# Connect3Ways

> A website about nature connection and how God speaks in different ways, including nature, dreams, visions and people. 


## Posts

- [The little green lizard!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/11/16/the-little-green-lizard/): Work started out as a beautiful Autumnal morning down by the river. The ever changing sky was full of magic, from wispy cirrus to varied nimbus clouds and colours of pink and yellow. The river although overshadowed by the sound of the A3 had the same expectancy too. A song thrush sang in the far water meadow not downed out by the cars and lorries. A dunnock and wren joined in nearer to me. It felt good to be alive. The morning ended with a tale of someone else’s nature connection. Something small and surprising to me especially. The person in question […]
- [Lilee](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/11/12/lilee/): To all those who enjoyed hearing and reading about Lilee. Today she passed away very peacefully after 4 years of enjoying her company and personality.  We had Lilee from the age of 3 months and we believe she would have been 4 years old this month but are not sure of the exact date.  When she was young she used to try jumping from sofa to sofa when she was out and about. She would also climb the stairs in our old house not always making it to the top, usually only half way. Beardies as they are affectionately called usually […]
- [Tices Meadow visit](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/11/01/tices-meadow-visit/): Last week, on Saturday 25th I visited Tices Meadow for some bird watching. I had read of Bearded Tit’s present. It was not long after 7am I arrived. On walking through the woodland path it opened out and there at another hedge line cut a small dumpy, neck-less, falcon appeared out of nowhere about 20m away. It flew off to the north-west with rapid wing-beats. I watched it through the binoculars for as long as it was in range. My very first thought – sparrowhawk was swiftly knocked away by Merlin. Merlin image Yesterday on Halloween I visited late afternoon. Thirty […]
- [Why it's called Forest Church](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/09/29/why-its-called-forest-church/): Back in 2011 I was invited to go on a course by one of my head teachers. This was when I was new into the job. The course was to enable the participants to become Level 3 Forest School Practitioners. Forest School is, to quote from the Forest School Association web page: ‘…an inspirational process that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.’ For five days we were tucked away in a small woodland in Compton belonging to Surrey Wildlife Trust where we learned […]
- [Resurrection!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/09/09/resurrection/): I have not long finished listening to a podcast from The Liturgists (see the link on the left) No. 22. On this comment and discussion is made on ghosts but most of all there is discussion on resurrection and Science Mike as he is affectionately called states this which grew on me. A few years ago I would have not even entertained this thought but my mind is changing or has changed on the evolution ‘thing’. So here is a transcript of what he says about resurrection in regards to how this planet came about: “In the beginning there was a […]
- [Joy of Discovery](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/08/13/joy-of-discovery/): On holiday in Wales recently we stayed in a lovely converted milking parlour which had 15 acres of land surrounding it. We had the privilege of walking three Kune-kune pigs down the meadow with their owners. It was within the field that the owner said that he couldn’t mow the lowest part as it was very wet and he was considering throwing in a quantity of wildflower seed, then standing back to see what would happen! This piqued my interest to see what was present within the area around the brook. As I began to look there were a few flowering […]
- [What if? A few thoughts](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/07/12/what-if-a-few-thoughts/): What if the whole creation, the process behind it being what it is, was a person, wouldn’t that make life more interesting?! An unfolding adventure?! In a moment of sleeping in one of my children’s beds after swapping, I was trying to get off to sleep so started whisper praying (thinking, thanking and praising) which turned into this ‘meditation’ and no sleep suffice to say! I began going through the Lord’s prayer from the top but didn’t get far as I began to examine (as it does puzzle me) what the first bit means. I am one of His children and He is […]
- [Ash Ranges BTO Nightjar survey](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/06/20/ash-ranges-bto-nightjar-survey/): Wednesday evening I went and joined 25 others to do a count of churring male nightjars.  I was initially surprised to see so many folk (mainly male out of interest – no correlation with the survey!?). The reason for this number soon became apparent.  The group was to be divided up into pairs due to the nature of the terrain. Ash Ranges, a large area (1392 ha) owned by the MOD to the North West of Guildford is an area of heathland, including, pine and bracken used for army exercises and shooting practice.  The area is easy to get lost on […]
- [Nightjar](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/06/13/nightjar/): There are always new things we can learn and experience about God and the natural world. We may not understand fully what the creator has made. There is great mystery in both the Creator and the created. If we dig deeper into the created we can see something of God.  One of my favourite birds is a mystery in itself. You will have missed out if you weren’t at Forest Church in June as we saw and heard this enigmatic bird! It could be considered rather an unfortunate name especially as night is often thought to be a negative thing. For me the nightjar has […]
- [Morning moth trap](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/05/16/83/): Went into the garden and prepared myself for the day out loud as I had done silently in bed whilst reading and reflecting on the Prayer of 7 directions (David Adam). I started with a simple version to embed it in my head and heart: God is before me, (face East) God on my right, (face south) God is behind me, (face west) God on my left, (face north) God is beneath me, (touch earth) God is above me (hands rise up) God is within me. As I finished the prayer I looked up towards our house and a grey heron […]
- [Bat detector recording +](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/05/14/bat-detector-recording/): Monday evening was such a delightful evening I went out for another Whitmoor walk. The sun was setting and had got caught behind some interesting clouds. The lower cloud was darker grey and had an overlay of narrow white angled pillars. Above this was a large fish-bone effect. I took some pictures but using a mobile isn’t the greatest way of doing this. The shape of the sun was not in evidence off camera but looking at the pictures the sun shows as a distinct area. Trees also obscured the sunset so it doesn’t fill the pictures. In taking the pictures […]
- [Home is in a garden too!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/05/11/home-is-in-a-garden-too/):  Most of us have a garden of some sort or another – some of us even have allotments! The ones that are private are easily accessed by stepping out of our front or back doors! These gardens are part of our homes and they are homes for other non-human inhabitants as well, whether plants or animals.   I like the bible verses from Psalm 84:3,4 (NET) “…Even the birds find a home there, and the swallow builds a nest, where she can protect her young near your altars, O Lord who rules over all, my King and my God. How blessed […]
- [Mini blog on a bat](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/05/09/mini-blog-on-a-bat/): A lovely mild evening out there this evening with blue sky and light cloud noticeable even after sunset. I only had the energy to go out the back door with my bat detector. As soon as I stepped out I turned it on and picked up the fine ticking of a pipistrelle low towards the east. It suddenly got louder and I saw it and heard it passing right in front of me about 3 or 4 feet away heading off towards the last remaining glow of sun! Wonderful!
- [7th May 2015](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/05/08/7th-may-2015/): Today has been a day of pleasant nature surprises. It has been one where mostly nature has come to me. This morning I heard that recognisable screaming of swifts above my head and counted around 15. Great to see them back again. In the same garden there were some very large earthworms of a different hue to the normal kind and they were very firm. I sat down in a sunny wooded spot to have a break from my work in the Forest School area and a hoverfly kept landing on me. I noticed a mini wing like a bird’s bastard […]
- [Whitmoor wandering](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/04/25/whitmoor-wandering/): Yesterday evening I went to Whitmoor to do my first reconnaisance for Forest Church number 3. I have been to Whitmoor before so I know my way around. Whitmoor Common is about 185ha in size and is made up of 4 compartments. The main car park is based in compartment 4. I had intentions to get to Brook Pond and to Compartment 3 which is on the other side of the railway line. Suffice to say, I never made it! My plan for Forest Church – it doesn’t need to be a secret, is to include witnessing nightjar, bats, woodcock and […]
- [Sit spot +](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/04/21/sit-spot/): Went out to check if nightingale around st Broadstreet Common, no song in evidence. Decided to go to my sit spot before knowing whether a nightingale would show. Thought I’d use sensio divina too to aid my commune. The sun had already set but due to the amount of light left, the log was well lit and the pond was shown up to me in a new light as I’d never been in the evening. I sat watching, waiting and tuning in as best I could with the traffic still loud in the background. The first thing that came to my […]
- [Easter Sunday 2015](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/04/08/easter-sunday-2015/): I parked the car and headed down the hill towards Fox Corner LNR just before 6am. There was an owl call just above my head. Locating it was tricky. As it was early I didn’t feel too stupid standing staring up into a tree. Suddenly I saw a blob on a branch halfway out from the main trunk. Then the blob moved it was a Tawny Owl and it flew back up the road disappearing into the darker woody section.  The dawn was beginning but as it was overcast the sun wasn’t yet visible. It was wonderful not to be disturbed […]
- [Spring](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/04/08/spring/): “What is all this juice and all this joy? A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning…” Gerard Manley Hopkins If the old adage is anything to go by: “Ash before oak, we’re in for a soak; Oak before ash we’re in for a splash” then it looks like a soak as I’ve seen ash buds beginning to break as I write this at the start of April. This is one of the many signs of spring which we enjoy, the breaking buds that is, not so much the rain! Spring for many of us comes too suddenly. I […]
- [Early Spring Afternoon](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/03/29/early-spring-afternoon/): In my preparation for Forest Church (and because I love to get out and be with nature) I  have been visiting Fox Corner Community Wildlife Area. I have also been developing a sit spot.  I  headed down to my waiting rustic bench, glad that I was alone. I had already reminded myself to slow down on entering the reserve as not doing so flushes out the residents too rapidly and takes a while for them to settle down or disappear completely. It was early afternoon warm and still for March. Perched on the end of the log I sat moving only […]
- [Crows caught in the act!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/03/25/crows-caught-in-the-act/): Yesterday I witnessed some bird behaviour never seen before. I glanced  up at our lawn to see a crow crouched down with wings stretched out flat either side and its tail was being worked from side to side rapidly – also flat, like a fan for about a minute. I then realised there was another crow near by who approached and then got on top. Of course the light dawned that’s  what that was about! They flopped about a bit for a few seconds and then he got off and they continued ambling about the garden. Quite incredible how she enticed […]
- [Fox Corner](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/03/18/fox-corner/): On arriving at Fox Corner today there was a busyness about the birds and more of a presence than previous times. I had to slow myself down into the mode as I flushed a number of  Redwing’s by my rapidity. They were rather nervy today anyway. The weather was mild and a little overcast. A Nuthatch was calling and there was a melifluous sound of a Mistle Thrush which I could not locate. The sound seemed to fill the whole air and distracted me from anything else. I moved more stealthily towards the sound but was still unable to find the bird […]
- [More lichen's](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/03/07/more-lichens/): Went for a very early morning walk, before the sun was up. The sunrise was a rapid intense pink and was greeted by a similar intensification of bird song at Fox Corner Community Wildlife Area.  There were geese honking in the darkness upon the pond just before this sunrise. I also flushed a couple of other birds which were wildfowl still a mystery to me.  The birds that joined me at my sit spot (introduced to me by Bruce Stanley’s Forest Church book who in turn had it from John Young the American Naturalist), were wren’s, magpies, long-tailed tits, jackdaws, redwing […]
- [Lichen exploration](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/03/07/lichen-comes-from-the-greek-for-eruption-leprosy-or-wart/): Whether you pronounce the “ich” as in like or as in itch doesn’t really matter. (As a matter of preference I say it as in like, as I like them – but I use to say it as in itch as it figuratively scratches something that itches in me!) This species is something that I have taken an interest in recently. Every now and then it is good to expand ones knowledge in a new sphere of natural history.   Due to the bareness of trees this time of year and the low levels of insects and other more seasonal species […]
- [A different kind of lent thought](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/02/25/a-different-kind-of-lent-thought/): For those of you who read this blog I would like to take a moment to highlight some other writings which are in process on another site which you will see on the left side of the page. These daily missives belong on the Mystic Christ blog and are those of Dan Papworth who is doing a new kind of Lentern study using nature as his basis. This may appeal to you – have a look. I’ve just started to dabble myself. He recommends you take your time in going through the list. You don’t have to do it in order, […]
- [Up North](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/02/23/up-north/): The half term is over it is back to normal. I wondered whether I would be able to relate to the time spent off – I was pleasantly surprised. As a family we spent some time with friends up north. An area where we as southerners are maligned and portrayed as southern softies! The phrase was not heard as much this time round as in previous times. Maybe we were recognised as being more hardened now – dare I ‘coin’ it as southern shellies (referring to our hard shells, although saying that we may hide away in our shells as a […]
- [First Forest Church Revealed](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/02/04/first-forest-church-revealed/): Thank you to many of you who have expressed an interest in Forest Church. It has been very encouraging to receive your support. A number of folk were not able to make it on the day for various reasons but we had a good turn-out for the first of many Forest Church events. I introduced the session with a prayer and then an explanation of the theme which was journeys. There was an opportunity to explore the walk using some techniques which engaged the senses. For example looking for colours in nature to match a colour palette, making a journey-stick to […]
- [Hebrew for worship](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/01/23/hebrew-for-worship/): In another book by Chaim Bentorah (See a previous post on livabethini), I came across something pretty amazing.  The Hebrew word for worship is shachah and it is read from right to left in the Hebrew text. The first letter is shin, traditionally carrying the meaning of passion, fire, or a fiery passion. Thus worship consists of a fiery passion between God and man.  The second letter is chet which represents a joining with God in a secret place or a special place (secret special place) or bridal chamber.  The final letter is Hei which represents the divine presence or the presence of God. Thus as Chaim says you […]
- [Amazing lichens](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/01/22/amazing-lichens/): This photo is an example according to Tristan Gooley’s latest book of the most underrated and underrappreciated groups in nature. Carl Linnaeus called them (from a Latin translation) ‘Poor little peasants of nature’. The Greeks; eruptions, warts or leprosy. Here we have Xanthoria polycarpa (I think) which is sensitive to light levels, preferring south facing surfaces; it acts as a colour compass. It can also gauge timescales referred to as ‘lichenometry’. (See section on lichens in The Walkers Guide to Outdoor Clues and signs). This specimen was found at school. The FSC guide says it’s nitrogen and acid tolerant. Amazing!
