A Slice of Life

Holy Ground by Dave Bilbrough

2011-03-14T08:01:00.000Z

Song by Dave Bilbrough, recorded at Spring Harvest in 1997

Who does it belong to?

2011-02-28T14:38:00.000Z

LOL

2011-02-21T21:57:00.001Z

25.9p per litre! LOL - you must be joking! Yes it was a joke done by pranksters at a petrol station in Poole.

Source: BBC

Thorns in the Straw

2010-12-25T09:45:00.000Z

This is one did recently for GK's Thorns in the Straw and am posting it here as it's Christmas Day.

Peter at the Breaking of the Bread

2010-12-25T09:23:00.001Z

This is an old GK song he occasionally syill sings. I've combined it with some pictures from the Passion of the Christ. Interestingly, it's called Peter at the Breaking of the Bread, but to me it fits John better! Read the Bible and see what you think!

Send Revival (Start with Me)

2010-12-25T09:20:00.001Z

Here's a clip I put together some while back which I've now moved from presentation to video. Enjoy.

The Painting and the Painter

2010-11-26T08:23:00.004Z

Have you ever seen this picture? It's called Light of the World by English artist William Holman Hunt. The original painted in 1853-54 is in Keble College Oxford, but a larger version of it painted later is in St Paul's Cathedral.

We know that Hunt got the idea from Revelation 3 verse 20 (Behold, I stand at the door and knock) and John 8:12 (I am the light of the world), but how does one envisage the face of someone the artist has never seen? So what was Jesus' face to look like? The solution is in the painting.

Now take a look at the close up of Jesus' face and a picture of a face that bears remarkable similarity.

And who is the owner of the face on the right? William Holman Hunt. The question is, if you were an artist painting a picture of Jesus, how much would it look like you? My first reaction was that I would never dream of making such a connection and Hunt was being presumptious. Shouldn't he have made Jesus look unlike anyone people could make a connection to?

But maybe that's the underlying challenge of Hunt's painting, and I'm not sure whether he had it in mind or not when he made Jesus bear more than a passing resemblance to himself. If you look at Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus said to His disciples "You are the light of the world." He's the light of the world, and He's made His disciples the light of ther world too. So if I'm a disciple of Jesus, how much should I be like Jesus in every part of my life?

Commonwealth Games Update

2010-10-02T11:49:00.004Z

Source: Private Eye

Elderly Catholic visits Britain

2010-09-30T20:28:00.000Z

From Private Eye

Relate survey suggests mid-life crisis 'begins in 30s'

2010-09-29T13:56:00.005Z

Here's a snippet from a BBC Article 29/9/10

Work and relationship pressures make the mid-30s the start of many British people's unhappiest decade, a survey suggests. Of the 2,000 people quizzed, more aged 35 to 44 said that they felt lonely or depressed than in other age groups. The survey also suggested that busy parents were using Facebook and similar sites to stay in touch with children. Relationship advice charity Relate, which is behind the research, said it revealed a "true mid-life crisis".

Of those surveyed, 21% of men and women aged 35 to 44 said they felt lonely a lot of the time, and a similar percentage said that bad relationships, either at work or home, had left them feeling depressed. The same proportion said they felt closer to friends than family, and a quarter said they wished they had more time for their family.

How very sad; but in a generation that's generally rejected Jesus, I'm not really surprised that by the time people get into middle-age, they wonder what life has been all about. Yet Jesus said of the human race: I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

For those who like bossy waiters ..

2010-08-13T10:35:00.005Z

Strange, there only seems to be one customer
at Bully Cafe!

Stena brings back smoking

2010-05-27T13:22:00.003Z

So here it is; Stena Lines new superferry, the Stena Hollandica. It's the largest ferry in the world. It's big and it's impressive, but the most noticeable thing about it is the massive pall of part-bunt diesel that it belches. You see the pall of smoke rising above Landguard Fort before you see the ship itself approaching Landguard Point. I'm sure it's luxurious as promised, but pity about the pollution.

Scram Scammer!

