Time for the real X Factor
I recently read an article that said the great British public is losing interest in celebrities. Not the A list actor types who have genuine skills and abilities to entertain, but the so called Z list celebrities who are famous just for… well, being famous. The journalist was citing such programmes as “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here” and “Strictly Come Dancing”. Programmes that once drew huge audiences, but this year had millions less tuning in. The article noted ‘people are fed up with watching people who had a bit part in ‘The Bill’ once or who are simply famous for being drunk and wearing very little clothes’.
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.
Updates: 17th June
Welcome to Summer everyone!
We’ve had some great sun recently and hopefully there will be more to come – can I hear you all shout BBQ?
Roy Morleys message from June 14th is now available on the website and on iTunes, so give it another listen and apply the principles it teaches.
We also have the resource mentioned in Roys message over here. How cool is that?
Other News
This Saturday, 20th June we have the Big Quiz and Give” in aid of the Kent Air Ambulance. It’s never too late to book in a team and support our local community.
It’s £25 per team to enter and you should have a maximum of 5 people per team.
See you there! And good luck!
This Sunday we have the final of the Greatest Dad competition, don’t you think it’s amazing what we can get grown men to do? We continue our theme of ‘Family’ this week’, so bring all yours along and celebrate with us.
Another quick reminder that we’re on facebook, twitter and iTunes, so connect with us there too!
Signing off for now, see you soon.
