Here’s what I’m pondering during this Advent time... How easily we miss what we don’t expect. Extraordinary things can pass right under our noses while we rush from one day to the next, heads down, hearts distracted. (1)

Wishes. At a shop in Glasgow. Didn't take much - just a space among all the goods to be sold during this long commerce Xmas season. Hundreds of the 'wish stars'. It often strikes me how readily people talk about or express their wishes, desires, and dreams. (1)

One of the delights of travelling and staying in non-hotel type of places are the books I encounter on various shelves. During my recent visit to Ethiopia, I had the pleasure of spending some time with Dorothy Sayers. Not the most contextual reading perhaps, but such good fun!

I'm always reluctant to push my books, but 50% off from the publisher is a good deal if anybody's looking. The code is CONFSHIP + select Media Mail for 50% off and free shipping. wipfandstock.com/9781532635564/singleness-and-marriage-after-christendom/

Re-reading John O'Donoghue's Anam Cara: "To be holy is to be home, to be able to rest in the house of belonging that we call the soul."

soundcloud.com/user-7654815... A few weeks, while at Northumbria Community retreat, I shared this simple song. The folks there asked me to record it, and this weekend I finally did it. The song itself weaves together several cultures and languages. I took a Latvian (1)

One of the memories of the last week: www.facebook.com/share/p/16xe...

Love this rendering from Psalm 19 by Eugene Peterson: "Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin." Psalm 19:13 (MSG)

Resting between a podcast recording and an evening talk, I'm in what is apparently called a 'cry room', for parents with wee ones who are crying, restless, or need feeding or calming. I'm thinking it would be great to have adult cry rooms, too.

It was good to be part of the 23rd Baptist World Congress in Brisbane. I have enjoyed my last talk-on worship and arts-the most, perhaps because it was the closest to my general teaching, ministry & research interests.

What makes me glad to be a Baptist: a religious freedom covenant that has just been introduced at the 23rd Baptist World Alliance congress. acts2movement.org/covenant/

Several days ago, visiting the Museum of Lithuania Minor, it was quite special to see a tablecloth which belonged to my Omama - my great-grandmother - and to read about her/see her photo. The tablecloth was special as it was used for the worship gatherings taking place in my family's house.

An important reminder to be very careful when interpreting surveys. The Quiet Revival's claim that men in the UK are now more likely to attend church than women is especially incredulous, and goes against all the research in the area so far. theconversation.com/is-there-rea...

The latest issue of Theology in Scotland is out, and it's on language & faith! I've enjoyed editing the journal - and look forward to seeing it flourish in the coming years. ojs.st-andrews.ac.uk/index.php/TI...

In the week the world bid farewell to Pope Francis, I found myself reflecting on the memories of meeting him through my work with the Third round of International Dialogue between the Baptist World Alliance and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church.

This Sunday, the service we attended focused primarily on the Passion story — and it made me reflect again on life that feels forever caught in those long, hopelessly excruciating days between the crucifixion and the resurrection.

On this Day of the Lord, I'm finding refreshment and encouragement in these now not-so-new, but even more critically relevant, words of NT Wright: "Every act of love, gratitude, and kindness; every work of art of music inspired by the love of God and delight in the beauty of [God's] creation;

Suffering, human and non-human experience, and divine presence in the world: our topic for 2025/2 issue of Theology in Scotland. Call for contributions 👇: ojs.st-andrews.ac.uk/index.php/TI...

A wee intro to my book on Singleness and Marriage after Christendom, for those who are on Facebook www.facebook.com/share/v/18Ur...

Looking forward to being at the Baptist World Alliance Congress this summer, and seeing many friends old and new. Many good memories of a previous Congress I've attended, 20 years ago... When, of course, I was just a baby!

Things I haven't thought of before, but which reminded me why I love linguistics: "Dr. Lina, according to the pronunciation of your name, [we] gave you a wonderful Chinese name, 莉娜 (Lì nà), the first word means jasmine flower, the second word means soft and beautiful. We hope you like the name."

A random observation on Dutch academic culture: students shake hands with you (a guest lecturer), and introduce themselves by name. I always find it really interesting: what our body language, room set up etc, imply about the student-teacher relationship/power dynamic.

So grateful for the life and impact of Jimmy Carter. I remember the Bible study he led for us at the Baptist World Alliance Congress, 20 years ago.... And visiting The Carter Center a few years ago, during my sabbatical, left a lasting impression on me.

Theology in Scotland journal's themed issue on Reimagining Church and Society is out now - and the access is free! For an introduction, have a look at my editorial at ojs.st-andrews.ac.uk/index.php/TI...

The new issue of Theology in Scotland is out! ojs.st-andrews.ac.uk/index.php/TI...

Well, hmm. Not sure this *quite* describes this category, dear bookshop at Cape Town airport.

"I sometimes pray not for self-knowledge in general, but for just so much self-knowledge at the moment as I can bear and use at the moment; the little daily dose." C.S.Lewis, Letters to Malcolm, Chiefly on Prayer

That's a little perturbing. I thought I was supposed to follow him?

Working on the edits of 24/2 of Theology in Scotland, but already looking forward to next Spring's issue, on faith and language! First proposal just popped into my mailbox. Perhaps that's the theme you - or someone you know - would be interested in contributing? ojs.st-andrews.ac.uk/index.php/TI...