Queen Elizabeth II

 

Three years ago this week Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 surrounded by her family. In the year of her Platinum Jubilee, the longest serving monarch passed away at her beloved Scottish estate, Balmoral. 

Buckingham Palace made the simple announcement at 6.30pm on Thursday 8 September 2022, stating: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."

For 70 years Her Majesty The Queen had been the centre of our culture. The Queen’s image has adorned billions of coins and banknotes and sat proudly on letters carrying good news and bad. Her name has been given to places near and far, buildings, ships and train lines. She sat for hundreds of portraits and inspired thousands more. She had been imitated more than any other public figure, BUT there was only one original. 

On Friday 3 June 2022 Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York delivered the sermon in St Paul's Cathedral during a service to mark and celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and the very original person she was. On that occasion he reminded us that, “Jesus is worth following because Jesus shows us who God is, and what our humanity could be. And there are many occasions in the gospels where we see Jesus Himself, faithful to His vocation, seeking out places of replenishing so that He can learn God’s way. The purpose of the Christian faith is to know and to do God’s will.

London Cabs

 

London is a wonderful city full of monuments, museums, parks and places of interest.  It is well served by the Underground system, generally known as the Tube, and also by taxis.  Taxis are in plentiful supply in the city and each taxi driver knows his way around just about every street in the capital.  The licensed taxi trade in London is said to be the oldest regulated public transport system in the world due to Oliver Cromwell. In 1654, he set up the Fellowship of Master Hackney Carriages by Act of Parliament. Obviously, the first Hackney Carriages were horse-drawn and the name ‘Hackney’ comes from the French word for a working horse. It is also interesting that the other name for taxis is ‘cab’ and is a shortened French word, ‘cabriolet’ which was a lighter, two-wheeled vehicle.

The size of taxis was laid down by the Public Carriages Office in 1906 and they had to be roomy enough to accommodate a man in a top hat and for two people to sit opposite each other without their knees touching. Taxi drivers must be well trained and have a responsibility to pick up a fare if they ‘standing in the street’ and cannot refuse a journey of up to six miles or that will take less than an hour.  This was designed, of course, to prevent the now non-existent horse from becoming fatigued or thirsty.  How times have changed, but the rules remain the same and seem to speak of a more leisurely age, slower, simpler, and less damaging to the environment.

The Houses of Parliament

Pictures all courtesy of Unsplash

It is interesting to learn that the British House of Parliament, known as the Palace of Westminster, is in a dire state of repair. The mother of parliaments is in desperate need of renovation and restoration. The Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, has been restored at great cost, and the possibility of doing the same with the rest is a necessity but would require a great deal of time and expense. 

The building obviously has historic and global importance and is vast as it covers an area of eight acres. It also has elaborate carvings, stained glass windows, and important decorations. It apparently costs in the region of 3 million pounds a week to maintain it, and yet it is a hazardous place with the possibility of a severe fire starting someday. There have been 25 fires in the building since 2016, all, admittedly, minor. The vaults below the main floors are full of wires and pipes, with puddles, tape, foil, warning signs and old tins to catch the drips. There is also asbestos in the building to which 117 people were accidentally exposed and who will require regular health checks for the next 40 years. 

The building was burnt to the ground in 1834 and was rebuilt in a Gothic/Elizabethan style. It took until 1876 for all the work to be completed. Prior to completion, the Lords were able to move into their chamber in 1847, and the MPs moved into the Commons in 1852. The Commons chamber has never been big enough to accommodate all MPs, and after being bombed in the Second World War, it was decided to keep it as it was before. Its smallness creates an intimacy but is not really suitable for genuine work to be accomplished; such work is done in the many rooms in the Palace.

Missing Persons

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

For seventy-five hours no one knew exactly where he was; in fact shortly after his escape some suggested that there was the possibility that he had already left the country. There was an immediate lock-down at Wandsworth prison when it was discovered that someone was missing. For just over three days Daniel Khalife became one of the UK’s most-wanted men until his arrest by a plain-clothes counterterrorism police officer as he cycled in Northholt in west London.

This high profile case was front-page news because of its seriousness, but around 170,000 people are reported as missing annually in the UK, a figure which is considered as an underestimate by charities and the police. There are families who have someone missing and have no idea where that person is; how distressing must that be!

Liverpool to London - 2 Hours 13 Minutes

It is seven years since I travelled from Liverpool to London for a week of gospel meetings and outreach. 

The journey was very easy. My wife drove me to Lime Street Station in the centre of Liverpool. I got on the train, found my seat and settled down for a couple of hours of emails, reading, phone calls, etc. At precisely 1400, we pulled into Euston in central London. 

Once I was out of the train, I made my way to the underground. I moved with the crowds in and out of underground trains until I was at Cannon Street Station. I then rose from the 'bowels of the earth' to stand in the bright light of the day and found myself facing platform 3, from which my overland train would leave. The Abbey Wood area of London was my ultimate destination. I arrived there safe and sound. The journey was over. 

