Starvation Averted Just in Time

December 28th is a red letter day in the history of the Channel Islands. Late on the 27th, 75 years ago, the Red Cross ship the SS Vega docked in Guernsey's St Peter Port harbour. Aboard this rescue ship were parcels of unimaginable food and luxury supplies for the starving islanders. Up to this point, after 4 years of German occupation, the people of the island were in deep trouble. The Allies were 6 months into their liberation of Western Europe since D-Day, and were ensconced just 30 miles away on the French coast. The local occupying forces were cut off from all supply routes except the occasional submarine or aircraft and were in turn reduced to starvation rations. People were falling in the streets. The intense winter cold was claiming as many victims as the lack of food.

Then - wonder of wonders - into the harbour came this vessel of joy! If Guernsey punches above its weight today in terms of giving charitable funds to overseas disasters and relief work, it is, among other things, because in our culture there is a deep sense of gratitude for this international relief mission in 1944. Without these amazing food parcels which came again through the months that followed, the local population might have perished in its entirety.

How appropriate that this rescue mission should have occurred at Christmas. This is the season in which we commemorate God's great intervention in our human condition. In a land that was also then occupied by foreign troops, Jesus came as a sign that God is with us. And that first coming of Christ, and the mercy that he brought into a warring world, was almost certainly at the root of the grace gifts that the SS Vega brought with her. This is how one eye-witness put it: "It was the most marvellous revelation of the Almighty Power of the Living God, but if his dear son had never come and lived and died for us on this earth, that Red Cross ship would never have come to bring us those parcels, and in a very short time we would all have starved to death".

Today, when spiritual starvation marks our communities and blights our relationships, maybe we should celebrate the mercy of the coming of the Son of God like those Channel Islanders did in 1944.

Feeling Down in the Mouth

 A bad tooth can make the mildest of us into a grumpy old croc! At least - that's my excuse. I have had extreme pain in a lower molar for over a week now and it has tested all my fine theories about coping with life's storms! This may only be a severe squall rather than a destructive tornado or howling hurricane, but it has reminded me of how all-consuming serious pain can be. 

So - off to the dentist I went, to be told that I had an abscess under a back tooth and that I would need to suffer on, whilst taking a course of antibiotics until it would be safe enough to take it out. That happened yesterday and was not a fun experience! But I am so grateful to have a caring and experienced dentist who took so much trouble to minimise my distress. Now I'm just nursing a very sore jaw in the hope that it will all settle down by the time Christmas comes.

In all this I feel humbled and grateful that good medical care is on hand and available to us here in the West. There are many places where this is not the case. I have seen macabre scenes of amateur tooth pulling in the developing world and it is no laughing matter. Still, I am glad that yesterday is behind me and look forward to better days ahead. Roll on New Year!

Loading up your Inner Trolley

Christmas shopping can be hard going! It has been said that it's like being in a tumble drier - you go round and round in circles, get very hot, and when you get home you realise you've been taken to the cleaners!

Harrods of London once put these words into their Christmas catalogue: 'Christmas is coming, joyful and triumphant in a blaze of splendour. Harrods is brim full of comfort and joy, overflowing with grandeur. Let the glory of Christmas ring out!'*

I have a feeling that the only ringing being done in most of our High Street stores is the bell on the cash registers! (Yes, I know that dates me!) But there are wonderful gifts available for us this Christmas season. When the angels sang to announce the very first Christmas Day they proclaimed '...and on Earth, peace to those on whom his favour rests'.

Love, joy and peace are the fruit of trusting Jesus and following in his way. Why not load up your inner trolley with really good gifts this year?

* Taken from the booklet 'Christmas in Three Words' by Vaughan Roberts, The Good Book company, www.thegoodbook.co.uk

Help for Hanging in There!

They're here! Hooray! At last my own supply of my latest book has arrived. The publisher, 'Instant Apostle' (just add water? 😂) will make them available from the public date February 20th 2020. You can pre-order them for then on Amazon by clicking here or if you would like one right away, in time for Christmas, then email me at throughthestorms750@gmail.com. I can send it you with bank details or you can pay by PayPal. The books are £8.99 plus £1.75 p+p.

So many folk have been really encouraging me over this book during the two and a half years I have been writing it, and I am grateful. Thanks too for all your prayers and help over the 22 years of my battle with appalling pain and critical, life-threatening illness. My prayer is that this book will give sufferers of long-term 'storms' of all kinds, hope and encouragement too.

I wrote this book for people of all faiths and of none, although it would be impossible to tell my story without giving glory and credit to Jesus. I have been described recently as 'a walking miracle' and if that is the case, it did not come cheaply or easily. I feel immense compassion for folk in chronic pain and who face the dreadful aftermath of trauma. God has been good to me, and I hope this book will help you 'hang in there' a little longer, looking for light at the end of your tunnel too.

Through the Storms; a manual for when life hurts

Described as possibly the most painful condition known to humankind, chronic and recurring pancreatitis not only nearly killed me, it seriously messed with my life. Admitted to teaching hospitals over 100 times, enduring over 30 surgeries, I spent 22 years on what one specialist professor described as 'industrial doses of opiates' (morphine, even at times the medical form of heroine, Fentanyl, and Ketamine etc) yet pain was unremitting. Of course I wanted to end it all. I cried like the psalmist 'How long, O Lord?'. Surrounded by praying friends and supported amazingly by my wonderful wife and family, I simply could not understand how I got through each day. But I did by the grace of God, and now my story needs to be told.

My new book 'Through the Storms; a manual for when life hurts' should be out in time for you to have one before Christmas, or to give it to a friend or loved one. It offers hope, encouragement and practical wisdom to people of all faiths or of none who may be passing through life storms of one kind or another. It tells of my near-death encounters and looks honestly at my struggles, but it also gives positive suggestions to help with pain, disappointment, loneliness, bereavement, PTSD and a host of other 'storm conditions'.

