First Steps
The early morning ward rounds woke me from what had been a rather disturbed night but the offer of a cup of tea was a welcome introduction to a new day. An old Chinese proverb claims that a day without tea is a day without joy. Although I am in general a coffee...
On The Other Side
The ward was well lit and bustling as the nursing staff went about their duties with care and compassion. The sound of machines, monitors and call bells filled the air unharmoniously calling for the attention of the already busy nurses. Curiously in my semi-conscious...
In all things God works….
It was the day of my long-awaited hip replacement, as I had limped my way through the previous two years there was a sense of anticipation as Maria and I sat patiently for my name to be called. It was early in the morning, I was hungry as I was nil by mouth and the...
Community – Think about it
We live in a world increasingly characterised by individualism, loneliness, isolation, and consumerism. Many people in society today lack true relational connection. In the midst of busy lives, overcommitted schedules, and congested cities, many people still feel...
Love One Another
The Bible’s litmus test for genuine faith, is explained in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another just I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one...
Why Plant Churches
The Narrative We must start this journey with the words of Jesus. “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth, go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe...
Kindness
Many Christians find themselves living in the gap between standing for truth and demonstrating grace, but the result can often be self-righteousness disguised as truth or indifferent tolerance disguised as grace. So, what is the bridge that enables us to travel from...
Living in the days of terror
The Guardian newspaper’s headline this week of “Young lives stolen by terror” gives us a stark reminder that the days we live in are truly dark ones. However, we cannot judge these days as being unusual. I grew up (as many did) with the constant threat of what was...
Church Planting part 1
As I have previously mentioned, a few years ago I wrote a lengthy paper on church planting. Over the next few weeks I am going to publish extracts from that paper here. I hope you find them helpful. Part 1 In an age of helpful tips on doing anything from paper folding...
What always precedes How
Some years ago, whilst happily living in Swindon and quite content to serve Swindon Family Church (now known as Gateway Church Swindon) for the foreseeable future, I took a short sabbatical for the purpose of writing what became a lengthy 110 page paper entitled...