Shrops, Props & Crops

I find myself among the green fields and autumnal, reddening trees of lovely Shropshire, a guest of Quinta Hall. With a dozen other pastors have I gathered for a study week to consider the close reading of a particular Bible book. Stephen Rees of Stockport skilfully leads us through its background and structure, considering Babylonian history, textual structure and theological background found in earlier biblical books.

It is good and refreshing to study the scriptures in depth, to notice oddities and tiny features of the text which might seem superfluous to report in a Sunday sermon, and barely worth the troubling of a mid-week attendee. Nevertheless, scripture is the well that refuses to dry up, the trove which keeps on surrendering its treasures, the feast which never leaves empty plates and half-filled bellies. Truly, our God is good, and His word is precious. 

This good land of Shropshire has this week been used to support a dozen ministries and will yield a better sowing from many pulpits.