Recent research has discovered that those people who practise yo-yo diets unwittingly release dangerous toxic chemicals into their bloodstream. Four men and four women were sealed into a large greenhouse-like structure known as Biosphere 2, to study the feasibility of setting up self-sustaining environments on other planets. “The team was forced to follow a strict diet when overcast weather caused by El Nino and losses due to insect pests greatly reduced the yield of the crops they were cultivating.”

To counter this problem they were compelled to adopt a low calorie but highly nutritious diet that consisted mainly of fruits, grains, beans and vegetables, supplemented with small amounts of goat’s milk, goat meat, pork, chicken, fish and eggs. The Biosphere team seemed to thrive on this diet and their blood pressure and cholesterol fell. But, the rapid weight loss might have its dangers, because harmful chemicals absorbed from the atmosphere and safely stored in the fat were released into the bloodstream.

As they continued with the diet they found that the chemicals were gradually flushed from their system and it appeared that, providing the diet was kept to, these chemicals would be transient. However, yo-yo dieting would repeat the process over and over again and the body may not have the time to flush out the poisonous deposits before they were locked up again into new fat deposits.

This may seem technical and may worry those readers who fluctuate repeatedly on such diets but the spiritual application can also have serious consequences. There are those Christians who go on crash diets of spiritual absorption to reduce fleshy appetites and excessive weight in worldly modes. Bible reading, prayer, worship and self-denial all conspire to make them spiritually thin. So that they can run the race and lay aside every sin that besets them and adopt a strict regime to ensure their spiritual weight is stable.

And then – self-discipline flags and the weight comes rolling back on, and they feel fatter and more sluggish than before.  Bible reading is neglected, prayer is scant, worship almost a second thought and, as for running the race, they hardly ever raise their gait above a stroll! The result is, as they well know, because they’ve often been there before – overweight and not feeling very well – spiritually.

When they lost weight rapidly they failed to realise that poisonous chemicals like pride, self-contentment, boasting, safety in the flesh were building up inside. Had they kept to the diet they would have eventually rid or reduced themselves of such dangers. The Bible has well stated – “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,” (2 Timothy 2:15). Not steadfast one day and wobbling the next. Not lettuce one day and chocolate bar the next. Not church one week, miss a couple of Sundays, and back again at the end of the month – keep consistent.

Spiritual flushes are dangerous. Super spiritual one month, depressingly carnal the next, leads to a yo-yo life. I don’t think people realise the dangers they store up for themselves as they play diets with God. Such people keep their larger size clothes in the wardrobe just in case they put the weight back on again – that is cheating! The Bible says, “Make NO provision for the flesh” (Romans 13:14) and that is very wise advice.

Sir Thomas More was born in Milk Street, London on February 7, 1478, son of Sir John More, a prominent judge. He was educated at St Anthony’s School in London. As a youth he served as a page in the household of Archbishop Morton, who anticipated More would become a “marvellous man.” Thomas More went on to study at Oxford under Thomas Linacre and William Grocyn.

Around 1494 he returned to London to study law, was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn in 1496, and became a barrister in 1501. Yet More did not automatically follow in his father’s footsteps. He was torn between a monastic calling and a life of civil service. While at Lincoln’s Inn, he determined to become a monk and subjected himself to the discipline of the Carthusians, living at a nearby monastery and taking part in the monastic life. The prayer, fasting, and penance habits stayed with him for the rest of his life. He wore a hair shirt next to his skin.

More’s desire for monasticism was finally overcome by his sense of duty to serve his country in the field of politics. He entered Parliament in 1504, and married for the first time in 1504 or 1505. He was convicted of treason and beheaded in 1535. On his death it was found he still wore a hair shirt full of lice next to his skin. It seems his early monastic calling pursued him all his life thereafter.

It seems to me that our repeated vows are very much like More’s hair shirt and which are certainly full of lice. A self-imposed penance, that mistakenly earns favour with God. To do without and to bear uncomfortable conditions is viewed, misguidedly, as an act to somehow appease God. At the beginning of each year we pledge to ourselves, with our eyes on God for approval, to undertake a remedial process of living. Those kinds of vows usually fade after a short time in the majority of cases, although the intention is firm the flesh is weak.

