Coach House Talks and Beacons

You have heard the term - kerb appeal – the importance of presenting your house well so that others have an immediate and positive impression. Maybe it’s because you want to sell and the better it looks the better the chance of a good sale.

We hear a lot in the media these days about how to look after our mental health. Worries are seemingly very deeply embedded in our lives. We spend a lot of time worrying about what to eat, what to buy, who to see, how to deal with certain situations. Sometimes these worries get worse and become anxieties.

As far I can remember, I’ve always believed in God, but I hadn’t made any definite adult commitment to follow him. Until I was in my late 20’s, and various things made me begin to think again about where my life was going, and what I said I believed. I was in a new job.

Our souls continue living in a corruptable body. We are going to sin! I make mistakes every day! None of us can be absolutely perfect. None of us can be absolutely flawless. None of us are above being tempted.

Emily talks to us about the persecuted church and what Open Doors are doing in parts of the world where preaching the gospel is more restricted.

Have you ever had the feeling that something in the world wasn’t right? Like things are too painful or too unjust? Or that there was something missing, but you just couldn’t put your finger on it.

A few weeks in now and I am very conscious of the distance that we are having to keep from one another. These are strange times and call for a change to the normal way of life.

Today, I thought it would be fitting to talk about our plans in life. Often, we can become a bit prideful towards how life should go for us.

Have you ever been to visit one of the old castles or fortresses around the country such as Conway Castle? Even though there is evidence of decay, you can still marvel at how they were constructed.

I saw something in the news recently that caught my eye and made me think. Apparently someone has been launching a large number of satellites into space. These are being sent up in batches and are currently orbiting quite close to the earth.

Today I would like to share with you something about rainbows. Rainbows are caused by sunlight passing through water droplets in the atmosphere after rain.

Andy continues to tell us about Paul's three trials near to the end of Acts. He groups together the trials and highlights the important parts that link them together. He talks about Paul's defence of Christianity in each.

I’ve noticed as I’ve been talking to people during Lockdown – people are reminiscing a lot. Maybe it’s just having time to think.

Like any good parent, and especially the parent of all things, God will never give us what He knows would harm us. His desire is to help us to be more like Christ, to be Christlikeness so that we become salt and light in the world.

Names are often important for us. It represents part of who we are. We relate people’s names with who they are. It’s how we remember them.

The very name ‘Beacons’ suggests a bright light in the darkness, somehow defiant against the surrounding blackness - a torch being lit to relay a message, either of warning or of hope.

In this time of con1nued uncertainty, I want to talk about a short set of instructions in the Bible. Colossians 4, verses 2 to 6, is a short passage written by Paul during his time in prison.

Nehemiah was in exile in Persia, along with many of the Israelites. In effect he was in lockdown in a different country.

Josh talks about Paul being brought before Felix, the Roman governor. He describes the trial and how Paul tries to explain his faith, using the trial as an opportunity to do this.

Do you ever feel that you're working really hard and yet you also feel that you aren't getting anywhere. Things you want always seem to be just out of reach.

I’d like to share an experience that I had with the Lord when I was a new Christian. It happened on one of the April weekends away in Southport that my church arranged every year.

To be honest, with Easter behind us, I began to feel that Enforced Fasting was a strange topic. Depending on your church tradition, some of you may be in the habit of giving something up for Lent - but all thoughts of Lent are cancelled out on Easter Sunday when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

As a child growing up as the son of a worship leader, I was introduced to the term worship very early on. My pops would regularly read from the bible in His worship slot.

In our country today there is an epidemic of loneliness. This was even before we had to stay home to save the NHS. People feel lonely whatever walk of life they’re in and however old they are.

I'm not sure about you, but I've never been particularly concerned about the clothes I wear. I know what I like, and I know what I don’t. Different occasions demand different types of attire. Weddings and funerals, or work come to mind.