What should our response be when we come under fire spiritually? The Bible is clear, we are simply to ‘Stand Firm’. For many of us the reaction is to retaliate. But the Bible teaches us that retaliation is not what God wants. Jesus who was so tempted did not retaliate, he simply used the word of God to stand firm on its truth and authority.

Why is simply standing firm so effective? Partly because is shows God’s authority at work in out lives to others, and also because it shows that we ourselves mean no harm to our oppressors. We want them to reflect on their actions, to see the need for repentance and to make that change of heart only possible through God himself.

I have been under attack myself during the last year. I can testify to God’s amazing protection and his power to enable me to forgive my oppressors. In no way do I say this to boast but to encourage us all not to fear but to know that God will not allow us to be harmed if our foundations are securely rooted in him.

However, we are not to condone evil. This is another reason to ‘Stand Firm’ – to demonstrate that condoning is not acceptable and that oppressors have to be prepared to change if they are to be reconciled to God.

‘Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace’. Ephesians 6: 14-15

Follow 50 Plus on Twitter: @cvm50plus
Like 50 Plus on Facebook: CVM 50 Plus

The Premier League season reached it’s conclusion on Sunday and this season’s final day didn’t disappoint as Manchester City scored twice late on to win the title. They very nearly surrendered their lead to Manchester United who kept up the pressure on their rivals with a 1-0 win away to Sunderland.

QPR, down to ten men after Joey Barton was dismissed for elbowing Carlos Tevez, had recovered from Pablo Zabaleta’s opening goal to lead City 2-1 thanks to goals from Djibril Cisse and Jamie Mackie

Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero struck in stoppage time to rescue their side and deny United their 20th title.

QPR survived relegation despite the defeat: a dubious Stoke penalty restricted Bolton to a 2-2 draw to condemn Owen Coyle’s side to the Championship along with Blackburn and Wolves.

Arsenal won the race to finish third with a 3-2 win at West Brom. Tottenham finished fourth and will have to wait on the outcome of next weekend’s Champions League final before knowing whether they will play in the competition next season.

Alex McCleish looks set to be the first managerial casualty of the close season as his Aston Villa side finished 16th, just two points above the relegation zone.

Pastor Maldonado won the Spanish Grand Prix to register his first race win; the first for his team Williams since 2004. Some clever pitting enabled him to finish ahead of Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari and the Lotus of Kimi Raikonnen.

Lewis Hamilton fought back from the back of the grid to finish eighth, while Jenson Button came ninth.

31 Williams crew were injured in a fire in the team’s garage after the race, seven of whom had to be treated in hospital.

Leicester and Harlequins will contest this year’s Aviva Premiership final after beating Saracens and Northampton respectively. Leicester won 24-15, largely thanks to the kicking of teenage fly-half George Ford who had started in place of the injured Toby Flood.

Harlequins came from behind to beat Northampton 25-23. Lee Dickson’s try was converted to give Northamopton a 23-15 lead with ten minutes to play but Nick Evans converted Joe Marler’s try and kicked a goal to give Quins the win.

Wigan will play Leeds in the Challenge Cup semi-final. Leeds beat Leigh and Wigan beat St Helens to set up a repeat of last year’s final.

Huddersfield scored nine tries in their quarter-final victory over London Broncos and will play Warrington in the other semi-final.

Roger Federer won the Madrid Open, beating Tomas Berdych 3-6 7-5 7-5 in the final on the controversial blue clay which had been criticised by Rafael Nadal and novak Djokovic.

(Part Three of the Eden Series)

The memories he had up until that moment were fading like dew on summer grass. The feeling of being out of control usually caused the man great anxiety, but not in this moment. At his feet lay a crown with the word “Holy” engraved on it. He didn’t pick it up, despite the diamond crest across the front spelling out his initials.

Each blade of grass moved with the wind that seemed to be coming from everywhere and nowhere. The sound of singing could be heard in the distance. He looked around and saw countless imprints across the ground in the shape of other crowns, which must have recently been taken.

