View FromThe Manse

From the Minister of St James’- Peter Webster

Dear Folks,

I hope you survived last week’s strong winds without too much damage. When you look out the back windows of the manse at the garden it is looking a bit messy. The bar-b-cue has been blown over as have some small trees in pots. The heavy wooden garden furniture has moved and the table and chairs are no longer sitting as a set. It was a fairly stormy time.

When I went to see how the front garden had faired I found that it was mostly alright although there was a lot of litter type rubbish around. Also there was on a bush with few leaves a perfect orange rose. I began to reflect on how such a delicate flower could survive so strong a wind.

There is a lesson to us all in that rose. Amidst the storms of life we don’t have to be destroyed or lose our beauty. We may find ourselves tossed about but with God’s help we can come through if not unscathed then stronger and more resilient after our experience. 

God Bless You All and Happy New Year

 

In November, St James’ Minister, Peter Webster, wrote

Dear Folks,

The clocks have been changed, the nights are drawing in and somehow the prospect of winter and the darkness that comes with it seems to make us all a bit more pessimistic.

Imagine what it must have been like before electricity and central heating. Imagine how bleak life could be before Jesus came into the world.

The God you worshipped was judgemental, vengeful and punished sinners severely. Into that miserable dark world a light shone and people found hope and encouragement in hearing of a God who had their best interests at heart and who loved them all.

God is still like that there for us in our dark days literally and figuratively whatever we face. So look at every dark day of winter as a sign of God’s eternal presence and love.

God bless you and keep you all

          Peter 

In October, St James’ Minister, Peter Webster, wrote

Dear Folks,

I am writing this in Portobello Library as again I have a computer problem. Daughter number two is off to London with the laptop I have been using and although our son has given us his old computer I am still in process of setting it up.

Now if I was a grumpy old man at this point I would launch into a rant about how technology is great when it works and how when things were simpler we managed better. But I am not a grumpy old man (well most of the time I’m not) and so I look at the positive parts of my situation.

How fortunate I am that there is free access for all at our local library. How fortunate it is that I live close to said library. In life we often face problems and we can deal with them in three ways – either we set about overcoming them, or moan and worry about our situation. That is only two ways I hear you say. Yes, but if you find yourself in the second then a further option opens up and that is to have a quiet word with God.

You'll be amazed how often doing this helps us calm down and if we realise we do not have the solution then to seek help from someone who can help. That could be a human expert but if the problem is greater than their expertise then leave it with God. Don't waste your time and energy on things you can't change. Well hope this reaches you I'm sending it by email to the editor and I don't know how email works

 God bless you and keep you

            Peter 

 

In May, St James’ Minister, Peter Webster, wrote

Dear Folks,

Last month I said I would tell you about the surprise we were having. Well the first surprise was that it unfortunately didn't happen.  When the tickets went on sale they went like the proverbial hot cakes.

It was going to be a show where Greg McHugh (writer and star of Gary Tank Commander) was talking about the concept and the show itself. That may not sound very interesting to you but Pat and I loved both series of this program and sufficient to say that when Gary in a debate on the Iraq war compares the troops involvement to making macaroni cheese, and there is more sense than most politicians talking on the subject you may see it is more than comedy.

Anyway because we didn't see the show we were able to have our first overnight of the year away in the Van and it was great. We may catch up with Greg in the future but meantime I am grateful to my daughter for thinking of us when she saw it advertised.

It reminded me of the TV avert with that as its theme " saw this thought of you." At Easter as throughout the year when we see a cross of any description that should be the phrase that comes to mind.’ Saw this and thought of you, Your Love for Mankind, Your death and Resurrection, Your continued presence through life.’

Thank You Jesus. God Bless You All,

Peter 

 

In March, St James’ Minister, Peter Webster, wrote

Dear Folks,

Do you like surprises ? Our younger daughter phoned last night and said we should keep March 19th free as she had a surprise for us. She said we would love it. So from now to then we are puzzled but excited.

Jesus loved to surprise people. ‘Love your enemies,’ he said and that surprised everyone. It was also a surprise to people when he fed the multitude, and healed the sick.

The greatest surprise was when he rose from death on what we celebrate as Easter. He also spoke of God as our father and spoke of his love to us.

That was a great surprise and one that we should all treasure. To know and feel his love, to trust him no matter what, to find that we have the strength for each new day may at times seem surprising but it really shouldn’t be as it is what Jesus promised to all who found faith.

 I’ll let you know our surprise next month.

            God Bless You All

 

In February, St James’ Minister, Peter Webster, wrote

Dear Folks,

I don’t know if you like watching tennis, but as I write this I am half watching as Andy Murray is trying to reach the final of the Australian Open.

There have been ups and downs throughout but one of the important things for any tennis player is that you have to forget the bad misses, the poor shots and what might have been and play in the present with confidence that you can win.

Dwelling on your failures tends to destroy this confidence. How true this is in all our lives. We recall our faults our failings and we allow them to sap our energy and make us lose confidence as we travel through life.

Let us all try to bury the past to go forward trusting God to help us and step out into life with a real confidence that we will be able to fulfil his plans for us

God Bless You All

Peter 

 

 

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