Rose, Bud, Thorns – Because Perspective Matters
Roses are beautiful, but the most spectacular ones have thorns. It makes sense. Something as exquisite as a rose needs some protecting, for though lovely, they are delicate and vulnerable, and need some safguarding from grasping hands which might clutch their blooms without thought or heed. I recently led a leadership strategic planning day and instead of the tried and trusted SWOT analysis (strengths/ weaknesses/ opportunities/ threats) was asked to run a similar but not identical Rose/ Buds/ Thorns exercise, where you explore what is deeply pleasing about what you are presently doing (the...
Read MoreOn the Death of a Sister: Remembering Sheila
Last week was almost a really good week. So many things had gone right. A work project finished; I’d preached well on Sunday (well that’s what I thought); a lovely lunch with the family; a celebration of a friends 70th birthday (his wife wrote such a funny, lovely poem about him); and lots to look forward to – Rosemary’s birthday this week, and a trip to the US for a holiday the week after. A really lovely week, and then on Sunday night we got the news – my sister Sheila had died. Sheila, my oldest sister, the one who picked me up from nursery school at the end...
Read MoreWhat Really Matters: A Micah 6:8 Summary…
I get to preach at my home church today, kicking off a series “Minor Prophets: Major Justice” which gives a 7 week sweep of Micah to Malachi. I’ve been reading and rereading Micah and have decided to approach the message through the lens of “What this book teaches us about God”. I’ve come up with the title: “What Makes God Mad, Sad and Glad” – and OK, sorry if you don’t like the slick rhyming, but it highlights three themes that stood out for me. For those of you who know something about Micah, there are no prizes for guessing where...
Read MoreA Proverb to Ponder: Listen to Your Body – It Whispers Before it Shouts…
With my last two posts having questioned some proverbs and contemporary mantras, a couple of you asked me what proverbs I think are valid. Here’s one I am thinking of using in my next book Thirty Proverbs to Live By. It’s Listen to your body: It whispers before it shouts. You might not believe this, but I’ve been the poster boy for my local gym! They used me in an advertising spurt, and I’m told 1 person even signed up. At 69, that’s a feat worth boasting about. True, it’s a gym that advertises itself as being for non gym people, and they assure you they have no mirrors,...
Read MoreWhen Wisdom isn’t Wise: Some Modern Assumptions to Query
Last week I looked at a few proverbs that are now beyond their use by date. In its own way each is rather oppressive. Are you one of my diligent readers who remembers the three I looked at? Curiosity killed the cat; Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never harm you; and Cut your coat according to your cloth. When I mentioned these three to my older grandchildren they looked at me in blank incomprehension. None were part of their vocabulary, and I am glad about that. As I say, their use by date expired a fair while back. However there are many contemporary mantras that are...
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