General Chat

It’s been good to be reminded of John Bunyan’s story. Thank you Cynthia.

Happy birthday Tabitha for whenever it is or was. I wish you a good year ahead.

Hello all

Happy birthday Tabitha.

It is cool and windy here this morning.

Friday blessings to all who are struggling today.

Keep well and stay safe everyone.

Good morning :-)

Whenever your birthday is Tabitha, I hope you have a lovely day. <3


Continuing the story of John Bunyan.....


This period in prison was used for writing. In 1663 came Christian Behaviour followed in 1665 by The Holy City and in 1666 by Grace Abounding, his spiritual autobiography. It is thought that the impetus for the latter might have been the knowledge of the 40 people who died of the plague on the north side of the river where John Bunyan was imprisoned. It was during the years 1667-72 that Bunyan probably wrote much of the first part of The Pilgrim's Progress.

In 1672 King Charles II issued the Declaration of Religious Indulgence, and Bunyan, like other church offenders, was released from prison. He was immediately appointed pastor of the Independent church in Bedford, which later bought a barn and orchard in Mill Street as their place of meeting.

In 1673 the King was forced to withdraw his Declaration, and early in 1677 Bunyan returned to prison. On 18 February 1678 Bunyan published the first part of The Pilgrim's Progress. During the last ten years of his life he published The Holy War (1682) and The Pilgrim's Progress - Second Part (1685).

'The more he gave away, the more he had' - John Bunyan.


Cx :-)

Hello all, I would say good afternoon but its absolutely throwing it down. I hope everyone is well, or on the road to recovery. So sorry to hear about David and his trials. I do hope he will be feeling better soon.

Loving the stories Cynthia - i only get to pop in on occasions and always managed to raise my spirits. Thank you all I know i have friends i can come to cheer me and give me time for reflection.

Have taken a couple of days off for our birthday's and trying to do some sorting out and family history, at present don't seem to have managed a lot of either. Its probably the wettest birthday I have had in years.

Keep smiling things can only get better. Take care <3 <3 <3 :-)

Good morning :-)

Hello Sylvia, nice to see you. Definitely much cooler now and rainy too - but not as bad as yours sounds......stay warm and cosy :-D


Continuing the story of John Bunyan.....


In 1660 Cromwell's Protectorate came to an end and the monarchy was restored. In the belief that national unity could only be achieved by religious uniformity, the state attempted to restrain the developing Independent congregations by forbidding preaching.

Bunyan was arrested in the hamlet of Samsell just after he had begun a meeting. He was held at nearby Harlington Manor overnight; appearing before the local justices the next morning, he was sentenced to three months in prison.

Since Bunyan refused to give an assurance not to preach, he remained in the County Gaol for 12 years from 1661 to 1672. In vain, his wife Elizabeth tried to get his case reopened by pleading with Sir Matthew Hale, the Lord Chief Justice of England, when he stayed in Bedford. Bunyan was allowed several privileges as a prisoner since he was not a common criminal.

The prison was only five minutes' walk from his home so food was brought into his cell, often by his blind daughter Mary. He also received daily visits from friends and had occasional excursions from prison, keeping him in close contact with members of the congregation. During imprisonment he supported his family by making "long-tagged bootlaces" which they could sell.

Cx :-)

Indeed, the first day of Fall ................ and it is pouring with rain here!! It is also much cooler.

This is the first in a series of storms that will be rolling in from across the Pacific over the next week.

Hurricane Teddy arrived in Nova Scotia this morning .............. luckily downgraded from the Grade 3 that it was earlier this week. Again pouring rain and very high winds.


Keep safe, take care, everyone

Hello all

First day of Autumn today and it's much cooler.

David, I hope your operation next week will go well and you can soon go back home to be with Ellen.

Interesting reading about John Bunyan. Thank you.

Good morning :-)

Continuing the story of John Bunyan.....

In 1653 he joined the newly-formed Independent church that met in St John's Church, Bedford, south of the river, where he became friends with their pastor John Gifford.

By 1655 Bunyan and his family were living in St Cuthbert's Street in Bedford and it was at this time that Bunyan discovered he was a gifted preacher. In 1656 he became involved in disputes with local Quakers under Edward Burrough and these led to his first book ‘Some Gospel Truths Opened’.

In 1658 his first wife died and the following year he married his second wife, Elizabeth, with whom he had two children. In this year he also published his most ambitious theological work ‘The Doctrine of the Law and Grace Unfolde’d.

By 1659 he was recognised beyond the county border as a preacher. So effective were his words, people would arrive at dawn to hear him preach at noon.


You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. – John Bunyan.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Oh dear David, you have been in the wars......let's hope and pray that your surgery goes well and that you are soon feeling much better.


