I was doing some thinking about that famous passage in Matthew 25, and relating it to other theologies (Liberation/Black/Feminist/Womanist/etc) and trying to see God through some different lenses to help me understand God better. (For the record, I'm less and less a fan of the "White male middle-class God" and the "Fluffy, blond-haired and blue-eyed Jesus" of Western culture...)

Anyway, I got thinking about safety and the access to and provision thereof for all people. I got thinking about "woke", and how it's so taboo for white people to be "woke."

I did some research (you should too), and decided that I don't want to be "woke" because that's not appropriate. I do want to be accused of be aware of what's going on and the injustices around me though... But I'm going to call that "Love".

​Anyway, here's a poem I wrote:

20+ years since I started preaching, I am constructing any portfolio to be recognised as a local preacher in the Methodist Church.
One item asks questions about how we talk about "salvation", and as a result I found myself digging out the dissertation I wrote for my BA Hons. in 2010!
I haven't re-read it all the way through in a very long time, but am "self-referencing" in the portfolio piece, so want to make sure it's somewhere accessible for those assessing the portfolio to read!

But the real question is:  Would I write the same thing again?

I was reading a reflection on the Mark 14 passage where Jesus was anointed by an unnamed woman. Do you remember the story?

Mark 14:3-9
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
​“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

The reflection I was reading pointed out something I probably should have known before, but seeing it this time transformed my understanding of what's going on in this passage.

The Bible talks a lot about forgiveness, and suggests emphatically that it’s a good thing.

It talks about forgiveness being a sign of love, of being a way of restoration, a way of beginning to rebuild relationships, but mostly as a way of re-discovering Shalom...

I've got the rare opportunity to do a 2-part series with one of the churches in the circuit. They're a smaller congregation, but the are faithful, and active, and proved to be excellent company yesterday morning.

Part one, yesterday, was titled "Mountain High", and in a few weeks I'll be back to do part two "Valley Low."

Let us take a moment to thank Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell for the title:

This morning's sermon for my trial service to become a Methodist Local Preacher "On Trial".

While I have been preaching for a while, I'm not officially qualified to preach within the Methodist Church. This is the second level (should I pass following reflection on today's service.).

Tried to do something different with this one. No point in staying with what's safe, or sticking to what I'm good at... The chance for feedback was too good!

It's embarrassing. I have no idea what I'm supposed to be asking for forgiveness for!

It was a simple enough question really.

"In Jesus' encounter with the woman of Samaria at the well, what does Jesus mean when he talks of worshipping 'in spirit and in truth'? What does that look like for us?"

It's been a while since I played a proper game of poker.
I have only ever properly played Texas Hold-em, and whilst I rarely walked away the victor, I wouldn't say I was bad at it.
The problem I have is that I'm unpredictable, and because of that I risked too much. Maybe my character means I am guilty of going "All-in" too often, and the problem comes when someone calls your bluff, or the cards don't fall your way, or you misread your cards, or you are just outdone by someone else.

Some of you might not be aware that I've started the journey into becoming a certified Methodist Local Preacher. It really is as exciting as it sounds.

I met with my tutor earlier this week, and one of our discussion topics was the following quote from John Killinger (1985; Fundamentals of Preaching, London:SCM):