News (Page 41)

Dont give up

Psalm 26 v 2 says, “Put me on trial, Lord, and cross examine me. Test my motives and my heart.” I used this verse when I wrote my “Thought for the day” on the 2nd June 2020. At that stage I was writing one every day in order to keep in touch during our Covid…

Lift your head

Today, as I write this, it’s reportedly the hottest day of the year. It seems unbelievable to think that by the time it’s read, we will be thinking about going back to school and there will be an autumn nip in the air. Through the summer, Julian has been having a half day on a…

Why choose God?

Today’s reading is Joshua 24:19-24 It may not be your experience but making choices can be difficult. The more indecisive we are, the longer we spend looking at arguments on both hands. ‘On the one hand this and on the other hand that’ goes the dilemma. People who have found their way to faith in…

Nutrients

Today’s daily reading was provided by Charlotte Haines Lyon. There are no magic solutions to living a godly life. Something to read Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. – 1 Timothy…

Out of the mouths

I recall an occasion when preaching, and asked the listeners, “Why did God choose blood for the forgiveness of sin, and not some other method?”  This was at a church where even an “Amen” was seldom heard. At the end of the service a young man, and a much younger Christian, shook my hand and…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 15th September 2024

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time              Year B                         15th September 2024. Lectionary readings:   Isaiah 50 v4-9a;   Psalm 116 v1-9;   James 3 v1-12;   Mark 8 v27-38. Guard your tongue! “My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to…

Divine intervention?

As you can imagine, a talk by John Bell from the Iona community, a veteran contributor to the “other” TFTD on radio 4, was always going to be popular at Greenbelt. But with a title of “Did God save Donald Trump?” it was guaranteed to be a sell out! John Bell started with the premise…

Pray for your town

Watching Bournemouth versus West Ham United with over 60 000 fans was a wonderful, exciting experience. Rev. Steve Mann and I had a lovely summer warm evening supporting West Ham United, Steve’s team. We were there physically. The atmosphere was electric as both teams took to the field, with funds buzzing in anticipation of a…

New clothes

This week on ‘Field of Dreams’, the lads got invited to an evening with the British Ambassador in Kolkutta. Dress code was formal and of course none of them had suits, so Freddie took them along to an Indian bespoke tailor where they were all measured up and could choose fabrics for their new outfits.…