2021 Sunrises
January '21 Sunrises
'WYSIWYG' - 30/01/21
Working from home during this last year has been an interesting experience. Lots of people are having to juggle between their job, their family or their pets. I have been in conference calls discussing a topic and then someone’s dog starts barking or the children come into the room and starting asking Mum or Dad about something. You may have seen some of the times it’s happened on TV news shows with an interview in mid-flow then you see the door open behind them. Then carefully watching the top of a head moving around behind the guest, with the other parent trying to encourage the child out of the room so as not to interrupt the interview.
The best interruption I have heard so far has been when a colleague yelped and then declaring that his tortoise had just bitten his toe!!
It has been interesting dealing with colleagues much more as people, accepting the interruptions and letting them sort out whatever issue has happened. Hearing the change of voice as someone speaks as a parent and then returns to a meeting to become the project manager. My own kids have commented that I have a work “voice” when they overhear me in a meeting.
It reminds me that whilst we have different roles to be in our lives and we may do them differently, we should also be consistent in how we deal with people. I recall many years ago, a version of Microsoft Office came with something called “WYSIWYG”, What You See Is What You Get.
It is sometimes said that Scousers often behave that way!
It is important how we treat other people and that we should be honest in how we deal with them, just as we would want them to be honest in how they deal with us.
This is how Jesus was talking to the disciples about how to behave, in Matthew 7v12
'Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behaviour: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.
Lets treat others with the love and respect that we would want to receive, this will also encourage others to behave in the same way.'
'Sandcastles' - 29/01/21
During the first lockdown; or was it the second? Maybe it was the third… I’ve lost count of where we are up to. Anyway… during one of the lockdowns, when the weather was better than it is now, I spent some time at the beach with two of my grandchildren.
As well as searching for pretty shells and feathers, splashing in the waves and trying to catch the tiny fish that inhabit the small pools left behind by the outgoing tide, we built sandcastles.
Depending upon which grandchild was involved in the construction, the castles varied in design from huge mounds of sand that could be stamped upon and inhabited by a two-year-old, or grand turreted princess castles with moats and towers suitable for the imagination of a five-year-old. The shells and feathers previously collected were used to decorate whatever was built and the castle was bid a fond farewell at the end of the day when the time came to return home.
Of course, if we chose to return to the beach the next day, what was left of the sandcastle resembled something overrun by the barbarian hordes. No matter the fortifications, the waters of the Irish Sea had rendered our previous day’s work useless.
It reminded me that every day is a new day. Every day we start again. Every day, God wakes us up and offers us the chance to build a new sandcastle.
The sandcastle is of course figurative. Most of us don’t get the chance to build sandcastles, but we do get the chance to build something with every new day. The most important thing we can build is a relationship. That relationship may be an existing one that needs constant care and attention, or we may be blessed with the chance to create a new one with somebody we have just met.
Either way, God presents us with the opportunity. Just like He daily provided manna from heaven to sustain the Israelites as they wandered the wilderness, He provides us with what we need on a daily basis.
The provision of manna was not simply a much needed sustenance, it was a reminder that God is our provider. It was a reminder that God wants a relationship with us, every day. A reminder that the first relationship we need to cultivate is the one we have with God. Jesus himself always made time to be with His father, “After sending the disciples home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray”. We too need to take a little quiet time to maintain our relationship with God, “Be still, and know that I am God”. By taking that step to know Him better, He will refresh us and remind us that He has all things in His control, “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.
Positive Peace - 28/01/21
“But as long as we think positively, I’m sure a solution will appear”.
Jonas Jonasson, The Hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared.
This book is the story of a man called Jonas Jonasson. He has led a colourful life, but at one hundred, finds himself in a nursing home. He decides not to stay, but to climb out of the window, get on a bus and travel as far as he can with the small amount of money he has, and have adventures.
This story is about a very optimistic person who refuses to accept what society believes 100 year old men should be doing. He wants to experience life as an adventure. Jonas refusal to worry about things gave him a carefree freedom to really enjoy his experiences and have some amazing ones!
Its very hard to imagine a life without worry isn’t it. The world is very good at telling us all the things we should worry about. Coronavirus has given us a whole new set of fears and things to be concerned about. And it is of course right and proper to consider everything carefully and do everything appropriate to keep ourselves and others safe.
God knows that we worry. He knows when we are afraid, and he deeply cares for us. We know that he doesn’t want us to worry, because he repeats this message over and over again in the bible. Words like ‘do not fear’, ‘don’t be afraid’ and ‘do not worry’ appear 365 times in the bible. One reminder for every day of the year.
One of these verses is Philippians4:6-7
'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'
God’s alternative to worry is to talk to Him about it. God loves it when we talk to Him. He is there for us at any time, day or night, When we give our worries over to God, He replaces the worry with His love and peace and the knowledge, that whatever the challenge, He is with us, and He has overcome the world.
Whilst we might not be climbing out of nursing home windows today, whatever adventures we face, remember we don’t have to do this alone, God is there, just talk to Him.
'I Don't Understand Physics' - 27/01/21
‘Oh Lord my God,
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works
Thy hands hath made.
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed’
My office at present, is my windowsill in my bedroom. My chicks are dotted around the house either working or studying. All looking at screens and listening to remote voices. Each day, when I’m not going out to the shops or to deliver something, I retreat to my bedroom, sitting at the end of my bed, to make my phone calls, write, plan, prepare and anything else my work requires. Earlier yesterday afternoon, there I was deep in thought when one of my chicks appeared at the door. ‘Mum, do you want to know how 3D glasses work?’ ‘Er, no’, was my reply. She walked over to my bed and settled herself down. I knew then I was about to receive a physics lesson. I tried hard to concentrate on what I was doing, all the while very aware that she was still there and wasn’t moving until I agreed to listen to her. ‘Ok, tell me how 3D glasses work!’ She smiled and instantly became animated, ‘So!....’ And off we went. I listened intently, trying hard to understand what she was explaining to me, but what struck me the most was the sheer delight she displayed in the subject. She was fascinated, and fascinating! I’m not a scientist. Give me people and words and music and art. Ask me for ideas and thoughts! But don’t ask me about the Periodic Table or how sound and light waves work!
But! That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate how incredible science is. How every day of our lives we are surrounded by and blessed by ‘science’! The medicines we take. The satellites that provide us with instant communication. The cars we drive. The trees and plants growing all around us, just doing their thing! The Animal Kingdom! The vaccine recently created to fight off our invisible enemy. Our solar system!! And these incredible, complex ‘machines’ called ‘the human body’. Every person created with gifts and skills and value. Whether you call it biology, physics, chemistry, science, nature or something else, our world is absolutely incredible!!
The Bible is full of people expressing their awe of creation, David wrote,
‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands’.
Below is a link to a very beautiful song, here performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
Maybe take a few moments out of your day to recall the wonders of space, the beauty of our world, the gifts each person is blessed with and then say with immense gratitude, ‘My God, how great thou art’.
'Prince or Pauper?' - 26/01/21
How can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favour some people over others?
James Ch2 v1
A few years ago, the following story went viral on social media:
Pastor Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced to as the head pastor that morning. He walked around his soon-to-be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for the service. Only 3 people said hello to him. He went into the sanctuary to sit down at the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit at the back. He greeted people only to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.
He sat at the back of the church, listening to the notices and then the church elders got up to excitedly announce the arrival of the new pastor – the congregation looked around and clapped with joy and anticipation and then the homeless man sitting at the back began to walk down the aisle. The clapping faded as they stared in shock as the man they had snubbed now took the microphone and quoted from Matthew 25: “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me …. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
This event didn’t actually happen, it was just a story, a kind of modern day parable that was written by someone who wanted to express how he had felt shunned and ignored when visiting churches. The story spread quickly and people began to share how it resonated with their own experience or how it had caused them to re-evaluate their own behaviour and prejudices.
We are all guilty at times of making a judgement based on how someone may look. It might be how they dress and present themselves or it could be based on their gender, sexuality or colour. But in God’s eyes we are all equal with no one favoured above anyone else. God has given us the very simple but challenging instruction to “love your neighbour as yourself”.
We are part of a wonderfully warm and welcoming community but our love must be expressed not just within our community but also outside of it. Who might your ‘neighbour’ be today? As we come into contact with those around us, let’s not just see with our own eyes, but go beyond that and see them through the loving eyes of our father God who shows no favouritism.
'Thanks For The Memory' - 25/01/21
There are many ways my computer annoys me; it’s dozy, it switches off in the middle of my work, I delete my unwanted emails and next day they’re all back again, and many other aggravations. This monster appears to have a mind of its own and insists on doing its own thing. But there is one activity that it performs unprompted that I usually appreciate. It sends me a message that tells me it has found some photos taken x years ago this week. It doesn’t matter how busy I am, I have to take a look. A family day out in January 2016; wow, all my grandkids as they were five years ago! There’s the car before I dented it, and there a picture of Louis seven years ago in someone’s arms; that doesn’t happen now, nobody can pick him up. And I smile and thank God (and Google) for the memory. It can be quite emotional as you look back, and sometimes you wish that the photos had been taken last week. Then up comes a picture that stops you in your tracks because it’s both lovely and sad. It’s an image of someone or something that’s not around anymore; a person who was close to you and you wish they still were, or a favourite pet who gave the impression that it loved you more than any human did. Just in that moment you have mixed feelings about Google.
Memories can be very powerful and we find it easy to thank God for our happy days and the possibility that we can repeat them when Covid is defeated. But some happy days can never come back. For Christians it’s possible to thank God that the event happened and that we have the memory, but we can also thank God that we can look forward to better days in a better place. Solomon wrote, ‘When things are going well for you, be glad, and when trouble comes, just remember, God sends both happiness and trouble, you never know what is going to happen next.’ With Covid around, we are all aware that our future is unpredictable, but Solomon tells us that each day is in God’s hands.
Let’s all thank God for our happy days in the past (let’s remember that many people only have sad memories), and let’s trust Him for more happy memories in the future.
'Empty Cupboards' - 24/01/21
In the run up to Christmas, we always run out of room in our kitchen cupboards, so the garage starts doubling up as an extra kitchen. When I bring the Christmas food shop home, there always follows another round of cupboard Jenga to fit stuff in. Even as I write these words, I realise how fortunate we are to have full cupboards; so full that there is no room in them for more stuff. When it comes to my prayer life, however, full cupboards are not necessarily a good idea.
In Celtic Prayer we are still looking at the hymn ‘Be Thou My Vision’ and todays line was: “Be thou my might”. We all have battles each day to face and so often we go into the day trusting in our own energy, wisdom or power to handle them. Martin Luther wrote: “God made the world out of nothing and it is only when we become nothing, that God can make anything of us.”
A friend of mine put it like this: “I just know I always have empty cupboards and isn’t that a wonderful place to start each day?”.
In Luke 11 Jesus gives us the Lords prayer:
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
Before we tackle whatever lies ahead of us today, do we need to empty our cupboards, admit that we cannot do it alone and trust in one who is our Father Almighty?
'Different But Together' - 23/01/21
In this week, we have heard stories of encouragement, vaccinations are progressing, people are helping others with shopping and caring for each other. There are also stories of some being less encouraging, not staying safe, being selfish, the pressure on hospitals. The new US president starting his job, not doing it for himself but for everyone else, seeking unity and wanting to avoid disunion between reds and blues (that sounds a familiar story!)
We don’t all get it right, ask my wife how often I get it wrong! But we do need to work together. We don’t always agree, but we should not fall out. It’s a trait which many of us need to learn and keep learning.
One aspect of this lockdown, is that we all handle it differently. We all have different home situations, different family environments, different pressures. All these things can affect how we behave now. We all have our own baggage that we bring with us. Whilst we can’t always just let go of the events that we carry, we can try to reduce their influence on how we deal with now. We should also acknowledge that the people we meet will be carrying their own baggage also.
This is how people have behaved for centuries, we are still learning and we need to keep learning. In the early church, they encouraged in the book of Romans Chapter 14;
"Give a warm welcome to any brother who wants to join you. Don’t criticize him for having different ideas from yours about what is right and wrong. They are God’s servants, not yours. They are responsible to him, not to you. Let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. And God is able to make them do as they should".
Lets remember, we are all different but we can still be friends. We all have different pressures and situations, but we can still support each other. Lets engage with our differences, enjoy them but remember, we are all God’s children he knows and loves us for who we are, so we can too.
'Light' - 22/01/21
I have never really been a fan of poetry; although I like things that are expressed poetically, but on Wednesday, along with millions of others, I sat transfixed as a young woman from Los Angeles delivered a poem at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. For the few minutes that she stood in the biting cold of a January afternoon in Washington, offering a message of hope to a country currently bitterly divided, I was completely mesmerised. Her words perfectly captured this moment in history. She articulated the difficulties faced by a nation polarised by dogma, yet she offered the hope of meaningful change.
Twenty-two year old Amanda Gorman is the National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. Like her newly inaugurated president, she has suffered for years with a speech impediment, yet she stepped up before the world and delivered a perfect rendition of her poem; never faltering, never missing a beat and leaving any who chose to hear her words with a hope that change and healing is indeed possible.
The closing lines of her poem ring true not only for America, but for us all;
“For there is always light; if only we are brave enough to see it; if only we are brave enough to be it”.
As Christians, we have identified that light. It is Jesus Christ. In case there be any doubt, Jesus himself states very clearly, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Being brave enough to see the light simply means setting aside the things that might cloud our vision and remaining true to what we know to be the truth, but Jesus also challenges us to be the light; “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.
By being the light, we achieve much more than simply doing good deeds for others. We point people towards the source of the light. We acknowledge that the light does not come from us, but from God. He is what compels us to share the light, He is the source of all good things, He is our guide and comforter. He is with us now and has been with us always, lighting our way through whatever darkness we find ourselves in. He will continue to walk with us; to be our hope; always - “For there is always light”.
'Courage' - 21/01/21
‘Real Courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin it anyway and see it through no matter what.’
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird.
To kill a mockingbird is a fictional story set in 1930’s America, when a black man (Tom) is wrongly accused and stands trial for the rape of a white woman. Although innocent, because of the racial tensions and segregation, he is convicted, and the white people who support him are shunned by the townspeople.
This is truly a story of people fighting against all the odds. Standing up for someone who has no rights, even though the chances of success were extremely slim, is very courageous indeed. It draws desperately sad parallels with the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests in 2020, and the fight for racial equality that continues today.
In the bible, Moses started his journey to freedom with very similar chances of success when God gave him a seemingly impossible task. In Exodus 3:7 and 10, God says this to Moses:
The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Now Moses, realising how impossible this task seemed (Pharaoh was not just going to let his slaves go free!), tried everything to get out of this task, but in the end, he followed God and through Gods strength and power the Israelites were freed from their slavery.
A seemingly impossible task, but nothing is impossible with God.
Throughout the bible, God champions the cause of the poor, the wrongfully treated, and the marginalised.
Throughout history, Christians have followed the example of their loving God and stood up for causes which at the beginning, must have seemed hopeless, but ended up changing the world for the better.
William Wilberforce, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela are just a few people whose faith inspired them to stand up and campaign for Justice and for those who could not fight for themselves.
Sometimes it can feel like a seemingly impossible task to stand up for what is right; to make a difference in a world that may not want to listen. But today, be courageous, be inspired by Gods love, and be the person who makes a difference. With Gods help we can all have courage like that in To Kill a mockingbird.
'Hungry Like the Wolf' - 20/01/21
‘Seems like all I could see was the struggle,
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past...’
Redeemed - Written and performed by Big Daddy Weave
A grandad once sat down with his young grandson and told him a short story. “Y’know, I have two wolves inside of me and they are fighting each other. One wolf represents greed, anger, unforgiveness, impatience, hatred... The other one represents kindness, gentleness, forgiveness, patience, love…“ The young boy looked at him intently, “Grandad, which wolf is going to win?” His grandad’s answer was short and full of wisdom, “The one I feed is the one that will win”.
Our thoughts and feelings can sometimes become overwhelming. Some days we can have irrational fears, and another day we can have huge regrets. Some of us may live and breathe anger from the moment we wake up each morning. And maybe there is an argument that we had with somebody, possibly years ago, that still plays on our mind and continues to cause negative thoughts and feelings.
Putting it quite simply, we become what we dwell on the most.
That grandad was wise and gave his young grandson a valuable life lesson about feeding wolves!
Paul in the Bible, knew all about negative thoughts. He had once lived with enormous hatred and anger and resentment. Jesus helped him not just turn his thoughts around, but his whole life around. Paul wrote these words,
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”.
Paul achieved more in the years of right thinking than he ever did in the years when his mind was filled with anger and hatred and unforgiveness.
Life is so very short, let’s recognise the wolves inside of us and make sure we feed the right one. Let’s make every day the very best we can.
'Make a U-Turn When Possible' - 19/01/21
Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise you are only fooling yourselves.
James Ch1 v22
Many years ago when I took my driving test there was a section of the test that required you to know your Highway Code. When I say you had to know your Highway Code, I really mean that you had to familiarise yourself with it – just enough so that the driving examiner could wave a few flashcards at you and you could tell them what you thought they meant. How times have changed! When my daughter took her driving test, she had to do a separate theory test before they would even allow her to take her practical test. She had to study the Highway Code in quite some detail before sitting her test. While revising she would often ask me what various signs meant and to my shame I often couldn’t tell her the answer!
To have access to the Highway Code but not understand it or follow the instructions makes it a fairly useless tool and potentially puts the driver and those around them in harm’s way. I could study and know my Highway Code inside out but if I then actively choose to ignore the rules of the road, what’s the point? It exists for my benefit and for the benefit of those around me but I need to put it into action.
In the same way, if we read or hear God’s word and then choose to do nothing with that – what has been the point? Nothing has changed. We need to listen for God’s voice whether that is through the Bible or through those he has placed around us and then we need to do what it says – then everything can change.
I am hopeless when it comes to directions and depend quite heavily on my trusty SatNav. She works very hard at finding the best way for me to go, mapping the journey out and calling out timely instructions to me. If I take a wrong turn she calmly advises me to make a U-turn when possible or finds another route to the same destination. It is pointless if I enter the postcode for my destination but then refuse to follow the instructions – who knows where I would end up! I need to listen for her voice, follow the advice she gives and trust that she understands the map much better than I do. In God’s own words “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord, “plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”. Let’s listen out for God’s voice and then let’s follow his instruction, after all, he’s the one holding the map.
'Such a Little Space' - 18/01/21
The average human brain is about six inches long (Einstein’s was slightly smaller but bits of it were bigger than average), but look what it can do. We are currently witnessing the battle between Covid-19 and science and it looks like science may win, watch this space. We have satellites 200 miles above the earth yelling at me if I miss my roundabout exit; we have nuclear energy and we get power from wind and waves. Scientists know what’s at the bottom of the ocean and under the icecap. You can add to this list many more examples of how mankind has used this astonishing piece of equipment tucked away in our heads. Go on Google and look at buildings around the world; if you’re like me you will be constantly stunned at what goes on inside our skulls. Have you noticed how many quiz programmes there are on TV? We started counting and reached 15; such a need for knowledge! We even have two Melling quizzes each week. And there’s no escape for young people today, despite Covid they study online at home, and many parents are having to dust off their mental cobwebs to involve themselves in home schooling. Our children know so much more than their parents did at the same age. Don’t mention grandparents!
But sometimes we can see gaps in people’s education; there’s often a lack of respect and manners when shopping, a definite lack of verbal restraint at sports events, and if there’s a Bible question in one of the many quizzes, the almost total lack of knowledge is sometimes shocking to us. The Bible says a lot about wisdom and knowledge, it tells us to, ‘Respect and obey the Lord! This is the beginning of knowledge.’ The most important lesson in life that we can learn is that God should be our teacher. And we should pay attention. We all know don’t we that while knowledge can be a good thing, it can be damaging to a person and there’s something more important than cleverness, ‘Knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others.’ While knowledge is great if handled properly, we should always have a sense of perspective, God says to us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Let’s see if we can squeeze into our little brains the truth that God’s is bigger.
'Everywhere' - 17/01/21
There is a Fleetwood Mac song called ‘Everywhere’. The lyrics are a little repetitive and seem to say “I want to be with you everywhere” rather a lot; you could even say that the writer is being a little obsessive !
In Celtic Prayer there is a lot of stress on God being with us in the ordinary. Another line from the Hymn ‘Be thou my vision’ is this: “I ever with thee and Thou with me Lord…”. Whether we want Him or not, Jesus is with us. However, that is not enough. He wants us to be with Him, to notice Him, to invite Him into our ordinary spaces, the dinner table, the washing up, our lockdown walks, our everyday chats. In the New Testament we read of Jesus often turning up in unexpected places and ways. If we do not see Jesus, is it because we are not expecting to? Maybe we need to go back to our Christmas readings as a reminder.
Matthew 1 verse 23:
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When He is with us, the common, every day ordinary stuff of life is given great significance simply because He is there…even in lockdown.
'Bring Me Sunshine' - 16/01/21
The news can often be a bit depressing, can’t it! When we spend time relaxing, we may try to be uplifted by documentaries about how people overcame something in their lives, or try to distract ourselves watching something fictional, a romantic drama or a murder mystery or an action film. Sometimes , and I think more so lately, the news try to provide uplifting news stories to encourage us and spur us into action. Recently, there have been a few key stories of people shared to encourage us, Sir Captain Tom probably the biggest. Mostly, these people are not doing these things to make news or to grab attention and be on the telly, they simply decided to do something positive to help others. It was not selfish or motivated by greed or desire, just to help someone else.
It is very often the case, that when you do something uplifting for others it helps you feel good too. Laughter can be infectious, a smile can be infectious, kindness can be infectious, love can be infectious.
I have long been a fan of Laurel and Hardy, and their friendship went through troubles on and off screen. But they remained friends through it all. They brought laughter to each other and to others. There are some scenes where Stan will start to laugh and it becomes infectious to the whole group.
Morecambe and Wise are known for their song,
Bring me sunshine
In your smile
Bring me laughter
All the while
In this world where we live
There should be more happiness
So much joy you can give
To each brand new bright tomorrow
During these times when we are fed up with the news, fed up with people greedy for power or self promotion, when we hear talk on the TV of how the virus is impacting our families, friends, communities; think of how we can be a positive infection, can we be a positive distraction for someone else.
The bible encourages us to love each other in the same way that Jesus loves us. In Romans 15, the Christians were given this message:
'Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status.' Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”
That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out.
So let’s help each other out, put a smile on each other’s face. I always finish a MBCH zoom call with a smile on my face, let’s see how infectious we can be with our love for each other and a smile.
'Building' - 15/01/21
We are living in strange and uncertain times. The Coronavirus pandemic shows no sign of abating and the virus has changed its behaviour; which means that we must change ours if we are to remain safe. We are getting used to making adjustments. We have modified how we do almost everything in order to adjust to our new circumstances. We are adept at wearing masks, keeping our distance, washing our hands and interacting virtually. We have made the required changes to conform to the revised standards of our society.
But, I’m going to suggest that we have done more than that… much more. Here in Melling, we have built a community. Now, that is not to suggest that a community didn’t already exist – after all, you are reading this message on the Melling Baptist Community Hub website; the clue is in the title! What we have done is to build upon the foundations that existed. We have changed our behaviour to adjust to the situation we found ourselves in and adapted and expanded our community to ensure that none of its existing members were left behind and that we remained open to any who might wish to find a home within our ranks. It is, I believe, a model to which any society should aspire and you can be proud of whatever part you have played in its development.
We are not the first. The early Christian church was very similar. We read in the book of Acts how this group of like-minded believers built their community. The book of Acts is more properly called the book of The Acts of the Apostles. It tells of what they did; what actions they took. It speaks of how they built the early Christian church, but it doesn’t speak of bricks and mortar, it speaks of community. They too lived in strange and uncertain times. They too had witnessed an event that would change their world forever. They too needed to adjust their behaviour to address this new reality. The event they witnessed brought about the greatest change to society that the world has ever seen – you need only to look at your calendar to realise that this was the event from which all human history is now measured.
What did they do to cope with it all? They built upon their existing foundations whilst embracing the change. They ensured that nobody was left behind and newcomers were welcomed. They looked after each other. They cared for one another. They looked first to God for guidance and they lived out Jesus’ teachings to love God and their neighbours.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
They built a community. Today we call it a church.
'Choose Happiness' - 14/01/21
‘I would always rather be Happy than Dignified’
Jane Eyre, from the book Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre is the story of a woman’s journey through life, dealing with struggles in a 19th century society that insists that women behave in a certain way. In fact, the author Charlotte Bronte originally published the book under a male pseudonym, as writing was not one of the professions deemed suitable for a woman!This quote reminds me of a man running. This may seem strange, but in the bible, Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son. The son takes his inheritance and heads for the high life, but his father, deeply shamed by this, still waits and watched for his son to return. When his son finally comes home, in a mess, with his money and friends gone, to beg his father’s forgiveness, his father responds in this way, in Luke 15:20
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."
Now in Jewish Society, older men did not run. It was considered undignified, and not appropriate for older men to run in public. It would have brought shame on the family, and the neighbours would have talked. The father in this story didn’t care about that. He chose to love his son above all, despite all that he had done, he was just so happy to have him home.
Jane Eyre cared more about her happiness than following social convention, just like the father in the prodigal son. Jesus explained that God is just like this father, he would choose love over dignity every time so that we could get to know him better. Jesus died an undignified brutal death so that we could have a way back to God. He chose love and happiness over dignity as well.
We may also have done some pretty daft things this year for love or happiness. We may have sat in five layers of clothing in a cold garden or park to see our friends. We may have chosen to go for rain walks to see family rather than sat inside with a nice cup of tea, something we wouldn’t have dreamt of doing a year ago!
So, let’s choose love and happiness first, and follow the example of Jane Eyre, the father of the prodigal son, and God himself, lets love each other and God, and not worry too much about being dignified!
'You Can Count on Me' - 13/01/21
The wonderful upbeat song, ‘Count on Me’ by Bruno Mars, is full of encouragement and promises to ‘his friends’ that in the most difficult of times he will be there for them. ‘You can count on me, like one, two, three, I’ll be there.....coz that’s what friends are supposed to do....’ And he goes on to stress that he can count on them to do exactly the same for him. It’s a lovely, positive song that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy!! But can we really sing those words and mean them? Can we really be counted on to ‘be there’ to encourage and support? Or can we be counted on to not encourage, to complain, to always find fault?.....
I once knew somebody who I could count on to criticise pretty much everything I said and did. Not once would I get a call from them to just ask me how I was, or to give me a tiny word of encouragement. But I would get phone calls and knocks on the door to criticise the way I’d said something, with instructions for what I should do next time. Their ‘need’ to continually tell me how I’d got it wrong was really hard work.
We all make mistakes. I make many! And we all need encouragement and to know who is there for us.
At this particular time there’s a lot of mixed emotions! Laughter and fun, chaos and noise, loneliness and deafening silence, anxiety and stress, short tempers and boredom, irrational behaviour and definitely heightened frustrations. Each day brings its own set of challenges to each one of us. How are we going to respond to eachother? We all have our bad days, that’s when we need to know we can count on others to encourage, support and be a friend.
The Bible has heaps to say about how we should treat one another, ‘bear one another’s burdens’, ‘encourage eachother’, ‘rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep’, ‘do for others as you would have them do for you’......
How amazing it would be if we can all allow for each others mistakes and encourage eachother with kind words, forgiveness, support and understanding. And let’s thank God that despite our mistakes and bad moods and frustrations, each and every day He says, ‘You can count on me, I’ll be there for you’.
I'm All Ears - 12/01/21
You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
James Ch1 v19-20
How many times have you been having a discussion with someone and you’ve heard yourself say something that you immediately regret? Please tell me it’s not just me that’s done that! The livelier the debate the more likely we are to start saying things that are perhaps unfounded or even just plain mean and even if we regret our words immediately, they’ve still been said and those words can live long in the memory of those who heard them.
When James wrote this advice you could argue that life was somewhat simpler – he was talking about those physical interac
tions that we have with one another. The conversations that were shared in person which, on occasions, could lead to disagreement and cruel words being said. Bring that up to the present day and you have to include those things that are said on social media, text messages or even phone conversations. All of a sudden we are given a voice without the need to look anyone in the eye when we speak - we can’t see the misunderstanding we have created or the hurt we have caused. We suddenly find ourselves with a voice that doesn’t need to pause to hear a reply and sometimes this can be used to purposely incite hurt and pain. Ask the many teenagers who have been on the receiving end of cyberbullying or watch the news to discover how a relentless voice can be given undeserved authority to incite anger in others.
How valuable a lesson it is to learn how to pause before we speak and pause before we press ‘send’. Have we stopped to listen – and not just listen, but to understand the opinions and views of those around us? Will our words improve someone’s day?
Ghandi put it like this, “Speak only if it improves upon the silence”. In other words if you’ve paused and thought about you words and feel that they still need saying, then that is the time to speak. There are injustices that sometimes require our anger in order to change things for good but that should never be a heated anger driven by the need to prove ourselves right, but only ever a measured anger to speak out against injustice and for those that cannot speak for themselves.
Let’s set our children and grandchildren an example – not one that says we all have the right to have our say regardless of hurt or consequences, but one that asks: is this kind? Is this helpful? Is this the justice that God desires?
Planting Trees - 11/01/21
Let me introduce you to Jadav Payeng. He lives in Assam, India. The discovery of dead snakes on the sandy banks of the Brahmaputra River’s Majuli Island transformed his life and the island. In 1979 when he was 16, as he walked along the island’s barren soil, he came across a number of snakes that had died there. He realised why they were there and why they died. In the recent floods these snakes had been washed up onto the neglected coastline and had died in the heat of the day due to the lack of shade on the island. He was very moved by their suffering and death and at the age of 16 he decided to dedicate his life to transforming this river island. How would you do this? Maybe apply for a grant from the local authority or start a fundraising campaign on Twitter? The local authority had ‘better’ things to do and Twitter didn’t exist in 1979. We’ve been thinking about making resolutions in recent days haven’t we, but I don’t think we would have gone along with Jadav’s decision. His master plan was to plant a sapling in the sandy soil every day. I know what you’re thinking; ‘That’s not going to make much difference to the land or the snakes.’ Wrong!!! Today after forty years of planting every day, there is a lush 550 hectare woodland. But more than that, it attracts elephants, rhinos, deer, vultures, Bengal tigers, and of course, snakes. Jadav says he didn’t do it all alone, he explained that, ”If you plant a few trees they eventually seed and the wind knows how to plant them and the birds know where to sow them.” He is now known as The Forest Man of India.
What’s this got to do with us in Melling? Surely it tells us that great things can start tiny, remember little acorns and big oak trees! The Bible is full of examples of individuals who achieved amazing things. Noah built an ark, Abraham started a nation, Moses led two million people to safety and Jesus has transformed the lives and futures of thousands of millions across the world. We are only a small group of people but we are planting with God’s help. Let’s believe that we can achieve great things if we imitate the birds and the wind in India and all make a contribution.
Jesus told His followers, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Let’s continue planting trees in Melling and give God the glory.
What are You Thinking About? - 10/1/21
Every 4 years in January, Celtic Prayer will focus on the words of the hymn, ’Be Thou My Vision’. One of the lines in the first verse of that hymn is:” Thou my best thought…”
When we wake up in the morning (and often in the night) our first thoughts can be a complete jumble of worries, questions, to do lists, guilt, sadness, joy and even anger. Amund Karner wrote that when we turn our thoughts to Christ, “ it is as if the conductor takes his place at the rostrum: all the discordant sound, the tuning up & fidgeting, turns to silence;& then a melody, a full bodied score in many parts comes & replaces the chaos and confusion.”
Somehow, God is able to put all the messed up, muddled up thoughts into their rightful place. The mountains can become molehills again. Perspective returns. Hope peers over the windowsill and into our mind.
Philippians 4 , verses 6-9 puts it like this: “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.
Be thou my best thought in the day and the night
Waking or sleeping
Thy presence my light.
Powerless... or are we? - 9/1/21
Our current situation can sometimes bring us to feeling powerless to deal with what is happening around us. The pandemic is happening all around the world and we are having to live through many restrictions on what we can do and who we can see. The transition of power in the USA has seen unprecedented scenes this week with many anxious about what may happen in the coming weeks. Sometimes the events unfolding around us can feel overwhelming; the depth of what is happening can sometimes feel enormous; we don’t feel we have the ability to deal with the emotions or actions of those around us. Sometimes, these things are not something we can easily do anything about and we can focus on what we can do.
We can all do something if we focus on the areas we can affect. It’s our actions that we can control, it’s our response that we can control, we can affect or impact those around us that we can reach out to.
There is a story I often recall about a boy walking along a beach where thousands of starfish had been washed up during a storm. As the boy walked, he would pause to pick up a starfish to throw it back into the sea. A man approached and asked, “What are you doing? There are thousands of starfish washed up! You can’t save them all”. The boy picked up another single starfish, looked at the man and replied, “Well, I made a difference for that one!”
The actions we take can influence those around us, even if it is only with a few people, “receive an act of kindness, pass it on”. There will have been many people in our lives who have had positive influence on our lives and how we behave. We may not remember their name, but we remember the act, we remember the kindness.
The early church believers needed encouragement and the Christian Jews were sent these words of encouragement in Hebrews 10v24-25
"Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more"
As we continue our journey in the coming weeks, lets remember that the simple acts of kindness and love that we can offer to others may seem a small thing to us, but to those who receive it, it can mean the world. Don’t feel overwhelmed, there are individuals around you who are ready to help.
Today - 8/1/21
So, the first week of 2021 is behind us. How are your New Year’s resolutions coming along? I can honestly say that I have never broken a New Year’s resolution. How can I be so confident in that assertion? Well, quite simply, because I have never made one. I don’t see the point.
From what I can tell, every New Year’s resolution is an attempt to improve ourselves. An attempt to lose weight, or take more exercise, or be more patient with people, or eat more healthily, or drink less alcohol, or to make more time for others etc. etc. In short, an attempt to be a better person.
If that’s the case, then why do we wait for New Year’s day? Surely we want to be a better person now! Why wait for some arbitrary date to get our act together? How many people do you know who fail to maintain their annual good intentions within a few weeks of January 1st and therefore give up, because it was a New Year's resolution, so it doesn’t count now that February has arrived? What will they do now? Presumably wait eleven months and give it another go.
Now if you are reading this on the 8th January having already eaten the chocolate you promised to forgo back on New Year’s Day, don’t feel bad. This little missive is not intended to make you feel guilty. It’s intended to point out the folly of pinning everything on one attempt and to suggest that you have a second chance. Okay, so today you didn’t stick to the energy bars and whey protein shakes and you sneaked in a round of toast. Tomorrow you can start again!
The trick is to be honest with ourselves. No matter what the date is, today is the day that we can make a change for the better. Today is the day that we can do the thing that we feel we should do, or stop doing the thing that we know we shouldn’t. If you know the right thing to do, then do it. It doesn’t matter that you meant to do it yesterday, but didn’t get round to it. Do it today.
Every day is a new day. Every day we are faced with an opportunity to do better. Every day we have a God who offers us a second chance. A God who is happy to forgive our shortcomings of yesterday. A God who offers us a fresh start today. Let’s take Him up on the offer and start again.
Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Small Acts - 7/1/21
‘Some believe that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love’.
Gandalf, The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
This quote from the hobbit is a wonderful reminder that each one of us has a part to play in supporting and loving one another, and how important that is.
In the book The Hobbit, these words are spoken by the wizard Gandalf just before he, a hobbit and a company of 13 dwarves are setting off to embark on a great journey to slay a dragon and claim back a mountain which is the homeland of the dwarves. It’s a huge endeavour. But despite all the adventures that happen in this book, what enables them to succeed in their quest is how the group of adventurers love each other and take care of each other. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t have got very far at all. The small everyday acts of love and kindness was what kept hope alive, and enabled the group to persevere, and complete the task set ahead of them.
Now it is unlikely that we will be asked to slay a dragon today, but we are at the beginning of another national lockdown. The world around us can indeed seem very dark at the moment. The road towards the lifting of restrictions can seem a long way off. But we can all give each other hope, by loving each other, caring for each other, looking out for each other. A phone call, a smile, a caring text, a bag of shopping are all ordinary everyday things, but they can mean such a lot to people.
Jesus knew how important it was to love and support one another. He often spoke to his disciples about this. In John 13:34-35, during the last supper, the last meal he had before he was arrested, Jesus said “Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”
So, whatever we are doing today, lets love each other with simple ordinary acts of kindness, and keep the darkness at bay.
Mother Teresa puts it like this ‘not all of us can do great things, but we can all do small things with great love’.
In Good Times and Bad- 6/1/21
I love a lot of styles of music. I’ve mentioned before about our lively, noisy household with music coming from every corner. But when it comes to songs that instantly make me want to get up and dance, that’s quite a specific selection! One such song is ‘Islands in the Stream’, the hit single for Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers in 1982. The song is a catchy, love song with a country feel! Clearly written by seasoned country singers! WRONG! It was actually written by the BeeGees. Up until 1979 the BeeGees were hugely popular across the States. It would seem that things couldn’t get better for them...but they could get worse! Due to a turn of events in 1979, disco music became the music to despise, and the BeeGees became caught up in a national ‘disco revolt’ which resulted in none of their music being played on radio stations. Their success was coming to an end in quite a cruel, deliberate way. After a few years of having no music and few loyal fans, they were approached and asked about writing music for other artists to perform. And the rest, as they say, is history! To this day the BeeGees are known more for their songwriting abilities than their own performances. Who’d have thought that out of such a difficult and upsetting time would come something better than before?
When we first went in to lockdown there was the temptation to see only the negative, to see only what we had taken from us. And let’s be honest, it has been so very, very difficult for some people in particular who have lost so much during this time. But here we are now, almost ten months later, and maybe, just maybe, we have gained things that we may not have done, had we not been through this tough time? Friendships have been strengthened. We’ve taken the time to get to know one another better. Neighbours are looking out for eachother. Families have had to slow down and spend more time with eachother. Dare I say, for many of us, our priorities have changed for the better?
There isn’t one person I know who has welcomed and enjoyed this tough time. The BeeGees certainly didn’t enjoy their years when they were stopped from performing. But out of bad times can come good, can come blessings.
I can’t wait to meet up with our family, friends and whole community again, to come out of this tough time. But I thank God for the lessons learnt and the community of people who have joined forces to bring good out of such dark days.
Paul in the Bible knew all about the toughest of times but he also knew that he needed to thank God and recognise the good in those around. He wrote, ‘Therefore encourage one another and build eachother up, just as you are doing’. Let’s head in to our day, acknowledging the tough time but seeking the good that we will go on to remember and be grateful in much brighter days.
The Gift and the Giver - 5/1/21
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
James Ch1 v17
Over the coming weeks, our Tuesday Sunrise will come from the book of James. If you get chance to read this book in its entirety, do so, it is an incredible guide to how to live life well – not how to make life easy, but how to live well.
Like me, I’m sure you received some lovely gifts for Christmas. Some gifts were practical items that I had possibly happened to mention in a timely fashion that I needed, others were maybe not so useful but particularly beautiful – all, however, are treasured because of the givers. But Christmas is over now for another year and homes have been found for the new items and what is ahead of us are the cold, dark days of January. This can be a difficult time for many people when the bright and colourful lights of Christmas have been put away and the warmth of the spring sunshine seems so far away. However, when we take the time to stop, there are gifts to be found every day – the beauty of frost on a leaf or dew on a spider’s web; the snow drops beginning to poke their heads above the ground; the infectious sound of a child laughing or a friend calling us to see how we’re doing. These are just some of the perfect gifts which can’t be bought and wrapped up but are given to us by God to remind us that he’s still there, he’s still with us as we face the challenges of the day. God doesn’t hibernate for winter or fall asleep beside the fire, he remains beside us watching over us and sends us these little reminders of his presence.
Of course, having just celebrated Christmas we can’t talk about gifts without mentioning the ultimate and perfect gift that God sent in the form of a baby. A new baby is always a gift but this baby brought us the gift of love, peace, joy, hope and new life for us all. It was a gift like no other and one which can’t be replicated or bought but one which is offered to everyone regardless of social or financial standing, education or age.
Gifts are made special by the giver and the giver of that amazing baby that first Christmas is the same giver of the sunshine and the rain, the same giver who puts the warmth into a hug and the joy into friendship. Let’s try and take a little time to pause today and actively look for the gifts around us that remind us that God is still with us and let’s treasure those gifts because we know the giver.
Who Needs Cheese? - 4/1/21
What makes you smile? Maybe a kitten half way up your curtains, or the wisdom of a five year old, or your old bike repaired and ready for the road, or a football result, or Strictly. Smiles come from different directions and for different reasons. Something that amuses or pleases you may leave me unmoved or even baffled. Smiles are often our response to good news or the removal of stress. Looking back over 2020 there must have been many reasons for smiles despite the obvious turmoil and tribulation. Ask yourself what caused your ten biggest smiles last year, it will cheer you up instantly and will probably surprise you to find out how many there are to choose from. Try it now with a cup of coffee and you can come back to Sunrise in a few hours, it could take that long. And you will feel great!
People seem to think that the Bible is a serious and forbidding book without any light relief but just imagine that amazing night when people surrounded the house where Jesus was and He healed every sick person who was brought to Him. Can you see the look on Joseph’s face when he was reunited with his brothers? And the smile of relief as Mary gave birth to Jesus, and the smile of total joy lighting up her face and wiping away her tears on Resurrection Morning.
Solomon wrote, ‘A happy heart makes the face cheerful.’ Pro 15.13
The Bible is full of smiles and full of reasons to smile. We read that God loves everyone in the world without exception. We are told that Jesus is preparing a place for those who love Him. We discover that God is always present with those who wish Him to be, David wrote, ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil because You are with me.’ St. Paul talked about a person being led by God’s Spirit and the difference it made, ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.’ If we see these characteristics in a person it will cause us to smile, and if someone sees them in us, then we are responsible for putting a smile on their face. How good is that? So next time you are having your photograph taken, think of God’s goodness and you will smile without having to say “Cheese.”
Throughout the year we held on to a hope that things will get better, this year there is more of an idea of where we may be heading with vaccines being rolled out. But its still not going to be an easy path through the coming months.
We have learned that time for each other is more valuable than many other things, though we have missed our “normal” way of life, we have embraced our Melling community. Our relationships with friends have strengthened and we have made new friends.
As we enter 2021, our path is uncertain but we can approach it knowing we have support of the friends around us. We may not know all the places we may visit or the things that may happen but we do know we won’t be alone.
When driving to a new place, we may now use a SatNav that tells us each step we must take to reach our destination, but before that I trusted in a navigator sat in the passenger seat. They held the map and could see the whole journey, could see the roads and the places that we would pass. As the driver, I would just know the next turn and only encounter new places as we arrived.
Whilst the Israelites were still trying to find their place, the prophet Jeremiah sent them these words from God, in Chapter 29,
"I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.
When you come looking for me, you’ll find me."
What a great way to start the year, I don’t mean Brexit, (that might be great or it might not, we’ll find out), I’m talking about the vaccine! Actually we now have a choice of vaccines; it’s a bit like number 19 buses. So let’s line up; I’m one of the first, that seems reasonable to me, then in succeeding months we should become safer as the year moves on. If we live for another fifty years, none of us will forget 2020. I sometimes struggle to remember birthdays and anniversaries, not my own of course, but I will always remember the past year and the number 2020. Of course some people will remember it, not because they survived but because someone didn’t. Let’s be careful as we celebrate a new year to understand that some of our friends have very mixed feelings about moving on. Thankfully for Christians there is the belief that people will meet again in a better place. Jesus told us, “I am going to prepare a place for you.....so that you will be where I am.”
We have learned a lot in the past twelve months about patience, tolerance, friendship and hope. How shocking it will be if we all revert to our previous lifestyle of rush rush rush. I’m looking forward to a more orderly lifestyle which will give me more time for more people. Maybe even a little time for myself! Is that allowed? During the separation forced on us last year, we managed to keep up with each other and share our hopes and fears, and we attempted to meet each other’s needs. As we move on towards Spring and Summer, shopping trips (remember shops?), family days out and hopefully holidays, let’s remember we are a community who walked through 2020 together. We laughed and cried together, we asked for help and we offered help; nothing must change, we still have our strengths and needs, we still must work together. In the Bible accounts of the early days of the Christian church we see the most amazing community at work; ‘All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. They would sell their property and possessions and distribute their money among all, according to what each one needed.‘ We may not achieve that standard of community, but we can learn from that principal and move into the future together. Roll on Choir, Hub, Shoot, Crafty, Watercolour, Church, Housegroups!
Look out 2021, here we come!
February '21 Sunrises
'Too Much Space' - 28/02/21
It’s a funny old world. In recent years we have watched as we have been robbed of our space. I can remember when we first moved into our home, the number of cars in the road didn’t reach double figures. When we drove into Liverpool we could park anywhere because yellow lines and parking meters hadn’t been invented and traffic wardens hadn’t been born. I could walk straight into our chippy and out again in five minutes. I could get on a train without needing to book and still find a seat. Over the years everything has become crowded and in the days before Covid if I stopped my trolley in the supermarket for more than ten seconds, I created a traffic jam and finding a pair of socks in Primark was like a rugby scrum. We have all prayed for peace and space. Well I have news for you, our prayers have been answered. Last Friday I needed a blood test; I walked into the health centre where there are fifty seats which are always full, only to find myself in an empty room. I sat down for one minute, my name was called and two minutes later I was back outside. Then I drove into the city centre multi storey car park, went up two floors and parked in the middle of an empty floor. When I came back four hours later, my car was still all alone. I had a takeaway lunch in Lime Street station and could choose from about sixty empty seats. It was a wonderful day and the sun shone. Perfect! I revelled in the emptiness.
There is of course the small matter of the plague that has caused massive fear, stress, illness, and sadly, death, and many people have been left with a great sense of emptiness. One answer to this distressing condition is to have people around who can travel with us on our journey. Mandy Hale said, “Always show kindness and love to others. Your words might be filling the empty places in someone’s heart.”
But we can go further and deeper; our friends are absolutely wonderful and necessary but they can’t get into our heads. We have read many times in Sunrise that God understands us better than we understand ourselves, so when the emptiness inside causes sadness and stress, let’s remember that God can fill the space and help us to rise above those emotions that threaten to drag us down.
St. Paul wrote, ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’
'Too Much Space' - 27/02/21
Since the start of the year, I have been working with a new team in my job. Its been quite challenging having to do this working from home. I have met some of them before and know a little bit about them, but never really known them that well. Trying to get to know them and understand what they do and where I fit in has been tricky. There has been lots of research and reading to be done about their work. It would be great if I was in the office but I cant be there right now. So I am having to spend specific time with individuals or small groups getting to know them and what they do. My role is to help them improve how they deliver their services within the company, so having begun to understand where they are, I now have ideas about where we now should go.
I have been discussing ideas with a small number of people and in particular one of the bosses. After discussing some of my ideas with him , I asked him if he was OK with me to start planning and implementing some of the changes. He said “Go for it, that’s what you are here to do”. He gave me the support and authority to start doing. Its not as easy doing this work remote from each other and takes more specific effort to align our thinking.
Its like that in our relationship with God, we have to spend specific time with Him to understand Him and what He wants us to do. He is not physically here with us but we can read about His ways in the Bible, we can learn about His love for us, we can talk to Him through prayer, setting aside some time specifically, and listen for His guidance. And He has sent us His power in the Holy Spirit. He has told us what we are here to do and will give us the confidence and authority to do it.
To love people, to be a witness for His love and to share of His sacrifice for us all.
When Saul first spoke with God and understood that God had chosen him, he was with a renowned and well thought of priest, Ananias, who told him, “You are to be a witness to everyone you meet of what you’ve seen and heard. So what are you waiting for? Get up and get yourself baptized, scrubbed clean of those sins and personally acquainted with God.” (Acts 22v15-16).
He then began his work and writings as the Apostle Paul. We should all be personally acquainted with God, as we get to know Him and live our lives as He teaches us, with love, kindness and compassion, being a witness for all that we have learned.
What are you waiting for?
It is said that you should never meet your heroes, because they will always disappoint you. After all, they are just human beings like you and me. They have their faults like everybody else. They may be wonderfully skilled in one particular area of expertise that we admire, but they have complications and difficulties in their lives that can cause them to stumble and tarnish their public image.
For years I marvelled at the achievements of American professional cyclist, Lance Armstrong. Every summer I would watch him battle the roads and mountain passes along the route of the Tour de France. For seven consecutive years he was ultimately victorious. For seven years he defied the odds and wore the famous yellow jersey. Nobody had ever won seven Tours. His was a story of legend. Not only did he win those seven Tours, but he did so having recovered from cancer.
Professional cycling is a sport blighted by performance enhancing drugs. There were rumours that Armstrong’s success was fuelled by such drugs. For seven years Armstrong was the most tested athlete in world sport. He never failed a drug test. Here was somebody that we could believe in; somebody who was simply better than everybody else. Somebody that could inspire others. He was the best cyclist in the world, he headed a charitable foundation that had raised 500 million dollars to help cancer sufferers, he gave motivational speeches, he married a rock star. Heroes didn’t come much bigger.
And then the wheels came off. A fellow professional confessed to being part of the most comprehensive and systematic regime of doping that the sport had ever seen. His confession implicated Armstrong. The reason Armstrong had never failed a drug test was that the method of doping was so sophisticated that it was not detectable. He had won every one of his Tours by cheating. Heroes don’t fall much further.
What is interesting to me is that in 2009, when Lance Armstrong finally confessed to his part in the doping conspiracy, donations to his charitable foundation increased. Since he made the decision to stand down from the foundation in 2012, donations have steadily declined. The changes have occurred because people allow their personal judgement of Armstrong to affect their response to the needs of the charity. It’s a funny old world.
We all make judgements and the reasons for those judgements are just as complicated as the people and the situations we choose to judge. The impact Lance Armstrong had on the world of cancer doesn’t excuse his cheating, but his cheating doesn’t erase the good he did for the millions of cancer victims his foundation has helped. All of us judge against a set of standards that we have deemed appropriate. Each set of standards is personal and ultimately different in some degree to the standards of others. In the end, none of us really has the wisdom to sit in judgement.
Instead of us judging others, the Bible urges us to be more thoughtful, because we too have made mistakes, we too have been subject to the judgement of others, “Speak evil of no one, be peaceable and considerate, and always be gentle toward everyone. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures”. It’s good advice. In future, I think I will leave the judgement to God, knowing that He is the only one able to, “judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity".
“Beyond the Wild Wood comes the Wild World," said the Rat. "And that's something that doesn't matter, either to you or to me. I've never been there, and I'm never going, nor you either, if you've got any sense at all.”
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
The Wind in the willows is a classic children’s book detailing the adventurers of Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger, who live by the river bank, written by Kenneth Grahame.
I love the idea that from the point of view of the small animals in the wind and willows, that the world beyond their river bank is Wild and to be avoided at all costs. It almost sounds like the current covid advice that we are adhering to; we are all staying home or close to home at the moment, in order to stay safe.
However, change is on the way. We now know that if things go accordingly to plan, we will be allowed to venture beyond our four walls into shops, meeting other people, and even the potential to be able to go on holiday! This is wonderful news for some but concerning for others. We are all now used to a new way of living, and the idea of venturing out into the ‘wild world’ can be concerning and apprehensive for some. Just the thought of being able to go into a shop without a facemask seems very strange indeed!
When Jesus was leaving his followers to go to heaven (after he had risen from the dead), he knew they were concerned as to what would happen. They had been through such a lot in a few weeks. First their leader was arrested, tortured and killed, then he rose again and gave them the gift of the holy spirit to inspire them. Now he was leaving them again but telling them to go into all the world and tell everyone about him. They were scared or what might happen next. Jesus reminded them, as he reminds us now, that whatever situations we are in, we are not alone
In Matthew 28:20, Jesus says
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’
So, whatever the ‘Wild World’ may throw at us in the next few months, let’s not be like Ratty, let’s get out and explore it (in accordance with the guidance of course). And let’s do this in the knowledge that God is always with us, wherever we are.
Celtic Prayer puts a lot of emphasis on being still, being quiet and enjoying the moments that God has given to us. A saint from way back wrote this:
“You must strive for a quiet mind. If the eyes are perpetually restless, they cannot appreciate a beautiful object set before them; they glance this way and that, and so fail to discern the subtlety of the objects form and colour. Equally, if the mind is perpetually restless, distracted by a thousand worldly concerns, it cannot apprehend he truth.” (St Basil of Turkey).
Let’s face it, if we are honest, in lockdown some of us have too many distractions and some of us crave anything to distract us from the groundhog nature of each day. It is tough to have too little to do or indeed, to have to live with the stress of juggling zoom calls, online school or caring demands. Being still and quiet might be something we crave but cannot do or it might be something we have too much of! With all of this, our mental health can be very fragile and practising contentment and stillness is not some hippy idea but a vital tool in keeping ourselves healthy. I miss my sea swims and as much as I miss the company, I also miss those moments in each swim where I would stop, float, gaze at the sky and rest, allowing the water to melt away my distractions, worries and anxiety . Psalm 131 is a beautiful piece of scripture. It not only reminds us that with God we can just be ourselves, but it is also a gentle reminder that we can have hope as well as contentment.
Psalm 131
My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.
Today can we try to revel in the gift of contentment despite all that we have on our plate? Can we prioritise just ten minutes to stop, to be still and rest with our Father God, like a weaned child?
You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong – you only want what will give you pleasure. James Ch4 v2
So what’s the difference between Father Christmas and God? That sounds a bit like the start of a really bad joke but if we think about it, we can often confuse God with a Santa Claus figure who we go to when we want something.
In the mid 1800’s a young man called Dwight L Moody from Boston became a Christian. Soon after that, he set off for Chicago where his plan was to sell shoes and make his fortune of $100,000 – a huge amount of money at that time. Slowly but surely, he began to realise that his mission in life wasn’t to amass a fortune but rather help the poor. Over the course of his life, his preaching and social work changed hundreds of thousands of people’s lives and I suspect he raised far more than his original goal of $100,000 – it just wasn’t for himself.
In the book of Philippians in the Bible we read these words: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.”
The fact is that God wants to hear about every aspect of our lives; our anxieties; our health worries; our financial concerns as well as our joy and our thanks. What God wants is for us to call him ‘friend’ – and it’s that relationship that makes him so different to Father Christmas. Would you go to your best friend and say – “you can afford it, give me a new car”? Rather, your closest friends are the ones who you share your deepest hopes and concerns with. They are your friends, not because of what they give you, but because of the relationship you have with them.
Moody once said ‘Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all’. God wants to hear it all but the biggest difference between God and Father Christmas is that Santa may give you the Ferrari you asked for but God wants to come on the journey with you.
‘Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you’
‘Honesty’ - Billy Joel
Recently I read an article about someone I thought had been a good, honest character, full of integrity, with love for his family. I was devastated to hear that this person had been living a double life. Causing many, many people to believe he was someone great and good whilst all along sordid secrets were piling up on his phone and his victims were being silenced. He passed away, aged 74, and left behind a lot of brokenness. It was a heart-breaking read. More scandal. More lies. No honesty. Secrets. Secrets. Secrets.
Nowadays it would seem that nearly everybody has a mobile phone. Instant access to others through phone calls and texts. And then there’s the internet freely available wherever we are. Not to mention all the social media sites. Oh, and then there’s the photos and videos we take, or we receive. These phones are absolutely incredible! Where would we be without them?! But what’s on them? If someone got hold of our phones would they be shocked by our photos? Would our messages reveal ‘another side’? And what about our Search History? Billy Joel was right when he said that honesty is such a lonely word. There seems to be so many stories of scandal and lies and lack of integrity. But we can be different.
Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life’.
CS Lewis defined integrity as ‘doing the right thing, even when no one is watching’.
Secret lives cause broken lives. Let’s all be careful to think right thoughts, say right words and have right actions. It’s so important that honesty, and integrity, are key to how we live. And we’d all love Billy Joel to write another song!
This half term I was helping one of my daughters with some work where we had to sit and observe things. It was just the two of us, watching, observing and recording. The lovely thing was that during that time we just talked.
During this lockdown, we have all been encouraged to get out and take some exercise. Its been great to force this time into a working day. I have been able to walk by myself, with the dog, with the kids, with my wife or many combinations. One of my daughters once asked me, when you and Mum go for a walk, what do you talk about because you’ve been together for so many years, how do you find things to talk about? It is a great question and we then chatted about what we do talk about, we talk to each other, talk about what's happening with each of us, about our family, about our friends. But there are also times when we don’t talk. And it feels fine to be with someone and not talk.
I remember when I was first seeing my then girlfriend, we chatted and chatted and chatted about all sorts of things. On long car journeys it was great to talk and the journey time passed really quickly.
But there came a point in our relationship when it did not feel awkward to be together and be silent.
Some people find silence awkward and in some cases it can be, “somebody needs to say something”. “Awkward”
But actually, I find it reassuring that we can sit together quietly and it not be awkward.
Sometimes we are like that with God. We set aside a time to pray and we talk and talk and talk, we say our thing and then move onto our next task. But we should find the time to sit quietly with God, not talking. Its not awkward, God knows us better than we know ourselves and sometimes He just wants to be with us. We don’t have to say anything, just sit and feel God’s presence.
There is a lovely gentle song that reminds us
'Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
The holy One, is here;
Come bow before him now
With reverence and fear
In him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
The holy One, is here.'
Lets remember that sitting quietly is not awkward, it can be reassuring, its when people don’t have to say anything because we know. God knows, so sit quietly with Him and enjoy His company.
I am a big fan of Charlie Mackesy. Many of you will not have heard of him. Charlie is an artist who never went to art school, but spent three months in America with a portrait painter, where he learned about anatomy. He began as a cartoonist for The Spectator and a book illustrator for Oxford University Press, before being taken on by galleries. His work features in books, private collections and public spaces; including hospitals, prisons, churches and university colleges around the United Kingdom and also in women’s safe houses around the world.
He has recently had a book published that comprises a selection of his drawings. The book is called, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse. It is one of the most uplifting books you will ever read. In it, we follow the boy and his friends as they travel through life. The mole is an amusing, greedy little character who believes that all of life's problems can be solved with cake; the fox is the silent, wary companion and the horse is the gentle, wise philosopher of the group.
Charlie never intended to produce a book. He simply created the characters as an outward expression of his feelings and his philosophy regarding life. He first presented his drawings to the world via his Instagram account. Many of the drawings were very basic and, in some cases, you could tell that he had merely adapted a coffee stain or an ink smudge into an image. It was these Instagram images that caught the attention of a publisher, who contacted Charlie and suggested the idea of a book. The rest, as they say, is history. It has became a best seller on both sides of the Atlantic and has been described as, "A book of hope for uncertain times".
Charlie consistently promotes a message of kindness. The horse is heard to say, "Nothing beats kindness. It sits quietly beyond all things”. When asked by the mole what he wants to be when he grows up, the boy replies, "Kind". It is a simple truth that kindness is a much needed commodity and something that you can never get enough of. But what is kindness?
The Bible tells us that kindness is both a fruit of the spirit and a characteristic of love; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and Love is patient and kind. Kindness is also a choice. We can choose to be kind or we can choose not to be. Like all human characteristics we can practice kindness and through practice become better at it. It is something that I personally need to develop. It is not my instant reaction when faced with a problem, or a person, but that is no excuse. The Bible also tells us; "Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth". I can't simply talk the talk, I need to walk the walk. I need to follow Jesus' example, as Paul explained to the church in Ephesus; "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you". I have some work to do
“A person who has good thoughts can never be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely”.
The Twits, Roald Dahl
The Twits, written by Roald Dahl, is a children’s book. It tells the tale of the retired circus trainers, Mr and Mrs Twit (who are not very pleasant), and the tricks that they like to play on each other.
Our culture can be very often dominated by how we look and present ourselves. How do we look to those around us? For those who are on social media, are the photos we post of ourselves on Instagram or Facebook worthy? What will the photos we post, or the clothes we wear, or the way we have our hair say about us? Can we manipulate our photos to ensure that its always the best side of us that people see?
How we present ourselves can indeed be very important. How smartly we may turn up to an interview can make a big difference. We are unlikely to get the job if we turn up in our pyjamas, even if it’s a zoom interview!
