Cliff - Cliff Richard > Reviews > A Message From A TRUE Christian

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	See opinion
Disadvantages:	See opinion

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

~ ~ Anyone reading this and expecting to find a resume or critique of the music of Cliff Richard is in for a bit of a disappointment.
Instead of writing about Cliff Richard, the musician, instead I am going to write a little about Cliff Richard, the MAN, and more specifically about a book he penned way back in 1985 called “Jesus, Me and You”, in which he attempts to give the reader some idea through a series of short stories just what his conversion to Christianity has meant to him as an individual.

~ ~ When he first announced his conversion to Christianity in 1965, he came in for a lot of HEAVY criticism from the media of the day.
Remember that this was Britain of the “swinging sixties”, and at the time Cliff was an extremely popular pop icon.
People generally wondered just what he was about, and many slated his conversion as just another publicity stunt, in order to promote more sales of his records.
It certainly wasn’t a popular decision, and one that he openly admits himself that he thought long and hard about before he announced it to the world, as he genuinely thought it might herald a dramatic downturn in his musical career, as it might “turn off” many of his young fans.

~ ~ But, coming close to forty years later, few now can doubt the veracity or honesty of his Christian conversion, as he has proved himself a true follower of Jesus right down through the years. He has not only lived his own life as a Christian in an industry not noted for its Christian beliefs, but has sought at every possible opportunity to promote the Christian faith, and to open the eyes of people everywhere to its simple truths.

~ ~ The first time he wrote about this topic was in a book called “You, Me and Jesus”, in which he took some of the more popular passages of the Bible, and then explained in his own simple way just exactly what they meant to him, and the impact they had on his everyday life.
He followed this up in 1985 with the book I want to talk about here, “Jesus, Me and You”, where again he takes passages from the Bible, but this time more concerned with describing how Christians should lead their lives, and again describes the impact they have made on himself and other people he knows.
It is totally impossible in this opinion to do this little book true justice, as in some eighty short little passages, Cliff imparts some real “pearls of wisdom”, that people everywhere can relate to, whether they be believing Christians or not.
So what I will instead do is to choose two or three of the stories that are my particular favourites, and give you a little idea of the “flavour” of the book.

“JUST IN TIME”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ This section quotes a passage from Ecclesiastes 3: 1 – 8.

“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven;
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”

Cliff relates this back to something that we all probably heard many times from our parents as youngsters.
The old saw, “There’s a time and place for everything”.
He asks how many times we get into some sort of trouble in our lives, not because the things we say or do are necessarily wrong, but simply because our timing is up the spout.
He says that people REGRET many things in their lives, getting married too early, leaving their education too late, missing a last opportunity to be kind and considerate to an elderly relative.
He then goes on to ask the same question of Christians.
Quote - “How often do we kick ourselves as Christians when the time has been perfect to make a positive stand for Jesus, and we’ve either chickened out or just been too dozy?” - Unquote
He refers to people who are always in a hurry and busy and who claim never to have time for anything, and who’s stock answer when asked to do something that takes a little time and effort is always along the lines of, “I’m sorry. I’d love to, but I’ve no time”, “What a great idea – but sorry, no time”, “Can’t talk – sorry, no time” and “I’d like to help but – sorry – no time”
These people miss out greatly on many of the joys of life.
He suggests that God has given each of us the time – just enough of it – to do what He wants us to do.
And that it’s up to us to find it.

I relate to this passage very much, as I live an incredibly busy and hectic lifestyle, with there never seeming to be enough hours in the day for me to do all the things I have planned or want to achieve.
I often find myself wanting to say “NO” to people when they ask me to do something that I know is worthwhile, and to use the age old excuse quoted here, “Sorry. I’m too busy.”
But I hope I will NEVER be too busy to take on something that God has planned for me, or to reach out a helping hand to someone in trouble or needing help.
This passage reminds me to be ever watchful for the opportunities that God puts my way in life to carry His message, or to do His work.
Thanks for reminding me of it, Cliff.

“WHY ME”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here Cliff quotes a passage from Philippians 1; 12 – 14.