2010-05-27T10:14:00.003Z

I was phoned today by a guy wanting to tell me of a major problem that was happening to all Windows computers. Curious? I'm fairly well read on these things and hadn't heard anything. He assured me that my computer would be full of errors. Did I have it switched on? I sensed a large and smelly rat.

As it happens the computer was on so I quickly switched from Linux to Windows and he started his game and I started mine as ignorant punter. He took me to Event Manager and asked me to look at the items in it - were there any errors or warnings? In the first folder there were warnings. I looked at a few and they were all the same and actually of no consequence - all networked Windows computers show them by default and that's normal. In another there were errors - but were all "phantom" errors I could explain easily and there were no problems. "You see he said your computer is full of errors. It will crash sooner or later! However, if you pay us £54 a year, our Microsoft trained engineers will sort out all your problems 24/7." At that point I hung up on him fearing his nose might get so long he would do himself an injury.

Why do I post this? As a warning mostly. It's just a telephone version of the scam that pops up saying your computer is full of viruses. You then pay for a program that does little for viruses but supplies your data to crooks worldwide. This is a simpler scam than that. Someone provides you with telephone support to sort "problems" out with your computer - but they are actually non-problems. If you are really concerned about security on your computer, go to someone you know and trust, don't respond to emails or phone calls from people you've never heard of.

Unleash the Lynx

2010-05-01T09:09:00.005Z

Most people know that I'm a bit of a computer anorak and also know that I don't run Windows (or for that matter very little Microsoft software) on my computer but a version of Linux called Ubuntu. Like Windows it's an operating system and it's just come out in its latest version 10.04 codenamed Lucid Lynx.

So how does it differ from Windows?
Stability - it rarely crashes, and if it does, it doesn't crash the whole system. The main reason for stability is primarily the lack of a registry and the fact that it doesn't need an orderly shutdown to reboot the system.
Security - high security is built in as standard. The kernel is firewalled as standard. You don't require anti-spyware, anti-trojan, anti-rootkit or anti-virus scanning software (although ClamAV is included to filter out malware in emails in case you forward it Windows users). It is very difficult to get bad stuff on your computer or to lose information from it.

Speed - it's fast, very fast - because unlike Windows, it contains a minimum of flabware. Ubuntu Lucid boots to its login screen in under 10 seconds.

Software - there's no fiddling with CDs and DVDs. All Ubuntu software is downloaded and regularly updated from online repositories. By all I mean all. Not just the Operating System but all the software. Ubuntu has about 99% of linux software online and available to download in a few clicks. There are good quality free alternatives to well-known software, particularly Microsoft Office and the awful Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Spondoolies - so how much does it all cost. Nowt. Ubuntu is free and always will be. All the online software is free too. I've only paid for about five pieces of linux software since I started using Ubuntu four years ago and I don't think I use any of it now! Is the software naff if its free? No. It's well used, well-trusted and well-supported software - it just happens to be free. The rule of thumb in computer software it seems to me is that the more money you pay, the less competent and more badly written software tends to be.

What's the drawbacks? For most users, none at all. If you are a gamer then Linux isn't for you. But Linux is a new world for most people. Ubuntu make it as easy as possible for people to migrate from Windows, but you have to unlearn all your bad Windows habits and get used to doing things a different way. It's not harder, just different. Unlike Windows which probably came bundled with your computer, you'll have to install it yourself which can be problematic. To those of us who have experience of fresh installs or re-installs of Windows on computers, Ubuntu problems are usually in the same category of difficulty.

You won't have access to a helpline where you will find help from someone who can't speak English and hasn't got a clue what your problem is. Ever tried ringing AOL? You'll see what I mean. You'll rely on posting your problem in the Ubuntu Forums where other users will suggest what you can do. Anoraks usually answer within an hour or two and usually they are right. Having been a host on tech message boards for AOL, I've found that other users give the most reliable answers, particularly on Linux boards.

