City Temple Cardiff

Recently I heard someone ask a simple but thought provoking question.  "When was the last time you did something for the first time."  The media has been full of stories of people who, often late on in life, have undertaken new and at times extraordinary challenges.  TV presenter Christine Blakeley water-skied the English Channel while comedian Eddie Izzard ran over 40 marathons in just a few months, all for charity.

Those Herculean feats may seem beyond many of us, but at their root they represent a basic human instinct for fresh and exciting challenges over humdrum and familiar routine.  I believe we are created for more than the ordinary and average.  There is in each of us a God given capacity to enjoy and appreciate God’s world and the myriad experiences it can provide.  There is also a constant emphasis in Scripture that God delights in drawing us into new, stretching and faith fuelled adventures for the sake of His kingdom.

So, what about you, when was the last time you did something for the first time?  Is that youthful sense of curiosity or adventure or opportunity buried or active in your life.  Maybe its time to awaken it - a new hobby, learning of language, further study, a new area of service or ministry – all these can provide a huge boost to our sense of purpose, well being not to mention bringing new acquaintances, friends and opportunities to get alongside others.

Last week I called my dear friend Paul Francis, leader of Glenwood Church.   I wanted to arrange our monthly get together.  He answered the phone half way up Ben Nevis, Scotland's highest peak.  He said he felt 'close to death' but completed the climb and followed up by climbing Sca Fell and Snowdon on Thursday and Friday.  Wow!  Much respect!  The rest of my day felt very safe and quite tame and I wondered what fresh adventures God might have for me if I'd be open to asking.

(Find out more about Eddie Izzards 43 marathon feat at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/mar/05/eddie-izzard-marathon-man-review)

We have a range of pictures from past events, now available on the site. To see pictures from baptisms, the work in India or from the Band of Brothers weekend away simply follow the link below...

http://www.citytemple.info/photos/

Last Sunday was a special night for us as a church as we rejoiced together as nine individuals were baptised. Five women and four men testified powerfully to the life-changing encounter they had had with Jesus Christ and the joy and hope they have in Him today. Two of the candidates even testified how hopelessness and despair had so gripped their lives that they had seriously considered ending their lives before they met Jesus. The transforming power of Christ was evident to all who heard their stories.

The exciting thing for me as I look back on last Sunday evening is to see that Jesus is still changing lives. We have been thrilled on Sunday mornings to read the stories in the book of Acts of “the church on the move” and people being saved, healed and delivered, but let us not miss what God is doing in our midst.

Finally, as we approach Easter lets rejoice and give thanks to our amazing God who loved the world so much that “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” May God richly bless you as you worship with us today

Bill Johnson Conference 8 to 20 February 2010 - Testimonies

In June 1969, at the age of 19, I suffered a fractured spine in a head-on car accident. God has been healing me on many occasions, but I was told by top Macquarie St specialists that I would be in a wheelchair in my 40s, riddled with arthritis from the bone injuries, but I am an active grandmother of 12. The bone, instead of being in alignment had healed off line pressing on my spinal column. On Tuesday Bill Johnson called out a word of knowledge for an injury with the bone calcified and not mended properly and even though it was over 40 years ago, my daughter sitting next to me held my hand up and people prayed for me. On testing if there was any difference I was able to arch backwards and bend right down forwards and touch my toes unhindered. I feel free of all restrictions and pain. I walked back to the hotel with a backpack on without discomfort (even leaping and running with joy). The spine looks normal and no longer has protruding nobles at the place of injury.

You are an AWESOME God I love you.

I injured my back 33 years ago – one vertebra slightly out of line – always sore. When the woman who had been badly injured in a car crash spoke of her healing I just felt that I should touch my back and my spine was straight. I kept touching it, couldn’t believe what I was feeling – my spine was straight.

I have been healed, thank you Jesus.

I was in the Tuesday evening meeting with pain in both wrists radiating up and down the arms, and thumb and two fingers tingling and numb on both hands, all day. The syndrome started 3 years ago and has become progressively worse so that I was referred to a specialist in Dec 2009. During the celebration before the healing time my right arm was healed. Then my left arm was prayed for. The testing for the healing was during sleep and this morning (Wed) I woke with no pain, no numbness in either arm or hand. I lay there marvelling at this miracle God’s provided.

Praise God He’s marvellous.

A word of knowledge was given that God was restoring the sense of smell, so several people around me, laid hands on my head and were praying for healing. We tested out whether I could smell, my wife put some perfume on her hand and a lady broke a piece of chewing gum and for the first time in about 20 years I could smell both of these different scents!

Praise God!

On the first evening there was a word for someone suffering from Migraines. After prayer I feel that I am totally healed of this problem of 15 years.

Praise God

I have been suffering with a pain in the left thigh muscle and basically the Lord took the pain away.

Praise His Name and Honour and Glory to Him forever Amen

Testimonies copied from New Wine Cymru Website's article about the Conference - March 2010