'Walking the Way' - Reflection 12th April 2026

On Saturday last, April 11th,  'I Am Maximus' became the first horse since Red Rum to regain his crown in the Grand National, as Willie Mullins also became the first trainer since Vincent O'Brien in the 1950s to win three successive editions of the Aintree spectacular.

Another record was set by jockey Bruce Hobbs in 1938. Born on Long Island, New York, Hobbs became the youngest and tallest jockey to ride the winner of the English Grand National when successful on Battleship, a son of Man o' War, in 1938 just three months after his 17th birthday. Two weeks later, he won the Welsh Grand National on Timber Wolf. At the end of the 1937–38 season, during which he rode 35 winners, he became the first jockey to win three Grand Nationals in one year, lastly the Cedarhurst version.

Following the Second World War Bruce Hobbs began a career as a trainer, becoming a private trainer for John Rogerson at Letcombe Regis in Berkshire. In 1953 he moved to Newmarket, Suffolk and became assistant trainer to Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. In 1961 and 1962 he was assistant to John Clayton. In 1964 he moved to the Carlburg stable near Newmarket and became private trainer to David Robinson. Hobbs became a public trainer in 1966, basing himself at the Palace House stable where he remained for the rest of his career.

And in 1966 Hobbs signed up a young lad from Lancashire as an Apprentice Jockey.  This young lad carried the same name as a famous goalkeeper, Gordon Banks, and by a strange coincidence joined Hobb’s stable in the very same day when England won the world cup with Banks in goal.

What took me to take this somewhat unusual step wasn’t a deep love of horses, or of racing, or anything to do with the sport at all. Up until that point I had zero interest or knowledge about racing and the only thing that came close to riding a horse was a donkey ride on Blackpool beach!

What took me there was adolescent angst about dying, more particularly about dying unknown.  Not an untypical angst for teenagers to battle with as they grow up and begin to grow away from their parents. (In the ordinary course of things)

In short I hoped to become famous, so that when I died, as I was acutely aware that I would do one day, that my death would be noted and not be a mere little note in the obituary column of the local newspaper.  

At the age of fifteen and preparing to leave school I was underdeveloped and stood less that five-foot and weighed in at less than six stone.  When talking about what we would do when leaving school, it was my best pal, James Masters who quipped that I ought to become a jockey because of my size. That quip sowed the seed that eventually led me to traveling down to Newmarket, to Palace House Stables, so named because they were at one time the royal stables of Charles 11, a keen advocate of horse racing.

I never did become a jockey, famous or otherwise and after serving my five years as an Apprentice Jockey I left the racing game and began a raft of various other jobs, principally as a bartender in hotels in and around Newmarket.

God never really featured in my thinking or concern during any of this period. I had left school, St Anne’s Church of England Secondary Modern School, with a deep fascination with Jesus but a deep dislike for any form or organised religion and the Church.

That was to change in 1974 when I began to work for Spillers Food & Nutritional Centre as an Animal Technician. There, I was to meet David, a man like me in his mid-twenties. However David was a Christian, and a Christian of a type I had never met before, one who had a lively and active faith.  I began working there in March 1974 and by the winter of that year I had begun to look again at the Christian Faith and still have the Bible David gave me in November 1974.

It was reading that Bible that I read Colossians 3.3 – ‘For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.’

This proved to be a light-bulb moment, my Damascus Road, my enlightenment. On the 1st January 1975 I made a New Year's Resolution to become a Christian. 

My life, my true life, my God given authentic life, was not to be found in fame or fortune, but in walking with Jesus. It was not having my name in headlines but written in ‘The Lambs Book of Life.’   (See Luke 10.20)

Today at St Oswald’s we reflected on the Emmaus Road story, Luke 24.13-35.  We were encouraged to consider Jesus as the ‘master evangelist’ and consider the ways he acted in this encounter.  (To see the sermon visit - https://www.youtube.com/live/_1R7Jn85MA8?si=MClUAY8knRCfJfnY)

These are some of the key points on which we were invited to ponder.

What’s our story, what does Jesus mean to us, how did we come to encounter the risen Jesus.  Note in this story it was while these two disciples were ‘walking away’ from Jerusalem, It was when they were at their lowest, when they were downcast, befuddled and massively disappointed, all hopes and dreams shattered. Jesus joins them and walks alongside with them, ‘going away from Jerusalem’   - this is love ‘going out of its way’ for the sake of the other, to bring them Good News.

