At the Vision Evening on Wednesday, we were discussing how we might do better at reaching various groups with the good news of Jesus: families, students and the rest of the parish. It was pointed out that each of us could do with being more natural as witnesses to Jesus – and who could argue
Read more“Drive bold”, it said alongside the photo of a shiny red BMW X4 (for those who don’t know, that’s a car). Over the page, a shiny silver Maserati Ghibli (another car!) was accompanied by the words, “The head says Yes. The heart says Definitely, Yes.” Perhaps those adverts do nothing for you, especially described coldly
Read moreOne of my favourite ways of winding down at the end of the day is watching Castle. Castle is one of the many identikit US crime dramas in which a glamorous team of detectives solves a murder with a minimum of fuss and a sprinkling of humorous one-liners. Of course, every murder is solved within the hour
Read moreI was surprised and saddened by the news this week that Robin Williams has died. He was an actor whose films I grew up with and loved; he was guaranteed to make me laugh! But by all accounts, behind his quick-tongued, comic, public persona was a deep darkness and despair, a loneliness and a fear
Read moreTwice in this last week I have had conversations where someone has asked what hope there is for the strife in Gaza. Like many people, I suppose, I was at a loss to have anything very insightful to say. The conflict there seems intractable, like a wound that never really heals, just waiting for one
Read moreRomans 8:28 is a special promise to many Christians, and for good reasons. I remember my mother ‘giving’ it to me as I left home. It has been precious to me ever since – and I think I even understand it better now! It’s well worth chewing over every word or phrase: “And we know
Read moreChristians pray. If you never pray, it is safe to say that you are not a Christian. (Mind you, prayer itself does not make anyone a Christian – there are millions of people who would not call themselves Christians at all and yet they pray). But what do Christians pray for? David Powlison suggests helpfully
Read moreAs expected, this week the General Synod of the Church of England at last agreed to allow the consecration of women as bishops. I say ‘at last’ because for some time it has seemed to be a matter of time and getting the wording right for the legislation to pass, and that has now happened.
Read moreWhat do we need most from God, justice or mercy? The answer is that we need both. We often hear people – and some Christians among them – complaining that life is not fair, and that God himself is not fair. “Where is the God of justice?” they cry. Some will even turn away from
Read moreThere aren’t many songs that focus directly on God speaking to us through his word. One of the best in my view is Keith Getty and Stuart Townend’s Speak, O Lord – a song we often sing at church. Here’s how the second verse begins: “Teach us, Lord, full obedience, holy reverence, true humility; Test
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