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In our home we bought, quite a while ago, a battery operated sensor bin. Put simply, you wave your hand in front of the sensor, and the in lid opens for you. And, we love it!

Some friends had one and, once we’d used their sensor bin, we knew we wanted one too. However, as is often the way, the engineering to keep it at a lower price, was not as good as the idea.

Eventually, our bin broke. It was trying but no amount of fresh batteries could make it work again. It needed something more than a bit more energy and oomph!

I didn’t think there was anything unrepairable inside as we could hear the motor turning strongly, and the lid was opening a little bit. So I took it apart and, after a little bit of effort -over a couple of days (to allow superglue to dry properly) - it was working again. Albeit better than ever!

hen I had finished putting it all back together, there was a spring left on the surface, which I knew we didn’t need. That leftover part was no accident – due to how I’d repaired (and improved) the original design).

In our lives there are often things that God desires for us to have removed from our lives.  God does not accidentally leave these things to one side, because He is the Master Craftsman, and we are the products of His own hands.

So, when God is doing some repair work to you (which I’m pretty sure we will all have to accept every day, until the day we die) let Him decide what is needed, and what is not. After all, He hand made us; He personally designed us; He really is the only surgeon who can safely operate us because his work is always perfect.

Just a thought… 

Andy B

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Halloween – is it a good thing or a bad thing to celebrate Halloween?

I’ve heard both sides of the argument!

I’ve listened to church ministers of the gospel who say we should celebrate it, because it is nothing to fear since we are Christians; putting on a Halloween celebration is good for the church to do as it shows how churches are still relevant for a modern world.

I’ve listened to church ministers of the gospel who say we should never celebrate it, because to do so is invite evil into our churches and into our lives.

So what do I think? What is the position of the BerryBunch.org Ministry – that reaches out to families all around the world?

Well, to be honest, we couldn’t do better than Canon J John, who wrote an article we also published – in full, with permission – on our own website. So, go read his article. It’s typically, superbly penned! But what’s my brief version of his written piece? It is simply this.

Philippians 4:8 (ESVUK)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

You cannot celebrate evil and darkness, while also thinking about the words of the verse above.

Perhaps you see it as just a bit of fun? In reality, you simply cannot do so if you believe in Jesus Christ.

You’re welcome to disagree with the conclusion of myself, or Canon J John (Philo Trust), or Gavin Calver (head of the Evangelical Alliance) – who also put out a similarly themed comment. But, just like putting your hands near a fire, further away is always safer, than as close as you can.

Just a thought… 

Andy B

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In this 3rd part of this look at The Trinity, wind is the basis of the analogy.

Wind is really important to growing trees. All that pushing and pulling actually helps the tree grow stronger roots. Take away the wind, and the tree can grow only so tall before it falls over.

That idea of needing wind fro growth is at the heart of today’s Andy B 2 Minute Video because, likewise, the troubles of this world will come. But the Holy Spirit strengthens us; Jesus repairs us; God watches over us.

Also, if you haven’t already, go and check out the person who inspired this mini-series on the Trinity : God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit - David’s Daily dose - https://davidsdailydose.org/ because David writes in such a way that is wonderfully accessible – whoever you are – and also wonderfully simple and deep at the same time. It is a rarely seen gift!

Just a thought… 

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60 Seconds is all it takes to make sure you've not missed out on any of our posts, videos and resources - or exciting events we've got coming up.

Coming Up

Konnect Radio
Did you know you can listen to us on the Radio too? Whether you call it a wireless or radio, you can listen to Konnect Radio anywhere in the world – you just need an app, for Android or Apple. Or, you can choose to listen via your smart speaker. And, if that wasn’t enough choice for you, you can listen via the Konnect Radio website too.

Our show – Family Focus – has been running from 4 til 6pm, on Sundays. But, from this weekend forwards, we’ll be doing an extra hour as well – to keep you company whenever and wherever you are it the world: 3 til 6pm, Sundays on Konnect Radio.

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In this second part of a 3 part series – all about the Trinity – we use the example of a Fire Chief, Firefighter and Fire Alarm.

We need the Fire Alarm to alert us to danger, the Firefighter to come rescue us, and the Fire Chief is needed because we need someone with more experience, who can sustain a much wider viewpoint.

However we describe the Trinity we must first acknowledge that the word doesn’t exist in the bible. It is, however, a way of explaining the relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Here’s my second attempt at doing just that.

Also, if you haven’t already, go and check out the person who inspired this mini-series on the Trinity : God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit - David’s Daily dose - https://davidsdailydose.org/ because David writes in such a way that is wonderfully accessible – whoever you are – and also wonderfully simple and deep at the same time. It is a rarely seen gift!

Just a thought… 

Andy B

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It’s hard to explain the Trinity. For a start it isn’t something you’ll find in your bibles. But the members of The Trinity are very obviously there: it is, at its heart, our human way of seeking to explain the relationship between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

I’ve heard that relationship explained using water as having 3 separate states (gas, liquid, solid), yet still all still being water at their core even if they do look a bit different. I’ve also heard it as a yoghurt being made up of three parts, although that attempt at explaining The Trinity never made much sense to me if I’m honest.

In one sense it doesn’t really matter because the concept of how God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit operate and exist is far more important than any word or phrase we might use to paint that picture more simply. Actually, it would be disconcerting if the King of Kings and Lord or Lords could be easily explained. I’m rather glad it isn’t all that simple, as it leaves us more in awe of Him.

Whatever title we use, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are most simply described as three separate people (they are all a “Him”, and not a ‘what’ or a ‘her’).

