Continuing my thoughts about experiences of fathers, and the Fatherhood of God, – I have often spent time with Kate, a friend, for whom the whole subject of her father brings back very painful memories. When she was 10 her father left the family to start a new relationship, moving 250 miles away to make…
Watching one of the many hospital-based programmes on TV, I was interested in one of the patients in the Accident and Emergency department. The patient’s wife shared a little of how the two had met, and in the early days of their friendship, as a Christian, she invited the young man to church, expecting him…
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 1st February 2026. Lectionary Readings: Micah 6 v1-8; psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1 v18-31; Matthew 5 v1-12. The sermon on the mount. As we have seen before, Matthew echoes the life of Moses in the way he portrays Jesus. Jesus goes up a mountain and brings God’s…
If you have read any of my TFTDs in the past you will know Bill the boxer. Today I want to introduce you to Cheddar the miniature labradoodle. She is my son in Australia’s dog, and we met her for the first time on this trip. She became affectionately known as “Cheddy bear,” as she…
In Luke 10:25–37, an expert in Law asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus answers with the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus then turns the question around. It is not only, “Who is my neighbour?” but also, “How can you be a neighbour?” Jesus says, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37) Two weeks back,…
Today’s thought for the day is brought to us by Joan Rono www.ellel.uk “…and no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no…
Last Saturday, we went to the cup match at Portman Road – Ipswich v Blackpool. It was the first time I had been in the stadium for 64 years. And it did trigger some memories. I remember being carried on my Dad’s shoulders – during the game and on the way home. Many things have…
Just after a recent light snowfall I noticed that the snow had melted more quickly on a growing crop than on a grassy footpath. Most of the time we barely notice the effect of all our footsteps on the environment around us but here was a good illustration of the legacy of ramblers, dog-walkers, family…
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I recently heard 2 sermons about the concept of God as Father and have been inspired to think about how people are able to accept this, bearing in mind their different experiences of parenting and specifically of fathers. It is a big step to move from seeing God as Creator of the universe to accepting…