This quote really reminds us that outward appearance doesn’t matter as much as character. How we look, even if we are wearing the latest fashions and the most amazing hairstyle, does not matter as much as how we behave.
In I Samuel 16:7, God reminds us of the same thing, and also reminds us of how countercultural his thinking is:
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’
Whilst we all have different ideas of what beauty may mean, one of the most beautiful people to me was my grandmother. She was not beautiful in the conventional sense at all. She was little and wrinkly and a bit round. However, she had the most beautiful smile, and she was truly lovely. You see, she had spent a lifetime loving Jesus and loving people. And that love radiated out from her to whomever she was with.
So today, lets think about how we can truly love others with Gods love, and them more we do, the more truly beautiful we will become.
In Celtic worship, some of the readings come from a bloke called Samuel Moor Shoemaker. I imagine that his name was his job? If only I could make my own shoes; how useful that would be at a time when the shops are shut . However, as we approach Lent we probably ought to be thinking about giving up stuff not getting more hadn’t we? Actually, if I am honest, what is needed is a clear out good and proper. Not only might I consider giving up stuff but I really ought to clear out the wardrobe or cupboards and give stuff away.
Except, God does not demand that we give anything up for Lent. A clear out of wrong attitudes might be more helpful and pleasing to Him. Samuel Shoe maker described a time in church when he was told to offer up prayers for those that he loved. That was easy. Then he was asked to pray for those whom he did not love. Straight away he could think of 3 individuals who had opposed his work and his writing. They had treated him badly and he resented them for it. He admitted that to pray for them was very tough. They thought badly of him and , as he put it,”… nine tenths of our suffering is caused by others not thinking so much of us as we think they ought”. Read that quote again and maybe bring to mind someone who does not think much of you; who winds you up; who opposes you; who is just plain difficult.
When Jesus said : “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself”, He is asking us not just to pray for those who we do not love but He is telling us to love them. Love is a verb, it is an action. This Lent how can we show love to those who we need to learn to love more?
Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterised by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.
James Ch3 v17-18
On 15 April 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg and began taking on water. It became apparent that the so-called impossible was indeed possible and the Titanic began to sink. Only 20 lifeboats made it into the water, many of which were less than half full as they rowed away. As people jumped from the sinking ship into the icy waters, they cried out for the lifeboats to come back and save them but most were too afraid of being overwhelmed to return leaving around 1,500 people to die. There was, however, one exception - there was an officer in Lifeboat number 14 who managed to persuade some of the other lifeboats to take his passengers and then he returned to where the ship had sunk to pick up survivors. He couldn’t possibly save everyone, but he could save some.
Harold Lowe was that officer and the wisdom, courage and mercy he displayed that day couldn’t change the horrors that were unfolding but made every bit of difference to those few individuals that he managed to reach.
No community can be built on selfish acts and argument. To build what today’s verse calls ‘a healthy, robust community’ takes effort. It is the effort of getting to know one another and the effort of learning to live with one another’s quirks; treating one another as equals and respecting each other even in the face of differences. God intends us to live in community together and to work alongside one another but he also understands that this sometimes requires a gentle tolerance and graciousness.
When we live with God at the heart of our community we can transform our small corner of this world. Like Harold Lowe, we may not be able to change all of the circumstances around us, but we can make a huge difference to the person that stands in front of us. We can start by inviting them into the safety of the boat and assure them of a warm welcome that comes with a gracious acceptance of all that they are. As we go about our week this week during these turbulent times, let’s actively look out for those that might need a little help – you might just be someone’s lifeboat this week and that will make all of the difference to them.
I live in a road with large trees down both sides; to me they are very beautiful and impressive. Typing this I can see them through my window every time I look up from the keyboard. The last time the Beast from the East visited some years ago the whole avenue was transformed into a white wonderland. I have a photograph somewhere (I’m not very good at filing) that shows these wonderful trees proudly showing off their winter plumage. Last autumn when everybody was depressed because of lockdown and rising fatality numbers, these amazing creations of our creator God were magnificent in yellow, orange, brown and red. And they lifted our spirits. Not long after that the colours were on the floor and the trees were showing their naked leafless forms; also beautiful.
We’ve all been through a difficult winter and it’s still freezing outside, but I notice that the days are getting longer so my mind is already in Spring mode, and the sun is shining but my trees are still just twiggy. I’m looking forward to the day when I see for the first time in 2021 that amazing green mist that creeps over the trees, providing hiding places for the birds and shelter for the humans when the sun gets too hot. It will happen! We can’t predict the future, I think we can all agree on that after the events of 2020, but we seem to be very confident that Spring is on its way. It’s not fact until it happens, so for now it’s just hope, but we are certain that our hope is not fanciful. We read that God’s promise to the world after the flood was this, ‘As long as the Earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease.’ This comes from God who never lies and even though mankind has damaged the system, it still works and will continue. So while Spring is a hope it is a certain hope. Watch this space!
But thinking of the future, we have another promise from God; Paul writing to the followers of Jesus 2000 years ago and to today’s followers also, talked of, ‘the hope of eternal life that God promised long ago. And God never tells a lie.’ That’s another hope, but it’s certain, just like Spring. Roll on both hopes. I assume that Spring will come first, but it’s not certain
Back in January at one of our Melling services, we were introduced the idea of being a bridge . One of the Celtic saints, Reinfrid was bridge builder. Reinfrid began his adult life as a violent and ruthless mercenary but was so disturbed by the scenes that he saw, that he ended up in a monastery, desperately searching for peace. To become truly at peace we need to become peace makers. It means rolling up our sleeves and building bridges. This is precisely what Reinfrid did in the monastery and surrounding area. He became a repairer of walls, dwellings and bridges where once he had burned them and pillaged them.
Isaiah 58 says this:
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
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."
Where today do we need to be a builder? Where is there brokenness that needs repairing , disheartened folks that need some building up, or bridges that need building to people who are feeling a little bit forgotten about?
I am sure many of us have had times where things get on top of us and we feel overwhelmed. Sometimes it can be a slow build up and we don’t realise what's happening. Or it may be a single incident that suddenly occurs and the emotion then hits us, to others it may seem like an over reaction, but to us it is very real.
Emotions can often be overpowering, we are an emotional people, that’s how we were made. We each have our fears and concerns, some of which people know about. But we also have hidden fears that others don’t know or understand. Sometimes we “put on a brave face” for others to see when inside we are hurting.
There is a scene in Harry Potter films when the students have to confront a “Boggart” which assumes the shape of your deepest fear. The students have to confront it and deal with it by making it into something funny or ridiculous. But they also do this in front of the whole class. As a scene in the film, it is quite revealing about each character to see what they fear. It made me wonder what would be my deepest fear, but also how would I feel about others around me knowing my deepest fear.
Emotion is powerful, but not only negative emotions but also positive emotions. Tears and laughter can be for so many reasons, both positive and negative. We may be crying with laughter as we find something so funny, but then it may be hysterical laughter and tears from fear.
There are times when we need someone to calm us down, to bring us back from an overwhelming emotion. Sometimes children will get so excited about something their whole behaviour changes, it seems like you cant get through. They need some calming words.
The disciples, who were experienced fisherman, were once out at sea with Jesus when a storm came that was so strong that these fisherman were afraid for their lives. Jesus was fast asleep. They were panicking and shouted to Jesus to wake him up. Jesus calmly woke up and saw what was going on, then told the wind and rain to stop and the sea to stop rolling the boat all over the place. As He spoke, the storm went away. The disciples were amazed. (You can read about this in Luke Chapter 8)
Lets remember that Jesus can bring a calm to us, maybe physically or emotionally, that will bring us peace and an assurance that He is watching over us, He loves us and He will care for us.
'It All Depends On How You Look At It' - 11/02/21
Hunters will tell you that a moose is a wily and ferocious forest creature. In fact, a moose is a cow drawn by a three-year-old.
Bill Bryson, Notes from a Big Country
Bill Bryson is a travel writer who injects no small sense of humour into his travel writings. An American who has lived in Britain for many years, His book, Notes from a Big Country are the results of him travelling round the USA, and looking at things from a unique and often funny point of view.
This may seem a very strange quote to start sunrise, but it really got me thinking. The same animal, yet seen entirely differently by two different people.
We have all seen those very clever pictures which can show different images, depending on how we look at it. is it a duck or a lady, is it a man or a dog? The answer is that the picture is both images, its just how you look at it.
It’s the same with situations, we can all be presented with the same situation, but see it in very different ways. For example, if we were all told we were going camping this evening, some of us would react with delight, where as others would see it as some sort of torture!
The wonderful thing is that God made us all different so that we can help and support each other.
In Hebrews 10:24, it says
Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, spurring each other on.
So, as Bill Bryson put it, if you are looking at the day ahead and are fearful, thinking of it as a wild and ferocious beast, know that there are people in the Melling community that will come alongside you and help you through, you only have to ask. And if this is a good day today, take time to encourage someone else and help them through, for we all need a hand sometimes, and to see things from a different point of view.
'Are You Listening To Me' - 10/02/21
How many times have you heard this? Often the person asking the question is frustrated by your lack of response, and the fact that you’re in a different room apparently doesn’t excuse you from hearing every word. There can be many reasons why messages don’t get through; you’re too far away or the TV is too loud; you’re on the phone or lost in your own thoughts. Often when the message is eventually received, it is not welcome because it means you have to do something or go somewhere, or stop doing something or answer questions. Occasionally it’s a reminder that you haven’t done what you promised. It could of course be a message that makes you smile a “Thank you” or the message we all love to hear, “Dinner’s ready.” The way we listen and react to people can demonstrate respect or lack of it, and if we are the speaker, the way people respond to our words will probably determine our opinion of them. Conversation can make or break a relationship. In our attempt to survive lockdown, one of the most powerful and frequent activities is talking to each other. And listening to each other. In the Bible stories we are constantly reminded that one way or another, God spoke and individuals listened. God said, “Build a boat” and Noah did; God said, “Leave your home” and Abraham did; Jesus said, “Walk on the water with me” and Peter did (but not for long). They all had the freedom to ignore God if they wanted to, just like we can. The Bible says, ’If you hear God speak today, don’t be stubborn.’ When friends call us on the phone, usually they don’t need to introduce themselves because you recognise their voices. How good are we at recognising the voice of God? Jesus said, “My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me.” In our conversations with our friends, let’s listen with patience and concern and when we are speaking let’s do it with compassion and humility. In these difficult days, one of the few things we can do legally is talking, so why not pick up the phone and start a conversation that could transform someone’s day, and maybe yours. We need our friends and they need us. Make a call or take a call.
'A Building Project' - 09/02/21
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” CS Lewis.
In the not too distant future, we will be getting some work done on our house. An extension will be put on and significant changes made to upstairs. Me and the chicks are really looking forward to this. It’s going to be great when it’s all done. But actually I have to confess, it’s going to be an absolute nightmare while it’s getting done. The dust, the noise, the complete mess and disruption it’s going to be a test of our patience to say the least. And there will quite likely be times when I will ask myself ‘is this worth it!?’ Of course it will be worth it, but significant change and improvement can sometimes come at a cost.
We’ve all made mistakes in life. Some of us have made huge big ones, others have got away with less painful ones. Realising our mistakes and doing something positive about them is good, but sometimes changing habits and admitting we are wrong or needing help doesn’t come easy to us. Psalm 139 finds David saying these brave words,
‘Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life’.
David knew he’d made mistakes and wanted to make it right, even if that meant going through painful lessons. If you’re anything like me, then you’ve made some wrong choices and haven’t always been wise!! God is only a God of love. He wants us to learn from our mistakes and make better life choices, because He desires the best for us. It can be just like a messy building project, but it will definitely be worth it.
'Seize The Day' - 08/02/21
‘Now is the time to seize the day’
Broadway Musical ‘Newsies’ (Jack Feldman/Alan Menkin)
One of my chicks is a walking encyclopaedia on all things Broadway. About 18 months ago she introduced us to the musical ‘Newsies’. This musical is based on the 1899 newsboys strike in New York. They were fighting for fair pay and better conditions for the children in New York. It’s quite simply a brilliant musical and as they all sing, ‘Now is the time to seize the day’, you can’t help but feel the sense of achievement and triumph as they take control and bring about positive change.
Mental health has become a huge concern in our nation over recent years. Thankfully there’s far more understanding of mental health conditions than there’s ever been, and far more help available. This time of lockdown has affected people in different ways. While some people have sailed through, relatively unscathed. For others, stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression have taken hold. While we are all looking forward to ‘that day’ when we can all be back together again, what about now? What about today? The song continues,
‘... Minute by minute that's how you win it
We will find a way
But let us seize the day...’
Today may be a great day for you. But maybe it’s not? Maybe today is a day of struggle? If that’s the case, then how about being kind to yourself? How about taking things minute by minute? Taking time to stop and notice the good that is around you. The ‘glimmers of hope’ in the midst of your struggle. Congratulate yourself on what you’ve achieved. Some days that may simply be that you got dressed! And let’s not forget to look out for each other! A quick text or phone call can quite literally turn somebody’s day around!
Jesus knew all about difficult times. He was known as, ‘the man of sorrows’. That’s why He said, ‘Come to me, all you who are weak and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest’.
So maybe, instead of dreading each day we can choose in some small way to welcome Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...taking time to smell the coffee, go for a walk, admire the flowers breaking through the ground, or simply getting dressed, knowing that the God who loves you, understands your struggles and wants to help you through them, and to help you ‘seize the day’
'Alive and Kicking' - 07/02/21
I have recently been asked to teach a student an A level in Sociology in just 16 months , on probably no more than an hour a week. That student is going to have to work so hard between lessons just to keep up and yet, she wants that qualification and is willing to work for it. We live in a world where mental ability is regarded so highly, revered, and rewarded. Each day we are bombarded with information from experts in their fields and yes, it is good to learn, to study and we need experts. However, we also need hearts, and these are less easily trained. You cannot complete a degree in compassion; you cannot study a GCSE in love; you are unlikely to be consulted as being an expert in kindness. In Celtic prayer, stress is put on these words: “Thou and thou only the first in my heart”, from the hymn, ‘Be thou my vision’. Love of God is our first priority, and God should be first in our hearts; but out of that should flow love for our neighbour. Love & compassion are not dependent on learning. The good Samaritan only needs to know where the sore is, so that it can be anointed with oil; but the choice has to be made to cross the road to where the hurting soul is. Just like my student, effort and commitment may be required. Sometimes, often perhaps, love is a choice that we make. However, if we can only respond just a little then our hearts are still alive and kicking and even in a pandemic there is hope.
Jesus told us to: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22 :37 & 38)
'Tomorrow Will Be a Good Day' - 06/02/21
We do seem to spend a fair amount of time looking forward in hope, hope that we wont get Covid, hope that we will be able to see people face to face, hope for our friends and family.
Hope is known to be a powerful thing which we cling to. The absence of hope is a powerful thing too and is used to oppress people and make them submissive.
This week saw the sad passing of Captain Sir Tom Moore, I did like his positive attitude with his saying “Tomorrow will be a good day”. He was not discounting how good or bad today had been, but always remembered that tomorrow will be a good day. Each of us may be hoping for many different things for today or at some point in the future.
In Christian teaching, we talk about Faith, Hope and Love, Jesus’ love for us and his sacrifice gave us a way to back to God. Our faith in this sacrifice gives us a hope for an eternal life, for a God who will comfort us and provide for our needs. This is a message we can read in the Bible when Paul was writing encouragements to Timothy:
"Put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."
1 TIMOTHY 6:17 (NIV)
Through the good times and the bad times, whilst we hope for things in the future for us or for others, lets also remember that we can have a bigger hope in God.
'Seeing' - 05/02/21
Earlier this week I stumbled upon a book that I haven’t looked at for many years. It’s one of those, “Magic Eye” books. Does anybody remember them? They were very popular about thirty years ago. The idea behind them was that you looked at the picture displayed on the page, which was usually nothing more than a pretty pattern, but when you looked at in just the right way, another, three dimensional, picture would reveal itself…as if by magic.
Some people could do it and some people couldn’t. It all depended upon whether you could allow your brain to see beyond the surface and decipher the real image beneath.
For a very long time, I could not make it work. I remember being asked to leave a book shop because I had been staring at a Magic Eye book for about half an hour, desperately trying to unravel the mystery. The assistant politely pointed out that the book shop was not a library and that if I wanted to read the book, I should buy it. My explanation that I would buy the book once I could actually read it, fell on deaf ears.
Apparently, the hidden image is made by creating a depth map, which is overlaid by a two dimensional repeating pattern; produced using a computer algorithm. When the viewer looks at the two dimensional image, the repeating pattern feeds the brain the depth information encoded into it and the brain perceives the hidden three dimensional image. Get the picture? No, nor did I for a long time… until one day, in another book shop, “Eureka!”. I actually saw the three dimensional dolphin leaping from the water. True to my word, I bought the book… Waterstones’ gain, WH Smith’s loss.
We all view things differently. To some of us, there are mysteries that we simply don’t see. They are there, but we just can’t see them. In some cases, it’s because we believe that if we can’t see it with our own eyes it isn’t actually there. We rebel against the notion that we simply can’t see the full spectrum of all that there is. In scientific terms, we say that we can see light, but we can’t see ultra-violet and infrared light, yet we still claim to be able to see. Similarly, we can see the physical world, but we can’t see the spiritual. So, we claim to understand the world in which we live, without being able to actually see an important part of it.
Just like the Magic Eye pictures, perhaps we need to look at things in a different way. Maybe we need to stop viewing things the way we have always done; the way the world would have us look, and look at things through a different lens. The lens of Jesus. As the song says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim; In the light of His glory and grace”.
'Home' - 04/02/21
“When I speak of home, I speak of the place where in default of a better--those I love are gathered together; and if that place where a gypsy's tent, or a barn, I should call it by the same good name notwithstanding.”
Nicholas Nickleby, Charles Dickens
Nicholas Nickleby is the story of a man called Nicholas Nickleby, who has to leave his home in Devon and go to London to work and provide for his mother and sister after his father dies. He has many adventurers, despite his uncle attempting to thwart him at every turn.
In this book, Nicholas has a very clear grasp of what is ‘home’. Despite having to move several hundred miles from the country to the city, it doesn’t matter to him where he lives. Home is where the people he loves are.
Many of us have moved to a new house more than once, some of us have moved cities and even countries, and it can certainly take some getting used to. Different area, different shops, different people, even a different accent or phrases can all take time to adjust to
I remember when I first moved to Liverpool, I couldn’t understand why people were telling me about their make up all the time. I then realised that being ‘made up’ was nothing to do with eyeshadow, but about how happy they were!!
It can take time to feel at home somewhere, but I do believe that like Nicholas Nickleby, it doesn’t matter where you live, to be with those whom you love is to be home. To know that you can be yourself with people, and that you are loved and cared for and accepted.
In the bible, when Paul writes to the Romans, he explains in chapter 12 verse 10, 15 and 16 that the church should be that kind of community
"Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another."
In other words, church should be home. It should be a community that people feel at home. A place where everyone is loved and accepted. This is exactly what Melling community aims to be. A wonderful, caring, funny, thoughtful, kind, a little bit bonkers, amazing home for anyone who wants to be a part of it. A place where people can wear Pyjamas to church and that’s fine! Let’s pray and continue to love one another so that this wonderful family continues to grow and be home for people.
'Be My Shelter' - 03/02/21
On Social media, after reading her book, I follow an amazing woman called Ursula Martin. Her posts are called ‘One Woman Walks’. That is all she does, raising awareness for ovarian cancer as she walks. I hate camping. I do not like the faff of setting up and taking down a tent, nor do I like sleeping in the cold. This woman does this most nights. However, occasionally she will find a shelter in rocks or a rundown mountain hut. She is usually over the moon at this ready-made shelter. In Celtic Daily Prayer, as we go through some of the verses of ‘Be Thou My Vision’, we come across this line:
‘Thou my souls shelter
And Thou my high tower.’
In a shelter you are passive, and the shelter does the job of ‘sheltering’. You have to stay in the shelter and not venture out until you are rested, refreshed and ready to go on again. In the shelter you can rest, you can be quiet, you can be safe. We have been given these verses before but maybe this week, we need to find time seek out Gods shelter. We could even put it into our diary and give ourselves permission to just stop, be still and rest, for half an hour, a morning or even a whole day. Then, when rested, we can venture out again and continue walking with Him.
Matthew 11:28-30
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Home
On Social media, after reading her book, I follow an amazing woman called Ursula Martin. Her posts are called ‘One Woman Walks’. That is all she does, raising awareness for ovarian cancer as she walks. I hate camping. I do not like the faff of setting up and taking down a tent, nor do I like sleeping in the cold. This woman does this most nights. However, occasionally she will find a shelter in rocks or a rundown mountain hut. She is usually over the moon at this ready-made shelter. In Celtic Daily Prayer, as we go through some of the verses of ‘Be Thou My Vision’, we come across this line:
‘Thou my souls shelter
And Thou my high tower.’
In a shelter you are passive, and the shelter does the job of ‘sheltering’. You have to stay in the shelter and not venture out until you are rested, refreshed and ready to go on again. In the shelter you can rest, you can be quiet, you can be safe. We have been given these verses before but maybe this week, we need to find time seek out Gods shelter. We could even put it into our diary and give ourselves permission to just stop, be still and rest, for half an hour, a morning or even a whole day. Then, when rested, we can venture out again and continue walking with Him.
Matthew 11:28-30
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
'Take a Seat' - 02/02/21
'What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?... faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.'
James Ch2 v14
A couple of years ago we had a house full of family – probably celebrating a birthday or some other event. As is the custom, our guests expected to be able to sit down – there’s nothing strange so far, except that as my mum sat down in one of the chairs, one of the legs gave way and she ended in a heap on the floor! I should stress at this point that it was a very old chair and in no way does this incident reflect on my mum, however, it did naturally cause a great deal of laughter amongst children and adults alike. My mum had approached the chair with confidence, it was a confidence founded on faith that the chair was good and solid with all 4 legs intact – the chair (not me!) let her down.
Sometimes I’ve heard people say that they’re not a person of faith – I beg to differ, because without faith we wouldn’t ever sit on a chair expecting it to hold us; breathe in expecting there to be air around us or take a step forward expecting gravity to hold us.
We all express our faith by our actions, the question is – what, or who, do you have faith in? To have faith in God is more than simply saying that you believe in his existence, it has to change your behaviour. The Bible is filled with great characters, men and women of enormous faith but what sets them apart is how they allowed their faith to determine their actions. “It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood… It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance… It way by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for 3 months when he was born… It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.” The list goes on but all expressed their faith by their actions; their actions were the evidence of their faith.
A modern translation of the Bible puts it like this: “Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?”
We still have the chair, complete with a new leg and remarkably my mum sits in it with all of the confidence of someone who has every faith that it won’t collapse again. Perhaps that’s an expression of faith in the chair or perhaps it’s an expression of faith in us? But what is far more remarkable is that every day her faith in God is expressed through the love and care she shows to those around her. How will you express your faith today?
'I'll Tell You The Truth' - 01/01/21
When photography was invented in 1826 it only took a decade for it to sweep around the world. People instantly realised that it was different to painting because painters could use their imagination, even when painting a landscape or a city scene. They could add extra trees in a field or remove dead dogs in the street. But photography only told the truth. It took some decades before newspapers were able to reproduce photographs and that transformed peoples understanding of the world. They could see what Buffalo Bill really looked like, or man’s first powered flight three feet up in the air; they could share the emotion of the night when Toscanini conducted his last concert in floods of tears. They knew where they were with photos because they never told lies. You may have noticed that things have changed a little; even children can change reality to fantasy in a moment on their phones at the same time as they are studying history in school on Zoom. It’s good to know however that newspaper photographers get sacked if they submit retouched images for publication, they are after all news photographers. There have been many issues in the last four years concerning ‘fake news’ but maybe that will die down now.
Do you know what was Jesus’ most frequent expression? It was, “I tell you the truth.” He used it on many occasions as He taught His disciples and followers facts that they needed to know. He talked about relationships and faith, our future destination and our need to trust Him; He talked about the religious leaders errors and the worlds’ future. He demonstrated His right to speak Gods’ truth by performing miracles and showing compassion on the weak, sick, and lowly who everybody else ignored or walked past. Jesus described Himself like this, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Like me, you must be fed up with fake news and misinformation spread all over social media, not to mention the varying statements from political parties, it’s difficult to know who we can trust. We constantly have to make choices between truth and lies. Maybe we could start by looking at the claims of Jesus who said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
I’m weary of being tied up by doubt and confusion, I’d rather be free.
March '21 Sunrises
‘Then one of the Twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over’.
Matthew 26:14-16
How sad this passage is. How heart-breaking. For 30 silver coins Judas betrayed the one who had healed the sick, mended the broken hearted, taught with such wisdom and shown love to all. He turned his back on Jesus.
And Jesus still loved him.
"When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Simon, I have something to tell you.’ ‘Tell me, teacher,’ he said. ‘Two people owed money to a certain money-lender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.’ ‘You have judged correctly,’ Jesus said. Then he turned towards the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ The other guests began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’"
Luke 7:36-50
Jesus came to Earth for everybody. No one too unlovable, too messed up, too old or young, too educated or uneducated, too happy or sad....Jesus came for everybody. That means you and me. Whatever our mess. Whatever our lives look like. He knows us. He loves us. Thankyou Jesus.
'Something Inside So Strong' - 29/03/21
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Matthew 21:12-13
When Jesus entered the temple and threw the money changers out, people were horrified. They were outraged that he did this. But Jesus saw just how corrupt they were. They weren’t in the temple as an act of worship, they were there to cheat people and make money. It was all wrong. And Jesus knew that He had to do the right thing, even though it would make Him unpopular.
Doing the right thing can sometimes mean standing alone. Standing out. Being different. It can be really difficult. But doing what is right is important. Martin Luther King put it like this, "The time is always right to do what is right."
It may take courage and bravery and determination, but doing the right thing is always right!
'He Is' - 28/03/21
Over the next 7 days, Sunrise will be following the week leading up to Jesus death and resurrection. With music and a short thought we hope you will be blessed and encouraged.
‘As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it’
Luke 19:41
This was the day when people cheered and celebrated as Jesus rode towards the city. We call it Palm Sunday.
But in the midst of the excitement and praise, Jesus wept.
He wept because people had missed Emmanuel - God with Us.
He had lived amongst them, loved them, encouraged them, been a friend to them, and taught them. But they didn’t understand.
And soon the cries of ‘Hosanna’
would be swapped for ‘crucify Him!’
Jesus wept.
And today, our world still misses Him.
With pride and arrogance, and the need for power and significance, we can miss what’s most important. Who’s most important!
Jesus still seeks to bless us, guide us, teach us and give us hope-filled lives.
May we see for ourselves this Easter that Jesus weeps because He loves us.
‘He Is’ is the new song by Crowder. Click on this link to hear this beautiful, truth-filled song.️
'Let's Call The Whole Thing Off...' - 27/03/21
This week I have been reviewing a number of documents with a new colleague who started working with us during lockdown. I am sure it's been a tricky start to a new job without being able to meet up with people. It's been a bit tricky process reviewing documents and people start to question individual words and phrases when what you are really wanting to do is understand the bigger picture. Does the sentiment behind the words actually just mean the same thing? Actually, it’s often better to read the whole story and get an understanding of the message behind the words. For me, it was difficult to be patient, as changes were being made to words that did not actually change the meaning.
When we are dealing with each other or we are getting to know someone, we should ensure we try to see the whole person. If we start to look too closely at smaller, individual traits, we can sometimes not be fair to others about accepting our differences and celebrating each other.
You say “eether” and I say “eyether”
You say “neether” and I say “nyther”
You like “potaytoe” and I like “potahtoe”
Lets call the whole thing off …
It’s a great song from Gershwin and performed by Fred and Ginger, at its heart its about is not letting our differences come between us.
In the Bible, the apostle Paul was writing to the Colossians to encourage to put God’s ideas first.
"Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tender hearted mercy and kindness to others. Don’t worry about making a good impression on them, but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently. Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Most of all, let love guide your life".
Lets understand each other for who we are, let's work together for the bigger picture and not pick holes in our differences but celebrate each other.
'Change' - 26/03/21
I have an aunty who has come out with some wise and wonderful sayings down the years. One of my personal favourites is her assertion that the most dreaded expression in the English language is, “New and improved!”. She's right, of course. How many times have you seen an advert claiming that the thing that you have regularly bought and enjoyed down the years has changed; it has been updated and is now, “New and improved!” - only to find that it has actually changed beyond recognition and is no longer a product that you desire?
We can all think of them. Pears Coal Tar soap improved its fragrance and is no longer the eye watering treat that I remember from my childhood. Wagon Wheels improved to the point where they appear to be half the size they once were. Microsoft regularly improve their software products to provide us with, “a more intuitive experience”; which then requires us to relearn everything we thought we knew about the application. Coca-Cola improved the taste of its product to such a degree that nobody bought it any more and the original formula had to be reintroduced. My personal bugbear is the bag-less vacuum cleaner. How is this an improvement? Yes, I no longer need to spend a few pence every couple of months on new vacuum cleaner bags, but the improved alternative sees me covered in skin cells, hair, clothing fibres, bacteria, mites, soil particles, pollen and microscopic specks of plastic, as I tip the contents of the removable dirt container into my wheelie bin! Still, I'm sure billionaire, Sir James Dyson is convinced that it was a good idea.
Wouldn't it be nice to know that there was something that we value, something that we rely on, something that we love that won't change? The good news is that there is. Down the ages, indeed from the beginning of time, God has never changed. The Bible tells us that He never will, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments”. God's love and His desire to provide for us is never ending and never changing, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”. Whilst God doesn't change, there is one thing that is new every day, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”. Now, that's something that you can't improve on.
'All For Love' - 25/03/21
“To save my son, I would plot with the devil himself.”
Philippa Gregory, The White Queen
The White Queen is a historical novel. It tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, queen consort of King Edward IV. Although she marries the King for love, his family plot against her, and she spends most of her married life trying to safeguard the future of her five children. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end well for her two sons (known as the princes in the tower). This quote is taken when Elizabeth is fighting to free her sons from the tower.
This quote really brings home the emotion and feeling that Elizabeth would do anything to save her family. Whilst she wasn’t ultimately successful, her love and desperation are clear.
Whilst I hope that we would never be in a situation where a member of our family is held captive and we are desperate to free them, unfortunately in the world today, it is a reality for some families.
One current situation is the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Held for over five years now, her husband has never stopped fighting for her release. His depth of love for his wife is clear and enables him to keep persevering.
As we approach Easter, we look back to a man who died over 2000 years ago, because he loved his family. Jesus was prepared to give up everything for us.
John 3:16 describes it like this.
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life."
Jesus was prepared to do anything for us, his family. He loves us, each one of us, and even though we are not perfect and we mess up sometimes, he still loves us with a love that is stronger than death.
In the midst of our Easter preparations, lets never forget the love that Jesus has for us, and what Jesus went through so that we could be part of his amazing worldwide family.
Have you ever wondered what the meaning of your name is? I am fascinated by names. Choosing names for my girls was like a military operation. I spent months working my way through baby name books until I found a name that I liked, and also had a great meaning. I once had a friend called Innocent. He was a prison chaplain. On his first day he walked in there and said, ‘I am Innocent’, to which the reply came, ‘We all are mate!’ My name, Joanne, means ‘grace of God’. I’m assuming Jo, means ‘grrrr’!? In the Bible, names were massively important. Names had meaning and often gave an insight in to the person’s character. There was one man, in the book of Acts, whose name was Joseph....but his friends called him Barnabas! Seems a bit weird! Let’s not call him by his name, let’s call him something else! Barnabas means ‘son of encouragement’, the name was given to him as a compliment! Joseph was such an encouragement to people that they started to call him by what they saw. Ooooo, that got me thinking!! What if, we were all given names that reflected our characters? What would we be called? Happy? Dopey? Friendly? Greedy? Gossip? Loving? Jealous? Sarcastic? Provoking? Generous? Gracious? Miserable? Two-faced?.....I could go on, but you get the picture?! When people watch us, listen to us, observe our lives, both in the good and the bad times, what do they see? The bible puts it like this, in Matthew 17, ‘by your fruit you shall be known’. And so, I look at the life of Jesus, the all perfect, good life of Jesus. I want to be like Him. I want to get to know Him more and more each day and for His good ways to influence me. I hope and pray that when people observe me, they see far more ‘grace of God’ than they do, ‘grrrr’.
And if so, all thanks God and His amazing grace.
'Enjoying His Company' - 23/03/21
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.
James Ch5 v13
Exactly 12 months ago I wrote my first sunrise which included the following words:
The sun is shining, the camellia’s are blooming, the blue tits are nesting and Edward, our local neighbourhood squirrel, has just visited.Do you know what, as I sit here today, the sun isn’t exactly shining at this moment in time but the camellia’s are blooming, the blue tits are nesting and Edward has just visited. We’ve come full circle. It’s been a really trying time with many moments of weariness, sadness and grief but it’s also been a joyful time of friendship, laughter and community at its very best. Over the last 12 months, we’ve been able to come alongside one another (socially distanced of course!) sometimes with requests for help, sometimes with words of encouragement or kindness, sometimes with a joke and sometimes, when there are no words, it’s been said with flowers on a doorstep. We’ve shared the good days and the bad days with one another but the point is that we didn’t have to do it alone.As we come to the end of our reflections from the book of James, the above verse felt like a really good one to finish on. We didn’t make it through the last 12 months alone; we didn’t even make it through just as Melling Baptist Community – we made it through with Emmanuel, God with Us. God has been part of our journey and has been invited into every aspect of it. He’s shared the tough times and our bi-weekly prayer meetings have taken all of the requests for prayer to him, but we’ve also had the privilege of taking our praises and thanks to him as well. God wants us to share every aspect of our lives with him from our requests for help for others and for ourselves to our thanks for the big and small joys to be found in every day. 1 Thessalonians says it quite simply: Pray without ceasing. That doesn’t mean spending every moment on your knees, it simply means allowing God to walk through every moment of every day with you. It means keeping the line of communication open so that he can share the hardship along with the joy. It means enjoying the companionship our father God.
As I look out and see the signs of spring I am filled with hope – hope for warmer days, hope for gatherings of friends and family, hope for a post-Covid world. But most of all I’m filled with hope because I know that I can share it all with God.
'The Bag is Ready' - 22/03/21
‘Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness’. Desmond Tutu.
A few years ago during a choir practice one Monday evening, an elderly lady turned up to listen to us. She sang, clapped, and beamed from ear to ear. At break time she dashed over to the urn and began making cups of tea and coffee for the ‘Lovely Choir’ members. That was our introduction to Vera. And ever since that evening she has been our amazing and ever-faithful choir tea lady! I was chatting to Vera the other day on the phone. We were having a catch up and laughing...and singing! As our conversation was coming to an end, Vera, now in her 90s, announced to me, “don’t worry Jo, the bag is ready for when choir practice starts back.” Vera was simply letting me know how excited she is to re-gain her role has choir tea lady, just as soon as we are able to return. Neither Vera nor myself has any idea what tomorrow may bring, but there’s hope.
When we finally all get back together again, whether that is at the Choir, or at the Hub, or any of our other weekly/monthly activities and events, there is guaranteed to be much excitement and laughter, and also tears and sadness. This last year we have all been through very different experiences... from some experiencing too much noise in the house to others experiencing no noise at all, from people staying well to others experiencing loss and much grief, and then there’s those who haven’t suffered financially and those who are financially broken...the truth is, we have all had different experiences and all need each other. And with each new day, we are one day closer to being back together. We weren’t made to be alone or kept apart. The bible says,
"Laugh with your happy friends when they are happy, share tears when they are down."
We would be lost without the amazing technology we have had over this last year, but nothing replaces actually physically being together and supporting one another. So as we face a new day and a new week, let’s get just a little bit excited, as we creep towards that day when we can see each other face-to-face. And while we don’t know what the future holds, may we find some comfort and help in the God who holds the future. And in the meantime I’m going to get my bag ready.
'Don't Be Negative' - 21/03/21
I’ve been working my way through millions (it feels like that) of old negatives and scanning them onto my computer. It means that I can then make copies for my daughters so I don’t have to print any. Clever hey! The memories come flooding back; it’s more like a tsunami, and can be quite overwhelming. You see your life before children and much more of your life before grandchildren. There are scenes which are clearly from my past but I don’t remember them, although I know my wife will, she forgets nothing which is sometimes difficult for me. There are images of people who are no longer around and even places that don’t exist anymore. Strangely, some of the most moving pictures from the past are of our failed Labrador (not quite 100% Labrador) and the cat that used to live across the road but got bored and moved in with us. We loved Dougal and Sooty, it feels like we still do. It’s interesting how we can still love people, places, and animals that are no longer with us. But when we see some of these negatives, they remind us of difficult and sad times in our past, and we experience feelings of regret as we remember mistakes that we made or opportunities that slipped through our fingers, or we are relieved that we have survived hard times.
There are lessons in this for all of us; every life has its easy days and its tough ones. Whatever our status and circumstances, we all have days when we laugh and days when we cry. It’s called ‘Life’. St. Paul tells us to, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” This may not be easy for us, but if we believe that God loves us and wishes only good for us, it helps us to realize that God is allowing our difficulties for a purpose. There are lessons we need to learn and experiences we need to go through in order that we can understand and sympathise with the people around us in their difficult days. Writing to the Christians in Rome who knew more about hardship than we will ever know, Paul said, “We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us to develop endurance, and endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Life’s twists and turns can be unsettling to put it mildly; King David was often in serious trouble and danger but even in the worst of times he could still say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures for ever.”
Don’t be like my old films; negative.
'How To Become a Hermit' - 20/03/21
In Economics there is a wonderful concept called Marginal Utility. It lies at the heart of the subject and helps to explain patterns of economic behaviour. It simply means extra Satisfaction ie; if I eat one more burger having already eaten 2, how much extra satisfaction will it really give me? In our consumerist society today, we tend to apply a different meaning to these words. Marginal means to be excluded, to be on the margins. Utility is about usefulness and those who are not seen as useful, are regarded as marginal. In Celtic Christianity, some of the Celtic saints chose a life of marginality by becoming a hermit. They would withdraw from society and choose to become marginal, useless. Their role changed to simply being available, walking alongside others in love and devoting themselves to prayer. We are not all called to be hermits ,thank goodness, but if Lent is about love, grace, mercy & forgiveness, surely one of the most love filled things we can do is to serve one another in love; to put the needs and wants of someone else before our own; to put our desire for satisfaction or recognition out of the way. Philippians chapter 2 puts it like this: “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favour: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.”
It is such a sacrificial act to become marginal but as Holy week draws closer perhaps now IS the time to give something up…our need to serve self.
'Sheep' - 19/03/21
I recently watched a programme about farming. I’m not particularly interested in farming, but it was a rainy Sunday afternoon and I had nothing better to do. The farmer featured in the show was a sheep farmer. His entire life revolves around the keeping of sheep. His livelihood is dependent upon the wool and meat derived from these animals. He invests a lot of time and effort in their safekeeping and care.
You would think, therefore, that he would have a fondness for these woolly money makers. Not so! The sheep caused him nothing but problems; largely due to their relentless stupidity. He made the good natured, but exasperated comment, “I spend my life trying to keep these animals safe, but they will find a million different ways to put themselves in danger. They are the most stupid animals on the planet”. We were then treated to the sight of the poor farmer having to rescue a sheep that had fallen in a river. Time and again, just when he had the sheep on the brink of safety, it turned tail and plunged back into the water. It was hard to tell if the sheep was just plain stupid, or if it was deliberately and wilfully frustrating his efforts. I have to confess to a sense of amusement at the farmer’s plight, but, in his position, I may well have given up and joined the vegan lobby.
The Bible makes hundreds of references to sheep and shepherds. Most famously, Jesus describes himself as, “The good shepherd, who lays down his life for his flock” and similarly, He says, “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me” and again, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me”. There is clearly an indication of a relationship between sheep and shepherd; the passages describe a close bond.
Unlike our frustrated farmer, who viewed his flock as something to be tolerated and treated as a means of income, Jesus was invested in His sheep as individuals for whom He cared deeply. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”. Jesus was prepared to lead His flock and to show them the way. He loved His sheep and spent time teaching them, healing them and ultimately laying down His life for them.
That same Jesus is our shepherd too. He still leads, loves, teaches and heals. His sacrifice was for everybody who chooses to accept Him as their shepherd. I’m happy to be a sheep and I’m very glad that my shepherd is prepared to love me, despite my relentless stupidity.
'Negative Numbers' - 18/03/21
Do you know what the mathematical expression is for longing?... The negative numbers. The formalization of the feeling that you are missing something.”
Peter Hoeg, Miss Smilia’s feeling for snow
Miss Smilia’s feeling for snow is a detective novel set in Denmark. Miss Smilia is a scientist/detective who is from Greenland but lives in Denmark. She feels out of place where she lives as she doesn’t feel as if she belongs, hence the quote above.
Unlike the character in the book, I am terrible at maths. However, the idea that negative numbers is a way of expressing that something is lacking is really intriguing to me.
Like Smilia, we can often feel like our life is heading into the negative number range, as if there is something missing. It could be a longing for something we know we don’t have, or simply a feeling that there is ‘something more’.
It’s a very common feeling and one that God understands that we can all feel at times.
In the bible, Jesus encountered a large crowd of people with these feelings. In Mark 6: 34 it says:
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Jesus knew that these people, had what Smilia described as a negative numbers feeling. They had a longing for something more. Jesus knew that what these people needed was a relationship with the living God. By teaching people what God was like, it started them on their journey of faith towards that relationship with him.
Jesus offers us the same today. He wants us to know that we are loved by an everlasting all loving God, and that God wants to teach us and help us through this crazy world we are living in.
So today, whatever we are doing, lets mentally take a step towards God, to let him love us and teach us, and move from the negative numbers, into a positive, life restoring relationship with God.
'We Become What We Behold' - 17/03/21
My Dad is a visionary, I am not. He can look at a square of mud and see a beautiful church or a dwelling. I see a square of mud! He is an architect and still sort of working at the tender age of just over 80.I am in awe. When we first told him and Mum about the fact that , thanks to adoption, our family would become 6 not 4 and it would happen overnight, he looked at our slightly run down home, realised that it might not be quite big enough, and saw something I could not. He sketched some modifications and an extension on the back of an envelope. And saw how home could work for our family.
“We behold what we become” is a quote by a monk called Richard Rohr. When I read that, I first think of beautiful images of the sun and gazing on that and allowing myself to become all sunny in my disposition and annoyingly cheerful. It is so much deeper than that. It is looking at our workplace or our community and beholding it as something awesome, full of potential, full of the Kingdom of God. It is looking at that person who annoys you or has vilified you and beholding in them as an opportunity for forgiveness. In becoming what we behold, we have to act. Celtic Christianity sees hospitality as a key aspect of living. That does not mean having to open your home and feed the neighbours (although, when restrictions are lifted that would be ace);it means seeing those that we meet today and beholding in them ,something of God. Beholding them and treating them as more than just a human being but as a valuable, precious , unique created being, whether they be ‘Billy’ at the checkout in Lidl or a former member of the royal family. In Matthew 25, Jesus says this: “‘For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”
If we want to try to become more Christ like each day, we need to behold and treat those we meet as if they were Christ Himself.
'I Love It When a Plan Comes Together' - 16/03/21
Look here, you who say, “today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year … how do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? What you ought to say is, ‘if the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that’”.
James Ch4 v13-14
For those of you old enough to remember the 1980’s action TV series The A Team, you may recall how this group of disavowed members of the American military travelled the country standing up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves with lots of car chases and explosions along the way. Their leader, Hannibal, was the brains behind everything they did and just as everything started to work out (they always won!), each week he would be heard to say “I love it when a plan comes together” while feeling very pleased with himself for yet another successful mission.
Whether its holidays or education or plans to move house, change our career or to retire – whatever it might be, we love to make plans for our future. There is nothing wrong with that, it is good and natural and it propels us forward in life. But there is a joke in Christian circles that says ‘if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans!’ The point being that for all of our plan-making, we don’t own tomorrow and only God knows what is ahead of us. In fact, if we’ve learned anything over the last 12 months it must be that even the best laid and carefully made plans can suddenly become very fragile and be taken from us.
Those of you who are regulars to our Sunrise messages will have become familiar with the words we read in Jeremiah 29: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a hope and a future”. Only God can truly take care of tomorrow so as we make our plans for the future; for the holidays that we missed; the education or career that we desire or simply for the physical gathering of friends that we yearn for – let’s remember to hold our plans loosely. Let’s receive and give thanks for the gift of today and put our plans for our tomorrows into God’s care because his plans are better than we can imagine and he really does love it when his plans for us come together.
'Everyone's a Winner' - 15/03/21
There are millions of people who every year pay to take part in crazy and very muddy events, apparently because they enjoy them. They run for miles over an obstacle course, climb vertical walls, scramble up inside an upright pipe with water pouring down inside it, slip and slide through mud that’s feet deep, frequently disappearing completely. They swing or try to swing over filthy pools of smelly disgusting water (I think it’s water) and squirm through very claustrophobic tunnels, and after all of this they get a certificate that confirms their insanity. They insist on doing it all again next year and collect another certificate that joins all the others, proudly framed, on their kitchen walls.
Some of them consider it to be a personal challenge to overcome their fears and test their limit of endurance. For others, the attraction is teamwork where the crazy competitors help and support each other. One competitor came up with the expression, ‘The No Judgment Zone’ because people who are complete strangers go out of their way to help and support each other. It doesn’t matter about colour, gender, age, size; everyone helps everyone. There’s no 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, everyone who gets to the end of the course is a ‘winner’.
In the early days of Christianity it was understood that the way forward was to imitate Jesus in His approach to people of all kinds. He broke all society’s laws and customs by talking to, listening to, and helping anybody. The leaders who made the rules were appalled but He ignored them, and He changed the lives of many individuals and families by demonstrating respect and concern. Nothing has changed, being prepared and willing to help anyone, if we have the ability and opportunity, is still a biblical principle and a demonstration of God’s love. In the Bible book of Hebrews, we read these words of advice to all Christians, in all countries, and at all times in history, including us here in Melling today, ‘Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together (as some people do), but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.’ When they talked about meeting together, they didn’t have Covid to deal with like we do, but they didn’t have phones and Zoom like we do. When lockdown ends and we start meeting each other, let’s make sure we are not strangers. And as new people join us, let’s remember ‘The No Judgment Zone’.
'THANK YOU' - 14/03/21
Today is a difficult day for many people. Mother’s Day can bring back good or bad memories. It can fuel such painful emotions. Or it may cause great excitement and ‘I’ve made you breakfast’ moments.
‘Mums’ may be mums, dads, carers, aunties, uncles, nans, grandads, neighbours, friends.....but we all have one thing in common, we’re not perfect.
Today I want to say THANKYOU to all the ‘mums’ who have been up countless nights with a screaming baby and still managed to get through the next day;
THANKYOU to all those ‘mums’ who have sent their children in to school in their uniform only to realise its own-clothes day;
THANKYOU to all those ‘mums’ who felt like crying when they made dinner only for it to be looked at with eyes that said ‘what’s that???’
THANKYOU to all those ‘mums’ who have felt like failures....I complete relate!
Being a ‘mum’ can be really tough. Happiness, good health, success and contentment is what any loving ‘mum’ wants for their children, but it’s not guaranteed. There can be great, happiness, and there can be immense sadness. Like the song says, ‘love hurts’. When one of my daughters hurts, I hurt, but when they are having a great time, well, that’s wonderful!
THANKYOU to everyone who has filled the role of ‘mum’ in some way for someone and experienced the laughter and the pain.
At this strange time of social isolation let’s use our time wisely. Let’s remember to be thankful for the wonderful, amazing, imperfect ‘mums’ both past and present. May God bless us with wonderful memories. May He comfort those who grieve. May He rejoice with those having fun. May He heal those in pain. May this be a time when families and friends, whilst physically apart, can be drawn closer together. Whatever you are feeling today, the bible says that God knows, He understands, He cares.
"You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."
Psalm 139:1-10
'Doing What I Tell It' - 13/03/21
Its not often that you here someone complaining about doing as they are told. However, a colleague of mine would often call about his computer and sounding very frustrated would tell me “Help, the computer is doing what I tell it to do, not what I want it to do!”
The many types of technology that we have available these days can sometimes be quite confusing to operate, and its still because of this underlying fact. If you know how to tell it what to do, it will do it. However, if you are not sure how to do it, it can be very frustrating when you cannot make it do what you want.
Usually, this is the other way around, with parents saying their children are doing what they want to do and not what I tell them to do. Sometimes, its wives about husbands, but obviously that’s not me!! It can be frustrating when you want someone to do something but they do something else instead.
I sometimes feel that God must become very frustrated because I may do what I want and not as he guides and instructs us. But God does not get frustrated, He keeps loving and forgiving us when we get things wrong, he understands us and he also knows how we should behave. The bible can offer us lots of great advice on what we should do, but God gives us the choice of what to do.
The bible is filled with many passages that can help us to live our lives in a loving, caring, selfless manner. With God’s help we can strive towards that goal. One book full of many short phrases that can be help is Proverbs, and there is one passage that sums it up
Proverbs 3
"Don’t forget all I’ve taught you; take to heart my commands.
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
He’s the one who will keep you on track."
God loves us so much, that he allows us to choose. Read or listen to His words from the Bible and they will guide us to his saving love. Trust in him, trust in his teaching and his love and peace will fill us.
'Effort' - 12/03/21
Here we are in March, a full year into the pandemic and we now have a roadmap for the gradual escape from lockdown. Children have returned to school; offering relief to some parents struggling with maintaining their own performance at work whilst juggling home schooling. Hairdressers will soon be open; offering relief to some people struggling with split ends and unruly curls. The hospitality and entertainment industries are set to be re-opened in June, offering relief to those who have missed going for a drink with friends or desperately wanting to see what happens to James Bond.
A return to normal is on the horizon, but I wonder if it will be the old normal, or will we have moved on. The pandemic has been a time when we have all needed to find new ways to live our daily lives. The lack of options to occupy our time and the need to spend more time stuck indoors, looking at the same old faces every day, or perhaps not having any faces to look at, has put a strain on us all.
For the majority of us, these are the lives we chose and the last year has put us in a position where we have had to face up to those choices. After all, those people we have been stuck with twenty-four hours a day are the people we decided to spend our lives with. We have had to do so for months on end without the benefits of the usual respite mechanisms. There has been no cinema or theatre to occupy a few hours. Our opportunity to socialise with friends and let them take some of the strain has been denied us. We have simply had to get on with it… with varying results. It will be interesting to see how we all come out the other side.
The many people who have chosen to view the situation in a positive light have benefitted from the effort versus reward ratio. I know some people who chose not to send their young children to school, even though they are key workers and could have done so. Their reasoning was that the chance to spend so much time with them was unlikely to come again. Their decision turned their world upside down for a while and had its share of difficulties, but they believe the benefits outweighed those difficulties.
Another friend, who lives alone and has been required to shield due to health issues, decided to take steps to alleviate his loneliness by mastering social media and continuing his relationships online. He has even established a transatlantic darts tournament in which he competes via video call with his friend who lives in Chicago. He believes that this has actually strengthened his relationships and each friend is grateful to the others for the efforts they have made.
In some ways this mirrors our relationship with God. With or without Covid, our lives change to varying degrees all the time and we adjust to cope with whatever new reality we are faced with. We have to change our schedules to fit everything in. Just like the people who made the effort to make lockdown work for them by ensuring they still spent time with the people who matter to them, we need to make sure that we make the effort to spend time with God and give Him the position he deserves in our lives. We made a decision to include God in our lives just as we made a decision to spend our lives with the people around us. Whilst we may have found it a struggle to adjust to being with people twenty-four hours a day in strained circumstances, God is always happy to spend twenty-four hours a day with us and He lets nothing get in His way, “I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created”.
'All the King's Horses...' - 10/03/21
You’re an incredibly rare person, if, in these last few days, you have not read something, nor watched something, nor heard something about Prince Harry and Megan Markle and the shocking interview they gave to Oprah Winfrey last week.
Indeed, for the last several years, almost on the daily, we have been bombarded with headlines about what Harry did, what Megan said, how rude she was, how angry he got… it has just gone on and on! And to be honest, if I saw a headline, I turned the page or scrolled past it. Since the interview was aired on British TV on Tuesday, there are more headlines than ever before! Only this time they are slightly different. Now they raise questions about racism, cruelty, lack of help and support… and it would seem that you are either for the Sussexes or against them, for the royal family or against them.
But there is a problem with this. None of us have any idea what is true, what is a lie, what has been exaggerated, or misunderstood on either side. These are people we haven’t met, and we don’t know personally. And yet the pressure is on for us to take a side!! But how can I take a side when I don’t have all the facts?
But there are things that I do know. I know that racism it’s 100% wrong!
I know that poor mental health can be devastating and must be given the help it needs!
I know that two young boys that went through tragedy and loss grew up to be two young men who have dealt very differently with their grief and their pain. Both dealing with it as best they could!
And I know, that this entire royal family, regardless of their wealth, position and power, are a broken, devastated, hurting and imperfect family!
Mistakes have been made, words have been spoken and actions taken.
And here we are.
Jesus, when asked about the greatest commandment, responded with these words...
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength, AND love your neighbour as you love yourself’.
Jesus knew what he was talking about. He knew that each one of us is capable of pride, and selfishness, prejudice and seeking position. He knew all about the hurt we are capable of causing. We may not make the headlines, and we may not have family problems like the royal family have at the moment, but we have all messed up. Each one of us is imperfect.
C S Lewis spoke with wisdom when he said,
‘you can’t go back and change the beginning but you can start from where you are and change the ending’.
My prayer for each one of us is that we can look at today as a new beginning. May we learn from the past. May we choose better words, and kinder actions. May we choose daily to love God and to ask him to help us to love our neighbours (even the difficult ones!) Whatever our beginnings have looked like, may we choose to have even better endings. And as for the royal family, what an almighty mess! May they seek the Almighty God for answers, guidance, wisdom and reconciliation. I wish them all well.
'Humility' - 09/03/21
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up in honour.
James Ch4 v10
We live in a culture that holds celebrities in high regard so it’s hardly surprising that this would eventually go the heads of some of them. When appearing on a show or on tour, celebrities are in a position to make demands of the venue – the demands that some of them make, say a lot about who they are. For example, while on tour Mariah Carey required a person to be on hand whose sole purpose was to throw away her gum! Singer Christina Aguilera on the other hand really doesn’t like a traffic jam – so much so, that she requests a police escort stating that under no circumstances are the vehicles in her entourage to be allowed to encounter any delays due to traffic. After her break up with Justin Bieber, actress Selena Gomez stated that she would not work with anyone named ‘Justin’ requiring a number of crew members to change their names so as not to upset her. Madonna on the other hand requires a 200 person entourage and her backstage room must resemble her own home complete with flower scented fabric furniture! It would seem that the higher up the celebrity ranking you go, the more outrageous the demands you can make.
Jesus told a story in the book of Luke of a Pharisee (Jewish leader) and a tax collector – the Pharisee was filled with his own self-importance and prayed to God to give thanks that he wasn’t like other people; that he wasn’t like that despised tax collector. The tax collector, on the other hand, stood at a distance, not even able to lift his eyes heavenward, and prayed that God would be merciful to him for the many things he had done wrong. Jesus summed the story up: “This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.” (The Message).
God doesn’t measure our importance by the size of our entourage or the demands we make – we are enough just as we are; God’s request is simple, that we “act justly and to love mercy and walk humbly with your God”. CS Lewis put it this way – “true humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less” – once we know we are enough just as we are, we don’t need to draw attention to how important we are and we can turn our energies outwards towards others.
Let’s remind ourselves this week that we don’t need the distraction and fluff of self-importance to get God’s attention, we already have that, and that’s more than enough.
'Look At Him Now' - 08/03/21
Yesterday I saw a photo of a tiny boy, between 1-2 years old, who had been suffering from starvation in Nigeria. It was taken 5 years ago in 2016. We’ve all seen those kinds of images haven’t we? Desperation and injustice! Except this time, it came with a couple of other photos. Photos from now, 5 years later, and that same little boy is beaming, dressed in a very smart suit, going to a wedding, looking the picture of health and happiness. It is such a beautiful image, and to top it off, his name is Hope!
5 years ago no one could be blamed for thinking that this little one was beyond help. Too ill. Unbearable circumstances in the country. Limited access to medical care. But somebody saw this little boy and had a glimmer of Hope. And they helped him.
Maybe you’ve experienced tough times, traumatic circumstances, loneliness, bullying, illness, family worries. And maybe, just like with little Hope, we can’t imagine things getting better. Maybe the struggles are continuing now, or maybe they’ve gone, but we’re still living with the memories of them and we can’t move forward.
I heard recently of someone who received a phone call from a friend who was so upset they could barely talk. Life had become so difficult, they had lost hope, the struggles were just too big. The friend receiving the call listened, offered support, and promised to be there....and a glimmer of hope was restored.
Take a moment to look at the photos of Hope. They speak for themselves. Whether you’re the one struggling or you know someone who is, remember Hope.
'A Man Of Few Words' - 07/03/21
Maybe because I’m impatient or not very bright or just not willing to pay attention, I get bored when people use more words than are necessary. I like one-liners because the humour is instant and you can get a lot in a short amount of time. One of my favourite comedians is Tim Vine who has won many awards for very brief jokes like, “I’m so lazy I’ve got a smoke alarm with a snooze button” or “The advantages of easy origami are two-fold.” You must all have struggled with legal documents that seem to use five times more words than are needed. I came across this recently, ‘References in these regulations to a regulation are references to a regulation in these regulations.’ It’s not very long but it’s still too long. If you listen to an interview with a politician, you could believe that they get paid for the number of words they use to answer a question, or maybe not answer a question. In Jesus time there were many people who wanted to express their beliefs and use as many words as they could get away with. He was always able to respond and frequently silenced people in the process. But often He ended a conversation with a single statement that summed up the entire subject.
Sometimes He was happy just to use a few words that spoke volumes. He saw a man who had been an invalid for 38 years and asked him, “Do you want to get well?” The man began to explain why he had been there for so long, but Jesus just said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Job done. I like that, so did the man. One dark and wild night as the disciples were struggling to row across stormy Galilee, Jesus walked across the water to them and they were terrified but He simply said, “It is I, don’t be afraid.” They didn’t get a lengthy explanation which is just as well because He didn’t give them one. At the end of a theological conversation, Jesus wrapped it up by saying, “Before Abraham was, I am.” How profound is that? Five words that expressed an earth shattering truth. There are many more but probably the shortest and most amazing statement from Jesus was the last one before He died, “It is finished.”
The past year has caused huge anxiety, fear, loneliness and confusion and the last thing that most people want is a lecture. Let’s keep our word count low but our concern and compassion high. What we say is much more important than how many words we use to say it. Jesus said, “This is my command: love each other.” Seven words; even I can remember that.
'Staying Connected' - 06/03/21
Our connections with people are very different currently. When you can’t see who you are talking to, you miss out on so many visual clues to how people are responding to the conversation. The funny look you might be getting, or the squirming in the chair or getting fidgety and restless. Even on a video call, the interaction with people is not real enough to truly get a feel for a conversation when you only see their head and shoulders. I recently attended a training course for my job which would normally have been in a nice hotel, sat in a comfortable conference room, chatting with colleagues or getting to know people from different companies. Instead, I was sat at home, on mute, no video, listening to a trainer trying desperately to bring to life the training and interactions between the delegates. We have had to rely upon a reduced way of keeping in touch, which is not quite the same and not always reliable.
Last summer, when we were able to meet people in a garden having not seen them for ages, it felt a bit strange at first, and then it quickly felt like we hadn’t been apart at all. We are now looking forward to the next step as lockdown is gradually eased, how will it feel when we can meet up with another family, meet in a group, go to a cinema or restaurant, or squash into a busy train. We will get used to it again probably far quicker than we imagine.
We are a social people, we enjoy the company of others, we enjoy the contact with others. One of the benefits of lockdown has been a realisation that our relationships with each other is important. As we get through this lockdown, lets remember that the things we cant do now, when we are able to do them, will have more value when we can do it together. Going for a walk in a group, going for a coffee in a group, having a group of people sat in our lounge.
