Stepping Stones

Can answers to the biggest questions in life be found? Today there are many who are unsure whether there is a creator God, are uncertain about religion and yet instinctively feel that their life has a purpose and that values such as love, truth, honesty, beauty, logic and kindness are real. This book has been written to help such people make sense of their existence and to indicate the types of evidence available to help people find a strong rational faith.“So many people think faith is a feeling or a flight of fantasy, by contrast Cambridge-educated medical surgeon, Dr Bernard Palmer, makes it clear that there is outstanding evidence at the basis of Christian belief. But he does not stop there, he then not only shows what that evidence means for our lives, he also reveals what the reader should do about it. That is the rhythm of this excellent book: the evidence, its meaning and our action, which makes this a profoundly challenging read that appeals to the mind, the heart and the will.”Rico TiceChristianity Explored“I am both delighted and honoured to recommend Bernard Palmer’s new book to you. There are three reasons for this.First, he himself truly believes the things he is asking you to believe.Second, he writes about profound matters in such a way that it is not only easy to follow but it is winsome and appealing.But thirdly, he is offering us ‘Stepping Stones’ to a new life by introducing us to Jesus Christ with compelling reasons to become a believer. And this is the most important thing of all.” Frank RetiefRetired presiding bishop of the Reformed Evangelical Church of Southern Africa

Bernard went from Bedford School to Downing College, Cambridge in 1963 where he read Natural Sciences. He was then awarded the Price open scholarship to the Royal London Medical School for clinical training. There he captained the tennis club as well as playing hockey and squash. He was fortunate to have both his preclinical houseman posts in his teaching hospital. He then took a year out to be the first student worker for St Helen’s Bishopsgate with the Rev Dick Lucas.

He then undertook his surgical training in major London hospitals and took the exams both to be a physician and a general surgeon. He was a Senior Registrar at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London and during this time undertook research in tumour immunology at the Institute of Cancer Research. He wrote many medical papers. In 1983, he was appointed Consultant Surgeon at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage where he worked until he retired. He was a general surgeon with major interests in Surgical Oncology and Gastrointestinal Surgery.

He became a convinced Christian when an undergraduate in Cambridge and has been a Bible teacher since. He has been active in the Christian Medical Fellowship and was one of their Trustees for many years. He is the author of ‘Cure for Life’, which has been translated into many languages and is now in its 5th English edition. This book was originally written for his patients to try to answer their questions about the purpose of life but this book has since found a world-wide niche and has been translated into many languages. Other books include ‘The Duty of a Disciple’ and ‘Science and God: Enemies or Allies’.

He was asked to help found Christchurch Baldock in 2000AD where he regularly teaches.

He is a popular speaker in universities and churches both at home and overseas. He has written widely on the evidence for the Christian faith and what being a Christian means. He is also an evangelistic Bible teacher. He was appointed to be a visiting Scholar by ‘Reasons to Believe’ in Los Angeles.

Bernard’s wife, Rosy, retired from nursing when they had a family. They have four Christian children, Rob (a General Practitioner Doctor in North London) Sam, (a Design Manager), Rachel, (a doctor and mother, married to the Director of UFM, a missionary organization), and Andy, the Senior Minister of Christchurch Balham in London. Bernard and Rosy now have 14 grandchildren whom they love and long to teach tennis and table tennis to.

Bernard has a website, www.bvpalmer.com in which many of his articles, video interviews and books can be found.