Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

One of Jesus’ disciples comes to him and says, ‘Lord teach us to pray.’ Jesus replies with the prayer that has become known as The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come.Thy will be doneon earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive usContinue reading “The Lord’s Prayer”

This morning I read more of the Abraham narrative. God comes to Abraham, an childless old man, telling him that the apparently impossible will happen: he will have a big family… We’ve been watching Wolf Hall, a TV drama series about Henry VIII. His desire for a son resulted in action, leading to national politicalContinue reading “Lessons in Faith”

Bear Grylls tells of Andreas Hinterstoisser who, in 1938, was climbing the North face of the Eiger. To cross a previously impassable section of rock he used his body as a pendulum to swing across. This climbing technique became known as the ‘Hinterstoisser Traverse’; apparently it’s still used today. Grylls says: ‘We all face obstaclesContinue reading “The Hinterstoisser Traverse”

Resolutions: It’s a New Year with New Resolutions. Some friends, pleased to see the back of 2024 are hoping that 2025 is better, facing it with renewed determination, looking forward to fresh opportunities, starting again, moving on to the next chapter of their lives. A friend was telling me… ‘My New Year’s resolution for 2024Continue reading “Resolutions, Review, Reality… and my Response”

I had a weird dream last night. I was on a course that started early in the morning. Friends and colleagues were also there. We were working out where to go as there were lots of people in an unfamiliar building. I looked down. I wasn’t wearing any trousers! I was deeply embarrassed. I hadContinue reading “No Trousers”

On Christmas Eve the Pakefield Church held their walking nativity. Hundreds of people walked around the streets of Pakefield encountering sheep and shepherds, donkeys and wise men, and other familiar characters from the Christmas story. At the start of the route participants signed in at the Emperor Census station; some stopped to join the innkeeperContinue reading “Jesus and Ordinary People”

Yesterday, in our last church service of 2024, Stephen reflected on our past, future and present… Past… Yesterday’s TV films included Dirty Dancing that ends with reconciliation, resolution, and the final song: Now, I’ve had the time of my lifeNo, I never felt like this beforeYes, I swear, it’s the truthAnd I owe it allContinue reading “Stephen…Johnny, Eugene & Jimmy”

I first heard ‘Sweet Little Jesus Boy’ many years ago; I’ve rediscovered it recently. It was written in 1934 by Robert MacGimsey, a white man heavily influenced by the spirituals and gospel music of the Black church community he grew up in Louisiana. The story goes that one snowy Christmas Eve MacGimsey walked past drunkenContinue reading “Sweet Little Jesus Boy”

I was given several books for Christmas – including ‘A Burning in my Bones’ – Winn Collier’s biography of Eugene Peterson. Eugene recalls early memories, working in his dad’s butcher’s shop: ‘The people who came into our shop were not just customers. Something else defined them. It always seemed more like a congregation than aContinue reading “Gently, Safely, Carefully.”

We were sitting round the table eating and chatting. Eleven-year-old grandson-Luca declared that he was a ‘pre-teen’; nineteen-year-old grand-daughter Hannah, looking forward to her next birthday declared that she was a pre-twenty-er. Luca asked daughter-Jo about when she completes her ministerial training. She explained that she’ll be a ‘reverend’. So the principle is that we’reContinue reading “Difficult questions, with Luca, Brian and John.”