The God of Abraham, the God of Adventure and Jordan Peterson
Regardless of whether you are a Jordan Peterson fan or foe, you will surely agree that he is always interesting and gets you thinking. I am currently working my way through his latest tome, We who Wrestle with God, and will probably write more about it when I’m through. Having read several negative reviews of the book I had decided against purchasing it, but then heard Peterson talk about it in a fascinating two and a half hour podcast on the Diary of a CEO that touched on just about everything. God was woven lightly into the first half of the podcast, and then took up most of the...
Read MoreRefresh: On being still, not silent…
This weeks refresh post originally appeared on 14 August 2022. I keep coming back to its underlying ideas. There is such a big difference between stillness and silence. On being still, not silent I recently listened to a fascinating podcast where Alastair McIntosh reflects on Quakerism and unpacks some of its convictions. In a throw away comment he notes that it is often said that Quakers gather together in silence (no drums of smoke machines for them !) but that this is not entirely accurate – they gather together in stillness. He goes on to quote Ps 46:10 “Be still and know...
Read MoreOur Many Coloured Days: On the Brown, Grey and Purple Ones…
I imagine that many of my readers are Dr Seuss fans. What’s not to like about him, green eggs and ham, the Grinch, and all the rest we are introduced to in Theodor Geisel’s wonderful world? Among my favourites are My Many Coloured Days, which attaches a colour to the different moods we encounter in life, with the liberating conclusion that whatever the colour of a particular day, “it turns out all right you see… and I go back to being ME.” In Dr Seuss’s world, some days are red, “On bright red days how good it feels, To be a horse and kick my...
Read MoreRefresh: Where our best prayers take us…
Todays refresh post first appeared in Aug 2022. Frederick Buechner’s idea that some prayers are “best prayers” and that they should take us somewhere, resonates with me deeply. It’s worthy of a re-read… Incidentally, some of these ideas are also explored on the Stirrers and Saints Podcast on Scripture and Prayer. Well worth a listen… Where our best prayers take us A post in 2022 noted the passing of Frederick Buechner and tapped into some of his wisdom. In this one I’d like to explore a passing comment which appears in a series of rapid fire advice...
Read MoreFormed, forming, reforming and deforming…
One of the hats I wear is as “Pastor at Large” of the Carey Group. While the title sounds exotic, I’m not sure any of us really know what it means, but in practice I get to speak into and participate in the life of Carey at a meaningful level. It’s an enormous privilege. We usually choose a theme for each year – something that identifies where we will place special attention, and this year the focus is on formation. It’s a choice that delights me. Why? Well, it’s not claiming a static “formed” – as though we have arrived and now...
Read MoreRefresh: Things that get in the way…
This is the 10th year this blog has been operating. There have been over 500 posts along the way. I always encourage readers to repost and republish if they find the material useful, and recently stumbled upon a website that had done just that. I vaguely remembered writing the post about 3 years ago, and as I skimmed through it thought, “Gosh, this is actually rather good! Definitely worth thinking about.” The trouble with that post, and many others like it, is that it is now buried amongst 500 others. That’s when I came up with a new plan. How about every Wednesday I do a...
Read MoreThis strange space called recovery…
My faithful blog followers know that I’m just back from some unexpected surgery over the Christmas and New Year period – an urgent hernia repair for those who like detail. I’m now in this strange space called recovery, when even a raised eyebrow sees Rosemary anxiously asking, “Are you sure you should do that dear? You don’t want to set the process back.” Oh it would be so easy to exploit everyone’s good will. I just need to cough a little piteously and I get offered another cup of tea or a biscuit. True, I don’t fool everyone. My 9 year old...
Read MoreOn waiting for surgery at the end of the year…
If anyone asks for a wise word at the start of a year, here is one you might like to pass along. If you’re going to get sick, don’t do it between Christmas and New Year. I’ve made the mistake of doing so, and oh my, it has been frustrating. In my last blog I indicated that I was hurriedly finishing off the post before having surgery for a hernia repair, and here I am 3 and a half days later, still waiting, though ready to be wheeled through for surgery should an opening come up. Let me fill you in a little more. On Boxing Day I woke to notice a significant swelling that...
Read MoreDead Poets, Cold Swims and Epektasis: My Takeaways from 2024
Last night Rosemary and I watched Dead Poets Society. It felt like a good thing to do as a new year beckons. There are not many 35 year movies that can hold my attention, but this is one of them. There is so much I resonate with, but also a fair amount that niggles and leaves me thinking, “I’m not so sure about that.” And that’s why it’s such a good movie! Whatever, in reviewing the year I asked myself if I have sucked the marrow out of life, and if I have remembered to follow the “carpe diem” principle and seized the day. In my own way, I think I...
Read MoreCall Him… Prince of Peace?
Happy Christmas. Here’s a short piece I wrote a few years back that is in my book Could this be God. It comes with my warmest Christmas greetings to you and yours. I was recently part of a group finalising a Christmas preaching series. We decided on the theme ‘Call Him’ and planned to look at a range of names given to Jesus. You know the ones I mean? He shall be called wonderful, counsellor, mighty God, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel and so on. Great names, they rightly inspire and motivate us. I’ve landed up with the Isa 9:6 Prince of Peace title. Of course the new atheists would snigger,...
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