The fact that we make these promises shows we are not happy with our lifestyle. There is something wanting in our view of ourselves. Pressures from the world convince us we need to adjust lifestyle to fit the criteria of what is expected as a committed Christian, in other words we need to justify our priesthood and please God.  It is a subtle form of obeying and coming under the Ten Commandments, commandments that God has written in our heart by the Holy Spirit through faith but by grace.

We can never please God by our efforts but by our humility and total dependence on Him, for in Him we move and have our being. If it were possible to justify ourselves by works there would have been no need for Christ to be crucified. It might be wise to consider what kind of lice shirt we are wearing in our daily attempt at placating God. It can take many forms of duty.  Encoded in mankind is a desire to please God and to earn His favour, but in Christ we already have it.

It says we are  “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Living Before the World” [1 Peter 2:9-11].

Such a catalogue of renown should fill us with confidence to approach his throne undimmed by personal self-afflicted penance. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” [Heb 4:16]. Don’t drag your heels but march forward into the divine and awesome presence knowing he is not only monarch of eternity but father of our life.

Resurrection proves that the thief cannot steal the promise.

Jesus promised to live again, he did and therefore, because He conquered death, when weakness, discouragement, or despair seem to dominate, we can have confidence. Unfortunately we fail to discern the difference between the ghouls of hell and the frailty of the flesh. Thus those fiends often taunt us by promises that never seem to be fulfilled, hence laughing at our limited abilities and supposed divine blessings. Given time such mocking can effectively remove us from useful ministry. These mental break-ins come from the thief who wants to destroy.

The disciples thought that about Jesus’ death because they were engaged in a wrestling match with powers of hell. We may be like that because of opposition and the failure to receive the fulfilment to the promises bequeathed. Proverbs says “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” [13:12]. The slithering snake-like intrusions of the dark thief breaks into our mind to convince us his thoughts are ours. This is because we have probably intellectualised supernaturalism because of the fear of superstition! Therefore identifying the thief is ultimately pivotal [2 Cor. 2:11].

The devil will try to do three things; steal peace thus draining our joy and undercutting our confidence; kill hope by suffocating our expectations thus aborting faith in God’s promises. Finally destroy anything productive so rendering inoperative the might and majesty of God’s call and purpose for us. The cross and resurrection of Christ is the answer.

The resurrection breaks the negative attitude of containment.

There is nothing more containing than a grave. The devil is very subtle; he encourages us to be contained in a false sense of security, safe from further challenges. Thus, a contained Christian is an ineffectual and a none growing one and a contained church likewise. But Paul answers our dilemma:  “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal . . . “ [Phil 3:13-14]. The devil wants us to stay where we are. Satan likes bored contained Christians. He resists those who attempt to move beyond the invisible walls he erects. But, a resurrection mentality brings a break-out mentality.

Resurrection proves that if one good thing is withdrawn then a better one will replace it.

Jesus was gone, for he was raised! “If God removes a silver blessing he’ll give you a golden one!” All His takings are preliminaries to His greater giving “For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” The fact He has gone shows he was the complete conqueror over death – for death is a tearing apart of the connection between body, soul and spirit. If he had not risen it would have been a two-thirds victory. This conquest showed the restoration of this torn connection, for Jesus would have returned to heaven without a body, for he did not have one before he came.

The faith of the first disciples collapsed at Calvary and only resurrected with Christ’s physical resurrection. Without his bodily resurrection no thinking man would ever have believed upon the crucified one. His resurrection was concerned with the organic interweaving of a completely new life-principle, divine, personal and all-penetrating, He not only prepares and shows the way but He is the way!

Resurrection proves there is a new reality

The reality is that Christ can do whatever He so wishes. Miracles are part of His divine nature. What he started on earth he continues in His absence through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Because we have been touched by the materialistic nature of the world we often fail to perceive that which we know in the post resurrection age: it is imbued by the Spirit. We should, nay we must, move as the sons of God, we are no less than that; our heritage is secured in divine manifestation. “Nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection . . .” [Luke 20:36-38]. We live and move in a new reality, we are the sons of God. It is not what we feel or look like, but by faith we ARE the sons of God. One day we will be resurrected and wholly like the Lord; until then the reality is now. We now move amongst the hostile world that attempts to inhibit our faith in the miraculous. However we inhabit eternity by faith and therefore look upward to see heaven upon earth. Thy will, will be done.

“Saying, the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” [Luke 24:7]

God has His third day on any day.

