Holidays and Faith don’t equal Holidays from Faith
I was once talking with someone about their faith. They told me how their faith naturally developed over time. And, yet, their faith seemed more like that of a first time visitor to a church, amazed by the stained glassed windows and high ceilings, over Jesus having died on a cross for the sin in their life.
Faith has to be actively nurtured and tested, and tested means refined and I’ve never found a refinery which has great parking, and is secreted with lounger chairs and barista quality coffee.
Yes, our relationship with Jesus will grow over time; the Fruit of the Spirit does grow ‘spontaneously’ and without any direct effort on our part – at one level. But it certainly does grow as a direct consequence of our active, and ongoing, relationship with Jesus Christ...[READ MORE]...
Andy B
Read the Rest --> https://andyberry.co.uk/2023/03/20/holidays-and-faith-dont-equal-holidays-from-faith/
While we were away on holiday for 3 weeks (yes it was awesome having so much time off in one go) we had some inspiration during the first week. Two of those things are longer term projects I won't be sharing about yet (but am super excited about!) but one I can tell you is already live, and that is a website, just for me.
I love making video resources, but I do miss writing posts too, so this is an outlet for that, as well as being a place that lets me be creative in ways not connected with the BerryBunch.
I'm excited about it, and I haven't done much other than to make it go live!
So, go check it out, sign up to the blog, and you'll be able to know what I'm up to, especially those longer posts I'm aiming to start putting out once a week.
Andy B
After a 3 week holiday the BerryBunch is back at it.
We may have been resting, but God sure doesn't, and for that I'm very glad!
Here's another of our Testimony Tuesday posts, of God's goodness - and how He is very much alive and at work today
Andy B
https://berrybunchfamily.wordpress.com/2023/03/14/testimonytuesday-the-power-of-prayer/
This was a gift from my youngest son, after our road trip yesterday to an aquarium.
He knows I love penguins and he had decided to find me a penguin 'something' and found this in a gift shop, buying it with his pocket money.
He bought one too - for himself - so we can be penguin buddies 😊
So meet Dave the Penguin...
At least I think he is a Dave. But, whatever name I settle on, he'll live on my desk - next to my computer monitors - to brighten my view 🙂
Andy B
Some BerryBunch News and a non video blog post...
This is something of an FYI (For Your Information) really: as I’m typing this I currently have no voice and my brain is slightly foggy so I’m not at most efficient either!
There’s also a few prayer requests at the bottom.
If there was a relevant message for us all here, it’s simply that Jesus withdrew in order to rest, and this is something we need to regularly do too.
If Jesus did it, we really need to do the same.
Andy B
For the rest -->https://wp.me/pbUICj-77U
S02E005, Snakes and Sticks - Dave Unleashed
Once again Dave the Dog is unleashed and, once again, he gets up to his usual funny antics, even though Peter is on hand trying to keep him on track.
In Dave Unleashed you are treated to a Dave the Dog Story Time and Art Time with JoJo. And Dave encourages us to watch the art time again and get our “Art on!”
The BerryBunch
Watch Dave Unleashed --> https://www.berrybunch.org/Articles/655006/S03E003_Why_the.aspx
#TestimonyTuesday – A Recent Healing Miracle
I’ve been struggling with Atrial Fibrillation for a while. I wont’ bore you with the details, but it isn’t much fun. At the heart of the matter is, well the heart! And, in the most general terms there is atrial fibrillation, and there is mild atrial fibrillation.
When the heart goes into A Fib, it simply doesn’t beat in a regular rhythm. Severe means your heart may be beating at 220 beats per minute and you need a hospital, rapidly! And I’ve had that severe kind, twice – last time in November 2021: I was in the inner part of A & E (ER) for more than 15 hours, hooked up to many machines just in case.
When you’re surrounded by multiple doctors (and barely a nurse in sight) you know it’s not great! It should be said, however, that while it is bad, it is not quite ‘that’ bad – as you’re likely to feel awful, but you’re not likely to die from it – not at my age anyway…[READ THE REST AT OUR WEBSITE]
For More --> https://berrybunchfamily.wordpress.com/2023/02/07/testimonytuesday-recent-miracle/
A Brief Pause with Andy B, 07.02.23
Jesus stopped.
We should too!
It’s good to take a regular pause through the day to hush and pause – and to check in with God. What might God say to us if we let Him?
Andy B
For More --> https://berrybunchfamily.wordpress.com/2023/02/07/a-brief-pause-with-andy-b-07-02-23/
S05E053, Best Laid Plans, Andy B 2 Minute Video
There’s a rather crude phrase in the UK about how P&*$ Poor Planning Produce P*£% Poor Performance. (You can interpret those symbols for whatever works best for your innocence!)
The basic point is simply that if we don’t put in the effort to plan something, it’s likely to go wrong. And planning poorly usually results in poor outcome.
