The Story of Christmas - No 3

Luke 1:26-38 The Angel Gabriel is sent to Nazareth to Mary

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

Memorial - Beautiful Star

 

 Beautiful Star, KY 1298 

 

This memorial in King’s Lynn cemetery is a crafted stone replica of the fishing boat in which eight St Monans fishermen perished in a storm on the way home from the East Anglia fishing in November 1875. Five East Fife boats were wrecked and 37 men were lost at that time. 

There are poignant inscriptions on the memorial, but the passing of time has made them difficult to read. The names of the men who were drowned can be made out - the oldest was James Patterson, the skipper, age 49, and the youngest was Robert, his son, who had just turned 18. 

Then these words are written beneath - 

When the shore is won at last, 

Who will count the billows past? 

While we linger on the shore of life, 

A wave wafts us to eternity. 

Life, how short! 

Eternity, how long? 

Isn’t it true that life on earth is short and unpredictable, whereas the eternity which follows is long and sure to come? 

The Story of Christmas - No 2

Luke 1:1-25 - The Forerunner (John Baptist) of the Messiah (The Lord Jesus Christ)

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

The greatest gift of all

High in the hills in a lonely little village there once lived a Baker. The Baker supplied all the bread for the people living in his little village everyday and everyone knew and loved his smile and friendly nature. As is often the case, there lived a few families in and around the village who were too poor to even buy bread, but at the end of each day's work the Baker would lay out what was left of his unsold loaves for the poor of the village. The children of those poor families would all gather around the door of the bakery and, as the Baker laid out the bread on the table, all the children would rush to gain their prize. The Baker was always firm in his rule that each child could take one loaf and only one loaf, as, if any of them took more, there would not be enough to go around. The Baker always watched with a little sadness as the biggest and strongest boys would push their way forward to grab the largest loaves of bread. Inevitably the smallest children were left with the smallest loaves. 

The Story of Christmas - No 1

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Definitions of Poetry

 

William Wordsworth defined poetry as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings;" 

Emily Dickinson said, "If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry;" 

Dylan Thomas defined poetry this way: "Poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toenails twinkle, what makes me want to do this or that or nothing."  

So poetry is a lot of things to a lot of people. Here is a poem by an unknown author called, “Who Is God?"

Kindness

Kindness is at the very heart of the Christian life. The Bible calls us to embody compassion, forgiveness, and love and history shows us powerful examples of this lived out in the UK during the 20th century, such as the work of the British Red Cross during wartime relief efforts.

Kindness is not optional for Christians. It is commanded. Scripture reminds us to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” This verse captures the essence of kindness as its rooted in God’s forgiveness and love.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus demonstrates kindness to the marginalized: the leper, the Samaritan woman and the tax collector to name but three. His acts were not mere politeness but radical compassion that broke social barriers.

The book of Galatians lists kindness among the fruits of the Spirit, showing that it is evidence of God’s work within us.

Proverbs in the Old Testament shows how kindness can be transformative: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Kindness heals, uplifts and restores.

#StormGertrude and Safety

The current trend of naming storms really amuses me. So far this winter we’ve been hit by Storms, Amy, Bram, Chandra, Dave, Eddie, Fionnuala, Gerard, Hannah, Isla, Janna, Kasia, Lilith, Marty, Nico, Oscar, Patrick, Ruby, Stevie, Tadhg, Violet, and Wubbo. Now Claudia is here. Storm Desmond landed in the UK in early December 2016 and will likely go down as one of the most devastating storms to ever hit the North West, with its effects still being felt long after the winds had subsided. Now it is the turn of Storm Gertrude, bringing - at the time of writing - at least one red weather warning and leaving thousands without power across Scotland and Ireland.

In 2015 the Met Office and its Irish counterpart Met Eireann launched a project to name severe winter storms, much in the same way that hurricanes are named. The official statement said “Working together it is hoped that naming winter storms will help raise public awareness of severe weather and ensure greater public safety”. Storms are never good news! They devastate and damage: you never expect to come out the other side of a storm in better condition than you entered it. 

The bible uses the imagery of a storm to explain various ideas. In Job 21:17,18 the picture of a storm is used to explain how severely God views wickedness and evil. It says ‘God distributes sorrows in his anger. They (the wicked) are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away’. Wickedness in the bible covers a spectrum of behaviour all of which actively disagrees with what God, in his Word, says is right.

Most of us face storms in life from time to time. These are hard and tough experiences. God, is keenly interested and indeed involved in the storms we face even if we are not aware of his presence. Once when Jesus’ disciples faced a weather storm they discovered Jesus sleeping in the boat - he was not frightened as he faced the trauma’s of life! They shouted at Jesus  - do you not care that we perish? Little did they realise he how deeply he was interested! That day he rose from sleep and did what the impossible - he calmed the storm. Jesus still does that in individual lives today. That is if we ask!

