No news this morning.
My morning schedule has me waking at 6.30 to the sound of Radio 4's Today programme. But because of a strike by BBC journalists - nicely timed to make the most of the half-term holiday - the comforting tones of John Humphries were missing from my morning routine.
And I felt strangely free.
Because, it turns out, much of what is talked about and reported as "news" is not really news at all. There's an army of PR people out there who try to drive the public conversation about issues. That may involve the carefully timed release of research results, or surveys or government white papers. Controversially, it may also involve the carefully timed release of bad economic news to co-incide with "real" news, like a terrorist attack or the results of an election, so that the negative effect is diminished.... continue reading
It's good to have a variety of musical styles on a Sunday. Wesley wrote some great hymns - so do Sovereign Grace - to name but two stables that I love to go to for songs that inspire my mind and encourage my heart.
But while there is much more diversity in church music than there was 40 years ago, most congregations still work within relatively mainstream musical styles. Most but not all.
A recent article caught my eye. There's a church in London where the music is soley heavy metal - spiritual edification through Thrash (complete with an animal skull adorning the church venue).
There are certainly concerns that could be raised about the way that church operates. The lack of expositional Bible teaching strikes me as a worry at the very least. And one would hope that every mature Christian would be willing to acknowledge the need for a sacrificial attitude when it comes to personal preferences on musical matters rather than seeking to gather with like-minded people alone. But its existence does raise some interesting questions...... continue reading
It's that day again. The heart-bearing cards, with mushy poetry, have been filling the shelves of shops for weeks. The advertisements on TV have been encouraging us to book that romantic break, organise that sumptuous meal. All to show that special someone how much they're loved.
It's fun. There was certainly a flurry of excitement in my home when an unexpected Valentine's card landed on the doorstep. Intriguing to say the least! But it's fake. Not because couples don't genuinely care about one another - many do. But because, as a BBC article suggested recently, the phenomenon of February 14th capitalises on a fictional notion of romantic love, rather than true love. It fixates on the rush of emotion, the lie that there's a soulmate out there somewhere who will make life simply wonderful with all other problems melting away.... continue reading
Parts of the Rhondda Valley in Wales have been declared the most Godless part of the nation that was once home to a remarkable revival and boasted thousands of churches and chapel.
The findings, gleaned from the 2011 Census, showed that five council wards in the area famous for its mining history, now have a majority of people who say they have no religion at all, according to a BBC news report.
In England, the "honour" goes to Norwich - a city noted for the number of churches within its city boundaries. Rumour has it that Norwich has a church for every week of the year, and a pub for every day of the year! Brighton comes second in the poll.... continue reading
Britain has its first atheist church.
It’s in north London, drew over 300, erm, worshippers last Sunday, and offers the chance to sing songs like Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now and Stevie Wonder’s Superstition.
And the “Sunday Assembly” has its own mantra, too: “Live better, help often, wonder more”.
Here are four thoughts, and then over to you for yours in the Comments section:... continue reading
The news that a Barnsley Woman has re-mortgaged her house to offer a ransom for her stolen dog does not raise eyebrows as far as it should. In "Pet Barmy Britain" where people often seem to love their cats more than their children, such acts of extravagant expenditure on Fido or Tiddles is not uncommon.
But it's not just Money that Mrs Maw is spending in the hope of finding her German short-haired pointer. According to the BBC report, she has so far spent more than £13,000 in the hunt for the dog and has taken unpaid leave since the dog, Angel, was snatched on 6th December.... continue reading
Prominent Christian leader Steve Chalke has declared himself in favour of accepting homosexual couples who are in committed same-sex relationships. In an article to be published in Christianity magazine Chalke says that after a long struggle, he has decided to announce his support for faithful same sex relationships. What are we to make of this?
If you’re reading this and you’re in (or would like to be in) a gay relationship, we’re so glad you’re here—and you could be forgiven for being a bit confused. Not about your own feelings, but about the church’s feelings towards you, and (much more importantly) God’s feelings towards you? Does He love you, or hate you?... continue reading
The European Court of Human Rights has just given its verdict on four cases, all involving Christians:
We're recruiting for a new Sales and Marketing Manager to join the team at our Epsom office. They will take the lead on getting the word out about our resources and other ministry services in the UK and as such will play a crucial role in our future work.
Commercial Director James Burstow said, "This is an exciting time to be joining The Good Book Company, with some great new titles in the pipeline and some tremendous opportunities to develop digital resources that help people engage with the Bible. At heart we remain committed to serving local churches and equipping individuals to open up the Bible so we're looking for someone who can help us get that message out as widely as possible."
Details of the position and a full job description can be found here and the closing date for applications is the 24th January. We would be really grateful for any help you can give us in promoting this opportunity and would value your prayers that the Lord would bring the right person to join our team.
The death of Britain's oldest man, Reg Dean, at 110 last Saturday, raises testing questions about the future we face - as individuals and as a community.
Improvements in healthcare, pollution levels and nutrition are responsible for the steady increase in life expectancy upwards from the "three score years and ten" that Moses outlined in his now famous phrase in Psalm 90 v 10. Arguably, the greatest leap forward for longevity - certainly in industrialised Britain, came from the work of sanitation engineers like Sir Joseph Bazalgette who designed and built the London sewage system - and eliminated cholera from the capital.... continue reading
