Category: ‘Tuesday Challenge’

Here Comes the Sun

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2026]

And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years’. God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.
Genesis 1 v14,16 [NIVUK]

One day last week a large proportion of the population of western Europe spent the evening staring at the sun. They were expecting to see the sun disappear, hopefully only temporarily. Such was the anticipation of this event that some hotels in Spain and Iceland were booked as long as four years ago.
(more…)

: 15
Contributor: Steve Humphreys
Read full article ~ 1 Comment

Click on a category or tag to view corresponding reflections ...
Categories: Tuesday Challenge ~ Tags: , ,

A Thorny Subject

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2026]

Surely wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns, it sets the forest thickets ablaze, so that it rolls upwards in a column of smoke.
Isaiah 9 v18 [NIVUK]

Throughout the past few weeks our tv screens have shown images of the extensive wildfires that are raging in southern Europe and parts of north America. At the same time, devastating floods and earthquakes have hit other parts of the world. Floods and droughts do not make comfortable companions.
(more…)

: 15
Contributor: Steve Humphreys
Read full article ~ Leave a comment

Click on a category or tag to view corresponding reflections ...
Categories: Tuesday Challenge ~ Tags: , , ,

D, N, A or P?

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2026]

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12 v2 [NIVUK]

Last week we briefly considered the challenges of maintaining our walk of faith in a society which has largely discarded its Christian heritage. Can we find a balance which preserves our spiritual integrity without alienating those who currently have no interest in our faith?
(more…)

: 56
Contributor: Steve Humphreys
Read full article ~ 1 Comment

Click on a category or tag to view corresponding reflections ...
Categories: Tuesday Challenge ~ Tags: , , ,

And The Rest

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during July 2026]

All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest.
Ecclesiastes 2 v23 [NIVUK]

We have all, at some time or another, had the experience of lying awake when we want to be in the land of Nod. Sleep eludes us, to be replaced by persistent worries or mental gymnastics beyond our daytime capabilities; our only consolation is that we are not sharing the experiences described by the Lord Chancellor in ‘Iolanthe’.[1] Even Job started to lose his patience:

I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.
Job 3 v26 [NIVUK]

(more…)

: 39
Contributor: Steve Humphreys
Read full article ~ Leave a comment

Click on a category or tag to view corresponding reflections ...
Categories: Tuesday Challenge ~ Tags: , , , ,

Have You Completed Your Assignment?

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during July 2026]

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matthew 7 v24 [NIVUK]

Last week we discussed the merits of hearing or not hearing, but there are other stages beyond hearing, including listening and responding. Listening implies more than just hearing; it requires a greater degree of attention. Our response can be prompt or delayed, and can be positive, negative or indifferent.
(more…)

: 94
Contributor: Steve Humphreys
Read full article ~ 1 Comment

Click on a category or tag to view corresponding reflections ...
Categories: Tuesday Challenge ~ Tags: , , ,

Artificial Intelligence or Authoritative Inspiration?

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during July 2026]

By way of a one-off experiment I asked AI the question: “What would be a suitable topic for a reflection during next week?” It suggested that I should look at the words of Jesus as recorded in the Biblical book of Matthew, chapter 11.

‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’
Matthew 11 v28-30 [NIVUK]

(more…)

: 45
Contributor: Steve Humphreys
Read full article ~ Leave a comment

Click on a category or tag to view corresponding reflections ...
Categories: Tuesday Challenge ~ Tags: ,
« Older Reflections