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Autumn 2012 

The Parable of the Ugly Cat p6 

Guilty – or not guilty? p8 

Is change really possible? p12 

Summer 2011 The Plain Truth 

Hearing the Voice of God (Part 2) p14 • Payatas update p18 • A story of a ‘nobody’ p20 • Hmm... p23 

1

y Mary Hammond 

A magazine of understanding 

A prisoner of the past? 

Even if you’re not particularly 

a sports fan, I doubt whether 

many of you would have missed 

watching the 2012 Paralympics this 

summer. An event shared by millions 

across the globe, in which men 

and women with a diverse range of 

disabilities competed for the coveted 

medals which acknowledged they 

were indeed the ‘best in the world’ in 

their chosen sport. 

But as memorable as seeing the great 

Oscar Pistorius (a.k.a. ‘Blade Runner’) 

being beaten by our own Jonnie 

Peacock to take a gold medal in the 

100m, are the inspirational stories 

behind many of the Paralympian 

athletes who competed. 

Stories like that of 19-year-old Jonnie Peacock from 

Cambridge who lost his right leg just below the knee after 

contracting meningococcal septicaemia at the age of five. 

But instead of allowing his disability to hinder his future, 

Jonnie’s dogged determination and love for sport at a very 

early age was his motivation to become the best – despite 

what life had thrown at him. A truly inspirational story and 

a role model to many. 

Adversity – turned to action? 

And you know adversity can often be a catalyst in our 

lives. Bringing out hidden strengths and abilities we never 

dreamed we had or were capable of achieving. Necessitating 

change, we can learn to adapt when past events have 

changed the course of our lives forever. 

As author, Frederick F. Flack writes: 

‘Most people can look back over the years and 

identify a time and place at which their lives changed 

significantly. Whether by accident or design, these are the 

moments when, because of a readiness within us and a 

collaboration with events occurring around us, we are 

forced to seriously reappraise ourselves and the conditions 

under which we live and to make certain choices that will 

affect the rest of our lives.’ 

But change can be painful, uncomfortable, difficult or 

even seemingly downright impossible at times. A tough 

route to travel. But in the words of novelist and playwright 

George Bernard Shaw: ‘Progress is impossible without change’. 

In this our Autumn issue, we have a theme of ‘change’ 

and ‘transition’ as our focus. It could perhaps be that many 

reading this right now are facing situations in their lives 

from which they would like to make a change, but can’t 

seem to see a way forward. Or perhaps poor decisions or 

actions in their past have brought them to question whether 

they really can change – or indeed be forgiven for any past 

deeds now regretted. 

Showing that change is possible and lives can be 

completely turned around, Roy Lawrence’s article ‘Is change 

really possible?’ on page 12 gives the reader examples of 

how terrorists and persecutors have both had miraculous, 

life-changing experiences. You can also go on to read how 

good, solid friendships can be transformational in Roy’s 

article as well as the one you’ll find by Lin Ball on page 16 

of this issue. 

But what about if your past life has been a series of very 

bad choices, relationships and decisions that have left you 

guilt-ridden and hopeless? Is there really a way forward? 

Well before condemning yourself – or others – take a look 

at what James Hammond has to say on page 8 in his article 

‘Guilty – or not guilty?’ For some however, despite their best 

efforts, it may be their environment which appears to be the 

culprit for their situation. Barely scraping together a living 

and where ‘home’ is a rubbish tip seems a pretty hopeless 

situation. But even in the midst of this stinking chaos there 

is hope to be found. Read about what’s happening ‘down on 

the dump’ after a decade with Pastor Fred on page 18. 

But if you’re looking for a more lighthearted read, then 

our cover story ‘The Parable of the Ugly Cat’ by John Halford 

won’t fail to entertain. And although you won’t find this 

parable in any version of the Bible, its message of hope 

for us all – no matter what our current circumstances – is 

certainly there to read. 

You see, the Gospel message is a message of hope. And 

one we aim to bring through the pages of The Plain 

Truth. A message for everyone with a desire to change, that 

they need never remain a prisoner of the past. 

Issue 48, Volume 75 

Autumn 2012 

Editor Mary Hammond 

Consulting Editor John Halford 

Design Plain Truth Studio 

Copy Editor Jane Bravo 

The Plain Truth, P.O. Box 4421, Worthing BN14 8WQ. 

Tel: (01903) 602107. Fax: (01903) 602128. 

Advertising sales: Paula Taylor. Tel: (01903) 604342. 

E-mail: mail@plaintruth.co.uk 

The Plain Truth began publication in 1934. This edition appears four times a 

year, as resources allow and follows a non-denominational editorial policy. 

The Plain Truth is an independent charity. 

Company Registration No. 4619778. 

Registered Charity No. 1098217. 

The Plain Truth (Ltd) is a company limited by guarantee. 

Copyright © 2012 The Plain Truth. 

The Plain Truth is a registered trade mark. 

Printed in England by Newman Thomson, Burgess Hill, West Sussex. 

Unless noted otherwise, scriptures are taken from The Holy Bible, New 

International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible 

Society. Used by permission. 

Trustees: 

Sarah Anderson 

Gerrie Bayley 

David Gibbs JP 

John Halford 

Rev Roy Lawrence 

Peter R Sheppard (Chairman) 

DONATIONS: Although we do not charge a subscription 

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who are able, through donations, to support our desire 

to bring spiritual knowledge and understanding to our 

increasingly secular society. Cheques should be made 

payable to ‘The Plain Truth’ and sent to PO Box 4421, 

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You can read this issue as well as 

previous issues of The Plain Truth 

on our website: 

www.plain-truth.org.uk 

Cover story 

6 The Parable of the 

Ugly Cat 

An important lesson 

can be learned from 

this wild, independent 

survivor. 

Articles 

8 Guilty – or not guilty? 

Whatever your past sins, wouldn’t you like to 

be judged ‘not guilty’? 

12 Is change really possible? 

And if it is, how does it happen – and could it 

happen to anyone? 

14 Hearing the voice of God (Part 2) 

How God speaks to us through the pages of 

the Bible. 

16 When friendship is transformational 

Living with blindness can often mean isolation 

– but it needn’t be that way. 

18 What a (wonderful) load of old rubbish 

A decade on, John Halford brings us an update 

from Barangay Payatas. 

20 A story of a ‘nobody’ 

How a weak and fearful nobody became a 

Bible hero. 

Regular features 

2 Editorial 

4 Letters to the Editor 

11 A view from the High Street 

22 First Break 

23 Hmm... 

Cover photograph and above by 

John Halford. 

All photographs in this issue supplied by iStockphoto.com unless stated otherwise. 

2 The Plain Truth Autumn 2012 

Autumn 2012 The Plain Truth 3

The Plain Truth Letters 

Why we publish 

Dear Readers, 

The Plain Truth is a Registered Charity 

(No 1098217) which produces a nondenominational 

magazine, aimed at 

readers of all faiths – or none – to inform 

and educate them on issues affecting our 

everyday lives from a Christian perspective. 

Our goal is to provide our subscribers 

with ‘food for thought’. The Plain Truth’s 

contributors come from many Christian 

backgrounds. Distributed free of charge, 

The Plain Truth provides its readers with a 

balanced ‘spiritual diet’. 

Published four times a year, The Plain 

Truth addresses topics such as family 

relationships, care of our environment, 

depression, preparing our children to 

become responsible members of society and 

many other similar topics from a Christian 

perspective. Regular features explore the 

books of the Bible and examine aspects of 

the Christian faith. 

Currently, with a circulation of around 8,000 

in the UK and an estimated readership of 

25,000, The Plain Truth is a valuable source 

of information and its articles are frequently 

used as a basis of sermons and assembly 

material for many denominations and 

schools across the country. 

We hope to be able to continue publishing 

The Plain Truth as long as resources allow. 

We are always grateful for the donations 

from our readers who share our vision and 

help us make The Plain Truth freely available 

to all who want it. 

I have been reading The Plain Truth 

for the last ten years, passing the 

information in each issue onto friends – 

both Christian and non-Christian. May 

God continue to bless you and all the 

staff involved. (And I enclose a donation 

towards production costs.) 

Mr RM, Sherwood 

Thank you and thank you! (See letters 

page, Summer 2012 issue.) I was so 

pleased to get all six copies of your 

magazine. They’ve been pounced on by 

various friends here with delight. I am 

so grateful that you are going to keep 

sending them. The only other magazine 

we get is also one sent to a friend by 

her mother in the UK. The magazine is 

Woman Alive, and this too is passed 

amongst us, so I’m glad to be able to 

share something sane in this world! 

Mrs JAH, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe 

I write to thank you and acknowledge 

the receipt of The Plain Truth magazine. 

I have read the magazine with great 

pleasure and shared the knowledge 

among others here in Zambia. 

Mr JMS (Evangelist), Zambia 

I would like to thank John Halford for 

the recent article in The Plain Truth 

about understanding what happens 

when we die [Summer 2012, p16]. 

Your article has really helped me and 

given me a better understanding than 

anything else I have read. 

