[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during January 2025]
The prize-winning 1930s musical ‘Of Thee I Sing’ is a political satire focussing on the election and inauguration of a somewhat unconventional president of the United States. The storyline includes promises made and broken, threats of impeachment, international tension and thwarted ambitions. Of course, being fiction, it concludes with them all living happily ever-after.
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[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…)
[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during October 2024]
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.”
Isaiah 43 v12 [NIVUK]
The words above were part of a ‘Verse of the Day’ earlier this week.[1] What do they mean? What are the implications for us? (more…)
[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2024]
Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.
This proclamation is known as the Memorial Acclamation and it has its formal origin in the liturgy of several of the early Eastern denominations. More recently it has been adopted by many of the major western denominations.[1] Whilst it is primarily used in communion services it is a simple statement of faith that is appropriate for many other occasions. (more…)
[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2024]
With so many of our consumer products originating in the Far East we are becoming increasingly familiar with ‘Chinglish’, that sometimes-amusing form of English intended to provide instructions for the use of the product. The information may or may not be useful but at least we know how to read it, even if the message isn’t always clear. (more…)
[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 02/Jun/2024]
Martin’s article last week reminded me that the previous week had been about the Jewish Feast or Festival of Pentecost. I had been ill that day and not been at church to be reminded of that. That also made me think of an excellent article by Helen Ruffhead in which she told how a number of Jewish Festivals related to our Christian faith. At Pentecost when the Jews celebrated the revelation of God’s word to Moses, God revealed His Holy Spirit and the Christian church was born. So how do all these Jewish Feasts or Festivals have meaning for us as Christians? (more…)