This month's most popular posts

  • Sheep and Shepherds Preparing for next Sunday's Video talk, which we're filming later today, I found a great deal of interesting detail from this source, reproduced at www.baptistbiblebelievers.com Manner And Customs of Bible Lands by Fred H. Wight Copyright @ 1953 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Shepherd ... posted on December 10, 2013
  • Curses and Blessings, Balaam & Barak It's not just the strange tale of a talking donkey. Numbers 22 has a lot to tell us about blessings and curses and how words work God's way. posted on February 11, 2023
  • Why Paul told Timothy he was so FOR women leading, and I want to be too! Why would Paul name two men getting it wrong then apparently write ‘so the answer is don’t let women teach?’ Writing something which for 2000 years since has been used - by men - to clobber women into submission at ... posted on March 19, 2021

Tears, Rage and Prayers for Murdered GMP Police Women

I wanted to be a police officer since I was thirteen, and at 16 my dream came true when I joined GMP Police Cadets. After that two years I served 10 years in various roles as a Constable, with some of the bravest and best people imaginable. As I wrote in my book ‘Diamond Geezers’ my concept of true friendship was forged during those years, and in some senses it spoilt me for what sometimes passes as friendship in the rest of the world. In the church I have made some great friends too, but such terms as brother/sisterhood are sometimes bandied around too easily as religious concepts among people who are Sunday acquaintances; but while not wanting to be over sentimental, when you’ve been through that dangerous door with someone, or fought alongside them in a dirty pub as the pint pots fly past – you learn who your friends are. My best mate is still one such man I faced fear down alongside with. The call that every Bobby worth their salt would abandon everything to run to […]

Giant killing – Intimidation vs Intimacy

Ivy GG notes.  Graham Cooke told us: You get to live in the favour of God. This is who we are. Don’t live below the line of your privilege.  Discuss – what does the Favour of God mean?  GC: At the cross, Jesus has removed everything that was hostile to us. God said ‘I will make all your enemies turn their backs on you.’ The enemy is vulnerable to the favour of God that is working in your life. The opposition now works for you. The enemy was created to serve the purpose of God. Nothing’s changed. He still does. Read the beginning of Job. What does this tell you about the devil, his role in the world, and the limitations of his power? What puzzles you about this story?  Do you tend to live in fear that the enemy can steal, kill and destroy – or  do you live as I said last Sunday, DARING, DEFENDED – so DO IT.    GC: Don’t focus on the attack of the enemy. Look what God’s doing. David turns up with the cheese for his […]

Radiant Overcomers!

We’re coming to the end of the GG notes that come out of my notes/ thoughts on Graham Cooke’s visit for Keys to the City – probably just another couple of weeks then I think we’ll start looking at the Beatitudes, following the new EVENING teaching at Ivy. But there’s still plenty to chew on from Graham. By the way i put these nots on a few days in advance so this stuff is for NEXT week.  1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Discuss: What do you think Paul meant by this? Is it as easy as saying a phrase then?    GC: It’s not enough to just know Jesus as Saviour – We have to learn him as LORD. This means we come to terms with his supremacy. Jesus is Lord means He rules in every situation.  If you’ve heard my recent talks I’ve been saying there’s a difference between what makes us FAIL (Fixed […]

Favour and Vengeance

We’ve looked at Isaiah 61 a lot recently in the Ivy GG notes but it was such a crucial passage when Graham Cooke taught, start by reading it again.    WE LIVE IN GOD’S FAVOUR…  Favour is different from Grace, although it comes from the same root word. Grace is undeserved, unmerited. But the Bible is full of instruction about how we can obtain favour. We live in the Favour of the Lord through prayer, faith, obedience and perseverance.  GC: In every situation – he’s training you about FAVOUR. Favour is BIAS. God is BIASED for you, He can turn everything around for good. You never face anything on the same level it comes to you. You can go to a higher level and face it where God wants you to come to it. God allows in his wisdom what he could easily prevent in his power. Why? So you live in expectancy of the goodness of God.  Question: Do you live that way? Do you expect to see the goodness of God?  He also wants us to know about His vengeance […]