Jesus listened to their story and only then began to respond to their disappointment.  Listening is a key skill we can learn and develop.  A few weeks ago, I undertook the Prison Fellowship training for Bereavement Counselling.   (Bereavement especially for prisoners is broader than the death of a loved one) Listening was one key skill were encouraged to develop.  Not long ago Radio Four had a series called, ‘Across the Red Line’ Two people on the opposite sides of an issues were invited to sit across their opponent who was allowed to speak without interruption. There opposite number was then invited to reflect back what they had heard.

The other key thing we learn from the Emmaus Road story is Jesus’ knowledge of Scripture, his knowledge of the big picture. How good are we at knowing this bigger picture, how good are we at using Scripture to reflect back on what’s happening in people’s lives and in the world.

I am not taking here about selective proof text to be stuck on like some plaster, but knowing the stories, knowing the flow of things. Helping people sit into the deep wisdom to found in the Scriptures.

For example, in this past week my son and I were having a back and forth on WhatsApp about education (he is a teacher). We talked amongst other things about human flourishing, one of the primary reasons for education. This is a major motif of the Scriptures, our own flourishing, that is, what makes for the good life, (see Psalm 1) and what helps the flourishing of the ’other.’ 

I recalled hearing a story of lady who came from Uganda and secured her dream job in Switzerland. However, after she moved there with her young family she then moved back.  She didn’t want her daughters growing up in the atomised individualistic atmosphere of Western culture.  Practically she missed the support of her community. An African proverb says, ‘it takes whole village to raise a child.’   

Ponder this…

What is your story of meeting Jesus and are able you able to tell that story?

Have you found Jesus to be there at your lowest moments, bringing you encouragement?

How good are you at listening? Maybe with a friend try the exercise of listening and then reflecting back what they have just said.

How well do you know the Scriptures, the stories, the overriding themes and motifs?

How good are you at going out of your way to be with the ‘other’ and journeying with them?

For we know that a little bit of love goes a long, long way…

Ponder on your part in sharing God's love as you listen to this song.

https://youtu.be/auwgDr2BA7E?si=_hLtj2bFR9ZDqIJu

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Are we there yet?' - Weekly Reflection 'Holy Saturday' 2026

 

‘Are we there yet’ – who hasn’t heard that from the back seat of the car, or a bus or train. Usually from a young person, possible a child, or in the film Shrek, from a very annoying donkey!

Patience seems to be in short supply these days, especially on the roads. We have come to expect things to be done quickly. Interestingly a few weeks ago I was with a small group in the Church of the Ascension, the Orthodox Church in Rugby. Their ‘liturgy’ has changed little in the last 1500 years. Our hosts spoke about this feature of the Orthodox tradition that doesn’t go in for swift changes.

And so today, what name do you give this ‘in-between’ day, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. A priest friend of mine posted on Facebook a raft or resources, music, readings and prayers, which he referenced as Silent Saturday. The Orthodox makes much of Christ’s descent into hell and setting captive souls free, principally Adam and Eve, and then binding Satan and ushering in new creation. In the Western Church this was known as the ‘Harrowing of Hell.’ See What is the Harrowing of Hell?

A more common name for this day is ‘Holy Saturday.’  

For many others of course this is simply Easter Weekend or even Bank Holiday Weekend with little or no reference to the crucifixion, resting in the tomb or the resurrection. I would hazard a guess many in our prisons would hold that view, and possible aggrieved or frustrated that they cannot be with family and friends over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

For some of course they will adopt the Jewish calculation for the start of the day which begins at 6pm on Saturday, i.e. Saturday 6pm is the beginning of Easter Sunday. Many will be holding Easter Vigils and Resurrection Celebrations this evening.

Several other Christian Faith Communities will be holding a Dawn Service, complete with a New Fire, from which the special Paschal Candle is lit, often with great ceremony being taken into the darkened church with the call of, ‘The Light of Christ.’  From this candle all other candles are then lit, so the light of Christ spreads amongst his people. Coventry Cathedral has a Dawn Service with Baptism and Confirmation at 6am.

