New Pastime and Hobby

 

I've just got a new hobby in my spare time. I am learning to be an animal motivational speaker and to teach them to meditate. My uncle loved animals too. His ambition was to be a lion whisperer. A wish he achieved moments before his untimely sudden death in a lion cage. Must have been something he whispered.

I started with something much smaller. At evening class at college they introduced me to a small dog.

I sat him on a table and approached him slowly soothingly whispering sweet things to calm him down. A bit like many priests do at Sunday sermons. They don't preach much needed warnings any more, do they?

Anyway, as I came near him, he suddenly snapped and bit my nose. Just as well he was not a lion. The pet instructor, (he instructs people not pets), cleaned the wound and put a plaster on my nose. This made things worse because the dog now growled every time I approached him. The instructor said my nose distracted him ... the dog, not the instructor.

Trying to teach animals to meditate proved more of a challenge. Have you ever tried getting cats to sit in a row and pay attention? They move and run all over the place. The idea is to have the animals relax and listen to your soft voice using words with smooth syllabus over and over again. Like honey ... honey ... honey ... or such like. There was no way those kittens would sit still, never mind listening to my soothing growls. 

Although I'll admit I had success with a tortoise. She just closed her eyes and meditated all winter.

Another task was teaching an agoraphobic tortoise self-confidence. This tortoise had an irrational fear of leaving its shell. It just stayed in there and would not come out. Even to eat or meet friends. It did not have any visitors because it was too crowded in her shell for anyone else. I crouched down to its level and encouraged her by waving a piece of lettuce at its opening. The instructor told me that was her tail. So I turned her round and tried again ... no success. I had a pain in the back leaning all the way down there on the floor. So the instructor suggested I put the tortoise on the table. No success either. The tortoise was also afraid of heights. Have you ever heard anything like it? Agoraphobic and afraid of heights.

To encourage her to overcome both problems I balanced her on my shoulder like a pirate would a parrot. She fell and was caught by the instructor before she crashed to the ground. Funny that, because it nearly worked with a parrot I was teaching to fly.

He bit my ear before flying off never to be seen again. The instructor put another piece of plaster on that as well.

I eventually gave up on all this teaching animals to meditate and unlock their hidden potential. All this motivational talk is nonsense and does not work in business corporations so why should it work with animals? Let people and animals be what they are and not try to change them and shape them to what you would want them to be. That's what I always say.

Anyway, I have now started another course at learning politics. My dog comes with me and is already showing progress.

NOTE: For entertainment purposes only. No animals have been harmed in the writing of this article. Only me! I got the plasters to prove it.

The culture of change

 

There's an increasing trend in modern society to sideline and airbrush away any belief in God. The foundation has long been laid by taking away any signs of Christianity from our schools, hospitals and other public buildings. Influencers and people in authority like politicians, celebrities and such like openly say that they do not believe in God.

But the trend is moving forwards in other directions. 

They are trying to change us, believers, by their behaviour towards us. By shaming us and by ridicule of our beliefs and behaviours. 

They are trying to change us by renaming us as weird, odd, simpletons, old-fashioned and un-enlightened.

They are trying to change us by making us worship someone or something else; like celebrities, materialism, power, influence careers and wealth.

The new culture is to eliminate belief in God, and you do this by shutting out and cancelling all those who believe.

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another. 
John 13:34-35

AI ... AI ... AI ...

 

Sometime ago, my good friend Mevely, (Blog HERE), wrote about an Artificial Intelligence (AI) program where you write four words and the program paints a picture for you. I lost the link to that program.

I wrote England, town, 1950s and poverty and got the picture above.

There's a lot of talk about AI right now and how it will shape the future and how computers will be able to "think" and do things which will put us out of work. So let's analyse this for a moment.

I don't believe a computer will ever be able to "think". What happens in the example I gave is that the computer has a large collection (database) of photos and combines the four words to make the photo above. It is reacting to how it has been programmed; it is not "thinking" like you and I do.

In a similar way predictive text can finish a sentence for you. You type "have you cleaned" and the computer will predict the ending by suggesting: "your room", "the car", "the fridge" and so on. It is not "thinking" but using it's database and linking possible endings to the beginning of your sentence.

The same applies when computers are programmed to buy and sell shares in certain commodities and companies. They are reacting to certain market conditions as pre-programmed.

