What were you doing this time last year? I was running a temperature and fighting a dry cough. That’s right I’d gone down with COVID-19. The result was that I was going to stay at home. I’d hoped initially that it was just a cold but through the day, it became clearer that it wasn’t.Continue reading “A year in lockdown – was it worth it?”
Category Archives: Opinion
What not to take away from the Meghan and Harry interview
Well the Meghan and Harry interview has done its work in generating a lot of opinion and discussion. It seems to me that polarisation is likely to align along pre-established lines. Steve Kneale writes here about how it is likely to reflect culture with Meghan and Harry’s approach and therefore support reflecting a younger, newContinue reading “What not to take away from the Meghan and Harry interview”
One step forward? Let’s hope it’s not two back
So, the Prime Minister has announced the roadmap route out of lockdown, arguing that it is a cautious route but hopefully irreversible. Much of what he said had already been leaked in advance and that’s something we keep saying needs to change but is unlikely to. The leaking of actual measures was not helped byContinue reading “One step forward? Let’s hope it’s not two back”
Is it too early to come out of lockdown?
Understandably, there is still some nervousness about whether or not we should be coming out of the current lockdown just yet or whether it is too soon. I thought it might be helpful to have a look at the available data. The key information is as follows. First of all, the rolling 7 day averageContinue reading “Is it too early to come out of lockdown?”
Confronting abuse in the church – reforming towards a culture of grace
I’ve written from time to time about the issues of bullying and abuse within the church. That is because recent serious scandals relating to high profile leaders that include sexual, emotional and physical abuse, and sadly the accompanying failure of the church to deal with such issues over many years raise challenges about church culture. Continue reading “Confronting abuse in the church – reforming towards a culture of grace”
Long COVID and long lockdown
A number of people have reported long term symptoms after suffering from COVID-19. This has led to the term “long COVID” being coined. The symptoms observed include:[1] extreme tiredness (fatigue) shortness of breath chest pain or tightness problems with memory and concentration (“brain fog”) difficulty sleeping (insomnia) heart palpitations dizziness pins and needles joint painContinue reading “Long COVID and long lockdown”
We need a way out of costly social distancing measures, not just lockdown (open letter to Boris Johnson)
Dear Boris, I’ve written open letters to you throughout the pandemic. As we approach the end of what we all hope will be the last lockdown, I want to write to you again concerning some of the rumours and hints that are currently going around. Over the past few weeks, the narrative has built upContinue reading “We need a way out of costly social distancing measures, not just lockdown (open letter to Boris Johnson)”
If RZIM is truly repentant then they need to disband
No parachurch organisation can presume that it will be permanently around. Indeed, even local churches cannot make that assumption according to the first few chapters of Revelation. Too often, institutions have focused on protecting their own reputation over and above the priorities of The honour and glory of Christ The Gospel Those who have beenContinue reading “If RZIM is truly repentant then they need to disband”
When the situation is complex, keep the Comms simple
I remember someone at the start of the pandemic who was in the know (genuinely in the know, not someone who knew a friend of a friend), sharing at a briefing to church leaders that when the Government said it was following the science, this included behavioural scientists. My initial reaction to that was “uhContinue reading “When the situation is complex, keep the Comms simple”
When the pagans call us to prayer
Steve Kneale has written here with a typically robust response to the Archbishop of York’s call for a national day of prayer. In his article Steve rightly highlights the problems with such calls, that there is something peculiar about calling people to pray to a God that you do not believe in and that whenContinue reading “When the pagans call us to prayer”