- [Thoughts from a walk and from a Hebrew scholar](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/01/18/thoughts-from-a-walk-and-from-a-hebrew-scholar/): In preparing for Forest Church I walked the route as a recce yesterday morning.  Going into the ‘foresty’ bit with tall firs reaching to the sky with the sun glinting on the tops of the trees caused me to lift my head up in wonder and see their skeletal shapes rubbing up close to each other. In amongst this a small oak leaf fluttered down from above out of nowhere with not an oak tree in sight. That also made me think of the uniqueness of that single leaf out on its own amongst giants all uniform in structure. It was […]
- [Broken and contrite heart](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/01/11/broken-and-contrite-heart/): Wasn’t sure what to read this morning so went for the 5 Psalms a day grouping and as it’s 11th January read 51 first. Came to v17 NET The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit – O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject. This reminded me of the word humility from Frank’s sermon  last Sunday and it aptly fits in with another – offering, as it shows how we need to come to God. The word humble is often translated as in the KJV – broken but when you look at in Hebrew it’s not so […]
- [J.E.H.O.M-O?](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/01/08/j-e-h-o-m-o/): I don’t know about you but I really connected with Frank’s New Year sermon. He headed it with the overall theme of worship and then used six words to hang his content on which I have used here. There are different styles of worship and we move in and out of them on our journey (all the first letters of the bold words make up the title of this article!). As I’ve written about before part of my journey deals with nature connection and connecting with God. Well this year I would like to share that journey with you by encouraging […]
- [Lichens +](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/01/02/lichens/): This time of year because the trees are bare of leaves the exposed bark and branches are revealed showing some interesting forms. I have been stretching my knowledge and looking at this phenomena commonly known as lichens. Lichens are composite organisms made up of a fungus and one or more algae living together. The algal partner produces essential nutrients for the lichen through photosynthesis, while the fungal partner provides the body in which they both live. The fungus produces spores in fruiting bodies (apothecia), which must germinate and find an algal partner before they can form a new lichen. In order […]
- [Serendipity v non-serendipity(!)](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/12/29/serendipity-v-non-serendipity/): Went for a walk yesterday morning with Ethan, to get myself air and to deliver him from the screen! I took my binoculars just in case as you never know! It was a fresh and bright morning, dry but icy especially in the shade. We were staying over at the In-laws so were not in our usual haunt. The decision had been made by Yours Truly to head to the common which is five minutes walk from their house. I don’t know why looking back, but some may say it was fate, coincidence or a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit […]
- [A December Ramble](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/12/21/a-december-ramble/): Now, I thought it was about time for a new post. The title reflects more of my thinking than of an actual ramble – that would be fine too. Saying that, I am missing going outside at present and have a real longing to have a winter walk. I can say that now as today we pass into the Winter Solstice (Read more about this on Why do mornings get darker in Winter?). Even going outside the back door and feeling the fresh cool air and continuing my garden work gives me a hankering to ramble. The love of the outdoors doesn’t always […]
- [School nature](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/11/10/school-nature/): Took a group of kids out today at school and saw a number of creatures. Don’t know who was more excited, me or them! A heron flew in low towards us as we walked near the pond. It landed stately like upon the end apex above the resource room. Watching us with wary eye but unflinching it fluffed out its feathers and turned poised looking at the pond. Forming an ‘s’ it stretched out towards the pond looking ready to strike. Deciding it was too far to reach for any prey it lumbered off towards the caretakers house disappearing over the […]
- [A good read](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/11/05/a-good-read/): (This is somewhat misleading as it was actually a good listen!) Debbie bought a set of books by Gill Lewis. I’d never heard of her before. One of her books is called The Moon Bear. The local library has an ebook and audio book loan service and I managed to get it from there. Richard Carrington (or was it Nigel?) has a good reading voice bringing the story to life. The book is about a boy who has to leave his village twice – the first time due to a road being built, allegedly; the second to earn money for his […]
- [Who Jesus is to me.](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/11/02/who-jesus-is-to-me/): As we come to this Christmas time I want to share who Jesus is to me, making it personal and hopefully encouraging you and maybe enticing you in further to knowing him more. When I was 8 I read a lot, reading the Bible was one of the many books along with Scripture Union literature for children. I’d heard about Jesus from family and church but didn’t realise He required a response until being challenged by the aforementioned literature. I look back and think of it as my revelation of Jesus as my shepherd – I’d realised I was a lost […]
- [Seeing and knowing](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/10/07/seeing-and-knowing/): I wanted to share a bit of where I am at. Both yesterday’s post and today’s  share a similar theme. There is so much I would like to read and watch like the books by my bed, on my devices and stuff to watch on internet and YouTube but I dont have time. Most of all I need time with God and this gets pushed out because of the above.  Looking in Hebrews which is probably a favourite at present I see this: Hebrews 8:11 NET “ And there will be no need at all  for each one to teach his […]
- [I will be found by you](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/10/06/i-will-be-found-by-you/): It had been a busy day and I was positively buzzing in my head. I was glad to get into bed. As I did I managed to quieten down. I just laid back on my pillow and I wasn’t even trying to hear, or straining that is, to hear God’s voice and I heard; ‘I will be found of you’ in that still small whisper. It is a long time since I’ve heard that verse or even sung the song. I know that as a line from a song when growing up and was aware that it was a scripture somewhere. […]
- [Messy church +](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/10/06/messy-church/): You may remember in a previous article mention of Forest Church. Well, whilst researching this topic I came across the newest version of the same, called Mossy Church. This subset of Forest Church is aimed at more junior members. I discovered what I thought was a big Mossy Church event an hour and a bit away from us. It transpires in my excitement of reading Mossy Church Great Outdoors event I had failed to see that the ‘o’ in Mossy was in fact an ‘e’! (www.messychurch.org.uk) That aside, all of us bar Debbie who was working, headed off to Fairthorne Manor […]
- [Free Eagle](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/09/21/free-eagle/): From time to time I read The Mirror – no not the popular tabloid but a paraphrase of some of the New Testament. There is a lot of commentary in it which gets mixed in with the verses but it’s there to help explain how the author, Francois du Toit made his ‘translation’. In the intoduction to the epistle of Romans he has a wonderful story from personal experience about a black eagle. The Free Eagle  During our honeymoon in January, 1979, in the Blyderiver Canyons in Mpumalanga, South Africa, Lydia and I met a nature conservation officer who told us […]
- [Simple Pleasures](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/09/05/simple-pleasures/): It was one of those mornings. I was coming too (waking up) and I was besieged by dark irrational thoughts, we all get them from time to time. I don’t think they come from a good place or from the Holy Spirit. It was difficult to break through but I was endeavouring as we often say. What happened next helped me to see more clearly and set me up in a positive frame for the rest of the day.  When you’re at home with a young family it isn’t any good moping around one has to get on and often, out! The park was […]
- [Summer School report 2014](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/08/11/summer-school-report-2014/): You may remember last year I reported on the summer school sessions regarding faith and ecology. Well this year the subject for all the sessions related to peace. I had a flip through the brochure and was disappointed that nothing really appealed to me apart from one session which set me all apace!  The session was billed as Peace of the earth a ‘forest church’ experience. In the brochure it stated: ’The natural world is often a place where we experience feelings of peace and wonder – important sources of spiritual growth for many of us. Yet our relationship with the […]
- [Lesson from a tree](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/08/03/lesson-from-a-tree/): I was walking down to church the other Sunday evening. I noticed a tree in the corner of the grounds belonging to the flats by the long alley way on the Worplesdon road. I recalled not seeing one for quite some time (since the event I’ve seen two in a clients garden!). I pondered its meaning and why it had caught my attention. At the same time I was asking God what I could share in the sharing time as I believe in being a participant in worship not a spectator. I considered that it was a lone tree yet it wasn’t insignificant […]
- [The walk that became something else](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/06/01/the-walk-that-became-something-else/): “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes”.  Elizabeth Scott Browning On an early morning walk recently I headed towards Whitmoor Common.  The sky was clear blue, the light was bright and the dew was glinting in the sunshine. Noisy young kestrels were side-by-side kik-kik-king  reminding me of my children, with their sound carrying in the still morning air. I walked further and sat on a bench where I became aware of a shape watching me in the distance. A young deer scrutinised me from afar. The urge to walk called to me,  the […]
- [Tanzanian Safari](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/05/01/tanzanian-safari/): The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,  the world, and all who live in it; Psalm 24:1 Our trip to Ruaha Game Park was amazing. We had a rough drive there. At the road-side we enjoyed lunch of home-made chipatis and crisps. Some of us saw a mask spider; all of us admired the determination of a dung beetle on the road trying to push a ball of dung up a wheel rut!    On arriving at the park gate we were welcomed by the intense heat off the road and brickwork!  Andrew Wingfield paid our dues – we were off. We stopped at the main […]
- [Tanzanian Wildlife moments (Psalms 150:1-2,6)](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/04/23/tanzanian-wildlife-moments-psalms-1501-26/): As Team Tanzania we had an amazing trip for other reasons apart from achieving what we set out to do, meeting brothers and sisters in Christ, being blessed and being a blessing. We had the opportunity virtually every day, to drink in the sights and sounds of that beautiful country. I would like to share a couple of special bird moments and a taste of Ruaha Game Park which wowed not only me but the whole team. The first morning at Andrew and Miriam Wingfield’s I popped out around the garden to take in the sights and sounds. I stood under a large […]
- [Naming nature](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/03/01/naming-nature/): Last month I looked at trees and how Debbie and I made our email address – we created our own name using Gingertree. This month I thought I’d look at names and particularly naming the nature around us.   As human’s we like to know someone’s name. It’s the beginning of understanding that person. Some cultures won’t give their names until they feel you know them. If you knew their name before you knew them you have some kind of power over them.   Recently I listened to a clip of a Canadian show – that’s why the subject is fresh […]
- [Trees](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/02/01/trees/): Some of you may know quite well by now our email address. The prefix of that address is Gingertree72. There is a little story behind that. Debbie and I both have an affinity with trees, particularly in reference to:   Jeremiah 17:7-8 (Ps 1:3): Blessed is the person who trusts Yahweh (the Lord God). Yahweh will be his confidence. He will be like a tree that is planted by water. It will send its roots down to a stream. It will not be afraid in the heat of summer. Its leaves will turn green. It will not be anxious during droughts. It will not stop producing […]
- [Saving souls or the planet](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/02/01/saving-souls-or-the-planet/): Should we as Christians really be bothered about looking after the planet? After all it’s going to be burnt up (or is it?) – should our job not be about saving souls?   I was musing on these things recently after a few comments I read on a social network site. They were particularly in reference to Romans 8:19 ‘For the Creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.’  When we follow God we become his sons (and daughters) in effect. That word revealed, comes from being exposed by the removal of clothing. God is going to reveal […]
- [Water works](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2014/01/01/water-works/): Recently I bought a book to help me at work called Wow! Our Amazing Planet – A  cross- curricular conservation resource for RE teachers (ideal for KS1 and 2) written by a friend of mine. I was reading it to improve my knowledge and in it I read about pigeons! Pigeons are not a particular favourite of mine but they can be amusing to watch. I learnt that they don’t drink like many songbirds do, that is by filling their beaks with water and tipping their heads back. They drink by sucking up the water.   Another adaptation that some birds have such […]
- [Christmas and creation](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2013/11/19/christmas-and-creation/): This is the time of year when we start looking towards Christmas and what that entails. It is a time when we are surrounded by so many demands on our time and finances. For us as Christians we look towards Christ’s first coming but what does that mean for us in regards to creation? “For God loved the kosmos (the whole of creation including us as human beings) in this way:  He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the kosmos that He might condemn the kosmos, but that the kosmos might […]
- [God who provides through nature](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2013/10/09/god-who-provides-through-nature/): As the Tanzania team are preparing to go and being one of them I have been challenged in regards to how we will pay for it! When I say pay for it I mean financially and not figuratively, although we could do that too – observe us when we come back! As I have prayed about it and thought about how we will fund-raise Elijah came to mind when he was alone in the wilderness and hungry (1 Kings 17:3-9). What happened? God sent Ravens to feed him with bread and raw meat. Now ravens are not pretty by any means and […]
- [Becoming an eco-congregation and the Cost of creation](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2013/09/11/becoming-an-eco-congregation-and-the-cost-of-creation/): In July I attended the Diocesan summer school sessions on ‘Becoming an Eco-congregation; a local response’ and ‘The Cost of Creation’. There were a few others from Emmanuel there apart from myself and a small representation from different churches. In the first session we learnt about being an Eco-congregation through the experience of St Andrew’s Cobham. The two representatives lead us through the different aspects of what they did to become an Eco-congregation. They reminded us throughout that their focus wasn’t just to get an award to put on the shelf but it was part of their journey in understanding and […]
- [Introducing A Rocha](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2013/06/05/introducing-a-rocha/): A Rocha is probably my favourite charity as it combines all of my interests into one! If you don’t know of A Rocha I would like to introduce and commend it to you in this short piece. I first came across A Rocha back in the mid 90’s through reading an article in the mission magazine ‘Interserve’ I was impressed and inspired back then and continue to be so. I then read a book by Peter Harris the founder along with his wife and family of A Rocha, called ‘Under the Bright Wings’ which is a compelling story of A Rocha’s […]
- [God's mission; our mission](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2013/05/04/gods-mission-our-mission/): After a sermon by Bishop Scriven and a suggestion about explaining what creation care is, I thought I might share some thoughts on the matter. He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  – Mark 16:15 NIV.  When it comes to the Great Commission we Christians don’t often quote this version of the Commission. A version I use has it translated as ‘to everyone’ and other versions ‘to the whole creation’. We have made the faith very personal when in fact it seems to say on face value to all of creation. […]
- [Rainbows](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2013/04/09/rainbows/): Do you still get excited about seeing a rainbow? It’s something we may not get so excited about now that we are older as science has explained it away but I think there is still wonder at seeing a rainbow. I was reminded of something by looking at one a few years ago. My wife and I were coming home along the M40 motorway and it was a bit showery. In the distance there were some rather large black clouds. But most of all there was this rainbow which lingered on the horizon in front of us. It was a full […]
- [Ghana March 1999](https://connect3ways.co.uk/1999/03/15/ghana-march-1999/): An Elephantine Experience It all began on a hot morning in March, when various members of the Ring tribe and I were bundled into a heavily laden 4wd, packed with the necessities for life: telescope, camera, binoculars, water filters, etc. The journey was uneventful except for experiencing “washboard” for the first time.   We arrived with much excitement (and relief, as certain very young Rings thought we would never get there) at Mole Game Park. As soon as we’d parked and somebody seemed to know the right way to go and rushed off ahead. Soon we heard the cry, “elephants”! So […]
- [Forest Church makes a come back after viral imposition!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/07/12/forest-church-makes-a-come-back-after-viral-imposition/): Forest Church has been out of action for some time. I considered it was a good time to plan for one and get it going again in the local area. It all started with news of a Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus – written about before here) in the churchyard at St Mary’s Worplesdon. The news of the invidual came via the birding grapevine. The day was blustery and damp back in May. I had some time at the end of a job so I headed up to see if I could see or hear any sign of it. I am not familiar […]
- [Doxecology - Study Guide - engageworship](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/06/06/doxecology-study-guide-engageworship/): For those of you who are concerned about Creation and want a resource to express your praise of God in worship about creation, also to lament what has happened to it and have a way to respond in hope. This study and audio visual will enable you to do that. Thoughtfully worked out and put together, it will be of use in small groups, as individuals and as a church. https://engageworship.org/store/product/doxecology-study-guide There are four songs which are as examples of the audio visual content available on the website. There is opportunity to purchase in bulk with discount.
- [Reaching out to all the people of Israel](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/05/14/reaching-out-to-all-the-people-of-israel/): The other day whilst listening to Naked Bible Podcast I was introduced to a book, followed by a website. This blog is about that below. The book subject is about something that has perturbed me academically. It is about whether Christians should follow the law. It is written by a Messianic Jew – that is a Jew who has had a life changing experience with Jesus and now follows him as his Messiah. The title of the book is Reading Moses, Seeing Jesus: How the Torah Fulfills Its Goal in Yeshua by Seth D Postell, Eitan Bar and Erez Soref. I […]
- [Nature depletion comes to the UK!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/05/02/nature-depletion-comes-to-the-uk/): This post is adapted from one of my journal entries which was on my birthday. In short this post is about the state of nature in the UK, my part in that and yours. I was recently inspired and challenged by the Countryfile Magazine Podcast, which had the author of Curlew Moon, Mary Colwell on it. I’ve met her, read her book and had a little further correspondence with her. Something she said really bothered me. Will I act on it and does it matter in the kingdom of God? (I say that as it’s not obvious on the surface without […]
- [A short commentary on the poem The Windhover by British comedian Frank Skinner!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/05/02/a-short-commentary-on-the-poem-the-windhover-by-british-comedian-frank-skinner/): A Comedian’s Prayer Book was a recent acquistion; a birthday gift from my wife, written by Frank Skinner. Being only a little familiar with his shows I am intrigued by this small book. I thought I’d look him up as I have time whilst gardening to listen to podcasts and audio material. Frank I discover, has a poetry podcast. He speaks about one of his favourite poets Gerard Manley Hopkins. More specifically Hopkins’ poem The Windhover. (Take a deep breath, and read slowly out loud, savouring the rhythm, rhyme, phrases and words). The Windhover  To Christ our Lord I caught this […]
- [Little, Reed, and Rustic Bunting on Thursley Common](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/03/27/little-reed-and-rustic-bunting-on-thursley-common/): Saturday morning before the clocks changed I headed off to Thursley Common. The sun was rising and a large full moon setting low over the western sky as I drove towards Elstead. The car park had three other cars in it as I arrived. The area near the moat showed the burn of last year’s extensive fire. The main boardwalk had been fenced off and a sign saying enter at your own risk. A woodlark (Lullula arborea) was singing near the main path. The sound seemed to be coming from every direction. This puzzled me until I realised that it was […]
- [Fox Corner walk March 21, 2021](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/03/22/fox-corner-walk-march-21-2021/)
- [Short lockdown walk February 15th](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/02/19/short-lockdown-walk-february-15th/)
- [An enthusiastic podcast episode recommendation about gardening](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/02/04/an-enthusiastic-podcast-episode-recommendation-about-gardening/): This inspiring podcast with Gardeners World Miranda Janatka and writer, Dr Rangan Chatterjee covers a lot of ground about gardening and it’s benefits to all round health. He also talks about our relationship with food and exercise. Some really helpful things to help in life very simple but motivational. I like what he says about failure and how his son came home from school and said that he’d learnt the word fail – first attempt in learning. A heart warming episode to come back to time and again.
