PJBelfast

Having grandchildren born into our family is a wonderful day to celebrate new life! My daughter in law has just yesterday given birth to the most gorgeous wee boy. His name is Elliott Jack Bradley - birth weight  6lbs 12oz. Sadly due to Covid19 we haven't yet got to cuddle him, but tonight we got a socially distant meeting with him, as he snuggled into his dad while sucking his wee thumb. EJB, the same initials as his great grandfather. I just realised that I'm experiencing "the blessing" song May His favor be upon you And a thousand generations And your family and your children And their children , and their children May His presence go before you And behind you, and beside you All around you, and within you He is with you, He is with you Truly thankful.

Epidemiology and it's Reproduction rate Theological & Spiritual Reproduction Epidemiology and it's Reproduction rate In epidemiology, the basic reproduction number, the reproduction number, a key aspect of a disease’s transmission, is the average number of people who will catch a disease from a single infected person. Maintaining the reproduction number to below one means that the epidemic will decline. This rate is just under one across the UK and needs to reduce before lockdown restrictions are eased. Theological & Spiritual Reproduction From creation to redemption the bible speaks of both natural and spiritual  Reproduction. While the epidemiologists and the government are working hard to reduce the pandemic R rate, the church is seeing its R rate increase. Genesis chapter 1 verse 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be  fruitful , and  multiply , and  replenish  the earth, and subdue it:  Three words from the key verse 1.  Be fruitful  means "to be

THE DASH by Linda Ellis I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning… to the end. He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own, the cars… the house… the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash . So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged. To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before. If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile… remembering that this special dash might only last a little while. So w

4 Types of Friends: Must Friends, Trust Friends, Rust Friends & Just Friends “A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” – Unknown I am blessed to have friends in my life, most of which call, text, Facebook, Zoom or WhatsApp me. Philosophers and contemporary scientists agree that one of the keys to happiness is strong relationships with other people. "We need to have intimate, enduring bonds; we need to be able to confide; we need to feel that we belong; we need to be able to get support, and just as important for happiness, to give support. We need many kinds of relationships; for one thing, we need friends. Now, the term “friend” is a little loose. People mock the “friending” on social media, and no one would say, “wow Paul, you have 1873 friends!” "Well, there are all kinds of friends. Those kinds of “friends,” and work friends, and childhood friends, and dear frie

Q. How many people can attend a funeral during Covid19?  A. For everybody’s safety, funeral homes are limiting the number of mourners attending funeral services to a maximum of 10.  It’s also necessary for them to ask that anyone from the higher risk groups (Over 70s, pregnant, immunocompromised) should not attend.  36 Tory MPs have signed a letter that calls for churches to be reopened for funerals, as long as safety measures remain in place. Some undertakers are Live Streaming a Funeral, to allow those who are unable to attend, the opportunity to participate, say goodbye and watch the funeral for themselves in real time, over the internet from anywhere in the world. The hardest bit for remaining loved ones, who would normally have had family and friends around, means nobody can visit  and even give them a hug. Without doubt, the absence of traditional funeral rites with the presence of the whole family and wider community has been the most difficult aspect of the current crisis. Let&

As a sexagenarian I have this week been upskilled . The intensive training course was followed by an assessment of me in action engaging with a customer. I've since been finding my feet in the new skill. The global company I work for tends to "kick you out of the nest', supporting you, while seeing if you can fly.  Stress levels were understandably high at first, but every day that passes brings a new found confidence.  So I've just successfully disproved the adage " that you can't teach an old dog new tricks"! #woofchuffed

Making time 'to go out of your way', or 'put yourself out for someone else,' is known as the theology of disruption. It is found within the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10 verses 25-37. As you read what Jesus said, pay attention to how the Samaritan allowed his journey to be interrupted or disrupted. On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked , “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied . “How do you read it?” He answered , “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied . “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus , “And who is my neighbour ?” In reply Jesus said :  “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They s