Amazing Grace.
On Christmas morning 2006 we would do well to remember the Amazing Grace of Almighty God in sending into His world a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

John Newton on January 1st. 1773 wrote in his diary.
“This is the ninth New Year’s day I have seen in this place. I have reason to say the Lord crowneth every year with his goodness. I am still favoured with strength, and with some liberty for my public work and hope the Lord is still pleased to work by me, for the edification of his people already called, and the awakening of sinners.

“I preached this forenoon from 1 Chronicles 17:16,17. Hope I was enabled to speak with some liberty, but found my own heart sadly unaffected.”

This extract from John Newton’s diary on that New Year’s Day in 1773 confirms the date of both the sermon based on this text and its accompanying hymn – Amazing Grace.

The coming New Year, 2007 is the bicentenary of the death of John Newton, (he died on 21 December 1807) what an appropriate time to draw attention to the background and meaning of this wonderful hymn.

Amazing grace: King David’s story 1 Chronicles 17 verse 16 & 17
"And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God."

In his sermon, Newton took three points from David’s life, using his customary reflections for a New Year: 1. look back 2. look around 3. look forward

1. The Lord reminded David in 1 Chronicles 17:7, “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.” David aside, said Newton, how about you and me? Where were we when the Lord began to show his love to us? Shouldn’t this remembrance fill us with humility and admiration?
Amazing grace… that saved a wretch like me!

2. The great promises God made to David filled him with wonder (v16). "Who am I, O Lord God… that you have brought me this far?” Just think, said Newton, of how many millions of dangers the Lord has preserved us from, before and since the day of our conversion, to bring us this far.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,I have already come.
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far.

3. David was overwhelmed at the Lord’s promise that his house would continue forever (v26). “O Lord, you are God! You have promised these good things to your servant.” Likewise, for each of us, said Newton.
The Lord has promised good to me

God’ promises hold even to eternity, Newton pointed out. “We are travelling home to God. We shall soon see Jesus, and never complain of sin, sorrow, temptation or desertion any more.
God, who called me here below.
Will be forever mine.

John Newton drew valuable lessons from David’s grateful response. “The Lord bestows many blessings upon his people, but unless he likewise gives them a thankful heart, they lose much of the comfort they might have in them.” His advice on these points was to “accommodate them to our own use as a proper subject for our meditations on the entrance of a new year.”

Newton’s full sermon is on the John Newton Project website http://www.johnnewton.org/ and is also spread across the first few daily thoughts in 365 days with Newton published by Day One Publications.

Faith's review and expectations 1 Chronicles 17:16,17

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace those fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

John Newton, Olney Hymns, 1779, Book 1, Hymn 41

May we all have a Happy Christmas and a very happy and fruitful New Year as we experience more of His Amazing Grace so wonderfully displayed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

THOU WHO WAST RICH BEYOND ALL SPLENDOUR

One of our favourite carols, albeit in archaic language, was written during difficult times on the mission field in China. Frank Houghton was consecrated as Bishop of East Szechwan in 1937. Missionaries had been captured by the communist Red Army and released in poor health after over a year of suffering. Others had been captured never to be heard from again. In 1934 the young missionaries John and Betty Stam were captured and beheaded. The news of these sorrows had reached the mission's headquarters in Shanghai. Though this was a very dangerous time for both the Chinese Christians and the foreign missionaries, Frank decided he needed to begin a tour through the country to visit various missionary outposts. While travelling over the mountains of Szechwan, the powerful and comforting words of 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverrty might become rich" were transformed into this beautiful Christmas hymn.

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becamest poor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest Man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenward by Thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest Man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what Thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship Thee.

- Frank Houghton (1894-1972)

In 1958, J.B.Philips gave to the world The New Testament in Modern English.

There is no such thing as “timeless English” but this 50 year old translation does get the message over to us of the need to be generous towards others. It appears that those in Corinth had not been that generous to Paul compared with those in the Macedonian churches who gave "to the limit of their means". This should challenge us in every area of our giving especially to those in His service.

2 Corinthians 8 verses 7 to 15
“Already you are well to the fore in every good quality - you have faith, you can express that faith in words; you have knowledge, enthusiasm and your love for us. Could you not add generosity to your virtues?
I don’t give you this as an order. It is only my suggestion, prompted by what I have seen in others of eagerness to help, that here is a way to prove the reality of your love.
Do you remember the generosity of Jesus Christ, the Lord of us all? He was rich, yet he became poor for your sakes so that his poverty might make you rich.
Here is my opinion in the matter. I think it would be a good thing for you, who were the first a year ago to think of helping, as well as the first to give, to carry through what you then intended to do. Finish it, then, as well as your means allow, and show that you can complete what you set out to do with as much readiness as you showed eagerness to begin.
The important thing is to be willing to give as much as we can - that is what God accepts, and no one is asked to give what he has not got. Of course, I don’t mean that others should be relieved to an extent that leaves you in distress.
It is a matter of share and share alike. At present your plenty should supply their need, and then at some future date their plenty may supply your need. In that way we share with each other, as the scripture says, He that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack.” Taken from the J.B. Phillips translation.

