SPBC sermons: Recent Episodes
St Peter's Baptist Church, Worcester
The death of Charlie Kirk is both profoundly tragic and a sobering indictment of the polarised and angry world in which we now live. As Sting expressed in his song Fragile, reflecting on the fragility of humanity: “Perhaps this final act was meant to clinch a lifetime’s argument, that nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could.”
To me, Charlie was a man of deep conviction. I respected his passionate faith and his willingness to defend it, even when I found some of his views difficult to reconcile with the Christian faith I follow and the teachings of Jesus as I understand them. I did admire his openness to debate—his readiness to state his beliefs clearly, to hear challenges, and to listen to those who disagreed with him. There is something deeply valuable in such an approach. His death calls for a response: to uphold his wife and children in prayer during this heartbreaking time, and to reflect on the broader societal ramifications of this act of violence.
We live in a time when many people, both in the US and the UK, are unsettled and profoundly dissatisfied with aspects of our broken Western culture. There is much to celebrate in our shared heritage, but also, increasingly, many urgent problems that remain inadequately addressed. If there is any unity to be found at present, it may be in this shared sense of disillusionment, even though we often identify the problems—and their solutions—in very different polarised ways. Perhaps, then, we should seek a deeper appreciation of one another, recognising that we should face these challenges together. Let us look for the best in each other. It is usually easy to find the good. As my mother wisely taught me, shouting at one another will not bring resolution.
The Western consumerist promise of prosperity and happiness has too often proved to be a hollow illusion—a grand business enterprise from which many now suffer and from which we are all still reeling. And yet, even in the darkness, there is light. The message Charlie most passionately shared—that the truest way to live is found in the values of Christianity as embodied in the teachings of Jesus—remains, I believe, profoundly true. While I did not agree with him on every point of faith, far from it, here I stand alongside him. These Christian values—of love, hope, and peace—are the very things our world longs for as it struggles with hate, despair and anger. They offer a vision of healing for our polarised age.
Indeed, these values are foundational to the ethics, morality and justice upon which the US and UK were historically built, though they now often seem elusive. This Christian way, when lived fully, is not only good but transformative: it reveals truth, breathes life, and offers a path of renewal. In my conviction, it is The Way—the only true solution. Against the growing toxicity of our culture, where division and hostility deepen by the day, the Kingdom of God offers unity, peace and belonging. The privilege I experience as a Baptist Minister, leading and belonging to a living community of faith, truly feels like an oasis in a barren land.
If the world is moving toward greater brokenness, why not explore the wholeness that faith in Christ brings? You would be most welcome to join us at St Peter’s and experience this for yourself. I know you would receive a warm and genuine welcome, and I am confident you would find many of the answers to the deepest questions of our time.
Our next Alpha Course, which explores the main principles of the Christian faith, begins on 18th September. Click here for more information.
Have you ever taken a moment to truly reflect on how you perceive yourself? Do you see yourself as damaged, unloved, or perhaps even fragile? It’s so easy to fall into the trap of negative self-talk, to allow the troubles that life throws our way to cloud our vision. Yet, in these moments of introspection, we must remember that our worth is not defined by our imperfections or past experiences.
God is ever-present, holding onto these thoughts that weigh heavily on our hearts. In His infinite wisdom, He embraces every flaw and every scar, recognising that they are part of our unique journey. He sees us not as broken beings, but as beautiful works in progress, deserving of love and acceptance.
As we navigate the winding road of life, we often find ourselves in need of guidance. It is through faith that we can begin to see clearly; we can trust that every challenge we face serves a purpose. Each moment of struggle is an opportunity for healing, a chance to grow stronger and more resilient. We must allow ourselves the grace to acknowledge our troubles without being bound by them.
When we open our hearts to love, we also open the door to understanding. We can learn to love ourselves, imperfections and all. This journey of self-acceptance is not always an easy one, but with trust in God, we can find solace in knowing that we are never alone. He walks beside us, guiding us through the darkest valleys, illuminating the path toward self-discovery and inner peace.
Let us remember that being unloved or feeling fragile is not a reflection of our true worth. Rather, it is a reminder that we are human, capable of experiencing a spectrum of emotions and challenges. Embracing our vulnerabilities allows us to connect more deeply with others, fostering relationships built on authenticity and understanding.
In moments of doubt, take time for reflection. Ask yourself what you truly believe about who you are. Are you seeing clearly, or are your perceptions shrouded by negativity? With God’s light shining upon us, we can begin to unravel the layers of doubt and fear, revealing the radiant truth of our existence.
Each of us is a mosaic of experiences, and while we may have our share of troubles, we are also equipped with the strength to rise above them. Let us trust in the process of healing and commit to embracing our imperfections as part of our story. Remember, it is in the acknowledgement of our struggles that we uncover the beauty of our resilience.
So, how do you see yourself? Choose to see the person that God sees—a being of infinite value, filled with potential and deserving of all the love God has to offer. Let your journey be one of empowerment, where faith and love guide you towards a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow.
I’m currently reading ‘Faith, Hope and Carnage’, a transcription of interviews with Nick Cave undertaken by Seán O’Hagan, during the time Nick was working on the album ‘Carnage’.
Nick Cave has for many decades been exploring faith, mostly as a heroin-addicted apostate: much of his early work is influenced by the Old Testament, and many of the songs on his 1997 album, ‘The Boatman’s Call’, are informed by his reacquaintance with the Gospels. One commentator [J Arthur Bloom] has said that “The transition in tone between ‘Murder Ballads’ [his previous album] and ‘The Boatman’s Call’ is as stark as from Malachi to Matthew, and speaks to a personal epiphany”. In these interviews he declares that he is a believer, ‘especially today’. [p74]
In 2015 Cave’s son Arthur died aged 15 following a fall from a cliff near Brighton where they lived, this has had a profound impact on Cave and his family. Some of the interviews in ‘Faith, Hope and Carnage’ explore how Nick Cave processes his grief. “Since Arthur died, I have been able to step beyond the full force of the grief and experience a kind of joy that is entirely new to me. It was as if the experience of grief enlarged my heart in some way. I have experienced periods of happiness more than I have ever felt before, even though it is the most devastating thing to happen to me… I say all this with huge caution and a million caveats, but I also say it because there are those who say there is no way back from the catastrophic event. That they will never laugh again. But there is, and they will.” [p109-110]
Nick Cave also maintains a blog and correspondence page called ‘Red Hand Files’. One topic has been ‘Joy’; one contributor, empathising with Cave, has said that Psalms 126:5-6 describe him “to a T”.
“Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.”
Nick Cave has found faith, hope and joy!
In a previous blog about my shift from believing in coincidences to starting to see God-incidences, I shared about coming to faith when God answered a question that I asked myself ‘What’s the best thing in the world I can possibly do for my newly born first child, Sion?’ The voice that spoke instantly into my head and my inner soul said ‘Follow Jesus!’. The irony was that as an atheist at the time I’d become interested in a Christian neighbour and her friends I had met who had undermined my negative perceptions about Christianity. To top it all I now had a voice answering a question I thought I had asked myself, telling me the answer was to follow Jesus! What was going on with those ‘coincidences’???
A few months later I’m now at our neighbour’s church and I remember distinctly praying to this God I’d just opened my eyes to, ‘Please let me see my children and their children and know they are safe and thriving?’
Roll forward 38 years, and now Sion and his wife have a most beautiful 14-month-old daughter, but neither of the proud parents are practising Christians yet. But, during a visit to their home in Bristol, my lovely daughter-in-law asked us whether we would be willing to take their smidge to church with us so she could see her uncle Rhys, our second child, playing drums. My heart skipped. What was going on?
So, Sunday 27th October 2024, we are filled with joy as our granddaughter and her doting parents accompany us to the morning service. The worship and message were powerful, and my granddaughter, who is just starting to toddle about, is standing there on the cover of the baptistry doing a jig! Her uncle Rhys is playing the drums, but I now realise that smidge is standing on the baptistry where I had had the absolute pleasure of helping baptise Rhys in January 2023.
During the service, Sion turned to me and said he had some questions he wanted to ask me about Christianity after the service. Unfortunately, I was held up from following him for coffee, but then I bumped into Andy, the pastor, who said he would go and introduce himself. By the time I get down, Andy is getting on like a house on fire with Sion and his wife, both of whom are standing next to Rhys. Sion had been quizzing Rhys about his deep faith when Andy arrived. God was pointing out to me He was arranging things in answer to my prayer 38 years earlier. He hadn’t forgotten and He had arranged everything.
Who knows what the future holds other than Christ, but I had a complete sense of joy as I realised God was underlining for me how He was keeping His promises to me down the past 38 years, standing faithfully beside me, my wonderful wife and children and their children.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations”
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
I have always been in awe of supernatural transcendence in the Bible. This has happened in several ways on a number of occasions. An example that comes to mind for me is the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, which transcends languages. When I read things such as this, it is very difficult to see how they fit into the real world. However, in 2013, a mission trip to Moldova changed this for me forever. I was invited to Moldova for 17 days to preach the Gospel and teach English to a group of people who were mainly Russian Orthodox Christians in a summer camp. Looking back, I could see where God’s spiritual transcendence was.
I went with a group of people from the charity UCCF. It was my first time on a mission trip, and I didn’t really know what to expect. I am not going to say that there weren’t any challenges. There were differences in beliefs to start with, as some of the young people at the camp believed it was necessary to pay for prayer to be able to receive it correctly. There were differences in languages, as people in Moldova normally speak a combination of Romanian and Russian. I of course spoke English. There were differences in culture. Moldova was at the time, and still is one of the poorest countries in Europe and it was very difficult for us not to be treated as this “higher class of people.”
But God is always good, and if it is his plan, it will always prevail. This was where I saw transcendence in so many ways. I saw God transcending languages. It didn’t matter that they barely understood a word we said most of the time. As soon as the Bible came out, this changed things. I saw God transcend culture. Gradually over the time we were there, we were able to understand each other better and relate to one another more.
The truth is, that God transcended the challenges in the mission trip because without him, we wouldn’t have stood a chance at succeeding.
Has God ever transcended his power through your situation? Where have you seen the spirit work before to fulfil God’s purpose?
In Matthew 14:22-36, Jesus was seen walking on water, during a storm. Peter, boldly asked Jesus to command him to walk with Him on the water and Jesus did. Peter got out and walked until there was a stumble of faith and was almost drowning when Jesus caught him and they walked and got back on the boat together.
“What a sight! Jesus and Peter, hand in hand, walking on the sea,” said Charles Spurgeon.
I catch a glimpse of this on Thursday nights when l attend dance classes. During freestyle, a gentleman will walk toward me and ask me to dance, or l will ask if I am feeling brave. And there as we walk on the dance floor, l learn to follow, as the lead guides the dance, indicating the direction, timing, and movement patterns. Depending on my relationship with the lead l know his non-verbal cues and he knows mine. Our communication and connection are paramount to the success of our dance. In the 15 minutes, 3 to 4 songs will play, all with different tempos – different seasons in my life. My attentiveness and active listening help me to know the rhythm of our dance and keep the flow. In that moment l am at peace because l know even though the waves of life are raging, l can trust my dance partner has got me. With the occasional dips, that brings the possibility of falling, sometimes due to my own doing – lack of technique or posture. I am confident l will be caught.
Just like that gentleman who invites me to dance, God is inviting every single one of us to dance on the journey of life with Him. Please let me know what song you will dance to. Mine will be ‘Dancing on the Waves’ by We The Kingdom.
I like to spend my Saturdays walking. A few months ago, whilst walking by the river, I remember spotting a swan with her cygnets hiding under her wings. I reflected upon why the swan does this, how the swan protects her young from dangers like predators and harsh weather, carries them when they get too tired or cannot keep up and protects her young whilst still being able to feed (multi-tasking).
A few weeks ago, I was on another walk this time in the Wyre Forest. The weather was awful. It was pouring with rain, but as I walked through the trees, they provided a covering and reduced the harshness of the rain. Although I got a bit wet the impact of the heavy rain was greatly reduced, I wasn’t soaked through! In that moment I remembered the picture of the cygnets being protected by the swan’s wings.
These thoughts led me to Psalm 91. In verses 1 to 4 we read: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection.”
