28/07/2008 by David.

This is my birthplace - this town with its uncertainty of identity. There is nothing I can do about that. I might deplore the way things change and regret the passing of family holidays on the beach. I may moan with my other townsfolk about the Tropicana, and the new look Marine Lake - but I cannot deny that today a major feature of the town has gone.

Only two days ago I stood on its boards to take a photograph of the sunset - and now the pier is burnt down. The international press gathered, vulture like, to mix with local and national journalists and cameramen to witness its demise. Already that news has been displaced from the top line of the BBC news to give way to another atrocity in Baghdad.

My town is news. I suppose I should feel proud. The dodgems and the slot-machines are literally melted away. The new owners who only recently decreed that you could only eat food purchased on the pier on the pier will doubtless have their own view of this tragedy. Perhaps when they rebuild it it will be a new wonder and a new reason for coming to the seaside resort. Perhaps it will be another Tropicana - waiting endlessly for planners to agree how it should be.

How often those things which we took for granted, passed frequently in our ordinary comings and goings, how often they are destroyed and life must go on. Today the local shops will trade on a bonus crowd of gawkers - tomorrow they will start to wonder about the effect on profits.

Not much in this life is immune from disaster. I need a God who creates each sunset and each tide to establish my life by His grace. Giving stability in such an ebb and flow of fortunes is what He does best.

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10/06/2008 by David.

The band plays on

I came round the corner of the Boulevard into the road that leads up to the “pink church”. From the top of the rise came the unmistakable sounds of a jazz band. A sunny afternoon, live music, barbecue and cream teas - what more could you ask for?

It was Bristol Road’s Open Day. There was a good turn out, and Jon the entertainer did a splendid job of entertaining and making us think about what church is about. He was anxious that his audience should know that he does not do “magic” - only slight of hand and conjuring. He challenged us about our bite size view of God.

I was particularly impressed by his puppet act, especially when they sang a duet! Ah the wonders of technology - and timing!

So much work went into the day - and so many had been busy the day before preparing the church and its grounds for visitors to see what it is about.

It is good for the churches of our town to remind the communities in which they are placed that they care for them. And it proved that, despite the adage - there is a free lunch - if you know where to find it.

Satisfied visitor with free lunch

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12/05/2008 by David.

Yesterday I caught this little chap in the lane at the back of my house. He had fledged from a hole in the old limestone wall about eight feet up - and wasn’t looking too happy amongst the pebbles and grit. But my neighbours were mounting a cat patrol and doing their best to keep him safe.

Spring is a glorious - but perilous time. There are so many awful things that can happen to a young bird fresh from the nest.

I hope he may have found his wings in time - certainly the parent birds were making enough fuss!

I am reminded that not even a sparrow falls to the earth without God knowing it. Jesus Himself assures us that we too are watched over.

Time to stretch the wings of faith.

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23/04/2008 by David.

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08/03/2008 by David.

Just recently I have been calling at the vet often. It is always a four stage process: I go to collect a cat carrier and take it home until the time of the appointment, then I return with the cat in the box to the vet. (It’s only just round the corner so its a short walk.) I come back home, and then I return for the final step to return the borrowed carrier.

I made the journey this morning and then took Charley to the vet. But this journey was different - I would come back empty handed.

After deteriorating quite suddenly the cat had lost the use of her hind legs, become confused, and was not eating. A hard but necessary decision had to be made. Whether it was a stroke or a brain tumour we’re not sure - but Charley needed to be put down.

At first I was all for leaving her in the hands of the vet and walking away - but I stayed so as to be there at the end. It was swift and compassionate - but heart-rending too.

First Bosley and now a few months later Charley. I know, only pets but part of our lives none the less.

Making this kind of decision is never easy. But it is part of our responsibility to our animal companions.

Such decisions are acts of life and death. Thank God we do not have to make them too often - and thank God that the timing of our own departures is entirely in His hands not ours. As Good Friday approaches I remember that Jesus did what none of us can do - he voluntarily surrendered His own life for us.

There is of course no comparison at all - but there is a profound lesson:-

^6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ^7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ^8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(Romans 5:6).

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05/02/2008 by David.

