To Everything There Is a Season

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Autumn is a favourite season for many. We put away our summer clothing and begin to dress in warmer clothing, which often reflects the changing colour of the leaves -  oranges, golds and browns are popular in fashion. The drop in temperature is such a relief to many after such a hot summer. Finally, the season brings with it comforting soups and stews, with drinks like hot chocolate and seasonal lattes back in fashion. 

There is much deep symbolic and spiritual significance in this part of the Christian year. 

Harvest: Autumn marks the gathering of crops, which mirrors the spiritual harvest of righteousness, faith, and God's provision. 

Falling Leaves: The shedding of leaves from the trees serves as a metaphor for spiritual pruning and the releasing of burdens. We are invited to simplify our lives and trust in divine timing.  

Poppies: Autumn acts as a sober reminder of human mortality, and we commemorate the loss of loved ones in our Remembrance Sunday services, where many of us wear a Poppy. This honours military personnel who have died in service and the funds from the purchase of poppies supports current members of the Armed Forces. Some church services feature falling poppy petals as a callback to those falling autumn leaves. 

The Promise of Resurrection: Just as trees go dormant only to return to life in the spring, the dying of the Autumn season points directly to the cross and Christ's resurrection—leading us nicely to the start of Advent and our preparation for the Christmas celebrations.

Praising God When The Money Is Tight

Since I retired, I have taken to checking my bank balance twice a week. It's a double-check. I just want to make sure I have enough to get by. 

Unexpected bills soon crop up (like they did this week!). If you don't factor in the possibility of these into your planning, you could easily get swamped and into a tricky financial position. Which leaves me with a question:

Does God even care about your bank balance?

Of course He does. Not because the money matters to Him, but because you matter to Him.

Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

I believe God's primary concern is to use any money struggles to shape our character, teaching us to trust Him, in all circumstances. Another question now:

Where is the money going to come from?

I’m not sure how it happens, however I am assured to those who have a living relationship with God, somehow there is always enough. God will provide. Are you keeping your eyes on God, or are you more focused on the problem? 

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NIV)
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

Finding The Time To Do Things

This post is all about changing your mindset from "not having enough time" to a point when you are able to get things done, managing those pressing priorities, and still maintaining your energy and boundaries. I regularly encounter people who state they simply don't have the time to do something. 

My favourite saying on this topic is "there are a thousand reasons to do something, and also a thousand reasons not to." This of course centres the whole thing on personal choice. Do you want to do it, or don't you? Many will come up with a whole string of excuses because they can't (or won't) say yes or no.

"Let your yes be yes and your no be no" is a famous teaching from Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount (found in Matthew 5:37) and repeated by James in his letter (James 5:12). If you say you will do something, do it. If you mean no, say no. You do not need fancy vows or promises to prove your intentions. As Nike would say, "Just do it". 

"Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality." - Abraham Lincoln 

Another great quote about this is "If you want to get something done, give it to a busy man." He'll find time to do it when so many won't. The sentiment was first published in a report delivered in 1856 by Reverend W. J. Kennedy who was the Inspector of Schools for Lancashire and the Isle of Man in Britain. This is frequently misattributed to Lucille Ball and even Benjamin Franklin.

I know that there are so many who can't do so many things for medical reasons, or lack of empowerment. However, don't simply use a lack of time as an excuse to say no. If you want to do something, do it.

You have the same 24 hours in a day as anyone else on the planet.

Integrity

One of the key values in my own church is Integrity.  The Salvation Army website states that we will be honest and transparent in all our dealings with each other and those we serve, being open about our motives and agendas.

The word integrity comes from the Latin adjective integer, meaning whole, complete or undivided, thus, we should be living the same way in private as we do in public.

Jesus is the ultimate model of absolute integrity, acting in total obedience and humble service to the Father. Jesus came to offer salvation to everyone, the 'whosoever'.

Whoever means anyone, any person regardless of race, background, nationality, status, or past mistakes. There are no entry tests, no applications, no fees required to receive the grace of God - only a response of the heart.

Romans 10: 11-13, The Message
Scripture reassures us, “No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it.” It’s exactly the same no matter what a person’s religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. “Everyone who calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help.”

