"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Jesus, Matthew's Gospel 7:3 If I blog with sparkling wit and powerful prose, but do not have love, I am just a blaring horn or a screech on a blackboard. If I… Continue reading The blog in my own eye
Category: Personal
The most rewarding 30 minutes of my week – by Stephen Kuhrt
The 'Tales from the Bible' team As a church leader, I’m incredibly fortunate to have a job that I love. After 22 years of ordained ministry, I still wake up each morning full of enthusiasm for the everyday tasks of being a vicar: planning services, writing talks, pastoral care, taking funerals and weddings, encouraging people’s… Continue reading The most rewarding 30 minutes of my week – by Stephen Kuhrt
‘A light to my path’: my battered, 32 year old working companion
In 1993, I was in my second year studying social work at Hull University. I had just read Ron Sider’s book Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger which relentlessly emphasises how much poverty and social injustice are core themes in the bible. It gave me further reason to question why many of the Christians… Continue reading ‘A light to my path’: my battered, 32 year old working companion
“You’re important, we’re in charge”: grace & truth for kids
Photo by Josh Willink on Pexels.com I was on a train recently sitting next to a parent who had two young children with her, a girl of about 5 and her younger brother aged about 3. The girl was trying to read a book but the brother kept hitting the book out of her hands… Continue reading “You’re important, we’re in charge”: grace & truth for kids
Mental health, faith & grief: Remembering Graham Thorpe – by Andrew Ryland
Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels.com Please be aware that this article covers themes of suicide. The second day of the England versus India Test match at the Oval was designated A Day for Thorpey in honour of Graham Thorpe, who died a year ago at the age of 55. Initiated by his family, this… Continue reading Mental health, faith & grief: Remembering Graham Thorpe – by Andrew Ryland
The kindness of strangers
On Friday night my wife and I had a great evening out with a few beers and a meal with old friends from my university. We got the bus home but after we had got off at our stop, I realised that I did not have my phone with me. I knew immediately what I… Continue reading The kindness of strangers
Jeremy Swain: mentor, friend & inspiration
I was devastated to hear that Jeremy Swain had died after a short illness. Jeremy was a great friend, mentor and colleague who had a huge influence on my working life. No one has shown me more about what good leadership looks like. Jeremy had worked for homelessness charity Thames Reach for 30 years. He… Continue reading Jeremy Swain: mentor, friend & inspiration
Comfortable in our own skin? – by Stephen Brown
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Mark 1: 40-45 (NLT) I vividly remember the first time… Continue reading Comfortable in our own skin? – by Stephen Brown
Finding space for grace
The chapel at Scargill, Yorkshire, UK After Easter, I felt I needed a week off work and cleared my diary for a week in May without a firm idea of what I would do. I thought a retreat would be good to explore, so I looked at the website of Scargill House in Yorkshire as… Continue reading Finding space for grace
‘A massive dose of truth’
Photo by MART on Pexels.com How would you respond if one of your children became seriously addicted to drugs and started stealing off you and their siblings to maintain their habit? I have often written on G+T about the importance of boundaries when supporting people affected by addictions. I have referred to this in the… Continue reading ‘A massive dose of truth’
Grace + Truth 