I grew up in a large C of E church in South Croydon. Looking back it was a church which gave me a lot of great things – most of which I did not appreciate at the time. Every year the church sent a number of volunteers to help with Scripture Union’s annual Holiday Club… Continue reading How an urban holiday club changed my life
Faith Under Fire by Andrew White: Awful and Awe-full
Faith under Fire is both one of the most Awful (in what it recounts) and Awe-full books that I have read in recent years. Andrew White is better known as the stubborn and inspiring 'Vicar of Baghdad', serving his 3500 strong congregation of St. Georges – the only Anglican church in Iraq. He daily faces the… Continue reading Faith Under Fire by Andrew White: Awful and Awe-full
Hustle’s bubble: The Myth of Redemptive Finance
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com The final ever series of Hustle starring Adrian Lester airs tonight and after discovering it just over a year ago I'll be tuning in. Hustle is a BBC drama in which a gang of successful, high living and smart mainly twenty somethings use their considerable skills to con successful, high… Continue reading Hustle’s bubble: The Myth of Redemptive Finance
The Commodification of Unfaithfulness
This article was originally published on Ekklesia in November 2011 On 6th January Jon Kuhrt was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 on the You and Yours programme about the Faithfulness Matters campaign In January 2010, I was driving close to where we live in South London when my five year old son asked; "Daddy, what’s… Continue reading The Commodification of Unfaithfulness
The way of Jesus: comforting the disturbed & disturbing the comfortable
Photo by SevenStorm JUHASZIMRUS on Pexels.com The Occupy LSX camp outside St Paul's Cathedral has meant that that the church's relationship with causes of political and economic justice has been front page news in recent months in an unprecedented way. It has lead to a politicised renewal of the phrase What Would Jesus Do? This… Continue reading The way of Jesus: comforting the disturbed & disturbing the comfortable
Three reasons why everyone should watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ this Christmas
In my view, It’s a Wonderful Life is not the best Christmas film ever. It is simply the best film ever, full stop. Released in 1946, the film focuses on the life of a man called George Bailey (James Stewart) who lives in the small town of Bedford Falls. As a young man, George intends to ‘shake… Continue reading Three reasons why everyone should watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ this Christmas
Why acceptance isn’t enough – a reflection on the nativity and homelessness
Photo by Phuc Tran on Pexels.com Christmas is an important time for homeless projects and every year I speak briefly at a handful of concerts and services. This is (roughly) what I said at the beginning of the second half of Divertimento choir's wonderful fundraising concert for us. "Yesterday I was at the Salvation Army… Continue reading Why acceptance isn’t enough – a reflection on the nativity and homelessness
What is the Occupy camp at St. Paul’s really like?
It's almost impossible to see through the spin and opinion in the mainstream media to get a picture of what the Occupy London Stock Exchange (LSX) camp at St. Paul's is really like. Earlier this week a friend and I spent the morning there to get a feel of what's going on... Welcome tent: "Caring… Continue reading What is the Occupy camp at St. Paul’s really like?
Should I lie about Santa Claus?
Photo by lascot studio on Pexels.com Welcome to December everyone. I now officially allow myself to talk about Christmas. And this year I have a new challenge and I need your help. For the first time my daughter will be old enough to know what is going on and to ask about Santa Claus (to… Continue reading Should I lie about Santa Claus?
I find praying hard
Since becoming a Christian I have always found praying hard. I know its important and valuable – but I find it difficult. I have tried various books to help me. Many have stimulated my thinking and intellectual reflection about my faith. Too often though, in the words of the band Switchfoot, this just 'adds to the noise’. I get loads of… Continue reading I find praying hard
Grace + Truth 