April 2001 LIVING WITHOUT PRESUMPTION Eric Lovell was a part of this community for a very long time. Even though he lived in Caldicot for the latter years of his life, he remained a village man at heart and always took an active interest in what was going on. He was also an integral part of Chapel life and his sudden death has affected us all. There has been a sense of gratitude as well as loss. The younger members have responded with increased participation especially in the prayer life of the church, and we have all been reminded of the brevity of life - no one is taking tomorrow for granted. This is something positive - life without presumption. You learn to value your time and not to waste it. You value people more not less. Better to build relationships than to harm them - you may not be around to repair the damage! Better to pray and encourage than to gossip and criticise. Better to walk by faith than to wander blindfold into eternity. Better to enjoy each day given to you, than to fret over the future. "Worry draws tomorrows clouds over today's sunshine."(Wayside Pulpit) Better to practice godliness than to waste your life on sin. Better to put your trust in Christ who conquered death and rose again from the grave on that first Easter Sunday morning - than to die without hope. The effect of most things soon wears off - we forget so easily. But these are principles worth taking on board - Life without presumption is better! EddieJones (Pastor).