I have not been here. Over the past little while I took a break from Facebook. I've not ‘photo-ed’ for Instagram and my tweeting volume has been close to zero. I have not been here. Why? Because I know that sometimes being here stops me being here, where I should be or where I need… Continue reading Taking a break from Fakebook – by Jill Rowe
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Poverty is not entertainment, it’s not noble or romantic.Poverty is... heavy.It’s heavy hearts and heavy legs.It’s sore skin and hollow eyes.It’s upset and downhearted.It’s hunger. Malnourishment. It’s always thinking about the next meal.Poverty is bailiffs, it’s food banks, it’s queues and lists,it’s never being told what you’re entitled to but… Continue reading Poverty is many things…
Post-truth was chosen as the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2016. It's a word which has sprung into prominence mainly due to Donald Trump's election win. I heard a good example the other day on the radio when a US political commentator was talking about Trump’s promise to build a wall on the US/Mexico border. His… Continue reading It’s up to each of us to resist the cynicism of ‘post-truth’ culture
Going to see many films produced by Christians is a bit similar to a visit to McDonald's. You hope that no-one sees you going in and as you indulge yourself, you try to convince yourself that the delivery of such a sugary hit must contain at least some nutrients. Many films marketed to the faith community seem designed… Continue reading Martin Scorsese’s ‘Silence’ – a review by Corin Pilling
Photo by Daniel Reche on Pexels.com Carrie Fisher was more than a princess. At the age of 24 she was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder – or manic depression as it used to be called. And throughout the rest of her life she fought to demystify this condition from misunderstanding and stigma. She called her illness… Continue reading Light in the darkness: fighting the misunderstanding and stigma of mental illness – by Giles Fraser
Photo by Ffion Scott on Pexels.com I first met Bob Holman in 1973. Following on from a turbulent adolescence I had experienced a radical conversion to Christianity. At the same time Bob was considering his future as Professor of Social Administration at Bath University. With an amazing sense of vocation from him and Annette, he… Continue reading ‘A thorn in the side of comfortable socialism’: an appreciation of Bob Holman (1936-2016) – by Dave Wiles
I was clearing out some old paperwork this week at the West London Mission and I found some fascinating old newspaper clippings relating to homelessness. One clipping particularly struck me. It was from The Sun, March 1990. It starts: IT's time we stopped feeling guilty about the plight of dossers sleeping rough on our streets. Professional weepers… Continue reading ‘Dossers’ who choose to sleep rough and the ‘professional weepers’ who care: ‘The Sun’ on homelessness in 1990
This post is based on a sermon preached by Stephen Kuhrt at Christ Church New Malden on Sunday 20th November 2016. The bible reading was Matthew 7:13-20 Photo by Rosemary Ketchum on Pexels.com What is a Christian response to the election of Donald Trump? Like the Brexit vote in the UK, Donald Trump's win is… Continue reading Love Trumps Hate: responding to the US election – by Stephen Kuhrt
This week I was invited to an event at Parliament to mark the 50th anniversary of the famous film Cathy Come Home in the company of MPs and its director Ken Loach. In 1966, it was watched by over 12 million people and had a massive impact on people's views about homelessness. It led to the creation… Continue reading Wallowing in nostalgia or facing up to the challenges of today?
Photo by Pelageia Zelenina on Pexels.com "There was a power cut the other night. When the lights went out, I fumbled to the cupboard where we keep the candles for nights like this. I grabbed four of them. I was turning to leave with the large candle in my hand when I heard a voice, "Now,… Continue reading Closet Christianity and the parable of the religious candles
Faith, transformation & social justice
Grace + Truth 