Some people call me a walking miracle today. I am so grateful to God and to my transplant team in Newcastle for this amazing new start. But being cured is not when healing ends - it is sometimes just when it is beginning - and I am still learning lessons as I reflect on this two-decade long ordeal. I want to share those lessons with you.

If you live in Guernsey you can have a copy for £8.99 post free by emailing me at throughthestorms750@gmail.com. You can use the PayPal link below to pay or ask in the email for further payment options. In the UK and Jersey I will send you a copy for £8.99 plus £1.75 p&p which totals £10.74. Higher quantities and discounts for churches can be arranged through the email please.

You can also pre-order order copies via Amazon for when it is officially published in February 2020 and becomes available on Kindle etc.

Click here to send me your secure payment via PayPal

Here are some kind comments about this book:

from Rev Lyndon Bowring, Chairman of CARE

 ‘I’ve known Eric for more than forty years and marvelled at his faith and determination not to let his condition get the better of him. He is a living tribute to the grace and mercy of God. If your situation looks hopeless, you’re caring for someone in great need or you fear for your own future health, this book will be an incredible inspiration and comfort to you.’ 

from Jonathan Le Tocq, Minister for External Affairs, States of Guernsey, and church leader

‘Few people desire to show their scars to the world, especially those that come along with pain, humiliation and vulnerability. Even then, few are able to articulate effectively the experiences that brought about those scars. Eric is one of the few who can. In a world crying out for authenticity he takes us on his life’s journey, along the way equipping us all to understand better the pain, frustrations and unanswered questions of those who suffer.’ 

from Rev Dr Clive Burnard, Regional Minister, Yorkshire Baptist Association

‘I cannot commend this book highly enough. Not only is it honest about the profound challenges faced personally by the author, but readers will also find both wonderful encouragement and practical help. 

from Dr Richard Seymour, retired GP 

‘If ever there was a man to help those in chronic pain, it is Eric. He’s been there, lived with it for more than twenty years and now has been mercifully released.’ 

Flood chaos points to a climate crisis!

It's pouring outside! October 2019 has officially been described in Guernsey as the wettest since 1960 - that's 59 years! And still it rains. All over UK counties like Yorkshire and Derbyshire there are flood warnings this weekend. Rivers are breaking their banks, homes are being flooded. At least one person has drowned.

It seems certain that climate change is behind all this. I have friends who would disagree, but the pattern of global weather does seem to be changing. The contrasting news of wildfires in places as far apart as Australia and the Amazon would seem to bolster this. These are certainly climactic times we live in!

It feels as if the world is groaning under the weight of human action and inaction. Climate emergency has become the buzz phrase and it has almost become the latest 'unacceptable intolerance' to question the actions of those who protest that it must trump (!) all other concerns. Maybe the real issue is not so much about what governments do though, important as that might be, but really about what individuals do.

The Bible observes that, 'For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time' (Romans 8:22). We hear that groaning even more clearly as the rain pounds our hemisphere and the dry undergrowth rages in another. Is this what Jesus called one of 'the signs of the end?' Does our planet have a 'use by' date? It is important to do what we can to reduce, recycle and re-use, but to stick with the alliteration, ought we not also to repent?

Through the Storms: pounded by wind and waves!

We are in the grip of a powerful storm today. I got up this morning to find tables and heavy chairs strewn around the garden as if they had been tossed away by a petulant child. Bins were on the flower beds and large plant pots had been tipped over. We live near Guernsey's west coast and crowds of people were gathered there this morning for the high tide to take photos of the angry sea. Spume and spray were soaring over the highest rocks, and angry waves crashing onto the sea walls.

We are no strangers to stormy conditions in these islands, exposed as we are to the swells of the Atlantic Ocean. They are part of our lives as much as the much loved long sunny days of the recent summer. All sunshine makes a desert, of course, and we know that these dark days are part of the cycle of life that should be enjoyed (!) and not just endured. But that's tough, isn't it? We welcome the calm sunshine and even bright cold, but grey, stormy weather can be both intimidating and depressing.

Storms have also marked our personal lives. The first two volumes of my 'storm' trilogy, Braving the Storm and Storm Force, told of my long battle with the howling winds and life-threatening episodes of serious ill health. In February 2020 the third book will be published - Through the Storms: a manual for when life hurts. You can email me at ericgaudion@me.com to pre-order now, or click on the links to go to Amazon to do so. Diane and I have proved that you can survive the storms without being permanently knocked off course and without going under for the third time!

As the wind rages around me outside this study, I thank God for his faithfulness and presence even in the middle of the storms of life. Jesus once slept in a boat that was being threatened with being overwhelmed by a storm, and his disciples were terrified. Just his amazing presence was enough, though, to guarantee their survival. When he was finished with the storm, like a man calling his dog to heel, Jesus stood up and said: 'Peace! Be Still' and it was over. No wonder the fishermen with him asked each other 'what kind of person is this that even the storm obeys him?'

In the Tunnel of Hope

EU and UK negotiators are rumoured to be engaging in negotiations that are being described as 'entering the tunnel'. This is supposed to reflect the urgency of the hour as a possible date for Brexit approaches. It also speaks of the secrecy and intensity of the talks as leaks and media speculation may spoil or threaten what could be a dicey and difficult deal in any case. 'Down to the wire' diplomacy is being conducted in the tunnel! The people of 28 nations await the outcome.

Our island is marked with many tunnels, some dating back to English troop movements during the Napoleonic wars with France, and some to seventy years or more since the German occupation. All of them serve as useful reminders of what European disunity can cause. A beautiful and peaceful place is undermined by the concrete left by Europeans who fought each other virtually to a stand-still, twice in the last century and even more so before that. Millions of graves across the continent of Europe also cry out to the tunnellers to get it right. The future of a nation's children is being dug in the Brussels' tunnel and now is the time to pray for their success.

