We are in it together. ( 1 ) ( Psalm 23 )

 Every one is hoping things will return to normal, let us hope so, yet I am sure what has happened during this time, has reminded us of the uncertainties of life. The term bubble has become a familiar term, keep your distance, wash your hands, wear a mask, don't go out. etc, have become the new way of living. I am sure there are many who are praying now on a regular bases, who have never really given much thought about prayer, or even God. You noticed that I have not mentioned the covid 19, the dreaded virus, nor  that which should not be named ,in normal times, death. Yet there is no way of escaping it, the death of a loved one  can effect  us for the rest of our lives. Yes it leaves its mark upon all of us, Christian or otherwise, coping with the loss of loved one, is a big challenge. we wish it had never happened ,if only. As a Christian we can pray for those who have lost loved ones, and keep in touch with those we know who sorrow. What has happened at this time, reminds us that we are all in it together, John Donne wrote, 'Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind' but he also goes unto write, 'and therefore never send to know for who the bell tolls; it tolls for thee'. Are we ready for that eventually?, if not trust Jesus as your Saviour

A world view. ( Romans 1 v 16 )

 David Suchet  a well known British actor ,who is one of my favourite actors, and who  played the part of one of my favourite characters ,Agatha  Christie's , Hercule  Poirot the Belgium detective, told how he came to faith in Christ. He recounts how his father was a Jew, and his mother wasn't, and that he himself was not particularly religious. As he grew older he had a desire for something bigger than he had, so he was drawn to look in the bible, and he began reading the epistle to the Romans, and he came  to faith in Christ .He said it gave him a world view, which he embraced, like David Suchet, many people have been brought to faith by reading this wonderful book  , Augstine Bishop of Hippo in N. Africa, John Wesley, founder of Methodism.  A world view ,yes it does have a world view, for it takes in the state of all of humanity, which clearly teaches that all humanity are sinners. No matter what race you are, colour ,high born, low born, no exceptions, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Romans 3 v 23 .Which means all humanity is alienated from a holy God, and are accountable to God. Romans 1 v 18,  This included the Jewish people, for God does not show favouritism . Romans 2 v11. That is mankinds  dilemma, and its this where we find the answer to this dilemma, and it is summed up in v 16 of chap 1,which reads,' For I am not ashamed of the gospel of  Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.' We will continue this next time.

Only one answer. ( John 14 v 6 )

Recently I have been thinking as regards evolution, and I have come to the conclusion that it is irrational ,but alas we are only hearing the atheistic side of things. It seems that  because they are scientist, they must be right ,I am not very educated , but it appears to me that to say everything just happened is irrational, and not honest. It comes back to mankind's sinful condition, which really is antagonistic to God and truth. Their attitude can be summed up in words  of Lenin who said, ''Every religious idea, every idea of God, every flirtation with the idea of God is unutterable vileness'' Consider what he and his fellow communist unleashed on Russia , when uncle Joe took over, he and his associates, committed monstrous evil, on an enormous scale. It is only in God and his word do we find what  mankind's greatest  problem is ,sin. I want to leave you with some  thoughts as regards sin,( 1 )Sin will  take  where you do not want to go.  ( 2 ) Sin will  take you where you do not want to stay ( 3 ) Sin will take you where you do not want to be. ( 4 ) Sin will cost you, what you do not want to pay. And there is only one answer, Jesus.

I owe Him everything. ( Psalm 100 )

Looking back on my life I realise I owe a lot of people thanks  , like the man who saved me from drowning, or my mother who did her best under difficult circumstances. For my primary school teachers, who did their best with a very difficult lad. For my friend Raymond who has passed on, to his parents, who were kind to me, I spent a lot of time in their home, they had  a TV. And so we could on , and on ,of people I feel indebted to. As a Christian one realises that God is sovereign, that not only has he  had a say in those things , but  has been  actively involved, in all the affairs of my life. As the hymn John Ryland wrote,

                                                    His decree who formed the earth

                                                    Fixed my first and second birth;

                                                    Parents, native place , and  time,

                                                    All appointed were by Him.

                                                    He that formed me in the womb,

                                                    He shall guide me to the tomb

                                                    All my times shall ever be

                                                    Ordered by His wise decree.