This psalm reminds us of how God protects us when we are going through difficulty and that we can find refuge in Him. When we face turbulent times, when we are tired and need carrying, when we face things that feel so overwhelming that we cannot see a way forward or through, God, like the swan, will shelter us under His wings. He protects His children, and He can multi-task, just like the swan. Protecting whilst providing.
God is our refuge an ever-present help in times of trouble.
I’m sure many of you know what an oxymoron is. It’s two words that don’t go together, usually because one is the opposite of the other and so the meaning doesn’t make sense. It’s contradictory. Some have entered our language on a regular basis, such as ‘friendly fire’ or ‘deafening silence’. Sometimes they are designed to be clever. Sometimes they are incredibly insightful, such as the title of this blog: Servant King. Kings rule, they don’t serve, do they?
I’m stepping down as a church leader after three and a bit years. As I look back over this time, I believe it’s been fruitful for me, and hopefully for the Leadership Team and for the church. We’ve presented together, discussed and debated together and most importantly prayed together over a whole variety of issues. Although there are appointed roles within the team, some more ‘leadery’ than others, no-one has sought to dominate, each has ‘submitted to one another out of reverence for Christ’ (Ephesians 5:21). Why is this? The answer lies with Jesus, of course.
Mark’s gospel records Jesus as saying: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35). He demonstrated this at the Last Supper, by wrapping a towel around himself and washing the disciples’ dirty, road-weary feet, a task reserved for the humblest servant. He told his disciples: “I have set you an example, that you should do as I have done for you,” (John 13:15). This was despite knowing that he had come from God and was returning to God and that God the Father had put all things under his power.
This shows us just how topsy-turvy the Kingdom of God is. It doesn’t do what we may expect. ‘The first shall be last and the last shall be first,’ (Matt 19:30). Our late Queen Elizabeth understood this deeply. Jesus, the Servant King, is the ultimate oxymoron.
I really love listening to music, and singing along if I can – even if the song is in a foreign language, and I think I’m singing what sounds like the right words! This happens quite a lot at the Zumba classes I go to, when a lot of the tracks are sung in Spanish or Portuguese. I go home and look up the lyrics so that I can sing the right words the next time, and often try to translate the words so that I know what I’m saying – you can never be too careful, especially with some of the songs we dance to!
It’s so easy sometimes to just let the lyrics of songs wash over us, almost meaningless to us – we hear the words, and that’s all they are – words. But occasionally a word or a phrase pops out at me and I am compelled to investigate.
This happened recently at our staff retreat. We were singing the well-known Christian chorus “Holy Spirit (you are welcome here)”. We got to the bridge section where the words are “Let us experience the glory of your goodness” and I suddenly thought to myself ‘what is the glory of God’s goodness?’ and ‘what does God’s goodness look like for me?’ and ‘how can I sing this, and not know what it means?’ So, I took a closer look. Here’s what I found:-
The Bible tells us that the word ‘good’ actually means holy, pure and righteousness. Literally goodness is godliness. So, God’s goodness represents everything that God IS, everything that God HAS, and everything that God DESIRES for us to experience.
Goodness in Hebrew is ‘good in the widest sense’ – so that means God’s goodness is designed to absolutely overwhelm us. I find this really comforting and encouraging. He wants the absolute best for me, at all times.
Probably one of the most famous psalms is “The Lord is my shepherd”, Psalm 23. In verse 6 it says “Surely GOODNESS and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”. I hadn’t really understood this verse before, even though I must have read it and sung it many times. The word ‘follow’ here literally means to pursue. So the Goodness of God is constantly pursuing us [we sing another famous song about ‘Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me’]
Someone put it like this; “The goodness of God is the greatest good that we could ever think of, only greater!”
No matter how good we think God is, His goodness to us is greater still. The more we become aware of God’s goodness, the more it increases. Focusing on His goodness will amplify all He has done, all He is doing, and all He will do in our lives. How amazing is that realisation?
And not only that, but He wants to demonstrate His goodness through us, to everyone we meet.
1 Peter 2:9 says “You are a chosen people. You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the GOODNESS OF GOD, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.”
So, join me if you can, and learn to experience the glory of His goodness.
I can assure you, it’s so, so good
I don’t know if you are like me… but I save countless Instagram reels covering shoulder mobility, recipes, affirming memes, cleaning tips etc. and I rarely, if ever look at them again.
But one has remained in my mind and, curiously, it is at the beginning of an eco-cleaning clip!
It goes something like this. Imagine you have £86,400 in the bank and someone stole £10 from you. Would you be so angry that you would throw away the remaining £86,390 only to take revenge on the person or would you move on and live your life? You’d move on and live. We all have 86,400 seconds in every day. Never let 10 bad seconds from anyone destroy the remaining 86,390.
This has remained with me I think because it is so very strongly linked with a very helpful thought that came to me (I believe from God) just the other week. It has to do with forgiveness. This is it….
Forgiveness involves giving up what is owed to you. Letting go of your sense of justice and moving on to live the rest of your life.
We all know it is best for us and others if we forgive. But sometimes that is just so much easier said than done. We can receive and even purse what we think we are owed. An apology; seeing genuine sorrow for hurting us. Amends even. These are all part and parcel of our justice.. you shouldn’t have done it, you shouldn’t have hurt me, but a genuine apology and the belief that the person is sorry to have hurt us means a lot. A bunch of flowers or some effort to show that the sorrow is real and the desire not to hurt us again is heartfelt; that means a lot.
But what if we don’t get all that? Or what if we do and it still hurts?
This happens and that is why the kind of forgiveness God trades in is that which means laying down what we think we are owed and forgiving anyway.
How? If you believe in God and his son Jesus Christ then you know just how much we have been forgiven ourselves – by a loving God, who doesn’t count anything against us. He has settled all the debts for us and also for those who do wrong to us. We have the power within us to release others from what is owed to us and set them free from any obligation of our self-justice. And so be free.
So back to the insta clip. Someone steals some of your well-being. Don’t throw away your life holding onto grudges and unforgiveness. Forgive them as the Lord forgives you… not only will you get your life back, you’ll get joy and peace in spades.
Jesus chose to share his life with his Disciples, a close group of people he lived with, ate with and shared each part of his everyday life with. He was close to them, loved them, taught them and was vulnerable with them.
