The truth ,and nothing, but the truth. ( John 14 v 6 )

            Freedom is the cry of so many in this world, people die for it, in recent years South
            Sudan ,got their freedom,you would think every body would be happy. But not so
            at this moment there is a severe conflict there,with the result many are perishing.The
            term killing fields has been mentioned,we all know that comes from, Cambodia.
            It appears ,as so often happens freedom politically does not free from  such conflicts
            .Refugee's,starvation,rape,murder ,ans so ,and so .The French revolution ushered
             in the great terror,the agreement in Ireland,freedom from British rule, ushered
            in a civil war, and so one could on.Prisoners are freed, only to re offend. In the West we have
            material prosperity, like no other time in History ,but people still bemoan their lot
          . Prosperity ,has not stopped people  falling into debt . In the 1960 free love was promoted
            yet sexual perversion is on increasing, millions are controlled by lust, and feast on it,on the
            inter-net.Millions are addicted to so many things, over eating,gambling, alcohol,children
            receive wonderful education ,yet bullying goes on everyday.We watch the Proms on the TV
            and hear them sing land of free,if only that was true. Let me unashamedly tell you what my
            Saviour said,''I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin, that means, all of us,
            but He went on to say ,if the Son sets you free,you will be free indeed.  ( John 8 v 34 v 36 )

                                                   Jesus said the truth shall set  you free.
                                                   Well do you want to be free?
                                                    trust Jesus.

Intolerance ( Luke 9 v 49 - 56 )

       December is a bit dark and dreary, yet it is this  month  in  which we celebrate   the coming
       of  Christ. Most people do not fully understand or take into account what that means.Some
       historians are changing,the general accepted terms,''BC/AD'',possible they want to write out
      the Christ event altogether.I am reading a novel called ,'Conclave', by Robert Harris.it deals
      with the election of a new Pope. The main character is Lomeli  who is overseeing the affair,
      he is has to preach during this process, and one of the things he said was this,''the one sin I have
      come to fear more than any other is certainty . Certainty is the great enemy of  unity. Certainty
      is the deadly enemy of tolerance, ''I wonder what you think of these words ?,now of course
       the Bible teaches us truths that are certain, the Christ event is an historical fact, and as
      one reads the OT we see plenty of references as regards a Messiah coming, the purpose of His
      coming is clearly shown.,to die as a sacrifice for sin.These and many other things we believe
      are clearly shown and declared as a certainty. Jesus Himself declared that he is the only way to
      God (  John 14 v 6 ) .The word hope as is used in parts of the NT is a sure and certain hope,so
      much so that many have been prepared to die for their faith.What about intolerance ?,well
      those who profess to be Christians at times have shown an intolerance ,that is unbiblical.
      We are meant to hold on and proclaim the truths  we believe,but we are never meant to
      harm or,hurt anyone,  we go forth, not with sword or gun ,but with the greatest power in
      world, the love of God.
   
   
   

Special because.....( 1 John 3 v 1 )

         He was the Son of God,who was also the Son of Man  that men and women could become
         children of God. What we were before that wonderful experience happened , objects of
        wrath , but we received mercy through Christ (  2 Peter  2 v 10 ), now we belong to God.
          William Barclay writes,
         '' In any museum we will find quite ordinary things - clothes, a walking- stick, a pen, books,
         pieces of furniture- which are only of value because they were once possessed and used by
         some great person. It is the ownership which gives them worth.It is so with the Christian .
         The Christian may be a very ordinary person , but he acquires a new value and dignity and
         greatness because he belongs to God. The greatness of the Christian lies in the fact that he
         is  God's ''
                                               Jesus makes us special.
       
