Anyone who has prepared a youth or children's programme for a church weekend away will know the feeling: your minister is due to chat to the speaker, and once they have, you will have your theme for the weekend.
We try to teach the youth and children the same thing over the weekend as the adults, so this is a big moment - if the theme is Jonah, you're laughing; Lamentations (as we once had) - less so! So you can imagine how I felt when the theme came through as "learning to groan well," looking at three tricky psalms of lament! My initial thoughts were "no thank you, let's do something completely different," but my fantastic team convinced me to think again.
By God’s grace I have a busy life. I pastor a large church in a deprived area. I am a husband and a father of four wonderful children and have many other ministries and responsibilities that cause much worry to dear Christian friends.
Many have gifted me books filled with advice on how to prevent “ministry burnout.” Not only do these books add to my burden, they are often embarrassingly out of date, reminding me of the same Human Resources (HR) rhetoric I heard in business 20 years ago.
As an avid watcher of the original series of Gladiators in the 90s, I am thrilled that the show has returned to our screens!
Each week I look forward to the next episode, to see how the contenders fare against the Gladiators. Who can hold their ground against Giant on Duel? Who can sprint fast enough to escape Fire when she is Unleashed? Who can dodge a tackle from Fury? Who is talented enough to put Legend in his place? How will they fare on the eliminator - will they make it up the travelator first time?
For evangelicals in the Church of England, and especially those in full-time ministry, “contending for the faith” has become a wearying subtext to church life and ministry. When we read Jude 3-4, we can see that it applies to the various crises we are facing in our denomination.
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 3-4 NIV).
It was of course Pontius Pilate who famously asked: “What is truth?”
Many centuries later, Hannah Arendt, in her famous book The Origins ofTotalitarianism, wrote: “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (that is, the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (that is, the standards of thought) no longer exist.” It was Goebbels who chillingly observed: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”
When delivering the 2025 Dimbleby Lecture this week, Former England Football manager Sir Gareth Southgate highlighted the dearth of male role models in contemporary society.
“We need leaders to set the right tone. To be the role models we want for our young men. We have to show young men that character is more important than status. That how you treat others is more important than how much money you make.”
The gripping Netflix mini-series Adolescence screened last week. Some are suggesting it might be as influential as Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which aired at the beginning of last year.
It’s all about teenage boys, emerging sexuality, social media, Andrew Tate, online bullying, misogyny and knife crime.
As Christians, we know that “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9).
And yet we also know that what is required is more than the absence of conflict, as important as that is. For justice, wholeness and restoration are also values that are deeply embedded in scripture. The Greek-speaking writers of the New Testament used the Greek word eirene to translate Hebrew shalom and communicate its values, derived as they are from a root denoting ‘wholeness,’ ‘completeness.’ This reminds us that, as Christians, we need to look at the content of peace and what it brings. Which brings us to the recent conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Every movement has a moment when momentum becomes unstoppable. It doesn’t happen overnight — it’s a gradual process that eventually shifts everything. At Prison Fellowship International, that moment is unfolding right now within prisons around the world.
These pivotal shifts are what we call tipping points. A tipping point is a moment when the power of a few reaches a critical mass, when a small percentage of individuals within a system are so deeply transformed that they catalyse broader change. In prison systems, that means when just 20% of prisoners experience a true transformation, the other 80% are affected, ultimately leading to culture and behaviour shifts.
I wonder what your favourite resources are in preparing a talk? Perhaps it’s a particular commentary series; or maybe a favourite preacher you like to listen to? Perhaps you have a piece of software which helps you dig deeply into the Biblical text.
Over the years I have discovered a resource that consistently helps me in preparing messages that really connect. You won’t find it on a bookshelf, and it can’t be found on the web. The good news is the resource is free and easily accessible, if you can spare a little time.
Funeral services with no gospel and no hope are now the norm.
Having no service at all is now a popular option. Instead, people are encouraged to use the money saved for a celebratory memorial. It's an extremely successful idea, appealing to death-denying hearts.
In our Jewish scriptures, the Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, we read about a series of men who speak on behalf of God. These are the prophets.
The prophets’ job was to communicate on behalf of God to people. A common motif at the start of these prophetic careers is the moment of commissioning - the moments when the prophet first encounters God in a unique way (often accompanied by a “vision”, e.g. Isaiah’s vision of God on His throne or Ezekiel’s vision of God on His chariot) through prayer. Each and every prophet spoke first with God before speaking with the people. Why was Isaiah in the temple after the death of Uzziah? To pray!
We are told in Romans (12:13) to "practise hospitality" (as it is spelt with British English, or, if you are American, to "practice hospitality"!).
I’m not sure that hospitality is just when people come round to your house though. Church services – they’re a teeny bit like having your neighbours around for dinner, or the football, or a ‘brew’. So wouldn’t they too be a place and a time to "practise hospitality"?
