Category: ‘Tuesday Challenge’

The Night Before Christmas

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during December 2024]

“Twas the night before Christmas” is the opening line of a popular poem first published in 1823 and commonly ascribed to Clement Moore, an American professor and author. It relates a vision of Christmas Eve with snow, reindeer and a jovial Santa dispensing gifts whilst children are asleep. Although the poem predates the accession of Queen Victoria, the sentiments it expresses, along with the writings of Charles Dickens, have helped to form our perceptions of a Victorian Christmas. (more…)

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Love came down at Christmas

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during December 2024]

Where do I begin to tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea?

These words, composed by lyricist Carl Sigman, were written to give a vocal counterpart to the theme from the 1970 film, ‘Love Story’. Various artists have made both the tune and the lyrics very popular. But can there really be a ‘love that is older than the sea’? (more…)

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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A Spiritual Adventure

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during December 2024]

Each morning I tune in to the daily reflection from All Saints’ Cathedral, Nairobi (an Anglican church that I used to attend in the early 1960s). This week the theme is an introduction to Advent,[1] using the lighting of candles as a visual aid to the explanation of the four personal characteristics that that particular denomination emphasises during this season. The four candles represent hope, peace, joy and love – sentiments that we promote at Christmas but which should be part of our life year-round. (more…)

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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The Consequence of Complacency

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during December 2024]

Are there aspects of the Christian faith that you do not understand? Of course there are, but I suspect that many of us think that we have a good grasp of our faith and are content with our current knowledge. However, even King David admitted that he did not understand the full extent of God’s relationship with mankind:

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Psalm 139 v6 [ESVUK]

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Black Friday

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during November 2024]

Black Friday logo

In many parts of the USA the Friday after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday. The official date for Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, which means that, in theory, Black Friday 2024 is 29th November but the particular activities that gave the day its fame are rarely confined to just that date. (more…)

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Trust but Verify

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during November 2024]

‘Trust but verify’ is an expression that came to prominence in the mid 1980s, particularly in relation to the discussions between the leaders of the USA and the USSR about limiting the proliferation of nuclear armaments. The expression itself is alleged to be based on an old Russian proverb but that cannot be verified! Does the concept of trust but verify have a spiritual application? (more…)

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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