Recently I read John Bunyan's classic tale Pilgrim's Progress, published in 1678. Like some of the most powerful Christian writings, for example Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Letters from Prison and Paul's Letter to the Philippians, it is a book written from a prison cell. What makes it such a brilliant book… Continue reading John Bunyan’s warning to bloggers
Category: Ethics & Christian living
The Church has forfeited the right to have a say on gay marriage
For as long as I can remember the church in the UK has treated people who are gay horrifically. We have denied, we have judged, we have excluded, we have hurt, we have silenced. The vicious aggression of the recent banned bus ads doesn't represent the approach of all Christians, but the church as a whole… Continue reading The Church has forfeited the right to have a say on gay marriage
Why I signed the ‘Coalition for Marriage’ Petition – by Lizzie Schofield
Photo by Megapixelstock on Pexels.com A week or so ago I shared a link on Facebook to the Coalition for Marriage Petition. Its aim is to preserve the ‘traditional’ marriage unit of one man and one woman. It’s a cause I support, and many of my Facebook friends oppose. I wanted to write this article… Continue reading Why I signed the ‘Coalition for Marriage’ Petition – by Lizzie Schofield
Having my cake & eating it: a Lent reflection – by Nikki Kuhrt
Photo by Antonio Quagliata on Pexels.com ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’ Jesus ‘Is there anything a donut cannot do?’ Homer Simpson Although I believe there is more to life than food, Homer’s words speak to my soul. Not only do I love a crispy crème donut, I am also equally partial to biscuits,… Continue reading Having my cake & eating it: a Lent reflection – by Nikki Kuhrt
When good people do nothing
"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" Edmund Burke Photo by Guilherme Christmann on Pexels.com ‘This city desert makes you feel so cold, it’s got so many people but it’s got no soul’ Jerry Rafferty, Baker Street Last Friday I was getting the tube home from work and… Continue reading When good people do nothing
Busyness: the enemy of spirituality
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
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
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
Should I lie about Santa Claus?
Photo by lascot studio on Pexels.com Welcome to December everyone. I now officially allow myself to talk about Christmas. And this year I have a new challenge and I need your help. For the first time my daughter will be old enough to know what is going on and to ask about Santa Claus (to… Continue reading Should I lie about Santa Claus?
Grace + Truth 