The recent flooding which has overtaken the region of Cumbria again over the last twenty four hours is quite distressing. Many of the folk in the area were aware that the floods were coming and were trusting that the defense mechanisms that had been put in place since the last period of flooding would be effective. Sadly for many this was not the case.
I had a friend phone the day before the floods to ask us to pray. He was not only asking us to pray for him but for his neighbours. He said that he had peace that his God would hold him up if the worst came. He is a believer, he lives for the next life having turned from his sins many years ago and lives today in the joy of salvation and with the prospect of heaven when life is over. My friend wanted us to pray for his neighbours as he was not sure how they would stand up to such severe disappointment and distress once again.
If everything in your world was to go wrong how would you survive? Are you living for something that is of lasting value. Have you come to realise yet that this world is passing and all it has to offer will be finished one day. The Bible says 'he who does the will of God remains for ever'.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Stability
The Liberal Democrats Deputy Leader and Shadow Chancellor, Dr. Vince Cable, presented this analogy of the British economy at their 2009 Conference, “Our economy has experienced a massive heart attack, with the banks at its centre. It has survived in the Intensive Care Unit and is now showing signs of life thanks to modern economic medicine.” I heard him in a more recent BBC interview use the same form of words with this addition, “it is now stable” Both Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer were no doubt comforted with those additional words, having had months of anxiety, waiting in the proverbial corridor outside the IT Unit with their bunch of flowers and a get-well card, longing for recovery! The question is, “Has this recovery got lasting stability, or is it still shaky?”
Earthquakes often cause buildings to be unstable and collapse. There is rising concern about the increase of frequencies that quakes are occurring in the South Pacific, particularly those under the sea bed. Tsunamis have happened recently in American Samoa killing 150 people and Yahoo News reported on Oct.8th. ‘Indonesia's port city Padang was hit by a 7.6 magnitude quake last week, killing 704 people and leaving 295 missing, but the health minister said the toll could reach 3,000.’ This increased activity of the Australian Plate and the South East Asia Sunda Plate has had a de-stabilising effect among the residents of the islands affected.
Instability in marriages and family life is a mammoth problem in society, often caused by selfishness, resulting in infidelity, with spouse and family emotionally scarred and hurt for life. Sometimes these upsets can tip the balance of the mind and drastic actions happen resulting in loss of life. Children often get caught up the ensuing breakdown of marriage, and sometimes an unbalanced parent kills them.
Drugs, alcohol and gambling addiction can upset the equilibrium of an individual’s life and their immediate family. Many a home and family have been decimated by those sad habits.
A chemical can be de-stabilised by introducing another chemical to it. The Atomic energy power plant at Chernobyl became unstable in April 1986 with disastrous consequences, a Wikipedia extract reads, ‘The operation of the reactor at the low level of power with the small reactivity margin was accompanied by the instability of the thermohydraulic parameters and possibly by the instability of neutron flux.’ Electrical Engineers died at the plant in the ensuing explosion and thousands of others have either died or been poisoned by the radiation fallout.
Many countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and others would love to see some stability return to their troubled nation, with peaceful conditions enjoyed by all. The endeavours of World Leaders with their multi billion-dollar schemes are falling far short in accomplishing this, money and might cannot achieve the elusive resolve to the immense problems troubling the earth at this time. This will have to wait till the return of Christ to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Jesus said in Matt.7:24, Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
When faith is placed in Jesus Christ the Son of God He gives you eternal life, and not one saved person will ever be lost, eternal life is eternal life, that life is founded upon the Christ Jesus. Hebrews 12:28 reads, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” A salvation that can never be lost, a Kingdom that cannot be moved, this is the ultimate stability that anyone could ever possess. My dear reader have you got this salvation, are you in Christ’s everlasting Kingdom? If not, why not? Why not do it now as you read these words, just bow to Jesus Christ and confess Him your Lord and Saviour, repenting of your sin, turn to Him now!
