I've been following the Pope's visit to the UK ,listening to his sermons, and preparing myself to pick holes in what he was saying.

Whilst my evangelical theology has great problems with much of the Catholic teaching, I have to say that I think his time over here has been very worthwhile.

The challenge to our politicians not to push the Christian view away was so needed in this time of extreme secularism. The encouragement to young people to live a good life and follow the way of God was refreshing in our post modern' world.

I trust that us Evangelicals who are so certain of our doctrine and way of worshipping will be willing to stand up and challenge the demise of the truth of God's world in our country.

Its been a while since I have found the time to do a blog, but back on board now!

I think the biggest question I keep asking myself these days is, why are so few people are coming to true faith in Christ. Having preached recently at our Church holiday and listened to two other excellent challenging messages, as well as some great singing I am at a loss to understand why the lost are not responding to the gospel message.

If I had been able to transport those messages and singing to say Africa or Asia, there would have been a rush to receive Christ.

I'm fearful to give my opinion of why spiritually the UK is dead in the water, however I will risk it and hope not too many people read this blog.

The answer simply, is the judgement of God. Lester Sumrall, a great man of God and now with the Lord told me many years ago that God was judging us because we had lost our first love. He said God has given you so much, and for many years you took it round the world, but now your heart has grown cold ( read Matthew 24 )

In the UK we are being bombarded with false doctrine, some from America and some home grown. Many good Christians are being taken in by teaching which seems right on the surface, but take a closer look and you will see that much of it is unbiblical and derived from new age teaching.

But, please don't give up, because God has not given up on us, and as we continue to pray, live right, do right we will see the Holy Spirit break into the hardness of heart that permeates our land, because Jesus is Lord

During the Welsh revival of 1904/5, 100,000 people became Christians, marriages were restored, pubs closed down, football and rugby matches cancelled for lack of patronage.

For us living in the 21st century it's hard to believe it really happened. Many Churches are happy to just survive, others are willing to try just about anything to get bums on seats.

Apparently, the worst thing we can do is to preach the Gospel, because it may cause offence and put people off coming to Church.

I would venture to suggest that if we don't start preaching the whole Gospel and bring some substance into our meetings, the day will come when the UK will truly be seen as a secular society.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Rome; "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to everyone who believes" This is what saves souls, not dumbing down the truth so as to make the way to salvation easy and cheap.

I am committed to leading a totally inclusive Church, but I am also totally committed to preaching the whole gospel.

I'm finding being 64 years old a strange thing, part of me is ready to go on and on as a full-time minister because I feel I still have a lot to offer, and yet there are moments when my own personal beach hut by the sea is very inviting.

The Apostle Paul wrote about wanting go and be with the Lord, but realised he was more needed down here on earth. Of course I don't put myself in his exalted bracket, however I do understand what he was saying.

I know a minister who is counting down the days on his calendar to his retirement. Doesn't seem to be the right attitude to me.

For me, I just want to be useful to the Lord and hopefully pass on some of the things I have learnt through the years, and I will carry on rejoicing always seeing the glass half full.

So, the beach hut will have to wait!!!

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.