Posts

How’s the post COVID replanting going?

For many years, my wife had an orchid plant I had bought her. Neither of us are particularly green fingered but out of all the plants we ever tried to grow, this one seemed to survive and thrive. Each year we would have to repot it to allow for new growth.   Having spent some time… Continue reading How’s the post COVID replanting going?

Introducing Church in a box

One of the things you’ve probably heard/seen me keep talking a lot about is the need to do better at planting churches in communities where there isn’t a meaningful Christian witness. At our church’s recent weekend away, Jonathan Bell talked about us planting “swifter, smaller, simpler.” How are we going to do that? Well, actually… Continue reading Introducing Church in a box

Headship and love – What Ephesians 5 says about the cost of living crisis

I often return to the question of how we understand and apply Ephesians 5:21ff to marriage today. I’ve a particular interest in this area having written my MTh dissertation on the passage. So I have an academic interest but my concern is that this should be helpfully practical. One of the conclusions I’ve come to… Continue reading Headship and love – What Ephesians 5 says about the cost of living crisis

Why we are doing evangelism for the Commonwealth Games

Today marks the start of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.  The Commonwealth is an association of countries whose primary relationship is historical through the British Empire and the Queen.  When countries gained their independence the empire evolved into this voluntary association and in that respect provides evidence of how positive relationships are possible despite that… Continue reading Why we are doing evangelism for the Commonwealth Games

Recycling and making it hard for people to do what we expect of them

Apparently, Birmingham has the dubious honour of being ranked at the bottom of the recycling table with only 22.5% of waste being recycled.  Having lived here for a month, I’m not surprised.  Our recycling centre (what we used to call the Tip) is closed currently and our recycling is collected fortnightly.  At least we know… Continue reading Recycling and making it hard for people to do what we expect of them

The cost of living crisis -the growing storm and what it means for supporting planters and revitalisers

I’ve written a little bit recently about The Cost of Living Crisis.  I must admit that evangelical engagement with the topic seems a bit understated still.  This is reflected in the fact that very few of us do seem to be talking about it. When we do talk about it, it gets nowhere the same… Continue reading The cost of living crisis -the growing storm and what it means for supporting planters and revitalisers

Ministry Nuts and Bolts – managing the church finances

Yesterday I shared some thoughts on the need for leaders to be trained and equipped beyond their responsibilities to offer pastoral care, preach or teach and do the work of the evangelist. Today I want to share some thoughts on the specific issue that Steve Kneale’s original blogpost raised, the question of church finances. If… Continue reading Ministry Nuts and Bolts – managing the church finances

Ministry nuts and bolts – how do we learn about wider leadership responsibilities?

Steve Kneale recently posted a blog article about one of the things that they don’t teach you at Theological College.  The specific thing he is dealing with is church finances but there is a wider point I think which is that for church leaders, especially those in paid roles, there are wider leadership responsibilities than… Continue reading Ministry nuts and bolts – how do we learn about wider leadership responsibilities?

Commonwealth Games outreach (prayer update)

Just a quick update on plans for outreach during the Commonwealth Games.  The Commonwealth Games arrive in Birmingham this week with the Queen’s Baton (kind of the alternative to the Olympic Torch) arriving on Sunday and the official opening ceremony on Friday evening.  The Games will conclude on the 8th August with a closing ceremony… Continue reading Commonwealth Games outreach (prayer update)