There are no friends like old friends.
When Pauline and I were in Brentwood near London some old friends drove down from Norfolk to see us.
There were six of us in the room and we calculated that there was three hundred years of friendship between us.
It wasn't long before we all stood around the piano and began to sing some of Charles Wesley's marvelous hymns.
Heaven came down and glory filled our souls to the extent that we got so heavenly minded that we couldn't take care of earthly business.
Andrew and Jean, our friends from Norfolk, elected to take us to the airport. The sign on M25 said " GATWICK 7 MILES". We were so busy talking old times that we missed the turn off and didn't realise till half an hour later. Turning the car round we saw a sign:
"GATWICK 27 MILES"
Back towards London we went determined to keep our eyes peeled.
More talking and it wasn't until we were flying past the turn off that Pauline yelled "That was the way to the airport!"
How do four people miss four signs the size of two houses?
Easy. Just get caught up in love and fellowship and little things like catching a plane don't seem to matter anymore!
Jubilate.
Ian
Coinciding with the Queen's coronation in 1953 came news of the conquest of Mt Everest by Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tensing. It was a dramatic first, the peak having remained unconquered ( as far as we know) since the beginning of time.
My friend Colin Clemenson, who we met on our recent trip to England, had planned to climb Everest next year but his wife demurred (I agree with her). Instead Colin plans to climb Mt Blanc.
Herein is a truth worthy of thought.
If one goal in life is denied us then PICK ANOTHER.
Hundreds of years ago Caleb said to Joshua
"Give me this mountain."
That desire should be in the heart of everyone who loves God and longs to serve Him. It is the longing to fulfill the higher purposes in life while we still have strength and health to do so.
If Everest has been denied you, be like Colin and say, "O.K. I'll shoot for Mt Blanc."
See you at the top.
Jubilate.
Ian
June 2nd, 1953, Elizabeth was crowned, invested and anointed in Westminster Abbey in London.
In many ways the ceremony differed little from that of her illustrious predecessor, William the conqueror.
The nobles of the kingdom were present as were the Lords Spiritual and it was through the words of the Archbishop that the oaths were given and the anointing administered.
This is what Queen Elizabeth swore to do:
1) To maintain the laws of God in the realm and to uphold the true profession of the gospel.
2 To maintain to her utmost power the protestant reformed religion.
3) To uphold the doctrine, worship and discipline of the established church.
4) To that end, swear upon the great Bible, by the grace of God.
All this was done under the weight of a solid gold, 2 kilogram crown and with the great orb in her right hand, glittering with hundreds of diamonds, pearls, sapphires and rubies.
Sixty years later I believe our monarch has fulfilled her solemn oath of office and, among all the radiance of the crown jewels, I believe that Queen Elizabeth has shone as the brightest gem of all.
God save the queen.
Ian
