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Image by svklimkin from Pixabay Many years ago, I took the decision to be Baptized and became a Baptist Minister.  A Minister friend, on the day I received my handshake from the then President the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said “welcome to the elite!” I liked the Baptist Union. I liked what it stood […]

Yesterday, as I was preparing our evening meal, I took a walk into the garden armed with my secateurs.  I needed to do a bit of deadheading of the roses. As I looked at the dead, lifeless flowers I felt a profound sense of sadness and loss.  At one time, these were beautiful scented blooms, […]

I know I am a Baptist but this week, it has been a bit ridiculous. “Why?”  I hear you ask.  Well, pull up a chair and let me tell you a story…. ‘Twas on the Monday Morning the builder came to call The drive was to be re-laid Improving access for all (go on, admit […]

I grew up at the time when boys were taught “big boys don’t cry.”  Tears were seen as a sign of weakness.  If you wanted to avoid getting bullied, you soon learnt to swallow down your feelings and emotions.  One of the ways that God has brought healing into my life is the way in […]

It is a strange moment in the gospel accounts. Jesus gets up from the table, wraps a towel around his waist and kneels to wash his disciples feet. Having preached this passage a number of times over the years, I often point out that it was the place of lowest in a household to undertake […]

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” John 8 vs. 12 The passage that formed my quiet time today, is a well known one. As the commentator said “the passage is […]

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 […]