The explanation for it all

“He is the God who made the whole world and everything in it. He is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples that men build! This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from them. He has everything he needs. God began by making one man.

From him came all the different people who live everywhere in the world. He decided exactly when and where they must live. God wanted them to look for him and perhaps search all around for him and find him. But he is not far from any of us: ‘By his power we live and move and exist.’ Some of your own poets have said: ‘For we are his children.’ We are God’s children. So, you must not think that God is like something that people imagine or make. He is not like gold, silver, or rock.

In the past, people did not understand God, but God ignored this. But now, God tells everyone in the world to change his heart and life. God has decided on a day that he will judge all the world. He will be fair. He will use a man to do this. God chose that man long ago. And God has proved this to everyone by raising that man from death!””

(Verses lifted directly from the Bible)
‭‭The Acts‬ ‭17:24-31‬ ‭ICB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/1359/act.17.24-31.icb

Scripture taken from the International Children’s Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Broken promise

“Then Peter began to curse. He said, “I swear that I don’t know this man you’re talking about!””

Mark 14:71 ICB

“And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.”

Mark 14:72 NLT

Peter was confronted with his failure. Sometimes all we can see is our failure. We can see the broken promise, the conformity to other people’s expectations, our bowing to peer pressure. Peter had just sworn and cursed to deny knowing Jesus who was his best friend, his teacher, Jesus who he loved dearly. And he couldn’t stand it. He wept. Yes, Jesus had warned him this would happen. But that didn’t lessen the sting of failure, the despair associated with knowing you have betrayed your loved one or family or friend.

Yet when Jesus saw Peter again after the resurrection, he looked at him and loved him. He restored him and expressed faith in him. He wasn’t holding Peter’s failure against him. Instead he singled him out for promotion- ‘Peter, feed my sheep’ ( see John 21). He was saying, Peter, I’m putting you in charge. I believe in you. I love you. You can do this.

That vaccine

Covid-19 vaccination

I received the coronavirus virus vaccination in the first week it became available for use in the UK. Why did I get the vaccination? I did because I think it’s the right thing to do. Covid-19 has defined 2020.

Globally nearly 73million people have been infected, and over 1 million have died from the disease. We have lockdowns and continue to have restrictions but as we have seen, we are still struggling to control the spread of the infections. So a vaccine is inevitably the way out. When I look back to my childhood growing up in a third world country, polio was a blight on our humanity. I think everyone knew at least another child who had their ability to walk, run and play impacted on by the fact that they were not vaccinated as babies. We have measles, TB, chicken pox, (small pox is thankfully now eradicated), tetanus and several other infectious diseases which remain a big issue in countries with limited access to vaccination. Hepatitis, some forms of meningitis, seasonal flu are all diseases which we battle the spread of – mostly successfully- every year in the UK.

Vaccination is an effective tool to combat the spread of deadly, infectious illnesses. Why would we not want to have a vaccination against the coronavirus infection that has killed so many people already? I acknowledge that this vaccine was developed quicker than we are used to. However I don’t think we have had a virus spread so quickly and tenaciously to affect Prime ministers, Presidents, celebrities, CEOs, royal families, the richest and most powerful players in business world, as well as medics, and researchers themselves!

It becomes quickly apparent why there has been the biggest push, and innumerable resources invested in finding and developing a vaccine in the shortest possible time. Who wouldn’t want this pandemic to be over as soon as possible? So why would I refuse to be vaccinated when offered one at no cost to me?

For information on coronavirus vaccination in the UK please visit:

England: NHS guidance on the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine

Wales: coronavirus vaccination information

Northern Ireland: coronavirus vaccination programme

https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/immunisation/vaccines/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine/