Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Yesterday morning Minister-Lou told us that she’d met the Bishop of Chelmsford. I looked her up… Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani… Her brother was murdered during 1979’s Iranian revolution… she fled Iran in 1980 to the UK aged 14…now Bishop of Chelmsford… The BBC asked her about the Iran war: ‘…like most Iranians, and most sensible people,Continue reading “There’s Many Sides…”

Throughout the history of mankind there has been music; when Christians have worshiped their God they have used music. In my lifetime I’ve declared truths about God in old hymns, I’ve proclaimed the gospel of Jesus in songs of salvation, I’ve appreciated the presence and power of the God’s Holy Spirit in modern worship songs.Continue reading “Salt and Light”

At our ‘Music for Wellbeing’ group we often sing rounds or ‘quodlibets’ – songs that can be sung simultaneously. Yesterday’s included ‘Three Blind Mice’: Three blind mice, three blind mice,See how they run!They all run after the farmer’s wife,Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,Did you ever see such a thing in yourContinue reading “Mice, Vegetables and Choices”

Yesterday… …My friend Jack reminded me of Hamlet. Despairing, feeling hopeless, disillusioned with the world, humanity and his own life Hamlet says: What a piece of work is a man, how noble inreason, how infinite in faculties, in form and movinghow express and admirable; in action how likean angel, in apprehension how like a god:Continue reading “What Piece of Work is Man…”

Often when nearly-thirteen-year-old-grandson-Luca gets into our car, he presses a few buttons on his phone, and we listen to his playlist. My musical education is furthered with Bruno Mars or Ariana Grande. This week I was surprised and delighted to be hearing ELO’s ‘Mr Blue Sky’! Mr. Blue SkyPlease tell us whyYou had to hideContinue reading “Mr Blue Sky”

Our friend Tim was confessing to enjoying ‘Flanders and Swann’ songs. Songs that he learnt as a child he still remembers word for word. Their humour is still appreciated by folks ‘of a certain age’. Their repertoire included ‘The Hippopotamus Song’. The hippopotamus is presented as a happy creature; the song celebrates the joy ofContinue reading “Musing on Hippos”

1st March was the beginning of meteorological spring. Spring has certainly started in our garden. Snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils are flowering, birds are more active, newts are surfacing in the pond… I love the rhythm of the seasons. We’ve had a few days of blue skies and sunshine.  Last night I was with friends Steve andContinue reading “The Moon, the Rainbow, the Kingfisher and the Jordan.”

Minister-Lou preached on ‘Embracing Adventure’ yesterday morning at church: Jesus’ disciples are in a boat… there’s high winds and rough water… Jesus walks on the water towards them… Peter gets out of the boat and walks on the water to Jesus… It was about the bold and courageous, taking risks, attempting the apparently impossible… relinquishingContinue reading “In Contrast…”

The Brandon Lake song ‘Gratitude’ was chosen for the service last Sunday morning. I’d not heard it before. I listened to it. Together with the other musicians I learned and practiced it on the Wednesday before the service. I wasn’t convinced that it was a song for congregational worship. We sung it in church onContinue reading “Gratitude”

On Facebook yesterday our friend Jon posted: ‘First Grandfather Clock repair completed’. Jon’s combined his engineering skills with patience and determination to make his old clock go… like clockwork. ‘Like clockwork’ implies dependability, precision… working well… happening in exactly the way it’s expected to… no disruptions or problems. If only life were like that… FiveContinue reading “Like Clockwork”