Author Archives: malcolmsmusingscom

Our Christmas has ended. The Christmas tree lights and decorations are back in boxes, Christmas cards have been taken down, nativity scenes are put away, the illuminated Santa’s back on the top shelf of the garage. Our house is back to normal. We’ve lived here for thirty seven years. We bought the house – bricks,Continue reading “Houses and Homes”

This morning, reading about Noah – ark, animals, floods… As the waters recede Noah thanks his God. The God who made the world, promises to sustain it: ‘As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.’ God establishes constants. If these constants areContinue reading “Challenging and Removing the Constants”

I read something yesterday that made me think. Referring to musicians it said: If you practice you get better. If you get better you play with better players. If you play with better players you play better music. If you play better music you have more fun. If you have more fun you practice more.Continue reading “Loops of Improvement”

Yesterday afternoon we saw New Zealand and Australia ‘welcoming in’ 2024. Then, as the Big Ben struck midnight, we saw a spectacular display of fireworks and lights over the London skyline. We ‘welcomed in’ 2024. The picture that I’ve imagined until now has me standing behind a door. 2024 knocks. I open the door andContinue reading “Welcome, 2024!”

There’s a place where the streets shineWith the glory of the Lamb.There’s a way, we can go there,We can live there beyond time. Because of You, because of You,Because of Your love,Because of Your blood. Each year I read through my Bible. On January 1st I start at the beginning of Genesis with creation andContinue reading “Because Of You”

Recently Jack spent several days in hospital; now he’s home, awaiting urgent surgery. His physical illness is affecting his mental health. Yesterday he said that he doesn’t recognise himself, quoting Shakespeare’s King Lear who says: ‘Doth any here know me? This is not Lear. Doth Lear walk thus, speak thus?…’ From being undisputed King andContinue reading “Who Am I?”

Yesterday… …The oil light had kept coming on in our car. For anything mechanical or technological I’m clueless. I opened the bonnet, found the dipstick, established that there wasn’t sufficient oil… At the local petrol station there were ten different sorts of oil. ‘How do I know which sort of oil I need?’ I askedContinue reading “But I Still Don’t Understand!”

Yesterday afternoon I walked along the seafront. The previous day the sky was blue; many were out trying to walk off their Christmas excesses. Yesterday the sky was grey, the wind was strong. Hardly anyone else was out. On the South Pier it was difficult to stand up. I walked back. Horizontal rain was comingContinue reading “Blowing in the Wind”

On Monday hundreds took part in the Lowestoft Christmas Day swim. It’s a good annual event that raises thousands of pounds for charity. I’m still amazed at the hardy souls who swim in the North Sea most days, all the year round. The exceedingly cold water is certainly a shock to the system! They sayContinue reading “A Shock to the System”

Yesterday… …We went to our Christmas Day church service. There were carols and prayers. Children and adults showed off their Christmas presents; others talked about their family Christmas traditions of not opening their presents until later… We lit our fifth advent candle and remembered the gift of the Christ-child – and how he brings usContinue reading “Christmas Gifts”