The Virtual Vicar

All together now? Lyrics to facilitate the inevitable singalong:Land of hope and glory, mother of the freeHow shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be setGod, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yetGod, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.Will the BBC have this song at the proms along with Rule Britannia and other singalongable classics? This video is a visual comment on the famously jolly song:Land of Hope and Glory, Gordon Lorenz OrchestraFrom the Album Patriotic Songs Of The British Isles https://www.amazon.co.uk/Land-Of-Hope-And-Glory/dp/B0048W9W7I/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=land+of+hope+and+glory+patriotic+songs+of+the+british&qid=1598251036&sr=8-2...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsSTyfHVm7w

Here's how to be in a position to live a life worth living."Christ died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unte themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again." (2 Cor. 5.15) To find purpose we can live for Christ today, look to him and learn from he and love as he loves....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYHfaiDFR_8

Thankfulness is a way of life that can have a great positive impact on you. Let’s take a good look at how thankfulness works. Thankfulness is directed at God through Christ Jesus.So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7Thankfulness works in three different ways. First, it works on you and your general attitude. Second, it works on those around you. Lastly, it has a way of influencing your environment. How exactly Thankfulness works on these things is, open for debate, though. You will feel how powerful thankfulness is. Once you start to implement thankfulness in your life, you will start to see it work for you. Thankfulness has a way of changing your whole view on life. You will start to find the good in things and that will make you happy. You will be less likely to feel down and instead you will allow thankfulness to guide you to happy, positive thoughts. You will start to do everything in a more assured, generous and sure-footed way, including how you treat others. This will not go unnoticed. Your interaction with others plays a large part in your life. Other people are going to be greatly influenced by your thankfulness. You will start to see this because they are going to start treating you differently. Others will sense your thankful attitude and they will treat you in a Thankful way. Someone who is often rude or just inattentive to you will likely start to treat you in a nice way or pay more attention to you. You will start to find that people are more likely to offer you help when you need it. They will likely do nice things, such as hold doors open or just give you a smile. Your Thankful attitude may even be contagious. You may start to see people you spend a lot of time with exhibiting the same thankful attitude that you have.Thankfulness has a way of even influencing your environment, but it may not be in the way you think. Just because you think thankfully does not mean that everything will automatically go your way. However, when you think thankfully you will be less likely to see the negative in things and therefore your environment will appear to change. You will probably start to notice the little things more than ever before and that will have a nice effect on you. Thankfulness will allow you to believe in yourself. It will allow you to believe that you can accomplish something if you put your mind to it. You will be able to set goals and reach them because you will believe that you can do it. You will not have negative thoughts to hold you back. Thankfulness is very influential. It is going to start to shape everyone and everything around you. Yo...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaY2fwJ5_RI

A MARK AND PETE PODCAST EPISODE. Website: http://markandpete.comIt’s no secret that life can be easier for beautiful people. Studies have shown being good looking has benefits for your health, intelligence and helps with making friends.Being physically attractive can also literally pay off, as many people believe it can mean you make more money. In short, beautiful people are more confident, have more social skills and are seen as more able by employers, which translates to higher wages. So what's wrong with us, why are we biased, bigoted, showing microaggressions, unconscious bias and discrimination towards ugly plain people and favouring beautiful attractive people? Ugly people are discriminated against. And what's to be done about it? Mark and Pete have the answers....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy_xj4HfSrU

One of my favourite doubles acts, Morecombe and Wise, used a number of songs to finish their Television shows. Positive thinking was one of them, this is a video using their song and video footage to lift your mood.Buy the track: shorturl.at/apHI9 Lyrics: When you feel down, try positive thinking:That's what I'm told a man said;Don't wear a frown, try positive thinking,Laugh at your troubles instead;You've got to look on the bright side,On hope so much depends;With your confidence sinking, positive thinkingHelps you on the way my friend!When things look black, try positive thinking,Treat every season as spring;No glancing back: try positive thinking,Trust what tomorrow may bring;This crazy world that we live inWill keep on spinning 'round;But with good, strong, positive thinking,We'll get together and life won't let us down!When you feel down, try positive thinking:That's what I'm told a man said;Don't wear a frown, try positive thinking,Laugh at your troubles instead;You've got to look on the bright side,On hope so much depends;With your confidence sinking, postive thinkingHelps you on the way my friend!When things look black, try positive thinking,Treat every season as spring;No glancing back: try positive thinking,Trust what tomorrow may bring;This crazy world what we live inWill keep on spinning 'round;But with good, strong, positive thinking,Good, strong, positive thinking,Good, strong, positive drinking,We'll get together and life won't let us dooooooooooown!...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onU2vO5ow7M

Here is my segment of the #Christmas episode of TGIF on the Wallasey Unleashed channel - see the full episode and subscribe here: hhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLy-iMASe91bbJReLRyVfHg. It tried to be cynical but it didn't work out. This is the work of Samuel Clements Moore. The poem, which has been called "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American", is largely responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today. Prior to the poem, American ideas about St. Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors varied considerably.On Christmas Eve night, while his wife and children sleep, a man awakens to noises outside his house. Looking out the window, he sees St. Nicholas in an air-borne sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. After landing his sleigh on the roof, the saint enters the house through the chimney, carrying a sack of toys with him. The man watches Nicholas filling the children's Christmas stockings hanging by the fire, and laughs to himself. They share a conspiratorial moment before the saint bounds up the chimney again. As he flies away, Saint Nicholas wishes everyone a "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."Clement Clarke Moore ( 1779 – 1863) was an American Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, as well as Divinity and Biblical Learning, at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Located on land donated by the "Bard of Chelsea" himself, the seminary still stands today on Ninth Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets, in an area known as Chelsea Square. Moore's connection with that institution continued for over twenty-five years. He is the author of the yuletide poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", which later became famous as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azPXxmB4nKI