- [A longing in life common to all of humanity](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/02/03/a-longing-in-life-common-to-all-of-humanity/): I ended up on Pluto (the planet that once was a planet). I was on a track which was just like a track in the English countryside. It was set into a hill somewhat like a shallow version of a drovers road. There was a woman who appeared by me who seemed frightened. We had to survive. We were waiting for extraction as we’d been left on the planet. We got into a sleeping bag together. That’s when I noticed that she was naked. I was clothed. It seemed normal and the thing to do. We looked out into the night […]
- [Big Garden Birdwatch 2021, my bird list update and the BTO](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/02/02/big-garden-birdwatch-2021-my-bird-list-update-and-the-bto/): This post will be very short! Judging by the nature of the records I obtained and the weather which probably contributed to the poor show this year’s BGB (see title) was somewhat of a washout. I spent Saturday looking out of the window thinking ‘Shall I do it now? …Or now? …Or now?’ The day was pretty murky with strong winds and dampness throughout. I didn’t think I had enough time to do the hours worth of birdwatching on the Sunday due to other activities that were planned and possible interruptions. So I decided to do it on the 30th January […]
- [Taking the initiative in life](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/01/31/taking-the-initiative-in-life/): Life is like a man on his first day at a new job at a new Tesco where Budgen’s used to be. His manager was called Uma. As the manager she wasn’t very interactive and didn’t really speak to this man along with all the other staff, apart from a couple of people. This man didn’t really know what he was doing so wandered around aimlessly. At one point he was aware he had something he was carrying on his hip as he felt the weight of it – it was a water container. At one point it was there then […]
- [A taste of heaven experienced in the night](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/01/31/a-taste-of-heaven-experienced-in-the-night/): I had one of those expansive dreams where I was with Debbie, my wife, at a Christian conference. A part I recall is where we were in a room together and we needed help to know our way around the site and centre and what services were available. We were deliberating whether to call the helpline which we did in the end and almost missed it. A voice sounded through a little white box on the wall under a window. The Voice sounded tired and could have belonged to a disabled person. We asked how we could leave, not that we […]
- [When darkness comes - choose to resist](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/01/19/when-darkness-comes-choose-to-resist/): The doorbell rang. A man went to the door but couldn’t see or hear who it was even when he opened the door fully. Outside of the door was dark blackness. There was a presence, a person blending in with the darkness. The man asked as he thought he saw a person there, “What do you want?” He heard the person say something yet it was too obscure to get a real grasp of what was said. The man replied to the obscurity and it seemed they were not happy with the answer. The person at the door left. Something wasn’t […]
- [Beginning of the year dawn chorus](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/01/18/beginning-of-the-year-dawn-chorus/): Stuck myself out of the door this morning to get some air around 7.15 GMT. The sky was growing lighter and there was a frost on the ground. The robins were singing. There must have been at least 3. It was delightful. Here’s a short 35 sec sample:
- [The staff that brings comfort and directs the right way](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/01/14/the-staff-that-brings-comfort-and-directs-the-right-way/): Do you feel like you’re stretched thin at the moment? Do you think, ‘I’m not sure I’ll hold up’?  Can I continue like I am? Is everything being stripped away from you? This may well be for you. We are all under pressure in so many ways as we enter into this new year. Even the earth groans under the weight of pressures. Pressure on water, on energy and food. The balance of nature is all out. As human beings we have a lot to answer for. The Greek word thlipsis – pressure, is often translated as tribulation. We all have […]
- [The best friendship you can have!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/12/01/the-best-friendship-you-can-have/): Sometimes it takes years for us to fully grasp something and there’s more to unpack when we think we have grasped a truth. For the last two or three years I have had regular dreams, scriptures and words from the Lord which at the time seemed unrelated. When I look back I realise they were connected. Like the words of CS Lewis in The Last Battle, the call is – ‘”Further up and further in! “‘ A few days ago I was pondering on some of the themes that I mentioned above which include my most intense dream I’ve ever had […]
- [An uplifting walk where the trees flourish](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/11/29/an-uplifting-walk-where-the-trees-flourish/): Even though it was a dank dull still day we managed to take a walk at Winkworth Arboretum which is always a delight. The National Trust were encouraging people to get out. They required you to book a place as the nation was still under its second lockdown. We’d booked our tickets in advance so we were not queuing long at all and were waved through. It was good to be outside and not having to work but enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the place. My wife was the main photographer here. She has a good eye for nature […]
- [Enjoying growth by watching trees](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/11/24/enjoying-growth-by-watching-trees/): Here’s a short video of something that caught my attention this morning biking back home taking the long way, from dropping my van at the garage.
- [Forest Church video, My Story and more](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/11/17/forest-church-video-my-story-and-more/): There are some new pages and content which have been added recently to this website. All of these pages can be accessed by the menu buttons at the top of the page which look like this example: See the Connect with me/Contacts page to see how to sign up for free to the website. To find that hover over the Connect3ways menu and slide the cursor down to the menu of that name and click. If you wish you can take the opportunity to read my story after signing up to the website. It is an extension of an earlier piece […]
- [Master of the house - Partnering with God](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/11/10/master-of-the-house-partnering-with-god/): In my home-group we have been following some of the parables of Jesus – the ones which Jesus shares on his way to Jerusalem. They can be found in the book of Matthew in the New Testament of the Bible. One in particular I want to draw attention to has a phrase that begins in chapter 21 verse 33. ‘“Listen to another parable: There was a man—a master of a house—who planted a vineyard, and put a fence around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey“. […]
- [Awake to newness of life!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/08/11/awake-to-newness-of-life-2/): Something we see, at first may not initially catch our attention. Yet there’s something about it that tugs at us and makes us take a closer look. Like Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3. He sees the bush like he would have at any other time but because he’s struck by something different – dare I say, holy, he draws closer to it. That’s when Yahweh reveals himself. Waking up I turned to the clock to see 3.10 am. I arose from my bed and went forth. Waking up I turned to the clock to see 5.13 am. I […]
- [Moth Trap 2020](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/07/24/moth-trap-2020/): First moth trap of 2020 and the first for a couple of years. Sadly I seem to have lost my former records, swallowed up in the ethernet somewhere. The last one recorded on this website was in 2018 also in July. It was a warm night somewhere between 17 and 20° C on the 18th/19th July. The morning was drizzly and extended to heavier misty rain as it progressed. Three very lively Box Tree (Cydalima perspectalis) moths were going in and out of the trap even  when I had visited in the early hours as I couldn’t get back to sleep. […]
- [First proper outing since lockdown](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/06/29/first-proper-outing-since-lockdown/): I would like to dedicate this post to Chris Burchell, kindred spirit and friend. The walk I write about here was the day after his birthday. I think he would have appreciated it. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they can ever praise you. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in you; in their heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring. The early rain covers it with blessings as well. Psalm 84:4–6 (LEB) The day’s forecast wasn’t looking good. The weather was dictating its angry sky to […]
- [Church versus World](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/05/13/church-versus-world/): Now and then I have a dream that seems to speak of what is going on in the wider world in relation to the Kingdom of God. This one I write about here seems to be one of those. I was working on the land as an agricultural worker. It was on a big farm complex. I was dealing with some machinery. There was other activity going on around me with other workers busy working on different tasks. (Possibly the same dream or an expanded one of the above): I was approached by a guy (let’s call him the owner) who […]
- [Understanding the dreaming process](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/05/09/understanding-the-dreaming-process/): My last two dreams have raised an issue for me. It’s not the first time it’s happened to me. How much importance should be given to a dream? Is it really God speaking? I noticed a podcast on dreams and visions from the Bible Project guys. I’ve written about it further on in this post and it relates to how dreams are processed and whether God is speaking. The issue I refer to comes from a dream where I was influenced by something I read. A collection of news articles from a Christian newspaper. The dream seems to have pulled together lots of different threads […]
- [Shaking picture](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/04/29/shaking-picture/): The 25th March was the day after Boris Johnson declared a nationwide lockdown regarding the Coronavirus. The same day my wife went to work as a nurse in the hospital as she normally does. That was when the possible consequences of the pandemic really hit me. I awoke with anxiety in the very early hours. I asked the Lord to send his angels to protect the face masks of Royal Surrey County Hospital workers. And the Critical Care Outreach Team. I hadn’t prayed long and a scripture came to me. ‘The angel of the Lord encamps around them that fear him […]
- [The Droste effect!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/04/21/the-droste-effect/): Many an encouragement comes in the early hours of the day! I almost missed this encouragement from my dream. As you will see I was puzzled. The puzzlement conveys a message too. My initial reaction was: ‘Should I give time to this dream?’ It wasn’t something bad or discouraging – just strange! As I am learning though this is often how God speaks and particularly through dreams. I decided to go for it! So often I find when I engage with a dream and take time praying and thinking about it I have insights. In the dream I had created a […]
- [Get out of your comfort zone!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/04/16/get-out-of-your-comfort-zone/): Here is another dream from last year which continues to stir and provoke me. In our current situation as people of God we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us in reaching out to others. This dream is like the title states about stepping out of your comfort zone: I had been living in a society of purity, which had been cut off from the rest of the world. We were a happy and content people. A canopy had extended over us hindering us from getting into the world. Every now and then we would send red lanterns […]
- [The Bully dream!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/04/08/the-bully-dream/): I arrive by my van at a garage, service station and was watching some of the activity. One large thug like guy was threatening others and throwing his weight around. I needed something doing to my vehicle. My vehicle had changed to a kind of quad bike. He approaches me and starts acting nicely asking if he can have a go on on my vehicle but he begins to take liberties with his thugs urging him on. He takes my drink and spills it. I have enough from watching his activities. I stand up to him and start pushing him around. […]
- [The harvest](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/04/07/the-harvest/): Thinking of harvest has made sense of a couple of dreams that I had last year. One in around February and the other in October. I wrote of the first one in the last blog. I will expand on that one a little here and introduce another one which I believe is related. I was considering that Arnott (see Freak wave post) means barley. I ask myself the question what is barley? Does it have biblical significance? It looks like there may be numerous barley references in the bible. There are examples below. Barley (שְׂעֹרָה, se’orah). A grain crop widely cultivated […]
- [Freak wave](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/04/05/freak-wave/): Here is another of those very vivid dreams which caught my attention February 2019. What I recall was that we, the family and the Arnotts (wider family) had gone to the beach. One of those with a promenade behind it like Worthing. The sea was pretty normal looking. It was a bright day with not many people around on the beach. We had parked up. I was just watching the blue sea and the surrounding beach. I was watching the Arnott family playing on the beach. Then as I looked a strange peak developed on the sea. It was a wave […]
- [Restricted nature connection](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/03/28/restricted-nature-connection/): Yes at this time of household lockdown we are restricted in our nature connection but we can enjoy what we see before us however small that is. When I say small I mean a small space as well as a small flower, bee, lichen or whatever. Each day I go into our garden which is big for some and take the time to look around it, particularly for small things such as an insect or plant and I focus on that one creature for a small amount of time and I get a joy fix. The first day out I noticed […]
- [Postscript to Mars bars...](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/03/25/postscript-to-mars-bars/): Later I had the scripture whilst gardening, trying to settle myself in the Lord: Be of good cheer I have overcome the world. I couldn’t recall where it was from but it was great to have that to keep coming back to all morning and throughout the day. I did a quick search and was gladdened to see that the word for cheer in some translations is also courage. I love what one of my favourite website says: ‘…state or frame of mind…heart innermost feelings…’ Etymonline.com Jesus is saying again to me, to us, to be courageous. To dig deep. Not […]
- [Mars bars or bread of life?!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/03/19/mars-bars-or-bread-of-life/): In these uncertain times with Covid-19 I have to face what might happen in regards to my family, with lots of uncertainty. I’ve been praying about that, people I know and the local church. I was longing to receive a word from God particularly for Debbie in her situation with her work on the frontline as a health care professional. That thought was followed by just ask the Lord what he wants to say. I went to sleep expectantly. I woke up with the following dream: In the dream it was bright and sunny. There were a lot of people on […]
- [Good news for creation](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/03/17/good-news-for-creation/): Some of you may have heard of NT Wright the theologian. He was once the Bishop of Durham. He talks in his writings and lectures about heaven and earth coming together in Christ. The New Heaven and the New Earth has been started by Jesus. I was reading some of a paper on a similar theme. It struck me how the Gospel of John starts with creation and finishes with new creation through resurrection. Jesus set in motion what we as his people now lean into and look forward too. As Dave Bookless of A Rocha Christians in Conservation likes to […]
- [Meditation!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/02/07/meditation/): This blog is a short Interlude from my Freedom dream posts. I want to write on the theme of biblical meditation. I have been a little bit uncertain about mindfulness, especially that which involves meditation where you sit and empty yourself and do breathing exercises. I’m not sure that’s a good idea but that’s only a feeling I have. I have too many other thoughts hanging around inside my head to try it successfully! To put something in there and to think upon that something seems a much better idea. Hence the subject of this post, biblical meditation. Now this blog […]
- [Freedom dream (Part 4)](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/01/17/freedom-dream-part-4/): I continue unpacking the Freedom dream. In this post I deal with the part where I get alongside Rosemary who is blind. I have often wondered why she was chosen by my sleeping brain. Of all the elements within the dream I spent the most time considering who she is and what she represented (and still do!) At the point I had this dream Rosemary was someone who I used to pray with as a prayer partner after the church service. People would come to us and ask for prayer and we would listen and then pray. Hold that thought as […]
- [Freedom Dream (Part 3)](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/01/07/freedom-dream-part-3/): There I was trudging along through the darkness in the dream with a host of other people. I was in the same position as other human beings; being driven, not knowing the way out or whether there was a way out. Then into the darkness came a choice to receive the gift that the hands offered me. The hands of my Heavenly Father reached down to me. In reality this is what has happened through his Son, Jesus and He makes a way of escape evident for me. This choice is not just for me but for all of us. In […]
- [Some winter beauty!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/01/03/some-winter-beauty/): This is a kind of fungus (possibly Antrodia serialis) which I found appealing which is on a gate post that is rotting. I don’t know what it is about things like this that appeal. Maybe it’s something about the pattern. There is an irregular regularity about it. I’m sure that it looks like this for a functional reason. It has a kind of ugly beauty if that’s something that I can say. I like looking closely at subjects and the joy of macro photography appeals. The world looks very different close up. This silver birch (Betula pendula) bark has very long […]
- [Freedom dream (Part 2)](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2020/01/03/freedom-dream-part-2/): In this post I begin unpacking the Freedom dream. One thing I must say at this point there was a very strong feeling about this dream that it wasn’t just for me. There was a strong sense of the corporate about it. The initial feeling that was so strong was of being trapped in something we couldn’t get out of. This changed to a strong feeling of being free to change as the dream progressed. A feeling of hope grew. That feeling started when I saw the man going through a glass door. Freedom is about being brought out into the […]
- [Freedom dream (Part 1)](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/12/24/freedom-dream-part-1/): Back in April 2018 whilst on holiday I was woken up rather shaken from the following dream. I was literally shaking from an overwhelming need to address the dream and understand what it was saying. It was one of those dreams where I participated and observed within the dream. Ever since having it I often see connections to the dream and what I believe it is saying to me and possibly the church. Like I’ve said in previous posts I believe more often than not dreams are about the dreamer and what is happening inwardly for the person dreaming and it […]
- [Garden bird addition 1](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/12/16/garden-bird-addition-1/): Today brings a welcome addition to the garden bird list, one that is long overdue. The house was empty on arriving home for lunch but there was a tell-tale sign of some detective work regarding a bird sighting. On the side in the kitchen was a small pair of binoculars and the Collins Bird Guide. I suspected Debbie had seen something so I was on alert! The suspicion was soon to become a fact! Sitting down to read an important document whilst eating lunch I happened to look up as a movement caught my eye. I needed to make sure what […]
- [What the heart is thinking?](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/12/06/what-the-heart-is-thinking/): For some time now I have been considering my purpose in this world. It is something I come back to time and time again. Some of you may have seen a post which I accidentally posted about calling which was unfinished. I may work on it more and repost. This year has been a year where I believe God has been calling me to something. That something wasn’t clear at first and I thought it involved moving, doing something completely different to what I already do, maybe even to the ministry! I even put out feelers to different people who I […]
- [Seeing black and white!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/11/26/seeing-black-and-white/): Earlier in the year I was reminded of a faint dream from the early hours of the morning. I see someone seeing words before them and they are highlighted in an unusual way, to stand out in relief – in black and white! As I consider what I can recall from the dream I think it is about prophecy, that is hearing what God says. Words that are black and white are ones that are written down. That means they are in print. In writing this here I am understanding the meaning of the dream more than remembering the dream itself. […]
- [Pursue me!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/11/24/pursue-me/): Recently I had a dream where I was visited by an old friend of mine who sneaked back into my life. I’ll give you the raw dream and show you my interpretation of it which came very clearly.  I was at home and Quentin turned up to see me as a surprise. He had climbed up through into my bedroom from the front of the house. It was a lovely surprise. I was so pleased to see him again. He wanted me to come with him. At one point I detected something was wrong with him. He was upset. I detected it […]
- [Ring ouzel](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/10/13/ring-ouzel/): Back in January I wrote about the birds I’ve recorded in my garden since moving in (see Garden bird records). I would like to make a further addition to that hot off the press: Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus. Many of you may not know what this bird is. The nature of it’s name does sound rather mysterious. Apparently the name ouzel is an old name for common blackbird. The ring comes from the banding of white around its neck and chest. The scientific name Turdus relates to thrush and torquatus to collared. In writing the previous paragraph a picture may have […]
- [An addition to recommend](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/10/12/an-addition-to-recommend/): In my blog a few days ago I mentioned books I have read that have benefitted me recently. A book I forgot to mention was: I managed to find this one on the RB digital app linked to my local library. I work outside gardening. I listen to books, podcasts, sermons a occasionally music and radio. This was one of those books I listened to, as it was an audiobook. I did find the reader had an annoying way of reading which seemed insincere and her style was forced but the content was engaging. The content connected to things I knew […]
- [A biblical scholar](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/10/11/in-praise-of-a-biblical-scholar/): I would like to draw your attention to someone I have discovered in the last few months. His name is Dr. Michael Heiser . He is a biblical scholar and has written a number of books, papers and blogs. He has a number of websites and podcasts including one on fringe topics that you may not hear about much in the church eg. UFO’s and aliens. He also has a YouTube channel which involves him, his pugs and his son.  Maybe like me you would like to be able to understand the bible better. I don’t consider myself as an academic or intellectual […]
- [Recommended reading](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/10/05/recommended-reading/): I want to bring to your attention some books I have read over the summer and more recently. The first of these is on a subject which is very current. It is a story of a former gay activist who writes about his life. He shares how he has struggled with how he perceived what the Holy Bible says and how felt as a person, particularly in regard to his sexuality. It is a very moving book. The author is very honest about how things have been for him in the church and out of the church. The conclusion of his […]
- [A recommended life](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/07/06/a-recommended-life/): I have just finished a book by Amy Pascoe called ‘Don’t Faint Pray’. For those of you outside of Cornwall you may not know of this lady. Having grown up in Cornwall during my teenage years I came across her and worked for her family during a couple of Summer holidays on her son David’s farm. The book tells the story of her life taken from a transcript from a conversation with her. It is a real treasure and speaks of how prayer makes a difference when we trust in Jesus and live for him. It is easy to read and […]
- [Two bird poems](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/07/04/two-bird-poems/): This post was somehow removed from display when I transferred from my old platform. I thought I might give you a couple of my poems from the turn of the millenium which may inspire you to appreciate a bird or some other bit of nature and help you in your worship of our great creator God.
