Stuff in the Basement

I really hope that you have been enjoying our online services and as the current series (Faith, Hope, Love) draws to a close I wanted to set the scene for you regarding the next one along. The reason for this is that I want you to be thinking about it in advance – and preparing to deal with what might come up for you, which may be powerful.
 
The series is called “Stuff in the Basement” and I’ve borrowed that line from the film Rocky Balboa. In the film, there are a couple of scenes in which Rocky and his brother-in-law, Paulie, use the phrase to refer to the kind of secret stuff we have inside us – the powerful stuff that shapes us but that no-one else really knows about but us. We don’t talk about those things because they’re painful, or cause us to be ashamed, fearful, upset or angry. But deep down, we know that stuff is there, and we want to be able to deal with it rather than leave it lurking heavily in the basement of our souls.
 
I can remember being on retreat with our Leadership Team some time ago, walking around the grounds of the retreat estate. At one point I found myself standing, literally, at the foot of a cross. Something from my past came into my mind – I hadn’t thought of it for years – but there I was suddenly pouring out tears, standing alone at the foot of the cross. Well, I say alone… I’m sure God was with me, ministering to me in that moment.
 
In this time of lockdown, I wonder if, like me, you have found yourself with some more time to contemplate some of that stuff in the basement? Perhaps when those things come to mind, you’re apt to brush them off, sweep them under the carpet and try to forget? Fat chance! Would you like to try to deal with it better, more thoroughly? That is what this coming series will invite us to do.

The series is in four parts –
 

• Your Heart’s Desires. God is interested in the whole of us, and wants us to share with Him and to help us. Whatever our hopes and dreams might be, God has hopes for us too and we should take great comfort from that. He may not make all our wildest dreams come true, but share them with Him anyway - He has a way of surpassing our hopes in ways we don’t expect or imagine! 
• Forgive us our sins. We all have sins we don’t want to speak about. But God knows them already and wants to help us deal with them. We would do well to bring them out into the light and acknowledge them for what they are with Him rather than let them fester away inside. Sin is a big issue, but here’s the bigger one – God’s surpassing, redemptive love for humankind. 
• Past Imperfect. It’s important to acknowledge past pains and damage and to be open with God about it all so that He can unshackle us and move us on to a better future. We can be open with God about the events and the people that have caused us pain and how we feel about all this.
• No Regrets? Sometimes people say they have decided to have “no regrets”, but is that true? Really? We all have things we wish we hadn’t done, or wish we had done but failed to do. What are they for you? In this final part of our series, we look at how best to deal with those things rather than just denying them!

 
Recently I came across this line from an anonymous writer, and it really struck a chord with me: “The next time Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!”. Conversely, God knows all about our past and wants us to be happy in relationship with him. He wants us to be open and honest with him about all of our “stuff” and he wants to help us. So let’s unpack those crates of “stuff in the basement” and talk to Him about them.
 
I hope this series will help you to resist spiritual attack, and remind you that no matter what stuff you have in the basement, God has a future and a hope for you. As the apostle Paul wrote –
 

I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 (NRSVA)
 

Finally, I want to encourage you that while the church building is closed, the church itself (that is, us) is very much open. So please share the messages and let the word of God take root in you, that we, the church, will continue to bring love, hope and comfort to a world in need.

Every blessing

Simon