Mrs JN, Herts 

I have just received your appeal letter 

and was sorry to hear about your 

need for additional funds at this time. 

I find The Plain Truth such a thoughtprovoking 

magazine and look forward 

to its arrival every quarter. I also use 

parts of the magazine in Sunday and 

Thursday lunch-time services as I am a 

local preacher in the Norwich Methodist 

circuit. In fact, today I have just used part 

of the recent article about ‘Listening to 

God’ in our lunch-time service. Several 

commented afterwards how helpful it 

had been – it was very inspirational. 

Mr KL, Norwich 

Thanks Mr KL. And thank you to the 

many of our readers who received our 

recent Appeal and responded very 

generously. Funds came just at the right 

time, and we are very grateful to you and to 

God for answering our prayers. 

Facts, not fiction 

In the recent article ‘Bible facts, not 

Bible fiction’ (p20, Summer 2012) Colin 

Macdonald commented that there were 

a number of study books but only How 

to read the Bible for all its worth by Gordon 

Fee and Douglas Stuart was mentioned. 

It would be useful if the list could be 

developed which would be very helpful. 

I really enjoy The Plain Truth – long 

may it continue. 

Mr TJ (via email) 

Thank you, Mr TJ. Choosing which books 

to study will depend on what depth of Bible 

knowledge you are aiming at. For most 

serious Bible study, we recommend that 

you have the following type of books: 

1. A study Bible. There are many 

published, but The Life Application Bible 

Study Bible-NIV-Personal Size is especially 

good for helping you to see the relevance of 

God’s word in your life. This book has maps, 

charts and life application notes. Publisher: 

Tyndale House Publishers, 2011. 

2. A Bible dictionary. This helps you 

to look up Bible terms, place names, 

books, people and doctrines. A very good 

dictionary is The New Bible Dictionary. 

Publisher: IVP, 2011. 

3. A Bible history book. How did we 

get the Bible? How were the biblical books 

written, transmitted and collected? A good 

Bible history book answers these questions, 

and much more besides. We recommend 

How We Got The Bible. Publisher: Baker 

Books, 2010. 

4. A Bible handbook. For beginners 

in Bible study, a handbook helps you 

to understand scripture by providing a 

commentary on all the books of the Bible. 

For an easy-to-understand commentary, 

The Lion Handbook to the Bible is a 

highly respected publication. Publisher: 

Lion Hudson, 2009. 

All of the above titles are available from 

www.amazon.co.uk, including some in the 

new Amazon Kindle format. Or you can 

order them from your local bookseller. 

If money is tight, there are many secondhand 

bookshops with some or all of these 

titles for sale at a much reduced price. If you 

are able to access the Internet, try www. 

abebooks.co.uk. Book Aid runs a number of 

Christian bookshops selling second-hand 

books – you can contact their London office 

on 020 8778 2145. We’ve only been able to 

give a very short list of study books here, but 

in a future article, we plan to go into more 

detail about the art of Bible study. 

Request granted 

Relating to Mrs LC’s letter in the Summer 

2012 magazine, please find enclosed a 

copy of the April-June 2006 issue. I do 

hope Mrs LC and her family enjoy rereading 

the article. 

Mrs SF, Fareham 

And another… 

In response to your appeal (letters page, 

Summer 2012) I am happy to enclose 

a copy of the April-June 2006 issue for 

Mrs LC and her father, Hugh Gascoyne. 

Please pass this on with my best wishes. 

(And I very much enjoy reading your 

magazine!) 

Mrs BS, Southport 

Thanks Mrs BS, the family won’t have to 

share the single copy! And with other family 

members eager to own a copy, we’ll send 

any other copies (six to date) we receive to 

Hugh Gascoyne’s daughter. 

In fact, we contacted Mrs LC, who was 

both delighted and appreciative of being 

able to get back copies of the issue. Here’s 

what she said: 

Thanks Plain Truth, that’s wonderful. 

Yesterday, when I was with my father, we 

were enjoying the lovely sunshine and 

can you guess what we were reading? 

The Plain Truth of course (Summer 

issue)! We enjoyed the article of Philip 

and the Ethiopian Eunuch (p22); What 

happens when we die? by John Halford 

(p16) and particularly Bible facts, not Bible 

fiction (p20) by Colin McDonald. 

So thank you once again, for 

encouraging articles. They are so down 

to earth and helpful. 

Best Wishes 

Lynda (Hugh Gascoyne’s daughter) 

Love – not fear 

In the great scheme of things it’s not a 

big deal I guess. But I find that religion 

can be either a great comfort, help 

and source of strength – or a bat to hit 

yourself with. 

It depends who is ‘selling’ it to you. 

Either it’s all about hell-fire and fear, or it’s 

about each person’s choice to seek their 

God – to find their creator. 

I’ve done with the ‘hell-fire’ stuff – 

had all that at school and church as 

a boy. (Pulpit-thumping, nasty stuff.) 

Today people are better educated and 

choose God out of love, not fear. 

Bless all at The Plain Truth. 

Mr TM, Colwyn Bay 

They’re back 

I see the ‘grumpy old men’ have returned 

to The Plain Truth’s summer issue. 

The article What happens when we die? 

does not make enjoyable reading. And 

I don’t agree that the BBC has lost its 

principles. I find BBC programmes on 

TV by far the best. For example: nature, 

documentaries, sporting events, etc. 

Come on, I thought those grumpy old 

men were dead and buried – but they 

seem to have been resurrected. Let’s have 

positive, encouraging articles please! 

Mr RB, Tunbridge Wells 

BBC and RTE 

Roy Lawrence has highlighted the 

declining standards at the BBC in his 

article in the Summer issue of The Plain 

Truth. In Ireland the national broadcaster 

RTE similarly underwent a significant 

downturn, exhibiting a distinct antipathy 

towards the Catholic Church – and 

not just because of the child sexual 

abuse scandal – which had the effect 

of alienating some Catholics. In general, 

however, despite the worrying decline 

in religious practice and beliefs in the 

Republic of Ireland, RTE basically restored 

balance to its output. 

Perhaps it wasn’t simply a change 

of heart so much as a realisation that 

in an increasingly competitive media 

environment, alienating the solidly 

Christian nature of many people in the 

Republic was not a paying proposition, 

so better sense prevailed. In relation 

to BBC Radio – Radio 4 for instance – it 

has to be said that aspects of its daily 

programming couldn’t but impress. As 

an Irish listener – and very pleased to be 

one – I would have to say that this BBC 

radio station at least is a godsend…long 

may it continue. 

Mr RC, Co Dublin 

I would like you to know how much 

I look forward to receiving The Plain 

Truth. Of particular interest was Roy 

Lawrence’s Whatever happened to the 

BBC? I feel compelled to write to both 

the present Head of the BBC and the 

Minister of Culture, hoping that they 

might take on board what effect the 

media – in particular the BBC – may 

have on viewers, especially the young. 

For their part, the BBC does show some 

amazing documentaries, presented by 

young, enthusiastic people – which I find 

uplifting. 

Ms JC, Southend 

Send your letters to: 

The Editor 

The Plain Truth 

PO Box 4421 

Worthing 

West Sussex 

BN14 8WQ 

Or email the Editor: 

editor@plaintruth.co.uk 

Disclaimer: Although every effort 

is taken to ensure up-to-date and 

accurate information is reproduced 

in The Plain Truth, the publishers, 

authors and printers cannot accept 

liability for any errors or omissions. 

Articles appearing in The Plain Truth 

remain copyright of the authors and 

may not be reproduced without prior, 

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holder and the publisher. 

Any applications for reproduction 

should be made in the first instance 

to the Editor at The Plain Truth. Any 

statement made or opinions expressed 

in articles represent the opinions of 

the authors and may not necessarily 

reflect those of the charity. 

Well, Roy Lawrence’s article in the last 

issue certainly caused some mixed 

feedback – and I’m sure the debate will 

continue across the letters page of the next 

issue too. 

Across the miles 

Thank you so much for your continued 

support and assistance with your 

Summer 2012 Plain Truth magazine 

sent. I am most grateful to you all for the 

kindness. You are doing a great job to 

the whole body of Christ that is greatly 

needed beyond the online audience but 

also digitally disadvantaged people of 

Africa and particularly Nigeria. 

Mr FT, University of Ibadan, Nigeria 

In response 

I have read Mrs MT’s comments and 

request in the Spring issue of your 

magazine. My response is to purchase 

and study the booklet Asleep in Christ 

published by Open Bible Trust and 

advertised on the back cover of the same 

issue. I have a copy and fully recommend 

it. This booklet will possibly answer most 

of Mrs MT’s questions. 

Mr KS, St Austell 



The Parable 

of the Ugly Cat 

Jesus drew lessons from lilies, trees, 

sparrows and fishes and even has 

some complimentary things to say 

about dogs. I can see that about dogs. 

They are loyal, unselfish and seem to 

show unconditional love. 

However, he did not say anything 

about cats. In fact, cats are the 

only domestic animals that are not 

mentioned in the Bible. Maybe it’s 

because the Ancient Egyptians 

worshipped them. Unlike the Ancient 

Egyptians, I am not particularly fond of 

cats. For one thing, I am very allergic 

to them. I also find them greedy 

and self-centred, compared to the 

unquestioning devotion of dogs. 

