Reflections

So how did I derive that title for this Reflection.
Well, my last Reflection was on 16 May and I started with the thought that it would be my last Reflection before we would be back in church. How wrong I was and hence the title!
Today we celebrate the 102nd Birthday of our beloved brother Lionel and he certainly didn’t expect to reach this remarkable age, but how we give thanks to God for Lionel and his ministry over so many years – HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIONEL.

One day last week I felt led to look over the beatitudes, and the so called ‘Sermon on the Mount’ to remind me of those majestic words and profound teaching from Jesus, but on this occasion, I didn’t get that far. My eye was caught & distracted by Matthew Ch.4 v.17:

“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven draws near.” (Matthew Ch.4 v.17)

As it resonated with me, I pondered on it throughout the day. I found those words with which Jesus started His ministry & presentation of the gospel incredibly poignant – such commanding words of hope and glory, but it was that word ‘repent’ that I felt drawn to.

1John 1v 5-7; This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies from all sin.
A young American girl asked me one time “Are you celebrating Independence Day?” After a quick history lesson, it became obvious why my answer should be no!

Click the link to access Michael’s latest reflection https://spark.adobe.com/page/rrEBERxRFGl4I/

Ephesians 2 v 10 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I recently Googled the question ‘what is faith’, and it led me to a very helpful dictionary definition which read, ‘An unquestioning belief specifically in God, religion. Complete trust and confidence’.
From this definition two words stand out – ‘unquestioning’ and ‘complete’. ‘Unquestioning’ means you do NOT question, doubt, or dispute. So, with regard to our faith in God and in particular in God’s Son Jesus, it means everything we are told about Him from the Scriptures – even if we do not fully understand everything we are told – we do NOT question, doubt, or dispute.

At the beginning of January this year I wrote a reflection wherein I remarked that I had just experienced an extremely sobering day at work. Back then, I witnessed as 9 out of 10 patients being taken into ED by ambulance were testing positive for coronavirus. This trend continued for a further four weeks or so, but as we progressed through February this slowly reversed, whereby only 1 in 10 was testing positive. At the front end of it we could see the first signs of the positive effects of lockdown and the beginnings of the vaccine rollout.

Thoughts that have come to David Ince’s mind during Lockdown

What I was most struck by with this passage was not the faith aspect directly, but rather about the mountains, and not just the imagery of mountains, but actual physical mountains that I can look at and walk up and touch. You see, in very simple terms, I don’t have to have faith that I can move a mountain. If I so desired, I could go grab a rock at a time and move it from one place to another. I can believe in my own ability to move the mountain and will see some progress. I can even use tools and bulldozers and other equipment to make the mountain move. I am not saying it will be quick or easy, but I would get the mountain to move eventually and it wouldn’t have required me to believe in anything greater than myself and others around me.

When Paul invited me to do a reflection for May 2nd, I thought, ‘Well bang goes my combining my love of God and my love of history!!’ I was about to open my reflection with a comment like, ‘Historically, on the second of May, not much happened’, but then I started to search a little deeper.
With the funeral of The Duke of Edinburgh on the 17th of last month and my affection for the royal family led me to realise that Princess Charlotte, daughter of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was actually born on May 2nd, 2015 which means she will be 6 today! Many happy returns Your Royal Highness.
Then a little deeper to find that a man who needs no introduction, David Beckham, was born on May 2nd, 1975, so he will be 46 today!