God at work ... in hospital - CFN Newsletter 110

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 110

> God at work ... in hospital - a doctor's testimony
> News:
> Women on call for the Army
> Youth ministry landmark in Belfast
> 'Winning women' to gather at conference
> Your View: 'Thanks, CFN!'
> Sites:
> Join in carols - at the Millennium Dome!
> Government funding ... for your church project?
> Gap year ideas from Oasis
> Wanted: your school/church nativity video
> Marriage MOT: Is it wrong to be angry?
> You've got to laugh: A Professor Funny
> Members' Zone latest

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Dear All

Sometimes God uses us despite all our failings, stumblings and weaknesses. You'll find encouragement in our doctor's testimony, inspiration in our piece on Phillip Yancey's latest book, and humour with our point in the management consultants' report on the 12 disciples ...

We're just putting the finishing touches to the winter Families Together magazine, and we're encouraged by the churches who have already signed up to receive a bundle of 50 to use, at just 50p each.

If you'd like a bundle (or more) for use in your work with families of all kinds inside and outside the church, just mail Lyn Bedford on lynbedford@christianmedia.org.uk or call her direct on 01903 602126.

Do pray for us - as you pray for your own family's growth in Christ. And let us know your encouraging stories!

Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

PS Christian Family Network is here to direct you to the best in parenting, marriage and family resources; to link you up with other Christian families up and down the UK; and to help you make the most of life as a follower of Christ - at home, at work, at school and college, at play and online.

Your feedback, positive and negative, enables us to develop CFN in the way that is most useful for you - so please tell us if we're off the rails or on the button!

And don't forget - if we can pass on material (sample copies of Families Together, leaflets) which will help you tell your friends and your church about CFN, just mail Lyn Bedford at marketing@christianmedia.org.uk and she'll be glad to help you out.

INSIGHT

Meeting God in hospital

  • Alasdair Fyfe shares a moving story of God breaking into the life of a three-year-old patient

As we talked about her three-year-old son's impending operation, it became clear that this mother was full of irrational fears. I tried, but failed, to reassure her that the procedure would be very straightforward.

"Lord," I prayed silently, "This mum is so anxious, please help me find the right words to say."

I found myself asking audibly: "Do you believe in God?"

"Yes," she replied, "I'm a Catholic."

"Do you believe that God loves your child?" I asked.

"I suppose he does, though I don't think I've thought about that before."

"Well," I said, "I promise to pray that God will look after him if you do the same. He is more than able to see him through the operation, don't you think?" She agreed hesitatingly, and the consultation came to an end.

On admission to the ward some weeks later she and her boy were given a 'parent and child' cubicle. It very soon became clear that things were not going to be easy - this mother's anxiety level was 'sky-high' and made all our efforts to care for her boy exceptionally difficult. The operation came and went uneventfully. The boy was discharged home after a few days.

Some weeks later, the boy made his return visit to my clinic. His post-operative progress had been uneventful - thankfully. When I thought the consultation was finished, I said: "So God answered our prayers then?"

She replied: "Mr Fyfe, I think something strange is happening; I think God is trying to speak to me."

"What makes you say that?" I asked, with another silent prayer.

It was a fascinating story. On the way out of the local supermarket one morning, she had been struggling with her boy in one arm, and the bag of foodstuff in the other. A stranger helpfully opened the shop door and then offered to carry her shopping bag to her car in the car park. On the way there, this unknown woman said: "I hope you don't mind me saying this but I'm a Christian, and as I was praying this morning, into my mind came a picture of a little boy - and it was your boy. Do you mind if we pray for a minute?" So, there in the local car park, this unknown lady prayed with a perfect stranger.

"Mr Fyfe, I think God is speaking to me."

To this I readily agreed, and suggested that during the coming week she should simply ask God to speak to her each day, and then read one of the Gospels. She promised to come to our church the following Sunday morning.

> THIS WEEK'S NEWS

Women on call for the Army

The Army's only female chaplain flies out to Iraq this month, but the powers-that-be are hoping she will be the first of many women to serve in such a capacity.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

Youth ministry landmark in Belfast

The Northern Ireland Peace Process may have hit another stumbling block, but a Christian ministry is reporting continued success in its work in Belfast.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp for the full story

'Winning women' to gather at conference

Thousands of women are set to gather at this year's international women's conference, Winning Women 2003, at Kingsway International Christian Centre.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> YOUR VIEW

Thanks, CFN!

