Category Archives: Uncategorized

Huntingdon Stabbing: On Saturday night there was news of a train in Huntingdon station, stabbing, emergency services… the details were unclear. All Bad: This morning I read Romans chapter 3. I’m drawn to verse 23: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ I learnt it as a teenager… that it’sContinue reading “All Bad, All Good, Or What?”

On Saturday I went to our Seagull Theatre to see the Halloween Show ‘The Gory Laboratory’. The theatre had been full of parents and young children for performances on Thursday and Friday… There were jokes, songs, slapstick, magic tricks… audience participation, children on stage, pantomime traditions… excellent scenery, music, sound-effects… a mad professor and hisContinue reading “Home, Sweet Home”

Yesterday afternoon I was out in the garage tidying up, putting stuff away on long, high up shelves. Without warning three six-foot shelves came away from the wall. Cans of paint, electric leads, random tools and various items that ‘might come in useful one day’, together with the shelves, all fell towards me. I foundContinue reading “A Living Prayer”

Today, November 1st, is All Hallows Day, All Saints Day. Yesterday was Halloween – All Hallows Evening. For some it’s an opportunity for dressing up and having harmless fun, for traditions and celebrations; some focus on the horror books, films and characters that have become part of our culture – they enjoy the scary; othersContinue reading “Halloween – Where Good Meets Evil”

Yesterday morning I went to ‘Whitton Life’, our church community café, for ‘FISH’. Many families were there for a free breakfast. Our chaplains offered hand massages and chat around coping strategies and spirituality, the Town Council were doing autumn crafts, and our local police officer popped in to say hi & give out stickers. ItContinue reading “Mnemonics and Remembering”

I’m the third of four brothers. Throughout my childhood my grandmother lived with us, so together with my parents there were seven of us in a small, three-bedroomed house. I was never alone at home. Many of my childhood memories are with other children… an eight-year-old at school in a class of fifty… our churchContinue reading “You Are Not Alone”

Yesterday my friend Roy sent me a message: ‘Are you free for a game of chess this morning?’ I was. We met at a local hotel… The message got my attention – I enjoy playing chess; drinking coffee, chatting and playing chess held my attention for a couple of hours. Yesterday afternoon I received anContinue reading “Getting, Holding My Attention”

We’re busy doin’ nothin’Workin’ the whole day throughTryin’ to find lots of things not to doWe’re busy going nowhereIsn’t it just a crimeWe’d like to be unhappy, butWe never do have the time I’m grateful that I was brought up with my parents’ post-war work ethic. Keep busy. Make yourself useful. Find things to do.Continue reading “Busy Doing Nothing”

Norwich City lost to Swansea on Saturday – their fifth successive defeat. They’re second from bottom in the Championship. American owner Mark Antanassio is flying in this week; Head Coach Liam Manning is under pressure. Manning says: ‘I want to keep fighting . I want to get the lads on board in terms of themContinue reading “Facing Defeat”

I was brought up to go to a church where we sung traditional hymns written in previous centuries by writers with wonderful names – Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, Francis Ridley Havergal, Cecil Francis Alexander… and Fanny J Crosby. I was delighted that one of her hymns has been ‘re-discovered’ recently. Her original words have beenContinue reading “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross”