Most of us can tell people how many people were at our service on Sunday. We are usually less certain of how many people live in the housing estate beside us, what languages they speak, or how far someone in the next town would need to travel to find an evangelical church.
We know a lot about ourselves as Christians, but our neighbours can remain something of a mystery! I wonder how that affects how we view mission as Christians?
The phrase "it does what it says on the tin" suggests transparency and, certainly, no surprises. But if you buy tinned mackerel these days, you might be very surprised.
An investigation by the Financial Times found that many products sold as tinned mackerel don’t actually contain any mackerel, but instead contain a lookalike fish from an entirely different family. It is still fish, but people have complained about its texture and taste.
Peace and reconciliation are not the same thing, and Northern Ireland is being reminded of the difference at Drumcree.
I still remember the Drumcree conflict in 1996. A dispute over an Orange Order march had brought much of Northern Ireland grinding to a halt. Those in the Protestant Orange Order attempted to follow their traditional route, the Garvaghy Road, ahead of the 12 July parade but the nationalist residents there protested - triggering widespread violence.
My internal radar always bleeps when I see any article titles such as "Should Christians Support the Equality Act?" This is just because some of our political parties are often talking about dismantling the Equality Act and, as a disabled person, this idea fills me with dread.
To many disabled people, this is a terrifying discourse because we know it’s very difficult to fight the many injustices we face even with the Equality Act.
The Church of England is approaching another crunch point.
You may have seen the headlines and reports from “Save the Parish” highlighting the decline in vocational parish ministry. The figures paint a sobering picture of the challenges facing the Church of England, and raise serious questions about what the national church will look like in five, ten or 20 years’ time.
Among several encouragements for evangelicals in the British Isles in the last few years, one is the establishment and progress of Westminster Seminary UK. Over the summer it moved to Oxford, where it now occupies a historic building in the centre of town.
An inaugural teaching week held there recently saw four days spent “immersed” in the Westminster Standards, a collection of 17th-century Reformed confessional documents.
There is a reason why Paul reaches for farming when he wants to describe what faithful ministry looks like. Not architecture, not conquest, not business, not a product launch – farming.
"The hardworking farmer," he writes to Timothy, "ought to have the first share of the crops" (1 Timothy 2v6). And to the Corinthians, pushing back on a church already obsessed with cliques and celebrity: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth" (1 Corinthians 3v6).
I have served as the pastor of the same church since 2009. In 2018, our church council made a controversial decision. We asked the Punjabi church which had rented space in our church buildings for nearly 20 years to find somewhere else to meet.
The separation did not go well, but the gospel fruit of that decision is clearly evident today – and the fruit continues to grow.
Readers of a certain vintage might remember a 1986 chart hit which had the title Callingall the Heroes.
Despite the lyrics being some nonsense that seemed to mash up fairy-tale sagas and images of ancient raiders attacking a community, the song (probably due to its catchy power ballad tune) somehow managed to reach number six in the charts. Ephemeral pop song it may have been, but its title would have made a pretty good chapter heading for Hebrews 11, with its procession of heroes of the faith.
Last weekend, I had the privilege of seeing one of my former students perform in her first professional role out of acting school, in the cast of High School Musical at Salford's Lowry theatre.
It was an infectiously enjoyable couple of hours with an audience made up of all ages, many sporting fan-made t-shirts and costumes. There was a clever, immersive set, a high-energy cast, and cameos by original cast member Kaycee Stroh (originally Martha, now playing Ms Darbus). Parent-age pop sensations Jason Donovan and Harry Judd only added to its appeal.
We have just returned from our annual summer holiday in Cornwall. We go back year after year because it’s beautiful – and because we love bodyboarding.
Ben Shelton became the latest American man to come close to winning his home tennis major tournament last week, losing the US Open final in four sets to German player Alexander Zverev.
Shelton, the eighth seed, had been considered one of the top picks to go all the way, taking advantage of an open draw in the absence of Jannik Sinner through injury and with Novak Djokovic’s chances having diminished somewhat this year.
This Saturday lunchtime, Tottenham Hotspur play Aston Villa in the Premier League. More than 60,000 people will fill the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and millions more will follow the game around the world. But behind these two global football clubs lies a surprising story: Bible classes.
Aston Villa’s connection is particularly direct. In 1874, four members of the Male Adult Bible Class at Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel decided they needed a winter sport to complement the chapel’s cricket club. They chose football. Aston Villa was born.
I like Artificial Intelligence (AI). I use it most days, and it has already proved itself a remarkably useful tool. But I also have concerns.
