It’s Easter Saturday. A day of stillness, and the beginning of the celebrations that Jesus is not dead. It is a time of joy. If you choose to believe… Reflecting back on the Easter story, it strikes me how much choice plays a part. I don’t mean Jesus’ choice to endure the cross in orderContinue reading “The gift of choice”
Tag Archives: 2023
Brutal – lent 2023
I’ve spent quite a little if time today listening to and reflecting on the story of Jesus’ death. The only way I can describe it is brutal. Jesus shares a meal with his closest friends. He shares bread and wine and some last advice, then he gets in his knees with a towell and washesContinue reading “Brutal – lent 2023”
WWJD – lent 2023
Today we held a Maundy Meal at church. We heard the account of the last supper from John’s Gospel and we ate together. We didn’t have a full blown passover meal. Instead, we had some delicious home made soup with bread, cheese and fruit. We also didn’t wash anyones feet. The gospel says how JesusContinue reading “WWJD – lent 2023”
I see the daffodils – lent 2023
It’s a sign of spring, seeing the sea of yellow as the daffodils spring up. It’s a sign that the cold of winter is moving into the warmth of summer. It’s a sign of new life, a fresh start. Using limited gardening knowledge, daffodils are planted as bulbs in September and break forth between FebruaryContinue reading “I see the daffodils – lent 2023”
By my side – lent 2023
Today’s post follows a similar theme to yesterday, but using a different passage from the bible. I want to look at a small passage written by Paul to Timothy, a young leader of the early church that Paul had mentored and who, based on the contents of the letters, needed encouragement in his ministry. TheContinue reading “By my side – lent 2023”
You don’t need to do it alone – lent 2023
In a previous blog post I wrote about an art exhibition by Iain McKillop that’s currently on show at Guildford Cathedral. I wrote about a picture of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, about him being alone. Today I had some time to look at the pictures again. I was reminded of a part ofContinue reading “You don’t need to do it alone – lent 2023”
Those who eat together… – lent 2023
I have lived in a number of different houses over the last 10 years. Some were student house shares, some were lodgings and some I was renting on my own. Some have been great, others were… difficult. But the one I am in now is a houseshare and I love it. When I tell peopleContinue reading “Those who eat together… – lent 2023”
Permission to fail – lent 2023
I have written before about shame. Its a topic I write about a lot because I think it is something a lot of people come up against and because shame is not godly. I have written about the need to bring things into the light so we don’t feel like we are hiding something. IContinue reading “Permission to fail – lent 2023”
Loved. Redeemed. Called. Equipped. Blessed. – lent 2023
If you were asked to write a list of words that described every Follower of Jesus, I wonder what words you would choose. The list in the title is one I heard used in a prayer this week. I love it. It seems to cover most things. I sometimes worry that we paint an idealisedContinue reading “Loved. Redeemed. Called. Equipped. Blessed. – lent 2023”
The same but different – lent 2023
In a few weeks I have been invited to speak at a church. It’s after Easter so the passages they have given me are about what happens after Jesus has risen. There is the story of Jesus appearing to his disciples in a locked room on the evening of Easter Day (or its equivalent 2000Continue reading “The same but different – lent 2023”
The Reason for my Hope Blog 