Dear UKChristians.net,

We've been working hard for a number of months on a great new resource for our members.

We are launching our new job site early in January 2010 which aims to connect our members with prospective employers. If you are looking for work and would like to be amongst the first to come an join our new site, then please join this group here on UKChristians.net.

Membership of the jobsite will be free for employees and advertisers will have a number of paid options to choose from.

Our new site will mainly center around jobs in ministry, charities and christian business or businesses owned by christians.

If you're an employer looking for staff, we're offering a number of free yearly subscriptions to those who would like to join the site now and populate it with some jobs! If you have any vacancies, please drop us a line back. This will be limited to the first 5 organisations that we hear from and is our opening offer!

So get in quick with your reply if you'd like to take advantage of this!

A yearly subscription allows you to post as many jobs as you like over the course of a year - so this is a great opening offer to the first 5 we hear from! You must have a job to post immediately though.

With a site membership of 5,500 people and growing, you can be sure that your postings will be seen!

We look forward to seeing this now get off the ground and thank you all in anticipation of your support.

JOIN THE GROUP HERE ON UK CHRISTIANS for the latest updates.


God bless,



Mark
UKChristians.net

Very often at Christmas we only hear about Joseph the 'early father' of Jesus when the nativity story is told. You don't get to know much about him or know what he is about.

We looked at Joseph in our Christmas Services this last week. The event was entitled Christmas in 3D. It was a 3 dimensional look at Christmas through the life of Joseph.


Dreams

Joseph like all of us must have had some great dreams in life. We know that he was a young man. His whole life ahead of him. He'd trained to be a carpenter. What were his aspirations? What was his dream when it came to Mary? Have a think about this young man who seems to have everything to live for whose whole world is about to come tumbling down around him. One minute life is good the next it's upside down!

Disappointment

Wow... What do you say and think about your fiance who comes and tells you that she is pregnant! To add salt to an injury she then adds that its not another man but the child of God that she is carrying.

There's no blueprint for this. No understanding - as this has never before happened to anyone. Sure there's an old prophecy floating around out there about a 'messiah' who would come but who knows the intricacies of how this is to be.

This poor man faces the most extreme humiliation. He must at this point be severely emotionally wounded as everything good in his life hits the floor like a lead balloon.

We know that Mary went to stay with her cousin Elizabeth for three months! May that have had something to do with this whole scenario. Could this have added strain to their relationship.

Amidst Joseph's confusion we see the complete contrast with Mary who on the other hand is 'rejoicing in her God' - Wow... there's no doubt in her mind what is happening - although imagine the feelings she has for the maybe distant Joseph whom she loves who is most likely confused by the whole thing!

Divine Encounter

Joesph stays by the side of Mary and decided that he would marry her.

It wasn't until he'd made a hard decision like this that all began to fall into place.

Then comes his divine encounter as the Angel of the Lord appears and brings confirmation of all that has been said. We don't know the timing of this but this amazing day was the end of any agony he was feeling for sure!

At this point Joseph had assurance and confidence in Mary's truth!

We read on of of the Shepherds all bringing their own slant on this miracle story and confirm the visitation of angels to them.

And then Jesus Christ enters this World!



We can learn much through Joseph's life.
Should we trust those who are close to us a little more?
No matter what hopes we have for the future, disappointment could be around the corner.
But if we trust in our God and spend time with him he has the ability to lift us to a place of hope.

He may not always do that as we're in a refining process!

Jesus Christ - BORN that we may have life and life to the full.

After being a Christian for 20 years, I'm convinced that living for Jesus Christ certainly does shape your life towards the positive and not the negative! I dread to think where I would be today without him in it.

What do you say?

One year ago, Christ for all Nations Hong Kong Fire Conference made history as the largest gathering of Chinese Christian leaders ever – 5,000 assembling from all regions of China. Remarkably, this year’s conference surpassed that record as 8,500 Christians traveled from mainland China to be part of the Fire Conference.