Prayer and St Teresa

I was quite taken by the story of St Teresa of Ávila when it came up in my daily readings the other day. She was a Carmelite nun and prominent Spanish mystic from the 16th Century. The one thing that leapt out at me was the sheer honesty in the following statement:

“I was more occupied in wishing my hour of prayer were over, and in listening whenever the clock struck, than in thinking of things that were good,” she confessed. “Whenever I entered the oratory [the prayer room] I used to feel so depressed that I had to summon up all my courage to make myself pray at all.”

In her early years as a nun, she would sometimes even shake her hourglass in an effort to make her hour of prayer go faster!

She persevered, and managed to get past this barrier to her prayer life, and has since become in inspiration to those who want to learn to pray with depth and passion. 

Here's another quote from her:

“The important thing in prayer is not to think much, but to love much.”

Shaking the Dust - Walking Away

The instruction from Jesus to “shake the dust off your feet” appears four times in the New Testament. For example, in Mark 6:11 Jesus says, 

“And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” (NIV translation)

In the Message translation, we read:

"If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way."

It's an indication that you've done all that can be done in a situation - and you have no further responsibility for it. You are free to walk away with a clear conscience, knowing that you have done all you could.

The 'shaking the dust' portion of that phrase is meant to be a warning. This was in effect saying that those who rejected God’s truth would not be allowed to stop the progress of the gospel. In an act of symbolism, you remove even the dust of those cities from your sandals and move onto somewhere new.  

I get it. There are times when God calls us to stand firm, to work hard and do the best you can. We are eager to see good results of our labours. And yet, there are times in our lives when it's clearly time to move on. This is when we realise that 'enough is enough'.  Times when God gives us the freedom to move on. It's somebody else's time to shine in this place. It's our time to emotionally let go, to move to somewhere else or to something else. 

Shalom

Let's look a little closer at the word Shalom.

This is a Hebrew word that translates literally to peace, however the word describes so much more than that. Far more than just the absence of conflict, it means complete wholeness, harmony, health, and a restored state of well-being.

It describes a state where everything is put right; any emptiness is made full; where anything missing is restored or replaced.  It's a place of safety where everything is in its proper place and nothing is broken or lacking. it's also used as:

• A Greeting and A Farewell: It is widely used in modern and traditional Hebrew as both a hello and a goodbye.
• A Blessing: When people say shalom to one another, they are offering a wish for health, security, and divine blessing in all aspects of life.

Explaining the Gospel

Following on from the previous blog entry:

‘How do you teach the Bible to those who can barely read?’

This is something that the early-day Salvationists would have encountered frequently, unfortunately we in the 21st Century are complacent, expecting the level of literacy to be much higher now then it was in the 19th Century. Understandable, as that's what I learned at school. It didn't take me long to find out that functional illiteracy is still a great problem in the UK!

Traditional evangelism often relies on printed tracts, reading specific Bible verses, or handing out New Testaments. I remember sitting in a teaching session from Spring Harvest a couple of decades ago about conveying Gospel truth to a society from a non-book culture. They told us that you won't welcome some people into your church if you hand them a hymn book and a bible as soon as they walk through the door; so many at that time only had access to one book; the Argos catalogue! Nowadays, they may not even have that ...

In unpacking this topic, I've pulled together a few ideas from the early day Salvationists, from the Spring Harvest teaching and from an online article from Ian Williamson (Ragged School of Theology) to build my blog entry today. 

Firstly, you need to engage with people with more that just the written word. Some people will only learn through hearing the message orally; some will respond only to effective visuals. These people may not relate to traditional Bible studies or formal church meetings.

This is why early day Salvationists took their message directly to street corners, marketplaces, and outside pubs. This is why they used Brass Bands and Singing Groups to attract a crowd: Lively music and simple choruses allowed individuals to engage with spiritual themes without needing a hymn book or Bible.

Ian Williamson makes a very good point -  when somebody is struggling to comprehend, hearing different translations read out loud will cause confusion. This is different from my preferred method of study as I find multiple translations helpful to understanding what the Gospel writers are getting at. However, I get it. Both Ian and I prefer the NIV translation over the others. It flows really well and reads the same as we speak.

We need to remember that the Bible is only understood when the Holy Spirit opens our mutual eyes to God’s Word (1 Corinthians 2:14). Thus, a meeting should be preceded and followed by prayer. 

