Whether we realise it or not, we all live on:
The Edge of the Otherworld

Thursday 27 April 2017

Magic, gods and treachery...


The Roman legions are gone and the power of the druids is fading. Old gods must compete with the new ways of Christianity. Nothing can keep the tribes of Scotland from war. Beset by chaos, the kingdom of Dal Riata stands alone and a young prince must prove himself worthy to be king. Aided by a seer who can walk the many paths of the future and shape them to her own ends, he sets out in search of the legendary spear of justice. His quest leads all the way to the land of Faerie...


The Edge of the Otherworld

A Celtic fantasy novel by Edmund Farrow

Friday 21 April 2017

Visitations

Angels are enigmatic characters. They turn up at odd intervals throughout the Bible, usually as messengers, and do their bit and then they're away again. Where to exactly? And what goes on in the spiritual realms anyway?

Friday 14 April 2017

The crucifixion

It wasn't an ordinary execution. I doubt I'd have been there otherwise. The priests had a bunch of us bussed out from the Temple to make a bit of noise and jeer at the latest would-be Messiah as he got his comeuppance.

This one in particular had really rattled them and they wanted to discourage his followers and put-off any copy-cat prophets. You know how it is.

Anyway, we fought our way through the Passover crowds and got there for the crucifixion. There was quite a turn out. Mostly just the curious but it looked like the guy had made a fair few enemies in his time and they'd all turned up to see him killed.

His friends were less apparent – his mum, a small group of women and then one or two others hanging around on the fringes. It was all pretty sad really. Still, he'd been causing trouble and he was only getting what he deserved - the same as the two bandits with him.

The soldiers finally got round to nailing him up and the strangest thing happened. 'Forgive them, Father!' he said. 'They don't know what they're doing.' In the middle of his misery, he was thinking of them. Then again, maybe it wasn't only the soldiers he was thinking of. As he spoke, I got the funny idea he was looking at me.

I started to feel uneasy.

Monday 3 October 2016

God isn't looking for perfection

Actually, no, hang on a minute, he is...

Jesus said, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48 (NIV) And that was at the end of a whole load of teaching on being pure in thought, scrupulously honest, uncompromisingly generous and militantly forgiving. Be perfect, though? That's just ludicrous. We're messed up, warped, misled and frequently a bit rubbish. Perfection this side of Heaven is something of a big ask. We can try our best but...


Thursday 8 September 2016

Trinity

A dad was making a gift for his son. It wasn't from a kit, he was making it from scratch. This meant there were no confusing instructions but it also meant some planning was involved.

"Is it done yet?" asked the son.

"I'm just getting started now," replied the dad.

"Have you got time?" called the mum from the other room.

"Yes."

She stuck her head round the door. "You're going to need plenty of space."

Thursday 1 September 2016

Looking and seeing

Three men walk into a bar... and realise they've wandered into an old church by mistake.

The first looks around at the funny costumes of the people in charge and the Medieval artwork, and sees only antiquated superstition. He puts out some candles and comments loudly on how he hasn't been struck by lightning yet.

The second man is genuinely bemused to see so many people of all ages in the pews but is impressed by their enthusiasm and sincerity. Ultimately, he is encouraged that they have found purpose. It isn't the kind of purpose he wants for himself but, hey, if it works for them...

The third glances towards the front and sees a wooden carving of a man upon a cross. For a moment, despite being no more broken nor afraid than the other two, he looks into the face of God. In those eyes are suffering and compassion, love and justice, freedom and sacrifice, the beginning and the end...

The moment fades but somehow everything still seems different. After a few minutes of contemplation, the man gets up and leaves, exactly the same as when he entered, yet changed forever.

The other two hang around waiting for the punchline.

Thursday 18 August 2016

The worker's prayer

God grant me the opportunity
to delegate the things I cannot do;
Time and energy to do the things I can;
And the strength to cope with
those managing me who do not know the difference...