Reflections On A Media Discussion
24 Nov 2021
The failed terrorist attempt on a hospital in Liverpool on Remembrance Sunday led to a week of discussion in the media about the credibility of Christian outreach to asylum seekers. The man who planned to commit the atrocity was baptised a number of years earlier. It was very easy to get annoyed about the reporting - after all, it w...
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Assisted Dying
25 Oct 2021
Over the last few weeks there has been a renewed discussion about the possibilities of relaxing the law on assisted dying in this country. The House of Lords debated Baroness Meacher’s bill to allow terminally ill adults assistance to end their life. This bill is unlikely to become law but the debate will certainly continue, and it is likely more attempts will b...
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This Term
23 Sep 2021
It is so good to be able to feel that things are back to some kind of normality in church life! Although the two morning services served a purpose, they weren't the same as us all being together on Sunday morning (and showing our faces! and singing!). That unnatural rush away from church at the end of a service has...
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The Simplicity Of God
07 Aug 2021
I was asked by Lake Road Congregational Church in Keswick to lead one of their sessions introducing aspects of theology. I did a short talk on "The Simplicity Of God". This is what I said in the 20 minute presentation. There was a discussion afterwards. When I was asked by James to do this I didn’t quite know what to focus on, but my mind went back to the start of last year...
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Forgiveness
05 Jul 2021
One of the ways you can tell that the gospel of Jesus Christ has really taken root in a culture is that the influence of God’s word spreads beyond individuals becoming Christians. Laws begin to be passed which reflect what God commands and prohibits. The norms of society become influenced by what Jesus teaches. The opposite is also true. When a culture begins to reject Christ...
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Remember!
23 Jan 2021
Earlier this week there was a lot of discussion in the media about “Blue Monday”. No, not the early 1980’s classic single by New Order, but the fact that the third Monday in January has been described as the most depressing day of the year. It has been decisively shown that there’s no real science behind that description. However this year it felt like an apt description of how I, and I...
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Sundays During Lockdown
06 Jan 2021
Despite the fact that we are now back into an indefinite period of national lockdown, the government have clearly stated that churches can remain open for public communal worship. This is a reversal from their position in previous lockdowns, and a wonderful answer to prayer. It is therefore right that as a church we should ...
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Christmas
23 Nov 2020
As I write, there is a lot of discussion about what the government will do to save Christmas this year. Will the restrictions be lifted, and if so by how much, to enable us to celebrate together with friends and family? Is this a safe and wise thing to do, given the continuing spread of COVID-19? As Christians, we might have an added concern. It may upset us ...
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The New Normal
24 Jun 2020
As I write this the media is celebrating as a result of the Prime Minister’s announcement about the reopening of large sections of society. We can be thankful – especially as churches will be allowed to meet again. We are still waiting for the full guidance regarding public worship. When it comes we will study it and act accordingly. It is likely that things wont look exa...
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Encouragement From Russ
16 Apr 2020
Beverley Encouragement from James Island Christian Church on Vimeo....
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