1. It is the day of resurrection and a day promised.
2. It is the day when beginnings take place.
3. No one had been raised from the dead before to die not again.
4. It is the day when victory is ensured.
5. The ultimate is death: the divine ultimate is life out of death.
6. It is the day when defeat turns to conquest.
7. It is the day when dark becomes light.
8. The fading light turned into gross darkness is banished by the all-pervading risen Lord.
9. It is the day when sorrow becomes joy.
10. Broken hearts reassembled by divine power and grace.
11. It is the day when man’s schemes come to nought.
12. All the vain machinations of man’s mind thwarted by wisdom so high.
13. It is the day when the devil and all his minions are trapped.
14. It is the day when dreams become reality.
15. It is the day when the kingdom comes in force.
16. It is the day when the prophetic is fulfilled.
17. It is the day when God makes our shattered world anew.
18. It is the day when our scuppered tomorrows are raised intact.
19. It is the day when followers become disciples.
20. It is the day when tears give way to laughter.
21. It is the day when justice reigns over inequality.
22. It is the day that puts a candle in the tomb.
23. It is the day that confounds the critics. In three days destroy this temple and I will build it again.
24. It is the day when Pentecost became possible.
25. It is the day when captivity became captive.

I Peter 1:3 “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

I Corinthians 15:45 “And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.”

Ephesians 4:8 “Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”

His resurrection brings peace [John 20:21]
What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ have to say to me personally, and how should it or does it affect the way I live, the way I believe and the way I respond to theological truth.   Theories must have a solid base and a practi­cal outworking, and to sing hymns and celebrate the raising from the dead of God’s own Son, ought to have more than the flavour of celebration.

What advantage then
“And Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you!’…”   It had been promised on the hills of Bethlehem, by angels singing in close har­mony.[1]  Now it has been secured from the restless fiends of hell.   “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be dili­gent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.2  And “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” 3 There is the peace of reconciliation and the peace of realisation as we understand God’s perfect will towards us.

There is peace from spiritual and mental dis­turbance and from a quarrelsome spirit, which is the result of a reconcilable state between God and man, and man and man.  Christ’s greeting in the closed room was more than a salutation it was a conveyance of ability.  When God wishes something on or to us then His word is the event. Peace is lost when we cannot control a situ­ation. When things are so far from our ability to master them, we lose the serenity that comes from our authority over circumstances. When Jesus rose from the dead he said in effect, the greatest uncontrollable circumstance has been conquered:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” [John 14:27]. “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” [Rom 16:20] – Amen.

The peace of Mended Dreams
The kingdom dream had died, but it had now been re-established in a new dimension. The Romans may remain, but Christ’s reign would know no end.4  Perhaps the word ‘modified’ should be used – modified dreams, for Christ was to set-up the kingdom, but not in their time or possibly ours.   Until that time the disciples were encouraged to “watch and pray”5  and “live soberly”6 “looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appear­ing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”7

The greatest hope and disappointment rode side by side as Christ left the disciples in disarray as they looked unbelieving at the cross. Sometimes God confuses us by apparently shattering our aspirations as we see our an­swer die in anonymity. These disciples had lived for three years in the certain knowledge, or so they thought, that Jesus would bring in the new realm and reign of God. They dreamed, talked, sighed and looked for the coming king­dom, not realising that the kingdom had al­ready come. They mistook the divine will, as we often do, because they were looking like we often do from a human viewpoint. We cannot cope with contradictions that dash our dreams like broken pottery – we find it almost impossible to put the jigsaw together, the col­ours and shapes are too disparate for sense.

The Peace of Final Destination
Jesus had proved that there was life after death, and that he would greet us on that eternal shore.  He defied death and in rising over our greatest enemy left a candle to light the gloom of time’s termination. We know now that He has gone to furnish the mansions of Glory that need no doors for He can pass through them.8 People throughout the ages have wanted to talk to those who have gone on before them to the ‘other side.’ What awaits us in eternity, and is there life after death, forgiveness, love, joy peace and reconciliation?  Is there thought and sensation?

