Sharing some thoughts

Today is Bible Sunday. It’s a day when we give thanks for the Bible but a day when we must also challenge ourselves with the question, ‘What are we giving thanks for ?’  There’s a poem I came across when preparing for today which says  : They lie on the table side by side The Holy Bible and the TV Guide. One is well worn and cherished with pride - Not the Bible, but the TV Guide. One is used daily to help folks decide. No, not the Bible, but the TV Guide. As the pages are turned, what shall they see? Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV. So they open the book in which they confide. No, not the Bible, but the TV Guide. The Word of God is seldom read. Maybe a verse before they fall into bed. Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be. Not from reading the Bible, but from watching TV So then back to the table side by side, Lie the Holy Bible and the TV Guide.  That poem is quite amusing but it’s also actually a really sad reminder of how we neglec...

from Helen I was at a Sports Chaplaincy training day last week. One of the speakers there was very impressive, he was American, he had come over to this country to plant Churches which he has done. He was speaking about who we are before God and what our identity is. We are known by lots of titles such as friend, family member, our job titles etc, the speaker was saying that it is all about who we are as a follower of God that is the most important identity we have.  This was even more of a challenge as it turned out that he was a highly trained person with medical degrees coming out of his ears, a doctorate  in theology and he had been a well known American football player. In addition to this he was a sports chaplain. In the midst of all this for him the most important bit that never went away was being in a relationship with God. We can all naturally be impressed by someone’s credentials but all that really matters is who we are before God. In our gospel reading ...