Firstly I need to say, it is NOT my job to say who is a Christian and who isn't. Thank God! It is God who judges not me. But the Bible does give us some a rounded view of what markers should identify a Christian - someone living in the light of God's love -... Continue Reading →
Why Prayer Works and Doesn’t Work
People often ask me 'how does prayer work' or 'why doesn't it work?' by which they mostly mean 'why didn't God stop the bad thing happening?' I don't have much of an answer but for what it's worth: prayer 'works' because it is the thread that connects us to God and God is the one... Continue Reading →
Breathing with the Forest – thoughts about loss and the passage of time and the presence of God
'Breathing with Trees' is the title of an art installation you can see at Compton Verney (but only if you are quick, it closes on April 6th 2025). I love it and it spoke to me deeply. Described as a 'open eyed meditation' you sit in a darkened room and synchronise your breathing with the... Continue Reading →
Two big truths
There are two big truths in the world. Okay, maybe there may be many more things that are true: the size of a snowflake, the weight of a planet, the temperature at the bottom of the ocean but on a day by basis these two are the biggies. Between them they describe the whole of... Continue Reading →
Lydia by Paula Gooder. Book Review
This is a beautiful interpretation and imaginative recreating of the story of Lydia and the church in Philippi and the impact of the letter to the Philippians written by Paul. Excellently written and backed up by outstanding theological scholarship, I not only enjoyed it but I also learnt a lot. It made me think hard... Continue Reading →
Looking into the Bible
Having just published two very wordy posts, this one is picture based. I'm posing the question: what are you looking for when you open the Bible and read it? For many the answer is this: You are looking for some light in the darkness, a bit of 'green pasture', some sustenance, a bit of blue... Continue Reading →
Through the Bible in … Three Years!
Okay, Okay I know reading through the Bible in one year is the gold standard for mega super Christian keenies but I'm a slow reader. Actually that's not true. However, I have recognised the fact that in my private devotions I like to do more than simply read: I like to mull, underline, highlight, make notes. I also... Continue Reading →