Category: Ethics & Christian living

On the podcast, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, a former staff member of the church recounts a time when he accompanied the pastor, Mark Driscoll, to a preaching engagement at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  After the event, a few people were waiting outside to get Driscoll’s autograph and a photo with… Continue reading ‘I am kind of a Big Deal’: insecure pride and humble confidence

Once upon a time in the town of Northrun, there was a shepherd called Whistleblow. He was one of many shepherds who worked for Lord Northrun who owned most of the land in the area. Each shepherd had their own flock to look after. Whistleblow was loud and had strong opinions, but he was fair,… Continue reading Whistleblow and the sheep-guarders: a parable

For 8 years, I led a homelessness charity which was based in offices attached to a church. In these offices, there was a room that we frequently used for smaller meetings. On the end wall of this room there was a small cross. During the years I was in the job, many of the most… Continue reading The cross on the wall

You could say that Martin Bashir is reaping what he has sown. For 26 years his career and reputation has been enhanced by his famous interview with Princess Diana, then the most iconic woman in the world.  He elicited responses from her which are now historic quotes, and won awards for his journalism. But an… Continue reading Martin Bashir and being ‘evangelical’ about the truth

There are many obvious forms of status anxiety, such as worrying about the brand of the car we drive, the location of our home or the success of our careers. But a more subtle version relates to our concern for how much we are seen as someone who is compassionate or concerned for social justice.… Continue reading Dealing with status anxiety

I will never forget being in Sydney in March many years ago and being part of a huge green party.  A city on the other side of the world from Ireland was awash with shamrocks and Guinness hats. St Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland and a celebration famous across the globe. But… Continue reading St Patrick and the power of the gospel

Among the graves of the great and famous in Westminster Abbey lies buried an ordinary, anonymous soldier who lost his life in the Great War.  It is known as the tomb of the Unknown Soldier: a symbol to remember of the sacrifice and courage of ordinary men and women. In some ways Captain Sir Tom… Continue reading The Well-Known Soldier – by Olive Kuhrt

The New Year can be a focus for hope and change: a time of decision, to choose certain paths and resist others. In Jeremiah 6:16 it says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your… Continue reading Standing at the Crossroads of a New Year

Over the last 10 years the Queen has been increasingly open about her Christian faith in her Christmas Day message. This quote particularly struck me from her speech this year: "The teachings of Christ have served as my inner light." Whatever your views on the Royal family, I think everyone can learn from the way that the Queen speaks… Continue reading The Queen gives us a model of how to talk about faith publicly