If we are being honest I expect many of us given the resources would be interested in moving to a nice location and starting a new life, leaving our problems behind. However, there is one slight problem here because a change of location does not mean a nice rosey new life. Why? Well because the biggest cause of problems in my life is “Me” and the biggest cause in your life is “You”. Changing location does not actually really change anything.

If I have a problem with anger whilst living in Hampshire and then move to Cornwall, the anger will go with me because the problem is with me! I need to change. I need to deal with the anger. Movng location will not solve this. And the only way I know is to confess this sin to God and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing touch to heal me of this. So by all means enjoy watchng Escape to the Country but please remember that you cannot escape yourself!

I think that it is easy for us to be like the contestants in the show and refuse to admit when we are wrong too. However as Christians we should be not be like this but rather be prepared to admit when we are wrong. It’s not always easy to do this but if we refuse to admit our sins we are unlikely to grow as Christians.

One of the issues addressed was health and the detrimental effect working longer hours has on people. According to a survey that they carried out:

32% said that their work / life balance has made them ill

74% said that they suffered from work related stress.

Whilst another survey said:

30% check their work emails at weekends

20% take work phone calls at home

One of the people featured in the program was a software developer who recently moved to Denmark from London to work for a bank. His working hours are now 9am to 5pm (Monday to Thursday) and 9am to 4.30pm (Friday). When working in London he worked from 8.30am / 9am through to approximately 9pm each day. He now has a much better family life and says that the long hours he worked in London did not mean that he was actually any more productive in his work.

I think we certainly have a few lessons that we need to learn from our European neighbours here! Bur the difficult question remains how are we going to change the long hour culture in this country?

Firstly I thought the portrayal of the Magi / Wise Men was interesting. No-one knows how many Magi actually visited the infant Jesus. Traditionally we have sung about the “Three Kings” but scripture does not tell us that it was three. It remains silent on this issue. What I particularly liked about their portrayal was the excitement that the individual Magi showed when they saw the star and how they immediately knew that something special was happening. You could see how they were gripped with awe and amazement and as they studied the scriptures sensed that God was doing something special.

Secondly it really hit me just how young Mary was when we became pregnant. Tony Jordan has Mary as a 16 year girl in the BBC version, but it is possible that she was even younger than that. I think that has really come home afresh to me after seeing last nights episode. It is truly amazing and wonderful that God chose such a young girl to carry His Son.

I’m looking forward to the remaining two parts of The Nativity and hope that it will get people thinking about the true meaning of Christmas.

Last night Chris Brown, owner of an internet travel company, was the subject of the programme. Chris went and lived for 7 days in a poor part of North Manchester where half the people are on benefits.

During his time there he visited Talbot House which helps those with learning difficulties, Mustard Tree which works with the homeless and a man called Oscar who has recycled over 3.000 bikes for kids who could not normally affford them.

Although Chris gave generous gifts to the people he meet to help with the projects they run, as is often the case the millionaire was the one who was touched and changed the most. On a number of times he broke down in tears as he was forced to face up to his fears and anxieties.

His dad had been an alcoholic and sadly had died by the age of 40. Chris was bought face to face with this whilst talking to a homeless man when he was working with Mustard Tree.

Although he is a very rich man Chris like many before him on Secret Millionaire found that there is more to life than money.

I could say that I wasted 8 hours of my life watching it but that would probably be slightly unfair! I did find myself disagreeing with much of what I watched and at times getting very frustrated and angry with it.

It was a pity that they did not allow someone from an evangelical background to take one of the topics but I guess that is no surprise. I was also disappointed that they kept focusing on the traditional churches in this country and did not look at other denominations and groups such as the New Frontiers churches.

Anyway thankfully our faith does not depend on TV programmes but on a Living God who sent His Son Jesus to suffer and die for us on the cross.

“Eight public figures, eight different perspectives on Christianity. A major new series explores the religion’s often controversial past – and where it might be heading.”

A Matter of Faith will be covering the following:

Week 1 Howard Jacobson on “Jesus the Jew”

Week 2 Michael Portillo on “Christianity and the Roman Empire”

Week 3 Dr Robert Beckford on “Christianity in Britain”

Week 4 Rageh Omaar on “Christianity and the Crusades”

Week 5 Ann Widecombe on “The Reformation”

Week 6 Kwame Kwei-Armah on “Christianity in Africa”

Week 7 Professor Colin Blakemore on”Science and Christianity”

Week 8 Cherie Booth QC on “Christianity now and in the future”

I saw a couple of previews of the first one and my original intention was not to watch it as it reminded me of some programmes I have previously seen on TV that try to undermine traditional Christian teaching and the Scriptures. However I had a change of heart and decided I’ll give the series a try!