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A rare snowfall here in the west of Scotland.

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Finished reading: The Whale at the End of the World by JOHN. IRONMONGER 📚

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Finished reading: Simply Trinity by Matthew Barrett 📚

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A while back, I bought a couple of these accordion fold refills for my Traveler’s Notebook. I wasn’t sure what to do with them, thinking maybe I would make a big piece of artwork in them, but never did. Instead, I’m using one as a sort of commonplace book.

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Just dropped off a bunch of flyers for our Blue Christmas service at the local library. Even for me, as a pastor and someone who stands up in public to tell people about Jesus, it still feels awkward to stuff like that.

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thoughts on writing 30 poems

As I write this, I have just finished the main writing portion of the poetry challenge I was doing this month. There is still the process of choosing 20 of the poems to be worked on further to have a chapbook to submit, but my initial thoughts are these: Poetry is fun to write — there are so many forms that you can play with, and there are great books and resources available to help make the process even better.

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This was a fun read.

Finished reading: The Falcon of Sparta by Conn Iggulden 📚

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There is nothing better than paper for trying to get a sense of the big picture. Unfortunately, this paper isn’t big enough to also include figuring out when I will study for my training course.

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teaching helps with learning?

One of the things that I have found as I spend more and more time studying Scripture is that there just seems to be more of it to hand in my mind. This has increased a lot as I have been working on sermons and Bible studies. I am also finding that much of what I am learning for my training course is becoming what I am teaching to our youth group.

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Behind these stone walls is a place of comfort

Where there is a fire burning and wooden tables A dog sleeps on a rug Where there is walnut and oak and brass A chair by a table Where there is glass and amber and darkest night A meal with friends Where the night is too short and the pour is long A world away
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One big lesson I’ve learned while studying the doctrine of God, and the Trinity in particular, this term is that I really need to make some time to read Aquinas and Augustine.

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Something I’ve really enjoyed this month is writing a poem each day while following this challenge. Have any of my poems been any good? Not particularly, but it’s been nice to have a small creative project each day. 📝

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nothing is straightforward

In the most recent issue of Tabletalk, there was an article on the pluses and minuses of technologies like blockchain and a decentralised web. There are many on either side. As I read through it, I was first reminded again of the fact that the church is usually very late in understanding what is going on in the world. However, in this instance, as these are things that most laypeople will have no real understanding of, I think they got the timing of this right.

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Today was another big writing day (3800 words). Then it was trinitarian reading assignments. My brain needed a break and doing a sketch was a good one.

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Finished reading: Timothy Keller by Collin Hansen 📚

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I’ve had Procreate for a long time but don’t spend enough time using it. I followed this tutorial by Calvin at DrifterStudio and it was fun!

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Fridays are long. They start with an early train so I can get some of my sermon writing done before a day in the classroom for my training course. Then another hour or so of writing before getting the train home. Enjoying making some socks and watching a film with my wife. 🧶

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Started reading: Simply Trinity by Matthew Barrett 📚

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Had a couple loaves of sourdough in the oven after church today. Really pleased with how they’ve turned out.🍞

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Collect of purity

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord.