Why does God sometimes seem so casually ambivalent about the life and death issues that matter so much to us? And how come death sometimes comes in such an arbitrary way? As we worshipped in church this morning (Easter Sunday) I had a vivid picture of life and death and saw that this seemingly indifferent attitude on... Continue Reading →
Rags to Riches
I confess I have left the whole Lenten self-examination thing a bit late this year but finally this week I've dragged my soul in front of a 360 degree mirror and it wasn't a pretty sight: bashed, bruised and attempting to sulk in corner pretty much describes the situation. A series of demanding circumstances, a... Continue Reading →
Teething Troubles
I have a problem controlling my mouth. 'Keeping it shut' and 'Feeding it too much' are the most common mouth problems I know and, although I'm occasionally afflicted by these, my current problem is simply pain: my teeth hurt. It feels like someone has put an orthodontic brace around my front upper teeth and tightened... Continue Reading →
Gin Therapy? or ‘The Art of Good Conversations’
Listening to Radio 4 this morning I heard there was a new cure for a serious disease: gin therapy. 'Really?' I thought, 'That can't be right' I thought about it a bit more: 'It must have been 'gym therapy' - ooh, dear, I don't fancy the sound of that'. Turns out it was 'gene therapy'!... Continue Reading →
Loving Difficult People
This weekend I am giving a seminar called 'Loving Difficult People' (part of the Activate conference in London, but it's fully booked, so you can't come, sorry!) I could have called it 'how to love people who drive you bonkers' or 'getting along with people you don't like' or 'staying connected and staying sane'. But I... Continue Reading →
Still learning to Swim
I have recently learnt to swim... again.I guess I must have learnt when I was very small because I have loads of memories of swimming but none whatsoever of actually being taught to swim, which probably explains why I was never very good. Terror of being underwater isn't exactly an asset for successful swimming and had,... Continue Reading →
Can a ‘bad’ feeling lead you to a ‘good’ action?
Christians have a hard time admitting 'bad' feelings. Mention 'anger', 'sadness', 'fear', 'worry' or 'envy' and eyes start to glaze over with a readiness to deny all. Fearful of sin, many have believed that it is better to deny these feelings any place in our lives. So instead of acknowledging them, confessing them or allowing... Continue Reading →
Why Facebook might be bad for your emotional health
Quite a long time ago I came across a list of 'Thots', silly one-liners that people put up on Facebook or under their email 'signature'. Most were only mildly entertaining: "Do NOT argue with a spouse who is packing your parachute" "I'm not sure how ambivalent I should be" That sort of thing. But there... Continue Reading →
‘Nother Nativity Joke
A small boy forgot his lines in the Sunday School music and drama presentation. His mother, sitting in the front row tried to prompt him, gesturing and forming the words silently with her lips, but it didn't help. Her son's memory was blank. Finally she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light... Continue Reading →
‘Give this to Jesus for me’
For the second year in a row I have been given something by a small child and asked if I could 'give it to Jesus'! Last year a little boy at the crib service was left holding one of the gifts from the King and was most concerned what to do about it (we took... Continue Reading →
Live Life Loved 