The age-old debate about English identity was kicked off again recently by Suella Braverman, a former Conservative Home Secretary and now of Reform UK. Braverman suggested that whilst she was born in Harrow and could reasonably be defined as British, she would never really be English because of her Asian heritage. The question is what… Continue reading Identity heritage, culture and Englishness
Author: faithrootsdw
Three years on from October 7th: Thinking through questions about Israel, Zionism and antisemitism
A few weeks back was the 3rd anniversary of October 7th, a few days previously, the Green Party voted through a motion declaring “Zionism” to be a racist, declaring the Green Party to be an anti-Zionist party, opposing the existence of the state of Israel and proposing a single Palestinian state solution. I’ve been thinking… Continue reading Three years on from October 7th: Thinking through questions about Israel, Zionism and antisemitism
The limits of Testimony
Since The Pastor with a thorn in his side was published back during the pandemic, we’ve had lots of feedback, most of it positive. At times though, the feedback was “we were looking for more.” I don’t think that’s necessarily bad, providing we understand it to be a recognition of the limits of a book… Continue reading The limits of Testimony
Following up on The pastor with a thorn on his side -a conversation about mental health and depression
Some news on something I’m doing a little work on. Have a read below. 1. I’d be interested in hearing from people who would like to share their stories 2. I’d like to see if there’s interest in the bigger/deeper follow up project to develop a more sustained theological reflection A few years ago, I… Continue reading Following up on The pastor with a thorn on his side -a conversation about mental health and depression
Not just The Spirit
Seth Lewis shows a good instinct both in his commitment to engage seriously with what the Gospels tell us about Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and in his desire to encourage Christians in their own dependence upon the Holy Spirit.[1] However, I wonder whether he might have got himself in a bit of an tangle… Continue reading Not just The Spirit
Distinctive feedback
Here’s another “Walk and Talk” where I encourage us to move from “good feedback” to “distinctive Feedback”. Giving distinctive feedback
Romans 7:21-25
Paul uses the word “law” in various senses through the letter. He can refer to the Law of Moses, of Sin and of the Spirit. Here, he seems to use it in the sense of a general principle. He comes as close as he can get without us becoming over anachronistic to introducing “Murphy’s Law!”… Continue reading Romans 7:21-25
Bob Sharples (27th March 1962 -16th October 2026)
My good friend Bob died suddenly and unexpectedly whilst in a work meeting on Friday. Bob was an architect/planner, a manager with Sport England and an elder at Bearwood Chapel. He took great joy in each of those roles though most of all in his role as a local church leader. None of them though… Continue reading Bob Sharples (27th March 1962 -16th October 2026)
Romans 7:13-20
So did something good, as in the law, bring death? You can see Paul continually teasing out the apologetic dilemma here. If The Law leads to sin and so to death as wages, and if the alternative is justification through faith, a free gift then does that mean that we might as well continuing to… Continue reading Romans 7:13-20
Is Aslan Jesus?
Two video walk and talks looking at the identity of Aslan in the Narnia stories.
