General Chat

Good morning :-)

Hello Sylvia, nice to see you. Definitely much cooler now and rainy too - but not as bad as yours sounds......stay warm and cosy :-D


Continuing the story of John Bunyan.....


In 1660 Cromwell's Protectorate came to an end and the monarchy was restored. In the belief that national unity could only be achieved by religious uniformity, the state attempted to restrain the developing Independent congregations by forbidding preaching.

Bunyan was arrested in the hamlet of Samsell just after he had begun a meeting. He was held at nearby Harlington Manor overnight; appearing before the local justices the next morning, he was sentenced to three months in prison.

Since Bunyan refused to give an assurance not to preach, he remained in the County Gaol for 12 years from 1661 to 1672. In vain, his wife Elizabeth tried to get his case reopened by pleading with Sir Matthew Hale, the Lord Chief Justice of England, when he stayed in Bedford. Bunyan was allowed several privileges as a prisoner since he was not a common criminal.

The prison was only five minutes' walk from his home so food was brought into his cell, often by his blind daughter Mary. He also received daily visits from friends and had occasional excursions from prison, keeping him in close contact with members of the congregation. During imprisonment he supported his family by making "long-tagged bootlaces" which they could sell.

Cx :-)

Indeed, the first day of Fall ................ and it is pouring with rain here!! It is also much cooler.

This is the first in a series of storms that will be rolling in from across the Pacific over the next week.

Hurricane Teddy arrived in Nova Scotia this morning .............. luckily downgraded from the Grade 3 that it was earlier this week. Again pouring rain and very high winds.


Keep safe, take care, everyone

Hello all

First day of Autumn today and it's much cooler.

David, I hope your operation next week will go well and you can soon go back home to be with Ellen.

Interesting reading about John Bunyan. Thank you.

Good morning :-)

Continuing the story of John Bunyan.....

In 1653 he joined the newly-formed Independent church that met in St John's Church, Bedford, south of the river, where he became friends with their pastor John Gifford.

By 1655 Bunyan and his family were living in St Cuthbert's Street in Bedford and it was at this time that Bunyan discovered he was a gifted preacher. In 1656 he became involved in disputes with local Quakers under Edward Burrough and these led to his first book ‘Some Gospel Truths Opened’.

In 1658 his first wife died and the following year he married his second wife, Elizabeth, with whom he had two children. In this year he also published his most ambitious theological work ‘The Doctrine of the Law and Grace Unfolde’d.

By 1659 he was recognised beyond the county border as a preacher. So effective were his words, people would arrive at dawn to hear him preach at noon.


You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. – John Bunyan.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Oh dear David, you have been in the wars......let's hope and pray that your surgery goes well and that you are soon feeling much better.


Continuing the story of John Bunyan......


Returning home to Elstow in 1647 Bunyan resumed his work as a tinker. Two years later he married a local girl who bore him four children, the first of whom, called Mary, was born blind. The arrival of Mary in 1650 made Bunyan reflect seriously on his life for the first time. His wife’s father had given him two Christian books which really made him stop and think .

One Sunday as he played sport, he heard a voice….”Will you leave your sins and go to Heaven, or have your sins and go to Hell? He was so upset and felt that he had sinned so badly that he was beyond forgiveness. He began to question the value of his favourite pastimes and in his book ‘In Grace Abounding’ published in 1666, Bunyan describes this period of spiritual crisis admitting that, "Even as a child I had few equals in cursing, swearing, lying and blaspheming the Holy name of God".


I have often thought that the best Christians are found in the worst of times. -
John Bunyan


Cx :-)

I don't know if my reply yesterday osted or not but but I have been very ill again and further injured. I was hositalised for 2 1/2 following pnumonia and I fractutured my R femur in a fall. Having surgery on R knee 30 Sept. Hope it goes well. I must have cost the NHS a lot of money.

Good morning :-)

Another form of lockdown looming, but let's stay positive and cheerful :-D :-D


I think many people have heard of Pilgrim’s Progress and it’s author, John Bunyan but may not know much about the author of this very famous book. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious, theological fiction in English literature. It has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print. It has also been cited as the first novel written in English.

So.........John Bunyan was born in 1628 in Bedford. His family was so poor that when his father died, John was left only one shilling and a tinker’s anvil. He had little education but learned to read and loved medieval romances and knights conquering villains and monsters.

As a youth, he boasted about his bad language which shocked even wicked men. However, he loved to dance, bell-ring and lead Sunday sports, which was condemned by the Puritans. He attended church but had little religious feeling.

When he was 16, it was the height of the Civil War and so he joined the army. It is probable that he served under Cromwell. One day, whilst on duty, he took part in a siege but another soldier asked to take his place. As this soldier stood sentinel, he was shot in the head with a musket bullet and died. John came to see this as proof God had spared his life for a great work.

