As some of you may be aware, Jeremy Vine hosts a programme on Radio 2 on weekday lunchtimes which includes debates on topical issues. Once a week, he invites a
Author: blog
Forgiveness and Grace
Just a few short weeks ago, a lone gunman, went into a Methodist Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and gunned down nine people engaged in prayer and bible study. Honestly,
Love in a Time of Terror
In the wake of the horrific shootings in Tunisia and Charleston, I’ve been thinking a lot about the dynamics of hate and fear and how they are related to violence.
Changing Times
Many, many years ago I remember reading the phrase, “if you don’t change, you’ll die.” And yet, human beings don’t like change – we often rebel against it. we prefer
The Psychology of Mindfulness
It seems people are all-abuzz about mindfulness – especially if you’re in your 20s and 30s. After several conversations about how helpful it can be, I am now half-way through
Battling the demons
On June 5, something very unusual happened. The satirical BBC panel show “Have I Got News For You” paid tribute to a politician rather than ridiculing one. He was of
British Values?
The headteacher said: “We’ve got to do assemblies on British Values – can you do one for us? We’ve done Churchill and Wellington, but seem to have left out Shakespeare.”
Taking the blame
It’s certainly been a field day for choosing and choice over the last couple of weeks. The General Election, and now the choosing of new leaders. Last week, the Christian
A vote for the vulnerable
The UK awoke last week to an astonishing election statistic: the UK Independence Party received 3 million votes – the third most popular party in the nation. It is well
Choose the best
I have been reflecting recently on choice so was interested to see that Cate wrote on this in last week’s post. This morning I faced a bewildering choice of where
Choices
What should I write about – an election in our own nation, or an earthquake in Nepal? I’m conscious that this time next week, we will have voted and news
What price community?
I recently went back to Liverpool to see an exhibition of photographs in the Bluecoat Gallery. They were taken by a friend, Trisha Porter, over forty years ago in Liverpool
Politics – Why risk it?
In unpacking the meaning and usage of the currently ubiquitous word “manifesto”, the BBC website notes that a political manifesto is usually made up of a series of promises or
Lets talk about the weather
There is a general assumption that we British have a fixation with the weather. Five years ago a study found that 70% of us check the weather forecast at least
What do we want from our MPs?
The starting gun has been fired and we are now into the long race to the election. I suspect it is not just the politicians who will feel relieved come
Waiting
We are in a season of waiting and preparation, but this year for me has a special relevance, Lent is 40 days within a greater period of 12 months of
Better to give than to receive
Thirty years and over £1 billion later, Comic Relief embodies the British public’s sense of charitable giving. This year was no different, with more than £78 million raised (at the time of
The Good Mother
I have a confession; Mothering Sunday is way off being my favourite Sunday. On any Sunday there are a lot of expectations around in congregations about how worship of God
Not just talking but listening
Telephone by Michel Quoist is not a novel, but a short pithy prayer. It ends: “Forgive me, Lord, for we were connected, and now we are cut off.” The phone
February Hope
February as a month does not have a lot going for it. Christmas is long past; summer is ages away, and coughs, colds and seasonal bugs are doing their worst.
Growing the Rural Church…
I’ve just returned from my first ever General Synod of the Church of England (Suffragan Bishops like myself are not automatically members of Synod, unlike Diocesan Bishops). It was an
Red Noses for the Bake Off Team
Take the Great British Bake Off judges and add two comic hosts; mix with four celebrity bakers and stir well. Serve a giant biscuit, 12 fruit tarts and a show
A Memory for Dates
It was very easy to learn and, over 50 years later, I can still do it – and sometimes still do so, much to the embarrassment of my family. It is
