Skip to main content

The fete

In our little villages in Devon at some time or another in the Summer months there will be village fetes usually used to raise money for the church of England churches. All large denominations have a big financial problem, a building to maintain.  The Church of England has an added problem in that its buildings are ancient and particularly costly to maintain.  I'm sure our Lord never intended for His children to be burdened with this problem.  When He said,"Go you into all the world and preach the gospel." He didn't say, "And build huge buildings to lumber future generations with onerous problems."  No we did that all by ourselves.  People purporting to bring glory to God by building ornate buildings were really wanting the glory for themselves.  They were thinking,"Look what I have done, what a good chap I am." I attend a small Baptist church most Sunday mornings and they do have a building, but in the evening I meet with a few friends in the house of two of them to learn from the Bible and we never have to spend money on a building.  Instead we can give to people we know, who are working hard to spread the gospel to people near them. We are trying to get back to what Jesus really wants us to do and where he wants us to go.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Why do many disasters happen?

I have written in previous posts about disasters. In the case of Concorde, decisions by people, plus other factors were directly to blame for the event.  In the case of the Penlee disaster it may have been avoided if someone had made a better choice in the time beforehand and as a consequence brave men and the ship's crew and the captain and his family died. 9/11 was certainly the result of wicked men committing a terrorist act, but even in this there was heroism notably by another Cornish man, Rick Rescorla who helped many to safety and left it too late to help himself.  In situations like this we see what the human spirit is capable of both good and evil. What of disasters that come on people because of the earth restless movement of tectonic plates.  Often people live near volcanoes because the land is rich and fertile and they have the chance of a better life there when the volcano is resting.  We cannot blame them for that but sometimes people become complacent...

Always wanting something new

Every time I take a few days off from my blog my ratings slump.  Very rarely do people go back into my old posts and read again.  This is a typical attitude of the human heart, always wanting something different.  At this time of year we should not be greedily wondering want new thing we will be getting for Christmas.  Instead we should be looking at the old, old story, which is ever new of a baby who amazingly was God incarnate, God's gift to those who will put there trust in this one who was to grow up to give His life for His people.  Set aside the controversy over whether December 25th is the actual date of His birth.(Shepherds do not keep their sheep out at night in Israel in December.) and set aside time to think about the fact that He did come and ponder if He came to set you free and if your answer is ,"Yes," He will make you free indeed.

Grey and gloomy

That's how it was in Devon today. But I had a good day. First short mat bowling which I love. It takes your mind off anything that is worrying you too. Then a lunch at the chapel for which a donation is given. This goes to missionary work. Then I had a nap. Next I got fired up to continue writing my sermon for June 21st. It just came so easily. They are usually the best. I'm a beginner so I like to keep well ahead with my sermon writing. My sermon for June 14th was originally written for June 7th, then there was a change of plan. The one for the 21st just needs prayers added now. Probably they are better added nearer the date.