From the Minister

The other day I was commenting on how we always complain about the weather; If its sunny it’s too hot or the garden/crops are suffering, if it rains we complain because we wanted to go out, and lets not mention snow/ice or fog! It seems that to be British is to grumble.  I have recently discovered that this is a known phenomenon: A "British grumble" refers to the act of complaining or expressing discontent in a quiet but annoyed way, a characteristic often associated with British culture, which has even been described as an art form by the BBC.  Yet strangely and almost in complete juxta position, is the common British saying: "Mustn't grumble" meaning that you shouldn’t complain about genuine complaints, even if you have the right! I just don’t get it!

The reality of life though is that sometimes things will go well, and sometimes things will go badly, even for followers of Jesus. You only have to look at the bible to see that, the disciples and early Christians all suffered, not only from persecution but also in their everyday lives.

In the bible The apostle Paul, who knew well what it was to suffer, wrote: "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12).and the apostle Peter writes these words: "May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you" (1 Peter 5:10). Recognising that suffering is normal.

So it It shouldn’t surprise us, when suffering comes our way.

Yet there is also that promise in the quote from Peter, that suffering isn’t eternal and there is a hope in Christ.  What we have then, as Christians, is a God who promises firstly to be with us during our suffering, and to give us strength, and the promise that the suffering will eventually end and God will restore us – even if we don’t actually know when.

May God help us to be faithful as we seek to boldly live a life that honours Him.

Rev Rick