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I’m reading the book of Joshua. Moses has died; Joshua is leading Israel. This morning I read: ‘When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, The Lord said to him, ‘You are old and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.’’ It’s a time of reflection, taking stock… Assessment…Continue reading “Assessment, Achievement & Attitude”

Several friends facing change… …Ryan and Jess have been waiting for their first baby. The pregnancy has progressed. Baby was born last week… …After years of unhappiness in her job Mandy had a successful interview. She’s starting a new job… …Stu had many happy years with his partner. The relationship turned sour. He’s left herContinue reading “The Supporting Choir”

Scott Peck has introduced me to the ‘Holy Conjunction’ – the word ‘and’. Instead of thinking in an ‘either/or’ way he promotes a ‘both/and approach: ‘…a world where a business can make a profit and be ethical. Where a government can promote political order and social justice. Where medicine can be practiced with technical proficiencyContinue reading “The Holy Conjunction”

George Matheson was born in Glasgow on 27th March 1842, the eldest of eight children. He excelled at school and graduated with first class honours from Glasgow University, when he was only 19 years old. He went on to be a minister and author. Whilst at University he fell in love with a girl, aContinue reading “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go”

Early yesterday morning a seven-year-old girl came into a teacher-friend’s classroom clutching a small box. ‘What have you got there?’ my friend asked. ‘It’s my Valentine’s Day present from my boyfriend,’ she announced. She opened the box and displayed a small ring. ‘It’s a real diamond, you know… It cost 99p’ Choices of love… andContinue reading “Choices of Love and Life”

Yesterday Mike, who’s of similar age and decrepitude to me, was describing his diabetes, sleep apnoea, varying tests, conversations with doctors, hospital visits… and his ‘mentabolism’. I asked if he meant his ‘metabolism’. We joked about his mental state, that other tests that might be necessary to confirm his sanity – or otherwise… I rememberedContinue reading “The Metabolism of Love”

Last night we went to Norwich to see the musical ‘Hairspray’ – set in Baltimore in 1962 featuring big hearted Tracy Turnblad. It’s a story about the fight against racial discrimination, but it’s bigger than that. It’s a story about building a community that includes everyone – whatever their colour, size, appearance, class, age orContinue reading “Community… with Tracy, Scott & Peter”

On yesterday’s local news we saw a blue plaque, commemorating a child chimney sweep, being unveiled. Yesterday was the 150th anniversary of eleven-year-old George Brewster’s death… In 1875,George was forced to climb and clean the narrow chimney of a former pauper asylum at Victoria Park in Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire. He became trapped; a wall was pulledContinue reading “Choosing Vulnerability”

Last night we watched a school production of ‘Fame’. I remembered the 1980 film, and TV series… actors, dancers, musicians progressing through college. After learning about themselves and each other, about performing, about life, they finally graduate and sing ‘Bring on Tomorrow’: We have arrived at a moment in our livesWhen the future passes intoContinue reading “Bring on Tomorrow”

Yesterday Minister-Lou mentioned Thomas Kingston… Andrew White… At Bristol University friends described Kingston as a ‘very, very, very’ committed Christian. In 2004, in Iraq, negotiating the release of hostages and adjudicating disputes between warring leaders, Kingston worked alongside Canon Andrew White, the ‘Vicar of Baghdad’: ‘Tom has a fierce determination to make things succeed andContinue reading “Thomas Kingston… Four perspectives…”