‘100 not out’ is the term for when a cricketer has reached 100 runs and is still batting!
This year, as a local church, we are celebrating 100 years since our founder, Willie Hacking, stood on Bolton Town Hall steps and proclaimed the good news of Jesus over our town.
That’s a century of partnership with individuals just like me and just like you… real people, navigating life’s journeys: health, relationships, addictions. People finding restoration in the grace and love of Jesus.
We have told some of those stories under the title, ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’. The title is apt because we all have those who believed in us, perhaps when we didn’t believe in ourselves! They prayed silently for us behind the scenes of turmoil and upset.
We are able today to ‘stand on their shoulders’ and acknowledge their sacrifices and the simplicity of their kindness that echoes now in our lives.
Thankfulness can look different and mean something different to all of us. You might be aware of a powerful scene from the film ‘The Blind Side’, which tells the true story of a family taking in a homeless teenager, Michael.
Michael has a troubled background; his mum is an addict, and he is living on the streets. After Leigh, who takes him in, gets his room together, he looks around the room and says, ‘I’ve never had one of these.’
‘What, your own room?’ she replies.
He shakes his head and simply says, ‘No, a bed.’
In that moment, Leigh needs to leave the room as she’s overcome with thankfulness for what she has and is deeply moved toward the young man who, in one sentence, shared a glimpse into his world.
Today, let’s acknowledge what we have and share generously with others. This song, ‘Give Thanks’ came to my heart:
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks, because He’s given
Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say, ‘I am strong,’
Let the poor say, ‘I am rich,’
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
Have a blessed day, and remember, you’re still ‘batting’!
Cookie
Richard Cooke (Cookie) is the senior leader of Barry and Tina’s home church, the Bridge Church, Bolton, Greater Manchester. Cookie is a friend and great support to Barry and the team.