Christmas is a good time for showing generosity to others, sharing with those who have little or nothing. One message of Christmas is that of giving with the same generosity of spirit as God the Father did over 2,000 years ago in sending us His beloved Son into the world.

“He who was rich for our sakes became poor” and for a very good reason!

A Favourite Christmas Carol.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain. Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse,
freeThine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
Refrain

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Refrain

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Refrain

This 12th century carol had the original title in Latin of Ve­ni, ve­ni Eman­u­el; it was trans­lat­ed from Latin to Eng­lish by John M.Neale and appeared in Med­iae­val Hymns in 1851. Neale’s orig­in­al trans­l­a­tion be­gan, “Draw nigh, draw nigh, Em­man­u­el.”

The lyrics echo a num­ber of pro­phet­ic themes. The ti­tle comes from the well known Isai­ah 7:14: “Be­hold, a vir­gin shall con­ceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Im­man­u­el.”
Im­man­u­el is He­brew for “God with us.”

The English Hymnal has seven verses, but most other hymnals have five verses.
Their biblical references are:

1. Emmanuel (God with us) - Isaiah 7:14, 35:10, 59:20, 61:1, Matthew 1:23, Psalm 137:1-5

2. Jesse Virgula (the Root of Jesse) - Isaiah 11:1, 11:10

3. Oriens (the dayspring) - Luke 1:78, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

4. Clavis Davidica (the Key of David) - Isaiah 22:22, Revelation 3:7, Matthew 7:14

5. Adonai (the Lord of Might) - Exodus 3:15

Of all the carols we sing each Christmas this one is a direct link between the Old Testament prophecies and the coming of the Saviour to Bethlehem as recorded for us in the New Testament.

The Prophets of ancient Israel talked about a world much like our own, a world of people in rebellion against the Lord God Almighty. The various prophets show how God has a plan, not only for Israel but also for the whole world; a plan that extends beyond the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. The coming of the infant Jesus did not complete God’s plan. The Incarnation is the Sign assuring us that there is reason to hope.

The reason for the season is Jesus Christ.
In the first Advent we recall the ancient prophecies and signs which led to the birth of the Messiah, and we look forward in hope, applying those same ancient texts to our lives and the world we find ourselves in. While we look forward to His final coming when He will come with power and authority to rule and to reign over all the earth we rejoice that Jesus Christ will come again just as He promised, not only in clouds of Glory but into individual lives as we allow Him to enter in. O come, O come, Emmanuel!

We need to make room for Him.
This involves repentance from sin and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.

A wake-up call from the UK.

At this moment society in the U.K. is in a state of constant change.
Over a period of recent years the Laws of our land have been altered to accommodate various minority groups, be it the followers of Islam or those involved in homosexual relationships.

In this changing scene the Christian is faced with choices, either to accept the new norm or to stand against the changing tide.

In The Daily Mail November 3rd. 2006 columnist Richard Kay pointed out the decision to ban former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey from giving a lecture in Bangor Cathedral – apparently because of his orthodox beliefs. This is surprising when one considers that last year the deputy imam from the local Bangor Islamic Centre delivered a 15 to 20 minute sermon in the Cathedral. It would appear that “some Anglican clergy seem to think that all beliefs are equally acceptable except traditional Christian ones”

One such Christian to stand against the tide is Nick Howard, who having completed a theology degree this summer, was not ordained because of his “unwillingness to listen” to other viewpoints. http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2006/10/02/michael-howards-son-refused-ordination-in-church-of-england/ Nick told The Mail on Sunday that his strongly held evangelical beliefs on homosexuality and multifaith worship marked him out as a “troublemaker” even though they reflect official Anglican doctrine.

It is reported that a statement was made from the College that a person can be a practicing homosexual and also be a follower of Jesus Christ. That statement prompted me to answer that comment and having given further study to scripture I place before those who read my Blog the following.

The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ chapter 21 verses 7 & 8 lists those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The New King James Version reads, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

The sexually immoral are on that list and do not enter into heaven but are cast into hell.
The reason the Almighty banishes them from heaven is a matter of defilement.
God does NOT accept the (so called) Gay person, holy scripture is very clear on that FACT.

A similar list is found in 1 Corinthians 6 verses 9 & 10 containing those persons who will not inherit the kingdom of God. In this list both partners of the homosexual act are mentioned separately for all sexual immorality is against the body and against the will of God.
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 3:17 states that the Christian’s body is the temple of God and that God will destroy those who defile that temple. God does not accept the sexually immoral persons, scripture is very clear on that truth

In the Old Testament sexual immorality within the camp of the children of Israel was judged strictly by the removal of those persons from the camp. Leviticus chapter 11 (read verses 44 &45) and chapter 18 ( see verse 22) give very clear guidance as to the nature of sexual impurity (detestable ways) and the purity of the camp was regarded as necessary for the benefit of the whole camp (Numbers 5:3) for whatever reason.