Whatever the outcome, and wherever you stand on Brexit, let's call on God for the tunnellers to have wisdom, patience, creativity and boldness this weekend. Then, maybe, the tunnel itself can become a symbol of hope instead of a memorial to past enmity.

Who do you Think you are?

One of the most popular series on BBC television is 'Who do you Think you are?' in which celebrities search for their ancestors. That's one particular cupboard I don't think I should go rummaging about in, not because I think there might be anything to be ashamed of, but just because that does not make me who I am today. I am not just the product of generations of people who 'begat' me. God says that I have been 'fearfully and wonderfully made', (Psalm 139) and that he had a special plan for me when I was conceived. There are no 'accidents' in God's family - each one of us was planned!

The important thing is not so much where we came from - but where we are going. I listened to an amazing edition of Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4 this week with the guest Sabrina Cohen-Hatton who is one of the most senior Chief Fire Officers in England. In her teens she was homeless and begging on the streets. Now she leads thousands of men and women and has a PhD! We should never be bound by the past if we follow the God who says 'I make everything new' (I have no idea of Sabrina's faith stand but her example is inspiring).

This week (Sunday 6th October 2019) we are beginning a new series of talks at Vazon Elim Church on the subject 'The New Me'. At 10.45 I will speak on 'Who am I?' and at 6pm Matt Gregor will preach on Psalm 139. This should be a great series and you would be most welcome to come if you are in Guernsey, or to tune in online. You can watch the 10.45am service at www.vazonelim.org.gg or search YouTube for 'Vazon Church'.

It should be 'cracking good!'

The weaponising of words

It is a good thing that the green benches in the House of Commons are spaced exactly two sword lengths apart! This was done deliberately to prevent duelling 'gentlemen' from doing any actual harm to one another. This week, however, there have been shocking scenes of angry confrontation. Words and terminology have been drawn from their scabbards in verbal combat such as has not been seen in decades. And both sides of the Brexit debate seem determined to use such words to curry favour with the electorate. On one side harsh and inflammatory terms are being bandied about to portray the opposition MP's in the worst light possible. On the other, plaintiff cries of outrage appear occasionally to be part of an effort to convince the populace that their opponents are 'unfit to govern'. What a sad indictment of our democracy that the so-called 'mother of parliaments' has come down to this.

It does not reflect a limited vocabulary on the part of the speaker - quite the opposite in the case of Britain's present Prime Minister. But it does reveal that both sides need to draw back and reconsider their weaponising of language, before someone does really get hurt.

I would like to let some light in onto this shady use of language. Consider this biblical advice:
'A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.' (Proverbs 16:23-24)

And to leaders in particular: '...excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love' (2 Cor. 8:7) and 'set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.'(1 Tim 4:12). And 'your words [should be] solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.' (Titus 2:8 The Message).

In every situation of conflict and misunderstanding the practical advice of the scriptures speaks clearly to us all:  'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.' (Proverbs 15:1)

Give yourself time to explore life, faith and meaning.

Alpha@Vazon 2019 begins in just a few days, Wednesday the 2nd October 2019, at Vazon Church, Guernsey. Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, run over nine evenings and one Saturday daytime. Each talk looks at a different question exploring life, faith and meaning and is designed to help create conversation. Alpha is run in 169 nations all around the globe, and over 29 million people have done the course up to now! It runs in cafés, churches, universities, prisons, schools and homes – you name it. No two Alphas look the same, but generally they have three key things in common: great food, a talk and good conversation.

The food is going to be good – finger licking good with great desserts! Then, the talks are really quality and inspirational, designed to engage and inspire conversation. Usually no more than thirty minutes long, they come on video. They explore the big issues around faith and unpack the basics of Christianity, addressing questions from 'Is there more to life than this?', 'Who is Jesus?', and 'How can I have faith?' to 'Why and how do I pray?' etc

Good conversation means just that – an environment where you’re welcome to say nothing or ask any question about life, faith and meaning. This is the chance for you to revisit the foundations of your faith or discover why others believe as they do.

So, please think about whether you would like to join us at Alpha@Vazon 2019. Everyone is welcome, especially if you are of no faith or really would not consider yourself a Christian. If you would like to reserve a place for yourself and/or a friend (if you're in Guernsey of course) then message me or email matt@vazonelim.org.gg. There is no charge and no pressure! 

If you want to watch a short video about Alpha take a look at www.vazonelim.org.gg.

One less question for Siri or Alexa - try Alpha!

Suicide shock at fabulous beach location

I was walking on the beach on Guernsey's fabulous east coast early in the morning, just as the sun was rising over the nearby islands of Herm and Jethou. It was a stunning scene of peace and beauty but I was in for a shock. The bundle of clothing that moved lazily in the shallows as the waves lapped the shore, began to take form as I approached it. I drew my breath in fear and apprehension. It was a body. A beautiful young woman had taken her own life there on the beach. As I waited tearfully for a policeman to arrive on his motorcycle, I prayed for a family about to be torn apart by grief and remorse. Much later I discovered that she was a wealthy heiress, but had been overcome by what turned out to be a terminal mental illness.

This was forty years ago, and I was just starting out on my ministry in the island, but I learned a terrible lesson that day. Living with plenty and prosperity is no insurance policy against loneliness, depression or despair. I believe that Guernsey's suicide rate is still, pro-rata, one of the highest in Europe, in spite of its great beauty and close community. The World Health Organisation has designated today, the 10th September, as suicide prevention day. They claim that nearly three times as many men as women die by suicide in high-income countries, in contrast to low- and middle-income countries, where the rate is more equal. Globally, one person commits suicide every 40 seconds.

