Pete (The Virtual Vicar)

 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.’” Romans 4:7. Don’t be deceived into holding into things that are in the past. Jesus frees us from these wrong things that we have done in the past to set us free in the future. These things in the past that we have done wrong need not have hold on us now but we decide to change. We need to turn to Jesus who alone can forgive us and we need to make the decision to follow his ways and in making that decision, we are claiming the forgiveness that God offers through Jesus.  “Blessed is the one whom God corrects;   so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”  Job 5:17 If you know that you’ve done things wrong and you haven’t asked God for his forgiveness, if you are in the habit of doing something that you know that is wrong, then it’s time to decide to change. If you’re holding on to wrong things that have been done for you and

"For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice..." (Zechariah 4:10) St Francis of Assisi was a man of action, impetuous and impulsive and totally committed to the Lord Jesus.  The song below with lyrics by Donovan is meant to be a reflection on the life of Francis.  It talks of simplicity and heartfelt service for the Lord.  However Francis' great achievements in preaching and teaching were gained at a rapid pace before he died at the early age of 45.  The slow pace of the song seem at odds with that.  Nevertheless I like  the idea in this song of taking care day by day of the small things and remembering the ultimate goal. If you want your dream to be,  Build it slow and surely.  Small beginnings greater ends.  Heartfelt work grows purely.  If you want to live life free,  Take your time go slowly.  Do few things but do them well.  Simple joys are holy.  Day by day, stone by stone,  Build your secret slowly.  Day by day, you'l

In the Sunday services at Mill Hill East Church, we are featuring a series of sermons answering the question, "Jesus is Alive, what does that mean to you."  A summary of the topic and the Bible verses featured on on the slideshow on this website. Here is a poem by John of Damacus, a Syrian monk from the 8th Century AD, called: “The Day of Resurrection”. The day of resurrection? Earth, tell it out abroad; The Passover of gladness, The Passover of God. From death to life eternal, From this world to the sky, Our Christ hath brought us over With hymns of victory. Now let the heavens be joyful,  Let earth her song begin; Let the round world keep triumph, And all that is therein. Let all things seen and unseen Their notes in gladness blend, For Christ the Lord hath risen, Our Joy that hath no end.  The fact that Jesus is Alive brings great joy.

On the eve of his death in Gethsemane, Jesus was "greatly distressed and troubled" (Mark 14:33) and said to his disciples, "My soul is very sorrowful, even unto death" (Mark 14:34). For Jesus, death was not a great friend but a dreadful enemy, because it would separate Him from His Father. He did not face death with the composure of Socrates who met death peacefully as a friend. When confronted with the reality of death, Jesus cried to God saying: "Father, all things are possible to you; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what you will" (Mark 14:36). The Bible speaks of the decomposition of the body. When Adam and Eve sinned, they were deprived of the tree of life and hence of physical immortality (Gen. 3:22; Rom. 5:12). It is, therefore, man’s lot to return to the dust of the ground (Gen. 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7). Paul speaks of the earthly house of our tabernacle being “dissolved” by death (2 Cor. 5:1). The Greek term for “dissolve

John Chrysostom was around at the turn of the 5th century AD, he  lived and died preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. His preaching led to his posthumously assigned surname, Chrysostom: "golden mouth." The same preaching also exiled him twice, the second exile being three years under armed guard which would lead to his death.    He became known as "John the golden-mouthed" because of his anointed preaching. It was said that  Preaching improves me,” he once told his congregation. “When I begin to speak, weariness disappears; when I begin to teach, fatigue too disappears. Thus neither sickness itself nor indeed any other obstacle is able to separate me from your love... for just as you are hungry to listen to me, so too I am hungry to preach to you.” And people loved to hear him preach, historical records of his preaching say:  "As he advanced from exposition to illustration, from Scripture to practical appeals, his delivery became gradually more rapid, his

God is great at logistics, what ever he plans to do he provides the means to do it. Jonathan was Saul’s son who became a devoted friend of David, who later be a great king of Israel.  While  the Israelites were suffering from poor planning and poor logistics with no proper weapons for war, Jonathan received a vision from God which faithfully. “Jonathan said to his young armour-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6 NIV) Consider Jonathan and follow his example here, when God gives you a vision step forward in faith.  If the vision is from God there will be provision of resources to carry it out. In my daily internet radio show, Daily Devotional Preaching episode 11 ,  I show how Moses was able to provide resources for 3 million people in the desert.  Whatever the vision, if it's of God, the resources will be available.