Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com Yes, that’s right, this blog is 10 years old. In April 2011, I wanted to create a space where I could think aloud and reflect on issues of faith, social justice and transformation. Since then, I have published 512 articles, so roughly one a week. The process of writing… Continue reading What 10 years of blogging has taught me…
Sins of Fathers – by Michael Emmett [review]
Growing up, Michael Emmett suffered from the impact of both sexual abuse and having a father who was a career criminal. He was drawn into a chaotic life of crime, violence and drug use. He was eventually arrested and sentenced for 12 years for drug smuggling. Faith In prison, through the chaplaincy, he began a… Continue reading Sins of Fathers – by Michael Emmett [review]
Greed which consumes itself: lessons from Chaucer for the European Super League
Geoffrey Chaucer was a 14th century English poet and author, best known for The Canterbury Tales. These collection of stories are told by a motley crew of fictional characters on a pilgrimage from London to Canterbury. My favourite one is The Pardoner’s Tale. The Pardoner is a malevolent and hypocritical character. He swindles poor people… Continue reading Greed which consumes itself: lessons from Chaucer for the European Super League
Dealing with status anxiety
There are many obvious forms of status anxiety, such as worrying about the brand of the car we drive, the location of our home or the success of our careers. But a more subtle version relates to our concern for how much we are seen as someone who is compassionate or concerned for social justice.… Continue reading Dealing with status anxiety
Why Prince Philip’s death moves us – by Jon Yates
On 17th April, they will put him in a box. And we will stop and slow and pay respects to a man we did not know. They had put him in a box before, of course. A one year old refugee lying where fruit should have been, saved by a British warship, fleeing from home.… Continue reading Why Prince Philip’s death moves us – by Jon Yates
Saturday – by Cathy Westby
And here we standAnd here we liveStillShell shocked, heart bruised, exhaustedBy the losses we have witnessedAnd the pain we have felt. We hold tight,White-knuckledTo the promise of tomorrow.We declareThrough gritted teethThe faithfulness we know to be true And tomorrow will comeWith its bright new freedomsAnd hope for aheadWe will sing, and laughAnd dance together again.Even… Continue reading Saturday – by Cathy Westby
The divine and the dusty
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com It’s easy to see why problems with the Church turn people off the Christian faith. The evangelical tradition of the church is currently in the spotlight due to the Ravi Zacharias and Jonathan Fletcher scandals, but no part of the church is immune. I remember the physical shock I… Continue reading The divine and the dusty
When arrogance is institutionalised
The report into the behaviour of the Church of England Minister Jonathan Fletcher was published by the safeguarding agency 31:8 this week. It is a devastating catalogue of coercion, control, bullying and abuse carried out by someone held in such esteem within the conservative evangelical world. The report reveals Fletcher’s penchant for dishing out… Continue reading When arrogance is institutionalised
What the Church can learn from addicts
In my last job, I was based in a church building which hosted a huge range of 12 Step recovery groups in its basement. The most famous of these is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), but there were also groups specifically for people struggling with many of the compulsive behaviours that Brand lists above. Disarming In my… Continue reading What the Church can learn from addicts
St Patrick & the power of the gospel
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I will never forget being in Sydney in March many years ago and being part of a huge green party. A city on the other side of the world from Ireland was awash with shamrocks and Guinness hats. St Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland and a celebration… Continue reading St Patrick & the power of the gospel
Grace + Truth 