“Where is everyone?” the man whispered quietly. Above him were no clouds, stars or indeed any sky at all. He couldn’t work out his location, but found no familiar landmarks. However, the landscape was more defined than anything he had ever seen. His senses were running wild as each sight and sound wrapped around him like a perfect storm. Strange animals galloped on the horizon. A river of light poured down from the mountain up ahead. At the top of the peak were people. Millions, if not billions of people were scattered across the colossal ascent. It was a gathering.

Despite not knowing where he was, or where he had come from, the man felt at peace in this new place. He glanced back at the crown nestled in the long grass. And from behind him, he heard a voice that he recognised from when he was a boy.

“Go ahead Bill, pick it up old friend.” At first he didn’t feel the need to turn around. It wasn’t until he heard his name spoken that he realised how much he had forgotten of his previous life. The crown was incredibly light in his hands, and felt like velvet to touch.

He turned around. In front of him was a tall figure standing with his arms by his side. His hair was like mercury. His eyes were almost too bright to look at, but too incredible to ignore. The man dropped his crown in awe of the figure before him.

“My Lord, it’s you isn’t it?” Bill mumbled.

“Yes, it’s me.”

Burying his head into the ground, Bill replied: “I’m so sorry. I wasted so much of what you gave me”.

The figure held out his scarred hands and said: “Yes Bill, but you welcomed me as your Lord, and that’s why you’re here with us. Welcome home old friend, welcome to the perfect Eden.”

Bill looked up and saw the figure’s outstretched hand. The scars were deep, with two words written across the skin. He looked hard to read the inscription. It simply read: “Bill Jones”.

The figure raised Bill to his feet before placing the crown perfectly on his head. He put his arm around him before leading him to the foot of the mountain. The words “Jesus, merciful King” were being sung from the crowds at the top. Bill had never felt more alive than in this moment. He looked up at the figure and asked: “For how long will I be able to walk with you Lord?” The figure replied: “Forever.”

They walked up the mountain and into the infinite crowd. Bill was welcomed like a prodigal; the figure was welcomed like a King.

Bill had spent his entire life looking for home. The closest he had come up until now was during his conversations with the one they called ‘Jesus’. He had longed for this moment since his first mumbled prayer aged just 16. At last, Bill was home.

- Revelations 22: 12-22

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

Do you find yourself going round in loops of negative thoughts?
You push them away only to find you’re back in the loop when you least expect it.
You can’t seem to get rid of it and it leaves you feeling down and anxious with no real desire to talk with God.

What’s going on? Is this how God wants me to feel? I know God’s in control but it doesn’t feel like it, perhaps he’s busy somewhere else.

Then in my cry of help, where are you God? He reminds me of the other person trying to control my life … Satan!

Yes, I’d forgotten about him. To be honest I’d never really taken his influence that seriously, after all Jesus has defeated him (Col. 2:15).
With a little bit more reading especially from Paul’s letters I realise I’ve been playing right into Satan’s hands. The more I don’t acknowledge his influence the easier it is for him to undermine me and leave me feeling fearful and distant from God.

Satan wants people to believe that he is not active today.

Paul says; (1 Pet. 4:8) ‘Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.’

If Satan went after Jesus, he will certainly come after me. So it’s time to be prepared. First thing to do is to take my head out of the sand and realise I’m in a battle and need to stand up and fight.

I know that he will use my weaknesses, things I repeatedly fail at and also my strengths as opportunities for pride. That he daily baits his hook with tailor made temptations. But we have God’s word, we have his promises, his truth, our trust and now more awareness of Satan’s tactics.

Some days I know I will fail and bite on his hook but now it won’t be from ignorance and it may take me down but not out because this battle is one we can take to Jesus and know we can win.

