Photo by Mauru00edcio Mascaro on Pexels.com How often do you hear people make comments like: 'I’m so busy' or ‘It’s been a crazy week’ or ‘I just don’t know how I am going to get everything done’. Being honest, I find myself saying things like this all the time. I've been thinking - why do I say… Continue reading Busyness: the enemy of spirituality
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.
Lent: the best time for a bit of R&R
Today is Shrove Tuesday so tomorrow Lent will begin. At a church we visited on Sunday, the minister spoke about Lent as ‘a time of preparation for Easter, the most important Christian festival’. My 7 year old son Tom turned to me aghast and said (a bit too loudly) "Easter? More important than Christmas? I think Christmas is loads… Continue reading Lent: the best time for a bit of R&R
In the mixer…or just mixed up? Why Baroness Warsi is wrong about secularism – by Ronnie Stockton
This is a guest post written by Ronnie Stockton I’m not averse to the odd footy cliche, so obviously the ‘in the mixer’ tagline of yesterday's R&R post caught my eye. As an atheist, I do find that faith is a 'funny old game' and I was intrigued by the passionate debates created by Baroness Warsi's article about … Continue reading In the mixer…or just mixed up? Why Baroness Warsi is wrong about secularism – by Ronnie Stockton
Baroness Warsi, secularism and putting faith ‘in the mixer’
Photo by RODOLPHE ASENSI on Pexels.com Baroness Warsi's article on faith and secularism in the Daily Telegraph this morning has created an Almighty debate. After the controversies over the banning of prayers at Bideford Council meetings, it's yet another example of how issues of faith are increasingly right at the heart of public debate. In… Continue reading Baroness Warsi, secularism and putting faith ‘in the mixer’
How an urban holiday club changed my life
I grew up in a large C of E church in South Croydon. Looking back it was a church which gave me a lot of great things – most of which I did not appreciate at the time. Every year the church sent a number of volunteers to help with Scripture Union’s annual Holiday Club… Continue reading How an urban holiday club changed my life
The Commodification of Unfaithfulness
This article was originally published on Ekklesia in November 2011 On 6th January Jon Kuhrt was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 on the You and Yours programme about the Faithfulness Matters campaign In January 2010, I was driving close to where we live in South London when my five year old son asked; "Daddy, what’s… Continue reading The Commodification of Unfaithfulness
The way of Jesus: comforting the disturbed & disturbing the comfortable
Photo by SevenStorm JUHASZIMRUS on Pexels.com The Occupy LSX camp outside St Paul's Cathedral has meant that that the church's relationship with causes of political and economic justice has been front page news in recent months in an unprecedented way. It has lead to a politicised renewal of the phrase What Would Jesus Do? This… Continue reading The way of Jesus: comforting the disturbed & disturbing the comfortable
Three reasons why everyone should watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ this Christmas
In my view, It’s a Wonderful Life is not the best Christmas film ever. It is simply the best film ever, full stop. Released in 1946, the film focuses on the life of a man called George Bailey (James Stewart) who lives in the small town of Bedford Falls. As a young man, George intends to ‘shake… Continue reading Three reasons why everyone should watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ this Christmas
I find praying hard
Since becoming a Christian I have always found praying hard. I know its important and valuable – but I find it difficult. I have tried various books to help me. Many have stimulated my thinking and intellectual reflection about my faith. Too often though, in the words of the band Switchfoot, this just 'adds to the noise’. I get loads of… Continue reading I find praying hard
Just Can’t Get Enough Enjoying the Silence with a Personal Jesus*
Do random, bizarre questions ever arise in your mind? I had one the other day which went like this: Over the course of my life what I have spent more time doing - listening to Depeche Mode music or praying? To be honest, its a close call. In the past I have spent a lot of time listening to… Continue reading Just Can’t Get Enough Enjoying the Silence with a Personal Jesus*
Grace + Truth 