iBelieve Magazine December 2014

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS AND ADVERTISERS

iBelie e DECEMBER 2014 Issue 35 • £2.90

THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

The best gift ever

Why being thankful for God’s love is all it takes

Fab festive food ideas

Great alternative to roast turkey

Resist urge to splurge Our top tips when buying presents

Joyce Meyer Don’t be lazy, glorify God

Blue this Christmas?

It needn’t be so tough, explains agony aunt Julia Immonen

Worldwide celebrations How Christmas looks around the globe

Meet Martha

The Bake Off star with an extra ingredient

Faith is worth thinking about

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Contents

iBelieve DECEMBER 2014

REAL LIFE

INTERVIEWS 8

ON THE COVER Martha Collison starred on BBC’s Bake Off, but baking’s not her biggest passion

14

Being brought up by a satanic priest, Nicky Cruz knows all too well about the powers of darkness

33 American author Van R

8

Mayhall Jr makes sure Christianity is woven into his thrilling novels

7 Church minister Terry Wright surprises his flock when he turns up in leathers on his motorbike

FOOD

44 Resident chef Emily Roberts chooses some of her favourite non-traditional Christmas recipes

13

Kirsty Balfour made a splash on the world stage of swimming, but her faith was the secret to her stroke

36

Author Sue Birdseye reveals how she hates filling in forms that ask about her relationship status

What stirs the soul of Bake Off’s Martha?

20

How the world celebrates the birth of Jesus

14

Nicky Cruz warns over powers of darkness

6

44

Gadgets that Santa would love to have

Three pages of fab festive food ideas

40

The best reads and CDs for Christmas iBelieve

3

FEATURES

ADVICE 18

6

How to thrive throughout the Christmas holidays

iTech The great gadget gifts that would also perfectly suit Santa!

28

11 Christmas is the perfect time to

ON THE COVER Ask Julia Agony aunt Julia Immonen shares her advice on dealing with festive problems

35 ON THE COVER We share

great ideas to help you resist the urge to splurge on Christmas presents

16 ON THE COVER Don’t be lazy,

glorify God, says evangelist Joyce Meyer

25 Christmas is all about memories

for Peter Wreford in Daddy Diaries

Carl Beech considers how working for the Kingdom isn’t about his ego

26

20 ON THE COVER Each country

has its own way to celebrate Christmas

26 Going Places Reykjavik is the perfect place for a white Christmas

VIEWS

50

invite the neighbours, says Rachel Ridler

29

Devotion The most unlikely messengers about the birth of Jesus

30 ON THE COVER God showed his love with the most phenomenal gift ever, writes Mark Wreford

39 Puzzles A page of festive fun 40 iReviews Books & music

The perfect place for a white Christmas

iBelieve Magazine is published by New Life Publishing Co, PO Box 777, Nottingham, NG11 6ZZ. PUBLISHING Tel: 0115 824 0777 Email: info@ibelievemagazine.com www.newlifepublishing.co.uk Editor: Peter Wreford All content is copyright and must not be reproduced without prior written permission from the Editor. All rights reserved.

Printed by Buxton Press, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6AE. The acceptance of advertising does not indicate editorial endorsement.

We welcome your letters and comments regarding any of the issues raised within these pages. Write to the Editor at the above address.

Back copies are available while stocks last, at cover price plus £1.00.

NEW LIFE

4

iBelieve

from the editor Something you might not know about me, is that private as I am, I’m a bit of a singer. I’m always crooning away while I work, and I just love music. I get hungry for music. I’m not necessarily a great singer, but I do enjoy it.

Around this time of year, that’s no bad thing. There are many Christmas songs to choose from – and if you have a look at our feature this month, you’ll see that there are many traditions to explore too. But when I start singing at Christmas, the first line out of my mouth is often: “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.”

I’ve always loved fire; maybe that’s a bloke thing. I have a permanent bonfire site at the bottom of the garden, although we can only have a fire when the wind is right, or the neighbours complain! But we also have an open fire in our house at the moment, and I love it. I drag myself outside to split ‘I remember logs in the cold so the fire and that we can have a I’m filled with fire in the wintry evenings. We have hope again’ a real coal bucket, and a wicker wood basket. It’s a really lovely, festive sight.

Fire speaks to me about the spiritual state of our nation, too. I long to see a great revival in Great Britain, and as I stoke the embers of the evening’s blaze back into life when it has all died down, I think of what God could do in our nation. You wouldn’t believe that a few lumps of coal that are barely aglow could return to the roaring glory of a consuming fire. But with patience and care and fresh fuel it can do just that.

I have to confess that there are times when I read the news, look at our nation and wonder.

But when I remember the fire I’m filled with hope again. With a rise in prayer and fresh dedication to the cause of Christ we can see a new gospel blaze in Britain.

As we celebrate the coming of our Saviour, let’s lift our nation up to him again. He alone can rekindle the fire.

Happy Christmas!

Love God?..

Perfect for outreach all year round!

. . ? l l a b t o Love fo Don’t miss the exciting new football outreach mag from New Life Publishing that’s back by popular demand!

Order your copies of this great evangelistic tool today and share with football fans of all ages!

0115 824 0777 | www.newlifepublishing.co.uk | info@newlife.co.uk

iTech

Gift ideas to suit Santa!

If ever Father Christmas needed a helping hand it would be now, with more people alive than at any time before. But just what technological assistance could the big man in the red suit draw on?

Sigmo Translator This tiny translator would help make sure nothing got lost in language transition, ensuring satisfactory gift delivery for boys and girls all over the globe, whatever dialect they wrote their lists in. Sigmo works for 25 languages and translates what is said into the target language… handy if Santa ever gets stuck and has to ask for directions.

Touchscreen Gloves Up in the atmosphere, it can get a little breezy, so Santa’s going to need to keep the ice off his fingers somehow. If he’s going to stay on top of the operation via his smartphone, these touchscreen gloves will help. They allow you to use your device while wearing them by transmitting the touch of your finger through the material to the screen.

Forecasting Umbrella Wireless connection to the Internet is an obvious must for Santa as he speeds around the world, but it would certainly help him combat the weather with this umbrella which tells you when it’s going to rain. Alternatively, he could just wait until he starts getting wet…

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Real life

Minister’s revved up to reach out with gospel If you think a vicar has to look a certain way, think again.

Terry Wright will quite possibly prove you wrong…

H

e looks like the classic rebel biker, with his tattoos, leather jacket and powerful machine.

But, far from being a Hells Angel, Terry Wright is a Scots church minister.

Former soldier Terry took up his position as minister at Kilsyth Methodist Church in Lanarkshire last year.

And while there were a few eyebrows raised at first, he is proving very popular with his new flock.

Terry owns a £10,000 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 and regularly rides out with a Christian biker group called the Knights of Antioch.

“Not many people have come across a minister who has tattoos and rides a motorcycle,” he says. “Most bikers have a bit of a bad press, because they look scary.

But I’m part of a motorcycle club who live a Christian and law-abiding lifestyle.

“The main part of our ministry is to go to biker rallies, whereas most churchgoers would be too intimidated to go to these meetings.”

The 43-year-old recalled his decision to become a Christian – in a prison cell.

“It was when I was serving in the army,” he says. “I was with the Royal Engineers.

I’d been in a punk rock band and a lot of people around me were getting into drugs. I joined the army to get away from

ON HIS BIKE... Terry Wright is a motorbiking Methodist minister

that. I was looking for a meaning to life so I joined the Hare Krishna movement.

But it wasn’t long before I was back to the culture of heavy drinking in the army and I got locked up for the night for fighting.

“The only book I was allowed in there was a Bible and I read about the man Jesus, whom I’d learned about as a child.

“I’ve always felt that there must be more to life. When I was a youngster I was sent to Sunday school. I’d been trying to sort my life out with Hare Krishna and the army but my life was on a downward spiral, so I decided to give Christianity a go. I started going to the local Pentecostal church. I wanted to dedicate my life to this so I decided to become a minister.”

Terry, who was in the Royal Engineers for five years before training as a minister in 1999, adds: “I’ve been a biker since I was 14 and it comes easy to me, but being a church minister is the real challenge. I was at the synod in

front of a lot of people in my biker gear – initially there was a bit of reservation and questions of whether I was a real Christian but once they get me I’m very well received.

“The congregation here are brilliant. They’ve really got behind me.”

Pensioner Beryl Caddy, a steward at Kilsyth Methodist Church, adds, “We think he’s a super minister. He turns up to church with his bike.

He’s quite interesting and shows the young people that church isn’t boring.”

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Interview

Martha Collison became the youngest person to take part in the Great British Bake Off, and became a firm favourite among the show’s millions of viewers Pic courtesy of BBC

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What stirs the soul of Bake Off’s Martha?

Martha Collison won the nation’s heart when she became the youngest person to take part in the Great British Bake Off this summer. But she’s not just passionate about food

T

eenage baking sensation Martha Collison says her faith kept her calm in the heat of the battle as she won the nation’s hearts in front of 12 million viewers of an acclaimed TV reality show.

When Martha walked into the Great British Bake Off tent, she was the unknown 17-year-old hoping to wow the judges. Eight weeks later, she had become the Great British Sweetheart on her way to the quarter-finals.

Martha found herself firmly in the public eye after she made it through the auditions to become the youngest member – by 14 years – of the final twelve in the competition’s fifth series.

Despite rising temperatures in an unusually feisty competition, she kept her cool by remembering that God was with her throughout the process.

“I think having my faith in God definitely helped out during the stress because there was so much on my plate to juggle: being at school, being picked for Head Girl, doing Bake Off, and going to church.

“It was really tricky to manage, but to have a ‘quiet time’ – when you’re reading the Bible and praying – takes your mind off it and helps you to be a bit at ease,” she says. “There were a lot of moments when I was just really grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given.”

Despite the show’s high profile, which has seen a number of former contestants forge successful cooking careers after

in a Christian family,” she explains. “When I was about seven I made the decision for myself that that was the route I wanted to take.”

But it was her friends who suggested she go on the show. “My friends and I used to watch it and they said ‘you could do that if you practised’, and I thought why not!

“I didn’t tell my parents until I’d submitted the form because it was crazy and I never thought I’d get onto the proA flustered Martha is given some calming words gramme. And then a few rounds of audifrom Great British Bake Off co-host Sue Perkins tions later I was in the final twelve and it was all a bit scary.”