For the modern day Christian the underlining activity should be one of seeking after holiness. Scripture declares that “without faith it is impossible to please God” and “without holiness it is impossible to see the Lord” (Hebrews 11:6 & 12:14)

The question was this “Can a follower of Christ be a practicing homosexual?”
My answer to that question is no, based upon the reference in the first epistle to the Corinthians which makes plain those “listed” as being unable to inherit the kingdom of God . For such people to inherit there needs to be change in order for them to be able to inherit. God’s acceptance of the sinner is conditional on the sinner’s acknowledgement of the sin and then the act of true repentance (i.e. not continuing in the sin)

Following the list of those banished from heaven in the first Corinthian epistle verse 11 reads - “and such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

Notice the words the Apostle uses; namely washed, sanctified (set apart) and then justified. It is all too easy to say that “God hates the sin but loves the sinner” while ignoring the mind of the Lord with regard to a person continuing in sin. Sadly, various forms of sexual immorality are no longer regarded as SIN within our land and certain immoral acts are acceptable in society. But the Word of God states that sexual impurity will keep people out of heaven unless there is repentance and faith. And evidence of true Faith is seen and known in the life of the born again Christian. Jesus said to the immoral woman brought before Him “Go your way and sin no more”

Matthew 7:21 clearly says that “not everyone who says Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven . . .” The Psalmist (Psalm 24:3-5) ) says “who shall ascend the hill of the Lord and who shall stand in His holy place?” - the answer is then given “clean hands and a pure heart” – external purity and inner faith!

We must never be tempted to bring God down to a level where He has to compromise His HOLINESS. God is HOLY and JUST (Righteous), He cannot overlook sin in whatever form it takes.

The situation in the United Kingdom isn’t new for what we are experiencing also happened in ancient Rome. Just read the first chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.

Read the closing verses of Romans Chapter 1 in a modern translation like The Message.
Romans 1:22 to 32.
“They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand. So God said, in effect, "If that’s what you want, that’s what you get." It wasn’t long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out.
And all this because they traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them—the God we bless, the God who blesses us. Oh, yes!
Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn’t know how to be human either—women didn’t know how to be women, men didn’t know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men—all lust, no love. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it — emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches. Since they didn’t bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loose: rampant evil, grabbing and grasping, vicious backstabbing. They made life hell on earth with their envy, wanton killing, bickering, and cheating. Look at them: mean-spirited, venomous, fork-tongued God-bashers. Bullies, swaggerers, insufferable windbags! They keep inventing new ways of wrecking lives. They ditch their parents when they get in the way. Stupid, slimy, cruel, cold-blooded. and it’s not as if they don’t know better. They know perfectly well they’re spitting in God’s face. And they don’t care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!” from The Message.

Do you get the message?

Come on, wake up and make your stand for the Truth!

Thanking God upon every

remembrance of you all.

Reading first Thessalonians chapter 1 verses 2 & 3 I notice that Paul’s thankfulness was prompted by his observation of these particular Christians. He saw in them faith, hope and love though not in that order in these verses. What he saw was the out flowing of that special trinity.

The King James Version has “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”

“Work produced by faith, labour prompted by love and endurance inspired by hope,” is how the New International Version renders it.

Christian virtues need to be seen. During my recent visit to the local hospital for microsurgery I saw two nurses working together making the beds in preparation for the next group of day patients. I knew both of them. One of the young nurses was from South India who had interviewed me for my pre-operation visit a few days ago in the previous week. Then we talked together about the grace of God and our shared knowledge of Him, actually I should have asked more questions about my forthcoming surgery but that didn’t happen but that was my fault. The other nurse was given to me in recovery and I quickly found out she attended a local Evangelical church that is very well known to me and she knew many of my friends. The Lord was good in giving me these two. Thank you LORD.

As these nurses saw me they smiled and warmly greeted me asking how I was that morning.
I then introduced them to each other though they sometimes worked together they didn’t know that they shared the same Lord and Saviour. It was not their fault in a busy life on the wards but it took a talkative stranger to get them talking together about the Lord! As each talked independently with me that morning, as I tried very hard NOT TO TALK as I had been instructed, they said the same thing about the other, “She is a really nice person”.

Work produced by faith, labour prompted by love.

That word labour (kopos) gives me the impression that it is work (ergon) that is just that little bit harder. Work that can produce some sweat (sorry ladies) as seen on manual labourers.
The New Testament Greek word kopos is translated elsewhere as weariness. Working to the point of weariness.

Often work, the deeds we do, are done in a dutiful manner but lack that extra spark of real dedication. All too often I see poor application of true Christian service. So often it is the bare token of service not that all out and out life commitment to do a real work for Jesus.

