Category: wisdom

  • instructed

    During  recent renovations at our church we installed a video camera system so that wherever you sit in the church you will be able to see what is going on. As part of it we have a picture in picture facility so that, for example, we can show a PowerPoint with the words of a…

  • Here be dragons

    It may help you to read yesterday’s bloggage at this point and then come back, in order to set a context. Done that? Good. On ancient maps, so we are told, where the map maker had run out of knowledge at the edge of the map they would write ‘Here be Dragons’ or similar warnings…

  • wise words?

    “Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get.” (Forrest Gump*). Except that if you have the leaflet that comes with the box of chocolates you have a good idea about what you are gonna get. Perhaps this is more accurate: “Life is like a box of chocolates: we all…

  • M’lud

    In my former incarnation (I used to be a litigation lawyer) I remember how intimidating it felt when I went and stood before a judge on behalf of a client. I was a very junior (and inexperienced) lawyer when I had to go and stand before a High Court judge in his chambers to agree…

  • fence sitting is uncomfortable

    I’ve been working on Sunday evening’s sermon, which will be on the second-half of Acts chapter 5. This is the occasion when the apostles were hauled in front of the religious authorities and so infuriated them with their teaching about Jesus that a majority of people there want to put them to death. However a…

  • the late wise men

    We have now entered the period of the year which in church calendars is known as ‘Epiphany’. It is the period of time when we are supposed to reflect on the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus. In reality I think it is time of year when most people reflect on how much…

  • in the end are the words

    I was glad I was not there. I would have disgraced myself with sniggers, snorts and perhaps even full-blown laughter. It was an important meeting making important decisions. The meeting seemed to be moving towards agreement when a lady who might be described as ‘traditionally built’ (see No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency) stood up. “I have…

  • tales of the unexpected

    I normally wear contact lenses. In itself that is not a particularly revolutionary statement. However there is a follow-on statement: there are times when I don’t wear the lenses and have to wear glasses. Again, in itself, that is not a particularly unusual statement: many people wear glasses. Things become more complicated, however, when you…

  • paradoxically speaking

    It seems that the internet (and social media in general) is full of ‘profound’ statements that people ‘like’, ‘share’, ‘retweet’ and ‘post’ to friends and followers. Some examples from yesterday, posted on Facebook since my last bloggage, are: Sometimes God calms the storm… sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child. The problem…

  • updateus maximus

    One of the things my parents used to advise me was to “engage brain before opening mouth.” I did not realise how wise they were at the time (both parents and words), but the older I get the more I understand how things said in haste or as a quick reaction can be hurtful and…