Isolation Agonies!

I have a friend in quarantine. He has about a week to go of his 14 day sentence. It's hard going. Meals put down outside his door. No mixing with hotel staff or anyone else at all. Twenty minutes exercise per day - less than many prison regimes. And his crime? Arriving in Guernsey from the UK to work in our local hospital. Our borders are firmly closed. Anyone arriving in this little group of islands has to isolate for two weeks, or face a fine of up to £10,000. One man was recently fined £6,000 for his first offence!

My experience of chronic pain is that it isolates the sufferer. You can't go out socialising because you simply don't feel up to it. Even within families and homes you can't take the noise and hassle of chatter and being with others. Sadness is compounded by loneliness as you ask yourself 'Will I ever feel different?'.

Yes, you will. You are not shut up for ever. Try to look beyond the confines of your situation. Even lying in bed you could FaceTime or Skype someone you love. Above all, keep your mind on the fact that you are never truly alone. Jesus said "I will never leave you, I will never forsake you".

For some of the lessons that I have learned in my many periods of real isolation caused by pain and recurring acute pancreatitis, get hold of my book 'Through the Storms: a manual for when life hurts'. And/or, get in touch with me at throughthestorms750@gmail.com as I would be pleased to hear from you.

My friend will emerge from behind his cage next week. I will be pleased to see him, and I hope he will be even better equipped to understand how people in chronic pain feel. But if you are feeling isolated today, I hope you will reach out by some means to get help to just get through. Better days are ahead!

Bailiwick Bubble

This is the first day of freedom from all Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in the bailiwick of Guernsey. (Saturday 20th June 2020). The island group of Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm, plus a few smaller islands, has eliminated the virus with no new cases for 50 days now, and so there is no more need for social distancing, special measures or limits on numbers of people gathering. Tonight there will be a 'gig' in a local music venue and tomorrow the islands' churches will fling open their doors to all-comers!

Wow, what a moment for our small communities! It is being officially called our 'bailiwick bubble' because we can all function normally as we did before the pandemic with one exception. If we travel further than these islands, or if someone arrives here, they must strictly self-isolate for 14 days, checked by police and subject to a £10,000 fine if breached. So, in some ways, this is an artificial 'normal' not really the new normal. But it is a great start and we are grateful for the actions of our government and the expertise of its public health team led by Dr Nicola Brink. Leadership plus community action have led to this success, but those of us who pray for them are grateful to God too for this outcome.

Of course, 'fortress Guernsey' can only go on for a limited time. One day the borders will reopen, although the island's leaders are talking about 'when a vaccine comes' or when neighbouring jurisdictions get their virus under real control. Until then we can enjoy our new freedom and welcome the chance to live life as we can whist experiencing a kind of bigger 'isolation'.

This reminds me of the importance of being together with others. I am longing to see the faces of our faith community at Vazon Elim Church in the morning. We will continue to Livestream our services and value our online congregation highly. We know we have folk sharing with us from the UK, Belgium, Spain, Canada and even South Africa! In that sense we are not cut off, but being able to meet together in person as Christians, to love and even hug those who are not too scared to do so, is an absolute dream. Hope you can join us at 10.45am, in the flesh or online - come and celebrate! You will be so welcome to our bailiwick bubble!

Feet of Clay or Heart of Stone?

Statues are falling everywhere. From Baghdad to Bournemouth and from London to LA, no memorial, it seems, is safe. Winston Churchill's in Parliament Square is boxed up in metal for protection. Baden Powell's in Dorset was being guarded by old men in Boy Scout uniforms and is also now boxed. No matter how much good or commendable stuff the person being remembered may have done, down they come, or else they are being redecorated with all manner of ordure!

I have real sympathy with the grass-roots of this anti racist movement, though I fear the statue protests may be ineffective. We were all horrified by the murder of George Floyd and by the statistics of racism in both US and UK. But, whilst it is the case that the pulling down of the statue of Sadam Hussein in Baghdad may have given some relief to those pounding it with their sandals, it failed to eradicate corruption and violence in Iraq. Only substantial heart change could do that.

I also recall the response of Jesus to a baying mob. They wanted an adulterous woman to be stoned for her appalling sins. Jesus said 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone'. One by one the crowd dispersed, until Jesus was left with a woman whose life would never be the same again. If human perfection and purity is to be the standard by which the people pulling down statues have to qualify for being there, I think their ropes would lie limp. 

I remember another statue too. It is written about in Daniel chapter 2 and featured in a dream to King Nebuchadnezzar. In his night vision he saw a huge human image made from different materials, gold, silver, bronze and iron, each representing dynasties to come. The thing that strikes me is that the idol had feet and toes of clay (this is where we get our proverb from about leaders who have 'feet of clay'). 