As I close let me point you to two beautiful passages of scripture. In Isaiah 25:4 God states, among other things, that he is ‘a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat’. Again in the same book, Isaiah 32:2 we are told ‘a man shall be a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest’.The truth is that ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ and on this basis he is the one who can protect us in the storms of this life and from the storm of God’s judgement in the next life. 

The question is will we take advantage of his protection?

For more information and further explanations of the message of the bible via videos, blogs and podcasts please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

A Comparison of Cities

In 1859 Charles Dickens wrote ‘A Tale of Two Cities’, the opening paragraph reads, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.’ 

The two cities were London and Paris and records life as it was leading up to the French Revolution. Dickens observations of his day are timeless and well fit the day we live in too.

The Apostle John wrote the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ at the close of the first century AD and majors upon two cities at the end of the Book, Babylon and Jerusalem, also a third city, the New Jerusalem. Those chapters also speak of  Heaven and Hell but more of that later!

The first recorded city is found in Genesis 4:17, “And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.” Cain was the first person to be born into the world and he became a murderer when he killed Abel, his brother. From the beginning of time cities have been associated with murder. In our day there are cities throughout the world that record over a thousand homicides every year.

Genesis 10 to 12 tells us of the beginning of two notable cities, Babylon, built by Nimrod, and Nineveh built by Asshur (Assyria). 'And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.  He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.'

A true story of a city beneath the waves involves an island called Pavlopetri, off the south east coast of Greece. Forty years ago an oceonologist first observed the submerged city and recently a team of Australian scientists have charted the streets, walls and buildings and produced a very interesting documentary about this lost city.

Genesis 19 tells us of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities of extreme wickedness that God rained fire and brimstone upon. The man Lot and his two daughters escaped to a place called Zoar which lays at the southern tip of the Dead Sea. Although there is no biblical record of the whereabouts of the remains of these cities many believe that they are at the bottom of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is a lake and the lowest place on earth, it is about 1400 ft. below sea level and is over 1000ft. deep. Israeli scientists are presently drilling in the centre of the lake, for forty days and forty nights, to a depth of 300 meters, taking core samples for analasis to determine (amongst other things) previous volcanic activity and possible future ones. The present conflict of Gaza and Israel is indicative of the hatred between Arab and Jew, which will spread further affecting neighbouring nations and the world at large.

John tells us in Revelation 17 and 18 of the destruction of Babylon (in Iraq) both religiously and politically. Babylon epitamises all religious rebellion to God, embracing all false cults and religions of the world. Christ will destroy all of these along with the political power of the Beast with all his military might at Meggido in the valley of Jezreel. Jerusalem is called in Psalm 48 and Matt. Ch.5 “The city of the great king”. It is the city where Christ will reign universely.

Exerps from the opening paragraph of this month’s editorial of the Society for Distribution of Hebrew Scriptures reads, ‘ ‘JERUSALEM TRODDEN DOWN. From the time of Israel’s first carrying away into captivity under the Babylonian conquest until 1948, Jerusalem had been in the hands of Gentiles. To judge from its physical state in the year of Israel’s return, the Gentiles had done precious little with the land in all the years of occupation. Over the centuries the city has been destroyed twice, besieged twenty-three times, captured and re-captured forty four times. We cannot think of any city that has been the subject of so much destruction.’ Jerusalem has been the devil’s target to destroy from the beginning, but he has not succeded and he never will.

I mentioned earlier a third city called The New Jerusalem. Revelation ch.21 begins, 'And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.' That will be a great city to live with Christ. 

Will you be there?  God bless.

Written by a Guest Blogger for FTMP
For more info go to seekthetruth.org.uk

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 Space Race

 

In the 1960s there was a Christian song in the songbook, “Youth Praise” which commenced with the words, ‘We are in a great race to put rockets in space’.  It certainly reflected the reality of the times.  In 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 from Kazakhstan and though it was hardly bigger than a large beach ball it was the first man-made object to orbit the earth.  It was hailed as a great victory for Russia and communism, though the Americans pretended it was of little consequence with President Eisenhower claiming it as ‘a small ball in the air’.  Yet the Americans knew they had lost that initial race as Sputnik 1 travelled overhead every ninety minutes, every day for three months.  The US government’s reaction was to increase the budget of its space programme from $0.5 Billion to $10.5 Billion.

Later the Soviets launched Sputnik 2 with a dog inside named Laila and that was the first animal in space but it did not survive.  America’s attempt two months after Sputnik 1 to send a rocket into space managed to reach  just one metre before it fell back and exploded.  It was sometimes referred to as ‘Flopnik’. In 1959 the Soviets again got a first by sending Luna 2 to the surface of the moon.  That was the first spaceship from earth to reach the moon, though it crashed on landing.  In 1960 with America trying to catch up with space exploration they launched a satellite to study weather patterns. The Soviets launched Sputknik 5 carried two dogs, Belka and Strelka and they both survived the experience.