Try before you don't buy - Ubuntu is designed to be test run from CD or DVD on any computer (PC or Mac) without disturbing the existing setup. Just download and burn a CD image. Or you can install Ubuntu to run in Windows using a program called Wubi. Or you can even install Ubuntu to run natively on your computer without disturbing Windows (it's called dual boot) if you've got plenty of fee disk space. It means you can play with Ubuntu before committing yourself to using it.

What about my favourite Windows programs? - I still have a couple of those. There is a package call Wine which can run Windows software under Lunix. It's OK on older and simpler programs but for good running I recommend running Windows in Linux using a virtual machine. That's a whole world in itself but easy to set up.

If Ubuntu is more secure, more stable, more technologically advanced than Windows, and free, then why don't more people use it? I'll answer that with a question. Why don't more people trust Jesus? Knowing God and having an eternal hope is free as well and will outlive all human technology; so why don't more people try it?

Knowing Jesus - Jesus can be discovered in your nearest Bible or at www.whoisjesusreally.org

Ubuntu can be downloaded at www.ubuntu.com

Mr Bean goes to Church

2010-04-27T10:49:00.004Z

I was going to put part of this in last week's sermon but the video was too dark. Here it is in full for Mr Bean addicts everywhere. Great performances here from Richard Briers and of course, Rowan Atkinson who plays both Mr Bean and reads the sermon!

The End of the Lemon

2010-04-27T10:36:00.004Z

It was one of the great survivors. It survived blown head gaskets, broken cambelts and falling off exhaust manifolds. It was a car in the true tradition of the Vauxhall Frontera - badly made, unreliable, uncomfortable to ride in on normal roads and expensive to run. It was a true motoring lemon and it should have been scrapped on at least three occasions previously.

So why did I hang on to it? Apart from the fact that I couldn't sell it at anything other than the scrap value when it was still a runner, it was a fun car - great on rough roads, fantastic in mud and brilliant in the snow. But we don't get too much of any of that in Felixstowe!

The end came last week when the fuel pump went. It was the last straw and Whip Street Motors have taken it away to be recycled. Aaw, what a shame - not!

John Cleese on Extremism

2010-04-11T09:21:00.002Z

It's been a long time ....

2010-04-11T07:06:00.006Z

It certainly has. I last posted on this blog in November. Actually, I'm only posting now because I'm waiting for a wasting machine to finish cycle. We're in Spain at the moment. It's a crisp morning before another hot sunny day - not bad for April. Pity because we have to fly home tomorrow. Such is life.

PS The Town Pastors in Felixstowe went out for their first night yesterday. Reports coming back are good. Thanks to all those who have supported and prayed for this project.

Mark

Out on the Streets

2009-11-21T05:50:00.004Z

Do Christians have any use at all? Answers on a postcard please..... Seriously though, we have a new opportunity in Felixstowe to make a real difference to our community and that's through the Town Pastor scheme which aims to help young people who go out with the intention of having a good time on Friday and Saturday nights but often end up finding thmeselves in trouble. The role of a Town Pastor is about listening, caring, helping young, showing concern and offering assistance where appropriate, in a non-judgmental and unconditional way.

Town Pastors seek to be a positive presence on the streets, available to offer support to vulnerable people, deescalate potential trouble and generally assist the police and other agencies. It's a great way to make and build relationships as well as making a real contribution to the community. There is always a fall in violent crime and vandalism where Town or Street Pastor schmes are running.

If you're interested, you need to be part of a local church and recommended by your church leaders to apply and this will involve the usual checks. If you're interested then there's more info at www.felixstowetownpastors.org.uk

Wal-Mart to sell coffins

2009-10-30T09:40:00.004Z

US shopping giant Wal-Mart is to start selling coffins to give a cradle to grave shopping experience for it's clients. Prices start at a budget $895 for a steel coffin up to $2899 for a bronze one. The BBC seem to think that's wierd for them to do that. However here in Britain, the Co-Op have been doing funerals for decades!

