Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels.com Every day I work to support people who are homeless or have addictions. I sometimes hear this described as ‘helping people integrate back into mainstream (or ‘normal’) society. At this point I am torn – enabling people to participate in families and stable work or friendship circles is an… Continue reading Helping the homeless become addicts?
Just Can’t Get Enough Enjoying the Silence with a Personal Jesus*
Do random, bizarre questions ever arise in your mind? I had one the other day which went like this: Over the course of my life what I have spent more time doing - listening to Depeche Mode music or praying? To be honest, its a close call. In the past I have spent a lot of time listening to… Continue reading Just Can’t Get Enough Enjoying the Silence with a Personal Jesus*
“Beer is the cause and solution to all of life’s problems” *
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com This is a guest post by my mate Mikey Walker, a Primary school teacher in Leeds, on his recent 70 days 'sans lager'... Sometimes I think Homer Simpson* wasn’t far off with his dystopian conclusion of beer’s place in society. I say this as my 2nd ever “beer fast”… Continue reading “Beer is the cause and solution to all of life’s problems” *
My two minute silence: ‘Thank God it wasn’t me’
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Lots of people in the media have been complaining that ‘everyone’ (starting with Jon Snow) is being pressurised into wearing a poppy. Maybe I live in some kind of poppy backwater, but I spotted only a minority of wearers in Leamington today and nobody seemed to be judging those that… Continue reading My two minute silence: ‘Thank God it wasn’t me’
Doublethink in the City: the inner contradictions of the finance industry laid bare
Photo by Expect Best on Pexels.com The St. Paul’s Institute report on attitudes in the City that was finally published today. It reveals a host of peculiar contradictions: Financial Service Professionals say that their primary motivation of their work is financial reward, but also believe that they are paid excessively. They say that their companies maintain… Continue reading Doublethink in the City: the inner contradictions of the finance industry laid bare
‘I think you’re wrong’ – why disagreement is so important
Photo by nappy on Pexels.com The other week I attended an event at the Houses of Parliament on the thorny issue of poverty. Iain Duncan Smith was the key note speaker and there was a room packed full of experienced people who knew a lot about the subject. I thought IDS spoke well, but despite the auspicious… Continue reading ‘I think you’re wrong’ – why disagreement is so important
Charter for Christian Homeless Agencies
Over the last three months I have been working with many others within the Housing Justice network and the Christian Homeless Forum to develop a 'Charter for Christian Homeless Organisations'. A common challenge For many Christian agencies working with homeless and vulnerable people there is a challenge about how the Christian basis of our work… Continue reading Charter for Christian Homeless Agencies
The life, death (and resurrection?) of The Stone Roses
I first heard The Stone Roses when they appeared on Top of the Pops in November 1989 when they debuted in the same show as The Happy Mondays. The next day at school everyone was going on about 'Madchester'. The Stone Roses breakthrough single, Fool's Gold was jangly, ambient and different to anything I had ever heard before. It's success led… Continue reading The life, death (and resurrection?) of The Stone Roses
4 winners from the Rugby World Cup
It was the Kiwi’s 4th choice fly half Stephen Donald who stroked the winning kick in the Rugby World Cup Final. So in his honour here are 4 winners from this year’s tournament. 1. Referees The Welsh will forever remember the decision in the semi final to send off Sam Warberton, but the standard of… Continue reading 4 winners from the Rugby World Cup
What next for the Occupy protests? Five steps to tackle corporate greed
Photo by Expect Best on Pexels.com The Occupy camp close to the London Stock Exchange and even closer to St. Paul’s Cathedral is a powerful visual symbol of protest and resistance. This ‘cry of rage’ against corporate greed illustrates the breakdown in trust between those heading up the world’s finances and the rest. St. Paul’s… Continue reading What next for the Occupy protests? Five steps to tackle corporate greed
Grace + Truth 