I’m just one of those people who love a book. I love to read, and reading has played a significant part in my spiritual growth and learning. Now, of course, we benefit from ebooks etc on our computers and smartphones. I personally enjoy my kindle and my phone for reading material – except for my … More Pick up the actual book

We live in a fast-paced complex world that would, and often does, tie you up in knots. Our fast ‘Google culture’ makes everything instant.  I love the practicality of my smartphone, but it means that I’m ‘on’ a significant amount of the time. And then there’s the ‘stuff’ and the money that the ‘stuff’ costs.  … More Simplicity

In a few short days I’ll be heading off for just over 3 days of silent retreat.  My life these days is filled with so many words, books, meetings, conversations…most of it really good, important and meaningful.  But for me, silence speaks much louder than any words especially when it comes to connecting with God. … More Silent Treatment

I recently went to hear Rob Bell on his latest tour. Let me give you the background. I’ve had a love-hate relationship with Rob Bell over the years, especially in the heady days of my most ardent fundamentalism!  I think of my early reactions to his stuff and, many times, he made me down-right angry.  … More Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh…

We’re all baking in a bit of a heatwave.  I ‘d love to be sitting by the sea with a cool breeze washing over me, just enjoying the moment.   Refreshing, cooling, and relief from the hot intensity of the weather. Finishing reading Donovan last evening was a little like that.  In the complexity and … More Donovan and the context of the gospel

It’s not really that I have anything against the England football team.  I wish them well, and I hope the fans get their hopes realised.  However, I won’t be watching the football.  I wouldn’t even be watching the games if Scotland were involved.  I seem to have something of an inbuilt resistance to football that … More Football, loneliness and toxic masculinity…

As I read more of Donovan’s ‘Christianity Rediscovered’ I am amazed at how much he had an early grasp on the fact that the end of Christendom was approaching fast.  In 2018, many Christians don’t even understand the implications of that. Christendom was a social/religious/geographical arrangement created by nation states and the church in cahoots.  They … More Donovan and The End of Christendom

It has taken me more years than reasonable to get round to reading ‘Christianity Rediscovered’ by Vincent Donovan.  I first remember hearing about it back in the 90s.  A Salvationist friend of mine had read it and it had profoundly affected him.  I wasn’t in the place (as a teen still on the ‘basics’) to … More Christianity Rediscovered in Hertford?

Almost every Christian community I’ve served in has had a preoccupation with what we do over who we are; what we say rather than how we live; what we prefer rather than what is essential to our call as God’s people; how church fits into our lives more than how to be missional disciples called … More Fiddlers on the Church Roof….

We all have stories that we tell about ourselves –  our lives, our families, our past, our present, and maybe even about our future.  These stories shape our behaviours in the present moment and are, without a doubt, shaping the course of our lives. As someone who not too long ago invested significant hours of … More Our Narratives