The Peace of Eternal Presence
If Christ has gone through death then nothing can separate us from the love of God that is IN Christ Jesus.  [Rom. 8:35ff]. He tasted death that we might never know its hold, and having raised up above the clutch of that inevitable and relentless foe, has con­firmed that He will be with us in all circum­stances [Heb. 13:5]. He will be with us al­ways for there is no enemy greater than death, and he has conquered it conclusively [1 Cor. 15:20‑28]

[1] Luke 2:14

[22] Peter 3:14

[3] Galatians 5:22

[4] Revelation 1:17, 18

[5] Mark 13:33

[6] Titus 2:12

[7] Titus 2:13

[8] John 11:25, 14:1

As we fast approach Easter, which will be on us very quickly, we see in John 20:26 Mary’s Response to Resurrection – “Jesus said unto her, ‘Mary.’ She turned herself, and said unto him, ‘Rabboni;’ which is to say, Master.”

The message of Mary is akin to those finding renewal in the modern church. There is a parallel which is very similar to her experience with the resurrected Lord. Something can be spiritually gained from this simple meditation. Let’s lay a few pointers down.

1                      She came in the darkness of the early morning

At least she came. Many of us come to God in the darkness and confusion of life not understanding fully what the darkness is all about.  Why she came to the sepulchre when it was sealed, we’ll never know, but she came. That’s a mark in her favour, she did what she could. She had a heart that longed for fellowship with divinity; she wanted his presence, even in death, just to be near the place of his resting. Her hope had gone but she came. Her light had gone but she came. Her deliverer had gone but she came.

The time is important for it shows she couldn’t sleep and urgently wanted to be near the tomb.

She was distracted enough to believe that although He was dead, at least if she was in close proximity to where He lay, he might help her. Her ignorance of the mystery of resurrection did not prevent her commitment to His memory. Sometimes in the bewilderment of life it is wise to commit to what He has done for us in the past. At least cling to that.

2.                    She came looking for comfort and safety –

She had been delivered of seven demons, and now who was to keep her free from being a vassal of the darkness again? Even the dead body of the Lord would have more power than the ministry of the living. Jesus asleep in the boat was more powerful than the devil awake! Even the woman who touched the hem of his robe was healed. Clothes are inanimate objects yet were able to perform miracles under God; the handkerchiefs of Paul’s day laid on the sick healed them.

3.                    She came out of unbelief into revelation –
She had to turn herself.  She was looking at despair and supposed death. The disciples came, to look and make the adjustment to Christ’s resurrection, but she failed to hear their conversation and still thought Him dead and stolen. The early morning was dark and she wouldn’t see very well, hence her mistake. The early morning often troubles us.

God comes to us and we think He is a gardener, because that vision fulfils our expectations, and we thus limit Him to planting flowers not planting vision. Because we don’t expect, we convince ourselves He must be someone else. The disciple rowing against the storm thought Jesus was a ghost walking on water.

4.                    She understood the revelation word –

‘Mary.’  Personal name for a personal revelation. When God speaks He doesn’t waste words.  He can say more in one word than an orator in a whole speech. He is able to step off this written page and speak a word, and only we will know it.  Our response to revelation is to fall at His feet. God can speak more than one word, and He might just do that to you to as you read this today.

God does not go into rational, dialogue to convince the sceptic that he is God, He just uses the ‘know word’ that releases faith and understanding. He used a word she knew and understood, He’ll do that through the prophetic word today, he did it to Paul on the Damascus Road.

5.                    She submitted to the position of dominion –

She fell at his feet, so must we. Getting down is the first step to getting on with God. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. I don’t need to fall down, and that’s absolutely right, but then you don’t have to have God’s revelation either. You are never free not to do anything, until you are free to do it.

6.                    She received a commission

Jesus said “Go tell.” She didn’t lie there forever, but she did lie.  And from thence went out on mission. Our revelations and worship must eventually lead to evangelism. We cannot stay on Transfiguration Mount, there are demons to cast out! Wouldn’t we all want booths and brightness, but ministry beckons.

There is a growing trend not to miss your own wake but to make arrangements to be so positioned at your funeral it appears you are alive and ready for action. One man was buried astride his Harley Davidson motorcycle, propped up inside a see-through casket for a final road trip. Another made it known he wanted to attend his own wake dressed like Che Guevara, cigar in hand, sitting cross legged. Such is the fad to hit the American undertaker circuit. It’s all about putting fun back into funerals. But, how do you put fun back into funerals, or why should one put fun back, and was there ever any fun in funerals? Most of the ones I’ve attended over many years have been solemn and sad; some however have had an underlying joy but certainly not merriment.

