A couple of weeks ago I got back from eight days at Lee Abbey in Devon, helping to run a week of the Camp for 13-18 year olds. For each week of the camp about 100 campers plus 40-odd leaders descend on a (normally) soggy field and form a community. Simply put, it's the best thing we do… Continue reading Why I love Lee Abbey Camp
The best speaker at Greenbelt 2011
The Greenbelt festival got off to a bad start for me as I rather unwisely told my two boys (Danny, 8 and Tom, 6) to 'go and explore the site' while we put up the tent. Three hours later I began to be a bit worried about where they had got to. I was relieved and very… Continue reading The best speaker at Greenbelt 2011
10 second poll: Do you give money to people who are begging?
I am at the Greenbelt festival this weekend and I am speaking in a debate on the following motion: 'This house believes that giving money to people begging does more harm than good'. I'll let you guess whether I am speaking for or against the motion (for clues see this article) but to help could you… Continue reading 10 second poll: Do you give money to people who are begging?
An atheist’s encounter with Rob Bell – by Ronnie Stockton
I have considered myself an atheist all my adult life. But earlier this year I accepted an invitation to an event hosted by Greenbelt at Westminster Central Methodist Hall where the US pastor Rob Bell was speaking. Before going to hear him, I researched a little bit on Google and Youtube. I found his style… Continue reading An atheist’s encounter with Rob Bell – by Ronnie Stockton
Taken over by The Fear: the spiritual roots of the riots
Many of the people I have spoken to in recent days, whether religious or not, acknowledge that there is something spiritual about the destructive chaos that we have seen unleashed. The meaninglessness of the riots speak of problems with deeper roots than just material need: an underlying lostness in our culture around issues of identity and relationships. This culture is brilliantly… Continue reading Taken over by The Fear: the spiritual roots of the riots
The unpredicted tinderbox: 3 factors which fuelled the riots
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com It’s very difficult talking about the reasons for riots during or immediately after they have happened. People who blame things like poverty, racism, alienation, or the classic ‘there is nothing for the kids to do around here’ sound like they are giving easy excuses for terrible behaviour. Most people are… Continue reading The unpredicted tinderbox: 3 factors which fuelled the riots
Cricket, justice and political action
Just as you cannot separate faith and politics, it is impossible to separate the world of international sport from politics. Recently for my birthday I got two brilliant examples of the role cricket can play within the political sphere. Firstly the DVD of the acclaimed documentary film Fire in Babylon, which is about the great West Indies… Continue reading Cricket, justice and political action
Cash for prayers: how Morris Cerullo profits from the poor
Yesterday a homeless man that I have got to know through my work showed me a letter that he had just received from Morris Cerullo, the infamous TV evangelist. It was titled 8 Weeks - 8 Blessings of Superabundance To Meet 8 Specific Needs in Your Life. In the 6-page letter, Cerullo asks the recipients to complete an… Continue reading Cash for prayers: how Morris Cerullo profits from the poor
Mentioning the ‘J’ word: Andy Hawthorne at the National Prayer Breakfast
At the National Prayer Breakfast at Parliament on Tuesday, 700 of the Great and Good assembled in the Westminster Hall in Parliament. There are dangers that such an event can easily reflect a safe form of Christianity - one that has had its rough edges nicely rounded off, to ensure that it does not cause offence so that no one… Continue reading Mentioning the ‘J’ word: Andy Hawthorne at the National Prayer Breakfast
What do you think of the government’s ‘Big Society’ initiative?
I am speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast at Parliament next week on the subject of the government's 'Big Society' initiative. It would really help me to have your honest perspective and feel free to leave comments to unpack your views....thanks!
