The lid on the coffin of my Salvation Army officership was probably the series of articles I wrote on leadership which didn’t just appear on my ‘Army Renewal’ blog, but appeared a few places in online journals and stuff.  I can’t really think of anything else which would have provoked the cold shoulder we eventually … More More on leadership…

WWJS?  Who Would Jesus Shoot?!? So, yesterdays blog post and comments earlier in the week on the death of Osama Bin Laden has meant some rather strange comment exchanges with some Americans around the area of taking up arms as a Christian.  Now, even before looking at the particular text that was being banded around, … More "Jesus tells you to buy a sword"

One of the great things of this last year has been the opportunity to take journeys of exploration down avenues that, for various reasons, I hadn’t yet fully travelled.  Much of my ‘theology’ and even ‘ideology’ has been evolving significantly over the last 3 years, some of the things are only now coming to clarity…or … More On Not Voting

Its natural, I suppose.  Both at Christmas and in the run up to Easter especially, my mind has turned very much to The Army.  I went to the Army on Commitment Sunday and it was very difficult.  I’ve rejoiced in the election of a visionary Jesus-focussed General in the form of Linda Bond.  I have … More Reflecting on a year

I got myself to reminiscing earlier.  Was watching a film starring Robert De Niro called ‘Everybody’s Fine.’  Sad film really, but it really reminded me of my grandad.  Didn’t help much that De Niro has some facial likeness to my Grandad Andy.  Anyway was looking at some picture of him – he died in 2005 … More Life’s loose connections

Well, time has marched on since my last blog. It’s been a busy time in my work at Trinity as well as taking a week off at half term and being away for the 4th of 6 Crucible Course weekends. That continues to be a thrice annually helpful time being away with like-minded folks. There … More Restoring what the locusts ate…

One of the greatest joys of any sort of ministry is to see lights going on in people’s head. It’s a privilege always to hear yourself reflected in the words and actions of those you’ve helped disciple and shape. On reflection over a number of years, this ranks up there with people getting saved. Getting … More Intentional discipleship

At the end of the day, when all else is ‘stripped away’ I’m forced to ask myself important questions of identity, mission and purpose.  The truth is that God’s call on my life hasn’t altered.  My heart still aches to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell…..I’m not one content to stay within … More The last, the lost, the least!

(Sermon preached at Trinity Church, Gosforth – 23 Jan 11) “Shame! That’s forbidden! Disgraceful!  Law-breaker!  Jesus, you are just showing that you’re no better than gentile scum.  Who do you think you are?  Call yourself a Jew? Call yourself a Rabbi, do you?”   And so the accusations came hurtling towards Jesus as his disciples broke … More Lord of the Sabbath – Mark 2:23 – 3:6

One of the thing that happens when you become a part of the living body of Christ is that you inherit brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Some of them are even akin to fathers and mothers due to their maturity in the Lord and the way they nuture us, but they remain, in essence, … More Brothers, Sisters and Distant Cousins.