At the start of this book, Andrew Root outlines ‘The Bonhoeffer Phenomenon’, the term coined for the divergent Christian tribes who have bestowed hero status on the German theologian. One consequence is that books on Bonhoeffer are warped by the theological commitment of the authors, whether they be radical, liberal or conservative. Bonhoeffer's legacy easily falls victim to the tribal propaganda rife in… Continue reading Concrete faith: A review of ‘Dietrich Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker’ by Andrew Root
Author: Jon Kuhrt
Jon Kuhrt has worked with people affected by homelessness for over 30 years. He is a former government adviser on how faith groups address rough sleeping and is now CEO of Hope into Action. He lives with his wife in Streatham, south London and they have 3 children. He likes football....but loves cricket.
Comforting the disturbed, and disturbing the comfortable
There are plenty of reasons why Christianity, especially in Western countries, is perceived as a religion of the rich and powerful. Over the last two thousand years, a huge amount of unhelpful cultural and historical baggage has accumulated around Christianity. The best antidote is to return to the Bible and be reminded of what Jesus actually said and… Continue reading Comforting the disturbed, and disturbing the comfortable
Fat Cat Tuesday: top bosses have already made more money by today than the typical UK worker will earn in a year
I work for a charity that helps homeless people in the West End of London. A few weeks ago I walked out of my office and saw this car parked outside - a gold Bentley. I am used to seeing flash cars in the area - like people sleeping rough, it's a hallmark of central London life.… Continue reading Fat Cat Tuesday: top bosses have already made more money by today than the typical UK worker will earn in a year
Five Helps for the New Year
I was really struck by reading these 'Five Helps for the New Year' shared on Facebook recently by Mark Bryant, the Bishop of Jarrow. They were written by Michael Ramsey, (right) who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961-74, for his clergy. They are full of deep spiritual insight and good sense. I want to hold onto them as… Continue reading Five Helps for the New Year
Honour where it’s due: Neil Jameson & the difference between profile & real influence
I am not a big fan of the Honours system which awards Knighthoods, CBEs, OBEs and MBEs every year. Again this year there has been controversy over political bias in the awards as the director of the Conservative election campaign, Lynton Crosby, was given a knighthood. And as The Times reports, despite only 7% of the… Continue reading Honour where it’s due: Neil Jameson & the difference between profile & real influence
R&R’s Christmas Quiz: Activists who have changed the world
Time for an R&R Christmas quiz! Can you name these 12 activists who have put their Christian faith into action and helped to change the world: How many do you reckon you have got? For the answers and a little bit more about each of them see here. Many of these people are now relatively famous for their achievements.… Continue reading R&R’s Christmas Quiz: Activists who have changed the world
Can you help a homeless person exchange the cold streets for a warm bed this Christmas?
Dear R&R friends, Thanks for reading R&R this year. I continue to be encouraged by the growth of interest and from the comments and messages I receive via this blog. So far this year over 140,000 different people have visited the site. As you may know, much of what is written comes from reflection on my work.… Continue reading Can you help a homeless person exchange the cold streets for a warm bed this Christmas?
We need more silence in our lives
Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com "In modern culture, it almost seems like silence is extinct. We have given noise our consent to fill every moment of life. And it’s not just sonic noise, but even the mental noise that comes from constant entertainment. Through our smartphones, our tablets and our laptops, we always have access… Continue reading We need more silence in our lives
‘A revolution of the heart’ – Remembering Dorothy Day
Today is the 35th anniversary of the death of the radical catholic activist, Dorothy Day, who founded the Catholic Worker movement in the 1930s. She was a journalist who, after converting to Catholicism, worked in New York, running a house of hospitality for homeless people and working for peace through her writing, protest and civil disobedience. She… Continue reading ‘A revolution of the heart’ – Remembering Dorothy Day
Christmas Pretox: a pre-emptive strike on festive busyness
‘I want to simplify your lives. When others are telling you to read more, I want to tell you to read less; when others are telling you to do more, I want to tell you to do less. The world does not need more of you; it needs more of God. Your friends do not… Continue reading Christmas Pretox: a pre-emptive strike on festive busyness
Grace + Truth 