I was motivated by that incident, very early in ministry, to take seriously the issue of suicide prevention. I try to listen carefully for the evidence of the potential for self-harm when people speak with me. During my 22 years of heavy opiate use for intense chronic pain, I was occasionally tested by thoughts that my loved ones would be better off without me (and that I could be with God). Those were lies from the enemy of my soul and my family. If I had short-circuited my life in that way I would have missed the amazing research developments in surgery, for instance, that changed my life in 2017. But much more than that, I would have torn a hole in my family and community that could never have been filled.

Please be aware of this problem, and if you are affected by thoughts like the ones I mention above, do talk to someone you trust about it. If you want to contact me, please do. You can search for me by name on Facebook, or use this email: ericgaudion@me.com which I have set up specifically for this purpose. The Samaritans are also always only a phone-call away (116 123 free from any phone).

You really do matter to God, and he does have a plan for your life down here. When his time comes he will call you home, but till then, take advantage of every offer of help and love that might keep you from falling into the trap of believing those lies.

Intentional Mentoring - the Key to Leaving a Legacy!

Good morning.

As I’ve been thinking around the whole subject of leaving a legacy to those who are coming behind us in life, my attention was drawn to a new book on mentoring. (Intentional Mentoring by Paul Wilcox, published by Instant Apostle) Mentoring is sharing knowledge, skills and life experience to guide another towards reaching their full potential; it’s a journey of shared discovery. It’s the ability and the desire to develop others so that they can excel, even to the point of doing better than we did in our turn. And it doesn’t happen by accident. Mentoring really does need to be intentional on our part.

Many years ago, my wife left school after her A levels and began work in a laboratory. There she found herself working alongside a very experienced and much older colleague. It soon became clear that this person was not interested in explaining to the newcomer what the various machines and gadgets in the lab actually did. It seemed that she felt that the knowledge she had gained over the years was her only protection against whatever threat the young upstart represented.

In contrast to this kind of attitude, Jesus of Nazareth did the exact opposite. He took a group of a dozen or so young guys and mentored them. First, he showed them what to do, then he worked with them while they tried to do it, and then he stood back and sent them out to do it themselves, regularly gathering them for encouragement and guidance.  Mentoring with a kind heart can be one of the best kinds of legacy we can pass on to the next generation. Think about who you might mentor today, or perhaps who might mentor you.

Have a great day.

Guidelines-Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Guernsey (0640 & 0840 daily)

Good morning.

Just thinking about the kind of legacy we leave behind us; we need to think about what we want to communicate to those who are coming after us. Recently I have been busily writing another book, my fifth, and it will come out early next year, and at my age I have to consider that it may be my last. What do I really want to say if these are my last words, famous or not?

Words are important. We need to tell the stories of the things in life that have really mattered to us. Our children need to hear about our early years setting up family, the joy they brought us at their birth. Let’s pass on what helped us through our struggles, and not leave it too late to say ‘I’m sorry’ or just a simple ‘thank you’.

And you don’t need a lot of words. I read recently that the Lord’s Prayer contains only 66 words; the 10 commandments consist of just 179 words and the American Declaration of Independence is made up of only 1300 words; but EU regulations on the sale of cabbages require 26,911 words!  Important things can be communicated in a few, well-chosen words.

So, let’s tell the stories our children need to hear, and do so briefly but with passion. A few weeks ago we had a visit in Guernsey from the famous Bible storyteller Bob Hartman and he impressed us all with his ability to make the great stories from God’s Word live to a young audience. That’s a legacy they’ll never forget. It’s the greatest story ever told.

Have a good day. 

Digging for the Future!

Pastor Matt Gregor prepares to dig

On Sunday, at Vazon Elim Church in Guernsey, we held a little ground-breaking ceremony for the new youth and children’s suite that will be erected on the site shortly. This exciting project will provide much needed extra space for activities that young people and children will enjoy. Being there, and being part of this significant moment, started me thinking about the kind of legacy that we will leave for the generations to come. It has been said that as we go through life, we are all planting trees under which other people will find shade, so we need to think about the kind of legacy impact that our lives are making.

Hayden Batiste (6) digs!

When I use the word legacy, I’m not referring to property or the savings that we might squirrel away for our heirs. I’m thinking more about the influence, example and character investment that we put aside for all who will come after us, whether our children or not.

Recently our local paper, the Guernsey Press, paid a fulsome tribute to the late Eric Waldron, co-founder of the Salemites Cricket Club out of the Salem Methodist Youth Club. The headline was ‘An Inspirational Gentleman whose Legacy will Endure’. It told how he never judged or turned a player away, was always cheerful, generous and never expected any reward. I think that his reward was probably seeing youngsters that he had coached, trained and developed, going on to become good players and more importantly, better people for the investment of his time and energy. 

I'm glad to be part of a church community that prizes its children and young people, treasures the opportunity to make a difference in their lives, and recognises the importance of legacy. After all, Jesus wanted his followers to make room for little children to come to him, as he had plans for their lives too. 

Now, that's a great legacy!

Ground-breaking Changes

Just returned panting and weary from a few days of grandparent duty in a far off place! Who could guess how much energy two little girls can store up - or how much can be drained from Granny's dwindling supply? Childcare days begin very early and are filled with fun and laughter, combined with the occasional tears. Yet, what a privilege to care for such tender plants as these.

Little children are a vital part of our lives and communities. All around us at this time of year are families taking care of their children through school holidays, sometimes struggling to take time off or engage childcare. This is where grandparents can come in very handy indeed!

Tomorrow, at Vazon Elim Church in Guernsey, we will break ground on a thrilling new project to install a new children and young people's suite on our site. This building will be the third on the land, offering an increase of another 150 square metres of child-friendly capacity. It marks an investment in the children and youth of our community and is a statement of faith and intent. Faith, because we believe that children matter to God and that they need to know His love and grace. Intention, because we are committed to pass on the knowledge of God's mercy and power to coming generations.

Jesus said: 'Let the little children come to Me'. The best legacy we can lay aside for our children and grandchildren is to love God and show His love to them. That's why the cost of this great project is trifling compared to the benefits that will be achieved. As a grandparent, I count it a privilege to be involved.

