The rhythmic two-tone notes of the passing train is replaced by the heavy trundling of the lorries along the Halifax Road, where I live in Todmorden. The cat, awakened by the inner rumblings of its stomach, I don't doubt, slowly meanders across the room in search of someone to feed her. And amidst this noise,…Read more Listening to the silence beyond
God
Tuning In
In recent weeks the Freeview channels have been changed, requiring us to connect and get an update. It may not take us long to find the new channels, or new channel numbers. I was told of one new channel someone had found: an American channel dedicated solely to religious broadcasts, where preachers would shout and,…Read more Tuning In
The Source for 2020
I was driving through the Derbyshire Dales recently. The road snaked through the valleys, perhaps not as pronounced as the ones near to where I live in West Yorkshire; nevertheless, you could see the natural beauty. The colours of the hills, fresh from further rainfall, were a mixture of greens and the rich autumnal blend…Read more The Source for 2020
Administration…Liquidation…what’s next for the church?
If administration is the process for a company to escape insolvency, and if that were to fail, liquidation is the ending of a company, the selling off of any assets to pay off creditors, this would suggest that the business model currently used has not worked. There's an alternative, known as "pre-pack insolvency" which is…Read more Administration…Liquidation…what’s next for the church?
What’s next for the Methodist Church?
On Saturday 19th October, 250+ members of the Methodist Church travelled to Westminster Church House, adjacent to the Houses of Parliament, to consult on the latest policy document from the Methodist Church Evangelism and Growth team, entitled God For All. There was something else going on #SuperSaturday as well - not the football, nor England…Read more What’s next for the Methodist Church?
Our Echo Chamber : Who hears us, can we silence ourselves?
Have you ever been in a cave or a tunnel and tried to shout out and then hear the echoes? We hear the reverberations of our voice, perhaps not so clearly as our initial shout, but it is our voice. Bats use this technique all the time. In a political world we currently - it…Read more Our Echo Chamber : Who hears us, can we silence ourselves?
Which glasses to choose?
Once some animals went to Heaven. The Golden Labrador asked God if it could sit on his left side, to keep him company. The Alsatian asked God if it could sit at his right side, to protect him. The cat said to God "you are in my seat". We have a cat. We live in…Read more Which glasses to choose?
Do we need a building anymore?
I have been struck recently by the tension facing the church today: does it focus upon buildings or the people? Financially, our buildings have become a significant issue for us as we fight to keep them up to date with the latest building regulation etc. It’s pretty obvious, that we need to do this for…Read more Do we need a building anymore?
A Good Send Off
We often hear that "we should give <person's name> a good send off..."Why exactly? If we don't manage to give them a 'good send off' will that affect their departure? Is it like catching a train? Obviously not, we don't catch the 1023 from Leeds always wearing a dark suit looking sullen, so what do…Read more A Good Send Off
Analysing John’s Gospel
Further to the analysis undertaken using the R function stylo() previously, I was interested in examining whether there was any information to be gained by looking at specifically the Gospel according to John. I noted that the stylo() function had been revised and was currently not able to function using MAC OS; nevertheless, utilising a…Read more Analysing John’s Gospel
Where do we fit?
For some people they have lived in the valley all their life, for others they have moved every few years. When I left education it was expected that we should enter a profession for life. Now, for many, we can move between jobs to gain additional opportunities, despite that causing possible difficulties with stability. But…Read more Where do we fit?
Bread & Debit Cards
It has been a strange week. We have been waiting upon a rotary washing line to be delivered so we can make good on this Yorkshire breeze which frequents this valley. To purchase one and await delivery is very 'modern' I suppose. Sadly over the past month my debit card has been 'scammed', the details…Read more Bread & Debit Cards
Is God male or female?
This is a wonderful example of the work of Marg Mowczko, (https://twitter.com/MargMowczko/) which I would highly recommend. https://margmowczko.com/is-god-male-or-masculine/ What are your thoughts?
For my friends setting out in ministry
This blog has really engaged me, positively, as I prepare for ministry myself. It contains wise words, from the other side, from within ministry and it speaks back to those who are starting out and also for those within ministry. It also highlights the need for all to be watchful over our mental health -…Read more For my friends setting out in ministry
On a journey
I recall one trek from my youth, where it was a constant slog of 'up and down dale' albeit we were no where near Derbyshire or Yorkshire, we ended up going through a number of peaty bogs (seen above). The black mire would infiltrate every pore of your sock, leaving a wonderful, but smelly, pattern…Read more On a journey
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