Johnny and Hannah

A bundle of nine of us from Sawyers went to Norwich mid-week to engage with life, ministry and marriage stuff. This was hosted by Gordon-and-his-aqua-wife-Gail McDonald; their intensity and general approach despite some helpful content resulted in only a 4/10 score for me…. Here are some of the nuggets from the time shared,…
Reserve your primary [...]

here’s three to pick from!
As prescribed by one of our deacons:- Psalm 34 v 18 in The Message is just so brilliant ; -
“If you’re kicked in the gut, God will help you catch your breath”
Kenda Creasy Dean in her characteristic brillance:-
“Youth look to the church to show them something. Most of the time [...]

‘It doesn’t matter what the world calls us, as long as God calls you His!’
from today’s preacher at our local church!

from my Easter Day preach today;- The German theologian Jurgen Moltmann expresses in a single sentence the great span from Good Friday to Easter. It is, in fact, a summary of human history, past, present, and future: “God weeps with us so that we may someday share laughter and joy with him.”

Job 19 v 25-27
‘I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes - I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!’
After an inspiring Easter morning service those [...]

John 11 v 25,26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Jesus is talking to Martha, comforting her after the death of Lazarus (whom he will shortly raise [...]

(ok a bonus few sayings…!) [...]

Psalm 118 v 26 & 27
Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand,
join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.

This insightful thread from Tim Keller at the EMA 2007;-
“Most churches make the mistake of selecting as leaders the confident, the competent, and the succesful. But what you most need in a leader is someone who has been broken by the knowledge of his or her sin, and even greater knowledge of Jesus’ costly grace.”

SUDDENLY THE WHEEL OF MY LIFE STOPS
STILLNESS REPLACES MOTION
AND THE SOUNDS OF LIFE DISAPPEARS INTO SILENCE
 

WITH FEAR I NOTICE THE STANDSTILL
BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS SEEN
GROWTH TOGETHER WITH MOTION
AND WISDOM TOGETHER WITH WORDS
 

UNREST AND APPREHENSION CREEP UP IN ME
I CRAVE FAMILIAR MOTIONS
AND PREDICTABLE WORDS
 

BUT THEN I NOTICE YOUR HAND IN THE SPOKES
AND MY [...]