How long?

Here is the latest in our series of daily expositions/mediations #TheDailyDose – we are looking at the book of Habakkuk and here are vital words for anyone struggling, fearful, grieving or even angry at wickedness, evil, suffering and persecution. The reading is Habakkuk 1:1-4. We are attempting something new from this week. As well as… Continue reading How long?

Why have I contributed to a book about pastors with depression? … And why do I want you to read it?

You probably have picked up by now that there’s a book coming out in May that I’ve contributed to. It’s called “The pastor with a thorn in his side” and it’s edited by my good friend, Steve Kneale who is the pastor of Oldham Bethel  So, why a book on this topic? Surely, it’s a… Continue reading Why have I contributed to a book about pastors with depression? … And why do I want you to read it?

Help for those struggling with Depression

We have been through a challenging year with COVID-19. One concern many of us have is that the isolation of lockdowns will have had a huge impact on people emotionally. Some are warning of a tsunami of mental health issues. So, today, I wanted to highlight a few resources to help people struggling with depression… Continue reading Help for those struggling with Depression

Book update – The Pastor with a thorn in his side

Some of you will know that I recently contributed a chapter to a book coming out in May about pastors facing depression. The aim of the book is not only to help fellow pastors cope with depression and their churches to support them but to encourage a wider conversation about mental health and the church.… Continue reading Book update – The Pastor with a thorn in his side

When the wounds do not heal

In my review of “The Wounded Christian” I raised one small point where I felt the author hasn’t quite hit the nail on the head.  I felt that the book whilst rightly talking about how healing happens may have given the impression that it always will or at least should happen in this life time. … Continue reading When the wounds do not heal

The Wounded Christian – love letter to a broken child of God – Book Review

The wounded Christian is a book by John Piper, no not THAT John Piper, but by another Christian with the same name although also based in the States. This John Piper is originally from the UK and as a child experienced a strong calling to serve God on the mission field. In his case, his… Continue reading The Wounded Christian – love letter to a broken child of God – Book Review

What not to take away from the Meghan and Harry interview

Well the Meghan and Harry interview has done its work in generating a lot of opinion and discussion. It seems to me that polarisation is likely to align along pre-established lines. Steve Kneale writes here about how it is likely to reflect culture with Meghan and Harry’s approach and therefore support reflecting a younger, new… Continue reading What not to take away from the Meghan and Harry interview

Our attitude to mental health may indicate the extent to which we have dealt with the toxic problem of Prosperity Teaching

If I told you that you probably did not need to persist with the chemotherapy, or that you did not need to see a surgeon to get your broken bone reset, you just needed to pray and repent of your sin, how would you respond? Not only would you recognise this as ridiculously nuts but… Continue reading Our attitude to mental health may indicate the extent to which we have dealt with the toxic problem of Prosperity Teaching

When your pastor gets depressed (3) Is it sin?

You may remember that a few weeks back I wrote about being offered Biblical Counselling when depressed and the implication behind that approach to counselling that the cause of depression is some buried sin from the past. There is a real danger when dealing with the problem of depression that we immediately assume that the… Continue reading When your pastor gets depressed (3) Is it sin?

When your pastor gets depressed (part 2) -a look at some potential risk factors

In part 1 yesterday, I highlighted 3  causes of depression that pastors might be particularly prone to because they are high risk factors in church and ministry contexts:  social isolation, conflict and abuse. However, these are not the only causes of depression. It’s worth observing at this point that depression and anxiety disorders can strike… Continue reading When your pastor gets depressed (part 2) -a look at some potential risk factors