I’ve mentioned in one previous article the issues around Shawn Bolz and specifically false claims of prophecy when it comes to words of knowledge that were apparently based upon social media data mining. Now, as it happens, I think that there is a potentially charitable view of how someone could get into such a situation. … Continue reading Shawn Bolz and the elephant in the room
Category: pastoral-care
The confidentiality questions we forget to ask
I often point out that confidentiality isn’t about secrecy, it is about maintaining a confidence and that means asking: However, I would suggest that there are two further questions we need to ask. 3. Why do they need to know? This will help us think about the communication and it is helpful to have clarity… Continue reading The confidentiality questions we forget to ask
When bad things happen to bad people
We often talk about the challenge of responding to circumstances when “bad things happen to good people.” Big caveat, yes we know that no-one is good, all have sinned. What we mean is that horrific suffering has fallen upon those who love the Lord and are simply seeking to serve him. Or, we feel that… Continue reading When bad things happen to bad people
Home and grief
It’s now 3 years since we said goodbye to my mum and Sarah’s dad within the space of a few weeks. In both cases, there was an unexpectedness although we were aware of serious health conditions. In mum’s case, she had gone into hospital for surgery on a hiatus hernia but didn’t recover from the… Continue reading Home and grief
What are we really triggered by? More on the Sheffield University trigger warning
The other week, I mentioned that Sheffield University had introduced a trigger warning for literature students that parts of the Bible might include violence and sexual violence. The Gospels were included in this. Now, perhaps those sharing and commenting on the story should have included their own trigger warning as it seems that this story… Continue reading What are we really triggered by? More on the Sheffield University trigger warning
Christians and long-term grief
I’m continuing to do some work on how Christians can walk alongside each other through grief. Partly, that’s about how do we all as believers bare one another’s burdens and partly it’s about how pastors and elders can particularly support church members but it is also about what it means for those of us who… Continue reading Christians and long-term grief
What about marriage and eternity?
When Jesus responds to the Sadducees conundrum and the Levirate marriage, he insists that in “the age to come”, there is no more giving and receiving in marriage (Luke 20:27-40). This may leave us with a few pastoral questions and implications. First of all, there was the immediate pastoral implication for people in that context. … Continue reading What about marriage and eternity?
Pastoral Care Training
I’ve been putting together some pastoral care training resources. I’ve now completed a set of videos. I’m hoping to develop some further resources, in particularly training notes and possibly some assessment resources. However, in the meantime, I hope the videos on their own will be of help. I’d love your feedback to help me to… Continue reading Pastoral Care Training
What isn’t consumed
When Moses is in the wilderness, he spots a bush on fire, the famous burning bush. However, it’s not the fact that a bush is on fire that gets his attention. This may well have been a normal sight for him. What really is the miracle there? It’s the fact that the bush itself is… Continue reading What isn’t consumed
Demon hunters and discernment
Secular TV has an obsession with the idea of going hunting for demons. You may recall that the original Buffy the Vampire slayer moved from vampire hunting to an obsession with demons. Recently, Netflix has been pushing a film with associated sound track called “K Pop Demon hunters.” At times, it can seem that Christian… Continue reading Demon hunters and discernment
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