My community in south London lives in the shadow of knife crime. Young people have been killed on our street and the threat of violence continually affects the young people we know and care about. As a father of three children, including two teenage boys, I am more anxious than ever about their safety. Like… Continue reading The poverty that creates knife crime
Understated inspiration – Citizen Clem: A biography of Attlee by John Bew [review]
There is no shortage of contemporary analysis about the depressing state of UK politics. But the best political writing I have read recently has been a biography of a politician who died over 50 years ago. Reading Citizen Clem by John Bew truly inspired me. Incredible career Clement Attlee had an incredible career. After growing up… Continue reading Understated inspiration – Citizen Clem: A biography of Attlee by John Bew [review]
Brexit: leaving my tribe & re-joining the community – by Julian Dale
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com Are you in my Tribe? Before the Brexit vote, I spent several months trying to decide what was for the best. On balance, I decided that Remaining in the EU would be better. But then a weird thing happened. The nuanced decision that I had struggled to make suddenly became… Continue reading Brexit: leaving my tribe & re-joining the community – by Julian Dale
Painting My Protest – by Susan White
The Defence Security Equipment International (DSEI) is the world’s largest arms fair. Over 30,000 people attend from over 50 countries, including representatives from some of the most oppressive regimes in the world. It takes place in the docklands, in the East End of London. This area was the most heavily bombed part of the UK… Continue reading Painting My Protest – by Susan White
How churches can avoid becoming strip clubs
Back in July 1878, the Rev E.T. Prust laid the foundation stone of Abington Square Mission in the centre of Northampton. The 1870s was an era when non-conformist missions made a massive impact in towns and cities in the UK. As well as Sunday services, many of these missions ran 'ragged schools' to educate poorer… Continue reading How churches can avoid becoming strip clubs
Actually reading the Bible
A few years ago my wife bought me a fitbit watch. She’s subtle like that. It has proved to be a great present though. I like having a daily target of steps a day. And when I reach it, I enjoy seeing the little congratulatory fireworks display which goes off on my watch screen. And… Continue reading Actually reading the Bible
The good, the bad & the beautiful: an alternative evaluation of ‘Love Island’
Every summer my family are part of a youth camp where 160 young people (plus a few middle-agers) live in tents by the sea in Devon. We have been involved for 11 years and, though tiring, it is the best week of the year for all of us. It is a Christian camp run by… Continue reading The good, the bad & the beautiful: an alternative evaluation of ‘Love Island’
‘What game even is that?’: Two factors to save cricket’s future
I play cricket each week on a ground where the game has been played since 1743. A couple of weeks ago, a group of local children came past the ground. We are used to hearing comments shouted out, but on this occasion something particularly struck me. One teenage girl turned to her friends and said… Continue reading ‘What game even is that?’: Two factors to save cricket’s future
Homelessness is more than house-lessness: re-thinking kindness #3
Photo by Timur Weber on Pexels.com Last year, I got to know a young man who was begging close to where I worked. He was a real character, never short on stories or quips for passers-by. He told people that he needed money for accommodation. I used to regularly make him cups of tea and… Continue reading Homelessness is more than house-lessness: re-thinking kindness #3
Competition, duplication and saviour myths: re-thinking kindness #2
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I was at a conference this week where the CEO of a homelessness charity said: ‘I was a corporate banker for a couple of years before I started working in homelessness. In my twenty years in this work, I think there is more competitiveness in the charity world than in… Continue reading Competition, duplication and saviour myths: re-thinking kindness #2
Grace + Truth 