Category: <span>General</span>

I was reading an article this morning, not related to our current situation, but one comment struck a chord. “As individuals, we control very little in life; but we do control what we do with our hearts.” We quite rightly feel helpless to control the course of a global pandemic, but we can direct our hearts and souls to someone who is in control and has power over not only this life, but the life to come.

The bottom line is that our lives are in God’s hand, and it’s our relationship with him that matters above all else. From the beginning God expected us to walk hand in hand with him, always looking to him for all our needs. All the more so now must we keep close to him.

The flower in this picture is tiny, only around 1 cm long, and yet it shows God’s attention to every detail of his creation; how much more so does he watch over us? Let’s take him at his Word and trust him with thankful hearts for the promises in his Word, and allow his peace to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:9

There is a whole world of hope in this little verse. “As the Father” gives the quality and the quantity of the love which is lavished on us. As God the Father has loved his uniquely-born Son, in that way, in that fullness, in that complete comprehensiveness has Jesus loved us! That is wonderful news!

If that is the truth, then we cannot but abide in it: dwell in that love, wallow in that love, rejoice in that love, and return it in kind to our Saviour.

Last Sunday morning we looked at the first section of John’s Gospel. It’s what might be called an origin story of how the Anointed One came to be – where he really came from. In contrast to the other Gospels, John gives us a bigger picture of the logos through whom the universe was created, who then came into his own creation.

What’s your picture of the apostle Paul? In your mind is he the razor sharp theologian, or the radical firebrand? Paul’s letter to Philemon demonstrates Paul’s underlying love expressed in this grace filled plea for restoration of Philemon’s runway slave…

I do like the old blues standards, and I love some of the modern takes on them – the music’s just my style. One song that’s been covered well recently is Son House’s Preachin’ Blues. It struck me for two reasons, firstly, the modern take was very well done, simple, but striking; but, secondly, it talks about joining a Baptist church and preaching, both of which I have done 🙂

Of course, as with so many songs written by those who know nothing of true religion the lyrics are suspect in many ways. I found myself wanting to tweak in a more uplifting direction. Anyway, without further ado, my admittedly naive replacement lyrics, moving from Preachin’ Blues, to Preachin’ Good News.

Well, I got me some religion
Gone and joined a Baptist church
Well, I got me some religion
Gone and joined a Baptist church
Now I’m one of their preachers
Down at Cuckfield Baptist Church

Now I know I have a heaven
A heaven where I belong
Now I know I have a heaven
A heaven where I belong
There I’ll worship Jesus
In my eternal happy home

Well I’m gonna preach Good News
Tell it like the Bible says
Well I’m gonna preach Good News
Tell it like the Bible says
‘Cause that’s the Gospel, people,
Gonna preach it all of my days

Now I know I have a heaven
A heaven where I belong
Now I know I have a heaven
A heaven where I belong
There I’ll worship Jesus
In my eternal happy home

So if you’ve got those blues
Don’t know how to make it right
So if you’ve got those blues
Don’t know how to make it right
Just turn your eyes to Jesus
He is our Gospel Light

And you’ll know you’ve got a heaven
A heaven where you belong
And you’ll know you’ve got a heaven
A heaven where you belong
There you’ll worship Jesus
In our eternal happy home.