Paul Long's Ramblings

For the 26 May 2013 bulletin A pastor’s struggle with same sex attraction I recently came across this blog / article I found very helpful. It is by Sam Alberry, an associate pastor at St Mary's Church in Maidenhead, UK. The following is some excerpts from his article. You can read the full article at: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/01/10/how-can-the-gospel-be-good-news-to-gays/ ) Homosexuality is an issue I have grappled with my entire Christian life. It took a long time to admit to myself, longer to admit to others, and even longer to see something of God's good purposes through it all. There have been all sorts of ups and downs. But this battle is not devoid of blessings, as Paul discovered with his own unyielding thorn in the flesh. Struggling with sexuality has been an opportunity to experience more of God's grace, rather than less. Only in recent months have I felt compelled to be more open on this issue. For many years I had no intention of...

For the 19 May 2013 bulletin PASTOR’S  NOTES The following piece was submitted by Magdalene, which I found so timely as last week I was discussing  with a number of church members the stories  behind some of the great hymns of the church. Enjoy! Story behind the  hymn: Great  is Thy Faithfulness Thomas Obadiah  Chisolm  (1866-1960) had a difficult early adult life. His health was  so  fragile that there were periods of time when he was confined to bed, unable to  work . Between  bouts of illness he would have to push himself to put in extra hours  at  various jobs in order to make ends meet . After coming to Christ at age 27, Thomas found great comfort in the Scriptures, and  in  the fact that God was faithful to be his strength in time of illness and weakness,  and  to provide his needs. Lamentations  3:22-23 was one of his  favorite  scriptures:  “It  is...

For the 12 May 2013 bulletin PASTOR’S NOTES Happy mother's day! I got this in the mail earlier this week and thought it would be nice to have something light on mothers this Sunday ... Why God made Mums Brilliant answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions : Why did God make mothers? 1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is. 2 . Mostly to clean the house . How did God make mothers? 1 . He used dirt, just like for the rest of us. 2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring What ingredients are mothers made of? 1 . God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean. 2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think. Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom? 1 . We're related 2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me. What kind of little girl was your mom? ...

For the 5 May 2013 bulletin Time (a poem / prayer by Michael Quoist) All men complain that they haven't enough time. They look at their lives from too human a point of view. There is always time to do what God wants us to do, but we must put ourselves completely into each moment that he offers us now. I went out, Lord. Men were coming and going, walking and running. Everything was rushing; cars, trucks, the street, the whole town. Men were rushing not to waste time. To catch up with time, to gain time. Good bye, Sir, excuse me, I haven't time. I'll come back, I can't wait, I haven't time. I must end this letter - I haven't time. I'd love to help you, but I haven't time. I can't accept, having no time. I can't think, I can't read, I'm swamped, I haven't time. I'd like to pray, but I haven't time. You understand, Lord, they simply haven't the time. The child is playing, he hasn...