Enjoy the message and we pray that you are challenged to the point of action.

Roy Morley has managed to wrap both up in a fantastic package, focussing on the mandate we have to Build the Church. If you missed this message, make sure you listen, if you were there then listen again.

Be inspired, be challenged…. and most importantly, respond to the challenge.

People are searching for real heroes. There is a deep truth here that strikes a chord in all of us. We want people who can inspire us, make us laugh, cry and usually all at the same time. We want people who can make us dream bigger, see further, do greater. And even sports start can’t quite fit the pedestal we want to place them on. Starts promoted as ‘the family guy’ one day are then splashed across the News of the World for tawdry antics that are shameful.

In reality no human being can ever reach the place of perfection, be the role model require for our children etc. And that is because as human beings, as we ourselves know, we are all flawed. We all have weaknesses and strengths. And as much as we would only want to focus on the strengths, sooner or later the weaknesses can be seen.

Whenever I am confronted by another news headline talking about the downfall or disgrace of so and so, I am so glad my hero is not to be found in a man or a woman.

The greatest hero we can look to is Jesus. The son of God, and God the son (even that sentence contains truths hard for our heads to understand). Someone who shows us what life is really about and how to live it. He who places other above self, and loves sacrificially (and how hard is that!). He who refuses to give up on others, and chooses to forgive when He had every right to bring down wrath from heaven. He who heals the broken, even when some are broken by their own bad choices. He is the master rebuilder.

Jesus cares about the depressed, the imprisoned, the sad, the lonely. He cares about the successful and the ambitious. Jesus refocuses our priorities (if we let Him) and teaches us on what matters and what really doesn’t (he has quite a lot to say about money for instance).

Jesus is not meek and mild though as He is often painted. he talks about a coming judgement and urges us to use the life God has given us to fulfil His plans and purposes (rather than squandor our lives on getting and never giving). This year you need to make a choice. Who’s life will you be living – yours? – Or the one Jesus planned for you? Fix your eyes on Jesus, follow Him and be amazed at what he can do through you.