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Flimsy Walls: The prophet Ezekiel was challenged by religious and political leaders who deceived the people, saying, ‘‘Peace’, when there is no peace’. (13:10) Ezekiel tells the story of men who build a flimsy, rickety wall. To cover its fragility, they cover it in whitewash. It looks good, but isn’t fit for purpose. Then theContinue reading “Walls – Flimsy or Solid”

This song has good memories for me – Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker singing… Richard Gere in the 1982 film ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’… the message of faith, hope and love – themes found in Psalm 103 Who knows what tomorrow brings?In a world, few hearts surviveAll I know is the way I feelWhen it’sContinue reading “Up Where We Belong”

I spent yesterday evening at The Jolly Sailors with Martin. The pub was full – the Friday evening drink, fish and chips, friends out together. We chatted about work, families, politics, football, Lowestoft… usual stuff. People left. No-one drunk and disorderly; all under control… Opposite us a group of folks were drinking, laughing, merry… AContinue reading “It’s All Under Control”

Our friend Jane often says, ‘It’s all a bit tricky.’ Jane uses it when talking about health concerns, family relationships, church disagreements. It’s a useful phrase in all sorts of situations… I joined a conversation. I overheard Johnny say, ‘operation’, ‘successful and doing well’. ‘Sorry… who are we talking about?’ I asked. ‘It’s my daughter,’Continue reading “It’s All A Bit Tricky”

I love the Bible’s presentation of life’s realities. It starts with Genesis: God creates a beautiful world, but within a page there is lying and deception… then a jealous man kills his brother… Before Genesis ends there’s greed, rape, incest, prostitution, deception and exploitation… …Even the Jesus story starts with a teenage unmarried mother, homelessContinue reading “Jeremiah and Hope”

I’ve never liked colouring in. I know all children are supposed to enjoy it; I didn’t. I know that some adults enjoy it; please don’t ask me to join you. I still find it boring, mindless and pointless. I know that colouring books are good for children to practice fine motor control, that encouraging  accuracy,Continue reading “Colouring Outside the Lines”

‘With Empty Hands’ says: In 1888 ‘…a fifteen-year-old girl named Thérèse Martin knocked on the door of the Carmel of Lisieux in Normandy. She was admitted and stayed there until she died nine years later.’ In 1895, Thérèse wrote of her God: ‘I want to work solely for your love, with the one intention ofContinue reading “Empty Hands”

Yesterday’s BBC’s ‘Songs of Praise’ featured Graham Kendrick’s great song ‘Beauty for Brokenness’ and ‘Kintsugi’ – repairing broken pottery with gold, and making it beautiful… Beauty and Brokenness: Throughout our lives beauty and brokenness live side by side. One family we know are devastated by an unexpected death, but are excited by the news ofContinue reading “Beauty and Brokenness”

Daughter-Jo gave me a present – a 1925 edition of a Golden Bells hymn book. The ‘Foreword’ states: ‘For thirty-five years ‘Golden Bells’ has occupied a position that is unique amongst the collections of hymns now in use. It has been the special purpose of this book to put ‘the songs of Zion’ into theContinue reading “Lord Speak to Me”

At Men’s Shed the other day a number of gents were telling stories of their work at sea – African ports, North Sea fish, extreme weather conditions… We recalled Grace Darling… One stormy morning in September 1838, Grace, the twenty-two-year-old daughter of a lighthouse keeper, spotted the wreck and survivors of a boat that hadContinue reading “Grace – Straightforward?”