Pete (The Virtual Vicar)

The more sociable you are, the happier you are.  As you age, it gets more difficult to find friends and meet people on a regular basis than when we were children. Those who seek out friendships and rate this as important, also rate themselves as being happier.  Individuals who isolate themselves fall more easily into depression and stress. Introverts need friends just as much as extroverts do, and friends can help take the edge off of loneliness and sadness. Even if you are not a natural extrovert, make a point of building friendships in order to contribute towards your mental health and happiness. People who rely on others to lift themselves up tend to be less stressed and depressed. Having a close friend you can talk to about your problems can serve as an important aid in releasing negative feelings. Confiding in a friend tends to reverse feelings of loneliness, and most friends offer words of comfort which affects you in a positive way, knowing that someone cares.  Being the

Churches in Britain and the US are  looking to the concept of "leadership" to show the way to reverse decline.  This is demonstrated by the larger number of conferences and published research on how to grow churches  John Lindell is the Lead Pastor of James River Church in Missouri is commenting on an upcoming church leadership conference. He say: "a  church’s growth is dependent on the growth and effectiveness of its leadership.” In a recent article in Christianity Today the leadership of the Anglican church were criticised for trying to lead"  "The bishops  Church of England bishops must stop acting as CEOs 'chasing growth targets' and return to being shepherds of their flocks, clergy are being told.  The Church's increasingly 'organisational and bureaucratic' approach leaves clergy feeling 'guilty' if they don't meet growth targets, a priests' support group was told, as the CofE desperately tries to halt decades of d

Back in 1222, St. Francis got permission from Pope Honorious III to set up a manger with hay and two live animals—an ox and an ass—in a cave in the Italian village of Grecio. He then invited the villagers to come gaze upon the scene while he preached about “the babe of Bethlehem.” Since that time Christians have regularly represented the scene of Jesus's birth. Jesus Christ's birth in a stable is an important part of Christian belief. This week, Greggs the bakers issued a calendar which shows a nativity scene with three wise men gathered around a pastry, a sausage roll,  instead of Christ.  Christian Twitter users said the advert was disrespectful to their religion. Greggs has apologised for the image, saying it hadn't planned to upset anyone. "We're really sorry to have caused any offence, this was never our intention," the firm said in a statement. Christians will forgive and forget this offensive picture.  It is a pity that the developers of the Gre

Today we remember. This video is a call to remember and a call to action. Remembrance day is both a day to remember the fallen in war and to give thanks to them and to God, thanks for their service and sacrifice. But what do we do with the peace? King George VI Broadcast on 8th May 1945 a speech which hints at an answer and is a call to action: this is how he ended the speech: "There is great comfort in the thought that the years of darkness and danger in which the children of our country have grown up are over and, please God, forever. We shall have failed and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and good will. To that, then, let us turn our thoughts to this day of just triumph and proud sorrow, and then take up our work again, resolved as a people to do nothing unworthy of those who died for us, and to make the world such a world as they would have desired for their

Studies have shown that yes, having enough money to meet your needs and those of your family does bring happiness. People living in poverty are generally less happy than those whose needs are met. Being able to pay for your bills and having enough to get by financially will help you succeed in feeling happy.   Having more money than you need, however, will not bring you extra happiness. Money and happiness are not proportional. Someone with enough money to buy a large house and several cars will not necessarily have more happiness than another individual with exactly what they need.  There is stress that goes along with having money. Whether you have a little or a lot, you likely know about this stress. There is the stress of knowing you need to spend what you have wisely, as well as the fact that people with ulterior motives are drawn to those who are financially wealthy. Everyone has a life purpose. There is something about you that makes you a unique gift to the world. If yo