The death of Pope Francis today has created an incredible wave of sadness and appreciation for his life and ministry. Since becoming Pope in March 2013, Jorge Bergoglio's generosity, simplicity and passion for social justice has inspired those both inside and outside the Church. But as Paul Vallely's superb biography, Pope Francis: Untying the Knots shows, Bergoglio's journey to becoming… Continue reading Pope Francis: ‘We are tired of systems that produce poor people’
Category: Recommended books & reviews
‘I packed my bags and left consumer Christianity behind’
The Miracle of Cana of Galilee by Alexandra Desnitskaya Review of Water to Wine: some of my story by Brian Zahnd Brian Zahnd was a pastor of a successful church in Missouri that he had founded and led for over 20 years: “From a certain perspective things couldn’t have been better. I had a large church… Continue reading ‘I packed my bags and left consumer Christianity behind’
The best book I read in 2024
I read some great books in 2024. Among them, The Wood Between the Worlds by Brian Zahnd, Fully Alive by Elizabeth Oldfield, Where the Light Fell by Philip Yancey, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry and Open by Andre Agassi.… Continue reading The best book I read in 2024
“This is my life. I want no other”: faith, politics & belonging – by Ian Geary
“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is… Continue reading “This is my life. I want no other”: faith, politics & belonging – by Ian Geary
The deepest grace & truth: the crux of Christian faith
Review of The Wood Between the Worlds: a Poetic Theology of the Cross – by Brian Zahnd (IVP, 2024) There is nothing more central to Christian theology than Jesus’ death on the cross. As Brian Zahnd puts it: “Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross and proceeds from the cross…the crucifixion of Jesus… Continue reading The deepest grace & truth: the crux of Christian faith
The contemporary nature of poverty. And why it matters.
In his autobiography, the legendary footballer Bobby Charlton wrote about the material poverty he grew up in a North East of England mining community in 1940s. He records how everyone in his neighbourhood would be hungry the two days before pay-day because everyone was surviving on just bread and margarine. Charlton describes the insecurity and… Continue reading The contemporary nature of poverty. And why it matters.
Fully Alive: tending to the soul in turbulent times [review]
Fully Alive: tending to the soul in turbulent times by Elizabeth Oldfield (Hodder & Stoughton, 2024) Fully Alive is a fresh, thoughtful and extremely honest attempt to build a bridge between the Christian faith and those outside the church bubble. It had me hooked from the first page. Like all the best books, this book… Continue reading Fully Alive: tending to the soul in turbulent times [review]
Christianity: what is real and what is fake?
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com I have just read Philip Yancey’s memoir Where the Light Fell. Its an account of his life growing up in poverty and fundamentalism in Atlanta, Georgia with his widowed mother and older brother. Yancey’s father was a Baptist Minister who was just 23 when he died from polio: ‘Dozens,… Continue reading Christianity: what is real and what is fake?
The denial & reality of trauma: a tale of two books
A few months ago, Keith Hebden wrote a G+T guest article titled Complicity or challenge? Responding to self-limiting excuses in which he shared insights from the psychologist Alfred Adler. He wrote: “For Adler it is our goals that determine our limitations and not our past. He argued that it can be tempting to take comfort in the… Continue reading The denial & reality of trauma: a tale of two books
Following Jesus; seeking justice
This week saw the London launch of a new book from the Red Letter Christians UK. Each chapter is a story of how following Jesus has led people into activism for justice. My story recalls the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Below I share two excerpts which connect my role as a volunteer… Continue reading Following Jesus; seeking justice