Follow 50 Plus on Twitter: @cvm50plus
Like 50 Plus on Facebook: CVM 50 Plus

Do you ever have one of those moments when time seems to freeze and all the possible choices are laid out before you? I often choose to do stupid things. I’m allowed a glimpse of the options and I choose the worst one. Whether big obvious sins like shoplifting or mocking the disabled, or little everyday things like choosing to ignore the list of chores that Anna has left me, or gossip about the latest minor annoyance a friend commits.

At the end of Psalm 19 David says this ‘Keep your servant also from wilful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heard be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.’

Wilful sins? Certainly I recognise these in my own life. Times when despite knowing better I choose to go against God’s way and instead choosing my own way. But if there are wilful sins then does that mean that there are sins we are unaware of? That we are so ingrained into the cultures and societies around us and our ways of doing things that we almost automatically sin just by living? Could we be that far removed from Eden?

Consider the clothes you are wearing or the food you eat – are you sure it was ethically sourced? Could there be items in your house that have prospered slavery? I’m not a forceful moral warrior but I can see that something’s gone badly wrong with the world when just living can cause others to suffer. So what do we do? I mean it’s hard enough to battle wilful sins, how do we stop unintentionally sinning too?

For me it’s all about discipline. I may not be directly responsible for slavery but I could make better choices in all spheres of my life that would lead to less sinning full stop, wilful and accidental.

Romans 12:1-2 ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.’

Manchester City took the penultimate step to what would be their first top-flight title in 44 years with a hard-fought 2-0 win at Newcastle.

Yaya Toure struck twice in the second half to leave City knowing victory at home to Queens Park Rangers on Sunday will in all probability do the job.

Manchester United stayed level on points with their rivals thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Swansea, but their goal difference is eight worse than City’s.

Arsenal stayed third, despite being held to a 3-3 draw at home to Norwich, because Tottenham could only draw 1-1 at Aston Villa and Newcastle lost to City.

QPR boosted their survival hopes with a 1-0 defeat of Stoke while Bolton were held 2-2 by West Brom. Relegated Wolves drew 0-0 with Everton and Fulham beat Sunderland 2-1.

In Saturday’s FA Cup final Chelsea defeated Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley. Ramires gave the Blues an early lead which Didier Drogba doubled in the second half. Andy Carroll pulled one back just after the hour but it was not enough.

In Rugby Union, Harlequins will play Northampton and Leicester will face Saracens in the Premiership semi-finals on Saturday.

The line-up was decided by the final round of regular season games when Newcastle were relegated despite beating Wasps 14-10.

Quins came top of the table with a 24-10 win at Sale and Leicester secured second by beating Bath 28-3.

Sarries saw off Exeter 40-22 and Northampton sealed the last semi-final berth with a 42-14 victory over Worcester. London Irish thrashed Gloucester 52-18.

In Rugby League’s Super League Wigan went top with a 36-22 win over Hull KR while previous leaders Huddersfield, who also have 20 points, lost 27-20 at Catalan Dragons.

Warrington were one point behind after a 24-20 defeat of Salford. Hull FC beat Leeds 34-20, St Helens saw off Wakefield 38-12 and Bradford were 29-22 winners over London.

In Cricket, Warwickshire stayed top in Division One of the County Championship with a nine-wicket win over Durham.

Second-placed Nottinghamshire thrashed Lancashire by 185 runs and Middlesex beat Worcestershire by 132 runs.

In Division Two Yorkshire saw off Leicestershire by an innings and 22 runs, Northamptonshire surprised Hampshire by 117 runs and Derbyshire drew with Gloucestershire.

Surrey began their Clydesdale Bank 40 defence with two wins from two. There were also victories in that competition for Kent, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Lancashire and the Netherlands.

(By Rob Barnett)

(Part two of the Eden Series)

One of the most compelling aspects of my job is also one of the most tragic: seeing the state of spirituality amongst British men. And the common denominator in most spiritual tragedies is usually a misguided foundation stone. It seems that many of us are tempted to plant our feet of faith onto how we feel at any given point. We all want a sign from God that our heart’s desires will come true. We chase after biblical extras in the hope that we would feel something other than how we feel right now. But from my trekking up and down every major motorway in the UK, I believe that nothing good comes from a faith based on ‘feeling good’. Or indeed as Jesus said: “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign.”

