The Great Escape is a great movie. I loved it as a kid and thought that Steve McQueen was super cool as " the cooler king". There are some memorable scenes in the film.
My uncle was a prisoner of war, but his experiences, after being captured by the Japanese forces in Singapore, were dreadful. He was an army captain who spent time on "the rail of death" in Thailand. Richard did escape from the Japanese soldiers who forced him to work very hard on this railway line. At one time he was "missing, presumed dead". He did survive several ordeals, including re-capture and insanitary conditions, worse than German POW camps. When he returned to England in 1945 he weighed about six stone. This weight may be desired by 5'9" female fashion models, but not by British army officers.
The Bridge Over the River Kwai , starring my favourite actor of all time (the late Sir Alec Guinness), has always struck some deep chords. For some people Thailand is a paradise and place of enchantment. It has very beautiful scenery and many magnificent tourist destinations.
For my uncle is was hell on earth. A living hell where captured soldiers fought over a dead man's toothbrush.
Hell? Does it exist?
Yes, there is a place in Norway called Hell.
But is there a hell that is mentioned in the Bible? Gehenna, a place refuse rather than refuge?
Yes, it does exist, but not as some torture chamber or place where Bosch's paintings or the Chapman brothers' models are enacted or brought to life/death.
Hell is a place of regret and eternal sadness. Regret and sadness for sins commited and opportunities missed. A place of weeping and wailing with gnashing of teeth. Weeping for the deeds done that can never be forgiven or forgotten, and wailing for grief so consuming that it can never be removed. There is gnashing of teeth through the sheer frustration of knowing what foolishness has been carried out and it cannot be put right. There is absolutely no hope in hell.
What darkness and despair!
The Good News, the Gospel, proclaims that Jesus delivers us from the claims and catastrophy of hell. Hallelujah! What a Saviour! What a deliverer!
How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
The Great Escape has been offered to sinners. Now that's really good news!
My next prayerwalk (D.V.) is on Saturday 16 May 2009, the third Saturday in May. For those who have been on this prayerwalk in the Constable Country, it starts at 10.30 am in Royal Square, by the war memorial, and ends between 5pm and 5.30 pm by the River Stour, on the Suffolk side, near Dedham bridge. During the prayerwalk we visit the churches of St Mary at Dedham, Langham, Stratford St Mary and East Bergholt, passing the Congregational Church at East Bergholt by John Constable's former studio.
This year there is no Cup Final on the third Saturday in May. I understand that it will take place on 30 May 2009.
This is a special time of year for Christians.
Christ has died
Christ is risen
Christ will come again.
Hallelujah!
We rejoice in the wonderful victory of the cross at Calvary. We exult in the power of Jesus' resurrection. We are rejoice in the hope of eternal life, life that has the quality of eternity and can be enjoyed in this life but it extends to the life to come.
Through the triumph of Calvary and the empty tomb, there is forgiveness, mercy, shalom and loving kindness beyond our expectations and understanding. God's shalom is greater than man's peace, prosperity and promise. The glorious Gospel message is greater than any political pact, presentation or policy. True hope is offered and no pious platitudes or empty promises. Politicians continue to fail us and demonstrate their greed and avarice. Jesus, our Saviour and Lord, leads us forward to grace and truth.
Today I am leading the united service of Churches Together in Hornchurch. In my thoughts are the prayers of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, and the passover meal which is the basis of our Holy Communion. It is for us today a meal with the Holy Trinity; that's fellowship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
20ου περι τουτων δε ερωτω μονον αλλα και περι των πιστευοντων δια του λογου αυτων εις εμε
21ινα παντες εν ωσιν καθως συ πατηρ εν εμοι καγω εν σοι ινα και αυτοι εν ημιν ωσιν ινα ο κοσμος πιστευη οτι συ με απεστειλας
22καγω την δοξαν ην δεδωκας μοι δεδωκα αυτοις ινα ωσιν εν καθως ημεις εν
23εγω εν αυτοις και συ εν εμοι ινα ωσιν τετελειωμενοι εις εν ινα γινωσκη ο κοσμος οτι συ με απεστειλας και ηγαπησας αυτους καθως εμε ηγαπησας
24πατηρ ο δεδωκας μοι θελω ινα οπου ειμι εγω κακεινοι ωσιν μετ εμου ινα θεωρωσιν την δοξαν την εμην ην δεδωκας μοι οτι ηγαπησας με προ καταβολης κοσμου
25πατηρ δικαιε και ο κοσμος σε ουκ εγνω εγω δε σε εγνων και ουτοι εγνωσαν οτι συ με απεστειλας
26και εγνωρισα αυτοις το ονομα σου και γνωρισω ινα η αγαπη ην ηγαπησας με εν αυτοις η καγω εν αυτοις
