Photo by Aidan Roof on Pexels.com Blaise Pascal (1623- 1662) was a French philosopher, mathematician, inventor and Christian writer. He wrote about faith in a highly skeptical time, just after the Thirty Years War where Europe had descended into brutality and chaos as Christians killed each other over doctrinal differences. Despite this disastrous religious violence, Pascal argued that the Christian… Continue reading ‘All of humanity’s problems stem from our inability to sit quietly in a room alone’
Category: Ethics & Christian living
Dealing with discouragements as a parent – by Olive Kuhrt
Children can bring us a lot of happiness, but as I have reflected on how I was brought up, how I brought up my children and as I see my ten grand-children being brought up, I think the whole process is tougher than ever. Parents can face a lot of discouragement. We should not minimize the… Continue reading Dealing with discouragements as a parent – by Olive Kuhrt
‘Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference’
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com At the church where my work is based, over 200 people come into the building every day for 12 Step fellowship groups. The most famous of these is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) but there is also Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Over-eaters Anonymous (OA), Debtors Anonymous (DA) and Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA). … Continue reading ‘Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference’
Low pay or Living Wage: does the Church practice what it preaches?
Some Christians might be delighted that today’s front page headline in Britain’s most popular newspaper is a direct quote from Paul’s Letter to the Romans. But the article titled ‘Wages of Sin’ highlights the Church of England’s inconsistency in simultaneously calling for the Living Wage but not paying this to all of its staff. True… Continue reading Low pay or Living Wage: does the Church practice what it preaches?
‘I have come to see that there is good in every situation’ – Kayla Mueller’s hope in captivity
Photo by Tu00fcrker Burak TURGUT on Pexels.com The family of Kayla Mueller, a US aid worker who was being held by ISIS, have confirmed that she has been killed. Before she was captured, she told her hometown paper in Prescott, Arizona: “It’s important to stop and realize what we have, why we have it and how privileged we are.… Continue reading ‘I have come to see that there is good in every situation’ – Kayla Mueller’s hope in captivity
The Church, gay relationships and the truth
Photo by Alexander Grey on Pexels.com All Christians have to grapple with the challenge of how the truth revealed in the Bible relates to the truth revealed in our experiences. Over the years truths that are accepted in previous eras are challenged and church practice evolves. For example, few Christians still believe that St Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians mean that women… Continue reading The Church, gay relationships and the truth
‘I just want to do God’s will’ – Martin Luther King’s final speech
Photo by Hugo Magalhaes on Pexels.com Every day around 100 homeless people come to the day centre run by the West London Mission for a hot breakfast, showers, clothing or to see our in-house doctor or nurse. Every Tuesday a Spirituality Discussion group takes place in the TV room led by our Chaplain. I love it… Continue reading ‘I just want to do God’s will’ – Martin Luther King’s final speech
I am Not Charlie: a Christian response to the killings in Paris – by Bob Ekblad
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I was deeply troubled by the news of the killings of journalists at Charlie Hebdo, France’s beloved satirical newspaper, by two French Muslim brothers of Algerian descent, Chérif and Saïd Kouachi. I’ve been haunted by footage I saw of these gunmen’s shooting of a police officer in cold blood on… Continue reading I am Not Charlie: a Christian response to the killings in Paris – by Bob Ekblad
We cannot pretend this violence has nothing to do with religion
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com My next door neighbour is a devout Muslim and he is the best neighbour that it is possible to have. He recently replaced the fence between our gardens. Not only did he refuse to accept any contribution from us for the cost of the new fence, but while we were away he came… Continue reading We cannot pretend this violence has nothing to do with religion
The Queen’s Christmas message: a model of how to talk about faith in the public sphere
The Queen's message, broadcast on Christmas Day was viewed by almost 8 million people this year. This meant it topped the Christmas viewing charts. In recent years, the Queen has been increasingly open about her Christian faith. This quote particularly struck me this year: “For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, whose birth we… Continue reading The Queen’s Christmas message: a model of how to talk about faith in the public sphere
Grace + Truth 