Well, my friends

It seems so long since I spoke to you all, apart from the odd infrequent email or bulletin. My faith journey has taken some pretty amazing life swerves lately, and I praise God for all he is doing and all he has promised to do in the coming days.

One or two incidents of late, have been designed as dodge balls aimed at knocking me off course. Do you know what I mean? In silly game shows, they have people walking a very narrow walkway whilst others swing these huge demolition balls at them, trying to cause them to fall. Well, that's the way one or two things have come at me recently, but I am here to declare loud and clear that "Here I stand!"

I cannot claim the declaration as my own, for it came originally frm the lips of Martin Luther, the great reformer of the 15th and 16th Century.

Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546) was a Christian theologian and Augustinian monk whose teachings inspired the Protestant Reformation and deeply influenced the doctrines of Protestant and other Christian traditions.

Luther's Protestant views were condemned as heretical by Pope Leo III in the bull Exsurge Domine in 1520. Consequently Luther was summoned to either renounce or reaffirm them at the Diet of Worms on 17 April 1521. When he appeared before the assembly, Johann von Eck, by then assistant to the Archbishop of Trier, acted as spokesman for Emperor Charles the Fifth. He presented Luther with a table filled with copies of his writings. Eck asked Luther if he still believed what these works taught. He requested time to think about his answer. Granted an extension, Luther prayed, consulted with friends and mediators and presented himself before the Diet the next day.

When the counselor put the same question to Luther the next day, the reformer apologized for the harsh tone of many of his writings, but said that he could not reject the majority of them or the teachings in them. Luther respectfully but boldly stated, "Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen."

On May 25, the Emperor issued his Edict of Worms, declaring Martin Luther an outlaw.

Ok - so I guess that makes me some kind of outlaw too, for I will never turn away from this course which Christ himself has set my feet upon.

I STAND, in the presence of God, he almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, creator of the whole universe.

I STAND, in the presence of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, Saviour and Redeemer of the world.

I STAND, in the presence of the Holy Spirit of God, gifted to me by Christ, according to his promise.

I STAND, a sinner separated from God, tainted by my own words and thoughts and deeds.

I STAND, a sinner forgiven by Christ, washed in the blood of Christ.

I STAND, a child of God, adopted into His family, joint heir with Christ, my Saviour.

I STAND, a preacher of the Word of God, called, anointed and blessed to take the message of salvation for all into a broken world.

I STAND, in the grace of God, Ransomed, Healed, Restored, Forgiven.

I STAND, in the armour of God, strong, blessed, equipped to face whatever the enemey may throw against me.

I STAND!!

Will you stand with me?

God bless you all - Albie