Latest Cabinet Post. A Minister for Lonliness.

Yes, you heard it right. The British Parliament has just created a new portfolio in their cabinet. It is the Ministry for Loneliness.

The position has been given to Tracey Crouch who has been allocated the task of making life a lot happier for the 10 million or so Britons who are feeling shut in, shut out and generally left out of life.

The problem has been known to exist for a long time in Britain whose society, like many others, has been broken down by the relentless assault of technology. 

Groups have been springing up in the last thirty years with names like "Men in Sheds", "Pies and Pints". "Knit and Natter": all the result of concerned citizens taking initiative to combat the problem of isolation.

The result of special studies and focus groups (as if we didn't already know) have told us that citizens have been turned into consumers by technology and T.V. and that "we are no longer bowling together"

A special government paper states that individuals are living increasingly unconnected lives behind closed doors and gated communities. Delivered meals, groceries, box-sets and gadgets have destroyed society and replaced it with virtual reality.

Well, well, well. Since the first major disconnect in the human heart is a separation from God through sin, is it not surprising that this separation should then spread from man to fellow man?

The name of the church where I pastor is intentionally chosen.

We call ourselves "The Barrie Christian Fellowship" .

Barrie, the city where we live. "Christian" our relationship with God through Christ His Son. "Fellowship" our friendship with each other

"Fellowship"

We enjoy it NOW and confidently expect to enjoy it through eternity. No more "Guys in Sheds"

Jubilate.

Ian

When Old Friends Die.

I lost an old friend recently. He was a man that I spent some of my early days with serving God in my home town and later, preaching  in the city of Liverpool. His name was Richard Gibson. You likely will never have heard of him but that is not important. Sufficient to say that God knew him and that his name is recorded in the Book of Life.

Richard and I preached together in many places both in the North of England and on Merseyside. 

We were preaching at the Pier Head in Liverpool when the Beatles were just getting started in the Cavern Night Club. They were at one end of Dale Street while we were at the other.

The Beatles were telling us that "We all live in a Yellow Submarine"

Richard and I were telling our audiences that they could all make their home in Heaven if they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

After we were married in 1968, Richard to his wife Moyra and  me to my dear wife Pauline, we parted company. I emigrated to Canada and Richard stayed to raise his family in his home town in England.

For over forty years we were separated by 3,500 miles of ocean but we were never divided as friends and stayed in regular contact.

Richard went to be with the Lord a few weeks ago. Before long I will be seeing him again in a better place than this old earth.

Our friendship will continue there for all eternity.

That, my friends, is the hope of all Christians.

Jubilate.

Ian