Read – Mattew 16:1-4 We arrived in Devon recently for a short break and upon arrival, we were greeted by a wonderful sunset over the sea. The ancient saying, quoted by Jesus in today’s reading implied pleasant weather and that was what followed for more several days. I have been thinking about signs in a…

­Matthew 14:34-36 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all who were ill to him 36 and begged him to let those who were ill just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it…

Read: Matthew 13:36-43 It is bewildering to wonder why good and bad people are able to co-exist in the world. I am writing this on the day following the cold-blooded assault on the worship of people in a Manchester Synagogue on the Jewish Holy Day of Yom Kippur. Today’s reading from the gospel sheds light…

Read: Matthew 12:46-50 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my…

Geoffrey Chaucer’s works from the fourteenth Century give us the origin of the phrase, ‘mighty oaks from little acorns grow.’ We usually take that as an encouragement to have high expectations even of things that have humble beginnings. A recent expedition to the park at Helmingham when the gardens were closed because of adverse weather…

Read: Proverbs 26:12-17 If you find honey, eat just enough – too much of it, and you will vomit. (Verse 16) A local plumber who we use when things get wet where they should not get wet or dry when they should be wet also keeps bees as a hobby. Recently we acquired a replacement…

We had a ‘last day of the holidays’ day out with our grandchildren at the beginning of September. It is a strange day, the transition from August to September and in my mind, to the best month of the year. Generally, but so far not this time, September delivers lovely weather and while it may…

Earlier this summer I went with a group to visit Olney in Buckinghamshire, home of John Newton and William Cowper. Those two names have lasting associations with hymnody, Newton’s ‘Amazing Grace’ being one of the best-known hymn texts of all time. Hymns are evocative. People who never go near a church are likely to know…

Read: Revelation 3:1-6 By the time this is published I will have retired from fulltime work. I will be carrying on part time for a while but only on a very limited basis. I have dug out my old diary from 1981 and as far as I can see I left college on 3rd July,…

If you are familiar with Asian culture, you may know that in some countries the giving of gifts is an important part of business and social etiquette. When I travelled regularly to China, I never went without taking something to give my hosts and all-important interpreters. Likewise I never returned empty handed. Earlier this summer…