True, with mechanisation and computers you can eliminate certain repetitive jobs like the cashier at the supermarket, or the packer when you buy something on-line. The computer can "read" what you have ordered on-line, and a robotic machine in the warehouse can collect the item, wrap it, and put it in the despatch tray. It does not mean that it can "think".

I believe what makes us human beings think is our soul. The body is just a complex machine, like a computer, which reacts to commands from our soul. The body consists of a mixture of water, chemicals and minerals. None of these on their own can write the works of Shakespeare or pour me a whisky and soda. But combined together, the body and the soul within it, can perform wonders.

When the Bible says we are created in God's image it does not necessarily mean that He is human-like in body and shape - as Jesus indeed was when born on earth. The old masters and painters depicted God as a human because they took their lead from this Bible saying. 

Created in God's image means we have a soul which is capable of love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, pity and all the other good attributes we associate with God. In His infinite goodness, He also allowed us to use these qualities or to choose to behave in our own sinful way.

Today many people do not believe in God or that we have a soul. We are considered as machines; and when we die that's it. No after-life, infinity, or Heaven and hell.

This leads to the conclusion that everything can be explained in chemical, electronic, or other scientific terms. The  body is a machine just like a sophisticated computer with advanced AI. 

And that's the danger about the way we think about AI and about the human body. 

Having accepted the notion that we are all a mixture of components, nerves, chemicals and so on, the next step is to explain human behaviour in similar scientific terms. 

Whatever our behaviour it is the result of our scientific make-up.

If someone is overweight it is not his fault it is a chemical imbalance in the brain or body. If someone is a kleptomaniac, it is not his fault it is a chemical imbalance also. Same for every other behaviour criminal or otherwise. It is not the person's fault but the way he is made-up - his neurons, or brain connectors, or deficiencies of this or that chemical, and so on. Do you see where this is going?

Move a stage further and lock people up because of such deficiencies in their make-up before they commit a crime.

MINORITY REPORT: Based on a story by famed science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, "Minority Report" is an action-detective thriller set in Washington D.C. in 2054, where police utilize a psychic technology to arrest and convict murderers before they commit their crime. Tom Cruise plays the head of this Precrime unit and is himself accused of the future murder of a man he hasn't even met.

Be a Radio DJ

 

OK folks ... I'll need your help with this.

When I was a radio presenter, many years ago, I had a pop music program where I played various records for about two or three hours. It was different kinds of music. Sometimes a mixture of Pop, Classics, Country and Western and so on. And sometimes a theme like all love songs, or all groups as opposed to singleton singers, and so on.

One program I presented once featured a name place of an American State, or town or city for every song I played. Songs like New York New York, by Frank Sinatra, or I left my heart in San Francisco by Tony Bennett.

And this is where you come in.

Can you name as many songs as you know featuring an American name place?

I'll start you off: I'm Alabama bound, From Boulder to Birmingham, Do you know the way to San Hose? 24 hours from Tulsa, Is this the way to Amarillo?

Over to you ... ... ...

What kind of gift are you?

 

Pretty soon after Christmas, or perhaps after a birthday party or other function when we gather to celebrate, like a wedding or an engagement party, we start tidying up the gift wrappers after all the packages have been opened and all that's left around is the wrapping paper they came in.

As I was collecting all the wrappings, and the different presents that were given and received, a thought occurred to me. In a funny sort of way, we are all a gift to each other.

Think about it for a moment. We are all a gift to each other.

Whoever we are, the chances are that there is more than one person who needs us, relies on us, in their life. It could be a spouse, offspring, parents or siblings, friends, colleagues at work, acquaintances in church, Bible class, or just anyone. The chances are there is someone around that needs you, and relies on you. And also, the chances are that you need and rely on someone else.

You probably never thought about it this way. You took it for granted. But you are a gift to someone else. Yes, you.

Sometimes, even without knowing it, you could be the answer to someone's prayer. You could be somewhere and someone needs a helping hand, a cheery smile even, and you're there providing that much needed gift of your presence.

When someone sadly passes away, we mourn and grieve their absence. This is because their presence had a positive effect on our lives.

And that is how you will be remembered; as a gift and a positive presence to others. In so many ways. 