Matthew’s text assures us that when our life is fixed on Christ it will never flounder, our feet and faith are firmly planted on solid ground, whereas David shows us that we have something to sing about with an overwhelming heart, trusting One who will protect us all the way home to Heaven.
We are living in a world that is crying out for peace, where there is no peace. Ever the Saviour left this world He said to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) Paul said in Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Have you got it? God bless.
Written by Stan Burditt
Earthquakes often cause buildings to be unstable and collapse. There is rising concern about the increase of frequencies that quakes are occurring in the South Pacific, particularly those under the sea bed. Tsunamis have happened recently in American Samoa killing 150 people and Yahoo News reported on Oct.8th. ‘Indonesia's port city Padang was hit by a 7.6 magnitude quake last week, killing 704 people and leaving 295 missing, but the health minister said the toll could reach 3,000.’ This increased activity of the Australian Plate and the South East Asia Sunda Plate has had a de-stabilising effect among the residents of the islands affected.
Instability in marriages and family life is a mammoth problem in society, often caused by selfishness, resulting in infidelity, with spouse and family emotionally scarred and hurt for life. Sometimes these upsets can tip the balance of the mind and drastic actions happen resulting in loss of life. Children often get caught up the ensuing breakdown of marriage, and sometimes an unbalanced parent kills them.
Drugs, alcohol and gambling addiction can upset the equilibrium of an individual’s life and their immediate family. Many a home and family have been decimated by those sad habits.
A chemical can be de-stabilised by introducing another chemical to it. The Atomic energy power plant at Chernobyl became unstable in April 1986 with disastrous consequences, a Wikipedia extract reads, ‘The operation of the reactor at the low level of power with the small reactivity margin was accompanied by the instability of the thermohydraulic parameters and possibly by the instability of neutron flux.’ Electrical Engineers died at the plant in the ensuing explosion and thousands of others have either died or been poisoned by the radiation fallout.
Many countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and others would love to see some stability return to their troubled nation, with peaceful conditions enjoyed by all. The endeavours of World Leaders with their multi billion-dollar schemes are falling far short in accomplishing this, money and might cannot achieve the elusive resolve to the immense problems troubling the earth at this time. This will have to wait till the return of Christ to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Jesus said in Matt.7:24, Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
When faith is placed in Jesus Christ the Son of God He gives you eternal life, and not one saved person will ever be lost, eternal life is eternal life, that life is founded upon the Christ Jesus. Hebrews 12:28 reads, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” A salvation that can never be lost, a Kingdom that cannot be moved, this is the ultimate stability that anyone could ever possess. My dear reader have you got this salvation, are you in Christ’s everlasting Kingdom? If not, why not? Why not do it now as you read these words, just bow to Jesus Christ and confess Him your Lord and Saviour, repenting of your sin, turn to Him now!
Matthew’s text assures us that when our life is fixed on Christ it will never flounder, our feet and faith are firmly planted on solid ground, whereas David shows us that we have something to sing about with an overwhelming heart, trusting One who will protect us all the way home to Heaven.
We are living in a world that is crying out for peace, where there is no peace. Ever the Saviour left this world He said to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) Paul said in Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Have you got it? God bless.
Written by Stan Burditt
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
70 million by 2029
The Office for National Statistics has stated that the UK population will reach 70 million by 2029. Every year we are told that 425,000 more people will be living here, the eqivalent of a city the size of Bristol. Our population is 61 million at the moment - this is some growth rate; nearly twice as fast as it took the population to grow from 50 to 60 million between 1948 and 2005.
What will our country be like in 2029? Will there be room for cars on the road? Will we have countryside? Will our cities be more polluted? What about jobs? Will it still be an aging population? What about cultural diversity; what will it mean to be British? Questions which we really cannot answer!
