Why I believe - Part 1

I have always believed in God. I was brought up to go to church at Callington and Frogwell Sunday school. As I grew up I continued to go to church but there were more important things in life like farming and the local Young Farmers club. There we enjoyed farm walks; I learned many livestock tasks like trimming cows’ hoofs, and dehorning calves. I took part in several stock judging events and there was the more fun side discos and various cabaret competitions.

One evening soon after passing my driving test, I couldn’t start my car. I borrowed my Dad’s new Vauxhall Cavalier. While following other young farmers I attempted to overtake, travelling very fast near a bend. There was a car coming in the other direction. I swerved to miss it and lost control of the car. It hit a bank and rolled unto its side; it seemed to roll for ever, coming to rest in a ditch well out of sight from the road. There were five of us in the car. We all got out without a scratch on us. A well-designed car from a safety point of view! Or did God look after us? If so, why us, when so many are killed or injured in much less dramatic accidents?

As there were no mobile phones in those days, no one came to our aid except people who had witnessed the accident, some of whom gave us a lift back to Callington Police Station, which was closed, so we made our way home. I felt like the worst person in the world. I realised that, through my own stupidity, I could have killed my four friends. How could I get over that?

The next morning our local cattle feed salesman called. He said to me that God was looking after me and I needed to be thankful. From that point on I started to follow Jesus much more seriously. I came to know His forgiveness and found He was helping me to follow Him. I can never doubt that Jesus, for some reason, had his had upon my life.

Pastor Martin Bunkum

- to be continued ….

One Solitary Life - Jesus Christ

I love the essay below. Jesus Christ will always have a positive effect on mankind.

One Solitary Life

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter’s shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.

He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never had an army. He never

two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Over two thousand years have come and gone, and today He is a centrepiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that of all the armies that ever marched; of all the navies that were ever built; of all the parliaments that ever sat; of all the kings that ever reigned, put together, none has affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.

Jesus Christ

Snow

As I write, we have had the second fall of snow in two weeks. Unusual in March but what intrigued me was how accurate the weather forecasters have been. Still, many people did not heed the warnings and have got stuck in the snow! There have been some wonderful scenes, particularly where the snow has drifted.

Under the old railway bridge at Tremar there have been icicles at least 300mm long. But for all its beauty, it causes a lot of disruption. Hopefully by the time you are reading this, the snow will be gone and spring will be well and truly here.

The Easter season is all about change. On Palm Sunday it seemed that everyone loved Jesus. I am sure his disciples must have thought He was about to become King.

By Thursday night everything had changed. Judas had realised that Jesus would never be an earthly King. It was time for him to cut his losses and run. “How much will you give me,” he asked the Jewish leaders, “if I help you arrest Him?”

By Friday Jesus was dying on a cruel wooden cross and the disciples had run away.

By Sunday the disciples had given up, but the women were still wanting to be near him, so they went to the tomb to anoint his body. When they arrived, they were amazed to find that he was not there! He was alive. It is hard to believe that anyone could come back from the dead, but if He really is the Son of God, nothing is too difficult for Him.

Jesus has given us many promises and he asks us to listen and follow. Are we willing to take notice of Him? The rewards will be great!

May you and your family have a Happy Easter.