Fountain's Thoughts

It’s been one of “those” weeks!  You know the sort, so much to do and so little time in which to do it.  Sometime back, I read a book on time management for Church Ministers and the author suggested that no minister should ever use the word “busy” when describing their week.  So, as I […]

  “Who was not overjoyed to see the prodigal son back home?” asked the Sunday school teacher. “The fatted calf” came the reply. I know, it’s an old joke for the story we all know very well The Prodigal Son.  But, if I am honest with you, there is a character in this story that troubles […]

Have you ever missed something really important?  The appointment, the important phone call, the birthday that you promised not to forget, the post with that important letter, the closing date for a job application or something you have been waiting for for a long time?  My heart went out to the train spotter who was […]

The saga of the Clacton hole continues….. This morning, I shared this story in our service (one I found on the internet) A traveller fell into a deep pit and couldn’t get out.  Several people came along and saw him struggling in the pit. The sensitive person said, “I feel for you down there.” The […]

The big news in Sunny Clacton yesterday is a hole opened in the ground. Early reports suggested a sinkhole and later reports suggested a collapsed sewer.  Either way, it’s causing a lot of inconvenience.  A major road is closed and traffic diversions are causing hold ups. I wonder if you have ever used that phrase […]

Go on, admit it, you like the cute kitten don’t you?  But what came to mind when you read the phrase “I give up”.  It is associated with defeat, loss and failure.  Maybe you have said it when you have reached the end of your natural resource and resilience and cannot go on anymore.  However, […]

This morning I was leading a devotional time with our volunteers at Enfold (the drop in centre for Homeless and vulnerably housed people) that is run at Church.  It was one of those days when, I had a lot to do and little time in which to do it. The reflections came from John chapter […]

  I am one of those people who loves language and words.  Recently, I wanted to find out about “collective nouns”.  A collective noun is a name given to a collection of things.  For example a herd of cows, a murder of crows or a murmuration of starlings. The collective noun that I wanted to […]

I had an aunt who always used to tell me that “school days are the best days of your life”.  I disagreed. I was not a big fan of school.  I would often find my mind drifting, I would gaze out of the window longing for the day to pass. In my day, if a […]

Yes, I did get that right, for those who think it should have read “please do not adjust your set”.  Let me explain….. This morning I did quite well, I even had time to take the dog for a walk before I needed to get to the office.  I am very blessed to be living […]