Sunday, June 25, 2017

Should Men Have Botox



Q Despite eating well and exercising frequently, my face betrays every one of my 47 years. Should I consider “aesthetic intervention”?  Matt, Manchester

Friday, June 23, 2017

Creation Walk 7: Conclusion

As our Creation Walk draws to a close, return to page 3 and Day 1: Record any new light our Lord has shed on your path as a disciple going into the future.



For later reflection

Having enjoyed God’s creation today, what do the following verses reveal:

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope

Creation Walk 6: Jesus and Nature

Jesus appreciated the beauty of nature (Matt 6:28-29) and showed respect for nature in His parables, which are rich in nature imagery. Through His upbringing in rural Galilee I imagine He would have learned about God’s care for creation by observing fruit trees, flowers, birds and fishermen and by
working as a carpenter. Jesus affirmed the Scriptures’ teaching that God created all things (Mark 10:6; 13:19Matt. 19:4).

Jesus knew that nature reflects the activity of God and does not operate independently (Matt. 5:45; 6:26-30Luke 12:6). God is a loving Father who sustains and cares for all creation. God gives life to all beings (John 5:17, 6:33Luke 24:38) and provides food for animals, birds and plants (Matt 6:26-30Luke 12:6). Since He loves all people, He causes the sun to shine and rain to fall on both righteous and wicked people (Matt 5:45Ps 50:11; 104:14, 17). As

Creation Walk 5: A Marriage without Consent

Depending on the train schedule, we might see a train crossing one of the fields during our walk.

In 1712, Thomas Newcomen developed the first steam engine. His single coal burning engine, which he used to drain water from coal mines, operated much more cheaply and efficiently than the alternative – it replaced five hundred horses. The rest is history: Suddenly, instead of

Creation Walk 4: Luke 13



Why did I think of Herod when I saw these flowers during our first visit to Sheringham to plan our Creation Walk?
.............................................................................................
You’ll find the answer somewhere in Luke 13

Still in Luke 13, Jesus tells a parable of a fig tree. I’m not sure whether there are any fig trees in the park, but there are lots of other trees, some of which you might notice are being specially cared for by the park gardeners ... I suspect in order to get the best from the trees.

Creation Walk 3: Reflections

Some particular reflections

The broad way is much easier isn’t it?
‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’ Mt 7:13-14
Lord, please show me where I am walking on a broad road and bring me back on the strait and narrow (The older translation from which we get the idiom reads: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.)

Creation walk 2: In the Beginning


On our walk, keep your eyes open for different things from different days and perhaps keep a record here of anything that is special to you. Perhaps use Day 1 to record any new light that God may/will shed on your path.

Creation: Who Cares?

Romans 8:18-25
This sermon was preceded by a Creation Walk
Read my Creation Walk Booklet here

At the beginning of our teaching series on Partnership, we went back to the beginning and were reminded that "In the beginning" God created human beings, male and female "in His own image" and placed them in His newly created earth, giving to them the command ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ We looked at the language of humans having dominion over nature and saw that that should be exercised for the good of creation, not the selfish destruction of nature. Yes, the dominion given to humans in Genesis 1:26-29 does imply a human preeminence, and that theme is echoed in Psalm 8 but it opposes a theology of domination 

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Creation Walk

Creation Walk

Saturday 24 June




Creation ... Who Cares?

Sunday 25 June

Read sermon here






Welcome to our Creation Walk. It is my hope and has been my prayer that today we will all have a fresh encounter with the God, our God, who made everything you see in the natural world ...   for us, ....  for you, .... for me.

Friday, June 16, 2017

Chaos and Mess: Fertile Ground for the Holy Spirit


Goodness me ... if we look at the world around us, we can be tempted to say: “What chaos, what a mess!”