Divorce and Oaths – a Reflection

by Liz Young

(Based on Matt 5:21-37; 1 Cor 3:1-9)

Continuing the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus reflects on divorce and the taking of oaths.

My husband was very reluctant to divorce his first wife, in the sixties, because it was just not done in his family. But they had married because she was pregnant, and it was before the days of the pill, and they were totally unsuited.
My sister had three boys before she was twenty one, as her GP wouldn’t prescribe the pill while she was breastfeeding; she’s now divorced too.
As I look round the congregation today, I wonder how many of our generation here have divorced because they first married when they were too young.

In Jesus’s day, for the same reason, lack of efficient contraception, women got married at the end of puberty and men at the age of eighteen. But marriage then was more about the exchange of property, and ensuring the birth of children – who would be expected to look after their parents, as they grew older. Marriage was planned and documents exchanged at the time of the betrothal. Among Jewish people the father had absolute authority over the household, including the life and death of his children and selling his children into slavery.
But, as well as rights, he had responsibilities: he was expected to provide his wife and children with all their basic needs.                                                                                                                         Wives and mothers had few legal rights but a lot of practical authority: they prepared meals, baked bread and shared in squeezing olive oil, made butter and tended the animals. In practice, most men realized how much they depended on their wives for their daily comfort.

In Jesus’s time the stability of Jewish families was envied by the surrounding pagan societies. But divorce was available; it was an option for Joseph, Mary’s fiancee, to consider.

John and I married at age 35, for companionship, and shared laughter, as well as safe sexual stability: and I thank God for more than forty happy years.

Many couples are/were not so lucky. My grandparents were founders of the marriage guidance movement in the UK, which sprung into action after World War Two, as many wartime marriages did not live up to expectation. [And, as I wrote this, I realized that changing mores have meant that today people no longer stay in unhappy marriages, or even get married in the first place. So I Googled the end of Marriage Guidance and Relationship Services and found that it had gone into liquidation in 2015.]

Divorce rates vary nationally. Currently the highest rates are in the USA and Russia, and the lowest rates are in Ireland, Greece and Mexico. In New Zealand we are average, with a divorce rate of about twenty per cent, and divorce occurs at an equal rate in all age groups, from 25-65, and the divorce rate here peaked in1996.
Divorce was frowned upon by the church in the UK, and NZ, as I was growing up, and the Anglican Church in NZ still hasn’t formally allowed divorcees to remarry in church. (But has informally allowed it since 1970!)

Jesus was much harsher though. He said whoever divorces his wife except on grounds of unfaithfulness is making her an adulteress.
This makes me question how often my behaviour follows my cultural norm rather than Jesus’s direct teaching.

Then Jesus comments on swearing oaths in God’s name. Not what Jesus was talking about, but I remember clearly the silence that fell over the Special Care Baby Unit in 1980 at Waikato Hospital when I swore while I was having difficulty inserting a drip. I didn’t continue swearing at that time, but I can’t say that I stopped swearing altogether, even if I did change that word to ‘merde’.
The swearing Jesus was referring to, partly, was ‘taking the name of God in vain’, and I’m sure that is something we would all try not to do.

The other reading that I would like to comment on is Paul’s from Corinthians. Paul starts by commenting on the Corinthians’ spiritual immaturity: he notes that they argue, they are divided about their beliefs, and form factions. Ie, human behaviour; very similar behaviour to what we see today, world wide. We’re just human. We form groups of about thirty with common interests who work towards the same goals, and are cautious with strangers. I always value our Opportunity Shop, where a group of women work toward the common good, supporting each other while providing us, the church, with a stable income, and plenty extra that we can give out to charities – local, national and international.

We are fortunate with our leaders at St Francis, and we recognize and value our different gifts.

So, the message we need to take away is that we need to keep our focus on God, on what he has graciously provided for us, and what he requires of us. We need to remember and accept that we are human, we can be jealous and envious, we can form factions and be cautious of strangers. Make sure you greet someone you don’t know this week, and find out their current worries and joys; and make sure when you’re working together you are working for the common good.
And those of us who still have partners, never go to sleep without sorting out your differences.