They all operate separately of each other, and yet they also are the same - hence God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

It isn’t enough to say they are all the same, and it isn’t enough to say they are different.  That is the limit of human understanding and why the scripture that talks about God’s ways not being our ways is so humbling and reassuring. We see the reverence that Jesus has for His father, for example: God is so much bigger than any of us, or any collectives of us and that is a VERY good thing.

However, with that said, I truly hope these three linked posts on The Trinity shed a little light on this most wonderful of relationships. They are simply illustrations designed to explain the relationship of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit - that I hope may bring some comfort, and also keep in proper awe and reverence of just how much bigger God is than we are.

And how He still desires to spend time with us, allowing Himself to be limited by the fabric of ‘time’ in order to have that one to relationship with!
Anybody want to shout an Amen?!?

Also, if you haven’t already, go and check out the person who inspired this mini-series on the Trinity : God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit - David’s Daily dose - https://davidsdailydose.org/ because David writes in such a way that is wonderfully accessible – whoever you are – and also wonderfully simple and deep at the same time. It is a rarely seen gift!

Just a thought… 

Andy B

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Are you any good at resting?

I’m never going to be accused of being lazy. But I could, far more easily, be accused of not resting very well.

If I’m in bed I’m either asleep or pretty ill. Simply lazing about does not come naturally to me, so it can be hard for me to properly rest when I do get the opportunity.

While in Spain my wife and I were not coping with what many other British holiday makers were doing – sitting by the pool seemingly filling the time between breakfast and dinner, day after day. 

We do not do well at not doing anything. But, doing nothing on purpose is something very different - there is a world of difference between the two, and we all need times when we can deliberately, and intentionally, do nothing.

I was sat in a coffee shop the other day watching the world go by. I felt guilty for doing it, and then got righteously challenged by a wise friend, who didn’t ask me why I wasn’t being busy, but pointed out that I shouldn’t be leaving it to just once every few years! We all need friends like that in our lives - thank you Mary.

Perhaps you’re a worship leader, and you struggle to worship, unless you’re stood at the front behind a keyboard and microphone…I’ve struggled with that one over the past 35 years as a worship leader. You need to take that one to God in prayer, and probably, rather urgently, need to step down for a while. Our relationship with God matters more than our ability to simply fill in for any single function in the church.

Oh yeah, the other thing about doing nothing on purpose, is that it gives God a chance of speak into our busy brains. Much like fasting from food, we also need to fast – on occasion – from the busyness, and the business, of life.

So schedule in some time when you disengage from the ebbs and flows of life, and take a little time. It isn’t self-indulgence, but a necessity to have some to ourselves. Don’t cut yourself off from other people in your life, but some time with your phone switched off is rarely wasted.

Just a thought… 

Andy B

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It’s good to give gifts to others, and it can be great to receive them. But, some gifts, simply are not what they appear to be and can create more issues than they solve.

We’ve had gifts on both side of that coin - and I’m sure you have too. Many have changed our life for good, even if just for one day. Others, well, they ended up in the bin where they belonged.

We’ve got a whole stack of logs to chop up and a neighbour let us borrow his safe chainsaw. It’s a great idea, but it is rather flawed and ended up at our local rubbish dump. He had asked for some money as he was happy to sell it, and we had offered to buy it. However, we had a go with it and found it didn’t work. Hence why it ended up at the tip!

Some gifts really are not what you think they will be. Some, truly are.

As Christians we have the best possible gift in a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the gift which keeps on giving; it has no end! And it is a gift we need to share with others.

We can give people a gift which will cost them more than they could afford. But, we can also give them a gift which will bring them more than they could ever hope to buy with anything they could ever hope to have.

It is a gift worth having. It is a gift worth sharing. It is a gift worth hanging onto.

Just a thought… 

Andy B

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There's just one topic of conversation in this Issue of 60 Seconds, as Jo asks Andy B about his latest book - out last week.

It's called Just a thought... and is available to buy on Amazon in paperback or eBook formats.

Grab a copy, your favourite mug, some biscuits and let Andy B warm up your brain as he shows you how the ordinary moments of life can help teach us much about our spirituality; our faith.

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Introduction

In this final episode in this series of Marriage Matters, Andy B and Jo take a look at expectations within our marriages – noting how we can have too high an expectation or to low an expectation on our marriages.

Andy highlights the issues of placing too much importance on the Wedding Day, when Marriage is for life - not just for the Wedding Day!

This week, Andy B shared some scriptures, which helps us to understand what matters in a marriage.

• 1 Corinthians 12:21-26
• Acts 2:44-46
• Jeremiah 29:11

Tips and Resources

• High Standards, Low Expectations, from Hot, Holy and Humorous: 
• Check out SkitGuys.com about the Cards You’re -Dealt  

The Take Away

Andy

You can plan your wedding day, and the ceremony. But be careful you don’t assume the rest of the marriage will be as easily planned out. Life gets messy. Things happen you can’t plan for. But that’s not indicative of anything other than the fact that life happens and tings catch us off guard that we never be unexpected. And, remember that those hard times in your life, which you didn't plan for, can be God's best way of getting your attention to become more like Jesus.

Also, a couple who love Jesus together can influence people around them in a very unique and special way.

Jo

Make sure you’re not settling for low expectations and expecting a poor marriage ahead of you.

I need to have higher expectations of what we can actually achieve together, with God.

Andy and Jo

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Catch us on Konnect Radio for our weekly show - Family Focus: Sundays, 3 til 6pm