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Three women… Gemma Hunt is an experienced TV presenter, used to being in the public eye. Writing in Premier Christianity she describes a morning visit to the gym alone, no responsibilities to others, no image to maintain, no expectations to live up to. Gemma describes the Biblical principle ‘of stillness, of retreat, of intentional withdrawal’Continue reading “Showing Up as Myself”

The Bear Hunt: Yesterday at church we were reminded of ‘The Bear Hunt’, popularised by Michael Rosen. A family, on a bear hunt, travel through various obstacles – long wavy grass… deep cold river… thick oozy mud… The repeated chorus is, ‘Can’t go over it, can’t go under it, we’ve got to go through it.’Continue reading “The Bear Hunt”

We sung this Elevation worship/ Brandon Lake song at church last Sunday. It stuck in my head. I’ve been singing it all week. I searched the worldBut it couldn’t fill meMan’s empty praiseAnd treasures that fadeAre never enough. Then You came alongAnd put me back togetherAnd every desireIs now satisfiedHere in Your love Oh, there’sContinue reading “Graves into Gardens”

‘Be in something for the long haul’ – ‘to intend to continue doing something until it is finished, even if it is difficult or unpleasant’ (Collins Dictionary) On Thursday I was at ‘Whitton Life’, our church ‘Community Hub’ on a local estate. Since 2000 there have been regular clubs and events. We’ve bought one shop,Continue reading “For the Long Haul”

Five things from yesterday Local Council Elections: I voted. Britain’s political map is changing. In this new era of multi-party politics, the elections in Wales, Scotland and England are seeing traditional conservative and labour voters changing allegiance. One TV commentator summed it up with two questions: ‘Who do you blame? Who do you trust?’ SirContinue reading “Difficult Important Questions”

This morning I met Maurice for the first time. Maurice, a springer spaniel puppy, was having his first walk on the beach. He was excited by everyone he met, every dog he met, loving any attention. Everyone was his friend so he reached out to everybody and everything. Yesterday Bill was telling me about hisContinue reading “Musing on ‘Reaching Out’”

This month’s ‘Premier Christianity’ reflects on Artemis II’s moon voyage: ‘…Alongside the scientific milestones, the journey was marked by moments of faith.’ It describes pilot Victor Glover’s faith… Jeremy Hansen’s Easter message ‘…the teachings of Jesus were always a very simple truth of love…’ Reid Wiseman, despite not being a ‘religious person,’ concluding there wasContinue reading “Between the Contradictions and the Clichés”

When Rachel started her nursing training and I started my teacher training ‘old’ was anyone over forty. Over the years the (often unspoken) rule has been that anybody twenty years older than me is old… Ten days ago, we met with friends who did their nursing training with Rachel; yesterday we met with friends whoContinue reading “What is Old?”

Last week an RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) magazine arrived. Bird and wildlife writer Simon Barnes describes the arrival of Spring: ‘The birds that live here all year are spectacular enough, but the whole show gets its edge from those that fly in to join us for the spring. We’re a countryContinue reading “Listening More Carefully…”

Later this morning I shall go to church. I shall go to meet friends, to be encouraged in my faith, to seek inspiration for the coming week… but most of all I shall go to refocus on God. I shall seek to see Him more clearly, understand Him better, and respond to Him in praise.Continue reading “Come People of the Risen King (2)”