I wonder what would happen if all HMRC’s officers suddenly got up from their desks and left. Would the public finances fall into disarray? Would we no longer have to pay tax?! I think not. HMRC would import officers from
Holy Mystery
Do you like a good whodunnit? A battle of wits between the writer and the reader – with joy for both when the crime is solved and the reader can see all the clues were there but wasn’t able to
An Undo button for life?
I was always a little unsure about JFKs 1963 speech on world peace: “Our problems are manmade–therefore, they can be solved by man.” When it comes to world peace, he may have a point. Warmongers could just stop fighting (us
God’s Blessing
If you were living under God’s blessing, what would it look like? You might think of a long and healthy life, perhaps with family and children and grandchildren; or (and!) living free from want – food on the table, warm
Short-cut
A few years ago I climbed Ben Nevis. I followed the path. Up behind me came two young ladies: no backpack (like I did), no rain-coat (I did), great speed (I wasn’t slow, but…) and at one corner, I followed
Anointed King
What does it take to be a King? Boris Johnson famously articulated his ambition to be ‘World King’ at an early age; the media is currently talking of Andy Burnham’s coronation (as Prime Minister, not King – Long live King
Born and Born Again
Do you remember when you were born? I don’t think so. Some scientists say 3½, some say 2½ as the age of our earliest memory. Fortunately, you don’t have to remember to know that it happened. This week, we’re looking
A Perfect End
At University, the college chapel invited a guest speaker every Sunday evening. One Sunday before Ascension the best speaker ever invited spoke on how Christ deals with Guilt. Word got out. On the Sunday after Ascension numbers were up, but
What is hope?
What is it that you and I hope for? A sunny day for a walk? We often speak like this, and we genuinely wish for something pleasant. But the ‘hope’ seems weak, we cannot do much about it, so we
Patron Saint
It was St George’s day this week. The patron Saint of England (and of Georgia, and soldiers, among other things), whose cross is the centre of our national and union flags. The hagiographies are varied and often contain ’embellishments’, but