In our relationship with God, He longs to be close to us and when we get distracted by other things, our time with Him can be interrupted. But when we realise that our relationship with Him is key, it adds to all the things we do. Our connection with God can sometimes be difficult with things going on around us, but then when we get back to Him, it feels like the right place to be.
Lets stay connected with a God who loves us. In the book of James Chapter 4v8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”.
'Spring' - 05/03/21
We have reached that dangerous time of the year. The time when my wife’s thoughts turn to Spring. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Spring. It is a time of hope, a time when things are made new, and let’s be honest, we could all do with some of that at the moment.
The problem with Spring is that, for my lovely wife, it is also a time to throw things away. We are all familiar with the term Spring cleaning, but she takes things to a whole new level. She doesn’t clean things per se, she just throws them away! Well, I suppose it saves having to clean them. Nothing is safe. Anything deemed surplus to requirements - her requirements, that is - finds its way into the wheelie bin. I have found it best to keep moving, or wear a hi-vis jacket marked, “Still in Use”, so that I too don’t fall victim to the purge.
Now, her basic principle has merit. There is no point hanging on to things that have outlived their usefulness. If you don’t use it, get rid of it. Otherwise, it simply takes up space that could be used for more useful things, or just used as free space. It’s just the vigour with which she applies the principle that takes the breath away. That is until we come to the matter of coats. Apparently, coats are exempt from the scorched earth policy. Coats; many of them unworn since the dawn of time, inhabit entire wardrobes, safe in the knowledge that they have special dispensation from the authorities to remain there for as long as they wish.
It’s funny what we choose to cling on to. For some it’s coats, for others it’s shoes or tee shirts, old football programmes or cuddly toys. For others it’s anger or bitterness, sadness or despair. We sometimes keep hold of things that are not good for us. Things that hold us back. Things that would be better left behind.
That is not what God wants for us. God wants us to leave behind the things that hinder us. He wants to make us new. For God, every day is Spring. “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”. For us to be a part of the new things that God is doing, we need to leave behind the baggage. We need to be renewed. For this, we usually need God’s help, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me”. Once we have done so, we become a new person, the person God would have us be, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; the new has come”.
So, is it time to make space for God to help us change? If the answer is, “Yes”, then we can start by throwing away the coats.
'Love is Worth it' - 04/03/21
When he asked my grandmother if she would mind being poor, she said she would be happy just to have her daughter and himself: 'If you have love, even plain water is sweet.”
Jung Chang, Wild Swans
Wild Swans is the true story of three generations of women living in China in the 20th century. In this part of the book, Jung’s grandmother has escaped the opulent but oppressive life of a concubine in a wealthy general’s home with her daughter and falls in love with a much poorer man, hence his concern.
Jung’s grandmother knew that without love, even the opulence she had been used to wasn’t worth it. She chose love and did not regret her decision, even though life for them was very hard.
If we can cast our minds back to before the pandemic, society was very good at telling us that money and position really mattered. What house you had, what car you drove, what holidays you went on, were how society would define you. The realities of living in a pandemic have helped us realise that these things are not as important as society would have us believe. Love, health, and family are far more important.
God tells us again and again in the Bible how wonderful His Love is. In 1 Corinthians 13 he makes it clear how strong and powerful that love is;
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
God loves us and that love is amazing. It is everything he describes here and more. He longs to surround us with this wonderful love, and when we accept it he enables us to love others with that same love.
Just like Jung Chang’s grandmother, he invites us to choose love every time. The amazing all-encompassing, death defeating Love of God, Father, Son and Spirit. Gods Love is worth it.
'You're Useless' - 03/03/21
Mental health is so important and yet I damage mine by trying to fix things in my mind; often even imagining future situations so that I have something to work on. The human mind lives so often like this, in a hamster wheel of problems and problem solving. It comes from our need to be useful and to be in control. Our need to control, to be in charge can sometimes, however well meant, be unhelpful. How often, when asked to pray or to listen, do we feel that urge, to fix the problem, to offer solutions that have not been asked for and even worse, to step in and take over.
One of the Celtic Saints, Thomas Merton said this: “The monk is not defined by his task; in a certain sense he is supposed to be useless, because his mission his not to do this or that job but to be a man of God.”
When Jesus was in Gethsemane shortly before his death, his request of his dearest friends was that they should keep watch and pray: Matthew 26: v.36 :Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’
One of the most encouraging things about our community is that when Jo posts a prayer request, so many folks simply reply “Praying” or put an emoji of the praying hands. With prayer we do not need to fix anything. With prayer we can keep watch over those who need help, even if we do not know them. With prayer we can be useful at the point when we feel useless. When we pray, God hears and that is more than enough.
'God's Family' - 02/03/21
Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
James Ch4 v8
As we start the month of March, I find myself still sitting at home working from my dining table. I have now spent 12 months watching over my garden as I work, seeing how the seasons have changed it; watching the squirrels and seeing the return of the Blue Tits to nest in our box. Who would have thought we’d still be here in lockdown, 12 months later! What we thought would be a few weeks of separation from friends and family has now been a year with just a few relaxations of rules along the way.
The last 12 months brought about many changes in our lives, we’ve learned how to use technology in a way we couldn’t have imagined; we’ve spent time online on a Sunday morning getting to know one another, drinking coffee and chatting over God’s word; we’ve laughed over virtual Bingo while playing for worthless and bizarre prizes; we’ve sung ‘Happy Birthday’ over Zoom more times than I care to remember and most of them I would rather forget! We’ve played quizzes and held fundraisers – who would have thought we could be so busy and productive without ever being able to sit together! But through all of this we’ve shared more than just laughter, we’ve been able to offer support to one another. A phone call, a text message, a bunch of flowers on the doorstep – or perhaps a gnome. The laughter has been so much more than just laughter, it’s been family.
We are a community of people who gather, albeit virtually at the moment – but we are so much more than that because we are a community of people who have God at its heart. Throughout everything that has taken place over the last 12 months, God has been with us. He has laughed with us and cried with us, he has heard our prayers and felt our anxieties but at no point has he ever left us. When we look for God, he will be there and what’s more, he will stick around through the good times and the bad.
In the book of Joshua we read: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”.
We’ve become quite used to uncertainty over the last 12 months and while we have cause for great hope for the coming months, let’s not lose sight of the fact that God has been with us through everything we have experienced so far and will continue to be with us through the joys and the tears of whatever is to come. Let’s invite God into every aspect of our lives and let’s face tomorrow with the strength and courage that comes from knowing that God is with us because when we open our lives to God, he moves in and he stays.
'Remember to Remember' - 01/03/21
‘Remember the way He led you up to the top of the highest mountain
Remember the way He carried you through the deepest dark
Remember His promises for every step on the road ahead
Look where you've been and where you're going
And remember to remember’
(Steven Curtis Chapman)
On May 31st 2008, Christian musician and singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest daughter, Maria-Sue passed away in a tragic accident. Maria, just 5 years old had been playing in her garden when she saw her 17 year old brother, Will, arriving home in his truck. As Will backed into the path, Maria appeared from nowhere and was knocked down. For many people it will be hard to comprehend the devastation felt by the Chapman family. Not only for the loss of their adored little daughter and sister, but also the pain and guilt felt by Will. In the days and weeks, months and years since the accident, the family spoke of having great days and terrible days. But one thing remained constant, their belief in a God who laughed with them and wept with them, and never left them.
Remember to Remember is one of Steven’s most recent songs. It speaks of the trials and traumas of life, the good times and the bad. Life! And it’s the words of a man in the midst of both joy and deep grief acknowledging that God has walked with him through it all. It’s a powerful and beautiful song.
Sometimes life can be tough, painful, overwhelming, at other times we can have so much joy and happiness. Whatever place you are in at the moment, can I encourage each one of us to look back and see all that we can be thankful for. And in those toughest of times may we recognise and remember a God who said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you’. May we all remember to remember.
April '21 Sunrises
'Can't Buy Me Love' - 30/04/21
Last week saw the furore surrounding the creation of football's so called, European Super League. Depending upon who you chose to listen to, this proposed venture was designed to be the saviour of a game slowly losing its fan-base among the younger generation, or it was a cynical attempt by the richest clubs in Europe to divide future spoils amongst themselves, at the expense of those clubs whose finances don't currently allow them to buy into this exclusive club and who will never be able to do so if the scheme goes ahead.
Many people felt that this was a step too far and protests by fans brought about the withdrawal of English clubs from the league. The thought that clubs could buy themselves a place in the league without earning it by their on-field performance was anathema to some. To others, the fact that the league was effectively a closed shop went against everything they believed sport should be. Personally, I found it interesting that in a time of national crisis, it was football that seemed to unite public opinion and that the public protests were allowed to take place with no restrictions, when other causes have had to struggle, sometimes physically, to make themselves heard. Anyhow, that debate, and the one about the future of football, is for another time and another forum.
What got me thinking was the argument regarding buying into a better future, rather than earning it. In life, it is possible to both buy and earn your future – if we think of that future in simple terms, such as being better off financially. To buy it, you need to have the money in the first place... much like the twelve football teams who wanted to start their own competition. If you don't have the financial wherewithal to invest in your own future, then you need to work hard to earn the money to secure it.
Of course, this doesn't give you any guarantee of happiness. There can be no doubt that not having to worry about where the next penny is coming from is going to relieve certain anxieties, but that doesn't necessarily equate to happiness... and let's not forget that the Beatles told us that, “money can't buy me love”. Still, we must surely have to do something, because let's face it, nobody is going to just hand things to us on a plate. You don't get something for nothing... or do you?
The Bible tells us that eternal life is a gift and that it is for everybody, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. There is no mention of buying or earning salvation. In fact it is very specifically stated that you cannot buy any of the gifts God wishes to give us, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money”. Similarly, it is made clear that you cannot earn it, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast”. So, no exclusive, invitation only club based upon wealth; not even entry based on merit or hard work. Simply a gift. All that is required of us is to accept the gift. How? It's very simple, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”. Why does God give us these gifts? Because He loves us and that love is free... it seems the Beatles were right.
'Have You Had Your Breakfast' - 29/04/21
We had our breakfasts--whatever happens in a house, robbery or murder, it doesn't matter, you must have your breakfast.”
Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone
The Moonstone is a detective novel. A young woman (Rachel) has inherited a large Indian diamond of great cultural significance on her 18h birthday. However, it is stolen, and her uncle is determined to find the culprits.
What would your favourite breakfast be? Full English, Croissants and pastries, American pancakes and waffles, or cereal and toast?
Many studies have shown the importance of having breakfast. It kick starts your metabolism for the day, reduces snacking, improves mood, and generally prepares our bodies for the day ahead. Did you know that our bodies are most active between 6-9am as everything has to wake up and get going! So, breakfast gives us energy at a time when our bodies need it most.
Some people love mornings, leaping out of bed each day ready to go. I am not a morning person at all, my body needs several cups of tea and some food before I can make any sense at all!
However we wake up, we all cope better with whatever the day throws at us if we are prepared.
God made us and he loves us and he knows us better then we know ourselves. He knows how we ‘tick’, and he reminds us in the bible that preparation is the key
Ephesians 6
'Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential.'
God knows that life can be tough, but he is with us every step of the way. The closer we stick to God, love him, talk with him and follow his ways, the better prepared we will be for whatever we have to face.
Do you take time each day to just sit quietly with God? It’s a great practice to get in the habit of doing. It doesn’t have to be long, but just as breakfast prepares the body, time with God each day prepares the soul. Its as important as bacon and eggs!
'Careful !' - 28/04/21
“I woke up still not dead again today
The internet said I had passed away....”
Willie Nelson wrote this song in response to reading the news that he had passed away.
Last Sunday I caused great confusion with a text message I sent out. I was wanting to explain why there was no Sunrise posted on the website that day. The first day without one since beginning Sunrises in March 2020! I explained that I had forgotten to have the message posted, and that the “Sunrise Queen“ was now enjoying the afternoon in the park with friends. What followed was a whole host of messages being sent to me wishing me a happy afternoon in the park with my friends. How lovely! Except I would never, in a million years, call myself the Sunrise Queen! I have a wonderful group of writers who join me each week in writing them. We wouldn’t have Sunrises without them!!! But on this occasion I was referring to one of my chicks who faithfully uploads each Sunrise onto the website each day. After she went out I realised, no Sunrise! This was a funny incident and the text messages made me laugh. My poor use of words had confused many! Clearly no harm was caused but it is an example of how misunderstandings can happen.
When we are communicating with others it’s so easy for us to add details, take away details, exaggerate the situation and speak out of context. Before we know it, feelings have been hurt, relationships broken and sometimes whole lives have been destroyed. All because communication was careless and sides wouldn’t take the time to clear up a misunderstanding.
I read recently about a young girl who had been horrifically bullied at school. It all started with a text message that had been completely written out of context about her. Had the message been written correctly there wouldn’t have been a problem but before anyone knew of the miscommunication, news had spread, words had been added, and a whole new story developed. This young girl who had done nothing wrong, went on to endure months of mockery and abuse at the hands of cruel and careless individuals. All because of one poorly worded text.
And it’s not only text messages that are problematic, our tongues can be very dangerous.
Proverbs in the Bible has much to say about communication,
‘An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing’.
‘The tongue can bring death or life, those who love to talk will reap the consequences’.
‘Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish’.
And James had some wise advice for us all, ‘Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry’.
Communication is vital to our daily lives. But before we jump to conclusions and possibly misunderstand a situation, may we seek to know the truth and do it with dignity and much grace.
‘May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be pleasing to you, oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer’. Psalm 19:14.
'What's In A Name' - 27/04/21
“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
Exodus 20: 7
Did you know that there is a word specifically to describe a word which we use in everyday language which has its origins in someone’s name? Apparently it’s called an eponym. For example, the word ‘cardigan’ comes from the 7th Earl of Cardigan who designed a woollen kind of waistcoat for his troops to wear to keep them warm. The name stuck and we now recognise the item of clothing by his name. Likewise, apparently the sandwich which so many of us regularly enjoy came from the 4th Earl of Sandwich. He had a serious gambling problem and in order to allow him to carry on playing at the tables and not need to stop to eat, he asked the cook to prepare him something that he could eat from his seat without having to move. The cook presented him with some slices of bread with meat in between and the sandwich was born!
Our names matter to us don’t they? We take great care in choosing names for our children wanting their names to reflect something of us and our personalities or perhaps the personalities that we hope they will become. “Oy You!” just doesn’t cut it and we much prefer for someone to be bothered to know our name and use it.
There are many names for God – Creator, Almighty, Father, Prince of Peace, The Rock, Deliverer, King of Kings, Shepherd… the list goes on and on and on but all of those characteristics and names we give Him are summed up in one name – God. That’s what makes it so special. It isn’t simply one name that describes one character trait or one thing that he is known by, it describes the all powerful, all knowing, all loving God who created all things.
So when we come to this 3rd commandment that says that we mustn’t misuse His name, there is good reason for that. When we use his name as an exclamation or a curse we are removing all of its value making it seem insignificant and worthless. In the book of Proverbs we read these words : “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe”. The name of God our father represents love, power, protection, peace and joy; His name represents so much that is good, loving and gracious – let’s not take the meaning out of His name by using it thoughtlessly or carelessly. Let the next time that you speak His name be in humility and thankfulness for all that he has done and continues to do for each of us.
'Who Is The Man' - 26/04/21
Probably you all know this story in the book of Mark chapter 4. It describes the day that the experienced fishermen who were Jesus’ disciples were so battered in their boat by a violent storm that they thought they would drown. They woke Jesus up who didn’t appear to be concerned about their situation and He simply and quietly calmed the storm. Mark records that the terrified men asked each other this question, “Who is this man.” If we had been there, we would be asking the same question. Mark was keen that everybody who wasn’t there should understand the truth and so in the next chapter he relates three stories that are meant to provide the answer to that question. Once on dry land the hugely relieved disciples watched Jesus at work again. He cast out multiple demons from a possessed man who terrified everyone, then he healed a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, and as an encore He brought a young girl back to life. All of that would surely answer the disciples question “Who is this man.” Jesus is God in the flesh, He is the one with power over nature, the spirit world, our bodies, and he has power over death itself.
Many of us have had very stormy days in recent times and have felt the same fear that the disciples felt. Maybe your storm was, or is, connected to fear or sadness or illness, loneliness or depression. Sometimes it looks as if there’s no way out; that’s what the fishermen on Galilee thought, but Jesus came to their rescue. The Bible teaches that, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’ Even in the 21st century He invites us to trust Him in our storms; sometimes He quietens the wind and waves in our lives but sometimes our storms continue unabated but He provides peace that is beyond human understanding. He said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Against all the odds, Jesus gave His disciples peace that the world could not match; if we can accept who He is and what He has done for us, then He can calm our storms or bring us peace. It would be good to hear each other’s stories of calmness and peace when we didn’t expect it.
I Moved Office! - 24/04/21
It is a peculiar thing to say at this time, since my office has been at home since March 2020. But yes, I have moved office.
Well actually, I moved room, from the front room to an upstairs bedroom.
It is only a small move but it has changed my perspective. From my front room, I can see the road outside my house, I can watch the cars and buses going past, I can watch people out walking their dog or getting their daily exercise running or cycling. I can see who is at the door before they ring the bell.
Now, my view is different, I can see the motorway with cars and trucks on longer journeys, I can see traffic lights as switch island, the big advertisement signs near Aintree retail, the massive cranes at the docks. The trucks bringing our supplies to the shops. Sometimes, I can see the blue lights of emergency vehicles rushing to help someone. On a clear day, I can see the hills across into North Wales.
I only moved a short distance, not moving east or west or north or south, just up one flight of stairs. I am in the same spot but I have lifted my view.
Sometimes, we do need to lift up our view, we can be limited to seeing a small view of what is going on and not seeing a bigger picture. What is happening around us is very important and so is seeing something of what is happening further afield. But seeing what is happening from another view can help us realise how we are part of a bigger thing.
In the Psalms, there is a reminder in a song, believed to be sung by pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem, reminding themselves of the bigger picture of how God was with them.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
As we go about our day to day lives, let us remember to lift our eyes to the Lord. Let us remember that whilst we are busy in our small places, the very maker of Heaven and Earth is watching our every step, providing shelter and comfort to each of us.
'Design' - 23/04/21
Now that restaurants have opened their outside spaces to paying customers, I took the opportunity one afternoon this week to sit at a table and enjoy a nice meal al fresco in the Spring sunshine. I like to have a table with a view and, on this occasion, I was able to secure one that afforded me a splendid vista that took in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral.
It is a truly impressive sight. The huge sandstone tower looms 331 feet above St James' Mount, dominating the skyline. It is the longest cathedral in the world, as well as being the largest in England and fifth largest in the world. It's central tower contains the largest gothic arch in the world and the bells of the cathedral are the world's highest and heaviest ringing peal. Construction began in 1904 and the building work was finally completed in 1978, meaning that it is strictly the newer of Liverpool's two cathedrals.
Cathedrals tend to be a focal point for tourists. Visitors to any city that boasts a cathedral seem drawn to them. St Paul's in London; St Peter's in Rome; St Patrick's in New York and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona will be high on the list of attractions for anybody spending time in those cities. People flock to marvel at the architecture, the grandeur, the wealth. Incredible statues, paintings, mosaics and tapestries adorn the chapels and walls of these magnificent buildings and are rightly admired. The architecture and design is beyond compare, but I wonder if people stop to ask themselves why they are there.
They are there as a testament to the greatest designer of them all. This is man's attempt to build a monument to God to celebrate the wonders of His creation. To thank Him for all that He has done for us. To put our all into creating a space worthy of His name. Despite how truly awe inspiring some of these buildings are, they are nothing when compared to the works of God's hand. The opening passage of the very first book in the Bible tells us of creation. Of a time when God made everything from nothing. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". Light, water, earth, sky, plants, trees, vegetation, fruit, the moon, the sun, stars, birds of the air, creatures of the land and sea and finally, mankind. God made them all and when He had finished He declared that it was very good. Not only is God the creator of everything, He is also the master of understatement. We can never hope to come close to His wonderful creation, but I'm glad that we try; because not only can the wonderful cathedrals seen across the world be enjoyed for their inherent beauty, but they can also help to point us towards the real beauty of creation and more importantly, towards its creator.
'Laughter Lines' - 22/04/21
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”
William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
As a little girl, whenever we visited my grandmother, my sister would take great delight in counting her wrinkles, to see if she had any more from the last visit! My grandmothers response was always the same. She would explain that she had lived a very happy life, and the wrinkles were a sign of that.
Shakespeare clearly had the same idea, the more you enjoyed life and laughed, the more wrinkles you ended up with.
I am not sure it works exactly like this, but it is lovely to think that all the happiness and joy we have experienced somehow shows up on our faces.
Can you remember the last time you laughed till you cried? Or the time that something silly made you giggle, and every time you think of it you giggle again? I love the fact that we have this wonderful gift of laughter and fun from God.
When Jesus was explaining why he had come to his followers in John Chapter 10, he describes himself as three things.
Firstly, he describes himself as a gate, which may seem strange but he was trying to explain that it was through Jesus that everyone could find a way back to God.
Secondly, he describes himself as the good shepherd, who looks after his sheep and is prepared to die to save them, just as Jesus died for us on Good Friday
Thirdly Jesus said this; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Jesus came so that with him, we could have the most amazing fulfilling life possible, living life every day with God. Whilst that doesn’t mean that there won’t be tears and sadness, there will also be a lot of love, care, community, fun and laughter along the way.
And the more time we spend with Jesus, the more that his love shows in us, maybe not in laughter lines, but in our actions and words.
Now I don’t suggest that when we meet up again you start counting everyone’s laughter lines, as you may get into trouble, but let’s enjoy the laughter and fun that comes our way, and choose each day to really live life to the full with Jesus.
'What Day Is It???' - 21/04/21
It’s Wednesday. I think. Yesterday on one of our WhatsApp chats there was some confusion about what day it was! Actually there was quite a lot of confusion on that chat about several things yesterday. It was very funny and entertained us a lot throughout the day. But as far as I know it’s Wednesday today. Just Wednesday, plain old Wednesday. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful for a brand new day, but before lockdown last year, Wednesday was not plain. Not at all. Wednesday was ‘Bacon Wednesday’ and the day was met with a ‘Wake Up Everybody!!’ message and a suitably, lively song that would get people moving! It was one of my favourite times of the week when we would have our coffee morning, complete with copious amounts of coffee, sausage and bacon rolls, pastries and a whole lot of chat!! The hall would be filled with the sound of laughter, discussion, support and friendship....along with the regular announcement of, ‘I didn’t order this’! This was a time of food, friendship and family. I miss Bacon Wednesday!! Of course I can fry bacon at home and make a pot of coffee but it’s simply not the same. The people are missing.
The bible talks about the early Christians and how they met together for every day activities, encouraged and supported one another and ate together.
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”
There are many occasions in the bible where people meet around a meal. Eating together was a big deal. And I can understand why. Bacon Wednesday was a straightforward, morning. Eat and chat. But it was more than just that. It was a place where church came together. I’m looking forward once again to the good coffee and the bacon roll that I didn’t order! But along with the food, I simply cannot wait to be together again with such incredible people who turn up to do life together! The good bits, the bad bits and the ugly! And when we do come together again, I have no doubt in my mind that there will be tears, shared memories, grief, gratitude and laughter. Wednesday is just Wednesday, at the moment. But Bacon Wednesday is getting closer and church will come together, in person, once again. And until that time May we all remember that,
“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
'Being a Super Fan' - 20/04/21
“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them…”
Exodus 20: 4-5
At the age of 13 a young man attended his first football match at Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth Football Club – that was the start of a lifelong love affair with the club that has without doubt taken over his life and brought him the reputation of being their most recognised and notorious super fan. Today, at the age of 58, John Westwood has 60 Portsmouth tattoos across his entire body; the club crest is shaved onto his head and ‘PFC’ is engraved onto his teeth! If you Google him, he’s quite a sight and there would be no question as to which side he had turned up to support. In 1989 he even changed his name by deed poll to John Anthony Portsmouth Football Club Westwood. His home has become a shrine to his beloved club with everything from the cushions, teddy bears, curtains, wallpaper and carpets bearing the name of his precious club. We may find this kind of devotion amusing but it has also had tragic consequences – by his own admission, his finances are in a mess due to the excessive spending on PFC merchandise and his marriage broke down with his wife leaving him and taking his children. His obsession has become his religion, it has become an idol that rules every area and every moment of his life.
There is nothing wrong in supporting your favourite sporting club or athlete, it can be a wonderful pastime to experience the highs and lows of being a fan. But God is very clear with us on one thing – we must not bow down and worship any god, any idol, any ‘thing’ or person other than Him. This doesn’t stop us enjoying the thrills of being a fan, but it does set some limits. Limits that mean that nothing and no one should ever come before God.
Our idol may not be a football club, it could be a celebrity or pop star, it could be money or cars or a career – in fact we can find that we can put just about anything in the place where God should be.
In Matt 6 we read these words: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I recommend being a super fan of God and putting him before everything else – one day John’s cushions and carpet will be gone and his tattoos will have faded but the treasure we have stored in heaven will be there for all eternity.
'Sing Because You Can' - 19/04/21
I’m a great singer although you may think that’s unlikely. That doesn’t bother me because I have no plans to sing to you, and you cannot make a judgment about my ability because you’ve never heard me sing. I sound brilliant in the bath and sensational in the car singing along with the radio. Sometimes I’m so good I turn the radio off because whoever is on is ruining my performance. I turned Alfie Boe off last week for the same reason. Clearly singing is personal and it’s possible that there may be a few people who don’t understand why I’m so impressed with my own performance.
The last year has not provided us with many good reasons to sing, and the Melling Choir have not even had the opportunity to sing together, so some feel dispirited, almost strangled. To be a choir member does require that you can sing in a way the members are happy with, so that probably rules me out. But real singing is meant to be an expression of your personal feelings not a demonstration of choral excellence. In the Bible book of Acts, we read of Paul and Silas being thrown into prison after magistrates illegally had them ‘stripped and beaten with rods.’ How did they respond to this? ‘About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.’ This was not intended to be a concert; it was just their way of expressing faith in God and gratitude for all His blessings.
We do need to understand how blessed we are, even with a pandemic rampaging around us. There are literally hundreds of millions of people worldwide who would love to live where we are. No organization is perfect but we do have the NHS, and a police force, and fire fighters, and supermarkets, schools and teachers, heating and lighting and a million other things. Christians don’t see these services as accidents but provision from a God of love. So let’s express our gratitude by singing, not necessarily in tune, but singing honestly and joyfully. Forget the latest pop song, Psalm 98 starts with this advice, ‘Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things’ and tomorrow morning take the advice given in Psalm 118, ‘This is the day that the Lord has given, let us rejoice and be glad in it.’
As Jo says, “All together, after three.”
'Let's Dance'- 18/04/21
Confession time: I love dancing and singing and jigging around. However, my family beg me not to, apparently it is not a pretty sight, which I can well believe. I have not missed the gym at all, but I have missed my Konga dance class where we did a mix of zumba, boxercise, and general jigging around whilst pretending to exercise. When we go up to Scotland, there will occasionally be a village ceilidh and it is is an awesome occasion. It brings the community together. It is full of joy and laughter as well as dancing. There is a book by Richard Rohr called The Divine Dance;in it he likens our spiritual journey with Christ to a divine dance, full of joy as well as a lot of missteps! However, like all dances, the steps are not always easy and sometimes we really get it wrong, stepping on toes and causing hurt.
In the book, Richard Rohr tackles the subject of sin: “Sin is what stops us from dancing. It blocks out the joyful, hallelujah chorus of Heaven that provides the backdrop to our divine dance. Sin, the block, is unforgiveness, negativity, violence, anger, hatred of others ( we could probably add a big long list here)…you just can’t afford to do it. It stops you dancing, it stops you from loving one another.”
‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’
When we read these words of Jesus,there is no wriggle room, no gaps for unforgiveness, negativity, anger or hatred. This is not a dance that we dance alone, it needs a partner; we need to love our neighbour as ourselves. This is community. It is hard work. Celtic Prayer has a wonderful prayer to help when we mess up and step on each others toes:
‘Lord, let our memory provide no shelter for grievance against each other.
Lord, let our heart provide no harbour for hatred of each other.
Lord, let our tongue be no accomplice in the judgement of each other.
Amen.’
'The Presence of Absence' - 17/04/21
“Absence can be present, like a damaged nerve, like a dark bird”
Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife
The Time Travelers Wife is a story about a man (Henry) who has a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably, and how his wife (Clare) copes with his frequent absences and dangerous habit of reappearing in strange places.
I am sure all of us have an idea of where we would go if we could time travel. The possibilities are endless and sound very exciting if you get to choose. In this book however, Henrys’ time-travel exploits are beyond his control. This is quite a scary prospect, and his wife often has long stretches of time when he simply isn’t in the same time and place as she is. She misses him deeply, so much that she describes his absence as a living thing.
We may well have all had times when absence has seemed a definite presence. It may have been in the sense of having to do something alone, like a difficult task or journey. I know that when my children first went to school and also when my daughter first went to university, the house seemed very quiet indeed, even though it was still very busy!
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal family this week and especially the Queen, as they start to come to terms with the loss of Prince Phillip. I am sure that the presence of his absence is very keenly felt at the moment.
Thankfully, we can be reassured that whatever circumstances we are in, we never have to feel to absence of God. God is with us, and its actually recorded in the Bible at least 25 times, God speaking to his people the words ‘I will not leave you’
From the Old Testament, God reminds us:
'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’
To some of the last words that Jesus spoke before he went up to heaven,
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
God is not going anywhere, and he wants us to share our lives with him. To walk with him, our hand in his hand, through each day, knowing that we never have to face anything alone.
Let’s take a moment today to be still and be aware of God, the Presence of his Presence so to speak, and know that you are loved by a very awesome and present God.
'Curve Ball' - 16/04/21
Baseball is an interesting sport, I don’t watch it very often, but do enjoy the skill of the players. It is a team sport but also an individual sport. The way to score the most points is to “load the bases” so that you have more players in the field and then when you hit the home run, you can get them all home again. But there are individual battles as well, the pitcher and the batter. The pitcher will throw the ball in many different ways to try and stop the batter from hitting the ball. The batter will try to hit the ball in such a way that they can get a player on each of the bases and ultimately hit a big shot to allow all the players to return home. Some may call it “rounders” in this country but then that may offend those who study and are fascinated by baseball.
The individual battle between the pitcher and batter does come up with a great expression about being “thrown a curve ball”.
Life can be very much like this, in that we are going through life together and there are many people who will support us, but we do face our own individual battles. Sometimes when we are doing our own day to day things, sometimes we get thrown a curve ball, something we were not expecting but we have to deal with it somehow. It’s not always easy, but remember that we are in a team. Whilst we have individual things that we do, there are also many who will help us. It may not be our role in life to hit the home run, it may be our role in life to support others and prepare the way, to load the bases. It may be our role to guide or coach people to help them to deal with what life throws at them. Together, we can make a difference.
As we are encouraged in Corinthians, “Now you are the body of Christ”, “If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, if one part flourishes every other part joins in with it”. As we go through life individually, remember there is a team around us who can help, encourage, guide and support, through practical help and through prayerful support. This is God’s church who calls us to love one another. As we recognise that we are all parts of Gods family, we will see His love for us and see how we can share God’s love with those around us. Thank the Lord for His family.
'Perseverance' - 15/04/21
I happened to be sitting on the beach today at high tide. I like high tide; it reduces the available space and consequently compresses all the beach related activity into a small area that is easier to observe. Families building sandcastles must do so within easy reach of dog walkers, kite flyers, horse riders and metal detectorists. When all these people no longer entertain me, I can cast my eyes out to sea and watch the ships plying their trade across the Irish Sea and further afield, or follow the gentle rotation of the blades of the wind turbines or the murmuration of the lapwings. All of this can be enjoyed from the comfort of my little beach tent, sheltered from the wind and the harsh rays of the sun.
As I reclined, sultan like, in comfort and warmth – sandwich in hand and flask at the ready – the highlight of the high tide entertainment began to arrive. In ones and twos they appeared at the top of the boardwalk and made their way to the main stage. The top of the bill! The moment you have all been waiting for! Ladies and gentlemen, I present for your delectation and delight, the Triathletes!
This bunch of lunatics... I'm sorry; this bunch of dedicated athletes, are here for one purpose alone. To swim. Open water swimming is one of the three disciplines of the Triathlon; together with cycling and running. To be precise, the Triathlon comprises an open water swim of 1500 metres, followed by a 40 kilometre bike ride, topped off with a 10 kilometre run. High tide is their playground. Bedecked in wetsuits and tethered to orange inflatables, they plunge into the water with not a care for the weather. Only a Coastguard's red flag will stop them. They are dedicated. They are determined. They persevere. I overheard one of them stating that the water had been that cold last Saturday that it had numbed her brain. She had been so cold that she had been dizzy. Did it stop her? No; she simply pressed on and had a tale to tell at the end of it.
Why do they do it? Because they have a goal. They know that talking about it doesn't get it done. If they want to be Triathletes, they have to put in the work. They have to set aside everything that would hinder them, such as cold weather and even colder seas and press on toward that goal.
The writer of the book of Hebrews in the Bible speaks of a similar approach to our faith; “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart”. He tells us that many have gone before and have had to endure difficult times, but they pressed on and did not let hardship dissuade them from their true course. We too should focus on the goal and persevere to the end, where the greatest prize awaits. We don't need wetsuits and inflatables, we just need to recognise that sometimes things will be difficult and will cause us to feel disheartened, but that Jesus has been there before us and He walks with us now and in the future and that if we have the confidence to persevere and walk with Him, we too will reach our goal.
'Room For One More' - 14/04/21
This coming Sunday, I will be introducing a new theme for the next couple of months of Zoom Church. Spoiler alert!!… It’s World Cultures. We live in the most incredible world where not just nature, art and science can regularly blow our minds, but also the differences in cultural practices from one region to another and one country to another. Cultures are simply fascinating.
In Japan, I have been reading about the ‘subway pushers’. These are people employed to do one particular job....during rush hour, they are paid to push more and more people onto the already crowded trains. Just when you thought that someone was already invading your personal space, another three turn up as well!! These subway pushers must have been trained to know when to stop, atleast I hope they have, but the idea intrigued me! Room for one more!!
One of my absolute pet hates is cliques! I’m not talking friendship groups that form easily and openly with common interests, but the friendship groups that form in a tight knit, exclusive way. If you’re ‘not the right kind’ then you don’t get in. Cliques are often found in schools and can cause much hurt and isolation. But sadly we also find them in the workplace, in social settings and even in the church! Maybe your look isn’t right, or your lifestyle isn’t picture perfect, maybe you don’t sound the same, or you’re simply ‘not good enough’ to be part of the group! People get left out, just because.
The bible has such a lot to say about this! Paul writes these words, “Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody”.
Can I suggest that here in Melling we adopt a gentler form of ‘Japanese subway pushing’?? Wherever we are, whoever we’re with, as church, we get alongside others, tell them that we’re in this journey of life together, hold the doors wide open and ALWAYS make room for one more
'Do You Need a Toilet Roll' - 13/04/21
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20: 2-3
Remember the great toilet roll shortage of 2020? As the government announced the first lockdown a portion of the nation went into panic mode and began to buy up huge quantities of toilet rolls, pasta, hand sanitiser and tinned goods. We can look back and laugh now but suddenly some of those most basic items became the most valuable to seek out. Now don’t misunderstand me, some of that panic buying was done out of fear – we were beginning a period of our lives that was uncertain and a little scary. However, when you then discovered that there were people out there that had bought up stocks and stocks of basic items just to sell them online at vastly inflated prices – well the selfishness infuriated me!
Sadly we see acts of selfishness all around us on a daily basis. The person who blocks everyone in with their parking simply so they don’t have to walk that little bit further; the person who will jump in front of everyone else in a queue simply because they seem to think they are more important; or the person who drops their litter on the floor because surely it is someone else’s job to pick it up?!
If we are honest, we are all guilty at times of putting our own needs and desires first but today’s verse is a reminder that none of us should ever put ourselves or anything or anyone before God. The verse starts by reminding the Israelites where they had been and who had brought them to where they were – God. We too need to take a moment to remind ourselves today that God has walked with us through the last 12 months and has brought us to where we are today.
However tough life may have been God has journeyed with us and has remained with us and will remain with us. We have pulled together over the last year and grown as a community but we have grown as a community because God has been at the heart of it. When we hold God in his rightful place and put him first, that is when our relationship with him will grow and our relationship with one another will grow – so much so that we are told to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is this: love your neighbour as yourself”.
This first commandment isn’t about a God that wants us to put him first and not care about those around us; this is about a God who wants us to put him first in our lives so that he can show us how to live well together, caring for one another, helping one another and meeting each other’s needs.
So if you do need a toilet roll, let me know, I’m happy to share my modest stock!
'Shhhhhhh' - 12/04/21
The life of a student today studying for a degree can be incredibly challenging; the debt that they can amass is almost more than the degree is worth. There’s no guarantee that they will get the job they deserve but assuming that they get some kind of occupation, there is an enormous amount of money to repay! Many students are trying to survive from week to week on a paltry amount of cash to keep their debts down.
I read recently of a student in that situation who was shopping one evening for food for the month. She filled her basket in the supermarket and when she got to the checkout realized that there may be more food in the basket than she had money for. She asked the lady who was scanning her items to stop at fifty pound, so her bill amounted to £49. 62p. She walked out leaving behind three tins, a bag of potatoes, and six oranges. Feeling a little dejected she was walking out of the car park when a man approached her, “Excuse me young lady, you left these behind” and handed her a bag. He smiled and promptly walked away into the crowd before she could say anything.
This lovely story reminded me of the teaching of Jesus, “When you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the places of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it. Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.”
I believe that this is happening in Melling constantly and very many people have been blessed because others have given their possessions, abilities, time, and prayer, just for the benefit of people in need; never for show. As we continue in these difficult times to practice, quiet generosity, let’s remember that we can only give because of the blessings that God has already given to us. Jesus said, “Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them.” So as we share our blessings, let’s remember where they come from.
'Ouch, I Think I Might've Dislocated Something!' - 11/04/21
As lockdown restrictions gradually ease I am becoming aware that whether our lockdowns have been a breathing space or a period of terrible stress, for many of us it has been , at times, like having a dislocated limb ;painful, not quite connected and in desperate need of healing. We have been removed from our normal location/place, particularly with meeting as a church.
When on a retreat with The Northumbria Community many years ago, I arrived and was told that my shared room was nearly ready. I was most unhappy as I had expected a single room and did not fancy sharing my space with a random stranger…even if they were lovely. It was my first ever retreat and I had to learn to adapt to living in community for just a week. I had to fit in with a different pattern of meals, worship and work in the community. In the end, I was given a single room but I do remember finding it hard adjusting my routine to fit in with the needs of the wider monastic Celtic community.
Walter Breugman puts it like this: “Dislocation (i.e. living in a strange place or time) comes with it a temptation to be preoccupied with self; to flee the hard task of community for the sake of private wellbeing.” As we emerge from our various lockdowns, those of us who have been used to our own little routines, ways of doing things etc need to learn to fit in with the needs of our community. We need to , not only ,love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind but we also need to love our neighbour as our self. In Acts 2, we are told that the early church lived like this:
“And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.”
Living in wonderful harmony sounds so lovely but the reality was probably a lot tougher. Changing our plans for the good of others is never easy. Putting aside our own wants and needs can be very tough. However, the joy of doing this , is seen when we come together as community. The joy of serving one another far outweighs the loss of personal space or time and ultimately, as we serve others and the world, we are serving Christ.
We have heard on Friday of the sad news of Prince Philip passing away, as we begin, let us remember the Royal Family, mourning the loss of a husband, father, grand-father. As a family, they will be coming to terms with this loss, as a public family they will share that grief with us. Please do offer a prayer for them all at this sad time.
'Life Journeys...' - 10/04/21
Sometimes on my commute (remember those? when we had to drive or get a train to work rather than just go to the spare room) I would sometimes get to work and I could not remember some of the usual landmarks, I have arrived safely but maybe it was more on autopilot than I would like to admit. Sometimes we end up at a point in our life and if we had been asked about it previously, we would not have chosen to end up at this place. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but where we are can present us with different opportunities than if we had chosen our own “safe” route through life. However, there may be times when those life journeys and choices take us down a route that we would not want to be. But, when we look at where we are, we need to recognise the opportunities that are open to us now.
I recently heard a slightly different version of the “footprints in the sand” story, where the image of our life is show in footprints with ours and God’s footprints side by side, but through the tough times, there was only one set of footprints showing that God had carried us through. The alternate ending given was that in those times, that’s when we decided to hop. It made me smile but also encouraged me that even when our life journey does not take a route we would expect, there are still opportunities to smile together.Our life journeys will be adventurous, with excitement and challenges alike. Sometimes we won’t understand how we ended up where we are, but let’s remember to look around us, at those who are with us, lets support each other and give each other hope and give each other a smile. Supporting each other is about showing compassion and can also be about sharing a smile. When did you last hop and skip to bring a smile to yourself and those around? (please only try this if you are able – don’t want any injuries being reported!)
God will laugh with us and He will cry with us, God is with us, wherever we venture, let us embrace that and embrace Him.
Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age and grey hairs, I am God, I am God who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you
'Getting To Know You' - 09/04/21
Good morning and welcome to today's Sunrise. This is the forty-ninth Sunrise I have penned and perhaps the forty-ninth of those Sunrises that you have read. If so, thanks for sticking with me through all of my ramblings. Given that we have been meeting via this web page every Friday, you may have begun to get to know me. By now, you will be aware that I like Baseball and history; particularly 20th century American history. You will know that I like cycling and Italy and that my favourite flowers are poppies. You may remember that my middle name is Andrew, that I have four grandchildren and that I have a particular dislike of bag-less vacuum cleaners. The more of my writing you read, the clearer the picture of my life and my character becomes. I have never met some of you in person and these random thoughts are the only way I have of connecting with you. One day, “when the bug goes away”, as one of my grandchildren would say, we may actually meet face to face. I wonder if you will be disappointed in the real thing?
There is no substitute for spending time with somebody if you want to get to know them. Of course, that usually involves actually being with them in person. The disciples were able to spend time with Jesus as he went about His ministry. For three years they went everywhere with Him. They ate with Him, prayed with Him, witnessed His miracles, His teaching, His death and His resurrection. They also saw that Jesus took time to be with His Father. He would regularly take Himself off to a quiet place to continue His relationship with God. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed”. Jesus understood the importance of knowing God and of taking the time to be with Him.
We are not able to be with Jesus physically, but we have a large book filled with writing about Him and His life and character. The Bible is our opportunity to learn about Jesus; to get to know Him better. If it was important for Jesus to set aside time to seek His Father's presence then we must accept that it is vital for us too. If we want to know Jesus and want to understand what God would have us be in this life, then spending time with them is the way to do it, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you”. Spending time with Jesus through the words of the Bible will reveal to us His character, His love, His grace, His mercy, His compassion, His patience and His glory. One day, we will meet Him face to face and on that day I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
'A Giraffe In Melling!' - 08/04/21
“Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.”
Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of Four, Arthur Conan Doyle.
This very famous quote which appears in many of the Sherlock Holmes books, explains how Holmes makes his amazing deductions. By keeping his mind open, and not making assumptions, it enables him to solve the most baffling of crimes.
I could have done with his help a few years ago. When my girls were all much younger, one day on the way to school, my youngest, aged 4 at the time, told me something quite unbelievable. Whilst we were driving past the end of weavers lane, she informed me that they was a giraffe in the field to the left of us. Like any good mother rushing to get her children to school, I responded in the most appropriate way, ‘yes dear, that’s lovely’, and paid no real attention.
The following day she told me the same thing, and the following day. By this point my other children had joined in with her, telling me that there was indeed a giraffe in the field. I was intrigued. Though highly improbable, I wanted to find out what on earth was going on. So we took a detour round the other side of this field, and discovered to my surprise, that there was in fact a large 8ft stuffed giraffe in the field. The reason for its appearance was a mystery, but it was there. It was unexpected, nearly impossible, but true nevertheless.
When Jesus rose from the dead on Easter day, when he beat death and came back to life to give us a hope and a future and a way to have a wonderful relationship with God, this was humanly speaking impossible. It was highly improbable, and unexpected, but I believe it was true, and I believe he is still alive today.
In the book of Acts, Luke summarises what happened after Easter Day in Acts 1-
After Jesus’ death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together.
This risen Jesus changed the disciple’s lives, and the course of history. Not only that, but throughout the next 2000 years, Jesus continued to change people’s lives, including mine.
So today, take a look at the risen Jesus. Just like the giraffe in Melling, it may seem highly improbable, but like Sherlock Holmes, let’s be open to the idea that the truth is often just that, and embrace the wonderful loving God who loves us and died for us.
'So What's Next?' - 07/04/21
OK that’s Easter gone until next year, so what’s next? Many of us with family members were looking forward to the Easter weekend. Some of us wanted to remember and celebrate the real meaning and significance of those events 2000 years ago, which sadly our culture is trying to ignore, and increasingly our children are being told less and less about. Many people of course just wanted a weekend off work and most of us were certainly looking forward to enjoying the full chocolate experience. But Easter has gone, although hopefully some of the chocolate remains, and we are left with memories. Certainly our memories of the last two Easters are significantly different from all the other Easters we have lived through. We all hope that we can look forward next year to open churches where we can actually sing, family meals in restaurants without masks, Easter egg hunts, and the freedom to hug each other.
It was different for the disciples because they had no previous Easters to look back on, and the weekend that we read of in the Bible would live in their memories for ever. It is a fact that for many people living in the UK today, the truths and meaning of the original Easter have faded and been replaced by a celebration of Spring and thoughts of holidays. For the Disciples however and for all Christians through twenty centuries the significance of Easter has never changed and remains as shockingly amazing as it was first time round. For us, the question ‘what’s next’ usually relates to work, family life, and personal activities, but to the followers of the man who died and came back to life, the question was much more about living dangerously and losing your job, home, and family. How easy life is for us today.
Jesus met with the Disciples several times before He left them, and they must have been wondering ‘what’s next’, so He gave them this instruction, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” That was tough and dangerous but they made a start and subsequent generations of Christians have carried on to reach all parts of the world, although we may have to start again in the UK. Jesus however gave this encouragement, “I am with you always to the very end of the age.”
Whatever we think about Easter, it must surely be obvious to us all that there’s more to it than eggs and bunnies. What do you think?
'Rules' - 06/04/21
“Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
Exodus 19: 7-8
I was a stubborn child and I think it is fair to say that on many occasions I would resolutely refuse to do something that was asked of me – often for the very simple reason that it had been asked of me and I didn’t want to do it. I recall one occasion when I hadn’t pronounced a word correctly and I was asked to repeat it – for no good reason other than sheer stubbornness I refused and wasn’t allowed to watch any of my favourite TV programmes until I said it the word correctly. I sat all evening refusing to say it. When I think back, it made no sense whatsoever to refuse, I simply didn’t want to be told what to do despite it being for my own good. I hope I’ve grown out of that behaviour trait although it possibly came in useful at times when dealing with my own stubborn children!
If we are honest, even as adults, we often have a tendency to think that we know best and what is good for us and we don’t take instruction well if it doesn’t fit with what we think is fair and reasonable. Do we trust the person giving the instruction? Do we have confidence in their ability to know what is good for us?
I think most of us would agree that rules are important, without them we would live in chaos. The problem tends to be that we disagree which rules we should follow and which ones we are going to dismiss as irrelevant. In the Old Testament we read about how Moses climbed Mount Sinai in order to meet with God and receive his commandments – his rules for living well. The people agreed to do what they were told but needless to say, they failed on many occasions with dire consequences and all because they thought they knew better. The question is, do we still think we know better than God?
We have just celebrated Easter and given thanks to God that he sent his son, Jesus, to die for us – to pay the price for all the things that we have done wrong. Not because he had to, but because he loved us so much that he wanted to. In the book of John we read these words, “For this is how much God loved the world: He gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” If we truly believe those words then I think God has proved his love and that he knows what is good for us.
In the coming weeks we are going to take a look at the 10 commandments that were given to Moses so long ago - but you will have to make your own mind up as to whether you choose to accept them or stubbornly refuse.
'Which Paper?' - 04/04/21
If you are in the habit of reading a daily newspaper, I know which one you get. It’s the one that you agree with, politically. Nobody buys a newspaper that constantly mocks their favourite party and never stops praising that party that you consider to be populated by sadly mistaken individuals who don’t understand the real issues, like you do. Or maybe it’s the sports coverage that persuades you to part daily with pounds and pennies. Some people follow a particular columnist, believing that he or she has great wisdom and doesn’t suffer fools gladly, so will always deliver what you know is the truth. As we work our way through life, we collect opinions and attitudes that we feel comfortable with; these then determine who we will listen to and believe and leads us to reject certain people and thoughts, and we settle into a comfortable rut. I can think of many people who I see on TV and I know before they open their mouths that I’m going to disagree with them. Constantly I’m proved right. King Ahab, one of the Bible’s nasty kings could always find people who agreed with him because they discovered that it was safer to tell the king he was right. But Micaiah, a prophet, was one man who lived dangerously by constantly saying things that were critical of Ahab’s standards and behaviour. When the king was considering going to war he asked his 400 wise men if they thought he was right. Not surprisingly they said, “Of course you are, mighty king.” When someone suggested asking for Micaiah’s opinion, Ahab was not pleased ,he said, “Micaiah never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad.” The prophet told Ahab not to go to war, it would end in tears. Ahab hated Micaiah so he refused his advice and went to war and it ended in tears.
We have spent the last twelve months listening to advice and instruction from our government and also our friends and families. Often what we heard was not what we wanted to hear and many people have rejected the advice and some have suffered as a result. The Bible constantly tells us that God always tells the truth whether we like it or not. There are many people around us, like Ahab’s 400 mates, who have different opinions to God. And like Ahab, we get to chose who to trust. Solomon, Israel’s wisest king wrote these words, ‘With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. Always let Him lead you, and He will clear the road for you to follow.’ Like Ahab we can choose who to trust; he got it wrong, good job he doesn’t write in my paper.
'He Lives!' - 03/04/21
Happy Easter to you all!!
On this precious day of celebration and thanksgiving may you all know something of the love that our risen Lord Jesus has for each one of us. Jesus changed lives 2000 years ago and He continues to change lives today.
The words below sum it up perfectly. They are the words of the beautiful song, ‘He Lives’. Click the link below to hear it.
Have a good day everybody, lots of love to you all ️
More than a baby in a manger
To whom nobles would humbly bow their knee
Or the young Man who Heaven knew as saviour
He is alive in me
More than the man who walked on water
Or the one who caused blinded eyes to see
Greater than all the signs and wonders
He is alive in me
He lives He lives
Conquered the grave, covered our sin
He lives He lives
Death could not hold the promise within
He lives
More than the man who heard, ‘Hosanna’
From the same who cried, ‘Crucify the king’
Freely he gave as they demanded
Yet still He’s alive in me
More than the man mankind rejected
With nails in His hands and through His feet
But the end told much more than they expected
For everyone knows in three days He rose
With power forever to redeem, you and me
He lives He lives
Conquered the grave, covered our sin
He lives He lives
Death could not hold the promise within
He lives
He’s alive
Death where is your sting?
Grave, your victory?
Jesus holds the key
He reigns forever and ever
He lives
'The Wonderful Cross' - 02/04/21
And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha. (Golgotha means skull.) Wine drugged with bitter herbs was offered to him there, but he refused it. And then they crucified him—and threw dice for his clothes. It was about nine o’clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place.
Mark 15:22-25
‘When Christ died, He died for you individually just as much as if you had been the only person in the world’. C.S Lewis
The Wonderful Cross - Chris Tomlin
'Worthy Is The Lamb' - 01/04/21
‘....the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, “This cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me.” This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.’
1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
The night before Jesus was crucified, He chose to spend it with His disciples eating the Passover meal. It was during this time He asked the disciples to always remember the sacrifice He was about to make. This simple meal of bread and wine is still taken today as a symbolic reminder of just what Jesus did for all of us on Good Friday. Lest we forget.
May '21 Sunrises
'How Great Thou Art' - 31/05/21
In 1885, Swedish preacher, Carl Boberg, was heading home after morning church when he witnessed a short but stunning thunderstorm. Out of nowhere it seemed to come, and a short time later it was over, and a rainbow appeared.
Boberg was so shocked and in awe of the power and beauty he had just witnessed that he sat himself down and began to write the start of ‘How Great Thou Art’.
Years later, an English man by the name of Stuart K Hine was so inspired by what was now a melodic poem that he wrote more verses for it and made it into the hymn we know today.
All these years later and with this hymn having been translated into many languages, How Great Thou Art continues to be one of the most favourite hymns of all time.
There are many different versions of this hymn. You can find them on YouTube. Here is just one version by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Click the link below to listen.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.
Psalm 8:1
I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.
Jeremiah 10:6
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
'Every Praise' - 30/05/21
‘Every Praise’ is a simple, repetitive, easy to learn song that 9 year old Willie Myrick learnt at church one day in 2014. He loved the song so much that he sang it and sang it.
In April 2014, Willie was playing outside his home in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was kidnapped. He was bundled into the back of a car and the kidnapper told him to shut up and sit quietly. Willie had other plans. He was going to sing the new song he had learnt at church. And sing he did. For 3 hours, nonstop.
The driver shouted at him and threatened him, insisting that Willie stop singing that song! He didn’t. And eventually the kidnapper, exhausted by 3 hours of ‘Every Praise’, stopped the car, threw Willie out, unharmed, and drove away.
In thanksgiving for Willie being returned home safely, the church had a special celebration, and sang the song again….’Every praise is to our God, Every word of worship with one accord, Every praise, Every praise, is to our God’.
This simple song may be a little bit repetitive, but the words cry out thanksgiving and adoration of a God who deserves our every praise.
Click the link below to listen to the song, performed by Hezekiah Walker.
‘I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever’.
Psalm 145:1-2
'2 Ears and 1 Mouth' - 29/05/21
One of the aspects of working for a large company is some of the training that they send you on. “How to run a meeting” or “how to give a presentation” or “Running a workshop”.
Some of them seem very obvious and you wonder what on earth can they teach you. But sometimes they do actually give you a little insight into some thing which is obvious when you think about but we don’t very often actually do it.
One of these is about “active listening”. It may seem a strange topic but how many times do we meet with someone and talk with them but don’t actually listen. Do we understand not only what they are saying but why they are saying it? We are not really paying attention and are maybe just waiting for a chance to interrupt and say what we want to say. Sometimes people who are in need want to be able to talk with someone who will really listen and hear not just the words but the person behind those words.
It is sometimes said that God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth, so why do we spend more time talking than listening? It is something we should think about in our relationships with people but also something we should consider in our relationship with God. We should make sure we give time for God to talk to us, so that we can hear His voice, hear what He says and why He says it. Make time to just sit and listen.
One of the parts of our recent lockdowns has included more time to listen to each other and chatting over phones or computers can help us to focus more on listening. When we meet each other in person, it brings more enjoyment to that conversation.
In the book of James, he encourages the other Christianity is about our actions, not just about talking.
19 Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry; 22 And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don’t fool yourselves. 23 For if a person just listens and doesn’t obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; 24 as soon as he walks away, he can’t see himself anymore or remember what he looks like.
Lets ensure we carry on listening and hearing, so we understand our friends and community. Lets listen to God and follow him as he guides us.
'Wait And See' - 28/05/21
When I was little, if I asked for something or to go somewhere an answer often given was “Wait and see”. I mean, what sort of answer is that? It basically meant that the answer was probably a no but cold have been a yes if circumstances and the wind blew in the right direction! I like certainty. As an ex- teacher my life was governed by timetables, plans, spreadsheets and schedules. I knew what I was doing each and every hour of each and every day. I am still like that. My physical desk top calendar and physical paper diary are two of my most treasured possessions. I even schedule my coffee breaks as I used to when in work.
A Benedictine spiritual guide, Sister Macrina Wiederkehr wrote this and it really resonated with me: “ It is enough to pray one’s questions and rest quietly in the possibilities. My life is too small for all the answers and my life…has been plagued with the need for too much certainty.”
We like to be in control and being left with unanswered questions or a non-existent path ahead can be very frightening. For those of us who need comfort in this situation , Jesus said this: Matthew 28 verse 20 “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” . In times like this we need to rest quietly in the possibilities trusting that as we do so , we are not alone.
For those of us who need to step out in faith but are scared of not knowing what lies ahead, perhaps we need to allow ourselves to be challenged by Jesus when he said this: “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave.”( Luke 9 verses 3 and 4). If we dare to live more simply being content with the unanswered questions; if we dare to trust that we do not face the journey alone, we can shrug off the anxiety caused by needing too much certainty in our lives. We can step out in faith and embrace the adventure; we can wait and see.
'Miracles' - 27/05/21
Just because you can explain it doesn't mean it's not still a miracle.”
Terry Pratchett, Small Gods
Small Gods is the thirteenth of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, It’s a science fiction series based around the fictional Discworld and the city of ankh-Morpork
Whilst Terry Pratchett’s fictional world is nothing like our own real world, this quote reminded me of Psalm 8, where the writer of the psalm expresses his feelings at the amazing world that we live in
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens…… When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
Our world is a truly wonderful place. When we think of how many tiny details have to be right for a tree to grow, or how a bee knows where the best flowers with the most pollen are at any one time its astounding. Of course thanks to modern science, we know the answers to a lot of our questions nowadays, but that doesn’t stop the process being amazing and miraculous.
Did you know that certain trees can warn each other of danger? When a giraffe starts to eat the leaves of an Arcadia tree, it releases a cloud of ethylene gas, which triggers the trees around it to produce more tannins in their leaves, which make them bitter tasting to the animals, so their leaves don’t get eaten as well! Isn’t that amazing!
Whilst we understand how this process works, its still amazing and miraculous that this happens at all.
Next time you are out on a walk, or have time to sit outside, take a moment to thank the amazing creator God for all of his creative genius that creates so many miracles each day. Lets also give thanks for his great love and care for us, that in the midst of this amazing world, he loves each one of us individually so much.
'Bee-Ware' - 26/05/21
“Advice, when most needed, is least heeded”.
I was reading an article the other day about elephants. It was all about how elephants are absolutely terrified of honeybees. Elephants have often been portrayed as being scared of tiny mice, which isn’t true, but I’ve never heard about their fear of honeybees.
If a honeybee senses danger or threat it releases a chemical called a pheromone which acts as a warning to the rest of the honeybees, who then come out in force to defend their ‘threatened’ colony.
However, unlike a human who doesn’t appear to be receptive to the bee pheromone, the elephant is. And that’s all it needs to make the worlds largest land animal retreat in absolute fear!
Now compare this to my very adorable and selectively intelligent, black Labrador, who once saw one of my dahlia bulbs and decided it was good to eat! This was after sniffing it several times and physically recoiling from the scent. He spent the following few hours running in circles. He seemed to be having a wonderful time….a wonderful, dizzy time, but I can’t help thinking he was seeing unicorns and pink squirrels and rainbow cats!
The Bible is a book that is full of good advice, and warnings, and examples of what happens when we choose not to listen. It’s not a book dictating to us, we have free choice, but God gives us guidelines to help us and protect us and show us a better way. With such good advice all in one book it would seem the perfect guide for life! And yet we are often stubborn and determined and don’t like being given advice. The ‘I Don’t Need Your Help’ syndrome! We all suffer from it!
The Bible says, ‘Fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice’.
The advice that the Bible offers us may not seem great at the time, maybe we want to go and yell at the person who is annoying you in the queue, maybe you’re really tempted to go to ‘that’ place, maybe you’re trying hard to tell yourself that it’s ok to do ‘that’ thing because nobody is looking?…….
Proverbs says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way’.
Proverbs 3:5-6
A dahlia bulb isn’t the only wrong thing that my daft dog has eaten over the years! He won’t listen to my warnings, but maybe I’ll do a little better listening to God’s?
'R-E-S-P-E-C-T' - 25/05/21
“You must not commit adultery.”
Exodus 20: 14
Have you ever been disappointed and maybe hurt by someone’s behaviour so much that you have struggled to believe that you would ever be able to trust them again? There is a saying that goes ‘trust takes years to build, seconds to break and forever to repair’ – I hope that that isn’t true but I think it is fair to say that if we do something that causes someone to lose trust in us, then it is often hard work to earn that trust back again.
