Tag: faith

Today is Bible Sunday. It’s the day on which we give thanks for the writings of Scripture and the enlightenment which they can bring. 

May the faithfulness of Abraham and Sarah be an example to us so that we too may prove faithful and hopeful in whatever the future holds for us.

“Have you believed because you have seen me?” Jesus says to our twin brother, Tom. With the eyes of his heart, Tom saw the God become man.

So, next time that you’re interrupted… just pause a second… before you decide what to do next. Pause before you decide how to respond.

Coming to faith happens in different ways. For some it’s a gentle, gradual process which may happen over many years. For others, it’s sudden.

There were 12 disciples – but only one felt inclined to get out of the boat and take a short walk. Perhaps you are that one person in 12?

My Mum’s family were very keen on taking and keeping photos. Her Dad wasn’t the greatest photographer though and most of them have the top of the heads chopped off, or half a person to one side, or a finger part-way over the lens. However, these photos were precious and kept in a box rather than thrown away.

Faith, says Hebrews, ‘gives substance to our hopes and makes us certain of realities we do not see’. We have not seen Jesus, unless we have had a vision. We have not seen Jesus but at some level, in some way we believe in him and trust in him and see him as our friend and saviour.

Picking up on recent media sound bites, faith seems to getting a much more negative vibe – “We’ve lost faith in the justice system”; “The country has no faith in politicians”.
Closer to home, in relation to Bury FC, “the fans have lost faith in the current owner”. Though the latest chairman statement calls us fans to hang on in there and have faith!

On preparing for holidays, bags are packed and we’re ready to be off.  It’s an illustration I often use at a Baptism service. Once your bags are packed and loaded into the car you don’t then just sit on the drive for a week and come back raving about what a lovely time you’ve had of it.  That would be pointless.  You’ve made preparations: you make the journey. 

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”