As humans, as parents, as friends, as children, as employers and employees we’re regularly planning something. Even if it’s our next break for a cup of tea!
Meanwhile, never planning for anything is a very bad idea on a number of levels. But, it is also a bad idea not to plan so much you’ve sorted the next thirty years of your life, without considering how you’re gonna do it.
We can dream that dream house. But if it’s on the other side of a ravine, we need to build a bridge first before fitting our bespoke kitchen units an...[READ MORE] ...
Watch the Video on our website: https://www.berrybunch.org/Articles/655376/S05E053_Best_Laid.aspx
S06E008, It Is What It Is, Endurance
Steven and Nathan are back with Endurance after a bit of a break, and they are using the expression ‘it is what it is’ to talk about accepting what is.
Endurance is your weekly spiritual workout, whether you think of yourself as a beginner, an intermediate, or advanced!
#GoDeeper
In this GoDeeper, Steven talks largely about accepting what is. He begins by pointing out that in order to change you have to first accept where you are at, and he gives an example from his own life.
Then he discusses those things in life that don’t change even after much prayer. The apostle Paul had some experience of that, which Steven unpacks from 2 Corinthians 12. The other point that he makes is that we need to accept the past because we definitely can’t change that.
He concludes with a passage of Scripture from Ecclesiastes.
Steven and Nathan
Watch on our website --> https://www.berrybunch.org/Articles/655094/S06E008_It_Is.aspx
S03E008, The Silver Lining, Family Prayer Time
Psalm 12
Peter and JoJo have returned to encouraging us to pray as a family by using the Psalms. They start off with Psalm 12.
Peter and JoJo read out loud all eight verses of this psalm and encourage us to do the same as a family. In the first half David despairs at the growing number of wicked people, and in the second half he praises God’s goodness.
JoJo points out how we should be like David who is honest to God about his feelings, and thoughts, but always ends up praising God and knowing God is in charge.
Jo Jo and Peter
Watch on our website --> https://www.berrybunch.org/Articles/655015/S03E008_The_Silver.aspx
https://www.konnectradio.com/ - our regular, weekly, radio show as the BerryBunch
Family Focus happens 3 til 6pm UK every Sunday...and our last half hour is music designed to get your vicar energised for the evening church service (or listen again at your leisure 😉 )
S05E052, How Many Fingers From Disaster? Andy B 2 Minute Video
Watch the video on our website --> https://tinyurl.com/24tfzmkd
In the Film series, Ice Age, there is little sabre tooth squirrel. He always gets so close to being to safeguard his precious nuts, when disaster strikes. If I’m honest he’s my favourite character because he never gives up trying. Everything gets thrown at him. And, yet, he just picks himself up and gets going again.
Sure, he suffers some typically calamitous disasters that requires the odd bit of hospital treatment.
But, he keeps going! [READ MORE]
Andy B
Website Launch Countdown – 4 days to go
We’ve got a brand New website name coming your way for the Brand New website. We couldn’t get rid of our roots – www.BerryBunch.family will still get you to our home on the internet, just as it always did.
We’re changing how we use Social Media (including WordPress). At the moment we post videos all over the place! But, from 1st February, we’ll be pointing you to our website to watch the videos there – this will be better for you as the videos will be presented, and looking, their very best for you. Downloading videos for later use gets super simple too! This makes Andy B SUPER happy!
Our newsletter will get a boost with the new website – make sure to sign up to that (we’ll let you know when you can) and you’ll always be up to date with everything we’re up to.
Website Launch Countdown – 5 days to go
We’re not just throwing a bit of paint on something to make it look fresh – this is much bigger than that, and all of it is down to God’s equipping and guiding of us.
If it were a car it would mean we’re getting a new chassis, a new engine, new seating, new styling – but it’ll still have a steering wheel, and the five of us in it. However it should now get us to our destination much more easily and enable us to worry less about whether the car will break down again anytime soon, and to enjoy the journey much more!
Website Launch Countdown – 7 days to go
We’ve worked really hard since the start of December sorting it all out.
We’ve updated web links and details on nearly 1,400 posts, more than 730 videos, over 350 Podcast episodes and everyone has been updated – sometimes twice (as necessary) – with details updated, mistakes found and corrected. It’s been useful, and not a little cathartic too – as we find very old errors that we had somehow missed before.
The BerryBunch
For More --> https://www.berrybunch.family/website-launch-countdown-7-days-to-go/
Well, the time has finally come - we've got an official launch date for our new website, 1st February!!!
Find out more about what you can expect!
Andy B
Read on --> https://www.berrybunch.family/time-for-a-change-brand-new-website-launch-countdown/
Fire up your faith with the BerryBunch - This is who we are. This is what we do! For free, for all!
Creating digital material - to encourage and inspire families, all around the world, in their Christian faith; supporting, equipping and resourcing the Church in it’s Global mission.
The BerryBunch