Nelson’s Prayer Dear friends, We live in unstable times, with enemies within, and without, seen and unseen, threats abroad and threats at home. Some would build walls, others are content to bed hop in their allegiances. Yet others wonder at the hidden costs of economic vassalage. Doom mongers shout “disaster!” and still others take the Hezekiah position – go back to bed…
The Bronze Collapse Dear friends, Most of us are aware of the Romans. Those who are interested in history know about their roads, towns, villas and legions. Hadrian’s Wall still impresses in the Borders, and many great churches (Dorchester Abbey being one such) sit atop Roman foundations or were built with Roman cut stone. Our faith was born in the Roman period.…
One unnaturally born was how St Paul described his status as the Apostle to the Gentiles. All the other apostles had been with Jesus during his time on earth. They had walked, talked, eaten, travelled and ministered with him. Importantly too, they had been called by Christ to follow, and been witnesses to his resurrection from the dead. St Paul could say…
Dry January Dear friends, Uncle Steve, just outside Tunbridge Wells, is without water again. A combination of very hard frost, ageing pipework, a few power cuts have caused a domino effect, and the network is down. An outraged customer base are blaming ineptitude at Southern Water, but actually their overall performance is moving in the right direction. Few are addressing the elephant…
The Tyndale Bible Dear friends, A very happy new year to you all. In amidst all of the celebrations and prophecies of doom there is one anniversary this year which is worthy of note, because it is foundational for the English speaking world. For 2026 marks the 500th year since the publication of William Tyndale’s translation of the Bible into the English…
A homecoming. Dear friends, Come with me in your imagination if you will on a summer adventure. We’ll catch a plane for the short hop to Geneva, then a train for an hour or so back into France, heading south, skirting the Alps. Just a little beyond Annecy, with its wonderful lakeside, our train will terminate at St Gervais Le Fayet. We’ll…
The Yearning Dear friends, A good friend kindly sent me this last week. In the context of the bloodied and broken world in which we cling to existence, I offer it to you, a prayer of hope, and light, for every single one of us, sickened by the polarisation, tired of the posturing, and longing for the salvation that the love of…
A Happy Place Dear friends, What makes a place “happy?” What makes somewhere good to live? Do you have a “happy place” in your life? Unsuprisingly, there are a number of common factors which promote “contented living” in a given location. Neighbours who are friendly, and who will hold onto your parcel when it has been misdelivered, or even pop it round.…
FOMO/NOMO Dear friends I can’t begin to count the number of Black Friday offers I have missed out on. What a terrible person I must be, as I am not in the least bit bothered. Phrases like “LAST CHANCE!” “special early access!” “exclusive discount deal!” “It’s HERE!” and “NOW’S THE TIME!” shriek at me from my inbox. I must confess a few…
Howard’s Tears Dear friends, Can you remember who taught you to read? Can you remember the first book that really caught your imagination? There is, really, nothing in the universe like a good book. Character, plot, and the opportunity for freedom, within a world of your own imaginative creation, guided by of the author’s script. The ability to read (and write) are,…