In Acts 2 we also read that the early believers formed a community. They devoted themselves to teaching, but also to fellowship, sharing meals, prayer, sharing property and possessions. Their lives were interwoven with one another.
They did not meet once a week for a few hours catch up but moved close in relationship with each other by sharing life together.
In today’s modern and busy world, we can struggle to prioritise and make time for these shared experiences, put off by being overly busy and by wanting everything to be planned and perfect. The table set, best meat prepared, trying to represent the best of what we have to offer. This robs us of closeness and openness, stops our doors being open and removes the ability to form close relationships.
When we are close and meet regularly, the quality of venue and food is less important, as we realise the quality of relationship and closeness is what really matters. This isn’t easy, but I’d really like to encourage us all to invite people in if we are just having fish fingers for tea, invite them in if the washing’s not put away or there is one more job that just needs doing. Invite them in to share stories, worries, and hopes. Invite them into your lives to help with the school run, cut the lawns, be that extra pair of hands needed to complete that job.
I’d like to encourage us all to do this intentionally and often, forming close groups, growing close dependencies, doing life together, aware of each other’s struggles, hopes and ambitions. Supporting each other and shining Jesus’s love to the outside world through the way we treat each other.
It is my belief that sharing lives and love together in this way will support each one of us, and whilst we grow stronger in community, we will grow closer as a church family and provide a real demonstration of Jesus’s love in action in our community.
I was reading a well-known, quite controversial story recently, by an unknown author called ‘The Barber Shop Story’.
The story tells of a man who visits the barber’s for his regular haircut. They know each other well so the conversation flows. Eventually the barber turns the topic of conversation to the existence of God and his unbelief that God exists because of all the bad things that happen in the world. The man responds in silent thought, not wanting to engage in a dispute, pays the barber for his services and leaves a generous tip.
Stepping onto the street, he notices an ‘individual experiencing homelessness’ with long unruly hair sitting on a park bench. He approaches the ‘individual’, talks with them awhile and asks them to follow him to the barber’s.
The man goes inside to speak to his barber and gently questions the existence of barbers, reasoning that there would not be people with long unruly hair on the streets, if barbers existed! The barber responds by pointing out that if people need their hair cut, but don’t come directly to him, then he can’t help them!
The man invites the ‘individual experiencing homelessness’ into the barber’s and pays for him to have his hair and his beard cut by the barber, then leaves to go home.
This story, although controversial, reads like a parable found in the Bible and resonates a deeper meaning to me where I discover a whispering, profound spiritual truth that, in seeking the divine grace of faith, the trials and tribulations of life are faced, not alone, but hand in hand with the one who loves us unconditionally.
Trust in God was not something that happened on my faith journey straight away. However, the realisation that I was loved was the first thing that I remember holding onto and through this love, I experienced a hope and a faith that grew, until I eventually learned to trust God with my life.
A life lesson this Lent: remember to keep your appointment at the barber’s!
Are you, or have you been an apprentice? No, I am not talking about the TV show – but real apprenticeships. Many of the professions and trades we depend upon have apprenticeships.
Recently I watched a talk about what Jesus did before he started his ministry. Apparently, it is more likely that He was a builder than a carpenter. The meaning may have been lost in translation over centuries.
Jesus tells stories about buildings and foundations, but no stories about wobbly chairs or broken joints.
Good builders have a 5-year-apprenticeship. I wonder what your experience of apprenticeship is?
A good apprenticeship works on the principle of first I do and you watch, then we do it together, and then you do and I watch. That is how we learn.
The Bible speaks about disciples. Jesus’ disciples were His apprentices. The apprenticeship for Christians has no end. We are always learning something new. After 58 years as an apprentice of Jesus I am still learning.
No one is too young or too old to be an apprentice of Jesus. We don’t need qualifications, or specialist knowledge.
We live in uncertain times but Jesus said:
”I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.” Luke 6:47-48 NLT
Jesus is always looking for new apprentices. He is the best teacher.
In March 2023 I travelled to Colombia, South America for a month-long trip to work with my good friend, Christian brother and collaborator, Professor Fernando Colmenares. During my stay we were due to travel to a north-eastern town, Manaure, in the impoverished region of La Guajira. At a Soulfood service the night before I flew Andy prayed for my safety. Before I could sit, Lydia walked up telling me she saw two 8’ angels standing over me with their wings over me and feathers falling at my feet. Again, before I could sit down Clare walked over to say she had a sense before she came out that God wanted her to share Psalm 91 with somebody, and realised it was me:
1* Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.* (Ps 91)
Within a week of landing, on leaving a restaurant in Medellin, I heard what I thought was firecrackers across the road, but was advised they were gun shots in a microcartel hit – explaining why everybody else dived for cover. The next night outside my hotel saw football fans rioting, my first taste of teargas, but I was thankful the hotel doors were bullet proof glass. Two days later we travelled up to La Guajira. One of the two taxis we travelled in on the 1-hour trip from the airport picked up a puncture on the rough road, so we limped to the next village to get the tyre repaired. As we waited for repair a truck pulled up having been 30 minutes behind us on the road, and had come through an attempted ambush, sporting some bullet holes down one side. Fernando and I looked at each other and said, ‘Those angels are looking after us’. We then stepped into the living room where the tire repair was happening and there above the door, Psalm 91. God had sent his angels to look after us.
Hope. Are you feeling it?
We’re living in challenging times. Feeling hopeful is tough when so many people are struggling and the world looks like an increasingly chaotic place. The crazy, busy and expensive Christmas season, despite being lovely in many ways, illuminates much that is wrong in the world such as poverty, loneliness and consumerism.
Having hope is important for our wellbeing as it focuses on the longings of our hearts. When we can see no way forward, we lose it. I wonder what you long for? Hope, however, is more than a wish. It is filled with confidence and expectancy.
Christians have hope – a hope in this precious little boy whose birth we celebrate at Christmas and whose life changed the world. We have confidence and expectancy in his love for everyone and that he will help us overcome the challenges in our lives, even when things seem desperate or hopeless. This amazing hope is eternal and a gift for all, generation to generation.