I like Dawn Services and have led and participated in very many over the years. My first experience was a large, lively Anglo Catholic Church in central London. I have taken part in Dawn Services on Bodmin Moor, by the River Tyne and outside Stafford Castle.

And today many Churches across the country will also have been a hive of activity preparing floral displays and other decorations, dressing the Church following its 'stripping' on Maundy Thursday. 

And it is here that I have an issue, it is here where I detect that cry, ‘are we there yet.’ Can we get on and begin the celebrations, we aren't comfortable with a dead Messiah.

Have you ever really pondered on the utter desolation felt by Jesus’ disciples?

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.  The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

All their hopes, dreams, expectations, gone and buried deep in a tomb behind a huge stone.

What I long for is for the Faith Community to sit into this despair for at least some time on Holy Saturday. Maybe in the morning, followed by a simple shared lunch and then together begin the decorations and preparations as we slowly turn the corner from despair to celebration.

Along with considering the despair of Jesus’ first followers we can also seek to sit in lamentation for the utter carnage currently engulfing our world.

In many, many places across the world a parent will have buried a dead child, a child for which they had hopes and dreams. Now, all gone, wiped out by bomb or bullet.

What about those in our prisons, or those who are homeless or poorly housed. Or children living in poverty. Or what about yet another death of a young person in London, shot to death by teenagers.

Can we not watch with those for whom all hope is gone, the pain is real and visceral. Must we simply jump from Good Friday to Easter Sunday and never sit in the pain and anguish of our world, even if for at least an hour!

Pain and suffering are not easy to live with, and we will often try distraction techniques, or plain simple avoidance.

St. John of the Cross, a 16th-century Spanish Carmelite friar and mystic, is renowned for his profound insights into the spiritual journey, particularly the experience of suffering

 “The evening news is the Dark Night of the Soul.”

“The evening news is the Dark Night of the Soul.” This is a more modern interpretation, but it captures the essence of St. John’s teaching. The constant stream of suffering and negativity in the world can be overwhelming and lead to a sense of despair. This is a collective “Dark Night” that we all experience to some degree. St. John would encourage us to respond to this suffering with compassion, prayer, and a renewed commitment to living a life of love and service.

‘Are we there yet?’

Jesus made the journey through pain and suffering and invites us to follow in his footsteps! 

'It is finished' - John Groban

https://youtu.be/M6qW8P70nUU?si=auIQzOuKISos5HO_

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Heart Transplants'' - weekly reflection 29th March 2026

 
1n 1967 Dr Christiaan Barnard (1922-2001) performed the first human heart transplant. Around 1968/69 my mum also underwent major heart surgery in having a faulty heart valve replaced with a mechanical one. You could hear it ‘clunking.’  This gave her a whole new lease of life.

I remember the first time I undertook any ‘serious' study of the Scriptures while I was living in London. The tutor impressed upon us, as we were exploring the Old Testament, the primacy of Ezekiel 36.26-27, ^“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

Like most people I have been watching events unfold in Iran and Lebanon, whilst also very aware of other conflicts including the ongoing grinding war in Ukraine. There are 40 armed conflicts as of March 2^nd 2026.

Jane and I recently watched the documentary, ‘Mr Nobody against Putin'. It is a hard watch but one which everyone should watch. It documents the shift in one remote Russian town as the propaganda machine of Putin's regime places legislation that forces schools into teaching propaganda. The children in the school move from being typical children to be fully indoctrinated, with military songs and marches and ready and prepared to go and fight and die for Mother Russia.

On one occasion when Jesus was being challenged on religious observance he remarked,” … out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”

The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart!

We need a heart transplant.

In Proverbs 6:16-19 we read, “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...”

However you call it, that is a describer for some of our world leaders currently, and their actions.

There have been a few posts appearing on social media recently calling for Britain to claim back it English Christian heritage.

The historian Tom Holland in his book ‘Dominion’ clearly demonstrated that Britain was built and developed on a Christian foundation. I could agree with the call to some degree if we were going to endeavour to be guided by the principles of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, however, I suspect that is not what is being advocated.

It is heartbreaking to consider all the billions of dollars spent on prosecuting the war in Iran and Lebanon. If it had been spent in aid programmes, even in America, it could have eradicated a huge number of their current problems, homelessness and unaffordable medical treatment for example.

^“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 

Ponder this as we enter Holy Week and follow Jesus to the cross on Good Friday.