Once again we have a commandment that, on the face of it, is clear and straightforward in its meaning. But I would suggest that the principles behind this commandment go beyond the relationship between spouses. All of the relationships we have with those around us are built on some level of trust – when I order food in a restaurant, I trust the chef not to poison me; when I get into a taxi, I trust the driver to get me to my destination safely; when I chat with a friend, I trust that I won’t become the subject of gossip. But I wonder what people think of me? In my daily interactions with people am I always to be found trustworthy? Today’s commandment isn’t simply an instruction to married couples (although it is that as well) but it is an instruction to all of us as to how to behave in all of our daily relationships. This might be both those close relationships as well as those transient interactions we have with strangers - we should display attitudes of respect, integrity, honesty and love that lets those around us know that we value that relationship.
In practical terms what this means is that our own desires, wishes and greed must come second to the needs of those around us. In the book of Philippians we read “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves”. If we are concentrating on the needs of others, our own desires fade into insignificance.
How amazing it would be if we became known as a community of people who were known for our reliability and trustworthiness; for the love that we show to all around us and the respect, integrity and love from which all of our actions came. That love and respect is evident in every helping hand, every caring text and every concerned phone call. It is evident when we laugh with one another and when we cry with one another. Let’s keep on keeping on because with every small (or big) act that shows we value others above ourselves, our relationships grow stronger with one another and grow stronger with God.
'Not Out Of Date' - 24/05/21
I’m surrounded by equipment that is well built, very professional, but out of date. It all works and does what it was designed to do but is no longer appropriate for the world we live in. It’s like having a bicycle in very good condition that still works and is reliable, but it just happens to be a Penny Farthing. If you moved house and discovered a large shed hidden by trees which contained amongst other items a genuine vintage Penny Farthing you would certainly be surprised. If it was in working condition one of your options would be to sell it. I’ve looked on eBay and found one priced at £3, 499! My guess is that you would sell it rather than ride it. It’s amazing what people will buy just because something is old, not to use it but just to own it. As years go by, many things change for a variety of reasons; if you’re old enough to have grandchildren, how did you get to school, how did you spend your spare time, where and how did you go on holiday? Tell that to your grandchildren and watch their reactions. I’m sure many of you consider your way of life to have been better than theirs. But things change, it’s not just equipment that becomes redundant, lifestyles and attitudes go the same way. During the pandemic many aspects of life needed to change; it will be interesting to see how many people and organizations prefer the new ways.
As Christians get older and look at today’s world and its culture, music, politics, attitudes etc., there’s a real danger that they begin to feel redundant and weary. That’s not how God sees us; each of us has been given a race to run; a course to complete. Paul said, “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.” We have lost in recent years people we loved and who were loved by God. They have gone ahead of us because they completed their God-given tasks and are now enjoying their reward. Whatever we think about today’s world and our place in it, God still has plans for us and we read, ‘He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young people stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.’
Our days here are not determined by age but by God’s purposes, so let’s ‘hope in the Lord’ and aim to ‘complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.’
‘Bee Thankful!’ - 23/05/21
May 20th was World Bee Day. An annual celebration of ‘the bee’. This tiny creature is absolutely fascinating!
Bees live in colonies and they all have a role. Every single bee is important to the colony. The Queen Bee is the chief! Her primary role is to lay eggs....up to 2500 a day!
The drone bees are male bees, their job is to mate with the Queen!
And then there are the worker bees. These are the bees that go out to collect nectar and bring it back to the hive. In the hive they hand it over to other worker bees who chew the nectar for about half an hour. After this time, the honey is almost ready and is placed in the honeycomb. Oh yes, the honeycomb, a mathematical phenomenon! A structure made by the bees, out of beeswax, which consists of perfect hexagons all joined together!
If all of this isn’t stunning enough, one worker bee creates about one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its very short life, so for every teaspoon of honey you consume, you have at least twelve bees to thank!
And then there’s the actual health benefits to honey, being known to reduce the risk of certain diseases and some types of honey have even been used to aid the healing of burns and ulcers. These tiny buzzy creatures are simply incredible!
Having been reading about bees this week I was reminded of two things!
One is our obligation to care for our environment! Bees need our help!! Do plant more flowers and leave water out for them to drink. Without bees many of our plants/crops will suffer.
And secondly, how incredible is our world! The tiny world of a bee is absolutely incredible! Intricate! Mind blowing! And this is just one insect! There are over one million known insect species in the world, but thought to be millions more. Each one different, important, and fascinating!
In Psalm 24 we read, ‘the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it...’ While some people may struggle to believe that a God in Heaven could be the ‘creator of creation’, I truly struggle to believe that this vastness, diversity and beauty, where everything has a purpose, could be created by other means.
The bible says, ‘for nothing is impossible with God’.
I look at the humble bee and have one of many reasons to believe it to be true.
'Get Out Of The Way' - 22/05/21
Do you have that terrible feeling when you wake up late and then realise you are going to have to be quick? You know you are going to have to be super-fast, showering, getting dressed, having breakfast, making the lunch, jumping in the car, dropping the kids off and starting work, so much to do and I am late!!!
And then your in the shower and you leave your towel on the back of the door across from the shower, the clothes you wanted to wear aren’t clean so you have to choose something else, the dishwasher did not get switched on so there are no clean dishes, you run out of milk for a hot drink, no snacks for lunch and then a driver who insists on driving very carefully and slowly, giving maximum space to all other vehicles on the road but not allowing you to overtake…….. “Get out of the way!!!”
Sometimes, it feels like everything is going wrong, everyone is against you, you can’t do what you want to do. Have you ever felt like having a complete tantrum like a toddler?!
But then you talk to someone who is very calm and collected, they can see your frustration and simply suggest you take a few minutes to relax and get your head in the right place. In that small moment, you can suddenly breathe. It wasn’t so bad, everyone got where they needed to be, no one was injured, no one was actually late, it was fine.
Sometimes in our own small world things can seem really intense but in reality there is no need to panic.
When Jesus was with the disciples, they had spent the day talking to a growing crowd next to Lake Galilee, the crowd was so intense that Jesus had to talk from a boat on the water. At the end, He asked the disciples to take him to the other side of the lake and in the journey a storm came to the lake. Jesus was not just calm, he was asleep. The disciples were terrified and shouted to Jesus for help. Jesus commanded the storm to be quiet and still, he asked them “Why were you afraid? Do you not have faith?”
There are times when we are fearful or stressed or anxious, but we have a God who can calm the waters and the wind. In our times of trouble, lets remember that God is with us and he can bring us a peace like no other.
'Loyal Supporter' - 21/05/21
Another domestic football season is fast coming to an end. I for one will heave a sigh of relief. I can spend the next few months without checking my phone every couple of minutes to see the latest scores. No more having to calculate what my team's result means when compared to the fortunes of their competitors. No more hanging my happiness upon the outcome of the efforts of a bunch of men kicking a ball around. I can now spend more of my time following the fortunes of my favourite Major League Baseball team instead!
What is it about sport that makes so many people feel this way? Other hobbies may be engaging, entertaining and even educational, but none seem to have the emotional effect provided by sport. Why do we stick with the team of our choice through thick and thin? If we try a hobby and find that we are not as proficient as we might have hoped, then often we give it up. If our artistic efforts prove that we are to oil painting what Picasso was to spot welding, then we move on to something else... perhaps spot welding. If the scarf we started knitting six months ago now resembles a woolly boa constrictor, we set aside our needles and burn the pattern. If our green fingers fail to produce the crops we hoped would fill our larders, we give up the allotment and return to the supermarket vegetables - but no matter how badly our chosen team perform, we don't abandon them. We stick with them through thick and thin. They may delight and disappoint us in equal measure, but we continue to support them. We still take an interest and remain emotionally engaged no matter what.
It seems that God feels the same way about us. No matter what we do, He sticks with us. We behave and perform just like a sports team; we have good days and bad days; we delight Him and disappoint Him in equal measure and He is always by our side.
Of course, the difference is that whilst we offer support to our team, we are simply part of an amorphous mass of supporters who are anonymous individuals to our favourite players. I'm sure they enjoy having people cheer them on, but there is no relationship between us. God on the other hand, has a personal relationship with each and every one of us. He cares for us deeply and offers us so much more than simple vocal support.
He created us, He loves us and He offers us life in all its fullness, not just for today, but for eternity and nothing will change that, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Let's take a moment to remember that God is our greatest supporter and, “Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever”.
'Hang On' - 20/05/21
Fortitude. ... It means fixity of purpose. It means endurance. It means having the strength to live with what constrains you.”
Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel
Wolf Hall (2009) is a fictional historical novel by Hilary Mantel. It is set from 1500 to 1535, and is a fictional account of the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII.
The idea of carrying on in the most difficult of circumstances is a trait that is often admired in our culture today. We see it in many different ways in public life, such as Olympic athletes battling on through injury to win championships. We see it in public figures who keep persevering to achieve success. Did you know that before Henry Ford founded the Ford motor company he had had 5 failed business ventures which left him bankrupt! James Dyson made over 5000 versions of the dyson vacuum before he found one that worked, and Thomas Edison made over 1000 unsuccessful lightbulbs before he created a successful one!
In our own lives we have all had experience of situations where we have had to keep on going, even when it seemed like the world was against us. It may not have made the evening news, but I am sure we have all had days where just getting out of bed was a major achievement.
Whether this is one of those days, or a great day, or something in between, Jesus is in it with us. Paul experienced this in his walk with Jesus. When he was writing to the Corinthians, after being beaten and imprisoned for his faith, he wanted to remind his fellow Christians that Jesus is with us, even in the really tough times
2 Corinthians 4 8-11
'We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken….. Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us.'
We all have different lives and different constraints upon them, but whatever your day looks like, look to Jesus, and let his light and love shine through you as you make your way through the day. He will not let you down.
'It's The Way I Tell 'Em!' - 19/05/21
When was the last time you really laughed? Where you watching TV? Chatting to a friend? At home witnessing someone do something funny? Can you remember the last time you really laughed? Or was it too long ago?
Life can sometimes be really tough can’t it? Stress and upset, illness and worry. It can become overwhelming. Laughter may feel like a distant memory.
It’s a well-known fact that people who have particularly difficult and stressful jobs can often find humour to be a great help. In fact they would go as far as to say that laughter is essential!! I found this to be particularly true in some of the relief and development roles that I had overseas. When circumstances can feel desperate, overwhelming and quite hopeless, laughter can be the greatest of medicine.
So do you have a favourite comedian? How about Ken Dodd?...
‘I haven’t spoken to my mother-in-law for 18 months, I don’t like to interrupt her!’
Or maybe Eric Morecombe?....
‘My neighbour asked if he could borrow my lawnmower, I told him of course he could, so long as he didn’t take it out of my garden’.
Ronnie Corbett?...
‘ I wasn’t a very athletic boy. I was once lapped in the long jump!’
Tim Vine?...
‘So I said to the gym instructor, “Can you teach me to do the splits?” He said, “How flexible are you?” I said, “I can’t make Tuesdays”. ‘
The bible says, ‘A cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit makes one sick’.
This isn’t about ignoring the struggles and pain that we ourselves, or those around us may face. Nor are we to dismiss the daily news and ignore the tragedies that are happening internationally. But it’s about finding a moment of relief. A moment of light-heartedness. A moment where mental and physical batteries can be recharged. A moment to release a whole lot of stress with one big laugh.
If you’re needing to laugh, find that person or those people who can bring a big smile to your face. And if you are somebody who is able to laugh and encourage, pick up the phone and pass that gift on to somebody today.
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
Proverbs 11:25
'Just When You Thought It Was Easy' - 18/05/21
“You must not murder.”
Exodus 20: 13
According to the Oxford Dictionary the definition of murder is “the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another”. You will be pleased to know that I can honestly say that I have not murdered anyone. In fact, I will go one step further and say that (to the best of my knowledge!) I don’t know anyone who has murdered anyone. So surely that makes for a very brief Sunrise this morning and we can all get on with our day…I’m afraid not. The thing is, while this week’s commandment sounds pretty straightforward, Jesus actually expanded on it in the book of Matthew – “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘you must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgement.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgement!”
Anyone else feel like Jesus moved the goal posts there?
For most of us it is relatively easy to abide by a ‘do not murder’ law – but to agree not to be angry with someone is something far more difficult to agree to. The first thing to say is that there is such a thing as righteous anger – anger at injustice, anger over a selfish act, anger when an innocent person is harmed – we need to get angry over these things, we need to find ways to express our anger at such things so that we can bring about change for good. However, the anger that Jesus is referring to is anger that comes from a place of hatred and rage. Once again, Jesus is asking us to look into our hearts and examine our motivations. We may refrain from committing murder but if we are consumed by anger and hatred, those things will simply get in the way of everything else we try to do and come between us and God. Once again, we are reminded that God doesn’t just see and judge our actions but sees and judges our hearts, our intentions, our thoughts and our motivations - not so easy after all.
As we go about our week feeling really good about ourselves that we haven’t committed murder, let’s remember to humbly examine our hearts and make sure that we’re not harbouring any unresolved anger or hatred. Let’s use the words of the Psalmist as our prayer that not only will our actions be pleasing to God but our intentions, our thoughts and our motivations will be found to honour him:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
'Foundations For Life' - 16/05/21
At the back of our house many years ago we employed a landscape gardener to build an area of decking. It was quite large and substantial and was good looking with a lovely balustrade complete with spindles, newel posts and very functional steps into the garden. We were very proud of the elegant addition to our property. It became a place to meet people, chat and have coffee. It even had for some years, overhead weather protection. I took great delight in sitting out there in any kind of weather between 6am - 8am before going to work. Inevitably the years and the cold/hot/wet/windy weather conditions began to cause deterioration in the timber which led to our interfering family pointing out (rightly) that it may not support our weight for much longer. My wife and I joked about who would go through the floor first and we laughed a lot about something that wouldn’t be funny if it happened. Then one afternoon, one of my daughters turned up with her muscular husband; he was carrying a crowbar and worryingly she was armed with a large mallet. We backed off. Two hours later we were presented with what appeared to be the result of an earthquake and two highly satisfied, violent, family members. It took us two seconds to realize that life had changed in an afternoon. It needed four cars, two trailer trips and two bin loads to clear the debris. Our family now sleeps at night knowing that they have removed imminent danger staring their dozy parents in the face. When all the wreckage was removed we discovered something very encouraging; the flags that the decking had been built on were undamaged, still in place and still level, with not a single plant or weed in sight. All we need to do is wash it down. Brilliant. The fact that we had not seen or even thought about the hidden flags for fifteen years did not destroy their ability to provide a solid foundation.
Jesus told a parable about two men building their homes; one built on sand and one on rock, you can imagine what happened to the house which had a sandy foundation. This is what Jesus said about the house standing on rock, “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock.” He also said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on the rock.” We all need stability in life, let’s listen to Jesus and build our lives on the rock.
Just one problem; the flags are two feet lower than the decking was, so getting out of the house is risky. I think I’ve sorted it; I built two steps out of loose bricks. I imagine that the family will be back soon. With the mallet.
'Learning From The Past' - 15/05/21
We recently had to empty and move a book case which has been packed with “stuff” for a long time. Emptying it was straightforward enough and once empty it was easy to move. Then we found items which had slipped down the back, like an old DVD, a hair bobble and a receipt. It needed a good clean but also brought back some fun memories.
You may have seen in the news, the café, Leaf, on Bold Street in Liverpool, were renovating part of the building whilst they could not have any customers inside and they found an old piece of paper. The paper was actually a menu from 1913 when the same location was a different café and showed a great piece of Liverpool history. The café has even decided to re-create some of those dishes as part of their current menu.
I think its really interesting when you can find things from the past and understand what was happening in times gone by, whether that’s 5 five years ago or 100 years ago. Whether it be a menu from a café or newspaper clipping or football programme, its heart-warming to learn about people’s lives.
Today’s technology can sometimes shorten time and distance so that we can see in real time what is happening around the world and we are hardly ever out of touch with people through mobile phones.
In the future, when people find a hidden item from our world today, what will people think? Will we look back fondly on lockdown and think of the friendships that deepened. Will we remember our loved ones who have not seen or sadly the loved ones who we have lost? Will we look at the WhatsApp messages and pictures wondering what on earth was going on? Finding hidden gnomes in clusters around certain gardens and asking why?
When we look back through the Bible, we see the stories of other Christians, their lives and experiences. What can we learn from reading and hearing about those stories? We can learn that through history God has been the same loving God, that despite the many changes in this world, God’s message is still the same;
'For God so loves the world that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
Each day is new but some things never change, what message will you leave behind that will guide people in the future?'
'Horsing Around' - 14/05/21
I saw something a little out of place the other day. Three young girls were riding horses along the beach. Now that in itself is not unusual; horses are often ridden along the beach and more often that not, it is young girls that ride them. What was out of place was the fact that all three of the young riders were intent on their mobile phones whilst trotting along. Now I am aware that it is illegal to use a mobile phone whilst driving, but I'm not sure such a law exists for those in control of a horse.
It was not the potential for equine illegality that caught my attention, but the fact that whatever was drawing the girls attention towards the screens of their phones was drawing them away from the natural beauty of their surroundings. Now I am aware that I am not the first person to lament the ubiquitous nature of the mobile devices that are an everyday accompaniment to modern life, but I was particularly disappointed on this occasion, given the incongruity of the scene I was witnessing.
This is not the first time that I have been disappointed by mobile devices, or, more accurately, the content that can be accessed through them. Social media is both pervasive and pernicious, but seems irresistible to many. Now before I sound like an old man having a rant at this new-fangled thing the youngsters get up to nowadays, I must clarify that I am well aware that social media is used and abused by people of all ages.
Far too often, people choose to use it as a vehicle to judge, to criticise and to bully. As recently as last week, Premier League football clubs and their players boycotted social media in protest at the abuse that is so regularly aimed at players and managers alike – much of it racist in content. Footballers and other media celebrities are not the only ones to suffer from negative opinions posted online and sadly these unwarranted and unsolicited comments can have a serious effect on the mental health of the victim. It is easy to suggest that no notice be taken of such critical opinions, but not so easy to take that advice on board when you have been hurt by the comments.
So, what can be done about it? Well I believe that social media is no different than any other aspect of our lives. I was always told that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. The same should apply to social media. We can use it to effect positive change. So, if you are a user of social media platforms, why not take the time to say something nice. Encourage somebody. Be kind. Find the good in a situation. Let's make the wider social media environment as positive a place as the online Melling Baptist Community has been this past year, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing”.
'A Place For Me' - 13/05/21
“I am just a tiny person in Africa, but there is a place for me, and for everybody, to sit down on this earth and touch it and call it their own.”
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a detective novel about a female private detective in Africa, Mma Precious Ramotswe. She starts the first detective agency in Botswana after her father dies.
One of the problems Mma Ramotswe encounters is when people move to the ‘big city’ from their home village, and they end up in all sorts of trouble, because they haven’t settled and found a place where they fit in.
As restrictions around us are eased and we start to emerge from our lockdown cocoons, it can seem like so many things have changed. Some things that we have missed are returning, some things are not. Some restrictions may well remain for us for a long time to come. Home working is now commonplace for many jobs, zoom and video calling as a regular way of keeping in touch is with us to stay, and many high street shops are gone forever, and we can only order online for lots of familiar brands now.
In this brave new world, it can be daunting to work out where we are all going to fit in again, as our roles and places of work and lifestyle may have changed beyond recognition.
God reminds us that there is always a place for us with him. He even goes further than that. He tells us that there always has been, always is and always will be a place for us in his family. We will never be without a home with God.
Psalm 90; 1-2 says this:
Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! 2 Before the mountains were created, before the earth was formed, you are God without beginning or end.
Whilst our circumstances may change, God does not and neither does his love for us. Our past present and future are safe in Gods hands.
As we go about our daily life today, hold tight to the promise that there is always a place for us with God.
'Tree Hugging' - 12/05/21
So, Lebanon. An incredibly beautiful country with the most stunning coastline, amazing history, fabulous food, dodgy dancing and whopping great big trees!....commonly known as the Cedars of Lebanon. These stunning trees have very wide tree trunks, branches that spread out in every direction, and the roots of the tree are known to go very deep and very wide. Putting it bluntly, these trees aren’t likely to get blown over! They are just beautiful! And as soon as I saw them I wanted to go over to them, walk around them, maybe give one or two of them a hug.....after all, some of these beautiful trees are over 2,500 years old! If they could speak, imagine the stories they could tell. There was just one problem. After the devastating war that took place in Lebanon, the ground next to the trees had been covered in landlines. I couldn’t help but feel so sad that the painful past had left it’s mark. We all have a past don’t we? The proud moments. The funny moments. The moments you record in a photo album. And we all have moments of pain and sadness. Sadly it’s a part of life. And we can become a lot like a Cedar of Lebanon surrounded by landlines and a barbed wire fence, keeping people at a distance. Have you ever felt like that? I have, and it’s a lonely place to be. We all need friends. Good friends. The kind who will enjoy the good times with us, but still be there for us during the bad times. The kind of friends who will help us remove the ‘landlines and the barbed wire fence’ that surround us. And we need to be those friends to. The Bible tells us we ought to be like Jesus, who was, and still is, the best friend we could ever have. 1 Peter 5:7, says these words, ‘Cast all your anxiety on Him [Jesus] because he cares for you’. So, let’s recognise ‘barbed wire fences’, let’s be something of Jesus to one another, let’s give Him our daily struggles and pain, and let’s draw closer to Him, and one another...even while we’re very much apart.
'Like Father, Like Son?' - 11/05/21
“Honour your father and mother. Then you will live long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Exodus 20: 12
Have you ever said or done something and then stopped suddenly in horror as you realise that you’re turning into your mum or dad? Very often it will be the precise thing that as a young person you swore you would never do but slowly and surely we find ourselves picking up their idiosyncrasies, usually to the huge embarrassment and mockery of our own children! If I’m honest, I’m watching with fascination as I realise that in just a few more years I will effectively be married to my father-in-law as my husband gradually morphs into him.
Our parents play a huge and important role in our lives but it is often only much later in life that we understand the lessons that they taught us and how they shaped us into the people we become. As we look today at this 5th commandment we must first understand that it isn’t saying that parents are always right and therefore you must always do exactly as they say (although, if my children are reading this, just remember – mother still knows best!), this is about recognising that none of us are ever completely independent and all self-sufficient. We owe our parents gratitude and respect for their care of us as children but even as we grow we continue to need one another, it is a lesson in humility as we acknowledge that even if we can only rely on our memory of a parent, we never really stop drawing on the things they taught us - even when it turns out that they didn’t actually know everything!
A mother once said to her children – “Never make fun of having to help me with computer stuff. I taught you how to use a spoon” (Sue Fitzmaurice, author) This is a helpful reminder that we are interdependent on each other – one brought us into this world and supported and taught us but as our children grow and become independent themselves, they then have a responsibility to support and care for the generation before them.
But neither does the Bible let parents off the hook. In Proverbs it says “Train up a child in the way they should go; even when they are old they will not depart from it”. Parents have a responsibility towards their children too, not only to provide for them, but to be an example of unconditional love, honesty and integrity so that our children can learn from a young age the behaviour that God expects of them throughout their lives.
Whether you have parents that you still depend on; parents that depend on you or simply the memory of your parents, let’s give thanks to God for them and honour them for the love and commitment that they have shown us.
'Counting The Press-Ups' - 10/05/21
Louis the black Lab and I go walking two or three times each week, so I need to know where the best places are. When I say ‘the best places,’ Louis and I disagree about this because ‘best’ to him means ‘wettest’ but to me it means ‘driest’. I have narrowed our choice down to three local parks and I select which one based upon the time available and the weather. But now another consideration has arisen-people. Last month we arrived at our destination to find the car park almost full at 9 o’clock on a Saturday morning. As I squeezed the car into one of the last available spaces I became aware of noises I had never heard there before. There was a lot of screaming and shouting, all of it female. I looked around and saw a young ladies boot camp in progress about 100 yards away. I smiled to myself knowing that we would walk the other way to the park so I opened the door for Louis and was shocked to see him heading for the source of the racket. There were about 40 ladies in two long rows all gyrating to music and being yelled at by the leader and all yelling back. In the middle of this organized chaos was a black Lab attempting to greet everyone. He was delighted by the welcome he received but when he discovered that none of these energetic ladies had thought to bring biscuits he came back to the person who always had some. Since then they have been there every Saturday and Louis always visits them and always gets a noisy welcome. I would like to join them but that would be frowned on. So soon I shall be back in my gym, gently and cautiously trying to recover a degree of fitness.
Many people see fitness as the ultimate aim in life; get fit and life is great. But the reality is that you could be as fit as a gladiator and still find that satisfaction eludes you. The truth is that we are spiritual creations made in the image of God and satisfaction that lasts comes from Him. In the Bible book of Isaiah we read, ‘Turn to the Lord! He can still be found. Call out to God! He is near.’ Physical fitness is wonderful, but there’s more to life. Jesus explained why He came to visit Earth, He said, “I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its fullness.” So let’s keep counting the press-ups and running on the spot, but remember we are spiritual beings and we need more than cute calves and beautiful biceps.
'Let's Go Outside' - 09/05/21
George MacCloud, the founder of the current Iona Community in Scotland , was quite a radical minister in the church , some would even say a maverick. Many folks still take retreats to the island of Iona. The life in that community is simple, pared down, basic. I will shortly be going on a retreat and whilst I relish the time alone with God, the silence, the simplicity and the rest ;I know that this is not where I am meant to be permanently.
When writing about Easter George MacCloud wrote this: “The cross must be raised again at the centre of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church. I am claiming that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on the town garbage heap, at a crossroads so cosmopolitan they had to write His title in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. At the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble, because that is where He died and that is what he died about and that is where churchmen ought to be and what churchmen should be about.”
As I read those words I substitute the word churchmen for Christians. As Christians we are called to be salt and light in our communities, making a difference and carrying Christ into those communities. We are emerging slowly from an enforced time of pared down life and as we emerge we need to remember that we should be ready to carry the good news of the risen Lord Jesus wherever we go. It will require us to be sacrificial with our time perhaps, or it may require us to be bold and brave when we feel anxious inside.
I have shared these precious words of Jesus before but here they are again as a gentle reminder : Salt and Light
( Matthew 5:13-16) “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage."
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Lets get out there!
'Take a Fresh Look' - 08/05/21
Having moved to work in a new department in work, I have been on a definite learning curve. I like learning new things and it can bring a great sense of achievement when you are recognised as having learnt something. When I started in this new department, I was looking at the other team members, at their skills and experience, how they had been doing the job for a good few years between them.
But I was able to join the team and look at things from a different perspective. I was able to look at things differently and bring a fresh viewpoint. It has become apparent that as much as I have had to learn, I was also able to teach the existing team to look at things differently. They knew all the detail, they could discuss and debate that detail with real depth. However, I was able to join that discussion without that detail and raise the thinking to a different level, do things a fresh way that could help resolve some of the detail issues by approaching it in a new way.
Sometimes, we can live our lives deep in the detail of how things should be and trying to tweak things to improve things. When what may be better, is to look at things differently. Instead of looking at how we can tweak our existing daily routine, stop and think about whether we can do things completely differently. It may bring a new lease of life to us.
As a Christian, our relationship with God can bring us a different perspective. In Isaiah 55, we are encouraged
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
If we stay hidden in the detail of our current way of life, we may miss an opportunity, lets talk to God about our lives to understand how He would want us live our lives. He can bring a fresh view but we may need to be prepared to let go of the detail we are used to and do things differently.
'It's Got Me Stumped' - 07/05/21
For the past few weeks I have been engaged in a running battle; a war of attrition; a fifteen-round heavyweight prize fight if you will... with a tree. A laburnum tree to be precise. I won the first few rounds quite easily. The branches and the trunk succumbed to my hand-held wood saw with surprisingly little resistance. The remaining stump, however, is proving more of a challenge. It left my chainsaw looking like Shane McGowan without even shedding any bark. I feel that my arboreal opponent is getting a second wind and is digging in for the final few rounds. I have a nasty suspicion that if I don't land the knockout punch soon, I will be defeated on points.
Now, obviously I can hire somebody to come along with a stump grinder and take care of the problem, but that would be no fun and would also be expensive. It also means that I would have to admit defeat... to a tree. So, I ventured onto YouTube and found a really interesting way to get rid of a tree stump. It involves power tools, petrol and fire! Now we're talking. Having drilled the requisite holes, poured in the petrol, set the fuse and lit the match, I stood back to watch the resulting controlled burn apply the coup de grace.
When the smoke cleared and the flames were exhausted, there it still was, blackened but unbowed. Taunting me with its woody resilience. A laburnum tree stump that was burned, but not consumed by the flames.
I was instantly reminded of Moses. In the book of Exodus in the Bible, we are told that Moses was tending his father-in-law's sheep, when he saw a burning bush... and though the bush burned, it was not consumed by the flames. On closer inspection, Moses discovered that God was using this bizarre spectacle to get his attention, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob”. Once Moses gave God his full attention, God told him what He had in store for him. He told him that he would be used by God to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
This is one of my favourite stories in the Bible, because Moses proceeds to argue with God, coming up with excuse after excuse to avoid having to go on what must have been to him a frightening odyssey. God of course confirms that He has everything in hand and will be with Moses throughout. Still Moses finds excuses, until eventually God convinces him that with His help, Moses will be both safe and triumphant.
I can't help but think that I am guilty of doing something similar when I hear God's call. I look for a reason why I can't do it rather than accept that God has already put everything in place and will be with me on the adventure.
Now, I can't say that God has been speaking to me through the flames of a burning laburnum tree, but this little escapade has served as a timely reminder to listen for His voice and to trust Him when He speaks.
Right then, where did I put that dynamite?
'Another Person's Eyes' - 06/05/21
“So many memories and secrets, so many burdens. Every life has such weight. I don’t know how anybody carries even one.”
Stuart Turton, The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
This book is a detective novel with a difference. In order to solve the murder, the detective relives the same day over and over again by waking up each day in a different person’s body, literally looking at the world through another person’s eyes. He then uses this information to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle.
Now this is only possible through literary imagination, but in doing this the detective realises that every person he becomes has a different set of issues and problems that he may have otherwise been unaware of, hence the quote.
Sometime its easy for us to look at other people’s lives and think that they may have it ‘easy’, or that their life is somehow better than ours. The reality is that as in the book, and as Plato is often quoted;
“Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”
Jesus, when he talks to his disciples in Matthew 11 is well aware of this. Jesus reminds us that even though life can be hard, we don’t have to go through it alone.
Matthew 11:28-30
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Jesus offers his love and care and grace to everyone and anyone who turns to him. Jesus went through betrayal, heart break, torture, and death because he loved us so much. Wherever you are today, Jesus gets it, he knows how hard life can be. He sees the hidden pain and disappointment as well as the visible scars, and he loves you.
Let’s come to Jesus with everything we have, ‘warts and all’, and let him walk with us, sharing our pain and allowing us to rest in him. And let’s also let that amazing love shine through us, so that we can love others with that same love, and stand with them, sharing their burdens.
That’s what the family of God is all about.
'Coffee!...Please' - 05/05/21
The owner of a small deli was recently fed up with bad mannered customers. He decided to do something about it. He put a new price list for coffee on the board outside. It said this...
‘Coffee!’ - $5
‘Coffee please’ - $3.50
‘Hi! Can I have a cup of coffee please?...and thankyou!’ - $1.75
The change was instant! People didn’t want to be paying $5 for a coffee and were therefore given a wake up call to their not-so-great manners! This story can bring a smile to our faces but how important it is to show manners.
Jesus met ten men one day who all had leprosy. This was an incurable disease. And highly contagious. They shouted to Him. ‘
‘Jesus, have mercy on us!’
He told them to go and present themselves to the priests. While they were on their way, their leprosy was cured. One of the men was so shocked and delighted he turned around and rushed back to Jesus straightaway. He was full of praise and gratitude. Jesus looked around,
‘Weren’t there ten who were healed? Where are the other nine? Have they not come back to give praise to God?’
Then Jesus turned to the one thankful man and said,
‘On your way, your faith has healed you’.
The men had been cured of leprosy. What a gift! And yet only one came back to say Thankyou.
In our frustrations, tiredness and rushing, let’s be careful to still exercise good manners. They cost nothing and may even get you a half price coffee. But more importantly, they show respect to the one you are talking to.
Jesus said, ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’.
So if you like to hear ‘please’ and ‘thankyou’ and have people hold a door open for you and help you pick up the papers you’ve just dropped all over the floor, then let’s do it first for them.
'Time For a Rest Day' - 04/05/21
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God.”
Exodus 20: 8-10
As the Olympics approach there are athletes up and down the country and all around the world working incredibly hard, pushing their bodies to the limit of what they can endure trying to become the fastest or strongest and most accomplished at their particular sport. Their training regimes are gruelling but one thing they all have in common is that they all need their rest. Not one of them can just keep going without taking a break. All of them have planned rest days and sleep programmes in place so that their bodies have chance to rest and repair – without these rest days they will not only succumb to physical injuries but will also begin to suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety and stress.
I can’t possibly liken myself to an athlete but, regardless of their chosen sport, what I do have in common with all athletes is that we all need our rest.
Our weeks tend to be busy, filled with often mundane tasks but nevertheless the things of life that must be done – the shopping, the cleaning, the washing and ironing, the school run, not to mention somehow fitting in a job! The list could go on. All of these things are important and must be done but in this forth commandment God asks us to take one day away from the busyness of life. Traditionally as Christians we set Sundays aside but there is no rule that says it must be a Sunday, simply a time set aside when you can rest whether that be physically, emotionally or spiritually. God wants us to make sure that in the busyness of life we don’t forget to allow time for him.
In Matthew 11 we read these words spoken by Jesus “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” This invitation to set some time aside for God is for our benefit – time to remember what is important; time to recuperate from the batterings of life; time to spend in the presence of our creator God who wants to offer you rest and healing and refreshment.
There is no doubt that life can be tiring and demanding at times but, like any athlete will tell you, not taking the time to rest won’t get the job done in the long run. Let’s make sure that we take time this week to stop and spend some time with God so that we can know real refreshment to be able to carry on.
'Let's Not Be Choosey' - 03/05/21
We have seen in recent years examples of extreme weather with increasing regularity and they are getting closer. But it’s still the case that the earth shattering disasters are abroad. We have watched transfixed as TV news programmes have shown the results of monstrous tornados, uncontrollable flooding, and terrifying forest fires. Our prayer is always that the people escape unharmed even if their homes and careers are wiped out. During a recent forest fire that was made worse by strong winds, a driver who was escaping in a hurry saw something that made him stop and switch on his video camera. The footage swept around the world and brought spontaneous applause in millions of homes. It showed a man on the edge of the field that was about to be destroyed by massive rapidly advancing flames, and he was on his knees. Everyone who drove past including the driver filming it wondered what on earth this madman was doing. He seemed to be talking to something in the long grass and everyone ‘knew’ it was his dog and they expected that his pet would leap into his arms; instead of that after an agonizing minute a terrified rabbit crawled in front of the man who swept it up in his arms, put it in his car and rocketed away. The man was praised globally for his courage but much more for his compassion; after all, it was only a rabbit!
In our world there is a tendency for people to elevate those who are high achievers; the wealthy, the educated, the powerful, and the famous. Often people in elevated positions consider themselves more important than the rest of us. Some of them even seem to think that they can bend the rules to suit themselves. But God disagrees with their opinion of themselves; Paul writing to slave owners who assumed they were more significant than those around them says this, ‘Remember that you and your slaves have the same Master in Heaven, who judges everyone by the same standard.’ To those who think their status on Earth impresses God and makes them more acceptable to him, God makes this point, ‘God saves you through faith as an act of kindness. You have nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God.’ Jesus considered the tramp in the street to be as important to God as the king on his throne. So let’s not be choosey, let’s just meet needs where we see them. Remember the rabbit!
'I Can't Get No Satisfaction' - 02/05/21
My head is clearly in retreat mode. Since looking up George MacCloud (founder of the current Iona Community) I keep finding these snippets of his wisdom. Here’s one that got me thinking: “Do not be prepared to tolerate the obscenity of the now”.
When on retreat, it is easier to be contemplative, holy even and live in a simpler way than when at home in the middle of a normal, busy life. The distractions are less, there is less pressure to do and more time to be. Back in the cut and thrust of normal life it is a lot harder to be contemplative and, dare I say it, holy. Normal life seems to be one big juggling act. There are the demands of family, work, commitments, hoovering, ironing (who does ironing??), walking the dog, taking out the rubbish, zoom calls, WhatsApp chats etc and if we get dissatisfied, it is with this juggling act.
As I write, the news and social media is full of anger at possible changes to the football league but when I read George MacLeod’s quote again I am challenged because I am aware that I get cross more about literal obscenities like bad language than I do the obscenity of injustice. We get angry at football clubs but tolerate poverty because we do not have time to sign a petition, write to an MP or pray. I am more likely to pray for a nice place to live than I am to remember to pray for those who are displaced by war.
In Matthew 23 Jesus says this: ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices – mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practised the latter, without neglecting the former.’
We are a community and it is right that we come to our Father with our petitions, requests and prayers for each other and ourselves, but I have been gently reminded that I need to cultivate a more holy dissatisfaction; a holy desire for more life & more love for others. There is more that God wants to give and there is more that God wants to ask of me if I dare to ask.
'You've Got Mail' - 01/05/21
In these days while I am at home quite a lot, its actually quite rare to get a voicemail on my phone, as I am regularly here to answer it. I am also here to receive a lot of posted goods when my family (obviously not me!) keep ordering things. Its great for people trying to get in touch with us as they know they are likely to find someone at home.
In days gone by, in the dim and distant past, we would come home to the dreaded “we missed you” card through the letter box. Sometimes, they would just try again the next day, but mostly you would have to then start searching for where your parcel has gone. Then finding out when that new place is open so that you can then go and collect your parcel. Of course, it is important to check what you need to take with you as proof that the parcel is actually yours so they can give it to you.
It was all such a fuss but now feels so much easier.
Sometimes, when we try to take time out to talk to God, it sometimes feels like there is no-one there to answer. We keep leaving a message but we don’t hear anything back. Why is God not answering my prayer!
However, we should be assured that God hears our prayers every time we say them, he actually knows what we are going to pray before we do. So it is not about God not answering, He hears every word we say and feels every word we say. Jesus is not actually at the other end of a letter or phone, he is actually sat right next to us speaking the same words as we are. In Romans Chapter 8 we are reminded;
Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Our God is not apart from us, He is by our side, He does not need a letter or phone call, we can simply turn to Him and talk to Him. He knows and He loves us. We should remember that as Jesus is with us, we can trust Him that He will have the right answer at the right time.
June '21 Sunrises
'I Hate Scarecrows' - 30/06/21
It was 1979. I was 6 years old. And a new child-friendly television programme was aired on a Saturday evening. Worzel Gummidge!! Can anybody please tell me what was child-friendly about that programme?? A big, ugly, man-sized, stuffed doll that came to life and got up to mischief. He fancied an equally terrifying doll called Aunt Sally. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse….he pulled off his head!! It was the stuff of nightmares! And nightmares I had! Plenty of them! It took me years to get Worzel and his heads out of my mind!! And yet, in recent years, I’ve seen scarecrow festivals pop up in villages and I have that same familiar feeling from when I was 6 years old….terror!
I’m 48 years old now and yet I have to say, if you take me to a scarecrow festival, I will cope, but only just. I’ll take a deep breath and try to concentrate on the beautiful tree, or the coffee shop in the distance, or my purple boots. I won’t enjoy the experience and will get out of that place as soon as can! Apparently a fear of scarecrows is called ‘formidophobia’.
While my fear is real and brings me out in a cold sweat, I have to say, that I’ve been massively fortunate if that has been my negative childhood experience!! The problem is, for many people, we simply have no idea what experiences others have gone through in life. Why they behave the way they do. Why they can only sleep with the light on, or can only cope with small groups of people, maybe they have trust issues or won’t travel on a train???
Sometimes we can be quick to judge can’t we? Asking such questions as, ‘What’s wrong with them?’ ‘Why are they being difficult?’ ‘Why can’t they smile?’
I have been watching the outrageous images from Palestine in recent weeks and how the young children have been subjected to such horrors. I can’t help but wonder what nightmares they will experience for possibly the rest of their lives.
The Bible says, ‘Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love’.
Like the old saying goes, ‘Be kind, always, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about’.
'It's In the Compost' - 29/06/21
‘Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom’ [Luke 12:32 Amplified]
It’s hard to shine when you’re next to the sun. It must be awkward to produce Christmas Dinner if you’re married to Delia Smith. Difficult to churn out a best-seller if your name is Mrs. John le Carre? Not easy to excel if your big sister is teacher’s pet? And impossible to impress in the gardening department if your husband is second only to Monty Don!
In this frame of mind, I have never felt qualified to participate in the back garden, which no thanks to me could almost be an ‘open event’, part of the National Garden Scheme. It’s probably why I’ve started weeding in the local graveyard and church grounds. What harm can I do attacking a border in the carpark consisting purely of nettles, thistles and bindweed using a three-pronged hoe or as I call it ‘the grabber’. What offence can I give by putting a straight edging in the ‘garden of remembrance’ where it had been overgrown; learning to stretch out twine and mark it out with golf tees, and apply ‘the slicer’!!
But then fate stepped in. Some friendly neighbours bequeathed us five large pots which they no longer needed. Two were said to be cracked: “I’ll have those two thanks and maybe I’ll plant vegetables”. No other vegetables around to be in competition with!! Nine small corn-on-the-cob plants and nine dwarf bean plants later, a decision to give me sound pots, loads of compost, a daily tipple from the watering-can, and here I am in charge of a budding harvest. How on earth did that happen? Seemingly I did nothing. “Oh” said the husband “It’s in the compost”.
Well, I’m really glad it’s in the compost. I’m really glad everything is there in the foundation I’ve given it, glad that the grounding is suited to growing a crop. I’m reassured that it doesn’t all depend on me to make things grow healthily; and I’m delighted even at the thought of receiving a harvest.
As St.Paul once said: ‘We each carried out our assignment. I planted the seed. Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s God who is at the centre of this process’ [1 Corinthians 3:6-8 paraphrased] He was talking about planting a church at Corinth. In the same way, in our own lives, in our pandemic experience, in our silent periods of waiting and growing, and probably suffering, we must admit we have been given a good foundation for our faith and nurturing. It seems that, each in our own way, we have put our roots into God’s soil, been watered by our Savior and kept healthier by his loving Spirit …….. and the love we have showered on each other. If you feel utterly transformed by the journey then do not be surprised. Because whatever you have come through God is using that to grow your character, to come closer to Him, to feel your need of Him and to grab the opportunity to be part of working in his Kingdom.
Like myself in the back garden, you may feel you are ‘small fry’. But rest assured, whatever you’ve learnt, however you’ve grown, it was your Father’s joy to give you that piece of his Kingdom. He smiles on you.
'The Dog In the Front' - 28/06/21
‘OK’ I thought, ‘I’ll follow him.’ He is Louis the Lab that I take for a walk two or three times a week. We had arrived in this enormous park that would take ten minutes to walk across if you walked in a straight line. But walking in a straight line is not our style, even when I lead. I’m an intelligent dog walker and I know what’s best for my canine mate, so I lead the way to every interesting tree, bush, and hedge. He occasionally wanders away but he always stays close to me; he’s not stupid, he knows if he gets lost, he would have to walk home. We park in the same place each time, facing the same way so that when he jumps out he knows that he needs to run round the front of the car, because that the way I go. But on Saturday when the door was opened for him, he trotted off in a different direction without asking for permission. Because I’m patient and loveable, and he’d gone anyway, I smiled and followed. And followed. And followed. He pretended that he had no interest in trees, bushes, or hedges; he simply put his nose to the floor and headed for the middle of the park where there is absolutely nothing of any interest, even for a daft dog. We walked for nearly an hour and never got close to any of the four edges of the field. He ignored the little bridge that leads to his favourite brook, he’s never done that before, and we continued to twist and turn our way backwards and forwards, following scents that only he was aware of, never getting anywhere. He seemed very happy so I decided to be happy to.
It reminded me that some people are called Christians, the word means ‘follower of Christ.’ We read in the gospel accounts of His life that Jesus approached certain men and simply said, “Follow me.” They had no idea how long they would be away, no idea where that would take them, and no idea what they would see or hear. Frequently they didn’t understand the direction that He took them in and often thought that they had better ideas. When they set out following Him they didn’t realize that nothing would ever be the same again, that the journey would last a lifetime, and they would still be following when they died. Now that’s more than a walk in the park. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Anybody coming?
'The Result' - 26/06/21
So many of us are focused on results. We have COVID testing, and everyone is desperate to be negative and fearing being positive. If you have done any of the test procedures, you could be waiting for a few minutes or a few days. We have also started the football Euro 2020 competition, and I am sure there are plenty of people now checking results. Looking out for the team that you picked in the office competition, possibly having no real interest in the game just whether you are winning.
So many aspects of our lives seem to be dependent upon results. We start our children down that path in schools. Putting them through tests and exams then having to wait from a few days to a few months for the results.
But what about the journey? What about enjoying the football or enjoying learning. What about just enjoying what you can do in this pandemic. We sometimes make the result the most important factor. Did you have fun? Did you enjoy yourself? Where you able to work together and help others? Did you learn something interesting?
The journey of our lives is what is important. How have you lived your life, did you get the promotion by any means possible? Did you get to the front of the queue by pushing into the line? Or did you do your best, support and mentor others around you. Give credit to those who made contributions to the work?
There are many stories in the Bible about how Jesus lived his life, he taught his early disciples and they followed in his footsteps. In turn, they lived their lives guiding others. The apostle Paul in many of his letters encouraged others “ you have to try to live the way I live and do the same sort of things, just like I try to live the way that Jesus lived.”
Let’s encourage each other in our examples of loving and serving each other.
'Help' - 25/06/21
I recently had my laptop repaired. Now, whilst it is accurate to state that the repair was recent, it would be stretching credibility to suggest the same of the fault that required the repair. I have been without my laptop since October 2020, when it suddenly decided that it did not like the password I had set to ensure its security and insisted that I use the one from my Microsoft account instead... then it told me that it wasn't happy with that one either. If you've ever tried to reason with a laptop, you will be aware that it is not possible. It has its own inalienable logic and will not be thwarted in its plans to reduce to dust what little sanity you have remaining.
Sadly, the same was true of the labyrinthine machinations of the repair, replace or refund policy of the retail outlet from which I bought the infernal device. Now I am aware that, during the time that my laptop was misbehaving and the aforementioned retail outlet was failing to understand their liabilities towards a customer with a product still within its manufacturers warranty, a pandemic was occurring. So for the sake of clarity and fairness, it should be stated that Covid and the restrictions and regulations surrounding the practice of free trade accompanying it, was responsible for some of the delay to the eventual repair of my laptop... about 10% of it.
It must also be said that each and every member of staff I spoke to, whether by web-chat, telephone, Twitter or (post Covid restrictions) face to face, were genuinely trying to be helpful. It was the corporate entity in which they were employed that had lost sight of its responsibilities regarding customer service. When I eventually got to speak to somebody in the correct position within the hierarchy to be able to make an independent decision, my problem was fixed within a week.
This led me to think of the Melling Baptist Community. Not because it is a large corporate entity, bereft of human feeling, common sense and rational customer service policies, but because it is the exact opposite. Whenever a problem is mentioned within the community, the speaker can hardly finish the sentence before offers of help are being made. Nobody is off behind a desk somewhere, checking whether this particular problem is covered by a warranty, or if there is a weasel clause somewhere that negates the need to offer help. No; there is simply a recognition that somebody has a need and that that need should be met if humanly possible... and if humans can't fix it, then we'll turn to God and ask for His help on behalf of the friend in need.
This mirrors the teaching of the early church that we read about in the book of Galatians, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” and later, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers”.
So, let's continue to be a community. Let's continue to do church. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing”.
'Second Chances' - 24/06/21
“There's a famous quote I read somewhere. It says we are all given second chances every day of our lives. They are there for the taking, it's just that we don't usually take them.”
James Bowen, A Street Cat Named Bob
A Street Cat names Bob is a true story about how a stray cat adopts a London busker, and the bond that is formed between them inspires the man to turn his life around.
In the early 1850’s in Michigan, a young boy called Al was struggling to pay attention in school. One day his teacher sent him home from school with a letter for his mother. The letter from his schoolteacher contained these words:
Your son is addled (mentally ill), please do not sent him to school anymore.
His mother was furious with the schoolteacher and determined to give her son a second chance by teaching him herself.
Al, as his family called him, then contracted scarlet fever at the age of 12 which left him with profound hearing problems, but his mother still persevered.
Al grew up to become a famous scientist and inventor who literally has lit up our homes ever since. Thomas ‘Al’ Edison, inventor of the lightbulb amongst many other things was forever grateful to his mother and her refusal to believe the schoolteachers assessment of her son as a young boy.
Experts now believe that its possible that he had either dyslexia or ADHD, hence his schoolteachers conclusions. However, the second chance given to him by his mother, and taken by a small boy who wanted to learn but didn’t learn in the same way as everyone else has literally brought light into our lives.
We may not have had such dramatic experiences as Thomas Edison, but there are times when we all need a second chance or another attempt at something.
God is always ready to come alongside us and help us with a fresh start. He never gives up on us, and his love for us never changes.
Lamentations 3 22-23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
God is the God of second chances, and third and forth and fifty seventh! So, whether you need a fresh look at something small, or need to start again, God is ready, willing and able to help you. Let him know how you feel, he will not let you down.
'Cracking Up Or Cracking Open' - 23/06/21
I was having one of those days when the to do list was too long and the time seemed too short. Popping into Morrisons for one thing I then remembered a whole host of other things that we needed and gathered the items to my chest only to gather too many and drop them all. Thank goodness I had not made it to the eggs section! I left feeling anxious, forgetting the one thing that I had gone in for and told myself that I was cracking up. I clearly wasn’t and was just a but stressed.
We are looking ahead to the future as church & it can be a bit like carrying an armful of shopping around a supermarket and realising that we are carrying too much. We are scared of forgetting something that we might need and so we end up bringing everything . Dropping stuff is surely not good because something might break?
What if, in order to move forward we have to let go of stuff that we think we might need. We have to give up the comfortable security of what we have come to know over the last 18 months and allow ourselves to be cracked open, learning new ways of being church and breaking out of our shells. “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength… ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” When Jesus commanded us to do this He never said that it would be easy. However following Jesus and serving Him as well as one another can be so exciting. When eggs crack open it is not always bad. They might be cracking open and hatching, bringing new life .
'Keeping Up With the Jones'' - 22/06/21
You must not covet your neighbour’s house. You must not covet your neighbour’s wife, or manservant or maidservant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbour.
Exodus 20: 17
I can honestly say that I really couldn’t care what car you drive, if you are lucky I might notice what colour your car is but I won’t have a clue about the make, model or age. However, turn up with a nice handbag, shoes or coat and you’re far more likely to get my attention! For others it might be the size of someone’s house that catches their eye or the fancy holiday someone is taking – it is very difficult to go through life and not find that at some point you are wishing you could have something that isn’t actually yours. But this final commandment is clear, we shouldn’t desire the things that belong to others. To be fair, I can honestly say that I have never been envious of someone else’s donkey but the same principle can be applied to anything that we don’t own.
There seem to be a couple of problems with living in a state of constant envy of what others have. Firstly, how will you ever find happiness that way? Will there ever be a point at which you have enough and can stop striving and competing to have more of the things that others seem to have? The grass may seem greener in someone else’s garden, but the reality is often down to perspective – they are probably looking at your garden!
The second question is what are you overlooking when your attention is constantly fixed on what others have? Rather than looking for the things that you don’t have, what about the things that you do have? Your home – even a chaotic, untidy home can be filled with love; your family – perhaps imperfect, but happy and healthy; your job – maybe boring or underpaid, but filled with loyal colleagues and good friends. When we bother to stop and look, each of us will discover that we are already blessed in one way or another.
Let’s spare a moment today to look around us and give thanks to God for the things he has already blessed us with and stop worrying about the things that we may not have. Let’s keep our eyes on God and in humble gratitude give thanks for the good things he has so abundantly blessed us with – including one another.
“Any why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you…Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matt 6:28
'The Same But Different' - 21/06/21
I’ve had a fun week painting a fence, well OK not a fun week but I’m glad I did it and I’m glad it’s finished. So glad. The fence has stood there proud and robust for decades while children have grown up, got married and produced more children. The fence has seen all of that and a lot more. But over the years it has lost some of its sparkle, just like some of us. The extremes of weather from torrential rain to scorching summer days (remember them?), has worn away some of the colour lovingly applied in a previous decade, and in some areas that colour has also been erased to reveal a whole history of colour choices. In addition the timber has gradually become more ‘interesting’ and exhibits beautiful texture and graceful contours where it used to be boringly flat and lacking in artistic merit. So we decided to take charge and treat this loyal fence to some beauty treatment. We considered a wide range of colours from Liverpool Red to Newcastle Black and finally settled on a mature and sensible grey. After more than eleven hours of wrist-aching painting over three days we stood back and congratulated ourselves on performing a miracle. The transformation to that section of our garden has fully justified the effort. We may even invite visitors! It’s the same fence of course in the same place performing the same function as it always has, but it looks different, it’s all about image.
The culture that surrounds us today is very conscious of image and it’s very big business. Many people spend a fortune on make-up, skin conditioner, hair-health products, amazing fingernails, not to mention clothes that go out of fashion almost before you wear them. Nobody is going to complain if you want to look presentable and be noticed but God won’t be looking. He said to Samuel a long time ago, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” That’s something that you can’t hide or paint over, God sees you as you are, not as you wish to be seen. However Paul writing to Christians long ago makes a comment about what we should wear, ‘Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.’ This is fashion that is never out of date and people will definitely notice; so will God but He will not be bothered by your old jeans covered in paint after transforming the fence.
'Dad Jokes' - 20/06/21
It’s Fathers Day! Happy Fathers Day!
Whether you’re a dad, a granddad, uncle, step dad, foster dad, or somebody else who has taken on this wonderful role, THANKYOU!!
We also thank God for those amazing dads who are sadly no longer with us, and are missed so much.
And for those who are soon-to-be dads or wanting-to-be dads, may God provide the strength, courage, wisdom and comfort that you may be needing today.
Being a dad is both a privilege and a responsibility. One responsibility is the teller of ‘Dad Jokes’! These jokes are internationally renowned for being, well, bad! Really bad! So bad, in fact, that they make us laugh!
How about,
"I'm afraid for the calendar. Its days are numbered."
Or maybe,
"What did the ocean say to the beach?" "Nothing, it just waved."
And then there’s,
"How does the moon cut his hair?" "Eclipse it."
Can you cope with anymore?…
"What did the zero say to the eight?" "That belt looks good on you."
Last one,
"Dad, did you get a haircut?" "No, I got them all cut!"
Are you still with me?? I promise, no more! They’re bad aren’t they?!! But did you laugh? Smile? Even a little bit?
I don’t know what makes dads tell such awful jokes but we have to confess to loving them really.
Being a dad is a tough job! And even the most perfect dad, isn’t perfect all the time. They get things wrong. They mess up at times. They get tired, or frustrated, or impatient….just like the rest of us!…and then there’s the jokes!
But the Bible speaks of God being our perfect dad. He wants to protect us, rescue us, guide us and help us. He’s always there for us and loves us completely.
For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.
Thankyou dads for all you do and have done for us!…even the bad jokes! And thankyou God for being the perfect dad who remains the same, yesterday, today and forever.
'Memories...' - 19/06/21
One of the features on our phones and social media can be the reminders that are shown to us of past memories. I was recently sent a copy of a photo from a few years ago, where I had worn a silly costume in support of an event one of my children was joining in with. We both had underpants on our head, in public! At the time, it was great fun and I enjoyed seeing the excitement on my daughters face as we joined in being silly, though some might say I don’t need a lot of encouragement to do that. When I then showed my daughter the photo and how we dressed in public all that time ago, I was reminded in no uncertain terms that this would not be repeated.
Apart from fun things from the past, sometimes people are caught out by things they wish had never done. There was the recent case of the cricket player who had said something on social media that was not good. And now someone had dug into his past and found it, making it public to a new fanbase. The player apologised for what he had said all those years ago and tried to assure people that this was not his opinion now.
Some memories that our phones can remind us of are never to be repeated, either because it was wrong the first time or because whilst it may have been fun then, it would not be good fun now.
In living our life with Jesus, he knows our past and all the things we may enjoy remembering as well as those which we may rather forget. There are probably times where we may prefer people could forgive and forget. When we ask Jesus to forgive us for things we have done wrong, he will forgive us and will choose not to remember them again. In the Old Testament, we hear stories of the sacrifices offered to God each month because of the sins of the people. However, in the New Testament, Jesus came to be a single, one-off sacrifice. In Hebrews Chapter 10, it says
But Christ gave himself to God for our sins as one sacrifice for all time and then sat down in the place of highest honor at God’s right hand
There wont be any reminders because God chooses not to remember when we accept His forgiveness. We should not live in fear of the past but with hope for the future, founded in Gods love for us all.
'Red Ink' - 18/06/21
Apparently, things written in red ink can make people feel upset. It has been shown to have a psychological impact on people and bring about feelings of anxiety and disappointment. Don't just take my word for it; a study undertaken by sociologists at the University of Colorado found that corrections written by teachers in red ink were more likely to be perceived as critical and disciplinary. I wonder if they took into account the fact that the comments written in red ink were, in and of themselves, corrections and therefore likely to be perceived negatively anyway? Oh well, at least it's good to know that the research dollars are being well spent. Personally, I don't know what all the fuss is about... every comment ever written in my school books was in red ink, so I never had a chance to compare the effect of other colours!
We are told by the learned researchers in Colorado that red is a colour known to evoke emotions. Well, I would have to agree with them on that particular point – especially when it comes to my Bible. You see, my Bible has many passages written in red ink. The red ink signifies that the words I am reading were spoken by Jesus. It is a simple and effective way to be able to identify what Jesus actually said, rather than something that was spoken about Him.
The nearest thing to being able to hear Jesus speak, is to read the things He said. They certainly evoke emotion in me. Not because they are written in red ink, but because these are the things that the creator of the universe, the very being of God on earth actually spoke to people. These red letters speak of love, of hope, of kindness, of compassion, of inclusion and yes, sometimes of criticism. Jesus wasn't frightened to put people in their place when they were not behaving as He, and we, would like them to. When they misled people, when they behaved in a hypocritical way, when they failed to treat people as they should be treated. Of course, Jesus not only talked the talk, He walked the walk. Jesus was the living embodiment of God; God in the person of a man – a man that showed us all that is good. Who showed us all the good that we wish we could do and showed us how we can achieve it.
He described Himself as, The Good Shepherd; “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me”. We are the sheep He refers to and the best way to know Jesus is to listen to what He has to say... and the easiest way to do that is to read the red ink.
'Pack Animals' - 17/06/21
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”
Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book
The Jungle book is the well known tale of the boy Mowgli who is raised by wolves in the jungle and the adventurers he has meeting other animals and eventually finding his way back to the human village.
During Mowgli’s time with the Wolves, he learns that the wolf pack works best when it works together. The individual talents of each member bring an added dimension to the pack, and the combined talents of all the wolves mean everyone is protected and the pack is stronger.
This community feel is just how God wants us to work together as Christians. It may seem strange to compare us to a pack of wolves, but the motto is very similar!
In Pauls letter to the Christians in Rome, chapter 12, he explains the same principle to them:
Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.
Or to put it another way…
The strength of the Church community is the Christian filled with Gods love and his spirit, and the strength of the Christian is the Church community filled with Gods love and spirit.
God has given us all different gifts and abilities, and if we use them together to love each other and serve God, the church community is built and strengthened.
The key to all of this is Love. Not just our love and care for one another, but the amazing sacrificial, death defeating and life changing Love of God. This love enables our wonderful Melling community to grow and develop, and enables us to show how wonderful Gods love really is to other people.
Lets spend some time today thanking God for our wonderful Melling community, and the wonderful gifts and abilities we all have, and lets pray for more of Gods amazing love to inspire and renew us.