Now, despite a horde of twitter followtheir time in the tent, Martha’s faith kept ers, frequent selfie requests and being everything in perspective. hounded by Year 7s at school, Martha’s She even shunned practice to join the finding that her platform is the perfect Big Church Day Out praise event in the base from which to share her faith. intervening weekend, baffling her fellow “I never ever thought that I would have contestants: “I was volunteering at a fesmy picture taken by other people or be tival with my friends asked for my autowhile they were ‘There’s nothing to be graph, but it happens practising their socks all the time now. I off, and they asked a ashamed of in having went shopping yesfew questions about terday and I think five faith, especially that.” people stopped me Martha’s sweet and took pictures. It’s being a Christian’ nature and bubbly really strange; I feel so attitude marked her normal. I can’t believe out as a favourite with fans from the very my life is interesting enough that so many beginning, but her quiet confidence came people care about it! from a faith-filled upbringing.

“I think there’s nothing to be ashamed “My parents are both Christians, and my of in having a faith, and especially being dad is an elder at our church, so I grew up a Christian – it’s such good news – so I \ iBelieve

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Interview A lighter dessert for Christmas As a light alternative to the usually heavy Christmas fare, we have selected this scrummy-sounding recipe from Martha’s own blog at http://bakingmartha.co.uk

Almond & Lemon Meringue Roulade

Martha with fellow Great British Bake Off contestants Chetna Makan and Iain Watters

don’t think it would be right to keep it a secret.

“It’s such a big part of my life that I couldn’t hide it and I wouldn’t want to.

I’d rather be open about it. It means a lot to me; being a Christian is one of the main things that defines me as a person. The church is a lovely place to grow up as it’s so supportive, and full of friends and family. Having God to rely on when things are a bit crazy and manic and stressful is the most amazing thing.”

Martha is certainly having to rely on God now to handle some of the attention being directed at her. And it’s made her grow up fast.

“I’d love to go into baking in the future, and I feel so lucky and so blessed to have been given such a massive opportunity when I’m so young and it can make such a difference, because I haven’t done uni yet. I’ve still got all these things to come.”

When she’s not whipping up culinary delights to tickle Paul Hollywood’s sweet tooth – or studying – you might just find Martha at Ascot Life Church. “I’m a kids’ group helper and I sing in the worship band sometimes.

“More recently I’ve got involved with Tearfund, who are running a campaign called the Big Bake to raise money for No Child Taken, which works to end 10

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trafficking. I’ll be doing that next, and I’ve done some videos for them, so that’s exciting.”

She admits it was a real chore keeping progress of the show (filmed months in advance) a secret from all but a select few.

“I’ve become a lot better at keeping secrets which is probably a good thing! I had to keep it quiet for so long at school, but it’s a great secret to have to keep.”

Indeed, it was a secret Martha had to keep for quite a while as she progressed through the weeks, but what is more remarkable is that she was studying while doing so. “I think both my exams and my baking started to suffer a little bit,” she recalls.

“I just wasn’t devoting enough time to either. I definitely tried to relax and stay calm and prayed about it and it all worked out just fine! It’s been fantastic, exciting and quite overwhelming.”

It’s all in the past now, though, and Martha is fully focused on her future.

“I think I’d quite like to go to uni, but I don’t know – I’ll wait to see what’s offered to me when this is over.

“I’ll be working with Tearfund for the next year and I’d like to take a gap year with a charity to do some stuff in other countries. I’ll make the most of having the spotlight on me now, because I’m not sure how long this will last!”

The crunchy, chewy, almond-flavoured meringue goes really nicely with the lemon cream filling, oozing with homemade lemon curd. And the vibrant yellow peeking out the edges just adds to the appeal! My dad says this is the best dessert I have ever made. I make a lot of desserts, so that is saying something…

4 large egg whites • 225g caster sugar • 1 tsp almond extract • 1tsp white wine vinegar • 50g ground almonds • 300ml double cream • 1-2tbsp icing sugar • 6tbsp lemon curd • 1tbsp toasted flaked almond 1. Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and line a Swiss roll tin (about 23 x 30cm) with baking parchment. Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl until stiff. Slowly add the sugar, still whisking, until stiff and glossy.

2. Fold in the almond extract, vinegar and ground almonds until lightly incorporated. Pour into the Swiss roll tin and smooth over, tapping the tin to remove any big air bubbles.

3. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden and feels firm and set. Remove from oven, cover with baking parchment and a damp tea towel. Leave to cool.

4. To serve, whip the cream until thick.

Invert the roulade onto a large sheet of baking parchment sprinkled with icing sugar.

5. Carefully peel off the lining paper and spread over the lemon curd, then spread over the cream.

6. Roll up carefully, using the paper to help you. Dust with icing sugar and flaked almonds and you’re ready to go!

Feature

Use Christmas to invite the neighbours around Christmas provides the perfect chance to spread some festive cheer where you live, says Rachel Ridler

people that maybe don’t come out of their houses so often. So I am planning to start a community tradition with my mulled wine and mince pie event that will hopefully be liked by those on the estate.

We shall see!

lmost six months ago our family moved onto a new estate into a house that was very definitely a blessing from God. After living in our new home for half a year, I suddenly realised how much the work we have put in to getting to know our neighbours is paying off. When we first moved we really wanted to make an impact and claim the estate for God, so we made a conscious effort to talk to people and think of ways to connect.

Use community space Once our estate is completed there will be a park area for us all to use. I am really excited for this as it means that we could do even more things in the community, such as picnics, BBQs and sports days. The opportunities are endless.

A

Things we’ve done Welcome bags One of the first things we wanted to do was to make welcome bags for people when they moved in as this is an easy way to strike up conversation. But apparently a lot of the people who have moved on are ninjas as I haven’t seen any removal vans but all the empty houses are now filled! I have managed to catch two people and we now have great relationships.

Coffee mornings OK, so this sounds lame, but just opening up our house to people was really exciting! I printed off invitations and posted them through almost all the doors on the estate and got quite a few people to come along to meet us. I can now say hello to people as I am walking around the estate. I am planning my next ‘invite event’ for around Christmas time – I am thinking a mulled wine and mince pie style open house.

Being open to talk So many people rush from their cars into their houses, they never come out to

talk and they hardly ever spend time in their gardens. So part of us developing relationships was just being visible in the community and open to talking to our neighbours. Saying hi to them as they pull up on their drives or chatting over the garden fence is not an excessive thing.

Don’t just put your head down and ignore those around you, look up and make an effort to chat!

Take an interest I don’t really care that much about what next door have done in their garden, but they really do! So whenever I talk to them I ask them about it and I take an interest in it. People like it when you like them, so make your interactions more about them.

Go out of your way to offer them things related to their interests or point things out.

Things we hope to do Create a community tradition The best thing I remember about the neighbourhood I grew up in was the traditions that had emerged. One family always did an open house on New Year’s Day where all the neighbours were invited. And it was a great chance to catch up with them and see

Become part of the furniture I have started introducing myself as ‘the crazy lady on the estate’ as I kind of want to get a reputation! I want to be a bit over the top so everyone knows who I am and so when people move out they tell the new people that I am the person to come to for anything. I want to become part of the furniture and be known in the community as helpful and friendly. ● Rachel Ridler is a mum on a mission

to share the good news of Jesus in her local community. Check out her blog at rachelridlermumonamission. blogspot.co.uk

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is delighted to be hosting:

Elijah’s First International Conference: The Living University of Postural Care

Date: Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th April 2015 Venue: Hilton Bristol, Woodlands Lane, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 4JF

Eleanore’s story ...

“Eleanore Tesia Kittelson-Aldred was a little girl who had a big influence on many people she met through school, therapies, her community and church. Her fine sense of visual humor earned her the nickname ‘Eleanore Teaser’ because

she loved to tease. She went everywhere with her family in her wheelchair, all-terrain stroller, bike trailer or sled, and loved swimming.

Born in 1989, Eleanore was one of a handful of children with 8p+, a bit of extra genetic material on the short arm of her eighth chromosome, which resulted in complex needs. Over time it became evident that she had left hemiplegia, as well as low muscle tone; Eleanore was also profoundly deaf.

As she grew older, a mild spinal curve that was evident when she was a preschooler became more pronounced. By the time she was nine years old, Eleanore slept in a brace that straightened her back every night. In February 2001, Eleanore’s spine x-ray showed a curve of 90 degrees and surgery was recommended as the only viable way to improve her quality of life.

The surgery took place in May 2001, an apparent success, but during the two months after surgery, Eleanore struggled to eat and seemed distant. When she lost almost 15% of her body weight, her pediatrician insisted that she receive nasal gastric tube feedings with a pump during the night.

Sadly, on the evening of 26th July 2001, due to complications resulting from her feeding difficulties, Eleanore died. Her funeral took place six days later, on her twelfth birthday.

Eleanore’s parents, Rick and Tamara, established Eleanore’s Project and Postural Care USA as their daughter’s legacy in the world. Through the organisations, they share the good news of postural care with other families and show how therapeutic positioning offers a viable alternative to spinal surgery.

Tamara Kittelson-Aldred, an occupational therapist and postural care tutor, is one of the keynote speakers about postural care at Elijah’s First International Conference: The Living University of Postural Care.

We’re sharing Eleanore’s story is to highlight the importance of good postural care. Body shape distortion isn’t inevitable and there is a non-surgical solution to deteriorated body shape.

The right therapeutic positioning can prolong someone’s life. Elijah’s First International Conference: The Living University of Postural Care will bring professionals and families together to share knowledge and best practice.

Find out more by visiting www.elijahs-hope.org or call 01275 269359 to book your place at this world-leading two-day event

”

Real life

The simple verse that inspired Olympic star Kirsty Balfour made a splash on the world stage of swimming, but her faith was the secret to her stroke…

F

ormer European swimming champion Kirsty Balfour has revealed the importance that Scripture has played during her competitive career.

Scottish breaststroke ace Balfour won gold in the 200m at the European Long-Course Championships in 2006 before claiming silver in the same event at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne.

At 18 years of age Balfour had already been a Scottish champion and Commonwealth Games finalist – but she puts her success down to a healthy relationship with God. “I prayed before competitions and when I was in the water,” she reveals.

“One of my favourite verses in the Bible has to be Philippians 4:13, ‘I can do everything through him who strengthens me’.

“It is a very simple verse, but when I was training or competing, feeling like I am just about to die, I know God was there in the water with me, and he would see me through.”

Edinburgh-born Balfour, who was part of the Team GB squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, became known for her humility in the pool and gives God all the glory for her success.

“I know that God has given me a talent, it’s something not of myself, and I am ultimately using that talent for his glory,” she once said.

Balfour’s journey saw her become the first British gold medalist in the pool at a European Championships

since Anita Lonsborough’s 1964 success, though her path to the podium has seen her grow closer to God. “I think I was about seven when I gave my life to Jesus,” she remembers.

However, it wasn’t until just a few years ago that she started to think more seriously about what she believed. “I came to a point where I had to think through everything I believed again, and I have now made a firm commitment to follow Jesus Christ.

“Over the years my relationship with Jesus has grown a lot stronger and I feel closer to God.” As many professional athletes would understand, Balfour was exposed to numerous temptations but always remained determined to express her faith when quizzed by her team-mates.