Wonky Scales Worry!

What a panic! Diane was just stepping onto our digital bathroom scales wearing only a bright smile, when suddenly she let out a yelp. Instead of her usual weight being displayed, or even a little less, the scales were showing her about 8 stones (50kg) heavier than she should be! I dashed to her aid and whilst trying to console her found my own reading astronomical. We are both trying to lose a bit of weight and being told that we had just gained about 50% of our ideal body-weight was a bit of a shock. Ouch!

I had a brainwave, though, and took the scales off to the bedroom where I keep spare batteries. A swift change of the power source - and presto - we were both 'normal' again (as normal as we can be 😂). We had not changed but the basis on which we were being judged had.

It's so important in life to remember not to judge other people by our own, possibly faulty, scales. I know that when I am tired or stressed, my batteries run down a bit, I can be tetchy and make assumptions about others and they way they act, that if I chomped on a Mars Bar or had a cup of tea, might not seem so bad. And also, although we will all one day stand before the judgement of God, the Bible tells us not to judge beforehand in the case of others (1 Corinthians 4:5). Jesus told us that we should not judge others or we ourselves will be judged (Matthew 7:1).

And it's good to know that God always has fresh batteries when it comes to seeing what is really in our hearts and what weighs us down. On that day he, who is judge of all the earth, will do what's right. And Jesus will speak up for us like he did at Calvary saying 'Father, forgive'.

Next time I'm tempted to judge someone harshly I will check my own batteries too. How about you?

Moon Landing Mania

The whole world watched the events of 50 years ago this week as two men walked on the moon for the first time ever. I am sure that I must have heard the phrase 'one small step for a man: one giant leap for mankind' at least a dozen times in the media in the last three or four days. And it was both of those things. Particularly if you consider that I hold in my pocket more computing power - thousands of times more - in my smartphone than was available to the whole Apollo 11 project. Yes, maybe it was a giant leap for mankind,but how significant was it in the grand scheme of things?

So, we have put a man on our tiny moon, a virtual speck of dust in the vast universe beyond it. In the half-century that has followed very little more space exploration has been done despite the great expectations in the sixties. Some would argue that we have enough problems on Earth to occupy our scientists and inventors without spending countless billions on travelling to other planets beyond the moon. But still the desire to conquer great challenges drives us on to further space adventures.

I am concerned about a degree of escapism in all this celebrating the moon landings. The World Health Organisation has just announced a global health emergency in Africa due to the re-emergence of deadly Ebola. Still today, too many millions of children go to sleep hungry at night, while millions more flee violence and persecution.

Putting a man on the moon has not changed much really. What can change mankind radically is a personal relationship with the One who made the moon, and the Solar System in the first place. When we begin to make Jesus Lord, and let him change the way we live each day, forgive and radically overhaul our behaviour, that may be a small step, but it will turn out to be a giant leap too.

The Secret Ingredient to Glastonbury

Glastonbury is cooking today! At 30 degrees C the 170,000 rock festival goers are sweltering. More used to acres of mud and constant rain they must find these conditions trying. Yet, still they come, pouring into the ancient Somerset town and its surrounding countryside like moths drawn to a flame. Let's hope they don't get too burnt!

I've never been a fan of big crowds and wonder what it that draws them. Maybe for many it's the music. For others, especially the young, the thrill of being away from parental oversight and school & college rules. 'Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll' you might argue.

But I think it has got a lot to do with an ingredient you don't often associate with such events - fellowship. We get a buzz from being with others who share our interests and enjoy similar things to ourselves. Belonging to a tribe or family group satisfies us in a way that other things don't. Festivals offer the opportunity to spend a long weekend with like-minded people and 'hang out' in atmosphere of celebration and freedom.

There are some Christian festivals too. Spring Harvest and the Keswick convention are among the oldest, where tens of thousands of believers gather to encourage one another and celebrate their faith. But I feel that our local church should also offer more of the stuff that draws people to festivals, whatever the weather. We should be giving and receiving a real sense of belonging in our local congregations, perhaps much more than we do. Celebration should be real and emotionally empowering, glorifying God and drawing us to one another at his feet.

None of that can happen if we stay away, of course. Too many Christians have cut themselves off from fellowship, or treat it as a lifestyle choice to be indulged in occasionally. We need each other, and being together in celebration, reflection, mutual encouragement, fun, laughter and occasional tears, are the stuff fellowship is made of. And no need for drugs to get high either!

What we are in the Dark

Watching the leadership hustings from Birmingham today I was struck by a question that was booed by the audience. The chairman asked Prime-ministerial candidate Boris Johnson if what goes on in a person's private life is of any relevance to their suitability for high office. He refused to answer and was cheered by the audience of Conservative Party members. That got me thinking.

Surely integrity and trustworthiness in private life does matter when it comes to selecting who should lead a nation? Integrity means completeness or wholeness. We might use it to describe a building that is well put together so that it can withstand bad weather. When applied to people, it speaks about consistency between each facet of our lives, private and public, family and front-line - when the light is on us and when it is not. It's what we are when no-one is watching!

So, the driving instructor needs to be morally trustworthy when spending long hours with students. The policeman that attends vulnerable people caught up as victims of crime must not view them as fair game to be used. And if a Prime minister or President expects to be believed when they make promises then they must be promise keepers in their private lives too.

Integrity is not perfection, as if it was, none of us could ever stand or lead. We all fall short of God's standard - which is Christ - in so many ways. God loves us as we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way. The whole point of redemption is that we can repent and start again. But as Konrad Adenaur, onetime Chancellor of West Germany said, 'To fall is neither dangerous or disgraceful. But to remain prostrate is both'.

