General Chat

Cynthia what a busy day for you!
I used to love Parade Sunday.

John I was just wondering, is it not considered bad form to use your laptop in the pulpit?

Have a lovely day Cynthia
xx

A happy birthday to your Granddaughter Cynthia, and a safe journey home for your daughter and son in law John.

Very happy 15th birthday to your granddaughter today, Cynthia. And how lovely to have all those families in a full church today. When people assume the church is in terminal decline in Britain, they forget that it is just as strong numerically than at the height of revival in the 18th and early 19th century.

At least 300 people attending 6 baptisms, all the smart uniforms and parent support just shows what a vibrant church you are part of.

Off this morning to preach (taking fifth verse of first chapter of Acts as my text "For John truly baptised with water. But ye shall be baptised by the Holy Ghost not many days hence"). The village I have been invited to today was the scene of a major tragedy just over 40 years ago. They lost more than half their children in a slurry slip. I am aware of a strange and heavenly quiet that still pervades the village even today. Very humbling priviledge in this life to be invited to preach the Word of God in any place, but this is a very special place for me.

And my daughter and son in law are flying back today from 3 weeks holiday in Melbourne and Hamilton Island in Queensland. I would ask for prayers for "journeying mercies" on the long flight home.

Okay everyone....let's try again.


Good morning, it's Sunday and I'm off to church shortly. It will be pretty hectic because it's 'parade' Sunday. All the uniformed organisations who are attached to the church will be there and a lot of their parents and families come too,


After that, we have 6 baptisms. When we do baptism preparation classes, we always ask for an idea of how many guests they will be bringing. The majority always answer between 50-100!!! :-0 I'll leave you to do the maths for yourselves!! :-D


The baptism is free, but the party afterwards must cost them a fortune...... :-0


When mine were baptised, we invited family and Godparents back for a buffet lunch.........those were the days!!


My beautiful granddaughter is 15 today. To say that she has been a blessing in our lives is an understatement. <3


Must go and 'gird my loins' for the fray............ ;-)

Errol. I was looking at a verse from Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 15: "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherwith shall it be salted". A great preacher once challenged us to be salty Christians, and I guess I have always tried to be that.

I then followed down the Sermon on the Mount and found the verse you alluded to.(Chap 7 verse 15). Some people think the Sermon of Jesus is easy to understand. Far from it, but it is the most wounding and healing teaching in the whole of the Bible imho.

oh John for heavens sake grow up

Can't find questions mentioned. I see a comment by Golden Girl that her religion and her politics are her business. And Ann in Glos commented that I could conclude that people were not happy to discuss if they went to church and what happened there.

Nothing wrong with those comments. Respect what you say. Was there also a question that I have missed answering :-S

too late for me I am off to bed.

Not far wrong, Ann. There are likely to be 12-20 tomorrow, and we know each other's beliefs pretty well.

Sorry, I have not kept up with these questions. Must have been asked when I was doing my best to answer Errol. Will go back and look for what you asked now and do my best :-)

Oh John that was a light hearted comment of course. As you are wont tocsay :-D

I am looking to Cynthia to bring the thread back to where it was. I too wondered how John had the power to read minds. Or maybe his congregation is so small that he knows his two attendees personally. :-)

John is it not presumptuous of you to say nobody in YOUR chapel is a supporter of Margaret Thatcher? Do you know each and every one of them so intimately?
Please now leave that topic off what used to be a wonderful thread and try to answer people when they ask you a genuine question

Very rude of him Ann not to answer.
You must be like me at times....invisible.

Emma :-)

I did not bring any controversy relating to Lady T onto this thread. I said I would pray publicly tomorrow in a coal mining village for her family and her funeral. The comntroversial postings were on Errol's thread, which asked for opinions not eulogies, I believe.

Noone in that chapel tomorrow will have been a supporter of Mrs T, but it makes no matter. She has died and we will remember her family in our prayers.

In 30 years all my prayers have been answered. And I often pray for "friends" on chat who I sense need an interest in my prayer. And again, so far God has listened and answered my prayers. :-)

I was not aware that I asked a question but if the cap fits I guess.

Ann of Gloucestershire I agree

Not happy with mine either Emma, John seems to want to 'take on' Errol. Hmm!

There is a very false premise in your question, Errol. I would answer it by saying that, for 30 years or more, I have been the happiest of men. People seem to enjoy my company and I enjoy theirs. I am doing a job I like and living in the best part of the world with people and friends I love dearly. I have loved Jesus with all my heart for over 30 years and try my hardest to live and think like him. I love helping with my local chapel and believe I make a difference spiritually - many tell me that I do. I have been constantly assured of the love of Jesus.

And I try very hard not to judge anyone as a person. I may criticise actions or thoughts of a person, and am not slow in coming forward and telling them. And I am pleased that many people feel free to criticise me, as that is healthy. But I truly hold nothing against anybody personally.

I may have this wrong but I am sure that we are told to beware of false prophets.
I think, and I am paraphrasing now so forgive me if I am wrong, that we are told that in the "final days" there will be many false prophets.
Just a thought.

We're you not happy with my answer John?
You did ask and I replied, thought you meant
anyone not just Errol.

Emma

Still enjoy reading this thread Cynthia :-)