I was having an conversation with someone the other day about the word 'Evangelical' and how it is perceived by people. In my experience, perceptions and responses to the word 'Evangelical', especially from those outside the church, are almost entirely negative. The context I hear these comments are often people saying to me things like 'Oh, you're not one… Continue reading What is your response to the word ‘Evangelical’?
The word ‘babysitting’ should be banned – by Tom Kuhrt (aged 8)
When both my parents go out in the evening another adult always comes over to look after us. But why is this called babysitting? Its a rubbish word. There are at least 3 big problems with the name ‘babysitter’: One, it scares little children. My friend Zac is only 4 and when someone came to… Continue reading The word ‘babysitting’ should be banned – by Tom Kuhrt (aged 8)
The resistance and renewal of John Bunyan – by Peter Morden
John Bunyan lived in a time of political turmoil. The Puritan Commonwealth, which ran the country following the overthrow of Charles I, had collapsed. The monarchy had been restored. And the new regime was not favourable to Christians who dissented from the authority of the established Church. Bunyan was imprisoned for 12 years for refusing to… Continue reading The resistance and renewal of John Bunyan – by Peter Morden
The day I met Margaret Thatcher
It was June 1990. I was 18, had just left school and had started work for Office Cleaning Services (OCS). I joined a mobile cleaning ‘hit squad’ which each day rendezvoused in a van on the Strand every morning at 6.30am. I had just finished my ‘A’ Levels but my new colleagues gave me a… Continue reading The day I met Margaret Thatcher
Maggie’s dead, but we need to quit living in the past…and quickly – by Kate Townshend
At around lunchtime today (Monday), Twitter and Facebook feeds across the country erupted into a sudden kaleidoscope of political activity. If yours was anything like mine, then you probably found your social media of choice spewing forth a mixture of staunchly defended Thatcherism versus a kind of pantomime glee that, Ding Dong, the wicked witch… Continue reading Maggie’s dead, but we need to quit living in the past…and quickly – by Kate Townshend
I saw Jesus resurrected in Trafalgar Square
On Good Friday, my nine year son and I went up to Trafalgar Square to watch The Passion of Jesus. It was an epic production performed by the Wintershall Trust and sponsored by The Bible Society. Over 5000 others were packed in to the Square watch the play aided by a crystal clear giant screen… Continue reading I saw Jesus resurrected in Trafalgar Square
Guilty by association: is this the end of R&R?
I have just taken 6 weeks off facebook, twitter and blogging to mark Lent. But one unintended consequence of not checking blog related emails was that I missed an important legal letter sent to me three weeks ago. On Good Friday, I found an emailed letter from lawyers representing a US company called AF BioCorp.… Continue reading Guilty by association: is this the end of R&R?
Farewell facebook, twitter and blogging. See you at Easter
Over the last year, I have written about busyness being the enemy of spirituality and reflected on my son’s feedback that I am a nicer person without my iPhone. But do I really believe in what I am writing? It is incredibly easy for those who write blogs to sound off on all kinds of… Continue reading Farewell facebook, twitter and blogging. See you at Easter
Being obedient to becoming more human – by Jenny Flannagan
“Because of our Welfare State, it’s hard in the UK for the Church to find social needs to respond to,” explained the young man to the group of European Christian leaders. “The local homeless project has asked members of the Church not to give money to anyone begging outside the church,” announced the Curate to… Continue reading Being obedient to becoming more human – by Jenny Flannagan
Giving up negativity for Lent – by Anna Whittaker
With Easter fast on its way (the Creme Eggs have been on the shelves since before Christmas), many of us will be marking the Lent period by giving up something which we feel we would struggle to live without. My past attempts at this have had mixed results, the most successful being when I gave… Continue reading Giving up negativity for Lent – by Anna Whittaker
