Rev Shirley Murphy
The thoughts, reflections, faith stories and meanderings of an 
Anglican Priest

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he...

Several years ago, a friend and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. The woman was nervous...

Some years ago, a tiny Korean orphan arrived in the United States to join her adoptive family. She was nine months old and weighed only 9...

JANUARY: A busy time for me. Most of the family decided to read me through this year. They kept me busy for the first two weeks, but they...

There once was a man named Soul who was walking in a garden. He was whistling a real sweet tune for he was saved and had the joy of the...

Once upon a time there was a rich merchant who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and...

In our search for a suitable pastor, the following scratch sheet was developed for your perusal. Of the candidates investigated by the...

One day a woodcutter took his grandson into the forest for his first experience in selecting and cutting oak trees. These they would...

The boy stood with back arched, head cocked back, and hands clenched defiantly. "Go ahead, give it to me." The principal looked down at...

I. Hope is knowing that a positive outcome awaits. II. Hope is not only expecting a dream to come true but having a deep assurance that...

There was once a man who didn't believe in the incarnation of Christ or the spiritual meaning of Christmas and was skeptical about God....

My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark...

As we rolled five-year-old Mary into the MRI room, I tried to imagine what she must be feeling. She had suffered a stroke that left half...

Several centuries ago in a mountain village in Europe, a wealthy nobleman wondered what legacy he could leave to his townspeople. He made...

A tiny drop of water washed away the land and buildings fell, floating away with other people's dreams. Roadways planned and formed by...

For all the negative things we say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it. You say: "It's impossible" God says: All things are...

The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher. Pacing about the preacher's study,...

I suspect that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing...

God, grant me the Serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the Courage to change the one I can, and the Wisdom to know it's me !!! ...

If today's media got a hold of these Biblical stories . . . On Red Sea crossing: WETLANDS TRAMPLED IN LABOR STRIKE Pursuing...