Friday, September 25, 2015

Migrants

One of the most pressing problems for the European Union presently is that of the migrants who set out to cross the Mediterranean every week in search of a better life. In the Far East a similarly ghastly scenario is unfolding as thousands of Rohingya migrants flee persecution in their homeland, Burma. Some of these have not been allowed to disembark in neighbouring countries and have been turned away to face the perils of the merciless Andaman sea, the horrors of further weeks adrift and the all too real possibility of perishing in the insatiable waves.




While many flee persecution, others are ‘economic’ migrants wanting to escape poverty, while yet others merely want peace and safety for their children. All have paid substantial sums to unscrupulous human traffickers and smugglers; they are herded like animals on to flimsy, unsafe boats that were never built for the journey they have to undertake. Many have perished, lost at sea and their hopes of reaching safety have been cruelly dashed.

They entrust their future to dishonest people who have no interest in their welfare and who could not care less if they ever reach their desired destination; all they are interested in are the ill-gotten gains of their evil trade. In some cases, crews have abandoned the boats and left their hapless passengers to face whatever dangers may befall them.

We are all migrants, crossing the uncertain sea of life with its countless dangers. We are being swept by the restless tides of time towards eternity with only one of two destinations ahead; heaven or hell. Every second of every minute of every hour of every day; even as we sleep, we are drifting nearer and nearer to the great forever that lies beyond this fleeting life, this brief crossing. We are moving inexorably from time to eternity, yes, but ‘whither, whither bound’? It is a journey from which we cannot escape; we cannot reverse, we cannot drop anchor and remain stationary, we cannot decelerate and yet many are careless, drifting aimlessly, with no assurance as to which destination they will inevitably arrive.

Many heed the unwise and mistaken advice to keep going and not worry about the outcome; it will all work out well eventually. Others have placed their hopes in religion, good works, charitable deeds, sailing along, with many a nagging doubt, towards an uncertain future. Others try to convince themselves that there is no great, eternal world on the other side, making lies their refuge and trying to rest and shelter in the tattered tent of atheism and agnosticism.

However, there are many of us who are sure as to where we are going and like the apostle Paul, we can confidently affirm, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" 2Timothy 1.12. We knew that we could never reach heaven by our own feeble efforts, nor did we deserve a home on that celestial shore and so we trusted our eternal wellbeing to the capable and competent hands of the Lord Jesus. We were certain that if we remained as we were, we would undoubtedly arrive in the eternal night of hell.

In spite of knowing all this, many, like the ill-fated mariners on board the ship where Jonah was a passenger, row all the harder and hope against all hope and sanity that they will at last make it to heaven. You have one; one only option, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" Acts 16.31.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

For more information please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk.

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Wednesday, September 09, 2015

Christianity - a Fairy Tale or the Truth?

The Lord Jesus Christ is no ordinary person. I make this statement in the present tense because the Lord Jesus is not just a figure of history but he is, today, still alive in heaven. I don't mean alive in the way we might think about a relative who has died and hope is now in heaven (as a Christian I believe people who have turned from their sin and accepted Jesus as their Saviour will be in heaven when they die but this is not my point at the moment). I mean that Jesus is alive, physically in heaven. Your response might be - impossible and unbelievable! 

The record of the life of Christ is all highly improbable if you ignore the key ingredient, God. Believing the following claims about Jesus is pretty far fetched IF you don't accept the supernatural or God. BUT are these historical facts and if so what is your personal response?

Here are the claims: 

Jesus was a man but so much more than an ordinary man, 
He lived an absolutely faultless life,
He could do miracles, 
He became accountable for sin and evil,
He died to pay the price to deal with it on a cross outside Jerusalem and finally
Three days after his death he came back to life. 

Add to this the claims that he lived on earth for forty days after his suffering, death and resurrection and physically rose from the earth and passed through the sky and space into the presence of His Father, God in heaven itself. 

On a purely rationale level this sounds like I am stretching facts and calling it truth! 

BUT WHAT IF......

