What do you think the greatest fear in the Western World is? Death? Poverty? Climate Change? For decades, the number one fear has been shown, in both the US and the UK, to be public speaking.
Anecdotal evidence and the lived experience of many would seem to suggest that congregational singing is in many churches, if not all of them, much poorer than it used to be. This is not a wholly new development. As long ago as 2008, the now defunct magazine The Briefing carried an article entitled “The Slow Death of Congregational Singing”.
“It is winter in Narnia and has been for ever so long ... Always winter, but never Christmas,” the faun Mr. Tumnus responds to the despair of Lucy Pevensie in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Haunting, beautiful, and powerful imagery that author C.S. Lewis used to describe life in Narnia under the White Witch.
Imagery that I loved, but will now confess, I had never really understood, until God called me to minister in the place that is now home.
During a recent trip to Ghana, Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally renewed her commitment to a £100 million reparation fund in light of the Church of England’s historic investments in companies involved in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
The fund was originally pledged by Mullally’s predecessor Justin Welby, who argued that the reparations would give a "better and fairer future for all, particularly for communities affected by historic slavery".
During every trial that I've gone through, I have tangibly experienced the presence of the Lord, but none more so than in the last three years.
To lose one close family member is hard, but three? In quick succession? A tougher person than me might ask "Why, Lord?" and buckle or lose faith under the weight of such devastation.
The Clacton by-election takes place on 13th August with 33 candidates – none from the main political parties – challenging Reform’s Nigel Farage to become the MP.
Mr Farage said that he triggered the election to set up a contest between "the people" and "the establishment", appealing to the voters to vindicate his conduct over the heads of the Parliamentary authorities.
Jeff Featherstone, an evangelical member of Reform UK, replies to Lib Dem MP Tim Farron's piece "The rise of populist politics?".
Jeff writes:
As a former Liberal Democrat councillor who is now a Reform member, Tim Farron’s article on the Evangelicals Now website is of particular interest to me.
I was born in the mid-1970s when there were three television channels in the UK: BBC1, BBC2 and ITV. That was it. If you wanted to watch TV, you had very little choice about what to watch and no choice about when to watch it.
If your favourite programme was broadcast at 8pm on a Tuesday, you had to be there to watch it at 8pm on a Tuesday. If you missed it, you missed it. And that was that. No video recorders. No internet. No streaming. No catch-up. You missed it.
John the Baptist was dead. Beheaded. It was unjust, brutal, and senseless.
On hearing the news, Jesus left what He was doing and went with His disciples to a solitary place. He must have wanted to mourn, and pray, away from the crowds. But when He arrived, there was no solitude: somehow, word had spread about where He was going, and now a large crowd was waiting for Him.
My son does social media for his part-time job. Part of the task is creating posts for the business's social media account.
The hope behind so much online activity is shared by many: that one day a post will "go viral", meaning that a post catches the algorithm, the numbers rise, strangers pass it to other strangers, then suddenly, thousands of people are paying attention (and buying stuff!).
Do you ever feel guilty and powerless as you walk past a homeless person?
Maybe you stop to chat. Maybe you take them into a fast-food outlet and marvel at how many spoonfuls of sugar go into their tea. Maybe you do nothing, and feel bad. Whatever you do or don't do, the feeling of powerlessness often kicks in.
This is the second of a mini-series of articles looking at the four soils in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13v1-23).
There’s a phrase often used in our culture today. Apparently it derives from life in the American mines in the mid-19th century. Saltpetre (the common name for potassium nitrate) was an ingredient in the gunpowder used by miners to create explosions and make fuses. Dampness or wind often caused the spark to fizzle out before it reached the explosive. That experience became commonly known as “petering out”.
The General Synod of the Church of England has engaged over decades in a cycle of groundhog-day debates about human sexuality. Members employ the same stories and arguments over and over again.
Living in Love and Faith (LLF), the eight-year-long project of listening to one another, learning from the Scriptures and looking at current practice, ended in February this year. LLF was declared to be dead, to the relief of nearly half of those on General Synod. Others believe LLF is just resting. A new private member’s motion, brought by Helen King, stirred up yet another debate this July.
“Not everyone will see your children clearly. But then – some do. They show up, not out of duty, but love. They don’t judge, fix, or compare. They simply join. To those rare hearts – you are the ones who remind us... This is what the village looks like.”[1]
When a neighbour (let’s call her Liz) sent me this post, it brought tears to my eyes.
“Mind-blowingly reckless,” the judge remarked, as he issued a fine of £3,000. The crime? Breaching a no-fly zone during an air display at the annual Buxton Town Carnival.