I am quite willing to share the planet 

with them, providing it is not the same 

part of the planet. I certainly don’t want 

one as a pet. So I was not particularly 

happy when Ugly Cat stumbled into 

by John Halford 

my life. I first saw her on a very dark, 

cold evening last January. I was clearing 

snow from my driveway, when she 

limped into the pool of light from 

the open garage door. She mewed 

piteously, but kept her distance. I saw 

that she had been badly wounded. 

She was dragging her right back leg, 

and her right eye was just a bloody 

pulp. She looked like she had been in 

a fight, or perhaps hit by a car. I didn’t 

want to leave her to suffer, but she 

would not let me get close. After a 

minute or so she limped off into the 

darkness, leaving a trail of blood in 

the snow. ‘Poor critter,’ I thought. ‘She 

won’t last long out there.’ But there was 

nothing I could do for her. 

By morning, the snow had covered 

up her tracks, and after a day or two, 

I forgot about her. But she had not 

forgotten about me. 

One morning, several months later, I saw her again. She 

was standing by the edge of our garden pond, looking at me 

cautiously, wondering whether to take her eyes – er...eye – 

off me to risk a drink. 

‘It’s OK,’ I said. ‘Help yourself.’ I noticed that her 

wounded eye had healed. The eye was gone, but the socket 

looked clean, and not infected. I noticed also that, although 

she still limped, she was moving better. ‘How on earth did 

you survive the winter?’ I wondered. This little animal was 

a survivor, and at least deserved respect. ‘You’re welcome to 

have a drink from the pond 

whenever you want,’ I told 

her. (You shouldn’t give 

feral cats milk.) But I really 

didn’t want her to become 

too friendly. 

That did not seem to be 

a problem – the cat wasn’t 

interested in being too 

friendly either. She could 

look after herself. I left 

some scraps of food out for 

her, but she ignored them. 

She was not as hungry as 

she looked. 

Later I found out why. 

When she wasn’t drinking 

Ugly Cat’s kittens 

from my pond, she would help herself to the local dogs’ 

food while they watched in frustration. 

You didn’t mess with this cat. Nobody owned her, and 

she didn’t seem to want to belong. I began calling her ‘that 

Ugly Cat’, and the name stuck. 

More mouths to feed 

Ugly Cat hung around the neighbourhood all through the 

spring. She would disappear for days, but would always 

reappear, looking for a handout. But she didn’t grovel – if 

nothing was forthcoming she would, so to speak, shrug her 

shoulders and limp away. She didn’t seem to be starving, 

and was even putting on weight. 

One day in early summer, I noticed a change. She came 

around meowing as usual. However, this time there was a 

different tone to it. It was more insistent and demanding. 

I got the impression that if a cat could tug at your trouser 

leg, she would have done. It was as if she was saying ‘I want 

some food, and I want it NOW!’ 

She also seemed to be staying around our house more. 

One morning I discovered why. While watering the front 

garden, I found two kittens under a bush. Ugly Cat soon 

ran up and stood guard defensively. One of the kittens 

looked like her. The other was the same colour as a local 

fat cat, who spends all day lying around the house, but 

obviously gets out at night. I understood now why Ugly Cat 

needed food. She had extra mouths to feed. I gave in and 

bought several tins of cat food, much to the amusement of 

my wife, who told everyone ‘I was just a big softie’. 

‘You know,’ I told Ugly Cat, ‘that really isn’t a good place 

to keep your children.’ It was only a few feet from the road. 

It is normally not too busy, but a bridge over the river was 

under repair, and so a steady stream of traffic went by our 

house. I thought it was only a matter of time before I would 

be scraping the kittens off the road, but they seem to have 

had inherited their Mum’s ability to survive. As is the way 

with cats, Ugly Cat had brought her kittens close to our 

house because she knew they would be safe. 

My sister, who knows about cats, told us that we should 

not leave the kittens with their mother longer than 

necessary. They learn fast, and if you leave them too long, 

they will never become domesticated. Yeah, right, but what 

were we going to do with them? I didn’t want one cat, let 

alone three. 

My daughter thought she 

could find homes for them, 

but was not able to get them 

for a few days. She suggested 

I take them away from their 

mother, provided they could 

feed themselves. They could, 

and were ready to leave the 

nest. But that was easier said 

than done. The two kittens were 

cute from a distance, but when 

I tried to pick them up they 

hissed, spat, and tried to scratch 

me with their tiny claws. These 

were wild animals. Eventually 

I extracted them from under 

the bush and put them in a 

large box in the garage. Ugly Cat didn’t seem to care. She 

probably wanted to be rid of them so she could resume her 

vagabond lifestyle. 

My daughter and granddaughters eventually came to 

get the kittens. ‘Be careful,’ I warned them. ‘They may look 

cute, but they are lethal.’ Sure enough, the little spitfires 

resisted my granddaughters’ attentions at first. But within 

half an hour, both were purring contentedly, as they went 

off to their new homes. 

The cat comes back 

Two down – one to go. Except Ugly Cat won’t go. She 

still disappears for days, but always comes back expecting 

a handout. We now keep several tins of cat food on hand. 

Against my better judgment, I found myself becoming 

rather fond of Ugly Cat. I have a feeling that she may be 

around for a while, never quite belonging, but knowing 

where to come when she does need help. 

I have made an effort to reform her, but she only listens 

long enough to eat the food. Then she is off again. It looks 

like she is pregnant again (sigh!). I told her sternly not 

to expect us to take them off her hands this time. But we 

probably will. 

Ugly Cat reminds me of many people I have known in 

my years as a minister. Wild, independent, tough survivors 

– living on the edge of our church community, but never 

joining. They are reluctant to make a commitment, but 

know where to come when they need some help. They 

can be annoying, and it is tempting to want to push them 

away. But we must not do that. They may not have accepted 

God’s grace, but they have not rejected it either. 

My friend, Professor Eddie Gibbs has a saying, ‘Treat 

everyone as if they were Christians until they find out that 

they are not.’ Because you just never know. 

6 

The Plain Truth Autumn 2012 

Autumn 2012 The Plain Truth 

7

‘ 

by James Hammond 

Guilty – or 

not guilty? 

She’s right, you know,’ said Gemma 

as her tear-laden face looked at me 

with a sadness I’d rarely seen. ‘I’m 

no good to God. I have done so many 

things wrong in my life. That woman I 

met – Joan – was right when she said 

to me that I’m “guilty as charged”.’ 

Gemma wasn’t a member of my 

congregation. But she’d heard that I 

was holding some counselling sessions 

at a local church function and she 

came along as a ‘last hope’ before 

deciding to walk away from religion for 

good. Through a heart-rending hour, I 

learned of Gemma’s tragic journey that 

brought her close to living a Christian 

life, only to be turned off by someone 

who simply did not know the suffering 

she would cause. 

Let me tell you about it. 

Gemma had been something of a wild child in her early 

years. Neither of her divorced parents wanted her in their 

‘new lives’, so she was moved around from various foster 

homes and carers, until she decided that she wanted to 

break free. Living on the streets for some time, Gemma 

got into a drug habit, but after becoming pregnant (and the 

father fleeing the scene shortly after), she finally saw the 

need to become a responsible mother and change her life. 

Her thoughts, however, were constantly feelings of guilt for 

all the wrong things she had done to herself ... and, as she 

believed, to many others as well. 

A chance meeting 

That was when she bumped into Kate, a Christian who 

was visiting the area. Literally a chance meeting on the 

street one day gave Kate the opportunity to present the 

idea of becoming a Christian to Gemma. And little by 

little, Gemma wondered if this might be the answer to her 

troubles. Kate was supportive, empathetic and certainly not 

pushy. Gemma started to feel a little more hopeful about 

life. But as Kate didn’t come from the area, she suggested 

that Gemma go to a local church just to see how friendly 

and helpful people could be. 

Gemma decided to do just that, and a few weeks later 

arrived at a local community church. Things went well at 

first, and people were warm and friendly, so she opened up 

to them about her past, her regrets and her feelings of guilt. 

But then something changed. One of the women, Joan, a 

fiery fundamentalist took a different view. ‘What a wicked, 

ungodly life you’ve led, young woman,’ said Joan. ‘You are 

definitely a vile, hell-deserving sinner and you’ll need to do 

a great deal of repenting for God to cleanse you of all your 

guilt. After all, you are guilty and if you don’t repent, you’ll 

die guilty.’ 

Gemma was shocked and ran out of the church. For the 

next few weeks, Joan’s words played heavily on her mind. 

She couldn’t sleep, going over and over the idea that so 

much guilt, so much sin, could never be forgiven. Why did 

she think that Christianity was the way? How would she 

ever change her life? Maybe she couldn’t ... perhaps she 

should just accept the fact that she was a no-good person. 

And now here she was. Fully expecting a final 

confirmation that what Joan said was true. Who would want 

such a guilty person? Certainly not God. 

Too sinful for forgiveness? 

