Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

The Advert In a long-running television advert a Welshman, pretending to be Italian, advertises ‘GoCompare’ who will provide the best price for car insurance, home insurance or other financial services. I’m not surprised that it was voted the most annoying advert two years running! The Competition We play ‘Go Compare’: Someone tells their story. SomeoneContinue reading “Go Compare – The problem”

What a friend we have in Jesus,All our sins and griefs to bear.What a privilege to carryEverything to God in prayer.Oh, what peace we often forfeit,Oh, what needless pain we bear,All because we do not carryEverything to God in prayer. Joseph Scriven, who wrote this well-known hymn, was born in Ireland. As a young manContinue reading “What a Friend we Have in Jesus”

Yesterday I saw this diagram. I mused on illustrations of ‘the bits you can’t see’…. The iceberg – see above, and remember the Titanic. The tree’s roots – keeping the tree healthy and stable. A house’s foundations – deep or non-existent, built on rock or on sand. My heart – I have never seen myContinue reading “The Bits You Can’t See”

We are told that, through not attending school over the last six months, children are behind in their English and maths. They have missed out on learning, affecting academic competence, progress, exam results, university entrance and getting a job. We need skilled, competent people: bakers to provide good bread, car mechanics to keep our carsContinue reading “Competency is not enough”

It’s raining; children are returning to school. For many years the first day of a new school year was important for me – returning children, new children, prepared teachers, eager anticipation… …and my first school assembly. I sometimes used a map with ‘you are here’ on it, talking about varied past journeys, exciting future opportunities…Continue reading “You are Here”

…Then one sunny dayI saw the old man’s faceFront page obituaryHe was a millionaireHe left his fortune toSome guy he barely knewHis kids were mad as hellBut me, I’m doing well God is greatBeer is goodAnd people are crazy Unexpected ending: The old man was a millionaire and left his money to the young manContinue reading “God, Beer, People and Surprises”

This old man and meWere at the bar and weWere having us some beers andSwapping I don’t caresTalking politicsBlonde and red-haired chicksOld dogs and new tricks andHabits we ain’t kickedWe talked about God’s graceAnd all the hell we raisedThen I heard the old man say God is greatBeer is goodAnd people are crazy. My friend PeterContinue reading “God, Beer, People and Stereotypes”

Last week Alice sent me an email: “I was scheduled for surgery at 1.00 pm…  Mr Menon called me into his room to check the eye before the procedure.  As I sat down in front of the machine I said to him, “Well I’ve surgery in this theatre 6 times and this will be theContinue reading “Eye Surgery”

So send I you to labour unrewarded,To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown,To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing-So send I you to toil for Me alone. I sung this hymn as a student. It’s based on Jesus words to his disciples, ‘As my Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ His mission isContinue reading “So Send I You”

Two months ago was our 48th wedding anniversary; two weeks ago we congratulated Josh and Becca on their engagement. This week was Jo and Allan’s (daughter and son-in law) 20th Wedding Anniversary. Allan wrote of their relationship: ”A life together full of adventures and adversities; beginnings and blessings; transitions and travels; hardships and holidays; changesContinue reading “3 Rs – Relationships”