is His purpose, it is His power, it is His working - this is His great and eternal plan.

Preston Christmas letter

  How different this year ends in comparison to last!

The year started in a shaky way. Marian was rushed into hospital in February with pneumonia. On her return home we needed to have our last and elderly cat be put down. From that low point, things got better!

Last year at this time, we had just completed

a massive renovation to our house.  This year, we have largely been builder-free; although we have had suffered some scaffolding temporarily, just to fix a leaking roof problem. We are enjoying the benefits of a much "greener" house, with utility bills almost halved!

Here's our family news in brief ... the kids, all grown-up, have had a good year. Michael (27yrs just before Christmas) has moved jobs to a local engineering firm that specialises in car engine innovation - everything from more fuel-efficient engines to super-powered Formula 1. A dream job for most men! In addition the firm is just 5 minutes from home.

Ruth (25yrs) has passed all her financial administration exams that she has taken, but has elected to go part time to pursue her passion in theology and apologetics debate. It's possible that she may turn her attention to an offered Masters place at King's College, London to study Comparative Religion in October 2012.

  

Dan (22yrs) is completing his Masters in Maths at Exeter University and has multiple job applications submitted to many of the well-known FTSE listed companies. Perhaps Dan's biggest feat this year was a charity bike ride round Europe, 7 countries, 1200 miles in 25 days.

Marian (21+yrs) continues as a director in a small local indexing firm. Against all economic odds they have had a most profitable year.  Alan (21+yrs) has had a most enjoyable and profitable year continuing to work for the church (www.cck.org.uk) - will give you a flavour of all that we get up to the Brighton area. The church is in another growth spurt and will soon be over a 1000 members with a further 500 who attend our services on a regular basis. Together we continue our hobby of bird-watching most weeks when time allows. This year we had a first - a Merlin (bird of prey!) fly over the garden, thus extending our all-time garden bird list to over 30 species. We also have had two very different and thoroughly enjoyable holidays, Cyprus in May and Cornwall in September.

To be honest, as 2011 draws to a close, we are so grateful to the Lord for a good year! It leaves us, to wish you, and all that are dear to you, a very blessed Christmas

Much love,      Alan & Marian (Michael, Ruth & Dan)

The motivation of grace is much stronger ...

Far stronger than the motivation of law ... let me put it this way.

The difference between an unbeliever sinning and a Christian sinning is the difference between a man transgressing one of the laws of the UK, say, and a member of the family doing something displeasing to another member of the family.

In one case, a man commits an offence against the State, in the other, say, a wife has done something that she should not do in her relationship with her husband. She may not be breaking the law, but she is breaking the husband's heart. That's the difference!

It is no longer a legal matter, it is a matter of personal relationship and that, a relationship of love. The man and woman do not cease to be marriage partners. Law dies not come into to it at all, it lies outside that realm. In a sense it is now much worse than a legal condemnation.

I would rather offend against the law of the land than hurt the Love of my life. That motivation is much stronger!

It's sometimes too good to believe ...

And that's exactly our problem - our faith sometimes does not stretch to comprehend the fullness of what Christ has done!

Romans 8:1 states so clearly that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You do not cease to be a Christian when you sin, you are not cast out of Christ when you sin. No, you remain in Christ, and there is still no condemnation. You have sinned, of course, but sinned against love not Law. You may and you should feel ashamed, but you should not feel condemnation, because to do so is to put yourself 'back under law'. If we are in this position, "in Christ", we are there for ever; there is no condemnation, past, present or future!