People like Joan make me very angry. They know little 

about the Bible, even less about God, yet they seem 

determined to stamp on those who are already down, acting 

as God’s representatives to highlight evil and wicked deeds, 

without a hint of mercy or love. And this is not an isolated 

case. Over the years I have dealt with hundreds of people – 

even seasoned Christians – who have been turned off from 

ever visiting a church again, becoming depressed at their 

‘obvious’ failings in life, and thinking that it’s all too late, 

because of the message they perceive: that the guilt is too 

great to be forgiven, even by God. 

By the time you’ve read this article, I want to help you 

to understand one thing very clearly. If you have faith in 

Christ and accept him as your saviour, then you are not 

guilty. That’s right, absolutely, totally, not guilty. Because if 

‘People like Joan make me very angry. 

They know little about the Bible, 

even less about God, yet they seem 

determined to stamp on those who 

are already down, acting as God’s 

representatives to highlight evil and 

wicked deeds, without a hint of mercy 

or love.’ 

you were, then Jesus came to earth for nothing. Everything 

he did was in vain. He was brought into the world to save us 

from our sins, but clearly – at least according to Joan – he 

failed in his mission. 

But that’s not what the Bible says. Jesus did finish his 

work successfully. Which means that you and I, through our 

faith in Christ, are now declared not guilty. God says that 

we were all under the penalty of death at one time because 

we were definitely all guilty! Yet, as the Apostle Paul points 

out to the Ephesians: 

‘But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love 

with which he loved us, even when we were dead in 

our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by 

grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him 

and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ 

Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the 

immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in 

Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through 

faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 

not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are 

his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in 

them.’ 1 

Let’s note a few things here. Firstly, Paul says it’s by grace 

we’re saved, not works. So whatever Joan thinks Gemma 

should do (apart from, according to her, a huge amount of 

constant repentance), it won’t affect the ‘not guilty’ verdict 

God has freely bestowed upon us. We are not guilty in 

God’s eyes. It’s as simple as that. 

Secondly, God is not a number-cruncher. Ten ‘major’ sins 

are not more difficult to forgive than three ‘minor’ ones. 

(And is there a difference anyway?) We are declared ‘not 

guilty’ as a free gift, not in some kind of pecking order of 

categories of sin. 

Continued on page 10 



Somebody once wrote: ‘God’s gift to you is life – 

and what you do with it is your gift to God.’ 

Yes, faith in Christ has set you free – to explore life 

to the full, as best as you are able. 

by Gethin Russell-Jones 

However bad Gemma’s troubled background might be, 

her sins are removed far from her. 

Thirdly, God doesn’t harp on the past or give impossible 

instructions to live by in the future. We don’t need to 

promise to be good, constantly apologise for things we did 

years ago, or be afraid that if we slip up, God’s going to ‘get 

us’ and punish us. 

So how should we deal with those thoughts of guilt, 

whether landed with them by the likes of Joan, or our own 

negative view of our self-worth? There are many ways that 

I shared with Gemma, but here are three that can have a 

profound effect on removing feelings of guilt. 

1. Remove all the negative guilt words from 

your thoughts 

People who feel guilty use very specific words of phrases, 

such as: 

‘Must’ or ‘Must not’ 

‘Should’ or ‘Should not’ 

‘Ought’ or ‘Ought not’ 

Most times, a guilty mind is externally focused. It looks 

at what other people think, it focuses on not offending 

someone else, or wanting to get their approval, but without 

due regard for one’s own needs and wants. 

Gemma is an ideal candidate for Joan’s misled diatribe. 

She thinks God’s forgiveness is conditional on whether or 

not she is doing what she ‘must’ or ‘ought’. But as we’ve 

already seen, nothing is further from the truth. 

2. Don’t wallow in remorse, move on 

Some people like Joan want to emphasise repentance for 

guilty actions. They often demand to ‘see’ repentance, 

and they do this by checking to see if the Gemmas of this 

world display remorse or are continuously sorry for what 

they’ve done. But ‘repentance’ comes from the Greek word 

metanoia which simply means ‘change’. There is no part of 

that word that embraces remorse, guilt or anything else. It’s 

a change of direction – and in a positive sense. Yes, we can 

be truly sorry for something we’ve done – but that is the 

motivation for change, not the result of repentance. Notice 

what Paul says to his Corinthian audience: ‘Godly sorrow 

brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.’ 2 

3. Focus on hope, not hell 

You can’t just tell the human mind not to feel guilty – it 

simply doesn’t work like that. If I say, ‘Don’t think of a 

pink monkey,’ what’s the first thing you do...of course, you 

think of a pink monkey! We need something to replace the 

thoughts of guilt. 

So how about hope? Instead of guilt, and looking 

externally at others, seeking the approval of people like 

Joan and their impossible demands, why don’t we work on 

setting some goals for ourselves – to have personal aims and 

ambitions? 

What about if we took the view of living a life of 

fulfilling experiences, to learn as much as we can about 

our abilities, our God-given talents? Let me ask: What 

inspires you above everything else? And what will you do 

with that inspiration? What makes you really laugh? And 

what will you do about laughing more? And within some of 

those dark days that are behind you, what are the fondest 

memories? And how will you create some more? 

Somebody once wrote: ‘God’s gift to you is life – and what 

you do with it is your gift to God.’ Yes, faith in Christ has set 

you free – to explore life to the full, as best as you are able. 

And when I met up with Gemma recently, that’s exactly 

what she had done. A steady job, a loving relationship, and 

lots of exciting plans for the future. None, you won’t be 

surprised to hear, involving Joan. 

We can choose to be shackled by crazy ideas about guilt 

that can hinder us and keep us down. We can choose to 

build our lives on what other people like Joan think, or how 

they think we should think. Or we can have hope. 

It’s your choice. But the facts cannot be altered. Through 

faith in Jesus Christ, the jury has returned with its verdict 

on your life. Jesus was your advocate. The wondrous God, 

judge of all, turns to you and says, ‘You have been found not 

guilty. You are free to go.’ 

Are you ready to live that life of freedom? 

1 Ephesians 2:4-10 

2 2 Corinthians 7:10 

James Hammond is an ordained minister and a qualified Christian 

counsellor and psychotherapist. 

There I am in the middle of 

a department store, in the 

middle of the ladies’ section. 

Not unlike that episode of Father Ted 

where the college of hapless priests 

end up in the lingerie department. I 

wasn’t that furtive but I couldn’t help 

noticing a transaction of clashing 

intimacies. For there, in that place of 

perfumed softness, a woman garbed 

in religious clothing was seeking 

a purchase.Two issues struck me. I 

saw her now as a person and not a 

religious billboard and secondly that 

this symbolism was a reflection of 

that same personhood. 

With her I shared a basic human need, 

shaped by culture and tradition: we 

both needed to wear clothes. In her 

case it was female undergarmentry, 

in mine it was other more shapeless 

masculine garb. But here’s the 

difference. Her outer clothing also 

served to advertise her faith and 

identity of a particular tribe. My jeans, 

shirt and boots simply indicate that I’m 

a Western male of a certain age. The 

uniform of secularism. 

Of course, this woman has much in 

common with others (largely women) 

who use fashion to display religious 

faith. Think of the airport employee 

sacked for wearing a cross or the 

classroom assistant in deep water 

over wearing a niqab. Much to the 

annoyance of secular institutions. But 

am I bothered? Probably not as much as 

I should be. Closest I’ve got to this kind 

of demonstration was sporting a ‘Thank 

God for Jesus’ sticker on my car about 

20 years ago. It was removed after I 

transgressed the speeding regulations. 

But I have come across many who 

don ‘What would Jesus Do?’ (WWJD) 

wristbands, Jesus ties, and cross lapel 

badges. 

But the real pressure facing believers (of 

all kinds) is the coercion to be muffled, 

religiously castrated. Pray to your gods 

in private, but don’t represent them to 

us because we are offended. Paul the 

apostle would not so easily be quieted. I 

am not ashamed of the Gospel was one 

of his rallying calls. And neither should 

we be, but increasingly Christians are 

becoming more and more invisible 

if we are to believe the insights of a 

recently published survey. 

According to a research study, 

the greatest threat to evangelical 

Christianity is secularism, consumerism 

and pop culture. The survey 

commissioned by the Pew Research 

Centre Forum on Religion and Public 

Life questioned nearly 2,200 evangelical 

leaders from 166 countries. Over 70% 

identified the influence of secularism 

as a ‘major threat’ to evangelical 

Christianity. This was followed by 

consumerism (67%), and sex and 

violence in pop culture (59%). This 

sense of being a minority group within 

an increasingly hostile culture can 

easily result in Christians and churches 

developing a siege mentality. In such 

circumstances, Christ’s followers may 

conclude that becoming less visible 

is the least controversial option. And 

the issues facing Christian groups in 

particular, can be very complex. 

For example, it is not uncommon for 

a church to receive public funding 

for projects that have wider social 

benefits. However, this same church 

may also receive donations from other 

Christian charities whose aims and 

objectives may clash with values of 

statutory bodies. This can place the 

church in a position of conflict if these 

arrangements are made public. 