The most recent send-off was that of Miriam Burbank, a 53-year old woman from New Orleans who decided she wanted to be seen at her wake in a posture familiar in her life. So her family arranged for her to be posed sitting at a table with a can of Busch beer at one hand, a menthol cigarette in the other, a bottle of whiskey within easy reach and a disco ball flashing overhead.  Two months earlier Mickey Easterling, an 83-year old New Orleans socialite, had bid adieu in similar fashion. Her embalmed body was displayed at one final soiree, where she sat on a wrought iron bench, a large pink feather boa around her neck, a champagne glass in one hand, a cigarette holder in the other. A thousand people came to see.  The funeral director, Louis Charbonnet, has also had other requests; one for a women to be seen in her kitchen, standing over her stove.

However, in Puerto Rico a deceased ambulance driver wanted to be seen behind the wheel of his vehicle and in January a boxer, who had been murdered in a shooting, was propped up in a boxing ring for his wake, how bizarre? All this so that mourners can see their loved one in familiar surroundings. I think even an open coffin is rather macabre. I can understand why people do it, but once gone nobody can be brought back, and no one can recapture real life. I think people should not be concerned too much to capture current lifestyle but anticipate new lifestyle in future glory.

The first dead body I saw was my father who died whilst I was in London and he in Birmingham, I went to see him in his coffin and hardly recognised him, but knew life had unmistakably gone – it was just a carcass. Empty flesh. The soul and spirit were with God – he made a profession of faith, his future was secure. Why foist upon him a past memory of days gone by? Why not let him now rest after a lifetime of service, in the arms of God, far better than to be surrounded by memories of hard work and unremitting labour just to keep us in necessities.

The second body was my wife who I had loved for 64 years and now her body, extremely diseased, ravaged by cancer and Myasthenia, was at rest. I was preparing her for cremation with a nurse who had unexpectedly called to see how she was and walked in on her death. Together we laid her out; washed her body and clothed it. Combed her hair and saw she was settled for the doctor to come and officially pronounce her death. I did not want to see her in any other way, for I knew she was with God where roses never fade, and she could now walk without effort and sing His praise again – the Myasthenia had robbed her of her voice.

We cannot put the clocks back: time marches on unremittingly. We change imperceptibly and the human frame sags, hair is lost, sight diminishes, strength fails and it is best covered and hidden and let our memories soar in yesteryear where there is our reality. You cannot put fun back into death, and anyone who just laughs at the death of a loved one must be warped. Why must people be amused in sorrow, why not let pain work its fruitful work. My last funeral was for a women of 98 and she was unmistakably born again, and it was joyful and solemn, solemn because we grieved for we mourned our loss and she no doubt was joyful because she was free to be heaven’s guest. That’s how it should be. We should not make charades to help our grief. It’s an empty work.

Sir Roger Bannister, who in 1954 became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes and went on to become a distinguished neurologist says: “the order of things I am proud of is: No. 1 marriage, No. 2 family and children, No 3 medicine and No. 4 sport.” Perhaps his words may strike a chord and give comfort to all those who endeavour to win medals at various games worldwide for priorities are important. A gold medal is a great thing but marriage, family and a career are all infinity precious, probably more so.

The medals come whilst we are relatively young and our ambitions are fierce and overwhelming. As we mature we realise there is life after the track, the pool and the gymnasium. Sport has taken on a disproportionate value in modern society, and those involved in it may well understand that. The lure of fame is almost irresistible. It stalks all avenues of life: to be famous and rich seems to predominate teenage years; the quickest way to the top is the attraction to many. Unfortunately often the quickest risers are the most easily forgotten.

Some of the greatest people of the Bible were often in obscurity for years. Abraham a name most religions know, honour and welcome walked for fifty years with God starting at 75 years old, Joseph languished in servitude and prison for 13 years, Moses walked in a wilderness for 40 years and King David minded sheep in anonymity. If God has a plan, He will bring it in, if you are to succeed you will, whatever the field or discipline. Circumstances are irrelevant, he superintends them. He looks at your priorities, always looks at that. He goes to the core of our life, to the moving of our motives; do we want earth’s or heaven’s gold? Is it the jubilation of this world or the justice of God’s kingdom? Which will last, which will satisfy?

