This phrase is taken from Isaiah 6 verse 8, and each time I hear it read, I am reminded of an occasion when I attended a missionary conference at the Methodist Central Hall in London. The large room was filled to capacity, and for me, one of the highlights was to watch and hear the…

Years ago, it was my practice to go for a haircut without making an appointment, so while waiting for my turn, I would read any available literature. One of my favourites was the Reader’s Digest, concentrating on the many humorous stories and comments. One story that has stayed with me related to two elderly men…

In a Facebook post, a Christian writer, speaking of Anna’s reaction to seeing the baby Jesus, included this statement, “For that day that we all so long for is surely coming.”  My immediate response was to question whether that statement was true for me. It is not that I do not want to go to…

It was one Christmas Eve, in the late 1990’s, that I returned home from work to visit an aged aunt living in the annexe of our house. As I entered her lounge, I was aware that she was listening to a Christmas carol concert from Cambridge, though not the famous King’s College. Shortly after my…

I recall reading an article from a few years ago that suggested there are at least 3 Advents. The first, and probably mostly associated with that word, is this current period in the Church calendar. The second suggestion is the personal Advent when, individually, we invite Jesus into our hearts. Although written to Christians, the…

Not long ago, I was contacted by a lovely Christian who broke down as he tried to speak with me on the phone. Patiently waiting as he tried to control his emotions, I learned that he was facing a life-changing challenge and even had occasional suicidal thoughts. In the circumstances, only a very few Christians…

I find it amazing that events spring to mind randomly. Such an occasion occurred recently as I listened to Graham Kendrick’s The Servant King. I was taken back to the time when I was working in an office when a new manager was appointed. He was the person whom many staff dreaded, and it didn’t take me…

I recall preaching at an evening service at a church in Colchester, and at the end of the service, an elderly gentleman walked slowly to the front and, after the closing Amen, knelt and said, several times, “Lord save me”. No, it wasn’t the result of dynamic preaching, as this man had faithfully served as…

A week ago, I found it quite moving as I watched people of all ages stop what they were doing to stand silently for two minutes, in contrast to some who, for whatever reason, continued with their activities. On Remembrance Sunday, many churches, including the one I attended, modified their services to observe this silent…

A short while ago, I came across this definition of the phrase “fear of the Lord” as “a loving reverence for God that includes submission to His lordship and the commands of His word.” Genesis 22 may challenge us to ask why God would ask Abram to sacrifice his son when he had waited so…