Evangelical Alliance Wales recently 

brought together a group of Christians 

to consider the issue of Christian 

visibility. In the meeting were people 

who had first-hand experience of 

the dilemmas posed when religion 

and secularism meet. Elfed Godding, 

National Director for Evangelical 

Alliance Wales said: ‘Whether it’s the 

impact of equality legislation, or the 

demands made by council funding, 

Christians are sometimes in danger of 

becoming invisible. We can feel under 

pressure to disappear, keep silent, and 

cloak ourselves in anonymity. 

But the impact of the church on society 

has been enormous and continues to 

be so. I hope that this meeting of fellow 

believers encouraged us all to remain 

confident in our faith and wise in the way 

we share it?’ 

She went her way and I went mine. To 

the gents’ hosiery department. 



‘ 

Do not conform any longer to 

the pattern of this world, but be 

transformed by the renewing of 

your mind.’ (Romans 12:2 NIV). 

These are words written by St Paul 

to the Christians in Rome. It is usually 

assumed that they apply to you and 

me, here and now. But is this realistic? 

And can anyone really be changed? 

One of my recollections from the early years of my 

boyhood is that of the first time I was taken to see a 

pantomime. It was all something of a magical mystery tour 

to me and I remember being particularly impressed with 

what is known as the ‘transformation scene’. The most 

famous of these comes in the story of Cinderella, when 

before your eyes the drab kitchen in which Cinderella 

is forced to do all sorts of menial work turns into the 

glittering ballroom at the palace, where she meets the 

handsome prince. 

It is the teaching of the Christian Faith that something 

just as sensational can happen in human life. No matter 

what age we are, no matter how tarnished we are, the 

Gospel says it is possible for us to be totally changed. 

Scripture says it can be like being born all over again. 

Grown-up people can become children again. This is not 

only possible, it is absolutely necessary if God’s will for our 

eternal destiny is to be fulfilled. 

by Roy Lawrence 

Is change really possible? 

To put it in the words of Jesus, ‘Unless you are converted 

and become like little children, you will by no means enter the 

Kingdom of Heaven.’ 1 

From foe to friend 

There are plenty of examples of this in the Bible. Think 

of St Paul and the way he was changed on the road to 

Damascus. He started the journey a dedicated enemy 

of the Christian Faith, full of bitterness and hate and a 

total determination to destroy the new religion, which he 

regarded as an absolute aberration. 

He ended the journey not only as himself a Christian, 

but as the man who would spend the rest of his life 

spreading the Gospel around the known world. You can 

read the story in Acts, chapter nine. 

Or what about the change in the life of St Matthew from 

making a highly profitable and none-too-honest living, 

collecting taxes from his own people for the hated Roman 

occupying power to a totally new lifestyle in which he gave 

up all prospect of worldly gain as he tramped the dusty 

roads of Palestine with Jesus and his early followers? 

Or what of Mary Magdalene, a wreck of a woman, totally 

shattered by life, who was transformed into one of the most 

dedicated and dependable supporters of Jesus, destined 

to stay with him when nearly everybody else had fled for 

their lives? But this sort of transformation did not come 

to an end with Biblical times. St Augustine found that his 

conversion to Christianity involved a radical change. 

Beforehand he was totally immoral. This is how he put 

it in his own words. ‘I took my fill of Hell. I ran wild in a rank 

forest of shady sexual adventures. My companions and I reeled 

and wallowed in filth. But you brought all that to an end, Lord.’ 

It was at this point that everything was turned upside down 

for him, and he went on to become a Christian teacher of 

unique and profound ability. We all owe him more than we 

realise in the way in which we understand our Faith. 

Not just in Biblical times 

Changes like this still happen. On one of my visits to 

Northern Ireland I met a converted UVF terrorist. He 

said to me, ‘When I met Jesus, he changed not only my own life 

but the lives of many others too. At the time I had twelve names 

on my death list. They would all be dead now, if Jesus had not 

changed me.’ 

So experience shows that deep transforming change 

is possible. But how does it happen? What is the secret? 

Perhaps ordinary life gives us a clue. Isn’t it true that the 

thing that changes us most deeply – either for good or for 

ill – is the effect that other people have on us? In other 

words behind most personality change is the power of a 

transforming relationship. 

Yvonne was a factory forewoman. For years the girls 

who worked under her hated her. They thought of her 

as unpleasant, overbearing and uncaring. Then one day 

everything changed. Yvonne started to show a happy 

and helpful side to her nature which beforehand nobody 

suspected could exist. 

They could not understand the difference in her until 

one of them spotted the engagement ring on her finger. 

There was a new relationship in her life and it made all the 

difference in the world. 

You and I may well be able to think of relationships 

which have changed us. For my own part I am well 

aware that my wife, Eira, and I have changed each other 

profoundly over the years. We think those changes are all 

for the good. 

So what is the relationship at the heart of the Christian 

Faith which has caused such a change in so many lives? 

The stories just told make it clear. They are all linked to the 

close and living relationship which Christians are privileged 

to have with Jesus. ‘God has called you,’ says St Paul, ‘to 

friendship with his son Jesus.’ 2 That’s the secret, that’s the 

factor that has power to change a money-grabber, thief or 

terrorist into a new person. 

So how does this affect you and me? It is important to 

know that we do need to change. 

It may well be that we have never been sensational 

sinners, but we are sinners, all of us. The Bible makes it 

clear. We are meant to love God with every fibre of our 

being and to love our neighbours as ourselves. 3 We don’t do 

it. So ‘if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the 

truth is not in us.’ 4 

No time like the present 

This could well be the right time for you and me to check 

up on ourselves. There are two questions we should be 

asking. First, because Christian life is a journey and should 

never be static, think of yourself a year ago and ask ‘How 

have I changed during the last twelve months?’ If we are 

not sure of the answer, the second question is ‘How close 

am I keeping to Jesus?’ because he is the dynamic behind 

true Christian development. At the heart of the Christian 

Faith is the conviction that if we walk through life with 

‘God has called you,’ says St Paul, 

‘to friendship with his son Jesus.’ 

That’s the secret, that’s the factor 

that has power to change a 

money-grabber, thief or terrorist 

into a new person. 

Jesus change is not just possible, it is inevitable. Life in the 

presence of Christ, says scripture, involves ‘new creation’. 5 

We should be experiencing it day by day, and when our days 

on this planet come to an end, the transformation process 

will go on. 

If I were to meet you as you are destined to become 

within the mystery of eternity, I might be tempted to fall on 

my knees and worship you. 

Already if your trust is in Jesus, God the Father has 

adopted you as his child. This is a marvellous thing in itself, 

but there is much more to come. ‘Now are we children of God 

and it has yet to be revealed what we shall be.’ 6 

It is all too much for our tiny minds, but this is how 

Charles Wesley puts it: 

‘Changed from glory into glory till in Heaven we take our 

place, 

Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love 

and praise.’ 

I may never have met you, but I can tell you with absolute 

certainty that you are already a miracle of creation and, if 

you let God have his way with you, the miracle has only just 

begun! 

1 Matthew 18:3 


3 Mark 12: 29-31 

4 1 John 1:8 


6 1 John 3:2 



y Fiona Veitch Smith 

Hearing the Voice of God 

Part 2: How God ‘speaks’ through the Bible 

In this second article in our series on 

Hearing the Voice of God we will be 

looking at how God communicates 

with us through the written word in 

the Bible. In the last article we laid the 

foundation for the belief that God does 

speak to us in various ways and how 

we can position ourselves to listen for 

his voice. If you missed that article, you 

may want to go back and read it now, 

before you continue with this one. 

The Bible was originally written as a collection of ‘books’ 

and ‘letters’ in the language of the people and was meant to 

be read to or by the people. It was collected and compiled 

into its present form around the 4th Century. 

As Christianity spread away from the Greek and Latinspeaking 

worlds, the Bible lost its capacity to ‘speak’ directly 

to people as they simply could not understand it without 

the help of an educated intermediary. 

Some would argue, however, that not much was lost 

as the largely illiterate people of the time needed an 

intermediary simply to be able to read – in whatever 

language. 

During the period of the Protestant Reformation 

the Bible was translated into common language again. 

In England this was done by John Wycliffe in the 14th 

Century. Today, Wycliffe Bible Translators continue his 

work with the aim of translating the Bible into every literate 

language of the world by 2025. 1 

The ‘yardstick’ of God’s word 

One of the main tenets of the Protestant Reformation was 

the ‘Centrality of Scripture’ as the primary (and in some 

cases, only) means of hearing the voice of God in this 

world. The Bible then became the yardstick for determining 

God’s will rather than papal proclamations. 

As a result, God could only be ‘heard’ through the Bible. 

Anything else was met with suspicion. 

However, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox 

traditions are not so cut and dried about this and advocate 

that the Bible, although very important, is just one of the 

ways God communicates with people. 

In the last half of the 20th Century, Protestantism has 

moved to a more balanced approach between ‘Word and 

Spirit’. In this more flexible model, the Bible is still the 

yardstick. Words of the Spirit – or divine utterance – must 

not contradict the Biblical Word, but it is now recognised 

that God can and does ‘speak’ in other ways than through 

the Bible. We will be discussing some of these ways in the 

next two articles. 

