- 5 months ago
18 February 1968; Cliff talks with Barry Westwood about his faith and sings a couple of songs; How Great Thou Art, We Shall Be Changed, It Is No Secret, Good News, What A Friend We Have In Jesus and Can It Be
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MusicTranscript
00:00Praise my soul, the King of heaven, to lift me thy tribute bring.
00:20Round of hear is God forgiven, who like me in praise should sing.
00:31Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him and the everlasting King.
00:42Praise Him for His praise and praise, to our fathers in distress.
00:54Praise Him, still the same forever, so true giants with duels.
01:04Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, for God in His faithfulness.
01:18Angels and bombs to the glory, he behold Him face to face.
01:28Sun and moon of the glory, dwell as all in time and taste.
01:38Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him as the Lord of grace.
01:54Hello and welcome to the City Hall in Newcastle.
01:57We've got an audience here of 2,000 people.
01:59We've got a splendid choir, as you've just heard, and we've got Cliff Richard.
02:02Now, what does all this mean?
02:04Well, you'll see that as the programme goes along, but we've got a programme full of music
02:07and some very interesting things for you to think about as well.
02:10But first of all, let's just go back in time.
02:12Do you remember? Oh, nearly ten years ago.
02:14A programme called Oh Boy and Britain's own homemade Elvis Presley.
02:18Come and look, I say, this is the first time I ever, ever felt this way.
02:27I'm gonna get a thousand kicks in, kiss a thousand chicks to run me, run me.
02:37But this was no overnight singing wonder.
02:39Very shortly, films came along, films like Expresso Bongo.
02:42It's been a long time being a teenage singer for very far beyond your teenage, you know.
02:47Yeah, that's right. What am I gonna do when I hit 20?
02:51I'm gonna ask Johnny what I'm gonna do when I hit 20. You ought to be thinking about it.
02:55Bad things can happen to you in this racket if you don't look ahead.
02:58It'd be terrible to be out of it though, wouldn't it?
03:01You're infected all right.
03:03Never had a daze unless in my life.
03:05You're full of health, are you?
03:06I say.
03:07Good.
03:09Let's go inside. It's getting cold.
03:12And by 1962, the rave was really on and success was with Cliff Richard in a big way.
03:17Everywhere he went, even here in South Africa, the kids turned out in their thousands to scream for Cliff.
03:22It's just like she could live and die.
03:27I had a roving eye, but it quietly satisfies my state.
03:34That's the one and only one thing of you.
03:38In that same year, 1962, another film, The Young Ones, came along.
03:42But once again, it was really just a vehicle for Cliff to sing.
03:45The young ones, darling, we're the young ones.
03:51And the young ones shouldn't be afraid.
03:58To live and love while the flame is strong.
04:05For we won't be the young ones very long.
04:10The awards began to roll.
04:12Eight years running, voted the top male singer by the New Musical Express,
04:16and that included top male singer in the whole world.
04:19Almost every showbiz accolade fell into Cliff's lap.
04:22I'll never forget until my dying day.
04:26He said, son, you are a bachelor boy.
04:29Another film, perhaps the best remembered one of all, Summer Holiday, followed shortly after.
04:33Son, you'll be a bachelor boy until your dying day.
04:40When I was 16, I fell in love with a girl as sweet as can be.
04:48But I remember just in time what my daddy said to me.
04:54We welcome especially a young man who needs no introduction, particularly to the young people across Great Britain and Europe.
05:02One that all of us are familiar with by name.
05:05And he's Mr. Cliff Richard.
05:07Cliff, we're delighted to have you.
05:09Let's welcome him this evening as he comes.
05:11In 1966, a new Cliff Richard emerged.
05:17A Cliff Richard singing this time in support of Billy Graham at his 1966 crusade in Earl's Court.
05:23This was certainly a quite different Cliff.
05:26And ever since that time, Cliff Richard has never missed the public occasion of proclaiming that not only is he a pop singer,
05:38not only is he a film star, but also, and perhaps most important to him, we'll find out maybe as evening goes on,
05:43he's a very deeply committed Christian.
05:45He's pulled off what many people would have thought perhaps the impossible of combining all these roles with apparent complete success.
05:52Cliff, was it in fact Billy Graham that influenced you to become a publicly committed Christian?
05:58Well, in fact, you see, Billy Graham was the first person to ever ask me sort of very large publicly to sort of take a Christian stand.
06:06I had done little things in the past, but not sort of publicly.
06:09The press were all there.
06:10And I knew that when I did it, of course, that I'd have to, from then onwards, battle off everybody, you know,
06:14because they don't want to know why I was, you know, why I was a Christian then.
06:17And when you take a public stand at that, of course, you, everybody knows all in one fell swoop.
06:21But you went to Billy Graham Conversion, were you?
06:23No, in fact, I had been converted about 18 months before that, in fact, and I'd merely just heard about him.
06:29You say 18 months before.
06:30Was it a precise moment of time at which you suddenly said, I am now converted?
