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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.”

Our radiator was leaking. It’s only two-and-a-half years old. We phoned Julian the supplier, and Kevin the plumber who’d fitted it. Kevin came ten days ago. ‘Your radiator is leaking.’ Kevin said. ‘I know that,’ I said. ‘You need a new one’, Kevin said. ‘I’ll ring Julian. ‘He’ll order us a new one.’ ‘OK’, IContinue reading “The Period of Without”

…I read this quote from the Victorian preacher Charles Spurgeon: ‘We must have only one aim. Had we plenty of time, we might try two or three schemes at once, though even then we should most probably fail for want of concentrating our energies; but as we have very little time, we had better economiseContinue reading “‘Devotion to One Reasonable Object’”

On Sunday Paula Radcliffe ran the Tokyo marathon. Having ended her athletics career with the 2015 London Marathon, she ran her first competitive marathon for 10 years, aged 51. Paula Ratcliffe is one of my athletic heroes. Her track races and marathons, her medals and records – her 2003 world record marathon time stood forContinue reading “Taking the Long-Term View”

George Bennard (1873-1958) was a methodist preacher, born in Ohio, but raised in Iowa. He started top write ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ in late 1912 as a reply to ridicule he received at a revival meeting. It was finished and first sung in January 1913. The original song had four verses… On a hill farContinue reading “The Old Rugged Cross”

Early yesterday morning as I was walking along the beach I saw a mum with a couple of young children. The children, wearing pyjamas and slippers, ran towards the sea and started throwing stones… I continued for another few hundred yards, then walked back along the promenade. Mum and children were coming off the beach.Continue reading “‘I-Don’t-Know’ World”