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I love football (soccer to some), for me it is the world's number 1
sport. I'm very
honoured to be Chaplain to Swansea City Football Club and I love to
watch the
Swans play.
I am a Swansea City fan and have now watched them for 34 years!
I also enjoy Welsh league football and was very proud to watch our
local side here
in Kingsbridge, Garden Village win the Welsh League Division 2
Championship this
season.
I also love the big occasion football matches, cup finals and
internationals.
Watching Wales play at the Millennium stadium is a great experience
and in recent
months we've had some great results beating Germany and drawing with
Argentina.
Since 1997 I have been fortunate to have been involved in the league
Cup Final (The
Cocoa Cola Cup Final - now the Worthington Cup). I'm involved in the
Worthington
5's a fans football tournament and on Cup Final day compere the
Hospitality suite
for the cup sponsors.
Each season as part of my package I get a ticket for the game.
Now although an English league competition the final is held at The
Millennium
Stadium in Cardiff until the government and football authorities
decide what is
happening with the new Wembley Stadium.
The old Wembley Stadium was something special (even for me as a Welsh
man -
as it is considered to be the home of English football). I have good
and bad
memories of Wembley - it was a glorious day for Swansea City fans when
we won
the AutoGlass trophy there in 1994 but not so happy memories of losing
the 4th
Division Play Off final in 1997 to an injury time goal.
I have led singing from the Wembley pitch and have entertained fans
during a half
time fans penalty shoot out. My first visit there was as a Bible
College student with
a load of my friends to watch internationals, we saw England play
Hungary and
Switzerland plus of course my own country Wales!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coming down the Wembley walkway and starting up the steps is very
exciting
whoever is playing.
The 1998 Coca Cola Cup Final saw Chelsea play Middlesborough. I left
the
hospitality suite about 20 minutes before kick off and headed up the
steps beneath
the famous Wembley twin towers.
As I showed my ticket, there was a bit of a commotion at the
turnstile next to
mine. Someone was trying to pass through with a forged ticket. It was
a good
forgery, it would have fooled me, but not Wembley security.
What a nightmare for an innocent ticket holder desperate to see his
favourite team
in a cup final.
Now whenever I'm off to a big game I'm quite a pain. I'm always
checking that I have
my ticket safe and that I've not left it at home on the shelf.
What a nightmare for an innocent ticket holder, a forged ticket! He
was convinced
he had all that he needed to get into Wembley to watch Chelsea.
Some of you reading this may be carrying forged tickets and these will
be our worst
nightmare.
I'm not talking about sporting events, but an eternal one. I'm
talking about Heaven!!!
My worst nightmare would be to face Jesus and find out that my ticket
was a wrong one.
Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the
Father
except through me'!
You could say,' there is only one ticket to Heaven, one way to God,
one way to
Eternal life - that's JESUS.
However a lot of ways may look right, ways that would fool most
people, but not
God!
Do some of these sound familiar? I was christened as a child .... I
have always
gone to church .... I say my prayers .... I have never done anyone
harm .... I believe
in God .... I'm not perfect but I'm not as bad as some I could mention
.... I went to
Sunday School .... I taught in Sunday School .... Hey! I'm the
minister!
The Bible says,
'For all have sinned and fall short of God's Glory'
Romans 3.23
Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to
the Father
except through me'! John 14:6
'For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our
Lord' Romans 6:23.
'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' Romans
10:13
A real and personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to
the Father!
I'm so glad that I'm able to get tickets as part of a package for the
work I do - cause
they cost big!!! BUT SALVATION IS FREE! A gift from God, free to all
who ask!
A ticket in your heart with the name Jesus printed on it. The cost -
giving yourself to
the Saviour who freely gave His life for you.
There is only one way to the King. Take a close look at your life. If
you are not a
Christian and have not accepted Christ and asked forgiveness of your
sins, I pray
that you accept Him soon.
Salvation is free but can only comes through Jesus. Salvation is
yours for the
asking. All you need do is turn away from your sins and turn to
Christ! His love for
us knows no end.
Revelation 3:20 reads, 'Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears
my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him, and he
with me.'
Maybe you'd like to pray this prayer
Dear Lord Jesus.
I know that I am a sinner but I believe that you died for my sins.
Right now I turn
away from my sins and open the door of my heart and my life to you. I
receive you
as my personal saviour and Lord. Thank you for saving me. Amen!
If you prayed that prayer then get in touch with us
info@kingsbridgeministries.org
I'll send you some free helpful literature so that you may find out
more about Jesus.
God bless you and help you grow as a Christian.
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