Blessed Attitudes

by Barry Pollard

(Based on Matt 5:1-12)

As I re-read the Beatitudes, I saw them as a checklist that I really couldn’t tick off! What was I supposed to make of them? What was I supposed to do about them?

Noted Anglican theologian NT (Tom) Wright once said in a sermon, “The beatitudes of Jesus tell us that all the wrong people are going to be blessed; they are counter-intuitive. God is turning everything upside down.”

The ‘Beatitudes’, verses 3-11 of today’s Gospel reading, are part of the Sermon on the Mount. Another commentator has explained that in this sermon Jesus is telling us how to be happy. Each of the verses we heard today start with “God blesses those who . . .” Some translations have recorded it as, “Happy are those who . . .”

To amplify that point, the Good News Bible translation lists the Beatitudes as follows:
* Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
* Happy are those who mourn; God will comfort them!
* Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised!
* Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!
* Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them!
* Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God!
* Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!
* Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
* Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers.

If this teaching, the first that Jesus delivers, according to Matthew, deals with our happiness, does any of it make sense? What has persecution to do with happiness? How could it produce blessings?

Well, blessed are those who pay attention, for they will not be bored! Not in the Bible version, but a truth none-the-less!

Let’s run through each of these eight blessings and see what they mean and how we can benefit from them.

God blesses those who are poor and realise their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

This beatitude is referring to those who are poor in spirit. To be poor in spirit is not to lack intelligence or confidence; it is to know our need for God. It is to come with empty hands, without pretence, pride or self-reliance. In a world that prizes self-sufficiency, Jesus says the Kingdom belongs to those who know they cannot save themselves. This we can think about as the entry point into all the other Beatitudes: humility before God.

A Christian life, a faith walk, does not begin with strength, but with surrender.

Many of us value being capable, self-sufficient and not making a fuss, our Kiwi “she’ll be right” attitude. But being poor in spirit is the courage to say, like a farmer after a tough season or a small business owner after a run of losses, “I can’t do this on my own.” For us, faith often begins when we admit we need help, from God and from one another. We are opening ourselves, truthfully, to God.

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Mourning includes not just personal grief but also sorrow over sin, injustice, and a broken world. Jesus blesses those who refuse to numb their pain or deny reality. God’s comfort is not some superficial reassurance; it is the deep consolation of God-with-us. In Christ, God enters our suffering and promises resurrection. Having faith doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine, it means bringing our fears, and tears, to God.

Look at what has been taking place at Mt Maunganui this last week. The various communities affected by the disaster have gathered at marae, schools, churches – and at the disaster site – to grieve together. Jesus blesses this honest mourning. God’s comfort is often experienced through shared grief, quiet presence, shared meals, and practical care.

God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

The humble are often described as the meek. But meekness is not to be interpreted as weakness. Rather, it is more like strength under control. It is a quiet trust in God, rather than in force or domination. The world encourages us to take power or gain the upper hand. Jesus says, trust God. And the humble inherit the earth because God vindicates them. As Christians we follow a King who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, not a warhorse.

Think of the best All Black you can. I bet if we analysed why we had each selected our choice, the common themes would include not just being respected for their skill or on-field leadership, but for their humility, discipline, and putting the team first. Humility looks like leadership that serves, not dominates. In God’s kingdom, quiet faithfulness often shapes the future more than loud power.

On this note, just so you know, I chose Eroni Clarke, named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the New Year honours.
I first encountered Eroni in person when he visited our school promoting reading, and a whole lot more! His impact with the children was huge. His message went much deeper than simply getting involved in reading. He offered encouragement to live worthwhile lives. Suffice to say, he moved me too!
Move ahead 30 odd years, and our paths crossed again when we attended Life Church in Manukau, where Eroni is one of the prayer team. A humble, quiet leader who serves God and his faith community, and I believe still shapes futures.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

This is a deep craving for God’s justice, goodness, and righteousness in our lives, and in the world. It is not complacent faith but passionate desire. God’s promises do not bring frustration, but fulfilment. What we long for most deeply, God longs to give. So, we might ask ourselves, what do we hunger for most? Comfort, or God’s Kingdom? Maybe think over some of your recent prayers!

