Whether it's the appalling human atrocities committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine or the fear that families here are chosing between staying warm or being fed or the existential climate crisis (will we still have a planet fit for habitation in even 5 years time?) - the question above is the obvious one being asked... Continue Reading →
Deer Strike at 70mph and thoughts about Providence
We have just repatriated our car from Devon. It was delivered to us yesterday. A week after after our evening rescue from a lay by on the A30 twenty five miles south of Exeter. (A big shout out to Highfield Garage Exeter, they were superb). We had been on our way to Cornwall and making... Continue Reading →
‘Where the light fell’ by Philip Yancey – a review
Philip Yancey is possibly one of the most well know Christian writers in my life time. With a huge back catalogue of best-selling books such as 'Disappointment with God', 'The Jesus I never knew' and 'What's so amazing about Grace?' he has done more than many to drag the hardest questions of life and faith... Continue Reading →
Scarred, Sacred and Scared
This is a reflection on three words that describe the whole world as we are currently experiencing it, with particular reference to the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting how a story from Genesis points towards the hope for all humankind. SCARRED This is the first word that describes the world as we experience it. Scarred means... Continue Reading →
Church: why we are meant to be ‘all at sea’ and not ‘five miles above contradiction’.
Two images of travel have been much in my mind lately. The first is of a sea voyage in a sturdy but smallish vessel. The waves and the wind and currents are very powerful. The crew and the boat's captain are simply (and sometimes literally) immersed into the mess and mayhem of life's experience. Yet... Continue Reading →
Keeping oneself in perspective
Yesterday I sat in the church where I am now serving, St Matthew's Salford Priors. I contemplated the East Window. After a while, stepping closer, I saw it was put in place and/or dedicated to the memory of Samuel Garrard who was priest here for 41 years. I wanted to know some more about him... Continue Reading →
God is a ‘who’ not a ‘what’ and why that matters
Earlier this week I had an interesting conversation with someone from generation Z. They didn't announce themselves as being part of that generation but later the same day I was reading about the characteristics of this generation and I realised that the young man I had met was most likely a Z-er - a post-millennial... Continue Reading →
Remembering or forgetting – which is better?
Today is a national day of Reflection in the UK. There will be a minutes silence at 12 noon. This day has been chosen as it marks the first anniversary from the first lockdown in response to the pandemic. Other countries will have their own anniversaries and key dates but this is ours. And we... Continue Reading →
Unknown: when the truth about who we are disappoints us
Like many in lockdown UK David and I are raiding our DVD library and rewatching old films. This reflection only contains one slight plot spoiler for this excellent film 'Unknown' with Liam Neeson in the lead role In the story Liam's character arrives in Berlin and has an accident. He comes round after 4 days... Continue Reading →
Dang! It got me on the last page
I have just finished reading this book. It's a Lent book so I am a bit ahead of myself but having recently re read all the Gospels I have realised afresh the centrality of the cross in the Christian faith. That sounds a bit ridiculous, you'd think it would be obvious that the cross is... Continue Reading →