“Being a Christian is sometimes hard as there are things you feel are not right for you to do,” she adds.

“Unlike a lot of my friends I don’t drink, but my friends know why and they respect what I believe. My swimming mates have asked me questions and it is good to be open about your faith.”

Following the 2008 Olympic Games Balfour revealed she would be retiring from the sport at just 24 to focus on serving her local church.

After eight years at the top of international swimming, Balfour married and announced she would be ‘doing a lot with the church and youth work’.

Kirsty Balfour ahead of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing

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Real life

My mission to reveal t Plucked out of gangland New York after an encounter with a preacher, Nicky Cruz knows all too well of the powers of darkness. He spoke to iBelieve about how Jesus set him free…

T

he Devil is seen by many as a harmless plaything with a fork and horns. But one Christian author, who was brought up by a satanic priest, has warned that such powers are real and dangerous – and the only way to overcome them is through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Nicky Cruz, now 75, grew up in Puerto Rico witnessing frightening supernatural happenings at his home. He later experienced spiritual attacks after he left the New York City gang life to become a Christian.

“Satan must be unmasked,” the fatherof-four warns. “He is not a harmless caricature or a myth left over from humanity’s primitive past. He’s not a symbol of human wrongdoing. He’s not the personification of some generalised force. He’s a real being – and the most awful one we can imagine.

“People may think that Ouija boards are harmless fun but if you play with fire you’re going to get burned. The Devil is real and the greatest trick he’s ever succeeded in is convincing people that he’s not.”

Cruz, best known as the former leader of the notorious NYC gang The Mau Maus, was immortalised in the 1960’s film and book The Cross and the Switchblade and his own autobiography Run Baby Run. He was also the director of the first addiction recovery programme Teen Challenge.

“When I was in the Mau Maus I didn’t know if I was going to live to the next day.

Sex, drugs and alcohol – that’s what life

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was all about,” he says. “But two words epitomised my life – loneliness and boredom.

“All my life I’d been rejected – firstly by my parents and then by society.”

But everything changed for Nicky when he met a preacher named David Wilkerson.

“It was a surprise from heaven,” Nicky says. “For this guy who had no clue about our gang culture to walk in and bring this message from heaven that was so strong.

He told me that Jesus loved me.

“That was the first time I’d ever been approached by someone who had the guts to bring me the message of the cross.

“I told him that I would kill him and spit in his face but he answered, ‘Nicky, you can cut me into a thousand pieces but each one would cry out that Jesus loves you.’ Those three words ‘Jesus loves you’ stuck in my head.”

Two weeks later Nicky and the gang went to a meeting held by David Wilkerson and intended to cause trouble.

“Rev Wilkerson talked about the crucifixion of Jesus and he explained it so well,” Nicky recalls.

“The way Christ was killed – I’d never heard that story and I felt so sorry for him.

I realised that he was a good man and I was a bad man and I committed my life to the Son of God who gave his life for me.”

Despite confessing his sin and becoming a Christian, Nicky still had his violent past to deal with. As a young child he suffered abuse at the hands of his parents

‘People may think that Ouija boards are harmless fun but if you play with fire you’re going to get burned’

he truth about Satan

WARNING... Nicky Cruz says his parents were Devil worshippers Above left, Nicky in the 1950s when he was part of gangland New York’s the Mau Maus Above right, Nicky with preacher David Wilkerson who told Nicky about Christ

who worshipped the Devil. My father was a satanic priest,” he says. “I was born into a curse. I tasted hell.

“They would put me in a cage with a pigeon and let it peck me. I was so scared.

They would beat me too. That was my life for a long time. My parents were involved in witchcraft, summoning spirits of the

dead, casting spells, healing through the help of spirits, foretelling the future and practising any other form of ‘white magic’ they could think of.

“They were naive enough to think that the ‘good spirits’ they summoned were from God, but that was because they had so little understanding of such things.

They only saw the power that it brought and not the source.

“Now I faced the greatest battle of my life – forgiveness. I had been forgiven by Jesus – the test before me was whether I could forgive and love my mother, who was still alive.”

Two years after his conversion, Nicky went to see his mother on her death bed.

“I went in that house where I had suffered so much and I just couldn’t do it,” he admits.

“So I phoned people from my church to come and pray with me and help me – and around 250 people showed up.

I went back to the house and saw my mother lying there on the sofa and a wave of compassion came into my heart and I started crying.

“My mother grabbed hold of me and asked for forgiveness and I said I was sorry for not forgiving her and then she asked for me to pray that Jesus would come into her life. Not only was she forgiven but she lived another 25 years and seven months!”

So what has Nicky learned in the half a century that he has been a Christian?

“I just love people,” he says. “I love sinners and they love me. But I have also learned that the Devil is very real and we must be alert. The Bible says that ‘he prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour’. This is so true and we must be aware.” ● Nicky’s latest book ‘The Devil Has No

Mother’ is available on Amazon

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Joyce Meyer WISE WORDS FROM THE TOP EVANGELIST & AUTHOR

Don’t be lazy... glorify God!

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ll of us have some sort of dream or vision – areas of our lives where, with God’s help, we want to better ourselves or achieve more. Maybe it’s to get in shape or have better physical health. Maybe you want greater financial stability or greater success in your business. Or you may be believing for greater ministry opportunities.

There was a time in my life when I would think, “If I eat one of those chocolate chip cookies, I’ll have to eat a dozen.”

Why? Because I had no self-control… and I had absolutely no faith in myself ever changing.

But here’s the truth… we can change.

By the grace of God, we can begin making right choices and developing new habits that will help us enjoy a better life.

First and foremost, living a disciplined life and establishing new habits requires a lot more than just will power.

I’ll never forget the time I heard a teaching about the power of words. That day, I left church and said, “That’s it! I’m going to shut my mouth and not say one bad thing. I’m going to discipline myself!”

You can probably guess how that turned out. Actually, I did manage to keep quiet, but then I realised I was depressed.

The Lord spoke to my heart and said, “You’ve shut your mouth, but nothing on the inside has changed.”

Here’s the lesson… even when God asks us to do something, we still cannot do it successfully unless we lean on him. John 15:5 has changed my life. It says, “Apart from me [Jesus] you can do

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nothing.” Take a little time each day to read God’s Word and talk to him in prayer.

Some of my greatest breakthroughs have been the result of simply sitting quietly in his presence, knowing that I can’t do anything if he doesn’t make it happen.

Years ago, people were expected to work at their jobs for a long time before getting raises, vacation and special benefits. Today, these things are expected up front. I’m all for people having great benefits, but there’s a sense of entitlement today that can actually hurt us.

I believe a lot of people want the ‘perks without the works’. In other words, they want to have all of the good results without having to discipline themselves or take any of the responsibility to get them.

American football coach Vince Lombardi famously said that he was going to teach his players how to discipline themselves so they could have what they said

they wanted to have. You see, although today we can microwave a meal, there’s no such thing as ‘microwave Christianity’.

Actually, I like to call God’s process ‘The Law of Gradual Growth’. Why? Because little by little, as we make right choices, the Lord brings us to the place we need to be.

Yes, in the beginning, disciplining yourself will be difficult. It won’t feel good and you won’t like it. But every time you make a choice to do the right thing, the next time it gets a little easier. And you get one step closer to your goal.

The Bible teaches us that wise people think about the consequences and care more about later on than right now.

Yes, you can live a lazy, undisciplined life and still go to heaven. But you won’t have peace, you won’t be happy and, worst of all, you won’t glorify God with your life the way he intended.

What’s

your

story?

What has God done in your life? Write and let us know in 500 words, and the best will be considered for publication. Send to editor@newlife.co.uk

How to

OUR GREAT TIPS ON LIFE’S LITTLE MATTERS

Thrive throughout Christmas

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hristmas is such an important date in the Christian calendar, but so often it becomes about mere survival. This month, don’t let anyone get you down about the festivities: we’re here to help you thrive!

1. Take time out Christmas is certainly a time for family, friends and fun, but first and foremost, it’s a time of year that’s specifically designed to help us think about God. If you know you’re going to be busy when the festivities get going, give yourself a few minutes off before that happens. Don’t get mindlessly caught up in the whirlwind. Pray for peace – for you and the rest of the world – because that’s what God offers us in Christ.

2. Unplug Zoning out in front of the box (or the brand new flatscreen) might be the easy thing to do if you’re just trying to make it through the day, but turning your house into a gadget-free zone for a few hours will help you step back from the frenetic pace of life constant connectivity demands. Even if the kids won’t buy it, you don’t have to be on the phone or Facebook for a few days: the world will keep turning. Being present with each other is one of the best gifts family members can give.

3. Organise Failing to plan is, apparently, planning to fail, so make sure that you ease the pressure on everyone by giving them a heads up of what’s happening and when. If people aren’t around on time, that’s not a problem – it’s a holiday, after all – but managing expectations can go some way to solving problems before they arise.

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4. Budget It’s easy to break the bank under the strain of emotional blackmail in December – unless you’re one of those annoying types whose presents were all bought last year. Don’t. Make a budget and stick to it. Christmas isn’t actually about presents, after all. Jesus didn’t die so you could splurge your way into debt on his birthday: that’s just silly. Know how much you want to spend and look for things that will put a smile on people’s faces. Take the pressure off. A thoughtful present is often more gratefully received than an expensive one.

5. Get traditional ‘We do it every year’ is the perfect reason to do things at Christmas. Traditions bring people together.

There’s no reason to change things just for the sake of doing something different. If you don’t have traditions, make some.

It can be getting together for the panto, watching the Queen’s speech, giving cards on Christmas Eve, putting the tree up on December 1st – anything. Get people together and enjoy each other’s company.

6. Open up to others Christmas can be a difficult time of year. Sharing your joy with people who are struggling can be an amazing way of showing Christ’s love. Invite people that have nowhere to go. You could do something extra on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day if you’ve got family plans the rest of the time.

7. Don’t get too excessive One of the things that really catches up with you at Christmas is overindulgence: it’s hardly surprising that more alcohol, caffeine, sugar and excitement isn’t a recipe for a relaxing few days. If you’re feeling bloated, you won’t have as much fun.

Enjoy the season by having nice things in moderation. They’ll last longer and you’ll enjoy them more.

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Feature

There’s a world of difference

Christmas!

As you’re tucking into your turkey and settling on the sofa to listen to the Queen’s speech, people all around the world are celebrating the birth of Christ with a multitude of customs and traditions.

