Author: sean

I was part of the generation that was not taught English grammar or punctuation at school.  Just in case you are wondering, yes it had been invented by then!  However, our teachers felt that an over focussing on the mechanics of written structure could hinder the free flow of ideas. Some educationalists reasoned that if […]

Do you have a favourite Bible story? There are lots that mean something special to me.  But, one favourite is the story of the healing of the Centurions servant (Matthew 8 vs. 5 – 11 and Luke 7 vs. 1 – 10).  I was really pleased when I saw that Matthews account formed part of […]

I am reading Abbot Christopher Jamison’s latest book Finding The Language of Grace – Rediscovering Transcendence (Bloomsbury Publishing).  In it, he asks a very challenging question; So how can people learn to speak like Jesus?  If the language of grace makes grace a reality as in the parables of Jesus, how can we learn to […]

The Lesson of the Buddleia Those who know me well, will know, I am not one of nature’s happy little gardeners. As far as I am concerned, God’s punishment to Adam when he banished him from the Garden of Eden was a bit harsh; Cursed is the ground because of you;    through painful toil you will eat food from […]

The Church calendar told me that the 21st September is the “Feast of St. Matthew.” What better way to mark the day, than reading the account of Matthews calling from the Gospel named after him?   The story ends with Jesus eating with Matthew and a number of his colleagues.  The part that really stood out […]

I feel lost Not my comment, but somebody on a, well-known, Social Media platform posted on Friday morning. Whatever your views on Monarchy, I am sure we all agree that this is a truly historic moment in our nations story.  For many people, Queen Elizabeth was the only monarch we have ever known. She was […]

Recently, I have been reflecting on unity. I suppose, what brought it to mind, was a meeting I attended yesterday.  I came from it encouraged.  When I got home, I said to my wife “They were people I could really work with.”  I felt excited by the prospect.  This morning, as part of my quiet […]

It is the 31st August 2022.  Tomorrow, 1st September, is an important date for me.  Tomorrow marks the date when I will begin a new chapter in my life. For the past 14 years, I have been serving in Pier Avenue Baptist Church in Clacton on Sea.  This new chapter is going to be written […]

I seem to have spent a lot of time at the local rubbish tip recently. After 14 years living in the same house, we moved home a few weeks ago. I always thought that we were not too bad when it comes to hoarding rubbish. Moving opens your eyes to the reality of just how […]

At first, I was shocked. The sight of a Cabinet Minister making a rude gesture to a crowd of people.  Surely, she should have known better.  But, it was her response that most interested me; “I should have shown more composure but am only human” (Andrea Jenkyns) What we, the general public, don’t know is […]