And that's the point isn't it? These great men (and sadly it is usually men) all had feet of clay. They were human beings like you and me, and they were sinners, products of the age in which they lived. It is as foolish to make images of them and stick them on pedestals as it is to gather in screaming mobs to tear them down. Nothing great is achieved by either action, though it may give temporary pleasure or relief.

I suggest we look away from people of stone and bronze and focus on ourselves, flesh and blood that we are. Only God can change our hearts. Racism is a dreadful poison that afflicts our society, but the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. I need to repent, and ask God for his power to eradicate the idols I have erected in my heart. Only then can I begin to address the ills of a society which, given the centuries it has had the truth of the gospel, seems to be intent on ignoring it. 

In Daniel's day the heathen king was shaken by the dream and its interpretation and confessed that Daniel's God was Lord of lords and King of kings. Heart change needs that revelation. Let's tear down the idols in our hearts today.

A Deadly Challenge

Overcoming impossible odds is nothing new. Facing huge challenges that are shaking nations and costing thousands of lives is not novel, though the Corona virus may be. Human history is marked by this kind of crisis and thus far there are reasons why it has always been overcome.

Today, the 6th June, marks the 76th anniversary of the Normandy landings - D-day. Hundreds of thousands of Allied troops hurled themselves against the might of the German army in Hitler's Atlantic Wall. The casualty rate was high, though not as high as that faced by the Allies today in their battle against Covid-19, at least not in the Normandy campaign (one estimate puts it at nearly 37,000 dead amongst the ground forces and a further 16,714 deaths amongst the Allied air forces). The UK has over 40,000 deaths from the virus in the last 3 months alone and the US many more. But, the opposition to the D-day landings was dreadful and seemed impregnable, yet today the remnants of that resistance can be seen broken and rusting in the French (and Guernsey) countryside.

Victory comes at tremendous cost. Yet there are some things that are always needed to secure it. A wartime spirit of unity and self-sacrifice, for instance. An acceptance that my comfort and well-being are not all that matters. A desire for the greater good for all and a willingness to serve rather than to be served. All these were present in Normandy this day 76 years ago and are needed now. But probably the greatest need in our day is for leadership that inspires and perseveres with a clear goal in mind. Winston Churchill was once asked what his plans were. He replied 'Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival'.

Victory came in 1945, a year later. It was at great cost. But we must hold onto the hope and ideal of victory at this time too. Pray for a vaccine to be found. Praise God for every lowering of infection rates, but pray on for complete elimination of the virus. Lift up governments and public health leaders in intercession and prayer. And be prepared for this to take time. D-day led onto a year of fierce combat before VE-day.

The death of Christ at Calvary and his glorious resurrection assures us that the war is won, but the fulfillment of its great victory remains ahead.

Double Standards or Simple Privilege?

The UK government has had a bad week. Losing ground in the polls is one thing, but weakening their grasp on the public health message is something altogether more dangerous. It could cost lives. And in case your isolation has meant that you have not been aware of the row at the centre of all this - the right hand advisor to the British Prime Minister, one Dominic Cummings, has been heavily criticised after allegations that he allegedly broke lockdown rules early in the pandemic - rules that he had helped to draw up. Some polls have shown a majority of people in favour of his removal from his post or resignation, but there are still a large number who wish the whole story would just go away. Among them is Boris Johnson, who seems indifferent to criticism on this matter and is renowned for standing by his officers when they err (perhaps due to his own experiences of being fired and shamed following mistakes in the past).

In my opinion, though, what we are seeing here is the typical British expression of the worldwide phenomenon known as 'privilege' - a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. It is not unique to the UK though it often expresses itself in very different and sometimes extreme ways, like the Indian caste system, or the American worship of riches and success in business. It causes untold harm wherever it becomes the norm, and can lead to situations where people lose respect for their leaders and confidence in their ability to guide and direct others.

Privilege also leads to a drawbridge mentality where members of a particular social class or grouping become extra protective of one another and closed to the needs of those outside the group. In the case of the UK government as a whole I am sure that is not so, but that impression could be gained from what has been going on. Hopefully, lessons will be learnt, and the media agenda will move on, but possibly not before significant harm may be done to the government's public health agenda.

As a Christian I don't like the concept of privilege. Unfairness adds a load of  discouragement to the burden of lockdown and isolation. The potential for discrimination and superiority is real, and the danger for looking down our noses at others is anathema to the Jesus we follow and serve. He saw the needs of the dispossessed and marginalised, calling them to Himself. He touched the lepers and elevated them to social acceptance. He challenged the privileged attitude of the Jewish leaders, urging them to take care, in case their actions put burdens onto people's backs that they were unable to bear.