From the lovely to the quirky, here are a few of our favourites…

Brazil For 90 per cent of the Brazilian population, Christmas is their celebration: the vast majority of the people count themselves Christian. Since the country is in the Southern hemisphere, Christmas comes around at summertime which influences how it’s celebrated. The festivities begin on the 24th, often with fireworks and an enormous churrasco (a kind of twist on the barbecue with lots of skewered meat). Christmas trees are still prevalent thanks to American influence, but they’re mainly fake – there aren’t many evergreen pines or firs in the Brazilian heat! Families and friends make the best of the time by coming together to enjoy each other’s company – and cooking – and Christmas parties can regularly include 70 people.

It all begins with bingo, and the kids are bundled into bed just before midnight to await the arrival of Papai Noel: if he finds your sock on the window sill, he might just swap it for a present!

Caracas, Venezuela Can you imagine London shutting its streets on weekday mornings for an entire week? All in aid of mass roller blading?

Well that’s exactly what happens in this

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South American capital city between December 16-24. The early morning mass attracts lots of locals, but at this special time of year they like to rollerblade to church together. It’s not great for congestion, but if you’re going to bring the city to a standstill what better occasion than Christmas?

The streets are shut by 8am and thousands participate. Venezuelans traditionally make the most of the warm weather to paint their houses ready for the celebrations that follow, too, and feast on hallacas – bundles of beef, pork, chicken, capers, raisins, and olives wrapped in maize and plantain leaves, tied into a parcel and then boiled or steamed.

about Japan A world away from roasties and sprouts, the Japanese will be indulging in a very different kind of chicken dinner – KFC to be precise. If you wanted to eat at the fast food restaurant on December 25, you would need to book a long way in advance. Even though Christians are a minority in this country, excitement for the celebration is so great that enjoying a bucket of fried chicken has become a tradition for many families. Add in Christmas cake for desert and you’ve got a great alternative dinner!

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Feature

A Swedish Yule Goat

depiction of Jesus’ birth, a figure is added squatting in the corner, pants round ankles, a little pile of ‘produce’ by his feet.

The traditional figurine is depicted with a red cap on, and it’s part of the process of making the scene to let children find the hidden ‘Caganer’. Apparently, the figure comes from Catalonia, where Christmas celebrations also feature a defecating log – no, seriously. The log is ‘fed’ for a few weeks, then, on Christmas Eve, it’s beaten like a drum by young and old alike and told to produce sweets.

Gävle, Sweden The inhabitants of Gävle seem to come over all ‘Guy Fawkes’ at Christmas. Each year two huge versions of the traditional straw Swedish Yule Goat are erected in prominent places in the city. The brainchild of an advertising consultant way back in 1966, the goat is erected on the first day of advent and intended to make it through until the New Year. Sadly, it rarely makes it this far before it is burned down.

Each year, hostilities between the makers and the burners are renewed, as is competition between the two groups of goat builders as to whose will be bigger. Christmas messages of peace and hope surround the big celebrations of St Lucia’s day, though. On the 13th, the girl who wore candles on her head to bring food to persecuted Roman Christians is celebrated in a dazzling festival of lights throughout Sweden. Pepparkakor - ginger biscuits – are given out and Lussekatts – buns flavoured with saffron and dotted with raisins – make a tasty breakfast.

Catalonia, and parts of Spain, Portugal and Italy If you’ve ever been puzzled by an extra figure in nativity scenes on the Continent, then wonder no longer. There’s a tradition of giving a rather odd nod to the distinctive odour of the animals. Rather than simply spreading manure near the

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Mexico In Mexico, nativity plays aren’t confined to the classroom or even the school hall: the posadas are an important part of the celebrations in the week before Christmas.

From the 16th onwards, there’s a posada party every night but getting there is

Germany Germany is well known for its Christmas markets, but the hiding of a jar of pickle in the decorations on the tree isn’t something they’re famous for. If you’re the one that finds the secret stash, you get an extra present. If you’re really German, you get it on Christmas Eve, too, which is even better!

at least half the fun. After dark, a group will leave the church – either with ‘Mary and Joseph’ in their midst or carrying a nativity scene – and arrive at a house for the party… only to get turned away! After that’s happened again, they will finally make it to the venue for the evening and

the fun can begin. Pinatas are a regular feature and the evening culminates with carols.

Ghana The incredibly diverse mix of cultures in Ghana (66 different languages are spoken) ensures that there are plenty of different ways of celebrating the season that all merge into a riotous blend of noise and excitement. Everyone’s got their own custom to bring, but there are a few things that happen everywhere. The celebrations start on December 20 and carry on into January, but they really get going on Christmas Eve. Churches are packed out with nativity plays and choir singing the order of the day – and sometimes long into the night! If the dancing doesn’t last right through the early hours, there are often fireworks and parties to go to.

On Christmas morning, churches are full of colourfully-dressed believers, but the services are a lot shorter as presents are waiting and so is a meal of okra soup, porridge, meats, rice and a yam paste called ‘fufu’.

Czech Republic Christmas Eve can be an incredibly important day in a Czech girl’s life. In the evening, she traditionally throws a shoe over her shoulder towards the door of the house she lives in with her parents. If it lands with the toe pointing towards the door, love is on the cards: she should prepare to meet Mr Right and get married, because she’s going to be moving out in the next year. If not, then better luck next year… For wide-eyed children looking forward to the arrival of Santa, the Czech Republic is the place to be, because he comes twice – kind of.

On St Nicholas’ Day (December 5), St Nic arrives with at least one angel and one demon in tow to find out if the kids have been good. Once they’ve proved their worth by reciting a poem or singing a song, they’re presented with a present basket filled with chocolate and small presents – much like a stocking. And even the

big presents arrive by the time Christmas dinner of fish soup and fried carp with potato salad has been eaten at teatime on Christmas Eve! India In India, Christmas is as much a time for outreach as it is for celebration because Christians only account for a minute 2.3 per cent of the population. Southern Indians use this special day in December to make a poignant point to their neighbours, though: they place oil lamps on their roofs to tell people that Jesus is the light of the world. In Mumbai, there will be manger scenes in windows, but a classic Christmas tree is an unlikely sight. Instead, banana and mango trees are brought inside and decorated and churches will be decked out in poinsettia Kutia is the first of a 12-course meal in Russia

flowers for midnight services on Christmas Eve. Russia In Russia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7 – its date in the old Julian calendar that some churches still use – and the holiday season runs from December 31 to January 10. Under Communist rule, the Christian festival was rather neglected, but it has become more popular again in recent years. Traditionally, a fast is held (sometimes for up to 39 days), until the first star appears on Christmas Eve (January 6). The restraint of advent disappears in a blaze of indulgence as people demolish a 12-course dinner: one for each apostle. That begins with the porridge-like Kutia, which is occasionally eaten from a common bowl, symbolising unity.

Traditionally, a spoonful is thrown at the ceiling: if it sticks, the next year will be good! Because of Russia’s recent history, New Year celebrations have gained great importance and that is when ‘Father Frost’ and his granddaughter bring presents. Sadly, though, the Babushka story of a Russian grandmother who meets the wise men but misses Jesus doesn’t actually come from Russia: it was written by an American author in the early 1900s!

Wherever you find yourself in the world, it’s great to be able to wish people ‘season’s greetings’ and with our guide, you can!

French – Joyeux Noel German – Frohe Weinachten Italian – Buon Natale Spanish – Feliz Navidad Polish – Wesołych Świąt Dutch – Gelukkig Kerstfeest Russian – ’S Rozhdestvom khristovym Chinese – Sheng Dan Kuai Le Japanese – Meri Kurisumasu Welsh – Nadolig Llawen Czech – Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce Ghanaian – Ni ti Burunya Chou Greek – Kala Christouyenna Portuguese – Feliz Natal or Boas Festas Swedish – God Jul Arabic – Eid Milad Majid

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Feature Ethiopia Like Russia, Ethiopia celebrates Christmas on January 7 because it follows the Julian calendar. Christmas Day is called Ganna, and when it comes around most people attend church. Ethiopian churches tend to be built as three concentric circles, and on Christmas Day, the choir sings in the outermost circle as the people arrive. Everyone is given a candle and then the congregation walk around the church three times before standing in the second circle for the service. In the late afternoon, the men and boys play a hockey-like game using balls and sticks that is also called Ganna: the story goes that the shepherds got so excited when they heard about Christ’s imminent birth that they started playing this game. The traditional tale that one of the wise men came from Ethiopia also contributes to the celebrations, but presents aren’t the focus of attention. People dress up in their finest clothes and children receive new outfits, but beyond this gift-giving isn’t a big part of the festivities.

France In France, Christmas dinner is actually a midnight feast. The meal, called reveillon, is eaten after the family have returned from midnight mass and it is traditionally very indulgent – turkey or goose, foie gras, oysters, lobster, venison and classic French cheeses are all menu options, but the bûche de Noël chocolate log dessert

is a must. Some parts of France go further, with 13 desserts comprising various combinations of nuts, fruit and pastry, all eaten. The Christmas season in France is also marked by amazing light shows and cherry wood Yule logs, often sprinkled with red wine, are traditionally burned.

Everyday characters make it into nativity scenes, too, with butchers, bakers and policemen all popular additions.

Australia Even though Christmas comes in the middle of the summer holidays, Australian shops get into the spirit by showing snowy scenes, and carols by candlelight is a really important service held late on Christmas Eve. Every state capital has its own service and celebrities are drafted in to lead the singing: it’s a big deal for everyone, not just Christians. Because of the temperature it’s not unusual to camp at Christmastime, though the cliché of a BBQ on the beach isn’t entirely accurate: plenty of people still eat a roast dinner. In New Zealand, however, barbecuing is on the rise, so stock up on the shrimp!

France’s bûche de Noël chocolate log dessert

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Daddy DIARIES A LOOK AT LIFE FROM THE EYES OF DADS OF ALL AGES

Christmas is about memories

“C

hristmas comes earlier and earlier,” or so the cynics say. It might be the refrain of the elderly, but for those with small children, this is literally true.

Your tiny ‘darlings’ who might find it difficult to show their faces before midday when their teenage years arrive, have an uncanny knack of setting their internal alarm for 4am on this most special day of the year!

Because I’m very much a morning person, it’s not the end of the world for me to see those excited little eyes appear in the early hours. It’s a bit more of a challenge for my wife, whose Christmas spirit is on snooze until 8am at least! What Helen is brilliant at, though, is buying the perfect gift and filling splendid stockings for the kids.

If you’re going to get something for Helen herself, however, it’s very much a case of ‘stick to the list!’ My wife – although wonderful in many ways – is not brilliant at liking something simply because it has been given, so in 31 years of marriage the number of successful surprises I have sprung is very small.

On one triumphant occasion, though, I noted that she really fancied a large gold mirror that would sit nicely over our fireplace. Happily, Helen had already been shopping at John Lewis for something else and had left me at home on the relevant day to receive the delivery.

So I got them to deliver the mirror at the same time: cunning! Watching her face as I dragged the large and completely unexpected box in on Christmas Day gave me a rare mo-

ment of pride. Though surprise presents for her are a rarity, Helen is generous to a fault, so Christmas has always been a costly time in our household. One year, though, was priceless.