Just think about the many ways and the many people you have influenced by just being you. Even by just writing a Blog, or a comment on social media. You may think nothing of it at the time. It may even become a tedious job keeping up a Blog, or commenting on other people's posts, or frequenting other social media presence. But your very presence there could be a boost and a ray of sunshine to someone else. And you don't even know it.

In so many ways we are all a gift to each other. Especially you.

Thank you.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

 

Have you been to Scarborough Fair? What a lovely and nice place it is. We had such a wonderful time. There were many attractions, market stalls, vendors, games, music and so much more.

The first thing I noticed is that there was a herbalist there called Doctor Pepper. He had all his packets of herbs displayed on his table in alphabetical order. I thought he was very patient to display them like that and I asked him where he found the time. He replied, "Just there next to the parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme!"

Amongst the many attractions there was a French magician called Too Loose Le Trick. He was short and played the xylophone on the audience knees whilst singing, "Le Nees Zee Up Mozer Brown!"

We enjoyed an Italian Pizza Parlour run by Al Fresco and his Scottish partner Mac Aroni.

It was an international event. Next to them was a barber's shop managed by a German called Herr Kutt. I asked him to cut my hair like that of Tony Curtis. Within seconds he shaved my head totally bald. I was livid. I told him, "I bet you don't know who Tony Curtis is. His hair is not like that!" He replied, "I know him. I've seen him in the 'King and I' three times, and also in 'The Magnificent Seven' twice."

We then visited the stall of a lady optician called Bee Focals. She sold sunglasses that had little mirrors on the side like a car so you can see behind you. I walked into a lamp post and a tree three times.

We loved the display of flowers at the Dutch florist called Two Lips from Amsterdam. Really lovely.

Then there was an open-air dentist called I Pullem, and next door was a French lady chiropodist called Madame Leggert. And further on a man selling perfumes and various scents called N Hale.

One of the attractions was a singing set of plastic dinosaurs led by their owner Tenor Saurus Rex.

And also a small enclosure displaying a variety of owls sitting there on their perch. One of them was particularly vicious and would hiss if you got too close. Their owner, Robin Hawk, explained that the bird had Irritable Owl Syndrome.

Further on there was a dermatologist named Ivan Itch and another medic called Ivor Rawbottom selling supposedly creams to make you feel better. 

And then there was a fishmonger called Rod Herring and a Fish and Chips shop called The Cod Father. 

It was a wonderful day. Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
 

God in adversity

 

Jack was a lovely man. Well loved by his wife, three children and four grand-children, as well as his wider family and friends.

When they all went to church together they filled the two front rows on the left of the Altar. But that wasn’t often, because they usually attended different Masses at St Vincent.

One day, out of the blue, Jack was taken severely ill and admitted to hospital. The whole family was devastated and it is fair to say that their Faith took quite a beating.

But not Jack. He remained calm and somehow, accepted the will of God. Of course, he was a little scared, but accepted what was happening to him willingly, trusting God that all would be well.

Father Ignatius visited him in the hospital often, and was greatly humbled by the man’s Faith and cheerfulness, despite the obvious pain he was in at times.

Jack remained in hospital for a while, receiving family visitors as well as his priest every now and then.

One day, whilst Father Ignatius was the only visitor Jack said to him:

“See that man over there Father, in the bed just opposite me?”

The priest nodded silently.

“He doesn’t believe in God Father …” continued Jack, “and he’s scared to death. He has the same symptoms and the same problems as me … and to be honest the doctors don’t hold much hope for either of us …”

Father Ignatius held Jack’s hand.

“Hey … I know what’s what Father. Both of us will have an operation soon and the chances are … well, I wouldn’t bet my shirt on it …”

Jack laughed weakly.

“You know what I did Father …”

The priest shook his head.

“Yesterday, I went over to that man. His name is Larry. And I said to Larry that Jesus will look after him. I told him that everything will be OK and he is not to worry about the operation.

“I don’t think he believed me, or in Jesus … but I think it calmed him down a bit.

“At least I’ve noticed that he’s stopped crying. He used to sit there and wipe his eyes and feel sorry for himself. He’s stopped that now. Maybe Jesus has started working on him … hein?”

Father Ignatius nodded weakly. He prayed silently for Jack and thanked the Lord for this man’s Faith in such adversity. Not only to believe in Christ’s healing power but to announce it boldly to someone who didn’t believe at all.