In short, He created a new world order where those who are called to rule are firstly those who learn to humble themselves and serve.

This is Mental Health Awareness week (declared by the World Health Organisation) and this year they have chosen the theme 'kindness'. They did so long before the lockdown, but they have really hit the nail on the head. Being kind to one another is a fundamental part of our humanity. When asked why they had chosen this theme, Mark Rowland the Chief Executive of the UK's Mental Health Foundation said 'We have chosen kindness because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. Wisdom from every culture across history recognises that kindness is something that all human beings need to experience and practise to be fully alive'.

Random acts of kindness can transform the drab, humdrum experience of lockdown. Those who are shielding because of some illness, or due to age, are being helped by strangers who have offered themselves by the hundreds of thousands to get involved. Food-banks are operating, often without PPE, in order to make gifts to those who are struggling economically during these tough times. Churches are organising donations of 'goody bags' for NHS staff in hospitals and care home staff.

Kindness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22, along with virtues like love, joy and peace. So, being kind and mental well-being are closely linked. We need the courage to reach out in kindness towards people we may not even know. We discovered in Zimbabwe that when we could not yet even speak the local language, there is a language of love and kindness that breaks all barriers down.

And we need to be kind to ourselves too. I talk about this in my book Through the Storms; a manual for when life hurts. In the chapter 'How Much am I Worth?' I share how hard we can be on ourselves because we don't feel worthy of the love and service from others, especially in chronic conditions. May we learn that God is kind, and God is love, and that He longs for us to be kind also - and charity begins at home! Go easy on yourself in this lockdown, and receive the grace of God in its fulness.

Can God point to us as examples of His kindness? He should be able to. Ephesians 2:7 (Living Bible) says: 'And now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through Jesus Christ'. So, in this mental health awareness week, let's choose to be kind to ourselves and to one another as an expression of our humanity, and our faith in Christ.

Pulling out too Quickly? How does the road ahead look?

The speed of emerging out of lockdown is a major issue in Britain now. In our island of Guernsey the goal of our leaders has changed. Whereas it was 'flatten the curve' a few weeks ago, it is now 'eliminate the virus'. After 15 days without a new case or infection of Covid-19 being reported, the local Chief Minister and his team seem confident that elimination can be achieved. That will only last, of course, until the borders are opened and flights and ferries return to service, but it does mean that lockdown can be undone with a little more pace than was planned.

But over in the UK there is widespread concern and disagreement about the pace at which the lockdown measures can be released. Clearly there is a balance to be struck and no step taken to undo the restrictions will be risk free - not even here in our lovely island. Yet the story from elsewhere around the world, even in Wuhan itself, gives grounds for hope.

What I do feel that God is saying to me in all this is that we all need to patient and accept the slowness of the process without fear or recriminations. Political leaders have a tough balancing act to perform. In one sense, they can't win, due to pressure both to protect lives and restart the economy. We should pray for those in authority over us that God will give them wisdom beyond themselves and courage to lead well.

Slowing down is a personal challenge, though. It means letting go of that fretting and fear that so easily causes panic and prevents us resting, praying and laughing too. It is a process of recognising who is control - not me, nor the politicians, not the virus and definitely not the devil!

This morning I was reading in Revelation 19 the vision of Jesus riding a white horse in final victory at the end of time. 'On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords'. Let Jesus be lord and choose to slow down and rest in him. Each day, we can find peace and rest for our souls when we choose faith and not fear, trust and not terror.

In Matthew 11:28-30 in The Message, Jesus says: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Free at Last!

Whilst we celebrated with all of the UK and around Europe for VE Day yesterday, it is today, May the 9th, that is our national day in Guernsey - our Liberation Day! I was surprised that in all the coverage of yesterday's celebrations in the media, no mention was made that these British islands endured five long years of occupation by the Germans.

The final few months of the Nazi presence in Guernsey were the worst, especially after D-Day. According to one eye-witness, Mrs Irene Dunk, who was the wife of Rev Gilbert Dunk, minister of Eldad Elim Church in the island's capital St Peter Port, both the local population and the occupying forces were cut off from outside supplies in a siege situation and starving. Only the arrival of the Red Cross ship the Vega at New Year 1945, bringing food parcels from Canada and New Zealand for the local people, brought any degree of relief. In a small booklet published some years ago, Mrs Dunk, who went on to live until aged 100, tells of surviving for three weeks along with her husband and their small child, on a diet of parsnips alone before those vital supplies were received.