06:34I can't think of a precise day, but, you know, it happened round about three years ago.
06:38I can't think of an exact date.
06:40It wasn't that a particular sermon hit me or anything like that.
06:42I'd spent a lot of time reading the New Testament.
06:46And things came over to me sort of gradually, really.
06:50From a religious background as a child or not?
06:52Well, yes and no.
06:54You see, my father died about eight years ago.
06:56And I don't know because I was never this deeply involved with Christianity to ask him if he was an actual committed Christian.
07:03I know that he believed in God and so did my mother. My mother still does.
07:06And, you know, but it didn't involve what I know now.
07:09Christianity definitely involved something more than just believing in a God.
07:14Yeah. Okay, Cliff, that's my turn, I think, for questions.
07:16We'll have a lot more from you later on.
07:17But, of course, we're not going to have Cliff Bridget with us here tonight and just get him talking.
07:21He's going to sing for us quite a number of songs, both with the choir and alone.
07:25We're going to start with one, with the choir, are we not?
07:27You're going to lead the choir in our first hymn.
07:28Yes, I am.
07:29Which is, How Great Thou Art.
07:31How Great Thou Art.
07:56How Great Thou Art.
08:13Lord, my God, when I, in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds thy hands have made.
08:29I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout the universe displays.
08:47Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art.
09:04Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art.
09:22And when I think that God, his Son, not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in.
09:40That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin.
09:59Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art.
10:15When Christ shall come, with shout of affirmation, what joy.
10:45Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art.
11:15Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art.
11:22How great thou art.
11:25Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art.
11:30Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art.
11:37Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art.
11:43How great thou art.
11:50Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art.
11:57Thank you, Cliff.
11:58Thank you, Clive.
11:59Thank you, Clive.
12:00I told you we had a cracking good choir, didn't I?
12:04We've also, as you can see, got a cracking good audience.
12:05And it's their turn now.
12:06Because we're going to come now to the part of the program where Cliff is going to answer
12:11questions from some people in the audience.
12:12When we sent out the tickets to the 2,000 people, we invited any of them who would like
12:16to ask a question to say so, and we've set them somewhere near the front so that you can
12:19see them and hear them.
12:20So let's move on now to this section.
12:21And I'd like to start, if I can, by asking those of you in the audience, because I'm
12:22not quite sure which you are, would you please, if you want to ask a question, put your hands
12:23up for me now.
12:24Right.
12:25That's great.
12:26Can we start off, perhaps, with the young lady on the edge of the aisle, Jessica?
12:27Yes, that's the one.
12:28Can we have your question, please?
12:29If you felt God was calling you to enter the ministry, would you cast Cliff Richard aside
12:34and maybe become the Reverend Harry Webb?
12:39Yes, that's the one.
12:40Can we have your question, please?
12:41If you felt God was calling you to enter the ministry, would you cast Cliff Richard aside and maybe
12:48become the Reverend Harry Webb?
12:50Well, in fact, you see, I've already been through a period of my career where I was going to
12:55give up my chauffeur's career to be a teacher, in fact, to teach religion in just an ordinary
12:58sort of school.
13:00I feel that what I had to do, which was most important to myself, was to convince myself
13:05that, first of all, that I could do without the fame and that I could do without the money,
13:08you see.
13:09And if those things are out of my mind, then really, whatever God wants, I can do for him.
13:14And I've convinced myself that I can do without the fame and without the money.
13:19And this is what, you know, this was sort of the biggest battle I had in my mind.
13:22I could quite easily.
13:23I don't feel, though, particularly in the last 18 months, that God is going to call me in
13:27that way because, obviously, I've been working for nearly, this is my tenth year, in fact.
13:32And I don't think that he'd allowed all this to happen to me to sort of just suddenly stop it.
13:37And I feel that doing things like this, for instance, is a great opening to be able to use the name Cliff Richard
13:43and, deep down, be inside Harry Webb.
13:45All right.
13:46Now, you mentioned teaching.
13:47There's a question, I think, from a lady over here somewhere about teaching, isn't there?
13:50Can we have that one?
13:51Yes, please.
13:52It's yours, isn't it?
13:54It has been reported that you are interested in becoming a school teacher.
13:59Do you think that you'd have a greater influence on young people as a teacher?
14:04I don't know if we got that question.
14:05Would you have more influence as a teacher than you do as a television and film personality
14:09or less?
14:10Well, of course, there's, with show business, there's a mass medium, you see.
14:14And I don't think any teacher, no matter how good a teacher he or she was, they'd never
14:19see as many people as I can do, say, in one hall.
14:22I mean, I wouldn't teach that many people in a year, probably.
14:25And I can do this all in one hall.
14:26So I don't think, in fact, it's a matter of becoming a teacher to get through to more
14:30people because, in fact, I think I would probably personally get to a lot less people.
14:35The thing about being in show business and remaining a Christian, of course, is that
14:38I never, ever have any particularly personal contact with a non-Christian.
14:43I mean, I don't know at any point whether I have, in fact, influenced somebody to be
14:47converted.
