One of the privileges I had serving in an urban multicultural context was the opportunity to pastor asylum seekers and other immigrants seeking leave to remain. As well as those with what you might call fairly conventional asylum claims and those who were primarily economic migrants we also saw a number of people who were… Continue reading Pastoring Asylum Seekers
Posts
When atonement is absent
I find Ian McEwan’s novel “Atonement” particularly bleak. It’s the story of a girl who witnesses a crime, Bryony sees her cousin Lola being assaulted and raped. She is convinced the assailant is the family gardener, Robbie and so he is falsely accused, arrested and convicted. Her error combined with her self-importance is the cause… Continue reading When atonement is absent
The last great sin
What do Matt Hancock, Dominic Cummings and Professor Neil Ferguson have in common? That’s right, they have all been found guilty in the court of public opinion of committing the ultimate unforgivable sin. What is that sin? Well despite what you might think, it isn’t that they broke COVID rules. Despite the reaction and commentary… Continue reading The last great sin
Is it time to stop publishing the COVID case data daily?
There are increasing calls, not just from politicians but from scientists too for the daily update on COVID cases to end. Some countries have already moved to weekly reporting. The argument is that reading about exponentially growing cases serves to increase anxiety among the public. It also means we don’t look at COVID in perspective.… Continue reading Is it time to stop publishing the COVID case data daily?
How can I be free from sin?
One of the greatest blessings and greatest challenges of a Christian is that our conscience is re-awakened. This means that we are even more keenly alert to our own sinfulness. We become more aware of how ugly and destructive lust, hate, greed, selfishness, pride, anger, gossip and slander are. And yet at the same time… Continue reading How can I be free from sin?
Why It’s time to return to in person church
Since the delay to the completion of England’s roadmap out of lockdown, I’ve been including regular updates on Faithroots to help church leaders stay up to date with the data and plan ahead. Today I want to write to church members generally and explain why I would encourage you, if you haven’t already, to begin… Continue reading Why It’s time to return to in person church
“Do you want to be clean?” Preaching to the affections from the Old Testament
I mentioned the other day the conversation I had with Dan James about Haggai 2. One of the things I’ve been challenged about increasingly is the importance of preaching to the affections. This is an old puritan phrase meaning that our preaching should speak to the whole person not just to the intellect. We don’t… Continue reading “Do you want to be clean?” Preaching to the affections from the Old Testament
Out of lockdown – a further update and more thoughts on masks and contact tracing
I’m trying to include a regular update on Faithroots regarding the COVID-19 situation and the move towards ending all restrictions here in England and the wider UK. My aim is to try and help church leaders stay abreast of what might be happening and plan accordingly. Obviously, I’m not an epidemiologist or an immunologist, just… Continue reading Out of lockdown – a further update and more thoughts on masks and contact tracing
Gay Conversion Therapy: You can’t use already criminalised behaviour to justify criminalising legitimate behaviour
The I newspaper recently reported a very distressing case of a woman claiming that her pastor raped her in order to “cure” her of her Lesbianism. If true, then this is another horrendous example of abuse in the church. It may not be possible now to establish the truth concerning the allegations about he pastor… Continue reading Gay Conversion Therapy: You can’t use already criminalised behaviour to justify criminalising legitimate behaviour
COVID Reopening – brace yourselves and hold your nerve!
I’ve been trying to give a regular update for church leaders on how things are looking regarding final reopening on the 19th July. So first of all, the not so good news. You’ll be fairly well aware of this by now. Over the past few weeks we’ve seen COVID-19 cases increasing rapidly. The increase seemed… Continue reading COVID Reopening – brace yourselves and hold your nerve!
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