Finally, the Allied Force 135 arrived off St Peter Port on May 8^th, 1945, but even then, things were tense and frightening. The Commandant, a fervent Nazi named Admiral Huffmeier, had vowed that he would never surrender. There was a real possibility that the Allies might need to fight their way ashore against an opposed landing. When his deputy, a Leutnant Zimmerman, told the force to withdraw or else they would be fired upon, Brigadier Snow replied that if the Admiral fired upon them today, they would hang him tomorrow! Thankfully he was over-ruled by his subordinates and the next day British troops poured into St Peter Port to be mobbed by grateful islanders.

We should thank God for the freedom we enjoy today. When Gilbert Dunk stood cheering in the crowds at North Esplanade that first Liberation Day, a local preacher whom he knew grabbed his shoulder and yelled excitedly “this is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes!”. God had heard their anxious appeals for deliverance and had brought them through great trials to eventual liberty. Through all the long years of deprivation and loss there had remained that hope for freedom, and a heart cry of prayer for its fulfillment. Early in the Occupation an RAF plane had dropped leaflets over Guernsey containing a personal message from King George VIth promising “We will return...”, feeding the hope that would be finally fulfilled on the 9th May 1945.

Our present lockdown is hard, and the virus a deadly enemy. Let's take hope from the fact that the long and terrible ordeal of our parents did end, and ours will too. 'We'll meet again!'

Our home decked overall in flags

How Much Further?

Most parents of little children dread the phrases 'how much further?' and 'are we there yet?’ from long family car journeys. The kicking of the back of the front seats can drive you crazy! Young minds cannot yet fully grasp concepts like distance and timing and are easily bored. Thankfully, they are also easily distracted.

The media are in the grip of the same obsession. Speculation about how much longer the lockdown will continue is the publishing pandemic. It seems all the more significant because it resonates in most of our hearts. We all want to know when and how this will end.

When life’s troubles go on for a long time, like this lockdown, similar questions arise in our adult hearts too. ‘My soul is in deep anguish. How long, O Lord, how long?’ (Psalm 6:3). As we approach the 75th anniversary of Liberation from the Nazi occupation of our island, can you imagine how often our parents must have asked the same question during the five long years of restrictions, curfews, starvation and fear?

I asked that question too, many times during the 22 years of my battle with serious and chronic ill health. I longed for the trials to come to an end. There's nothing wrong or abnormal about that.

Early in my ordeal I felt that God gave me  the bible text 1 Peter 5:10 as a personal promise. ‘And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast’ (1 Peter 5:10). I held onto the ‘little while’ part of the verse like a drowning man clasping a piece of flotsam. But as the months, years and finally decades passed without an end to my problem, I started looking again at what the Bible means by the phrase. God’s ‘little while’ turns out to be quite unlike my own interpretation of those words. His timing is not my timing. It was used in scripture to represent lots of different time periods from 70 years to 3 days and nights! The important thing was that there was a time limit, set by God and known only to Him.

My own ‘little while’ appears to have ended now, although storms will not cease completely till we reach heaven. I praise Him for His sustaining grace in the trial and for bringing me out of it. As in Ecclesiastes ch3, ‘there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.’ Take courage from that assurance today. God has the timing in His hands, and He will bring you out of this season when its time is done. When Jesus calmed the wind and waves on the Galilee, the one that threatened to drown his disciples, He stilled the storm when He was finished with it, not when they were. His timing is always perfect and His sovereignty and power unlimited.

Not going out? The hidden cost.

I received an email from an old friend who just happens to be a retired consultant psychiatrist. He shared his concern about an impending 'avalanche of mental illness' following this period of lockdown. I share his concern and pray often for those who are closed in with issues of the mind that are being intensified and increased by this enforced isolation.

One factor of this is the absence of the grace of touch for many millions. I recognise that I am greatly blessed in this regard because I am at home with my loving wife, but for so many, it may be weeks since they touched anyone, or were touched in return. I learned the value of human touch in Intensive Care. I had been there for two or three weeks on that occasion, hooked up to the many machines that were keeping me alive. Every now and then a nurse would have to come and take my pulse the old way, holding my wrist gently between thumb and fingers. I relished those moments of simple kindness, physical contact with a fellow human being. Touch brings reassurance, the sharing of life, closeness, and science tells us, can even increase our store of the well-being hormone Serotonin.