There is of course a danger with the ‘Word and Spirit’ 

approach that we slip into a post-modern relativism and 

that there is no absolute touchstone anymore – ie ‘The 

Bible says it and that settles it.’ 

However, as there are so many different interpretations 

of the Bible, there are many who do not view this loss 

of ‘absolutism’ as a fatal blow to their faith. There is not 

room in this article to discuss the different approaches to 

interpretation of the Biblical text, but readers should at least 

be aware that differences exist. Broadly speaking, there are 

three different methodologies applied to Bible study: 

1. Exegesis – what the text means in relation to itself and 

its original language – this is the linguistic lens through 

which the text is viewed. 

2. Hermeneutics – what the text means in the context of 

the culture of its primary readership – this is the historical 

text through which the text is viewed. 

3. Homiletics – the application of the text to a culture, 

group or individual – not the primary readership – this is 

the contemporary lens through which the text is viewed. 

Any ‘reading’ or ‘interpretation’ of the text is a confluence 

of these three lenses and the weight given to each may vary 

according to the bias of the reader. 

Essential reading 

However, with all these caveats aside, I would still argue 

that whatever your view on the centrality of scripture, 

it is of immeasurable importance to your growth as a 

Christian. If you are literate, you can and should be reading 

the Bible. If you are visually impaired or have a reading 

disability, there are audio versions of the Bible available. 2 

New Christians should be encouraged to seek God’s word 

to them first through the Bible before they try other 

methods. In many cases it is still the ‘safest’ and easiest way 

to hear God. ‘Old’ Christians should keep coming back to it 

because it is a source of life for your soul. 

The Bible says of itself: ‘Every Scripture is God-breathed 

(given by his inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for 

reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline 

in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in 

conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action). 3 

And Martyn Skinner, Methodist Minister, Heaton, 

Newcastle upon Tyne, says, ‘The Bible is like slow food rather 

than a McDonald’s. So give yourself as much time as you can to 

taste, chew, digest and savour it.’ 

The Bible should be our daily bread. We can skip the 

occasional meal without long-term effect, but we should 

not make a habit of it. Feeding on the Word gives God the 

raw materials he needs to speak to us. So how does God 

speak through the Bible? Here are just a few ways: 

• We can connect with the stories or identify with the 

characters of the Bible. 

• We can receive specific instruction in doctrine and 

Godly living. 

• We can receive words of encouragement and apply 

them to our personal situation. 

• The Holy Spirit can ‘quicken’ a verse or passage that 

seems to speak to us for a specific time or purpose. 

This is sometimes referred to as a ‘Rhema’ word. 

A four (or five)-step process 

A useful spiritual discipline to adopt is the Lectio Divina 

(literally ‘divine reading’). This is a Roman Catholic 

practice of applied personal reading of scriptures. There are 

four ‘movements’ in the Lectio Divina: 

• Read 

• Meditate 

• Pray 

• Contemplate 

• I would add a fifth: Apply 

The Bible says of itself: ‘Every Scripture is 

God-breathed (given by his inspiration) and 

profitable for instruction, for reproof and 

conviction of sin, for correction of error and 

discipline in obedience, [and] for training in 

righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to 

God’s will in thought, purpose, and action).’ 

Bible reading should incorporate all of the above 

disciplines. Do not feel, however, you should do all of them 

at the same time. Here are some practical tips on making 

sure you get a ‘balanced meal’: 

‘Snack’ on a daily devotional such as Every Day with 

Jesus, The Word for Today, Inspiring Women Every Day. But do 

read the full scripture in context, not just the highlighted 

verse. 

• Over a longer period, work through an exegetical 

guide eg Tom Wright’s The Bible for Everyone 

focusing on individual books. This does not have to 

be daily reading. 

• If you haven’t already done so, sign up for a ‘Bible 

Survey’ course such as Walk Through the Bible to 

give you an overview. 

• Change your translation every so often to give you a 

different perspective. 

• Once in a while, just sit down and simply read a 

book of the Bible as you would a novel. 

• Try listening to the Bible read on CD or an MP3 

download. 

• Watch a dramatisation of a Bible story. 

• If a scripture ‘jumps out at you’ (a Rhema word) try 

memorising it. 

• Be careful about using the Bible like an Ouija board 

or ‘lucky dipping’. God can use this technique 

occasionally but it is not advisable in the long-term. 

• Memorise scripture. This will help you increase your 

scriptural ‘vocabulary’ and gives your spirit food 

to chew on during the day. It is a way to enable the 

Word of Christ to ‘dwell in you richly’ (Colossians 

3:16). It gives the Holy Spirit a scripture pool in 

your memory to draw upon. Scriptural songs are a 

good way to learn scripture. 

So whether you are an ‘old’ or ‘new’ Christian and you want 

to hear what God is saying to you and the world today, I 

would encourage you to re-connect with the Bible. Use 

some of the ideas in this article or use a resource such as 

Big Bible or Biblefresh. 4 And finally, I will give the last word 

to the Bible itself: ‘I will delight myself in Your statutes; I 

will not forget Your word.’ Psalm 119:16 

1 www.wycliffe.org.uk. 

2 Christian Charity Torch Trust www.torchtrust.org can be of help in providing 

audio facilities of the Bible and other Christian materials. 

3 2 Timothy 3:16 

4 www.bigbible.org.uk/bigbible/best-of-biblefresh 

14 The Plain Truth Autumn 2012 Autumn 2012 The Plain Truth 15

Friends don’t see your disability. 

Friendships make so much difference on special days. 

by Lin Ball 

Friendship by phone can be a godsend for blind people. 

Meaningful connections with other people can transform someone’s life 

experience – but if you are disabled this can be much harder to achieve. 

Friends care for each other. 

Alastair’s story says it all. Alastair 

was blind, and had spina bifida 

and hydrocephalus. In his 40s 

he was living in a residential care 

home in Northern Ireland. His physical 

limitations kept him confined to his 

bedroom most of the hours of each 

day. But then he joined a telephone 

friendship group – and the world 

opened up for him. 

‘Alastair was regularly talking with 

people all over the UK. We discovered 

that he was a truly inspirational man 

with a wonderful gift of praying for 

others. TorchTalk – our telephone 

friendship initiative – gave Alastair 

the forum to pray with people in a 

profound and insightful way,’ said 

David Palmer. David is Regional 

Leader for Torch Trust, the Christian 

organisation that’s been serving people 

with sight loss for 53 years. 

Alastair has recently died – but 

thankfully not before belonging 

to a TorchTalk group had made a 

significant difference to his life. Using a conference call 

facility he was able to talk with others with sight loss in a 

context where geography and disability were no barriers. 

David Palmer, Torch Trust. 

Isolation through disability 

Sadly, Alastair’s problems are not that unusual. A RNIB 

report says that one in five blind and partially sighted 

people are never able to go out by themselves. 

David, who has spent eight years with Torch Trust 

supporting its 110 fellowship groups around the UK, 

explains that TorchTalk will help fill the gap when people 

with sight loss live in a place where there’s no fellowship 

group to attend, or when the level of disability makes 

attending groups impossible. 

‘Meaningful social interaction is vital for everyone’s 

wellbeing,’ says Dr Gordon Temple, CEO of Torch 

Trust. ‘But isolation and loneliness too often feature in 

the lives of disabled people. It’s easy to see why personal 

relationships are especially important to people who face 

barriers to participation in other areas of life. For blind 

people, for example, making friends can be challenging. 

Generally people with sight loss have to rely on others to 

make introductions; building confidence in a new person is 

slowed when there is no eye contact and no understanding 

of the physical cues sighted people give each other to aid 

communication.’ 

Sheila from Leicestershire, blind from birth, adds, ‘When 

I go somewhere with a friend, people seem to assume that 

person is my carer. I’m not allowed to have friends!’ 

Carol, blind and from Bristol, has just been through 

training to facilitate a TorchTalk group. ‘Fellowship 

is absolutely vital to any Christian – but if you have a 

disability then you are more limited in how you can get 

out and about so, yes, it’s absolutely of first importance,’ 

she says. ‘In the training I learned how to cope with the 

situations that might crop up. For example, you might 

get someone who tries to hog the line for a long time and 

keep other people out, so you have to learn to manage the 

conversation. But obviously you have to be careful not to 

take over, because you are there to help other people get 

into conversation. We did quite a lot of role play around 

that, which was great fun.’ 

Each TorchTalk group is comprised of about seven 

people who are blind or partially sighted with a facilitator 

who guides the conversations. 

Talk usually revolves around the Bible or disability issues 

or perhaps experiences of church. As 

groups get to know each other better, 

people become confident about sharing 

personal needs for prayer. 

‘People don’t have to be Christians 

to join a TorchTalk group but they do 

need to be sympathetic to our Christian 

ethos,’ says David. ‘Like everything else 

we offer people with sight loss – such as 

our specialist holidays or our free lending 

library – TorchTalk is open to people of 

any faith or none.’ 