Continuing the story of John Bunyan......


Returning home to Elstow in 1647 Bunyan resumed his work as a tinker. Two years later he married a local girl who bore him four children, the first of whom, called Mary, was born blind. The arrival of Mary in 1650 made Bunyan reflect seriously on his life for the first time. His wife’s father had given him two Christian books which really made him stop and think .

One Sunday as he played sport, he heard a voice….”Will you leave your sins and go to Heaven, or have your sins and go to Hell? He was so upset and felt that he had sinned so badly that he was beyond forgiveness. He began to question the value of his favourite pastimes and in his book ‘In Grace Abounding’ published in 1666, Bunyan describes this period of spiritual crisis admitting that, "Even as a child I had few equals in cursing, swearing, lying and blaspheming the Holy name of God".


I have often thought that the best Christians are found in the worst of times. -
John Bunyan


Cx :-)

I don't know if my reply yesterday osted or not but but I have been very ill again and further injured. I was hositalised for 2 1/2 following pnumonia and I fractutured my R femur in a fall. Having surgery on R knee 30 Sept. Hope it goes well. I must have cost the NHS a lot of money.

Good morning :-)

Another form of lockdown looming, but let's stay positive and cheerful :-D :-D


I think many people have heard of Pilgrim’s Progress and it’s author, John Bunyan but may not know much about the author of this very famous book. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious, theological fiction in English literature. It has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print. It has also been cited as the first novel written in English.

So.........John Bunyan was born in 1628 in Bedford. His family was so poor that when his father died, John was left only one shilling and a tinker’s anvil. He had little education but learned to read and loved medieval romances and knights conquering villains and monsters.

As a youth, he boasted about his bad language which shocked even wicked men. However, he loved to dance, bell-ring and lead Sunday sports, which was condemned by the Puritans. He attended church but had little religious feeling.

When he was 16, it was the height of the Civil War and so he joined the army. It is probable that he served under Cromwell. One day, whilst on duty, he took part in a siege but another soldier asked to take his place. As this soldier stood sentinel, he was shot in the head with a musket bullet and died. John came to see this as proof God had spared his life for a great work.

Cont.......tomorrow Cx ??

In times of affliction we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God. - John Bunyan


Cx :-)

Hello all

David, it's great to have you back posting, you have been missed. So sorry that you have been having a rough time and even more to come again soon.
I hope you and Ellen can relax together for a little while before you're back into RVI. Take it easy now.

O Lord today, three things I pray.
That I may see you more clearly,
Love you more dearly, and
Follow you more nearly
Day by day.

Keep well and stay safe everyone.

Good morning :-)


Goodness me David, you certainly have been having a bad time of things lately - I do hope things settle down for you soon. Take care. <3


The Collect (special prayer) for today:

God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit
upon your Church in the burning fire of your love:
grant that your people may be fervent
in the fellowship of the gospel
that, always abiding in you,
they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen

Cx :-)

I’m sorry to hear you have been so poorly David and hope you start to feel better very soon. We had been wondering where you were. Thinking of you and wishing you well <3

A lovely week of little quotes and stories this week Cynthia. Thank you as always. Going back a few days to 15th Sept. I did have to smile at your post. Until the present crisis the Churches Together group in this area ran a little cafe just once or twice a week. Anyone was welcome to drop in and enjoy a cup of coffee and a cake at a very reasonable price. The name of the place was Agape Cafe, so round our way Agape has a lot to do with coffee :-)

Good afternoon forum. I apologise for my absence. I have been ill with pnumonia and was hospitalised again.While ill, I fell out of bed and fractured my R femur.. Iv'e not had a lot of luck in recent times and I'm not getting younger. Iv'e to go back into the RVI on 30 Sept for surgery my R leg. My L leg is knackered as well. My under carriage finished. My PC is not good, my TV is broken, my mobile phone is on the way out, but Iv'e no one to phone and no one phones me. You have to pay to communicate Iw I'd invented twish invented that.

Good morning :-)


So, what is love?


'When you love somebody , your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' Karen - age 7

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8

A four year old child’s next door neighbour, was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry.'


A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. - John 13:34-35

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


So, what is Love?


'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' Mary Ann - age 4

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Cx :-)

Hello all

"We love because he first loved us."
(1 John chapter 4 v 19)

Happy Thursday greetings to all looking in today.

Good morning :-)


So what is love?


'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.' Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital , I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8



Let all that you do be done in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:14


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Out of the mouths of babes Kandj :-D :-D


So, what is love?

1. 'Love is when my mummy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him , to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 8

2. 'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen.' Bobby - age 7

3. 'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.' Nikka - age 6



Let all that you do be done in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:14


Cx :-)