If you have a pet, you will know how much they mean in this regard. If not, then the absence of being touched is just one of the pressures you are facing. Can I just point you to the One who reached out and touched so many while He was on Earth? Jesus was criticised for His willingness to embrace those who were untouchable in society, such as lepers and people of low moral reputation. Some years ago we used to sing; "When I feel the touch of Your hand upon my life, it causes me to sing a song, that I love You Lord". It may seem a bit sentimental but it is real to many millions of believers in Christ who are finding that He is there with them in their isolation at this time.

I am also grateful for the technology that can help us all keep in touch at this time. Our church is using Live-streaming via YouTube to broadcast hope-giving services each Sunday morning at 10.45am which can then be viewed later if you wish. Just search for Vazon Church on YouTube or go to the church website www.vazonelim.org.gg. We are also part of #stayconnect Guernsey which is making wifi and tablets available to those who are unable to keep in touch with loved ones, and if you know anyone who could benefit from a free loan or gift of such things, please contact me at throughthestorms750@gmail.com and we will try to help.

Shielding as a Means of Defence

I had been prepared for the letter. My GP had phoned to say she was sending it to me and that I should not be alarmed when I opened it. I was and I wasn't. Alarmed I mean, but I was sobered by it, and did become a bit alarmed in the night when I thought about it too deeply. But there were no surprises there. Based on my medical records I had been identified as someone at very high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and that I should be 'shielding'. There followed a long list of stringent advice and directions all designed for my safety, which was to be in place for 12 weeks from the receipt of the letter.

As you can imagine, this had led to a lot of conversations in our home, much thought and prayer. I am so grateful that Diane is with me, and my heart goes out to you if you are alone through this crisis. We know that we are not alone, and that God is with us, but it's so hard to be without that flesh and blood embrace that comforts when things get tough.

For the Christian, however, shielding is nothing new. Right back in the Genesis God spoke to the first man of faith, and told him; ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’ He was going to need that protective shield a lot in the trials that lay ahead of him. In Psalm 3:3 'But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high'. And in Psalm 18:30 'he shields all who take refuge in him'.

Now that doesn't mean that those who trust in God will be immune to the problems of life. My experience has revealed the emptiness of that idea, but it does mean that we have a higher power who loves us and is watching out for us. We have someone to turn to in the night when we are afraid. There is one who loves us and waits up with us, listening to our every cry in distress.

In Ephesians 6 St Paul speaks about lifting up the shield of faith with which we will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one. And in this period of shielding I am going to have to take that advice on board. Choosing faith and not fear is a big one. Each day, and especially at night, we need to be using that shield of faith. There are plenty of fiery arrows around at the moment, some of them invisible to the naked eye, so our shield of faith is a vital piece of lockdown kit.

A tsunami of kindness and a wave of hope? Where did that come from?

There is a strange stirring in my heart this Good Friday in the 2020 Corona lock-down. Beneath the sadness and frustration that we cannot be out in the sunshine there is a glimmer of something hopeful. A dawn of different thinking, maybe of new attitudes and actions too. What could this be?

• Hope? What for - the end of the pandemic? A vaccine? Not just those glorious things, though I feel sure that they will come. My hope is in God, his faithfulness, his promises, his unchanging grace. After all, it's Friday, but thank God Sunday's coming! Jesus who died rose again on the third day and is alive today. 
• Kindness? It is happening. I am seeing the green shoots of a tsunami of kindness. A million volunteers offering to brave the front-line of the virus to assist the NHS and care services around Britain. Doctors and nurses putting themselves in danger to save others - the spirit of Calvary in action - in some cases dying because of their service. Others unable to go home due to a vulnerable person in their household.
• Community? Crowds of people last evening in my road standing outside together (2 metres apart!) to applaud all who are serving on the front-line against this scourge. And as we exercise, isn't there a new sense of closeness to those we pass? Not so much averting their gaze now - more of a sense of 'we're all in this together'.  And after all the dreadful division of Brexit at last the political language has moderated. A new unity? Well, maybe that's a bit soon to say, but we do feel that we are striving against a common enemy, and not demonising others for their differing viewpoints.
• Faith? Come on - be honest. There is a small fire burning in hearts that have been cold and faith-dead or years. Of course the questions come - 'why?' 'where is God in all this?' - and that's right, but folk are feeling spiritually peckish again. There is food to be had. Our own church at Vazon Elim in Guernsey is seeing 5 times the number of people tuning in to our Livestream services than would normally be in the building. Worship and witness have taken to the airwaves and burst into new life!

So, on the Easter weekend, let's thank God for the seeds of hope, kindness, community and faith, and then water them with our prayers. As Her Majesty the Queen said; 'We will meet again'. May it be soon, Lord!

