I watched an episode of Tower Block of Commons this evening whilst Phan was at her cell group. The premise of the show is thus:
Four MPs leave behind the splendour of Westminster and their comfortable homes for eight days and nights to live in council tower blocks estates in some of Britain’s most deprived neighbourhoods. They come face-to-face with issues affecting the residents’ lives, including gangs, immigration, drug addiction, poverty, crime and unemployment.
Phan pointed the programme out to me because one of the towerblocks is in the Newtown area where her town planning work deals with.
Watching the MP’s interact and figure out how to live in the tower blocks, then hearing the stories of the people that live there, reminded me just how selfish i am. Watching an 8 year old girl talk about the drugs in her area, then realising the possibility that by the time she’s 14 there’s a high chance she would have tried them, reminds me what a sheltered and safe life I have.
One on hand, it is something to thank God for. For the blessings that He has provided me and my family. On the other hand it is a responsibility. God’s blessings in my life aren’t for my benefit, but so I can be a better neighbour. That in some way I can share more of his love.
On Sunday, I shared about being strong and courageous. About how the knowledge of Christ’s victory over evil, and his triumph over death gives us strength and courage. About how God has called us – commanded us – to be strong and courageous, because he is with us always. Strong and courageous. Christ shares his strength and courage with us. All authority and power has been given to him. And surely he is with us even to the end of the age. And so what do we do with it? How do we live? With all my heart, soul, mind and strength? Strong and full of courage?
And i find myself sitting here on my sofa, watching television about the troubles in the city i live in, while they play Bob Dylan singing “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”
You can watch it on 4 on demand if you live in the UK.
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This was the fifth messge in our series on Joshua 1:9. You can hear the message as well as the worship at the BCEC Sermon Page or or listen to the sermon directly – Joshua 1:9 (episode 5).