'We'll See' - 16/06/21
When I was little, if I asked for something or to go somewhere an answer often given was “Wait and see”. I mean, what sort of answer is that? It basically meant that the answer was probably a no but cold have been a yes if circumstances and the wind blew in the right direction! I like certainty. As an ex- teacher my life was governed by timetables, plans, spreadsheets and schedules. I knew what I was doing each and every hour of each and every day. I am still like that. My physical desk top calendar and physical paper diary are two of my most treasured possessions. I even schedule my coffee breaks as I used to when in work.
A Benedictine spiritual guide, Sister Macrina Wiederkehr wrote this and it really resonated with me: “ It is enough to pray one’s questions and rest quietly in the possibilities. My life is too small for all the answers and my life…has been plagued with the need for too much certainty.”
We like to be in control and being left with unanswered questions or a non-existent path ahead can be very frightening. For those of us who need comfort in this situation , Jesus said this: Matthew 28 verse 20 “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” . In times like this we need to rest quietly in the possibilities trusting that as we do so , we are not alone.
For those of us who need to step out in faith but are scared of not knowing what lies ahead, perhaps we need to allow ourselves to be challenged by Jesus when he said this: “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave.”( Luke 9 verses 3 and 4). If we dare to live more simply being content with the unanswered questions; if we dare to trust that we do not face the journey alone, we can shrug off the anxiety caused by needing too much certainty in our lives. We can step out in faith and embrace the adventure; we can wait and see.
'Sticky Hands With A Clean Heart' - 15/06/21
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.”
Exodus 20:16
Apparently during 2020 sales of antibacterial hand sanitisers soared by more than 900% as the world set about fighting off covid-19. Similar increases in sales were witnessed for hand washes and hand wipes as we obsessively tried to keep the virus at bay and who can forget the empty supermarket shelves and rationing of cleaning products as cleanliness became our new pastime? All of our efforts to try and defeat this terrible disease were a vital part of the battle and important as we tried to keep one another safe from harm.
In the Bible we read a story about the teachers of the law challenging Jesus when they observed that he and his disciples didn’t follow the traditional ceremonial hand washing procedure before they ate. Jesus explained: “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” Jesus wasn’t claiming that we no longer need to wash our hands, even without a pandemic that is good practice in order to keep us safe and well. Particularly at that time there were few medicines available so preventing illness was often as important as life and death. But Jesus was saying that the ceremonies that we perform will never cleanse us on the inside – I can come before God with a dirty face and sticky hands but it is the condition of my heart that he will be looking at.
The penultimate commandment that we are looking at today refers to ‘false testimony’ – in other words, lies. But it is more than me just claiming that I am 47 when I am really 52 – that would indeed be an untruth, but the commandment goes on to say ‘against your neighbour’. Yes, my honesty might be in question but once again, this commandment is about how we live our lives together in community; how we treat one another and the respect that we hold for each other. If we share gossip and exaggerate untruths about one another, we’re not only spreading hurtful lies and slander but we are making our own hearts unclean and unacceptable in the sight of God.
This commandment is calling us to be a people of love; people that care enough to wash our hands in order to protect one another but also people that care enough to speak of one another with truth, kindness and integrity. As the Psalmist said “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
'The Moon and Babies' - 14/06/21
It wasn’t much of an eclipse of the sun last week was it? Only about 40% of our star was covered by our moon following its very predictable journey through the heavens. So predictable are the movements of these spheres that we know that the next total eclipse of the sun viewable in the UK will be in the year 2090! Enjoy the view. I’ve always been in awe of the mechanisms at work in the cosmos; the distances involved and the number of heavenly bodies talked about by astronomers renders me speechless. One sad aspect of our modern lifestyle, due to the all-night street lighting, is that we so seldom get really good views of what’s over our heads. Children living here a hundred years ago saw more then than we see now. They could indentify many of the constellations that we struggle to see; and today’s children are mostly oblivious of the sky at night.
This reminds me of Mrs. Webb. She was an elderly Christian lady years ago who was excited by every aspect of God’s creation. Before a mid-week prayer meeting the church members had been talking about the previous night’s harvest moon and how beautiful and large it was as it rose above the horizon. At this point in the conversation, Mrs. Webb announced in a joyful voice, “Don’t ever miss the chance to show your babies the moon.” David the psalmist would have applauded Mrs. Webb if he had been there; neither of them had any intention of worshipping the moon or the stars, but they were both very keen to draw people’s attention to the fact that the sky at night is convincing testimony to the creative power of the God of Heaven and earth.
David wrote in Psalm 19,
‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
It would be good if we all encouraged the people around us, from babies to grandparents, to just stop….look…and appreciate our amazing cosmos that speaks to us of the glory and power of the Creator God. Let’s be prepared to express our awe, not just in words but also in our actions as we try to treat our world with respect and admiration. David ended his Psalm like this, ‘May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.’
'Being An Example' - 13/06/21
Being a parent can be quite a challenge! As your children are growing, you try to teach them how to behave when playing, how to share with their friends, not making a mess when eating or how to use cutlery. As a parent, you try to help your children be a friend, which can sometimes be a hard lesson to teach or learn.
It is also a time when we sometimes see that our children are often very good at learning from our example. Isn’t it a bit scary when we see our children behaving as we might, sometimes not always in a good way!! It is not just about teaching them to do as I say but it is very much about teaching them by saying do as I do and living our life as an example to them.
Through all of this, we also do our best to show them how much we love them, as this is what drives our relationship and behaviour towards them.
There comes a time when your children need to start making their own decisions and choices. We may not always agree with their choices but you hope and pray that the years of guiding them and setting an example has helped them find their own values on which to make those choices.
This is like our relationship with Jesus, we need to understand how Jesus lived and how he guided his disciples. If we spend time learning about Jesus and how he lived his life, we can follow his example and his teaching. He has shown us His way and He leaves it for us to choose how we respond. Jesus did this because He loves us and we can choose to love Him too, and to follow Him. Our Father has shown His love for us and has taught us His ways. As Jesus encouraged us in Matthew 11 “Be my follower and work for me. Listen to the things I teach you and you will feel good inside yourselves, like your spirit is resting.”
'Anything Can Happen' - 12/06/21
It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien,
The Lord of the Rings is a trilogy of books written about the adventures of Frodo the hobbit and his companions, as they battle to beat the Dark Lord Sauron, and the evil that was infecting the world of Middle Earth. It’s a well known story, and if you haven’t read the book, you might well have seen the films.
In this part of the tale, Gandalf the wizard is explaining to Frodo the journey he must take.
Whilst we live in the UK, and not middle earth, it still true that no one knows what might happen when we step out of the door each day. Good and bad things can happen to us without warning.
Our lives can be complicated and unpredictable. I am reminded of that old children’s TV show, Stingray, which had as part of its theme tune “Anything can happen in the next half hour!”. This is certainly true of my life.
Whilst some people long to see the future and go to great lengths to try and work out what will happen in their life, it’s not something I have ever wanted to know. Whilst I admit some information would be useful (to know when you were going to run out of milk, or when the weather was going to be definitely sunny for example), I don’t really want to know if there are difficult times ahead, as it would then spoil the present as I would worry about what is to come.
Jesus reminds that that whatever happens each day, He is there for us and can be trusted. He will not let us down, and if we ask him, will walk beside us each day, his hand in our hand. We never have to face anything alone.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Whether today goes as expected, or not, know that Jesus is in it with you and can be trusted to help you through.
'Anything Can Happen' - 10/06/21
It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien,
The Lord of the Rings is a trilogy of books written about the adventures of Frodo the hobbit and his companions, as they battle to beat the Dark Lord Sauron, and the evil that was infecting the world of Middle Earth. It’s a well known story, and if you haven’t read the book, you might well have seen the films.
In this part of the tale, Gandalf the wizard is explaining to Frodo the journey he must take.
Whilst we live in the UK, and not middle earth, it still true that no one knows what might happen when we step out of the door each day. Good and bad things can happen to us without warning.
Our lives can be complicated and unpredictable. I am reminded of that old children’s TV show, Stingray, which had as part of its theme tune “Anything can happen in the next half hour!”. This is certainly true of my life.
Whilst some people long to see the future and go to great lengths to try and work out what will happen in their life, it’s not something I have ever wanted to know. Whilst I admit some information would be useful (to know when you were going to run out of milk, or when the weather was going to be definitely sunny for example), I don’t really want to know if there are difficult times ahead, as it would then spoil the present as I would worry about what is to come.
Jesus reminds that that whatever happens each day, He is there for us and can be trusted. He will not let us down, and if we ask him, will walk beside us each day, his hand in our hand. We never have to face anything alone.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Whether today goes as expected, or not, know that Jesus is in it with you and can be trusted to help you through.
'Happy Birthday Peace' - 09/06/21
Its that time of year again when I write about my daughter, Peace. It’s 14 years today since she was stillborn. And this afternoon me and my chicks will buy flowers, visit ‘Peace’s Garden’, smile, laugh, remember, and have McDonald’s for tea. Tradition! Back in 2007, not long after Peace was born, I wrote my hurting, grief stricken, jumbled words down…
‘To Peace,
I loved you from the start,
Delighted you were there,
Excited to plan a future,
You were in my every prayer.
But God had other plans for you,
To lose you was such pain,
Why you were taken I’ll never know,
But I thanked Him that you came.
I imagine what you’d look like,
I can hear your laughter in my mind,
To run and jump and clap and sing,
But life wasn’t to be that kind.
I am so, so sorry that I had to let you go,
I carried you but couldn’t hold you,
Such pain I’ve come to know.
And I called you Peace,
No other name would do,
Now you’re perfect in every way,
And Mummy so loves you.
God made you,
Then God took you,
Empty arms can hold such pain,
But you are still my little girl,
With a footprint in a frame’.
Since that time, I have come to realise more and more that life is a gift. God gifted me with four beautiful and amazing chicks who I get the privilege of being mum to every day. We all experience good times in life, and heartbreaking, painful times. But I’m learning to appreciate EVERY single day of my life, recognising what’s important, like kindness, gratitude, being generous and forgiving. Being able to love. Not how many ‘likes’ you get on social media or whether you’re thin enough, rich enough, most important, most popular, always right....I don’t understand why ‘my Peace’ couldn’t be with us here on earth, but I don’t understand many, many things. What I do know, with all my heart, is that God offers us ‘His peace’ here on Earth. And it’s on offer to us all. God has blessed us all with gifts and abilities to help make our world wonderful. May we use these gifts and abilities to help a hurting world and continue to learn how to be grateful and see what good there is, even on the toughest of days. I thank God for this gift called life. Happy 9th June everybody. Happy birthday my Peace ️
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
'Giving Generously' - 08/06/21
“You must not steal.”
Exodus 20: 15
In an attempt to steal cash from a cash machine, two men attached one end of a chain to the front of the machine and the other to the bumper of their pickup truck. However, instead of pulling the front off the cash machine, they managed to pull the bumper off their truck. Having caused a great deal of noise they rapidly left the scene leaving the chain attached to the machine – which was attached to their bumper – which was still attached to the license plate of the truck! Needless to say, they didn’t get away with anything.
Another man attempted to siphon off petrol from a motor home which was parked outside the owner’s home. It helps to know what you are doing though and the Police were called out to find a really poorly man lying on the ground next to the motor home – in attempting to syphon off the fuel, he mistakenly put the hose into the sewage tank instead and got a little more than he was bargaining on! The owner of the motor home decided not to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he’d ever had!
It is really amusing to read stories of robbery fails – especially when it feels like justice was done in the end even if it was served through their own incompetence – and of course we all know that to steal is wrong. But are we always as innocent of this crime as we might think?
Stealing can come in many guises from outright theft of property to theft of time or skills if we consistently cheat an employer of our efforts or working hours. This law is simple, it doesn’t distinguish between big theft and what might be considered small and inconsequential theft – it quite simply reminds us of the respect and responsibility we should have towards one another and that something that hasn’t been earned quite simply isn’t ours to help ourselves to.
But there is another kind of theft that we might overlook and can all too easily fall in to. In the New Testament we read about an occasion when the Jewish leaders approached Jesus to try and trap him into saying something that he could be arrested for. The taxes imposed by the Romans at the time were crippling for the average person but it would have been an arrestable offence if Jesus began to tell people not to pay their taxes. Jesus’ response was simple: ‘“give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them.’ Let’s not deprive our Creator God, our Rock and our Redeemer of everything that is rightly His – ourselves!
Let’s not withhold from Him what He bought and paid for through His death on the cross. Let’s give back to Him with a generous heart our resources, our time, our skills, our love, our lives.
'The Great Treasure Hunt' - 07/06/21
We are probably all shocked at the sudden appearance of the sun in the sky. People who booked holidays in the UK for last week are arriving home with tales of swimming in lagoons and needing sun cream to avoid being burnt. It reminded me of a story about a young couple in America who were given a metal detector for Christmas and had to wait months for decent weather before hunting for treasure. They didn’t expect to find any of course, that’s just a fairy tale. So they were shocked on the first sunny day out in their overgrown back garden when their new toy started bleeping. They found a rusty can partially unearthed by the months of rain. When they opened it in their kitchen they discovered it was full of gold coins more than a century old. What would you do? Well they did the same! Back in their garden they found seven more cans. In total they rescued 1,427 coins. It’s now called the Saddle Ridge Hoard and it’s worth $10 million! Now that’s what I call treasure; and it reminds me of another story, this one was told by Jesus. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
People have dreamed for centuries about finding hidden treasure that would transform their lives, but it almost never happens; it’s just a dream. But Jesus talked about treasure that is not only real but also accessible. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever trusts in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” This is treasure that will never end; it will carry you through this life and into the next one and will always be yours through eternity.
So keep looking for old bean tins if that’s what turns you on, but my treasure doesn’t need digging for, you just need to accept the offer; and put your metal detector on eBay. You won’t get much but it will save you wasting your time.
'Because He Lives' - 06/06/21
Bill and Gloria Gaither were high school teachers when they first met and began writing songs together. That’s was in the early 60’s. To date they have written over 700 songs and continue to be in awe of how their music has blessed people throughout the world.
During the 1960’s they had two children and were expecting their third. It was at a time of great upset and struggle for them. Bill had been ill, they had faced family upset and hurt and they were witnessing increased violence and hatred in their country. Gloria began to fear for her children. She was anxious and couldn’t see a way forward….
"It was on New Year's Eve that I sat alone in the darkness and quiet of our living room, thinking about the world and our country and Bill's discouragement and the family problems - and about our baby yet unborn. Who in their right mind would bring a child into a world like this? I thought. The world is so evil. Influences beyond our control are so strong. What will happen to this child?
I can't quite explain what happened at that moment, but suddenly I felt released from it all. The panic that had begun to build inside was gently dispelled by a reassuring presence that engulfed my life and drew my attention.
Gradually, the fear left and the joy began to return. I knew I could have that baby and face the future with optimism and trust. It was the Resurrection affirming itself in our lives once again. It was LIFE conquering death in the regularity of my day."
Out of that experience, Gloria wrote the words to their most well known song, that has now been sung across the world for almost 60 years.
Click on the link below to hear this beautiful song, recorded during lockdown, for Easter,
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
'We Shall Not Be Moved' - 05/06/21
During the 1950’s and 60’s Civil Rights Movement in the States, music was a powerful weapon. The black people would gather together to protest the horrendous treatment they experienced, and would often use gospel music, to declare their faith in God, to encourage one another, and to give a message to the world that whatever their circumstances, their faith in, and love for God would remain.
Two songs that were made popular during that time were, ‘This Little Light of Mine’ and ‘We Shall Not Be Moved’. Both of these songs speak of having a strength and endurance that only comes from God.
All these years later, we are still seeing prejudice, hatred and violence. It would do us well to listen to these songs, to remind ourselves that Jesus came for ALL people of every colour, race, language and background, and to be that light to a hurting, broken world.
Click on the two links below to hear these two, old, beautiful, gospel songs.
This Little Light of Mine:
We Shall Not Be Moved:
Jesus said, ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’.
Matthew 5:14-16
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
'Great Is Thy Faithfulness' - 04/06/21
This beautiful and well known hymn was written by Thomas Chisholm in 1923. Thomas was born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky, in 1866. He suffered ill health for most of his life and that led to him earning very little. However, he loved to write poems. Hundreds in fact. One poem was looking at the faithfulness of God and being in complete awe and gratitude of Him. His friend read the poem, wrote music to go with it, and the result was one of the most well loved hymns known today.
Click below for a beautiful performance of Great Is Thy Faithfulness, performed by Carrie Underwood and Cece Winans.
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
Lamentations 3:22-24
'Soon And Very Soon' - 03/06/21
Andrae Crouch passed away in 2015. Many people won’t have heard of him, but in the world of gospel music, he was a giant. Throughout his life he was awarded, seven Grammys, six Dove awards, an Oscar nomination, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998, and he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004.
At a very young age, his father, a church minister, asked Andrae if he would ask God to give him the gift of piano playing because their church really needed somebody who could play!! That following Sunday, Andrae sat down at the piano, and played. And never looked back.
His story is amazing and his humility and gentleness was evident for all to see.
He wrote the beautiful gospel song, Soon and Very Soon. A song which acknowledges tough times here on Earth and how God gives us the strength to face the day, and speaks of Heaven where there will be no more pain, or sadness or dying.
Andrae Crouch may have won many awards during his lifetime, and experienced some wonderful times, but his goal in life was never worldly gain, but that of being with Jesus.
Hear him sing his beautiful song here
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’
Revelation 21:3-4
'Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind' - 02/06/21
In 1872, John Greenleaf Whittier penned the words of a new poem, ‘The Brewing of Soma’. Whittier was a Quaker. He had a devout and real love for God but in true Quaker style he believed that silence and nature were the only ways to experience the ‘still, small voice of God’.
Soma was a drink, native to Asia, made from milk and honey and known for its hallucinogenic properties. It would send people into a wild frenzy and was sometimes drank in an attempt to ‘experience God’.
Whittier had his opinions! He was angry and frustrated with Christians who sang, listened to music and were in any way louder than silent! ‘The Brewing of Soma’ was his reaction to this. The poem begins,
‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, Forgive our foolish ways’
People could’ve reacted badly to his poem. They could’ve argued, complained and gossiped about Whittier. After all, his opinions were quite hurtful. But the words of his poem were really quite beautiful….if only they were put to music…..and sang! Just two years after Whittier wrote those words in disgust of those who praised and worshipped God through music, people were singing a new song! And they were very thankful to Whittier for providing the words. Oh, the irony!
I don’t think Whittier would appreciate the noise that we make here in Melling! In Psalms we are told to, ‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord’, and the use of singing and music in worship is mentioned right the way through the Bible. But God also says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’. Whether we like noise or like quiet, like singing or like silence, whatever we choose, there ought to be room for everyone, and a time for everything. May Melling Baptist always remain ‘a church without walls’. All welcome!….EVEN those who
sing!
Click the link below to hear this beautiful, peaceful hymn.
'My Redeemer Lives' - 01/06/21
Nicole C. Mullin was a shy, little girl with a stutter, growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She grew up, got married and found herself in a horrific, violent, loveless marriage. The abuse she experienced was extreme. And she recalls how she just ‘longed for Heaven’. Eventually she escaped from the abuse. Years later she wrote these words, "There is a beautiful truth that I know. For the things that have ended in ashes, God has given me beauty. Where there was mourning, He has given me joy. For times when I have felt overwhelmed by fear and depression, He has given me clothes of praise. For all of the questions that are still unanswered and situations without closure, there is the hope of redemption”.
Our song for today is one that Nicole wrote. My Redeemer Lives is a beautiful song, looking at the wonders of creation and seeing God in it all. The second verse speaks of this awesome, creator God looking upon each one of us and being there for us even when ‘the storm rages on’.
“The very same God that spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory”.
Click on the link below to hear this beautiful song.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
July '21 Sunrises
'Do Your Best' - 31/07/21
There has been some great excitement watching the Olympics in our house. No matter what the sport, each person competing has been working so hard just to even get there. Some of the stories that you hear in the reports about the struggles that people have been through, the people around them supporting them. One of the unusual things about this Olympics is that there is no crowd giving encouragement and cheering people on.
I did hear one of the coaches describing how he works with his team and they aim to reach perfection. However, he also tells them that he knows that perfection is almost impossible to achieve but that in striving for perfection, they can then reach excellence and the best that they can do.
It is difficult sometimes when people expect things to be done in a certain way or to achieve a certain standard. However, all we should ask is that people do their best, it does not always matter how they do it or how well they do if they have done their best.
As a Christian, there are many things that we can learn from the Bible about how we should approach the things we do. In Philippians we are reminded that “we can do all things through Him who strengthens me” and in Colossians “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if for the Lord, not for those around you”.
As we go about our lives, remember the reason why we do things and that in giving it our best, we are respecting those around us and the God who loves us.
'Hooton Crossroads' - 30/07/21
My Grandad had a saying; “If there is a right way to do it, do it the right way”. He didn't simply say it, he lived it. Being my Grandad, he would often take it to an extreme for his own amusement.
As a senior citizen he had a bus pass. This bus pass was issued by Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive and would take him from Liverpool as far as Hooton Crossroads. Now, my Grandad had a cousin who lived in Ruabon in North Wales. For the geographically challenged amongst you, Ruabon is beyond Hooton Crossroads. Not a problem for my Grandad. The cousin in question had been in poor health for many years and was wheelchair bound. He was therefore unable to use the tubes full of tokens that served as the equivalent of a bus pass, which Transport for Wales insisted on supplying every month; despite his repeated insistence that he didn't want them. These tokens were valid from Ruabon as far as Hooton Crossroads and were passed to my Grandad, so that he could make the entire journey using a combination of bus pass and bus tokens.
So, when the fancy took him, my Grandad would take a bus to the Pier Head (remember when you could take a bus to the Pier Head?). He would then hop on to the ferry to Woodside to catch the Crosville bus to Hooton Crossroads; all using his bus pass. As the bus approached this Checkpoint Charlie of concessionary travel, he would ring the bell to alert the driver that he wished to get off. Thanking the driver, as he always did, he would step off the bus, only to make a one hundred and eighty degree turn and step back on, where he would proffer the required number of tokens to complete the journey to Ruabon – return fare of course. When I asked him why he performed this amusing ritual every time he made the journey, he looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and said, “Because it's the right way to do it”.
We have all spent more than a year trying to do things the right way. The right way has changed as Covid regulations have altered to adjust to the changing effects of the virus. We now find ourselves in a position where there are no Covid regulations and we have been asked to make our own decision as to what the right way actually is. Everybody is entitled to do what makes them feel comfortable and this in itself makes some people feel uncomfortable.
It has always been my practice to consult the Bible when faced with a decision regarding what the right way might be. There is nothing in the Bible that expressly refers to Covid regulations, social distancing and the wearing of masks, but there is an overriding principle that has guided me whatever the issue, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”. Jesus gives His disciples this command just before He is taken from them to be crucified. He knew they would be adrift and unsure of what to do and how to behave. He tells them that they must love one another and in so doing they will not only demonstrate that they are His disciples, but will be able to support and care for each other in an uncertain time. It seems that we would be wise to follow the same command. Why? Because it's the right way to do it.
'Teapots' - 29/07/21
Remember, my darling, one man’s rubbish might be another man’s gold. ‘We keep seeking, hoping to find that elusive buried treasure that will enrich our lives, and when we pull up a teapot rather than a gleaming jewel, we must continue to search.’
Lucinda Riley, The Butterfly Room,
The Butterfly Room is a story of the 70 year old Posy, who makes the difficult decision to sell her family home, despite the wonderful memories she has there. However, things don’t necessarily go to plan.
This quote is from when Posy remembers an important life lesson, taught to her by her father. The idea that we don’t always get what we are hoping for, but that we should never stop searching.
I have been really enjoying the Olympics over the past week. The effort and determination that the competitors have put in to reach the top of their chosen sport is amazing. When I see the medal ceremonies, I think of all the hard work that has gone in to reach that point.
The UK has 373 athletes competing at the Olympics, and all of them will have put in years of hard work and sacrifice to get there. Not all of them will get a medal though. Some of them will have got a teapot rather than the treasure they were hoping for. I think particularly of Jade Jones, whose Olympic journey lasted only 6minutes, despite the years of hard work.
So how do you deal with things when you were hoping for don’t work out?
In the bible, Paul describes how difficult things have been for him. He wrote these words in prison, arrested for telling people about Jesus. He should have been crushed, but instead he writes to encourage others not to give up, and explains that it is God who gives him the strength to keep going:
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
The real power comes from God and not from us. We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.
So today, whether you are given some treasure or, a teapot, know that you are loved by the most amazing God. And be encouraged that with Gods strength, you can keep going.
'Good-looking Thoughts' - 28/07/21
A couple of years ago I decided to join Instagram. This is a social media platform where you share a photo or image and add a caption or comment. I’ve got to confess I’m no fan of social media, but I’ve had an absolute ball with Instagram!! I don’t have many followers and I don’t follow many either! Beyoncé has 150 million followers! Cristiano Ronaldo has 231 million! I have 99. Just 99. And I’m happy. If somebody likes my post they show it by clicking on the heart! Once, nearly 40 people liked my post! It took me all day to calm down from the excitement! The truth is, I don’t do this for the ‘likes’ I do this because it’s just a bit of fun. But for some, it’s not quite so much fun! In today’s world there’s more pressure than ever to look a certain way, dress a certain way, stand a certain way, pout in a certain way and then provide selfies of all the above! It’s easy to say, ‘don’t worry’, ‘who cares what people think?’ But when society says you’re too tall, too small, your nose is too long, your eyes aren’t big enough, your hips are too wide, your hairs too curly, you don’t suit that colour and you need to pout, there’s a temptation, at any age, to feel inadequate. To not feel great. A bit of a mistake, or misfit.
In the bible, Paul wrote to one of the churches telling the people that they were, ‘God’s works of art’. Can you believe that? We’re a work of art. God doesn’t make mistakes, so who are we to tell others that ‘they don’t look right’? Who are we to tell ourselves that? Whatever our age!
God told Samuel when the people of Israel were looking for a king, ‘...man looks on the outward appearance, the Lord looks on the heart’.
Ronald Dahl in his book The Twits put it like this, ‘If a person has ugly thoughts it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year the face gets uglier and uglier until it gets so ugly that you can hardly bear to look at it. A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of you like sunbeams and you will always be lovely’.
God looks on the heart, our beauty comes from within. So I guess I can stop pouting now!
'Trust the Artist' - 27/07/21
I’m looking at a painting that I’ve just hung on my wall. It’s a very striking image of a bird’s wings from the back, all you can see are wings. And they are very colourful, not like anything I’ve ever seen in my garden. It was painted by a teenage girl who is fed up, bored, and feeling a little lonely. She started with a blank white canvas which, if it could speak, would probably ask for a beautiful, colourful, and bright image to be applied to its empty and barren surface. Instead our teenage artist covered up all the white with black paint, maybe that’s how she felt. It didn’t look promising, I’m sure the canvas began worrying about its future. It was left for days to dry. It was black for too long. Then one day, I’m not sure if it was morning, afternoon, or evening, (this young painter lady has been known to paint all through the night while the family slept), anyway she picked up the doomed canvas and began to bring it, and herself, to life. I can imagine the canvas being excited as finally the black began to be covered with a range of wild colours and shapes. Now that it’s finished and on my wall, people look at it and comment on the colours and the artist’s skill in producing an image that we can all recognise and appreciate. And in its head the canvas is saying “Ah shucks, thank you, I do my best.”
Sometimes we can feel like that black and despondent canvas as we look at our own condition and lifestyle. We wish things were different, brighter, more colourful, and worth looking at. In the Bible, Job was a healthy, wealthy, happy family man, but Satan said to God, ‘Stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.’ So God gave Satan freedom to do whatever he wished to Job. Satan removed Job’s wealth, houses, family, and health. He became the ugliest creature you can imagine. If the teenage artist painted a picture of Job, it wouldn’t go on my wall. The canvas would be too dark and depressing to look at.
But then God took the brush and began, like our young painter, to cover up the darkness with light and colour, and produce a work of art. At the end of the story we read these words, ‘The Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.’ What a picture!
Job trusted God to transform the ugliness and darkness of the canvas of his life, and God can do the same for us if we trust Him like Job did.
Remember, God hasn’t finished with you yet. Give Him time. Trust the artist.
'The Beauty of Nature' - 24/07/21
I have been fortunate to holiday in some beautiful places across the UK and often have some good weather, even for the UK ! It is sometimes easy to forget and sadly some people have not yet discovered some of the fantastic places in the UK that we can go to and enjoy. From beautiful beaches or glorious lakes and lochs or awesome mountainscapes ( and I don’t use that description lightly).
It is good to remember the beauty that is around us and that God created this wonderful environment, with all of its intricate details of plants and wildlife. The careful balance of nature where each part carefully fits in with those around it.
To be able to sit quietly, to look at the beautiful landscape around us, listen to the birds and insects as they go about their business. It brings a sense of calm and peace that is very distinct.
We should also remember the beautiful people around us, again made beautifully by God, who we should sometimes just sit and enjoy their company.
We are reminded in bible, in the book of Colossians
Christ himself is the Creator who made everything in heaven and earth, the things we can see and the things we can’t;; all were made by Christ for his own use and glory. 17 He was before all else began and it is his power that holds everything together.
Take a few moments now, to remember how beautiful God made the world around us and the people in it whom he loves.
'Applause' - 23/07/21
I recently had the privilege and pleasure of spending a week in St Ives. The weather was beautiful, the scenery was a delight and a good time was had by all. For those of you unfamiliar with the town, it sits on a small peninsula in Cornwall and is blessed with seven beaches on its doorstep; all in turn visited by the type of blue/green waters normally associated with the cote d'Azur. Because these beaches are dotted around a peninsula, they all face in a different direction and have different characteristics. My favourite beach is Porthmeor; it has the best waves for surfing and faces west. Now, the waves are important, particularly if you have arrived fully clad in a wetsuit with a board under your arm. In that circumstance, the last thing you want to see is a perfectly calm sea, a few children fishing for crabs in a rock pool and a solitary ice cream van. No; what you want is a roaring tide and the sight of other boarders riding the surf for all they are worth.
However, the west facing aspect is equally special. I imagine that most people reading this missive live on the west coast and will be familiar with the joy of watching the sunset; particularly the joy of watching the sun set into the sea. Personally, I can't imagine living inland, or worse still living on the east coast, where the sun rises instead of sets... it just wouldn't seem right.
Given the hordes of people that collected every night on this beach to watch the sun go down, I must conclude that others share my delight in watching this daily spectacle. Whether sat quietly at a table at the bar on the beach, or on blankets on the sand, people gathered together and enjoyed this wondrous sight.
On one particular evening, just as the last crimson sliver disappeared over the horizon, a spontaneous round of applause broke out. People with no other way to express their wonder and gratitude at this beautiful sight, simply began to clap. It was as if the show was over and they needed to show their appreciation.
It struck me that, whether they realised it or not, they were all giving thanks to God for His wonderful work of creation. It also struck me that we probably all take it for granted a little too often. If we stop to think about and admire the works of His hands and the staggering natural beauty that surrounds us, we might find that we too break into applause. “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good”. It seems that many people agree that it still is.
'Jellyfish' - 22/07/21
If you're holding someone close enough, you can be the shoulder and the crier.”
The Switch, Beth O'Leary.
The switch is a book which describes what happens when Eileen, a pensioner from a small Yorkshire village swaps homes for two months with her granddaughter Leena who is a London executive.
This quote is one description of how good friends should support each other. They are so close, they can be both supportive and supported when the need arises.
There are many examples of how good friends should be. I recently was presented with a key ring from a really good friend with these words on it:
‘if you were stung by a Jelly fish I would totally pee on you!!’.
I found this quite funny but really touching, as it was another example of how good friends should be, prepared to go the extra mile, even if it is a bit gross!
The bible describes how we should treat others, and how we should live in Christian community with those around us. Pauls letter to the Romans, chapter 12, gives a big list of how it should work. I have listed a few things here:
Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves……Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer……Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Please take time to read the rest of the chapter, as it has many more great ideas.
Whoever we meet today, lets take time to develop the kind of friendships that God would want, the supportive and loving and going the extra mile kind of friendships, so that we can develop the wonderful loving community that demonstrates Gods love to all.
'Chicken Run' - 21/07/21
I’m on chicken duty this week! My sister’s family are all away so I’m the ‘responsible adult’ in charge of Winston, Hilda, Juanita, Deidre, Harley and Quinn.
Over the last two days I’ve started to discover the different personalities of these birds. Each of them funny and quirky in their own way. And Winston, the enormous, amorous, rooster rules the roost. He’s funny. But I’m not sure the hens think that! Having a very large rooster land on you first thing in the morning is not what they find enjoyable!
There’s more chickens in the world than there are people. There’s billions of these clever, funny, common birds. But every single one of them matter to God. And if God cares about the birds of the air, the fish in the sea and the animals on land, then how much more does He care for us?
Jesus was teaching one day and said these words,
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
As I write this Sunrise, the chickens are in bed. I’ll be back there early in the morning to let them out to spend the day pecking and strutting and doing what chickens do. And when I see them I’ll be reminded of the God who cares about chickens! And I’ll give thanks to Him all over again that He cares for me even more. Cares about my life, cares about my well-being, cares about my worries. Thankyou God.
'Freedom' - 20/07/21
On Monday the government finally lifted all restrictions that had been put in place during the course of the pandemic and people began to refer to it as ‘freedom day’. People had longed for this day to come when they could gather unrestricted by social distancing or face masks or sitting outdoors regardless of the weather. There were reports of some gathering in nightclubs and venues at midnight, the very moment of the lifting of the restrictions, so that they could celebrate their new freedom together while others held parties and set off fireworks. But I can’t help but wonder if these actions are the definition of real freedom?
We have all lived under restrictions for the last 16 months and while it was supported by the law, obedience of those restrictions was actually an act of love and care for one another. We showed we cared for one another by doing all we could to keep one another well. We may have felt our freedom had been taken from us but the reality was that we continued to express our freedom through our actions towards one another.
The Bible tells us “It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.”
When I read these verses today I found them particularly appropriate for the situation we find ourselves in – we can use our new-found freedom to behave in any way we want and potentially end up losing it again, or we can use our freedom to continue to express our love, care and compassion for one another and hopefully see the fruit of that freedom grow over the coming weeks and months.
Nelson Mandela had his freedom taken from him for 27 years but after finally being released from prison he had this to say about his freedom: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Today may have been called ‘freedom day’ but we can experience freedom every day regardless of our circumstances when we live in the way that God intended us to – caring, serving and loving one another.
'New For Old' - 19/07/21
Have you seen that TV programme in which people turn up at a very posh workshop where very talented crafty people can repair anything that’s brought to them? If you have watched more than once you will realise that no matter how worn, disfigured, and frankly useless an item is, there will always be one of the repair team who will say, “Leave it with me and I’ll see what I can do.” People smile and walk away knowing that when they see their historic teddy bear, garden chair, telescope, Elizabethan lute, or running shoes, they will be as good as new. You then see this family heirloom passed from one repairer to another as they each demonstrate their particular skill whatever it is, mechanical, electrical, painting, fabric repair, etc. As the process continues the sad relic that has seen better days is transformed into a shiny, bright, polished version of its original self. Faded lettering is rescued and then covered up with fresh paint and gold leaf. After all of that, it is covered with a cloth until the proud but nervous owners arrive for the re-launch. Then the item which they haven’t used or seen for 63 years prior to finding it in the attic is uncovered. Sometimes tears flow, sometimes there is joy, and occasionally an almost total lack of recognition. There was a pair of running shoes that were used in the 1936 Olympics and they were polished and stitched back to perfection and the grandchild of the athlete was delighted with them and then shocked when the original and un-repairable soles were given back separately. So we see that not everything can be restored totally to its new condition.
The Bible talks of people, not things, being transformed into new beings. For those who can call themselves ‘Christians’ because they have faith in Christ and genuinely follow Jesus, St. Paul tells us, ‘Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. This is not a patch-up job; it’s not a polish and re-paint process, It’s not about our appearance, it’s about our nature and character. Jesus said, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” This is the sign that we are new people. Has anyone noticed?
'Shout To the Lord' - 18/07/21
In 1993 an Australian lady sat down by herself to pray. She wanted to know God’s peace. As she was praying she opened her Bible in Psalms and read the words, ‘shout to the Lord’. As she sat there reading and praying she began to create a tune on her old, out of tune piano. Over the following days this song continued to play in her head as she gradually put it down on paper.
Darlene Zschech was incredibly shy. When she went to her church friends who were all very musically talented, she made them turn their backs on her while she struggled to find the confidence to play her new song.
Within days it was being sung in their church and within weeks other local churches were singing it also.
Now, almost 30 years later, Shout to the Lord has been sung millions of times, in many different languages, right across the world. A beautiful, worshipful song of gratitude to Jesus, by a shy lady on an out of tune piano.
Click the link below to listen to Darlene Zschech sing the song she wrote.
'There's a Hole In My Bucket' - 17/07/21
Some of you may have seen the series on Amazon Prime TV about Jeremy Clarkson becoming a farmer. I think Mr Clarkson is something of a marmite type of person but this series definitely shows a different side to him. He genuinely works hard at trying to farm the land. He does also make some of his own interesting decisions about how to do it, but those around who really know farming do tell him very plainly what they think of his ideas! He does show concern for the countryside, his sheep, his chickens and his local community.
This week I heard a story about another farmer with a small farm. In the summer he had to carry water from a nearby river to keep his plants watered. He had 2 large buckets which he would fill and carry to his crop. The problem was that one of his buckets was cracked and was leaking water in the journey. As the weather was very hot, the little bucket became sad because he knew that he was leaking. The farmer saw he was sad and asked him what was wrong. When the farmer heard, he picked up the little bucket and walked down to the river. They did not collect any water but simply walked back on their usual route. As they did, the farmer pointed out all the plants and flowers that were growing on the path back to the field. The farmer explained that the leaky bucket was helping all those plants and made the walk from the river to the field a beautiful walk.
Sometimes, even when we think we may not feel like we can do a good job, we can still help those around us.
In our walk with God, sometimes we make mistakes or find that we cant do something by ourselves. But it is not what we do in our strength but what we do with Gods help and guidance. We may feel a bit like a leaky bucket and that we cannot do what we expect, but God will use our abilities and if we live our lives following God, the blessings we receive will leak to others around us.
The Bible encourages us in Ephesians “Be careful how you act, these are difficult days. Don’t be fools, be wise, make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good”.
Even a leaky bucket provides water on the journey.
'Shining Bright' - 16/07/21
We’ve just had a bit of a change around in our garden. We needed a new shed so took the opportunity to move it to a new place and put decking in the area where the old shed sat. Moving things around in our garden is a regular activity – partly because we have a low boredom threshold and want a change and partly because we get things wrong and need to start again. In the corner of our new decked seating area we’ve hung a new outdoor light so that we can use that area of the garden at any time of day or night. To be specific, we’ve hung a chandelier. Now I realise that some of you may have read ‘chandelier’ and thought “really?! In the garden?!” and you are probably thinking that it surely looks out of place. Well, yes it kind of does look out of place and I love it! The fact that tradition says it shouldn’t be there doesn’t make it any less of a functional or useful light, just different.
The Bible tells us that as followers of Jesus we shouldn’t be afraid of being seen as different, in fact, we should strive to be seen as being different from those around us. In the book of Romans we read these words: “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
We live in a world where differences are viewed with great caution and often ridiculed but I think it would be fair to say that that is indeed simply the immaturity of those around us shining through and trying to drag us down. As Maya Angelou once said “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be”. God doesn’t ask for ‘normal’, whatever our culture may decide that means, He invites us to be amazing. God calls us to bring light where there is darkness; peace to unrest; kindness to hardship; joy to sadness and love to the unloved.
Let’s never be afraid to stand out as different. In a world that at times can appear to be filled with darkness, anger and hatred, let’s make a stand to fill our small corner with light, joy and love. Let’s be more chandelier!
'Be Inspired' - 15/07/21
“In the little world in which children have their existence, whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt as injustice.”
Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
Great Expectations tells the story of an orphan called Pip, and the situations he encounters as he grows up.
Like Pip in the novel, we all encounter injustice at times. Whether it happens to you, or to others, it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.
Within hours of England’s European cup final, in Withington, Manchester, words of hate and racial discrimination were sprayed on a wall, defacing the previous mural there. That mural was of course, a piece of art celebrating Marcus Rashford and his contribution to ensuring that children did not go hungry in 2020 by raising the profile and pressuring politicians to continue the provision of free school meals throughout the school holidays.
It was an injustice. The local community had a choice. They could join in with the hate, they could have pretended it wasn’t happening and ignore it, or they could choose to act.
Hundreds of them chose to act. They covered the hate filled words with words of love and encouragement. Words that encouraged and supported both Marcus and all England players, and also words of love and empowerment that stood against racism and injustice. Over 700 people then came together at the site of the mural for an anti-racism demonstration.
The injustice that had occurred had inspired people to act. The acts of love and support from the community completely obliterated and transformed that hate that had been there. This demonstration and the loving and peaceful way that it was carried out not only inspired me, but reminded me of both this quote from great expectations, where injustice is felt so keenly by Pip, but also the Martin Luther King Quote:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that”
The Withington community felt the injustice and they responded with Love. Love that transformed a horrible and unjust situation into a situation of hope and encouragement.
The Bible reminds us in Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
So today, how can you transform an unjust situation into a situation of hope and encouragement. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, but let’s pray that we are all inspired to spread love through our communities.
'Don't Be a Skunk' - 14/07/21
You will all have heard of how bad skunk spray can smell, but have you ever smelt it? I have. 25 years ago in Texas. Driving along the road one night when suddenly my nose was attacked with quite possibly the worst smell I have ever encountered. In fact all these years later I can still smell it! Awful awful awful! My nose has never recovered! I can totally understand why other animals are seriously threatened when they encounter a skunk! Nothing and no one wants to experience that smell!
But interestingly, when skunks are born they can’t produce the bad smell. They have to ‘grow in to it’, learn how to produce it.
On the contrary, when our babies are born they don’t need any practice in producing numerous stinky nappies every day. They don’t need to learn that.
But there is a different kind of ‘bad smell’ that humans do learn to produce. It’s called prejudice and as one journalist wrote recently,
‘…it’s one of the worst smells in the world…’
Nelson Mandela wrote these powerful words,
‘No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.’
As I see news reports and read more and more about the torrent of racial abuse that three of our England footballers have been faced with since Sunday night, I am mindful of Mandela’s quote. How vile, how cruel us humans can learn to be to one another. The smell of prejudice is indeed disgusting.
The Bible says, ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’.
With God there’s no room for prejudice, racism, cruelty, hatred. There’s no room for superiority.
Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength, AND love your neighbour as you love yourself’.
Our neighbour is anybody, regardless of skin colour, language, status, religion. No ifs, no buts.
May our thoughts and words and actions towards ALL people create a beautiful sweet smelling atmosphere, and may we leave it to the skunk to create the foul smell!
'Questions, Questions' - 13/07/21
I have just bought a new laptop because the old one was, well, old. Really ancient by today’s standards of throw-away technology. It has served me well for at least twelve years; I have used it for business, family issues, legal and financial matters, personal photography as well as all the activities for Shoot (our camera club), and all my ‘Sunrises’. It’s amazing how much information it contains, so when it started to get irritable and clumsy I started to get nervous. Just stop for a moment and think what’s on yours; if it died tomorrow, what would you lose and how shocked would you be? Just imagine if you lost ten years of family photos! I know a man who keeps five copies of his computer data in five different locations all of them away from his home, and they are up-dated every day. Now that’s serious business. When I got my shiny new model home and turned it on, I smiled as I looked at the pristine screen and the pretty image on it. Then reality struck; it started asking me questions that I don’t remember being asked all those years ago when my ancient model came to stay. However I could answer them so everything was fine. For a while. Then the questions moved from ‘O’ level to ‘A’ level and the smile faded. Not only could I not answer some, I didn’t even understand what the questions meant. I need to find a eight year old.
It’s like reading our Bibles, we understand a lot of what we read, but there are some bits that are more difficult to come to terms with and frankly there are passages that are beyond most of us. The great 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon was asked how we should deal with these parts of the Bible and he said it’s like eating fish! So there, now you know, it’s simple isn’t it? He explained that when you eat fish there are parts which we cannot digest, like bones, heads, and eyes, so we leave them on the plate and enjoy what we can digest. Most of the really important parts of the Bible are understandable to most people, so let’s read and respond to them and put the rest to one side. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.” And He said, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” He also said, “Love one another like I have loved you.” These are not hard to understand, so let’s digest them and leave the difficult bits to Spurgeon.
'A Special Day' - 12/07/21
OK OK settle down now, it’s all over, you can relax. Wimbledon will be back next year (maybe), and the Euro Cup should arrive in 2024 (maybe) but we have all learned that almost nothing is guaranteed. So here we are, it’s Monday and there appears to be nothing particular to look forward to. Boring. Boring. But looking back in history there were many 12th Julys that turned out to be quite significant. It was on 12th July a long time ago that a little boy came into the world and grew up to be Julius Caesar. Mum and Dad couldn’t have predicted that! One of my favourites was 12th July 1854 when George Eastman arrived on the scene and became the man who introduced the first Kodak camera to the world making photography available to everyone. In later years, Amedeo Modigliani and Bill Cosby launched themselves on us on this day in the year. You may have various reactions to some of these. Sadly in 1794 Nelson was careless enough to lose his right eye in battle but his mum was still proud of him. Here’s a question for you; who was born on 12th July 1997 and became a world famous figure? No Googling! I’ll tell you, it was Malala Yousafzai. Think about that, this young lady has startled the world with her courage and determination to stand up for justice and fairness and she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize at the tender age of 17, the youngest ever. On her first day (Saturday) she was just another child born in Pakistan, nobody could have imagined the journey she would take.
Let’s never de-value a day, whatever our circumstances or feelings. St. Peter said, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day.” Just imagine the potential. Today may live long in your memory for all the right reasons; you may look back and agree with Jesus as He said, “With God all things are possible.” So let’s move on, day by day, believing that God can achieve great things when we least expect it.
'What a Wonderful World' - 11/07/21
It’s been an exciting and tense week for many watching Wimbledon and Euro 2020. Today we have the Wimbledon Men’s Final and England playing Italy in the Euro final. Wherever we are from and whoever we’re supporting, today is a great day for sport! But tomorrow it’s all over. No more Wimbledon and no more Euro until next time. It may be tempting to think that there’s nothing special about our days without those ‘special events’ but we’d be so wrong. Even in our struggles and fears there are things for us to be thankful for. Our safe homes, our gardens, our friends and families, shops down the road selling food that’s ready to eat, the wonders of nature, our healthcare system…..you can surely add more to this list.
The Bible says, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”.
Whether we win the match tonight or not, let’s remember that we have so much more to be thankful for. Let’s look around and be thankful.
Click the link below to enjoy Louis Armstrong’s beautiful song:
'Who Are You?' - 10/07/21
So with The England football team now in the Euro 2020 final, there have been some reports that Gareth Southgate, the England manager, is more determined than ever. This is due to his unfortunate missed penalty in a similar semi final when he was an England player. Some of his former team mates have also commented saying that Gareth has nothing to prove, no one blames him, it was a team that lost not a person.
Sometimes, we hold on to things when actually we don’t have to. It’s us clinging on to it and others have let it go.
There is a children’s story about a group of carved wooden characters, made by a wood carver. For these wooden people, they mark each other with either a gold star or a grey dot. The gold star for good things and the grey dot for things they don’t like. One of the people is very sad because he has lots of grey dots and no stars. He learns from the wood carver that the dots only stick if you let them. If you think others opinions make you who you are, then the stickers remain. If you believe in how you were made, then the stickers are meaningless and will fall off.
We should remember who is our maker, in the Bible we are told
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
We are made in the image of God, others opinions cannot redefine us. If we believe in how we were made and who made us, then we will know His comfort and strength.
'The Lion's Tongue' - 09/07/21
I don’t suppose you’ve ever gotten close to a lion’s tongue? I didn’t think so. Neither have I. But I have been reading about them. These beautiful big cats have tongues that could literally rip you to shreds. The surface of them is completely covered in tiny spines called papillae that are used to scrape the flesh off the bones of their prey. Nice! Gruesome really. And fascinating. Isn’t nature just fascinating?!
When I read that fact I couldn’t help but smile at the realisation that humans have tongues just like that too!! Ok, so they’re not covered in tiny spines, but they are still capable of ripping someone to shreds.
What happens when we get angry? Frustrated? Overtired? Overworked? Jealous? What about if we’re bearing grudges? Not getting our own way? Chances are we let our tongue loose and it becomes a killing machine. Think of the damage our words can do. The lies, gossip and venom, the bitterness, criticism, mockery and plain old mean talk! All capable of killing relationships, hopes, dreams and opportunities. Of course we can always say sorry for the words we’ve wrongly spoken, and hopefully forgiveness is given. But why say them in the first place?
The Bible has much to say about our words,
“A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell”.
Those are really strong words about this tiny part of the body. But we only have to look around to see how true it is.
I have no idea who wrote the following quote but there’s a lot of wisdom in it…‘Be sure to taste your words, before you spit them out’. Such great advice!! May we all stop, breathe, think about the words we would want to have spoken to us, and then do likewise. May we all learn to speak life into situations and leave the killer tongues to the lions.
'Comfort Zones' - 08/07/21
“Scared is what you're feeling. Brave is what you're doing.”
Emma Donoghue, Room
Room is a story is told through the eyes of Jack, whom is five. He is being held captive in a small room along with his mother. The room is all he has known. Thankfully, they are rescued and both mother and son begin their rehabilitation and integration back into the world, but this is very difficult and scary for Jack. He sees the ‘Room’ as safe, even though he was a prisoner there, and it takes a great deal of courage to take part in ‘normal’ life.
Whilst a fictional story, the idea of being ‘trapped’ in a limited environment and finding going out into the freedoms of ‘normal’ life very strange and a bit scary seems all too familiar at the moment.
I went out to a restaurant last week. It was a Friday night, and the restaurant, whilst complying with all social distancing measures, was full. There was music playing, people talking and laughing, and it was noisy! It was probably the noisiest environment I had been in for 18months and whilst I had a lovely evening, it was an equally strange experience. I realised that there were a lot of things to get used to again and it was going to take some time.
In the bible there a several accounts of God taking people out of their comfortable lives that they are used to, to do something amazing. One such example is that of Moses. He had run away from Egypt, but had then settled in Midian with a wife and family. He was happy, settled and comfortable. But God knew he was meant for more. He appeared to Moses in the most extraordinary way, and told him that he had a plan for his life, and that plan was to free the slaves from Egypt. Moses did not want to do this. He tried every excuse not to leave his comfortable life. God had to remind him of something really important
Exodus 3:12
Then God told Moses, “I will certainly be with you”.
Moses was eventually persuaded, and with Gods help, led the Jewish nation out of slavery. As promised, wherever he went, God was with him.
As social distancing rules end in the next few weeks, the idea of stepping out of our comfort zones may seem daunting for some, and exhilarating for others. However you feel, just as God was with Moses, he will be with you, and will lead you through whatever you face, with or without a mask!
'You've Got a Friend In Me' - 07/07/21
So the announcement has been made! On 19th July we no longer have to wear masks, wash hands and socially distance. It’s business as usual! Just like that! After 15 months of compulsory mask-wearing and no hugging…we’re free!!!!!! Hooraaaayyyyy!!! I can just see it now, we’ll all be dancing in the streets, hugging our neighbours, breathing on each other and giving each other celebratory high-fives without first using hand sanitizer!! Ahh freedom!! How wonderful!! Or is it??
For some people the 19th July will indeed feel like the day they get their freedom back, and I’m delighted for them. But they’re not everybody. For many people, this date that is drawing close doesn’t signify freedom so much as fear. The last 15 months have taken their toll on just about everybody. There’s been loss of family members and friends, financial struggles, loneliness and huge uncertainty and fear, alongside others who have experienced increased happy family times, less stress and rushing, having time for walks and conversations on the phone.
We are all different. We only have to look at our own families to see how different we all are. And our responses to ‘freedom’ on 19th July are all going to be different too. There may be the temptation to judge someone whose response is different to your own. While you’re swinging from the lamp post they may be cowering in a corner of a shop unable to cope with the lack of masks and social distancing.
Jesus gave us such wise and simple advice, ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’.
So how does this look for us?
You want to be respected? Then show respect. You want to be heard? Then listen.
You want to be understood? Then seek to understand.
You want to be accepted for who you are? Then accept others for who they are.
We’ve come this far together as friends, let’s all be mindful of one another’s feelings and help to make this next stage as easy as possible.
The wonderful film Toy Story offers us some very wise words. Click the link below to listen to this wonderful and a positive song.
'Sustained By Love' - 06/07/21
I’m sure you will have read on occasions stories of pets that have rescued their owners from situations that would otherwise have likely lead to death. I read of one were an elderly man woke up late one night to find himself on the kitchen floor with his arm in the jaws of his German Shepherd and blood everywhere. At first he thought that the dog had turned on him, it was only when the police and paramedics arrived that they were able to work out that the dog had realised that his owner had passed out in his bedroom from carbon monoxide poisoning – his dog had tried to wake him and when he couldn’t, had dragged him by the arm to safety. Another story from New Jersey told of a Yorkshire Terrier who realised that a black bear had entered the house; not only did it bark to warn its owner of the danger but then the tiny dog proceeded to growl and nip fearlessly at the huge bear until it receded.
We often speak of the loyalty and unconditional love of pets but that love is nothing in comparison with the love we have been shown by God. You could be forgiven for thinking that we had come to the end of our series on the 10 commandments when we got to number 10, but not quite… In the book of John we read these words from Jesus: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” Strictly speaking, this isn’t a new commandment but rather a summary of all of the commandments put together – when we act in love, we can’t fail to abide by the laws God gave us for good living. But it isn’t just any love that is required of us, Jesus asks us to love as he did, that sets the standard high! God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to submit to torture, pain, cruelty and death – this isn’t the fluffy love of hearts and kisses, this is the fierce, brave and relentless love that puts others before ourselves; a love that fights and wins a battle that we don’t have the strength to do alone.
Love is not always the easiest option but when we act in love we will never stand alone and if you find you don’t have the strength to stand, then rest in the assurance of God’s love sustaining and surrounding you.
As I prepared to write this reflection today I received a package in the post, it was a letter and a slim book of poems written by an old friend who had lost his wife. He ended one of his poems with these words:
The speed of light I know
But who can guess the speed of love
That issues from God’s heart
To those below
And sustains us in a way we cannot prove
May you know God’s love sustaining you this week and be the expression of love that we are called to be.
'Will You Jump?' - 05/07/21
How many people do you trust? This is a serious question for all of us and it has many facets. Do teenagers trust their teachers? Or their parents? Do parents trust their teenagers? When a young couple decide to get married, it is necessary that they love each other, but they also have to trust each other. This kind of trust is two-way and from the divorce figures we read about, in many cases the trust doesn’t survive the years. When we pass on a piece of very personal information to a friend because we trust them, do we wake up in the middle of the night wondering if our secret is safe? We spend our entire lives trusting more than individuals, but also organizations, and systems. For instance you trust your bank to keep your savings safe; you trust your gas central heating not to do something stupid; and you trust your car brakes to work as well today as they did yesterday. Imagine if you and I trusted each other and we took a walk along the prom in Blackpool on a very windy day at high tide and a twenty foot high wave washed me over the railings, could I trust you to jump in to save me? Although I may trust you for many things, I don’t think you will jump into the wild water. The important thing about trust is that the person, organisation, or system needs to be up to the job.
The Bible is full of stories of people trusting God against all the odds, and God demonstrating that He can be trusted. Joseph trusted that God had a plan for his life and he ended up at the highest level in Egypt. Daniel trusted God to keep him safe and he survived a night in a cage full of lions. Mary trusted that her son was God and the Resurrection proved her to be right. God does not change and His power and nature are constant. They all had dreadful experiences in life, just like some of you reading Sunrise this morning, but they each discovered that God could be trusted to love them. When David was in serious danger he could still say, “I trust in your unfailing love.”
As we move out of the restrictions caused by Covid, and begin to come to terms with the spiritual, mental, physical, financial and social after-effects, let us remember that the God who David trusted has not changed. As we decide on priorities and direction for the rest of our lives, Solomon has words for us, “Trust the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take."
'Think Big, Act Small' - 04/07/21
The writer of Hebrews has a great passage about praising God for our salvation through Jesus, about seeking Heaven and later about obeying our leaders who are there to guide us! But slap bang in the middle is a little reminder about our day to day business:
To do good and to communicate (share)forget not (Hebrews 13:16)…….
We use the word share nowadays to mean to communicate, the sharing of information, maybe of our life experiences, but of course alongside that comes the sharing of our ‘stuff’’, our talents, our time, our emotional journey or our emotional energy. HOW WELL AM I DOING? I think the jury is still out on that one.
The passage as a whole gives us a very Big Picture. So THINK BIG. There is God creating the heavens and the earth, making people who mess up, then executing a rescue plan through the person of Jesus, reminding us that praise as well as prayer changes everything, and telling us how to work in the community within the rules of our leaders. I know some of our Community (NHS workers for example)have big things to do, crucial to our survival. Yet others do slightly smaller things which also sustain our health (retail workers, teachers maybe) and then in a more unseen way are the small cogs like most of us, minding grandchildren, working from home, sharing and caring, cooking, staying positive or in fact just ‘being there when needed’. We are all heroes.
So in many ways, although we THINK BIG we have to ACT SMALL (act small)! It can be irritating if the phone rings when we’re organising to go out: our errand can seem very important to us. And phone calls let’s face it take a lot longer than messages! We may want to ration certain people who are more frequently in touch. Or just have time for people who give our spirits a lift, who even think like we do. So when we’re asked to act small, it’s not in the selfish, petty, irritable way which can be an almost ‘automatic response’ on a bad day anyway. It’s small in the sense of attention to detail, the small cogs in the bigger wheels of life, the greater machinery of this grand production. I’m reminded here of the wheels and cogs in the ‘Chicken Run’ film, all very comical of course but interconnected. A big production with a real purpose.
So we must refuse to lose our sense of purpose. If I’m only a cog, then I’ll be a good cog. I won’t be a broken cog which stops the wheel, which breaks the system and loses the plot, making us unproductive. Or if I do break at any point, I will call for help and let people mend me, through God’s Grace. And I’ll know that I’m part of something bigger, more inter-connected, more meaningful and quite important, that is God’s family. I’m part of God’s plan. If I’m a child of God then the Bible tells me:
It is God who works in … (me) … to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.
Can’t get more meaningful than that?!
'Here's One I Prepared Earlier' - 03/07/21
The TV show classic, you’re watching a kids program showing you how to make something live on air. They start by showing you a finished model that took an expert days to complete and paint, it looks beautiful, it looks like a shop bought version. So you think “I could do that”, then the presenter starts to make a version live on the show, after a few minutes you’re thinking “how is this going to work”. You see all the steps with glue and sticky tape everywhere, wondering how is this going to end up looking? Then the presenter gets part way through and drops their own feeble attempt and brings on “one I made earlier”. I look around and I don’t have one I prepared earlier that looks amazing, so what do I do now? I feel deflated as this model is really going to take me hours not 2 minutes and 20 seconds from the show.
But it’s a great feeling when you can provide someone with the “one made earlier”. We had been discussing a particular topic in a meeting about how our customers engage with us. We did not finish the topic in the first meeting so needed to find more time. I carried on thinking about it and came up with a picture that I thought explained the options. My boss then got in touch and said I need something from that first meeting to show to his boss. I showed him my picture and he was really pleased to have something so quickly. I was pleased that the time I spent after the meeting thinking about it and devising a picture had suddenly solved a problem.
In our lives, we sometimes don’t realise how God is helping us prepare ourselves for the things He has planned for us. Then a moment arrives and you realise that I can help, I can do that, I have been through that same thing and I can help. It may be that you can do something for someone or that you have been in the same situation before so you can share your experience.
One of Jesus’ disciples, Paul, encouraged others saying “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians Ch2 v10.
Someone may see the rough, sticky, messy attempt at something and be wondering what is happening in their lives. Then you stand beside them to care for them and help them through the tough times, because you are the one that God prepared earlier.
Lets recognise the gifts and abilities that God has given us, give thanks to Him for them and use them to bless others.
