[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2024]
“Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you”
But my words, like silent raindrops, fell
And echoed in the well of silence [1]
[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2024]
The Israelites of Old Testament times placed a great deal of importance on family heritage. A person’s lineage established who he was and what society expected of him, and was closely tied to land holding entitlements. We can see an example of this in the account of Ruth and Boaz. When Naomi returned from Moab she was able to reclaim some land which had belonged to her late husband.[1]
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[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2024]
During the research for last week’s reflection a question arose about the timescales defined (or rather, not defined) in the early chapters of Genesis. That question – how long were Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before they sinned? – led to another: When did Satan fall from heaven? (more…)
[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during May 2024]
During the past eight weeks our Sunday morning preachers have been deeply into sin. Pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth have all found their way into the centre of the church’s life but it should be added by way of clarification that the preachers have been researching these sins rather than indulging in them. We now know much more about sin after hearing what they had to say. (more…)
[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during May 2024]
Our title is taken from the first line of a popular song from the early 1950s. In its original form it was a reminder to servicemen that, no matter where they were, there was someone waiting for them. Later it was taken to include anyone travelling far away from home. (more…)
[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during May 2024]
On several occasions I considered writing about procrastination but I never got around to it; there always seemed to be something more important or more interesting to write about first. My old headmaster was fond of quoting an old proverb “Procrastination is the thief of time”[1] but is procrastination as bad as he suggested? After all, there are benefits in taking time to think things through before we act, and there is always the chance that a change in circumstances will render our course of action unnecessary. (more…)