Sometimes it is the differences between people that are more interesting then what they’ve got in common. For instance, when I listen to music, I like to be utterly absorbed in it. I love turning it up to maximum so I can’t even hear myself singing along, and just rocking. I don’t do this most […]

I’m a huge one for organisation, particularly when it comes to filing. I like my in-tray to be empty, and my inbox on the computer to be empty. Of course, this is not always possible, but I like to only have items in my intray/box that I need to process in some way – otherwise […]

There was an interview with Harrison Ford in the Metro this week, and one thing really jumped out at me. In response to the question “You also have a reputation for being a perfectionist. Is that justified?“, he replied: I’d say so. I used to have this old Russian lady architect who built one of […]

Tomorrow is a bit mad for me – I’m speaking at the 9am service, then (probably) doing the creche at the 10.45am, and then (probably) drumming at the 7pm. It’s difficult to think of three more varied activities within a worship service! The speaking has needed several hours preparation, much thought, research, etc. On the […]

Ever such a quickie – John Stott was writing in this month’s Christianity all about preaching, and he had an interesting comment to make about feeding people. I haven’t got it to hand, so I’ll have to paraphrase. Basically, he was considering Jesus’ (re)commissioning of Peter – “Feed my sheep”. If we limit this temporarily […]

We had a friend staying this weekend, who’s a music teacher and a worship leader (indeed she played at our wedding), and she was relating a story about a conversation she’d had with one of her students. Said student spotted the bible on her piano, and said something like “Miss – so do you use […]

At home group this week, Proverbs 19:21 was mentioned – which is, from the NIV, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord‘s purpose that prevails”. Interestingly, one of the people had a different version of the bible, and her version simply said; Man proposes, God disposes. I suspect a […]

Are we turning into a country of criminals? I don’t mean to be sensationalist, but I am amazed every single time there’s an outcry against speed cameras. I cannot for the life of me think of any reasonable argument against there being a system that automatically fines you if you break the law. The speed […]

Sunday’s reading was all about the transfiguration, and it got me to thinking about Peter’s response to the revealed glory of Jesus. Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Elijah, and one for Moses. (Mark 9:5, NIV) The classic evangelical take […]

For anyone preparing to go to a Bishop’s Avisory Panel on Selection, I’ve got some top tips for helping the process go as smoothly as possible. This is not to do with ‘passing’ (see the second tip), but just some small things I either wished I knew, or was glad I did know! So, in […]