Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at God

If you had to describe our society in a single word, the most appropriate one would be pressure. We live with pressure in every aspect of life, from our school, work or family life, to the big issues facing our world. King David knew what it meant to live under pressure. His son, Absalom, led...

I’m a March baby, the youngest of five children born to my parents in a small Yorkshire pit village in 1950. I think I was something of an afterthought, a surprise even, and the story of my entry into the world is quite amusing. In those days my mother, a stout lady, wore an apron...

Isaiah’s account of God calling him to be a prophet makes me ask, what does it mean to be ‘called’ by God? What does God want from me? Isaiah offered himself willingly when God asked whom He could send to speak on His behalf to Israel.   And Isaiah was given a difficult message to proclaim...

Many years ago, at the Pleasure Beach at Blackpool, there was a certain ‘ride’ or amusement that was strictly for the physically fit.  It consisted of a flat wooden disc about 20 feet in diameter and set at an angle of 45 degrees in the floor.  When it began to rotate, the aim was to...

Love Despite Brexit? From the vicar Be my Valentine? Psalm 95’s wise words on worship No need to fall Organised rain? Then the fun stops Shine, Jesus, shine   ** Editor:  The Rev Paul Hardingham considers the tensions that Brexit has caused. Love Despite Brexit? ‘Should I stay or should I go?’ (The Clash).  Since...

‘Should I stay or should I go?’ (The Clash).  Since the Referendum in June 2016, we have seen families, our nation and Parliament divided by different opinions over Europe. But ‘at the heart of the Christian message is Jesus’ command to love our neighbour. This includes those with whom we agree and disagree: at home,...

As we celebrate St Valentine’s Day this month, how can we conduct this debate in a loving way? The Apostle Peter reminds us: ‘Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.’ (1 Peter 2:17). Respect everyone: However much we may disagree with another people’s perspective, we should respect...

St Valentine’s Day falls on 14th February and since the 18th Century has been associated with the declaration of love, albeit anonymously. Originally this might be through the offering of sweets or flowers, and now more commonly by the sending of an unsigned card. One suggestion is that St Valentinus was a Roman Christian who...

‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever’ (Westminster Confession). We are created to worship, but who or what will we worship? Psalm 95 invites us to worship God and to engage with His presence and power. Rejoicing in God (1-5): ‘Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord.’ (v1)....

 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.  Jude v 24-25 When the weather...

Recently the weather men and women have taken to talking about ‘organised’ rain to be expected following drizzle on western parts. It’s nonsense, of course. Rain isn’t ‘organised’, it isn’t ‘tame’. Like all our weather it happens because of vast natural laws of nature, and there’s precious little we can do about it. Pleasant summer...

About 50 years ago I was asked by our vicar to join a small team of volunteers who would meet a young man at the tube station and see him safely past the betting shop on his way home.  He had just come out of prison. His offences had all stemmed from his addiction to...