It's Friday - but Sunday's coming!!

In these difficult times I was reminded of the following description of the Easter weekend.

It’s Friday: Jesus is praying, Peter’s a sleeping, Judas is betraying, but Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday: Pilate’s struggling, the council is conspiring, the crowd is vilifying they don’t even know that Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday: The disciples are running like sheep without a shepherd. Mary’s crying, Peter is denying; they don’t know that Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday: The Romans beat him, they robe him in scarlet, they crown him with thorns. They don’t know that Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday: See Jesus walking to Calvary, His blood dripping, His body stumbling and his spirit’s burdened, but you see, it’s only Friday, Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday: Death is winning, people are struggling and evil’s grinning.

It’s Friday: The soldiers nail Jesu’s hands to the cross. They nail his feet to the cross and then they raise him up next to criminals.

It’s Friday: But let me tell you something. Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday: The disciples are questioning what has happened to their King and the Pharisees are celebrating that their scheming has been achieved. They don’t know it’s only Friday. Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday: He’s hanging on the cross feeling forsaken by his Father. Left alone and dying. Can nobody save him? It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday: The earth trembles, the sky grows dark, the King yields his spirit.

It’s Friday: Hope is lost, death has won, sin has conquered and satan’s just laughing.

It’s Friday: Jesus is buried, a soldier stands guard and a rock is rolled into place. Heaven is weeping; hell is partying, but it’s Friday. It is only Friday, but Sunday is coming!

Now it’s Sunday. There’s an earthquake, the stone is rolled away, the soldiers are shaking in their boots. Mary’s hugging her Saviour, her God. The lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected Lion. “He is not here”, the angels proclaim. It’s Sunday and He is risen from the dead. It’s Sunday and everything has changed. Call upon Him, call upon Him. It’s Sunday and death and evil have been defeated.

Today all over the world it’s Friday, it’s dark, hopeless and full of despair because it’s Friday. On Friday we don’t know what God is doing! Is he even there? Does he even care?

But Sunday is coming. New hope will come, He will help us hang on because Sunday is the day when evil is defeated forever will soon be here.

Love never gives up!

Recently I have the privilege of speaking at a school assembly on Valentine’s day. Maybe the same talk can help us all.

Today we will be thinking about love.

Who loves pizza, chips, Macdonalds, KFC or ice cream?

Who loves Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande or Stormzy?

Who loves Chelsea, Man U., Man City, Tottenham, Arsenal, Leicester City or Liverpool?

Did you receive any Valentines cards, chocolates or imojis?

Love is the opposite of hate and fear.

In the Harry Potter books, Lord Voldemort is the most powerful, evil and hateful wizard, but young Harry overcomes him time and time again because of love – his parents love for him and his love for his friends.

God saw that we humans were struggling and so, because he loved us, His son Jesus was born at the first Christmas and lived thirty years getting to know what it is like to be human, so he could understand us and help us. He spent much of his time with people who were lonely.

Have you ever felt lonely, not a part of the “in” group? I remember when I was at school two captains were picking sides for a game of football. I loved football but I couldn’t play very well. One of the captains said to the other, “You can have Bunkum”. I felt so much on the outside. Christians believe that Jesus can help anyone who feels alone even today. Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool Manager said, “Jesus Christ is the most important person in history”.

Here is a saying about love:

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love isn’t boastful, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first”, Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the faults of others, Isn’t happy when others fail, Takes pleasure in honesty, Puts up with most things, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

Love never fails.

That saying is from the Bible.

If you love life, love learning and love others you will make a difference.

“Dear Lord Jesus. May your love fill our lives, our school, our town, our country and our world.

Amen”

The Value of Just One Life

We live in an amazing country, where human life is valued immensely. As many of you are aware my daughter was involved in a head on car crash in October. As a family we have been so thankful for the wonderful care she and her husband have received, and after three months their recovery is progressing so well, that they are starting to resume normal lives.

So what are we thankful for?

People at the crash site who just stopped and did whatever they could.

The mobile phone network, enabling the emergency services to be alerted quickly.

The police for their care and helping to keep everyone safe.

The first responders and ambulance crews, who help the casualties at such a crucial time.

The fire and rescue service, who skilfully and safely enable people to be released from unbelievable carnage.

The Emergency Department, which swiftly diagnose and put in place the intervention needed to save lives and limit the long-term effects of the trauma.

The surgeons and their team for their ability to repair fragile human bodies.

For the ongoing care of the nursing staff who are there 24/7.

For those who take time out of busy lives to visit, or message, or pick up the phone.

For physiotherapists and all who help with rehabilitation.

For the support of family and close friends, without whom we could not carry on.

And so the list goes on and on.

We value human life, and I am so thankful of that, which is why we all want the NHS and the emergency services to be even better and to be funded well.

We are also thankful for so many people across the world who pray and lift up to God those who are in great need. Personally, I am thankful to the Plymouth Street Pastor who on the night of the accident prayed all night long (and has faithfully prayed since).

Lastly and most importantly to The Lord God of heaven and earth who in his mercy helps us in our time of need. He is never far away, and we have been aware of his presence and intervention at crucial times.

I am determined to start a new decade with a more thankful spirit. Looking for the good in one another. Thanking God for the value of even one life.

May we all be more thankful for the many blessings of living in our nation.

All the best for 2020 and beyond.

Martin