'Chalk and Cheese' - 02/07/21
Two of my four delightful grandchildren live in Yorkshire. A boy and a girl. Brother and sister. Chalk and cheese. What makes them different is not simply the expected gender stereotype, although he is obsessed with dinosaurs and she is besotted with the Disney film, Frozen – so the obvious boy/girl dynamic is definitely present. No, what makes them different is the speed and volume with which they approach life.
Both of them wring every possible morsel of excitement from every minute of every day, but they do it very differently. He will do so slowly, deliberately, thoughtfully, quietly (well, quietly for a three year-old anyway). I once walked in to a room to be greeted with, “Hello, Grandad... we're just talking about balloons”, delivered in a wistful, full on Bradford accent, as if spoken by an elderly, cloth capped denizen of a public house somewhere on Ilkley Moor.
His big sister, on the other hand, experiences life from the fast lane, rushing headlong from one moment to the next and doing so at full volume (she goes up to eleven). We once went to a wildlife centre and had to go round twice, because she had finished “looking” at all the animals before her brother had completed his examination of the workings of a drainage grid in the entrance foyer and was not yet aware that the visitor attraction even contained animals.
Now whilst I am usually guilty of the writers prerogative regarding embellishment for entertainment, the above is a correct representation of the facts. These children are a joy to behold and I wonder where along life's journey I lost my capacity for enjoying it the way they do. To change them in any way would be to deny them their chance at seeing the world from their unique perspective. To hurry him along, or ask her to curb her boisterous enthusiasm would be to deny who they are. Childhood is brief enough in today's society; let them enjoy it to the full. I wouldn't change them for the world.
It is our differences that make us special. Jesus had many followers; some He chose Himself, others simply joined along the way. Still more continue to join today. Jesus welcomed and still welcomes everybody. He makes no demands of us to be a particular type of person. There is no requirement to belong to a particular social class, or have a certain job, or income level. We can be loud, quiet, contemplative or spontaneous. Jesus doesn't want us to conform to a set pattern. He loves us just as we are. So much so that He was prepared to give His life for us. All He asks is that we love Him back. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”
'Planning' - 01/07/21
“One of the greatest mistakes a traveller can make, is to believe a journey can be controlled”.
Monisha Rajesh, Around the World in 80 Trains.
This book details the journey around the world that Monisha and her fiancé take on many of the railways of the world, and the fun and mayhem that they have.
Very quickly on her travels, Monisha learns that how she thought things would plan out, is not what actually happens. There are train delays and breakdowns, unexpected meetings, and happenings, and this all means that very often, her plans disappear out of the train window in which she was travelling at the time!
Whilst some of us are very comfortable with a laisse faire ‘see how it goes’ approach to things, some of us love to plan ahead. You might be a person who loves lists and have your week and weekly meals planned well in advance. You might even have colour coded diaries, so you know what type of activities you have on each day.
Whether you are a detailed planner to perfection, or a never quite sure where you are meant to be kind of person, we will all have had the experience of having something unexpected turn up and all our ideas that we have made for the day or week go out of the window.
In our western world we have become increasing dependant on plans and lists, and whilst they can help enormously with life, its important to remember that our lives and the events that happen in our world don’t always stick to the script!
However, God has plans for us that do not change and are never thrown out of the window.
Jeremiah 11:29
'For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'
We may not know what tomorrow will bring, but we do know who is in control.
God loves us and he knows what we need. Lets take time to rest today, safe in the knowledge that God is in control, and he will take us through. Even if life doesn’t follow our ideas and plans, God is in it with us, and he can be trusted.
August '21 Sunrises
'Part of the Body' - 31/08/21
Last week I was watching an episode of Celebrity Masterchef – very often I find I am struggling to recognise any of the celebrities but on this occasion I discovered that I did actually recognise some of them. One in particular drew my attention. Will Kirk is a furniture restorer who stars in the programme The Repair Shop. I have often watched that programme in wonder as Will carefully takes old, broken and unusable wooden items of furniture and restores them to their former glory. He masterfully repairs and polishes bringing tears to the eyes of many a grateful customer. Will is a man of great talent and skill – at least he is when he has a piece of wood in his hands.
As I watched this particular episode of Masterchef, Will decided to cook some duck for the judges – unfortunately, his idea of ‘cooking’ wasn’t quite the same as theirs and he ended up serving them raw meat! They moved on to round 2 and Will decided this time he would serve up a chicken dish but to his great embarrassment he produced under-cooked chicken. It wasn’t a surprise to anyone that Will ended up going home after that round!
While I watch in awe when I see what Will can do with an old cabinet or broken chair, I watched the same person in horror as he attempted to serve up an edible meal.
I must confess that his poor attempt at cooking a meal did make me smile – smile because it reminded me that each of has been created differently, each with our own gifts and skills, each with something to bring to our community.
In 1 Corinthians the Bible puts it like this: “A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different but similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, transparent and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.”
God has placed us together as community for a reason – not only can we support and help one another, but we also bring our different skills and gifts to our community so that when we gather together we become a whole, beautiful, joyful, functioning body.
I trust Will to fix a chair for me any time, but I think I might cook the chicken! Perhaps you can’t cook a chicken but you may have a gift for listening. Whatever you bring to our community, you are just as important and vital as every other part and I count it a privilege to work alongside you.
'Some Things Never Change' - 30/08/21
Yesterday I had to go to a place that I hadn’t been to for more than twenty years. It’s a building that has stood for more than a century, very solid; the only way you could move it would be to knock it down. I knew where it was and how to get to it, but I am aware that things change, maybe the roads are different or the parking has disappeared. So I thought I would take a trip just to check things out. Last time I was there, the building was quite separate and obvious, but as I approached it everything looked different, there were new buildings everywhere and the one that I remember standing proud and distinctive, was dwarfed and insignificant. I felt as if I had taken a wrong turn and ended up in the wrong street but I hadn’t, the building hadn’t moved but everything around it had changed.
It reminded me of my life, I’m getting on a bit (but I’m dead cool and trendy), and I’m the same person I have always been, but everything around me has changed. Children are driven to school; food can be delivered to your door; people have phones that actually work outside; some people even have indoor toilets. Amazing! The world has been transformed but I’m still me. When I read my Bible, I am hugely encouraged to discover that God has not changed. “I the Lord do not change.” The thoughts He has and the standards He sets are the same year after year, ‘He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a human being, that He should change His mind.’ Best of all, despite our culture losing interest in the God of Creation, we read many times that, ‘His love endures for ever.’ Something else that will not change is our need to respond to His love that we see in action at Calvary; For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ People all over the world in almost every country, have discovered that responding to the love of God produces the best change in theirs lives, irrespective of the culture around them. Some things are best never changing.
'Typos' - 29/08/21
Yesterday I made mistakes writing Sunrise! I was told! I went back and looked, and there they were, plain to see.
Maybe I should just wait a moment now while you all scroll back to yesterday’s Sunrise to see what I’m talking about? Or maybe, you already know what I’m talking about??
But yes, the typos are there. This last week has been a little bit crazy. Needing to empty an entire house ready for building work, has been a huge amount of effort. Add that to a busy family life, and work life, and needless to say, it got a little bit hectic. By the time Saturday morning came I wasn’t sure what day it was! I wrote Sunrise, it went up on the website and I got on with my day…
Some time later I discovered I’d missed what was wrong. I’d been so busy that I didn’t stop to check that everything was ok. Duh!! I’m sorry. I apologise. But in the scale of things, it wasn’t a huge problem. Just little typos. But it did get me thinking. I spend a lot of my life rushing. Rushing to drop my girls at school and college, rushing to pick them up at the end of the day, rushing to the shops, rushing to be on time with work. Rushing, rushing, rushing….
Don’t get me wrong I am absolutely delighted with all there is to do in each day, but on occasions, any one of us can be in such a rush that we forget to check if all is okay. We can be so busy with our plans that we miss that person being extra quiet today, we miss noticing that somebody is missing, we miss an unusual, telling comment that someone has made. We can be so busy that we fail to see that those around us are not ok.
The Bible says, ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’. When we’re feeling defeated, worn out, hurt, lonely, just having ‘one of those days’ (or weeks/months/years!!), a kind word, an unexpected smile, a listening ear, is worth more than we can often express.
When there’s something wrong with a Sunrise it’s not the end of the world, but may we never be too rushed or distracted or self seeking to see what’s wrong with those who are all around us.
'Tree Hugging' - 28/08/21
So, Lebanon. An incredibly beautiful, tiny country with the most stunning coastline, amazing history, fabulous food, interesting dancing and huge, big trees!....commonly known as the Cedars of Lebanon. These stunning trees have very wide tree trunks, branches that spread out in every direction, and the roots of the tree are known to go very deep and very wide. Putting it bluntly, these trees aren’t likely to get blown over! They are just beautiful! And as soon as I saw them I wanted to go over to them, walk around them, maybe give one or two of them a hug.....after all, some of these beautiful trees are over 2,500 years old! If they could speak, imagine the stories they could tell. There was just one problem. After the devastating, civil war that took place in Lebanon, the ground next to the trees had been covered in landlines. I couldn’t help but feel so sad that the painful past had left it’s mark. We all have a past don’t we? The proud moments. The funny moments. The moments you record in a photo album. And we all have moments of pain and sadness. Sadly it’s a part of life. And we can become a lot like a Cedar of Lebanon surrounded by landlines and a barbed wire fence, keeping people at a distance. Have you ever felt like that? I have, and it’s a lonely place to be. We all need friends. Good friends. The kind who will enjoy the good times with us, but still be there for us during the bad times. The kind of friends who will help us remove the ‘landlines and the barbed wire fence’ that surround us. And we need to be those friends to. The Bible tells us we ought to be like Jesus, who was, and still is, the best friend we could ever have. 1 Peter 5:7, says these words, ‘Cast all your anxiety on Him [Jesus] because he cares for you’. Today, may we recognise ‘barbed wire fences’. As the saying goes, ‘Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about’. Let’s be something of Jesus to one another, let’s give Him our daily struggles and pain, and let’s draw closer to Him, and one another...removing the land mines one by one.
'Apache Falls' - 27/08/21
I have just returned from a glorious day out with two of my grandchildren. We went to Gulliver’s World theme park, near Warrington (other theme parks are available). The weather was warm and sunny and the queues were not too long. It was a day of fun and laughter and everybody had a nice time. The one minor hiccup occurred when I attempted to take the three-year-old onto the Apache Falls water ride. This is basically a set of circular rafts that are swept along a predetermined course which is guaranteed to ensure that the occupants of said raft arrive at the end of the ride in a much more soggy state than when they started. Like all the rides, there is a minimum height requirement to ensure the safety of the participants. Whilst I met the required standard with ease, my little companion turned out to be just one centimetre short. It was clear that the lady responsible for denying us entry to the ride was doing so in order to meet a stringent health and safety regulation and took no pleasure in being a killjoy. I quietly explained to my vertically challenged companion that we would not be able to go on the ride until she was a little bit bigger; “perhaps next year”, but that we would still be able to go on the log flume. She squared her shoulders and with admirable stoicism asked, “Will we get very wet on the log flume Grandad?” Having been assured that this would indeed be the case, she looked me in the eye and with a big smile on her face, said in a loud, cheerful voice, “Okay, let’s go!”.
This caused me to reflect that her response was far more mature than that of some adults I have met who have been faced with unavoidable disappointment due to recent regulations imposed upon them. It also led me to think about the fact that we live in a society that tells us that we should want everything now. The thought of having to wait to enjoy something is a foreign concept nowadays.
How wonderful then, that Jesus’ promises are immediate. When He says, “I have come so that they may have life, and have it to the full”, He means now. We don’t need to wait until we have grown another centimetre. Likewise, the most quoted passage in scripture is immediate in its consequence, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”. Eternal life is not a future concept; it begins the moment we accept Jesus. So, let’s not wait around. Let’s go!
'Who Knows?' - 26/08/21
“There may yet come a time when Heroes are needed once more. There may yet come a time when the dragons will come back.”
Cressida Cowell, How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train your Dragon is the story of Hiccup, and how he becomes a dragon trainer in a world of dragon killers. He is the unexpected hero of the story.
Think back to summer 2019. I was enjoying a holiday in America, visiting family. What were you doing? Whatever it was, I can be fairly sure that no one knew what was about to happen across the world. We were living in blissful ignorance of the global pandemic around the corner.
The idea of who a hero was changed from a Instagram blogger and celebrity footballer, to a NHS worker or lab researcher. Our world turned upside down.
Just as in the book, something happened beyond our control which totally changed our view of the world forever. In the case of Hiccup, it was taking a decision to befriend a dragon rather than kill it. In our case it was learning how to live in a world where a global pandemic was in control.
The truth is that no one knows what will happen next. We may have a wonderful surprise today, or some bad news. We may even discover that dragons are real and living in Chipping Norton! To be honest, after the last eighteen months anything is possible.
Whatever happens today, God loves you and wants to be part of your life, guiding and helping you. In Isaiah 41, it says:
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
As you deal with whatever life throws at you today, know that God loves you, and that he will be with you and help you through. Whether its dragons, crowds, or something we haven’t even thought of yet, God’s love for you is constant and unchanging. Let’s hold onto that love today.
'The Repair Shop' - 25/08/21
Have you watched The Repair Shop on TV? I love it. People bring in treasured possessions and family heirlooms that are broken and battered, that are rotting away and have become unusable and sometimes dangerous – the team of restorers then set about repairing and restoring the item to its former glory. I’m amazed at what they can do. These are things that to me look like they are irredeemable and the only place for them is the bin but the restorers never seem phased, they just go about, bit by tiny fragile bit, bringing new life to this beloved possession. Often the owners have wonderful, personal stories of the people who gave them this item, or the family occasions when it was used etc. The thing is though, the restorers don’t make it look like it was when it was brand new. They are careful to keep the worn edges, the scratches and the child’s name etched into the bottom. They restore its function and its beauty but are careful to maintain its character and its history. The things that are most precious to us tend to be the things that have journeyed with us, things that remind us of happy times and special people; things that bear something of our own story.
We’re not so different though are we? Life leaves its mark on us. Sometimes that is a physical scar or wound but often it can be those scars that are unseen which have left their mark on us invisibly but no less real or deep or painful and which, if untreated, can weaken us and even eat away at us restricting our ability to function. But the good news is that we have a great restorer who has promised us that one day “He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good – tears gone, crying gone, pain gone … “Look! I’m making everything new.””
I like the idea of being all shiny and new and free from the scars of life but it does beg the question, what do we do while we wait? On those days when life feels just too hard and we’re just not strong enough; not good enough; not capable enough; not happy enough? Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth spoke about his own frustrations of his weaknesses and how he’d asked God to make him stronger – God’s reply to him was simple: “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness”. It was then that Paul understood; when he was at his weakest, when he stopped trying to do things in his own strength, that’s when God was able to step in and Paul no longer lived in his own strength, but God’s. Paul’s response to his weaknesses changed – “I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become”.
God offers us exactly the same. We are his beloved possessions and none of us are irredeemable - while we wait to be restored to shiny newness; while we have to put up with the worn edges and the scratches that life has imposed on us – we don’t have to do it in our own strength, he’s waiting for us to lean on him.
'Anyone Know a Good Drain Cleaner?' - 24/08/21
We’ve got local newspapers and leaflets through the door, ‘Yellow Pages’ and ‘Keep It Local’, but when you need a drain cleaner what do you do? You ring your family and friends and a mate who works for the council to ask if anybody has had personal experience of hiring a drain cleaner. Or maybe you need a gardener, a car mechanic, a tree surgeon, a bricklayer or a decorator. Or a ballet teacher. Or a rat catcher. We all need help occasionally and we usually start by asking everyone if they know someone. Currently we need a gardener, a grid fixer, a path cleaner, and a fence builder. But we want a friend to tell us that Billy is reliable and Stan is cheap. This reminds me of a bit of motoring history that goes back more than a hundred years. In the early 1900’s the Packard Motor Car Company came up with a slogan to entice buyers, and help owners of their cars to feel important. The catch phrase was, ‘Ask the man who owns one!’ That was clever because hearing your neighbour or a colleague or friend expressing great satisfaction with a product is a powerful recommendation. People who have that kind of knowledge and experience are usually very happy to share it.
In our culture where Christianity has taken a back seat, and Christians are not the largest group of people across the country, what happens if somebody wants to know how your faith ‘works’? They are not going to turn to ‘Yellow Pages’ or ‘Keep it Local’ are they. So, are Christians as happy to talk about their faith as they are about the brilliant piano teacher they have found? In Psalm 66 the writer is explaining the greatness of God and all that He had done for His people. Sometimes He even brought difficult times on them if they needed to be reminded of how He had blessed them in the past. It became very personal for the psalmist as it is meant to be for all Christians and he shouted out, “Let me tell you what He has done for me.” In most areas of our lives, we are happy to share our knowledge and experience with anyone, our faith should be the same. David was very keen for other people to discover what he had discovered, “Find out for yourself how good the Lord is. Happy are those who find safety with Him.” As we live our lives with all their ups and downs, let’s be prepared to share our beliefs and knowledge with those around us. Now, anybody know a good gardener?
'All for One and One for All' - 20/08/21
Quite a long time ago now, I studied A level art. My favourite style of art was pointillism. Whole images made up of tiny dots. If you stood very close to the picture you would see the combination of coloured dots very clearly, but as you stepped back you would realise that each and every dot helped to make the big picture. I was never particularly known for being patient, however I would sit for hours and hours creating images made up of thousands upon thousands of tiny dots. And what seemed funny about it was that every single tiny dot was relevant. Every single tiny dot vital to the big picture. When I messed some of the dots up, I messed the whole picture up. I had to sort the mess if I wanted the picture to be beautiful.
The Bible tells us that, ‘we are God’s work of art, his masterpiece’. He takes delight in creating us and gifting us, and He loves it when we give ourselves to the bigger picture. When people come together with their different personalities and traits and all offer what skills and abilities they’re able to, it’s a bit like a pointillism image, every single dot, every single person, vital to the bigger picture. And when there’s a mess, a hurt, a grief, a desperate time, for just one person, it’s only right that it affects the rest. It’s only right that we join forces and help where needed.
Pointillism wouldn’t work if each dot stayed on its own. Community wouldn’t work if each one of us didn’t need the others. Pointillism needs lots of dots all working together for the big picture. Community needs all of us, working together, recognising each other as ‘God’s work of art’. And when we do that, when we truly learn to appreciate one another, we can become part of God’s big and beautiful masterpiece.
'Just Imagine' - 19/08/21
“Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.”
Jules Verne, Around the World in Eighty Days
Around the World in Eighty Days is the well known story of Phileas Fogg and his attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days after a bet from his friends.
I visited Liverpool cathedral today with some friends who had never been to Liverpool before. It gave me the opportunity to see afresh a building that I know quite well, but through the eyes of someone who was seeing it for the first time. One of the comments they made really struck a chord with me. My friend looked up at the outside of the building and said with awe ‘how on earth does somebody have the imagination to design something as amazing as this’?
During the visit we marvelled at both the amazing design of the cathedral, but also the impressive skill of the people who made the design reality. The skill of the master craftsmen was equal to the skill of the designer.
As a Christian, I believe in a creator God, who created both the world we live in and the amazing life on it. I look at the hills and trees and flowers, and I marvel at the imagination of the creator God who spoke the world into being. From the tiniest flower to the tallest tree, this world tells us every day of the boundless imagination of our loving God.
The bible tells us of how he has instilled this wonderful imagination into us, so that we can show his love and glory to the world. When God asked Moses to build important artefacts and ornate tables to go into the first cathedral (actually it was a tent in the desert), he instilled that imagination and creative skills into lots of people so that it could all be built:
Exodus 31 1-6
God spoke to Moses: “See what I’ve done; I’ve personally chosen Bezalel. I’ve filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft to create designs and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to cut and set gemstones; to carve wood—he’s an all-around craftsman. Not only that, but to all who have an aptitude for crafts I’ve given the skills to make all the things I’ve commanded you.
God placed that imagination and skill into those people thousands of years ago, and continued to do so ever since, right up to today and into all of us. Let’s use our wonderful imagination and skills today, maybe to design or make something, or to imagine a new way of doing something, or a new way to love and encourage someone.
'And I Think To Myself, What a Wonderful World' - 18/08/21
When you woke up this morning, did you think, ‘Woohoooo it’s Wednesday’, or were you more of a, ‘Oh it’s Wednesday’, or were you a, ‘Not another day! I can’t take many more like this!’ To be honest, I’m a very positive-minded person but I’ve had a real mishmash of thoughts and feelings not just over these passed few months but over the years. During the good times it’s been all singing and dancing, but during some rough times, I’ve genuinely felt like God had given up on me and gone to ‘perform miracles’ elsewhere! I suspect I’m not the only one who has sometimes felt like this? BUT, right outside my bedroom window, in fact any closer and they’d be on my bed, there’s a nest of starlings. And every year babies arrive!! And I’m woken by the raucous noise of these little chicks yelling at the top of their voices, desperate for breakfast! It could, for some, be an annoying noise, but for me, well I love it! It’s cheeky, it’s demanding, it’s relentless. But more importantly it’s a sign of life. It’s a miracle! I’ve taken to looking at the weeds and wild flowers (weeds!) when I go out walking. I know they’re weeds, but they are stunning flowers! A miracle! I heard the most beautiful birdsong the other day. I’ve no idea which type of bird it was, but it was simply beautiful! A miracle! My dog is a bit naughty, in a good way, a bit cheeky, and has the most incredible loyalty towards me and can read me like a book! A miracle! My children! Who all have their worries and struggles but bring so much joy and laughter into my life! Miracles! My family and friends! Living, breathing miracles! The bible says, ‘God counts the stars and calls them all by name’. Miracle! I don’t have answers to life’s big questions. Of which there are many! But I can open my eyes and ears to what’s around me, and see that the God of miracles hasn’t gone anywhere! He’s right here. Emmanuel, God with us.
'Not in the Bag' - 17/08/21
Some years ago I had a very good friend who had a very large handbag. This handbag went everywhere with her! And wherever we went and whatever we needed while we were there...it was in the handbag! Need a tissue!...got one! Need a pen!...got one! Need a cough sweet!...got one! Nothing too strange about any of that. But on occasions it got a little bit weird. Like the time we were in a restaurant and the staff were having trouble keeping a door open. ‘Hold on, bear with...do you want to borrow my doorstop?’ Or the other time when someone forgot their reading glasses...but it was ok, my friend had ‘a selection’ of glasses of varying strengths to offer, out of her handbag! And when she was faced with us all just staring at her, ever so slightly puzzled, her response was always, ‘y’know, just in case.’ Needless to say, my friend and her handbag solved many a problem and met many a need!
I’m the opposite, I’m a very light traveller. Wherever I go, I can’t stand ‘unnecessary baggage’. It’s probably part of the reason I hate camping. All that effort, all that packing, to sleep in a field! But I have found myself on numerous occasions wishing I was just a little bit more like my friend with the bag!
If only all of life’s problems could be fixed by the contents of a handbag. We could have a slogan saying something like, ‘Life will always be great, if you just find a mate...with a handbag!’ Sadly, it’s not that straightforward. When I was very ill as a teenager, no contents of a handbag could get me better. When I lost my daughter, there wasn’t a handbag in the world that could help. On the loneliest of nights and the most stressful of days, the handbag was redundant.
The thing is, none of my friends or family, fit in to a handbag. When I’ve needed friendship, support, an encouraging word or that essential listening ear, it’s not come out of a handbag! Being there for somebody, either in person, or on the end of a phone, is vital. Just to hear a kind voice, to speak out your thoughts and worries without fearing judgement, to find something funny together and get a much-needed moment of light relief, to know you’re not alone. Good friends and family are invaluable. They walk through the darkest of times with us and celebrate the best of times with us.
But my best friend, without a doubt, is Jesus. He doesn’t fit in a handbag either! But I know that during the absolute best times in my life, He has been there, the wonderful days with my chicks, the hilarious Monday evenings with choir friends, and the countless great days where nothing dramatic happened, but still it was good. And He has been there in the absolute darkest of days too, when grief and fear and despair have never felt closer. Paul in the bible knew what it felt like to have everything and he knew what it felt like to have nothing. He wrote, ‘For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, principalities or powers, nor things that are now, nor things that are to come, can separate us from the love of God’.
I need to get myself a handbag for important things like tissues, pens, cough sweets and doorstops. But more importantly I need to be that loyal friend who’s there to laugh with and cry with.
Thank you to all my loyal friends, You’re worth more than any handbag, and thank you Jesus, the most loyal of all
'what's Your Face Saying' - 16/08/21
George Orwell, the author of Animal Farm is quoted as saying, “By the age of fifty every man has the face he deserves.” It’s interesting that he passes no opinion regarding women’s faces. When I first heard this, I was getting close to fifty, so I had to find a mirror and consider what my face was saying to people. If you try this, you will probably find that its quite difficult because you are so used to your own face so there’s no surprises. You will already have an opinion about the size of your nose or how small your eyes are, and you will be very aware of the invasion of little wrinkles. I don’t think that Orwell was talking about these things but rather what your face suggested about your nature and character as you talked and interacted with people. Faces can express emotions very powerfully without using any words, and we can be deeply moved and sometimes shocked by what we see. This week in Plymouth, people were shot dead in the street for no logical reason and the distress was so obvious on the faces of family and friends. As I’m writing this, the Taliban are rampaging around Afghanistan taking control of the entire nation because other nations have walked away. We have seen the faces of young and old as they realise the terrifying possibilities for their futures. We will not forget! Yesterday was the beginning of the new football season and I saw the faces of those who seemed to think it was the best day of their lives.
When people look at us, do they see in our faces compassion or irritation, interest or boredom, contentment or envy? As we meet with people on happy or sad occasions, our expressions should indicate that we are with them. The face of Jesus would always be an honest sign of His feelings, children would never have approached Him if they were made nervous by a stern look; and on those occasions when He was angry, people would understand even if He said nothing. When He went to the home of Lazarus who had recently died, His emotions were obvious and public; “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” In the last few weeks we have been able to meet with each other face to face which is wonderful. We are told to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Let’s make sure when we meet, that our love is genuine, and when people look at our faces, they see the truth.
'Fun in the Sea' - 14/08/21
Whilst on holiday recently, we were able to go out on the sea in kayaks and it was great fun. Being by the seaside is one thing which helps me to relax and being able to either swim or play in the sea is great fun. Having enjoyed being in the kayak, we decided to buy one. As I usually do, I did a bit of research on the internet about the different types and prices and shops. Then whilst in a camping shop, we saw one on offer, so we bought it.
I happily brought the box home and it was great, but not much fun. So, I got it out of the box in the garden and laid it out on the grass. It was bigger than I thought and looked great with a splash guard and seats, but it still wasn’t much fun. With the help of some friends, we inflated the kayak and it actually took shape, we even sat in it and the excitement was building, but it still wasn’t much fun. When we took it to the water, we floated the kayak and got in, this is great and then I paddled away and enjoyed the water, a bit of relaxation and time to think.
I was thinking how I can learn from this experience. The final experience came about because I took the necessary steps. The kayak is fun because when inflated it has strength, when it is on the water it floats and when I paddle it can move. As a Christian, I need to be filled with God’s strength and be in the right place, but I can’t just sit and watch, I still need to do the paddling. Our god is a loving God who support us, often through the friends around us. When we are in the right place, we can do new things through his strength and guidance that will show people God’s love and support. We are challenged in the Bible in 2 Timothy Chapter 1
I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline
'Sweet Tongue' - 13/08/21
Although I say it myself, I am a patient individual. It takes a great deal to make me lose my patience with somebody. I am fairly sanguine when dealing with other people’s foibles, idiosyncrasies and annoying habits. Well, let’s face it, I have been putting up with my own for sixty years!
Whilst the list of things that irritate me is growing longer all the time, it is rare for one of them to actually make me lose my patience. So, whilst it is fair to say that as the years pass I am becoming more of a grumpy old man, at least I am a patient grumpy old man.
Recently, my benign countenance succumbed to annoyance. My patience was tested beyond its limits. I don’t suppose it will be much of a surprise to discover that this little explosion of temper occurred whilst driving. Those of you who drive will know that other motorists can be challenging at best. The particular motorist who incurred my wrath was one of those entitled drivers who regularly blight our roads. You will all have encountered them. They invariably drive something German, or four-wheel drive, or both. These are the motorists who believe that the indicator is merely an optional extra and that the Highway Code is a book by Dan Brown. For them, the roads are theirs to command and the rest of us are merely something that they are forced to put up with.
The egregious behaviour of this particular individual led me to question out loud their fitness to be on the Queen’s highways. The words I chose to use were not kind... to say the least.
Now, my car is well stocked with chewing gum. Eucalyptus and menthol flavour. Refreshing, zesty and sinus clearing. I often pop in one of these little blue lozenges to freshen my mouth. Having launched into my tirade of vitriol at the errant road hog, I was suddenly struck by the realisation that, whilst my breath may have been sweet, my words most certainly weren’t.
In this case, the target of my sharp tongue was unable to hear my criticism, rendering the outburst pointless, but that does not excuse it. An outburst of temper is unbecoming and betrays a lack of thoughtfulness, “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding”. I need to remember that my words carry weight and can be either vicious or kind. I need to remember to err on the side of kindness. “Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”.
So, let’s see if the next time I come across a discourteous driver I can make my words as sweet as my chewing gum.
'Happy Place' - 12/08/21
It is well to have as many holds upon happiness as possible.”
Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
Northanger Abbey tells the story of Catherine Morland, and her journey to understanding both herself and the world around her. One of the things she discovers quite quickly is that there are many things in life that can get you down, or ‘steal’ your happiness. She determines to have as many things to celebrate as possible.
I wonder if you have a ‘happy place’. A favourite place to go and sit and enjoy or feel at home. For some people it can be a beautiful place that they love to return to, for others its just being at home with a good book, and for others its simply being with people they love.
For me, it’s a certain bench at the top of a hill overlooking the Somerset levels, in a country park called Ham Hill. There, with an ice cream of course, I love to just sit and look at the beautiful surroundings and take time to ‘be’.
Quite often, life can be so hectic, the times we have to just sit and appreciate things can be few and far between. However, it’s important to ‘count our blessings’ as the phrase says, to remember the things in our lives that we have to be thankful for. Especially when it’s a really bad day, it’s good to remember that things are not always like this, that life has joy and hope and love in all sorts of ways.
The bible reminds us that God loves us, and longs to be part of our lives. It tells us that God loves us so much, that following him brings a kind of Joy that no one else can provide. Its not a super happy all the time feeling, or an endless supply of great things happening. It is, however, a certain hope and contentment that comes from knowing that you are absolutely and completely loved, and that God can be trusted. So whatever life throws at you, God is not going anywhere, and he loves you despite everything.
Nehemiah 8:10
Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
So, wherever you are today, try and find time to sit and just ‘be’, and count your blessings. Take in the idea that God absolutely and truly loves you, and be joyful, and have an ice cream if you can of course!
'Baggage' - 11/8/21
We are currently in the process of emptying our house. We are needing to move out for the next few months while work is done on it. We are excited for the work to be done and at the same time up the wall trying to pack up all our belongings and throw the ‘junk’ away.
‘Junk!’ I had no idea that we had so much!! The stuff that we have kept in cupboards and drawers ‘just in case’. It’s been very therapeutic to get rid of it. Very freeing!
But that ‘junk’ or ‘baggage’ isn’t the only stuff we live with. We all have baggage in our lives but it’s not all physical. Do you recognise resentment or unforgiveness in your life? How about jealousy or greed? An inferiority complex or a sense of superiority? Selfishness or anger? When we live with such baggage it clouds our judgement, distracts us from what is important and good and simply weighs us down.
The Bible is very clear about ‘junk’….
‘…So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne’.
Life can be difficult enough without our baggage. May we all seek to get rid of it, to live free of it, and trust Jesus to guide us through this journey called life.
'Take a Break' - 10/8/21
Did you know that today is International Lazy Day? I certainly didn’t – if fact I didn’t know there was such a thing! Apparently it is a day to celebrate doing nothing. In all honesty, I think it may be fair to say that some people might find that easier than others. Some people struggle to sit and be still and simply rest. When questioned about his impressive knitting skills last week, British Olympic diver Tom Daley explained that his new hobby began because he struggled to stop and rest and switch off. His coach suggested he find a hobby that would allow him to rest his body and clear his mind and, after discovering knitting, he has found that he can allow himself the physical and mental rest that his body needs.
We live in a culture that demands much from us and all too often we can find ourselves competing for who can be the busiest, all too often we place our value on how busy we should be. However, while I would not suggest that it is good for us to become lazy, God himself set a precedent for resting when our work is done. He created the heavens and the earth and everything in it and when he was finished and he was pleased with his work, then he rested.
In the book of Matthew Jesus says these words: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Jesus invites us, not to do nothing and become lazy, but to work alongside him where our gifts will be recognised and valued and the rhythm of our lives can include rest for our bodies and our minds.
Perhaps today on so called ‘International Lazy Day’ we could all spare a moment to rest with God, pausing even if only for a short while and allow him to bring his peace into the noise of our lives; calmness into our chaos and stillness in the midst of our hustle and bustle.
“At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, for you, God, have put my life back together”.
(Psalm 4:8)
'From Trash To Treasure' - 09/08/21
I read of a remarkable man who lives in Bogota, the capital of Colombia. His name is Jose Alberto Gutierrez but to the children in his corner of the world he is simply Senor Jose. He has no educational qualifications, he’s not any kind of performer, he’s not a singer or dancer or sportsman and he has no money to give away. In fact, he’s the local binman. So why is this man a great favourite with the children and their parents? It’s because his old unassuming rambling house is home to 25,000 books that he has rescued over the years as he has collected the ’trash’ that people have thrown out. Refuse collection in Colombia is not as organised or as tidy as it is in the UK; it’s mostly on display for all to see, especially if you’re the local trashman. Each weekend during the ‘Library Hours’, the locals prowl through every room in the house, all of them stacked high with books that can provide entertainment, education, and inspiration. Mums, dads, and their many off springs recognize that this humble down-market building in the poor part of town is more than Senor Jose’s home, it is a treasure trove, an Aladdin’s cave.
In the Bible we read that we are like humble clay pots and God is our maker, ‘You Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.’ Just like clay pots we can become damaged and unattractive by events in life; maybe people walk away or ignore us because we look a little like Senor Jose’s home on the outside. But Paul tells the Christians in Corinth that what is inside us, an awareness of God’s love and grace, makes us special, like the contents of that house in Bogota. ‘We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing great treasure.’ Paul explains that the treasure of God’s love and presence is the result of the work of the potter, we are just the clay jars. Just as Senor Jose opens his home up so people can experience the treasure inside, let us be willing to invite our friends and neighbours to see what God has done inside us.
'Peace In the Valley' - 08/08/21
Thomas Dorsey was born on July 1st 1899. He grew up in rural Georgia. His childhood was filled with the sounds of blues music, slave spiritual songs and all the restrictions and injustices that came with being black. Thomas struggled at school and finally dropped out. He started to hang around theatres, paying close attention to the blues musicians. At home he practiced on an old family organ. As he became more musically skilled he became a regular performer at all kinds of events. Often having little or no warning before being invited to play, he became a natural at improvisation.
Thomas was not a seeker of fame. His love for the blues was met with his love for God and he spent most of his adult life writing gospel music. A quiet, private man. He became known as the Father of Gospel Music. In the somewhat restrictive and composed, black church congregations of the time, he is recognised as the man who transformed them into free, clapping, foot stomping, enthusiastic worshippers. Thomas was intent on sharing the gospel of Jesus through the beautiful music he could create.
His story is one of hardship and determination, restrictions and prejudice, humility and immense talent.
Click the link below to hear the great gospel singer, Ruby Turner, along with Jools Holland, perform one of his most famous creations. Peace in the Valley is all about the hardships of life coupled with the promises of God….much like Thomas’s life.
'I Can See Clearly Now' - 07/08/21
… the rain has gone!!
Well actually, what I was thinking of, is that we have just had some glass units replaced in our windows. It is one of those things with double glazing, over time they can get little defects in the unit which has the potential to allow the units to “fog”. The damp gets in a then you can properly clean the window. At that point, the view out of your window is changed.
The great thing is that with the help of a glazer, you can replace just the glass unit in the frame quite quickly and easily, at which point, our view is transformed again.
This is something that happens to us as well. We can often let our view of the world around us be gradually clouded by others around us which is not always appropriate or helpful. One of the things about our modern day world is that our phones or computers will keep telling us things that we have previously seen, so our views keep being re-enforced, when we should be looking for a more balanced view.
We should be careful that our view of those around is not clouded by our own opinions but we should look to see to the heart of the matter or to look at the heart of the person we are with. Before David met with Goliath, he was being chosen by God through Samuel to lead the nation. When Samuel looked at David, he did not see what God saw. Samuel was looking at David’s brothers thinking they would be the chosen one.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16v7)
Let God guide us to how we see people around us and events around us, that we can see clearly and share Gods love into the heart of those around us.
'Stay In the Ring' - 06/08/21
I recently went to the cinema. This would not normally be a thing worth reporting, but these are not normal times. I have not been to the cinema since I first heard the term, “Coronavirus”, so this was an exciting event! I have to report that the three other people sitting in the cinema with me were properly socially distanced. Choosing a Wednesday lunchtime showing probably accounted for the paucity of spectators, but that was the point of choosing a Wednesday lunchtime showing.
The film I opted to see was, “In the Heights”. It's an uplifting musical about a group of immigrant families living in the Washington Heights neighbourhood of New York. It's a story of love and hope and is romantic in the broadest sense of the term. The families have their struggles like every family and at times there is a temptation to give up their dreams and settle for what they can get, but they don't... they battle on to fulfil their aspirations. Their attitude is best summed up by one father, who confronts his daughter who is struggling to come to terms with the discrimination and difficulties she encounters during her time at college. He reminds her that she is bound to take some blows along the way, but she must, “stay in the ring” if she is to overcome. Spoiler alert... given that this a Hollywood musical, things work out for the best.
I was reminded that most of us encounter difficulties in life for a variety of reasons, but not all of us have the benefit of a scriptwriter ensuring that everything turns out okay.
The Bible tells us of the struggles of the Apostle Paul, who endured all kinds of hardship in his life. He travelled across land and sea telling everybody he met about Jesus. He faced regular opposition, was beaten, shipwrecked, stoned and imprisoned... but he stayed in the ring. He knew that through all his troubles, God was with him; just as He is with us and he asked, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”. Paul knew that no matter what lay ahead of him, God would be there and nothing could change that. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. So, when things are not going to plan, when the script of my life is not written how I would have written it and the temptation to give up rears its ugly head, I need to stay in the ring and remember who is in there with me.
'Which Way' - 05/08/21
Some people are headstrong, always acting quickly and decisively. Which is a fine quality when you are right, but a liability when you are wrong. It’s great to be the fastest runner, but not when you’re running in the wrong direction.”
Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club
The Thursday murder club is a story where a group of pensioners from a retirement village set about solving a murder of someone in their village.
As the Olympics continue, we have caught a glimpse of so many sports. From sailing to diving, to skateboarding to show jumping and weight lifting, there have been so many competitors. As the Olympics progress, the action now moves to the athletics track for the final few days. The 100m is seen as the blue ribbon event in athletics, who will be the fastest person in the world? In 2021, Lamont Jacobs and Elaine Thompson-Herah won this coveted event. However, can you imagine what would have happened if they had run in the wrong direction during the race? It might have made memorable TV, but it wouldn’t have won a gold medal, even if they were the fastest. It wasn’t enough that these athletes were the fastest, they had to run their race in the right direction, and in the correct lane. One of our athletes was actually disqualified for running out of her lane in the 400m, Nicole Yeargin, ending any hopes of a medal for her, even though she had qualified for the next round.
Its easy for athletes to see the path they should run, and how far they are to go. In life, sometimes its not as easy. Which path should we take? Who should I listen to about how to conduct myself? The lines are a lot less clear.
The bible speaks really clearly about who you should listen to. Proverbs 3:5 explains:
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
So today, whatever decision you have to make, whether big or small, know that God can be trusted. The maker of the universe loves you so much, and he never fails. Let’s do things his way, loving him and loving others, and whether you win a medal or not, he really will keep you on track.
What is it? - 04/08/21
When one of my chicks was just three years old she took herself off with paper and pencils to draw me something special. Some time later she walked up to me, with a smile from ear to ear, and proudly announced, “mummy this is for you!“ I looked down and smiled an equally big smile, and whilst telling her it was absolutely wonderful, in my head I was wondering exactly what it was! I looked at my chick‘s face, she was delighted with her picture, but I had absolutely no idea what I was staring at. It definitely had eyes...I think....And a very interesting body. She said to me, “mummy do you like it?“ “I absolutely love it! Is it a dog?” She began to giggle, “no mummy you’re silly!” We laughed. “Oh! Then I’m guessing it is a very big cat!” Again she giggled, “mummy you’re really silly!” This conversation went on for some time, and I went through all the animals I could possibly think off. Mythical ones included! And she giggled and giggled! Eventually, I turned to her and said, “okay I think it’s a duck billed platypus!” She stared at me, and smiled and said, “well done mummy!”
And with that, she picked herself up and ran off to play. And I was left laughing and wondering just which end of the duck billed platypus was the head and which was the tail!
The simple fact is that what I was looking at didn’t match what I was told it was!
As I remember that funny story, I think of the lesson I can learn from it too. What do I ‘look like’ to others? It’s an important question.
The Bible talks about how God changes us, for the better, the more we get to know Him and love Him. Paul called these changes, ‘the fruit of the spirit’ and defines them as, ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control’. And as each one of us learns to trust and love God that little bit more, we will start to ‘look’ differently. We will start to ‘look’ like we love God. We will start to display signs of the fruit of the spirit. I confess, I have a long way to go!! Some days I ‘look’ like someone who loves Jesus and sadly other days I don’t! But every time I mess up I’m thankful for our perfect God picking me back up and showing me, all over again that, ‘the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, great is His faithfulness’.
So far nobody has ever looked at me and thought I was a duckbilled platypus, although there’s still time, but what would really devastate me is if people looked at me and failed to see any evidence of Jesus in my life.
'Make a Joyful Noise' - 03/08/21
Yesterday evening the Melling Community Gospel Choir gathered together for the first time in 16 months! Amidst the face masks and hand gel there were cautious hugs, greetings and a few tears – it was good to be back!
As we gathered together the anxiety, stress and difficulties of the last 16 months fell away and was immediately replaced with joy, excitement and laughter. The room that had been silent for over a year was filled with noise, but not just any noise, it was filled with a joyful noise! And as we began to sing together again, it may not have been pitch perfect, we may not have remembered all of the words but no one listening in could have accused us of lacking joy!
In Psalm 95 we read: “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”
While it may take Jo a little time to whip us back into shape, nag us to learn our words and get us exercising our vocal chords so we can reach all of the notes again, God doesn’t demand those things from us. He simply asks us to come with thanksgiving – thanks for our community over the last year and a half; thanks for taking care of one another; thanks for the laughter over group chats and thanks for the technology that allowed us to come together to share God’s word and pray over Zoom. While physically apart, God held us together as a community and held us close to Him.
While Jo may demand something tuneful from us, God simply asks for the joyful sound of our heartfelt thanks for sustaining us through some difficult and trying times. So whatever your instrument of choice may be – be it your voice, a keyboard, a set of drums, a couple of spoons or even a blow-up trombone! - let’s join together and make a joyful noise to God our Rock as we give thanks for the community he has placed us in, for the friends he has surrounded us with and for His love that sustains us through it all.
“Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies; Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness; Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings; Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute; Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin. Let every living, breathing creature praise God!”
And now back to practice – God may not demand tuneful perfection, but Jo does!
'Who Wrote This Stuff' - 02/08/21
I’m sitting at my desk with a great desire to shout at someone but at the same time I’m feeling very pleased with myself. I’m patting myself on the back because I have just assembled my new desk all by myself and now this ‘Sunrise’ is the first document to be typed here. I have space and order that I am determined to protect at all costs. So why am I grumpy? Well firstly the assembly instructions were written by somebody who’s first language is not English, then it was translated by somebody who’s first language is not English, they used all the right words but not necessarily in the right order. I’m assuming they used the right words but I’m not entirely sure because some of the type is too small to read even with my reading glasses. Some of the lettering is one millimetre high (I’ve measured it), it looks like this…it’s too tiny to read. Then there’s the diagrams; obviously done by the writers four-year-old child with no understanding of perspective or which way is up. Apart from that it's excellent.
It led me to think about the need for instructions to be clear and unambiguous, with enough words to make the advice complete but not so many words that confusion sets in. I’m sure that you’ve all read reviews of art exhibitions or music festivals where the writer takes so long to make the point that you walk away.
Someone who was a master of communication was Jesus. By using illustrations that anyone could understand and by saying important things using words that didn’t require a dictionary, Jesus destroyed confusion. People may not have liked the message, but they certainly would understand it. For instance Jesus said, “You have heard people say, ”Love your neighbours and hate your enemies.” But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.” He also warned people to be careful, “Don’t condemn others, and God won’t condemn you. God will be as hard on you as you are on others. He will treat you exactly as you treat them.” There’s no confusion when Jesus speaks. He made many many statements that were absolutely clear; we can’t excuse ourselves on the grounds that we didn’t recognize the words or that we need better glasses.
'74 Weeks' - 01/08/21
Tomorrow night is a special night. After missing 74 Monday evenings, our amazing gospel choir will be getting back together. 74 weeks without our choir practices!! 74 weeks of not singing together!! 74 weeks of missing eachother!! 74 weeks!!
I’m excited to say the least. No doubt we will have A LOT of work to do as we all try and remember our parts, our words, our timing….oh dear!! Yes, a lot of work!! But as the old saying goes, ‘If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well’.
Our choir has existed for nearly ten years and in that time we have made new friends, learnt beautiful songs, performed in hospices, shops, cathedrals, churches, city centres, for special events and for fundraisers. It’s been a lot of hard work for every one of us. And it’s been worth it!
The Bible says, ‘Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others.’
Tomorrow night is choir night!! And I can’t wait to get back!! It’s going to be a lot of hard work for us all….but it’s SO worth it!!!
But if we take that verse seriously and put our heart and soul in to every single thing we do, (not just choir practice!!!) as if doing it for the Lord himself, we will see the benefits. Better relationships, better productivity, peace of mind, satisfaction, good relationships, sense of achievement….It’s worth the effort!
Have a very lovely day today everybody, remember to give your best in everything you do. And choir, we meet again tomorrow for a lot of laughter, encouragement, tears…and hard work!!!…Oh Happy Day!!!
September '21 Sunrises
'You Only Live Twice' - 30/09/21
You only live twice: Once when you are born And once when you look death in the face.”
Ian Fleming, You Only Live Twice
Ian Flemings James Bond books and films are the stuff of legend. I am sure we have all seen at least one film, and may have even read the books. At the moment the news is full of the latest Bond film premiere.
The plots follow similar lines. The typically British secret agent saves the world in superhero fashion. He often looks death in the face several times within the course of the book/film, but just about escapes to kiss the girl and make everything ok again.
This quote puts forward the idea that you can only live when you have faced the possibility of not living. To understood the value of life and to be prepared to give it up is to be ‘born again’ and live twice.
Now you might not equate James Bond and Jesus in the same sentence, but the Bible records Jesus saying something very similar to his followers:
Matthew 16:24-25
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways. For if you choose self-sacrifice and lose your lives for my glory, you will continually discover true life.
This is really hard teaching from Jesus, until we remember that he loves us so much that he gave up everything for us
Philippians 2:6-8
Jesus existed in the form God, yet he gave no thought to seizing equality with God as his supreme prize. Instead he emptied himself of his outward glory by reducing himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human! He humbled himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in his death—a criminal’s death by crucifixion!
Jesus gave up his own life, so that we could have a way back to God, and he beat death and became alive again to give us hope for the future.
Jesus really did live twice, and he did it to offer us a new life with God in it with us. He doesn’t promise us that life will be perfect, but that our lives will be filled with his wonderful love. Lets follow him today and like Jesus, live twice.
'Tough Times' - 29/09/21
Last weekend a lot of things happened that I really didn’t expect or enjoy. Problems appeared that were difficult to resolve. And by Monday morning I felt battered and exhausted and hurt.
Have you had those days? Or weeks? Or months? They’re painful times aren’t they? And with no apparent answers.
David was having a really rough time when he wrote the 23rd Psalm. He didn’t have answers to his problems either. But he knew a God who did. He wrote these beautiful and familiar words,
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
I still have no answers for the problems faced. I still feel hurt and confused. But I do have peace. And I know I’m not alone.
If you are facing trials and tests, problems and hurts, then know you’re not alone. May God make His presence known to you, may you sense His perfect peace and may He grant you the wisdom, courage and strength to face the day.
'The Missing Nut' - 27/09/21
Those of you who have been reading Sunrises regularly may remember Edward, a very friendly little squirrel that visits our garden. We haven’t seen so much of him during the summer but we were regularly reminded of him as we worked out in the garden and would often come across buried nuts – all of which were carefully put back where we found them so as not to diminish his food supply (apart from the acorns that had actually started to grow!). But in the last couple of weeks Edward has been a regular visitor again and has amused me as I watch him scurrying around the garden, digging little holes here and there looking for the nuggets of treasure that he has stored away.
To be honest, I don’t think he actually has a system by which he hides his supply – it seems pretty much to be a hit and miss game of seek and find as he appears to anxiously search out every last nut that he knows is somewhere, if only he could just find it.
It reminded me of a story that Jesus told in the Bible: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”
But God is not so haphazard as Edward, it’s not so much a case of having lost where He put one of His sheep as one of His sheep has wandered away. Do you know how precious you are to God? Are you aware of the rejoicing and celebration that takes place in Heaven when you agree to follow Him? If you are feeling distant from God, let me reassure you that He hasn’t gone anywhere but perhaps the path that you have taken has moved you away from Him. God is actively seeking you out and wanting to bring you safely into His family. He doesn’t want a single one of us to be lost or struggling to find our way home; He is waiting on you to call out to Him so that He can bring you safely back into His care. To put it in Edward’s terms – you are quite simply the missing nut that he is never going to give up searching for!
Whatever today may bring, whether sadness or celebration, tears or laughter, God wants you to face the day knowing that you are safe in His presence, walking each day in His care and with the support of His community. If God is seemingly far away today, simply call out to Him and He’ll come and get you.
'Waiting for the Sheriff' - 26/09/21
Some time ago I received a phone call from the Sheriff’s County Court in Alabama. It was a deep American accent and I was told I had to attend a court hearing or pay the fee. I asked them what the court hearing was about, he said he couldn’t discuss that with me. I told them I couldn’t attend because I was in Melling! He didn’t accept that excuse! Then I had an idea, ‘Do you want to join our choir?’ There was a moment of silence which I took advantage of....‘They’re the best choir in the world and on top of that they are the kindest, most wonderful people in the world. You’d be made so welcome! And...’ He hung up!
I drove through Alabama about 20 years ago but I haven’t been since. I was intrigued to know what I’d done!
After that calI, I received several voicemails asking for me to deposit money. I did the dutiful thing and deleted the messages. The Sheriff is going to have to come and get me.
Since that call, I have been thinking so much about what kind of person chooses to benefit from other peoples hurt and fear, bank balance and vulnerability. Are they desperate? Vengeful? Were they brought up encouraged to cheat and abuse people’s trust? Do they some how believe it’s just fair game? Plain old uncaring and vile? Whatever their past, whatever their motives, scamming is wrong! Completely unacceptable! And can cause so much pain. But the scammer is not beyond God’s love. He loves the scammer. He hates the scam. I’m no scammer, I wouldn’t dream of doing that, nor would I murder or steal....but I have messed up. Many times. Wrong thoughts. Wrong words. Wrong actions. As I sit surrounded by my girls and black Labrador, I’ve been spending some time thanking God for not giving up on me. Time and time again I’ve experienced God’s grace, His forgiveness, His love. And when I mess up again, I experience them all over again.
Lamentations 3:22-23 says, ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is His faithfulness’.
So, today I get up, get dressed, and thank God for His new mercies and great faithfulness....and wait for the Sheriff.
'What A Friend' - 25/09/21
This week I was back in my work office for the first time in 18 months. It was a strange feeling, as in some ways it felt normal but in other ways it did feel strange. It was familiar yet different. It seemed like the same roadworks were still there, but in a slightly different place and had multiplied. What had they been doing for the last 18 months? What was good was to see some of my colleagues again and see them for real not on a screen.
I also bumped into another friend I had not seen for some time and it was great to greet them with a smile and a hug, to catchup on what has been happening with him and his family.
What I find interesting is how quickly it becomes familiar. When we return to doing something we were used to doing, it feels a little odd but we soon restore those friendships and the separation is soon forgotten.
It’s the proverbial “riding a bike”, once learned never forgotten. True friendship is not something that is easily lost and, even though parted, it remains strong and is rebuilt as we meet up and talk to each other.
There is a popular Christian hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus”, being a Christian involves being in a close friendship with Jesus. That includes talking to each other, trusting each other and not forgetting that closeness even though we are apart. Our relationship with Jesus is based on this love and trust. In the Bible, the book of John includes these words
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you”
As we re-connect with our friends and restore that closeness, let’s remember that Jesus knows and loves us better than anyone and if we choose to re-connect with him, his love will be with us.
'A Common Purpose' - 24/09/21
One of the advantages of having children, or grandchildren, is that they provide you with an excuse to revisit some of your favourite childhood memories. This week, I have been able to spend time, “deep in the hundred-acre wood, where Christopher Robin plays”. I found, “the enchanted neighbourhood of Christopher’s childhood days”. I was reminded that, “a donkey named Eeyore is his friend, and Kanga and little Roo. There’s Rabbit and Piglet and there’s Owl, but most of all Winnie the Pooh”. I’m hoping the purists will forgive my use of the Disney lyrics, but it’s a shorthand way of setting the scene. I am of course referring to the timeless A. A. Milne classic, Winnie the Pooh. You will notice that I didn’t use the term, children’s classic. That is chiefly because the stories have something to offer every generation. The wonderful characters reflect a broad spectrum of humanity, all be it an anthropomorphised version.
Pooh himself is, “a bear of very little brain”. A simple, innocent, honey obsessed bundle of fur, who ambles though life enjoying whatever comes his way. Eeyore is the donkey with the gloomy outlook and sarcastic wit. Kanga is the archetypal maternal figure, who looks after not only her little baby, Roo, but everybody else as well. Rabbit is the know-it-all who is generally thwarted in his attempts at maintaining order by the calamitous behaviour of the rest of the group. Piglet is the timid, nervous companion of Pooh, who is regularly caught up in Pooh’s misadventures and Owl is the blustery, would be intellectual, who is usually guilty of misunderstanding whatever is going on around him.
They all have different personalities and idiosyncrasies, but they have one thing in common. They all take time to help each other, whatever the situation. They are a diverse and caring community. They are a model of what a group of individuals can achieve when they come together with a common purpose and a tolerance of each other's foibles.
I’m reminded of the Melling Community Project, not that I am suggesting that any of you are like a bear with very little brain, but simply that the individuals that make up the community are as diverse as the denizens of the hundred-acre wood. My experience is that helping each other has been a core feature of the community and I have not come across any examples of intolerance. That just leaves the common purpose... which is, of course, that Jesus is at the centre of all we do.
The Apostle Paul sums it up in his letter to the church at Philippi, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others”.
So, whether we are an Eeyore, a Kanga, a Rabbit, a Piglet, an Owl or a Pooh, we know that our differences are all accepted by Jesus and that He gives us all our common purpose.
'Just A Cup Of Coffee' - 22/09/21
I absolutely love coffee! When I say coffee I do mean the proper, filtered coffee. I’m afraid a jar of instant just doesn’t do anything for me! It’s got to be strong and not burnt, oh and with hot milk, if I’m having milk! I wake up every morning very grateful that God made the coffee bean! If you ever come over to our house, (and you’re very welcome!) I’ll be delighted to make you a very good cup of coffee, or a decidedly average cup of tea!
Yesterday I woke up to no coffee. It was a tense moment! It was stressful! Tea just doesn’t do it for me first thing in the morning.
I was reminded of caffè sospeso. It’s Italian for ‘suspended coffee’. Over a hundred years ago in the working class areas in Naples the practice of caffè sospeso was born. If someone was fortunate enough to have a little bit of spare change one day, they would go into their little local coffee shop, pay for two coffees but only take one. If someone was unable to buy themselves a much-needed coffee that day, they could go into the shop and ask for a ‘caffè sospeso’, This practice of paying for two and taking one, was a simple act of anonymous charity. And a much appreciated one. In recent years I’ve heard that this practice is not so popular anymore. I’m not sure why, maybe for financial reasons, maybe there’s less of a community spirit now. I don’t know. But it seems a shame.
As far as I know, Jesus didn’t make any hard and fast rules about a cup of coffee, but He did have something to say about our attitude....
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them”.
Paul, some years after Jesus said,
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus...”
A simple cup of coffee provided for someone who couldn’t afford it, was a beautiful gift. But why should we stop at coffee? We all have gifts and skills to offer. Things that maybe we take for granted and think little of, but to someone else they could be an enormous blessing.
I eventually got my coffee yesterday! And it was wonderful! And so was the chat I had with the lady serving me in the shop. She’d had a long, difficult day. But she was so very lovely. I was encouraged by our conversation. I hope she was too. We have no idea what our words and actions do for others. May God encourage us to treat others as we would like to be treated. We will all be blessed!
'Something Better' - 21/09/21
I read about a mum who walked into the lounge to find her seven year old son and five year old daughter watching a news report about a nasty and frightening event. She grabbed the remote and changed channels and told her children in a gruff voice, 'You shouldn't watch nasty stuff like that, find something better.' Later that day after the evening meal, the children were pottering upstairs while mum and dad settled down to catch up with the day’s news. Along came the report
about the nasty event. While they were watching, the door burst open and in charged the stroppy five years old. She grabbed the remote, stood in front of the screen and said in her best mum's voice, 'You shouldn't watch nasty stuff like that, find something better' She pressed a button on the remote and walked out leaving her shocked parents gazing at Gardeners World. Adults (we tell ourselves) are better able to process the news than our children or grandchildren. We got to the stage in our house, if we had grandchildren staying, that we would censor even the lunch time news because there was so much depressing, and sometimes violent content. The behaviour of the little five year old mimicking her mum makes us smile, but hopefully makes us stop and think too. We like to think that adults can cope with whatever the news channels throw at us, but what is broadcast for our consumption across all news channels is almost universally bad news. Depressing news. Scary news. If that is our daily diet of viewing, it will eventually lead us to believe that reality itself has nothing to offer but depression. We are surrounded by daily miracles, but we so often take them for granted. Come on folks, we can do better than this, where’s that remote, let’s flip channels and hear God’s news for a change.
‘God showed His love for us by sending His only Son into the world, so
that we might have life through Him. This is what love is: it is not that
we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the
means by which our sins are forgiven.’
”Have you heard the news?” “Yes I have, and it’s all good.” Where’s that remote. Thank you little girl.
'Armour' - 20/09/21
“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”
Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers
The Pickwick Papers was Charles Dickens' first novel. Its about Samuel Pickwick, and three other members of the Pickwick club, who make journeys to places remote from London and report on their findings.
This quote made me think. I wouldn’t describe a philosopher as a soldier, or someone who would wear armour, but I would perhaps them describes as being ‘armed with knowledge’. Maybe Charles Dickens believes that a philosopher would be a good person to be on your side in a debate, or argument, or a battle of wits?
It occurred to me that the word armour can be used to describe many types of protective layers. An insect’s shell is its armour, its protection against being squashed by the world. Some people would even describe make up as a type of armour, protecting your face from the world and hiding your real features underneath foundation and blender.
The bible describes a type of protection as armour as well. It describes how we can use our faith and trust in God to help and protect us when things get really tough.
Ephesians 6
God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything He has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best matter. Be prepared. Take all the help you can get, every bit of armour God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is indispensable. In the same way, prayer is essential. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
God knows that life isn’t always easy or straightforward, but he provides us with all sorts of tools to help us keep going. The truth that God loves you and will never stop loving you, the peace of mind that God can be trusted, and the knowledge that Jesus died for you so you could have a way back to God. These are described as armour for life. Knowledge to enable you to stand up when the world tells you that you are not good enough, or that you are not worth it and tell the truth of Gods love.
