Good News Line 

Good News Line

“It Happened on my Watch”! 

An item on both national and local TV news caught my eye: or was it ear?

The subject was the ferry Pride of Bilbao and an incident that occurred six miles off St Catherine’s Head, Isle of Wight. You may remember it. Three friends had set out in their yacht from Bembridge on course for the river Dart. They were experienced sailors, properly equipped for a night passage and all wearing life jackets. Tragically they never made it. Their bodies were found floating in the sea and their yacht “Ouzo” has never been found: Probably on the bottom of the English Channel.

It is believed that the yacht was in collision with or near collision with the ferry on that fateful night. 37,000 tons versus 2 tons: there is little doubt what the outcome would be. At question is what happened on the bridge of that ferry? It is the responsibility of the Officer of the Watch (OOW) to ensure the safety of his ship and those other mariners sharing our busy waters. Having some experience of bridge watch keeping in the Royal Navy I naturally take a keen interest in such proceedings.  

There are two lessons that one can take from this case. For the three sailors, no matter what precautions that they had taken, or their skill and experience their fate was in the hands of others. As regards the ferry and the bridge crew a tragic failure almost certainly occurred. And, as for the OOW, it happened on his watch!

This tragic incident brings to mind a familiar psalm which has brought comfort and reassurance to many over countless generations. Psalm 121: verse 3 puts it this way: “He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you and protects you from all harm.”

The GOOD NEWS is that we can all place ourselves under the loving, unfailing protection of His arms. He shows us how this might be done and can be expressed in the following words

God loves us, that’s you and me, so much that He sacrificed His perfect Son in order to make it possible to restore our relationship with Him.  Our wrongs are forgiven by one who did no wrong. Is it too good to be true? No; just so amazing that it has to be true!

But, what do we have to do?  Jesus urges us to put our trust in Him; someone who truly takes responsibility for what happens ON HIS WATCH!

If you would like to know more about how you can put your trust in someone who will never let you down please call Ringwood 476974. Thank you for calling.

Good News Line

So who or what can we trust? 

In the Royal Navy around the world I was impressed by the trust that other peoples and nations put into the BBC World Service, especially to get an honest view of what is really happening in their own countries! In my opinion it has earned its reputation of honesty and integrity by reporting News dispassionately and with accuracy over many years. It has a good track record. However there is another News reporting organisation that is even better; that is the Good News service provided by Jesus Christ and the Bible.

The Bible, considered by Christians as God’s infallibly inspired Word, is a unique document that has stood the test of time. Challenged throughout history it has always come through unscathed. It’s not easy, in today’s world of spin and sound bite, to know who to trust. All I can advise is: look at the speaker’s track record. For my money: and that is a sound investment, Jesus Christ’s position cannot be challenged. He staked his very life on it! I am the way the TRUTH and the Life” He said; and then went to cross to prove it. Now that’s really GOOD NEWS; much better even, than “Auntie”!

If you would like to know more about Jesus and how you can trust Him please call: Ringwood 476974