What is revival? Could God use the current situation to pour out a special blessing on the Church? In this wide ranging interview we talk about the Lewis revival, and an experience I had when I was a child at school. I also recount a time Terry Virgo mentioned feeling something of a touch of revival hearing Lloyd-Jones preach. I hope this interview may stir up in you a hunger for personal spiritual renewal and corporate revival. Watch the Interview... Read more
Western society is probably the worst that has ever existed at dealing with difficult times. This is concerning given that we are currently living through the worst global crisis since the Second World War. No wonder COVID19 is causing panic. Tim Keller explains: “Nothing is more important than to learn how to maintain a life of purpose in the midst of painful adversity . . . Sociologists and anthropologists have analyzed and compared the various ways that cultures train its... Read more
Suffering will come to us all eventually. Some of us have to wait longer than others before we face really hard life altering painful situations. For some of us what was happening when I wrote this at the beginning of the Coronavirus world-wide crisis was the hardest thing we had ever had to face. Perhaps you were not able to work. Maybe you were experiencing financial difficulties. Maybe a loved one was really sick or died and you were grieving.... Read more
We can visit churches easily now, that is one of the blessings of the current situation. I intend to explore some live services over these weeks of isolation. Today let me share with you an encouraging service from Emmanual Church Brighton. The service includes worship and a sermon by Joel Virgo. Here are my notes from his sermon. Faith on its own is useless. Faith is only useful because of its object. Do you have Jesus? To deal with our... Read more
I went live on Facebook to talk about some practical tips and some science regarding the Coronavirus situation in the UK. I will end this article with some links to other articles discussed in the video. Perhaps the most exciting thing from a medical point of view that I mention in passing is the idea of giving antibodies from people who have recovered from Coronavirus to help treat those who are suffering. I mentioned that there is shortly going to... Read more
Life is suffering. It is complex and tragic and difficult. The price we pay for being is suffering. We should not aim for happiness, because the purpose of life is not happiness. Happiness is done in by the first harsh blow that life deals you. If we make out happiness is the ideal state of being then anyone who experiences pain and suffering and tragedy will feel ashamed and think there’s something wrong with them. If your philosophy is shallow and... Read more
“The Church being scattered has happened through the ages. It’s just that in the past and in the biblical time, they got scattered by persecution. Now we get scattered by an infection, but the point is, no matter how you are being scattered, there must be incarnation. You must take Jesus wherever you go.” “I want to say this to you. Do not neglect, gathered being with one another. This is the point at which for you as a Christian, you grow... Read more
Last Sunday R.T. Kendall preached a message on suffering. He said it was targeted for those who were going through the worst period of suffering of their whole life. After what Prime Minister Boris Johnson said later this week, I now suspect that RT’s message might be a hugely relevant and timely message for rather more people than you might think: “This is the worst public health crisis for a generation … I must level with you many more families... Read more
Meditation is a Christian practice loved in Bible times but forgotten by most today. The Christian Mindfulness and Christian Contemplation online courses show us how to slow down, put down our phones, focus on the inner life and reconnect with Jesus. In these busy, anxious times Christian Mindfulness might sound new, but it’s older than King David who said ‘I have calmed and quieted my soul’ (Psalm 131:2). Coronavirus is just the latest trigger for anxiety. Christian Mindfulness is one... Read more
Are you anxious about Coronovirus? Or are there other things weighing you down? Are you looking for new ways to cope with the stress of ordinary life? Perhaps you are somehow bumbling along just about managing but underneath you know your rushing around and over-extended lifestyle is ultimately unsustainable. Are you getting close to burnout? For many people either their own situation or an international concern like the current epidemic suddenly punctures their sense of safety and security. Is anybody... Read more
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