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MY BIBLE BLOG
April 2005
Last month I talked about stressful circumstances. My family
and I faced this kind of reality in February. Georgina, our
eight-year-old grandchild, became extremely ill on the 24th. A brain
scan led to the diagnosis of brain cancer!
She was rushed to Addenbrookes Hospital and underwent brain surgery,
which revealed a large abscess. A large amount of infected material was
aspirated. Later a second operation became necessary. An intensive
treatment of steroids and antibiotics was administered intravenously.
Her mother never left her side.
Then, after six weeks, a healthy Georgina was discharged. Wonderful! We
thank God for her recovery. We thank churches and friends for their
prayers, and the hospital for their professional and caring treatment.
A reassuring verse came to me at the time: "God is our refuge and
strength, an ever present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Take it as
God's word for you.
God bless,
MAY 2005
Recently I chatted with doctors in the surgery I attend. I
asked them how many patients they saw on average daily. The answer -
40! They agreed that patients' needs and demands led to stress, but
added that added stress was caused by patients who failed to keep their
appointments - leaving gaps in the appointments' book which could have
been taken by other patients. Shame!
People in stressful occupations do need our co-operation, consideration
and sympathy. We are told we live in a selfish society - but we don't
have to fit in its mould. Let's be trend setters for kindness and
consideration!
The Lord Jesus criticised the religious people of his day in the
Parable of the Good Samaritan. Priests and Levites passed by the man
who had been mugged. It was the despised Samaritan who attended the
victim and paid for his lodgings.
Our scripture for May is radical: "Love your neighbour as yourself"
(Luke 10:28).
God bless you,
JUNE 2005
At the moment I'm reflecting on the holiday break Brenda (my
wife) and I took last month. We had two sun-soaked weeks in Sousse,
Tunisia. We flew from Luton to Monastir - a good flight. I enjoy
flying. I generally book a window seat. You really can see the world
from a different perspective at 35,000 feet! And the belief in a
Creator isn't too difficult when you view our planet from space.
Back to the holiday. Some people said they came to Sousse to 'chill
out'. Can you do this in a hot climate? Of course! That is, we can
holiday in order to refresh ourselves spiritually, mentally and
physically. During his busy ministry the Lord Jesus took time to rest
(see Mark 6:31). We were delightfully refreshed.
I caught up with my reading during the holiday. I bought a paperback
New Testament (TNIV) and read it through. An idea I recommend.
So here's a divine invitation: "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet
place and get some rest" (Mark 6:31, TNIV).
God bless you,
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