“Hey Father … you’d better give me Communion now; before the family turns up … you know how emotional they get … especially my wife ...” said Jack with a weak smile.

The priest prayed with Jack for a while after giving him Communion and waited until his family arrived before leaving the hospital.

A few days later Jack and Larry were operated on. Both operations were successful and after a period of recuperation in hospital and at home both fully recovered.

Jack and Larry became friends. Larry and his wife and daughter became Christian and attend church at St Vincent.

Jack’s severe illness and his stay in hospital were the channel for a family of un-believers to get to know and love Christ.

(Based on a true story). 

Excerpt from A DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST

CLICK HERE

 

Christian Humour

DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, 'Johnny, do you think Noah did 
a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?' 

'No,' replied Johnny. 'How could he, with just two worms.'

LOT 'S WIFE
The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, 
'My Mommy looked back once while she was driving,' he announced triumphantly, 'and she turned into a telephone pole!'

GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the 
Good Samaritan. She asked the class, 'If you saw a person lying on 
the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?' 

A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, 'I think I'd throw up.' 

 
MOSES AND THE RED SEA 
Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. 

'Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind 
enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.' 

'Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?' his Mother asked. 

'Well, no, Mom.. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!' 

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class 
memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. 
She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. 

Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. 

On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in 
front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, 'The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know.' 
 

UNANSWERED PRAYER
The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father 
always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why. 

'Well, Honey,' he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. 'I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.' 

'How come He doesn't answer it?' she asked. 

 

BEING THANKFUL 

A priest said to a precocious six-year-old boy, 'So your mother 
says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable. 
What does she say?' 

The little boy replied, 'Thank God he's in bed!' 

UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER 

During the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Tommy's mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence and, after church, asked, 'Tommy, whatever made you do such a thing?' 

Tommy answered soberly, 'I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He did!' 

 
TIME TO PRAY
A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night. 
'Yes, sir.' the boy replied. 

'And, do you always say them in the morning, too?' the pastor asked.

"No Sir," the boy replied, "I am not scared in the daytime!"

ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS
When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would 
bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past). For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, 'And all girls.' 

This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this 
closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, 'Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?' 

Her response, 'Because everybody always finish their prayers 
by saying 'All Men'!

New Year Smiles

 

The adult version of “Head, shoulders, knees and toes” is ‘wallet, glasses keys and phones’.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

There is still nine weeks to ‘pancake day’ and the Supermarkets are already selling flour and eggs.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

My New Year resolution was to read more so I put the subtitles on my TV.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

My wife still hasn't told me what my New Year's resolutions are.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

I just found out I'm colour-blind. The diagnosis came completely out of the purple.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

Another New Year resolution. ‘To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little. To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all’.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

Speaking about the New Year and staying healthy, Subway is definitely the healthiest fast food available because they make you get out of the car.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

Moses had the first tablet that could connect to the cloud.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

Remember, in 2024, keep the dream alive: Hit the snooze button.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =   

I walked past a homeless guy with a sign that read, "One day, this could be you." I put my money back in my pocket, just in case he's right.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

My mum always used to say "40 is the new 30". Lovely woman... banned from driving.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

You take away the looks, money, intelligence, charm and success and, really, there's no real difference between me and George Clooney.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

And finally: Time may be a great healer but it's also a lousy beautician.

Walk with me Oh my Lord

 

Problems

 

Father Ignatius had been tendering to his flock at St Vincent Church for years. He knew them all, the young, the old, the not-so-young and the infants still in their prams and push-chairs. He visited them often at their homes and shared their joys, their hopes, their fears and their doubts.

He observed that they all seemed to have one thing in common – they always worried about something or other. And in most cases, it was un-warranted worries about matters which may not even happen anyway.

Some worried about the economic situation and how they would make ends meet, or whether they'll lose their jobs, or be able to find a job even. Others worried about their families, their children, or the state of their marriage and life. Many worried about their health or some other problems - some real and some just imagined.

They came to him, his flock of sheep, day after day, week after week, with their problems and worries. Seeking his advice or sometimes just to unload their heavy weights on someone else. And as ever, he was always approachable, giving advice where he could, and praying with them for God's guidance and enlightenment.

