God's Left a Message on the Answerphone.

I have a very old friend who has a lovely speaking voice. Sometimes, and certainly on occasions when I am in need of encouragement and he happens to ring me, I ask him to read a passage from the Bible over the 'phone. He doesn't know I'm feeling low and I wouldn't tell him, so he has no idea what his gentle voice does for my spirit. The way he reads the Scriptures really speaks to me.

Significant contributions to our culture, 'phones, aren't they? You can give completely the wrong impression on the 'phone. It's all in the tone of the voice. If only people realised what they appear to convey when they answer. Some people drop their voice when they hear yours, giving the impression you're not important, or you've interrupted their day. Other people greet you warmly. All with a bit of plastic technology held in your hand. Phones come with news like a bolt out of the blue. Some conversations stick in the memory. I remember the last conversation I had with my father, the night before he died. I was half listening to him as I was watching 'Match of the Day', little realising that would be the last time I would hear his voice on Earth. I can remember ringing the number of a friend and putting on a funny voice to announce the birth of our first daughter. Down the wire came the stern voice: "and this is Swanley C.I.D."! I'd got the right number, but dialled the wrong code and ended up at Swanley police station. Such is life.

'Phone calls can bring healing or, sadly, the fracturing of relationships. They are one of the most powerful instruments for communication. Today, as you walk down the High Street it seems that nearly every young person is on the 'phone, or texting. I watch my younger daughter's fingers speed across the keyboard and I feel totally inadequate and....old.

By the way, God's got a 'phone number. Only takes a second; never engaged; and the call's free. He longs to hear from you and the message you get will always be for your good. Jeremiah 333: Look it up. Better still, dial it. He's always in.

This Saturday we celebrate a great message from God: The 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, in the beautiful setting of the 13th century church at Leigh in Kent. The following Sunday, we are seeking to send out a message from the castle lawn in Tonbridge, Kent: 'O for a Thousand Tongues' we are calling it and encouraging a thousand people to come and sing out the message of salvation. That message has been on God's answerphone for two thousand years. Am I stretching the metaphor a bit? Maybe. Just get on the 'phone!