Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Yesterday’s Eastern Daily Press declared: ‘Dwile Flonking is coming back to Halesworth for the first time in fifty years this summer.’ Dwile flonking is played outdoors by two teams. One team joins hands and forms a circle. A member of the other team (the flonker) stands in the middle holding a beer-soaked cloth at theContinue reading “Dwile Flonking”

Yesterday morning at church Pastor-Lou quoted: ‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…’ (Hebrews 6:19). She told an Andrew Ollerton story. He was in a friend’s boat anchored for the night off the south-west coast of England. In the night the wind picked up, the waves rose and heContinue reading “Anchors, Scarecrows and Donkeys.”

As a teenager, on several occasions I went to Wembley and heard Billy Graham preach. He was always joined by George Beverley Shea who sung a solo. I was learning to play the piano. I bought the music book ‘George Beverley Shea sings his Favourites’. One song I remember hearing, singing and playing was ‘ThenContinue reading “Then Jesus Came”

Last night we watched East Point Academy’s production of ‘High School Musical’: Students in predictable stereotypes – the basketball team, the studious geeks, the singing, dancing performers… divided by their differences… finally brought together by a common purpose… summed up in the final song: Everyone is special in their own wayWe make each other strongWe’reContinue reading “All in this Together”

Yesterday was Gilly’s funeral. His name was ‘Gilbert’, but he was always known as Gilly. Gilly, a cheerful, humble, unassuming Christian gentle man, was particularly kind to our family. Alec, paying tribute to Gilly, summed him up: ‘I knew how to hang a door, Gilly knew how to put paint on a wall; we gotContinue reading “The Long-Armed God”

Yesterday I went to church… ‘Lunchtime Prayers’ is a good opportunity to be still in the middle of the day’s busyness. We used a helpful liturgy that included: ‘In the midst of the day, we pause to reflect upon God’s goodness and mercy…’ I heard… ‘In the mist of the day…’ Here in Lowestoft, weContinue reading “Living in the Mist”

My annual journey through the Bible brought me this morning to the book of Numbers. Israel has left Egypt and is camped at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses instigates a national census. The total is in the millions! I read: These were the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari… TheContinue reading “Merari, Mahli and Mushi”

Last night’s news featured the rain – pictures of floods across the country, interviewing folks with flooded homes, forecasts of further rain, warning of more floods… There were young lambs wearing plastic raincoats; a farmer explaining their necessity… keeping lambs warm and dry… Apparently these raincoats also scare off foxes!           As a very young childContinue reading “Lambs in Raincoats”

Yesterday at church we remembered a well-known Bible story. Jesus has died and come back to life, telling his disciples, ‘Now it’s over to you. You’ve got to continue the work that I’ve started’. Jesus leaves his disciples… at Pentecost the Holy Spirit comes to help and empower them. ‘The Spirit of Jesus is withContinue reading “Now You Must Manage…”

I’ve come across this Chris Rice hymn recently. I’ve heard it before, but it’s been good to ‘rediscover’ it. Weak and wounded sinner, lost and left to dieO, raise your head for Love is passing byCome to Jesus, come to JesusCome to Jesus and liveI love the song’s simplicity. It’s about faith, hope and loveContinue reading “Come to Jesus (again)”