Who do we recognise?
Who do we recognise?
Last Sunday after church a member of the congregation asked if Ruth and I were there to have our Banns of Marriage read. He'd mistakenly recognised us as a couple preparing to get married! I gently explained he was almost 34 years too late!
A couple of days later as I walked through Penzance a little old lady clearly thought I was a local as she stopped me and asked for directions to... wait for it... 'Specsavers'. She obviously needed glasses!
At the beginning of this 4th week of our Sabbatical I read this prayer: "Father, open the eyes of my heart to clearly see who Jesus is and what He can do".
It was a gentle nudge that as I relax, stop and take stock I need to ensure I continue recognising who this Jesus chap actually is!
Fortunately as I read this famous quote from C.S. Lewis popped out: “Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool; you can spit at Him and kill Him for a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
So Jesus was either a madman, a liar, a myth, or He really is the Son of God. Yep...I''ll continue to recognise Jesus as the Son of God, my Lord and Saviour, I don't believe the other options exist!
This last week we walked from Gunwalloe to Mullion as well as Sennen Cove to Land's End. They were further opportunities to sample breath taking views although Land's End itself was pretty grim, commercialised and busy. We didn't stay long! As we wandered back a lady from Salzberg, Austria engaged us in conversation. We'll probably never see her again but she provided us with five minutes of engaging conversation - another gift.
We also enjoyed cake and tea at the church in Marazion (quaint and English plus a chance to chat with a lovely young couple on a gap year all the way from Texas) before taking another walk across the causeway to St Michael's Mount and looking round the castle again - this time with less tourists in tow! It was great to chat with some of the people who work there. One lady in particular provided a heart warming insight into the obvious sense of community that exists across the folk who live and work on this beautiful island.
On Thursday of this week we travelled to the Royal Cornwall show... and so did thousands of others! It took a long time to get there and a long time to get home! Let's say it was an experience and we're glad we went but I doubt we'll go again. In truth it struck us as a glorified shopping mall that you have to pay to walk through. Nevertheless there were loads of opportunities to indulge in free mini samples of anything from cheese to fudge to biscuits, even some Aberdeen Angus beef and loads of gin including one stand offering 'Free Gin'!
We also enjoyed viewing some of the animals including a pink sheep, watching the show jumping was fun and chatting with folk in the BBC tent. People watching is fun and especially the lady in the WI marquee who we briefly chatted with and discovered she clearly thought she should have won with her competition entry! It was also good to see a large contingent representing Churches together in Cornwall. Indeed at one point a plane circled overhead displaying a banner saying: 'Jesus loves every 1 of U'. Brilliant especially as I've just read this...
Policemen, firemen, doctors, and nurses put on clothes that distinctively identify them. What about the Christian? What distinguishes us as followers of Jesus? The Apostle Paul tells us to “clothe [ourselves] with the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14).
Towards the end of the week Ruth's Mum and Dad came to see us. They stayed in an Airbnb nearby as our tiny home couldn't accommodate us all. On Friday we took them for fish & chips overlooking the picturesque harbour at Mousehole before travelling back to Marazion and enjoying a hot chocolate while looking out to St Michael's Mount.
The following day we took them to Lamorna Cove then on to Land's End followed by Sennen Cove, then Cape Cornwall for a picnic before setting off to Botallack (Poldark mining area). From there we indulged in tea and cake at Rosemergy before moving on to Godrevy. We finished up with a meal at St Ives. I think they were pretty tried after all of that!
On Sunday we took them to our local church (another good service including a presentation from one of the church mission partners serving out in Lebanon) then back for some lunch before seeing them on to the train at Penzance for the 3pm back to Reading!
It was great to see them and we feel hugely blessed they made such a monumental effort to get here travelling by bus and then train all the way from Woodley near Reading. It is a true testimony to the value of family.
As we end week four I'm conscious this is already the longest period I've had off work since I left school back in February 1976. There is no doubt this is a wonderful opportunity to wait and see what God might have in store for us. Whatever that may be we're confident it's worth waiting for. Just this afternoon as we chatted and looked out to sea Ruth articulated how she believes (and so do I) that God has graciously granted us this time to refresh, renew and gently guide us. Thank you Lord! May we continue to recognise You and Your presence in our lives more and more!
