We will remember them

A good number gathered to remember the fallen.

From the going down of the sun to the rising of the same

We will remember them

Maggie Thatcher

Picture -Gettypicture

Maggie Thatcher - I doubt anybody who lived through the 80s will ever forget her. She provoked a reaction in everybody. You either loved her or hated her.
She will be remembered as the first female prime minister, the Iron Lady, The Falklands Victor, and the Lady who took on the unions.
She gave the appearance of  a woman of conviction, was a fine orator, and a dominate figure of the late 20th century.
She was of Methodist stock, and we can not deny that it had influence upon her. However at times she could be irreligious, and use the scriptures at in a derogatory way at times including speaking of the Pearly Gates as rusty. Her government in de-regulatory mode attacked the sanctity and advantage of the Lords Day. It is sad that many churches today have cast away this valuable gift God gives to his people. However she brought in section 28, and largely believed in a moral society.
A day after her death, the air waves having being full of recollections, opinions sort and given, we are non the wiser as to the most important question about her life - that is how did she die? We are told she died of a stroke, which is no surprise for a frail lady of 87, but did she die in the Lord or not?
History will judge her achievements - but what is fame and victory?
Paul says he counts all this as dung and dross - that he might win Christ.

Adam and Eve wanted a superinjunction

It seems to me that nothing changes. Men, women , boys and girls sin and want to hid from it and not take responsibility for it.
Adam and Eve sinned, and were ashamed of their sin first making a fig leaf garment and then hiding from God. Of course they never could.
Currently news focuses on various celebrities taking out super injunctions in the courts to hid their sinful antics from general knowledge. Yet it appears that the more they do so, the more comes to light.
The similarities with our first parents is striking.
The attempt to hide is an admission of wrong doing - else what is the problem with people knowing.
Then we must realise that there is nothing that is hid from God. This should both be a comfort to us and a moderator of our behaviour. Comfort because God knows all about our needs and is able to keep us. Moderator because every sin is known to God, and causes Him grief.
All sin has consequences - not just for the sinner but also for those around them.  Sins recorded in the Bible such as Acans lost a battle, and ultimately lead to the destruction of his household.
The only real path is confession and repentance and godly sorrow.
             O thou hideous monster, Sin,
            What a curse hast thou brought in!
            All creation groans through thee,
            Pregnant cause of misery
(Joseph Hart)

Royal Wedding Preparations

With the Royal Wedding day approaching we have begun to make our own preparations.

The flag was raise on a temporary and somewhat precarious flagpole. Marriage in contrast should be permanent and solid.
My prayer is that God has prepared this marriage for the good of our nation.
The writer to the Hebrews tells us marriage is honourable.
May God help us in our marriages to show something of the nature of the relationship between Christ and His church.

Earthquakes in divers places,wars and rumours of wars

This is a good summary of recent news , with the earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan,and the unrest in the middle east. These however were the words of Jesus when his disciples quizzed him about the last times,and when they would be.

We believe that none of these events has taken God by surprise. They show the groaning of creation under the curse, the dreadful effects of sin. They remind us of the impotence of man. God is the one who controls the wind and the waves.

As Christians we have a duty of love towards our fellow man that we should do good to when soever we will (Mark 14:7),and especially to the household of faith. Jesus said that in so doing to the brethren we are doing it to him (Matthew 25 from v 31).

But the question is do these things signal the end time. Jesus said the end is not yet.. first the gospel must be preached to all nations - then shall the end come. - that is what we should be looking for.