War Heroes Remembered

GREATER LOVE

In the city of Melbourne, Australia, there is a very impressive shrine in memory of those from the state of Victoria who gave their lives for their country in times of war. The shrine was built between July 1928 and November 1934 in memory of the thousands from Victoria who served and died in the 1914 -1918 war. It has been a growing monument with other memorials added to the site as Australian soldiers fought in various campaigns. Queen Elizabeth II dedicated the forecourt in 1954 to those who served in the 1939 - 1945 war. There is a prominent inscription that declares, "Let all men know that this is holy ground". This is recognition that there is something very special about those who died on behalf of others.

The Chester Beattie Collection

I took a trip to Dublin yesterday. It was a great day. Not just in terms of the weather but the whole day was fantastic. I left home at 0430 (groan) and headed for Manchester Airport (with some friends). Ryan Air, despite its very basic approach to budget flying, got us to Dublin on time and in one piece.

Next, into a taxi to be updated by a good Irish taxi driver who was up to date in everything from British politics, Irish news, tourist advice and the movements of the British Royal family. I do love the way taxi drivers know everything. There must a course Taxi drivers are sent on to train them how to absorb information like a sponge, process it and have an idea about most things. Fascinating. 

Blair Drummond Adventure & Safari Park

A week spent with young people telling them about the gospel of Jesus Christ is wonderful experience. It is nearly a week since I left Liverpool to travel to Faskally, Pitlochry in Scotland. 

I have been coming to Faskally for many years now. It is an old country house which has been adapted for house parties, camps and youth groups to use. The facilities are excellent, the grounds are extensive and as I stand and take in the scenery I could be in the Swiss Alps, the Lake District or some equally beautiful spot. But I’m not, I’m in the Scottish Highlands which have a unique rugged beauty and splendour  all of its own. 

As a Christian I cannot help but reflect on the wonder of creation and the majesty of the creator and designer of all things, God and His Son, Jesus Christ. If you are an atheist you will disagree with me but I still cannot see the logic of spontaneous existence or unprogrammed life forms etc. 

I’ve just visited Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park with the young people I am with and I cannot help but notice the intentional design of the animal creation. Meerkats have inbuilt sunglasses, so do birds of Prey - wow. Birds of Prey, Yellow Kites, can collect, transfer from feet to mouth and digest food while still in mid-flight and that includes the males!! So male kites can multi-task which is impressive when you consider how difficult male homo-sapiens find it to multi-task. 

I don’t know what you believe but all I ask is don’t switch your logic off when you look at the created world, nature and the universe. If you’ve read my other blog posts you’ll know I believe that there is sufficient evidence to support the Christian conviction that the Bible is word of God and that Jesus was the Son of God. On top of that there is the evidence all around you of a clever, intelligent creator. 

In the beginning God...that’s how the Bible says it all started. 

The Bible also teaches that at the end of time we will all stand before God. In the Bible it says ‘I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books’, Revelation 20:12. 

My prayer is that you’ll meet God in life as Saviour rather in the next life as Judge. 

Have a good day. 

Stephen 

Does God set us up to do wrong and then punish us when we do?

Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I amtempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone

James 1. 13

One of the common problems we all have is our weakness to resist temptation. It is the same for every one of us. We often explain it away by saying ‘we are only human’ or ‘it’s my weakness’ or similar phrases. The simple fact is that we are flawed by nature and there are things in life that we find very hard to resist. Having said all that when a person gets saved they become a new creation, 2 Cor. 5. 17. We will still feel the struggle which is caused by temptation but we now have new life and the Spirit of God to strengthen us and keep us from falling.