Cont.......tomorrow Cx ??

In times of affliction we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God. - John Bunyan


Cx :-)

Hello all

David, it's great to have you back posting, you have been missed. So sorry that you have been having a rough time and even more to come again soon.
I hope you and Ellen can relax together for a little while before you're back into RVI. Take it easy now.

O Lord today, three things I pray.
That I may see you more clearly,
Love you more dearly, and
Follow you more nearly
Day by day.

Keep well and stay safe everyone.

Good morning :-)


Goodness me David, you certainly have been having a bad time of things lately - I do hope things settle down for you soon. Take care. <3


The Collect (special prayer) for today:

God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit
upon your Church in the burning fire of your love:
grant that your people may be fervent
in the fellowship of the gospel
that, always abiding in you,
they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen

Cx :-)

I’m sorry to hear you have been so poorly David and hope you start to feel better very soon. We had been wondering where you were. Thinking of you and wishing you well <3

A lovely week of little quotes and stories this week Cynthia. Thank you as always. Going back a few days to 15th Sept. I did have to smile at your post. Until the present crisis the Churches Together group in this area ran a little cafe just once or twice a week. Anyone was welcome to drop in and enjoy a cup of coffee and a cake at a very reasonable price. The name of the place was Agape Cafe, so round our way Agape has a lot to do with coffee :-)

Good afternoon forum. I apologise for my absence. I have been ill with pnumonia and was hospitalised again.While ill, I fell out of bed and fractured my R femur.. Iv'e not had a lot of luck in recent times and I'm not getting younger. Iv'e to go back into the RVI on 30 Sept for surgery my R leg. My L leg is knackered as well. My under carriage finished. My PC is not good, my TV is broken, my mobile phone is on the way out, but Iv'e no one to phone and no one phones me. You have to pay to communicate Iw I'd invented twish invented that.

Good morning :-)


So, what is love?


'When you love somebody , your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' Karen - age 7

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8

A four year old child’s next door neighbour, was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry.'


A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. - John 13:34-35

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


So, what is Love?


'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' Mary Ann - age 4

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Cx :-)

Hello all

"We love because he first loved us."
(1 John chapter 4 v 19)

Happy Thursday greetings to all looking in today.

Good morning :-)


So what is love?


'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.' Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital , I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8



Let all that you do be done in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:14


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Out of the mouths of babes Kandj :-D :-D


So, what is love?

1. 'Love is when my mummy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him , to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 8

2. 'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen.' Bobby - age 7

3. 'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.' Nikka - age 6



Let all that you do be done in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:14


Cx :-)

Hello all

This mornings post made me smile, thank you.

Love is patient, love is kind...... a bible passage often read out at weddings came into my mind.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.
(1 Corinthians 13 v 1 NIV).

Happy Tuesday everyone. Stay safe.

Good morning :-)

LOVE

I love coffee…….but maybe I should say I like it or I enjoy it?

The word ‘Love’ is mentioned hundreds of time in the bible but different kinds of love which are communicated through four Greek words: Eros – romantic love. Storge – family love. Philia – brotherly love and Agape – God’s divine love. Nothing about loving coffee. ??

But what does the word ‘love’ mean to some primary school children?


1. 'When my grandmother got arthritis , she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.. So my grandfather does it for her all the time , even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca- age 8


2. 'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5


3. 'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4



We love because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:19



Cx :-)

Good morning...... :-)


Yes, kandj - definitely a move in the right direction. It's a bit strange at first, but certainly an improvement :-)


One lives and learns.......

I travel to a local town quite a bit and am aware of a school called Holy Cross. It is a Church school of the Roman Catholic tradition.

It was only yesterday that I discovered that the Church of England celebrates Holy Cross Day – which is today. So I googled, and here’s what I found.

Holy Cross Day is a day which honours and commemorates the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross for our salvation.

It has been associated with the dedication of a group of buildings that were built by Emperor Constantine in Jerusalem on the sites of Christ’s crucifixion and his tomb. This dedication occurred on September 14, 335. During the excavation, a relic that was believed to be the cross was discovered by Constantine’s mother, Helena.

From the fourth century on, the Church of Jerusalem claimed to have this relic in their possession and had a feast to celebrate its discovery. This feast also celebrates the exposition given at Jerusalem on the matter of the cross by Heraclius – the Byzantine Emperor. It is said he recovered the cross from the Persians who seized in from Jerusalem around the 7th century when they sacked the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The authenticity of these claims remains unproven.

One is never too old to learn it seems!!


Cx :-)

Hello all

Holy Communion service in church this morning. First time since before lockdown and lots of Do and Don't beforehand to keep us all safe.

A really strange experience, but good to be moving in the right direction once again.

Definitely an important message to take away from today's Gospel reading Cynthia.

"Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace."
(anon).