How the Spirit draws a child: 5 things a parent can do
‘I see how open children’s hearts often are, with a kind of eagerness to learn that is distinct to childhood. Our part as parents is to nurture their hearts toward Christ through prayer, God’s word, and patient love, while trusting the Spirit to minister to them as only he can. We cannot change our children’s hearts. But we can welcome the Spirit’s work as we join him in exalting the name of Jesus Christ in our homes.’
No, I don’t do morning devotionals – so quit asking!
I have often made the point that the Bible nowhere commands us to have a ‘quiet time’. This article has important things to say to us who minister in non-reading cultures. ‘Can we learn from each other? Of course. Can we inspire each other to better habits? Most definitely. But I can’t judge your relationship with Him based upon my own patterns. The Bible gives us a lot of freedom to be ourselves.’
Communities of belonging: a strange family
Mez McConnell asks some searching questions that bear consideration. Could your church come alongside those labouring in hard communities?
On giving criticism as a Christian
‘Criticism — sometimes it’s warranted, other times, it’s not. Sometimes you will give the criticism, and sometimes you will get it. And if you’re particularly influential, you will receive more of it than others. Before you give biblical admonition to someone, first consider a few things.’
Why I hated a blog post that the middle class loved
The man in question was me and the offending blog post was this one. My reply will follow tomorrow.
Is there a class problem in the church in the UK?
My posh, middle-class friend from Sevenoaks seems to think so. His article on this issue is certainly worth reading and impossible to dismiss as written by some class-warrior with a chip on his shoulder.
From the archive: the government clampdown on university ‘safe spaces’ is hypocrisy
‘The government may rightly abhor the practice of ‘no platforming’ and the culture of ‘safe spaces’ at the university level but they singularly fail to grasp that their ongoing policies at a school level have created the culture they are now so desperate to curtail. You cannot spend 12 years telling children that there are wrong things to think, wrong things to say, inappropriate beliefs to hold – even sanctioning them (or their parents) when they fail to abide by state orthodoxy – and magically expect them to be open-minded learners when they hit 18. The culture of ‘safe spaces’ and ‘no platforming’ is a direct product of the schools equality agenda that tells children, from the ages of 5 through to 18, that certain views, opinions and beliefs are unsayable, unthinkable and unacceptable.’