The offending remote-controlled drone came within a whisker of a Hawker Hurricane as the WW2 plane roared past at 230 mph. There would have “without a doubt been fatalities” had they collided.
As I write, the old adage that a week is a long time in politics could not be more true.
Reflecting just on the death of Lord Mackay of Clashfern, who was a foremost Christian lawyer and politician, would be hard. However to be followed by the tragic news of the death of Anne Widdecombe was dreadful – if it was not for the gift of eternal life which both James and Anne had received and now enjoy.
Over the past year, the Church of England has spent considerable time engaging in cultural debates about sex and gender identity. Yet across these discussions, one question remains strikingly absent – as shown by the Living in Love and Faith process, and Sarah Mullally’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury: what do these debates have to do with Christ and His relationship to His church as the fulfilment of creation?
Most public arguments about women in ministry, church order, or gender identity, tend to revolve around three familiar questions: the interpretation of key Biblical texts, the role of historical-cultural context, and whether individuals possess the relevant gifts or capacities. Those are not trivial issues. But they are not where Paul begins.
Bonjour ! That’s French for “Hello!” I’m in France, you see, for what my family call “annual holiday” and I call “watching the Tour de France”. Yes, as this paper lands on your doormats, or this article is posted online, I shall be over the water, trying to rest, refresh and cheer on my favourite team.
My friends would tell you how much I love the Tour. It’s become an annual excursion. Even if you don’t like cycling or appreciate the experience, it seems to me that there are some clear parallels with the Christian life. And I don’t need much of an excuse to expound the event I love whilst also reflecting on some deeper Bible themes.
Comment
Why do I feel vulnerable when I evangelise?
What do you think the greatest fear in the Western World is? Death? Poverty? Climate Change? For decades, the number one fear has been shown, in both the US and the UK, to be public speaking.
Does that surprise you?
Sing UP!
What is your church like at singing?
Anecdotal evidence and the lived experience of many would seem to suggest that congregational singing is in many churches, if not all of them, much poorer than it used to be. This is not a wholly new development. As long ago as 2008, the now defunct magazine The Briefing carried an article entitled “The Slow Death of Congregational Singing”.
Belfast and poverty – both physical and spiritual
“It is winter in Narnia and has been for ever so long ... Always winter, but never Christmas,” the faun Mr. Tumnus responds to the despair of Lucy Pevensie in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Haunting, beautiful, and powerful imagery that author C.S. Lewis used to describe life in Narnia under the White Witch.
Imagery that I loved, but will now confess, I had never really understood, until God called me to minister in the place that is now home.
Should the CofE pay slavery reparations?
During a recent trip to Ghana, Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally renewed her commitment to a £100 million reparation fund in light of the Church of England’s historic investments in companies involved in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
The fund was originally pledged by Mullally’s predecessor Justin Welby, who argued that the reparations would give a "better and fairer future for all, particularly for communities affected by historic slavery".
How God used my grief to bring me closer to Him
During every trial that I've gone through, I have tangibly experienced the presence of the Lord, but none more so than in the last three years.
To lose one close family member is hard, but three? In quick succession? A tougher person than me might ask "Why, Lord?" and buckle or lose faith under the weight of such devastation.
The rise of populist politics?
The Clacton by-election takes place on 13th August with 33 candidates – none from the main political parties – challenging Reform’s Nigel Farage to become the MP.
Mr Farage said that he triggered the election to set up a contest between "the people" and "the establishment", appealing to the voters to vindicate his conduct over the heads of the Parliamentary authorities.
Populism: Reform members reply to Tim Farron
Jeff Featherstone, an evangelical member of Reform UK, replies to Lib Dem MP Tim Farron's piece "The rise of populist politics?".
Jeff writes:
As a former Liberal Democrat councillor who is now a Reform member, Tim Farron’s article on the Evangelicals Now website is of particular interest to me.
The liberty of exclusivity: Choice, freedom and Jesus
I was born in the mid-1970s when there were three television channels in the UK: BBC1, BBC2 and ITV. That was it. If you wanted to watch TV, you had very little choice about what to watch and no choice about when to watch it.
If your favourite programme was broadcast at 8pm on a Tuesday, you had to be there to watch it at 8pm on a Tuesday. If you missed it, you missed it. And that was that. No video recorders. No internet. No streaming. No catch-up. You missed it.
Why I believe God does give us more than we can handle
John the Baptist was dead. Beheaded. It was unjust, brutal, and senseless.