One Sunday, whilst delivering his sermon he acknowledged that times were hard and that it was understandable when people worried about many things. He tactfully pointed out that more often than not, their worries were unnecessary since their fears never materialised anyway.

He reminded them that excessive worry showed a certain lack of Faith in God. A sure sign that we don’t believe He can help us. An insult even to His omnipotent power and His eternal love for us – His children.

Then, as if enlightened himself by a Higher Authority, he suggested something unusual to his congregation.

“Trust me on this,” said Father Ignatius in his gentle reassuring voice.

He asked the parishioners that the following Sunday everyone should bring with them to church a stone or a rock to which they should tie securely a label.

On the label they should describe briefly the nature of their problem or their worries – anonymously of course.

The stone or rock should be the size commensurate to the size or magnitude of their problem.

The following Sunday, sure enough, they all brought their rocks which they left outside the church.

There were small rocks, bigger ones, stones of all shapes and sizes and even a few pebbles tied inside a handkerchief to denote a lot of small problems.

One or two jokers even brought big boulders in wheelbarrows to show how huge their problems were.

During the sermon Father Ignatius said that he had read all the labels tied to the rocks and stones. He added that he had prayed about his parishioners’ worries and problems and that in prayer, God had spoken to him.

Father Ignatius asked the congregation to pick up any stone or rock outside the church on their way home, and in return, with prayers, God would help them, as long as they were willing to take on the problem written on the rock they had picked.

After Mass, they all went out, and after reading all the labels, they each picked a stone or rock and went home.

Each one of them had picked the same rock or stone they had brought with them to church that morning.

Celebrity Games

We are at a stage of evolution as a human race where we just love adulation and worship of celebrities. We put them on a pedestal, we applaud them, we "follow" them on social media, we write to them and are obsessed with every aspect of their lives.

Time was that to be a celebrity you had to be special. To stand out from the rest. To have talent, skills, or be prominent in some field of other like politics, science and so on. But now, our hunger for celebrities is such that we create more and more of them to satisfy our needs for hero worship. 

Talents and skills are not important. If you're a mediocre singer or comedian who failed to win a talent show on TV; don't worry, you're a celebrity. If you've appeared in one of countless reality programs; you're a celebrity too. If you can write your name in joined-up writing; you're a special celebrity as well.

The time will soon come when the whole world will be full of celebrities. No need for talent or skills or anything like that. We will all be celebrities; including me. 

Everyone in the world will appear on TV as a celebrity and will have their fans applauding them and supporting their cause or career or whatever else they stand for. 

Are you ready for your time as a celebrity? Never mind if you've got no talent. Just think of a cause worthy of publicising. Any cause will do, like supporting distressed weasels, or replacing zips in trousers with Velcro, and you'll soon be on TV as an influencer and a celebrity.

I have devised a new TV program that could be developed and aired on TV to accommodate all these new celebrity people searching for exposure.

It's called, "What's my bits?" It's a program where we show X Rays of various parts of the body, lungs, heart, spleen and so on, and you have to guess who is the celebrity owner of the item. Isn't that fun?

The presenter will show an X Ray image and the contestants will have to guess whose organ it is. The program will have different celebrities each week and different parts of the bodies on display. Not the brain though because that would be too difficult to locate in some celebrities.

If you know any TV producers interested ask them to get in touch.

Pretty soon there will be more idiots on TV than people in the world. 

Now that's a quote worth quoting.

How is Satan in your life?

 

I would like to thank Mevely for her last post and for linking to her Pastor's recent sermon. Visit here and follow the link to the sermon.

It is the best sermon I have heard for a long time. I wish that Pastor was in our churches over here teaching this message.

Over the years, we have been accustomed to easy-going nice-sounding sermons which make us feel good and cuddly. I don't mean just my church, but all churches in all denominations. The strategy is to be nice to the congregation so they don't leave church altogether.

This is false teaching. Church is not a theatre or cinema for people to attend as an audience and see the priest or pastor perform. Church is a hospital for sick souls. 

The sermon we hear in church is not meant to make us feel happy and comfortable. It is meant to make us change. To make us be more like Jesus.

The wonderful Pastor at Mevely's church said that the Holy Spirit actually exists. He is a living Person. The third Person of the Holy Trinity. 