These Christians in Thessalonica were different to those in Ephesus.

In the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ in chapter 2 the Lord says “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience.” Notice there is no mention of what prompts and produces these same virtues. But then by this time in the church at Ephesus they had lost their first love. Their love for Christ had grown cold. True to say they had lost all hope in Christ.

Endurance can be just that, enduring something because that is what is expected of you.
Enduring can soon become drudgery rather than patiently enduring for Christ.

Enduring with Christ does bring very special rewards in the Eternal Glory read 2 Timothy 2 verse 12 & 13.

“If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

So let us ask ourselves some questions.

“When people see us do they thank God for us?”

What is it that they are seeing in us?
What is producing our good deeds?
What is prompting our labours?
What inspires our endurance?

The steps and the stops !

The Psalmist declared that “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” to which George Muller added to this verse “and the stops”.
Psalm 37:23 - 24 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”

The steps and the stops are ordered by the Lord! At this time in my life I am about to have one of those stops mentioned by Muller, one of those unsought after moments when it is good to know that we have a living relationship with a Lord who promises to uphold.

Recently we have been very active with a Retreat at Harby in the Vale of Belvoir 30 miles from our home. The Retreat was for visitors from the Independent Evangelical Churches of Poland, mainly church leaders and their wives plus those actively involved in church life in that country. We can praise the Lord for the helpers He gave to us and the energy He supplied plus the generous financial support from those who knew of the enterprise. The cost of coming to the UK was very attractive with earlier booking with Ryanair and all other costs were covered by generous giving here in Britain. Each day during our Retreat we had fine Bible ministry from gifted teachers and local Pastors and the letters received from those who attended have given testimony to the blessings received.

But I digress, I have a habit of doing that, more so when speaking and preaching. This is part of my problem, namely an over use and it would seem some abuse of my vocal cords. Eighteen months of a less rigorous engagements and some speech therapy have given me little comfort from not having the voice to sing and lead services as I used to do.

Doing some web searching for the experiences of others I have found that a variety of celebrities have been along this road. Some are like Julie Andrews who lost her voice following surgery in 1997, others have much better stories to tell. Freddie Mercury of Queen (you good people might not know that name) was back to normal lead singing in a short time but his singing wasn’t the grand opera type! A few people with vocal problems have sought a career change but that prospect isn’t one I fancy. I've discovered that Nana Mouskouri was born and has lived all her life with one non-functioning vocal cord. She's done OK for herself as a singer, not that I'd particularly want to sound like her. Each case is different I well realise that fact but I would like to get my singing voice back again. One thing I have discovered is that those with vocal problems become good bloggers. So having been silent for some months with no new postings I can promise that I will be using this means of communication during the quiet period I need following minor surgery. That word “minor” is very comforting, just some “minor surgery is required” said the ENT specialist “you will need to be put to sleep for a short time”.

So there it is from the horse’s mouth, as it were, minor and short.
Praise God for prayer at these times as with all times.

John Newton of “Amazing Grace” fame said that climbing a “steep hill” of prayer was certainly often “wearisome to the flesh” for him. “It is but dry work,” he complained in his dairy, “when the Spirit of wisdom and application is withdrawn in a great measure, but I desire to submit and continue waiting for the blessing with patience in the best way I can”. Newton counted prayer an enormous privilege. “O it is wonderful – that dust and ashes should converse with the great God. Yet such honour have all his saints. This is the honour that cometh of God only – access by faith in prayer”

‘Tis a pattern set for us,
How we ought to wait and pray:
None who plead and wrestle thus,
Shall be empty sent away. (Olney Hymns, Book 1, Hymn 88)

During the next few weeks after my medical treatment I will be in “autumn hibernation” in my study since I think that this will be my best way of not speaking. One West Midland’s minister who is my age when I asked about his surgery for the same condition said to me that he thought the nine weeks of no speaking did him the most good.

NINE WEEKS of silence – surely not!
So it will be back to the blogging for nine weeks.

Early years.
I first heard the word missionary when I was very young while attending a Sunday school run by a group of Christians attached to Robert Hall Memorial Baptist Church. The meetings for children were held in our local day school near where I lived. I was told that “young Robert” arrived home one Sunday afternoon to announce, “The teacher says that next week we MUST bring our parents along with us because we have a special visit by a missionary.” I had no idea what a missionary was but I was zealous enough to get my parents to attend the special meeting. These were the war years of the 1940’s, WW2 was coming to a conclusion and life, it was hoped, would get back to normal!

Isaiah 11 verse 6 states “ . . a little child shall lead them”.
That was true in my case, for from that very moment my parents attended the newly formed Baptist Church and with renewed faith put their trust in the Lord Jesus and were baptised. I can remember them being baptised by immersion, and I can recall the dedication both of them had to this church which was eventually built on the corner of the street where we lived.

