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 →
A Loved Child of my Father
Over the last few weeks I've taken to wearing a piece of jewellery given to me by my father when I was around 9 years old. This solid pewter pendant has lain in the bottom of my jewellery box as a mostly overlooked momento of childhood. As you can see: it's a smiley face. Why... 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 →
Rev Revelations (ordination health warning)
It is ordination season and I woke this morning with vivid memories of my own ordination as priest 12 years ago. I was reminded of an aspect of that service which I have never spoken about publicly. I felt a 'God prompt' that it was time to do so... "The sudden pain almost immobilised me.... Continue Reading →
‘Dead’, ‘bitter’ or ‘better’ – Three ways in which we will come through this crisis.
'All things pass' said Teresa of Avila. This too will pass. There are three ways in which we can emerge. We have some measure of control over the first way (but not a lot) but we have a bigger measure of control over the second two possible outcomes and that is why I'm writing this... Continue Reading →
Living Advent Calendar
We've had a fabulous local initiative started up in three streets near us: a living Advent Calendar. The idea is that every night from Dec 1st to 24th - a different house in these three adjoining streets reveals a window display around 6pm and invites their neighbours out on to their driveway to share in... Continue Reading →
‘Echoes of a Voice’ – experiences that point us to God
I have just watched an extraordinary film. Moving, beautiful and life-affirming; at one moment hilariously funny and at the next acutely uncomfortable: extraordinary is the only word that will cover it. Departures is a Japanese film directed by Yojiro Takhita, an Oscar bid in 2008. It tells the story of a young man who looses his job as an... Continue Reading →
Live Life Loved 