Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

This morning, reading about Solomon… King David, his father, dies; Solomon becomes king. God promises Solomon anything he wants; Solomon asks for wisdom… ‘a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong’. Two prostitutes, a dead baby and a living baby come to Solomon. Both women claim the living baby.Continue reading “Babies, Budgets and Bridges”

It’s been a funny old morning. First thing this morning there was a frost. The sun was shining but it was cold. I went for a walk along the beach. I returned home. It clouded over and started raining. Hanging the washing out on the line had to be postponed… The clouds passed; the showerContinue reading “Sunshine After The Rain”

Yesterday seemed to be about weak people being strong… …Reading about Holodomor. In ‘The Memory Keeper of Kyiv’ Erin Littekin reimagines 1930s Ukraine, where Stalin creates ‘Holodomor’, a man-made famine that took nearly four million lives… …Stalin’s men arrive in Katya’s village, pressurising her friends and family to join ‘the collective’. Some are taken andContinue reading “Strength Through Weakness”

On Friday, at ‘Music for wellbeing’ we sung, ‘You gotta start somewhere if you wanna get anywhere…’ There’s the old joke… A motorist from London is lost in the depths of Norfolk. He stops in a village and asks a local, ‘Excuse me, my man, could you kindly explain to me how I might getContinue reading “From Somewhere to Anywhere”

Getting: Recently I’ve had conversations about getting… new cars, a new house, Easter eggs, another job, a pay rise, a new guitar. We’re consumers; we get stuff… On Sunday morning Minister-Lou told of the rich young ruler who came to see Jesus. He had money, possessions, privilege, influence, success, high moral standards… …There’s still pressureContinue reading “Getting, Giving and Receiving.”

2 Samuel tells of King David’s reign. Some stories are familiar: Chapter 9 – Mephibosheth: David shows kindness to the disabled son of his friend Jonathan. It was one of my Grandmother’s favourites, with lessons of undeserved generosity, positive discrimination, bringing dignity to the disadvantaged, giving without expecting any return. Chapter 11 – Bathsheba: TheContinue reading “Hanun’s Mistake”

For my ‘Sunday Song this week I’ve chosen ‘Peace in the Valley’. I guess the version I first heard was Elvis or Jim Reeves… It was written by blues and gospel writer Thomas A. Dorsey in 1939. Dorsey was on a train travelling through southern Indiana; War was about to break out across the world.Continue reading “Peace In The Valley”

Two particular stories caught my eye in yesterday’s Lowestoft Journal: ‘The Thatch’ is having its roof repaired. We often go there for a coffee. It’s on the sea front, overlooking Lowestoft beach. In January scaffolding was erected and work began. The manager is reported as saying: ‘It was in dire need of repairs and wasContinue reading “Repair or Rebuild?”

Last night we watched Ghostbusters performed by Fabba, our local theatre company for adults with learning disabilities. There were ghosts, the paranormal and Halloween-type characters… acting, singing and dancing… a tenuous plot involving Lowestoft and Blythburgh… If there’s somethin’ strange in the neighbourhoodWho ya gonna call? Ghostbusters! It was enthusiastic, inclusive and joyful. Adults whoContinue reading “Unreservedly All Good”

This morning I read about the friendship between David and Jonathan. Following his famous victory over the giant Goliath David was a national hero. Jonathan’s dad, King Saul, was jealous of David and hated him. Jonathan’s loyalty to his father was often challenged by his loyalty to his friend David. Musician, country boy David andContinue reading “Friendship – Transcending Differences and Difficulties.”