So Here You Are!

So here you are alive on planet earth! What are you doing here? Was it your idea to live? Did you choose the day you were born? Did you decide what abilities you would have? No of course not. 

Aren't we just here because of a combination of an accident followed by generations of the survival of the fittest? 

That is a pretty bleak outlook. What's the point? None! 

The Bible says there is a very real point to life because: "It is he (God) who made us". He did not have to create you but he freely chose to do so. He made you because he wanted to. You matter to him.

Like it or not: God matters to you! Why else are you reading this? You cannot totally escape him. "He has set eternity in the hearts of men". That is why you feel life must have a purpose and that life must go on beyond death. God made you to know and feel this. That is why at times it can be such hard work trying to ignore 'eternity'. 

The God who made you like this did so in order that you will reach out for him. He is not far away.

 

GOD ARE YOU THERE?

Blackwells Bookshop at the top of Park Street Bristol have been giving a FREE GIFT for Darwin's 200 birthday: 'Darwin A Graphic Biography' by Simon Gurr and Eugene Byrne. 

They picture Darwin as an old man saying: "I have never been an atheist in the sense of denying the existence of God. I think that agnostic would be the more correct description of my state of mind." 

The next picture is of Thomas Huxley, sometimes described as Darwin's bulldog for the fierce defense he made of 'evolution', saying: "Nobody can prove God exists, and nor can anyone prove he does not exist." 

There really is no escaping the question: Does God exist? Even those who want to deny his existence, or at least sit on the fence, find themselves thinking about God. Some atheists never seem to stop talking about him!

The Bible begins by proclaiming God: "In the beginning God..." The first thing we learn about God is that He is there. He has always been and always will be. Later on we are told that he is not far from each one of us. 

Next we learn that God is a God who creates. We see that he has great wisdom, incredible power, a sense of beauty, and a delight to share life with those to whom he gives life. 

Not a convincing argument for the existence of God? 

It is not meant to be. God invites us, not to argue, but to know him. How do you get to know someone? You listen to them. 

I used to lie on my bed looking up and wonder if God was there and, if so was he looking down on me.  Then I asked him. No loud voice boomed down, nor did I hear any voice in my head. Shortly afterwards I begun to read the Bible and, though at the time I did not know it, God was answering my question.  

Why not ask him for yourself? If you do not have a Bible you can download one from the link or read it online and then read the first two opening chapters.

A blog for you

Hello, 

Thanks for looking me up! This blog is for those who want to know more about the Christian faith. 

For the past sixteen years I have been Pastor of Philip Street Chapel and have really enjoyed visiting homes in South Bristol talking with many people. Maybe one day we will meet and be able to talk face to face.

This blog is another means of conversation. I shall aim to add one piece each week. I hope that you will leave your comments or please email me with any questions you would like me to answer.