Lessons from a U-Turn: How do you make decisions?

So, Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng have made their first big U-Turn.  After announcing with great fanfare that abolishing the 45p tax band was crucial to enabling economic growth, the chancellor has started the Conservative Party Conference by stating that this particular tax cut was in fact a distraction from the Government’s overall growth policy… Continue reading Lessons from a U-Turn: How do you make decisions?

Jesus on divorce … is he harsher than the OT Law? (Mark 10:1-10)

“The Old Testament God is all about Laws and rules. He’s harsh.  The New Testament God is loving and kind, he is easier to follow because of grace.” How often have you heard something like that said?  Does Mark 10:1-10 support or go against that assumption?  Jesus is confronted by some of the Pharisees and… Continue reading Jesus on divorce … is he harsher than the OT Law? (Mark 10:1-10)

Why stripping back Sundays is helping me to think about Sabbath

I’ve recently commented that having been in a position for most of my life where I’ve attended church at least twice on Sunday, sometimes more, that now being in a place where we are only attending once, it feels in some ways that for the first time, the Christian Sabbath is doing its job. Now,… Continue reading Why stripping back Sundays is helping me to think about Sabbath

Removing barriers (Mark 10)

We are travelling with Jesus to Jerusalem to the Temple and towards the time of Jesus’s death and resurrection. On route Jesus will encounter those who seek to block and oppose him. We will also see the barriers that others face. First, we see Jesus confronted by the religious leaders seeking to test him. We… Continue reading Removing barriers (Mark 10)

Why the dollar/pound exchange rate matters

Just some quick notes about what has been happening with the currency and what that directly has to do with us.  Let’s simply things down for explanation. Supposing the £1 is trading at $2. It obviously affects when you go on holiday because you want to get as many dollars when you go so you… Continue reading Why the dollar/pound exchange rate matters

The pastor’s Sabbath?

Most pastors have something in their contract to the effect that they should have one day a week completely clear of work. Some contracts will refer to it as the pastor’s sabbath.  I’m deeply uncomfortable with that language because it suggests that the pastor should have his sabbath away from God’s people. It also begs… Continue reading The pastor’s Sabbath?

On younger pastors and preachers

I preached my first sermon when I was 19, I preached for a few years in our small Brethren Gospel Hall in Bradford and a couple of other local churches including a struggling AOG church which I helped out with getting my first experience of revitalisation/replanting.  The elder there wanted to try and use some… Continue reading On younger pastors and preachers

Trusting God in troubled seasons

You can now listen to some of the Faithroots Podcasts on Spotify. A while back I did a series on the book of Habakkuk. As well as working through verse by verse, I also included three short reflection talks. I think that the content is particularly helpful as we face tough and even fearful days… Continue reading Trusting God in troubled seasons