God is holy and God is just. His holiness is such that God cannot entertain or look upon sin. We are kept from God’s presence because of our sinful nature. But because he is just he cannot let sin go unpunished. Because of his holiness God cannot be indifferent to sin. Sin is repugnant to his nature and character and all sin is against God. We dislike hearing of or acknowledging God’s wrath, but his wrath against sin is not an impetuous or sudden uncontrolled outburst of anger. God’s wrath is derived from his justice. His justice has to be satisfied and as man is incapable of paying the price to satisfy that justice, God himself, out of his incredible love, stepped in and provided the solution. He is the judge who is forced to mete out the judgment, but also the judge who steps down from the bench to personally pay the penalty as well.

     Christ took the punishment for our sin on the Cross. This is the heart of the Gospel. No longer do we need to be living under the sentence of death. No longer do we need to have a broken relationship with God. By availing ourselves of this gift from God we begin a new relationship with him and a new life in Christ.”

                   Taken from my new book Real faith, to be published late summer.

I love to read. I probably read an average of five or six books a month. May not sound much but some are over 400 pages long. I assume it helps my brain, and at my age it needs all the help I can give it. But reading for me is more than that. I find it enlarges my thinking, it challenges my intellectual and theological understanding and expands my education. We should never stop learning because we will never know everything. In fact, as you have probably discovered, the more we learn the less we seem we know, because there is always so much more to learn.

There are books which simply entertain and are humorous. They are good for us because laughter is a great medicine. However, I find that books which cause me to think and question and provide a window on the world, its people, its science and discoveries, are invaluable. They help me to grow.

For writers, reading is essential. One well known writer stated, ‘If you have no time to read, then you have no time to write!” But I believe reading is essential for all of us, whether or not we want to write. Today we have no excuse. You have heard it said, “Of the making of books there is no end.” So whatever type of writing attracts you, there are books available at low prices, electronically and in print.

So be entertained, be challenged, look into a new field and expand your mind. Put off the television, put on some music and get lost in a good book. Carry a book with you wherever you go. There are many wasted moments in the day. Let the waiting rooms of the nation become the reading rooms of our souls!

 It is right. We in the west are so bent out of shape by the world in which we live and by our society which concentrates on satisfying self, that such love rarely comes to mind.  We naturally find it hard to think otherwise because our world revolves around us.

 Is it really possible for us to love unconditionally? Well,St Paul tells us that if we are followers of Jesus, then God has already “poured his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.”  The word poured here means to “pour out to overflowing,” indicating something which cannot be contained. Therefore, it is not us who are doing the loving but it is God loving through us. God’s love for us was unconditional. Should we not aspire for the same?

 In my 20 years of travelling inEastern Europe I discovered Christians there who would give you the last of their food. They would give you their bed while they slept on the floor. They would even go out and spend what little money they had to ensure they had a small gift to give to their guest. Such was their heart. In their lives other people literally came first. When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus said that we were to love God with everything we have and then love our neighbour as ourselves. But how many of us do that?  It is difficult but it is our calling and if Christians do not love unconditionally, then who will?

 Afterthought!  If you can identify with this and feel the same, would you please share it, as well as like it, because I think the message is important enough that we need to pass it on to as many people as possible.

 However, on the talking side I do love public speaking. Some people dislike it intensely and avoid it at all costs. I love it because I enjoy interacting with people. Although there is not much interaction if you just deliver a lecture, but public speaking does not need to be like that. Having something valuable to say, having direct eye contact with your audience, bringing out a response from your listeners, all makes for an enjoyable occasion for speaker and hearers alike. This is the same whether you are talking to a small group or hundreds of people.

 Having something valuable to say is important. That sounds like a superfluous and obvious statement, but have you ever heard a speaker and when it is over some people ask the question, “But what did he really say?”  That is a tragic scenario because both speaker and hearers have wasted their time and achieved nothing.

 If you have something important to say and you know it has value for your hearers, then there is nothing more exciting than having that opportunity to share it from your heart. People quickly detect sincerity and can identify a genuine sense of empathy from the speaker. The enthusiasm for the subject, and the urgent presentation, conveys much more than any straight lecture which simply displays the speaker’s knowledge and education.