14:48You know, when you're not in show business, you can actually make friends with somebody
14:52and actually talk with them.
14:53And maybe, you know, if things are going your way, you can help convert them.
14:57And being in show business, the opportunity like that doesn't arise.
15:00But I think that I can do more.
15:02I've come to realize in the last 18 months, anyway, remaining in show business, albeit
15:07that I, in fact, can remain a working Christian in show business.
15:10That is, do things like this on telly, do gospel LPs, make films which have a religious motivation.
15:16If I can't do those things, then my next choice would be to teach.
15:19All right.
15:20Let's move along.
15:21Can I have hands up again, please?
15:22Who are the other questioners?
15:23There's a lady down here in a red hat.
15:25Could I get yours, please?
15:26What is your reply to those Christians who think that the show business is evil
15:30and would like to see you give it up?
15:32Well, it's not, I mean, people are bound to have their opinions, I think.
15:37But, you see, the Bible is pretty specific that we can, in fact, glorify God in whatever we do.
15:42And show business is here, whether we like it or not.
15:44And this is another thing that I've discovered in the last 18 months,
15:47that if, in fact, myself and a few other people who are Christians in show business left it,
15:52we are, in fact, leaving a batch of people without any, you know, hope of knowing Christ at all.
15:58Because maybe their only contact is through people who claim to be Christians.
16:02Myself, there's a few others, of course.
16:03There's Andrew Cruikshank, the Derek Nimmos, you know, people who are professing Christians in show business.
16:08If we left it, of course, we'd really be turning our backs on them.
16:11And I don't think that any Christian could possibly tell me that that would be the right thing to do.
16:15So I'm happy to stay on, you know, for that reason alone, really.
16:19Because I think it's true to say that Christians ought to make themselves known in every walk of life.
16:24It's a shame we don't have a few more Christian, real Christian, committed Christian politicians.
16:29Who's next? Hands up, can I, please?
16:31There's a gentleman there in the fourth row. Yes, please, could you?
16:34In the world of entertainment, do you feel that your experience of the Christian faith has hindered rather than help you in your career?
16:41I can only say it's helped me because, you see, what it did, apart from the things, the cliché things that people talk about,
16:47that you hear from preachers, the eternal life, the salvation that Christ brings.
16:51The big thing it did for me, apart from that, was that it matured me in here, you see.
16:56I think what a committed Christian has above others is that he has things in perspective.
17:00You know, I don't live for show business, so that if I have a disappointment in my career,
17:04I don't go and jump in the first lake, I find. And everything's in perspective.
17:08So I find that the Christianity I've found has helped me considerably because I've been able to see things in their right light, you know.
17:14So if I don't get a top ten record, well, there's always another, you know, another chance of having a go at that.
17:19And I've found that, in fact, it's helped me tremendously because I've been able to grow up inside.
17:24And I think we all want to grow up, don't we? I mean, I don't mean just age-wise.
17:27I mean, there are a lot of people in this country and all over the world, in fact, who could be 90 and behave 19.
17:33Not that there's anything wrong with being 19, but you know what I mean.
17:38And, you know, we aren't grown up enough inside. We grow up bodily, but we don't grow up inside.
17:42And I think that Christianity, if it only offers one thing, it's that, that it makes you grow up inside.
17:47But, of course, it doesn't just offer that.
17:49Must be nice to remember when you were 19, Cliff. Come on, you've talked enough. Let's have a song, Will.
17:52It was a long time ago.
17:53It was a long time ago. What are you going to sing, Chris?
17:55Well, I've just made my first gospel album, actually. It's called Good News.
17:58And on it is a number called We Shall Be Changed.
18:01So, I'll plunk that. By the way, tonight, this is The Shadows.
18:07I'm sorry, I'm flicking it on you, but this is called We Shall Be Changed.
18:11Here we go.
18:12We shall be changed. We shall be changed. Changed from immortal to immortality in the twinkling of an eye. Let me show you a mystery.
18:40We shall not all see. We shall not all see. We shall be changed. We shall be changed. Changed from immortal to immortality in the twinkling of an eye.
19:08In the twinkling of an eye. Well, if you sow in deepness. You'll be raised up in heaven. About the same hour. In the twinkling of an eye. We shall be changed. We are gonna be changed. Changed from immortal to immortality in the twinkling of an eye.
19:36Changed from immortal to immortality in the twinkling of an eye.
19:42In the twinkling of an eye. Be you saint or mortal. Be you saint or mortal. You'll be raised up in heaven. You'll be raised up in heaven. You gotta put on immortality in the twinkling of an eye.
20:01We shall be changed. We shall be changed. We shall be changed. Changed from immortal to immortality in the twinkling of an eye.
20:17We shall be changed. We shall be changed. We shall be changed. Changed from immortal to immortality in the twinkling of an eye.
20:35Changed from immortal to immortality in the twinkling of an eye.
20:42Changed from immortal to immortality in the twinkling of an eye.
20:48All right, got enough breath for another question or two?
21:03I reckon, sir.