- [Thursley Common adventure](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/07/04/thursley-common-adventure/): Yesterday evening a friend and I went to a poetry evening with Mary Colwell. She has written a book called Curlew Moon. At this event the plight of curlews Numenius arquata was explained to us with passion and gentleness. We had managed to speak to her before she shared her thoughts to those gathered. These thoughts were about the local curlew’s which have been recorded in the past at Thursley Common. (I had earlier in the year heard and seen with my two sons a curlew flying over the common). With this in mind and a challenge from Mary to find […]
- [A journey stick](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/06/15/a-journey-stick/): I haven’t posted anything for a while. Gardening has been taking up my time and frankly I have been physically tired. Found this note in clearing out some papers:
- [Contrasting bird songs](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/05/03/contrasting-bird-songs/): As a family we had the pleasure of visiting Fox Corner local nature reserve for the first time this year a few days ago. What struck me the most was a blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) singing in an unusual manner in some shrubs. I then heard another further away but it sounded more scratchy by the pond. I lingered near the shrub and it dawned on me that I was listening to a garden warbler (Sylvia borin)! It was difficult to locate but after a few minutes I discovered it further away through binoculars in a tall tree. I think that was […]
- [Update on Gaultheria shallon](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/05/03/update-on-gaultheria-shallon/): On the 10th August 2016 I wrote an extended entry on the aforementioned plant. I recently inherited, very kindly, a set of Chris Howkins books and booklets. This author was quite well known by the former owner of the books having been to numerous talks of his. He researches and publicises the history of the use of plants in the British isles through talks, rambles, books, articles and boat trips. He has been on radio and TV as well. I thought I had not heard of him until I saw the set of books and then I realised a friend of […]
- [A podcast by Kris Vallotton, learning to think](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/05/02/a-podcast-by-kris-vallotton-learning-to-think/): I have attached below a great talk which is about thinking. This is something we all do and I have plenty of it in my time gardening! Kris unpacks it and relates our thinking to the passage in Roman’s 12 about the mind of Christ. He takes the listener into a little paddle into brain science and our neural networks. And with his usual humour shares testimony of how we need to think differently – outside the box! I love Kris Vallotton’s Podcast | Learning to Think, let’s play it! https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-dkg7f-546d5fd
- [Encounter(s)](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/04/25/encounters/): A short comment about a podcast I listened to today which unpacks through a husband and wife conversation, encounters with God. This podcast explains to my mind about this particular paradigm in our relationship with God which is essential for our transformation. I found it encouraging and it picked me up and reminded me of a phrase I often have that is don’t look at what you don’t have but at what you do. In other words those things of God that you have experienced need to be fanned into flame by thanking God for them. This is a sure way […]
- [Forest Church Feb 2019](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/03/07/forest-church/): My thanks to Melissa Foat and Debbie Marshall for these photos. Enjoy these photos to experience some of what we did. Examine in silence imagining bird song and the air on your face. On an exceptionally bright and warm day in February, a few of us gathered for Forest church including the first dog participant named Merlin! An appropriate name I thought. We met in Wood Street by the village green. Whilst waiting to start we witnessed a heron take-off calling loudly. The two youngest members climbed a very large oak tree which has a certain attraction of its own! The […]
- [Song Thrush](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/02/13/song-thrush/): A new record for the garden this morning. A song thrush (Turdus philomelos) was walking and hopping down the garden path feeding as it went. We’ve had their relatives, blackbird (Turdus merula), redwing (Turdus iliacus) and fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) in the garden but not this one. A real pleasure to see! In my youth I used to see these quite often and remember the tap-tapping sound as they laid into a snail. It made me wonder seeing this one this morning, why they have been in decline. The thought crossed my mind that as gardeners have been so determined to put […]
- [Further Forest Church recce](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/02/07/further-forest-church-recce/): This morning started out bright and cheerful. There was a real hint of spring. Very mild compared to last week. The sky was a wintry colour with the sun breaking through. In the back garden where the silver birch (Betula pendula), of the neighbour’s grows, I hear siskins (Spinis spinus) in the tree as I open the back door. There must have been 15 to 20 of them as they were making quite a din! After gardening I decided to do some preparations for Forest Church later this month. I headed out to Wood Street, on the edge of Guildford and […]
- [Forest Church recce](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/01/25/forest-church-recce/): This is a good time of year for a Forest Church walk. (Search previous posts for what Forest Church entails). I have begun to plan for this. The route in mind needed to be checked out. The map was showing a path but from previous experience small grey dashes don’t always check out on the ground! Either because they are not public paths or because they have been closed by land owners or some other reason! Being a cold day not much above zero I needed to keep moving. My intention was to check out trees and anything else that caught […]
- [Garden bird records](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2019/01/21/garden-bird-records/): Since moving to this house in 2014 I have been recording different species of birds and the most numbers of one species at one time. (I must add here in parenthesis in our last garden the most amazing event and striking one was the presence of 14 waxwing (Bombycilla garullus)! They were feeding on rotting crab apples in the front garden on Grange Road. It was a year which ornithologist call an eruption! There were around 120 seen in the local area within a 10 mile radius of here). Some of the birds I have recorded have been flying over but […]
- [A short busy activity of wildlife!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/12/12/a-short-busy-activity-of-wildlife/): I was just filling the dishwasher when something caught my eye outside I looked up and there was a green woodpecker near our little apple tree with two pigeons in the background. I was a little distracted by the activity to the left of the trampoline and was torn between watching the green woodpecker and the grey squirrel which was chasing a crow, frantically running across the grass and the crow flew up. The squirrel was acting rather oddly. I’ve seen this kind of activity before. It was flipping around with its tail up against the boards on the play area, being […]
- [Fragrance of Holy Spirit](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/11/28/smell-of-holy-spirit/): I found this page smell of the spirit after doing a job for a client clearing out brambles and bindweed in a scrubby patch by the side of a garage. All of a sudden I got a waft of bay (Laurus nobilis). I scoured around visually and didn’t see anything apart from what I was holding. Could I have made a chemical reaction between the bramble and bindweed? I hadn’t really been thinking about Holy Spirit at that point and then I did. I don’t have an answer. I do like words and it’s something to ponder that nobilis mean noble […]
- [Tweet of the day podcast](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/11/12/yesterday-i-listened-to-the-podcast-which-you-can-see-below-this-podcast-is-a-regular-one-which-you/): Yesterday I listened to the podcast which you can see below. This podcast is a regular one which you can hear via the BBC iPlayer or in my case Podbean. It is Tweet of the Day. I first came across Tweet Of The Day when I was listening to a book based on the same title. The book was on Audible and was rather delightful. The original version dealt with the songbirds of Britain. Each chapter or episode was about one specific bird and how that bird had impacted the authors of the said book and shares character traits of each […]
- [Cavalcade](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/11/07/cavalcade/): I haven’t written on connecting with God for some time. Some of you may wander how I do this. The process I undertake varies. I don’t think there is a formula for this kind of activity but it helps to at least start somewhere.This morning my thoughts took a ready made relaxed form. Sometimes my thinking on waking can become rapid and jump around all over the place, not having any structure. This was one of those mornings where my thinking was more sleepy and it was a pleasure to just be! I was beginning to think how I could praise God […]
- [A serendipitous firecrest!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/10/06/a-serendipitous-firecrest/): On Wednesday 3rd October I took a trip over to St Mary’s Church, Worplesdon. This was to gather more ideas for the next Forest Church meet. It was pleasantly empty. I was alone apart from the graves of many who have passed on. I headed to the south east corner of the churchyard where the public footpath exits into a large field. I pondered the view thinking of using this for some opening out thoughts. I was watched by an estate worker which was off-putting so I headed back into the churchyard. Re-entering the grounds I heard a trilling sound and […]
- [July 2018 Moth trap](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/07/20/july-2018-moth-trap/): Last weekend on the 13th and 14th July I set up the moth trap. The weather was dry and bright with the night temperature about 19°C. I recorded 22 species which were both in the trap and around the trap. The trap was using an MVA bulb. The species recorded are as follows. The number denotes quantity and the star denotes identification to be confirmed.  There is an Ophion, which is masquerading as a moth in the following pictures: Mother of pearl Pleuroptya ruralis 6 Canary shouldered thorn Ennomos ainiaria 1 Early thorn Selenia dentaria 1 Bird cherry ermine Yponomeuta euonymella […]
- [Beauty! — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2wW1oO0](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/05/18/beauty-view-on-instagram-https-ift-tt-2ww1oo0/): Beauty! — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2wW1oO0 from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2rRYHIlvia IFTTT
- [Tice’s Meadow Bioblitz — view on Instagram...](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/05/06/tices-meadow-bioblitz-view-on-instagram/): Tice’s Meadow Bioblitz — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2JWR4Xx from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2rnqIqPvia IFTTT
- [Isaiah 12 v 3 and a dream connection](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/02/10/isaiah-12-v-3-and-a-dream-connection/): In my preparation for a recent Encounter meeting I was researching into the Hebrew meanings of the words in the verse, using some of the original pictographs courtesy of Jeff Benner’s work. The same morning, I had a dream which, contained within it images which related to the study! Taking the first word joy, I looked it up and saw that the pictograph for this was two teeth side by side, showing the whiteness of the teeth. This is an example of how we can lose meaning in translation. I like this image it makes me think of when you smile you […]
- [Forest Church 3](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/01/15/forest-church-3/): Hindered by two padlocked gates and another further on. The sign demonstrating the nature of the place! from Tumblr http://ift.tt/2r5RXZnvia IFTTT
- [Forest church 2](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/01/15/forest-church-2/): Traversing up the side of Crown Prince Hill which is 115m at the top. from Tumblr http://ift.tt/2r6k1vNvia IFTTT
- [Forest Church January 2018](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/01/15/forest-church-january-2018/): At the weekend enjoyed Forest Church with a band of 11 others. We explored the hills on the Ash Ranges not far from Henley Park lake near Pirbright. One person who came commented that she hadn’t heard any cars and it was the first time in Surrey that had happened! The landscape is noticeably hilly! There had been much activity by the MOD which was evident on our walk. This exposed the shape of the landscape highlighting it’s undulating nature. Looking on old maps of the area the site has remained inbuilt on for a couple of hundred years or more. […]
- [Connections: Spirituality and Conservation](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2018/01/11/connections-spirituality-and-conservation-peter-harris-from-a/): Connections: Spirituality and Conservation – Peter Harris from A Rocha International on Vimeo. from Tumblr http://ift.tt/2D16fjw via IFTTT
- [Map Connections](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2017/12/23/map-connections/): I don’t know about you, but I have a natural nosiness! Whenever I see a noticeboard on the common I want to read it and see what’s on it. These kind of noticeboards, often have information that help us to know what is on the common, things like plants and birds and points of interest. The noticeboard will often have a map on it which shows you paths and features. When it comes to looking at a map you could say I am nosey, especially a map which is of the local area! I love pouring over a 1:25,000 scale Ordnance […]
- [An insight into spiritual war](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2017/12/08/an-insight-into-spiritual-war/): I don’t always write about such things as they are very personal to me and can only be read usually in my jourrnal. I have wondered about sharing them more publicly so this might not be the last time to do this. Here is what I wrote: This morning I was listening to Radio 4, Untold Stories, about a Scot and an Azeri Syrian refugee. I was moved to tears which caused me to pray for him and all like him. I saw something when he described the war in Syria. What I saw was like a dream but whilst awake. […]
- [Extraordinary strategist](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2017/12/02/extraordinary-strategist/): The end of daylight today. This is where my sit spot is. I’ve come full circle in my year or two in this case!  Today a mystery bird of prey kew, kew, kewing with rapid flight and pulsing wing beats. A surprise frog at 4℃ under the leaf pile I’d raked. A beautiful view towards the sunset on Ash Ranges with skudding stretched out cumulus clouds going from blue to grey and orange. Sitting here with cock-cock of pheasant. All made possible by Creator Dad, Extraordinary Strategist (Isaiah 9:11 NET)! As I have some technical difficulties using a third party app […]
- [Three memorable views](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2017/11/24/three-memorable-views/): On the way down to Cornwall at half term we saw a rainbow which was over the road. Suddenly we were actually in the rainbow. I’d never experienced anything quite like it. The rainbow was so close you could have touched it. It had a shadow on the outside and one on the inside. There was a rounded affect like the rainbow was 3D! As I was driving I couldn’t take a picture of it! About half way through the holiday, after seeing amazing scenery and plants at Morrab and Trengwainton gardens we saw dolphins. I was identifying a bird off […]
- [Hawk Conservancy Trust trip](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2017/11/09/hawk-conservancy-trust-trip/): The Hawk Conservancy Trust is a wonderful place to visit as we found out on a day out in August. There is a wonderful atmosphere throughout the centre.  Hawks are not the only bird that the charity takes care of. Mostly it is birds of prey including owls, kites, vultures and so forth.   Debbie was very impressed by the fact that you had time to appreciate the whole site and take in the displays. They were interspersed thoughtfully throughout the day giving you enough time to have lunch as well without feeling rushed!   Apart from the amazing birds that […]
- [Bat pilgrimage](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2017/11/09/bat-pilgrimage/): Bat walks are a feature of various National Trust properties. Near us in Surrey there are a number of National Trust properties. Hatchlands is one of these, a large Parkland consisting of a little over 480 acres. Within the grounds of hatchlands comma there are wooded areas comma pasture a grand house and a small lake full stop One particular evening recently I went on one of these walks which was led by the head gardener of said property. It was good to be part of a walk where I wasn’t leading full stop sometimes being the leader you don’t get […]
- [The Eldest Son in the Prodigal son story](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2017/05/18/the-eldest-son-in-the-prodigal-son-story/): Recently, the words of the Father in Luke 15 came to me whilst gardening. You are always with me, everything I have is yours. So I looked again at the story where this comes from. We need to remember who Jesus was talking too. In verse 1 of the same chapter it says “All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Have this in mind. The eldest son heard the good news about his brother, but he wasn’t happy about it. How do I or […]
- [Sparrowhawk](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2017/03/23/sparrowhawk/): The Sunday after the Leprosy Mission talk I arrived home with the family. Debbie and I were beginning to sort lunch out and I was in the kitchen. I looked up, out of the side kitchen window – there on the fence was a male sparrowhawk (Accipiter nissus)! I tried to get everyone’s attention. Debbie was the nearest to me. Both of us were trying to call quietly without disturbing the bird from the fence. I kept my eye on the prize and was trying to see where Isaac was. I thought he was outside but couldn’t see him and then […]
- [The small bird, big tree and fungi!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2017/03/23/the-small-bird-big-tree-and-fungi/): In January I took a walk on the edges of the Ash Ranges. I began to relax into the environment and in turn my thinking. As I walked along the path I was alerted to some calls high up in the scots pines (Pinus sylvestris). A coal tit (Periparus ater) flew across the path into the scots pines to my left. It was so tiny against the large tree. It suddenly hit me that this mirrored something of our relationship to God the Father. Coal tit image The little bird which is a similar size to a blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) was flitting around looking […]
- [Fractal attractors, fishing and the mind!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2017/01/27/fractal-attractors-fishing-and-the-mind/): Our verse for the year at Emmanuel is Romans 12 verse 2 from The Message. In the New Living Translation, the section about renewing your mind says: ‘…but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…’ This translation in the past has helped me to see that it’s not all down to me. I think I have been in danger of striving to renew my mind, striving to do the work of God for him. I like what it says here, it is down to God to transform us, but up to us to change the […]
- [Great Grey shrike (Lanius excubitor)](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/11/16/great-grey-shrike-lanius-excubitor/): On a Sunday at the end of October I had a conversation with my good bird watching friend Chris Burchell. He and I often catch up on what birds we have seen or heard about in the vicinity. I happened to mention that the Surrey Bird Club news Tweet had recorded a Great grey shrike. Great grey shrike image Now many of you may not have heard of such a bird or even know that it is a bird! The Great grey shrike is known as a vagrant. It is one of those birds that turn up in the winter time […]
- [Heavenly body?!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/09/30/heavenly-body/): It’s been awhile since doing a blog. I have had a few ideas going around my head. This evening I was on the way to drop the kids off at Bible Club when I noticed an interesting cloud. On first looking at the cloud it looked like a distinct column shape but at a jaunty angle. It was then I noticed it was made up of two distinct parts. The one part that caught my eye was the top part which looked like a small child or should I say young child as the cloud was not small by any means! […]
- [Addition](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/08/10/addition/): An addition to my blog on Leith Hill regarding Gaultheria shallon. This species according to Plantlife the charity, is an invasive. Shallon can be found in garden centres around the country. It is causing other species to be smothered according to them on their website: http://plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/shallon I suspected something wasn’t quite right and thought maybe it had been accidentally introduced by American troops during WW2 but I found nothing on there being troops there! Hopefully the National Trust are aware of this. Bilberries may not survive long if Salal spreads!