 Always try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. If you are a listener try to understand what the speaker is trying to say. Yes, you can analyze it and determine whether you agree or not, but make sure you pick up the point which is being conveyed. If you are the speaker then put yourself in the shoes of those listening. What are your words saying? How will they be received? How do you want them to be received? What is it that you really want to get across? Don’t ramble on so that the critical point of the message is lost with too much speaking. Mostly, speak with conviction and from the heart. Sometimes our attitude says more than our words!

 The book outlined many different facets of our lives where we could or should consider slowing down. He covered aspects which readily come to mind such as driving, but he also brought up other aspects which are not so readily thought of as being rushed. It takes very little reason to appreciate that slowing down in most areas holds incredible benefits for all of us.

 Slow down on the roads – even by just keeping within the speed limits –  then less people would be injured and more people would be alive. To slow down in our eating habits by eating more together as families and taking the time to enjoy the food, not only will do our digestion good but will have long term beneficial effects upon our health. It also brings closer relationships within the family. He pointed out that many families only eat together when they go to Mcdonalds – and even then the average time at the table is eleven minutes! He highlights the French and Italians who willingly sit on the patios of roadside cafés and let the world go by, as they enjoy their coffee.

 The book also touches on the area of medicine where the doctor and patient relationship is examined along with the disbursement of medical advice. It suggests that the need for speed forces doctors to give less attention to the patient than what they would like to, and what is needed.  Education is another area in which, the benefits of slowness is shown in the statistics of achievements. The writer points out that individual attention to the student, such as in Home Schooling, gives a child the opportunity to study at his or her own speed and ultimately offers a far superior advantage over other regular schooling situations. The book scrutinizes other aspects of our lives which could benefit from slowing down. He covers, the bedroom, the work place, and our times of leisure, pointing out the advantages of pulling away from the frenetic lifestyle to a more measured pace in all things.

 The thesis is a good consideration for all of us. Slowing down to enjoy life cannot be a bad thing. Taking time to be with family, making our eating together an event, as opposed to simply a necessity, must pay off in the long run. We all know that simply to sit and enjoy a sunset, or take in the sight of beautiful flowers, the cherry blossoms or other aspects of creation, give us a real sense of serenity, peace and satisfaction.

So do something today to slow down. Just sit and think, read, write, talk, discuss and dream. Enjoy the company of others. Give them your attention, especially your children, because they won’t always be around. Life will go on just the same whether we slow down or not, but by slowing down, it will become more meaningful and your mental health will benefit also!

 It’s interesting that God also talks about slowing down. He said, “Be still and know that I am God” which emphasizes that we can be too busy to get to know God, a tragedy in itself!

 Friendships are invaluable. You have heard the old adage that says you don’t miss something until you don’t have it anymore. That is true with friendships. We moved to British Columbia 18 months ago and we quickly realized that, although we love being close to family and would not change that, the importance of the friendships we had built in other places became a reality. Not only are they missed as friends and people, it is almost as though we left something of ourselves behind. We keep in touch but there is nothing to compare with face to face contact.

 When we think of all the people that have come across our paths down the years, we realize how impossible it would have been to retain contact with everyone. We often wonder where some of those wonderful people are now. I must admit that Facebook had helped to reignite some of those friendships. I have spoken to, and renewed friendships with, so many people from our past, something which never would have happened had I not made the effort to start using this form of social media.

 We are social beings and all of us enjoy real true friendship. It is well worth the effort to keep those friendships going. So send the email, make the phone call, write the note to those friends who love you and care for you. Don’t lose touch. It’s harder to begin new relationships than fan the flame of the more established ones. It is hard to replace good friends and you never know when you might need them. So to all our friends we left behind we say, “We love you” and to new friends we hope to make, we say, “We look forward to that blessing!”

“If We Only Knew, Remarkable True Stories of God’s Intervention, by retired minister John Murray, is a wonderful book about the ways God is present with us in difficult times. John spoke with authority having seen miraculous healings within his own family.

