No-one can prove, scientifically or any other way, beyond doubt, that God exists or does not exist.

If they could, then there would be no place for 'faith'. The whole concept of free will - the right to choose between good and evil - would be stripped away, and we would be slaves to a reality that compels us to live without freedom.

Freedom: for this, wars have been fought, martyrs have died, great works of art have been produced, and countless words written. To be free to live our lives as we think right, with hope for a better future... this is what the entire human race holds most dear.

And this is the promise that we believe God holds out to us. We can't force people to accept this as truth, any more than a politician can force people to believe that the policies he or she talks about are the 'right' ones. There is always room for alternative opinions.

But consider this: unlike any politician who has ever lived, God has never failed to deliver on any of His promises. And the Bible is packed full of them! We talk about them a lot at Long Furlong in our Sunday services, and at the various groups that meet through the week. Come along and listen, sometime.

And this is where faith begins. As we read the Bible, we see reflections of the world we live in, and we begin to recognise God's practical involvement in our lives. The 'evidence' in the Bible starts to mean something personal, and as we learn more, we grow in 'faith' that God exists and has our best interests at heart. That doesn't include winning the lottery, or not getting ill or having accidents - we don't live in the Garden of Eden any more. But as we get to know God better, our faith grows into an unshakeable certainty that the creator of the Universe loves us as individuals.

Our faith in God matures into a personal relationship, and becomes our hope for a better future, one in which there are no accidents or illnesses, and where we will all be together in the most amazing and perfect family, forever. In the meantime, it transforms our lives and makes us better people. And that makes for a better community in which we live.

Not convinced? Come along to Long Furlong, and see for yourself what God is doing in our lives. Ask the people here what God means to them, and how it all started. It could change your life.