Faith

INRI

The Risen, Ascended and Glorified Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Redeemer

The Anglican Church of St. Mary The Blessed Virgin, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon. Dedicated AD 1311. (www.plymptonchurch.co.uk)

Team Rector of St. Mary's and St. Maurice churches: Currently vacant.

Team Vicar The Reverend Lizzi Green.

This is my beloved local Parish Church. My deceased brother, devoted parents and paternal grandparents rest in peace in the churchyard and their souls are with our Creator in eternity.

I was born into a Christian family during the latter part of World War II and was Baptised at St. Maurice Church, Plympton, on 9th. April, 1944. I attended St. Mary's Church of England Primary School, Plympton and was Confirmed by The Lord Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Dr. Robert Mortimer, at St. Mary's Church, Plympton, on Passion Sunday 7th. April, 1957. Bishop Mortimer was one of the Church of England's most distinguished scholars, who had moved to Exeter from the Regius Professorship of Moral and Pastoral Theology at Oxford University.

The Passion of Christ has strengthened me ever since. I was a chorister, altar server and a founder member and corporal in the 1st. Plympton Company of The Boys' Brigade until I left home to continue in higher education and subsequently to join H.M. Police Service.

My Christian learning as a child and adolescent formed the foundation of my spiritual beliefs which I have tried to adhere to throughout my life, not always successfully I freely concede, for I have sinned against Him in thought, word and deed and I am truly sorry and repent of all my sins. The Boys' Brigade taught me to "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" (Ecclesiastes 12:1) (AKJV) and to be "Sure & Steadfast" in my faith for life which ultimately directed my path towards true Christian manliness.

Each day as I walk the way of the cross I learn to know Him more clearly, follow Him more nearly and love Him more dearly. All I desire is that my remaining earthly life will bear honourable witness through my service to the Omniscient whether at work, rest or play. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6 (NIV)

Praise be to God for my successful open-heart bypass surgery on 9th July, 2002. Grateful thanks to my consultant cardio thoracic surgeon, Mr. James Kuo and all medical and nursing staff at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, UK.

"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds declares the Lord" Jeremiah, 30: 17.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36: 26-27 (NIV)

Believe in God and all things are possible. Mark 10: 27 (NIV)

In October & November 1996 I achieved a lifelong ambition to make my spiritual pilgrimage to The Holy Land. For more details please visit my Travel page on this website. I have also benefitted from pilgrimages to Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, UK and to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk, UK. All of which has added to my spiritual sustenance.

The Prayer for Serenity

God, grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference: Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time: accepting hardship as a pathway to peace. Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to your will, so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with you in the next. Amen. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

My Three Guiding Tenets

And now abideth, Faith, Hope, Charity: these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians 13:13) (AKJV)

It has the approbation of heaven and earth, and, like its sister Mercy: it is twice bless'd: (Masonic Ritual)

"It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes" (William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Act IV Scene 1)

"It is better to put trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man"

Psalms 118: 8 (NKJV)

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