When I was in my twenties, I lived in Kings Cross in London and was a member of a local church. There, I got to know a man who was a former crack addict. We'll call him Ian. He was doing his best to put his life back together and get work as a painter… Continue reading The need for grace and truth: the complexity of compassion #1
‘A House Built on Love’ by Ed Walker [Review]
Ed Walker worked in Darfur, Sudan with the Christian relief and development charity, Tearfund, before returning home to the UK with his wife, Rachel. They moved to Peterborough where Walker started working for a homelessness charity. The death of one of the residents provoked him to question the inadequacies of the system he is working… Continue reading ‘A House Built on Love’ by Ed Walker [Review]
Share this:
Nostalgia just ain’t what it used to be…
‘Never ask, "Why were things so much better in the old days?" It's not an intelligent question.’ (Ecclesiastes 7:10) There is often no shortage of people in churches who look back fondly on the past. In times gone by there always seems to be more vision, more energy and more faith. A similar tendency affects… Continue reading Nostalgia just ain’t what it used to be…
Share this:
Good Friday? Coronavirus, conspiracies and the cross
In recent weeks I have been sent a number of videos which share conspiracy theories about the ‘real cause’ of Coronavirus. Often they blend an pretty incoherent mix of pseudo-science (e.g. about the 5G mobile network), along with some character assassination (e.g. Bill Gates or Barack Obama) and a dollop of ‘end-time prophesy’ (often from… Continue reading Good Friday? Coronavirus, conspiracies and the cross
Share this:
This Easter, more than ever, light can shine in the darkness – by Gordon Kuhrt
Some years ago my wife Olive and I led a holiday group to Corfu at Eastertime. The local people there certainly knew how to celebrate. The week before Easter was packed with events, especially on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. But the highlight for me came late on the Saturday evening – the night before… Continue reading This Easter, more than ever, light can shine in the darkness – by Gordon Kuhrt
Share this:
Faith in Politics Simplified
My 16 year old son Danny is really into politics. He and some friends have started a youtube channel Politics Simplified which aims to explain political processes and ideas to young people. Here is one of their videos about the First Past the Post voting system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNc_o5P38rk&t=62s Recently, they also went to Parliament to interview… Continue reading Faith in Politics Simplified
Share this:
Faith and courage in response to a deadly virus
In 1665, the people in the remote Derbyshire village of Eyam realised that their village had become infected with the bubonic plague. Fleas infected with the disease had been brought to the village in a bundle of damp cloth from London. The tailor who unpacked the cloth and hung it to dry in front of… Continue reading Faith and courage in response to a deadly virus
Share this:
A problem of resources, relationships or identity? Knife crime & the Church
Knife crime and youth violence are urgent and pressing issues in my south London community. As a parent of three secondary school-age children, it’s never far from my thoughts. Like so many families, our children have been affected by muggings and threats. This week in my youth group we held a raw and honest session looking… Continue reading A problem of resources, relationships or identity? Knife crime & the Church
