This is a short message to wish you all a Happy Christmas. What a wonderful way to celebrate the special day by being able to celebrate it on the Lord’s Day. I hope that you are celebrating with great joy and that this includes giving and receiving some fantastic gifts. All of the little presents… Continue reading The wondrous gift
Tag: peace
Happy Christmas or mere escapism?
I’d like to wish all of my readers a Happy Christmas but does this mean that I’m deluding myself. To get caught up in a celebration about peace and joy may feel like a little trip into escapism. We talk about hope but there doesn’t appear to be much of that around. This year started… Continue reading Happy Christmas or mere escapism?
What I need for Christmas
Mariah Carey sung: I don’t want a lot for ChristmasThere is just one thing I needI don’t care about the presents underneath the Christmas treeI just want you for my ownMore than you could ever knowMake my wish come trueAll I want for Christmas is you Songwriters: Mariah Carey / Ellis Williams / Robert Allen… Continue reading What I need for Christmas
For the good of the city
Our church has a list of reasons that we exist. One of them is that we exist “for the good of the city.” Our church has been planted here in Birmingham with the conviction that we should not just become a “holy huddle.” A challenge is sometimes given to churches “If you ceased to exist… Continue reading For the good of the city
Peace in the storm (Mark 4:35-41)
There’s a great storm raging, the waves are battering against the boat and it is being tossed about like a toy by the wind. The sailors are struggling against the storm. Several of them are seasoned sailors who know these waters well but there’s something different about this storm that fills them with dread. Meanwhile… Continue reading Peace in the storm (Mark 4:35-41)
Praying for or praying against enemies?
My article about the UK national anthem provoked a little discussion. Several people on social media commented that they agreed with me that it shouldn’t be sung in church. One reason given was that the Anthem includes verses which call for the defeat and destruction of the Queen’s enemies. Observations included that this was “more… Continue reading Praying for or praying against enemies?
Jesus my king says “come and sit with me”
I was speaking at West Smethwick Congregational Church last Sunday. WSCC is a church we built connections with when they sought help with revitalisation and replanting. A few years back they were down to half a dozen people. So, it was good to visit them and see such a change. They have a pastor and… Continue reading Jesus my king says “come and sit with me”
#PrayForUkraine
If you’ve not caught up with the latest #FaithrootsPodcast, here are the links to watch on YouTube or listen via Anchor and Spotify. In the conversation we discuss: Should pastors take sides and speak on political issues? 2. To what extent is the current situation about Spiritual conflict? 3. What is God doing in the… Continue reading #PrayForUkraine
What about pacifism?
The situation in Ukraine is really stretching our hearts and our thinking. On this week’s podcast, I talked with Ryan Burton King, a pastor in London who has family and church connections to the country. As well as talking about prayer points, we also discussed whether or not pastors could and should take sides in… Continue reading What about pacifism?
It is not always right or possible to remain neutral
In a recent blogpost I wrote about what we might want to pray in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. I included this comment: We pray that God will bring peace, that the conflict will end. However, I don’t think we simply pray for peace at any cost. Our desire should be for… Continue reading It is not always right or possible to remain neutral
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