Trusting God in troubled seasons

You can now listen to some of the Faithroots Podcasts on Spotify. A while back I did a series on the book of Habakkuk. As well as working through verse by verse, I also included three short reflection talks. I think that the content is particularly helpful as we face tough and even fearful days… Continue reading Trusting God in troubled seasons

“In this day and age?”

I’m increasingly seeing comments along the lines of “We shouldn’t be seeing or y … in this day and age.” Or “It is disgusting that in one of the richest G7 countries that we should be seeing x.” These statements at the moment relate specifically to the pressures that people are starting to face in… Continue reading “In this day and age?”

Has Putin just threatened to nuke us?

The short answer is “no.”  In today’s speech, according to reports Vladimir Putin did two things. The first is that he extended the mobilisation and conscription of people into the Russian armed forces.  Secondly, he is reported to have said:  “Those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the prevailing winds… Continue reading Has Putin just threatened to nuke us?

When the president meets the potentate

Apparently and perhaps unsurprisingly, two countries have taken offence at the arrangements for mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. China have officially been invited to send a representative although President Xi is highly unlikely to attend.  However, representatives from the embassy were barred from visiting the Queen’s lying in state as that is a… Continue reading When the president meets the potentate

The Cost of Living Crisis: What does Liz Truss need to do?

Today, the United Kingdom gets a new Prime Minister. However we feel about her personally and the party she represents, our first responsibility as Christians is to pray for her and the government as well as for the leader of the opposition. Liz Truss comes into power with some pressing challenges to respond to. The… Continue reading The Cost of Living Crisis: What does Liz Truss need to do?

What if Putin’s Strategy is to impoverish the West?

A lot of our responses to the War in Ukraine and the related impact on the Cost of Living crisis is driven by two related assumptions. That the crisis will be short That Vladimir Putin is a madman who has miscalculated and gone for broke on a fool hardy invasion of Ukraine. But what if… Continue reading What if Putin’s Strategy is to impoverish the West?

How can we persevere in prayer for Ukraine?

As the war in Ukraine continues but also slips down the news headlines, it is easy for us to forget about it or at least to allow it to slip down our prayer priorities. Other things take over the news headlines and we become focused on needs nearer home, some such as aspects of the… Continue reading How can we persevere in prayer for Ukraine?

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

Revelation through the lens of the Ukraine invasion

I’ve argued before that when we read Revelation it is applicable to our present situation, not because we attempt to read a detailed chronology of the last days with timings but because we best understand Revelation as offering God’s explanation of the whole of history from the perspective of the end. This means that we… Continue reading Revelation through the lens of the Ukraine invasion

“Talk softly and carry a big stick” – latest thoughts on the Russian- Ukrainian War

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine I argued that such a move did not fit with Vladimir Putin’s known and declared ambitions.   It was not that I believed such an invasion could never happen, certainly not that I claimed the ability to predict the future. It’s just that Putin’s ambitions were understood to be the… Continue reading “Talk softly and carry a big stick” – latest thoughts on the Russian- Ukrainian War