Almost ( Isaiah 1 v 18 )

The big event is over,Prince Harry and Meghan have got married,the minister who spoke at the wedding was Bishop Michael Curry from Chicago,he spoke on the power of love.One well known person tweeted the following,  ''The Rev M Curry could almost make me a Believer''. Well there are two things we could say about this,( 1 ), no one can make you a Christian, not even the Pope,not even Michael Curry,it is and must always be seen as a work of God ,John 1 v 12 - 13, ''To all who received Him (Jesus ) to those who believed in His name,he gave the right to become children of God.Children born not of human decision or a husband's will,but  born of God''.Islam take note.  ( 2 ) The word almost, struck a cord with me as I recollect the words spoken by King Agrippa,to Paul challenging testimony, ''Almost thou persuadest me  to be a Christian''(Acts 26 v 28 ) the words of an old hymn come to mind ,'almost but lost', we cannot stress enough ,of the importance, of the now in the gospel message.If God is speaking to you about   accepting Christ as your Saviour ?, then do it now,don't hesitate ,or it may be said of you,almost persuadest but lost.

The book of Revelation. ( Philippians 2 v 5- 11 )

A group of students where discussing the book of Revelation, and where finding it hard going, struggling to understand the symbols, and numbers,when they noticed the caretaker/ janitor,reading his Bible. One of the students asked what he was reading ,he replied the book of Revelation,they asked him, did he understand it? to their surprise he replied, yes,they where surprised at his answer,he again  replied ,its simple, Jesus wins.                                                                                                                                                                                Philippians 2 v  10 - 11                                                                                             That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and                                                            on earth, and under the earth,and every tongue confess that Jesus                                                            Christ is Lord,to the Glory of God the Father.

Burdened ( Matthew 11 v 28 - 30)

I stood and watched a heavy steel girder being lifted by crane ,it made me ask the question ,how did they lift heavy weights,years ago?, how did they manage to build the Pyramids?.Of course there are things that many of us carry everyday,that weigh us down, guilt is a heavy burden for anyone to carry. In the story of Pilgrims progress,the main character is called Christian, initially he has to                       carry a large burden on his back,this burden is his sin, it bowed him down,and we read he wanted to be rid of that burden, It was only when He came upon a cross,that he lost that terrible burden. Then he is told ,these wonderful words,''Thy sins be forgiven thee''.  his sins were gone ,God showed Him mercy,and to all who come to him ,with their load of sin, could that be you? and then like Christian ,you can say,that your sin's have been forgiven.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    John Bunyan                                                                                                                         Blest cross, blest sepulchre, blest rather be ,                                                                                             The man that there was put to shame for me.                                                                                               

Change. ( Job 2 v 9 - 10 )

We live in a world that is changing,and like every one else the Christian church has had to adopt to change,many churches are adopting in the area of technology. How people  dress has changed,becoming more informal, girls do wear what was considered men's clothes, which they are not.There was a time when it was thought that women using make up was wrong, considered worldly, in the Song of Solomon,we read of  the use of perfume,and even in the New Testament, Most of these changes in my opinion are       unimportant, many churches do not sing the old hymns,I suppose because they are old,I have no objection to the new music, although  it is hard on some old people , and just maybe we need to bear that in mind,be a bit more tolerant and less intolerant in this area. In a changing world the question is this,what we can change and what we can't change.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            God grant me the grace to accept with serenity,                                                                                        The things that cannot be change                                                                                                               Courage to change the things ,which should be changed,                                                                        And the wisdom to distinguish, the one from the other.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Living one day at a time,enjoying one moment at a time,                                                                        Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,                                                                                                Taking as Jesus did ,this sinful world as it is,                                                                                            Not as I would have it,trusting that you will make all things right,                                                          If I surrender to your will,so that I may be reasonably happy in this life,                                                And supremely happy with you,  forever in the next.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

One day ( 1 John 3 v 3 - 2 )

The Christian life is very challenging,because we continually have to cope with the world ,the flesh, and the devil.Sometimes one feels one is making headway.Of course we cope ,because the dear Holy Spirit helps,and by Gods grace I can say , I am not what I once was,but I am not what I want to be,I wish I could love God as much as I should,I wish I. could love others as much as I should,but I don't I opened up dear old C.H.Spurgeon, ' Morning and Evening', and was encouraged  by what I read,''At present, corruption yet remains even in the breasts of the regenerate- experience soon teaches us this. Within us are still lust and evil imaginations.'' we all can identify  with those words,written by a man of God. ''But I rejoice to know that the day is coming when God shall finish the work He has begun.Yes one day no more wrestling no more striving, one day,yes one day,when we will be removed out of the place of striving against all sorts of evil,yes one day.

Driverless Cars ( Hebrews 13 v 8 )

''Who will win the race for a driverless car?'',so read the words in a national news paper, the question on my mind is this,if one has an accident ,who pays out on the insurance. You can imagine someone saying it was not me it was the cars fault.Also will it do away with driving and drinking.?will it do away with breaking speed limit?. Would you drive one?,will tell us off, for being a backseat driver? when you are selling it,you can say it only had one driver,well enough of my frivolity. Lets face it we live in a very serious world, and I know there is an awful lot of suffering,pain and hardship for many people. As a minister and a Christian I deal with very serious issues,yet the scripture tells us, that 'there is a time weep, and time to laugh', ( Ecclesiastes 3 v 4 ) Derek Kidner writing on Ecc 3 v 1 -8 about all the different  contrasts in life says, ' Whatever may be our skill and initiative, our  real masters seem to be these these inexorable seasons:not only those of the calendar, but that tide of events which moves us to one kind of action which seems fitting,now to another which puts it all in reverse'. I wonder what season are you in now?In such changeable situations it is great to in a wonderful relationship  with a wonderful Saviour who .never changes..

My Father watches over me ( Matthew 6 v 25 - 34 )

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    I trust in God, wherever I may be,                                                                                                            Upon the land,or on the rolling sea,                                                                                                          For come what may from day to day,                                                                                                        My heav'nly Father watches over me.                                                                                                                         Refrain                                                                                                                                      I trust in God, I know He cares for me,                                                                                                      On mountain bleak ,  or on the stormy sea,                                                                                                Though billows roll,He keeps my soul,                                                                                                    My heav'nly   Father watches over me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          He makes the rose an object of His care,                                                                                                  He guides the eagle through the pathless air,                                                                                            And surely He remembers me,                                                                                                                  My heav'nly Father watches over me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            I trust in God, for, in the lions den,                                                                                                            On battlefield,or in the prison pen,                                                                                                            Through praise or blame,through flood or flame,                                                                                      My heav'nly Father watches over me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The valley may be dark, the shadows deep,                                                                                              But, oh, the shepherd guards His lonely sheep,                                                                                        And through the gloom, He'll lead me home,                                                                                            My heav'nly Father watches over me.                                                                                                               (Words .....William C Martin  )