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Viewpoint from Colleen Palmer 01/11/2013
Colleen Palmer
Methodist Local Preacher
 I wonder if you are as fascinated with the stone family as I am – shingle, sand, granite, gravel and flints to name but a few. When we first had the outer parts of our garden opened up I was overjoyed to find some majestic flints – worth far more to me than gold dust
Recently I have been preparing a stone pathway in another part of the garden so whenever I’m gardening I pick up stones that will be useful. What pleasure I experience as my path gets nearer to completion
But questions come to mind. How long have the stones been there? How many generations have they seen come and go? Do more and more come into existence as the years pass?
On this east coast we are aware of how important sea defences are and we know that rocks cannot always withstand the elements of nature. It’s not surprising that something as basic to nature as the rock was relevant in Biblical times. In the New Testament Jesus recognised the dependability of impetuous Simon when he said “You are Simon son of John, you shall be called Cephas, that is, Peter the Rock
In the desert the stones stayed as stone when Christ stated “Man is not to live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”. But the passage in the Bible about this remarkable resource that truly thrills me is to be found in St Luke’s gospel. After Jesus rides into Jerusalem with his disciples joyfully singing praises to God for all the good things they had seen, some Pharisees told Jesus to restrain them. Jesus replied “I tell you, if my disciples are silent the stones will shout aloud”
So in this present age Christ’s disciples continue to joyfully sing the praises of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit for all their daily blessings
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