The American bandleader Duke Ellington once said, "Critics sometimes get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what they did."

We all know how awful destructive criticism can be, but trying to be constructive in one's criticism is no bad thing. Sometimes painful, but eventually helpful.

The worst criticism is the type that Ellington refers to in his quote. It works something like this,
"I have no desire to help you, nor get involved in what you are attempting to do, however I will tell you how you should do it and where you are going wrong."

Someone( can't remember who, said ) "Never take the advice of someone who has not had your kind of trouble." And for that's exactly the problem, there are some people I will always listen to because they've been there, they're doing it so to speak. Those who shout from the place of inactivity do not have to be listened to, indeed have no right to speak.

Jesus said," For every empty word you speak, you will give account on the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

It's taken me a long, long time to learn that there is a time to speak and most definitely a time to say nothing.

I wonder if I will as I've been promising myself for a lot of years to write a book? Many years ago a christian publisher invited me to submit some stuff to him. I decided not to do it because of the subject matter I was expected to write about. More an expose than a proper book.

Have we all got a book in us, rather like it's said we all have one good sermon? I expect anyone reading this is wondering when they are going to hear my one good sermon!

But, seriously, I rather suspect very few of us have fully tapped into the possibilities that God has placed in us. I wonder if the shepherd boy ever imagined he would become King David or the uneducated fisherman would stand up on the day of Pentecost and preach with such anointing that 3,000 men would be 'saved.'

Is there something you've always wanted to do, to be, but left it on the back-burner for so long it hardly seems bothering about?

Sometimes we feel we must wait for the Lord to speak to us ten times before we feel we can make changes. Do you know God loves a trier, someone who says, "yeah, let's go"
Joshua was a trier, as soon as he became leader of the children of Israel he told them to prepare to take 'the promised land.' No discussion or forming of a committee, just action!

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Made to worship our creator, made to to do great exploits for His glory, made to lead the lost into the 'promised land' of the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

How wonderful to see that girl pulled out of the rubble in Haiti after 15 days and apart from dehydration quite well.
What struck me was the dogged dedication of the French rescuers who refused to give up, and just kept on digging.

The late Roy Castle used to sing, "dedication is what you need," and boy, didn't those guy's show it?

There is a great verse in Nehemiah 4:10 where one of the builders of the wall says to Nehemiah,
"The strength of the labourers is failing, and there is much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall." At this point the wall was half finished, but as you know it did get finished to the glory of God.

What's the key to getting the job done? Get rid of the rubbish! The rescuers in Haiti had to get rid of all the debris before they could reach the girl.

Struggling to survive the Christian life? or even the secular life? Might be worth checking whether there is any rubbish to be cleared from your life.

I'm certainly going to get my spiritual shovel out. Might take some dedication!

I reckon we are about 13 weeks from the next general election. I know some of you will shout at me, but I love them. All the great promises the politicians make if you vote for them always make me smile because we all know a politicians promise should be taken with the proverbial 'pinch of salt.' If the Tories win where I live we will have Jo Johnson, brother of Boris!
But, you know, despite our doubts about the veracity of politicians it is important we do our civic duty, even if you feel you're voting for the 'best of a bad lot.'
Truth is, that we are very blessed to live in a democratic country. Much of the world does not have that privilege.

We Christians need to seriously consider who we should vote for. Yes we should pray, but we also need to check out what they believe about vital issues that affect believers. There will be a hustings in due course where we will have the opportunty to get answers.
And once they are in Parliament we must do what Paul instructed Timothy to do, " pray for those in authority over you"

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was the greatest preacher of the 19th century. By his mid twenties he was preaching to 10,000 people, and even William Gladstone went to hear him. It was rumoured that Queen Victoria attended a service in disguise. He personally established 187 Baptist churches, founded a Pastors' College, later to be Spurgeon's Bible College. However he was far more than a preacher. At the 25th anniversary of his ministry in London an offering was taken for him, it amounted to £6,233-a great deal of money in the 19th century. Spurgeon was greatly moved, but responded by saying, 'not one farthing for me, it shall all be the Lord's'. It was all given to charity!
It won't surprise you when I tell you that that after he died in 1892 tens of thousands attended various memorial services around the country. 800 policemen were needed to line the route to Spurgeon's final resting place.
More than a preacher? You bet! He was a true man of God.
I hope I'll be remembered when I die, but please Lord let be for what I was and not what I preached.

Have you noticed how the Haitian crisis is gradually slipping down the news agenda? It certainly hasn't been forgotten, however it is being given less and less media time. It's not surprising really when you consider how we often we go 'gung ho' for something and then within a short space of time it slips to the back of our mind. When the Gospels mention that Jesus had 'compassion,' Literally a 'pain in the gut,' He immediately took action. He fed the 5,000, healed the sick. Sympathy or even empathy do not necessarily denote action, but when compassion hits you've got to do something.
We live at a time in history when many people are looking for a 'shepherd' to guide them. Some read their 'stars,' others take drugs or join a political party. Many of us have come to know the' Great Shepherd' of the sheep. It's time to introduce this Shepherd to the lost.

I can't remember feeling so 'pumped up,' if you know what I mean. You've worked really hard at bringing something to pass, you know it's of the Lord and tomorrow is the 'big day.' But can I think of what to say? No! Totally blank! But, sometimes this is a great position to be in, because you then have to fully rely on the Holy Spirit. This is something that us Christians talk about a lot, but don't often do. Jesus said some fantastic things about the Holy Spirit. He would be in us forever, He would guide and lead us in to all truth. Jesus even said it was to our advantage that He returned to the Father so the the Holy Spirit could come.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Galatia and told them "to walk in the Spirit and then they would not fulfil the lusts of the flesh"
This fast decaying world needs Jesus desperately. The responsibility for this falls upon every "born again" believer. There will be no excuses for self-living or self-righteousness. We have been give the one "who is greater than he who is in the world"