- [Leith Hill](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/08/08/leith-hill/): On Friday 5th August I took my children on a walk to Leith Hill. We left the car in the car park on the southwest side of the hill and followed the tower waymarkers. Not far from the car park there was a fallen beech tree which was very attractive to climb. I suggested they save their energy for the way back which was accepted without much fuss! Further along the path we came across some plants with berries which I thought were bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) but they didn’t seem quite right. I did what you should never do when children are […]
- [Beewolf!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/07/31/beewolf/): It’s been a while since writing. Something yesterday sparked my interest. (There has been other sparks such as a local sparrowhawk and other garden bird activity) I took the kids to a park we all like. (For those of you who read this from overseas, and I note there are some from my statistics. A park in this instance is a piece of ground which has man-made equipment including outdoor gym, tennis court and two basketball courts). My eldest noticed wasps as we began to play basketball, around the hoop and in the air which unnerved him, I think. I brushed […]
- [Parbola evening](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/06/09/parbola-evening/): Parbola campsite was quite a find. Set in West Cornwall about 5 miles south of Camborne and surrounded by hedges on one side and a mixed woodland with a stand of spruce. During the May bank holiday it had only 10 tents at the most but certainly could accommodate many more. There was a lovely family atmosphere and it was mostly quiet. The children enjoyed the open air pool and one of them wanted to go in it every day!   Around in the fields and trees were buzzards, goldcrests, chaffinches, tits, robins, blackcap and numerous rooks and crows. Rabbits were also noticed bobbing […]
- [Jesus is Lord! Creation's voice proclaims it](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/05/24/jesus-is-lord-creations-voice-proclaims-it/): Jesus is Lord! Creation’s voice proclaims itFor by His power each tree and flowerWas planned and madeJesus is Lord! The universe declares itSun, moon and stars in heavenCry, ‘Jesus is Lord’‘Jesus is Lord!’ ‘Jesus is Lord’Praise him with Hallelujah’sFor Jesus is Lord! I was looking for a creation creed that we could say together at Forest Church and Richard Horn made the very helpful suggestion of using this older Pentecostal hymn. The other verses declare more of the gospel story but for the sake of space I would just like to consider this verse In the beginning was the Word… as […]
- [Unexpected surprises](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/03/23/unexpected-surprises/): A couple of weeks ago I was out on my bike with my boys in Queen Elizabeth Park. We all needed fresh air and exercise and we all like going up and down the paths on our bikes even though it’s a small area even better when no one around like this morning! It was overcast with mist and still. As we came through the centre of the park there was a frantic buzzing in the trees. I’m  ashamed to say I’ve not checked what trees they are! They sounded like siskins. They were siskins! A couple came down from the […]
- [Meditation on a scene](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/02/22/meditation-on-a-scene/): Recently I was attracted to this picture, which was in colour but works just as well in black and white. Immediately the symbolism of the picture hit me and I saw that it would be something to share with you. I would like to try and get you thinking about it and asking you some questions.   First though have a long look at this picture before you read on. Take time to ponder it. With grateful thanks to Bruce Stanley for this picture. Forest Church – Somewhere in Mid Wales! Is it just a beautiful scene? Or is it something […]
- [A little something in February](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/02/06/a-little-something-in-february/): Maybe February is not a month that we like. It is for me as a gardener my least busy month! Even though this is the case I have had an increase in work over the last few years within in it – I say that just in case you’re worried that I don’t have enough employment! In previous years it has had a varied outlook with some of the balmiest warm sunny days of any of the winter months that I can remember. We have also had some real wintery ones too even in recent years. It is a quieter month […]
- [First walk of the year](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2016/01/04/first-walk-of-the-year/): Went out on a walk taking in Chitty’s Common including the boardwalk where I slow-walked, drinking in the sights and sounds, even going off track and meeting a Goldcrest. It was raining and the sky was heavy with dark grey clouds but it was trying to brighten although evening dusk was approaching. The trees were all web-like against the sky when I looked up at one point to follow a couple of Jays. Everywhere dripped with excess water. I continued down Keens lane taking in the houses and Redwing in the hedge. I turned down the footpath that leads towards the […]
- [Birds, Donkeys and Squirrels](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/12/23/birds-donkeys-and-squirrels/): I had another of my walks recently. The place which I had frequented earlier on in the year Ash Ranges called to me again! On arriving I was not surprised to see that the red flag was flying so I decided to follow a route that I had not tried before – well the first part at least.    Along the walk I came across only 4 other people all of which were doing three differing activities (the last two the same activity). The first one came up from behind me jogging with two terriers, the second was walking a dog […]
- [The Nature of place](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/12/21/the-nature-of-place/): In this New Year I suggest that you stretch your wings if you can and explore somewhere new. I read or heard somewhere that if you try a new route to somewhere you go to regularly this increases your creative potential and expands your mind. I like to explore different places but I don’t really think of them in respect to that last sentence! I just enjoy new things especially new natural places.   There are some really good places local to us here in Stoughton which if you haven’t visited you can enjoy exploring – best with a friend of […]
- [The Seasonal Nature of Christmas!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2015/12/02/the-seasonal-nature-of-christmas/): One of the many books I’ve been reading is called The Celtic Wheel of the Year, Celtic and Christian Seasonal Prayers by Tess Ward. The reason for reading is to inform my prayers in following more of a daily pattern, over the months, onward through the year. I am using it to help in the corporate praying within Forest Church too. As I’m not finding it easy to pray in a structured way at the moment it is good to have some words which I can use and read. I don’t use the book every day but it is possible to […]
- [It is done!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2026/07/26/it-is-done/): What is done you may ask? This is a piece about this phrase and what it is conveying. Firstly I write about how it came to my attention. I had one of my strange picture dreams. I saw a bookshelf with books. One shelf was highlighted and one book was pulled out with a red coloured dust jacket and gold illustration and text on it. I heard the authors name spoken, (identity withheld) was the name I heard as I looked at the book. There was quite a bit of text on the spine. The illustration was of an ancient warrior […]
- [King Saul - A King in hiding!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2026/07/19/king-saul-a-king-in-hiding/): 1Samuel 10 v 17-27. Last week we heard about Saul looking for donkeys. This week we discover him hiding amongst stuff. I’ve gone for the more theologically complex word, stuff! In the reading you would have heard, baggage. The Hebrew Word for baggage, is a broad, highly flexible term used hundreds of times across the Hebrew Bible to describe physical objects. Are you hiding amongst stuff?! More on that later. The verse that caught my attention the most in the passage is where Samuel says: ‘But you today have rejected your God who always delivers you from all of your calamities […]
- [I Promise This Can Heal You by Kieron Edwards](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2026/06/07/i-promise-this-can-heal-you-by-kieron-edwards/): The Bible is the most historically accurate, most studied, translated, debated, copied, and analysed book in the whole of human history. Why? So much has been written about Jesus Christ that, from a historical perspective, He is an undeniable historical figure. If you believe in any historical figure at all you would also have to believe in Jesus. Whether or not someone believes He was the Son of God, history points to a man who lived, spoke, taught, travelled, gathered followers, and profoundly influenced the world around Him. Jesus rose from being the son of a carpenter in a small, overlooked […]
- [The Ancient Cure for our modern emptiness by Kieron Edwards](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2026/05/30/the-ancient-cure-for-our-modern-emptiness-by-kieron-edwards/): Living day to day can feel like the meeting of two intertwined forces. The doing part of our nature intertwining with our every day sense of there is something bigger than me out there. These are not separate parts that can be cleanly divided, but two movements existing within us. One reaches outward into the world. The other grounds you within it. One seeks to acquire. The other reveals what is truly worth having. Ego is the doing part. It plans, builds, protects, competes, strives, and secures. Through ego we create homes, earn money, solve problems, provide for families, and shape […]
- [Guest Post by Kieron Edwards Part 2](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2026/05/30/guest-post-by-kieron-edwards-part-2/): If the first movement of travel is outward, the second can be inward. Travelling inward isn’t meant as a rejection of the world but rather a reorientation of how it is encountered. The problem has never been the road, the landscape or the distant horizon in front of us. The problem has always been inside ourselves and the quiet hope we attach to the thinking of the solution can be found outside elsewhere. That the outside could somehow carry what only God can sustain. The call to inside is not a call to stop travelling outside. Travelling is an important part […]
- [Guest post by Kieron Edwards Part 1](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2026/05/30/guest-post-by-kieron-edwards-part-1/): At first it looks simple: to feel something different, to escape, to reconnect, to find meaning, to prove something, to quiet restlessness. Movement as relief. Movement as possibility. But as you peel it back, something more unsettling appears. No place can hold aliveness for long. Even the most beautiful place, the most perfect fit, if such a place existed, would eventually become invisible. The human mind normalises everything. What once felt alive becomes background. What once felt meaningful becomes ordinary. So the “never wanting to leave” feeling isn’t really about the place. It’s about the moment a person feels met. Met […]
- [Hannah's Song](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2026/03/08/hannahs-song/): I was invited to preach at my local church. It is the first time I ever have done this in my local church. This is a small church on a housing estate on the edge of Guildford. I have preached two other times in small churches. Once in a rural church in Ihomasa, Tanzania, where I shared about Creation Care – a journey through the Bible. (Search for Tanzania within the website if you’re interested in reading about some of my adventures there). Then a similar subject in a rural church – St Swithun’s, Headbourne Worthy, Hampshire near Winchester. The latter […]
- [An easily recognised weasel!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2026/02/02/an-easily-recognised-weasel/): Encountering something unexpected is always a joy especially when it is in nature and in your own back garden. I’ve written of our back garden before which can be found here. As you can see from the pictures there they show that the garden isn’t particularly wild. One big thing which has changed from the original pictures is the big Horse chestnut ( Aesculus hippocastanum) is no more. It’s in a different form – but it would be wouldn’t it! (Warning British pun). The landlady took the executive decision of having it cut down. One Sunday recently I was finishing the […]
- [Freedom from prison](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2026/01/09/freedom-from-prison/): Today we return to the theme of freedom, rescue and deliverance. On Boxing day I had three dreams which all had the theme of ‘being locked-down’, being trapped in or imprisoned in someway. The same day there was a headline about Prince Andrew being excluded from the Royal Family which brought to mind the phrase locked-out. With that in mind I did a little bit of research on prisons with the help of AI. Here’s the result of that: The 1970s: Prison Security  ​The modern, more restrictive meaning of the word emerged in the United States prison system around 1973.  ​The Shift: It described an emergency […]
- [A very short nocturnal phrase - dream](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/12/22/a-very-short-nocturnal-phrase-dream/): In the night I was given or shown something to look up. It was the words on top of a book, like some words resting on the top of an antique book or ancient tablet. The words were these: John’s Increases Dream I repeated it in my mind through the night so I wouldn’t forget as I thought it was something important. When I woke up I checked out what it was all about all the while asking The Holy Spirit to speak through my study. This is the result of that study. The first scripture I found that relates to […]
- [The rainbow of the Lord!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/12/14/the-rainbow-of-the-lord/): I had a dream but went for a different approach from normal before writing it down. I prayed about his kingdom coming, various aspects of my life from family to church, to the world with all that’s been happening to and for us recently, especially financially regarding having our benefits stopped suddenly (long story) and had two different pictures to follow. The first dream. I’m in a stately home with a big family and lost in it. Then the dream turns to me and others on a big coach on a trip. I look at the bus driver who looks sleepy […]
- [Enlarge your heart](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/12/12/enlarge-your-heart/): I must have dozed off as I suddenly realised I’d seen something in that period after some early morning contemplation, which might be important.  I’m knocking on a door. I go in. It’s a small room. It’s a surgery room. I say, “ you called me in”. I look around the small room and see there is a space for me on a chair tightly tucked into the left of the room. There’s a female who initially seems to be examining a young lad. I am not sure who she is. The lad is lying clothed on a couch on his back as a patient. The female is a doctor she has […]
- [Blowing my trumpet?!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/12/10/blowing-my-trumpet/): On waking up I thought one morning – am I being intentional with my life? I was thinking about the Three Circles and people’s approaches to what their world is about, Someone from church shared with us the Disciple Making Movement (DMM) approach which was also in my thinking and then I thought of Bible Project which is a big movement now. What about me? I thought? How do I live? What do I bring to the world? I couldn’t help but have the thought about the trumpet come back to me. This was a gift I was given in my […]
- [Top 5 posts](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/12/07/top-5-posts/): If you have not seen these posts already here are my top five posts. (Incidentally the top country for people visiting my website this last month has been Singapore – so a shout out to Singapore for all my readers there🥳. People of Singapore you are top out of just over 70 countries that visit my website!) Now the top five posts so far since restarting the website at this current address are in order of highest first: The top 2 pages are Supernatural video resource and Forest Church Practise. All of these and more can be found either by searching […]
- [Donations gratefully received](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/12/06/donations-gratefully-received/): For those of you who’ve visited this site before you won’t have seen the new thing I’m experimenting with. The new thing is an image of a coffee cup on the right hand side of the page. I have written about this on the donate page which can be found above in the menu listing. I am also considering subscription and restricting content only to those who have a certain subscription level. I need to think about how to do this so it hasn’t happened yet.