I was taught as a child to yell a loud "thank you" to the driver as I jumped down from the bus. Expressing our gratitude was expected of us as part of our growing up. It was simply regarded as good manners but I have come to see that there is much more to gratitude than this. Saying "thanks" is an important part of our humanity and offers dignity to the recipient as well as humility to the giver. Being unable to be grateful leads to a shrinking of our soul, a diminishing of our humanity, and a trip wire in our approach to relationships.

During the 75th anniversary commemorations of D-Day here in Britain and across the sea in Normandy we have heard several expressions of gratitude. Her Majesty the Queen ended her speech by saying thank you, as did President Trump, Monsieur Macron and Mrs Theresa May. In the presence of the veterans, most of them now in their 90s and perhaps there for the last time, it just seemed so appropriate to be grateful. These world leaders set the standard for us and spoke on our behalf, but they also gave a pointer to something that can really oil the wheels of our society and make a change for the better.

Diane and I will travel to Newcastle tomorrow. On Monday and Tuesday of next week I will be in two different hospitals there - the Freeman one day and the Royal Victoria the next. It is the second anniversary of the amazing space-age surgery that changed my life and set me free from 22 years of some of the worst physical pain known to humanity. I am really looking forward to seeing the Professor and other members of the team, looking them in the eyes and saying "thank you".

Gilbert K Chesterton said "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder". Yet, maybe gratitude needs to be shown in more than words. Acts of kindness, enquiries about the well-being of others, even generous tipping can all be further expressions of such grace.

Respect has many outfits to wear and gratitude is one of them. So - let gratitude be your attitude!

 I have many questions about prayer. I suspect that everybody prays at some point in their lives, but I have been intentional about prayer for over 50 years since I became a committed follower of Christ. But it is far from easy. How does God answer conflicting prayers from different individuals? Does praying make a difference to our lives and the experience of others? It may be true that we are changed by our praying, but does prayer change things? How can I be better at this thing called 'prayer'?

I want to recommend a new book. I bought this book and am not being paid for reviewing or recommending it! But - like a beggar who has found a great source of bread - I don't want to keep it to myself. How To Pray by Pete Greig: a simple guide for normal people is the best book on prayer that I have read since E M Bound's 19th Century classic Power Through Prayer. Pete Greig's handbook on prayer is described by Nicky Gumbel from HTB and Alpha as 'The book I've been waiting for'. Well you're not alone Nicky - me too!

Basing his teaching on the Lord's Prayer Pete shares his vast experience as the founder of a 24-7 prayer movement with his readers. He has helped me to see again the importance of daily prayer, and offered me practical ways to make that experience happen and be more fruitful. His examples of the power of intercession and the difference prayer can make in our troubled world are thrilling and inspiring. His wisdom about how to cope when prayer is not answered is honest and instructive. This guy speaks my language, plain down-to-earth advice with a smile and a self-effacing chuckle. I love this book and recommend it heartily. You can get a copy by clicking the link above, or searching for it at www.eden.co.uk or if overseas, through international pages of Amazon.

I pray that you will 😇

It has recently been Mental Health Awareness week in the UK and hopefully it will have gone some way to enlighten the fear and lessen the stigma that surround conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, stress and other similar disorders. The support provided by the Royal princes William and Harry recently has highlighted the issue of mental health across Britain. Personalities from sport, stage and screen have also been lining up to add their own unique insights into a much-misunderstood part of our human nature. It must be helpful to shine light onto this shadowy area and dispel some of the myths and mistakes that we may hold on to.

Diane and I know too much about this whole area from past experience. Both our mothers needed lots of support and help as they battled with long term mental health conditions. Diane suffered really badly from anxiety and depression for the first 13 years of our marriage, and at various times in my 22 years of serious ill health I have known bouts of depression, paranoia, mental confusion and great fear. Yet, I know that God has been with us through all this and that he understands the unfathomable depths of the human psyche. He made us so he can mend us.

There is a lot of helpful insight in the Bible on this subject, telling us in picturesque language to “strengthen those who have tired hands and encourage those who have weak knees”. In the New Testament St Paul writes about his own battle with depression (2 Cor. 1). Jesus also healed the sick, changing lives, and giving a new start to people who had been tortured by years of chronic ill health, urging his followers to receive his love and make it known to others. And he calls his church to be a community of care, understanding and grace that will offer safety, acceptance and patient support to all in need. When that need is invisible or at least non-physical, as in mental illness, then the cost of that care and understanding may be high, but it is a vital part of our calling and mission.

Research shows that during any single week an average 1 in 6 of us will experience some mental health incident. Families, friends and work colleagues will all be affected by this. If we are not suffering ourselves just now, we still owe it to others to show respect, love and understanding when they are overtaken by these marks of our frail humanity.

Jesus said “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest”. Those of us who follow him should also be a means of support to all who stagger under the weight of modern living and its many pressures.

Liberation Day memories in the Channel Islands

May 9th is Guernsey's Liberation Day and all around the island the people are hanging out their flags to mark 74 years since the end of the Nazi Occupation of the Channel Islands took place.

We went to a country church this morning to give thanks for our freedom with hundreds of islanders. Bright sunshine greeted us as we came out of the ancient building at St Peters in the Wood, grateful for being able sing and worship freely due to the sacrifice of so many. We sang our anthem "Sarnia Cherie" with great joy, despite the tears, and remembered our parents for whom this day was ever one of thanksgiving and memories. Winston Churchill said on the radio on May 9th 1945 "...and our dear Channel Islands are to be freed today!"

Among the many unsung heroes of the Occupation was Rev Gilbert Dunk, seen here with his wife Irene and family. He looked after three Elim churches on the island throughout those dark days, riding everywhere on an old bike with hosepipes for tyres. He cared for the flock of God despite great hardship and deprivation, fulfilling his calling in the most challenging of circumstances. After the war, the Dunk family were asked to go to New Zealand in response to an invitation from a group of Pentecostal Christians there who wanted to set up an Elim church. From his work then the congregation grew till it numbers today many thousands and planted out a further 40 or so churches. A truly remarkable family, they exhibited the quiet and humble faith that helped so many to persevere in appalling circumstances and to keep trusting God when it seemed so hard to simply do that.

