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Sometimes things don't go as we expect. But it's how we deal with those moments that make us or break us. We can choose to complain forevermore about what 'should' have happened. Or we can embrace the change. This is a short piece of prose from Emily Kingsley, a writer who's expectations changed one day. I'll let her tell you in her own words..... WELCOME TO HOLLAND by Emily Perl Kingsley. c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley.   I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this...... When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. After months of eager anticipation...

Maureen Greaves talks of forgiveness in this amazing radio interview : On Christmas Eve, her husband Alan was murdered by two young men. Here she tells of her forgiveness towards them: “I see them as two people who have done a terrible evil….. but they are made in God’s image and were living a life they were never meant to live.” “I place them into God’s hands….. forgiveness is a strong commandment.” “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done…. To place them into God’s hands, so I don’t have to hate them or have any unforgiveness of them.” “If Alan could have spoken to me for the last time, he would have said ‘forgive them…. Don’t give yourself permission to act like that [unforgiving]’” “Every time I go past the spot of the murder, I pray for someone. And on Christmas Eve I will mourn Alan and pray for his attackers.” “We [the family] don’t want to live in a grief that traps us…. I will live.”

There are times as a church when it’s best to be quiet. But there are other times when we need to shout out loud! Well done to the Archbishop of Canterbury for shouting! An average bank loan is around 15%APR. The rate from Wonga? 4,214%. That’s not just profitable. That’s criminal. If the church can help by expanding Credit Unions and promoting them as a safer alternative, we should do it. Not to would be criminal.

A reminder -   it’s a personal selection. Of course it is. And it reflects a certain time period as well. But you wouldn’t go far wrong in seeking out these albums/downloads and adding them to your collection….. I’ve excluded compilations and they are kind of in an order, but can pretty much change at will, depending upon the mood you’re in. Here are the next ten; there could have been so many more! Let me know what you think! 1.        PINK FLOYD – THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON Floyd at their best. ‘Time’, ‘Money’, The Great Gig’…. If you’ve not heard them, you’re missing one amazing album. 2.        ADELE – 21 A new and prodigious talent. A mix of folk and soul with most of the tracks written by Adele, who was only 21 when writing! ‘Rolling in the Deep, ‘Rumour Has It’ and ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ are just three of the brilliant tracks, with no weak ones in sight. Now famous the world over - with reason. 3.   ...

OK, it’s a personal selection. Of course it is. And it reflects a certain time period as well. But you wouldn’t go far wrong in seeking out these albums/downloads and adding them to your collection….. I’ve excluded compilations and they are kind of in an order, but can pretty much change at will, depending upon the mood you’re in. Here are the first ten; the others will follow. Let me know what you think! 1.        EVA CASSIDY – SONGBIRD The artist never knew fame in her lifetime. Her version of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ was picked up by Radio 2, and this, the best of her albums, sold millions. A clear as crystal voice makes for moving listening. 2.        MIKE OLDFIELD – TUBULAR BELLS It was so different when it came out in the early seventies. Aside from earning a fortune for Richard Branson and his new record label, it’s a great fusion of classical meets pop. 3.        FLEETWOOD MAC – R...

On the 7th day of the 7th month, 77 years later, history was made. The last British winner was Virginia Wade in ’77. And 77 years ago, the last British man to win; Fred Perry. “I don't play any tournaments to come second best.” Andy Murray.  

When I consider your heavens, The work of your fingers, The moon and the stars, What is man that you are mindful of him? Psalm 8:3-4 The Crab Nebula was first seen in 1054. The Hubble Telescope has improved the image. The Nebula puts out 10 quadrillion volts of electricity. That’s thirty times the power of a lightning bolt. The Rose Galaxies, also viewed from the Hubble Telescope, are 300 million light years away in the constellation of Andromeda. In the beginning, God created.