Dear praying friends,

Death has very visibly stalked humanity in recent months with no better examples than the terrible events of 11 September and 12 November. They bring into sharp focus the words recorded in Proverbs 27:1 “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth”. The world suffered those days, America suffered those days, New York suffered those days but the true reality of death is that it is supremely very personal. Those who suffer most as a consequence of it are the family and friends of those who die, not the world, not a country, and not a city. There was intense grief because of death in a small village called Nain some 2000 years ago, but into that scene of sorrow stepped One who made all the difference – His name was Jesus Christ [see Luke 7:11-16]. The cry went up “God hath visited his people” [v16]. As you will read shortly, death has intruded into our own family circle but in the midst of our great grief and sorrow we too can testify, “God hath visited his people” and with Job of old we raise our voices in thanksgiving saying “the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” [Job 1:21].

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Dear praying friends,

Once more we are on the eve of another ‘winter’s work’ and of one thing we can be assured – there will be no respite or ‘hibernation’ from spiritual deception and error. Our enemy is one ‘lion’ who thrives on activity. As you read this newsletter you will see that God’s faithful people are swimming against an ever swelling, fast flowing river of error-ridden, false Christianity and professed spirituality. The false prophets of a soon coming ‘mighty revival’ continue to parade before the churches their latest sure-fire methods that will guarantee ‘success and growth’ whether these be ‘Alpha’, ‘Jabez’, ‘Relics’, ‘Transformations’, ‘User–friendliness’ or ‘Health and Wealth’. Sadly the reality is that large numbers are being attracted to these watered down, unscriptural, often pagan infiltrated ‘gospel’ presentations. Clearly “many” are indeed travelling “the broad way” and “few” have found “the narrow way”. However this is not a cause for despair but rather a motivating, wake-up call to action because the Saviour has promised, “I will build my church” and He has chosen to use the “weak and foolish” things to accomplish His purposes. In so doing the glory will be His alone. We covet your ongoing prayers that despite our perceived weakness and foolishness, His cause will prosper and His name will be glorified.

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Dear Praying Friends,

Since our last newsletter another busy ‘ministry trip’ has passed into history. The conferences and meetings involving Rob Zins, Mike Gendron, Stephen Murphy and myself took place against a backdrop of great ‘national’ uncertainty. ‘Foot and mouth’ was uppermost in the minds of the vast majority of people as we travelled around the British Isles. In England in particular the media focussed much on this virus and the desperation to find a cure for the problem has at times reached fever pitch. No one really seems sure as to the right way to deal with the problem. Government ministers, medical experts and farmers leaders have all had an opinion [usually differing] to express. The last thing that any of them might consider is that the God of Heaven is passing judgment on the spiritual bankruptcy of the nation. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury in his Easter ‘message’ dismissed any notion of that sort – but then he would with his single-faceted ‘God of love’. In 1865 in the midst of a similar outbreak of ‘foot and mouth’ J C Ryle, Bishop of Liverpool wrote a little booklet entitled ‘The Finger of God’. In it he listed 7 national sins [all still relevant today] and went on to conclude ‘I believe firmly that these things are crying to God against England. They are an offence against the King of Kings, for which He is punishing us this very day. And the rod He is using is the cattle plague. The ‘finger of God’ I believe is pointing at our seven great national sins’. Oh that God might raise up another generation of J C Ryles!

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