- [Some outdoor nature awe](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/08/25/some-outdoor-nature-awe/): In the month of June this year a few keen folk and I ventured out as Forest Church for a late evening walk on Whitmoor Common. There were a couple of highlights for me that evening. This time of year there is often an expectation due to the season of seeing nightjars (Caprimulgus europaeus). In previous years they have been seen on Whitmoor. We were well prepared. Having for a number of years scouted the site there are a few specific spots the nightjars frequent one of these spots did not disappoint. We were well into dusk when we approached the […]
- [Ring them bells](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/08/21/ring-them-bells/): No this isn’t about the Bob Dylan song! There’s a YouTube channel that I have been following for a few months at the time of writing. It’s called Ring them bells. This channel seeks to explore the unseen realm by interviewing Biblical Scholars. They exist to help you rediscover the supernatural focus of the Bible. Hear more about it and the guy behind it from a different podcast. The most recent episode I listened to is about Job and Justin Bostow the presesenter is interviewing Dr Eric Ortlund theologian and sci-fi author. The episode is entitled Ancient Enemy Exposed and focusses […]
- [Ghouls, ghosts and God](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/08/04/ghouls-ghosts-and-god/): The title of this blog is taken from a website which I write about here. In writing about the Blurry Creatures Podcast recently I came across a British guy speaks about the paranormal on shows in the UK and the US. I am taking a look at some of his work. His name is Matthew Arnold and he is a parapsychologist and a Christian at that! A little of his story can be found on this interview which is here (scroll down to the third example in the list where he speaks to Matt Brown on UCB (United Christian Broadcasts)). I […]
- [Fernhill](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/08/04/fernhill/): Recently I was in a conversation with my good birdwatching friend. We also have many deep-and-meaning-full conversations. This particular conversation was a little about Forest Church. He highlighted to me a poem which contains a nightjar but the famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. I’ve not read many of his poems. The ones I have read are quite ‘heavy’ and ‘esoteric’ except this one which is not unlike a John Clare poem but with less rhyming. Here it is in its full glory with some comment I discovered on a poetry site at the end of the poem: Fern Hill Now as […]
- [Dr Julian Evans](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/07/31/dr-julian-evans/): A few years ago I came across this book which a dear friend of mine had. The title called to me – I had to read it. This is the book: I read it on my second trip to Tanazia back in 2017. My friend loaned it to me. I loved the book so I ended up getting a copy. The one I have is first edition. If you want to get it you can purchase it here from the publisher or a selection of outlets by searching on the internet. This is not a ‘Mickey Mouse’ book, meaning it is […]
- [Blurry creatures on telepathy tapes](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/07/31/blurry-creatures-on-telepathy-tapes/): For those of you who know me you know I like listening to the Blurry Creatures Podcast. This is a podcast about the paranormal if you will or the unseen world from a Christian Perspective. It will stretch your mind and challenge you to consider things differently. Nate and Luke who host it don’t claim to be experts. They are exploring and they do this through interviewing people who have experienced the unseen and those who have knowledge on pertinent subjects related to these matters and some in the middle. I came across it during my gardening work in the lockdowns […]
- [New evidence for Christ Jesus](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/07/01/new-evidence-for-christ-jesus/): More recently I have taken interest in the historical evidence for Jesus. This is a very short post about that. I have just finished watching one of Sean MacDowell’s videos (for those who are of a similar age Sean is the son of Josh MacDowell who wrote ‘Who rolled away the stone’?). The video is about new evidence brought to light to coroborate the work of Josephus who was a Jew in the time of Jesus who wrote the history of the Jews. The guy interviewed in the video Tom Schmidt has written a book as his PhD on Josephus. There […]
- [Being a light, being an influencer](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/06/29/being-a-light-being-an-influencer/): In Eitan Bar’s book on Hell, there was a little eye opener for me about the light of the world phrase which is helpful as I read the Epistle of 1 John near the end of the Bible. A Jew would understand this as a metaphor for how they can provide guidance, truth, and influence in the world. Eitan Bar A helpful mnemonic (something to help the memory, an aide memoire) for us would be T.I.G. (Truth. Influence. Guidance) – this also is a game we use to play at school. A northern England term for ‘it’ or ‘tag’ where you […]
- [What is your life's passion and purpose?](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/05/17/what-is-your-lifes-passion-and-purpose/): I was reading about Ben Goldsmith’s overarching life’s passion in his book God is an octopus. Our passions, those things that drive us, often come and are recognised when we are younger. His has been wilding. It suddenly struck me as I was reading that I know mine. Mine has taken time to develop and form. I thought mine was to do with wildlife and birds. Yes, I am passionate about them but not in the same way as this purpose. I refer back to a dream which conveyed this passion yet it was driven by a purpose. [NB. there is […]
- [3.33 am - Another eye catching time!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/05/11/3-33-am-another-eye-catching-time/): The number three when it is altogether with other threes catches the eye! Maybe it’s because of the numbers curved nature! This is the time that I saw recently when I woke up. Are you saying anything through this Lord? By the way this is the way I address God usually. It is not the only way we can do that. Many times this is the title that is used in the Bible and especially in the Old Testament it is used by translators when the Hebrew Yhwh is present. Before I looked up to see whether there were any Bible […]
- [The Garden farm new job dream](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/04/25/the-garden-farm-new-job-dream/): I’m on a farm, which is a gardening farm. Very large scale. It’s my first day. I am seeing a lot of activity. I am introduced to my own personal trainer she’s a lovely person. She’s called away yet I go with her. We view various pieces of the estate. We meet various other workers. Some of whom are very young – children. Some of them are older than me. Yet they’ve been there working. The boss comes back to help us a few times to make sure I’m on the right track.  There’s an incident but it’s someone relating a […]
- [Two fish rescue dream](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/04/25/two-fish-rescue-dream/): Dream   At a beach had to move up and behind a hedge to put our chairs as the tide was coming in. It was a very beautiful picturesque wide mouthed Cornish Bay. I think I was with Anna again.   The scene changed to one of being out in the fields where I discovered two fish that were completely different from each other. They were real characters. They were out of water and on land so I carried them looking all over for somewhere to put them into. I remembered a big fish tank and went to put them in but my […]
- [Unable to read a passage of the Bible dream](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/04/25/unable-to-read-a-passage-of-the-bible-dream/): This dream was in one sense a ‘disturbing’ dream. The way it disturbed me was through not being able to read and especially read a passage in the Bible which will become clear. For me not being able to do this in my waking life is where I get disconnected from God. It’s ‘worrying’ not being able to hear what he is saying. The most part I can remember is being in a room with mainly guys and Debbie, my wife by my side. I’ve been exhorted to read a passage which I didn’t want to. I then was being ‘fake’ […]
- [Weird work place dream](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/04/25/weird-work-place-dream/): This is why I’ve placed you on this earth because you feel like you do! (Demonstrating an aspect of who God is) This phrase came to me as I considered a very colourful enigmatic vivid dream. I had started a new job in a company which had lots of people who were doing different tasks. The company appeared to be some kind of media company. I hadn’t a clue what was going on. In one instance I was given a pack. Some around me pointed out to me, as we sat on the floor, that our clothing needed to be this, […]
- [Body Scan Dream](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/04/25/body-scan-dream/): I was asked by some medical person to get under this big device which was like a single narrow arched wall i.e. half an arch. I sat on an old flat wicker chair and sidled on it slowly like a crab sideways in line with the machine. I looked at the device and there was a long pause nothing happened. My wife was encouraging me in the background. I saw a couple of buttons on the device in front of me. I think one said press here and wait. I did that the second time (i.e. after just sitting there) but […]
- [Chinese Christian teacher dream](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/04/25/chinese-christian-teacher-dream/): I was in China in a classroom situation with a beautiful young Chinese woman. She had long black hair and was quite tall. She was wearing a trousers suit. She was teaching children. I knew she was a Christian. She was teaching the children a forbidden subject in a large room. I went and sat in her class next to the children on the front row. In the first perspective I was observing myself with the children and sitting with them, at the same time looking at the teacher, and she was looking at us. It was a panned out shot. […]
- [Introduction to a series of dreams](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/04/25/introduction-to-a-series-of-dreams/): A series of dreams in the last week or two have been very compelling. These dreams stir me to seek the Lord. I ask what are you saying to me through these dreams? What are you saying in a wider context – to the church? The prophetic is for the purpose of building up the church to make us mature. When I say the church, I mean not a building but the family of God. Those who have put their trust in Jesus and are following him and no other, become the family of God. The kingdom of God is at […]
- [Excited about a new book](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/04/13/excited-about-a-new-book/): After a little over a month I received Frank Viola’s book which may have come by ship as it took that long! The book came out about March 3 2025. The book in question is a complete rewrite of an old one and has been many years in the making. He advises if you have the old one to ditch it as there are lots of mistakes. The book is a chronological study of the New Testament of the Bible, putting the story in its historical context. Its over 600 pages long and has lots of footnotes. It’s about 4cm thick […]
- [Pay attention to the time!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/03/29/pay-attention-to-the-time/): Does God speak today? Are the seemingly random coincidences and events just that or is something more going on in our lives? Does His Spirit intersect and cross into our lives pointing things out, bringing things to remembrance that he’s said from of old? I woke up and saw the time was 6.48. One of my sons who shall be nameless(!) came out of the bathroom, jangling the key in the lock, which was what woke me. I’d dozed back off to sleep after going to the loo about 5.40. I walked round the bed looking at my wife’s clock as […]
- [Sin management?](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/01/27/sin-management/): This a repost of a daily reading from the Wild at Heart website by John Eldredge You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want. (John 5:39–40 The Message) The promise of life and the invitation to desire has again been lost beneath a pile of religious teachings that put the focus on knowledge and performance. History has brought […]
- [A little on who satan is and his demise](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/01/17/a-little-on-who-satan-is-and-his-demise/): This article is a little follow on from the last one where I wrote about accusations. Here are some considerations about accusations. Some would say it’s good to know your enemy and what they’re up to even The Apostle Paul alludes to this in 2 Corinthians 4.5-11 , especially verse 11. The Bible speaks about the accuser of the brethren (those who are believers). And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, because the accuser of our brothers has been […]
- [The dream that saved a farmers farm](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2025/01/15/the-dream-that-saved-a-farmers-farm/): Here’s a quick post highlighting the importance of listening to God through dreams. This one is a story about a dream which saved a farmers farm. This comes from Dr. Tania Harris email news. You can see more of resources here. God Conversations
- [A dream that led to important biblical English words beginning with 're'.](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/12/31/a-dream-that-led-to-important-biblical-english-words-beginning-with-re/): Everybody dreams, whether they remember them or not is the real issue. As you will know from this website especially the dreams and interpretation menu, I am an advocate that you should pay attention to your dreams. In the last month I came across Tania Harris who has written a number of books, has a website and other material about how to hear from God and one of those ways is through dreams. She speaks of the three types of dreams that we experience. They can be God dreams, psychological dreams (soul dreams) or spirit dreams (dreams that come from another […]
- [Imaging God in the garden](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/11/13/imaging-god-in-the-garden/): I have come back to thinking about the image of God and being made in his likeness. I love this video which helpfully explains about the context of what is going on in the ancient times in other cultures surrounding Israel.
- [The Lodger](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/09/29/the-lodger/): A small gecko lived in my house – I never knew him. His ways were beyond my eyes, but days would come when my life would intersect with his and then I knew he was there. ~ A man lived in my house – I never knew him. He was so big, he was every where at once. His presence worried me but he never really troubled me but he did stare so. As you know my eyes are big, I creep into where he tends himself and there is a large area of fixed water upon his wall. There I […]
- [Shephanim - a mystery creature?](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/09/07/shephanim-a-mystery-creature/): This morning I was reading Psalm 104 – a great creation Psalm in the New American Standard Bible. I reached verse 18 and read the word shephanim. Here was a word that required looking up. First the verse: The high mountains are for the wild goats;The cliffs are a refuge for the shephanim. This is where Google was helpful. One of the first search results brought up a rather, in my view, delightful devotional by Chuck Swindoll. When I was in my late teens I read a lot of his books which I loved with his wit, easy reading style and […]
- [A new place for nature connection](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/08/31/a-new-place-for-nature-connection/): For some time I’ve been passing an opening in a hedge line and seeing a set of gates which are never open. I thought it was access to some private property. Chris who has written a blog for me on this site was adventurous and recently said he’d been and parked by the gates and discovered that behind the gates is access to a SANG which can be reached through a pedestrian gate. Not being overly familiar with that acronym and a lot of the more recent government acronyms regarding natural areas, I duly looked it up. A SANG is according […]
- [Tea Ceremony Forest Church](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/07/21/tea-ceremony-forest-church/): Inspiration can come at the most unexpected times. I was weeding ground elder and suddenly a little thought came out of the blue about what I should prepare and lead at the next Forest Church. The little thought was tea ceremony. I had a rush of excitement as I considered it. I wrote it down so I could get on with gardening. Whilst reading Bruce Stanley’s Forest Church; a field guide to nature connection for groups and individuals, I found what I had thought. Somehow my memory had been jogged and there in the pages of the book was a tea […]
- [Underground Forest - Regeneration of degraded land](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/05/03/underground-forest-regeneration-of-degraded-land/): I can’t remember how it happened but I signed up to watch a webinar about the underground forest with Australian Tony Rinaudo. It was hosted by JRI, the John Ray Initiative. The John Ray Initiative (JRI) is an educational charity with a vision to bring together scientific and Christian understandings of the environment in a way that can be widely communicated and lead to effective action. It was formed in 1997 in recognition of the urgent need to respond to the global environmental crisis and the challenges of sustainable development and environmental stewardship. JRI I missed the actual day of the […]
- [Late April bird walk with surprises](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/05/01/late-april-bird-walk-with-surprises/): I headed out to an area I haven’t visited for about a year. I parked by the green in Wood Street on the edge of Guildford in Surrey and went down one of the lanes which leads to the pedestrian railway crossing. About 12 years ago to the day – which at the time of writing is the 27th April 2024; I went down the same lane and came across a lesser whitethroat (Curruca curruca* – I love that name!) which I’ve never had there since. Further along the path on the same day I had a nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos). This […]
- [Faith, loyalty, royalty and idolatry](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/04/28/faith-loyalty-royalty-and-idolatry/): I would like to share with you something I have been considering recently. It relates to faith, loyalty, royalty and idolatry. Some of my thinking is still raw but it might set off something in your thinking and cause you to look at what the Bible says about it in a new way. Something Matthew Bates said resonated with me. Matthew is an author of books and has affiliations with the OnScript podcast. He posed a question on something I was listening to in regards to Jesus’ ministry before he went to the cross. Was that all for nothing? In short, […]
- [A short Dose of Nature!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/04/25/a-short-dose-of-nature/): On March 19th I wrote a throw away comment on a very short post which was a poem. The post mentioned Dose of Nature. This is a relatively new charity which I have become a guide for. You can find out more about the charity here: https://www.doseofnature.org.uk/ This charity was recommended to me by a GP (General Practitioner for those of you overseas – otherwise known as a Doctor of medicine) friend of mine who knows of my interest in nature and the desire to help people to connect with it. I looked at the website and discovered to be a […]
- [Brother.do.you.love.me.](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/04/20/brother-do-you-love-me/): A month or so ago I came across a book which piqued my interest. I was considering whether I should buy it but it came up in our local county library through their online service which uses the Libby App. The book is still relatively new at the time of writing. It is ‘brother.do.you.love.me.’ by Manni Coe and Reuben Coe. The title is taken from a text message that Reuben sent his brother Manni during Lockdown. There was a picture that captured what was going on at the same time of Reuben at a window reaching out his hand that got […]
- [Ash keys](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/03/19/ash-keys/): Whilst training today as a Dose of nature guide we were encouraged to sit and write for three minutes about something that we could see that took our attention. I wrote this which sounded like a poem as my pencil scribed: Ash keys, hanging at height, clustered tightly together. Dieing brown colour almost sandy. Held by threads of whispy branching. Shaken by breeze, together, moving, gently. Holding on tightly not letting go. Holding Holding Holding
- [Elusive goshawks in a local forest](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/03/12/elusive-goshawks-in-a-local-forest/): It was a bit of a murky afternoon but brightening. The temperature warmed from the chill of the February morning where ice had to be scraped off the vehicles. I climbed into the car and managed to avoid the traffic works by driving in the opposite direction. There was a clear run through to my friends house. His cat was sitting on the wall as I arrived giving me a disdainful look. I approached to greet the cat who seemed to have a change of mind towards me and was coming in close when I moved nearer he became startled and […]
- [See new page above in Supernatural menu](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/02/19/see-new-page-above-in-supernatural-menu/): New page added under the Supernatural menu of supernatural video links to some Biblical based content.
