Posts

What was the basis of the Reformation criticism of veneration of Saints?

Explaining the basis for the reformation criticism of the veneration seems at first to be a straight-forward task of finding out what the arguments were that the reformers used.  However, a number of contemporary historians have criticised the reliability of such an approach arguing that the reformers arguments alone fail to explain why change occurred… Continue reading What was the basis of the Reformation criticism of veneration of Saints?

Don’t stop praying for Ukraine

We are now in the 4th month since Vladimir Putin began his aggression against Ukraine.  Putin, and many analysts expected the war to be over quickly with Ukrainian forces overwhelmed, the President removed and a speedy surrender.  Things have not turned out as he planned. Many of the things that we prayed for have happened… Continue reading Don’t stop praying for Ukraine

Food from around the Worldwide web

With the horror of this week’s shooting in Texas there have been some confused and at times abhorrent responses to this. I respond to one particularly unhelpful one here whilst Steve Kneale writes here in response to Franklin Graham’s repeat of a frequent trope that the problem isn’t the guns it’s the people here. There’s… Continue reading Food from around the Worldwide web

On singing when I don’t enjoy it

This week, Steve Kneale answered the question “If I don’t enjoy the songs at church, is it okay not to sing?”  I broadly agree with much of what he has to say in his article.  We live in an individualistic age where we believe that our desires and preferences come first. If we see church… Continue reading On singing when I don’t enjoy it

Building myths

This article is a guest article from Bob Sharples.  Following on from my article recently about the myths around assuming that getting a building is a solution to your long term problems, Bob highlights to further myths that churches can believe about owning their buildings. This is not a case for or against owning your… Continue reading Building myths

The Gleaning Project -an idea to help tackle the Cost of Living Crisis

This week, as predicted, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in effect a windfall tax. He didn’t use the actual term but I suspect his efforts to get a different term used will be as successful as Margaret Thatcher’s attempts to get people talking about The Community Charge instead of The Poll Tax. I’ve written… Continue reading The Gleaning Project -an idea to help tackle the Cost of Living Crisis

Can I make sure that I don’t commit the unforgivable sin?

I recently wrote about the question “Have I committed the unforgivable sin.”   We’ve been working through Mark’s Gospel at our church and I preached on chapter 3 where the topic comes up when Jesus talks about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  In that section, Jesus says: 28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be… Continue reading Can I make sure that I don’t commit the unforgivable sin?

A stupid and sickening response to the latest horrific shooting incident

This week brought the sad and horrific news of another terrible shooting at a High School in Texas with 19 children among those murdered. In the United States, there remains a strong pro-gun lobby and that includes many evangelical Christians.  This is seen by them as a freedom issue.  They rely on the second amendment… Continue reading A stupid and sickening response to the latest horrific shooting incident