The Word of God

2009-10-22T08:48:00.000Z

God's word is-
1. Supernatural in origin;
2. Eternal in duration;
3. Inexpressible in valour;
4. Infinite in scope;
5. Regenerative in power;
6. Infallible in authority;
7. Universal in application;
8. Inspired in totality.
Read it through, write it down; pray it in; work it out; pass it on.
The word of God changes a man until he becomes an Epistle of God.
It is life changing!

Attributed to Smith Wigglesworth

WHEN I DON'T SEE ANSWERS TO MY PRAYERS

2009-10-09T19:37:00.005Z

Lord, I know that what I may see as unanswered prayer may not be unanswered at all. It means that You are answering according to Your will. Whether I understand Your will or not doesn't affect the fact that I trust it and praise You for it. Thank You for Your unfailing Word and that You always keep Your promises to me. I thank You that Your power is infinite. Your judgments and Your will are perfect, and I trust them. Whether or not my prayers are answered the way I pray them, I will praise and worship You above all things. For You are my Wonderful Counselor, my Everlasting Father, my Stronghold in the Day of Trouble, and my Resting Place. I rest in You today.

"Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." (Hebrews 10:35-36)

From the Facebook Wall of Courtney Palmer 9/10/09

The Atheist Barber

2009-10-08T23:09:00.002Z

A minister and an atheist barber were walking through the seedy part of their city. As they saw the suffering around them, the barber said "This is why I could never believe in a God of love. If he is as kind as they say, why doesn't he do something about all this crime, disease, poverty, drug-dealing and vandalism?"

The minister said nothing until they came across an unkempt and filthy man with hair down his back and far too much stubble on his face. The minister said to the atheist: "You can't be a very good barber, or you wouldn't let people live around here without a haircut and a shave."

More than a little offended, the barber answered: "Why blame me for that man's condition? I can't help it if he's like that! He's never given me a chance! If he'd only come to my shop, I could fix him up and make him look respectable."

The minister replied: "Then don't blame God for the condition of these people. They've never given God a chance. If they would only come to him, he would fix them up and turn their lives around."

Even though God is completely powerful, he has not yet removed suffering and evil from the picture. He's waiting...Waiting for as long as possible, to give as many people as possible the opportunity to make their peace with him....Seize the day...

You couldn't make this up!

2009-10-02T01:23:00.007Z

Gas mask bra traps Ig Nobel prize

One bra makes one mask for you and another for a friend

Gideon Gono, Governor of the Bank of Zimbabwe and
, winner of the Maths prize produced a note for every kind of transaction!

Read the article to find real world ideas that make you laugh - and think.

The right perspective

2009-09-28T22:14:00.002Z

Colossians 1: ^9-12Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works.

We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.

We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

What's happened to Christmas?

2009-09-27T00:29:00.003Z

It's coming up to the end of September and as far as I can see, there's little evidence of Christmas yet. I did see an advert for Christmas Dinner in a pub recently but so far there is a lack of tinsel and turkey. What's going on? Christmas isn't Christmas without promotions starting in September.

That being said, let's not be cynical. Did you know that more people accept Christ in the Christmas period than at any other time of the year? I went to a Ministers Meeting run by J John the other day. He quickly brought up the subject of Christmas. What were we doing? Is it going to be the same old thing as usual?

I'm known as "Bah humbug!" about Christmas. I just hate the garbage that obscures the really profound truth about Christmas. But we can't get away from the fact that people love Christmas even though what they love isn't necessarily Christian. Surely we need to pray and plan to connect with people this year - not on a superficial level, but one where we can communicate Jesus effectively to them. That's the challenge. Let's make the most of every opportunity.

Shoe Zone? Disaster Zone!

2009-09-11T07:02:00.003Z

I've just had to buy a new pair of shoes. This time it was (for me) quite an expensive pair from Stead and Simpson. One of the heels of my Shoe Zone pair, purchased in May (thats 2009) wore out, disintegrated and pushed a sharp shard of plastic into my heel. I suppose if you but a £12 pair of shoes then what do you expect? That said, I've never bought shoes before where the life expectancy has been about 3 months.