But as I encounter all sorts of Christian faith on this island, I see further proof that not only is God real, the Bible sovereign and the Sprit active, but that there is an almighty restoration project being carried out in everyone who trusts in Jesus.

(And part of me doesn’t even know if the restoration is always taking place on a conscious level.)

Peter Gladwin, Richard Taylor, Rob Joy, Paul Gask, Tim Brown. These are the names of just five new friends I have got to know in recent times. They’re also five men who are walking proof that the Creator can reconstruct any man, in any situation. All the above names were men who looked at Jesus when their life map fell through.

And I think the reason why I am humbled to meet guys like this, is because their stories are far more powerful than the wham bam thank you ma’am spirituality that seems to draw a lot of Christians in our culture. God’s reconstruction of our characters is incredibly good news for our friends who don’t yet know the Good News.

Which faith lasted longest, those dramatically rescued during the parting of the Red Sea, or the salt of the Earth Jesus’ follower Stephen? Within days of the Red Sea parting those who were delivered from death were already questioning their God. Stephen never saw miracles of such grandeur, but his last words, spoken as religious men hurled rocks at his fractured skull, were declarations of God’s power and truth.

So why do we still chase after new revelations, extra blessings and signs? Are we not content with the fact that God has the power and the inclination to reconstruct a broken man like me into something stronger?

What does your week look like? How trashed is your Eden? The Bible says that some us will allow false teachers and bad influences into our spiritual houses. If that’s the state of affairs for your Eden, let me tell you that all is not lost by any stretch. Your loving heavenly father has his hand above the ‘Reconstruct’ button, waiting for you to give him the green light. Would we be the followers who ask God for signs of truth or those who ask him to make us the signs to Truth?

As you read this, God is reconstructing the traces of Eden in the lives of millions.

2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Peace

*The Reconstructed Eden is the second part of Alex Willmott’s Eden Series.

Next Friday, CVM will publish part three: ‘The Return of Eden’.

As we live in a world where Twitter has restricted information to 140 characters, we thought it would be interesting to apply this format to a list of ‘Ultimate Spiritual Goals’

We would like to make an anonymous list of these ‘tweets’ to show the variety of our goals in our walk of faith. The list may be published.

Please finish the sentence “My ultimate spiritual goal is …”

Use a maximum of 140 characters … not including the first 5 words!

This is a way of looking at your life that may be useful to you. There are no ‘correct’ answers.

You may like to do the exercise in a small group and share your goals.

If you would like to share in our larger group please email your goal to Eddie James (eddie.james @ cvm.org.uk) by 17 May. You can also tweet it to us @cvm50plus or post it on our new CVM 50 Plus Facebook page.

Many thanks for taking part in this venture.

I have a big gob. I often put my foot in it. When I was a teenager I worked, for a time, in Safeways. This time was characterised by complaints. One day I was on the till serving a member of staff who had just got off work. She noticed my WWJD band and asked about it, and I promptly explained. The elderly couple next in line seemed somewhat fidgety and were looking around quite a lot. After I had finished serving the member of staff they approached and I learned what their problem was.

‘Do you think it’s right’ started the old lady ‘that you spend all that time talking to a member of staff when there are customers waiting?’ Now let me state for the record that I hadn’t taken any longer than usual, our conversation had lasted the time it took me to scan her shopping and take her money, with that in mind, I retorted politely ‘Ma’am if you knew me you would know that I am a polite young man who talks to all my customers, because that’s just the way I am.’ At this reasonable reply the old lady’s husband made to storm off to customer services. ‘Leave it’ said the old lady ‘We have never had this before.’ To which I replied ‘Unfortunately I get it everyday.’ At which the old man promptly stormed off to complain.