“ Now I want to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

This passage refers to a period when St. Paul was thrown into prison in Rome for preaching the Gospel.
His followers were dismayed and disheartened, and began to question how God could let this happen to Paul, His most true and devoted servant.
Cliff relates this to something that most of us have cried out in our lives at some period. “WHY ME?”
Many people, even Christians, sometimes doubt the existence of a God when they hear of accidents, illnesses and tragedies that befall themselves and other people who just don’t seem to deserve it.
Cliff compares this to the attitude of St. Paul, who instead of weeping and wailing in his prison cell, immediately sets out to (and succeeds in!!) converting his guards to Christianity.
How Paul takes only the POSITIVE out of a negative situation, seeing that many of his followers have been greatly encouraged to preach the Gospel even MORE vigorously as a result of his unjust imprisonment.

What a lesson to me, and to us all, if we are truthful.
I have had many unhappy periods in my life since my conversion to Christianity.
But I try always to keep this message in mind. That even in the times of greatest tragedy and misfortune, that this is all part of God’s plan for me, and to try my utmost to keep a positive attitude and to try to see what good I can take from the situation.
Thanks yet again, Cliff.

“DON’T BLAME GOD”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here Cliff quotes from James 1: 13 – 15.

“When tempted, no-one should say, ‘God is tempting me’. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

In this section, Cliff talks about the age old battle between good and evil in the world.
He says how many of us, even Christians, blame God when things go wrong in our lives. It’s NEVER our own fault; it’s God, social conditions, family relationships, anything at all but the ACTUAL root cause of all evil in the world. The Devil himself.
Cliff entreats Christians to “know thy enemy”, and to be ever wary of falling into the traps and snares that Satan sets for us all in this life.
If we know and recognise our enemy for who he actually is, then it makes us all the more able to call on God’s help to overcome him, and all his evil ways.

I relate to this passage more than almost any other in the book.
Cliff talks about how we pit our will power and self-control against some recurring temptation or bad habit in our lives, only to find time after time that we fail miserably.
He goes onto say that willpower and self-control don’t stand a chance, until we recognise our REAL enemy, and the root of who is actually tempting us. Old “Lucifer” himself.
Then we can go on to ask for help from the one with REAL power to overcome all forms of evil, God himself.
As a recovered alcoholic of some twenty two years, I can safely tell you that it was only when I handed over my illness into the hands of my loving Father in heaven, that I truly achieved lasting peace and freedom from its snares.
Every single day I ask for His care and protection from the powers of evil in this world, and never once has He let me down.
Thanks, Cliff, for this marvellous example.

~ ~ I’m not going to go on and on here folks.
These are only a few of the many examples that this wonderful Christian, Cliff Richard, outlines for us in this small paperback.

~ ~ Some of you may be asking why I have chosen to write in this way and at this time.
I will answer you honestly and without any prevarification.
There is a new member recently joined the ranks of the members here at Ciao, who seems to be using their opinions in some sort of strange way.
They are taking films, of all things, and “twisting” their theme out of all recognition, claiming that many of them are the work of the devil, and carrying “subliminal” messages to try to ensnare people into evil.
Now, this is only my opinion, (but I know from emails I have received that many other Christian members here at Ciao feel the same way as I do) but I feel that this is a perversion of the simple message of Christianity.
And I simply cannot let it go unchallenged.
I refer you back to what Cliff Richard quoted in this book, and to which I have made reference earlier.
“How often do we kick ourselves as Christians when the time has been perfect to make a positive stand for Jesus, and we’ve either chickened out or just been too dozy?”
I am making that stand here.
I have tried, to the best of my ability, to outline some of the TRUE message of the Christian religion, by reference to a small book that has been my bedside table companion for many years.
Take from it what you will, but I entreat all TRUE Christians here at Ciao not to be deceived by this new member, whose motives for writing the way they do are not at all clear, but are certainly NOT a Christian message.
You, the members, decide.
I, for one, will not be reading any more of this members rantings. (at least when I am logged on)