dark days

DARK DAYS DIRECTIONS

(March 08, 2023) Norman and Margaret Moss reflect…

We were sitting in our car stuck in the middle of the road at the T junction a few hundred yards from our home in England. The engine had suddenly cut out and I, Norman, have seldom felt more helpless!

Cars passed by in all directions all intent on avoiding collision with ours, but failing to realise our predicament. However, soon people arrived, including two bright eyed youngsters eager to push and a strong man leaning through the window to help turn the steering wheel, since with the power steering gone I was not strong enough to turn it on my own.

Wrong directions
Together the group managed to park the car on a double yellow line at the side of the road. We decided to phone the AA. As we waited the night darkened and the cold increased. Then, suddenly very quickly it got pitch dark and I confess that I was afraid the AA vehicle would drive right past us.

At last we saw two blazing headlights coming towards us, shining brightly in the dark. Telling Margaret to sit tight, I eagerly stepped into the road and waved the van down, directing to a point close to us.

Obediently the driver started to turn the van round to head back towards us. Only then did I see the large letters on its side… AMBULANCE! Oh no, I thought, this isn’t an AA van! I’ve misdirected this vehicle which is no doubt rushing to aid someone in trouble!

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CHRISTMAS – THE LIGHT OF HOPE HAS COME!

(December 21, 2022) Dr Jim McClure reminds us that Christians have triumphant hope above the storms, sufferings and sadnesses of today’s dark times… 

‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you’ declared the prophet over 2700 years ago.

In chapter 59 he painted a picture of corruption that primarily referred to a time of national distress for Israel, a time when people were blindly groping in the darkness of sin, a time of hopelessness and fear, a time when encroaching despair threatened to extinguish all confidence for the future. 

But Isaiah’s message contained a further dimension. It was not only relevant to the collapse of society at that time but also pointed into a future time when that crushing darkness would be banished in the glorious light of God’s intervention and presence. 

Crushing darkness in our time 
We are living in perilous times! 

Not only do we continue to learn of increased crime, such as the murder of two young police officers, football crowd rampage, continuing covid cases and deaths, Russia still warring against Ukraine, financial uneasiness, teenagers in trouble, troubled minds… but, moving at an unprecedented pace, the overthrow of sound moral principles that have stood the test of time and the welcoming of perverse values in which good is called evil and evil is called good.  

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THE DAWNING OF THE LIGHT

(December 19, 2017) Dr Jim McClure respected theologian, shares a Christ-centred Christmas word…

Today millions of Jews around the world are almost at the conclusion of the celebration of Hanukkah – which relates to something that occurred 2156 years ago.

It celebrates the recapture of Jerusalem and the rededication of the temple after the Syrian ruler, Antiochus, killed thousands of Jews, banned Jewish worship, prohibited the reading of the scriptures, sacrificed pigs on the altar and refused the Jews to practise the ceremonial laws of their religion.

A group of Jews, under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus, formed a band of guerrillas to fight against the much stronger and larger army of Antiochus – and they won! Jerusalem was liberated, the temple was cleansed, a new altar was built and the temple was rededicated in 139 BC. A new lampstand had to be made as the beautiful golden lampstand had been stolen from the temple by the Syrians.

Only pure fresh olive oil was ever used to provide the light on the temple’s lampstand… this is where the story gets really interesting. Only a small jar of pure olive oil could be found, sufficient for keeping the lamp lit for only one day. But apparently, miraculously, it burned for eight days until new oil was again available. That event is still celebrated over an eight day period today and it is also called The Festival of Lights. That eight day period this year is celebrated between the 12th and 20th of December.

I mention this because of the proximity of the Festival of Lights celebration to the Christian celebration of Christmas, and also because, while Hanukkah celebrates the miraculous gift of oil that provided light in the temple for eight days, at Christmas we celebrate the inexpressible gift of Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world. (more…)