I used to be a lawyer, and it seems obvious to me that AI will make a good junior lawyer. It can review documents, analyse contracts, summarise case law, and draft a first version of a legal argument at astonishing speed. What's far less obvious is how anyone becomes a senior lawyer in a world where AI does most of the junior work.
This summer, I have enjoyed my first sabbatical after 13 years of ministry. I am deeply thankful to my church for their love, support, and care for my family in giving me this precious opportunity to rest.
"Who do you actually represent?" It’s a question I am often asked in my role at the Evangelical Alliance. Usually it is followed by another: "How many evangelicals are there in the UK?" Then, "What actually makes someone an evangelical?"
For years, those questions did not have straightforward answers. We pointed to our 30,000 personal members, and to our more than 3,000 church members. We might mention charity Tearfund's research from 2007, which estimated there were around two million evangelicals in the UK. It was the best answer that we had, but it was almost 20 years old.
Essex university has announced it is cutting positions equivalent to about 150 full-time roles, potentially affecting over 500 staff, BBC News reports.
The staff being lost are “disproportionately concentrated in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), where 85% of all staff placed at risk of redundancy are based”. It is not surprising; the role of education in the humanities, once the main form of higher education, has been strongly questioned in today’s world. What is the use of knowing ancient history, or English literature? What is the point of learning obscure languages? How will that help society?
I live near a Christian retreat centre equipped with a labyrinth made of turf. A labyrinth is not a maze. In a maze there is more than one path so you can get lost or finish up in a dead-end. If you like, a maze can picture life without Christ, choosing your own way and living with the consequences.
By contrast a labyrinth has been used for centuries as a metaphor of the Christian way. There is only one path through, you make no choices about your route, you will reach your destination if you just keep going.
Comment
It's crucial to know the places we are called to reach
Most of us can tell people how many people were at our service on Sunday. We are usually less certain of how many people live in the housing estate beside us, what languages they speak, or how far someone in the next town would need to travel to find an evangelical church.
We know a lot about ourselves as Christians, but our neighbours can remain something of a mystery! I wonder how that affects how we view mission as Christians?
We live in a culture of deception – so what?
The phrase "it does what it says on the tin" suggests transparency and, certainly, no surprises. But if you buy tinned mackerel these days, you might be very surprised.
An investigation by the Financial Times found that many products sold as tinned mackerel don’t actually contain any mackerel, but instead contain a lookalike fish from an entirely different family. It is still fish, but people have complained about its texture and taste.
Drumcree: Peace and reconciliation aren't the same
Peace and reconciliation are not the same thing, and Northern Ireland is being reminded of the difference at Drumcree.
I still remember the Drumcree conflict in 1996. A dispute over an Orange Order march had brought much of Northern Ireland grinding to a halt. Those in the Protestant Orange Order attempted to follow their traditional route, the Garvaghy Road, ahead of the 12 July parade but the nationalist residents there protested - triggering widespread violence.
Repeal the Equality Act? No way!
My internal radar always bleeps when I see any article titles such as "Should Christians Support the Equality Act?" This is just because some of our political parties are often talking about dismantling the Equality Act and, as a disabled person, this idea fills me with dread.
To many disabled people, this is a terrifying discourse because we know it’s very difficult to fight the many injustices we face even with the Equality Act.
Anglican or not, here’s why you should pray for the CofE
The Church of England is approaching another crunch point.
You may have seen the headlines and reports from “Save the Parish” highlighting the decline in vocational parish ministry. The figures paint a sobering picture of the challenges facing the Church of England, and raise serious questions about what the national church will look like in five, ten or 20 years’ time.
Reformation riches
Among several encouragements for evangelicals in the British Isles in the last few years, one is the establishment and progress of Westminster Seminary UK. Over the summer it moved to Oxford, where it now occupies a historic building in the centre of town.
An inaugural teaching week held there recently saw four days spent “immersed” in the Westminster Standards, a collection of 17th-century Reformed confessional documents.
Service held after shock closure of Spurgeon’s College
A service at Trinity Baptist Church in Croydon has been held in response to the unexpected closure of Spurgeon’s College after 169 years.
Taking place on 17 September, there were approximately 500 in attendance and at least another 500 tuning in online.
Tired of 'plodding along' in ministry?
There is a reason why Paul reaches for farming when he wants to describe what faithful ministry looks like. Not architecture, not conquest, not business, not a product launch – farming.
"The hardworking farmer," he writes to Timothy, "ought to have the first share of the crops" (1 Timothy 2v6). And to the Corinthians, pushing back on a church already obsessed with cliques and celebrity: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth" (1 Corinthians 3v6).
