Are you ready for Christmas? When I ask that, do you immediately think of presents (which you need to buy), cards (which you need to send), relatives (that you need to invite or plan to visit), decorations (which need to
Peace on earth – but how?
The vision of world peace in Isaiah 2:1-5 is so iconic that there is a statue of a man beating a sword into a ploughshare at the UN headquarters. It was donated by, of all countries, the USSR. It’s an image
Test
I gave someone a test this week. I wasn’t trying to trip them up or catch them out – I genuinely wanted to know if they could do something, and if they could how they did it. We sometimes shy
Faith for Life
When John the Baptist told the people of his day that they weren’t living right and needed to behave differently, some of them protested ‘We have Abraham as our Father’ (Lk3:8) – as if that was enough. It’s a kind
Remembrance Sunday
At this time of remembrance, we honour the memory of those who have suffered in times of war, both soldiers and civilians, and give thanks for those who have served and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today. It is
What shall I say?
In Ecclesiastes we are exhorted “Do not be quick with your mouth … to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” (Eccles 5:2). If I think of God
Ears to Hear
If God wanted to speak to you, how would he do it? Psalm 19 talks about the heavens and skies proclaiming God’s glory and what he has made – which is a message we should take note of. The Psalm
What do you know?
Benjamin Franklin made popular the saying that in this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes. And we could probably come up with some other things that we find hard to avoid (like struggle and
Shipman Head Down
The sea is not calm today. A fresh south-westerly breeze has blown Over a hundred Atlantic miles of Ocean, Ripples making wavelets making waves making bigger as the swell comes in Crashing onto rocks that would stand imperious Spilling and
Building that will last
We all know the story of the three little pigs, don’t we? One little pig puts in the hard work and builds a house out of bricks. The other two cut corners and settle for houses made of wood or