Let’s start with that red, which is the element which has attracted most of the negative attention. Is he bathed in blood? Burning in hell? What was Jonathan Yeo, one of our foremost portraitists, thinking?
If revival were to come in our day and in your home town or mine, how would we know? What would mark it? How could we come it. How should we prepare for it? What can we do to get out the way? Here are five marks, overlapping circles maybe, but in a sequence
Our brains seem to be creatures of habit by lazy preference, but notice something new straightaway. What does that mean for good preaching?
It’s as eye-gripping as Oppenheimer, and as worthy of discussion. Is religion an empty manipulative power-game?
Why does a social media feed, carefully chosen to cheer me on in ministry, leave me feeling so guilty?
There are some church leaders who only plan and prepare each sermon in the week before, being committed to the idea that God speaks in the moment, and they don’t want to silence him. I respect that, but my experience is that planning a sermon series ahead of time, doesn’t do that. In fact, if
Let me share something blindingly simple and obvious. So simple and obvious, in fact, that it’s taken me until I’m old enough to have a bus pass (US readers, = old enough to remember the moon landing) to spot it. Thinking is really important. #Leadership #thinking #pastor
Chris reviews a new book by the designer Thomas Heatherwick.
I was ordained forty years ago today. Was it worth it?
Once we have done our work/ministry to the best of our ability, it’s good for us to have something intentional to occupy our minds, and where we can take deep pleasure and refreshment, as a disciple in a different context.
My emotional dials at the beginning of the year were starting to show that I was consistently, tired, flat, and lacking bounce.
How can unplugging from relationships be good for us? Even on a sabbatical, love needs other people.
If you can end the year lighter, stronger, faster, sweatier, and bendier, even a little bit, you’ll be heading in the right direction.
What do you say to your church about the crisis in Israel? Saying anything is complex. Something nothing is to say something too.
Choose something engrossing and difficult. And make your brain really work. Your brain doesn’t need a rest, like a muscle. It needs a fascinating challenge.
My sabbatical needed to focus on a theological area which would have a ministry consequence.
I want to offer up some elements of sabbatical planning, in case you’re thinking of something similar.
There are a lot of new people who don’t know what ‘normal’ looks like in your church. So what’s the plan?
We can now see more clearly what’s been happening to churches in the UK, pre and post lockdown.
Join us at St James Muswell Hill, as our Worship Pastor. This is a paid, part-time role, with two- and three-day options to suit a working musician. If you’re passionate about place of of music to inspire God’s people, find out more at our website.