Friday, October 24, 2008 by Keith Berry-Davies.
This last few weeks have been a nightmare for vast numbers of people around the world, particularly those who are involved with the financial world. Various Governments have pumped billions of Dollars, Sterling or Euros into their economies in an attempt to stop the financial world from collapsing completely. We have seen an unprecedented cooperation between nations, everyone working together for the common good.
I have been impressed by all this cooperation, and indeed, encouraged. If we can all work together in this way then, surely, it’s not beyond the nations of the world to work together to stamp out poverty, conflict, and war around the world. We are all human beings, regardless of our colour, class or creed and as such should work to see fairness, equality and peace all around this world. Let’s use this crisis around the world to start working together for the common good of all humankind and not just the financial world. After all it is exactly what Jesus taught us two thousand years ago, so let’s give it our best shot!
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Friday, September 26, 2008 by Keith Berry-Davies.
For some time now I’ve been thinking of how much our society today is trying to achieve perfection. We see and hear of thousands of women, and even men these days, who submit themselves to surgery, spending vast amounts of money to try and achieve that perfect look. The fashion industry are constantly changing the fashions and millions of people just have to have the “new” look - they just have to be perfect!
This week, here in the UK, we have heard of the woman who killed her daughter because she wasn’t perfect - she had a slight cerebral palsy. Last week Baroness Warnock said that people with Alzheimer’s disease should be given assisted suicide if they want it. I know that many families of Alzheimer’s sufferers do have a very hard time of looking after their loved ones but should we allow assisted suicide?
It seems to me that our society today is so obsessed with the perfect that there is no place for the old and infirm, those with inherited conditions, those who do not fit the mould of the perfect human being. I think that 60 years ago the world was fighting to stop Adolf Hitler from doing exactly the same thing and here we are going down the same road!
As a Christian I believe that every one of us was created in the image of God and as such we are perfect. We might have warts or a big nose or any number of complaints but we are PERFECT as we are. This unhealthy concern for achieving perfection only helps the people who are lining their pockets with your money. You are beautiful as you are.
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Monday, August 25, 2008 by Keith Berry-Davies.
As my listeners will know I have recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and as you can imagine my emotions have been in turmoil ever since. One thing that has really stood out in my mind is that you never know what is going to happen to you, and in a way it’s probably just as well that you don’t know.
With this in mind I started thinking about relationships with family and friends. In the course of my ministry I have had so many people come to me with broken relationships and they are suffering as a result of it. Life is too short to prolong family rows, you never know when something disastrous might happen to you, so please think about getting in touch with your estranged relative or friend and renew your relationship. Swallow your pride and get on the phone and talk to them NOW.
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008 by Keith Berry-Davies.
In the garden the children were shouting at each other. Mum went out and asked what they were quarrelling about. “We’re not quarrelling,” said the eldest, “we’re just playing Mummy and Daddy”.
When I hear young children using foul language I often wonder what kind of language the parents are using in front of the children as they obviously learn it from somewhere. Are you setting an example to those around you? How about starting today?
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Wednesday, January 16, 2008 by Keith Berry-Davies.
I was asked yesterday, “What is a good marriage?” A good marriage is one that allows for change and growth in the individuals and in the way that they express their love.
Peter Ustinov once said, “Marriage is like a three speed gearbox: affection, friendship and love.” What is he implying here? Simply that it’s not advisable to crash your gears and go through to love straight away. You need to ease your way through. The basis of love is respect, and that needs to be learnt from affection and friendship.
Have a good day.
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