Many Kiwis have a strong sense of fairness, wanting everyone to get a ‘fair go’. When we grieve over housing and wage inequality, child poverty, or environmental damage to land and waterways, we are touching this Beatitude. Hungering for righteousness means praying and working for a society that reflects God’s justice and care for Creation, for all.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Mercy is love in action. It is choosing forgiveness over revenge, compassion over indifference. Those who have received God’s mercy become channels of it. This is not earning God’s mercy, but reflecting it. After all, we can’t cling to grudges and still live freely in grace.

There have been several contentious issues in our town that have caused splits, within families and the wider community. We know in our small community how these conflicts can linger and fester for years. Mercy, then, may mean taking the first step toward reconciliation. It could be as simple as having a cuppa with someone, offering an apology, or choosing not to pass on gossip. These ordinary acts reflect God’s extraordinary mercy.

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

Purity of heart is about integrity and focused devotion, not moral perfection. It is a heart aligned with God, rather than one divided by conflicting loyalties. Pure hearts see God not just in the eternal, but recognise God’s presence in the everyday, right now.
What competes for our deepest loyalty?  Life is busy. So many competing facets. Sport, work demands, screens intruding everywhere, family dramas. Purity of heart may be choosing faithfulness over our busyness, setting aside time for worship, prayer, and resisting the pressure to let success or comfort become our ultimate goal.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Peacemakers do more than avoid conflict; they work for reconciliation, justice and healing. This is costly work, and it reflects the heart of God. Remember, Jesus made peace through the cross, and called us to follow. Have you been in situations where you are aware that tensions exist or are building? Did you think about high-tailing it out of there? Or did you try defusing the situation in some way? This is working for peace. Where might God be calling us to be bridge-builders and relationship menders now?

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Living by Jesus’s values will sometimes (and you may say, ‘will often’) bring opposition. Opposition is persecution in this instance. Think about the Christians around the world who are not meeting in churches today, hiding out instead and living under threat, just like the followers of The Way we heard about last week.
Well, the Good News is, theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus repeats the first Beatitude promise. Faithfulness is the mark of Kingdom life. We are called to be faithful, not to be popular.

* * *

As we have whizzed through the Beatitudes, attentively of course, did you notice that God’s blessings, the things he says will bring us happiness, are found in character, not in possessions? Every one of the Beatitudes deals with something that is internal, not external; something you are, not something you have.

I said earlier, a Christian life does not begin with strength, but with surrender. If you, like me, are wondering how likely you are to receive the blessings the Beatitudes offer, this I believe is an answer. God never asks us to do or be something that is not possible. God never makes his Word, his promises, or his challenges unattainable. God never directs us into dead-ends. God always provides the means. But we must turn to him. You can’t practice the Beatitudes without God. These Beatitudes are not natural for us. We need God to instil them into us and direct us. We need to look to God to help us. And, through his grace, he will.

God prepares us for what lies ahead. Friday’s Word for Today provided a great explanation of how that works, and it fits well with our theme today. I’ll read it:

Every experience in our past prepares us for a future opportunity. God doesn’t redeem only our souls; he also redeems our experiences, both good and bad. He does it by refining our character, developing our gifts and teaching lessons we can’t learn any other way. We learn the most important lessons in the classroom of life through first-hand experience. The tests are challenging, but no curriculum is more effective. And how you pass the test is by growing in character, developing the gift or learning the lesson God is trying to teach you through that experience.

God is at work in your life. He is helping you get ready for your date with destiny. And he is doing it in ways that are practically imperceptible. David realised that slaying the lion and the bear prepared him to bring down Goliath (1 Samuel 17:37). And it’s not until you face your biggest challenge that God identifies how, when and where he prepared you. That’s when you realise that the battle was won long before you stood on the battlefield.

