Refresh: In Your Dreams…
In a world where bad news and tragedy dominates, perhaps it’s time to dream again. And as this Refresh post from May 2023 reminds us, that doesn’t have to be “in your dreams”… Refresh: In Your Dreams… Language tells us a lot about ourselves. Take the three little words “in your dreams”. They really mean, “Don’t even think about it – it’s not going to happen.” It’s a pretty gloomy view of the world and assumes a planet where dreams don’t come true. And if dreams don’t come true, why bother having...
Read MoreSeeing Through Another’s Eyes
It was one of the odder conversations I’ve had. We had just moved to New Zealand and were in a temporary house while the church manse we were to stay at was being finished. Being new, I wanted to get to know our neighbors and seeing the one on our left hand side in his yard, I popped my head over the fence to say hello. He was very friendly and showed interest in who I was and where I was from. I felt welcomed and as though we could become friends. And then a strange thing happened. “This is such a perfect country” he said. “And it would be completely perfect if it weren’t for all the...
Read MoreRefresh: Sabbath as Restoring or Restorying?
As the silly season kicks in and most of us are desperately trying to get on top of too full an agenda, I thought this post from November 2023 would be a gentle reminder to keep first things first. Refresh: Sabbath as Restoring or Restorying? Perhaps the title of this post is a little too clever, but it started as a throw away question in a podcast I was half listening to while going through my paces at the gym. My location is important, as it meant I was trying to follow a thoughtful discussion whilst gasping for breath and wondering if I would still be alive in ten minutes. In other words,...
Read MoreLove in Action: When Words are Not Enough…
I don’t know if you enjoy the Peanuts cartoon characters but in one memorable sketch the ever philosophical Linus bursts out: “I love humanity – its people I can’t stand.” Love is so much easier when it’s theoretical. And there are indeed some extraordinary visions of what love is. St Paul’s portrait in 1 Cor 13 is breathtaking. Do you remember this part of it: “Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud… love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth… love never fails…” Beautiful –...
Read MoreRefresh: By Persevering…
Is there a difference between persistence and perseverance? This Refresh post from Oct 2023 says there is, and argues that it is not simply a niggle point. To persist is to keep going; to persevere is to keep going despite adversity. I thought it worth thinking about this again… What’s the greatest predictor of future success? While experts express a range of views, their answers usually include words like resilience, tenacity and perseverance. Those who persevere, reap the reward. Naturally there are limits to this. If you persist in doing the wrong thing, you will be persistently...
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