Sir Roger learnt early and walked right, his values soon crystallised, famous for moving fast, more famous for helping disability in others. For a lasting marriage, for good children, for a career that touched people who hurt. As the years passed his medals could tarnish, but not the lives he touched. The determination that took him through the time barrier also helped those who needed to cross their disordered physical barriers. His knighthood was for more than just running fast.

On 7^th August 1954 Bannister ran against Landy who held the world record for the mile having beaten Bannister’s time. Landy led for most of the race, building a lead of 10 yards in the third lap (of four), but was overtaken on the last bend, and Bannister won in 3 min 58.8 s, with Landy 0.8 s behind in 3 min 59.6 s. Bannister and Landy have both pointed out that the crucial moment of the race was that at the moment when Bannister decided to try to pass Landy, Landy looked over his left shoulder to gauge Bannister’s position and Bannister burst past him on the right, never relinquishing the lead.

This is interesting, it was clear that Bannister was a technician who studied his opponent, and his surprise passing on the apparently wrong side flummoxed Landy. Bannister’s life was as a doctor and his sports training was minimal, had he trained properly he would probably have reduced the world record time even more, but winning was sufficient. There is a bronze statue in Vancouver of Landy and Bannister, and Landy quipped “While Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, I am probably the only one ever turned into bronze for looking back.” Lot’s wife turned into what she should, have been – salt. We are all called to be salt that is what we are and what we do is shine. Perhaps that is the basis of life in reality. That is the priority. Salt stops putrefaction and seasons; puts taste into dishes, as we put taste into secular life.

Let us not be turned into something metaphorically inanimate because we are not walking in the pursuit of God and those things that matter. Lot’s wife longed for the sin-pots of Sodom for to her these could not have been better years, but it destroyed her. Israel in growing discontent looked back and it cost them 40 years privation, trial and suffering, for Egypt was their prison not their freedom. We need firm ground in slippery places (Psalms 26:1) “Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.” God is willing to put salt on the ice if we are willing to exercise integrity.

When our new church was built in 2005 I advertised that I would buy ten chairs as an encouragement for other members to follow suit. However, I was rebuked, or corrected by two ladies in the church. We all need, from time to time, wise and kind discipline and I’m not above that. However, was their criticism justified? Well you be the judge. I had asked the congregation to respond to the challenge of buying a chair (or more) for the new building. I led the way by saying that Patricia and I would buy ten and at £135 per chair that made a total of £1,350. I then realised that if I spent or gave that much the church could claim Gift Aid and HICC could actually get 12 not 10. I mentioned this the following week.

The first point of criticism I received was “don’t tell us about how many chairs you are buying – again” Twice was enough. I agree that the left hand shouldn’t know what the right hand is doing and generally speaking that is how I conduct my giving to God. However, this situation was different, the people ought to know whether the ‘vicar’ was putting his bank book where his mouth was. I illustrated this by stating that probably I‘m the lowest paid professional in the church, and to find the money would take all our effort plus God but that is what faith is all about. We were not actually putting our necks on the line, for with God that never happens. His grace undergirds and supports and He always surpasses our expectation, and comes to our aid when we step out in venture with him.

My first church was started with 66p in the bank, faith as a mustard seed and little else. However, as time passes we become too sophisticated and faith becomes conditioned by intelligence and experience of past provision, which is sometimes forgotten. We become conditioned by the now and, as some God-led avenues actually appear cul-de-sacs, our nerve temporarily fails. God says “prove me now” and that’s not a bad maxim to live by. It was that example I was showing.

The second was “don’t tell us that you could have preached for another hour on the blood of Jesus, it sounds like boasting.” That may be true, but I could have preached for over 11 hours. My emphasis was to say this subject is huge. I didn’t touch reconciliation through blood, cleansing through blood, sanctification through blood, dwelling in the holiest through blood, life in the blood, victory through the blood and joy through the blood – and there is yet more!

The problem we have in today’s church is that there is insufficient Bible Study, or no Bible study. Consequently, many errors prevail and suspect lifestyles predominate because the average Christian does not know Biblical truth. This needs to be remedied. In other words all churches need a regular Bible Study in a relaxed atmosphere where truth can be exegeted to correct and support lifestyle. Sunday morning is no longer the right time for Bible Study; it is for expository preaching, but not a detailed study. The average person can sit today listening to a 30minute sermon (as long as a soap opera) beyond that they begin to flag.

