Category Archives: Faith

Ambivalence, reluctance and the Jesus scale

About eight months or so ago, I started talking about the concept of a scale of faith in Christ. I christened it the Jesus scale. Here is a diagram: On the far left, you have antitheism, hard determinism, militant atheism, … Continue reading

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Desires of my heart

Let the little children come to me 14Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” — Matthew 19:14, NIV Once St Mary’s clocked that … Continue reading

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What do you do when God comes for your LinkedIn?

My Father’s house has many rooms 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and … Continue reading

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Bookshelf

Recovery You’re reading again. my brother remarked, last fall. You said you couldn’t read before. I jolted. It was true. When I am depressed I lose the ability to read books. This is one of the worst symptoms. Staring at … Continue reading

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Perfect love casts out bitterness

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. — 1 John 4:18, NRSVA That escalated quickly. How was morning … Continue reading

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Milestones and Morning Prayer

2023 Morning Prayer is said each weekday at St Mary’s. Last year I took to going semi-regularly, on Tuesdays. Because it gets me out of the house, I explain. I go to the gym on Tuesdays, in the morning, I … Continue reading

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Surprises: Notes from my first year as a practicing Christian

Christmas 2022, Christ Church, Harpenden: a riot of 200 people in a school hall. An invitation to join home group. Joining the Teas and Coffees Rota. Learning the drill, and the importance of the ministry of hospitality. Contemporary Christian Music. … Continue reading

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John Jackson OBE (1934 – 2023)

It is good to read about a life well-lived, I think. Especially if you struggle with your own existential dread. (Following Covid, isn’t that all of us, to a degree?) My mother’s Uncle, John, to us “Uncle John” even though … Continue reading

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Darwin and the divine

On Boxing Day, Jerry Coyne posted his blog post The New York Times touts religious miracles as proof of God. In his post, Coyne deconstructs an essay published in the New York Times. The essay by Molly Worthern uses individual … Continue reading

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