Category Archives: Uncategorized

I was brought up to go to a church where we sung traditional hymns written in previous centuries by writers with wonderful names – Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, Francis Ridley Havergal, Cecil Francis Alexander… and Fanny J Crosby. I was delighted that one of her hymns has been ‘re-discovered’ recently. Her original words have beenContinue reading “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross”

Pat Barker’s ‘Regeneration’ is set in a Scottish psychiatric hospital in 1917. ‘The congregation struggled to its feet… A preliminary wheeze from the organ, then: ‘God moves in a mysterious wayHis wonders to perform…’ Since the Somme, this seemed to have been the nation’s most popular hymn… The horrors of First World War trench warfare…Continue reading “Mysterious Ways”

Yesterday we went David’s funeral. We’ve known David and his family for many years. David was a carpenter by trade, a skilled craftsman who could turn his hand to most practical tasks – he fitted our bathroom for us. David was a kind, generous man, always helping someone with something or other. He didn’t madeContinue reading “Working Wholeheartedly”

On Monday, in the greenhouse, I was sorting out my tomato plants. I put on my gardening gloves and started work. I felt a sharp stinging pain in the palm of my left hand. I took off my glove quickly. A large wasp flew out. He was as unhappy with the situation as I was.Continue reading “Seeing Through Different Eyes”

Yesterday I was chatting to Ron. Ron works for the Waitrose… In 1904 Wallace Waite, Arthur Rose and David Taylor opened a small grocery store, Waite, Rose & Taylor, in Acton, West London. David Taylor left; it became “Waitrose”. The company has grown and developed to become a high quality supermarket chain. Ron explained… ThisContinue reading “Passionate Partners”

Light: On Sunday in church we reflected on Jesus’ words: ‘I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness…’  On another occasion Jesus says to his followers, ‘You are light to the world…’ so we sing, ‘This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine’… Yesterday HindusContinue reading “Black Over Bill’s Mother”

This morning I read Acts 10. Peter, an unknown, uneducated Jewish fisherman, who’s followed Jesus for three years, is gaining influence as a church leader. Cornelius, a Roman Captain in the Italian regiment, has power and influence in military circles. As an Israeli Jew, Peter has established opinions and prejudices about Gentiles and invading RomanContinue reading “To Change or Not to Change”

Battle Hymn of the Republic was written in 1861 in the American Civil War. Then it was a rallying call for the Union army; now it’s seen by many as a patriotic anthem: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrathContinue reading “Your Peace Will Make Us One”

In ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ the Caterpillar askes Alice to recite a poem. Alice starts: “You are old, father William,” the young man said,“And your hair has become very white;And yet you incessantly stand on your head,Do you think, at your age, it is right? The poem’s a conversation between a son and his oldContinue reading “Older People and Remarkable Achievements”

Late Wednesday night… there was the sound of a helicopter overhead… Apparently, just after 10pm, there’d been reports of shouting and screaming near the rocks on north Lowestoft beach. Fearing that someone had fallen into the sea, emergency services were alerted. The Lowestoft lifeboat, HM Coastguard rescue team, and police all responded. A coastguard helicopterContinue reading “Missing? Nothing There”