22Feb 2023 by Nigel Ring

Be prepared for death. Part 4 – Loose Ends

Equipping
Don't put it off! I have been interested how many friends (and others) have been in contact about this series, sometimes acknowledging that they have put off thinking about such matters, some not even having a will. Certainly, it is topic that none of us naturally finds exciting. But I do urge you not to put off addressing the issues I have been raising. Last Friday I attended the wonderful thanksgiving service for Brian Tibbert, a good friend and colleague - we worked together for eleven years for the Stoneleigh Bible Week where he was site manager. Reference was made by the family to the fact it was easy to organise the service as Brian had done much of the planning himself. Well done Brian! Loose ends In the first…
Read More
15Feb 2023 by Nigel Ring

Be prepared for death. Part 3 – What is where

Equipping
So far we have considered some of the immediate actions needed. Next in my folder comes: Funeral arrangements This is of course very personal but some of the questions to ask are: Burial or cremation? If you want a burial, I suggest you buy a plot (single or double) and leave details for your executors. It is one less thing for them to do. Eco-friendly coffin? Will there be a funeral and thanksgiving service, or just one service? Where do you want them to be held? For the service(s) you may wish to specify Who takes it Who preaches Whether you want an evangelistic message What hymns you would like What readings you choose What dress code you suggest. A recent funeral specified 'No need to wear black'. Whether you…
Read More
08Feb 2023 by Nigel Ring

Be prepared for death. Part 2 – Practical matters

Equipping
Why do this now? Recently a good friend, part of a weekly prayer group I attend, lost her husband unexpectedly while on a ministry visit to another country. Although she handled the consequences with great grace, she was very open about how difficult it was dealing with his affairs when she found there was little order to them. One of her first struggles, for instance, was that much information was on his computer and she had no passwords. Such practical matters are not the first things one thinks of when considering death but, for those left behind, the lack of such information represents a significant headache. So let me take you through the folder I have created for my own family. I am sure they will not find it easy…
Read More
01Feb 2023 by Nigel Ring

Be prepared for death. Part 1 – Where will I go?

Equipping
We are all getting older; none of us will escape death. Are you prepared – personally and on behalf of your family? In this short series I will try to help you by addressing some of the implications both for you personally and also for your family. The first will have a strong spiritual dimension, the remainder will be very practical. Prepared personally Probably, like me, you occasionally ask yourself such questions as ‘When I die where will I be?’ and ‘What will I be doing?’ These are two questions that David and Gill Oliver asked themselves when their son, Joel, died of cancer in his late thirties. He had been a best friend to them and it was natural for them, in their grief, to ask such questions. In…
Read More
23Jan 2023 by Nigel Ring

Budgeting and faith-filled finance in the church

Administration in the Church, Equipping
Budgeting is an invaluable tool in our armoury, especially at such times as this when there may be a shortage of funds both personally and in the church. It helps determine priorities and prevents spending on the first thing that presents itself, which may not be the most important in the long-term. For this short podcast I am interviewed by Gavin Smith of The Church Office, an excellent website which helps churches in many practical ways with their organisation and administration. It contains a wealth of resources; I urge you to explore it. It is one of several podcasts he has made with me. I trust it will help bring understanding and help improve the administration in your church.    
Read More
07Jan 2022 by Nigel Ring

Are you prepared for death?

Equipping
One thing in life is certain: we shall all die. Are you prepared? Are you prepared spiritually? Are you prepared practically? Every year, during the Christmas and New Year break I take the opportunity to review my affairs to be sure that, for my family, should anything happen to me they will find it as easy as possible to sort out the practicalities. But this year was different. I had been reading All about Heaven, as recommended in my last blog, and so I took more time to be thorough. It may help you to have a check list of things that would be good to do now before you are in a crisis, which I hope will never happen. Heaven Spiritually, what is your view of heaven? Sitting on…
Read More