nukelearfishing

Tag: church

  • When a welcome is not enough

    Many years ago, Sally and I visited a church for a morning service. I won’t embarrass it here by naming it as I would hope that things have changed in the past 30+ years! We were looking for a new church to call our spiritual home, but had to leave soon after the service ended,…

  • Bicycle-wrangling

    Bicycle-wrangling

    In an effort to get a little bit fitter and to reduce my impact on the environment I try to cycle to the church building where I serve when I can. Before you get impressed, let me confess that my bike is electric-assisted (there are long and steep hills on the journey) and I am…

  • Do you want your shoes back now?

    Do you want your shoes back now?

    The age old saying goes: “You can’t understand someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes” (or variations on that theme). I get what it’s saying, but I don’t think it’s right. It’s not enough. Walking a mile in someone’s shoes is about us experiencing life as they do, but only to do…

  • Fresh values

    As mentioned in the last bloggage, at Mutley Baptist Church we have adopted a new set of values. We discerned them after an exercise I call ‘The Ideal Church Exhibition’. We got into groups of different ages around tables, were given a big sheet of paper and some pens, and were asked to draw the…

  • sailing grace

    If you’re more than an infrequent visitor here you will know that I own a 6 metre sailing yacht, based on a traditional America’s Cup yacht. Sorry, that should read I own a model 6 metre sailing yacht, based on a traditional America’s Cup yacht. There is a small (or should I say large) difference.…

  • champion

    I was at a Church Meeting last night (and was immensely blessed by the experience). As a frequent ‘outside observer’ of Church Meetings I have a few ‘hunches’ (not caused by uncomfortable seating): The way a room is set out may have a correlation with the mood of the meeting. If those leading the meeting…

  • why God is more generous than a crisp* manufacturer.

    I like receiving parcels in the post. Usually it will be items that I have ordered online, but occasionally there’s a surprise and that’s the best… A while ago I had lunch in a well-known coffee-retailing emporium. I chose to have a sandwich and crisps (*’chips’ for my North American bloggists) along with my cup…

  • spiritual fitness centres?

    I have taken the plunge and joined a gym (and yes, that is a mixed metaphor as they don’t have a pool). I have done so in order to continue the rehabilitation process following my surgery earlier in the year. It’s the first time I have joined a gym and the induction was an interesting…

  • A Theology of Humour (part 3)

    This is the third (and in my view the weakest) part of the dissertation. Having established what humour and a sense of it is; and (I hope) that God has a sense of humour and is the source of humour; this section attempts to apply some of that to life in church… A Theology of…

  • Paul’s first letter to the Confusions

    Paul’s first letter to the Confusions

    [This is an extract of a letter that was recently found down the back of a sofa and which I have ‘translated’. Its authenticity has yet to be established.] To the Christians in Confusia Gravy and peas to you all. [The exact translation of this sentence is unclear]. I’m writing to you because it has…