Dear folks,

As I write it’s countdown time for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the biggest sporting event in the world. World Cup football is a worldwide, multi-cultural phenomenon, bringing together nations as diverse as Algeria and Argentina; the Netherlands and Nigeria.

In 1998 I was living in France when they hosted the World Cup – and in fact won the final, beating Brazil 3-0. I was playing jazz in a bar on the night of that match, but our music was almost drowned out by the sound of people hooting car horns and celebrating in the streets outside!

World Cup football. There’s nothing quite like it to bring people together. Or is there…?

In the Book of Revelation, John describes his vision of ‘a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, from all tribes, peoples and languages...’ (7:9)

What were they doing? Watching England getting beaten, or Zidane head-butt Materazzi? No, they were ‘standing before the throne and before the Lamb…they cried out in a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’’(7:9-10)

Those who gather to worship God are even more diverse and greater in number than those who will be gathering in South Africa or crowding round their TV sets this month. What a privilege it is to be part of the greatest worldwide phenomenon of all, God’s family, the Church. Let’s celebrate!

Yours,

Dan