Social commentary, Wellbeing

Men, grief and talking the talk

On International Men’s Day last year I wrote about how the Beer Club I am in with old school mates had gone online during Covid. The main point of the article was about the need for men to talk openly about how they are. A poll on the article showed that almost a quarter of… Continue reading Men, grief and talking the talk

Social commentary

Crossing Jordan: Peterson & polarisation

Jordan Peterson provokes intensely strong reactions. Maybe you have just experienced one in seeing the title and image of this blog post. Peterson's talks and lectures online are incredibly popular, especially with young men. His book 12 Rules for Life and his famous interview on Channel 4 News with Cathy Newman (since watched 34 million… Continue reading Crossing Jordan: Peterson & polarisation

Ethics & Christian living, Sport

3 lessons for the Church from the Yorkshire Cricket racism scandal

Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) is one of the most famous sporting institutions in the world. They have won the County Championship a record 33 times and have produced cricketing legends such as Sir Len Hutton, Fred Trueman, Geoffrey Boycott and the current England captain, Joe Root. Stubborn But even within cricket’s conservative culture, YCCC… Continue reading 3 lessons for the Church from the Yorkshire Cricket racism scandal

Sport

‘A slur which insults and wounds’: racism is not banter

Azeem Rafiq's father at Yorkshire CCC yesterday I am a member of a Facebook group for cricket fans. Over the last few days, there has inevitably been a lot of discussion, some of it very heated, about the racist bullying that Azeem Rafiq has faced at Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC). If you are not… Continue reading ‘A slur which insults and wounds’: racism is not banter

Recommended books & reviews

‘Bleeding for Jesus’ by Andrew Graystone [review]

The Riot Club is a film about an elitist drinking club at Oxford University. At one of their gatherings, events get badly out of hand and a pub landlord ends up being killed. In the ensuing investigation, the students agree to not cooperate with the authorities in order to protect the club.   Bleeding for… Continue reading ‘Bleeding for Jesus’ by Andrew Graystone [review]

Recommended books & reviews

Child sacrifice: the other side of missionary life

Home is Where: The Journeys of a Missionary Child by Margaret Newbigin Beetham From the 1930s to the 1970s, Lesslie Newbigin was a missionary and Bishop in South India. When he ‘retired’ back to England, he pastored an inner city church in Birmingham, lectured and wrote a series of highly influential books.  No Christian writer… Continue reading Child sacrifice: the other side of missionary life

Ethics & Christian living

The virus of celebrity Christianity

Chris Tomlin is a popular Christian composer and worship leader. For his forthcoming tour, he has partnered with Hillsong's worship band United. Their promotional material is another example of how the virus of celebrity culture has infected Christianity: The “Tomlin UNITED” Tour aims to not only bring the church back together but also bring faith… Continue reading The virus of celebrity Christianity

Ethics & Christian living

A tale of two vicars: one exploiting the status quo, the other challenging it

Jonathan Fletcher was the vicar of Emmanuel Church Wimbledon (ECW) and enjoyed a high-profile and influential ministry. But in recent years, his bullying, coercive and abusive behaviour has been exposed.  A report by the Safeguarding Agency thirtyone:eight catalogued Fletcher’s long-running pattern of sexual and spiritual abuse.   Much of the fall-out from this scandal has… Continue reading A tale of two vicars: one exploiting the status quo, the other challenging it

Ethics & Christian living

A tale of two vicars: one exploiting the status quo, the other challenging it

Jonathan Fletcher was the vicar of Emmanuel Church Wimbledon (ECW) and enjoyed a high-profile and influential ministry. But in recent years, his bullying, coercive and abusive behaviour has been exposed.  A report by the Safeguarding Agency thirtyone:eight catalogued Fletcher’s long-running pattern of sexual and spiritual abuse.   Much of the fall-out from this scandal has… Continue reading A tale of two vicars: one exploiting the status quo, the other challenging it

Personal

Marrying grace and truth

In summer 2001, my wife and I left church together as a newly married couple. This picture of us walking into bright sunlight is my favourite photo from that day. In the months before the wedding, to help us get ready for life together, we enrolled on a Marriage Preparation Course. Two aspects of the course made a… Continue reading Marrying grace and truth