Many people, including Christians, don't understand this fact and are woolly in what they believe. In our church we recite the CREDO every Sunday but I wonder how many truly understand it.

The Pastor also said that the devil actually exists. He is a living spirit intent on taking us astray from God. He is not a euphemism for evil. I wish that kind of sermon was preached in our churches over here.

I truly believe that we are living in the "Me ... Me ... Me ..." generation where we legitimise and we celebrate ignorance and we have no knowledge or fear of God.

Often on TV quiz shows contestants are asked the most basic of Christian questions; like name one of the apostles, and they fail completely. Celebrities too, often proclaim that they don't believe in God as if it was something to be admired and emulated.

Christianity is not generally taught at school or in the family and we have a generation which will grow up unable to teach their children either. We are making the devil's job easier for him by our ignorance and stupidity.

No wonder the world has lost its moral compass and does not even know where to find it.

Which is why we need more straightforward sermons, like the one by Mevely's Pastor, explaining the facts of eternal life. Meanwhile, I fear many are sleep-walking their way into hell.

Only On Sunday

 

There was once a man who declared, jokingly of course, that he was a Catholic on Sunday, but the rest of the time he was a sinner; like everyone else. What he meant is that life is busy, and we all have so many things to do to keep up with just living that, more often than not, we forget about God until we go to church on Sunday. That is, if we go to church at all. Over here, regular church attendances every week, (all denominations), is about 5% of the population.

Well frankly, this is not good enough. In fact, not good at all. If we claim we are Christians then our Christianity should be 24/7 for every day of the year and every year we have been granted. 

Christianity is a way of life. Not a badge or a label we use when convenient. We should not only "live" our Christianity for all to see, but we should live it in such a way that others might desire what we have and want it too. We should be the advertising board for Christianity.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

There are many ways to do this. We don't all have to be great crusaders filling halls up and down the land with people coming to hear us speak. In our small, slow, steady way, we could do good works just as Christ asked us.

If your Pastor preached a good sermon, why not thank him for it. Also, take the main points of what he said and use them in conversation with others as appropriate. Spread the message quietly, it's more effective. Better still, why not invite this person to your church to hear other sermons. 

If you've read a good Christian book, or article, mention it to others. Put in a good review and encourage others to read them. Promote books by people like Merlin Carothers, R T Kendall, Dr David Jeremiah, Joyce Meyer, Michael Kotch and Father JohnWoolley. I'm sure you can think of others which you have read and would recommend.

Another way of preaching God's Word is by being Christ to someone. We are all a gift to each other. Often, our very presence is a joy and an uplifting experience for someone else. We could well be the answer to someone's prayer. It could be anywhere. In church, the supermarket, the street, at work or wherever; someone is in need of a helping hand and we are there to give it. Just as Christ would do and expects it of us. 

At some point in our lives we have responded to God's call and became Christians. Why keep this gift just to ourselves? Let us share it. Would it not be the greatest gift to God ever if, because of you, someone became a Christian? Think about it for a moment. Because of what you said, or did, someone decided to find out more about God and eventually embraced the Faith. You were the starting point on that person's journey to eternity in Paradise.

God will remind you of it when you meet face to face.

"Well done, good and faithful servant!" Matthew 25:23

A Much Needed Prayer

 

SIR CLIFF RICHARD

 

Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive our sins
As we forgive each one of those who sin against us
And lead us not to the time of trial
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory

 

 

Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive our sins
As we forgive each one of those who sin against us
And lead us not to the time of trial
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory

 

 

Let all the people sing Amen
In every tribe and tongue
Let every hearts desire be joined
To see the kingdom come

Let every hope and every dream
Be born in love again
Let all the world sing with one voice
Let the people say amen

 

 

Let all the people sing Amen
In every tribe and tongue
Let every hearts desire be joined
To see the kingdom come

Let every hope and every dream
Be born in love again
Let all the world sing with one voice
Let the people say amen

 

 

Amen Amen Amen

Amen Amen Amen

 

Let all the people sing Amen
In every tribe and tongue
Let every hearts desire be joined
To see the kingdom come

 

Let all the people sing Amen
In every tribe and tongue
Let every hearts desire be joined
To see the kingdom come

 

Let every hope and every dream
Be born in love again
Let all the world sing with one voice
Let the people say amen

 

Amen Amen Amen

Amen Amen Amen