On this particular occasion my younger son, Jamie, had little to look forward to presents-wise. We had been persuaded by his music teacher to buy him a very nice (and very expensive) trumpet, and we told Jamie it would have to count as his Christmas present. However, when he opened ‘one last gift’ on the day and found the Playstation he had been dreaming about he was overwhelmed, and stood in the centre of the lounge just hugging it!

Christmas is all about fun and memorable moments, but it still has to be managed: every family has to work out what works for them. Originally, our tradition was to load everyone’s rooms with presents, ready to be ripped apart upon waking.

One momentous year, though, I decided that this was not the way forward. Instead stockings were for Christmas morning, but presents had to wait until after church and lunch. I went from Father Christmas to Scrooge in a heartbeat that year, but anticipation has since proved a great part of the fun.

This move also allowed us to enjoy the Christmas broadcast by our nation’s foremost evangelist – our beloved Queen – who reminds us all what Christmas is really all about.

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Going places

Reykjavik I

f you’re looking for a picturesque white Christmas this year, then a trip to Reykjavik could be perfect for you. The desolate beauty of this Icelandic destination has attracted many a film director to use the location as the backdrop to their creative masterpieces – films like the sumptuously shot Walter Mitty, epic looking Noah and alien extravaganza Prometheus all hail from this part of the world.

The wildness of the untamed landscape means that Iceland’s most ancient settlement only dates back to 870 AD and work on the building of a city only really got going in the late 1700s. With a plethora of coves, straits and islands overlooked by snowy peaks, this same natural wildness is the main attraction of the city, though.

That’s not to say that Reykjavik is all nature and no culture. The world’s most northerly capital boasts a reputation for cleanliness, and the excellent stock of the river Elliðaá adds to the city’s culinary magic. Unlike many other crowded capitals, Reykjavik has plenty of space for you to breathe a little: with a relatively low population density spread over broad streeted suburbs dodging the crowds is easy. Iceland’s dark winter skies and relaxed firework rules at New Year also make it a spectacular place to welcome in 2015.

Where to stay Iceland’s capital might be surrounded by some forbidding natural features – cliffs, mountains, lava fields – but in the midst of the dark and cold of winter, relaxing in the Black Pearl’s ultramodern hotel apartments is easy.

Everything speaks of excellence, from the luxurious bed to the high-end appliances.

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NATURAL PHENOMENA... The stunning Northern Lights dance behind Reykjavik’s church (top). People enjoy the world famous Blue Lagoon

The provision of a kitchen can support a longer stay, but don’t be fooled: the astounding breakfast served en suite each morning tells you what this hotel is really about. With a reputation for fantastic service and a coastal location with great views over the city, you couldn’t ask for much more.

The Reykjavik Residence Hotel is similarly suave. Centrally situated with large rooms, this comfortable white house makes a great base for exploring the city. The Viking Village Hotel offers a charming budget option a little further out, though the cutesy vibe is achieved by sacrificing space for style: perhaps not the best option if you’re claustrophobic!

SURPRISING CITY...

Winter sunshine around Reykjavik city centre

What to visit It might be more of a ‘when’ than a ‘what’, but New Year is a really special celebration in Reykjavik. The sky – which is dark for much of the day at this time of year – is lit by a thousand firework displays, because normally strict rules over their use are relaxed especially for the festival. Culture night in August is another occasion for brightly coloured explosions – in tandem with concerts.

Unsurprisingly, given its provision of stunning backdrops for many a blockbuster, Reykjavik also hosts one of Europe’s oldest and most esteemed Arts Festivals in May. A boat trip to go whale watching or explore the ‘Golden Circle’ is a must for nature lovers, too. The imposing Hall-

grímskirkja is well worth a look, as is the National Museum and the quirkier Reykjavik 871 – a museum combining brilliant technology and the stunning setting of a single 10th Century Viking house.

The Café scene is vibrant, too, with coffee tasting in Reykjavik giving winetasting a run for its money.

If chic isn’t your scene, though, a visit to the Old Harbour will give you a real feel for the place. Laugardalur is the place to

head for if you find yourself feeling the chill. This naturally hot spring – the result of the same geothermal activity which fuels the volcanic action on the island – has been harnessed to offer public baths.

Finally, the Harpa is Reykjavik’s monolithic glass answer to Sydney’s Opera House and it’s just as distinctive: stunning.

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Ask

JULIA

with agony aunt & Sky Sports presenter Julia Immonen

Lonely this Christmas Christmas is always a lonely time for me. My husband left me three years ago and I always feel so alone at this time of year. What should I do?

I was just with a friend yesterday who isn’t a Christian and who was just saying the same thing; that she can’t face another Christmas, another birthday alone, due to a similar situation. The verse that springs to my mind is Psalm 68:6: “God sets the lonely in families.”

I find Christmas a particularly tough time too, but think it’s so important to surround ourselves with community. I know you have to be a bit bold, and it’s probably out of your comfort zone, but please make the effort to be in community. God will give you wonderful friends but you need to be intentional. I have many friends that often serve at homeless kitchens and shelters and are so blessed as a result. God calls us to be servant-like just as Jesus lived out his life on earth, and as a result there is often opportunity for community and new relationships to be built.

Unsure of Virgin birth I find it pretty tough to believe that the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus. It seems a bit far-fetched. Is this a problem?

Absolutely not, the verse Hebrews 11:1 sums it up perfectly: “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” There are many things that seem unfathomable and beyond our capacity because God is so omnipotent. It

is a step of faith to believe but it is good to be able to talk through the big questions of life with other people to explore these questions further. I couldn’t recommend the Alpha Course more. I did it myself and it was an amazing way to unpick the big questions of life, so this may also be a good tool for you.

I fear dad’s rejection I haven’t spoken to my father since he walked out on me when I was a young girl. I’m considering going to see him this Christmas, but what if he rejects me again?

I think it’s really brave and courageous that you want to see your father. Every son and daughter has a longing to have a relationship with their father. Through our heavenly Father, everything we need is satisfied and fulfilled in him.

I think it’s a huge step, so really prepare your heart, keep prayer at the centre of everything and get your friends to pray for protection. Ultimately know that God is your father and everything can be found in him. It would be wonderful to reconnect with your Father and God wants us to be with our families, but I understand it might be strange and potentially awkward so make sure you protect yourself and keep close to God throughout this brave act.

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Julia comes from the world of sport and media and works for Sky Sports News. She is passionate about fighting modern day slavery and is the founder of Sport for Freedom, a UK based anti-trafficking charity.

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Devotion

God revealed glory to the most unlikely Christmas comes but once a year, so don’t take it for granted. Separating the vital from the vacuous isn’t always easy, but it is important to remember what’s truly valuable at this special time…

Bible Focus Luke 2:8: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”

When it comes to the nativity play at school, the status of shepherd can be coveted. It wasn’t in ancient Jerusalem. Shepherds weren’t particularly welcome. They smelled, they were always unclean – both literally and religiously – and they could only make friends with each other because

they spent all their time out on the hillside.

They were like bin men who lived at the tip.

These were the people that God decided to announce his arrival to: the ‘worthless’ on the outskirts. Shepherds were the original blue-collar workers and yet, in the middle of the night shift, the glory God hid in a baby was revealed to them by an angel choir. Don’t despise the small things or the small people: you never know where God will show up.

iPray Advent Calendar This advent, instead of whacking your waistline with extra goodies every morning – and who doesn’t love an excuse to have chocolate for breakfast? – maybe you could do something for your prayer life. Each day of advent can be a day in which you make Christ’s coming into the world real and relevant to your life – and this can start with a prayer diary.

Taking five minutes to identify one reason that you’re thankful he came, one way that you can bring Christ into your world and one way in which you wish he’d break in can be a really powerful process.

In coming into the world, Jesus did much more than save souls. It was the incarnation that broke any idea of distance between God and creation: all the fullness of divinity dwelt beside a woman’s bladder. Earthy.

Thinking about the way that God joins in with his creation in this remarkable way can change the way we pray. Think about the huge impact of Christ’s coming and let it challenge your faith.

Think about the difference his coming can have in what you do, and let it challenge you to act. Think about the situations crying out for God’s intervention and let it challenge your heart. «

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Try new ways to engage people With Christmas around the corner, Soul Survivor worship leader Beth Croft encourages us not to get bogged down when it comes to reaching out…

Often you don’t realise you’re in a rut until you begin to climb out.

There’s something wonderfully familiar about the coming and going of the four seasons – the regularity, stability and security they can bring.

When the air gets colder and days get shorter, we begin to anticipate Christmas: the decorations come down from the loft, the heating goes on, along with a whole bunch of unique family traditions that accumulate over the years.

There’s comfort in knowing what’s around the corner each year, but as with any season or tradition, there is also the danger that we simply look to replicate what was done the year before. I think it’s one of our duties as the Church to find more ways to engage with the world and the culture in which we live, so that we can communicate a gospel that is timeless, that will never age or go out of fashion.

One of the things I love about Jesus is that he never confused these two things. Emmanuel, ‘God with us’, chose to be born into culture, into a Jewish family. He had a job,

he went fishing, drank at weddings, partied with sinners. He ‘became like us’ – according to Hebrews 2:17 – while never compromising on his values. He didn’t simply identify with mankind, he was the one pioneering the change! His teaching was completely counter-cultural, full of God’s values, yet it was communicated with such intention, such accessibility and such relevance to people’s lives.

We only have to look at history to see that there are many expressions that enable a marriage of culture and biblical values. It’s definitely scary being the first to step out in a new direction, but this kind of renewal paves the way for the next generation of disciples to see Jesus as someone who is alive and relevant to their lives today as much as he was when he walked the earth.

Let’s make it our duty to go looking for ways to engage our local community with Jesus without compromising what we’ve been called to. To find the places where the Church can counter-culturally thrive.

Let’s celebrate all that’s gone before us, but let’s not settle for being maintainers of the past. The Spirit ‘blows wherever he pleases’, and I haven’t yet met a wind that stands still.

Looking beyond the season Luke 1:5-80 Luke 1 is quite a long chapter, punctuated by two hymns: the Magnificat which Mary sings and the Benedictus sung by John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah. The chapter is a set of two contrasts – faith set alongside presumption. In verses 5-7 we’re told all about Zechariah and Elizabeth’s righteousness, but verse 8 tells the sad tale of their barren marriage. Zechariah’s priestly duty takes him into God’s presence, where he is told of the Lord’s decision to bless him. He instantly rejects the decision.

Mary is an object lesson in doing the opposite. “I am the Lord’s 30

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servant,” Mary answers in verse 38.