As with much of the change we face in life, the turning of seasons is a time that can either renew hope and expectation, or stir up a sense of loss of that which is passed.
While I often lament the end of autumn and entry into winter, I have nothing but joy as winter then turns to spring. Budding crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils that scatter fields, meadows and gardens draw my gaze. My sight turns towards beauty, and spring never fails to disappoint.
The letter of Jude is consistent with the rest of Scripture in highlighting the importance of a Christian leader’s good character.
No Christian would be wise to accept as "shepherds" (v.12) of their soul anyone who is anything like the people Jude describes. But how does that work when our favourite preacher ministers online and belongs to a local church half-way round the world?
Amid the biggest recent sporting headlines, such as Liverpool’s relentless march towards the Premier League title and Jannik Sinner’s doping ban, you may have missed the news from the snooker circuit that John Higgins won his first title in four years at the World open.
The veteran, 49, had not won on the tour since winning the 2021 Players Championship, but his triumphant run in Yushan, China made him the second oldest ranking event winner ever and oldest ranking event finalist since 1986. He defeated Joe O’Connor 10-6 in the final, having also equalled Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record of reaching 146 ranking event quarter finals earlier that week.
Much of the response to Donald Trump’s presidency from Christians in the UK has centred on ethical assessment. Christians rightly recognise that character matters and have a concern for the disadvantaged and disenfranchised.
Moral clarity is indeed a gift Christians can offer society. And yet, discussions like this risk reducing conversations to comments from one group saying, "We need to morally condemn this thing Trump’s done," whilst others respond, "This thing he's done is good."
In a world increasingly dominated by screens and virtual interactions, the significance of face-to-face conversations often gets overshadowed. Recently, I rekindled this understanding during a breakfast meeting with Ian Parkes, affectionately known as 'Parkesy', at Exeter City Football Club.
Our encounter stands as a testament to the irreplaceable value of human connection.
Comment
Tackling heavy topics in our youth groups
Anyone who has prepared a youth or children's programme for a church weekend away will know the feeling: your minister is due to chat to the speaker, and once they have, you will have your theme for the weekend.
We try to teach the youth and children the same thing over the weekend as the adults, so this is a big moment - if the theme is Jonah, you're laughing; Lamentations (as we once had) - less so! So you can imagine how I felt when the theme came through as "learning to groan well," looking at three tricky psalms of lament! My initial thoughts were "no thank you, let's do something completely different," but my fantastic team convinced me to think again.
Ministry burnout? Rest is part of the work
By God’s grace I have a busy life. I pastor a large church in a deprived area. I am a husband and a father of four wonderful children and have many other ministries and responsibilities that cause much worry to dear Christian friends.
Many have gifted me books filled with advice on how to prevent “ministry burnout.” Not only do these books add to my burden, they are often embarrassingly out of date, reminding me of the same Human Resources (HR) rhetoric I heard in business 20 years ago.
What do TV's Gladiators teach us about beauty?
As an avid watcher of the original series of Gladiators in the 90s, I am thrilled that the show has returned to our screens!
Each week I look forward to the next episode, to see how the contenders fare against the Gladiators. Who can hold their ground against Giant on Duel? Who can sprint fast enough to escape Fire when she is Unleashed? Who can dodge a tackle from Fury? Who is talented enough to put Legend in his place? How will they fare on the eliminator - will they make it up the travelator first time?
Four myths about contending for truth in the CofE
For evangelicals in the Church of England, and especially those in full-time ministry, “contending for the faith” has become a wearying subtext to church life and ministry. When we read Jude 3-4, we can see that it applies to the various crises we are facing in our denomination.
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 3-4 NIV).
Truth matters
It was of course Pontius Pilate who famously asked: “What is truth?”
Many centuries later, Hannah Arendt, in her famous book The Origins of Totalitarianism, wrote: “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (that is, the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (that is, the standards of thought) no longer exist.” It was Goebbels who chillingly observed: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”
'Boys and young men are in crisis'
When delivering the 2025 Dimbleby Lecture this week, Former England Football manager Sir Gareth Southgate highlighted the dearth of male role models in contemporary society.
“We need leaders to set the right tone. To be the role models we want for our young men. We have to show young men that character is more important than status. That how you treat others is more important than how much money you make.”
'Devastating' disability cuts: what you need to know
The Government has now released its Green Paper on disability benefits.
You may have been aware of the discussions around this, both from the government and in the press.
TV: Adolescence - a message for us ALL
The gripping Netflix mini-series Adolescence screened last week. Some are suggesting it might be as influential as Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which aired at the beginning of last year.
It’s all about teenage boys, emerging sexuality, social media, Andrew Tate, online bullying, misogyny and knife crime.
Trump, Putin, Ukraine: what's going on?
As Christians, we know that “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9).