Hungry for the Word of God and the Fire of the Holy Spirit, the Chinese Christians were not disappointed, as the Lord met them there. Like Jesus promised in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

A full session of worship jumpstarted the three-day event. The Chinese praise group, Melody of My Heart, came together from around the world to minister. Expressions of exuberant praise transformed the AsiaWorld-Expo into the largest church these humble yet hungry Christians had ever experienced. Evangelists Bonnke and Kolenda continued the meetings with powerful messages, encouraging the delegates, and inspiring them to believe for the very same, if not even greater, harvests of souls in China that CfaN sees today in Africa.

Called and Equipped

Most times, Fire Conferences are about compelling Christians to do the work of evangelists – to obey the Great Commission and reach the lost. For these Chinese Christians, who toil for God under sometimes difficult circumstances, the Fire Conference had another purpose – a time of refreshing, fellowship with other believers, and impartation from the Lord. Additionally, they were equipped with the much-needed resources for evangelism and for training in evangelism.

Again this year, the Full Flame Film Series was distributed to every delegate, along with materials for replication. The delegates were intentionally selected from every one of the twenty-three regions in China, and will now return to their homes and reproduce the film sets. This strategic network of believers will disseminate these powerful inspirational film sets and spread the message and passion for winning the lost for Jesus.

Holy Communion

Not only were the Chinese from all twenty-three regions of China, but they represented each of the three major streams of churches, some of them with striking contrasts in practice and beliefs, at times leading to discord and distance between them. During the communion service, the presence of the Spirit was strong as the church being one body of Christ was emphasized. Top leaders from every branch agreed that a restorative and uniting work happened. Forgiveness flowed like a balm – towards each other and all who have hurt the church. Clearly, the church in China will move forward as more unified – in Spirit and in purpose.

Salt and Light

Each meeting of the Fire Conference was held at the AsiaWorld-Expo, which is situated in Lantau, one of the many islands of Hong Kong. Lantau is known for a time in its history when salt was illegally produced there, mostly for export to China. The CfaN Fire Conference was also about producing “salt,” and “exporting” these Chinese Christians to the entire world! They will bring with them the flavor of the Holy Spirit and the preserving presence of God. During the concluding service of the Fire Conference, Daniel Kolenda, along with a team of ministers, laid hands on all 8,500 delegate to anoint them, bless them, and send them into the harvest fields. The fire of the Holy Spirit came and set flame to every heart, abiding in each as if a fireplace.

Saturday evening was dedicated to a Gospel crusade to reach the lost in Hong Kong. Requiring a complete change in language, a different Cantonese-speaking worship group, and radio transmitters to provide translation for the Mandarin-speaking Chinese delegates, the team worked quickly to make the switch. Reinhard Bonnke preached a clear and forceful Gospel message, and the altar was filled with new converts.

From Wheelchair Bound to Boundless Joy

Afterwards, the sick were prayed for, and there were glorious miracles. One lady, well-known to the CfaN staff, was among those touched mightily by God. At the 2008 Hong Kong Fire Conference, she had coordinated one of the dance groups that ministered during the Opening Celebration. Shortly after that event, she suffered a stroke that had left her paralyzed on one side and wheelchair bound. She came this year, not as a dance leader, but as a broken woman who had lost hoped. Pressed by a friend to come, and offered to sponsor her expenses, she agreed. Desperate and clinging to faith, she took a bus all the way from Nanjing. During this year’s Fire Conference, God miraculously healed her, and she leapt up from her wheelchair. She hadn’t walked since the previous year, but now she walked onto the stage to testify and then was able to walk home.

Many others also testified to the healing miracles God worked during the Fire Conference. Days after the CfaN team had left, reports continued to circulate giving details of the amazing healings confirmed by witnesses. Pastors and church leaders were overjoyed by the outpouring of miracles like they had never seen before.

Undoubtedly, the landscape of China will be changed by the seeds planted in the good soil of the Chinese delegates. As Daniel Kolenda proclaimed: "China will be saved! We're not asking for it...we're declaring it in the Name of Jesus!"