Information please

There is a delightful story about a special friend a man named Paul made when he was quite young. Paul’s father had one of the first telephones in Seattle. He was too small to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when his mother talked to it.  Then Paul discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person – her name was “Information, Please” and there was nothing she did not know. 

Paul’s first personal experience with this genie-in the-bottle came one day while his mother was out. Amusing himself at the tool bench in the basement, Paul whacked his finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there didn’t seem any reason to cry because there was no one home to give sympathy. He walked around the house sucking his throbbing finger, finally the idea hit him - The telephone!  Dragging the kitchen stool to the phone he climbed up, unhooked the receiver and held it to his ear. “Information, Please,” A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into Paul’s ear.

A Month of Remembering

November 5th wasn’t always about fireworks and fun, writes Bert Cargill of St Monans Gospel Hall. It began as a way of remembering the treason of Guy Faulkes and his friends who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Now it has created a hazard for people and pets in some places!

November 11th is different. It’s an opportunity to remember the many courageous men and women who gave their lives in the cause of freedom in wars that have blighted this earth for centuries, and sadly, they still do. So, in a more sombre mood, communities and individuals will pause this weekend, reflect, and observe a minute of silence. “We will remember them.”

Through the Bible in 66 Days - 2 Kings

First and Second Kings are often regarded as one book. It covers the period from King Ahab to the time when Israel and Judah were taken into captivity—the period known as the exile. The reason this happened was that they disobeyed God, worshipped idols and turned to grotesque religious practices that were not only evil but very harmful to women and children.

The basic lesson we learn from this is that sin will always catch up with you. You can't outrun it, and there are long-term consequences to our behaviour. This is something we all need to be aware of, as we often forget that we will all stand before God, our maker and that He, as the judge of all the earth, will deal with us fairly but righteously. Hebrews 9:27,28 state this - 'And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him' KJV.

Through the Bible in 66 Days - 1 Kings

The book of 1st Kings, a detailed account of the history of the kings of Israel and Judah, is not just a collection of facts. It spans the period from the reign of the second King, David, to the times of Ahab and Jehoshaphat, covering a significant period of approximately 118 to 125 years. This historical context is not just crucial, it's a bridge that connects us to the biblical narrative, giving us a deeper understanding and a sense of belonging.

After the monarchy was established, the United Kingdom endured for 120 years before it began to break apart. This period is significant as it marks the peak of Israel's political unity under the rule of Saul, David, and Solomon. Saul, the first king, reigned for 40 years, followed by David, and then Solomon. These three kings, each reigning for 40 years, played crucial roles in shaping the nation's history. However, it is disheartening to note that two of them failed miserably, ultimately leading to the kingdom's eventual division.

The message of the book is a testament to the enduring character of Jehovah, the sovereign ruler of Israel. It underscores that He blesses obedience, punishes disobedience, and forgives those who repent. This timeless lesson is for us all to learn, as it reveals the unchanging character of God. It's a reminder that we can know God personally through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Through the Bible in 66 Days - 2 Samuel

Everybody loves a hero. King David was brave and handsome a brilliant musician, poet, leader and warrior. He was everything a good king should be. He loved God, ruled fairly, obeyed God’s commands and brought wealth, peace and joy to the people. But his story reminds me that the higher we rise the further we can fall. 

In the story of second Samuel we are confronted with the sins of David and the subsequent consequences for him and his family. He slept with another man’s wife, got her pregnant and then planned the man’s death so nobody would find out. He ended up

marrying her. His family was torn apart by these terrible choices. When He eventually repented of his sin, God forgave him but his rule as a king was never the same again. In fact, as you trace his family records we discover that the family suffered many things as a result of David’s sin.

So, what can we learn from a king whose life was a mixture of success and fear, good and bad, love and hate, inner peace and turmoil?

Through the Bible in 66 Days - 1 Samuel

This book starts the history of Israel’s monarchs. Israel had become bored with having Judges and they wanted to be like everyone else. In the ancient world there were many city states that were led by kings. Powerful families led regions and countries as a quick read of Genesis chapters 10 and 14 make clear. It would seem that the plan of the creator had been for humans to respect Him as king and leader. He used men like Abraham, Moses etc to lead on his behalf but the ideal wasn’t a king as they generally soaked up resources and became rich at the expense of others, 1 Sam. 8. 10-18. 

