Category Archives: Uncategorized

My annual journey through the Bible brought me this morning to the book of Numbers. Israel has left Egypt and is camped at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses instigates a national census. The total is in the millions! I read: These were the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari… TheContinue reading “Merari, Mahli and Mushi”

Last night’s news featured the rain – pictures of floods across the country, interviewing folks with flooded homes, forecasts of further rain, warning of more floods… There were young lambs wearing plastic raincoats; a farmer explaining their necessity… keeping lambs warm and dry… Apparently these raincoats also scare off foxes!           As a very young childContinue reading “Lambs in Raincoats”

Yesterday at church we remembered a well-known Bible story. Jesus has died and come back to life, telling his disciples, ‘Now it’s over to you. You’ve got to continue the work that I’ve started’. Jesus leaves his disciples… at Pentecost the Holy Spirit comes to help and empower them. ‘The Spirit of Jesus is withContinue reading “Now You Must Manage…”

I’ve come across this Chris Rice hymn recently. I’ve heard it before, but it’s been good to ‘rediscover’ it. Weak and wounded sinner, lost and left to dieO, raise your head for Love is passing byCome to Jesus, come to JesusCome to Jesus and liveI love the song’s simplicity. It’s about faith, hope and loveContinue reading “Come to Jesus (again)”

Amanda Seyfried was on TV last night promoting her new film ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’… Ann Lee was a poor woman in eighteenth-century Manchester England who joined a sect known as ‘The Shakers’ for their ecstatic dancing and singing during worship. In 1774, Lee and a small group of Shakers sailed from Liverpool toContinue reading “Breaking Barriers”

Yesterday I remembered getting married and saying, ‘I will…’ It was in the church where I grew up and was taught Bible stories… where people said ‘I will’. …Elimelech, Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Killion live in Bethlehem. There’s a famine… they move to Moab… the two boys marry local girls, Orpah andContinue reading “Four People Who Said ‘I Will’”

Yesterday afternoon Rachel and I went to see our solicitor to amend our wills… Fifty-four years ago Dad led our wedding service. In front of family and friends he asked me: ‘Will you, have Rachel to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, and forsaking all others remain true to her,Continue reading “The Last Will…”

Yesterday included… …popping into the Seagull Theatre, talking about ongoing projects, upcoming shows, a grant that will ease our cashflow. Most exciting – there’s to be a new ice cream supplier with a new freezer display cabinet! …twelve-year-old grandson-Luca coming for tea… instructing me on some of the music he listens to… discussing the differenceContinue reading “Ice Cream, Austin and Costly Love”

On Sunday Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open tennis championship final. BBC’s Amy Lofthouse reported: ‘Watching Alcaraz is, for the most part, like watching sunshine personified. There is a carefree joy in his shot-making; the huge forehand that goes blasting through every surface, the drop shots and volleys that few would dareContinue reading “The Offering”

Three random ideas caught my attention yesterday. On ‘The Antiques Roadshow’ yesterday evening an expert talked about a ‘trompe l’oeil’. I hadn’t heard of it before, so I had to ask Mr Google. Apparently, it translates from French as ‘deceive the eye’. It’s a technique used in painting and other visual arts to create realisticContinue reading “Deception, Love and Death”