Maybe we could learn a few things from their courage and determination to make the best of a tough situation and invest themselves in hope and encouraging others through adverse times.

Filled with Hope and Gratefulness - Watoto Children's Choir

This amazing choir of Ugandan children are in Guernsey this weekend. If you're in the Island - don't miss them! The Watoto Children's Choir has sung in the past in the US White House and this choir has performed before the Welsh Assembly and even Her Majesty the Queen! Just listening to them on BBC Radio Guernsey it was so moving to hear their stories:

• Precious, who was abandoned as a baby outside a hospital and taken in by the 'Baby Watoto' programme
• Eric, who wants to be a pastor when he grows up (Yay!!)
• Kim, whose parents have disappeared after their house was destroyed

and many more! Watoto offers hope and a future to so many young children and single women too through their neighbourhood projects.

When the small group of children on the radio interview sang 'I am Grateful' I was moved to tears. They have so little compared to children in our community and yet they are so thankful for their lot. Their music and dance is powerful and inspiring. Plan on catching them while they're here, or go to their website.

See them at: Eldad Elim Church, Union Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey Sat. April 27th 6pm

Vazon Elim Church, La Mare road, Vazon, Guernsey, Sun 28th April, 10.45am & 5pm.

Is there any Hope? A Glimpse beyond the Grave.

"Hope is vital - it's not a question of what you hope for, but who you hope in." These words on BBC Radio 4 recently challenged me. We all hope for things - whether for relief from pain or distress, a great holiday, or a home that is our own, and these are all legitimate. But hope for life beyond the grave is a huge ask. Nobody knows what waits for us there because no-one has come back to tell us.

But hang on a moment - somebody has! This Easter Day we celebrate the greatest day in history. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins on the first Good Friday and then rose again from the dead on the following Sunday. More than 500 eye witnesses confirmed sightings of him with some them touching his body and others speaking with him. The early Christian church would never have grown to become the world's major religion if the resurrection was a fraud or a lie. The disciples would not have given their lives as martyrs in painful deaths if they knew they had stolen the body. All the Jewish leaders had to do was go to the guarded tomb and produce Christ's remains and the new faith would have been stopped in its tracks. They did not because they could not. Christ is risen!

Through the storms of major illness that have come my way over the last couple of decades I have had several moments very close to death. I even reviewed my own 'final arrangements' again last week as I prepared to undergo potentially dangerous (for me) cardiac procedures in hospital a few days ago. One day I will walk that valley right through, but I have a serious and sustaining hope. Since Jesus rose from the dead I shall also rise, because I believe in and am following Him. Jesus said; 'Because I live, you shall live also' (John 14:19).

In the words of the Old Testament writer of the Psalms "Put your hope in God". The message of this great resurrection day is that hope in Him will see you through this life's struggles and even into eternity. Christ is risen indeed!

To Cross or not to Cross?

I suppose that one of the most iconic items produced in historically Christian countries in celebration of Easter is the traditional hot cross bun. Very early on Good Friday morning in our island community there will be a long queue at the door of a small independent bakers to collect their freshly made buns.

Tradition says that early Greek Christians marked cakes with a cross, but of course, the Bible does not say anything about followers of Jesus Christ needing confectionery to aid their faith or express their worship! In less enlightened times people began using these hot cross buns as a kind of good luck token, claiming that if a ship sailed with them on board it would be protected against shipwreck and other such phoney baloney.

So don't get me wrong - I am not an advocate for the hot cross bun - but my blood was stirred to see in our local supermarket that under the 'hot cross bun' display there was a pile without the crosses!! I suppose that this is in an effort to avoid offending religious minorities - political correctness gone religious - but it just kind of illustrated to me a bit of a challenge this Easter.  Is my life marked by the cross the Christ or is it just fruit and flavouring? Is the cross central to the story of my faith or is it disposable when mentioning it might offend someone? The Bible does say that the cross will appear foolish to people who don't want to believe and it also foretold that the cross would one day become an offence to many, not just a religious minority.

So I want to come back to the cross of Christ this Easter, and thank Jesus for giving His all for me there. To cross your buns?  Well- that's up to you - I don't find they taste any different anyway!

Donkey speaks out!

Some years ago on a Palm Sunday I interviewed the donkey of the story! Guernsey people are known colloquially as donkeys due to our historic stubbornness (I'm not sure if that is being entirely fair - to donkeys!). There is even a statue of a kicking donkey in the island, supposed to reflect how the islanders kicked out the German occupying forces at the end of World War II but I think that probably had to do with outside forces rather than the islanders' own actions. Anyhow, the epithet has stuck and so the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey has local appeal!

But what was it that led Jesus to choose a donkey rather than a white charger? Well, a couple of things really, but predominantly it was a sign of humility. In selecting this kind of mount the King of Kings was harking back to his birth in a stable. See our conquering hero now - humble and riding on a donkey! I doubt that any invading monarch or attacking general ever arrived in such a manner. So it is all the more surprising that the crowds lining the path into the city cried 'Hosanna' - literally 'rule now!' and laid palm branches in his path.

The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. So the folk watching the donkey riding Christ must have been impressed with something about him, despite his humble mount. Another aspect of the choice Jesus made was the fulfilment of Bible prophecy - the Old Testament had suggested this day would come in Zechariah 9:9.

But for me the most significant part of that famous donkey-ride is that the very same people who applauded his arrival were to chant a different slogan just 5 days later. "Crucify him!" they yelled, when the implications of supporting him had been laid bare. Perhaps this Holy Week we would do well to ask ourselves which cry really reflects our attitude to the donkey-riding Lord.

"Is there any word from the Lord?"