It was necessary for Moses to tend sheep for forty years before he could lead the flock of Israel. The disciples had to fish for fish before they could fish for men. A time of preparation precedes every divine appointment. And if we surrender to the preparation, God will execute his promise. If we don’t, he won’t. This is because God never sets us up to fail. The time you spend in the shadows is preparing you for the time when you will be in the limelight. The time you spend on the sidelines is preparing you to be on the front lines – and win.

On top of that, this week I came across these verses from Titus, chapter 2. The verses provide an excellent summary of how God’s grace helps us:

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Verses 11-14)

Don’t be fooled into thinking that we are being encouraged to do good works to earn these blessings. We should clarify that Jesus is not saying if we live like this, following these blessings (Beatitudes) as directives, that we will become good Christians (Christ-followers). That’s not how it works. What he is saying is, because you are a Christian, you can live like this. And the benefits will be happiness.

When Tom Wright said, “God is turning everything upside down,” he is not wrong. “Those who are first will be last and those who are last will be first,” found later in Matthew’s Gospel, emphasises that God’s kingdom reverses worldly, earthly standards of status and success. Humility, service, and spiritual faith are more valued than earthly power or wealth.
“The Beatitudes, in fact, paint a portrait of Jesus himself, and the sort of life he offers us. They don’t describe how to earn God’s blessing, but what life looks like when God reigns.
“His is an upside-down kingdom, where grace comes before achievement, where weakness becomes strength, and where the cross leads to resurrection.” (Dr Colin S. Smith, The Orchard Evangelical Free Church)

So, as I reflect on the Beatitudes from now on, I will hear and feel the words of Jesus, not as a burden but as an invitation. My prayer is that we all do.

In the Beatitudes Jesus is simply saying, “Blessed are you.”

A Matter of Trust

by Pat Lee

(Based on Matt 19:23-30; Jeremiah 1:4-10; Acts 9:1-22)

God tells Jeremiah that before he was born, he had been set apart and chosen to be his prophet. Jeremiah found this piece of news rather alarming, as he thought he was far too young for such as an important task. But God doesn’t take his protest as an answer, and tells Jeremiah that he needn’t be afraid. He gives him the assurance that he needs and tells him that he will have his protection; and then gives him his instructions for the task ahead.
I think Jeremiah might have found all this rather overwhelming. I know I would have. However, God does not call anyone to a task he/she cannot do, because he equips us with all we need to accomplish it. It’s just a matter of trust.

On to the passage from Acts.
First, a little background on Paul, or Saul, as he was originally known. The Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus) came from a devout, prominent Jewish family in Tarsus, the capital of a small Roman district (now in modern Turkey). He was of the tribe of Benjamin and was the holder of rare Roman citizenship from birth, which gave him significant legal rights. Raised strictly observant, he became a zealous Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel in Jerusalem, and was a “Hebrew of Hebrews” with deep knowledge of Jewish law. (Which prepared him uniquely for his subsequent mission to the Gentiles.)

When Paul set out for Damascus that day he had only one plan on his mind.
He had been to the high priest to get letters to take with him, intending to take them to the synagogues in Damascus to get their cooperation to arrest any of the followers of ‘the Way’, as Christians, or Believers, were referred to at that time. He just wanted to get rid of them. Remember, this was the same man who witnessed the stoning of Stephen, as written in the previous chapter of Acts, agreeing with his killing. You can almost imagine Paul standing there grinning with satisfaction as he watched on.

However, God had a different plan for Paul. So, as he was approaching Damascus, set on his mission, he experienced an amazing event. A light appeared and a voice spoke to him, Jesus’s voice. Jesus asked him, “Why are you persecuting me?” Paul did not know who was speaking to him, but Jesus told him who he was and what he needed him to do. His companions also heard the voice but didn’t see anyone, and they were speechless.