Not only is there a church in Leicester named after Robert Hall but there is a fine statue of this Baptist preacher in one of the city’s squares. Today the name of Robert Hall means little or nothing to present day Christians. He was born in 1764, at Arnesby near Leicester, where his father, Robert Hall (1728-1791), was pastor of a Baptist congregation. Robert was the youngest of a family of fourteen. From a child his passion for books absorbed the greater part of his time, and in the summer it was his custom after school hours to retire to the churchyard with a volume, which he continued to peruse there till nightfall, making out the meaning of the more difficult words with the help of a pocket dictionary. Before he was nine years of age he had read and re-read Jonathan Edwards’s Treatise on the Will. Eventually after successful ministries around England he returned to Leicester to a small congregation in Harvey Lane Baptist Chapel. That church being made more memorable by the fact that William Carey (1789) was the pastor there before he left to take the gospel to India. Born in Paulerspury, England, August 17, 1761 and he died at Serampur, India, June 9, 1834. William Carey became known as "the father of the modern missions".

So these ramblings of mine have come full circle back to its starting point.

What is a Missionary? The English word "missionary" is derived from Latin, the equivalent of the Greek-derived word, "apostle" – meaning “ one who is sent forth”.

In 1823, eleven years before William Carey’s death a young man named Thomas Gamble moved from Friar Lane Baptist Church with a deep sense of mission into the outskirts of a quickly growing town of Leicester and planted a church. That church was the Carley Street Baptist Church which during a period of major reconstruction in the inner city in the 1950’s was demolished and the congreagtion moved into a new build premises within walking distance of the centre of the city. Many years further on from when that young man with a mission went into the outskirts of our town, a middle aged man was inducted in 1985 into the pastorate of that Baptist church. With the zeal and the passion for mission making Jesus Christ known still being present that once young Robert, who with missionary zeal got his parents attending church, was using that same missionary zeal to bring others into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The child became a man – a man with a mission
- sent by God to go and make Christ known.

Now in the City of Leicester according to the 2001 UK Census records 25.73 % of the total population of 279,921 are of Indian origin, while by religion 15% are Hindu - one in seven people in the city are Hindus! It now would appear that William Carey's mission field has become our mission field. We have a commission from the Lord Jesus Christ to go and make Him known.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen." Matthew 28:19-20

Finishing the race well!

In 1897 in Plymouth, England, a young English woman died and was buried in the place of her birth yet her name rings on across the century. The name of Edith Gilling Cherry (1872-97) features in our modern hymn books. The hymn for which she is best remembered was in the top 100 of a write-in poll taken by the television programme “Praise Be” (TV 1) in 2003. A total of 3111 votes were recorded for 603 different hymns and “We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender” was in joint 96th place.

The reason for this hymn spanning one hundred years is because of a sad sto­ry as­so­ci­at­ed with it. In Jan­u­ary 1956, five mis­sion­ar­ies sang it be­fore en­ter­ing the Ecua­dor­i­an jun­gle to bring the Gos­pel to the Au­ca In­di­ans. Their names were Nate Saint, Ed Mc­Cul­ly, Jim El­li­ott, Ro­ger Yo­der­i­an, and Pe­ter Flem­ing. Af­ter the men reached the Au­cas, the In­di­ans mur­dered them on the Cur­a­ray Riv­er.

One of the best known of the five mar­tyrs was Jim El­li­ot. A num­ber of his say­ings are still quot­ed (e.g., “He is no fool who gives what he can­not keep, to gain what he can­not lose”). El­liot’s wife Elisabeth went on to con­sid­er­a­ble fame as an au­thor and radio broad­cast­er.
Her book Through the Gates of Splen­dour de­scribes the en­count­er with the Au­cas; its ti­tle comes from a line in the final verse of this hymn.

We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
“We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.”
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
“We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.”


We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.
When passing through the gates of pearly splendour,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

On the morning of what was to be their final departure the group sang “We rest on Thee” to the stirring tune “Finlandia” and from that moment this hymn and the story of the five martyrs were linked in people’s minds.

The words, “We rest on Thee and in Thy Name we go” are taken from King James Version of the second Book of Chronicles and they form part of the Prayer of King Asa.
“And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.”
2 Chronicles 14:11.

King Asa was entering upon a battle with the Ethiopians and he was declaring his confidence in the Lord God of Israel. The Lord gave him victory but in the following chapter Azariah led by the Holy Spirit and with a great deal of boldness went out to king Asa and all of Judah and made this statement.
“The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
2 Chronicles 15 verse 2 (New King James Version).

Often in life we can return from a particular victory and regard that we have accomplished it all on our own. Asa was a man of prayer but pride could have come into his moment of triumph. The Plea to Asa was that he would seek the Lord. Among the kings of Judah, Asa was a good king but as he entered into old age something happened. The fact that it is mentioned in scripture is of some significance.

We read “And in the thirty–ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.”
2 Chronicles 16:12 (NKJV)

The Plight of Asa. All of his life he had been known as a person who was constantly seeking the Lord but for the last two years of his life the testimony of Asa was stained in that he didn’t seek the Lord in those last months of his life.

