[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.
(more…)
[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.
(more…)
[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!
(more…)
[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…)
[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…)
[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 08/Dec/2024]
With Christmas approaching, we often have requests from family members about what we would like as a present. I must admit that these days I am quite happy to receive a surprise gift however small. When I was young I received a gift that was the best and most important in my life, and that has been the case ever since. (more…)