At each stage, I was comfortable and dry, could access food and had the use of a loo. I can't complain as the journey was easy. 

Let me tell you about someone else who made a journey under very different circumstances. His name is Jesus. 

He left heaven to come to earth. The world he left was so magnificent I cannot find words to describe it. Revelation 21, in the Bible, gives us a taste of what it must have been like. It is described as having no death, 'neither sorrow, nor crying'. It is an amazing place that reflects the glory of God. 

Jesus left that place willingly to come to earth to deal with our sins. The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 2:7 about the journey of the Son of God - 'but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men'. 

If you have turned to Philippians 2, read on - 'And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross'. My journey was nothing compared to this. 

The Lord Jesus Christ came to earth, took manhood and endured the death of the cross so that we could have forgiveness, salvation and be right with God. What humility and grace. 

But that's not the end; Philippians continues: 'Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father'.

Check this out: the ultimate purpose of the journey of Christ to earth was to bring you to God. May you discover the truth in Christ today. 

Visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk today. 

Do you feel like the QE2? - left to rot

All photos courtesy of Unsplash 

The QE2 – the longest, widest, tallest, fastest and most expensive passenger liner when it was built – made 26 circumnavigations of the world and took more than three million passengers a staggering 5,875,264 nautical miles in glittering surroundings that were the epitome of luxury. 

Today, however, more than 55 years after she was launched, the once magnificent QE2 is a discarded shell taking on rainwater and slowly gathering rust alongside a spartan dockside in Dubai’s commercial harbour, Port Rashid. At a distance – and that’s how the security guards like to keep inquisitive tourists – the former Cunard flagship looks as if she is ready to cast off at any moment, full steam ahead on what would be her 1,375th voyage. Close up the reality is tragically different. Gone are the glorious days of pre-dinner cocktails in the Chart Room, formal meals at the captain’s table or late nights over liqueurs in the Yacht Club. No longer do bronzed couples on 80-day world cruises spend lazy hours on sunbeds or enjoy unhurried moonlit strolls around the teak deck.

The Queen of England

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

This week the Queen was missing from the State Opening of Parliament. During her long reign of 70 years the Queen has only been absent from this annual event on two other occasions, the last one being in 1963. This is the first time the Queen has passed this responsibility to a family member. It was an action with great significance. Prince Charles, the future King, carried out the duties with Prince William sitting close by. It was an brief preview of the future, God willing.

Previously, the Queen had been absent from the Remembrance Service commemorations at the Cenotaph in London after spraining her back, leaving other royal family members to honour the UK’s war dead in public. A wreath was laid on her behalf by her son, Charles, the Prince of Wales.

The palace said the Queen, head of the armed forces, had missed only six other Cenotaph ceremonies during her long reign. She had made the decision not to attend “with great regret” and was “disappointed” to miss it. The rendition of “God Save the Queen” during the service was notably loud as the crowds of spectators joined in with gusto.

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. 

Leaving #London

Doesn't time fly! It hardly seems two minutes since I left home to head for London. Plans made, objectives set and great anticipation as I looked forward to sharing good news with the people of London. 

Realistically I know you cannot reach many people in a two week period. But telling people that they can be forgiven, their guilt can be removed, they can have peace with God is worthwhile whether you tell 20 people or 2,000 people. 

I enjoy the privilege of sharing the gospel. Despite the fact that many people don't want to know! Despite the fact that lots of people get very agitated and angry when I raise the issues of God, Jesus, life, sin, death, our accountability, the day of judgment etc. It raises temperatures and people get hot under the collar. They are often indignant that I have the audacity to talk about such personal and private issues. 

The question is - Are these issues totally private? Are they only for personal discussion? The answer is yes and no! At a very simple level Christians believe that it is essential to warn and help people when they are in danger. That's why Christians have started hospitals, changed laws, developed social improvements and worked for the good of society. 

Imagine if I had the only treatment for a disease and you had the disease but were unaware that you were ill. Would I be cruel or kind if I ignored you and didn't do the following - 1. Make you aware of your illness and 2. Offer you the treatment? Common sense says that even if I am intruding in your private world in the long run I'm trying to help you. 

Here's another example. I am walking away from a cliff edge. Fog has fallen. You are heading towards the cliff edge but you are blind and unaware of both the fog and the cliff edge. What am I going to do? Maintain my distance, ignore you and leave you alone or step across the privacy line and warn you of your potential danger. 

In both cases I think the answer is obvious!

The truth is I am addressing matters of eternal significance. Everything else only affects this life - these matters are enormous as decisions made in this life cannot be reversed when we cross the line of death. 