21:04Fine.
21:04I would have said one thing, incidentally.
21:06Cliff has no idea what these questions are before they come,
21:08but let's see what the next one's going to be.
21:09Can we have...
21:10It's true, isn't it?
21:10I do.
21:11I must refer to it, though.
21:11Yeah, right.
21:12Hands up, can I, please?
21:15Yes.
21:15Can we have the young lady here?
21:18If you have to give up everything to attain eternal life,
21:23would you be able to do it, please?
21:25I think you perhaps didn't hear that.
21:27Could you give up all your worldly wealth to achieve eternal life?
21:31I think when I answer that first early question, in fact,
21:34could I do without the fame and the wealth, you see?
21:36I think I answer that question also,
21:39because if I wasn't convinced in my mind already
21:41that I couldn't really continue as a Christian,
21:44because Christianity demands all.
21:45So that if ever I felt that I had to definitely throw up everything,
21:49I know I could.
21:50I just know I could.
21:52But the thing about the Bible is that it doesn't sort of demand
21:55more than we're capable of doing, you know.
21:58And apparently there's nothing wrong with being well off.
22:02I mean, Solomon was a very rich man,
22:04and was given it all by God.
22:06Now, I'm sure we've all got different views on this,
22:07and you don't know, for instance, what I do with my money.
22:10So, I mean, you only know that I earn a lot of money,
22:12but you don't know what you do with it,
22:13and I'm not going to tell you.
22:15So, but I can tell you this now that I have convinced myself,
22:19and I think the only person that we all have to convince
22:21is ourselves and God,
22:22and God and I know that I can do without the fame and the money.
22:25All right, let's have another one.
22:26Hands, please, can we?
22:28Yes, the young lady there, can we?
22:29Young people believe that they are many years ahead of them,
22:35but when one of them suddenly dies,
22:36they confess to fear of death.
22:38Do you believe in hell, and if so, in what form?
22:43You know, I don't think any of us can really say
22:45exactly what form hell or heaven is.
22:49All it is that the Bible does say, though,
22:50that heaven is being forever with God,
22:53and hell, I mean, to me, pretty logically,
22:55must be being forever without God.
22:57And I couldn't think of a more awful, you know, end,
23:02knowing and having lived for three years of Christian life.
23:04The worst thing that could happen, I think,
23:06would be for me to know that I would live forever without God.
23:09And I don't suppose that's an original answer,
23:13but that's the kind of logic I crept to,
23:16that in fact, you know, heaven is with God,
23:18hell is without him.
23:20All right, there's a young lady down here in the front.
23:22It was, yes, let's have yours.
23:24You've been patiently sitting there all the while.
23:26What do you think?
23:27It should be done so you'll get more young people interested in religion.
23:31How do you interest more young people in religion, Cliff?
23:34Well, I think, first and foremost,
23:36young people have a misconception of religion.
23:38They think it's meant for old funny-duddies only.
23:41And, you know, I would say,
23:41well, I'm not an old funny-duddy by any means.
23:43You know, I'm getting on a bit.
23:45But John Lennon is five days older than me,
23:47so just to let you know that.
23:49But, you know, for a start,
23:51they think that it's kind of sissy and soft.
23:54I mean, they don't know what it involves,
23:55otherwise they wouldn't think those things.
23:57But I think that really one of the sort of only ways
24:01that we can really get to young people
24:02is to have rallies and things.
24:04Not necessarily gospel church services, you know,
24:07because I did go to a gospel church service once,
24:09and I came out,
24:09and I just didn't feel I'd been there to worship, you know.
24:12But I think there's a tremendous place for youth rallies
24:15where, in fact, young Christians can invite young non-Christians
24:18and say, come on,
24:19and see, you know,
24:21that there can be a lot of fun involved
24:22and do kind of folk gospel songs like
24:25We Shall Be Changed.
24:26There are a lot of them about.
24:27And I think if...
24:28I know lots of people,
24:29lots of Christians would say that, in fact,
24:31oh, they're only coming to hear the music.
24:33But the thing is,
24:33they're coming to hear the music,
24:34and whether they like it or not,
24:36they're also going to hear the gospel.
24:37So that's one way of doing it.
24:39I couldn't tell you many more,
24:42you know,
24:42except that I think it's about time
24:43that as Christians,
24:44we went around telling everybody
24:45that it's not a soft life,
24:46that it's not meant for young babies
24:48in Sunday school and old people.
24:50It's meant for all kinds of people,
24:51and it demands a great deal,
24:53and they've got to have the guts to be Christians.
24:55I think we don't tell them enough
24:56how difficult it is.
24:58But you'd also agree
24:59that there's no reason
25:00why it should be a sad business
25:01and that fun and that your kind of music
25:02is all part of it.
25:03I've never known.
25:04I haven't felt that I've been amongst sad Christians.
25:07Because basically, you see,
25:08you have a kind of a security inside
25:10that doesn't allow you to be sad.
25:12I mean, let's not...
25:13We don't go about like that all the time.
