A friend and I were talking over lunch about our different faith backgrounds – I come from the protestant evangelical tradition and she’s Catholic. Naturally enough the subject turned to our perspectives on God.

For many people, their idea of God is based on the cliche God of the Old Testament. Fire and brimstone, and plenty of smiting for those who don’t behave. The angry, unhappy God.

My friend contended that she preferred the God of the New Testament, the loving, merciful, gracious God who forgives. She argued that they must be two different Gods because of the stark contrast. We differ on that point – I believe there has only ever been and will ever be the one true God who created everything.

And so that got me thinking about my God. My God is the God of both Testaments, the loving God and the jealous God (jealous in the “I love my wife, back off man” kind of way).

The conversation reminded me of a Bible verse that God brought to the attention of my wife and I back in January – it’s a promise that we are believing every day this year.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope,” Jeremiah 29:11.

The lesson for me was that the God of the ages isn’t out to smite me. It’s taken a long time to learn that one, and to believe that He’s creating a great future. So I’m really excited about the future – that’s why I’ve started this blog. For me it’s something of a public diary, and I hope you also find it encouraging. Welcome.