I have just returned from a wonderful holiday visiting our son in Australia. One of the many highlights of the trip was travelling from Perth, on the west coast to Sydney on the east coast, some 4352km (2704 miles), by train over 5 days. This gave us fantastic opportunities to watch the changing scenery and…
This thought was first published in August 2021 Thought for the day on 2 wheels!(This series of Thoughts for the Day were inspired whilst taking a week’s break in Eastbourne with my friend Rev Rach Ward, a Minister in the Leeds South and West Circuit, previously a Local Preacher in the Ipswich Circuit) 3. The…
(This thought was published first in April 2021) One of the things small children seem to love to do, is jump into puddles and make a splash. There is a funny video that I have seen of a little girl probably about 2 years old with her pretty pink wellies and she is splashing in…
I have resisted the temptation to produce more TFTDs on the theme of my granddaughter…until now. We are now in the fourth week of Advent and thinking about love. I can still remember the moment I held Ottilie for the first time, nearly 3 months ago. There was an overwhelming feeling of…. love, plain and…
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. A friend of mine often uses this verse to pray with people who are going through tough times. It was the…
Would you prefer to be happy or joyful, (or both)? It seems easier to describe happiness as we see happiness around us. People out celebrating look happy. When Ipswich Town score the fans look happy – unless of course you are a fan of the opposition! We might meet a friend who has received some…
As we approach the end of the year we look forward to another year, what will it bring? There are so many “bad” news stories in the media, it is tempting to say – “it can’t be worse than this year.” Hope, however gives us something to look forward to. “I hope for a white…
I was preaching recently at a local church and my theme was “are you half empty or half full?” One of the hymns I chose was that well known hymn by Frances Ridley Havergal: Take my life, and let it be…, The hymn proceeds through various parts of the body including hands, voices, lips, brain…
This TFTD is another inspired by Rev Rach Ward’s recent visit to Bristol. The Helios sun sculpture is by the artist Luke Jerram. (His previous works include the Museum of the moon, Gaia and Mars art installations). Helios was the god of the sun in Greek mythology, and would ride his four-horse chariots across the…
A few weeks back I was attempting to tidy up the garden a bit and noticed something red amongst the greenery growing in the cracks of our patio. Lo and behold there was a strawberry plant with two bright red strawberries. Laying beside them was a bright red slender red chilli. (I suspect this was…