This Christmas, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Rev. Andy Browning. Minister (Team Leader)
As one part of her celebration of a birthday (with a zero), my wife Rose chose to go to London to see a performance of a work we both love by the Royal Ballet Company at Covent Garden, ‘Cello’, [we might have gone without the ‘zero’ reason, but made more of it because of it]. We had a great time and I could have picked up several thoughts on our time in London to write about. Our visit to the National Portrait Gallery was as inspiring as always: I could have written about Beatrix Potter or Emily Pankhurst [especially the motto ‘Deeds above words’ in light of the current Sunday evening Soul Food focus on James]. We included in our walks a visit to Trafalgar Square [so much of central London is accessible just on foot!] And Trafalgar Square is what I’m choosing to write about.
The current installation on the fourth plinth, just revealed before our visit, is ‘Antelope’, by Samson Kambula, based on a photograph of Baptist preacher and pan-Africanist John Chilembwe and the European missionary John Chorley. The photograph was taken at the opening of Chilembwe’s new church in Malawi. What is interesting in this sculpture is the relative size of the characters: John Chilembwe is large and John Chorley is small. That says enough – but also Chilembwe has his hat on [forbidden in the presence of a white man at that time] and has his back to Chorley. Shocking!
Eventually Chilembwe is killed, having led an uprising against colonial rule, and his church is destroyed. John Chilembwe is a well-known name in Malawi; now, roads are named after him in many large towns and cities, including in Lilongwe, the capital city.
[You may choose to insert here your own examples of apparent defeat leading to victory!]
SPBC has had a long-standing relationship with churches in Malawi that we have recently reviewed and are in the process of re-establishing. There is such great promise in our new relationship and so much that we can learn from our brothers and sisters there.
On my drive this morning I was enjoying the beauty of this current season. I love Autumn, the rich colours of red, orange, gold and brown, the hazy sunshine, the smell of fires, the sound of crunchy leaves underfoot. Oh, and lovely warm comfort food. Autumn is by far my favourite season. So much so that I named my daughter Autumn.
Reflecting on this beauty I started thinking about seasons – not just those of nature, but also the seasons in our lives. There is an image I have seen countless times on social media which reads: ‘Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.‘ This really resonated with me. In fact, the writer of Ecclesiastes suggested “For everything there is a season…A time to search, and a time to quit searching; a time to keep and a time to throw away;” (Eccl 3:1,6). Each season brings with it change.
Spring ushers in new life, hope, a freshness, and relief from the darkness and cold of winter. Summer brings warmth, light, a sense of freedom and joy. Autumn indicates a time of letting go of things, surrender. A time to gather in the harvest and prepare for the next season. Winter can be a dark, dreary, cold season, a time of isolation, or a time of rest, for some it prompts thoughts of warm fires and being tucked up in safety.
I wonder what season you’re in right now? Perhaps winter? Facing a time of enforced rest owing to physical or mental illness, maybe you can’t get out much anymore and you’re feeling isolated or lonely. Or Spring? You’re entering a new season of life, you’ve changed jobs or maybe retired, you’re in a new relationship, just married or have welcomed a new arrival. Summer? Maybe you’re experiencing a sense of easiness, that life is coasting along just nicely and you’re enjoying the sunshine. Or Autumn? Where you’re taking stock of things, maybe life’s been hectic and you realise you need to slow down, facing difficult decisions about what to hold on to and what to surrender. That can be tricky especially when you see how fruitful certain things have been. But just as God commanded the Israelites to allow their land to rest every seven years, we too need to rest.
Whatever season you are in right now, know that God is with you. He will never leave you, He is faithful, consistent, and He loves you with an everlasting love. The seasons change, but God remains the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
What do you love doing? What brings you joy? What revitalises you?
For me, there are a number of things that float my boat. Actually, boats are a passion of mine. One day I’d really love to own one that I can escape to for weekends on the water. That feels like a pipe dream for now though. Other passions that revitalise me are playing tennis and following Arsenal, well sometimes anyway!
Life can be so full of busy obligations that our passions, the things we love doing the most are the things that get squeezed out. I know many people who selflessly spend little time on what brings them most joy to ensure that obligations and other people’s expectations are fulfilled. In the long term this can be a cul-de-sac, a dead end of not thriving or flourishing and certainly not living life to the full.
God wants us to find fulfilment. In the Bible, in the book of John, Jesus explains that His main purpose of coming is to bring life. He says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The ‘they’ that He talks about is you and me. Jesus wants us to have fullness of life. Sounds great!
The fullness of life that Jesus speaks of here isn’t the type that provides me with a 100ft super-yacht, winning a tennis match or seeing Arsenal win the league. After a moment of disappointment I quickly get over this when I realise that what’s on offer is actually something far more exciting and fulfilling. The life He is talking about is life in Him. He explains that He is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). The way to greatest contentment, fulfilment and joy is to follow Him. This is what is called discipleship.
Take time to follow your passions and do the things you love. It’s so vital for your wellbeing that you do so. At the same time know that even greater fulfilment is found in Jesus and going deeper with Him. This is what will make your joy complete (John 15:11) not the trappings of the world.
If you are ‘curious’ about the life that Jesus offers and would like to know more, we have just started an Alpha Course at St Peter’s that you may like to attend. Click here Alpha for details.
Many people say they believe in God. Some say they trust Him.
What sort of a God do they believe in, and how strong is that belief or faith? I believe that a Creator God made the Universe and all that is in it, or at least He set up processes which eventually led to the animals, plants, weather systems and so much more of what we call creation today. Did He set it all up and walk away from it, leaving the giant, complex cog work mechanism to unwind slowly over millennia, watching from a distance? The Bible says “no”. Jesus is quoted as saying that not one sparrow falls to the earth without Him knowing, and that we are much more valued than sparrows. (Matthew 10:29)
What do we mean when we say that we trust Him? Do we believe that God will bless us continually with good things and that we will lead lives without any pain and discomfort? Few of us would say that about our lives, and if we turn to the Bible we find that it says that the sun shines on the unrighteous as well as the righteous, and the rain does the same. (Matthew 5:45)
Perhaps we need to remember that it will be all right in the end, and if it’s not all right, then it isn’t the end. (John Lennon, and others before him)
I think I believe that God has a plan for me, and that includes what happens after my time on this planet has come to an end. In the meantime, I remember the passage from Philippians, where Paul encourages us to be kind and compassionate to our fellow men, and to “work out own salvation”. (Philippians 2:12)
I don’t know about you, but I don’t really like being asked for money. I’m not keen on being asked to give up my time and although I will often give of my experience and skill set when asked, this can be from a place of pride and self-importance. You might be thinking, what am […]
I’m writing this as I prepare for a holiday. Recently, I decided I needed just a few new clothes to take with me. A good friend offered to come shopping with me. We had a morning of fun. Finding something that both fits you and suits you if not always easy. However, having a friend […]
Expectancy – The feeling that something exciting or pleasant is going to happen.