Photo Faux Pas

2009-08-31T10:22:00.006Z

Here's an offering from Little Chef advertising their Great British Summer Menu. I don't think someone was being too observant when they proof read the ad. Look at the happy family in the car. What's wrong?

It's a 50s family, with dad at the wheel of his American convertible and mum dressed up in the latest US fashion, parked up in the right hand side of the road ready to drive into the sunset. A wonderful scene from 50s middle-class America - all advertising the traditional values of the Great British Summer Menu! I wonder if anybody in Little Chef has noticed yet - unless they are suggesting that their Great British Summer Menu isn't British at all.

The Search for the Sub-Euro Litre - FAILED

2009-08-26T06:47:00.004Z

Here on the continent, diesel is cheaper than petrol. When we started out in France 3 weeks ago, it was possible to get diesel for 98 cents so I made it our aim to see if we could always fill with diesel that retails for less than an euro a litre. Most petrol stations sell it for more than a euro but supermarkets do sell it for less. It all went well as we got to Spain - the maximum we ever paid was 99 cents a litre and mostly paid 97 or 98. But tragedy hit as we returned to France - diesel had gone up and I filled this morning at 1.009 euros a litre and I think things will get worse as we go north.

Preserved or Living?

2009-08-18T19:15:00.015Z

Peniscola Castle dominates the old town that stands wthin its walls; the sea surrounding it on three sides with the modern town spreading away along the beach. It's a typical old- fashioned Spanish town that's been "prettified" for the tourists. The castle entry fee was a paltry 3.50 Euros - so what ruined heap of stones lay inside? Astonishingly it is an architectural treasure and still the town's key public building, with a ceremonial chanber, an art gallery, exhibition space, a church and an open-air theatre. There are a few smaller rooms where there are exhibition items telling the story of the castle.

It's equivalent in England would be a preserved castle with suitable antique furnishings in place (or nothing at all); magnificently frozen in time with a fifteen quid entry fee. Not in Peniscola. They've kept this as a living building, useful to the community which owns it. Building preservationists from the UK would be upset by what they would see as compromises the Spanish have made to keep this building useful to the modern world. But what's better, to the modern world. But what's better; keeping a preserved relic as a landmark, or giving this building what what its architects planned: to have something that is a statement about the town?

Why do I say this? Because preservation of churches too often tries to freeze a building in time rather than recognising that if it is to remain what it is; the centre of a dynamic, changing community, then it needs to adapt with the times as well as having deference to its history. The older the church building, the more it reflects and should reflect centuries of adaption to changing times, as it continues to be at the centre of the community. So why do building preservationists feel thay should fossilise our buildings in time? They see the building, but don't recognise the dynamic faith of the people that built and then worshipped there. Perhaps that has been our fault in not ensuring that our fellowships are dynamic and central in the community.

On one hand it's a question of faith: our buildings should serve our mission of worship and witness. But it isn't just a faith question, it's a community one. Our community buildings should reflect the life of our community and useful imposing old buildings can and should continue to be the centre of the community as the people of Peniscola have done.

They do it different #2

2009-08-18T07:33:00.012Z

Signs in Spain are a bit different from Britain. First of all, there is more than one language to think of. At Reus Airport, signs are in Spanish, Catala and English. That's helpful to anyone who doesn't know any of the languages. However they've had the PC crowd in to make sure that everyone can understand in triplicate. Er, what's Terminal in Spanish. Might it be Terminal by any chance? And what about Catala; might it be Terminal too?

Go to Valancia and you'll see another example of sign madness. The planning guys in Valencia have created a system of wide multi-lane boulevards and enormous roundabouts. It gives their city a wonderful sense of open-ness and modernity. They've spent an enormous amount of money linking together all the fantastic ultra-modern venues as well as the traditional historic sites.

They had to save money somewhere and where did they save it? On road signage. In central Valencia there isn't any. There are almost no road signs and only scant painting of stuff on the road - certainly nothing telling you where the city centre is, where to get one of the many motorways out or even where the suburbs are. How do people find their way around? How do they find their prestige Museums of Arts and Sciences? It isn't signposted - none of it. You either need a good navigator who can work out which of the multiple exits on the huge roundabouts you should choose, or get a good sat-nav. It may be that Valencia is at the heart of Spain's sat-nav industry and they want everyone to buy one!