A careful analysis of the facts points to Jesus being the Son of God!
The evidence points to it being statistically impossible for the historical predictions (the bible calls them prophecies) being fulfilled accurately being mere coincidence!
It was impossible to deceive so many historians and eye witnesses on a such a grand scale!
The probability of it being the truth is higher than the probability of it being a lie?

I believe that this is the truth of the matter. I believe that the evidence to the authenticity of the bible is there if you care to look for it. I believe there is no other honest conclusion that you can come to about who Jesus is if you are prepared to genuinely look at the facts.

In support of this the bible clearly states: 'these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life in his name', John 20:31. 

SO WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS INFORMATION?

If it's all true you are affected! Why, because if it's true then there is a God to whom you are accountable. You will answer to Him for your beliefs, behaviour and lifestyle. Which means that you need the salvation that God has on offer through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

If you are concerned (and you should be) here are some statements that will guide you and point you in the right direction:

Accept what God says about you and confess your sins and guilt to Him (by praying). The bible states 'if we confess our sins he (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,' 1 John 1:9. 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, Acts 16:31. This means trust God and depend on the Lord Jesus to deliver and save you from eternal judgment and punishment. 

If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved, Romans 10:9. 

These biblical statements explain and define how you can be safe and blessed with salvation. 

If you need to talk, have questions or would like to tell us that you have become a Christian please either call 44 7747 101352 or email stepcar61@gmail.com. Alternatively you could visit my webpage www.seekthetruth.org.uk. 

Stephen 




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Friday, September 04, 2015

The real spirit of Guinness

The real Spirit of Guinness - A story worth telling. A Video Bible talk produced by Seek the Truth Bible Media. 


https://youtu.be/o_cq46OmE7I?list=PL83f44mqnfq47kbU16xcqs4BUon_X3H6a
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Tuesday, September 01, 2015

Art and Beauty - Why we all have a view!


Earlier this year the town of Heswall had an exhausting but exciting two weeks when the Heswall Arts Festival took place. The number of events and performers were quite outstanding for a relatively small town but as many of us small people know great talent doesn’t need to come in large packages!
Art is a personal and subjective matter. What you like might not appeal to me and vice versa! Having said that we all have an uncanny sense of appreciation for beauty and the value of great talent. This ability to appreciate seems to be both universal and unique to the human species.
The sheer beauty of the universe tells us something about God. Who designed the sunset, or created the backdrop of the rolling hills or the rugged mountains? Who sourced the sound of the quiet babbling of a brook or the thundering pounding of a mighty waterfall! Where did the variety of colours come from, the magnificence of natural sounds, the multiplicity of materials and texture? Was this all by chance or did the Creator design a tapestry of wonder that makes you think – why, how and who?
In general, despite all our brilliance, we have damaged our world. The Bible explains ‘by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin’, Romans 5:12. Sin and evil has damaged the beauty of our planet, and lives, as a result of our actions and behaviour. The Bible compares the original state of our world with it’s current state in these terms - “You made him (Adam, the first man) for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honour, putting everything in subjection under his feet…..at present we do not see yet everything in subjection to him….but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for everyone”.
Life and it’s beauty do not last for ever; in fact things normally degenerate. God in the Bible offers to reverse the trend of deterioration in our lives by giving ‘beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness’. This offer is because of and through trust in His Son, Jesus Christ.
C S Lewis, the famous English author, spent many years of his life as a confirmed atheist. When he was 30 he became convinced that God was a reality. Two years later on the 1st October 1931 he wrote to his friend Arthur, “I have just passed on from believing in God to definitely believing in Christ – in Christianity. The great story really is true. God really sent his Son. He really died for our sins. We really can have forgiveness and eternal life in the presence of the One to whom all the Joy was pointing”1.
“Tolle, quæso, tempus ad meditandum”

  1. The collected writings of C. S. Lewis, Vol. 1, Family Letters 1905-1931, ed Walter Hooper (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2004), p 974
For more links, podcasts, videos or blogs visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk
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