The fact is I owe Him  everything,  He owes me nothing,' nothing good have I done to deserve such love, When I think of all He's done ,and for me the guilty one, can you wonder why it is  I love Him so,' yes I owe Him everything, as do you.

The seasons. ( John 4 v 35 - 38 )

 So it did  finally happen, we  had snow, I say this because its been a  while since it snowed , one should not be surprised, after all it is winter.  The seasons come and the seasons go, soon it will be spring ,then summer ,then  autumn ,and back again to winter. Each season is different, I wonder what you think of as regards the seasons?. Well winter reminds me of  trees without leaves , spring reminds me of  daffodils, and this also reminds me of William Wordsworth's poem ,' Daffodils', the opening verse goes,' I wandered lonely as a cloud, That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at at once I saw a crowd, A host ,of golden daffodils'. .Well that's spring, then we move unto summer, it reminds me of summer holidays, and years ago getting sunburned. Then last but not least, autumn, this reminds me that it is  harvest time, and also  that old hymn, 'We plough the fields and scatter, the good seed on the ground'. The word of God, has a lot to say about the harvest, in John 4 v 35 , our Saviour said,'' open you eyes and look at the fields !  They are ripe  for harvest''. Jesus saw more that a harvest of wheat, but  a harvest of precious souls. and he is challenging his disciples to get involved  , and us ,to be harvesters ,of precious souls. Let us remember that the most valuable think in all the world, in Gods eyes ,is the souls of men and women, and children, just look to Calvary, that says it all, so again I ask the question, will you be a harvester?.

                                                He that winneth  souls is wise,

                                                In the home beyond the skies,

                                                There's a crown of  glory, 

                                                 O the wondrous prize,

                                                 He that winneth souls is wise  ( Words  E.E. Hewitt ) 

Adoption ( 1 John 3 v 1 - 3 )

Romans 8 v 15  - 16,reads, '' The Spirit you received  does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba , Father''. The Spirit himself  testifies with our  spirit that we are God's children'.  F. F. Bruce writes,' The  term '' adoption'' may have a somewhat artificial sound in our ears; but  in the Roman world of the first century AD an adopted son was a son deliberately chosen by his adoptive father to perpetuate his name  and inherit his estate; he was in no sense inferior in status to a son born in the ordinary  course of nature , and might well enjoy the fathers affection more fully an reproduce  the father's character more worthily'. Commenting on this  John Stott writes, 'It is evident then  that the popular  notion of 'the universal fatherhood of God' is not true'. Every person born is God's offspring by creation, but it is only when one is born again by God's Spirit ,  are we adopted into God's family . John 1 v 12. reads,' Yet to all who receive Him ( Jesus)  , to those who believe in His name, he gave the right  to become children of God'.

A challenging question ( John 21 v 15 -33 )

 I am going to try something different, I want to tell you about an old rich man , who  married a very beautiful young girl. After a while the old man began to wonder, did she marry for my money ?, or did she marry me ,because she loved me?. So one day he spoke to her, and asked her a question. He said, ''darling if  I lost all my money, and you had to get rid of all your jewels, your Mercedes- Benz, our home in the south of France,  would you still love me''?. She took his hand in hers ,look into his eyes and said, ''of  course I would still love you'', he breathed a sigh of relief, but then she added,'' but I'd miss you''. I hope that makes you laugh, but lets hit on the serious aspect of this, I want to take you to a beach beside the sea of Galilee,  some fisher men were standing around a fire were a  man was preparing them something to eat,  The man was none other than Jesus, and he asked Peter one of the fishermen, a very challenging question, he said ,'' do you truly love me more than these?''.  Now let us put ourselves in Peters place, and Jesus asks us the same question,'' do you truly love me more than these?''.  In other words if  you lost everything , if I lost everything ,would we still love Him ,and follow Him?.

                                                     Will you come and follow Me

                                                     If I but call your name?

                                                     Will you go where you don't know

                                                     And never be the same?

                                                     Will you let My love be shown,

                                                     Will you let My name be known, 

                                                     Will you let My life be grown in you,

                                                      And you in Me?.  ( Words . G. Maule/ J.L .Bell)