25:15You have a good depression moments and all that.
25:17Be like that for just one moment.
25:18Let's have another non-sad song.
25:20All right?
25:21Yes, okay.
25:21Let me do the one that I did
25:24at the Billy Graham crusade in 66.
25:26It's called It Is No Secret.
25:28Oh, that's the one we saw a bit of
25:29earlier in the program.
25:29True.
25:30You saw a bit of it at the very beginning.
25:31Let's have a lot.
25:31The chimes of time
25:37ring out the news
25:40Another day is through
25:44Someone slipped and fell
25:48Was that someone you?
25:52You may have longed for added strength
25:58Your courage to renew
26:02Well, I do not be disheartened
26:08For I've got news for you
26:14It is no secret
26:20What God can do
26:27What He's done for others
26:35He'll do for you
26:41With arms wide open
26:48With arms wide open
26:48He'll pardon you
26:55It is no secret
27:02What God can do
27:09There is no night
27:16For in His light
27:19You never walk alone
27:23Always feel at home
27:27Wherever you may roam
27:31There is no power
27:34Can conquer you
27:36If God is on your side
27:40Take Him at His promise
27:45Don't run away
27:49And hide
27:51It is no secret
27:58It is no secret
27:59What God can do
28:06What He's done for others
28:14He'll do for you
28:20He'll do for you
28:20With arms wide open
28:29He'll pardon you
28:34Cause it is no secret
28:41Cause it is no secret
28:43Cause it is no secret
28:43What God can do
28:50What God can do
28:52He'll do for you
29:00He'll do for you
29:01He'll do for you
29:02Jesus taught one religion
29:25In Christianity
29:26Why have so many teachings
29:28Originated from this religion
29:30And which do you think
29:31Is the correct teaching
29:32Well as you say
29:33There is only one Christianity
29:35You know
29:36The gospel that ought to be preached
29:37Is that Jesus Christ
29:39Saves lives
29:40By having died
29:412000 years ago
29:42That is the gospel
29:43But if you read the New Testament
29:45It's pretty explicit
29:46It tells you that
29:47Jesus in fact said
29:48That during the course of time
29:50There'd be many other things
29:51That would come and say
29:52They were the way
29:53They were the truth
29:53They were the light
29:54And I guess one could parallel that
29:56With the fact that
29:57There are hundreds of
29:58Not only just
29:59You know
30:00Denominations
30:01But sex religions
30:01And what have you
30:02But I mean for me
30:04The one thing that unites
30:05All Christians
30:06Whether they be
30:07Roman Catholic
30:08Whether they be
30:09Methodist
30:10Baptist
30:10What have you
30:11If they say
30:12They are Christians
30:12Through Jesus Christ
30:13And we have a unity
30:14That can't be touched
30:15We have a union in Christ
30:17So really you're right
30:18There is only one gospel
30:19There is only one religion
30:21That's Christianity
30:21And that involves Christ
30:23Having died
30:25And us having accepted
30:26That death for ourselves
30:27Personally
30:28And then given our lives to it
30:29But nevertheless
30:30It is true isn't it
30:31That this Christianity
30:32At the moment
30:33Has defied all attempts
30:34To unify it
30:35In terms of bringing
30:35All the churches together
30:36Does this worry you?
30:37Oh no not really
30:38Because I think you're up
30:38Against human nature
30:39And the same as I like spinach
30:41And lots of people don't
30:42No matter how hard you try
30:44You're never going to like
30:44People who hate spinach
30:45To like it
30:46And I think that in fact
30:47The fact that there are
30:48Different forms of worship
30:49I mean that's really
30:50Basically how they change
30:51I go to
30:51You know
30:52I'm asked to go to
30:52Methodist church
30:53Baptist church
30:53You know
30:54We pray in Christ's name
30:56And that's what unifies
30:57The fact that they have
30:58A different form of service
30:59You know
31:00Or that the Baptist
31:01Believe that
31:01Baptism as an adult
31:03You know
31:04But that's not important
31:05The important thing
31:06Is that they believe
31:07Initially that Christ saves
31:09And so whether you believe
31:10In child baptism
31:11Or adult baptism
31:12I think that's very
31:12Second rate
31:14It would be better
31:14I mean I wouldn't say
31:15That it wouldn't be better
31:16If we could all get our facts
31:17Completely in line
31:18But I believe that
31:19When Christ comes again
31:20We will all be aligned
31:21Okay
31:23Another one
31:23Someone
31:24Yes please
31:25Can we
31:25Young lady in the pink
31:26Why do you think
31:27That most of the churches
31:28They have very few members
31:29Why do churches
31:30Have so few members
31:31The young lady asks
31:32I think it's because
31:33Like most things
31:35When things get in a rut
31:36People get fed up with it
31:37And
31:38I hope there aren't any
31:39Vicars in the audience
31:40But
31:41Not that all vicars are in a rut
31:43But