TorchTalk is not the only new 

initiative Torch has been piloting to 

encourage more social interaction to 

benefit people with sight loss. Building on their wideranging 

library of Christian books in audio formats, a 

number of Torch Book Groups have been started and are 

being warmly received. 

‘We’ve begun by launching four book groups – in 

Leicester, Chichester, Peterborough and Barking,’ says 

David. ‘But there’s lots of enthusiasm from other places 

around the country to set up more. The book groups are 

usually between four and 12 people, meeting informally 

in one another’s homes on a monthly basis to discuss what 

they’ve read. And in so doing they have Christian fellowship 

and encourage one another – which is what it’s all about.’ 

If you or someone you know has sight loss and would benefit 

from joining a Torch Fellowship Group, a TorchTalk Group or 

a Torch Book Group, you can find out more by calling this 

number: 0333 123 1255 on weekdays during normal office 

hours or emailing info@torchtrust.org (www.torchtrust.org). 



y John Halford 

About ten years ago, I told 

Plain Truth readers 1 about a 

visit I had made to a church 

located in Payatas, Manila’s municipal 

dumpsite. I had heard about Pastor 

Fred Millamena, who had given up a 

successful career to make his home 

among the squalor and filth of some 

of the poorest of his country’s poor. 

His goal was to serve the people 

who scratched a precarious living by 

scavenging on the dump. He wanted 

to offer them the spiritual comfort of 

a church and their children the hope 

of a better life through education. 

My article apparently made an 

impact, because, although we did not 

specifically ask for contributions, many 

readers responded with generous 

donations. Yesterday I was able to visit 

Payatas again, and I’d like to update 

you on how this unusual church is 

getting along. 

More of the same? 

In some ways, not much has changed. 

The access road, which on my first visit 

was a quagmire, has now been paved 

over. But it is still lined with ramshackle 

businesses premises and depressing 

shacks, their doors just inches from the 

rubbish-laden lorries that grind by 24/7 

on their way up to the dumpsite. 

The mountain of rubbish seems to 

have grown higher. It now towers 

several hundred feet over the village. 

Looking up, you can see the trucks 

disgorging their loads – up to 30,000 

tons every day. You can also see the 

army of scavengers who scratch a 

precarious living sifting through what 

others have thrown away. There is 

money in recycling, but not much. The 

scavengers make about two pounds a 

day, if they are lucky. 

These people live in the dumpsite, 

at the foot of the rubbish mountain. 

Their homes are pieced together from 

cardboard, discarded tarpaulins and 

sheets of rusty corrugated iron. There 

are not many permanent buildings. 

Fred Millamena’s church is one of them. 

An oasis of hope 

Thanks to the help from his supporters, 

including Plain Truth readers, the 

church building is much more 

substantial than when I first saw it. 

During the week it is used as a school 

for over 100 children, whose parents 

are too poor to afford even the modest 

fees of the government-run school 

outside the dump. 

On the weekends the building is 

transformed into a place of worship, 

with over 100 regularly attending. 

Fred used your 

donations to 

build a toilet, 

and to buy 

windows and 

window screens. 

The screens 

are a necessity, 

especially 

during this rainy 

season, to keep 

disease-bearing 

mosquitoes and 

the hordes of 

flies at bay. 

One of the 

most significant 

improvements 

Plain Truth 

readers’ gifts 

made was the 

purchase of a 

water purifier. 

Two water 

tanks, each with 1,000 litres capacity, 

have been installed adjoining the 

worship hall. 

You can imagine the difference a supply 

of clean water makes, when you see 

the condition of the fetid, sludge-filled 

ponds and streams. Fred and his staff 

also provide simple but nourishing 

meals for over 100 children every day. 

Once again I came away humbled by 

this dedicated man and his family. They 

are a living embodiment of what Jesus 

meant when he said, ‘Whatever you did 

for one of the least of these brothers of 

mine, you did for me.’ 2 

Fred asked me to thank those of you 

who helped him serve these ‘least’ of 

your brothers and sisters on the other 

side of the world. Fred Millamena and 

his church operate in an environment 

that ‘stinks to high heaven’, as they say. 

But I think that by the time it reaches 

there it has become ‘a sweet savour to 

the Lord’. 

John Halford with Payatas Pastor Fred Millamena. 

1 In the September-November 2002 issue of 

The Plain Truth, the cover story ‘A Day in the 

Promised Land’. If anyone would like a copy 

of this article, then please send a stamped 

addressed envelope to: 

The Editor, The Plain Truth, PO Box 4421, 

Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8WQ. 

2 Matthew 25:40 

18 

The Plain Truth Autumn 2012 


Tell me the story, Grandfather,’ 

begged Daniel, my youngest 

grandson. In his eyes I saw 

respect, but also fear. I’m the head of 

our family, plus I’m a warrior of some 

renown. (I fought beside Gideon on 

the plain of Jezreel.) 

‘Tell us about Gideon,’ prompted 

little Daniel. His face in the firelight 

was trusting and eager to please me. 

I began my story. 1 

‘Once there was a foolish man, a nobody with a little faith 

and a great deal of doubt. His name was Gideon.’ 

Daniel frowned. ‘Gideon the Great?’ 

His father – my son – gave a hearty laugh. ‘Your 

grandfather likes to bring people down to their real size.’ 

‘Go on, Grandfather,’ urged Daniel. 

This was the time of our oppression. We, the people of Israel, 

had become used to the wonder and glory of being God’s people, 

and had fallen back on our old ways, worshipping idols and living 

wantonly. In our weakened state, we soon attracted the attention 

of other, stronger tribes. 

‘Like those Midianites!’ said Daniel, his eyes alight. 

by Janet Allison Brown 

‘Just so,’ I agreed. ‘They had camels, you see, so they 

could cover ground like nobody’s business.’ 

Again and again the Midianites raided us, sweeping out of 

the desert and across our land like locusts. We fled our farms 

and our homes. Soon we were reduced to living in dens and 

caves like animals. 

What we needed was a prophet. Someone noble. Someone 

powerful and strong and brave to lead us back to the path of 

righteousness. 

So our man, our foolish man, our hero, was threshing corn in 

the winepress, so that the Midianites wouldn’t get it (that’s how 

much of a hero he was at that time). And suddenly an angel of the 

Lord appeared, sitting under an oak tree in the courtyard. 

‘Time to step up, mighty man of valour,’ the angel said to 

Gideon. ‘Israel needs saving and you’re the one to do it.’ 

Gideon wasn’t convinced. ‘God might have helped us in the old 

days,’ he said, ‘but if He were still with us, we wouldn’t be in this 

mess with the Midianites.’ 

The angel, who spoke with the voice of God, said, ‘You will free 

your people, and I will be with you.’ 

‘But I’m nobody,’ insisted Gideon. ‘I’m the most lowly of my 

clan, and my clan is the weakest in the city.’ 

And then, because he really was a doubtful, insecure man, 

Gideon challenged God: ‘Give me a sign that you really are God, 

and that you’re going to help me.’ 

A doubting Gideon 

Daniel drew back, shocked. I nodded at him sorrowfully. 

‘You’d think God would be furious. You’d think he’d strike 

Gideon down for doubting him.’ 

Then Gideon went away and prepared some goat 

meat, soup and bread for his angelic visitor. 

‘Lay it all out on this rock,’ said the angel. 

Gideon did as he was told. Suddenly 

flames leaped up from the rock and 

consumed the feast. Gideon had his proof. 

But was he happy? Did he leap up 

and cry, ‘Command me, my God, for I 

am your servant!’? 

No. He started crying instead. He 

was terrified. 

‘You won’t die,’ said God. ‘Just do 

as I ask.’ 

So Gideon built an altar to God. 

Remember that his whole clan, including 

his father, worshipped Baal. Our hero was 

gaining courage. 

Or, perhaps not. When God told Gideon 

that now he must destroy the city’s great altar to Baal, cut 

down the surrounding trees, build a new and righteous altar, and 

roast one of his father’s bullocks as a sacrifice – well, Gideon did as 

he was told, but he did it at night, when no one would catch him. 

And he took ten men with him, for protection, in case anyone did 

catch him. 

At dawn the townsmen stirred and discovered what Gideon 

had done. They called for his blood. 

Now Joash, Gideon’s father, was furious too, but in the choice 

between Baal and his son, he chose his son. ‘The first man to raise 

a hand against my son will die,’ said Joash. ‘If Baal wants Gideon 

punished, he can punish him himself.’ 

When Gideon understood how much his father loved him – 

more than he loved Baal, enough to take on the whole city – he 

began to understand how much his heavenly father might love 

him, too. 

Everyone waited to see what Baal would do to Gideon. The 

morning mist rose high and the sun rose higher and everyone 

waited to see what would happen. But Baal did nothing. (Of 

course Baal did nothing. Baal was a false idol, and Gideon was a 

son of God.) That was the start of a new Gideon. God believed in 

him; his own father believed in him. Maybe it was time to start 

believing in himself. 

I paused and Daniel said, ‘It’s a good story, Grandfather. 

