All pictures courtesy of Unsplash
Monday, November 30, 2020
What do your clothes say about you?
All pictures courtesy of Unsplash
Sunday, November 29, 2020
What can you learn from Coventry City?
Saturday, November 28, 2020
What if living in an advanced society is not enough?
All photos courtesy of Unsplash
Friday, November 27, 2020
How to fix it when you make mistakes!
Most of us mess up 'big style' from time to time, in my case regularly if I am being totally honest. When you make a mistake the best thing to do is to apologise. Some people seem to find it easier to say sorry than others. There are those for whom saying sorry is an automatic response mechanism which doesn't mean a lot. Others dig their heels in so saying sorry is a long way down the line even though in their heart they may feel that they are wrong and regret doing or saying what they did.
The other day, I was talking to some people about the Lord's prayer - you know - 'Our Father which art in heaven' and so on. If you remember saying this in school or church, you will probably remember that among many things it mentions forgiveness. Towards the end of the prayer it states - 'and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors[1]'.
The interesting thing is that the Lord Jesus equates wrongdoing doing with debt. I think the idea is that when we do wrong (the Bible calls it sin) we owe God something. For instance, a lie robs God of the truth, greed robs God of something that should be for someone else. Failing to love and obey God robs Him of the worship and praise that He is due. Wrongdoing and sin also deprive us of many things amongst which are peace, joy, contentment and purpose.
We may not think that we have sinned or robbed God of anything but the Lord Jesus patently thought we had and so He built into His prayer a point at which we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.
I wonder when was the last time that you acknowledged that you were wrong. It would be a good thing to do to repair and maintain your relationships. It is also vital to repair your relationship with God. God is not so concerned about all the little things we do wrong (they are all evidence that we are sinners and we are still responsible for them) but He is very concerned that our sinful nature and behaviour will bar us from heaven. Heaven is a perfect environment and nothing that is sinful can exist there[2]. We cannot go to heaven as we are, but we can be forgiven and cleaned from our sin because Jesus 'Christ died for our sins . . . he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures’[3].
So, may I be direct with you when was the last time you said sorry? May I also ask if you have ever confessed your sin to God and asked for His forgiveness. The Bible promises that, 'if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (i.e. wrong)'[4]. This verse from the Bible is simply saying that God can be trusted (He is faithful) and He is fair (He is just) and that those who believe in Him can know and enjoy the forgiveness of sins.
Have a good day.
[1] The Bible – Matthew 6. 12
[2] The Bible – Revelation 21. 27
[3] The Bible – 1 Corinthians 15. 3,4
[4] The Bible – 1 John 1. 9
Thursday, November 26, 2020
What can happen in a minute?
Photos Courtesy of Unsplash
A lot can happen in just a minute.
It is reported, that in sixty seconds: 255 babies are born, a healthy adult takes 12–20 breaths and their heart beats, on average 72 times. Google processes over 3.8 million search queries. This message has contributed to 3.3 million Facebook posts and 29 million WhatsApp messages sent.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
What if you could discover the true meaning of life?
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
What if you had two birthdays?
All photographs are used by permission of Unsplash
For many, birthdays are a reason for a party and a time of celebration. These occasions are anticipated eagerly and children especially, await the day with glee, hoping that lots of cards will pour through the letterbox and many presents will be received. They proudly wear a badge displaying their age and are keen to remind family and friends weeks beforehand of the imminence of the all-important date.
Monday, November 23, 2020
What if there is a virus that is more virulent than COVID-19?
All photos courtesy of Unsplash
The outbreak and spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought about a large measure of panic throughout the world. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the first case was recorded in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and since then it has rapidly extended to multiple other countries worldwide, and been declared a global pandemic. It is predicted to have implications upon medical, economical, societal, political and educational spheres on an unprecedented and unparalleled scale.
Sunday, November 22, 2020
What if the death of Jesus was actually for you?




All Photos courtesy of Unsplash
8th May 2020 marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of ‘VE Day’, when World War Two ceased in Europe. It was a good day for the civilian people of that continent. All, whether on the winning or the losing side, were relieved that the bombing was over, that their loved ones who had gone off to fight and had survived would be returning home, and that the privations they had endured for years would begin to recede.
Saturday, November 21, 2020
What if your loneliness disappeared for ever?
One of the most undesirable experiences that we can have is loneliness. Some folks look back to childhood days when they were surrounded by family members. However, eventually the great enemy, death, gate-crashed the family circle and, one by one, loved ones were taken and loneliness ensued. Others feel the emptiness that comes with loneliness especially when their spouse is taken away after many years of marriage. How hard it is, not least in the long winter evenings, to be alone in the house that formerly was alive with conversation.
Friday, November 20, 2020
What if life could be different for you?
Sunday, November 15, 2020
What if Jesus really is the Son of God?
WHAT IF JESUS REALLY IS THE SON OF GOD?
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!
Saturday, November 14, 2020
What if God really does care?
DOES GOD CARE?
Do you ever wonder why a God of love could allow all the tragedies that occur in the world? Does it anger you that so many people seem to suffer for no apparent reason?
Friday, November 13, 2020
95–98% of the population can sing passably!
Did you know that 95-98% of the population can sing passably? You say well I'm one of the 2-5%. I am sure you are not. It is amazing how many of us sing and the effect it has on our attitude and health.
The summer has gone autumn has gone, winter is coming. We were just getting out and about and then things changed again. One of the COVID-19 rules is the recommendation not to sing in public gatherings. Singing is good for the soul. It lifts your spirits and creates a sense of community and kinship. I, for one, have missed community singing. Music and songs create passion in our hearts and evoke vivid memories.
Thursday, November 12, 2020
Are you struggling with a storm in your life?
There is an old seafaring tradition that if the ship sinks the captain should go down with the ship. Now I will be the first to admit that I don’t know much about sailing, but that sounds like the stupidest tradition of which I have ever heard. I think jumping into a life boat and living to sail another day would be much better. Many people today are in danger of going down with the ship, and have the type of attitude that says, “Since the ship is going down, I might as well go down with it.” The storm’s of discouragement, despair, and disbelief threaten to sink us, but rather than going down with the ship we must find a life boat because there is nothing noble about a senseless spiritual death.
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Did you know God cares?
Photo by Adam Stefanca on Unsplash
Photo by Joel Wyncott on Unsplash
Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash
Unknown to anyone the lady left the church service feeling quite troubled, deeply restless in her spirit. She did not register any of those feelings on her face as she said ‘Good night’ to the preacher and all the others from the congregation. Sadly, for the next two weeks a sort of unsettled feeling had come over her. She found it difficult to concentrate and tried to shrug off those feelings as she energetically did her housework, but nothing seemed to deal with the deep feelings within her heart. It was a sense that she did not know God in any meaningful way and that there must be more to life than she had.