Peter Blog a few random thoughts

I over heard someone say the other day about Christmas “after all it’s just another day in the year.” Although I was disappointed that I heard this after some thought I realised for a lot of people they are absolutely right. Christmas is just another day with the queen on at 3pm. Others it is a day where it’s a chance to have a day off or some just to eat and drink too much. It’s almost as if you want to say to them “Do they know it’s Christmas?”   For others at the end of the Christmas day they turn to each other and say “well thanks that’s over for another year” Each of these groups of people are probably thoughts and feelings that we may have said or will say today. And yet today this day “The Word made flesh and dwelt among us” It is this day that human history changed for ever it is a pivotal day in history of humanity. Jesus the Son of God walked upon earth. Christ was among us. And so it is not just another day. There was no trumpet blasts or yellow tickertape on Sky ...

Over the last few weeks I have been watching the Bible on Channel 5. It has been a march through the Old Testament I have not yet finished watching it, and yes it has been quite violent but that was the world of the Old Testament at times. And even if we were to write a modern history we could also say the same of our own time. But, what it has showed me is that throughout history we have had God with us. He has spoken through his prophets and people. There seems to be an increasing disquiet among many parts of society that God does not speak to this generation. These people have not really understood and today’s central messages of today’s Gospel. We notice first of all that at this moment of history in our world the prophets are beginning to be fulfilled. God is at work in the world and changes the course of human history. This is shown in the Phrase “Emmanuel” God is with us. This is not just a promise for the human life of Jesus. It is a promise that God is always with us. ...

“Are we nearly there yet” was always the cry at the back of the car when we were going on holiday. The journey to our destination always seemed to take for ever. The reply in the front from Mum and Dad was always the same answer another “15 munities” which actually meant an hour or so. Then there would be the inevitable answer you just have to be patient. You can almost get the sense that this could also be true of Christmas especially if you have Children or grandchildren. It is an exciting time of the year but we need to learn to be patient and wait so that we can celebrate that great season of Christmas well. In this holy season of Advent we are waiting in expectant hope for the coming of the messiah and so we need to try our best to prepare for it. This means that we may need to wait and be patient. These are two things that as a nation and as a people we are not very good at doing. When the bus is 1 minute late we tut and complain. We may get like the Post office cue syn...