I have just read your article on bullying on your website and think it is brilliant. I am currently home educating two of my children, having taken out my middle child due to there being insufficient protection for him from the bullies in school. The schools just did not take the bullying seriously, or take action to protect my child.

I would support any action you take to try to increase the Government's awareness of the problem and of how it is being ignored, rather than dealt with.

Hannah Leigh

Do your family's experiences with bullying echo Hannah's? Mail us, or put your views on the Bulletin Board

> MARRIAGE MOT

Is it wrong to feel angry?

A good question. Certainly anger is not a comfortable feeling to have. It may be a slow smouldering feeling burning us up inside, or perhaps a fierce boiling feeling ready to overflow into words and actions at any moment.

Actually the feeling of anger is very simply the reaction inside us to something someone has done or said or an event that has occurred.

When do you feel angry?

I feel angry when someone has let me down, lied to me or ignored me. Beneath that is a need in me to be valued which has not been met.

Sometimes I feel angry over an injustice and that spurs me on to do something about it, if I can.

There is nothing morally wrong about feeling anger at something, but most of us would agree that it would be wrong of me to hit my husband, because I was angry with him. What we do with our anger is so important.

> Next update - when anger gets destructive

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk
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> WANTED: NATIVITY VIDEOS

Have you caught any funny nativity-play moments on camera? Would you like to see your children elevated from the school stage to small screen? BBC1 needs your footage for a magical Christmas family show. If you have suitable material, send a VHS videotape to Freepost: I Want to Be Mary (no stamp required) - and if it's used, you'll receive £100! Please ensure that your videotape is cued up in the correct place, and remember to include your name and address for it to be returned to you.

> EVENTS

Catch up with the latest in our Events guide at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp

Send your family/church event to info@cfnetwork.co.uk for a free listing.

Small groups, growing churches 2004

Almost 1,000 small group leaders enjoyed a day's teaching, inspiration and encouragement as part of the 2003 Small groups, growing churches tour organised in March by Christian Herald, Scripture Union and CPO.

Now plans are almost complete for 2004, with three dates planned for March in Leeds, Tonbridge and Plymouth, and three for October.

If you would like to be kept up to date with information about Small groups, growing churches 2004, mail Lyn Bedford on lynbedford@christianmedia.org.uk or call her on 01903 602126.

> SITES WORTH SEEING

Carols at the Millennium Dome - you betcha! If you can make it on 8 December, you could be at an historic gathering. Head for www.just10southlondon.org for more details

Is your church involved in a project where you might be seeking Government funding? If so, you'll want to visit a new website set up especially to help you find out if you can get a slice of the £182m apparently available for community projects - www.governmentfunding.org.uk

If your youngsters are considering a Gap Year, they might like to take a look at Oasis Trust's Global Opportunities programme - find out more at www.oasistrust.org/go

> YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH ...

A professor - also an atheist - was teaching a college class and told them that he was going to prove that there was no God.
He said: "God if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you 15 minutes!"
Ten minutes went by. He kept taunting God, saying, "Here I am God, I'm still waiting."
He got down to the last couple of minutes and a BIG 240 pound football player happened to walk by the door and heard about what the professor said.
The football player walked in the classroom and in the last minute, walked up, hit the professor full force, and sent him flying off the platform.
The professor got up, obviously shaken and said: "Where did you come from, and why did you do that?"
The football player replied: "God was busy. He sent me."

( Don Gaither)

> CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp

> Advice

> Kate's marriage tips - Is it wrong to be angry?

> Resources

> God at work in hospital - a doctor writes
> Pedal - a tribute to the late Mike Yaconelli
> The management consultants' report on the 12 disciples

> News

> Women on call for the Army
> Youth ministry landmark in Belfast
> 'Winning women' to gather at conference

> Reviews

> Books you'll want to get hold of

> Top sites this week

> Join in carols - at the Millennium Dome!
> Government funding ... for your church project?
> Gap year ideas from Oasis
> Christingle - is your church taking part?
> For hairy face lovers everywhere - the World Beard Championships!

> Events: More of what's on near you

> Webwatch Index: more than 600 sites at your fingertips

> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 1,000-page plus archives

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