“May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Zechariah and Mary both respond negatively to the Angel’s appearance, but they make very different presumptions about the nature of life. Zechariah assumes that what he can see is more important than what he can’t – Mary believes the opposite. It’s easy to get stuck in the rut of the mundane in our world – after all, our lives are determined by these things to a greater extent than any previous society. At Christmas, though, God invaded to challenge exactly this perception.

Let’s look beyond what the eye can see this holiday season.

The most

T

his year will be my little boy’s first Christmas. I’m definitely more excited than he is! He’s a bit oblivious to tell the truth. I recently saw statistics that claimed parents spent over £150 on babies’ first Christmases: well, I’m not that excited, but he’ll certainly be getting some great gifts! I’ve even heard rumours that he might get me a present… although I expect I’ll pay for it.

It used to strike me as odd that on Jesus’ birthday, we mark the moment by giving presents to each other, but I wonder if I’m beginning to understand it a little bit better now. Little Caleb can’t even comprehend my gesture of love – in fact, he’ll probably try to eat the packaging – but there’s a picture here of God’s love for us.

One of my absolute favourite times of day has become 6pm. I literally rush home for it. There’s no show on TV that could make me do that and I could cook my own tea later if I was going to miss out, but nothing will keep me from bath time. Bath time is the highlight of my day, many days. Caleb loves it! He throws arms and legs in all directions, splashing water everywhere. He’s recently got the knack of lifting his bottom out of his little bath chair and clapping it back down to produce jets of water either side of his body.

It’s great.

I will do everything in my power to be home for bath time, because I know he enjoys it: his smiles tell me so, as does the wetness of my clothes and face from his splashing. It would be easy to see this as a very one-sided affair. After all, Caleb can’t run the bath, he can’t get himself ready for it, he can’t get in or out, he needs me to hold his head above the water level. I ‘do’ bath time for him. Just like I’ll give him presents without him really knowing what’s going on.

But that’s just too simplistic. I enjoy bath time so much because I get to see him smile. I get to see the earnest, concentrated joy on his face as he cycles his little feet as fast as possible and slaps his hands down on the surface of the water. I’m looking forward to giving him presents because I’ll get to see his joy. His joy becomes my joy.

Caleb hasn’t learned to say ‘thank you’ yet, and he can’t make the money to buy me a present in return. So he smiles at me. In his own simple, limited way, he joins in the process. He takes my love and my affection and he reciprocates. There’s a debate about what constitutes a perfect gift or an ‘unselfish act’. ‘There’s no

Beyond reasonable doubt

phenomenal gift-giving Merry Christmas! This month, Mark Wreford presents the second part of his look at love at the perfect time of year. Get ready to celebrate and reciprocate… unselfish act, because you do it to feel good’, the claim goes. Someone even suggested that the perfect gift would be one that you had given without realising and then died before it was received. That would be the perfect example of a gift given purely for its own sake.

But that even sounds counterintuitive. The reality is that the world doesn’t actually seem to work like that: reciprocity is actually at the heart of gift-giving.

This can have ill-effects in the office if everyone suddenly finds a hefty outlay expected of them to fit in, but it can also engender an attitude of gratitude. When Caleb smiles at me, he might not under-

stand all of this, but he’s certainly sharing his joy. That’s his gift to me for my efforts.

I hesitate to claim special insight into God’s fatherhood on the basis of having been blessed with a baby, but it seems to me that there are parallels. God is beyond my imagination, and he can hardly need my thanks. Yet, at Christmas time, I celebrate the most phenomenal expression of gift giving ever seen. God’s great and gracious bestowal on a guilty world of his own Son is more remarkable and scandalous than nice nativity scenes quite allow us to remember.

What can I say in response? What can I do? “If I were a shepherd, I would bring

a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would play my part. Yet, what can I give him? Give him my heart.” Somehow, even my heart seems a little bit lacking when I really think about myself.

And there’s the issue. It’s when I look at myself, and the quality of my own heart, that things go awry. Caleb doesn’t look at his own laugh and wonder how much it’s worth. That’s one of the amazing things about the innocence of babies: he is completely unaffected and sincere. God is so radically different from me that I’m not even on the same scale as him – it’s more than a mere age difference – but I wonder if he looks on my joy the way that I look on Caleb’s.

At Christmas, more traditional churches often offer a midnight mass service. As symbols of Christ’s body and blood are given out among the congregation, there’s more than an echo of the great gift-giving that Christmas remembers.

Even here, we respond by receiving: it is all we can do in the face of such grace. But perhaps God delights in our response – small as it may be.

If we are to come to all the fullness of the life that God has for us, it will be solely in response to his grace which draws us.

In Colossians – which contains the New Testament’s most incredible description of Christ’s significance – the hallmark of the mature life is that it is marked by thankfulness.

We often sing about our love for God, but maybe we sometimes forget that this is a reciprocal relationship: I am my beloved’s and he is mine. God first loved us, and we respond.

This Christmas, as you ponder the love God showed in ‘taking the form of a slave’ that you might be free, let thankfulness well up in your heart and make sure to tell him. This, after all, is the hallmark of the loved life. iBelieve

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Interview American author Van R Mayhall Jr makes sure the Christian faith is woven into his thrilling novels in a positive way

Author wants F readers to get into the Bible!

or a Christian author, writing a novel which focuses on Judas Iscariot might not seem like the ideal plot. Worse still, the heroine is a sceptical, lapsed Christian, estranged from her father (who is later murdered) who tries to uncover a worldwide conspiracy aided by a mysterious religious figure known only as the Monsignor.

While it all may sound like another Dan Brown thriller, the author, Van R Mayhall Jr, is a committed ÂŤ

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33

Interview Christian. Inevitably, his book, Judas the Apostle – as well as the sequel, The Last Sicarius – which takes the reader on a nailbiting adventure to France and the back streets of Jerusalem and Rome, have been compared to Brown’s Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.

But that is where the similarity ends, as Van’s writing is firmly based on his strong faith, the Bible and actual archaeological excavations.

“I actually quite enjoy Dan Brown’s books as thrillers. He knows how to tell a good story,” he explains.

“I suppose the main difference in my books is that they are biblical thrillers which uplift the Christian faith. Brown relies on symbology and other secular themes. While I am not the Anti-Dan Brown, you might say that in the way I think about my work, I’m the Un-Dan Brown.

“That doesn’t mean I dodge the difficult issues such as why there is so much evil in the world or how do we explain suffering.

One of the main characters is the Kolektor who is a truly vicious individual while the heroine, Dr Clotile Lejeune, is introduced as someone who has not only lost her Christian faith but is also estranged from her murdered father.”

Van R Mayhall Jr is the senior partner in a law firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He and his wife, Lorri, have three grown children and, despite his busy family, church and professional life, he still found time to write his first novel.

“I write for one hour every day, sometimes managing less than 100 words, sometimes a few hundred or a thousand if I’m burning up with it. It is important to get into the discipline of writing.”

Van grew up in a Christian family and while his faith was strong, he rarely read the Bible.

“One day, I decided I wanted to know more about the origins of faith and, over many months, I read the Bible from cover to cover and was amazed at the many teachings and stories I never knew or was only half familiar with. I realised just how relevant Scripture is today, wherever you live and whatever you do for a living,” he explains.

In Judas The Apostle, ancient language expert Dr Clotile Lejeune is happily living

34

iBelieve

Van R Mayhall Jr, author of Judas the Apostle and The Last Sicarius at a book signing

a quiet life in Seattle when her world is profoundly shaken. After she learns that her estranged father has been murdered, Cloe must travel with her soldier son, JE, back to her Louisiana hometown to unlock the mysteries of a 2,000-year-old oil jar her father has left her – a jar inscribed with the name Judas Iscariot.

Cloe soon realises the ancient oil jar her father unearthed during the war may be the most important relic discovered in centuries. Across the globe, a billionaire arms merchant is leaving a trail of bodies in his wake in his pursuit of the jar and its contents.

Van explains how he was keen to weave the Christian faith into his stories in a positive way.

“I wanted my books to feature faith, family and interesting local locations in Louisiana. In fact, it is the rediscovery of her faith, the meaning of family and her Louisiana roots which carry and uplift Cloe and the other central characters, in the face of the terrible evils they confront.

“At the same time, I hope the reader sees them as everyman, ordinary people who have experienced extreme challenges and who have, through faith and force of character, prevailed. My message is that ordinary people can overcome the obstacles life throws at them through faith.”

In the sequel to Judas The Apostle, The Last Sicarius, the same three principle

characters return along with some new ones. Cloe is on a mission to find a secret cache of jars guarded by an ancient sect of Judean warriors. Following ingenious biblical clues, they embark on a perilous journey through France, Jerusalem, and Tunisia, relentlessly pursued by the Kolektor’s organisation.

Van, with a smile, adds how he wanted to ‘see if readers had an appetite for a clean book’.

“There is no sex in my novels, graphic or otherwise. You could happily let your teenage son or daughter read my books without trepidation.

“Since the 1960s, society has become more secular, fragmented and individual.

Motion pictures and TV programmes are more violent than they used to be. You can hardly watch a film without some gratuitous sex or violence.

“I purposely avoided these clichéd storylines and I am glad to say, my readers appreciate this. I want my books to be as good as other thrillers available in bookshops.”

He is not surprised that Christians and the Bible are under attack from an increasingly secular society.

“Secular groups have been vigorous in their campaigns to remove faith from public life. Christians have been vilified, ridiculed and dismissed by much of the media and the arts. “[In America] there is a bitter campaign being waged to have plaques bearing the Ten Commandments banned from courthouses or schools. While I have sympathy with Christians who oppose these moves, I believe the Commandments should be written in our hearts, not in stone. They reside in how we behave, not on a plaque on a wall.

“If there is one thing I would want my books to achieve, it would be that more people would pick up a Bible and start reading for themselves. I can assure them, they will embark on an adventure that no other book can lead them to.” ● Judas the Apostle and The Last

Sicarius are available on Amazon and in some bookshops

Your MONEY HELPING YOU FETTLE YOUR FINANCES

Resist the urge to splurge!

A

t Christmas, it can feel like your only option is to splurge – and pay it all back in January. Don’t get sucked into the whirling vortex of debt, though. Here are our suggestions for a more sane Christmas that still celebrates the season…

1. Make the present OK, most of us might not have the skill to create our own gifts, but tags, and possibly cards, we could all stretch to. Not only will you give your treats a special ‘homemade’ look that will attract admiration from afar, you’ll also save a packet on all the ‘little extras’.

2. Save money ahead of time This advice might be a bit late for 2014, but add it to your list of New Year’s Resolutions.

Paying your bills in January might seem attractive when you’re trying to source that special something for an equally special someone, but the fact is that this approach makes little or no financial sense.

