News of MPs’ expenses have been grabbing headlines and becoming the topic of conversation in the UK for weeks. Stories continue to unfold day by day on government ministers systematically abusing public finance for personal gains.

Trust in our country’s leaders are shaken, bringing their reputations into disgrace and disrepute. The thousands of pounds claimed by MPs for second homes, taxi rides and mortgages that didn’t exist outrage the public.

The latest in the scandal first exposed by The Daily Telegraph involves the resignation of The Speaker Michael Martin, the first in over 300 years. This calls for a major shake-up of the entire system.

The expenses scandal has spread all over the country as regional papers pick up scrutinise their local MPs from Westminster to Wythenshawe.

How a select few could exploit taxpayer’s money using their power and position while ordinary citizens are struggling to make ends meet has shaken the nation.

Many have already begun to apologise but others have defended their expenses as being within the confines of the rules. There may have been rules, but there is also morality. Surely the MPs would know that what the Commons fees office allowed was not right, especially if these rules were created by themselves.

The Bible is full of scriptures that tell us how God delights in honesty, integrity and righteousness. In fact, justice and righteousness are the foundations of His throne – the very characteristics of His being and His kingdom.

I am reminded of Daniel, who found himself in politics when King Darius appointed him as one of his three administrators. Daniel’s accusers struggled to bring him down because they could find no corruption in him. ‘… he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent in his conduct of government affairs’. (Dan 6:4)

Matthew Ling, who leads the Living Rock Church in Coventry, commented on this subject on Roger Aubrey’s blog:

“The few MPs with genuine integrity, who have not been behaving this way, should begin to rise to prominence as others find their political careers coming to an abrupt end. God is shaking our parliament and those whose lives are built on godly principles will be exalted in the process.”

It’s times like these that the world needs to look at how the church and the elders conduct their finances with transparency. The church offers a real and effective alternative to a secular world that continues to be riddled with greed and corruption.

Proverbs 11:5 The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

By Wan Phing Lim

“He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Acts 3:21 (NIV)

God is in the process of restoring everything. He’s working out his plan and purpose to see everything brought together in Jesus that the whole earth might be filled with his glory. Just like He’s always said He would! As I read Acts 3:21 I can imagine Jesus waiting in heaven. I imagine him waiting in anticipation, just longing to come back to the earth. He’s longing to see the fullness of himself in his church as she announces and demonstrates his rule and reign. He’s waiting for his glorious bride to take hold of her destiny… as she realises that He’s waiting for her!

I find it incredible that God would choose to invest so much of his purpose into you and me. Our wonderful, glorious, awesome God has chosen to make the fulfilment of his plan dependent on his people. God could have imposed his will over all creation and so covered the earth with his glory. But His desire has always been to reveal his glorious presence and rule through us. God is restoring his people. He’s calling us out of darkness and into his wonderful light. He’s including us in his eternal plan – He’s restoring us to what we were made for.

“You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” – Isaiah 58:11, 12 (NIV)

May we continue to experience the restoring power of God in every aspect of our lives. And may we step into our identity as restorers of streets with dwellings as the God of restoration calls us to be a people of restoration.

Richard Anniss

You can read more about the subject of restoration in the first issue of ‘Times of Restoration’ magazine.

Issues 1 & 2 are both available from the bookstall in the first floor hall in King’s House on a Sunday

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” – Romans 8:28 (NIV)

God is good, all the time. This isn’t just something we say and sing. This is the true nature of God. He is good and He is good, all the time. This isn’t just theory; this is the reality of Christ for us in our day to day lives.

God is at work to bring His goodness into the lives of those that love Him and who have been called according to His purposes. However, the goodness of God isn’t just the nature of God and His theological position – it is also the essence of His action in dealing with His people. He is good in word, deed and action in every area of our lives. He loves to reveal His goodness and love for us in so many ways.

In a world that can often become saturated with bad news, we need to discover afresh the truth and power of bringing the good news of the Kingdom, the gospel to the world around us. His goodness in our lives means we can testify that God saves, God heals and God provides. I have seen this in my own life and in my own family. I am a walking and talking advert for the good news of the Kingdom. My life can say to the world: ‘God is good’. That’s our mandate to take the good news of the Kingdom into the world around us. We are a good news people; A gospel people.

We experience and receive His goodness in the meeting place, so we can testify and demonstrate His goodness in the market place. That’s the life that Jesus lived and that’s the life that we are called to live. (Luke 4:18-19)

Each week, we have some great opportunities to meet in the Church in our Homes (full details can at the Church In The Home page). As we meet, we can sing and submit to one another (Eph 5:18-21). As we fellowship together, we can share the testimonies in our lives that God is indeed good. We have so much to thank him for. Let’s ensure that whenever we meet, we come with the attitude of gratitude for all that He has so graciously done in our lives. For He is good, all the time.

Gavin White

The VIP Ladies Night in April was an amazing opportunity for King’s Church to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the homeless and those living in hostels.

VIP is a night that we hold twice a year to reach out to the homeless in Manchester. We bring them in from the streets or shelters and demonstrate God’s love by opening up our lives to them and providing for their material needs through a meal, clothing and toiletries. These people are treated like VIPs, because that is who they are. That is how God sees them, and that is how we are to treat them.

About 25 ladies from three hostels in Manchester arrived to be greeted on the red carpet with reception drinks and a chocolate fountain. They helped themselves to strawberries, marshmallows and cakes while stewards gave them a warm welcome and chatted with them. The ladies were then led into the main dining room where each received a hamper gift at their table. All these and the meal hadn’t even started!

The night was hosted by Kelly Shennan, and the women had a wonderful meal of roasted herb chicken with baby potatoes and vegetables. Dessert was apple crumble with custard and ice cream.

Table hosts took time to talk and get to know the ladies, as singer-songwriter Hannah Atkins from The Sanctuary performed a couple of tunes from Alicia Keys and a few of her own songs on the keyboard, violin and guitar. Hannah does a lot of work with the homeless and ministers to them through her songs.

Kate Hancock, who headed the night, shared her testimony on how she gave her life to God while she was at university.

After their meals, the women were ushered into the clothes room, where they could take their pick on any clothing item they wanted. These were clothes donated by members of the church family, who had brought them in over the previous weeks.

There was a pamper room next door complete with a nail parlour, a make-up corner and a hairdresser’s. The ladies got their nails painted and hands massaged and there was further opportunity to talk to them while doing their hair and make-up.

Kate said: “We got quite a few contact details from the women that we have already started following up, which is exactly what we wanted to do. Rather than it just being an event, we want to build relationships with these women. We want to get them coming on Sundays and see the fruits of our labour from the night.”

VIP Night is an example of how we can take responsibility for our city as a church family. Kate has been involved with VIP for a year now, and said God challenged her to do so after she had been working with women in India.

She said: “You don’t have to go somewhere far away just to reach these women. You just need to look around and the opportunity is right there on your doorstop,” she said.
Come and be a blessing by getting involved with the next VIP night for men, which is on Tuesday May 19 at 7pm.

Go to our photo gallery to see more photos of the Ladies VIP Night.

By Wan Phing Lim