Last Sunday after church a member of the congregation asked if Ruth and I were there to have our Banns of Marriage read. He'd mistakenly recognised us as a couple preparing to get married! I gently explained he was almost 34 years too late!
A couple of days later as I walked through Penzance a little old lady clearly thought I was a local as she stopped me and asked for directions to... wait for it... 'Specsavers'. She obviously needed glasses!
At the beginning of this 4th week of our Sabbatical I read this prayer: "Father, open the eyes of my heart to clearly see who Jesus is and what He can do".
It was a gentle nudge that as I relax, stop and take stock I need to ensure I continue recognising who this Jesus chap actually is!
Fortunately as I read this famous quote from C.S. Lewis popped out: “Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool; you can spit at Him and kill Him for a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
So Jesus was either a madman, a liar, a myth, or He really is the Son of God. Yep...I''ll continue to recognise Jesus as the Son of God, my Lord and Saviour, I don't believe the other options exist!
This last week we walked from Gunwalloe to Mullion as well as Sennen Cove to Land's End. They were further opportunities to sample breath taking views although Land's End itself was pretty grim, commercialised and busy. We didn't stay long! As we wandered back a lady from Salzberg, Austria engaged us in conversation. We'll probably never see her again but she provided us with five minutes of engaging conversation - another gift.
We also enjoyed cake and tea at the church in Marazion (quaint and English plus a chance to chat with a lovely young couple on a gap year all the way from Texas) before taking another walk across the causeway to St Michael's Mount and looking round the castle again - this time with less tourists in tow! It was great to chat with some of the people who work there. One lady in particular provided a heart warming insight into the obvious sense of community that exists across the folk who live and work on this beautiful island.
On Thursday of this week we travelled to the Royal Cornwall show... and so did thousands of others! It took a long time to get there and a long time to get home! Let's say it was an experience and we're glad we went but I doubt we'll go again. In truth it struck us as a glorified shopping mall that you have to pay to walk through. Nevertheless there were loads of opportunities to indulge in free mini samples of anything from cheese to fudge to biscuits, even some Aberdeen Angus beef and loads of gin including one stand offering 'Free Gin'! 
We also enjoyed viewing some of the animals including a pink sheep, watching the show jumping was fun and chatting with folk in the BBC tent. People watching is fun and especially the lady in the WI marquee who we briefly chatted with and discovered she clearly thought she should have won with her competition entry! It was also good to see a large contingent representing Churches together in Cornwall. Indeed at one point a plane circled overhead displaying a banner saying: 'Jesus loves every 1 of U'. Brilliant especially as I've just read this...Policemen, firemen, doctors, and nurses put on clothes that distinctively identify them. What about the Christian? What distinguishes us as followers of Jesus? The Apostle Paul tells us to “clothe [ourselves] with the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14).
Towards the end of the week Ruth's Mum and Dad came to see us. They stayed in an Airbnb nearby as our tiny home couldn't accommodate us all. On Friday we took them for fish & chips overlooking the picturesque harbour at Mousehole before travelling back to Marazion and enjoying a hot chocolate while looking out to St Michael's Mount. The following day we took them to Lamorna Cove then on to Land's End followed by Sennen Cove, then Cape Cornwall for a picnic before setting off to Botallack (Poldark mining area). From there we indulged in tea and cake at Rosemergy before moving on to Godrevy. We finished up with a meal at St Ives. I think they were pretty tried after all of that!
On Sunday we took them to our local church (another good service including a presentation from one of the church mission partners serving out in Lebanon) then back for some lunch before seeing them on to the train at Penzance for the 3pm back to Reading!
It was great to see them and we feel hugely blessed they made such a monumental effort to get here travelling by bus and then train all the way from Woodley near Reading. It is a true testimony to the value of family.
As we end week four I'm conscious this is already the longest period I've had off work since I left school back in February 1976. There is no doubt this is a wonderful opportunity to wait and see what God might have in store for us. Whatever that may be we're confident it's worth waiting for. Just this afternoon as we chatted and looked out to sea Ruth articulated how she believes (and so do I) that God has graciously granted us this time to refresh, renew and gently guide us. Thank you Lord! May we continue to recognise You and Your presence in our lives more and more!
Great to hear about your sabbatical, Gordon. Wonderful opportunity and one that you are really appreciating. God is using you both for His glory.😀
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