- [Contentious bird sighting - Goshawk - theophany?!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/02/17/contentious-bird-sighting-goshawk-theophany/): Potentially contentious sighting as you will see when you read on. It is due to the nature of the bird in question that it is contentious.   Fox Corner Community Wildlife Reserve called me today. It’s the time of year for hearing or beginning to hear common frog (Rana temporaria). The weather was fair for February (15th 2024). At one point on my journey over to the reserve the van dashboard was saying that it was 15 degrees celsius. Certainly a spring like note in the air! I took some pictures of a couple of trees that caught my eye and […]
- [Two bird poems which caught my attention](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2024/02/15/two-bird-poems-which-caught-my-attention/): Whilst researching for Forest Church I came across these two poems which are appropriate for this site. The Jackdaw There is a bird who, by his coat And by the hoarseness of his note, Might be supposed a crow; A great frequenter of the church, Where, bishop-like, he finds a perch, And dormitory too.  Above the steeple shines a plate, That turns and turns, to indicate From what point blows the weather. Look up — your brains begin to swim, ‘Tis in the clouds — that pleases him,  He chooses it the rather. Fond of the speculative height, Thither he wings his airy flight, And thence securely sees The bustle and the rareeshow**,  That […]
- [Walk on shortest day of 2023](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/12/23/walk-on-shortest-day-of-2023/): Yesterday went out for a saunter with the family bar one member who needed extra sleep. Depending on who’s view you read it was Britain’s shortest day. Newlands Corner on the edge of the North Downs was the destination. Ever since the kids were little we use to go there with another family and roll on the slopes, hang in trees and splat in the mud. This time was a little different with no rolling and no splatting but hanging around in trees – yes! Parking up in the busy car park which thankfully remains to be free of charge, we […]
- [Write what you see](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/12/09/write-what-you-see/): Introduction The beginning of my exploration into writing came a few years ago, whilst I was overseas in Ghana, West Africa. Writing about what was happening in my situation, on a monthly basis, was considered to be a courtesy. The writing was to inform friends and family supporters of what was happening in the situation where I lived and to enable them to pray in a more informed way. It was a good way to find out about writing as I have only really written in a personal journal since leaving school and reading through that when I have taken the […]
- [Witchcraft and Protection SIU Seminar](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/12/08/witchcraft-and-protection-siu-seminar/): (SIU stands for Scripture in use) During the following days of February 28th – March 3rd 2000 an SIU workshop was held at Kanvilli GILLBT training centre. There was a good attendance of people from the various GILLBT projects and some other visitors who work with the indigenous people of Ghana. Every morning the session commenced with devotions followed by the main seminar. Dr. Alison Howell, who is a Doctor of anthropology, gave a very clear presentation that was received very attentively by the floor. She started the day’s proceedings provocatively with three questions requiring a response: 1) Have you ever […]
- [Report on the Deg literacy Day](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/12/01/report-on-the-deg-literacy-day/): It was an uneventful start to the day as we packed oursleves up to go off to the Deg literacy day, to be held at Cherada on the main road between Buipe and Kintampo. Pat Herbert was our faithful pilot, who was accompanied by Marj Crouch, Simon Mensah, Wilford Opoku and myself. On the way there Wilford informed us of some recent events within the Deg project. One interesting story came as we listened to some of the Ba cha moe scripture songs in Deg. A man skilled in this style of music was used during the recording of the tape […]
- [Unstead Reserve November 25th 2023](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/11/26/unstead-reserve-november-25th-2023/): Unstead nature reserve is one of our local reserves which is not far from Guildford, which is a good place to visit. It is located just off the A3100 on the edge of Peasmarsh or accessed from the A281 Horsham Road, just after Shalford village. Parking is limited by the sewage works here. If you want to be able to enter the hides to watch the birds you will need to become a member which is reasonably priced. Otherwise you can view the site from the paths which are around the site. There are some gated paths which are padlocked and […]
- [Speech for Gonja literacy day](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/11/24/speech-for-gonja-literacy-day/): MANDARI, DEC 11TH 1999 Mr Chairman, District Chief Executive, Bole Wura, Mandari Wura,  Chiefs and elders,  distinguished invited guests,  ladies and gentlemen, I bring you greetings from the Director and the entire family of the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT), Tamale. There is a time for everything, says the Bible, a time to sow and a time to harvest, a time to mourn and a time to rejoice. Today we are gathered here to rejoice, to recognise and encourage our diligent committed and hard working literacy supervisors, facilitators and students, who have distinguished themselves through their unrelenting […]
- [More on the church and Christians in Iran](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/11/18/more-on-the-church-and-christians-in-iran/): Back in August of last year (2022) I wrote a post about the Iranian church. Today I have been watching some other videos about Iran which are from a different source. This is where you can find the first one of the series. It’s called ‘Why Christianity is Booming in Iran (Even Under the Islamic Regime) || Documentary Series Pt. 1‘ This three part documentary gives some of the history of Iran which is technically called Islamic Republic of Iran. Some interesting points about Persian culture are spoken about. They are films which are well made and engaging to watch.
- [Isn’t this supposed to be a Gonja literacy day?](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/11/17/isnt-this-supposed-to-be-a-gonja-literacy-day/): (10.12.99) After experiencing my coldest night (15°C) in Ghana – in the Upper West region, the sun was gladly welcomed – almost willed into the sky! It was good not to rush to the site of the Gonja literacy day directly from Tamale, but to take time after travelling for five hours! Paul Schaefer and I took off sometime after breakfast to Mandari (247km). We greeted a few folk along the way and arrived around mid morning. After some pottering around Paul’s place, the organiser of the Gonja project came and informed us that he was going to bring the chiefs and […]
- [Yeshua as the mercy seat - Yahweh's presence on earth](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/11/17/yeshua-as-the-mercy-seat-yahwehs-presence-on-earth/): On October 7th 2023 Israel was attacked by Hamas. It put me in mind of the chapters from Romans 9 to 11 in the New Testament of the Bible. I thought it would be good to read it again from a thought-for-thought translation – the New Living Translation (NLT). More literal or direct translations can be hard to read at times and I wanted to understand better what I was reading. The writings below are some of my comparisons and thoughts which struck me in reading these two chapters. There are certain turns of phrases when reading the Bible you don’t […]
- [Written in Ghana in 2000](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/11/16/written-in-ghana/): About a close encounter with an often heard yet not easily seen small owl in Ghana,West Africa. Owlet discovery A long time pursuitOf chasing some birds,Occurred again today.One’s seen beforeWere all that we saw,All that came our way.A pleasant surpriseGreeted our eyes,As we gazed at plumageAll brown.An owl with four eyesWith a look of surpriseTurned our headsTo gaze at its frown. Two big eyes on its napeWhich cannot see,Surrounded with whiteTo scare enemies.Two at the frontNot as bold as theseLooked acutely at usAs we scanned the trees. After a while it flewUnlike any owl, undulating,With strengthFor such a small fowl. The […]
- [Mystical Trees](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/10/29/mystical-trees/): Mystical trees, Explode from the earth Showering the lower sky With their outstretched arms. Lungs of this realm Give back to us our need for air, Without thought Built in to their nature. Reaching for light Absorbing the very elements. “The kestrel….Waits and waits and waits in silence and then it pounces or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t pounce it just goes away, it thinks again, it thinks of somewhere else it can go and stalk it’s prey. It just always reminds me do you know sometimes in life we need that patience, we need that just sitting and waiting  and working out what […]
- [Moving to a new address](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/09/29/hello-world/): Connect3ways – A website about nature connection and how God speaks in different ways, including nature, dreams, visions and people, from a personal perspective was formally at Connect3Ways.com it has moved to https://connect3ways.co.uk/ with a new look.
- [Herald grabs writers attention reminding him of the message](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/09/16/herald-grabs-writers-attention-reminding-him-of-the-message/): For some time now I feel like I have been paddling on the edges. I am going to stick my head above the parapet and speak. As a follower of Christ it is beholden of me to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom. I cannot get away from it! Over these last few years it has been highlighted to me by the Spirit of God that I am a mouthpiece of this message of the good news of the kingdom of God. Firstly the kingdom of God is summed up in the person of Jesus Christ. Not only that but what […]
- [Meeting of minds and the surprising basis of Western thought](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/08/05/meeting-of-minds-and-the-surprising-basis-of-western-thought/): Many of you may have heard by now of Jordan B Peterson. He is a Clinical Psychologist with many accolades to his name. He’s all over YouTube and various media sites. I first heard of him relatively recently on a Facebook post. Since then I have dabbled on and off in listening to what he has to say. I admit I haven’t gone full out to listen to a whole video or podcast where he’s speaking. I’ve tended only to listen to shorter clips, more to do with my attention span than to what he says! For that reason and also […]
- [Can nature connection support people with disordered eating?](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/08/03/can-nature-connection-support-people-with-disordered-eating/): This is not a post by me but one that came through on my feed which people might find helpful. It’s from Finding Nature a project set up by Professor Miles Richardson and it’s a guest blog about a research project on whether nature connection can support people with disordered eating. Click on the link below. https://wp.me/p4EcJW-12I
- [The city theme in the Bible](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/07/25/the-city-theme-in-the-bible/): For the last few weeks I have been listening to a podcast from the Bible Project about the city. Within the Bible this theme of the city is an extensive one which is written about within the first book of the Bible, Genesis all the way through to the last Book of the Bible, Revelation. It does take some digging to find it in some books of the Bible. Tim and John from the Bible project thrash out the theme on the podcast which can be found here or where I listen to it on Google Podcasts starting here. The idea […]
- [The beast in the machine and real truth](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/06/02/the-beast-in-the-machine-and-real-truth/): This is a miniblog of something longer and deeper which has end of the age repurcussions. Fresh out as an an episode on a relatively new podcast – the title Re-enchanting Nature, Paul Kingsnorth is interviewed. The podcast incidentally is Re-enchanting by Seen and Unseen presented by Justin Brierley and Belle Tindall. Paul is very good with words. I have mentioned him on this blog before. His website is deep and he deals with various topics. I love most of all that he sees something more behind nature. In the interview he shares his story. He goes on to talk about […]
- [Squelching in the mud with larks, voles and others](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/05/22/a-muddy-forest-church-trail-with-larks/): Whilst waiting for the Forest Church participants I witnessed a buzzard which didn’t act like the typical buzzard. The markings on it were similar yet different at the same time including a grey head and a grey band around the rump. The circling that common buzzard’s tend to do was less distinct and the wings were flatter in position. It was relaxing watching it as it gradually disappeared out of sight over the trees in a North Easterly direction. Before the buzzard appeared, driving to the meeting point I had seen a kestrel on the telegraph wire, with its head down […]
- [Forest Church May 2023](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/05/01/forest-church-may-2023/): Meeting on Sunday 3-5pm at Wood Street Cricket ground car park. Wear suitable footwear. Keep an eye on the weather. Feel free to bring something with you that can help you to engage with nature eg. binoculars, camera, note/sketchpad. There will be opportunity to use these. Location: OS Grid map SU 948 549 https://goo.gl/maps/nwmi5wQ2j4HKrTkP8 https://w3w.co/contemplate.huts.weeknight It will be a circular walk about 3km. POSTSCRIPT Very muddy on the footpaths in places.
- [Forest Church April 2023](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/04/01/forest-church-april-2023/): Sunday April 16th, 3-5pm Fox Corner Community Wildlife Area  Parking on Berry Lane, Fox Corner https://w3w.co/slang.apples.name Google https://goo.gl/maps/sQrZmnwamsgYd2Dr7 51.2854338, -0.6185560 Pirbright, Woking GU3 3PU Meet @ gate to reserve https://w3w.co/feels.silly.singer Google https://goo.gl/maps/NdM98EG4Hx1Lw9ya6  51.283178, -0.619592 Pirbright, Woking GU3 3PW OS Map SU963547 Bring something to sit on. There will be a mixture of activities including some liturgy, nature watching and listening and short walk(s) depending on the participant(s).
- [Forest Church March 18th](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/03/07/forest-church-march-18th/): Meeting on Saturday 18th March 3-5pm at Wood Street Cricket ground car park. Wear suitable footwear. Keep an eye on the weather. Last time we were up to our wellies in water after heavy rain! It was much drier on Sunday 5th March . Feel free to bring something with you that can help you to engage with nature eg. binoculars, camera, note/sketchpad. There will be opportunity to use these. Location: OS Grid map SU 948 549 https://goo.gl/maps/nwmi5wQ2j4HKrTkP8 https://w3w.co/thumps.nesting.deeds It will be a circular walk about 3km. POSTSCRIPT Very muddy on the footpaths in places.
- [Immerse yourself in the Immerse Bible](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/02/21/immerse-yourself-in-the-immerse-bible/): Today I was compelled to go back to the website which I discovered and wrote of a couple of days ago in regards to The Two Powers. The one I refer to is the website of the Institute for Bible Reading. Being a nosey person my eye was drawn to the word Immerse at the top of the page. It’s a good word and when related to the Bible must be something desirable. I’m going there I thought. So I did. Immerse is a project or programme designed specifically to be read in community. The Bible according to IBR has particularly […]
- [Dr. Michael Heiser Passing](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/02/21/dr-michael-heiser-passing/): Today I heard the sad news that Dr. Michael Heiser passed away yesterday 20.02.23. Here is more details about that from Charisma news website Twitter Feed
- [The Two Powers - Another view](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/02/19/another-view-the-two-powers/): In my question to Google in which I thought I needed a refresher on, it led me to the website for the Institute for Bible reading and also BioLogos which were both at the top of the list. The question was: What does it mean that the scriptures weren’t written to us but for us? Both websites answer the question well. But then I was distracted and my eye was caught by the blog below which I thought would be good to highlight in my supernatural section. It is not a Michael Heiser push, you may be pleased to know and […]
- [Caught in espionage out in the wilds](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/01/27/caught-in-espionage-out-in-the-wilds/): It was a drab end of winter day. I decided to go on one of my forays out into the borderlands of Surrey and Hampshire. The Basingstoke Canal called me as often it would back in my early twenties. Around that time, I also fished those waters not with great success I may add. It was simply for the pure joy of being outside in nature. On this occasion bike-birding was my mode of operation. More ground can be covered this way and stopping is relatively straight forward. In those days the Basingstoke Canal had somewhat of a revival. The channel […]
- [An audio feast of a poet, a writer and a 'fun-gi' to be with!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2023/01/14/an-audio-feast-of-a-poet-a-writer-and-a-fun-gi-to-be-with/): There are so many stimulating, inspirational and fascinating nature programmes out there both on television and radio. In regards to the TV ones I’m afraid I fall asleep, not because they’re boring but for some other reason. I even drop off to sleep if I watch one in my lunch break or during the day! Yet with radio, podcasts or web programmes I remain awake. This is a good thing as my clients would be sacking me from their gardens as I tend to listen to such programmes whilst working. Sleeping gardener is clearly an oxymoron! As I have decided to […]
- [Spiritual warfare, what you need to know!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/11/01/spiritual-warfare-what-you-need-to-know/): Spiritual warfare and the kingdom: Satan, demons and principalities This subject is one that can be a contentious issue. We in the west live in a materialistic world. What-you-see with your two eyes is what-you-get, kind of approach. In other parts of the world, they are more aware of these spiritual/supernatural/unseen things. In the Bible there are a number of things which we can see that are unusual which are mostly accepted in orthodox Christianity, such as the virgin birth and the resurrection. Yet there is a lot more you can find once you start digging around. This post is going […]
- [The mountain designated by Jesus to hear the great commission from](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/09/27/the-mountain-designated-by-jesus-to-hear-the-great-commission-from/): I sometimes challenge myself by going back to what the Bible says. I was thinking about discipleship, and I wanted to look at what it meant. I turned to Matthew 28 and the great commission passage and start to read and don’t get very far as I let the text speak to me. This verse immediately pulls me up. I will explain why it triggered me. So, the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated for them. W. Hall Harris III, Elliot Ritzema, et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt […]
- [Family](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/09/19/family/): Dream. I arrive at a large house which I am welcomed in to. There’s a lot of space and posh features. The rest of my family are there. I’m hoping we might all meet all at the same time. I meet one of my relatives indoors who I’ve not met before who’s very posh and speaks about his wife or other relative in the third person. We walk out together, and he is still speaking to me as he moves off to exercise around part of the garden. I meet other family members. He looks like (I dare not say as […]
- [New findings about my favourite bird!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/09/18/new-findings-about-my-favourite-bird/): Yesterday I was inspired to go for a walk out in the countryside. That may sound strange. It is some time now since I have been for a focussed walk on a common, to a field or anything like that to specifically see something. Backing up. The day before yesterday I received the latest copy of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) news. In this copy was an article about one of my favourite British birds the nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) which I have in the past not been able to stop myself from seeing frequently – sometimes more than once a […]
- [Making all things new - the big project](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/09/16/making-all-things-new-the-big-project/): There are dreams that you forget and ones that you remember and come back to you. This is one of the latter. I dreamt a very masculine dream! I was with a man who was orchestrating a project. I’m not sure but he was like an older John Eldredge (the author of various books). It was a big project. There were many other men of different backgrounds. We were all involved in this project. The project was in some kind of construction yard. Each guy had a part to play. New guys kept coming. I wasn’t quite sure where I fitted […]
- [The state of affairs, the challenge of the Iranian Church to the West and making disciples](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/08/26/the-state-of-affairs-the-challenge-of-the-iranian-church-to-the-west-and-making-disciples/): The world is a messy place, both good and bad are evident in and around us. There’s a reason for this which isn’t always readily apparent. There’s a supernatural world not seen with the human eyes (that link takes you to a youth version of a programme of study with a presentation that’s helpful in understanding what’s happening). This world puts pressure on us. This pressure can come covertly by rejection of what we believe or overtly by persecution. The Bible has a long running narrative of chaos which if you dig deeper into it has a lot of threads reaching […]
- [Two of the best places in UK for nature](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/06/11/two-of-the-best-places-in-uk-for-nature/): On the weekend of my 50th birthday I had the opportunity to visit two very special places. The first was the Knepp Estate which has been featured on the BBC Countryfile programme and in my favourite book of 2019 – Wilding, by Isabella Tree. The second was planned by my wife at Pulborough Brooks RSPB reserve. At Knepp my friend and I saw 53 species of birds (that includes hearing them as well as seeing them). Birds such as cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), white stork (Ciconia ciconia), turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur), nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), garden warbler (Sylvia borin), reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) […]
- [Standing firm is the empowerment you need!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/06/04/standing-firm-is-the-empowerment-you-need/): Here’s a short post which I thought I had published a month ago. A few thoughts about some verses in the Bible. I was considering a passage in the Bible which I have written on a little before which I come back to time and time again within the year and that’s the passage from Ephesians 6 which begins ‘Finally be strong in the Lord…‘ This time as I considered it I was struck by why the word stand. When I say struck it was more “I need to look at what this word in this context means. I think there’s something […]
- [A surprising song line to wake up with!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/05/06/a-surprising-song-line-to-wake-up-with/): There are a number of things I’ve been wanting to write about which have happened recently from trips out to special nature places, my back garden developments, to things that have been in my mind or thoughts in regards to what God has been saying to me personally but I haven’t found the time. This morning I received something which was like manna from heaven and I wanted to share it. It wasn’t particularly new but it was fresh and inspired. I had a dream… you know how it goes. I will put that aside for now. That was significant in […]
- [Forest Church – March 2022 An early Springtime of space and reflection – Westborough Woods.](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/03/13/forest-church-march-2022-an-early-springtime-of-space-and-reflection-westborough-woods/): by Chris Burchell The clouds were banking up and the breeze was keen as a small group of us gathered for Forest Church led by Rob Marshall. The location was Westborough Woods, a small relict of the once extensive Royal Deer Park that stretched Northwest of Guildford and remembered in such names as Stag Hill (the site of the University of Surrey campus) and the Chase. The woods lie on a steep hill surrounded for the most part by housing and allotments. As we climbed the hill and entered the woods, which are a mix of oak, holly and ash, there […]
- [Eunice took my Cherry tree and other garden delights!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/03/05/eunice-took-my-cherry-tree-and-other-garden-delights/): Recently I began writing about our garden here on this blog. I have begun to notice some small changes since then. Down the right hand side of the garden up against the wire fence are some very broad sharp leaves pushing through the ground. Since first noticing them about three weeks ago they are now about 10cm in height. At first I was thinking they might be Crocosmia (formerly Mombretia), now I think they may be Yellow flag iris, or just Yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus). The reason I think it is this plant is in the last week we had a […]
- [Forest Church March 2022](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/02/14/forest-church-march-2022/): Please Note As of today 3rd March 2022 my eldest son has tested positive for Covid yet doesn’t have any symptoms. If for whatever reason with that knowledge feel that you shouldn’t attend I will understand. Similarly if you do feel able with that knowledge I would appreciate you joining me as I intend to go ahead with the session. I will take a test before I come if it’s positive I won’t be there! A local wood winter wander – come and explore – for free Forest Church for about an hour will be at Westborough Woods 9 am Saturday 5th March. A […]
- [New house - New garden and garden bird list!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/02/06/new-house-new-garden-and-garden-bird-list/): It’s time to start a new garden bird list. I had to say goodbye to the last garden and its list which reached 36. What a good one that was! Over the next few months look out for updates on what is happening in the garden. As it’s January (time I started writing this) it will be exciting to see what comes up in the garden as the year progresses. Already it is clear what some of the plants are. We have a large horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) which from a guess due to its size, is at least 50 […]
- [You're included in the Royal Family whatever state your in!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2022/02/02/youre-included-in-the-royal-family-whatever-state-your-in/): At the church I attend we are in a period of seeking God – shouldn’t we always! As it happens our verse for the year states this theme. It is found in 1 Chronicles 16.11 and can also be found in Psalm 105.4. This verse and the surrounding verses are very clear it is something we need to do. We had a session where we met to worship and pray. It was good to come aside and do this and put our own agendas aside. Something wasn’t quite right with me and I couldn’t put my finger on it but I […]
- [That out of place feeling - again! A common human experience.](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/12/19/that-out-of-place-feeling-again-a-common-human-experience/): As a little introduction to this post look out for a key repeated phrase and concept. Some of you who read this or all of you may experience the repeated theme. I will explore its meaning after recounting the dream. I was helping out at an inspection of royalty at some kind of parade. What I was doing was checking with higher ranking staff whether people in the photoshoot were all present and reminding them who was relevant in the line up. I ran through a list of names that could be in the picture they agreed or disagreed with me […]
- [Close to one of nature's miniature furry creatures!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/12/09/close-to-one-of-natures-miniature-furry-creatures/): Today was a rather windy damp December, day making it feel like 3 degrees Celsius! I was in a garden working. Some Crocosmia sp needed thinning out as it was dominating a corner of the garden. Being close to the ground made what was about happen rather special. I was nice and warm wearing a number of layers and I had my new thermal gloves on which certainly made gardening more pleasant in the conditions. Something caught my eye – a small movement. I had cleared an area which made viewing easier. I slowed my movements down and became still. My […]
- [Consoling presence of the Holy Spirit in anxious times](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/11/08/consoling-presence-of-the-holy-spirit-in-anxious-times/): During singing a newer song in the morning service at the church I attend I saw and sensed a picture at the same time, of the Father embracing us. Many of us have lost loved ones, had things break, things haven’t been going quite as we’d like them too recently. I want to share with you that which is being impressed upon me. It is also a reminder that we are in a battle – not a losing battle I hasten to add.  Through a dream about a mother nursing a child, this embrace of the Father was impressed upon me […]
- [Watch out, be ready and alert](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/10/30/watch-out-be-ready-and-alert/): This subject of being alert, ready and watchful that I write about here is being impressed upon me. What I am going to write will also help you to see some of the dream interpretation process that I go through. Sometimes I get an initial overall feel for a dream. In this case the dream I will write about had the overall sense of being about being ready. I want to start by saying this post links with the previous one about the seed of the good news. In Ephesians 6 where Paul writes about the armour of God he writes […]
- [Welcome the seed of the good news!](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/10/12/welcome-the-seed-of-the-good-news/): At the church where I attend we’re moving into a new season which is without a minister. We are thrown onto the mercy of God. We begin this time with 36 hours of prayer launched with praise and worship. There was an opportunity for individuals throughout the evening to write upon flip-charts in the church, things such as a verse or a phrase or a picture they may have had. For some time a single verse stood alone at the top of the piece of paper on one of the flip-charts. I saw it and made a note in my mind […]
- [You shall know the truth, it will set you free](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/09/25/you-shall-know-the-truth-it-will-set-you-free/): Nebulous thoughts in the mornings that cannot be pierced, don’t bode well. When they linger through the day – you feel like you’re in trouble! One questions am I doing something wrong? It starts to affect your whole outlook for the day. I was having one of those days, except it wasn’t just one day it was a few. Facing a rather demanding physical task which I wasn’t sure I was ready for added to the dread I felt. I inwardly, with some outward exhalation of air cried out to the Holy Spirit to help. I actually began to enjoy myself […]
- [Out of the ordinary eye catching plant](https://connect3ways.co.uk/2021/08/21/out-of-the-ordinary-eye-catching-plant/): Whilst out on the saltmarsh at low tide at Pagham Harbour recently, I came across this plant. It looked familiar but I couldn’t place it. The flowers are somewhat like a nightshade (Solanum sp.). The specimen was alone and standing very tall and erect at about 1.5m. I used the Google identifier but didn’t believe the result. The species was coming up as Lycium chinense. I hadn’t taken my wildflower books with me so had to wait until I got home a few days later as we were on holiday. The result of what I found was disappointing. The picture of […]

## Pages

- [Donate](https://connect3ways.co.uk/donate/): You’ve spotted the coffee cup image on my page this is what that is all about. If you like any of my writing here on this website and would like to donate this is the page which informs you about how to do that. Consider how much one of my articles meant to you and put it in monetary terms. It’s as simple as that. If you would like to read more related content let me know by dropping me an email of what particular content you liked to the email address at left side (See three lines in the menu […]
- [A  Supernatural Video Resource](https://connect3ways.co.uk/a-supernatural-video-resource/): Here is a collection of videos both documentary and seminar style of Dr. Michael Heiser’s work. Aliens and demons evidence of the unseen realm documentary film (1:15:39) Angels series (11 videos as a playlist – no longer than 15:30) Demons documentary film (45:08) Reversing Hermon lecture about the book of 1 Enoch and the Watchers (2:51:08) Supernatural Seminar with Dr.Michael Heiser Part 1 (51:55) Supernatural Seminar with Dr. Michael Heiser Part 2 (54:41) Supernatural Seminar with Dr. Michael Heiser Part 3 (1:24:55) Supernatural Seminar with Dr. Michael Heiser Part 4 (1:25:30) Unseen realm documentary film (1:11:49) Unseen Realm documentary Q & […]
- [Random](https://connect3ways.co.uk/random/): When I was working in Ghana from January 1999 to November 2000 part of my work was to write reports about the literacy projects that the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT) worked on. These projects were named after language groups found within Ghana. I also attended special ceremonies which celebrated the work of literacy and finished publications. These writings are some of those from that period. They are some of my earliest pieces.
- [Gospel](https://connect3ways.co.uk/gospel/): (Making Christ Jesus famous – ‘From a biblical standpoint, why did God give us the gospel? A king. God gave the gospel first of all because we need a king’. Matthew Bates – Why the gospel? Living the good news of king Jesus with purpose.) You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace., Colossians 1:5–6 (CSB): The other name for the […]
- [Disclaimer](https://connect3ways.co.uk/disclaimer-2/): I need to say up front that I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist. (See this website for a sleep expert) I do not have any qualifications in that area. I am an ordinary guy, someone who takes an interest in what I have been dreaming and can see that they have a significant part to play in my life. I also believe that God speaks to me through my dreams. 
- [Poetry](https://connect3ways.co.uk/poetry/): This will be a developing page of poetry. Some old and some new. And some not mine! Where they are not mine they will have the authors name. Poetry Foundation
- [Forest Church Practise](https://connect3ways.co.uk/forest-church-practice/): New From Beginning of 2023 You are invited to join us at Forest Church. We will be meeting the 2nd Saturday of each month unless otherwise stated, between 9.30am and 11.30am with some extra summer evening sessions TBC. The location varies each month. Watchout for venue and changes in the Emmanuel church notice sheet or ask to join the Forest Church WhatsApp group. So what is it? Forest Church is: – Forest Church: – Forest Church isn’t: – Leader and main contact: Rob MarshallContact: forest-church@connect3ways.co.uk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10008785567174 More about Forest Church see website: https://connect3ways.co.uk/forest-church/
- [Nature Connection](https://connect3ways.co.uk/nature-connection/): If you are familiar with my website and blog and know me personally you will know that nature connection is my thing. I wouldn’t say I’m an expert in it but ever since my childhood it has been the main thing that gets me going other than my faith in Christ. Sometimes the two are hard to untangle. Nature Connection comes in so many different forms. My key one is birdwatching and was my entry point. Yet before that as a younger child walks out in the countryside with the family were formational in that connection. At times I have ventured […]
- [Supernatural world](https://connect3ways.co.uk/supernatural-world/): This is a page which introduces a subject that has been in the background of my life. I will be writing about some of the issues which I have come across that I have been made aware of by the people I list below. From the get-go I need to say I am not an expert on supernatural stuff. I do have an awareness of such matters and a heightened spiritual sense. I used to think I was alone in this regard, but I am not. I would like to say that what I want to say here has some grounding […]
- [Statement of belief &  What the gospel is](https://connect3ways.co.uk/statement-of-belief/): The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried;he descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again;he ascended into heaven,he is seated at the right hand of the Father,and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting.Amen.
- [My Story](https://connect3ways.co.uk/autobiography/): I was born in what is now a housing estate in the Louis Margaret, Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot, England in 1972. I spent my early formative years in Ash, which is on the Surrey, Hampshire border. Maybe that is why I feel like I am often caught between two worlds – neither here nor there! We moved as a family to Beverley in what was Humberside, now East Yorkshire where my Father took up work as a driving instructor for the Ministry of Defence at Leconfield. It was here in this area I began to take note of the world around me, at the […]
- [Password Reset](https://connect3ways.co.uk/password-reset-2/): [swpm_reset_form]
- [Profile](https://connect3ways.co.uk/membership-profile-2/): [swpm_profile_form]
- [Registration](https://connect3ways.co.uk/membership-registration-2/): [swpm_registration_form]
- [Bible](https://connect3ways.co.uk/bible/): This is the page that brings various Bible study platforms under one roof for your personal study and Bible reading. There are also some links to other sites which may help you to understand the Bible better. And here is a page which is about the Bible which is helpful. Summed up in the bible wasn’t written to us but it was written for us. See here. And then there’s Biblical literacy, See here. Ancient Hebrew and Jeff Benner’s contribution. Biblical Archaeological Society dedicated to the dissemination of information about archaeology in the Bible lands. Bible Gateway for reading Bible Project […]
- [Wonder Walks](https://connect3ways.co.uk/wonder-walks/): The title expresses an idea that I have had for some time. At present I am doing some research into whether it is feasible as a business venture. I am looking to lead walks in the countryside around Guildford initially. So far the aim is to: Introduce people to some local areas which are good for nature Help people to identify flora and fauna within those areas. Maybe improve on what they know already To share appreciation and wonder of the natural world To be lead by someone who has knowledge of these things in a relaxed, friendly and informal setting. […]
- [Ghana March 1999](https://connect3ways.co.uk/ghana-1999-experience/)
- [Forest Church Theory](https://connect3ways.co.uk/forest-church/): (See more by going to the drop down arrow above or here: https://connect3ways.co.uk/) The above diagram I will use to explain what Forest Church is.  In the centre of the diagram is Reading the 2nd book of God. This is about reading the natural world. It involves three interconnecting things which I will illustrate with an example. We can study birds by watching them. This study will bring up questions of what the birday be doing and why. Out of this something else may come to mind which connects to a poem or Scripture. This in turn leads to meaning and quite […]
- [Creation Care](https://connect3ways.co.uk/creation-care/): As the Anglican Communion states The Five Marks of Mission: The mission of the Church is the mission of Christ Infographic on creation care Post script A more upto date version here
- [Connect with God](https://connect3ways.co.uk/connect-with-god/): This page shares some ways in which you can connect with God. There are other menus with drop down arrows above where you can explore further this topic. I have put a link here to a page which has a big list of which there are 120 ways to connect with God. Each of these things are divided up into themes: I also recommend a book on the subject here which may be helpful which is:
- [Dreams & Interpretation](https://connect3ways.co.uk/the-journey-begins/): ‘…God speaks in one way, even in two, yet someone does not perceive it.“In a dream, a vision of the night,when a deep sleep falls on men slumbering on their bed, then he opens the ear of men,and he frightens them with a warning to turn human beings aside from their deeds,and he keeps man from pride. He spares his life from the pit and his life from passing over the river of death’.  Job 33:14–18 (Lexham English Bible) Welcome to Dreams & Interpretation  Thanks for joining me! Job 33:15 : In the Old Testament of the Bible, God often used […]
- [Connect3ways](https://connect3ways.co.uk/home-2/): “…how to hear God through nature; that is the second book of God…” Welcome I would like to share with you something about my history, what I have been involved with and what I’m doing now. One of my main passions is exploring how to relate to God through being outdoors in nature. I also enjoy writing about it and experiencing the wonder of it. My Story (Extended story from a different perspective) I’ll start with a little history and you’ll learn more about my thoughts by revisiting previous posts. At an early age I was intrigued by the world around […]

## Optional

- [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/connect3ways.co.uk/mcp)

[comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)