Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

I popped round to church yesterday. I helped carry a Christmas tree. There was talk of the stable coming out(!) Some of us will be decorating the church next Saturday. Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent. We’re starting to prepare for Christmas. Wife-Rachel recently had a birthday. Son-Pete gave her a family calendar forContinue reading “Preparing, Planning, Predicting…”

The new roof for our conservatory has just arrived. Sections of roof are being unloaded off the lorry and stacked, ready for use. We’re told that the old roof will be off and the new one on by the end of the day. It’s like big boys’ Lego. The roof’s a lorry-load of made toContinue reading “Our New Roof…”

I was brought up in a church that sung standard Christian hymns. Then ‘Youth Praise’ was published, (book 1 in 1966, book 2 in 1969) containing new songs that expressed my faith in a new way. We enjoyed learning them; I learnt to play my guitar to accompany them. Number 267 was ‘For me toContinue reading “For Me To Live Is Christ”

Three things have made me smile this week. On Wednesday a banana, (bought earlier in the day for $0.35) duct-taped to a wall, fetched $6.2m (£4.9m) at Sotheby’s in New York. Apparently this ‘provocative artwork’ by Maurizio Cattelan called ‘Comedian’ was first unveiled to the public in 2019, became a viral sensation, and has travelledContinue reading “Bananas, Bawdy and Bert”

The temperature has dropped and snow has arrived this week. I’ve heard nine different responses: Active Enjoyers… ‘I love the sharp frosts; I enjoy wearing warm gloves and woolly hats; I want deep snow to play in. It’s my favourite time of year.’ Tough Fighters… ‘I carry on regardless. I still go swimming in theContinue reading “Responses to Winter”

I’m gradually playing through my CD collection… through the Bs – Bach, Beach Boys, Beatles… to the Cs – Johnny Cash… Yesterday it was Chas and Dave. I smiled a their old song ‘Mustn’t Grumble’. The principle is so British: Mustn’t grumble, don’t worry ’bout nothin’ my friendMustn’t grumble, ’cause all’s well that’s well inContinue reading “Mustn’t Grumble”

In 1994, Dave Shelton and Liz Whiston had to create an advertising campaign for the British wood stain and preservative manufacturer ‘Ronseal’. At the time flashy slogans were popular. Instead they decided to focus on a simple and to the point television advert. Needing a punchy tagline to finish the ad, they wrote ‘Does exactlyContinue reading “It Does What It Says On The Tin”

In Sunday School I learnt that life’s a journey, but I was confused… …I was sailing. I could invite Jesus to be my pilot, steering my little boat across life’s ocean. Storms may rock my boat, but Jesus can calm storms. Somehow I was also crossing the River Jordan… Eventually I’d reach my heavenly harbour.Continue reading “Journeying Well”

Yesterday morning minister-Lou quoted Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky, from his novel, The Brothers Karamazov: ‘Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams.’ On Saturday Rachel and I went to Norwich to watch ‘Birdsong’ – a play based on Sebastian Faulkes’ book… In 1912 Stephen Wraysford visits France where heContinue reading “Love… in Dreams and in Action”

Friday was the annual BBC Children in Need appeal. There was the three hour TV live show of music, celebrities and comedy; by the end of the evening over £39m had been raised for ‘Children in Need’ The Children in Need single this year was the Girls Aloud cover of ‘I’ll Stand by You’. Oh,Continue reading “I’ll Stand by You”