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Mark Loughridge

Mark Loughridge

Mark pastors 2 churches in the Republic of Ireland. He is married with three daughters. Before entering the ministry he studied architecture. He enjoys open water swimming, design, and watching rugby.

Donegal, Ireland •
111 posts •

The Unlikely Ways of God

July 20, 2019

Would you pick an 80-year-old man to lead a slave uprising? A timid man to lead an army against an all-conquering hoard? A mild whisper to inspire a dejected prophet? A shameful cross

Mark Loughridge Mark Loughridge

“I am my Body”

June 22, 2019

Driving back home late on Saturday evening I caught an interview on RTE radio with Irish choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan. Since my girls are ballet dancers my interest was piqued. At one point the

Mark Loughridge Mark Loughridge

A New Blasphemy Era

June 08, 2019

Last year Ireland removed blasphemy as an offense from its constitution. It was seen as outdated and unworkable. It may have been those things—in fact the last time it was used was

Mark Loughridge Mark Loughridge

Reading in a Gold mine

May 18, 2019

Some years ago I read through Stephen Charnock’s rather large book “Existence and Attributes of God”. It's an intimidating book, but I was going to be preaching on the attributes

Mark Loughridge Mark Loughridge

The God who Disturbs our Consciences

May 04, 2019

Sometimes we bury things. Deep in the realms of the past. Hidden from everyday remembering. I’m not thinking of things that have happened to us—rather things we have done. Things we

Mark Loughridge Mark Loughridge

Notre Dame: A 21st Century Parable

April 20, 2019

There is something parable-like in the destruction of Notre Dame Cathedral. Its architectural splendour has graced the Parisian skyline for nearly a millennia. Its soaring artistry and elegance has taken the breath away

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The Limits of Science

April 13, 2019

Recently I was reading a book by astrophysicist Lawrence Krauss entitled “A Universe from Nothing”. Krauss is an atheist and isn’t shy about the fact—firmly convinced that matter is all there

Mark Loughridge Mark Loughridge
Christian living

Marriage proportions

March 09, 2019

What proportion is marriage? 50-50 seems like an ideal place to start. A fair input from both parties. Maybe some read this and think “50-50?! That’s a pipe-dream! If you knew my

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The Four Horsemen of Divorce

February 16, 2019

They were the ideal couple: he, a successful businessman; she, beautiful and creative. We sat at their table after a lovely meal. More coffee was offered—then it happened. “You can’t do

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Christian living

Mis_ _ _ g

January 19, 2019

Something has gone missing from our collective psyche. It used to form an essential part of our understanding of life. It helped us navigate a world where bad things happened and prompted us

Mark Loughridge Mark Loughridge
Christian living

Designed for smiling

January 05, 2019

3000 years ago King Solomon wrote: > A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22) A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when

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Christian living

Is a long face more Christian?

December 08, 2018

Life is hard. Difficult things happen to us. Serious matters—Heaven, Hell, eternity, sin—weigh on us. Yet in some places I see a long-faced Christianity—the long face worn almost as a

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Musings

Things only God sees (and angels, and lately, us)​

October 27, 2018

There was a beautiful sunrise this morning in Ireland—except the majority of Ireland’s inhabitants missed it. It was a dank, grey morning, but at 35,000 feet, all was different. A

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A tale of two paintings

October 13, 2018

Perhaps you saw the news item about the Banksy painting that shredded itself after being bought at auction? Banksy, real name unknown, is an anarchic artist whose graffiti work often provides a provocative

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Psalms

Guest Post: A society without Psalms

September 15, 2018

My friend Andrew Roycroft, who has the soul of a poet and the heart of a pastor, wrote this thought-provoking post on the Psalms. It is wonderful both for its insight and its

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worship

The Weekly Ascent

September 01, 2018

Someone said to me recently “I don’t know that I have ever really worshipped God.” It wasn’t the confession of an atheist or a non-Christian, but the words of a godly

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Is he able…He is able

August 18, 2018

I met a man the other day who asked me a straightforward question: “Tell me this, is God able to save me?” “Yes, he is able,” I answered, to which he responded, “No,

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The Things that Remain Unchanged

June 02, 2018

So Ireland has voted overwhelmingly to change our Constitution by repealing the 8th Amendment. This leaves the way open for unrestricted abortion. It is a sad and tragic day for our nation. I

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A Voice for the Voiceless

May 20, 2018

[On the 25th May Ireland votes to retain in or repeal from its Constitution the equal right to life of the unborn child.] You can’t be a little bit pregnant and you

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Musings

Junk Kouture for Real

April 28, 2018

It’s that time of year when students turn junk into incredible outfits for the Junk Kouture design competition. Each year I’m amazed at what can be done with scrap. It seems

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Scripture

The first step

March 03, 2018

Have you been there? A life-defining moment, and you know it. You know that if you do this it will change everything. There will be no going back. Once the ball starts rolling

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Trying to Get our Morals Back

February 17, 2018

In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal and a whole pile of other celebrity accusations, it has been sadly fascinating watching the west trying to claw its way back to some form

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Rethinking Christmas

December 16, 2017

The madness is upon us again. ’Tis the season to spend a fortune. To purchase our way into our children’s hearts. To fall for the manufacturers’ thinly veiled commercialism—O look, a

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Conversations with a snowflake

November 25, 2017

The world outside my window lay blanketed in dazzling white. I stepped outside and drank deeply from the cold fresh air. "Good morning, Mistress Snowflake," I greeted the freshly fallen flakes.

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No longer talking

November 09, 2017

Have you noticed that people are no longer talking? Sure, there is plenty of chat in shops and restaurants, but how often do you phone someone? If you’re over 40 you probably

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