Wood is good, it is useful both in its natural form as trees, but also as a means of making furniture, shelter or even a fire on which to cook and keep warm.

What it isn’t good for is to turn it into a cross on which to hang humans beings so that they die slowly in excruciating agony.

Consider this, someone at some time imagined this use of wood. That thought became the deed and became a cross for crucifixion.

Where does your imagination take you as you go about your daily life?

Are you looking at things and thinking how they might bring flourishing and life and light into the world, into someone else’s life?

Have you had a heart transplant wrought by the Spirit of God?

How does that manifest itself as you go about your daily life.

^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5.22-23.

Jesus said, “The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.” John 10.10.

That lies at the heart of the matter. Is what our leaders and politicians are doing bringing life and flourishing, does it demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit? Or are their actions those of a thief who come only to kill and destroy?

And always remembering that we  might not be called as politicians or world leaders of nations, yet we do have our own sphere of influence. We also need to check our own hearts and if we are bearing witness to the fruit of the Spirit in our own lives.

Psalm 24.3-5

‘Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, those who do not lift up their soul to an idol or swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from the God of his salvation.…

Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6.21

This is a song from a bunch of folk who have experienced a heart transplant and are living abundantly and free. *

https://youtu.be/hQahQg8ymyQ?si=nmM92xuM3UGmMluP

Why wouldn’t you want this for yourself and everybody, including the current USA Administration, and the Russian regime and indeed the Iranian regime.

Now that’s a big bold call to bring before our Heavenly Father in prayer. Maybe something to bring before God next Saturday, Holy Saturday, (not Easter Saturday!) as we spend sometime in reflecting on the devastating darkness and despair of those first disciples, and as we look out into our world facing  darkness and despair.    

 * Mountain People: We are a Group of Ex: Orphans, Drug Addicts, Incarcerated folks, and other notorious sinners that have been redeemed and transformed by Jesus. These are our songs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

'In all things...' - Weekly Reflection 22nd March 2026

 On Saturday if I don’t have anything on I like to go for a longer run. And maybe a tad ‘old school’ but I like to listen to the radio and my go-to for very many years has ben Radio Two. I love the mixture of banter and music and the various features. One of those features from the time when Claudia Winkleman was in the saddle was ‘little wins.’ People were invited to tell of their little wins, something in the grand scheme of things is insignificant but helps to cheer us up and make us feel positive.  I had a little win on Wednesday.  I was at a meeting of the Farming Community Network (www.fcn.org.uk) and was tasked with setting up our Zoom link and especially to bring our speaker into the room via a Zoom link. I had tried to facilitate a hybrid meeting before but never quite managed to get it to work. But on Wednesday I managed to get everything working.

On Friday I was with the group who meet at St Andrew’s, Rugby for a discussion around Scripture or a theological issue, or during Lent and Advent a book. Currently we are working our way through ‘Meeting God in John’ by David Ford. On Friday we discussed the idea of glory, what it means and how we give God glory.

This linked in with our Gospel reading for this Sunday morning, the 5^th in Lent, sometimes called Passion Sunday, John 11.1-45, the story of the raising of Lazurus.

John 11.4 ..."This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's ‘glory’, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

The Hebrew word for glory is ‘kabowd’ and carries the sense of weight or heaviness. This is a common metaphor in common usage in English, consider, weighty matters, not understand the gravity of the situation.

On ‘glory’ I can highly recommend The Bible Project podcast.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5uldfj3NinUEJPu2YUWxzp?si=Z1biI2rbSVyDkWpJR8ejug

Weighty, important, attributes of God the creator and sustainer of the world.

In 1 Cor 10.31 we read, ‘whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’

Whatever you do! I wonder how good we are at recognising that in everything we do we are to do it to the glory of God, so that God may be glorified. That includes getting a Zoom link to work!

Because humans are called to reflect God as image bearers, the Imago Dei. 

St Irenaeus from the second century wrote, ‘The glory of God is man fully alive.’

When we are at our best, and living the best life, we are glorifying God. Like the moon reflects the light of the Sun so we are called to reflect the light of the Son. 

In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, a historic Reformed Christian summary of doctrine that was written in 1646 by a group of English and Scottish ministers there is the quote “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

That is our calling, something we pray for when we say the Lord’s Prayer.

‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’

Hallowed means to be held in highest honour, to show respect. Something we do by bringing glory to God by the way we live.

And we do that as we read in Matthew 5.16 by letting ‘our’ light shine out,

 ^‘In the same way, let ‘your’ light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’

Last Saturday I didn’t go for a run but instead had a cycle ride. One of the things I do when riding my bike, day or night, is to have lights on. Last week I had to get new batteries for my rear light so it would shine out. 

I wonder where I might shine my light in the week ahead. Is my light needing some new batteries, does the lens need a good cleaning, are the contact points working well.

And the biggest challenge, will everything I do, in word, thought and deed bring illumination and glory, honour and praise to God the Father. Helping others shine out and glorify God and bringing hope into the dark places in our world. 

Perhaps you might like to step into that challenge as well.

In all things, at all times, in all places and in all circumstance may we give glory to God in the highest...

https://youtu.be/RM5C7Pr-SKU?si=RW3u7C9SOMgwLpif

 

 

 

'Who are you to tell me who I am.' - Weekly Reflection 15th March 2026

 It still happens with our grandchildren, the twin boys, James and William. I reference one and yet mean the other! They are not usually slow in correcting my error.

Identity has been a theme I have bumped into several times in the past week.

In our Connect Group (Home Group) we were exploring the woman Jesus encountered at the well.  We know her as perhaps a woman of dubious morals, and we know of her as a tad feisty in as much as she was willing to talk back to Jesus. And we know she was one of the first ‘evangelist’ as she ran back into the village and said, “come and see a man who told me everything I ever did.”   Jesus restored her dignity and restored her to the community. Being at the well on your own at noon is an indication that she was ostracised by her community. The Eastern Orthodox Church takes this a step further and identifies the woman and names her as a celebrated saint, St Photini and they present her in a very positive light. See Photini: Mother of Evangelists — Know Your Mothers

And in this story it is worth noting that Jesus identifies himself as ‘I am’ with all the deep connotations that phrase means linking in with Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush. (Exodus 3)

On Wednesday evening I joined 'The Welcome Directory’ on Zoom for a 'Spotlight.' . The Welcome Directory

The ‘spotlight’ on this occasion was on the importance of accommodation for those coming out of prison. We heard of the work of two charities who are offering help in accommodating ex-offenders. Hope in Action - Hope Into Action UK and The Langley Trust - Langley Trust

 Frank was a guest who had been helped by Hope into Action. From an extremely challenging childhood, Frank drifted into a life of crime that ended up with a very long sentence.  However, he told of how Jesus had illuminated his life, giving him a new purpose and identity. The work of the charity and the accommodation all helped him upon release. It was a delight to see him glowing with the presence of Jesus.

And having a new identity in Christ was the subject of our reflection at St Oswald’s this morning as we explored Colossians 3: 12-17.  Here, Paul outlines the former life of some of the Colossians, and the new life they were now to live as followers of Jesus. Verse 17 ‘Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,’ giving thanks to God the Father through him.’

This is to be our new identity, because ‘you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.’  (verse 3)

No longer a prisoner, or even an ex-offender, or a woman of dubious morals, no longer labelled by others, but rather loved by God, a son or daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

However, we have to choose to step into this reality and steep ourselves in this new reality every day. And a deep engagment with the Scriptures in one way to help in this endeavour.

And this is a matter of the will. I remember my first post at the Church of the Holy Cross, Marsh Farm, Luton. The Vicar, Bob Branson, was always keen to point out to couples being prepared for marriage that it is only in Hollywood Movies that couples say, I do. The actual phrase is ‘I will.’ It is a matter of the will, a matter of choice, a matter of always making that choice in all situations.

And living in that reality we will bear fruit as we are clothed in Christ.

^‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.’ (verse 12)  (And couldn't we do with some of that in our world at this time!) 

Many commentaries chose to reference the Samaritan woman as someone of previous dubious morals, the Eastern Orthodox follow’s Jesus in giving her dignity and agency.

Frank has become someone who now radiates the love of God, and has been rescued from a life of imprisonment, bitterness and anger and labelled as an ex-offender, a criminal.  

