Strong Protection for Times of Crisis

This is one of 15 loophole towers built around the coast of Guernsey during the period 1778-79. They are often called 'Martello towers', though these Guernsey forts predate those built in the next century and named after one erected at Martello Point in Malta. This one is at Vazon Bay near our home, on the West coast of the island, and was built by the British to defend against possible invasion by the French.

I went to take this photo this morning as part of my daily exercise programme (we are 'locked down' in our homes except for shopping, exercise and medical emergencies) because I had been greatly encouraged by a passage from the Bible book of Psalms (61). It read:

1 Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.

These towers were first and foremost defensive. But they were also a visible reassurance to islanders that their leaders had their back. They were a boost to morale and an encouragement to believe that all was well. And if the enemy did appear, then they were going to be there as a front line of defence.

I thank God that in this current crisis of global proportions, God is our refuge and fortress, a strong tower against the foe. Our hearts may well be growing faint (mine is!) and fear is a growing problem at this time, but these verses teach us to seek out the shelter and protection of One who is higher than us. 'As my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I'.

I also invite you to tune into the Livestream transmission from Vazon Church, Guernsey, just 500 yards away from the tower, where on Sunday 29th March at 10.45am Pastor Matt Gregor will talk about another similar Psalm - Ps. 46 - with its emphasis on being still and letting God be God! Just search YouTube for Vazon Church and tune in or watch it at a time of your own choosing.

Crisis Plans for Challenging Times - Church Without Walls!

So from this Sunday morning Vazon Church Guernsey will be closed until further notice and the services will continue online through a Live-stream only. What a strange experience this is, not being able to hug others or enjoy communal praise and worship together. But I have had lots of practise at this. For years and for many Sundays I was stuck at home and unable to attend church through illness. I learned some important lessons then that are helping me now:

• Worship is primarily for an audience of One. It is a great thing to go along with a huge crowd, or even a few other believers, to worship, but the whole experience is for God not others. It draws us into intimate fellowship with him, and enables us to express our love for him. I really like the meaning of the New Testament Greek word for worship - 'to kiss the hand towards'. This Sunday, as you sing along with the Live-stream transmission from your local church, make it something for him, not just for them.
• God is present in his Word. Wherever we are privileged to have the Bible freely available and can read along with the Live-stream, following the preached message, we are hearing directly from God. He will speak into living rooms and bedrooms, porches and parlours across the land and around the world. Recognise the significance of that and settle down to let the Almighty speak into your life too. Whenever the Prime Minister holds his Corona-virus updates I like to catch his every word. So, when God speaks, don't dodge out to mow the lawn. Listen carefully, and you will hear too.
• God is with us by his Holy Spirit. That's the great secret of this thing called the church. It's not about buildings. He dwells in us by his Spirit. If the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ up from the dead lives in us, then that's pretty powerful! So when we tune into the Live-stream, join in the singing, open up God's Word, and receive his message, the Holy Spirit is in us to give us power to respond and be changed.

In this challenging period in which we face the greatest public health crisis since the Second World War, we need to hear from God and draw near to him more than ever. Tune into your local church's Live-stream this Sunday and be blessed!

To see ours, go to www.YouTube.com and search for Vazon Elim Church, or else go to the church website www.vazonelim.org.gg.

A Taste of Isolation and Social Distancing

Maybe this your pastoral team ready for church tomorrow! Well, this is no laughing matter is it? But even now is a good time to cheer one another up.

Two new terms have come into mass circulation during the last fortnight. ‘Self-isolation’ and ‘social distancing’. Both are being forced upon us by the circumstances we face as the COVID-19 Corona virus stalks the nations of the globe. They have finally hit our home too, as Diane and I both have respiratory infections and are on antibiotics. We are choosing the latter- social distancing – for the moment but may have to elevate that to code red if either of us develops a fever or other symptoms of the virus.

But the millions who may be self-isolating or social distancing just now are beginning to experience something that people who suffer with chronic illness have known for years. It is hard to be on your own when you are unwell. It is also tough to ask people to stand at a distance from one another when all we want to do is cuddle up and be comforted. Welcome to the world I inhabited at times during 22 years. Being unable to socialise, go to special events, welcome visitors because of your pain or other aspects of one’s condition, all add to the distress suffered by so many.

As an old hand at this, then, are there any tips that I can pass on? Well, a few:
• Use technology as much as you can to stay in touch with the world around you. If you don’t do techno stuff, then find a young child in your family to teach you!

• Try and get into a small portion of God’s Word – the Bible – daily. If you don’t have a copy of the world’s best-selling book, then you can download an app from the You Bible here.

• Remember that phones work two ways. Instead of waiting for someone to phone you, why not plan to call someone else in isolation or need each day. Set up an alarm to remind you of the time to call someone else.

• Don’t forget that you are never truly alone. Jesus said: ‘I will never leave nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5b-6).

• Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings. You can even jot down what you think God may be saying to you in all this solitude. List reasons to be thankful each day.

This season of separation from others will pass, and when it does, you will be uniquely gifted and prepared to offer understanding love and support to those for whom this kind of stuff is daily life.
I talk more about my own seasons of isolation and pain in my latest book Through the Storms; a manual for when life hurts. Click here to order one from Amazon in either Kindle or paperback format, or for a signed copy email me at throughthestorms750@gmail.com

Virus fears and airline collapse test travellers.

I have planned to be in Hereford this weekend to tell my story at Hope City Church but things are trying to get in my way. Firstly, the airline I booked with has gone bust - FlyBE. After 40 years of trading they have finally given up leaving thousands stranded and, saddest of all, throwing 2,000 people out of work. Thankfully, Guernsey has its own airline, Aurigny, and they have flights to Manchester so I can change to that route. BUT - then comes the dreaded train journey!

For someone like me who has a depressed immune system, no pancreas, no spleen etc, respiratory viruses are particularly dangerous. I might end up like the traveller in my photo! 😂 But seriously, there is a lot of fear around this Corona virus and it's that fear that really concerns me. There are many reasons to take reasonable precautions - and I will - but ultimately we need to deal with this inordinate fear.

Over the two decades of my serious ill health I have had to face fear head-on. Sometimes that has been literally the fear of imminent death, like being told that the procedure I was about to undergo had a one-in-three risk of life-threatening complications. There's an amazing bible verse that says that Jesus, through death, delivers those who all the lifetime were subject to the fear of death. The New Testament is full of 'don't be afraid's - some say 366, one for each day of the year and a spare for leap years like this one.

The writer of many of the Psalms said this, 'When I am afraid I will trust in you Lord' (Psalm 56:3). Not 'if' but 'when'. I will be a bit afraid this weekend as I travel, but I choose to trust in God and lean my future heavily upon his hands. And keep washing mine!