3. Give up gift giving Of course your family would be miffed if you don’t get them anything, but that’s not what we’re talking about. It’s the myriad of expectations emanating from Facebook friends, co-workers or the acquaintances that crawl out of the woodwork but once a year. We’re all for a Secret Santa or two (as long as there’s a limit on the budget!), but every man and his dog doesn’t need a present from you. In fact, in some cases giving a gift can create pressure to recip-

rocate. Brave the taboo and save the cash.

4. Look hard for the cheapest prices This year, record numbers of shoppers are set to purchase online. That’s great, but it also means that the high street is having to respond. Keep your ear to the ground for pre-Christmas ‘flash sales’ and make sure you get the best deal. It might be a tad risky to leave your loved ones’ presents ’til the last minute, but if you’re going to save a bundle, could it be worth it? After all, you could always use tip 5 as a back up…

5. Write IOUs The mainstay of every unreliable present buyer’s arsenal, but the stigma could be shifting. Think about it – particularly if you’re considering buying some big-ticket items like a TV – because January sales could mean significant savings.

buying something you were planning to buy anyway. Check money saving sites for other great tips like this.

7. Ask people to bring a bottle If you’re hosting, don’t take responsibility for the whole shebang. People love to be generous at this time of year, and spreading the load can make Christmas more affordable for all.

8. Get practical Padding out stockings with things that need replacing each year isn’t being cheap, it’s being practical.

You’re going to spend the money anyway, and unwrapping things like socks has become such as staple people can be disappointed if they don’t!

6. Play the system For example, a particular supermarket once offered 1p off per litre of petrol when you bought gift cards there. Now, if you’re planning a big purchase at a store they offer gift cards for, you can double your savings there, by buying, say £500 worth of gift cards and getting 50p off per litre just by

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35

God love NOT ON FORM...

The word ‘divorced’ may describe you but it is not your identity, argues Sue Birdseye

36

iBelieve

Birdseye view

s you not your status!

Author Sue Birdseye feels embarrassed every time she has to fill in a form. But, she says, her relationship status is not her identity

L

ately it seems like every day I’m filling out one form or another which all require me to check a box about my status – single, married, divorced, widowed.

I don’t want to check my box. I don’t like my status. It’s embarrassing. I truly want to check any other box… I hope that doesn’t sound callous. I’m just being honest. I feel as though I have a giant D plastered to my front, my back, my forehead… everywhere. As a Christian, it’s particularly difficult to come to terms with this life status. Divorce, even if it is biblically supported, feels like an epic failure.

In the past several weeks I’ve been to more appointments than I thought possible. And at each one those blasted clipboards with those horrid forms are handed to me. And each time I have to reaffirm that I am divorced. And each time I want to add a Post-it note with the circumstances surrounding the unhappy event. “Divorced due to the adultery of my husband… blah, blah, blah.”

But why does it matter? I’ve forgiven him and I really don’t want to malign him more than his actions already have. God has given me his peace which passes all understanding and shown me that he is working in my life. And yet, I cannot deny that I still feel just awful about being a divorcée.

No matter how many of us are out there, it still feels like a tragic life circumstance with a definite negative stigma attached. But, in all honesty, that crummy feeling is because I’m trying to find my identity in something that isn’t my identity. My relationship status is not my identity. It doesn’t define me at my core.

Does that make sense? It’s a circumstance in my life, not me at my most defining point. Although even as I write that I know that there is more to it – there is a

depth to marriage that makes it so much more than just my relationship status… that’s why divorce feels so shattering. And as much as I want it simply to be a box I check or don’t check, it is more.

Married is how I have wanted to describe myself since I was a little girl. It was my most anticipated adjective. I had it for a long while and then, in what felt like an instance, it was gone. My adjective was replaced with one I really don’t like much at all. I have accepted this new descriptive word, but not happily and not without a bit of fussing.

This word ‘divorced’ – it describes me but it is not my identity, nor is it the only word that describes me.

Today I have decided to focus on other things that I prefer much more. Adjectives that are mine because of who I am and whose I am. I bet you could check a bunch of these boxes too: ❑ Beloved Child of the King ❑ Cherished Bride of Christ ❑ Precious Child of God ❑ A new creation ❑ God’s workmanship ❑ Free from condemnation ❑ Forgiven ❑ Not forsaken ❑ Lavishly and unconditionally loved ❑ Worth far more than sparrows ❑ Never alone ❑ Never separated from the love of God ❑ Blessed with every spiritual blessing ❑ With every reason to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful

❑ Filled with the Holy Spirit and all his fruit ❑ Afflicted in every way, but not crushed ❑ Perplexed but not driven to despair ❑ Persecuted but not forsaken ❑ Struck down but not destroyed ❑ Saved by grace ❑ Reconciled to God ❑ More than a conqueror ❑ Ambassador ❑ Free ❑ Having grace ❑ Having love ❑ Having purpose ❑ Having eternal hope Each one of those descriptions speaks to my heart and mind, reminding me that I’m much more that a status box on a black and white form. My life is marked by the hope, peace and love of Jesus.

I’m reminding myself of this and I’m sharing with you that no matter your status, you are loved beyond measure.

Nothing… nothing can change that fact.

Certainly not a little box on a form. ● Sue Birdseye went from the seemingly

perfect life to being a single mum of five children. Her first book ‘When Happily Ever After Shatters – Seeing God In The Midst Of Divorce And Single Parenting’ is available online

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revised and expanded 5th Edition out now!

The Delusion of

EVOLUTION • Exposes the flaws in the theory of evolution • Demonstrates how current scientific research clearly points to an Intelligent Designer

New sections in 5th Edition include

The design revolution The design revolutio n The design revolution

The ThTDel ehDusio elusn of

e Deluiosinoof no EV OL UT ION EV O LU E TIO V O NNf Lence U Latest scientifi T c evidence IO Late st scien tific Lat evid esttheory sci supports ent the ific supports the theoof evidence

supDesign ry of ports the the Intellige nt InteInt llige ntgen Desi gn ory of elli t De sign

INSIDE INSIDE INSIDE

• What your biology teacher never told you p7 • What your biology • What your teacher never told you p7 • Nature’s nanotechnology shows of design p10 gyevery • Nature’s nanotec biolo teachsign er never hnology shows • Natur you p7 every sign told • Why Cambrian e’s nanotfossils of design Explosion echnorock Darwin’s theory • Why Cambria logy show p16p10 n Explosion fossils every sign of • Why Camb rocks Darwin’ • Richard Dawkins design confesses s theory rian Explo he can’t • Richard Dawkin p21 p16p10 sionprove fossilsevolution s confesse rock Darwin’s s • he Richardskulls can’t prove • So-called ‘apemen’ Dawkfound evolution theor to be ed ins confe ‘modern’ humans • So-called ‘apemen p23p21 y p16 sses he nd can’t prove evolu ’ skulls found • So-ca to be ‘modern • New research lled ‘apem pa shows tion mutations ’ humans don’tfound cause evolution en’ skulls • New research ed p33 p23 p21 ex shows mutatio to d be nd ‘mode • ns New don’t cause evolutio • Fine tuning of universe rn’nhumans p23 research an demonstrates pa shows mutaastounding • Fine tuning of universe p35p33 ex tions don’t design ed ed demonstrates cause • Fine tuning nd evolution p33 n1d vis of universe demo astounding design p35 pa re da nstrates astou ex e is nding design v n1d p35 re da e vis 1 re

ON N ITI ED TIO H EDI TION T 5 H DI T E 5 H 5T

‘An excellent booklet!

It covers the topics in a very clear and accessible way.’

Colin Garner PhD, Professor of Applied Thermodynamics

• Why Cambrian Explosion fossils rock Darwin’s theory • New research shows that mutations don’t cause evolution

‘Inspiring & informative’

Digital format Now available

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5 - Among (4) 8 - Go over again (5) 9 - Incorrectly (7) 9 - Incorrectly (7) 1010 - Italian ricerice dishdish (7) (7) - Italian - Changed 1212 - Changed (7) (7) 14 - Shock greatly (7) 14 - Shock greatly (7) 16 - ___ Davenport: US 16 - ___ Davenport: US tennis player (7) tennis player (7) 1818 - Large knife (7) (7) - Large knife - Makes a garment wool (5) 1919 - Makes a garment fromfrom wool (5) 20 - Kate ___ : British singer (4) 20 - Kate ___ : British singer (4) 21 - Versions of a book (8) 8 - Go over again (5)

How you score: Average: 27 Good: 35 Excellent: 45

word ladder

JUMP

4

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See how many words you can find using the letters in the wheel.

Each word must use the middle letter and at least two others.

Letters may only be used once.

No plurals, foreign words or proper nouns are allowed, but verb forms ending in ‘s’ are permitted. There is one ninelettered word in the wheel.

HOPS

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Climb down from the top rung to the bottom, changing just one letter each time to create a new word

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21 - Versions of a book (8)

17 - Sues (anag) (4)

Stuck? Check out the answers in our great Classified Advertising section at the back

sudoku

Place the numbers 1 - 9 in every row, column and 3x3 box

Hard

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iReviews

Great reads and CDs Need some Christian cheer during the festive season? Well these books and CDs will give you the inspiration you need. They make a great gift and are superb if you want to give yourself a treat during the hols. Well, you can only watch so many Bond movies and Morecambe and Wise repeats...

BOOKS The Honor Key: Unlock a Limitless Life Russell Evans £8.85 ‘The Honor Key’ is a thoughtful and anointed book where Russell Evans states that honour unlocks blessing in all areas of life including marriage, family, vocation, finance and ministry. He argues that we must honour people placed in our lives by God in order to experience blessing. Russell is honest about his own past difficulties, giving illustrations of when honour through obedience has unlocked doors.

Russell has proved that deep respect toward others is imperative to success in life and ministry. Honouring the Word of God over our own rationalisation is key and extending honour to others is vital. This book helps us see how this kingdom principle impacts our daily lives.

The Circle Maker Mark Batterson £8.89 This inspiring book is a New York Times bestseller which encourages Christians to circle the promises of God over

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their lives, dream big dreams and pray over them in faith. Mark has an expansive ministry in America and has repeatedly seen the goodness of God along the way. Through a series of miracles, Mark’s church was able to purchase the last piece of property on Capitol Hill, debt free. This book is a must read for those who are believing God for a miracle.

The Christmas Spirit Joel Osteen £7.86 This book recounts some heart-warming stories from past Christmas times in the Osteen family. The popular American preacher recalls some humorous and sweet memories, explaining how time spent with family, faith and focusing attention on Christ at this time of year makes the season truly special. This book encourages good family values and causes us to consider making positive memories during Christmas time. It inspires us to love our families, honour the people that God has placed in our lives and have hearts full of faith.

for Christmas CDs

Rivers in the Wasteland NEEDTOBREATHE £7.99 NEEDTOBREATHE’s fifth studio album ‘Rivers in the Wasteland’ is southern rock at its best. The title track ‘Wastleland’ has powerful lyrics about difficulties in life and the hope that God brings. This band possesses diverse musical abilities and writes intelligently. The song ‘Brother’ has an innovative tune, the words speak of the need for brotherhood. ‘More Heart, Less Attack’ is a mellow tune which encourages good values in life.

