Wow, July has flown!

The month of July has been a very enjoyable yet busy month for me. I started the month by heading up to Scotland by train to speak at a Christian Youth Camp that is arranged every year by people in Ayrshire. The camp was based in Faskally House in Pitlochry. It was great to be with a crowd of enthusiastic people who were keen to have a good time and yet willing to devote some of their holidays to thinking about the big issues of life, the existence of evil, death etc. It is a great thrill to be able to share with people the message of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. His death is sufficient to provide salvation to all who confess their need and come to him for ‘rest’. I was then back home in Liverpool for a week. After that it was back to the same place this time for the Tayside Christian Youth Camp – more of the same. I am currently ending the month with the Anchor Christian Camp. This is made up of people from Barrow, Jarrow and Workington and the venue is Quinta in Shropshire. Don’t ask how Jarrow, Barrow and Workington got together but it is good to be with them. I hope that you have a good summer and come to know God’s richest blessing in your life ‘through faith in Christ Jesus’.

Preaching on the streets

We have had a lot of abuse this week for preaching on the streets of Liverpool. I must be honest I find it quite strange that people get so excited about something that they say they do not believe in. If God is a figment of my imagination and the message is a relic founded in superstition then why not let the fools who preach get on with it. Harmless nutters at the best, time wasters at the worst.

I would love someone to tell what it basically wrong with Christianity? Ok it defines wrong and upholds a moral framework. It states that there is a moral law and a therefore a lawgiver. It defines life as having meaning and maintains that there is an existence after death. In this life it states that goodness, kindness, pureness, honesty, truth, care, courage, accountability, law abiding activity be the practice in an individual's life. In addition it admits that we are flawed and provides a redeemer/Saviour who accounts for our wrong and takes on the debt offering forgiveness and freedom to all who choose to admit their need and accept the offer.

I can't think of a better type of life and a more comprehensive offer anywhere else.

Maybe the problem is the honesty of the message strikes a cord with the reality of our lives. What do you think, write and let me know.

Is this all there is?

I am just reaching the last night of a two week series of events that I have been involved in to spread the message of Christianity on the Wirral, Merseyside. We have been looking at a different topic each night and considering what God says in the Bible about some of the deep and big questions we ask such as:

How do you know there is a God?

What does God expect of people?

What happens when we die?

Why did God have to sacrifice Jesus His Son?

Why trust the Bible?

Why do innocent people suffer?

When things go wrong is God to blame?

What is a Christian?

What's important in your life?

All good and very honest questions which we would be wise to consider.

If you are reading this I would love to know what your views and beliefs are? I trust that you have discovered the Jesus is 'the way, the truth and the life' and that you are living in the good of your sins forgiven and 'peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ'

Exams, Study, Career, Preparing for Life

I am sure that many of you are so happy that the exams are over and that you can now enjoy the summer and get on with your life. For some however this is just the beginning as they start a job or begin a new phase in their life. My daughter has just started a job in Manchester and is experiencing the thrill of getting up early to get the train and trying to go bed early to cope with the tiredness. Some say 'it's all part of the rich tapestry of life' others being more honest say it's just extremely exhausting.

I read an article in a paper we distribute in our community recently. It was about a young Naval Officer on his first day on the job after a considerable time of training. The prospect of guiding a ship across the Atlantic was very exciting. This was his first opportunity to prove to everyone that he had the ability to handle the ship efficiently. He confidently issued orders and the decks buzzed with men performing their tasks. The ship left it's moorings in record time and quickly cruised toward the open seas.

The young officer is handed a folded piece of paper. What is it he thinks? Was it perhaps a message of congratulations from the captain?

The note was a radio message that read. "You have completed the exercise according to the book and with amazing speed, in your haste, however you overlooked a vital though unwritten rule: "make sure the captain is aboard before getting underway." The note was signed, "your captain".

Like the young officer, many people study hard and prepare for life's journey with great intensity and a desire to do everything to the best of their ability. They often pull away from the "dock" without asking the Captain to come aboard in their lives. By failing to ask God to be in control they are destined for a life of always learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth.