Simon Stevens

semi-retired after SLT at church secondary school; worship, SIAMS, RE and smsc specialisms; lay minister CoE; passionate about Uganda, Palestine n table tennis

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

@haveigotnews HIGNFY

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

The promise of God given to Mary and Joseph has been given to us as well, for in Jesus, God has pierced the darkness of the world and of our lives with the light of his love. God is with us, and always will be, no matter how dark it is.

Br. James Koester

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

“Each of us is an artist of our days; 
the greater our integrity and awareness, 
the more original and creative 
our time will become.”

- John O'Donohue

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

“A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.”

—Grace Hopper

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

“Courage doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you. ”

—Bethany Hamilton

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement. ... get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed

- Abraham Joshua Heschel

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

“History will be kind to me because I intend to write it.”

Winston Churchill

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

Anger is not inherently destructive. My anger can be a force for good. My anger can be creative and imaginative, seeing a better world that doesn’t yet exist. It can fuel a righteous movement toward justice and freedom.

- Austin Channing Brown

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

“Joy is the kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.”

—David Steindl-Rast

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

There is no better compass than compassion.

- Amanda Gorman

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

The life to which Jesus calls us is essentially simple. The simple life – the life of the kingdom – consists in the abundant awareness that everything we receive is a gift we did not earn or purchase. Life itself is the first of all gifts.

Br. Keith Nelson

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

Every problem, every difficulty in life, every conflict brings with it opportunities to love, respect, and encourage one another. Every difficult situation offers us a window of opportunity to respond in a loving way.

Br. David Vryhof

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers.

King T’Challa, “Black Panther”

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

The whole gospel message is radical union with God, with neighbor, and even with ourselves. I think that’s why so many people are drawn to church each week—to receive communion and eventually, hopefully, realize that we are in communion. 

—Richard Rohr

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

Above all don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love

Fyodor Dostoevsky

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

Theological preaching is deservedly unpopular if all it does is settle a lot of problems people never heard of, and asks a lot of questions nobody ever asks.

Robert J. McCracken

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

Kingdom life requires participation. To not act is just as bad as overtly to do something wrong. What we do or don’t do matters.

Br. Luke Ditewig

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.

Catherine of Siena

[Simon Stevens @retdreteach92]

We hear in the Beatitudes that mercy, purity and peacefulness are the marks of true servant leadership. We live in a world where such leadership is seen as weakness and where greatness is based on vigor, might and force. Yet those are not gospel values.

Br. James Koester