Andy B Podcasts and Stuff

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I got something through the post last week from a friend of mine. I’d typed out my address, but he’d altered it. My address was still correct, but he also added “Andy Berry, BBHQ” for BerryBunch Headquarters. He didn’t need to do that. But he said, afterwards, that he wanted to make me smile. And he did.

So, what simple thing can you do – today – to make someone smile.

Share a smile! If you’ve got Jesus inside of your heart, then you have every reason to smile. And if you have every reason to smile, be as generous with your smiles as Jesus is with His love for us.

Just a thought…

Andy B

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Have you ever watched an episode of the original Star Trek? There’s a line from Captain James T. Kirk that you’d hear frequently. Imagine the scene of that ultra futuristic space ship moving through space, jumping from galaxy to galaxy, and the words can be heard as you watch: “to boldly go...”

Now I don’t know about you, but I figure some of those fictional characters may have been into that going boldly thing. But there were definitely others who would not. They didn’t need to have any modicum of boldness - being on the United Federation of Planets Star Ship Enterprise, NCC-1701, was probably as close as they got to any degree of boldness.

Unless they wore a red shirt, in which case they wouldn’t make the end credits.

As Christians we can have absolute boldness in our Creator. He literally holds the universe in His hands, because He spoke it into being and knows it in all its glory!

And, yet, He didn’t speak you and me into being. The Bible tells us He knits us together in our mother’s womb. There is randomness, or happenstance that precedes us being alive and kicking.

And is that same Creator who knows the very number of hairs on our head. If you’re bald, that may not sound so exciting, but He knew how many hairs you had on your head when you had hair, even if you can’t remember those times.

Walking with God can be nerve wracking. But we need never feat the path before us if we truly seek to walk it with God guiding us, because He is the best guide we could dream of.

Just a thought…

Andy B

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Do you remember the days of Dial Up internet? Perhaps you still access the internet the same way. I do remember, vividly, that scratching squealing sound as your computer made contact with the World Wide Web.

Today we can access ultra high speed internet with our smart phones and internet connections are HUGE business!

In the UK the Government have realised that their big push to get everything ‘done online’ is leaving some people unable to access critical services - like doctors, benefits and applying for jobs.

If you don’t have internet you will struggle to function in a modern world. And a slow internet can, sometimes, feel worse than no internet connection at all because you are so close to being able to do something. At least if it’s completely failed, you can resign yourself to simply getting on with something else.

As Christians those moments of no internet can be the perfect opportunities to spend extra time with God – in nature, at home, at the beach.

If your internet is slow, make the most of it. And let us all be grateful that God doesn’t internet in order to build His Kingdom, or communicate well with us.

Just a thought…

Andy B

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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.

The Berrybunch is at Cliff Festival

We are at Cliff College Festival from today, Friday 26th May, until Monday 29th May. While we’re here we shall be handing out leaflets and telling more people about the amazing ministry that is The Berrybunch.

Family Matters Podcast

There is a new Berrybunch podcast coming soon. From our family to your family. The family matters podcast will include a regular guest, Andy Godfrey, who'll be bringing us Good News stories from the Good News Newspaper, Faith with Action tips and Movie Reviews. 1st Saturday each month, starting in June - from 2pm.

Keep in Touch

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So, to make sure you never miss out on our latest posts, videos and BerryBunch News, just sign up to BerryBytes – our Weekly Newsletter and you’ll be up to date everything we produce: For Free, For All!

The BerryBunch

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

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We all need to work. In one way, or another, we work. And sometimes we work for ourselves, but many of us will work for someone else. But how we work with them is important when it comes to our desire to live out our Christian faith.

It’s easy to look at what you get paid, and decide work according to that. Actually, it’s very healthy to only work within the limits of the hours you are paid to do. Go beyond that and you’re likely to take away from someone else, get more tired and even more grumpy when what you do for free isn’t appreciated with a promotion or raise in your salary.

What we do is one thing, but how we do it is of far greater importance. Because God looks at our heart more than He does our hands.

Sure, it’s good to finish a job and for it to look good; to be safe; to work efficiently. But if we do that with a bad heart, God is watching!

So, when you’re doing your job, are you working for a pay check? Or are you working knowing that God is watching your attitude towards your job, more than He is looking at what you produce.

Just a thought…

Andy B

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When we replace a car for something different, whether a newer or an older model, we have plenty of things to learn. But, perhaps even more importantly, we need to unlearn a whole bunch of stuff too!

Ok, so the steering wheel is probably in the same place you’re expecting it to be, but there are many ways a handbrake (parking brake) can be made to function. There are reversing sensors to get used to. There are performance changes with the engine, and more.

Having driven professionally for a number of years I get pretty adept at handling different vehicles, sometimes multiple times a day – and doing so safely. But there will always be some things that take a lot more adjustment than others.

When you choose to follow Jesus Christ there are a number of things that happen. Perhaps the most fundamental beginning a life of change – to become more like Jesus Christ. And that means learning new ways of doing things. Also, more importantly, ‘unlearning’ things that are diametrically opposed to the Christian Faith.