On hearing the news, Jesus left what He was doing and went with His disciples to a solitary place. He must have wanted to mourn, and pray, away from the crowds. But when He arrived, there was no solitude: somehow, word had spread about where He was going, and now a large crowd was waiting for Him.
Beyond the algorithm: Faithfulness in a 'viral' age
My son does social media for his part-time job. Part of the task is creating posts for the business's social media account.
The hope behind so much online activity is shared by many: that one day a post will "go viral", meaning that a post catches the algorithm, the numbers rise, strangers pass it to other strangers, then suddenly, thousands of people are paying attention (and buying stuff!).
Is your church healthy? A sabbatical may reveal the answer...
What would you say if I told you that your church has more to gain by a generous sabbatical policy than the pastor?
Given that few churches even mention the word "sabbatical" in their official documents, my guess is it would raise some eyebrows.
Why we think job creation is part of the church’s mission
Do you ever feel guilty and powerless as you walk past a homeless person?
Maybe you stop to chat. Maybe you take them into a fast-food outlet and marvel at how many spoonfuls of sugar go into their tea. Maybe you do nothing, and feel bad. Whatever you do or don't do, the feeling of powerlessness often kicks in.
Context is not a constraint. Be faithful where you are
Have you ever wondered why God brought you… here?
Not them.
What to do if your friend's Christianity 'peters out'
This is the second of a mini-series of articles looking at the four soils in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13v1-23).
There’s a phrase often used in our culture today. Apparently it derives from life in the American mines in the mid-19th century. Saltpetre (the common name for potassium nitrate) was an ingredient in the gunpowder used by miners to create explosions and make fuses. Dampness or wind often caused the spark to fizzle out before it reached the explosive. That experience became commonly known as “petering out”.
Why I took a stuffed parrot to CofE Synod
The General Synod of the Church of England has engaged over decades in a cycle of groundhog-day debates about human sexuality. Members employ the same stories and arguments over and over again.
Living in Love and Faith (LLF), the eight-year-long project of listening to one another, learning from the Scriptures and looking at current practice, ended in February this year. LLF was declared to be dead, to the relief of nearly half of those on General Synod. Others believe LLF is just resting. A new private member’s motion, brought by Helen King, stirred up yet another debate this July.
Coffee, cardboard boxes and the Kingdom of God
“Not everyone will see your children clearly. But then – some do. They show up, not out of duty, but love. They don’t judge, fix, or compare. They simply join. To those rare hearts – you are the ones who remind us... This is what the village looks like.” [1]
When a neighbour (let’s call her Liz) sent me this post, it brought tears to my eyes.
Christians, we need to talk about education
“Mind-blowingly reckless,” the judge remarked, as he issued a fine of £3,000. The crime? Breaching a no-fly zone during an air display at the annual Buxton Town Carnival.
The offending remote-controlled drone came within a whisker of a Hawker Hurricane as the WW2 plane roared past at 230 mph. There would have “without a doubt been fatalities” had they collided.
Godliness in politics
As I write, the old adage that a week is a long time in politics could not be more true.
Reflecting just on the death of Lord Mackay of Clashfern, who was a foremost Christian lawyer and politician, would be hard. However to be followed by the tragic news of the death of Anne Widdecombe was dreadful – if it was not for the gift of eternal life which both James and Anne had received and now enjoy.
Today’s church gender debates must be re-centred on Christ
Over the past year, the Church of England has spent considerable time engaging in cultural debates about sex and gender identity. Yet across these discussions, one question remains strikingly absent – as shown by the Living in Love and Faith process, and Sarah Mullally’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury: what do these debates have to do with Christ and His relationship to His church as the fulfilment of creation?
Most public arguments about women in ministry, church order, or gender identity, tend to revolve around three familiar questions: the interpretation of key Biblical texts, the role of historical-cultural context, and whether individuals possess the relevant gifts or capacities. Those are not trivial issues. But they are not where Paul begins.
‘Allo ‘allo! ... c’est moi Adrian! Listen very carefully...
Bonjour ! That’s French for “Hello!” I’m in France, you see, for what my family call “annual holiday” and I call “watching the Tour de France”. Yes, as this paper lands on your doormats, or this article is posted online, I shall be over the water, trying to rest, refresh and cheer on my favourite team.
My friends would tell you how much I love the Tour. It’s become an annual excursion. Even if you don’t like cycling or appreciate the experience, it seems to me that there are some clear parallels with the Christian life. And I don’t need much of an excuse to expound the event I love whilst also reflecting on some deeper Bible themes.