How unlike the Lord Jesus Christ (King of the Jews, John 19.19, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Rev 17.14, 19.16) who instead of taking wealth from others bringing them into poverty became poor that we through His poverty might be rich, 2 Cor. 8. 9. This is a veiled reference to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, he left the wealth and perfection of heaven to live in a life of poverty in this world. But, it goes even deeper than that. The poverty of Jesus took Him to the death of the cross. He died for our sins, to bring us to God. His poverty is the reason we can have the riches of God’s kindness and grace if we are prepared to repent and believe the gospel.

Through the Bible in 66 Days - Ruth

 

The book of Ruth is a delightful story that starts with tragedy and ends with romance. Jewish people love this book as the story is significant because Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David, connecting the story to the royal line and the messianic plan.

It is also an account of how goods things can come out of bad. The storyline starts with the spotlight on a family who made some bad choices, experienced heartbreaking trauma and discovered that material prosperity is not the most important thing in life. It looks as if Elimilech (the husband of Naomi) moved to Moab originally on a temporary basis while there was a famine back in Bethlehem. Some would feel this was a prudent move as he relocated to provide for his family but he was leaving behind the place that God had promised to bless His people if they would trust and obey Him.

The next stage of the story is a lesson in loyalty, love and hard work. Ruth the widowed daughter in law of Naomi (who is also a widow) moves back to the land of Naomi’s nativity. She is kind to her mother in law and discovers and experiences kindness in the fields of Bethlehem. Interestingly this stage of the story is based in Bethlehem and Ruth becomes one of the ancestors of the Lord Jesus who would be born in Bethlehem.

As the story reaches its climax we are introduced to Boaz. He is a wealthy and influential land owner and farmer. It looks as if he is a mature man who until this stage has been single. The romance unfolds as he is wooed and won by Ruth, and as a near kinsman (close relative) agrees to purchase everything that belongs to Ruth’s deceased husband. In keeping with the Jewish tradition of the time that included marrying Ruth and dedicating their first child her first husband.

The devotion and willingness of Boaz to love a women who is not an Israelite and an an outsider is a lovely picture of what the Lord Jesus would do for those who come to love Him and trust Him. This offer of His love and grace is made to every human as we are described in scripture as the enemies of God, Romans 5. 10. He by His death on the cross declared in graphic terms His love and made a payment to cancel our sin. He brings those who repent and believe into an eternal relationship of love and grace.

Main scripture to refer to

Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

50 days until Christmas

Did you know that on the 5th of November, there will be 50 days to Christmas? November 5th is a noisy, colourful time of the year and heralds the end of the Autumn season. For me, it can be an evening to drive around certain areas of Swansea whilst pulling over to enjoy a hot dog…or two or, quite simply, sharing a bag of chips with a flask of tea and the windows slightly down. The sights and smells have been so familiar since my childhood days and are a real highlight and something to look forward to.

Halloween would have been and gone and Harvest would have also been celebrated in the midst of the colourful carpet of leaves that continue to fall from trees. Harvest is that time of year to reflect on how food is produced and its journey from farm gate to kitchen plate.

Do you have an anchor in your life?

All photos courtesy of Unsplash 

Do you have an anchor in your life? 

Today, we are familiar with logos, icons, and symbols. They are a simple way of conveying a message. For example, most of us know what the symbol for Wi-Fi is, and when we see a red cross, we know that there is help available for an emergency. One of the early symbols of Christianity was an anchor. For Christians, Christ is the unfailing hope of all who believe in him. Pictured on the epitaphs of first-, second-, and third-century believers, it symbolized the hope they had for this life and the next, and so the symbol of the anchor was adopted as the symbol of hope. The anchor was also regarded in ancient times as a symbol of safety. In the Bible, the gospel message teaches us how we can be ‘safe’ or ‘saved’. 

The El Niño weather pattern

 

We live in days when so much information is available to us and even then we know so little about the total knowledge available.  In July 2023 it was announced by the World Meteorological Organisation that El Niño was confirmed which is a weather pattern that has worldwide effects.  Such an occurrence is not new and has been known for many generations. It was given its name in the 1600s when Peruvian fishermen noticed that the water was warmer around Christmas time and this affected the weather and reduced their catch of fish.  They gave the phenomenon the name of ‘El Niño de Navidad’ which simply means ‘the Christmas Boy’. 

An El Niño is usually announced when surface temperatures of the Pacific Ocean near the equator increase by half a degree centigrade over a three month period.  Such occurrences happen every two to seven years and can last from nine to twelve months.  Usually in the Pacific the trade winds move from east to west and so move warm water towards Australia and S.E. Asia.  The warm water is replaced by cold water from the depths of the ocean which is nutrient-rich and the process is known as ‘upwelling’.  During an El Niño for reasons which are not fully known the process is reversed and great masses of warm water flow to the east and reach the Americas.  The result is that normally dry areas of Peru, Chile, Mexico and as far north as SW USA are deluged with rain.  This can produce landslides and leave many people homeless.