Seeking Simple Solutions.

So once again I've heard people talking about their belives saying "I believe in something, just not sure what". It's a common statement.

The fact is when speaking with athiests or hearing comments from them saying there is no way god can be real, I can't help but think how narrow minded they are. 

So how does a person that isn't sure what they believe in find answers. Well as a Christian who believes that Jesus was saviour of the world and died and then came back to life I would have to say what we are told in the Bible would be the best place to start. 

It tells is that if we knock on the door the door shall be open for us, if we seek we will find. So when we seek whole heartedly we will find the truth. 

Sure this just sounds like more Mumbo Jumbo that makes it sound like a magical equation, but there's nothing magical about it, in fact the bible is as current today as it was 2000 years ago. And as simple as seeking and finding when we seek openly. 

Hitting Rock Bottom.

This month I've seemed to be on a real downer, sad thing is I kind of know what is causing it but there just is nothing I can do about it. All I find myself doing is praying and trusting God will work it out. 

So frustrating when your powerless and just can't do anything to right the situation you face. The world you know and loved has crumbled around you and there doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. 

Some one once said "if you want it, go get it" but what about those impossible to reach. 

Trust me, I'd do anything to see that light in the distance, even a pin prick of light to walk towards. I guess that's the state of depression. 

Sometimes I see that light only to find that the light is soon faded away and the darkness overwelms me once again. 

My dreams and prayers to me are maybe in reachable and the future is nothing more than a distant memory. The only comfort I have I find in writing which I do not because I'm good at it but because it kills time. 

So a life full of bright future has become a  life of emptiness and tears. And those dreams have faded and hope all gone. 

But we find hope in the bible and hope that for me is worth putting my faith in as I pray for the one thing I long for. 

When you hit rock bottom, you then realise that rock is God. A foundation for life. 

See The Northern Lights!

Last week we where told that the northern light might have been visible here in suffolk UK. As long as we could get away from unnatural light and get a clean view there was a good chance to see the great lights in all it's glory. 

Sadly here in felixstowe we have one of the worlds biggest container ports and the light generated from the port can be seen all over town and behind makeing it almost impossible to have the chance to see stars let alone the northern lights. 

How many times do things stop us from seeing the bigger picture or the greatness that the future may bring. Outside influence, peer pressures and just normal everyday life can sometimes get in between us and our full protential. 

God knows this to, but he isn't going to strip those things away. He isn't going to turn of all the power so we can see the northern light display. What he will do however, when we let him is guide us past those pressures and distractions, he will help us to see the things ahead of us and lead us to a more clear view of those things more important. 

Learning

Today has been a day of learning. A couple of things I didn't know about my home town. The kind of things that sort of make you look at the place differently. 

Now Felixstowe is a coastal town with a river at each side. This essentially makes it a one road in, one road out type of town. 

Now the rivers alone make for some interesting tidal patterns and at the one untouched end of the town the shingle if forever changing shape (this is not the learned fact) 

This set up together with a south east facing beach means we have ( not that you would notice) a very slight difference in climate to much of the uk. This in turn allows a a flower to grow here that is not seen growing wild anywhere else in the UK. This is the California Daisey (much larger than the common Daisey). 

Also there is a colony of lizards living here and is said to be one of the biggest colony of lizards in the UK. These lizards have found home in our slightly warmer climate (not quite the Bahamas) and have found home in the Victorian gardens along the sea front. And quite large as average length is between 9" to 12". 

Now I've lived here almost 40 years and love local history and facts but didn't know these things. However u did know that in the same area of town is said to be one of the purest natural springs you'll find and years ago instead of being developed as a water bottling business was turned into a entertainment building locals know as the spa. 

Suddenly the facts all make sence (kind off) the pure springs that flow out at the spa gardens on Feilixstowe beach front and the slight difference in climate along with the Victorian designed gardens have created a place perfect for these things to live and flourish. 

As a kid I was brought up in church learning about God, hearing stories from the bible and learning about Jesus. These I guess where to me just stories and although I understood there was a God and we prayed to him at Sunday lunch and bedtimes I guess that was all I knew. 

Not until later in life I learned about a personal saviour, forgiveness and started to understand the father, son and Holy Spirit did it all start to make sence. 

The best thing about it too is I never stop learning and never stop finding out other amazing thing that God has done. Just like that spring water in the cliffs at the spa God to makes thing we wouldn't thought possible work in our lives. 

Sad World News..... Callenge

Sadly I saw this this morning and felt I needed to use my right to freedom and blog. Not.to start a political debate, but to just show support to Christians around the world that do not have the right to speak out.

Various sources have received independent confirmation from inside Syria that these men were former Muslims that had converted to Christianity, Illinois Review reports. They were not ‘..rebel fighters from a rival faction..’ as many news outlets are reporting.
Each of the 8 men were charged with the crime of apostasy for renouncing Islam and converting to Christianity. When confronted by the ISIS members, they refused to “revert” to Islam.
This is the “only” reason they were crucified. According to Islamic jurisprudence, crucifixion is a method of death reserved for Christians. They do not crucify other Muslims.

This picture that accompanied the story shocked me and left a bad feeling in me which I can only explain as both sad and angry.

 

Please understand however this is not the I am not pointing the finger a Muslims as my under standing of the Muslim is one of love and peace and I know Muslims that would be feelings the same way as I am.

 

 

As a Christian living in the UK, I am free to right this blog as to are many other people of different faiths aloud to have freedom of speech. Great Britain being dubbed a multi cultural society, we should be proud of the fact that our little island is run on Christian values which include love, peace and tolerance.

 

 

Sure many will disagree with me but look at it this way, we do not judge or deny people of different faith the right to practise their faith and beliefs. Just as Jesus spoke about everyone being Gods children and the fact he loves everyone. Here in the UK we also give everyone the equal right to Worship and be part of different faiths.

 

Lets go back to Syria. I don't really know much about this place but it shocks me to think that in 2014 this type of thing still goes on. It mirrors the death of Jesus who was killed in the same way because he spoke out and claimed he was the Son of God.

 

As we go about our daily lives aloud to have our own opinions, free to go around the UK without being questioned, free to have our own space, free to speak to anyone we want, and free to share our beliefs with others. Just remember these 8 Christians that (like so many others around the world) didn't have that freedom but spoke out anyway because of their faith in God.

 

We have a unique opportunity to teach and share our faith with people and maybe sometimes we don't do it as much as we should. This may sound really crazy but as a Christian Id like to challenge myself and others to speaking out to at least 8 people this week about our faith. Maybe this way the 8 Christians that died in Syria can have a voice as we use our right to speak for them.