Homogeneous churches in multi-ethnic areas – yes or no?
I have served as the pastor of the same church since 2009. In 2018, our church council made a controversial decision. We asked the Punjabi church which had rented space in our church buildings for nearly 20 years to find somewhere else to meet.
The separation did not go well, but the gospel fruit of that decision is clearly evident today – and the fruit continues to grow.
Abel, a hero ‘by faith’
Readers of a certain vintage might remember a 1986 chart hit which had the title Calling all the Heroes.
Despite the lyrics being some nonsense that seemed to mash up fairy-tale sagas and images of ancient raiders attacking a community, the song (probably due to its catchy power ballad tune) somehow managed to reach number six in the charts. Ephemeral pop song it may have been, but its title would have made a pretty good chapter heading for Hebrews 11, with its procession of heroes of the faith.
20 years of High School Musical: A message for Christians today
Last weekend, I had the privilege of seeing one of my former students perform in her first professional role out of acting school, in the cast of High School Musical at Salford's Lowry theatre.
It was an infectiously enjoyable couple of hours with an audience made up of all ages, many sporting fan-made t-shirts and costumes. There was a clever, immersive set, a high-energy cast, and cameos by original cast member Kaycee Stroh (originally Martha, now playing Ms Darbus). Parent-age pop sensations Jason Donovan and Harry Judd only added to its appeal.
Two Sunday services? Absolutely! Here's why...
We have just returned from our annual summer holiday in Cornwall. We go back year after year because it’s beautiful – and because we love bodyboarding.
When the waves were good, we were in!
US Open: The weight of great expectations
Ben Shelton became the latest American man to come close to winning his home tennis major tournament last week, losing the US Open final in four sets to German player Alexander Zverev.
Shelton, the eighth seed, had been considered one of the top picks to go all the way, taking advantage of an open draw in the absence of Jannik Sinner through injury and with Novak Djokovic’s chances having diminished somewhat this year.
The unexpected Christian roots of Premier League football
This Saturday lunchtime, Tottenham Hotspur play Aston Villa in the Premier League. More than 60,000 people will fill the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and millions more will follow the game around the world. But behind these two global football clubs lies a surprising story: Bible classes.
Aston Villa’s connection is particularly direct. In 1874, four members of the Male Adult Bible Class at Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel decided they needed a winter sport to complement the chapel’s cricket club. They chose football. Aston Villa was born.
Why do church leaders communicate badly?
It’s often just a small "c", but it’s so important…
By which I mean communication.
How should AI be used?
I like Artificial Intelligence (AI). I use it most days, and it has already proved itself a remarkably useful tool. But I also have concerns.
I used to be a lawyer, and it seems obvious to me that AI will make a good junior lawyer. It can review documents, analyse contracts, summarise case law, and draft a first version of a legal argument at astonishing speed. What's far less obvious is how anyone becomes a senior lawyer in a world where AI does most of the junior work.
Too Reformed for some, too liberal for others...
This summer, I have enjoyed my first sabbatical after 13 years of ministry. I am deeply thankful to my church for their love, support, and care for my family in giving me this precious opportunity to rest.
It has taken me some time to adjust.
The changing face of UK evangelicalism
"Who do you actually represent?" It’s a question I am often asked in my role at the Evangelical Alliance. Usually it is followed by another: "How many evangelicals are there in the UK?" Then, "What actually makes someone an evangelical?"
For years, those questions did not have straightforward answers. We pointed to our 30,000 personal members, and to our more than 3,000 church members. We might mention charity Tearfund's research from 2007, which estimated there were around two million evangelicals in the UK. It was the best answer that we had, but it was almost 20 years old.
Our culture must not be defined by our technology
Essex university has announced it is cutting positions equivalent to about 150 full-time roles, potentially affecting over 500 staff, BBC News reports.
The staff being lost are “disproportionately concentrated in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), where 85% of all staff placed at risk of redundancy are based”. It is not surprising; the role of education in the humanities, once the main form of higher education, has been strongly questioned in today’s world. What is the use of knowing ancient history, or English literature? What is the point of learning obscure languages? How will that help society?
Want spiritual resilience? Try this...
I live near a Christian retreat centre equipped with a labyrinth made of turf. A labyrinth is not a maze. In a maze there is more than one path so you can get lost or finish up in a dead-end. If you like, a maze can picture life without Christ, choosing your own way and living with the consequences.
By contrast a labyrinth has been used for centuries as a metaphor of the Christian way. There is only one path through, you make no choices about your route, you will reach your destination if you just keep going.