For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) And… Continue reading Choose Your Weapon
And now for the big question…how should we relate to each other? For the Christian the answer is simple, we need to respect the dignity of each and every human being as being made in the image of God (Gen 1:26-28). Then we need to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us… Continue reading Oh Sit Down…With Your Enemy?
when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness Job 29:3 I don’t remember too many conversations from when I was of primary school age. Two stand out. One was telling the Vicar of my Church of England primary school that the idea of God was made up by… Continue reading Stuck On Chapter One
(Death of A Crow – The Sequel) I pondered on my bed, I was still. Reflecting on those nice sounding words about spiritual death… Our environment is God’s world. It is full of signs and wonders and God’s communicating hand in speaking to our soul. May the death of this crow make me appreciate more… Continue reading The Accuser
This befell us though we had not forgotten you.Though we had not been false to your covenant,though we had not withdrawn our hearts;though our feet had not strayed from your path.Yet you have crushed us in a place of sorrowsand covered us with the shadow of death.(Psalm 43:18-20) A good few years ago, when seeing… Continue reading The Death of a Crow
Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb in 1879, or was it Joseph Swan? It is simple yet ingenious. Whilst at college, doing my teacher training, our science lecturer said he explained the process to 6th class students by asking them what would happen if he placed a fifty pound note outside the classroom door and said… Continue reading It’s Pretty Hot in the Entrance Way
‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,And when we find ourselves in the place just right,‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.When true simplicity is gained,To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed,To turn, turn will be… Continue reading Turning to the Source
The term ‘Fat Tuesday’ (Mardi Gras) has always made me chuckle. Finish up the goodies – get it in before Ash Wednesday. It seems quite childish, yet most of us are mere children in the spiritual life. I confess – I have always found fasting difficult. I admire those who with ease, eat only when… Continue reading Getting it in There – Before Lent
‘In a word, the Cistercian Order is founded upon Alberic as upon a rock.’ Thomas Merton In the Valley of Wormwood p.37 The most striking thing about St. Alberic of Citeaux, from what we know of his life is that of perseverance. His faith and single-mindedness are inspiring. Very few people have even heard of… Continue reading Alberic
“We do not want merely to see beauty, though God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words – to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.” C.S.… Continue reading God in a Pod?
Brother Alberic 