What do your clothes say about you?

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I am sure that many have had their favourite clothes. Whether it is because they are fashionable, comfortable or have been gifted to us, one problem with such items is their tendency to be outdated, outgrown, damaged or eventually worn out. A shirt I had some years ago ticked nearly all the boxes: it was stylish, comfortable and I bought it for my wedding day.  Regrettably, I had only worn it a few times when it caught on a door handle and it was left with a large tear. More recently, a favourite jacket suffered the same ‘door handle’ treatment, but thankfully, a few stitches was enough to put it right. Sadly, the shirt was beyond repair.

What can you learn from Coventry City?

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It was my privilege to live for a number of years in the city of Coventry which is a large city near Birmingham.  Coventry was famous for its football team which once won the FA Cup in 1987 and the fountains of the city gushed out blue water as the football team was known as the ‘Skyblues'.  It was also well known as one of the great manufacturing centres for vehicles including a number of famous car making firms. This is what caused it to grow enormously quickly after the Second World War. It was also in Coventry that the story of Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom originated.

What can happen in a minute?

 

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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.

What if you could discover the true meaning of life?

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I want to ask you today the same question that the James (one of the writers of the New Testament in the Bible) asked nearly 2000 years ago - "What is your life?". What's it all about? Songs have been written about it; films have been produced about it.  For many, there is no greater question to be answered and yet most people believe that they probably will never ever find the true answer.

What if there is a virus that is more virulent than COVID-19?

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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.

What if God really does care?

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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?

 

95–98% of the population can sing passably!

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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. 

Did you know God cares?

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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.

A change of perspective!

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I can remember on a flight I was looking out of the window at the white cotton clouds below, scattered over a mountain range. This is a perspective only seen maybe a few times each year. Looking down I could pick out villages & hamlets. I began to wonder where they were, who lived there, what did they do and what problems did they have. I glanced out of the window again, of course, the scene had changed. The cloud was more plentiful, I could make out a wooded area and in the distance a larger town. I did not know where it was, what size its population was and I certainly knew nothing of the very real problems that many people were facing that day.

Remembrance Sunday

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Today is Remembrance Sunday and throughout the UK the now familiar ceremony of the two minutes silence is being observed just as it is every year. 

This year perhaps it has been a little less well attended due to circumstances, but there is still the call to remember as people wear poppies in support of those who have served in armed conflict.

As we reflect upon past conflicts it is true to say that such conflicts often bring out the best and the worst in people. There are many tales which tell of terrible atrocities and others which speak of great heroism. One such heroic tale that has emerged from the Second Word War is that of two young men called Bob and Jack. 

God still speaks today!

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Image courtesy of Unsplash

Image courtesy of Unsplash

The fact that you are reading this indicates to me that you have some interest or at least fascination with what the bible teaches.

I like reading biographies or watching films about history or people’s experiences. But I’m particularly interested reading about people who studied the Bible. There is a fascinating passage in the Bible about a man who trusted God from his teenage years. He was always learning and seeking to trust God, and living his life in a way that is pleasing to God.