Luke’s preface tells us that he has interviewed the eyewitnesses and written his Gospel so that its first reader, a man called Theophilus, can be certain that what he has been taught is true. But one odd feature of the
How good is good enough?
One thing you might have been wondering when we started going through the ten commandments is ‘How good is good enough?’. As we go down the list, is it ok if I score 6/10 or do I really need 8/10
Listen to your mother
What’s the most valuable thing you learnt from your Mum? Many of us pick up indispensable life skills thanks to the patient teaching of our mothers. The list is endless: what day to day objects are called, how to brush
What makes a happy ending?
If you think of any happy story, there will be something that causes everything to turn out well in the end. Perhaps it’s a bit of good luck, or a moment of supreme courage, or the persistence of one of
Rest and Redemption
Rest and Redemption Where can we find rest? Research suggests that collectively, we in the UK spent roughly £64.2 billion on holidays in 2024. But rest is more than just relaxation or recreation. The insurer AXA estimates the cost to
Do you feel lucky?
Do you think you’re a lucky person? Some people think we make our own luck. Thomas Jefferson is often quoted as saying ‘the harder you work, the luckier you get’. ‘Luck’ on this view is just an excuse for lazy
Behind a frowning providence
How can you tell whether God is pleased with you or not? One approach, popular since time immemorial, is to look at how things are going in your life. If things are generally going well and you enjoy health, prosperity
Fishing for People
I have never been fishing before in my entire life (well, maybe for crabs at the seaside once or twice with the Boys’ Brigade when I was little). But our reading this Sunday (Luke 5:1-11) uses it as a major
Stir Up Sunday
This Sunday is the last one in the Church Calendar before the new liturgical year begins with Advent. Historically, it’s been known as ‘stir up Sunday’ because the collect for this week was said to remind people to bake their
Saints saved by Grace
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘saint’? My guess is that most people think of the saints as some sort of super Christian, whose spiritual life is above and beyond what we mere mortals are capable