On New Year’s Day, we took a trip out to Durham Cathedral.  The town itself was very quiet, shops closed, and pouring with rain too.  Small rivers running down the slope of the path leading up to the Cathedral where a small trickle of people we entering the huge Cathedral doors.  The picture here from … More Labyrinth

So, last year my word was ‘generosity.’  It was my year of generosity.  I’m not going to talk about that a whole load, I guess its not something to shout about, but it was both a blessed and challenging theme to live with through 2013 and I’ve developed some positive practices. This year, the most … More Wholehearted 2014

How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him still, The dear Christ enters in.   1.  Find a couple of candles and light them. 2. … More The gift is given silently…

It strikes me that there are unlimited opportunities for the church to stand up and make a significant difference in this country, especially for the poor.  It is very true that many are doing that already.  But there is more that can be done.  I don’t think it is enough to simply criticise the government, although … More Spend yourselves for the poor and hungry…

As I’ve walked through Advent this year, I’ve been doing some thinking about what it brings to Christian life to have an ‘Advent’ mindset.  I used to think Advent was nonsense and that the celebration of Christmas Day as ‘Jesus is born today’ was a bit weird because we all know he came 2000+ years … More Advent Reality

Don’t let it fly past you!  Christmas, that is.  I’ve been passing out a fair bit of bah humbug in recent days quite on purpose.  It is simple because I’m not ready for Christmas yet, I’m still in advent.  I’m still searching, looking, hoping, wondering, holding before God my uncertainties and deepest longings.  Yet, I … More Don’t miss it!

All in all, 2013 has been a real mix of a year in spiritual terms.  I think it has probably been the most significant spiritual years I’ve had.  There have been several new discoveries, commitments and landmarks on the way alongside some very difficult deeper work, mainly around issues like rejection and the clinical depression … More Spiritual Inventory 2013

convergence (n.) – the arrival at a common point of various different streams or lines I guess you’ve heard people say ‘oh, it’s great when it all comes together.’  Pretty common thing to say.  I mean, we love it when the plot of a crime thriller arrives on the last page or when the Kat … More Convergence

When you’ve done so much personal deconstruction of ideas, theologies, patterns and belief systems, there comes a time when you gently rebuild.  Certainly, the rebuilding is a lot looser, more creative and less rigid. I think my emerging construct is more grace-filled and compassionate, vulnerable and with a commitment to being more available to God … More Vocation 2

I’ve sorta got a new anthem for myself.  Stuart Townend’s relatively new song, ‘Vagabonds’, really speaks to me of the blessing of the radical transformation Christ brings. Apart from the catchy and lively musical style, the lyrics just speak volumes about that edgy and radical embrace that I spoke about yesterday, the call of Christ … More Vagabonds