Finally, we need to be prepared for questions afterwards, as the true message of the Gospel sinks in and needs to be reinforced in community.  We need to explain, illustrate and apply the Word of God exegetically so that people understand what God is saying and how they need to respond.

A thought about adult literacy rates

According to the National Literacy Trust, 18% of adults in England aged 16 to 65, or 6.6 million people, can be described as having 'very poor literacy skills'. This means they can understand short straightforward texts on familiar topics, however reading information from unfamiliar sources or on unfamiliar topics could cause them problems. Percentages vary across the other UK countries, however broadly you can see a similar trend with many millions unable to fully comprehend some words on signage, the printed page or computer pages. 

To clarify: The UK's basic literacy rate is apparently 99% (reference: World Literacy Foundation). But that figure only measures the most basic ability to read and write. Functional literacy proficiency in this country has declined, and that 18% figure that I mentioned above means that nearly one in five of us have trouble in reading legal contracts or disclaimers, deciphering bus or train timetables, understanding medicine labels, and so on. This explains an unwillingness by many to read anything more complex than a small paragraph. Too long, didn't read. 

This statistic has come as quite a shock to me. And a bit of a challenge... how can we convey the good news of the Gospel to people who will struggle with some of the deeper theological concepts?

More later as I unpack this further ...

Serenity - more, please!

Serenity (noun): the quality or state of being calm, peaceful, and free from anxiety, stress, or agitation.

I keep coming back to dwell on this word in this blog. I wonder why... it's much more than the science fiction reference. It's a real longing for a lasting, inner peace in my life.

What I'm looking for is more that just earthly peace. Serenity is a deep feeling of calm even in the face of adversity. It's when you can still see the problems around you, however you are no longer suffering under the weight they once carried. I believe it's only available through our relationship with God. 

I'm reliably informed that pursuing serenity involves shifting your daily habits and perspective to calm your mind and reduce stress in your life. Removing the pressures of working life has gone a long way to improving my perspective. My mind is so now quieter since I retired and this has helped me to slow down and build in some regular quiet time to be with God. 

i am spending a good deal of my time reducing distractions; reducing the clutter in some areas of my house (why do I need to keep those work reference books now?) and making a positive choice to live a simpler life. 

I can feel a real sense of peace on some days. More, please!

Life is precious

Christians have a firm belief that human life is a sacred gift created and cherished by God. Are you in agreement with that?

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realise it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfil it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.
Mother Teresa

The most precious things in life are not those you get for money.
Albert Einstein

Because we are mortal, our time on Earth is precious. Every second is a flash of light in the cosmic dark.
Carl Sagan

Some Scripture verses to consider:

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Coffee, anyone?

Whilst you relax over your latte this morning, why not give a prayer of thanks to the Lord for his creation - today (1st October) is International Coffee Day. However you prefer your coffee, spare a thought for this incredible product. 

Wild coffee plants were first discovered in 9th century Ethiopia, as a goat herder called Kaldi noticed that some red berries were having an unusual effect on his goats.  The coffee beverage itself hails from Yemen, where it was harvested, roasted and brewed; Sufi Muslims in the 15th century used it to aid concentration during night prayers.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, coffee spread from the Islamic world to Christian regions, through the interactions between Muslim and Christian traders. It was in the monasteries of Europe that coffee found a special place. Monks and priests adopted coffee as a tool to aid in their spiritual practices, as coffee helped them stay awake during long prayer vigils and night-time services.

By the 17th century, coffee was the popular drink for intellectuals as they met in coffee houses to drink, listen and debate. They became hangouts for the likes of diarist Samuel Pepys, architect Christopher Wren, and the French philosopher Voltaire. The Lloyd's Coffee House in central London was the birthplace of the global insurance market.

Finally, the cappuccino owes its name to the Capuchin friars, an order of Catholic monks from Venice, who were known for their brown and white robes. 

Lovingkindness

Chesed is a Hebrew word that means 'kindness or love between people'. It is frequently used in Psalms to describe the love or mercy of God towards humanity. Some English translations use the word lovingkindness (sometimes hyphenated, sometimes written as one word). I'd never before explored this term, so I thought I'd give this some study today. 

