Bunyan wrote He who would true valour see in 1684 as part of Pilgrim’s Progress.   The words are spoken by Mr Valiant-for-truth to Mr Greatheart. Part of the continuing appeal of  Pilgrims Progress is the heroically named   characters although Mr Ready-to-Halt, Formalist, Mr By-ends and Hypocrisy cannot be called heroic. But that’s the secret to the book, song and life, “He who would Valiant Be” - fights everyday to be heroic. OR comes and kneels at the Cross and asks Christ to Redeem him, God to Forgive Him and The Holy Spirit to infill, empower and energise him. Then “Hobgoblin nor foul fiend Can daunt his spirit, He knows he at the end Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away, He’ll fear not what men say, He’ll labour night and day To be a pilgrim”
​
PS: The Lyrics may sound different to what you remember singing at school, in the 1900’s the song was watered down like most Christianity to remove Hobgoblins, fiends and even lions

​By Keith Hall

 ​We seem to be in a time where we are reminded of our mortality with the untimely deaths of some well known celebrities - Victoria Wood, Paul Daniels, David Bowie and Ronnie Corbett to name a few and now Prince.

The word prince is defined as from the Latin noun princeps, from primus (first)

Whatever you think of the man he made a word that could describe thousands of people to describe himself (try googling “Prince” and you will see what I mean). He then went further and turned a common phrase – “Formally known as” to be synonymous with himself, and then a symbol.
 
I will however never forget hearing and seeing his performance at the half time show at Superbowl 2007.  I had stayed up to watch the game, Colts v Bears and Payton Manning was awesome. The game in the rain was watched by 93 million people worldwide and then at half time Prince. The viewing figures went up to 140 million and his rendition of Purple rain, in the rain, was electrifying!  A must see performance.  But now he has passed.  ​

The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep”.

The other week we were trying to sell a settee on Gumtree (other providers are available) and at last I had a message that someone was interested and would come around to view. That morning I had been reading the story in John 21 where Jesus asks Peter “Do you love me?” And knew that God was trying to get through to me and impart something important but nothing new was in my head.  I had preached many times on these verses emphasising different aspects...

•    What did Jesus mean by Love me?
•    When he uses the words “more than these”, what could that mean in our lives?
•    Is there significance in the feed / tend / shepherd language used?
•     Is there significance in the Lambs / Sheep change of wording?
•    Who were the Sheep / Lambs?
•    Whose were the Sheep / Lambs?

I knew it was something else and I needed to listen. I am constantly amazed that if we ask He responds. 
A little later the door bell rang and their on the doorstep was the couple about the settee. In the introductions I realised I knew the young lady, her mum owns my wife Chris’ favourite shop, Me & Mi.  Thankfully they liked the settee and decided to buy it and I could go back to my musing. Gradually the penny began to drop, the light began to dawn, in Churhese we would say “the Lord spoke”

“it’s not about Me and Mi but about HIM and HIS”

However much we try to move the centre of everything away from just being about me and my it has a tendency to gravitate back to being me and my needs that require to be fulfilled.

In this scripture JESUS asks “Do you love me” and if you say you do “feed My sheep”. We so want to love him but what about the other stuff we also want? There is a verse of scripture that fits that, 

Matthew 6:33   But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Has Johns Gospel spoke to you recently? We'd love to know so feel free to share in the comments below.

By Keith Hall                                                
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

There has been so much happening at Kings Church over the last few months that we've barely had time to stop. Lots of positive changes have been happening in our church, a new Alpha course is underway, we are in the process of planning a church trip away and somehow we have managed to find the time to get our website and logo updated. 

I really hope you like the new website which is packed full of features and information about Kings Church. You can now RSVP for our Grub Club and even keep up to date with inspiration from the church on our Gods Menu page.

We'd love to know what you think of our new website and if you think we have missed anything off feel free to let us know.