When Paul got up he couldn’t see, so his companions had to lead him to Damascus where he stayed for three days without eating or drinking. I can’t help wondering what was going on in Paul’s mind during that time. Did he wonder if Jesus was going to help him accomplish his lettered task? Well, if he was thinking that, he was certainly in for a surprise, because that plan was going to invert dramatically. He was about to change direction completely.

Someone else was about to have his plans changed as well. The Scripture tells us about Ananias, already a believer. In spite of having no mobile phone, social media or anything remotely similar, word about Paul had reached him. He knew that Paul had done terrible things to believers in Jerusalem, and that he was authorised to arrest anyone who called on the name of Jesus. Put yourself in Ananias’s shoes. How would you have reacted to being asked to go to this man and lay hands on him, to make him see again?

Once again we see that when called to a task, we will be supported and protected, and equipped to carry it out. Ananias did as he had been asked, trusting that Jesus would be on his side. He laid hands on Paul and affirmed to him that he had been sent by Jesus, so that Paul would regain his sight. And he did. Then Paul was baptised. Now that was definitely not in Paul’s original plan; nor was what followed a few days later when he started preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

What a dramatic change of plan that was.

It’s no wonder that all who heard him were amazed, because they also knew of Paul’s reputation, and that he had come to Damascus to arrest them, chain them, and take them back to the priests in Jerusalem.

God calls each of us to become believers in a way that best suits each individual. There is no right or wrong way, just God’s way.

My conversion was dramatic too, but not the same as Paul’s. I needed a metaphorical hit on the head with a four-by-two to get my attention. One beautiful May morning while sitting on my back porch having a cup of tea with a friend, my life changed completely and I made an about turn.

When I look back to that day, I can see how much I have changed from then until now.
I started a journey that I had know idea where it would lead, but I trusted that God would take me where he wanted me to be. It hasn’t been plain sailing and I know I’m still far from perfect, but my journey goes on.

My husband, Michael, knew when he came home from work that day that something had happened to me. He didn’t want a bar of it.
Those next few months were very difficult to say the least, but I hung in there. I believed that God would change his heart too, but didn’t know how long it was going to take.

Michael was transferred to another town with his work while I stayed back with the children to finish the school year. That gave him time to gather all the books he could find, including a Bible, to prove that my experience was not valid. He was an avid reader. God used that to show Michael that what had happened to me was definitely valid, and he too became a believer. That was the start of a completely new plan for his life, as well as mine.

Today’s Gospel reading follows on from the passage about a rich young ruler who wanted to know what good deed he needed to do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and follow him. The rich young man went away sad because he had many possessions. Jesus’s response to his disciples was to say that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.
Incidentally, the Eye of the Needle is a narrow passageway through the Jerusalem wall that was used after the city gates were closed for the night. Camels did not like going in through this very narrow, confined space.

So, the disciples asked, “Then who in the world can be saved?” Jesus answered, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Jeremiah thought it was impossible for him to become a prophet. The people of Damascus thought it was impossible for Paul to become a believer. Ananias thought it was impossible for him to go to Paul and lay hands on him without his being arrested and put in chains. Once I became a believer, I thought it was impossible for my husband to become one too. But as we all know, these things did happen because nothing is impossible for God. God can change anyone, and he can change our hearts toward anyone, and can do anything else if it is his will.

Some seemingly impossible tasks in the Bible include: God creating the whole universe and everything in it in six days, Moses building the Ark on dry land miles from any large area of water and with no rain in sight. The Israelites leaving Egypt, where they were slaves. A shepherd boy becoming king. A virgin giving birth to the Son of God. Ordinary people like you and me giving up their jobs to become the disciples of Jesus and, becoming his close friends. Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two small fish. Thousands of people being healed of their afflictions. The Bible is full of examples.

If you have not already chosen to follow Jesus because you think it’s too hard, think again. Anyone can, because God gives you the ability to do so and will support and equip you through anything he asks you to do. Just trust him. He won’t let you down.

