The village of Lampwood had a library full of ancient stories which was run by a kind librarian. These stories told of amazing adventures: one of how the village was once freed from a cruel tyrant, and another how a brave rebellion overthrew an occupying army. One story even told of how the land itself… Continue reading Protecting Lampwood: a Narnian parable
Category: Recommended books & reviews
Narnia Nerds: Hold your Nerve
In February, my favourite Narnia book finally reaches the cinema. Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will be the first ever screen version of the 'creation story' of Narnia, where Aslan sings a new world into being. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDJ-ini7fF0 As a self-confessed Narnia nerd, I am excited. But many hardcore Narnia fans are not happy. To… Continue reading Narnia Nerds: Hold your Nerve
Some truth, little grace: ‘Suicidal Empathy’ by Gad Saad [review]
Review: Suicidal Empathy: Dying to be Kind by Gad Saad (HarperCollins, 2026) I am drawn to books which explore the complexities in how we help others: Toxic Charity, When Helping Hurts, The Kindness that Kills, Beware of Pity. So after just hearing the title, I ordered Suicidal Empathy without knowing much about it. The first… Continue reading Some truth, little grace: ‘Suicidal Empathy’ by Gad Saad [review]
Praying in the poly-crisis: help to swim against a tide of despair – by Lee Marsden
Photo by TEP RO on Pexels.com We live in a world seemingly spiralling out of control facing environmental catastrophe, unparalleled greed and injustice, wars, famine, and homelessness. What good are our prayers and actions when set against the violence and injustice towards people and creation itself? It is easy to succumb to a counsel of… Continue reading Praying in the poly-crisis: help to swim against a tide of despair – by Lee Marsden
‘When The Music Fades: Power, Surrender and the Soul Survivor Generation’ by Lucy Sixsmith [review]
Soul Survivor was a popular and influential Christian youth festival which ran from 1993 to 2019 and attracted thousands of young people every summer. In addition, there is also a year-round church based in Watford with the same name. Both had been founded and led by the charismatic youth worker Mike Pilavachi. As a teenager,… Continue reading ‘When The Music Fades: Power, Surrender and the Soul Survivor Generation’ by Lucy Sixsmith [review]
“Compelling, controversial & convincing…my vote for Christian book of the year”
Tough messages are not shared easily. It’s one of the key themes of this blog. If it doesn’t challenge you, then it doesn't change you. But, let’s be honest, we all prefer easy forms of grace than tough messages of truth. And if this is true for individuals, then it’s even more so for organisations.… Continue reading “Compelling, controversial & convincing…my vote for Christian book of the year”
Freely I have received: the grace of 150 nights of hospitality
Three years ago, I started a new job with Hope into Action, a Christian charity providing homes for people who have been homeless, based in Peterborough. There are always anxieties in taking on a new job, but one main concern I had was geographic: the charity is based nowhere near where I live in south… Continue reading Freely I have received: the grace of 150 nights of hospitality
Ruinous empathy or radical candour? – by Anna Price
We have a growing cultural problem that affects the world of work and much of the church: we don’t like being challenged by others. Few of us want to go back to the days of aggressive bosses, stiff upper lips and stoicism. But the current cultural climate can mean we lack confidence in the vital… Continue reading Ruinous empathy or radical candour? – by Anna Price
Untruthful cultures eat safeguarding for breakfast
A review of Safeguarding the Institution: how the culture of the Church of England facilitates abuse by Stephen Kuhrt (2025) Leadership guru Peter Drucker famously said: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” What Drucker meant was that whatever values an organisation articulates, or whatever plans, policies or aspirations it has, will always be trumped by its… Continue reading Untruthful cultures eat safeguarding for breakfast
The Anti-Greed Gospel
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Review of The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward; Malcolm Foley (BraznosPress, 2024) On a flight to New York last year, I watched Martin Scorsese’s film Killers of the Flower Moon. It is a… Continue reading The Anti-Greed Gospel