Some of the most exciting periods of our lives are the times of anticipation. So far 2023 has been a year of hope and expectancy for me. Expectantly waiting to go on holiday to a brand new destination with my wonderful wife. Expectantly waiting for my son to marry his fabulous fianceé, and all of the planning and partying that entailed. Expectantly waiting for my beautiful daughter to present us with our first grandchild, and the unknown future he will bring.
Expectations quicken our steps and brighten our eyes as we reach out to future hopes and dreams. The attitude you have while waiting for something is an important factor. An attitude of expectancy is an outlook of hope; it can be contagious, creating an atmosphere of expectancy.
The Bible says that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen”. Faith understands as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses, so it’s important that while we wait for God to reveal His plans for us and to us, we continue to create an atmosphere of expectancy and hope. If we can learn to wait patiently for the Lord, if our hope is in the Lord, then we will:
run and not grow weary; walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31)
We’ve just celebrated some important dates in the Christian calendar – Easter, Ascension Day and Pentecost. This was a time of waiting for the early believers. When Jesus ascended to Heaven He left His church in an attitude of expectancy.
For 3½ years Jesus had prepared His disciples for their mission. He had taught them and challenged them and shown them the way. “Go make disciples of all nations”. Then in the last moments of His earthly ministry He gave them a final command, “WAIT”.
Wait? Surely not wait!
And that is often His word for us. We pray for something we believe is God’s will, and His answer comes back: “Wait”. We work diligently as we believe God has commanded us, and we look for the miraculous results, and God says: “Wait for this seed to grow”. God answers our prayers and works in our lives according to His timing, not ours.
The secret to waiting is expectancy. When you believe God will do what He says, you will not give up waiting for His timing. Are you expecting God to keep His promises in your life day by day? Expect God to use your life as you work for Him and surround yourself with the right people. People who will lift you up; people who will hold your hand; pray with you; fight for you; people who you allow to speak positively into your life; people who will wait with you and help you build an atmosphere of expectancy.
Patiently “Wait on the Lord” (painting by Chris Duffett)
Some years ago, I joined a folk ensemble in the hope that this would discipline me to practice and try new tunes – and possibly improve my mandolin playing! The current tutor/leader of the ensemble gives us a new tune each month to practice, which we play together when we next meet.
A tune we were given recently is in 3:2 time and most of the notes are crotchets. I found this tune thoroughly boring to practice and could not understand why we would want to learn it as it would be too boring to play publicly. I developed a distinct dislike for 3:2!
However – what a surprise – when we first played the tune together it sounded great!
What made the difference? The range of sounds from each instrument – accordion, flute, violin, ukulele, guitar, djembe, mandocello, yes even my mandolin – gave the tune colour and texture. The chords played alongside the melody made it clear that the tune was in A Minor not C Major, and that changed the character of the tune.
Around that time, I had been reflecting on the contribution that some people make towards the life of St. Peter’s Baptist Church that goes unnoticed by most of those who attend. We are blessed that so many do contribute and people do so without fuss or drawing attention to what they do – and so not all contributions are recognised. In the same way that my contribution to the sound of the folk ensemble sounds boring in itself, the individual contributions to the life of SPBC may seem small in isolation but all are vital and, together, make SPBC what it is.
This month sees the coronation of our new monarch, King Charles III. Amidst all the bunting, flag waving and general excitement will be some strong symbolism. Placed at the heart of all the pageantry, music and solemnity are reminders of the Christian foundation of our nation. For example, the Orb has a cross at the top of it, symbolising the Christian world. The oil to be used in the anointing ceremony has come from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. King Charles has become Head of the Church of England, saying at his accession that he held a deep Christian faith.
However, I am also reminded that all of us, from kings to those living in desperate situations are just human, with all our faults and ultimate mortality. All of us need someone bigger, the King of Kings, to help us through life. Some of us recognise this. Some don’t yet know or aren’t sure. Others chose to reject the whole notion of God. But I know that I can rely on him. He is my Rock, my Redeemer (Psalm 19). He is Lord and Saviour.
What does this mean for me? It gives me royal status and a responsibility. The apostle Peter wrote that we are ‘a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession’. Our royal mission? To ‘declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light’! (1 Peter 2:9). So I invite you to come and join the biggest royal family on Earth!
In the 6th chapter of the Biblical book of the Acts of the Apostles seven of the early Christians were chosen who were “full of the spirit and wisdom” to take care of the administration of the early church, under the supervision of the Apostles. In every church since that day there have been administrators who have taken care of the affairs of the church. As a church Treasurer I see myself and the others in the Finance Team as part of that long line of people.
In a frequently misquoted verse Scripture talks about the “love of money being the root of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10), but it does not say that money itself is evil. We all need money to pay for food and other essentials, and our treats too, and it is one of the tools that allow the church to function. The Treasurer is an enabler, enabling all the other church functions to happen, from “Bumps ‘n Babies” to funeral services.
At St Peter’s we rarely have a ‘collection’, preferring to think of our giving as ‘offerings’ to God’s work. Most giving is done via bank Standing Orders, so only a small team knows how much each individual gives, and there is no pressure on individuals to give more. It is up to each donor to give what they feel is appropriate. Some of our members are wealthy, and some struggle financially, so there is a wide diversity in the amounts that individuals give. I am frequently humbled as I check the bank statements when I see how generous some people are.
Although much of what I do is monotonous and repetitive, e.g. paying suppliers for cleaning materials or claiming Gift Aid from our Government, sometimes I have the pleasure of giving some of the church’s money to others, and this is personally very rewarding. St Peter’s aims to give away about a fifth of the money we are given each year. So, for example, in the last few months we have given thousands of pounds to Worcester Foodbank and thousands more to charities working in Syria and Turkiye.