It is a great sadness when those who have been “running well” fail to “finish well”.

When Professor Verna Wright, the famous physician, research scientists and evangelist of the late 20th century, discovered that his life was about to end, he responded: 'When you see the tape, you run faster'. Getting old is no time for slowing down but it should be a time for seeking the Lord for added blessing. Other pursuits will not give the blessing that seeking the Lord will bring. Keep looking to Him, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

The Apostle Paul could say “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
2 Timothy 4: 7-8

What needs to be seen in those who are older in the faith is a maturity in righteousness. That only comes as we constantly seek the Lord. “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 6-9

Let us all make it our goal to run well and endeavour to finish well.

Some thoughts for EASTER.

During the Easter holiday period we went with friends to nearby Coventry and spent time there looking round the Cathedral.

Following the Royal Air Force bombing of Munich in 1940, Adolph Hitler sought revenge and Operation Moonlight Sonata was instigated. Over 500 bombers were brought together, their target being the industrial city of Coventry. On the evening of November 10th 500 tons of high explosives began to shake the city centre and soon the city centre was burning. Lorna, as a young girl, recalls watching from a bedroom window seeing the reddened night sky from some 25 miles away - “How could a fire be seen from such a distance?”

Early on in the raid St Michael’s Cathedral was hit, despite valiant efforts, its defenders had succumbed to the incendiary barrage and the roof began to burn. Finally at 6.15 am the all-clear sounded and slowly the shocked, dazed, frightened and tired people of Coventry emerged into the streets, or what had once been streets. People wandered around in a daze taking in the destruction around them. There were 4,330 homes destroyed and three-quarters of the city's factories damaged and the Cathedral was in ruins.

The bombing raids continued, although generally much lighter. Two however were heavy. The Easter week raids of 8 April and 10 April 1941 were between six and eight hours long. In the first of these raids the body of Christchurch church built in 1832 as a replacement for the medieval church was gutted by incendiaries. The last actual bombing raid on Coventry was in August 1942. By that time the city had suffered 41 actual raids and 373 siren alerts. At the end of the war officially there were 1,236 people killed in the raids on Coventry; of these 808 rest in the mass grave in London Road Cemetery. King George VI visited and toured the devastation and attended the first mass burial.

Today the ruins of the old and the new St. Michael’s Cathedral stand side by side a testimony of hope rising from the ashes of the old.

In the ruins is a cross formed with two charred roof beams with the words “Father Forgive” engraved upon the wall behind to give out a powerful message. Also a very powerful sculpture, of two figures kneeling with arms around each other, entitled “Reconciliation” can be seen. In the new building flying angels etched in the glass windows have trumpets and again link to the closing chapters of the Bible. While at the outside entrance there is a bronze sculpture depicting the final winning of good over evil as written in the Book of the Revelation - Michael standing in triumph over the devil.

Revelation 12 verses 7 to 12.
“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."

Words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 14 to 18 give to the believer great hope and rich comfort.

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

The Easter message of the crucified Christ, His burial and His rising from the dead is the central theme of the Bible. The Gospel is the Good News that alone brings Salvation to all who would believe. Conflicts are in the world whether International conflict or personal conflict within the family circle. The answer for conflict is a declaration of PEACE - a ceasing of hostilities.

Personal peace is assured for all who will heed the invitation of the Lord Jesus Christ in John 14:27 For Jesus said "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”


It is time for all people to end hostilities with the Eternal God and find true Peace with HIM.

Peace and true rest for the soul is found in obeying Christ’s command to "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11: 27 to 30.

The Ministry of Angels

An angel with a bagpipe?

On a recent visit to Scotland we spent time looking around Fort George, an army garrison built in the late 18th century, on the Moray Firth. In the Garrison Chapel there was in the main stained glass window an angel playing the bagpipes! Well, why not, for the Bible mentions angels with trumpets in Revelation chapters 8 & 9, so why not bagpipes in the heavenly realm. Some people say that the sound of the pipes is “out of this world”.

The Hebrew word translated angel is "mal'ak" whilst the New Testament Greek word is "aggelos.". In both languages, the word means "messenger," and is used to describe any agent God sends to do his will.
Angels have a ministry to perform on behalf of the Lord God Almighty and so do His ministers.
One other feature of note in the Garrison Chapel was the three tier pulpit (seen in the photograph below). This was unique and I wondered what the qualifications were to be allowed on the top level or even on the middle level!

Psalm 104:4 is quoted in Hebrews 1:7 – God “who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.”
The ministry of angels is to worship God and to carry out His commands whilst His ministers are to be on fire for Him. Perhaps the top tier was reserved for the one displaying the greater flame for His Glory?

In John 5:35, John the Baptist is described as “the burning and shining lamp”.
The need of the hour is that His ministers be aflame for the Glory of the LORD.
For those of us in ministry we should keep this ever before us – that we should burn for His Eternal Glory.

