A few years ago I was working in a drug rehabilitation unit in London. It was a time of great blessing and learning, God's Spirit was working mightily and people were being saved and set free, how awesome God is when He is moving among His people, how gently He works to keep everyone working together in hearts and mind, unity among christians is essential if a work of the Holy Spirit is to be maintained.

It was a glorious early september afternoon, not a single cloud was in the sky and there had been much blessing and joy at the re-hab so I took a stroll alongside the river Thames, the sun on my shoulders was like being wrapped in a warm shawl, indeed I felt all wrapped up in love. I came to a place in my walk where overhead two dual carriage ways lay side by side spanning eight lanes of traffic and a tunnel running underneath that would be about a 1/4 of a mile long, it looked very dark and spooky, yet I was reluctant to turn back so in I went. As soon as I entered the darkness and the sun was cut off thoughts came into my mind, I knew they were not my thoughts, they were accusing thoughts, accusing that is against God, yet somehow I could not turn them off. "There you are, doing the work of the Lord, but where is God? you have such needs, why doesn't He answer your prayers? He is sat on His throne all glorious above, you are the one who is lonely, you are the one who has to put up with the sneers and insults of unbelievers as well as the mis-understandings sometimes of brothers-surely God has hung you out to dry. etc, etc" the thoughts kept coming and I felt defenceless against them, anyone who has read Pilgrims Progress will recognise that this was Christian's experience as he walked through the valley when one of the wicked ones got behind him and "whisperingly suggested many grevious blasphemies to him," but unlike Christian who could not tell that the voice was not his own mind I knew whose voice it was. Meanwhile the tunnel went on and on and had become darker and darker and with it the thoughts became more sneering and accusing, and yet still I felt no authority from the Lord that I could rebuke it. I looked behind, there was now no trace of the tunnel entrance, nor was there any trace of the exit and it was so dark now that the only way to progress was to keep contact with the tunnel wall, I became afraid. Inching along as I was it seemed an endless age until faintly up ahead I could discern the exit tunnel, and as I drew nearer I was able to go faster and faster as it became lighter until the last 50 yards I was running with might to get out once more into the bright, warm sunshine. As I came out immediately there was a disturbance among the tall grass growing against the wall, I went to investigate and lo there was the most darling blackbird just a fledgeling still, he had seemingly come to grief against the wall and was so busy preening himself and sorting out his feathers he did not notice me. Oh such a love came into my heart for him indescribable and so I reached down (foolishly) to see if I could lift him up. Of course he saw me and with a chirrup of alarm he scrambled away and into the air, away he flew and my heart longed after him. Immediately God spoke "I want to teach you" God said "I have allowed these things to happen so that I could show you, the love you felt in your heart for that bird is a type of the love that I feel for you, and just as you saw everything that surrounded the object of your love, so also I see, I see everything that comes within your experience and life, nothing can come near you that I have not allowed, but what if the heavens were opened and you were to see God stretching His hands towards you? But I will pour my thoughts upon you." This is the longest blog I have done and I hope I have not wearied you with it, I hesitated and prayed much whether or not to share it because I know people have problems about the gifts of the Spirit and whether God speaks or not. I hope it will be a blessing, certainly it was a most precious experience and lesson for me.    

Have you ever been woken up by a pong? I have and a pretty awful one at that. A peek out of my nets discovered the source and culprit of such a rude awakening. A neighbour two doors up was stood in a 6ft long trench he had dug in his front garden, it was knee deep, a more careful scrutiny revealed that he was actually up to his shins in horse manure.
Later that day when mercifully the offending extractulations had been topped up and covered by soil I was able in passing to bring him to account and discuss the "matter" with him "well sweetheart" says he "it's like this, any fool can dig a hole and put a rose bush in it, it will grow, but if you want show roses with flowers big as saucers and that smell like heaven, you've got to dig deep and you've got to dung 'em good."
Four months later I was able to release any last traces of resentment I had for his particular horticultural philosophy for right there in his front garden was the evidence of roses with flowers "big as saucers and that smelled like heaven."
Mr John Bunyan is famous the world over, indeed I believe his classic allegory THE PILGRIMS PROGRESS is second only to the holy bible as the most read book.
Who does not know of Christian's "progress from this present world to that which is to come,delivered under the similitude of a dream, wherein is discovered the manner of his setting out, his dangerous journey and safe arrival at the desired country."
And yet a surprisingly large number of people do not know that when he opens his story with the immortal line "As I walked through the wilderness of this world I lighted on a certain place where was a den, and I laid me down in that place to sleep, and as I slept I dreamed a dream" Bunyan was referring to Bedford jail where he spent 12 long years imprisonment for preaching the gospel without a license,which under the newly returned Stuart monarchy was against the law. John Bunyan was an early champion of free speach and freedom of worship in Britain. T.L.Osborn has said that there is a way of dealing with the devil when he oppresses you so as to make him sorry he ever thought to do you harm, the writing of PILGRIM'S PROGRESS certainly falls within the scope of that brave statement, for the blessings, the encouragement and sweet edifications that have been passed from generation to generation from JOHN BUNYAN'S discomfiture.
Blessed be God...who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the same comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2cor.ch.1v.3-4.