Can we pull these two comments together, yes we can? Giving and receiving are the two greatest attitudes in life. My reticence to talk about money may cause the average member to miss out on God’s bounty. We live in the year of His favour, and His promise to us is 30, 60 and 100fold. The promise is not that we will automatically get 100fold but it’s a gradation scale. Some may not be able to handle 100fold, so God only allows them 30. Often it is not poverty that causes us to stumble but riches, although some Christians have a poverty mentality.

The words of the teacher are like nails driven in a sure place, and so the Word of God is imperative for it fixes things permanently. I would not be where I am now in God without that precious word, living, revealing and encouraging in its daily ministration. It has fixed my life, preserved me from error, kept me in temptation, encouraged me when depressed, challenged me when half-hearted, rebuked me when I’ve sinned and drawn me into the lover’s closet to meet my Lord. It has caused me to weep, to laugh and to sigh in expectation. The bible is truly a book beyond all books; a wonder about God. It answers the riddle of life and reveals Jesus in all His beauty – hallelujah!

Saturday morning dawned and off we went to Stratford upon Avon, a medieval town dating from its official charter in 1196. It is close to the Cotswolds and, when it was the major sheep producing area, Stratford was one of the main towns for processing, marketing and distribution of sheep and wool. Its smaller Roman Road connects the larger Fosse Way and lcknield Street. Chipping Camden is about 10 miles south from there, a place where the wool barons built their extensive and expensive homes. After parking the car on the outskirts I noticed brass squares about 200mm square left in the footpath. These stated that one was approaching blue diamonds as markers inscribed on the concrete pathway pointing to the information centre. Follow the blue smudges and you would get there. So I did, and arrived at the main thoroughfare or shopping-centre. It was relatively early but the shoppers were many, and with added visitors we were glad it wasn’t summer!

As I stood at the traffic lights I looked left and saw a public house on a corner of two streets called Encore and dated 1605, and from its construction and shape it looked in pretty good condition although it was clear that it has had its roof replaced, for most roofs last as long as the nails – about 90 years. The clay tiles also laminate with repeated soaking and freezing. However for 800 years this town had withstood the seasons and the wear of humanity, and is still vibrant and loved. It is one of the greatest holiday attractions in Britain, and justly so, for it is the birthplace of William Shakespeare, who is reckoned by many as the world’s greatest playwright; not my favourite reading as a schoolboy! In 1769 David Garrick was responsible for the first real Shakespearian Theatre as a celebration to mark Shakespeare’s birthday, but it was almost washed away in two days by torrential rain.

Pamela and I had come not to delve into history but to collect a dress from a shop in Sheep Street. Sheep Street was the residential quarter of town in the 16^th century and was rebuilt after the great fire in 1595, although No. 40 dates from 1480, about 300 years before the USA! No wonder Americans like visiting. But, as we walked it came to me that God is The Information Centre of the universe, and He has left blue smudges [Bible texts] in the pathways of life to the questions we pose. Mankind needs direction on how to live and who better than their creator. The Bible clearly says “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth” and live good for the rest of your life. Get to the Information Centre as soon as your can. Follow the blue diamonds diligently and you will never get lost.

About two years ago my front door bell rang and there stood two representatives of a political party. They introduced themselves, she was a doctor of medicine and he a doctor of history, and they said to me and “you are Dr Carr, what is you discipline?” I replied “Theology” and they stopped in their tracks not knowing what to say. I continued “your leader rewrote the Bible in his own image, thus: ‘a man or woman shall leave their parents and he shall cleave to his husband and she to her wife and twain they shall be sterile.’ ” They looked at me dumbfounded, not knowing what to say, I smiled and closed the door. It is clear they had ignored the Information Centre. They were going in the wrong direction, when it comes to morality and money the Bible always has the blue diamonds.

Blue diamonds do actually exist but contain impurities, hence their colour, but are very expensive and rarely seen in shops today.  I think God’s word is as expensive as that, but contains no impurities, it is precious beyond words. “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” [Ps 12:6]. It is so sad that mankind misses that fact, and will read anything and everything except God’s word. Sometimes information centres are stumped but not God’s word, there are words for all seasons and all occasions.

Use the Bible as your jewel box, it is rewarding and is rich with a wealth of wisdom.  Here’s one jewel that should strike solemnity into our hearts: [2 Peter 3:5-7]. Read it slowly and ponder. Let all the facets illumine your inner eyes.