[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during September 2025]
Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away.[1]
Do you know what time it is? A seemingly straightforward question for which a glance at a nearby screen or timepiece should provide a simple answer. However, as our opening quotation might suggest, there is more to it than that.
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during July 2025]
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against each other.
Colossians 3 v12-13 [NIVUK]
During the past few days I have had the ‘pleasure’ of revisiting my domestic archives. Hidden amongst the bills and receipts from some thirty years ago were many memories, some pleasing, some embarrassing. One surprise was the high cost of call-based telephone charges in the 1990s compared with today’s simpler subscriptions.
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2025]
Rejoice with those who rejoice (sharing others’ joy), and weep with those who weep (sharing others’ grief).
Romans 12 v15 [AMP]
Is Paul suggesting that we should be two-faced in our relationships? Certainly not, but this verse does recognise that there may be times when we are faced with two different courses of action.
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2025]
He did not have much but little is much if God is in it.[1]
In John’s report of the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus challenged his disciple Philip with the need to feed the people that came to see Jesus. The disciples knew that, although they no doubt had some assets[2], their resources would not be adequate for the task. So they said that the problem could not be solved.
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[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 30/Mar/2025]
Today is a very special one for my family, as it is not just Mothering Sunday but also the 35th anniversary of the day I brought my older son David home – the happiest day of my life. Since then, God has given me a second adopted son Michael and nearly 30 years later a foster daughter Amy.
When I left work to adopt David, one of my colleagues wrote on my leaving card:
“Good luck in your new job. Pay: miserable, hours: long, rewards: immense.”
He was right on all counts!
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[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…)