redjellybeans and chicken soup (but not together) the cat rolling on the carpet the Bible, parachuting me out of early morning gloom a cup of tea, white with two sugars praying friends and texts when I’m feeling bleugh books! It’s raining outside but I’m splattered in tomatoes at a carnival in Florence the endless patience of Jesus. I forget Him and ignore Him and run from Him and pour out my heart to Him and still He loves ME! Amazing …Read More
Sometimes it feels like nothing we do or say can make a difference. Turn on the TV and it’s a wave of suffering. Open the newspaper and sadness spills from every page. In our relationships and in our lives: we see people hurting and we want to help, but don’t know how. We’re scared of reaching out in case we make things worse. This is one reason why church matters. Individually, we’re weak, isolated and afraid. But together we’re strong. …Read More
Meriam Yahia Ibrahim is a sister in Christ who’s just given birth. When she’s well enough, the Sudanese government plan to whip her with 100 lashes. Then, once the baby is weaned, they want to kill her. Why? Because she’s a Christian and she refuses to renounce Jesus. If you haven’t already, please follow the links from this page and put pressure on the Sudanese Government to release Meriam. And whether you’ve done that or not, there’s something even more …Read More
There are many reasons why sex might be a problem in your marriage. One or both of you might have depression. You could be on meds that reduce your libido. Perhaps the past is something that still feels present: abuse or assault or relationships which left you scarred. You might have body hang-ups; an eating disorder, a hatred of seeing your own flesh. Or maybe you’re just from very different backgrounds; with different expectations of intimacy. It’s a massive issue …Read More
Eleven years ago tomorrow: The church was full, but I don’t remember any faces. Dad had my arm and I could see you, standing at the front. You were fiddling with your waistcoat (‘grooms wear gold’ said the guy at Moss Bros). You were making a joke, but I could tell you were nervous. I don’t remember what I walked down to the aisle to. I don’t remember signing the register or exchanging the rings. I remember grinning: both of …Read More
From The Independent on Sunday (17 May): ‘What does it feel like to have schizophrenia?’ “It depends. In my case, when I’m experiencing positive symptoms, I feel like I’m the main protagonist of a good novel, a novel you should read without any critical thinking. For instance, once, I woke up during the night, I couldn’t move, I was in the same position as Christ on the cross and I was convinced that I was talking with God. And I was …Read More
Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three. The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades. Your thumb is the same length as your nose. The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica. At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell. Your nose can remember 50,000 scents. Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon …Read More
Most of us love the sunshine. My husband is no exception.The merest hint of a sunbeam and he’s outside, charging after tennis balls, singing and muttering about cricket. It’s like a disease. And were it not for my total commitment to darkness and misery, I might be tempted to join in. (But I’m Northern Irish. So I fight it). I have to say though, I see his point. After all, what’s not to like about stripping off and basking in …Read More
Some thoughts: 1. Don’t offer too much choice. (It sends the person with an ED into a mental spin) For example: not ‘would you like a yoghurt?’ but ‘what flavour yogurt would you like?’ 2.If you’re working with a dietician/meal plan, then stick with this. It will help the sufferer to know in advance what they’re eating and how it has been prepared: but don’t let them get involved, (especially in early stages of recovery). 3. don’t renegotiate food over …Read More
Our vicar was talking this morning about school reports. And it got me to thinking. Sometimes our lives feel like a series of report cards. Verdicts from family. Verdicts from friends. Verdicts from school. Verdicts from work. Verdicts from culture. Verdicts from ourselves. ‘Tries hard but doesn’t quite hit the mark’. ‘Easily discouraged’. ‘Excellent taste in box sets’. ‘Awkward, uncool’. ‘Terrible at karaoke’. ‘Well-meaning but disorganised.’ ‘Weird’ ‘Talkative, over-excited’ ‘Intense. Compassionate. Empathetic.Weak.Sensitive. Creative. Hardworking. Determined.Complicated.Friendly. Boring. Needy. Draining. Struggling. Fat. Self-conscious. Good at wearing masks. Troubled. Fun. Outgoing. Uncomplicated. Too …Read More
