September 2018
“All men seek happiness. This is without exception.” So said Blaise Pascal, the 17th Century
inventor, writer, theologian, physicist and mathematician (remember Pascal’s
Triangle?)
We’re all looking for happiness but it’s not obvious to us how
we can find it. Life can be good and
satisfying, but so much is bad and disappointing too. And when we do find happiness in something or
someone we learn by painful experience not to assume that it will last forever.
Blaise Pascal described how there “was once in man a true
happiness of which there now remains to him only the mark and empty trace,
which he in vain tries to fill from all his surroundings”. Pascal recorded on a piece of paper his sense
of the spiritual inferno in his mind as he realised at the age of 31 how that
aching void in his life must be filled: “Fire.
‘God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob,’ not of philosophers and
scholars. Certainty, certainty,
heartfelt, joy, peace. God of Jesus
Christ … Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy …”
Life Explored is an informal and relaxed group where you can
think and talk about these things. Each
session includes a stunning short film and provocative discussion
questions. Short presentations help us
to engage with the traditional understandings of age-old Bible texts that are
often perplexing to contemporary minds.
Life Explored is for anyone who wants to find contentment
and happiness in life. It’s run by
ordinary local Christian people and is completely free. You don’t need to know anything about the
Bible, and you won’t be asked to pray or sing.
You can ask any question you like, or you can just sit and listen. You can watch a trailer for the course on our website here: www.burtonandholmechurches.org/groups
The seven sessions will run approximately fortnightly on
Thursdays beginning on 4th October.
Choose between a daytime group meeting at 10.15am or an evening group
meeting at 7.30pm. Space is limited so please let me know if you would like to
join us.
Sincerely
Graham Burrows
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