The translation of lovingkindness used in the King James Version is derived from the Coverdale Bible. This version was compiled by Myles Coverdale and based on the earlier translation by William Tyndale. The King James Version and later writers then compounded it into a single or hyphenated word. Although some feel that this word is now considered archaic, it is still part of the traditional rendition of Psalms in some English Bible translations and there are even modern worship songs still using the term. 

Here's a selection of translations of the first few words of Psalm 51 across the centuries:

ἐλέησόν με ὁ θεός κατὰ τὸ μέγα ἔλεός σου (Greek)

Miserere mei, Deus, secundum misericordiam tuam (Vulgate)

God, haue thou merci on me; bi thi greet merci. (Wycliffe, 1388)

Haue mercy vpon me (o God) after thy goodnes (Coverdale Bible, 1535)

Haue mercie vpon mee, O God, according to thy louing kindnesse (KJV, 1611)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness (KJV, 1769)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love (RSV, 1952)

Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love (Good News, 1976)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love (NRSV, 1989)

Generous in love—God, give grace!  Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record (The Message, 1993)

And here's the New International Version translation, which I use most of all:

Psalm 51:1

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

I find it's always useful to see the same verse in different translations. 

Open Our Eyes

On Sunday 27th September 2026, The Salvation Army will unite around the world for the International Day of Prayer for Victims of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

This year’s theme is 'Open Our Eyes', which is inspired by Proverbs 31:8 NLT:

'Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.'

Modern slavery is when someone loses their freedom and is controlled and exploited by another person or people for personal or commercial gain. It is an umbrella term for many forms of slavery including but not exclusive to human trafficking.

At The Salvation Army, we believe that everyone should be able to live in peace without being exploited and we open our hearts and minds and ask the Lord to hear our prayers to protect the vulnerable throughout communities across the world.

Many Salvationists around the world (there are over a million of us) will be praying for those trapped in this way. We stand with the survivors and we advocate for an end to exploitation. Please join us in prayer. #OpenOurEyes

Rejoice in the Lord always ...

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!
Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

This verse was written by the Apostle Paul in what can be described as 'less than ideal conditions'. 

At the time, Paul was a prisoner in Rome. He had been shipwrecked on the way there (Acts 27), was subsequently bitten by a snake (Acts 28), and on reaching Rome he ended up under house arrest for two years awaiting trial. This meant he would have chained to a soldier at all times. Despite this, Paul still had to pay for his own rent, food, and clothing, relying on gifts and support from friends and fellow believers. He was threatened with execution, so his future was bleak.

Paul had every reason to complain, and yet he focused on rejoicing. 

We are encouraged to seek to rejoice in the Lord despite the most difficult of situations, just as Paul did. He emphasises that such an attitude should be constant, not temporary. Believers find their joy and hope in God. Joy is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) and is important for every believer.

International Day of Sign Languages

Each year on 23rd September, people celebrate the International Day of Sign Languages, to recognise the importance of sign languages around the world.

One important thing to understand is their is no universal sign language. There are over 300 different sign languages world-wide. Over 70,000 deaf people in the UK have British Sign Language (BSL) as their first language. BSL uses a two-handed alphabet so most letters require both hands to form the letters.  

In addition, you may have encountered Makaton, which is a supplementary communication system which uses signs (hand gestures) and symbols (images) alongside speech and written words to support communication. Despite its use of signs, Makaton is not a sign language. It is widely used by children and adults who have learning disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, or limited speech.

Makaton and BSL play vital but distinct roles in promoting communication for their respective communities.

We need to make sure we are inclusive and are valuing people of all types. The Gospel message is for all!

Apple of your eye

My daily reading yesterday included the following verse from the Psalms. 

Keep me as the apple of your eye, 

    hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 17:8 (NIVUK)

I've blogged before about the imagery of the apple, as this has come up in my readings over the years. The words leapt off the page at me - it still means something.

The reference to the apple of the eye refers to the pupil at its centre. The Hebrew phrase i'son bat ā'yin literally means "the blackness of the eye." This is the most closely protected part of the body. I've always linked this with a target motif, as if I'm associating it with the legend of William Tell in my mind. 

The following phrase has David using the imagery of God's care to a mother bird protecting her young. Chicks find shelter and safety under their mother's wings from sun, rain, or the eyes of predators. 

Plenty to unpack here over the next few days. 

Are naps good for our health?

