General Chat

Good morning Cynthia. The site I found that about Constantine said

his "interest" in Christianity was military. He was a sun worshipper

At the time of the Council of NIcea there was a great deal of difference

among the Bishops. Was he a man ? was he God ? So Constantine

devised the Doctrine of The Trinity to unify the Bishops

Good morning :-)

I guess there are conflicting views on that David.....it was rather a long time ago :-D

Has anyone heard from Vera latterly? I hope all is well...…..

There are people who are struggling with day to day issues and, maybe, life in general.....


Broken Pieces

If you are broken by life trials
and weary from life's defeats.
If you have been badly battered
and have no joy or peace.
Give God your broken pieces
so He will mold them back in place.
He can make them better than before
with a touch of His sweet grace.

If your dreams have been shattered
after much struggle and pain.
Even if your life seems hopeless
God can restore you again.
God can take broken pieces
and He can make them whole.
It matters not how badly broken
God has the power to restore.

So we are never without hope
no matter the shape we are in.
God can take our fragmented lives
and put them together again.
So if you're broken beyond measure
and you don't know what to do.
God specializes in broken things
so His glory can shine through.
--Lenora McWhorter


Cx :-)

Yes, (good morning) it was ALL a long time ago Cynthia. The only ones that KNOW are the clergy, the literate of that time.

We either have to have a think, or have Faith <3

Good evening

Thank you for your concern Cynthia. I have been managing to read the posts which, as always, are most interesting but I have been struggling to find the time to post much. At the moment I feel as though I am running fast and not moving off the spot but I really shouldn't complain as there are many, many people who are worse off than me, including my poor brother who has recently learnt that he must undergo another couple of major operations.

OH has been making slow progress but has shown a good improvement over the last day or two so we have much to be thankful for. Now we wait for the next assessment on Friday.

David, you do write some interesting posts. At least they make me think and use my brain a bit. Going back to one of your earlier posts I am not convinced about Constantine "inventing" the doctrine of the Trinity. I may well be wrong but I would have thought the concept of the Trinity would have been known before Constantine's time. My understanding is that the issue at the Council of Nicaea was over the nature of the Son of God (partially a Trinity question of course). Was the Son begotten by the Father from his own being, and therefore a part of Him and equally holy, or was he made as a separate entity and therefore a lesser being to the Father? The great majority of the bishops came down on the side of the former and so the Nicene Creed was adopted which refers to "the only begotten Son of God...…...begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father...."

I do find this interesting but I have to admit I am not very knowledgeable so I would be happy to be corrected by anyone with a better understanding than me.

My thoughts tonight are with anyone who is sick and in need of healing and comfort, and with the medical staff and carers who look after them.

The Trinity has always been a mystery to me (and a great many others)

When I was young some tried to convince me he was in Heaven before

his birth from Mary. If he was born human, why did he have need of his parents

and synagogues education if at about 29 /30 years of age he was able to

convince 12 adult men he was higher and perform miracles ? (only asking)

Here's an answer for you David, and it's just a suggestion off the top of my head. ( me not being religious in the sense that many here are...I am just 'faint but pursuing' in my own quirky way lol. )

If you were a 'higher being' like Jesus ( as son of God), then rather than just appearing as 'yourself', that is as something so far apart from us mere mortals that we wouldn't be able to comprehend ( we still can't can we!) which would frighten and confuse, you would choose perhaps to come in a form us mere mortals COULD understand ( I am reminded of the angel appearing to the shepherds and they were "sore afraid"...if afraid of an angel how much more afraid would one be of the Son of God/God himself suddenly appearing?)

Coming as a baby, with mortal parents Jesus would grow in the way we all grow, from babe to adult, learn and be able to speak in the language of the common people, be amongst them and understand them and the place he had come to. To have them relate to him and vice versa, before revealing exactly what he was??

"Answers on a postcard" as they say. I do not know, so that is where Faith comes in.

Good post Rose, I doubt if any one really knows.
I was intrigued about the Catholic rosary rosary, so I asked, why the repitition
of Hail Mary, Mother of God, the words spoken by the angels.
I was informed that the rosary was not a prayer to Jesus but his Mother Mary
whose Mother Anne was barren and and her husband prayed for a miracle and
the result was Mary. So Jesus was born of a virgin whose Mother was barren.
That is why the Catholic Church hold Mary in such high regard, to this day.

Good morning..... :-)

Firstly, so pleased to hear from Vera <3 Sorry to hear about your brother though - it must be so disheartening for him. Stay strong. It's good that your OH is improving - these things are sent to try us so they say - my response is generally 'and they usually do!'. Getting older is not a bundle of laughs.

As for the conversation re the Trinity et al. There is the famous reading which is read at the midnight Christmas Eve services- usually throughout the country.....I absolutely love listening to it. It begins...…(John 1)

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. He was with God in the beginning.

and concludes......
14.The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth

Super stuff.

For today:

Lord on this day I remember that You go before me, so I pause to meditate on Your promises. Thank You Lord that You go with me, You lay a pathway, You watch over me like a shepherd. So I give You my fears, worries and anxieties.