Becoming a Christian is an amazing experience; it is utterly liberating; it is beautifully life transforming. But while it is worth every sacrifice we feel we are making, we are still sacrificing things we may have spent years cultivating - from hatred and bitterness, to an inappropriate career or way of paying for common items.

To become is a Christian is to embrace change. And it doesn’t need to be something to fear because any exchanges with God always work out with us gaining more than we give away.

After all, Jesus already gave His life for us, and that’s a cost we’ll never be able to match. Hallelujah!

Just a thought…

Andy B

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We all instinctively know that the best way to move through a wall is via a door way. We know that we’re not going to push the brick wall into conceding us to move through it. 

So why is it so often we find ourselves straining against the walls of life, getting worn out and angry that God has somehow failed to help us move through this solid object? When, in reality, there is a wide, gaping, open doorway just a few feet away.

We sometimes talk about following God as walking along a path – that he guides us along the paths of life. We read something similar with the shepherds when Jesus was born as God even used a star to guide the shepherds to their destination.

In my walls and doors metaphor, that would be similar to God providing the shepherds with a bright light to light their path, the shepherds knowing about that bright light and the reason for it, then covering their eyes and blindly walking forwards hoping to strike the right path.

In our lives we so often do this don’t we. God calls us; we move towards His voice; we encounter an object and assume God needs to remove that obstacle. And, yet, if we opened our eyes – instead of moving forwards in fear, or terror – we’d notice the open door inviting us on.

Is life getting difficult as you try and move along? Perhaps God wants you to open your eyes and enjoy the journey. With God, it will always be epic, even if, sometimes, a little scary!

Just a thought…

Andy B

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Have you ever thought to yourself that since God seems to have so much to do in the world, that you’d help Him out? You know, give God a hand to help Him answer your prayers since He is so very busy with all those prayers that need answering?

There’s very clearly nothing wrong with praying! And God desires us to be a part of building His kingdom here on earth and that includes, among other things, being those answers to prayer lifted by others.

But there is a large caveat here, however, because while it is good to be obedient and serve God by helping someone else, it isn’t the same thing to expect God to be obedient to us, and answer our prayers.

Let us never forget that God is still God. Yes, we should feel free to address the King of Kings personally - as our Father. But He is still God, and we should act with reverence towards Him. I’ve done a teaching video on this exact subject - What is Reverence?https://www.berrybunch.org/Articles/651911/What_is_Reverence.aspx

Much like forcing a flower to reveal its petals before its time, so is our forcing our prayers to be answered by God. Sometimes that is ahead of time, and sometimes that is because the “Yes” answer we urgently need God to respond to has nothing to do with God’s love for us being somehow lacking or distracted, or hearing us. 

Rather, perhaps, it is because that “Yes” would be detrimental to us.

Just a thought…

Andy B

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In the third episode of this series of Marriage Matters, Andy B and Jo take a look at the subject of things that might cause disagreement in our relationships. Let’s face it we can’t always agree on everything and that could mean arguments, heated discussions, or challenging communications.

At times in our marriages, we need to manage our differences in opinions and deal with our different approaches to life. There is probably no end to what we might disagree on  and nay include subjects like politics, money, parenting and food choices to name but a few!

This week, Andy B reads finds wisdom to tackle divisive issues and reads:

• Proverbs 20:3
• 2 Timothy 2: 23-24
• James 4:4:1-3
• Ephesians 4:26

The Take Away

Andy
Andy noted the importance of taking time out to be with God for a finite period of time when arguments are not being resolved or are escalating.

Jo
Jo was struck but how much wisdom and guidance can be found in the bible to assist us in dealing with conflict and issues in relationships.

Andy B and Jo

This video will always be best enjoyed on our website: https://www.berrybunch.org/Articles/664008/S03E003_Handling_Divisive.aspx

Keep in Touch with the BerryBunch
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Catch us on Konnect Radio for our weekly show - Family Focus: Sundays, 3 til 6pm

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.

Berry Bytes

In case you missed it we relaunched our newsletter, Berry Bytes. It is weekly encouragement, inspiration and updates sent straight to your inbox. So, if you’re not already signed up to it, you may want to.

The Berrybunch off to a Festival

The BerryBunch will be at Cliff College Festival over the Bank Holiday Weekend from Friday 26th to Monday 29th of May. While we’re at Cliff College we shall share what we do! We have been preparing our home-made stand to give you a taste of what we do, to give you a perfect experience! Come and see us if you can!

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Social media loves to hide the stuff you see.

So, to make sure you never miss out on our latest posts, videos and BerryBunch News, just sign up to BerryBytes – our Weekly Newsletter and you’ll be up to date everything we produce: For Free, For All!

The BerryBunch

For More - https://berrybunchfamily.wordpress.com/2023/05/19/60-second-update-issue-45/

Keep in Touch with the BerryBunch
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Catch us on Konnect Radio for our weekly show - Family Focus: Sundays, 3 til 6pm