Heavenly Father, we all don’t just become first-rate followers when you call us. We don’t always understand where you are leading us or how we are going to get there. But we know that no matter how many times we fail, you are always ready to give us another chance. Thank you for entrusting us in the ongoing work you have for each of us. Help us to remember that whatever the task is, you will enable us to complete it, because nothing is impossible for you. Amen.

Thoughts on Trust – and Childhood

by Liz Young

(Based on John 1:29-42; Isa 49:1-7; Ps 40:1-14; 1 Cor 1:1-9)

In Chapter 49 Isaiah writes, “I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation shall reach to the end of the earth.”
In Psalm 40 the psalmist sings, “I waited patiently for the Lord … He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to my God. Happy are those who put their trust in the Lord.”
And in 1 Corinthians Paul writes, “God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord.”
Paul is writing to a group of friends who probably had to meet semi-surreptitiously, but this had not stopped them from helping Paul when he was overwhelmed by trouble.  And he admits that he had had a sense of impending disaster, but that he used that time and that fear, to learn to trust not in himself, but in God, a God who could raise the dead.

Do we have that trust? That faith that he, God, will provide the right answer, and the strength to overcome fear, and the wisdom to do what is right?

What other messages do we get from these readings? Both the Psalmist and Isaiah ask the Lord, give us a vision to hold on to, a vision that gives us hope for the future. As so often, and as in past times, today we seem surrounded by wars and greed – greed for power, greed for money. Let us in our worship today hope for a future where truth is honoured and not distorted; where we expect to receive and give kindness; where we trust in the Lord.

Apart from the visit to the Temple there are few stories of Jesus’s childhood: those years when children develop their moral compass, their understanding, their ability to share. In the Gospel story we are taken straight from infancy to manhood.
Many in this congregation have been teachers, who’ve had thirty different personalities to guide each year through ages 4-18, helping each child reach his or her full potential. What would you have felt if you had a Jesus child in your class?! Would you have realised his potential? How would you have nurtured him?
How easy is it to recognise a child’s adult potential in our own children?

John baptises Jesus in the river Jordan, a symbolic cleansing with water, and then says, “It is true I have not recognised him, but now I realise that here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he was before me’”.
It must have been odd for John to suddenly recognise Jesus, his cousin and probably his childhood play mate, as a teacher greater than him, and potentially the Messiah. Or perhaps he’d had inklings, even as a child.  I think I might have realised that Jesus was special, but I would have been too self- absorbed, to value him.  How often do we recognise a person’s adult potential, when we and they are children? When I think back on my happy childhood and playmates, it was not until I was fifteen or so that I made friends that I have valued, and who have lasted my lifetime.

One commentary I read focused on Jesus being the Lamb of God, a symbol of sacrifice, rather than a lion, the symbol of strength that we understand the Jews were hoping for at that time. The Lamb was a symbol of sacrifice, a foretelling of Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross. Three years seems such a short time, to make such a lasting impression. We wonder at how much love he showed to his friends, the disciples, nurturing them, while at the same time, healing the sick, the mentally traumatised, the ignored and the downtrodden over the three years of his ministry.

Paul must have studied Jesus’s life closely as he was persecuting his followers. (It’s important to know your enemy.) How frustrating it must have been for Paul to only hear stories of good. How was his subconscious reacting to these stories, preparing him for his conversion? That moment when his views of Jesus and his followers turned upside down?

Paul was called, invited or appointed to be an apostle, and he reminds us that not only was he called, but so are the non-Jewish Corinthians and spiritually hungry others, then and over the next two thousand years.

Fellowship here at St Francis, our little church, means trusting that our friends support us in our worship – when we swap rosters, when we preach in different styles, use different versions of the Bible – and that we trust our friends will support us when we are grieving, unwell or forgetful; but also when we share the joys of hospitality and happy conversations.
And we will continue to trust that God will empower us to follow his will … and to trust that children using the pontoon [in our local estuary – Ed] will look before they leap!