Two Bible passages, Psalm 34:7 and Matthew 18:10, indicate that God employs the ministry of angels to deliver his people from affliction and danger, and that the angels do not think it below their dignity to minister even to children and to the least among Christ's disciples. If we each have a guardian angel I trust that mine isn’t playing the bagpipes.

News from a far country!

Our oldest grandson, 19 year old Simon Briars is doing voluntary work in Zambia.

He is out there with Student Partnership Worldwide (SPW) and with his Zambian work colleague Clement M. Shibalika they are teaching in a HIV Aids awareness programme in Serenje which is in the north east of the country.

He left the UK in the first week of January and after training for four weeks in Kabwe, just north of the capital Lusaka, he has moved to where he will be until mid August. Now he faces a daily routine of being in their first class just before 8 in the morning and being “on the go” often until around 4 in the afternoon on most days. Their daily routine keeps them fully occupied and weekend breaks are most welcome as will be the Easter holidays. Boma Basic School and Miselo Kapika, extension school provides education for over 1500 children under the headship of Mrs.Dakas. The situation with regard to HIV aids is awesome and the age expectancy in this region of Africa is only 32! Last year at this particular school 87 of the girls got pregnant so the educational programme set up by the Zambian Authorities is most important

One recent problem this week for Simon was getting Malaria which took him out of the routine for 3 days, although he takes the weekly dose of Larium, it can’t give full protection when you read the small print! So it is important to make sure the mosquitoes don’t bite and in the rainy season that isn’t easy. He is on the mend after the Doctor gave him some “mind numbing drugs” and plans this weekend to take the 5 hour minibus journey back to Kabwe for two nights in a better mid-range hotel with a better restaurant with better food (for the European taste buds).


In spite of a few major set backs he is resolved to finish the task he has begun but he says that he values the “chin-up chats” with home and mail arriving from the UK is always a “red letter” day.

Changing faces !



Over the years people have told me I look like my father, Frank Briars.
I am not sure that is true but just recently I came across a photograph of my grand father, Frederick Briars. He was born in 1857 and was taught to read and write in a Sunday School class for the under privileged boys living around the Sanvey Gate area of the city of Leicester.

Mary Royce would have been 23 years of age when she started her class for boys and my grandfather, Frederick Briars would have been about 12 years of age. I remember my own father explaining to me how it was the direct invitation of Mary Royce while out walking on the Belgrave Pastures that resulted in him attending her class. She asked Frederick, if he could read and would he like to be able to read. He became a regular attender of the class meeting where he was to be taught to read and write by Miss Royce, and we must assume that it was there where he heard the Bible stories.

Mary Royce, the founder of the Royce Institute was born in 1845 and as a young woman took on the task of giving poorer children the Christian Gospel while improving their education.
Dr. Mary Royce was one of the country's first women doctors and it is reported that her death, aged 47, was following an infection caught while treating one of her poorer patients. In a letter to "her boys" she encouraged them to continue to meet in "the room" after her death leaving a sum of money to three of "her boys" so that the work could continue.

Frederick Briars was one of those original founder trustees of The Royce Institute, a work that continues to this day.

The purpose of the gospel of Christ is to see lives changed.
This change can only come about when a person acknowledges that they are a sinner in the sight of an Almighty God. There is also the need for true repentance, namely a sincere desire to leave the pathway of the pattern of this world in order to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans chapter 10 verse 9 & 10 states "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

With the confession of sin comes conversion and also cleansing. That is being changed enough to be made ready for entrance into heaven. The inner work of salvation should result in outward change. In Bible terms it is described as being "conformed" into the likeness of God's Son. (Read Romans chapter 8 verse 29)

It doesn't matter whether we look like our father, grand father but it does matter that we bear the image of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son.

Poland photos in Torun, February 2006
Click on individual pictures to enlarge them.












After 10 very exciting days in Poland we returned to the U.K. on February 24th. 2006 from Bydgoszcz to Stansted Airport. Praising the LORD for His goodness to us all.

Harbinger of Spring.

This phrase was used by the great English poet William Wordsworth in his poem
"To a snowdrop".


"Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,
Chaste snowdrop, venturous harbinger of spring, "

After winter we look for a herald of spring, some evidence that winter is almost over.

In the Old Testament there were those who studied the "signs of the times" recorded in the first book of Chronicles chapter 12 verse 32. These were "the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do . . ."

It is great to be able to known what we "ought to do" in any given situation!

It is important to understand the signs of the times.

I believe that it is the only way that we can find encouragement to face the days of difficulty and distress. Conflict is always with us but when the conflict zone is around the Land of Israel we need to take special notice. The final events of this present age will all take place in that area of the world. Some would want to remove the name, Israel from the world map. In fact this happened recently when the United Nations held what it called "A day of Solidarity" with the Palestinian people. In the presence of Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, a large map was displayed labelled in Arabic "Map of Palestine" with UN and PLO flags in evidence but no mention of Israel.