31:43Unfortunately
31:44I think
31:45The church has got
31:46Rather tied up
31:47With its kind of traditions
31:48And hasn't changed
31:50With the times
31:51I mean people are
31:51Psychedelic now
31:52They're in clubs
31:53And all that
31:53And if the church
31:54Can't reach those people
31:55It's not doing its job
31:56And it isn't going to fill up
31:57Because when the people
31:58Are already in it
31:59Die off
31:59There's no way
32:00To take its place
32:01The only reason I can say
32:02Is that they don't
32:03March with the times
32:04And I think it's about
32:04Time they did
32:05I'd be cruel
32:07Not to say that
32:08In fact many churches
32:09Do march with the times
32:10You won't find
32:11Every church empty
32:11There are quite a few churches
32:13That are quite full
32:14And surprisingly
32:15I think lately
32:16I've been asked
32:16A lot of youth things
32:17And it's surprising
32:18How many churches
32:19Have quite a large
32:20Youth congregation
32:21You know
32:21Fifty percent of them
32:22May be young people
32:23Below
32:23I count young
32:25Say below twenty-five
32:26You know
32:27I'm not quite
32:28In that category
32:29Actually
32:29But you know
32:33It's a surprising thing
32:34That in fact
32:34There are many churches
32:35That are very vibrant
32:36And live
32:36And they're the ones
32:37Where the vicar
32:38Or the people involved
32:39Have said
32:39We want to get
32:40Young people interested
32:42So they can take over
32:43When we finish
32:43And the only way
32:45Is to get down
32:45To young people
32:46Which means
32:47Talking their kind of language
32:48Singing their kinds of songs
32:49Okay
32:49Well let's have
32:50One of those kinds of songs
32:51Right now
32:51Cliff
32:52All right
32:52You said I didn't
32:53Forget any lyrics
32:53But this could be
32:54The first one actually
32:55This is
32:55This is the title track
32:58From Good News
32:59My first sort of
33:00Attempt at doing
33:00A gospel album
33:01And it's not at all
33:04If any of you have the album
33:05If any of you
33:06Are fool enough to have it
33:07It's not at all
33:08Like the arrangement
33:08Because as you know
33:09Some of the numbers
33:10I did with great brass bands
33:11And everything
33:11You know
33:12It was really quite jumpy
33:13And I've really only got
33:14This twelve string guitar
33:15So I'm making those excuses
33:16Because I'm a foul guitarist
33:18Good News
33:20Here we go
33:20Good News
33:23Good News
33:26Good News
33:29I heard from heaven
33:32Ain't that good news
33:33Good News
33:34Good News
33:37Yeah, good news
33:39I heard from heaven
33:42Ain't that good news
33:44Like John on the lonely island
33:49Out in the agency
33:51I heard the voice of Jesus
33:54And I knew he was speaking to me
33:57I stopped
33:58I listened
33:59I cried
33:59Behold
34:00I'm your servant
34:01Thy will be done
34:03I heard from heaven
34:05Ain't that good news
34:06Have you heard the old old story
34:10About Jesus and his love
34:12Well do you know him
34:13As your personal savior
34:15Do you believe he reigns above
34:17Have you washed
34:18Turned
34:19Made to new
34:20If you haven't
34:21I've got news for you
34:23I heard from heaven
34:25Ain't that good news
34:26He'll stay with you
34:30All of your days
34:31He'll keep you
34:32In all of your ways
34:33Just let me show you
34:35The news
34:36He'll see you
34:37Said fully through
34:38He'll never ever
34:40Leave you alone
34:41He'll lead you
34:42To your heavenly home
34:43I heard from heaven
34:45Ain't that good news
34:47Jesus told me
34:49To tell the sinner man
34:51That the victory
34:52Still can be won
34:53That the wicked daughter
34:55And the prodigal son
34:56Well they can still
34:57Make it home
34:57If they run
34:58Well I've got good news
35:00From Beulah land
35:01Tomorrow's never been
35:03The meek and the humble
35:05Shall gather there
35:06The sorrows
35:07Will never invade
35:08He'll stay with you
35:10All of your days
35:11He'll keep you
35:13In all of your ways
35:14Just let me
35:15Show you the news
35:16He'll see you
35:18Stay fully through
35:19He'll never ever
35:21Leave you alone
35:22He'll lead you
35:23To your heavenly home
35:24I heard from heaven
35:26Ain't that good news
35:28Yeah
35:29Well I heard good news
35:30From that city
35:31That city built for square
35:33I have not seen
35:35Is have not heard
35:36All the wonders
35:37That await me there
35:38Good news
35:40Good news
35:42Good news
35:45I heard from heaven
35:48Ain't that good news
35:49He heard from heaven
35:50Ain't that good news
35:52He heard from heaven
35:53Ain't that good news
35:54He heard from heaven
35:55Ain't that good news
35:57He heard from heaven
35:58Ain't that good news
36:01If that's being a rotten guitarist, you'd better teach me how some time.
36:23Let's have another couple of questions.
36:24Time, I think, for just two more.
36:25Hands up, can we, please?
