Tag: Ian Banks

God uses that amazing visual aid. He says to Abram “Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be”. Abram had said look at me… God said look up, look out, look beyond. I’m going to wildly exceed your expectations.

My wife has a thing about trees – and not in a good way if you’re a tree. When I said I was talking about trees today she said “Shall I chop one down and you can use it as a visual aid?” You see she has both means and motive…

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is JC Jacobsen, and I have been dead for 130 years.” The talk was entitled “Why You Should Answer Every Question with Probably,” and fits in with Carlsberg’s long-time slogan, “Probably the best beer in the world.”

We’re each asked to follow our own particular call, to make the most of what we’re given and not waste it. To show the love & mercy of God to anyone we come across – even when we don’t feel particularly able. Because if we don’t then who will? And we too can be messed up and conflicted, just like Jonah.

For many, today is Harvest Festival. It’s celebrated on the day of the full moon in the Autumnal Equinox, which this year is the 24th Sept. So, if the sky is clear then tonight you’ll see the Harvest Moon.

For Paul, an ideal community shows love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. He called these qualities the ‘fruit of the Spirit’. But did Paul mean that as an exclusive list – or are there ‘vegetables’ too?

This icon, ‘written’ by Andrei Rublev, is a familiar one to many. It’s often used on Trinity Sunday to explain the relationship between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. I’m struck by something else though. But you’ll need to read on…

We’ve heard about gluten intolerance but I think some people suffer from ‘church intolerance’. They may be very spiritually aware and seeking – but don’t come anywhere near a church. I believe there are parallels between the two conditions.

There’s a novel called ‘Night flight’ and in it there’s this line: “In every crowd are certain persons who seem just like the rest, yet they bear amazing messages.” Amos was minding his own business when God interrupts him, taps him on the shoulder and makes him an offer he couldn’t refuse…

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”

As part of our response to ‘Setting God’s people free’, Café Church on 8th April 2018 looked at 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27 and considered what it meant to be the body of Christ

Our Cafe Church services this year will have a common theme. They will look at a groundbreaking report produced for the Archbishops’ Council, called ‘Setting God’s People Free’.