Resting on the windowsill in my study is a picture frame with five windows of varying shapes and sizes.  This is old and a little tacky, and I would happily have disposed of it long ago, but for the fact that it is populated with photographs of our daughter and son when they were very young, and these evoke memories … Read More

When out for my early morning walk today, I came across something that delighted my heart.  The day started rather cool, but bright.  Despite the low temperature, there were some white daffodils in bloom beside the path.  I love flowering bulbs, not because they provide the first signs of new life after the drabness of winter, but because of their … Read More

Our eight-year-old granddaughter came into my study the other day and, after considering a painting that hangs here, asked what it was about.  We acquired this particular picture as part of an auction lot some time ago; it isn’t one that Jean or I like.  You might wonder then why we have given it house room.  The quality of the … Read More

It is my long-established habit to read my Bible and talk with God at the start of each day.  Whilst always beneficial, this can be more rewarding on some days than others.  Today was one of those times when I felt especially close to him.  Before turning to prayer, I was thinking about a particular phobia that I have had … Read More

One time during my career as an IT Project Manager, my employer identified a training need for those whose role entailed delivering presentations.  Two external instructors were contracted to run residential courses designed to help us with public speaking and the communication of information.  Having trained at Bible College and being a regular preacher at that time, I didn’t feel … Read More

Let’s start by expanding this question beyond a brief headline: What is the mark of authenticity for a local expression of the church?  There are several things that we might think of as important.  We could suggest that denominational allegiance marks authenticity; some will consider that the major traditions have greater authenticity than more modern expressions of church, while many … Read More

As I descended the stairs after getting dressed this morning, it occurred to me that every item of my clothing was either black or grey, which is very unusual because I enjoy wearing colour.  Today’s attire wasn’t a deliberate choice but rather a coincidence; however, it has had a strange effect on how I feel, as though I am missing … Read More

The truth I recently heard a Christian speaker talk about the power of positive thinking, but I have asked myself if this is a concept that we should embrace as Christians.  What do you think? We can probably all agree that negative thinking isn’t good for our mental health, and we might also recognise that such thoughts may originate from … Read More

Aromas When out for a walk early one morning last autumn, there had been some miserly rain, such that the footpath was moist.  I caught just a hint of the familiar damp pavement scent – not something that we might describe as a pleasant odour, but a friendly one that those living in the UK have been used to from … Read More

A familiar story In the early hours of this morning, I found myself awake and thinking.  It wasn’t that I was worrying about something, but things from the past were going through my mind, and I wasn’t drifting back to sleep.  I haven’t needed to resort to this for a while, but eventually I got up, went downstairs, made a … Read More