For 56 years the Nation of Israel has sat in the company of the (so called) United Nations and yet it is still being ignored. Sadly some Bible believing Christians are failing the see that this is all part of those things that will happen in the last days.

Over a century ago Baptist and Anglican preachers had a clear view of what would have to happen before Messiah comes.
Charles H. Spurgeon and Bishop J.C.Ryle were getting the church in the U.K. to observe the signs of the times. These two writers are still speaking to the age in which we live.
When Christ returns, and The King is coming,
reprinted by Whitaker of New Kensington PA. USA keep alive
Spurgeon's words on this important subject.

Christian Focus Publications of Fearn, Scotland
keep alive the words of J.C.Ryle in the book entitled
Prophecy, ISBN 1-871676-64-9.

One magazine well worth reading is that produced by Tony Pearce,
Light for the Last Days, Box BM - 4226, London, WC1N 3XX
http://www.lightforthelastdays.co.uk/

In the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ tells of men observing the sign of the red sky at night in Matthews Gospel chapter 16 verses 1 to 4. It becomes a natural thing for people to comment on the weather signs, be it red sky at night or red sky in the morning!

We are living in interesting times, if not seen by some as difficult times.
Recently while visiting in Poland I was asked "How do you see the signs today?"

As I was asked I gave answer to that question and those who know me would expect me to hold forth on the subject. The subject being the end times as clearly shown in Holy Scripture.

I am amazed at the lack of concern that some Christians have in seeing the plan of God unfolding and for His future return to this earth, to rule and to reign.

Scripture encourages us to be ready and to be prepared, in Matthew Chapters 24 & 25 it was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself giving the warning to watch and be ready.

So I for one will continue to obey HIM.

Snow Reflections.
Some thoughts about SNOW.
When I was very young I remember that my mother used a few lines of poetry to caution my behavour. "Robert" she said "The future lies before you like a field of untrodden snow, be careful how you tread it for ever step will show". From what I recall she said that it was written by a friend in an autograph album she was given as a young woman.

One poem about Snow that I managed to commit to memory as a child was by Sir Alfred Noyes. He was born in Wolverhampton and died in the 1958. I haven't seen it in print for many years, as I remember it went like this.

The Healing Snow by Sir Alfred Noyes.
A pure white mantle blotted out the world I used to know,
There was no scarlet in the sky or on the hills below,
gently as mercy out of heaven came down the healing snow.

The trees that were so dark and bare stood up in radiant white,
And the road forgot its furrowed care as day forgets the night
And the new heaven and the new earth lay robed in dazzling light.

And every flake that fell from heaven was like an angel's kiss
Or a feather fluttering from the wings of some dear soul in bliss
Who gently leaned from that bright world to soothe the pain of this.


Snow is mentioned in the Bible in the Book of Job, Psalms, Proverbs and elsewhere.

The verses that come to mind today are in
Isaiah Chapter 55 verse 10 &11
"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." from the N.K.J.V. of the Bible.

If you take time to read further on in the King James Version of the Bible you will see that we "briars" get a mention - we get every where.

Yes, that really is me in the top right hand corner of the article.

On February 25th 2006 we returned from 10 days in central Poland.

There we visited Christian friends who are involved in sharing the Good News concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Our time was spent in Piotrkow Trybunalski and in Torun.

In Piotrkow Trybunalski we lived in the unfinished church premises of the Evangelical Christian Church (Kosciol Ewangelicznych Chrzescijan) where many rooms are completed and used for the weekly activities and the Sunday services. We also enjoyed the company of many friends, eating meals in their homes and with the help of the Pastor, Daniel Kryston and his family, having good translators understanding all that was shared with us.

Since retirement in March 2000 we have visited Poland on five occasions but this was the first winter visit. The no frills Ryanair flights are cheap and with our experience the flights arrive on time.

In Torun we were active in teaching children in the Mid-term Holiday Club (they call it a Camp). The weather wasn't cold but there were days when the snow came down, one day it snowed for 6 hours adding a further 5 inches of snow to the picturesque scene.

We have had connections with the Evangelical Church at Torun for around 25 years since first meeting their Pastor Tadeusz Tolwinski when he was a Bible student in England. That friendship has developed into a life time commitment to each other in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ in Poland and beyond. Members of the growing congregation built the premises and now they are accepted in the urban area for their involvement with children and teenagers.

From Monday through to Friday (20th to 24th) the children came and were left by their parents to enjoy five hours of activities. Bible stories, workshops and games plus mid-day soup. This soup was prepared by ladies and a man from the congregation.

The whole day was supported by a team of 15 willing workers who gave consistent service to make the time exciting and interesting for the children, some of whom had travelled some distance to get to the church building.

The following photographs will give you some idea of the time we shared together. Just click on the pictures to see them larger than life !!!