“I’ve learnt that it’s okay to be angry at God” “I have discovered that I need to forgive God first.” Have you heard statements like that? They sound radical and edgy and I’ve heard these sorts of ideas put forward to help believers that are struggling with grief or emotional heartache. If they believe that… Continue reading Kiss The Son (Psalm 2)
Author: faithrootsdw
We need to talk about death
I’ve lost four friends during the past year. As it happens only 1 of those deaths was recorded as COVID related. However, the presence of the pandemic has made us more alert to death. There is something grim about the arrangements of funerals with the restrictions on who can attend and the required social distancing… Continue reading We need to talk about death
Showing Up: Alternative Hope
In this chapter, we start to think more about idolatry and the alternative (false) hopes that people living in urban neighbourhoods are offered. Showing up, is the stage where we start to think about why idolatry offers false hope by showing up its failings and flaws. Idolatry offers false hope because whilst for a time… Continue reading Showing Up: Alternative Hope
Strength made perfect in weakness
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about an incredible vision he has had (although he talks in the third person, it is generally agreed that he is referring to himself), where he is caught up into heaven. However, alongside the vision he is given a crippling “thorn in his side.” Just as people have speculated… Continue reading Strength made perfect in weakness
Wrestling with my thoughts -Book Review
Sharon was a high flying, top grade medical student when things began to unravel as she headed towards her final exams. An eagle-eyed, loving aunt first spots the signs that things are not right when Sharon visits her in Los Angeles. What initially looks like a dose of depression to be brushed off spirals into… Continue reading Wrestling with my thoughts -Book Review
Searching Out: Establishing Points of Contact
At this stage we have a generalised understanding of the types of people we are likely to encounter in Urban Britain today. However, searching out requires us to drill down a further level. One of our aims is to establish points of contact with people. This is where we being to talk more about hopes… Continue reading Searching Out: Establishing Points of Contact
The happy person (Psalm 1)
I have been spending a lot of time in the Psalm’s recently. A few days back I wrote up a short meditation on Psalm 1. Here is a longer sermon I preached this morning. How do you stay happy throughout relentless suffering ? I’m writing this as we come to the end of a year… Continue reading The happy person (Psalm 1)
Unlearning being a pastor
Okay, I admit it. I find home groups hard work. As a pastor, it was always that sense of being on duty, of being responsible for what happened. Your mind was constantly alert, even when not leading the group. Was everyone engaged, did anyone seem uncomfortable, was anyone acting in an inappropriate way to make… Continue reading Unlearning being a pastor
Fruit from the harvest … fruit for the harvest
The other day, I sat and read one of those “history of our church” books that local churches produce to celebrate centenaries and 150th anniversaries. There was a beautiful little story in it. The church were looking to do a bit of building work and began to raise the funds. A large legacy of £58k… Continue reading Fruit from the harvest … fruit for the harvest
Zoom or in person? – another faulty question
In a recent article I got us to think a bit more about communion and suggested that the question of “open v closed” communion was the wrong one. Another question that has come to the forefront during COVID is about what it means to gather as a church. This is of course related to the… Continue reading Zoom or in person? – another faulty question
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