We escaped by taking a guess on where we were and driving into the suburbs where someone had decided to install some signs for those sharp enough to spot them and who have a pair of binoculars on board to read them. We took the opinion that if they were blue and had an arrow, we would get to one or other of the exit motorways!

Psst....don't tell Cid!

2009-08-14T07:53:00.021Z

Have you ever seen the film El Cid? It re-tells the epic story of Rodrigo Diaz of Bivar, the great Castillian General, who fought against the Moorish invasion of Spain, and took Valencia from them in 1094. The film portrays his death in battle at Valencia. Mmm - a bit of historic licence was used there. How come then he ended up as the ruler of Valencia and died peacefully in 1099?! The picture shows Charlton Heston on his white charger in a scene from the film.

Actually the footage of Valencia in the film was also an invention. It was actually shot at Peniscola, an unspoilt town up the coast near the Ebro delta in the late 1950s. It has a huge castle built to defend the coast from pirates which fitted the bill for Valencia, even though it was started over a century after El Cid lived. It also allowed them to film the battle scenes over the 3km of unspoilt beaches and dunes.

Now the sleepy town is a bustling resort with hotels stretching the along the whole 3km beach front to Benicarlo. The film El Cid doesn't just portray the lost world of the 11th century, but also of the lost world of the 1950s. Anyway, it's quite a nice place to have a holiday! Here's a picture of the Castillo from the same angle in 2009 - 50 years later together with a rash of houses, hotels and bars. Just a moment, where's the extra two castellated walls gone? Like almost everything else, they seem to have been added by the film-makers to cover up the houses that were already there and to make it more imposing! That's Hollywood - a mixture of truth an illusion. Don't tell Cid!

They do it different #1

2009-08-07T19:45:00.009Z

Motorway Bridge for Wildlife!

French Motorway Service Area "Portes de Jura". It's a bit different from Watford Gap!

Who is Al Fresco?

2009-08-06T20:59:00.005Z

We couldn't get over the difference.

Canterbury 05/08/09 - tried hard to find somewhere outside to eat. It's difficult to eat al fresco in even a tourist town in the UK. We ended up at Pizza Hut eating at a grubby table and listening to a drunk busker over the road!

Troyes 06/08/09 - had no problem finding a place to eat outside in this lovely medieval city centre. Food was great and not too pricey. No-one can do food like the French.

But, but ... Britain is far to cold and wet to eat al fresco most of the year, in't it? Try visiting historic towns in France or Belgium in the winter and you'll find the creative ways thay can make it happen!

God will make a way

2009-07-21T07:20:00.002Z

St Where?

2009-07-16T16:21:00.006Z

This blog contains my musings from St Kilda. No, it's not THE St Kilda but a house named after it in Falcon Street, Felixstowe. The real St Kilda is of course the UK's most remote island group - some 40 miles off the nearest landfall in the Outer Hebrides. That's not counting Rockall of course which is even further out but that's a rock which is uninhabitable. St Kilda was inhabited for centuries up to 1930 when the islanders were evacuated to the mainland. Some went to live in Melbourne in Australia and a suburb is named St Kilda after them.

In fact the largest island in the St Kilda group, Hirta has been permanently inhabited by service personnel at a radar base since 1957 but no-one ever seems to mention that. It's also inhabited by seabirds and wild sheep. Here are some of them near the British Isles' highest cliff.

So who was St Kilda? Forget the spiritual thoughts. He/she never existed. The best theory is that it is the mis-spelling of a Gaelic name by Dutch mappers in the seventeenth century. The locals called the islands by their local names e.g Hirta. So there you go. If you want to visit, the National trust for Scotland do trips.