Don’t let the world get you down today, stand with the protective armour of these words around you and know that you are loved by an amazing God.
'Missed The Goal' - 19/09/21
I was going to photograph our football team in their second match; they didn’t score in the first one and I wanted to record the first goal in their history. But I was late (my fault), very late, so I needed to get a move on. My satnav said it gave me the fastest route, but I don’t believe that. I became very agitated within minutes of starting out; we crossed dozens of very large junctions, followed hundreds of L drivers, got stuck behind more coaches, lorries, dozy taxis, and blokes on bikes than I have seen all week. Every traffic light turned red as I approached, and I was followed by at least ten police cars; I’d lose one only to collect another one! I may have exaggerated a little but the journey seemed designed to wreck my mental health. It’s taken six hours for me to calm down and I deeply regret not recording our team’s first goal. Or the second. Or the third! I cannot possibly be content with my performance and failure today. It’s funny how things get out of perspective; this was a football match between two church teams with absolutely no spectators, but I still can’t sleep peacefully tonight. Driving home I was reminded of the Apostle Paul who wrote this, “I’ve worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I’ve been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, and stoned once. I’ve been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a day and a night…..I’ve been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers.” There’s more like this if you want to read it in 2 Corinthians Chapter 11. This is the man who also wrote, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” This puts my trials today into perspective, maybe I should calm down and learn to thank God for His blessings and protection. This past month could have been very trying for you and you may still have issues that you do not want, but please remember that despite his situation, Paul could still find peace and contentment because he trusted the God who loved him. I think I will sleep soundly tonight; I pray that you will too.
'Stepping Out' - 18/09/21
“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is set in Middle-earth, where the Dark Lord Sauron, has created the One Ring to rule over all, and the hobbits, along with a company of Dwarves, elves, men and a Wizard, set out to save Middle earth.
This quote really resonates with me this week, as whilst you are reading this sunrise, I will be heading off on a journey to take my daughter off to university for the first time. This truly is a new adventure for her. New people, new city, new adventures. And of course, it will be new for us, as we get used to living without her in term time.
Emotions for both of us are a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Excitement at all the great adventures that will happen, but nervousness at the new things and people to get used to. These are very understandable emotions for anyone taking on something new.
I am sure we have all had first day nerves at some point. New job, new house, new school. On my first day in my present job, I bought a new pencil skirt to make a good impression. All went well until, whilst getting out of the car on the way into the office, I realised how tight it was when I split the skirt several inches up the back! I had to quickly run in and introduce myself by asking if anyone had a needle and thread! It was an interesting way to make a first impression!
Thankfully as part of Gods wonderful family, we don’t have to have any adventures on our own. The bible reminds us that God loves us and is with us wherever we are, or whatever we are doing.
Isaiah 41:12-13
I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go. I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic. I’m right here to help you.’
Whatever new adventures you have today, whether they are good or not so good, planned or not, know that God is right there with you, holding your hand and seeing you through. Take time to talk to him today and tell him how you are feeling. Be still and know God’s peace.
'Time Well Spent' - 17/09/21
When Tom Hanks won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Philadelphia, he gave one of the best received Oscar acceptance speeches of all time. In the movie, Hanks played the role of Andrew Beckett, a young gay man dying of AIDS. His speech, like his performance in the film, was both moving and memorable. Yes, he remembered to thank all the important people in his life and those who had made the film possible, blah, blah, blah, but then he spoke about the thousands of people who had been lost to the AIDS epidemic, “They finally rest in the warm embrace of the gracious creator of us all. A healing embrace that cools their fevers, that clears their skin, and allows their eyes to see the simple, self-evident, common sense truth that is made manifest by the benevolent creator of us all and was written down on paper by wise men, tolerant men, in the city of Philadelphia two hundred years ago”.
When asked why he had used his speech to highlight the plight of AIDS victims, he stated that it seemed to him that to waste the opportunity to say something meaningful when given the chance to speak to so many people, would be criminal. He wanted to use the time well.
Now, most of us will never have the opportunity to give an Oscar acceptance speech, but all of us have the opportunity to talk to people on a regular basis. So, what are we going to say? Well, dear reader, I am given the opportunity to, “talk” to you every week and, just like Tom Hanks, who began his speech, “Here’s what I know...” I try to convey to you what I know. Yes, each week, “what I know” is expressed differently, but the core of what I have to tell you never changes; God loves you. At the heart of everything is that one simple fact; God loves you. It is best summed up by the passage of scripture that I most often quote; “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”.
Now, obviously I have an advantage, in that I get to write a little missive each week and therefore have a platform from which to pass on, “what I know”. That said, the Bible tells us that we all must take such opportunities as present themselves to share what we know, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have”. So, take a leaf out of Tom Hanks’ book, get your speech ready and tell people what you know. It will be time well spent
'Still Talking About Him' - 16/09/21
Some of you may have seen the last day for a BBC Breakfast presenter after 20 years as a news presenter, it seemed to me that a lot of people had found her smile, determination and gentleness a reassuring approach to sharing news stories, helping the guests and audience to feel at ease.
In seeing this, I did think about how would people see my dealings with people over the last 20 years. How would my family consider me over those years? How would my friends think of me? How would my colleagues think of me? Would those opinions differ or would there be a common theme.
Then I also thought about some of our young people, growing up and beginning to make their own mark, what have they learnt from us and how would they be seen as they become adults. As they move through education and start their working lives. It is also becoming much more common not to do the same type of work through your working lives and to change careers a number of times, so doing the same type of work for 20 years is quite different.
There has been such an impact from the stories of Jesus that still affect today’s world and his stories only covered a few years. Yet people will still talk about the impact he has had, his love and gentleness, his understanding and compassion, his sacrifice. We are reminded in the bible that
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.”
“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
Lets remember how Jesus can bring us a sense of ease and peace, an empathy, compassion and love that we can also share with others.
'Alexa! Please Stop!' - 15/09/21
Me and my four chicks live in a very noisy household. We all love music and keep Alexa very busy! Even Louis, my black Labrador, will join in with great enthusiasm the moment he hears a harmonica! Noise, noise, noise!!! I have to admit, I love it! Most of the time! We go from Billy Joel, to Les Miserables, to Frank Sinatra, a bit of Paloma Faith, or Charlie Puth, oh and then there’s Meghan Trainor, maybe the odd Don Williams song, what about The Everly Brothers....don’t you just love their harmonies?! And let’s not forget the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir! Their version of How Great Thou Art is coming to an event near you....just as soon as the choir have conquered our Christmas music! We love music! Of pretty much every kind. Alexa keeps VERY busy! But some days, just occasionally, I’d love there to be no noise! Occasionally Alexa gets a few hours off. And there’s silence in the house....but still there can be noise! Not from Alexa, or my chicks, or Louis, or my very busy phone, but in my head! Do you know what I mean? A million thoughts going round your head that makes it almost impossible to hear anything clearly! A traffic jam of thoughts, worries, stresses, more thoughts, ‘what ifs’, busyness, loneliness.....You don’t have to live with four chicks and a big dog for there to be noise in your head. Sometimes silence can be the most deafening of all. Your external circumstances may look wonderful and calm and beautiful.....but maybe you’re screaming inside for some peace? God said these words in the Bible, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’. He wasn’t saying, ‘stop all the music, everybody shut up, nobody speak’. Nor was He saying, ‘I’m going to explain everything to you and tell you just what I’m going to do next’. No. He was saying in the midst of the deafening silence, the excruciating loneliness, the constant music, the relentless ‘To Do’ list....’I am God. Trust me. Allow me to walk with you. Know my peace.’ My home will never be quiet. And I love that. But to know peace in the midst of a bit of Status Quo....it’s a gift from God!
'Thankfulness' - 14/09/21
For those who were able to join us last Sunday, we gathered together and spent a wonderful afternoon enjoying good food and good company. But this wasn’t simply our normal Sunday gathering, this was our harvest celebration. Traditionally the harvest celebration was only held when the last of the crops had been gathered in and the work was done. Everyone within a community would be involved in the process one way or another from cutting and digging to gathering and gleaning and storing; the work brought men, women and children together as they prepared for the forthcoming season of winter. It was literally a matter of life or death as to whether the food they had managed to grow and harvest would be enough to get them through the long winter months.
With modern technology and travel we are far less dependent on the seasons but we should be careful that we don’t become complacent and take for granted the food and provisions that God has given to us.
There is no doubt that sometimes the days can seem dark and just too difficult but in Psalm 100 we read these words: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” It doesn’t say simply to give thanks when all is well, or perhaps when you are in a good mood or have had a good day – regardless of any of those things, we’re told to give thanks and make a joyful noise! I don’t pretend that it’s easy to do, and I don’t pretend that I always manage to do it, but I can say that whenever I do it I can’t help but begin to feel brighter simply because I am taking the time to remind myself of all of the wonderful things that I have been blessed with.
As we gathered last Sunday, we hadn’t completed our harvesting, we hadn’t gleaned the fields and stored the food for the winter, but we were still able to give thanks to a gracious, loving God for his provisions over the last 12 months. Of course we can give thanks for our food but let’s also remember to give thanks for the gift of a caring community – the gift of laughter whether over Zoom or in person, the gift of a bunch of flowers on a doorstep or the gift of a phone call simply to see if someone is ok. This harvest, amongst the many things that we have to be grateful for, let’s give thanks for the wonderful, crazy, joyful and caring people that make up Melling Baptist Community Hub. As the Apostle Paul put it “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God”.
'Who Do You Think You Are?' - 13/09/21
On Sunday I had a wonderful conversation with some family members and one of my nieces who is attempting to put together our family tree. Apart from her amusement at discovering people’s middle names and the confusion of working out who was married to who and how the various relationships could be shown on a family tree, it was a lovely opportunity to take a trip down memory lane. As we began to speak of relatives who are no longer with us we also shared stories of times we spent with them, of places we have been, homes we lived in and the inevitable horror as my niece discovered that toilets weren’t always to be found indoors! As we chatted though, it occurred to me how much our ancestry matters to us. To be able to remember the people that have gone before us, the people who have influenced us and to one degree or another (for better or for worse) have made us who we are. We may have personality traits that we have inherited – “Oh you are as stubborn as your mother!” or “you have a gentle nature, just like your grandfather”. Or we may have simply made a decision to imitate someone we have loved and respected; perhaps they taught us how to be a better person. Either way, I know I have much to be grateful for as I recognise the positive influence that others have had on me, not least of all because I was raised by a family who instilled in me not just to imitate the good character of good people, but to try a little harder each day to imitate the love of God. In Ephesians we read this: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ”I can never hope to display the perfect love of God – at least not in this life – but I can keep trying. Each day I can get up and commit to try again and when I fall short, which I inevitably do, I can pick myself up and try again. We have a perfect role model, someone who is truly worth imitating and the more time I spend with God the more I learn how I can be more like him. Our ancestry matters because the people who have gone before us have helped to shape us into who we are – but that is only a part of the story; our ancestry matters because we are children of God and there is no one better to shape us into the people we are yet to be.
'Not My Fault' - 12/09/21
I was sitting in the garden reading and drinking tea. Birds were tweeting and there was a gentle wind rustling in the trees. Perfection reigned; for a while. Then it started; crash bang wallop; the lovely neighbours next door had decided to knock a shed down. You don’t need me to tell you that sheds don’t go quietly. My book required concentration so I kept going. My neighbours on the other side heard the shed demolition and thought that as the silence had been blown away, it wouldn’t be a problem if they chopped their tree down. Stereo destruction! Frustrated, I retreated indoors. My peace was wiped out and it wasn’t my fault.
I’d had a good day; the client was pleased, even promised to pay me. The M60 was busy with everyone homeward bound so it was normal occasionally to sit in stationary traffic four lanes wide. The radio was off, the windows closed and everything including me was calm. The driver in the huge lorry was reading his phone messages up to the time he wiped out six cars, one of them mine. We brought four lanes to a halt for two hours, we had six ambulances, five police cars and a fire engine. The violence of the crash was colossal and the noise was indescribable. Peace disappeared in a flash and it wasn’t my fault.
We all know people who have been asking for trouble for years, so when it turns up, the most common response is, “They should have known that would happen, it’s their own fault.” Now what about us, we don’t go looking for trouble do we? But it turns up anyway! And it’s not our fault. Life can be very unfair.
A man called Asaph who wrote some of the Psalms in the Bible struggled when he saw arrogant and nasty people succeeding in life when he found life tough. He complained to God about the unfairness he could see around him, “They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else...These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! Look at these wicked people enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.” By the end of the Psalm he realised that what he had was so much better than wealth, health, or power. “My health may fail, and my spirit grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever...I still belong to You; You hold my right hand”
Many of our pains in life are not our fault and they are not reduced by envying people who are sailing along. But if can trust in God’s love He will walk with us and give us His peace. And nothing can wipe that out.
'The Lord is My Shepherd' - 11/09/21
One of the great things about Sunrise, is time to stop and think. I have found that’s even more so when writing it down. Life can be busy and cluttered, with friends and family, with work or school, with planning out your week, with worrying about your week, filling the quiet with TV or radio.
Sometimes its good to find quiet, to connect with the beautiful world around you, whether that’s your garden, your family and neighbours, the countryside, and to think about where God has been with you. As we bustle through our week, its far too easy to not see how God has been there. Some people will find a time to stop everyday, others may do it once a week and some will also have a “retreat” break, taking time out from ‘normal’ life removing the interruptions and thinking about how God has been there and how we wants to help us in the future.
There is a well known passage in the bible which tells us all about this and we should remember what this means to us, in Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness[ for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever
Take some time today, to sit and think and remember Gods goodness.
'Plennie Lawrence Bingo' - 10/09/21
Few people have heard of Plennie Lawrence Wingo and yet he did something quite remarkable... bonkers, but remarkable. On April 15th 1931, he set off from Santa Monica, California to walk around the world... backwards. On October 24th 1932 he finally stopped. He didn’t manage to walk all the way around the world, but he covered some 8,000 miles. Having walked to New York, he sought passage on a ship to Germany, from where he walked across Europe, before finally stopping at Instanbul.
Plennie didn’t do it to set any records, although he still holds the Guinness world record for, “the greatest extent of reverse pedestrianism”. He did it because he hoped to make some money from his efforts. He had found himself out of work during the great depression and thought that people might pay to see him perform such a stupendous feat. In truth he returned home from his travels with just $4 to his name... and was only able to return to the United States at all because a wealthy Italian paid his fare back to Santa Monica – from where he walked home to Abilene, Texas... backwards of course.
I feel a little sorry for poor old Plennie. He walked 8,000 miles backwards across three continents and returned home to his wife and children eighteen months later with $4 in his pocket. Imagine their delight. Captain Tom (Captain Sir Thomas Moore) walked one hundred lengths of his garden and made more than £30 million for charity, had a number one record, became the hero of a nation and was knighted as a result.
You see, it’s not always what you do, it’s why you’re doing it and who you are doing it for that counts.
The wonderful Captain Tom wanted to show his appreciation for the NHS and the marvellous job they were doing during the pandemic. So, what did he do? Well, he did what he could. At ninety-nine years of age, walking one hundred lengths of your garden is not as simple as it might sound, but he knew it was something that he could probably achieve and so he set about it, determined to do his bit. Whether it was the NHS charity that is now £30 million pounds better off than it was, or just those of us whose spirits were lifted by his endeavour during those dark early days of the Covid 19 outbreak, Captain Tom touched the lives of many more people than he ever thought possible when he took that first shuffling step.
All of us have things that we can do. All of us can do our bit, but sometimes we think that what we have to offer is not good enough... it’s not as good as the thing that somebody else has done... it won’t make a difference. That is simply not true. We all have something to offer. God designed it that way. “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully”. So, be encouraged. Just like Captain Tom, you just need to do your bit. You never know what it might be, or where it might lead, but your little bit, given in the service of a great and wonderful God, will have a greater impact than you might think.
'God Knows It All' - 09/09/21
"The whole of life is just like watching a film. Only it's as though you always get in ten minutes after the big picture has started, and no-one will tell you the plot, so you have to work it out all yourself from the clues.”
Terry Pratchett, Moving Pictures
Moving Pictures is a fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett about the Discworld. In this the tenth book, the alchemists of the Discworld have invented moving pictures, which seems very exciting, but in this word, it alters the structure of reality and life imitates film, until things are set right.
Whilst I am very glad that in real life films do not have the ability to change the fabric of time and reality, I can relate to this quote all too easily.
My life at the moment is pretty hectic, as I am sure it is for many people. I often enter a room and a conversation and it takes me a few minutes to work out what is going on, and then the conversation has moved onto something else!
In our house there are often several things that have to be done all at once, so there are times when the wrong thing gets done for the wrong person, the outfits that are needed urgently are to be found languishing at the bottom of the washing basket, and someone has always forgotten to buy the milk!!
When life gets a little confusing or overwhelming, I am really glad that God never gets confused or overwhelmed.
Psalm 139 reminds us that God knows us inside out and he loves us:
I’m an open book to you God; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back, I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too, your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful, I can’t take it all in!
Let’s take time today to thank God that even when we are not sure what is going on, we can be reassured that we are never out of Gods sight, and he has everything under control.
'In the Hands of the Master' - 08/09/21
Have you ever wondered what makes a masterpiece a masterpiece?
There is a story that one day the artist Pablo Picasso was in a park when a woman asked him if he would do a portrait of her. He agreed and set about drawing the woman. When he had finished and handed over the artwork, the women was stunned and delighted with the resemblance that he had captured. She asked him how much she owed him for the drawing, to which he replied “$5,000”. She was horrified and said “but it only took you 5 minutes!” his reply was simple – “No, mam. It took me all my life.”
Picasso showed talent from a very early age and his father, a painter and professor of art, recognised this and began to formally train him from the age of 7. By the age of 13 he was accepted as a student at the School of Fine Arts in Barcelona and continued his studies in Madrid at the age of 16 where he spent a great deal of his time in art galleries carefully studying masterpieces and developing his own style of art. The portrait that he produced for the woman may have only taken 5 minutes of pen on paper time, but the image created was an accumulation of a lifetime’s work.
In Ephesians ch 2 v 10 it says “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”.
None of us are the same as we were when we were children, we have grown and changed physically but we’ve also grown and changed in character, abilities and knowledge – we are, and ultimately will be, the accumulation of a lifetime’s work.
I looked up the definition of ‘masterpiece’ and it said that it is a work of outstanding artistry; the work of an acknowledged master. Masterpieces don’t come from nowhere, they are carefully crafted and created; they are the product of skill, devotion and love. The master commits to the subject and the canvas submits itself to the skilled hand of the master. The question is, which master do you submit to?
Way back at the beginning of time Genesis tells us that when God had finished creating the world, the birds, the trees, the animals and humanity, he paused and “looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” I may not seem very special and I’m definitely a work in progress – it’s a work that will take all of my life, but when I submit to the hands of God the Master I have the potential to become one of His masterpieces. They say that ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ – well, when God looks at us, does he see the beauty of his creation? Does he recognise the work of his hands?
I choose to submit to the hands of God the Master. Who will you choose to be your master?
'Mamma Mia!' - 07/09/21
Exciting News!!! Abba have re-formed! In the midst of all of the depressing and deeply saddening news of the last week came the joyous news that the members of Abba were reuniting in order to bring out a new album. I quite appreciate that you may be reading this thinking ‘but I’m not a big fan’, but the fact is that there are many, many people who are and testament to that is the speed at which their concert tickets are selling. But here’s the interesting thing – the band members won’t actually be at their own concerts. By the wonders of modern technology the group – all now in their 70’s - are being recorded and then transformed back in time to their twenty-something selves of the 1970’s. What fans will actually see will be some kind of computer enhanced hologram. Now I could do with a bit of that! How good it would be to press a few buttons and have the grey hairs disappear; the wrinkles around my eyes (that I insist are laughter-lines) would be smoothed and the trim waist of my youth returned. That sounds wonderful – to stand up without hearing the sound of creaking knees and to save a fortune on unnecessary hair colour!
But it is important not to forget the advantages that come with age. In the book of Proverbs we read: “The glory of the young is their strength, the grey hair of experience is the splendour of the old”. There is a saying that says ‘youth is wasted on the young’, which implies that it is the wisdom gained through experience that causes us to look back and realise how we spent our youth worrying about things that didn’t need worrying about or doing things that weren’t good for us.
Life changes as we get older and work our way through the various phases of life, but that doesn’t mean we become less important or able. The lessons and wisdom gained from our experiences are for sharing with the next generation – our usefulness simply changes its form.
The Psalmist put it like this: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’”
We cannot stop time, we can hide the grey hair but we can’t stop it reappearing – but none of that makes us less valuable in the eyes of God. There is no need to pretend to be something that we are not; there is no need to try and become a computer enhanced version of who we are – what God wants more than anything is that we come as we are, with all of our experiences and all of our brokenness and all of the wisdom we have gleaned on our journey so far.
I see the strength of the youth, now I’m going to show them the splendid grey hair of experience!
'Time to Climb a Hill' - 06/09/21
I’m giving my bike away after using it for many years for little local trips, and allowing it to collect rust and spiders webs in the shed. It was given to me by someone who wanted a better bike and needed space to keep it in. Now I’m passing it on to someone who is learning bicycle maintenance and would like to ride it when it’s been restored to road-worthy condition. So this collection of metal parts will have a new life and could go on for years. Who knows, it may even be passed on again. I still dream of winning the Tour de France; however if I’m honest I probably won’t do better than 3rd or 4th at this stage of my life. My passion for cycling started when I was about eleven and was boosted significantly when my dad bought me a beautiful touring bike. With my best mate we headed for the hills. We toured North Wales, the Lake District, then headed south from Bristol train station and toured all the way through Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall down to Lands End. That bike served me wonderfully and I loved it, but everything has its day, and my bike was no different so I kissed it goodbye. The world of work took over, so I never went hill climbing again. But I still dream!
When he was speaking to people in Antioch 2,000 years ago, the Apostle Paul said this, “When David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep and was buried.” This reminds us very forcefully that God provides us with a specific amount of time and allows us the freedom to decide how we spend it. But when its gone, its gone! I have a birthday coming up and I find myself asking how I have used the time given to me by God. I tell myself I could have done better. Much better! But I’m still here, and so are you and another week beckons us. Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves what God wants us to do in the coming days. Let’s imitate my beautiful bike, accept the challenge and climb some hills. There’s a great view at the top.
'The Girl With the Dragonfly Tattoo' - 05/09/21
That’s me! It was about 8 years ago when I found myself in a tattoo studio in Liverpool, at the mercy of the loveliest hairy biker I’ve ever met! We chatted and laughed as he carefully created an everlasting dragonfly on my back!
Dragonflies are such beautiful creatures! Their colours and delicate shape are just amazing! But they weren’t always like that. In the ‘baby’ phase they are wingless bugs. Living under the water, wallowing in the mud, and eating most things that come their way! Hardly beautiful! And that phase can go on for up to 2 years! In the mud!! And then, one day, DA-DAAAAH!...
Wings! Colours! Flight! That’s SUCH a good day!! And everything about them seems excited and happy!
Dragonflies can fly at speeds of nearly 60 miles an hour! They can hover like a helicopter, fly forwards, backwards, up and down, they catch their food in mid flight and mate in mid flight! Now there’s a talent!!!
But they’re not without their struggles and threats. Global warming is threatening their existence, and birds, spiders and frogs love to snack on them! Life isn’t easy for the dragonfly but when I look at one I can’t help but believe that it’s loving life and living life.
Our days can be fraught with problems and worries and difficulties, all very real, that in some way or other, threaten us, distract us, drain us. David, in the Bible, was no stranger to struggles and worries and real life threatening situations, and it was during such a time that he wrote these words, ‘This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it’. He wasn’t ignoring his problems but he was choosing to get the best out of his day. Recognising each day as a gift from God, and choosing to be thankful. If dragonflies had a favourite Bible verse, I think they’d choose that one! And if David has to be an insect, I think he’d opt for a dragonfly! I love my tattoo, and whatever is going on in my world, my dragonfly is a constant reminder to be real and to be thankful and to seek the best out of my day. I’m SO glad I didn’t pick a dung beetle!
'A Personal Experience' - 04/09/21
Whilst visiting London to catch up with friends, it was great to amble around the city, seeing the sights. There are many lovely places to visit, the tourist places like the London Eye, Tower Bridge, Westminster, Trafalgar Square. There are also many green spaces and parks throughout the city and its beautiful to transition from walking through the buildings to suddenly enter a green space and forget about the hustle and bustle. There are a growing number of parakeets living wild in the parks now as well. In places, they will feed on your hands and show off their amazing colours.
In all of the busyness of the city, there are still quiet places to find. At one part of our ramblings, we wandered through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, and one of our group said “I am glad I discovered this place”, to which I reminded them that most people already knew about Hyde Park. Thinking about it later though, I realised that there are times when we hear about things so much that they can seem well known to us but until you actually experience it for yourself, you don’t actually know it. This can happen in so many aspects of our lives. Many people will have seen photos of the northern lights, but to actually experience seeing those colours in the sky is a very different experience than the photo.
So it can be with Christianity, many of us will speak of what Christianity is, what we learned at school or when we have seen others in churches. But have you really experienced Jesus in your own life? Knowing about Jesus is not the same as walking through life with him, of learning more about him each day and understanding his love more and more as you get to know him
Psalm 100:3
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
'Buongiorno a Tutti' - 03/09/21
You may remember that, eleven months ago, I mentioned that I was in the process of learning Italian. Well, it’s now been a full year of study and, whilst I am reasonably happy with my progress, I am still a long way from being fluent. I’m not too bad when it comes to the written word, but the spoken language is causing me more problems. Of course, every time I go to an Italian restaurant, I am encouraged by family members to test out my new found abilities. I am hesitant to do so, to say the least. The reason for my reticence is that I don’t think the waiter wants me to inform him that, “The girl has a blue dress”, or that, “A horse is a useful animal”, or that “My uncle’s house has a red roof”. What he wants to hear is a clear, concise request for something found on the restaurant’s menu.
Of course, the people who designed my language course want me to understand the Italian language in all its glory and complexity, so I am taught about adjectives and adverbs and conjunctives, rather than simply how to order a particular pasta dish and a glass of red wine. To some people, this would be frustrating. To some people, the seeming inability to get to the core of what they want to learn would dissuade them from persevering with the course, but to fail to take in all that the language has to offer is to miss the point.
I have to say that I have, on occasion, been guilty of missing the point when it comes to the Bible. This is a book that contains a massive amount of detail... and some of that detail seems needless, particularly in the Old Testament. There have been times when I have felt like the Italian waiter being told something he doesn’t need to know. Why is it important to know the family tree of various Biblical characters? Why do I need to know how many men of fighting age belonged to the various tribes of Israel? Is it really important to know which foods were permissible and which foods were not? Surely, all I need to know is that Jesus loves me so much that He was prepared to die for me ,“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”.
Well, yes... sort of. It is true that if you can grasp that basic fact; if you can acknowledge and accept that basic truth, then you have all you need to know to understand the fundamental tenet of Christianity.
However, to understand God’s nature in all its glory and complexity, you need to spend time reading everything you can about Him. You can’t simply skip over the detail that takes time to assimilate. You need to dig deeper. You need to spend time reading all of the Bible... and having finished reading it, you need to read it again – and again. Every time I read it; I find something new. Some gem that I missed the first time round. Some wonderful insight into God’s purpose for my life.
I have spent a year studying Italian and have barely scratched the surface. I have spent thirty years reading the Bible and can say the same. One day, I may consider that I have learned all there is to know about the wonderful language of Italy... I will never be able to say the same of the inexhaustible wonders of God’s word.
'The Stage We Are In' - 02/09/21
“All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.”
William Shakespeare, As You Like It
As you Like it is a Shakespeare comedy in which Rosalind and Orlando, along with several other people, find love, despite her uncle, the Duke, conspiring against her, and forcing her to flee into the forest and disguise herself as a boy.
This is a very famous Shakespeare quote, and last weekend I had the privilege of standing in the Globe in London hearing this play performed, and those famous words being spoken on a stage, by an actor (ironically). The actor went on to describe, with some humour, the seven ages of people, from a baby, up to an elderly stooping person. Interestingly the humour was found in describing the worst of each of the stages, and it got me thinking not about the worst of each, but the best of the stages to be thankful about:
One, a baby, and the miracle of new life
Two, a child, and the wonder of new experience and learning
Three, the teenager with the confidence and energy of youth
Four, the adult who has the enthusiasm to change the world
Five, the middle age, who has the experience to continue changing things
Six, the retirement age, with the time to invest in the next generation
Seven, the elderly, with the wisdom to pass onto others
Whilst we are all at different stages of life, we all have our different roles to play. Not many of us are full time actors, but we are all in different situations with different life experiences to bring to each one. The Bible reminds us that we are all made different for a reason, and the God has a plan and a purpose for each one of us. in Jeremiah 29, God reminds us that he has the most amazing plans for us:
For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
When Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus, he reminds them and us, that God has created us all differently as we all have different roles to fill:
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Whatever you are doing today, lets take time to ask God to inspire us and everything we do, so that we may be Jesus to everyone we meet. Even if it’s a tough day, lets hold onto the promise that God has good plans for us, and he will never leave us.
'It's the Way I See Things' - 01/09/21
A trip to an art gallery is usually a pleasant experience, something you can look forward to, anticipating seeing art that pleases and excites. Since the Tate arrived in Liverpool in May 1988, there have been a great number of exhibitions that have excited or shocked or baffled audiences. I remember one particularly mystifying modern art project using ordinary everyday items that coincided with some reconstruction work. Some of the exhibits were arranged more casually than you would expect in an art exhibition, which led to serious conversations concerning a step ladder and a builder’s shovel leaning against the wall. Was that clumsiness on the part of the workman or was it placed there for patrons to admire and understand it’s deep significance? None of us had the nerve to ask! But recently there was a display of 200 black and white photographs that were not difficult to understand but they were difficult to view. These were examples of the work of photographer Don McCullin who has spent most of his adult life recording human inhumanity around the world. There were images from Berlin and Lebanon, Vietnam and Cyprus, the Congo, N. Ireland and Biafra, not forgetting London’s East End and Liverpool during the 60’s and 70’s. Many people reading this will instantly recall events in these places and will not go out of their way to be reminded of these human catastrophes. Most of his prints have very dark tones which are in keeping with the subject, but he gave up war images for a while and began producing British landscapes, and even when the sun was clearly shining his pictures are still very dark. He comments, “It’s just the way I see things.” When you consider all the horrors he has witnessed close up, its not surprising it has had a profound effect on his outlook.
Not long after God created mankind and said it was, “Very good” we read, ‘The Lord saw how evil humans had become on the earth. All day long their deepest thoughts were nothing but evil.’ Looking at many places in God’s creation today we can imagine that He’s thinking ‘Nothing’s changed.’. But there’s good news because God has plans for the future of those who love Him and follow His Son. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new.”’ So, while we celebrate and thank God that we are spared the horror of Afghanistan and many other places in our sad world, let us also thank God that He has control over the future, and inhumanity will give way to peace and joy. And Don McCullin could go back to landscapes but print them lighter.
October '21 Sunrises
''Lights On” - 31/11/21
Throughout many countries of the world today people will be celebrating Halloween. Some will be having parties, some will be dressing up in funny costumes while others will choose the horrifying and scary ones. There’ll be knocks on the door with chants of, ‘trick or treat’ while others will be putting on the scariest film they can find, daring themselves to watch it.
It’s funny how this is now what Halloween has become. Halloween is actually ‘All Hallows Eve’, or to put it another way the eve of All Saints Day. Traditionally it’s a day of celebration and thanksgiving for all the people who have gone before us that reflected the love of God in some way.
Jesus said, ‘‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’.
Being light it’s not simply about rejecting the horrors of this world. It’s about doing our very best to reflect to Jesus. It’s refusing to tell lies, to gossip, to use cruel words that can harm and destroy, it’s about treating our fellow human beings with kindness and respect, and treating animals and our beautiful world with kindness and respect too. It’s about going the extra mile, forgiving those who’ve done us wrong, refusing jealousy and hatred and unrighteous anger. Jesus was saying, at all times and in all circumstances reflect my light.
However you choose to spend your Halloween, I choose to thank God for all the ‘light reflectors’ that have gone before us, and also each one of you and for the part you play in bringing light to our sometimes very dark world. Thankyou. Lots of love to you all
'The Budget' - 30/10/21
This week saw another budget announcement from our government, for some it’s a time of intrigue, others may worry, others won’t care. For some, it’s an opportunity to criticise or for others it’s a time to praise. For some, we sit back and see what will happen, how will we have to change our own spending to cope with the changes.
We may feel powerless about things going on around us, we can’t change it immediately, if at all, but it will most likely impact how we live our lives.
The same can be said about the climate conference in Glasgow, big decisions will hopefully be made that will lessen our impact on climate change. We can do our own little bit, we can share our opinions and thoughts, we can change how we live and do our part but others will be making those significant decisions.
As Christians, we can have our say and do so in love but also in confidence that our God is watching over us and he will be with us. We also have a hope and faith that God has plans for us, we may not know the detail but we can trust Him.
We can pray for those who can make those decisions that God will guide their conscience, for the Christians in government who can share their beliefs and values of caring for Gods world and people.
Our Melling church community has already shown how we can support and share with those around us.
Let’s continue to support those around us but also pray for those who are in government who need to make those big decisions.
In the bible book, 1 Timothy chapter 2, we are encouraged
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation.
''A Day Full Of Rainbows” - 29/10/21
I spent a lovely day in the Lake District earlier this week. The scenery is rewarding at any time of year, but the colours of Autumn are particularly beautiful. My wife and I walked one of our favourite walks; from the chain link car ferry near Sawrey to Wray Castle. It is a four and a half mile stroll over fairly flat terrain along the shore of Lake Windermere. On arrival at the castle we took in the delights of Joey's Café - coffee and apple sponge cake, which is delicious; unless you don't like apples, or cake, or the thought of having to walk four and a half miles to get some.
The weather was typical of any day in the Lakes... changeable. We were well sheltered from the intermittent rain by the canopy of trees that hug the shoreline and were able to look across the lake to see the hillside opposite bathed in glorious sunshine. Of course, the combination of rain and sunshine produces rainbows and there were plenty on view during the day. They were all recorded for posterity in a series of photographs that were published on our family WhatsApp chat under the heading, "A day full of rainbows".
The changeable nature of the day's weather struck me as a metaphor for life in general. It is constantly changing and we never quite know what is around the corner. There will be sunny days and rainy days and sometimes there will be rainbows... a beautiful and joyful splash of colour that lifts our spirits. God once put a rainbow in the sky as a promise to Noah that He would not flood the earth again. I have often looked upon a rainbow as a promise not only that God would not flood the earth, but that He is always there in order to fulfil that promise.
Our lives and the events in them may change and some of them may feel overwhelming at times, but we should all hold on to the promise that God will be there. As sure as rainbows follow sunshine in the rain, God will be with us through all of life's changes. More than that, He himself will never change. He will always remain steadfast in His care for us and His concern for our wellbeing. He will always be there to love us and to guide us. "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments".
We all live a life full of rainbows, so the next time you see one, remember that not only did God create the wonderful spectrum of colour that you are looking at, but that He also created you and that He loves you and that He always will... no matter what changes may happen.
''Perfect Love” - 28/10/21
“See now that it’s one of the paradoxes of life that if we love it so much that we are frightened of losing it, it can make us live a half-life, too scared to get out there and live whole-heartedly because we have too much to lose.”
Fiona Valpy, the dressmakers gift
This book is the story of three seamstresses in 1940 Nazi occupied Paris. Its shows how their secrets and the choices they make because of them affect not only their lives, but the lives of their families that follow them
I am sure we all have our own fears and worries. Some of them will be big, some small and fleeting. Many will be very understandable. After all, we only have to turn on the news or listen to the radio to discover that there is an awful lot of painful, distressing and fearful events and circumstances in our world at the present time.
I started going through in my mind all the things that we could be fearful about today. After about 20mins, I had to stop and have a nice cup of tea and a lie down. There is so much my head nearly exploded. It’s very overwhelming.
So, in the knowledge of all of these events, how do we carry on? How do we keep going?
Jesus tells us the answer is love. Not just any love, but the all-encompassing never-ending Love of God. Not that this love will make everything go away, but that knowing that Gods love surrounds us and is part of us, enables us to feel secure in that love, and to keep on loving others, and to keep going.
1 John 4:17-19
God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved by God, now we love. God loved us first.
So whether today you are on top of the world, or you are still peeping out from under the duvet wondering if its worth getting up today, chose to love. Spend some time today letting Gods love enfold you, and take his hand in your and step out into the world with his love, and keep going.
And if you really are having a duvet day, let someone know. Church is all about being there for each other, and Melling Baptist is here to help
''Feathers In My Pillow” - 26/10/21
There is an old Jewish story that tells of an elderly man who told a little boy to go to the village square and rip open two pillows full of feathers and shake the feathers out. The little boy was confused, but thought it would be fun. He was then instructed to gather up all the feathers and put them back into the pillows. There’s no surprise that he couldn’t do it. Every time he tried to gather the feathers up they floated in to the air and drifted in all directions. After much time the tired and defeated little boy sat down on the ground. ‘I can’t gather them all up. It’s just impossible to get all the feathers back’. The old man came and sat beside him looking at the village square now covered in feathers. ‘These feathers are just like gossip and cruel words. Once spoken they are out there and can never be taken back’.
The Bible puts it like this, ‘"The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing". Proverbs 12:18
God hates it when we choose words to hurt, slander, insult and destroy. He wants us to use our words to bring encouragement, support, understand and blessing. Isn’t life tough enough without the addition of cruel words?
Paul wrote a whole chapter on the importance of love…
‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love’.
Maybe we should all pause before we speak and ask ourselves, ‘Am I speaking the truth? Am I being kind? Are my words uplifting and encouraging? Will the person I’m speaking about be blessed by my words?’ If not, then let’s keep those ‘feathers in the pillow’ and help each other get through this sometimes tough and crazy journey called life.
''Feel The Love” - 26/10/21
This morning I woke up with a cold. It’s the kind of cold that makes you feel really sorry for yourself with a bunged up nose, a croaky throat, shivers and headaches. I could have picked my cold up from just about anywhere – except that I didn’t. My husband picked it up from ‘anywhere’ and very kindly and generously passed it on to me – he’s very good like that, he’s very good at sharing.
While I might be feeling a bit rotten today, I know that it is just a cold and in a few days’ time I will be feeling much better again, but others are really struggling and fighting very real battles with health or family problems or financial worries. Not all of our problems will go away in a couple of days’ time.
Being part of God’s community, however, means that when we face these battles we never face them alone, we face them together and when things might feel just too difficult, that’s when God’s people can show His love through our prayers, through our practical support and by offering a listening ear. The Bible tells us: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
But it gets even better than that! God tells us: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” God has never promised that His people won’t face difficulties, or that He will fix every problem that we face, but He has promised us that he will walk with us; He will remain with us and when it feels just too difficult to keep going, He will give us the strength that we need.
If only all of life’s problems faded as quickly as a cold! But remember that whatever you face today or tomorrow, you don’t face it alone. Be encouraged because you stand with a whole community of God’s people surrounding you and supporting you and loving you; you stand in the strength of God the Father who is holding you close and will never let you go.
''Make Your Mind Up” - 25/10/21
I have a list. I imagine you have one too, or maybe lots of lists. You may have made one today because you intend to redecorate the kitchen and you need to know what to put in your trolley while you wander around the miles of shelving in B&Q. It’s a real pain if you realise when you get home that you forgot that the side of the door in the kitchen is a different colour to the other side. And that’s just one list, you could have many. I do too but the list I’m thinking about has been on my phone calendar for years. It all started when I thought that, as life was changing for me, it was appropriate to make a list of the things that I wanted to do just for me. That sounds really selfish, but I can defend myself by telling you that all I’ve done over the years is add to it. There are now 32 items on my ‘to do’ list. Some of them would only take a day to complete, but some would take months, possibly longer. My trip to New York hasn’t even made it to my list yet! I’m not complaining because my life is made up of other things, which are important either for me or other people. I guess that the truth for all of us is that we need (or want) more days in the week and more months in the year, and probably we would like more years in the life. Its possible of course that what we really need is more life in the years. Its very easy for us to be side-tracked by chatty phone calls, TV soaps, sitting in the garden when the sun shines, or checking who’s doing what on Instagram. Suddenly the day is over, so that thing we were going to do today will have to wait until tomorrow, if we can fit it in.
I think many of us are familiar with Solomon’s words about time, such as, ‘…..There’s a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak….’ For some of us, it may be the time to make our minds up, be more disciplined and targeted. If we look back over the last five years, how many things have we done that have been worthwhile compared to things that have made no difference to anybody’s life? Time comes from God, let’s make sure He doesn’t regret His gift.
''Warning Lights” - 24/10/21
In many modern cars, when you switch the car on there seems to be a vast array of warning lights and symbols, and thankfully they then all go off. However, every now and then, one of them might come back on again!
The main issue is, what does it mean???
The thing about warning lights is that without having the book to refer to, a lot of them don’t always make sense. You need to scour through the many, many pages of the manual to find out what it is. But then, most of the time, you can t actually do anything about without going to a garage and sometimes it has to be back to a main dealer before you can resolve the problem and get the light turned off.
Sometimes, I get a warning from other people, or perhaps a polite reminder. I often need some advice and understanding from a friend to realise where I am going wrong.
There are other occasions when I get a warning from my conscience and I need to take notice and understand what the warning is about. When you understand the warning, you then need to do something about it.
In the Bible, we are advised to listen to what God says to us and to do what it says.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Let’s listen out for God’s voice, listen to His guidance and follow in His steps. He has given us a great manual for life already, the Bible. Let’s use it to make sure we are not missing any warning lights. Next time you sit in the car and see that array of warning lights, think how God is leading us.
''How Do You See The Glass?” - 22/10/21
You may at some stage in your life have been asked the question, “Do you see the glass as half-full, or half-empty?”. This question is, of course, nothing to do with your view of liquids in a drinking vessel. It is to do with your view of life. Are you likely to put a positive spin on your situation, or a negative one? Do you find yourself answering the statement, “It’s turned out nice again!” with the rejoinder, “Yes, let’s enjoy it while we can!”, or do you reply, “I suppose we better make the most of it, it’ll be raining tomorrow!”.
I was once asked this question at a job interview. My response was that I simply saw the glass as being twice as big as it needed to be. I don’t know if the interviewer found my answer profound or confusing, but either way, I got the job, so who cares?
How we view our respective situations is important and is usually informed by our past experiences as much as our current predicaments, but what if our view was influenced simply by our relationship with God? How would that change our outlook?
In the book of Ephesians in the Bible, the Apostle Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”.
Paul is asking that the believers be filled with God. He doesn’t ask that their glass be half-filled with God, but filled to the measure and not just filled, but filled with the fullness of God... all of it; full to overflowing.
So, what does it mean to be filled with the fullness of God? Well, when we are filled with something, that thing becomes the overwhelming influence in our actions and behaviours. To be filled with the fullness of God means that He will be what determines our response to the situation in which we find ourselves. Our thoughts, our feelings, our desires, our hopes, our relationships, our words, our actions. To be filled with the fullness of God means that we will be conscious of His presence and will respond in His will, understanding that His way is based on love, peace and understanding. God wants us to be filled with His Spirit, so that we are His living image and that our lives will be the better for it and so will the lives of those we meet.
So, maybe the next time somebody asks you the question you will be able to say that your glass is full to overflowing.
''Moles or Moles?” - 21/10/21
“All that that I learn just teaches me that I know nothing.”
Philippa Gregory, The Lady of the Rivers
The Lady of the Rivers is a historical novel and covers the reign of Henry VI, and the life of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, mother of Elizabeth Woodville, who became queen consort.
I was reminded of this quote this week whilst attempting to help with my daughters’ homework. When I asked what the homework was about, she told me it was about Moles. In my naivety, I thought ‘I know about moles, they are small and furry with bad eyesight and they dig up your garden’. It actually turned out that the homework was not about these types of moles at all, but a unit of measurement in chemistry, also called Moles! It was very confusing, and it turns out that a knowledge of garden animals is no help at all when trying to balance chemical equations!
I must confess that there are many subjects in life that I know absolutely nothing about, and I get very easily confused. I once talked to an American man who told me he worked in a Body shop! I thought he meant The Body shop, and he actually meant a car workshop! The conversation was very amusing and confusing until I realised my mistake!
It is definitely true that the more you learn about life, the more you realise there is to learn, and I seem to lurch from wonderous amazement at how brilliant the world is, to utter confusion as to how things work.
Thankfully though, God never gets confused. Jeremiah 33 reminds us:
This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it liveable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvellous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’
Whether you are trying to figure out garden animals or chemical
''Would I Lie To You” - 20/10/21
The television programme, ‘Would I Lie To You’ is a quiz show where the point of the game is that you have to convince fellow contestants that whatever you’re saying is the truth. It’s very funny. Some of the stories are ridiculous and clearly a lie. Other stories are ridiculous and completely true!! It’s a great programme. But lying for a quiz show is a lot different to lying in our daily lives.
I read these words the other day, ‘Tell a lie once and all your truths become questionable’. Isn’t that just so true?!! These don’t have to be huge, complicated lies. Being casual about our promises and speaking half truths can be just as damaging. Gradually people start to doubt our words and eventually all trust is lost. And once that trust is lost it takes a long time to be restored.
The Bible says, ‘God can’t stomach liars; he loves the company of those who keep their word’.
The words that we speak are important. Not only is truthfulness important, but kindness, integrity and patience too. Let’s choose our words carefully and leave the lies to the game show!
‘May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer’.
''Wearing Love” - 19/10/21
I am sure you will have watched the news with the same horror as I did as we received reports of the murder of Sir David Amess MP. A man who was doing the job that he was appointed by the people to do. I take no political stance when I share my sadness that yet again we find ourselves hearing that a life has been lost simply because somebody disagreed with them. Even now, as MP’s call for kindness to be shown they continue to receive death threats – is this truly a reflection of the society we have become?
Thankfully, I don’t think it is. I think it is a reflection of a minority of loud and angry voices that sadly can sometimes be heard above those quieter voices that seek understanding, progress and compromise.
As they seek to come to terms with their loss, David Amess’s family have asked people to set aside hatred; to set aside their differences and to show kindness and love.
We will always have disagreements with people and differences of opinion; no one will ever have the perfect view point so that they never get anything wrong but the Bible is clear that there is no tolerance for us to hold onto hatred for one another: “Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”
Not one of us is perfect, not one of us hasn’t made a mistake – but Jesus paid the price for our mistakes and imperfections. Life is rarely as simply as one person being right and another wrong, what is more important is our willingness to listen to one another, to talk about our differences and to work together to bring about change for good.
God asks us to show love to one another – that doesn’t mean we will always agree or see eye-to-eye, but it does mean we respect one another as we search for understanding and to show compassion.
“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.”
Each day as we get out of bed, let’s actively choose to wear love so that our kind actions and quiet, gentle and compassionate voices are heard over and above those that choose to carry hate.
''Lightbulb Moment” - 18/10/21
Forgiveness is a funny thing; it warms the heart and cools the sting. Thomas A. Edison was working on a crazy contraption called a "light bulb" and it took a whole team of people 24 hours to put just one together. The story goes that when Edison was finished with one light bulb, he gave it to a young helper, who nervously carried it up the stairs. Step by step he cautiously watched his hands, obviously frightened of dropping such a priceless piece of work. You've probably guessed what happened by now; the poor young fellow dropped the bulb at the top of the stairs. It took the entire team twenty-four more hours to make another bulb. Finally, tired and ready for a break, Edison was ready to have his bulb carried up the stairs. He gave it to the same young boy who dropped the first one. Now that's proper forgiveness! When Paul wrote to the quarrelsome people in the Colossian church, he said “Bear with one another and forgive one another… forgive as the Lord forgave you.” When the Lord forgave us at the cross, he wiped the slate clean and gave us a brand-new start – a brand new life! Let’s be thankful today that God has forgiven us – but let’s take on board what Paul said – “forgive, as the Lord forgave you.” Now that’s proper forgiveness!
''Give A Little” - 16/10/21
Things are never the same, are they? Well sometimes they are quite close but subtly different! These last 2 years have been very peculiar and as we endeavour to move forward from Brexit and Covid, we struggle with Deliveries (this is going through the alphabet, what’s going to happen next that begins with ‘E’ ??). Fuel and food supplies are threatened but so far its not really been that bad. You may have to buy your turkey early and freeze it, you may need to plan your Christmas shopping a bit better and not try to do it last minute like I usually do. We may need to think a bit more and not just assume that things will be available.
One of the things we need to be careful about is that we think more about what we do.
It was so sad to hear about the MP being killed when he was just trying to help others, the stories of him being an MP known for having a smile on his face, known for caring for his community and wanting to do things for them, not to progress his own political career or private interests. Such a sad time for his family and friends.
One morning this week when I woke, there was the most beautiful sunrise, as in the one in the sky, not the written one, although that was good too! The sky was mottled with a gorgeous bright pinky/purply glow as the sun came up through the clouds. It made me stop to just enjoy seeing it.
As we start this day/weekend, lets stop and think about the beauty of nature around us, no matter what the weather (rain can be as beautiful as sunshine), lets think about how we can help people, through giving them a call to have a chat, through sending them a post card or letter just to say “hi”, through taking someone out for a coffee, through taking their kids out to give them a break. There are so many ways to do things slightly differently that would make such a huge difference.
Don’t wait to receive, stop, think and give a little with a smile, it will make such a difference.
In the Bible, we are reminded
“I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything.”
''The Whipping Boy” - 15/10/21
I was listening to the radio the other day. I don’t usually get to choose the radio channels on car journeys, but, on this occasion, I was alone in the car and decided to avoid the selection of mindless pop music and banal discussions of the latest international football matches. Instead, I chose to listen to a discussion on punishment. Yes, it’s a laugh a minute when I’m in charge of the dial.
The issue that fascinated me was the concept of The Whipping Boy. This was a practice in the Royal courts of Europe between the 15th and 18th Centuries. It involved a boy of a similar age to a prince, who was educated alongside the would-be monarch. This boy would receive any punishment that was due to the prince, usually flogging, because, as the son of the King, the prince was of a higher status than those who wished to punish him. He was therefore allowed to go unmolested and the whipping boy took the punishment in his stead. Apparently, the poorer gentry saw this as an opportunity for the advancement of their family and would proffer their sons for this coveted position. I’m sure the boys were delighted. The errant prince would certainly have been happy.
The good news is that not all royalty is the same. Jesus is known variously as, “The Prince of Peace” – “The Son of the Most High” – “The King of Kings”. Like the princes of early modern Europe, He was certainly of a higher status than those who chose to accuse him. The high priests who called for Him to be put to death may have been important within the Jewish community, but their importance pales into insignificance when compared to the creator of the universe. Jesus did not choose to hide behind His titles, or His authority. He chose instead to take on board the punishment meant for all of us and, in so doing, gave us all the opportunity for a fresh start; a clean slate; a second chance. He allows us to walk away unscathed from the mistakes we have made and the punishment we deserve. His actions are best summed up in the book of Philippians, which says, “Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!”. So, we would be wrong to think of Jesus as merely our whipping boy. He is so much more than that... He is our saviour.
''Finding Peace” - 14/10/21
For those of you who have ever been to my house, you will have noticed a lot of books. I love books, and it’s the one thing that I find hard to give away. So the number of books in my house get bigger, and the space gets smaller. I also have a number of books given to me by other people, which then become more important to me as they are linked with the person who gave them to me. My grandmother passed on a number of books to me, both classics and books that were special to her. This week I was reading one of these, a collection of poems by an author called Eddie Askew. The book was written in 1983, but the poem was just as relevant today as it was then. Its all about finding peace in the midst of chaos. May it bring you Peace and closer to God today, as it did me:
“Peace be with you,”, That’s what you said Lord
“My peace I give to you”, That too Lord
And yet at times it seems so illusive. So hard to find.
And when its in my grasp, and I hold on tight, It disappears.
Then I look at the world. All I see is struggle.
Conflict, suffering. People at war.
At war with each other, killing for peace.
Or so they say. Although how one can make the other I can’t work out.
At war with the world. Exploiting, destroying your creation, for a quick profit.
At war with themselves. Anxious, fearful, dislocated.
Without hope or purpose. Lonely. Living from one crisis to the next.
Where IS your peace Lord? What are you trying to tell me?
When Jesus offered his peace, He was facing the cross. Head on.
And it wasn’t just words. He could talk of peace, while he felt the pain,
Because he was at peace.
At peace with you, because he knew he was doing your will.
At peace with others, because nothing they did to him could break his love for them.
At peace with himself, because he was true to himself.
And as I identify with Jesus Lord, as I discover the strength of his love,
As I come to terms with what I am, and know that I am still accepted,
The peace is there!
I can drop my defences.
I pray for all those who need your peace today. Help me to reach out with your healing.
Not just medicine but healing.
Building community, relationships. Building your Kingdom.
Making peace, in your name.
'Secretary of the Year' - 13/10/21
Way back, in my past life in Texas, I found myself between jobs. My friend was going home to visit her family in Fiji, and I was asked would I step in to her role for a couple of months. She was PA to the charity’s Chaplain. J, was a lovely guy, partly responsible for some major international decisions and having the broad responsibility for the welfare of all involved with the charity, near and far. I, on the other hand, was a health teacher. A creative-minded, people person. Not known for my administration skills! But it was only for a couple of months! What could go wrong? Everything started off well! I kept my head down. Smiled at people. Photocopied. Answered the phone. Chatted to people. And chatted to people. And chatted....I’ve got to confess, the job wasn’t really me. I was getting bored by the end of about the 2nd day. I found the spinney chair a bit of light relief! Then one day, the phone rang, it was the CEO, he was in West Africa. He wanted to talk to J, ! Of course, ‘I’ll just put you through!’ Click! Oops! Where’s he gone? The phone rang again! ‘I’ll just put you though!’ Click! Oops! I went through to J, ‘there’s something wrong with these phones, Jack keeps cutting off....’ He rang again, ‘Jo, don’t try to put me through, just tell J that I’m calling him on the direct emergency line, but it’s not an emergency!’ The days went by. I was bored! One morning I decided, ‘Right I’m going to be proactive,’ so I went to work and before J got in to the office I had tidied, boiled the kettle, faxed, emailed, and shredded his, ‘To Shred’ pile. I was on a roll! When J arrived I was really pleased with my attempts at admin! ‘J came through to me. Er, Jo, do you know where my To Do pile has gone?’ ‘No. I’ve not seen it. I only saw the pile to shred’. As the words left my mouth, the realisation hit me! ‘Oh J, I’ve shredded your To Do pile!! I’m so sorry!!’ I was devastated! A mess! ‘Was it all very important stuff?’ I knew it was. J hadn’t said anything. He just stood there. Probably out of shock! And then he smiled at me, ‘Nothing important Jo, come on, I’ll take you out for lunch’. Later that month he told me that they were taking me for a meal to celebrate Secretary’s Day. I thought it was a bit odd but went along with it. After the meal, a guy stood up and said that it was time to announce the new, ‘Secretary of the Year’. There was great anticipation from the other guests present and a noticeable ‘holding of breath’. I continued to eat my fruit salad. Before I knew what was going on, I heard my name announced down the microphone. The room erupted into cheers and claps as I was pushed to the front, completely bemused and with a piece of pineapple stuck in my throat, to receive a bouquet of flowers and a gift token, for a job well done! J was leading the clapping. He beamed at me. But I shredded his To Do pile!!! It was ALMOST the most undeserved title I’ve ever been given! Second only, to ‘Loved by the King of Kings’. We read in the Bible, Paul saying, ‘For I am convinced, that neither death nor life, nor angels, principalities nor powers, nor things that are now, nor things that are to come, (nor bad admin skills) can separate us from the love of God.’ I’m rubbish at admin but I was ‘Secretary of the Year 1997’. I am imperfect. Good at some things and not at others. Maybe you question your role in work, in your family, life...maybe you feel like you aren’t much at all, just plodding through life, no one special! You couldn’t be more wrong! We share the title, ‘Loved by the King of Kings’. I was very happy to hand my PA role back to my friend, and needless to say, it was the only year I won that title. But ‘Loved by the King of Kings’ is a title I’ve held since before I was born, and no matter who we are, what we think, say or do, we’ll never lose it! Anyone need me to shred anything?
''3 Wise Monkeys” - 12/10/21
If you look around my garden under shrubs and hidden amongst ornamental grasses you will find all kinds of weird and wonderful things including the customary gnomes that come with being part of the community in Melling. Amongst them, underneath a small olive tree and half hidden by various herbs, are a set of 3 wise monkeys which I was given as a gift. One is covering his eyes, one has his hands over his ears and the third covers his mouth.
Their names, apparently, are Mizaru, Kikazaru and Iwazaru (try saying that in a hurry!) but there seems to be some debate about their origins and intended meaning. In our culture we know them to represent ‘see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil’. There are many interpretations we can take from their possible meanings but one is how it emphasises the importance of immersing ourselves in good and healthy environments where the things that we see, hear and speak are a blessing to us and to those around us.
There is a story about Socrates where early one morning one of his students came to his house quite anxious to tell him about a rumour that he had heard. To the young man’s dismay, Socrates told him he must think about 3 things before sharing his news:
Is it the truth?
Is it good?
Is it useful or necessary?
The young man left without sharing his news.
Our world is filled with so many voices all wanting to share their opinion on just about everything and all believing that they are right – it is easy to become confused between real news and fake news; gossip or genuine concern. Perhaps the next time we see or hear something which we think we must share with others, we could think about those 3 things and if we can’t answer ‘yes’, then maybe the best thing to do is to put our hand across our mouths and say nothing.
In Philippians chapter 4 it says this: “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things …and the God of peace will be with you.”
Before we simply become one of the many voices adding to the noise of the world, let’s pause for a moment while we consider if what we have to say is rooted in things that are true, pure and lovely – if they are, then let’s speak out and open our ears to hear the truth and our eyes to see what is beautiful. As the Psalmist put it – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
''The Answers Don't Help” - 11/10/21
It’s been a difficult few weeks for me and my brain. I’m left tired and irritated because things that should have made my life easier and more efficient have worn me down. A word of warning; under no circumstances should you buy a new phone and a new computer in the same month. Its not that I’ve inherited a fortune, my phone is a birthday present from my family, and the computer will replace an ancient one that is simply exhausted and totally out of date, just like my phone. If you’re like me, the information on your phone, such as the diary, the list of contacts and phone numbers, the photographs, the messages; describe your life, your priorities, and your activities. I’ve often thought that if I lost it, I would need to ask somebody who I was. I was told (mostly by the people selling the new phone) that changing was not a problem. The transfer of data and the difference in operation would be childs-play. The problem is that I’m not a child. The first thing you notice is that the start button is in a different place. Why? What was the point of messing with things that work? But that was just the start of my problems. Sitting alone with my new contraption, I discovered a folder on the phone that claimed to be the instructions. Wonderful, now I can educate myself so that my grandchildren will not smile at me and make patronising comments under their breath. So I asked my new friend how I should send and save an email. Up came the answer and that’s when my headaches began because I didn’t understand it. It appeared to be in pseudo-English which contained words I grew up with and words (I think they were words) that were not in my dictionary. To cut a long sad story short I called the kids. Problems sorted!
Many people in 21st century Britain are confused by the theology behind Christianity and prefer not to get involved because it’s just too complicated. If you go to church, you have to understand the system and the language and the way to behave. That’s what they think so they keep away; it’s easier. But the words of Jesus are very clear and relevant, because He spoke directly to fishermen and farmers, not philosophers and professors. And they all understood the words He used; nothing fancy. Something else they noticed was that He knew what He was talking about, not all their religious teachers gave that impression. ‘When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the Law.’ So if anyone wants to understand what God wants them to hear, don’t go to Uni, grab a Bible, sit in a corner with a cup of coffee, and read what Jesus said.
''My Redeemer Lives” - 10/10/21
Nicole C. Mullin was a shy, little girl with a stutter, growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She grew up, got married and found herself in a horrific, violent, loveless marriage. The abuse she experienced was extreme. And she recalls how she just ‘longed for Heaven’. Eventually she escaped from the abuse. Years later she wrote these words, "There is a beautiful truth that I know. For the things that have ended in ashes, God has given me beauty. Where there was mourning, He has given me joy. For times when I have felt overwhelmed by fear and depression, He has given me clothes of praise. For all of the questions that are still unanswered and situations without closure, there is the hope of redemption”.