The book is comprised of first-person accounts of events that were life-changing for those affected. The stories range from physical healing to surviving horrific circumstances, and is packed full of uplifting accounts of God working in the lives of people, sometimes in evident ways and sometimes through intermediaries. If We Only Knew is peppered with Scripture and each chapter is further explored through the questions at the end.

In each chapter, examples that demonstrate answers to those questions, give insight into the spiritual nature that exists in all of us when we open ourselves to hearing the voice of God, and our eyes to seeing the hand of God moving in circumstances beyond our understanding. 

John said faith sustains the believer. Even when others doubt the validity of faith, the fact that believers have a foundation based on trust keeps them steady. He talked about a perception that in certain areas miracles happen all the time.

“I asked the pastor’s wife in Budapest this question, he writes, ‘Why is it that you see miracles here in Eastern Europe and we rarely do in the West?’ Her response was immediate but quite natural and humble. She replied, ‘I don’t know why you don’t see them. We just do as much as we can and we leave the rest to God!’ What a simple, yet profound, answer. They simply expect God to pick up where they leave off, and He does.”

I very much enjoyed reading this book. It has a basis is Scripture, opens the reader up to lives changed by God and provides a guide for reflection.”

Sharon Vander Meer.

 Why do I say all this? I just wanted the opportunity to commend my wife for her discipline and her determination. Over the last few years Rita has been regularly attending Curves, the women’s fitness centre. She has now completed 694 visits. In a couple of weeks she will reach the 700 mark – an incredible feat for anyone, but for someone with Parkinsons, I think it is an outstanding achievement! What a milestone? I think I have reason to hold her in high esteem.

If she knew, she would not agree for this to be written. However, I think her achievement is worthy of note. I believe she deserves the recognition, maybe a medal, or at least a pat on the back, and I am sure someone agrees with me!

 The enjoyment of our day can be determined by our attitude. If we “get out of bed on the wrong side” it can ruin our day. A negative attitude will bring about a negative day. The sad thing is that it can rub off on other people, but it also works the other way round. Other people’s negativity can pull you down. It can take you from enjoying a pleasant day to having a cloud of gloom and disappointment hanging over you. Spending time with other people is important because we have a need for social interaction but we need to make sure we spend time with positive people, people who look up and look forward. We need to be with people who look for the best in everything, people whose attitude leaves us encouraged by just being with them. But we also need to aspire to be such people ourselves.

If you know someone who is going through a rough time, be the person to lift them up. If someone has recently lost their spouse, just be there to support. You often don’t need words, your presence is enough. If someone is hurting, be there to comfort. Your positive attitude will bring strength. Bonding with someone in their suffering is something we can all do, if we have the mind to do it. The results are fulfilling and rewarding, for it is more blessed to give than receive.

 It did, however, get me thinking about how our negativity has an adverse effect upon others. If you have ever done any public speaking and for the most part your talk was well received, it only takes one or two real negative remarks to obliterate all the encouragement received from the positive comments. If you have ever written something which had to be reviewed and graded, the same thing happens; the negative review seems to have a stronger effect upon us than the positive. So what does this tell us?  Should we never be criticized? Not at all. Constructive criticism is good because it is usually accompanied by helpful suggestions, whereas with destructive criticism we are usually left to absorb the blow, and find our own answer to the criticism.

When young people are fed negative thoughts it invariably will affect their achievements. Statements like, “You will never amount to anything” or “You could never achieve that” or “That’s far beyond you, you don’t have the ability” just create feelings of inadequacy, confusion, disappointment and even low self-esteem. How many parents or teachers have killed the aspirations of a young person who was starting out in life with great hopes? Just at the point they needed encouragement, they are unceremoniously put down.

 Our thoughts are powerful but so are our comments and statements. One negative comment can do so much damage for a long time. But a good word spoken at the right moment can provide motivation for someone to achieve great things and, maybe for them, the fulfillment of a life-long dream. Let us be the people who help others build and achieve their dreams. Let us be known for our words of encouragement.

 “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” Proverbs 25:11.