Marriage For better, for worse… September 18, 2021 Last week I came across a remarkable story. Jean-Pierre Adams was a French footballer in the 1970s and 80s, and he passed away on the 6th September, aged 73. He was capped 22
Hope in a World of Brokenness September 04, 2021 “Do you have any sense of hope?”—Kabul had just fallen, and the news was full of imagery from the captured city. Airport besieged by people looking to get out; terror etched on
Don’t be ‘authentic’ August 07, 2021 One of the great buzz words of our times is ‘authenticity’—we are to be ‘authentic’. We are meant to express ourselves authentically— from “I’m just saying what I feel” to “I
Christian living The Problem of Distraction July 03, 2021 We live in what some psychologists have called a state of “Continuous Partial Attention”. We are at our desks writing a report or essay, and consciously and subconsciously we’re monitoring for WhatsApp
Christ in the Psalms The Cost June 19, 2021 We see the athlete atop the podium clutching their gold medal, a broad smile covering their face, eyes sparkling. Unless we personally know them (or others like them), we don’t see the
Christian living No U-turns allowed June 05, 2021 We live in a plastic world—I’m not referring to the avalanche of plastic which fills our bins, or litters our beaches. I’m thinking of the idea that we can be
preaching Fossilised Preaching? May 15, 2021 Most preachers are familiar with the diagnostic question: Could your sermon have been preached in a mosque or a synagogue? It’s a helpful question that pinpoints whether or not we have been
Of Pharaohs and Easter April 10, 2021 Last Saturday night, with great fanfare and razzamatazz, under tight security and the gaze of a television audience, twenty-two of Egypt’s Pharaohs were moved to their new home in the National Museum
Losing Forgiveness March 27, 2021 Maybe it has always been thus—the crowd baying in the arena for more gore, more death. The angry revolutionary mob laying hands on whomever and administering ‘justice’ with the zeal of victors
Grace The Tyranny of Merit March 06, 2021 What happens when you build a society on the idea that if you work hard enough you will be successful? I mean it sounds a good idea, doesn’t it? It seems to
COVID-19 Covid-19 & Making Decisions in the light of all Scripture February 06, 2021 (This article originally appeared on the Christian Voice Ireland website—written for an Irish context, but the principles discussed still apply.) I’ve been asked to put my thoughts down as to the
Croissants & Original Sin... January 16, 2021 One of our family viewing habits over lockdown has been watching the BBC series ‘Inside the Factory’. Each episode follows a particular item—it could be cornflakes, crisps, rich-tea biscuits, baked beans, waterproof
Domestic Systematic Theology January 02, 2021 New Year—a time for starting reading plans. Plans to read through the bible, plans to read a set number of books from different categories, or perhaps, for some, plans to read though
leadership Abusive Leadership November 07, 2020 Ezekiel 34 was in my Bible reading this week. What a sombre passage for pastors, for shepherds of the flock. ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "Woe to you shepherds of Israel
COVID-19 Reviewing My Predictions for 2020 October 17, 2020 Who could have foreseen 2020 unfolding the way it has? What a weird year and there are still 10 weeks to go! A friend recently messaged me and asked “Well, did you get
self esteem The Myth of Self-Esteem October 03, 2020 “Never criticise” is the mantra that we are all told these days when it comes to working with young people. I don't know if it is still the case, but for a while
perfection Enjoying Imperfection September 12, 2020 There isn’t much about failure to enjoy. Depending on what it is—giving away a penalty in the last second of a semi-final and costing your side the game, a moral failure
reasonableness The Elusive Trait of Reasonableness July 25, 2020 (This article first appeared in the Reformed Presbyterian Witness--reprinted here with permission. That article in turn drew on one I wrote which first appeared here at Gentle Reformation. Anyhow, with the all the
balance Resuming Breakneck Speed July 04, 2020 Years ago I went to see a film called Koyaanisqatsi. It was like Ecclesiastes without the resolution of chapters 11 & 12. It consists of slow-motion and time-lapse footage from natural landscapes and
worship Worshipping By Faith, Not By Sight June 06, 2020 For many of us—depending on where you are—either you have been or you soon will be looking forward to meeting together as congregations for the first time in a long time.
COVID-19 The Easing of Lockdown May 16, 2020 Countries wait with bated breath. Children strain at the leash. Parents look forward to it. Here in Ireland after 7 weeks of greatly restricted movement, the prospect of some levels of freedom are
COVID-19 Mother Earth or Father God? March 21, 2020 Apparently, the city of Venice is enjoying crystal clear waters in its world-famous canals due to a lack of debris from tourists and near-zero boat traffic under Italy's ongoing coronavirus lockdown. Pollution monitoring
preaching The Need for Nuance in Preaching February 29, 2020 Once again my friend Andrew Roycroft writes with wisdom and precision. His article on the need for nuance and careful thinking and speaking in a world where simple sloganeering holds sway is well
The Power of Guilt February 15, 2020 Douglas Murray’s book The Strange Death of Europe is a fascinating read. Murray is a political commentator, journalist, and as to his religious leanings, he is atheist. Wikipedia tells me that, “he
Lack of goats made me do it January 18, 2020 A while ago I came across the story of a Swiss man caught speeding on a Canadian highway. His excuse was a classic. He blamed his actions on the lack of goats on
