At the start of 2010 I made the statement that my role was to help each person in the church be closer to Christ at the end of 2010 than at the beginning.

 

So how are we doing?

 

Well sometimes it's difficult to measure progress. You might find it a little strange to even think about your Christian life like this, but it is never a bad thing to ask ourselves some questions, so here goes for our summer health-check

 

Let's start with DIET - am I getting a good regular dose of God through my personal Bible-reading and prayer or do I just binge on a Sunday and get litle else during the week? Am I relying on others to feed me through church and small groups or am I able to come to God in my own quiet times and receive from Him?

 

What about EXERCISE? Do I just exercise once-a-week on a Sunday or am I wanting to live close to Christ and become like Him every moment of every day? How about opportunities to share my faith with others?

 

How about PROTECTION? I should't forget the suncream and sun-hat but am I protected against the attacks of the enemy? Small groups is looking at this subject this week so slap on the spiritual Factor 40!!

 

And finally LIFESTYLE - again in small groups we've been looking at Christian living in Ephesians. Here we are urged to 'throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true.' (Eph 4:22-4, NLT)