The Manger

In a traditional nativity scene, there are usually a range of features, including Mary and Joseph, shepherds and animals, angels and the star and, of course, the baby Jesus, pictured in a manger, which seems a most unusual place for any baby to be placed, let alone...

Preserves and Pickles

Read Psalm 119:153-160. When we want to preserve something, we need ingredients that will act against decay: we pickle onions and cabbages in vinegar to keep them for long periods of time or we add sugar to fruit to make jams. Preservation, in cooking terms, requires...

Immediately, if not sooner!

Read Psalm 119:145-152. In the heat of the moment, it’s very easy to be impulsive. Advertisers are skilled at manipulating mood and creating urgency within us: that ‘must have’ item which will be gone if we don’t purchase it right now! When I was a child, I used to...

Testing

Read Psalm 119:137-144. Testing takes time. It’s a process that can’t be rushed. Manufacturers who test their products have to ensure that the products undergo situations which simulate real life so that they can be confident their products will last. We are often...