Red Envelope Day

The numbers, 9-11, will forever stay in our memories. It's the date of the atrocity committed when the twin towers were brought down by terrorists. I can remember vividly watching on TV as the second plane hit. It made me sick to my stomach. I don't know the exact numbers, but it was at least 5000 people that died that day, not all Americans. Tragic.

America went to war over it, invaded another country, full of righteous indignation..."How dare they kill Americans..." Strange is't it, terrorists kill 5000 and it's war, yet Americans kill way more Americans than that every week, but that's, "A women's right to chose." Vehemently defended in the courts, news papers and media. "How dare they say we don't have the right..." To what? To kill Americans!

There's a new guy in the White House, so far he's uped the money to support the killing of Americans, and done his best to set the terrorists free. The Bible says, "By their fruit you shall know them." Watch this space.

This is a picture of my two daughters, taken a long time ago when they were very young. What a pair of sweethearts they were, and still are...A benefit to society.

Today is red evelope day. The good people of America, and the UK are sending empty red envelopes to the President and Prime Minister. Each envelope represents an aborted baby. I personally hope and pray that it sticks in there throats.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

A Memory Shared 2

This is me at around 14 playing a Framus semi acoustic (boy I wish I had it now!) bass. The shot was taken in Matt's shed. He was our singer at the time and decked his shed out to look like the Cavern...Well, he thought it did. If you look closely you'll see I'm playing it with a drum stick.

Note too, mum's knitted pullover. Mum was big on knitting, so pullovers came thick and fast...Especially thick!

I started playing (giging) when I was 13, playing guitar in the local workingmens club. I remember, we had 2 Selmer 'little giants' amplifiers. Maybe 3 watts through a 5 inch speaker. And yep, they told us to turn down!

Love and blessing,
Colin.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

A Memory Shared.

This is a photo of my 2 daughters, taken a long time ago now. Ah, memories are made of this. On the left is Claire my blonde beauty. Looks a lot like her mother in law here, well I can see it!

Michelle is on the right, missing a front tooth by the looks of it. She'll be 34 this year (09). O how I wish I could get to see them again. Much prayer has gone into that...Trust me.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a memory and a hope.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Love and blessings,

Colin.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

The Train Now Arriving at Platform 61.

Well, has it been a year already? Seems like only yesterday that I was arriving at platform 60, how time flies. What a year it has been, some ups and a few downs, but in all cases, God proved His faithfulness beyond any doubt. Sometimes we have to be down to see how God is unbending in His Love and care for us. What a wonderful Saviour we serve.

God’s provision has been amazing this year. Several times I was starting to sweat over late bills, but, as if by miracle, the money came in just in time. He does that with me, makes me wait, not every time, but when my faith seems weak seems to be His favourite. Still, we always come out stronger when He does that, so bless Him for ever.

Sixty was a good year in the main. I’ve learned a lot, mainly through losing battles, but that’s a great way to learn. The only way to never lose a battle is to never get into one...At least I’ve got half of it right!

So, what will 61 bring? More ways to outreach I hope. Doing the radio work I do is a great way to, ‘go into all the world.’ As is web siting. I’ve built 3 sites for clients this year and hope to build many more.

I’d very much like to get back into writing songs and stories. Seem to have gotten out of that mode in the past year. My Jacko stories have been aired on Eternal Radio this year. Cheers Stephen and Vellma, you are God’s own.

Thanks to my new pastor, I’m preaching more now, playing bass in church too which is wonderful. What a blessing to have a pastor who lets you off the leash and not be threatened by it. Pastors take note, the church’s purpose is to build up the saints for works of service. Mine is doing just that...I’m blessed.

So, here’s to another year with the Lord and my brothers and sisters here on earth.

God bless you, whoever you may be, and remember, Jesus loves you passionately.

Colin.

Eeeeee it's good to belong...

I've just come back from an amazing time in church. Can such a thing happen you say? Yes, you'd better believe it. I was playing bass this morning. I enjoy the bass as it's so vastly different to the piano...And I get to stand on the other side of the platform!

So, why so amazing? Well, we had 2 new songs, neither of which was known to most of us in the band. Praise God, we sailed through them as though we'd been playing them for years. The Holy Spirit will do that if you'll let Him. The worship time was special, so off to a good start. After, we had the sermon. It was one of those that just spoke straight to my heart. Ever been there and done that?

I'd totally forgotten this, but after the meeting ended, a meal was laid on for all the new folk in the church. I qualified as I've been there less than 2 years. As it happened, just about everybody stayed for the meal which was great. So, I had a great meeting and sermon, and chicken curry for lunch, with strawberry Pavlova (my favourite) after...It just doesn't get much better than that!

After the meal I played some football with Jack in the sunshine!!!! And over tea and coffee, I was stood at the front of the church watching everyone fellowship and enjoy each other's company. "This is my family," I thought, and how blessed I am to have them.

Eeeeee it's good to belong.

A Fond Farewell

I may have said this somewhere before in my writings, but it's worth saying again. Tonight I went to a farewell meeting for a local URC minister and his wife. They've been part of the Malvern scene for almost 7 years, and have made a difference both to Malvern and to me. They are a South African couple so it took faith to come here, and now they are returning to head up a new work somewhere else in the world. Malvern's loss will be somewhere else's gain.

So, Denis and Pat, farewell. I love you both and pray that God will mightily bless you as you go in His name.

There it is...The whole point of this blog...In Christianity, there is one sadness that we must all face; it's saying goodbye to those we meet along the way. I probably won't see Denis and Pat again this side of heaven, but O, what a joy it will be to meet up with them on the other side.

Which way do you run?

I don't know about you, but in my life I've come across, and seen on TV, many people who have run the wrong way. They blame God for the disaster, or loss of a loved one. You can see the anger and bitterness in their eyes. These do no one any favours; anger and bitterness eat away at your insides. Stomach ulcers and stress related illnesses are all exacerbated by them. Strange, you never hear them blaming the cancer, or 'mother' nature, or Satan...Only God.

Im my time of trial, I found a better way. I turned toward God, not away from Him. The result? Forgiveness. No anger, no bitterness, no ulcer, no stress, but a peace that passes all understanding. Tell me, which sounds to you like the better way?

At church this morning (27th July 08) I witnessed one of the greatest acts of courage I have ever seen. Let me explain. A couple went on 'a holiday of a lifetime.' Safari in Africa, sounds wonderful. Sadly, the wife was taken ill and later died. This morning, the husband stood and gave us a testimony of that holiday, including all the information we needed to know about his dear wife's passing. What a blessing for us to hear the answers to all those questions we had, and from the lips of a Godly man who is still waiting for his wife to be returned to the UK. NOT ONE WORD of complaint. NOT ONE WORD of anything except praise for God whom both he and his wife love. No anger, no bitterness...What a difference to those who run the wrong way.

There's a lesson for everyone in these two testimonies...Run to God in your time of trial, He is always there to comfort you, no matter what the dilemma. For your own sake, for your peace of mind and for your life, DON'T allow Satan to turn you away from God. Anger and bitterness are killers.

To Peter I say, "Well done my brother, you are an inspiration to all of us."
To Rosaleen I say, "Dear sister, your life has been, is, and will continue to be an example of true Christianity."

Rosaleen the princess has become, Rosaleen the Queen.

To God be the glory!