To round of the week on Saturday I took part in some excellent training from Urban Saints about Neurodiversity and how we can offer a welcome to everyone in our Churches by making various adjustments. Home · Urban Saints

I volunteer with RDA (Riding for the Disabled) Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) - Enriching lives through horses Our riders come with all sorts of constraints on their life, some in wheelchairs. What is always key is that we look beyond the presenting ‘disability’ and to see the person. ‘RDA is committed to providing life-changing experiences for disabled children and adults across the UK. We believe it’s what you can do that counts, and with your support we can do even more.’

We need to be careful of what labels we might put on people. If it is information that will help us engage in a more helpful and meaningful way with someone, then it is useful. If it becomes something that defines a person and becomes their indentity, that needs to be challanged. 

As we go through our day we may find people sticking all kinds of labels on us, not all of them helpful or kind. Some of them might be very injurious. It is a good exercise to take all these labels and put them in the bin at the end of the day, to acknowledge and recognize that first and foremost I am a child of God.

 

 https://youtu.be/f8TkUMJtK5k?si=m70hNvHNzdQGoomd

 

 

 

'Ordering Our Affairs' - weekly reflection Sunday 8th March 2026

 When in Ministry one of my favourite activities was setting up and running a Church Tent at a County Show. I was involved with the Devon County Show, the Royal Cornwall Show, the South of England Show and then the Staffordshire County Show over very many years.

A day or two before the Show a team would arrive with a van load of equipment, gazebo’s, decorations, covers, flags, banners, catering equipment and all sorts of bit and pieces.

This was then dumped in the middle of the marquee, a huge pile of ‘stuff.’  Then the work of sorting and building and creating a special space began.  After several hours of hard work all this stuff began to take an ordered form. The display, the catering area, a small staff room where volunteers could put their bags securely while serving. Very often, a dedicated Prayer Space or Quiet Area, often a boon to nursing mums. Order, beauty, creativity and functionality brought out of this pile of ‘stuff.’ (I often thought about the Israelites building the Tabernacle)

Interestingly I spotted a flyer in the café where we have just been having lunch. A lady is offering her services to help other ladies sort out their clothes, to be their personal stylist. The flyer said, your personal stylist will help to make getting dressed in the morning a breeze, because all your wardrobe will be sorted and you will know what goes well with what and what suits you the best given the circumstances you are going into.

On Wednesday of last week, I took part in some initial training with Futures Unlocked. This is a charity with an active base in Rugby who seek to help prisoners upon release. 

https://www.futuresunlocked.org/

It was noted that those in prison are often from chaotic and dysfunctional background. The prison regime brings some order into their lives. However, the difficulty then can be that after having their lives so regimented whilst in prison, it is hard to adjust to life where they then must make decisions and order their own lives again. Part of the ministry of ‘Futures Unlocked’ is to help prisoners make that transition by offering mentoring support for those being released. If possible to do a ‘gate pick up’ after some initial contact prior to release.

On Friday I was part of a discussion group who are working through a book by David Ford, ‘Meeting God in John.’ Part of our discussion was based upon John’s account of the feeding of the five thousand. We noted that following this story there is the account of the storm and the disciples fearing for their lives, but then Jesus miraculously walking on the water. Jesus bringing order out of chaos. First in the chaos of having no provision and feeding the five thousand, echoing the chaos of the Israelites in the desert, and then the chaos of the waters.

For the Israelites, water was the place of chaos, reflected in the creation narrative where God brings order out of chaos.

Not only in that story do we read of God bring order out of chaos we also read of Adam and Eve being charged with the same command, to partner with God in bringing about and establishing order out of chaos.

This theme runs throughout the Scriptures sometimes explicitly and sometimes implied.

In the story of Noah, we see God allowing the forces of the chaos, symbolised by the waters, to return in a de-creation story.

However, in Genesis 11 we read that it is not just any order that is okay, there is an ordering of things that is not good, an ordering that brings violence and destruction.

I am currently reading a book, ‘A Short History of the World in 50 Tyrants.’ The tyrants, or dictators, all brought a certain degree of order. But in so doing they also destroyed and brought death and destruction to thousands and in some cases, millions of others as they seek to force their understanding of order onto others.

