In Touch May 2024

Dear friends,

 My father died in 1990, but I remember him telling me of an encounter that he had shortly after the end of World War 2. He was travelling from the coast (Dover I think) to Gillingham by train and he found himself in a carriage with a dishevelled man who he thought at first was a tramp. He had dirty clothes and a dirty worn overcoat. He struck up a conversation with this ‘tramp’ who turned out to be a Christian Jew. During the German occupation he had lost all his possessions, and then in a concentration camp he lost all his family.
He was eating a stale crust of bread with some cheese. At the end of a brief conversation the man smiled and said in broken English…… “that was hell - this is heaven!”

The fact that this man had lost everything in the most terrible circumstances, but was still able to smile and say he was ‘in heaven’ was a testament to his own faith, and had a profound effect on my father.

Mary Butcher's testimony recently was a powerful encouragement to us all, and I love her for it.
Philippians 4 verse 11 says …..for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. (Later in verse 13 Paul goes on to say ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’.)

We all suffer loss and difficulties in life - some more than most. But it's how we deal with these events that not only mark us out, but can have a profound effect on those around us. This life - with all of its joys - and sorrows, with all of its blessings and troubles, is so very short compared to the eternity we will have with Christ.

 Billy Graham was once asked ‘what is the greatest surprise you have found about life’? He replied “the brevity of it”.
 To grasp this truth places all other matters in perspective.

We have much to be thankful for. Let our prayers reflect this - even in the most difficult times - as well as in the good times.

 Yours in Christ,

Paul