And yet we also know that what is required is more than the absence of conflict, as important as that is. For justice, wholeness and restoration are also values that are deeply embedded in scripture. The Greek-speaking writers of the New Testament used the Greek word eirene to translate Hebrew shalom and communicate its values, derived as they are from a root denoting ‘wholeness,’ ‘completeness.’ This reminds us that, as Christians, we need to look at the content of peace and what it brings. Which brings us to the recent conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
The elderly and bereaved: a growing gospel need
“Let me put it this way. I don’t expect there to be many people at my funeral.”
My new friend said this to me as we talked about her imminent 90th birthday. It came in response to a simple question — "How has your week been?"
Prison Bible programme sees remarkable results
Every movement has a moment when momentum becomes unstoppable. It doesn’t happen overnight — it’s a gradual process that eventually shifts everything. At Prison Fellowship International, that moment is unfolding right now within prisons around the world.
These pivotal shifts are what we call tipping points. A tipping point is a moment when the power of a few reaches a critical mass, when a small percentage of individuals within a system are so deeply transformed that they catalyse broader change. In prison systems, that means when just 20% of prisoners experience a true transformation, the other 80% are affected, ultimately leading to culture and behaviour shifts.
My secret weapon for preparing a sermon
I wonder what your favourite resources are in preparing a talk? Perhaps it’s a particular commentary series; or maybe a favourite preacher you like to listen to? Perhaps you have a piece of software which helps you dig deeply into the Biblical text.
Over the years I have discovered a resource that consistently helps me in preparing messages that really connect. You won’t find it on a bookshelf, and it can’t be found on the web. The good news is the resource is free and easily accessible, if you can spare a little time.
Grace in the darkest moments: A response to suicide
Funeral services with no gospel and no hope are now the norm.
Having no service at all is now a popular option. Instead, people are encouraged to use the money saved for a celebratory memorial. It's an extremely successful idea, appealing to death-denying hearts.
Three reasons to pray before evangelism
In our Jewish scriptures, the Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, we read about a series of men who speak on behalf of God. These are the prophets.
The prophets’ job was to communicate on behalf of God to people. A common motif at the start of these prophetic careers is the moment of commissioning - the moments when the prophet first encounters God in a unique way (often accompanied by a “vision”, e.g. Isaiah’s vision of God on His throne or Ezekiel’s vision of God on His chariot) through prayer. Each and every prophet spoke first with God before speaking with the people. Why was Isaiah in the temple after the death of Uzziah? To pray!
Five ways not to offer hospitality on Sundays
We are told in Romans (12:13) to "practise hospitality" (as it is spelt with British English, or, if you are American, to "practice hospitality"!).
I’m not sure that hospitality is just when people come round to your house though. Church services – they’re a teeny bit like having your neighbours around for dinner, or the football, or a ‘brew’. So wouldn’t they too be a place and a time to "practise hospitality"?
Lending ourselves to Lent?
As with much of the change we face in life, the turning of seasons is a time that can either renew hope and expectation, or stir up a sense of loss of that which is passed.
While I often lament the end of autumn and entry into winter, I have nothing but joy as winter then turns to spring. Budding crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils that scatter fields, meadows and gardens draw my gaze. My sight turns towards beauty, and spring never fails to disappoint.
When a leader falls, is their past teaching still valid?
The letter of Jude is consistent with the rest of Scripture in highlighting the importance of a Christian leader’s good character.
No Christian would be wise to accept as "shepherds" (v.12) of their soul anyone who is anything like the people Jude describes. But how does that work when our favourite preacher ministers online and belongs to a local church half-way round the world?
What does this top snooker player teach us about true enjoyment?
Amid the biggest recent sporting headlines, such as Liverpool’s relentless march towards the Premier League title and Jannik Sinner’s doping ban, you may have missed the news from the snooker circuit that John Higgins won his first title in four years at the World open.
The veteran, 49, had not won on the tour since winning the 2021 Players Championship, but his triumphant run in Yushan, China made him the second oldest ranking event winner ever and oldest ranking event finalist since 1986. He defeated Joe O’Connor 10-6 in the final, having also equalled Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record of reaching 146 ranking event quarter finals earlier that week.
Donald Trump and future challenges for Christians
Much of the response to Donald Trump’s presidency from Christians in the UK has centred on ethical assessment. Christians rightly recognise that character matters and have a concern for the disadvantaged and disenfranchised.
Moral clarity is indeed a gift Christians can offer society. And yet, discussions like this risk reducing conversations to comments from one group saying, "We need to morally condemn this thing Trump’s done," whilst others respond, "This thing he's done is good."
How one breakfast changed my perspective on connection
In a world increasingly dominated by screens and virtual interactions, the significance of face-to-face conversations often gets overshadowed. Recently, I rekindled this understanding during a breakfast meeting with Ian Parkes, affectionately known as 'Parkesy', at Exeter City Football Club.
Our encounter stands as a testament to the irreplaceable value of human connection.