Upset
Mon 22 July
‘Thank you,’ Jesus says.‘What for?’ Martha asks, her eyes heavy with disappointment and self-recrimination.‘For sitting here with me now,’ he says. ‘Thank you. And for the meal, the meal was …
Dave Hop
Contemporary Bible CommunicatorHorizon – Land and Freedom
Tue 16 July
This epic retelling of the American West starts with a man, a boy and some measuring sticks. Horizon is the name of a brand new town which promises hope and …
Leftovers
Tue 18 June
The young girl stirs, but not in a sweat-induced state of restlessness.Now her face is calm, her breathing steady, there is no sign of fluttering behind her eyelids.She opens her …
A Pulp Gospel Tale from Jerusalem
Mon 10 June
I got word that something was rotten in the back streets of Jerusalem. Something dark going down. And they might need a good man to be hanging around. Well, there …
Kintsugi Jeans
Sat 24 February
Dear God,I have a pair of what I call kintsugi jeans. They were starting to fall apart at the knee so I took some brown string and stitched them very obviously back …
The Builder
Sat 24 February
Unless the Lord builds the house, we may find we work in vain. unless the Lord builds the house, it may be as if we build on sand. Every house …
The King & Queen – a parable
Fri 2 February
Once there was a good king and queen, who established a safe and fair kingdom. Everyone cared about each other, and people prospered and lived in peace. The king and …
What If… The Prodigal (Luke chapter 15 v 11-32)
Thu 18 January
Having run away from home, lost all his money and ended up destitute the younger brother finally came to his senses, and he said to himself, ‘At home even the …
Let There Be
Fri 12 January
(A confession of sorts) Then God said, “Let there be pets and holidays and work and phones and TVs and homes and cars and gadgets and fashion and commerce and …
Breath
Wed 10 January
The ancient craftsmen of oldMade images from wood and stone,And breathed on them to bring life,To make them images of their gods.You took dust and crafted people,Carefully and lovingly,And then …
Star Struck?
Fri 5 January
Over Christmas I found myself wondering about the Wise Men, and why they went to Herod in Jerusalem. They did discover Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem there, while spreading the news …
A thought…
Fri 29 December 2023
I’m currently reading Tales of a Country Parish by Colin Heber-Percy – a thoughtful and uplifting collection of writings from 2020. As the book moves into winter of that year, …
Glimpsed
Fri 22 December 2023
Did Mary and Joseph catch a glimpse?Did they catch sight of the universeIn those wide, wondering eyes?Did they see the faces of thoseHe would support and comfort.Did they see the …
The Figure
Fri 22 December 2023
I could face this year alone, Could clench my fists and every other bit, I could harness my ideas, many but limited, And try and find my way through the …
The Light Shines On
Tue 19 December 2023
The light shines in my darkness,And my darkness cannot put it out.The light shines in our chaos,And our chaos cannot put it out.The light shines in our fear and doubt,And …
Stars
Tue 19 December 2023
Those night lights keep speaking,Leading, guiding, predicting, assuring.For Abraham, a regular sign of the promise of God,his plans and presence and purpose.For David, forever looking at the skyTo remind himself …
Advent Candles
Fri 15 December 2023
Five candles flicker and glimmer in the fading light, casting lively images of light and shade on the ancient church walls. The door creaks and groans a little as it …
Wonka, Cruella, Batman & Origin Stories
Mon 11 December 2023
This year’s big Christmas release is out – Wonka, the story of how Willy Wonka came to be chocolate mad. It’s the latest in a line of origin stories about …
Making Contact
Mon 4 December 2023
He runs with the others, looks like the others, smells like the others. But he knows that he’s not like them. His past hangs too heavy, like smog in his …
Weak
Thu 16 November 2023
The soldier looks on and sees what no one else has seen, what no religious expert or faithful follower has yet understood. He stands there as an outsider, reviled, repugnant, …