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Yesterday at our (Baptist) church I was reminded… How many Baptists does it take to change a lightbulb? At least 15. One to change the lightbulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the cake. For Balance…How many Anglicans does it take to change a lightbulb? None. They always use candles.Continue reading “Changing a Lightbulb”

I’m no longer a slave to fearI am a child of God At church this morning we shall sing these words repeatedly stating that our relationship with God takes way our fear. It’s simple yet profound message, speaking of my identity as God’s child that brings freedom and strength. You unravel me with a melodyYouContinue reading “No Longer Slaves”

Yesterday we attended Lilian’s funeral service. Lilian has been a respected, longstanding member of our church family. She founded our church Girls Brigade company and was its captain for many years. She was clear-thinking and outspoken, patient, generous and kind. We celebrated Lilian’s life together; heard stories, learnt more about her. Anecdotes were told thatContinue reading “Lilian, Cornelius, and Passing Time,”

Reading Elizabeth Oldfield’s ‘Fully Alive’ has led me to muse on two words… Character: We use character in two contexts: …A person’s character consists of all the qualities that make them distinct from others, particularly their moral qualities. …The people in a book, film or play are the characters that together make up the story.Continue reading “Character and Enthusiasm”

Reading this morning… Moses is negotiating with Pharoah. Sticks become snakes, water becomes blood. There’s a plague of frogs… then a plague of gnats. Pharoah’s magicians say, ‘This is the finger of God…’ Musing… fingers… Small Fingers: I remember ‘twenty tiny fingers’ from children’s radio. My education at home and at school involved my fingers…Continue reading “The Power of the Finger”

Yesterday’s news showed the Princess of Wales visiting the Royal Marsden Hospital, west London, where last year she’d received treatment for her cancer. Catherine thanked staff and talked empathetically with cancer patients… Catherine said she was doing well, adding: ‘Sometimes from the outside we all think you’ve finished treatment and you go back to things.Continue reading “Discovering a New Normal”

Yesterday I visited our local James Paget Hospital. The sign by the car park entrance said ‘SPACES’ in green illuminated letters. It lied. There was no room. I joined thirty other cars driving round the car park waiting for someone to leave. Eventually a space became available. This ‘No Room’ required patience. In ‘Alice inContinue reading “No Room, No Room!”

Yesterday was Sunday. I went to church where minister-Lou preached a sermon. All of my life I’ve listened to sermons. Some Christian traditions have brief ‘homilies’. The churches I’ve attended have had full blown sermons of some length. Sermons have taught me, encouraged me, angered me, and occasionally sent me to sleep. Some preachers areContinue reading “The Unpredictable Sermon”

Yesterday morning I was thinking about A Christmas Carol, that highlights a divided society – particularly between the rich and the poor. Scrooge a self-centred, miserly, grumpy old man has money, but doesn’t understand or care for the poor… West Side Story also tells of division, between rival New York Gangs – the white AmericanContinue reading “One Hand, One Heart”

Yesterday we watched a wonderful production of Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. It was fun… many characters played by just four actors. Ebenezer Scrooge, an miserly, unpleasant old man, is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of Jacob Marley… The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come, show Scrooge how hisContinue reading “Meeting our Scrooges”