I LOVE to go to church on Sunday mornings especially in other countries and see what my brothers and sisters in Christ are doing and studying.
Today was an awesome experience at St. George Anglican Church. How do we decide what church to attend? Well, first, I wanted to go to an Anglican Church because our daughter had joined the Anglican Church. Also, we have a Methodist background, and John Wesley was Anglican. He founded a method of Bible study that eventually became the denomination about which we are all familiar.
Additionally, I wanted to go to a church that was near the Manx Cat Cafe. Here we will be able to see the tailless cats that originated from this island.
The gospel message was excellent. Even though it was written almost 2,000 years ago, it is as relevant today as it was back then.
Matthew 16:13-20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they said,
- Some say John the Baptist,
- but others Elijah,
- and still others Jeremiah
- or one of the prophets.
[Jesus] said to [the disciples], “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Even today we must answer that question. Everyone has an opinion about Jesus. So who is Jesus to you?
In a time when there is much confusion and noise coming from all directions telling one to think and believe, one must think it through. Here is what one might be bombarded with:
- A myth … although there is much evidence to prove that Jesus of Nazareth existed.
- A prophet … a spokesperson for God. He is more than that.
- A good teacher and storyteller … using memorable parables and Q&A sessions about the Kingdom of God.
- A miracle worker … healing blind, deaf, and sick.
- A moral example … a nice person who was constantly doing good, often to society’s outcasts.
- A friend to all … a friend to the friendless.
- A role model … He practiced what he preached.
- Savior … He rescues all of us from danger.
- Lord … willingly giving your life completely to Him gives meaning. He has power and authority.
Jesus is ALL of that … and even more. There is a difference between public opinion and personal revelation. Jesus asked the question that still matters most: “Who do you say I am?” Don’t admire him from a distance. Come closer so that you can see all that He is.
Jan is a good ambassador for her island. She has lived here all of her life as did her parents before her. Since we had seen much of the north end, she took us south.
Douglas is the capital and largest city. Around 84,000 people live on the island.
The island consists of many microclimates. The valleys are wet. The north is sunny, the west is hilly and the middle has the highest AND windiest spot. The island is flat near the coast which is quite unusual, especially in the Irish Sea.
St John’s is a historic village in the central valley of the Isle of Man, famous as the home of Tynwald Hill and the open-air Parliament of the island. The island is governed by the Tynwald, known as the world’s oldest continuous parliament, founded more than 1,000 years ago.
Peel sits on the west coast, giving it clear views of the evening sun sinking into the sea. The Sunset City is known for its bright evening skies and the red sandstone buildings that glow in the light.
Peel Castle is a historic medieval fortress located on St Patrick’s Isle, connected by a causeway to the town of Peel.
Same area, different outlooks.
Waking Ned Devine
This movie set in Ireland was actually filmed on the Isle of Man. We watched this clever and funny movie before our trip. Jan drove us to the movie locations.
Here is a synopsis:
Two friends live in a tiny village with a population of 52. They learn that someone in their town won the national lottery. They find the winner, Ned Devine, dead from the shock of winning. With the winning ticket still in Ned’s hand, the two friends hatch a plan to pretend Ned is still alive and claim the money to share with the whole village.
We said goodbye to our Manx friend, Jan, and thanked her for an awesome afternoon.
We rode a city bus to the airport, and I heard the bus intercom calmly say “Hello, Fairy,” as we crossed a small bridge. What?
It turns out that we were crossing the famous Isle of Man Fairy Bridge. Superstition has it that if one doesn’t greet the fairy, the fairy will bring mischief to you. Even the motorcyclists entertain this superstition for safety on their extreme races. If they don’t greet the fairy, they will experience mishaps and crashes. If they do acknowledge the fairy, they will have a lucky escape.
As for me, Jesus is my Protector.
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