A new stillness brings the chance for our souls to breathe

A blanket of silence has descended on our roads and lanes in my home island of Guernsey. Where once walkers were dodging endless lines of busy traffic, now they can wander quite freely except for the occasional passing car. In this period of quietness, we are hearing new sounds. Birdsong and the hum of bees is replacing clunky diesels and screeching scooters. We can hear the waves lapping on the beach. Building sites are silent and once busy offices deserted. We have entered a season when we can at last hear our own heartbeat. And, at least for most of us, it is beating fast with fear.

‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in you (Lord)’. These are the words of King David in Psalm 56. He knew lots of fear in his life too and decided that he needed to choose faith not fear in order to cope with his many deadly challenges.

If there is any silver lining to our current dark cloud of Corona virus lockdown, it is in the stillness that surrounds us. Just as it allows us to hear nature, so a place of quietness each day will enable us to hear from heaven. When I was a young Christian, we were encouraged to plan to have a quiet time each day when we would read a portion of the Bible and pray. God can speak to us in the stillness. It is still of infinite value to Diane and myself today, especially at a time like this. Maybe this season of isolation gives you a good opportunity to reinstate that habit.

Once when the prophet Elijah was facing the threat of imminent death, following a national period of crisis, he went up a mountain to be alone with God. There he saw a vision of an earthquake, a raging storm of wind and a blazing fire. He discovered that God was not in those things. Then he heard a gentle whisper and realised that the Lord was speaking to him. That gentle whisper became his lifeline.

As we have time to be still in these difficult days, let’s listen for that gentle whisper again, and in our fearful hearts choose to trust in God.

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!

Storm lessons on air and in print

Today's Health and Wellbeing section of the Guernsey Press featured my book Through the Storms; a manual for when life hurts. In addition, tomorrow morning, Friday 28th February, at 11am I will be on the JKT chat show on BBC Radio Guernsey to talk about the book. I don't like the self-promotion that goes along with all this publicity but I do want my book to be in the hands of people who need it.

As I recorded another interview this afternoon with a UK station I found myself almost overwhelmed with gratitude that I am still alive and able to share my story. The interviewer was from a part of the UK that has been inundated with flood waters during recent stormy weather and once again I felt for the dear folk affected. Storms are no respecter of status, education or ability, but strike all of us at times we are probably least expecting. Certainly that was my experience, and I just hope that this book, now fully published, will give hope, encouragement and comfort to many.

Once again, you can order it here online at Amazon.co.uk where you can get the paperback or Kindle versions. Alternatively, try your local bookstore. In Jersey there are some at Waterstones in St Helier, and in Guernsey at the Lexicon bookshop. If you want a signed copy then email me at throughthestorms750@gmail.com and I will gladly send you one.

When Streets Become Rivers

Raging floods have hit Britain this week and more rain is threatened. Storm Dennis has moved away but in its place torrential rain has saturated soil and swollen rivers beyond tolerance. An Environment Agency boss, David Throup, who manages the area of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, tweeted that the River Wye has hit levels not seen in 110 years. According to the BBC, the Agency has said that there is still a "heightened flood risk" in the Midlands with five severe warnings - meaning there is a danger to life - still in place near the Welsh border around the rivers Lugg, Severn and Wye.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in the worst-affected areas, which include south Wales, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. You can only imagine the distress and sadness of the people whose lives are affected, and whose homes are inundated with mud, flood water and sewage. Suddenly, the issue of climate change becomes less of a theory and more of a daily reality.

Life's storms are very real. In a moment, what was chugging along nicely can be turned on its head. Where once were security and familiar circumstances there can come uncertainty and chaos, bringing with them fear and apprehension on a grand scale. For me it was the sudden onslaught of devastating chronic ill health. Along with it came a flood of problems like - how will we pay our rent? Who will provide food for our family? Will I even survive?

Thank God that we don't have to face life's storms alone. God says 'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.' (Isaiah 43:2). The storms of life can be endured and overcome when we know the active, manifest presence of Almighty God with us. That's why I am thrilled to have published this week my latest book 'Through the Storms; a manual for when life hurts'. If you are going through devastating storms right now, or you know someone who is, get a copy of this book for yourself or to give to them. Click here to order one in paperback or Kindle format. Or you can email me to obtain a signed copy at throughthestorms750@gmail.com

Don't wait till the waters rise or the floods come. Remember the motto of the Scouts movement; 'Be Prepared!'

When storms just keep coming!