Having an afternoon nap is a daily ritual for many. The Spanish usually enjoy a siesta and Japanese workers indulge in a lunchtime sleep, known as hirune, or "afternoon nap". Some office workers recommend a power nap to quickly boost alertness. Us Brits tend to favour an hour or so napping in the comfy chair after Sunday lunch or the big Christmas family meal. We tend to catch forty winks or indulge in a catnap.

Since retiring, so many have asked me whether I'm having a regular lie-in in the morning. No, not really - however I'm rediscovering the health benefits of napping during the day. 

A study by researchers at University College London (UCL) and the University of the Republic in Uruguay in 2023 analysed data from 35,000 people, aged 40 to 69, who had taken part in a study by UK Biobank, a biomedical database ad research resource. The brains of people who napped several times a week were more than 15 cubic cm (0.9 cubic inches) larger than the brains of people who never had a daytime nap.

This equates to delaying ageing of the brain by between three to six years, says lead author Victoria Garfield, a senior research fellow at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL. "The big finding was that daytime napping is, quite robustly, causally linked to having a larger brain volume," says Garfield. 

"Anything you can do to preserve your brain size for as long as possible is a good thing," says Garfield. "It's a really positive message that having a nap could help the brain."

God still has work for me to do

It's now been three months since I retired from full-time employment. Three whole months. And the world has, remarkably, kept on spinning.

Yes, I am still enjoying my retirement. No, I'm not having a lay-in every morning. In fact, I'm still getting up at the same time - that's the natural time for me to wake up. I do now have time for a midday nap from time to time...

No, I don't miss the work, or the commuting, or the politics that always makes work life so *interesting*. No, I'm not spending every other moment at the Army hall. Yes, I have enough money to live on - I'm not rich by any extent, however I have enough to get by.  Yes, I am rediscovering hobbies from the past and finally getting to read all those books from the large wobbly pile in my study!

And, yes, I am still excited for the future. Because God has so much for me still to do. He still has a purpose for my life, and God is still not finished shaping me or using me. 

Philippians 1: 3-6 (NIV)
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Wedding Clothes?

The meeting at the Hall last Sunday was based on The Parable of the Wedding Feast, found in Matthew 22:1-14 - here's the NIV version:

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

4 ‘Then he sent some more servants and said, “Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”

5 ‘But they paid no attention and went off – one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, ill-treated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

8 ‘Then he said to his servants, “The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.” 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 ‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, “How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?” The man was speechless.

13 ‘Then the king told the attendants, “Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

14 ‘For many are invited, but few are chosen.’

 

One detail from the account is that the king notices a man not wearing wedding clothes. When the man cannot give an excuse for the fact he is incorrectly dressed, the king has him tied up and thrown into the outer darkness. 

It's the reference to wearing the proper clothing which has stayed with me this week. Modern day weddings would have guests supplying their own clothing (or hiring their clothes from Moss Bros - other retailers are available), so are we missing some detail which needs further explanation?

The Wedding Feast was one of the most joyous occasions in Jewish life and the event could last for up to a week. Thus, it was traditional for the king or lord to provide clean wedding garments for all of his guests. 

The only modern equivalent to this tradition relates to the bridesmaids' dresses, which are usually paid for by the wedding organiser. The only other adornment provided would be a corsage or a buttonhole for the other guests. Everyone else who need to source their own fancy clothing ...

To clarify, hosts at weddings in biblical times provided guests with a full change of clothes. These garments weren’t about fashion. They symbolised honour, purity, and belonging. This also ensured that everyone, regardless of their background, had the proper clothing for the occasion.

The question is raised in verse 11 because the wedding guest in question isn't wearing the wedding clothing.  He is inappropriately dressed ... and it's pretty obvious. Did the servants failed to screen the wedding guests carefully, or did the man sneak into the back of the hall in some way? It is queried and clarified that the man was on the guest list, however he has deliberately refused to wear what was given to him. It’s about someone who rejected the host's provision and tried to enter on his own terms. 

You might feel that the subsequent eviction from the Wedding Feast is not particularly nice - particularly after the earlier passage of inviting the whosoever to the feast! However, remember God is good.

This is because the parable confirms the wearing of wedding clothing is symbolic of being covered by the righteousness of Jesus (see Romans 3:21–31). Participation in the feast requires accepting God's provision rather than relying on one's own goodness.