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On Sunday at church… today I read… the story of ‘The Prodigal Son’… The son who takes his father’s money, spends it, and in desperation feeds pigs. .. The turning point comes when he says to himself: ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger.Continue reading “I Will…“

It’s autumn; the seasons are changing; four signs: …Our apple tree has done well this year. Some apples have already been enjoyed by the family in pies and crumbles; some are stored for later. …Yesterday I was raking leaves that have fallen from our horse-chestnut tree in front of our house. …Recently we’ve had ourContinue reading “Changing Seasons“

At the time – now we remember. A headline in my newspaper: ‘Marmalade sales surge following The Queen’s death.’ Apparently ‘There has been an 18% rise in sales of marmalade in the UK in September, seemingly in tribute to a sketch the late monarch performed with Paddington Bear…’ Paddington’s tea at Buckingham Palace… the QueenContinue reading “Marmalade Sales Surge…“

As a child I didn’t like history… I thought my history teacher was boring. History was irrelevant. I could manage without it. I worked with good history teachers in schools… I observed some of their lessons. History became fascinating… I became interested in local history… My interest grew… As a child I loved Christian faith…Continue reading “Thomas Bilney“

Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here;Come bow before him now with reverence and fear… This beautiful song has meant a lot to me over the years… …It calls me to be still. If I’m not busy doing stuff or involved in some activity I’m planning what comes next.Continue reading “Be Still for the Presence of the Lord“

Yesterday we went to a friend’s house in Norfolk. Each year a group of us try to meet up. We first met as young Christians in Derby where we trained as teachers 50+ years ago. Marriages have lasted; faith, although sometimes rocked, remains strong. I’m always encouraged. Yesterday there were 11 of us. We’ve gotContinue reading “Beyond This Point…“

Yesterday I was helping in the kitchen of our church community café. The other gent who works in the café (also called Malcolm) started singing (as he does). It was the old nursery rhyme: Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of ryeFour and twenty blackbirds baked in a pieWhen the pie was openedContinue reading “Blackbirds“

Last night we went to see the ‘Lowestoft Players’ perform Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’. It’s about three ordinary women, working in an office, who overthrow their company’s autocratic boss who’s a ‘sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot’. Three women… Violet’s a competent office manager – but overlooked for promotion because she’s just a woman; JudyContinue reading “Backwoods Barbie“

On Sunday our church service started with filling a shoe box with Christmas presents for needy children. It finished with Jon preaching about Jesus, a courtroom drama… a jury box, witness box… Musing… the boxes that I’m in… I’m often in the Jury Box… searching for truth, listening to evidence, weighing up pros and cons,Continue reading “I’m in a Box…“

I say, ‘Good morning’ to 4 groups of people: I love Bob Dylan’s ‘God gave names to the animals’ that ‘explains’ how man named bear, cow, bull, pig, sheep, snake… When children visit the zoo they enjoy naming the animals… ‘Meercat, giraffe, orang-utang…’ When we’re out with our binoculars we enjoy identifying birds… ‘snipe, avocet,Continue reading “The Name Makes It Personal“