November 2020
#BeliefWeCanChangeIn -when politics becomes about empty slogans
lockdown scepticism v COVID scepticism – it is possible to be sceptical of measures against COVID whilst taking the virus seriously
What does not change – confidence through the upheaval of election results
The problem with Christian exceptionalism
Welcoming refugees -the extra mile
Lockdowns and Christian witness
Shall we gather? The case for physical gathering may in fact prove the opposite
Learning to see -lessons from a trip to eye casualty
First impressions – learning to see 2
Bounced – was Boris Johnson pushed to early into a lockdown decision?
Beware of using experiments to support your argument – misunderstanding of the scope, purpose and data in studies may mislead
Fed to the wolves -does Jesus take risks with us when he sends us out?
Swallows and vaccines #SummerIsStillComing
Learning to see the full picture -we never were going to see the army on the streets
Learning to see that important detail – don’t miss the wood for the trees
Balance is often the enemy of truth
New Horizons – after ten years we are leaving Bearwood Chapel
The Curse – Deuteronomy 27
Redundant – what it is like for a pastor to lose their job
When you have to make someone redundant – advice on looking after employees through a difficult period
The one real reason for church planting – all sorts of reasons are usually given for why church planting is a good thing. Although all true and good, there is in fact only one compelling reason to plant
What do you see? (Matthew 11:1-19)
Is it ever a good thing to lay people off? Following up on my posts about redundancy. Here I respond to a question a friend asked about whether laying people off can ever be a positive experience.
Hymn Wars -what our contemporary worship lacks
And Breathe – you don’t need to sing the Psalms
How might the Psalms help us in our walk and worship?
Panel of nans – There is an essential role for older godly women in the church
Facemasks – asking the wrong questions. A study in Denmark had failed to find definitive prove for the benefit of facemask but don’t stop wearing them yet
Invisible racism is still racism
Contraception, homosexuality and Christian ethics. The church has changed its mind on birth control why not on LGBTQ rights?
Babylon 2020 – how history failed to end
Priti Patel and bullying accusations
Opening Churches against lockdown rules more churches have been in the news for breaking COVID-19 lockdown guidance
Anglican Evangelicals, The C of E and church unity – stepping cautiously into the debate about the future of Anglicanism
When should we consider civil disobedience? Christians may one day find that they are pushed to choose between obeying God and obeying the Law. In such situations we should always put obedience to God first. But how will we know when such a day has arrived? Is the pandemic lockdown such an example?
Guest Post – In Defence of Denominations Moses T. Tutesigensi writes in response to my article on Anglicans and Evangelical unity.
Navigating the Denominations and Evangelical unity – here I engage with Moses’ guest post
Is unity possible across church traditions? Can evangelical Anglicans and Independents, Baptists and paedo-baptists, Congregationalists and Presbyterians partner together?
Can we choose to disregard unreasonable laws? A further look at the question of civil disobedience. Some Christians are arguing that it isn’t just when a law is sinful that we should disobey it
Unrepentant – a look at Matthew 11:20-24
Resisting Tyranny – two case studies – a look at what we can learn from Daniel and from the Civil Rights Movement in the US about when to resist unjust laws