This time tomorrow many of us will be rejoicing at England beating Germany or being "as sick as a parrot" I love football a lot, but in reality neither it's not that important. Win or lose tomorrow football will carry on.

People are the most important thing in life, they are the thing that keeps us on this earth. You might think in dire moments how good it would be to live alone on a desert island, but I'm sure you would soon change your mind.

Sure, I know we can all be a dreadful pain at times, but God has created us as a relational people....we need one another!

Jesus was no party pooper, He loved to be amongst people, He fellowshipped with and ate with them, from the poorest to the richest.

So, no more sulkiness, unforgiveness or pity-parties from now on. Enjoy God's creation

Come On England!!

How great to see the World Cup finals in South Africa, the "Rainbow Nation" as Nelson Mandela named it.

It's difficult to believe how short a time ago that apartheid reigned and Mr Mandela was locked away on Robin Island. What a man he is, no anger, no unforgiveness, no desire for revenge, just the desire for equality for all South Africans.

South Africa proves yet again that there is always hope, however dire the circumstances may be today, tomorrow can be a better day!

The Greek word for hope is 'elpis,' and it means "to have a favourable confident expectation"
The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Church in Rome writes that, "hope does not disappoint"
That of course means if your hope is in the Lord and not in self.

So, lets make a decision to never give up or lose hope, the best is yet to come.

The Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonian Church talks about us being made up of, spirit, soul and body. The spirit being our spiritual side, the soul about our mind and emotions and the body our fleshly bits.

Many years ago I, with some other ministers were talking to a very famous American preacher of great repute and integrity. We asked him which part was the real us, expecting him to say, 'the spirit' because we are 'born again of the Spirit.' He replied without hesitation, 'the soul,' we said, "how so?" He said, "the real you is the one in the dark, the deep recesses of your soul"

The more I think about what he said, the more I understand how right he was. How easy it is to say something with our tongue and yet in our mind think very differently. This is of course hypocrisy and should not be so.

It is no wonder Paul Paul says, "be renewed in the spirit of youe mind" How can we do this?
I'm not going to tell you, let me know what you do.

Just been watching DIY SOS on television. It's a program where a group of tradesmen and Nick Knowles renovate rooms for a family who have fallen upon hard times. Tonight it was Grandparents who care for their dead daughter's children. And although the professionals were being paid it was clear to see how moved they were when the Grandparents saw their new dining room. A few tears from me of course!

But, it is deeply rewarding when you see someone in real need being helped and knowing a blessing has come their way.

Luke in the Acts of the Apostles tells us that Jesus said, "it is more blessed to give than receive."
One day when we stand before the Lord in Glory, I doubt He will ask us how much we got, it is much more likely to be, "how much did you give"? Perhaps He might ask a second question: "Did you give to those in need"?

Food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, clothing for the naked and shelter for the homeless

I was speaking to a minister friend of mine the other day, very well known in certain circles as a Preacher of some merit. Having exchanged a number of the usual pleasantries, he said, "Oh, by the way I've started singing." Oh, really I replied somewhat mockingly, in the bath I suppose.

He began to tell me of how he had shared his desire to sing with a minister friend while in America. The friend said, "why not," found some music and said OK, sing. Well, to cut a long story short, he now sings before he preaches and as they say, 'brings the house down.'

I have heard him and must say, he is rather good.

Got anything you've always wanted to do, but been too frightened to give it a go? Maybe it's time you stepped out in faith. Jesus said to His disciples, "all the works I do, you shall do also, and even greater works than these." And do you know, they did!

Well, General Election next Thursday, what drama!

I went to a meeting of the three main candidates recently, and one of them in my estimation was way ahead of the other two mainly because he seemed to have a grasp of what our country needs. The strange thing for me was that he represents the party that I would not normally vote for. In fact the candidate for my personal political sway was not impressive at all. What a dilemma! Answers on a postcard please!

On a more serious note us Christians are obliged to vote, why? To show how grateful we are to live in a democratic country. Think of all those places around the world where the only hope of democracy is by civil war.

Don't know who to vote for? Well you should

Somebody called Kevin Welch wrote: "There'll be two dates on your tombstone. And all your friends will read them. But all that's going to matter is that little dash between them."

I love that verse John's Gospel when Jesus said, " A thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that they might have life and have it in abundance " All you theological types know the Greek word for life is Zoe, literally life as God has it. It would appear from that verse that there are some people around who want to make sure you don't have too good of a time while on this earth. Sorry to say many of them are in the Church and often in the pulpit.

I came to faith in Jesus in 1973, prior to that I was a very bad boy, with bad habits, bad friends and a very bad preoccupation with making sure I fulfilled all my desires at any cost. Now, 37 years later, despite all the ups and downs of life, I am able to tell you, that Jesus is real, my best friend and I love Him.

I think it was Billy Sunday who said, "I have never gotten over the wonder of my salvation."