Category Archives: Uncategorized

Destructive Truth: ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ tells of a 17-year-old suffering with social anxiety and depression. His therapist encourages him to write letters to himself: ‘…I’m giving up, I’m giving in, I’m not fighting it any more. Nothing changes. It doesn’t get better. It doesn’t get easier. You don’t get any wiser. You just get older.Continue reading “What Is Truth?”

In ‘One leg too few’ Peter Cook plays a casting agent; Dudley Moore’s a one-legged actor auditioning for the part of Tarzan. As the interview progresses Cook points out that Tarzan is ‘a role which traditionally involves the use of a two-legged actor’, and that ‘it is in the leg division that you are deficient.’Continue reading “The Advantage of Two Legs”

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemerThere is no more for heaven now to giveHe is my joy, my righteousness, and freedomMy steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace To this I hold, my hope is only JesusFor my life is wholly bound to HisOh how strange and divine, I can sing, “All isContinue reading “Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me”

In ‘Half a Sixpence’ Arthur Kipps feels out of place with the rich upper class. His speech, interests, and life experiences are very different from theirs. He gets out his banjo and, after a hesitant start, everyone joins in singing: Pick out a simple tune.Pick out a simple tune with rhythm.People start to clap, yourContinue reading “Pick Out A Simple Tune”

Last night we watched ‘Kipps – the new Half a Sixpence musical’. Based on the H.G. Wells novel, it’s a classic rags-to-riches story about class differences… Arthur Kipps, a poor orphan, is raised by his aged aunt and uncle. He leaves them, and his childhood sweetheart, Ann, to become a draper’s assistant… Arthur unexpectedly inheritsContinue reading “The Right Choice”

Yesterday… Three ‘I just don’t know’ moments when I resorted to my phone… …Stephen was explaining… Many years ago, as an apprentice, he learnt the term of abuse ‘monkey-hanger’… ‘You know the story?’ he said. I didn’t. My phone did: During the Napoleonic Wars a French ship was wrecked off Hartlepool. The only survivor wasContinue reading “I Just Don’t Know”

In 1966 my brother Chris went to Bible college in Birmingham, studying the Bible, theology and church history, preparing him for a life of Christian service in France. In 2008, when I retired from teaching, I went to Bible college in London… Throughout my life, friends and family members have attended Bible College, receiving trainingContinue reading “Seminary”

Today, June 11th, is St Barnabas’ Day Encouragement: The early followers of Jesus included Joseph. They nicknamed him ‘Son of Encouragement’  or ‘Barnabas’. A friend’s employer is constantly discouraging her – ‘Work harder… work differently… get it right.’ In the current political climate everyone’s looking for someone to blame – conservatives, immigrants, ‘liberal-lefties’… In churchesContinue reading “St Barnabas”

Our friend Jill sometimes says, ‘It’s a bit tricky’, referring to family challenges, health problems, relational difficulties, tight time schedules… I identify with Jill’s words; life is often a bit tricky. Each Sunday evening Rachel and I ‘do diaries’. In Rachel’s ‘Family Organiser’ all family events are written. My 49p diary records what I rememberContinue reading “It’s A Bit Tricky…”

The eightieth anniversary of the D-day landings this week reminded us of those who gave their lives for our freedom, those who survived with permanent scars… I remembered this Graham Kendrick song, often called ‘Battle Hymn’. There’s a sound on the wind like a victory song,Listen now, let it rest on your soul.It’s a songContinue reading “There’s a Sound on the Wind”