I was speaking to a group of men about being disappointed with God and how within that, we can run our mouths off to Him and whoever will listen. Before we know it the reason for our disappointment starts to define us rather than being defined by our creator. Listen to Job after God reminds him of who his Creator is:

Job 40: 1-5: ‘The Lord said to Job: ‘Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!’ Then Job answered the Lord: ‘I am unworthy – how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer – twice, but I will say no more.’

Could we learn from Job – that once we have got our grievance, rant, point of view, or whatever it is out, once we have spoken, we will not speak it out again. But instead put our hands over our mouth – forcibly if needed. And the reason? So we don’t dwell in the pit of despair, but instead sit before God in reverence and awe, holding our hands over our mouths.

Fernando Torres finally found form in front of goal with a hat-trick against QPR on Sunday. His Chelsea side cruised past local rivals Rangers 6-1, with Daniel Sturridge, John Terry and Florent Malouda scoring the other goals before Djibril Cisse pulled one back for the visitors.

Blackburn gave a poor account of themselves against Tottenham, failing to register a single shot over the 90 minutes in a 2-0 defeat which sees them with three points to make up to avoid relegation with two games remaining.

Wigan’s survival hopes continued to improve with a remarkable 4-0 victory at home to Champions League-chasing Newcastle. Four first half games gave Wigan some breathing space and would have been enough even if Papiss Cisse had scored in a seventh-straight game rather than hit the woodword twice.

Bolton gained a well-deserved point away at Sunderland thanks to a brace from club captain Kevin Davies who showed his worth after being recalled to the starting line-up.

The shackles were off Wolves whose relegation was confirmed last week as they battled back from a three-goal deficit to draw 4-4 with Swansea.

Southampton confirmed their place in next season’s Premier League with a 2-0 win over already-relegated Coventry. West Ham beat Hull but needed Saints to slip up stand any chance of reclaiming the automatic promotion place which they occupied for so much of the season.

They will now face Cardiff in the playoffs semi-final while Birmingham play Blackpool in the other tie.

Celtic beat Rangers 3-0 in what could be the last ever Old Firm derby. They made light work of their rivals and after the match Rangers manager Ally McCoist suggested liquidation was a real possibility, saying after the match that it “looks more of a possibility now than ever”.

Leinster have made it to the final of the Heineken Cup with a 19-15 victory over Clermont Auvergne. The French side led at half-time but a Cian Healy try helped Leinster take the lead before Welsey Fofana was thought to have gone over for the home side only for the try to be ruled out by TMO Geoff Warren.

Ulster will be Leinster’s opponents in the final at Twickenham after an equally close win 22-19 over Edinburgh. A Pedrie Wannenburg try and more points from the boot of Ruan Pienaar put Ulster in control and Jim Thomspson’s try came too late for Edinburgh to mount a serious comeback.

Leeds Rhinos progressed to the quarter finals of Rugby League’s Challenge Cup but didn’t have things all their own way against Salford. They eventually won the match 16-10, but only gained the lead with eight minutes remaining.

Cup holders Wigan will face sterner challenges in their defence than that which was provided by Featherstone Rovers. Wigan ran in six tries to book their place in the next round, winning 32-16.

Leigh scored a vital golden point to beat Halifax 19-18 after they had mounted a second-half comeback and will be the only Championship side in the quarter-final draw.

Reigning champion John Higgins conceded the worst World Championship defeat of his career, losing 13-4 against seven-time winner Stephen Hendry. He will face fellow Scot Stephen Maguire who beat Joe Perry 13-7.

Ryan Day completed a 13-7 victory over Cao Yupeng while 2010 champion Neil Robertson progressed, winning 13-9 against David Gilbert. Ronnie O’ Sullivan has an 11-5 lead over Mark Williams while Matthew Stevens and Barry Hawkins are level at 8-8.

Rafael Nadal’s imperious form on clay continues as the Spaniard beat compatriot David Ferrer to win his seventh title Barcelona Open title 7-6 (7-1) 7-5.