A man who learns to overcome his doubt and trust God.’ 

Back to his old habits 

‘It’s not over yet,’ I said drily. 

The Midianites joined with other tribes and took even more 

territory from the people of Israel. Gideon, energized by the 

spirit of God, gathered his own tribes together. He was becoming 

a true leader. Soon, against all the odds, a mighty battle was at 

hand – and under Gideon’s leadership, Israel stood a real chance 

of winning. 

But on the eve of battle, Gideon fell back on his old ways. He 

laid a sheep’s fleece out on the floor of his courtyard. Then he said 

to God, ‘If, in the morning, this fleece is covered in dew, but the 

ground it lies on is completely dry, then I’ll know you’re really 

with me.’ 

He went to bed, and in the morning the fleece was soaking wet 

with dew, and the ground all around was bone dry. 

Gideon’s heart sang; this was the sign he wanted! But... With 

the weakness of a gambling man, he needed just one more sign – 

always one more. ‘Just to be sure that this wasn’t chance,’ he 

said, ‘this time, let the ground be covered in dew, but 

keep the fleece dry.’ 

‘Thunderbolt time?’ suggested Daniel. 

‘You’d think so, wouldn’t you?’ I 

said, grinning. 

It wasn’t thunderbolt time. Instead, 

the next morning, the fleece was bone 

dry and the ground it lay upon was 

soaked with dew. 

‘So Gideon fought the 

Midianites on the plain of Jezreel 

and threw them out of our land,’ 

said Daniel. 

Against all odds 

‘With more than a little help from God,’ 

I said. ‘But in case you think this story is about 

killing people or winning land, let me tell you 

something. The biggest battle Gideon won was the battle 

with himself. At the word of God, he was transformed from 

a scared young man into a valiant leader. Against the odds, 

he led his people back to God.’ 

‘And you were there,’ said Daniel proudly. ‘And God 

didn’t mind all those tests?’ 

I shrugged. ‘Perhaps God’s love was stronger than any 

irritation he might have felt.’ 

Much later, when the fires had died down and the stars 

were high in the sky, I walked Daniel to his tent. By the 

light of the moon I saw him raise a tentative arm to take my 

hand. Then he lowered it again, unsure of himself. Raised 

it; lowered it. 

I am his grandfather; the love between us is a law of 

nature. It needs no proof, no outward display. My love is his 

birthright. Yet he feared to hold my hand. 

So, like a good grandfather, I made it easier for him. 

I placed my own hand on his shoulder, and reassuringly 

patted it. 

The child looked up at me with full eyes and then he 

raised his arm and placed his hand firmly in mine. 

And I had a small glimmer of understanding about how 

things stood between Gideon and God. 

1 You can read Gideon’s story in Judges 6 & 7. 



Are you an unpublished writer waiting for your first break? Submit a 600-word article, typed, 

double-spaced and ideally as a Word attachment, to editor@plaintruth.co.uk. Writing tutor 

Fiona Veitch Smith will choose the most promising ones for publication in The Plain Truth. 

For free writing advice see her website www.thecraftywriter.com 

Fiona’s Critique 

•• 

Trish’s article falls into the apologist tradition. Apologetics 

is the ‘science’ of philosophical or religious argument. It 

builds an intellectual defence of a particular belief system. 

The method of apologetics usually takes a question of 

debate and presents both sides of the argument. However, 

the apologist then goes on to show, intellectually and 

based on a presentation of evidence, how, in their opinion, 

one side of the argument is flawed and the other holds 

greater veracity. 

As Trish was restricted to 600 words it was difficult to 

present both sides of the argument. However, she does 

a good job in presenting her ‘case’ in favour of the view 

that mercy killing cannot be justified. I think though that 

the article would have been even more successful if she 

hadn’t announced in the first paragraph that she thinks 

‘mercy killing’ is murder. If she had kept this until the end, 

the reader would have an opportunity to agree or disagree 

with her on the basis of the evidence presented. 

Fiona’s Top Tips 

•• 

When writing an apologist piece, make sure you 

understand and can communicate both sides of the 

argument. 

•• 

Make sure that your evidence builds to a point of decision 

one way or the other. 

•• 

Apologists can come across as overly opinionated and 

inflexible. Try to neutralise your language (I changed 

Muslim ‘propagandist’ to Muslim ‘imam’ for instance). This 

can still be done without compromising your stance. 

Dignitas – can ‘mercy killing’ ever be justified? 

by Trish Jelbert 

Dignitas – the euphemism for killing the sick or elderly 

who cannot do it for themselves – is much in the news 

at present. However, the sixth commandment has not 

changed: it still forbids murder. 

The following account was told to us by our Christian GP 

in Zimbabwe. His elderly bedridden patient, a devout 

Christian, whom I shall call ‘Mrs. Briggs’, was coming to 

the end of her life. Her daughter – also a Christian – came 

out from England to be with her. The old lady became 

comatose, so a nurse was hired from an agency to assist in 

her care. This excellent nurse was not a Christian. 

Mrs. Briggs lingered on to the point that the daughter 

prayed to the Lord, asking him why her mother, who had 

loved God all her life, could not come to him when her life 

was so useless. The Lord’s reply took her by surprise: ‘Your 

mother is doing work for me.’ 

She asked the GP what work her mother could possibly be 

doing for God. His only answer was to continue to trust the 

Lord in all things. In due course the old lady died. Shortly 

after, the GP met the nurse who had attended Mrs. Briggs. 

She told him she had become a born-again Christian. 

‘That’s wonderful news. How did it happen?’ he asked. 

‘It is very strange, but it all began as I was nursing old 

Mrs. Briggs.’ 

What spiritual principles were involved here? Do we shine 

for the Lord as his witnesses in every moment of our lives? 

Dare we miss even one day of the life he has planned for 

us? A second account happened in Durban, South Africa. 

Ahmed Deedat, a Muslim imam, preached in Sydney on 

Good Friday, 1996, that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was 

a cruci-fiction. The Australian TV interviewer asked Deedat 

why he had chosen the Christian’s holiest day to launch his 

attack on their faith. Ahmed claimed it was coincidental. 

The following day he suffered a severe stroke. Was this 

also coincidental? Thereafter, with ‘shut-in’ syndrome, 

communicating through blinking his eyes, he managed to 

write two further books attacking Christianity. 

At the time of the Durban Race Conference, 2001, my 

husband and I visited him in his Verulum home. He gave us 

a copy of the ‘cruci-fiction’ video. The passion that fuelled 

his life was tinged with sorrow as he asked, in genuine 

bewilderment, ‘Why are so many young Muslims giving up 

Islam for Christianity?’ 

We left him there doing his work for Allah. He died nine 

years after his stroke in August 2005. For good or for 

evil, even ‘shut-in’ syndrome cannot stop us if we have a 

purpose we desire to fulfil. 

We are in dangerous waters when we want to do the Lord’s 

work for him, killing off people whose lives seem to them 

or to us to lack purpose. Dare we send someone off into 

what may be a Christ-less eternity? Our times are in his 

hands. Perhaps Ahmed Deedat needed that extra time 

to reflect. I cannot say. I prayed for him to the end. Would 

the nurse have come to salvation without the ‘shut-in’ 

intercession of Mrs. Briggs? I do not know. But when those 

who are ‘shut-in’ call out for death, is it truly merciful to kill 

them? Or is it more merciful to help them find God himself 

and his purpose for their lives? Instead of murder we offer 

‘a future and a hope’; in death, Jesus Christ’s promise of 

eternal life. 

Only the wisest and the stupidest 

of men never change. 

– Confucius 

A clever person solves a problem. 

A wise person avoids it. 

– Albert Einstein 

When you are offended 

at any man’s fault, turn to yourself 

and study your own failings. 

Then you will forget your anger. 

– Epictetus 

Be not angry that you cannot make 

others as you wish them to be, since you 

cannot make yourself as you wish to be. 

– Thomas à Kempis, 

Imitation of Christ, c.1420 

He is a wise man who does not grieve for 

the things which he has not, but rejoices 

for those which he has. 

– Epictetus 

The oldest seed germinated is a 2,000-year-old date seed originally 

discovered at Masada in the 1960s and planted by Dr Sarah Sallon 

(Israel) of The Louis Borick Natural Medicine Research Centre in the 

Hagasa Medical Organization, Jerusalem, 

and Dr Elaine Soloway of Kibbutz Ketura, 

Israel, in 2005. The plant from the 

germinated seed was named ‘Methuselah’, 

after the Bible’s oldest man. 

– Source: Guinness World Records 2013 

Old friends pass away, new 

friends appear. It is just like 

the days. An old day passes, a 

new day arrives. The important 

thing is to make it meaningful: 

a meaningful friend – 

or a meaningful day. 

– Dalai Lama 

Having 

churchgoing 

grandparents is also likely 

to influence a person’s church 

attendance. The ‘Reaching and 

Keeping Tweenagers’ study in 2002 

(a ‘tweenager’ is someone aged 

between 10 and 14) showed that 60% 

of tweenagers attended church if 

their grandparents did. 

– Peter Brierley, 

FutureFirst, April 2012 



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