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