A little over a decade ago, scientists working in the Denisova Caves in the mountains of Russia came upon a fingertip bone. But this wasn’t a murder scene. The bone was ancient, and it was human, but it wasn’t us. Mostly. Not Homo sapiens, our species, nor Homo neanderthalis. This was a whole new species … More 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 – Heinz 57
2 Sam 11:26-12:13a & Ps 51 Back when I was a young, bright thing I bought a pair of flowery ‘dockers’ (Doc Marten boots). Loved ‘em. Wore ‘em loads. I even wore them to an ordination service once. I was in the choir and ‘cos it was a posh do we had to wear robes. I … More “How come I didn’t see that before?”
It was early Friday morning when they led us from the cell, and I saw they had a carpenter to crucify as well. … More Good Friday- Look, See, Pray
Isaiah 58:4-11 – ‘Fast’ Food
Giving up chocolate for Lent? It’s all a bit easy.
Here are some ideas for a more spiritually satisfying Lent, some ‘food’ for your fast, if you’ll pardon the pun. … More Isaiah 58:4-11 – ‘Fast’ Food
[Jonah-Man enters, in ‘Superman’ pose]
Narr: Who are you supposed to be?
J-M: I’m being Jonah, and [indicating pants] obviously, he’s some kind of super-prophet!
Narr: Ummn, I’m not sure it’s that kind of pants. … More Jonah 3:1-5, 10 – Jonah-Man, the Pants Prophet
A an eye-catching paper trick showing that we can never be so messed-up that God can’t fix us. … More Jonah 3:10 – 4:11 – God of second chances (paper trick)
“Don’t judge me!” says my daughter as she guiltily stuffs a second muffin in her mouth. Our culture takes a dim view of judging. Look at the words linked with it: Judgement Day, judgemental, prejudice.
Did she mean ‘judge’, though? … More Isaiah 11:1-10
The church has never been a place for good people. It’s a place for broken, hurting, ordinary people – just like you and me. And God rejoices. … More 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Psalm 51:1-10, Luke 15:1-10
This is a beautiful passage of God’s love for his children. And this is not some distant father dashing out of his study to pat the washed and brushed children on the head before nanny puts them to bed. This is one who lifts infants to his cheeks, who bends down to them and feeds them. This a hands-on, story-reading, nappy-changing dad. … More Hosea 11:1-11
And God? God forgives. Fully and immediately. It’s almost like he was waiting for someone to confess so that he could release all the pent-up mercy. … More 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15
The Reflectionary 