“When the early sun first shone upon sea and land…”
This line is the beginning of a lengthy poem that my Grandma taught me as a child. Some years later the same poem was recited by Grandma at my marriage ceremony and many more years later, I reciprocated at her funeral.
It was through Grandma’s influence upon me as a child that I learned to love the written word in the form of poetry, stories, song lyrics and later discovering new depths of insight from Scripture.
As a Christian, I recognise the full narrative of the poem as containing Scriptural insights of creation, prayer and relationship with God the Father. However, as a child from a non-Christian household, it held a mysterious quality to me of an unknown higher being, who could make ‘all things new’, which was intriguing to a spiritual, open-hearted young girl, seeking an unknown ‘something’ in life to fill an unexplainable void.
Jesus shared and influenced others with his storytelling or parables. He used everyday life and familiar surroundings within his parables, that held a spiritual meaning and often a twist to conclude.
As we skip ahead to a new season of Spring, we see the narrative play out of new beginnings and new life, from the display of early bulbs, tree blossom squeezing out of tight buds, new lambs and the personal hope of warm sun to replace the harsh winter cold.
This narrative could have been part of a parable that Jesus told, illustrating what is seen and heard and weaving the promise of restoration, forgiveness and freedom as a conclusion.
Is there a story that you could share, write, create, sing, to encourage, inspire, or influence someone else? Maybe you are the one who needs someone to encourage you?
Let us be bold in our life stories and reveal our vulnerability for the benefit of others.
” His promise stands as its always stood, ‘Behold, I make all things new’!”
Last year I did a blog on my transition from observing coincidences as an atheist to recognising God-incidences having become a Christian in 1987. I finished the blog: ‘I have come to realise all of the evidence I have seen so far since those fateful two words ‘Follow Jesus’ – seem to be right, but they were not only the best thing I could do for my son, they were the best thing I could do for me, my whole family, my friends and everybody I know.’ Here I’ll focus on evidence of God’s love for my whole family that helped me understand the unbelievable patience, love and mercy of God.
The evidence concerns my biological dad, Jack Stansfield. During the 2nd World War, he had been a tank commander seeing battle duty in Normandy and Germany. Aged 21 he was extremely lucky to survive being hit in the throat with shrapnel. After the war he worked in production engineering and management jobs until retirement in 1987.
When I was born I was christened and remember aged 4 being taken to Sunday school, but we were not a church-going family. As a teenager I remember Dad warning me the church was full of hypocritical, judgmental Christians. I was surprised therefore, when in 1987 I shared with Dad that I had become a Christian, that he said he was really pleased for me, but that having seen many of his friends blown up in Normandy and Germany that he could only see Jesus Christ as a good man, not as the Son of God: ‘why oh why would God allow the destruction of so many of his friends and the innocent holocaust victims??’ As a lover of nature and bird watching, I could see for Dad that God was embodied by David Attenborough.
Move forward to October 1st 2000: Mum had died 7 months earlier and Dad had been taken into Ronkswood hospital five days earlier in a coma suffering from pneumonia. I had had a nagging feeling that God wanted me to go from the service at Redhill Baptist Church and read to my Dad. I was terrified, how would the nurses and patients view me reading from the bible to a man in a coma? Worse still, I had no idea what God wanted me to read! The sermon was about Peter’s attempt to step out of the boat onto the water to follow Jesus. At the end of the service a good friend walked over to me and said, ‘Kim, I believe God wants you to go to the hospital to talk to your Dad’.
When I arrived Dad had been moved to a small, private room where he lay motionless looking peaceful. I explained to him what I thought God wanted me to do and started desperately flicking through my Bible. It just seemed to open at Job 39 and I started to read ‘Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?’ At the end of that first verse Dad lifted himself onto his elbows and pushed his chest up, and then slumped back, motionless. I realised I had just witnessed God asking my Dad whether he knew who was the loving creator of the nature that he loved. I’d seen Dad offer his heart and soul to the God who had loved him from the beginning of time. I finished reading Chapter 39, told him I loved him and left. I was contacted early next morning to say he had died earlier. God waited patiently for the point where Dad was willing to listen to the truth about God’s love for him and His creation. As it says in 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV):
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
So many positive things happened at church today. This seems to be the case every Sunday at the moment. Not everyone will have noticed it all, but God was working powerfully in the things that get shared up front and maybe especially in the quieter things behind the scenes. I love my role as Minister and Team Leader and getting the chance to see and join in with what God is doing. I thought I’d take the chance to share with you a little of what happened.
Alex led us beautifully in worship. The first time she’s led at St Peter’s. Her own journey hasn’t been the easiest in recent years but she has faced those trials with courage and grace. She serves God and the church wholeheartedly and really helpfully. It was so good to see God’s restorative work in her shining through. Such a blessing! The rest of the band was made up of a range of fantastic guys sold out for Christ and working in harmony with each other. Two of the band have been baptised in the last few weeks – just the best!
Ruth preached an excellent, challenging sermon and encouraged us all not to be limited by the things that might hold us back but to courageously step forward, not letting difficult circumstances define us. It was wonderful to see many people determined to keep going and be fruitful in times of adversity.
Then there’s our children, youth and families ministry (CYF). A thriving ministry being led by a brilliant team and growing week by week. God is doing amazing work with our families. What a joy to see so many young people enjoying life together, genuinely belonging and beginning to flourish in faith.
Other beautiful things happening included: people building each other up; praying for each other and supporting each other; offering to serve in teams and use the gifts that God has given them to build the church; wanting to find out more about God and so signing up to our Alpha Course where they’ll discover how great God is. These are just a few of the lovely things going on. There was plenty more but some of that is personal to the individuals involved so I can’t share it here.
It’s such a privilege to get to see so many of the things that are going on and hear the stories of change and transformation in people’s lives. This brings me so much joy. All of these wonderful things are happening with the backdrop of my own challenge and sadness having lost my father just a few weeks ago and which is taking some time to process. It seems to me that this is how life works. It is often a blend of the very good and the pretty difficult. God is so good in both contexts and in working out His plans for our prospering and giving so much reason for hope.
