Sorry that I didn’t manage a post yestoday. It was a very busy day with the Trafalgar 200 celebrations.
You’ll be pleased to see that order is restored today 
Category : Information
Category : Bible
This is the very famous story of Philips encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch on the wilderness road that runs between Jerusalem and Gaza.(Acts 8: 26-40) Philip had been told by an Angel to head south down this road and so he did. On route he met this very important Ethiopian.
When Philip came across him he was sitting in his chariot reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip proceeded to explain the prophecy pointing to Jesus and the Good News of the Gospel. As they traveled along the road they came to some water and the Eunuch insisted on being baptized. Philip obliged and then the strangest thing happened.
“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea” – Acts 8: 39-40
The Holy Spirit teleported, Star Trek style, Philip from the water side and the eunuch to Azotus. That is amazing!! That blew me away when I read that. The gift of teleportation… Am I alone in thinking that that’s cool!?! 
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Category : Bible
This passage (Acts 8: 1-25) is about the events immediately after Steven’s martyrdom. Once Soul had witnessed the death of Steven a great wave of persecution swept through Jerusalem scattering all but the 12 throughout the local countryside. Philip finds himself in Samaria where he preaches the Good News.
Many people believed and became Christians because of the message and the accompanying signs and wonders. One such person was a local magician who had previously wowed the area with his own ability for the miraculous. His power had previously been attributed to God.
Simon followed Philip around because of these miracles he was performing until Peter and John arrive. All of the new converts in Samaria had not yet received the Holy Sprit. By the laying on of hands they did receive the Holy Sprit and at this point Simon worked out what was going on.
He saw that by the laying on of hands people were receiving the Holy Sprit and amazing miracles were taking place. So he offered to buy this gift from Peter.
Simon, of course, is put in his place by Peter but I believe this is a mistake that is made by many of us before maturity starts to develop in us. Simon had become a Christian yes, but it seems he became a Christian just because of what he could get out it. His heart was not one that was seeking after God but seeking after his amazing gifts. I’m sure many of us have been there from time to time. Also, he did not understand that Gods gifts are free. He attempted to pay for them, and again I think this is something many of us do.
I find Christianity would sit much easier with me if I felt that I had earned it in some way. Of course, no matter what we do we can never earn what gives us. He gives it freely.
This passage this morning was a reminder to me that we should seek God’s face, not His hands and also that when He chooses to give us good gifts (be all means we can and should ask for them) He gives them freely. It doesn’t matter how gifted or talented we think we are, God is interested in the state of our hearts. Simon’s heart was wrong, he was not seeking God, he was seeking to serve himself.