Category: Opinion

What exactly do we remember?

Remember, remember the 5th November. Gunpowder, Treason and Plot When I was little, Bonfire night was a big deal.  At school, in the days and weeks leading up to it, there would be quite the build up with lessons about Guy Fawkes and his attempt to blow up parliament.  We’d watch the bonfires going up… Continue reading What exactly do we remember?

On the balance of probabilities: Evaluating evidence and making your mind up about disputed claims

This week, in the middle of the Israel-Hamas conflict, an explosion was reported at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza city.  This was initially reported, all around the world as an Israeli missile strike causing 500 deaths, Many got the impression that the hospital had been destroyed or severely damaged.  The hospital is run by the… Continue reading On the balance of probabilities: Evaluating evidence and making your mind up about disputed claims

Is modern Israel the fulfilment of Biblical prophecy – and should that affect our view of Israel?

There’s a lot of prophecy that points to an age of prosperity and peace for the people of Israel.  Various Scriptures describe a situation where exiles return to the land, many enemies are defeated, the Temple rebuilt, God’s King reigning and the nations looking to Israel’s King for wisdom, teaching and leadership. Well, there seem… Continue reading Is modern Israel the fulfilment of Biblical prophecy – and should that affect our view of Israel?

What’s the point of evangelical intellectualism?

Following on from Tim Suffield’s article, which I responded to here, Rhys Laverty has followed on with a further attempt to make the same case, that we need evangelical intellectuals and that the way we should go about making this happen is for churches to support these intellectuals.  Now, I think both articles suffer from… Continue reading What’s the point of evangelical intellectualism?

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

On Saturday we woke up to horrific news from Israel as Hamas terrorists had cut through security fencing and infiltrated into much of southern Israel where they had gunned people down and taken hostages. They had also launched extensive rocket attacks on Israel.  We are used to tensions in the Middle East but something seemed… Continue reading Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Is it always a bad thing to name things after people or just when they are still alive?

In amongst the discussion about The Gospel Coalition setting up institutions named after Tim Keller (when he was still alive) and Don Carson, a few people have asked whether the issue is just a problem for living people.  What about the tradition of naming churches, buildings and institutions after specific people.  Older, established churches will… Continue reading Is it always a bad thing to name things after people or just when they are still alive?

Please stop playing political football with education

I think there’s been more plans and initiatives to shake up education during my life time than I had hot school dinners back when I was a kid.  I’ve seen GCSEs replace the old GCE/CSE split, the expansion of Universities and introduction of tuition fees.  During my life time, we’ve bounced between child centred learning… Continue reading Please stop playing political football with education

Can we stop naming things after other Christians -even Tim Keller and Don Carson

The Gospel Coalition have announced that they are setting up the Carson Center for Theological Renewal.  The aim of the centre is described as follows: “As we see in Scripture and church history, spiritual renewal follows theological renewal when the ancient gospel of Jesus Christ recaptures our hearts and minds.” [1] With that in mind,… Continue reading Can we stop naming things after other Christians -even Tim Keller and Don Carson

Having an advocate who believes in you matters

David Haigh writes in the Daily Mail that he believes that 80% of those who have come to him as a Human Rights lawyer and asked for help with asylum cases are not genuine.  Now, I am not sure neither whether or not his claim is right or even how you would go about proving… Continue reading Having an advocate who believes in you matters