with the Rev Kevin Logan, Vicar of Christ Church, Accrington. . .

GIVE 'em hell, vicar!"

Somehow, it just doesn't ring true to our age, does it?

"Give them heaven," advised a vicar-trainer posh enough to pronounce his tee-aitches.

This sounded more apt for our times. Surely, ran his argument, people would flock to church once they saw the beauty of a loving God.

Don't frighten the sheep, he urged. They'll only scatter and we'll be left with nobody to lead or feed.

Extinguish the hellfire and brimstone for nobody plays the fear card these days. Be all-inclusive, and then just you see, they'll absolutely flock into our waiting pews.

Hasn't quite happened, has it?

Of course, the golden question in our Christian heritage is always - what would Jesus do?

The answer is both! One day he promised, "I'm going ahead to prepare a place" - a many-roomed heavenly mansion.

The next day, he'd warn about the place of gnashing teeth and everlasting flames.

In brief, he was saying, "You're in a mess if you don't choose the right way."

Ash Wednesday just gone ushered in the seven weeks of Lent, traditionally set aside to get right with our Maker; to make sure we trust him to get us out of our mess.