Today I enjoyed preaching in a much more intimate setting at St Andrew’s Church in Benton.  Around 40 people or so, some good singing, a few laughs and a coming together around God’s word.   I could talk about Jesus til the cows come home, I never get tired of it. I used to be … More Follow Jesus

This is a section of the art work that can be found inside the front cover of ‘In Darkest England and the Way Out’ by  General William Booth.   In this work he unpacks the vision he has of multitudes dying in the Sea of Misery, shipwrecked by societal ills.  The Salvationists are running the … More Jesus on benefits

My blog celebrates its 10th Birthday today!  And what a ten years they have been!   I remember sitting in my office at William Booth College, in Denmark Hill, London, writing that post on a lovely spring day much like to day with the noise of the city and a cool breeze coming in the … More 10 Years of Blogging!

  Most of you will, no doubt, recognise this icon, ‘The Trinity’ written by Andrei Rublev (yes, icons are written, apparently).  There are many people who’ve written profound things about this, I’m sure, which will be nothing like what I would say. It is based on a story in Genesis where Abraham entertains three visitors … More Trinity

They do say that confession is good for the soul. I’ve been reading Ian Mobsby’s new book recently on New Monasticism (what with it being and interest of mine) and inevitably came upon the chapter that often comes in such books about identification with the poor and powerless.  Ian quotes the ever quotable Shane Claiborne, … More Downward Mobility

The run up to a Sunday morning preach is always a journey for me.  Often the sermon has been brewing for a week in my head as I sit with the text, read things here and there,  see things in day to day life which shed light on the passage, meeting with some of those … More Word

The Kingdom of God is like a redwood sapling on the edge of the exposed forest, the tender shoot daring to emerge out of the soil to make its presence felt in the order of things.  Through its tender years, the autumn wind and rains, the winter cold an snow, the baking sun and parched … More The Parable of the Redwood

I had a fascinating day recently on a training course I’m doing where we were encouraged to think through our images of God.  The main thrust of this was that if we are going to encourage and walk with others in their faith, we need to have a good understanding of where we are coming … More Father

I can hear the questions in people’s heads, simply because they’ve been in mine first.  Anyone who knows me, and something of my journey will no doubt be wondering if I’ve lost the plot altogether in the light of my recent step of engaging with the Order of Saint Leonard.   This week, I’ve had … More Servant

There is nothing like coming into a growing awareness of the Spirit’s work in your life.  From the first days of real spiritual awakening, to consequent in-fillings, nudges, blessings and movements, his work is the living reality of God in our lives.  It is by His presence that we can testify that we are children … More Holy Spirit