Pete is joined by Dr. Maggie Cooper this week for the conversation. The question of God's relation to time has generated a great amount of theological and philosophical reflection. The traditional view has been that God is timeless in the sense of being outside time altogether; that is, he exists but does not exist at any point in time and he does not experience temporal succession. But does this make sense? Is this view in fact morally repugnant?Source:https://www.spreaker.com/user/withpetercooper/time-02-06-2020-17-35...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ilkX9pigs

Overnight in March, the doors of every church building were closed, unilaterally. And they were not responsible. It was not their fault. But it could have a permanent effect. Lockdown was dramatic and shocking for church communities. Emerging from it will be far more nuanced, and no less difficult. Mark and Pete look at the changes in leadership and structure that could enable to churches to enjoy revival rather than permanent closure.Source:https://www.spreaker.com/user/withpetercooper/have-we-closed-the-doors-on-the-churches_2...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZGWerZlsx0

A prayer for you to use and share. Let All Who Take Refuge In You Be Glad; Let Them Ever Sing For Joy.Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; surround them with your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12)Father, I......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJJ2GpO1di0

As lockdown measures have been eased across England, people have been returning to beaches, parks and beauty spots to enjoy the warmer weather.But they've found many public toilets are still closed, and without the option of using loos in cafes, pubs and restaurants, it has left scores of people with an urgent question - where do I go when I need to go? Mark and Peter have the answers.Source:https://www.spreaker.com/user/withpetercooper/is-the-uk-going-down-the-toilet...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jcPONdphJQ

For those of us who grow up within Christianity, one of the first things we’re taught about God is that God never changes; God is the same yesterday as God is today or as God will be tomorrow. Unfortunately, this attribute of God has been historically misunderstood, both to the detriment of ourselves and in the way we see God. Where we get into trouble is not in confessing that God never changes, but when we assume that God never changes his mind. This is dangerous thinking: here Maggie and Pete thrash out the implications. What do you think?Source:https://www.spreaker.com/user/withpetercooper/godchanges-12-06-2020-12-32...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO_pWNrMILw

The women in the Bible are rarely mentioned by name, with named women representing only 5.5 to 8 percent of the total of all named characters, male and female. This suggests that women were not usually in the forefront of public life. Those women that are named, rose to prominence for reasons outside the ordinary. They are often an aspect of the over-turning of man-made power structures and the women are often heroic or at the heart of an important doctrine. Does God really sideline women? What does the Bible say? Peter and Maggie discuss this important issue for contemporary Christian thought.Source:https://www.spreaker.com/user/withpetercooper/does-god-sideline-women...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liljptzZFZc

Positive Pete, the Virtual Vicar, gives a glimpse into coping with lockdown. This video is the second of three featured in a recent episode of TGIF, link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aviKA....There are multiple reasons why people have gained weight during the lockdown. One reason is simply because it has been a sedentary time, without much movement. If you have been always on your feet and suddenly found yourself sitting at home all the time, you may have piled on some extra weight. The second reason for weight gain is stress. The lockdown has been a stressful time for many people. Stress is linked to higher inflammation in the body and weight gain. In my case, adding extra pounds was mainly because I have had no access to many groceries. Since I had to rely on rice and local vegetables, and not as many proteins as I would have liked, there has been some weight gain. Whatever the reason, this is a time to take a breath and pause. Pets and humans need a healthy diet....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqJZMy81sew

A VIDEO POEM. It is the anniversary of D Day and on D Day the King of England called for prayer: "At this historic moment surely not one of us is too busy, too young or too old to play a part in a nationwide, perchance a worldwide, vigil of prayer as the great crusade sets forth. If from every place of worship, from home and factory, from men and women of all ages and many races and occupations, our intercessions rise, then, please God, both now and in a future not remote, the predictions of an ancient Psalm may be fulfilled: "The Lord will give strength unto his people: the Lord will give his people the blessing of peace."" Amen. We so need this call of prayer today. Please share....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHtM-qLptDk

America was ready to explode even before George Floyd was killed by the Minneapolis police. The twin tragedies of 40 million people — one-quarter of the US workforce — losing their jobs and 100,000 people losing their lives during the coronavirus pandemic had turned the US into an emotional tinderbox that was waiting for a spark to set it off.Mark and Pete episode from which this poem is taken on the way forward for a divided America: https://www.spreaker.com/user/withpetercooper/i-cant-breathe-for-spreakerFull text of poem:The United Traits of AmericaA nation that unites where the law is abided,Always delights if great protection is provided,Until one act incites while minorities are derided,Social media recites as ignorance presided.But when hate ignites and colour has collided,And blacks and whites are so sadly divided,Then civil rights and justice are just one-sided,It simply highlights that a country is misguided.[A satirical poem by Mark and Pete]...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omFiCtEN4rI