by James Webb
I’m sitting in Gatwick airport in that limbo just before we’re supposed to board our plane – that space when you’re simultaneously on holiday and not on holiday. It’s Schrodinger’s Holiday. As I sit there, I’m reading Jesus’ words in John 12:24-28. Read more
Thank you for your patience. Here’s another little glimpse into my musical tastes.
‘Dancing in Concert with the Infinite’ by DigHayZoose.
I’m going to take a blog break for a couple of weeks over the summer, starting after this post. This is the first break I’ve taken since I started in 2015, so I don’t feel guilty at all. I’m going to leave you with a thought, something you can mull over while I’m off-line, and then we’ll pick up with business as usual in a couple of weeks. OK? Good.
The thought is this: you are contagious.
Don’t worry. So am I. Read more
Most attempts to put Jesus on film typically fail in one way or another, which is inevitable. If Jesus can’t be contained by a tomb, then there’s no way the screen can hold him. The gospels give us so many different aspects of Jesus’ character, while filmmakers tend to fall into the trap of emphasising one or two aspects that mean the most to him or her. If the filmmaker wants to get across the fact that Jesus was a charismatic, joyful figure then the actor wanders across the Middle East with a goofy grin on his face in every single scene, while if a gracious, gentle Jesus is preferred then he is expected to make gooey eyes at every single person he meets. It’s no wonder no-one has ever done the role justice. Read more
My friend Terry writes a blog and has been doing an enjoyable series of posts on Christian albums that have had an impact on him over the years. I’ve been thinking of doing something similar myself for a while, mostly as a follow-up to my own post from last year, but I didn’t want to just copy Terry. That’s not cool. So, instead I thought of something completely different and totally not related in any way to what Terry has been doing. Read more
The workshop smelt of oil and sweat,
Of stone and wood and clay.
The tools of many disciplines,
Around, about they lay.
The handyman, he raised his head:
“How may I help today?” Read more
“I haven’t seen you at the shelter recently.”
“Yeah, well, I guess I don’t see much point these days.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t think I believe it any more. To be honest, I don’t really see how you can believe it.”
“What do you mean? You’ve given up your faith?” Read more
Reid has already left for school with his mum, while Calvin sleeps on in his GCSE-free zone. Xanthe is somewhere in the house, killing time by listening to music at a volume level chosen for the purpose of agitating her younger brother. I ask Parker about his homework. He declares in a loud voice that he needs some alone time and marches out into the garden. Imogen, sitting at the table munching on her cereal, doesn’t even look up from her book. Read more
I don’t have much to say this week, which is fine. I’ve been talking a lot recently.
All I want to announce is that, as of yesterday, Ruth and I have been married for twenty years.
I know that doesn’t sound like much to some of you, but it’s kind of a big deal to me. Not because I’m amazed that we’ve lasted this long, or anything like that. Rather, because it’s an opportunity for me to reflect, and in doing so confirm something that I’ve known for a while – namely that I’m happier with my marriage now than I was when we first started out two decades ago. Read more
I’ve just written a blog post.
But not this blog post.
I was reflecting on something that had happened to me years ago, and I thought the experience would make a good post. It was an interesting situation, personal and significant, with a strong applicable lesson at the end. In short, it was perfect blog material. Read more