I am reading Andrew Robert's great book Churchill: Walking with Destiny and am amazed at how his warning voice was so loud and clear during the wilderness years of 1935-39. Churchill spoke again and again of the coming conflagration that would consume the youth of the world between 1939 and 1945 in World War II. His speeches were so rousing and stirring that members of the House of Commons, where he was a back-bench MP, often stamped and cheered him afterwards, but did nothing in response to his pleadings. He was a virtually lone figure during that period as Hitler's Nazi Germany re-armed and prepared for war on a massive scale. The voice of the prophet was being sounded in the wilderness but just about nobody was listening, at least not those in power. The result was that Britain was so unprepared for war when it came that it is only by the grace of God - and the leadership of Winston Churchill in the crisis - that the total disaster of a Nazi occupation of the UK was averted.

We need a prophetic voice today in the corridors of power or the front pages of our media. An Old Testament king once asked the pertinent question "Is there any word from the Lord?" and that query rings loud and clear at this time in our land. There is a national crisis of violence, of corruption in huge corporations, of extremism in political views, of racism, of knife crime, of bullying and disrespect for authority, and political impasse that threatens the future well-being of our great democracy. What would Winston Churchill be saying if he was an MP today?

And where are the Christian prophets? I know that Mrs May, the British Prime Minister, has had at least one audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury over the Brexit issue and that's good. But let's pray that God will raise up a person, or a people, of such prophetic lives and words, that in this wilderness of human need, those in power, and those around us, will have to admit that there has been a word from the Lord'!

And, when it comes, let's hope that our leaders will be more responsive to that word than were the government of Great Britain in the 1930's!

A Different Slant to Mothers' Day

Millions of Britons will be dashing around petrol forecourts and supermarkets today scrabbling to snap up blooms for their Mums! And don't they deserve them? And more! Parents are some of the unsung heroes of our society today and Mothering Sunday is just one of those occasions when we can say thank you.

Mind you, I read that the sales of gin have doubled in the last two years in the UK, and that there is usually a surge in gin purchases during the run up to this weekend. That is amazing when you consider that in the 18th Century it was called 'Mother's Ruin' due to the huge social problems being caused by alcoholism and over indulgence in the spirit at that time.

The origins of Mothering Sunday, though, are far from the way we celebrate the day today. Centuries ago it was considered important for people to return to their home or 'mother' church once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their 'mother' church - the main church or cathedral of the area. Most historians think that it was the return to the 'Mother' church which led to the tradition of children, particularly those working as domestic servants, or as apprentices, being given the day off to visit their mother and family.

 Maybe this Mothering Sunday we might spare a thought - and perhaps a prayer - for another 'mother church', the mother of Parliaments at Westminster. It certainly does need prayer, and although Teresa May does not have children of her own, she could really do with a bit of Divine help too this Mothering Sunday.

Crisis? Now that's what I call a crisis.

Rescue workers are continuing the search for survivors of Cyclone Idai, which swept through Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe last week, destroying towns and villages in its path. My good friend Pastor Pious Munembe, General Superintendent of the Elim Churches of Zimbabwe, reports that the area of Chimanimani, just south of Mutare where we used to live, has been cut off from rescuers by roads and bridges being swept away. Around 300 people are missing in Zimbabwe, along with around 100 dead, and many more are reported to be unaccounted for in Mozambique and Malawi. This is what the UN says could be "one of the worst weather-related disasters ever to hit the southern hemisphere".

Dr Munembe tells me that a town called Ngaone the Elim Church together with the pastor's house was damaged. I know that other townships and villages nearby where there were very basic facilities anyway prior to this catastrophe have been even more heavily affected. In Mozambique there is a desperate need for more helicopters, food aid, shelter and clean water. In Malawi, a good friend of ours Jackie Griffiths has said: “82,725 people have been displaced with many camping out in schools or one of the 187 camps that have been set up in all 14 of the affected districts… Many of our Elim members have been affected as well as church buildings damaged or destroyed.  As well as loss of life or injury due to falling buildings and damage or destruction of buildings, crops which were just a few weeks away from harvest, have been totally destroyed.  This is going to have a long lasting effect.”

In addition to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal in the UK (www.dec.org.uk) the Elim Churches are organising a financial appeal which will coordinate the spending of funds through our own contacts, missionaries, church leaders and workers on the ground. If you would like to give to that Elim Relief Association appeal you can do so now by clicking here. Let's give them a hand to get out of this time of deep trouble.

Prayer that provokes hatred - a spiritual phenomenon

The desperately sad events in Christchurch this week where 50 people have been brutally murdered as they prayed in a Mosque have shaken the whole nation of New Zealand. Like Guernsey, it appears to be a gentle, if somewhat perhaps a little out of date, enclave of old fashioned values. It was a haven of refuge for refugees from civil war in places like Syria and Afghanistan and it is tragic that those escapees should perish in the land of their refuge. I am praying that there will be no retaliatory attacks on churches in places like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Northern Nigeria where tensions are already running high.

That people should be attacked as they pray is no surprise. Apart from the obvious cowardice of the thug involved - after all it takes no courage at all to slaughter innocents who cannot fire back - there is a demonic hatred in the world towards people who pray. Extremists regard such actions as repugnant, as if the prayers of ordinary people are invested with something that scares them. Of Christian prayer, the Bible says that the "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:14). And that is scary to those whose life consists of conspiracy theories and hatred. St Paul teaches that our spiritual weapons, including prayer, "have divine power to demolish strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:4). There is an old bit of poetry which says:
"The devil trembles when he sees
the weakest saint upon his knees."

I hope that Christians will take this opportunity to express love and grace to Muslims they may know or meet. But I also hope that this spotlight on Islam may provoke more fervent prayer for the Muslim world. Muslim immigration in the West is a real opportunity for the church to reach out and bless them with the good news of God's love. Maybe that's one reason why the devil filled one man's heart with hatred and the desire to slaughter them. But he will not win.