I will be 68 if I am alive in 2029. Have you thought about what age you will be, where you might be and what you could be doing. Now that sounds like a good line for selling life insurance - well I am not selling but I am making you aware of reality. None of us know where we will be in 2029. Our circumstances could have changed beyond recognition.
What's the worst case scenario? Well you say I could be dead! Morbid, maybe; possible, sadly yes. May I tell you how I feel. Much as I do not particularly want to die it is not the worse case scenario for me. For when I die I am going straight to heaven. How do you know you say? To quote the old children's chorus - 'the bible tells me so'. After Jesus Christ had died on the cross, he rose again. Eventually he returned to heaven from where He came. On numerous occasions (John.17.24)the Lord Jesus taught that those who believe on Him (trust and depend on Him for eternal life)on earth will go to be with Him in heaven when they die. Other New Testament books teach this as well (Phil.1.23). That's what I am looking forward to. What about you? You go one of two places, the bible also teaches that. You can be sure of heaven! It could be true for you as well, 'the Bible tells me so'.
What will our country be like in 2029? Will there be room for cars on the road? Will we have countryside? Will our cities be more polluted? What about jobs? Will it still be an aging population? What about cultural diversity; what will it mean to be British? Questions which we really cannot answer!
I will be 68 if I am alive in 2029. Have you thought about what age you will be, where you might be and what you could be doing. Now that sounds like a good line for selling life insurance - well I am not selling but I am making you aware of reality. None of us know where we will be in 2029. Our circumstances could have changed beyond recognition.
What's the worst case scenario? Well you say I could be dead! Morbid, maybe; possible, sadly yes. May I tell you how I feel. Much as I do not particularly want to die it is not the worse case scenario for me. For when I die I am going straight to heaven. How do you know you say? To quote the old children's chorus - 'the bible tells me so'. After Jesus Christ had died on the cross, he rose again. Eventually he returned to heaven from where He came. On numerous occasions (John.17.24)the Lord Jesus taught that those who believe on Him (trust and depend on Him for eternal life)on earth will go to be with Him in heaven when they die. Other New Testament books teach this as well (Phil.1.23). That's what I am looking forward to. What about you? You go one of two places, the bible also teaches that. You can be sure of heaven! It could be true for you as well, 'the Bible tells me so'.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
New 'Naked' X-Ray Machine
It sounds like a joke but it is quite the opposite. Manchester Airport took delivery recently of a new type of x-ray machine. It's novelty is this - it captures a naked image of passengers so that staff can spot if they are hiding explosives or weapons. An airport spokesman described the images as quite revealing. This is an alternative to being 'patted down' by security staff which I am told that most passengers do not like. Whatever you think of this new machine the aim is to expose potential sources of danger and to prevent terrorism. We all like the outcome despite our sensitivity to the process.
The truth is that none of us likes to be exposed even if essentially we have nothing to hide. It makes us feel vunerable.
The Bible teaches us that before God we will all be exposed; not physically but spiritually. The secrets of our hearts will be brought out into the open on the day of judgement (Romans 2.16). Another passage in the letter to the Hebrews teaches us that there is no one that God does not know inside out and that everything about us is exposed under His penetrating gaze (Hebrews 4.13).
It would be wise to listen to the voice of God now and accept His offer of forgiveness though faith in Jesus Christ than to wait until it is too late and hear those soul chilling words 'depart from me'. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
The truth is that none of us likes to be exposed even if essentially we have nothing to hide. It makes us feel vunerable.
The Bible teaches us that before God we will all be exposed; not physically but spiritually. The secrets of our hearts will be brought out into the open on the day of judgement (Romans 2.16). Another passage in the letter to the Hebrews teaches us that there is no one that God does not know inside out and that everything about us is exposed under His penetrating gaze (Hebrews 4.13).
It would be wise to listen to the voice of God now and accept His offer of forgiveness though faith in Jesus Christ than to wait until it is too late and hear those soul chilling words 'depart from me'. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
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