[This reflection by David Makanjuola was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 27/Sep/2026]
My inspiration for this article comes from two members of the HBC congregation. The first one is Dave Prior, whose article last week had a footballing theme. He talked about the football transfer market. I am going to carry on in that vein, but want to talk about ‘assists’.
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[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]
[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.
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2026]
The Israelites ate manna for forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.
Exodus 16 v35 [NIVUK]
Last week we looked at some ‘postcards’ that showed the progress of the Children of Israel as they journeyed from Egypt to Canaan, as recorded in Numbers chapter 33. Closer examination reveals that the list of locations is not so dry as a journey in the wilderness might suggest.
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during September 2025]
“Don’t take from next month what belongs to next month”[1]
These words were spoken by Grace Makutsi, a character in the series of books by Alexander McCall Smith under the general title of “The No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency”. The principle contains a certain amount of wisdom but is it practical?
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2025]
What is the relationship between your spiritual life and your daily activities? Or, to put it another way, if your faith does not affect your lifestyle, your work-ethic and your politics, is it anything more than a hobby?
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