Like the famous red London buses, storms go missing for a while, and then they come one after the other! Last weekend we shuddered under the onslaught of Storm Ciara, then yesterday I took the photo here during what I understand was Storm Inez and now we are expecting to be rocked by Storm Dennis! Thank God for sea defences is all I can say!

Sadly, though, for many around the UK, especially in places like Pately Bridge in Yorkshire, flood defences were overwhelmed. Homes and businesses have been flooded, and not for the first time. My heart goes out to those dear folk who have suffered this all before, and probably can't move because of the record of flooding in their area.

But, there can be no argument with the warning that comes from the old motto of the Scout movement. 'Be Prepared!'. Our nearby island of Jersey is thinking about the possibility of spending over 200 million pounds on beefing up their sea defences by 2050.

Jesus told of the need for builders to erect their homes on foundations of rock, not sand, because when the storm comes they will not be washed away. Elsewhere the Bible says 'that rock was Christ!'. Certainly, my own experience through the storms of the last couple of decades has been that knowing Jesus and his love and power have kept me in the most appalling circumstances. If you would like to receive a copy of my latest book Through the Storms then email me at throughthestorms750@gmail.com or click here to pre-order online.

Preparing for Stormy Weather

We are bracing ourselves for Storm Ciara expected in the Channel this weekend. When storms hit, it is best to be ready. Sea defences are a vital part of the infrastructure near my home on the West Coast of Guernsey. Here, we are exposed to the huge swells that roll in from the Atlantic, driven by powerful westerly gales. If combined with a high tide, this can produce flooding and causes huge seas to crash over the sea-walls.

Being ready means you don’t wait until the storm comes before you prepare. Life has plenty of storms to throw at us. In my case, 22 years of agony with frequent hospitalisations and surgeries. In the aftermath of my physical storm I now wrestle with mental ones – as waves of PTSD hurl themselves against my defences. Your scenario will be different, but even if all is calm just now, getting ready is still wise.

My book, Through the Storms; a manual for when life hurts, is written as part of personal storm defences. It doesn’t presume that things are rough for you just now, but offers insight, advice and encouragement for when they are. It also gives you a resource in your hands to offer others as they battle with the elements.

Contact me on the form below, or email me at throughthestorms750@gmail.com to order your own signed copy today. £8.99 plus £1.75 p&p in the UK. Or, you can pre-order the book at Amazon by clicking here https://amzn.to/2SfwRSO.

As a good scout would say, 'Be prepared!'.

Free at Last? As Brexit finally beckons...

Free at last? At 11pm this evening, the 31st January 2020, the United Kingdom will end its 47 year history of membership of the EU. Many will be celebrating this moment as a return to the good old days of independence. Others will be mourning the passing of close links with our European neighbours. But will we be truly free? Yes, perhaps, free of the unelected bureaucracy that seems to dominate the EU project. Free from the jurisdiction of the European institutions and courts. But really free? I don't think so.

When the Christian leader John Donne said famously that no man is an island entire of itself, he could have been speaking for a nation too. In this global age, the UK will need to carve out a new identity for itself in the family of nations. Going its own way from the block of now 27 nations that is the EU, could easily lead to a period of isolation. Real freedom comes, not from withdrawal and introspection, but engagement, mission and an outward look.

The same is true for the church. God has called us to be a people with an open heart for the world. Donne went on to challenge his readers not to ask 'for whom the bell tolls' as it tolls for each one of us. Real freedom is the freedom to be all that God designed us to be. At times it will come from the laying down of our lives and selfish aims, as much as from the taking up of new opportunities.

The UK has a proud history of serving other nations in their times of need. Twice, they have stepped in to liberate the very territories of the EU that they are about to walk away from. May the vision of its role in the wider world not be diminished by the sounding of bells at 11pm this evening.

Does Britain Have an Opioid Crisis?

Does Britain have an opioid crisis? Dr Michael Mosely thinks so. In this week's Horizon programme on BBC 2 he highlighted the dreadful statistics from across the pond in the USA as a warning to us. He said that in the UK over half a million people are taking opiates like morphine for chronic pain. His claim is that there is evidence that for most of them (he says 90%) the pills are doing no good and can lead to addiction. He also cites the increased danger of accidental overdose - something that happened to me on more than one occasion. I actually stopped breathing once, shortly after putting on a 75mcg patch of Fentanyl and was saved by the presence of a nurse in my home who called the ambulance and got me into hospital. So, I know the stuff he is talking about after 22 years on varying doses of opiates, sometimes up to 5 times what the programme described as 'dangerous levels'.