M

If it's free, it must be Rubbish

2009-07-15T11:00:00.006Z

This kind of thinking affects all of us to a greater or lesser extent. Is getting something cheap or even free a mark of us being a cheap-jack or is it a mark of our being shrewd? I was fascinated by a recent survey that put Microsoft as “king of the brands”, voted on by consumers for it’s distinctiveness, quality and reliability. Quality? Reliability? Where?

Most have a computer at home with Microsoft Windows on it and most have stared at a blue screen saying “Windows has died. Find someone handy with computers to fix it, spend lots of money paying someone to fix it, try the Microsoft Help(less) line, or throw your computer out of the window!”. Aargh! I paid money for this!

For those of you without a computer, this is a treat in life you’ve missed. You can smile at these frustrated folk, particularly when they discover that there are better alternatives that most people seem unaware of that aren’t just cheaper, but free.

So why doesn’t everyone use them? The logic most people use is that surely you get what you pay for and besides, it’s safest to use what everyone else uses isn’t it? Let’s stick with what we are familiar without having to try something new and learn how to use it. Let’s avoid the risk of change.

I find it an interesting parallel. What makes Christian faith distinct is that we have a God who gives freedom for free. Eternal life isn’t something that’s earned or deserved, God gives it away free to all those who turn to Him and accept the offer purchased by Jesus by His death on the cross. If it is as easy as that, why don’t people become Christians in droves?

The trouble is that when people are happy with what they’ve got, and the values they base their lives on, they don’t see the need to even consider or try what God offers freely. There is risk in change. For those of us who know the benefit of being a Christian, that’s a tragedy. If you’re reading this and never trusted Jesus, then I encourage you to exchange what costs you, to get something that’s priceless for free!

But before we Christians think this doesn’t apply to us, then we need to stop and consider our own lives. I gave us this verse in church a few weeks ago: Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. Rom 12:2 (J B Phillips). We have a God who wants us to walk in freedom, but so often we choose to live our lives with worldly values and they so often cost us in terms of fear, personal problems, pressure, doubt, hopelessness, anger, unforgiveness. Why let these things cost us, when we have a God who wants to lift these loads off us and mould us to how He wants us: people who follow Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s give God glory for giving us something priceless for free!

Mark Reid, 15 July 2009

Have a Chuckle

2009-07-10T22:42:00.004Z

West End Play Consultation Day

2009-06-20T17:15:00.015Z

Hey, we had a good time and things worked out well, with quite a few people coming, considering how little time we had to prepare forit. Everyone in the area wants an adventure park on Coronation Recreation Ground... but now it's a case of persuading somebody to part with a lot of cash to do so.Well done all people who were involved in putting it all together or who contributed to the day. Here's a picture of Rhiannon with some of our bric a brac. We even found a good home for the encyclopedias at last

M

Richard Madison

2009-06-14T16:50:00.009Z

Take a look at this interview. It's with US Evangelist Richard Madison.

He's an interesting guy with a remarkable story about the power of God. He's had plenty of brushes with death with amazing results. Have a look and see what you think.

Tescos is Cheaper

2009-06-12T06:59:00.004Z

Have a chuckle. This is a rather cheeky prank from a New Zealand radio station. Tescos is Cheaper

Chris Moyles

2009-06-09T16:19:00.009Z

It always makes me happy when people who have a reputation for not respecting the Christian faith get surprised by something they see or hear about Jesus. Listen to the snippet of Radio 1 below recorded on 1st June about Chris Moyles' reaction to a baptism service on BBC1 for Kingsgate Community Church in Peterborough. For Christians it's both an education and a challenge about how people think about Jesus and about church. Does our church fascinate people the way this one did for Chris Moyles? Please pray for this guy that the Holy Spirit will just continue to open up his mind and lead him to a real faith in Christ.

Welcome

2009-06-02T07:05:00.004Z

This is the rather lame bit where I say "welcome to my blog". These are some of my musings about life, faith, family and ministry. You'll see things that inspire me - and things that are less than inspiring. Have fun!

Oh, incidentally, all views expressed on this blog are mine, unless they are someone elses!

Mark