Code V. I will look away from the gutter but be prepared to pull people out of it

Having gone through the first two studies of Code V  trying to work out what is 'the gutter' is a challenge in itself. Generally it seems to point to the very poor/needy or destitute. There are also pointers in the questions though toward the gutter of sin ('how can we help others look away from the gutter' and 'what 'gutter' situations can men find themselves in today'). The story of the blind man itself though isn't about his sin (although his disciples thought differently v2)
The cost to the beggar at first? Well it must have been an interesting journey. He doesn't appear to know Jesus but obeyed him (despite having mud made with spit put on his eyes...still not sure what that's all about?!). It was at least a kilometre to the pool if he was at the temple. It's doubtful that he had a guide dog or even a white stick and he would of been missing out on prime begging time. It also seems like people don't trust him and took him to the Pharisees (also dropping his parents in it).
Two slightly contrasting thoughts on how we react to people 'saved from gutter situations' were that we can easily welcome someone but then not invite them to be involved. On the other hand we can potentially get them so involved in 'church life' that they lose the excitement of telling people that they know what God has done for them. I don't think that we need to worry about this too much until after we've helped someone out of the gutter!

1 Thessalonians 5:11-18 Honour those around you

Let's be encouraged as a church. The general consensus was that we're not bad (or even we're quite good) at encouraging and building one another up. Whether it's through housegroups, working together in different ministries or a well timed text message we try and genuinely encourage one another.
We also need to deal with our differences but let's do that in a way that will lead to putting things right and moving on, not by searching someone of the same opinion and 'sharing the issue'!
Let's encourage one another this week and put to rest any differences.

Code IV I will not cheat in anything, personal or professional

As Christian blokes we don't talk enough about sex as it is without the need for me to miss it from the Blog! The first study in this code that we looked at 2 weeks ago was 'Honour with your bodies'. I can't sum up all of the comments here as it was such a good, open time.
The main thing that came out of it for me was the need to provide opportunities for us to talk more openly and to find ways to support one another through sexual temptations and frustrations.....to be continued!.....

Beautiful Feet (Romans 10:14-15)

There have been many comments made about my feet.... two left, ridiculously pointy, why do they call it 'athletes' foot...etc. but nobody has ever, ever called them beautiful! It's got me thinking about those people with 'beautiful feet' in my life that got to deliver good news. The driving examiner, a course tutor, the minister at my wedding, the midwife.... I can't remember much about their feet but I'm sure they were beautiful!
So what's this thing with feet, why not heads or arms or err..other bits?  It's a lovely picture isn't it...you get to work one morning and everyone is huddled around the door...waiting, jostling, hushing each other saying "how fantastic in the car park are the feet of him who brings good news". They can't wait for your beautiful feet to get through the door to hear what you so desperately want to tell them.......
Originally the feet mentioned in the bible passage were those of a messenger bringing news from the battlefield. The thing with feet is that it takes effort to make them work! Delivering the good news might take a long walk, it may sometimes feel like a battlefield and the news often isn't welcome. As Terry pointed out though, let's share the good news, Not just taking stands for the sake of it but sharing why we're different.

Code III I Will unashamedly make him known through my actions and words.

Thankyou for blogging!
For anyone just joining it's worth having a look at some of the comments on the last post. Don't worry Adam... you have been missed. Also thankyou Paul for the classic reminder on practising what we preach. You are not alone we had one or two similar stories on Tuesday!
I had a bit of a lightbulb moment looking at this weeks pledge 'I will show kindness to those who God puts around me this week with the love of Jesus and the message of salvation'. We had talked a bit about our motives (1 Cor 13:3) and about keeping good deeds 'on our radar'. We also thought about the array of different needs that people have who we come into contact with.
The thing that leapt out at me though (that I guess I've heard said lots of times) is that we can't seperate the love of Jesus from the message of salvation. I keep reading the pledge again in case I'm getting it wrong, but I can't quite cope with the 'and'. I think I get what it's trying to say but can't quite let it go!

Drawing Near To God? Hebrews 10:22-25

Oh No. Please don't ask me the "How's your relationship with God?" question!
I guess that's how a lot of us feel when we talk about drawing near to God, at least I do anyway (unless I've had a particularly good week!). Still, better to be honest when it comes to these things. Apparently if you do something repeatedly for thirty days it becomes a habit (I'm sure it's less for nose picking, spot squeezing etc) and so one thing that has worked is to have a daily devotion for thirty days as a start.
Another tip this morning was to keep a journal of the things that stand out to us in our devotions, it's surprising how these times can add up. We also thought about all doing the same devotions as a group so that we can encourage one another more readily (I think Jim said I need to go to a church in Hawai to investigate further).
We also mentioned all that we're missing out on by not studying more deeply. The verses that we take at face value (or gloss over) can contain a message that we miss out on.
An important observation was that society doesn't program us to spend 'quiet times' listening to God. It's not really very efficient use of our time, not very Alpha male. A bit like the Pledge 'I owe everything to him. I will do anything for him. Everyday'. It's not always easy to hand over control and yet this is the privelege that we have if we want to.

"I don't know what I believe....... but I know that Jesus died for me"

I hope everyone has managed to see Carls story and hear his words that I've used in the title. Words he spoke when he first came to know Jesus.

The verses that really spoke to Carl soon after were Heb 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" and Rom 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Knowing God will never leave us can bring amazing confidence. He is there in all of our situations (it was also pointed out in our group that it can be awkward sometimes when we know we're not doing Gods will!). For some knowing God as our Father isn't always straight forward as we have many different experiences of fatherhood. Some people reflected more on their experience of God the Father helping in their role as a parent.

Thinking about the importance of the Chritian faith not becoming a set of rules and with Easter fast approaching I was reminded of Jesus's promise before he was crucified.

Luke 22:20
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Jeremiah 31:33
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Food for thought.....?