climbing hiking camping

That my latest book is fully launched. Now on Amazon , the book is out there. It is the heart-rending story of Linda and her journey through abuse, drink, drugs, drug trafficking, prostitution, prison…. and into a new life, a hope and a future. It is the story of life overcoming death, prayer overcoming cancer, love overcoming abuse. Written in the style if a thriller, it is a roller-coaster emotional ride, a story of a present day miracle-finder, a story of the power of transformation. Here are a few of the comments from readers: ‘This really is an amazing book. You will probably read it in about 2 or 3 sittings and your heart will descend into the depths and feel some of the pain - only then for it to soar as you read of this real life tragedy come miracle.’ From an Amazon review. ‘This is a real story, not a work of fiction, but it is as every bit as gripping as a thriller.’ From an Amazon review. ‘The story draws you in and I found myself still reading at 4am...the only reason I st...

Most of our journey through life is made in small steps. What the writer Eugene Peterson calls ‘A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.’ A coffee here, a meal there. A conversation one day, a car journey the next. Small integral parts of life’s direction. Occasionally, a giant step comes along. For us two have come at once. The first is the start of KingsGate Community Church Leicester . Our first (amazing!) meeting was last night. As someone who had spoken often of the possibility of KingsGate planting a new church into Leicester, it is the realisation of a dream. And a giant step. The other giant step comes as we drop our youngest child, Lois, off at Heathrow later today, as she starts her long obedience in the same direction. She is travelling out to Bulembu in Swaziland to serve as a long term missionary. For us, it means an empty house for the first time, with the other three children having already moved away. Two giant steps. Two key moments in our lives. And fuel for the j...

Life is short. Live it to the full. Here's a small reminder of how quickly the years go by..... Danielle http://vimeo.com/74033442">Danielle > from Anthony"> http://vimeo.com/anthonycerniello">Anthony Cerniello on Vimeo . https://vimeo.com">Vimeo . > For everything there is a season, and l a time for every matter under heaven: 2  a time to be born, and a time to m die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3  a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4  a time to n weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to o dance; 5  a time to p cast away stones, and a time to q gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to r refrain from embracing; 6  a time to seek, and a time to s lose; a time to keep, and a time to t cast away; 7  a time to u tear, and a time to sew; a time to v keep silence, and a time to speak; 8  a time to love, and a time to w hate; a tim...

Just back from my monthly Businessman’s Life Group and I was really struck by a small phrase my friend Jarek used. He talked about the times when God says ‘hello’. In fact if you think about it, those times are frequent. He is a God who loves us and wants to say ‘hello’, even if we choose to say ‘goodbye’. He says ‘hello’ every time the sun rises. Every time you smell the fragrance of a rose. Each time your children or grandchildren give you a hug. He says ‘hello’ through a friend’s prayer when you are struggling to stay sane. Through the gift at the door when there is nothing left in the kitchen. Through the unexpected addition to the bank balance, the bonus and the promotion. He says ‘hello’ through an act of kindness, the squeeze of a friends hand, the arm around the shoulder. And he says ‘hello’ through you. Every time you reach out, pray out, show you care, send a card or give a gift. We have a God who loves to say hello. From the beauty of the sunrise to the grandeur of its...

Sometimes things don't go as we expect. But it's how we deal with those moments that make us or break us. We can choose to complain forevermore about what 'should' have happened. Or we can embrace the change. This is a short piece of prose from Emily Kingsley, a writer who's expectations changed one day. I'll let her tell you in her own words..... WELCOME TO HOLLAND by Emily Perl Kingsley. c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley.   I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this...... When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. After months of eager anticipation...

Maureen Greaves talks of forgiveness in this amazing radio interview : On Christmas Eve, her husband Alan was murdered by two young men. Here she tells of her forgiveness towards them: “I see them as two people who have done a terrible evil….. but they are made in God’s image and were living a life they were never meant to live.” “I place them into God’s hands….. forgiveness is a strong commandment.” “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done…. To place them into God’s hands, so I don’t have to hate them or have any unforgiveness of them.” “If Alan could have spoken to me for the last time, he would have said ‘forgive them…. Don’t give yourself permission to act like that [unforgiving]’” “Every time I go past the spot of the murder, I pray for someone. And on Christmas Eve I will mourn Alan and pray for his attackers.” “We [the family] don’t want to live in a grief that traps us…. I will live.”

There are times as a church when it’s best to be quiet. But there are other times when we need to shout out loud! Well done to the Archbishop of Canterbury for shouting! An average bank loan is around 15%APR. The rate from Wonga? 4,214%. That’s not just profitable. That’s criminal. If the church can help by expanding Credit Unions and promoting them as a safer alternative, we should do it. Not to would be criminal.