But, as my book Through the Storms; a manual for when life hurts covers in one chapter, there is another side to this so-called 'opioid crisis'. How about 'a chronic pain epidemic'? Because the problem is that with all this kind of publicity there is a danger of heaping shame and guilt onto sufferers of chronic pain without offering them viable alternatives. Often, it is not their fault that they have been prescribed these drugs by well-meaning doctors, but they are made to feel wretched for needing them. I certainly was at times.

There are research programmes into alternatives to opiate prescribing but they all too often fall into one category or another. Either they are looking into other equally strong but frighteningly powerful drugs, such a gabapentin or similar, or else they are based around well-being. This may all be well and good but, in my case, I don't think a bit of gardening with friends would have dealt with crushing agony of chronic pancreatitis with recurring acute episodes!

I am so thankful for the temporary relief I received from a spinal neuro stimulator and also for the amazing surgical intervention I finally received at the Newcastle International Transplant unit in 2017. Today, after 22 years of appalling pain, I am largely pain-free and also free of any need for opiates.

There is a scandal surrounding the easy availability of powerful pain killers over the counter in the UK, but in my book I am concerned for the many affected by chronic pain without hope of relief except by means of these potentially dangerous opioids. Government funding should be moved into research into alternatives alongside any public information programmes such as this one.

If you are in pain, and can't wait for the publication date for my book on Amazon (20th Feb) please email me at throughthestorms750@gmail.com and I will send you one by mail and can include an invoice for you to make a bank transfer or send a cheque.

The Cult of Celebrity

For the last two days half my daily tabloid newspaper has been full of the Prince Harry & Megan story! It seems that the decision of this relatively young couple to step back from front-line royal duties has taken the British press by storm. Nor could I believe the negativity of their articles and the ridiculous degree of scrutiny being given to this fairly minor set of events. It even knocked the US/Iran crisis into a much less prominent report halfway through the paper, including the possible shooting down of an aircraft with the deaths of over 170 people! It seems to me that we are gripped by one of the worst examples of the cult of celebrity. One dictionary definition of this phenomenon is 'the tendency of people to care too much about famous people'.

Some years ago a scholar at Warwick University in the UK did some interesting research on the cult of celebrity. Dr Angie Hobbs, then of the Department of Philosophy, said "It’s a phenomenon we need to take seriously. Why people are confusing fame and celebrity with the type of activities and creations that are greatly worth celebrating."✽ We probably care too much about the activities of famous people because we get to hear too much about them. Social media and the proliferation of 24 hour news means that there is an insatiable appetite for stories, and plenty of people willing to supply them.

I'm sure that much of the charitable work of the royal couple is highly worthy of promotion and fame. The monarchy itself, as an institution that brings stability and unity to an otherwise overheated political system and national differences, is to be celebrated and preserved. But not to a ridiculous extent that makes a mockery of the amazing achievements of so many who do truly great things in our land in the service of others and of God.

It was once said that the world is yet to see what can be achieved by someone who doesn't care who gets the glory! Today, give thanks for the folk who have blessed you and don't seek the limelight. I thank God for a professor of surgery and his colleagues who spent themselves unstintingly to save my life. I am grateful too, for the humble tomato grower who invited me to church in my teens so that I could learn to follow Christ.

R.T.Kendall wrote a book called 'Popular in Heaven Famous in Hell' and maybe that's the only celebrity that really matters!


✱https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/knowledge-archive/socialscience/celebrity/

The Rattling of God's Bucket

I was passing by a field near our home in which a Guernsey farmer keeps his sheep. Sheep are not common in our island, where the Guernsey cow has pretty much dominated the fields and farms for so long, but this is one of the more remarkable flocks. The sheep are black and white speckled in colour and have long horns. some of those horns are twisted and give these guys and girls a somewhat hostile appearance.

I was surprised by their posture. Normally they are spread out across the meadow engaged in avid grass consumption. This time, they were stretched out in a line, all turned to look intently towards the farmer's house, situated about 500 metres away down the lane. They ignored me and everything around them as they clearly only had eyes for one thing - their shepherd - but he was nowhere in sight.

As I moved on and passed his home, Tony the farmer was walking out on his way to the field. In his hand he held a metal bucket containing animal feed. Either those sheep had heard the rattling of his bucket, or else they were aware of the time day that he normally came. Whatever, these sheep were looking intently for their shepherd to come.

Are you, as a Christian, looking for the coming again of the Good Shepherd? The Bible says we should be (Titus 2:13). And are we listening out for what God is preparing to do in our day? This is the rattling of God's bucket. It may be faint and distant, but if we are looking to God and listening for Him too, we should be positioning ourselves to be ready.

Do you hear that bucket rattle?

Happy New Year.

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?'