A quick walk up through the cemetery this afternoon established that the daffodils are about to bloom, that the walk is still steep and demanding, and that there are signs all around of an awakening of nature.

In my town back yard the Mimosa is flowering. It usually celebrates my birthday in a flourish of yellow “pompoms” - and this year it has not disappointed, despite the winds.

Even in the depths of winter there is always evidence that new growth is developing. The birds are in song, the squirrels are more active, and the colours are appearing in the urban gardens.

I thank God for this reminder that His promise still holds - that while earth remains, seedtime and harvest, summer and winter… will not cease.

This is not just a turning of a printed page in the calendar, it is a vibrant colouring in of previously dull vegetation.

And as the first Sunday in Lent comes round, I realise that the Easter truths of resurrection and transformation are still present in this world.

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31/12/2007 by David.

New Year is a strangely arbitrary festival. It is merely the end of one year and the beginning of another.

Already the fireworks are being set off as if the locals here were going by New Zealand time.

Sometimes the significance of this shift in time is underlined by something that happens at one time but has its effect later: Yesterday I shared a sermon on rebellion in the Christian community from Luke 15 - and then this morning a letter arrived in the post complaining about problems in the fellowship. Had the poster waited they might have wanted to reconsider their words. It is sadly disappointing to address an issue one day only to find it resurfacing the next.

I have this problem with the Send button for emails. It is too easy to reply without real forethought. Perhaps at New Year we should take a deep breath. Save the noisy fireworks for a real celebration rather than sounding off at some smouldering resentment.

I am glad that God holds the key to the unknown in 2008 - but I wish we could avoid trying to turn a key of our own.

God bless your New Year!

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20/12/2007 by David.

Charley my cat has an interesting habit at this time of the year.  She finds the woollen nativity figures and selects one.  She grabs it in her mouth and carries it away - often leaving it half way up the stairs.

So it is not unusual on a morning around Christmas time to meet a shepherd or a wise man on the stairs.  This is one of the markers of this festive time.  Strangely she avoids doing this with either Mary or the infant Jesus, or even the lamb - possibly because they are smaller.  I wonder what she thinks she is doing.

What she is doing is making Christmas memorable.

Recently she had to have several teeth removed - but she is still carrying the figures around.

Have you met a shepherd or a king on the stairs this Advent? No?  Then I commend to you a re-reading of the real story in Luke and Matthew.

Better still - meet the Living Christ at this Christmas time.

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09/12/2007 by David.

Someone told me they had seen an unusual instance of parcel wrapping. A bicycle wrapped up in Christmas paper - but in such a way that it was clearly and obviously a bike! Not much difficulty guessing its contents then! I would be disappointed if I got my present like that - I want the pleasure of tearing the wrapping off and revealing the surprise.

When God sent His Son He came all wrapped up in the common towelling of infancy. “All meanly wrapped in swaddling bands and in a manger laid…” According to the custom of the time - and still used today - the Lord of Glory would be seen and yet not seen.

What would you have seen? Just a bundle - and a face, an infant face. What an amazing thing - “My God contracted to a span, incomprehensively made Man” (Wesley)! Just a face showing - and shepherds invited to peer would see Jesus - just like any other baby - and yet, and yet…

This is what Paul meant when he said:

“For God, who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Cor 4 v6)

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22/08/2007 by David.

It has been a while now - but I could not bring myself to write the blog about Bosley. His condition deteriorated and we had to call the vet again.

This time there would be no “bell test” - simply the desire to say goodbye to a well loved friend. It is hard to say goodbye. His going was gentle - but he has left a shadow behind him which does not easily disperse. We keep looking for him in the place where he usually lay. He didn’t do much those last days - but his just being there was a comfort.

I believe even the cat has noticed. She sits in different places now and is able to eat from the kitchen floor - whereas before she had to eat up on a shelf - or outside, to prevent the dog from eating her food and doing his insides more harm.

How we miss the bark when we come home, and the need to take a walk regularly. Adjusting to the loss of a pet is surprisingly difficult. And how much more a dear friend or relative? There is at once no comparison and every comparison. There is loss and finality.

I do not expect to see him again - except in the many photos I have taken over the years - but I do expect to see my relatives who died believing in my Saviour. Grace changes everything!

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