Jesus brought us a wonderful message of new life at Easter, of an opportunity to start afresh and to live that life to the full.  That's another mark of Christianity; it carries a history of past centuries, with monks spending their days in what seems like endless prayer and contemplation, singing what might appear to be dirge-like songs to the modern ear.  But at its core, which means when Jesus was teaching his disciples, those who thought of themselves as his enemy and everyone else who cared to listen, Christianity tells you to enjoy your life.  Each of us can be thrilled at the thought of being made in God's image, that God loves us completely and without reservation.  How exciting to feel that God created you to make the most of your life, to celebrate it, thank him for it, help others and HAVE A GREAT TIME!

That's right, Jesus tells us again and again that he sees so much depth and richness available in people.  He sees it in everyone, whether they are rich young men, women who are suffering terrible illnesses, children who just want to be near him, people with awful diseases, unfaithful partners, even tax collectors. 😊 He wants to bring out the best in everyone and for them to enjoy the life God has given them to the full.

Of course, the greatest gift of all is that he tells us that, if we believe in him, even that period of life on Earth is not the end.  He tells us that everlasting life is ours if we can only make that step of faith.

It's helpful that this weekend, one of the Bible readings is about Thomas, 'Doubting Thomas', the disciple who happened not to be with the others the first time that Jesus reappeared after his death on the cross.

Thomas is you or me.  No matter how much he might want to, no one was going to tell him that Jesus had come back to life and walked and talked with the other disciples.  It was just too big a step for him to make, no matter how much the other disciples told him that they had experienced it.

So Jesus came back again and this time Thomas was there.  He believed straightaway but Jesus made sure that Thomas put his hands on the holes in Jesus's body from his crucifixion.  Jesus then made the point that almost everyone else who came to believe in his resurrection would have to do that without the physical evidence.  They would come to faith because they believed that what they were told was the truth.

It's a huge step.  Once taken, a bit like swimming or riding a bike, you wonder what all the fuss was about.  Naturally, as you pass through life, events occur that bring back those doubts.  How could Jesus allow that person to commit that foul crime, whilst allowing a small child to die of cancer?  How could God permit atrocities against women yet those committing them seem to get away with it?  The list is endless and all of them are enough to bring doubt or disbelief.  Faith is what sees you through, together with help, advice and thinking it through.

'Doubting Thomas' had to be in the Bible.  The Bible is God's book and in it he is saying to us, 'I know that it is tough to believe and to continue to believe in me, but you can do it, because I believe in you.'

As you read the stories in this week's Newsletter, remember that we are all Doubting Thomas at some stage.  Try to give yourself time and space and, as you enjoy your life, try to give some of that time up to listening for God.  God's there, waiting for you.