the bros blog

this is AWESOME!

yeooo

another great night at lads cell i am so blessed to have such great friends like mark that guys a legend wish i was as cool as him really looking foward to next week gona get stuck into my book tonight cant wait to see god move in are wee groupe

love budget

Well well!

Hey Bros and no ho's,

Firstly I must give my apologies for smallgroup being cancelled tonight! I know what you're asking - "Haven't got time for smallgroup but you're blogging!?" You would be right to ask this question, but I have made time for this little recap on Chapter 2, I hope that your anger is slightly appeased! Honestly I have a bit of coursework and some uni stuff to take care of so I had to relegate you guys for the night...Haha I'm just wondering are any of you actually reading these posts!? If you are clap your hands...now Nicky I know you just clapped don't pretend you didn't...Nicky stop clapping nobody can hear you!

Ok so I know you guys don't love reading so I'll try and keep it short. So to summarise chapter 2 and I really hope you've been reading as much as you can:

God's grace in the OT is seen right from the very start of the world. As we've already discussed, God threw Adam and Eve out of the garden to prevent them from eating of the tree of life and living forever in their fallen state...an act of mercy not anger!

What else can we learn from the OT about God's grace? Well grace doesn't mean that sin doesn't still have its consequences. People didn't live as long, there was a fear of God instead of friendship (Eg. Adam and Eve hiding) and people went their own way because they felt inadequate. BUT this was never what God intended for us. GUYS! I'm sure we can all relate to these things but the good news is that even when we do sin, or feel distant from God he isn't offended or he doesn't stop talking to us. Let me ask you, who ran when Adam sinned, Adam or God? You're right it was Adam. And why do we run when we sin? I think it's just like we talked about last week, when we know we owe someone something we avoid them at all costs because we think that affects how they see us or our relationship with them.

BUT, and I'm going to finish on this...What if, it didn't affect how they saw us or treated us?! What if every time we saw that person all they said was, "It is paid for, lets hang out!" Wouldn't it be stupid to keep ignoring them or avoiding them? Yes it would be, especially if all that person had to give and share with us was good stuff or 'an inheritance' to be biblical!

I want to leave you with one of my favourite verses: it's Romans 5:1-2 (message)

^1-2By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him and make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

AWESOME! I pray we'd each be able to understand that verse!

Quick thought for next week and you may be asked in smallgroup...Why did God bring the Law? Try and read chapter 3 - the answers in it!

Love and Peace

Jambo