Belonging to a genuinely loving and thriving community isn’t so common in today’s society and I don’t take this for granted for a moment. This genuine community holds an open door and wants to share its joy with others. I don’t know if you’ve ever given church a go or not, but if not, maybe it’s worth coming to check us out sometime soon – you’d be so welcome and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
To see a YouTube video of last Sunday’s service click here
Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty sort of person? I can be a bit of both, depending on the circumstances and how badly things are going! As I write this the end of the year is drawing closer; by the time you read it, the new year will have begun. 2022 wasn’t the easiest of years for me, there was a fair amount of time where my glass felt almost drained: work has been tough, I’ve had a few health issues and national and world events have caused despair. Like most of us, the bulk of my days have been filled with humdrum and the normality of routine. Thankfully there have been the occasional spots of joy when my glass was filled right up – mostly connected to our new puppy Maggie! As I look forward, I have some big changes happening in 2023 that will be both exciting and terrifying. There will be moments to choose how I view my glass. As I spend time reflecting, I’m drawn to the idea of gratefulness, and I have this song humming around my head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtV2wmdZoqo.
I don’t know where I first heard it, it’s a bit of a golden oldie but the words are worth thinking about. This is the first verse:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
There is something about naming the good stuff, the little moments of joy, the blessings if you choose to call them that, that makes them more real. It’s so easy to ignore the first blooms of a snowdrop, that moment of peace with a good cup of tea or when the car starts first time! I’m not saying noticing the little things takes away our struggles – if only! But it might change our perspective on our glass, just for a moment, and those moments add up. So, this is my promise to myself this year, my challenge for 2023: to count my blessings and make a point of noticing and being grateful for the many good things in my life particularly when the storms come, as I know they inevitably will. Do you want to join me?
This summer, Rose and I spent a wonderful week in Avignon; the whole journey was on foot or by public transport. On one of the days there we took the bus to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to visit the asylum, Saint-Paul de Mausole, to which Van Gogh was committed for a year from May 1889. While there he completed some of his most famous works.
The walk from Saint-Rémy to the asylum is punctuated with boards with copies of paintings done during Van Gogh’s stay, together with extracts from letters written by him to friends and family. In one of the letters, to his brother, Theo, he refers to his painting ‘The Reaper’: “I then saw in this reaper … the image of death in the sense that humanity would be the wheat being reaped. … But in this death there is nothing sad, it takes place in broad daylight with a sun that floods everything with a light of fine gold.”
From what we saw, Van Gogh seems to have thought about death a lot during his time at the asylum, but not with fear.
Van Gogh’s mental illness could have caused him to shoot himself in the chest shortly after leaving the asylum [and in a wheat field!], but his lack of fear of death made me think again about why I do not fear death – not because of mental illness but with the assurance of what Jesus has prepared for me [John 14:1-2]. Van Gogh’s father was a pastor, and Van Gogh had also hoped to be a pastor, so he might have had the same assurance.
I chatted to a lady who waited for the one, Waited fifty years, but he did not ever come. I spoke to a widow, marriage was all he’d known, He dreads returning to an empty home. I heard the desperate cry of a single mum, Through her smile and her words, she was clearly […]
When you look at these double yellow lines, what do you think? Is it “ooh, can’t park there, its against the law and if I do I will get a ticket” even “oh no, that’s inconvenient for me!”. Have you like me, ever been tempted to risk it?, saying to yourself “I won’t be long”; […]
Are you a sunrise person or sunset person? My friends tell me that there is nothing to beat a beautiful sunrise but, as a night owl, I’ll take their word for it. However I do love looking at sunsets, whether that’s from the back garden, over the Malvern Hills or, as I was recently privileged […]
“Mummy, I’m hungry”. “Mummy, I’m bored” “Mummy, she just looked at me!” “Mummy, I want to make something” “Mummy, he won’t let me play” If your family is in the middle of the school holidays, I’m sure you can relate! The holidays are a time of relaxing, going away, making memories and reconnecting with your […]
“Those who trust in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles”. So says the Bible in Isaiah chapter 40. This verse reminds me that with God on our side we can do great things – fantastic things that might seem impossible without His help. “Soaring” means going up or gaining altitude without using any […]
In May I was privileged and excited to be back on Skomer Island off the Pembrokeshire coast for a working holiday. It is a small island, managed by the local Wildlife Trust, an SSSI and Marine Nature Reserve, famous for its seabirds, especially the iconic puffin, and sea mammals. My evenings were free and on […]
I’ve always loved the rhythm of a good song. I used to tap along to the rhythms of the tracks playing on the radio. I progressed to air drums as a teenager and steering wheel drums as an adult. Then I fell in love with a djembe (that’s a large African hand-drum). I remember taking […]
One of the great joys of holding an allotment is asparagus season. Although it is short – typically from St George’s day for a maximum of six weeks – it is worth setting aside a bed and tending it year-round for the pleasure of eating asparagus within minutes of cutting. I have three varieties in […]
I’ve been a Christian since 1987 following a series of what I now know to be God-incidences, but at the time saw as pure coincidences. At that time I was living in South-West London, completing a PhD in aerospace composites, and had rejected all forms of religion as absurd, ritual-based superstition and nonsense. What was […]
The news today is scary and depressing and often leads me to despair. The nature of war and the human suffering filling our screens as we scroll can be overwhelming. As a teacher, I work with young people who are just as confused and overwhelmed as the adults, if not more so. I often use […]
When I first had an opinion and made up my mind about things, which was probably some time in my early teens, I decided that Jesus was for wussies and religion was a crutch for weak people – and I was NOT one of them! I was strong and capable. I was raised to be […]
Do you enjoy looking out on the sea in all its moods? Recently I visited Beaumaris on a bright, warm November afternoon. I stood gazing out at the water. There was so much to see. At one point there were heavy clouds in one direction and sun in the other. The light on the water […]
October half term found us spending many hours on a cold windswept beach in Northern England. Why? Well, the answer is we were collecting sea glass! So, what is sea glass? Simply put, it is glass that has found its way into the sea. It has then been churned up, shaped and smashed by the […]
I think this is an important question. In a world that is chaotic, stressful and disrupted, places of peace that nourish the soul seem few and far between. Despite this, we all know that we need to find these helpful places to increase our health and wellbeing. We hear all the time that mental health […]