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Viewpoint from Rev Derrick Hill 30/09/2016
 Rev Derrick Hill
Member, Light of Life Baptist Church, Ormesby
also published in the Great Yarmouth Mercury
“Hello. What’s your name?”
A familiar question – especially at this time of year when the new academic year brings new groups of children together. You may have noticed publicity earlier this month about the latest list of the most popular names given to newborns in the UK with Amelia topping the girls list and Oliver the boy’s list, although if the different ways of spelling Muhammad had been combined then they would apparently have topped the list
 Even more recently there has been publicity given to the latest drive to secure equality of access to university entrance with some universities removing all names from application forms for fear that names suggest (sometimes erroneously!) particular class or racial backgrounds that should have no place in admission decisions
I well remember some of the discussions when my own children and grandchildren were born – and particular names were rejected or chosen according to the character of others known to have that name – although I am sure we didn’t really believe that a child’s chosen name would somehow, of itself, transform them into the likeness of others with that name!
But all this publicity caused me to think of an occasion reported in the Bible at Exodus 3:13 when Moses said to God “If the people ask me ‘What is Your Name?’ what shall I tell them?” and God replied “I am who I am”
 As I think of that name, it speaks to me of total integrity, of a God who does not change, of a God who, wherever and whenever you encounter Him, is always Himself, never two-faced. In a world in which things are so often not what they seem, such a total integrity is surely something we all seek as we try to make sense of what lies around us
But when that integrity combines with such statements as “God is love” (1 John 4:16) and “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28) then surely the effort of getting to know this God, of placing our trust in Him and through Him making sense of the world around us must be well worth the effort!
As so many of us make new starts after the summer break, why not seek out a church near you, perhaps attend an Alpha Course, and find out more?
By the way, my name is Derrick!
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