Author: George Dowdell

I was the founder of Karuna Action (formerly Kingscare) and was the director for 24 years. I have now handed control over to younger people but continue as an advisor and trustee. My passion is to see extreme poverty eliminated and to see justice for the powerless.

Did Jesus come to save the whole world?

Did Jesus come to save the whole world or just come to save a minority who believe in him? I am posing this question and suggest that we look at the question carefully without being dogmatic. If you had asked me this question 20 years ago I would have said the only way to be saved, was to believe in Jesus and look to him for our salvation. There are scriptures which support this view but there is a great deal of biblical evidence that it has always been God’s intention and plan to save every man and women — indeed the whole earth (and the whole of creation).

I am now inclined to believe that God will save everyone, but dare not be too assertive on this issue as greater minds than mine have grappled with this question.   So, I am not asking you to say, “I agree with George”, but to look at the following passages from The Bible and come to your own position on the subject.

Continue reading “Did Jesus come to save the whole world?”

5000 days after I had a stroke

In May 2004 I had a stroke. Now 13 and a half years later, or about 5000 days later, I have some questions to ask myself. I firmly believe that God wants us all to be healthy and he can, and does heal bodies and minds. However, I must be honest with myself and dare to state that complete healing from the effects of the stroke is probably not going to happen. Is this a lack of faith on my part – no, I don’t think it is. Continue reading “5000 days after I had a stroke”

Mary, Did you know?

This just has to be one of my favourite Christmas songs. Although it consists of rhetorical questions addressed to Jesus’ mother, Mary, it is really addressed to us, today. It is more about Jesus than Mary. Although it is related to Christmas, it is timeless and speaks to all the generations of Mankind. For me, it is, “George, did you know?” Continue reading “Mary, Did you know?”

Death and Hope

On Saturday I went for a short walk and ended up walking through Ash Cemetery which is just down the road from our house.  I am not a morbid sort of character but was deeply moved by some of the inscriptions that I saw.

  • A pair of plaques with the same date marking the grave of twins who had died, aged two.
  • Grandparents who would be remembered by their grandchildren.
  • Sad messages which also spoke of love and hope.

Why do we have to die?

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Seeking Justice through Love

Justice and love are two sides of the same coin. We can seek justice through love.

  • Love means wanting the best for a person or group of people and acting accordingly.
  • Justice means wanting to eliminate those things which do harm to the person or group of people who we love.

In seeking justice I am not taking about legal punishment of those who steal from, act violently or oppress their fellow human beings but about seeking to change the system where injustice is encouraged or tolerated. Continue reading “Seeking Justice through Love”

Hell?

From ‘The Christian Left’ Facebook page

I have decided that what I write in my blogs must firstly be honest to myself, honest to other people and honest to God. I realise that I may upset a few people and may be un-subscribed, un-followed or un-friended. I am going to say what I believe about the concept of hell in association with what I know about a God of love who gave his precious son, not to condemn the world, but to save us all (John 3:17).

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Ageing gracefully

For much of my life I felt that I was going to this life forever. O.K., I knew that I would have to die someday, but that seemed in the far distant future.

Then 13 years ago, at the age of 59, I had a stroke and came face to face with my mortality. I could have died then.  I also had a blood clot on my lungs which was even more likely to have killed me.  I came out of hospital in a wheelchair but I have largely recovered, to about 80% of my former physical abilities. Continue reading “Ageing gracefully”

Lord I want to dream again

Lord, I want to dream again.

When I have followed my dreams my life has been fulfilled.

When I have ignored  my dreams I have become stagnant.

What do I do now that some of my dreams have come true?

Do I just glory in their fulfilment?

 Do I just rest now that I have passed on my dreams to others?

 

Lord, I want to dream again.

My life is not yet over.

I have not yet run my race.

I cannot retire from life.

I will not sink into contemplation of my achievements — or lack of achievements.

I ask, “What’s next Lord”?

I need to dream again.

 

Sometimes I dream of things I cannot possibly do on my own:

I want to change the world!

I want to meet every need!

I want to put right every injustice!

But I will not be put off by the impossible:

  I will try with all the strength I have.

But Lord,
But Lord, I want to dream again!

I wrote this when I was on a day retreat on Saturday. We were encouraged to be …..
Continue reading “Lord I want to dream again”