This is the story of the Tower of Babel. The human enterprise to build a kingdom where they could reach the heavens and make a name for themselves, to become all powerful.  Very quickly the story of how this had ended before had been forgotten, Genesis 6.11 ‘Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.’ (Leading to the story of Noah as above) On this occasion, the Tower of Babel, we read that it is God who once again bring disorder and chaos back into play, this time by confusing their languages so that they sounded to each other as if they were babbling.

Currently across our world we are witnessing a chaos unleashed. We see tyrants and bullies trying to establish their understanding of order upon the world. And we are witnessing death and destruction as a result.  

We may wish that God would intervene, send a flood, confuse their languages, thwart their plans. However, in Jesus we see not a violent revolution, but a loving revelation.

And as God’s people that is our calling, the same commission given to Adam and Eve. To seek to bring order out of chaos. That may be helping someone stepping out of prison. That may mean being careful about what we post on social media, asking ourselves if this is going to help bring order or create yet more chaos. Thinking about our conversations and discussions, are they helpful in creating an order. 

I volunteer with a charity called The Farming Community Network. www.fcn.org.uk. Part of their ministry is seeking to help those in the farming community in times of stress and trouble. Very often what a farmer needs is to hear themselves laying out everything that is an issue and then being helped to find some order out of the chaos. 

(CAP, Christians Against Poverty, also work on the same principle - Home | CAP UK)

Lent provides a good opportunity to take stock and to check on how our lives are reflecting an ordered life, seeking to live according to the just and gentle rule of God.

^‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.’  Philippians 4.8

That is an excellent antidote to doom scrolling and catastrophising.

As God’s people let us in simple trust like theirs who heard, beside the Syrian sea, the gracious calling of the Lord, let us, like them, without a word, rise up and follow thee, and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace.

May you know, live in and express shalom in the week ahead. 

https://youtu.be/y47vEE1zbDE?si=ArQeCVw2iqvnipDm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Simply sliding into sin' - Weekly Reflection March 1st 2026

 'How does someone get involved with a person like Epstein, or for that matter, how does anybody get involved in any nefarious and immoral or criminal activity?

The Bible Project have just begun a new series of studies exploring the Psalms.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/41iEa26St75Jhp4w6jWLcr?si=91a1458178aa4a8b

 And Psalm 1 offers wisdom of how to live the good life, and yet begins by saying what not to do, starting with a negative. What we read is very illuminative of a process to slip into sin. .

Verse 1,

‘Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,’

Note the progression outlined here.  We begin by walking in step with the ‘wicked.’ Then we linger and stand, perhaps having that next level conversation and weighing things up. Then finally we find ourselves sitting down in their company.

Walk, stand and then sit.

The Psalm goes on to describe how to avoid this and the way to live the best life, a blessed life.

It is the person, ‘whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law, day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.’

Lent provides us with a good opportunity to check out the path we are walking along. To register in whose company we are spending time with. For us today, that will of course include those we engage with online or through social media channels or the things we watch on TV, or films, etc.

We need to monitor our habits and the patterns of our life.

We all have a framework or structure or a certain pattern to our lives. We may have not really thought about it, but we do, for the most part follow certain patterns, the way our days and weeks work out follow a kind of structure. Work, eat, socialise, exercise, study, or whatever. This is explored in some depth in Ken Shigematsu's book, 'God in my Everything' where he invites people to form a framework on which to build their lives and to create holy habits.   

Ken Shigematsu's own holy habits are deeply rooted in his personal experiences and teachings. He emphasizes the importance of a "rule of life" that supports spiritual growth and the cultivation of a deeper relationship with God.

And we know that to produce growth there needs to be pruning, adjusting, adding in an extra support if needed.

Left to themselves vines will simply grow wild and uncontrolled and be lacking in edible and useful fruit.

As a child for some reason, I was always fascinated by perspective. How two parallels line could continue side by side for ever. But introduce the tiniest dot in between and gradually they drift apart.  

Lent offers an opportunity for a realignment. (This can be done of course at any time, but Lent seems to add some gravitas with a call to repent, which means of course going a different direction, not merely feeling remorseful.)

And we have been chosen by God to be fruitful.

^‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last…’  John 15.16

Aligning with Psalm 1, verse 3, ‘That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.’

Time to think about where you are walking, with whom you are talking and with whom you are sitting down with.

It is time to ask for more power, more love and more of God in our lives.

https://youtu.be/JW9SkRMtXTo?si=qjc10UFBNOPOWt7_