We now have a Cranmer room… but who was he? Thomas Cranmer was Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and briefly Mary I, when he was burned at the stake for his Protestant views. He was the architect of the Book of Common Prayer, so it is to him that
Read moreI have been thinking about the love of God, getting ready to speak on these famous words: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” (John 3:16). When we think of God’s love, it is natural to think that his love is like ours, although bigger and better. Indeed it
Read moreThat was the headline on the BBC News website this week, after it came to light that one of the world’s biggest carmakers Volkswagen has admitted to using software to provide false emission test results for its diesel cars in the US, affecting 500,000 vehicles in the US alone and up to 11 million worldwide.
Read morePerhaps you recognise those words? They come from Revelation 14:13. They are also the title of a helpful booklet by Roger Carswell. With two members of our church family dying so recently, I turned to it once again. How can we say that those who die in the Lord are blessed? The answer comes in
Read moreThis last week lots of us have been having a fabulous time at the Wild, Wild West Holiday Club. It probably didn’t look much like the wild, wild west but we did have some excellent teepees and lots of cactuses (or should that be cacti?) One of the most famous westerns, and some would say
Read moreDo you remember the song I want to know what love is? It was released back in 1984 by Foreigner. The singer seems confident that his beloved can show him what love is, and that love is real. We humans prize love, we long for it and look for it. The constant outpouring of love songs in
Read moreEver feel there is not enough time? Life can feel so busy these days and I often feel I’m not giving enough time to my immediate family, my wider family, my church family, my friends, my work. With all the things on the to do list there is definitely no time for rest as well.
Read moreIf we belong to Christ, we enjoy a wonderful intimacy with God. Through Christ, we know God as “Father” and he calls us his “sons”; Jesus himself calls us “friends” and “brothers” (Romans 8:15, Galatians 3:26, John 15:15, John 20:17). So, what could be more natural than to think of God as our friend? God
Read moreHow can hell be both “outer darkness” and “eternal fire”, very hot and very cold? It is Jesus himself who tells us it is both (e.g. Matthew 25:30, 41, ESV) – and presumably he knows what he’s talking about? To be honest, it’s something I’d simply accepted without really asking why it should be so.
Read moreI guess most of us have ready definitions for many things, including theological things, things like sin. So, for example, we might say: sin is rebellion; sin is lawbreaking; sin is falling short; and so on. How often, I wonder, do we think of sin as folly? Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be is
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