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
Category: Wellbeing
Rage stoked by the Machine: the algorithms are against us
Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com Nothing reveals the health of a culture more than how well people disagree with each other. And this is especially true within local communities. This is why terms like community cohesion and social capital have become important because they describe a vital sense of relational connection and commonality that… Continue reading Rage stoked by the Machine: the algorithms are against us
Discipleship takes Practice: the best Christian course I have ever done
Earlier this year, I reviewed the book Practicing the Way and said it was the best book I read in 2024. And earlier this summer, as a church we completed the 8 week Practicing the Way course. In many ways the course has been even more significant experience as I have travelled on this journey… Continue reading Discipleship takes Practice: the best Christian course I have ever done
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 heavy burden of self-justification
Photo by lalesh aldarwish on Pexels.com When I was manager of an emergency shelter for rough sleepers in central London, I led a team which was constantly in danger of arguing and falling out. Many difficult decisions had to made every day and it was hard to avoid the chaos of our resident's lives infecting… Continue reading The heavy burden of self-justification
The daddy of social problems: grace, truth & fatherhood
Photo by Juan Pablo Serrano on Pexels.com Every year, Father’s Day produces a dilemma for public conversations: how do you acknowledge the importance of fathers, without causing upset or distress to those who have had negative experiences? It’s a balance that churches grapple with every year on Father’s Day. We need to be both sensitive… Continue reading The daddy of social problems: grace, truth & fatherhood
The Hope of Easter: my journey from darkness to light – by Emma Heath
For many Easter is a family time, the relief of a long weekend with good food, friends to catch up with and the excitement of the celebrations of Easter Sunday. Yet for many, especially those gripped in addiction, Easter often feels lonely and just another day of pain, where the longing for community, relationships and… Continue reading The Hope of Easter: my journey from darkness to light – by Emma Heath
Fatherlessness & homelessness – by Mark Wood
giselaatje from pixabay It feels like suddenly, everyone is talking about boys and the malign influences they are under. The success of the Netflix drama Adolescence has given the issue global profile and Gareth Southgate’s excellent Dimbleby lecture added to this. The recent Lost Boys report by the Centre for Social Justice highlights the disparity… Continue reading Fatherlessness & homelessness – by Mark Wood
‘Adolescence’ could be the ‘Cathy Come Home’ for our generation
Cathy Come Home was a BBC1 drama broadcast in 1966 which shocked the nation by its portrayal of a family’s descent into homelessness. It was watched by a quarter of the population and produced a storm of phone calls to the BBC, discussion in Parliament and inspired the start of the homeless charity Crisis. One… Continue reading ‘Adolescence’ could be the ‘Cathy Come Home’ for our generation
Who are the positive male role models?
Recently I went to a local friend’s birthday party. In amongst the usual chat and catch ups, my friend Ian, whose sons were in primary school with mine, raised a great question to a group of us standing at the bar: “There are so few good male role models these days. Who are my boys… Continue reading Who are the positive male role models?
Grace + Truth 