Not all songs are expressly Christian, although the overall message is similar to the book of Ecclesiastes and reflective in emphasis.

Christmas in Diverse City TobyMac £8.49 TobyMac, formerly of DC Talk, has sold over 11 million albums and has won six GRAMMY awards. For those of us who grew up with the music of DC Talk, you can hear the echoes of influence from his former music on this Christmassy album. There is a mixture of traditional carols and new songs with the welcome addition of featured artists.

This album is excellently produced with intelligent music. Each song has catchy rhythms and a cocktail of rap, hip hop and funk. This record is a great choice for an early Christmas present, especially for the younger generation.

Spirit Fall New Wine Worship £12.99 This album was recorded live at conferences around the country. New Wine songwriters and worship leaders include Chris Sayburn, Chris Lawson Jones, Susie Woodbridge, Lauren Harris, Neil Bennetts and Nick Herbert. This album is mainly reflective and worshipful in tone.

‘Unchanging Love’ has beautiful lyrics and a melodic tune with heartfelt thanks to Jesus for what he has done for us. ‘On This Battleground’ reaches out to God for mercy and salvation for the earth. ‘Oh The Blood’ strikes at the heart of our faith and brings us back to the key message of the power of Jesus’ sacrifice. A good album of fresh songs.

iBelieve

41

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the final beyond reasonable doubt of the series • looking forward to the new year with mark wreford • and your usual faves

Smoked salmon paté 150g smoked salmon (the thin sliced one) • 150g smoked salmon fillet (the chunky one) • 200g crème fraiche (you can use half fat if you choose) • Zest of 1 lemon • 1/2 pack fresh dill chopped • 1 tbsp of horseradish • Pepper to taste

While she loves traditional Christmas fare, this month Emily gives us some exciting recipes to tickle your tastebuds without tackling turkey

Glazed ham 1 x raw 6kg bone in gammon joint • 450g jar of marmalade • 280g light muscovado sugar • Plenty of whole cloves to stud the joint • A trivet or a couple of potatoes sliced in half

1. I don't think this could get any easier.

Place all ingredients (minus the fish) in a food processor and blitz for a few seconds.

2. Then add both types of salmon and pulse until you get the consistency that you like.

I like mine with slight chunks of fish, others like it smoother. If you like a firmer pate just reduce the amount of crème fraiche.

3. You can add some extra dill on top for decoration of you like.

4. Serve on warm toast or blinis with some lemon wedges to squeeze over.

1. Preheat your oven to 160 degrees fan to get the oven to a good temperature.

2. Place the gammon in a large roasting tin with 1/2 litre of water. Cover loosely with greaseproof paper and then tin foil, ensuring the edges are firmly scrunched around the tin tightly. This helps to create a seal on the joint, which allows the joint to gently steam. Place the tin inside the oven and then turn the heat down to 140 degrees fan. Cook for five hours, set aside and then leave to cool. Carefully place the gammon on a chopping board.

3. Whilst the gammon is cooling, make the marmalade glaze by putting the marmalade, sugar and around three tbsp of water into a saucepan and bringing it the boil. Then set to the side to cool.

4. Increase your oven temperature

to 200 degrees centigrade. Then you need to try to remove the rind from the gammon, whilst still leaving as much of the fat on underneath as possible. This is probably the trickiest part, but if you have a good sharp knife then the job is made all the easier. Score the fat on top to make a criss-cross effect, brush the marmalade glaze on top, ensuring that you get into all the lines, then stud the gammon with cloves in each corner as per the photo.

5. Using the roasting tray from earlier, remove some of the juices, leaving a little behind. Place the trivet into the bottom of the tin or use a couple of potatoes sliced in half. The objective is to keep the gammon from touching the bottom of the tin and burning. Place the gammon on top of the trivet or potatoes, then roast for around 50 minutes. Every now and again, you can brush a bit more glaze over the top.

6. You can serve the gammon hot or cold. I love this cold with chips, preserves and coleslaw.

Pineapple chutney 2 pineapples peeled, cored and chopped into small chunks • 3 red onions, peeled and finely chopped • 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped • 1 tsp turmeric • 1 tbsp nigella seeds • 1 tbsp yellow mustard seeds • 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped • 2 tbsp sunflower oil • 250g soft brown sugar • 180ml cider vinegar • 1 tsp salt 44

iBelieve

(Makes 3 x 300ml jars) 1. Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan. Add the spices and onions and cook for around four minutes.

2. Add all the other ingredients and simmer for around about an hour until thick.

3. Pour into sterilised jars.

4. Allow to cool before you cover the jars with a close fitting lid.

Food

WITH TOP CHEF EMILY ROBERTS

iBelieve

\

45

Chocolate snowball truffles 160ml double cream • 35g icing sugar • 160g dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa solids) chopped into tiny pieces • 30g unsalted butter in cubes • 200g white chocolate (or you could have milk or dark • 4 tbsp desiccated coconut on a plate 1. In a heavy-based saucepan bring the cream and icing sugar almost to a boil, then remove from the heat.

2. In a bowl place the dark chocolate and butter, then pour the cream mix over, making sure you stir fast to ensure everything is melted.

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3. Cover the bowl (I use an upturned plate) and place in the refrigerator for around about two hours until firm.

4. With a dessertspoon scoop out some of the chocolate mix and roll into balls with your hands. A top tip here is that it is sometimes easier to put a little cocoa powder on your hands, or use disposable gloves to stop the mix getting too sticky.

5. Place the truffles on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, then chill in the fridge again for an hour.

6. When the truffles have been chilled, place the white chocolate (or other chocolate of your choice) in a bowl suspended

over a pan of simmering water. Ensure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl or this will spoil the chocolate!

7. Once melted, remove from the heat. To get the truffle dipped into the white chocolate, use a cocktail stick poked into the top. Carefully place the truffle in the white chocolate and then a few moments later, I roll it in the coconut until covered.

8. Place the truffles on the baking tray again leaving them to set in a cool area but this time not in the fridge.

9. These truffles last about ten days in an airtight container and make a great gift to share.

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Publications

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puzzles solutions QUICK CROSSWORD A

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FIN D R E A L H O PE reading the Weekly Encourager on www.schizophreniadefeated.com of Jesus Christ delivering and healing schizophrenia, restoring freedom and life.

(CT08)

CHRISTIAN ELDER – who has counted the number of the beast (identifiable). Will reproduce document of calculations for interested believers.

(HM86) Tel: 02866 386688

Puzzle solutions below:

Outwardly ado, aloud, alto, dolt, dot, dour, dourly, dowry, duo, layout, load, lord, lot, loud, lout, low, oar, oat, old, oral, our, out, outlaw, outlawry, outlay, outward, owl, road, rod, rot, rota, rout, row, rowdy, royal, toad, toady, today, told, tor, tour, tow, toward, toy, trod, two, woad, wold, word, wordy, world, would, you, your

9 1 7 3 5 6 4 8 2

2 4 6 8 7 9 5 1 3

5 3 8 2 1 4 7 9 6

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4 8 5 7 9 3 6 2 1

1 6 2 5 4 8 3 7 9

6 5 4 9 8 1 2 3 7

3 7 9 4 2 5 1 6 8

8 2 1 6 3 7 9 5 4

7 9 2 8 5 1 6 3 4

6 1 3 2 4 9 5 7 8

4 2 6 3 7 5 8 9 1

1 7 8 9 2 4 3 6 5

9 3 5 1 6 8 2 4 7

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3 8 7 4 1 2 9 5 6

5 4 9 6 8 3 7 1 2

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405 9878

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WORD LADDER

HOPS

HOBS HUBS HUMS HUMP JUMP

2

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Man’s WORLD

with Carl Beech, Director of Christian Vision for Men (FOR THE TIME BEING...)

It’s about the kingdom, not my ego

N

ext year, I’m taking up the role of Director of Church Planting and Church Development for the Elim Movement. It’s going to be a huge change for me on many different levels so I thought that for this month’s ramblings, I would share some thoughts on what it means personally to transition from being the big boss type CEO to having a boss or three again.

There’s a line in a well-known Pacino movie called ‘Devil’s Advocate’ that goes something like this: “Vanity, my favourite sin.” In the movie, Pacino is the devil in disguise as a lawyer and uses the snare of ego and vanity to get his man. It’s a film every Christian should take note of.

I’ve been a senior leader for a long time. There’s been ten years in leadership at CVM and years before that as senior pastor of a large church. In other words, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a boss and, frankly, the move I’m making has seemingly surprised a number of people.

“Why on earth would you leave senior leadership to work for someone again?” is a regular question.

It seems that in the Christian world, this isn’t viewed as a common trajectory for a ‘minor personality’ or senior leader. To be absolutely clear about this, in my new role I will have a day-to-day boss again and will also report to a National Leadership Team that I won’t be part of. Sure, it’s a senior role and I will have a significant amount of freedom, but the fact remains that for the first time in many years I won’t

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be calling the shots or setting the overall direction or culture of the Movement in which I will serve. I may also have to deal with my leaders not agreeing with my views, and getting on with it anyway without sulking or complaining. I’ll also have to deal with asking for permission again for some things. Strangely, I’m actually looking forward to that (remind me that I said that, sometime next year!).

Senior leadership has many privileges.

You are the culture setter. You can make final decisions and you are, in a sense, master of your own destiny on a day-today basis. It has its pressures, of course, but the sense of freedom to ‘be’ and to create is a fantastic thing.

However, you also get your ego stroked.

You walk into a room and people take notice of what you have to say. You get announced as ‘the leader’ or ‘the founder’.

You become acknowledged for being successful (if you have been) and you get a seat round the table at some key meetings. You also get invited to some pretty cool places. It’s fun, but if you’re not careful it can play havoc with your sense of self.

As a follower of Jesus, we dance to a different sort of tune where ego and status are the least of our worries. With that in mind, we should be able to take what could be viewed

as a ‘step back’ in human terms in order to get the work of the kingdom done.

Tough, but true.

My conclusion is this. If we have signed up to follow Jesus wherever he tells us to go and whatever he asks us to do, then we are in a sense his chess pieces to move as he sees fit. Therefore, if as the overall boss of a church, ministry or business (as this applies to all followers of Christ) you aren’t able to move at his request and serve another leadership and lay aside some of your current privileges or status, then perhaps you shouldn’t have been a CEO type in the first place?

You see, I rather suspect that when we die (which we all will) the title or position we had in this life won’t count for very much at all when we meet Jesus Christ.

Note to self to remind myself about this column in six months’ time!

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