I lay all tension and stress at the foot of the cross. Thank You that You arose from the death, and that You bring life, freedom, hope and the promise of Heaven! Praise You that I am safe in Your presence. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

A beautiful sunny God-given day, a good tonic for us all. We are blessed indeed.

Amen to your morning prayer Cynthia. Thank you for your ongoing daily postings.

Vera, good to read your OH is making a steady recovery, not so good news about your brother. He has had a lot of operations to cope with. Thoughts and prayers with you and all your family at an upsetting\worrying time.

David I find your postings thought provoking and Rose's reply on the Trinity very different but so interesting. Always a difficult subject to comprehend I think.

Sending gentle hugs to all who need one today xx

Good morning :-)

A man is here to service the boiler and do things with the water tank so I have a free few minutes while he gets on with his work.

Cynthia, you are right that the Bible passage starting “In the beginning was the Word...” is one of the most well known but I think it is one of the hardest to understand. I have read lots of explanations but every interpretation varies, particularly depending on the writer’s view of the Trinity. As the song from “The King and I” says, Is a Puzzlement.

Even though I don’t fully understand the passage I can feel very moved by the rhythm and sheer poetry of it.

I hope you all have a beautiful God-given day

Good morning :-)


I know just what you mean Vera.....it can be hard for us mere mortals to comprehend these things sometimes..... we do the best we can and then allow room for growth :-D


Dear Father,

I give you this day, may your spirit be at work in me. Clear the mix of dreams and thoughts from my mind and help me to embrace everything that you have for me today. I give you the mental and physical tiredness I can feel and ask for your life to flow though me. May your hope stir in those who are close to me and bring joy into their hearts. May your love cause me to find new energy, ideas and solutions throughout the day. And may your truth allow me to stay on track and walk confidently in all that I do.

Father, I give you this day.

Amen.

Cx :-)

Thoughts and prayers tonight for baby Connie, her parents and all Emma’s family, not forgetting Emma herself of course <3 <3. A prayer of thanks too for the skill and care of the medical team looking after this precious little girl.

Good morning :-)


Thank you for that message re baby Connie Vera - as I only come on here briefly, I tend to miss things. The family must be so worried about this little one but its good to know that she is in good and capable hands. Praying that her recovery will be complete and rapid. Also praying for Emma as I am sure she will be alongside the parents encouraging and supporting. <3 <3


Today I will remember to put you before all things.
Lord before tiredness - you are energy
Lord before stress - you are peace
Lord before need - you are the gift
Lord before decisions - you are truth
Lord before toil - you are rest.
Today I will remember to put your energy, your peace, your gift, your truth and your rest before my working day.
That I may go not in my own strength but be led by your Spirit.


Cx :-)

Some years ago I read an article titled The God Concept.

I confess I found it disturbing. It troubled my mind for a long time.

:-(

Hello all

Thoughts and prayers for baby Connie and for Emma and all her family at such a worrying time. xx

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you". (Isaiah 41:13 NIV),

This is my very favourite verse in scripture that has helped me countless times. I hope this will bring comfort to Emma today and to others who are struggling one way or another.

Christopher Hitchens was aaan extreemey intelligent man,

yet he delighted in taking religions to pieces and trying to prove them wrong.

Good morning :-)


I remember hearing/reading about Christopher Hitchens a while ago David. Yes, he was a very provocative writer who now knows the truth I guess.


The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty God,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts
whereby we call you Father:
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that we and all creation may be brought
to the glorious liberty of the children of God;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.


The gospel tells of Jesus sending out the 72 disciples……..


Cx :-)

Following his resurrection Jesus preached to over 100 before his Ascension
which was witnessed.

Good morning :-)


Yes indeed David. If you remember, I covered the topic of those to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection, just after Easter :-D


Yesterday, we welcomed a new ordained clergyman to our church. He spoke well about the gospel reading where Jesus sent his disciples out to preach the gospel. He ended with the words...

“If we take no other thought away from today, let’s always savour we are a touching place for Christ in the world”

He introduced us to a Roman Catholic hymn, (written by John Bell, a Church of Scotland Minister and member of the Iona Community) which summed up these thoughts. We can take a look at this hymn during the week….. and how we can be 'touching places for Christ' in our lives.

Christ’s is the world in which we move;
Christ’s are the folk we’re summoned to love;
Christ’s is the voice which calls us to care,
and Christ is the one who meets us here.
Refrain: To the lost Christ shows his face,
to the unloved he gives his embrace,
to those who cry in pain or disgrace
Christ makes, with his friends, a touching place.

Feel for the people we must avoid -
strange or bereaved or never employed.
Feel for the women and feel for the men
who fear that their living is all in vain.
To the lost.............

Feel for the parents who’ve lost their child,
feel for the women whom men have defiled,
feel for the baby for whom there’s no breast,
and feel for the weary who find no rest.
To the lost..............

Feel for the lives by life confused,
riddled with doubt, in loving abused;
feel for the lonely heart, conscious of sin,
which longs to be pure but fears to begin.
To the lost.................


Cx :-)

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for Connie
my family and myself <3