Can Christians be interested in geopolitics as well as the Gospel? Responding to Paul Blackham’s Evangelicals Now article

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Paul Blackham writes in May’s Evangelicals Now: “What do we fear enough to talk to strangers about? Our spiritual mandate is to Seek FIRST God’s Kingdom. We must be obsessed with the business of heaven – because only then will the business of earth fall into the right perspective.”[1] I agree whole heartedly with this… Continue reading Can Christians be interested in geopolitics as well as the Gospel? Responding to Paul Blackham’s Evangelicals Now article

Are we united by hate?

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Ben Merkle of New St Andrew’s College recently preached at the church where Pete Hegseth, US Secretary for War, attends in Washington. He said that Christians are united by love but we are also united by hate because what we love matters. We are for some things but against others, we are meant to love… Continue reading Are we united by hate?

Peter Mandelson: What else we know – an update

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The Cabinet Secretary Cat Little has now given evidence to the Foreign Affairs committee.  It’s worth updating on what else we now know First of all, Little has acknowledged that Olly Robbins was correct in terms of due process.  The expected process was that security vetting paperwork would not be shared outside of the vetting… Continue reading Peter Mandelson: What else we know – an update

Why we should care about the Peter Mandelson scandal

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In this post we are going to think about why we as Christians and churches should be concerned about what has been happening in the controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson’s appointment at the ambassador to the US, his dismissal and the subsequent fall out. First of all, it’s worth saying that there are ways in which… Continue reading Why we should care about the Peter Mandelson scandal

Peter Mandelson, Keir Starmer and Olly Robbins: What we now know and what we can start to learn from this

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I’m still following the Peter Mandelson vetting case.  I suspect that as we move into committee hearings and debates about process that we have moved beyond where most people’s interest in the subject lies, beyond political anoraks.  However, I still think that there is benefit to us pursuing the case a bit further.  There are… Continue reading Peter Mandelson, Keir Starmer and Olly Robbins: What we now know and what we can start to learn from this

Playing Jesus: Further reflections on that image of Donald Trump

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On Monday, Donald Trump posted this image on social media before withdrawing it. There has been understandable outrage at Trump’s post. However, there can be ways in which we all are tempted into trying to play the part of Jesus. I explore the question further in this short video.

The blasphemous president

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There has not really been much doubt about Donald Trump’s brash self confidence and high view of himself. However, many of us have expressed frequent concerns about the way that his supporters have at times pushed the boundaries, presenting their hero as a messianic figure and comparing him to Christ. Donald Trump has himself now… Continue reading The blasphemous president

Should Hezbollah be part of the Iran ceasefire?

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A number of politicians including Ed Davey have been pushing for Keir Starmer to put pressure in Israel regarding Hezbollah. They want multilateral action to disarm Hezbollah but are also arguing that Israeli action against Hezbollah is putting at risk the Iran ceasefire. Iran have also argued that Hezbollah should be beneficiaries to the ceasefire… Continue reading Should Hezbollah be part of the Iran ceasefire?

We don’t talk about swans: the thing about abominations

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When was the last time that you heard a sermon where swans were denounced as abominations?  After all, it’s in the Bible, at least in the KJV. They appear in a list along with owls and ospreys preceded by this warning: “3 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they… Continue reading We don’t talk about swans: the thing about abominations