Hi,
It is Ken, to share a thought for the month with you.
What is your favourite thing? My favourite thing is football, so I cannot wait to watch the Euros championships, which is being held in Germany. It has got me thinking, Life is like one very big football match. We are all playing football on the earth, everybody who ever lived, or is living now, or as yet to start living, has to play a part in this game, there is no other option.
There are two teams playing this game of football. Both teams have names, one side is called light, and the other side is called Dark. So, why those names? Well, it is very simple. The manager of the dark team, is the devil, he works in the dark and he always lies to us. The devil is the king of lies, the Bible says the devil is like a roaring lion, just waiting for us to mess up. Then he keeps reminding us of our messes.
So who is the manager of the light team? That’s right, it is God. God has made everything, including the universe, the stars, the sea, the animals, you, me, and interestingly enough the devil. The devil was an Angel, before he got too big for his boots. He wanted to be in charge of heaven, so God kicked the devil out of heaven, because God is the boss of heaven, and earth, and everything under the earth. God is total love, so He has chosen to give us freedom of choice.
This is the story of what man did with Gods gift of freedom of choice.
The Fall of Man.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman "Did God really say You must not eat from any tree in the garden". The woman said to the serpent "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say we must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden. And we must not touch it, or we will die". "You will not surely die", the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil". When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food, and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Then the eyes of them were opened, and they realized they were naked, so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife, heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God, among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, Where are you? He answered "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid". And God said "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from"? The man said "The woman you put here with me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it". Then the LORD God said to the woman "What is this you have done"? The woman said "The serpent deceived me, and I ate". So the LORD God said to the serpent "Because you have done this, Cursed are you above all the livestock, and all the wild animals, You will crawl on your belly, and you will eat dust, all the days of your life".

It seemed like the Dark team took a lead in this football match, BUT God had a plan that would give the victory to the light team. Thanks to Jesus Christ, who lived a blameless life, and yet he was put to death on the cross. but as Jesus was dying, he shouted "It is finished", because he knew what he had died for. Jesus died and rose again so the light team won the football match. Jesus died and rose again so you can choose to live with God forever, or you can choose to live with the devil for ever.
So which team are you on?
I would like to ask you to join us on the light team today. If you choose the team of light, when you are injured God will be there to bring you back to fitness, so you can play well for Him. After the game, you are invited to the big party in heaven.
I hope to see you there.
Ken