36:27Yes, please.
36:28May we have your...
36:28Uh-huh.
36:29Yes, you.
36:30Loud for us.
36:31Do you think it's important for one's growth in the Christian life to set apart a time
36:40each day for the reading of God's Word and praying?
36:43And have you found this so in your personal experience?
36:47A regular time each day for Bible reading and prayer, Cliff.
36:50I think it's absolutely essential.
36:52I don't think any Christian can possibly grow at all if he doesn't have these two ingredients
36:56because for a start, growing means you've got to grow in knowledge and understanding
37:00of what it's all about.
37:01And if you don't read the Bible, you just can't do that, you know.
37:03So one has got to.
37:05You know, it's a discipline.
37:07It's a self-discipline thing.
37:07It's part of what Christianity involves.
37:10And part of it is to set your life in order, you know.
37:12And you can...
37:14I don't think any one of us here can say they can't afford 15 minutes a day.
37:1815 minutes a day.
37:19Instead of watching all of Coronation Street, just what, part two or something like that.
37:23You know, joking aside, 15 minutes a day to read a section of Bible and, you know,
37:29and maybe get a commentary on it or something and just see what it says.
37:32Prayer, I mean, if we didn't have prayer, I think Christians would go up the wall, really.
37:36Because it's like an escape valve.
37:39We have a direct communication with God.
37:41It's a privilege.
37:42And if it's not used, then it's being misused.
37:46One last one.
37:48Hands up, can we?
37:50Yes, the young lady.
37:51There, that's the one, please.
37:52I'm sorry to have to point at you, but loud and clear for us.
37:55Is it not time to stop teaching from the Bible and to substitute a list of moral codes on the principles of the golden rule instead?
38:02Do you get that?
38:03Use principles of moral codes instead of the Bible.
38:06There's not a single person here that wouldn't agree with the ethics that are involved with Christianity.
38:11The love, which people say is new, is 2,000 years old since Christ.
38:15I don't think any one of us would hear that it would be anti-fidelity in marriage,
38:20what one shouldn't commit adultery.
38:22You name it.
38:23You name any one of your golden rule, and I guarantee that it's in the Bible expressly expressed.
38:28And it seems to me that people just don't want to be involved with something that causes self-discipline.
38:33I'm sure this is why they kick against it.
38:35The thing is, of course, I ask, why make up new rules when the old rules are still very valid?
38:40I mean, we still basically, our social structure is based around them.
38:45You know, thou shalt not steal.
38:46If you steal, you get put into jail.
38:48You know, we've lately not allowed killing.
38:51The hanging law has changed.
38:52But there again, you see, in the New Testament, it doesn't really tell us anything about hanging.
38:57But I mean, if you do things wrong, you are punished for it.
38:59And basically, our basic structure, we believe in these things.
39:01It's already in the Bible.
39:02I don't see any point in changing it.
39:04If it had become redundant, if anything that the Bible states ought to work,
39:09if it didn't work, then I'd be on your side immediately.
39:12But when things work, why throw them out?
39:14I mean, I've got a car that should last me three years.
39:15I'm not going to change it until something goes wrong.
39:18Fine.
39:18Okay.
39:19I'm very sorry.
39:20I know that there's lots of you down there who'd like to ask more questions.
39:22Yes, we do.
39:22Give me a question.
39:23Yeah, not many.
39:24They were mainly from girls.
39:25I tell you.
39:25It must be Euclid.
39:26All right.
39:27Well, let's now get some more music underway.
39:29Let's have another hymn.
39:30And this one is a lovely hymn.
39:32I think one that I know many of you will know.
39:33What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
39:42What a Friend We Have in Jesus
39:47All our sins and grief to bear
39:52What a privilege to carry
39:58Everything to God in prayer
40:04Oh, what peace we often forfeit
40:11Oh, what needless pain we bear
40:15All because we do not carry
40:22Everything to God in prayer
40:27Are we trials and temptations
40:35Is there trouble anywhere
40:39We ever be discouraged
40:45Take it to the Lord in prayer
40:50Are we weak and heavy laden?
40:55Can we find a friend so faithful
40:56Who will all our sorrow share?
41:01Jesus knows our every weakness
41:08Take it to the Lord in prayer
41:13Are we weak and heavy laden?
41:19Comfort with the Lord in prayer
41:25Comfort with the Lord of care
41:26Precious Savior, still our refuge
41:31Take it to the Lord in prayer
41:36Do thy friends despise for safety
41:42Take it to the Lord in prayer
41:46Take it to the Lord in prayer
41:48In His house He'll take and shield thee
41:54Thou will find the solace there
42:02Also with me let me introduce David Winter
42:16David who's the editor of a magazine called Crusade
42:19And also a biographer of Cliff Richard
42:21Having published just before Christmas
42:23New singer, new song
42:25He's even got the title on
42:26Let's get the singer across
42:29Come on Cliff, come on Johnny
42:30You'd say that
42:30New singer, old song
42:32Look, look
42:34Several times during the programme
42:36There's been this suggestion
42:37That Christianity as we know it today
42:40Is somehow or another
42:40A bit out of touch
42:42A bit out of date
42:43A bit lacking its ability
42:45To get over to particularly young people
42:46Do you agree?