       

Are you listening? ( 2 Chronicles 15 )

             God granted Asa victory over the enemy,and as he returns from the battle ,the prophet
             Azariah  meets him ,The first thing he says is ,''listen to me'', and he did listen. There
             are so many things that stop us from listening,the sermon was to long, our minds are
             to tired,we don't want to be disturbed ,it may be surprised that God is speaking ,but
             we are not listening.. The prophet tells him that God is with him,
             what a wonderful word to receive ,dear fellow Christian ,the Lord is with you,( Mt 28 v
             20) Think what these words meant to Asa, comfort,confidence, encouragement. But
             there is a word of warning also be faithful or else I will not be with you,says the Lord.
             Faithfulness is vital in our relationship with God,yes even unto death .( Revelation 2 v 10 )

                                               Let Me have My way among you,
                                               Do not strive, do not strive,
                                                         (Words by G. Kendrick )
           


     

Trust wholly in God. ( Ephesians 3 v 20 -21 )

            We read about King Asa in 1 Kings 15, and in 2 Chronicles 14-16 who was king of Judah,
             for most of  his reign he acted in a godly manner, for most of his reign. He received
             encouraging words from God,and sought Him and trusted him ,when faced with an enemy
             who had a vast army,he prayed a wonderful prayer.'' Lord,there is no one like you to help
             powerless against the mighty.Help us , O Lord our  God, for we rely on you, and in your
             name we come against this vast army.O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail
            against  you.'' What a wonderful prayer, those words ,''we rely on you'',are key words
            he could run away,but no, he stands by faith, depending upon his God,and so faith was
            rewarded,and God granted him the victory. Later on a prophet goes to him , with  words
            of encouragement, God would continue to bless him if he continued to seek God.

                                            Trust wholly in your God ,no matter
                                             how great the difficulties are.
       
           

God is speaking, ( Romans 1 v 16 - 20 )

       It was reported  on the news recently that light pollution is increasing ,that means when
       we look up into the sky at night we cannot see very many ,if any stars. Now of course this
       has consequences ,we blot out one aspect of seeing the glory of God,not by means entirely.
       The Westminster  confession of  faith begins by saying that ''the lights of nature, and
       works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness,wisdom and power of
       God as to leave men inexcusable''. The apostle Paul in Romans 1 v 20, writes how creation
       has a wonderful message for us ,there is a God who has made all things.Of course believing
       in a creator is important,but to get to know that God ,then there must be salvation, that does
       not come through through looking at creation,no it comes  through Christ.

                                            Oh Lord my God when I in  awesome wonder
                                            consider all the works Thy hands hath done,
                                            I see the stars , I hear the mighty thunder,
                                            the power throughout the universe displayed.

                                            When through the woods and forest glades I wander
                                             and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
                                            when I look down  from lofty mountain grandeur,
                                            and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

                                            And when I think that God His Son not sparing,
                                            sent Him to die - I scarce can take it in,
                                            that on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
                                            He bled and died to take away my sin.

                                           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.

                                          Then sings my soul,my Saviour  God, to Thee,
                                           how great Thou art, how great Thou art
                                           Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee,
                                           how great Thou art,how great Thou art.

                                                      (  Words by S.K,Hine )

                                                 
                                         
                                           

                                       

                                 


                                           
     
   

An old Bible. ( John 5 v 39 )

        What does one do with old  Bible's ?, I have a number of Bible's different translations, but
        one I use everyday, and for preaching, is beginning  to show serious  deterioration.So I have
        ordered a new one.,what does one do with the old one? ,after all it is the word of God. I
        remember a lady visitor , voicing concern because people placed their Bible's on the floor.
       I appreciate people treating the Bible with respect ,yet I know we are not meant to worship
       the Bible, we are meant to worship the God of the Bible.The Jews of our Lords time held the
       the scriptures as being very important as they do today. The Jews are the people of the Book,
       in every synagogue  it holds an honoured place. The Jew has only what Christians call the Old
       Testament ,this holds 39 books., today it is commonly called the Tanakh..One thing Jews will
       not call it,is the Old Testament. Such a label  to them implies the Hebrew Bible has been  been
       superseded  by its Christian successor.To the Jew it was everything ,to acquaint yourself  with
       it brought  great blessings from God. Yet it is W. Barclay who points out ,''The best Bible
       students in the world,the people with the greatest reverence for the scriptures ,fail to see
       Jesus in their  Scriptures.So it is ,that no matter how knowledgeable one is as regards the
       scriptures, without a true saving knowledge of the Christ of the whole Bible ,one will never
       be saved.

                          I still have no answer to my question, what do I do with
                          my old Bibles? .



     
     


       ,he