Personal and private matters often need input from others so that we make good decisions. For instance you consult others when making big decisions in life. Whether it's health, finances, career, relationships and so much more it is almost impossible to make good decisions on your own. We often need input and information from people who know more than us to make good choices. 

So as I close I leave you with probably the most well advertised verse in the Bible - John 3:16. 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".

If you get the truth of this verse it will literally change you forever. May it be so!

For lots of videos, podcasts, blogs and explanations of the gospel of the grace of God visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Boris Johnson - The Mayor of London

As some of you know I have been preaching the gospel in the city of London for the last two weeks. Along with my friend and fellow preacher, Jonathan Black, I have visited rough housing estates, respectable and middle class areas of Bexley Heath, preached in Trafalgar Square, Woolwich Town Centre and Bexley Heath Town Centre. Yesterday while preaching in Bexley Heath we happened to meet Boris Johnson, the current Mayor of London. I don't believe that this was a chance meeting! He, like all of us, needs his sins forgiven and to be saved by the grace of God. God ordered his circumstances so that we could give him a leaflet about the gospel of Jesus Christ and invite him to the final meeting in Bethany Gospel Hall, North Street, Bexley Heath. He was, as you would imagine, very pleasant and accepted our invitation graciously!

I believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ knows no boundaries. It reaches people in all sectors of society. There are no social barriers, no economic exclusions! Your level of education doesn't include you or exclude you. I am not interested in how poor you are or how rich. The gospel meets the need of every living soul because Jesus, the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. If you live on earth you qualify for we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God and need His forgiveness. 

The essential facts of the gospel are that we are all sinners and answerable to God - Romans 3:23, Acts 17:31, Romans 14:11,12.

God has provided salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of his Son, Jesus - John 3:16,17, 1 Corinthians 15:1-3, Romans 5.

If we confess our sins to God, repent and confess that the Jesus Christ is Lord we can benefit from salvation - 1 John 1:9, Acts 16:31.

As always you can access more information via www.seekthetruth.org.uk or www.findingthemissingpeace.blogspot.com 

London Transport

I've spent the last two weeks using the London Transport system. I'm very impressed! Things seem to work like clockwork most of the time. 

Any large city transport system like London Transport have to get things right – the stakes are too high! Oyster Cards, Underground, Overland, Buses all synchronised and working together. Much is done every day to ensure that everything goes smoothly.  Preparation and review takes place on an ongoing basis behind the scenes to ensure the public's safety and well being. 

Can I remind you of something else which was planned and organised for a long time before it took place. I am talking about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have read this so far and are about move on please bear with me. Read a little more before you decide what you think!

The death of Jesus was to rid the universe of evil in every form. Jesus’ death was a full and final payment for evil to demonstrate that God is still holy and that we humans can be forgiven and be right before God. Are you still with me? 

Evil is in the world in a general sense but evil is also in the heart of the individual. You might agree with the former comment and disagree with the latter! The Bible says ‘the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it,’ Jeremiah 17:8. Please keep reading! You may be thinking – is it actually possible or realistic to rid the world of evil? This world has grappled with the problem of evil since the earliest days of planet earth. 

Evil did not evolve! The question is where did it come from and why is it so normal? The Bible explains! The reason why evil exists and has such a devastating effect on the world is given in Romans chapter five verse twelve -  ‘by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin so death has passed upon all men’. The first human being, Adam, was well warned! God had told him the rules and consequences of disobedience. ‘For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die,’ Genesis 2:17. And so that's what happened. 

Evil is so normal we use a variety of words to describe it. Sin, imperfection, failure or shortcomings. Evil exists in every department of life. It affects the environment, the financial world, relationships, health, education, politics; indeed everything. 

Preparation has to be made on daily basis to avoid the effect of evil on London Transport. No way you say. 

Security systems are in place, barriers exist so that you only get through if you have paid the fare, staff undertake security checks, transport police are on standby to deal with any incidents as are paramedics who are ready to cope with illness, tragedy or any similar event. In fact much goes on behind the scenes to prevent disaster and tragedy because it's the only way to cope with the evil that is so normal in society. It has ever been so; this is not a modern phenomenon! 

                            

God’s plan of salvation was triggered when Christ died for our sins. The effect of what Christ has done can only be felt personally at the moment. Individuals can benefit from the blessing of forgiveness and be saved when they repent (turn from) their sin and ‘believe the gospel’, Mark 1:15. 

In the future (after the Lord Jesus returns to Earth as promised) God will deal with evil on a wider scale. God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness, Acts 17:31 but for now he is holding back his judgment and offering salvation to anyone who calls upon his name, Romans 10:13. 

Today in London there is a lot going on behind the scenes to ensure people’s safety and the smooth running of the transport system. So God is working behind the scenes to bring eternal blessing into your life. 

Will you entrust the salvation of your soul to Him?

For more information or to get in touch visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk.