Is your value higher than you think? Or lower? And can it be both?
Here's part of a self-help email that popped into my Inbox this week:
"Unless we value ourselves enough to say no to certain people and situations, while even explaining why that is, we devalue ourselves. No one will place a greater value on you than you place on yourself."
After tussling with that for a while, I've drawn three conclusions:
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As churches throughout the country prepare to get into high gear for their Easter outreach, a report by the Bible Society offers some sobering perspectives on how we need to share the good news today. The study revealed a generation of children with little knowledge of the most important stories forming the basis of Christianity, and parents who often knew little more. The poll of 800 children between the ages of 8 and 15, and 1100 adults found that:
Among my friends, it tends to be a toss-up: chocolate, alcohol or social media. They’re the three things that do the most noticeable damage to their waistlines or their ability to progress through their to-do lists and Lent is an ideal time to give them a break. Sometimes there are benefits: increased health, a few extra pounds in the wallet and a shift of emphasis from Candy Crush to quality time with elderly relatives, temporarily at least … Come the end of April they are usually back to multiple nibbles and the latest addictive game.... continue reading
“The most helpful thing anyone’s told me about evangelism is…”
How would you complete that sentence? I’ve been a Christian for almost fourteen years, and when it comes to evangelism I’ve felt in turns fired-up, complacent, defeated, useless, proud, guilty and privileged. I’ve read books, I’ve heard sermons, I’ve been to training days, I’ve drunk in new techniques. And in all that time, the most helpful, liberating and motivating thing anyone’s told me about evangelism is…... continue reading
The blogosphere (or at least the Christian bit of it) has lit up this week in response to Steve Chalke's latest pronouncement, this time on his view that the Bible contains mistakes and that sometimes when God is recorded as speaking, he in fact was being misheard.
This blog ends up with the serious matter of Steve Chalke and what the Bible actually is, but begins with the considerable hilarity around the office as several of us have taken an online test to see whether our actual beliefs match up to the policies of any particular political party.The results have been interesting.
Shock. Fear. Anger. Denial. Devastation. Panic. Emptiness.
Powerful words. Strong emotions. But that can be what happens when someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness. That moment when we learn a cancer or degenerative disease has passed the point of no return has to be one of the scariest moments any human can experience.
We know mortality will catch up with us one day. Unless Jesus returns within the next few decades, there is no getting away from the fact we will die. But most of us want to assume that day is a long time in the future. When the doctor gives us – or someone we love – the news that there are only months left, we can feel as if everything has been ripped apart. Our plans, our dreams, our relationships, our very beings torn in two.... continue reading
The Christian life is full of living between the tension of two truths.
So God’s kingdom is here, but not yet here. We are joyful in Christ even as we grieve the state of our world. In our weakness, God shows his strength. And so on.
Here’s one that has struck me recently. The Christian life is about being exhausted, and restful.
Exhausting Labour
Speaking of his desire to keep Christians going in faith until the Lord returns, Paul writes: “To this end I labour, struggling…” (Colossians 1 v 29). To “labour” means to work exhaustingly. Labouring causes things to be a struggle. Jn this state of struggling on, Paul finds “his [Christ’s] energy, which so powerfully works in me.” But it’s not that Christ provides his energy for Paul before Paul reaches the point of feeling unable to keep going; it’s that he provides it once Paul reaches that point.... continue reading
The radio is blaring songs of romance.
The supermarkets pushing their displays of chocolates and roses.
Restaurants are advertising their last few tables for that intimate meal.
Facebook bears comments of unexpected cards gained … or recent partners lost.
There’s something about February 14th that gets the world buzzing with a simple question: Do you feel loved?
For some the answer is a heart-warming “yes”: a new relationship is blossoming or a decades-old one still going strong.
For others, there is a sense of emptiness: no flowers, no cards, no chocolates, no ring on the finger… no real hope that there ever will be. Or maybe regrets: harsh words exchanged, a sense of distance and damage in a relationship that is fighting for its life.
But whatever our relationship status right now, however we are feeling about Valentine’s Day – sad, ecstatic or we simply don’t care – God has an important question for us all:
Do you know you’re loved? Do you know you are loved beyond measure by the King of the Universe?
If you are following Jesus, these things are true:... continue reading
Over the next couple of months, something really exciting will be happening on university campuses all over the UK: Christian Union Mission Weeks. Last year, 35 000 students went to mission week events. Some of those people were my friends at the University of Manchester; and it was a great privilege to be involved in organising our week.
CUs are engaged in a whole range of outreach activities all year round, which come with their own set of baffling Christian jargon: ‘bottle drops’ (handing out water to students coming home from nights out); ‘tea and toast’ (handing out tea and toast to the aforementioned inebriated students); ‘text-a-toastie’ (CU members deliver the toasties and answer questions about God); 'carol services' (which are… carol services).... continue reading
My parents were always very strict on the matter. Whenever a friend gave me a gift I had to utter two little words or risk a withering maternal glare. Whether it was a longed-for toy or an oh so useful pencil, "thank you" was the expected response. And rightly so, it's a privilege to receive any gift - giving is an act of love and provision which should always result in gratitude.
As an adult, the habit remains. It's almost a reflex response ... Someone passes me a cup of tea (preferably peppermint) and "thanks, that's great" immediately springs from my lips.
At least it remains when it comes to other humans. When it comes to God, my response is often far slower. Which is why I was fascinated when a friend of mine shared an evening routine she has recently developed:
Every night before she goes to bed, she thanks God for 10 things.... continue reading