42:47And if so, what do we do about it?
42:48David?
42:49I was reminded of listening to you and Cliff
42:51And the questions of our Lord
42:54Talking about the Pharisees
42:55And saying that they'd made the word of God
42:56Ineffective by their traditions
42:58And it seems to me
43:00Any movement over the years
43:01Gets its barnacles
43:02And I think Cliff used the phrase
43:04Gets in a rut
43:05Adds its traditions
43:06Some traditions are good
43:07And some are indifferent
43:09And some are positively bad
43:11Unhelpful
43:12And every now and then
43:13You've got to get back to the sheer gold of the thing
43:15And the sheer gold seems to me to be the gospel
43:17Yeah, we've got to be, I think
43:18As broad-minded as Jesus was
43:20I mean, he was right there
43:22Amongst the people that counted
43:23The people that he wanted to find
43:24And of course, you know
43:26We have a great
43:27Huge generation of young people
43:29And the church ought to be trying to get them
43:32They won't get them, obviously
43:33I think we've agreed on that
43:34The way things have been
43:35In the past couple hundred years
43:37And I think that we've just got to wake up
43:39And show young people
43:40That it's relevant
43:41To people's lives now
43:43I mean, you know
43:43If it's relevant to my life
43:44And your life
43:44And our lives
43:45It should be relevant to other people's
43:46And I think we've just got to let them know
43:48Somehow
43:48That it is relevant
43:49That it does count
43:50And you say somehow
43:51This is the question
43:52How, isn't it?
43:53Well, I was thinking
43:54Just when Cliff was answering
43:55I don't usually like to disagree with him
43:57You know
43:57All his answers to this
43:59It's probably accidental
43:59Had to do with meetings
44:00But it seems to me
44:02I'm more interested really
44:03In meeting
44:04As to say
44:05At some point
44:06Christians
44:06To whom
44:07Jesus Christ
44:08Is the most important person
44:09And thing in the world
44:09Meet those who don't
44:11Know and believe that
44:12And this to me
44:13Is the crucial thing
44:14This is the real frontier
44:15You know
44:15That's right
44:16We've talked about this
44:17In our church
44:17Actually
44:17That we don't in fact
44:18Get out
44:19We as Christians
44:20Tend to stay amongst Christians
44:21And we don't get out
44:23To the people
44:23And you know
44:24At the moment
44:25We're sort of discussing
44:26And thrashing it
44:26How do we do this
44:27You know
44:28Because we are kind of
44:29Tied to traditions
44:29And things
44:30But I think the answer is
44:31David, you're right
44:31It's to get out
44:32And meet
44:32Non-Christians
44:34You know
44:34But certainly church-centered
44:36You've no doubt
44:36That the church
44:37As an organization
44:38Is still the focal point
44:39From which all this should spread
44:40The church always has been
44:42I don't necessarily mean the building
44:43And you don't mean the building either
44:44Do you
44:44The church is the people
44:45God's people
44:45Exactly
44:46God's people are the church
44:47Through which God speaks to people
44:49And through which God loves the world
44:51And works in the world
44:52I think this is the most tremendous thing
44:53David, thank you very much indeed
44:55Cliff, thank you very much
44:57Thank you
44:57In fact, I say thank you
44:58You haven't finished yet, have you?
44:59We're all singing for your stuff yet
45:00I'm taking my place on the stand
45:02Back to the choir you go
45:03Thank you very much indeed
45:04Let's finish if we can
45:05Thank you also
45:06For coming and joining us
45:07In the City Hall
45:08Here in Newcastle tonight
45:08Let's finish with a final hymn
45:10And Can It Be
45:12Alright?
45:12Thank you
45:38Let's finish with a final hymn
45:41Nighting, O me, who must still stay
45:50O me, who live to death by soon
45:58Amazing love, how can it be
46:07Amazing love, how can it be
46:10That love, my Lord, should stay for me
46:16Amazing love, how can it be
46:21Amazing love, how can it be
46:24That love, my Lord, should stay for me
46:32Oh, my presence here is laid,
46:43I'll spout in sin and nature's night.
46:53Thy heart diffused, the quickening rain,
47:00I hold the dungeon flame with light.
47:10My chains fell off, my heart was free,
47:18I rose, went forth, and followed me.
47:25My chains fell off, my heart was free,
47:34I rose, went forth, and followed me.
47:43No condemnation, now I pray,
47:54Jesus and all in him is mine.
48:01All I live here, I live in hell,
48:10And clothed in righteousness divine.
48:18For I approach the eternal throne,
48:27And make the cross through Christ my own.
48:35For I approach the eternal throne,
48:44And make the cross through Christ my own.
48:54For I approach the eternal throne somewhere.
49:10For I approach the eternal throne,
49:14By Gemma Africa,
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