Our song for today is one that Nicole wrote. My Redeemer Lives is a beautiful song, looking at the wonders of creation and seeing God in it all. The second verse speaks of this awesome, creator God looking upon each one of us and being there for us even when ‘the storm rages on’.
“The very same God that spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory”.
Click on the link below to hear this beautiful song.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
''Barmy Weather!” - 09/10/21
The weather this week has been typically unpredictable for the UK. At the start of the week, we had torrential rain and flash floods. Some parts had a months rain in 1 day, by the end of the week Scotland had its warmest ever night in October. We seem to love the way our weather changes, we love to complain about it, yet we revel in it.
In some parts of the world, weather is all the more predictable, the forecasters can tell you almost to the minute when the rain will start and stop, the temperature is the same each day. And then we think it’s boring! Our weather does seem to be changing though and becoming more extreme, how will we cope?
Sometimes, life’s other hardships are things we revel in, the highs and lows of our lives and our emotions. We love to complain about them and yet seen to enjoy them? Some people think that being a Christian will change our lives and we wont have the same highs and lows. Our lives will always be positive and great things will happen.
But the real change is not how this life will happen, its about our relationship with Jesus. Our view of this world will change as we look through God’s perspective. There will still be the highs and lows, but our view on things will change. As a Christian, we have a hope and faith that no matter what this life brings, we have a heavenly father who loves us and the promise of eternal life with him in heaven.
Some say that there no such thing as bad weather just the wrong clothes.
The bible tells us that
I surely rejoice in the Lord; my heart is joyful because of my God, because he has clothed me with clothes of victory, wrapped me in a robe of righteousness.
So lets revel in the fact that Jesus loves us, he will help us through those sad times because of that love. Lets wear the right clothes and no matter what the weather does, know that Jesus loves us.
''The Wood For The Trees” - 08/10/21
On a recent outing, I drove past a church that I didn’t know was there. To be precise, I knew it was there, but I couldn’t see it anymore. So, if I hadn’t known it was there, I would not have realised that it was there... if you see what I mean. The reason that I couldn’t see it was because it was hidden by the trees and foliage within its grounds, that have grown very tall and thick and now obscure the view of the church itself.
Of course, those responsible for the upkeep of the church have not deliberately allowed the greenery to hide the building, it has happened over time. An incremental shrouding of God’s house. The trees and bushes were no more than seeds and saplings when they first opened the doors of this house of worship, but time is relentless and so it would appear is this arboreal disguise. They simply haven’t noticed that, as the years have passed, things have changed and have now reached a point that, without some action on their part, nobody will realise that there is a church there at all.
I could go off on a tangent and make the observation that this is a metaphor for many churches today. Churches that have not noticed that the world has changed and that they need to make changes themselves in order to maintain a visible presence in society, but I won’t.
Many of you reading this will no doubt have been muttering at the screen that the church is actually the people, rather than the building and therefore it is the people and their actions and behaviours that are relevant and should be visible. You are correct, of course. Thank you for bringing me back to my original point.
Jesus reminds us of this fact when He is delivering one of His most famous sermons; known as, “The sermon on the mount”. He says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.
We need to be sure that we do not become hidden from view. We need to ensure that what we believe is front and centre of all that we do. To acknowledge God and the part He plays in our lives and the lives of others. To glorify Him in what we say and do. We should be able to do so wherever we are; we don’t need to be in a church building for God to be our focus. Indeed, if God was only our focus when we were inside a church building then we would not be the light of the world that Jesus talks about. So, let’s give ourselves a prune and make sure that there is nothing growing in our lives that prevents people from seeing our light.
''Mission Impossible” - 07/10/21
“...it is well known that a vital ingredient of success is not knowing that what you're attempting can't be done.”
Terry Pratchett, Equal Rites
Equal Rites is the third novel which takes place in the fantasy Discworld and takes us through the adventures of what happens when an important artefact is passed to the eighth son of an eighth son, who turns out to be a girl called Esk!
In 1939, a budding mathematician called George Dantzig was at university in California. He arrived late for a class to discover two mathematical problems on the blackboard. George assumed that they were homework assignments so copied them down. He completed them at home and handed them in. Several weeks later he was very surprised to learn that he had just solved two of the most famous ‘unsolvable’ problems in statistics. Dantzig went on to have an illustrious mathematics career, and the story went on to be the basis of the well known film ‘Good Will Hunting’.
I suspect that if George had been on time for the lesson and had known that the problems were considered unsolvable, he would never have attempted them. However, not having this information gave him a very different viewpoint on what was actually possible.
It wasn’t that the problems were actually unsolvable, its just that everyone thought that they were.
In the bible, Jesus’s friends thought that something he was describing was impossible, but Jesus reminded them that God looks at things differently, and his power and love can change even the most impossible of situations.
Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
There are lots of things that we face in our lives that may seem impossible, just like those impossible maths problems. Whatever it is, lets look at it with God’s eyes, not our own. God loves us, and reminds us daily that his love and power can and does change the world. He is with us in every situation, telling us that failure is not fatal, that death is not the end and that Gods love and hope is stronger than anything the world can throw at us.
With God, lets do something seemingly impossible today!
‘What? No WhatsApp?’ - 06/10/21
Well Monday evening saw the complete shutdown of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. And the shutdown lasted for hours! We couldn’t chat on chats! We couldn’t check what friends (and complete strangers!!) had done that day! Talk about being stressful!! What were people meant to do with all this free time??!! Some people decided to clean their bathrooms. Others did a late night shop. Some attempted the Times crossword while others resorted to getting their old games out of the cupboard and spent the evening playing snakes and ladders and buckaroo!! And still others picked up the phone and called a friend! It’s amazing how many of us across the country struggled to know what to do as our social media sites were taken from us. Time for re-evaluation?? Maybe.
I for one have been SO grateful for our social media provisions, especially through lockdown. They have truly been a lifesaver to many. But it’s important to get the balance right. The Bible says,
‘there’s a time for everything under the sun’.
We’re not made to be glued to our phones. Nor are we made to lie in bed all day, or work all day.
So maybe, we can all learn from Monday night’s events. Maybe we can challenge our phone addictions, or stop work for a time to play with our children, or choose to not have a day in bed but get up and achieve something, however big or small. Maybe we could buy a bunch of flowers and pay a visit to someone who we keep meaning to visit? I won’t be attempting the Times crossword any time soon but I am tempted with a game of buckaroo!
Our time is very precious, let’s use it wisely each and every day. Let’s surround ourselves with good friends, let’s be good friends to others, and may we be able to say, with the Psalmist,
‘This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it’.
'Running the Race' - 04/10/21
On Sunday we saw the 41st London Marathon take place. After being scaled back last year due to COVID it was back with more than 40,000 people pounding through the streets of London and a further estimated 40,000 taking part virtually via an app. Each participant had trained and dedicated themselves to this race; some ‘elite’ runners were running for the best time they could achieve while the goal of others was simply to reach the finish line - but they were all in the same race. Personally, I take my hat off to anyone who takes on this challenge – 26.2 miles of gruelling, feet aching, blister-forming road! Congratulations to everyone who took part!
In the Bible, our life journey is often likened to a race, a race in which if we run well and reach the finish line, the reward is great:
“Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honour, right alongside God.”
No race is ever easy, it requires preparation, dedication and training. It requires determination to reach the finish, a map to know the route to take and, ideally, some supporters to help and encourage us along the way. In life, there can be times when the road may seem straight and easy but all of us at times will face a road that is rocky and steep and difficult to navigate – it is then that we need to keep our eye on Jesus to guide us and help us to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
During the 2017 London race, only metres from the finish line, one runner found himself unable to carry on. His legs were buckling beneath him and despite being so close, he simply wasn’t going to make it – until a stranger running the same race saw him and chose to pause and offer some help so that they could both cross the line and finish the race they had started.
Life can sometimes be just like that – the weariness can kick in, we can lose our way and the road becomes too hard - that is when we need one another most of all – that’s when an arm around our shoulder and an encouraging word from a fellow traveller can make all the difference to help us across the line.
But the prize for finishing this race is so much more than a medal or financial reward: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me –the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”
I’m running for a crown of righteousness – join me and we’ll help each other along the way.
'Tomorrow is Ten Days Away' - 03/10/21
Time is a funny thing; we all seem to have our own personal interpretation of ‘soon’ or ‘shortly’ or ‘not long’ or ‘one of these day’s’ or ‘bedtime’. I’m sure you all know what I mean. Your friend says, “I’ll give you a lift in a minute, be ready.” So you stand in the porch and wait. And wait. And… You must have had this conversation with a teen; “Why are you not dressed, you said you would be up early?” “I am up early, it’s only half past eleven.” Our lives are measured in minutes, hours and days etc. so you would imagine that time was sorted, but one person’s ‘soon’ is another person’s “I haven’t got all day.” Globally it’s quite organized; a new day starts over by New Zealand, sweeps around the world and gets to us five hours before New York. It’s the same every day so we can plan our trips and phone conversations with confidence. However, on this day, 4th October, in the year 1582, everything changed. Thirteen centuries of accumulated variations between the Julian calendar, the Lunar calendar, and the real moon meant that the Catholic Church was no longer celebrating Easter at its original time of the year. So in the reign of Pope Gregory XIII, the Gregorian calendar was adopted by the Catholic Church and the Papal States. It meant that the day after October 4th was October 15th!
How odd that would be for many of us, there would be a gallop to
re-organise birthdays and anniversaries, holidays and Sunrises! None of us would lose any days of course, we all understand that dates are just numbers and God is not impressed with our ability to count. We do need to remember that our time on earth is in God’s control, David wrote, ‘I trust in You Lord, I say ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands.’ In our difficult days God is there for us, ‘You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.’ David was also certain that God’s contribution to our lives is continuous and reliable, ‘Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.’ Let’s not worry about the date, let’s fill the time we have been given by God by demonstrating to those around us the love of God.
'Black and White' - 02/20/21
There has long been a tradition of using “black” and “white” to identify bad and good. I remember watching the Westerns with my Dad, the good cowboy always wore a white hat and the baddie always wore a black hat.
There is an expression that is used when we want to know a clear difference between 2 things, “its black and white”.
This week, I have been learning about computer security and this concept even translates into modern technology. When we define a website that is good, we add it to a “whitelist” and when we want to stop people accessing a bad website, it is added to a “blacklist”. In order to test computer security, there are “ethical hackers” who will try to break a computer system who are known as “white hats”. And, of course, the malicious hackers are known as “black hats”.
Sometimes, black is defined as the absence of light, and white is the presence of all the colours of the spectrum.
In the Bible, when Jesus goes to spend time with God and he then comes back to see his disciples, Jesus’ face was shining and his clothes became as white as light. When Moses spend time with God and he was given the 10 commandments, as he came back to the people of Israel, he had to put a veil in his face as he was “radiant”.
Jesus is known as the light of the world and will “cast out the darkness”. For Jesus, there is no grey and there is no darkness or sin, there is love and light.
Jesus will be a light for us and show us the way, His light will shine through us and we can be a light for others.
'Edward's Cousin' - 01/10/21
Regular readers of Sunrise will be familiar with Edward the squirrel. For some time now, we have vicariously enjoyed his antics and I for one have enjoyed the sporadic updates. I have a particular fondness for squirrels and therefore thought I would write a bulletin about Edward’s cousin, Mr. Squirrel. Unlike Edward, Mr. Squirrel is a red squirrel, hence the more formal name (red squirrels are sticklers for formality). He too is very active at the moment. Neither red, nor grey squirrels hibernate (although grey squirrels do sleep for weeks on end during the winter months). This requires them to collect as much food as possible before the supplies are exhausted. They gather food, particularly nuts, and hide it for later consumption – hence the expression, “to squirrel it away”.
Mr. Squirrel uses my garden, and that of my neighbours, as his personal pantry. Over the coming winter, he will return often to recover the bounty he has stashed away. I look forward to his visits.
Unlike the many people we have seen on our television screens over the past eighteen months, panic buying everything from toilet paper to petrol, Mr. Squirrel has to store away the food he gathers, because without it he will not survive the winter. He is not panic gathering, but rather ensuring his survival. His behaviour does not mimic that of humans, who tend to store away, “stuff”, whether they need it or not – sometimes selfishly and at the expense of others.
In the Bible, Jesus has something to say on the subject; “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.
He is not suggesting that there is anything wrong in earning a good living and providing for your family, moreover that your focus should not simply be the acquisition of wealth... the storing up of treasure; at least not earthly treasure. So, what then is the treasure in heaven He refers to? Put simply, He means that your focus should be on those things that have a different type of worth. To take care of others, as well as yourself. To practice the fruits of the spirit that have been mentioned in previous Sunrises, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control". In other words, to do the things that Jesus would have us do and to value the things that Jesus would value, because that is an eternal treasure.
So now, whenever I see Mr. Squirrel, he will be my little red reminder of the things that actually matter.
November '21 Sunrises
"Flooding Back" - 29/11/21
Last week I went where I had not been for almost two years. Like many millions of activity groups around the world, our photography club was starting again after 22 months of inactivity. So I picked up my case which holds the forms, registers, accounts, lecture notes, photographs, etc. and I explored. Everything was there just as I had left it before Covid arrived; that was not surprising, where else would it be? But it was the little things that I found that surprised me; there was a selection of photos that the members had produced that I had forgotten about, there was a torch that I had been looking for (no idea why it was there), two chocolate biscuits that were well passed their sell-by date, and an old notebook containing notes for talks I had intended to present. It was a welcome and warm reunion with old friends, and I was delighted to get back to business.
But there was one thing, actually one page; it was at the back of my vintage notebook, and it stopped me in my tracks. As I looked, I realized that it was a mind map, and it was a plan for the future. My future. It was dated 2007! This was my plan for my future set out fourteen years ago. As I looked at the various compartments of my life then, and considered my plans for the next ten years, which are now in the past, it all came flooding back. Mostly it was very optimistic, I had planned to escape from certain tedious activities and make way for more interesting ones, we were going to travel more, and I had plans and dreams for my wonderful family. I noticed that illness did not appear on my mind map, nor did the bank crash of 2007/8 that blew my business to smithereens.
As I view my life now, my emotions range from disappointment and regret, to satisfaction and gratitude. My guess is that you can all relate to this. Trying to predict the future is usually futile, but we all try it anyway. For the Christian, our future, despite life’s roller coaster ride, is in God’s hands. To make plans for our tomorrows is a perfectly responsible activity as long as we add the words, ‘God willing’. There are many Bible passages that encourage us to trust the God who knows the future. Solomon provides us with a taste of his great wisdom; let’s benefit from his knowledge and experience of the God who leads, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.’
"Hope" - 28/11/21
In a week where lives have been lost and homes have been battered due to Storm Arwen; where a new covid variant has renewed fears in many; and knife crime increases with the latest devastation of a 12 year old girl stabbed to death in Liverpool City Centre, it’s understandable that people are weary, angry, sad and feeling defeated.
It’s especially important that in times like these we hold on to hope. Hope that there is still good in our world, hope that we can see communities gather together to support one another, hope that there’s a loving, all powerful, all knowing God who holds the future.
Let’s look after one another. Let’s offer kind words, encouragement and friendship. Let’s meet hatred with love (that’s not easy!!) sadness with support and loneliness with a phone call or knock on the door. Who knows the difference it could make to somebody.
Martin Luther King, whilst experiencing the horrors of racism and hatred that would eventually take his life, said these words,
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Jesus himself taught us to be light in the darkness.
May you all experience ‘light’ today, and in turn, go and be light to others. One person at a time. Praying for a hope-filled Sunday for you all.
Click the link below to hear the beautiful song, ‘Death Was Arrested’.
"Light" - 27/11/21
Last night I went to watch the switch on of our local Christmas lights. It was a nice evening; the village was quite full - something I haven't seen since before the days of Covid. There were fairground attractions, stalls selling mulled wine, mince pies and various sweet treats and a stage where local schoolchildren performed seasonal songs. A fine time was had by all; particularly the children. The excitement on their faces was a joy to behold and I'm sure that when they all came down from their sugar rush, they slept soundly in their beds.
The odd thing was that the lights themselves were a little underwhelming. Don't get me wrong; I like them - they look colourful and brighten the street very nicely. The two Christmas trees are tastefully decorated and beautifully lit. The problem is that when you think of why we have Christmas lights in the first place; when you remember what it is that we are celebrating, then no amount of lights is enough. We can never hope to create any kind of display fit enough to do justice to the occasion.
Christmas celebrates the time that God came to earth in the person of Jesus. The light of the world walked among us. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life". He told us that we too can be light in the world, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven". He not only told us that we could be light, but He showed us how. He lived a life of love, kindness and sacrifice that is an example to us all.
So, let's enjoy the lights we have, whether those in the local streets, or the ones adorning our own homes and let's remember that they point us towards the one true light that will be with us long after the bulbs and baubles are packed away.
"Re-Invention" - 25/11/21
“Christmas ought to be brought up to date,” Maria said. “It ought to have gangsters, and aeroplanes and a lot of automatic pistols.”
John Masefield, The Box of Delights
The Box of Delights is a children's fantasy novel. Kay Harker finds himself mixed up in a battle to possess a magical box which allows people to go into the past and to experience the magical wonders contained within the box.
Well, it’s the time of year when suddenly adverts become interesting. I don’t know if your house is anything like mine, but we love the Christmas adverts. We love looking at them all and deciding which one is the ‘best’! This year we have aliens from John Lewis, Percy Pig from Marks and Spencer, and an alternative fruit and vegetable version of Christmas Carol from Aldi!
I wonder if you can remember any favourite Christmas adverts from previous years? I remember the advert with the man on the moon, the 1914 first world war advert from Sainsburys, and the iconic yellow pages ad with the little boy and the mistletoe. I think my favourite recent advent was the Bear and the Hare John Lewis advert.
Each year the shops and websites try and re-invent Christmas for us. They try and produce the most compelling advert, which makes Christmas seem newer, better, or more impressive than last year, so that we will spend our money with them.
Like the quote from the box of delights, they feel the need to bring Christmas up to date, new and improved.
However impressive these adverts are, I am always struck with how powerful the very first Christmas was and still is today. Every year I am astounded with how God sent his son into the world as a helpless baby, because he loved us. Its simplicity makes it even more powerful somehow
Luke 2:6-7
The time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.
Whatever your favourite Christmas advert is, and however Christmas is reinvented this year, lets keep that very first most important Christmas at the heart of everything we do.
"A Gift For Life" - 24/11/21
You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong – you only want what will give you pleasure. James Ch4 v2
So what’s the difference between Father Christmas and God? That sounds a bit like the start of a really bad joke but if we think about it, we can often confuse God with a Santa Claus figure who we go to when we want something.
In the mid 1800’s a young man called Dwight L Moody from Boston became a Christian. Soon after that, he set off for Chicago where his plan was to sell shoes and make his fortune of $100,000 – a huge amount of money at that time. Slowly but surely, he began to realise that his mission in life wasn’t to amass a fortune but rather help the poor. Over the course of his life, his preaching and social work changed hundreds of thousands of people’s lives and I suspect he raised far more than his original goal of $100,000 – it just wasn’t for himself.
In the book of Philippians in the Bible we read these words: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.”
The fact is that God wants to hear about every aspect of our lives; our anxieties; our health worries; our financial concerns as well as our joy and our thanks. What God wants is for us to call him ‘friend’ – and it’s that relationship that makes him so different to Father Christmas. Would you go to your best friend and say – “you can afford it, give me a new car”? Rather, your closest friends are the ones who you share your deepest hopes and concerns with. They are your friends, not because of what they give you, but because of the relationship you have with them.
Moody once said ‘Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all’. God wants to hear it all but the biggest difference between God and Father Christmas is that Santa may give you the Ferrari you asked for but God wants to come on the journey with you.
"What Are You Hiding?" - 23/11/21
Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you’
‘Honesty’ - Billy Joel
Recently I read an article about someone I thought had been a good, honest character, full of integrity, with love for his family. I was devastated to hear that this person had been living a double life. Causing many, many people to believe he was someone great and good whilst all along sordid secrets were piling up on his phone and his victims were being silenced. He passed away, aged 74, and left behind a lot of brokenness. It was a heart-breaking read. More scandal. More lies. No honesty. Secrets. Secrets. Secrets.
Nowadays it would seem that nearly everybody has a mobile phone. Instant access to others through phone calls and texts. And then there’s the internet freely available wherever we are. Not to mention all the social media sites. Oh, and then there’s the photos and videos we take, or we receive. These phones are absolutely incredible! Where would we be without them?! But what’s on them? If someone got hold of our phones would they be shocked by our photos? Would our messages reveal ‘another side’? And what about our Search History? Billy Joel was right when he said that honesty is such a lonely word. There seems to be so many stories of scandal and lies and lack of integrity. But we can be different.
Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life’.
CS Lewis defined integrity as ‘doing the right thing, even when no one is watching’.
Secret lives cause broken lives. Let’s all be careful to think right thoughts, say right words and have right actions. It’s so important that honesty, and integrity, are key to how we live. And we’d all love Billy Joel to write another song!
"Get A Brand New Sense Of Wonder" - 22/11/21
The ancient monastic communities in Northumbria spent a lot of time just sitting and praying. There was a focus on creativity and worshipping God in the beauty of the natural created world. Today we will wake up to another set of charts on the news, listen to yet more experts on politics, science , economics and business and we will be bombarded with information . Celtic Christianity stresses that wisdom is more important than knowledge. Wonder is more important than information. Can you find some space and time today to get outside and look around. In times such as we are living now, our mental health really needs protecting. Can you find time today to create some head space? Can you find time to stop and wonder at the God created beauty in the world around you?
Psalm 8 has David( who incidentally, also had a lot of bad mental health days) writing these words:
“When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honour.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!"
Try to recapture a sense of wonder today and as you do so, know that God thinks you are wonderful too
"Bolted On" - 21/11/21
When you are looking for a new car, the way we search does not always relate to what we actually want to do. You are buying a car to move people and luggage from A to B, that’s the main thing we want to do. So the number of seats will be an important part of what we look for. But many of the decisions we make on which car to buy will not be based on that information.
Is it comfortable? Does it look nice? How good does the radio sound? What extra gadgets does it come with? There are things we take for granted that will come with the car, like seats and seatbelts or opening windows, or lights or wheels. Often, what takes time to choose are the extras. We take certain things for granted. A car is made safe not by adding pillows to the outside afterwards but by building in air bags into the structure of the car.
The designers need to build into things important details to make things work, to make them usable and to make them safe. They cant just be added on at the last minute.
Being a Christian is not something that is just an add on, it becomes a part of our lives. Its not something which we just do on a Sunday or its not just that is added on to the outside. Being a Christian is a part of us and our relationship with God is a fundamental part of our “being”. Often Christians will describe the time in their lives before they knew God as if there was a part of their life that was missing.
A Christian is someone whose behaviour and heart shows Jesus in their life. They accept the love of God and this love is reflected back both to God and then out to others.
Jesus said, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Being a Christian is not just a bolt-on, it is actually a fundamental part of us that was intended by the designer.
"A Work In Progress" - 19/11/21
As some of you already know, I am decorating at the moment. I was reminded of the Sunrise I wrote the last time I was decorating, so I thought I would remind you. If the BBC can get away with repeats, then so can I... pretty soon you will be able to download the full boxset. This was first published on 31st July 2020, but its message is still applicable. So, while you read this, possibly for the second time, I will get on with the ceiling. Enjoy.
I have been doing a lot of painting recently. Not the creating a masterpiece on canvas kind of painting, but the slapping emulsion on a ceiling kind of painting. Then the slapping emulsion on a wall kind of painting – and not just any old emulsion; this is New Plaster Emulsion, “specially formulated to cover newly plastered surfaces”. Anybody who has ever painted a newly plastered surface will know that new plaster is thirsty. It takes a few coats, even with my new wonder paint. It’s almost finished. I just need to do the odd bits that haven’t really taken properly, which only show up in bright sunlight… so I might have to wait a while for some bright sunlight to finish the job. Then, of course, I’ve still got to do the gloss paint. Then it will be finished. All the blemishes left behind by the plasterers and the tiler will be covered over and everything will look new. The mess will be gone. It’s still there underneath, but it looks as good as new.
I will stand back and be pleased that the job is done… and then I’ll realise that my newly sparkling, bright white kitchen walls and ceiling put the paintwork in the rest of the house to shame; “That back bedroom could do with brightening up a bit” – and the whole thing starts again. Owning a house is like that. There is always something to be done. It is a work in progress… constantly.
We are a little bit like that too. There are things in our lives that we wish we could cover over. I don’t mean issues with the way we look; that’s merely cosmetic. I mean issues with the way we are. The things we do and say. Our behaviours, our attitudes, our way of living life. We are a work in progress. We are constantly having to adapt to the things life throws at us. We are constantly at work trying to respond to the people around us, to meet their needs and interact in a way that promotes harmony and goodwill. If you are anything like me, then you fail to meet the required standard on a regular basis. You will let people down. You will not always get it right. You are a work in progress.
How nice it would be if somebody could simply cover up my shortcomings with a paint brush - hide all the blemishes of character behind a layer of brilliant white emulsion.
Jesus does more than that. When we come to Him and tell Him of the things we have done wrong and the things we didn’t do, but wish we had, He forgives us. He doesn’t simply brush over the marks and smudges, He takes them away and presents us spotless before the throne of God. Our blemishes are not simply covered over, they are removed. We are a new creation. It is as though the things we got wrong have never happened. The Psalmist tells us that, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us”. So when we get things wrong, when our work in progress doesn’t go how we planned, we shouldn’t try and cover it over, we should come to Jesus and ask him to put it right. He will make it new. That’s a lot better than any interior decorator I know.
"Planning" - 18/11/2
“The phrase 'Someone ought to do something' was not, by itself, a helpful one. People who used it never added the rider 'and that someone is me'.”
Terry Pratchett, Hogfather
The Hogfather is a book which takes a satirical look at the power of belief through an alternative world called Discworld. The Hogfather is the Discworld’s version of Santa, and the book explores what might happen if he disappeared!
Well today it’s 37 days till Christmas. As I am writing this, I am attempting to work out what I might get people for Christmas. This may seem early for some, but so much about Christmas is about planning nowadays isn’t it!
Planning for the presents, the entertaining, the Christmas meals and parties. Its all wonderful, but its often a lot of work for people.
I am reassured to know that the first Christmas also had a lot of planning behind the scenes. Our phrase from the Hogfather today reminds me that God always had a plan. Someone needed to do something about the state of the world and its people, and unlike the quote, God stepped in with a plan. His plan was brave and unorthodox, but it was the most amazing rescue plan for all people.
Gods plan to send his son down to earth, to be born, live and grow up as a human, and give himself as a sacrifice for all was in place hundreds of years before it came to pass.
The bible tells us that God promised this in a book called Isaiah, written several hundreds of years before the first Christmas.
Isaiah 7:14
So God is going to give you a sign. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us).
God took great care planning the first Christmas, and nothing was left to chance. Whether we are great planners, or last minute panickers, or somewhere in-between, lets give thanks for the most amazing rescue plan of all.
"Back In The Saddle"- 17/11/21
Some years ago, not long after I had arrived in Guatemala to work, I was asked by a local doctor to go and visit a remote village a few hours away on a mountainside. We were travelling in a small jeep until the journey became too difficult. The doctor parked his jeep and announced that we were to walk the rest of the journey. We had only been walking a few minutes, when a couple of men appeared out of nowhere. They lived in a tiny community on the side of the mountain. They asked us where we were going and immediately offered us horses to ride for the rest of the journey. ‘Oh goody!’ I thought to myself sarcastically. ‘A horse!’ A horse WITHOUT a saddle! I was not excited! That day I was wearing a T-shirt and a long very flowy skirt. Two men offered to help me up. They bent down and both clasped their hands for me to place my foot on. I’m guessing that my large, flowy skirt made me look a bit heavier than I was..... With a big heave from my 2 amigos, all 7 stone of me flew into the air, over the top of the horse, and landed back down on the ground, with my large flowy skirt now over my head. The place erupted with laughter as more and more villagers appeared from nowhere to see the unplanned comedy. So we tried again. I had nothing to lose. I had lost my dignity the moment I landed on the ground. Take 2! And this time I landed safely on the horse. People cheered. My legs dangled pathetically either side. This was not going to be comfortable! The man who owned the horse spoke in Spanish to my translator who told me, “you just have to nudge the horse with your heals and say ‘yah!’ “ I braced myself! So did everyone else! ‘Yah!’ I shouted and swung my legs into the horse‘s sides. We took off, a bit faster than everybody expected, straight through the open door of a small, simple, one-roomed home. The horse stopped in front of a completely stunned family of four who were sitting at the table eating. I got the feeling they’d not had a horse in the house before. At that point in time I don’t know who was more shocked, the family we had just invaded, me, the horse, or the crowd of onlookers outside. For a moment, there was silence. This was broken by me speaking the only Spanish I knew at that time, ‘¡hola!’ (That’s hello!) There wasn’t a dry eye in the place as my horse was backed out of the house and we were sent on our way, riding up the mountainside. At the end of that day, when we eventually returned the horses to the ‘still laughing’ villagers, I ache from head to toe. There wasn’t a bit of me that didn’t hurt. But inside I felt great. We had laughed and laughed while I tried to learn a new skill and ‘somewhat’ succeed! People were gracious, patient, good natured and full of encouragement. I was grateful! Very grateful! Over the past few days and weeks we have all had to adapt to a different way of living and socialising. It’s not been easy. And many of us have had an enormously steep learning curve concerning new ways to communicate with each other. The ‘how to’s’ and the ‘do’s and the don’t’s’, have been really difficult to work our way through. And when it becomes too difficult, the stress levels rise and there’s the temptation to feel stupid or useless or left out. Those people in Guatemala taught me a great lesson that day. They taught me a lot about patience, good humour and encouragement....all I had to do was get back on the horse. 1 Corinthians 13, tells us all about what love is. I encourage you to read it. But one verse says, “Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant”. Can I make a suggestion today, that we all learn from those Guatemalan villagers and help each other face our ‘horse-sized’ stumbling blocks with grace, patience, good humour and much encouragement. When we fall, let’s help each other back up. Happy Wednesday everybody.
"Let Your Little Lights Shine" - 16/11/21
As we were reminded in Sunrise over the weekend – Christmas is coming! If I’m honest, I was a little surprised when I read that, where has the year gone?! I’m pretty certain it is a sign of old age but the years really do seem to be passing quicker!
I’m never an early Christmas shopper but this year I haven’t even given it a thought yet and the realisation of the impending advent season is a little bit stressful. But the one thing that never stresses me out about Christmas are the lights. The presents may not be bought, the turkey may not be ordered but I’m ready with my lights! As soon as December arrives I will be ready to decorate my tree, hang my baubles and turn the fairy lights on. There is something so pretty and exciting when the dark December streets become lit up with the colourful, twinkling lights of Christmas. For a while the world looks happy and welcoming, joyous and bright. But the reality is that January will come and the lights will go away for another year while the streets become dark and gloomy again.
But the Bible tells us that Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Jesus came into the world to bring a new light, a light that would outlast the seasons, a light that can’t be put away in a box or unplugged until next year. To walk with Jesus each day offers a light that will never fade or go out but will remain with us through the good times as well as the bad. As we approach advent this year and begin to turn our twinkly lights on, let’s remember that Jesus ‘the light of the world’ was so much more than just a baby – he came to bring us the light of life that can never be taken from us. He wants to shine through us brighter than any light we have stored away; he wants to light up our lives and the lives of everyone we come into contact with. As we begin to light up our streets let’s remember that while the fairy lights may offer some seasonal joy, the light of Jesus offers us a deep and lasting joy that will still be with us when we get to January and beyond.
"Some Things Never Change" - 15/11/21
I went to a church this morning that I had not been to for three years. Before I arrived, I wondered how it had changed during that time. After all, the last few years have been eventful to put it mildly. That church like every other church in the entire world has been closed totally for almost a year and then opened and closed several times as well. Some people are just beginning to feel comfortable meeting together without using masks, but some are still cautious and prefer to continue wearing one, while other people have decided to keep away for a little longer. As soon as I opened the door and walked in, I was greeted like a family member who had been away for decades. I was hugged and kissed by people who would normally shake hands, and I loved that change. We spent a lot of time before and after the service catching up on each other’s recent history with all its ups and downs. Some had retired since I saw them last, some had been seriously ill but recovered, a few had changed their jobs, one family had moved house, I talked to a teenager who had been shockingly bullied during the lock-down, several people had died and one man who was always there was now too ill to attend. And really really sadly, most of the young people had disappeared.
Happily some things had not changed, they still believed in the power of prayer; they continued to serve their community and provide a warm welcome to everyone who came through the door. But there was something else that almost took my breath away; for the first time in two years, we stood together and sang,
‘Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art.’
As we sang these wonderful words, our minds were taken away from the realities and sadnesses of our recent past and we were able to look forward to our glorious future and sing,
‘When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then shall I bow in humble adoration, and there proclaim, my God how great Thou art.’ As we begin to rebuild our church and family life, we can take great comfort from the fact that whatever happens in our world and community, our great God says, “I will never leave you, I will never forsake you” and as we view the many changes in our society and culture, we can hear God say, “I the Lord do not change.”
"Abide With Me" - 14/11/21
Father, we come to you on this Remembrance Day, to remember all those who have lost their lives as a result of war. Young soldiers, dispatched to far off places, never to return. Civilians, young and old, caught in the crossfire of conflict.
Lord, we pray for those living with the psychological horrors of war, traumatised by what they’ve experienced.
And for those Lord who are experiencing war right now in their own nations.
Father, you see it all and we know it devastates you.
Today Father, bring peace to broken families, broken lives, tormented minds and hurting nations.
Thankyou God, that as people have prayed the words of ‘Abide With Me’ over the years and throughout the wars, we can have confidence today that you did abide with them, and continue to abide with us, each and every day.
Father, help us to remember, and give thanks.
Amen.
Please click on the link to hear this beautiful hymn, sung by Emeli Sandé.
"It's Coming” - 13/11/21
Bonfire night has now been and gone, no matter how much I might try to fight it, Christmas is coming.
The regular Amazon parcels are now adorned with Christmas tape. Preparations are starting for putting up Christmas lights, children asking when can the tree go up, people asking “what do you want for Christmas”.
No matter how much I would try to hide from it, Christmas will soon be here and if I don’t start planning to do my 5% of the shopping, it will be a personal disaster.
Christmas means many things to many people, for some it’s a time for family, or it’s a time for presents, or it’s a time for a decent break from work. The Christmas movies have been playing on the TV, the mince pies have been in the shops for weeks. What will this Christmas be like as we slowly edge out of Covid?
Christmas does mean so many things but we should remember it is about the ultimate gift and also the ultimate sacrifice. It is based on God’s wholehearted love for each one of us, sending Jesus to be our example, our teacher and knowing He will be our Saviour.
As our preparations continue (or begin, maybe, soon-ish) lets remember the heart of Christmas is the heart of God. As we are warmed by the fire, the mulled wine, the warm mince pies, the giving of presents, dwell for a moment on the gift from God, the love shared with us that we can share with others. As the Christmas marketing juggernaut starts to build up, tell them about the love from God that is really behind it.
In 1 John 4, we are reminded
“This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.”
''Confetti” - 12/11/21
I have many happy memories of my wedding day. Two of them involve confetti. The first was a comment made by the vicar, who assured us that we were welcome to use the church grounds for our photographs, but requested that any use of confetti be restricted to areas beyond the lychgate. He concluded his announcement by explaining with a wry smile that, "whilst the confetti may look nice, it is very difficult to brush up; as you will discover, should you choose to ignore my request".
The second was advice given by our photographer, who told everybody assembled on the correct side of the lychgate that sprinkling a little handful of confetti didn't make for a good photograph and that those intending to throw it should in fact empty an entire box at a time. The resulting photograph is my favourite of the whole day. It is a riot of colour and you can see that everybody is having fun. The photographer was pleased with it as well; so much so that he sold it to the Pronuptia store in Liverpool, where a six foot by four foot enlargement stood in the window for months. I'm just glad it wasn't in Lewis's window, or it would have proved my Mum right.
The attitude of our photographer towards confetti, should be our attitude towards kindness. Don't just sprinkle it... make sure everybody is covered in it. In showering kindness like confetti, we should ignore the words of the vicar and spread it everywhere. Yes, it's hard to get rid of, but that's the point. Once kindness is out there, it's hard to ignore. People notice it and tend to respond in kind... so to speak. Kindness can come in many shapes and sizes. It may be a wise word, a listening ear, or a helping hand. Whatever the act of kindness, it does what the confetti does; it brings colour and joy into people's lives. It speaks of a celebration, because knowing that somebody cares enough to show kindness is a cause for celebration.
Confetti is used at weddings, which are a celebration of love - and, of course, kindness is an act of love. Jesus demonstrated His kindness over and over again and He did so because He loves us. He wants us to love each other; in fact He commands it, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you". If we are to follow that command, we need to be like Him; to love like Him. We need to demonstrate kindness as Jesus did. Jesus didn't just sprinkle kindness, He showered it abundantly. So, let's open the box and get started.
''We Will Remember” - 11/11/21
Today is set aside to take time to give thanks for the men and women throughout history who gave their lives so that we could live in freedom.
Please take time to read the wonderful modern day remembrance poem below by Damian Robin.
Remembrance Day
We fight in many ways, some stay at home apart,
And wear no uniform except soft flesh.
Some train, stand ready, are not called. They have their part.
We have a single mind – keep freedom fresh.
Some marshal paperwork, sort buildings, gear, and stocks,
Supply from a distance, metal parts and food.
Some of us fight with just debate and ballot box,
Risk argument turned treacherous and crude
But those who stood in bullets’ way, in sleepless trench,
Or armoured strategies hard blown apart,
May see their names carved, deep and clear, on garden bench
Or marble wall or loved one’s solid heart.
Yet all of us must play our standing, righteous parts.
For fragile Liberty has need of our true hearts.
Let’s take time today to both remember and give thanks for all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Let’s also ask God how we can protect and stand up for freedom today. The hard-won, hard-fought freedom that we should never take for granted.
John 15:12-13
Jesus said, “My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”.
''The Touch Of The Master's Hand” - 10/11/21
I first heard this beautiful poem when I was very young. You may have heard it before, but it’s worth being reminded that every person, of every country, language, status, background….whoever they are, have amazing gifts and value. Gifts given by God, who looks at us and desires to walk with us each and every day. We are worth so much to God that He considered us worth dying for. Have a beautiful day knowing you are gifted and valued.
'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No,
From the room far back a grey bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."
"And many a man with life out of tune
All battered and bruised with sin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.
- Myra Brooks Welch
‘This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God’.
1 John 4: 9-10
''How Cold My Toes, Tiddly Pom” - 09/11/21
Don’t you just love Winnie the Pooh?! I grew up listening to the stories. Always feeling sorry for Eeyore, always identifying with Tigger. They went on many adventures together with the rest of their friends, often involving honey bees, Heffalumps, Woozles and the wisdom of Pooh Bear! Yes, this, ‘Silly old bear’, seemed to speak such wonderful common sense! How about, ‘Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your hearts’? Every grandparent will be nodding now! Or what about, ‘We didn’t realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun’? And then there’s, ‘Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them’? Wow! Straightforward, simple, easy language! Winnie the Pooh had such a simple and humble take on life and he’s been teaching us ever since! If only we didn’t complicate things quite so much. Maybe you’re a bit like me and you want to figure everything out, find answers to life’s big questions, fathom God out??? Do you want to understand exactly what He’s up to? Me too!! But, in the Bible God is talking to Isaiah and He explains to him,
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways....As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”.
I can look at the world and stress and fret and see all the injustices and question and question and question where God is in it all. And when I don’t get the answers I can become angry or bitter or blame God. Or, I can accept that I don’t understand everything (most things!) that is going on in the world, and I never will. But, like Pooh Bear, I can do my part to make this world a better place, trust the One who does know what’s going on, take a deep breath and thank Him that He holds the future.
Tiddly Pom!
''Squash Your Enemies” - 08/11/21
When I was a bit younger than I am today, my family moved house to a new town. I had to go to a new school where I was duly picked on and bullied because of; my haircut (my mum cut my hair, those days may well be returning!), my shoes (they were not the platforms that everyone else seemed to be wearing) and my accent (black country twang was definitely weird in posher Bromsgrove).
One day I was in the playground when ‘Bob’ (not his real name) the bully, started on me again. Something inside me must have popped because this quiet, shy retiring 10 year old, turned round and promptly bashed him and his mate in with more punches than Mohammed Ali on a good day. Overnight, I became top dog in the school and was now hanging around with the ‘cool’ kids, including ‘Bob’ and his gang. I do remember, in the inevitable detention that followed the fight, being stuck in the English classroom singing Showaddywaddy songs with the rest of the gang and a poor teacher not being able to control us.
Today, my enemies are more likely to be the things that rob me of my peace. Worry, anxiety, stress, hurts, anger.
In Psalm 110 verse 1, it says this: “…Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
In these weird times, we will face enemies that rob us of our peace and bully our minds. God invites us to take time out, to be still, to sit alongside Him. He will then deal with the enemies for us, if we let Him. It is not always easy to hand over our battles to God as it means we have to let Him be in control, not us. It might require repeated attempts to force ourselves to sit and hand them over, but those bullies can be squashed under our feet without us raising a finger.
''Through It All” - 07/11/21
André Crouch was born in to a poor African American family. He grew up with his dad travelling around local churches preaching when he has asked. André was asked one day by his dad if he would be happy to play the piano in the churches if God blessed him with the ability to play. The young André agreed. Some weeks later he sat down at a piano and began to play. He went on to be one of the greatest gospel singers, musicians and songwriters.
André went through great times and the toughest of times and passed away in 2015 after a long battle with cancer and heart problems. During a difficult time he wrote the words of this beautiful song. Written from a place of experience and persistent faith. Click the link below to hear.
''Parent Hood” - 06/11/21
It’s a simple word that is exciting, challenging, scary, desired, feared and probably many other mixed emotions.
Its also a great film from 1989, when comedic actor Steve Martin was at his best. In fact, looking back, its got a great cast. The film includes so many different aspects of family life, as parents struggle with being a parent and coming to terms with what that means.
Being a parent can be tough, can be enjoyable, can be rewarding, can be heart-warming, but there is no handbook to refer to. Well, there are probably thousands of people who have written books about it, telling people there is a formula for bringing up children and if you do it “my way” everything will be perfect. However, people are people, nothing is ever really the same twice.
Each of us needs to find our own way of being a parent.
However, we do have a God who has shown us some different aspects that we can all learn from and strive to follow as best we can.
Our God is a God of love, no matter what we have done, no matter what we do, He will always love us. There are no conditions to this.
Our God is a God of choices, He will let us choose what to do, though He will want us to do things in His style, it is up to us what we do. He has the power to enforce his will, but He lets us choose our own path, He will always be there, he will always choose to support us. Though as a parent, young children need help and guidance, as they grow up we need to release them to their own choices.
Our God is a God of trust, He gives us the freedom to choose as He trusts us and wants us to Trust Him.
Our God is a God of hope, as He longs for the best for us and we have a hope as we know that God has a new life for us.
These are just a few of the words that can describe our indescribable God.
There are many aspects to being a parent and as part of Gods family we can learn from the best. It does not mean there wont be tough times, but there will also be great times and there will always be love.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
''Card School” - 05/11/21
I'm not much of a card player. It's probably because I don't like card games. I have never been very good at any of them and that has added to my lack of enjoyment. I can remember my Dad teaching me to play cribbage when I was young, but I was far more keen on kicking a ball around, so he didn't get many opportunities to beat me. In high school, we played poker for marbles on rainy days and I can remember that, not only was I an atrocious player, but I was also inept at both shuffling and dealing. Incidentally, I'm sure many of you have wondered when it was that I lost my marbles, well now you know.
I think one of the reasons I don't like card games is that much of the game hinges on the cards that you are dealt. If you end up with a lousy hand, then there is not a lot you can do. Sometimes, when I look around, I see people who have been dealt a lousy hand in life. They didn't ask for it; they did nothing to warrant it; they just ended up with it. They can't bribe the dealer to change it; they can't swap it with another player; they just have to play the hand they were dealt. Sometimes they will bluff; sometimes they will gamble; sometimes they will fold, but whatever happens, it is their hand to play.
Whilst they may not be able to change their hand, they don't have to play it alone. There is somebody who will be by their side and will help them through whatever they are facing. God will be there to play it with them. But how do we get Him involved? By prayer. Why? Because the Bible tells us to, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" and, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" and, "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always" and then, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know". I could go on, but I only have a limited space. If you spend just five minutes reading the Bible you will uncover many more similar passages that I couldn't fit in. The Bible doesn't waste words. There so many references to the efficacy of prayer because it is so important. God wants to be involved in our lives and longs for us to reach out to Him and tell Him our worries and concerns.
So, whether the hand is yours to play, or whether you are a faithful friend wanting to offer support to somebody in difficulty, remember that prayer is the ace up our sleeve; our royal flush; our trump card.
''Who's In Charge” - 04/11/21
“Sometimes you will hear leaders say, “I’m the only person who can hold this nation together.” If that’s true then that leader has truly failed to build their nation.”
Tim Marshall, Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics
Prisoners of Geography describes the impact geography can have on international affairs. It offers some very interesting insights on what makes a good leader, including this quote.
The idea that leaders can believe themselves to be so amazing and brilliant that they are indispensable, is often misplaced. Some of the very famous mistakes through history happened because someone thought that they were the only person who could sort something out. Napoleon thought he was undefeatable. Richard Nixon though he was above the Law, and Hitler thought he was the law, to name but a few. All were wrong.
In ancient Rome, when a successful leader enjoyed a triumphal march, a slave stood behind him and whispered in his ear: “Remember you are human.”
Whilst it’s not world politics, in daily life it’s all too easy look at situations and think ‘well if only they had done things my way’, or ‘of course I could have done things better’. On a small scale I put myself above others, and I need someone to whisper in my ear, ‘remember you are only human’.
The good news is that our church, this great amazing family of faith, is not built by people. It’s built by the most amazing God, who unlike us, is all powerful and really does know what he is doing. Humans can mess up, God never does. God places us all in this wonderful family, with different gifts and abilities, but all equal, with Jesus in charge.
Ephesians 2:16-21
Christ brought us together through his death on the cross……. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals.…… This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.
Let’s give thanks today for our wonderful church family, the amazing God who leads it, and look to see how we can all be a part of it
''I'm a Genius” - 03/11/21
If you asked me to build you a boat I’m afraid I think you would be very likely to sink. If you asked me to design you a house you would be wise to keep your hard hat on as bits of it would be likely to come down on your head! If you asked me to explain the quantum mechanics of x-rays you would probably have to wake me up because I’d drifted off after ‘quantum’! There are so many things that I just can’t do. Some of them are things that I would love to learn to do such as play a musical instrument or cut my own hair but there are also many things that just don’t really interest me like fixing the car when it breaks down or understanding gravity.
Don’t misunderstand me, it isn’t that I don’t place a value on those things - when my car breaks down I really appreciate the person that is able to fix it and I definitely appreciate gravity, it’s just that my gifts lie elsewhere. I can organise things really well; I can bake a decent cake and I’ve learned how to knit a tea cosy – I may not be in the running for a Nobel prize but in my small corner of the world, there are things that I can contribute. There are things that we can ALL do well - but thankfully, they’re just not all the same things.
Somebody once said “Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid.” If you put me in a room full of scientists discussing how to create a vaccination for Covid-19 I would feel incredibly stupid but if you asked the same room full of scientists to make a gingerbread man with a ‘snap’ that was the envy of Mary Berry, then I might suddenly be in the running!
God created each one of us different, not some better than others, just different, so that we ALL have something to offer. The Bible puts it this way: “Be generous with the different gifts God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything.”
Let’s share our gifts generously with one another giving freely from our strengths and receiving humbly in our weaknesses.
And if you want to know who said that we are all genius’ – it was Albert Einstein! So from one genius to another Albert, you keep an eye of gravity – I’m off to bake a cake!
''Turning Back Time” - 02/11/21
Last weekend saw the end of British Summer Time as we all turned our clocks back by one hour. It always feels to me like a strange thing to do and for at least a day I seem to be hungry at the wrong times and tired earlier than I should be! As I turn the clocks back I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to choose an hour in time that we could re-live. What would you choose? Would you choose a particularly good time that you would like to enjoy again? Or perhaps you might like to choose an occasion that you think you could improve by having a second chance at – rectify a mistake; say something that you wished you had said or perhaps take back some words you wish you hadn’t said?
As tempting as that might be, it is clearly not possible – the past is done and if we want to avoid getting stuck, the Bible is clear that there is only one thing to do: “…forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us.” Paul had made many mistakes in his life and had many regrets but he understood one thing, that the past lay in the past and the direction of travel must always be forward. But here’s the good news – what awaits God’s children is so much better than anything we might like to look back to:
I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea. I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband. I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighbourhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good – tears gone, crying gone, pain gone – all the first order of things gone… Look! I’m making everything new”
As I write I can see a beautiful, strong and clear rainbow outside my window and am reminded that God has promised to walk every step with us, through every trial and difficulty that may lie ahead until we reach that promised place when all tears and pains are gone.
Whether we desire to go back to happier times or whether we struggle to move on from our regrets or hurts, let’s leave the past where it is and look to the wonderful, bright, fulfilling future we have with God.
'Colour From God' - 01/11/21
It’s that time of the year again when the leaves in your drive each morning are beautiful, colourful, wonderful shapes, and in the way. However, they provide good exercise; they’re not very heavy but you do a lot of bobbing up and down with a shovel. Some of the gardens around us have huge trees which shed their leaves for about two months so we can all be very trim and fit for picking up those large presents from Santa. Maybe. I’ve noticed something about these leaves; the vast majority are faded greens and browns, very pretty but not quite New England. Amongst them on the shovel are some beautiful orange and yellow leaves which proudly stand out and attract attention. They are asking to be photographed so I’ve done just that and I must say my images are stunning. You would probably expect me to say that. Its interesting to see that they come from the smallest tree in the road. Despite that, they stand out as being special; they are fewer in number but they make a greater impact.
The Bible mentions many individuals who only take up a verse or two, then disappear for ever, but they make a significant change to other people or to history. In many cases they are not even named. We were reminded in our service yesterday and also in yesterday’s Sunrise that Jesus told His followers that they were, “The light of the world.” Let's also bring some colour into the lives of those who feel that everything around them is grey and drab. There are so many people around us, young and old, who are seeing the world and their lives in black and white and are longing for a reason to smile. We saw a stunning rainbow yesterday in a miserable grey sky and people smiled. Those bright orange leaves on my drive will soon fade and be swept up and put out of sight. This is a reminder not to delay but to get on with the business of bringing colour and beauty to those who are looking for it but can’t see it. The autumn leaves and the rainbow are gifts from God; let’s put some of God’s colour into people's lives.
Advent '21 Sunrises
"Who Would Imagine a King" - 01/12/21
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
James 1:17
Welcome to December! As we think about and prepare for, Christmas, let’s just take a moment to be thankful for all that we have been blessed with. From the stars in the sky, to our friends and family, and for the greatest gift of all....’Who Would Imagine a King?’
Click the link below to listen to this beautiful song by Whitney Houston
"Mary Did You Know?" - 02/12/21
“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favour with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
Luke 1:30-31
Mary was just a young teenager when this happened to her. Such an incredible honour for her, and yet it led to her experiencing judgement, shunning and cruelty.
Let’s be mindful of how we view others. May our thoughts, words and actions be kind and without malice. We have no idea what people are experiencing.
Below is a link to the song, ‘Mary, Did You Know?’ A song very familiar to our gospel choir. Here performed by Mark Lowry who also wrote it.
"The Gift" - 03/12/21
'Thank God for his Son—his Gift too wonderful for words.'
2 Corinthians 9:15
Quite a few years ago now, I was given a gift! I carefully opened the paper to reveal a strange looking object. I had absolutely no idea at all what it was! I was lost for words....and it was all very awkward!
Paul who wrote the verse above had once hated Christians and made it his mission to kill them. Then he met Jesus and changed. His transformation was so incredible, so miraculous, words simply weren’t enough to describe how thankful he was.
I hope, when you get to open your presents you recognise what the gift is and can find great words to say. And I pray that the real gift of Christmas will render you speechless, just like He did, Paul.
The following piece of music has no words. Speechless! It is truly beautiful. As you listen to it, maybe spend a moment being thankful for all the gifts you’ve been blessed with.
"O Come All Ye Faithful" - 04/12/21
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths’. Proverbs 3:5-6
Very little is known about Joseph in the Bible. I imagine, that just like Mary, he would’ve had hopes and dreams for his future life with his soon-to-be bride. One thing is for certain, he didn’t expect what was coming! He could’ve walked away, but he chose to stay. Joseph was certainly a man of faith!
Steven Curtis Chapman performs this beautiful and well known Christmas carol. Click the link below to hear it.
"I Will Follow Him" - 05/12/21
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.....and love your neighbour as you love yourself.
Mark 12:30-31
When we love someone it always requires a sacrifice of some sort. Maybe giving up an expensive hobby to save up for a family car? Maybe giving up your ‘free time’ to help your son or daughter with their homework? Maybe being the one to graciously backdown and agree to go and see a soppy romantic comedy at the cinema when you really wanted to see the new spy thriller? There’s always a sacrifice to make.
This tiny baby we remember at Christmas came to make the greatest of sacrifices for each one of us. He grew up, and died for us. That’s how much He loves us. Jesus made it so simple, ‘love God, love your neighbour’.
Click the link below for a beautiful and popular song.
‘I Will Follow Him’
"9 To 5" - 06/12/21
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
As you’ll have noticed we have a song for every day in December. The song choice for today is a little unconventional maybe?
Dolly Parton grew up very poor in a large family. But she had determination and she knew she wanted to be a musician. Her faith in God is not hidden away but something she openly talks about.
One of her most famous songs is on the link just below! A bit of a fun song about the daily trials of life. Whatever we do in life, whatever job, whatever hobby....let’s do it all for the glory of God.
Enjoy!
Dolly Parton 9 to 5 (Live 2019 Performance from 50 year anniversary)
"Hope Was Born This Night" - 07/12/21
Suddenly a great army of heaven’s angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:13-14
I can’t even begin to imagine what the shepherds thought or felt when the angel appeared to them. Shepherds were considered the ‘nobodies’ of society and yet God chose to share the news of a new baby, a new king, with them.
If you feel a little bit (or a lot) like a nobody, remember this....God loves you, God has given you gifts and skills, you are here for a reason, you are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’.
This beautiful song tells that when Jesus was born, hope was born. Have a wonderful day, filled with hope.
"Hope Was Born This Night" - 08/12/21
Come, let’s talk this over, says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow.
Isaiah 1:18
I hate the cold weather! I think I should be hibernating during these months. But there is one bit of the winter weather that I do love!...when it begins to snow, and before it gets messed up with footprints, tyre marks and grit. When the snow is absolutely perfect. Pure white. And in the street light it makes everything look beautiful and clean and without any mark or mess. It’s just beautiful to see.
God was telling Isaiah in the verse above that He could get rid of all the rubbish in our lives and make us as clean and pure as snow looks. Jesus came to do that for each one of us.
Next time we see the snow falling, maybe we could take a moment to stop and thank God before we make a snowman!!
Here’s an 80’s Christmas classic from the rather marvellous Shakin’ Stevens to help get you moving on a wild Wednesday morning!!
"He Lives" - 09/12/21
At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10-11
Whether people like it or not, the name of Jesus Is like no other. There is power in that name. Since Jesus was born people have tried to deny Him, refuse Him, silence Him, ignore Him. And yet His message was a message of love. Christmas is very definitely a celebration of His birth, but He was so much ‘more than a baby in a manger....’
Click the link below for this beautiful song
"Smile" - 11/12/21
The ways of right-living people glow with light
Proverbs 4:18
Right living doesn’t mean easy living. Choosing to do right can often mean making a difficult choice, maybe a lonely one. Let’s not stop doing what’s right even though it may mean difficult times. Let’s encourage one another, and help each other ‘glow’ and smile....even on the toughest days.
Kirk Franklin wrote and performed this beautiful song. Click the link below.
"King Of Kings, Majesty" - 12/12/21
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Revelation 19:16
The tiny baby of Christmas, came to be King of ALL Kings, and Lord of ALL Lords.
Enjoy this song that has been sung all around the world in many different languages. Happy Sunday to you all.
Click on the link below
"While Shepherds Watched" - 13/12/21
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Saviour—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem!
Luke 2:8-11
Click the link below
"Oh Happy Day" - 14/12/21
This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
Amen to that! Whatever life is throwing at us, each day is a gift, let’s look for what we can be thankful for today, and every day. Have a lovely day everybody.
Here’s another favourite song of our gospel choir. This clip shows perfectly how not to sing it, and then how to sing it! Enjoy!
"Precious Promise" - 15/12/21
'The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God shall stand forever'
Isaiah 40:8
Everything in life changes. Our looks, our circumstances, our memory, our energy levels, our likes and dislikes.....but God never changes. His word never changes. 'Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever' He loves us, and that will NEVER change. NEVER. That's the best kind of news. Have a lovely day.
This beautiful song written and performed by Steven Curtis Chapman is about the gift of Jesus, come down to earth, because of His never ending love for us all.
"His Eye Is On The Sparrow" - 16/12/21
Do not worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
Matthew 6:25-26
This beautiful song sung by Tanya Blount and Lauryn Hill, says it all.
"Light Of The World" - 17/12/21
“You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16
"Check Your Heart" - 19/12/21
Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7
We live in a culture where appearance is of the utmost importance. Young people in particular face huge pressures from social media and peers to ‘fit in’ or face rejection. And it’s not just our hair and make up and clothes that are up for judgement, but our homes, cars, type of mobile you hold in your hand, and whether your tv is as big as the neighbours. Keeping up with the Jones is exhausting and damaging and the rewards are short lived.
God shows no favouritism. He’s not more impressed or interested in someone because of their outward appearance being more ‘put together’. He’s interested in who we really are. What we really think. What our hearts are like. May we all find comfort in this and may we all think twice before judging someone’s appearance.
This beautiful song speaks of where we find our true hope for the future.
'I worship the King' - 20/12/21
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king. Soon afterward, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the east, and we have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2
Right from Jesus arrival as a baby in Bethlehem, God was showing that this King came for ALL people. He wasn’t born in a palace, His first visitors were shepherds, who, in society, were recognised as the lowest of the low. And today we read about the wise men. They probably travelled from somewhere that today is Iran or Iraq. These men were not local. They were clearly educated and had wealth. But when they saw the unusual star in the sky, they knew it was important. They knew that this King was different. This King was the King of all shepherds, and the King of all wise men. No exclusions, no prejudices. Jesus, King of All.
This beautiful song is one that our gospel choir hope to perform next Christmas. Happy Monday everybody.
"How Beautiful" - 21/12/21
But you, friends, do not become tired of doing good.
2 Thessalonians 3:13
Church is a word often mistaken as being a building. Church is the people. The people coming together in love, unity, fellowship and devotion to God. And when we are truly being church, we are not the only ones to be encouraged and supported and blessed, but others are too.
This song tells of how beautiful God is and how beautiful the church is when we focus on Him.
"O Come All You Unfaithful" - 22/12/21
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14
Every Christmas time we sing the popular carol, ‘O Come all Ye Faithful, joyful and triumphant....’ It’s a beautiful carol. But there’s many people who don’t feel faithful, joyful or triumphant. Are they still invited to ‘come and behold Him, born the king of angels’? YES!! Yes they are!!!
Jesus came for everybody. No one left out. No one not invited. Jesus came because we need Him, not because we’ve got it all sorted.
May this very beautiful song bless you today.
"Worthy is the Lamb" - 23/12/21
This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
John 3:16
This beautiful song is a Thankyou to Jesus for the price He paid for us.
"Oh Holy Night" - 24/12/21
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
After a very difficult, unpredictable and lonely year for so many, may you all know something of the presence of Emmanuel - God With Us this Christmas time.
Happy Christmas everybody